Blake's 7 (1978) s02e01 Episode Script

All right, Zen Run it again for me, willyou? Confirmed Play back, normal speed PLASMA DISCHARGE ELECTROSTATIC HUM Orac, why won't you give us the background to that prediction? Because that would invalidate the prediction And if we knew the future in detailwe could change it, and so it wouldn't be the future Correct That is the paradox of prediction All right, Zen, standby to run it again, at half speed Confirmed Slow orfast, it will still look the same How long have you been there? I was here when you came in Why didn't you speak? I had nothing in particularto say Besides, you looked as though you were planning something you didn't want the rest of us to know about Orac's prediction still hasn't come into effect I am trying to find some reason why he was wrong Have you found what you want? No That's because you're looking forthe wrong things What exactly does that mean? It's a common enough failing Now if you've finished with Zen, I'd quite like to get on; we have a malfunction on the intermediate range sensors I need to check the systems Leave it If I've missed something, I want to know what it is now, Avon Well now, allyou had to do was ask Zen Replay, half speed Confirmed Stop All right, reverse to the instant before the explosion Freeze it there Allthe reassurance you could want Do you think you could forget your superiority complex for a moment and get on with it? All right But first of all, let us examine the nature of prediction The human mind is capable of seeing into the short range future with reasonable accuracy For example, imagine that you are standing on the edge of a cliff As long as you're not standing behind me There are a number of alternative futures You could take a pace forward and plunge to your death The cliff could crumble under yourfeet with the same result A gust of wind could carry you over All right, yes But the probability is that I would turn and walk away Exactly You've just made a prediction based on the known facts A computerworks on precisely the same principle But allyou're saying is that prediction is not immutable fact Right If you hadn't gone nearthe cliff in the first place, you wouldn't have faced any of the dangers So? Zen, selective magnification Show us the background Confirmed Look at it, Blake Look at the configuration of the stars That position is unique in the universe Ah Of course Zen can give us a precise astralfix and tell us exactly where the event is supposed to have happened Congratulations All right, where is it? It's in the Twelfth Sector Astro point seven eight one What? But that's halfway across the galaxy Now if we make sure that we never go into that area, then the prediction becomes void I'lltellthe others Uh, how long have you known? Oh, several hours And you just let the others go on worrying? Well, allthey had to do was ask Perhaps in future, they won't rely on you to provide allthe answers DULL EXPLOSIONS What the hell is going on? Zen, report Aft hull sensors register two strikes by medium range neutron blasters Where are they coming from? Due to the malfunction of our intermediate range detectors, that information is not available EXPLOSIONS Zen, activate the force wall, increase speed to Standard by 8 Battle computers on line Confirmed Avon, get the others in here fast Zen, direct vision, 360 orbital scan Confirmed Attention We are under attack Battle stations Hold it there Two ships homing in on us Concentrate force wall on coordinates five five three one Confirmed Five five three one Vila, activate the weaponry system Jenna, take her on manual DULL EXPLOSIONS Re energise the force wall Confirmed What are they, Blake? I don't know Blake, look Battle computers propose evasive course Specify Planetary orbit at two thousand spacials Closer Make it one thousand Confirmed Cally, give me tracking on the hostiles Maximum magnification They must be Federation ships First analysis indicates that they are not vehicles of a type used in Federation fleets Who are they? That information is not available Entering planetary orbit now Hold it there Closing in on us Jenna, hold course tillthey're within our range Holding course Weapons systems primed forfiring Lock on target Target fixed Range? Fifty thousand spacials and closing fast They're travelling at almost Standard by Twelve Impossible I tellyou, they are They'll be in range in fifty one seconds Hold course Holding I've got their communications frequency Voice contact? No, just computertalk Can our machines translate? Negative Zen, identify the hostiles Forty two seconds Zen The information must be bypassing the translator systems Thirty five seconds Let me launch a couple of seekers before they fire It might throw their attack run Go ahead Firing one and two, now Come on, come on They won't fire The fail safes keep cutting in Override them Twenty seconds The whole system is locked into negative Blake, without firepower we'll be blasted to pieces Hostiles closing fast Thirteen seconds to blaster range Avon, stand by the force wall In range Force wall Primary malfunction Force wallwon't activate Leave it Hit it, Jenna, allthe powerwe've got Hang on NEUTRON BLASTER FIRE NEUTRON BLASTER FIRE Gan Cally Vila It's all right, Vila I think we've lost them How d'you know? We're still here Cut the auxiliaries Get back to primary drive Are you all right? All I am willing to admit is that I am still alive We've got to know if those ships are still coming See if you can get a scan Cally, take her down to her quarters Gan, go and check the power units, willyou? Right Blake, I can't cut the auxiliary drive We're still running on full power The scan is out, we're flying blind What's it register, Vila? Maximum Can we hold together at that speed? We won't have to What do you mean? Running at full powerwill drain the energy banks in, what? Two hours at the most And then we'll have no power at all COMMUNICATOR CHIME Blake Gan I'm in Sub control One There's a lot of damage here Virtually allthe control systems seem to be out Check the othersub control rooms Right Where did those ships come from? Who were they? Yes, and why did they attack? Zen was confident they weren't Federation So why did they pick on me? I doubt if it was personal, Vila It felt personal It always feels personalwhen someone tries to kill me It seems we were pretty lucky Those ships came up on us when we were blind They should have been able to wipe us out completely Zen, I want a full damage report and then an assessment of how much the breakdown can be handled by auto repair The translator unit must be out Then we'll have to do it all ourselves Vila, go down and see if you can help Gan, make a list of allthe faults you can find I'm going to isolate the auxiliaries from the energy units before they burn up all our power Avon, concentrate on Zen Give priority to the detectors and the navigation systems And then see if you can get us some scans Is that all? What shall I do with the other hand? I'll let you know When you get Zen working, ask him to prescribe something for a headache, willyou? I've got this shocking pain right behind the eyes Have you considered amputation? How's Jenna? Just shaken She'll be back in the teleport as soon as she's recovered Good Help Avon with Zen What can I do? Strip down the auto navigator, remove the damaged components, and list them for replacement This is going to take time It could have been worse It should have been worse What do you mean? Something Blake said Those ships should have knocked us out completely Why didn't they? There could be many reasons I have considered all of them Only one is satisfactory And which is that? They didn't want to destroy us But it was a full scale attack Was it? Theirfirst attack knocked out ourweaponry system The second run knocked out virtually every instrument system Right now Liberator is out of control At least, out of OUR control You think allthis was intentional, and we're not running on a random course? Oh, I think we're going somewhere quite particular ALERT CHIME DATATRANSFER Acknowledged The pursuit craft have made contact, and have initiated all programmed functions Assemble the assault group and prepare fortransference Acknowledged DATATRANSFER AUXILIARIES POWERING DOWN EXPLOSION AUXILIARIES POWERING UP COMMUNICATOR CHIME Blake The lights are pulsating What's happening? Nothing Just get on with what you're doing Switching the drives in and out isn't helping, you know I'll callyou IF I need you ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE How are you getting on? I've finished fitting the auto navigator And now there is just this detector unit that is burnt out You'llfind a replacement in the auto repair cavity Good That's all completed That's strange Thought so Zen is functioning, the computers are working, but not for us Avon, there's something wrong in the teleport section, allthe controls are activating Are you sure? The locators are setting bearings Come and see No one is to go nearthat section untilwe have Zen under control Why? I think I know what's happening now The teleport section will be the most dangerous area on the ship When it happens, THAT is where it will start When what happens? What are you talking about? If I'm right, this will show it It's rejecting the replacement It's more fundamentalthan that We are the cause It is rejecting US Jenna Jenna, it's Blake I'm in Sub control Room Four Get Avon down here fast Avon I heard I'm busy He's working on Zen I don't care what he's working on, get him down here Blake, what I'm doing is vitally concerned with our survival Are you prepared to take responsibility forwhat happens if I delay? Don't I always? Now just get down here Anything you say And Avon, don't come crashing in; gently as you open the door Blake's regard for our safety is inspiring, don't you think? Avon, there's no structural damage in the other control unit Well, that's something But the instrument and systems disruption's enormous I shalltell ourfearless leader What's the matterwith him? What do you think? If it ever comes to a showdown, my money's on Blake Well, half of it I'll put the other half on Avon That's a safe bet But if Avon is right, we'll probably all be dead anyway Dead? Is that your idea of a safe bet? Easy Easy This coil's live in every sense It's got enough energy to vaporise both of us All right, you're giving the orders, what do you want me to do about it? Turn off the power, without touching the main switch What happened? I tried to shut off the auxiliaries But they switched back on automatically That's happening to every function onboard And then this coil leapt at me as though it was trying to protect the switchbox The ship is working against us From now on we are just passengers The question is, where to? I'm going to try and break the circuit It knows It knows what you're trying to do, Avon It's linked to the computer circuits They're feeding in a defensive program I'm going to put an explosive charge across the main energy feed When it senses what I'm trying to do, it should move away from you Towards you When it does, you move to the door And when it homes in on you? I think my instinct for survival is more finely tuned than it is It's moving Leave it now Come on That is one I owe you Don't worry At the right time, I will remind you of it Thanks You all right? Yes Where's Gan? Treatment unit He tried to reconnect one of the servo links and it burned his hand Right, sit down No one is to attempt to repair any equipment tillthe computers are back under our control What is it, Blake? What's going on? The computers seem to be making decisions forthemselves They're resisting all interference But that's not possible Avon It is if you think of the ship as a living entity, with massive networks of electronics acting as a nervous system All linked into a central computer The brain Carry the analogy a stage further When a living creature is hurt, a cut or a wound, antibodies gather around the injury to repair it and to fight infection You mean the computers are treating us like germs? Crude, but accurate But antibodies kill infection Why are we still alive? We're not sure There are dozens of ways the ship could destroy us: cut off the air supply, drop the temperature so we freeze to death Stop putting ideas into its head Actually, one touch of that cable would have done it No, I don't think it wants to kill us Well, not yet, anyway It's saving us for something Dinner? Look, we've been on the Liberatorfor a long time The computers have neverturned against us before Why now? That's what I was trying to find out when you sent for me There's something else I'd like to try DATATRANSFER It's another computer It's communicating with Zen Someone outside is controlling the Liberator Yes, we know But who and why? Blake Yes, Gan Blake, there's something peculiar happening in the teleport section I think the Cally, Vila, come on It's the teleport I told you I warned them to keep away from there Gan He didn't come past us He must've gone that way Go and see if you can find him Could he have operated the teleport? How and to where? Anyway, allthe bracelets are still here Then he is still onboard Try and get him once more on the communicator If you can't reach him, give Vila a hand to find him Gan, make yourway to the flight deck immediately Repeat Make yourway to the flight deck immediately Gan? The energy banks are drained We must be getting close to our destination You're sure there's a pattern to allthis? Very precise and carefully calculated I think the takeoverwill be completed quite soon Jenna, get the guns We're not giving this ship up without a fight They're white hot White hot? All of them? They've covered everything COMMUNICATOR CHIME Blake Cally We've made a thorough search There's no trace of Gan All right, come back to the flight deck Vila? Vila? I think the attack ships did exactly what they intended They knocked out our manual control systems Their blaster strike would have to be enormously accurate to cause selective damage It could be done if they knew the vulnerable points All right, but how could their computers override Zen? There's a command code programmed into every system Key that code, and the computers will only respond to orders from source But who would know the code that operates Zen? It's obvious, isn't it? The people who built the Liberator? Just taking back what's theirs Redemption STUN ROD DISCHARGE Anything? Nothing Then there's not a trace of any of them Cally Gan I warned them to stay away from the teleport area The people who built this ship will have the same teleport capability as we have They'll use it to board us That doesn't account fortheir disappearance Unless they've already boarded us Ah, that would be logical They'lltake us out a few at a time They wouldn't want to risk a full scale battle It might damage the ship Isn't there anything we can do to hold them off? No Not unless we can regain control of the computers I don't see any way of doing that Let's try Orac again What good willthat do? Maybe he can analyse Zen's programming and eradicate the override And bring Zen back under our instruction? Right Clearthe receptor circuits to receive an emergency program Confirm when ready Confirm readiness Come on, come on What's wrong? You tell me Maybe it's been taken over, too No, that's not likely Orac's systems are entirely independent of allthe Liberator's Now then, Orac Are you going to function or are you not? All principal circuits are operating at full capacity and cannot receive new programs at this time Well, clearthe circuits This is priority Circuit clearance and reprogramming will take one hour and thirty seven point nine seconds That could be just a little late State your program requirements They will be implemented when capacity is available We want total analysis of Zen's override system and erasure of that control Eliminate any links with an external computer Key the voice systems to respond only to the commands of Avon, myself, and Jenna EXPLOSION Take control I think we just lost our ship The ship is now under our control The three remaining crew are prisoners Restore all operating functions and program for docking DATATRANSFER The repair circuits are working Zen, too Anotherfew minutes and we'll be fully operational Zen You will all remain under guard until docking is complete Orders must be obeyed instantly Failure will result in punishment Where are the rest of my crew? At least tell us if they're alive You will remain silent That is an order I accept that we are your prisoners, but I demand to know what has happened to my crew Force levelthree STUN ROD DISCHARGE All malfunctions have now been rectified Systems are fully operational Lock onto docking flight path Confirmed Release You all right? Felt as though every nerve in my body was being scraped You disobeyed an order Further infractions will be dealt with more severely Screen forward vision Confirmed I don't believe it Impressive I've never seen a space station on that design before That's more than just a station The technology It's the kind that built Liberator Docking complete Walkway to main hatch secured Allflight systems off Confirmed You will now walk towards the main hatch Move ORAC OPERATING Halt Take the leader Why are you separating us? You are to be interrogated by the System The System? What happens to us? You will remain in the detention section until the System decides on the method of your execution Execution? Move them You can't do that What right have you got to destroy us? Sustained Levelfive Release You were warned A third time and I will command destruction level Move They've gone What are you looking for? Surveillance devices You check the lock I think it's clean Magno lock Probably linked to a central register Jointed metal plate No hope there It might have possibilities if we had a heavy duty cutter and a couple of explosive devices Even if we do get out, we're in space, Avon; we've got nowhere to go So you're just going to sit here and wait forthem to eliminate us? You saw the size of this place If we get out of here, we can run and we can hide If they're going to kill us, let us at least try and make it difficult forthem Stop March on ALERT CHIME DATATRANSFER Acknowledged There is disturbance on the control program Until stable, all commands must be checked and confirmed Acknowledged The System has questions to put to you I'd like to ask one ortwo myself That is not permitted For instance, what is the System? The System is the supreme power of Spaceworld and the three life supporting planets which orbit our sun The System is a complex of infallible machines All of this? You mean even you are computer controlled? We serve the System Its questions and orders are routed through me, but the words and thoughts are those of the System Is that understood? I demand your assurance that the rest of my crew remain unharmed Force level seven All right Understood We will commence State the circumstance by which you came to be aboard Deep Space Vehicle II We call it the Liberator It was found abandoned and drifting in space I was part of a crew that was put on board State the astral location in which you found DSV II I don't know it My nearest point of reference is a Federation prison planet called Cygnus Alpha State any further information you have regarding DSV II We assumed it had been in a space battle State any further information you have regarding regarding ALERT CHIME Circuitry disturbances are continuing An outside influence has been analysed We will resume the questioning when the disturbance has been rectified It's nice to know that computers can have their bad days, too The System is infallible Orac Perhaps we could chew ourway out COMMUNICATOR CHIME PublicAddress: Attention all guards Security report Slave group numberseven have attacked their escort and escaped They are to be recaptured and eliminated Repeat recaptured and eliminated Jenna, come here What is it? You remember Orac's prediction? That's the least of our problems at the moment I checked the star pattern behind Liberator What Orac predicted was halfway across the galaxy I made a mental note of the configuration And? You're looking at it This is the Twelfth Sector Astro point seven eight one Exactly where Orac predicted we would be destroyed ALERT CHIME Having a little trouble? The System confirms massive malfunctions Emergency programs are to be activated Transfer all prisoners to elimination chamberfour, sentence to be carried out immediately Look, wait a minute, wait a minute Take this prisonerto elimination chambertwo Hey Thanks Shhh Where are we? It's an old service lift Those young guards, they don't even know it exists Listen, I've got to get to the detention block Do you know where it is? I'll show you Good Where do you come from? Planet called Earth Earth? How long's allthis been here? From before my fatherwas born Before that? Those times? The three planets were always fighting or getting ready to fight Sounds familiar Then one of the planets developed a computer so powerful, it was able to take overthe weaponry computers of the othertwo So allthree became one? One gigantic System that totally governs the three worlds And the System built this as a control centre? Yes, now there's no war, no famine And no freedom Yes The System uses people We are flexible, adaptable, expendable What about the ones that give the orders? The Altas? They're linked into the System They're not really people at all CRACKINGSOUND OUTSIDE DOOR I'm sorry, Vila Been looking all overfor you two How did you get here? I was just passing, thought I'd drop in and see you Where are Gan and Cally? In a cell along the corridor Well, what kept you? Magno locks aren't that easy to open Even for me Practice Let's go Just a minute Where's Blake? They took him away for questioning Questioning? I don't think we should hang around No, neither do I What did you do to your head? One of the guards didn't like me Come on What are we going to do? Try and get back on Liberator She's fully operational It's our only chance What about Orac's prophecy? As you said, right now that's the least of our problems There they are Stop GUNFIRE EXPLOSION Go on, I'll hold them Gan, don't just stand there Come on Raise your hands Turn round Killthem Destruction level Come on Through that door Right Look out Right Get the ship moving and fast Jenna Right Come on I'll stay here Blake, come on ALARM BELL Zen Prepare immediate launch Confirmed Zen, hundred eighty turn, full lateralthrust Confirmed Cally, quick Destruct destruct destruct Walkway severed Main hatch closed Give me rear vision We're out We've made it Well done, Jenna Information Sensors registersecondary launch, a space vehicle in pursuit Speed, Standard by Fourteen Vila, ready the weaponry system We'll make a fight of it It's too late, Blake, we're lost Do it, Vila Blake, there's no point Orac's prediction is coming true She's right; we are in the precise location where Orac predicted our destruction It hasn't happened yet Pursuit ship moving into missile attack Cally, put her on the screen There she is The same ship The same as Liberator That's it It's a sister ship That's what Orac showed us It wasn't the Liberator Sister ship or not, she's coming at us Well, activate the force wall Sensors register missile emission Blake, there is no point in going on, we're finished At this range we haven't a chance She can't miss us EXPLOSION Vila, did you fire? No Well, what happened? I took the precaution of scrambling their launch system It pre detonated their missiles Had I not, my prediction would have been inaccurate Orac, you are a genius Next time let us know what you're planning I am closing down I have much to do You have engaged my circuits on your petty affairs forfar too long Thank you, Orac Zen, take over State course and speed Speed Standard by Three, Earth Sector We have unfinished business with the Federation Oh no, not again Why Earth Sector? Would you rather stay here? You make them sound like the only alternatives They are, for us Go back to your position