The Tripods (1984) s01e02 Episode Script
England - July, 2089 A.D.
Boys! Boys! Will? But why run away, John? I don't understand.
(KNOCKING AT DOOR) Come in.
Mr Parker.
Mrs Parker.
Is there any sign of them, Jack? Well, I found a note in a place me and Will used as a den.
-We had one, too.
-Yes.
"I won't belong to the Tripods.
You do and you don't realise it.
"Please don't come after us.
Will and Henry.
" We'll get them back.
Don't worry, Mrs Parker.
My dad's gathering some riders together now.
Some stupid notion.
Well, it was maybe my capping, you know, that worried them.
Why didn't we hear it? Come on, Will, let's go home.
I don't mind a beating.
We'd get more than a beating.
We'd be capped.
I'd rather die than be capped.
Anyway, I promised Ozymandias.
I said we'd meet him.
He trusted me.
Well, what are we going to do? Can't be far to Five Ways.
Oh, what's the point? It must be after seven now.
(CHIMING) Maybe he'll have waited for us.
(HORN BLOWING) WILL: Now.
Come on! -Oh, he's gone.
-I told you he wouldn't be here.
Morning, Will.
Good morning, Henry, is it? Follow me.
Your friends are out in force.
There's about a dozen of them covering the area.
What are we going to do? You are going to go on from here and take the road south.
-What about you? -I thought you'd be coming with us.
Well, use your brains, boy.
Two lads travelling with a vagrant? We wouldn't get past the first village.
Anyway, I've got much more work to do here.
I've got to find more Wills, more Henrys.
Now, do you know what this is? It's a compass.
The needle points north.
-We've got one at school.
-And this? It's a map.
Now, listen.
Without this, you are literally lost.
See this? North, east, south, west.
Now watch.
Put north to north.
Now, the map's ready for use.
Here is where we are now.
You are heading for Rimney, here.
I've marked out the way for you.
It's like looking right down from the sky.
Yes.
When you get used to the map, you'll find you can work out distances, too.
How far is Rimney? If you keep up a good pace, you should be there in a couple of days.
-What's all this blue? -The sea.
Now, listen.
At Rimney, look in the harbour for a boat called the Orion.
The captain's name is Curtis.
Captain Curtis is paid to look after you.
You'll just have to trust him.
He has a false cap like mine, but how he came by it I'd rather not know.
Now, across the sea is a country called France.
Different people speaking a different language.
How do you mean? Well, you'll find out.
Curtis will tell you more about France.
The line on the map takes you southeast.
Follow that line.
The villages and towns are marked on it, but avoid them.
And you'll eventually come, after a very hard journey and a lot of luck, to the White Mountains.
How will we find the Free Men? They have many lookouts.
They'll find you.
(HORN SOUNDING) Will, you take the map.
Henry, hide the compass.
Now, here's some money.
Curtis will give you French money.
Now, we must hurry.
Will, my watch, please.
What happens if we get caught in France? You'll be capped.
-So there's nothing to lose.
-No.
Will, Henry Only one, maybe two out of every How will we know Captain Curtis? He looks like this.
-Dad.
-Shh.
There's nobody here.
Let's try the other way.
I need to rest.
All right.
But not here, and not for long.
There's something in there.
MR PARKER: Will, Henry, is that you in there? Come on out, now! (SHOUTING) -Come on! -No! -Come on! -No! "My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings.
"Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!" -Ozy! -Get down.
He's dead.
It goes on forever.
I never thought.
I mean, did you have any idea? We'll follow the path down.
Come on.
Captain Curtis might not be around.
What will we do then? If we have to wait until he turns up, we'll find somewhere to sleep.
That might be dangerous.
-How far now, do you think? -Can't tell.
-Are you getting aches in your legs? -Oh, a bit.
What do we do if the Orion's at sea? -Find another boat.
-Oh, yes.
Just walk up to somebody and say, "I've run away from home "and I want to sail to a place called France.
" We'd be back in Wherton and capped before you could say "Jack".
You can let Ozymandias down if you like.
I'm not.
Oh, I didn't mean that.
What's today? -The date, you mean? -Yes.
July the 9th.
It's my mother's birthday.
Or would have been if she were alive.
Perhaps Ozymandias was right, then.
About what? It was something he first said to me when I met him, about our parents not really being ours, not like a real mother and father.
Because they belong to the Tripods? Yes.
Well, your parents, mine, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters.
Just everybody who's been capped.
They all belong to the Tripods.
-All right, they're alive, but -But perhaps it's better to be dead? I know I don't want to be capped.
Not for anything.
Anything? The Tripods killed my parents.
Perhaps one day I'll find a way of getting back at them.
To do that, you have to make sure you're never capped.
Wonder what Rimney's like? I'll bet it's just a small village like Wherton.
There won't be many people there or ships.
We'll find the Orion in five minutes at the most.
I'm hungry.
It's too dangerous.
Come on.
-How will we find Curtis? -I don't know.
-I'm starving.
-We've got to find the Orion.
Come on.
-What's that over there? -I don't know.
Let's go and see.
-What is it? -Camel, son, from Morocco.
-What does it do? -Gives wonderful hair for clothes.
You wouldn't get much hair off of that.
People pay a lot of money for animal hair like hers.
You mean somebody's paid for her to be brought here? Squire, up at the castle.
His daughter is getting capped next month.
Be a big do, that will.
(INAUDIBLE) (PIANO PLAYING INSIDE) Two pies, please.
-What kind? -Those.
You go and find a table, I'll bring them to you.
-I'd have had that pie cold.
-Me, too.
-Wonder what France is like.
-Big.
Very big.
Look at the sea, it's so wide.
There's no sign of the other side.
It's nine, 10 to the White Mountains.
-It'll take us weeks.
-Months, more likely.
-I never realised.
-Nor me.
It's taken us three days to get here.
-We'll never make it.
-Why not? It isn't a race.
It doesn't really matter how long it takes us.
But Ozymandias said nobody speaks English.
How will we ask our way or buy anything? Can't be that different.
Captain Curtis will give us some tips.
He must have been there dozens of times.
-Do you think he's taken others like us? -Bound to have done.
Listen, by this time tomorrow we'll be there.
We'll sleep on the beach and then start walking.
A few hours a day.
There's no need to hurry.
Any sign of a Tripod, and we'll hide.
Then when it's safe, we just carry on.
I don't care if it takes the rest of my life.
I'm not going to be capped.
-Drink, boys? -No, thanks.
Beer's good.
Build you up, make sailors out of you.
Just shout if you change your mind.
Dorry, that's me.
-Dorry! -Oh, see what I mean? Coming.
Just shout.
Good-looking boy, aren't you? How old are you? -16.
-Nearly a man.
Oh, you'll break a lot of hearts before you're wedded.
There's something different about you, though.
Where are you from? -Dorry! -Coming! See you later, jolly-face.
Ozymandias said he'd be sending more boys.
We may even meet some on the boat.
That'll be great.
The more the merrier.
-Let's make a pact.
-What's that? It's an agreement.
We have to agree that whatever happens, if one of us gets caught or sick or, well, anything, the other one goes on, alone if necessary, to find the Free Men in the White Mountains, agreed? -Agreed.
-Then it will have been worthwhile.
And if we both get caught? Hey, lads.
Hungry but not thirsty, is it? -Yes.
-No.
Yes or no, you don't mind if we join you, do you? George, go and get them a beer each.
-No, thanks.
-We can pay.
Who's talking of paying? Friendship tavern, this is.
We'll look after you.
-You from these parts? -Yes.
Nick's the name, by the way.
-Will.
-Henry.
Runaways, is it? You have to get your story straight.
Yes, no? You think this place has never seen runaways before? I was a runaway myself.
Good health, lads.
-Do you know a Captain Curtis? -Who? -His boat's the Orion.
-Well, now.
If you're on the run and want a boat, you've come to the right man.
We're a couple of crew light and I can put in a word.
We'll wait for the Orion, thanks.
Who's been telling you about this Captain Curtis, anyway? On the run, George.
Here to be sailors.
Well, it's no joy sailing short-manned, is it? I've been telling them strong boys come in handy on our old boat.
Somebody's told them to look out for some Captain Curtis.
We'd better go now.
Runaways, Mr Mate.
Wanting to go to sea.
Well, it's a lucky day for us all, then.
Sit down, boys.
Finish your food.
We sail on the late tide.
Uh, we've had enough, thanks.
You be easy now, boys.
Nobody wants trouble.
WILL: Now! Come on! (CHUCKLING) What is it? The drawing.
Give me the drawing.
Come on.
Captain Curtis.
-Captain Curtis! -Captain Curtis! -Captain! -Over here! -Captain Curtis! Oh, why you -Oh, listen, listen.
-Come on, Curtis! -Captain Curtis! -Oh, he's going away! -Captain Curtis! Captain Curtis! Captain! Hey! One word, one sound, one movement, and you'll answer to me.
On this boat, you do what I say.
Do you understand? Understand? -Where are you taking us? -Good run for a first run, boy.
Down to where the sun shines all day.
Good long run to Africa.
You'll get to know me better by then.
(KNOCKING AT DOOR) Come in.
Mr Parker.
Mrs Parker.
Is there any sign of them, Jack? Well, I found a note in a place me and Will used as a den.
-We had one, too.
-Yes.
"I won't belong to the Tripods.
You do and you don't realise it.
"Please don't come after us.
Will and Henry.
" We'll get them back.
Don't worry, Mrs Parker.
My dad's gathering some riders together now.
Some stupid notion.
Well, it was maybe my capping, you know, that worried them.
Why didn't we hear it? Come on, Will, let's go home.
I don't mind a beating.
We'd get more than a beating.
We'd be capped.
I'd rather die than be capped.
Anyway, I promised Ozymandias.
I said we'd meet him.
He trusted me.
Well, what are we going to do? Can't be far to Five Ways.
Oh, what's the point? It must be after seven now.
(CHIMING) Maybe he'll have waited for us.
(HORN BLOWING) WILL: Now.
Come on! -Oh, he's gone.
-I told you he wouldn't be here.
Morning, Will.
Good morning, Henry, is it? Follow me.
Your friends are out in force.
There's about a dozen of them covering the area.
What are we going to do? You are going to go on from here and take the road south.
-What about you? -I thought you'd be coming with us.
Well, use your brains, boy.
Two lads travelling with a vagrant? We wouldn't get past the first village.
Anyway, I've got much more work to do here.
I've got to find more Wills, more Henrys.
Now, do you know what this is? It's a compass.
The needle points north.
-We've got one at school.
-And this? It's a map.
Now, listen.
Without this, you are literally lost.
See this? North, east, south, west.
Now watch.
Put north to north.
Now, the map's ready for use.
Here is where we are now.
You are heading for Rimney, here.
I've marked out the way for you.
It's like looking right down from the sky.
Yes.
When you get used to the map, you'll find you can work out distances, too.
How far is Rimney? If you keep up a good pace, you should be there in a couple of days.
-What's all this blue? -The sea.
Now, listen.
At Rimney, look in the harbour for a boat called the Orion.
The captain's name is Curtis.
Captain Curtis is paid to look after you.
You'll just have to trust him.
He has a false cap like mine, but how he came by it I'd rather not know.
Now, across the sea is a country called France.
Different people speaking a different language.
How do you mean? Well, you'll find out.
Curtis will tell you more about France.
The line on the map takes you southeast.
Follow that line.
The villages and towns are marked on it, but avoid them.
And you'll eventually come, after a very hard journey and a lot of luck, to the White Mountains.
How will we find the Free Men? They have many lookouts.
They'll find you.
(HORN SOUNDING) Will, you take the map.
Henry, hide the compass.
Now, here's some money.
Curtis will give you French money.
Now, we must hurry.
Will, my watch, please.
What happens if we get caught in France? You'll be capped.
-So there's nothing to lose.
-No.
Will, Henry Only one, maybe two out of every How will we know Captain Curtis? He looks like this.
-Dad.
-Shh.
There's nobody here.
Let's try the other way.
I need to rest.
All right.
But not here, and not for long.
There's something in there.
MR PARKER: Will, Henry, is that you in there? Come on out, now! (SHOUTING) -Come on! -No! -Come on! -No! "My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings.
"Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!" -Ozy! -Get down.
He's dead.
It goes on forever.
I never thought.
I mean, did you have any idea? We'll follow the path down.
Come on.
Captain Curtis might not be around.
What will we do then? If we have to wait until he turns up, we'll find somewhere to sleep.
That might be dangerous.
-How far now, do you think? -Can't tell.
-Are you getting aches in your legs? -Oh, a bit.
What do we do if the Orion's at sea? -Find another boat.
-Oh, yes.
Just walk up to somebody and say, "I've run away from home "and I want to sail to a place called France.
" We'd be back in Wherton and capped before you could say "Jack".
You can let Ozymandias down if you like.
I'm not.
Oh, I didn't mean that.
What's today? -The date, you mean? -Yes.
July the 9th.
It's my mother's birthday.
Or would have been if she were alive.
Perhaps Ozymandias was right, then.
About what? It was something he first said to me when I met him, about our parents not really being ours, not like a real mother and father.
Because they belong to the Tripods? Yes.
Well, your parents, mine, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters.
Just everybody who's been capped.
They all belong to the Tripods.
-All right, they're alive, but -But perhaps it's better to be dead? I know I don't want to be capped.
Not for anything.
Anything? The Tripods killed my parents.
Perhaps one day I'll find a way of getting back at them.
To do that, you have to make sure you're never capped.
Wonder what Rimney's like? I'll bet it's just a small village like Wherton.
There won't be many people there or ships.
We'll find the Orion in five minutes at the most.
I'm hungry.
It's too dangerous.
Come on.
-How will we find Curtis? -I don't know.
-I'm starving.
-We've got to find the Orion.
Come on.
-What's that over there? -I don't know.
Let's go and see.
-What is it? -Camel, son, from Morocco.
-What does it do? -Gives wonderful hair for clothes.
You wouldn't get much hair off of that.
People pay a lot of money for animal hair like hers.
You mean somebody's paid for her to be brought here? Squire, up at the castle.
His daughter is getting capped next month.
Be a big do, that will.
(INAUDIBLE) (PIANO PLAYING INSIDE) Two pies, please.
-What kind? -Those.
You go and find a table, I'll bring them to you.
-I'd have had that pie cold.
-Me, too.
-Wonder what France is like.
-Big.
Very big.
Look at the sea, it's so wide.
There's no sign of the other side.
It's nine, 10 to the White Mountains.
-It'll take us weeks.
-Months, more likely.
-I never realised.
-Nor me.
It's taken us three days to get here.
-We'll never make it.
-Why not? It isn't a race.
It doesn't really matter how long it takes us.
But Ozymandias said nobody speaks English.
How will we ask our way or buy anything? Can't be that different.
Captain Curtis will give us some tips.
He must have been there dozens of times.
-Do you think he's taken others like us? -Bound to have done.
Listen, by this time tomorrow we'll be there.
We'll sleep on the beach and then start walking.
A few hours a day.
There's no need to hurry.
Any sign of a Tripod, and we'll hide.
Then when it's safe, we just carry on.
I don't care if it takes the rest of my life.
I'm not going to be capped.
-Drink, boys? -No, thanks.
Beer's good.
Build you up, make sailors out of you.
Just shout if you change your mind.
Dorry, that's me.
-Dorry! -Oh, see what I mean? Coming.
Just shout.
Good-looking boy, aren't you? How old are you? -16.
-Nearly a man.
Oh, you'll break a lot of hearts before you're wedded.
There's something different about you, though.
Where are you from? -Dorry! -Coming! See you later, jolly-face.
Ozymandias said he'd be sending more boys.
We may even meet some on the boat.
That'll be great.
The more the merrier.
-Let's make a pact.
-What's that? It's an agreement.
We have to agree that whatever happens, if one of us gets caught or sick or, well, anything, the other one goes on, alone if necessary, to find the Free Men in the White Mountains, agreed? -Agreed.
-Then it will have been worthwhile.
And if we both get caught? Hey, lads.
Hungry but not thirsty, is it? -Yes.
-No.
Yes or no, you don't mind if we join you, do you? George, go and get them a beer each.
-No, thanks.
-We can pay.
Who's talking of paying? Friendship tavern, this is.
We'll look after you.
-You from these parts? -Yes.
Nick's the name, by the way.
-Will.
-Henry.
Runaways, is it? You have to get your story straight.
Yes, no? You think this place has never seen runaways before? I was a runaway myself.
Good health, lads.
-Do you know a Captain Curtis? -Who? -His boat's the Orion.
-Well, now.
If you're on the run and want a boat, you've come to the right man.
We're a couple of crew light and I can put in a word.
We'll wait for the Orion, thanks.
Who's been telling you about this Captain Curtis, anyway? On the run, George.
Here to be sailors.
Well, it's no joy sailing short-manned, is it? I've been telling them strong boys come in handy on our old boat.
Somebody's told them to look out for some Captain Curtis.
We'd better go now.
Runaways, Mr Mate.
Wanting to go to sea.
Well, it's a lucky day for us all, then.
Sit down, boys.
Finish your food.
We sail on the late tide.
Uh, we've had enough, thanks.
You be easy now, boys.
Nobody wants trouble.
WILL: Now! Come on! (CHUCKLING) What is it? The drawing.
Give me the drawing.
Come on.
Captain Curtis.
-Captain Curtis! -Captain Curtis! -Captain! -Over here! -Captain Curtis! Oh, why you -Oh, listen, listen.
-Come on, Curtis! -Captain Curtis! -Oh, he's going away! -Captain Curtis! Captain Curtis! Captain! Hey! One word, one sound, one movement, and you'll answer to me.
On this boat, you do what I say.
Do you understand? Understand? -Where are you taking us? -Good run for a first run, boy.
Down to where the sun shines all day.
Good long run to Africa.
You'll get to know me better by then.