[Xenon base crew room]

(on the viewscreen the videocast changes from smoke rising over a devastated landscape to a large 3. Avon moves in front of the viewscreen. He is addressing a gathering of planetary leaders)
AVON: Finally, Zondawl, latest victim of the Federation's pacification and control program. The drug is still Pylene Fifty. The concentration has been stepped up, however.
(on the viewscreen the videocast continues. A Federation guard watches from a gallery. Expressionless people with identifications on their foreheads ride up and down escalators. Over the public address a voice repeats 'You are cared for.' 'You are loved.' The guard mimes shooting at them with his free hand. A second guard joins him, they confer and then the second guard shoots two of the people. The first guard joins in the shooting. The people carry on as if nothing is happening while some are directed by a guard to drag away the bodies. That guard notices the camera recording the videocast and smashes it with his gun)
AVON: That videocast was taken on Zondawl six weeks ago. What is happening there now will soon happen on Serrus, Herriol, Sentha. all the border systems, unless you resist.
MIDA: Resist? With what? We have no armies, Avon, no great battle fleets.
LOD: Ah, Zukan does.
CHALSA: But Zukan isn't here.
BOORVA: And why not? Because he has his armies and his fleets, and is probably attacking Tarl or Serrus even now while we all listen to a renegade, who has more reason than us to fear the Federation.

[Xenon base communications room]

(on a monitor Vila, Dayna, and Soolin watch the proceedings in the crew room)
AVON: (on monitor) I may be a renegade, Boorva, but you betray your people if you do not fear the Federation.
DAYNA: It's going badly.
VILA: Hardly surprising. Avon's idea of diplomacy is like breaking someone's leg then saying, 'Lean on me'.

[Xenon base crew room]

MIDA: Resistance means armies, Avon, whatever you say, and we haven't got them.
AVON: Well, neither has the Federation. At least not sufficient to indulge in widespread conventional conquest. Why else have they embarked upon drug control? Defeat the drug, and you buy yourselves time.

[Xenon base communications room]

ORAC: I mention it in passing since none of you seem to have noticed, but there are two craft registering on the detectors.
(Dayna activates the viewscreen which shows a small streamlined ship with a larger rectangular ship in attendance)
SOOLIN [OC]: How near?
ORAC: Orbit range in seventeen minutes.
SOOLIN: Visual scanners?
DAYNA: Locking on to automatic.

[Xenon base crew room]

AVON: Originally the stuff was administered by medical laser, but now they have developed variants. It can be fed into your reservoirs or even into the air that you breathe.
MIDA: You're saying, then, that we have no protection.
AVON: On the contrary, I'm offering you the best there is, total immunity. I have the antitoxin. What I do not have is the necessary equipment to mass-produce it, or the raw material from which to obtain the toxin extract.
BOORVA: Ah.
AVON: Zukan has the raw material, and you, ...gentlemen, you have the necessary equipment.
BOORVA: Any such alliance would be futile as long as Zukan remained outside it.
LOD: And he has the armies.
CHALSA: And the war fleet.
BOORVA: He's a pirate. Zukan's a pirate, and...
(pointing at Avon)
CHALSA: ...he's an outlaw.

[Xenon base communications room]

TARRANT: Who are they, Orac?
ORAC: Why not ask them?
TARRANT: (into communicator) This is Xenon base, identify yourselves. ...I repeat, identify yourselves. ...You have ten seconds or I'll open fire.
VILA: With what?

[Zukan's ship and Lodestar in flight]

BETAFARL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: (on communicator) Xenon base, this is Betafarl commercial freighter Lodestar.

[Xenon base communications room]

TARRANT: (into communicator) Who's with you? ...I repeat, who's that with you, Lodestar?

[Zukan's ship]

ZUKAN: This is Zukan, President of Betafarl, come to attend the conference of the non-aligned planets.

[Xenon base crew room]

(Zukan comes in)
ANNOUNCER: Gentlemen, the President of Betafarl, ...Zukan.
AVON: You are welcome, ...Zukan.
ZUKAN: I apologise for my late arrival.
AVON: Boorva, perhaps now you may care to revise your position?
BOORVA: Because Zukan has finally arrived? That doesn't necessarily change anything.
AVON: Why can't you accept that Zukan is here in good faith.
CHALSA: There is no history of trust between us, Avon.
BOORVA: True, we know Zukan to harbour territorial ambitions against us all. Does he renounce them? And even if he says he does, why should we believe him?
ZUKAN: ...May I reply?
BOORVA: By all means.
ZUKAN: Insofar as ...we on Betafarl have always sought to protect ourselves and our borders, there are some here who would not be unjustified in regarding us as aggressors, but if it is aggression to protect oneself by ensuring that the others remain weak, ...we have been aggressors.
BOORVA: Ah.
ZUKAN: But no more, because now we face a true aggressor. The Federation does not seek merely to defend itself but to subjugate all peoples to its will, and Betafarl is no more able to stand alone against the Federation than any of you. So if we cannot be friends, for the sake of all our peoples let us be allies as from this day.
BOORVA: Well, he spares us the hypocrisy of pretending that his motives are anything other than self-interest.
MIDA: Are our motives any different? I welcome your words, Zukan.
CHALSA: But words are no more than ...words.
BOORVA: Zukan must forgive our mistrust, but he himself has fuelled it for far too long, for words alone to be sufficient here today.
ZUKAN: Avon ...show us your freight bay.
(Avon activates the viewscreen. Two technicians are moving a piece of equipment)
ZUKAN: Now those are my technicians. The equipment is everything necessary to produce an antitoxin. This is Betafarl's first contribution to our new alliance. So doubt my words if you will, but not the evidence of your own eyes.

[Xenon base freight bay]

(Tarrant and Soolin are looking around the equipment while the technicians continue working)
TARRANT: (to a technician) Power inlets are on the far side.
SOOLIN: I hope they're not just going to dump it all and go, ...unless you want to be the one who decides which bit fits where.
TARRANT: Oh, I thought we could leave that to Vila. You should see the laboratories they've got on Betafarl. Zukan gave Avon and me a tour when we were there trying to persuade him to attend today.
(he looks up and looks surprised)
TARRANT: ...Zeeona.
SOOLIN: Someone you met while you were there?
TARRANT: Zukan's daughter. (to Zeeona) If all this is the result of your intercession, we're grateful.
ZEEONA: My father required no intercession from me. Your own case was so strong that in the end he knew he couldn't afford not to respond.
SOOLIN: Some response.
ZEEONA: In war or friendship, my father is never less than whole-hearted.
TARRANT: ...Zeeona. ...Soolin. ...Maybe you'd like to take Zeeona to the crew room.
SOOLIN: Er, thank you, but I think it might be better if I stayed here to help.
SOOLIN: Zukan's daughter carrying boxes?
ZEEONA: I'm a biogenetic engineer, I work with this kind of equipment all the time. I thought I could help to put it together.
TARRANT: We're unlikely to be ready for that today, so why not let Soolin show you to your father's quarters?
ZEEONA: He, er, he doesn't know I'm here. I came aboard the freighter out of curiosity I suppose. I... I hope to go back the same way, without him knowing I've been here.
TARRANT: Would it matter if he did?
ZEEONA: I think he might be displeased.
SOOLIN: And no doubt he is as whole-hearted in his displeasure as in everything else.
TARRANT: You can't stay here, there are video scanners that can be switched through to the conference chamber.
SOOLIN: Better come with me. ...We don't want to upset our principal ally and benefactor, now do we?
(one technician turns and his gaze follows Zeeona out)

[Xenon base crew room]

AVON: Well now, gentlemen, before we drink our toast, are there any grievances that could in the future threaten our accord?
CHALSA: Yes. Shall we receive compensation for the crafts we have lost to Zukan's war fleet?
ZUKAN: Any such craft were legitimate targets, being in the Betafarl Sector.
BOORVA: In that case Betafarl Sector extends for as far as your war fleets care to roam.
ZUKAN: Not so.
AVON: Sectors are a thing of the past. I thought you'd agreed.
ZUKAN: But Chalsa seems to want to make the agreement retroactive. Just how far back do you want to go?
MIDA: We have lost craft, too, Chalsa. Shall Zukan recompense us all? How could he? May we not wipe out the past and start afresh.
AVON: I agree with Mida. When you talk of compensation, Chalsa, remember Zukan has already pledged more to this alliance than anyone else.
CHALSA: All right, ...all right, I agree. ...I accept.
(Avon looks round. Boorva nods)
AVON: Then are we all friends here ...with one common enemy?
BOORVA: Tarl affirms. Let's hope we're never given cause to regret it.
MIDA: Lovis affirms.
LOD: Herriol affirms.
CHALSA: Khom affirms.
ZUKAN: Betafarl affirms.
(as they clink their goblets together a blue sparkle emanates between them as a result of the contact)

[Xenon base room]

(Soolin and Zeeona have been watching proceedings on a monitor)
ZEEONA: I don't think my father ever believed a day like this could be possible. I'm glad I'm here to witness it.
SOOLIN: Why would he be so displeased if he found out you were here?
ZEEONA: You know what fathers are like with their daughters.
SOOLIN: As it happens, I don't. Mine was murdered when I was eight.
ZEEONA: I'm sorry.
SOOLIN: So were the men who did it, ...eventually. So tell me, why doesn't he want you here?
(a viewscreen behind Soolin is showing an orange rose. Zeeona switches it to a lake view)
ZEEONA: You may find it strange in view of my father's reputation as a fighter, but for some time now he's been trying to achieve a kind of respectability ...through me.
SOOLIN: Yes, it may be politically expedient to be allied with us, but we're hardly respectable. ...It could explain it, ...I suppose.

[Xenon base freight bay]

AVON: Is everything all right?
TARRANT: Seems to be.
(Avon has stopped by a piece of equipment)
AVON: A neutron bombarder.
ZUKAN: As long as the organic source has a molecular structure that's reasonably close to that of the antitoxin, that'll do the rest.
TARRANT: Any danger of radiation?
(Zukan shakes his head)
ZUKAN: As long as the installation is right.
AVON: Well, the only problem now is, where do we find enough raw material to keep this lot running?
(he examines some circuit boards)
ZUKAN: That's not such a problem, Avon. As I told you we have a plant on Betafarl. It grows wild. In the outlying areas it's prolific. The sap has a molecular structure that's close to that you need. We started harvesting it just before I came here.
AVON: How long before it can be shipped?
ZUKAN: That is up to you, my friend. We've brought the equipment, we're harvesting the crop. The freighting of it we leave to you, though don't take too long. Indications are it degenerates fast, even under freezing.
AVON: Any reason why you can't take Scorpio and leave tomorrow?
TARRANT: No, except...
ZUKAN: With Avon's permission I should myself like to stay to supervise the installation.
AVON: (to Tarrant) Tomorrow ...you go.

[Xenon base room]

TARRANT: Your father means to stay until the installation is complete. I thought you should know.
ZEEONA: Thank you, but I did already. I was watching the monitor.
TARRANT: You must also have heard that I'm going to Betafarl tomorrow. Perhaps it would be sensible for me to take you back.
ZEEONA: Perhaps it would. Yes. Thank you.
TARRANT: Right. Good. Well, we'll sort out how to get you aboard in the morning.
ZEEONA: Would you like to know why I really came? ...Oh it's true, I... I thought I could help with installing the equipment, and it's true that I was curious about all of you. The kind of people you are, the way you live. But most of all ...But most of all, I...
(the viewscreen now shows Xenon from space)
ZEEONA: ...So you see I shall be very happy to be going back to Betafarl with you.
(she turns to Tarrant, who has approached her, and looks up into his eyes)

[Xenon from space]

[Xenon base freight bay]

(using a flashlight Zukan puts a red cylinder labelled 'VIRUS GAS' into the bombarder then shines the light onto a ventilator. He detects somebody is moving around in the bay and shines the light to reveal Finn. Zukan hands him a carrier containing six small silver canisters)
ZUKAN: One per exit.
FINN: Mm. Got some news for you. There was somebody on Lodestar you didn't reckon on. ...Your daughter.

[Xenon base corridor]

ZUKAN: She is here!
AVON: Not to my knowledge.
ZUKAN: She is here somewhere, and one of your people must know where!

[Xenon base crew room]

(Vila, Dayna and Soolin are playing a game)
ZUKAN: Where is my daughter?
DAYNA: I don't know.
VILA: Nor me.
ZUKAN: Where is the other one?
DAYNA: What other one?
ZUKAN: That came with you to Betafarl.
AVON: Tarrant.
ZUKAN: Search the base.
SOOLIN: If she is here, presumably she wants to be. She's not a child.
ZUKAN: She is my daughter!
AVON: Where is she, Soolin?

[Xenon base room]

(Tarrant and Zeeona are laying together. A psychedelic green pattern accompanied by a romantic sound is on the viewscreen. Tarrant kisses her cheek)
ZEEONA: And then, after you'd gone, when you left Betafarl, I... I felt as though I'd lost something. ...I never felt that way about anyone before.
TARRANT: Zeeona.
ZEEONA: I'm sorry if all this is unwelcome to you.
TARRANT: No.
(the viewscreen and sound switch off and Avon appears on the monitor)
AVON: (on monitor) Zeeona, your father wants to see you. ...Now ...Tarrant!

[Xenon base crew room]

ZUKAN: Your man, Tarrant. Now, he is the reason why she should not be here. I mean this as no disrespect to you, Avon, or your group, but she is the daughter of Zukan.
AVON: Let us give our guests some privacy.
VILA: Just when it was getting interesting, er, the game I mean.
(Vila and Dayna leave shortly followed by Soolin. Zeeona passes Soolin in the doorway)
SOOLIN: I'm sorry, I don't know how he found out.
AVON: (to Zeeona) Excuse me.
TARRANT: Now, let...
(Avon grabs Tarrant by his shoulders and pushes him out into corridor)
ZUKAN: How dare you?
ZEEONA: I'm sorry I went against your word, but I'm glad I came.
ZUKAN: You cannot be both.
ZEEONA: Truly.
ZUKAN: Then I wish for both our sakes it were not so. ...You shall not stay.
ZEEONA: I didn't intend to. I go home tomorrow aboard their freighter. Tarrant will take me.

[Xenon base corridor]

ZUKAN: My daughter will be a passenger on your freighter tomorrow. I would like you to change its captain.
AVON: Whom would you prefer?
ZUKAN: Yourself.
AVON: I shall be ...honoured. Good night.
ZUKAN: Good night.

[Flight deck]

AVON: What I care about is not antagonising the most powerful ally we have.
SOOLIN: At her expense.
AVON: She is not a child. You said so yourself.
SOOLIN: She deserves better than having just you for company. Besides I'm surprised you're prepared to risk leaving me alone with her father. I dislike him so much there's no knowing what I might do.
AVON: All right, come along and hold her hand if you must, but in the meantime you can make yourself useful. There's a fault on the inner door alignment.

[Xenon base communications room]

DAYNA: (into communicator) All launch checks complete.
AVON: (on communicator) Green on all systems.
VILA: (into communicator) Betafarl has just confirmed full clearance on your flight plan.
AVON: About time.
(Zukan followed by Zeeona leave)
ZEEONA: Goodbye.
DAYNA: Have a good trip.
VILA: (into communicator) Your passenger's on her way.
AVON: Good.
(Vila and Dayna look out into the corridor)
DAYNA: Where is Tarrant?
VILA: Drowning his sorrows?

[Scorpio prepares to launch]

[Flight deck]

AVON: Main drives, running up.

[Xenon base freight bay]

(the technicians are rushing about. Tarrant watches the launch)

[Flight deck]

AVON: (to Zeeona) Thirty hours from now and you should be home.
SOOLIN: I'm a bit worried about the inner door alignment still. Do you think you should take a look at it?
AVON: I thought you had fixed it?
SOOLIN: I did, only I'm not sure it will hold. I just thought while there's still pressure on the freight deck, you might want to take a look.
(Avon pauses before getting up and leaving)
SOOLIN: (to Zeeona) Tell me quickly, do you want to go back?

[Xenon base communications room]

VILA: Where have you been? She was looking for you to say goodbye.
TARRANT: Didn't see any point in saying goodbye, not when she's coming back again.
DAYNA: Coming back?
TARRANT: Yes, so long as Soolin can work it before they're out of range.

[Flight deck]

SOOLIN: Yes or no?
ZEEONA: Yes.
SOOLIN: Get a bracelet and stand in there. (into communicator) Scorpio to base, we're teleporting now.

[Xenon base communications room]

DAYNA: Welcome back.
VILA: Come to stay this time?
(Tarrant takes her hand)
ZEEONA: (to Vila and Dayna) Thank you.
(Tarrant kisses her and they leave)

[Scorpio in flight]

[Flight deck]

AVON: I can't see anything to worry about back there.
SOOLIN: Oh, thanks for checking anyway.
AVON: Where is our passenger? ...You've sent her back, haven't you?
SOOLIN: She wanted to go.
AVON: And you helped her.
SOOLIN: Zukan need never know. He saw her come aboard and as far as he's concerned she still is. When he gets back to Betafarl he'll think she's simply disappeared again. We know nothing about it.
AVON: He'll never believe that.
SOOLIN: But you lie so well.
AVON: ...We're going back.
SOOLIN: If we do, Zukan will know for certain.

[Xenon base communications room]

(on a monitor technicians are seen working in the freight bay)
DAYNA: Almost there.
ZUKAN: Another day. The programming will take longer.
DAYNA: Will it be ready to test-run by the time Scorpio gets back?
ZUKAN: I hope so. ...Has Avon arrived yet?
DAYNA: By this evening.
ZUKAN: ...Betafarl ...has perpetual day. ...Did you know?
DAYNA: No.
ZUKAN: It never sleeps. ...Perpetual light. ...All that energy. ...There are times when I miss the darkness. ...It is hard to live always in the light. ...I shall leave this evening, there's little more I can contribute here.
DAYNA: Well, won't you stay for the test run?
ZUKAN: My people will. I have confidence enough in them.
(he leaves and Dayna activates the communicator)

[Scorpio in flight]

DAYNA [OC]: Base to Scorpio. Scorpio, do you read?

[Flight deck]

SOOLIN: (into communicator) Scorpio to base, we hear you, Dayna. Go ahead.
DAYNA: (on communicator) Zukan to depart base for Betafarl in three hours. I say again, Zukan thirty-two hours behind you. Do you understand?
AVON: Only too well.
DAYNA: Happy landings. Out.
AVON: He's going to get here and discover that his daughter is nowhere to be found before we've even finished loading.
SOOLIN: Unless we get a move on.
AVON: If it comes to a choice between the alliance and Zukan's revenge, don't think that I won't sacrifice you!

[Zukan's ship]

FINN: Up to power.
VILA: (on communicator) You're clear for lift off, Zukan.
ZUKAN: (into communicator) I salute you all.

[Xenon base communications room]

(Vila and Dayna are watching a monitor which shows a scrolling list of alphanumeric characters. Tarrant and Zeeona link hands and leave)

[Zukan's ship leaving Xenon]

[Zukan's ship]

FINN: Glad I won't be down there half an hour from now.

[Xenon base crew room]

(Vila is pouring drinks. He gives one to Dayna. Tarrant and Zeeona come in)
VILA: Ah, you're just in time.
(he hands them drinks)
ZEEONA: Thank you.
VILA: When your father finds out he'll probably incinerate us all. Do you realise that?
ORAC: Someone would seem to have anticipated him.
TARRANT: Orac?
ORAC: Scans indicate a foreign object in the teleport bay. My calculations suggest that it is an explosive device.
DAYNA: A bomb?!
ORAC: Precisely.
(they all rush out)

[Xenon base communications room]

TARRANT: I can't see anything. Where? ...Where, Orac?
ORAC: It's at floor level on the right-hand side.
(as Tarrant reaches the teleport bay there is an explosion which knocks him to the floor. There are more explosions around the base including in both entrances. In the crew room a large girder falls onto Orac. An alarm is sounding. They all get up)
VILA: What's happening?
DAYNA: Channel one dead. ...Two dead.
TARRANT: Kill that alarm, somebody. Vila, switch it off!
DAYNA: We've got channel five.
(on the monitor technicians are seen running about. Dayna finds some views of devastation)
TARRANT: Is that all?
DAYNA: It's all the entrances and exits.
TARRANT: We've been boxed in.
DAYNA: Yes, but...
TARRANT: Extent of damage, Orac?

[Xenon base crew room]

TARRANT: ...Orac?
(as Tarrant comes in Orac's sounds die away)

[Zukan's ship approaches a stationary cruiser]

SERVALAN [OC]: Is it well met, Zukan?

[Zukan's ship]

ZUKAN: (into communicator) Well met it is, ...Commissioner.
(Finn opens the door and lets Servalan in)
ZUKAN: This is Finn. Without him I couldn't have done it.
SERVALAN: If you had only told me the whereabouts of their base you needn't have done anything. ...Are they dead?
ZUKAN: Dying ...now.

[Xenon base corridor]

(Vila and Tarrant are climbing over rubble)
VILA: We don't know how far it goes.
TARRANT: We're about thirty yards from the mouth of the tunnel, it can't go any further than that.
(they continue along, past more debris, hanging ducts and cables)
VILA: It could take us anything up to four days to dig that far.
TARRANT: At least we've got enough air. The ventilation system's still functioning.
VILA: Well, that doesn't make sense either. Why should someone block us in but leave us air to breathe?
DAYNA: (on communicator) Tarrant ...get back here.
TARRANT: (into bracelet) Why?

[Xenon base communications room]

(Vila and Tarrant rush in)
DAYNA: Look!
(a monitor shows the freight bay. Technicians are being killed by an intense sparkle effect)
ZEEONA: That was Jarder.
VILA: What the hell is doing that?
DAYNA: Whatever it is it's coming towards us, it's getting nearer all the time.
VILA: What is it, Tarrant?
TARRANT: I don't know.
VILA: What's causing it?
ZEEONA: I don't know. The explosions..
(Tarrant is looking at a hanging ventilation duct damaged in the explosion)
TARRANT: The air. It's in the air, that's why the ventilation system's been left working. Whatever it is it's being carried in the air!
VILA [OC]: The air?
ZEEONA: Oh.
TARRANT: Switch it off.
DAYNA: What?
TARRANT: Everything off! All life support systems off. We've got to stop the air circulating.
(Vila, Dayna and Tarrant frantically operate controls. The lights dim)
ZEEONA: ...Are we safe?
TARRANT: How do I know?
VILA: How much oxygen have we got down here? How long can we last without fresh air?
TARRANT: Eighteen, twenty hours.
DAYNA: And how long to dig our way out?
TARRANT: Anything up to four days.
VILA: Oh no.
DAYNA: Oh well, I was never very good at maths, but...
VILA: You don't have to be. ...We're dead.

[Zukan's ship]

SERVALAN: You know the composition of the antitoxin. You didn't leave without obtaining that. That's why you wouldn't tell me the location of their base, so that you would have a chance to get it.
ZUKAN: Perhaps.
SERVALAN: Then immunise your people if you do not trust me.
ZUKAN: And Khom, Herriol, Tarl?
SERVALAN: And the rest. ...Yours to take, ...yours to keep. ...I gave you my word.
ZUKAN: Except I know how worthless words are.
SERVALAN: Too late. You can't undo what you've done, so you have little choice but to trust me.
DAYNA: (on communicator) Base to Scorpio. Base to Scorpio. Avon, come in please. Base to Scorpio, do you copy?
SERVALAN: Someone isn't dead.
ZUKAN: They soon will be. That base is sealed like a tomb.
SERVALAN: What if Avon heard?
ZUKAN: He's been on Betafarl for three hours. He'll have left Scorpio by now.

[Betafarl surface]

(Avon and Soolin are in a sandy waste with high ridges around)
SOOLIN: Here?
AVON: According to Zukan's coordinates which were confirmed by flight control.
SOOLIN: There's nothing here. No vegetation, no crop pickers, no harvesters. ...Nothing.
AVON: We've been tricked.
SOOLIN: Mm, ...but why?
(as they move on Federation guard rises from hiding in a pile of sand. He goes after them and shoots at them with his rifle. They fall to the ground and then find temporary cover. More guards fire from a ridge. Others somersault and jump from the ridges. They move on and find more cover)
AVON: Federation guards.
SOOLIN: You know what that makes Zukan, don't you?!
AVON: I know what it makes us!
(they bring down three guards before moving on down. Avon downs two more guards. Soolin sees four more approaching from another direction and turns her gun on Avon)
SOOLIN: (to Avon) Drop your gun. ...Drop it.
(one of the four fires a shot in the air and Avon drops his gun)
SOOLIN: (to the guards) Don't shoot. ...Don't shoot.
(a guard with a rifle runs up and throws her gun to the ground. He knocks Avon to the ground with his rifle)
SOOLIN: I am Zeeona, daughter of Zukan, ...and I give you Avon.

[Zukan's ship]

SERVALAN: It was a mistake to let Avon take your daughter. If he escapes we've achieved nothing.
ZUKAN: You do not trust your own men, Commissioner?
SERVALAN: ...It isn't a matter of trust so much as ...matching ability.
ZUKAN: Against ...one man?
SERVALAN: Against Avon.
ZUKAN: You make me wonder if I didn't choose badly. You fear him. He and I, ...together, we could have been invincible.
SERVALAN: Really?
CAPTAIN: (on communicator) Commissioner.
SERVALAN: (into communicator) Yes, Captain?
CAPTAIN: Signal from Betafarl, Avon's been taken.
SERVALAN: ...Send me his corpse.
CAPTAIN: What about Zukan's daughter?
SERVALAN: What about her?
CAPTAIN: There's a woman with him who claims that's who she is.
SERVALAN: Tell them to let her go. ...(to Zukan) She would have to know sometime.
(she goes to leave and pauses at the airlock door which Finn has opened for her)
SERVALAN: Enjoy your new territories.
(in the airlock she attaches a small box to the wall)

[Betafarl surface]

(a guard is carrying Avon across his shoulders under escorted of another guard. Avon is dumped on the ground. Soolin with a third guard watches as the other two begin to stake Avon's hands to the ground. Four more guards appear a short distance away. Soolin holds a small device out of sight against her leg and activates it)
SOOLIN: How are they going to kill him?
(as the third guard comes up to her she thrusts the device into his stomach and he groans and doubles up. Avon flips over freeing his hands free and throws one of his guards into the other. He fights off the guards, knocking a gun from one of them. Soolin grabs the rifle from the guard she disabled and takes out the group of four. Avon picks up the gun and kills Soolin's assailant)

[Scorpio lifts off]

[Xenon base corridor]

(Vila and Tarrant are trying to move a blockage with crowbars)
VILA: Why don't we try blasting through?
TARRANT: The roof's already been weakened. Another blast could bring the lot down.
VILA: We're never going to make it like this!
(he throws down his crowbar)
TARRANT: Shut up!
VILA: We haven't got four days!
TARRANT: Maybe it'll only take four hours, or fourteen. Now help me!
(Vila picks up his crowbar)

[Xenon base communications room]

(a damage report is scrolling up on a monitor. Dayna is keying into the console)
DAYNA: Oh no! ...This machine is suggesting an airborne virus.
ZEEONA: Sorry?
DAYNA: A radioactive airborne virus.
ZEEONA: Oh. ...Radioactive airborne virus. ...But if that's what it is it'll get through to us eventually no matter what we do. ...There was a research program, on Betafarl. ...Radioactive airborne virus. ...But that means there could be only one person responsible for all this.
DAYNA: Look, there's little point in speculating about that now...
ZEEONA: It's not speculation. ...My father!

[Zukan's ship in flight]

[Zukan's ship]

FINN: Nothing for nearly three hours ...from them.
ZUKAN: They're all dead. ...Eleven good Betafarlians. ...Do you think you'll see them in your dreams, Finn?
FINN: Not me.
ZUKAN: ...I will, ...if my dreams aren't already overcrowded.
FINN: You should take dream suppressants.
ZUKAN: ...They don't help. ...I see my bad dreams in other people's eyes. ...Get me a drink.
(as Finn turns back with the drink he notices, through the glass door, the small box attached to the airlock wall)
FINN: Zukan.
ZUKAN: Get it off the wall!
(Finn goes into the airlock and picks up the box and, as he turns back to leave the airlock, Zukan closes the door. Zukan goes to the control panel and pushes a button. Above the button a sign 'DANGER! OUTER DOOR' illuminates)
FINN: Ahrgh!...
(Finn and the box fly off into space, there is an explosion and Zukan's is left spinning in space)

[Xenon base corridor]

(Vila and Tarrant shift a large slab of concrete)
VILA: Oh. Ah. Oh. I can't keep this up.
TARRANT: Stop it then, shall we? Go back to the others and tell them we've decided to die.
VILA: Well, why don't they come and do some?
TARRANT: When we need them, they will.
VILA: When?! I say we need them now.
TARRANT: When I say so!
(as Tarrant drags Vila up they see an intense pink glow approaching them through the rubble)
VILA: What is it?
(Tarrant checks with his bracelet)
TARRANT: Paraflame Five. It's lethal, get out!

[Xenon base communications room]

(Tarrant is using a scanner around the doorframe into the corridor)
TARRANT: Well, we're safe so long as the air seal on the door stays good.
DAYNA: What is Paraflame Five?
TARRANT: It's a coolant. There must have been a pipe running along the tunnel and either the explosion or the roof fall fractured it.

[Xenon base crew room]

(Tarrant, Dayna and Zeeona come in. Vila is on the table, drinking)
ZEEONA: Odd a coolant called Paraflame, it's a contradiction in terms.
VILA: Yes, isn't it? I wonder why. Perhaps we should devote our last few hours to fathoming that out.
TARRANT: Why don't you just go and crawl into that bottle. You don't want to help, you don't want to think, you're useless!
VILA: Thinking. This is it!
(Vila gets off the table and pushes Zeeona a couple of times causing her cry out)
VILA: Thanks to you and your father we're all dead.
(Tarrant drives Vila back onto the table)
TARRANT: You little runt.
(Dayna stops Tarrant)
DAYNA: Don't, Tarrant!
ZEEONA: Why hurt him for speaking the truth? ...Come on.
AVON [OC]: (on communicator) Scorpio to base. Scorpio to base. Come in base.
(they all rush out)

[Xenon base communications room]

DAYNA: (into communicator) Base to Scorpio, we're receiving you, come in.

[Zukan's ship]

(Zukan's ship continues to spin wildly out of control)
ZUKAN: (into communicator) Emergency! Mayday! Mayday! Can anybody hear me?
(there are flames and an explosion. Zukan is thrown to the floor and then gets up again)
ZUKAN: Emergency! Emergency! Mayday! Can anybody hear me?
DAYNA: (on communicator) ...enough oxygen for twelve more hours, at the most thirteen. How soon can you get Scorpio within teleport range?
AVON: (on communicator) Wait, Dayna.

[Flight deck]

SOOLIN: We can't do it.
AVON: (into communicator) Scorpio to base. It will be at least twenty hours before we can lift you off, which means that you must reduce your oxygen intake or we must think of something else.
DAYNA: (on communicator) Well, the opinion here is we've exhausted all options.
ZUKAN: (on communicator) Zukan to Avon, ...to Avon, do you...
AVON: Wait, Dayna.
ZUKAN: Zukan to Avon. ...Zukan to Avon, do you read me? ...to Avon, do you read me?
AVON: I read you, Zukan. What do you want?
ZUKAN: I can tell your people how to obtain fresh, clean air.

[Xenon base communications room]

ZUKAN: (on communicator) But before I do ...you've got to help me.
AVON: (on communicator) Help you how?

[Zukan's ship]

ZUKAN: (into communicator) I'm out of control, ...drifting, ...short on oxygen. ...Pick me up and I'll tell you how to save your people.

[Flight deck]

AVON: (into Communicator) Where are you, Zukan?
ZUKAN: (on communicator) I don't know, I've lost all computer function, but my distress beacon's on two-two-one.
AVON: Find it Slave!
SLAVE: I think I have, Master. Of course, I could be wrong.
AVON: How near?
SLAVE: Er, fifteen hours.
AVON: Zukan, you are too far away, they will be dead before we reach you.

[Zukan's ship]

AVON: (on communicator) Tell them how to get the fresh air and we will rescue you. I give you my word.
ZUKAN: (into communicator) Your word? Your word is not good enough, Avon!
AVON: They will all be dead in fifteen hours.
ZUKAN: If two of them ...volunteer to die...
(his ship begins to spin more violently)
ZUKAN: ...the oxygen they have left will last the rest of them.
AVON: If just one of them dies, for any reason at all, so do you, Zukan.
ZEEONA: (on communicator) Father, it's Zeeona, father. I'm here on the base with the others.
ZUKAN: No! ...No, no, you're not there, you're not there!

[Xenon base communications room]

ZEEONA: (into communicator) Father, if you leave us no choice, I shall volunteer to die. Tell us how to get fresh air, father.

[Zukan's ship]

ZUKAN: (into communicator) No! ...No! ...You're on Betafarl.
ZEEONA: (on communicator) I was teleported back to the base, father!
ZUKAN: No! ...No! ...You were seen on Betafarl.
AVON: (on communicator) That was Soolin. You are murdering your own daughter, Zukan,
ZUKAN: You're trying to trick me, Avon.
ZEEONA [OC]: I watched Jarder die!
ZUKAN: No, you're on Scorpio! ...You're in league with Avon!
ZEEONA I'm on the base, father, please!
ZUKAN: I don't believe you!

[Xenon base communications room]

ZUKAN]: (on communicator) I don't believe you!

[Flight deck]

AVON: (to Soolin) I think we can do it without him. (into communicator) Tarrant are you there? Tarrant?
TARRANT: (on communicator) I'm here.
AVON: Good. If it is possible to get fresh air, as Zukan says, then not all the ventilators are contaminated, so which way did the virus come at you?

[Xenon base communications room]

DAYNA: (into communicator) We think the first place affected was the freight chamber.

[Flight deck]

AVON: Slave, show me the Xenon base ventilation system.
SLAVE: At once, Master.
(a schematic of the north side appears on the viewscreen)
AVON: Good. Now, what I would have done would have been to connect the neutron bombarder to the air ventilators and reverse the flow. Instead of ...pushing air, it is sucking air, and the virus, into the whole system. ...Simple. (into communicator) Tarrant, disconnect all north side ventilators and reverse the airflow. That way you will get fresh air coming in against the contamination!

[Zukan's ship]

ZUKAN: (into communicator) You're wrong, Avon. If your man does what you've told him, ...you've killed them all for sure.
ZEEONA: (on communicator) Father, father, please!
ZUKAN: No! ...No, you're not there!
(he imagines he sees the face of his daughter out through the viewport)

[Xenon base communications room]

(the ventilation system schematic is on a monitor and Tarrant is tracing the air flow)
AVON: (on communicator) Do it, Tarrant.
ZUKAN: (on communicator) You're wrong, Avon. I'm the only one who can save them.
ZEEONA: (into communicator) Then tell us, father, tell us!
AVON: (on communicator) Do it, ...Tarrant!
VILA: Oh, get on with it. What difference does it make if he is wrong?
(Tarrant draws a small box around one part of the schematic with a light pen)
TARRANT: Power on, Dayna.
(Dayna operates several controls. The lights come up and the ventilation comes on)

[Zukan's ship]

ZEEONA: (on communicator) I am on the base, father. We have fresh air again now.
(he imagines he sees the face of Servalan out through the viewport followed by one of Zeeona. The flames intensify, he screams, and his ship explodes)

[Xenon base communications room]

(Zeeona screams)

[Flight deck]

(Tarrant teleports in and he goes over to Zeeona, they embrace and kiss)
AVON: All right, Zeeona, what's it like down there? Salvageable?
TARRANT: If we can get rid of the contamination.
VILA: Which is a pretty big 'If'.
AVON: Perhaps we could reverse the process on the neutron bombarder and use it as a neutralising filter. Is that feasible, do you think?
ZEEONA: Risky, though. It's not very stable, it could go critical.
AVON: One person must go down. Volunteer, or shall we draw lots?
ZEEONA: I'll go.
TARRANT: No! Why?
ZEEONA: Because I'm the only one who knows how to work it.
VILA: Seems reasonable.
TARRANT: Shut up, Vila!
ZEEONA: I want it to be me. It has to be me. ...(to Tarrant) Don't you understand?
TARRANT: Then I go with her.
AVON: No. ...She will go alone.
SOOLIN: Let her do it her own way, Tarrant. You'd demand the same.
DAYNA: I'll get your suit.
ZEEONA: (to Tarrant) I shall be perfectly all right.
(they kiss)
SOOLIN: I'll work the teleport.

[Xenon base freight bay]

(Zeeona finds the body of a dead technician and then goes over to the bombarder. She opens the box that she is carrying on a shoulder strap)

[Flight deck]

TARRANT: It's been too long!
VILA: Could be a faulty communicator on the suit.
AVON: (into communicator) Zeeona? ...Zeeona?
TARRANT: I'm going down.
VILA: Nothing can have happened to her.
TARRANT: How do you know?
(Vila blocks Tarrant's path)
VILA: Because she's protected from everything by the suit. Radiation, poison gas, fire, wind, rain...
AVON: Oh, let him go down.
(Tarrant goes over to Avon, looks at him and hard and then runs out. Dayna follows)

[Xenon base freight bay]

(Zeeona's body is laying on the floor with the sparkling effect on the helmet. The sparkling effect stops)
(Dayna and Tarrant come in. Dayna has a scanner)
DAYNA: It's worked, the place is clear.
(they take off their helmets and Tarrant moves further into the freight bay)
TARRANT: Zeeona! ...Zeeona!
(he sees her decomposed face)
TARRANT: Oh!
(Dayna picks up a spacesuit glove)
DAYNA: She took her glove off.
(she leaves as Tarrant looks towards Zeeona's body)