@4BLAKE'S 7



@31. "The Way Back"

by @2Terry Nation





@4Dramatis Personae




@1Jenna Stannis

Vila Restal

Bran Foster

Ravella

Dal Richie

Dev Tarrant

Ven Glynd

Doctor Havant

Alta Morag

Arbiter

Clerk of Court

Computer Operator

Guard

Tel Varon

Maja



@4Uncredited:



@1Public address

Public address (male)

Assorted rebels

Trooper

Female prisoner



*? = unintelligible





    P.A.:  Attention. Level thirty-eight walkways will be closed for one

           hour. Level thirty-eight cardholders must report to Central

           immediately.



 RAVELLA:  Roj.

   BLAKE:  Ah, Ravella.

 RAVELLA:  Did you have any trouble?

   BLAKE:  No.

 RAVELLA:  You followed the route I gave you?

   BLAKE:  Yes. Can we get on with it please.

 RAVELLA:  Come on.

    P.A.:  [In the background, mostly unintelligible] *? engineering of

           the new *? of the new discovery *?

 RAVELLA:  And eating and drinking -- you've managed to do without?

   BLAKE:  Well, since you were so insistent I've done without food or

           drink for thirty-six hours.

 RAVELLA:  How do you feel?

   BLAKE:  Hungry and thirsty, of course.

 RAVELLA:  Nothing else?

   BLAKE:  Ravella, is this some kind of practical joke?

 RAVELLA:  It's no joke.



    P.A.:  The President will be answering questions about new

           population control *?measures



 RAVELLA:  All our food and drink is treated with suppressants. Going

           without for a day and a half, they should be wearing off.

   BLAKE:  [Laughs] Not that again.



           [Richie kisses Ravella on the cheek.]

 RAVELLA:  Dal Richie, Roj Blake.

  RICHIE:  Been looking forward to meeting you. I hear your family

           settled on the Outer Planets?

   BLAKE:  Brother and a sister on Ziegler Five.

  RICHIE:  You hear from them much?

   BLAKE:  I get vistapes a couple of times a year. Look, what is this?

           I was told you had some news about them.

  RICHIE:  No, not me. The man we're going to meet. He especially asked

           us to contact you so he could tell you in person. He was on

           Ziegler Five a few months ago.

   BLAKE:  Where is he now?

 RAVELLA:  Waiting for us. Outside.

   BLAKE:  Outside?

  RICHIE:  Don't worry. It's not all that bad. The air's fresh though it

           smells different.

   BLAKE:  You realize going outside is a Category Four crime?

  RICHIE:  We do know the law.

 RAVELLA:  Yes, so whatever you see tonight you keep silent about.

  RICHIE:  Well? Are you coming?

   BLAKE:  Let's get on with it. [Richie fiddles around.] What are you

           doing?

  RICHIE:  Picking the lock.

           [Ravella looks behind.]

   BLAKE:  What is it?

 RAVELLA:  It's nothing.

  RICHIE:  Now, *?  If you open the door, it registers on the computer.

           These are circuit integrators. Now you could steal this

           entire section of wall and the machine would cheerfully

           ignore you. Ready?

 RAVELLA:  [To Blake] Now look: you report anything to the authorities,

           you'll find yourself implicated more deeply than you imagine.



           [They stop at the stream.]

 RAVELLA:  [To Blake] Try some.

   BLAKE:  Hm?

 RAVELLA:  It's natural water. [Blake tries some.] The stuff we get's

           been recycled a thousand times [Blake spits it out] -- and

           it's dosed with suppressants.

  RICHIE:  I'll check ahead. Watch my signal.

 RAVELLA:  Okay.

   BLAKE:  Improves the flavor if nothing else.

 RAVELLA:  Doesn't it bother you that you spend your life in a state of

           drug-induced tranquility?

   BLAKE:  We gonna go across that?

 RAVELLA:  Yeah.

   BLAKE:  Why should the Administration try to drug us?

 RAVELLA:  To keep control. They've been stepping up the suppressants

           because the number of dissidents is growing.

   BLAKE:  Should I take this? [Picks up a flashlight]

 RAVELLA:  They've seen what's happening and they want to stop it.

   BLAKE:  Stop what?

 RAVELLA:  Don't you know? Don't you remember anything about the

           treatments they gave you?

   BLAKE:  I've had no treatments.

 RAVELLA:  I thought there'd be something left, some trace of memory.

   BLAKE:  What about my memory?

 RAVELLA:  There's the signal.



   BLAKE:  They're Outsiders!

  RICHIE:  Quite a few of them are working for our cause now.

   BLAKE:  It's illegal to have contact with anyone who lives outside

           the city.

  RICHIE:  Right, but then this whole meeting is illegal.

   BLAKE:  I'm leaving. I want nothing to do with this. You told me I

           was going to meet a man who could tell some news about my

           family.

  RICHIE:  Hold on, Blake. You've got to hear Foster.

   BLAKE:  I don't want to hear Foster. I should report everything I've

           seen to the Administration.

 RAVELLA:  You can't do that.

   BLAKE:  Why not?

  RICHIE:  We've left documents in the city with your signature on them.

           Forged, of course, but convincing enough to implicate you in

           everything we've been doing.

 RAVELLA:  Don't have any doubts. One word in the wrong place can make

           you look as guilty as any of us.

  RICHIE:  And looking guilty is all it takes.



  FOSTER:  Roj! Good to see you. It's been a long time. [Persists] Bran

           Foster. Oh! Stupid of me. You don't remember. You had the

           treatment.

   BLAKE:  Look, what is this? I've had no treatments, my memory is

           fine. Now what is going on?

  FOSTER:  Now, now, now. I know, I know, it's difficult for you. Then,

           too, it's difficult for those of us who knew you before. But

           the important thing is, you're here.

 TARRANT:  [In background] I had trouble getting out of the city, the

           route was crowded. For a while there I thought we'd been

           infiltrated.

  FOSTER:  Dev Tarrant's here. Dev! You remember Roj Blake.

 TARRANT:  Oh, yes. We met before.

  FOSTER:  [To Blake] Dev Tarrant. [To Tarrant] Ah, I'm trying to

           persuade Roj to rejoin us.

 TARRANT:  Yes. [Takes his leave]

  FOSTER:  Now, I want you to listen to what I have to tell you. After

           that you can do whatever you like.

   BLAKE:  All right. Now what do you know about my family?

  FOSTER:  Well, I'll come to that. There are other things you should

           know first.

   BLAKE:  Forget the other things. Just what do you know?

  FOSTER:  They're dead. Your brother and sister are both dead. I'm

           sorry, I didn't intend you to hear it like that. They were

           executed four years ago just after your trial.

   BLAKE:  Executed? No, that's not true. I hear from them regularly. I

           had a vistape only a month ago.

  FOSTER:  Those tapes are fakes. Part of the treatment to keep your

           memory suppressed. Now, this isn't going to be easy for you,

           but I'm going to have to tell you things about yourself of

           which you have no memory. Will you hear me out?

   BLAKE:  Go on.

  FOSTER:  Four years ago, there was a good deal of discontent with the

           Administration. There were many activist groups. But the only

           one that really meant anything was led by Roj Blake. You and

           I worked together. We were outlawed and hunted. But we had

           supporters and we were making progress. Then someone betrayed

           us, I still don't know who. You were captured. So were most

           of our followers. They could have killed you. But that would

           have given the Cause a martyr. So instead they put you into

           intensive therapy. They erased areas of your mind, they

           implanted new ideas. They literally took your mind to pieces

           and rebuilt it. And when they'd finished, they put you up and

           you confessed. You said you'd been "misguided." You appealed

           to everyone to support the Administration, hound up the

           traitors. Oh, they, they did a good job on you. You were very

           convincing. And then they took you back and erased even that.

   BLAKE:  What happened to the others?

  FOSTER:  In their benevolence, the Federation allowed them to emigrate

           to the Outer Worlds. Like your family, they were executed on

           arrival.

   BLAKE:  Why are you telling me this now?

  FOSTER:  Because we're preparing to move again. And if it were known

           that you were with us, we'd get more support. How do you

           feel? Will you help us again?

   BLAKE:  I don't know. I'm not even sure that I believe you.

  FOSTER:  It's all true.

   BLAKE:  I have to think.

  FOSTER:  Of course. We'll talk after the meeting.

   BLAKE:  Hmm.

 TARRANT:  What do you think?

  FOSTER:  I don't know. There's not much left of the man I knew. We'll

           see. All right, let's get started, shall we?

 TARRANT:  [Announcing] All right, everybody, come on. Let's start the

           meeting now. You come over here and make a group.



  FOSTER:  Thank you for turning up. Now we all know the risks that

           we're running in being here, so I'll be as brief as possible.

           You've probably heard that the settlers in the Outer Worlds

           are rightly demanding greater autonomy. If we can help to

           unify their voices, the Administration will have to listen.



           [Foster then says something in the background that's only

           partly intelligible*? but I think it's a straight repetition

           of the last two lines.]



  FOSTER:  The security forces are already overstretched. If we can step

           up our campaign of civil disobedience here on Earth, they

           will have to concentrate their forces here, and that will

           give the Outer Worlds much more freedom of action. Now we

           must aim to have at least one world declare its independence

           within the next two years.

  REBELS:  Hear hear.



           [Again, Foster says something that's mostly unintelligible*?

           in the background, but I think it's just a repetition of his

           last two lines.]

 TROOPER:  [V.O. on comm link] Unit Three, move in.



  FOSTER:  Now, I think most of you know my old friend Dev Tarrant. Dev

           will give you details of how we can all help.

 TARRANT:  We've got to cause as much disruption as possible in the food

           manufacturing division. There's nothing more effective than

           ration cuts to cause unrest. I've worked out methods by which

           this disruption can be implemented.

           [Enter troopers.]

  FOSTER:  Now, do not attempt to resist arrest. No matter what the

           provocation, we must not resort to violence. We claim our

           rights as citizens, and demand to be treated as civil

           prisoners.



  HAVANT:  You're obviously suffering from a severe emotional

           disturbance. We must try to unravel this fantasy.

   BLAKE:  It is NOT a fantasy.

  HAVANT:  Of course it isn't.

   BLAKE:  [Looks up] Do you believe me?

  HAVANT:  To you it isn't a fantasy.

   BLAKE:  [Several beats] Get out! Leave me alone.

  HAVANT:  Reality is a dangerous concept. Each one of us interprets it

           in a slightly different way. Every sense impression is

           filtered by the brain and altered, sometimes just a little,

           sometimes completely, to fit our individual model of what the

           world is about. If that model should be challenged ...

   BLAKE:  [Has started chanting over and over to himself] I am NOT

           insane. I am NOT insane ...

  HAVANT:  No. You must put that thought completely out of your mind.

           You've had a shock.

   BLAKE:  [Stops chanting] Yes.

  HAVANT:  We must work together to uncover what that shock was. I'm

           going to prescribe a mild sedative --

   BLAKE:  No drugs!

  HAVANT:  -- a mild sedative to help you to sleep. You must rest.

   BLAKE:  No! No drugs.

  HAVANT:  All right, no drugs. Now try not to think anymore. Don't

           worry, we'll get it sorted out.



   BLAKE:  I can't remember. I can't remember!



   GLYND:  Can he break through the memory blocks, Dr. Havant?

  HAVANT:  It's unlikely. We don't eradicate memory, of course, merely

           make it inaccessible. But in the normal healthy mind the

           barriers are impenetrable. Should he suffer anything like a

           nervous breakdown, where all the mental circuitry

           malfunctions, as it were, then he might just possibly find a

           route into his past.

   GLYND:  Mm. That might just possibly prove something of a problem.

  HAVANT:  Can't he be eliminated?

   MORAG:  No, he's a symbol of opposition to the Administration.

  HAVANT:  So?

   GLYND:  We've done cross-sectional psych readings, which show that a

           high percentage of people, particularly the younger ones,

           believe that Blake's trial was a showpiece, that his

           statements were rigged.

   MORAG:  His death could be used by the dissidents. They need a hero.

           Alive or dead, Blake could be it.

  HAVANT:  Difficult. I suppose my department could infect him, some

           rapidly terminal disease. Would his natural death help?

   GLYND:  I don't think so.

   MORAG:  What we need is something to discredit him. If he could be

           deported to Cygnus Alpha ....  Doctor, am I right in thinking

           you can create experiences, implant them into a subject, who

           will then believe that they really happened?

  HAVANT:  Of course. In fact, creating an illusion of reality is quite

           simple.

   MORAG:  Good. Then I think we can totally destroy Blake's credibility

           and get him sentenced. But I'd like to do a feasibility

           check. Doctor, would you come with me please.

  HAVANT:  As you wish.

   GLYND:  I want to bring charges soon, Morag.

   MORAG:  Oh, I shall report back.



   GLYND:  You heard?

 TARRANT:  I heard.

   GLYND:  Satisfied?

 TARRANT:  Not yet. He can identify me. My whole operation is at risk.

           I'll be satisfied when the risk is eliminated.



   GLYND:  Varon. Come in. [Varon does so.] Do sit down.

   VARON:  Thank you.

   GLYND:  You know Morag, don't you?

   VARON:  Yes. Morag.

   MORAG:  Varon.

   GLYND:  I've got a defense assignment for you. Not a very pleasant

           one, I'm afraid.

   VARON:  [Takes a plastic flimsy from him] Eh.

   GLYND:  Morag is prosecuting.

   MORAG:  The evidence is indisputable. If I were you, I should

           concentrate on the mitigation.

   VARON:  Mm.

   GLYND:  Varon, I'm aware that I needn't say this to you of all

           people, but I will say it because I feel so very strongly

           about this case. I want you to do everything in your power to

           help the man. Our first concern must be to see that he has

           justice.



    P.A.:  [V.O.] Security clear on cell unit M-three for Justice

           Department access.



   VARON:  I'm Tel Varon, Justice Department. I've been assigned to

           defend you.

   BLAKE:  I don't need a defense. I'm going to plead guilty.

   VARON:  Come now. Certainly the evidence against you is strong --

   BLAKE:  I just want to make a statement in open court. I want those

           responsible for the massacre brought to trial.

   VARON:  I'm sorry?

   BLAKE:  There can be no justification for deliberate murder.

   VARON:  There's nothing in the charges about murder. There are a

           number of other counts. Assault on a minor, attempting to

           corrupt minors, moral deviation ...

   BLAKE:  Let me see that! [He gets up. Varon presses the sheet against

           the glass. He reads it.] All involving children! None of this

           is true!

   VARON:  Of course not. That's why you surprised me when you said

           you'd plead guilty.

   BLAKE:  [Splutters] Not to this, not to these charges.

   VARON:  They are the only ones that have been brought against you.

           And I must tell you frankly the evidence against you is very

           damaging.

   BLAKE:  Well, if there is any evidence, it's been faked!

   VARON:  I've had the opportunity of talking to the children -- that

           is, the prosecution witnesses -- and they do seem very

           certain of their facts.

   BLAKE:  Oh, yes, yes. Yes, their briefing would have been perfect.

   VARON:  If I may, I'd like to outline how I think we should conduct

           your case.

   BLAKE:  [In the background behind Varon's lines] They set me up

           beautifully.

   VARON:  There is a possible approach if we could cite your record:

           your breakdown after your involvement with those illegal

           political groups, the remorse that you felt, the guilt you

           carried has placed you under an enormous strain. And we can

           submit that these assaults, these aberrations were carried

           out whilst you were mentally unbalanced.

   BLAKE:  I will offer no defense, but I will plead not guilty.

   VARON:  These are grave charges. Without extenuating circumstances,

           you might face deportation. A mental institution would be

           better than spending the rest of your life on Cygnus Alpha.

   BLAKE:  [With deliberation] I will offer no defense. Right?

   VARON:  Won't you reconsider?

   BLAKE:  Even if you could prove me innocent, the charges have been

           made. I've got to hand it to them. [At the security camera]

           You've done a brilliant job!!



   VARON:  Good morning.

   BLAKE:  I've had a chance to think things through. It's vital that I

           have the opportunity to make that statement to the open

           court.

   VARON:  Well, that's up to the Arbiter. It's not usual.

   BLAKE:  There's no way you can prove my innocence, is there?

   VARON:  You've given me no chance to try.

   BLAKE:  IS THERE?

   VARON:  It is doubtful.

   BLAKE:  I am innocent.

   VARON:  I've spoken to the children. Their statements were all

           verified by lie detector. And that puts them beyond dispute.

   BLAKE:  [Motions for him to sit down] The Administration has gone to

           enormous trouble -- I mean, they've even put themselves at

           risk. There must be a number of people involved who know the

           truth. Now why, WHY would they take that chance?

   VARON:  There's no possible reason that I can think of.

   BLAKE:  Look, I know you've heard the evidence, but just for the

           moment, assume that I am innocent.

   VARON:  All right.

   BLAKE:  Now at first, I thought they wanted to silence me because I

           was the witness to the murder of twenty people. The only

           witness.

   VARON:  If they're as ruthless as you suggest, then why didn't they

           simply eliminate you?

   BLAKE:  Because I was something of a political figure -- or so you

           told me.

   VARON:  It's true, you, you had a considerable following, but then

           you publicly denounced your whole movement and pledged

           support to the Administration. It's suggested there are still

           people who secretly believe you were coerced into that

           statement.

   BLAKE:  Exactly. And my death would merely reinforce those beliefs.

           It, it's exactly the same as if I were arraigned for being at

           a proscribed political meeting. And so they trump up these

           charges against me.

   VARON:  If it were true, do you realize the implications of what

           you're saying? It would mean there is corruption at a high

           level of the Administration.



   CLERK:  Now be silent. By the authority of the Terran Federation,

           this tribunal is in session.



   CLERK:  The Arbiter will permit submissions.



 ARBITER:  Let the accused be brought forward. [This is done.] Have you

           the accused been made aware of the charges that are laid

           against you? And do you fully understand the nature and

           gravity of those charges?

   BLAKE:  Yes.

 ARBITER:  Who speaks for the Federation?

   MORAG:  I do.

 ARBITER:  Who speaks for the accused?

   VARON:  I do.

 ARBITER:  Are you both satisfied that the evidence was fairly obtained?

           statements are certified as true verified by lie detector?

   MORAG:  I am.

   VARON:  I am.

 ARBITER:  Is the accused satisfied that his defense has been fully and

           fairly prepared?

   BLAKE:  The charges against me are totally false. I am not guilty,

           therefore I offer no defense.

 ARBITER:  Your guilt or innocence is what we are here to determine. If

           there are no further submissions, the case will be examined.

           Let it be seen that the evidence for the prosecution is

           sealed and approved by the defense. Let it be seen that the

           evidence for the defense is sealed and approved by the

           prosecution. Let the matter be assessed and may justice

           prevail.



 ARBITER:  The accused has been found guilty on all charges. His crimes

           have been accorded a Category Nine rating, and as such are

           adjudged most grave. In sentencing you, the judgment machine

           has taken into account your past record, your service to the

           state, and your loyalty to the Federation. None of these have

           mitigated in your favor. It is the sentence of this tribunal

           that you be taken from this place to an area of close

           confinement. From there you will be transported to the penal

           colony on the planet Cygnus Alpha, where you will remain for

           the rest of your natural life. This matter is ended.

   BLAKE:  I wish to make a statement.

 ARBITER:  There can be no more said regarding this case. The matter has

           been assessed and judgment made.

   BLAKE:  But the evidence is false. These charges are lies.

 ARBITER:  If you have any complaint against the conduct of this

           tribunal, it must be directed through your advocate.

   BLAKE:  You gotta listen to me. [Guard injects him.]



  FOSTER:  [V.O.] They erased areas of your mind, they implanted new

           ideas. They literally took your mind to pieces and rebuilt

           it. And when they'd finished, they put you up and you

           confessed. You said you'd been "misguided." You appealed to

           everyone to support the Administration, hound up the

           traitors. Oh, they, they did a good job on you. You were very

           convincing. And then they took you back and erased even that.



PRISONER:  [Screams] Let me go! Let me go! No! No! No! No! Let me go!

           Let me go! No! No! No! No! Let me go!



    VILA:  Easy! Take it easy! I hate personal violence, especially when

           I'm the person.

   BLAKE:  Who are you?

    VILA:  I'm Vila Restal. [They shake hands.]

   BLAKE:  Where are we?

    VILA:  In a transit cell.

   BLAKE:  I don't understand.

    VILA:  You're on your way to the penal colony on Cygnus Alpha. Or

           you will be when the prison ship's refueled. Try to look on

           the bright side. It must have something. None of the guests

           have ever left early. In fact, none of them have ever left at

           all.

   BLAKE:  Why are you going there?

    VILA:  They didn't give me a choice. I steal things. Compulsive, I'm

           afraid. I've had my head adjusted by some of the best in the

           business. But it just won't stay adjusted.

   BLAKE:  A professional thief.

    VILA:  More a vocation than a profession. Other people's property

           comes naturally to me.

   JENNA:  [Sits down next to Blake. To Blake.] What's the time?

    VILA:  [Hands the watch back. To Blake.] Just taking care of it

           while you were unconscious. The place is full of criminals.

   BLAKE:  [To Jenna] Thanks.

    VILA:  [Indicating her] Jenna.

   BLAKE:  [Also to her] Blake.

   JENNA:  What's your story?

   BLAKE:  Well, I'm innocent -- of what I was charged with anyway.

    VILA:  We have something in common, then. We're all victims of a

           miscarriage of justice.

   BLAKE:  It's true!

   JENNA:  Of course it is.

   BLAKE:  What about the others?

    VILA:  Oh, a very antisocial bunch. Murderers, liars, cheats [looks

           at Jenna] ... smugglers ...

   JENNA:  [Returns the favor] -- thieves --

    VILA:  -- and they're the nice people.

   BLAKE:  How long before we take off?

   JENNA:  About twenty-four hours. If you're expecting a last-minute

           reprieve you'd better forget it. Once they get you this far

           there's no going back. You'd better get used to the idea.

           Nobody out there gives a damn about you.



    MAJA:  What time is it?

   VARON:  Late.

    MAJA:  Come to bed.

   VARON:  There's something wrong, you know.

    MAJA:  Blake.

   VARON:  Mmm. The prosecution evidence was so complete that I accepted

           it. I assumed Blake was guilty and concentrated on

           justification and appeals for mercy.

    MAJA:  Well, what else could you do? You interviewed all the

           victims, the witnesses. None of them had any doubts.

   VARON:  Perhaps they should have.

    MAJA:  What do you mean?

   VARON:  I don't know. Perhaps Blake is guilty. Even so it's ... too

           perfect.

    MAJA:  Where're you going?

   VARON:  The Public Records computer.

    MAJA:  To look for what?

   VARON:  I don't know.

    MAJA:  Give me one minute and I'll come with you.



   VARON:  I'm Tel Varon with the Justice Department. I want to run a

           check on the medical records of those children. [Hands him a

           piece of paper]

OPERATOR:  It'll have to wait until morning.

   VARON:  I want them now. [Shows ID]



OPERATOR:  Alpha three-three-seven five. C-six-one-two: Leesal, Renor.

           [It appears.]



OPERATOR:  Three-four-one-seven: Deca, Carl. [It appears.]



OPERATOR:  Three-five-one-two: Fen, Payter. [It appears.]



   VARON:  Nothing. Admissions to clinic, treatment records. It all

           tallies with the evidence. Let me have the school attendance

           records on those three.

OPERATOR:  Alpha three-three-seven-seven: Leesal, Renor.



   VARON:  Well that's interesting. He was absent from school on the

           afternoon before the assault.

OPERATOR:  C-four-one-seven: Deca, Carl.



    MAJA:  So was he.

OPERATOR:  C-five-one-two: Fen, Payter.



   VARON:  Well that makes it more than a coincidence. Now where were

           they? Give me the admissions to the Central Clinic on that

           day.

OPERATOR:  Alpha zero-zero-two-eight-eight Alpha.

           [Screen flashes red.]

    MAJA:  What's the matter?

OPERATOR:  The information has been classified. It can be obtained by

           the priority three clearance.

   VARON:  But I need that information.

OPERATOR:  Not possible.

           [Maja hands Varon a brooch.]

   VARON:  Look, the Justice Department can get a clearance [Places the

           brooch on the desk] but it takes time.

OPERATOR:  This didn't happen, of course.

   VARON:  No, of course it didn't.



   VARON:  Look at that: outpatient admission, identity unrecorded.



   VARON:  And there's another.



   VARON:  And a third.

    MAJA:  Three unidentified admissions on the date the victims weren't

           at school.

   VARON:  It's not absolute proof, but it gives us somewhere to start.

    MAJA:  But why would they have been to the clinic?

   VARON:  Mental implantation?

    MAJA:  What's that?

   VARON:  A fictional experience and emotion, implanted into the mind

           so vividly and permanently that it becomes reality.

    MAJA:  Is that possible?

   VARON:  The process was perfected years ago, but prohibited by the

           medical profession. But if it is being used again --

    MAJA:  Blake could be telling the truth.

   VARON:  And that could blow the top off the whole Administration.

           Come on.

    MAJA:  Where are we going? [They exit.]

OPERATOR:  [Into comm] Security.



   VARON:  The meeting place -- how did you get to it?

   BLAKE:  I, I don't know. It was dark.

   VARON:  Which exit did you use?

   BLAKE:  Sub forty-three.

   VARON:  Forty-three -- that would be on the north side. All right,

           where did you go from there?

   BLAKE:  Well, we walked for about three miles. There was a stream.

   VARON:  Is there anything else you can tell us?

   BLAKE:  Yes, there was a man. I saw him in court just before I passed

           out.

    MAJA:  What about him?

   BLAKE:  Well, I'd seen him before, at the meeting. I, I thought he

           was one of them. He must have betrayed them. His name was

           Tarrant.

   VARON:  Dev Tarrant?

   BLAKE:  Do you know him?

   VARON:  He works in the Outer Worlds most of the time. He's in

           Security.

   BLAKE:  He's a murderer.

   VARON:  Then he'll come to trial like everyone else in this coverup.

   BLAKE:  And what about me?

   VARON:  Well, first I'm going to talk to my superior and get a

           holding order on you so that at least you can stay here on

           Earth while I investigate.

   BLAKE:  You haven't got much time.

   VARON:  With luck I'll get you taken back to the city detention area

           within -- couple of hours.

   BLAKE:  Thanks.

   VARON:  Listen, I, I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I'll be in touch.



    VILA:  Friends in high places? Can't you put a word in for me?

   BLAKE:  I'll try and think of one.

   JENNA:  Leaving us?

   BLAKE:  I hope so. [Vila chuckles. Blake to Jenna.] Nothing personal.

           Why are you here? You didn't tell me.

   JENNA:  I was trading 'round the Near Worlds. I'm a free trader.

    VILA:  A smuggler. She's a big name. It's an honor to be locked up

           with her.

   JENNA:  I'm glad you're pleased.

    P.A.:  [V.O. male] Attention security personnel. Launch is advanced

           to seventeen hundred hours Earth time. That is all.

    VILA:  That's about eight hours.



   VARON:  Well, it looks to me as though we've all been used. It wasn't

           Morag's fault of course, but the prosecution case was based

           on a very well-organized deception.

   GLYND:  But why?

   VARON:  Well, Blake claims he was arrested after he went Outside.

   GLYND:  Outside?

   VARON:  Yeah, about three miles beyond sub forty-three.

   GLYND:  What did he go Outside for?

   VARON:  An anti-Administration meeting. He says everyone there was

           murdered by security forces.

   GLYND:  Leaving him a sole survivor?

   VARON:  No, and, and a security agent named Tarrant. He says Tarrant

           organized the massacre.

   GLYND:  Ah, I can't believe that. Still, it will bear examination.

   VARON:  Then you'll order an inquiry?

   GLYND:  Yes. You've raised a reasonable doubt. The whole matter must

           now be investigated.

   VARON:  Thank you.

   GLYND:  Now go home and get some rest.

   VARON:  Not yet. I, I'd like your authority to go Outside the city.

   GLYND:  To look for those tunnels? No, I'll have a team make a survey

           of the area.

   VARON:  All right. And Blake's holding order?

   GLYND:  You leave everything to me. Go home and get some sleep.

           You've done as much as you can.



    MAJA:  Is he going to be all right?

   VARON:  Something ... there's something not ... "to look for those

           tunnels" ... I didn't say anything about tunnels.

    MAJA:  What?



   GLYND:  [Into phone] Link me with Dr. Havant, Central Clinic.

  HAVANT:  [V.O. over comm] Doctor Havant.

   GLYND:  Ven Glynd. I think we may have a problem. Might be best if

           you were unavailable for a few days.

  HAVANT:  [V.O.] Is it a very serious problem?

   GLYND:  No, no, no, nothing that can't be handled.

  HAVANT:  [V.O.] I'll take a few days leave and stay at home.

   GLYND:  Good. Arrange to take calls only from me. Goodbye. [Breaks

           link]



    MAJA:  What does it mean?

   VARON:  It's obvious. He's involved.

    MAJA:  Then where do we go from here?

   VARON:  Higher up. Even to the President if we have to. But if we're

           going to make accusations against Glynd we'll need the

           strongest possible evidence.

    P.A.:  [V.O.] A limited supply of protein *? are now available from

           the *? section of the food dispensing units.



   VARON:  I'm going to try something. [Opens comm link] Central Clinic,

           Doctor Havant. [To Maja] Tell them it's Glynd.

  HAVANT:  [V.O. over comm] Doctor Havant.

    MAJA:  Doctor Havant, I have Glynd for you.

   VARON:  Sorry to call you again, but are there any clinical records

           about the matter? Treatment charts, medical notes?

  HAVANT:  [V.O.] Yes, of course. They're in my office. You want them?

   VARON:  Yes, I'd like to have a look at them. Leave them at reception

           and I'll have them picked up.

  HAVANT:  [V.O.] I'll get my assistant to bring them down now.

   VARON:  Thanks. Goodbye.

  HAVANT:  [V.O.] Goodbye. [Break link.]

   VARON:  We've got them. You go to the clinic and pick up the records,

           then go home and collect the tape camera.

    MAJA:  Where are you going?

   VARON:  To talk to a thief and borrow a lockpick. I'll meet you in

           two hours at sub forty-three.

   JENNA:  You're running out of time.

   BLAKE:  They've had long enough to issue a holding order.

   JENNA:  It's a long process, formalities. Don't worry, they'll get

           it. I wish someone was working for me. Till now it doesn't

           seem real. Now it's getting close, I'm getting scared.



   VARON:  Maja. [She turns.] Now, did you get everything?

    MAJA:  [Nods and hands it over] And there are the records from the

           hospital.

   VARON:  Good. [Examines them] Yes, we can build a case on these.

    MAJA:  Did you get what you wanted?

   VARON:  Come and see.

    MAJA:  I've never been Outside before.

   VARON:  I have, years ago. I didn't like it much. Very strange.

           [An alarm sounds, apparently back at security. A trooper sits

           down at a keyboard much like that for the Public Records

           computer.]



   GUARD:  All right, listen to me, all of you. Move out of here in

           single file into the embarkation channel. Come on, let's get

           started. Move! [Rousts Jenna] You! Come on. Move! Out. Pick

           up your bag. Go! Come on, faster, move. I said move. Single

           file! With one behind the other. Keep them in line, guards.

           You in front, move!



   VARON:  Stay here. I'll, uh, I'll search the bodies and get picture

           tapes.



    VILA:  [In the background as the guard is yelling] *? it's going to

           be a very very long eight months I'm telling you *? Do you

           know how to work these harnesses? you just stick it in here

           *? it's going to be a very very very long eight months

   GUARD:  All right, come on, move. Keep moving. Come on, faster. Keep

           your voice down. Find the seat that's allocated to you and

           sit in it. Fasten the harness. Stand by for liftoff. Keep

           your voices down. You, fasten your harness. You, down in the

           front. That's your seat. Come on, move. You, stop talking.

           Fasten your harness.

   BLAKE:  How long before liftoff?

   GUARD:  You in a hurry to get there?

   JENNA:  Don't worry. There's still time.



   VARON:  I've got everything we need.

    MAJA:  Enough to keep Blake here on Earth?

   VARON:  More than enough.



   GUARD:  You different to everyone else? Fasten your harness.

   BLAKE:  What?

   GUARD:  Hn. Maybe we can help you hear better. You can start with a

           couple of hours confinement. You'll be surprised how quickly

           your hearing improves. Seat eleven, confinement!



 TARRANT:  I think a transporter accident. Killed instantly. Very

           tragic. See to it, will you?



   GUARD:  Take a long look. That's the last you'll ever see of it.

   BLAKE:  No, I'm coming back.



