Camera Script for Rescue

Claudia:

I had the pleasure of winning one of Chris Boucher's eBay auctions last month, and today the item arrived in the mail: a camera script of Rescue. It's in shooting order rather than story order, but I'm piecing together the differences between it and the transcript.

If anyone wants to know details of the shooting order or anything else, just ask! If it went as the script indicates, it proceeded in quite a jumble from a story perspective, starting with Dayna and Tarrant going down the stairs through the end of the episode, then taking Dorian's earlier scene in the cave, then some scenes on the base... although, the *original* end of the episode was scheduled to be shot at the end. ;-)

I don't know, of course, what if any missing scenes were actually shot and what were cut before shooting.

So here's the transcript, trimmed down (because you can get the whole thing for yourself if you want); my cuts for length are marked with [snip] and marked additions in bold.

Here are what I consider significant changes, dropped scenes, etc.:


[Planet Terminal. Exterior. There is a continuous background sound, a throbbing, much like a heartbeat. Avon is kneeling on snow covered ground. He scans the terrain below with binoculars. Dayna is squatting beside him, a federation assault weapon on the ground beside her.]

DAYNAServalan told us it was an old ship.

AVONIt's what she didn't tell us that interests me.

[Snip]

SLAVEThought is beyond my humble capacities, Master.

DORIANTrue.

[[Addition]]

Increase speed by twenty percent

SLAVEYes, Master.
DORIANScan for wreckage. Analyse anything associated with the explosion pattern.
SLAVEOf course, Master. I would most respectfully point out however that there is unlikely to be anything worth salvaging.
DORIANYou're thinking, Slave.
SLAVEI'm sorry, Master. I meant to disrespect. I am your most humble slave, in all -
DORIANEnough!
SLAVEYes Master.
DORIANI expect a positive identification of the cause of that explosion within the hour Slave.
SLAVEI will do my poor best.
DORIANYou will indeed. If it was the Liberator the crew may still be alive, and helpless, down on that planet.
SLAVEA rescue mission, Master?
DORIANNot exactly, Slave.

[[Back to main script]]

[Space. Terminal is visible.]

[Planet terminal. Exterior, night. A crude camp has been made. A small fire burns in the center. Dayna, Tarrant and Avon are seated around the fire. Avon has Orac in his lap and is attempting to repair it.]

TARRANTVila rescued me?

AVONYou were injured trying to rescue Cally. He rescued you. Suddenly I am hip deep in heroes.

[snip]

VILA(enters carrying wood for the fire) Orac got a bit dented. For which he blames me. It seems I rescued the wrong one.

[[Addition]]

AVONNothing personal. It's just that Orac could have sent for help. You can't.
TARRANTNobody's perfect. What about the ship Servalan left?
DAYNAThat's a bit dented too.
VILAWe're stuck on this miserable planet for the rest of our lives.

[ANIMAL NOISES]

VILANot that that's likely to be for very long

[[Back to main script (but only for 1 line)]]

AVONFirst light, we'll make for the high ground to the south.

[[Addition]]

TARRANTIs it worth the effort?
AVONAre you ready to lay down and die?
TARRANT(RUBBING HIS HEAD) I think I already have.
VILALiberator destroyed, Cally dead, no way off this armpit of a planet. He may have the right idea.
AVONWell, you must please yourselves of course. But tomorrow morning I head south, and I'm taking the gun with me. [The snarling scream sounds again.]

VILAYou talked me into it.

[[Back to main script]]

[Planet Terminal. Exterior, morning. Avon, Vila and Dayna move single file across the snow covered ground. Dayna is carrying Orac. Avon is in the lead. He carries the Federation gun. They halt.]

AVONWhere's Tarrant?

[snip]

AVONOr visa versa.

TARRANT(grins) I'll drink to that.

[There is the sound of a weapon discharging some distance from them.]

[[Addition]]

AVONCan you walk?
TARRANTNot as fast as I can run.
AVONLet's do it.

[[Back to main script]]

[Planet Terminal. Exterior, top of the cliff. Dorian assists Dayna, then Vila. Vila groans and rubs his arms.]

TARRANT(enters) You all right?

[snip]

AVONI want it flown, not cataloged.

TARRANTNo problem.

DORIANUh, one problem. It happens to be my ship.

AVON(points the gun at Dorian) No problem.

[[Addition]]

DORIAN SUBSIDES AND, LOOKING BEATEN, SLOPES OFF TO ONE OF THE AUXILIARY CRASH COUCHES. UNSEEN BY AVON AND THE OTHERS HE SMILES TO HIMSELF.

[[Back to main script - though not for much]]

[Tarrant sits at the primary flight position. He activates a control. The flight deck seals. Dayna appears to be nervous.]

VILAIt's all right. On these old cargo ships only the main deck is pressurized in flight.

DAYNAOh, that'll be cozy.

VILAWould you rather be snuggling up to those snakes? (tries to put an arm around Dayna)

DAYNACan I think about it? (steps out of his grasp) And let you know.

TARRANT(to Dorian) Anything special I should watch for?

DORIANYou want me to help you hijack my own ship?

TARRANTListen, if I get it wrong, you'll be as dead as the rest of us.

DORIANYou're the pilot. You work it out.

[[Addition]]

(GLANCES AT AVON) I don't give much for my chances either way. [[Back to main script]]

[The ship lurches suddenly. There is the sound of explosions outside the ship.]

[snip]

[Exterior. Scorpio in flight.]

[Planet Xenon. Interior. Control room, Xenon base. An alarm is sounding. A blonde woman enters. She is Soolin. She shuts down the alarm and opens a comm channel.]

SOOLINScorpio. Scorpio this is base. Do you copy? (waits for a response) Scorpio. Scorpio this is base. Do you copy?

[Exterior. Scorpio in flight.]

[[Addition]]

VILAPerhaps we should answer.
DAYNATerrific idea Vila. Let's warn them we're coming.
VILAThey might be friendly.
DAYNAYou want to take the chance?
VILAHe did save our lives.
TARRANTHe could be a bounty hunter for all we know.

[[Back to main script]]

SOOLIN(v.o.) This is Xenon base calling Scorpio. Do you copy?

[snip]

[Planet Xenon. Interior, Xenon base control room.]

SOOLINAbout time, Dorian. I have satellite visual confirmation. Orbit and landing sequences are green. Confirmed?

DORIAN(v.o.) Confirmed.

[[Addition]]

DORIANSorry I kept you waiting Soolin. Small problem... (AVON IS READY TO KILL HIM)
DORIAN... with the communicator.
SOOLINApology accepted. Out.

[[Back to main script]]

[Interior. Scorpio flight deck.]

DORIAN(turns to Avon) You'll never get away with it, you know.

[snip]

[Interior Xenon base lounge. Soolin sets out glasses on a tray. She stops, regards the tray and then takes another glass from the shelf. She begins to pour wine into the glasses. Dorian leads the group into the lounge. Dorian grabs her and kisses her.]

[[Addition]]

[[Here's a nice bit from the camera script:]]

DORIAN PUTS ORAC DOWN AND MOVES TO KISS SOOLIN LIGHTLY ON THE CHEEK.

IT IS A GESTURE OF GREETING RATHER THAN AFFECTION

[[Back to main script]]

SOOLINAre you all right?

[snip]

TARRANTWhat do you think?

AVONI think his taste in wine and women is impeccable.

[[Addition]]

TARRANTWhy do I get the feeling he's been in complete control of everything we've done right from the beginning?
AVONBecause you're not as stupid as you look Tarrant. None of us are, with one possible exception. (THEY LOOK TOWARDS VILA WHO IS PROFERRING HIS EMPTY GLASS FOR A RE-FILL)

SOOLINI see you're a connoisseur.
VILAI appreciate the best, whenever I can get it. (CONFIDENTIALLY) Tell me Soolin what exactly does a ... companion ... do?
SOOLINNothing you could cope with.
VILA(DISCOMFITED) Ah. (SOOLIN MOVES AWAY)

DAYNA(TO VILA - GRINS) Next question.
VILACan I help it if I've got a weakness for lady gunfighters.
DAYNAYou've got a weakness for ladies of any description.
VILAI'm just naturally affectionate.
SOOLINIf you'd like to follow me. (SOOLIN MOVES TO EXIT. THE OTHERS MOVE TO FOLLOW.
FEATURE ORAC WHERE DORIAN LEFT HIM.
IT IS CLEAR THAT THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN HIM)

[[Back to main script though not for much]]

[Planet Xenon. Interior. A room below the base. There is a circular staircase leading upward. A mist hangs near the floor. There is a constant sound rising and falling. The walls of the room seem to glow with a dim, bluish light. A hatch opens in the ceiling above the staircase and Dorian descends. His appearance is altered considerably. He seems to have aged. He moves with difficulty.]

DORIANAre you there? I have them. They're here.

[At the other side of the room is a natural archway. A dark shape is outlined in the dimness. The shape moves toward Dorian.]

DORIANThat's close enough. (coughs) One of the group was killed before I got there. But the group remains. Bound together by time and pain and the need to survive. The death of the telepath will make it more difficult. But they can still be used. (coughs)

CREATURESoon. It must be soon.

[Dorian convulses, screams and collapses on the floor. Opposite him, the creature writhes in pain.]

[[Addition]]

CREW ROOM. NIGHT.

(THE ROOM IS DESERTED, THE MAIN LIGHTING SWITCHED OFF. AFTER A MOMENT AVON ENTERS WARILY. HE HAS CHANGED INTO HIS NEW COSTUME. HE STILL CARRIES ONE OF DORIAN'S HANDGUNS. HE CROSSES TO WHERE ORAC WAS LEFT. IT IS NO LONGER THERE.

[[Back to main script]]

[Interior, corridor Xenon base. Vila is attempting to open the door to the landing silo. Tarrant and Dayna stand watching him.]

[snip to the end]

VILAI'm going to give up drinking, you know. It'll be pink asteroids next.

[[Addition]]

CREW ROOM. NIGHT. (AVON AND VILA SIT WITH DRINKS. TARRANT ENTERS)

TARRANTNo sign of her anywhere.
AVONAs long as she can't get to the ship.
VILANo-one can get to the ship.
TARRANTYou've got time to work on that now. (DAYNA ENTERS WITH MAGAZINES FOR THE GUNS)

DAYNAI found the armoury.
AVONYou know this base could be quite useful to us. It's outside Federation territory. It's well hidden.
VILA(RAISING HIS GLASS) Well equipped.
DAYNAAnd there's a lady gunfighter running around loose. Not to mention a very weird basement.

(AVON PICKS UP A SMALL REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE AND THUMBS THE BUTTON.

AFTER A MOMENT THERE IS THE DISTANT MUFFLED SOUND OF AN UNDERGROUND EXPLOSION)

AVONStrike one basement.
(TO VILA) Now I suggest you get that landing silo open.
(TO DAYNA AND TARRANT) And you find Soolin.
(HE RISES) While I get the teleport system working.

TARRANTDo you think you can?
AVONYes.
TARRANTDo you want us to kill Soolin?
AVONDo you think you can?
TARRANT(GRINS) No.
AVONThen don't. (AVON PAUSES IN THE DOORWAY AND LOOKS BACK AT THEM)

AVONDorian might have been telling the truth about himself and that room, but he was insane you know, quite insane.

(AVON EXITS)

DAYNAWhat brought that on?
TARRANT(GRINS) Something Dorian said. Avon belongs to us, as we belong to him.
VILAOh well I agree with him.
DAYNADorian?
VILAAvon. Dorian was obviously insane.

[[Back to main script (there is no more however)]]

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