Scene 1
We are in the Escape 13 camp. Threre pirates (2 female and 1 male) are guarding their prisoners, all of whom are lined up a few feet apart and tied to trees or stakes in the ground. It is obvious from wounds and bruises that most have been beated or tortured in the attempt to extract information. Emily's group is marched in by three more pirates (2 male and 1 female), their hands tied behind their backs. They are promptly tied in the same manner as the others.
Female pirate (Karla): (as the latest prisoners are marched in) "Hey boss....look what we found walking around in the jungle."
Female Pirate Leader (Rana) "Good work....look's like we've got 'em all....tie 'em up over there (pointing)....And tie 'em tight."
Fade to black as the new prisoners are pushed to the ground.
Fade in to
Scene 2
The pirate Rana is questioning Emily, trying to find out if others from the West Wind survived and where they might be. Emily is tied to a tree.
Rana: "Tell me....what did you say your name was?...Emily?...What are you doing here?"
Emily: "Just trying to survive."
Rana: "Where is your ship?"
Emily: "It sank after we landed."
Rana: (slaps Emily in the face) "Liar...you have gear from your ship right here....where is your ship?"
Emily: "I told you....it sank."
Rana (slaps Emily again) "Do you like being slapped? Where is your ship?"
Emily: "I can't remember."
Rana: (searches through Emily's pack, pulling out several pieces of fruit and nuts.) "What are you collecting this stuff for?" (she takes a big bite out of a bright red and yellow fruit).
Emily: "We were looking for food to eat....I was going to analyze those tonight."
Rana: (laughs contemptuously) "Analyze them....for what, to see if they meet you minimmum daily vitamin requirement?"
Emily: "For possible poisons and toxins....bright colors in nature are often a warning of poison."
Rana blanches slightly and puts the fruit down.
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 3
Karla and Slade are questioning Jill. Her face is bruised from having been slapped several times. Slade is going through Jill's pack as the scene opens.
Karla: "Where is your main ship?....Did it crash too."
Jill: "We don't know....probably."
Karla: "How many of you survived?"
Jill: "You have us all right here....I think."
Karla: "What do you mean, you think?"
Jill: "Who knows....Perhaps there are hundreds of us around....They could be surrounding you right now....Maybe we were just the bait to lure you into our trap."
Karla: "I don't think so."
Jill: "You don't think so....or you just don't think?"
Karla: (slapes Jill) "Careful my dear....Get me mad and I'll let Slade here have you."
Slade: (Pulls the holo projector out of Jill's pack) "What's this?"
Jill: "It's a soil analyzer."
Karla: "Prove it....tell me what's in the soil right here."
Jill: "I can't....It's broken."
Slade: (tosses the holo projector to the ground, but near Trisha's feet.
Fade to black.
Fade in to
Scene 4
It is dark. All the colonists remain tied up. Five of the six pirates are gathered around a camp fire. Slade is away, guarding their prisoners.
Rana: (to the whole group) "Tell me what you found out."
Karla: "Not much....The one called Jill said we have them all....then she said there might be more of them, but I think she was telling the truth the first time."
Joel: (male pirate) "The one called Debbie told me their main ship blew up....she said they were probably the only shuttle craft to get away before it blew."
Rana: "Do you believe her?"
Joel: "She might have been tellin' the truth, but I doubt it....Sure is pretty though."
Rana: "You keep your hands off them....for now at least....they may be pretty but they're dangerously smart too."
Keena: (female pirate) "Even if there arn't any more, they have us outnumbered....we're goin' to have out hands full guarding them all."
Joel: "Why don't we just kill some of them."
Rana: "Because they're valuable alive....They may even have an intact mother ship we can use to get off this miserable planet....I don't want to hear any more talk about killing them....not while they're still valuable....But you're right about them outnumbering us....In the morning let's start back toward the rendezvous point....we'll have almost even numbers once we re-join the others....Now, everyone get some sleep....except Keena, you keep guard with Slade."
The others start to disburse, except Keena).
Keena: "They're all tied up, Rana. Slade don't need any help to guard them."
Rana: "True enough, Keena. I need you to guard Slade. He's got the hots for a few of them, especially the one called Jill....I don't really care a rat's ass what he does to her eventually, but right now we can't afford his hormones."
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 5
Jill, Emily, and Debbie have been pretending to sleep, but are watching their guard. Slade moves away enough for them to talk in a whisper.
Debbie: "Jill"
Jill: "What?"
Debbie: "I have your projector in my pack. I was able to get it when he let me loose to relieve myself....Its in my pack."
Jill: "Maybe we can use it to create a diversion of some kind and some of us can escape."
Emily: "Great....Don't let them see you have it....Did you find out anything else?"
Jill: "Yeah, that Karla is really a moron. She was trying to get me to tell them about the West Wind...And she asked me if it crashed too."
Emily: "Rana isn't too bright either. She bit right into one of those red and yellow fruits that smell like cinnamon. A perfect gunea pig. If she's still with us in the morning we'll know they're okay to eat."
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 6
It is morning. The pirates have the colonists all lined up, ready to travel. Each colonist has been given a load to carry. Rana speaks to the entire assembly.
Rana: "Listen well cause I'm only gonna say this once. We're going across the jungle to meet with some friends. The trip should take two days, no more. Its going to be bit rough but life will get better for you when we get there. Do not slow us down. If you do we might just leave you behind....And I don't think any of you want to be left behind....in the jungle....with your hands tied behind your back....So don't slow us down.....And don't fall behind either....I think you know how dangerous it can be to be alone out there....All right, we leave in ten minutes."
Cut to
Scene 7
A close up of Jill, Emily, and Debbie. Debbie slips the holo projector into Jill's pack.
Debbie: "Any ideas?"
Jill: "A couple, but we need to think it through carefully first."
Debbie: "We can't use any kind of direct attack on the pirates. It would look very real but wouldn't do any harm. Back on the West Wind Trisha and I watched a fencing match where a girl was fighting a holographic opponent. She got run clean through but it didn't do her any harm."
Emily: "How about some kind of diversion. A hit and run, guerilla -tyoe attack or something. One or two of us might escape in the confusion."
Jill: "That would be easy enough to do."
Debbie: "I doubt if these pirates are stupid enough for the whole group to go charging off after an attacker. Still, it might work if we had some place really close by to hide in."
Emily: "Well let's think about it....And go ahead and act if you come up with something....Don't worry about passing the word to everyone if it costs us an opportunity."
Rana: "Okay, everybody up, let's go."
Fade to black.
Fade in to
Scene 8
A lengthy series of shots showing various colonists and pirates trekking through the jungle, climbing over and through obstacles, wading through calf-deep mud, avoiding snakes, slapping at bugs, circling around quicksand, and so on. There is no meaningful dialogue other than "look out for that," "go around this way," and so on.
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 9
The column is still trudging along in apparently steamy-hot conditions. Rana calls a brief rest.
Rana: "Okay, take a rest....Ten minutes....Make it count."
The colonists drop to the ground to rest, putting down their packs.
The camera then focuses on Jill, Trisha, and Emily. Jill pull the holo projector out of her pack and starts to fiddle with it. Trisha positions herself so as to block the pirates view.
Cut to
Scene 10
Debbie looks up to see Slade staring at her. He smiles at her. She looks down at her pack, pretending not to notice.
Stuart: (to Debbie) "Watch out for that one....he's a sick one."
Debbie: "He's certainly disgusting enough."
Stuart: "He's dangerous Debbie....I can see it in his face....He'll rape you if he gets the chance....any of you."
Debbie: "Yeah, I know....If he tries anything he'd better know what he's doing....I wasn't born yesterday, you know."
Stuart: "I'd like to see him try something with Cammander Sen....She'd kick the crap out of him with one hand tied....maybe both."
Debbie: "All you need is one foot....and some good timing."
Stuart: "Jill looks like she's up to something."
Debbie: "They're planning something with that projector of hers....I don't know what yet."
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 11
We are back at the main encampment, outside Sue Sen's shelter. It is night. Charlie Williams arrives outside.
Charlie: Commander Sen,....Are you up?"
Sue appears in her doorway.
Sue: "Yes, what is it Charlie?"
Charlie: "Mr. Weathersby says its started.....Condition red. The dome is swelling near the summit....Red lava could appear any minute and pyroclastic flows could happen at any time.".
Sue: (looks toward the mountain across the bay) "Dead accurate as usual....look!"
They both look toward the mountain, whose peak now shows spots of red. A good-sized cauliflower cloud bursts silently upward as they watch, illuminated from below by the glow of lava.
Charlie: "Wow....I've never seen a volcano erupt before."
Sue: "I haven't either Charlie....Its a hell of a lot more impressive than any movie I've ever seen too."
There is a sharp report of what resembles distant thunder, except it becomes more or less constant - a constant rumble punctuated by deep booms. Captain Smith, now ambulatory but wearing a leg cast, enters the scene on crutches.
Captain: "Well, I guess by now everyone knows the volcano is awake....Its loud enough....Is everyone in camp?"
Sue: "Yes, except for the sentries, and they're in safe places as far as the volcano is concerned....the last patrols came in eight hours ago....Have you seen an eruption before?"
Captain: "I've seen a couple....in Hawaii....lava flows and some fountaining....but never an explosive type like this one."
Charlie: "Are you sure there's no danger?"
Captain: "Charlie, you're the one working with Weathersby....He's the expert."
Sue: "Anything is possible with a volcano, but according to Weathersby our only credible risk is from build-up of ash if the wind blows it this way."
Captain: "That volcano is twenty-five miles away. A lateral blast could travel that far but anything that large would be very, very rare."
Sue: "I'd better check on those cats."
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 12
We are back with the pirates and their prisoners. The entire column is again struggling through dense jungle. We see several views of various characters climbing over, through, or around obstacles. There is little or no dialogue but there is background music suggesting a difficult and exhausting march, reminiscent of the Bataan Death March. There are a couple of incidents of pirates pushing, striking, or whipping individual colonists. We also see at least one incident of Slade leering at Debbie.
Cut to
Scene 13
We have another view of the colonists struggling through difficult terrain. Suddenly, Debbie stumbles forward into quicksand. She immediately sinks to her waist.
Debbie: "Oh.....What?....Oh!....Helllp!"
A second or two later, Jill and Trisha, a few steps ahead of Debbie, turn to look, then both fall sideways into the quicksand also.
Jill: "Eeeeiiiiik....Oh my god....Help me....Help me."
Trisha: "Oh....Oh no....Help....Help"
Both sink rapidly past their waists. All three begin to struggle with their heavy packs, none sucessfully.
Debbie: "Help!....Help me!....Oh no!....No!....Help!"
Jill: "Help....Somebody....Somebody help me....No! No!"
Trisha: "Help me!....Oh!....Oh!....Please help me....No!"
All three sink quite rapidly to their necks. Trisha starts clawing at Jill, pushing her to her chin. Debbie seems unable to get her hands free.
Jill: "Stop....No....Don't push me under.....Argh!"
Jill is now pushed completely under except her hands, and Trisha has sunk to her chin. Debbie sinks to her face.
Debbie: Heeellllp!....Heeeeeeelllllllp!....Eeeeiiiiieeee!"
Trisha coughs or gags once as mud trickles into her mouth, then sinks under the surface. We see the horrified faces of several colonists. At the last second, Stuart reaches the edge of the quicksand and starts to reach out for Debbie. Debbie's face is covered by the quicksand, then Stuart is able to grab her by the hair. She grabs his arms and almost pulls him in head first, but another colonist grabs his feet. Stuart is pulled back and is able to pull Debbie back up. He and another colonist then pull Debbie out of the mud. Debbie collapses on the edge.
Stuart: "Somebody get a branch....a pole...."
Rana: "No branches....no poles....they're done for."
Stuart: "There's still time....We've got to save them."
Rana: "No!....You're not going to slow us down....they're dead."
Emily: "Not yet....We can save them."
Rana: (to Slade but loud enough for all to hear) "If anyone tries to probe for those two with a pole, throw them in too!"
Slade: "You heard her....get going!"
Everyone very reluctantly starts to get up
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 14
There is a quick shot of the grim-faced colonists moving forward again, then we see Rana and one of the other pirates at the head of the column.
Rana: "Slow the column down just a little....I don't care how much they suffer, but for now we need them alive."
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 15
We follow Debbie as she moves along. Stuart comes up beside her.
Stuart: "I really thought we'd lost you Deb....I've never heard of quicksand taking someone under so quickly."
Debbie: "It might have been better if I'd gone under Stu."
Stuart:"Don't talk like that Debbie....We'll get out of this mess if we don't give up."
Debbie: "Stu, you're right about that quicksand being different....That quicksand was made by Jill's projector....Jill and Trisha are fine."
Stuart's jaw drops in disbelief.
Stuart: "Debbie, I had no idea....I'm sorry."
Debbie: "Its okay....Your performance helped fool the pirates....Jill and Trisha are free....And you can count on something else unusual happening....I have no idea what through....Listen, don't tell the others unless you have to....They'll figure it out soon enough, but in the meantime if they don't know it will help sell whatever happens next to the pirates."
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 16
A shot of the quicksand. It then dissolves, revealing Jill and Trisha crouching under its former surface. They stand up and look around.
Jill: "Well, it seems to have worked."
Trisha: "Yeah, it was kind of fun too....or it might have been if it wasn't for the damn pirates.
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 17
Back with the main group. It is still night and the volcanic eruption is in full swing. We see distant views of the volcano interspersed with scenes of activity in the encampment. Towering columns of billowing ash and steam rise from the volcano. Lightening flashes continuously within the volcanic cloud, though it is not heard from the encampment. There is a constant deep rumble punctuated by even deeper booms. In all scenes in the encampment there is a constant rain of wet ash, which is already several inches deep on all exposed surfaces. We also see occasional shots of pyroclastic flows and/or mud flows (lahars) down the side of the mountain.
Scene 17a
We see Sue Sen arrive in a small cluster of shelters. She points out that ash is building up on part of a shelter and needs to be swept away.
Sue: (to a colonist) "Look, you're getting an ash buildup on the south-facing slopes. That stuff is very heavy."
Colonist: ":Thanks Commander...We'll get on it....(to other colonists) "Bill....JoAnne."
Cut to
Scene 17b
Shot of volcano
Cut to
Scene 17c
Shot of pyroclastic flow."
Cut to
Scene 17d
In the shelter occupied by Mr. Weathersby. Weathersby is looking over some instruments when an alarm sounds on another. He goes over to look at it. He studies it for a few seconds, then goes to a computer console and makes a few entries. A few seconds pass as he studies the results.
Weathersby: "Charlie....Charlie....get in here."
Charlie Williams appears a few seconds later.
Charlie: "Right here."
Weathersby: "Sound the tsunami alarm....then get up to Captain Smith....Tell him there's a fifty percent chance of a tsunami in the bay in about four hours....I don't think he has anyone down there but if he does they need to get the hell out of there fast."
Charlie turns to leave.
Cut to
Scene 17e
The camera follows Charlie as he turns out a red, flashing beacon and bell, then makes his way through the heavy ash fall along a path toward Captain Smith's shelter. He arrives to find the Captain outside in the rain, talking to George Buck. The Captain sees him coming.
Captain: "Yes, Charlie....What is it?"
Charlie: "Weathersby says there is fifty percent chance of a tsunami in four hours - that was ten minutes ago."
Captain: "Get the alarm on then."
Charlie: "It is on sir....but with all this ash and noise you can't see or hear it."
George: "Is there any danger here?"
Charlie: "Weathersby said to get everyone up from the bay if anyone is down there, that's all."
Captain: "Okay,...Tell Weathersby the bay area is clear....And tell him good work....you too, Charlie."
Charlie: "Thanks, Captain."
Charlie turns to go and the Captain turns to talk with George again.
Cut to
Scene 17f
Shot of volcanic mud flow (lahar).
Cut to
Scene 17g
Shot of colonists shoveling ash off roof.
Cut to
Scene 17h
Shot of a lava flow (AA type)
Cut to
Scene 17i
Shot of water receeding from the bay.
Cut to
Scene 17j
Shot of George entering the shelter housing Emily's bug collection. He goes to several cages and drops in some food. Then he goes to Clyde's cage. He opens the cage and picks up Clyde.
George: "How are you Clyde?" Does all this ash and noise make you nervous?"
He puts Clyde back in his cage.
Cut to
Scene 17k
We are just outside Captain Smith's shelter. Commander Sen arrives. Captain Smith sees her coming.
Captain: "Sue....It looks like that tsunami is going to be a bit early....Water is going down in the bay."
Sue: "Yes, and it could be a big one....But everyone is well out of the way....It won't affect us here."
Captain: "It looks like everything is under control for the moment....Come on, let's check on the cats."
They turn toward the path leading to the cat's enclosure, but are interrupted by a breathless Charlie Williams, running up a different path toward them.
Charlie: "Captain....Weathersby says come quick."
Sue: "What is it Charlie?
Charlie: "He didn't say....something his instruments picked up"
Captain: "Damn, I hope its not something in the volcano."
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 17l
Inside Weathersby's shelter. The Captain, Sue Sen, and Charlie arrive and enter.
Captain: "What have you got?....Is that volcano going to blow?"
Weathersby: "Volcanoes are unpredictable, Captain....but its not that....I've picked up some signals....definitely man-made."
Sue: "Pirates?"
Weathersby: "No....I don't think so....It didn't look like a radio signal....but it wasn't a natural phenomenon either....it was a continuous signal for nearly half an hour....And on an almost complete continuum of frequencies....and in an unusual part of the spectrum."
Sue: "The only thing I know of that fits that description is a laser weapon discharge....but not for half an hour!"
Weathersby: "I've never seen anything like it."
Captain: "I've never heard of anything like that either....See if you can get a recording of it if it happens again."
Charlie: "Captain, I have seen something like that."
Everyone turns incredulously toward Charlie.
Charlie: "Some of the stuff in the recreation hall of the West Wind had a signature like that."
Captain: "The recreation hall?"
Charlie: "Yes....In the high adventure simulation areas....The holo-projectors. I even have a small one of my own."
Sue: "It couldn't be....Everyone has strict orders not to use anything that produces an electromagnatic signal....And in the middle of a volcanic eruption?"
Captain: "Thank you, Charlie,...that's great news."
Sue and Weathersby together: "It is?"
Captain: "I think so....Jill had a holo-projector....I'm surprised she would use it but it means she's probably alive."
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 18
Back with the pirates and their prisoners, still trekking across the wilderness. They are now in hilly and more open country, though it is still forest. The camera stays put as the column files by, until Debbie reaches it. Stuart catches up with her as they reach the camera, which then follows them as they carefully talk.
Stuart: "Have you seen any sign of Jill or Trisha?"
Debbie: "No....there out there though....They'll try something as soon as they can."
Stuart: "Any idea what?"
Debbie: "Not really....Probably some kind of diversion I guess....All they've got to work with is the jungle itself and the holo-projector....That projector can simulate weapons but it can't actually harm anyone directly."
Stuart: "They could make a simulated attack and get the pirates to chase after them....That would mean fewer guarding us...."
Debbie: "Yeah.... One or two of us might escape in the confusion, especially if they attack in thick jungle or at night....We'd better be ready....I doubt if that projector will fool these pirates too many times.
Stuart: "I'll pass the word."
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 19
We are with Jill and Trisha in the forest. They are high on a hillside, looking down at the column of pirates and colonists, but well hidden. They both speak in a whisper.
Trisha: "What do you want to try Jill?....Tarzan and a herd of charging elephants?"
Jill: "A herd of elephants is a bit to complicated....but an appearance by Tarzan might not be too far fetched."....But we need to keep in mind that anything the projector creates can't do anyone any real harm....not directly anyway."
Trisha: "How about some kind of monster then....like that thing that ate that six-legged crocodile thing ...one or two of the pirates might panic....if we waited until their in the middle of a quicksand swamp or something we might get rid of a few of them."
Jill: "We might get rid of a few of our friends too....No, their too well armed....Probably they'd just shoot at it....then when their shots don't hurt it they'd begin to figure out what's going on....Maybe we could try the fake quicksand again...."
Trisha: "Debbie might go fo it, but that quicksand of yours was very realistic....Anyone who wasn't certain it was fake wouldn't go near it....Hell I helped you come up with the idea and I hesitated until you went in."
Jill: "We need to stage a hit and run attach of some kind. Hit them with something with a real visual impact and get their attention....But something using a primitive weapon they wouldn't really be afraid of....Get them to go chasing after a wild goose....and leave an inadequate guard behind."
Trisha: "And we need something the others will recognize as us....they might hesitate if they think an attack is real."
Jill: "Come on....we need to get ahead of them."
They begin to move forward.
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 20
A shot of several colonists climbing, with some difficulty, one at a time over a fallen log. Slade stands guard but makes no move to assist. Then it is Debbie's turn over the log. Slade grabs her arm and helps her up, then does not release her arm.
Slade: "I can help you, you know....If you're nice to me."
Debbie: " Okay, I'll try not to throw up when I see your face."
Slade: "You'll have to be nicer than that...I can make life miserable for you too....if you're not nice."
Debbie: "You're making it miserable already....I smell something dead....Is that you?"
Slade now releases her arm, then shoves her back so she must climb the log again.
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 21
The column is moving through fairly open country, with hills to both sides. There are many large trees but little undergrowth. Suddenly, an arrow strikes and sticks into a tree a few feet from one of the pirates. Everyone ducks and looks in the direction of the attack. The pirates draw their weapons. We now see a montage of quick shots.
A shot of a man in the costume of an English longbowman of the 13th century, ducking between some trees.
A shot of a pirate taking aim and firing a laser weapon.
A shot of Jill turning a dial and pushing some buttons on the projector. She aims the projector a different way.
A shot of a pirate aim. An arrow hits the ground a few feet away, but from a different direction. He aims in the new direction.
A shot of the colonists crouching low.
A shot of Rana
Rana: (pointing) "That way....get around....flank him"
A shot of Emily and Stuart, crouching.
Stuart: "A character right out of the middle ages....Its got to be out of Jill's machine."
Emily: 'Yeah, but what's she up to....that projector can't hurt anyone for real"
Debbie arrives as the above is spoken
Debbie: "She's trying to create a diversion....to draw off some of the pirates into a chase....run for it if you get the chance."
Several more shots of action are now montaged, then we see Debbie crawling off through some brush.
We see a shot of Rana as she realizes the colonists will try to e scape.
Rana: "Slade....never mind Robin Hood....Guard the prisoners....Shoot anyone who tries to escape."
We see another shot of Debbie, still crawling away, apparenetly sucessful for now in escaping.
We see Emily and Stuart again, still crouching. They seem to have lost their chance to escape.
We see Slade sweeping his weapon over the colonists)
Slade: "Go ahead....make my day."
Cut to Emily and Stuart
Emily: "Well, that's that....At least Debbie got away."
Stuart: "Its not over yet....there's still a chance"
Emily looks quizzically at Stuart.Stuart starts to rise.
Stuart: "Stand up....come on.....trust me on this....stand up."
Emily tentatively starts to stand. Stuart moves into more open ground. Emioly follows.
Cut in a quick shot of Jill observing what Stuart and Emily are doing and reacting by adjusting the projector.
Cut back to Stuart and Emily. Suddenly Stuart is struck in the chest by an arrow. He grabs at it, staggers, and falls to his back. Emily freezes in hooror. A second later she is also hit in the back by an arrow. She falls to the ground.
Now we cut to a shot of the archer beginning to retreat as he is flanked by the pirates. Then we see Rana.
Rana: "After him....You, get after him....Don't let him get away.....Slade you stay with the prisoners....You too Karla."
Slade: "One of them got away Rana....The one called Debbie."
Rana: "Go after her then....and teach her a lesson if you want, but bring her back alive."
Slade runs off. Rana now turns to Karla.
Rana: "Get them moving....We're not going to stay here one more minute."
James: "Please....We have two wounded."
Rana:: "That's too bad....leave them behind and count them as dead."
Maria: "Please, let us try to save them."
Rana: "Get going or you'll have more dead."
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 23
A shot of Emily and Stuart, still lying on the ground. There is no one else around. The arrows suddenly dissolve. Emily and Stuart start to move and get up, feeling a bit sore where their "wounds" were. They look at each other.
Jill: (from off camera) "Welcome to the world of dead colonists."
Emily and Stuart together: "Jill...."
Stuart: "What a brilliant rescue."
Trisha arrives.
Trisha: "Come on, let's get away from here in case they come back."
Stuart: "Yeah, there's also that moron Slade....He went chasing off somewhere after Debbie."
Trisha: "Any idea which way?"
Stuart: "Not a clue."
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 24
Back at the main encampment. It is daylight and the volcanic eruption is over. George and Sue look out over the bay toward the volcano.
Sue: "Well I think today is going to be better than yesterday."
George: "You mean there actually was a last two days....its been dark for sixty hours."
Sue: "Well it shouldn't happen again for five hundred and fifty days"
As the last is said we see a view of the volcano across the bay. About two seconds later there is a small but definite ash explosion from the peak.
George: "Whoa!....That was a quick five hundred fifty days."
At this point Mr. Weathersby enters the scene.
Weathersby: "Commander, have you seen Captain Smith?"
Sue: "He's asleep....What have you got?"
Weathersby: "I picked up another transmission with the signature of a holographic projection."
George: "Did you get a fix on it?"
Weathersby: "Northeast....Thirty-six degrees....The range is hard to pin down without triangulation but based on the signal strength I'd say three to four hundred kilometers."
Sue: "That's right about where we think Escape 13 went down....That's very good news."
Weathersby: (with urgency) "Commander, that's not all I picked up"
Sue: "Oh?"
Weathersby: "As the same time as the holographic signal I picked up quite a few very high frequency, very high energy bursts of short duration....they look for all the world like shots from a laser weapon."
Sue: "Thanks....George, let's wake the Captain....we might have some unfriendlies in the area."
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 25
Back at the clearing where the skirmish took place. The pirates are just returning with their remaining prisoners.
Rana (to Karla) "There was something awfully strange about the way Robin Hood just vanished....but we ought to be able to pick up a trail from here."
They enter the clearing and look around in disbelief. The bodies left behind are gone, as are the arrows that hit the trees and ground.
Karla: "Rana, where are the bodies?"
Rana: "Predators maybe?....does seem kind of quick for predators but who knows what's here."
Karla: "Predators wouldn't remove an arrow from a tree!....(she examines a tree closely, then looks with horror at Rana) My God, Rana, there isn't even a hole....there was an arrow right here in this tree and now there's no hole....how can that be?"
Rana: "I don't know....but be quiet about it....you'll panic the others."
Karla: "I'm scaring myself, that's for sure."
Joel: "There's some tracks over here....four people at least."
Rana: "Four?"
Joel: "Look for yourself"
Rana: (Comes over and looks) "What the hell is going on?"
Fade to black
Fade in to
Scene 26
We see several shots of Debbie moving quickly through the jungle. She moves easily and with skill but it is clear she is being closely pursued. She appears somewhat cut up from thorns and brambles. She is also sweaty and muddy. As we follow, she stops short, her path blocked by a gigantic snake.
Debbie: "Whoa....Okay Mr. Snake....I don't have time to play right now....But there's a really tasty pirate coming by here in a few minutes....You really ought to invite him to lunch."
She carefully works her way around the snake as we continue to follow.
Cut in a shot showing Slade encountering the snake. He shoots it with his laser waepon.
Cut back to Debbie. She moves carelessly and one leg plunges half way up her thigh into quicksand. She is able to grab a vine and pull herself free.
Cut back to Slade. He spots Debbie just after she gets free of the quicksand.
Slade: "Come now my dear....you can't get away....you're just going to get yourself killed if you keep trying."
Cut back to Debbie in the middle of the above line
Debbie: (to herself) "You're probably right, vomit breath....but better that than what you have in mind."
Montage together several more shots of Debbie running and Slade chasing.
Slade: "Come on....give yourself up....Hey Hey....I promise not to hurt you....(to himself)....not too much anyway."
Montage several more shots of Debbie running and Slade chasing.
Slade: "You know I'm going to catch you....sooner or later I'm going to get you....It'll go easier on you if you surrender....(to himself)....I like that word....total, abject surrender."
Cut to a shot of Debbie. Looking behind her for a second as she runs, she runs straight into a large pool of quicksand, plunging to her hips almost immediately.
Debbie: "Oh....Oh shit....not more quicksand........You've got yourself in a real mess now, haven't you Debbie....Shit."
She sinks to her waist.
Debbie: "Oh no....what a way to go....ah, Jill, if this is one of your projector tricks you could give me a little clue right about now....Like Tarzan could show up with a vine....No, I didn't think so."
Slade now arrives at the edge of the bog, though he stands on a ledge elevated a foot or so above it. He quickly cuts a vine to make a rope. He prepares to throw it but then holds back.
Debbie sinks to her chest.
Debbie: "Help me!"
Slade: "I might....or I might not....I might just watch you go under....that might be rather enjoyable...."
He coils the vine, rather slowly.
Slade: "Why should I pull you out of there?"
Debbie: (Now up to her shoulders) "Help me....quickly....please!"
Slade: "I don't know....You wern't very nice to me back there....I might pull you out if you promise to be nice to me." (he emphasizes the word "nice".)
Debbie: (Now up to her neck) "Whatever you want....Help!"
Slade: "Well, alright....I'll pull you out....Then after you're real nice to me we'll decide whether you go back in or not."
Debbie: (Now up to her mouth) Makes a muffled, urgent scream."
Now Slade moves into position and throws the vine, which reaches Debbie correctly.
Debbie grabs the vine and looks up at Slade.
Now we look straight into Slade's face from Debbie's point of view. He does not move. There is a strange, uncomprehending look on his face and his eyes open wide. He holds that position for several seconds, then falls face first into the quicksand. There is an arrow embedded in his back.
We see Debbie go under, still gripping the vine tightly and wide-eyed.
Cut to a shot of Skylar Greystoke as she runs forward, grabs the rope, and starts to pull. Skylar is 27 years old, six-feet tall, extremely athletic, and of stunning feminine proportions. She pulls Debbie up and to the shore as Slade goes under.
Debbie: "Thanks....I think....Who the hell are you?"
Skylar: "My name is Skylar....Who the hell are you?"
Debbie: "I'm Debbie....I'm from Earth....You speak English?"
Skylar: "Of course I speak English.....I was born in New jersey."
Fade to black
END OF ACT V