Int. Club Creole--Day Elias comes out of the kitchen. Camera tightens on him as he reacts to the sight of-- Int. Club Creole--His Point Of View--Main Room A squad of five Visitor shock troopers has invaded the restaurant. As we watch, they herd the screaming people together. One trooper knocks an elderly person to the ground. Back To Scene Willie backs into the shot, frightened. Elias steps in front of him protectively, draws a pistol from his waistband. Steps forward. The Scene Elias: (shouting) Sorry, boys. We don't take private parties. Elias fires at the nearest trooper, drops him... then Elias dives for cover just as the other troopers blast the spot where he was standing with their laser rifles. Elias takes some more shots, without success... Laser blasts destroy crockery and furnishings around him. The last shot is from an unexpected direction. He turns and sees-- His Point Of View--Shock Troopers They're moving to trap im... in a moment, he'll be boxed in. Back To Scene Worried, he looks around for a new position... can't find one... and then a burst of automatic fire cuts down the nearest trooper. Elias and the remaining Visitors turn to see-- Another Angle--Room Ham and Donovan have entered! Seizing the moment of surprise, they rush forward, engage the nearest two troopers hand to hand. The trooper near Elias tries to aim at the new arrivals... Elias jumps him before he fires. Then the three Resistance fighters quickly and efficiently take out their opponents, one by one. As the dust settles, Donovan comes over to Elias, indicates the fallen troopers. Donovan: Elias, you have to get a better class of customers. Ham: Yeah. Before you find yourself on the menu. On Elias's reaction, we... Go To: Int. Science Frontiers--Bates' Office--Day Bates is watching his wall of television monitors. Visitor ships attacking all over the world are visible on the screens. Monitor: (V.O.)...Appeared suddenly in the skies over the world, just as they did on that terrible day two years ago... (More--Shadow Script Coming) The door of Bates' office is blasted away. Diana steps through the smoke, flanked by two guards. She is wearing personalized armor which is actually quite fetching. Pause. Bates turns in his chair. Bates: (evenly) Diana. I've been expecting you. Diana looks at him, a little thrown by his nonchalant attitude. She crosses to Bates' huge desk, sits on it, points her laser gun right at him and quotes: Diana: As far as the rest of the world is concerned, you're already dead. I could kill you right now and no one would even know! Bates: What a marvelous memory you have. Diana: I'm changing one line: I WILL kill you right now. you see, my troopers have seized every storage tank in this facility. Diana pauses, slightly annoyed. Bates is not reacting as she'd hoped. Just then Julie is escorted in by a pair of troopers. Trooper: We caught her attempting to leave the building. Bates: Let her go. Diana: (to Bates) You're hardly in a position to give orders. Bates: That's a matter of opinion. (holding up his wrist) Do you see this little device? It's a pulseometer. Popular item nowadays, with all the joggers and cyclists... this one is different. If it's removed from my wrist... (harder; pushing down her gun barrel)... or if my pulse should suddenly stop... it will send out a signal. Diana: A signal to where? Bates: The explosives I have had installed on every storage tank housing red dust in this facility. Diana cannot hide her reaction. Bates stands now, dropping civility. Bates: If those explosives are triggered, Diana, then you and your armies will DIE... gasping and twitching in agony. While I and the rest of my race will yawn, clean up the mess... and go on. A LONG moment. Diana: (finally) What do you want? Bates: A bargain--something for something. You withdraw your troops from Los Angeles. I do not release the red dust into the atmosphere. Diana: Not enough. Bates: Now who's in no position to give orders? Diana: I want the Mothership returned. Bates: (considers) All right. I'll see to it... (a pause)... Shall we meet, say noon tomorrow? Diana regards him carefully. Then she smiles, puts away her weapon. Diana: Noon tomorrow will be fine. (turning to go) So nice to see you again, Julie. As Julie watches Diana and her men depart, Bates steps up beside her and places a hand on her shoulder. Bates: Are you all right? Julie: (turning on him) How could you sell out like that? Bates: I simply did what I had to do to save you--to save us all. Julie: I'd rather be dead than be party to any bargain with them. Bates considers this, then: Bates: Imagine there's a little room, somewhere in the Cosmos. It's filled from wall to wall with high explosives. Inside, two men hold guns to each other's foreheads. Forget the fact that the little room is a planet. Forget the fact that one of the men isn't even human. The one remaining fact--the inescapable fact--is that racial extinction is a moment away. Bates looks at Julie carefully. Bates: Faced with that possibility, what would you choose? Julie holds his gaze, untouched. Julie: I was faced with that, once. And I chose to pick up the gun. I fought to survive. Bates: And that was the right choice...for then. But now the equation has changed. Bates moves closer to her, holds her gently by the shoulders. Bates: Now is the time for cunning... and guile. The time to defeat Diana on her own terms. That's my plan, Julie. It's not capitulation... It's an accomodation to reality. Surely, you, with your intelligence, can see that I'm right. Julie looks at him for a long moment then we... Go To: Ext. Mothership In Space--To Establish (Stock) Int. Mothership--Diana's Quarters--Night Lydia and Diana are alone. Diana is removing her battle armor, changing into casual Visitor garb. In the course of this, she moves O.S. at critical moments. Lydia: Diana, have you lost your mind? We are an expeditionary force with one goal... conquest! The Leader never authorized you or anyone to negotiate any kind of-- Diana: If it will set your mind at ease, Lydia, I have no intention of keeping my word to Nathan Bates. Lydia: Then... why even bother? This charade of diplomacy is a waste of time-- Diana: Not a waste of time--it buys us time. One needs to set a trap before it can be sprung. Lydia: What trap? As she speaks, Diana comes into full view, closing her lounging robe with a firm pull on the Velcro. Diana: By shortly after noon tomorrow, Nathan Bates--his supply of red dust, and his precious city--will all be a pile of smouldering atoms. I have requested the particle beam 'Scorcher' be deployed here at once. Lydia: (reacting) The 'Scorcher?!' But that's supposed to remain in order to protect the main space lanes. It can't be diverted without the Leader's approval. Diana: Leave the Leader's approval to me. Victory, Lydia, cuts through an awful lot of red tape. We hold on Lydia's questioning look, then... Go To: Tight On--Portable TV Nathan Bates appears, dressed in banker's stripes and sitting at a desk. He is flanked by a bureaucrat-type and the General we saw earlier. Bates: (V.O.) (in mid-speech on TV)... Indeed, fear and terror have been our constant companions these past few days. But as you can see, today, I bring you hope: Hope that an end may be in sight. As we pull back we find Donovan, Julie, Ham, Robert, Elias, Elizabeth and Willie watching in the basement of the Club Creole. Bates continues: Bates: (V.O.) (on TV)--I have formed a provisional government. After tomorrow's treaty ceremony, this government will administer the city of Los Angeles as an open city, where neither Visitor nor human forces may bear arms, but where both may coexist in peace. It is my hope that this tiny seed of peace will grow and spread throughout the world. Let that be our prayer. Thank you, and good night. Ham: (simultaneously) Yeah... 'better red dust than dead,' right? The picture goes off and is replaced by a Civil Defense symbol. Ham turns off the set. Ham: Gooder, you were right. Bates never even mentioned giving back the Mothership. Donovan: (to the group) Which means we've got to act fast. Bates is obviously in bed with Diana-- Willie: My goodness, I did not know that-- Elias: It's a figure of speech, Willie-- Willie (shrugging) With Diana, you never know... Ham: I say kill him before he sells us out. Donovan: Wrong. The Mothership's the one weapon we can't afford to lose. Killing Bates won't get it back. Ham: You still don't understand, do you? When you've got a problem, you handle it. Donovan: This is a team effort, remember? Ham: Your team, not mine. Ham moves toward the door as the others watch. Julie: (after him) Where are you going...? Ham: Out. Donovan: Anybody else not think the Mothership's worth stealing? Donovan looks around the room for reactions. Seeing none: Donovan: Good. Since Julie works for Bates, she'll get us aboard. Julie: Mike, the ship's well guarded. And even if I could get us aboard, there's no guarantee we'd ever get it off the ground. Bates shut the main reactor down months ago. Donovan: You got a better idea? Julie: Maybe. But first we'd better go get Ham before he does something that hurts the entire Resistance. Donovan: Forget Ham. The problem's Bates, remember? Or do you still have a 'special relationship'? Julie: (hurt) If I did, do you think I would've told you about his deal with Diana in the first place? As Donovan considers this with a shake of his head: Donovan: Sorry. Let's get down to business. Hold on Donovan's determined stare, then... Go To: Ext. Mothership In Space--Establishing (Stock) Int. Control Room--Night Diana is at a console with a technician. Technician: Scorcher remote guidance system engaged and online. Diana: Override the orbit coordinates. Technician: Coordinates disengaged. Lydia comes onto the bridge. She watches Diana for a few moments. Diana: Transmit our current quadrant codes and lock in the directional beam. Technician: Coding now. Lydia comes over to Diana. Closer Shot--Diana and Lydia Lydia: Then you've spoken to the Leader...? Diana: (ignoring her question) Lydia, the Scorcher can vaporize a hundred square miles... without nuclear fallout. I am confident the Leader will understand... Once I've made an example of Los Angeles, the rest of the this planet will quickly fall in line. Technician: Commander, Scorcher en route to our position. ETA 17.40 hours. Diana: Perfect. The same time as the treaty ceremony. (to the Technician) Put the test on the monitor. I want to see what total victory looks like. The Tech hits some controls and all turn to look at-- Their Point Of View--Monitor Where, for the first time, we see the monstrous Scorcher on its way! It's awesome, dark, four times the size of the ships we've seen, bristling with hideous weapons in place of the smooth skin of the motherships. Its surface is burned and pitted from battles beyond comprehension. It is approaching a large asteroid. Back To Scene Lydia's face shows annoyance... Diana's, pleasure. Diana: Engage particle beam. Their Point Of View--Monitor Suddenly out of the ominous hulking form of the Scorcher comes an intense white light. It instantly envelopes the asteroid causing a violent reaction as the asteroid is reduced to dust. Back On Diana We hold on her triumphant smile, then... Fade Out. End Of Act Two Act Three Fade In: Int. Science Frontiers--Bates' Office--Night Bates stands at the window staring out as Julie speaks to him in earnest about the impending treaty conference with Diana. Julie: I understand that what you are trying to do is right, Nathan. I, too, want peace. But there are others who do not understand... who will try to kill you if you attempt to sign this pact with Diana. Bates: You obviously still have contact with certain members of the underground. Julie: (nods) That's how I know you are in real danger. You must believe me. Bates: I'm touched by your concern. But understand--my own people will be handling security. I'll be in good hands. Julie smiles at Bates affectionately. Julie: You are either one of the bravest men I have ever known, or one of the most foolish. If you're determined to go through with this pact, then I think I'd like to be there beside you. Bates: (returning her smile) If I were to allow that, I'd have to double my security. Julie: It isn't often one gets the chance to see history made. Please. Bates: You make it difficult for me to refuse. (considers) All right. We'll go together. Julie: Wonderful! I'll pick you up at eleven. She turns to leave as: Bates: The treaty isn't effective until tomorrow. It would be safer for you to stay here tonight. Julie: (ignoring the obvious come-on) Nice to know somebody cares. But I'm a big girl. Julie leans over and gently kisses his cheek. Julie: I'll see you tomorrow. Julie leaves and as Bates watches her disappear out the door, we see a glint in his eye. Pressing the button on his intercom: Bates: (into intercom) Get me security... We hold on Bates, then Go To: Int. Club Creole Basement--Night Tight on a blackboard drawing of a mothership grounded and surrounded by fencing. Camera widens, and we see that Donovan is in the center of our group of Resistance fighters. (NOTE: It is assumed from here on that we have some Resistance atmosphere in addition to our regulars.) Donovan: (in mid-speech) The security is tight... as tight as any place we've ever struck. Timing will be everything. Elias: (skeptical) You people really think you can get that thing off the ground? Robert: There is an autopilot system... and with Willie's help and what I've translated from the Visitor manuals... yes. Elias: Suppose we grab it. Where we gonna stash it, the Grand Canyon? Robert: There's always the ranch. At least the red dust would keep the Visitors away for the time being. Donovan: Sounds good. But the real problem is the reactor. We have no idea what code Bates' people have used to shut it down. (pause, reluctant) Robert, we may need... Elizabeth on this one. Robert looks up, startled. Robert: Donovan, she's a child... you can't ask me to condone putting her in that kind of jeopardy. Donovan: She helped us once before... That's as far as he gets. Elizabeth has come beside them. Realizing her intent, Robert moves close to the child/woman, takes her hands. Robert: Elizabeth, do you understand what he's asking? Do you know how dangerous it is? Elizabeth nods, firm. Donovan laughs, puts his arm around her. Donovan: (to the group) Looks like we've just gained a Resistance fighter. Julie: (O.S.) That's good, because you've just lost one. All turn. New Angle Julie has just come in the secret entrance. Donovan: What do you mean? Bates bought it, didn't he...? Julie: (nods) On the condition that I go with him. Donovan looks at Julie's face, realizing she's resigned. Donovan: (concerned) You're sure you'll be okay? Julie: Nathan trusts me, Mike. It's the only way. The rest is up to you. Robert: As long as you can keep Bates occupied, we'll take care of the Mothership. Julie: What about Ham? Elias: Nobody's seen him since he walked out. Donovan: We don't need Ham. We need a diversion that will pull the bulk of Bates' security people away from the Mothership long enough to let us get aboard. Julie: Then I guess it all falls on me. As we hold on Julie's face, filled with mixed emotion, we Go To: Int. Mothership--Corridor--Day It is the corridor immediately outside Diana's quarters. Lydia is approaching when she intercepts a technician carrying a message from the bridge. Lydia: What do you have there? Technician: A priority message for Diana from the commander of the Scorcher. Lydia: What is he requesting? Technician: That he be allowed to return to the space lanes or he will contact the Leader directly. Lydia: Very well. I'll see that she gets it immediately. Turning over the message to Lydia, the Technician departs. Folding it neatly, Lydia slips it into her belt, then knocks on Diana's door. After a beat, the door opens and Diana emerges, decked out in her white dress uniform. Lydia: Well, you do look like a diplomat, but I still think this plan is insane. Diana: I prefer 'daring.' And cheer up... while I'm signing the treaty, you will be in command. Diana closes the door behind her. They move down the corridor together. Diana: (all business now) The Scorcher will be in orbit over Los Angeles in exactly three hours. At that time, I will find an excuse to leave the treaty conference. I have notified communications to await my signal before ordering the partical beam to reduce the city to rubble. Lydia: I understand. Diana: Good. For the moment then, you have the command. Lydai watches Diana depart, then takes the message she received from her belt. Stepping to a disposal slot in the wall,l she slips the message into it. Insert--Disposal Slot The flash of light and puff of smoke from within leave no doubt as to its function. Back To Scene Lydia: (sotto, to herself) Command for the moment, Diana? Perhaps for longer than that... Cut To: Ext. Desert Gully--Day Donovan and the Resistance fighters move stealthily forward. Donovan turns to several of his fighters. Donovan: Rick... take your squad and cover our rear. The fighter complies. Donovan takes out binoculars, leans on a ridge to look at-- Ext. Captured Mothership--Donovan Point Of View (Binocular Matte) Back To Scene Donovan: There's no guards outside. (smiling) Julie was right. Cut To: Int. Television Studio--Day Pan across a formidable line of uniformed and heavily armed Science Frontier security guards. The camera continues moving, revealing more guards, a podium and table, flag staffs bearing both Visitor and Science Frontiers colors. Bates and Julie They are close to the podium, surrounded by guards. Bates remains cool. Julie is trying to hide her uneasiness. Bates: (looking around) I'd like to get started. I've had to transfer guards here from every Science Frontiers facility. Julie: (indicating door) Nathan. Here she comes. Studio Door The door opens and Diana and her party appear. She leans close to a noncom. Diana: (sotto) Have my shuttle ready for takeoff. Then she starts forward. Camera tilts up. We see Ham in the catwalks. Ham He moves to some rigging... gropes around... removes a hidden satchel. A break-down sniper's rifle is hidden inside. Cut To: Ext. Captured Mothership--Day Int. Captured Mothership--Corridor--Day Donovan, Elias, Robert, Elizabeth, Willie and two Resistance fighters come around a corner. Donovan waves them back, seeing-- Science Frontiers Security Guard Patrolling near them. We hold on the guard a beat... until Donovan appears, leaping on the man, knocking him out as they hit the floor. Donovan signals the others to come forward. Elias: (as they move) I don't know what I'm doing here. I'm in the restaurant business! Donovan: (pointedly) So are the Visitors. Elias gets the point, reacts. They start towards the control room. Mothership--In Space--Establishing (Stock) Int. Mothership--Control Room--Day Lydia is examining a deep space scanner. Technician: Thirty minutes until the Scorcher reaches Earth orbit. Model Shot--Scorcher In space. Roaring towards the camera, a juggernaut of death. Freeze Frame: Fade Out. End Of Act Three Act Four Fade In: Ext. Captured Mothership--To Establish Int. Captured Mothership--Control Room--Day (Note: To avoid confusion between "Motherships" they will be lit differently. Also, signs in English like "Danger," "No Step," "Science Frontiers Clearance Beyond This Point," etc. would quite naturally have been posted on the captured Mothership.) Donovan and his group come inside. Donovan and Elias take up stratetic positions at the entrance. Robert moves to the control panel with Willie. Willie: (to Robert, reading panels) 'Akk-ss-h'r k-uph! These are the flight controls... 'Hung aah-oo-zyuk...' this is the autopilot. Another sound. Robert: What was that? Willie: Nothing. Something in my throat. Robert: (nods, then turns) Elizabeth? As the others look on, Elizabeth slowly approaches the main reactor bank (as she did as a child in the mini). She puts her hands on the coding panel... concentrates. Elizabeth--Very Close A stage lighting effect and camera move make her look eerie indeed... we feel her power. Insert--Reactor Coding Panel--Monitor Symbols begin flashing. Cut To: