Friday 23 April 2021

Vural's Hooked

 


"Listen. If you are one of the Old People, we're not taking orders from any of your lot. 


While you were dozing away, 

Our People kept going AND they MADE IT..!! 

We've got bases all across The Galaxy now. 


You've done nothing for ten thousand years 

while we made An EMPIRE..!! Y'unnerstand?! 


We're not taking any of that Mother Earth rubbish!" 



MAHARIS: 

I bring you news. 

STEVEN: 

Why does everyone back away from him? 

VENUSSA: 

Because he's one of the subject Guardians. 

What you'd call a collaborator. 

DASSUK: 

And what does your news amount to? 

How much can we trust you? 

MAHARIS: 

But you mustIt's important! 


VENUSSA: 

Go back to Your Masters. 


MAHARIS: 

What I have to say concerns us all. 


STEVEN: 

Perhaps we should listen. 


VENUSSA: 

No! He speaks with 

The Voice of The Monoids. 


MAHARIS: 

No longer! They intend to betray us all. 

Even those of us who've worked for them. 


STEVEN: 

How? 

MAHARIS: 

They plan to leave us behind when they land on Refusis. 


VENUSSA: 

Would you've expected anything else? 

MAHARIS: 

But there's more. 

When they go, They'll leave a device behind 

that will destroy The Ark and everything in it. 


STEVEN: 

Are you sure of this? 


MAHARIS: 

Yes! I overheard One telling another Monoid. 


STEVEN: 

Do you know where the device is? 


MAHARIS: 

No. I only heard them talking, 

I couldn't see where One pointed. 

DASSUK: 

Then somehow we shall have to find out. 


[Kitchen]


STEVEN: 

The Monoids are up to something. 

They're rushing about all over the place. 


VENUSSA: 

Do you think they're preparing to leave The Ark? 


DASSUK: 

Probably. 


STEVEN: 

Look, isn't there a way to get out of this kitchen? 


VENUSSA: 

None. The Walls are thick and the doors only open from The Outside. 


STEVEN: 

Well, who opens it? 


DASSUK: 

Well, They Do. 

Sometimes one of the subject Guardians. 

Maharis, for instance. 


STEVEN: 

Then we must get him to help us. 


VENUSSA: 

He won't. He's too frightened. 


STEVEN: 

All right. Then we'll have to use his help 

without his knowing it.


[Control deck]


(Maharis carries a tray of food to Monoid 1. Guardians are loading boxes containing miniaturised Monoids into a Launcher) 


MONOID 3: 

Be careful. Remember, each tray contains a thousand Monoids, thoughtfully preserved as micro-cells by your ancestors. 

They must reach their new life on Refusis safely. 

(Monoid 1 has eaten.) 

MONOID 3: 

Everything is proceeding according to plan, One. We must have 

MONOID 1: 

Thank you, Maharis. 

That is all. 


MAHARIS: 

Yes, One. 

(Maharis leaves with the tray.) 


MONOID 1: 

Stupid, trusting creature. 

He and all the other subject Guardians 

are still under the illusion that 

they will be coming with us to Refusis. 


MONOID 3: 

They are a blind people. 

They deserve their fate. 


MONOID 1: 

Yes. What were you going to say? 


MONOID 3: 

I was reporting that the preparation of the launchers is proceeding satisfactorily. 


MONOID 1: 

Good. Then we shall leave shortly.


[Kitchen]


(Steven and Venussa cover something with blankets.) 


VENUSSA: 

Maharis, what's the news from outside? 


MAHARIS: 

The Monoids are preparing to leave. 


(Steven takes him to one side while Dassuk goes for the open door) 


STEVEN: 

And you still think they'll take you? 

MAHARIS: 

Why not? We can serve them on Refusis as well as here. 

Just a moment. Where's Dassuk? 


VENUSSA: 

Asleep. 

(The blankets in the corner.)


[Corridor]


(Dassuk hides until Maharis leaves and the coast is clear of Monoids, then opens the door.) 


DASSUK: 

Hurry. I don't think he saw me, 

though we haven't much time. 


VENUSSA: 

What first? 


STEVEN: 

Well, we agreed. 

First we've got to find that bomb that the Monoids left behind.


[Control deck]


(Three capsules leave the Ark and head for the planet.) 


MAHARIS: 

Steven was right. 

The Monoids have all gone. 

Every one of them! 


DASSUK: 

What now? 


STEVEN: 

Just find that bomb. 

(Everyone scatters to search.) 


STEVEN: 

(to Venussa) 

We've got to find a way of getting back to Refusis. 


[Control deck]


(By the statue) 

STEVEN: 

Have you checked this? 


MAHARIS: 

What's The Use? 

There's nothing there. 


STEVEN: 

Look, there's no point standing around moping 

just because the Monoids promise you something 

and then failed you. 

You've got to do something to save yourself


MAHARIS: 

I believed in them! 


DASSUK: 

Steven, come quickly. 


STEVEN: 

Why? What's happened? 


DASSUK: 

One of the launchers has returned from Refusis. 


VENUSSA: 

Look!


[Launcher]


STEVEN: 

At what? It's empty. 


VENUSSA: 

I know. And it was empty when we opened the door. 


(Laughter inside the capsule.)



[Control deck]


STEVEN: 

Well, I think we should split up. 

Some of us should go back to Refusis to help the Doctor and Dodo, 

whilst the rest stay here and try to deal with that bomb. 


DASSUK: 

Yes, that's a good idea. 


MAHARIS: 

Is it? Why should any of us stay 

and risk being blown up? 


STEVEN: 

Because the Earth's population trays, everything else that represents Earth life, all these things have to be taken to Refusis later. 


VENUSSA: 

Steven's right. 

That's why our forefathers started this voyage through space in the first place, 

seven hundred years ago. 


MAHARIS: 

But we're alive

Why should any of us die for an idea that they thought of? 


VENUSSA

You've served too long with the Monoids, Maharis. 

You no longer belong to us

Let him go with the landing party. 


STEVEN

Yes, all right. Dassuk, you take the launcher. 

Go with him, Maharis. And you two. 

Contact The Doctor as soon as you can. I'll stay here. 


DASSUK: 

All right. What about you, Venussa? 


VENUSSA: 

I'll stay too. 


DASSUK: 

Right. 


(Dassuk leaves.) 


STEVEN: 

You could have gone with them. 


VENUSSA: 

They don't need me. 

You don't know The Ark. 

You will need me to help you find the bomb. 


STEVEN: 

Let's try behind that central scan.


[Refusis Jungle]


(It's an ambush.) 

MONOID 1: 

Stay where you are. 


MONOID 4: 

What is the meaning of this? 

We are going back to the Ark. 


MONOID 1: 

That is now against my orders. 


MONOID 4: 

Your orders? 

You have given too many and delivered them unwisely. 

Now they mean nothing to us. 


MONOID 1: 

You have had my last warning. Do as I say. 

(He kills 6, then 4 shoots 77. The Monoids all hide as a capsule comes in to land.)


[Launcher]


DASSUK: 

Maharis, where are you going? 


MAHARIS: 

Out.

 

DASSUK: 

Better make sure everything's all right first.


[Refusis Jungle]

(Maharis looks around and sees One behind a bush.) 


MAHARIS: 

Master! 

(One kills Maharis.) 

MONOID 4: 

Over there. 

(Another Monoid dies.)


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