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 from Lysator, trimmed down (because you
can get the whole thing for yourself if you want); my cuts for
length are marked with [snip], and additions from the camera script
have "#" down the left side.
Enjoy!
Claudia
-=-=-=-
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.]
Dayna: Servalan told us it was an old ship.
Avon: It's what she didn't tell us that interests me.
[snip]
Cally: (v.o. scream) Blake.
[Scorpio. Interior, flight deck. A blonde man is the only
occupant of the flight deck. His name is Dorian. He bends over
to check something on the ship's instruments. Finished, he moves
around the flight deck.]
Dorian: Slave.
Slave: Yes, Master.
[snip]
Slave: Thought is beyond my humble capacities, Master.
Dorian: True.
# Increase speed by twenty percent
# Slave: Yes, Master.
# Dorian: Scan for wreckage. Analyse anything associated
# with the explosion pattern.
# Slave: Of course, Master. I would most respectfully
point out however that there is unlikely to be
anything worth salvaging.
# Dorian: You're thinking, Slave.
# Slave: I'm sorry, Master. I meant to disrespect. I am
# your most humble slave, in all -
# Dorian: Enough!
# Slave: Yes Master.
# Dorian: I expect a positive identification of the cause of
that explosion within the hour Slave.
# Slave: I will do my poor best.
# Dorian: You will indeed. If it was the Liberator the crew
# may still be alive, and helpless, down on that planet.
# Slave: A rescue mission, Master?
# Dorian: Not exactly, Slave.
[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.]
Tarrant: Vila rescued me?
Avon: You 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.
# Avon: Nothing personal. It's just that Orac could have
# sent for help. You can't.
# Tarrant: Nobody's perfect. What about the ship Servalan left?
# Dayna: That's a bit dented too.
# Vila: We're stuck on this miserable planet for the rest of
# our lives.
# [ANIMAL NOISES]
# Vila: Not that that's likely to be for very long
Avon: First light, we'll make for the high ground to the
south.
# Tarrant: Is it worth the effort?
# Avon: Are you ready to lay down and die?
# Tarrant: (RUBBING HIS HEAD) I think I already have.
# Vila: Liberator destroyed, Cally dead, no way off this
# armpit of a planet. He may have the right idea.
# Avon: Well, 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.]
# Vila: You talked me into it.
[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.]
Avon: Where's Tarrant?
Vila: He was right behind us.
[snip]
Tarrant: What? While something is eating me you can get
away?
Avon: Or visa versa.
[I'm pretty sure this should be 'vice versa'. -- Claudia]
Tarrant: (grins) I'll drink to that.
[There is the sound of a weapon discharging some distance from
them.]
# Avon: Can you walk?
# Tarrant: Not as fast as I can run.
# Avon: Let's do it.
[Planet Terminal. Exterior, top of the cliff. Dorian assists
Dayna, then Vila. Vila groans and rubs his arms.]
Tarrant: (enters) You all right?
[snip]
Avon: (smiles) You know what they say. No good deed
goes unpunished.
[snip]
Avon: I want it flown, not cataloged.
Tarrant: No problem.
Dorian: Uh, one problem. It happens to be my ship.
Avon: (points the gun at Dorian) No problem.
# DORIAN SUBSIDES AND, LOOKING BEATEN, SLOPES OFF TO ONE OF THE
# AUXILIARY CRASH COUCHES. UNSEEN BY AVON AND THE OTHERS HE SMILES
# TO HIMSELF.
[Tarrant sits at the primary flight position. He activates a
control. The flight deck seals. Dayna appears to be nervous.]
Vila: It's all right. On these old cargo ships only the
main deck is pressurized in flight.
[snip]
Tarrant: Listen, if I get it wrong, you'll be as dead as
the rest of us.
Dorian: You're the pilot. You work it out.
# (GLANCES AT AVON) I don't give much for my chances
# either way.
[The ship lurches suddenly. There is the sound of explosions
outside the ship.]
[snip]
Dayna: Cheer up, Vila. You've got a lot of very bright
associates too.
Vila: Oh yeah? Name six.
[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.]
Soolin: Scorpio. Scorpio this is base. Do you copy?
(waits for a response) Scorpio. Scorpio this is
base. Do you copy?
[Exterior. Scorpio in flight.]
# Vila: Perhaps we should answer.
# Dayna: Terrific idea Vila. Let's warn them we're coming.
# Vila: They might be friendly.
# Dayna: You want to take the chance?
# Vila: He did save our lives.
# Tarrant: He could be a bounty hunter for all we know.
Soolin: (v.o.) This is Xenon base calling Scorpio. Do
you copy?
[snip]
Dorian: You're going to kill me anyway. Sooner or later.
Avon: You would prefer it sooner?
Dorian: (reaches for a control and presses it) Xenon base,
this is Scorpio. Do you copy?
Soolin: About time, Dorian. I have satellite visual
confirmation. Orbit and landing sequences are
green. Confirmed?
Dorian: (v.o.) Confirmed.
# Dorian: Sorry I kept you waiting Soolin. Small problem...
# (AVON IS READY TO KILL HIM)
# Dorian: ... with the communicator.
# Soolin: Apology accepted. Out.
[Interior. Scorpio flight deck.]
Dorian: (turns to Avon) You'll never get away with it,
you know.
[snip]
Dayna: Beneath that cold exterior, beats a heart of pure
stone.
Dorian: Shall we go? (exits)
Avon: Why not?
[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.]
## 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
Soolin: Are you all right?
Dorian: A little tired. It took me longer than I
expected. (to the others) May I present Soolin.
My... companion.
[snip]
Tarrant: What do you think?
Avon: I think his taste in wine and women is impeccable.
# Tarrant: Why do I get the feeling he's been in complete control
# of everything we've done right from the beginning?
# Avon: Because 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)
# Soolin: I see you're a connoisseur.
# Vila: I appreciate the best, whenever I can get it.
# (CONFIDENTIALLY) Tell me Soolin what exactly
# does a ... companion ... do?
# Soolin: Nothing you could cope with.
# Vila: (DISCOMFITED) Ah.
# (SOOLIN MOVES AWAY)
# Dayna: (TO VILA - GRINS) Next question.
# Vila: Can I help it if I've got a weakness for lady gunfighters.
# Dayna: You've got a weakness for ladies of any description.
# Vila: I'm just naturally affectionate.
# Soolin: If 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)
[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.]
Dorian: Are you there? I have them. They're here.
[snip]
Creature: Soon. It must be soon.
[Dorian convulses, screams and collapses on the floor. Opposite
him, the creature writhes in pain.]
# 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.
# ON AVON'S REACTION)
[Interior, corridor Xenon base. Vila is attempting to open the
door to the landing silo. Tarrant and Dayna stand watching him.]
Tarrant: Get on with it, Vila.
Vila: Will you keep your voice down.
Dayna: Well, can you get it open or not?
[snip]
Vila: I'm going to give up drinking, you know. It'll be
pink asteroids next.
END
# CREW ROOM. NIGHT.
# (AVON AND VILA SIT WITH DRINKS.
# TARRANT ENTERS)
# Tarrant: No sign of her anywhere.
# Avon: As long as she can't get to the ship.
# Vila: No-one can get to the ship.
# Tarrant: You've got time to work on that now.
# (DAYNA ENTERS WITH MAGAZINES FOR THE GUNS)
# Dayna: I found the armoury.
# Avon: You know this base could be quite useful to us.
It's outside Federation territory. It's well hidden.
# Vila: (RAISING HIS GLASS) Well equipped.
# Dayna: And 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)
# Avon: Strike 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.
# Tarrant: Do you think you can?
# Avon: Yes.
# Tarrant: Do you want us to kill Soolin?
# Avon: Do you think you can?
# Tarrant: (GRINS) No.
# Avon: Then don't.
# (AVON PAUSES IN THE DOORWAY AND LOOKS BACK AT THEM)
# Avon: Dorian might have beent elling the truth about himself
# and that room, but he was insane you know, quite insane.
# (AVON EXITS)
# Dayna: What brought that on?
# Tarrant: (GRINS) Something Dorian said. Avon belongs to us,
as we belong to him.
# Vila: Oh well I agree with him.
# Dayna: Dorian?
# Vila: Avon. Dorian was obviously insane.
