Episode Three, Part Three

The CAMERA follows them into the STADIUM.





CUT TO.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

16. INT. PROJECT BIFROST SUPPORT CRAFT. DAY.



The INTERIOR of the PROJECT BIFROST SUPPORT CRAFT is a SMALL ROOM with A LOW ROOF. It has the SAME INDUSTRIAL UTILITARIAN DESIGN as the MOBILE COMMAND CENTRE.

A SCREEN is ON ONE WALL. STEPS in the BACK of the ROOM go up to the COCKPIT.





DAVE and FLETCHER are SAT AT a WORKBENCH with COMPUTERS in FRONT of THEM. FLETCHER is TYPING at A KEYBOARD. DAVE is TALKING INTO A RADIO.

　

DAVE

Everything looks good here.

Proceed into the Racegrounds. There are a lot of guards present. But then again we knew there would be.

　

Just act naturally.

　

　

FLETCHER suddenly throws the KEYBOARD DOWN.

　

FLETCHER

Oh! I give up.

　

　

　

DAVE

Cal, hold tight for a second.

　

HE CLICKS the RADIO OFF.

DAVE

What’s wrong.

　

　

　

　

FLETCHER

How can you stand working with this equipment?

　

　

　

　

DAVE

I know, its different from what we were used to. But I’m pretty certain that taking it out on the keyboard isn’t going to help.

　

　

　

　

　

FLETCHER

Don’t you get annoyed with how primitive all of this is?

How nothing seems to work the way it should.

　

　

　

　

　

　

DAVE

Well, they might be primitive. But all our technology hasn’t stopped us from getting in the mess that we’re in.

　

And its not the technology you’re mad with anyway.

　

　

Lets face it. Its not the technology that’s not working the way it should. Its our world that’s dysfunctional. All the things that we took for granted when we were growing up.

　

They’ve all been turned upside down.

　

Its funny, all the propaganda that you say the Regency Council’s been spewing out about me. You say it all says that I wanted to leave Arcadia, betray my home, to come back at the head of a conquering army and annex Arcadia for Earth.

All I wanted was my home back.

Now I do like these people and I have loved serving with them. They are people of courage and honour and I have never seen them shrink from a fight.

　

　

　

But do I want to be here, away from all the things that I have ever loved. Away from my sister, away from the shining spires of the Capitol?

　

No I don’t. Every exile longs for home, as I have always done.

　

And for a while I took it out everyone. Especially Murray.

　

　

　

　

FLETCHER

Really?

　

　

　

DAVE

He discovered the incursion and was the scientific leader of the expeditionary force sent through it.

I felt that if it hadn’t been for him, I wouldn’t have been trapped on the other side. So I blamed him.

　

　

　

FLETCHER

Its true, though.

　

　

　

DAVE

I’m sorry?

　

　

　

FLETCHER

If it hadn’t been for him, you wouldn’t be trapped on the other side.

　

　

　

DAVE

You’re right, that’s true.

　

　

He GETS UP and WALKS TO A COFFEE MACHINE.

DAVE

You want some?

　

　

　

FLETCHER

How’s it taste?

　

　

　

DAVE

Awful. Its an acquired taste. You wouldn’t believe how much of this is sold on Earth.

　

The British drink tea, which is also an acquired taste. I’ve got used to this one. I quite like it.

　

I’m still not sure about tea.

　

　

He POURS TWO CUPS of COFFEE.





FLETCHER takes one, DRINKS and PULLS A FACE.

FLETCHER

That is truly horrendous.

　

DAVE

You get used to it.

　

　

So, yes its true that I got trapped on Earth because of Murray and the whole of Project Bifrost.

　

But if I hadn’t what would I have been doing? The Liberation Chambers would still be online and I’d be a fugitive, a resistance fighter, with no resources and very little hope.

　

This way. I’ve got support taking our world back.

　

So I take the rough with the smooth and try not to take my annoyance out on inanimate pieces of technology.

　

　

　

A CRACKLE comes from the RADIO.

　

MURRAY

(distorted over radio)

Heimdall to Base.

Berserker come in.

　

　

DAVE

Two seconds, Cal.

　

　

DAVE TURNS BACK to FLETCHER.

DAVE

Are you going to be okay?

　

　

FLETCHER

I’ll manage.

　

　

　

DAVE

Good.

Cal, go ahead.

　

　

　

QUICK CUT TOO.













































































17. EXT. THE RACEGROUNDS. FRODINGHAM TOWNSHIP. DAY



The TEAM are NOW within the RACEGROUNDS STADIUM. This is a LARGE STADIUM. PARTS of IT APPEAR to be ANCIENT. BUT OTHER PARTS of IT seem to be IMMENSELY FUTURISTIC.







MURRAY and TINKERBELL are CROUCHING NEXT TO A PILLAR and AGAINST A WALL. IT APPEARS to be IN AN ISOLATED CORRIDOR of the RACEGROUNDS.







HOTSHOT and PLAYBOY are at the END of the CORRIDOR. NIGHTINGALE and CASPAR are talking HALFWAY down the CORRIDOR. CASPAR is FIDDLING with A PIECE of TECHNOLOGY.



THE CAMERA TRAVELS DOWN the CORRIDOR. PAST HOTSHOT and PLAYBOY, PAST NIGHTINGALE and CASPAR and STOPS at MURRAY and TINKERBELL.

　

MURRAY

We’re inside.

　

　

DAVE

(distorted over radio)

Any problems?

　

　

MURRAY

None whatsoever. It seems none of the regular guardsmen or auxiliaries have been alerted to our presence.

　

So we were right, our technology was seen as too primitive for them to even care about it.

　

　

　

TINKERBELL

The same goes for our weapons.

MURRAY

You were right about security though. Every exit is covered. Body searches at all entrances. Luckily it wasn’t strip searches. I have no desire to see Caspar that way.

Depending on how this goes though, we might need you to extract us.

　

　

　

　

　

TINKERBELL

If this situation turns tactical, with the amount of personnel they’ve got on the ground, the only way out is straight through the stadium bowl itself.

　

　

　

　

DAVE

(distorted)

We’d be revealing ourselves.

　

　

　

MURRAY

If it turns tactical it means that we already have.

　

　

　

DAVE

(distorted)

That’s a good point.

　

　

MURRAY

Just be ready. We’re going in.

Radio silence from on unless it looks like we’ve been compromised.

　

　

　

DAVE

(distorted)

Okay, we’ll be watching.

　

　

　

They STAND UP.



They WALK BACK DOWN the CORRIDOR. They STOP at CASPAR and NIGHTINGALE.

　

MURRAY

Are we ready?

　

　

　

　

NIGHTINGALE

If Caspar ever gets this thing working.

　

　

　

CASPAR

Genius takes time.

Honestly, you’re spending too much time with Cal.

　

　

　

MURRAY

Really?

Okay, Mr Oliver, if you don’t mind.

We have a mission to complete.

Are you ready?

　

　

CASPAR

Yes.

　

　

　

MURRAY

What is that thing anyway.

　

CASPAR

I read one of your reports from the original incursion incident. You reckoned that because Arcadian units use a particular kind of energy generation that is different from any energy generation used on Earth, if you were able to identify the energy frequency, then you would be able to track Arcadian vehicles and technology.

　

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

I remember. Dave and I were suspended from duty before I was ever able to get around to developing the idea.

　

　

　

　

CASPAR

But you did leave the information on file, including your guesses about the energy generation frequency. It wasn’t difficult for Jackson and I to reverse engineer a device from your research and some of the Arcadian Communications tech that Fletch had on him when we originally had him in custody.

　

　

　

MURRAY

Really? Have you tested it?

　

　

　

CASPAR

That’s the problem. No. Because we haven’t had any run-ins with the Arcadians since we got here we’ve never been able to test it.

　

So I’d thought I’d bring it along.

　

　

　

MURRAY

Good thinking.

　

　

CASPAR

There we go.

I’m ready.

　

　

They WALK BACK DOWN the CORRIDOR TOWARDS HOTSHOT and PLAYBOY.

As they PASS, HOTSHOT and PLAYBOY FALL into LINE BEHIND THEM.





THEY WALK OUT into the MAIN STADIUM AREA. It looks LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN A DOG TRACK and AN ANCIENT ARENA. It is HUGE.



AROUND THE EDGES of the TRACK ARE MEN TAKING BETS and CHALKING UP the BETS on BOARDS. There APPEARS to be SOME KIND OF MARKET or BAZAAR going on AS WELL.





The TEAM START WALKING DOWN the VARIOUS LEVELS of the STADIUM, TRYING to AVOID GUARDSMEN along their WAY.



THEY REACH THE LEVEL of THE BOOKMAKERS.

　

MURRAY

Okay, its nearly three.

Okay, Nightingale and I will make the bet.

　

Hotshot and Tinkerbell, you will take positions at the north end of the Stadium. Playboy, you get the pleasure of Caspar’s company at the south end.

We’ll make the bet and you watch our backs.

　

Oh and Caspar, Playboy? Try not to kill each other while you’re at it.

　

　

PLAYBOY and CASPAR walk off in ONE DIRECTION MUTTERING at EACH OTHER.

HOTSHOT and TINKERBELL HEAD in the OTHER DIRECTION.

　

MURRAY

Are you ready, darling?

　

　

　

NIGHTINGALE

After you, my love.

　

　

They MAKE THEIR WAY through the CROWDS TOWARDS THE BOOKMAKERS HOLDING HANDS and ACTING LIKE LOVESTRUCK NEWLYWEDS.



They REACH A BOOKMAKER.

　

NIGHTINGALE

Can I make a wager, please darling, please peaches?

　

　

　

MURRAY

Of course, you can my elderflower blossom.

　

　

　

BOOKMAKER

May I be of service, sir?

　

　

　

MURRAY

Indeed you can, my good man. It seems that my fair damsel, my summer rose, my angelic lady desires to make a wager.

And when my lady asks for something, be still my heart! I find myself under an obligation to grant her her wish.

I can refuse her nothing.

　

　

　

BOOKMAKER

Well the next race is at None.

Would you like to make a wager for that race or another.

　

　

　

MURRAY

Well I don’t want to shout about it, but I have a friend who knows somebody who gave me a tip on a certain competitive porcine.

　

　

BOOKMAKER

I’m sorry, sir?

　

　

　

MURRAY

Somebody gave me a tip on a pig, my good man.

　

　

BOOKMAKER

Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.

And the name of the animal, sir.

　

　

　

MURRAY

I believe it was called Luther’s Remedy, sir.

　

　

The BOOKMAKER looks off at a FIGURE in the CROWD QUICKLY.

BOOKMAKER

I’m sorry, sir. I don’t recall any animal racing here with that name.

However if you want to check the Paddock, you might be able to find the animal in question.

　

MURRAY

Thankyou.

Let’s go, my love.

　

　

　

THEY WALK AWAY. AS THEY DO, THE BOOKMAKER NODS to A MAN in the CROWD.

NIGHTINGALE

What are we going to do now?

If we can’t make the bet?

　

　

　

MURRAY

Go to the paddock. He may have said that the animal doesn’t exist but his reaction showed me that he knew what I was talking about.

　

Did you notice the emblem on the hem of his cloak?

　

　

　

THE CAMERA CUTS QUICKLY back to the BOOKMAKER. IT FOCUSES ON HIS CLOAK.

NIGHTINGALE

No.

　

The CAMERA TRACKS down the CLOAK until we see the EMBLEM of A WHITE ROSE.

CUT TO.

18. EXT. THE RACEGROUNDS. FRODINGHAM TOWNSHIP. DAY.









The CAMERA CUTS into A FLASHBACK SCENE.



The CAMERA is USING A CINEFILM STYLE SHOT.



A SERIES OF IMAGES with SOUND THAT ISN’T SYNCHED UP.



A SERIES of MEMORIES REPRESENTED BY FILM and SOUND.



The FILM IMAGES are of THE RACEGROUNDS. A WOMAN can be SEEN in a LOT of THEM. She is DRESSED AS A NOBLE ARCADIAN she WEARS a BLUE CLOAK and HAS LONG DARK HAIR. A BOY in HIS EARLY TEENS CAN ALSO be SEEN. He is A GUARDSMEN UNIFORM but WITHOUT A COLOURED CLOAK. This is THE UNIFORM of A GUARDSMAN APPRENTICE. The FLASHBACKS TAKE PLACE on A SUNNY DAY. They are FROM the POINT of VIEW of A SMALL CHILD.

A FANFARE can be HEARD DISTORTED.

　

WOMAN’S VOICE.

Stay with your brother now,

Don’t run off. Your first day at the races.

　

　

　

TEENAGE BOY’S VOICE.

Come on, don’t be left behind.

　

　

　

LITTLE GIRL’S VOICE.

Can we see the pigs, I want to see the pigs.

　

　

TEENAGE BOY’S VOICE

Yes, if you want, just don’t cramp my style.

　

　

LITTLE GIRL’S VOICE

Are you meeting someone? Are you meeting a girl.

　

TEENAGE BOY’S VOICE

I might be.

　

LITTLE GIRL’S VOICE

Awwww, you’ve got a girlfriend.

　

　

　

TEENAGE’S BOY VOICE

Just stay out of the way.

　

　

　

　

CUT TO.





























































19. INT. OBSIDIAN GUARD CRAFT. DAY.



The INTERIOR of A OBSIDIAN GUARD CRAFT. LADY ERIS is SAT on A COMMAND CHAIR in the CENTRE of the BRIDGE of the OBSIDIAN GUARD CRAFT. The FLASHBACK APPEARS to be HERS.



The BRIDGE is DIMLY LIT. SPOTLIGHTS PICK out LADY ERIS and SEVERAL OTHER WOMEN DRESSED in BLACK UNIFORMS with BLACK HELMETS. They are SAT AT DIFFERENT STATIONS OPERATING THE CRAFT’S SYSTEMS.



DE MORTE ENTERS the BRIDGE.





He KNEELS BEFORE LADY ERIS.



He INTERRUPTS HER REVERIE.

DE MORTE

My lady, we’re nearly at the Racegrounds.

　

　

　

LADY ERIS

Excellent. Bring us in quietly.

　

　

　

　

DE MORTE

Yes, my lady.

　

　

LADY ERIS STANDS UP and STARTS TO WALK OFF the BRIDGE.



She PAUSES at THE DOORWAY out of the BRIDGE and GESTURES IMPATIENTLY for DE MORTE to FOLLOW.





DE MORTE looks SHEEPISH, DESPITE his NATURALLY AGGRESSIVE DEMEANOUR.

DE MORTE

Sorry, my lady.

　

　

　

He RUNS OUT after LADY ERIS.



They WALK DOWN the CORRIDOR.

　

DE MORTE

My lady, may I ask? Why are we here?

　

　

　

LADY ERIS

Because we were invited.

　

　

　

DE MORTE

We were invited last year but we didn’t attend.

　

　

　

LADY ERIS

Are you questioning my orders.

Because we both know what happened to the last person who did that, don’t we?

　

　

　

DE MORTE

I would never question your orders. I’m only seeking to understand. If the invaders from Earth have not left the site of the Veil, why are we here and not there?

　

　

LADY ERIS

We know that the troops from Earth are trying to make contact with members of a resistance group in an attempt to turn back the events of the last two years. As we must not allow this to happen, we must find the Resistance as well.

　

　

As we were unable to procure the location of the Resistance contact from the village council who defied us, this is the most sensible place to look for said Resistance members.

　

　

　

　

DE MORTE

But The Races will be crawling with our forces, surely this is the last place for them to gather.

　

　

　

　

LADY ERIS

Because you are a fool. You only ever see things from a tactical point of view.

　

Remember, members of such a resistance group rely on infiltration and stealth. They hide in plain sight. Do I have to spell it out for you?

　

　

Who would notice a group of people in a clandestine fashion in a place where everybody is meeting in a clandestine fashion.

　

So any resistance group just looks like a group of people discussing making a wager or the form of a certain animal, not armed insurrection against the rightful government of Arcadia.

　

　

　

　

DE MORTE

So we’re here to hunt resistance members?

　

LADY ERIS

If there’s no Resistance to help them, Bloodhelm and his men are not going to get very far now are they?

They will be isolated and then we can crush them.

　

　

　

SHE CONTINUES to WALK DOWN the CORRIDOR. DE MORTE REMAINS where he is.







AN OBSIDIAN GUARDSMEN WALKS up to DE MORTE.

　

GUARDSMAN

What’s she talking about?

　

　

　

　

DE MORTE

Blood and Vengeance. What else?

　

CUT TO.





























20. EXT. THE RACEGROUNDS. FRODINGHAM TOWNSHIP. DAY.

EFFECTS SHOT.



The OBSIDIAN GUARD CRAFT FLIES TOWARDS the RACEGROUNDS. It LANDS on TOP of A BUILDING ATTACHED to the RACEGROUNDS which OBVIOUSLY SERVES the PURPOSE of A SORT of HELIPAD for ARCADIAN FLYING CRAFT.





CUT TO.

EPISODE THREE, PART TWO.

THE CAMERA FLICKS between DIFFERENT SHOTS of the VILLAGE.









ELDER THOMAS falls to the GROUND.









LADY ERIS puts her SUNGLASSES back on.

LADY ERIS

They were here. Bloodhelm and his earthly cohort.

Also a Sergeant at Arms called Fletcher.

　

DE MORTE

There was a Sergeant at Arms by that name believed to be killed when their craft came through the veil.

　

　

Looks like that report was wrong.

　

　

He CONSULTS a COMPUTER DEVICE that LOOKS like THE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE.

DE MORTE

He has a family.

　

　

　

　

　

　

LADY ERIS

I remember.

　

　

　

　

DE MORTE

So should we take them into custody. I’m sure I can persuade to give up his location.

　

　

　

　

LADY ERIS

Why am I surrounded by intellectual infants.

　

We already know where he is. He’s with them.

And we have no evidence that their craft has left that area.

　

And we can’t attack them until we’re ready.

　

　

　

We’ll watch the family and when he visits them as he surely will, we’ll have him.

　

　

And he can tell us all the weaknesses of their operation.

　

　

　

　

　

　

DE MORTE

Do we know why they were here?

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

LADY ERIS

Elder Thomas was right.

They were here to find out about the Resistance.

　

But it seems the village elders were smarter than we were.

　

Only one of them ever had contact with the intelligence about the resistance.

　

　

And it wasn’t our friend here.

　

　

　

　

　

DE MORTE

So we have no idea of their next move?

　

　

　

　

　

LADY ERIS

None. But that’s okay. They’ll make a mistake at some point, they’ll put a foot wrong and when they do we’ll have them. We are the Obsidian Guard and the night always falls and we always succeed.

　

　

Now lets go.

　

　

　

　

DE MORTE points at ELDER THOMAS’ BODY.

DE MORTE

What about him?

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

LADY ERIS

Leave him for the beasts of the fields and the birds of the air.

　

He has served his purpose or rather he didn’t.

　

　

He deserves nothing better.

　

　

　

They WALK BACK up the RAMP into the OBSIDIAN GUARD CRAFT.









The CAMERA STAYS on ELDER THOMAS BODY as the CRAFT TAKES OFF. We SEE the VILLAGE GO DARK.









CUT TO.

9. EXT. ARCADIAN INCURSION SITE. NIGHT.



A SMALL CRAFT FLYS towards the MCC. THE MCC is STILL LANDED in FRONT OF THE INCURSION. The SMALL CRAFT is a PROJECT BIFROST SHUTTLE.





It DROPS TOWARDS the MCC and ENTERS the MCC SOMEWHERE.




10. INT. MOBILE COMMAND CENTRE MESS HALL. NIGHT.

The POKER GAME has mostly FINISHED. CHERNENKO and NIGHTINGALE are still SAT at the TABLE. CHERNENKO is DRINKING and NIGHTINGALE is READING a BOOK.



CASPAR is LAYING on a LONG MESS HALL TABLE. He has a COVER on HIM.







MURRAY, DAVE and FLETCHER ENTER the ROOM.

　

CHERNENKO

Hail the conquering heroes.

Vodka?

　

　

　

DAVE

Your own brand?

　

　

CHERNENKO

Alas, no, its mass produced alcohol with no kick whatsoever.

　

　

　

　

DAVE

Sounds perfect. I’d love some.

You want to join us, Fletch?

　

　

　

　

FLETCHER

No, thank you. If its all the same with you I’m going to go and get my head down. Is there somewhere for me to sleep?

　

MURRAY

We’ve set up quarters for you along with the security officers.

　

　

　

FLETCHER

And where’s that?

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

Level 3. Billet 322.

Two levels up.

　

　

　

FLETCHER WALKS OUT of the MESS HALL. DAVE and MURRAY SIT DOWN at the TABLE.

　

CHERNENKO

It seems to me that our Arcadian friend is still not at ease with his place with us.

　

　

　

　

DAVE

I know. I can’t really blame him though. His whole world’s been turned upside down. And although he’s willing to fight with us to find out just went on, there’s a small part at the back of his mind that’s asking whether he should really be trusting us. Whether everything the Regent’s council been saying about us is true.

　

　

　

MURRAY

We really have our work cut out for us.

　

　

NIGHTINGALE

So did we get a result?

　

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

Don’t know yet, its all tied up in this.

　

　

　

　

HE puts the DATA RECORDING CRYSTAL on the TABLE.

　

MURRAY

If we can crack the encryption on it. Which should keep Caspar busy for a few hours. Speaking of which. Why is the boy genius asleep on that table.

　

　

　

　

NIGHTINGALE

He’s afraid to go back to his room.

　

　

　

MURRAY

Afraid to go back to his room? What’s he afraid is going to be in there? Flying monkeys, creepy assassins in robes, Freddy Krueger perhaps?

　

　

　

NIGHTINGALE

It seems Playboy sneaked into his room last night and put Caspar’s hand in a bucket of water.

　

　

　

MURRAY and DAVE START LAUGHING.

MURRAY

Did he wet the bed?

　

　

　

CHERNENKO

Janitorial made him wash it himself.

　

　

MURRAY and DAVE CONTINUE LAUGHING.

　

NIGHTINGALE

Cal, its not funny you’ve got to do something about them.

This hazing’s got to stop.

　

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

You’re right.

I’ll talk to them in the morning.

　

They really made him wash the whole lot?

　

　

　

　

　

CASPAR

Yes!

Have I not been humiliated enough?

I have to hear you guys laughing at me?

　

MURRAY

Well its not as if you’re exactly innocent, either.

　

Who was it who programmed the ships internal chrometers to give Hotshot and Playboy heavy metal alarm calls at 5 am all of last week?

CASPAR is STILL LAID BACK ON HIS TABLE. He BARELY MAKES a MOVE as HE RESPONDS.

　

　

　

　

CASPAR

Did they, I wasn’t aware.

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

Yeah sure you weren’t. So how is you piping Sabbath into their rooms any different than what they did to you?

　

　

　

CASPAR

I had to wash the bedclothes, that’s what.

　

　

MURRAY

Well it stops, now! I’m quite amused by the three of you and if this was a secondary school field trip I might be inclined to let you continue. But its not, we’re in quite hostile territory and I’m responsible for you. So all three of you will quit it.

　

And first thing in the morning you will decrypt this crystal and we’ll see what we’re dealing with.

　

　

And just for once can we have it without the incessant complaining?

That’d be just great.

　

CUT TO.



EFFECTS SHOT of the MCC in the MORNING.







CUT TO.



















































































11. INT. MOBILE COMMAND CENTRE CONTROL ROOM. DAY.

CASPAR is SAT AT his STATION. MURRAY is LEANING OVER HIM. DAVE is LEANT AGAINST ONE of the BANKS of COMPUTERS on the other side of the CONTROL ROOM. He is PLAYING with A SMALL THROWING AXE. TINKERBELL is THROWING KNIVES at the DARTBOARD from EPISODE ONE.

　

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

Come on, Come on, we haven’t got all day. This is kind of urgent.

　

　

　

CASPAR

Really, and I thought when I took this job it was going to be working at my own pace, all the breaks I need.

　

　

　

MURRAY

What did I say about the complaining?

　

　

　

　

　

CASPAR

That wasn’t complaining, that was sarcasm.

　

　

　

MURRAY

And a straight left to the jaw is what you’ll be getting if you don’t decrypt this.

　

　

CASPAR

Well can you step back a bit.

Goodness. You have no concept of personal space and can you stop the two meatheads from throwing things around. I know its supposed to unnerve me but now its just getting boring.

　

Anyway, you’re a physicist, you could do this if you wanted.

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

If I had a week, maybe. Although it pains me to say it, you’re better at codes and computers than I am.

　

　

　

　

CASPAR

I know, Its just fun to make you admit it.

　

A KNIFE is thrown into the WALL NEXT to CASPAR’S HEAD.

CASPAR

Oh, honestly enough!

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

How long?

　

　

　

　

CASPAR

Two hours. Or more, or less.

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

Just get it done.

　

　

He walks out of the CONTROL ROOM. TINKERBELL follows him. DAVE moves towards THE DOOR. He throws the AXE at the WALL. It lands next to THE KNIFE ALREADY THERE.

CASPAR

Thanks a lot, Dave, don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.

　

　

That guy has no impulse control whatsoever. Seriously, can somebody get me a burger.

　

　

　

　

The CONTROL ROOM is now empty APART from HIM.

　

CASPAR

Never a moronic musclebound fool around when you need him. You can’t live with them…

　

　

　

CUT TO.





































12. INT. JENSEN’S OFFICE. DAY.

This is JENSEN’S OFFICE. Despite being THE COMMANDING OFFICERS OFFICE it is SMALL AND UTILITARIAN with the SAME INDUSTRIAL feel of the REST of the MCC. The walls are covered with PICTURES, REGIMENTAL INSIGNIA and other PERSONAL EFFECTS that A MAN LIKE JENSEN might COLLECT in the COURSE of HIS DUTY.





MURRAY and DAVE are SAT ACROSS FROM JENSEN.

　

JENSEN

You’ll notice I didn’t debrief you two last night, which was supposed to be something of a gift, a recognition of how difficult the last few weeks have been and how your conduct has been nothing less than exemplary. But I said 0900 hrs for this meeting and this is what?

　

　

　

MURRAY

A bit later.

　

　

JENSEN

1300 hrs.

　

　

MURRAY

There’s a reason I didn’t mind you taking the command.

　

　

　

JENSEN

Really?

　

　

MURRAY

I don’t have to deal with guys like me.

　

　

JENSEN

Very nice, Cal, very nice. So ignoring the fact that this meeting is 4 hours late what did you find out.

MURRAY

Absolutely nothing… yet.

　

　

　

JENSEN

The intelligence lead was a fraud?

　

　

　

MURRAY

Oh, know it was real alright, its just on a data crystal that’s going to take a while to decrypt.

　

　

JENSEN

And you can’t decrypt it Dave?

　

　

　

DAVE

I was never much a technician. And this is a level of Arcadian tech that I’ve never seen before. Its entirely possible that its only been in operation since the Liberation Chambers.

　

　

　

MURRAY

Also we may have left a trail.

　

　

　

　

JENSEN

Oh, fantastic.

So we have no usuable intelligence.

　

　

MURRAY

Yet.

　

　

JENSEN

Yet.

MURRAY

Yet.

　

　

JENSEN

And we left a trail.

　

And you two geniuses decided to be late to a scheduled debrief.

　

　

DAVE

Nothing much we could do about it.

　

　

　

JENSEN

Setting an alarm tends to help.

　

　

　

DAVE

I meant in relation to the mission. One of the village elders had sold us out to someone.

We got out of there as quickly as possible. So did the villagers.

　

　

　

　

JENSEN

Sold you out to someone? Who.

　

　

　

　

DAVE

Well the craft we saw landing in the village looked like Obsidian Guard but I’ve been thinking it could easily have been one of the other Guards regiments.

　

　

　

JENSEN

How many are there again?

DAVE

Five. Obsidian, Crimson, Emerald, Sapphire and Argent.

　

　

JENSEN

And it could be anyone?

　

　

　

　

　

DAVE

Well, its unlikely to be the Sapphire Guard as they’re mainly a maritime organisation.

But the others have colliding jurisdictions so it could be any of them.

　

　

JENSEN

So we could have alerted yet another one of the guards regiments or we could have tipped our hand to the force who originally attacked us.

　

　

MURRAY

That’s about the size of it.

　

　

　

JENSEN

We have no idea what’s going on here, do we?

　

　

　

MURRAY

No, we know what the Liberation Chambers do, but that information is two years old, we don’t know if they’ve been altered since then. We don’t know the layout of their military. Dave hasn’t been here for two years and Fletcher isn’t highly ranked enough. we’re blind.

　

We need to contact the resistance, it’s the only next step we have.

　

　

JENSEN

And we’re relying on Caspar to get us that information.

　

　

CASPAR bursts through the OFFICE DOOR.

JENSEN

No, my door wasn’t closed for a reason, I wasn’t in an incredibly sensitive meeting and it isn’t incredibly rude to burst in unannounced.

　

　

　

　

CASPAR

Oh, right, good. I wasn’t sure.

I’ve cracked it. 1 hour and 36 minutes. A new record.

　

　

　

CASPAR walks BACK OUT of the OFFICE.

　

JENSEN

I was being sarcastic.

Caspar!

　

　

Go after him.

　

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

Yes sir.

　

　

　

JENSEN

And tell him to get some manners.

MURRAY

I’ve tried.

　

　

　

DAVE

I’ve threatened him.

　

　

　

MURRAY

It doesn’t work.

　

　

　

DAVE and MURRAY run OUT of the OFFICE, leaving the DOOR OPEN.

　

JENSEN

And shut the door, damn it!

　

　

Nobody listens to me, I swear, I might as well not be here.

　

Corporal Hernandez!

　

　

　

A HISPANIC LOOKING FEMALE CORPORAL enters the OFFICE.

　

HERNANDEZ

Yes, sir.

　

　

　

JENSEN

Shut the door.

　

HERNANDEZ

Yes, sir.

　

　

SHE shuts the DOOR.

JENSEN

I’m in a madhouse.

　

　

　

A PICTURE falls off the WALL.









CUT TO.



























































13. INT. MOBILE COMMAND CENTRE CONTROL ROOM. DAY.

CASPAR is sat at his STATION. MURRAY and DAVE come RUSHING IN.

MURRAY

Okay, so lets see what was worth wading through marshes and evading evil mutant sheep.

The CAMERA shows CASPAR’S CONSOLE SCREEN.





CASPAR’S CONSOLE SCREEN APPEARS to use COMMANDS in a LANGUAGE similar to MSDOS or other earlier DISK. OPERATING. SYSTEMS.





It is SIMPLE BLUE WRITING on A BLACK SCREEN.



The SCREEN SAYS…











The Fellowship of the Failed.

The Races,

Frodingham Township,

Contacts name is Dietrich.

Dietrich will be waiting in the Paddock. Dietrich will be wearing a White Rose. Anyone wishing to find the Fellowship should make a wager on Luther’s Remedy at None.

CASPAR

That’s all you got. It seems pretty pointless though. You’ve got a place but no time to meet and no date.

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

Now I know for certain you didn’t read the briefing book for this project. The Arcadians use a 24 hr clock with the same measurements as ours. But unlike us they also still use terminology to describe time based on the Liturgy of Hours.

　

　

　

CASPAR

What’s that?

Sounds like a bad 80s synth band

　

　

　

MURRAY

It’s a Catholic prayer cycle based on one used by medieval society. Originally it was based on prayers at three hourly intervals. Each interval was given a name such as Matins, Vespers or Prime.

　

　

CASPAR

And that helps us how?

　

　

MURRAY

Three o’clock under that system is None.

I’m not sure about the date though.

　

　

　

DAVE

Two days time.

The Frodingham Township races are famous. Been going on for nearly a millennia as far as anyone can tell. And they only take place on one particular day in the year.

　

　

MURRAY

In two days time.

　

　

DAVE

In two days time.

　

CASPAR

What about the name, Dietrich? Or the Fellowship of the Failed?

　

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

Well, every good resistance movement needs a name. And Dietrich is probably some sort of codename. Something to protect the identity of the resistance member. Every resistance contact is probably called Dietrich.

　

　

　

CASPAR

So what are we going to do?

　

　

　

MURRAY

Put on your finest clothes.

It looks like we’re going to the races.

CUT TO.





















14. INT. MOBILE COMMAND CENTRE BRIEFING ROOM. DAY.



The Briefing Room. A LECTURE HALL style room. It is HALF FULL. ABOUT 20 OFFICERS are SEATED. PLAYBOY, HOTSHOT, VALKYRIE, NIGHTINGALE, CHERNENKO, CASPAR, JACKSON, TINKERBELL and DAVE are SAT AMONGST THE OTHER OFFICERS. MURRAY is STOOD at the BRIEFING PODIUM. Everyone is TALKING.

MURRAY

Okay, settle down, settle down.

The briefings about to start.

Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to our fourth weekly briefing within Arcadian territory and I’m pleased to, finally, announce that we have our first mission proper since we established a foothold here. Now I know we’ve all loved being stuck having nothing to do.

We’ve all loved Freaky Fredickson’s movie nights.

　

　

A CHORUS of BOOS ERUPT from his AUDIENCE.

　

MURRAY

Even though somehow you only managed to bring one movie through with you. Off all the movies on Earth, how did you only bring through Power Rangers the Movie?

　

　

FREDERICKSON is a LIEUTENANT sat on the BACKROW.

FREDERICKSON

We took off before I got all the entertainment supplies through. I had to raid my personal stash.

　

　

　

MURRAY

(laughing)

I don’t even want to know.

Can me make sure then that when we get some supplies in from earth, our entertainment stores are updated.

　

And of course, we’ve all loved Williamson’s gigs.

　

ANOTHER CHORUS of BOOS.

　

　

MURRAY

How many people did you get to the last one?

LIEUTENANT WILLIAMSON is SAT NEXT to FREDERICKSON.

WILLIAMSON

There were extenuating circumstances.

　

　

MURRAY

What, you mean the fact that the bands you had performing were the “Fantastic Reactor Core Boys” followed by “Core Breach”. Can I suggest that bands sounding like bad Star Trek episodes are never going to be a big draw.

　

　

LAUGHTER.

　

　

MURRAY

Okay. Okay.

Simmer down.

Now that our resident freaks have been dealt with its time to get onto the main event.

　

As you are all aware one of our major objectives during this mission has been to identity any resistance movements hostile to the present administration of Arcadia in the hope that we could make overtures towards these groups and possibly prevent an attack such as the one that came through the incursion rift, three months ago.

　

Also our intelligence on Arcadia is limited. Although we do have two Arcadians working with us, they only know certain things and its possible a resistance movement could tell us more. They may have been active throughout the operation of the Liberation Chambers and they may also have members who are high ranked within the Arcadian administration.

　

He POINTS to FLETCHER who is LEANT AGAINST A WALL near the DOOR to the BRIEFING ROOM.

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

With the help of Sergeant at Arms Fletcher, we are finally a step closer to achieving that goal.

　

　

Using contacts that Fletcher has in the Arcadian hill country, a data crystal has come into our possession with details of a rendez-vous for people wishing to join the resistance.

　

　

　

　

PLAYBOY puts his hand up.

PLAYBOY

Define what you mean by rendez-vous.

　

　

　

　

　

MURRAY

Not the sort of the assignation you’re referring to.

We are supposed to meet a contact known only as Dietrich, which I’m sorry to tell you, Lieutenant, tends to be a man’s name.

Dave?

　

　

MURRAY steps DOWN from the LECTURE PODIUM. DAVE steps up to it.



He PRESSES a BUTTON on the PODIUM and the BRIEFING ROOM SCREEN ACTIVATES.





A DIAGRAM of A MEDIUM SIZED VILLAGE nestled in HILLS APPEARS on the SCREEN.







The DIAGRAM moves AROUND THROUGHOUT DAVE’S BRIEFING.

　

DAVE

This is Frodingham Township.

Situated in the northern province of Arcadia, roughly 400 klicks away from here.

　

The township is part of a group of five closely connected villages that we call the Ironstone Belt. Although the villages are relatively small and the area undeveloped, this does not mean that the area is going to be light on Arcadian military personnel.

　

　

　

　

　

　

The area is of incredible strategic and symbolic importance. Many influential families including members of the Regent’s Council and the royal family have their roots in this area. And there is no greater symbolic event than The Races.

　

　

　

　

　

Taking place on the same date, every year, for nearly a thousand years, The Races are the culmination of a week long cultural event known as The Ironstone Meet.

　

　

　

　

　

Regardless of whatever may have happened over the previous two years, this an event that will be well attended by the cream of the crop of Arcadian society.

　

So, this isn’t exactly going to be a day at the races.

　

　

　

　

There are going to be unbelievable levels of security which is going to make infiltration incredibly difficult.

　

　

　

CHERNENKO

What will be looking at?

　

　

　

DAVE

Representatives of all Five Guards divisions.

That will include both drill units giving demonstrations as well security units throughout the race grounds.

We could be looking at upwards of 50,000 civilians with 5,000 troop providing security.

Its going to be sewn up tight.

　

　

　

HOTSHOT

Do we think this operation is worth it?

It seems like a whole lot of risk for not much reward.

　

　

MURRAY TURNS in HIS SEAT and LOOKS BACK TOWARDS HOTSHOT.

　

　

MURRAY

You’re right.

We have no idea what we’re going to get out of this operation. And if the whole thing goes south, we’re going to be in a world of pain.

　

　

　

　

HOTSHOT

So why are we even going through with this.

　

　

　

MURRAY

Because we’re absolutely nowhere.

　

Lets face facts. We came here for a reason. We came here to protect our world, we came here because of everything that happened last time we were here, we came, idealistically enough, to do the right thing.

　

　

　

And since our first day here, we’ve done exactly nothing. This place is so isolated noone’s bothered to check what happened to the troops we killed or the fortress we destroyed on our first day here.

　

　

　

We have no idea who knows we’re here. We still don’t know why DeMorte and his forces came through the incursion, we still are exactly nowhere on discovering exactly what the Liberation Chambers do and we’re all going stir crazy in here.

　

There might be only a small chance of anything positive coming out of this, the whole resistance message might be a plant by the Arcadians for all we know, but its time we did something.

　

We can’t sit around here forever.

We’re always one step away from Star Chamber being sent through the incursion to take this operation over and that is something none of us want.

　

This is the only lead we have, myself and Colonel Jensen have talked with Mr Browning and he agrees with us.

　

Either we go through with this, or we might as well pack up and go home.

　

Sorry, Dave, Carry on.

　

　

　

DAVE

Its going to be harder than you think.

　

Neither myself or Fletch are going to be there. We’re too easily identifiable to the authorities. Which means we’ll be staying with the support vessel.

　

　

The IMAGE on the SCREEN CHANGES. It now shows a GRIDDED MAP TYPE VIEW of the IRONSTONE BELT. A FLASHING ICON DENOTES the SUPPORT CRAFT, NESTLED in the HILLS. A DOTTED LINE runs from it, OVER HILLS and into the VILLAGE.

DAVE

We’ll co-ordinate things from there.

　

　

　

FADE INTO.











15. EXT. FRODINGHAM TOWNSHIP. DAY.



The GATEWAY to a SMALL WALLED VILLAGE. A CROWD of PEASANTS is walking THROUGH the GATEWAY into the VILLAGE. Bored looking CRIMSON GUARDSMEN are SEARCHING OCCASIONAL PEASANTS. The CAMERA is OPERATING in a HANDHELD STYLE. The PEASANTS are wearing CLOAKS.

　

DAVE

(V.O.)

A small team will leave the vessel and make their way into the Township.

　

　

　

CASPAR

(V.O.)

Won’t they be just as noticed as you would be, I mean they’re not going fit in exactly.

　

　

　

DAVE

(V.O.)

You’ll be in disguise, you moron.

　

　

CASPAR

(V.O)

What do you mean I’ll be in disguise

I’m not going on this mission!

　

　

MURRAY

(V.O.)

Well volunteered, Caspar.

　

　

　

The LAUGHTER of the BRIEFING ROOM can be heard on VOICEOVER.





The CAMERA is NOW FOLLOWING SIX PEASANTS through the GATEWAY and into the VILLAGE. The CAMERA CUTS JERKILY BETWEEN THE CROWDS of PEASANTS, the GUARDS and the VILLAGE BUILDINGS.



The VILLAGE BUILDINGS are A MIXTURE of MEDIEVAL and GLEAMING BLUE CRYSTAL. TECHNOLOGY and PRIMITIVE ALL in the SAME PLACE.

　

ONE of the SIX PEASANTS THROWS HIS CLOAKS HOOD BACK.

It is CASPAR.

He STARTS COUGHING and SNEEZING in an EXAGGERATED WAY.



ANOTHER FIGURE pulls OFF HIS HOOD. It is MURRAY. He GRABS CASPAR

MURRAY

What are you doing!

　

　

CASPAR

I get allergies, okay. And where did you get this cloak from anyway, it smells.

　

　

MURRAY

It might smell, but if you don’t stop making a fuss, you’ll never smell anything again. Do you have any idea what the meaning of the word infiltration is? This is supposed to be a covert attempt to meet a resistance contact right under the noses of all the Arcadian bigwigs and you’re making more noise than an entire American frat house in the middle of rush week!

They catch us, you won’t be smelling anything, you’ll be dead!

　

　

The OTHERS have REMOVED THEIR HOODS.



They are NIGHTINGALE, HOTSHOT, PLAYBOY and TINKERBELL.

CASPAR

Will you calm down. I didn’t want to come on this mission anyway.

　

　

　

MURRAY

Well this isn’t a flipping democracy so you’ll do what you’re told!

Just keep your mouth shut and our signals open.

How’s everyone else doing.

　

　

NIGHTINGALE

We’re fine.

　

　

　

　

PLAYBOY

Yeah, dude, we’re great. But myself and Hotshot were wondering where the horses were so we can make our bet.

　

　

　

TINKERBELL

I thought it was unusual, you two volunteering for an operation without your machines to fly in on.

　

You came here to gamble!?!

　

　

　

PLAYBOY

You know it, baby!

I love the horses.

You get dressed up. Well we’re not wearing suits, but its still dressing up.

And you put your money down.

And myself and Hotshot. We are like the kings of horse betting.

　

　

MURRAY

I can’t believe you. Okay have we got all the silliness out of our systems?

Good!

　

　

Oh and Playboy, didn’t you read the briefing book either?

　

　

They don’t race horses here.

　

　

They walk towards a LARGE FUTURISTIC LOOKING STADIUM.

PLAYBOY

What do they race?

　

　

　

MURRAY

Pigs.

　

　

PLAYBOY AND HOTSHOT

Pigs!

　

　

　

MURRAY

Pigs.

　

　

PLAYBOY

I blew off a date with Corporal Cavendish for this.

　

HOTSHOT

I was going to watch the boxing.

　

MURRAY

Why do you think I accepted you two volunteering?

　

　

　

　

HOTSHOT

Man, that is cold.

　

　

　

MURRAY

Yeah, I’m a really bad man.