CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS
"THE EMISSARIES"
by
Johcafra
CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS – “The
Emissaries”
EXT. DESERT - DAY
A large remote-controlled vehicle on
balloon tires approaches us. It moves steadily but not quickly on a flattened
dirt road. Its exposed cargo bay contains a large unmarked box, contents
unknown, but held so that the vehicle's swaying is compensated for in an
obvious manner.
ANOTHER ANGLE
The vehicle drives away from us. On
the horizon its destination, a small building.
EXT. TEST SITE - DAY
A nondescript building, blockhouse
design, weathered but not in ruins, no windows, a motionless dish antenna on
its roof. No sign or other badge of ownership. A large door on one side.
EXT. OBSERVATORY M-44 - DAY
Jodrell Bank, Goldstone or Woomera
in design. Several office buildings with a radio array and very large dish
antenna in the background. A Spectrum saloon parked in foreground.
ANOTHER ANGLE
A sign: "DEEP SPACE INSTITUTE -
WORLD ASTRONOMICAL UNION - OBSERVATORY M-44"
INT. OBSERVATORY M-44 CONTROL ROOM
Computer and instrument banks line
the walls. Two long instrument consoles with monitors and keyboards sit in its
center, angled towards a wall screen. A woman, LOUISE BARRETT, sits at one
console. DR. SHAW sits in a wheelchair at the other console. A TECHNICIAN
stands in the background with the computer banks. DR. KURNITZ and CAPTAIN
MAGENTA stand behind the seated scientists. All except MAGENTA wear white
laboratory coats and identification badges.
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
KURNITZ
Well, Captain, I believe we shall
soon have our second chance to attempt peaceful contact with the Mysterons.
MAGENTA
Yes, Doctor, and I hope they notice the
additional precautions.
KURNITZ
Doctor Barrett, prepare the test site to
receive the mobile.
CLOSE-UP - BARRETT
BARRETT
Yes, Doctor.
Presses a switch on her console.
EXT. TEST SITE - DAY
The large door opens slowly.
EXT. DESERT - DAY
The vehicle slows, then stops. Its
front opens to allow the box to descend and smoothly enter the test site on its
own hover-bed.
INT. TEST SITE
A roomy but not cavernous interior.
Computer banks and readouts line the walls. The hover-bed enters. Building
lights activate. Remote cameras swing to face the hover-bed.
INT. OBSERVATORY M-44 CONTROL ROOM
The wall screen shows the front of
the hover-bed box opening slowly. Barrett presses another switch on her
console.
INT. TEST SITE
A receptacle, smaller than the
computer banks and resembling (but not identical to) the pedestal on which the
Pulsator had rested on both the Mysteron complex in Crater 101 and later on
Cloudbase, moves with a hissing SOUND EFFECT towards the box, and enters
through its opening.
INT. OBSERVATORY M-44 CONTROL ROOM
All watch the wall screen, but Shaw
watches his console readout.
CLOSE-UP - SHAW
SHAW
The Pulsator has docked with the
Super Transceiver Unit.
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
KURNITZ
Let us bring them out into the open,
Doctor, so we can all witness your handiwork.
CLOSE-UP - SHAW
Presses a switch on his console.
INT. TEST SITE
The receptacle exits the box with a
Pulsator perched in its center. The Pulsator is nearly identical in appearance
to its predecessors, but is smaller and now contained in a geodesic latticework
of electronic circuitry and wires connected to the Super Transceiver Unit.
The EPISODE TITLE is superimposed on
the action, but NO MAIN TITLES.
ANOTHER ANGLE
The hover-bed box closes its panel
and exits the building. The building door closes shut behind it.
INT. OBSERVATORY M-44 CONTROL ROOM
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
MAGENTA
Doctor Shaw, how were you able to
duplicate the Pulsator we had retrieved from the Moon?
MEDIUM - SHAW
He swings around from the console with an electronic SOUND EFFECT and faces Kurnitz and Magenta. His electric wheelchair is of common design but uses four or more smaller balloon or wire-mesh tires.
SHAW
It's not a precise duplicate of the
original Pulsator, but we were fortunate to have had the opportunity to perform
a thorough molecular scan of the original and conduct tests on its
capabilities.
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
KURNITZ
Doctor Shaw led the original team
that discovered the Pulsator could amplify and relay a carrier wave on which we
could broadcast a simple signal on a set frequency. That was cause for hope
that we would contact the Mysterons the first time.
GROUP SHOT - KURNITZ, MAGENTA AND SHAW
Shaw approaches the others in his wheelchair.
SHAW
Unfortunately the Mysterons used
that same feature to nearly destroy Cloudbase. However, their attack also
provided me with proof of the Pulsator's composition and a clue to another use
of the Pulsator.
MAGENTA
As a means to receive, store,
amplify and relay focused particle-beam energy to another destination.
SHAW
Correct, Captain. In its original
form the Pulsator was a very large diamond, extracted from beneath the surface
of Mars. It was little different in its composition from what you would find in
an industrial diamond manufactured from substances naturally found on the Moon
or Earth. However, the Mysterons had altered its molecular structure to serve
their own purposes.
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
KURNITZ
And Doctor Shaw feels he has
improved on the Mysterons' technique.
CLOSE-UP - SHAW
SHAW
Again, not precisely, but well enough, I would hope, to alert the Mysterons that we too could direct a beam of focused energy to another planet... in this case, their own planet.
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
KURNITZ
And so we knock on
their door again, Captain, and hope they will answer with something besides a
threat of retribution.
CLOSE-UP - BARRETT
BARRETT
Do you truly think they will answer this time,
Doctor Kurnitz?
GROUP SHOT - SHAW, KURNITZ, MAGENTA
KURNITZ
Ach, what do we lose by trying, Doctor Barrett? And, if we are correct, we may gain infinitely more than we could lose. I believe we are ready to proceed. Captain, you should contact Cloudbase and alert Spectrum of our progress.
CLOSE-UP - MAGENTA
Magenta's commlink epaulet lights flash and cap
mike drops into position.
MAGENTA
Colonel White, we are ready to begin the transmission to Mars.
INT. CLOUDBASE COMMAND CENTER - MEDIUM -
COLONEL WHITE
WHITE seated at the con.
WHITE
Thank you, Captain Magenta. I have
Cloudbase on full alert, and all Angels are skyborne. On behalf of Spectrum I
commend the Deep Space Institute for their efforts.
INT. OBSERVATORY M-44 CONTROL ROOM
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
WHITE (V.O., filtered)
Doctor Kurnitz, how long will the transmission
last?
KURNITZ
We plan a thirty-second radio
transmission, followed by thirty seconds of particle-beam energy.
WHITE (V.O., filtered)
And you have located your target?
KURNITZ
We have pinpointed the site of the
original Mysteron attack on the Zero-X mission. I must emphasize, Colonel, that
we want to be both precise in our transmission yet without any hint or display
of menace.
CLOSE-UP - SHAW
SHAW
The radio transmission will be a duplicate of the signals Spectrum originally monitored before the Zero-X mission. The energy beam will be weak, but sufficiently focused to alert the Mysterons of our capabilities. Allowing for the time delay our global and orbital network of radio telescopes should quickly alert us of any return signals from Mars.
INT. CLOUDBASE COMMAND CENTER - MEDIUM -
COLONEL WHITE
WHITE
Thank you, Doctor. Do keep us informed, and let us all hope we succeed this time in convincing the Mysterons of our peaceful intentions.
INT. OBSERVATORY M-44 CONTROL ROOM
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
KURNITZ
Begin the transmission.
CLOSE-UP - SHAW
Faces his console.
SHAW
Doctor Barrett, do we have a lock on the target
site?
CLOSE-UP - BARRETT
BARRETT
Yes, Doctor. Mars is in the proper position for
maximum reception.
CLOSE-UP - SHAW
SHAW
Let's go, then. Energy beam
transmission to test site activated. Countdown to transmission from ten...
Nine...
INT. TEST SITE
The receptacle area surrounding the
Pulsator begins to glow, then the latticework, then the Pulsator itself, soon
all in sync, with SOUND EFFECT...
SHAW (V.O.)
Eight... Seven... Six...
INT. OBSERVATORY M-44 CONTROL ROOM - CLOSE-UP -
BARRETT
BARRETT
Test site confirms energy beam link.
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
SHAW (O.S.)
Five... Four... Three...
INT. TEST SITE
The Pulsator light produces a lens flare, and the combined effect brightens the interior even more.
SHAW (V.O.)
Two... One...
INT. OBSERVATORY M-44 CONTROL ROOM - CLOSE-UP -
SHAW
SHAW
Transmit!
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
Face the wall screen.
SCIENTISTS' POV
The wall screen is a televised image
of the Test Site building, relayed from the distant mobile, next to a televised
image of the Test Site interior, with the Pulsator in full visual effect.
INT. OBSERVATORY M-44 CONTROL ROOM -
CLOSE-UP - BARRETT
Studies the wall screen.
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
Study the wall screen.
SCIENTISTS' POV
The image of the Test Site interior
turns completely white and dissolves in a random pattern of static.
CLOSE-UP - KURNITZ
KURNITZ
Have we lost contact?
CLOSE-UP - BARRETT
BARRETT
No, we've only lost interior visual. The link is intact.
CLOSE-UP - SHAW
Faces the wall screen.
SHAW
Look!
EXT. TEST SITE - DAY (OPTICAL
EFFECT)
The building slowly disappears, without violence or added visual effect, but with the same SOUND EFFECT as the Mysterons' teleportation of Captain Black when he is near capture.
INTERCUT SEGUE
EXT. CLOUDBASE BRIDGE - DAY
(LIBRARY)
INT. CLOUDBASE COMMAND CENTER
White at the con, Kurnitz and
Magenta seated before him. CAPTAINS SCARLET and BLUE stand behind Kurnitz and
Magenta. LIEUTENANT GREEN sits at his comm post.
WHITE
Doctor Kurnitz, I
think it safe to say the test results were impressive, but not what anyone had
reasonably expected.
CLOSE-UP - KURNITZ
KURNITZ
That is true,
Colonel. However, I was correct to state we would gain far more than we would
lose by trying. Within minutes our radio telescopes received a duplicate
transmission from the target site on Mars.
MEDIUM - WHITE
KURNITZ (O.S.)
And, what was even
more remarkable, the Mysterons' energy beam reached us at the same level of our
transmission before our radio signal should have reached them.
TWO SHOT - BLUE AND SCARLET
BLUE
Even allowing for the speed of light, the Mysterons should have heard us before they responded to the second transmission of the energy beam.
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
KURNITZ
And that would mean the impossible.
The Pulsator produced a nearly instantaneous transmission of energy across
millions of miles of space.
MEDIUM - WHITE
WHITE
Before we jump to
conclusions, do we know where the duplicate Pulsator went?
CLOSE-UP - KURNITZ
KURNITZ
Doctor Shaw believes the only logical conclusion is that the Pulsator, along with the entire Test Site facility, is on Mars. I am inclined to agree with him, but of course I would prefer visual confirmation.
TWO SHOT - BLUE AND SCARLET
SCARLET
And that means a follow-up transmission.
BLUE
Perhaps of more than just a signal.
CLOSE-UP - WHITE
WHITE
And, I would hope, less than just a
building. I know what you two are thinking, and I do not share your enthusiasm.
Doctor Kurnitz, how soon can you arrange another broadcast to the Mysterons on
Mars by relay from Cloudbase?
CLOSE-UP - KURNITZ
KURNITZ
The Institute is already preparing
another Pulsator and remote test facility.
CLOSE-UP - SCARLET
SCARLET
Colonel, even if you can contact the Mysterons again, we have no assurance they won't expect more from us than a message. At least they follow up on the threats they make to us.
CLOSE-UP - WHITE
WHITE
Very well, Captain Scarlet, just what do you
propose?
TWO SHOT - BLUE AND SCARLET
SCARLET
We send an emissary.
BLUE
And I will gladly volunteer for that
mission.
SCARLET
Indeed you would, Captain Blue. As
would I.
MEDIUM - WHITE
WHITE
As would any of us present, I have no doubt. But you must realize the mission would be more than a step into the unknown. It would be greater than anything Spectrum has yet faced, and far greater than anything I would expect from any of our members. I cannot allow that.
CLOSE-UP - MAGENTA
MAGENTA
Colonel White, what can we lose by trying?
CLOSE-UP - WHITE
WHITE
Good men and brave, Captain Magenta, to fight the war against the Mysterons.
TWO SHOT - KURNITZ AND MAGENTA
MAGENTA
Then why not send good men and brave to end
that war?
CLOSE-UP - WHITE
Positively speechless, but poised to decide.
FADE IN:
EXT. CLOUDBASE DECK (LIBRARY) - DAY
The Spectrum personnel jet prepares for
takeoff.
INT. SPECTRUM PASSENGER JET CABIN - DAY
Blue and Magenta at the controls.
BLUE
Spectrum Passenger Jet, request
launch clearance.
GREEN
(V.O., filtered)
Spectrum Is Green. Good luck, Captains.
MAGENTA
Thanks, Lieutenant. And, thank you,
Captain Blue.
BLUE
At least we know we'll have company,
even if only in spirit.
INT. CLOUDBASE BRIEFING ROOM
TWO SHOT - SCARLET AND WHITE
Scarlet looks out porthole. White stands behind
him.
WHITE
I'm sorry, Captain
Scarlet. But I am glad you understand that you are more needed here. Doctor
Kurnitz has arranged for my broadcast to the Mysterons tomorrow morning. I'd
like you there with me.
SCARLET
Thank you, Colonel. I'll be there.
White exits. Scarlet does not move.
Camera pulls in on him very slowly, to CLOSE-UP. The music underscores his
disappointment.
FADE IN:
EXT. OBSERVATORY M-44 - NIGHT
A dark but calm night. The buildings are well
lit, inside and out.
INT. OBSERVATORY M-44 CONTROL ROOM
Shaw remains at his post, watches
his console readout intently, writes on pad. Room lights a little lower.
Barrett stands behind him.
BARRETT
You haven't left this room all day.
SHAW
You know I can't. This is important
to me. To everyone.
BARRETT
Are you certain there's nothing else
I can do tonight?
SHAW
I'm certain.