6. Seashore and sand dunes

(AVON is on the run from the ROBOTS. Covering a stretch of open ground, there is an explosion close by. AVON flings himself to the ground. There are explosions all around him. He rises slowly and looks towards a ROBOT that is leveling a gun at him. ANOTHER ROBOT approaches from another direction. From a concealed microphone in the sand comes a voice.)

ALGOR: (vo) Throw down your gun!

(AVON is surprised at the voice. From an entirely different microphone, the voice thunders forth again, giving an echo effect.)

ALGOR: (vo) I said, throw down your gun!

(AVON holds the gun clear of his body and drops it. The SECOND ROBOT approaches him and clubs him to the ground, then places a knife at AVON’s throat.)

AVON: (hoarsely) Take me to your leader.

7. Algor’s chamber

(A large, sparsely-furnished room dominated by a communication console in turn dominated by a large, practical television screen showing AVON being manhandled by the two ROBOTS. ALGOR, a middle-aged cripple in a maneuverable wheelchair, studies the screen.)

ALGOR: I’ll kill him for this.

(He shouts at the screen.)

ALGOR: You’re a dead man... whoever you are!

SERVALAN: (vo) His name is Avon.

(ALGOR turns to look at another part of the room, at a chaise lounge upon which is seated SERVALAN.)

ALGOR: I don’t have to know his name to kill him. He has just destroyed two years of my life’s work. He will feel pain before he dies.

SERVALAN: But these were your lesser robots. He wouldn’t have stood a chance against Gabor.

ALGOR: Quite right. Gabor is invincible.

SERVALAN: That you will have to prove.

ALGOR: I shall... when I am ready.

SERVALAN: I am here to come to an arrangement with you. If I have a fault, it is impatience.

ALGOR: (giggles) You are so eager to assume your former status. It amuses me that I am the only person alive with the means to assist you.

SERVALAN: Timing is of the utmost importance. Waste it, and you will cease to be of use to me.

ALGOR: Be assured, I shall not waste time on this intruder. As for Gabor? You must wait and see...

SERVALAN: It is a privilege to wait on genius – provided one does not have to wait too long.

8. Xenon base

(DAYNA, TARRANT and SOOLIN are present in the Crew Room.)

DAYNA: So, as far as we know, Avon has failed to kill Algor?

TARRANT: As far as we know.

SOOLIN: Algor is a crippled old man. It shouldn’t have been too difficult.

DAYNA: He has his robots to protect him.

SOOLIN: It still shouldn’t have been difficult. Maybe Avon is losing his touch?

TARRANT: Or he’s lost it completely... Vila is on his way back. He left Avon on Epsilon with Algor and his robots.

DAYNA: (horrified) Then he’s a dead man for sure!

(There is a pause.)

TARRANT: Off with the old, on with the new.

DAYNA: If he was here you wouldn’t say that!

TARRANT: If he were here, I wouldn’t have to.

SOOLIN: (calming) What can we do?

TARRANT: Nothing.

DAYNA: (sighs) I’m afraid he’s right. We can do nothing.