32. Scorpio flight deck

(DAYNA sits at her flight console.)

DAYNA: How much fuel have we Slave?

SLAVE: I regret to say ‘very little’, Mistress.

DAYNA: I’d rather you didn’t call me that.

SLAVE: I’m very sorry, but I don’t understand.

DAYNA: Never mind.

SLAVE: I hate to be a nuisance, but it is as well you are appraised of Scorpio’s heavy fuel consumption...

DAYNA: All right, Slave, you’ve told me.

SLAVE: I really do hate to be a nuisance, but—

DAYNA: Then don’t be!

SLAVE: Very, well, Mistress.

(DAYNA glares at SLAVE. SLAVE’s lights blink.)

SLAVE: Sorry about that.

33. Sand dunes

(The exhausted Avon has slowed down considerably. As he enters a hollow between two gullies, he looks around as if not knowing which direction to take. The two ROBOTS are closing in fast.)

34. Algor’s chamber

(ALGOR and SERVALAN watch AVON’s predicament on the screen.)

ALGOR: I have him! He’s a dead man!

SERVALAN: Not yet, he isn’t.

35. Sand dunes

(AVON is trapped in the hollow. One of the ROBOTS aims a gun at him. Suddenly there is a shot and the ROBOT explodes. AVON turns to see TARRANT close by, gun in hand. On the top of a dune, the OTHER ROBOT appears when SOOLIN appear behind it with a heavy lump of wood. She hits the ROBOT, which tumbles away out of sight down the back of the dune. TARRANT and SOOLIN join AVON, followed belated by VILA.)

TARRANT: Soolin and I were prepared to give you up for dead. Vila wasn’t convinced.

AVON: Algor is still alive, too. I’m going after him.

TARRANT: (handing Avon the shotgun) That’s what you came for.

AVON: He’s almost certain to release Gabor... that’s his “perfect creation”, his indestructible robot. You’ll have to keep Gabor out of my way.

TARRANT: If he’s indestructible, how do you suggest we go about it?

AVON: I’m afraid that’s your problem. I have other things on my mind.

TARRANT: All I can think of at the moment is waving the white flag...

(AVON is already hurrying off as fast as he can. TARRANT, VILA and SOOLIN look around warily.)

VILA: Have you thought of what to do?

TARRANT: Yes. When this Gabor creature appears, we must lead it away from Avon.

VILA: ...go on.!

TARRANT: It’s very simple. We let Gabor see us, and then we run away.

SOOLIN: Is that the best idea you can come up with?

TARRANT: It’s the only idea I can come up with!

36. Algor’s chamber

(ALGOR and SERVALAN turn away from the screen, having seen the robots destroyed.)

ALGOR: (helpless) What shall I do?

SERVALAN: Release Gabor!

(ALGOR hesitates for a moment, then moves to the console and begins reluctantly flicking switches.)

37. Rocky outcrop

(GABOR strides forth out from the shadow of a rock.)

38. Open ground

(TARRANT, VILA and SOOLIN advance warily.)

SOOLIN: I can’t help feeling that it’s typical of Avon to leave us out in the open to face an indestructible robot while he goes after an easier target.

TARRANT: I have yet to meet the man – or machine-made man – that can kill me!

VILA: I think you’re about to...

(VILA points to a high dune some distance in front of them. GABOR appears and all three rebels immediately fire their hand guns – but GABOR is unmoved. Armed, GABOR strides towards VILA, TARRANT and SOOLIN, who scatter and run for it.)