The Song of the Space-Whale III

36. INT. FLIGHT DECK (NIGHT)

Greeg has his feet up on the console, throwing empty coffee cups across the room into a waste paper basket. He misses every time. Stennar is holding a pair of earphones to her head and calling into a mike.

STENNAR
Yes? What? Speak up! You’re joking. You’re not joking? Well why not?! Oh, bring him up!

We concentrate on the Captain.

GREEG
You found the Pilot again, yet, Nurreg?

NURREG
No, my Captain, sah.

Greeg rolls his eyes and mimics him.

NURREG
Still trying to locate it.

GREEG
Oh, are you? Well I suggest you try harder or I’ll throw you into the Termination Bay along with those bleedin Ecos.

NURREG
You sure you should have, er, let that accident happen, my captain sah?

GREEG
Course I shouldn’t have.

Nurreg nods, mildly surprised.

GREEG
I should have knifed the lot of them and thrown them stark naked out of the air lock. The production line’s too good for Ecos.

NURREG
Still, my captain sah. They got what they deserved, eh?

STENNAR
Apparently not.

GREEG
If you’re sticking up for the Ecos, ‘Number One’, I shall take a view so dim it could almost be termed a psychotically violent view.

STENNAR
No, sir. They didn’t get what they deserved because the saboteur is still alive.

GREEG
After the Termination Bay? Get real!

STENNAR
I am real, sir. Security went to check out that blue pod thing – it’s still intact bar a few scorch marks and the occupant was alive and well. They’re bringing him here.

GREEG
God damn you, Stennar! Can’t you do anything right?

STENNAR
I’m not that well versed in murder, sir.

GREEG
Why not? You’re second in command on a whaling ship for god’s sake!

At this moment, the door to the flight jerks open and the Doctor is shoved in by the two security guards. Everyone stares at him.

DOCTOR
Yes. I really must remember to wear something else when trying to enter unobtrusively.

GREEG
Is that the Eco?

DOCTOR
‘Eco’?

GUARD 2
He’s the one from the blue pod, sir.

Greeg rises and calmly approaches the Doctor.

GREEG
So... YOU’RE the one that freed the Ghaleen?

DOCTOR
It’s one way of putting. You see...

Greeg lets out a grunting scream through his gritted teeth and swings a savage blow at the Doctor. The Doctor, however, ducks in time and the first security guard is knocked the floor. Greeg swings again at the Doctor and he ducks again – the second security guard is smashed against the doorway and slides to the ground.

DOCTOR
Feeling any better, Captain?

Greeg tries to headbutt the Doctor. The Doctor puts his hand out, pressing against Greeg’s forehead. He is thus unable to do anything except back off.

DOCTOR
Now, where was I? Oh yes, the innocent and helpful Ghaleen you were about to ruthlessly slaughter. The one that got away purely by coincidence. My ship’s navigational systems are a touch on the faulty side. My fault, should have fixed them earlier. Instead I got caught in your machinery. Should we exchange insurance details or just call the police?

GREEG
I must just do that. Out here they have a zero tolerance policy on Ecos!

DOCTOR
I’m not an ‘eco’ whatever that may be.

GREEG
Likely story. As if any normal person would wear an outfit like that.

The Doctor haughtily brushes his lapel.

DOCTOR
Some things never go out of style.

NURREG
That was ever IN style?

GREEG
Shut up, Mr. Navigator! This is my business. I’ve dealt with your sort before, you Eco! And if you’re still pretending not to know what that is, it’s short for Eco-terrorists. And I’m sick and tired of you lot messing up my life!

DOCTOR
Why would anyone want to mess up your life, Captain? Surely someone with such a calm and relaxed manner couldn’t possibly offend anyone, let alone prompt them to dislike you.

GREEG
Don’t get clever with me.

DOCTOR
Oh, but it’s so tempting!

The watching crewmen chuckle slightly. This ends instantly as Greeg turns his gaze to look out over the room. Nurreg is not quick enough to hide his smile.

GREEG
Remember what I said? Get back to work, the lot of you.

They do so. Stennar moves to aide the unconscious guards. As Nurreg resumes his seat, a lamp starts flashing. He taps at his terminal excited, while the Doctor and Greeg continue to shout at each other.

GREEG
Out here in deep space, I have the authority to kill you here and now.

DOCTOR
You already tried that, Captain. I’m sure Multi-Global will take a dim view on murder – at least, in front of so many witnesses.

GREEG
The production line was unable to be halted.

DOCTOR
Now that’s not entirely true is it, Captain? In fact, it’s a lie.

GREEG
Are you calling me a liar?

DOCTOR
Are you hard of hearing or just naturally slow?

Greeg is wide-eyed and trembling with fury. Nurreg looks up from his terminal.

NURREG
My Captain, sah!

GREEG
NOT NOW, NAVIGATOR NURREG!!

NURREG
Sir, I’ve relocated the Pilot!

Greeg is still eyeballing the Doctor.

GREEG
YOU’VE WHAT?!

NURREG
The Pilot. We’ve found him again!

Greeg turns to face Nurreg.

GREEG
Plot a course to intercept. Maximum speed. We’re bound to get the herd this time. Stennar! Put the Orkas on Catch Stations and alert the crew!

STENNAR
At once, sir. Shall I deal with this situation with the Eco?

GREEG
Hmph?

STENNAR
The Eco, sir?

The Doctor waves helpfully. Greeg ignores him.

GREEG
Do what you want, Stennar, I’m not your mother.

Stennar advances on the Doctor, who holds his ground. She smiles.


37. MODEL SHOT

The Orkas accelerates through the void. The klaxon starts ringing again.


38. INT. ORKAS CORRIDOR (NIGHT)

Manus and the Chief are present. Manus is strapping a headband with a built in torch.

MANUS
Are you sure about this Chief?

CHIEF
Absolutely positive.

MANUS
I’m work experience, Chief.

CHIEF
And you’re about to experience work. Can’t you hear the siren? We’re at Catch Stations. We need duct 3 cleared of obstruction as soon as we can or else Greeg will have our guts on toast and I mean that literally. The madman’s a cannibal, now get a move on.

MANUS
But that thing’s alive.

CHIEF
Is it? It’s stopped scratching, so it’s probably dead. Now get down there!

MANUS
I am going to complain to my union rep.

CHIEF
Well, that’s what they’re there for. Move.

Manus, upset, checks her blaster and then gingerly lowers herself down through the inspection hatch and into the pipe.

CHIEF
That woman needs to grow up, she really does.

Juras watches on from the shadows as the Chief yawns and wanders off, leaving the hatch open.


39. INT. PIPE (NIGHT)

Large enough for someone to crawl through and made from smooth metal. Very dark. Manus is warily crawling along, using her head torch to illuminate the area in front of him. His breathing is quite loud.

MANUS
No sign of any blockage, so far. Chief? Are you hearing me?

Manus shuffles forward to a junction and calls over her shoulder.

MANUS
Chief? Hello? Oi! Are you there?

There is a metallic scratching noise. Manus’ whirls to face the sight. The light shows an empty tunnel ahead. No sign of anything. The scratching repeats. Manus realizes the noise is coming from behind her. Nothing. Manus speaks very softly.

MANUS
Chief? Please...

The scratching noise again. In front of her this time. She angles her head so the torchlight illuminates the tunnel. This tunnel ends in a T-junction. Something dark and oily shuffles out of the light, leaving no trace it was there. Not long enough for us to have a good look, but long enough to realize Manus is not alone.

MANUS
Chief... It’s still alive.


40. INT. ORKAS CORRIDOR (NIGHT)

Juras timidly approaches the open hatch. Manus’ muffled, tinny voice is heard.

MANUS
Chief! I’m coming back up! We’ll use the vacuum pumps to deal with it, all right?


41. INT. PIPE (NIGHT)

Manus is struggling to move back down the pipe to the source of light that denotes the exit. At the same time she is unholstering her blaster.

MANUS
Chief? Chief!

There is a scratching noise. The black oily shape moves into the light from the open hatch. Manus slides to the floor of the pipe, now on her back. She aims her blaster down the tunnel at the shape.

MANUS
My God... Chief! Chief! It’s alive! It’s one of...

The scratching sound is loud. The black shape charges forward. Manus fires – bright bolts of orange light tear through the dark.


42. INT. ORKAS CORRIDOR (NIGHT)

Juras, hearing the gunfire, turns and flees. A few seconds later, Peri creeps around the corner, furtive and careful. There is more gunfire than silence. Peri hurries over to it and peers down in the pipe.


43. INT. PIPE (NIGHT)

Manus is scrabbling down the pipe away from the exit terrified, gun pointed behind her. Finally she comes to another T-junction and slumps, panting with relief. She keeps the blaster aimed up the tunnel she crawled down. Nothing. Manus starts to calm down.

MANUS
Work experience... Never again.

At that moment a sinewy, gnarled black arm reaches around the T-junction behind Manus and gabs her arm with long, coiling claws. Manus screams and tries to aim at the thing behind her as she is dragged around the corner and out of sight incredibly quickly.


44. INT. ORKAS CORRIDOR (NIGHT)

Peri is about to put her head down the pipe when she hears a volley of gunfire then a hideous scream from Manus. Then another which cuts off abruptly. Peri backs away from the hatch, unable to tear her eyes from the open pipe. She bumps into something. She cries out and whirls around to see...

- to be continued...