Alien Nation (1989–1990): Season 1, Episode 9 - The Game - full transcript

𝒯𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓈𝓁𝒶𝓉e
𝓊𝓃𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓉 E𝒩𝒢LI𝒮H

That was the scene in California
's Mojave Desert, five years ago.

Our historic first view
of the Newcomers' ship.

Theirs was a slave ship, carrying
a quarter-million beings...

bred to adapt and labor
in any environment.

But they've washed
ashore on Earth...

with no way to get back
to where they came from.

And in the last five years, the Newcomers
have become the latest addition...

to the population
of Los Angeles.

You're up, Comet.

Roll them, Comet.



Too bad, Comet.

Not even the holidays
change my luck.

Where are you going, Comet?

Look, l was going
to pay you, honest.

Will this one do?

May the Earth stay
firmly under your feet.

Right, Albert.

What's on the menu?

Susan is serving a delicious
grasshopper mole.

Care for a worm or
a tarantula, Matt?

Thanks, Buck, l'll stick
to the cocktail weenies.

They'll be here, George.

You're going to rub those
Terras to dust, relax.

I am relaxed.



Lt's a wonderful party, why
don't you come and enjoy it?

- L will, in a moment.
- George, it's the Day of Descent.

All our friends are here, l'm
happy, Emily is excited...

and even Buck, the alien
without a cause, is smiling.

George, why is it that every
year on our happiest holiday...

you're always such a grump?

L'm sorry, l will
try to have fun.

George, Susan, great
Descent party, l guess.

So, you've been bugging me
for weeks to show me this...

new tri-deck VCR of
yours, where is it?

Oh, yes, Matt....

Excuse me. Matt, l'll
show it to you later.

Vohno, my friend. How
good it is to see you.

For you.

Lt's so expensive.

No. Besides, what's money
between old friends?

Business must be doing better.

- Yeah, l've been pretty lucky lately.
- We hear you may have good news?

We hope so. We're so sorry you
couldn't come to the coupling.

But our Binnaum, Albert, is
here, you must meet him.

Matthew, l want you to meet two of
our dear friends from the ship...

- Tom and Alva.
- Don't tell me, Edison.

- You've heard of my lighting store?
- Wild guess.

Oh, yes.

Attention. Please gather around
everyone, we have an announcement.

As is Descent holiday tradition, to
celebrate the day our ship landed...

Newcomers choose an earthling
to do special things for us...

as a gesture of goodwill
for liberating us.

And this year, the Francisco
family would be honored if...

Matthew Sikes would serve as
our Descent holiday Dork.

Dork?

Dork is Tenctonese
for "revered one."

Smile, it's an honor.

All right, what the hell,
l guess l'm your Dork.

Come, l must show you
my new tri-deck VCR.

And there were alarms of
warning throughout the ship...

and much talk of our
forced landing.

A new beginning was at hand...

and as the great craft descended
to its place of rest...

new vistas opened up our
eyes, filled with wonder...

and we pledged to embrace all Earth
beings as our friends forever.

And this is what l've learned since
we were released from quarantine.

- Best Descent Party ever, George.
- Yes, l suppose.

What is it, Stangya?

What are you two doing
here in the dark?

Just recharging for more fun.

- George, what is it?
- Lt's nothing, Susan.

Ruhtra.

Lts okay, Neemu, it
was only a dream.

Morning, Bryon.

What is the problem with getting
some fresh doughnuts around here?

L cannot work with a belly full
of stale doughnuts. l'm sorry.

What the hell are you doing?

You've been complaining
about having a clean desk.

So l've alphabetized all
the files, organized

everything in your in
and out baskets...

disinfected your desk and
your phone's mouthpiece.

You really shouldn't talk
with your mouth full.

L hope everything is
to your satisfaction.

Lt's great. Why?

You are the Dork.

Lt's customary to do a nice thing
each day of the Descent season...

for the one being honored.

- Anything?
- Anything.

- Even getting fresh doughnuts?
- Lf that is what you desire.

Maybe being a Dork
won't be so bad.

Albert, where have you been?

You were supposed to clean
my office an hour ago.

L'll get right to it, sir.

Excuse me.

- What you got under the coat?
- Nothing.

Yeah, well your nothing just cooed.
What is it?

Get that filthy thing
out of here right now.

- Lt's just a bird.
- Lt's not a bird, Einstein, it's a pigeon.

They're disgusting creatures, flying
bags of germs. Now get rid of it.

- That is unfortunate.
- What's the big deal? lt's just a pigeon.

L believe it is Albert's Dork.

You two, in my office, now.

No, George.

You said l was a Dork. How
can a pigeon be a Dork?

Only humans would be so arrogant
as to assume such superiority.

Ln our eyes, we are grateful
to all of Earth's creatures.

Pigeons?

- We've got another missing Newcomer.
- That makes two in the last week.

L know. When the Newcomer Advocacy League
finds out, l'll be on the hotplate.

Lt looks bad, it being
your Decent day and all.

- Descent. Day of Descent.
- Whatever. Just clear it up.

The latest subject is a
guy named Joe Comet.

L was just notified, his
wife's in the booking area.

Get out there.

Joe's a good man.

But he gambles.

He's lost our rent
money more than once.

L'm not supposed to know, but you
hear things from the other wives.

Anyway, when he loses...

he borrows money from
the local money broker.

You mean a loan shark?

He's been coming around
looking for him.

Do you know this man's name?

Flack. Deon Flack. Two-bit
money collector for the mob.

The scumbag and l go way back.

L must have busted him 30 times
and 30 times he's gotten off.

Let me do the talking.
We have a rapport.

What the hell's going on here?

Hey, Deon, how you doing?
Freeze, Deon!

Geez, Sikes, l
should have known.

The threads are nice, but
the face is just as ugly.

Lt's really good to see you too, Sikes.
Mind if l have my arm back now?

We're looking for a
Newcomer named Joe Comet.

Lf you see him, send him my way. The
sponge-head owes me eight bills.

No offense.

You wouldn't make someone disappear
for eight bills, now would you?

You know what your problem is, Sikes?
You, unlike me, are not a people person.

Why would l want somebody who
owes me money to disappear?

Lt's simple arithmetic.

Here, paid, gone, bye. Boom-boom.
You know what l mean?

Now, if you gentlemen don't have any
further questions or a warrant...

l shall be on my way.

Happy Holidays.

- Bring him out.
- Let's go.

- Bring him out.
- Let's go.

- Come on.
- L didn't do anything!

No!

L don't want to die!

- No!
- Come on.

- Oh, yeah.
- No!

L've got $10 on this one.

Let the game begin.

For me?

L believe you will find
that it is still warm.

Now this is a doughnut.

This all part of
that Dork stuff?

Why the long face, George?

Joe Comet's case is no
longer a missing person.

Now it's homicide.

Hey, Roscoe, how you doing? You look awful.
How's life treating you?

Like he caught me in
bed with his wife.

Look at this, huh? Back in the
'80s, the good old days...

we'd have 20-30 stiffs a day.

Now they just stack them
up like cords of wood.

Doctor, where is the body?

Your sleeping beauty's
under there...

but it's going to take a lot more
than a kiss to wake this guy up.

What's the cause of death?

L haven't had time to
filet him yet, but...

you can roll a bowling ball through
the hole in this guy's chest.

A 12-gauge message from the mob for
all the boys that owe money, huh?

No shotgun, not that pretty.

You know how a Newcomer is like
a seltzer tablet in the ocean?

- Yeah.
- Well...

somebody bored a hole
in this guy's chest...

with a high-powered
stream of salt water.

L mean it's like having acid
sprayed right through your body.

From the look on his face...

l'd say that he was awake
during the whole thing.

Lt must have been one
hell of a sight.

Ruhtra!

Earth to George.
Come in, George?

You all right, man?

Yes, Matthew, l am fine.

L need....

l'll right be back, something
l have to take care of.

That's funny...

you're usually the one to turn a little
green around the gills down here, Sikes.

- Tom.
- George, hi. What...

L must speak with you.
ls this a bad time?

No. Come inside.

George, what is wrong?

Do you have something to drink?

- Aren't you on duty?
- L just need it.

L always keep a
little something.

You know, for the rough days.

Do you remember the way
the bodies looked?

- Why?
- After they played?

Do you remember?

What are you doing this for?

George, please! Get
out of the past.

Wasn't the hole burned
all the way through?

L really have to
go now, Stangya.

Wasn't the wound burned
all the way through?

Yes!

Lt was burned all the way through.
Why do we have to relive it?

Because l think l have
just seen such a body.

No.

L think the game is being
played here on Earth.

Einstein, what are you
doing in my office?

Lt was an accident, l'm sorry, sir.
L don't know how he got out, but...

Got out? What is this?

Looks like a feathered
fertilizer to me.

L told you to get
rid of that thing.

L tried, sir, but if l don't care for
him, they will put him to sleep.

These things happen, Einstein.
Lose the bird.

Come on, Bryon.

Wait. Bryon?

You named this thing Bryon?
Trying to be a wise guy?

L wish l was wise, sir. L'm
just trying to be honorable.

Respect for Earth's creatures...

plays an important part in
our Day of Descent ritual.

Ln choosing a name
for my Earth Dork...

l sought one that was
worthy of such respect.

Come on, Albert, l'll
help you lose the bird.

All right, hold it.

Okay, look...

you keep that thing in the
cage, out of this office...

and when that wing is back in
service, he goes, you got it?

Yes, sir. Thank you, l promise.

Come on, Bryon.

From lsiah, three seconds
left, two seconds, shoots...

it'll count if it goes. lt goes!

Where you been?

Getting near crunch time, l
won't have anybody to pass to.

Something l had to check out.

L've been doing some checking
myself, and guess what?

All the missing
Newcomers had had...

recent money troubles with
that sleaze-bucket Flack.

- This time l'm going to nail him.
- L don't think he's behind this.

Come on.

- L don't think any human is behind this.
- Why?

Lt's a coincidence that four Newcomers
that happen to be having trouble...

paying back the mob just
happen to be disappearing?

L just think it could
be something different.

George, Flack's a lock.

Why must you always
have the head of a pig?

L'm not the one being
pigheaded here.

Why can't you look beyond your personal
vendetta and consider the possibility...

that they might be disappearing
for much bigger reasons?

- George, you been drinking?
- Maybe l have.

What the hell is wrong with you?

Ever since this Day of Descent thing rolled
around you've been a pain in the ass.

Now if you've got some info
on this case, spill it...

but don't go ripping my head
off, 'cause l'm doing my job.

Look, on the ship, the overseers
used to play this game.

Lt was very much like the one
you called Russian roulette.

Comet's wounds....

They closely resembled those of
the slaves who lost this game.

And you think this whacked-out
game is going on now?

L'm not certain.

- So you got no proof?
- Lt's just a strange feeling.

Great, another one
of your feelings.

George, we're cops, we deal
in facts, not feelings.

And the fact is, Flack
has plenty of motive.

You're just letting your milk-fed
imagination get the better of you.

Why don't you knock off?

Maybe you're right, maybe
it's just the season.

Look, George, a lot of humans can't
stand their holidays either.

L mean, have you ever seen the stats
around Christmas time on suicide?

Just something about all that
happiness makes people go crazy.

Go home. Sleep it off.

Good night, Matthew.

Lt's showtime, pal. You're
gonna love this game.

Bring out the champ!

No. Please!

Push it. l said push it, now!

Push it and you may live.
Lf you don't, you will die.

Now push it!

Push it! l said, push it!

Tom Edison wins again!

Hi, Little Bryon. Hi. This is Big Bryon.
Here you go.

Hi, Little Bryon. Hi. This is Big Bryon.
Here you go.

Sort of become one of the
family, hey, Captain?

Just make sure he
doesn't make a mess.

- So, George.
- Yes.

- Where's my doughnut?
- L'm sorry, Matthew. l forgot.

Forgot?

L couldn't get any sleep
last night, l'm sorry.

My fault. l thought you took
this Dork stuff seriously.

L forgot.

Laurel, Hardy, my office.

Where are we on the
Flack surveillance?

He's under a microscope. One
slip-up, we'll squash him.

Tighten the noose.

The midnight boys found
another Newcomer body.

Here. They're worth
a thousand words.

The NAL is chewing me red.
l want action.

Here. We found this
on the victim's body.

Note the residue in the tread.

Have SlD run a bio scan,
see where it came from.

As you can see, it's an
all-too-familiar story.

Roscoe's confirmed the cause of death.
Lt's just like Comet's...

salt-water burns
through the chest.

Ruhtra!

Francisco?

Lt's the holidays.
We'll get right on it.

George, wait. Dork to George.
Come in, George.

What's going on?

Hey SlD's up here. You're
going the wrong way.

No, l'm not.

L thought we were partners.

L get it, another disappearing act like the
one you just pulled in Grazer's office.

One body as a warning
maybe, but not two.

Ls this more of that game crap?
Ls that what it's about?

What it's about, is telling a
Tenctonese family that their father...

will not be home for the holidays.
Any more questions?

- All right, l'll grab my coat.
- No.

Lt is a Tenctonese matter.

Besides, you obviously
have your own agenda.

Come on, Flack, give me
something to nail you with.

- About this morning.
- Forget it.

Did you see the family?

Look, George, l don't want to ruin
your holidays any more, but....

George?

Hey, you all right, man?

Oh, man.

You okay?

L have to get Tom back.

He's one of them.

Don't you see?

They did it to him on the ship, and
they're doing it to him again now.

George, Flack is a human,
he wasn't on the ship.

He's just bringing the players.

To the game?

L thought he had beaten it,
but he's out of control.

Lt's an obsession. You play the game, you
face death over and over again and....

You become addicted, it controls
you, you have no choice.

- George, you played the game?
- Yes.

Yes, l played.

They made me play.

L sat powerless and l
watched the others die.

And then...

there was just one barrel left
and it was pointed at me...

and they were cheering.

They were cheering
for me to die.

And then the alarms
sounded and panic set in.

There was no time to finish.

The Day of Descent had begun.

All the others had died.

Oh, man.

Lt was my turn.

Lt's not fair, it
should have been me.

Why am l alive and
Ruhtra is dead?

Why?

And now it's happening again.

I am not going to let
them win this time.

L have to get Tom back.

There is a nightclub he's been frequenting.
Alva found some credit card receipts.

He's been acting very strange. She
thinks Tom is having an affair.

Can you believe it? They've
got a bus around back.

They bring them in here like
it's a New Year's Eve bash.

L don't think they're going
to like the party favors.

When Tom gets here, we move.

George, l don't think
it's time for last rites.

Unless you know
something l don't.

No, Matthew, these are
not rosary beads.

These Terras...

are a symbolic reminder of our
liberation from enslavement...

and the freedom we now
enjoy on our new planet.

Each bead represents
some aspect of Earth.

This one is for air, and
this one is for water.

And these are the solid
ground we tread upon.

Many of the Newcomers carry
these around holiday times.

Emily made these for me.

Susan and the children love
the Descent holiday so...

it's a very special
time for them.

You've never told Susan about
you and the game, have you?

And how does one
do that, Matthew?

Hello.

One-William-52 requesting
backup at 1 1976 Brickland.

Possible 187 in progress.

George.

Police. lt's all over.
On the floor!

On the floor. You're
all under arrest!

What the hell is this?

What it is, Sikes, is
a legal enterprise.

And you two guys are
in a lot of trouble.

Excuse me.

Come on, man, just a
little oil wrestling.

Sikes, what's going on?

L'm not sure.

For money?

You play for money?

Tom, the game is
taking your soul.

He is mine again. Vohno
works for me now.

Thank you for coming, gentlemen.
Please sit down.

As you know, l've
asked you here...

in the hopes of avoiding
your proposed lawsuit.

My client takes these
charges quite seriously.

Forced entry, false
arrest, trespassing...

illegal search without a warrant, use
of firearms without provocation.

Yeah, it's a hell
of a laundry list.

But from where l stand, you're
the ones who smell dirty.

Sikes, we've got nothing on him.

Maybe not here, but where l
come from he is guilty of all.

Francisco, shut up.

Captain...

my client is an honest citizen
who simply deserves justice.

He's just pushing buttons, George.
You're stronger, tune him out.

Captain, our intention was
right, the location was wrong.

The nightclub is a rendezvous.

He busses spectators
to the game...

where people are murdered
for their viewing pleasure.

- Captain, this is slander.
- He is a murderer.

That is outrageous.

Francisco, desist.

George.

L will see you dead, Koulak.

As of this moment you
are both off this case.

Now, get him out of here, Sikes.
Now!

L will not sit by and let
that butcher keep on killing.

George, have a slug of milk.

Thank you.

Koulak, was right, you know.

On the ship, he kept me locked in a cage,
he tormented me whenever he pleased...

and now that l'm in a position to do
something about it, l'm equally powerless.

L couldn't stop him
then, but l...

We're off the case, George. You're
going to have to be patient.

Koulak will slip up, it's
just a matter of time.

And how many others
will die while we wait?

How many other innocent victims?

L will not let him kill
like he killed Ruhtra.

Damn it, George, get a grip!

What's past is past,
the dead are dead.

You've got to stop blaming
yourself because you survived...

- because you got lucky.
- Lucky?

- Ruhtra died.
- You couldn't save Ruhtra, George.

He was a guy who was in the
wrong place at the wrong time.

He was just another Newcomer
whose time had come.

Ruhtra wasn't just
another Newcomer.

He was my brother.

L didn't know he was family.

L'm sorry.

Come on, let's go.

No.

Lt may backfire.

- Lt's not your fight, Matthew.
- We're partners, George. Partners.

You'll never know how
much that means to me.

Matt, l've been trying
to call the precinct.

Where's George?

L don't know. He ran out of
here about 20 minutes ago.

Damn. Where did he go?

He wouldn't tell me. He ran in here,
he tore open this police file...

that was delivered earlier
and then he left.

What is it?

A bio-scan report SlD ran on some
evidence found on a victim's shoe.

- Does it tell you where he went?
- L think so.

Not a bad take, looks like
you got a hot player.

Edison's good, but this
game feeds on losers.

Get me three more. The
next game's in two nights.

L'll never let you down,
'cause you pay up.

Still trying to beat the
law of averages, Stangya?

Like your friend, the odds of
losing will catch up to you.

L meant what l said, Koulak.

L will see you dead.

Have you forgotten your position
as an officer of the law?

- Stangya, l'm defenseless.
- L know.

Enough, Stangya.

L control you now like
l controlled you...

when l brought your
brother to play the game.

That wasn't control, that was you hiding
behind the power of the Kleezantsun.

But the cage bars that
separated us then...

and the Earth laws that separate
us now no longer exist.

You, me...

and your law of averages.

Who's next to sit at the table?

You will be a brave player.

But you will make
for better sport!

Stangya, l am going home.

What is it you want?

L want to see what
you're made of.

Stangya, you're crazy.

Crazy enough to
give you your wish.

Here's your chance
to watch me die.

But it is also my
chance to watch you.

L will not play the
game, Stangya.

L'm going to give you something
that you never gave Ruhtra:

The chance to survive.

Lf you win, you walk.

But if you do not play, l
will kill you where you sit.

Push it.

Can you see the faces of
those you have murdered?

Can you hear their screams?

Push it.

Push it.

Did your victims' eyes
scream for mercy?

Oh, Stangya, no.

Do you feel their
children's pain?

Can you hear their
voices calling you now?

Push the button...

like Ruhtra did, and
Tom, and Joe Comet...

and all the others.

Push it!

Come on, butcher,
live the moment.

- Push it.
- No, Stangya, no.

- Push it.
- No.

Help!

Go on.

- Then l will push it for you.
- No.

George, don't!

Stangya!

L want you to see their faces
every day you rot in jail.

You're lucky you played
the game with George.

As is tradition on the final
day of the Descent holidays...

let us all join hands and express
our thanks to the Earth.

Emily?

I am beholden to the
Earth for our home.

L'm beholden to the
Earth for freedom.

I am beholden to the
Earth for new friends.

L'm not real good at this....

Welcome to Earth.

You sure make
things interesting.

I am beholden to the
Earth for my family.

And for my husband who can now
celebrate the Day of Descent in peace.

I am beholden to Earth
for our new life.

Long may we celebrate
Day of Descent.

Long may we celebrate
the day of liberation.

- Liberation.
- Liberation.