Blake's 7 (1978–1981): Season 1, Episode 1 - The Way Back - full transcript

Former resistance leader Roj Blake witnesses a massacre and is subsequently framed for a series of fictional crimes by the totalitarian Federation.

25.000

Public Address:
Attention.
Level 38 walkways will be closed for one hour.

Level 38 cardholders
must report to Central immediately.

Roj.

Ah, Ravella.

Did you have any trouble?
No.

You followed the route I gave you?
Yes. Can we get on with it please?

Come on.

You've managed to do without
eating and drinking?

I've done without food or drink
for thirty six hours.

- How do you feel?
- Hungry and thirsty, of course.



- Nothing else?
- Ravella, is this some kind of practical joke?

It's no joke.

Public Address:
The President will be answering questions
about new population control measures.

All our food and drink is treated with suppressants.
Go without for a day and a half, they should wear off.

Not that again.

Dal Richie, Roj Blake.

Been looking forward to meeting you.
I hear your family settled on the Outer Planets?

Brother and a sister on Ziegler Five.

- Do you hear from them much?
- I get vistapes a couple of times a year

Look, what is this?
I was told you had some news about them.

No, not me.
The man we're going to meet.

He wants to tell you in person.
He was on Ziegler Five a few months ago.

Where is he now?
Waiting for us, outside.

Outside?



It's not all that bad.
The air's fresh, though it smells different.

You realise going outside
is a Category Four crime?

We do know the law.
So whatever you see tonight you keep silent about.

Well? Are you coming?

Let's get on with it.

What are you doing?
Picking the lock.

- What is it?
- Nothing.

One more thing:
If you open the door, it registers on the computer.

These are circuit integrators.

Now you could steal this entire section of wall
and the machine would ignore you. Ready?

You report anything to the authorities; you’ll find
yourself implicated more deeply than you imagine.

[ELECTRONIC WHIRRING]

[RUNNING WATERAND DISTANT ANIMAL NOISES]

- Try some
- Hm?

It's natural water. The stuff we get has been
recycled a thousand times and dosed with suppressants.

- I'll check ahead. Watch for my signal.
- Okay

- We've got to go across that?
- Yeah

Why should the Administration try to drug us?

To keep control.

They've been stepping up the suppressants
because the number of dissidents is growing.

- They've seen what's happening and they want to stop it.
- Stop what?

Don't you know? Don't you remember anything
about the treatments they gave you?

I've had no treatments!

I thought there'd be something left, some memory.

- What about my memory?
- There's the signal

[DRONE OF DISTANT MACHINERY]

- They're Outsiders!
- Quite a few of them are working for our cause now.

It's illegal to have contact with anyone
who lives outside the city!

Right, but then this whole meeting is illegal.

I'm leaving! I want nothing to do with this.

You told me I was going to meet a man
who could tell me some news about my family.

Hold on, Blake. You've got to hear Foster.

I don't want to hear Foster! I should report
everything I've seen to the Administration.

- You can't do that
- Why not?

We've left documents in the city with
your signature on them.

Forged of course, but convincing enough to
implicate you in everything we've been doing.

Don't have any doubts.
One word can make you look as guilty as any of us.

And looking guilty is all it takes.

Roj! Good to see you It's been a long time.

Bran Foster Oh! Stupid of me.
You don't remember. You had the treatment.

I've had no treatments, my memory is fine.
Now what is going on?

Now, now I know it's difficult for you.
It's also difficult for those of us who knew you before.

But the important thing is, you're here.

I had trouble getting out of the city.
For a while there I thought we'd been infiltrated.

- Dev Tarrant's here. Dev! You remember Roj Blake.
- Oh, yes. We met before.

- I'm trying to persuade Roj to rejoin us.
- Yes.

Now, I want you to listen to what I have to tell you.
After that you can do whatever you like.

- All right. Now what do you know about my family?
- There are other things you should know first

- Forget the other things.
- What do you know?

Your brother and sister are both dead.

I'm sorry; I didn't intend you to hear it like that.
They were executed four years ago just after your trial.

Executed? That's not true I hear from them
regularly I had a vistape only a month ago.

Those tapes are fakes.
Part of the treatment to keep your memory suppressed.

This isn't going to be easy, but I'm going to have
to tell you things about yourself.

of which you have no memory.
Will you hear me out?

Go on.

Four years ago, there was a good deal
of discontent with the Administration.

There were many activist groups. But the only one
that really meant anything was led by Roj Blake.

You and I worked together.
We were outlawed and hunted.

But we had supporters and we were making progress.

Then someone betrayed us, I still don't know who.
You were captured. So were most of our followers.

They could have killed you.
But that would have given the cause a martyr.

So instead they put you into intensive therapy.

They erased areas of your mind,
they implanted new ideas.

They literally took your mind to pieces and rebuilt it.

And when they'd finished, you confessed.
You said you'd been "misguided".

You appealed to everyone to support the Administration,
hound out the traitors.

They did a good job on you.
You were very convincing.

Then they took you back and erased even that.

What happened to the others?

In their benevolence, the Federation allowed them
to emigrate to the Outer Worlds.

Like your family,
they were executed on arrival.

Why are you telling me this now?

Because we're preparing to move again.

And if you were with us we'd get more support.
How do you feel? Will you help us again?

- I don't know I'm not even sure that I believe you.
- It's all true.

- I have to think.
- Of course. We’ll talk after the meeting.

What do you think?

There's not much left of the man I knew.
We'll see. All right, let's get started, shall we?

Come on everybody. Let's start the meeting now.
You come over here and make a group.

[APPLAUSE]

Thank you for turning up.
We all know the risks that we're running
in being here, so I'll be as brief as possible.

You've probably heard that the settlers in the Outer
Worlds are rightly demanding greater autonomy.

If we can help to unify their voices,
the Administration will have to listen.

The security forces are already overstretched.

If we step up our civil disobedience here on Earth,
they will have to concentrate their forces here,

giving the Outer Worlds more freedom of action.

We must aim to have at least one world declare
its independence within the next two years.

Trooper Communication:
Unit three, move in.

I think most of you know my old friend, Dev Tarrant
Dev will give you details of how we can all help.

We've got to cause as much disruption as possible
in the food manufacturing division.

There's nothing more effective than
ration cuts to cause unrest.

I've worked out methods
to implement this disruption.

Do not attempt to resist arrest. No matter what the
provocation; we must not resort to violence.

We claim our rights as citizens,
and demand to be treated as civil prisoners.

[GUNFIRE & SCREAMING]

You're obviously suffering from a severe emotional
disturbance. We must try to unravel this fantasy.

It is NOT a fantasy.
Of course it isn't.

Do you believe me?
To you it isn't a fantasy.

Get out! Leave me alone!

Reality is a dangerous concept.
Each one of us interprets it in a slightly different way.

Every sense impression is filtered by the brain and altered,
sometimes just a little, sometimes completely,

to fit our individual model of what the world is about.
If that model should be challenged.

I am NOT insane I am NOT insane.

No! You must put that thought completely
out of your mind. You've had a shock.

Yes.

We must work together to uncover what that shock was.
I'm going to prescribe a mild sedative.

No drugs!
A mild sedative to help you to sleep. You must rest.

No! No drugs.
All right, no drugs. Now try not to think anymore.

Don't worry; we'll get it sorted out.

I can't remember. I can't remember!

Can he break through the memory blocks, Dr Havant?

It's unlikely. We don't eradicate memory,
merely make it inaccessible.

But in the normal, healthy mind
the barriers are impenetrable.

Should he suffer anything like a nervous breakdown,
where all the mental circuitry malfunctions,

then he might possibly find a route into his past.

That might just possibly prove something of a problem.

Can't he be eliminated?

No, he's a symbol of opposition to the Administration.

So?

We've done psych readings which show that
a high percentage of people believe

that Blake's trial was a showpiece
and his statements were rigged.

His death could be used by the dissidents.
They need a hero Alive or dead, Blake could be it.

Difficult. I suppose my department could infect him,
some rapidly terminal disease.

Would his natural death help?

I don't think so.

We need to discredit him.
He could be deported to Cygnus Alpha.

Doctor, am I right in thinking you can create
experiences in a subject

who will then believe that they really happened?

Of course.
Creating an illusion of reality is quite simple.

Good. Then I think we can totally destroy
Blake's credibility and get him sentenced.

But I'd like to do a feasibility check.
Doctor, would you come with me please?

As you wish.

- I want to bring charges soon, Morag.
- I shall report back.

- You heard?
- I heard.

Satisfied?

Not yet. He can identify me.
My whole operation is at risk.

I'll be satisfied when the risk is eliminated.

[BLAKE'S VOICE ECHOING]
Remember. Remember.

Varon. Come in.

Do sit down.
Thank you.

- You know Morag, don't you?
- Yes.

Varon...

...I've got a defence assignment for you.
Not a very pleasant one, I'm afraid.

Morag is prosecuting.

The evidence is indisputable If I were you,
I should concentrate on the mitigation.

Mm.

Varon, I'm going to say this because
I feel so very strongly about this case.

I want you to do everything in your power
to help the man. Our first concern must be justice.

Public address:
Security clear on cell unit M 3
for Justice Department access.

I'm Tel Varon, Justice Department.
I've been assigned to defend you.

- I don't need a defence. I'm going to plead guilty.
- Come now. The evidence against you is strong.

I just want to make a statement in open court.
I want those responsible for the massacre brought to trial.

I'm sorry?

There can be no justification for deliberate murder.
There's nothing in the charges about murder.

There are a number of other counts Assault on a minor,
attempting to corrupt minors, moral deviation.

Let me see that!

All involving children! None of this is true!
That's why you pleading guilty surprises me.

Well, yes, but not to this, not to these charges.

They are the only charges against you. And frankly
the evidence against you is very damaging.

- Well, if there is any evidence, it's been faked!
- I've had the opportunity of talking to the children...

that is, the prosecution witnesses;
and they do seem very certain of their facts.

Oh, yes, yes.
Their briefing would have been perfect.

- I'll outline how I think we should conduct your case.
- They set me up beautifully.

There is a possible approach if we could cite your record:

Your breakdown after your involvement
with those illegal political groups,

the remorse and guilt that you felt
has placed you under an enormous strain.

We can submit that these assaults were
carried out whilst you were mentally unbalanced.

I will offer no defence, but I will plead not guilty.

These are grave charges.
You might face deportation.

A mental institution would be better than
spending the rest of your life on Cygnus Alpha.

I will offer no defence. Right?

Won't you reconsider?

Even if you could prove me innocent, the charges
have been made. I've got to hand it to them.

You've done a brilliant job!!

Good morning.

I've had a chance to think things through.

It's vital that I have the opportunity to make
that statement to the open court.

Well that’s up to the Arbiter.
It's not usual.

There's no way you can
prove my innocence, is there?

You've given me no chance to try.

IS THERE?

It is doubtful.

- I AM innocent.
- I've spoken to the children.

Their statements were all verified by a lie detector.
And that puts them beyond dispute.

The Administration has gone to enormous trouble.
They've even put themselves at risk.

There must be a number of people involved who know
the truth. Why would they take that chance?

There's no possible reason that I can think of.

I know you've heard the evidence but,
just for the moment, assume that I am innocent.

All right.

At first, I thought they wanted to silence me because
I was the only witness to the murder of twenty people.

If they're as ruthless as you suggest,
then why didn't they simply eliminate you?

Because I was something of a political figure;
or so you told me.

You had a considerable following,

but then you publicly denounced your whole
movement and pledged support to the Administration.

There are those who secretly believe
you were coerced into that statement.

Exactly!
And my death would merely reinforce those beliefs.

It's exactly the same as if I were arraigned
for being at a proscribed political meeting.

So they trump up these charges against me.

If it were true, do you realise the
implications of what you're saying?

It would mean corruption at a
high level of the Administration.

Public address:
Now be silent.

By the authority of the Terran Federation,
this tribunal is in session.

The Arbiter will permit submissions.

Let the accused be brought forward.

Have you, the accused, been made aware of the
charges that are laid against you?

Do you fully understand the nature
and gravity of those charges?

Yes.

- Who speaks for the Federation?
- I do.

- Who speaks for the accused?
- I do.

Are you both satisfied that the
evidence was fairly obtained?

And that all statements were certified as
true and correct by lie detector?

I am.

Is the accused satisfied that his defence has been
fully and fairly prepared?

The charges against me are totally false.
I am not guilty therefore I offer no defence.

Your guilt or innocence is what we are here
to determine. The case will be examined.

Let it be seen that the evidence for the prosecution
is sealed and approved by the defence.

Let it be seen that the evidence for the defence
is sealed and approved by the prosecution.

Let the matter be assessed and may justice prevail.

The accused has been found
guilty on all charges.

His crimes have been accorded a Category 9 rating,
and as such are adjudged most grave.

In sentencing you, the judgment machine has
taken into account your past record,

your service to the state,
and your loyalty to the Federation.

None of these have mitigated in your favour.

It is the sentence of this tribunal that you be taken
from this place to an area of close confinement.

From there you will be transported to the
penal colony on the planet Cygnus Alpha,

where you will remain
for the rest of your natural life.

This matter is ended

I wish to make a statement.

There can be no more said regarding this case.
Assessment and judgment have been made.

But the evidence is false.
These charges are lies!

If you have any complaint against the conduct
of this tribunal, it must be directed through your advocate.

You've got to listen to me!

Voice of Bran Foster:
They erased areas of your mind,
they implanted new ideas.

They literally took your mind
to pieces and rebuilt it.

When they finished, they put you up and you confessed.
You said you'd been 'misguided'.

You appealed to everyone to support the
Administration, hound out the traitors.

They did a good job on you.
You were very convincing.

And then they took you back
and erased even that.

Let me go! Let me go! No! No!

Take it easy! I hate personal violence,
especially when I'm the person.

- Who are you?
- I'm Vila Restal.

- Where are we?
- In a transit cell.

I don't understand.

You're on your way to the penal colony
on Cygnus Alpha. Or you will be when the prison ship's refuelled.

Try to look on the bright side.
It must have something.

None of the guests have ever left early.

In fact, none of them have ever left at all.

Why are you going there?

They didn't give me a choice. I steal things.
Compulsive, I'm afraid.

I've had my head adjusted by some of the best
in the business. But it just won't stay adjusted.

A professional thief?

More a vocation than a profession.
Other people's property comes naturally to me.

What's the time?

Just taking care of it while you were unconscious.
The place is full of criminals.

- Thanks.
- Jenna.

Blake.

What's your story?

I'm innocent.
Of what I was charged with anyway.

We have something in common, then.
All victims of a miscarriage of justice.

- It's true!
- Of course it is.

What about the others?

Oh, a very antisocial bunch.
Murderers, liars, cheats...smugglers.

Thieves.

and they're the nice people.

How long before we take off?

About 24 hours If you're expecting a
last minute reprieve you'd better forget it.

Once they get you this far there’s no going back.

You'd better get used to the idea.
Nobody out there gives a damn about you.

What time is it?

Late.
Come to bed.

- There's something wrong, you know.
- Blake?

The prosecution evidence was so
complete that I accepted it.

I assumed Blake was guilty and concentrated
on justification and appeals for mercy.

Well, what else could you do?
You interviewed all the victims, the witnesses.

- None of them had any doubts.
- Perhaps they should have.

What do you mean?

I don't know. Perhaps Blake is guilty.
Even so it's too perfect.

Where are you going?
The Public Records computer.

To look for what?
I don't know.

Give me one minute and I'll come with you.

I'm Tel Varon with the Justice Department. I want to
run a check on the medical records of those children.

It'll have to wait until the morning.

I want them now.

Alpha 3375.
C612: Leesal, Renor.

3417: Deca, Carl.

3512: Fen, Payter.

Nothing. Admissions to clinic, treatment records.
It all tallies with the evidence.

Let me have the school attendance
records on those three.

Alpha 3377: Leesal, Renor.

Interesting. He was absent from school
on the afternoon before the assault.

C417: Deca, Carl.

So was he.

C512: Fen, Payter.

Well that makes it more than a coincidence.
Now where were they?

Give me the admissions to the
Central Clinic on that day.

Alpha 00288 Alpha.

[ALARM SIGNAL]

What's the matter?

The information has been classified.
Can't be obtained without a Priority 3 clearance.

But I need that information.

Not possible.

Look, the Justice Department can
get a clearance but it takes time.

This didn't happen, of course.

No, of course it didn't.

Look at that:
Outpatient admission, identity unrecorded.

And there's another.

And a third.

Three unidentified admissions on the date
the victims weren't at school.

It's not absolute proof,
but it gives us somewhere to start.

But why would they have been to the clinic?

Mental implantation?

What's that?

A fictional experience implanted into the
mind so vividly that it becomes reality.

Is that possible?

The process was perfected years ago,
but prohibited by the medical profession.

But if it is being used again,

Blake could be telling the truth.

And that could blow the top off the whole
Administration. Come on.

Where are we going?

[COMMUNICATOR BEEP]

Security?

The meeting place how did you get to it?

I don't know. It was dark.

Which exit did you use?

Sub 43.

43 that would be on the North side.
All right, where did you go from there?

Well, we walked for about three miles.
There was a stream.

Is there anything else you can tell us?

Yes, there was a man.
I saw him in court just before I passed out.

What about him?

I saw him at the meeting. I thought he was
one of them. He must have betrayed them.

His name was Tarrant.

Dev Tarrant?

Do you know him?

He works in the Outer Worlds most of the time.
He's in Security.

He's a murderer.

Then he'll come to trial like
everyone else in this cover up.

And what about me?

First, I'm going to get a holding order to
keep you on Earth while I investigate.

You haven't got much time.

With luck I'll get you taken back to the city
detention area within a couple of hours.

Thanks.

Listen, I'm sorry I didn't believe you.
I'll be in touch.

Friends in high places?
Can't you put a word in for me?

I’ll try and think of one.

Leaving us?

I hope so. Nothing personal.
Why are you here? You didn't tell me.

I was trading around the Near Worlds.
I'm a free trader.

A smuggler. She's a big name.
It's an honour to be locked up with her.

I'm glad you're pleased.

Public address:
Attention security personnel. Launch is advanced
to 17:00 hours Earth time. That is all.

That's about eight hours.

It looks to me as though we've all been used.

It wasn't Morag's fault, but the
prosecution case was based on a deception.

But why?

Well, Blake claims he was arrested
after he went Outside.

Outside?
About three miles beyond Sub 43.

What did he go Outside for?

An anti Administration meeting. He says everyone
there was murdered by Security forces.

Leaving him as sole survivor?

No, him and a security agent named Tarrant.
He says Tarrant organised the massacre.

Ah, I can't believe that.
Still, it will bear examination.

Then you'll order an inquiry?

Yes. You've raised a reasonable doubt.
The whole matter must now be investigated.

Thank you.
Now go home and get some rest.

Not yet.
I'd like your authority to go outside the city.

To look for those tunnels?
No, I'll have a team make a survey of the area.

All right.
And Blake's holding order?

Leave everything to me. Go home and get
some sleep. You've done all you can.

Is he going to be all right?

There's something not..."to look for
those tunnels". I didn't say anything about tunnels.

What?

[COMMUNICATOR BEEP]
Link me with Dr Havant. Central Clinic.

Speakerphone:
Doctor Havant.

Voice heard through door:
Ven Glynd I think we may have a problem.

Might be best if you were
unavailable for a few days.

Is it a very serious problem?

No, no, nothing that can't be handled.

I'll take a few days’ leave and stay at home.

Good. Arrange to take calls only from me.
Goodbye.

What does it mean?

It's obvious. He's involved.
Then where do we go from here?

Higher up.
To the President if we have to.

But if we're going to make accusations against
Glynd, we'll need the strongest possible evidence.

[UNCLEAR P.A. ANNOUNCEMENTS]

I'm going to try something.

[COMMUNICATOR BEEP]

Central Clinic, Doctor Havant.
Tell them it's Glynd.

Doctor Havant.

Doctor Havant, I have Glynd for you.

Sorry to call again, are there any
clinical records about the matter?

Yes, of course. They're in my office.
You want them?

Yes, I'd like to have a look at them.
I'll have them picked up from your reception.

I'll get my assistant to bring them down now.

Thanks. Goodbye.

We've got them. You go to the clinic and pick up the
records, then go home and collect the tape camera.

Where are you going?

To talk to a thief and borrow a lock pick.
I'll meet you in 2 hours at Sub 43.

You're running out of time.

They've had long enough to issue a holding order.

It's a long process.
Don't worry, they'll get it.

I wish someone was working for me.

Until now it hasn't seemed real.
Now it's getting close, I'm getting scared.

Maja. Did you get everything?

And there are the records from the hospital.

Good. Yes, we can build a case on these.

Did you get what you wanted?

Come and see.

I've never been Outside before.

I have, years ago
I didn't like it much; it's very strange.

[ALARM]

[KLAXON]

Listen, all of you. Move out of here into the
embarkation channel. Come on, move!

Move out! Pick up your bag.
Go! Come on, faster, move!

I said move!

Single file! One behind the other.

Keep them in line, guards.
You in front, move!

Stay here.
I'll search the bodies and get picture tapes.

[DISTANT WARNING SIRENS]

All right, come on, move.
Keep moving Come on, faster.

Keep your voice down. Find the seat that's
allocated to you and sit in it.

Fasten the harness. Stand by for lift off.
Keep your voices down. You, fasten your harness.

You, down in the front. That's your seat.
Come on, move!

You, stop talking. Fasten your harness.

How long before lift off?

You in a hurry to get there?

Don't worry. There's still time.

I've got everything we need

Enough to keep Blake here on Earth?

More than enough.

[WARNING SIRENS]

You different to everybody else?
Fasten your harness.

What?

Hmm. Maybe we can help you hear better.
You can start with a couple of hours confinement.

You'll be surprised how quickly your hearing improves.
Seat 11, confinement!

[INCREASING ROAR OF ENGINES]

I think a "transporter accident'. Killed instantly.
Very tragic. See to it, will you?

Take a long look.
That's the last you'll ever see of it.

No, I'm coming back.