Series 4 | Episode 02
[In a barn just outside the city, Amber is deep in labor and clearly in a lot of pain. Trudy kneels at her feet on the straw-strewn
floor and tries to coach her]
Trudy: Okay, Amber, breathe. Come on. Come on, we'll do it together. Come on. [She takes a few
exaggerated deep breaths] Okay, now when the feeling comes again, you gotta push.
Amber: I can't!
Trudy: You gotta do this. There's no one else around; there is no help. If you don't, you're gonna die and
your baby will die too. Do you understand what I'm saying?
Amber: Where's Bray?
Trudy: I don't...know.
Amber: Well if you see him, tell him I hate him!
Trudy: No, you tell him. You shout it out so he can hear it. Come on, let me hear it!
Amber: I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!
Trudy: And again! And push this time!
[Amber groans from pain and fatigue but does as Trudy commands and pushes]
[Inside the city, Pride stealthily moves closer to watch as the Technos load kids into a truck.
Ved is updating Jay on the status of their invasion, and seems to be talking about cameras being placed in the city]
Ved: ...Six up on the wall
[He gestures at a surveillance camera attached high up on a pole]
Jay: Okay. It's under control?
Ved: Yes, definitely.
[Pride watches a moment more and then moves away undetected]
[The Mallrats are gathered in the cafe to discuss recent events. Lex is agitated and wants to act now]
Lex: Are we just going to lie down and let this happen?
Ebony: Well, what do you suggest?
Lex: What do you think? We go and get the others back!
Ellie: Back from where? No one saw them leave!
Ebony: Jack, these trucks. Well, could you tell which direction they were heading?
[He's clearly been asked this question before and is tired of it. He has no good answer]
Jack: I don't know. Okay, I reckon they were going...East.
Ebony: Well, why East?
Jack: Well back to the airstrip, cause that's probably where the plane's boarded to fly the prisoners out.
[Ellie, sitting next to him, seems to be barely holding herself together and that's the last thing she wants to hear]
Ellie: No, don't say that!
Jack: Ellie, I'm-I'm just guessing.
Ellie: Well don't!
Dee: Why not?
Cloe: Because if Jack's right and Alice and the rest of them fly out of the city on that plane, we'll probably never
see them again.
Ellie: Great, Cloe. Thanks for clearing that up.
[Pride comes up the stairs, out of breath from his reconnaissance. Ebony stands, and frustrated by the lack of information,
demands some answers]
Ebony: Look, what's going on?
Pride: Well it's pretty quiet out there, but I did see some kids getting loaded into a truck.
Ebony: Well, couldn't you do something?
[Pride doesn't like her accusing tone]
Pride: I was too late! Besides, they were surrendering. Looks like those scare tactics worked.
Lex: Well, I can't just sit here while our friends are in trouble. Who's with me?
[Jack intends to join him and starts to stand, but Ebony jumps in to throw her authority around]
Ebony: We go on my order.
Lex: Then give it! We're wasting time!
Ebony: I just want to make sure before we leave that we're all agreed. [Pride rolls his
eyes] One leader, and one person calling the shots, and that's me, okay?
Pride: Yeah, whatever let's go!
[Everyone follows Pride down the stairs. It's very important to Ebony to establish herself as being in command. Whether that
is due to any attempt to prevent trouble if something goes down or just to gain and keep control over the Mallrats remains to be seen]
[The labor is finally over, and Amber has given birth. Trudy holds the healthy baby wrapped up in a blanket. She cries tears
of joy very similar to those of the new mother]
Trudy: Amber, it's a boy.
[Amber reaches up to touch him, a radiant and relieved expression on her face]
[Back in the city, unresisting kids are still being loaded onto Techno trucks. Jay and Ved supervise]
Jay: Careful, make sure they all eat something; it's a long journey.
[Ved stops one of the kids getting on the truck to try and goad him into a fight]
Ved: Hey kid, where's the action? What do you say, you and me, kick boxing, 'til the end! Hey, one of you virts going
to put up a fight?
[Ved's obviously bored by the peaceful surrender, though Jay laughs at him]
Jay: Careful what you wish for Ved, it just might come true.
Ved: Not in this town, man.
Jay: So how're we doing? Give me the numbers.
Ved: We filled our quota twice over, they're practically queuing up to get on the bus. I say it's time we bring out
the main man.
Jay: Uh uh, not quite.
Ved: Why not?
Jay: Because like you keep saying, it's too easy. No resistance, yet. Somewhere, they're still out there. Don't you
worry. They're still out there.
[He stares off into the distance and Ved follows his gaze, as if he expects them to come pouring out of the streets at any
moment]
[Trudy holds the baby and introduces him to Brady, who doesn't look all that impressed]
Trudy: This is your little cousin, Brady. His daddy and your daddy were brothers. Say hello. Isn't he beautiful?
He's perfect, Amber. [She looks up to see that Amber, exhausted, has fallen asleep. She smiles indulgently on her]
There you go, you rest now. It's gonna be okay.
[Trudy places the baby down gently by Amber's head and walks outside the barn. She looks around, lost in thought]
Trudy: Where are you Bray?
[Something catches her eye and she bends down to pick up the ring Amber gave to Bray, still on its cord]
Amber: This ring, my dad gave it to me.
Trudy: Oh no!
[Trudy realizes that Bray would never had taken the ring off and left it, so he must be in danger. A Techno truck is shown and
it appears as if Bray is inside it and unconscious]
[The remaining members of the Mallrats, plus Dee and Ebony, walk through the streets on their way to confront the Technos. It's a greatly
reduced number from what it once was]
Jack: You know we used to be quite a big tribe, now look at us, the seven dwarfs.
Ellie: Well, I guess that makes you grumpy then, doesn't it, Jack?
Jack: Well, can you blame me? I shouldn't even be here! I was gonna start a new life, and-
Ellie: Don't let me stop you! [She pauses and tries to calm down. It's not Jack's fault, though
he's a convenient person to take her pain out on] I'm sorry, I didnt mean that how it sounded. I am really glad that you're still here.
Jack: Yeah. I mean, I mean, you know, try not to worry. I mean, we will find Alice and the rest. You know, maybe
we might even find Luke too.
Ellie: What makes you think I want him back?
Jack: Well, you know, I thought you love- loved him.
Ellie: After what he did to me? Walking out on me like that? I don't need any men in my life, all they ever do is
let you down.
[That's pretty ballsy for her to say to Jack, and he smiles, maybe thinking the same thing. At that moment they come upon some
kids, looking lost and afraid. Ebony tries to reach out to them and reassure them, which is a strange role for her]
Ebony: I know you're all scared. Hey, I know you've lost friends, loved ones, but this new tribe haven't beaten us
yet. If we keep our heads, we'll get through this.
Kid 1: If you're in charge, how can you allow this happen?
[Lex breaks in to come to Ebony's, or just the Mallrat's, defense, but Ebony cuts him off]
Lex: How are we supposed-!
Ebony: You're right. I should have protected you. We let our guard down, and as your leader, I accept full
responsibility for that. But there's still time. Hey, we can get together the whole city and unite against this threat.
Kid 2: Why should we believe you?
Ebony: Because I'm a Mallrat, [That's news to the others] and you know what that means?
We defeated the Locos. We found the antidote to the virus. We got rid of the Chosen. The Mallrats have always taken care of you,
and we always will.
[That seems to reassure the kids and they being to disperse. Pride steps up to needle Ebony about her new tribe affiliation]
Pride: So. You're a Mallrat, Ebony. Since when?
Ebony: Since before you came on the scene, tofu-boy! What do you know about it?
Pride: Well, let me see. I know you left Amber on Eagle Mountain, pretended she was dead; I know you helped Ned keep
her hostage; and I know you banished her when she was pregnant. What else do I need to know?
Ebony: Is it me, or are you fixated on that woman? I told those kids what I had to tell them, and it worked.
'Kay, I got them on our side. If they spread it around that we're the good guys, maybe we stand a chance against these creeps.
Lex: Are we gonna stop arguing and try to figure out what we're gonna do?
Ebony: Only one thing we can do: we take the fight to the enemy. Isn't that the Mallrat way?
[She snarks at Pride] We find them and we settle this thing. Are you happy?
[She walks off without waiting for the others]
Pride: Are you happy, Lex? Having a liar and a cheat for a leader?
Lex: To tell the truth, I don't care, Pride. I'll do whatever it takes to get Tai-San back. Don't you feel the same
way about May?
[Lex takes off after Ebony, followed by the others, leaving only Pride to question the wisdom of following Ebony anywhere.]
[Salene moves down an alley in the city and turns a corner to see a small girl sitting there. She smiles and kneels down
beside her]
Salene: Hello. What's your name? It's okay, I'm a friend. [She places her hand on the girl's
forehead] You've got a fever; we should get you inside. Are you alone? Is there somebody else with you? [The girl says
nothing, only continuing to look at Salene] Don't feel like talking, huh? [She shakes her head, no] Listen, I'm
gonna help you. Will you come with me? It's not far. Come on.
[Salene leads the little girl away while someone seems to be watching them from behind some barrels]
[Ram is playing some kind of video game with people shooting at each other when the two Techno women enter]
Java: Lord Ram, it's time.
Ram: Is it safe?
Java: According to Commander Jay.
Ram: And he's never wrong, is he?
[He says this sarcastically and the implication is that maybe he doesn't fully trust Jay's judgement]
Java: Would you like us to alert the escort unit?
Ram: No need, if it's safe. But you can never be sure, so I want to send for the elite guard.
[They nod at his wishes]
[Lex and Ebony finish talking to some kids, having gotten information on the Technos' location, and rejoin the others]
Lex: Sector Nine. You know the big stadium? That's where they are.
Ebony: Well, that's a good choice. They've got views of the whole city from up there.
Ellie: So how do we get to them without being seen?
Ebony: Look, we can't hit them with a surprise attack! We don't have that kind of muscle.
[But if they can't surprise them, they're leaving themselves wide open to attack. Jack and Lex instantly get that and have
concerns]
Jack: Yeah but- I mean, that means-
Lex: We're gonna walk up to their gates in broad daylight and politely ask them to leave?
Ebony: Pretty much, only not politely.
Pride: Suppose they don't want to go?
Ellie: What if we get captured?
Cloe: What if they kill us?
Ebony: I never said there wouldn't be risks. Our only chance is to bluff them.
Jack: With- with what?
Ebony: They don't know how many kids we have backing us up, but they must know they're outnumbered.
Pride: Something tells me they're not too worried about that.
Ebony: Well, they should be. Okay, if they want this city they're going to have to fight for it!
[They consider her declaration and Lex seems to be on board after very little consideration]
Lex: That's good enough for me.
Ebony: So are we all agreed?
Pride: Agreed.
[Ebony and Lex head off and the others follow, but reluctantly. Seems like a pretty gutsy, but flimsy, plan]
[In the barn, Trudy watches a groggy Amber wake]
Trudy: How you doin', mom?
Amber: The baby?
Trudy: Oh um, he's fine. Just getting a little hungry now, that's all. Do you think you're up to feeding him?
[Trudy's crying, and it's for more than just happiness now. Amber's next question reveals the reason and Trudy lies to Amber to
save her worry and pain]
Amber: Bray?
Trudy: Bray was here, uh, but he left again to go and get help. He- he wanted me to tell you that he's very proud of you,
and that the baby's the most beautiful thing he's ever seen.
[Amber smiles at that and sits up to reach for the baby]
Amber: Well then, beautiful boy, come to mommy.
[Trudy is desperately trying to keep it together and not fall to pieces, though she knows that Bray is probably gone and that
eventually Amber will have to be told. And Trudy will have to be the one to tell her]
[Salene and the little girl travel through the city. Salene holds her hand and keeps up a steady stream of comforting chatter,
though the girl never responds. She does, however, stop to look behind them and Salene kneels down to reassure her]
Salene: You'll like it in this place; the people are friendly and it's warm. Have you been sleeping it rough, is that
it? That's why you've got a fever. What is it? What's wrong? Don't worry, nobody's there. It's okay, you're safe now. Let's go.
[It does appear as if someone might be following them, but who and why?]
[Techno HQ has multiple monitor banks displaying feeds from the security cameras in the city. Jay calls each
camera to a technician to check the feed]
Jay: Camera Three. Camera Five. Ved! Looks like you got your wish.
[Ved walks over to the monitors to check out whatever Jay has seen, which turns out to be Ebony and the Mallrats approaching
the building. They look a tad unintimidating and Ved isn't impressed]
Ved: That's it? That's what we've been waiting for? The city leaders?
Jay: Looks like it.
[Ved points out Lex in his old west looking hat and duster jacket]
Ved: Look at this guy? What's he come as?
Jay: Well, let's go ask him. Remember, scare tactics, that's all.
Ved: Sure, got ya.
[Ved doesn't seem all that trustworthy when it comes to showing restraint]
[The Mallrats approach the building while Jack trys to build up his confidence by talking to himself and anyone who will
listen. Either that or he's just trying to be annoying]
Jack: Right, so we're the elite. Is that it? We're not alone. No, no, hey! Signal from us and the whole city
will rise up!
Ellie: Jack, shut up! Okay? You're making me nervous.
Jack: Sorry, just trying to get my story straight,in case they ask.
Ebony: Yeah, well, if they ask you say nothing. [The gates of the complex open and a group of
Technos, easily outnumbering the Mallrats, exits with Jay and Ved leading the way] I'll do the talking.
Cloe: Is anyone thinking maybe this wasn't such a good idea?
Dee: Ebony, watch out for the one on the right, he's dangerous.
[She means Ved, who beat her and the Mozzies up and then took the rest of her tribe away]
Jack: Oh okay, so, which ones are the friendly ones?
[The Technos approach them in intimidating formation and Jay begins speaking before they've barely stopped in front of them.
He's patronizing and insulting, beginning as they mean to go along]
Jay: I take it you're the law around these parts?
Lex: Who wants to know?
Jay: Just a hunch. Can't place your tribe, sheriff. And what have we got here? Cowboys? Indians? Looks like you guys
couldn't make up your minds. What do you think, Ved?
Ved: Saddest looking posse I ever saw. Hardly need to fight 'em; they'll blow away like tumbleweed.
Lex: Try it!
[Lex moves towards them but Ebony calls him back, indicating to Jay who is really in charge here]
Ebony: Lex!
Jay: Ah! The power behind the badge. Well then, let's hear it.
Ebony: I don't know who you are or what you're doing here, and I don't care. Okay, but this is our city. If you give
us back our people and get the hell out of here, we might just leave it at that.
[She projects a dangerous aura, but Jay isn't buying it. He has a good idea of their forces versus his and isn't scared. He
laughs and challenges Ebony's threat]
Jay: And if not? What did you say your name was?
Ebony: I didn't.
Jay: You look familiar. Have we met before?
Ebony: If that's your usual opening line I suggest you work on it.
Pride: Let's just cut to the chase: where are they?!
Jay: Your friends? They're safe enough.
Lex: If you've laid a single finger on any one of them-!
Jay: Look. You've got us all wrong. We're not violent, at least only in self defence. As to where your friends are,
that's easy. You see that truck over there? It's leaving in 10 minutes. If you want to see them, get on it.
[That certainly shuts the Mallrats up]
[Salene and the little girl enter the Mall and Salene calls out to the others with no response]
Salene: Anyone here? Hello? I guess they must be out, looking for food or something. [Salene
stops at the phoenix statue and kneels down by the little girl, trying once again to get her to say something] Why don't you speak?
I know you understand me. If you understand me, nod your head. [They hear something crash faintly] Who is it?
Who's there? KC is that you? Stop fooling around!
[It's not KC, as he seems to be a guest of the Technos. It is almost definitely the mystery person that has been following
them since the alley]
[Jay continues to intimidate and threaten the Mallrats]
Jay: Go back to wherever you came from; get on with your lives. If you don't interfere then we'll leave you alone.
Is that understood?
Ebony: Do you really think you're gonna get away with this?
Jay: Believe me, it's better this way.
Ved: Your friends are better off too, especially the women.
Lex: What's that supposed to mean?
Ved: They get looked after.
[This has been going rather effectively for Jay up until this point, but Ved is winding them up. Jay tries to cut him off
before Ved can cause any real damage, but it's a lost cause]
Jay: Ved!
Ved: We put the men to work, but the women live in luxury in our harems. And don't worry, there's no shortage of
company, there's three guys to every chick.
[That did it. Lex's blood boils thinking about Tai-San being prey to these guys and he charges Ved]
Lex: You little-!
Dee: No!
[Ved points his arm at Lex and drops his wrist, triggering some kind of lazer device to fire. A red beam hits Lex in the chest
and he falls at the concerned Mallrats' feet. Jay gives Ved a look and is not pleased at all]
[Salene seeks out whoever is in the Mall with them. It appears to be a little boy, similar in appearance to the little girl
Salene found]
Salene: I know you're there. Whoever you are, I'm not afraid of you. [The boy runs out from his
hiding place and tries to pull the girl away from Salene's hand. When he can't, he tries to hide again. Salene, with the girl in tow, approaches
him cautiously, trying not to scare him] I'm Salene. Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you. Who are you? A Mall Rat? Don't tell me you
don't talk either. No, you've been following us. Do you think I'm gonna hurt your little friend? [The girl leaves Salene's side
and goes to stand under the boy's protective arm. Salene can figure out the connection] Not friends; you're brother and sister.
[We return to the barn again, where Trudy and Amber sit with their children. Amber gazes raptly at her new son while Trudy is
eaten up with concern for both the missing Bray and the unknowing new mother]
Trudy: Thought we were going to loose you back there.
Amber: I'd have gladly died. It would have been a relief.
Trudy: But you came through.
Amber: We came through. Thanks, Trudy. [She turns to her baby and so misses Trudy's worried
expression] No thanks to your daddy, huh sweetheart? He picked a fine time to go walk about. Uh, how long has he been gone? I have no
sense of time.
[Trudy tries to uncomfortably brush this off]
Trudy: Me neither.
Amber: Oh no!
Trudy: What?
Amber: Oh, this dream I had, it was terrifying. I- I must have been delirious.
[Trudy suspects, quite rightly, that it wasn't just a dream and becomes somewhat alarmed]
Trudy: Well- What was it?
Amber: This robot thing, sort of like a man, but with a metal face. I- I thought he was gonna hurt me.
Trudy: Well, what happened?
Amber: Nothing, he just- just went away.
[Amber turns back to the baby, unconcerned, but Trudy is galvanized into action]
Trudy: Um, Amber, I'm gonna leave you for awhile. Are you going to be okay?
Amber: Where are you going?
Trudy: Well, um, just- Just out, to look around. I- I won't be long. Beside, you've got your son to keep you company.
Amber: My son. Yeah. My son.
Trudy: I'll be right back. [She picks up Brady] Come on sweetie. Bye.
[Amber is still blissful over her new son and so doesn't notice the subtle signs of trouble that is about to affect her whole
life]
[Salene has taken the children upstairs and put them, fittingly, in what look like Patsy and Paul's old beds. She checks the
girl's forehead for her temperature and then turns to the shy boy, who is huddled on his bed and clearly not feeling safe]
Salene: Your fever's coming down already. And what about you? You must be hungry. Do you want to get something to
eat?
[The boy says nothing and Salene sighs in fruststration]
[In a city alley, an advance team of Techno guards checks to see if anyone is around and announces it safe. The twin Techno
women flank a masked Ram in his chair as it moves into the alley. He is panicked and jumpy]
Techno: Clear.
Siva: Copy.
[One of the women pats his shoulder and tries to reassure Ram that everything's fine, but that only makes it worse]
Java: Lord Ram, it's alright. It's alright!
Ram: Don't touch me! It's just, any contact brings germs, bacteria, a virus, especially in the wide open spaces, let
alone the city.
Siva: It's safe my lord.
[They try to reassure him again, but he's clearly OCD and a hypochondriac to boot]
[Jay and Ved arrive back inside Techno HQ and Jay is trying to reason with Ved, pointlessly too]
Jay: Don't you see? I need to keep them sweet, Ved, and preferably in one piece. We can't be waging war the whole
time.
Ved: I don't get it.
[Clearly. Jay is frustrated but still maintaining calm]
Jay: Try to understand. There's a lot of kids out there.
Ved: They're virts, Jay. What does it matter?
Jay: Even virts need leaders. Or the whole thing falls apart.
Ved: So you let the trouble makers go. It doesn't make any sense.
Jay: Well, as it turned out we didn't let them go exactly, did we? Anyway, what was that about a...harem?
Ved: Oh, did you like that? I thought it would make a nice touch.
Jay: Cowboy fell pretty hard. What setting are you on?
Ved: About seven.
[Jay's not happy to hear that and turns away from a monitor to glare at Ved]
Jay: Are you kidding? That's enough to stun a buffalo! What if you'd wasted him?
Ved: Teach them a lesson, won't it?
[Ved isn't going to come around anytime soon]
[The Mallrats, Dee, and Ebony return home a little worse for the wear. Jack and Pride carry an unconcious Lex and set him down on
the couch]
Cloe: Gently.
Jack: Is he breathing?
Pride: Yeah, he's okay I think, just out cold. What was that thing they fired on him?
Ellie: They used it on Dee as well.
Dee: Yeah, it's horrible. It's like this noise inside your head, a vibration, and then you black out.
Jack: Concentrated sound waves, somehow?
[Considering that it was a red lazer, I doubt it's just sound waves]
Ebony: Well don't you need a lot of power for that?
Jack: I'd say so, yeah.
[Salene comes down the stairs, happy to see everyone back]
Salene: Hey everyone, what's going on?
Ellie: Salene?
Salene: Hey.
Cloe: Salene, you're back!
[Cloe rushes over to hug her]
Salene: Hey! I didn't expect to see you here. [She turns back to the others, somewhat
hesitantly and then notices Lex] I've got a couple of friends that I brought back with me. They're upstairs having a rest.
What's wrong with Lex? And...where is everyone else?
[No one wants to meet her eyes or be the one to explain what's happened to their friends]
[Trudy walks down a road, Brady on her hip, but stops when she hears the sound of an approaching vehicle. She sees one of the
black trucks driven by the Technos and hurries to hide behind a small shed on the side of the road. There are city kids in the truck and Trudy
has no explanation for what she's seen]
[Cloe lays a blanket over Lex with Salene's help as they fill Salene in on recent events]
Cloe: It was his own fault; he lost his temper.
Salene: Lex? I can't believe it.
Jack: It's not a joke Salene.
Salene: Am I laughing? Did they say what they wanted?
Jack: They're just another bunch of crazies out to rule the world.
Pride: I- I don't think so. I mean, they're obviously capable of wasting us all if they wanted to, or taking us
prisoner. But they didn't. Why?
Cloe: The one who was looking for me, he said something about quotas. He said he'd nearly filled his quota.
Dee: Okay, so they've got all the slaves they need. Now maybe they'll leave us alone.
Salene: Well, what about the Mall Rats? Do we just forget about our friends?
Dee: Well, what else can we do?
Salene: Fight back of course!
Ebony: Like you did against the Chosen?
Pride: That's not fair, Ebony.
[Even Ebony seems to realize now is not the time for this. But Salene isn't upset and admits the truth of it]
Salene: It's okay, she's right.
Cloe: Salene, did you find Ryan?
[She shakes her head no, sadly, and Ebony tries to get them back on track]
Ebony: Look, we have a situation here. We need ideas and we need them fast. Jack, can we knock out their power
source?
Jack: We don't know what it is
Pride: It's- It's gotta be oil-based, right? I mean, the Chosen had those generators.
Jack: These guys are something else; they are like nothing we've seen before! You know, they fly planes, they shoot
electronic guns. I mean, I'm sorry, but there's no way we can fight against that kind of power!
[Surprisingly, it's Salene who gives the passionate speech to rally the troops]
Salene: Yes, there is! There's got to be! Okay, I didn't find Ryan out there, but I found a whole lot of other
things. I guess I found myself. Ever since the virus I've been looking for a home, looking for something real. And you know what I finally figured
out? It's here, with you guys. And I'm not letting some gang that did this to Lex take that away from me. We've faced danger before; we can do it
again. I say we fight back, with everything we've got.
[The others look uncertain, but not hopeless. Salene may be the leader the tribe needs now that Bray and Amber are gone. But
will she have to fight Ebony for it?]
[Outside the city, more Techno vehicles move down the road, including an armored car of some kind with guards on four-wheelers.
They move past Trudy's hiding spot and she is able to spot Ram and the Techno women inside the car, though she doesn't know who they are]
Jay: Fearsome One to Ram. Ram, do you copy?
Java: Commander Jay wishes to report.
Ram: Jay?
Jay: The city's ours. It's safe to enter. All opposition crushed.
Ram: Now the game begins.
[Ram laughs ominously and we fade out]