Avon quotes from Blake's 7

I'm glad we didn't get too close.

Dayna

But after all that, we go home empty-handed.

Vila

Er, not entirely empty-handed. (He produces Belkov's necklace) Well, I saw it lying about, seemed a pity not to take it. After all, Belkov won't be needing it where he's gone.

Let me see that.

I have bad news for you, Vila. (He smashes crystals with his gun butt) It's a fake. (Savagely) End game to Belkov!

Orac, teleport.

Teleport? I am not programmed. Three squared to the principal.

Dayna

Oh, no.

I love you.

Vila

Orac!

My emotions are deeper than the seas of space. One times one is only possible in the ultra-dimensional.

Turn Orac off.

I love you.

Off!

We will be lovers for a little while, or maybe for a long while, who knows?

Soolin

I do. [Pulls key]

Presumably the sand up here has compared Vila's wits and stamina with mine and concluded that I am the dominant male. On the herd principle therefore, it decided that Vila was superfluous and it could kill him. You two, of course, would have been allowed to live.

Soolin

Don't say it, Avon.

I wasn't going to say anything.

[Discussing a plan to rescue Tarrant and escape the hold the plant has on the ship] Where we are now, we are causing massive atmospheric disturbance. Let us get closer. Let us make it worse. Eventually there may be enough of a build-up to create some kind of rain.

Soolin

Or to knock us out of the sky.

This is not just a rescue mission for poor gallant Tarrant! While the sand remains active, the planet will not let go of us. The instruments are unreliable. We have Virn hanging on our heels. How do you think we are going to get away?

I take it that means yes.

Dayna

Well, how could we refuse, Avon? You are the dominant male, aren't you?

It's all clear. Maybe Vila should be here, to give us his professional opinion.

Vila?

Dayna

He's one of us. He stayed on Scorpio.

Soolin

In case of misunderstanding.

This Vila, is he, uh...

He's a thief, and a good one. But we don't need Vila to tell us the obvious, do we? That no one, but no one allows a fortune like that to travel in an unarmed crate with just two plainclothes guards! So what's the snag, Keiller!?

I say, you two, that was good shooting.

[to Soolin] Not bad. [turning towards Keiller] Soolin killed them both.

Your friend, Vila, he wants no part in this?

Soolin

He doesn't trust you, Keiller. He thinks it's a trap.

Suspicious.

And frequently right.

Avon, get down!

[panicking] Avon, quick help me get them off! Quick! Quick! Avon, help me get them off! Get them off! Get them off! [Avon begins reaching with his hand to brush them off] Not with your hands! Not with your hands! Get something and get them off quickly! Quickly!

What are they?

[still panicking] Killers! When they're fired they ignite! If they hit you they go right through you, you've got about ten seconds! Am I clear? Am I clear?

You're clear!

[almost sobbing] Make certain! Some of them don't ignite right away!

[shouting] YOU'RE CLEAR!

Servalan

Avon, would you be careful with the gun. My guards have orders to shoot you first. The price of my life would be yours.

Well, now. The sacrifice might be worthwhile.

Vila

This guy's gonna need careful handling. You want someone with tact. I mean, you know me.

Oh yes, I think so.

Vila

Blunt, always speaking my mind, I'm just the sort to upset him.

Well, you'll just have to try not to, won't you.

Vila

You should take one of the girls, Avon. Hey, why not? A girl might...you know, interest him. He's probably forgotten what they look like.

Vila, if I didn't know you better, I would think you were trying to get out of this.

Egrorian

Now, then, Avon. What would you say if I offered you mastery of the galaxy?

Oh, I would say thank you.

Vila

For a whole galaxy? Oh, come on, Avon, show the man some gratitude.

Vila

What's the matter with you?

I was thinking about Pinder, and the way he said "pleased to make your acquaintance, ma'am".

Vila

Is that worrying you? Listen, if it'll set your mind at rest, I never thought you were a woman.

He said it as though it were a phrase he had been taught.

Vila

Maybe Egrorian gives him lessons in etiquette as well as judo.

Or maybe he has been taught that that was the way of addressing a stranger. Servalan, for instance.

Vila

Servalan? She wouldn't do any deals with Egrorian. He's like us, outside the Federation.

We know how much she would like to get her hands on Orac.

Vila

Not enough to hand us a weapon like the tachyon funnel.

No. That's why this time, Vila, I think we have to play this one very cagily.

Pinder's old?

Vila

Late seventies. Why?

After you'd gone, I got Orac to do us one last service. This is a printout from Central Records, all that's known about Egrorian.

Interesting reading?

Yeah, very interesting. After he vanished, they started finding the bodies. He was never a simple scientist, Avon.

Vila

What was he?

Power mad from his earliest days. He was at the center of a conspiracy to take over the Federation.

This is the man who says he wants to spend the rest of his life in the advancement of science.

The other interesting thing is Pinder.

Vila

What about him?

He was a mathematical prodigy, apparently. He was eighteen when he disappeared with Egrorian...ten years ago. Now, I'm not a mathematical prodigy, but it seems to me that makes him twenty-eight.

Egrorian

You really are an excessively cautious person, and so mistrustful.

That is because Orac has read your security file on Central Records.

Egrorian

Disconnect the funnel, Pinder. Lies! All lies! Base and perfidious slander! I never conspired... I, I swear this is nothing but a tissue of falsehood and calumny designed by my enemies to blacken my reputation. If Servalan has read this, I hope she...

Why do you mention Servalan?

Egrorian

What? Well, she was the head of Federation when these fabrications were compiled.

Didn't you hear she was dead?

Egrorian

Ah, yes. But then I was told she had assumed a new identity. One never knows what to believe these days. Anyway, this is, this... this is a load of distortion and rubbish, and when I return to earth, I will hound down those responsible, and...

Vila

Break their arms?

Egrorian

I suggest we get on. The tachyon funnel is disconnected. Place Orac here. Orac, what was the subject of my degree thesis at Belhangria University? Orac, what was the subject of my degree thesis at Belhangria University?

Your paper e stroke nine on stroke six zero four four was on particle physics and dealt specifically with the properties of rissions. It was marked Beta plus, Egrorian.

Only beta plus, Egrorian?

Egrorian

Pinder, you're to be seen and not heard, remember?

If Orac has a fault, it is a tendency to give more information than is requested.

Vila

Or less information than requested.

But seldom just the information that is requested.

That degree was subsequently rescinded for gross misconduct.

Egrorian

That's enough, Orac!

Nobody is indispensable.

Soolin

You needed a figurehead. He was it. Or am I wrong?

You are right. But then figureheads aren't too difficult to come by. Any idiot can be one.

Dayna

Heh. On your feet, Vila. This could be your big moment.

Any idiot within reason, that is.

You going to tell us what we've got planned, Avon?

Vila

We know what we've got planned. Running away is what we've got planned.

Dayna

A strategic withdrawal is what we've got planned.

Vila

There's a difference?

Oh, yes. A strategic withdrawal is running away -- but with dignity.

Vila

So lay in a course and let's get the dignified hell out of here.

That isn't the plan anymore, though, is it Avon?

I think we can do better.

Vila

Does that mean safer?

In the end, winning is the only safety.

Vila

It doesn't mean safer. I didn't think it would.

So what does it mean?

It means I think we can find ourselves another figurehead, someone we can use to unify and expand the Rebel Alliance.

Soolin

Just like that.

More or less. He is strongly identified with rebels, you see, and very popular with rabbles. They will follow him, and he will fight to the last drop of their blood. [smiles] Idealism is a wonderful thing. All you really need is someone rational to put it to proper use.

Dayna

Someone like you.

So where do we find this useable idealist?

According to Orac, he is on a frontier planet called Gauda Prime.

Soolin

Gauda Prime?

You know it?

Soolin

Yes, I know it. It's a bad place to be. No self-respecting idealist would be found dead there.

I imagine that is what HE is trying to avoid: being found dead anywhere.

Look, are you going to stop playing games and tell us who it is, Avon?

Vila

It's Blake, isn't it? You think you've found Blake.