ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. B5 - DOWN BELOW
The trio have moved further down the darkened corridor and are now in a clearing area.
MARTEL
Any clues Dulann?
DULANN
Nothing David. I am sorry.
MARTEL
Don't apologize Dulann. When I have your talents then you can apologize.
JENKINS (Gesturing arms in disbelief and annoyance)
What are we going to do now?
MARTEL
Well the other likely areas of B5 are being searched by Cortana and -
Suddenly there is a loud thudding noise, metal against metal.
The trio's attention are drawn towards the source of the noise, the Drazi seen before, and two Humans dressed in similar robes are stood at the entrance to the room. The Drazi is carrying a large metal poll which he is tapping against the floor.
DRAZI CULT MEMBER
You are stepping where you do no belong outsiders.
HUMAN CULT MEMBER #1
You must be punished.
The three cult members spur into action against our trio. The Drazi raises his metal poll and lunges towards Martel. Martel dodges and reaches into his uniform and extracts his Minbari Fighting Stick. Whilst he extends the stick and knocks the Drazi to the ground Dulann has too draw his Minbari Fighting Stick and has engaged the first Human Cult member. The second Human Cult member has knocked Jenkins to the floor.
The security officer is just returning to his feet as the Drazi uses his legs to try and drop Martel to the floor. Martel leaps over the Drazi's feet and rams his Fighting Stick to within an inch of the Drazi's face. The two Human Cult members flea the scene and Jenkins goes to follow but stops before leaving the CAMERA's reach.
MARTEL
Now -
Martel eases his stick off the Drazi's face and lets him up slightly.
MARTEL (CONT'D)
Why are you attacking us?
DRAZI CULT MEMBER
Your presence is an insult to my master
DULANN
An insult to the what?
DRAZI CULT MEMBER
You are outsiders. I am the Hand of my master and I will force you to leave.
The Drazi leaps to his feet, knocking Martel over. Dulann makes a lunge and a grab for the Drazi but he ducks and avoids before escaping.
The Drazi escapes as is gone, Dulann stoops and helps Martel up.
MARTEL
He said something about the Hand.
JENKINS
He could've meant anything. You don't know how crazy some of the people down here are. They're delusional, demented.
MARTEL (Quite worked up)
NOT ALL OF THEM ARE.
Jenkins and Dulann gives Martel a "What the..." kind-of look. Martel decides to ignore it and,
MARTEL (CONT'D)
What I mean is it's the first lead we've stumbled onto... which is a good thing because we're fresh out.
JENKINS
But they got away -
DULANN
(interrupting) - It is of no consequence. You heard what he said, we are outsiders and make be made to leave, so that means they will try again and when they do we will be ready.
Close up on Dulann and Martel before we cut,
INT. B5 DOWN BELOW
The corridor is a little lighter than seen previously. The room is twice the size as the one where the trio fought the three cult members. Dulann, Jenkins, Cortana and the Pandora's Minbari Male First Officer Troyern are concealed behind a row of boxes at the bottom of a flight of poorly maintained stairs.
Martel is noticeably absent.
After a few BEATS Martel comes swaggering down the stairs.
MARTEL (Loudly)
Man I love being an outsider walking these sacred halls.
Martel stops for a moment to listen if his words and presence have spurred anything.
MARTEL (Louder)
I SAID - Man I love
Suddenly there is a rustling from at the top of the stairs. Martel goes quiet but continues to walk along, past the row of boxes.
A BEAT later the Drazi Cult Member and three humans, two being the same as before, descend the stairs and leap upon Martel.
In the same moment Martel dodges the four attackers the awaiting Rangers and Security Officers bound over the boxes and leaps upon the attackers.
Martel grabs the Drazi as he attempts to escape and weighs him down, whilst each of the others take out an attacker. Eventually all four attackers are handcuffed by Jenkins.
After this is done Martel grabs the Drazi and presses him against the wall.
MARTEL
Now, what do you know about the Hand?
DRAZI CULT MEMBER
I am the Hand of my Master. This is the only Hand I know of.
A BEAT goes by then attention is drawn to the stairs when footsteps are heard coming down them. This is Kas'Kah, an Isaahi, the same species as Minister Kafta, seen in "Live and Die in Starlight". He is wearing a long black robe that comes up over his head.
KAS'KAH
SILENCE.
The Drazi's eyes open wide and he immediately closes his mouth.
CORTANA
Let me take a wild guess.
(Points to Kas'Kah)
You're Kas'Kah.
KAS'KAH
SILENCE! Nobody may address me except for my followers.
The Drazi breaks free from Martel's grip as Martel is distracted by Kas'Kah.
DRAZI CULT MEMBER
I am sorry I failed you Master. Please forgive me.
KAS'KAH
It is a mistake your successor will not make.
Kas'Kah raises his right arm and fires a laser blast from a concealed weapon into the face of the Drazi. The CAMERA is set up directly behind the Drazi's head and we cannot SEE everyone reactions to the weapon and death until the Drazi's corpse has fallen to the floor.
The Cult members remain lying, but everyone has lost their attention to them and they are ever so slowly slipping away.
JENKINS (Drawing his PPG)
Put the weapon down immediately!
KAS'KAH
This is now my Domain, you do not give the orders here.
Kas'Kah makes gives a head nod to a waiting Human Cult Member and all three Human Cult Members leap to their feet. One catches Jenkins off guard and kicks his hand, sending the security officer's PPG flying away. The four Rangers dodge their attack cult members, only to be jumped by more Human cult members that have appeared from down the stairs. All of them are grabbed except Martel who manages to evade his "Grabber" and manages to extend his Minbari Fighting Stick and give his grabber a good blow before he is hit in the back of the head with a metal poll by a Hyach.
We cut after this,
INT. B5 - KAS'KAH HOME
This room is lit well. Though the walls are blackened to indicate we are still in some part of Down Below. In the centre at the rear of the room is a large once golden looking classic throne. It looks as though it once belonged to a Centauri.
Kas'Kah is sat on the throne. Martel and Cortana are laid out next to one another in the middle of the room. The Hyach Cult Member is stood with his arms crossed next to the throne. Five or Six Human Cult Members are stood around where Martel and Cortana are laid.
After a few BEATS close up on Kas'Kah expression, as he is apparently deliberating the fait of Martel and Cortana, Martel begins to stir.
KAS'KAH
The weaklings finally awake.
Martel struggles to his knees and turns to face Kas'Kah. Martel scowls at the Isaahi before turning and nudging Cortana, who then stirs in a similar way.
Two Human Cult Members then come across and pull the two Ranger Captains to their feet.
KAS'KAH
I heard, from my second's predecessor that you were looking for me?
Martel and Cortana hold their tongues for a few BEATSSS. Then decide to speak,
MARTEL
If you didn't already know your people have found some dangerous bed fellows.
KAS'KAH
Ah. You are referring to the Isaahi Kanar.
MARTEL
Isaahi Kanar?
CORTANA
The governing body of the Isaahi Homeworld and Inner Colonies, it was the Kanar that was accepted as an Interstellar Alliance member.
KAS'KAH (Coming down from his throne)
I am not of the Kanar.
MARTEL
Then what?
KAS'KAH
Though I do not have to answer your questions, but I will entertain them.
Kas'Kah turns away.
KAS'KAH (Turning back violently)(CONT'D)
For the moment!
CORTANA
We are here looking for an Isaahi, they're the only link we have to the Hand.
KAS'KAH (Puzzled)
The Hand?
MARTEL
They're an ancient race. Simply driven by their urge to conquer.
KAS'KAH
Ha! It sounds like the Kanar to associate themselves with such beings.
MARTEL
You aren't much better. You've attacked us and -
KAS'KAH
(interrupting) - You have entered my domain. Would you not do the same if I appeared in your home?
Cortana and Martel remain silent for a few BEATS. Kas'Kah turns away and gesturing over his shoulder. A door in the opposite side of the room to the throne opens and four Human Cult Members bring Jenkins, Dulann and Troyern in. They three are awake and the Human Cult Members throw them into the middle of the room with Martel and Cortana.
JENKINS
So that's where that Centauri throne went.
DULANN
Captains? Are you alright?
MARTEL
We are Dulann.
KAS'KAH
Guards, restrain the prisoners.
All the Human Cult Members stood around the room simultaneously move into the centre of the room and grab our heroes. The heroes resist at first but are eventually handcuffed and dropped to their knees.
KAS'KAH
Now leave us.
The Human Cult Members file out. Kas'Kah sits back on his throne and the Hyach Cult Member stands behind the row of kneeling heroes as we,
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT THREE