Lost in Space: "Wanted Man…"
Summary: Smith's past…And the Space Tribunal catch up with him.
Stranded once again due to needed repairs on an unknown planet in a star system far from Earth (or Alpha Centauri), the Robinson, Major West, Dr. Smith, and the Robot are about to encounter an old foe. Several, actually.
Part 4…
Upper deck of the Jupiter…
"Naturally, Professor, I should wish to assist with the situation in any way I can…" Smith begins…
"Great, then here you are…" John hands Smith rolled sleeping pad, indicating pillow and blanket on floor.
"But…Outside?…Facing the terrors of a poorly explored planet? With an unknown alien menace lurking about…Outside? Surely, Professor…" Smith, anxiously.
"Will and the Robot have volunteered to stay with you. I think it's best you keep your distance from the women for the moment, Smith." Robinson notes. "They seem calmer with you further away."
"But it's hardly my fault, Professor. And, well, you know my back is very delicate."
"This is a second pad, Smith…Will has a sleeping bag in the tent for you. And this is non-negotiable. And probably safer for you. Maureen was pretty agitated." John eyes him.
"Surely you don't believe she might…Do me harm?" Smith gulps.
"No, but I might." John eyes him. "This is the only thing besides continuing to scan for any signs of electromagnetic or chemical influence we can do, Smith. With luck, we can figure this out ourselves or with the help of the Tribunal, tomorrow. Now I suggest you take anything you'll need and go join Will and the Robot. Don't make me carry you." Stern look.
"Very well, for the good of the ladies…I trust this gallant action will also be noted as a part of my heroic efforts."
"We'll have it inscribed on a plaque as a wedding present when you choose your bride." John smiles.
"Professor…" Smith frowns, shaking head.
"Sorry…I do know you're probably not to blame, this time." He nods. "Now, Don and I will stand watch tonight with the Robot. And we'll keep the analyses running in case we can find anything. Try to get some sleep and be ready for tomorrow. "
"My Gethsemane…" Smith sighs. "Very well, good night, Professor." He takes up roll and pillow.
"Good night, Dr. Smith." John nods. Smith trudging to airlock, pressing hatch controls, and exiting to find Don entering.
"Smith…Good luck with the beauty contest tomorrow." Don grins.
"Really, Major? Unworthy even of you." Smith frowns and passes him.
,,,
The Robot plays an instrumental version of "Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground" through his voicescreen as Will and Dr. Smith sit before a fire Will and the Robot made earlier.
"Trapped out here, in an alien wilderness..." Smith sighs. "And with that caterwauling going on. Cease and desist, sir." He orders.
"On, come on, Dr. Smith…" Will urges. "He's pretty good and this is fun actually."
"Fun…My dear boy… At your young age, exposing yourself to the dangers of who knows what lurking in an alien nightscape may seem 'fun'…"
"The force field is fully operational and my sensors indicate only very small nocturnal animals at a distance of some one thousand yards from the perimeter." The Robot notes before resuming his playing.
"Animals?! What sort of animals?!" Smith rising from his chair. "We must return to the space ship at once!"
"Dr. Smith…" Will urgently. "He said very small…"
"Some of some ravenous beast…Or an venomous creature that will murder us in our beds! William, surely you should know by now how dangerous any alien creature can be."
"They are very similar to Earth's prairie dogs, Dr. Smith. But smaller." The Robot notes.
"Prairie dogs can bite. And carry diseases! We must withdraw! For your safely, my boy! Your father will surely understand."
"Dr. Smith, I'll think we need to stay out here." Will sighs. "Prairie dogs can't get through the force field."
"Alien ones…Perhaps with giant brains and an advanced civilization…" Smith begins.
"That'd be neat…But we've see no signs of a civilization on this planet." Will notes, smiling.
"Don't be naive, my boy. They could be disguising their technology…"
"Dr. Smith, I really think you should just try to get some rest. Who knows what might happen tomorrow with that Tribunal."
"Oh, dear…" Smith sighs. "The terrors of this night almost led me to forget the horrors of tomorrow. Who knows what fate awaits Zachary Smith?"
Dum…Dum…Da…Dum…Dum…Dum…Da….Dum… The Robot hums the opening bars of the Wedding March by Mendelssohn.
"Robot…" Will shakes head.
"Have a care, sir." Smith glares.
…
Inside the Jupiter, on the lower deck…
John checking some results…Sipping coffee.
"John…" Maureen's voice from their compartment. "Are you there?"
"I'm here, darling."
"I'm sorry if I worried you…I suppose I was acting strangely, I don't know why."
"We're trying to find that out now, sweetheart."
"I see…Can't I help?"
"You can…If you'd describe what's been happening to you? When it started?" he calls.
"I'm not sure…" her reply.
"Well, what made you come out after us? When you were supposed to stay with the ship this afternoon? Can you tell me?"
"Well…I…I knew we had to come. See that Dr. Smith…And Will…And you and Don…Were all right."
"But it was Smith you were concerned for. Why, Maureen? Can you remember?"
"I don't know…John? Maybe I could let you take a blood sample? Compare it to my previous?"
He considers…
"It might help, John."
"The Robot's analysis is probably all we need right now, darling."
"John, I really think it would help. The biochemical analysis could be important." Plaintive tone. "Just pass a collection kit through the door."
Cut to shot of Maureen looking icily arch, a large plece of pottery concealed behind her back, waiting…
John pondering…
"Dad? I need to take a walk. Please let me out." Penny urges.
"Dad…I need to talk to you." Judy, sad tone. "Don hurt me. Please…I think Dr. Smith should examine me."
"Girls, please. Stop this." John, shaking head. "And you should know Smith isn't here."
"What?" both chorus. "Dr. Smith!" calls.
"Damn you, let me out!" Maureen rages, striking door with the piece. "If you've harmed Zachary!"
John putting hand to head…
("I think we should withdraw now, lest the Professor somehow discovers our presence with his instruments…" disembodied voice. "We've done enough for tonight and the morrow will see my triumph!" "As you, say, Master." Second voice. "But the Tribunal…?" slight caution in tone. "We won't have to do anything but watch as Dr. Smith meets his fate…Ha, ha, ha,hah!")
John looking about at the slightest sound of very faint laughter.
("Oops…Let us go." "At once, Master.")
…
Earth standard time of two am…
Outside, while the Robot stands guard, in their tents, Will and a fretful Dr. Smith sleep…
In the Jupiter, on the lower deck, Don comes to John, reading, to relieve him.
"Anything going on?" Don.
"No results from the analysis that indicate any alien presence or fields. And for the last four hours the girls and Maureen have been quiet." John sighs, stretching. "But they were being influenced still, at least then. I'll get some rest upstairs." He rose. "Be careful, Don. They seem to be willing to try deception to get out."
"To Smith…" Don frowns. "I still have to wonder if he's involved in this."
"I think he's as clueless as we are, for once. But he's involved. This is all focused on him." John shakes head.
"Could it be…These alien women…They're behind the way Maureen and the girls are acting?"
"It's likely but how or why?" John shrugs. "The current scan should complete in twenty minutes. See you about six, but wake me if anything shows or develops. And Don, whatever they say…Don't let them out, unless it's an actual emergency."
"Ok. Get some rest." Don nods.
Quiet as John takes elevator up.
Don checking the scanning equipment a moment then pulling out his own book to read, sitting.
"Don?" Judy's voice. "Don…?"
"Go to sleep, Judy." He calls.
"Please, Don…Talk to me. I don't understand what's going on." She frets. "What've I done?"
"Judy, we think you and the others are being influenced somehow. We don't know how but that's it. We're keeping you here for your own safety. Try to get some sleep."
"This is about Dr. Smith." Hard tone. "You're always so concerned 'bout him. I think you like him more than me."
"Smith? Come on." He frowns.
"You could show me you like me more…" she coos.
"Judy. Go to sleep."
"You can pretend but I know…I haven't said anything but I know…" she calls.
"Judy…Enough."
"You made me think you cared for me…But all the time…"
"Judy! Stop it! I'm not letting you out."
"I don't want to come out. I want you to come in. If you're man enough…" coy tone.
"Judy. You don't know what you're saying. But if you keep it up, I may have to give Smith a sock in the jaw to disprove your ideas, ok."
"You wouldn't dare!" she cried. "Let me out! Mom, Penny! He's going to hurt Zachary! Wake up!"
"Don…" Maureen's voice…Calm, unruffled. "What's going on? Is Judy ill?"
"It's all right, Maureen…Go back to sleep. Judy, I'll leave Smith alone if you go back to sleep."
"You promise?!" urgent call.
He sighs. "Yeah. He'll be fine. Now all of you, just go back to sleep, ok?"
"I'll kill you, if you hurt him." Judy, grim tone.
"Ok. Well, I won't if you settle down and go to sleep." He shakes head.
"Don? I'm not feeling well." Penny's voice.
"Penny? Don, you'd better let me out." Maureen calls.
He rolls eyes. "Dr. Smith won't be 'feeling well' if you ladies don't stop. Please, go back to sleep. You can see him in the morning."
Silence.
"You promise, Don?" Judy, plaintively.
"Yeah. We'll all take him to the Tribunal in the morning, find out what the hell's going on."
"No!" Maureen calls. "That's too dangerous!"
"No!" Penny, agitated now. Judy joining in…
Here we go again…Don sighs. This looks like it's gonna be a long night.
…
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