DJ: And now for our feature presentation of TERRA NOVUS: Created and presented by SCAD Radio Dramas (Scattered).
Sfx: intro theme
dj: last week on terra novous...
CAPT. WHITAKER: (Voice cracking) All right! All right, ill tell you, (panting) ill tell you what you want to know.
MORRIS: Why did you do that! With the gas.
CAPT. WHITAKER: We had to stop you, you were getting too close.
MORRIS: Too close to what.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Terra Novus, the new earth.
MORRIS: Isn’t that what you were looking for.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Yes… no.
MORRIS: No, yes which one is it!
CAPT. WHITAKER: No. We were never meant to find anything. When we came up here we were told we would never be coming back; that our mission would automatically be classified as a lost cause.
ISAAC: What about all the work, all my father’s star logs. All his research. You killed him because he was too close didn’t you. Didn’t you, you-
CAPT. WHITAKER: No. yes, its true Gunther was not in on it. He’s the only way our mission seemed legitimate to the public. IGSTA did want him to find the planet, just not land on it.
ISAAC: That dosen’t prove you didn’t kill him.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Look, he was a pain in our side, ill give you that, but we weren’t going to kill him. If it hadn’t been for that Kreigal battle cruiser we never would have landed on that godforsaken planet that killed him in the first place. (pause, swallows hard) And I lost more than just him, I lost three members of my crew.
Capt. Whitaker: Starts sobbing.
Isaac: I’m sorry.
CAPT. WHITAKER: (snivvleing) do you think.. you think you could uncuff me. Ya know, for good behavior?
(cut to)
Sfx: someone walks over and release cuffs
CAPT. WHITAKER: He said if anything happened, to… to
MORRIS: To what! To what… I swear if you die on me I’m gonna-
CAPT. WHITAKER: To do this?
Sfx: Pulls something out of his jacket, it beeps.
What’s he pulling out of his jacket.
MORRIS: It’s a detonator.
Graham: Everybody get down.
ISAAC: No!!
SFX: He presses the detonator. A massive explosion goes off.
SFX: Cliffhanger ending theme.
Dj: And now for the continuation of terra Novus. Episode six.
Sfx: All the air starts sucking out into space. Chairs tables etc slide across the floor. The music is fast and hopeless.
Morris: Quick everyone hold on to something or you’re all going to be floating with the stars.
Isaac: Sliding (ahh)
Gail: Hold on Isaac, I’ve got you.
Sfx: Grabs his hand, stops sliding.
Morris: Someone shut that door. Seal the air lock. Seal it off.
Graham: I think I can reach it with my… ahhh.
Sfx: Graham Starts sliding.
Isaac: Grab onto my foot.
Sfx: Grabs.
Graham: Got it.
Gail: Ungh, I’m slipping, I can’t hold both of you and me. Someone get that door closed!
Morris: (straining) just a… little… closer.
Sfx: He presses the button, and the door shuts. The air stops being sucked into space and the music relaxes.
Morris: (Sighs with relief.)
Sfx: Everyone is panting and exhausted.
Morris: (sarcastically) good behavior, (scoffs then sighs) alright sound off, who’s still with us? Did we lose anyone because that man’s antics?
Dylan: Dylan, I’m still here.
Graham: Graham, breathing.
Aurora: Aurora, in pain but alive.
Gail: Gail, I think I broke a nail.
Bob: Bob, present and accounted for. All systems are functional.
Morris: That leaves… Isaac, you still alive, I can’t see you with all this smoke (cough).
Isaac: I’m here.
Morris: Where’s the Captain, (cough) if the blast didn’t kill him I’m going to. Liam, check em for a pulse.
Sfx: Liam walks over grunting
Liam: I’m afraid he’s dead sir.
SFX: the music hits a depressing fail note.
Morris: (Sighs) well that’s no fun. Alright, damage report; 808, what just happened.
Bob: It appears that Captain Whitaker detonated a bomb that destroyed his ship while it was docked with ours. Damaging our engines and wiping out our communications.
Dylan: Sighs.
Bob: Wait, that’s not the worst part.
Morris: So what is?
Bob: The blast has sent us hurdling into the gravitational pull of another planet.
Sfx: plot point theme.
Morris: Alright everyone up to the main deck, if we cant pull up, let’s at least land her on her belly - somewhere soft.
Sfx: Everyone runs to the bridge, transition music. Building tension music, like the Pirates of the Caribbean theme.
Morris: Are there any lakes, deserts nearby.
Isaac: None that I can detect sir. There is however, a…
Morris: A what, what is it Isaac. Speak up we don’t have much time.
Isaac: It’s a.. it’s some kind of pieced together radio tower, it looks man made.
Morris: Any luck with the engines Aurora? Are we going to survive this thing?
Aurora: I’m trying my best, the engines won’t fire. I’ve extended all drag and brake flaps - I’m doing my best just to level us out Captain.
Morris: Everyone to your seats; strap in, and strap in good. I want to see everyone alive after we –
Sfx: The ship hits the atmosphere, bursting into flames and shaking the ship violently.
Morris: (shaking) lllaaannddd.
Sfx: The ship flies through the sky and crash lands in the desert. The music peaks then goes to transition music. The ships smokes as the engines sputter to a halt.
Morris: (breathing heavily) everyone alright?
Liam: Were all here captain.
Morris: Good. Good job aurora, were all here.
Sfx: Start concerning theme.
Aurora: (Breathing in pain and gasping) Yeah.
Liam: Are you alright Aurora, your holding your stomach. What is it? Is it the baby?
Aurora: I think so… I don’t know it just hurts.
Morris: Alright, Liam why don’t you take her to sick bay and Isaac you work on locking down the location of that radio tower you were talking about. They could have what we need to fix our communications. Graham, you know what you need to do – get to work on that engine.
Graham: Yes sir.
SFX: (Transition music)
Morris: So I guess that makes the search party me, Dylan, Isaac and Liam; are we all ready to head out.
Aurora: I’m going too.
Liam: But Aurora… what about the baby.
Aurora: I want to.
Morris: I really don’t think you should—
SFX: The music peaks and stands up for Aurora.
Aurora: You listen to me. I don’t give a damn what you do and don’t think I or anyone else on this ship can do. Ever since you found out I was pregnant you’ve been doubting my ability as a pilot, (chuckles) you even doubted me before that. I’m sure if you could have found a male pilot that would have done it for the “money” you were offering you would have taken him in a second over me. You treat Bob the same way and I’m sick of it. You better start treating us like were all the same species, because this crew may just be the last humans you’ll ever see.
Sfx: Doors open.
MORRIS: Alright (sighs) let’s go then.
SFX: (transition music) then we hear wind, it is a dry and dusty planet like Mars. Everyone is walking; we can hear the dry dirt at their feet.
Morris: You sure were still headed I the right direction?
Isaac: Yes sir, the readings placed the radio tower just over that ridge, it shouldn’t be far now.
Liam: Are you all right Aurora, you need to take a break?
Aurora: No (panting) I’m fine, I just want to get this over with. I want to show Morris I’m not as weak as he thinks I am. I just have this weird feeling.
Sfx: Start creepy/eerie music quietly.
LIAM: I know what you mean. Its almost like.. like were being-
AURORA: Watched?
LIAM: (Swallows hard) you took the words right out of my mouth. I keep looking over my shoulder but I see no one, nothing. It must be all this heat.
AURORA: Yes I do have to say it is getting hotter, I didn’t want to say anything because I thought It was just the baby acting up, but It does seem to be increasing dramatically, wouldn’t you say.
ISAAC: Creepy, De ja vu.
MORRIS: What is it.
ISAAC: It’s just…this all seems very familiar, like I’ve been here before. The rock formations, the odd plants, the scorched earth, it’s almost like its been muta- wait. That’s it, I haven’t been here… but my father has. This is exactly the same type of occurrences my father described in his space logs, this must be Zudam.
SFX: plot development theme. Then tension theme becomes dominant.
MORRIS: Wait a minute kid, didn’t the captain say they were killed by something here?
ISAAC: Yes, a radio active sun I believe it was.
LIAM: And when’s sunrise?
ISAAC: Oh you can see it getting lighter over there, its almost dawn. (Pause) Ohhhh, I get it. Its almost sunrise, and that’s a bad thing.
LIAM: Very.
Sfx: the music cuts out and a flair gun is fired into the air bursting after a few seconds.
LIAM: What was that?
MORRIS: The flare gun. Since our communications were down I told Graham if anything went wrong or he saw anything suspicious, to signal us with the flare gun.
AURORA: Well something’s definitely wrong
LIAM: Yeah, like were about to fallow in your father’s footsteps.
ISAAC: That used to be a good thing.
MORRIS: I’ll say, now com’on-
Sfx: Music starts getting really creepy, loud too. The crew stop walking. Then we hear distorted moaning coming from somewhere, then a freakish scream. Morris upholsters his gun.
Morris: What the hell was that?
Liam: There! behind us, captain!
Sfx: Charges gun. Another freakish scream.
Isaac: They don’t look friendly.
Liam: Aliens! I knew something was following us.
Morris: None like I’ve ever seen. It’s just one more reason to get back to the ship - Now com’on!
Sfx: Tension theme, show that the team is divided.
Dylan: No. we need to repair the communications, it can’t be more than half a mile now.
Morris: Not at the risk of my crew’s lives.
Gail: We can’t turn back now, not when were so close. They look slow enough, I’ll bet we can outrun them.
Aurora: You might be able to outrun them, but you won’t make it back before sunrise.
SFX: Music becomes sympathetic.
GAIL: You all think I’m just someone who criticizes everyone else. That I’m here in someone else’s place, but you never looked at who I really am. As a person, never appreciated me as an individual.
AURORA: You wouldn’t be the first or the only one either but Morris is right. Now’s not the time, we can talk about this once were on the ship. Now common, they’re closing in around us.
GAIL: I’m trying to tell you I was on the track team in college. Could run the quarter mile in -
MORRIS: This is not a discussion, I’m going to clear a path on three, and I want everyone back to the ship. Now here we go, One, two
Dylan: Three!
Morris: Gail?! Get back here, you heard the-
Gail: Just make that path, I’ll meet you back at the ship.
DYLAN: I’m going with her.
ISAAC: No Dylan, its not worth it.
DYLAN: (Grunts as she tries to pull arm away) We have to get the parts, or I won’t be able to do my job and I’ll really be as useless as everyone already thinks I am.
ISAAC: At least you’ll be alive. Com’on, well find another way to repair them.
DYLAN (reluctantly): All right.
ISAAC: Now run!
Sfx: Action tension music: Morris starts firing and hitting the aliens, some of them scream in pain other yell back angrily ready for revenge. We can hear the crew running.
AURORA: Ungh!
LIAM: Com’on Aurora, we don’t have time!
AURORA: It’s the baby! I thinks its coming.
Liam: But it’s too early.
Aurora: I know, but I can feel it!
Liam: You’ve got to run, I know it hurts… do it for your baby.
Aurora: (Struggles in pain) I can’t.
Liam: (Sighs) All right, common, I’ll carry you.
Aurora: But what about Morris, I don’t want him to think—
Liam: It doesn’t matter what he thinks anymore, just get on my back. I’m sure he’d rather have a pregnant pilot then no pilot at all.
Sfx: She gets on his back. The music gets heroic but keeps the same speed and intensity, this is one of the most intense themes of the entire show.
Liam: (grunts under her weight) That’s it, hold on we’ll be there soon. You’re going to make it. You’re going to be okay.
Dylan: There?!
Morris: What, what are you pointing at!
Dylan: It Gail, she’s got it.
GAIL (getting louder as she comes out of the distance) (out of breath): I got it, I got the part guys. Wait for me.
SFX: Aliens yell as they take notice of her. The music starts getting sadder, darker and more tragic as well as freaky.
GAIL (trying to fight them off): Hey, get off of me. Get off of me!
SFX: Aliens snarl and bite her and scream, as they tear open her suit.
Gail: Oww. Ahhh!! Help me! Get these things off of me.
Dylan: Gail!
sfx: Isaac grabs her suit as she tries to walk away, stopping her.
SFX: Start plot development theme.
Dylan: Com’on Isaac, don’t just stand there. Help me, we have to do something!
Isaac: (Regretfully but impatiently) No, Dylan. It was her choice to go back for it.
Dylan: But they’re tearing her suit open, she’ll be completely unprotected from the radiation when the sun rises.
ISAAC: We can’t save her now. We have about 30 seconds to get everyone we can onto that ship and shut the doors or were all going to die, now com’on. I wish there was a better way but right now you either save yourself, or die with her.
Sfx: Start up frenetic tension theme again. Their footsteps go from running on ground to the ship.
Morris: Com’on, everyone on, so I can shut the door. I can’t hold them off much longer.
Sfx: Everyone runs on and sits. Morris keeps firing as the door shuts.
Morris: Viewing shields! We’ve got to cover the ships windows before the sun rises or the radiation will penetrate the ship.
Sfx: Large squeaky doors start slowly sliding closed.
MORRIS: Can you fly Aurora?
AURORA: I.. (grunting with pain and panting) I’m sorry.
MORRIS: Fine! I’ll get us airborne.
Sfx: Morris sits and straps in, engines start firing up. The beings can still be quietly heard moaning and screaming. The music cuts off as the ship starts to shake, as they push on the ship.
Morris: What was that?
Dylan: They’re right out side, they’re clawing at the ship
Isaac: They’re trying to get in.
SFX: Start dramatic sad theme.
Gail: (screaming and banging on the door) Wait! Wait for me! I made it, I’m here.
Let me on, I have the part. Hey guys its me! Please!!
Isaac: What are you doing?
Dylan: I’m opening the door, I’m gonna let her on.
Isaac: No, don’t! You’ll let them on too.
Dylan: No, I’ve got to, they’re killing her out there.
Aurora: No. the doors stay shut, the radio active sun of this planet has almost fully risen which means it’s at maximum power. It could kill all of us. I’m not letting that happen to my crew, to my baby.
Morris: Me neither.
Dylan: So what you’re just going to let her die out there. (Scoffs)
Morris: She was already dead the moment she made her decision.
Dylan: Oh no, its happening. Oh God.
Sfx: Screams get painful and louder outside as it sounds like flesh is burning and bubbling. The sun gets brighter.
Gail: Let me, oonnn—iiiyyeee!!!!
Sfx: Her voice gets distorted and changes as she mutates.
Isaac: (disgusted, scared, sad and almost crying) They’re changing, it’s mutating them.
Dylan: (Sobbing) Its killing them! GAIL!!!
Gail: Let me on, Dylan please! Isaac, I saved your life!! Just let me---( then her voice gets too distorted to recognize or understand).
Dylan (crying): Let go of me.
SFX: She slaps him.
Dylan: That could have been me out there you bastard. Would you have left me? Would you have left me if I would have went with her?
Aurora: I would have left anyone stupid enough to disobey an order. I’m not putting this crew in jeopardy like that again for one of you guys’ stupid mistakes. I have to do what’s best for the group, not individuals.
SFX: Music slows and fades away.
Dylan: Cries and sobs.
Isaac: Look. Their outfits, those look like the ones the crew of the Vanguard were wearing.
Liam: It’s almost like it didn’t kill them, it just... mutated them.
Isaac: They must be the other crew members that they had to leave stranded on the planet.
Aurora: (Suddenly screams in pain.)
SFX: the music mirrors her pain, concern theme with a touch of immediacy.
Isaac: What’s wrong with her?
Liam: (sighs) I’m afraid the stress of this whole thing, and the radiation has somehow sent her into an early labor. I can feel it, she’s having contractions.
Isaac: What you mean, like she’s going to have the baby.
Dylan: Right now?
Liam: Not without your help she isn’t.
Isaac: Me? But I’ve never… I don’t…
Liam: Common, I can’t do it alone, I need you to help me carry her into the sick bay.
Dylan: Come on, I’ll help too.
Isaac: I don’t know, I…
Liam: Just get in here!
Sfx: Door opens, they walk in then the door shuts.
Liam: Alright, let me take a look on the ultrasonic-imager and see where we are.
Sfx: He puts something gooey on her stomach.
Aurora: (Panting and moaning from the pain, she starts breathing faster) its cold.
Liam: I know, its okay. Just try and breathe.
Liam: All right it looks like your dilated enough, I think were ready. Are you r--
sfx: Music breaks down to dramatic bursts like jaws.
Isaac: Wait doc, what’s that?
Liam: What’s what?
Isaac: That.
Sfx: Taps screen with his finger twice.
Isaac: What is it.
Liam: It looks like he’s gotten so active he’s wrapped the umbilical chord around his neck.
Sfx: start tension theme.
Isaac: So can’t he un-wrap it.
Liam: It might come undone, but it’s a slim chance. We have do deliver him now or the baby could suffocate.
Isaac: You mean die?
Liam: I mean, if we don’t get it unwrapped in the next three minutes, Aurora’s baby is going strangle itself to death!
SFX: Cliffhanger ending theme.
DJ: Join us next week for the exciting continuation of Terra Novus every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
This episode featured the talents of
Writer: _________
And featuring the voices of (actors say their name): ________
Music and Sound FX by: __________
Mixed by:_______
This has been a presentation of SCAD Radio Dramas, tune in every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Terra Novus, ep. 5 - Bad Blood
DJ: And now for our feature presentation of TERRA NOVUS: Created and presented by SCAD Radio Dramas (Scattered).
Sfx: intro theme
dj: last week on terra novous...
ISAAC: Gunther Burgos?
CAPT. WHITAKER: Yes. the one who started our mission, was infected.
ISAAC: Dad? Where is he, is he still alive, I have to talk to him.
CAPT. WHITAKER: No. I’m sorry. We tried to treat him but our doctor was killed on the planet and we had neither the knowhow nor the manpower to keep him alive.
(Cut to)
CAPT. WHITAKER: If its any conciliation we still have many of his space logs in our computer system if you would like to come aboard and see them for yourself.
(Cut to)
MORRIS: Do you think while we our docked you could give my crew a hand removing it. I wouldn’t want to put your crew in danger.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Yes of course. Ill send a few of my men over to help immediately.
(Cut to)
EXODUS CREW #1: Hey I think I got it, (grunts) yep, here it is.
Sfx: spark fly as he breaks the chip off and pulls it out.
GRAHAM: That’s it hungh? That’s what he’s been using to track us?
(Cut to)
GAIL: Hugh, so much trouble in such a small little thing.
EXODUS CREW #1: you think that’s bad? You don’t know the half of it.
Sfx: The hissing of smoke starts coming into the room.
GAIL: What’s that noise?
GRAHAM: There! Its some kind of smoke (cough) coming in through the vents.
GAIL: (cough, cough) What do we do?
EXODUS CREW #1: (as puts gas mask on): Speak for yourselves, that’s your problem.
GAIL: Why does he have a gas mask Graham? Its almost like he… was… ex-pec—ting…
Sfx: Dylan and graham fall to the ground unconscious. Music makes them seem doomed. Then two people come running in.
ISAAC: Oh no, were too late. They’ve filled the entire ship with some sort of gas.
MORRIS: Quick Isaac, (cough) cover your face and try… not to (cough).. breath.. in – the smmm….
Sfx: Morris falls to the floor.
ISAAC (muffled): Not you too. (sighs) What can I do? I can already feeling it affecting me, even though im covering my face. (breathing heavily) Its… (cough) no… use.
sfx: Cliffhanger ending theme.
Dj: And now for the continuation of terra novus. Episode five.
Sfx: the music is tense and disorientating.
ISAAC: Wait, I have an idea. It’s so foggy in here from the smoke, If I can just find Bob, he’s probably still offline from when they were removing his homing beacon.
Sfx: Isaac stumbles around as gas still fills the room.
ISAAC: Here he is now I just have to flip on his power switch, and there’s a chance he might be able to stop…
Sfx: flips Bob back on, his circuits whir up to speed.
ISAAC: …what’s causing the smoke.
BOB: Were you able to remove the homing beacon?
Isaac: (Cough)
BOB: Wait, I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you sir. are you all right. What’s going on, where is Gail and Graham they were right h…
ISAAC: (Cough) The other crew they put something in the vents…. You have to… ssstop… themmm.
Sfx: Falls to the ground. Plot thickens theme.
BOB: Oh my. It would seem that the member of the Exodus I detected working on the ventilation system was there purposely, and not by mistake as I was told before they worked on me. So I assume that’s where I should start.
Sfx: bob starts walking.
BOB: If I can turn that off, the rest of the crew might regain consciousness and be able to help me discover why the crew of the Vanguard would do such a thing.
Sfx: A door opens bob walks in and the door shuts.
BOB: Here I am, the air lock.
Sfx: Bob cranks a hatch and opens it letting all the air out of the room.
BOB: There’s no sign of the other crew, however my systems show that their ship is still docked with ours.
Sfx: Bobs feet slam against the ship almost like suction cups as they become magnetized.
BOB: My electro-magnetic feet will keep me held tight to the outside of the ship as I make my way to the ventilation unit.
Sfx: Bob loudly walks across the ship to the ventilation unit where we hear a fan and hear the hissing of he smoke.
BOB: That was rather smart of Isaac to reactivate me. He must have known I don’t breathe air and therefore would be the only one that wouldn’t be affected by the smoke.
CAPT WHITAKER (from inside his mask): You’re not the only one.
Sfx: Terrifying action theme.
BOB: Oh, my.
Sfx: An electrical sound crackles and sparks as he swings it at bob, like a mix between a lightsaber and a Tesla coil sound.
BOB: He is carrying a shock stick. If he lands one of those swings he is sure to scramble my circuits.
Sfx: The man keeps trying to hit bob with the shock stick.
Bob (as he’s dodging): If I can just… get.. be-hind him.
Sfx: Bob quickly maneuvers around behind him.
BOB: Yes, there we go, I did it. Now I just have to pull his oxygen chord from his ventilating pack.
Sfx: A chord is ripped off and air escapes out of the man’s suit.
CAPT WHITAKER (from inside his mask, gasping for air) What are you doing you stupid robot? My air, there’s no air, no oxygen. (gasps as a he panics) I can’t breathe, I can’t breatthe, I… can’t..
Sfx: Bob pulls a panel off and the fan gets louder along with the hissing from the smoke.
BOB: There it is, there’s what’s causing the problem. How about I “accidently give you a taste of your own medicine, just like you mistakenly were working on this ventilator unit instead of the turrets.”
Sfx: The hissing gets quiter as he hooks it up to Whitaker’s ventilator.
CAPT WHITAKER (from inside his mask): No, don’t do that. Don’t put my air hose up… to (cough) the – smoooke (sighs and exhales as passes out).
Sfx: music ends on a heroic note.
BOB: Mistakes happen, (pause) but not by my hand. But if anything happens to the rest of them I’ll need someone alive to talk. Oh my, I can barley believe I just said that.
Sfx: Bob grabs the shock stick and fires it a few times.
BOB: This could come in useful if I run into any more crew members. But this smoke machine will not be causing this crew anymore troubles.
Sfx: Bob rattles around in the ventilator unit before pulling out the smoke machine. It gets louder as he removes it; beeping and hissing with smoke.
BOB: (Grunts).
FSX: He throws it into space, it gets quieter and quieter as it goes away.
BOB: There! Back into the depths from which you came. Now, to get inside and check on the crew. But I have to be careful, once the gas has stopped the crew of the Vanguard will know someone has foiled their plan.
SFX: Transition music
Sfx: Bob walks up from the outside of the ship dragging the other crew member and opens the hatch which releases air, then gets inside and closes it. He lets the man fall on the floor.
Bob: And you, can stay right here. I will be back for you when you wake up.
Sfx: He then walks normally, the door opens.
Exodus crew member 2 (through his mask): Hold it right there!
Sfx: Adventure theme. Laser gun fires a few times missing bob.
BOB: Another one
Sfx: Bob sticks him with the shock stick which pops and snaps extra loud now to show it hit something.
Exodus crew member 2: (teeth chattering as he’s electrocuted).
Sfx: Then he falls to the floor, hissing with smoke. End music on a heroic note.
Exodus crew member 2: (Sighs in pain.)
BOB: That was close, I was lucky he was a bad shot. I better get to the bridge.
SFX: (Transition music)
Sfx: A door opens and Bob walks in.
BOB: Isaac, are you alright?
ISAAC: Bob, what happened?
BOB: I believe the other crew has tried to sabotage our mission.
ISAAC: Why I thought they were…
BOB: I know. They fooled us. I haven’t run into more than two on my way back here.
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: Make that three.
SFX: Suspense tension theme.
Isaac (surprised): Hungh!
Sfx: a laser gun charges up.
Isaac: Oh no.
Sfx: Laser gun fires and hits someone.
Isaac: Noooooo – oh. (Pause) what… just happened?
Sfx: The crew member falls to the ground.
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: Unghh.
SFX: Music become heroic and optimistic.
Morris: Are you two okay.
Isaac: Am I ever happy to see you.
Morris: The reunion will have to wait until were all here, lets find the others first.
Isaac: There she is, I see Gail. And there’s Graham.
Sfx: They run over to Gail and Graham and slap his faced softly as well as shake his head around a few times. Music makes it seem like they might be dead.
Morris: Com’on you guys, wake up.
Gail (dazed and confused): I don’t think that was protocol.
Graham: Morris?
Sfx: music becomes optimistic.
Morris: 808, why don’t you stay here with them, me and Isaac are going to go find the others.
Sfx: The two of them run off. (Transition music, then sneaky music.)
Sfx: A muffled screaming can be heard as the two of them walk up to a door.
Morris: Wait.
Sfx: Stop walking.
Morris (whispering): Do you hear that?
Isaac: (whispering) Do you think its Dylan?
Morris: It could be. Come on. You get on that side I’ll take this side, I’ll open the door on three.
Together: One, two
Sfx: the music peaks and then cuts off on a sour note. The door slides open as they say “three”. A laser gun loads.
Exodus crew #3: Ungh, ungh, ungh. Come on you know what I want, put the guns down or the girl gets it.
Dylan: (Muffled) The name is Dylan!
Exodus crew #3: Shut up!
Sfx: He hits her with the butt of his gun. The music is depressing, like the bad guys have won.
Dylan (muffled): ouch. (starts crying)
Isaac: Hey!
Morris: Rrrrr!
Exodus crew #3: Hey now, don’t get any bright ideas, I’m the one with the gun and the hostage here so you two really have no reason to be talking. Now were all gonna take a nice walk out to my ship, I’ll undock from your ship and if everything goes like I say it should, I’ll send her back in an escape pod. If not... well you know.
Isaac: Why you...
Exodus crew #3: Now lets go- you two first. Come on hands on your head, in front of me, facing away.
Sfx: The door opens.
Exodus crew #3: Now walk!
Sfx: They all start walking out.
Exodus crew #3: That’s it, nice and slow. Now take a left, I’ll be right behind y-.
Sfx: Gun fires.
Issac: Dylan!?
Sfx: Music hits a quick desperate note, then goes into action music.
Exodus crew #3: Oof!
Dylan: Let go of me you jerk.
Sfx: Punches him. The gun falls to the ground.
Dylan: Get the gun. Get the—(choking)
sfx: the music gets serious, and tension ensues.
Exodus crew #3: How dare you try to double cross m---
Sfx: Laser gun loads.
Morris: Let her go.
Exodus crew #3: Wait, don’t you need me. I have answers to your questions, I’m sure you have questions.
Morris: Well I’m not asking.
Sfx: Fires the laser gun.
Dylan: (Screams.)
Sfx: The man falls over and the music ends on a death note.
Exodus crew #3: Ehhhh.
Isaac: You shot him?!
Morris: I had to.
Isaac: Are you okay?
Dylan: (starts crying) Hold me.
Isaac: I—I got you. It’s okay.
SFX: Music gets confused/full of angst and depression, like he made the wrong decision.
Morris: (aggravated) I shouldn’t have shot him.
Isaac: You had to, its okay.
Morris: No, he was right, he was the last one. Now we’ll never know why they did this.
Isaac: Let’s go back to the rest of the crew, maybe they’ll have some answers.
Sfx: Transition music.
Graham: Hey. Did you guys find them?
Morris: Done for. Gone.
Dylan: He took me hostage.
Morris: Well he took his answers with him too…
Graham: To the grave.
Bob: If I may, Captain Morris, I might have an idea.
Sfx: (Transition music) Doors open.
MORRIS: So this is the man that attacked you outside Bob?
Bob: Yes, while I was working on stopping the gas.
CAPT WHITAKER: Rrrgh.
MORRIS: It’s the Captain, and he’s hurt.
Isaac: He’s alive.
Bob: I didn’t hurt him, I hooked his ventilator up to the gas and he passed out. The guard, it must have been the guard – when I left the room he tried to attack me, I dodged the attack but I suppose the Captain was not so lucky.
MORRIS: Well what can we do, we need answers here people, not corpses. Where’s Liam?
Liam: Right here, sir?
Sfx: Liam steps up.
MORRIS: Can’t you do something, to keep him alive?
Liam: Let me see. (Pause while investigates) No his, he’s got a punctured lung – its filling with fluid, he’s already lost alot of blood, the chances are slim. I’m surprised he’s lived this long.
Sfx: start a distorted heroic theme, like the bad are turning good, crossing the line etc.
MORRIS: Alright Mr. we need answers and we need them fast. Why did you do that back there, with the gas, what were you guys after.
CAPT. WHITAKER: (Spits at him.)
MORRIS: Rrrrrr. All right pal you wants to play tough, alright, alright. (pauses like he’s not gonna do anything) Lets play tough!
Sfx: Squishing gore, music peaks in a painful note and then stops.
CAPT. WHITAKER: (starts yelling in pain)
Graham: Oh that’s brutal. Brutal.
Isaac: (disgusted) Ehh, wrenching on the guy’s wound like that; now that’s.. wrong.
GAIL: (mad and disappointed in him) Positively barbaric, Captain.
SFX: the music starts building more tension as it gets darker.
MORRIS: Still not talking huh, you know I don’t have to stick to wounds, any old soft spot will do - like your eyes for example, or the equivalent... in your pants.
Aurora: Morris!
MORRIS: He’s dead already, what do you care?
ISAAC: But, Liam said he had a chance of living.
MORRIS: So I’m helping him round down, so what.
Dylan: (queasy) I think I’m gonna be sick.
Sfx: Music breaks down into dramatic spurts, like the jaws theme. (Duh... Duh, duh.)
MORRIS: Now, I said I was done playing nice, but now I’m gonna count to three and then I’m through playing at all. And when that happens, I’m gonna ask every one to step outside and I’m gonna get my answers in ways that even I get nightmare about. Now I don’t want to do that, I know you don’t want me to do that. But if you don’t start talking… I’m gonna have to… do that.
Sfx: music builds so much tension we are scared for it to happen, we sympathize with Whitaker.
MORRIS: (takes a deep breath in) Here we go. One.. (pause) two…
Isaac: Morris!
MORRIS: Shut up! t-
CAPT. WHITAKER: (Voice cracking) All right! All right, ill tell you, (panting) I’ll tell you what you want to know.
SFX: music relaxes.
MORRIS: (infuriated) Why did you do that! With the gas!
CAPT. WHITAKER: We had to stop you, you were getting too close.
MORRIS: Too close to what!
CAPT. WHITAKER: Terra Novus, the new earth.
MORRIS: Isn’t that what you were looking for?
CAPT. WHITAKER: Yes… no.
MORRIS: No, yes which one is it!
sfx: start sad/pessimistic nostalgic theme.
CAPT. WHITAKER: No. We were never meant to find anything. When we came up here we were told we would never be coming back; that our mission would automatically be deemed as a lost cause.
ISAAC: What about all the work, all my father’s star logs. All his research. You killed him because he was too close didn’t you. Didn’t you, you-
sfx: Plot development theme. The muffled noise of heart beat getting faster and faster can be heard.
CAPT. WHITAKER: No. yes, it’s true Gunther was not in on it. He’s the only way our mission seemed legitimate to the public. IGSTA did want him to find the planet, just not land on it.
ISAAC: That doesn’t prove you didn’t kill him.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Look, he was a pain in our side, I’ll give you that, but we weren’t going to kill him. If it hadn’t been for that Kriegal battle cruiser we never would have landed on that godforsaken planet that killed him in the first place. (pause, swallows hard) And I lost more than just him, I lost three members of my crew.
Sfx: end heart beat noise, Music breaks down to sad reminiscent theme again.
Capt. Whitaker: (Starts sobbing.)
Isaac: I’m sorry.
CAPT. WHITAKER: (snivvleing) do you think.. you think you could uncuff me. Ya know, for good behavior?
MORRIS: Aww, now I know you’re getting me all teary eyed and its messing with my hearing but I think I just heard you say you have a death wish, Captain.
Sfx: Music stops.
CAPT. WHITAKER: No, no, no, no! You said yourself I’m gonna die in a few minutes at least let me be comfortable. (coughing and spitting blood) consider it a last wish… from CAPTAIN TO CAPTAIN, human to human.
Sfx: Tension theme.
LIAM: Captain.
MORRIS: What?
LIAM: I think we should do what he asks. It’s the least we can do.
MORRIS: I’ll be the one to decide that, doctor.
LIAM: I just mean its not like he can put up much of a fight with a wound like that. Or run away for that matter.
Sfx: Tension releases for a few seconds then starts fading back in..
MORRIS: Oh alright, get those things off of him, let him go.
Sfx: Someone walks over and releases the cuffs.
CAPT. WHITAKER: He said if anything happened, to… to
MORRIS: To what! To what… I swear if you die on me I’m gonna-
CAPT. WHITAKER: To do this?
Sfx: Pulls something out of his jacket, it beeps.
Isaac: What’s he pulling out of his jacket.
MORRIS: It’s a detonator
SFX: Plot development theme.
Graham: Everybody get down.
ISAAC: No!!
SFX: He presses the button on the detonator which beeps. A massive explosion goes off.
SFX: Cliffhanger ending theme.
DJ: Join us next week for the exciting continuation of Terra Novus every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
This episode featured the talents of
Writer: _________
And featuring the voices of (actors say their name): ________
Music and Sound FX by: __________
Mixed by:_______
This has been a presentation of SCAD Radio Dramas, tune in every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
Sfx: intro theme
dj: last week on terra novous...
ISAAC: Gunther Burgos?
CAPT. WHITAKER: Yes. the one who started our mission, was infected.
ISAAC: Dad? Where is he, is he still alive, I have to talk to him.
CAPT. WHITAKER: No. I’m sorry. We tried to treat him but our doctor was killed on the planet and we had neither the knowhow nor the manpower to keep him alive.
(Cut to)
CAPT. WHITAKER: If its any conciliation we still have many of his space logs in our computer system if you would like to come aboard and see them for yourself.
(Cut to)
MORRIS: Do you think while we our docked you could give my crew a hand removing it. I wouldn’t want to put your crew in danger.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Yes of course. Ill send a few of my men over to help immediately.
(Cut to)
EXODUS CREW #1: Hey I think I got it, (grunts) yep, here it is.
Sfx: spark fly as he breaks the chip off and pulls it out.
GRAHAM: That’s it hungh? That’s what he’s been using to track us?
(Cut to)
GAIL: Hugh, so much trouble in such a small little thing.
EXODUS CREW #1: you think that’s bad? You don’t know the half of it.
Sfx: The hissing of smoke starts coming into the room.
GAIL: What’s that noise?
GRAHAM: There! Its some kind of smoke (cough) coming in through the vents.
GAIL: (cough, cough) What do we do?
EXODUS CREW #1: (as puts gas mask on): Speak for yourselves, that’s your problem.
GAIL: Why does he have a gas mask Graham? Its almost like he… was… ex-pec—ting…
Sfx: Dylan and graham fall to the ground unconscious. Music makes them seem doomed. Then two people come running in.
ISAAC: Oh no, were too late. They’ve filled the entire ship with some sort of gas.
MORRIS: Quick Isaac, (cough) cover your face and try… not to (cough).. breath.. in – the smmm….
Sfx: Morris falls to the floor.
ISAAC (muffled): Not you too. (sighs) What can I do? I can already feeling it affecting me, even though im covering my face. (breathing heavily) Its… (cough) no… use.
sfx: Cliffhanger ending theme.
Dj: And now for the continuation of terra novus. Episode five.
Sfx: the music is tense and disorientating.
ISAAC: Wait, I have an idea. It’s so foggy in here from the smoke, If I can just find Bob, he’s probably still offline from when they were removing his homing beacon.
Sfx: Isaac stumbles around as gas still fills the room.
ISAAC: Here he is now I just have to flip on his power switch, and there’s a chance he might be able to stop…
Sfx: flips Bob back on, his circuits whir up to speed.
ISAAC: …what’s causing the smoke.
BOB: Were you able to remove the homing beacon?
Isaac: (Cough)
BOB: Wait, I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you sir. are you all right. What’s going on, where is Gail and Graham they were right h…
ISAAC: (Cough) The other crew they put something in the vents…. You have to… ssstop… themmm.
Sfx: Falls to the ground. Plot thickens theme.
BOB: Oh my. It would seem that the member of the Exodus I detected working on the ventilation system was there purposely, and not by mistake as I was told before they worked on me. So I assume that’s where I should start.
Sfx: bob starts walking.
BOB: If I can turn that off, the rest of the crew might regain consciousness and be able to help me discover why the crew of the Vanguard would do such a thing.
Sfx: A door opens bob walks in and the door shuts.
BOB: Here I am, the air lock.
Sfx: Bob cranks a hatch and opens it letting all the air out of the room.
BOB: There’s no sign of the other crew, however my systems show that their ship is still docked with ours.
Sfx: Bobs feet slam against the ship almost like suction cups as they become magnetized.
BOB: My electro-magnetic feet will keep me held tight to the outside of the ship as I make my way to the ventilation unit.
Sfx: Bob loudly walks across the ship to the ventilation unit where we hear a fan and hear the hissing of he smoke.
BOB: That was rather smart of Isaac to reactivate me. He must have known I don’t breathe air and therefore would be the only one that wouldn’t be affected by the smoke.
CAPT WHITAKER (from inside his mask): You’re not the only one.
Sfx: Terrifying action theme.
BOB: Oh, my.
Sfx: An electrical sound crackles and sparks as he swings it at bob, like a mix between a lightsaber and a Tesla coil sound.
BOB: He is carrying a shock stick. If he lands one of those swings he is sure to scramble my circuits.
Sfx: The man keeps trying to hit bob with the shock stick.
Bob (as he’s dodging): If I can just… get.. be-hind him.
Sfx: Bob quickly maneuvers around behind him.
BOB: Yes, there we go, I did it. Now I just have to pull his oxygen chord from his ventilating pack.
Sfx: A chord is ripped off and air escapes out of the man’s suit.
CAPT WHITAKER (from inside his mask, gasping for air) What are you doing you stupid robot? My air, there’s no air, no oxygen. (gasps as a he panics) I can’t breathe, I can’t breatthe, I… can’t..
Sfx: Bob pulls a panel off and the fan gets louder along with the hissing from the smoke.
BOB: There it is, there’s what’s causing the problem. How about I “accidently give you a taste of your own medicine, just like you mistakenly were working on this ventilator unit instead of the turrets.”
Sfx: The hissing gets quiter as he hooks it up to Whitaker’s ventilator.
CAPT WHITAKER (from inside his mask): No, don’t do that. Don’t put my air hose up… to (cough) the – smoooke (sighs and exhales as passes out).
Sfx: music ends on a heroic note.
BOB: Mistakes happen, (pause) but not by my hand. But if anything happens to the rest of them I’ll need someone alive to talk. Oh my, I can barley believe I just said that.
Sfx: Bob grabs the shock stick and fires it a few times.
BOB: This could come in useful if I run into any more crew members. But this smoke machine will not be causing this crew anymore troubles.
Sfx: Bob rattles around in the ventilator unit before pulling out the smoke machine. It gets louder as he removes it; beeping and hissing with smoke.
BOB: (Grunts).
FSX: He throws it into space, it gets quieter and quieter as it goes away.
BOB: There! Back into the depths from which you came. Now, to get inside and check on the crew. But I have to be careful, once the gas has stopped the crew of the Vanguard will know someone has foiled their plan.
SFX: Transition music
Sfx: Bob walks up from the outside of the ship dragging the other crew member and opens the hatch which releases air, then gets inside and closes it. He lets the man fall on the floor.
Bob: And you, can stay right here. I will be back for you when you wake up.
Sfx: He then walks normally, the door opens.
Exodus crew member 2 (through his mask): Hold it right there!
Sfx: Adventure theme. Laser gun fires a few times missing bob.
BOB: Another one
Sfx: Bob sticks him with the shock stick which pops and snaps extra loud now to show it hit something.
Exodus crew member 2: (teeth chattering as he’s electrocuted).
Sfx: Then he falls to the floor, hissing with smoke. End music on a heroic note.
Exodus crew member 2: (Sighs in pain.)
BOB: That was close, I was lucky he was a bad shot. I better get to the bridge.
SFX: (Transition music)
Sfx: A door opens and Bob walks in.
BOB: Isaac, are you alright?
ISAAC: Bob, what happened?
BOB: I believe the other crew has tried to sabotage our mission.
ISAAC: Why I thought they were…
BOB: I know. They fooled us. I haven’t run into more than two on my way back here.
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: Make that three.
SFX: Suspense tension theme.
Isaac (surprised): Hungh!
Sfx: a laser gun charges up.
Isaac: Oh no.
Sfx: Laser gun fires and hits someone.
Isaac: Noooooo – oh. (Pause) what… just happened?
Sfx: The crew member falls to the ground.
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: Unghh.
SFX: Music become heroic and optimistic.
Morris: Are you two okay.
Isaac: Am I ever happy to see you.
Morris: The reunion will have to wait until were all here, lets find the others first.
Isaac: There she is, I see Gail. And there’s Graham.
Sfx: They run over to Gail and Graham and slap his faced softly as well as shake his head around a few times. Music makes it seem like they might be dead.
Morris: Com’on you guys, wake up.
Gail (dazed and confused): I don’t think that was protocol.
Graham: Morris?
Sfx: music becomes optimistic.
Morris: 808, why don’t you stay here with them, me and Isaac are going to go find the others.
Sfx: The two of them run off. (Transition music, then sneaky music.)
Sfx: A muffled screaming can be heard as the two of them walk up to a door.
Morris: Wait.
Sfx: Stop walking.
Morris (whispering): Do you hear that?
Isaac: (whispering) Do you think its Dylan?
Morris: It could be. Come on. You get on that side I’ll take this side, I’ll open the door on three.
Together: One, two
Sfx: the music peaks and then cuts off on a sour note. The door slides open as they say “three”. A laser gun loads.
Exodus crew #3: Ungh, ungh, ungh. Come on you know what I want, put the guns down or the girl gets it.
Dylan: (Muffled) The name is Dylan!
Exodus crew #3: Shut up!
Sfx: He hits her with the butt of his gun. The music is depressing, like the bad guys have won.
Dylan (muffled): ouch. (starts crying)
Isaac: Hey!
Morris: Rrrrr!
Exodus crew #3: Hey now, don’t get any bright ideas, I’m the one with the gun and the hostage here so you two really have no reason to be talking. Now were all gonna take a nice walk out to my ship, I’ll undock from your ship and if everything goes like I say it should, I’ll send her back in an escape pod. If not... well you know.
Isaac: Why you...
Exodus crew #3: Now lets go- you two first. Come on hands on your head, in front of me, facing away.
Sfx: The door opens.
Exodus crew #3: Now walk!
Sfx: They all start walking out.
Exodus crew #3: That’s it, nice and slow. Now take a left, I’ll be right behind y-.
Sfx: Gun fires.
Issac: Dylan!?
Sfx: Music hits a quick desperate note, then goes into action music.
Exodus crew #3: Oof!
Dylan: Let go of me you jerk.
Sfx: Punches him. The gun falls to the ground.
Dylan: Get the gun. Get the—(choking)
sfx: the music gets serious, and tension ensues.
Exodus crew #3: How dare you try to double cross m---
Sfx: Laser gun loads.
Morris: Let her go.
Exodus crew #3: Wait, don’t you need me. I have answers to your questions, I’m sure you have questions.
Morris: Well I’m not asking.
Sfx: Fires the laser gun.
Dylan: (Screams.)
Sfx: The man falls over and the music ends on a death note.
Exodus crew #3: Ehhhh.
Isaac: You shot him?!
Morris: I had to.
Isaac: Are you okay?
Dylan: (starts crying) Hold me.
Isaac: I—I got you. It’s okay.
SFX: Music gets confused/full of angst and depression, like he made the wrong decision.
Morris: (aggravated) I shouldn’t have shot him.
Isaac: You had to, its okay.
Morris: No, he was right, he was the last one. Now we’ll never know why they did this.
Isaac: Let’s go back to the rest of the crew, maybe they’ll have some answers.
Sfx: Transition music.
Graham: Hey. Did you guys find them?
Morris: Done for. Gone.
Dylan: He took me hostage.
Morris: Well he took his answers with him too…
Graham: To the grave.
Bob: If I may, Captain Morris, I might have an idea.
Sfx: (Transition music) Doors open.
MORRIS: So this is the man that attacked you outside Bob?
Bob: Yes, while I was working on stopping the gas.
CAPT WHITAKER: Rrrgh.
MORRIS: It’s the Captain, and he’s hurt.
Isaac: He’s alive.
Bob: I didn’t hurt him, I hooked his ventilator up to the gas and he passed out. The guard, it must have been the guard – when I left the room he tried to attack me, I dodged the attack but I suppose the Captain was not so lucky.
MORRIS: Well what can we do, we need answers here people, not corpses. Where’s Liam?
Liam: Right here, sir?
Sfx: Liam steps up.
MORRIS: Can’t you do something, to keep him alive?
Liam: Let me see. (Pause while investigates) No his, he’s got a punctured lung – its filling with fluid, he’s already lost alot of blood, the chances are slim. I’m surprised he’s lived this long.
Sfx: start a distorted heroic theme, like the bad are turning good, crossing the line etc.
MORRIS: Alright Mr. we need answers and we need them fast. Why did you do that back there, with the gas, what were you guys after.
CAPT. WHITAKER: (Spits at him.)
MORRIS: Rrrrrr. All right pal you wants to play tough, alright, alright. (pauses like he’s not gonna do anything) Lets play tough!
Sfx: Squishing gore, music peaks in a painful note and then stops.
CAPT. WHITAKER: (starts yelling in pain)
Graham: Oh that’s brutal. Brutal.
Isaac: (disgusted) Ehh, wrenching on the guy’s wound like that; now that’s.. wrong.
GAIL: (mad and disappointed in him) Positively barbaric, Captain.
SFX: the music starts building more tension as it gets darker.
MORRIS: Still not talking huh, you know I don’t have to stick to wounds, any old soft spot will do - like your eyes for example, or the equivalent... in your pants.
Aurora: Morris!
MORRIS: He’s dead already, what do you care?
ISAAC: But, Liam said he had a chance of living.
MORRIS: So I’m helping him round down, so what.
Dylan: (queasy) I think I’m gonna be sick.
Sfx: Music breaks down into dramatic spurts, like the jaws theme. (Duh... Duh, duh.)
MORRIS: Now, I said I was done playing nice, but now I’m gonna count to three and then I’m through playing at all. And when that happens, I’m gonna ask every one to step outside and I’m gonna get my answers in ways that even I get nightmare about. Now I don’t want to do that, I know you don’t want me to do that. But if you don’t start talking… I’m gonna have to… do that.
Sfx: music builds so much tension we are scared for it to happen, we sympathize with Whitaker.
MORRIS: (takes a deep breath in) Here we go. One.. (pause) two…
Isaac: Morris!
MORRIS: Shut up! t-
CAPT. WHITAKER: (Voice cracking) All right! All right, ill tell you, (panting) I’ll tell you what you want to know.
SFX: music relaxes.
MORRIS: (infuriated) Why did you do that! With the gas!
CAPT. WHITAKER: We had to stop you, you were getting too close.
MORRIS: Too close to what!
CAPT. WHITAKER: Terra Novus, the new earth.
MORRIS: Isn’t that what you were looking for?
CAPT. WHITAKER: Yes… no.
MORRIS: No, yes which one is it!
sfx: start sad/pessimistic nostalgic theme.
CAPT. WHITAKER: No. We were never meant to find anything. When we came up here we were told we would never be coming back; that our mission would automatically be deemed as a lost cause.
ISAAC: What about all the work, all my father’s star logs. All his research. You killed him because he was too close didn’t you. Didn’t you, you-
sfx: Plot development theme. The muffled noise of heart beat getting faster and faster can be heard.
CAPT. WHITAKER: No. yes, it’s true Gunther was not in on it. He’s the only way our mission seemed legitimate to the public. IGSTA did want him to find the planet, just not land on it.
ISAAC: That doesn’t prove you didn’t kill him.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Look, he was a pain in our side, I’ll give you that, but we weren’t going to kill him. If it hadn’t been for that Kriegal battle cruiser we never would have landed on that godforsaken planet that killed him in the first place. (pause, swallows hard) And I lost more than just him, I lost three members of my crew.
Sfx: end heart beat noise, Music breaks down to sad reminiscent theme again.
Capt. Whitaker: (Starts sobbing.)
Isaac: I’m sorry.
CAPT. WHITAKER: (snivvleing) do you think.. you think you could uncuff me. Ya know, for good behavior?
MORRIS: Aww, now I know you’re getting me all teary eyed and its messing with my hearing but I think I just heard you say you have a death wish, Captain.
Sfx: Music stops.
CAPT. WHITAKER: No, no, no, no! You said yourself I’m gonna die in a few minutes at least let me be comfortable. (coughing and spitting blood) consider it a last wish… from CAPTAIN TO CAPTAIN, human to human.
Sfx: Tension theme.
LIAM: Captain.
MORRIS: What?
LIAM: I think we should do what he asks. It’s the least we can do.
MORRIS: I’ll be the one to decide that, doctor.
LIAM: I just mean its not like he can put up much of a fight with a wound like that. Or run away for that matter.
Sfx: Tension releases for a few seconds then starts fading back in..
MORRIS: Oh alright, get those things off of him, let him go.
Sfx: Someone walks over and releases the cuffs.
CAPT. WHITAKER: He said if anything happened, to… to
MORRIS: To what! To what… I swear if you die on me I’m gonna-
CAPT. WHITAKER: To do this?
Sfx: Pulls something out of his jacket, it beeps.
Isaac: What’s he pulling out of his jacket.
MORRIS: It’s a detonator
SFX: Plot development theme.
Graham: Everybody get down.
ISAAC: No!!
SFX: He presses the button on the detonator which beeps. A massive explosion goes off.
SFX: Cliffhanger ending theme.
DJ: Join us next week for the exciting continuation of Terra Novus every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
This episode featured the talents of
Writer: _________
And featuring the voices of (actors say their name): ________
Music and Sound FX by: __________
Mixed by:_______
This has been a presentation of SCAD Radio Dramas, tune in every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
Terra Novus, ep. 4 - Reunions
DJ: And now for our feature presentation of TERRA NOVUS: Created and presented by SCAD Radio Dramas (Scattered).
Sfx: intro theme
dj: last week on terra novous...
Sfx: Pat-mok and Durkal talk amongst themselves.
Graham: Why didn’t you kill me? He what are you doing with that? Are you taking a picture of me.
Pat-mok: The alien starts speaking and slowly his voice changes from the alien into Graham’s voice.
Pat-mok: Not a picture, but a full body scan. So that I could use this bio-modulator to change my appearance to look like you, it even changes my vocal chords to sound like you.
Graham: But why?
Pat-mok: We need a mole, someone on the inside. To make sure this “expedition” does not succeed.
Graham: Why don’t you just blow us all up like you said.
Pat-mok: We can learn from you, learn of the humans’ plans. We can learn much from the one you call Liam, he is a doctor is he not? He can tell us how you work... and how you die.
(Cut to)
Isaac: Allright so were about 30 keks from Neb-kinar which would make that one Lankemp 22, the furthest of Neb-kinar’s moons. And given the time of year and their position in orbit we need to be headed toward, about where that bright star is over there in the Lantijj nebula.
Aurora: Wait... that’s no star, its getting bigger. it’s a…
Morris: A ship. And not just any ship.
Sfx: Ominous music starts.
Issac: Yeah, I know that ship.
Aurorra: The bounty hunter.
Sfx: His ship gets closer and closer.
(Cut to)
Sfx: The engine reaches maximum charge and trys to complete the jump, but then fails and sputters to a halt.
(Cut to)
bob: if I may, that’s what I was trying to explain. The ship has informed me that we are unable to complete the jump into hyperspace because one of the nuclear cores, required to fold space, is either malfunctioning or missing.
(Cut to)
Morris: Aurora take over, Isaac help me man the guns. Battle stations!
(Cut to)
Sfx: They turn on the screens, load the guns, swivel and rotate into position and then fire. The shots whiz by with no hits as the bounty hunter dodges them. Then he fires back, which should be a distinctly different sounding laser.
(Cut to)
Sfx: The bounty hunter fires and destroys Isaac’s turret causing his screen to go to static.
(Cut to)
Morris: We got no more guns, we got no more options, we either do what he says or were dead.
(Cut to)
Bounty hunter: This is your final warning, I am maneuvering my ship to dock with yours if you decline to let me aboard I will be forced to destroy your ship and everyone aboard.
Dylan: If you could have killed us you would have done it already. We have someone you need don’t we. you cant kill us, isn’t that right.
Aurora: Dylan?!
Bounty hunter: (Laughs) You are clever, but wrong.
Gail: Dylan?! Now he’s going to kill us, you idiot.
Bounty hunter: I don’t need someone but something. You must know you are carrying a stolen 808 unit aboard your ship.
Aurora: That’s how he’s been finding us.
Dylan: You mean bob?
Isaac: I knew they weren’t after me.
Aurora: he’s about to dock with our ship.
Bounty hunter: now hand over the stolen property.
Sfx: A third ship’s guns fire and hit the bounty hunter’s ship sending him spiraling.
Bounty hunter: Arg!
Sfx: bounty hunters signal gets statically. The third ship gets closer and fires a few more shots, which should also be distinct from the other two ships.
Bounty hunter: This isn’t over, the 808 unit cannot hide from me.
Sfx: The bounty hunter’s ship speeds away damaged.
(Cut to)
SFX: The radio comes on and shifts through static before tuning in on the signal.
Third ship: This is the NSS Vanguard, of earth do you read us.
(Cut to)
Isaac: That’s my father’s ship.
Dj: And now for the continuation of terra novus. Episode four.
Morris: (Laughing) We read you loud and clear captain. This is the NSS Exodus of earth, (curiously inviting) lets us dock so we can speak.
Aurora: Initiating docking sequence.
Sfx: The two ships dock and a door opens between the ships. The new crew walk onto the Exodus.
Morris: Greetings, my name is Morris I am the captain of the Exodus. You’ve got a strong grip.
Sfx: Shake hands.
Captain Whitaker: And you too Captain. I am Captain Whitaker of the NSS Vanguard.
Morris: Come, let us talk.
Sfx: They walk and sit down.
Morris: We’ve come to find the same planet you are looking for. As far as we knew, you were all lost in space or had been killed by aliens.
CAPT. WHITAKER: That’s not far from it. (Pause) we landed on what we thought was the planet we were searching for, the answer to all our problems including repairs. We had been damaged when we had a run in with a Kreigal battle cruiser.
MORRIS: Really, I didn’t know they trolled that close to our galaxy.
Sfx: Start eerie reminiscent music.
Capt. Whitaker: Well they injured our ship and we narrowly escaped, only to come out of hyperspace hurdling towards Zudam, the planet we thought was inhabitable. With the damages to our ship we couldn’t pull up in time, and crash landed. We started the repairs and investigated the planet. But if we knew what we were about to learn, we would have known that we had a better chance staying and fighting the Kreigal.
MORRIS: What was it?
Sound fx: Very quietly and in his memory (increase reverb) you can here the scene take place, screams, burning flesh, scratching at the hull etc.
CAPT. WHITAKER: The planet, it seems, was orbited by a some sort of radioactive sun, which mutated the plants and poisoned almost everything on the planet every time it orbited. By the time we found out, we had just finished the repairs, but dawn was upon us and the sun started infecting the crew one by one. Those of us that made it back to the ship had to seal the others out, those poor souls. They were clawing at the hatch begging for us to let them in, clawing at themselves to stop the burning. (Sighs) It was not a peaceful death.
Morris: I’m sorry.
Sfx: end eerie reminiscent theme.
CAPT. WHITAKER: We later found out that one of them that had made it back, it was Burgos.
Sfx: Start point of interest theme.
ISAAC: Gunther Burgos?
CAPT. WHITAKER: Yes. The one who started our mission, he was infected.
ISAAC: Dad? Where is he, is he still alive, I have to talk to him.
CAPT. WHITAKER: No. I’m sorry. We tried to treat him but our doctor was killed on the planet and we had neither the knowhow nor the manpower to keep him alive.
ISAAC: So he really is gone.
Dylan: I’m sorry Isaac.
CAPT. WHITAKER: If its any conciliation we still have many of his space logs in our computer system if you would like to come aboard and see them for yourself.
ISAAC: You mean there’s more?
Sfx: Discovery/point of interest theme.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Ah yes, I suppose you’ve read the ones he sent home to his SPSU on earth to back up, but he wrote many logs after we reached the limit of our transmitting distance to earth.
MORRIS: That would be most helpful.
ISAAC: Greatly appreciated.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Good then I’ll escort you aboard our ship.
MORRIS: Ah, Captain Whitaker, if I accompany Isaac onboard is there anything I can have my crew do for you in return?
CAPT. WHITAKER: No thank you Captain morris we are not in need of any of your help at the moment, but let our crews talk amongst one another. I’m sure they are anxious to hear of what has happened on earth in the some 10-years I calculate we’ve been gone.
MORRIS: Yes, you have been gone a very long time.
Sfx: (transition music) Walk aboard new ship, it has a different sound ambient. They sit down and typing can be heard.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Well here you go, I’ve pulled up all his space logs since we were out of range to transmit to earth.
MORRIS: Isaac why don’t you look over that and see if you cant pick up anything that would help us pin point the planet were looking for.
Isaac: Yes sir.
Sfx: Starts typing. Transition music.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Your crew is very lucky we came along and found you, or you would have been at the mercy of that Bounty Hunter.
MORRIS: Yes we are very thankful. He destroyed our ship’s turrets, leaving us defenseless. We tried escaped into hyperspace like we had done before to avoid him, and it would have worked save for the fact that one of our nuclear cores was stolen by a Kodukai when we landed on Neb-kinar.
CAPT. WHITAKER: It is a dangerous planet.
MORRIS: Yes indeed. I fear he may be tracking us using some sort of homing beacon hidden inside our 808 android. He believes the robot has been stolen.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Hmm, it seems like a lot of work to get an outdated status android back.
MORRIS: Yes I know, I have a feeling he is carrying something they need.
Sfx: Thoughtful theme.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Or don’t want you to see.
MORRIS: Do you think while we our docked you could give my crew a hand removing it. I wouldn’t want to put your crew in danger.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Yes, of course. I’ll send a few of my men over to help immediately.
SFX: (Transition music) start eerie double crossing theme.
Bob: Before I am shut down, might I ask why your crew are working in the ventilation area out side the ship rather than the turrets. I can assure you my uplink with the ship’s computers show no damage to the ventilation units.
EXODUS CREW TECH (uninterested): Hmm. I’ll get someone to take care of it, he must have made a mistake.
BOB: Thank you si--
Sfx: Shuts android down.
EXODUS CREW TECH: All right lets open this bad boy up.
SFX: Opens squeaky panel to sparking wires and beeping circuitry.
GAIL: What are you doing?
GRAHAM: What does it look like were doing Gail, were looking for the homing beacon we think that Bounty Hunter’s using to track our location and destroy it.
GAIL: Destroy it? That’s IGSTA property. You should have just done what he wanted and given it back. And you’ve made us all accomplices, they’ll assume that because we’re on the same ship that I had something to do with him being stolen.
GRAHAM: So what.
Sfx: start nostalgic theme.
GAIL: So what? You might not have a home on earth to go back to, but I do.
GRAHAM: You have no idea.
GAIL: And I know I can’t be the only one.
Sfx: (Transition music)
LIAM: Stolen? Stolen?! How could he be stolen? Do you know what that means?!
Aurora: Whoa, whoa, slow down. Look, I know its bad, I’m scared too, don’t you think I want to have a family, a home with my husband (pause) with my baby?
LIAM: Yeah, it’s just that I have a… previous engagement. Or arrangement is more like it.
AURORA: Is there something you’re not telling me?
Sfx: start sad reminiscent theme.
LIAM: Morris said six months, six months max! I go on this mission and I’d be home in half a year and that’s what I told them.
AURORA: Who?
LIAM: The Drunken Butchers.
AURORA: You owe money to the mob?!
Sfx: slumps to the ground.
Liam: (Despairingly choked up) Yeah. (Pause) and if I don’t get back in time, or get back at all - like our new found friends - they said they’re going to take it out of my family. We were desperate, I couldn’t hold a job… my family needed the money or we’d have been on the streets
AURORA: But at least they would have been alive. Now they could die.
LIAM: (Starts crying) I know.
AURORA: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that. Don’t think that. Here stand up, let me help you.
Sfx: she helps him up. Sad theme ends.
LIAM: I…
AURORA: What? What is it?
LIAM: When I married her I took a vow, till death do us part; forever. Now I wonder if I’ll ever see her again. If I’ll ever love again, and then…
sfx: music starts getting out of tune.
Liam: and then I see you and there’s hope.
AURORA: (Awkward silence) I…
LIAM: Your so nice to me. You’re helping me read, helping me write. You’re the only one who treats me as an equal, even though I’m not on the main deck. You know my secrets and you still except me.
Sfx: music builds.
AURORA: (Sigh’s) Liam, i…
LIAM: Look I’ve had kids, I’m good with kids. Please just.. Aurora (pause) will you m…
sfx: music peaks and then cuts off.
AURORA: Wait a second! (trying to convince him) Look I know you’re feeling desperate, confused even about your feelings. But you’re getting home, were getting home. Well be redefining what home is once we find the new planet, but you’ll see her again, you’ll see your family. And the Drunken Butchers won’t lay a finger on them, I promise you.
Sfx: start sad remorseful optimistic happy theme.
LIAM: Starts crying optimistically.
AURORA: I need to believe that, to keep my hopes alive. I need to stay faithful to my husband so that I can convince myself I’ll see him again. And I couldn’t do that.. I mean really believe that, If I was with you.
LIAM: Ah huh. (Sulking)
AURORA: I like you, I… understand you (sigh and pause trying to chose her words) and if you ever need anyone to talk to… I’m here for you. I’m lonely too, but keep you’re hopes up; we may be home even sooner than you think if Isaac can find anything useful in those remaining space logs.
SFX: Transition music
MORRIS: Have you found anything yet Isaac?
ISAAC: I don’t know, I mean they never actually found the planet. Here my father thinks he’s narrowed it down a bit since his last estimate and comparing it with some of the new data he had been collecting - but surprisingly most of his journal is about the crew not the planet.
MORRIS: What do you mean?
Sfx: Start reminiscent tricky double crossing theme.
ISAAC: Well he says he made suggestions as to where they should go, but that the crew seem to ignore him. He says he is treated as an outsider, and even suspected that IGSTA never even wanted them to find the planet.
Sfx: Add point of interest theme.
MORRIS: You mean almost like they were just going up there to make it look like they were searching?
ISAAC: I guess so.
MORRIS: But why?
ISAAC: I… I don’t know yet.
Sfx: A big man walks up behind them. The music gets darker and more dangerous, a little tension in the air.
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: You two.
Morris: Ah yes, greetings I am Morris, captain of the Exodus. Your Captain, where did he sneak off to, was just allowing us to look over Mr. Burgos’ star logs. Isaac here happens to me his s…
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: I don’t care who he is. Or you either..
ISAAC: Well you’re not very nice.
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: You must go back to your ship. You’re not welcome here any longer.
ISAAC: Now wait just a second…
MORRIS: Yeah give us a break, this must all be just a misunderstanding. If I could speak with the captain you’d see…
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: It is captain’s orders.
MORRIS: Well were not done yet so why don’t you tell your Captain, if that really is who sent the orders to have us go back to our ship, if he wants us to leave, he can tell us himself!
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: I’m afraid you have to leave now.
Sfx: the music gets dangerous as the man grabs Isaac by the collar and lifts him up.
ISAAC: Unghh. Hey, let go of me!
MORRIS: Get your hands off him, don’t you lay a finger on a member of my crew!
sfx: Morris tries to fight him off.
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER and MORRIS (Together): Men struggle.
ISAAC: Morris, Watch out he’s going for his laser.
Sfx: A laser gun charges up and then fires a few times ricocheting inside the ship. Then a few punches and the man falls to the floor. The music ends heroically.
MORRIS: There I got him. Get his gun from him Isaac.
Sfx: Isaac takes his gun from him.
ISAAC: Got it.
MORRIS: Where’s the captain?
ISAAC: I don’t know. Com’on we’ve got to get back to the ship and warn the others. Something’s not right here.
Sfx: They run off. Transition music.
GAIL: So what’s the word on the engines?
GRAHAM: Our worst fears are confirmed, one of the engines is completely gone. At least I could have repaired it if it was damaged, but I can’t do a thing if I don’t even have an engine to work on.
GAIL: But what would you do with a nuclear core from a NSS.
Sfx: Start nostalgic depressing theme. This is all happening while we hear the Crew Tech working on Bob.
EXODUS CREW TECH: Before they discovered how to harness the power of a nuclear explosion as a means of propelling a space craft into hyperspeed, humans used its raw materials, such as uranium and plutonium for war.
GAIL: You mean building bombs?
GRAHAM: Yes, the likes of which you’ve never seen. Humans killing humans, it’s all their history is, isn’t it?
GAIL: You mean our? Our history.
Sfx: music changes to get darker and sadder.
GRAHAM: Ah… yes. I suppose it is. (pause) Anyway please continue.
EXODUS CREW TECH: Alright, so there was so much was being created that by the time they were globally outlawed and all countries were simultaneously ordered to dismantle the bombs, they were still left with the dangerous raw materials. Nuclear power was still a relatively discovery so scientists turned their efforts in a less destructive route and started experimenting with it as a source of power and propulsion. IGSTA, then known as NASA in the U.S. took a particular interest. The long distances between planets dwarfed any measure of distance traveled on earth, this new propulsion system would give them the speed they needed to cut the traveling time dramatically.
GAIL: So what happened?
EXODUS CREW TECH: Well eventually, like I said, the same kind of ban that happened on the bombs happened on the space craft and they became practically extinct. The ever growing war on terror forced extremist groups to be more inventive, and especially in third world counties where regulations were not a strictly enforced, many terrorists found most of the work had been done for them. They just needed to look in the carcasses of retired space craft.
Sfx: end reminiscent theme.
GAIL: So you think the Kodukai are making a nuclear bomb with our ships engine?
EXODUS CREW TECH: They could be.
GRAHAM: They may also not know what they have their hands on and could have just done it as a safety precaution to try and stop you from escaping.
GAIL: Which we obviously did. But isn’t it true the Kodukai have yet to master space travel?
GRAHAM: Space ships maybe, but space travel – no. They are much more advanced than that.
EXODUS CREW TECH: Hey, I think I got it, (grunts) yep, here it is.
Sfx: Spark fly as he breaks the chip off and pulls it out.
GRAHAM: That’s it hungh? That’s what he’s been using to track us?
GAIL: Hey what are you doing? Don’t break it.
EXODUS CREW TECH: What do you mean “what am I doing?” You want that bounty hunter coming after you again? After us?
GRAHAM: Yeah, they wont always be here to bail us out and come to the rescue just in the nick of time twice, you know?
GAIL: Yeah, I guess. But you can’t break it, that’s IGSTA property. Cant you just deactivate it or something?
EXODUS CREW TECH: I guess so… but its not as fun.
GAIL: Give it here.
GRAHAM: Hey!
sfx: Gail snatches the part away from him.
GAIL: Now tell me what to do with it?
EXODUS CREW TECH: Press that red button there… no not that one, the other one.
GAIL: This one?
EXODUS CREW TECH: Yeah that’s it. Here, hold it up to your ear.
Sfx: A pulsating beeping noise gets louder, like we the audience are putting the locator closer to our ear.
GAIL: Hey I hear it, does that mean its still on?
EXODUS CREW TECH: Yes, that’s the signal the Bounty Hunter’s been using to track your ship. Now press that button I told you about.
Sfx: Presses button and beeping ends.
GAIL: It stopped.
EXODUS CREW TECH: Well then its harmless. Just don’t press that other button or it will start sending the signal again.
GAIL: Hugh, so much trouble in such a small little thing.
EXODUS CREW TECH: You think that’s bad? You don’t know the half of it.
Sfx: The hissing of smoke starts coming into the room. The music becomes eerie and sinister.
GAIL: What’s that noise?
GRAHAM: There! Its some kind of smoke (cough) coming in through the vents.
GAIL: (cough, cough) What do we do?
EXODUS CREW TECH (as puts gas mask on): Speak for yourselves, that’s your problem.
GAIL: Why does he have a gas mask Graham? Its almost like he… was… ex-pec—ting…
Sfx: Dylan and graham fall to the ground unconscious. Music makes them seem doomed. Then two people come running in.
ISAAC: Oh no, were too late. They’ve filled the entire ship with some sort of gas.
MORRIS: Quick Isaac, (cough) cover your face and try… not to (cough).. breath.. in – the smmm….
Sfx: Morris falls to the floor.
ISAAC (muffled): Not you too. (sighs) What can I do? I can already feeling it affecting me, even though I’m trying to cover my face. (breathing heavily) It’s… (cough) no… use.
sfx: Cliffhanger ending theme.
DJ: Join us next week for the exciting continuation of Terra Novus every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
This episode featured the talents of
Writer: _________
And featuring the voices of (actors say their name): ________
Music and Sound FX by: __________
Mixed by:_______
This has been a presentation of SCAD Radio Dramas, tune in every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
Sfx: intro theme
dj: last week on terra novous...
Sfx: Pat-mok and Durkal talk amongst themselves.
Graham: Why didn’t you kill me? He what are you doing with that? Are you taking a picture of me.
Pat-mok: The alien starts speaking and slowly his voice changes from the alien into Graham’s voice.
Pat-mok: Not a picture, but a full body scan. So that I could use this bio-modulator to change my appearance to look like you, it even changes my vocal chords to sound like you.
Graham: But why?
Pat-mok: We need a mole, someone on the inside. To make sure this “expedition” does not succeed.
Graham: Why don’t you just blow us all up like you said.
Pat-mok: We can learn from you, learn of the humans’ plans. We can learn much from the one you call Liam, he is a doctor is he not? He can tell us how you work... and how you die.
(Cut to)
Isaac: Allright so were about 30 keks from Neb-kinar which would make that one Lankemp 22, the furthest of Neb-kinar’s moons. And given the time of year and their position in orbit we need to be headed toward, about where that bright star is over there in the Lantijj nebula.
Aurora: Wait... that’s no star, its getting bigger. it’s a…
Morris: A ship. And not just any ship.
Sfx: Ominous music starts.
Issac: Yeah, I know that ship.
Aurorra: The bounty hunter.
Sfx: His ship gets closer and closer.
(Cut to)
Sfx: The engine reaches maximum charge and trys to complete the jump, but then fails and sputters to a halt.
(Cut to)
bob: if I may, that’s what I was trying to explain. The ship has informed me that we are unable to complete the jump into hyperspace because one of the nuclear cores, required to fold space, is either malfunctioning or missing.
(Cut to)
Morris: Aurora take over, Isaac help me man the guns. Battle stations!
(Cut to)
Sfx: They turn on the screens, load the guns, swivel and rotate into position and then fire. The shots whiz by with no hits as the bounty hunter dodges them. Then he fires back, which should be a distinctly different sounding laser.
(Cut to)
Sfx: The bounty hunter fires and destroys Isaac’s turret causing his screen to go to static.
(Cut to)
Morris: We got no more guns, we got no more options, we either do what he says or were dead.
(Cut to)
Bounty hunter: This is your final warning, I am maneuvering my ship to dock with yours if you decline to let me aboard I will be forced to destroy your ship and everyone aboard.
Dylan: If you could have killed us you would have done it already. We have someone you need don’t we. you cant kill us, isn’t that right.
Aurora: Dylan?!
Bounty hunter: (Laughs) You are clever, but wrong.
Gail: Dylan?! Now he’s going to kill us, you idiot.
Bounty hunter: I don’t need someone but something. You must know you are carrying a stolen 808 unit aboard your ship.
Aurora: That’s how he’s been finding us.
Dylan: You mean bob?
Isaac: I knew they weren’t after me.
Aurora: he’s about to dock with our ship.
Bounty hunter: now hand over the stolen property.
Sfx: A third ship’s guns fire and hit the bounty hunter’s ship sending him spiraling.
Bounty hunter: Arg!
Sfx: bounty hunters signal gets statically. The third ship gets closer and fires a few more shots, which should also be distinct from the other two ships.
Bounty hunter: This isn’t over, the 808 unit cannot hide from me.
Sfx: The bounty hunter’s ship speeds away damaged.
(Cut to)
SFX: The radio comes on and shifts through static before tuning in on the signal.
Third ship: This is the NSS Vanguard, of earth do you read us.
(Cut to)
Isaac: That’s my father’s ship.
Dj: And now for the continuation of terra novus. Episode four.
Morris: (Laughing) We read you loud and clear captain. This is the NSS Exodus of earth, (curiously inviting) lets us dock so we can speak.
Aurora: Initiating docking sequence.
Sfx: The two ships dock and a door opens between the ships. The new crew walk onto the Exodus.
Morris: Greetings, my name is Morris I am the captain of the Exodus. You’ve got a strong grip.
Sfx: Shake hands.
Captain Whitaker: And you too Captain. I am Captain Whitaker of the NSS Vanguard.
Morris: Come, let us talk.
Sfx: They walk and sit down.
Morris: We’ve come to find the same planet you are looking for. As far as we knew, you were all lost in space or had been killed by aliens.
CAPT. WHITAKER: That’s not far from it. (Pause) we landed on what we thought was the planet we were searching for, the answer to all our problems including repairs. We had been damaged when we had a run in with a Kreigal battle cruiser.
MORRIS: Really, I didn’t know they trolled that close to our galaxy.
Sfx: Start eerie reminiscent music.
Capt. Whitaker: Well they injured our ship and we narrowly escaped, only to come out of hyperspace hurdling towards Zudam, the planet we thought was inhabitable. With the damages to our ship we couldn’t pull up in time, and crash landed. We started the repairs and investigated the planet. But if we knew what we were about to learn, we would have known that we had a better chance staying and fighting the Kreigal.
MORRIS: What was it?
Sound fx: Very quietly and in his memory (increase reverb) you can here the scene take place, screams, burning flesh, scratching at the hull etc.
CAPT. WHITAKER: The planet, it seems, was orbited by a some sort of radioactive sun, which mutated the plants and poisoned almost everything on the planet every time it orbited. By the time we found out, we had just finished the repairs, but dawn was upon us and the sun started infecting the crew one by one. Those of us that made it back to the ship had to seal the others out, those poor souls. They were clawing at the hatch begging for us to let them in, clawing at themselves to stop the burning. (Sighs) It was not a peaceful death.
Morris: I’m sorry.
Sfx: end eerie reminiscent theme.
CAPT. WHITAKER: We later found out that one of them that had made it back, it was Burgos.
Sfx: Start point of interest theme.
ISAAC: Gunther Burgos?
CAPT. WHITAKER: Yes. The one who started our mission, he was infected.
ISAAC: Dad? Where is he, is he still alive, I have to talk to him.
CAPT. WHITAKER: No. I’m sorry. We tried to treat him but our doctor was killed on the planet and we had neither the knowhow nor the manpower to keep him alive.
ISAAC: So he really is gone.
Dylan: I’m sorry Isaac.
CAPT. WHITAKER: If its any conciliation we still have many of his space logs in our computer system if you would like to come aboard and see them for yourself.
ISAAC: You mean there’s more?
Sfx: Discovery/point of interest theme.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Ah yes, I suppose you’ve read the ones he sent home to his SPSU on earth to back up, but he wrote many logs after we reached the limit of our transmitting distance to earth.
MORRIS: That would be most helpful.
ISAAC: Greatly appreciated.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Good then I’ll escort you aboard our ship.
MORRIS: Ah, Captain Whitaker, if I accompany Isaac onboard is there anything I can have my crew do for you in return?
CAPT. WHITAKER: No thank you Captain morris we are not in need of any of your help at the moment, but let our crews talk amongst one another. I’m sure they are anxious to hear of what has happened on earth in the some 10-years I calculate we’ve been gone.
MORRIS: Yes, you have been gone a very long time.
Sfx: (transition music) Walk aboard new ship, it has a different sound ambient. They sit down and typing can be heard.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Well here you go, I’ve pulled up all his space logs since we were out of range to transmit to earth.
MORRIS: Isaac why don’t you look over that and see if you cant pick up anything that would help us pin point the planet were looking for.
Isaac: Yes sir.
Sfx: Starts typing. Transition music.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Your crew is very lucky we came along and found you, or you would have been at the mercy of that Bounty Hunter.
MORRIS: Yes we are very thankful. He destroyed our ship’s turrets, leaving us defenseless. We tried escaped into hyperspace like we had done before to avoid him, and it would have worked save for the fact that one of our nuclear cores was stolen by a Kodukai when we landed on Neb-kinar.
CAPT. WHITAKER: It is a dangerous planet.
MORRIS: Yes indeed. I fear he may be tracking us using some sort of homing beacon hidden inside our 808 android. He believes the robot has been stolen.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Hmm, it seems like a lot of work to get an outdated status android back.
MORRIS: Yes I know, I have a feeling he is carrying something they need.
Sfx: Thoughtful theme.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Or don’t want you to see.
MORRIS: Do you think while we our docked you could give my crew a hand removing it. I wouldn’t want to put your crew in danger.
CAPT. WHITAKER: Yes, of course. I’ll send a few of my men over to help immediately.
SFX: (Transition music) start eerie double crossing theme.
Bob: Before I am shut down, might I ask why your crew are working in the ventilation area out side the ship rather than the turrets. I can assure you my uplink with the ship’s computers show no damage to the ventilation units.
EXODUS CREW TECH (uninterested): Hmm. I’ll get someone to take care of it, he must have made a mistake.
BOB: Thank you si--
Sfx: Shuts android down.
EXODUS CREW TECH: All right lets open this bad boy up.
SFX: Opens squeaky panel to sparking wires and beeping circuitry.
GAIL: What are you doing?
GRAHAM: What does it look like were doing Gail, were looking for the homing beacon we think that Bounty Hunter’s using to track our location and destroy it.
GAIL: Destroy it? That’s IGSTA property. You should have just done what he wanted and given it back. And you’ve made us all accomplices, they’ll assume that because we’re on the same ship that I had something to do with him being stolen.
GRAHAM: So what.
Sfx: start nostalgic theme.
GAIL: So what? You might not have a home on earth to go back to, but I do.
GRAHAM: You have no idea.
GAIL: And I know I can’t be the only one.
Sfx: (Transition music)
LIAM: Stolen? Stolen?! How could he be stolen? Do you know what that means?!
Aurora: Whoa, whoa, slow down. Look, I know its bad, I’m scared too, don’t you think I want to have a family, a home with my husband (pause) with my baby?
LIAM: Yeah, it’s just that I have a… previous engagement. Or arrangement is more like it.
AURORA: Is there something you’re not telling me?
Sfx: start sad reminiscent theme.
LIAM: Morris said six months, six months max! I go on this mission and I’d be home in half a year and that’s what I told them.
AURORA: Who?
LIAM: The Drunken Butchers.
AURORA: You owe money to the mob?!
Sfx: slumps to the ground.
Liam: (Despairingly choked up) Yeah. (Pause) and if I don’t get back in time, or get back at all - like our new found friends - they said they’re going to take it out of my family. We were desperate, I couldn’t hold a job… my family needed the money or we’d have been on the streets
AURORA: But at least they would have been alive. Now they could die.
LIAM: (Starts crying) I know.
AURORA: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say that. Don’t think that. Here stand up, let me help you.
Sfx: she helps him up. Sad theme ends.
LIAM: I…
AURORA: What? What is it?
LIAM: When I married her I took a vow, till death do us part; forever. Now I wonder if I’ll ever see her again. If I’ll ever love again, and then…
sfx: music starts getting out of tune.
Liam: and then I see you and there’s hope.
AURORA: (Awkward silence) I…
LIAM: Your so nice to me. You’re helping me read, helping me write. You’re the only one who treats me as an equal, even though I’m not on the main deck. You know my secrets and you still except me.
Sfx: music builds.
AURORA: (Sigh’s) Liam, i…
LIAM: Look I’ve had kids, I’m good with kids. Please just.. Aurora (pause) will you m…
sfx: music peaks and then cuts off.
AURORA: Wait a second! (trying to convince him) Look I know you’re feeling desperate, confused even about your feelings. But you’re getting home, were getting home. Well be redefining what home is once we find the new planet, but you’ll see her again, you’ll see your family. And the Drunken Butchers won’t lay a finger on them, I promise you.
Sfx: start sad remorseful optimistic happy theme.
LIAM: Starts crying optimistically.
AURORA: I need to believe that, to keep my hopes alive. I need to stay faithful to my husband so that I can convince myself I’ll see him again. And I couldn’t do that.. I mean really believe that, If I was with you.
LIAM: Ah huh. (Sulking)
AURORA: I like you, I… understand you (sigh and pause trying to chose her words) and if you ever need anyone to talk to… I’m here for you. I’m lonely too, but keep you’re hopes up; we may be home even sooner than you think if Isaac can find anything useful in those remaining space logs.
SFX: Transition music
MORRIS: Have you found anything yet Isaac?
ISAAC: I don’t know, I mean they never actually found the planet. Here my father thinks he’s narrowed it down a bit since his last estimate and comparing it with some of the new data he had been collecting - but surprisingly most of his journal is about the crew not the planet.
MORRIS: What do you mean?
Sfx: Start reminiscent tricky double crossing theme.
ISAAC: Well he says he made suggestions as to where they should go, but that the crew seem to ignore him. He says he is treated as an outsider, and even suspected that IGSTA never even wanted them to find the planet.
Sfx: Add point of interest theme.
MORRIS: You mean almost like they were just going up there to make it look like they were searching?
ISAAC: I guess so.
MORRIS: But why?
ISAAC: I… I don’t know yet.
Sfx: A big man walks up behind them. The music gets darker and more dangerous, a little tension in the air.
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: You two.
Morris: Ah yes, greetings I am Morris, captain of the Exodus. Your Captain, where did he sneak off to, was just allowing us to look over Mr. Burgos’ star logs. Isaac here happens to me his s…
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: I don’t care who he is. Or you either..
ISAAC: Well you’re not very nice.
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: You must go back to your ship. You’re not welcome here any longer.
ISAAC: Now wait just a second…
MORRIS: Yeah give us a break, this must all be just a misunderstanding. If I could speak with the captain you’d see…
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: It is captain’s orders.
MORRIS: Well were not done yet so why don’t you tell your Captain, if that really is who sent the orders to have us go back to our ship, if he wants us to leave, he can tell us himself!
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER: I’m afraid you have to leave now.
Sfx: the music gets dangerous as the man grabs Isaac by the collar and lifts him up.
ISAAC: Unghh. Hey, let go of me!
MORRIS: Get your hands off him, don’t you lay a finger on a member of my crew!
sfx: Morris tries to fight him off.
MYSTERIOUS VANGUARD CREW MEMBER and MORRIS (Together): Men struggle.
ISAAC: Morris, Watch out he’s going for his laser.
Sfx: A laser gun charges up and then fires a few times ricocheting inside the ship. Then a few punches and the man falls to the floor. The music ends heroically.
MORRIS: There I got him. Get his gun from him Isaac.
Sfx: Isaac takes his gun from him.
ISAAC: Got it.
MORRIS: Where’s the captain?
ISAAC: I don’t know. Com’on we’ve got to get back to the ship and warn the others. Something’s not right here.
Sfx: They run off. Transition music.
GAIL: So what’s the word on the engines?
GRAHAM: Our worst fears are confirmed, one of the engines is completely gone. At least I could have repaired it if it was damaged, but I can’t do a thing if I don’t even have an engine to work on.
GAIL: But what would you do with a nuclear core from a NSS.
Sfx: Start nostalgic depressing theme. This is all happening while we hear the Crew Tech working on Bob.
EXODUS CREW TECH: Before they discovered how to harness the power of a nuclear explosion as a means of propelling a space craft into hyperspeed, humans used its raw materials, such as uranium and plutonium for war.
GAIL: You mean building bombs?
GRAHAM: Yes, the likes of which you’ve never seen. Humans killing humans, it’s all their history is, isn’t it?
GAIL: You mean our? Our history.
Sfx: music changes to get darker and sadder.
GRAHAM: Ah… yes. I suppose it is. (pause) Anyway please continue.
EXODUS CREW TECH: Alright, so there was so much was being created that by the time they were globally outlawed and all countries were simultaneously ordered to dismantle the bombs, they were still left with the dangerous raw materials. Nuclear power was still a relatively discovery so scientists turned their efforts in a less destructive route and started experimenting with it as a source of power and propulsion. IGSTA, then known as NASA in the U.S. took a particular interest. The long distances between planets dwarfed any measure of distance traveled on earth, this new propulsion system would give them the speed they needed to cut the traveling time dramatically.
GAIL: So what happened?
EXODUS CREW TECH: Well eventually, like I said, the same kind of ban that happened on the bombs happened on the space craft and they became practically extinct. The ever growing war on terror forced extremist groups to be more inventive, and especially in third world counties where regulations were not a strictly enforced, many terrorists found most of the work had been done for them. They just needed to look in the carcasses of retired space craft.
Sfx: end reminiscent theme.
GAIL: So you think the Kodukai are making a nuclear bomb with our ships engine?
EXODUS CREW TECH: They could be.
GRAHAM: They may also not know what they have their hands on and could have just done it as a safety precaution to try and stop you from escaping.
GAIL: Which we obviously did. But isn’t it true the Kodukai have yet to master space travel?
GRAHAM: Space ships maybe, but space travel – no. They are much more advanced than that.
EXODUS CREW TECH: Hey, I think I got it, (grunts) yep, here it is.
Sfx: Spark fly as he breaks the chip off and pulls it out.
GRAHAM: That’s it hungh? That’s what he’s been using to track us?
GAIL: Hey what are you doing? Don’t break it.
EXODUS CREW TECH: What do you mean “what am I doing?” You want that bounty hunter coming after you again? After us?
GRAHAM: Yeah, they wont always be here to bail us out and come to the rescue just in the nick of time twice, you know?
GAIL: Yeah, I guess. But you can’t break it, that’s IGSTA property. Cant you just deactivate it or something?
EXODUS CREW TECH: I guess so… but its not as fun.
GAIL: Give it here.
GRAHAM: Hey!
sfx: Gail snatches the part away from him.
GAIL: Now tell me what to do with it?
EXODUS CREW TECH: Press that red button there… no not that one, the other one.
GAIL: This one?
EXODUS CREW TECH: Yeah that’s it. Here, hold it up to your ear.
Sfx: A pulsating beeping noise gets louder, like we the audience are putting the locator closer to our ear.
GAIL: Hey I hear it, does that mean its still on?
EXODUS CREW TECH: Yes, that’s the signal the Bounty Hunter’s been using to track your ship. Now press that button I told you about.
Sfx: Presses button and beeping ends.
GAIL: It stopped.
EXODUS CREW TECH: Well then its harmless. Just don’t press that other button or it will start sending the signal again.
GAIL: Hugh, so much trouble in such a small little thing.
EXODUS CREW TECH: You think that’s bad? You don’t know the half of it.
Sfx: The hissing of smoke starts coming into the room. The music becomes eerie and sinister.
GAIL: What’s that noise?
GRAHAM: There! Its some kind of smoke (cough) coming in through the vents.
GAIL: (cough, cough) What do we do?
EXODUS CREW TECH (as puts gas mask on): Speak for yourselves, that’s your problem.
GAIL: Why does he have a gas mask Graham? Its almost like he… was… ex-pec—ting…
Sfx: Dylan and graham fall to the ground unconscious. Music makes them seem doomed. Then two people come running in.
ISAAC: Oh no, were too late. They’ve filled the entire ship with some sort of gas.
MORRIS: Quick Isaac, (cough) cover your face and try… not to (cough).. breath.. in – the smmm….
Sfx: Morris falls to the floor.
ISAAC (muffled): Not you too. (sighs) What can I do? I can already feeling it affecting me, even though I’m trying to cover my face. (breathing heavily) It’s… (cough) no… use.
sfx: Cliffhanger ending theme.
DJ: Join us next week for the exciting continuation of Terra Novus every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
This episode featured the talents of
Writer: _________
And featuring the voices of (actors say their name): ________
Music and Sound FX by: __________
Mixed by:_______
This has been a presentation of SCAD Radio Dramas, tune in every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
Terra Novus, Ep. 3 - Doppelganger
DJ: And now for our feature presentation of TERRA NOVUS: Created and presented by SCAD Radio Dramas (Scattered).
Sfx: intro theme
dj: last week on terra novous...
Sfx: The hyperspeed is engaged sounding somewhat like a nuclear explosion and the ship is sent hurling through space at an incredible speed. After a few seconds it starts to slow down and eventually to an idle.
(Cut to)
Morris: We have to keep moving, that bounty hunter could easily follow the fallout trail through hyperspace that these old NSS’s leave behind after a jump like that.
Gail: hold on just a minuite. NSS, fallout, you mean like a nuclear space ship?! I thought all nuclear space ships were either outlawed or dismantled.
Morris: all but one. These old beasts use a duel nuclear core to fold space the old fashion way.
(Cut to)
aurorra: Graham, can the ship keep moving or not?
Graham: No. The ship’s too weak to withstand another jump. Normally the hits we took from the bounty hunter’s lazer cannons wouldn’t have done too much damage but all our power was diverted to the hyperdrive which left us defenseless.
Aurorra: Great, just great. So what do you suggest we do?
Issac: We can hide. There’s a planet not too far from here.
(Cut to)
Aurorra: Look. Over there, three of the Kodukai have captured graham while he was outside working on the ship.
(Cut to)
Pat-mok: Alien voices
bob: he says his name is Pat-mok. you will stay here under the watch of his brother, Jurkal while he searches the ship with his father, Durkal, for anything of use before they destroy it.
(Cut to)
Sfx: the alien loads his lazer gun. Garaham and Pat-mok can be heard talking from the next room over indistinctly and increasingly louder.
issac (whispering): hey, you guys hear that.
Dylan (whispering): Barley, I can hardley make it out.
Gail (whispering): quiet down over there you two, you want to get us all killed?
graham (from the next room over): look that wasnt part of the plan. Im out.
Pat-mok (from the next room over): Alien talks agrily.
Graham (from the next room over): no. there’s no deal!
Pat-mok (from the next room over):Alien yells
graham (from the next room over): well I don’t care, you cant just go and bomb all those people like that. Why us why not some other species.
Pat-mok (from the next room over): alien yells.
Graham (from the next room over): we did what? Hey, what are you doing? Put that down.
Pat-mok (from the next room over): Alien yells angry then unholsters and loads his gun.
Graham (from the next room over): No!
sfx (from the next room over): A few gun blasts go off.
Dylan: Graham!
SFX: Cliffhanger ending theme starts then ends.
Dj: And now for the continuation of terra novus. Episode three.
Sfx: All this will be heard as if we are there, no longer like it is muffled like we are hearing it from the next room over. Start scheming double crossing plan theme.
Pat-mok and Durkal: (talk amongst themselves.)
Graham: (pause, slowly graham starts breathing again) Why didn’t you kill me?
Sfx: the aliens pull out and set up some sort of device.
Graham: Hey what are you doing with that? Are you taking a picture of me.
Pat-mok: (The alien starts speaking and slowly his voice changes from the alien into Graham’s voice.)
Pat-mok (now sounding like graham): Not a simple picture, but a full body scan. So that I could use this bio-modulator to change my appearance to look like you, changes my vocal chords to sound like you and even give me your memories.
Sfx: plot thickens theme.
Graham: But why?
Pat-mok: We need a mole, someone on the inside. To make sure this “expedition” does not succeed.
Graham: Why don’t you just blow us all up, like you said.
Pat-mok: We can learn from you, learn of the humans’ plans, they could be valuable in this time of war. We can learn much from the one you call Liam, he is a doctor is he not? He can tell us how you work... and how you die.
Graham: I can’t believe you guys. Where is my money? What are you going to do to me?
Pat-mok: Were not going to kill you... yet. Even though I now look and sound just like you, if they do find out about our little switch, you’ll be a valuable asset to us. We can use you to bargain with them.
Graham: You mean use me as a hostage? This wasn’t part of the deal, you got what you came for, you even took the crew hostage while you were at it. Now you have to hold up you’re end of the bargain.
Durkal: Alien yells.
Sfx: He hits him
Graham: Unhh.
Sfx: Falls to the ground. He puts a pair of laser binders on Graham.
Durkal: Talks
Pat-mok: I know, stick to the plan. just act normal - act... “human.” and...
Durkal: Talks
Pat-mok: I’ll need your help when I go back, to convince them I killed you. And I’ll have to kill Jurik.
Durkal: Speaks.
Pat-mok: And yes of course. I know, make sure the humans never reach Terra Novus. (Laugh maniacally.)
Sfx: plot thickens theme.
Pat-Mok: (Breathing returns to normal) All right lets go.
Sfx: Transition music. Then heavy foot steps can be heard approaching the door.
Isaac (whispering): Sounds like their back.
Dylan: (angry, sad and through her teeth) The murderers.
Jurik: Speaks.
Bob: He says, you will respect my brother and father or meet the same fate as your friend.
Sfx: The door opens and he walks in.
Morris: It’s him.
Jurik: Speaks.
Bob: He welcomes his brother Pat-mok back, but asks why Jurkal is not with him?
[pat-mok] but now referred to as Graham (muffled from behind pat-mok’s body): Ask him yourself... when you see him in hell!
Sfx: start adventure music. Unholsters and loads laser gun.
Jurik (surprised): Screams?!
Sfx: Two laser blasts, Jurik screams and falls to the floor. Stop adventure music.
Dylan: Graham? We thought you were dead.
Morris: Man, you really had us fooled, walking in holding Pat-Mok’s body in front of you like that.
Isaac: Yeah, even Jurik thought you were one of them.
Graham: (suspiciously uneasy) Yeah, guess I fooled you all.
Aurora: I’m glad were alive but we don’t even know if there are any more of them out there. Help us out of these laser bonds and lets finish those repairs so we can get the hell out of here.
Morris: Except this time, we’ll guard you.
Sfx: Morris picks up Pat-mok’s laser gun and loads it. Transition music. Open’s engine panel.
Morris: So how did you do it?
Isaac: Yeah exactly happened so you could defeat that Kodukai?
Morris: Yeah speaking of that, weren’t there two of them? I mean three, minus the one who was guarding us inside.
Graham: I guess he took back off into the forest.
Morris: You didn’t kill him?
Isaac: So he’s out there somewhere?
Morris: (angry and suspicious) Probably coming back with some more of his friends.
Sfx: Loads laser gun.
Aurora: Can we hurry it up Graham?
Graham: Almost finished, just have to connect these... (grunts)
Sfx: electricity arcs between two wires sending sparks flying as the ship’s engine charges up back up. Optimistic theme.
Graham: Conduits together. There I’m finished, now she should have her wings back.
Sfx: Shuts engine panel.
Morris: Gentlemen, get aboard and strap in. Aurora, prep for departure we leave in five.
Sfx: Transition music. Ship takes off into space.
Dylan: All right what is it, what’s so important that you had to pull me in here to talk to me. I was talking to him.
Isaac: Listen to yourself, calling Graham “him” like he’s “all powerful” or something.
Dylan: (scoffs).
Isaac: Ok, whatever anyway, doesn’t it seem a little weird? Those IGSTA guys sending a “bounty hunter” up here after me.
Dylan: Is that what he chased us for?
Isaac: Yeah, I mean that’s what Morris says. I don’t know, I guess it seems like allot of work just to kill one person, let alone someone who’s not even going to be on earth to ruin their reputation.
Dylan: You mean like you think they came for someone else?
Isaac: Or something else?
Dylan: I wouldn’t be surprised; I mean if this crew was the cream of the crop, the farmers must have had a bad year. (Laughs, her mocking tone turns to affection) except for Graham.
Sfx: play awkward romantic theme.
Isaac: (stops laughing causing Dylan to hear her laugh and stop awkwardly) You really like him now, don’t you?
Dylan: Why wouldn’t I, don’t you? I mean, the guy saved your life, all of our lives for that matter.
Isaac: I know, I know he saved all our lives. I get it. I just thought… I mean you’ve been all over him since he’s gotten back. It’s almost like that planet did something to both of you, I mean I thought I was… and you were…
Dylan: You thought what….
Isaac: (pauses between her dialogue and his, but she quickly snaps back after his comments) Just that….
Dylan: What?
Isaac: Nothing.
Sfx: end awkward romantic theme.
Dylan: Anyway, maybe those IGSTA guys are just scared of you because they know you’re right.
Isaac: I hope so. I hope I’m wrong about that bounty hunter, Osotica, and I hope you’re right about me and....
Sfx: Dylan gets up and opens the door, the talking in the background gets louder.
Morris: Hey common Graham’s telling the crew how he defeated those aliens.
Isaac: ...Graham?
Graham: So I said, “if you think you’re going to get back onto that ship so you can hurt my friends, you’re just going to have to kill me.”
(random crew members): Gasp
Graham: So when he looked down to pull his gun, I got him in the jaw with my right and kicked him where I knew it would hurt a male of any species just as bad as the next.
Random crew: (cringe) ehhh, eewww.
Dylan: That’s so heroic. You know it’s so rare to have someone that would risk his life like that for a chance to save his crew like that.
Graham: Well what was I supposed to do, just let him walk back on board and let him end the future of this mission. The future of earth? No, I had too many lives resting on my shoulders, I couldn’t let them down. So then I got his gun away from him and well... then you know the rest.
Dylan: That’s such a great story.
Isaac: (sighs and walks away)
Sfx: Transition music
Isaac: I don’t know maybe its just me but I would have never pegged Graham to be the type to do something like that.
Morris: I don’t know, situations like that can change a man. The pressure of the situation could have cause him to grow in ways he may have never done on his own. Much like your father.
Isaac: My father?
Sfx: Start nostalgic theme.
Morris: He was a good man. Who knows, maybe he’s not dead after all, just lost. If I know you’re father at all, I know if he is still alive, he’ll be spending every last moment of his life searching for this planet of yours, weather he finds it or not.
Isaac: (optimistically)Yeah I guess so.
Sfx: transition music.
Liam: So how long have you known? When did you find out?
Aurora: Just a few days before the mission, I could feel it, I just knew. But I couldn’t tell Morris. He needed a pilot and I didn’t want to let him down, he already thinks so little of me.
Liam: He’s just old fashioned... sexist if you ask me.
Aurora: Sexist? But I didn’t think there were any of those left, its been almost nearly a century since women….
Liam: I know, I know. I’m not agreeing with him im just explaining that I think he doesn’t think you’re capable of doing your job because you’re a… well, a woman. Now let me get you that medicine you needed.
Sfx: Pulls out a tray with wobbling bottles on it. The door opens. Start disoriented theme.
Graham and Dylan: (laughing) whoa whoops.
Sfx: Graham falls into Liam knocking the pills everywhere and a bottle of beer falls to the ground, glugging as it spills everywhere.
Aurora: Dylan, Graham, are you two drunk?
Graham: Hey…save some for me “Mr. Floor” (laughs), that’s expensive.
Dylan and Graham: (Snickers and then laughing together) no it’s not.
Dylan: Sorry bout the mess doc… captain.
Graham: Yeah, wrong room I guess (laughs drunkenly).
Sfx: They get back up and leave, the door shuts.
Aurora: Oh, I’m so sorry, let me help you clean that up.
Liam: No, please I can get it.
Sfx: start quite sad theme.
Aurora: Oh come on, there’s pills everywhere. It’ll go faster this way.
Sfx: Bump heads as put pills back in the bottle.
(Together): Ouch.
Liam: Oh, sorry I didn’t mean to bump heads, I was just trying to…
aurora: No, No its my fault entirely.
Liam: Okay just make sure to keep them separated, we don’t want to mix these up. For Dylan especially, since she’s allergic to pain killers.
Aurora: Really?
Liam: Yeah it was on her med file. Anyway put the ones that look like this with the little ends on it in here.
Aurora: I think that’s a letter. It looks like E.
Sfx: music stops.
Liam: Oh... really. I didn’t. (Awkward silence and pause)
Aurora: Are you... can you... (pause) nah.
Liam (cuts her off and starts talking nervously fast): Anyway just put them in the bottle and we can get this all over with. They make a weird couple don’t they? Before the whole situation she hated his guts and now its like he’s a whole different person to her since he told that story… (pause) What? Why are you looking at me like that.
Aurora (softly): You cant read can you.
Liam: (Scoffs) I can read just fine, how do you think I… I…
Aurora: Then read this. (pause)
Liam: It says.. (struggles) I… I can’t read, there are you happy.
Sfx: Liam walks over to the computer and types something in.
Liam: I can’t read... write, but who needs to? Everyone just types anyway... I mean the pills... I just memorize how they look, the computer’s got a photo for all of them. I sort of have a photographic memory that way, and if I can’t get it, I use the computer’s vocalizer, and it reads it to me.
Sfx: Hits the return key and the computerized voice reads out loud “dicosa-hex-anoic acid, also called DHA, an excellent source for omega-3 fatty acids, prominently used in prenatal supplements.”
Liam: See.
Aurora: Well anyone would have had trouble reading that one, but you really cant read... anything.
Sfx: start tension theme.
Liam: Please, don’t tell Morris he’ll throw me off. I can do my job, honest.
Aurora: Why are you avoiding the problem, trying to find ways to get around it
Liam: Well… I…
Aurora: When we could just fix it.
Sfx: Music changes to happy optimistic theme.
Liam: (Pause) What do you mean?
Aurora (slowly and emphasizing every word): Why don’t I teach you how to read and write?
Liam: (Stammering) You... you would do...? (pause) nah, you don’t have to, I’ll be--
Aurora: Liam. I want to.
Sfx: Transitional music
Aurora: Alright, so now that were back on track and have a fully functional ship again lets get pointed back in the right direction. Isaac.
Isaac: Oh you mean me? (Pause) Oh, okay just give me one second to check our current coordinates against the star map.
Sfx: Types something into the computer and then flips through a book.
Sfx: Start point of interest theme.
Morris: You still have his space logs? I thought you said you destroyed it.
Gail: You were bluffing? You lied to a board of IGSTA members?
Isaac: I did, I just printed off a back up copy first. I was trying to let them know that they weren’t intimidating me when they started threatening me. I was trying to stay in control, (sighs) but you can see how well that went.
Aurora: Yeah, well.
Isaac: Alright so were about 30 keks from Neb-kinar which would make that one La Kempla 22, the furthest of Becksar’s moons. And given the time of year and their position in orbit we need to be headed toward, about where that bright star is over there in the Lantijj nebula.
Aurora: Wait... that’s no star, its getting bigger. it’s a…
Morris: A ship. And not just any ship.
Sfx: Ominous tension theme starts.
Isaac: Yeah, I know that ship.
Aurora: Osotica, the bounty hunter.
Sfx: His ship gets closer and closer.
Aurora: He must have just finished tracking our fallout trail through hyperspace.
Isaac: What do we do!?
Aurora: Same thing we did last time. (louder and over the intercom) Dylan, Graham, get up to the bridge immediately.
Dylan: But it didn’t work, he still found us - just as you said.
Morris: It failed at keeping us safe, but it did do one thing right - which is what I need it to do now, and that is buy us enough time to come up with a better plan. Because right now we don’t have either.
Sfx: A door opens and Dylan and Graham come through the door, take their seats and start typing.
Dylan: We’re here Captain.
Morris: Well, get us anywhere but.
Dylan: Right away, I’m calculating a clear path through hyperspace, the engine needs about ten seconds to charge.
Sfx: start building adventure music. The engines start to charge up. Bob walks up his metal feet on the grates of the ship’s main deck give him away.
Morris: Bob what are you doing up here?! Get in the back where you’re supposed to be!
Dylan: Five seconds.
Morris: Everyone hold on to something and Dylan, tell Osotica…
Sfx: The engine reaches maximum charge and tries to complete the jump, but then fails and sputters to a halt. The music changes to the tension theme.
Isaac: …Hello?
Aurora: What just happened? Why aren’t we moving?
Morris: I don’t, I don’t know. Damage report, are we hit?
Graham: Negative. There must be something wrong with the engines.
Bob: If I may, that’s what I was trying to explain. The ship has informed me that we are unable to complete the jump into hyperspace because one of the nuclear cores, required to fold space, is either malfunctioning... or missing.
Morris: (Yelling) What?! I thought you said you fixed it.
Graham (clulessly): I did, it must have been “those” aliens, “that Pat-mok,” must of done something to screw it up.
Morris: Whatever the excuse, get below and fix it! And be quick about it!
Sfx: The door opens, Graham runs out, the door shuts.
Dylan: He’s hailing us.
MORRIS: Put him on.
SFX: The radio comes on and shifts through static before tuning in on the signal.
BOUNTY HUNTER: By order of IGSTA, lower your speed and land your ship immediately or I will be forced to destroy you. Take my word for it when I tell you I wont be as stupid as to allow you jump into hyperspace again, not that it did you any good last time. (Pause) Now hand him over.
Morris: Turn him off.
Sfx: Shuffles through static before transmission is ended.
Morris: Aurora take over, Isaac help me man the guns. Battle stations!
Isaac: But I thought you said we wouldn’t stand a chance against a…
Morris: Forget what I said and just help me. We don’t have a choice. Right now it’s kill or be killed.
Sfx: Isaac and Morris run to and arm the gun turrets. Start desperate/stressful adventure theme.
Morris: Hey Isaac, that big red switch on your left…
Isaac: Yeah?
Morris: That’s your targeting computer, flip it on. It will help you lock onto his position.
Sfx: They turn on the screens, load the guns, swivel and rotate into position and then fire. The shots whiz by with no hits as Osotica’s ship dodges them. Then he fires back, which should be a distinctly different sounding laser.
Morris: Aurora, evasive maneuvers, he’s firing back.
Aurora: I see him.
Sfx: Each ship dives and climbs each out maneuvering the other and firing but no hits.
Isaac (aggravated): Rrrr. He so much faster than we are!
Morris: It’s a merc ship were an exploration vehicle, go figure.
Sfx: The dogfight continues.
Morris: Aurora, Can you get us in closer, we can’t get a clean shot from back…
Sfx: The ship swerves and dodges all but one shot, which destroys Morris’ turret causing his screen to go to static.
Morris: Rrrr. (hits the computer) He got me, it’s all on you Isaac.
Sfx: Dogfight continues, music builds.
Morris: Stop throwing away so many shots, use your computer and aim before you fi…
Sfx: The Osotica fires and destroys Isaac’s turret causing his screen to go to static. End on gloomy note, pessimistic.
Morris: (sighs) I didn’t even get to finish…
Isaac: That’s it, were done.
Morris: That’s it.
Morris: We got no more guns, we got no more options, we either do what he says or were dead.
Isaac: Well we haven’t, so why aren’t we… dead I mean. Why doesn’t he just shoot us right now.
Dylan: He’s hailing us.
Morris: Put him on.
Isaac: I guess we’ll find out, if it really is me he wants.
SFX: The radio comes on and shifts through static before tuning in on the signal. The music changes to tension music.
Bounty hunter: This is your final warning, I am maneuvering my ship to dock with yours, if you decline to let me aboard I will be forced to destroy your ship and everyone aboard.
Dylan: If you could have killed us you would have done it already. We have someone you need don’t we. You cant kill us, isn’t that right.
Sfx: point of interest theme.
Aurora: Dylan?!
Bounty hunter: (Laughs) You are clever, but wrong.
Sfx: Plot thickens theme, gloomy.
Gail: Dylan?! Now he’s going to kill us, you idiot.
Bounty hunter: I don’t need someone but something. You must know you are carrying a stolen 808 unit aboard your ship.
Aurora: That’s how he’s been finding us.
Dylan: You mean Bob?
Isaac: I knew they weren’t after me.
Aurora: He’s about to dock with our ship.
Bounty hunter: Now hand over the stolen property.
Sfx: start heroic optimistic theme. A third ship’s gun’s fire and hit the Bounty Hunter’s ship, sending him spiraling.
Bounty hunter: Arg!
Sfx: Bounty hunters signal breaks up into static. The third ship gets closer (should sound different) and fires a few more shots (which should also be distinct from the other two ships.)
Bounty hunter: This isn’t over, the 808 unit cannot hide from me.
Sfx: The bounty hunter’s ship speeds away damaged. Music ends on heroic note.
Dylan: The other ship is hailing us.
Morris: Put them on, lets see if the beings aboard the ship really helped us or if they just want us all to themselves.
SFX: The radio comes on and shifts through static before tuning in on the signal.
Third ship: This is the NSS Vanguard of earth, do you read us.
Dylan: They’re human.
Morris: That’s the first search ship, the one they sent before we left.
Gail: They said it was lost.
Isaac: That’s my father’s ship.
Sfx: Cliffhanger ending theme, similar to the lost theme.
DJ: Join us next week for the exciting continuation of Terra Novus every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
This episode featured the talents of
Writer: _________
And featuring the voices of (actors say their name): ________
Music and Sound FX by: __________
Mixed by:_______
This has been a presentation of SCAD Radio Dramas, tune in every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
Sfx: intro theme
dj: last week on terra novous...
Sfx: The hyperspeed is engaged sounding somewhat like a nuclear explosion and the ship is sent hurling through space at an incredible speed. After a few seconds it starts to slow down and eventually to an idle.
(Cut to)
Morris: We have to keep moving, that bounty hunter could easily follow the fallout trail through hyperspace that these old NSS’s leave behind after a jump like that.
Gail: hold on just a minuite. NSS, fallout, you mean like a nuclear space ship?! I thought all nuclear space ships were either outlawed or dismantled.
Morris: all but one. These old beasts use a duel nuclear core to fold space the old fashion way.
(Cut to)
aurorra: Graham, can the ship keep moving or not?
Graham: No. The ship’s too weak to withstand another jump. Normally the hits we took from the bounty hunter’s lazer cannons wouldn’t have done too much damage but all our power was diverted to the hyperdrive which left us defenseless.
Aurorra: Great, just great. So what do you suggest we do?
Issac: We can hide. There’s a planet not too far from here.
(Cut to)
Aurorra: Look. Over there, three of the Kodukai have captured graham while he was outside working on the ship.
(Cut to)
Pat-mok: Alien voices
bob: he says his name is Pat-mok. you will stay here under the watch of his brother, Jurkal while he searches the ship with his father, Durkal, for anything of use before they destroy it.
(Cut to)
Sfx: the alien loads his lazer gun. Garaham and Pat-mok can be heard talking from the next room over indistinctly and increasingly louder.
issac (whispering): hey, you guys hear that.
Dylan (whispering): Barley, I can hardley make it out.
Gail (whispering): quiet down over there you two, you want to get us all killed?
graham (from the next room over): look that wasnt part of the plan. Im out.
Pat-mok (from the next room over): Alien talks agrily.
Graham (from the next room over): no. there’s no deal!
Pat-mok (from the next room over):Alien yells
graham (from the next room over): well I don’t care, you cant just go and bomb all those people like that. Why us why not some other species.
Pat-mok (from the next room over): alien yells.
Graham (from the next room over): we did what? Hey, what are you doing? Put that down.
Pat-mok (from the next room over): Alien yells angry then unholsters and loads his gun.
Graham (from the next room over): No!
sfx (from the next room over): A few gun blasts go off.
Dylan: Graham!
SFX: Cliffhanger ending theme starts then ends.
Dj: And now for the continuation of terra novus. Episode three.
Sfx: All this will be heard as if we are there, no longer like it is muffled like we are hearing it from the next room over. Start scheming double crossing plan theme.
Pat-mok and Durkal: (talk amongst themselves.)
Graham: (pause, slowly graham starts breathing again) Why didn’t you kill me?
Sfx: the aliens pull out and set up some sort of device.
Graham: Hey what are you doing with that? Are you taking a picture of me.
Pat-mok: (The alien starts speaking and slowly his voice changes from the alien into Graham’s voice.)
Pat-mok (now sounding like graham): Not a simple picture, but a full body scan. So that I could use this bio-modulator to change my appearance to look like you, changes my vocal chords to sound like you and even give me your memories.
Sfx: plot thickens theme.
Graham: But why?
Pat-mok: We need a mole, someone on the inside. To make sure this “expedition” does not succeed.
Graham: Why don’t you just blow us all up, like you said.
Pat-mok: We can learn from you, learn of the humans’ plans, they could be valuable in this time of war. We can learn much from the one you call Liam, he is a doctor is he not? He can tell us how you work... and how you die.
Graham: I can’t believe you guys. Where is my money? What are you going to do to me?
Pat-mok: Were not going to kill you... yet. Even though I now look and sound just like you, if they do find out about our little switch, you’ll be a valuable asset to us. We can use you to bargain with them.
Graham: You mean use me as a hostage? This wasn’t part of the deal, you got what you came for, you even took the crew hostage while you were at it. Now you have to hold up you’re end of the bargain.
Durkal: Alien yells.
Sfx: He hits him
Graham: Unhh.
Sfx: Falls to the ground. He puts a pair of laser binders on Graham.
Durkal: Talks
Pat-mok: I know, stick to the plan. just act normal - act... “human.” and...
Durkal: Talks
Pat-mok: I’ll need your help when I go back, to convince them I killed you. And I’ll have to kill Jurik.
Durkal: Speaks.
Pat-mok: And yes of course. I know, make sure the humans never reach Terra Novus. (Laugh maniacally.)
Sfx: plot thickens theme.
Pat-Mok: (Breathing returns to normal) All right lets go.
Sfx: Transition music. Then heavy foot steps can be heard approaching the door.
Isaac (whispering): Sounds like their back.
Dylan: (angry, sad and through her teeth) The murderers.
Jurik: Speaks.
Bob: He says, you will respect my brother and father or meet the same fate as your friend.
Sfx: The door opens and he walks in.
Morris: It’s him.
Jurik: Speaks.
Bob: He welcomes his brother Pat-mok back, but asks why Jurkal is not with him?
[pat-mok] but now referred to as Graham (muffled from behind pat-mok’s body): Ask him yourself... when you see him in hell!
Sfx: start adventure music. Unholsters and loads laser gun.
Jurik (surprised): Screams?!
Sfx: Two laser blasts, Jurik screams and falls to the floor. Stop adventure music.
Dylan: Graham? We thought you were dead.
Morris: Man, you really had us fooled, walking in holding Pat-Mok’s body in front of you like that.
Isaac: Yeah, even Jurik thought you were one of them.
Graham: (suspiciously uneasy) Yeah, guess I fooled you all.
Aurora: I’m glad were alive but we don’t even know if there are any more of them out there. Help us out of these laser bonds and lets finish those repairs so we can get the hell out of here.
Morris: Except this time, we’ll guard you.
Sfx: Morris picks up Pat-mok’s laser gun and loads it. Transition music. Open’s engine panel.
Morris: So how did you do it?
Isaac: Yeah exactly happened so you could defeat that Kodukai?
Morris: Yeah speaking of that, weren’t there two of them? I mean three, minus the one who was guarding us inside.
Graham: I guess he took back off into the forest.
Morris: You didn’t kill him?
Isaac: So he’s out there somewhere?
Morris: (angry and suspicious) Probably coming back with some more of his friends.
Sfx: Loads laser gun.
Aurora: Can we hurry it up Graham?
Graham: Almost finished, just have to connect these... (grunts)
Sfx: electricity arcs between two wires sending sparks flying as the ship’s engine charges up back up. Optimistic theme.
Graham: Conduits together. There I’m finished, now she should have her wings back.
Sfx: Shuts engine panel.
Morris: Gentlemen, get aboard and strap in. Aurora, prep for departure we leave in five.
Sfx: Transition music. Ship takes off into space.
Dylan: All right what is it, what’s so important that you had to pull me in here to talk to me. I was talking to him.
Isaac: Listen to yourself, calling Graham “him” like he’s “all powerful” or something.
Dylan: (scoffs).
Isaac: Ok, whatever anyway, doesn’t it seem a little weird? Those IGSTA guys sending a “bounty hunter” up here after me.
Dylan: Is that what he chased us for?
Isaac: Yeah, I mean that’s what Morris says. I don’t know, I guess it seems like allot of work just to kill one person, let alone someone who’s not even going to be on earth to ruin their reputation.
Dylan: You mean like you think they came for someone else?
Isaac: Or something else?
Dylan: I wouldn’t be surprised; I mean if this crew was the cream of the crop, the farmers must have had a bad year. (Laughs, her mocking tone turns to affection) except for Graham.
Sfx: play awkward romantic theme.
Isaac: (stops laughing causing Dylan to hear her laugh and stop awkwardly) You really like him now, don’t you?
Dylan: Why wouldn’t I, don’t you? I mean, the guy saved your life, all of our lives for that matter.
Isaac: I know, I know he saved all our lives. I get it. I just thought… I mean you’ve been all over him since he’s gotten back. It’s almost like that planet did something to both of you, I mean I thought I was… and you were…
Dylan: You thought what….
Isaac: (pauses between her dialogue and his, but she quickly snaps back after his comments) Just that….
Dylan: What?
Isaac: Nothing.
Sfx: end awkward romantic theme.
Dylan: Anyway, maybe those IGSTA guys are just scared of you because they know you’re right.
Isaac: I hope so. I hope I’m wrong about that bounty hunter, Osotica, and I hope you’re right about me and....
Sfx: Dylan gets up and opens the door, the talking in the background gets louder.
Morris: Hey common Graham’s telling the crew how he defeated those aliens.
Isaac: ...Graham?
Graham: So I said, “if you think you’re going to get back onto that ship so you can hurt my friends, you’re just going to have to kill me.”
(random crew members): Gasp
Graham: So when he looked down to pull his gun, I got him in the jaw with my right and kicked him where I knew it would hurt a male of any species just as bad as the next.
Random crew: (cringe) ehhh, eewww.
Dylan: That’s so heroic. You know it’s so rare to have someone that would risk his life like that for a chance to save his crew like that.
Graham: Well what was I supposed to do, just let him walk back on board and let him end the future of this mission. The future of earth? No, I had too many lives resting on my shoulders, I couldn’t let them down. So then I got his gun away from him and well... then you know the rest.
Dylan: That’s such a great story.
Isaac: (sighs and walks away)
Sfx: Transition music
Isaac: I don’t know maybe its just me but I would have never pegged Graham to be the type to do something like that.
Morris: I don’t know, situations like that can change a man. The pressure of the situation could have cause him to grow in ways he may have never done on his own. Much like your father.
Isaac: My father?
Sfx: Start nostalgic theme.
Morris: He was a good man. Who knows, maybe he’s not dead after all, just lost. If I know you’re father at all, I know if he is still alive, he’ll be spending every last moment of his life searching for this planet of yours, weather he finds it or not.
Isaac: (optimistically)Yeah I guess so.
Sfx: transition music.
Liam: So how long have you known? When did you find out?
Aurora: Just a few days before the mission, I could feel it, I just knew. But I couldn’t tell Morris. He needed a pilot and I didn’t want to let him down, he already thinks so little of me.
Liam: He’s just old fashioned... sexist if you ask me.
Aurora: Sexist? But I didn’t think there were any of those left, its been almost nearly a century since women….
Liam: I know, I know. I’m not agreeing with him im just explaining that I think he doesn’t think you’re capable of doing your job because you’re a… well, a woman. Now let me get you that medicine you needed.
Sfx: Pulls out a tray with wobbling bottles on it. The door opens. Start disoriented theme.
Graham and Dylan: (laughing) whoa whoops.
Sfx: Graham falls into Liam knocking the pills everywhere and a bottle of beer falls to the ground, glugging as it spills everywhere.
Aurora: Dylan, Graham, are you two drunk?
Graham: Hey…save some for me “Mr. Floor” (laughs), that’s expensive.
Dylan and Graham: (Snickers and then laughing together) no it’s not.
Dylan: Sorry bout the mess doc… captain.
Graham: Yeah, wrong room I guess (laughs drunkenly).
Sfx: They get back up and leave, the door shuts.
Aurora: Oh, I’m so sorry, let me help you clean that up.
Liam: No, please I can get it.
Sfx: start quite sad theme.
Aurora: Oh come on, there’s pills everywhere. It’ll go faster this way.
Sfx: Bump heads as put pills back in the bottle.
(Together): Ouch.
Liam: Oh, sorry I didn’t mean to bump heads, I was just trying to…
aurora: No, No its my fault entirely.
Liam: Okay just make sure to keep them separated, we don’t want to mix these up. For Dylan especially, since she’s allergic to pain killers.
Aurora: Really?
Liam: Yeah it was on her med file. Anyway put the ones that look like this with the little ends on it in here.
Aurora: I think that’s a letter. It looks like E.
Sfx: music stops.
Liam: Oh... really. I didn’t. (Awkward silence and pause)
Aurora: Are you... can you... (pause) nah.
Liam (cuts her off and starts talking nervously fast): Anyway just put them in the bottle and we can get this all over with. They make a weird couple don’t they? Before the whole situation she hated his guts and now its like he’s a whole different person to her since he told that story… (pause) What? Why are you looking at me like that.
Aurora (softly): You cant read can you.
Liam: (Scoffs) I can read just fine, how do you think I… I…
Aurora: Then read this. (pause)
Liam: It says.. (struggles) I… I can’t read, there are you happy.
Sfx: Liam walks over to the computer and types something in.
Liam: I can’t read... write, but who needs to? Everyone just types anyway... I mean the pills... I just memorize how they look, the computer’s got a photo for all of them. I sort of have a photographic memory that way, and if I can’t get it, I use the computer’s vocalizer, and it reads it to me.
Sfx: Hits the return key and the computerized voice reads out loud “dicosa-hex-anoic acid, also called DHA, an excellent source for omega-3 fatty acids, prominently used in prenatal supplements.”
Liam: See.
Aurora: Well anyone would have had trouble reading that one, but you really cant read... anything.
Sfx: start tension theme.
Liam: Please, don’t tell Morris he’ll throw me off. I can do my job, honest.
Aurora: Why are you avoiding the problem, trying to find ways to get around it
Liam: Well… I…
Aurora: When we could just fix it.
Sfx: Music changes to happy optimistic theme.
Liam: (Pause) What do you mean?
Aurora (slowly and emphasizing every word): Why don’t I teach you how to read and write?
Liam: (Stammering) You... you would do...? (pause) nah, you don’t have to, I’ll be--
Aurora: Liam. I want to.
Sfx: Transitional music
Aurora: Alright, so now that were back on track and have a fully functional ship again lets get pointed back in the right direction. Isaac.
Isaac: Oh you mean me? (Pause) Oh, okay just give me one second to check our current coordinates against the star map.
Sfx: Types something into the computer and then flips through a book.
Sfx: Start point of interest theme.
Morris: You still have his space logs? I thought you said you destroyed it.
Gail: You were bluffing? You lied to a board of IGSTA members?
Isaac: I did, I just printed off a back up copy first. I was trying to let them know that they weren’t intimidating me when they started threatening me. I was trying to stay in control, (sighs) but you can see how well that went.
Aurora: Yeah, well.
Isaac: Alright so were about 30 keks from Neb-kinar which would make that one La Kempla 22, the furthest of Becksar’s moons. And given the time of year and their position in orbit we need to be headed toward, about where that bright star is over there in the Lantijj nebula.
Aurora: Wait... that’s no star, its getting bigger. it’s a…
Morris: A ship. And not just any ship.
Sfx: Ominous tension theme starts.
Isaac: Yeah, I know that ship.
Aurora: Osotica, the bounty hunter.
Sfx: His ship gets closer and closer.
Aurora: He must have just finished tracking our fallout trail through hyperspace.
Isaac: What do we do!?
Aurora: Same thing we did last time. (louder and over the intercom) Dylan, Graham, get up to the bridge immediately.
Dylan: But it didn’t work, he still found us - just as you said.
Morris: It failed at keeping us safe, but it did do one thing right - which is what I need it to do now, and that is buy us enough time to come up with a better plan. Because right now we don’t have either.
Sfx: A door opens and Dylan and Graham come through the door, take their seats and start typing.
Dylan: We’re here Captain.
Morris: Well, get us anywhere but.
Dylan: Right away, I’m calculating a clear path through hyperspace, the engine needs about ten seconds to charge.
Sfx: start building adventure music. The engines start to charge up. Bob walks up his metal feet on the grates of the ship’s main deck give him away.
Morris: Bob what are you doing up here?! Get in the back where you’re supposed to be!
Dylan: Five seconds.
Morris: Everyone hold on to something and Dylan, tell Osotica…
Sfx: The engine reaches maximum charge and tries to complete the jump, but then fails and sputters to a halt. The music changes to the tension theme.
Isaac: …Hello?
Aurora: What just happened? Why aren’t we moving?
Morris: I don’t, I don’t know. Damage report, are we hit?
Graham: Negative. There must be something wrong with the engines.
Bob: If I may, that’s what I was trying to explain. The ship has informed me that we are unable to complete the jump into hyperspace because one of the nuclear cores, required to fold space, is either malfunctioning... or missing.
Morris: (Yelling) What?! I thought you said you fixed it.
Graham (clulessly): I did, it must have been “those” aliens, “that Pat-mok,” must of done something to screw it up.
Morris: Whatever the excuse, get below and fix it! And be quick about it!
Sfx: The door opens, Graham runs out, the door shuts.
Dylan: He’s hailing us.
MORRIS: Put him on.
SFX: The radio comes on and shifts through static before tuning in on the signal.
BOUNTY HUNTER: By order of IGSTA, lower your speed and land your ship immediately or I will be forced to destroy you. Take my word for it when I tell you I wont be as stupid as to allow you jump into hyperspace again, not that it did you any good last time. (Pause) Now hand him over.
Morris: Turn him off.
Sfx: Shuffles through static before transmission is ended.
Morris: Aurora take over, Isaac help me man the guns. Battle stations!
Isaac: But I thought you said we wouldn’t stand a chance against a…
Morris: Forget what I said and just help me. We don’t have a choice. Right now it’s kill or be killed.
Sfx: Isaac and Morris run to and arm the gun turrets. Start desperate/stressful adventure theme.
Morris: Hey Isaac, that big red switch on your left…
Isaac: Yeah?
Morris: That’s your targeting computer, flip it on. It will help you lock onto his position.
Sfx: They turn on the screens, load the guns, swivel and rotate into position and then fire. The shots whiz by with no hits as Osotica’s ship dodges them. Then he fires back, which should be a distinctly different sounding laser.
Morris: Aurora, evasive maneuvers, he’s firing back.
Aurora: I see him.
Sfx: Each ship dives and climbs each out maneuvering the other and firing but no hits.
Isaac (aggravated): Rrrr. He so much faster than we are!
Morris: It’s a merc ship were an exploration vehicle, go figure.
Sfx: The dogfight continues.
Morris: Aurora, Can you get us in closer, we can’t get a clean shot from back…
Sfx: The ship swerves and dodges all but one shot, which destroys Morris’ turret causing his screen to go to static.
Morris: Rrrr. (hits the computer) He got me, it’s all on you Isaac.
Sfx: Dogfight continues, music builds.
Morris: Stop throwing away so many shots, use your computer and aim before you fi…
Sfx: The Osotica fires and destroys Isaac’s turret causing his screen to go to static. End on gloomy note, pessimistic.
Morris: (sighs) I didn’t even get to finish…
Isaac: That’s it, were done.
Morris: That’s it.
Morris: We got no more guns, we got no more options, we either do what he says or were dead.
Isaac: Well we haven’t, so why aren’t we… dead I mean. Why doesn’t he just shoot us right now.
Dylan: He’s hailing us.
Morris: Put him on.
Isaac: I guess we’ll find out, if it really is me he wants.
SFX: The radio comes on and shifts through static before tuning in on the signal. The music changes to tension music.
Bounty hunter: This is your final warning, I am maneuvering my ship to dock with yours, if you decline to let me aboard I will be forced to destroy your ship and everyone aboard.
Dylan: If you could have killed us you would have done it already. We have someone you need don’t we. You cant kill us, isn’t that right.
Sfx: point of interest theme.
Aurora: Dylan?!
Bounty hunter: (Laughs) You are clever, but wrong.
Sfx: Plot thickens theme, gloomy.
Gail: Dylan?! Now he’s going to kill us, you idiot.
Bounty hunter: I don’t need someone but something. You must know you are carrying a stolen 808 unit aboard your ship.
Aurora: That’s how he’s been finding us.
Dylan: You mean Bob?
Isaac: I knew they weren’t after me.
Aurora: He’s about to dock with our ship.
Bounty hunter: Now hand over the stolen property.
Sfx: start heroic optimistic theme. A third ship’s gun’s fire and hit the Bounty Hunter’s ship, sending him spiraling.
Bounty hunter: Arg!
Sfx: Bounty hunters signal breaks up into static. The third ship gets closer (should sound different) and fires a few more shots (which should also be distinct from the other two ships.)
Bounty hunter: This isn’t over, the 808 unit cannot hide from me.
Sfx: The bounty hunter’s ship speeds away damaged. Music ends on heroic note.
Dylan: The other ship is hailing us.
Morris: Put them on, lets see if the beings aboard the ship really helped us or if they just want us all to themselves.
SFX: The radio comes on and shifts through static before tuning in on the signal.
Third ship: This is the NSS Vanguard of earth, do you read us.
Dylan: They’re human.
Morris: That’s the first search ship, the one they sent before we left.
Gail: They said it was lost.
Isaac: That’s my father’s ship.
Sfx: Cliffhanger ending theme, similar to the lost theme.
DJ: Join us next week for the exciting continuation of Terra Novus every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
This episode featured the talents of
Writer: _________
And featuring the voices of (actors say their name): ________
Music and Sound FX by: __________
Mixed by:_______
This has been a presentation of SCAD Radio Dramas, tune in every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
Terra Novus, Ep. 2 - Repairs
DJ: And now for our feature presentation of TERRA NOVUS: Created and presented by SCAD Radio Dramas (Scattered).
Sfx: intro theme
dj: last week on terra novous...
sfx: slowly the sound of another ship gets louder and louder.
ISAAC: Does anyone else hear that?
DYLAN: Yeah. It sounds like another…
AURORA (over the intercom): Incoming!
SFX: Blasters fire multiple times the ship is hit, it shakes and rattles throwing the crew around.
(Cut to)
Dylan: Their hailing us.
MORRIS: Put them on.
SFX: The radio comes on and shifts through static before tuning in on the signal.
BOUNTY HUNTER: By order of IGSTA, lower your speed and land your ship immediately or I will be forced to destroy you.
ISAAC: Is that who I think it is, are they after me?
GRAHAM (irritated): No, it’s a skiptracer? A merc?
ISAAC: A what?
MORRIS: It’s bounty hunter who wants your head!
SFX: Cliffhanger ending theme starts then ends.
Dj: And now for the continuation of Terra Novus. Episode two.
Isaac: Are we gonna stop.
Morris: No.
gail: No? I don’t think that would be very....
Morris: Oh, don’t get me started Gail.
Isaac: Who are you.
Gail: My name is Gail. I was sent by my employer to make sure his funds were not being misspent.
Morris: Hey don’t look at me kid. I just said I had a ship - not a crew, and definitely not the money to pay them.
Isaac: So, what?
Morris: So I had to get someone to back us, to pay for fuel and food and all the other stuff that goes along with a space expedition. I didn’t know I was gonna get one of the financier’s daughters looking over my shoulder every move I made!
Gail: Looking over your shoulder! Well if you didn’t decide to....
Graham: Guys! Please. If we can get back to the task at hand, we have a bounty hunter who’s ready to blast into the cosmos if we don’t reply.
Gail: Take this ship down, that’s an IGSTA bounty hunter. If we do whatever you’re thinking of doing, well never be able to come back to earth without being locked up the second we land. Not just you, all of us. This decision will impact all of us.
Morris: This expedition will impact everyone on earth if we find what were looking for.
Graham: And well all be rich enough to bail ourselves out of jail.
sfx: plot thickens theme.
Isaac: (pause) Rich? You’re doing this for money?
Graham: Well that was the plan wasn’t it? We find where this thing is and then sell the coordinates off to...
Sfx: Morris punches Graham, who falls to the ground.
Morris: Take a load off, you must be winded after running your mouth’s been doing.
Isaac: Sell?!!
Morris: Can we talk about this later kid, I have something a little more important to deal with right now!
Isaac: So what are we gonna do? Are we gonna fight back? (Sarcastically) Or are you just gonna pay him off?
Morris: (Groans)
Gail: No. We can’t fight back, we have to do what he wants.
Graham: I agree with the first part, we can’t fight back against a “merc ship,” we wouldn’t stand a chance. It’s designed for battle.
Isaac: Then what?
Dylan: Run.
Sfx: start tension-adventure music.
Morris: Aurora, do we have a clear trajectory for hyper speed?
Sfx: Dylan types something.
Aurorra: Way ahead of you, rerouting course and inputting coordinates, well be ready in about ten seconds.
Sfx: (bounty hunter repeats his call) this is the final warning, hand him over.
Aurora: five seconds.
Sfx: Hyperspeed starts charging up louder and louder.
Gail: You can’t do this!
Morris: I’ll be the one to tell give the orders here!
Aurora: Three, two, one, pause.
Sfx: The hyperspeed is engaged, sounding somewhat like a nuclear explosion and the ship is sent hurling through space at an incredible speed. After a few seconds, it starts to slow down and eventually idles.
Aurora: Everyone okay back there?
Gail: As long as we plan on living the rest of our days in space.
Graham: Yeah were okay, but it looks like that bounty hunter of yours must have blasted off a couple of pot shots at us before we took off.
Aurora: We have to keep moving, that bounty hunter could easily follow our fallout trail through hyperspace that these old NSS spaceships leave behind after a jump like that.
Gail: Hold on just a minute. NSS, fallout, you mean like a “nuclear space ship?!” I thought all nuclear space ships were either outlawed or dismantled.
Isaac: Why?
Morris: All but one. This old beast uses a duel-nuclear-core to fold space the old fashion way. You see, just one more reason they could not find out about my launch hanger.
Gail: He’s not the only one who would have been less than excited to find out about your illegal space craft. My employer for example; your funder?
Graham: Well you’re employer is not here! If he cared so much about our little expedition, why didn’t he come along himself - instead of sending his little errand boy to watch over us?
Gail: Why you little...I’m not a....
Sfx: Aurora opens the door and we can hear her in person.
Aurorra: Stop it. Stop fighting, we have made enough enemies for today, we need not make any more within.
Morris: (pause) Well put. Isaac, let me introduce you to our pilot. Aurora.
Aurora: How do you do.
Isaac: Good, I’m... good.
Aurora: Good, well I’m afraid this is no time for introductions, we need to focus here people. Graham, can the ship keep moving or not?
Graham: No. The ship’s too weak to withstand another jump. Normally the hits we took from Osotica’s laser cannons wouldn’t have done too much damage, but all our power was diverted to the hyperdrive, which left us defenseless.
Aurora: Great, just great. So what do you suggest we do?
Isaac: We can hide. There’s a planet not too far from here.
Sfx: Isaac types on the computer bringing up the coordinates.
Isaac: It looks like Neb-kinar is the name of it.
Sfx: start eerie music.
Morris: Neb-kinar? Isn’t that hell-hole inhabited by the Kodukai.
Graham: It shouldn’t be a problem - if we don’t stay too long.
Aurora: and come in quiet.
Graham: Right. They normally avoid humans unless there’s something we have that they want.
Isaac: What if they want me, what if they know about me?
Aurora: He’s right. When the bounty hunter comes out of hyperspace, he could put out a reward transmission for the boy’s whereabouts.
Graham: Yeah but they wont even know were there, let alone that the kid’s with us. We’ll be fine. And the repairs won’t take that long, I just can’t have the ships systems running while I repair the engine.
Aurora: Fine, but make it speedy, just the essentials – I’m not jeopardizing the safety of this crew so you can scrape astronicles off the hull.
Graham: Yes ma’am.
Aurora: Alright. A short break then, while I input the coordinates. But nobody get too comfortable, we begin our decent in five minutes.
Morris: Well, that gives me just enough time to introduce you to the crew.
Isaac: Or how about explain yourself!
Morris: That was obviously Aurorra, she’s the pilot. And I already introduced you to Graham, he’s the resident mechanic and repairs guy.
Graham: I’ll be on the engine deck.
Morris: I take it you got acquainted with Dylan when we took off. She’s our communications expert, Mrs. “Loud and Clear” if im not mistaken.
Isaac: (chuckles) yeah, I remember. Now about the-
Morris: Then there’s Liam, he’s our medical technician.
Isaac: A doctor?
Morris: Yeah, but he’s usually in the Medical quarters, since he can’t do anything of use up here on the main deck. Now, lets see if I’m forgetting anyone. Oh.. then there is 808.
Issac:808?
Morris: Yeah, he’s an android. He likes to be called Bob - makes him feel more human (scoffs).
Sfx: The robot walks up, we can hear his mechanical footsteps across the metal deck.
Morris: Speak of the devil.
Bob (always has a mechanical voice): You were talking about me?
Morris: Yeah, I was just introducing Isaac here to the crew, and “hardware” obviously.
Morris: Are you referring to me?
Morris: (Laughs) anyways he can translate for us, but for the most part, he tries to keep us up to date on the ship’s status and problems.
Bob: Mr. Morris, might I have a word with you.
Morris: I told you, you can cut that “Mr.” stuff. Just call me Morris. Aren’t you supposed to be a smart robot.
Bob: I am not a robot, I am a...
Morris: Yeah, ok I get it. Isaac would you excuse me.
Isaac: Sure.
Sfx: Isaac walks away.
Morris: Sure, what is it, what do you need you walking calculator?
Bob: I’m sorry sir, but I overheard Mr. Graham say the ship had been damaged. Normally I would be notified of such an incident from the ship’s computer but I searched the ships damage log and found nothing like what Mr. Graham was describing.
Morris: (Pause) maybe the ships computer got hit. Better check again just to be sure.
Bob: I ran searches several times sir, the bounty hunter fired at us many times - but never hit us, and the ship has sustained no damage since we’ve left.
Morris: Weird. I’ll have to have Graham re-uplink you to the ships computer, you might have a bad connection or something.
Aurora (over the intercom): (Everyone to your seats, were beginning our decent)
Morris: You heard the woman. Until Graham can get around to it, why don’t you go back to your chamber and lock-in.
Bob: But sir...
Morris: That was an order, not a request!
Sfx: Morris walks away. Then transition music. We can hear the ship hovering down to the planet surface and land.
Aurora: Powering down.
Sfx: All power turns off, the hum of the ship finally stops.
Aurora: Graham! Get out to the engine room and get on those repairs.
Graham (sarcastically): Yes ma’am.
Sfx: a large piston controlled ramp folds down and Graham walks down to go outside.
Sfx: Transition music. Then start thoughtful theme.
Bob: Ms. Dylan.
Dylan: Yes, ah, Android 808.
Bob: Please, call me BOB. It makes me feel more human.
Dylan: Ok “bob”, well did you need something.
Bob: Am I, in any way, performing my job improperly? I feel as though I am running as efficient as my capacity allows and yet I cant help but noticing that Mr. Morris seems to believe I am defective in some way.
Dylan: No. You’re fine, it’s not you specifically. Its your kind, what you are. He just doesn’t trust robots, or technology for that matter. He grew up before everything was digital, before A.I., before there were robots on every space ship. He’s just not used to it.
Bob: Oh. (Pause) may I ask another question?
Dylan: Sure.
Bob: You said AI, by which I infer you meant “artificial” intelligence. But am I not a truly intelligent being. I posses all the known facts, of fields such as science and math known to man - at a far deeper level than any one human could memorize, and my calculations are always more than 99 percent accurate - so how can I not be considered a legitimately intelligent being. Why can you humans not grant me that title so that I may have some, some... dignity. (Pause) Mr. Morris seems to believe that any miscalculation must be in my error. As though I am inferior. Or subordinate to human knowledge.
Dylan: (Sighs) 808?
Bob: Please, call me Bob. I do not wish to be recognized as a superior being, but perhaps just as a peer, at the very least.
Dylan: Bob, Maybe he thinks that humans are superior because they created the robots. Your knowledge is based on our knowledge.
Bob: But is it not true that there now are robots that create robots. You did not learn yourself how to operate your communications station, but were rather basing your knowledge on something someone else told you, just as I am mine.
Dylan: Yes, I suppose that’s true. But they created you for a purpose, to make life easier for us, humans.
Bob: For leisure.
Dylan: Well yes, so they could be lazy, but also to break up the workload so each part, be it robot or human, could do its job as best it could.
Bob: Robots do not get lazy, they do not work so they can relax, they only wish to improve themselves.
Dylan: Look, I don’t agree with Morris, I’m just trying to help you understand him. (Pause) I don’t know if it helps, but my daddy used to always say that being smart was knowing facts but being wise was knowing how to use those facts.
Bob: You mean he may look at me as possessing knowledge but incapable of making my own decisions.
Sfx: start calm sad theme.
Dylan: -With that knowledge... Yes, I guess.
Bob: Like a tool.
Dylan: Yes. (Sighs)
Bob: Oh, (pause) please excuse me.
Dylan: I’m sorry... bob.
Bob: No, all is well. You may go back to referring to me as 808. It must have been insulting for me to ask for a human to refer to me by a name instead of a number. A Binary code. What would I know, I don’t have feelings. I am just a tool, a machine. “A walking calculator” am I not.
Dylan: Bob?
Aurora (over the intercom): Everyone. Up to the main deck. We’ve got a situation. 808 I’ll need you as well.
Dylan: (Sighs)
sfx: Transition music.
Isaac: What’s going on.
Aurora: Look. Over there, (pause) three of the Kodukai have captured Graham while he was outside working on the ship.
Sfx: start threatening/tension music.
Dylan: It looks like there’s been no signal sent by Osotica that would alert them to you Issac.
Isaac: Then what could they want, I thought you said they avoid humans?
Morris: They do.
Aurora: They’ve been communicating with us but it’s in their native language, 808 can you translate what their saying? Here, I’ll put them on speaker.
Durkal (the Kodukai sound very snake-like): (speaks in his native language.)
808: They say that they will kill him unless we let them board the ship.
Dylan: Has he finished the repairs to this ship yet.
Aurora: Negative.
Bob: Mr. Morris if you recall, my scanners detected no...
Morris: Then we don’t have a choice. (Sigh) Let them on.
Gail: Remember we have to be as diplomatic about this as possible.
Morris: Diplomacy was never one of my strong points.
Sfx: Unholsters and loads laser gun. Transition music. Door opens and aliens board.
Pat-mok: speaks.
808: He says for you to put down your weapons or he’ll kill Graham.
Morris: Looks like you win.
Gail: See, I told you.
Morris: All right, you heard him. Put them down.
Sfx: Put guns down.
Pat-mok: speaks.
Bob: he says his name is Pat-mok. you will stay here under the watch of his brother, Jurik, while he and his father, Durkal, search the ship for anything of use before they destroy it.
Sfx: start concerned tension theme.
Morris: Destroy it!?
Issac: you mean like blow it up?! with us on it?
Pat-mok: Alien voice
bob: he reminds you to remember, if you try anything he will kill Graham.
Pat-mok (angry): Alien voice
Graham: All right all right im coming, you don’t have to pull so hard.
Sfx: Door opens, the aliens walk through, the door shuts. music builds tension. The alien pulls some metal objects out a pouch.
Jurkal: speaks.
Bob: he says to put your hands out, close together.
Isaac: what are those?
Dylan: They look like some kind of laser-binders.
Sfx: the alien walks to the first person, then stops. He turns on the first pair, they hum like a lightsaber.
Isaac: like handcuffs?
Dylan: Yeah.
Sfx: start concerned/tension theme. (Pause) then the alien sniffs a few times.
Durkal: speaks.
Aurora: what’s wrong, why isn’t he moving on to you guys.
Bob: He says he likes you.
Durkal: speaks.
Bob: and he says he can smell that you’re...
Aurora: (Pause) What? That im what?
Bob: pregnant?
Sfx: start plot thickens theme. Slimy wet sounds, as the alien licks Aurora.
Aurora: Oh my god, that’s his tongue?
Sfx: wet sounds continue.
Aurora: gags, and coughs. His breath is horrible.
Liam: get off her, hey you hear me?
Sfx: Liam gets up and walks over to stop him.
Liam: Hey. Don’t you lay a finger... or tongue, on her.
sfx: the alien hits him, knocking him to the floor.
Liam: Oof.
Jurik (angry): speaks.
Isaac: you okay?
Liam: I will be, once we get those guys out of here. Man they’ve got a strong back hand.
Sfx: the alien turns on another pair of laser binders.
Liam: I’m Liam, (grunts from the pain) by the way.
Isaac: Isaac.
Liam: You’ll have to me if I don’t shake your hand.
Jurik (yelling): speaks.
Bob: he ask for you to be quiet and that there be no more talking.
Sfx: start sneaky tension theme.
Morris: hey! (Quieter) Isaac.
Isaac: (whispering) yeah.
Morris (whispering): if I create a distraction him you think you can get his laser gun away from him.
Isaac (whispering): I don’t know, I’ve never....
morris (whispering): Fine, you want to be the distraction?
Liam (whispering): (angry and through his teeth) I can do it, whatever it takes, I can’t stand seeing her looked at by him, touched by him.
Morris (whispering): Look I don’t care who does it, or what we do, but somehow we gotta find a way to overthrow him and get his gun before the other two get back.
Jurik: yells.
bob: he most seriously insists, no talking.
Morris: (whispering) And quietly, so the other two don’t hear.
Liam (whispering): And before he does anything to Aurora, or her child.
Morris (a little louder, angry): I never would have recruited her had I known she was pregnant.
Liam (a little louder): this is no time to hold a grudge! It doesn’t matter now, focus on...
Sfx: Alien punches him
liam: oof
Jurik: yells.
Bob: he says, if anyone talks again it will cost you the life of a crew member.
Sfx: the alien loads his laser gun. Pat-mok and Graham can be heard talking from the next room over indistinctly and increasingly louder.
issac (whispering): hey, you guys hear that?
Dylan (whispering): Barley, I can hardly make it out.
Gail (whispering): quiet down over there you two, you want to get us all killed?
Sfx: start tricky double-cross theme.
graham (muffled and from the next room over): look that wasn’t part of the plan. I’m out.
Pat-mok (from the next room over): Alien talks angrily.
Graham (from the next room over): no. there’s no deal!
Pat-mok (from the next room over):Alien yells
graham (from the next room over): well I don’t care, you cant just go and bomb all those people like that. You didn’t tell me that’s what you were going to use it for. Why us why not some other species. Find someone else.
Sfx: music starts increasing tension, building.
Pat-mok (from the next room over): alien yells.
Graham (from the next room over): what?
Pat-mok (from the next room over): Alien yells angry.
Sfx: Pat-mok unholsters and loads his gun.
Graham (from the next room over): No!
sfx (from the next room over): A few gun blasts go off.
Dylan: Graham!
sfx: cliffhanger ending theme.
DJ: Join us next week for the exciting continuation of Terra Novus every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
This episode featured the talents of
Writer: _________
And featuring the voices of (actors say their name): ________
Music and Sound FX by: __________
Mixed by:_______
This has been a presentation of SCAD Radio Dramas, tune in every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
Sfx: intro theme
dj: last week on terra novous...
sfx: slowly the sound of another ship gets louder and louder.
ISAAC: Does anyone else hear that?
DYLAN: Yeah. It sounds like another…
AURORA (over the intercom): Incoming!
SFX: Blasters fire multiple times the ship is hit, it shakes and rattles throwing the crew around.
(Cut to)
Dylan: Their hailing us.
MORRIS: Put them on.
SFX: The radio comes on and shifts through static before tuning in on the signal.
BOUNTY HUNTER: By order of IGSTA, lower your speed and land your ship immediately or I will be forced to destroy you.
ISAAC: Is that who I think it is, are they after me?
GRAHAM (irritated): No, it’s a skiptracer? A merc?
ISAAC: A what?
MORRIS: It’s bounty hunter who wants your head!
SFX: Cliffhanger ending theme starts then ends.
Dj: And now for the continuation of Terra Novus. Episode two.
Isaac: Are we gonna stop.
Morris: No.
gail: No? I don’t think that would be very....
Morris: Oh, don’t get me started Gail.
Isaac: Who are you.
Gail: My name is Gail. I was sent by my employer to make sure his funds were not being misspent.
Morris: Hey don’t look at me kid. I just said I had a ship - not a crew, and definitely not the money to pay them.
Isaac: So, what?
Morris: So I had to get someone to back us, to pay for fuel and food and all the other stuff that goes along with a space expedition. I didn’t know I was gonna get one of the financier’s daughters looking over my shoulder every move I made!
Gail: Looking over your shoulder! Well if you didn’t decide to....
Graham: Guys! Please. If we can get back to the task at hand, we have a bounty hunter who’s ready to blast into the cosmos if we don’t reply.
Gail: Take this ship down, that’s an IGSTA bounty hunter. If we do whatever you’re thinking of doing, well never be able to come back to earth without being locked up the second we land. Not just you, all of us. This decision will impact all of us.
Morris: This expedition will impact everyone on earth if we find what were looking for.
Graham: And well all be rich enough to bail ourselves out of jail.
sfx: plot thickens theme.
Isaac: (pause) Rich? You’re doing this for money?
Graham: Well that was the plan wasn’t it? We find where this thing is and then sell the coordinates off to...
Sfx: Morris punches Graham, who falls to the ground.
Morris: Take a load off, you must be winded after running your mouth’s been doing.
Isaac: Sell?!!
Morris: Can we talk about this later kid, I have something a little more important to deal with right now!
Isaac: So what are we gonna do? Are we gonna fight back? (Sarcastically) Or are you just gonna pay him off?
Morris: (Groans)
Gail: No. We can’t fight back, we have to do what he wants.
Graham: I agree with the first part, we can’t fight back against a “merc ship,” we wouldn’t stand a chance. It’s designed for battle.
Isaac: Then what?
Dylan: Run.
Sfx: start tension-adventure music.
Morris: Aurora, do we have a clear trajectory for hyper speed?
Sfx: Dylan types something.
Aurorra: Way ahead of you, rerouting course and inputting coordinates, well be ready in about ten seconds.
Sfx: (bounty hunter repeats his call) this is the final warning, hand him over.
Aurora: five seconds.
Sfx: Hyperspeed starts charging up louder and louder.
Gail: You can’t do this!
Morris: I’ll be the one to tell give the orders here!
Aurora: Three, two, one, pause.
Sfx: The hyperspeed is engaged, sounding somewhat like a nuclear explosion and the ship is sent hurling through space at an incredible speed. After a few seconds, it starts to slow down and eventually idles.
Aurora: Everyone okay back there?
Gail: As long as we plan on living the rest of our days in space.
Graham: Yeah were okay, but it looks like that bounty hunter of yours must have blasted off a couple of pot shots at us before we took off.
Aurora: We have to keep moving, that bounty hunter could easily follow our fallout trail through hyperspace that these old NSS spaceships leave behind after a jump like that.
Gail: Hold on just a minute. NSS, fallout, you mean like a “nuclear space ship?!” I thought all nuclear space ships were either outlawed or dismantled.
Isaac: Why?
Morris: All but one. This old beast uses a duel-nuclear-core to fold space the old fashion way. You see, just one more reason they could not find out about my launch hanger.
Gail: He’s not the only one who would have been less than excited to find out about your illegal space craft. My employer for example; your funder?
Graham: Well you’re employer is not here! If he cared so much about our little expedition, why didn’t he come along himself - instead of sending his little errand boy to watch over us?
Gail: Why you little...I’m not a....
Sfx: Aurora opens the door and we can hear her in person.
Aurorra: Stop it. Stop fighting, we have made enough enemies for today, we need not make any more within.
Morris: (pause) Well put. Isaac, let me introduce you to our pilot. Aurora.
Aurora: How do you do.
Isaac: Good, I’m... good.
Aurora: Good, well I’m afraid this is no time for introductions, we need to focus here people. Graham, can the ship keep moving or not?
Graham: No. The ship’s too weak to withstand another jump. Normally the hits we took from Osotica’s laser cannons wouldn’t have done too much damage, but all our power was diverted to the hyperdrive, which left us defenseless.
Aurora: Great, just great. So what do you suggest we do?
Isaac: We can hide. There’s a planet not too far from here.
Sfx: Isaac types on the computer bringing up the coordinates.
Isaac: It looks like Neb-kinar is the name of it.
Sfx: start eerie music.
Morris: Neb-kinar? Isn’t that hell-hole inhabited by the Kodukai.
Graham: It shouldn’t be a problem - if we don’t stay too long.
Aurora: and come in quiet.
Graham: Right. They normally avoid humans unless there’s something we have that they want.
Isaac: What if they want me, what if they know about me?
Aurora: He’s right. When the bounty hunter comes out of hyperspace, he could put out a reward transmission for the boy’s whereabouts.
Graham: Yeah but they wont even know were there, let alone that the kid’s with us. We’ll be fine. And the repairs won’t take that long, I just can’t have the ships systems running while I repair the engine.
Aurora: Fine, but make it speedy, just the essentials – I’m not jeopardizing the safety of this crew so you can scrape astronicles off the hull.
Graham: Yes ma’am.
Aurora: Alright. A short break then, while I input the coordinates. But nobody get too comfortable, we begin our decent in five minutes.
Morris: Well, that gives me just enough time to introduce you to the crew.
Isaac: Or how about explain yourself!
Morris: That was obviously Aurorra, she’s the pilot. And I already introduced you to Graham, he’s the resident mechanic and repairs guy.
Graham: I’ll be on the engine deck.
Morris: I take it you got acquainted with Dylan when we took off. She’s our communications expert, Mrs. “Loud and Clear” if im not mistaken.
Isaac: (chuckles) yeah, I remember. Now about the-
Morris: Then there’s Liam, he’s our medical technician.
Isaac: A doctor?
Morris: Yeah, but he’s usually in the Medical quarters, since he can’t do anything of use up here on the main deck. Now, lets see if I’m forgetting anyone. Oh.. then there is 808.
Issac:808?
Morris: Yeah, he’s an android. He likes to be called Bob - makes him feel more human (scoffs).
Sfx: The robot walks up, we can hear his mechanical footsteps across the metal deck.
Morris: Speak of the devil.
Bob (always has a mechanical voice): You were talking about me?
Morris: Yeah, I was just introducing Isaac here to the crew, and “hardware” obviously.
Morris: Are you referring to me?
Morris: (Laughs) anyways he can translate for us, but for the most part, he tries to keep us up to date on the ship’s status and problems.
Bob: Mr. Morris, might I have a word with you.
Morris: I told you, you can cut that “Mr.” stuff. Just call me Morris. Aren’t you supposed to be a smart robot.
Bob: I am not a robot, I am a...
Morris: Yeah, ok I get it. Isaac would you excuse me.
Isaac: Sure.
Sfx: Isaac walks away.
Morris: Sure, what is it, what do you need you walking calculator?
Bob: I’m sorry sir, but I overheard Mr. Graham say the ship had been damaged. Normally I would be notified of such an incident from the ship’s computer but I searched the ships damage log and found nothing like what Mr. Graham was describing.
Morris: (Pause) maybe the ships computer got hit. Better check again just to be sure.
Bob: I ran searches several times sir, the bounty hunter fired at us many times - but never hit us, and the ship has sustained no damage since we’ve left.
Morris: Weird. I’ll have to have Graham re-uplink you to the ships computer, you might have a bad connection or something.
Aurora (over the intercom): (Everyone to your seats, were beginning our decent)
Morris: You heard the woman. Until Graham can get around to it, why don’t you go back to your chamber and lock-in.
Bob: But sir...
Morris: That was an order, not a request!
Sfx: Morris walks away. Then transition music. We can hear the ship hovering down to the planet surface and land.
Aurora: Powering down.
Sfx: All power turns off, the hum of the ship finally stops.
Aurora: Graham! Get out to the engine room and get on those repairs.
Graham (sarcastically): Yes ma’am.
Sfx: a large piston controlled ramp folds down and Graham walks down to go outside.
Sfx: Transition music. Then start thoughtful theme.
Bob: Ms. Dylan.
Dylan: Yes, ah, Android 808.
Bob: Please, call me BOB. It makes me feel more human.
Dylan: Ok “bob”, well did you need something.
Bob: Am I, in any way, performing my job improperly? I feel as though I am running as efficient as my capacity allows and yet I cant help but noticing that Mr. Morris seems to believe I am defective in some way.
Dylan: No. You’re fine, it’s not you specifically. Its your kind, what you are. He just doesn’t trust robots, or technology for that matter. He grew up before everything was digital, before A.I., before there were robots on every space ship. He’s just not used to it.
Bob: Oh. (Pause) may I ask another question?
Dylan: Sure.
Bob: You said AI, by which I infer you meant “artificial” intelligence. But am I not a truly intelligent being. I posses all the known facts, of fields such as science and math known to man - at a far deeper level than any one human could memorize, and my calculations are always more than 99 percent accurate - so how can I not be considered a legitimately intelligent being. Why can you humans not grant me that title so that I may have some, some... dignity. (Pause) Mr. Morris seems to believe that any miscalculation must be in my error. As though I am inferior. Or subordinate to human knowledge.
Dylan: (Sighs) 808?
Bob: Please, call me Bob. I do not wish to be recognized as a superior being, but perhaps just as a peer, at the very least.
Dylan: Bob, Maybe he thinks that humans are superior because they created the robots. Your knowledge is based on our knowledge.
Bob: But is it not true that there now are robots that create robots. You did not learn yourself how to operate your communications station, but were rather basing your knowledge on something someone else told you, just as I am mine.
Dylan: Yes, I suppose that’s true. But they created you for a purpose, to make life easier for us, humans.
Bob: For leisure.
Dylan: Well yes, so they could be lazy, but also to break up the workload so each part, be it robot or human, could do its job as best it could.
Bob: Robots do not get lazy, they do not work so they can relax, they only wish to improve themselves.
Dylan: Look, I don’t agree with Morris, I’m just trying to help you understand him. (Pause) I don’t know if it helps, but my daddy used to always say that being smart was knowing facts but being wise was knowing how to use those facts.
Bob: You mean he may look at me as possessing knowledge but incapable of making my own decisions.
Sfx: start calm sad theme.
Dylan: -With that knowledge... Yes, I guess.
Bob: Like a tool.
Dylan: Yes. (Sighs)
Bob: Oh, (pause) please excuse me.
Dylan: I’m sorry... bob.
Bob: No, all is well. You may go back to referring to me as 808. It must have been insulting for me to ask for a human to refer to me by a name instead of a number. A Binary code. What would I know, I don’t have feelings. I am just a tool, a machine. “A walking calculator” am I not.
Dylan: Bob?
Aurora (over the intercom): Everyone. Up to the main deck. We’ve got a situation. 808 I’ll need you as well.
Dylan: (Sighs)
sfx: Transition music.
Isaac: What’s going on.
Aurora: Look. Over there, (pause) three of the Kodukai have captured Graham while he was outside working on the ship.
Sfx: start threatening/tension music.
Dylan: It looks like there’s been no signal sent by Osotica that would alert them to you Issac.
Isaac: Then what could they want, I thought you said they avoid humans?
Morris: They do.
Aurora: They’ve been communicating with us but it’s in their native language, 808 can you translate what their saying? Here, I’ll put them on speaker.
Durkal (the Kodukai sound very snake-like): (speaks in his native language.)
808: They say that they will kill him unless we let them board the ship.
Dylan: Has he finished the repairs to this ship yet.
Aurora: Negative.
Bob: Mr. Morris if you recall, my scanners detected no...
Morris: Then we don’t have a choice. (Sigh) Let them on.
Gail: Remember we have to be as diplomatic about this as possible.
Morris: Diplomacy was never one of my strong points.
Sfx: Unholsters and loads laser gun. Transition music. Door opens and aliens board.
Pat-mok: speaks.
808: He says for you to put down your weapons or he’ll kill Graham.
Morris: Looks like you win.
Gail: See, I told you.
Morris: All right, you heard him. Put them down.
Sfx: Put guns down.
Pat-mok: speaks.
Bob: he says his name is Pat-mok. you will stay here under the watch of his brother, Jurik, while he and his father, Durkal, search the ship for anything of use before they destroy it.
Sfx: start concerned tension theme.
Morris: Destroy it!?
Issac: you mean like blow it up?! with us on it?
Pat-mok: Alien voice
bob: he reminds you to remember, if you try anything he will kill Graham.
Pat-mok (angry): Alien voice
Graham: All right all right im coming, you don’t have to pull so hard.
Sfx: Door opens, the aliens walk through, the door shuts. music builds tension. The alien pulls some metal objects out a pouch.
Jurkal: speaks.
Bob: he says to put your hands out, close together.
Isaac: what are those?
Dylan: They look like some kind of laser-binders.
Sfx: the alien walks to the first person, then stops. He turns on the first pair, they hum like a lightsaber.
Isaac: like handcuffs?
Dylan: Yeah.
Sfx: start concerned/tension theme. (Pause) then the alien sniffs a few times.
Durkal: speaks.
Aurora: what’s wrong, why isn’t he moving on to you guys.
Bob: He says he likes you.
Durkal: speaks.
Bob: and he says he can smell that you’re...
Aurora: (Pause) What? That im what?
Bob: pregnant?
Sfx: start plot thickens theme. Slimy wet sounds, as the alien licks Aurora.
Aurora: Oh my god, that’s his tongue?
Sfx: wet sounds continue.
Aurora: gags, and coughs. His breath is horrible.
Liam: get off her, hey you hear me?
Sfx: Liam gets up and walks over to stop him.
Liam: Hey. Don’t you lay a finger... or tongue, on her.
sfx: the alien hits him, knocking him to the floor.
Liam: Oof.
Jurik (angry): speaks.
Isaac: you okay?
Liam: I will be, once we get those guys out of here. Man they’ve got a strong back hand.
Sfx: the alien turns on another pair of laser binders.
Liam: I’m Liam, (grunts from the pain) by the way.
Isaac: Isaac.
Liam: You’ll have to me if I don’t shake your hand.
Jurik (yelling): speaks.
Bob: he ask for you to be quiet and that there be no more talking.
Sfx: start sneaky tension theme.
Morris: hey! (Quieter) Isaac.
Isaac: (whispering) yeah.
Morris (whispering): if I create a distraction him you think you can get his laser gun away from him.
Isaac (whispering): I don’t know, I’ve never....
morris (whispering): Fine, you want to be the distraction?
Liam (whispering): (angry and through his teeth) I can do it, whatever it takes, I can’t stand seeing her looked at by him, touched by him.
Morris (whispering): Look I don’t care who does it, or what we do, but somehow we gotta find a way to overthrow him and get his gun before the other two get back.
Jurik: yells.
bob: he most seriously insists, no talking.
Morris: (whispering) And quietly, so the other two don’t hear.
Liam (whispering): And before he does anything to Aurora, or her child.
Morris (a little louder, angry): I never would have recruited her had I known she was pregnant.
Liam (a little louder): this is no time to hold a grudge! It doesn’t matter now, focus on...
Sfx: Alien punches him
liam: oof
Jurik: yells.
Bob: he says, if anyone talks again it will cost you the life of a crew member.
Sfx: the alien loads his laser gun. Pat-mok and Graham can be heard talking from the next room over indistinctly and increasingly louder.
issac (whispering): hey, you guys hear that?
Dylan (whispering): Barley, I can hardly make it out.
Gail (whispering): quiet down over there you two, you want to get us all killed?
Sfx: start tricky double-cross theme.
graham (muffled and from the next room over): look that wasn’t part of the plan. I’m out.
Pat-mok (from the next room over): Alien talks angrily.
Graham (from the next room over): no. there’s no deal!
Pat-mok (from the next room over):Alien yells
graham (from the next room over): well I don’t care, you cant just go and bomb all those people like that. You didn’t tell me that’s what you were going to use it for. Why us why not some other species. Find someone else.
Sfx: music starts increasing tension, building.
Pat-mok (from the next room over): alien yells.
Graham (from the next room over): what?
Pat-mok (from the next room over): Alien yells angry.
Sfx: Pat-mok unholsters and loads his gun.
Graham (from the next room over): No!
sfx (from the next room over): A few gun blasts go off.
Dylan: Graham!
sfx: cliffhanger ending theme.
DJ: Join us next week for the exciting continuation of Terra Novus every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
This episode featured the talents of
Writer: _________
And featuring the voices of (actors say their name): ________
Music and Sound FX by: __________
Mixed by:_______
This has been a presentation of SCAD Radio Dramas, tune in every week at (show time) every (show day of the week) night here on SCAD RADIO.
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