"'The year is 1987 'and NASA launches the last of America's deep-space probes." "'In a freak mishap, Ranger 3 and its pilot, Captain William "Buck" Rogers, 'are blown out of their trajectory into an orbit which freezes his life-support systems 'and returns Buck Rogers to Earth 500 years later.'" " Bidibidi." "Let's move it, Buck." " I'm comin', I'm comin'." "Thanks for helping with my shopping." "That's all the equipment I need." "Bidibidi." "It's about time." "(Theopolis) What exactly is a hot tub, Buck?" "You get inside, fill it up and you soak." " Oh..." "Why?" " Because it's relaxing." "Wouldn't a sonic shower in zero gravity accomplish much the same thing?" "Come back to my place, I'll show you what it looks like." "Then maybe..." " I don't believe it." " Buck, is something wrong?" "Jennifer?" "Bidibidi." "Uh-oh, a pretty girl and it's off to the races!" "Jenny!" "Jenny, it's me, Buck." "Bidibidi..." "Buck!" "Wait up, Buck." " Jennifer?" " Buck, are you all right?" "Yeah, I'm fine, Theo." "I just thought I saw someone I knew." "(Sighs) I want to go to sleep." "(Man) Hey, Buck!" "Buck, come on, buddy, wake up." "Shake a leg, Rip Van Winkle." "Your lady's gonna be here any minute." " What time is it, Toby?" " Nearly seven." " I gotta get a move on." " We report at 0400 hours, buddy." "So make the most of the evening." "I intend to." "I'm taking Jennifer to dinner at Raphael's." " Raphael's?" "Fancy!" " Nothing but the best for her." "Yeah?" "So how'd she get stuck with you?" "(Knocking at door)" " Get the door on your way out, Toby." " Oh, OK, I'm going." "I'm gone." "We've got to quit meeting like this." "I think he's the jealous type." " Good night, Toby." " Good night, Buck." " Hello." " Hi." " You're an amazing woman." " Why's that?" "Every time I see you, I think you couldn't get more beautiful." "And you do." " Oh, Buck, I'm gonna miss you so much." " I'm gonna miss you, too." " I brought you something." " A going-away present?" "Well, sort of a going-away present." "And a come-back-home-to-me-soon present." "Let me see what's inside." "Oh, wow!" " It's beautiful." " Do you like it?" "I thought you could take it with you on your ship." "I will." "Thank you." " I love you." " I love you too." "Jennifer, I promise, after this mission I'm finished." "I promise you I'll never leave you again." "Never again." "(Echoing) Never again, never again, never again, again, again, again..." "(Wilma) Fancy flying, Buck." "I'm sure those cadets learned a great deal." "(Buck) It was nothing special." "Buck, are you all right?" "You've seemed upset all day." " I'm fine." " Of course." " You wanna talk about it?" " No." "Wilma, I appreciate your concern, but I don't want to talk about it." "Not now, anyway." "This is Deering." "Good work, cadets." "Return to Directorate flight hangar." "Captain Rogers and I are returning to New Chicago via Central Spaceport." "Deering out." "(PA) 'Flight 723 now arriving at gate 14." "'Orbital shuttle 409 for City-On-The-Sea now boarding at gate 23.'" "I have some business at the Spaceport Control." "I won't be long." " I'll wait in the lounge until you finish." " OK." "Again?" "Excuse me." "Excuse me." "Pardon me." "Excuse me." "Miss!" "Miss!" "Please, wait!" "I'm sorry, sir." "Flight 409 has just completed boarding." " But there's a woman on it I gotta see." " Another flight will depart in 20 minutes." " But she's on that flight." "I have to see her." " I am sorry, sir." "You are too late." "'Captain Christopher Pike, please report to the Veterans Affairs Office.'" "Reservations desk." "They'd at least have her name." "Miss, I need help." "I'm looking for someone who just boarded flight 409." "Without the proper authorisation, I can't release our passenger manifest." "Look, this is important." "I've got to find her." "I'm sorry." "Problem?" "Yes, I'm looking for someone who boarded flight 409." "I have to find her." " Aren't you Captain Rogers?" " Yes, I am." "Pleased to meet you, Captain." "Give Captain Rogers any information he needs." " Yes, sir." " Thank you." "Erm, she's about 28." "Er, blonde hair, wearing a pink outfit with black boots." "Is this her?" " Yeah, that's her." " Leila Markeson." "No address listed." "She's booked on orbital shuttle 409, bound for City-On-The-Sea." " City-On-The-Sea?" " An urban complex." "Located on the tip of what used to be called the Mississippi Delta." "Oh, New Orleans?" "She may have gone to the Festival of Masks." " Hundreds of people leave every hour." " Festival?" "Oh, well, why not?" "I've never been to a 25th-century Mardi Gras before." "Thank you." "Nope." "No address for Leila Markeson in City-On-The-Sea." "She must just be a visitor." " That makes things harder, but I'll find her." " Buck, listen." "Even if you do find her, what then?" "Jennifer meant a lot to me." "If there's only a one-in-a-million chance, I've got to take it." "You understand?" "Oh, I suppose..." "For a year after my wife died, I had dreams." "Nightmares, actually." "I'd wake and expect to see her face." "And then I'd remember that she was gone." "I suppose, were I in your shoes, I'd do exactly the same thing." " Good luck." " Thanks, Doc." "Buck, your shuttle's ready for takeoff." " Thank you, Wilma." " Bidibidi." "Goodbye, Buck." "See you, old buddy." "Buck, I..." "I hope you find what you're looking for." "You deserve it." "Thanks, Wilma." "Progress report from Vega system, Commander." " Capsulise." " The Vega colony is within our grasp." "We estimate their weaponry and supplies will be depleted within five solar days." "Unless the Earth Defense Directorate succeeds in their mission of mercy." "You would know better than I the possibilities of that situation." "Also, the Terran woman just arrived from New Chicago." "Send her in." "Commander Reev will see you now." "Reev?" "Everything went as planned." "Buck Rogers should be on his way to City-On-The-Sea." "This is Captain Buck Rogers." "Request permission to dock at Central Spaceport." "'Captain Rogers, you are cleared for docking." "'Please decelerate to Mach One and prepare for approach.'" "Roger." "Now, about my credit voucher." "Of course." "The first half of your payment has already been deposited, as you know." "The second half shall be transferred upon delivery of Rogers to us." "With his help, we'll easily destroy the freighter the Terrans are sending to Vega." "And as an added gratuity, you may keep that face if you like." "No, thank you." "I prefer my own face." "I'll be ready for molecular surgery after I complete this job." "As you wish." "Now, then." "Allowing for a half-hour journey from New Chicago 15 minutes to disembark, 10 minutes to register for lodgings," "I'd say that Rogers will begin his search for his "lost love" at precisely 1500 hours." "Let him search for an hour or two, long enough for him to become tired, discouraged." "He'll be at his most vulnerable then." "That is the moment you must appear." " You think of everything, don't you, Reev?" " I can't afford not to." "Well, you'll have your man, and I'd better have my money." "Despite her behaviour, your Leila is weak and soft." "That could prove a danger." "I have already taken that into account, Nola." "There are ways to make that softness work to our advantage." "The Koven are a warrior race in the Kadar system." "We have recently learned of their plans to move against Vega V." "Since Vega V is an independent colony, we cannot send in fighter squadrons to fight the Koven." "We can send them emergency equipment, supplies and weapons." "You five and Colonel Deering will transport those supplies in an M-class starfreighter we've secured for this mission." " Colonel Deering?" " Lieutenant Rekoff?" "M-class freighters were abandoned years ago." "Why use such an old model?" "This is a clandestine operation, Lieutenant." "We've tried to keep every detail secret from the Koven." "Don't worry, we've replaced the freighter's old engines with a new tachyon drive capable of tremendous speeds." "Thank you, Colonel." "The ship is in Earth orbit." "Colonel Deering and you will constitute the bridge crew." "All other functions on the ship will be handled by maintenance androids." "The survival of Vega V rests with you and the supplies you'll be carrying." " Good luck." " Dismissed." "(♫ Lively carnival music)" "Masks!" "Robes!" "Enchantments!" "Festival tonight!" "No festivities without a mask, a robe, a pair of gloves!" "Ah, you!" "What is your fantasy?" "What kind of woman hides inside you?" "Is it an angel?" "A peasant?" "A queen?" "Well, take a mask and live your dream!" "What about you, sir?" "A mask?" "A robe?" "No, no, an enchantment." " No, thank you." "I'm not here for the festival." " No?" "Then why are you here?" "I'm looking for someone that meant a lot to me." "Meant?" "But that's in the past." "Yesterday is gone." "We have to live for today." "You may be right." "What are you, anyway?" "A pedlar or a psychologist?" "Ha, ha, ha!" "Neither, actually." "You see..." "Forgive me." "They call me Silby." " At your service." " Buck Rogers." "Pleased to meet you, Buck." "No, I just do this to make a living." "But in real life, I'm a magician." "That's funny." "I didn't think magic existed any more." "But of course it does!" "And will, for as long as we believe in the impossible." "Sometimes that's very difficult to do." "It takes extraordinary people nowadays." "Watch closely." "Don't move!" "Watch this!" "Nothing here, there, but in the twinkling of an eye..." " A bowl of fruit." " (Cheering and applause)" "Not even close." "Well, a mistake, a mistake." "Never mind, sir." "Now, watch closely, watch closely." "Nothing in my robes, nothing in my hands." "But in the merest flash of a second, you will see... an Antarean nightbird!" "Miss!" "Leila?" "Leila Markeson?" "Yes?" "Can I help you?" "You were in the spaceport in New Chicago." " Even the voice is the same." " Excuse me?" "Sorry." "My name is Buck Rogers, and despite appearances, I'm not crazy." "I didn't think you were crazy." "Just a little strange, maybe." "You remind me of someone I knew a long time ago." "Did you come here just to tell me that?" "No, no, of course not." "It's just that this person meant an awful lot to me." "And when I saw you at a distance..." "Can we go someplace and talk?" "Maybe I can help clear this up." "All right." "I think there's a little café nearby." "OK." "Alpha Team, get the field generator to shuttle 12 and stow it in hull section C." " And hurry, we only have nine hours." " Bidibidi." "Hiya, good-looking!" "How's it coming along, Colonel?" "Fine." "We should have the shuttle loaded by 1300 hours." "Then one hour to the freighter." "Two more hours to get everything transferred for the trip to Vega V." " Looks like we'll depart on schedule." " Good." "There are no indications that Koven is aware of this operation." "Let's hope it stays that way." "Any word from Vega?" "No." "Our last communication with the colony was two hours ago." "I'm afraid Koven is jamming all subspace transmissions." " Then we'll have to step up the operation." " Exactly my idea, Colonel." "Bidibidi." "See you later, Wilma." "Your Jennifer sounds like she was a very lovely woman." "And very lucky." "I was the lucky one." "Oh, no, so was she." "To have someone like you to love her as much as you obviously did." "I'm sorry." "I keep staring." "Can't seem to stop it." "I don't mind." "I like the way you look at me." "Very much." "I just wish you were really looking at me and not Jennifer." "Leila, I know you're not Jennifer." "Physically, you do look like her, but there's something different about you." "I don't know if it's your smile, your eyes or..." "Just something." "Look, Buck, I have to..." "I'd just like to get to know that part of you." "I'd like that too, very much, but you don't know what you're getting into." " And what's that?" " I'm not the person you think I am at all." " You don't know anything about me." " I know." "I'd like to get to know you." "No, you don't know what you're talking about." "Look, just go home, forget about me." "Please, go home." " Leila, I don't understand." " Leave." "I don't want them to hurt you." " Them?" " Just go." "Hello, Captain Rogers." "Good work, Leila." "Captain Rogers, you will come quietly with us and nobody will get hurt." "Come on." "After them, and find Reev." "As soon as you take the shuttle back to Earth, we'll be able to leave orbit." "We'll track you to stargate." "After that, we'll have to maintain subspace silence." "I understand." "We will reach the Vegan systems 6.3 hours after we leave stargate." "Excellent." "I won't keep you." "Good luck." "Convey my thanks to your crew." "Dr Huer..." "Have you heard from Buck?" "No." "I imagine he's still in City-On-The-Sea, chasing his dream." " Do you think he'll really find it?" " I hope so." "It would be nice to think one could recapture one's lost dreams, wouldn't it?" "In here." " Now..." " Look, don't start in on me, Buck." "I didn't know anything about you and I didn't care." "How could you do something like this?" "For money." "I was poor and I was sick of being poor." "I was all alone and I was scared." "My precious ethics were getting me nowhere." "For the first time in my life, I wanted to think of myself first." "There was no way I could have known it was going to be the wrong time." " What's your connection with these aliens?" " They hired me." "I was supposed to help them capture you." "I don't know why." "They didn't tell me details." "I think they want you to destroy something." "A starfreighter, I think." "How, er..." "How did they find out about Jennifer?" "They got into your apartment." "They saw her photograph and they set about creating a new Jennifer." "Creating?" " I don't believe it." " Molecular surgery." "It's fast, it's very efficient and it's reversible." "Oh, Buck, I had to do it!" "I didn't know any of this was going to happen." "How could I have known how you'd feel?" "Or how I'd feel?" "It's all right." "Leila... everything up to now is in the past." "Let's forget it." "It's not too late." "Now, you wait right here." "I'm gonna contact New Chicago." "They'll have a shuttle here for us in an hour." "No, Buck, don't!" "That's exactly what they expect you to do." "They've anticipated every move you can make and they've got traps set." "I wouldn't try anything, Captain Rogers." "Something might happen to your friend." " How did you find us?" " She told us." "During her surgery, we had a transponder inserted beneath her skin." "We've known exactly where she's been ever since she decided to renege on our agreement." "Stargate in 20 seconds, Colonel." "Excellent." "Punch in our destination, Lieutenant." "Coordinates on the board, entering stargate." "Vega V now 6.3 hours away, Colonel." "Very good, Lieutenant." "Maintain subspace silence from this point on." "Respond to no one and to no signal." "I'll be in the cargo hold if you need me." "You have comm." "Captain Rogers, let's be reasonable." "The conflict on Vega V is a minor one, a petty squabble that will die if left alone, but if the Federation freighter reaches the colony with those weapons, this could escalate into something monstrous." " The Federation knows what it's doing." " Apparently not." "Their intelligence network was infiltrated by nationalists in the colony." "The Federation is responding to totally inaccurate information." "Why didn't you go to the Federation?" "Unfortunately, the Federation is suspicious of anything we do." "Most probably due to the same intelligence contamination." " As a result, we need you." " To do what?" "Our ships cannot intercept that freighter without inviting a war with the Federation." "We do not wish that." "But you could intercept and destroy the freighter before it reaches the colony." " Why should I do anything for you, Reev?" " Two reasons." "One - you would be doing a great service for the Federation, and for all the innocent people on Vega V." "Secondly, if you do not help us and them, you and Leila Markeson will die." "That's not true." "He's planning to put me in cellular suspension." "It's been his plan all along." "The plan we told you about, Leila." "Not the exact plan." "Captain Rogers, I am serious about this." "I am willing to do whatever's necessary to help those people." "Use your head." "There is nothing on that freighter but androids." "You would be harming no one, and saving countless lives." " I can't do it." "Not for you, not for anyone." " Then for Leila?" " (Leila) Buck?" " OK, Reev, I'll do it." " I don't like it, but I'll do it." " Thank you, Captain Rogers." "I can assure you this is the right decision." "Nola will be accompanying you." "We'll be monitoring that sector with our long-range sensors, and we will know if the freighter is or is not destroyed." "You have 12 hours to do so and return here to Earth, before Leila is put to death." "Fortunate for us you care for the Terran woman." "Although I can hardly see why." "She's so weak, soft." "You deserve someone much smarter, stronger." "I'm sure you have someone in mind." " Perhaps." " Thanks for the thought, but I'm not your type." "(Engines rev)" "Stargate coming up in 20 minutes." "Rendezvous with that freighter five minutes after." "How do you plan on slipping past their defence shields?" " Oh, I thought I'd just wing it." " What?" " Trust me." " Not on your life." " Bidibidi." "Hiya, Dr Huer." " Hello, Twiki." "I don't believe I ordered any dinner." "Twiki thought you might need nourishment." "Bidibidi." "Try it." "You'll like it." " What's the latest on Vega V, Doctor?" " Not good, I'm afraid." "Koven warships have breached the colony's outer defence perimeter." "They should be within striking range in 10 hours." "At least it gives a four-hour margin of safety to Colonel Deering." "You'll be monitoring the subspace channels?" "Of course." "OK, Doc, eat your soup." " What are you doing?" " Look out the starboard viewport." "I'm sending a Code Blue distress signal." "Directorate ships are obliged to respond." "With luck, the androids will tractor-beam us into their hangar bay." "And if they don't?" "If they don't, I can try and punch a hole in their force shield, and we go in anyway." "Do not try anything foolish, Captain Rogers, like sabotaging your attack." "If we do not get home, Leila Markeson dies." "Don't worry." "Slamming my ship into a force shield is not my idea of a good plan." "I'm receiving a Code Blue distress signal from a shuttle 2,000 kilometres astern." "Our orders are to proceed directly to Vega V." "I understand, Colonel, but this is a Code Blue signal." "Yes, the shuttle wouldn't be issuing it unless they were in serious trouble." "Can you raise the shuttle on subspace?" "Negative." "They're not receiving." "Their PC units could be down." "Tractor beam." "Send two androids to the cargo hold." "Keep them there until we find out what the trouble is." "Yes, Colonel." "Here we go." "Halt!" "Please remain in the cargo area until identification can be verified." "Certainly." "We have our identification right here." " You know where the engine room is?" " I've got an idea." "We're bound to run into resistance." "Don't you think I ought to have a gun?" "I don't think that's a wise idea, Captain Rogers." " Why?" "I told you I'd help destroy this thing." " Which is what you'll do." "Proceed!" " Buck!" " Wilma!" "What are you doing here?" "Enough talking." "Drop the gun." " What's going on?" " Just do it." "We don't have time to talk." "You're with...her?" "Just drop the gun, Wilma." "Then get out of the way." "I'll do that." "Wilma, what are you doing here?" "We were escorting the freighter, to help the colonists fight the Koven." "What are you doing with a Koven warrior?" " The woman I was following?" " Leila." "Yeah." "Koven used her to get me to agree to try to blow up this freighter." " Nola and I were here for that reason." " You wouldn't do that." "No, of course not, but they've got Leila and they're gonna kill her unless I can make them think I've blown it up." " What did you have in mind?" " They're scanning this quadrant." " To monitor the explosions." " Exactly." "But it's impossible for them to distinguish between freighter and asteroid explosions." " You're probably right." " You got any bombs on board?" "We have a warhead we were delivering to the colonists." "That's in Hangar B." "Perfect." "Let's get on down there." "We've only nine hours before they deal with Leila." " How are you coming with that warhead?" " It's in launch position now." " We'll eject as soon as you're out of range." " Good." "Put that freighter into overdrive." "Koven aren't aware of the new engines." "The explosion will cover your escape." "By the time their sensors clear, we'll be far enough away that they won't recognise us." " Good luck, Buck." " Thank you, Wilma." "Good luck to you." "See you back on Earth." "Rogers out." "Captain Rogers has just entered the stargate." "If everything goes as planned, the freighter should explode within 23 seconds." "Exactly on schedule." "Captain Rogers will be returning here within 30 minutes." " And then what will you do?" " Absolutely nothing." "Rogers would never admit he sabotaged a Directorate mission." "And as for you, well, I think your payment will ensure your continuing loyalty." "If Buck will have me, then I'm going with him." " I'm afraid I can't allow that to happen." " Well, you can't stop me from leaving." "Oh, I won't have to stop you." "You'll gladly stay." " Why?" " You have forgotten your transponder." "It cannot be removed." "If you were to leave with Buck Rogers, I would find you, and kill you both." "Don't try it!" "The explosion in space, it was a counterfeit?" " That's very astute." " I anticipated as much." "There was a 33% chance you would not go through with the plan." " I was counting on Nola to even those odds." " Nola's in a brig on her way to Vega V." "Sorry to disappoint you." "Leila, come on, let's get out of here." " I can't go with you, Buck." " What?" "It's too late." "Too much has happened, and I don't think we could change that." "And I'm just an image of somebody you lost a long, long time ago." "Leila, I know you're not Jennifer." "No, please, just go." "I've already done too much and I don't think I can ever turn back." "Just go." "Forget about me." "Any disturbance in the immediate area triggers off an alarm, as you can see." " Reev, you told me he could live." " Under different circumstances, not now." " No!" " Leila?" "(Gasps)" "Aargh!" "Leila?" " I'm sorry." " Shhh." "I'm so sorry I disappointed you." "You didn't disappoint me." "All I ever wanted to do was just to be like your Jennifer." "Do you think maybe I was like her just a little bit?" "Yes, yes." "Then I guess I didn't do everything wrong, did I?" "Buck?" "Dr Huer, Buck's just returned from the Antares system." "Excellent." "Do you suppose these weeks of rest have done him any good?" "I don't know." "The last time I talked to him, from City-On-The-Sea, he sounded numb." "Yes." "Well, I know the feeling." " (Beep)" " Ah, that must be him." " Welcome home, Buck." " Thank you, Doc." " Good to have you home." " Thank you, Wilma." "I wouldn't live through the last three weeks for the universe, but it gave me time to think." "I learned something." "I can't go back." "It's impossible to try to relive the past." "All I can do is make the best of what I've got." "Bidibidi." "Welcome home, Buck." " Thanks, Twiki." " Speaking of homecomings..." "We have a gift to celebrate yours." "Dr Junius found it in the archives." "An entertainment clip from the 20th century." "I believe you called them "movies"?" "Oh..." "Thank you, Doc." " It's a nature documentary of some kind." " A nature documentary?" "Yes, aquatic life forms, although the title indicates anatomy." "I think it's called Mouth or Mandibles, or something like that." " Jaws?" " Yes, Jaws!" "That's it, exactly." "Bidibidi." "Just when you thought it was safe in the 25th century... (Laughing)"