"'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.'" "I should have had him." "I'm switching to manual." "Negative." "Enemy approaching port side." "Well, hello there." " One out of 14." "Ridiculous!" " You've got one on your tail." "Roger." "Buck, either evade or fire!" "Captain Rogers has just sustained a direct hit." "Squadron destroyed after two minutes and 17 seconds of battle." "The control system is useless against these Hatchet fighters." "You noticed, huh?" "The best pilots were no more successful than anyone else against them." "'Drill terminated." "Return to base, everyone.'" "Buck, thanks again for helping us out." "The computers work fine when you use them to draw a bead on your target." "Instruct pilots to go manual for firing." " They can't." " 'They did it against the Draconians.'" " You even hit a couple." " 'Before the Draconians had these fighters.'" "They're so manoeuvrable and so fast." "Your trigger finger's got to be quicker." "Hitting the targets is a matter of milliseconds." "To rely on human judgment over a computer would be madness." "Wilma, it's a matter of training the reflexes." "'I don't know." "I'll think about it.'" "All right." "Have you got any plans for tonight?" " As a matter of fact, no." " That's too bad." "I do." "'Oh, Falina." "I just got your gift." "'It's wonderful." "And I know how rare flowering plants are." "'And even rarer still are people like you who are thoughtful and kind." "'Thank you, Falina." "'I only wish all the children I used to take care of 'had grown up to be like you.'" "Happy birthday, Rita." " 'Hello, Falina.'" " Mr Armat?" "'Maybe it's just as well that you were out." "'I want you to listen to me and do exactly as I say." "'There's no time for discussion." "'I want you to leave here now." "Go to the shuttle station." "'An itinerary, already paid for, will be waiting for you." "'Go where it takes you." "You'll be well cared for." "'All I can tell you now is that you're in great danger." "'All because of me." "'You've been one of my best employees, Falina." "'I'm sorry.'" "(Screams)" "Dr Huer, I was told you wanted to see me." "You were told correctly." "Come in." "This gentleman has just made the Defense Directorate an interesting proposition." "Major Landers, Amos Armat." "Alleged businessman." "Moon-based construction, isn't it?" "Of course, your real expertise lies in extortion, smuggling weaponry to warring colonies and slave trafficking." "That's very true." "Mr Armat's activities have perplexed the authorities for years, but as yet we've been unable to prove anything." "And rest assured you never will." "Unless I turn myself and all my records over to you." "Which I'm prepared to do." "Why?" "An employee in my company, Fauna Redding, has been kidnapped." "She's totally innocent of wrongdoing." "She's a digital programmer." "A good one, I'm told." "Except last week, by mistake, she saw a read-out containing a numerical code, which if obtained and deciphered by one of my competitors, would ruin three-fourths of my operations." "Fauna had no idea of what she'd seen." "She reported the error, which is standard procedure, and kept right on working." "But one of your competitors kidnapped her so he could get the information from her." "I tried to warn her but it was too late." " Which competitor?" "Do you know?" " Velosi." "He'd had her taken to Sinaloa." "My people can't touch her there, but you people can." "And you'll turn yourself in if we get her back?" "Yes." "I'm afraid the answer is no, Mr Armat." "Velosi will use whatever information he gets to cripple your operation." "That event is rather appealing to me." "He'll get what he wants and then kill her!" "I find it hard to believe that a single murder registers on your consciousness." "Tempting as the prospect may be of removing you from this planet, the answer is no because I'll not risk my people to save one of your innocent employees." "Dr Huer, don't you think that a man of Mr Armat's connections, someone with easy access to all sorts of information about illegal weaponry, would probably have a good deal to tell us about Hatchet fighters?" "The Draconians are using them to ambush Earth's squadrons." "If we were to get Falina back, Mr Armat, not only would you turn yourself in, but you'd find out why the Hatchet fighter is impervious to our computer control systems, wouldn't you?" "It's a deal." "Come on, come on, come on!" "Well, maybe next year." "Buck, it's Wilma." "Stay to the right behind the fences." "Do not walk." "Do not talk." "Do not pass go." "And keep your hands off my caddy." "Hiya, Wilma." "Not bad, huh?" " Depends." "What are you doing?" " Putting." "It became a tradition in my day for astronauts to carry a golf club on board." "It's a big deal to be able to say you holed out on the moon." "Golf was a very special 20th-century sport." "It required coordination, patience, total concentration." "Looks ridiculous." "Just for that, the answer's no." " Did you hear me ask you a question?" " No, but you were going to." "The Defense Directorate requires a person of my peculiar background, as Dr Huer would say, right?" " Wrong." "I'm not interested." " Just trying to do you a favour." "You do like to play Ten and Eleven, don't you?" " Ten and Eleven?" " I believe you called it blackjack." " Blackjack?" " Yeah." "Dr Huer and Major Landers need someone who's very good at blackjack to go with her to Sinaloa." " To go with her?" " You remember Major Landers." " Major Marla Landers." " Oh, that Major Landers!" "Yeah." "She's much more familiar with Sinaloa than I am, so you'll be going with her instead of me." "That is on the off chance that you're interested." "I don't know." "I'll have to think about it." "When do we leave?" "The Delta solar system consists of twelve different orbiting man-made cities." "Sinaloa is composed almost exclusively of hotels, casinos, showrooms." "All revolves around entertainment." " Sort of a Las Vegas in space." " From what you tell me, yeah." "Someone's paying me to play blackjack?" "It's an involuntary reflex." "Bidibidibidibidi." " Hold up, Buck." " Maybe these are the items we asked for." " Hiya, Twiki." " What's shaking, Buck?" "These will help us get out of the city after we find Falina." "That is correct, Major Landers." "When attached to a solid surface, they are practically invisible." "One of my better creative efforts, I must say." "Detonating device?" "Effective from a distance or less." "This must be for Velosi's goon and this for the exit portal." "Very good, Buck." "Indeed it is." "But it will deactivate the force field for only ten seconds." " Do try to remember that." " I will, Doctor." " You've been a big help to us, Dr Theopolis." " Naturally." "But it's up to you two, who have the real job to do." "Tell him that." "The idea of travelling to what some people call an orbiting city of moral depravity obviously agrees with you, Buck." "It's a thankless job, Doctor, but somebody's got to do it." " Bidibidibidi." "What a guy." " Come on, Marla." "(♫ Soft dance music)" " Hello, Mr Velosi." " Five complaints in four days." "I'm getting a little bored, I guess." "Imagine people complaining about a beautiful thing like you." "Have you forgotten that there's only one way out of this city?" " Mr Velosi, I..." " My way." "No more complaints, Tangie." "She's here." "Generator sector 3." "I tell you, I am to blackjack what a mongoose is to a cobra." "That means you and Dr Huer were right in recruiting me." " I'm just a firm believer in backup plans." " I'll get the job done." "Take a look at these." " Velosi?" " Owns and runs Sinaloa." "The city is self-contained and he has the first and last word on everything." "If he says you don't leave, you don't." "What about Mr Congeniality here?" "That's Karl Morphus." "Velosi calls him in when he wants to extract things from people's minds." " Extract?" " He pulls memories out of a subconscious, using drugs or whatever else is necessary." " He's headed for Sinaloa as well?" " That's the rumour." "Now, that's Fauna." "If we can't locate her before Karl Morphus gets there, we might as well go home." "I take it he works fast, then." "Why am I here?" "Who are you?" "What am I doing here?" "!" "(Screams) Answer me!" "(Sobs)" "'You are now subject to the laws of Sinaloa." "'If you have any questions, please go to the vidfon at the end of the concourse 'and a paralegal will be happy to answer your questions." "'Please have your ID cards ready at the entry portal." "'ID cards are required for entry and exit to Sinaloa.'" "This is where everybody entering and leaving is screened." "Our gifts would work better on the other side of those portals." " You got them ready?" " Of course." "That ID card that Dr Huer gave you, it'll not only get you into the city, it will get you food and money and everything else you need." " Everything else?" " Within reason, Buck." " You go first." " OK." "'You are now subject to the laws of Sinaloa." "'If you have any questions, please go to the vidfon at the end of the concourse 'and a paralegal will be happy to answer your questions.'" "(Alarm)" "(Alarm stops)" "'Please have your ID cards ready at the entry portal." "'ID cards are required for entry and exit to Sinaloa." "Thank you." "'You are now subject to the laws of Sinaloa." "'If you have any questions, please go to the vidfon at the end of the concourse 'and a paralegal will be happy to answer your questions.'" "(Alarm)" "Halt!" "Halt!" " Search the violator." " I haven't done anything!" "What are you doing?" " A computer." " I didn't know..." "Computers are not allowed in Sinaloa." "Incinerate it!" "Don't you see that?" "I didn't do anything!" "No, please!" " What was that all about?" " All the games inside are computerised." "Carrying a calculator in here is illegal." " What's going to happen to that guy?" " Depends what mood Velosi's in." " How are you doing?" " Fine." "That was number three." "Getting out of here is going to be a blast." "I'll see you in the casino." "Remember, we don't know each other." "Oh, yeah." "Yeah, sure." "(♫ Sexy, romantic music)" "That's someone from Klosef III." "' Not Your type." " Oh, yeah?" "We'll see about that." "I really don't think you'll like him." "Him?" "Mr Morphus will arrive within the next several hours." "Then your wait will be over." "You're going to make me remember what I saw in Mr Armat's computer" "and then you're going to kill me?" "You entered in a maintenance vehicle." "Your exit will be even less ceremonious." "No one will ever be able to prove you were here." "I never meant to do anything wrong!" "It isn't fair!" "I know." "(♫ Dance music)" "You poor thing." "You look absolutely lost." "I'm new in town." "Are you with the welcome wagon?" "I'm not sure." "My name is Tangie." "Tangie?" "That's a nice name." "What it is is memorable." " How about you?" " Buck." "I'm looking to play some blackjack." " I mean Ten and Eleven." " Oh, it's so hard." "No one ever wins at that awful game." "Are you sure that's how you want to spend your money?" "Yeah, I'm sure." "How about some company?" "Or are you with someone?" "No." "In fact, I'm here all by myself." "Marvellous." "Hit me." "'That does not compute, sir.'" "Yeah, right." "Another draw, please." "'A seven." "Eleven and seven is 18." "'The house pays 18.'" "(Laughing)" "I've never seen anyone win like this." "That's because they let computers do all the work." "People's minds have gotten flabby." "I bet some suckers can't even count to 21." "That's the ninth hand in a row that man has won." "He's only lost four since he sat down." "That's one that can't count." "If it goes higher than ten she takes her shoes off." "It's obvious he's cheating!" "I demand you do something about it." "'All symbols are randomly and impartially selected in cycles of 52." "'There is no way to tamper with the selection process.'" "He's counting what's been played before and figuring the odds on a computer." "'No computers or calculators can be brought into Sinaloa." "'All persons and their luggage are carefully screened.'" "Lady, I'm beating the house, not you." "What do you care how much I win?" "It doesn't exactly make her look like Alberta Einstein." "Something is going on here and I intend to find out what." "Party pooper." "You have the funniest way of talking." "You're not from Klosef Ill, are you?" "I have reason to believe that one of the men over there is cheating." " To whom should I report it?" " Me." "My name is Morgan Velosi." "I'd hate to see anybody ruin your stay here in my city." "Oh, well, actually, he's doing you more harm than he is me." "See that man over there at that table being mauled by that creature?" "(Squeals of happiness)" "That's the tenth hand in a row he's won." "He must be cheating." " You ought to keep an eye on him." " May I see your identification?" "Watch him." "You're being very wise, Mr Velosi." " Would you like a drink, Marla?" " Oh..." "No, thank you." "I mean, after all, you did a favour for me." "That's quite all right." "And if you don't join me for a drink," "I'll then be forced to instruct the portal computer not to allow Marla Landers out of this city." "Whatever you're having." "I remember once, at the end of my stint at Edwards," "Toby Kaplan and I hopped in a car one Wednesday and just drove until we got to Las Vegas." "Partied and gambled and got crazy all night, drove back Thursday, in time for our 10:00 class." "I take that back." "We were two minutes late." " 'Player number four." "Card?" "'" " No draw." "'Dealer is 14 and takes a card.'" "I think that was just before I left for Houston." "Yeah, it was." "Last time I saw Toby he was determined to head up the Space and Aeronautics Board." "He could have, too." "I wonder if he ever did." "'Dealer is 19 and stands firm." "'House pays 20.'" " Buck?" " 'Players two and four win.'" "You won again." "Yeah, I won." "You really are something." "I've never met anyone quite like you before." "Well, that's for sure." "I've been waiting a long time for someone like you to come along." "That's just because it took me 500 years to get here." "I still don't understand how you've won so much." "It's easy." "You just remember everything that's been played..." "I envy you." "Not because you're wealthy and intelligent." "Just because you're free." "You're free to go anywhere you want, any time you please." "You're not?" "I am an employee of Sinaloa." "I work for Mr Velosi." "He won't let me leave." "He says I'm too valuable a commodity." " He's a real credit to the human race, huh?" " He's a monster." "But if someone were to offer him enough money, say as much as you've won here," "I bet he'd let me go." "Think he would, huh?" "And I would be so grateful, Buck." "You have no idea how grateful I'd be." "I hate to break this up, but I've got to see a man about a horse." "Cashing in." "'Player four, 9,732 credits.'" "At least I come out of this with some bread." " You're leaving?" " Yes, but I shall return." "Well, you'd better." "I might just have to look you up in the daily census, Buck." "Promises, promises." " So long, metal mouth." " 'I beg your pardon.'" "It's good playing against a computer." "They can't deal off the bottom of the deck and you don't have to tip them." "See you later." "I've really enjoyed this, but my friends are going to begin to wonder where in the world I am." "You can leave a message for your friends afterwards." "Afterwards?" "Are we going somewhere?" "My room." " Oh, but..." " Your idea was very convincing, but there's more to you than meets the eye." "Isn't there?" "And I intend to find out." "There are one or two ways we can handle this... and I always go for number two." "(Sighs) You should have gone for number one." "Aaargh!" "What are you doing to me?" "You're cutting off my circulation." "I suppose you had my best interests at heart when you came at me with this?" "I was told to find out why you were winning so much." "I was cheating." "I was using my brain." "That's something customers around here have ceased to do." "And I was trying to attract the attention of a thug like you - which I did." " All this was planned?" " Yep." "As one of Velosi's thugs, you know things, like where Falina Redding is." "Who's Fauna Redding?" " I was afraid you'd say that." " Open up." " What's that?" "It's a pill." "Make you feel good - relaxed, happy, cooperative." "So that lying to me would be impossible." "Come on." "There's a variety of things I can do to get this into your system." "I even had some orange flavouring put in it." "You'll love it." "Come on." "Open up." "Come on." "Be a good boy." "That's a good boy." "Swallow down, swallow down." " Orange?" " I lied." "If you are dissatisfied with my credentials," "I suggest you simply call for a read-out on your computer." "I fully intend to." " When we're through." " Mr Velosi..." "I resent the way you've assumed that I agree to all of this." "Are you going to leave that message for your friend now or later?" "I am accustomed to having some say in these sort of matters." "Running a city both requires and enables one to make split-second decisions." "Not only for myself but for everyone else." " How do you feel?" " Oh, great, great, yes." "Better and better." "But I still don't want to talk." " To either of you." " Sure you do." " Where are they holding Falina Redding?" " Falina, Fauna." "The woman who was kidnapped from New Chicago." "Where is she?" "Generator sector 3." "How do I get there?" "Elevator F. Bottom level." "Through the door at the end." "Oh, you can't get through the door!" "You don't have a key!" "I'm sorry!" " What about yours?" " I don't have one." " Who does?" " Oh, let me see." "07, the sanitation module, and Thompson and Levine." "And Velosi." "His key opens everything in this city." "Damn." "Well, it is his city, you know. (Giggling)" "(Beeping)" "'Excuse me, Mr Velosi." "The man you've been expecting is here.'" "You have business to do." "I certainly wouldn't keep you." "I always finish what I begin." "Your room in five minutes, Marla Landers." " Get Thompson up here." "He's in the casino." " 'Yes, Mr Velosi.'" "You've come around to brunettes, I see." "Mr Thompson will direct you to the person you're going to work with." "She saw a very critical read-out on Armat's computer last week in New Chicago." "Thompson will record everything she says." "May I remind you, the chemicals I use tend to traumatise brain tissue." "Her mind will never be the same." "Once you put her under, she's not waking up again." "Fine." "'Mr Thompson is here.'" "Enjoyed seeing you again, Mr Velosi." "Sorry to have interrupted you." "Marla, open up." "It's me, Buck." " Where have you been?" " Never mind." "Karl Morphus just arrived." " That's as good as my news." " What about the man who followed you?" " 1 know where they're keeping Fauna." "Good." "And that it's impossible to get there without one of four existing keys." "Sanitation module 07 doesn't make its rounds till after midnight, and if Morphus is here now, we might as well pack." " Who else has a key?" " Velosi's goons." " And Velosi?" " Naturally." "I can't believe we've come this far to have everything go down the tubes." "Everything's not going down the tubes?" "In two minutes we may very well have ourselves that key." " Turn around." " What?" " Marla?" " You'll have to wait just a minute." "I don't like to wait." "And with this, I rarely have to." "I thought you'd feel that way." "Sorry to spoil your plans this evening." "Yes, I am disappointed." "Half of me said, "Trust Marla Landers." ""After all, she's a beautiful woman."" "The other half said, "Don't trust Marla Landers." "Keep your eye on her."" "A most pleasant task, I might add." "Until now." "Kill her." " Please don't move." " Come on." "Get over there with your boss." "Move." "I'll just take that key you're so proud of." "You'll die before you leave this city." "You think so?" "Get over there." "Come on." "Move." "If I were you, I'd worry more about how you're gonna get out of here." "Let's go." "Go and prepare for take-off." "I'll get Falina." " You got the detonator?" " I'm all set." "See you at the ship." "Why, Buck Rogers, what are you and that lady up to?" " Later, Tangie." " Looks dishonest to me." " I don't have time." " If you don't help me out of this city," "Security's gonna get a call from me." " Next time I'm in town." " You won't get away with it!" "Maybe you'll feel better after a nap." "Now, wait a minute." "Er, look..." "I'm not gonna be needing this, so here." "Use this to get out of the city and take this with you." "You're gonna go with us." "Oh, Marla, Tangie." "Tangie, Marla." "Nice to meet you." "Soon it will all be over, my dear." "I imagine the worst thing for a person in your position is the wait." "You imagine?" "Imagine what it's like being me right now." " I dare you." " My work calls for strict objectivity." "Were I to empathise with you, I couldn't get the job done, could I?" "Just hurry and get on with it." "I'm ready." "I suggest you start recording." "Now, I want you to close your eyes." "Very soon you shall find yourself afloat in a sea of colour and sounds, and then blackness, and then everything... everything shall come to an end." "(Alarm beeping)" "Name is Buck Rogers." "Let's get out of here." "'Please have your ID cards ready at the entry portal." "'ID cards are required for entry and exit to Sinaloa.'" "I don't have an ID card." "I can't get out." "I think that's the least of our problems." "I'm afraid our friend sent a message to the exit portal computer concerning you." "Yep." "We've been made." "Let's go." "Cut them off!" "(Explosion and screaming)" "Where did they go?" "I can't see them with all this smoke!" "Where'd they go?" "Seal all exits to launching bay!" "Cut them off!" "(Alarm blares)" "They're heading for the launching bay!" "No!" "Get back!" " Let's go." "We've got ten seconds." " Halt!" "Run, Fauna, run!" "Go on!" "They're heading for the launching bay!" "Run, Falina!" " Any problem getting through the portal?" " Nothing Fauna couldn't handle." " How are you doing, Tangie?" " I am just fine, Buck." "I can't describe how grateful I am, so I'm not even going to try." "Just sit back and enjoy the ride." "Both of you." "Looks like the fat's not out of the fire yet." " Which means, in English?" " We've got company." "You take navigational control, I'll take care of combat." "You got a fix on them?" "They're Hatchet fighters." "Armat and Velosi have been supplying them to the Draconians." "Buck, com control is useless against Hatchet fighters." "I've been through all this." "Switch to manual for firing." "Switch me to navigation." "You take the gun." "There's no time!" "Looks like our only of fence is defence, so hang on." " How are we doing?" " Two down and two to go." " Where did you learn to fly?" " Who says I ever did?" "I can really pick them." " We've got one left." " You'll have to open fire and do it fast." " I can't." " There's no time to switch me over." "I told you so." "She's safe, Dr Huer." "You've kept your part of the bargain, I'm keeping mine." "Here's the key to my computer vault." "Here's the inventory of everything stored therein." "I'll await the authorities at my office." "Wait a minute, Mr Armat." "The things these people have said about you - they're all true?" "Yes." "But if all your life you've had people killed, tortured and enslaved, why did you bother with me?" " I hardly even know you." " But I know you." "At least, I did 20 years ago when your mother and I decided it was best I leave for your sake." "Due to the nature of my business, you see, having a child, a vulnerable spot, was out of the question." "But I always made sure that you were well cared for." "And when you were old enough to work," "I couldn't resist seeing that a job was offered to you in my company." "An indulgence which almost proved disastrous." " I don't believe you." " Good." "It's best that you don't, so that none of this will ever be repeated outside these walls." "I believe you have something else for us, don't you?" "Ah, yes, complete technical schematics for the Hatchet fighters." "It believe it will explain why your computer control system has been ineffective against them." "Who needs schematics?" "The key to doing battle with them is good old-fashioned intuition." "Since you have gone to all the trouble." "Practice makes perfect, Marla." "Lots of practice." " Hi, Buck." "How did it go?" " Very rough." " Being 9,000 credits richer is rough?" " Where'd you hear that?" "From Tangie." "I talked to her before she was escorted to your apartment." "Don't get the idea I enjoy doing these little favours for you." " Of course not!" " I could have been killed just like that." " How much did you win again?" " 9,732 credits." "Ten and Eleven isn't as difficult as you think it is."