NECTAR

BY DURNFORD KING

SUMMERLEE: I imagine the Garden of Eden must have been like this.

VERONICA: Without the dinosaurs and the apemen.

SUMMERLEE: Oh yes my dear, but every garden has its serpent.

CHALLENGER: So, you're standing in front of an elephantine flower and you hear a buzzing sound.

SUMMERLEE: I thought it was an aeroplane.

CHALLENGER: You're a botanist for God sakes!

MALONE: It's not her fault.

CHALLENGER: She was with him.

ROXTON: Someone should stay with the Professor.

MARGUERITE: Florence Nightingale reporting for duty.

ROXTON: Hmm, must be those strong maternal instincts.

CHALLENGER: You know, Arthur, it really is extraordinary the lengths to which you will go just to get attention.

CHALLENGER: Here, I'm not very good at this sort of thing. 

MARGUERITE: Well, modesty from the great George Challenger? What a surprise. I thought you were good at everything.

CHALLENGER: You know, where I come from, women are not so bold.

MARGUERITE: Oh, how dull for you.

CHALLENGER: I should've gone with them.

MARGUERITE: And done what?

CHALLENGER: Would've been better than the nothing we're doing here.

MARGUERITE: We're not doing nothing, we're making him comfortable.

ADAMA: Nothing human survives in the hive.

MARGUERITE: Summerlee has spent half his adult life attacking you, I don't understand why you're risking your neck for him now.

CHALLENGER: No, I don't suppose you would.

VERONICA: As far as she's concerned, we're the crazy one's for trying to get into the hive.

MALONE: Maybe she's right.

ROXTON: You can go back anytime.

MALONE: Hey! Summerlee means as much to me as he does to you, Roxton.

ROXTON: It's OK, Malone, you'd be crazy not to be scared.

MALONE: Just with bees the size of ice-boxes the learning curve's a little steep.

ROXTON: Learn fast, stay alive.

MALONE: Do you think the hive is in that mountain?

ROXTON: I've got news for you, Malone. That mountain is the hive.

MARGUERITE: The body's gone.

CHALLENGER: Apemen eat their dead.

MARGUERITE: Charming.

CHALLENGER: I'm almost there.

MARGUERITE: If you say so.

CHALLENGER: The physics may be too complex for you…

MARGUERITE: Humour me, O Great One.

MARGUERITE: So, what are we waiting for?

CHALLENGER: You.

MARGUERITE: Me?

CHALLENGER: In order for the device to work, I require a quantity of non-conducting fabric, silk is most desirable. In other words, Madam, I'm asking you to surrender your undergarments…in the name of science, of course.

CHALLENGER: Such a tableaux of domestic tranquility.

MARGUERITE: Isn't it though? Apemen poised to attack, me cutting up my own underwear, Summerlee dying in the next room, real cosy.

AFTER READING SUMMERLEE'S WILL

CHALLENGER: You are not allowed to die, do you hear me? I am the leader of this expedition and I do not give you permission to die!

ROXTON: Each bee is checked by a sentry. We'll have to pass the same inspection.

MALONE: Let's hope they don't have a secret handshake.

ROXTON: I'll go first. If something goes wrong, run…like hell!

VERONICA: What about you?

ROXTON: I'll be dead.

MARGUERITE: I hope you know what you're doing.

CHALLENGER: Really, Miss. Krux, your lack of faith is becoming disturbing.

MARGUERITE: Some days I hate being right.

CHALLENGER: What are you doing?

MARGUERITE: Saving your arrogant ass!

CHALLENGER: Mans greatest gift is the power of his intellect.

CHALLENGER: If only I could heal as effectively as I manage to kill.