SALVATION

BY CATHERINE PORCIUNCULA

CHALLENGER: An orchid. As far as I'm concerned it has no value whatsoever.

SUMMERLEE: That Sir, is because you have no soul.

MARGUERITE: The view's better from over here.

ROXTON: It's pretty nice from where I'm standing, thanks.

MARGUERITE: I wasn't talking about the water.

ROXTON: Neither was I.

MARGUERITE: That collection of bones in there was once a king and if we hadn't stumbled in, he wouldn't even be a memory now. If the 'Ruler of All' can be forgotten, do you really think anyone will remember the likes of us?

ROXTON: I'd wager I'd be past caring.

MARGUERITE: What, it doesn't bother you that all anyone may ever know is what Ned Malone writes in some ridiculous book?

ROXTON: No, I've already done what I'll be remembered for.

ROXTON: Marguerite, I'll never forget you, that's for sure.

MARGUERITE: A lot of good that'll do me when you're digested by some prehistoric nightmare.

ROXTON: A simple 'thank you' would've been nice.

SUMMERLEE: Leave it to the great Challenger. Thrown to the lions and he marvels at the animals pedigree's instead of trying to find a way out of the den.

CHALLENGER: We'll get one chance to talk our way out of this. I promise you I'll make the most of it.

SUMMERLEE: Well, if I had to put my faith in anyone winning an argument, it'd be George Challenger.

MALONE: What the hell do you think you're doing?

MARGUERITE: Calm down, I didn't edit…much. Just wanted to see how wrong you were getting it.

ROXTON: And the verdict?

MARGUERITE: A little sensational.

CHALLENGER: You really believe Summerlee is a witch?

PINTAURO: The Holy Inquisitor believes it.

CHALLENGER: God sakes man, look at him! He's a conventional as they come. He hasn't got the imagination to be a heretic.

ROXTON: What would've happened if I hadn't been there? What would you have done?

MALONE: Nothing.

ROXTON: Like hell!

MALONE: I wasn't going to hurt her.

ROXTON: You weren't exactly teaching her to tango.

MALONE: I lost it, OK? Just let it go.

ROXTON: Once! It can never happen again. Understand? Malone?

MALONE: She pushed me.

ROXTON: She pushes everybody.

MALONE: Don't tell me you trust her?

ROXTON: I certainly trust her to act in her own interest.

ROXTON: Sometimes you roll the dice on people. That's what we did, all of us, when we signed on this journey. You take what you get. There are too many ways to die out here and the one thing we can't do is kill each other. We're all we have.

ROXTON: Ease up on, Malone.

MARGUERITE: I'm not in the mood.

ROXTON: I mean it, Marguerite.

MARGUERITE: Don't make me your personal crusade, I'm not sure you're up to the challenge.

MARGUERITE: Now, let's see. Summerlee could be the doting grandfather, Challenger is…no, I think you're the daddy, then there's little baby, Veronica and me? I'm the wicked stepsister.

ROXTON: I really don't give a damn why you are or who you are but here, now, you're going to behave. 

MARGUERITE: Or what?! You going to shoot me? That's what the 'Great White Hunter' does, isn't it? Going to kill me like you did your brother?

MALONE: You don't like me much do you?

MARGUERITE: To be honest, Malone, I never really gave you a thought.

MALONE: Don't push me.

MARGUERITE: But it's so easy.

MARGUERITE: How did you find us?

ROXTON: Are you kidding? You two made enough noise to raise the whole jungle.

SUMMERLEE: Whatever happens, Challenger, I'm glad to have had you on my side.

MARGUERITE: Not that I'm not a great admirer of decisive action, but what's the plan once we get into the village?

ROXTON: We wing it.

MARGUERITE: Translation…he has no idea!

MALONE: You have no idea how you were able to read a language thousands of years old…that's what frightens you.

MARGUERITE: I guess we all have our demons. Consider yourself repaid.

MALONE: Killing a priest! That's your idea of winging it?!