Transcript for “Skin Deep”
Episode 2x06
Originally Aired:  11/11/00
Teleplay:  David Wolkove
Director:  Colin Budds
Transcribed by Carol Murdock for "TWIZ TV.COM" - www.twiztv.com
Feedback:  murdockcarol@twiztv.com

[Scene:  The base of the treehouse – Roxton, Malone and Veronica are 
carrying heavy crates filled with rocks.]

Malone:  I never want to see another rock.

Roxton:  Let me give you a hand.

Veronica:  Thanks.

[Marguerite is sitting looking at one of the rocks.]

Marguerite:  This one looks promising.

Malone:  Nice of you to decide to help us out.

Marguerite:  I’m taking inventory.

Roxton:  You’re doing nothing as usual.

Marguerite:  I’m trying to find something of value in this pile of rock.

Veronica:  If we all just help out we’ll get done a lot quicker.

Roxton:  It’s the least you can do.

Marguerite:  No, this is the least I can do.  [She puts on her hat and walks 
off.]  Call me when you’re finished.  [She stops by a stream to take a sip 
of water.  She hears raptors.  One approaches and she fires a few shots at 
it but she runs out of bullets.]  Damn it. [She makes a run for it the 
raptor chases her.]  I do not find this amusing! [She trips and falls down a 
hill.]  Could this day get any better? [She finds a cave and sees stones 
glittering by the entrance but is disappointed when she gets closer.] 
Quartz.  Anybody home?  Well nothing ventured, nothing gained. [She enters 
the cave.  She comes on a purple light emanating from the ceiling.  She 
steps into the light and is overcome by it’s power.]  Oh how beautiful.

**** Begin Intro****
At the dawn of the last century
A band of explorers searched for a prehistoric world
Driven by ambition
Secret desires
A thirst for adventure
And seeking the ultimate story
They are befriended by an untamed beauty
Stranded in a strange and savage land
Each day is a desperate search for a way out - of the Lost World
****End Intro****

[Scene:  The base of the treehouse – Roxton, Malone, Veronica and Challenger 
are carrying heavy crates to put them with the others.]

Roxton:  One more to go and your storage shed is empty.

Challenger:  Once we carry all these up to my new laboratory I’ll finally 
have everything together under one roof.  Thanks everyone you’re doing a 
terrific job.

[Marguerite appears carrying the last box.]

Marguerite:  I’ll say; you only left one box for me.

Roxton:  I must be hallucinating.

Marguerite:  Well, you all look exhausted.  Why don’t you go for a nice swim 
I’ll move these up to the lab.

Challenger:  That’s very kind of you Marguerite.

Roxton:  You haven’t lifted a finger all day and now you want to help?

Marguerite:  I want to do my share just like everyone else.

Malone:  I say let’s go before she changes her mind.

Veronica:  I’m with you.

Marguerite:  Go for a swim you’ll feel better.

[Roxton leaves to join the others.  Marguerite watches her eyes blacken 
over.]

[Scene:  The treehouse.  Marguerite is cooking.]

Marguerite:  Hmmm fresh bread is there anything so heavenly.

Challenger:  That’s a rare sight Marguerite the homemaker.

Roxton:  I don’t believe it; she’s up to something.

Challenger:  Don’t be so suspicious.  We’ve all had to make piece with 
what’s happened here.  Finally Marguerite’s perhaps made hers.

Malone:  We’re headed out we’ll see you in a couple of days.

Marguerite:  Not before lunch.  You can’t leave on an empty stomach.

Veronica:  I promised Assai I’d help with the wedding.  I told you about it 
yesterday.

Marguerite:  Oh that’s right I forgot.

Malone:  If I didn’t know better I’d say you were going to miss us.

Marguerite:  Of course I am.

Challenger:  You be sure to pass on our congratulations to the beautiful 
bride.

Marguerite:  Yes and invite the newlyweds back here after the wedding.  We 
could all go on a picnic.

Veronica:  Sure Marguerite sounds great.

Malone:  [whispers to Challenger and Roxton] Good luck with the new improved 
Marguerite.

[Scene:  Challenger’s laboratory.]

Roxton:  Ah another marvel of jungle engineering.  Some kind of Geiger 
counter I presume?

Challenger:  Yes a very useful piece of equipment to have around.

Roxton:  When did you put this together?

Challenger:  I’ve been working on it for some time and good thing too.  
These rocks are Pitchblende.

Roxton:  Pitchblende.

Challenger:  A natural ore made up of lead, thorium, radium and other rare 
earth elements but mostly its uranium oxide.

Roxton:  Then it’s radioactive?

Challenger:  Right and it produces radon gas which for health reasons cannot 
be allowed to accumulate within enclosed spaces.

Roxton:  In other words back outside.

Challenger:  The sooner the better I’m afraid, sorry old boy.

Roxton:  That’s all right old boy but if I start glowing you’ll never hear 
the end of it.

Marguerite:  There you are?  The foods all packed; are we ready to go?

Challenger:  Ready to go, where Marguerite?

Marguerite:  Well on our picnic of course; I mentioned it earlier.

Roxton:  I’m sorry but I won’t be attending.

Roxton:  Oh don’t be such a sourpuss.  Good food, sunshine it’ll be fun.  
What do you say Challenger?

Challenger:  Well I’ve never quite seen you like this before Marguerite; 
indeed a picnic would be fun.

Roxton:  Why don’t you just tell us what you want?

Marguerite:  I want to spend the day with the two men I most admire.

Challenger:  I’m flattered.

Marguerite:  Oh come on you both deserve a break.

Challenger:  Well if you put it that way it’s an offer we’d be foolish to 
refuse.

Marguerite:  Good I’ll get the picnic basket.

[Roxton grabs the crate of Pitchblende.]

Roxton:  I’ll take care of this.

[Scene:  The jungle.  Marguerite is leading the way carrying a picnic 
basket.]

Roxton:  Did you have someplace in mind or are we just going to keep walking 
all day?

Marguerite:  As a matter of fact I know the perfect spot to spread the 
picnic blanket.

Roxton:  Over a snake pit perhaps.

Challenger:  Oh Roxton let her be can’t you just enjoy being attended to?  I 
certainly can besides I’m starving.

[A groan comes from nearby.]

Challenger:  A Raptor?

Roxton:  I’ll take a look.

Marguerite:  It’s probably just foraging for food no harm in that.

Roxton:  As long as we’re not dinner, stay put.

[They spot the Raptor weaving about.]

Challenger:  It looks like it’s in pain.

Roxton:  Or very drunk.

Challenger:  Indeed or sick.  Uncontrollable movements suggest some sort of 
neurological disease.

[Marguerite shoots the Raptor dead.]

Marguerite:  I thought it was going to attack.  Never mind we’re almost 
there.

Roxton:  Not soon enough for me.

[Challenger approaches the Raptor.]

Marguerite:  What are you doing?

Challenger:  A tissue sample may reveal whether the animal is diseased or 
not.  I can run some tests back at the laboratory.

Marguerite:  Be careful Challenger it could be contagious.

Challenger:  You’re right.

Marguerite:  Maybe you should leave it alone.

Challenger:  Nonsense this could solve one of the greatest mysteries of all 
time.  Why did the dinosaur cease to exist?  What caused its extinction; 
definitely a risk worth taking. [Challenger puts a bloody skin sample in a 
bottle.]  Right let’s get back to the treehouse and disinfect ourselves just 
in case.

Marguerite:  What about the picnic?

Roxton:  Sorry Marguerite science never sleeps.

[Scene:  The trail to the Zanga village – Veronica and Malone hear 
chanting.]

Malone:  Do you hear that?

Veronica:  It’s coming from the altar.  Assai?  Assai what’s wrong?

Assai:  They’re gone; all of them.

Malone:  Who’s gone, what happened?

Assai:  Jarl

Veronica:  Her fiancé.

Assai:  Not just Jarl all these women they pray for their men to return.  
All the Zanga warriors are gone.

Malone:  They must have left a sign or something to tell you where they 
went?

Assai:  No there’s nothing.

Veronica:  They can’t be far away.

Malone:  They’re probably on their way back to the village right now.

Veronica:  Come on let’s go back and look.

Assai:  No

Malone:  I’ll go take a look you stay here with Assai.

Veronica:  Be careful.  There’s got to be some simple explanation.  People 
don’t just disappear.

[Scene:  The treehouse.]

Roxton:  So you think some sort of plague may have wiped out the dinosaurs?

Challenger:  Well think about it John, all over the world dinosaurs suddenly 
becomes extinct.  Everywhere all at the same time except for this small 
pocket.  Now why, what made that happen?

Roxton:  Disease.

Challenger:  Right like the black plague or Spanish influenza.  Suddenly 
appears out of nowhere and decimates whole populations.  Now what we saw 
today with that Raptor may be the beginning of a sudden and frightening 
change in the evolution of this plateau.

[The tissue sample from the Raptor turns into a white gel before Roxton’s 
eyes.]

Roxton:  Either that or you invented jelly.

Challenger:  What? [Roxton nods to the jar.] Oh that’s incredible.

Roxton:  Now what kind of a disease does that?

[Scene:  The Zanga altar – Malone returns from the village.]

Veronica:  So, did you see anything?

Malone:  No sign of the warriors only the village elders and the children 
are left.

Veronica:  Why?

Malone:  I can’t tell.  There was no clue no fight…nothing; it just like 
they took off.

[Jarl appears from the jungle he gets Assai’s attention and calls her over.]

Veronica:  And nobody saw anything?  Where could they go?

Malone:  Where’s Assai?

Veronica:  Where did she go?

[They see Assai and Jarl in the distance.]

Malone:  It looks like the wedding’s back on.

Veronica:  Let’s hope so.  Jarl welcome back.

Jarl:  It’s too late [He runs into the jungle.]

Assai:  Something terrible has happened.

Veronica:  Where’s he going?

Assai:  He wouldn’t say he just wanted me to go with him.

Veronica:  Come on.

[Veronica and Malone run after Jarl.]

Malone:  There he is.

Veronica:  Jarl stop! [Jarl stops, turns around and his eyes blacken.  He 
runs off.]  We can’t let him get away he needs our help.

[They stop when they hear someone screaming in pain.]

Malone:  What the hell was that?

Veronica:  Something very ugly.

[They come across Jarl’s body face down on the ground.]

Malone:  Veronica he must have been attacked by an animal.  [Malone turns 
Jarl over and is horrified by what he sees.]  We can’t let Assai see this.  
[Jarl’s body is just a husk.  Only his skin is left.  Assai approaches and 
sees Jarl; she is upset.] Keep her away.  [Veronica holds Assai back from 
getting to close to the husk.]

Veronica:  No…no Assai; it’s too late there’s nothing you could have done. 
[The husk turns into a white gel.] Oh my God.

Assai:  What’s happening?

Malone:  His body, it’s turning to jelly.

[Fade Out]

Assai:  What’s happening?

Veronica:  I don’t know Assai.  Have you ever seen anything like this 
before? [Assai shakes her head.  Veronica walks over to Malone.] We have to 
get her out of here.

Malone:  The sooner the better.  If this is some sort of disease it may have 
infected everyone in her village.

Veronica:  But how?

Malone:  Something in the food, water maybe.

Veronica:  We should get a sample for Challenger.

Malone:  I’ll do that you take care of Assai.

Veronica:  Assai we have to go now.  The only way to save your people is to 
find out where the warriors went and why.  Challenger may be able to help 
us.  We’ll find a safe place to stay tonight.

Malone:  We’ll set off for the treehouse at first light.

[With his knife Malone scoops some of the gel onto a large leaf.]

[Scene:  The treehouse – Marguerite is cooking a stew.]

Marguerite:  Another perfect day. [She puts vegetables in the boiling pot.  
She stirs, the ladle slips from her hands into the pot.  She puts her hand 
in the boiling water and fishes the ladle out.]  Come back here you slippery 
little devil.

[Scene:  The laboratory.  Challenger is looking at the gel substance he took 
from the Raptor under the microscope.]

Challenger:  Stem cells

Roxton:  What are they?

Challenger:  These are cells that have the capacity to grow into any 
specialized cell within the body - skin, nerves, muscles.  It appears that 
this disease adopts the cell structure of its victims; enabling it to 
quickly move through the entire body.

Roxton:  And then?

Challenger:  We can’t be sure.  Marguerite shot the Raptor before the 
disease had run its course.

Roxton:  Yes good ol’ Marguerite.

Challenger:  All we do know is once the victims are dead their bodies turn 
into this jelly.

Roxton:  What a way to go.

[Marguerite appears on the steps with a tray of tea.]

Marguerite:  Hey why the long faces?

[Scene:  The trail to the treehouse.]

Malone:  Maybe it was some sort of insect.

Veronica:  What?

Malone:  That killed Jarl.

Veronica:  Ned this probably isn’t the best time.

Malone:  Certain insects inject an acid into the victims that digest them 
from the inside.  I read about it.  Maybe the warriors were swarmed by 
flying insects.

Veronica:  Don’t you think this is the wrong audience for your wild stories? 
  We don’t know what happened to the warriors.

[Two Zanga warriors are watching the three from a distance.]

Veronica:  We’ve got company behind us.

[The two Zanga warriors step from the bush.]

Warrior:  Assai!

Malone:  What do they want?

Assai:  I have to find out, wait here.

Veronica:  Assai

Assai:  These are my people. [Assai walks over to the warriors.] What do you 
want?

Warrior:  You must come with us to the caves.  Assai, if you want to survive 
you must come with us.

Assai:  No

Veronica:  Why are you following us?  Where are the rest of your people?

[The warriors walk off.  Veronica steps forward to follow them but Assai 
holds her back.]

Assai:  You can’t go after them.

Veronica:  Why not?

Assai:  My people are dead.  They warriors are possessed and it’s too late 
to save them.

Malone:  How do you know?

Assai:  As children we were taught that the evil spirits would possess us if 
we wandered too far from the village.

Malone:  Every society teaches its children about some sort of boogie man to 
keep them close to home.

Assai:  Yeah but this isn’t a story that someone made up.  It’s a real place 
where people are lured into the spirit world and trapped.

Veronica:  You know this place?

Assai:  It’s called the shining cave but only those who have been there know 
where it is; by then it’s too late.

[They hear screeching in the distance and Malone and Veronica run toward 
it.]

[Scene:  The treehouse - Marguerite is loading up a picnic basket with 
food.]

Marguerite:  Since we missed the picnic yesterday I thought we might try 
again today.

Roxton:  Aren’t you the least bit bothered by what Challenger has found?

Challenger:  A sick Raptor, is that unusual?

Roxton:  Marguerite we have no idea how contagious this disease might be.  
Any one of us could get infected; if you’re not already.

Marguerite:  Don’t be silly I’m as healthy and happy as ever.

Roxton:  Like never before?  Where were you the other day when we were 
moving the rocks?

Marguerite:  I went for a nice long walk.

Roxton:  To a special picnic place?

Marguerite:  It’s very beautiful.

Roxton:  Yes I’m sure it is.  What happened to you there?

Marguerite:  I’ll show you everything.

Roxton:  I’ll get Challenger.

Marguerite:  Let Challenger be.  You and I should spend some time alone 
together. [She takes his face in her hands]  You’re the man I love.

[Scene:  The jungle – Malone and Veronica are running toward the screeches.  
They come across the two Zanga warriors writhing in agony.  The warrior’s 
eyes are black.  The skin literally falls off the warriors leaving their 
skeletons.]

Malone:  What the hell?  That’s far enough.  [Malone shoots at the skeletons 
as they walk closer.  It has no effect on stopping them.  Veronica and 
Malone fight the skeletons.  The bones of the skeletons scatter in the 
fight.]  Not the brightest things are they?

Veronica:  We need Challenger’s help.  Assai you go to the village and warn 
the others.

Assai:  Yes

Malone:  Will you be okay?

Assai:  Yeah I must go try and save the children.

[Scene:  The trail – Marguerite leads Roxton to just outside the cave where 
she discovered the purple light.]

Roxton:  What in there?  You want to have a picnic in a cave?

[He pulls out his gun]

Marguerite:  It’s lovely once you get inside.

Roxton:  Story of my life.

Marguerite:  My knight in shining armor. [Marguerite kisses Roxton.] You 
don’t need your gun; it’s perfectly safe.

Roxton:  Humor me.

[They go inside the cave.]

[Scene:  The laboratory – Challenger accidentally spills the jar containing 
the gelled tissue sample over.  It spills on a specimen tray.]

Challenger:  Oh you clumsy fool. [He picks up the tray and lays it on the 
table that has the Geiger counter sitting on it.  The Geiger counter starts 
to crackle.]  It can’t be.

[Veronica calls out to Challenger as she and Malone come up the elevator.]

Challenger:  Malone.  Veronica.  Come into the lab quickly.

[later]

Veronica:  Then the skeletons burst out of their bodies and tried to kill 
us.

Challenger:  So that’s what happens in the final stages.

Malone:  Then the bodies decompose into jelly.

Challenger:  I believe we’ve all witnessed what happens in the first stage.

Veronica:  What?

Challenger:  Well behavior change…Marguerite.

Malone:  That would explain the Zanga legends about demonic possession.

Veronica:  This is something much more than a legend.

[Marguerite and Roxton enter the laboratory holding hands.]

Roxton:  Oh don’t be shocked.  When we get back to England we’re making it 
official.  Marguerite and I are getting married.

Challenger:  To each other?

Marguerite:  It’s wonderful isn’t it?

Malone:  I guess…congratulations.

Roxton:  They don’t know what to say.

Marguerite:  They can’t believe it.

Veronica:  Where did you go just now?

Roxton:  Why don’t we show you?

Marguerite:  What a good idea.

Malone:  Now really isn’t the best time.

Challenger:  I still have a lot of work.

Marguerite:  Oh you and your silly work.

Roxton:  Come on live a little.

Veronica:  Where are we going?

Marguerite:  Our picnic of course.

Challenger:  Well you couldn’t have picked a better day, but do you have 
enough food for five people?

Marguerite:  I’ll go check the supplies.

Roxton:  I’ll come with you.

Marguerite:  You’re such a darling.

[Roxton and Marguerite run up the stairs hand in hand.]

Challenger:  Now I think it’s safe to assume that whatever is causing the 
change in Marguerite behavior is now taken hold of Roxton as well.  Now I 
can’t be sure how much time we’ve got.

[Roxton and Marguerite come back down the stairs basket in hand.]

Roxton:  Ready yet?

[Challenger takes the Geiger counter and passes it by them; it crackles.]

Marguerite:  George what are you doing?

Challenger:  Sit down right now; you two have both been infected.

Roxton:  What are you talking about?  I’ve never felt better in my life.

Malone:  Trust us, we saw what happened to the Zanga warriors; it isn’t 
pretty.

Challenger:  We don’t have much time.

[Roxton and Marguerite make a run for it.  Malone, Challenger and Veronica 
chase after them.]

Challenger:  You must let us help you.

Veronica:  We’re your only chance.

Malone:  Roxton wait.

[Roxton goes down in the elevator.  Veronica struggles with Marguerite but 
she breaks free.]

Challenger:  Marguerite please!

[Marguerite jumps on the balcony.]

Veronica:  You’ll never make it.

[Marguerite leaps off the balcony and grabs a vine.  The vine snaps, 
Marguerite falls.  The others look over the balcony seeing her lying on the 
ground not moving.  They run for the elevator.  Roxton approaches the body; 
his eyes turn black.]

[Fade Out]

[Scene:  The base of the treehouse – Challenger checks Marguerite for a 
pulse.  No Roxton in sight.]

Challenger:  Her neck is broken.  She would have died instantly.

Veronica:  Roxton!

Malone:  And if she was inflicted with this disease or whatever it is.

Challenger:  It won’t be long before she starts dissolving into jelly like 
the other victims.

Veronica:  We have to find Roxton.

Challenger:  You’re right, but until we find a way to treat this disease or 
at least slow it down we can’t save anyone.

Veronica:  We can’t just let him go!

Malone:  Challenger’s right; science is our only weapon.

Challenger:  Help me get her up to the laboratory I need to examine her.

[Scene:  The laboratory – They have Marguerite on a table

Veronica:  She looks so peaceful.

Malone:  I can’t believe she’s really gone.

Challenger:  A blood and tissue sample may tell us something.

Malone:  I don’t mean to be gruesome but is it possible to examine her 
skeleton?  [Challenger pulls a knife from his nearby weapons belt.  He 
stands over Marguerite ready to cut but his hand is shaking.  Malone puts 
his hand over Challenger’s.] It’s okay.

[Challenger can’t quite bring himself to cut her open.]

Challenger:  There may be another way.

[Challenger is putting some of the Pitchblende in a box.]

Malone:  Has she starting to?

Challenger:  Decay?  Not yet; her infection must be less developed than that 
of the Zanga’s or the Raptor.

[Challenger swings the box so it is directly above Marguerite.]

Malone:  Is this set up going to work?

Challenger:  It’s much like an x-ray.  Now, the radiation emitted by the 
Pitchblende passes easily through the flesh but not so easily through the 
bone.  Now in a couple of hours we should have what amounts to a good x-ray 
photograph; if she lasts that long.

Malone:  Isn’t there any way to prevent her from turning into that?

Challenger:  I haven’t found one yet, but we’re doing everything we can.  
[They leave Marguerite and go to another room.]  Such spirit lost forever.

Malone:  We have to find a way to stop this disease.

Veronica:  It’s something much more powerful than that.

Challenger:  You mean something supernatural?

Veronica:  Call it whatever you like.  The Zanga children are taught evil 
spirits will posses them if they wander too far from the village.

Challenger:  Like the boogie man will get you if you don’t behave; that sort 
of thing?

Malone:  Except her story had a very specific place; the shinning cave.

Challenger:  But she didn’t tell you where it was?

Veronica:  No, she was afraid of it.  She did say that it was a place where 
people are trapped; between the spirit world and this one.

Malone:  Until the two worlds tear them apart.

Veronica:  And only the skeletons are left.

Malone:  I know it sounds like superstition; evil spirits – demons.

Challenger:  Evil spirits and demons have been defeated often by science.

[Scene:  Nighttime the base of the treehouse - Roxton stands where 
Marguerite’s body was earlier.]

Roxton:  Marguerite, please don’t leave me.

[The elevator descends.  Roxton runs off.  Veronica walks by with a torch 
searching for him.]

Veronica:  Roxton?  I know you’re out here Roxton.  Let us help you.  
Marguerite’s gone but it’s not too late for you.  Roxton please, don’t be 
afraid.

[Challenger and Malone approach.]

Malone:  Veronica

Roxton:  Marguerite

[Scene:  The laboratory – Marguerite’s eyes suddenly open they are black.]

[Scene:  The base of the treehouse.]

Veronica:  He’s here; I know he is.

[They hear a noise.]

Challenger:  That came from the treehouse.

[Scene:  The laboratory – Marguerite is gone from the table.]

Malone:  Where is she?

Challenger:  That’s impossible.

Veronica:  You said her neck was broken.

Malone:  She was dead.

Challenger:  The radiation perhaps?

Veronica:  Behind you!

[Marguerite swings a chair at Challenger.  She takes off; the three run 
after her.  She gets on the elevator.  Malone grabs her shoulder and peels 
off some of her skin.  Marguerite runs through the jungle.  She stops in 
agony, her skeleton bursts out of her skin.  The Marguerite skeleton makes 
its way back to the shining cave.  Roxton is standing under the purple 
light.  The Marguerite skeleton rubs its fingers along his cheek.]

[Fade Out]

[Scene:  Morning the jungle - Challenger is following Marguerite’s trail 
with the Geiger counter.]

Challenger:  It must have been the radiation that brought Marguerite back to 
life.  Well, at least it enabled the skeleton to make the transformation.

Malone:  Which means the disease feeds on radiation.  Where do you think 
she’s going back to where she became infected or somewhere else?

Challenger:  A rendezvous with the other skeletons perhaps; I don’t know.

Veronica:  The question is can we still save her and what about Roxton?

[They hear a sound in the jungle.]

Veronica:  Roxton?

Malone:  I’m going after him.

Veronica:  Malone no.  [Assai appears]  Assai, what are you doing here?

Assai:  I followed your trail.  I had to know the truth for myself.

Challenger:  It’s this way.

Veronica:  Look.

[They find the cave.]

Malone:  The shinning cave.

[The Geiger counter starts to really crackle as they approach the cave.]

Malone:  It’s easy to see what attracted poor Marguerite.

Veronica:  And Roxton and all the rest.

Malone:  So, what do we do?

Challenger:  If this cave is the source of this terrible plague I don’t 
think we have a choice.  We have to seal it up as fast as possible.

Malone:  And if Roxton and what’s left of Marguerite are inside?

Challenger:  If they’re inside can we save them?

Veronica:  We have to.

[Malone runs a fuse from the cave to a safe distance.  Assai is on the rise 
praying.]

Challenger:  In all probability this disease is airborne.  Keep this cloth 
over your mouth and nose at all times.

Veronica:  Why only two?

Challenger:  Because somebody has to stay outside in case something goes 
wrong.

Veronica:  Why me?

Challenger:  You’re the youngest and the strongest.  And this magnificent 
home of yours has to be preserved at all costs.

Veronica:  Then Assai can do it.

Challenger:  No, it has to be you Veronica.  [He hands her his pocket 
watch.]  If we’re not back in fifteen minutes blow the place up.

Malone:  Don’t worry we’ll be back in no time.

[Challenger and Malone enter the cave.  They find Roxton under the purple 
light.]

Roxton:  There’s no need for the masks.  We feed on the light.  Soon we will 
become all living creatures.

Challenger:  Parasites

[Scene:  Outside the cave Veronica watches the watch.]

Veronica:  This is crazy.  Assai I’m going after them.

Assai:  You can’t.

Veronica:  I may have lost two friends already.  I’m not going to lose two 
more.  [Veronica hands Assai the pocket watch.]  Ten minutes.

Assai:  I understand.

Veronica: What ever this thing is you can’t let it escape.

Assai:  You’re a brave friend.

[Scene:  Inside the cave – Veronica catches up to Challenger and Malone.]

Roxton:  You wouldn’t shoot an old friend.  Come, there’s nothing to be 
afraid of.

[Veronica walks toward a chamber and finds cocoons.]

Malone:  Veronica!

[Scene:  Outside the cave - Assai sits by the detonator, there is only five 
minutes remaining on the pocket watch.]

[Scene:  Inside the cave – Challenger sees Marguerite inside one of the 
cocoons.]

Challenger:  Oh my God.

Malone:  Marguerite……is it really them?  Look there’s Roxton.

Veronica:  This cave goes on forever.  All the Zanga warriors are down 
there.

Malone:  Are they still alive?

Veronica:  There’s only one way to find out.

Challenger:  Veronica, be careful.

[Veronica smashes Roxton’s cocoon.  Roxton falls out.]

Veronica:  Roxton

Roxton:  What happened to me?

Challenger:  You’re alive.  Veronica what did you do with the detonator?

Veronica:  Assai.

Challenger:  Roxton and I will free the others you and Malone stop Assai.  
Go!

Roxton:  Where the hell am I?  What’s going on Challenger?

Challenger: This disease doesn’t kill it’s victims it creates an identical 
twin in order to grow the skeletons.

Roxton:  You mean like this guy?

[The copy Roxton approaches.]

Roxton:  He’s all mine.  [Copy Roxton throws real Roxton against the cave 
wall.]  Sorry pal one of me is plenty.  [Real Roxton shoots the copy.]

Challenger:  Well done now let’s free the rest.

[Scene:  Outside the cave – one minute left on the pocket watch.]

[Scene:  Inside the cave – They free Marguerite from the cocoon.]

Marguerite:  Roxton!  I thought these caves were filled with jewels.

Roxton:  Curiosity killed the cat.

[Scene:  Outside the cave – The fifteen minutes are up.  Assai gets ready to 
push the plunger on the detonator.]

[Scene:  They release Jarl.]

Jarl:  The shining caves!

Challenger:  It’s all right Jarl your people are here we just have to free 
them.  We don’t have much time.

[Scene:  Outside the cave – Assai gets ready to release the plunger when 
Malone and Veronica exit the cave.]

Malone:  No!

Veronica:  Jarl’s alive!

[Scene:  Inside the cave – The Zanga warriors are free.]

Challenger:  Keep going keep going as quickly as you can now.

Roxton:  Stay out of the purple light.

[Scene:  Outside the cave – The Zanga warriors exit the cave; Assai embraces 
Jarl.]

Assai:  My love.

[Scene:  Inside the cave]

Roxton:  Next time anyone suggests a picnic let’s have it at the treehouse.

Marguerite:  What the hell is that?

[Skeletons emerge from one of the chambers.]

Roxton:  Skeletons and they’re getting ready to attack.

Marguerite:  There’s got to be another way out of here.

[Malone and Veronica re-enter the cave.]

Challenger: We need a momentary distraction to get past.

[Marguerite sees the Raptor still in its cocoon.]

Marguerite:  The Raptor.  Allow me boys.  Seems like the least I could do.

[She takes Roxton’s gun and shoots the cocoon freeing the Raptor.]

Roxton:  Oh boy.

Marguerite:  Give it some room…give it some room.

[The Raptor attacks the skeletons as Roxton, Challenger and Marguerite slip 
by.]

Roxton:  Now I call that a momentary distraction.

Marguerite:  Well you can thank me later.

Veronica:  Up here.

[They all get out of the cave.  Challenger sets off the detonator.  The 
explosion seals off the cave entrance.]

[Epilogue]

[Scene:  The treehouse.]

Challenger:  So neither of you feel any ill effects?

Roxton:  I feel as good as new.  Although I still don’t remember a thing 
after Marguerite dragged me into that light.

Marguerite:  I don’t remember doing that.

Challenger:  Your duplicates were planning your wedding.

Roxton:  A big affair was it?

Marguerite:  I hope they didn’t do anything embarrassing.

Challenger:  What do you find embarrassing?

Marguerite:  What?  What did they do?

[Veronica and Malone come up the elevator.]

Veronica:  Hi

Challenger:  How was the wedding?

Veronica:  Assai looked beautiful.

Malone:  I think Jarl will make her very happy.

Veronica:  In fact, we invited them back for a picnic.

Marguerite:  A picnic?  Whose idea was that?

Challenger:  As a matter of fact Marguerite it was your duplicate’s 
suggestion.

Marguerite:  As if I would ever suggest a picnic.

Veronica:  You were going to make all the sandwiches.

Challenger:  And carry the picnic basket.

Malone:  That is if you weren’t too busy holding hands with Roxton.

Marguerite:  No….no let me make one thing perfectly clear.  Who or whatever 
that other woman was; she was no relative of mine.

Roxton:  It’s so good to see her back to normal.

[End of episode]