Original subtitles

I want you to leave here now. You're in great danger.

Why don't you put her under? She's not waking up again.

Don't you see he'll get what he wants and then kill her.

Switch to manual for firing.

Bucking or evade or fire.

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, Captain. Enemy approaching port side.

Well, hello there.

One out of 14. This is 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 computer control system is next to useless against these hatchet fighters.

You noticed, huh?

The best pilots I could assemble were no more successful

than anyone else has been against them.

Drill terminated. Return to base, everyone. Buck, thanks again for helping us out.

You know, Wilma, the computers work just fine when

you use them to draw a bead on your target.

Instruct your pilots to go to manual for firing.

They can't do it.

Sure they can. They did it against the Draconians, remember? You even hit a couple.

That was before the Draconians started arming themselves with these new fighters.

I've never seen a ship that was so maneuverable and so fast.

Just means your trigger finger's gotta be quicker, that's all.

Hitting those targets is a matter of milliseconds.

To rely on human judgment instead of a computer's would be madness.

Wilma, it's a matter of training the reflexes.

I don't know. I'll think about it.

All right.

Listen, you got any plans for tonight?

As a matter of fact, no.

It's too bad I do.

And I know how rare flowering plants are.

And even rarer still are people like you who are thoughtful and kind.

Thank you, Kalina.

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 or need 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, Felina.

I'm sorry.

Oh, excuse me, Dr. Hewer. I was told you wanted to see me.

You were told correctly. Come in.

This gentleman has just made the Defense Directorate a very interesting proposition.

Major Landers, Amos Armat.

Alleged businessman.

Moon-based construction, I think, isn't it? Of course,

your real expertise lies in extortion,

smuggling illegal weaponry to warring colonies, and, of course, slave trafficking.

That's very true.

Mr. Armat's covert activities have perplexed

the interplanetary 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, Helena 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 readout containing a numerical code which,

if obtained and deciphered by one of my competitors,

would ruin three-fourths of my operations.

Felina had no idea what she'd seen.

She reported the error, which is standard procedure, and kept right on working.

But one of your competitors heard about it and kidnapped her so

that eventually he could get the information out of her head.

I tried to warn her, but it was too late.

Which competitor? Do you know?

Velocity.

He's 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 for you?

Yes.

I'm afraid the answer is no, Mr. Armand.

Veloci will use whatever information he gets from Follina to cripple your operation.

And that event is rather appealing to me.

But don't you see he'll get what he wants and then kill her?

I find it rather hard to believe that a single

murder even registers on your consciousness,

tempting as the prospect may be of personally removing you from this planet forever.

The answer is still no, because I'll not risk any of my people

to save the lives of one of your innocent employees.

Dr. Hewer, don't you think that a man of Mr. Armat's connection,

someone with easy access to all sorts of information about illegal weaponry,

probably he would 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 Felina back, Mr. Armat, not only would you turn yourself in,

but you'd also 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. Keep 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.

See, it became a tradition in my day for astronauts to

carry a golf club or two on board their spacecraft.

It's a big deal to be able to say you hold out on the moon.

Golf is a very special 20th century sport, Wilma.

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.

A situation has arisen at the Defense Directorate

requiring a person of my peculiar background,

as Dr. Hewer would say, right?

Wrong. I'm not interested.

Just trying to do you a favor.

You did tell me that you liked to play 10 and 11, didn't you?

10 and 11?

Well, actually, I believe you called it Blackjack.

Blackjack?

The way Dr. Hewer and Major Landers have it worked out,

they 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.

She's much more familiar with Sinaloa than I am,

so you'll be going off with her instead of me.

That is, on the off chance that you're interested.

Oh, I don't know, Wilma. I'll have to think about it.

When do we leave?

The Delta Solar System consists of 12 orbiting man-made cities.

Each one's a little bit different from all the others. Now,

Sinaloa is composed almost exclusively of hotels, casinos, showrooms.

Everything revolves around entertainment and gambling.

Sort of a Las Vegas in space.

Oh, from what you tell me, yeah.

I can't help it, Marla. Someone's paying me to play blackjack.

It's an involuntary reflex.

Hold up, Buck.

Looks like Dr. Theopolis came through with the items we asked for.

Hiya, Twinkie.

What's shaking, Buck?

This will help us get out of the city after we find Felina, huh, Doctor?

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.

And this must be for Veloci'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. Thank you.

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 traveling to what some people refer to as an orbiting

city of moral depravity obviously agrees with you, Buck.

Well, it's a thankless job, Doctor, but somebody's got to do it.

What a guy. Come on, Marla.

Now, Mr. Veloci... Five complaints in four days.

I'm getting a little bored, I guess.

Imagine people complaining about a beautiful thing like you.

It's almost as if you've forgotten that there's only one way out of this city.

Mr. Veloci... My way.

No more complaints, Danchy. She's here.

I tell you, Marla, I am the blackjack what a mongoose is to a cobra.

That simply means that you and Dr. Hewer were right in recruiting me.

Well, I'm just a firm believer in backup plans.

Well, I'll get the job done. Don't worry.

Here, take a look at these.

Owns and runs Sinaloa.

Pelosi?

The city's entirely self-contained,

and he has the first and last word on everything.

He says you don't leave, you don't leave.

Oh, what about Mr. Congeniality here?

That's Karl Morphus.

People like Velocity call him in when they

want to extract things from people's minds.

Extract?

He can literally pull memories out of a person's subconscious

using drugs or whatever else is necessary.

He's headed for Sinaloa as well?

That's the rumor.

Now, that's Felina.

If we can't locate her by the time 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?

It makes sense.

You are now subject to the laws of Sinaloa.

If you have any questions,

please go to the Pink Vid Fond 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.

Okay, this is where everybody entering and leaving is screened.

You know those gifts that Tweaky and Theo gave us that

work better on the other side of those portals, don't you think?

Oh, you got them ready?

Of course.

Oh, by the way, that ID card that Dr. Cure gave you,

that'll not only get you into the city,

it'll also get you food and money and everything else you need.

Everything?

Within reason.

You go first. Go ahead.

You are now subject to the laws of Spinaloa. If you have any questions,

please go to the pink bid font at the end of the concourse,

and a paralegal will be happy to answer your question.

ID card ready and entry portal. ID cards 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 pink bid font at the end of the concourse,

and a paralegal will be happy to answer your questions.

You 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 Pink Vid Fond at the end of the concourse,

and a paralegal will be happy to answer your questions.

Search it! 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!

What was that all about?

All the games inside are computerized. Carrying a calculator in here is illegal.

What's going to happen to that guy?

Depends what mood Veloci's in. How are you doing?

Fine. That was number three. Getting out of here is going to be a blast.

Well, I'll see you in the casino. And remember, we don't know each other.

Oh, yeah.

That's someone from class of three. Not your type. Oh, yeah?

I don't know what to say about that.

I really don't think you'll like him.

Him?

Mr. Morpheus will arrive within the next several hours.

Then your wait will be over.

You're going to make me remember what I saw on Mr. Armand's computer.

And then you're going to kill me.

You entered in a maintenance vehicle.

Your exit will be even less ceremonious.

And no one will ever be able to prove you were here.

I never meant to do anything wrong!

It isn't fair! I know.

You poor thing.

You look absolutely lost.

I'm new in town. You the welcome wagon?

Not sure. My name is Tangie. Tangie.

That's a nice name.

What it is is memorable.

How about you?

Oh, Buck's the name, and Buck is looking to play some blackjack.

I'm sorry, I mean 10 and 11.

Oh, it's so hard. No one ever wins at that awful game.

Are you sure you want to spend your money playing 10 and 11?

Yeah, I'm sure.

How about some company?

Or are you with someone?

No, no, as a matter of fact, I'm here all by myself.

Oh, marvelous.

That does not compute, sir.

Yeah, right. Another draw, please.

A seven.

11 and 7 is 18.

The house pays 18.

I don't know how you do it. I've never seen anyone win like this.

That's because no one uses their brains anymore.

They're like computers do all the work. People's minds have gotten flabby.

I bet some of these suckers can't even count to 21.

That's the ninth hand in a row that man has won,

and he's only lost four since he sat down.

That's one that can count.

To go higher than ten, she has to take 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 somewhere.

No computers or calculators can be brought into Sinaloa.

All persons and their luggage are carefully screened.

Look, lady, I'm beating the house, not you anyway,

so what do you care how much money I win? Of course,

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 the class of three, are you?

I have reason to believe that one of the men at one

of your 10 and 11 tables over there is cheating.

To whom should I report it?

Me.

My name is Morgan Pelosi.

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?

That's the tenth time in a row he's won. He must be cheating.

You really ought to have someone keep an eye on him.

May I see your identification card?

Watch it.

You're being very wise, Mr. Losey.

Would you like a drink, Marla?

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 the city.

You know, I remember once, it was around the end of my stint at Edwards.

Toby Kaplan and I hopped in a car one Wednesday afternoon

and just drove till we got to Las Vegas.

Partied and gambled and just generally got crazy all night.

Drove back Thursday morning just in time for our 10 o'clock class.

I take that back. It was, uh, we were two minutes late.

Player number four, card?

Uh, no draw.

Dealer is 14 and takes a cart.

Yeah, I think that was just before I left for Houston.

Yeah, it was. Yeah, the last time I saw it told me he was bound and

determined to head up the Space and Aeronautics Board someday.

He could have, too. I wonder if he ever did.

Dealer is 19 and stands firm.

House pays 20. Players two and four win.

You won again.

Player two, 325.

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 been able to win so much.

Well, it's easy, Tanya. Look, it's like I told you.

Just remember everything that's been played.

I envy you.

Not because you're wealthy and you're intelligent.

Just... Just because you're free.

Are you not any tiny place?

You're not?

I am an employee of Sinaloa.

I work for Mr. Veloci.

He won't let me.

He says I'm... too valuable a commodity.

It's a real credit to the human race, huh?

He's a monster.

If someone were to offer him enough money, oh, you see,

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. I have no idea how grateful I'd be.

I really hate to break this up, Tangy, but I've got to see a man about a horse.

Cashing in.

Player four, 9,732 credits.

Well, at least I come out of this with some bread.

You're leaving?

Yes, but I shall return.

Why, you better.

I might just have to look you up in the daily census, mightn't I, Buck?

Promises, promises. So long, metal mouth.

I beg your pardon. You know,

there's two good things about playing against a computer, Tangy.

One is they can't deal off the bottom of the deck,

and the other is you don't have to tip them. See you later.

I've enjoyed this, I really have,

but the people I'm here with are going to begin to wonder where in the world I am,

so... 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.

That meets the eye.

All right, there are one or two ways we can handle this situation.

You should have gone for number one.

What are you doing to me? You're cutting off my circulation.

Well, 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 at 10 and 11. I was cheating.

I was using my brain, which is something the run-of-the-mill

customer around here ceased to do a long time ago.

And I was trying to attract the attention of a thug like you, which I did.

You're saying all this was planned?

Yep, because as one of Morgan Pelosi's thugs, you know things,

like where Felina Redding is.

Who's Felina Redding?

I was afraid you were going to say something like that.

Open up.

What's that?

It's a pill. Make you feel good. You know, relaxed, happy, cooperative.

So that lying to me will be impossible. Come on.

You know, there are a variety of things I can do to get this into your system.

Oh, come on, I even had Theo put some orange flavoring in it. You'll love it.

Come on. Come on. Open up.

Come on.

Be a good boy. That's a good boy. Swallow down.

Swallow down.

Orange? I lied.

You know, if you are dissatisfied with my credentials,

I suggest you simply call for a readout on your computer.

I fully intend to.

Well, we're through.

Mr. Veloci...

I resent the way that you've assumed that I agree to all of this.

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?

Great, great. Better and better.

But I still don't want to talk.

To either of you.

Sure you do.

Where are they holding Felina Redding?

Felina, Felina. The woman who was kidnapped from New Chicago?

Where is she?

Generator sector three.

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. I don't have one.

Who does?

Oh, let me see, let me see. 07, the sanitation module, and Thompson, and Levine,

and Veloci. His key opens everything in the city.

Well, it is his city, you know.

Excuse me, Mr. Vlosey.

The man you've been expecting is here.

Well, you have business to do. I certainly wouldn't keep you.

I always finish where I begin.

Your room in five minutes.

Marla Landis.

Get Thompson up here. He's in the casino.

Yes, Mr. Blasey.

You've come around to brunettes, I see.

My associate.

She saw a very critical readout 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 traumatize brain tissue?

Mine will never be the same.

Why don't you put her under?

She's not waking up again.

Fine.

Mr. Thompson is here.

Enjoy seeing you again, Mr. Veloci.

Sorry to have interrupted you.

Never mind that. Karl Morf has just arrived.

Oh, terrific. That's about as good as the news I've got.

Well, couldn't you get anything out of that man that was following you?

Oh, yeah, I know exactly where they're keeping Felina.

Well, that's good news.

Yeah, I also found out it's virtually impossible

to get there without one of four existing keys.

Oh, no.

Yeah, I was gonna try to lift one off Sanitation Module 07.

It doesn't make us round till after midnight. And if Morphus is here now,

we might as well start packing.

Buck, who else has a key?

A couple of Veloci's goons.

And Veloci?

Naturally.

I can't believe that we've come this far to have everything go down the tubes.

Everything's not going down the tubes.

In approximately two minutes, we may very well have ourselves that key.

Turn around.

What? Oh.

Marla?

You'll have to wait just a minute.

I don't like to wait.

And with this, I really have to.

I thought you'd feel that way.

I'm sorry to spoil your plans this evening, Mr. Veloci.

Yes, I am disappointed.

You see, half of me said, trust Marla Landis. After all, she's a beautiful woman.

The other half said, don't trust Marla Landis.

She's too good. Keep your eye on her. Most pleasant task, I might add.

Until now.

Kill her.

Please don't move.

Come on. Let's get over there with your boss. Move.

I'll just take that key you're so proud of, Mr. Pelosi.

You both will die before you leave the city.

You think so, huh?

Okay, get over there. Come on, move.

If I were you, I'd worry more about how you're gonna get out of here, Mr. Pelosi.

All right, let's go.

All right, get down to the ship and prepare for takeoff. I'll get Felina.

You got the detonator?

I'm all set. I'll see you at the ship.

Why, Buck Rogers, what are you and that lady up to?

Later, Tangy.

Looks to me like it's something very dishonest.

I don't have time, Tangy.

If you don't help me find my way 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, Buck. Maybe you'll feel better after a nap.

Oh, no, wait a minute.

Look, I'm not going to be needing this, so here.

Use this to get out of the city and take this with you. You're going to go with us.

Oh, uh, Marla, Tangine, Tangine, Marla.

Nice to meet you.

Soon, it'll all be over, my dear.

I imagine that 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 allow myself to empathize with you,

I couldn't get the job done now, 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.

And very soon you shall find yourself afloat in a sea of color and sounds,

and then blackness, and then everything.

Everything shall come to an end.

Name is Buck Rogers. I just hit the alarm. 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 down below sent a pre-recorded

message to the exit portal computer concerning you.

Yep, we've been made. Come on, let's go.

Cut them off!

I can't see them with all this smoke! Where'd they go?

Seal all exits to launching bay. Cut them off!

Let's go, we got 10 seconds.

Halt!

Ooh! Run, Felina, run!

Ooh!

Go on! They're heading for the launching bay!

Run, Felina!

Had any problem getting through the portal?

Nothing Felina couldn't handle.

How you doing, Kenji?

I am just fine, Beck.

Listen, there's no way I can describe how grateful I am, so if you don't mind,

I'm not even gonna 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.

Here, you take navigational control. I'll take care of combat.

You got a fix on him?

They're hatchet fighters.

I wonder if Armand said he could get you that information.

He and Belosi are the ones who've been supplying them to the draconians.

Buck, all our weapons are deployed by comm control,

and it's useless against hatchet fighters.

I've been through all this with Wilma.

Switch to manual for firing.

Switch me over to navigational. You take the gun.

There's no time. Looks like our only offense is

gonna be one hell of a defense, so hang on.

How we doing?

That's two down and two to go.

Why did you learn to fly?

Who says I ever did?

I can really pick them up.

You got one left.

All right, Marl, I got no more tricks up my sleeve. You're gonna have to open fire,

and you have to do it fast.

I can't.

There's no time to switch me over.

I told you so.

She's safe up here.

You've kept your part of the bargain. I'm keeping mine.

Here's the key to the computer vault of my office.

Here is 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 of 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.

Twenty 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 go 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, Mr. Armand?

Ah, yes.

Complete technical schematics for the hatchet fighters.

I 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, Marlin.

Lots of practice.

Hi, Buck. How did it go?

Rough. Very rough.

Being 9,000 credits richer is rough.

Where'd you hear that?

From Tangie. I talked to her briefly before she was escorted over to your...

Yeah, well, don't get the idea I enjoy doing these little favors to you people.

Of course not.

Very dangerous work. There were at least five different

instances when I could have been killed just like that.

How much did you win again?

9,732 credits. You know, 10-11 really isn't as difficult as you think it is, Molly.