INT. MOTHERSHIP, COUNCIL OF MINISTERS - DAY
COUNCIL LEADER: Mr Litbarski, have you decided upon your first witness?
DIETER: Your honour we would like to question the Supreme Leader
The alien Supreme Leader climbs to her feet.
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: This is an outrage. What have I to do with this case.
DIETER: Everything
COUNCIL LEADER: I see nothing wrong with this. You will answer his questions.
The alien supreme leader stands in front of Dieter
DIETER: How many people have been killed by your soldiers under your command?
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: Hundreds. Thousands maybe.
DIETER: According to statistics the figure is twenty three thousand, six hundred and seventy one. How many of these were innocent women and children?
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: It is inevitable that there will be collateral damage.
DIETER: The figure is one thousand, six hundred and thirteen. Why did you feel it necessary to have this collateral damage?
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: We bring order to the world. We right wrongs. We use our technology to free the innocent. We are purveyors of justice.
DIETER: While killing more than sixteen hundred women and children?
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: As I said. We do not intend to kill the innocent.
DIETER: How many women and children do you accuse Lord Prefect of killing?
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: I cannot remember the figure.
DIETER: Thirty seven
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: How many more is he responsible for killing, indirectly, as a result of his policies?
DIETER: Do you accept that the role of any leader necessitates tough decisions, some of which may result in collateral damage?
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: That is no excuse
DIETER: So what makes you better than him?
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: Intent
DIETER: I’ve always been lead to believe that good intentions mean nothing without action. Or in your case prevention.
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: I stand over my record
DIETER: Tell us about your famous predictor.
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: It is never wrong. It can predict the future path of every individual who takes it.
DIETER: Have you ever covered up a failed test?
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: I am a leader. I do not have to answer that question.
DIETER: Yes you do.
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: I act only in the interests of my people
DIETER: That sounds like something you would expect the defendant to say. How many failed tests of your people have you covered up?
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: I cannot say
DIETER: You are every bit as fallible as Lord Prefect.
COUNCIL LEADER: Have you finished your interrogation?
DIETER: I have one final question. The main charge against Lord Prefect is that he rules by fear. Do you not accept that you too have conquered worlds and ruled by fear. Fear of your weaponry and your cruel methods.
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: We uphold our laws
DIETER: But what happens when your laws conflict with the rights of others.
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: How dare you question me.
DIETER: That is all. I would like to call Lord Prefect to the stand.
Lord Prefect strides from his seat stands in front of the council.
DIETER: Lord Prefect, can you tell the council what your achievements are as leader of this world?
LORD PREFECT: Under my tenureship most of what you see today of the upperworld was built under my watch. This includes, Lord Prefect Tower, Lord Prefect Entertainment centre and Lord Prefect Stadium.
DIETER: Anything else?
LORD PREFECT: The unemployment and poverty rates of the upperworld reduced dramatically under my watch. We also improved our weapons systems and improved crime prevention and detection.
DIETER: No more questions.
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: How many people were transported to the underworld under your watch?
LORD PREFECT: I really don’t know.
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: How about sixteen thousand seven hundred and eigty-seven? Does that seem accurate to you?
LORD PREFECT: I really couldn’t say.
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: How many do you claim to have taken out of poverty?
LORD PREFECT: Countless
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: The reality Lord Prefect is that it is fewer than the number you transported to the underworld.
LORD PREFECT: That couldn’t be right
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: Is there anything you are proud of that will stand up to scrutiny?
LORD PREFECT: I have a son
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: The son who currently despises the ground you walk on?
LORD PREFECT: I treat my subjects well
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: How many of them have come forward to support you? Where are they?
Lord Prefect is frustrated and dumbfounded
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: No more questions.
LORD PREFECT: I would like to say something. I have been accused of ruling by fear, but the alternative to fear is anarchy, rebellion, looting... I deserve a second chance. I am a good leader.
COUNCIL LEADER: Have you any more witnesses, Mr Litbarski?
DIETER: Lord Felron
Lord Felron approaches the stand in an apprehensive manner.
DIETER: Lord Felron, how long have you worked with Supreme Leader?
LORD FELRON: Nineteen years
DIETER: In that time, have you ever questioned any of her decisions?
LORD FELRON: I don’t think it is my place to answer that question.
DIETER: Why not?
LORD FELRON: Because every leader has difficult decisions to make. If every decision was revealed, I don’t think it would truly be in the interest of the public. Governments would be unworkable.
COUNCIL LEADER: You will answer the question put to you.
LORD FELRON: The first decision I came to question was when the position of Supreme Leader became available. Supreme Leader, paid two journalists to run articles about her, identifying her as the front runner and the best candidate for the job.
DIETER: Did this break any law?
LORD FELRON: We consider it bribery.
DIETER: Was there a second decision you disagreed with?
LORD FELRON: On the planet Lobos, we interrogated and drugged the leader for more than thirty six hours in order to obtain a confession.
DIETER: Anything else?
LORD FELRON: A rogue soldier, killed a Balmorian in cold blood. Supreme Leader insisted on covering it up.
DIETER: Why did she cover it up?
LORD FELRON: We have our reputation to protect. We are known as purveyors of peace and justice.
DIETER: You are every bit as fallible as humans.
COUNCIL LEADER: How dare you Mr Litbarski. You may step down Lord Felron. We have heard enough.
INT. MOTHERSHIP PRISON CELLS - DAY
An alien colleague is playing with a pet that resembles a small dog with two legs.
The colleague lets the dog go and it waddles across the room. Gustav and his colleagues look on.
Aspa uses his gun to freeze the pet. He then presses a button that makes the pet disappear and another one to make it reappear in a different part of the room.
GUSTAV: How is that possible?
Aspa approaches Gustav.
ASPA(referring to Arnhardt): Would you like me to freeze your annoying friend here? Or perhaps I ought to transport him to the waste incinerator?
GUSTAV: And how would you do that
Aspa stands sideways to Gustav and points the weapon at the pet. Again he freezes the pet and transports him to another part of the room.
GUSTAV: Isn’t that harmful
ASPA: Our technology is millions of years more advanced than yours my inferior friend.
ARHARDT: He might be inferior, but I’m not.
INT. MOTHERSHIP, HOLDING CELL - DAY
Dieter enters Barbella’s holding cell.
DIETER: Barbella, I have been offered the chance to defend you tomorrow.
BARBELLA: I’d rather tear my hair out than be defended by a traitor.
DIETER: I’m not a traitor.
BARBELLA: My soul is prepared. How is yours?
DIETER: Without my help, you will die Barbella.
Barbella does not respond. Dieter is frustrated.
DIETER: Can’t you see that I love you.
BARBELLA: You show your love by defending the devil. A man who ruled by fear. A man who killed my mother and countless others. A man without a heart.
DIETER: Please forgive me. I ...
BARBELLA: Go away.
DIETER: Barbella
BARBELLA: Now.
INT. MOTHERSHIP PRISON CELLS - EVENING
Dieter is escorted by alien guards and the Supreme Leader to the cell, where Tayo and Gustav are located.
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: See how you like it here, among your kind. Your quarters were too cosy I think.
DIETER: You asked me to defend him. I was only doing my job
ALIEN SUPREME LEADER: Put him inside.
The gate to the cell opens and Dieter walks in, head bowed. Alien Supreme Leader leaves
GUSTAV: Dieter. Remember me.
ARHARDT: If it isn’t the traitor
GUSTAV: This man is no traitor. He’s also known as Barton Littbarski, the only man to go from the Underworld to the Upperworld and survive.
ARHARDT: A kiss ass if you ask me. Sucking up to Lord Prefect and sucking up to alien scum.
DIETER: Everyone has a right to be defended. Even you.
Arhardt approaches Dieter - face to face.
ARHARDT: Why I ought to break you in half
TAYO: That wouldn’t solve anything. Any friend of Gustav’s is a friend of mine
ARHARDT: He’s probably a mole, sent to spy on us by their leader.
KENDRA: Can’t they just use camera’s and listening devices?
ARHARDT: Yeah well, first chance I get, I’m going to bury him. Don’t sleep so easily. Huh.
Aspa approaches the cell.
GUSTAV: Don’t worry Aspa. Everything is under control.
Aspa plays with his gun
ASPA: Good for all of you. Because you wouldn’t like to know what this can do.