Willis E. Davidge
By late in the 21st century the nations of the Earth were finally at peace, working together to explore and colonise the distant reaches of space. Unfortunately, we weren't alone out there. A race of nonhuman aliens called the Dracs were claiming squatters' rights to some of the richest star systems in the galaxy. Well, they weren't gonna get it without a fight. Space was the new battleground. For many of us, Earth became a precious memory light years away. Our only home was a fortress in space. As in any war, there were long periods with nothing to do but wait. And then...
Willis E. Davidge
Hey, you understand any English, toad face?
Jeriba Shigan
Kos son va?
Willis E. Davidge
What?
Jeriba Shigan
Kos son va, Irkmann?
Willis E. Davidge
Stick it.
Jeriba Shigan
Kos va son Jeriba Shigan. Shigan!
Willis E. Davidge
So your name's Jerry Shigan. So what?
Jeriba Shigan
Kos son va, Irkmann?
Willis E. Davidge
What? Do you wanna know my name? Willis E Davidge.
Jeriba Shigan
Da... Da... Da...
Willis E. Davidge
Come on, shoot me! Go ahead and do it now! Shoot me! Cos whether we live or die, I don't love you and you don't love me! But we're stranded here, you understand? You get it or don't you gavey Engleesh, huh?
Jeriba Shigan
Irkmann, may ta ib phtuga!
Willis E. Davidge
Yeah, phtuga! Write and tell my mother, you big frog.
Jeriba Shigan
My left... foot. My right foot. This is my left foot. This is my right foot. And these are both my feet.
Willis E. Davidge
Yeah, great.
Jeriba Shigan
Yeah, great. This is my head.
Willis E. Davidge
That is your ugly head.
Jeriba Shigan
No, no. This is my head. That's is you head. You ugly head! Ha, ha. That is Davidge ugly head.
Willis E. Davidge
All right, that's enough! Keep that up and you can learn English alone because I won't be your teacher any more.
Jeriba Shigan
Sorry, Davidge.
Willis E. Davidge
That's better. You know, while you're having such a good time and doing nothing, I am trying to think of ways to improve our situation.
Jeriba Shigan
OK.
Willis E. Davidge
You know the old saying: if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Jeriba Shigan
Davidge, you learn this from great Drac teacher, Shizumaat?
Willis E. Davidge
No, from Mickey Mouse.
Jeriba Shigan
Who?
Willis E. Davidge
Mickey Mousssse.
Jeriba Shigan
Mickey Mouse. Is this great Irkmann teacher?
Willis E. Davidge
Yeah. Sort of.
Jeriba Shigan
Soon we picked up. One side or other side.
Willis E. Davidge
What, with the war going on? We got more chance of catching a Greyhound bus.
Jeriba Shigan
Humans. Easy you give up. Shizumaat teaches us "Intelligent life takes a stand".
Willis E. Davidge
Where'd you get that crap? Out of that book you're always readin'? I'm the one that's takin' a stand. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you sons of Shit-mat!
Jeriba Shigan
Shizumaat!
Willis E. Davidge
Yeah, whatever. Rrrrrr!
Jeriba Shigan
This war begun by you! By humans!
Willis E. Davidge
You know something, Jerry? Your great Shizumaat eats shit!
Jeriba Shigan
Irkmann, your Mickey Mouse is one big, stupid dope!
Willis E. Davidge
You saved my life. Why?
Jeriba Shigan
Maybe I need to look at another face, even as ugly as yours.
Willis E. Davidge
So you still think humans are ugly, huh?
Jeriba Shigan
Compared to a Drac, very ugly. But that thing out there, it's even more ugly than you.
Willis E. Davidge
Thank you.
Jeriba Shigan
You are welcome.
Willis E. Davidge
Don't you ever get tired of reading that book?
Jeriba Shigan
No.
Willis E. Davidge
Well, what's in it anyway?
Jeriba Shigan
Things.
Willis E. Davidge
Oh, for Christ's sake!
Jeriba Shigan
It is called Talman. It contains the words of our great teacher, Shizumaat.
Willis E. Davidge
I suppose you have to know the Drac language to read it, right?
Jeriba Shigan
It would help.
Willis E. Davidge
So teach me the Drac language.
Jeriba Shigan
It is not for you, Davidge.
Willis E. Davidge
Shizumaat is too good for us humans?
Jeriba Shigan
Not too good for humans, too good for you!
Willis E. Davidge
Now you're a judge of character!
Jeriba Shigan
Do you not remember what you say about Shizumaat?
Willis E. Davidge
Yeah, well, maybe you forgot about what you said about Mickey Mouse!
Jeriba Shigan
That was wrong. I... did not mean it.
Willis E. Davidge
I didn't mean what I said about Shizumaat either. Jerry, what are you...
Jeriba Shigan
This book must be given to the pupil. I then become the master. I am not worthy, but there is no one else here. Now read.
Willis E. Davidge
Yesli raz delo, raz va dzram da delo. Lubo da lubo.
Jeriba Shigan
Translate.
Willis E. Davidge
"If one receives evil from another, let one not do evil in return. Rather, let him extend love to the enemy, that love might unite them". I've heard all this before, in the human Talman.
Jeriba Shigan
Of course you have. Truth is truth. But what you have not yet learned is the way we Dracs express the truth. The words of Shizumaat must be sung.
Willis E. Davidge
We live like animals! And you get so fat you can barely move! You'll never conquer the universe like that.
Jeriba Shigan
We were here years before you!
Willis E. Davidge
Well, in case you haven't heard it, Dracface, we legally annexed this star system.
Jeriba Shigan
You invaded this star system!
Willis E. Davidge
Bullshit! You're the invaders!
Jeriba Shigan
No, we are explorers! We are founders of worlds!
Willis E. Davidge
What do you think we are, Dracface? Homebodies, huh? We settled twice as many worlds as you!
Jeriba Shigan
Exactly! You spread like a disease.
Willis E. Davidge
What the hell are you gonna do about it?
Jeriba Shigan
You see what we do about it. We fight!
Willis E. Davidge
You think we really are alone out here?
Jeriba Shigan
Of course... we are alone.
Willis E. Davidge
I don't know. I had that dream again. There's this big ship in my dream. It's so loud, I wake up. But then I can still hear it.
Jeriba Shigan
It was a dream.
Willis E. Davidge
I don't know. Maybe. But I do know if we stay here, we die. Sooner or later we'll die. If this planet don't kill us, we're gonna kill each other.
Willis E. Davidge
Hey, Jerry, what's wrong?
Jeriba Shigan
I could not go with you. It is no longer my life that matters. I am not fat. I am not lazy. Davidge. I await... a new... life.
Willis E. Davidge
A new life? From where? Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Are you telling me you're pregnant? What, you're gonna have a baby? What, a little Drac?! What? But how'd... Well, don't look at me! Jerry, Jerry, you can't do this to me!
Jeriba Shigan
With you humans,... birth is a matter of choice. With us Dracs,... it happens. When the time comes,... it just happens. That is why I could not go with you. My child... is all I have now.
Willis E. Davidge
Tell me about Zammis.
Jeriba Shigan
Zammis?
Willis E. Davidge
Yeah. What kind of a name is Zammis?
Jeriba Shigan
There are five names in a Drac lineage. I am Shigan. Before me was Gothig, and before Gothig was Haesni.
Willis E. Davidge
Come on! Keep talking!
Jeriba Shigan
Before Haesni was Ty. Before Ty was Zammis. [...] One day I must stand with Zammis before the Holy Council on Dracon and recite our lineage, so that Zammis may join the society of all Dracs.
Jeriba Shigan
Davidge. I will teach you the Jeriba line.
Willis E. Davidge
Before or after breakfast?
Jeriba Shigan
It is an honour I offer you.
Willis E. Davidge
I'm sorry. Right now just stayin' alive's honour enough, huh?
Jeriba Shigan
All right. I will learn your lineage. Let us begin... with your parents. Who were they?
Willis E. Davidge
My dad's name's Carl. My mom's name's, uh, Dolores.
Jeriba Shigan
And their deeds?
Willis E. Davidge
My dad works for a company that makes computers. And my mom, she used to be a waitress.
Jeriba Shigan
Waitress?
Willis E. Davidge
Yeah, before they got married.
Jeriba Shigan
And their parents?
Willis E. Davidge
We used to visit my grandpa’ when I was just a kid. He had this place out in the country. I think he was a farmer. And, uh, Grandma was just a good cook.
Jeriba Shigan
Oh. That is your lineage. Here stands before you... Willis E Davidge. Fighter pilot, son of Dolores,... who used to be a waitress,... and Carl, maker of computers,... who in their time were born of Grandpa’, possibly a farmer,... and Grandma, good cook.
Willis E. Davidge
You make it sound pretty thin.
Jeriba Shigan
It is thin. But I am honoured that you entrusted it to me. My own lineage is very rich, Davidge. Learn it from me. Allow me to do you this honour. It will be like a gift between us. Son ich stayu | Kos va Shigan || Son ich stayu | Kos va Gan || Son ich stayu | Kos va Zammis
Willis E. Davidge
What's wrong?
Jeriba Shigan
Zammis... is coming.
Willis E. Davidge
Oh, God. God... What do I do?
Jeriba Shigan
I don't know. Something... is wrong.
Willis E. Davidge
Oh, no. No, no. No, no, no. No. You're gonna be all right. Women always get nervous before labour.
Jeriba Shigan
I am not a woman!
Willis E. Davidge
But pregnant people... things... get nervous. Everybody gets nervous before labour! Besides, if anything happened to you, I'd be left here all alone. Huh? Just because business has been slow lately, you expect me to run the whole place alone?
Jeriba Shigan
You... are alone. Within yourself,... you are alone. That is why you humans... have separated your sexes into two separate halves. For the joy of that... brief union.
Jeriba Shigan
Davidge. Listen to me. You... must be a parent... for Zammis.
Willis E. Davidge
Don't kid around, Jerry. What do we do now?
Jeriba Shigan
You... must take my place. When the time comes,... you must find a way... to take Zammis... back home. You must stand beside Zammis before the Holy Council... on Dracon... and recite its lineage. You must, Davidge. Swear this to me.
Willis E. Davidge
Shut up. Keep pushing. Do whatever you do.
Jeriba Shigan
You must... take Zammis to Dracon. Swear.
Willis E. Davidge
No!
Jeriba Shigan
Swear. Swear.
Willis E. Davidge
All right. All right. I swear it. I swear it. Just don't die on me.
Jeriba Shigan
Now... you must open me. Here. This place. Don't be afraid, my friend.
Willis E. Davidge
I can't!
Jeriba Shigan
Damn you,... Irkmann. You have sworn.
Willis E. Davidge
Don't spread your fingers.
Willis E. Davidge
Yeah. Yeah, these. Fingers. Kutta - fingers.
Willis E. Davidge
Well, of course they're not the same. I mean, you're a Drac. I'm a human. Look. You have three fingers. One, two, three. I have five fingers. One, two, three,... four, five.
Z Zammis
Zammis get four, five?
Willis E. Davidge
No. You're a Drac. And I'm a human.
Willis E. Davidge
Yeah. Um,... human is me. Drac is you. Now, I'm a human because my parents were human. And... your parent was a Drac. So you are a Drac. Got it?
Z Zammis
I have never seen a Drac. Only my own face in the water. I wish I was not a Drac. I wish I had your face.
Willis E. Davidge
Oh, Zammis.
Z Zammis
I wish I had five fingers.
Willis E. Davidge
Oh, Zammis. Zammis. Listen to me. Listen to me. Now, as Dracs go, you are a great-looking kid. You are a great-looking kid.
Willis E. Davidge
Yeah. It's just that... you've never seen your own kind. Now, someday you're gonna go home... and you're gonna forget all about this God-awful planet and all about me.
Z Zammis
I will never forget you, Uncle.
Willis E. Davidge
No, I guess you won't. I won't forget you either.
Z Zammis
Uncle? What was my parent like?
Willis E. Davidge
Zammis,... your parent... was my friend.
