The Solar Flare descends over the city and enters a docking bay.
INT. BESTINE MEDICAL CENTER
A person bursts through the doors, screaming, gesticulating wildly and running like crazy. He's obviously not sane, possibly high on something and out of control. He's also looking as if he's just come off a bad fight with someone twice his size.
Several doctors and nurses hurry over and there's a minor scuffle as they try to get a hold of him and restrain him or at least keep him from hurting one of the other patients.
DR. 1
Get him to exam 3 and tell security I want him in restraints! And get me some corephem. I'm not taking so much as his temp if he's not sedated!
DR. 1
Get him to exam 3 and tell security I want him in restraints! And get me some corephem. I'm not taking so much as his temp if he's not sedated!
One of the nurses runs off to carry out his orders. The guy is now being hauled along by his arms and putting up a fight about it. Everyone is just getting out of his way.
Behind them, sort of lost in the shuffle, is Bot who is just tagging along as if he belongs with him. As the nurse goes one way, he surreptitiously takes another hallway and disappears from sight.
The group passes the admitting desk, where a doctor is absent-mindedly doing his datawork for the day. A nurse approaches and looks from him to the retreating group of medical staff.
NURSE
Looks like a glit overdose.
BEL MADEN
Probably. Third one this week.
There is the sound of blood-curdling screams from the direction where the rest of the staff disappeared to. She looks slightly pale.
NURSE
Do you think we should...
There's a crash of something metal. Bel Maden sets down a datacard and picks up another one.
BEL MADEN
They've got it covered.
Another droid, considerably larger than Bot, approaches the desk looking mechanically apologetic.
SP1M
Doctor, I apologize for the interruption, but I need your help. Doctor Vos ordered me to bring him three doses of Terinol, but I can't seem to find it. It should be listed under the T's in the medicine stocks...
Bel Maden grins at the nurse.
BEL MADEN
See? If I had chased after them, I wouldn't have been here to help this dumb droid.
NURSE
How very considerate of you.
Bel Maden stands and leads the way along a deserted hallway.
BEL MADEN
You probably were looking in the general supply. Terinol is a controlled substance, so one of us has to sign off on it. Didn't they program anything useful into your brain?
Sp1m doesn't answer, but has fallen behind so that Bel Maden is halfway down the hallway before he notices the droid isn't with him. He turns just in time to see Sp1m charge him at breakneck speed. Self-preservation overcomes logic and he makes a run for it.
He is obviously trying to get back to a more populated part of the hospital, but Sp1m is herding him in all the wrong directions. As they pass a door, he yells out for help.
DR. 1
Later, Dr. We've got our own problems.
The patient from before starts howling like a wolf behind the closed door.
Finally, after having slipped on a wet floor and having a few other unbecoming pratfalls, Bel Maden spots a door at the end of a hallway with a palm-sensor. He skids to a stop and shoves his hand onto the pad. The door opens and he escapes easily into the darkened closet.
INT. BROOM CLOSET
There is a click as the lights come on. In classic horror film style, he has his back to Bot, who is looking oddly sinister in this cramped space.
BOT
Dr. Bel Maden, it's been a long time.
Bel Maden spins around and cringes against the door, clearly caught off guard.
BEL MADEN
What is this, Droid Liberation Day? Get back to your post.
BOT
Not yet.
Exasperated by this droid who thinks he's a member of the Mafia, Bel Maden opens the door to make sure the coast is clear and Sp1m is standing in his way.
BEL MADEN
You pile of scrap. Get out of my way now!
SP1M
I'm afraid I can't do that, Doctor.
BOT
Stand guard until we've concluded our business.
BEL MADEN
This is absurd. I have no business with a protocol droid and an arrogant orderly. Out of my way.
He tries to push past Sp1m again, without success.
BOT
We have not concluded our business, Dr. Bel Maden.
Bel Maden backs up, looking disgusted.
BEL MADEN
I'll have you deactivated and use your head as a caf mug, orderly. You work for me, and for the Empire. Do you have no sense of loyalty?
SP1M
I wouldn't know, sir. I am just a dumb droid.
He closes the door calmly.
BOT
I am sure you do not remember me...
BEL MADEN
Of course not. All mechanicals look alike.
He turns to insult Bot further. Bot has opened the panel on her chest and extracted the datachip. She hands it to him and Bel Maden sneers at it.
BEL MADEN
What's this? Your list of demands? A ransom note? A grocery list?
BOT
In a manner of speaking.
Bel Maden removes his datapad from his pocket before putting the chip in. He continues talking in a conversationally threatening manner while waiting for it to load.
BEL MADEN
I don't know what you think you are. Some self-important encyclopedia with too much time on his hands. I will see to it personally that you are used for spare parts every time my speeder needs an overhaul. You and that overpriced forklift out there...
He trails off, obviously having caught sight of the contents of the datachip.
BEL MADEN
What in the hell?
BOT
As you see, there is neither a list of demands nor a grocery list, but if you would like to hear why I am here and what it will take to keep me silent, I'd be happy to illuminate you.
Bel Maden suddenly regains some of his bluster.
BEL MADEN
He sent you to find me on a grudge. How typical of Meklis.
BOT
That's not entirely true, sir.
I am not programmed to hold grudges.
BEL MADEN
I don't negotiate and I'm more than happy to I won't hesitate to bring the Constabulary
down on your empty head or simply turn you into a caf table.
BOT
Given the contents of that datachip, I think you are bluffing.
BEL MADEN
Would you like to test your theory?
BOT
I'm sure the Constabulary would be interested in what I have to say.
BEL MADEN
So, Meklis sent you. He's still on Naboo?
BOT
You should know, sir. You were the
one who saw to it that he was sent there.
BEL MADEN
Don't jump to conclusions.
He displeased Vader. He would have
been sent there with or without my help.
BOT
Oh, yes. I'm quite certain that your
role in his banishment had nothing
to do with the fact that he could
confirm your hand in the death of
an Admiral.
Bel Maden does not respond to the accusation, only shoves the datapad back into a pocket.
BEL MADEN
I suppose that thing outside is just along for the ride?
BOT
He does in fact know the meaning of loyalty. I knew that he would not fail if that loyalty was tested.
Bel Maden considers his position for a moment, looking between Bot and the door and obviously weighing his chances of going for help.
BEL MADEN
What is so urgent that Meklis sent
his droid halfway across the known
Galaxy to blackmail a loyal son of
the Empire?
BOT
His family thinks he has hemorrhagic pneumonia.
It’s swept every work colony on the planet.
BEL MADEN
Bacta and pamlycin can both be bought for
the right price at any medcenter, even in
the work colonies of Naboo.
BOT
Sir, he requires a full regimen of pamlycin,
including associated GI protectants and
prescriptions to prevent renal damage.
Bel Maden looks disgusted by this and looks once more at the door. Bot looks on patiently.
BEL MADEN
A steep price. What makes you think
that your little microchip is worth
all that?
BOT
I confess that I'm not familiar with
such things. Shall we ask the Emperor?
Bel Maden reaches into his pocket and ejects the microchip. He holds it between thumb and forefinger with a taunting smirk.
BEL MADEN
Regardless of how traitorous your counterpart is, I think that I could outlast this microchip with the right amount of pressure and then you would not have a durasteel leg to stand on.
BOT
That is true, doctor. Are you confident
that you are in possession of the only
copy?
Bel Maden stares hard at BOT as if waiting for her to blink. Finally, Bel Maden wrenches open the chest panel and shoves the microchip back into the compartment before slamming the door. He opens the door again to find Sp1m ever vigilant. He removes his datapad and, using the stylus, begins scribbling out instructions.
BEL MADEN
Orderly, these are instructions for the pharmacy. A full regimen of pamlycin with the necessary auxiliary medicines. See to it that you bring all of them to the east exit in ten minutes.
Sp1m and Bot exchange 'looks.'
SP1M
I will be sure to review the prescriptions myself to make sure they correspond to your instructions.
BEL MADEN
Of course you will. Go.
Sp1m takes the datapad and leaves. Bot moves to pass him, but he blocks the way.
BEL MADEN
Our business is through here. I have provided enough to treat hemorrhagic pneumonia and I trust that I will not be hearing from you for a presciption refill.
BOT
If you never entered my photoreceptors' range again, it would be too soon.
BEL MADEN
Get out of my sight.
Bot obliges.
INT. BESTINE MEDCENTER
Sp1m arrives with several large boxes loaded onto a hand-truck or the Star Wars equivalent. Bot taps him on the arm joint the same way a human may slap another on the arm by way of congratulations.
BOT
I could not have accomplished this without your help, Sp1m. The Meklis family owes you a debt of great gratitude.
SP1M
Take care of our master, Bot. That is enough.
Bot glances around the empty corridor and then inclines his head and lowers his voice.
BOT
It may not be safe for our kind here and Bel Maden is not one to forgive. Won't you consider coming with us?
SP1M
Lowly service droids do not stay at one hospital for long. I can escape the good doctor's wrath if I need to.
BOT
Goodbye then, old friend.
He leaves through the door and as a voiceover, we hear Bel Maden speaking through a commlink:
BEL MADEN (VO)
Bel Maden here. I need to be connected
to the CO's office on the Exsanguinator.
Code clearance aurek-99161.
Map of the Medcenter, as I saw it while interpreting the action:
The broom closet would be slightly out of the picture, near the upper right corner.
whew.
