These are scenes from the September 13, 1996 first yellow revision of the script for the episode Desert Storm written by Matt Dearborn. These scenes did not make it into the final episode due to time, story considerations, and the loss of Ken Steadman during filming.
Our first lost scene takes place as the Sliders try to barter for water with Diggs...
QUINN
I take it you don't take cash?
Diggs shakes his head. Quinn hands his watch to Diggs.
DIGGS
Nice. But runs on a battery. Not
a lot of those out here.
(hands it back)
We take useful things -- tools,
skins, gold.
WADE
(re: her necklace)
What about this?
DIGGS
Don't get too many Wade's through
here looking for jewelry.
REMBRANDT
C'mon, help us out. We need water.
What are we supposed to do?
DIGGS
You could always try to find the
Lost City.
(laughs)
You know, "Eden". They say water
runs free there. Of course they
say that's where space ships gas
up too.
He laughs more. Diggs points to a mural that's painted on the wall behind the Sliders.
DIGGS
Check it out. Could be any one of
those dots.
Diggs walks away, still laughing. They turn to the mural.
QUINN
That's a map of this world.
ANGLE - THE MURAL
It's the United States, but the California coast doesn't exist. The continent continues for miles. There's a red arrow and the words: YOU ARE HERE. And, around the vicinity, there are many "X" marks and the words: Eden, Aquarius, Lost City, etc... Our Sliders examine the mural...
REMBRANDT
Something's missing. Like the
Pacific Ocean.
QUINN
There's a theory, about the first
great civilization. Supposedly it
originated on a continent between
Asia and North America.
REMBRANDT
I read about that. The whole thing
sank. Nothing was left but the
Ocean. So where is it?
ARTURO
On this world, the land didn't
sink. It appears to have merged
with the North American plate.
Looks between them. Wade runs her hand along the map. The area is all brown, all very arid and dry.
WADE
If this is where we are, there's
nothing out there. We've got two
days, if we're going to get any
water or food, we'll have to get --
QUINN/REMBRANDT/ARTURO
Jobs.
EXT. LAST CHANCE SUPPLY DEPOT - A MINUTE LATER
A store that carries a little of everything. Quinn is ringing a large bell, requesting service. The others are not here. Diggs appears.
DIGGS
Unless you found some trade goods
between there and here, hit the
road.
QUINN
You own this town?
DIGGS
Just the good parts. Go on,
drift, you're sucking up my air.
QUINN
I was wondering if a man of your
vast holdings might need some
help. As in work.
DIGGS
Employment office is closed.
Jeremy pulls up in his car (Devin tied in front).
DIGGS
'Scuse me, I've got a live one, he
trades in gold.
Diggs crosses. Jeremy and he start to barter. QUinn passes Devin, again, her eyes implore. We FOLLOW as Quinn crosses.
EXT. SAND PIT - BAZAAR AREA
He joins up with the others.
QUINN
Any luck?
WADE
It's a company town. And Diggs
doesn't like our company.
ARTURO
So, it looks like we'll be
waterless for our stay.
REMBRANDT
I don't know whether to strangle
the guy or admire him.
WADE
I vote for strangle.
Wade looks across the street, sees Diggs and Jeremy.
WADE
I don't care if you guys'll help or
not. I'm going to do something for
her.
And the scene spills into the the freeing of Devin and the ensuing fight afterward...just as we saw in the final ep.
One note to add concerns the night time scene where Quinn and the other guys talk with one of the gang members over the fire. Originally, those were Cutter's lines...but due to Steadman's loss, the lines were given to one of the gang members and slightly re worded to be spoken on Cutter's behalf. You will also notice in the night time scene that we hear Cutter's voice from off screen when Wade and Devin were talking...in the original script, he was supposed to walk up.
Our next missing scene comes after Wade is kidnapped...and it begins with a quite different response from Jeremy...
WADE
You're after her because she can
find water, that makes her
valuable.
JEREMY
(laughs)
Any woman can do that! I've come
to take her home.
(beat)
Why would I lie to you?
Something about how he says this... Wade senses he's telling the truth.
EXT. DESERT - CUTTER'S CAMP - EARLY MORNING
Not many are up. Across the compound Cutter and Devin play a childish version of tag. He catches her and hoists her up over his shoulder.
We're watching this from Remmy's POV. He's loading the supplies into their car with Wolf's help. Wolf sets a box of food into the truck, closing the back.
WOLF
We don't expect you to stick around
for breakfast.
Wolf walks off...
EXT. DESERT - CUTTER'S CAMP - QUINN AND ARTURO
emerge from a tent. Rembrant turns to them.
REMBRANDT
If we leave now... wouldn't be soon
enough.
QUINN
I'll get Wade and we can get
rolling.
Quinn walks off. Arturo watches Cutter and Devin.
ARTURO
She seems to really adore him.
REMBRANDT
We don't even want to go there,
Professor.
ARTURO
No. I don't believe it's like
that. I think it has more to do
with the orphan aspect. He is,
after all, the heroic rescuer.
REMBRANDT
He's a piece of white trash
blowing across this desert, that's
all.
INT. DEVIN'S TENT - CONTINUOUS
Quinn enters --
QUINN
Wade?
He looksa around, puzzled. He looks down and finds her necklace. The chain is broken... He holds it up, alarmed.
Now he looks at the tent -- SEES THE BACK CUT --
EXT. DESERT - CUTTER'S CAMP - CONTINUOUS
Rembrandt and Arturo turn to see Quinn approaching on the run.
QUINN
Professor, Rembrandt! She's gone!
(holds up necklace)
I found this... The chain's been
snapped. The tent was cut open in
the back.
ARTURO
Jeremy.
Devin and Cutter approach.
CUTTER
Problem?
The rest of the scene finishes out as we saw it...
As the Sliders find Wade wondering the desert with Jeremy, Rembrandt was supposed to have an interesting line that was cut...
THEIR POV - THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD
In the distance, they see Jeremy and Wade come over a dune.
BACK TO SCENE
QUINN
There they are! She looks okay.
Expressions of relief that she's safe.
ARTURO
They seem rather chummy actually,
considering she's been kidnapped.
REMBRANDT
She's not carrying a rifle is she?
(off their looks)
You gotta admit, it'd be just like
Wade to do a Patty Hearst.
Quinn gives a half smile...and drives forward.
The next scene is the Sliders driving up to greet Wade as we saw in the final episode...
Next we have some added bits to the fight when the Sliders re-kidnap Devin for Jeremy...
As Cutter and Devin come over the gulley [chasing Jeremy], Quinn jumps into the vehicle. Wrestling him to a stop.
Quinn gives fight with Cutter... Rembrandt grabs Devin out of the dune buggy.
REMBRANDT
Hold still.
(she bites him)
Ow!! No wonder he gagged you.
Quinn and Cutter's fight spills out of the car. Cutter pulls a serrated knife - jabs at Quinn... Rembrandt wraps his coat around the knife, pulling it from Cutter while Arturo holds Devin... Quinn punches... sending Cutter falling down a hill. He rises up, scratched, bloodied.
WADE SCREECHES out in the truck. Jeremy is already in. Arturo gets in. Remmy pulls the distributor cap out of the buggy and hops in, pulling Devin in too...
followed by Quinn. Quinn closes the door just as Cutter comes up, pounding on the window with the butt of the knife. The GlASS SHATTERS. Wade makes a radical turn, accelerates -- getting away.
They speed off. We hold on Cutter, bloodied, his war paint smeared -- his clenched fist raised.
CUTTER
DEVIN!!!
ON THE SLIDERS' TRUCK
As it moves away, Devin looking back helplessly. Off this abduction, we --
FADE OUT
END OF ACT TWO
Immediately following at the beginning of the next act, Arturo's illness was supposed to show through a little...
JEREMY
Things will change, Devin. As we
get closer you'll have memory
flashes. You won't be able to deny
this - anymore.
REMBRANDT
Let her be. It what you say is
ture, maybe it's all better left
forgotten.
INT. SLIDERS' TRUCK - UP FRONT
Arturo looks a little pale. He's sweating. Quinn notices his discomfort. He speaks quietly so the others won't here.
QUINN
You don't look so good...
ARTURO
(sighs; nods)
I don't feel so well, either...
(smiles weakly)
Must just be the heat.
Quinn lets it go for now. He looks in the rearview, sees Devin shaking her head, shaking the voices out.
ARTURO
Poor girl seems to be having a hard
time with it...
INT. SLIDERS' TRUCK - BACK AREA
Wade moves close to Devin, trying to comfort her.
DEVIN
Make her stop. She keeps talking
in my head!
WADE
(soothing)
Don't be scared, Devin. Telepathy
is one of your gifts, and your
powers are maturing.
DEVIN
Her voice is so loud!
WADE
Your mother's trying to reach out to you,
trying to guide you home. Don't
fight her. Listen. Maybe you
should even try to send her your
thoughts.
Devin furrows her brow. Uncertain she even can.
The scene then goes to Cutter back at the Sand Pit getting the amulet and truck from Diggs...just as we saw.
There was orignally supposed to be a humorous end to Cutter and Wolf's conversation about how to get the water from Aquarius...
CUTTER
There it is, Aquarius. The
legends are true! I killed her
father not more'n a couple of
miles from here.
WOLF
Looks like another patch of sand.
Where's the water?
CUTTER
Underground! God, you're an
idiot, I don't know how I ever
hooked up with you.
WOLF
So how do we get the water?
CUTTER
We go in after it! Ask me
another stupid question, I'll rip
your tongue out.
WOLF
(hurt)
If it wasn't for me, you'd have
died from that snake bite. You
forgettin' where it bit you, how I
had to --
Cutter stomps the gas; the dune buggy's TIRES SPRAY SAND at the CAMERA as we cut to Devin at the entrance of Aquarius...
There is also an added bit on the end of the first meeting with the Master Healer which adds a bit of clarity to why Arturo didn't want to try his help...
ARTURO
Are you calling me a fool?
MASTER HEALER
What would you call a dying man
who passes up a chance for life
purely out of intellectual vanity?
ARTURO
Now see here --
But Rembrandt and Wade approach, cutting the debate short.
REMBRANDT
Can you believe this. They've even
got hot mineral baths here. Let's go
for a dip.
MASTER HEALER
(to Arturo)
Splendid idea. Go soak your head.
It might help you to see more
clearly.
WADE
(as he walks off)
What was that about? Did you
insult him, Professor?
ARTURO
On the contrary, my tongue aches
from biting it.
JEREMY
Come on, I'll show you the way.
Wade and Rembrandt follow Jeremy off to the mineral baths. Quinn hangs back with Arturo.
QUINN
(nods toward the Master
Healer)
Why not give it a try, what have
you got to lose?
ARTURO
(patiently)
Please, don't ask me to compromise
myself. The man is a fraud. Good
hearted, I'm sure, but a fraud
nonetheless.
QUINN
So the Healer's right - it is
your vanity. You can't stand the
idea you might be wrong. You'll
even die to be certain you're
right.
ARTURO
We're men of science, Mr. Mallory.
We carry the torch of reason into
the dark caves of superstition,
surely you can see that!
QUINN
It's your life, Professor.
Quinn walks away. Arturo starts after him, then looks back toward the Master Healer... who smiles knowingly at him.
Off Arturo's look of indecision...
We fade into the scene of him walking into the Healer's "office"...
Next is the follow up to the healer's session as Arturo goes to find his friends at the mineral baths...
EXT. COLONY - HOT SPRINGS ROOM - DAY
Quinn and Remmy are each in a hot spring tub. Steam rises.
REMBRANDT
This is just what my aching body
needed... I still had dirt on me
from the last world we were on.
QUINN
More about you than I really wanted
to know, Crying Man.
ARTURO
(entering)
I see you're both enjoying the full
hospitality of our hosts.
QUINN
Where've you been?
Arturo manages a small time.
ARTURO
(off a tangent)
A few moments stolen for a flight
of fancy.
QUINN
(he gets it)
So how do you feel?
ARTURO
That's the odd thing. I'm feeling
quite well, actually.
QUINN
Coincidence, right?
ARTURO
Certainly. What else, Mr.
Mallory?
REMBRANDT
Am I supposed to have any idea of
what you two are talking about?
ARTURO
No, Mr. Brown.
Arturo picks up the timer. He holds it out for them to see.
ARTURO
You two better get moving. Not
much time left.
EXT. COLONY - MAIN CAVERN
Across the cavern, Devin and her mother talk. PULL BACK TO REVEAL, Jeremy watching them. Wade steps up, hot-springed clean and waring a new set of clothes.
WADE
I just wanted to say how sorry I
was for getting in the way. We
caused you a lot of headaches.
JEREMY
You could stay. All of you could.
WADE
It's nice here, Jeremy... But --
JEREMY
One world just isn't enough.
WADE
Not any more. Not for me.
JEREMY
I understand. Now that I've been
outside. Now that I've seen how
much more there is, I wonder how
happy I'll be in here. I wonder
how happy she'll be --
He turns, watching Devin. Wade sees something in his look.
WADE
You risked alot going after her.
JEREMY
She is my promised one. Devin and
I were matches as children.
(turns; smiles)
I've loved her ever since. Even
when she was missing, the feeling
never left me --
Devin turns, sensing something. She smiles, looks down shyly. Clearly she picked up the message.
WADE
I think she's got the feeling for
you too. I also think, she'll be
happy in here. For the first time
in her life -- she belongs
somewhere.
EXT. DESERT - OPEN AREA - DAY
A low, stationary CAMERA catches Cutter and his group as they ROAR PAST. The SOUNDS of the many ENGINES DEAFENING...
INT. CAVE - COLONY ENTRANCE AREA - DAY
The ROCK SLIDES OPEN and the SLIDERS, Devin, Fiona and Jeremy are bathed in light from above.
FIONA
Thank you, again. For all your
help bringing Devin home.
QUINN
Jeremy would've done just fine
without us.
Quinn and Jeremy do a low five.
Wade hugs Jeremy.
JEREMY
Wade, I almost forgot.
He pulls out the "WADE" necklace on a new chain.
JEREMY
I fixed it for you.
He puts it on her. There's one last hug and they're on their way... As Wade climbs up, she HEARS:
DEVIN'S VOICE
Goodbye. I'll miss you.
WADE
We'll miss you, too.
They share smiles. And she exits.
One last missing scene involves the decision to cave in the passageway once Cutter and his team have entered the cave...
The rock rolls open.
The Sliders move past Devin. Devin follows after them. Cutter and two of his men make it down before the door closes...
EXT. COLONY - PASSAGEWAY - SAME TIME
Jeremy is a defense panel. The Master Healer stands next to him.
MASTER HEALER
How many entered?
JEREMY
Three. Maybe four.
MASTER HEALER
Drop the rocks.
JEREMY
But Devin and the others...
MASTER HEALER
Drop the rocks!
Jeremy does --
And the rest plays out as we saw it...except that when Cutter entered the paradise, he was supposed to be met by the natives holding high tech crossbows. Though not shown in the episode...apparently, this colony was supposed to be very technologically advanced - thus explaining how they could stay hidden for so long.
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