Okay rookie, here's more or less what happens.
WINNING ENDGAME: -> 18WGEND
THE TEMBLOR BOMB DETONATES
THIS IS A BOMB THAT, QUITE LITERALLY, “QUAKES” THE PLANET APART. IT’S UNLIKE ANY PLANET-KILLING WE’VE EVER SEEN BEFORE . . .
CUT TO:
BENEATH THE PLANET SURFACE
MASSIVE TECTONIC PLATES WART, LIQUEFY, EXPLODE . . .
A 12+ MAGNITUDE QUAKE IN THE MAKING . . .
CUT TO:
KILRAH HOMEWORLD - PLANET SURFACE
THE GROUND ERUPTS IN BLISTERS, BOILS, AND CRATERS - - AS THE QUAKING CONTINUALLY ACCELERATES AND INTENSIFIES . . .
KILRATHI STRUCTURES SNAP LIKE TINKER-TOYS . . .
THE GROUND HEAVES IN GIANT WAVES . . .
A DUST-HALO RISES INTO THE SKY . . .
CUT TO:
IMPERIAL THRONE ROOM
THE EMPEROR STANDS AND ROARS IN AGONIZING DEFEAT AS NOT ONLY THIS VAST CHAMBER, BUT HIS ENTIRE EMPIRE CRUMBLES TO THE GROUND . . .
EMPEROR
What’s this? Nooooooo!
CUT TO:
SPACE - ABOVE THE KILRATHI HOMEWORLD
TECTONIC PLATE SLABS QUITE LITERALLY SKEWER THE PLANET - - IT LOOKS A LITTLE LIKE AN ORANGE WITH RAZOR BLADES STICKING OUT OF IT - - FINALLY IT EXPLODES - -
PLANETARY DEBRIS HURTLES INTO THE ORBITING SHIPYARDS, SMASHING THE ARMADA, DECIMATING EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH, SENDING SHIP FRAGMENTS SPINNING LIKE TOPS - -
IT’S A VICTORY BEYOND ANYONE’S IMAGINING . . . THE KILRAH HOMEWORLD BECOMES NOTHING MORE THAN AN UNRULY ASTEROID BELT . . .
CUT TO:
BLAIR’S SHIP - IN SPACE
THE EXCALIBUR SPINS HELPLESSLY OUT-OF CONTROL IN THE WAKE OF THE PLANETARY DESTRUCTION.
IRONICALLY, IN DEALING SUCH A MASSIVE BLOW TO THE KILRATHI, BLAIR MAY HAVE PAID WITH HIS OWN LIFE . . .
DISSOLVE TO:
Scene 178
ONBOARD THE UNMARKED SHIP
WE NOW SEE THAT THIS IS A LARGE KILRATHI SHIP. KILRATHI SOLDIERS MOVE ABOUT THE SHADOWS, BRISTLING WITH HATRED.
HUGE, ANGRY KILRATHI GUARDS ESCORT AN EXHAUSTED BLAIR DOWN A LONG CORRIDOR LEADING TO . . .
BLAIR LOOKS UP INTO THE HIDEOUS EYES OF . . . MELEK. IT LOOKS LIKE BLAIR IS ABOUT TO BE KILLED . . .
MELEK
-> (appraising)
The Heart of the Tiger . . .
-> (beat)
In my bones, I wish to kill you . . .
BLAIR
Do it then. It won’t bring back your Homeworld.
MELEK
And a race without a Homeworld . . . ?
HE SHAKES HIS HEAD:
MELEK
Unimaginable
-> (beat)
The Kilrathi are a beaten race. And killing the one warrior great enough to bring about their end will bring me no honor.
-> (beat)
A new millennium lies ahead. We have become too corrupt, and too much slaves to our blood lust. And we have paid a heavy price . . .
MELEK LOOKS AT BLAIR AND THINKS A MOMENT, THEN SPEAKS AS IF THE WORD WERE HARD TO SAY:
MELEK
We are surrendering to you, Heart of the Tiger. It is an action unlike any we have ever taken - - but it is time the Kilrathi find new ways. The Kilrathi must not die out as a race . . .
DISSOLVE TO:
Scene 179
ABOARD THE VICTORY FLIGHT DECK
IN A SCENE REMINISCENT OF THE ENDING TO WORLD WAR II, WHEN GENERAL MACARTHUR ACCEPTED THE JAPANESE SURRENDER ABOARD THE USS MISSOURI . . .
ADMIRAL TOLWYN, GENERAL JAMES “PALADIN” TAGGART AND NUMEROUS CONFEDERATION BIGWIGS SIGN A TREATY WITH THE KILRATHI - - LED BY MELEK.
IT IS A DAY OF TRIUMPH FOR THE CONFEDERATION . . . COLONEL BLAIR, HOWEVER, IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN . . .
DISSOLVE TO:
SHUTTLE DESCENDING TO EARTH
THE SHUTTLE CRUISES TOWARDS THE TERRAN HOMEWORLD AS THE SUN HALOS THE PLANET.
CUT TO:
INSIDE THE SHUTTLE
THROUGH A PORT WINDOW, WE CAN SEE EARTH: A BEAUTIFUL BLUE MARBLE. A HOMEWORLD WORTH DEFENDING, AND WORTH RETURNING TO.
WE PULL BACK TO REVEAL COLONEL BLAIR . . . GAZING DOWN AT THE PLANET HE HAS SPENT HIS ENTIRE ADULT LIFE PROTECTING . . .
ENDING 1: IF Blair kissed Flint in Series N AND she survived.
FLINT IS BY HIS SIDE. HE SMILE AT HER.
BLAIR
So what do you want to do first?
FLINT
I’d wanna lie in the sun, and watch the seagulls maneuver over the water.
BLAIR
Sounds good to me.
Scene 181
ENDING 2: IF Blair kissed Rachel in Series N.
RACHEL IS BY HIS SIDE. BLAIR SMILES AT HER.
BLAIR
What would you like to do first?
RACHEL
I’d wanna take a long walk along the seashore, I wanna feel the sand between my toes - - and never see another bulkhead.
BLAIR
Sounds good to me.
Scene A181
ENDING 3: IF Blair kissed Flint in Series N AND she did NOT survive OR IF Blair did NOT kiss either woman.
BLAIR LEANS BACK, CLOSES HIS EYES . . . AND SMILES.
FADE OUT.
THE END: WINNING ENDGAME