price of the day.
Now take him away, lads.
BENOS: Hey, just a minute.
What's this then?
- It's nothing, it's of no value.
- Oh, really?
Then you won't be needing it, will you?
It suits me, don't you think so?
All right, take him to the cells.
Tarrant, come here.
What is it?
- What do you think?
- Hard to tell. Could be a pirate, could be anything.
Well, if it was a pirate, I'd have thought...
- Tarrant. Come in, Tarrant.
- About time. Vila, what's happening?
- Mission accomplished.
- Any sign of Servalan?
Look, just get me up, will you?
It's a bit uncivilised down here.
All right. Stop quivering.
- So it all went according to plan, did it?
- Yes, wonderful.
First they beat him to a pulp,
now they've dragged him off.
It was his idea.
He'll be all right.
He's got his bracelet, he can get away anytime.
They did leave the bracelet on him, Vila?
Yes, of course they did, I think.
- Are you all right?
- Well, I have been better.
For one thing,
the accommodation leaves a lot to be desired.
Well, one consolation for you,
you won't be here long.
The auction, they only hold them
once every three months.
- You've arrived on the very day.
- Well, I suppose you could call that a consolation.
And another thing,
a fine, well-set-up young fellow like you,
you won't have any trouble in finding a buyer.
Whereas an old wreck like me,
with no special skills...
- I shouldn't think that bothers you too much.
- Yes, but they only put you up twice.
But then they decide
you're not worth your keep, and...
This will be my second time.
- I'm sorry. I wish you luck.
- Thank you.
My name is Nebrox, by the way.
Tell me, Nebrox,
have you noticed any unusual activity
on this planet during the last 24 hours?
- Why?
- Idle curiosity.
I thought so! You're no ordinary prisoner.
I knew it as soon as you came in.
What are you up to? You can tell me.
I'm not an informer, I swear it.
- Have you got a way of getting out of here?
- Well I did have, until some lout took a fancy to it.
- Which lout?
- A charmer called Benos.
- Do you know him?
- Yes.
He took a bracelet of mine.
- Without it, I'm as stuck here as you are.
- Maybe I could get it back for you.
- How?
- If I do, you've got to take me with you.
- I'll think about that.
- No, I mean it, you've got to promise.
All right, I promise.
(Footsteps approaching)
It doesn't look as though you've attracted
many customers for this particular sale, Verlis.
My dear, every one of those men is an agent
for at least 50 potential clients.
They inspect the merchandise
and then report back to the client.
The client prefers it that way.
He can sit safely and snugly at home,
and enjoy all the excitement
of doing something illegal,
without taking any of the risks.
SERVALAN: You mean, they put in their bids
by communicator?
Yes, sometimes the agents nearly have a stroke
trying to keep track of the bids.
You watch them,
especially when it comes to the entertainers.
The nouveaux riches, my dear,
they nearly fall over themselves bidding for them.
Nothing they like more
than to impress their noble friends
by having tame singers and dancers on tap.
You're obviously fulfilling
a deeply felt need, Verlis.
Oh, yes, I am. Yes, I am.
I am a public servant.
You didn't do so badly, you know.
With a specimen like yours, you got a bargain.
It was a fair price.
- What is this exactly?
- It's mangon.
It's a sort of stew made from fungus.
It takes some getting used to,
but it's really very nourishing.
- If you don't want it, I...
- You have it. Eat it in good health.
You were going to tell me
about any unusual activity you'd noticed
- during the last few days.
- Yes, well,
yesterday morning when we were out exercising,
a ship arrived.
Federation, it looked like,
but it couldn't have been, could it?
Seemed to be a woman in charge.
What was she like, the woman?
Well, I didn't really get much of a look at her.
She was tall, dark,