The Beta Cloud/Transcript

{{Transcript info }}
 * image=
 * screenplay=Fred Freiberger (as Charles Woodgrove)
 * director=Robert Lynn
 * draft(s)=
 * final shooting script=11th June 1976
 * amendments=
 * filming=20th July- 6th August 1976 (Additional sequences scripted 1st Sept 1976, final shooting script 16th Sept, filmed 21st Sept-22nd Sept 1976}

Hook
A. B. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

A faint nebula. A fire cloud explodes silently into being.

Over the Moon's horizon the cloud grows.

C. INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG: "What is it?"

MAYA: "I'm trying to get a reading, Commander."

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

-Command Centre:

KOENIG: "What about it's range?"

SANDRA: "Constant."

KOENIG: "It looks to me like it's closing."

SANDRA: "It isn't, Commander, it's range is constant."

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

D. INT. CORRIDOR

Two men walk along.

JOHNSON: "I checked this calculation against the computer..read...out.." (collapses)

MAN (kneels by him): "Les."

F. INT. COMMAND CENTRE

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

-Command Centre: Tony watches Koenig.

KOENIG: "Maya, what about it's composition?"

MAYA: "Hydrogen. Nitrogen, mainly."

KOENIG: "Mainly?"

MAYA: "Certain elements unidentifiable." (Koenig looks confused)

D. INT. CORRIDOR

The man leaves Johnson & goes to the comms post.

HELENA (on screen): "Medical."

MAN: "I need help."

E. INT. MEDICAL

Much activity.

MAN (on comms post screen): "Les Johnson has just passed out."

HELENA: "Gerry. As soon as you can, a stretcher team to corridor B." (Gerry staggers & Helena goes to him) "Give me a hand. Someone give me a hand. Come on. Easy. Sit right here." (sits him on a bed) "Alright, now just take it easy. Let's see."

F. INT. COMMAND CENTRE

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

-Command Centre:

KOENIG: "Nothing more substantial on the sensor? All gaseous, nothing solid?"

MAYA: "There's something about that cloud that's affecting everything. My readings are not clear."

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

-Command Centre: Koenig watches.

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

-Command Centre: Koenig starts to sway & Tony goes to him.

TONY: "John."

KOENIG: "I'm alright, Tony, I'm alright." (static heard)

SANDRA: "Scanners are malfunctioning."

MAYA: "And sensors erratic." (her screen shows static & jagged line)

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

-Command Centre: Helena appears on monitor screen.

HELENA (on screen): "John. People are passing out all over the base."

KOENIG: "Helena. We think we know the source." (he falls back into Tony's arms)

TONY: "Give me a hand, someone."

HELENA (on screen): "John."

KOENIG: "It's the cloud, Helena. It's the cloud."

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

-Command Centre: they take him to sit at his desk.

TONY: "Take it easy, John."

Behind another man falls. Koenig looks weakly up.

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

-Command Centre: close on Koenig. His head slumps.

FADE OUT

Act One
EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

HELENA (VO): "Moonbase Alpha Status Report."

1.INT. MEDICAL

The beds are filled with men; a nurse tends them.

HELENA (VO): "Fifteen hundred and three days after leaving Earth orbit. Doctor Helena Russell recording. Seven days ago a cloud having strange characteristics and containing unknown elements appeared in our East Quadrant."

Favour one corner of Medical. Helena is by her recorder, Koenig sleeping beyond.

HELENA (VO): "Suddenly lassitude, depression and loss of will have incapacitated most of our personnel. It has defied analysis by the medical equipment at my disposal." (she looks back at Koenig)

2.INT. LIFE SUPPORT CENTRE

A Main Mission man tends the computer.

HELENA (VO): "Some of our personnel appear to have immunity. This skeleton crew is keeping Moonbase Alpha "

3.INT. WEAPONS SECTION

HELENA (VO): " barely operational. Astronaut Tom Graham, who appeared to have immunity, was sent out four days ago in Eagle Six to enter the suspect cloud."

INT. COMMAND CENTRE

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

HELENA (VO): "He was to collect particles for analysis in the hope that I could make a diagnosis."

-Command Centre: (sc 4)

HELENA (VO): "And thus devise an antidote. Eagle Six has failed to return from it's mission."

SANDRA: "Tony." (he walks to her)

TONY: "Put it on the screen."

-Big Screen (SFX): Eagle passing nebula (sc 5)

SANDRA (VO): "Eagle Six!"

TONY (VO): "That's impossible."

-Command Centre (sc 6)

MAYA: "Eagle Six would have exhausted it's fuel two days ago."

FRASER: "But that is Eagle Six."

TONY: "Eagle Six, this is Moonbase Alpha. Boy, are we glad to see you. Welcome back."

-Big Screen (SFX): Eagle approaches.

-Command Centre:

TONY: "Eagle Six, this is Moonbase Alpha. Do you read me?"

-Big Screen (SFX): Eagle (continuation of previous shot).

-Command Centre:

TONY: "Oh come on, Graham, wake up, answer me. Eagle Six. this is Moonbase Alpha. Come in, Eagle Six."

7.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Eagle rises over Alpha (not descends).

8.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

MAYA: "Tony. Sensors pick up no life forms on Eagle Six."

TONY: "What?"

MAYA: "There is no life on board Eagle Six."

Tony goes to his desk.

9.INT. MEDICAL

Helena tends to Koenig. She then goes to the comms post.

HELENA: "Yes, Tony."

TONY (on screen): "Helena. Let me talk to John."

HELENA: "He's in no condition to talk."

TONY (on screen): "Helena. Eagle Six is right over our heads."

HELENA: "That's great."

TONY (on screen): "Negative. It exhausted it's fuel two days ago, and Maya's sensors pick up no life forms."

HELENA: "I'll try." (goes to Koenig) "John. John." (she touches him, but he is asleep. She returns) "It's no use."

TONY (on screen): "Helena, I've got to talk to him."

HELENA: "Well, if you talked to him he wouldn't be listening."

10.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

SANDRA: "Tony. Eagle Six is landing."

-Big Screen (SFX): Eagle lands. (sc 11)

-Command Centre: Tony presses a button on his desk (sc 12)

VOICE OVER: "Security."

TONY: "How many men still on their feet?"

VOICE OVER: "Three."

TONY: "I want one to meet me at the Travel tube on the double. Get the other two to Command Centre." (cuts link) "Okay, Fraser, let's go." (they run out)

17.EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Eagle lands.

14.INT. CORRIDOR

Tony & Fraser run up through Reception, passing 2 guards going in opposite direction.

CU Travel Tube door, angle from control panel. It opens & Tony, guard & Fraser enter.

15.INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Travel Unit speeds off.

Travel Unit speeds on.

16.INT. TRAVEL UNIT

Fraser, guard & Tony wait.

15.INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Travel unit on.

Travel unit stops.

17.EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Boarding tube extends to Eagle's portside.

18.INT. BOARDING TUBE

High shot from Travel Tube sign down as the three leave & cross into the Eagle.

19.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Dark. Tony goes to the desk & looks to the stern.

TONY: "Graham!"

The creature appears in the cockpit corridor. It advances.

FRASER: "What is it?"

TONY: "I don't know. But whatever it is, it brought our Eagle back." (it advances) "Who are you?" (it advances) "Where's Graham?" (it advances) "Alright, no further or we stop you." (it advances) "Fire."

The guard fires a blue laser beam at it. He fires again (unseen). The creature grabs & shakes the guard. Tony runs up but is knocked back. The guard is shaken up & down, then dropped.

TONY: "Run."

Tony darts past the creature. It advances to Fraser, but he jumps over the seats & out the door.

21.INT. TRAVEL UNIT

Fraser runs in as Tony operates the door.

FRASER: "Thanks."

The door closes as the creature approaches, trapping some of it's hair.

22.INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Travel Unit off.

23.INT. TRAVEL UNIT

They catch their breath. Tony uses the screen panel.

TONY: "Maya."

24.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

TONY (on screen): "Tell Security I want them at the Travel Tube armed with heavy rocket guns. On the double." (she nods to them; the guards leave)

23.INT. TRAVEL UNIT

MAYA (on screen): "Tony. Are you alright?"

TONY: "Yeah. For the moment."

28.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

MAYA: "What did you find?"

SANDRA: "Maya, the cloud. There's new activity."

MAYA: "What's it range?"

SANDRA: "Still twenty two thousand."

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud (sc 27)

MAYA (VO): "I'm getting some readings."

-Command Centre: Sandra rises & backs to Maya.

SANDRA: "Do you think what the Commander says is true? That it's the cloud that's causing all this?"

MAYA: "Well, it's a strong possibility."

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

MAYA (VO): "There's something in that cloud that's emitting high frequency impulses."

-Command Centre:

MAYA: "My scanners are picking up a mass of some kind."

SANDRA: "You mean there's a planet or an asteroid hidden in there?"

MAYA: "Well, sensors can't define specifically, but there's something in there beyond just gas vapour."

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Travel Unit stops.

29.INT. CORRIDOR

Tony & Fraser emerge from the Travel Unit where the two guards wait.

TONY: "Anything comes out of that tunnel, fire those rockets without hesitation."

GUARD: "Right."

32.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Tony & Fraser enter.

MAYA: "Give me a fix on it's position."

CLOUD (VO): "Our relative positions "

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud.

CLOUD (VO): " are of little consequence."

-Command Centre: reaction.

TONY: "Who are you?"

CLOUD (VO): "Who we are is too complicated for your comprehension."

TONY: "Try me."

CLOUD (VO): "Time does not permit."

FRASER: "We've got time. A lot of it."

CLOUD (VO): "You are in error."

-Big Screen (SFX):

CLOUD (VO): "You have very little time."

-Command Centre:

TONY: "What do you want?"

-Big Screen (SFX):

CLOUD (VO): "Your life support system."

-Command Centre:

TONY: "You mean we just give it to you?"

CLOUD (VO): "We have sent for it."

MAYA: "We can't exist without it."

CLOUD (VO): "Neither can we. So we must deprive you of yours."

SANDRA: "Tony. Travel Tube."

-Big Screen (SFX): Travel Tube door being forced. (sc 33)

CLOUD (VO): "I will return your screens for you to observe."

-Command Centre: reaction.

-Big Screen (SFX): creature tears open doors.

-Command Centre: Sandra stands & backs.

34.INT. CORRIDOR

Creature opens doors & walks out.

TONY (VO): "Fire!"

They fire their guns: flames hit the creature.

36.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Sandra backs to Tony.

INT. CORRIDOR

Guards run up to creature & are thrown off (camera rolls as they roll)

38.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

TONY: "Okay, the two of you, get down to Medical Centre."

MAYA: "But Tony.."

TONY: "Don't argue with me, go on."

MAYA: "I want to stay with you."

TONY: "Maya, if you want to help me, get the hell out of here. Now move, both of you."

INT. CORRIDOR

Guard jumps onto creature & thrown back.

INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Reaction.

Big Screen (SFX): creature bear hugs guard. (sc 39)

Command Centre: (sc 40)

FRASER: "We've got to help them."

TONY: "Hold it."

FRASER: "We've got to do something to save them."

TONY: "We're going to do something." (presses button on desk)

HELENA (VO): "Medical Centre."

TONY: "Helena. Urgent. Let me know as soon as Maya and Sahn get to you."

HELENA (VO): "Right."

Big Screen (SFX): creature crushes man (sc 41)

Command Centre: (sc 42)

HELENA (VO): "Tony."

TONY: "Yeah."

HELENA: "Maya and Sahn are here."

TONY: "Okay." (cuts link & goes to computer) "Computer. Priority One. As of this moment all doors are nonoperational. Repeat, all doors to remain locked, to be opened only at my voice command."

Big Screen (SFX): cloud. (sc 43)

CLOUD VOICE (VO): "Your efforts are futile."

Command Centre: (sc 44)

CLOUD VOICE (VO): "Give up your life support system and die peacefully."

TONY: "We don't die on request."

CLOUD VOICE (VO): "It is not our intention to be violent."

TONY: "Oh, sure."

Big Screen (SFX): cloud

CLOUD VOICE (VO): "Unless our needs are denied."

Command Centre: Tony & Fraser go to the doors.

TONY: "Open as ordered." (doors open to reveal creature advancing) "Close!"

They run back through Command Centre & out through the arch. The creature tears open the doors & enters (weird swaying camera angles from desk level)

CLOUD VOICE (VO): "You are in Command Centre."

-Big Screen (SFX):

CLOUD VOICE (VO): "The Life Support system is not in that location."

-Command Centre: creature plods back out the doors.

45.INT. CORRIDOR

Tony & Fraser stop.

TONY: "We split up here."

FRASER: "What about Life Support?"

TONY: "He'll head for there."

FRASER: "And if he reaches it, we're finished."

TONY: "I'll decoy it, you get to Life Support, set up a defence."

FRASER: "Right."

46.INT. MEDICAL

Koenig tries to rise from his bed.

HELENA: "No, John, it's not a good idea. John, I don't think you've got the strength."

KOENIG: "Sure I do." (Alan also gets up, looking groggy)

MAYA: "Tony ordered me away, you've got to get him to let me help him."

HELENA: "If you want to help him, let him do it his way."

KOENIG (to Alan): "I'm alright." (goes to door & tries comlock; door stays closed) "Maya, your comlock." (tries it) "Tony must have programmed the computer to lock all doors."

MAYA: "Then noone can help him."

KOENIG: "Well, if that thing is what you say it is, he did what he had to do." (weakly returns to bed; Alan has to help him) "Alan.."

ALAN: "Yeah, John."

KOENIG: "I can't hold up, you take over."

HELENA: "Alright now, come on, John, here we go, take it easy. Come on."

ALAN: "You're gonna be okay." (they put a sheet over him)

HELENA: "Alright now, you oughta get back into bed as well, Alan." (scans him) "Now, wait a minute."

ALAN: "I feel better. Weak, but better."

HELENA: "Your fever's gone. Look, you got it first, maybe it's just run it's course." (she feels her own head & falters)

ALAN: "Hey, you alright?"

HELENA: "Yeah, I'd better be. Now go ahead, get into bed."

47.INT. TECHLAB 5

Tony types on the control panel by the reactor door. He answers his comlock.

TONY: "Yes, Alan?"

ALAN (VO): "Tony, what's the situation?"

TONY: "Desperate."

ALAN: "What can we do to help?"

TONY: "Just keep everybody out of the way."

48.INT. MEDICAL

ALAN: "Where are you?"

TONY (VO): "I'm in Techlab Five. I'm trying to get it into the vacuum chamber."

INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Creature forces open Command Centre doors (reprise)

49.INT. TECHLAB 5

Tony reacts to the sound of the small explosion & looks to the door.

TONY: "Oh, oh, I've got trouble."

ALAN (VO): "Hey, Tony, don't take any chances."

TONY: "If this works maybe I won't have to take any more chances." (cuts link)

INT. CORRIDOR

Creature walks into corridor.

FADE OUT

Act Two
EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

50.INT. MEDICAL

MAYA: "What's happening?" (takes Alan's comlock) "Tony. Tony, answer me."

ALAN: "Maya. Maya, he shouldn't have to worry about you right now."

MAYA: "It's just that he's out there on his own."

ALAN: "Yeah, I know, but if he can decoy that thing into the vacuum chamber.."

SANDRA: "Nothing can live in a vacuum."

MAYA: "And if the creature doesn't walk into the trap?"

ALAN: "Well, then you will have to help him."

53.INT. TECHLAB 5

Heavy footsteps are heard. Tony opens the reactor door. The creature passes the room. Tony fires a blue laser beam at it. It enters & follows him into the chamber. Tony fires past it to explode something on the table in the room beyond. The creature is distracted, & he dashes past it & out. The creature tries to follow him as the door closes, but Tony fires a red extinguisher cylinder at it. The door closes & Tony presses switches.

56.INT. MEDICAL

HELENA (to Sandra): "Now don't be frightened to use this, the dosages are computer coded." (answers the comlock on her desk) "Yes, Tony."

INT. TECHLAB 5

TONY: "Helena, let me talk to John."

INT. MEDICAL

HELENA: "He's under sedation. I'm sorry, Tony."

TONY (VO): "Oh."

57.INT. TECHLAB 5

TONY: "Nothing to be sorry about. Let me talk to Alan."

58.INT. MEDICAL

Helena drops her comlock & slumps on her desk.

INT. TECHLAB 5

TONY: "Helena. Helena, "

58.INT. MEDICAL

Sandra & Alan help Helena.

TONY (VO): " you alright?"

ALAN: "Tony. She's fainted."

SANDRA: "Help me."

HELENA: "I'll be alright. I'll be alright."

ALAN (with Sandra helping her to a bed): "Got you up. Come back here."

HELENA: "I think I'll be alright."

SANDRA: "She has the sickness, Alan."

ALAN: "Take care of her." (returns to take comlock) "Tony. You want to talk."

59.INT. TECHLAB 5

TONY: "Yeah. It's in the vacuum chamber, Alan. Everything's under control."

Tony cuts the link & uses the chamber controls. He then opens the reactor door. The creature emerges, & throws Tony against the computer.

INT. MEDICAL

Maya watches.

-Comms post screen (colour): creature and Tony.

ALAN (VO): "You've got to help him, Maya."

SANDRA (VO): "But we can't release the doors."

Favour Maya.

ALAN (VO): "No, Maya doesn't need the doors."

Close on Maya's eyes. A mouse appears.

Alan picks up the mouse from the top of the temperature gauge & puts it in the ventilator grille. He then staggers weakly backwards into Sandra & puts his arm round her.

61.INT. VENTILATION DUCT

Mouse scurries along duct.

61.INT. CORRIDOR

Tony falls backwards into corridor & fires a blue laser at the creature as it emerges after him.

60.INT. VENTILATION DUCT

Mouse.

INT. CORRIDOR

POV through grille (low angle up). Tony rises against the opposite wall as the creature approaches. It throws Tony against the near wall & moves after him, but he darts past it back to the other wall.

Mouse: it merges to become Maya.

As the creature moves up Tony darts to the opposite wall.

TONY: "Maya, get out of here!"

The creature picks up Tony & bear hugs him.

Maya closes her eyes concentrating.

Flash shot: creature in Eagle corridor.

Maya concentrates.

Flash shot: creature in Eagle.

Maya.

Flash: creature.

Maya.

Flash: creature.

Maya opens her eyes.

Creature hugs Tony.

Maya transforms into beetle-animal & jumps on creature. It drops Tony & spins, throwing Maya off. She jumps back on it. Tony watches. The creature picks up Maya. Tony takes a fire point hose & fires carbon dioxide at it. It drops Maya & advances on Tony.

TONY: "Run, Maya!"

Tony darts off while the creature advances to the nozzle & swipes at it; the nozzle breaks off & a burst of gas blows it off it's feet.

Maya, by Tony, returns to her own form. They leave.

Tony and Maya run along the corridor. (sc 62)

They run up to the Medical Centre door. (sc 64)

TONY: "Open." (they enter) "Close." (the door closes)

65.INT. MEDICAL

Alan stumbles to Tony.

TONY: "Hey, you'd better get off your feet."

ALAN: "I'm alright, alright. Oh- maybe I'll think better sitting down." (sits at Helena's desk)

TONY: "Hey, how's John?"

SANDRA: "Still under sedation. You said everything was under control."

TONY: "Yeah. Well I was a little premature."

ALAN: "What, is that creature still on the loose?"

TONY: "Uh huh."

MAYA (still breathless): "Lasers don't stop it, and lack of oxygen doesn't affect it."

SANDRA: "Even if we had something which might be effective, how could we apply it?"

HELENA (in bed): "High pressure injector gun. Loaded with ionethermyecin. It's the most powerful stuff we have, it's..too powerful for humans."

TONY: "Yeah, well human this thing ain't."

INT. CORRIDOR

Creature advances, passing door (actually Weapons Section)

65.INT. MEDICAL

Tony loads gun.

HELENA: "Right. It's simple to use. Just place it against the body..and push the button."

TONY: "Okay." (walks away, leaving Sandra with Helena)

HELENA: "You're going to have to take over in here. I just can't make it."

SANDRA: "What do I do?"

HELENA: "Tyomoxin tablets. Give them to everybody that can swallow them. You alright?"

She nods & smiles. Favour Maya & Tony.

MAYA: "Tony, this might not work on that creature."

TONY: "It's got to work. Something's got to work."

MAYA: "How are we going to get close enough to use it?"

TONY: "I don't know. We've just got to."

SANDRA (joining them): "She's sleeping now."

TONY (goes to comms post): "See if we can find it."

Favour comms post screen. Two corridors appear. Then a third with creature.

MAYA (VO): "It's heading for Life Support Centre."

They react.

TONY: "Yeah, let's go."

ALAN: "Tony, I'm going with you." (but falters as tries to reach them)

TONY: "That's all I need, buddy. You passing out on me." (sits him by Sandra & starts out)

SANDRA: "Tony!"

TONY: "I'll be okay. Open." (leaves)

68.INT. CORRIDOR

They leave Medical.

TONY: "Close."

MAYA: "Tony. It'll get to Life Support before we will."

TONY: "Maybe. In here." (they go to Weapons Section) "Open."

67.INT. WEAPONS SECTION

TONY: "Close." (they go to the screen) "There it is."

Tony presses a button: klaxons start.

69.INT. MEDICAL

Alan sits up in bed, alarmed. Sandra is by him.

ALAN: "What was that?"

68.INT. CORRIDOR

Creature stops.

70.INT. WEAPONS SECTION

MAYA: "It's confused."

TONY: "Yeah. Let's see how really confused we can get it." (hits button) "Creature!"

71.INT. CORRIDOR

TONY (on comms post): "You, Creature!" (creature hits post) "Creature!" (it turns to another post) "Here I am." (goes to it) "I'm over here."

72.INT. WEAPONS SECTION

TONY: "He's falling for it."

MAYA: "The Hydroponics Experimental Section. Lead it there. We can fill it with chlorine."

TONY: "Okay. Open." (she leaves) "Close. Creature!"

74.INT. CORRIDOR

TONY (on post): "Here I am! I'm over here!" (creature goes to post & hits screen) "Here I am! I'm over here!" (creature approaches other post)

75.INT. WEAPONS SECTION

Tony answers his comlock.

MAYA (VO): "Tony."

INT. CORRIDOR

By Hydroponic.

MAYA: "I'm at Hydroponic. Can you open the door?"

INT. WEAPONS SECTION

TONY: "Computer. Open door to Hydroponic Section."

76.INT. MEDICAL

Alan goes to the post. Tony appears on it.

TONY: "Alan."

ALAN: "The red alert."

TONY (on screen): "It's a ploy to confuse the creature."

INT. WEAPONS SECTION

TONY: "We're going to try to get it into Hydroponic Experimental Section, hit it with chlorine."

ALAN (VO): "Well, Tony, isn't there anybody else to help you?"

TONY: "Only Fraser. He's holding down Life Support. But if the chlorine doesn't work I think we've had it."

78.INT. MEDICAL

ALAN: "No, no. Maybe not. Listen, I haven't got time to explain. Get yourself over to the Hydroponic Unit."

INT. WEAPONS SECTION

TONY: "Right." (cuts klaxon & takes rifle) "Open." (leaves out door) "Close."

INT. CORRIDOR

Tony runs into Reception & the Travel unit door.

TONY: "Open." (enters) "Close."

INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Travel unit speeds off.

Travel Unit speeds on.

78.INT. MEDICAL

FRASER (on post): "Life Support."

ALAN: "Fraser. I want you to set up a heavy duty electrical barrier across the approach to the Life Support."

FRASER (on screen): "I'm not qualified, Alan, I wouldn't know how to do it."

ALAN: "No, me neither. Listen. Sahn's the expert." (to her) "Give me a hand." (to post) "She'll tell you all about it." (he returns to bed)

SANDRA: "Bill. Listen carefully. Go to the "

INT. CORRIDOR /ELECTRICAL UNIT

SANDRA (VO): " Main Electrical unit in corridor thirty four."

FRASER (enters it): "Alright, Sahn."

SANDRA (VO): "Take the limpets. The ones used for emergency cable runs."

FRASER (sees them): "Got them."

INT. MEDICAL

SANDRA: "Fix them both sides of the corridor. You have got to make a cable barrier."

INT. CORRIDOR /ELECTRICAL UNIT

FRASER: "Right."

He takes out the limpets to the corridor & fixes to opposite walls.

INT. MEDICAL

Sandra watches.

INT. CORRIDOR /ELECTRICAL UNIT

Fraser takes 2 more limpets.

INT. CORRIDOR

Creature walks past post.

INT. CORRIDOR /ELECTRICAL UNIT

Fraser fixes 2 more limpets to the wall.

INT. MEDICAL

FRASER (on screen): "Alright, Sahn."

SANDRA: "Good, Bill. There should be some cable rolls on the bottom shelf."

INT. CORRIDOR /ELECTRICAL UNIT

SANDRA (VO): "You need type H. T. one five. I will give you the details when you get there."

FRASER: "Right."

He lifts up a HT15 cable, leaving the HT10 cable.

INT. CORRIDOR

Creature walks.

INT. CORRIDOR /ELECTRICAL UNIT

Fraser takes a limpet off the wall & threads in the cable. He looks up the corridor.

INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Travel Unit stops.

INT. CORRIDOR

Tony walks out of the Travel unit.

TONY: "Close."

He runs on.

INT. CORRIDOR /HYDROPONIC

TONY (running up to Maya): "You ready?"

MAYA: "Yeah."

TONY: "How are we going to get it into the chlorine?"

MAYA: "Remember I told you there was a chlorine breathing animal on the planet Kreno?"

TONY: "Right." (she transforms) "Creature!"

INT. CORRIDOR

TONY (VO): "I'm over here!"

The creature hears & turns.

INT. CORRIDOR /HYDROPONIC

Creature walks into corridor as Tony runs behind a corner. Maya/Kreno animal faces him, holding the injector.

TONY: "Open." (Hydroponic door opens; Maya backs in & creature follows) "Close."

Tony runs to the window; in the green mist the creature advances on Maya.

FADE OUT

Act Three
INT. CORRIDOR /HYDROPONIC

Tony answers his comlock.

ALAN (VO): "Tony?"

TONY: "Yes, Alan?"

84.INT. MEDICAL

ALAN (using comlock): "How is it going?"

TONY (VO): "The chlorine isn't having any effect."

ALAN: "Listen, can she get close enough to hit it with that anaesthetic gun?"

85.INT. CORRIDOR /HYDROPONIC

TONY: "That's too long a shot. Unless I can get in there to help her."

ALAN (VO): "No, Tony, stay where you are, will you. You get in amongst that chlorine you'll kill yourself. And that will not help Alpha."

86.INT. MEDICAL

ALAN (falls on bed): "..I'm okay...I think I'm going to be okay now."

SANDRA: "You think you're going to be okay but if you don't stay off your feet you will have a relapse."

ALAN: "I've gotta get out there and help them."

SANDRA: "Tony and Maya can handle it if anybody can, now come on." (helps him to bed)

87.INT. CORRIDOR /HYDROPONIC

Maya injects the creature but is grabbed & thrown against the door, causing an explosion. Tony runs to the door.

TONY: "Open. Open!" (it doesn't; he uses his rifle to smash window) "Maya!" (Maya jumps through the window) "Stay down!"

Tony fires the rifle but the creature continues to advance. They run off.

INT. CORRIDOR

Fraser secures the centre of the crossed cables with red tape. He then aims his comlock at the cables.

FRASER: "What do you think?"

INT. MEDICAL

SANDRA: "If we can get enough voltage through it, it could work."

INT. CORRIDOR

SANDRA (VO): "Get the mobile H T generator."

INT. MEDICAL

SANDRA: "And take it to the barrier."

INT. CORRIDOR

SANDRA (VO): "I will take you through it step by step."

Fraser goes to the Electrical Unit.

FRASER (enters Unit): "I will call you when I've got it in position."

INT. MEDICAL

SANDRA: "Right."

INT. CORRIDOR

Fraser pushes the trolley with a box marked 'High Voltage' on it out. In the corridor he takes the box off the trolley, opens the lid & attaches one crocodile clip before pushing the box under the wires.

95.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Tony and Maya enter.

TONY: "Alan. It didn't work."

96.INT. MEDICAL

ALAN (with Sandra, watching Tony on medical monitor): "Where is it now?"

TONY (on screen): "Hunting for our life support system, I guess. And it won't take him long to find it."

ALAN: "Tony. Go to the Life Support. But be very careful. Fraser is setting up an electrical barrier."

TONY (on screen): "Okay."

97.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Tony and Maya start to leave, but Tony pauses.

TONY: "Maya. There is one way we can get on an equal footing with that creature. You become one."

MAYA: "I've tried, Tony."

TONY: "But it's a life form. You can change into any life form."

MAYA: "Not this one, for some reason its molecular structure eludes us."

CLOUD (VO): "Why does your species resist "

-Big Screen (SFX): cloud (sc 98)

CLOUD (VO): " the inevitable? Can't we convince you that we don't want to "

-Command Centre (sc 99)

CLOUD (VO): " inflict pain?"

TONY: "Yeah, I know. You're gonna kill us with kindness."

-Big Screen (SFX):

CLOUD (VO): "Sarcasm in your present circumstances is hardly a defence."

-Command Centre:

CLOUD (VO): "Accept your fate."

TONY: "Come on, Maya." (they run out)

100.INT. CORRIDOR

Fraser is securing large crocodile clips from the cable to the box.

FRASER: "You did say terminal forty two?"

SANDRA (VO): "Terminal forty two. Four two."

FRASER (clips to terminal): "Alright, Sahn."

SANDRA (VO): "Right. Now take the remote switch gear through the barrier."

Fraser pushes the box under the cables & ducks under it, touching it a cable as he moves under.

SANDRA (VO): "It should be alright, but don't touch the barrier, just in case."

FRASER: "Thanks. It is safe." (he carries on through)

101.INT. CORRIDOR

Creature walks up to the Weapons section door. He pushes it open & enters.

102.INT. WEAPONS SECTION

Creature enters & looks round. It looks at the propogatoscope.

103.INT. CORRIDOR

Tony and Maya hurry up, but hear the creature inside the Weapons Section.

TONY: "Back."

They hide behind the comms post as the creature emerges & leaves.

TONY: "Let's go."

MAYA (stops him): "Tony. We've tried everything. Nothing works."

TONY: "We have to keep trying."

MAYA: "But we can't stop it."

TONY: "Maya, we can't give up now."

MAYA: "Nothing we've done has had an effect!"

TONY: "I know that, but...hey, wait a minute. There is something we haven't tried. The cloud."

MAYA: "Yes. The cloud. That's what controls it."

TONY: "Right. Now if we can threaten it somehow, beat it off even. It'll have to call the creature back."

MAYA: "How?"

TONY: "Come on." (they run into Weapons Section)

105 (2). INT. WEAPONS SECTION

They enter and sit.

Screen: cloud.

Tony presses a button marled 'LASER'.

105 (3). EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Laser turret rises on surface.

105 (4,6). INT. WEAPONS SECTION

TONY: "Give me range and elevation."

MAYA: "Range forty three thousand. Elevation twenty seven three."

Tony uses the Eagle remote control unit.

105 (7). EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Laser turret turns.

105 (8). INT. WEAPONS SECTION

MAYA: "On target."

Screen: cloud.

Tony and Maya.

TONY: "Right, here goes." (presses button marked 'FIRE')

105 (9). EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Laser turret fires green beam.

105 (10). EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Green beam hits cloud.

105 (11). INT. WEAPONS SECTION

Tony and Maya.

Screen.

Tony and Maya.

MAYA: "It's thinned out a bit, Tony."

TONY: "Yeah." (presses button again)

105. EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

CU laser barrel firing.

105. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

CU cloud hit.

105. INT. WEAPONS SECTION

Tony.

Screen: a diamond appears.

Tony and Maya.

MAYA: "Tony."

Screen: diamond.

Tony and Maya.

MAYA: "That must be its control centre."

TONY: "Yeah. Target."

MAYA: "Range: forty three thousand two hundred. Elevation twenty- seven seven."

105. EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Barrel turns.

105. INT. WEAPONS SECTION

Tony presses fire.

105. EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Laser fires.

105. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Diamond is hit & splits in half.

INT. CORRIDOR

Creature turns, confused.

105. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Diamond halves separate.

INT. CORRIDOR

Creature turns, confused.

105. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Halves slow their separation.

105. INT. WEAPONS SECTION

Tony and Maya are gleeful.

TONY: "It worked!"

MAYA: "We've done it!"

They pause & look.

Screen: diamond closes.

Tony and Maya crestfallen.

Screen: halves close.

Tony and Maya.

CLOUD (VO): "Futility, Mister Verdeschi."

Screen: diamond.

CLOUD (VO): "An exercise in futility."

Tony and Maya. Tony bitterly presses the button again.

105. EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Laser fires.

105. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Diamond hit & splits again.

TONY (VO): "The one on the left."

105. INT. WEAPONS SECTION

MAYA: "Range forty four thousand."

105. EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Barrel turns.

MAYA (VO): "Elevation twenty eight two."

Laser fires.

105. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Left half of diamond splits.

INT. CORRIDOR

Creature turns.

105. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

The 3 parts separate.

105. INT. WEAPONS SECTION

TONY: "The one on the right."

MAYA: "Range forty four seven. Elevation twenty eight three."

105. EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Laser barrel fires.

105. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Right half of diamond hit & splits.

INT. CORRIDOR

Confused creature.

105. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Right half splits.

105. INT. WEAPONS SECTION

Tony and Maya.

Screen: right half splitting. The parts stop & start to move together.

Tony and Maya watch appalled.

105. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

The quarters close together in the cloud, & the diamond disappears.

105. INT. WEAPONS SECTION

Tony and Maya, crestfallen.

CLOUD (VO): laughs.

Screen: diamond joins.

Tony and Maya as cloud laughs.

TONY: "Let's get out." (they leave)

106.INT. CORRIDOR

Fraser hears something & raises his rifle. Tony and Maya run into his sights.

TONY: "Hold it!"

Fraser lowers his gun. Tony and Maya walk up to the barrier. Tony stops at it.

FRASER: "It is safe. I tested it." (they step through the fence) "Am I glad to see you."

TONY: "Everything set?"

FRASER: "Yeah, but Maya better check it, I don't know too much about electrics." (as Maya inspects it, Fraser goes to Tony) "Do you think that will stop it?"

TONY: "Well, nothing else has."

They go to the Life Support Section door.

FRASER: "That's what it's after."

TONY: "Yeah. And if it gets it.." (they hear footsteps)

MAYA: "Tony."

They look down the empty corridor.

TONY: "Okay Maya."

MAYA (switching on the box): "Circuit activated."

TONY: "Right, come over here."

Tony and Maya back as Fraser walks forward with the rifle. The creature comes round the corner.

FADE OUT

Act Four
106.INT. CORRIDOR

The creature advances to the fence, but pauses in front of it. It puts one claw on a cable. As it puts the second claw on the cable sparks fly & it falls back. But it rises & charges against the fence. This time it falls back with flames burning on it. Maya smiles with relief. The creature rises & beats out the flames on itself.

TONY: "Next time it's going to make it."

MAYA: "I know." (they exchange tender looks)

TONY: "Maya..." (she waits) "This isn't exactly the time I'd picked to say this."

MAYA: "Say what?"

TONY: "Psychon's my favourite planet."

MAYA: "We don't have time to play with words, Tony." (they kiss)

TONY: "Maya, I love you." (they kiss again)

FRASER: "Tony."

The creature charges again & breaks the top cable. It staggers back.

TONY: "Fire!"

Fraser fires, but the creature ignores being hit.

TONY: "How can any life form take that?"

Maya stares at it, slowly realising.

MAYA: "Tony. It's no life form."

TONY: "Oh yeah."

MAYA: "When Eagle Six came down, my sensors showed no life form. It lived in a vacuum, chlorine didn't affect it, lasers, electricity, nothing affects it."

The creature bursts through the fence.

TONY (to door): "Open! Fraser!" (they back in Life Support)

108.INT. LIFE SUPPORT SECTION

Fraser hits it with his rocket rifle, but is grabbed by the neck. Tony runs up but is knocked back to Maya.

MAYA: "Tony. It's a robot."

TONY: "It doesn't matter what it is, if it gets that core."

MAYA: "But we can beat it."

TONY: "How?"

MAYA: "By getting to it's control centre."

TONY: "We don't even know where it is."

Fraser is rolled over a desk. Tony jumps over the desk onto the creature's back. It turns, carrying him. Fraser runs up but is kicked away, his head hitting the alcove computer. Maya transforms into a bee. Tony is thrown off, rolling over a desk. He feels his left elbow. THe Creature advances to the 'Life Support Systems Core'. It waves off the bee. From the floor Tony watches, then rises but is kicked back. The creature pulls out the core, starting an alarm.

109.INT. MEDICAL

Sandra by the temperature gauge as it falls from 20 to 15 & the lights fade.

110.INT. LIFE SUPPORT CENTRE

Tony looks up at the creature.

Close on hairy ear & bee crawling in. Close into ear. (sc 113)

Close on circuitry (bee sounds over).

Creature stops & feels it's ear (sc 114)

Bee in circuits (sc 115)

Creature drops core (sc 116)

121.INT. MEDICAL

Sandra puts a blanket over Alan.

ALAN (resisting her): "He's taken the core, no."

118.INT. LIFE SUPPORT CENTRE

The creature stomps about. Tony crawls forward.

Bee in circuits (sc 119)

The creature stomps over core, waving it's arms. Tony grabs the core & crawls back. (sc 118)

Bee in circuits.

Creature picks up & throws away a couple of orange chairs.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Cloud slightly shrinks.

INT. LIFE SUPPORT CENTRE

Creature sweeps a table clear.

Bee in circuits.

Creature throws something else.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Cloud shrinks.

INT. LIFE SUPPORT CENTRE

Creature acts crazed.

Bee in circuits.

Creature feels its head. Tony leans back under the Life Support panel.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Cloud shrinks.

INT. LIFE SUPPORT CENTRE

Creature swipes at equipment. Tony lifts the core up to the slot.

Bee in circuitry.

Creature acts crazed.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Cloud shrinks.

INT. LIFE SUPPORT CENTRE

Creature lifts a box & approaches Tony, holding the core in the lip of the hole.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Cloud shrinks & disappears, leaving the original nebula.

INT. LIFE SUPPORT CENTRE

Creature holds the box over Tony.

Bee in circuitry.

Creature drops box in front of Tony. It falls (in slow motion).

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Nebula.

128.INT. LIFE SUPPORT CENTRE

Creature lies still on the floor. Tony pushes the core in the hole. The lights return on & Tony falls to his side. He hears the bee.

TONY: "M...Maya."

As herself, Maya approaches him.

MAYA: "It won't get up again."

FADE OUT

Epilogue
EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

129.INT. MEDICAL

Pan over empty beds & to Tony, his right arm & leg elevated in traction. Maya enters & places flowers by his bed. She puts a stand by him & a box on his stomach before noticing that he is watching her.

MAYA: "Oh..you're awake."

TONY: "Oh no, I always sleep with my eyes open when I'm in traction."

MAYA: "Oh, Tony."

TONY: "What's that?"

MAYA: "Three dimensional solitaire."

TONY: "Solitaire? How come I'm all alone in Medical Centre? Last time I was here the place was jumping with patients."

MAYA: "They're all well now."

TONY: "What about John?"

MAYA: "He's assessing the damage your friend the creature did."

TONY: "And Helena?"

MAYA: "Checking out life support systems."

TONY: "Well what about Bill Fraser. He was bandaged up pretty good, why isn't he in here with me?"

MAYA: "Oh. He only suffered bruises and contusions. And he heals much quicker than you do."

TONY: "Oh, very funny. Hey, listen, talking about friends. That cloud, is it still on the screen?"

MAYA: "It's disappeared. It's really eerie. Something almost kills us and then just disappears as if it never was."

TONY: "Mm."

MAYA: "Look. This is how it's done. The cards are played from one level to the next. Like that. Right?"

TONY: "Oh, ah, Maya, you know all that wild garbage that I handed you?"

MAYA: "Wild garbage?"

TONY: "Yeah, well you know, the heavy syrup, the thousand violins, all that romantic stuff."

MAYA: "That's wild garbage?"

TONY: "I mean the pressure was murderous. A guy says a lot of strange things when he's under pressure. Right?"

MAYA: "Mm." (she takes chocolates from him, closes the box & takes all her presents away) "Right." (she leaves)

TONY: "Well, how about that. She's really crazy about me."

FREEZE FRAME