The AB Chrysalis/Transcript

Hook
EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Close on base.

1.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

FRASER (at Maya's desk): "Ten seconds."

-Big Screen (SFX): space (sc 2)

-Command Centre: Koenig, Maya, girls & Fraser. (sc 3)

FRASER: "Three. Two. One. Zero."

-Big Screen (SFX): space. An explosion (silent) (sc 2)

-Command Centre: reactions (sc 3)

KOENIG: "Compute."

MAYA (types): "Magnitude within one per cent of last observation."

KOENIG: "Yasko. I want to know the nature and origin of that explosion."

YASKO (types): "Too far away."

MAYA: "Shockwave will hit Alpha in exactly a hundred and forty three point two seconds."

-Big Screen (SFX): explosion expands (sc 2)

-Command Centre (sc 3)

KOENIG: "Red alert."

Screens flash 'Red Alert'.

4.INT. CORRIDOR

Astronauts run past a communications post to Reception (astronauts 8, 2 - Gerry- and 5 - Quinton).

5.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

The rear doors shut.

KOENIG: "Check emergency life support. Check back-up power circuits. Helena, prepare for casualties."

HELENA (uses desk screen): "Medical. Ready casualty reception units."

6.INT. CORRIDOR

Medics & 2 nurses stride purposefully to the Medical Centre.

INT. WEAPONS SECTION

'Anti Gravity Pod' screen flashes 'Red Alert'.

7.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

MAYA: "One minute forty."

KOENIG: "Launch Eagles."

FRASER: "Launch Eagles."

8.EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Eagle launches.

Eagle launches.

EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

5 Eagles rise over base.

9.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

The Alphans watch.

-Big Screen (SFX): explosion.

-Command Centre: a monitor screen reads 1.03, then 1.02, 1.01, 1.00, 0.59.

MAYA: "One minute."

-Big Screen (SFX): explosion. (sc 10)

11.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

11 Eagles, including 3 combat Eagles, behind the Moon.

12.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

ALAN: "Eagle One to control."

KOENIG (VO): "Yes, Alan."

ALAN: "We're in position."

13.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG (sits): "Hold your positions. You'll be shielded from the blast."

ALAN (VO): "Yes, Commander."

14.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

ALAN: "We'll be ready to land as soon as the shockwave has passed."

He looks back at..

15.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Alphans in spacesuits sit amongst stacked boxes.

16.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Alan looks forward again.

17.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Monitor screen: 32 31 30

MAYA: "Thirty seconds."

FRASER: "Rescue teams at stations, all airlocks sealed."

HELENA: "Medical section ready."

-Big Screen (SFX): explosion.

-Command Centre: monitor: 22 21 20.

MAYA: "Twenty seconds."

KOENIG: "Blast procedure."

Everyone gets down on the floor.

19.INT. MEDICAL

The medics lie down.

21.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Koenig crouches by the desk corner, covering his ears.

-Big Screen (SFX): (sc 22)

18.INT. CORRIDOR

Pan over men in green & orange jump suits to men in blue & green overalls, sitting in wait.

20.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Pan over Alpha buildings to Tower.

21.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Koenig covers his ears.

-Big Screen (SFX):

-Command Centre: monitor reads 10, 9, 8 (sc 23). Koenig looks at Helena. Screen reads 2; 1.

24.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Full shot as a wave crosses the base.

25.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Shaken.

26.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Building shaken, raising lunar dust.

27.INT. MEDICAL

Shaken.

26.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Dust obscures buildings.

28.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Shaken.

29.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

ALAN: "Come in Alpha. Come in, Moonbase Alpha."

26.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Dust obscures buildings.

ALAN (VO): "Do you read me, Alpha?"

INT. CORRIDOR

Explosion out of corridor ((clip from 'The Exiles'))

ALAN (VO): "Come in, Moonbase Alpha."

EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Buildings obscured.

ALAN (VO): "Calling on all frequencies, I'm not getting any reading."

INT. AREA B

Wreckage in room. ((clip form 'The Exiles'))

FADE OUT

ACT ONE
30.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Pan over buildings to Tower; much dust is piled up against & over the buildings.

31.EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Eagle lands on cross-shaped pad.

32.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Alan enters & they close their visors.

ALAN: "Let's go." ((they leave out the port door))

INT. TRAVEL UNIT

They enter & wait.

INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Unit speeds on.

Unit speeds on.

INT. TRAVEL UNIT

Alan waits.

INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Unit slows & stops.

33.INT. RECEPTION

They leave the Unit. A fire burns just outside the door.

ALAN: "Check the air."

ALPHAN: "Pressure's down a little. It's safe."

They raise visors. Alan walks to the Command Centre doors & opens them. Inside he sees them recovering, Koenig checking everyone.

INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG: "Maya. Alright? Kate. You alright?"

KATE: "Yes, Commander, I'm alright. My scanner's taken a beating."

ALAN: "We lost audio contact."

HELENA: "We're alright, Alan."

Koenig walks up.

KOENIG: "This time...yes."

35.EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Eagle landing over buildings.

HELENA (VO): "Moonbase Alpha Status Report, Doctor Helena Russell recording."

Eagle lands on open pad.

HELENA (VO): "It is now twelve hundred and eighty eight days since we left Earth's orbit."

Eagle lands on pad (repeat of Alan's Eagle landing).

HELENA (VO): "For a week now we have been travelling toward a series of spatial explosions of unknown origin."

36.INT. MEDICAL

Medics tidy up.

HELENA (VO): "They detonate at precise twelve hour intervals. As we move closer each succeeding shockwave is more violent."

37.INT. POWER ROOM

2 technicians check computer.

HELENA (VO): "There have been no serious casualties but we suffer increasing damage to our vital systems. Since we cannot control our course through space there is no way to take evasive action."

39.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Helena enters.

KOENIG: "There it is. The eye of the explosions."

-Big Screen (SFX): ring of moons round planet (sc 40)

HELENA (VO): "A planet."

-Command Centre: (sc 41)

MAYA: "Yes. But it's still too distant for our sensors to give much information."

KOENIG: "Except one obvious conclusion. It's still there. It hasn't been destroyed."

HELENA: "The explosions are travelling one way only. Outwards."

KOENIG: "Right."

MAYA: "And with the exact twelve hour interval between detonations we can assume it is not a natural phenomenon."

KOENIG: "Some form of intelligence is responsible."

MAYA: "Warning. Stay away?"

HELENA: "And if the warnings aren't heeded..?" ((beat))

KOENIG: "I want Eagle One on the pad ready for lift off."

FRASER: "Eagle One prepare for launch."

KOENIG: "Maya, let's go." ((starts off))

HELENA: "John. Be careful." ((Koenig smiles & touches her arm))

42.EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Eagle launches from cross-shaped pad.

43.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle flies to planet.

44.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG: "Alan, what's our E.T.A. at the planet?"

MAYA (as Alan types): "Forty two minutes, eight point forty seven seconds."

ALAN: "Computer copies."

KOENIG: "It always does. Scan."

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): planet (sc 45)

KOENIG (VO): "Magnify."

Picture expands to shown ring of moons.

-They watch. (sc 46)

ALAN: "It's ringed by moons."

KOENIG: "Maya. I want a sensor reading." ((she goes back))

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): (sc 47)

ALAN (VO): "It's an almost perfect circle."

-They watch. (sc 48)

KOENIG: "Maybe too perfect."

MAYA (returns): "The planet's atmosphere is chlorine gas. Specific gravity seven point four nine three. Magnetic coefficient oh four seven."

KOENIG: "Try the moons."

MAYA: "Atmosphere negative. But they're emitting a high energy potential."

KOENIG: "Alan, set a course for the nearest moon."

50.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle flies over planet horizon to 2 moons.

53.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

MAYA (at desk): "Energy level unnaturally high."

54.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

MAYA (VO): "Heavy metallic "

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): lunar hills. (sc 52)

MAYA (VO): " concentration. No evidence of life."

-Koenig watches. (sc 54)

ALAN: "John."

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): a dome (sc 55)

ALAN (VO): "It's some sort of station."

-They watch. (sc 56)

KOENIG: "Maya?"

57.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

MAYA: "That's it. The source of the high energy levels I've been getting."

58.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG: "Alan. Take her down."

59.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle lands in centre of the circle of domes.

60.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Alan helps Koenig put his spacesuit on.

KOENIG: "Camera helmet." ((he puts it on; Maya & Alan leave & Koenig takes hand scanner)) "Decompress."

61.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): Eagle door (sc 61)

-Maya (sc 62)

KOENIG (VO): "Okay?"

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): door opens; domes beyond. (sc 63)

-Alan & Maya watch. (sc 64)

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): close on domes (sc 65)

KOENIG (VO): "I'm at the nearest installation."

-They watch (sc 66)

KOENIG (VO): "There's no obvious entrance. What's it made of, Maya?"

MAYA: "Well, it appears a platinum tungsten alloy. No reading from interior."

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): CU wall, panning over it to a join. Pan down to a pad on the floor. A yellow boot steps on it. (sc 67)

KOENIG (VO): "I've found an entrance. Operated by weight sensitive pads."

Pan up to open chamber.

-Maya reacts.

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): POV: hand holds scanner up in foreground. (sc 67)

KOENIG (VO): "Radiation negative. Life form negative."

-They watch (sc 68)

KOENIG (VO): "I'm going in, cover me."

ALAN: "I'll get a suit on." ((gets up & leaves))

69.INT. ELEVATOR

Koenig enters & raises his laser. The door behind him lowers shut. Lights rise in strips on the walls, indicating downward movement. The lights stop. Another door opens to an orange cave. He enters it.

70.INT. UNDERGROUND SPACE STATION

Koenig enters. The elevator door closes behind him.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): orange cave.

-Maya reacts.

70.INT. UNDERGROUND SPACE STATION

Koenig checks his scanner.

KOENIG: "Atmosphere negative." ((he advances & raises his scanner)) "There's sort of a.." ((lightning strikes him & he falls))

71.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): askew angle of spheres on pedestals.

-Maya reacts. (sc 72)

MAYA: "Commander. Come in, Commander." ((presses buttons; calls back)) "Alan, we've lost contact."

73.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Alan takes a scanner & goes to the door.

ALAN: "Decompress."

74.INT. UNDERGROUND SPACE STATION

View up from Koenig to Alan entering. Alan sees the damaged scanner.

ALAN: "John. John, can you hear me?"

KOENIG: "Alan?"

ALAN: "Are you alright?"

KOENIG: "Isn't everybody after getting hit with three or four hundred volts?"

Alan picks up the mangled scanner.

A ball bounces down from a pedestal.

They react.

The ball bounces.

They watch it.

It bounces again.

Alan lifts his laser, but Koenig stops him.

ALAN: "What is it?"

The ball bounces up onto a pedestal.

They stand up, watching it.

The ball hops off the pedestal & bounces on the floor.

Koenig.

The ball bounces onto another pedestal.

They watch it.

KOENIG: "Some kind of probe. I think we're being checked out."

The ball bounces off the stand.

Koenig & Alan.

The ball bounces.

The ball bounces onto a stand next to a screen. The screen glows.

Koenig & Alan go to the screen. A circle, then a square appear on the screen. These alternate.

KOENIG: "Basic geometric figures. I think it's trying to communicate."

There is a pen by the screen. Koenig draws a triangle on a panel. A triangle appears on the screen. Then a design appears, with red & orange patches & black dots.

ALAN: "It's a star chart."

KOENIG: "It's trying to find out where we're from." ((Koenig draws circles)) "Sun. Mercury. Venus. Earth. Mars."

On the screen a yellow circle & 4 slightly smaller circles, red, blue, pale blue & pink, appear.

ALAN: "Hey, how about that." ((Koenig draws an arrow to the third small circle))

The screen displays text: 'You.Are.From.Earth

I.Will.Arrange.For

Suitable.Atmosphere'

There is a hissing sound. Alan checks his scanner.

ALAN: "Hey. Good old clean air."

They raise their visors & breath deeply. There is a searing sound & they turn.

A ball bounces down.

They watch.

The ball bounces.

They watch.

The ball bounces up to land on a stand.

VOICE SPHERE: "I am sorry for the delay. It took some time to align to your language."

KOENIG: "I'm Commander John Koenig, this is Alan Carter."

VOICE SPHERE: "Welcome. I am Voice Probe Two Four Eight."

KOENIG: "I'd like to talk to someone who has authority."

VOICE SPHERE: "For what purpose?"

KOENIG: "We've a vital matter to discuss."

VOICE SPHERE: "You must be more specific."

KOENIG: "Our base with all aboard is heading directly towards your planet. unless we-"

VOICE SPHERE: "I am sorry. There is nothing I can do."

KOENIG: "Then let me talk to someone who can."

VOICE SPHERE: "I am a machine."

KOENIG: "A computer?"

VOICE SPHERE: "Yes. I can perform no independent action without authority."

KOENIG: "Then put me in contact with your masters."

VOICE SPHERE: "That is not possible."

KOENIG: "Why?"

VOICE SPHERE: "The intelligent life form of the planet, my masters, is not yet in existence. I am waiting for the first of them to be born."

They are shocked.

FADE OUT

ACT TWO
EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Planet horizon & 2 moons.

EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle in dome circle.

75.INT. UNDERGROUND SPACE STATION

VOICE SPHERE (as rumble heard): "You must leave. You are in great danger. You must go immediately."

KOENIG: "We're not leaving until we get some answers." ((answers comlock))

MAYA (VO): "Commander."

KOENIG: "Yes, Maya."

76.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

MAYA: "The energy level is rising to a critical point."

77.INT. UNDERGROUND SPACE STATION

The searing crackle of lighting is heard.

KOENIG: "Let's get out of here!" ((they run out))

78.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

-Concerned Maya.

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): POV closing on Eagle. (sc 79)

-Maya (sc 78)

80.INT. UNDERGROUND SPACE STATION

Crackling reaches crescendo.

81.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Koenig & Alan enter.

KOENIG: "Maya, decompress."

83.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle in middle of spheres as lightning arcs between them.

82.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

They enter & sit.

MAYA: "It's critical."

KOENIG: "Alan, get us out of here."

83.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle hit by lightning.

84.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

ALAN: "Ignition negative. We've lost main power."

KOENIG: "Switch to emergency circuits."

ALAN: "Still negative. The impact's blown the main fuses."

KOENIG: "Resetting."

85.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Maya at the desk as it momentarily darkens.

MAYA: "Have power on computer. Sensors operating."

86.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

ALAN: "There's still no juice in the ignition system."

87.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle sat in the middle of the domes.

Another, high, angle.

88.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG: "Manual start. Link in the solar batteries."

89.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

CU rear engines, lightning above.

90.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

MAYA: "Energy level reaching critical."

91.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

ALAN: "This time."

92.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle lifts off.

93.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Relief.

94.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

The circle of towers.

Eagle passes a nebula.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): the planet & ring of moons.

KOENIG: "A ring of moons, each one with a space station."

-They watch (sc 95)

KOENIG: "Let's assume they're all building a similar energy."

ALAN: "Storing up enormous power in the spheres."

KOENIG: "Right. Conclusions?"

MAYA: "The system could behave like a ring of thunder clouds."

ALAN: "When the potential's reached a high enough level, discharge it."

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX):

MAYA: "The equivalent of a gigantic electrical storm. Lightning arcing across thousands of miles between each moon in the ring."

-They watch the screen.

KOENIG: "Producing an energy wave like a thousand H-bombs. Radiating a million miles in every direction."

ALAN: "And Alpha's moving closer every second. She's gonna be totally destroyed."

KOENIG: "How much time do we have?"

MAYA: "Assuming the same twelve hour interval between explosions..just under six hours." ((beat))

KOENIG: "Alan, take her down. We're landing on the planet itself."

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle heads to planet horizon from moon.

96.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle lands on dusty surface.

97.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Koenig hangs his suit up & he & Alan join Maya.

KOENIG: "Alright, let's take a look at that surface."

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): surface-misty low hills & a green horizon. (sc 98)

99.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle.

100.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

They are shaken.

101.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

High view of Eagle as it descends into a shaft.

102.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

They react.

101.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle disappears into the shaft.

102.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

They react.

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): shaft walls rising past (sc 103)

INT. SHAFT (SFX)

Eagle descends on ramp.

104.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

KOENIG: "I think we're expected."

VOICE SPHERE: "Do not be concerned. You are being taken to a place of safety."

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): walls rising past (sc 105)

106.INT. CAVERN (SFX)

Eagle reaches bottom of shaft.

107.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

They are able to stand up as the motion finishes.

VOICE SPHERE: "Suitable atmosphere has been arranged. You may leave your ship."

They go to the door. Koenig hesitates, looking at Maya.

108.INT. CAVERN (SFX)

POV Eagle door as opens to reveal a tunnel entrance in cavern wall beyond.

VOICE SPHERE: "You may proceed."

INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

They leave.

INT. TUNNEL

Koenig leads them.

Subjective camera view progressing along tunnel into chamber. (sc 109)

110.INT. CHAMBER

They enter.

A sphere hops off a stand.

The ball bounces on the floor.

Ball bounces.

Ball hops up onto stand.

The ball addresses them.

VOICE SPHERE: "I am Voice Probe Seven Four Eight."

ALAN: "We've met Two Four Eight."

KOENIG: "Some things it told us could use explanation. Your masters. Do they have a physical form?"

VOICE SPHERE: "Of course. But the atmosphere they breathe is chlorine. Your air is as poisonous to them as theirs is to you."

MAYA: "We understand. But we must speak to them."

VOICE SPHERE: "As you were told the first is not yet reborn." ((beat))

KOENIG: "You said reborn."

VOICE SPHERE: "My masters enjoy a unique life cycle. They exist for an allotted span and then grow old as you humans do. But instead of dying they enter a chrysalis stage. To emerge rejuvenated. Physically perfect, mentally clean. While they are sleeping they are defenceless."

KOENIG: "The reason for the explosive force field."

VOICE SPHERE: "Yes. We are programmed to protect the masters. Any potential enemy who enters our space is warned by the initial explosions. If the warning is ignored, the subsequent explosions will destroy the transgressors."

KOENIG: "Are they all in this chrysalis stage of existence?"

VOICE SPHERE: "There is one. The Guardian keeps watch while the others sleep."

KOENIG: "Could you take us to him."

A searing sound. Their lasers burst away from their holsters & land smoking nearby.

Alan & Koenig stand by the stand as the ball leaves it.

The ball bounces on the floor.

They watch it.

The ball bounces to another tunnel.

Koenig & the others follow.

111.INT. TUNNEL

Ball bounces lightly, then rolls along the tunnel.

Koenig, Alan & Maya follow it.

Ball rolls along.

112.INT. REJUVENATION CHAMBER

Ball bounces over the door lip.

The ball bounces over the coffin.

The ball bounces up onto a stand.

111.INT. TUNNEL

The Alphans reach the door.

112.INT. REJUVENATION CHAMBER

The Alphans enter.

VOICE SPHERE: "This is one of the centres of rejuvenation."

MAYA (looking through portholes): "Chlorine."

KOENIG (looking at coffin): "Is this the Guardian?"

VOICE SPHERE: "Yes. But we are too late. He is entering the chrysalis."

KOENIG: "Can he still understand me?"

VOICE SPHERE: "I will translate."

KOENIG: "I am Commander John Koenig of Moonbase Alpha. We're heading directly towards your planet. Unless you stop the next explosion, my base and everyone on it will be destroyed. Are you still translating?"

VOICE SPHERE: "Yes. But the answer is..."

ALAN: "What? What does it say?"

VOICE SPHERE: "The answer is meaningless."

ALAN: "Listen, will you tell whoever is in this thing..!"

VOICE SPHERE: "The Guardian must enter the rejuvenation chamber. He has become senile."

ALAN: "No! No!" ((as the coffin slides to a door, he tries to push it away))

KOENIG: "Alan. get away from there!"

ALAN: "It's our last chance to save Alpha!"

VOICE SPHERE: "You must leave."

MAYA: "Alan, that's chlorine gas!"

Alan forces the coffin aside & into the wall: the glass cracks.

VOICE SPHERE: "You have broken the atmosphere in the chrysalis. I must compensate."

Gas starts to fill the chamber.

KOENIG: "Let's get out of here. Come on. Come on, Maya. Out!" ((he helps a coughing Maya out))

MAYA: "Alan's still in there!"

VOICE SPHERE: "I must stabilise the atmosphere."

KOENIG: "Alan! Alan!" ((tries, but fails to stop the door closing))

Alan grips the top of the coffin & sees inside the wrinkled face of the Guardian. He collapses to the floor.

FADE OUT

ACT THREE
116.INT. REJUVENATION CHAMBER

Alan is unconscious on the floor.

117.INT. TUNNEL

MAYA: "Commander. There's an animal on the planet Kreno. It lives in high volcanic areas and breathes chlorine."

KOENIG: "Good, Maya. But hurry, he's got less than a minute."

Close on her eyes: nothing happens.

INT. REJUVENATION CHAMBER

Alan.

117.INT. TUNNEL

MAYA: "It's so difficult to remember."

She transforms & collapses on the floor, suffocating.

KOENIG (shouting at door): "It needs chlorine! Open up, please! Unless you want to kill!"

The door opens.

118.INT. REJUVENATION CHAMBER

The animal scrambles inside & gets up, spotting Alan.

INT. TUNNEL

Koenig shields his face from the gas.

118.INT. REJUVENATION CHAMBER

The animal picks up Alan & takes him to the door.

119.INT. TUNNEL

They come out. The Maya/animal collapses.

KOENIG: "Alan. Alan. Hurry, Maya. Change back. Change back." ((she does)) "Maya. We'd better get him back to the Eagle."

120.INT. CAVERN (SFX)

Close on Eagle.

121.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Alan sleeps in a seat.

KOENIG: "Well, the burns don't look too serious. What I'm concerned about is internal damage."

MAYA: "He should be taken back to Alpha immediately."

KOENIG: "In three hours they'll be no Alpha to go back to. Maya. Can you operate the ship's lasers?"

MAYA: "Of course."

KOENIG: "I'm going outside. If I give the order start blasting." ((he leaves))

INT. CAVERN (SFX)

Laser rises on top of Eagle.

INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Maya uses controls on the desk.

INT. CAVERN (SFX)

Laser turret aims at a door.

INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

The door opens for Maya, holding the laser controls.

122.INT. CHAMBER

Koenig walks up to the chamber.

KOENIG: "Through there are the chambers containing your masters in chrysalis form. Correct?"

VOICE SPHERE: "Correct."

KOENIG: "You are programmed to defend those masters at all times."

INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Maya watching.

VOICE SPHERE (VO): "It supersedes all other functions."

KOENIG: "The Eagle's lasers "

122.INT. CHAMBER

-Maya's POV along tunnel to Koenig in chamber.

KOENIG: " are aimed at those chambers. On my command they will fire and destroy."

-In chamber.

KOENIG: "I want the next explosion stopped or we start shooting."

VOICE SPHERE: "My logical duty is to stop you."

KOENIG: "Forget logic. Recognise desperation. I will destroy your dome if I have to." ((humming heard)) "I'm waiting for your answer."

VOICE SPHERE: "Please. Be patient."

Koenig turns & is struck by lightning.

125.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

A coughing Alan joins Maya.

ALAN: "What's happening?"

MAYA: "My orders are to fire on voice command but..they've prevented the Commander."

ALAN: "Well, then fire."

KOENIG (VO): "Hold it, Maya!"

126.INT. CHAMBER

Koenig recovers.

KOENIG: "Decide."

He rises but lightning strikes him again.

127.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

ALAN: "Fire."

A (VO): "Wait."

128.INT. CHAMBER

Koenig looks round.

B (VO): "Two of us have been reborn."

Koenig stands & waves his arms at the Eagle.

129.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

KOENIG (VO): "Disarm laser."

130.INT. CHAMBER

Koenig goes to the sphere.

VOICE SPHERE: "I am sorry it was necessary to do that."

KOENIG: "Where are they?"

VOICE SPHERE: "I will lead you."

The ball bounces off the stand.

The ball bounces.

Koenig follows.

The ball rolls into the tunnel.

132.INT. CONVERSATION CHAMBER

Ball bounces onto a stand.

Koenig reaches the ball. A door opens & he enters a small cave with a window, through which is seen dense gas.

A (VO): "You look well featured, Commander Koenig."

B: "The word is handsome."

A: "Ah yes. Handsome."

KOENIG: "You know my name."

A: "And the...predicament of your base and people."

B: "Your language is a difficult one. It took us nearly an hour to learn it."

KOENIG: "You must stop the next explosion."

B: "There is plenty of time to decide."

A: "First we want to talk. There are several matters of interest to discuss. There is no equivalent in your language for our names. You can call me A."

B: "And you can call me B."

A: "We seek perfection. We enter chrysalis fully grown adults. At the end of each cycle we are reborn."

KOENIG: "Listen to me.."

A: "We emerge fully grown adults on a higher level of intelligence, to mould our lives in any way we wish. We repeat that process continually in our search for perfection."

KOENIG: "Our lives are threatened, if you.."

B: "Ah yes. We have a choice to make."

KOENIG: "There is no choice. There's only one decision. Make it."

A: "On what should we base this choice of ours?"

KOENIG (bitterly): "Universal decency." ((beat))

A: "If I agree to save your base there will be conditions."

KOENIG: "What conditions?"

A: "Does it matter what they are?" ((beat)) "Then I decide in your favour. At least you have my vote."

KOENIG: "I don't understand."

A: "A society that seeks perfection must act democratically. Each has equal rights. I have voted yes. It is up to B."

B: "Your decision is clouded by attraction."

A: "Attraction?"

B: "For the Commander. It is obvious and stupid. You want him to stay, to be your...lover."

A: "I may learn to adapt my body to suit his atmosphere. Would that please you, Commander?"

KOENIG: "Make the decision. The only one you can."

B: "I am not swayed by emotion. I vote no."

A: "A tie. A deadlock. We must await the deciding vote."

KOENIG: "Deciding vote?"

B: "The next to be reborn will be the Guardian's brother. Brother to the one your pilot tried to kill. It is very unlikely he will decide in your favour. You will wait here until he is ready to speak to you."

Soundtrack: laughter (from 'The Rules of Luton')

FADE OUT

ACT FOUR
EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Planet & moons.

136.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Helena walks up.

-Big Screen (SFX): planet and ring. (sc 137)

FRASER: "We're moving away now."

-Command Centre: (sc 138)

HELENA: "Not far enough."

Yasko's monitor changes from 2402 to 2400.

YASKO: "Twenty four minutes to detonation."

HELENA: "Go to yellow."

FRASER: "Yellow alert."

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Planet. ((Command Centre sound effects over))

INT. CAVERN (SFX)

Eagle.

139.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Equations on screen.

MAYA: "Alpha is passing the planet. But if the Commander can't stop the next explosion there's no doubt Alpha will be destroyed."

ALAN: "How long has he got to delay them?"

MAYA (types): "If the Commander can delay them for another four hours Alpha will be far enough away to withstand the shockwave. But too far away for us to get back".

ALAN: "Yeah. And getting further away all the time. You'd better check out John and see how he's doing."

142.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

FRASER: "Main outlets closed."

RADIO (VO): "Check."

FRASER: "Airlocks A through D sealed."

RADIO (VO): "Check."

YASKO: "Three seconds. Two. One. Minus twenty minutes."

-Big Screen (SFX): planets (sc 143)

-Command Centre: Helena (sc 144)

HELENA: "John."

145.INT. CONVERSATION CHAMBER

Koenig starts walking away.

GUARDIAN'S BROTHER: "Commander Koenig." ((Koenig stops & returns)) "I am the brother of the Guardian you tried to kill. It seems your destiny is in my hands."

KOENIG: "I understand your need to defend yourselves. But we mean you no harm. Please. Let us pass in safety. In a few hours we will be gone from your planet forever."

GUARDIAN'S BROTHER: "You say you are nonaggressive."

KOENIG: "Yes."

GUARDIAN'S BROTHER: "A familiar argument, Commander. And yet you have attempted to use violence."

KOENIG: "Born from desperation."

GUARDIAN'S BROTHER: "You ask us to drop our guard, but offer no valid reason why we should do so."

KOENIG: "One. You seek perfection."

GUARDIAN'S BROTHER: "Yes. We do. Through logical progression. And logically my answer must be no. Please. My decision is irreversible. Commander, you and your companions are free to remain. You will be safe here." ((Maya & Alan arrive outside))

KOENIG: "There are things more precious than safety. Loyalty is better than logic. Hope is better than despair. And creation is better than destruction. I just wanted to tell you that, you seekers of perfection."

Koenig turns to see Alan & Maya, & goes to them. (sc 146).

MAYA: "Alpha is beyond Eagle One's reach."

ALAN: "We don't have enough fuel to catch it."

A: "To leave now, Commander, would be stupid. You can never get back to your base. Which in any case is facing certain destruction."

ALAN: "I know what I want to do." ((Maya nods to Koenig))

KOENIG: "It's unanimous. We're leaving." ((door closes on them))

A: "He said loyalty is better than logic."

GUARDIAN'S BROTHER: "So he did."

B: "Hope is better than despair."

A: "Creation is better than destruction."

GUARDIAN'S BROTHER: "Inexplicable."

A: "It is not so inexplicable to me, now."

148.INT. CAVERN (SFX)

Eagle lifts off.

149.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

ALAN: "This is the tricky part."

150.INT. CAVERN (SFX)

Eagle rises.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Alan flies.

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): the rock walls drop past.

INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Maya at desk.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Alan.

150.EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle rises out of shaft.

151.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

ALAN (sticking his arm forward): "Phew. Hey. For my next trick."

INT. CHAMBER

The spheres on pedestals.

INT. CONVERSATION CHAMBER

The aliens.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle leaves planet.

152.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

YASKO: "Countdown at eight minutes."

KOENIG (on Helena's screen): "Come in, Alpha."

HELENA: "John."

153.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG: "We've left the planet. Prepare for detonation."

154.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

HELENA (shocked): "Understood."

INT. CHAMBER

EXT. PLANET SURFACE (SFX)

Moon surface: lightning arcs between domes.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Lightning arcs between moons.

154.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

HELENA: "Go to red."

FRASER: "Red alert."

155.INT. CORRIDOR

Two 'Rescue' crew, in green & blue jumpsuits, run, as two pilots run in the other direction.

156.INT. POWER ROOM

An Alphan goes to a control panel & presses a button in it. The lighting fades.

158.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

HELENA: "John, what's your E.T.A. at Alpha?"

KOENIG (on screen): "Negative."

159.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG: "We don't have enough fuel, we're not going to make it."

160.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

HELENA: "Understood. John..?"

161.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG: "I know. Me too. Patch me in to the internal system."

162.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

YASKO: "One minute two seconds. One. Countdown minus one."

HELENA: "We're ready."

163.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG: "This is Commander Koenig."

164.INT. CORRIDOR

Rescue personnel watch a comms post.

KOENIG (on screen): "In less than a minute you will be hit by another energy wave."

165.INT. MEDICAL

Medics watch comms post.

KOENIG (on screen): "At this range Moonbase Alpha may well be destroyed. At best you must assume severe damage and large numbers of casualties."

166.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG (on screens): "Let the log show I commend all personnel for their courage, fortitude and devotion to duty since we left Earth orbit. That is all."

HELENA: "Ready, John."

KOENIG (on screen): "Countdown?"

YASKO: "Forty seconds. Thirty nine. Thirty eight. Thirty seven."

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Lightning arcs between moons.

INT. CHAMBER

INT. CONVERSATION CHAMBER

A.

INT. CHAMBER

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Lightning between moons.

Lightning spreads between moons.

168.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Monitor screen reads 19; 18; 17. Helena smiles at Fraser & they look forward.

YASKO: "Five seconds."

169.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Koenig.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Lightning between moons.

As above ((reversed shot))

INT. COMMAND CENTRE

-Big Screen (SFX): explosion.

-Command Centre: Helena.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle.

170.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

MAYA: "Detonation positive."

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Space warp effect.

Eagle passes nebula.

172.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

MAYA: "Shockwave will hit us in ten seconds. Alpha eighteen seconds later."

173.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG: "Blast procedure."

They secure their seatbelts & puts their heads down.

174.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

MAYA: "Five seconds."

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Space warp effect.

Planet/ space warp effect.

176.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Feeling buffeting.

175.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Space warp effect over Eagle.

Another view.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Shaken.

INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Maya shaken.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle in space warp effect.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Shaken.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle.

INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Maya thrown off her seat.

178.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Shaking subsides. Koenig is amazed.

INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

Maya recovers.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle travels on into space.

178.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

ALAN: "What happened?"

179.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

MAYA: "They limited it. Controlled it. Stopped it from destroying us."

180.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG: "Check it."

181.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

MAYA (uses Eagle remote control): "They used the explosion to give us enough propulsion to increase our speed to eight hundred and four. That's enough."

182.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

MAYA (VO): "We can reach Alpha."

HELENA (on screen): "John, are you alright?"

KOENIG: "We're fine."

HELENA (on screen): "The shockwave has passed Alpha. There's only minimal damage. What happened?"

Maya enters doorway.

ALAN: "Hope is better than despair."

MAYA: "Creation is better than destruction."

HELENA (on screen): "John. What happened?"

KOENIG: "What happened is...we're coming home." ((smiles))

FADE OUT

EPILOGUE
EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

183.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG: "Alright, let's take a specific case. I asked you for an E.T.A. at the planet and you beat the computer."

MAYA: "Well, that's because your numerical system is based on ten. Ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand and so on."

KOENIG: "And yours is based on the function of an ellipse?"

MAYA: "Mm, so when I'm working our trajectory through space, time and distance, those are just elliptical progressions, they're simple calculations. Well, like..one plus three plus five divided by two."

KOENIG: "One, three..four point five."

MAYA: "Mm. Listen, I really must go. I promised to have lunch with Tony."

KOENIG: "Wait a minute, wait a minute. Your system simplifies the process, but you still come up with the answers in miles per hour, feet per second, our system."

MAYA: "Mm. Well, there's a formula to convert back. Look." ((types & screen shows formulae; she hurries off))

KOENIG: "And you beat the computer every time. You know, Maya..." ((turns but she has gone)) "Maya. Hey! Maya. Maya." ((walks into Helena))

HELENA: "I'm Helena, remember?"

KOENIG: "Oh, oh. Hi."

HELENA: "Yeah, hi. Alan's been telling me about those women on the planet. Beautiful and naked, I understand."

KOENIG: "Women? Oh, wait a minute, I could hardly see them."

HELENA: "Really? Beautiful. Naked. Green?"

KOENIG: "Green? They were? I didn't really notice that." ((he walks off))

FREEZE FRAME