The Bringers of Wonder - Part 2/Transcript

Hook
EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Close on base.

HELENA (VO): "Moonbase Alpha Status Report. Two thousand, five hundred and fifteen days "

INT. MEDICAL

Ben leaves walks to machine in foreground (with Maya) as Tony talks to Helena over sleeping Koenig.

HELENA (VO): " since leaving Earth orbit. Doctor Helena Russell recording." ((Close on Koenig, asleep)) "Commander Koenig has not responded to treatment since becoming irrational "

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Gleeful Koenig flying Eagle Ten.

HELENA (VO): " and crashing his Eagle."

EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Close on dome 5.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Koenig flying.

EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle hits top of dome, with large explosion.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Koenig shaken.

EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle hits lunar surface.

INT. MEDICAL

Helena walks from machine & Maya to Koenig.

HELENA (VO): "It is possible that the use of the cerebral wave machine " ((close pan over machine)) " has worsened his condition."

EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Superswift lands.

HELENA (VO): "He reacted psychotically to the arrival of a rescue mission "

INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Koenig enters with his arm round Helena, & is shocked by what he sees.

HELENA (VO): " from Earth, and he remains convinced that it's appearance is " ((Koenig sees aliens with the Alphans)) " somehow sinister, and that evil forces are at work."

DIANA: "John, darling."

KOENIG (retreats): "Don't come near me, stay away from me."

TONY: "John. My brother Guido."

KOENIG: "Tony. Alan. Maya, what's the matter with you?"

HELENA (VO as Tony goes up to Koenig & is thrown away): "He refuses to believe that they are friends and relatives from Earth. Commander Koenig insists they are monsters " ((throws Alan into computer)) " determined to kill him because he is the only one that stands in their way."

INT. MEDICAL

KOENIG: "Why won't you listen to me? You're all blind!" ((Tony & Helena react))

HELENA (VO): "The Commander remains in the Medical Centre where my old friend and teacher from Earth, " ((Shaw enters; Koenig sleeping)) "Doctor Shaw, has promised to check on his condition from time to time. I feel helpless and frustrated because I can't free John Koenig of the delusion that there is a plot to kill him." ((Koenig sees monster approaching him))

FADE OUT

ACT ONE
THE BRINGERS OF WONDER part 2

106. INT. MEDICAL

KOENIG: "No!"

Alien nears Koenig.

EXT. MOON SURFACE

Aliens on surface.

106. INT. MEDICAL

Alien moves over Koenig.

EXT. MOON SURFACE

Aliens on surface.

106. INT. MEDICAL

Alien smothers Koenig.

EXT. MOON SURFACE

Aliens on surface.

106. INT. MEDICAL

Alien smothers Koenig. His eyelids close.

Helena & Maya enter & see Shaw leaning over Koenig. Helena puts on the lights.

HELENA: "Doctor Shaw. What's your opinion?"

SHAW: "His vital signs are very erratic. This could be causing his mental instability. Well, if there's anything more I can do?"

HELENA: "I'll ask. Thank you." ((Shaw leaves)) "Alright, Maya. Let's see if he'll respond. John. John." ((He wakes)) "John, Maya's here. She has something to show you. It's a recording." ((Maya goes by the comms post & types a few keys))

Medical screen: pilot ship in space.

-MAYA: "That's the pilot ship." ((Koenig looks))

Medical screen: Eagle in space.

Maya & Helena look.

Medical screen: pilot ship.

Maya operates a unit she holds in her hand.

EHRLICH (VO): "I can see Earth. It's blue, blue and beautiful. We're getting closer by the minute."

KOENIG: "They're in an Eagle."

HELENA: "John, why don't you accept what we all tell you?"

KOENIG: "Maya. What do you see out there? In the Command Centre?"

MAYA: "People. From Earth."

KOENIG: "I was hoping. I thought your different brain structure would have resisted their..their telepathic control."

MAYA: "Whose telepathic control?"

KOENIG: "Maya. When you look, you see people, from Earth. When I look..I see monsters from a different dimension."

MAYA: "One of us is wrong."

KOENIG: "Will you accept that it could be you?"

MAYA: "Well, that would mean of course that.. everyone else is wrong."

KOENIG: "Maya. I'm the only one on this base who was hooked up to that machine."

MAYA: "Well, either the machine has distorted your consciousness.."

KOENIG: "Or protected it!"

MAYA: "Telepathic control."

Flashback scenes:

Guido looking at Tony as he draws the names in Command Centre.

Shaw looking through Records window.

Kander feels his forehead; focus on Shaw & Guido beyond.

MAYA (VO): "It's possible."

Sahn & Peter kiss & embrace in Reception.

MAYA (VO): "I find it odd that everyone from Earth is "

Ehrlich & Henry greet each other as Helena passes in background.

MAYA (VO): " somebody's friend. It's against probability."

Guido emerges from Travel Unit to embrace Tony (Kander films them)

KOENIG (VO): "Everyone's a friend because everyone's out of someone's memory."

Bartlett & Hunter walk through Reception.

MAYA (VO): "Yes. They could have tapped "

Louisa & Ben meet.

MAYA (VO): " everyone's mind and "

Ehrlich & Diana in Command Centre.

MAYA (VO): " projected what they needed out of what they found there."

Kander films Alan & Ken

KOENIG (VO): "They couldn't project strangers, because people we haven't seen can't be in our memories."

-Medical Centre.

HELENA: "Wait a minute. Maya's seen these people too and they can't be in her memory."

MAYA: "It is possible that they could project images from other people's minds into my mind."

HELENA: "If they have control over our minds, why are they letting us have this conversation?"

MAYA: "Perhaps they're letting us for a purpose."

KOENIG: "Or maybe they have to be present to exert that control."

Flashback: Louisa stares at Ben, drawing him from the picture of Koenig on the medical monitor.

HELENA (VO): "Right. Ben did say that he knew Sandstrom was trying to kill you, but he couldn't do anything about it." ((Alan takes Louisa)) "And then when Alan took Louisa away from him, he regained control of himself."

MAYA (VO): "And in the Records Lab."

Flashback: in Records Lab, as Kander feels his forehead, with Shaw & Guido beyond.

MAYA (VO): "Kander, they took him over." ((Kander smashes screen, with explosion; medics run up)) "Controlled his mind." ((Gas hisses from cylinder; he throws Maya from door)) "He must have made a discovery which threatened them. He didn't go berserk." ((Maya/lizard makes him recoil into door)) "They made him release the oxygen causing the explosion which killed him." ((door opens; Kander & lizard out; fire flares out)) "If only we knew what it was that he'd found out."

KOENIG (VO): "Now listen to this."

-Medical Centre.

KOENIG: "We've been in space for months. In earth time that's generations. If they are from Earth, they'd have to be hundreds of years older than they appear."

MAYA: "That should have occurred to me."

KOENIG: "It didn't occur to you because they wouldn't let it. The reason they haven't been able to control my mind is because..I was hooked to that machine."

HELENA: "There may be no causal effect, but..it is a tenable theory."

KOENIG: "Helena. Please. Unstrap me." ((she nods, then does))

HELENA: "Do we tell Tony?"

KOENIG: "No. Our best weapon is surprise." ((sits up)) "If we tell Tony, they may probe his mind and take away the one advantage we've got." ((stands)) "Maya. Would you let Helena give you the same treatment I had?"

HELENA: "The brain complex, John?"

KOENIG: "Yes."

HELENA: "Well, I don't know if she can withstand that."

MAYA: "I'm willing. If the Commander's right.. "

HELENA: "Well, look, then it should be me, not Maya."

MAYA: "Oh, but you can handle the machine, we can't."

KOENIG: "Helena. If I'm right, there are things Maya can do that you can't."

Maya lies on bed & smiles.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Pilot ship.

109. INT. PILOT SHIP

ALAN: "Oh, you little beauty."

108. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Earth.

109. INT. PILOT SHIP

ALAN: "What's the first thing you're going to do, Joe?"

EHRLICH: "Find a golf course where I don't hit a mile. You?"

ALAN: "Me? Her name's Jeanie. How about you, Jack?"

BARTLETT: "Her name's Caroline." ((they laugh)) "She's five years old. And she's got her mother's eyes."

110. INT. COMMAND CENTRE

EHRLICH (VO): "Hey, Sahn. What would you and Peter like "

-Big Screen (SFX): Earth.

EHRLICH (VO): " as a wedding present from little old Earth?"

-Command Centre:

SANDRA: "Just to be there."

ALAN (VO): "Will you look at that weather pattern! I'd swear it's snowing over California!"

BEN: "Hey, smile when you say that, man."

111. INT. MEDICAL

Pan from pulsing machine to tense Koenig, & to sleeping Maya. Helena switches the machine off.

HELENA: "Maya. Maya." ((she wakes)) "How do you feel?"

MAYA: "Normal." ((starts to sit))

HELENA (taking head band): "Wait a minute, wait a minute."

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Pilot ship in space.

114. INT. PILOT SHIP

ALAN: "Well, here we go on the carousel."

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Earth.

ALAN (VO): "Hey, down there, Earth control. This is Swift pilot ship two. Do you read me? Do you want me to fly this crate in?"

NEW YORK (VO): "This is New York Control "

114. INT. PILOT SHIP

NEW YORK (VO): " reading you loud and clear. We have you locked in to the Computer, you don't have to do a thing. Just you sit back and enjoy the ride."

ALAN: "I hear you, oh Earthman." ((they laugh)) "Alan Carter to Moonbase Alpha."

INT. COMMAND CENTRE

-Big Screen (SFX): Earth.

ALAN (VO): "We're now going into Earth orbit "

-Command Centre: Peter & Sandra, Ben & Louisa.

ALAN (VO): " and then on down for a landing."

115. INT. MEDICAL

Helena scans Maya.

MAYA: "Well?"

HELENA: "Ticking over like a flawless machine, as always."

KOENIG: "Good." ((walks to door & looks out)) "Helena. What do you see out there?"

Helena looks. Down the corridor are Shaw & Peter talking (sc 116)

HELENA (sc 117): "Doctor Shaw and Sahn's fiancee Peter."

KOENIG: "Maya."

Maya looks. She sees two aliens. She is repulsed. Koenig closes the door.

MAYA: "They look like the plasma that forms on some organic matter when it begins to decompose."

120. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Pilot ship descending through space.

INT. PILOT SHIP

EHRLICH: "Oh, boy, don't they look beautiful?"

119. EXT. NEW YORK

Aerial view: (stock footage)

120. INT. PILOT SHIP

ALAN: "You got your historic lines ready?"

EHRLICH: "How about - it's a small step for a man, but.."

BARTLETT: "It's been done."

EHRLICH: "Well, who said it had to be original?"

BARTLETT: "What are you going to say, Alan?"

ALAN: "Where is the nearest john?"

BARTLETT: "Now that will make the history books."

EXT. NEW YORK

Aerial view: a road (stock footage)

NEW YORK (VO): "This is New York Control."

INT. PILOT SHIP

NEW YORK (VO): "You're coming in clean and neat."

EXT. NEW YORK

Aerial view: pull out from road (stock footage)

NEW YORK (VO): "We have you on automatic pilot, "

INT. PILOT SHIP

NEW YORK (VO): " you're about to touch down right in "

EXT. NEW YORK

Aerial view: (stock footage)

NEW YORK (VO): " the middle of little old New York."

122. EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Pilot ship lands by waste domes.

INT. PILOT SHIP

Crew smile.

122. EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Pilot ship lands.

A sign in front of domes: 'Danger/ Nuclear Waste Domes'.

FADE OUT

ACT TWO
125. EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Pan from pilot ship to domes.

126. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Sign on door: 'Nuclear Monitoring Station No Unauthorised Personnel'

ALAN (taking thermal lance from buggy): "Let's get this luggage into the hotel."

BARTLETT: "I sure hope we get a room with a view."

EHRLICH: "Forget the view. What I want to do is to get to a telephone."

They go to the door.

ALAN: "In the old days they used to call this town the Big Apple."

He uses his comlock to open the door, & they enter. Aliens watch.

ALIEN 1: "Everything going according to plan?"

ALIEN 2: "Yes. One of them is to stay here to prime the domes. I will send the other two for the nuclear trigger."

EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

124. INT. MEDICAL

HELENA: "What do they want?"

KOENIG: "There's one way to find out."

MAYA: "Oh, I think I know."

KOENIG: "I really hate to ask you, Maya, but.."

MAYA: "Oh...they're so..repulsive."

KOENIG: "If there was any other way." ((Maya transforms into alien)) "Maya. Remember. They know you're a metamorph. So be careful."

EXT. MOON SURFACE

Alan & Ehrlich drive the buggy along.

EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Buggy drives to outpost.

129. INT. CORRIDOR

Maya/alien slithers to aliens in Reception.

ALIEN 1: "We haven't much time. We are beginning to lose energy rapidly."

ALIEN 2: "Two aliens have been dispatched to the nuclear trigger. Once they energise it we will take our fill. All the alien creatures will die."

ALIEN 1: "They are of no consequence. They are so ugly."

ALIEN 2: "Naturally they are of no consequence."

ALIEN 1: "Nevertheless, they will be happy before they die." ((Maya slithers by)) "Which of our number is that? It has our shape, but it is not of our species. Come here." ((she slithers off)) "Stop that one."

(sc 130-134) Maya retreats into Technical, then into an alcove. She tries four times to change to herself, as the aliens approach her. Then she transforms into herself & walks out, passing the aliens with a nod.

135. INT. MEDICAL

MAYA: "Don't ever ask me to do that again. They have the minds of geniuses and the instincts of vultures."

KOENIG: "What do they want, Maya?"

MAYA: "Well, they're a species that live on radiation."

HELENA: "Radiation?"

MAYA: "Yes, the only kind of energy they can assimilate; it's what keeps them alive."

KOENIG: "What do they want here?"

MAYA: "Well, their planet ran out of radiation. They're starving. Unless they get a huge intake soon they're going to die. They want our nuclear waste dumps..."

KOENIG: "Wait a minute, wait a minute. That could be beneficial to us. Let's give them our nuclear waste."

MAYA: "It's not that easy."

KOENIG: "Why not?"

MAYA: "Well, they need, ah, the kind of intense radiation they will get from blowing up the dumps."

HELENA: "Blowing them up?"

MAYA: "Mm."

HELENA: "That would destroy us."

MAYA: "That's why they've got control of our minds, so we don't know what we're doing when we blow them up."

HELENA: "Why haven't they just blown up the dumps themselves?"

MAYA: "They have very little kinetic energy, they don't seem to be able to handle physical activity. They plan to manipulate us into exploding them for them."

HELENA: "How?"

MAYA: "By making us think we're doing one thing when actually we're doing something else."

KOENIG: "It's what they did to me in the Eagle. Wait a minute. Alan, Bartlett and Ehrlich."

((switches on comms post screen))

Screen: Eagle by domes (sc 140)

KOENIG (VO): "That's where they really are. Still on the surface."

Medical Centre (sc 141)

MAYA: "And they were flying in the Eagle."

HELENA: "I still see the pilot ship."

Screen: pilot ship by domes.

KOENIG (VO): "They're at the atomic waste dumps."

Medical Centre

KOENIG: "They're going to detonate them."

MAYA: "Well, they can't do that without atomic fuel."

Screen: the two astronauts carry a fuel cylinder to the buggy.

KOENIG (VO): "There's your atomic fuel. That's the trigger to blow up the dumps."

Medical Centre (sc 143)

HELENA: "They won't do it."

MAYA: "They won't know they're doing it."

Screen: Alan & Ehrlich go back in store (sc 146)

Medical Centre (sc 147)

KOENIG: "Computer. Close and lock entrance to Atomic Fuel store."

Screen: door closes on the astronauts (sc 148)

KOENIG (VO): "I've got to get to an Eagle."

Medical Centre (sc 149). Koenig leaves.

INT. CORRIDOR

Louisa & Ben leave the Travel Unit. Koenig watches them from a corner, then enters the tube.

INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Unit speeds off.

INT. TRAVEL UNIT

Koenig waits.

INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Unit speeds on.

INT. TRAVEL UNIT

Koenig waits as the unit slows. He then walks out. Tony is waiting with Shaw.

150. INT. RECEPTION, LAUNCH PAD 4

TONY: "Hold it, John. Where do you think you're going?"

KOENIG: "Tony. I must have an Eagle. Tony, listen to me."

TONY: "Now stay back."

Tony's POV: distorted picture of mad Koenig approaching him. Tony stuns him

151. EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Whip pan to fuel store.

152. INT. FUEL STORE

Alan & Ehrlich fire a thermal lance at the door.

153. INT. MEDICAL

Shaw leads the stretcher with Koenig on it being wheeled in.

TONY: "Helena. How did he get out of Medical Centre?"

HELENA (Shaw stands near her, staring): "He just broke loose."

TONY: "Then why the hell didn't you give the alarm? Now he could have hurt himself and us."

HELENA: "I'm sorry, Tony. I'll...I'll keep him under restraints."

TONY: "Yeah, well you do that." ((to guard)) "Right, you stay with the Commander. make sure he's properly taken care of."

GUARD: "Yes, sir."

TONY: "You coming, Doctor Shaw?"

Tony & Shaw leave. Maya takes a stun gun from a drawer, turns & stuns the guard.

MAYA: "Helena. Commander? John?"

KOENIG (wakes): "Alan?"

MAYA: "They're still in the Atomic Fuel Store."

INT. FUEL STORE

Alan & Ehrlich fire a thermal lance at the door.

EXT. FUEL STORE

Burn appears on exterior of door; flames & sparks start to burst through.

158. INT. MEDICAL

KOENIG: "Now how long will it take to process all our people on that machine, make everyone of our people immune to those aliens?"

HELENA: "That would take days. Days, John."

KOENIG: "Unless we can break the aliens' hold on our people, I'll never be able to save Alpha."

HELENA: "There may be a way. Why didn't I think of it?"

KOENIG: "What?"

HELENA: "I sometimes use a sonic anaesthetic instead of drugs. It's called white noise and it works by blocking nerve paths and synapses in the brain." ((she takes a card from the drugs rack))

MAYA: "That would obstruct the telepathic input of the aliens."

KOENIG: "It would have to be amplified and transmitted to all of our people."

HELENA: "Right."

KOENIG: "Alright, let's go. Helena, stay away from those aliens in Command Centre, otherwise they'll take you over again."

They leave.

161. INT. CORRIDOR

Koenig, Helena & Maya advance from the Medical Centre door.

KOENIG: "Make sure these things are set to stun. And let's hope the aliens don't read your mind, Helena."

MAYA: "They'll try to use our people to stop us."

154. EXT. FUEL STORE

Alan kicks open a small hole in the door, & then they push the door open.

163. INT. CORRIDOR

Helena & Maya advance (from the arches in Technical). A guard appears behind them.

GUARD: "Hold it." ((Koenig, appearing beyond, stuns him))

KOENIG (taking guard's gun): "It was set to kill." ((they go on))

156. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Alan gives the thermal lance to Ehrlich, who carries it to the moonbuggy.

157. EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Ehrlich carries luggage to a sports buggy, where two women wait.

EXT. MOON SURFACE

The astronauts put the equipment in the moonbuggy.

EXT. PLANET SURFACE

They climb into the sports buggy.

EXT. MOON SURFACE

They climb into the moonbuggy.

EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Both receive kisses from the women.

INT. CORRIDOR

Koenig advances down the corridor. Two guards come behind him, but Maya & Koenig stun them.

164. INT. COMMAND CENTRE

They enter, & Koenig & Maya stun two guards in a crossfire. Koenig aims at Tony.

KOENIG: "Don't, Tony."

TONY: "What the hell is going on here?"

KOENIG: "Shut up."

Guido concentrates on Tony. Helena lifts the card by the transmitter unit. Shaw looks at her & reaches for it. Koenig sees & runs up to kick him away.

KOENIG: "Helena."

He takes the card & inserts it. A high pitched note sounds. Helena tunes it.

HELENA: "That's as much amplification as I can give it!"

KOENIG: "What about Alan an the others on the surface? Will the sound reach them?"

HELENA: "They'll be getting it through their helmet receivers. But it won't be powerful enough if the aliens choose to block it."

The aliens, unaffected, watch the Alphans covering their ears. The noise ends. As the Alphans uncover their ears they see the aliens. Tony gasps. Sandra screams.

TONY (firing blue laser): "Kill them."

KOENIG: "No, Tony. They get their power from energy."

The aliens disappear.

TONY: "They've disappeared..vanished."

HELENA (holding Sandra): "We've won."

KOENIG: "The Atomic Fuel Store."

-Big Screen (SFX): buggy leaves store (sc 165)

KOENIG (VO): "We haven't stopped them. They're on the way to Bartlett with the trigger."

-Command Centre (sc 166):

KOENIG: "Tony, Maya." ((they leave))

EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Domes.

EXT. MOON SURFACE

Close on station door: 'Nuclear Monitoring Station | No Unauthorised Personnel'

160. INT. MONITORING STATION

Music: Beethoven's Ninth. Bartlett turns the dial beneath the screen marked 'Waste Dome 3'. He goes to sit at the console & opens a hatch marked 'Radiation Shields'. He turns a dial from 'Close' to 'Open'.

159. INT. BARTLETT'S HOME

Bartlett turns a dial on his record player.

INT. MONITORING STATION

The 'Waste Dome' screens show greater activity.

INT. BARTLETT'S HOME

Bartlett listens to the music.

INT. MONITORING STATION

Bartlett listens.

INT. BARTLETT'S HOME

Bartlett listens to record player.

INT. MONITORING STATION

Bartlett smiles.

FADE OUT

ACT THREE
167. EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Eagle lifts off.

168. INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

MAYA: "They must have known about the white noise. They must be concentrating all their power on Alan, Ehrlich and Bartlett."

KOENIG: "You said they were starving. Where are they getting their strength?"

MAYA: "Well, every piece of electrical equipment on Alpha emits a minute amount of radiation. They must be getting it from that."

KOENIG: "Helena."

HELENA (on screen): "Yes."

KOENIG: "Cut all nonessential power, all except communications. Out."

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle flies over lunar hills.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

POV over lunar hills.

TONY (VO): "I can't see them, John."

KOENIG (VO): "They've got to be down there somewhere."

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG: "Alan, this is Commander Koenig. Do you read me? Alan?"

169. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Buggy drives along.

KOENIG (VO): "Alan, are you receiving me? Come in, Alan."

170. EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Sports buggy is driven by Alan through forest.

KOENIG (VO): "Answer, Alan. This is Eagle One to Alan Carter."

EXT. MOON SURFACE

Moonbuggy.

KOENIG (VO): "Are you receiving?"

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

171. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle flies between lunar hills.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

POV as fly over hills.

TONY (VO): "There's something over there, to the left."

KOENIG (VO): "Switch on scanners."

173. INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): moonbuggy (live)

TONY (VO): "There they are."

-They watch. Maya stands up & goes back.

KOENIG: "Alan. Ehrlich. This is Koenig."

174. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Moonbuggy.

KOENIG (VO): "Do you read me? Do you read me? Alan, do you read me? Alan? Do you read me? Come in, Alan."

176. INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG: "Touch down in front of them, Tony."

177. INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

MAYA (at computer desk): "No, Commander. The terrain is too crumbly. With the weight of the Eagle, we'd go straight through the surface."

178. INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG: "We'll use the harness. Drop me in front of them." ((goes back))

179. INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

KOENIG (passing her as she goes front): "Maya, prepare to depressurise." ((he puts his helmet on))

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Tony waits.

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): moonbuggy.

KOENIG (VO): "Decompression complete. Lower away."

180. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Moonbuggy drives on.

EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Sports buggy drives through forest.

180. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Moonbuggy.

180. EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

View of astronaut being lowered from Eagle on harness.

181. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Koenig being lowered in harness.

The buggy drives up as Koenig lands & unstraps himself. He stands in front of it & waves his arms. (sc 183-6)

KOENIG: "Alan, stop."

187. EXT. PLANET SURFACE

A masked man appears in front of the forest track waving at them.

188. EXT. MOON SURFACE

The buggy drives at Koenig; he narrowly rolls over the front of it.

EXT. PLANET SURFACE

The masked man is getting to his feet as they circle him.

188. EXT. MOON SURFACE

The moonbuggy drives round, it's side hitting Koenig.

KOENIG: "Alan, stop, you don't know what you're doing!" ((buggy drives at him again)) "Ehrlich, stop him. Ehrlich."

189. EXT. PLANET SURFACE

The masked man clambers onto the side of the buggy.

EXT. MOON SURFACE

Koenig tries to board the buggy.

KOENIG: "Alan! Alan, stop."

189. EXT. PLANET SURFACE

The girls & Ehrlich try to push the masked man off the side of the buggy.

EXT. MOON SURFACE

The astronauts struggle in the buggy.

189. EXT. PLANET SURFACE

The masked man is pushed off.

190. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Koenig rolls over form the buggy. The buggy drives back at him. He jumps over it as it rams into a rock.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Maya leaves Tony.

190. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Ehrlich jumps on Koenig as Alan backs the buggy into both of them. There is a scramble on the ground. Alan jumps form the buggy as Koenig gets on top of Ehrlich, & drags him off.

192. INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Tony watches.

-Eagle viewscreen (SFX): Koenig rolls under the two others (sc 193)

MAYA (VO): "Decompression complete, Tony."

TONY (VO): "Alright, now move it, Maya. Move it!"

195. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Alan & Ehrlich pile on top of Koenig.

KOENIG: "Alan. Ehrlich. Alan, it's me, John."

EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Maya is lowered from the Eagle on a harness.

195/197. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Alan & Ehrlich are on top of Koenig.

Maya is lowered on her harness.

Her POV of the 2 astronauts on Koenig as she is lowered.

She lands & releases her harness.

The 2 hold Koenig down.

KOENIG: "Ehrlich, listen to me! Alan, listen to me! Ehrlich, you don't know what you're doing."

((Alan starts to unscrew his helmet air line))

Maya releases the harness from herself.

EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle hovers over lunar hills.

197. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Maya transforms into larren. Alan removes Koenig's airline. The larren throws off Alan; he impacts with a rock. Ehrlich jumps up into the larren's arms, as Koenig succeeds in reconnecting his air line. Ehrlich is thrown off into rocks, & as he rolls from them his back pack hisses, as air escapes. Maya transforms back into herself.

MAYA: "Commander. Ehrlich is losing air, his tank is punctured." ((they go to him))

KOENIG (into comlock): "Tony. Ehrlich's lost most of his air. We've got to get him back to Alpha fast."

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG (VO): "He needs depressurising, that's his only chance."

TONY: "Coming in now, John."

198. EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle lowers over hills.

199. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Alan recovers & gets up. As Maya puts a patch on Ehrlich's pack, Koenig starts after him.

KOENIG: "Alan! Alan, wait!" ((Alan gets in buggy)) "Alan! Alan, wait!" ((Alan drives off)) "Alan!" ((Koenig falls from the side of the buggy)) "Alan! Alan." ((he runs after him))

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

MAYA (VO): "Alright, Tony. Take him up."

EXT. MOON SURFACE

Maya watches as Ehrlich is limply raised by the harness.

200. EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Moonbuggy drives to waste domes.

202. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Alan drives past gravity tower.

ALAN: "Bartlett. Come out here and give me a hand."

Bartlett comes out to the buggy & takes the thermal lance.

-Koenig runs in leaping bounds.

-They carry the lance & fuel back to the station door.

ALIEN 1: "When you're inside, you will seal the door."

EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Maya is raised on the winch.

213. INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

In a suit, Tony releases Maya from the harness at the open door. She goes to Ehrlich, sitting unconscious in a seat, & raises his visor.

204. INT. MONITORING STATION

The thermal lance is fired at the door. There is a small explosion & a black crust forms on the door. Alan picks up the lance.

They walk through the monitoring room & through some doors.

They walk through a large antechamber, where 2 aliens stand.

215. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Koenig arrives to find the empty buggy & the aliens.

KOENIG: "Maya."

216. INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

MAYA (answering her comlock): "Yes, commander."

KOENIG (VO): "There are aliens everywhere. All over the place."

MAYA: "Well, they have no power to harm you, either mentally or physically. They need all their energies to control Alan and Bartlett."

218. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Koenig aims his comlock at the door, then tries the control panel. It does not open.

ALIEN: "He can't get through. They've got the door sealed."

Koenig sees the scorch mark on the door.

FADE OUT

ACT FOUR
207. INT. REACTOR CORE CORRIDOR

Alan, carrying the lance, & Bartlett, carrying the fuel core, walk along the corridor.

208. EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Bartlett lifts a young girl from a swing & twirls her in the air.

INT. REACTOR CORE CORRIDOR

Bartlett pats the fuel core.

EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Bartlett twirls the girl.

209. INT. REACTOR CORE CORRIDOR

Bartlett pats the fuel cylinder.

Alan carries the thermal lance.

210. EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Alan rows the blonde along in a small row boat.

211. INT. REACTOR CORE CORRIDOR

Alan smiles. The two men walk to the reactor core.

ALIEN: "They have reached the nuclear core. Soon we shall have all the radiation we need."

220. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Koenig drives the buggy at the door.

221. INT. MONITORING STATION

The crust is jolted but remains on the door.

EXT. MOON SURFACE

Koenig tries his comlock, then backs the buggy.

219. INT. REACTOR CORE CORRIDOR

The thermal lance fires at the control panel.

EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Bartlett trims his hedge with a chainsaw.

INT. REACTOR CORE CORRIDOR

The two fire the thermal lance at the panel.

EXT. MOON SURFACE

Koenig drives into the door.

INT. MONITORING STATION

The crust intact.

EXT. MOON SURFACE

Koenig backs.

INT. REACTOR CORE CORRIDOR

Alan & Bartlett fire the thermal lance.

EXT. PLANET SURFACE

Bartlett trims his hedge.

INT. REACTOR CORE CORRIDOR

Bartlett & the thermal lance.

222. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Koenig drives at the door.

223. INT. MONITORING STATION

The seal comes loose.

224. EXT. MOON SURFACE

Koenig tries his comlock.

228. INT. MONITORING STATION

The door opens for Koenig.

ALIEN 1: "He has broken through."

ALIEN 2: "It doesn't matter. They will resist him."

Koenig leaves his buggy & closes the door behind him with his comlock.

INT. REACTOR CORE CORRIDOR

The thermal lance is fired.

226. INT. MONITORING STATION

Koenig leaves the airlock, passes 2 aliens cautiously, & goes to the comms post.

KOENIG: "Maya."

MAYA (on screen): "Yes, Commander."

KOENIG: "How come the aliens are still controlling Alan and Bartlett?"

227. INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

KOENIG (VO): "Everything's closed down, where are they getting their energy?"

MAYA: "Well, the human brain generates electrical activity. There may be enough among the population on Alpha to keep them going at survival level."

228. INT. MONITORING STATION

KOENIG: "When people are unconscious, their brain activity is reduced, isn't it?"

MAYA (VO): "Very greatly."

KOENIG: "Helena."

229. INT. MEDICAL

KOENIG (VO): "I want everyone on the base knocked out, with the exception of yourself and the Chief Engineer."

HELENA: "You mean unconscious?"

230. INT. MONITORING STATION

KOENIG: "I mean unconscious."

HELENA (on screen): "John..."

KOENIG: "Don't argue with me, can you do it?"

INT. MEDICAL

HELENA: "Why, yes, I can do it. I can use the contact gas."

230. INT. MONITORING STATION

HELENA (on screen): "But John.."

KOENIG: "Just do it. Out."

He walks to the door.

Koenig walks through the antechamber.

INT. LIFE SUPPORT

Helena opens a hatch in the computer panels & takes a mask out of a packet. She puts it on.

INT. REACTOR CORE CORRIDOR

Bartlett removes the thermal lance.

INT. LIFE SUPPORT

Helena takes the contact gas from the hatch to the computer. She then lowers the switches for areas 1, 2 & 3.

INT. CORRIDOR

A man & a blonde girl technician fall.

235. INT. REACTOR CORE CORRIDOR

Bartlett opens the reactor door. Alan lifts the fuel cylinder. Koenig enters.

KOENIG: "Alan, Bartlett."

They look round. Koenig runs up & into Alan. Bartlett takes the fuel core to the slot, but Koenig grabs him. Bartlett sees that he holds a fuel core.

BARTLETT: "It's atomic fuel!" ((he drops it))

KOENIG: "You were about to plug it into the core."

BARTLETT: "But we'd have blown up the whole planet!"

KOENIG: "That's right." ((points him at aliens)) "You and Alan have been living in an illusion. But you've broken the aliens' control. Now help me!" ((takes comlock)) "Maya. I think Bartlett's returned to normal."

MAYA (VO): "Careful, Commander. With everyone else unconscious, they're running out of energy. With what little they've got left, they'll concentrate on Alan."

Alan gets up & goes to the fuel core. Koenig tries to push Alan away & rolls on top of him. Bartlett is mesmerised.

KOENIG: "Bartlett. They're still controlling him. Alan, listen to me. It's all right, it's all over."

ALIEN: "Is it?" ((Bartlett takes his laser))

KOENIG: "No. That won't help."

ALIEN: "You learn quickly, John Koenig. That is hopeful."

KOENIG: "Hopeful? Hopeful for whom?"

ALIEN: "Yes, it's true, Bartlett. You have been living inside an illusion, but haven't you been happy? Happier than you've ever been on Alpha before? Living your life, reunited with your loved ones, living, as it were, back on Earth?"

KOENIG: "Yes, but it's not real. You've been living in a dream."

ALIEN: "Isn't it better to live in a dream of happiness than to face the reality which you hate?"

Alan knocks Koenig off him with his elbow & rolls over on top of him, strangling him with cross hands.

KOENIG: "Bartlett. Help me!"

ALIEN: "Could you really face living out your lives, growing old and dying on this piece of debris?"

KOENIG (as being strangled): "How long can the dream last? As soon as the nuclear waste is triggered... all...all human life on..the Moon will be wiped out."

ALIEN: "How long is a meaningless term, a pygmy's phrase. Time is relative. A butterfly lives a gloriously full life in a day. A single celled organism in a microsecond. So long as one is fulfilled. Time is irrelevant."

KOENIG: "Bartlett! Don't listen! Help me!"

ALIEN: "We can offer the people of Alpha a complete life, as it would be with your loved ones in your own homes on Earth. A life without pain or sorrow, without fear or loss. This is what we offer." ((Bartlett smiles))

KOENIG: "Bartlett! Use your laser! Stun Alan.." ((he stops resisting))

ALIEN: "Now, put the trigger in the Atomic core."

Alan rises from Koenig.

234. INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Helena scans sleeping personnel.

235. INT. REACTOR CORE CORRIDOR

KOENIG (sits up): "Stop him. Stop him, Bartlett."

ALIEN: "It is futile to call on Bartlett for help. He is immobilised."

Koenig goes to Alan, but Alan hits him back with the core.

KOENIG: "Alan! Listen to me! It's Koenig! It's Koenig!"

Alan pushes the core in the hole, but Koenig knocks him against the rim of the reactor. Alan kicks him away, but Koenig pulls him back from the core, lodged in the hole. Koenig then goes to the core, but Alan pulls his leg. Koenig pushes Alan's head away as he holds the core. Alan gets up but Koenig punches him, then removes the core.

ALIEN: "You are a truly primitive organism, Commander. We could have given you an eternity of happiness in an instant of time. Now your life will be what the life of your species has always been..cruel and futile."

KOENIG: "It's better to live as your own man than as a fool in someone else's dream."

The aliens disappear.

FADE OUT

EPILOGUE
236. INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Koenig, Tony, Alan, Helena & Maya watch Big Screen, as the other Alphans sleep.

-Big Screen (SFX): alien ship fades away on pad.

-Command Centre:

KOENIG: "So much for illusions."

TONY: "Maya, I've been meaning to ask you something. What was that creature that you transformed into?"

MAYA: "Oh. A larren."

TONY: "A what?"

MAYA: "A larren. It's natural habitat was the moon of Psychon where the atmosphere was very thin."

TONY: "How does it survive?"

MAYA: "Ah, it has the ability to store oxygen. Like a camel can store water. And it's skin is like a spacesuit and is very strong." ((laughs as she lifts Tony up by the lapels))

TONY: "Maya, put me down. Maya. Listen. Would you quit fooling around and put me down."

KOENIG: "How much longer before they wake up?"

HELENA: "About ten minutes."

KOENIG: "Well, can't you do something to speed it up?"

HELENA: "No."

KOENIG: "How am I supposed to run a base of sleeping beauties?" ((sits at his desk))

HELENA: "It was your idea."

ALAN (to Tony): "That blonde. She might have been an illusion, but she was.."

HELENA: "I said it was your..idea."

Koenig has fallen asleep in his chair. They laugh.

FREEZE FRAME