Seed of Destruction/Transcript

Hook
1. EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Eagle rises from base.

HELENA (VO): "Moonbase Alpha Status Report, sixteen hundred and eight days since leaving Earth orbit. Doctor Helena Russell recording."

3.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Moon & distant asteroid.

HELENA (VO): "We've encountered a bizarre, jewel like asteroid."

Asteroid.

HELENA (VO): "Our central computer is unable to give even a preliminary analysis."

Combat Eagle leaves Moon, its front windows illuminated (sc 4)

HELENA (VO): "Commander John Koenig and Chief Eagle Pilot Alan Carter are "

5.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

HELENA (VO): " carrying out a close reconnaissance."

KOENIG: "Eagle One to Alpha."

6.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG (on desk screen): "Eagle One to Alpha. Anything to report?"

MAYA: "Commander. We're now being affected by an energy field of great magnitude. Our instruments are behaving erratically."

KOENIG (on screen): "Source?"

MAYA: "The asteroid you're reconnoitring."

KOENIG (on screen): "Can we set down?"

Maya types. Tony comes to her & leans on the desk.

MAYA: "Scanners show a localised atmosphere. Breathable. Area zero D."

7.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

ALAN: "Like some sort of invitation."

KOENIG: "Let's accept it."

8.EXT. ASTEROID SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle lands (high view over)

Eagle lands (side view)

9.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

They release their seatbelts.

KOENIG: "Right. Let's go."

10.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

They enter. Koenig takes a black case & Alan opens the door.

View in as they look out.

11.EXT. ASTEROID SURFACE (SFX)

ALAN (VO): "Looks like ice."

12.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

View in as they look out.

KOENIG: "Yeah, but the surface temperature's warm."

The computer bleeps.

ALAN: "It's the malfunction alarm." ((he goes to computer)) "It's in the stabilisers."

KOENIG: "That's strange." ((pats Alan on shoulder)) "You handle it. I want to have a look around." ((he leaves; Alan closes the door after him))

13.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Alan carries a soldering iron in & sits in the copilot seat.

14.EXT CAVE ENTRANCE

Koenig reaches it & looks in.

15.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG (on screen): "Koenig to Eagle One. Alan. I've found some sort of cave entrance."

ALAN: "Don't you want to wait until I catch up with you?"

KOENIG (on screen): "No, I'm going in. I'll report back every three minutes."

ALAN: "Okay."

16/17.INT. CAVE

Koenig walks through the cave, full of bright dazzling lights & mirrors, showing many Koenigs walking in different directions. A trilling sounds.

19.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG (on screen): "Alan."

ALAN: "What's it like in there, John?"

20.INT. CAVE

KOENIG: "You can't believe this place, it's like a...like a vast, vast hall of mirrors. The composition appears to be some form of dense crystal. It could be the energy source Maya mentioned."

21.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

KOENIG (on screen): "Have you located the malfunction?"

ALAN: "I'm still working on it."

KOENIG (on screen): "Alright, keep trying. I'm going to do some more exploring."

17.INT. CAVE

Koenig walks on. The trilling increases in volume & he has to cover his ears. He turns suddenly to see his own reflection in a mirror. He walks on - but the reflection remains still. It smiles, then walks through the mirror frame.

FADE OUT

ACT ONE
22.INT. CAVE

Koenig & many mirror images walk through the caves. Titles over.

The doppelganger follows the original Koenig.

Koenig stops & tries to pick a rock from a wall. The Image approaches behind him & places his hand on his shoulder. Koenig freezes, then looks round to see himself. The Image smiles & his hand, still on Koenig's shoulder, buzzes: Koenig collapses. The Image puts down his own case & removes the rock Koenig was chipping at. He puts it in Koenig's open box. He then takes the real Koenig's comlock.

KOENIG: "Alan."

ALAN (VO): "Yes, John."

KOENIG: "I have a sample of the rock. I want to take off immediately."

ALAN (VO): "Well, I haven't quite finished adjusting the stabilisers yet."

KOENIG: "In five minutes."

The Image touches his own jacket, then opens the belt & unzips it.

23.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

MAYA: "Alan. I'm getting some peculiar readings from your sensors. Can you delay lift off?"

ALAN (on screen): "The Commander says he wants out of here now."

24.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

MAYA (on screen): "But a few minutes aren't going to make any difference."

KOENIG: "One minute could make a whole world of difference." ((Alan turns to see Koenig standing in the door. He smiles at Alan, then sits)) "Ready?"

MAYA (on screen): "Commander. I'm getting some strange readings."

KOENIG: "So are we. This whole asteroid is one strange reading." ((switches off screen)) "Ready for lift off?"

ALAN: "Well, I still haven't managed to correct the malfunction in the stabilisers. ...Hey. Hmm. Okay."

25.EXT. ASTEROID SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle launches.

26.INT. CAVE

Koenig lies unconscious.

27.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Helena & Tony go to Maya.

MAYA: "I can't make anything of these. They're incomplete."

SANDRA: "Why was the commander in such a hurry?"

HELENA: "We'll know in a moment. He's in the travel tube now."

28.INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Unit speeds on

Unit slows.

29.INT. CORRIDOR

Alan & Koenig emerge from the Travel Unit. Koenig hands his black case to a guard.

KOENIG: "Take this to the Observation Room. Don't let it out of your sight."

30.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

HELENA (as Koenig enters): "John."

Koenig holds up his hand to stop her, & continues to his desk.

KOENIG: "Attention all Alphans. This is the Commander speaking. I have just returned from an exploratory trip on the asteroid. And I must tell you it poses a very serious threat to Alpha. We are presently surrounded by a very strong energy screen, which if we do not neutralise will render all of our instruments totally useless. In order to escape from this force, we will create an energy beam. We will direct this beam at the asteroid, which is like a gigantic crystal."

30.INT. CORRIDOR

A guard & other Alphans watch the comms post outside the Command Centre.

KOENIG (on screen): "It will reflect the beam back, cutting through the energy beam, and breaking its hold on us."

30.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG: "Time is our enemy. We have an enormous task to achieve. But I know I can count on the full cooperation and support of all Alphans on Moonbase to complete this task and complete it successfully. I want all construction crews to report immediately to Main Technical Section to await further instructions as to the beginning of exterior work." ((he switches off)) "That is all." ((pause)) "Any questions, anyone?"

HELENA: "John, creating this energy beam. It's going to take too much power from our life support systems. It could be very serious."

KOENIG: "We'll be in for more serious trouble if we don't."

MAYA: "I haven't had a chance to complete these sensor readouts."

KOENIG (interrupts): "It's not necessary now."

MAYA: "Well then I'd like an opportunity to analyse the sample you took. There might be another way of breaking through this screen without.."

KOENIG: "I've already completed that analysis."

MAYA: "Without instruments?"

KOENIG: "I had enough portable equipment with me."

MAYA: "But surely that's-"

KOENIG: "Any other questions?"

TONY: "Yes-"

MAYA: "Your methods, Commander. Your data is totally.."

KOENIG: "I'm sorry, I don't want to argue with you."

MAYA: "I'm not arguing, I'm being scientific. We lack vital information."

KOENIG: "Are you questioning mine?"

MAYA: "How can I question what I haven't got? As Science Officer, I insist-"

KOENIG: "You are confined to your quarters until further notice!" ((Helena moves with concern to Koenig, but he withdraws from her touch))

HELENA: "John-"

KOENIG (to Maya) "You may leave now."

Maya walks to the doors, pausing at them to look back, then leaves.

TONY: "She was only doing her job."

KOENIG: "And my job is to protect the safety of this base. It is my responsibility and mine alone. And none of us will survive without discipline. Remember that. All of you."

Koenig leaves. Alan moves to follow him out, but Helena stops him.

HELENA: "Alan." ((she, Alan, Tony & Sandra move by the computer)) "What happened on that asteroid?"

ALAN: "I don't know. I remained on board the Eagle; we had a sudden problem with the stabilisers."

HELENA: "Could something have invaded him -a virus, a life form taken him over?"

ALAN: "No, I'm thinking..he must have discovered something..you know, some other danger,..inside those caves, and he doesn't want us to know about it, not yet anyway."

HELENA: "That's a strong possibility." ((Tony nods))

EXT CAVE ENTRANCE

40.INT. CAVE

Koenig wakes & sits up. He rises & feels his neck. He notices the rock he was tapping has gone. He zips up his jacket & is about to do up his belt when he finds it is the wrong way round: the stun gun holster is on his left (though it does face the rear). He looks at the jacket letter: AMC & UIC are reversed. On his arm, the SAT badge is a mirror image.

FADE OUT

ACT TWO
EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

31.INT. LIVING QUARTERS

TONY (entering): "I've come to parle with the mutineer."

MAYA: "Why did the commander turn on me like that?"

TONY (Charles Laughton impression): "Discipline, discipline, discipline. A throw back to Captain Bligh."

MAYA: "Captain..Bligh?"

TONY: "Ah, forget it, how would you know, you're a Psychon."

MAYA: "Yeah, you're right, I am a Psychon. And I might not know anything about your Captain-"

TONY: "Bligh."

MAYA: "Bligh. But I'm hypersensitive to all forms of living matter. And when Helena tried to touch the Commander...I sensed a coldness. He wouldn't let her touch him."

TONY: "Yeah, I noticed that. He's unwilling to talk, as if he's withholding information, facts."

MAYA: "Why do you think I was so insistent? He's keeping us in the dark. Take that sample of crystal he brought back with him. He said he analysed it, but I don't know the results."

TONY: "Alright, will you take it easy, or you'll have a fit and turn into some wild creature from far out space."

MAYA: "Tony, I'm being serious. The situation is serious. We're not getting any right answers."

TONY: "Maya. Whats say we grab us an Eagle, go there, take a look for ourselves."

MAYA: "Who..who's talking like a mutineer now?"

TONY: "That's not mutiny, that's security and that's me. If something is wrong we have a right to find out."

MAYA: "But he's still our Commander. And if he is in control of his mind.."

TONY: "Say for some reason he isn't. If he's flipped out, if he's declared mentally incompetent..." ((dries up)) "Hmm. Talk like I've been drinking my own beer. Is it possible? John Koenig, mentally incompetent?"

MAYA: "Well, there's one way of finding out. Talk to Doctor Russell."

33.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

The dish.

34.INT. OBSERVATION

-Astronauts with instruments, seen through window.

-Koenig watches with folded arms.

32.INT. WEAPONS SECTION

HELENA (taking readout): "Another drop in the oxygen recycling system. Four degrees."

BEN: "We can't afford any more loss, Helena. We start running out of clean air, we're going to have a lot of sick people on our hands."

Tony enters.

HELENA: "More trouble?"

TONY: "The same trouble."

HELENA: "Check out the rest of our life support systems, Ben. See how much power loss there is in each."

BEN: "Yeah. Okay."

Tony gives Helena a coffee mug & is silent.

HELENA: "Go ahead, Tony."

TONY: "Okay, I'll lay it right on the line, Helena. If John won't, or can't explain the change that's come over him, if he won't let us try to help him, if..if there is something that he's not telling us or is helpless against, how do we stop him?"

HELENA: "Those words are pretty strong, Tony."

TONY: "Yeah, and Alpha's getting pretty weak. My being head of security is a joke. He's put a clamp on everything, everybody."

HELENA: "Yes, I know that. I'm a doctor, I see what's happening to our life support systems-"

TONY: "You don't like it, do you?"

HELENA: "If you had your way, what would you do?"

TONY: "I'd grab an Eagle and try to find out what happened on that asteroid. Maya thinks that perhaps the crystal has the answer, but- . Maybe it has some control over John. If we could prove that, he could be declared -medically incompetent."

HELENA: "And if you can't prove that..if John is perfectly rational, doing what he's doing for the reasons that he says...then it's conspiracy. That word may be too strong for me."

40.INT. CAVE

Koenig walks through the cave. The trill increases & he has to cover his ears. Then he hears the voice. ((NB: his jacket is correct))

VOICE: "Commander Koenig. This is the voice of Kalthon. There is no escape for you. You are shut off from your people."

Koenig is seen in a spinning multiple image lens.

KOENIG: "Why are you holding me here? What do you want from me? And my people?"

VOICE: "You were a fortunate accident, Commander. Coming into our path of space."

KOENIG: "I ask again. What do you want with me?"

VOICE: "We need your stores of energy, sir. At this very moment your people are aiding us to that end."

KOENIG: "You said we."

An image appears of a revolving multi faceted spiral ((firestorm in 'Catacombs Of the Moon'))

VOICE: "My people. A black sun once appeared in our galaxy. It began to absorb all our energy. Our technology was powerless against it. But we managed to survive total extinction. Our scientists created a seed. Endowed it with the remnants of our energy and launched it into limitless space."

KOENIG: "A seed?"

A flashing light replaces the earlier image.

VOICE: "The heart of Kalthon, Commander. A whole civilization. Everything is contained here. Cities, people, animal and vegetable life. All in microcosm. All in a state of suspended life. About to be reborn."

KOENIG: "So you drain the energy, all the energy from our world and destroy us, so yours can be reborn. What kind of uncivilised beings are you, to commit such a crime?"

VOICE: "The process is about to begin, the seed about to be regenerated. The seed is programmed only for survival and resurrection. It cannot make moral choices or decisions." ((the light goes; trill increases; Koenig recovers his ears)) "You are trapped. There is no escape."

33.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

The dish.

34.INT. OBSERVATION

-View out window to astronauts.

ASTRONAUT 7: "Energy reflector operational, Commander."

-Koenig takes his comlock.

KOENIG: "Unit two. Status."

UNIT 2 (VO): "Unit two on schedule, sir."

KOENIG: "Unit three status."

UNIT 3 (VO): "Unit three nearly completed, sir."

KOENIG: "Attention all construction crews. I want the energy reflector completed and operational by nineteen hundred hours."

Koenig goes to the crystal under a glass dome. He removes the dome.

GUARD (on desk screen): "Doctor Russell outside to see you, sir."

Koenig recovers the crystal.

KOENIG: "Have her come in."

Helena enters gingerly.

HELENA: "There are guards all over the place, John."

KOENIG: "These are special circumstances. There are a lot of guards on duty. Well, what is it, Helena? Time keeps running away from me, I can't stop."

HELENA: "Well, I, ah, could talk about what's happening to Alpha, the jeopardy to our entire life support system. But what is more important is what is happening to you, John."

KOENIG: "Nothing is happening to me! I've got a job to do and I'm trying to do it!"

HELENA: "What really happened on that asteroid, John - " ((he moves from her touch)) "What's wrong, why are you shutting me out?"

KOENIG: "I'm not! I told you all once. If we don't break this force we'll all perish!"

HELENA: "It may be too late for us by then. I want you to have a medical checkup. You have been exposed to an alien atmosphere-"

KOENIG: "Helena! I can't stop for anything! Nothing!"

HELENA: "I could order you to have a medical examination. The overall command of Alpha is your responsibility, everyone knows that."

KOENIG: "But."

HELENA: "As chief of the medical staff the health and well being of everyone on Alpha is my responsibility. Now if I suspect anything-"

KOENIG: "Helena, do you think I would do anything to jeopardise the health or lives of our people? Now trust me." ((Helena touches his hand; both are shocked; he retreats from her)) "I must check in with the construction crews."

HELENA (backing, very shaken, to door): "Don't you think it-it's time to release Maya from her quarters, they-they need her badly in Command Centre."

KOENIG: "I'm the one who will make that decision." ((Helena goes to door)) "Doctor Russell. When this is all over I will have that medical examination."

She leaves. Koenig feels his hand, looking into space.

35.INT. LIVING QUARTERS

HELENA: "I touched him. His skin was like ice. It was eerie, hardly-"

TONY: "Say it, Helena. Go ahead, say it. Hardly human?"

HELENA: "Hardly human."

MAYA: "What surprises me is that he let you touch him."

HELENA: "He tried to avoid it."

MAYA: "Did he react? Did he say anything?"

HELENA: "At the moment of contact, neither of us said anything, I-I was too shocked.."

MAYA: "Do you think he suspects anything?"

HELENA: "He had to, I-I reacted to the iciness of his skin. But the thing is, that up until that moment, I believed everything he said."

TONY: "And now?"

HELENA (after pause): "I'm afraid."

MAYA: "The answer's in the crystal."

TONY: "Yeah. So our next move is to get the crystal, right?"

MAYA: "Do we tell Alan?"

TONY: "No, no, not yet. Not until we're absolutely sure. Okay, Maya. The first move is yours."

36.INT. CORRIDOR

Maya watches from the map corner unit to the Observation door, guarded by a security man. Cranston emerges from the door, carrying a clipboard.

GUARD: "Gonna call it quits for now?"

CRANSTON: "The way the Commander's riding us, I'd like to call it quits forever."

GUARD: "I know what you mean."

Cranston passes. Maya takes her comlock.

MAYA: "I'm ready to go in now."

HELENA (VO): "Tony will try to keep him in Command Centre for as long as he can. But you'll have to hurry."

Close on Maya's eyes: she becomes Cranston. She walks to the guard.

CRANSTON: "Forgot something."

GUARD: "I'll never tell."

37.INT. OBSERVATION

Cranston enters & looks out the window.

View out window: no astronauts.

Cranston removes the glass cover, removes a laser from her leg pocket, & fires a blue laser beam at the crystal. She removes the chip.

38.INT. CORRIDOR

Cranston leaves, but as she walks away Koenig appears beyond.

KOENIG: "Cranston!"

CRANSTON (stops; he walks to her): "Yes, Commander."

KOENIG: "Did you program Main Power Plant for transfer to energy reflector units?"

CRANSTON: "Your orders have been carried out, sir."

She walks on.

39.INT. LIVING QUARTERS

Maya looks through a microscope at the rock fragment.

MAYA: "It's incredible. I've never seen anything like it. This is no crystal. It's an unbelievably dense, complex type of living matter from which all energy's been drained but it's not dead. It's only dormant like a seed. It's impossible to imagine the effects that such a substance could have caused on a human being."

HELENA (holds it): "How can we help John combat it?"

MAYA (as Tony takes it): "We have to face the possibility that Commander Koenig may -no longer be -flesh and blood."

40.INT. CAVE

Shots of laughing Koenig image & real Koenig clutching his head.

VOICE: "You are trapped. There is no escape. You are trapped. There is no escape. You are trapped. There is no escape. You are trapped. There is no escape."

Koenig recovers. He fires his laser at a mirror and walks into the frame. Inside he freezes motionless.

FADE OUT

ACT THREE
EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Eagle on pad, building, base beyond lunar hills.

41.INT. LIVING QUARTERS

Maya uses a whining microscope-like instrument to shatter the crystal chip. Tony & Alan are with her.

MAYA: "It works. The ultra frequency sound seems to split the molecules into particles of atoms that bombard the crystal."

TONY: "Alan. We've got to get to the asteroid, knock out the rest of that stuff."

ALAN: "Look. I'm trying to understand, but I still don't buy it. You and Maya are coming up with a lot of theories: you can't prove anything."

TONY: "How can you be such a dumb blind kangaroo? Can't you see what is happening?"

ALAN: "Yeah, what is happening is a lot of crazy talk."

MAYA: "Alan, we just demonstrated some very odd properties in this crystal."

ALAN: "Listen, we've come across a lot of things odder than that!"

TONY: "But?"

ALAN: "But it didn't cause us to make crazy accusations."

MAYA: "Alan. Please listen. You will accept that the Commander is not behaving in his usual manner."

ALAN: "Okay, he's uptight."

MAYA: "Helena managed to touch him and his skin was as cold as ice. It's texture and temperature approximates that crystal."

TONY: "You said yourself something happened to him on that asteroid."

ALAN: "Look, I said he found out something. He's come across some terrible threat and he doesn't want us to know about it, not yet anyway."

MAYA: "Or something's got control of him and won't let him tell us."

ALAN: "Ooh, listen, we're talking about John Koenig. You remember him, John Koenig?"

TONY: "Alan, we're just as loyal to John as you are."

ALAN: "Well, you've got one hell of a way of showing it."

MAYA: "Oh, arguing it amongst ourselves isn't going to help him."

TONY: "No, or convince him apparently."

MAYA (to Tony as Alan stands aside): "Maybe we can."

TONY: "Yeah, how?"

MAYA: "Alan, you've got to help us get an Eagle."

ALAN: "All the Eagles are grounded. All the launch pads are sealed off."

MAYA: "We know."

ALAN: "Oh. By help, you mean steal; well, I can't do that."

TONY: "Oh, come on, Alan!"

ALAN: "It goes against all instinct, all training."

MAYA: "Instinct, training! You're hiding behind words."

ALAN: "Words, huh? Well, they may be just words to you, but to me they add up to something else. Loyalty and duty and my duty is to John Koenig."

MAYA: "If your duty was to John Koenig you would help him."

TONY: "Exactly."

ALAN: "Huh. Well in my book, cobber, your kind of help is mutiny." ((he leaves))

Koenig appears on the wall monitor.

KOENIG (on screen): "This is the Commander. All Alpha personnel will remain at their posts or in their quarters during the transfer of power to the energy beam."

42.INT. MEDICAL

Helena & Ben watch the comms post. Patients lie in the beds.

KOENIG (on screen): "Deactivate main circuits."

The number 3 on a panel marked 'Life Support Systems' darkens.

BEN: "Helena. Support system three's cutting out."

43.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG: "Effect the transfer."

Slowly Sandra does.

44.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

The dish fires the beam.

45.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Asteroid hit by beam.

INT. CAVE

Frozen Koenig.

45.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Asteroid hit.

44.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Dish fires beam.

INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Koenig & others watch.

46.INT. MEDICAL

BEN: "Life support system six is fading out."

HELENA (goes to comms post): "Commander Koenig. Medical Centre."

KOENIG (on screen): "Doctor Russell, I have no time for conversation."

HELENA (sc 48): "Wait a minute. I'm losing life support systems three and six; if you take any more power away from me some people may-"

KOENIG (on screen): "Some people may die. But some people are not all the people, doctor." ((screen blanks))

51.INT. CORRIDOR

Maya & Tony hide as 2 guards, armed with rifles, pass. Then they enter Reception.

52.INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Unit speeds off.

Unit speeds on.

53.INT. TRAVEL UNIT

Maya & Tony go to the door. It opens to reveal a guard holding a rifle to them.

GUARD: "Mister Verdeschi, you shouldn't be in this section. Orders are to let noone enter Eagles without direct orders from the Commander. And I have orders to disarm all personnel."

Tony hands him his stun gun.

MAYA: "I'm not armed."

GUARD: "I'm sorry, but I have orders to inform the Commander of any unauthorised personnel in this section."

As the guard takes his comlock, Maya transforms into a insect-animal, jumps at him & pulls him around until Tony chops him on the neck. Tony recovers his laser & both pass into the Eagle.

55.EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Eagle launches.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

ALAN (on screen): "Alpha to Eagle One. Return to base immediately. Do you read me? Return to base immed-"

Tony switches the screen off.

56.INT. WEAPONS SECTION

Helena addresses Koenig.

HELENA: "John, there is one question that I have got to ask you, and it is absolutely vital that you give me an honest answer." ((screen buzzes; Koenig answers it))

KOENIG: "Yes, what is it?"

SANDRA (on screen): "Eagle One is space borne, sir."

57.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG (on screen): "Where's it heading?"

SANDRA (after pause): "For the asteroid."

58.INT. WEAPONS SECTION

KOENIG: "Shoot it down."

INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Sandra looks in alarm at Alan, leaning over her.

58.INT. WEAPONS SECTION

SANDRA (on screen): "You cannot mean that!"

KOENIG: "Are you asking to be relieved of duty?"

SANDRA (on screen): "No sir."

HELENA: "John?"

ALAN (appearing alongside Sandra on screen): "John?"

KOENIG: "Activate laser gun!"

ALAN (on screen): "The laser!"

KOENIG: "You heard me!"

ALAN (on screen): "John, that is one of our Eagles."

KOENIG: "I gave you an order! Obey it!" ((switches off screen))

59.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Alan goes to another desk.

WEAPONS (VO): "Weapons Section."

-Big Screen (SFX): Eagle travels to asteroid.

ALAN (VO): "Prepare the laser gun."

60.EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Laser gun rises.

62.INT. WEAPONS SECTION

ALAN (on screen): "Laser gun on target, John."

KOENIG: "Shoot it down."

ALAN (on screen): "Ah, would you mind repeating that, John."

KOENIG: "Shoot it down!"

61.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Eagle travels to asteroid. passing beam.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Tony & Maya.

Eagle viewport (SFX): asteroid.

Tony & Maya.

MAYA: "Tony, when we touch down, what's our plan of action?"

TONY: "We'll have to play it by ear when we get there, Maya. One thing's for sure, we stay together."

65.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

Koenig enters.

Big Screen (SFX): Eagle over asteroid horizon (sc 66).

Command Centre (sc 67)

KOENIG: "Carter! I gave orders to shoot that craft down! Now what sort of insubordination is this?"

ALAN: "Commander. I can't do it. I -I know who's up there."

HELENA: "Tony and Maya."

KOENIG: "I ordered you to fire!"

ALAN: "Well I won't so it! Oh, come on, Commander. I can't."

Koenig sees a hatch on the front left desk marked 'Laser Gun'. Sandra sees his reaction & stands in front of it.

SANDRA: "Commander, you cannot."

Koenig pushes her away & opens the hatch.

HELENA: "John. If you fire those lasers, power will be diverted from your energy beam. That will throw everything off schedule, put everything behind time. You said time keeps running away from you. That's what you said, isn't it?"

-Big Screen (SFX): Eagle over asteroid horizon.

-Command Centre:

KOENIG: "Retract laser gun."

ALAN: "Weapons Section. Retract the laser gun."

EXT. MOON SURFACE (SFX)

Laser gun sinks.

70.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG: "I owe you all apology. I have been withholding information from you. I realise now it was a mistake. That asteroid is not only draining our power it's-"

HELENA: "Don't listen to him, this is not John Koenig."

KOENIG (gently): "Helena, what are you talking about? If I'm not John Koenig, who am I?"

HELENA: "Touch him. Go ahead, Alan, touch him. He's like ice."

Koenig moves from Alan's touch.

KOENIG: "She's right. I am like ice. Something did affect me on that asteroid, I don't know what it was. But I do know that -we'll never be free again unless we break that asteroid's hold on us, on me."

HELENA: "He's not telling the truth."

KOENIG: "That's why I gave strict instructions that noone leave Alpha. I'd rather have them shot down than go there and face dangers beyond the ones I faced."

-Big Screen (SFX): Eagle over asteroid horizon.

KOENIG: "I only hope it's not to late to save them."

-Command Centre:

HELENA: "Please, believe me. Something's wrong. It isn't the way he says."

KOENIG: "Helena. Please try to get hold of yourself. Now don't force me to use my authority as commander. I'd hate to have to confine you to your quarters. Nor do I want to order you to medical centre for observation."

HELENA: "Perhaps I have been upset. We've all been under a strain." ((she sits at a desk))

KOENIG: "Sahn. Increase the energy flow to the beam. We've got to break free."

Climatic music with a laugh.

71.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Dish firing beam.

72.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Beam hits asteroid.

FADE OUT

ACT FOUR
73.EXT. ASTEROID SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle lands in blue haze.

78.INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

The door opens & Maya & Tony look out.

TONY: "Wow."

79.EXT. ASTEROID SURFACE (SFX)

MAYA: "That energy reflector's beginning to cook this place."

INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

TONY: "Yeah, there's the cave."

EXT CAVE ENTRANCE

TONY (VO): "Just like Alan said."

INT. EAGLE PASSENGER SECTION

The two leave the Eagle.

EXT CAVE ENTRANCE

They walk into the cave.

80.INT. CAVE

Small explosions occur around them as they walk round the crystal caves.

Maya sees Koenig behind the mirror.

MAYA: "Tony." ((they walk to the mirror)) "The Commander."

TONY: "We just left him on Alpha. Wait a second. Look at the lettering on his jacket. It's backwards."

MAYA: "It's like a reflection."

TONY: "A reflection."

MAYA: "From where?" ((they look round them; she touches the glass))

TONY: "What is it, Maya? What are you doing?"

MAYA: "I think this could be the Commander."

TONY: "You're saying he was able to transport himself down here?"

MAYA: "I don't think he ever left."

TONY: "John! John!"

MAYA: "He can't respond, not as long as he's frozen in that state."

TONY: "If that really is John, then who the hell is that on Alpha?"

MAYA: "His reflection. Well, anyway an intelligent life form that can take form from a reflection."

TONY: "Stand back." ((he hits the glass with the butt of his laser twice)) "Okay, so how do we break him free?"

MAYA: "Laser."

TONY: "I mean without killing him."

MAYA: "Tony, we've found out what we've come here to find out. If we don't move quickly it won't matter."

TONY: "John, I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can, I'm going to use my laser. Now break away fast so I can cut the beam as soon as possible."

He fires a blue beam: the glass shatters & Koenig emerges.

KOENIG: "Oh, am I glad to see you."

TONY: "Are you alright?"

KOENIG: "Yeah, I'm fine."

MAYA: "Your image is up on Alpha."

KOENIG: "I know."

TONY: "We don't know what he's trying to do."

KOENIG: "He's trying to regenerate an entire new civilization; this place is about to explode into life any second now."

MAYA: "That's why he needs our energy." ((explosion nearby))

KOENIG: "How's he draining off the power?"

MAYA: "A reflector. He's beaming the energy."

KOENIG: "To the seed. It's the heart of Kalthon. It's like an embryo. It's the crux of everything here, I've seen it. It's here somewhere in this complex."

MAYA: "If we can find it, we can destroy it."

TONY: "With sound. High frequency sound. M- " ((interrupted by explosion)) "Maya split open a sample of the crystal with sonar."

MAYA: "I've programmed our comlocks to the exact same pitch."

KOENIG: "Good. I'll take your Eagle back to Alpha."

TONY: "It won't be easy when you get back, John. He's in command. Helena is the only one who suspects there's something wrong."

MAYA: "Even Alan believes he's you."

TONY: "Yeah."

KOENIG: "You two find the heart of Kalthon and destroy it. We'll pick you up later." ((he leaves))

TONY: "Well, time to play our song."

-Koenig leaves through the caves.

-Tony & Maya search. Soundtrack over: laughs.

82.EXT. ASTEROID SURFACE (SFX)

Eagle launches.

INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Koenig.

80.INT. CAVE

Tony & Maya use their comlocks to explode mirrors. They enter a frame.

TONY: "It's on the other side."

VOICE (laugh): "You are trapped. Trapped forever. There is no escape." ((they turn slowly & freeze; laughs)) "You will stay frozen forever." ((laugh))

83.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG: "Increase power flow to maximum plus five."

ALAN: "Commander. Our temperature is dropping rapidly. This will eliminate half our instruments."

KOENIG: "Do it!"

Pan across computers.

The screens under the Big Screen die.

EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Dish fires beam.

84.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Beam hits asteroid.

85.EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Eagle passes the dish.

86.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

SANDRA: "Water in the recycling plant is frozen. Hydroponics -frozen. Protein production unit -inoperative."

KOENIG: "Maintain power level as is."

87.EXT. LAUNCH PAD (SFX)

Eagle lands.

88.INT. EAGLE PILOT SECTION

Koenig unbuckles & leaves.

EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)

Dish fires beam.

89.EXT. SPACE (SFX)

Asteroid is hit.

90.INT. CAVE

Tony & Maya frozen, explosions around.

91.INT. TRAVEL UNIT

Koenig enters it.

92.INT. TRAVEL TUBE (SFX)

Unit speeds off.

94.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

ALAN: "The oxygen units have failed. We're on emergency. We must have more power."

KOENIG: "We need all available power for the beam."

HELENA: "Alpha is dying. Can't you realise that?"

KOENIG: "I will not have my orders questioned. Now get back to your posts, both of you!"

HELENA: "We can't go along with this anymore."

KOENIG: "Doctor Russell, you're relieved of duty."

HELENA: "Alan, you've got to stop him now."

KOENIG: "Alan, get back to your post."

ALAN: "John!"

95.INT. CORRIDOR

Koenig runs out of the Travel Unit.

96.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG: "Increase power flow to maximum plus fifteen."

97.INT. CORRIDOR

Koenig runs through Reception.

98.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

ALAN: "We can't do it, John, we'll destroy Alpha!"

KOENIG: "Carter, I gave you an order!!"

KOENIG (original, in door): "That order is countermanded."

FADE OUT

EPILOGUE
98.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

KOENIG: "You're at my desk, alien."

IMAGE: "That is an image creature, projected by the asteroid. Don't listen to it. Destroy it! Destroy it!"

KOENIG: "One if us is real. One a reflection."

IMAGE: "I was on that asteroid. I know what it's force is trying to do to us. It's running out of time, now it's the last chance it will have."

KOENIG: "That's the truth. If it can't drain the last of our power, it'll die."

IMAGE: "That's why it sent my reflection down here to confuse us. To steal the last few moments, so it can complete the transfer."

KOENIG: "Helena, you can tell us apart. The thing's we've shared he can't know."

HELENA: "I need no further proof than his actions, John."

IMAGE: "Oh, how clever they are. How very clever. Under pressure of emergency they've got me acting totally contrary to my own character. So that even Doctor Russell doubts me."

ALAN: "Not only Doctor Russell." ((he draws his laser))

IMAGE: "Alan. Alan." ((image backs)) "Alan. Look at the jacket. The lettering on the jacket. It's the exact opposite of mine, it's reversed. I ask you, which one of us is a reflection."

KOENIG: "Yes, the lettering is backwards, because he switched jackets. But he overlooked one little thing. The hair. Alan. Helena. The part in my hair."

Alan shoots the image, but it is unaffected.

VOICE (laughs): "You're too late. Nothing can stop us now. We will regenerate! Kalthon lives!"

Koenig presses a button on his desk: a high pitched whine causes the Alphans to shield their ears.

KOENIG: "Kalthon dies!"

VOICE: "Kalthon lives!"

The Image screams & shatters in fragments.

99.INT. CAVE

The mirrors explode & shatter. Maya & Tony unfreeze & run off.

98.INT. COMMAND CENTRE

They uncover their ears & look at the pile of dust on the floor.

FADE OUT