The AB Chrysalis

The AB Chrysalis

Screenplay by Tony Barwick

Directed by Val Guest

Edited by Alan Killick

Quote

"Forget logic. Recognise desperation."

Plot

A planet on which people enter a chrysalis stage when they reach their allotted span.... Reborn, they attain new heights of mental and physical perfection...but for Moonbase Alpha, the planet threatens disaster.

Synopsis

The moon is moving into a region of space where explosions, causing massive shock waves, occur at 12 hour intervals. As Alpha moves closer, it begins to suffer more damage and sustain more casulaties. To avoid unnecessary loss of life, the bulk of Alpha's population is evacuated to a holding position on the far side of the moon, to shield them from the force of the shock wave. The command staff along with some medical and technical crew remain on Alpha to keep the base operational and monitor incoming data. The shock wave hits, causing damage to vital systems. With 12 hours before the next one, Koenig leads a mission to the planet at the heart of the shock wave, to see what is causing the blasts, and if they can be stopped before Alpha is destroyed. Detecting high energy levels on the moons that surround the planet, they decide to investigate the closest one. Homing in on the energy source, they find a small installation consisting of five metallic structures. They land in their midst, and Koenig goes out to look around. He enters one of domes and is taken undeground by an elevator. He exits into a room filled with black and white globes on pedestals of varying heights. He is struck by an bolt of energy and knocked unconscious. Maya alerts Alan, who goes in after him. Alan finds Koenig lying unconscious on the floor, but is able to rouse him. One of the globes begins to move from pedestal to pedestal, ending up by a communications device, where it attempts to communicate with them. It begins with a series of geometric shapes, then moves on to star charts. Koenig draws a representation of our solar system and points to the third planet. The probe recognizes it as Earth and provides a suitable atmosphere. Koenig asks to speak to someone of authority to see if he can get them to stop the shockwaves. The probe responds that that is not possible, as it's masters have yet to be born. It then suggests that they leave the dome, stating that they are in danger. Maya contacts them to tell them that the energy is building to a critical level. They return to the Eagle, but before they can lift off it is struck by a wayward energy bolt. They manage to get the circuits back online and lift off before their ship can be damaged any more. Koenig decides to visit the planet below. They land, and without warning, the Eagle is lowered beneath the planet's surface. The voice of another probe, tells them that they are being taken to a place of safety. When the Eagle comes to rest in a subterranean cavern, the probe tells them that a suitable atmosphere has been arranged. They leave the ship, and the probe greets them. They find out that it's masters have a unique life cycle in which they grow old, but instead of dying, enter a chrysalis and are reborn. They learn that one of it's masters has not entered the chrysalis and ask to speak to him. The probe sets up a chamber for them to talk to the guardian. The probe translates Koenig's plea to stop the next shock wave but it's too late. The guardian has gone senile and must enter his rejuvination chamber. Alan panics and tries to stop the guardian from being taken out of the room and breaks the seal on the casket. The probe has to seal the room so that the guardian can have the chlorine gas environment that he needs to survive. Alan gets trapped and starts to suffocate. Maya transforms into a creature capable of breathing chlorine gas and the probe lets her enter. She pulls Alan out with Koenig's help, and they return him to the Eagle. Koenig decides to force the probe into stopping the blast by telling it that he will give the order to destroy it's master's rejuvination chamber, with the laser on the Eagle, if it does not comply. It stuns him to prevent him giving the order. Alan wakes to find Maya uncertain as to how she should proceed. Alan suggests firing the laser, but Koenig wakes in time to stop her. He offers his ultimatum again, and is stunned again. Alan tells Maya to fire, but is stopped by the voice of one of the first aliens to be reborn. Koenig orders the laser disarmed, and is lead, by the probe, to meet with it's masters. With no human equivalent for their names, they introduce themselves as 'A' and 'B'. Koenig makes his plea again. 'A', who finds him attractive, votes in his favor. 'B', who finds 'As reasons foolish, votes against. With a tie, they must await the birth of another, deciding vote. 'B' informs Koenig that the next to born will be the brother of the guardian, that Alan almost killed. She doubts that he will be inclined to vote in their favor. When he emerges from his chrysalis, he does deny Koenig's request to stop the blast, but offers to let them stay with them, where it is safe. Even with the knowledge that Alpha has now moved out range, Koenig declines. He tells them that there are things more important than safety, "loyalty is better than logic. Hope is better than dispair... and creation is better than destruction." He leaves the chamber to find Maya and Alan ready to face an uncertain future at his side. 'A', 'B', and 'C' discuss Koenig's motivations. 'B' and 'C' are baffled but 'A' seems to grasp them. Alan manages to fly the Eagle up the narrow elevator shaft that leads to the surface. They head towards Alpha with no real hope of either reaching it, or surviving the impending shock wave. John contacts Alpha. He tells Helena that they will not be able to make it back. He asks to be patched into the interbase system, and warns the base of the gravity of their situation. He commends them for their devotion to duty since they left Earth orbit. The shock wave comes, but to their surprise, it does not destroy their Eagle, but increases it's speed enough to reach Alpha, which the shockwave passes over with minimal effect.

When they get back, Helena asks John about the alien women. She had heard from Alan that they were "beautiful, naked and green". John starts to tell her that he could barely see them, but when pressed, tells Helena that he hadn't noticed that they were green.

Original UK Airdate

Thursday, November 18th, 1976 (ATV Midlands)

Original Title

"The Chrysalis A-B-C"

Cast

• Commander John Koenig - Martin Landau
• Doctor Helena Russell - Barbara Bain
• Maya - Catherine Schell
• Alan Carter - Nick Tate
• A - Ina Skriver
• B - Sarah Douglas
• Yasko - Yasuko Nagazumi
• Bill Fraser - John Hug
• Operative Kate - Sarah Bullen
• Guardian's Brother - David Sebastian Bach
• Creature - Albin Pahernik
• Command Center operative P Rose - Pam Rose
• Command Center Operative Peter Reeves - Robert Reeves
• Command Center Operative G Allen - Glenda Allen
• Rescue Astronaut - Jenny Cresswell
• Security Guard Pierce Quinton - Quentin Pierre
• Alphan - Harry Fielder
• Sphere Voice 248 & 748 - Robert Rietty

Sets

Int. Command Centre Int. Medical Centre Int. Power Room Int. Weapons Section (screens only) Int. Alpha Corridor Int. Travel Tube Int. Eagle Pilot Section Int. Eagle Passenger Section

Int. Alien Elevator Int. Underground Space Station Int. Alien Tunnel Int. Chamber Int. Rejuvination Chamber Int. Conversation Chamber

References

Sources

Season 2

The Metamorph I The Exiles I One Moment of Humanity I All That Glisters I The Mark of Archanon I Journey to Where I The Taybor I The Rules of Luton I New Adam New Eve I Brian the Brain I Catacombs of the Moon I The AB Chrysalis I The Beta Cloud I Seed of Destruction I A Matter of Balance I Space Warp I The Bringers of Wonder - Part 1 I The Bringers of Wonder - Part 2 I Dorzak I The Seance Spectre I Devil's Planet I The Lambda Factor I The Immunity Syndrome I The Dorcons

Episodes are listed in the order suggested by Andrew Kearley. http://www.eyespider.freeserve.co.uk/space/two/index.html