THE SCRIPT FOR THE UFO EPISODE "THE DALOTEK AFFAIR" Transcription by Deborah Rorabaugh & Danielle Plamondon. Introduction by Marc Martin. This is a transcription of a photocopy of a script for the UFO episode "THE DALOTEK AFFAIR". The layout here is exactly the same as the original. Spelling errors and typos in the original were left uncorrected. The photocopy was complete and of good quality, so this transcription is also complete. Page breaks are marked with a unique character string, so if you would like to print out a copy of this file and maintain the original page breaks, simply use a word processor which allows you to replace these strings with page breaks. The original has many words of underlined dialog, and these are marked here with underscores _around_ the underlined words. Some notable things about this script: * The original name of this episode was "Crater 236". This refers to the name of the crater containing the Alien device. * In the script, the Dalotek base is named "Calotex". * This script was written before filming of the first UFO episode, and is one of several which feature Moonbase commander "Franco Desica" and space tracker "Paula Harris". This was changed during the filming of the first episode when the actor hired to play Franco Desica was fired for being too difficult to work with. For this episode, Desica's role was transferred to Paul Foster, and Paula Harris' role was transferred to Joan Harrington. * The finished episode contains an interview with real-life UFO expert Dr. Frank Stranges. This was not in the original script, and was incorporated into the episode when Dr. Stranges visited the UFO set in July 1969, and the producers decided to film an interview with him and incorporate it into an episode. There are also added scenes later in the episode with Straker and Ford reviewing this interview during a communications blackout. * Most of the script is superficially the same as the finished episode, although in many places some lines of dialog have been added, deleted, or rewritten. Also, a few of the scenes are reordered or intercut in the finished episode. * Near the end of the finished episode there is a scene where Jane Carson gets an amnesia shot and then dreams of kissing Paul Foster. This scene does not appear in the script, and was only added when the episode's running time wasn't long enough. Enjoy! ------------------------------ CUT HERE -------------------------------- "U.F.O." SERIES Crater 236 (c) Century 21 Pictures Stirling Road Slough BUCKS ***PAGE*** "CRATER 236" SET LIST INT. NIGHT CLUB INT. MOONBASE CONTROL ROOM INT. SHADO CONTROL ROOM INT. LEISURE SPHERE INT. INTERCEPTORS INT. SECTIONS OF ROCK INT. CALOTEX BASE INT. STRAKER'S SHADO OFFICE INT. TRANSPORTER INT. MOONSCAPE INT. MOONMOBILES INT. FILM STUDIOS (LOCATIONS) V.E. SETS EXT. SPACE & INTERCEPTORS EXT. SPACE & METEORITE EXT. MOON SURFACE & METEORITE EXT. CRATER (CRASH & CYLINDER) EXT. MOON SURFACE & CALOTEX INSTALLATION EXT. MOONSCAPE WITH HOPPERS AND MOBILES EXT. SPACE & LUNAR MODULE EXT. S.I.D. EXT. S.I.D. EXT. INTERCEPTOR CRATER U.F.O. IN FLIGHT TIMINGS: STUDIO 43 mins 17 secs VISUAL EFFECTS 5 mins 08 secs LOCATION 0 mins 40 secs TOTAL: 49 mins 05 secs ***PAGE*** "CRATER 236" CAST LIST SPEAKING PARTS: STRAKER FREEMAN DESICA BLAKE JANE CARSON TANNER MITCHELL OPERATOR CHARLES REED NINA ASTRONAUT PAULA PILOT (LUNAR MODULE) CAPTAIN SECOND PILOT MEDIC VOICE ONLY: S.I.D. **** **** **** **** ***PAGE*** "CRATER 236" ACT 1 FADE IN 1 _INT NIGHT CLUB NIGHT (STUDIO)_ 42 SECS A SMALL INTIMATE NIGHT CLUB PAN WITH A WOMAN AND HER ESCORT AS THEY WALK TO THEIR TABLE. LATER WE WILL KNOW THEM AS JANE CARSON AND TANNER. AS JANE TURNS TO SAY AN UNHEARD WORD TO TANNER SHE BRUSHES DESICA SEATED AT A TABLE WITH ALEC FREEMAN. ON JANE JANE Excuse me. . .. HER SMILE IS A LITTLE MORE THAN POLITE, A TRACE OF INTEREST. ON DESICA HIS INTEREST IS OPEN AND OBVIOUS. DESICA My pleasure. . ... RESUME SCENE JANE'S EYES HOLD DESICA'S A PROVOCATIVE MOMENT THEN SHE AND TANNER MOVE ON. DESICA TURNS IN HIS CHAIR TO WATCH THEM GO FREEMAN Beautiful. DESICA Very. . ...Out with the boss eh. FREEMAN You know her? DESICA Oh I know her alright. . .. But she doesn't know me. . . FREEMAN DOESN'T UNDERSTAND ***PAGE*** 1A DESICA Remember the Calotex affair. . .. six months ago? FADE OUT FADE IN: 1A _INT. MOON BASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 95 SECS A NORMAL DUTY SPELL AT MOON BASE CONTROL A FULL STAFF MAN THE VARIOUS POSTS. NINA BARRY IS MONITORING ONE OF THE TRACKER UNITS. . . DESICA IS AT THE REVOLVING CONSOLE. ESTABLISH A SCENE OF MEASURED, UNHURRIED ACTIVITY. ON DESICA AS HE SCANS SEVERAL REPORTS HE READS THEM UNHURRIEDLY, TAKING IN THE INFORMATION, BUT HIS FACE SHOWS SOME OF THE CONTROLLED FATIGUE OF SIX HOURS CONTINUOUS DUTY. THEN: PAULA (VO) Sir . . . DESICA LIFTS HIS HEAD, FROWNING AT THE INTERRUPTION. HIS P.O.V. PAULA HARRIS, HOLDING A CHART. TWO SHOT PAULA HANDS HIM THE CHART. PAULA The topographical survey report. DESICA Thank you. PAULA Is there anything else, sir ? DESICA No, that's all. PAULA RETURNS TO HER POST AND DESICA RESIGNEDLY WATCHES HER GO, HIS THOUGHTS ONCE MORE ENTIRELY ON HIS WORK. HE TURNS AND WEARILY BEGINS EXAMINING THE SURVEY. HOLD FOR A MOMENT, THEN: ***PAGE*** -2- 1 (continued) NINA BARRY (VO) (urgently) Sighting at 0135-242 DESICA SWIFTLY REVOLVES THE CONSOLE IN HER DIRECTION. ON NINA AS SHE WATCHES THE SCREEN INTENTLY. NINA Second sighting at 0140-242. HER P.O.V. THE TRACKER SCREEN WITH THE ALIEN SIGHTINGS. RESUME ON NINA NINA Third sighting at 0145-242! ANOTHER ANGLE THE CONTROL ROOM IS ALIVE WITH ACTIVITY. THE OPERATORS FEED DATA INTO THE COMPUTERS. DESICA IS SILENT. WAITING TENSELY. DESICA Trajectory termination. . . ? PAULA MONITORS THE PRINTOUT FROM A COMPUTER AS THE CALCULATIONS ARE RECEIVED SHE STUDIES THEM BRIEFLY, THEN LOOKS TOWARD DESICA. PAULA Preliminary readings indicate Moon Base Area! DESICA IMMEDIATELY PUSHES A BUTTON ON THE CONSOLE DESICA Red Alert. . .. C.U. RED LIGHT FLASHING. AS THE ALARM SOUNDS, HE ACTIVATES THE VIDEO LINK WITH SHADO CONTROL. CUT TO: 2 _INT. SHADO CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 24 SECS STRAKER IS AT HIS DESK, RADIO AND COMPUTER OPERATORS MAN THEIR EQUIPMENT. DESICA'S FACE IS FRAMED IN THE DESK TV SCREEN. (THE TRANSMISSION "BEEP" PUNCTUATES EACH EXCHANGE) ***PAGE*** -3- 2 (continued) DESICA Three U.F.O.s sighted. Waiting confirmation of trajectory termination. . . STRAKER Hold Interceptors until data is complete. STRAKER LOOKS TOWARDS THE LARGE TRACKER SCREEN. TAKE: STRAKER'S P.O.V. THREE BLIPS CAN BE SEEN ON THE UPPERMOST EDGE OF THE SCREEN, HOLD FOR A MOMENT, THEN: CUT TO: 3 _INT. MOON BASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 25 SECS ON THE ILLUMINATED SPACE CHART THREE BLIPS SLOWLY MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE MOON. ESTABLISH, THEN: ON DESICA AS HE CONCENTRATES ON THE ILLUMINATED CHART, THEN, WITH HIS GAZE STILL RIVETED ON THE SIGHTINGS: DESICA Get me that trajectory termination! NOW TRACK BACK TO SHOW PAULA MAKING SEVERAL MINOR ADJUSTMENTS ON A COMPUTER. SHE EXCHANGES THE PRINTOUT AS IT APPEARS, THEN: PAULA Co-ordinates: 110 decimal 6 47 decimal 9. DESICA MAKES SOME RAPID CALCULATIONS ON A LUNAR TOPOGRAPHICAL CHART ON THE CONSOLE. THEN HE REACTIVATES THE VIDEO LINK WITH SHADO CONTROL. CUT TO: 4 _INT. SHADO CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 28 SECS ON THE TRACKER SCREEN THE THREE BLIPS HAVE MOVED MARKEDLY DOWN THE SCREEN TAKE: ANOTHER ANGLE ***PAGE*** -4- 4 (continued) TO SHOW DESICA ON THE DESK TV SCREEN DESICA E.T.T. Area 140, 60 miles from Moon Base. . . THE INFORMATION PUZZLES STRAKER AND HIS EXPRESSION SHOWS IT. STRAKER There's nothing for them there (a beat) You're quite sure ? DESICA We've checked it. We seem to be faced with a U.F.O. attack in force on an area of bare lava rock. STRAKER Don't try to figure them Franco - launch Interceptors! CUT TO: 5 _INT. MOON BASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 5 SECS ON DESICA AS HE PRESSES A BUTTON ON THE CONSOLE DESICA Interceptors. . .immediate launch. CUT TO: 6 _INT. LEISURE SPHERE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 8 SECS THREE ASTRONAUTS, SUITED UP, EXCEPT FOR THEIR HELMETS MOVE FAST TOWARDS THE CHUTES. ONE OF THEM JERKS HIS HEAD UPWARDS. TAKE: HIS P.O.V. A FLASHING RED WALL LIGHT. 7 _INT. MOON BASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 6 SECS DESICA IS HUNCHED OVER THE DESK MIKE. DESICA Interceptor launch. . . 8-48 minus ten. . . CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -5- 8 _INT. INTERCEPTOR CRATER. DAY (V.E.)_ 18 SECS THREE INTERCEPTORS STAND ON THEIR RAMPS THE WALL SLIDES BACK, WITH A HISS OF ESCAPING AIR, TO REVEAL THE FORBIDDING STAR-STUDDED LUNAR SKY. HOLD FOR A MOMENT, THEN: THE INTERCEPTORS' ROCKET ENGINES IGNITE, WITH A BURST OF FLAME, AND THE THREE SHIPS LIFT SLOWLY OFF THEIR RAMPS. CUT TO: 9 _EXT. CRATER. DAY (V.E.)_ 4 SECS THE INTERCEPTORS, LIFT OFF FROM THE CRATER AGAINST THE BLACKNESS OF SPACE. CUT TO: 10 _INT. MOON BASE CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 15 SECS DESICA Check trajectory. NINA (a beat, then) Same co-ordinates. Maintaining course. DESICA GLANCES AT THE ILLUMINATED SPACE CHART. TAKE: HIS P.O.V. THE CHART SHOWS THE ALIEN SHIPS FAST APPROACHING. THE MOON, WITH THE THREE S.H.A.D.O. INTERCEPTORS, IN A TRIANGULAR FORMATION RISING TO MEET THEM. RESUME DESICA. CUT TO: 11 _EXT. SPACE SKY. (V.E.)_ 4 SECS THE GLEAMING INTERCEPTORS, SOARING SWIFTLY THROUGH THE BLACK REACHES OF SPACE. ESTABLISH, THEN: CUT TO: 12 _INT. INTERCEPTOR. (STUDIO)_ 19 SECS MARK BRADLEY, ALERTLY WATCHING THE COMPLEX RANGE OF DIALS BEFORE HIM. DESICA (distort) Switch to on board computer ***PAGE*** -6- 12 (continued) MARK Roger. HE FLICKS SEVERAL SWITCHES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. LIGHTS FLASH AND A NUMBER OF DIALS CHANGE COLOUR FROM GREEN TO RED. ON MARK BRADLEY AFTER A LONG PAUSE, DESICA'S VOICE CRACKLES ONCE AGAIN OVER THE RADIO. DESICA Hold for further instructions. . . MARK LOOKS WITH DISBELIEF AT THE RADIO RECEIVER COMPLETELY TAKEN ABACK BY THE UNEXPECTED ORDER. CUT TO: 13 _INT. MOON BASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 37 SECS DESICA IS STARING AT NINA BARRY, WITH A MINGLED EXPRESSION OF ALARM AND PUZZLEMENT. DESICA No possible error ? NINA GLANCES AT THE TRACKER SCREEN, THEN SHAKES HER HEAD. NINA (calmly) They've veered off! DESICA Where are they heading ? NINA According to the readings - back the way they came. DESICA GRIMACES. HE LOOKS OVER THE ILLUMINATED SPACE CHART. TAKE: DESICA P.O.V. THE ALIEN SHIPS ARE FADING FROM THE FAR CORNER OF THE SCREEN. NOW ONLY THE S.H.A.D.O. INTERCEPTORS ARE VISIBLE. DESICA (V.O.) (slowly) I don't get it - I don't get it at all. RESUME ON DESICA ***PAGE*** -7- 13 (continued) AS HE RELUCTANTLY FLICKS A SWITCH ON THE CONSOLE, ESTABLISHING CONTACT WITH THE INTERCEPTORS. DESICA (as beat, then) . . .Interceptors. . .return to base. CUT TO: 14 _EXT. SPACE. SKY (V.E.)_ 7 SECS THE THREE INTERCEPTORS GLIDING THROUGH SPACE. THEY BEGIN TO MAKE A WIDE, SWEEPING TURN. CUT TO: 15 _INT. SHADO CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 44 secs STRAKER IS AT HIS DESK. THE SHADO OPERATORS ARE LOOKING AT THE TRACKER SCREEN, THEIR FACES SHOWING THEIR PERPLEXITY AT THE SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE OF THE U.F.O.S (THE CHARACTERISTIC BEEP PUNCTUATES TRANSMISSION). DESICA IS ON THE VIDEO LINK. STRAKER Did we scare them off ? DESICA It'd be the first time. STRAKER So what happened ? HOLD ON DESICA IN THE VIDEO SCREEN. DESICA (slowly) It looks like anybody's guess, sir. STRAKES EXPLODES AT THE IMAGE IN FRONT OF HIM. STRAKER (vehemently) Guess ? With a hundred million dollars' worth of computer equipment at your fingertips - you still have to _guess_ ? DESICA (firm) Sometimes - yes. STRAKER PACES IN FRONT OF THE SCREEN. . .THEN STOPS SWINGS ROUND. ***PAGE*** -8- 15 (continued) STRAKER (almost accusatory) They didn't make a billion mile space journey for nothing. DESICA No sir. STRAKER So we need answers Franco. Was it a decoy that _failed_ - or a red herring that's already _succeeded_ ? It's your job to find out. IMMEDIATELY: CUT TO: 16 _INT. MOON BASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 16 SECS ON DESICA DESICA Stand down to Green Alert. . . NINA NODS, AND SWINGS AROUND TO MONITOR TRACKER UNIT ONCE AGAIN. ANOTHER ANGLE. DESICA GETS UP AND WE FOLLOW AS HE WALKS SLOWLY TO THE WINDOW FACING ONTO THE MOON'S SURFACE. DESICA STARES OUT AT THE AIRLESS, BARREN EXPANSE BEFORE HIM, LOST IN THOUGHT. HOLD FOR A MOMENT, THEN: CUT TO: 17 _EXT. MOON'S SURFACE. DAY (V.E.)_ 8 SECS DESICA'S P.O.V. A SLOW PANNING SHOT ACROSS THE SCARRED, CRATER-POCKED TERRAIN AND UP INTO THE INFINITE, TRACKLESS REGIONS OF OUTER SPACE. CUT TO: M A I N T I T L E S 18 _EXT. FILM STUDIO. DAY (STOCK)_ 40 SECS ESTABLISHING SHOTS OF HARLINGTON-STRAKER FILM STUDIOS - AND SHADO HEADQUARTERS. OVER THE ABOVE SHOTS, SUPERIMPOSE AND FADE THE NECESSARY CREDIT CAPTIONS. ***PAGE*** -9- 18 (continued) AS THE FINAL CAPTION FADES: COME UP ON A STARK, SIMPLY LETTERED SIGN THAT READS: "HARLINGTON-STRAKER FILM STUDIOS" HOLD FOR A MOMENT, THEN: CUT TO: 19 _INT. SHADO CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 186 SECS ON FREEMAN WHO IS UNCHARACTERISTICALLY SOLEMN, FREEMAN But what are they up to ? NOW PULL BACK TO SHOW STRAKER AT HIS DESK, WITH FREEMAN STANDING BESIDE IT, LOOKING DOWN. STRAKER (slowly) I wish I knew. . . HE PUSHES HIMSELF TO HIS FEET. FOR A MOMENT HE STANDS LOST IN THOUGHT. THEN: STRAKER I've told Franco to keep the Base on Green Alert for the next few days. FREEMAN NODS, THEN SMILES WITH A SUDDEN AMUSEMENT. FREEMAN Perhaps they were after the Calotex installation. . . STRAKER'S MOUTH PURSES, AS IF HE HAD JUST TASTED SOMETHING SOUR. FREEMAN'S GRIN BROADENS AT THE REACTION - IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT HE EXPECTED. STRAKER GLARES UP AT HIM AS FREEMAN CONTINUES STRAKER (interrupts) Don't talk to me about Calotex, I've been avoiding their President all morning. FREEMAN What have you got against them anyway ? They went through the proper channels. . . ***PAGE*** -10- 19 (continued) STRAKER'S IRRITATION BEGINS TO MOUNT STRAKER They shouldn't have been _allowed_ up there! A private corporation has no business on the Moon. FREEMAN _They_ think so. . .as so does the government. STRAKER WAVES HIS HAND IMPATIENTLY, DISMISSING FREEMAN'S STATEMENT. STRAKER All the mineral deposits of any value were located long ago. . .Calotex is just wasting time and money! FREEMAN SHRUGS FREEMAN That's their problem. STRAKER (hard) Now it _our_ problem too! ANOTHER ANGLE AS AN OPERATOR COMES DEFERENTIALLY UP TO THE DESK, INTERRUPTING STRAKER STRAKER NODS. OPERATOR Outside call for you, Commander, on six. STRAKER IS STILL FUMING, BUT COMPOSES HIMSELF WITH AN EFFORT. AS THE OPERATOR RETURNS TO HIS POST, STRAKER FLICKS THE APPROPRIATE SWITCH ON THE VIDEO PHONE. THE DIGNIFIED, AUTHORITATIVE FACE OF A MIDDLE-AGED MAN APPEARS ON THE SCREEN. HE IS JAMES BLAKE, PRESIDENT OF CALOTEX. STRAKER Straker. BLAKE You're a difficult man to contact Commander. ***PAGE*** -11- 19 (continued) STRAKER (flatly) It's in the nature of the job. BLAKE Four security reroutings ? (he smiles) My name's Blake. STRAKER President of the Calotex Corporation. ON FREEMAN WHO IS NOW DRINKING A CUP OF COFFEE. . .LISTENING INTENTLY. ON BLAKE HE IS DISCONCERTED BY STRAKER'S TONE. BLAKE I just wanted to establish contact Commander. And thank you for your help is establishing our Moon Project. ON STRAKER VERY SLOWLY HE FACES STRAIGHT AHEAD TO THE SCREEN. STRAKER We should get one thing straight, Mr. Blake. Your moon project was authorised despite my objections. If there's any trouble - any trouble at all - I shall demand its immediate withdrawal!! TWO SHOT BLAKE RECOILS UNDER THE BARRAGE. THEN SLOWLY, COLDLY. BLAKE I understand, Commander. But there won't be any problems. STRAKER I only wish I shared your optimism. BLAKE BECOME SLIGHTLY MORE AGGRESSIVE, IN THE FACE OF STRAKER'S OPEN HOSTILITY. BLAKE Our team will be on the Moon for a period of ten days. What can happen in that time. . . ? ***PAGE*** -12- 19 (continued) STRAKER (grimly) A great deal. . . BLAKE IS NOW CONFUSED AS WELL AS IRRITATED, AND HIS FACE CLOUDS OVER WITH RESENTMENT, BUT STRAKER RELENTLESSLY CONTINUES. STRAKER My command has a complex and hazardous mission. The presence of civilians in the area could easily jeopardise our security procedures - as well as interfere with normal operations. BLAKE (arguing) Our team has been thoroughly briefed. They will use strictly limited radio frequencies and take every precaution to avoid your installations. STRAKER (icily) They'll be briefed again. BLAKE TRIES TO RESTORE A MORE FRIENDLY TONE TO THE CONVERSATION BLAKE Whatever you wish. . . but frankly I'm sure that there will be little contact with your base, unless. . . STRAKER (quickly) _Unless_ what. . .? BLAKE I only meant that in case of an emergency. . . You did agree. . . STRAKER SOURLY COMPLETED THE SENTENCE. STRAKER . . ...to give all possible assistance. ON BLAKE'S NO LONGER FRIENDLY NOD WE: CUT TO: 20 _EXT. THE SPACE SKY (V.E.)_ 6 SECS A DOT OF LIGHT ARCS SLOWLY ACROSS THE SPACE SKY. PULL BACK TO SEE THE DISTANT PALLID MOON AND: CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -13- 21 _INT. MOON BASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 50 SECS ON PAULA HARRIS WHO HAS RELIEVED NINA BARRY AT THE TRACKER CONSOLE. HER ATTENTION IS COMPLETELY FIXED ON THE SCREEN. TAKE: HER P.O.V. THE TRACKER SCREEN, WITH A SINGLE BLIP FAR OUT IN SPACE. PAULA It's travelling too slowly for a UFO. PULL BACK TO INCLUDE DESICA IN SHOT. DESICA Meteorite. . . ? PAULA Looks like it. ANOTHER ANGLE. AS PAULA, REFERRING BACK TO THE SCREEN, MAKES SEVERAL RAPID NOTATIONS FOR THE COMPUTER OPERATOR AS DESICA GOES TO THE REVOLVING CONSOLE. HE SLUMPS DOWN IN THE CHAIR, AND SWITCHES ON THE RADARSCOPE. THE BLIP IS MOVING SLOWLY DOWN THE SCREEN. THEN A COMPUTER OPERATOR HURRIES UP TO DESICA WITH A SHEAF OF CALCULATIONS IN HIS HAND. OPERATOR The sighting sir. . . DESICA LOOKS UP, WAITING. OPERATOR Definitely a meteorite, with. . . (consults his figures) . . .an E.T.T. in Area 017-213. DESICA TAKES OUT A LUNAR TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP AND WORKS OUT THE LOCATION OF THE METEORITE'S FALL. AS HE PINPOINTS THE AREA, HIS EYES WIDEN WITH ALARM, HE CHECKS IT AGAIN. THEN SWITCHES ON THE VIDEO LINK WITH SHADO CONTROL. CUT TO: 22 _INT. SHADO CONTROL. NIGHT (STUDIO)_ 28 SECS STRAKER IS STARING IRATELY AT THE DESK TV SCREEN. ***PAGE*** -14- 22 (continued) STRAKER (loudly) A what ?. . . DESICA A meteorite. . . STRAKER You videoed to tell me that ? DESICA The E.T.T. is almost directly on top of the Calotex installation! ON STRAKER HE CLOSES HIS EYES BRIEFLY, OUTRAGED BY THE FACT THAT ALL HIS WORST FEARS SEEM REALISED. THEN: STRAKER (urgently) Can you contact them ? ANOTHER ANGLE TO INCLUDE DESICA ON THE VIDEO LINK. DESICA There's the radio link. STRAKER Warn them ! DESICA Roger. STRAKER And one more thing. . . CUT TO: 23 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 46 SECS ON CONSOLE TV SCREEN STRAKER'S FACE IS FRAMED IN IT. STRAKER If you have to bring any of them back to the Base, use the amnesia procedure. ON DESICA DESICA Right. ***PAGE*** -15- 23 (continued) HE BREAKS CONTACT WITH STRAKER, THEN: ANOTHER ANGLE AS DESICA TURNS TO ONE OF HIS RADIO OPERATORS. DESICA Contact the Calotex unit. THE OPERATOR IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATES HIS SET, HE FINDS THE PROPER FREQUENCIES, MAKES THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS, AND BEGINS TO TRANSMIT. HE TRIES FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, BUT THERE IS NO RESPONSE. THE OPERATOR TURNS BACK TO DESICA. RADIO OPERATOR Nothing yet. . . DESICA (hard) Keep trying! NOW TAKE: ANOTHER ANGLE DESICA REVOLVES AROUND TO FACE THE RADARSCOPE. THE BLIP IS NOW WELL DOWN THE SCREEN. DESICA (to PAULA) How long to impact ? PAULA Approximately three minutes. . .! DESICA RETURNS TO THE RADARSCOPE, HIS FACE FILLED WITH FRUSTRATION. IN THE BACKGROUND, THE RADIO OPERATOR'S SIGNAL CAN BE HEARD, STILL TRYING TO RAISE CALOTEX. HOLD FOR A MOMENT, THEN: CUT TO: 24 _EXT. MOON. DAY (V.E.)_ 12 SECS A TIGHT SHOT OF A SILENT, DEBRIS-SPEWING EXPLOSION. THEN A SECOND. AND A THIRD. AS THE DUST SETTLES FROM THE LAST EXPLOSION, TRACK BACK TO SHOW THREE SPACE-SUITED FIGURES, WITH PROMINENT "CALOTEX" BADGES, TAKING READINGS. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -16- 25 _INT. SECTION OF ROCKS. DAY (STUDIO)_ 14 SECS AS THE THREE CALOTEX FIGURES COME TOGETHER AND COMPARE READINGS, THEN PREPARE TO SET ANOTHER CHARGE. SUDDENLY, THE FIGURES FREEZE IN THEIR TRACKS, AND LOOK UPWARDS. ON MARK TANNER THROUGH THE VISOR OF THE FACE HELMET, WE SEE TANNER STARING UP INTO SPACE. CUT TO: 26 _EXT. SPACE. SKY (V.E.)_ 4 SECS TANNER'S P.O.V. A BRIGHTLY SHINING METEORITE, STREAKING THROUGH SPACE, SEVERAL MILES ABOVE THE MOON'S SURFACE. HOLD ON ITS PLUNGING COURSE. (NOTE: IT IS NOT BURNING UP AS IT WOULD ON EARTH). CUT TO: 27 _EXT. SECTION OF ROCK. DAY (STUDIO)_ 4 SECS THE THREE SPACE-SUITED FIGURES THROW THEMSELVES DOWN IN AN INSTINCTIVE EFFORT TO ESCAPE INJURY. CUT TO: 28 _EXT. MOON SURFACE. DAY (V.E.)_ 9 SECS THE METEORITE CRASHES SHATTERINGLY TO THE MOON'S SURFACE, IN A GIGANTIC BURST OF SMALL BOULDERS AND RUBBLE. AS THE PUMICE-LIKE ASH SLOWLY DRIFTS AWAY, A TYPICAL CRATER FORMATION CAN BE SEEN THROUGH THE THICK HAZY CURTAIN OF ROCK AND DUST. ESTABLISH, THE TAKE: 28A _ANOTHER ANGLE (STUDIO)_ 10 SECS THE CALOTEX TEAM SLOWLY PICK THEMSELVES UP. THEY WALK TOWARDS THE LIP OF THE CRATER WITH SOME DIFFICULTY, MOVING OVER THE DEBRIS. CUT TO: 29 _EXT. CRATER. DAY (V.E.)_ 4 SECS THEIR POV THE FLOOR OF THE CRATER IS OBSCURED BY SWIRLING CLOUD OF DUST AND ASH. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -17- 30 _EXT. SECTION OF ROCKS. DAY (STUDIO)_ 33 SECS TANNER, JANE CARSON AND PHILIP MITCHELL EXCHANGE GLANCES AS THEY LOOK INTO THE CRATER O.S. THEN TANNER GESTURES. WE CLOSE ON THEIR HELMETS TO HEAR THEIR VOICES OVER THE RADIO LINK. TANNER Statistically that was a 50,000 to 1 shot. MITCHELL A meteorite of that size ? TANNER Right. JANE If we're through for this session I suggest we get back and check the base. MITCHELL Check the base ? JANE A piece of debris could have punctured the pressure skin. THEY TURN, AND WE: CUT TO: 31 _EXT. MOON SURFACE. DAY (V.E.)_ 7 SECS THEIR P.O.V. THE CALOTEX INSTALLATION: IT IS A SMALL HEXAGONAL WINDOWLESS BUILDING, CONSTRUCTED OF LIGHTWEIGHT METAL, WITH NO APPARENT SEAMS. "CALOTEX CORP." IS STAMPED IN LARGE, LETTERS ON ONE SIDE. ESTABLISH, AND TAKE: CUT TO: 32 _INT. CALOTEX BASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 35 SECS PAN AROUND THE INTERIOR. SIMPLY, ALMOST STARKLY FURNISHED, WITH A BARE MINIMUM OF BUNKS AND EATING FACILITIES. MOST OF THE SPACE IS TAKEN UP BY VARIOUS KINDS OF SURVEYING EQUIPMENT. A DOOR LEADS TO ANOTHER ROOM. ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT STANDS OUT: IT IS A HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED GEOLOGICAL SCANNER, THAT NOT ONLY ASSISTS IN LOCATING MINERAL DEPOSITS, BUT ANALYSES THEIR COMPOSITION. IT USES SEVERAL HIGH FREQUENCIES, AND IT IS THIS OPERATION, IN PARTICULAR, THAT HAS BEEN SEVERELY REGULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SHADO REQUIREMENTS. ***PAGE*** -18- 32 (continued) AN INNER AIRTIGHT DOOR SLIDES ASIDE. TANNER, MITCHELL AND JANE CARSON FILE INTO THE UNIT. THEY KEEP THEIR HELMETS ON AS THEY CHECK PRESSURE GAUGES. MITCHELL Pressure normal on one. JANE CARSON Normal on two. O.K. THEY TAKE OFF THEIR HELMETS AND WE SEE THEM CLEARLY FOR THE FIRST TIME. JANE CARSON IS IN HER EARLY THIRTIES, VERY COMPETENT, SELF-ASSURED AND MATURELY ATTRACTIVE. MITCHELL IS ROUGHLY THE SAME AGE, BUT MORE IMPETUOUS AND WITH LESS SELF-DISCIPLINE THAN HIS COLLEAGUE. TANNER, THE LEADER OF THE TEAM, IS MIDDLE-AGED, WITH A PLEASANT BUT FIRM MANNER, AND AN EASY AIR OF AUTHORITY. THEY TURN AS THE RADIO BEEPS A TRANSMISSION INDICATOR. MITCHELL Our friendly neighbours. . .the military. . . HE PICKS UP THE MICROPHONE. MITCHELL Calotex survey base. CUT TO: 33 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 28 SECS ON DESICA INTO MIKE DESICA This is Colonel Desica. . .. . .. We monitored a meteorite in your area. MITCHELL (VO) We saw it land. Quite large. . . - approximately 1800 pounds. It fell about 200 yards from our installations. DESICA TAKES THE CHART AND GLANCES AT IT. DESICA Yes. That agrees with our co-ordinates. You've checked the pressure skin for puncture ? ***PAGE*** -19- 33 (continued) MITCHELL (VO) (condescending) Yes, Colonel. Thank you for calling - out. DESICA SLIGHTLY ANNOYED BY MITCHELL'S ATTITUDE OPENS THE VIDEO LINK WITH SHADO CONTROL. MIX TO: 34 _INT. SHADO CONTROL. NIGHT (STUDIO)_ 16 SECS STRAKER Let's have those co-ordinates again. . . DESICA'S FACE IS FRAMED IN THE TV SCREEN. DESICA 074-184 decimal 2. STRAKER SCRIBBLES DOWN THE INFORMATION. STRAKER Have you given it a designation ? ON DESICA DESICA Crater 236. . . CUT TO: 35 _INT. CALOTEX BASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 40 SECS MITCHELL AND JANE ARE STRETCHED OUT ON THEIR BUNKS, RESTING. MARK TANNER IN ON THE VIDEO LINK TO JAMES BLAKE. BLAKE Any damage ? TANNER No, everything's under control. BLAKE Good. . . will you be finished on schedule ? TANNER I think so. . . (Laughs) providing the meteorites let us alone. BLAKE O.K. I guess that's all. (pauses) ***PAGE*** -20- 35 (continued) BLAKE (contd.) I've talked to a Commander Straker about that military installation near you - my impression is he's _looking_ for trouble. Make sure you don't give him any. TANNER Don't worry. We're staying out of their way. . . playing strictly to the rules. BRADLEY Keep it that way. . . TANNER LEANS FORWARD INTO THE SCREEN - WE SEE HIS HAND MOVE TOWARDS A SWITCH AND THE SCREEN GOES BLANK. CUT TO: 36 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 46 SECS DESICA STILL HAS STRAKER ON THE VIDEO LINK. STRAKER You've got these Calotex people on your back door for the next ten to fourteen days, Franco. . . DESICA They're no trouble. STRAKER Just the same, I want you to go over there and make sure they're following the agreed procedure. Don't make it too easy for them. DESICA'S FACE SHOWS HIS REACTION TO STRAKER'S HARD LINE. HE IS ABOUT TO COME BACK WITH A PROTEST, WHEN: SUDDENLY, THE RADIO BEGINS TO CRACKLE AND FADE. STRAKER'S VOICE BECOMES INAUDIBLE. HIS IMAGE ON THE SCREEN SHIFTS AND BLURS. THEN THE SCREEN GOES COMPLETELY BLANK. TAKE: ANOTHER ANGLE AS DESICA MAKES SEVERAL RAPID ADJUSTMENTS ON THE CONSOLE, BUT IT IS USELESS. THE SCREEN REMAINS DARK. DESICA SWIVELS AROUND AND RAPS OUT A CURT ORDER. DESICA Loss of signal! . . .Run equipment check! ***PAGE*** -21- 36 (continued) PULL BACK TO SHOW VARIOUS OPERATORS EXAMINING INSTRUMENT PANELS. DESICA WATCHES FOR A MOMENT. THEN GETS UP AND HURRIES OUT OF THE ROOM. CUT TO: 37 _INT. SHADO CONTROL. NIGHT (STUDIO)_ 20 SECS ON THE DESK TV SCREEN THE SCREEN IS BLANK ON STRAKER AS HE STARES AT IT, HIS FACE CLOUDED, STRAKER Switch in the emergency link. THEN TAKE: ANOTHER ANGLE TO SEE SHADO OPERATORS, IN THE BACKGROUND, ADJUSTING FREQUENCIES, THROWING SWITCHES. . . OPERATOR Emergency link - negative. NOW ZOOM IN ON STRAKER'S TROUBLED FACE, AND: CUT TO: 38 _INT. CONTROL SPHERE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 162 SECS DESICA IS WITH MOONBASE'S ASTRO PHYSICIST, CHARLES REED HE IS DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THE LOSS OF SIGNAL. . . REED REMAINS UNRUFFLED AND CALMLY ANSWERS QUESTIONS PUT TO HIM WITH TYPICAL SCIENTIFIC DETACHMENT. REED I can assure you, Colonel, solar activity is minimal. DESICA Are you _sure_ ? . . . there's no other obvious explanation for the failure. REED A fault in the equipment ? DESICA The checks say no. ***PAGE*** -22- 38 (continued) REED I still think you'll find your answer there. DESICA SHAKES HIS HEAD. DESICA Run another test series. The solar wind has disrupted our communications more than once. REED SHAKES HIS HEAD STUBBORNLY. REED It's not responsible this time. DESICA LOOKS AT HIM. DESICA I want those tests run . . . REED REALISES HE IS IN DANGER OF PUSHING THINGS TOO FAR. REED If you insist. (pauses) You do understand the nature of the solar wind, Colonel ? DESICA (flatly reciting) A steady stream of charged particles . . . protons or electrons . . . emitted by the sun. During intense solar activity - so-called flares or sunspots - there is a dramatic increase in radio frequency radiation . . . (a beat) The tests, . . .. Reed . . . REED NODS HURRIEDLY . . . BEGINS TO BUSY HIMSELF WITH A COMPUTER. REED (hurriedly) I'll set up the coronagraph check. REED SETS UP THE COMPUTER FOR THE TEST. REED Right. . .. ON COMPUTER, AFTER A SERIES OF ELECTRONIC CLICKS A PHOTOGRAPH IS FED OUT. REED'S HAND PICKS IT UP. ***PAGE*** -23- 38 (continued) TWO SHOT REED HANDS THE PHOTO TO DESICA. ON PHOTOGRAPH DESICA'S P.O.V. THE SUN, WITH THE CORONAGRAPH GIVING THE EFFECT OF A TOTAL ECLIPSE. THE CORONA ITSELF IS BRIGHTEST NEAR THE SUN, BUT DIMINISHES RAPIDLY OUTWARD. LONG STREAMERS EXTEND FROM THE EQUATORIAL REGION, GIVING AN ASYMMETRICAL IMPRESSION, INDICATING THAT SUNSPOT ACTIVITY IS MINIMAL. ON DESICA HIS FACE SHOWING HIS DISAPPOINTMENT. NOW PULL BACK TO SHOW REED WATCHING HIS REACTION, CONTENT TO HAVE PROVED HIS POINT. DESICA (slowly) The corona would be symmetrical if there were an increased number of sunspots . . . REED That's right. No unusual solar activity. DESICA But it all _fitted_! HE MOVES THOUGHTFULLY AWAY REED SHRUGS. REED Have you considered the possibility of outside interference . . . ANOTHER ANGLE DESICA, WHO IS PREPARING TO LEAVE, STOPS DEAD IN HIS TRACKS, STRUCK BY THE CASUAL COMMENT. DESICA Go on! . . . REED, DISCONCERTED BY DESICA'S SUDDEN VEHEMENCE. REED Just an idea. ***PAGE*** -24- 38 (continued) DESICA (interrupting) Calotex. REED STARES AT DESICA: REED The lunar survey team. . . DESICA The frequencies open to them are strictly limited . . . but if they've been breaking the agreement . . .! ON REED WHO NOW UNDERSTANDS WHAT DESICA IS GETTING AT. REED Is there a way to check ? ON DESICA - HIS EXPRESSION IS GRIM. DESICA There's one way - the best. CUT TO: 39 _INT. CALOTEX BASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 26 SECS C.U. OF THE GEOLOGICAL SCANNER OPERATING AT FULL POWER. NOW PULL BACK TO SEE JANE CARSON MONITORING THE CONTROLS. TANNER IS BESIDE, WATCHING CLOSELY. MITCHELL IS OVER TO ONE SIDE, GOING OVER SEVERAL PRINTOUTS. TANNER Anything promising ? JANE Not yet . . . TANNER WATCHES A MOMENT LONGER, THEN MOVES OVER TO ONE OF THE PERSPEX PORTS AND LOOKS OUT. ON JANE JANE SCANNING A FINAL PRINTOUT FROM THE SCANNER. JANE (to MITCHELL) That completes this run. (a beat - to TANNER) What is it ? SHE JOINS TANNER AT THE PORT. ***PAGE*** -25- 39 (continued) JANE Trouble ? TANNER (quiet) Why else should we get a visit from the military ? CUT TO: 40 _EXT. MOONSCAPE. DAY (STUDIO) (V.E.)_ 8 SECS A MOONHOPPER IS MAKING ITS WAY ACROSS THE RUGGED MOONSCAPE. HOLD ON THE MOONHOPPER. CUT TO: 41A _INT CALOTEX BASE (STUDIO)_ 12 SECS THE GROUP WAIT THEN PAN TO THE AIRLOCK DOOR. ON DOOR THE INNER DOOR SLIDES OPEN TO SHOW DESICA IN HIS SPACE SUIT. ON TANNER WATCHING ON DESICA HE REMOVES HIS HELMET. HIS FACE SET HARD. FADE OUT END OF ACT ONE ***PAGE*** -26- ACT TWO FADE IN: 42 _EXT. MOONSCAPE. DAY (STUDIO) (V.E.)_ 5 SECS THE MOONMOBILE IS PARKED OUTSIDE THE CALOTEX BASE. CUT TO: 43 _INT. CALOTEX BASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 53 SECS DESICA IS LOOKING AROUND. HE HAS REMOVED HIS SPACE SUIT AND WEARS THE UNDER THERMAL GARMENT. HIS INTEREST FOCUSSES ON THE SCANNER. JANE, MITCHELL AND TANNER WATCH HIM. JANE We're operating well within the prescribed frequencies, Colonel . . . DESICA (coldly) We'll check that, Miss Carson. TANNER Colonel - we're open to check at any time. But to switch off the geo- scanner means a complete write-off for all our work. HE LOOKS AT DESICA. TANNER We'd have to be persuaded there was adequate reason for so drastic a step. DESICA (quickly) More than adequate reason Mr. Tanner - our base radios lost total contact with earth half an hour ago. JANE An immediate possibility might be increased solar activity. DESICA The solar wind ? (he shakes his head) The coronagraph shows negative. MITCHELL How about a simple radio fault. (sarcastic) D'you check your fuses, Colonel. ***PAGE*** -27- 43 (continued) DESICA (cold) We checked everything. TANNER And now you want to check us DESICA (hard) Can you think of a more logical step ? TANNER SHRUGS RESIGNEDLY. CUT TO: 44 _INT. STRAKER'S SHADO OFFICE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 28 SECS ON STRAKER AT HIS DESK. IN THE PRIVACY OF HIS OFFICE - FREEMAN TO SEE HIM - HIS TIE IS LOOSENED. HE PASSES A WEARY HAND ACROSS HIS HEAD. STRAKER Get another check run on Moon base communications NOW ANGLE TO INCLUDE FREEMAN. FREEMAN You ordered a continuous check 30 minutes ago . . . You'll know the moment contact is re-established. STRAKER Fine . . . FREEMAN Why don't you catch some sleep ? STRAKER MAKES AN IMPATIENT GESTURE. STRAKER I'm too tired to sleep FREEMAN LOOKS UP AT HIM IN SOME SURPRISE, AND THEY BOTH LAUGH AT THE INANE REMARK. CUT TO: 45 _INT. CALOTEX BASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 198 SECS DESICA EXAMINING A FREQUENCY CRYSTAL IN THE SCANNER. ***PAGE*** -28- 45 (continued) DESICA You almost have me convinced . . . TANNER You've examined the frequency settings Colonel. I think they prove that we've followed the agreement to the letter. DESICA IS SITTING ACROSS FROM TANNER. JANE CARSON IS DISCREETLY STAYING OUT OF THE WAY, COLLATING PRINT OUTS. THE ATMOSPHERE IS RELAXED. AND IT IS APPARENT THAT TANNER HAS MANAGED TO REASSURE DESICA THAT CALOTEX IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RADIO BLACKOUTS. DESICA It proves that you haven't intentionally operated on the restricted frequencies. But they haven't ruled out the possibility that you used them _inadvertently_ . . . TANNER SMILES, NOT IN THE LEAST DISCONCERTED BY DESICA'S SUGGESTION. TANNER Miss Carson is in charge of the Geoscanner. . . and she is _very_ experienced. ANOTHER ANGLE AS TANNER GESTURES TOWARDS JANE. SHE LOOKS UP, SMILING IN TURN. DESICA STARES AT HER APPROVINGLY. ALTHOUGH HE HAS NO WAY OF ASSESSING HER CAPABILITIES AS A TECHNICIAN, HE FULLY APPRECIATES HER STRIKING APPEARANCE AND UNFORCED FEMINITY DESICA (acknowledging JANE) I believe it. JANE INCLINES HER HEAD SLIGHTLY IN RESPONSE, THEN GETS UP AND JOINS THE TWO MEN. JANE Exactly how many radio blackouts have you had ? DESICA One, so far. . . ***PAGE*** -29- 45 (continued) JANE That doesn't seem too serious. DESICA For a military organisation it could be very serious. HER TURN NOW TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS REMARK. SHE INCLINES HER HEAD. JANE Are you sure it must be us ? DESICA It seemed a reasonable conclusion. TANNER I'm glad we've been able to change your mind. DESICA So am I. Except that I'm right back where I started. THE THREE ARE SILENT FOR A MOMENT, DESICA PREOCCUPIED AND JANE AND TANNER WATCHING HIM SYMPATHETICALLY. THEN: ANOTHER ANGLE AS TANNER GETS UP. TANNER You'll have to excuse me, Colonel. I have some seismic meters to service. HE MOVES ACROSS THE ROOM. . . STOPS AT THE DOOR. TANNER I know Miss Carson will be happy to answer any other questions you might have. Au revoir Colonel. DESICA (nods to him formally) Mr. Tanner. TANNER GOES THROUGH THE DOOR. DESICA Miss Carson. . . JANE Jane . . . Up here formality seems slightly . . . superfluous. ***PAGE*** -30- 45 (continued) DESICA'S EXPRESSION SHOWS THAT HE WELCOMES THE SUGGESTION. DESICA Franco. JANE Alright Franco.. (she becomes business-like) I have the impression you're still not a hundred per cent sure that we aren't the source of your difficulties. DESICA SAYS NOTHING. UNWILLING TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT HE _HAS_ BEEN CONSIDERING. JANE I can see I'm right. DESICA STRETCHES HIS HANDS WIDE - A GESTURE OF APOLOGY. JANE So if there are more radio blackouts . . . we get the blame. DESICA No. But I'll want to make an immediate check on your use of the scanner. JANE We're 34 miles away - how will you do that if we lose radio contact. DESICA We'll install a landline between here and Moonbase. That way we'll always have a direct link. JANE And . . .? DESICA The Geoscanner is the only piece of equipment you have powerful enough to disrupt communications . . . JANE NODS HER AGREEMENT. DESICA _If_ there's a fade-out, and the Geoscanner isn't transmitting . . . ***PAGE*** -31- 45 (continued) JANE (contd.) . . .then we're in the clear . . . DESICA Right. JANE You'll have to take our word for it that we're not operating. DESICA LOOKS THOUGHTFULLY AT JANE, THEN RELAXES. DESICA I'm prepared to take _your_ word. SHE BECOMES SERIOUS. JANE I know we're not to blame, Franco . . . I've been very careful. And so have Mark Tanner and Phil. ANOTHER ANGLE AS DESICA AND JANE STAND UP. DESICA We'll begin laying the landline immediately. JANE Fine. (she becomes mildly flirtatious) I'll be waiting for your first call. . . on the hot line. HOLD DESICA'S LOOK AND JANE'S RESPONSE. THEN TAKE: ANOTHER ANGLE AS PHILIP MITCHELL ENTERS THROUGH THE DOOR, CARRYING A VACUUM-LIKE SAMPLE GATHERING MECHANISM. MITCHELL NODS AT DESICA, HIS MANNER COLD, DESICA RETURNS HIS NOD. DESICA I must be going, Jane. JANE ACCOMPANIES DESICA AS HE WALKS TO HIS SPACE SUIT. JANE PICKS UP HIS HELMET. HE PAUSES, LOOKS TOWARDS MITCHELL, THEN, MORE INTIMATELY AT JANE. TAKE ANOTHER ANGLE ***PAGE*** -32- 45 (continued) ON MITCHELL MITCHELL Have you seen all you want ? ON DESICA LOOKING AT JANE DESICA I think I've looked at . . . everything. MITCHELL (VO) And are you satisfied? DESICA STILL LOOKS AT JANE WITH THE HINT OF A SMILE. DESICA Yes. . . CUT TO: 46 _EXT. MOON SURFACE. DAY (V.E.)_ 10 SECS A MOONMOBILE MOVES ACROSS THE SURFACE LAYING THE CABLE WHICH IS IN A LARGE TRANSPARENT CARRIER, AND IS UNWOUND AUTOMATICALLY. CUT TO: 47 _INT. SHADO CONTROL DAY (STUDIO)_ 54 SECS COME UP CLOSE ON A VIDEOSCREEN AND SEE ITS DEAD BLACKNESS FLICKER . . . THE SET CRACKLES AND WE TAKE: ANOTHER ANGLE THE OPERATOR IS REACTING TO WHAT HE SEES. HE LEANS FORWARD. OPERATOR Shado Control to Moonbase - do you read me. THE SET CRACKLES AGAIN AND NINA BARRY'S FACE FILLS THE SCREEN. NINA (on screen) Reading you . . . Strength 5 voice and vision. THE SHADO OPERATOR SWINGS HIS CHAIR. ***PAGE*** -33- 47 (continued) OPERATOR Immediate for Commander Straker. . . Moonbase contact re-established. NOW CLOSE ON HIM, AND TAKE: HIS P.O.V. STRAKER STANDS JUST THIS SIDE OF THE DOORS WHICH ARE CLOSING BEHIND HIM. RESUME ON OPERATOR OPERATOR Moonbase contact sir. . . ON STRAKER HE NODS WEARILY. STRAKER Tell Colonel Freeman, I'm going to take a couple of hours sleep. HE CROSSES THE CONTROL ROOM. CUT TO: 47A _EXT. MOONSCAPE. DAY (STUDIO) (V.E.)_ 7 SECS THE MOONMOBILE LAYING THE CABLE IS NOW STOPPED NEAR THE CALOTEX BASE. CUT TO: 48 _EXT. BASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 5 SECS WE SEE THE CABLE RUNNING INTO THE BASE. THE LAND LINE IS COMPLETE. CUT TO: 49 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL, DAY (STUDIO)_ 23 SECS DESICA IS AT THE REVOLVING CONSOLE. CONTROL IS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. ESTABLISH, THEN TAKE: ANOTHER ANGLE AS PAULA COMES OVER TO DESICA. PAULA Landline installation complete, sir. ***PAGE*** -34- 49 (continued) DESICA GETS UP AND GOES OVER TO A MODERNISTIC SENDER- RECEIVER UNIT AT ONE SIDE OF THE SPHERE. HE PICKS UP THE UNIT, PRESSES A BUTTON AT ITS BASE, AND WAITS THEN: DESICA Calotex base . . ., how's reception ? . . . Great. It's 5 by 5 this end too. CUT TO: 50 _INT. CALOTEX BASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 5 SECS JANE IS HOLDING AN IDENTICAL UNIT. JANE Well, our own private line. I'm flattered. CUT TO: 51 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL, DAY (STUDIO)_ 10 SECS DESICA (mock confidential tone) What do you do on your evening off. . . ? Well I know a little Italian place - not two hundred miles south of here - how about dinner ? CUT TO: 52 _INT. CALOTEX BASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 3 SECS JANE Do they have fettucini ? CUT TO: 53 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL DAY (STUDIO)_ 3 SECS DESICA Beautiful fettucini. CUT TO: 54 _INT. CALOTEX BASE DAY (STUDIO)_ 5 SECS JANE And a fat Italian mama does all her own cooking ? 55 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 9 SECS DESICA You've been there! . . .. ***PAGE*** -35- 55 (continued) HE LAUGHS. DESICA Make a left at Crater 741, I'll reserve a corner table. CUT TO: 56 _INT. CALOTEX DAY (STUDIO)_ 5 SECS JANE (soft) And we'll sit and watch the stars. CUT TO: 57 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 3 SECS DESICA And our only problem will be . . . CUT TO: 58 _INT CALOTEX BASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 6 SECS JANE How the devil do we spoon the fettucini through a quarter inch space visor. CUT TO: 59 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 18 SECS ON DESICA HE LAUGHS. THEN CHECKS HIS WATCH. DESICA I've got a moonship coming in shortly, Jane - talk to you later. HE CLICKS OFF THE SWITCH . . . TURNS TO SEE NINA BARRY'S EYES ON HIM. IMMEDIATELY HE WIPES THE SMILE FROM HIS FACE. DESICA Do we have it on positive track ? NINA Yes. DESICA TURNS BACK AND FLICKS A SWITCH, ESTABLISHING CONTACT WITH THE LUNAR MODULE. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -36- 60 _EXT. SPACE. DAY (V.E.)_ 6 SECS THE LUNAR MODULE SOARING GRACEFULLY IN TOWARDS THE MOON. HOLD FOR A MOMENT, THEN: CUT TO: 61 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 18 SECS A MOONBASE OPERATOR PRESSES SEVERAL SWITCHES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEFORE HIM. SEVERAL OF THE DIALS RAPIDLY CHANGE COLOUR. ON DESICA DESICA IS IN CONTACT WITH THE MODULE PILOT. HE LOOKS QUICKLY AT THE RADARSCOPE. THEN: DESICA'S P.O.V. A SINGLE BLIP ON THE RADAR SCOPE, WELL DOWN THE SCREEN. RESUME ON DESICA DESICA Control to Lunar Module . . . Switch to computer control for landing. PILOT (V.O.) Roger. CUT TO: 62 _EXT. SPACE. SKY (V.E.)_ 6 SECS THE MODULE SLOWLY MANOEUVRES INTO AN UPRIGHT POSITION, ITS NOSE POINTING DIRECTLY SKYWARD. ESTABLISH, THEN: CUT TO: 63 _INT. TRANSPORTER. DAY (STUDIO)_ 17 SECS THE PILOT WATCHES THE CONTROLS AS THE RADIO LINK TO THE MOONBASE COMPUTER MAKES THE NECESSARY CORRECTIONS TO THE FLIGHT PATTERN TO BRING THE SHIP INTO A BACKWARD FLYING POSITION. TAKE: PILOT'S P.O.V. THE BANK OF DIALS, WITH THE NEEDLES SLOWLY INCHING AROUND. RESUME PILOT AS HE WATCHES THE AUTOMATIC RADIO CONTROLLED LANDING SEQUENCE. CUT TO: _SCENE 64 DELETED_ ***PAGE*** -37- 65 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY, (STUDIO)_ 42 SECS DESICA IS CAREFULLY MONITORING THE LUNAR MODULE'S DESCENT ON THE RADAR SCREEN. DESICA Landing is "go" . . . PILOT (VO) Thank you, Control. On computer . . . THE VOICE OF THE PILOT IS OBSCURED BY A LOUD CRACKLING NOISE OVER THE TRANSMITTER. DESICA STARES AT THE RADAR SCOPE, THEN TAKE: HIS P.O.V. THE BLIP ON THE SCREEN IS NOW ONLY INTERMITTENTLY VISIBLE. RESUME ON DESICA AS HE SWIVELS IN NINA'S DIRECTION. DESICA (hard) Do you still have them . . . ? ANOTHER ANGLE ON THE TRACKER SCREEN. THE SCREEN IS MALFUNCTIONING IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE RADARSCOPE. NOW PULL BACK TO SEE NINA SWIFTLY ADJUSTING THE CONTROLS OF THE TRACKER UNIT TO GET ANOTHER FIX ON THE LUNAR MODULE. AFTER A MOMENT, SHE LOOKS GRIMLY AT DESICA. ON DESICA NINA I'm losing them . . .! Radio malfunction. DESICA (into mike) Control to module . . . switch to manual. CUT TO: 66 _INT. TRANSPORTER. DAY (STUDIO)_ 11 SECS ON THE PILOT THE STATIC-FILLED ROAR OF HIS TRANSMITTER FILLS THE MODULE. ***PAGE*** -38- 66 (continued) PILOT (still calm) This is Lunar Module . . . I have lost you . . . maintaining computer control for landing. CUT TO: 67 _EXT. SPACE. DAY (V.E.)_ 5 SECS THE LUNAR MODULE IN THE BACKWARD FLYING POSITION DESCENDS - BLIND - TOWARDS THE LANDING AREA. HOLD FOR A MOMENT, THEN: CUT TO: 68 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 12 SECS DESICA IS STANDING BY NINA BARRY AT THE TRACKER CONSOLE. DESICA Switch to manual . . . we have radio blackout (to Nina) You've _got_ to make contact NINA RAPIDLY FLICKS A BANK OF SWITCHES. NINA I'm trying . . . CUT TO: 69 _EXT. SPACE. SKY(V.E.)_ 5 SECS THE LUNAR MODULE. NOW WAVERING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. FAR BELOW, THE MOONBASE LANDING PLATFORM CAN JUST BE GLIMPSED. ESTABLISH, THEN: CUT TO: 69A _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 6 SECS ON DESICA DESICA Don't argue just close everything down . . . CUT TO: 70 _INT. LUNAR MODULE DAY (STUDIO)_ 9 SECS ON THE PILOT REALISING SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG... HE IS ***PAGE*** -39- 70 (continued) FRANTICALLY TRYING TO CORRECT THE CONTROL READINGS, IN THE BACKGROUND, THE LOUD CRACKLING OF THE USELESS RADIO RECEIVER CAN STILL BE HEARD. TAKE: PILOT'S P.O.V. THE BANK OF DIALS, WITH THE NEEDLES FLICKERING AND CRAZILY CHANGING COLOUR. CUT TO: 71 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 8 SECS DESICA AND NINA ARE STARING HELPLESSLY AT THE COMPLETELY BLURRED TRACKER SCREEN, THEN: NINA He must have switched to manual but I think it's too late. DESICA DOESN'T ANSWER, BUT CONTINUES STARING AT THE SCREEN, HIS FACE WHITE AND STRAINED. CUT TO: 72 _EXT. SPACE-SKY (V.E.)_ 6 SECS THE MODULE RAPIDLY FALLS TOWARDS THE MOON'S SURFACE, ALMOST COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. IT'S COURSE IS NOW ENTIRELY AWAY FROM THE DESIGNATED LANDING AREA. CUT TO: 73 _INT MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 8 SECS THE STEADILY INCREASING ROAR OF THE FALLING MODULE FILLS THE CONTROL ROOM. DESICA AND NINA AND THE OPERATORS ON DUTY STARE UPWARD, FROZEN IN POSITION. HOLD ON THEM FOR A MOMENT, THEN: ON DESICA AS HE PARTIALLY RAISES ONE HAND IN AN INVOLUNTARY GESTURE OF HOPELESS PROTEST.. CUT TO: 74 _INT. LUNAR MODULE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 3 SECS THE PILOT THROWS HIS HANDS BEFORE HIS FACE, AS HE GIVES UP THE USELESS STRUGGLE. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -40- 75 _EXT. MOONSCAPE (V.E.)_ 12 SECS THE MODULE STREAKS IN A TUMBLING ARC PAST MOON BASE AND CRASHES INTO A NEARBY CRATER. ROCK AND MIS-SHAPEN PIECES OF METAL RICOCHET MADLY SKYWARD AND A SEARING WALL OF FLAME FLARES UP BRIEFLY, THEN QUICKLY SUBSIDES. AS THE LAST CLOUD OF ASH SETTLES SLOWLY OVER THE BLACKENED WRECKAGE. CUT TO: 76 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 16 SECS DESICA, NINA AND THE OPERATORS HAVE NOT MOVED, BUT THEIR EXPRESSIONS FULLY DISPLAY THEIR HORROR. HOLD FOR A MOMENT, THEN: DESICA, WITH AN ALMOST SUPERHUMAN EFFORT, PULLS HIMSELF TOGETHER AND TAKES CHARGE. DESICA Get a rescue team out there SEVERAL OPERATORS LEAVE THE CONTROL ROOM AS DESICA RUBS HIS EYES EXHAUSTEDLY. NINA LOOKS UP AT HIM SYMPATHETICALLY. NINA (quietly) Shall we run the electronic failure check ? DESICA IS SILENT, HIS EXPRESSION NOW GRIM AND DETERMINED, THEN: DESICA Not _this_ time...! CUT TO: 77 _INT. CALOTEX BASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 63 SECS ON THE GEOSCANNER A STEADY HUM FILLS THE ROOM, AS THE COMPONENTS OF THE GEOSCANNER FLASH AND WHIRR AT FULL POWER. PULL BACK TO SHOW JANE CARSON IN FRONT OF THE UNIT, EXAMINING A RECENT PRINTOUT, TANNER AND MITCHELL ARE AT THEIR RESPECTIVE DESKS, TANNER BUSILY WRITING A REPORT AND MITCHELL STUDYING SOME ROCK SAMPLES. ESTABLISH, THEN: SOUND OVER: THE "BEEP" OF THE LANDLINE UNIT, NOW TAKE ***PAGE*** -41- 77 (continued) ANOTHER ANGLE AS JANE LOOKS UP FROM HER WORK, THEN GOES OVER TO THE WALL AND PICKS UP THE RECEIVER. JANE Calotex base . . . (a beat) Yes Franco . . . HER TONE IS EXTREMELY FRIENDLY, AND MITCHELL LOOKS UP, ANNOYED. JANE We did turn everything off . . . except the Geoscanner and that wasn't transmitting. JANE LISTENS FOR A MOMENT LONGER, THEN HER EXPRESSION DARKENS AND HER VOICE BECOMES SUBDUED, MITCHELL AND TANNER FOLLOW THE CONVERSATION OPENLY. JANE (slowly) I see . . . ANOTHER ANGLE AS JANE REPLACES THE RECEIVER AND WALKS BACK TO HER CHAIR AT THE GEOSCANNER. TANNER AND MITCHELL SILENTLY WATCHER HER, THEN: TANNER What's wrong ? JANE LOOKS AT HIM, HER FACE FILLED WITH HORROR. JANE (haltingly) Colonel Desica's coming right over. There's been a crash at the military base . . . the radio's blacked out again . . . a moonship. . . ON JANE SHE LOOKS FEARFULLY TOWARDS THE GEOSCANNER. JANE All the crew were killed. CUT TO: 78 _EXT. MOONSCAPE. DAY (V.E.)_ 5 SECS THE AREA OF THE CRASH. THREE MOONBASE TECHNICIANS BY THE CHARRED WRECKAGE OF THE TRANSPORTER. ESTABLISH, THEN: CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -42- 79 _EXT. MOON. DAY (STUDIO)_ 17 SECS ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS STRAIGHTENS UP, HOLDING A SCORCHED I.D. FOLDER IN HIS GLOVED HAND. AS HE FLIPS THROUGH IT, TAKE: HIS P.O.V. THE FOLDER IN HIS HAND, OPEN AT A PHOTOGRAPH OF A YOUNG, SMILING WOMAN WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. RESUME ON TECHNICIAN AS HE CAREFULLY PLACES THE FOLDER IN A POCKET OF HIS SUIT. CUT TO: 80 _INT. CALOTEX BASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 134 SECS C.U. OF A HAND SLAMMING, PALM DOWN, ON THE TOP OF A DESK. PULL BACK TO SEE DESICA, HIS FACE DARK WITH ANGER, CONFRONTING MARK TANNER, WHO LOOKS EQUALLY UNYIELDING. BEHIND DESICA, WAITING FOR HIS ORDERS, ARE TWO MOONBASE CREWMEN. DESICA (hard) And _I_ say you're _responsible!_ TANNER I understand how you feel, Colonel . . . but you're wrong. ALTHOUGH TANNER IS NOT BACKING DOWN IN ANY WAY, HIS MANNER IS SOMEWHAT CONCILIATORY. JANE AND MITCHELL ARE OFF TO ONE SIDE, LETTING TANNER HANDLE THE SITUATION, BUT MITCHELL IS OBVIOUSLY RESTRAINING HIMSELF WITH DIFFICULTY. JANE LOOKS COMPLETELY MISERABLE. DESICA I made the mistake of believing _that_ last time! THERE IS A BRIEF SILENCE AS THE TWO MEN GLARE AT EACH OTHER. THEN: TANNER What do you intend to do ? DESICA (flatly) End your operation ANOTHER ANGLE ***PAGE*** -43- 80 (continued) AS JANE AND MITCHELL MOVE FORWARD. JANE You can't mean that MITCHELL Who do you think you are . . . you don't have the authority . . . ! DESICA (quietly) I mean it . . . and I _do_ have the authority. TANNER GLANCES WARNINGLY AT JANE AND MITCHELL CAUTIONING THEM TO HOLD BACK. THEN HE MOVES A STEP CLOSER TO DESICA, ONE HAND OUTSTRETCHED IN A PLACATING GESTURE. ANOTHER ANGLE. JANE There must be some other way . . . DESICA There isn't. JANE But the project is almost completed. DESICA I'm sorry . . . I have no alternative. JANE LOOKS AT TANNER. ON DESICA DESICA Remove the printed circuits . . . ANOTHER ANGLE AS MITCHELL STEPS ANGRILY BETWEEN JANE AND DESICA MITCHELL You can't touch the equipment . . . this is private property. . . TANNER MOVES UP AND JOINS THE ARGUMENT. TANNER I can't allow it, Colonel. Those circuits are irreplacable. DESICA Exactly... ***PAGE*** -44- 80 (continued) TANNER STIFFENS, NOW OPENLY ANGRY. TANNER I want to talk to your Commanding Officer. DESICA There's no time . . . and besides it wouldn't change anything (a beat) The circuits come _out_! DESICA MOTIONS TO HIS CREWMEN ANOTHER ANGLE THE CREWMEN WALK PURPOSEFULLY TO THE GEOSCANNER AND OPEN A PANEL TO DISCONNECT THE CIRCUITS. TANNER AND MITCHELL GLARE HELPLESSLY AT DESICA, WHILE JANE UNHAPPILY WATCHES THE REMOVAL. ON A CREWMEN HE RIPS TWO PRINTED CIRCUITS, WITH A SNAPPING OF WIRES, FROM THE GEOSCANNER, THEN LOOKS DOWN AT THEM. TAKE: HIS P.O.V. THE PRINTED CIRCUITS, WITH THEIR CONNECTIONS THREADED AND DANGLING. RESUME CREWMAN THE OTHER CREWMAN JOINS HIM AND THEY WALK OVER TO DESICA AND SHOW HIM THE CIRCUITS. DESICA CURTLY NODS HIS SATISFACTION. DESICA Put them in the Moonmobile. THE TWO CREWMEN TURN TOWARDS THE AIRTIGHT DOOR. ANOTHER ANGLE TANNER AND MITCHELL WALK OVER IN FRONT OF DESICA. JANE STAYS BY THE WALL. MITCHELL You haven't heard the last of this! DESICA Maybe, but we've heard the last of that. DESICA POINTS TO THE GEOSCANNER THEN CALMLY TURNS ON HIS HEEL AND FOLLOWS THE TWO CREWMEN OUTSIDE. ***PAGE*** -45- 80 (continued) TANNER SILENTLY WATCHES HIM GO. ON JANE AS SHE WATCHES DESICA GO, HER FACE DRAWN. HOLD ON JANE FOR A MOMENT, THEN: CUT TO: 81 _EXT. MOON. DAY(V.E.)_ 8 SECS THE MOONMOBILE OUTSIDE THE CALOTEX BASE. ANOTHER ANGLE THE MOONMOBILE STARTS TO MOVE AWAY. 82 _INT. CALOTEX BASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 37 SECS MITCHELL, JANE AND TANNER MITCHELL So what do we do now ? JANE (wearily) What can we do ? MITCHELL GRIMACES IN FRUSTRATION. ON TANNER CUT TO: ON TANNER TANNER Carry on as best we can until we receive further instructions from Blake. ON GROUP TANNER In the meantime we'll go out and collect our equipment from the surface. MITCHELL Right. JANE AND MITCHELL WALK OVER TO THEIR SPACE SUITS AND BEGIN TO PUT THEM ON. ON TANNER HE ALSO TAKES HIS SPACE SUIT. ***PAGE*** -46- 82 (continued) TANNER Phil you take the area we worked yesterday, Jane you'd better go with him. JANE (VO) Alright. TANNER I'll go up to that stretch by the new crater. CUT TO: 82A _EXT. SECTION OF ROCKS. DAY {STUDIO)_ 7 SECS TANNER IN SPACE SUIT OUT ON THE SURFACE. ON TANNER HE GOES TO MOVE FORWARD. CUT TO: 83 _EXT. MOONSCAPE. DAY (V. E.)_ 5 SECS PAN UP TO THE LIP OF THE NEW CRATER 236 TO SHOW TANNER LOOKING DOWN INTO IT. CUT TO: 84 _C.S. TANNER (STUDIO)_ 4 SECS HIS EYES SEARCH THE CRATER. 85 _EXT. MOONSCAPE. DAY (V. E.)_ 5 SECS TANNER'S P.O.V. PAN THE MASSED RUBBLE. HOLD ON IT FOR A MOMENT, THEN: CUT TO: 86 _EXT. SECTION OF ROCKS. DAY. STUDIO_ 10 SECS RESUME TANNER HE MOVES SLIGHTLY AS IF TO TURN AWAY, THEN STOPS ONCE AGAIN AND RECONSIDERS. ***PAGE*** -47- C. U. HIS FACE THROUGH THE VISOR. HE TURNS CASUALLY, THEN: TANNER'S EYES WIDEN IN STUNNED SURPRISE, RIVETTED ON THE SCENE BEFORE HIM. CUT TO: 87 _EXT. MOONSCAPE. DAY. (V.E.)_ 8 SECS TANNER'S P.O.V. ON THE FLOOR OF THE CRATER, A LONG TUBULAR DEVICE IS SET IN THE ROCK AND DUST, A BLUE FLAME-LIKE CURRENT FLICKERING THROUGHOUT ITS LENGTH. THE TUBE IS CONSTRUCTED OF A LIGHT WEIGHT, TRANSLUCENT MATERIAL THAT CONTAINS NO MOVING PARTS. HOLD ON THE MACHINE, THEN CLIMAX MUSIC, AND: FADE OUT: END OF ACT TWO --SPONSOR'S MESSAGE -- ACT THREE FADE IN: 88 _INT. SHADO CONTROL. NIGHT. (STUDIO)_ 42 SECS STRAKER IS SPEAKING TO BLAKE, WHO IS GLARING ANGRILY FROM THE SCREEN OF THE VIDEOPHONE. STRAKER (hard) The decision was made by the Commander on the spot. I support that decision. BLAKE The Astrophysical Commission may have other ideas. . .. after _I've_ finished talking to them . . . STRAKER (coldly) That's your prerogative . . . meanwhile, Calotex does what it's told! ON BLAKE HIS FACE COLDLY ANGRY. BLAKE You'll be hearing from me . . .! ***PAGE*** -48- 88 (continued) THE SCREEN GOES DARK, AS BLAKE ABRUPTLY BREAKS CONTACT. ANOTHER ANGLE: FREEMAN IS LOOKING DOWN AT THE BLANK SCREEN ON STRAKER'S DESK. FREEMAN He can cause a lot of trouble. STRAKER Not if we can _prove_ Calotex was responsible for the radio black outs. . . And what else could it be ? CUT TO: 89 _INT. CALOTEX. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 54 SECS C. U. OF TANNER, THEN PULL BACK TO SHOW MITCHELL AND JANE SITTING ACROSS FROM HIM AT A SMALL DESK, THE DISCONNECTED GEOSCANNER IS IN THE BACKGROUND. C.U. - A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE MACHINE IN CRATER 236. JANE (VO) But what is it ? ANOTHER ANGLE ALL THREE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED. TANNER I'm not sure that matters. The point is, did we damage it with our blasting ? MITCHELL Or was it damaged by the meteorite. THE THREE ARE SILENT FOR AN INSTANT. JANE (Puzzled) How did it get into that crater ? MITCHELL Desica installed it. JANE When ? The crater's only been there for a few days. ***PAGE*** -49- 89 (continued) TANNER RUBS HIS HAND TIREDLY ACROSS HIS EYES. TANNER This is getting us nowhere. We've got to decide what we're going to do about it. ANOTHER ANGLE MITCHELL SPRAWLS BACK IN HIS CHAIR MITCHELL I say we go outside and take a closer look. GROUP SHOT TANNER That seems a reasonable suggestion ... THEY START TOWARDS THE SPACE SUITS. CUT TO: 90 _EXT. S. I.D. SPACE. DAY. (V.E.)_ 5 SECS S.I.D. ORBITING IN SPACE, ITS ANTENNAE AND SCANNERS REVOLVING. HOLD FOR A MOMENT, THEN: CUT TO: 91 _INT. SID. (V.E.)_ 11 SECS THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS ALONG THE WALLS ARE WORKING AT FULL POWER. THEN: S.I.D. Sighting at 4028. (a pause) Confirm speed zero decimal eight SOL. CUT TO: 92 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 55 SECS DESICA IS TURNED IN NINA BARRY'S DIRECTION, WAITING TENSELY, THEN TAKE: ANOTHER ANGLE: ON NINA ***PAGE*** -50- 92 (continued) AS SHE PICKS UP THE SIGHTINGS. NINA I've got it..! NINA RAPIDLY TRANSCRIBES THE DATA FROM THE TRACKER UNIT AND HANDS IT TO A COMPUTER OPERATOR. AS HE HURRIES TO HIS MACHINE: RESUME ON DESICA: DESICA Red alert .. Interceptors immediate launch. DESICA PRESSES THE BUTTON CALLING FOR A FULL RED ALERT. THEN HE ESTABLISHES CONTACT WITH SHADO CONTROL. STRAKER'S SET FACE MATERIALISES ON THE CONSOLE TV SCREEN. DESICA We've picked up a UFO ..! STRAKER Let me have the trajectory co-ordinates... ON THE SCREEN AS IT BLURS AND STRAKER'S IMAGE GOES CRAZILY OUT OF FOCUS. HIS VOICE IS UNINTELLIGIBLY DISTORTED BY A SUDDEN WAVE OF INTERFERENCE. RESUME ON DESICA HE STARES AT THE SCREEN, HIS FACE FLOODED WITH CONSTERNATION. HE TRIES TO CORRECT THE FAULT BUT HIS EFFORTS ARE AS USELESS AS BEFORE. THEN, TO NINA: DESICA My God.. another blackout. Try to reset. ON NINA SHE FLICKS A NUMBER OF SWITCHES IN RAPID SUCCESSION, THEN GLANCES AT THE TRACKER SCREEN. TAKE: HER P.O.V. THE SCREEN IS MALFUNCTIONING, THE SIGHTINGS ERASED. ***PAGE*** -51- 92 (continued) RESUME ON NINA SHE LOOKS ACROSS TO DESICA, SHAKING HER HEAD, "NO" CUT TO: 93 _INT. INTERCEPTOR CRATER. DAY. (V.E.)_ 12 SECS THE OUTSIDE WALL SLIDES BACK, WITH THE FAMILIAR HISS OF ESCAPING AIR. AS THE LUNAR SKY COMES INTO VIEW, THE THREE INTERCEPTORS IGNITE THEIR ROCKET ENGINES AND SLOWLY LIFT OFF. CUT TO: 94 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL . DAY. (STUDIO)_ 17 SECS DESICA AND NINA ARE STANDING BY THE USELESS TRACKER UNIT. NINA Interceptors space borne. . . DESICA (fiercely) We must get the tracker working! Emergency equipment check. NINA SPINS AWAY, MOTIONING TO SEVERAL OPERATORS TO FOLLOW HER. DESICA BENDS OVER THE TRACKER, CAREFULLY EXAMINING THE CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS. ANOTHER ANGLE - TRACKER SCREEN THE SCREEN IS BLURRED AND FEEBLY CHANGING COLOURS. CUT TO: 95 _EXT. SPACE SKY. (V. E.)_ 4 SECS THE THREE INTERCEPTORS IN A RAGGED FORMATION MOVING ERRATICALLY THROUGH SPACE. CUT TO: 96 _INT. INTERCEPTOR. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 15 SECS THE ASTRONAUT IS TENSELY MONITORING THE FLASHING CONTROLS BEFORE HIM. FROM TIME TO TIME, HE DARTS ANXIOUS GLANCES TO EITHER SIDE TO CHECK THE POSITIONS OF THE OTHER TWO INTERCEPTORS. THEN MAKES THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENT TO MAINTAIN A FLIGHT PATTERN. ***PAGE*** -52- 96 (continued) IN THE BACKGROUND, THE RADIO CRACKLES LOUDLY. CUT TO: 97 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 6 SECS ON THE TRACKER SCREENS A SERIES OF BLURRED COLOURED LIGHTS ESTABLISH, AND: CUT TO: 98 _INT. SHADO CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 9 SECS ON THE VIDEO LINK IT CRACKLES INEFFECTIVELY - AN OCCASIONAL SPLASH OF LIGHT ILLUMINATING IT. ON STRAKER HIS FACE DARKLY WORRIED CUT TO: 99 _EXT. MOONSCAPE. DAY. (STUDIO) (V.E.)_ 9 SECS ON THE CYLINDER GLEAMING, FLICKERING. . . SILENT. HOLD THE SHOT FOR A COUPLE OF BEATS AND PAN SLOWLY OVER THE LIP OF THE CRATER TO WHERE TANNER, MITCHELL AND JANE STAND LOOKING DOWN. 100 _EXT. SECTION OF ROCKS. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 11 SECS ON JANE LOOKING INTO THE CRATER, SHE TURNS TO - HER P.O.V. - TANNER WHO LOOKS TOWARDS JANE. TANNER Let's get back. CUT TO: RESUME ON JANE SHE NODS HER AGREEMENT AND PREPARES TO RETURN TO THE BASE, AS SHE DOES SO WE: CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -53- 101 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 16 SECS ON DESICA WHO IS STARING IMPOTENTLY AT THE LANDLINE UNIT. NOW PULL BACK TO SHOW NINA BESIDE HIM. DESICA Where _are_ they . . ..? NINA Working outside . . . ? DESICA DOESN'T ANSWER. THEN, REALISING HE HAS NO CHOICE, HE BEGINS PRESSING THE TRANSMITTER BUTTON AGAIN. TIGHTEN ON DESICA'S FINGER STABBING AT THE BUTTON, THEN: CUT TO: 102 _INT. CALOTEX. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 24 SECS TIGHT ON THE LANDLINE UNIT ON THE WALL. NOW TRACK BACK TO SHOW THE EMPTY ROOM, WITH THE SIGNAL BEEP ECHOING THROUGH THE INSTALLATION. HOLD FOR A MOMENT, THEN TAKE: ANOTHER ANGLE A HISS FROM THE AIRTIGHT DOOR. AND JANE STEPS THROUGH, CASUALLY REMOVING HER HELMET AS SHE WALKS. BEHIND HER TANNER AND MITCHELL. SHE STOPS SUDDENLY AS SHE HEARS THE SIGNAL, LOOKS ABOUT, THEN HURRIES OVER TO THE WALL AND PICKS UP THE UNIT. JANE Calotex. . . Another radio failure! CUT TO: 103 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 24 SECS ON DESICA DESICA Yes, both our bases are in imminent danger. Give me Tanner. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -54- 104 _INT. CALOTEX. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 11 SECS JANE HANDS TANNER THE RECEIVER. JANE Colonel Desica . . . ON TANNER HE HAS REMOVED HIS HELMET TANNER (heated) We were just about to call you Colonel . . . Your installation in the new crater . . . CUT TO: 105 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 17 SECS DESICA _What installation_ ? ANOTHER ANGLE HE HAS PULLED OUT A LUNAR CHART. HIS P.O.V. HIS FINGER RUNS ALONG THE CHART AND STOPS AT THE MARKING OF "CRATER 236" RESUME ON DESICA DESICA Crater 236. If there's an installation there, Tanner - it doesn't belong to us. CUT TO: 106 _EXT CRATER(VE)_ 8 SECS ZOOM SLOWLY IN ON THE ALIEN DEVICE AS IT PULSATES FADE OUT END OF ACT THREE. ***PAGE*** -55- FADE IN: ACT FOUR 107 _EXT. SPACE SKY. STUDIO. (V.E.)_ 5 SECS THE U.F.O. TRAVELING AT SPEED. CUT TO: 108 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 25 SECS ON DESICA DESICA Estimated range . . . . NINA AND PAULA ARE WORKING WITH COMPUTERS AND COMPLEX SLIDE RULE EQUIPMENT. PAULA _Approximately_ two decimal two five minutes from last known trajectory termination. DESICA NODS. DESICA Estimated target proximity of moonmobile . . . NINA CHECKS A CHART. NINA One minute fifty. ON DESICA DESICA (slowly) It's going to be tight. CUT TO: 109 _EXT. THE MOONSCAPE. DAY, STUDIO. (V. E.)_ 5 SECS A MOONMOBILE SWEEPS ACROSS THE MOON'S SURFACE. ESTABLISH, AND: CUT TO: 109A _INT. MOONMOBILE. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 32 SECS THE SECOND PILOT FLIPS THE RADIO SWITCH UP AND DOWN THEN LOOKS ACROSS AT THE CAPTAIN. ***PAGE*** -56- 109A (continued) SECOND PILOT Still no radio contact (he reads from the instrument panel) ETA crater 236. . . one minute five. THE CAPTAIN NODS. SECOND PILOT Do we go on without confirmation ? CAPTAIN Our orders are to go straight in and destroy the installation. SECOND PILOT What about the Calotex Base. It's pretty close by. THE CAPTAIN SHRUGS. CAPTAIN We assume Desica's thought of that. CUT TO: 110 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY, (STUDIO)_ 9 SECS ON DESICA HE STANDS . . . GOES TO THE CALOTEX LANDLINE. . . ACTIVATES IT. DESICA Tanner? (a beat) Ninety seconds. AND WE: CUT TO: 111 _INT. CALOTEX BASE. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 28 SECS MITCHELL AND JANE ARE STANDING TOGETHER, FULLY SUITED UP, EXCEPT FOR THEIR SPACE HELMETS WHICH THEY ARE HOLDING. TANNER REPLACES THE RECEIVER. TANNER Get your helmets on .... MITCHELL I still think Desica's up to something.... ***PAGE*** -57- 111 (continued) TANNER We've no choice. (then, hard) You can do what you like... MITCHELL SCOWLS, BUT FITS HIS HELMET IN PLACE, AS TANNER AND JANE DO THE SAME. ANOTHER ANGLE: THE THREE LIE DOWN ON THE FLOOR, HUGGING THE WALLS, AND CRADLE THEIR ARMS AROUND THEIR HEADS. CUT TO: 112 _EXT. MOONSCAPE. DAY. (V.E.)_ 5 SECS THE MOONMOBILE RAPIDLY ZEROING IN ON CRATER 236. CUT TO: 113 _EXT. SPACE SKY. DAY. (V.E.)_ 5 SECS THE THREE INTERCEPTORS IN A BROKEN "V" FORMATION, FAR OUT IN SPACE. HOLD FOR A MOMENT, THEN: CUT TO: 114 _INT. INTERCEPTOR. STUDIO_ 16 SECS THE ASTRONAUT MAKES SEVERAL DELICATE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONTROLS AND PEERS OUT AHEAD. HIS FACE SHOWS THE INCREASED PRESSURE HE IS UNDER. THE STATIC FROM HIS USELESS RADIO CONTINUES TO FILL THE COCKPIT, HE FLIPS THE TRANSMISSION. ASTRONAUT Interceptor leader to Moonbase. Come in Moonbase. . . HE WAITS; RECEIVING ONLY THE MEANINGLESS CRACKLE OF THE STATIC. CUT TO: 115 _INT. MOONBASE. DAY (STUDIO)_ 26 SECS ON A WATCH-FACE. THE SECOND HAND SWEEPING ROUND, ON NINA ***PAGE*** -58- 115 (continued) NINA Predict interceptors will be in range . . .. 40 seconds. PULL BACK TO INCLUDE DESICA. DESICA (slowly) If it hasn't altered course. ON DESICA DESICA (quickly) -- Target proximity - moonmobile. TWO SHOT NINA They should be on target now, sir. DESICA By my estimate . . . (he stops) . . .they'd _better be_. CUT TO: 116 _EXT. MOONSCAPE. DAY. (VE.)_ 9 SECS ON THE ALIEN DEVICE AS THE CURRENT FLICKERS, THEN TAKE: ANOTHER ANGLE THE MOONMOBILE SUDDENLY LOOMS UP AT THE TOP OF THE CRATER. CUT TO: 117 _INT. MOONMOBILE. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 15 SECS THE CAPTAIN LOOKS DOWN CAPTAIN (to the Second Pilot) Try the radio - one last time. THE SECOND PILOT FLICKS THE SWITCH - AGAIN AN ANSWERING CRACKLE. ON THE CAPTAIN ***PAGE*** -59- 117 (continued) A BEAT, THEN CAPTAIN 0. K. - Range on target. CLOSE ON HIS FACE, AND: CUT TO: 118 _INT. CALOTEX BASE. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 6 SECS THE THREE FIGURES LIE OR CROUCH TIGHT TO THE WALLS. ON TANNER AND JANE'S EXCHANGED LOOK, WE: CUT TO: 119 _EXT. MOONSCAPE DAY. (V.E.)_ 9 SECS ON THE MOONMOBILE AS ITS ROCKETS SPIT ANOTHER ANGLE A VAST CURTAIN OF FIRE AND SMOKE ERUPTS INTO THE LUNAR SKY CUT TO: 120 _INT. CALOTEX BASE(STUDIO)_ 16 SECS AS A ROCK PARTICLE RIPS THROUGH THE OUTER SKIN THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE EXPLOSIVE DECOMPRESSION - PAPERS WHIRL ACROSS THE ROOM UP AND OUT THROUGH THE NOW GAPING HOLE. ITEMS OF CLOTHING, SMALL ARTICLES, ARE WHISKED UPWARDS. ON TANNER AS HE ROLLS HELPLESSLY BACK AND FORTH IN THE FORCE OF EXPLOSIVE DECOMPRESSION ON MITCHELL WHO CLUTCHES DESPERATELY AT THE BASE OF THE GEOSCANNER ON JANE THROWN ACROSS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT HOLD ON JANE FOR A MOMENT, THEN - CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -60- 121 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY (STUDIO)_ 17 SECS ON THE TRACKER SCREEN THE U.F.O. CAN NOW BE CLEARLY SEEN. NOW PULL BACK TO SEE NINA TENSELY OPERATING THE CONTROLS. SHE TURNS TOWARDS DESICA, WHO IS AT THE REVOLVING CONSOLE. NINA Contact A-O.K. Trajectory. . . 83,9,27,4. . . ON DESICA WHO BENDS OVER THE DESK MIKE. DESICA Moonbase to Interceptors... CUT TO: 122 _INT. INTERCEPTOR. (STUDIO)_ 14 SECS DESICA'S VOICE COMES CLEARLY OVER THE RADIO. DESICA (VO) Switch to computer link for course corrections .. and missile firing sequence. ON THE ASTRONAUT AS HE GRINS IN RELIEF AND PREPARES TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ALTERATIONS TO THE FLIGHT PATTERN. ASTRONAUT (into mike) About time too, sir . . . CUT TO: 123 _EXT. SPACE SKY. INTERCEPTORS._ 7 SECS THE THREE INTERCEPTORS SWIFTLY EDGE BACK TOGETHER AND REASSUME THE FAMILIAR INVERTED "V" FORMATION. CUT TO: 124 _EXT. SPACE. SKY. U. F.O. (V.E.)_ 4 SECS THE U.F.O. GLINTING OMINOUSLY IN THE LUNAR SUNLIGHT, - HOLD FOR A MOMENT : THEN - CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -61- 125 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. DAY. (STUDIO)_ 7 SECS DESICA IS HUNCHED OVER THE CONSOLE. PAULA (VO) Missile launch! . . . Minus 8 decimal five. CUT TO: 126 _EXT. SPACE SKY. INTERCEPTORS. (V.E.)_ 8 SECS THE INTERCEPTORS STEADY ON THEIR COURSE. ANOTHER ANGLE AS THE MISSILES BURST SIMULTANEOUSLY FROM THE NOSES OF THE INTERCEPTORS. CUT TO: 127 _EXT. SPACE SKY. U F.O. (V.E.)_ 14 SECS THE U.F.O. SUDDENLY THERE IS A SERIES OF MASSIVE EXPLOSIONS, AS THE MISSILES REACH THEIR TARGETS. THE U.F.O. IS INSTANTLY OBLITERATED. AS THE FIERY HAZE CLEARS, HOLD ON THE SILENT, STAR- STUDDED SKY. MIX TO: 128 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. NIGHT. (STUDIO)_ 10 SECS DESICA AND TANNER ARE STANDING NEAR ONE OF THE PORTS. BOTH ARE RELAXED AND CHATTING CASUALLY. TANNER HAS A FEW BRUISES ON HIS FACE AND HIS RIGHT ARM IS IN A SLING, BUT OTHERWISE HE IS OBVIOUSLY IN GOOD SHAPE. TANNER (glancing up O. S.) A great night for meteorites. DESICA GLANCES THROUGH THE PORT. CUT TO: 129 _EXT. THE SPACE SKY. NIGHT. (V. E.)_ 4 SECS DESICA'S P.O.V. A DISTANT METEORITE PASSES ACROSS THE BLUE/BLACK SKY. CUT TO: ***PAGE*** -62- 130 _INT. MOONBASE CONTROL. NIGHT. (STUDIO)_ 30 SECS RESUME DESICA AND TANNER TANNER All this (he gestures round him) I can see now why Commander Straker was so reluctant to have us up here. DESICA GRINS. TANNER I'd like to say Colonel that your position - all you've told me - it's a safe secret with me. DESICA Safer than you know. ANOTHER ANGLE A SHADO MEDIC APPEARS AT THE DOOR. DESICA Have the amnesia shots been laid on for the Calotex team ? MEDIC We'll administer them just before take-off. ON DESICA's SMILE AND TANNER'S ONLY PARTLY COMPREHENDING REACTION, WE: CUT TO: 131 _INT. LEISURE DINING SPHERE. NIGHT. (STUDIO)_ 48 SECS JANE IS SITTING IN THE SPHERE. AS THE DOOR SLIDES SHUT, SHE LOOKS UP. ANOTHER ANGLE ON DESICA AS HE COMES OVER TO HER. DESICA How do you feel ? JANE Fine. . . now. . . I want to thank you for what you did. ***PAGE*** -63- 131 (continued) DESICA There's nothing to thank _me_ for . . .. JANE _I_ think so. THE TWO ARE SILENT MOMENTARILY. JANE Will I be seeing you again ? DESICA Sure.. JANE When. . . ? DESICA When I get my next furlough . . . JANE I'm in no hurry to leave. DESICA Unfortunately regulations up here demand a... (he grins) . . .strictly working relationship between male and female operatives - of whatever rank. JANE (quiet) But I think you forget - I'm _not_ one of your operatives. ON DESICA DESICA (a beat, then:) Fancy me forgetting a little detail like that. AND AS THEY CLINCH, WE - DISSOLVE TO: 132 _INT. NIGHT CLUB. (NIGHT). (STUDIO)_ 58 SECS DESICA AND FREEMAN AS IN THE OPENING SEQUENCE. DESICA The Calotex team stayed on a couple more days. . . FREEMAN You and Jane must have got pretty. . . friendly . . . ***PAGE*** -64- 132 (continued) DESICA SMILES LIKE A CAT WHO'S LICKED THE CREAM. DESICA Why don't you ask her . . . FREEMAN (realising) Very funny. ON DESICA DESICA How does that old song go . . . (singing) Love's more beautiful the second time around Just as wonderful with both feet on the ground It's the second time. . . Excuse me, Alec. DESICA GETS UP. ON FREEMAN DESICA (VO) Miss Carson . . . you don't know me, but my name's Desica. Franco Desica.. HIS VOICE FADES AWAY AS HE WALKS TOWARDS JANE O.S. FREEMAN SMILES AND SHAKES HIS HEAD. DESICA IS INCORRIGIBLE. END OF ACT FOUR FADE OUT: END TITLES: ------------------------------ CUT HERE --------------------------------