Episode Guide

Year 2 - Episode 8

• Shooting script dated 12 April 1976. Revised 21, 26, 27, 28 April. Filmed 4 May-18 May 1976
• A "Double-Up Helena" script- while Bain and the other cast were filmed in the studio, Landau and Schell filmed The Rules Of Luton on location.

Cast

Sets

Int. Command Centre
Int. Medical Centre
Int. Living Quarters
Int. Recreation Centre
Int. Techlab 3
Int. Alpha Corridor
Int. Travel Tube
Int. Eagle Pilot Section
Int. Caves

• The Archanon ship was built by Martin Bower between the filming of the two series. A revamped version of the model appears in Space Warp.

• The virus (or genetic disease- the episode calls it both) is obviously based on haemophilia, a genetic disease caused by the absence of the gene for making the blood clotting protein Factor VIII. It is a hereditary disease passed only in males, treated by blood transfusions.
• In stasis the Archanons are standing. Standing requires muscular effort and brain coordination; humans cannot stand while asleep.
• The lunar caves are apparently natural (and are seen again in Catacombs Of The Moon). But caves require water to erode them, which is not present on the moon. It is an incredible coincidence that Moonbase Alpha is built over the former location of an alien base.
• The Eagle is in a "meteor storm". Meteors are asteroids burning up in an atmosphere; the correct term is asteroid.
• Even in the recording from a thousand years ago the Archanons speak modern English

Alpha Technology:

• The laser cutter is called a sonarscope in the script. It is seen again in The Bringers Of Wonder part 2 and The Immunity Syndrome.
• Tony seems to use his torch as a scanner. It is used normally as a torch in Another Time Another Place, Testament Of Arkadia and Catacombs Of The Moon.
• The Alpha Log Recorder appears.
• In the Medical Centre, Helena uses a keyboard from Main Mission. Alongside it is the nuclear detonator from Space Brain (the radiation symbol is clearly visible).
• We see the only animals on the moon in this episode: doves.

• In the asteroid storm, the Eagle's legs are sometimes bent, sometimes not (for some shots the Eagle was filmed standing vertically so dust could be dropped past it; hence the bent foot pads). It also changes between the second and third Eagle model, with obvious differences in panel details.

• The football match alluded to is rugby league at Swinton in the UK on 9th November 1963 when Australia beat Britain 50-12.
• Was Crom II another planet that Alpha visited? (according to the script it was).
• The name Pasc indicates a Passover analogy, with Pasc spilling his blood to redeem his son.
• Cobber? Yeah. That means you're a pal, you know, a real close buddy. The Australian colloquialism is considered archaic and rarely used (the preferred colloquialism is "mate").