SPACE: 1999
“Breakaway”
(part two)
teleplay
by
Matt Butts
Inspired by
"Space: 1999 – Breakaway"
teleplay by George Bellak
Introduction
This script was written as a continuation of “Breakaway,” the first episode of Space: 1999. It is intended to pick up exactly where the original episode leaves off, except that right before “Series Created By Gerry and Sylvia Anderson” we see the caption “To Be Continued…” While there are some aspects of the original episode I would have done differently, I have endeavored not to rewrite history here. The original episode, filmed, in the can, aired, edited to hell then restored on DVD, is carved in stone.
This episode sets the stage for the rest of the first season. It gives Commissioner Simmonds a little more screen time, as well as explains what happened to Ouma and how Kano came to replace him. Along the way, I inserted little appearances by and references to other characters, such as the death of Jack Crawford and revelation of Sue Crawford’s pregnancy, the real reason they never went to Meta, and the accident where Lowry loses part of his finger. Along the way there are little cameo pop-ups by Tony Cellini, Dan Mateo, Laura Adams, and What’s-His-Name Winters. There is also a reference to a lunar eclipse that actually did happen in 1999. Thanks to Dr. Phil Plait, who gave me a couple of pointers on avoiding Bad Astronomy.
This script was written in 2000, right before the MainMission:2000 Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Space: 1999. At the time I wrote this, I hadn’t seen “Breakaway” in twenty years, but I was able to refresh my memory from Martin Willey’s transcripts in The Catacombs at space1999.net.
One thing I haven’t tried to do here is tie anything into Year Two. That’s a more complicated task, and Eric Bernard did a great job of it with “God’s Will,” the reworking of “War Games.”
To everything that might have been…
Matt Butts
November 26, 2001
(hook)
1. ESTABLISHING SHOT: MOONBASE ALPHA
EARTH in the sky
above it, now a distant blue dot.
2. INT. KOENIG’S OFFICE - NIGHT
COMM POST IN FOREGROUND
SOUND: computer
beep
3. CLOSE-UP: KOENIG
He rises from
his seat and walks over to the window.
4. VIEW FROM WINDOW
Saturn is just
coming into view. Earth is a blue dot on the opposite side of the sky.
5. CLOSE-UP: KOENIG
He stares stoically out the
window.
SOUND: door chime.
CUT TO:
6. SFX: COMM POST MONITOR
SIMMONDS ON SCREEN.
SIMMONDS
Ahh, John. Good, you’re still awake. We need to
talk.
7. LONG SHOT: DOOR. KOENIG’S ARM WITH COMMLOCK IN FOREGROUND
SOUND: commlock
tone.
8. CLOSE-UP: DOOR OPENS. SIMMONDS.
He enters, crosses in front
of KOENIG.
KOENIG
Can this wait, Simmonds?
9. SIMMONDS OVER KOENIG’S SHOULDER
SIMMONDS
I
think not. I need an update on the evacuation plans.
KOENIG
Evacuation plans?
10. CLOSE-UP: KOENIG
KOENIG
I thought I made myself clear, there were no
evacuation plans.
11. CLOSE-UP: SIMMONDS
SIMMONDS
You
can’t be serious! We have to abandon Alpha and return to earth while we still
can. Before it’s too late.
KOENIG
(v/o)
It’s already too late, Simmonds!
12. MEDIUM SHOT: KOENIG, SIMMONDS
KOENIG crosses to the
window, indicating Saturn over the horizon.
KOENIG
That’s
the planet Saturn.
SIMMONDS
I know that, Koenig. Any child knows that.
13. KOENIG TURNS AROUND, FACES SIMMONDS
KOENIG
Do you know how far Saturn is from Earth,
Commissioner?
14. CLOSE-UP: SIMMONDS
He shakes his
head, clueless.
15. CLOSE-UP: KOENIG.
He turns back to the window.
KOENIG
At its closest, about a billion miles. An eagle
traveling at maximum speed might make the journey in six months, if it could
hold enough fuel. But there wouldn’t be room for three hundred passengers and
enough provisions to keep them alive long enough to reach Earth.
16. CLOSE-UP: SIMMONDS
KOENIG
(v/o)
You see, Simmonds, we have no choice.
17. MEDIUM SHOT: KOENIG, SIMMONDS
KOENIG crosses
in front of SIMMONDS, using his commlock to open the door.
18. SIMMONDS
Disgruntled, he
steps out of the office, walking past KOENIG and down the corridor.
19. LONG SHOT: CORRIDOR
SIMMONDS walks
away, stops, turns.
20. CLOSE-UP: SIMMONDS
SIMMONDS
We’ll
just see about that, Koenig.
(drum
roll into opening theme)
(act one)
21. SFX: MOON IN SPACE DRIFTING AWAY FROM EARTH
Earth is now only a tiny
blue dot, barely recognizable.
(caption)
Breakaway
(part two)
22. INT. MAIN MISSION
PAUL, SANDRA,
repair crews in background.
23. MEDIUM SHOT: DOOR
KOENIG enters.
24. MEDIUM SHOT
PAUL, SANDRA
PAUL looks up.
25. CUT TO: MEDIUM SHOT
KOENIG
He enters and crosses toward
PAUL, SANDRA.
PAUL
(v/o)
Good
morning, Commander.
KOENIG
I don’t see what’s so good about it.
26. CLOSE-UP: PAUL
A little offended.
27. CLOSE-UP: KOENIG.
KOENIG
I’m sorry, Paul.
28. MEDIUM SHOT:
KOENIG turns to face the big
screen. PAUL, SANDRA over his shoulder.
KOENIG
I
didn’t sleep very well.
PAUL
None of us did, sir.
29. SIDE VIEW: SANDRA
Sits down at her
workstation. PAUL, KOENIG behind her.
SANDRA
Commander, we’ve passed beyond the orbit of Pluto.
30. CLOSE-UP: PAUL
Looks up at main screen.
PAUL
We’ve left the solar system.
31. CLOSE-UP: KOENIG, COMPUTER in background.
KOENIG looks over at screen
on computer wall.
ZOOM in on
screen.
32. SFX: SCREEN DISPLAY
DATE: 09/14/1999
LUNAR TIME 09:12
33. CLOSE-UP: KOENIG, PAUL IN BACKGROUND
He turns back to PAUL.
KOENIG
It’s
been less than 24 hours.
PULL FOCUS on PAUL.
PAUL
Our
speed must be fantastic!
VICTOR
(v/o)
It is.
34. CUT TO: DOOR.
VICTOR entering.
He’s holding some papers in his hand.
35. MEDIUM SHOT: VICTOR, KOENIG, PAUL.
SANDRA in foreground, seated
at workstation.
VICTOR
The
size of that explosion, assuming the waste material was completely exhausted,
would have been incalculable. More than sufficient to change the course of an
object the size and weight of the moon, especially given the havoc the initial
electromagnetic pulse would have wrought with the Van Allen belts
themselves.
PAUL
The
effects on Earth would be catastrophic! They’re probably worse off than we are!
SANDRA
You
heard what the news reports said, Paul...
36. VICTOR
SANDRA
(v/o)
the
earthquakes... storms... tidal waves....
VICTOR
And no
doubt it got worse as we pulled further and further away. Islands and coastal
cities would have been inundated. I’m not at all sure I wouldn’t much rather be
here than on Earth right now.
MUSIC builds.
CUT to:
37. INT. MEDICAL SECTION
MATHIAS at desk, door in
background opens. HELENA enters.
MATHIAS turns to her.
MATHIAS
Good
morning, Doctor Russell.
HELENA
Bob. Anything to report?
38. PAN SHOT: MATHIAS, HELENA AT DESK
MATHIAS
A few incidents overnight. About the only major
thing was a pretty serious hand injury.
39. MEDIUM SHOT: TWO PATIENTS IN BEDS.
SOUND: MEDICAL COMPUTER
TONES
MATHIAS
(v/o)
Lowry, from security. He was helping with a jammed
door in the security section when it slammed closed on his hand.
40. MATHIAS OVER HELENA’S SHOULDER
MATHIAS
We had
to amputate part of the index finger[1],
but he’ll be all right. I gave him a sedative for the pain. He’s resting now.
HELENA
And Crawford?
41. CLOSE-UP: CRAWFORD IN BED
MATHIAS
No change. If anything, he’s gotten worse.
42. CLOSE-UP: HELENA
She looks very concerned for
this patient, almost more than she should be.
HELENA
Thanks, Bob. You go get some sleep now; I’ll take
over.
43. MEDIUM SHOT: HELENA, MATHIAS
MATHIAS places a reassuring
hand on HELENA’s shoulder. She smiles.
MATHIAS
I’ll see you in twelve hours.
44. MEDICAL SECTION DOOR, HELENA IN FOREGROUND
Door opens. MATHIAS exits as
SIMMONDS enters. He looks over his shoulder at MATHIAS as he exits, then turns
back to HELENA.
SIMMONDS
Good morning, Doctor Russell.
45. HELENA, SIMMONDS IN BACKGROUND
HELENA turns her back to
him.
HELENA
(coldly)
Commissioner.
SIMMONDS
I’d like to talk to you about John Koenig.
46. HELENA
She turns back around.
HELENA
What
about John Koenig?
SIMMONDS
(v/o)
Do you
believe him to be fit to command?
HELENA
What is that supposed to mean, Commissioner?
47. MEDIUM SHOT: SIMMONDS
He stands there with his
arms folded.
SIMMONDS
Surely
the commander’s decision to remain on Alpha instead of returning to Earth is
not the act of a rational man.
HELENA
(v/o)
I see.
48. MEDIUM SHOT: HELENA
She keeps her composure,
with some effort.
HELENA
You want me to say that John Koenig is unfit to
command. He isn’t. In fact, I believe he stands a far greater chance of keeping
us all alive than you do.
49. SIMMONDS
SIMMONDS
Doctor, need I remind you that you work for the
International Lunar Comm--
50. CLOSE-UP: HELENA, OVER SIMMONDS’ SHOULDER
Facing him down.
HELENA
We’re
a long way from the International Lunar Commission, Simmonds. I don’t see where
my next paycheck’s coming from.
HELENA turns, walks away
from SIMMONDS, turns back.
HELENA
I’m through lying for you, Commissioner. If you’ll
excuse me now, I have patients to take care of.
51. SIMMONDS
He turns and
leaves.
52. CLOSE-UP: HELENA
MUSIC.
CUT TO:
53. INT. MAIN MISSION
VICTOR in
foreground. PAUL, SANDRA, KOENIG go about their business in the background.
54. COMPUTER, OVER VICTOR’S SHOULDER.
OUMA and an his
assistant, KANO, work on the computers. Many panels are open, wires are
exposed.
55. MEDIUM SHOT: OUMA
Looks up, sees
VICTOR, walks over to him.
56. VICTOR, OUMA, KOENIG IN BACKGROUND
KOENIG joins them.
OUMA
Computer sustained some damage in the breakaway. No
important systems are affected, but we’ll still need to repair them.
57. KANO
He is stooped, working on a
panel close to the floor. Looks up at the other three.
KANO
Considering the jolt we took, it’s a wonder anything
around here held together.
58. KOENIG
Walks over, looks down at
KANO.
KOENIG
I don’t think we’ve met, Mister...
59. KANO
Looking up at KOENIG.
KANO
Kano, sir. David Kano. And if you’ll excuse me, I’m
a little busy right now...
60. KOENIG
A little surprised at KANO’s
tone.
KANO
...bypassing
this failing circuit board before we lose all life support.
KOENIG
(smiles faintly)
Then by all means, don’t let me interrupt.
61. MEDIUM SHOT
KOENIG crosses to VICTOR,
OUMA.
OUMA returns to
work, crosses to KANO.
62. KOENIG, VICTOR.
They turn and walk back into
MAIN MISSION toward KOENIG’S OFFICE.
VICTOR
Brilliant young man, Mister Kano. Nobody knows
computer like he does.
63. KANO AT WORK, OUMA SUPERVISING
KANO looks a little bit
annoyed.
VICTOR
(v/o)
He was actually only supposed to be here on
temporary assignment, helping install a system upgrade.
64. KOENIG, VICTOR
KOENIG
Looks like his tour of duty’s been extended.
65. CLOSE-UP: KOENIG
KOENIG
What have I done, Victor?
66. CLOSE-UP: VICTOR
VICTOR
The only thing you could.
67. KOENIG, VICTOR.
They look at each other.
MUSIC builds.
CUT TO
68. EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA, CLOSE-UP BETWEEN BUILDING.
EAGLE in sky
above, taking off.
69. INT. EAGLE COCKPIT
CARTER
CARTER
Eagle Seven to Moonbase Alpha.
70. INT. MAIN MISSION
PAUL seated at console.
KOENIG, VICTOR, HELENA standing behind.
PAUL
Go ahead Eagle Seven.
71. INT. EAGLE COCKPIT
CARTER
CARTER
I’ve
located navigation beacon delta and I’m plotting a course for Area Two. What’s
left of it.
KOENIG
(v/o)
Be careful, Alan.
72. MAIN MISSION, AS BEFORE.
HELENA
Commander, are you sure this is a good idea? The
other astronauts....
73. KOENIG, VICTOR
KOENIG
Doctor,
we have to see what’s out there. We need to know how extensive the damage was.
VICTOR
For
all we know, the structure of the moon itself may have become unstable.
KOENIG looks up.
74. SFX: MAIN SCREEN
Lunar surface scrolling by.
KOENIG
(v/o)
We’ve reinforced the radiation shielding on Carter’s
eagle as well. It should hold.
75. INT. EAGLE COCKPIT
CARTER
CARTER
I’m coming up on it now.
76. EXTREME CLOSE-UP: CARTER
His eyes widen.
CARTER
Alpha, do you copy this?
77. MAIN MISSION
KOENIG and VICTOR talking in
the background, not looking forward.
PAUL rises into foreground,
wide-eyed in awe.
PAUL
My god!
78. SANDRA
Her eyes widen
in shock and fear. She backs away.
79. HELENA
A numb, blank
stare.
80. KOENIG, VICTOR
They look
forward at the screen in shock.
81. SFX: MAIN SCREEN
Extreme wide
angle shot of the moon. A massive man-made crater, dwarfing any that nature
ever put there, has been gouged into the surface. Its scope is breathtaking.
Black scorch marks radiate almost around the surface of the moon.
82. MEDIUM SHOT:
HELENA crosses
to join KOENIG, VICTOR.
83. SFX: SAME VIEW AS MAIN SCREEN, ONLY "LIVE"
EAGLE flying
into view.
84. INT. EAGLE COCKPIT
CARTER
CARTER
That’s one hell of a bite of green cheese, Alpha!
85. CLOSE-UP: PAUL
He looks up in
awe and shakes his head.
86. CLOSE-UP: VICTOR
VICTOR
It’s just as I feared.
87. KOENIG
KOENIG
Return to base, Eagle Seven. I think we’ve seen
enough.
88. MEDIUM SHOT:
KOENIG walks away into
foreground as HELENA, VICTOR, PAUL and SANDRA watch.
SOUND: commlock tone
89. INT. KOENIG’S OFFICE:
Great doors close behind
KOENIG, leaving him alone in his office.
MUSIC builds.
FADE TO BLACK
(act two)
90. EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA
MUSIC: Harsh,
dramatic.
91. SFX: MONITOR
SOUND: alarm klaxon
(caption)
RED
ALERT
92. MAIN MISSION
Doors open, KOENIG comes
running out, PAUL and SANDRA stare at main screen, joined by VICTOR.
SOUND: alarm
stops
93. SFX: MAIN SCREEN
RED ALERT
caption disappears. Alpha Test Pattern Returns.
94. SFX: KANO appears on main screen, OUMA in background.
KANO
Sorry. Just a glitch in the system. We’re working on
it.
95. INT. KOENIG’S OFFICE
KOENIG leans against comm
post.
KOENIG
Well, work a little faster. We can’t have a computer
that cries wolf on us.
96. MEDIUM SHOT: KOENIG’S OFFICE
KOENIG turns, retreats into
his desk. There he picks up a glass from next to a half-empty bottle and takes
a drink from it.
CUT TO:
97. INT. COMPUTER ROOM
KANO, OUMA
KANO
I
think I’ve located the problem, sir. There’s a bad circuit bank relay in bank
seven six four.
OUMA walks over,
joins KANO.
98. CLOSE-UP: KANO
OUMA
(v/o)
I
think you’re right, Kano.
KANO smiles.
99. OUMA
Notes KANO’s satisfaction
with himself.
OUMA
For once.
100. KANO
Ego slightly
bruised.
101. MEDIUM SHOT:
OUMA, KANO
KANO types commands into a
keyboard.
KANO
That
circuit bank is in sector alpha six four. Level three. It should take only a
minute to repair.
KANO picks up a tool kit,
OUMA take it from him.
OUMA
No, Mister Kano, I’ll go.
102. CLOSE-UP: KANO
OUMA
(v/o)
We want to make sure it’s done right. Can’t have you
setting off another red alert, can we?
103. MEDIUM SHOT: KANO, OUMA
KANO glares impatiently at
OUMA as he exits.
CUT TO
104. INT. SIMMONDS’ QUARTERS
SIMMONDS paces
nervously back and forth, then steps up to the comm post and punches a button.
105. CLOSE-UP: SIMMONDS AT COMM POST
SIMMONDS
This is an alpha one priority transmission. This is
Commissioner Gerald Simmonds calling the International Lunar Commission. Come
in, Earth Control.
106. INT. MAIN MISSION
PAUL, SANDRA, VICTOR
They can hear SIMMONDS’
transmission.
SIMMONDS
(v/o)
Come in Earth Control. This is Commissioner
Simmonds.
107. CLOSE-UP: PAUL, SANDRA IN BACKGROUND
PAUL looks over at SANDRA.
PAUL
Cut his channel. Let him think someone’s listening.
108. INT. SIMMONDS’ QUARTERS
He is growing frantic, psychotic.
He is sweating.
SIMMONDS
(screaming)
Earth,
this is Simmonds? Can you hear me? Can anybody hear me?
He pounds on the comm post
with his fist.
SOUND: bleep from comm post
SFX: monitor on comm post
goes blank
SIMMONDS walks
away from the comm post, sits down.
109. CLOSE-UP: SIMMONDS
He has a lost, frightened
look on his face.
CUT TO
110. INT. MEDICAL SECTION
HELENA, MATHIAS, PATIENT in
bed.
SOUND: medical computer
sound effects.
MATHIAS
(v/o)
You do realize, Doctor, that it’s only a matter of
time?
111. CLOSE-UP: HELENA
MATHIAS crosses behind
HELENA
I
know, Bob. But I just can’t pull the plug on him.
MATHIAS
I know
he was a friend of yours...
HELENA
More
than a friend, Bob....
112. CRAWFORD IN BED
HELENA
(v/o)
He and Lee[2]
- my husband - they were like brothers. Jack was the best man at our wedding.
113. CLOSE-UP: HELENA
She continues to reminisce,
as though realizing for the first time how many people and memories she is
leaving behind.
HELENA
(tearfully)
Sue[3]
was maid of honor.
114. SIDE VIEW: HELENA, MATHIAS
MATHIAS tries to bring
HELENA back to reality.
MATHIAS
He’s suffering, Doctor.
115. CRAWFORD IN BED
He is unconscious, lying
perfectly still.
MATHIAS
(v/o)
And we’re along way from Earth Space Medical.
116. SFX: MONITORS
Label below reads CRAWFORD
MUSIC: somber.
117. HELENA, MATHIAS
HELENA
I’ll
give him something for his pain.
HELENA prepares
a syringe and applies it to CRAWFORD’s jugular vein.
118. CLOSE-UP: CRAWFORD IN BED
As the syringe is applied,
he seems to relax a little bit more.
HELENA
(v/o)
It’s up to God from here.
119. CLOSE-UP: HELENA.
She looks over
her shoulder at MATHIAS, then back down at CRAWFORD.
120. CRAWFORD, PAN UPWARD TO MONITORS
SFX: MONITOR
PROBABILITY OF
SURVIVAL
15%
then changes to
PROBABILITY OF
SURVIVAL
14%.
121. CLOSE-UP: HELENA, PAN OVER TO MATHIAS.
CUT TO
122. INT. CORRIDOR
OUMA.
Tool kit over
his shoulder, he approaches a door.
123. CLOSE-UP: SIGN NEXT TO DOOR
WARNING!
Provisional
Atmosphere Zone
Please Wait For
Pressurization
Before Entering
SFX: Lighted display below flashes
PRESSURIZING
then changes to
PRESSURIZATION
COMPLETE
124. INT. CORRIDOR
Door opens, OUMA
enters. Door closes behind him.
125. INT. COMPUTER ROOM
One panel has
fallen loose from the wall. Ouma walks over and removes it to reveal damaged
circuitry behind him.
126. CLOSE-UP: WINDOW LOOKING OUT ONTO LUNAR SURFACE
ZOOM in on minute hairline
crack.
CUT TO
127. INT. MAIN MISSION
PAUL
SOUND: warning tone from
workstation.
PAUL looks down. Pushes a
button.
SOUND: bleep as PAUL pushes
button.
PAUL
Technical, this is Main Mission. I’m reading a
structural integrity alert in sector alpha six four. Level three. Can you check
it out and make sure it’s not a glitch?
128. INT. MAIN COMPUTER ROOM
KANO receives
PAUL’s message, looks down at sensor.
129. SFX: WARNING LIGHT.
MUSIC: low, building
violins, as before astronauts went berserk in Part 1.
130. EXTREME CLOSE-UP: KANO
KANO
Mister Ouma, get out of there!
131. INT. SECOND COMPUTER ROOM
OUMA looks over
at window.
132. CLOSE-UP: WINDOW
Crack spreads
rapidly across it.
133. EXTREME CLOSE-UP: OUMA
He barely has
time to react before...
134. SFX: WINDOW EXPLODES OUTWARD
135. EXTREME CLOSE-UP: OUMA
With a stifled
scream, he is sucked forward.
136. SFX: OUMA FLYING THROUGH WINDOW
137. EXTREME CLOSE-UP: KANO
KANO
No!!!!!!!!!!
CUT TO
138. EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA
KANO’s scream can still be
heard echoing off.
CUT TO
139. KOENIG’S OFFICE
KOENIG sitting at his desk,
PAUL, KANO standing before him.
PAUL
The
room was designed for computer equipment, not people. Most of the time it was
kept a vacuum to save on atmosphere.
KANO
We only pressurized it when we needed to go in there
to make repairs.
140. KOENIG AT HIS DESK
PAUL
(v/o)
It
probably started as a minute crack, too small for anyone to notice even if they
had been looking for it.
KOENIG
I see.
141. KOENIG RISES FROM DESK.
KOENIG
Paul, I want every window, every nut, every bolt and
every transistor on this base checked, I don’t care where it is. I don’t want
any more surprises like this.
142. KANO, PAUL
KOENIG crosses
behind them.
143. CLOSE-UP: KOENIG
KOENIG
Mister Kano...
144. CLOSE-UP: KANO
KOENIG
(v/o)
It
looks like you’ve got yourself a steady job.
KANO
Yes,
Commander.
MUSIC builds.
CUT TO
145. EXT. EAGLE LAUNCH PAD
146. INT. EAGLE REPAIR BAY
Several crew
members wearing various colors, mostly red and yellow with one or two brown are
assembled, a small crowd of lower-level personnel.
147. CLOSE-UP: TECHNICIAN #1
TECHNICIAN
#1
Who
the hell does Koenig think he is?
ALL
(ad lib)
Yeah!
TECHNICIAN
#1
He thinks we should all stay here!
148. PAN PAST CROWD
TECHNICIAN
#1
(v/o)
Stay on this god-forsaken rock and let it take us
god-knows-where! Who know what we might run into out there? One thing’s for
sure, none of us are ever going to see our homes again!
149. CUT TO CORRIDOR NEARBY
SIMMONDS
He is listening
in.