Space: 1999 s02e11 Episode Script

'Moonbase Alpha status report, 1,608 days since leaving Earth's orbit.
'Dr Helena Russell recording.
'We have encountered a bizarre, jewel-like asteroid.
'Our central computer is unable to give even a preliminary analysis.
'Commander John Koenig and Chief Eagle Pilot, Alan Carter 'are carrying out a close reconnaissance.
' Eagle 1 to Alpha.
'Eagle 1 to Alpha.
Anything to report?' Commander, we're being affected by an energy field of great magnitude.
- Instruments are erratic.
- 'Source?' - The asteroids are reconnoitring.
- 'Can we set down?' Scanners show a localised atmosphere.
Breathable.
Area Zero D.
It's like some sort of invitation.
Let's accept it.
Right, let's go.
(Carter) Looks like ice.
Yeah, but the surface temperature's warm.
(Bleeping) That's a malfunction alarm.
- It's in the stabilisers.
- That's strange.
You handle it.
I'm going to have a look around.
'Koenig to Eagle 1.
Alan, I've found some sort of cave entrance.
' Do you want to wait for me? 'No, I'm going in.
I'll report back every three minutes.
' OK.
(Electronic hum) (Electronic hum) - 'Alan?' - What's it like in there, John? You can't believe this place.
It's like alike a vast vast hall of mirrors.
The composition appears to be some form of dense crystal.
It could be the energy source.
- 'Have you located the malfunction?' - I'm still working on it.
'All right, keep trying.
I'm going to do some more exploring.
' (Electronic hum) - Alan? - 'Yes, John?' I have a sample of the rock.
I want to take off immediately.
'I haven't finished adjusting the stabilisers yet.
' Five minutes.
Alan, I'm getting peculiar readings.
Can you delay liftoff? 'The Commander wants out of here now.
' 'A few minutes won't make any difference.
' One minute could make a world of difference.
Ready? - 'I'm getting strange readings.
' - So are we.
This whole asteroid is one strange reading.
Ready for liftoff? I still haven't managed to correct the malfunction on the stabilisers Hey! OK.
I can't make anything of these, they're incomplete.
Why was the Commander in such a hurry? We'll know soon.
He's in the travel tube.
Take this to the Observation Room.
Don't let it out of your sight.
John Attention all Alphans, this is the Commander speaking.
I've just returned from an exploratory trip to the asteroid and I must tell you it poses a serious threat.
We are presently surrounded by a very strong energy screen, which, if we do not neutralise, will render all of our instruments useless.
In order to escape from this force, we will create an energy beam.
We will direct this beam at the asteroid, which is like a crystal.
'It will reflect the beam back, cutting through the energy screen, 'breaking its hold on us.
' Time is our enemy.
We have an enormous task to achieve.
But I know I can count on the full co-operation and support of all Alphans on Moonbase to complete this task successfully.
I want all construction crews to report to Main Technical Section to await instructions as to the beginning of exterior work.
That is all.
Any questions, anyone? John, creating this energy beam will take too much power from our life support systems.
It could be very serious.
We'll be in more trouble if we don't.
I haven't had a chance to complete these read-outs It's not necessary.
Then I'd like to analyse the sample you took.
- There might be a way of breaking - I've completed that analysis.
- Without instruments? - I had enough portable equipment.
- But - Any other questions? Yes.
Your methods, Commander, your data is totally I don't want to argue with you.
I'm not arguing.
I'm being scientific.
We lack information.
Are you questioning mine? How can I question what I haven't got? As Science Officer, I insist You are confined to your quarters until further notice! John You may leave now.
She was only doing her job.
And my job is to protect the safety of this base.
It is my responsibility and mine alone.
And none of us will survive without discipline.
Remember that, all of you.
Alan What happened on that asteroid? I don't know.
I remained on the Eagle - we had a problem with the stabilisers.
Could something have invaded him - a virus, a life form taken him over? I'm thinking he must have discovered something, some other danger inside those caves.
And he doesn't want us to know about it.
Not yet, anyway.
That's a strong possibility.
I've come to parley with the mutineer.
Why did the Commander turn on me? Discipline, discipline, discipline.
A throwback to Captain Bligh! CaptainBligh? Oh, forget it.
How would you know? You're a Psychon.
Yeah, you're right.
I am a Psychon.
I might not know anything about your Captain - Bligh.
- Bligh.
But I'm hypersensitive to all forms of living matter and when Helena tried to touch the Commander I sensed a coldness, he wouldn't let her touch him.
Yeah, I noticed that.
He's unwilling to talk, as if he's withholding information.
That's why I was so insistent.
He's keeping us in the dark.
Take that sample of crystal, he said he analysed it, but I don't know the results.
Take it easy, or you'll have a fit and turn into some wild creature from outer space.
Tony, I'm being serious.
The situation is serious.
We're not getting any right answers.
Maya, what say we grab us an Eagle, go there, take a look for ourselves? Ooh, who's talking like a mutineer now? That's not mutiny, it's security.
If something's wrong, we have a right to find out.
He's still our commander.
If he is in control of his mind Say he isn't.
If he's flipped, medically incompetent I talk like I've been drinking my own beer.
Is that possible? John Koenig, medically incompetent? Well, there's one way of finding out.
Talk to Dr Russell.
Another drop in the oxygen recycling system.
Four degrees.
We can't afford any more loss, Helena.
If we start running out of clean air, we're going to have sick people.
(Helena) More trouble? Same trouble.
Check out other life support systems.
See how much power loss there is.
Yeah, OK.
Go ahead, Tony.
OK, I'll lay it right on the line, Helena.
If John won't, or can't, explain the change that's come over him, if he won't let us try to help him, if there's something that he's not telling us, or is helpless against, how do we stop him? Those words are pretty strong, Tony.
And Alpha's getting pretty weak.
My being Head of Security is a joke.
He's put a clamp on everybody.
- I see what's happening - You don't like it, do you? If you had your way, what would you do? I'd grab an Eagle and to try to find out what happened on that asteroid.
Maya thinks that perhaps the crystal has the answer, that maybe it has some control over John.
If we could prove that, he could be declared medically incompetent.
And if you can't prove that, if John is perfectly rational, doing it for the reasons that he says then it'sconspiracy.
That word may be too strong for me.
(Electronic hum) 'Commander Koenig, 'this is the voice of Kalthon.
'There is no escape for you.
'You are shut off from your people.
' Why are you holding me here? What do you want from me, and my people? 'You were a fortunate accident, Commander, 'coming into our path of space.
' I ask again, what do you want with me? 'We need your stores of energy, sir.
'At this very moment, your people are aiding us to that end.
' You said "we".
'My people.
'A black sun once appeared in our galaxy.
'It began to absorb all our energy.
'Our technology was powerless against it.
'But we managed to survive total extinction.
'Our scientists created a seed, 'endowed it with the remnants of our energy 'and launched it into limitless space.
' A seed? 'The Heart of Kalthon, Commander.
'A whole civilisation.
'Everything is contained here.
'Cities, people, animal and vegetable life, 'all in microcosm, 'all in a state of suspended life, 'about to be reborn.
' So you'd drain the energy - all the energy - from our world, and destroy us, so yours can be reborn? What kind of uncivilised beings are you, to commit such a crime? 'The process is about to begin, the seed about to be regenerated.
'The seed is programmed only for survival and resurrection.
'It cannot make moral choices 'or decisions.
' (Electronic hum) 'You are trapped.
There is no escape.
' Energy reflector operational, Commander.
- Unit 2, status? - 'Unit Two on schedule, sir.
' Unit 3, status? 'Unit 3 nearly completed, sir.
' Attention, all construction crews.
I want the reflector completed and operational by 1900 hours.
'Dr Russell outside to see you, sir.
' Have her come in.
There are guards all over the place.
These are special circumstances.
There are a lot of guards on duty.
What is it, Helena? Time keeps running away from me.
I can't stop.
Well, I could talk about what's happening to Alpha, the jeopardy to our entire life support system.
What is more important is, what has happened to you.
Nothing.
I've got a job to do and I'm trying to do it.
What really happened on that asteroid, John? Why are you shutting me out? I'm not! I told you all, if we don't break this force, we'll all perish! It may be too late for us by then.
I want you to have a medical check-up.
You've been exposed to Helena, I can't stop for anything.
Nothing! I could order you to have a medical examination.
The overall command of Alpha is your responsibility.
- But? - As Chief of the Medical Staff, the health of everyone on Alpha is MY responsibility.
- If I suspect anything - Helena, do you think I would jeopardise the lives of our people? Trust me.
I must check in with the construction crews.
Don't you think it's time to release Maya from her quarters? They need her in Command Center.
I'm the one who will make that decision.
Dr Russell When this is all over, I will have that medical examination.
I touched him, his skin was like ice.
It was eerie, hardly Say it, Helena.
Go ahead, say it.
Hardly human? Hardly human.
What surprised me is that he let you touch him.
He tried to avoid it.
Did he react? Did he say anything? At the moment of contact, neither of us said anything.
I was too shocked.
Do you think he suspects anything? Well, he had to.
I I reacted to the iciness of his skin.
The thing is that up until that moment, I believed everything he said.
(Tony) And now? I'm afraid.
The answer's in the crystal.
Yeah.
So our next move is we get the crystal, right? Do we tell Alan? No.
No, not yet.
Not until we're absolutely sure.
OK, Maya, the first move is yours.
- Gonna call it quits for now? - I'd like to call it quits for ever.
I know what you mean.
I'm ready to go in now.
(Helena) 'Tony will keep him in Command Center as long as he can.
'You'll have to hurry.
' - Forgot something.
- I'll never tell.
Cranston.
Yes, Commander? Did you program Main Power Plant for transfer to energy reflector units? Your orders have been carried out, sir.
It's incredible.
I've never seen anything like it.
This is no crystal.
It's an unbelievably dense, complex type of living matter from which all energy has been drained, but it's not dead.
Only dormant, like a seed.
It's impossible to imagine the effects that such a substance could have on a human being.
How can we help John combat it? We have to face the possibility that Commander Koenig may no longer be flesh and blood.
'You are trapped.
There is no escape.
'You are trapped.
There is no escape.
'You are trapped.
There is no escape.
(Kalthon) 'You are trapped! There is no escape!' (High-pitched tone) It works! The ultra-frequency sound split the molecules into particles that bombard the crystal.
We've got to get to the asteroid and knock out the rest of that stuff.
I'm trying to understand but I don't buy it.
You have a lot of theories.
You can't prove anything.
How can you be so blind? Can't you see what's happening? What's happening is crazy talk.
We've just demonstrated very odd properties in this crystal.
- We've seen a lot odder than that.
- But? But it didn't cause us to make crazy accusations.
Alan, please listen.
You accept that the Commander is not behaving in his usual manner? OK, he's uptight.
Helena touched him.
His skin was as cold as ice.
Its texture and temperature approximates that crystal.
You said something happened to him.
I said he found out something.
A terrible threat he doesn't want us to know about.
Or something's got control of him.
We're talking about John Koenig! You remember him? John Koenig! - We're as loyal to John as you are.
- You're not showing it.
- Oh, arguing isn't going to help.
- No.
Or convince him, apparently.
- Maybe we can.
- Yeah? How? - You've got to help us get an Eagle.
- All the Eagles are grounded.
We know.
By "help", you mean "steal".
I can't do that.
Come on, Alan! It goes against all instinct, all training.
Instinct, training.
You're hiding behind words.
Words, huh? Well, they may be just words to you, but to me they add up to something else.
Loyalty and duty.
My duty is to John.
- If it was, you would help him.
- Exactly.
Huh? Well, in my book, cobber, your kind of help is mutiny.
'This is the Commander.
'All personnel will remain at their posts or in their quarters 'during the transfer of power to the energy beam.
'Deactivate main circuits.
' Support system 3 is cutting out.
Effect the transfer.
Life support system 6 is fading out.
Commander Koenig, Medical Center.
'I have no time for conversation.
' I'm losing life support systems 3 and 6.
If you take any more power away, some people 'Some people may die.
But some people are not all the people.
' Mr Verdeschi, you shouldn't be here.
No one may take Eagles without orders from the Commander.
And I have orders to disarm all personnel.
I'm not armed.
I have orders to inform the Commander of any unauthorised personnel 'Alpha to Eagle 1.
Return to base immediately.
Return to base' John, there is one question that I've got to ask you and it's vital that you give me an honest answer.
(Beep) - Yes, what is it? - 'Eagle 1 is spaceborne, sir.
' 'Where's it heading?' For the asteroid.
Shoot it down.
'You cannot mean that.
' Are you asking to be relieved of duty? 'No, sir.
' - John - 'John?' Activate laser gun! - 'The laser?' - You heard me! - That is one of our Eagles.
- I gave you an order! Obey it! 'Weapons Section.
' Prepare the laser gun.
- 'Laser gun on target.
' - Shoot it down.
- 'Would you repeat that?' - SHOOT IT DOWN!! Tony, when we touch down, what's our plan of action? We'll have to play it by ear, Maya.
But one thing's for sure.
We stay together.
Carter! I gave orders to shoot that craft down! What sort of insubordination is this? Commander, I can't do it.
I I know who's up there.
Tony and Maya.
- I ordered you to fire! - Well, I won't do it! Oh, come on, Commander.
I can't.
Commander, you can't! (Helena) John! If you fire those lasers, power will be diverted from your energy beam.
That'll throw everything off schedule.
Put everything behind time.
You said time keeps running away from you.
That's what you said, isn't it? Retract laser gun.
Weapons Section, retract the laser gun.
I owe you all an apology.
I have been withholding information from you.
I realise now it was a mistake.
That asteroid is not only draining our power, it's Don't listen to him.
This is not John Koenig.
Helena, what are you talking about? If I'm not John Koenig, who am I? Touch him.
Go ahead, Alan.
He's like ice.
She's right.
I am like ice.
Something did affect me on that asteroid.
I don't know what it was.
But I do know that we'll never be free again unless we break that asteroid's hold on us, on me.
He's not telling the truth.
That's why I gave strict instructions that no one leave Alpha.
I would rather have had them shot down than go there and face dangers beyond the ones I faced.
I only hope it's not too late to save them.
Please, believe me.
Something's wrong.
It isn't the way he says.
Helena, please try to get hold of yourself.
Don't force me to use my authority as commander.
I'd hate to have to confine you to your quarters, nor do I want to order you to Medical Center for observation.
Perhaps Ihave been upset.
We've all been under strain.
San, increase the energy flow to the beam.
We've got to break free.
Wow! That energy reflector is beginning to cook this place.
There's the cave, like Alan said.
(Electronic hum) Tony! - Commander! - We've just left him on Alpha.
Wait a second.
The lettering on his jacket is backwards.
It's like a reflection.
- Reflection? - From where? Maya, what are you doing? (Explosion) I think this is the Commander.
Are you saying he transported himself down here? I don't think he ever left.
John? John? He can't respond as long as he's frozen in that state.
If that really is John, then who's that on Alpha? His reflection, or an intelligent life form that can take form from a reflection.
Stand back.
OK, so how do we break him free? Laser.
I mean, without killing him.
If we don't move quickly, it won't matter.
John, I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can I'm going to use my laser.
I'll break away fast so I can cut the beam as soon as possible.
Oh, am I glad to see you! - You all right? - Yeah, I'm fine.
- Your image is up on Alpha.
- I know.
- We don't know what he's doing.
- He's regenerating a civilisation.
This place will explode into life any second.
That's why he needs our energy.
How is he draining off the power? - A reflector, beaming the energy.
- To the seed.
The Heart of Kalthon.
It's like an embryo, the crux of everything.
I've seen it.
It's here, somewhere in this complex.
- If we find it, we can destroy it.
- (Tony) With sound.
High frequency sound.
Maya split the crystal with sonar.
I programmed our comlocks to the same pitch.
- I'll take your Eagle back to Alpha.
- It won't be easy.
He's in command.
Only Helena suspects something.
- Even Alan believes he's you.
- Yeah.
Find the Heart of Kalthon and destroy it.
We'll pick you up later.
Well, time to play our song.
(Echoing laughter) It's on the other side.
(Laughter) (Kalthon) 'You are trapped! Trapped for ever! 'There is no escape!' (Laughter) 'You will stay frozen for ever!' Increase power flow to maximum plus five.
Commander, our temperature is dropping.
This will eliminate half our instruments.
Do it! Water in the recycling plant is frozen.
Hydroponicsfrozen.
Protein production unit, inoperative.
Maintain power level as is.
The oxygen units have failed.
We must have more power.
We need all power for the beam.
Alpha is dying! Can't you realise that? I will not have my orders questioned! Back to your posts! - We can't go along with this.
- You're relieved of duty.
Alan, stop him.
- Alan, back to your post! - John! Increase power to maximum plus 15.
We can't.
We'll destroy Alpha! - I gave you an order! - That order is countermanded.
You're at my desk, alien.
That is an image creature projected by the asteroid.
Don't listen to it.
Destroy it.
Destroy it! One of us is real, one a reflection.
I was on that asteroid.
I know what its force is trying to do to us.
- It's running out of time.
- That's the truth.
If it can't drain the last of our power, it'll die.
So it sent my reflection to confuse us, to steal a few moments to complete the transfer.
Helena, you can tell us apart.
Things we've shared, he can't know.
I need no further proof than his actions.
Oh, how clever they are.
How very clever.
They've got me acting contrary to my own character.
Even Dr Russell doubts me.
Not only Dr Russell.
Alan, Alan Alan, look at the jacket.
The lettering on the jacket, it's reversed.
I ask you, which one of us is the reflection? It's backwards because he switched jackets.
But he overlooked one thing - the hair.
Alan, Helena, the part in my hair.
(Laughing) You're too late! Nothing can stop us now! We will regenerate! Kalthon lives! Kalthon dies.
KALTHON LIVES! (Screaming in agony) (Piercing tone) (Screaming continues)