The Production GuideScript To Screen: Breakaway
by Martin Willey
The Production GuideThis is the follow-up scene to the previous Koenig and Grodno scene, where we hear Helena's side to the story. It is an interesting character sub-plot that was filmed (see below and here), but completely removed from the final edit. It's worth remembering that workplace sexual harassment like this wasn't specifically illegal in the mid 1970s (the first UK law was in 1986, the first US regulations were in 1980). Women's workplace rights were recent and still controversial in 1973.
The Dorothy Turner reference is another future-episode reference. The reason Helena wants to allow her to get back to Earth is because she is pregnant, although this isn't mentioned in this draft of the script. The character names would change, but her child would be born as Jackie in the episode Alpha Child
The scene was filmed on Friday 7th December 1973
58 INT. KOENIG'S OFFICE.
As he and Helena enter. He closes the door, faces her.
KOENIG
Sit down--please.
HELENA
(as she does so)
I have a young assistant.. a woman.
Dr. Dorothy Turner....English National.
Her tour of duty was up ten days ago
and she's not being allowed to go back
to Earth...
KOENIG
Oh...
HELENA
It's a hardship case, particularly
because she's meeting her husband
and they're going to go off to...
KOENIG
(breaks in)
I can't do a thing. I'm sorry.
HELENA
I thought perhaps...
KOENIG
I would like to let her go, doctor,
believe me...I'd like to lift all
the restrictions... .but... I can't...
I don't have power in those
directions. I'm under Earth Command.
Helena absorbs that, nods...
HELENA
Well, I thought I'd try...She's
pregnant, you see...got that way
on her last Earth Holiday...
(she stops.. rises)
I'll have to tell her nothing can
be done.
ANOTHER ANGLE.
As Koenig stops her with his hand.
KOENIG
Have we gotten off on the wrong foot,
you and I?
HELENA
(carefully)
That wouldn't be politic with
a Base Commander, would it?
KOENIG
May I ask you a non-Medical
question?
(she waits... nods)
Did you and the.. ex-Commander
here have any friction --- on a
personal or professional level?
HELENA
(slight hesitation)
Did he say we had?
KOENIG
He made certain references...
HELENA
To my lack of judgment?
KOENIG
In a sense.
HELENA
I see..
(a beat)
Well, he indicated a certain
interest in me, at one point. I
did not reciprocate. That, perhaps,
was my lack of judgment.
Before Koenig can react...there is buzz...and a worried
voice over the Communications Post from Ouma...
OUMA (O.S.)
Commander...Those Probe Recorder
tapes..
KOENIG
(into Communications Post)
What about them?
OUMA (O.S.)
There's something very strange.
We have two hundred blank feet
on them.