The Production GuideScript To Screen: Breakaway
by Martin Willey
The Production GuideThis is the "final shooting script" titled Breakaway (formerly titled "Turning Point"), dated 22nd November, a little more than a week before filming started. This script is mostly on blue pages, normally signifying amendments to an existing script, but here almost every page is replaced (in this section, page 2 is unaltered). The scenes and dialogue still closely follow the Turning Point pages, and the first page retains the original title.
There are now 3 separate on-screen captions, with the text we are familiar with. They will be moved around and combined into just two captions. At the start of Act One (as Koenig lands) the script has an additional caption: "Moonbase Alpha - September 9, 1999". Instead, we see the standard in-episode episode title and credits. There are also captions at the start of each act- Act 2 is September 10, Act 3 is September 11, Act 4 is September 13.
In earlier versions, Nordstrom and Steiner had been on foot. Now they are in a moonbuggy (filmed on 3rd December 1973). When Paul tells them of Koenig's arrival, Bergman has an extra line, acknowledging that he knows him.
The newscaster gives Simmonds a first name, Gerald. Simmonds interview on the newscast gains an extra slide (the "Meta?" slide), and adds some suspect science. In Turning Point, he says Meta "has broken away from a solar system many light years away from our own". In this version, it "has broken away from a distant galaxy". Now is is close to our solar system, Simmonds now adds "The reason why, we don't know." In the original, Simmonds tells the newscaster that "John Koenig, the newly-appointed Alpha Commander, is going to oversee this most important space journey". Now he is given some extra history: "John Koenig, the first Alpha Commander is returning to oversee this most important space journey".
This TV interview was filmed. The original dialogue is here, with parts of it (without Landau) filmed on Monday 17th December, The entire sequence would be eventually replaced with a personal call between Simmonds and Koenig. The Meta image is shown, however.
1
"TURNING POINT"
A EXT. SPACE SKY. SFX. (0.07) A
Establishing shot. Moon in relation to Earth.
1 EXT. NUCLEAR DISPOSAL AREA 2, SFX. (0.25) 1
This eerie site is on the dark side of the Moon. The
area is enclosed by a laser barrier protected between
a ring of tall columns, each of which is topped by a
bank of floodlights casting harsh illumination over
the sinister scene. Inside the floodlit area we see
an operation in progress.
SUPERIMPOSE TITLE : "THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON"
In the background of the shot an Eagle rests
horizontally on the Moon surface. The Eagle is
Moonbase Alpha's multiple purpose short range space-
craft. Here it is a cargo unit, and from its cargo
container a conveyor runs some distance over the
surface. The conveyor ends above a hole in the ground.
A massive container moves along the conveyor from the
Eagle to the hole where it is lifted down into the
ground by mechanical handling gear. All about we can
see there are ominous mounds rising up - mounds of
concrete-like material, capped by red inspection ports,
each one clearly numbered. The mounds are covering
holes in the Moon surface. This is a burial ground
for used atomic fuel that has been shipped from Earth.
SUPERIMPOSE TITLE : "TNUCLEAR DISPOSAL AREA TWO"
2 EXT. NUCLEAR DISPOSAL AREA 2. STUDIO. (0.17) a
At some distance from the laser barrier which surrounds
this radiation-dangerous area, two Nuclear Disposal
Area technicians drive into the shot in their moon
buggy. Both wear spacesuits and their names, Nordstrom
and Steiner, are printed on their helmets. They are
working on one of the many radiation counters dotted
about between the mounds, making routine checks.
SUPERIMPOSE TITLE : "SEPTEMBER 9, 1999"
CONTINUED:
1A
CLOSE ON TECHNICIAN NORDSTROM
He completes the checking of a monitoring unit. He
closes a panel.
2A EXT. DISPOSAL AREA 2. SFX. (0.04) 2A
P.O.V. NORDSTROM
He looks across the area to the Depot building in B.G.
2
3 EXT. DISPOSAL AREA 2 - DEPOT. (0.52) 3
We cannot tell where we are just yet because camera is
holding Dr. Helena Russell in the F.G. She is a cool
good looking woman in her early thirties and she is
looking at a T.V. screen on which she can see the
operation in the Disposal Area. Next to the screen
is an instrument panel dominant in which are a couple
of oscilloscopes monitoring the brain activity,
breathing and heart-beats of the two technicians
working in the Disposal Area. Over the top of each
oscilloscope is a name - Nordstrom, Steiner. Helena
glances at the scopes.
Helena turns now to speak to two men who are standing
behind her, also watching the screen closely.
FULL SHOT
Now we see the interior of this control building set
up to monitor the Disposal Area. The monitor screen
and control panel are mounted in front of the wide
window on the outer wall which looks out over the
Moon surface towards the distance Disposal Area 2.
The man Helena turns to is Gundlach, chief of this
installation. And beside him, also watching, is
Professor Victor Bergman. He is intellectual,
somewhat austere, a dedicated scientist.
HELENA
Are they normally out there as
long as this?
GUNDLACH
One hour is the limit... just
as a precaution - but until
recently we've never had any
accidents
Bergman looks at the oscilloscopes.
BERGMAN
So far their brain activity is
quite normal.
HELENA
So far. But if there's any
variation I'm pulling them out.
Now we ban hear Technician Nordstrom speak.
NORDSTROM (O.S)
Unit C4 is operating now -
radiation count normal.
CONTINUED:
3
3 CONTD.
On the T.V. screen they watch him walk away towards
another radiation counter. A picture of Main Mission
Controller Paul Morrow comes up on the Communications
Post. Helena and Bergman turn towards it as Morrow
speaks.
MORROW
Dr. Russell, Professor Bergman -
Commander Koenig's E.T.A. is in
thirty minutes ... at 23 - 35.
HELENA
Thanks, Paul.
BERGMAN
I know him well, Koenig's a good
man.
HELENA
I hope he's the right man.
Bergman has a look of confidence.
4 EXT. SPACE SKY. SFX. (0.05) 4
An Eagle, with passenger module, approaches the Moon.
5 INT. EAGLE PASSENGER MODULE. (1.00) 5
Commander John Koenig is in the uniform of Alpha Base
Commander. He sits watching a television screen set
into the back of the seats in front of him. He is
perhaps forty - intense, intelligent, and somewhat
preoccupied now as he watches the newscast from an
American commercial T.V. station on earth.
NEWSCASTER
It was announced today that the
two probe astronauts of the Meta
mission have contracted a mild
viral infection during training.
Lunar Commissioner Gerald Simmonds
reported, however that the long-
prepared for space mission to
Meta would be delayed no more than
forty-eight hours. Commissioner
Simmonds, can you now tell us
little more about Meta ...
Koenig looks up as a Stewardess approaches with re-
freshments.
STEWARDESS
Commander, touchdown at Moonbase
Alpha will be at 23-35 lunar time.
CONTINUED:
4
5 CONTD.
ON SCREEN
Commissioner Simmonds is now being interviewed. He
speaks emphatically. Behind him, on the interview
set appear slides: 1. A planet amid a cluster of
stars with the title "META?" 2. Moon, 3. Moonbase
Alpha, 4. The Probeship, 5. Commander John Koenig.
SIMMONDS
I'd be glad to. Meta is a rogue
planet, which has broken away from a distant galaxy. But its trajectory
has now brought it closer to our
own solar system. The reason why, we
don't know. But we have for the first
time identifiable signals which
indicate a high form of life on
another planet. From Earth's Space
Research Centre at Moonbase Alpha,
we are going to explore that planet
and John Koenig the first Alpha
Commander is returning to oversee
this most important space journey
in the history of man.
Koenig disenchanted, leans forward to turn off the
set.
6 EXT. NUCLEAR DISPOSAL AREA 2. (0.05) 6
The two technicians are still at work, checking
radiation counters.
7 EXT. NUCLEAR DISPOSAL AREA 2. DEPOT. (0.10) 7
Helena watches them closely on the T.V. screen.
Suddenly a high-pitched audio warning bleep attracts
her attention to the oscilloscopes.
ON NORDSTROM'S SCOPE
It indicates sudden peaks.
ON HELENA
Shocked, she shouts at the T.V. screen.
HELENA
Nordstrom!
Quick! Get away from there.