The Production GuideScript To Screen: Breakaway
by Martin Willey
The Production GuideVoid Ahead was renamed as Turning Point in a draft dated 5 November, 1973. Bergman's opening narration is gone, the MTU is now the Eagle, and other names are the final versions. These scenes correspond closely to the Void Ahead script. Oddly, the on-screen caption says "Moonbase Alpha - September 9, 1999", but we only see the Moon, followed by the Nuclear Disposal Area.
This is Michael Sheard playing Gundlach, in the depot. After the episode was completed, the shots in the depot were refilmed with just Bergman and Helena, excluding this character.
The exposition is reduced a little, making the scenes shorter and tense. None of this appears in the episode, but it was filmed. Firstly, Morrow calls Helena and Bergman to announce Koenig's ETA. You can hear the original studio soundtrack here. When we see Koenig on the Eagle, he is watching an Earth newscast, with Shane Rimmer playing the newscaster; the original studio soundtrack is here.
Note this script has estimated timings for the shots- 5 seconds for the effects shot of the Eagle, 1 minute for Koenig listening to the newscaster.
1
"TURNING POINT"
A EXT. SPACE SKY. SFX. (0.07) A
Establishing shot. Moon in relation to Earth.
SUPERIMPOSE TITLE:
"Moonbase Alpha - September 9, 1999"
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.
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.
2 EXT. NUCLEAR DISPOSAL AREA 2. STUDIO. (0.17) a
At some distance from the laser barrier which surrounds
this radiation-dangerous area, our camera shows us two
Nuclear Disposal Area technicians, both wearing space-
suits. 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.
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 a T.V. screen.
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
(to Communications Post)
Thanks, Paul.
(she turns back to Bergman)
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 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: