The Production GuideScript To Screen: Breakaway
by Martin Willey
The Production GuideThis is the same sequence as in The Void Ahead in a later script, titled "Turning Point". The scenes are almost the same as before, even with the foreground astronauts as the intense light rises over Alpha. The dialogue is changed, and the G-forces are much more intense than before. Bergman estimates 7g; by comparison, the space shuttle launches exert 3g, while motor racing cars, aerobatics aircraft and some roller coasters might experience 5 or 6g.
Again, Koenig uses his comlock rather than the console. And again, Catani refers to a big piece of the moon being torn away. The lunar features he mentions do not exist, although the "Mare Cantabrium" exists on Earth, better known as the Bay of Biscay off Spain. Most of this dialogue was filmed, firstly with the Carter in the Eagle scenes on Friday 14th December 1973, and in Main Mission on Thursday 20th December (hear the recorded audio here). On both days, the actors were present, saying the same dialogue, but the camera was either on Landau or Tate. After the main filming was finished, the shots were refilmed with new dialogue, as we see in the final episode. In the final edit, the Space Dock explodes much earlier in the sequence.
123 EXT. NUCLEAR DISPOSAL AREA 2. SFX. (0.07) 123
HIGH ANGLE
A build-up of explosions now. Pockets first, but
they increase in number and intensity, until
suddenly the whole area is obliterated in a
terrific explosion... the screen whites out.
124 INT. EAGLE COMMAND MODULE. (0.04) 124
ON CATANI
His face and the whole interior of the Command
Module are brilliantly lit by the thermo-nuclear
explosion. He turns away, shocked and temporarily
blinded.
125 EXT. SPACE SKY. SFX. (0.04) 125
LONG SHOT
The moon, back lit by the explosion on the far
side. A plasma cloud is forming.
126 EXT. MOON SURFACE. STUDIO/SFX. (0.04) 126
Two Technicians working on cables on the rim of
the crater around Moon Base Alpha are hurled to
the ground. They cover their visors with their
arms to shield their eyes from the intense light.
127 INT. TECHNICAL SECTION. (0.03) 127
Shock waves hit it. Equipment topples. A man is
thrown across the room.
128 INT. MEDICAL SECTION. (0.04) 128
Doctor Fujita is thrown against medical equipment
which scatters and smashes against the ground.
129 INT. KEONIG'S OFFICE/MAIN MISSION. (0.35) 129
The main lighting fails. The computer noises die.
Short circuits caused by the shock waves cause
some items of equipment to burst into flames.
Sparks shower down from above.
There is a violent shock wave. Everyone in main
mission is thrown to the ground.
ON KOENIG
Helena and Bergman are near him. Koenig tries to
rise, but is unable to do so.
CAMERA WIDENS and we see that everyone in the
control room is pinned to the floor, totally unable
to move.
HELENA
I can't... move.
BERGMAN
(speaking with difficulty)
We've got about seven G... we must
be accelerating.
KOENIG
(panting very hard)
No decompression so there can't
be any structural damage...
in this area anyway.
BERGMAN
We must be going into an eccentric
orbit.
KOENIG
I'm not sure we're in orbit
at all.
Helena looks at Koenig, as the implication sinks
in.
ON KOENIG
He crawls, painfully to the console. But cannot
reach the controls. Instead he raises his commlock.
KOENIG
Catani... Can you hear me?
This is John Koenig. Our...
G forces have been affected.
Can you determine what's
happening to us?
130 INT. EAGLE COMMAND MODULE. 130
ON CATANI
He hears Koenig's voice.
CATANI
(into mike)
Commander.. .that explosion...
It tore a tremendous piece of
the moon away.
131 INT. KOENIG'S OFFICE/MAIN MISSION. 131
Catani's voice comes through.
CATANI (O.S.)
The far side... just tore it
away...
KOENIG
(alarmed - into commlock)
Tore it away?
CATANI (O.S.)
All of Mare Cantabrium is gone.
All of the Great Lunar Sea.
All of the Alta Mountains. I
can you see it from up here... it's
impossible to believe...
132 INT. EAGLE COMMAND MODULE. 132
Catani looks at the moon below.
133 EXT. MOON. SFX. (0.04) 133
CATANI'S P.O.V.
The whole area of the Nuclear Disposal Area is still
pulsating with explosions and covered with a giant
plasma cloud.
134 INT. EAGLE COMMAND MODULE. (0.02) 134
Catani catches sight of something else which
surprises him. He looks out in a different
direction.
135 EXT. SPACE SKY. SFX. (0.07) 135
P.O.V. CATANI
He sees the Space Dock. It is breaking up.
CATANI (O.S.)
(horrified)
We're losing the Meta Probe...
The whole Space Dock - it's
breaking up..