The Production GuideScript To Screen: Breakaway
by Martin Willey
The Production Guide
In the final version of Breakaway, there is a scene showing Koenig alone in his quarters, drinking coffee and listening to the Meta signals. We hear voice overs of Simmonds and Bergman, and then Koenig's thoughts: "A giant leap for mankind. It's beginning to look like a stumble in the dark."
The scene was originally intended to be different. There were no voice overs, and Grodno (Gorski) visits. A version of this scene was filmed, renumbered as scene 44, on Friday 28th December 1973. The scene we see is merely the opening shot of the longer scene, cutting before Koenig is called on his commlock. The studio dialogue can be heard and read here. Apart from developing the personal conflict between Grodno/Gorski and Helena, it also establishes Helena's background, a key piece of information for the second episode, Matter of Life and Death.
55 INT. KOENIG'S OFFICE
Luggage partly unpacked. Clothing, personal effects
scattered. It is night. The mood is quiet. Koenig is
alone here. He is bone-tired. He is trying to write a
report, throws down a pill...There is a buzz. He
reaches over, presses a button on his Commlock Unit
which is plugged into a socket on his table.
KOENIG
Yes?
Koenig looks at the screen on his Commlock.
GRODNO (O.S. FILTER)
Good evening, Commander. Are you
in - for a minute or so?
KOENIG
(tiredly)
I guess..
He points his Commlock at the door.
ON THE DOOR.
As it opens and Grodno comes in...
GRODNO
I'm leaving tomorrow and I thought
I'd say goodbye.
KOENIG
It's a good time to leave.
GRODNO
(laughs nervously)
I wish you very well up here, but
I'm not certain you understand how
complex it all is.
KOENIG
I'm learning.
GRODNO
It becomes even more complex with
the death of the two Probe Men.
Commissioner Symonds now has.. very
real problems.
KOENIG
So do we all up here, Mister Grodno.
ANOTHER ANGLE
GRODNO
(hastily)
No doubt...no doubt...when do the
earth doctors arrive?
KOENIG
I'm not sure they will now.
(a beat)
You've been keeping Symonds up to
date on Doctor Russell, haven't you?
GRODNO
(quickly)
I hesitate to criticise Dr. Russell's
competence-but she has some personal
prejudices- problems..I have found,
which tend to affect her judgement...
sometimes.
KOENIG
You think she's misdiagnosing, too?
GRODNO
(quite smoothly)
She's Medical -- I am not. But I do
know, for instance, that she was
married to someone in the Space
Program and he was lost on a
mission five years ago.
KOENIG
Which means what?
GRODNO
She has prejudices, as a result --
possibly anxieties...
(now it comes out)
I understand, for instance, that
she doesn't understand the need
for Security in all of this...It
would be.. wrong to be influenced
by her....
ON KOENIG
KOENIG
I see... .Well... Goodbye. Have a
good trip back..
CAMERA ANGLES BACK FOR TWO SHOT.
GRODNO
Good Luck.
KOENIG
Oh.. before you go...just tell me,
between ourselves.. .Grodno.. .Did
Symonds suggest this little..
farewell heart-to-heart?
And Grodno just blinks his confusion.
By "Turning Point", the friction between the two is stronger.
27
44 INT. KOENIG'S OFFICE (1.45) 44
Koenig is listening to the Meta signals which are
piped to his room.
Luggage partly unpacked. Clothing, personal effects
scattered. It is the end of the lunar day. The mood
is quiet. Koenig is alone. He is boned-tired.
There is a buzz. He reaches over and presses a
button on his commlock which is lying on his table.
KOENIG
Yes?
Koenig looks at the screen on his commlock. A picture of
Gorski appears.
GORSKI (O.S.)
Good evening, Commander. I'd
like to see you.
Koenig points the commlock at the door.
ON THE DOOR
As it opens and Gorski comes in.
GORSKI
I'm leaving tomorrow and I
thought I'd say goodbye.
Koenig nods.
GORSKI
I wish you well up here, but
I'm not sure you understand
how complex it all is.
KOENIG
I'm learning.
GORSKI
It becomes even more complex
with the deaths of the two
astronauts.
Koenig looks at him.
KOENIG
Uh - huh.
GORSKI
The Commissioner now has very
real problems.
CONTINUED:
28
44 CONTD.
KOENIG
I think the problems are here
on Alpha - Earth Command doesn't
really want to hear about them.
GORSKI
(sputtering)
Oh, that's not true. It's a
question of security.
KOENIG
That's not my evaluation. You
don't solve a problem by putting
a guard on it and hoping it will
go away.
ANOTHER ANGLE
GORSKI
(changing the subject)
I understand Dr. Russell is being
replaced by a new medical team.
When do they arrive?
KOENIG
I'm not sure they will now.
(a beat)
You've been keeping Simmonds
up to date on Dr. Russell,
haven't you?
GORSKI
(quickly)
I hesitate to criticise Dr.
Russell's competence - but she
has some personal prejudices -
problems - I have found, which
tend to affect her judgement.
KOENIG
Such as?
GORSKI
She's medical I am not. But
I do know, for instance that she
was married to someone in the
Space Programme and he was lost
on a mission five years ago.
KOENIG
Which means what?
CONTINUED:
29
44 CONTD. 2
GORSKI
She has, as a result, anxieties
that... in my opinion make her
unsuitable for this job.
(now it comes out)
For instance, she doesn't under-
stand the need for security in
all this, but the repercussions
on Earth, if this news leaked...
KOENIG
(ending it)
Well, Gorski, I wish you the best
of luck with the problems on Earth.
Have a good trip back.
Koenig directs his commlock at the door, which slides
open.
As Gorski realises he's being asked to leave.
By "Breakaway", the dialogue is altered again. The reference to a team of Earth doctors is gone.
28
44 CONTD.
KOENIG
Earth Command wants results,
not explanations.
GORSKI
It's a question of security, Commander.
Should one grain of the truth ever be
exposed, then Earth Command....
KOENIG
That's not my evaluation.
I'm not a policeman. I've never solved
a problem by putting a guard on it
and hoping it will go away.
GORSKI
Your reputation precedes you.
KOENIG
You wanted to talk. So far I
haven't heard a thing I didn't
already know.
GORSKI
Then I shall try to be more informative.
Dr Russell, she has some personal
problems, prejudices, which I have
found affect her work. Basically
they are emotional problems, anxieties,
neuroses....
KOENIG
Is that a judgement or an opinion,
Gorski?
GORSKI
I don't like you either, Koenig.
But I think you should know
Doctor Russell was married to
someone in the Space Program,
a doctor, very important man.
He was lost on a mission some
five years ago.
KOENIG
Which means Dr. Russell is too
emotionally involved to suit her
job? You can't expect me to
believe that.
CONTINUED:
29
44 CONTD. 2
GORSKI
Believe what you will. But her
idea of security in this "virus"
situation could ruin the entire
Meta Probe operation. The repercussions on Earth if the news leaked...
KOENIG
I agree with Dr. Russell, Gorski
and I'm taking the lid off this one.
I've already rescinded your instructions
to the Computer.
GORSKI
The repercussions on Earth, if
this news leaked...
KOENIG
(ending it)
Then the place for security is on
Earth. Have a good trip back.
Koenig directs his commlock at the door, which slides
open.
As Gorski realises he's being asked to leave.
The final recorded dialogue is slightly different (see here). The line about rescinding Gorski's orders is gone.