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.
The studio dialogue makes the friction between the two stronger. Here is the ending that was recorded:
KOENIG
Look, Gorski, you said you wanted to talk.
So far I haven't heard a thing I don't already know.
GORSKI
Then I shall try to be more informative.
For instance... Dr Russell. She has personal problems, prejudices,
which I have found affect her work. Basically they are
emotional problems, anxieties, neuroses...
KOENIG
Is that a judgement or opinion, Gorski?
GORSKI
I do not like you either, Koenig.
But here is something you should know.
Dr Russell was married to a member of the space programme,
a doctor, a very important man, who was lost on a mission
about five years ago.
KOENIG
Which means what?
GORSKI
Which means she is too emotionally involved
to suit her job. Her idea of security in this
volatile situation would ruin the entire Meta Probe operation.
The repercussions on Earth if the news leaked...
KOENIG
The place for security is back on Earth, Commissioner.
Thank you Gorski, you've been very helpful.
Have a good trip back.