The Production GuideScript To Screen: Black Sun
by Martin Willey
The Production GuideThe final shooting script of 21st January gives us an insight into ordinary Alphans, as they prepare the lifeboat Eagle.
We see a version of this scene, 85, in the episode. Mathias is supervising security guard Tony Allyn and technician Guy Groen carrying boxes into the Eagle; there is no dialogue. This is actually a re-shoot, directed by Ray Austin and filmed on Monday 25th March 1974, during the filming of Earthbound (Charles Crichton was directing the main unit on the Main Mission set at the same time). The main reason for the re-shoot seems to be removing the dialogue.
In the next scene, Koenig announces the names for the lifeboat. We cut in scenes 90 and 92 to the same Eagle, and see co-pilot Osgood (Ronald Chenery) being picked. He is watched by Mathias and the man and woman. It is this cast who appeared in the original scene 85.
There were a number of photos taken of the "man" and "woman". The man was played by Sandor Eles, a familiar supporting actor from the 1960s and 1970s, and the woman is an unidentified actress.
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83 CONTD.
ON KANO
At the computer, he extracts a tear-out sheet and hands
it to KOENIG.
KANO
We've got less than four hours
before entering the black sun.
(beat)
Commander, Alpha cannot survive
without computer.
KOENIG
Is that fact?
Both men are tense.
84 EXT. ALPHA SFX. (STOCK)
An EAGLE on the launch pad. The boarding tube is
connected to the Passenger Module.
85 INT. TRAVEL TUBE, PASSENGER MODULE.
A MAN and a WOMAN, both from Service Section, are
unloading modular units of supplies from the travel
tube into the Passenger Module.
WOMAN
...and that's what I heard.
MAN
It's not like you to listen to rumours.
WOMAN
How can I help it? Everyone's
talking about it. I ask myself,
why only one ship full of supplies?
Who's it for? Where's it going?
(tapping various units)
Medicine .. food ... water. These
aren't rumours.
MAN
Neither is Bergman's forcefield.
I can't see going through all
that bother if it's not going to
hold up.
CONTINUED:
40
85 CONT.
WOMAN
Yes, but why this spaceship if
it is going to hold up?
The MAN looks at her.
WOMAN (Contd.)
You didn't think of it that way,
did you?
HELENA who has been supervising the loading, DR MATHIAS
and OSGOOD come out of the Passenger Module. They
overhear the rest of the conversation.
WOMAN (Contd.)
I'll tell you something else I
heard. Bergman's brain child
is useless. It's already broken
down once. It will again. He
and the Commander know it will.
So they, and the rest of them at
Main Mission, aren't going to be
around for the finish.
The WOMAN turns to see that she's been overheard.
HELENA
We'll all be around for the finish.
Where or when doesn't really matter,
does it?
HELENA holds the WOMAN's look, then walks away.
The WOMAN, still a bit embarrassed, resumes unloading
as DR MATHIAS and OSGOOD exchange looks.
86 INT. MAIN MISSION.
MORROW
(on intercom)
Attention all personnel. Stand-
by for forcefield test. Thirty
seconds.
SANDRA
Paul, what if it doesn't work?
MORROW
Then all our worries are over.
CLOSE SHOTS:
EXPECTANT FACES: TANYA, KANO, STAFF
CONTINUED: