The Production GuideScript To Screen: Another Time, Another Place
by Martin Willey
The Production GuideThe Alphans arrive on Earth. The shooting script of 20th March 1974 has them discovering the top of a satellite tower. Santa Maria, California is close to Vandenburg Air Force Base, a missile launch site, but the town itself is famous for wines and barbecues, not a satellite tower (the population is about 100,000, twice what Helena claims). The script page was changed in the blue page revisions on 25th March.
37
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
54 EXT. SPACE SKY. SFX. 54
Two Moons, seen either side of Earth.
55 EXT. EARTH SURFACE. SFX. NIGHT. 55
The Eagle lands on Earth. Terrific dust storm in the
darkness.
56 INT. PASSENGER MODULE. 56
CARTER comes through to find KOENIG and HELENA preparing
to go out onto the surface.
ON KOENIG, HELENA.
KOENIG
All right?
HELENA
Yes ...
KOENIG operates the door mechanism and they stand looking
out for a beat. Then they go out - HOLD as they vanish
into the darkness.
57 EXT. EARTH SURFACE. NIGHT.
The surface looks dark and bleak. A wind sighs and they
see the shadows and shapes of small stunted trees.
58 EXT. EARTH SURFACE. SANDY ROCKY AREA. NIGHT.
HELENA end KOENIG are moving along when they see a
structure looming up ahead. They move forward end
examine it.
Their P.O.V.
The top of a satellite tower protruding from the ashy
soil.
KOENIG
Santa Maria satellite tower.
HELENA
John, there was a community
of fifty thousand people ...
this tower is hundreds of
feet high...
CONTINUED:
38
58 CONTD.
KEONIG
Buried in ash...what could
have happened?
CARTER comes into shot.
CARTER
There's a settlement up
ahead ...the houses Commander...
are just like Regina's picture.
They react and move out.
On the 25th March the tower is explicitly alien. Also, as we approach the valley, we see lights indicating the settlement.
The tower scene was filmed on 16th April. Perhaps to avoid another unexplained story loose-end, it was decided to do an alternative effects sequence showing the Alphans leaving the Eagle.
37
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
54 EXT. SPACE SKY. SFX. 54
Two Moons seen either side of Earth.
54A EXT. ABOVE THE EARTH'S SURFACE. NIGHT. SFX. 54A
The Eagle skimming over the silver glowing surface
of Earth.
54B EXT. ABOVE THE EARTH'S SURFACE. NIGHT. SFX.
The Eagle flying over a valley in which many lights
are seen twinkling in the distance below.
54C INT. EAGLE COMMAND MODULE. NIGHT.
CARTER reacts to the sight below.
CARTER
Signs of habitation below, Sir.
KOENIG (V.O.)
Time we went down, Alan.
54D EXT. ABOVE THE EARTH'S SURFACE. NIGHT. SFX. 54D
The Eagle banks, and swoops down towards the surface.
55 EXT. EARTH SURFACE. SFX. NIGHT. 55
The Eagle lands on Earth. Terrific dust storm in the
darkness.
56 INT. PASSENGER MODULE. 56
CARTER comes through to find KOENIG and HELENA
preparing to go out onto the surface.
ON KOENIG, HELENA.
KOENIG
All right?
HELENA
Yes...
KOENIG operates the door mechanism and they stand
looking out for a beat. Then they go out - HOLD as
they vanish.
"ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE" 25.3.74.
38
57 EXT. EARTH SURFACE. NIGHT. 57
The surface looks dark and bleak. A wind sighs and
they see the shadows and shapes of small stunted
trees.
58 EXT. EARTH SURFACE. SANDY ROCKY AREA. NIGHT. 58
KOENIG and HELENA moving along. A large structure
looms up ahead of them. They stop and examine it.
THEIR P.O.V.
The Structure.
It looks huge, half buried in the ashy soil. There
is a plaque on the structure, a strange alien-looking
symbol.
RESUME HELENA and KOENIG.
They stare at the structure for a beat.
HELENA
What is it?
KOENIG
I've never seen anything like it before...
HELENA
But John, this is supposed to be
Santa Maria...I know about this
place...There was a small city here...
KOENIG
Not anymore...
CARTER comes into shot.
CARTER
There's a settlement up ahead...