The Production GuideScript To Screen: Force Of Life
by Martin Willey
The Production Guide
After the solarium, Zoref is placed in the Medical Unit where Mathias takes scans. We then see Bergman and Koenig examining the scans in Koenig's office. It is a short scene focussed mostly on exposition, but there were three different versions of it.
In all, the scene was set in Bergman's quarters. This set appeared in a number of early episodes, and it was required again for the following episode, Alpha Child. Late into filming, it was decided to shift the action to Koenig's office. The shot was filmed on Thursday 4th July 1974.
Although the scene is expository, it has to show the emotional reactions of the two characters. For Bergman the force is a chilling enigma, inscrutable and dreadful. Koenig is questioning and speculating. It ends with a grim conclusion from Bergman- which will be reallocated to Koenig in the final version.
The first version is from the script of 15th May 1974.
31
37 INT. BERGMAN'S QUARTERS. 37
OPEN ON a coloured scan of a human body.
The scan shows a human skeleton, the whole length of
which is suffused with red glowing light.
BERGMAN (V.O.)
There it is John. We would have
found it sooner if we'd known
where to look.
PULL BACK.
KOENIG
Why Zoref? Of all the people
on Alpha, why him?
BERGMAN
It's using him as a kind of
host, something to operate
through...
KOENIG
Where has it come from, Victor?
Are we to suppose its lain
dormant out there in space ...
waiting, for energy ...? or is
there more to this than we know,
a purpose we are not yet aware
of ... ?
BERGMAN
It hasn't only taken Zoref over,
John, it's growing inside him,
growing in direct proportion to
the amount of energy it consumes.
KOENIG
Growing, yes, but into what?
BERGMAN
We can't afford to wait and
see. Somehow it must be destroyed,
while it is still relatively weak.
They look at each other grimly.
The second version is from 21st May.
38
50 INT. BERGMAN'S QUARTERS
CLOSE SHOT of a coloured scan. It shows a large blue
glow in the centre.
BERGMAN
There it is. The force that
killed Dominix, the girl...
It's inside him.
PULL BACK to include BERGMAN and KOENIG.
KOENIG lowers the scan.
KOENIG
Inside Zoref! What is it,
Victor?
BERGMAN
I've tried a computer analysis...
It can't recognise it...but it
has told me something else. John,
this force has been on Alpha
only ten hours, yet it shows rapid,
even incredible growth.
KOENIG
It's growing...inside him?
BERGMAN
Yes, and out of all proportion
to the energy or heat it's
consuming.
KOENIG
Why Zoref?
BERGMAN
Who knows. Obviously it's lain
dormant out there in space,
waiting.. .for Zoref, a catalyst,
any catalyst, something to
operate through.
KOENIG
To what purpose...?
BERGMAN
I only know this. It's growing
rapidly, and so is our problem.
Somehow we must destroy it while
it is still relatively weak...
or in twenty-four hours life on
Alpha will become somewhat
uncomfortable.
HOLD on KOENIG'S disturbed face.
The third version was a blue page amendment on 24th May. In the final version, the scene is condensed, reducing the number of different lines between Bergman and Koenig. The ending of the scene switches from Koenig's question and Bergman's grim conclusion ("it must be destroyed"), to Bergman asking the question "what purpose?" and Koenig answering it must be destroyed.
38
50 INT. BERGMAN'S QUARTERS.
CLOSE SHOT of a coloured scan. It shows a large blue
glow in the centre.
PULL BACK to include BERGMAN and KOENIG.
KOENIG lowers the scan.
BERGMAN
There it is. The force that
killed Dominix, the girl...
It's inside him. I've tried
a computer analysis ...It can't
recognise it...but it has told
me something else. John, this
force has been on Alpha only
ten hours, yet it shows rapid
growth...Out of all proportion
to the energy or heat it's
consuming.
KOENIG
Why Zoref?
BERGMAN
Who knows.
KOENIG
Could it be it's lain dormant
out there in space, waiting...
for Zoref, a catalyst, something
to operate through...
BERGMAN
But to what purpose...?
KOENIG shakes his head.
KOENIG
We can speculate, but that's not
our problem right now, Victor,
we must destroy it if we can...
While it is still relatively weak.
HOLD on KOENIG's disturbed face.
"FORCE OF LIFE" 24th May, 1974