The Production GuideScript To Screen: The Full Circle
by Martin Willey
The Production Guide
The Full Circle was the only script by Jesse Lasky, Jr. and Pat Silver, and the second episode for director Bob Kellett, replacing David Tomblin who had left the production to work as assistant director to Stanley Kubrick on Barry Lyndon. We only have the final shooting script, dated 17th September 1974, plus pink amended pages from 23rd September, the day before filming began on the 24th.
Kellett remembered rewriting much of the script. As we will see in later pages, there are notes describing a very different script, presumably the original Lasky/Silver version. That version seems to concern a creature from Retha who is brought to Alpha; there is little action on the planet.
The Kellett shooting script is unique in having a huge number of scenes, 343; almost every other script is between 80 and 180 scenes. This is because many reaction shots are broken out into separate scenes, perhaps because the director was planning his shots as he wrote the scenes. Martin Landau's script has hundreds of annotations showing additional changes.
As usual, Martin Landau extensively decorated the cover of his script.
On the back cover he draw an ambigram face, perhaps inspired by the British artist Rex Whistler.
Here are pages 4 and 5, with hand written amendments by Landau.
In scene 19, the Alphans discover the body of the caveman in the Eagle. Landau adds a stone axe, and deletes the dialogue, which tells us nothing we can't see. The shot was filmed on the first day of shooting, 24th September 1974.
4
19 INT. EAGLE. PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. STUDIO. DAY. 19
Their P.O.V. Lying sprawled on the floor between
the seats is a STONE AGE MAN: dressed in skins;
walnut wrinkled skin; matted hair. A stone axe
KOENIG and BERGMAN watch while HELENA kneels beside
him.
BERGMAN
A stone age man.
HELENA looks up at them.
HELENA
He's dead.
FADE OUT:
END OF HOOK.
COMMERCIAL BREAK.
In scene 20, after the opening titles, Koenig gives his instructions. Landau corrects some technical terms, "lift-off", not "take-off", and addresses "Alan" rather than "Carter". He reworks the dialogue of Koenig, Carter and Bergman.
The second page, in the original 17th September format.
5
ACT ONE:
FADE IN:
20 INT. MAIN MISSION/KOENIG'S OFFICE. STUDIO. DAY. 20
KOENIG is in his chair giving instructions to
HELENA, BERGMAN, CARTER and MORROW. He ticks off
notes on a clipboard.
KOENIG
This is a full scale rescue operation.
Paul, I want two Eagles ready for
immediate take-off
MORROW
Yes, sir.
MORROW goes.
KOENIG
Helena, I want a medical team equipped
for any eventuality. Who do you want
to take?
HELENA
Myself; a medical orderly and two
nurses.
KOENIG
Dr. Mathias?
HELENA
He's carrying out the autopsy.
KOENIG
Right.
HELENA goes.
KOENIG
The ground search party will be me; the
co-pilot; one security guard; Helena's
medical team. We go in Eagle One. Carter,
you will take Eagle two and do an aerial
search 100 miles each way centered on the
spot where Eagle six landed.
CARTER
Yes, sir. What about a co-pilot?
BERGMAN
Take Sandra - if that's all right with
you John. I need some close photo-
graphic information on Retha.
Landau reworks Koenig's speech - to "Alan, you will take Eagle two and do an aerial search. I want you to cover/covering a 100 miles radius of where Eagle six touched down". Alan doesn't ask for a co-pilot any more, while Victor's speech is re-ordered so he can suggest that Sandra goes. This is the final version in the episode, filmed on the second day of shooting, 25th September.
KOENIG
Now, the ground search party will be me, the copilot, one security guard and Helena's medical team. We'll take Eagle One. Alan, I want you to take Eagle Two. You'll conduct an aerial search. I want you to cover every inch within a radius of a hundred miles of that spot where the Eagle went down. Got it?
CARTER
Yeah, got it.
BERGMAN
I shall need some close photographic information on Retha, so, um, take Sandra if that's alright with you, John?
Copyright Martin Willey