The Production GuideScript To Screen: The Full Circle
by Martin Willey
The Production GuideThe original Lasky-Silver script titled "The Full Circle" was very different to the final episode. Martin Landau wrote his notes on the original script.
We don't have the full original script, but we do have the SFX scenes from that script. These SFX scripts are prepared for the SFX department to plan the shots. This SFX script is "Draft" and does not have scene numbers. It is dated 25th July 1974, nearly 2 months before the date of the final shooting script.
The script has 4 pages. None of the scenes resemble the final SFX storyboards. Yet there are some small aspects that will eventually end up in the episode.
The episode opens with an exploration Eagle, but here it is collecting samples from a space cloud, not on a planet (which is not yet there). The Eagle is swallowed by the particles, but it is returned to Alpha by remote control. From Landau's notes, the crew including Santos has died, perhaps aged by going through a time warp.
The Moon goes through a time warp. There are no special effects for this; the unknown effect would be seen on the studio sets. When the Alphans recover, they see a new planet on the Big Screen, with an unfamiliar galaxy beyond. This is planet Retha.
As in the final episode, two episodes head towards the planet. One, the command Eagle, lands. As in the episode, we see moonbuggies crossing the alien landscape. In the original conception, this was a very weird landscape, wildly ambitious for the series.
We have an action scene at night, as the Alphans shelter in a cave. In the episode this will be the home of the cave people, but they don't exist in this version. Outside a giant dinosaur hunts them, but is beaten off by lasers. If this action sounds familiar, it's because we saw it in another episode- year 2's New Adam, New Eve. It's likely they encounter the Creature described by Landau's notes, and bring him back to Alpha.
The bulk of the episode then occurs on the moonbase, as the Alphans react to the Creature.
Finally, the Creature returns to the planet Retha in an Eagle. He carves text into a cave wall with his Alphan laser: "You are not alone"
In the final SFX sequence, time speeds up and we see the planet changing, with continental drift, cities appear, pollution, then atomic explosions which finally destroy the planet. It is returned to the dust we saw at the start. This is a wildly ambitious sequence, something probably not achievable until computer graphics were invented (the first ever entirely computer generated sequence in a film is a similar idea in Star Trek The Wrath of Khan , 1982).
Below we discuss more of what the episode might have looked like.
DRAFT
"THE FULL CIRCLE"
25th July, 1974
EXT. SPACE SKY. SFX.
AN EAGLE CRAFT - flying through outer space - is entering a mysterious floating belt of particles, a swirl of sparkling motes of metallic dust.
CLOSER ON EAGLE. SFX.
A mechanical dipper scoop arm extends from the craft, sweeping into the particle belt, collecting samples of the glittering dust.
INT. MAIN MISSION.
ON BIG SCREEN. SFX.
The Eagle craft can be seen flying through the band of particles.
ON BIG SCREEN. SFX.
The sparkling band appears to have engulfed the EAGLE which cannot now be seen.
ON BIG SCREEN. SFX.
The EAGLE MODULE now gradually materializes like a ghost from the band of particles.
ON BIG SCREEN. SFX.
The EAGLE CRAFT wobbles, steadies, turns - heading back.
EXT. MOONBASE. SFX.
The EAGLE CRAFT is seen wavering tentatively as it is guided in - to dock by remote control.
ON THE BIG SCREEN. SFX.
The surface of the planet is coming into close focus. Now we can see mountains, valleys, seas. The time warp has stopped. There is no change taking place.
EXT. MOONBASE. SFX.
The TWO EAGLES lift off into a night sky, blazing with an unfamiliar galaxy.
THE EAGLES head towards the new planet - which looms closer.
EXT. PLANET RETHA. SFX.
The two EAGLES flying over it. They separate - heading in different directions. A giant rainbow can now be seen to halo the planet.
EXT. PLANET RETHA. SFX.
Banded by the vast rainbow miles wide, through which the command Eagle craft sets down.
The Landscape.
A surreal version of earthly forms. Smouldering green volcanoes background blue rock formations. Giant mushrooms the size of trees wobble above peacock feather ferns. Gigantic pink 'asparagus' stalks from which are suspended brightly coloured jelly sacks not unlike 'Portugese Men-of-War'. A sulpherous pool foams at their feet.
EXT. RETHA SURFACE - (2 MOON BUGGIES? TRAVELLING) SFX.
Weird landscape dominated by the giant rainbow.
POV MOUTH OF CAVE (MINIATURE SET)
In the torch beams - a huge horny leg (possibly live horned toad or iguana) appears outside the cave.
EXT. CAVE (MINIATURE SET)
As he moves to the cave.
POV MOUTH OF CAVE (MINIATURE SET)
The horrifying beast sticks his head down as though scenting prey. We see bristling, pointed protrusions. Bulging eyes flick and snap in the torch beams. A tongue darts out into the cave mouth.
POV MOUTH OF CAVE (MINIATURE) AS BEFORE.
The terrifying head of the great reptilian beast looms into the mouth of the cave.
ON ROCK AND DEBRIS: falling from cave roof.
POV MOUTH OF CAVE. DINOSAUR (MINIATURE) AS BEFORE.
His head jerks from side to side.
POV MOUTH OF CAVE (MINIATURE)
The beast looms in - as a blinding flash of lasars strike him.
He draws back this time injured.
EXT. CAVE. (MINIATURE SET) NIGHT.
The REPTILIAN CREATURE lumbers away into the mushroom forest merging into darkness, with a crashing of fallen vegetation.
EXT. SPACE SKY. SFX.
The COMMAND EAGLE - heading back towards moonbase.
EXT. EAGLE COMMAND MODULE. SPACE SKY. SFX.
As it approaches Retha.
POV BARE SECTION OF CAVE WALL (SFX)
On it, we see the laser beam slowly carve the letters that form the words: "YOU ARE NOT ALONE"
POV BIG SCREEN. (RETHA ON IT) SFX.
The planet looks as it did in stable condition.
We see: Retha's continents split - and rearrange themselves. Then cities appear.
The land becomes parched. Smog covers the cities. Yellow-grey clouds.
There are a series of atomic explosions sending mushroom clouds from the receding planet.
Finally, one great atomic explosion wipes out the entire planet into decomposing dust.
Here are some speculative images of the scenes. Images generated by AI.
The opening shot- the Eagle enters a mysterious belt of particles. It extends a mechanical digger scoop arm to collect samples (probably similar to the grab arm we saw in The Exiles). On the Big Screen we will see it engulfed by the particles (a little like Space Brain)
The Eagle is guided back to Alpha by remote control.
We see the planet Retha on the Big Screen for the first time. A giant rainbow halos the planet.
The two Eagles fly to Retha.
The surreal alien landscape, with green volcanoes, giant mushroom forest, peacock ferns, pink asparagus stalks with jelly sacks. In addition to the special effects, some of this would have to be created on the live action stage.
The script suggests 2 moonbuggies travelling across the landscape- the final episode included just one moonbuggy.
The Alphans shelter in the cave from the monster outside. In reality, we'd have a got a lizard like in New Adam, New Eve. We see the dinosaur's footprint in the final episode.
The Creature uses the Alphan laser to burn a message in the cave wall: "You are not alone"
In the final sequence, we see the continents moving, cities growing, pollution, war and finally Retha explodes. We did see the missile strikes in The Last Enemy, and a few exploding planets in the series, but the fast passage of time in these shots would have been challenging to achieve.
Copyright Martin Willey