The Production GuideScript To Screen: New Adam, New Eve
by Martin Willey
The Production Guide
The Eagle is transported to New Earth by Magus ("You had to have it your way").
The scene in the 29th April 1976 script will be cut down in pink pages from 29th May. First, here are the original 29th April pages. Koenig is stubborn and insists they put on their full spacesuits to explore the planet.
17
27 CONTD. (27)
KOENIG
Helmets and back packs on.
MAGUS
I assure you there is no need
for those.
Nevertheless, they start putting them on.
28 EXT. GLADE. NEW EARTH. DAY 28
(NOTE: THE BACKING SHOULD DEPICT A CLEAR BLUE SKY - NO
CLOUDS AS THIS WOULD CAUSE PROBLEMS WHEN SIMULATING NIGHT)
KOENIG, HELENA, TONY and MAYA wearing their helmets and
back packs. MAYA is absorbed in taking readings with her
battery of instruments. MAGUS watches, amused. When MAYA
is satisfied, she nods to KOENIG.
KOENIG
All right, helmets off.
They take off their helmets and react to the wine-like
air. HELENA takes a deep breath.
HELENA
Mmmm!
They become slightly euphoric. Even KOENIG, determined
to be dour, has to blossom.
MAYA
The air is totally without
pollution!
HELENA consults an instrument.
HELENA
There appear to be no
harmful bacteria in it.
TONY bends down, picks up a handful of earth, crumbles
it in his hand.
TONY
Wow! You could plant grain
and have lasagne come up.
KOENIG
California a hundred and fifty
years ago!
MAGUS has been observing them eagerly.
CONTINUED:
18
28 CONTD. (28)
TONY
Calabria right now!
MAYA
Calabria! That's all we need -
bandits in the hills!
TONY
Maybe on your planet Psychon
there are bandits in Calabria.
There hasn't been a bandit in
Italy since the 80's.
KOENIG
(grins)
That's right - they all went
into politics.
TONY
Hey ... don't you give me that
Italy-screwed-up-world-politics
bit...
KOENIG
I didn't say a word.
TONY
Who was it blew the United World
deal in '85? I seem to remember
an American name in there somewhere...
MAYA
Slavic, to be precise..
TONY
You wouldn't know a Slav if one
came up and bit your nose.
HELENA turns to MAGUS.
HELENA
D'you know, you're quite right -
it is just like home.
MAGUS looks at them anxiously.
MAGUS
You do like it?
KOENIG's executive caution returns.
CONTINUED:
On 26th May, Magus makes the spacesuits disappear, so they cannot wear them on the planet.
The extended dialogue about Calabria (the toe of Italy) and bandits survives is still present in the pink pages, but will be cut from the later blue page amendments. Brigandage/brigantaggio in southern Italy was largely 19th century; the 20th century was marked more by fascist and diverse political violence, and organised crime families (the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III in 1973 was probably what the writers were thinking of). Calabria was the poorest region of Italy by the 1980s, with organised crime infiltrating all levels of politics and business,
"NEW ADAM NEW EVE"
26th May 1976
17
27 CONTD. 27
KOENIG
Helmets and back packs on.
MAGUS
I assure you there is no need
for those.
MAGUS makes a motion with his hand and the space-suits
disappear.
KOENIG
(annoyed)
Still got to be your way.
MAGUS
(smiles benignly)
Obviously,my son.
28. EXT. GLADE. NEW EARTH. DAY 28
(NOTE: THE BACKING SHOULD DEPICT A CLEAR BLUE SKY - NO
CLOUDS AS THIS WOULD CAUSE PROBLEMS WHEN SIMULATING NIGHT)
KOENIG, HELENA, TONY and MAYA, MAYA is absorbed in taking
readings with her battery of instruments, MAGUS watches,
amused.
They react to the wine-like air. HELENA takes a deep breath.
HELENA
Mmmm!
They become slightly euphoric. Even KOENIG, determined
to be dour, has to blossom.
MAYA
The air is totally without
pollution
HELENA consults an instrument.
CONTINUED:
"NEW ADAM, NEW EVE"
26th May 1976
l7a
28 CONTD.
HELENA
There appear to be no harmful
bacteria in it.
TONY bends down, picks up a handful of earth, crumbles
it in his hand.
TONY
Wow! You could plant grain
and have lasagne come up.
KOENIG
California a hundred and fifty
years ago!
MAGUS has been observing them eagerly.
CONTINUED:
In the blue pages, the California reference will disappear, and skip quickly to Koenig asking about wildlife. Page 19 is an original white page from the 29th April script, but Martin Landau has some thoughts about the lines.
19.
28 CONTD. 2. (28)
KOENIG
The planet seems to be compatible.
What about wild life?
There is something evasive about MAGUS's eye as he answers,
but his words are confident enough.
MAGUS
There are some wild cattle and
boar and horses - enough to
start breeding from.
KOENIG
Water?
MAGUS
Water is pure and plentiful.
Fruit grows freely. And the
soya bean grows wild all over
the planet. It's the Garden
of Eden, Mark Two. You will
be very happy here.
Too much -
as written
A challenge,
again -
KOENIG
Could be. I want a task force
down here first.
MAGUS
For what purpose?
KOENIG
I'm goinglike to make a feasibility
study of this whole planet
before I make any decision
about new Gardens of Eden.
I'll need (to bring) a task force
from home -
MAGUS
Nobody else will be coming down.
KOENIG
What?
MAGUS
The decision has already been
made. You are my new Adams,
my new Eves.
KOENIG looks grimly at the others, flips his commlock.
KOENIG
Koenig to Alpha, Koenig to
Alpha. Come in.
CONTINUED:
The ringed lines will be cut and Koenig's line will become "Well, I'd like to make a feasibility study of the entire planet, before we make decisions about Gardens of Eden. I'd like to bring a task force here."
Copyright Martin Willey