The Production GuideScript To Screen: The AB Chrysalis
by Martin Willey
The Production Guide
The final shooting script for The AB Chrysalis by Tony Barwick is dated 18th May 1976. Thanks to Jeff Trowbridge for the pages in this article.
Right is the script cover, with flower doodles by Martin Landau. The script was printed with the original title- "The Chrysalis A-B-C" - and Landau has amended it to the new title.
Below is the first page of the script. As we can see below, Landau rewrites Yasko's speech.
1.
THE HOOK
FADE IN:
1 INT. COMMAND CENTER
KOENIG, HELENA, MAYA, VERDESCHI and the other Command
Center operatives are at their stations. The atmosphere
is one of tense waiting. VERDESCHI looks up from his
monitor.
VERDESCHI
Ten seconds.
ON KOENIG
Apprehensive, worried he stares up at the Big Screen.
2 INT. COMMAND CENTER (SFX) 2
CLOSE ON BIG SCREEN
Displaying empty space ahead of Alpha's path through
the cosmos.
VERDESCHI (V.O.)
Three ... two ... one ... zero.
On zero, we see a pinpoint of intense light in the
center of the screen. It is a gigantic, distant
explosion. The pinpoint of light slowly expanding.
3 INT. COMMAND CENTER 3
KOENIG, MAYA, HELENA, VERDESCHI and the others react,
nothing can stop the energy-wave looming toward thorn.
KOENIG
Compute.
MAYA punches buttons fast, comes up with the answer.
MAYA
Magnitude within one per cent
of last observation.
YASKO
No readout on nature or origin
of explosion. It's still too
far away.
CONTINUED:
Martin Landau's script is amended, as shown.
YASKO
KOENIG
No readout onI want to know the nature or origin
of explosion. It's still too
far away.
What can you tell me
YASKO
Too far away
The final dialogue is:
KOENIG: "Yasko. I want to know the nature and origin of that explosion."
YASKO: "Too far away."
Copyright Martin Willey. Thanks to Jeff Trowbridge.