The Production GuideScript To Screen: The AB Chrysalis
by Martin Willey
The Production Guide
This is page 48 of the shooting script, as Koenig talks to the Beings for the first time. He hears soft, feminine voices, but cannot see through the heavy green cloud of gas. The script keeps them hidden until they vote (on page 52), at which point Koenig suddenly sees that they are naked women ("vague, mysterious, very sensuous"). Director Val Guest realised he cannot have Koenig talking to a cloudy window for four pages of dialogue, so we see Ina Skriver and Sarah Douglas early on, through tantalizing billowing smoke and strategically demure long hair.
The script was amended several times after it was first written, on 18th May. On 30th June, this page was replaced by two new yellow pages, shown below.
48.
132 CONTD.
'A' (O.S.)
And the ... predicament of
your Base and people.
'B' (O.S.)
Your language is a difficult
one. It took us nearly an hour
to learn it.
KOENIG
You must stop the next explosion.
'B' (O.S.)
There is plenty of time to decide.
'A' (O.S.)
First we want to talk. There
are several matters of interest
to discuss.
KOENIG reacts confused and with growing concern at
the apparent casualness of the Beings on the other
side of the glass partition.
'A' (O.S.)
There is no equivalent in your
language for our names. You
can call me 'A'.
'B' (O.S.)
And you can call me 'B'.
ON KOENIG
He stares into the fog like cloud of gas, his worry
mounting every second.
133 INT. EAGLE ONE. PASSENGER SECTION 133
MAYA and CARTER who seems much better after his ordeal.
They can only wait and CARTER especially is up tight.
MAYA is using the computer to calculate.
134 INT. CONVERSATION CHAMBER 134
KOENIG peers through the glass, for a moment he thinks
he catches a glimpse of the Beings but it is nothing.
CONTINUED:
These are the two yellow pages that replace page 48. The conversation with A and B is identical, but the short cutaway to Alan and Maya has been expanded. The new scene adds some humour, and a character moment between the two. The scene was filmed on the last day of filming, Tuesday 6th July 1976, but cut from the final edit, which continues Koenig's conversation with A and B uninterrupted.
"THE A - B CHRYSALIS"
30th June, 1976
48
132 CONTD. (132)
'A' (O.S.)
And the ... predicament of
your Base and people.
'B' (O.S.)
Your language is a difficult
one. It took us nearly an hour
to learn it.
KOENIG
You must stop the next explosion.
'B' (O.S.)
There is plenty of time to decide.
'A' (O.S.)
First we want to talk. There
are several matters of interest
to discuss.
KOENIG reacts confused and with growing concern at
the apparent casualness of the Beings on the other
side of the glass partition.
'A' (O.S.)
There is no equivalent in your
language for our names. You
can call me 'A'.
'B' (O.S.)
And you can call me 'B'.
ON KOENIG
He stares into the fog-like cloud of gas, his worry
mounting every second.
133 INT. EAGLE ONE. PASSENGER SECTION 133
MAYA and CARTER.
MAYA
How are you feeling now?
ALAN
Lucky plus two.
MAYA
Lucky plus two?
ALAN
One - lucky that we came
across your Planet Psychon
and met you.
MAYA
And two?
CONTINUED:
"THE A - B CHRYSALIS"
30th June, 1976
48A
133 CONTD. (133)
ALAN
Lucky that you remembered what
a chlorine-breathing animal
looked like.
MAYA
You call that luck do you?
ALAN
Well I didn't mean to insult
your computer head. It's
just my way of saying thanks.
MAYA
(with a grin)
You're welcome.
134 INT. CONVERSATION CHAMBER 134
KOENIG peers through the glass, for a moment he thinks
he catches a glimpse of the Beings, but it is nothing.
CONTINUED:
Copyright Martin Willey. Thanks to Jeff Trowbridge.