The Production GuideScript To Screen: Seed Of Destruction
by Martin Willey
The Production Guide
In the Observation Room (scene 34), Koenig asks Helena to trust him, and she reaches to touch his hand. Both are shocked, and he dismisses her as "Doctor Russell". In the next scene, 35, in Maya's living quarters, Helena tells Tony and Maya. The original scene from the 25th May 1976 script is short.
24
35 INT. MAYA'S QUARTERS 35
CLOSE ON HELENA
Staring past us, a mixture of horror, fear - the
unknown in her eyes...
HELENA
I touched him. His hands were
like ice. I couldn't believe
it ...
Camera back as she speaks, bringing MAYA and
VERDESCHI into shot. They, too, are wondering.
MAYA
Did he react? Did he say
anything?
HELENA
(shakes her head)
Neither of us spoke. But he
had to know I knew ... he couldn't
think I didn't feel the iciness of
his skin.
(a beat)
Up to that point, I did trust him
... I believed everything he said ..
VERDESCHI
What do you believe now, Helena?
HELENA
I believe something terrible is
happening to John ... and I'm
afraid.
MAYA
The answer has got to be in the
crystal. I know it!
HELENA looks at her, slowly nods her approval.
HELENA
Get it, Maya
(to TONY)
Do we bring Alan in on this?
CONTINUED:
25
35 CONTD. (35)
VERDESCHI
No. Not yet. Not until we're
sure.
(then to MAYA)
Okay, Maya ... the first move is
yours.
She nods.
The blue pages of 6th July expand this scene a lot, to emphasise the emotional impact. Koenig's formal "Doctor Russell" line gets picked up, although it is factually wrong (Koenig calls her Doctor Russell throughout year 1, plus in The Exiles, The Lambda Factor and The Seance Spectre). This will be cut from the final episode. This scene was filmed on Monday 12th July 1976.
"SEED OF DESTRUCTION"
6th July, 1976
24
35 INT. MAYA'S QUARTERS 35
CLOSE ON HELENA
She is staring into CAMERA, a mixture of horror, fear ...
the unknown in her eyes.
HELENA
I touched him ...
She turns to face TONY and MAYA, CAMERA PULLING WIDE
to include them. They wait as she struggles with
her thoughts
HELENA (contd.)
His skin was as cold as ice ...
CLOSE SHOT TONY
As he reacts.
CLOSE SHOT MAYA
As she reacts.
FULL SHOT
HELENA (contd.)
It was eerie ...
(she paces ... still finding it hard to
digest)
... hardly ...
TONY
Say it, Helena.
(as she hesitates)
Go ahead, Helena ... Say it.
CLOSE SHOT HELENA
She can't bring herself to say it.
FAVOR TONY
TONY
Hardly human?
HELENA
(a stricken whisper)
Hardly human.
MAYA
What surprised me is that he
let you touch him.
CONTINUED:
"SEED OF DESTRUCTION"
6th July 1976
24A
35 CONTD. (35)
HELENA
(softly - still finding it hard to believe)
He tried to avoid it.
MAYA
Did he react? Did he say anything?
HELENA
At the moment of contact ... neither
of us said anything... I was in
a state of shock ...
TONY
(insistent)
What about him?
HELENA
I don't know ... for a moment ...
I don't know.
She shakes her head despairingly. TONY senses something
more.
TONY
Something else?
HELENA
He called me Dr. Russell.
He hasn't addressed me as Dr. Russell
since we left Earth orbit.
FAVOR MAYA
MAYA
Does he know you suspect something?
HELENA
He had to know I reacted to the
iciness of his skin.
(a beat)
CLOSE ON HELENA
HELENA (contd.)
Up to that point, I believed
everything he said.
TONY
And now?
HELENA
I believe something terrible has
happened to John ... is happening
to him. I'm afraid
CONTINUED:
"SEED OF DESTRUCTION"
6th July, 1976
24B
35 CONTD. (2) (35)
FULL SHOT
MAYA
The answer has got to be in
the crystal.
HELENA looks at her, slowly nods.
TONY
All right, we're agreed on that.
What's our next move.
HELENA
We get the crystal.
MAYA
Do we tell Alan?
CONTINUED:
A similar rewrite was done on scene 41, also in Maya's quarters, when they try to persuade Alan Carter.
Copyright Martin Willey.