The Production GuideScript To Screen: Seed Of Destruction
by Martin Willey
The Production Guide
When Tony and Maya overcome the guard Jack Klaff, they get into the Eagle. All we see of scene 54 is them running in. The script paused for a humorous exchange between them, with some odd place-holder text. This page was never amended in pink, blue or yellow pages, and seems to have been wisely ignored.
38
54. INT. EAGLE ONE. PASSENGER SECTION 54
VERDESCHI and MAYA/SPACE ANIMAL entering Passenger
Section.
MAYA/SPACE ANIMAL makes a move for VERDESCHI - he
holds up his hands defensively.
VERDESCHI
Now, now, take it easy...
MAYA/SPACE ANIMAL
I thought you said you wanted
me to hug you...
As MAYA/SPACE ANIMAL wraps arms around him - transforms
back into MAYA ... arms still wrapped around VERDESCHI.
He grins wryly.
VERDESCHI
You were a beautiful (name of
space animal) ...
She gives him her own playful slap across the face at
this. He winces.
VERDESCHI
Hey ... not that beautiful...
They make their way to the Pilot Section.
55 EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX) 55
Eagle One blasts off from launch pad.
In the following scene 56, Koenig and Helena are in the life support section (which otherwise looks like the Weapons Section). All that remains of this scene is Helena saying she has an important question
The scripted scene is longer.
56 INT. LIFE SUPPORT SECTION 56
A row of dial controls identify each of the Life
Support Systems on Alpha, each of which can be adjusted
to increase or diminish flow of support to each vital
section on Alpha - or turn off that support. As a man's
hand comes into shot and touches one of the dials,
CAMERA back to find KOENIG-2 before the panel. Before
he can turn dial to OFF - if he were to - sound of
doors leading into this area heard to open. KOENIG-2
turns.
ANOTHER ANGLE: Towards entrance doors revealing
HELENA. She stops short at the sight of KOENIG-2.
HELENA
John...
FULL SHOT
She comes more fully into the room.
HELENA
You said nothing about coming
here...
KOENIG-2
(of life support
controls)
I wanted to see for myself
what terrible things I'm
causing to happen. I've been
too harsh. I'm sorry.
HELENA
(uncertain)
No need...
KOENIG-2
I wish you could understand.
KOENIG-2's stumbling attempt at apology touches her.
HELENA
I've been trying to. Believe
me, we all have. We all really
want to help. I was hoping when
I saw you here, you'd come for that
medical check-up ...
(a beat)
John, there's an important question
I must ask you. It's absolutely
vital you give me an honest answer.
She moves to him. He backs away, his features going
taut.
We never find out what the question is, because they are interrupted by an alarm as the Eagle lifts off.
Tony and Maya head to the asteroid in an Eagle. Koenig angrily orders the Eagle to be shot down. In the original 25 May script, the other characters are shocked, but follow Koenig's orders.
40
57. INT. COMMAND CENTER 57
KOENIG-2 on monitor. We see that CARTER looks
terribly disturbed.
YASKO
Eagle One is space borne, sir.
KOENIG-2
(his face contorts
violently)
Where is it heading?
An exchange of looks between YASKO and CARTER.
YASKO
(reluctantly)
For the asteroid...
58 INT. LIFE SUPPORT SECTION
KOENIG-2
(to YASKO on monitor)
Shoot that Eagle down.
HELENA
John...
CARTER's image replaces YASKO's on monitor.
CARTER
... sir!
KOENIG-2
Activate laser gun! That's
an order!
59 INT. COMMAND CENTER
CARTER is torn between his duty and the knowledge of
who might be in the Eagle - MAYA and VERDESCHI.
Reluctantly he turns to console and hits a button.
MALE VOICE OVER
Weapons Section.
CARTER
Activate laser gun.
60 EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX)
The laser gun swinging into action.
In the 6th July blue pages, the drama is raised as the characters protest and Koenig is angered. We also have scenes of Tony and Maya in the Eagle, most of which will be cut from the episode (all we have left is "Tony, when we touch down, what's our plan of action?", .
"SEED OF DESTRUCTION"
6th July, 1976
40
57 INT. COMMAND CENTER 57
KOENIG-2 on monitor, We see that CARTER looks
terribly disturbed.
YASKO
Eagle One is space borne, sir.
KOENIG-2
(his face contorts violently)
Where is it heading?
An exchange of looks between YASKO and CARTER.
YASKO
(reluctantly)
For the asteroid ...
58 INT. LIFE SUPPORT SECTION 58
KOENIG-2
(to YASKO on monitor)
Shoot that Eagle down.
KOENIG-2 glares at her.
YASKO
(in shock)
You can't mean that.
KOENIG
Are you asking to be relieved of
duty?
YASKO
No, sir.
HELENA
John ...
CARTER's image replaces YASKO's on monitor.
CARTER
John!
KOENIG-2
Activate laser gun!
CARTER
(incredulous)
Laser gun?
KOENIG 2
You heard me.
CONTINUED
"SEED OF DESTRUCTION"
7th July, 1976
40A
58 CONTD. (58)
CARTER
John ... that's one of our
Eagles.
KOENIG-2
I gave you an order. Obey it.
59 INT. COMMAND CENTER 59
CARTER is torn between his duty and the knowledge of
who might be in the Eagle - MAYA AND VERDESCHI.
Reluctantly, he turns to console and hits a button.
MALE VOICE OVER
Weapons Section.
CARTER
Activate laser gun.
60 EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA (SFX) 60
The laser gun swinging into action.
"SEED OF DESTRUCTION"
6th July, 1976
41
61 EXT. SPACE SKY (SFX)
Eagle One flying through space.
61A INT. EAGLE ONE 61A
The asteroid is on the monitor screen.
MAYA
When we touch down Tony,
what's our plan of action?
TONY
John and Alan's mistake was
separating ... we stay together
we halve our chances of turning
into ice.
MAYA
By now they must know on Alpha
that an Eagle has lifted off.
TONY nods.
TONY
Check Alpha.
MAYA hits a button on console. The asteroid disappears
to be replaced by the laser gun coming into position.
MAYA
(in shock)
Tony.
TONY looks at screen, reacts.
TONY
What's its target?
MAYA does some quick calculations.
MAYA
Us.
TONY
Distance to asteroid.
MAYA hits button, asteroid replaces gun on screen.
MAYA
One million four hundred thousand
miles,
TONY hits a control.
"SEED OF DESTRUCTION
6th July, l976
41A
61B EXT. SPACE. (SFX) 61B
Eagle One rockets blast for more power.
61C INT. LIFE SUPPORT SECTION 61C
KOENIG-2 watching CARTER on monitor.
CARTER
Laser gun on target.
KOENIG
Shoot it down.
6lD EXT. SPACE. (SFX) 6lD
Eagle One ... asteroid in very far b.g.
61E INT. EAGLE ONE. 61E
MAYA hits control ... gun replaces asteroid on monitor.
MAYA
Tony .. aren't you going to
take evasive action?
TONY
There is only one thing that
will do us any good ... if we
can get behind that asteroid before
they fire.
62 INT. LIFE SUPPORT SECTION 62
KOENIG-2 watching CARTER on monitor.
CARTER
Would you repeat that John.
KOENIG-2
Shoot it down!
HELENA's look of horror, as we
FADE OUT
END OF ACT TWO
Koenig then storms to Command Center, where Helena warns him he will divert power from the energy beam, and in the face of the opposition he appears to apologise. This is similar between the original 25th May script, the 6th July blue pages and the final episode. The blue pages have an additional scene of Tony and Maya, who notice they are no longer targeted (in the final episode, they are unaware that the Moonbase is about to shoot them).
"SEED OF DESTRUCTION"
6th July, 1976
44
70 CONTD.
warm smile of the real KOENIG. He knows everything
now depends on him convincing them.
KOENIG-2
(to CARTER)
Retract laser gun.
FLASH SHOTS
YASKO relieved.
HELENA relieved
ALAN relieved as he touches button on his console.
KOENIG-2
I owe you all an apology.
He walks slowly towards his command chair. They
stare at him as he moves.
70A EXT. MOON SURFACE. (SFX) 70A
Laser gun begins to retract into its silo.
70B EXT. SPACE. (SFX) 70B
Eagle One reaches area of asteroid.
70C INT. EAGLE ONE. 70C
MAYA reacts to monitor o.s.
MAYA
Tony ... look.
ANOTHER ANGLE
TONY looks at monitor, sees laser gun retracting.
TONY
Well, how about that.
MAYA
Helena must have won ...
TONY
(soberly)
Let's not start celebrating until
we can see the candles on the cake.
MAYA
You don't see any candles?
TONY
I see an asteroid. Let's find
out what's on it.
CONTINUED:
Copyright Martin Willey.