The Production GuideScript To Screen: Dorzak
by Martin Willey
The Production Guide
Dorzak was written by Christopher Penfold, who had been script consultant for Year One of Space: 1999. The final shooting script was rewritten extensively by Fred Freiberger, although the plot remained essentially the same. The final shootings script was dated 4th August, 1976. This script was revised twice, with a pink page dated 29th October. It started filming on 2 November, and on the next day of filming, 3 November, new blue page line amendments and revised pages were issued. Filming finished on 19 November, after 14 days.
Although the original draft script was written by Penfold, it was evidently rewritten by Freiberger, with American spellings ("FAVOR MAYA"). Freiberger is a very prescriptive writer, and on page 54 we even get a "note to director", telling Val Guest, hardly a novice director, how to shoot the scene when Maya (as Sahala) takes Dorzak back to the Croton ship (scenes 57 and 59).
(NOTE TO DIRECTOR:
In the above scene, DORZAK. will from the top be assessing
SAHALA, figuring how he can 'get' to her. Then when he
begins to suspect she is not SAHALA, his eyes should be
featured as he begins to concentrate on using his mind to
overpower MAYA. There must be Close-ups of MAYA/SAHALA
as she struggles against being taken over by DORZAK. And
of course there must be corresponding Close-ups of DORZAK.)
The shape-shifting element of the plot makes the stage directions complex, and at one point the writer gives up (page 57, scene 63).
DORZAK (this is MAYA in DORZAK's form) is lying on the
stasis couch, as MAYA (this is DORZAK in MAYA's form)
finalises putting the other in stasis.
(FROM THIS POINT ON UNTIL THE TRANSFORMATION TAKES
PLACE AGAIN, MAYA IS DORZAK AND DORZAK IS MAYA.)
However, particularly in script revisions, we can see Freiberger introducing more personality and background to the characters.
Sahala is confined in the Detention Room, as a guard brings her food. The original scene as scripted on 4th August starts with Alan flirting with a very stubborn Sahala.
23 DETENTION ROOM. 23
CLOSE SHOT SECURITY GUARD as he moves across the
room with a tray of food.
He puts it in front of SAHALA as CAMERA PULLS BACK
to reveal SAHALA seated behind a small table as
ALAN watches.
The SECURITY GUARD leaves.
SAHALA
Am I so much a leper I must
eat alone?
ALAN smiles and sits beside her.
ALAN
I wouldn't think of it.
They begin to eat.
SAHALA
There's only one way I can
thank you for your kindness...
ALAN
You're very easy to be kind to.
SAHALA
And that is by continually
warning you of the danger you
are in. Your Psychon, Maya,
she will do her best to free
Dorzak.
An additional page is inserted in here on 3rd December which adds a lot more flirtation between then. It's likely most of this was filmed, but though we retain Alan talking about Australia, after saying "It is to me", all the dialogue about his family cattle ranch and surfboards is cut.
"DORZAK"
3rd November, 1976
15A
23 CONTD. 23
SAHALA
You seem somehow different
from the others.
ALAN
Different? No! We all come from
the same planet, Earth. Unless
you mean my accent.
(laughs)
Yeah, I guess I am a little
different ... on Earth I come
from a country called Australia.
SAHALA
Australia ... is that very
important?
ALAN
(smiles)
It is to me.
SAHALA
You may smile. But you care
very deeply about it...
ALAN
It seems a life time away.
(sighs)
My family had a cattle ranch
on the Eastern Seaboard of
Australia, and we were near
a beach you ever hang ten
toes over the front of a
surf board...?
She looks at him puzzled. He smiles.
ALAN (contd.)
I guess there are no
surf boards on Norvah.
SAHALA
No - whatever they are. Our
origins are different, but
you are so easy to be with.
And you are kind.
ALAN
That's because you are easy
to be with.
CONTINUED:
Copyright Martin Willey