Breakaway Lost Scenes

This is scene 44. Koenig has just witnessed the death of Collins, and Helena switches off life support for the Meta Probe astronaut Eric Sparkman. Now we find Koenig watching the Meta signals on a screen (we see a version of this in the final episode). Koenig answers his commlock. This take ends with Gorski (Philip Madoc) forgetting his line and dropping out of the Russian accent.

232 take 5.
Action

Koenig: "Yes"

Gorksi is on the screen. "Commander, I should appreciate a word with you."

Gorski enters. "I should be leaving tomorrow, I thought I would say goodbye."

Koenig nods. Gorski continues. "I wish you well here. I'm not sure you understand how complex it all is."

"I'm learning."

"It's becoming more complex, with the deaths of the two astronauts"

"Uh huh"

"The commissioner has a very delicate situation. Whatever solution he offers will have to be quite convincing. It is a question of security, Commander. Should one grain of truth ever be exposed, then Earth Command..." Gorski trails off.

"That's not my evaluation, Commissioner. Gorski. You said you wanted to talk, so far I haven't heard a thing I don't already know."

"Then I shall try to be more informative. For instance... Dr Russell. She has personal problems, prejudices, which I have found affect her work. Basically they are emotional problems ... anxieties ... neuroses."

"Is that a judgement or opinion?"

Gorski pauses, taken aback by Koenig's hostility. "I don't like you either, Koenig. But this is something you should know. Dr Russell was married to someone in the space programme, a doctor. A very important man, who was lost on a mission five years ago."

"Which means what?"

"Which means she is too emotionally involved to suit her job. Secure.. sorry... what is that bloody line?"

Stand by. 232 take 2. Action.

Koenig says "I'm learning."

"It's becoming more complex, with the deaths of the two astronauts"

"Uh huh"

"The commissioner is in a very delicate situation. Whatever solution he offers ..."

In this last take, we hear the end of the scene. As in the first take, Martin Landau calls Gorski "Commissioner" instead of "Commander".

Stand by 232 take 7 pickup

"I'm learning."

"It's becoming more complex, with the deaths of the two astronauts"

"Uh huh"

"The commissioner is in a very delicate situation. Whatever explanation he offers will have to be quite convincing. It is a question of security, Commander. Should one grain of truth ever be exposed, then Earth Command ..."

"That's not my evaluation, Commissioner."

"Look, Gorski, you said you wanted to talk. So far I haven't heard a thing I don't already know."

Koenig interrupts. "Is that a judgement or opinion, Gorski?"

There is a beat. "I do not like you either, Koenig. But here is something you should know. Dr Russell was married to a member of the space programme, a doctor, a very important man, who was lost on a mission about five years ago."

"Which means what?"

"Which means she is too emotionally involved to suit her job. Her idea of security in this volatile situation would ruin the entire Meta Probe operation. The repercussions on Earth if the news leaked..."

Koenig interrupts, speaking slowly and precisely. "The place for security is back on Earth, Commissioner. Thank you Gorski, you've been very helpful. Have a good trip back."