The Dorcons
Encyclopedia
"The Dorcons" is the twenty-fourth episode of the second series of Space: 1999
(and the forty-eighth and final overall episode of the programme). The screenplay was written by Johnny Byrne; the director was Tom Clegg
. Original titles were 'Last of the Psychons' and 'Return of the Dorcons'. The final shooting script is dated 17 November 1976. Live-action filming took place Tuesday 7 December 1976 through Thursday 23 December 1976.
It is 2409 days after leaving Earth orbit, and Moonbase Alpha is tracking an unidentified powered object following the Moon
. It is presumed to be a robot survey device: sensors detect no life forms and the object is emitting an energy field highly sensitive to matter. The object closes, the energy field makes contact with the Moon surface—and the instruments register an energy surge. As John Koenig
orders defensive measures, the object projects a ray at Alpha that not only penetrates the defence screens, but underground into Command Centre. As the light-beam appears in the room, all personnel are immobilised...with the exception of Maya
.
The ray first shorts-out the Main Computer input terminal, then roams the room, briefly pausing on each person's face. When it finds Maya, it focuses on her and the Psychon woman experiences horrible pain. With an agonised shriek, she collapses. Its goal achieved, the light disappears and the others are released from their paralysis.
As attempts to contact the now-inert survey device fail, technicians examining Computer discover damage to its data-bank. Helena Russell
tends to the unconscious Maya; her preliminary diagnosis is shock due to neurological trauma. Maya comes to and tells them the ray was a mind-probe. After singling her out, it intensified and almost tore her mind apart. Privately, Koenig questions the doctor about the possibility of brain damage.
Sensors now detect activity from the alien object—it is losing molecular cohesion, transforming into a gaseous mass of raw matter. As they watch, the mass expands and solidifies, becoming an impressive spacecraft. Maya becomes hysterical at the sight of it, sobbing that the light was a Dorcon probe and that the ship is after her. She explains the Dorcons are the most powerful race in this galaxy...and her people's most feared enemy. A scan of the vessel reveals a meson
converter, a power system that can convert matter to energy, restructure it into any form and shift it through space instantaneously.
Maya is correct. Aboard the Dorcon capital ship, a heated discussion over the best means to catch the Psychon is underway. In the presence of the Imperial Archon, supreme ruler of the Federated Worlds of Dorcon, His Excellency Malic—the Archon's unstable nephew and heir apparent
—proposes an armed invasion of the alien base to capture her. The Archon's chief advisor, Consul Varda, disagrees, arguing the Psychon might be killed in such a campaign. Knowing Maya's death would suit his ambitious nephew's desire to ascend to the throne, the Archon supports Varda's recommendation to employ diplomatic methods.
Maya relates to her friends that the Dorcons are a highly advanced race; with their technology, they control of all the forces of nature...except death. They have hunted her people for centuries as, through Psychons, they can achieve immortality. Her tale is interrupted by Consul Varda of the planet Dorca, presenting her credentials. Koenig is angered by the attack on Maya and the Dorcon woman offers a gracious apology. She then asks for his cooperation by peacefully delivering Maya into her custody. Koenig declines, instead ordering Alpha to combat status. Maya warns him resistance is futile. Varda's final words are to heed the Psychon—Koenig may be willing to die for his principles, but is everyone on Alpha equally inclined?
Alpha is at red alert—combat Eagles rise on the launch pads, laser batteries are deployed, non-combatants move to underground shelters and security forces guard the airlock stations. As they wait, Koenig asks Maya to explain how her people provide Dorcons with immortality. She informs him Dorcons do not die in the manner of most humanoid races: their brain-stems cease to function at an advanced age. They discovered Psychons possess brain-stems with regenerative properties that can last forever. If a Psychon brain-stem is surgically grafted to a Dorcon brain, the result is virtual immortality.
On the Dorcon ship, Malic and Varda bicker over her failure. Outraged, the Archon silences them, then orders Varda to obtain the Psychon at any cost. The Dorcon crew selects targets for the assault and, with reluctance, Varda gives the order to fire. A fusillade of energy bolts lay waste to perimeter buildings of the Alpha installation. Alpha's main batteries return fire, but the laser beams bounce off the Dorcon ship's hull. The next Dorcon volley destroys the gun emplacements. Alan Carter
's combat Eagle group lifts-off and converges on the alien battlewagon. Their weapons are also ineffective and they withdraw, though not before Thompson in Eagle Four is picked off by Dorcon fire.
As the bombardment continues, two hysterical operatives demand Koenig turn over Maya, one threatening him with a stun-gun. The man is disarmed, but a desperate Maya pleads with Helena to use the weapon to kill her—if taken, the surgery will leave her nothing more than a living husk. The doctor briefly considers euthanising Maya, but is unable to fire and passes the gun to Koenig. Pressing it to Maya's temple, he contacts Varda. Unless the attack is cancelled immediately, he will kill the last of the Psychons. Varda cannot risk calling his bluff and ceases fire.
Moving fast, the Dorcons activate the meson converter. Varda and her personal guard transport into Command Centre. When the Dorcon stormtroopers effortlessly subdue all resistance, Koenig is forced to surrender. Maya is nowhere in sight (having disguised herself in the form of a co-worker) and Varda resorts to using the mind-probe ray to flush her out. They take the metamorph into custody and depart. Koenig leaps into the still-active transporter beam, arrives on the ship and is stunned on sight.
The Archon is on hand to congratulate Varda on the success of her mission. He orders Maya taken to the medical unit, where she is placed under a paralysing beam while the Imperial surgeon prepares for the brain-stem transfer. The Archon orders Koenig killed, but a guilty Varda persuades the ruler to spare his life. As the Archon withdraws, the Commander is secured in a force-field until the meson converter's antimatter
coils recharge—the attack has temporarily drained its power. Malic approaches Varda with a sly proposal: allow his uncle to die and, when he is named Archon, she may have anything she desires. The Consul's reply is blunt—the Archon fosters peace and stability, while Malic's ambitions will plunge the empire into war and misery. Now that Malic has shown his treasonous intent, she bars him from the Archon's presence.
Returning to the operations area, she finds Koenig conscious and hostile. Varda reasons the security of thousands of worlds outweighs the life of one Psychon. He asks if this justification is for his benefit—or her own? The medical officer interrupts, stating she ready for surgery. Varda leaves, ordering Koenig be transported when the converter is recharged. He resists and makes a break for the door—to be stopped by an armed Malic. Koenig is amazed when the Dorcon aristocrat shoots his own men, more so when he allows the Commander to go free. Once Koenig is out of sight, the scheming youth raises the alarm. Unaware of this intrigue, Varda escorts the Archon to the surgical transfer unit. Looking down at Maya, he reflects on who is the greater victim: she, destined to living death, or he, to eternal life.
Perplexed by the layout of the vast Dorcon ship, Koenig has difficulty evading the stormtroopers. When finally cornered, Malic again appears and guns down his own soldier. Koenig is suspicious, but Malic taunts him with Maya's impending fate and directs him to the surgical area. Malic then contacts Varda, telling her the escaped alien commander has gone berserk, killing multiple soldiers in his search for her. Varda leaves the Archon unattended to lead the hunt for Koenig...just as Malic planned.
Koenig's trail is soon picked up by Varda and her troops. When trapped in a blind alley with pursuers just around the corner, he pulls open a grille and hides in a ventilation duct. He realises the ducts will make travelling easier and he crawls off in search of Maya. Malic, meanwhile, enters the surgical unit and guns down the medical officer. After waking his uncle to gloat on the end of his reign, he activates a surgical instrument that projects an intense energy beam on the Archon's forehead. The sociopathic youth enjoys watching his uncle beg for mercy as the beam slowly fries his brain.
After the Archon expires, Malic releases Maya from her paralysis (intending to hide her until he can make use of her himself). Just then, Koenig jumps out of the air vent; in the ensuing scuffle, Maya transforms into a lizard beast to subdue Malic. After they leave in search of the transporter, the Dorcon heir recovers and announces the death of the Archon. As the new Archon, he orders the human murderer to be killed on sight—but his Psychon accomplice must be captured alive. He removes the badge of office from his uncle and places the medallion around his own neck, mocking the corpse with a sarcastic salute.
Arriving at the operations room, the Alphans are confronted by a vengeful Varda. She pledges to kill not only them, but everyone on Alpha for their heinous crime. Malic enters to observe the execution. Koenig identifies the real murderer—the new Archon, who decoyed Varda away so he could assassinate their leader. As the truth dawns on Varda, Malic orders the Consul placed under arrest. An enraged Varda attacks the youth, who shoots her. Her dying move is to fire her own weapon at the meson converter, intentionally damaging the magnetic shield to expose the antimatter coils. With the ship disintegrating around them, the Alphans jump into the transporter beam and return home. The insane Malic hysterically shouts for the converter to obey its Archon as the ship blows apart with a blast that seems to set space itself ablaze.
On Alpha, repairs are well in hand and all casualties off the critical list. Resting after their ordeal, Koenig reflects that, all things considered, Consul Varda was quite a woman. Tony Verdeschi
jokingly asks Maya if there is anything else in her Psychon past they should know about. With an air of pretention, she replies that is a highly improper question to ask any lady.
and draws primarily from the scores of 'The Metamorph
' and 'Space Warp
'.
published in 1977. This novel was not released in the United Kingdom and only as a limited edition in the United States and Germany. The adaptation was based on the earlier version 'Return of the Dorcons'
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocking the Moon out of orbit and...
(and the forty-eighth and final overall episode of the programme). The screenplay was written by Johnny Byrne; the director was Tom Clegg
Tom Clegg (director)
Tom Clegg is a British television and film director. He was born in Lancashire in 1934.-Selected filmography:Television* Special Branch * The Sweeney * A Captain's Tale * Sharpe ...
. Original titles were 'Last of the Psychons' and 'Return of the Dorcons'. The final shooting script is dated 17 November 1976. Live-action filming took place Tuesday 7 December 1976 through Thursday 23 December 1976.
Story
It is 2409 days after leaving Earth orbit, and Moonbase Alpha is tracking an unidentified powered object following the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. It is presumed to be a robot survey device: sensors detect no life forms and the object is emitting an energy field highly sensitive to matter. The object closes, the energy field makes contact with the Moon surface—and the instruments register an energy surge. As John Koenig
John Koenig
John Koenig is a fictional character from the television series Space: 1999. He was played by Martin Landau. He is American, apparently in his early forties.-Character Biography:...
orders defensive measures, the object projects a ray at Alpha that not only penetrates the defence screens, but underground into Command Centre. As the light-beam appears in the room, all personnel are immobilised...with the exception of Maya
Maya (Space: 1999)
Maya is a fictional character who appeared in the second series of the science fiction television program Space: 1999. Played by actress Catherine Schell , Maya was introduced in the second series opener 'The Metamorph'...
.
The ray first shorts-out the Main Computer input terminal, then roams the room, briefly pausing on each person's face. When it finds Maya, it focuses on her and the Psychon woman experiences horrible pain. With an agonised shriek, she collapses. Its goal achieved, the light disappears and the others are released from their paralysis.
As attempts to contact the now-inert survey device fail, technicians examining Computer discover damage to its data-bank. Helena Russell
Helena Russell
Helena Russell is a fictional character from the television series Space: 1999. She was played by Barbara Bain. She is American and apparently in her mid-thirties....
tends to the unconscious Maya; her preliminary diagnosis is shock due to neurological trauma. Maya comes to and tells them the ray was a mind-probe. After singling her out, it intensified and almost tore her mind apart. Privately, Koenig questions the doctor about the possibility of brain damage.
Sensors now detect activity from the alien object—it is losing molecular cohesion, transforming into a gaseous mass of raw matter. As they watch, the mass expands and solidifies, becoming an impressive spacecraft. Maya becomes hysterical at the sight of it, sobbing that the light was a Dorcon probe and that the ship is after her. She explains the Dorcons are the most powerful race in this galaxy...and her people's most feared enemy. A scan of the vessel reveals a meson
Meson
In particle physics, mesons are subatomic particles composed of one quark and one antiquark, bound together by the strong interaction. Because mesons are composed of sub-particles, they have a physical size, with a radius roughly one femtometer: 10−15 m, which is about the size of a proton...
converter, a power system that can convert matter to energy, restructure it into any form and shift it through space instantaneously.
Maya is correct. Aboard the Dorcon capital ship, a heated discussion over the best means to catch the Psychon is underway. In the presence of the Imperial Archon, supreme ruler of the Federated Worlds of Dorcon, His Excellency Malic—the Archon's unstable nephew and heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
—proposes an armed invasion of the alien base to capture her. The Archon's chief advisor, Consul Varda, disagrees, arguing the Psychon might be killed in such a campaign. Knowing Maya's death would suit his ambitious nephew's desire to ascend to the throne, the Archon supports Varda's recommendation to employ diplomatic methods.
Maya relates to her friends that the Dorcons are a highly advanced race; with their technology, they control of all the forces of nature...except death. They have hunted her people for centuries as, through Psychons, they can achieve immortality. Her tale is interrupted by Consul Varda of the planet Dorca, presenting her credentials. Koenig is angered by the attack on Maya and the Dorcon woman offers a gracious apology. She then asks for his cooperation by peacefully delivering Maya into her custody. Koenig declines, instead ordering Alpha to combat status. Maya warns him resistance is futile. Varda's final words are to heed the Psychon—Koenig may be willing to die for his principles, but is everyone on Alpha equally inclined?
Alpha is at red alert—combat Eagles rise on the launch pads, laser batteries are deployed, non-combatants move to underground shelters and security forces guard the airlock stations. As they wait, Koenig asks Maya to explain how her people provide Dorcons with immortality. She informs him Dorcons do not die in the manner of most humanoid races: their brain-stems cease to function at an advanced age. They discovered Psychons possess brain-stems with regenerative properties that can last forever. If a Psychon brain-stem is surgically grafted to a Dorcon brain, the result is virtual immortality.
On the Dorcon ship, Malic and Varda bicker over her failure. Outraged, the Archon silences them, then orders Varda to obtain the Psychon at any cost. The Dorcon crew selects targets for the assault and, with reluctance, Varda gives the order to fire. A fusillade of energy bolts lay waste to perimeter buildings of the Alpha installation. Alpha's main batteries return fire, but the laser beams bounce off the Dorcon ship's hull. The next Dorcon volley destroys the gun emplacements. Alan Carter
Alan Carter (Space 1999)
Alan Carter is a fictional character from the television series Space: 1999. He was played by Nick Tate. He is of Australian origin and is in his early thirties.-Character biography:...
's combat Eagle group lifts-off and converges on the alien battlewagon. Their weapons are also ineffective and they withdraw, though not before Thompson in Eagle Four is picked off by Dorcon fire.
As the bombardment continues, two hysterical operatives demand Koenig turn over Maya, one threatening him with a stun-gun. The man is disarmed, but a desperate Maya pleads with Helena to use the weapon to kill her—if taken, the surgery will leave her nothing more than a living husk. The doctor briefly considers euthanising Maya, but is unable to fire and passes the gun to Koenig. Pressing it to Maya's temple, he contacts Varda. Unless the attack is cancelled immediately, he will kill the last of the Psychons. Varda cannot risk calling his bluff and ceases fire.
Moving fast, the Dorcons activate the meson converter. Varda and her personal guard transport into Command Centre. When the Dorcon stormtroopers effortlessly subdue all resistance, Koenig is forced to surrender. Maya is nowhere in sight (having disguised herself in the form of a co-worker) and Varda resorts to using the mind-probe ray to flush her out. They take the metamorph into custody and depart. Koenig leaps into the still-active transporter beam, arrives on the ship and is stunned on sight.
The Archon is on hand to congratulate Varda on the success of her mission. He orders Maya taken to the medical unit, where she is placed under a paralysing beam while the Imperial surgeon prepares for the brain-stem transfer. The Archon orders Koenig killed, but a guilty Varda persuades the ruler to spare his life. As the Archon withdraws, the Commander is secured in a force-field until the meson converter's antimatter
Antimatter
In particle physics, antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles...
coils recharge—the attack has temporarily drained its power. Malic approaches Varda with a sly proposal: allow his uncle to die and, when he is named Archon, she may have anything she desires. The Consul's reply is blunt—the Archon fosters peace and stability, while Malic's ambitions will plunge the empire into war and misery. Now that Malic has shown his treasonous intent, she bars him from the Archon's presence.
Returning to the operations area, she finds Koenig conscious and hostile. Varda reasons the security of thousands of worlds outweighs the life of one Psychon. He asks if this justification is for his benefit—or her own? The medical officer interrupts, stating she ready for surgery. Varda leaves, ordering Koenig be transported when the converter is recharged. He resists and makes a break for the door—to be stopped by an armed Malic. Koenig is amazed when the Dorcon aristocrat shoots his own men, more so when he allows the Commander to go free. Once Koenig is out of sight, the scheming youth raises the alarm. Unaware of this intrigue, Varda escorts the Archon to the surgical transfer unit. Looking down at Maya, he reflects on who is the greater victim: she, destined to living death, or he, to eternal life.
Perplexed by the layout of the vast Dorcon ship, Koenig has difficulty evading the stormtroopers. When finally cornered, Malic again appears and guns down his own soldier. Koenig is suspicious, but Malic taunts him with Maya's impending fate and directs him to the surgical area. Malic then contacts Varda, telling her the escaped alien commander has gone berserk, killing multiple soldiers in his search for her. Varda leaves the Archon unattended to lead the hunt for Koenig...just as Malic planned.
Koenig's trail is soon picked up by Varda and her troops. When trapped in a blind alley with pursuers just around the corner, he pulls open a grille and hides in a ventilation duct. He realises the ducts will make travelling easier and he crawls off in search of Maya. Malic, meanwhile, enters the surgical unit and guns down the medical officer. After waking his uncle to gloat on the end of his reign, he activates a surgical instrument that projects an intense energy beam on the Archon's forehead. The sociopathic youth enjoys watching his uncle beg for mercy as the beam slowly fries his brain.
After the Archon expires, Malic releases Maya from her paralysis (intending to hide her until he can make use of her himself). Just then, Koenig jumps out of the air vent; in the ensuing scuffle, Maya transforms into a lizard beast to subdue Malic. After they leave in search of the transporter, the Dorcon heir recovers and announces the death of the Archon. As the new Archon, he orders the human murderer to be killed on sight—but his Psychon accomplice must be captured alive. He removes the badge of office from his uncle and places the medallion around his own neck, mocking the corpse with a sarcastic salute.
Arriving at the operations room, the Alphans are confronted by a vengeful Varda. She pledges to kill not only them, but everyone on Alpha for their heinous crime. Malic enters to observe the execution. Koenig identifies the real murderer—the new Archon, who decoyed Varda away so he could assassinate their leader. As the truth dawns on Varda, Malic orders the Consul placed under arrest. An enraged Varda attacks the youth, who shoots her. Her dying move is to fire her own weapon at the meson converter, intentionally damaging the magnetic shield to expose the antimatter coils. With the ship disintegrating around them, the Alphans jump into the transporter beam and return home. The insane Malic hysterically shouts for the converter to obey its Archon as the ship blows apart with a blast that seems to set space itself ablaze.
On Alpha, repairs are well in hand and all casualties off the critical list. Resting after their ordeal, Koenig reflects that, all things considered, Consul Varda was quite a woman. Tony Verdeschi
Tony Verdeschi
Tony Verdeschi is a fictional character who first appeared in the second series of the science fiction television series Space: 1999. He is in his early thirties....
jokingly asks Maya if there is anything else in her Psychon past they should know about. With an air of pretention, she replies that is a highly improper question to ask any lady.
Starring
- Martin LandauMartin LandauMartin Landau is an American film and television actor. Landau began his career in the 1950s. His early films include a supporting role in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest . He played continuing roles in the television series Mission: Impossible and Space:1999...
— Commander John KoenigJohn KoenigJohn Koenig is a fictional character from the television series Space: 1999. He was played by Martin Landau. He is American, apparently in his early forties.-Character Biography:... - Barbara BainBarbara BainMillicent Fogel , known professionally as Barbara Bain, is an American actress.-Early life:Bain was born in Chicago. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in sociology. She moved to New York City, where she was a dancer and high fashion model. Bain studied with...
— Doctor Helena RussellHelena RussellHelena Russell is a fictional character from the television series Space: 1999. She was played by Barbara Bain. She is American and apparently in her mid-thirties....
Featuring
- Tony AnholtTony AnholtAnthony "Tony" Anholt was a British actor best known for his roles as Security Chief Tony Verdeschi in the second season of Gerry Anderson's television series Space: 1999 , Paul Buchet in The Protectors and as Charles Frere in the highly-successful BBC drama series Howards' Way .Anholt was...
— Tony VerdeschiTony VerdeschiTony Verdeschi is a fictional character who first appeared in the second series of the science fiction television series Space: 1999. He is in his early thirties.... - Nick TateNick TateNicholas John "Nick" Tate is an Australian actor best known for his role as Eagle pilot Alan Carter in both seasons of the 1970s science fiction television series Space: 1999, as well as for playing the role of Gordon Hamilton's errant brother James in the 1980's soap opera "Sons and...
— Captain Alan CarterAlan Carter (Space 1999)Alan Carter is a fictional character from the television series Space: 1999. He was played by Nick Tate. He is of Australian origin and is in his early thirties.-Character biography:...
Guest Stars
- Patrick TroughtonPatrick TroughtonPatrick George Troughton was an English actor most widely known for his roles in fantasy, science fiction and horror films, particularly in his role as the second incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running British science-fiction television series Doctor Who, which he played from 1966 to 1969,...
— The Archon - Ann Firbank — Consul Varda
- Gerry SundquistGerry SundquistGerry Sundquist was an English actor.Sundquist was born in Manchester. He appeared in various film & television roles during the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably Soldier & Me, The Mallens and The Siege of Golden Hill, with guest appearances on shows such as Space: 1999 alongside acting...
— Malic
Also Featuring
- Alibe ParsonsAlibe ParsonsAlibe Parsons is an actress who has worked extensively in both film and television.On television, she is best known for her regular role in the 1970s BBC drama Gangsters as Sarah Gant...
— Alibe - Laurence HarringtonLaurence HarringtonLaurence Harrington is a British actor who has played DS Probert in Z-Cars, Lunar Guard in Doctor Who, George Latimer in Softly, Softly, the Lawyer in The Sweeney, Jackson in Space: 1999, Gary in Agony, Jeff Sadler in Boon, Cyril Harrington-Morse in Lovejoy, Vic Lawson in Love Hurts and James...
— Stewart - Kevin Sheehan — Dorcon Operative
- Michael Halsey — First Dorcon Soldier
- Hamish Patrick — Command Centre Operative
- Hazel McBride — Dorcon Medical Officer
Uncredited Artists
- Maxwell Craig — Airlock Security Guard
- Peter Brayham — Corridor Security Guard
- Jenny Cresswell — Maya/Woman Operative
- Roy Scammell — Maya/Creature
Music
The score was re-edited from previous Space: 1999 incidental music tracks composed for the second series by Derek WadsworthDerek Wadsworth
Derek Wadsworth was a British jazz trombonist, session musician, composer and arranger....
and draws primarily from the scores of 'The Metamorph
The Metamorph
"The Metamorph" is the first episode of the second series of Space: 1999 . The screenplay was written by Johnny Byrne; the director was Charles Crichton. Previous titles were 'The Biological Soul' and 'The Biological Computer'. The final shooting script is dated 19 January 1976...
' and 'Space Warp
Space Warp
Space Warp is a fixed shooter arcade game released by Century in 1983.-Gameplay:The game begin with one single shot ship and by destroying various enemy, it is possible to dock with other ships , until a maximum of 3 docked ships obtaining improved fire ratio....
'.
Production Notes
- The episode carried the working title 'Return of the Dorcons' on a shooting script dated 19 October 1976. With much of the same scene structure and dialogue, several differences exist: (1) The script notes the title 'Archon' should be pronounced the same as 'march on' to avoid confusion with the episode title 'The Mark of ArchanonThe Mark of Archanon"The Mark of Archanon" is the eighth episode of the second series of Space: 1999 . The screenplay was written by Lew Schwarz; the director was Charles Crichton. The final shooting script is dated 12 April 1976, with amendments dated 21 April, 26 April, 27 April and 28 April 1976...
'; (2) Sahn is present and has a larger role compared with Alibe's in the final draft; (3) Helena is relegated to the underground shelters with her patients before the attack and is not seen until the epilogue; (4) Maya transforms into a potted plant to hide from Varda and threatens to shoot herself with Verdeschi's gun when outed; Koenig talks her out of committing suicide; (5) A different epilogue was scripted where the six regular characters relax in Koenig's quarters dressed in casual clothes. The question of her Psychon past caused Maya to recollect an encounter with a handsome Psychon boy during a holiday to her planet's Southern Flora Region. Jealous, Verseschi sweeps her off her feet and out of the room. When left alone, Koenig and Helena reflect that 'What's in the past has gone...fate has played us some strange hands but we've won through in the end. As for the future...that starts right here and now,' and would close the scene with a kiss. This seems to acknowledge the staff's awareness this would be the programme's final installment.
- Many of the changes from the above version of the script would be motivated by the budgetary restrictions of this being the series' last episode. Scenes set in Medical Centre and Koenig's quarters would take place in Command Centre in the re-write. The scene showing Helena in an undergound shelter was cut. Carter would have been shown coordinating Bill Fraser and the Eagle attack force on the Dorcon ship from Command; in the final draft, Fraser went unmentioned, and Carter himself was seen via TV monitor in the pilot's seat, leading the strike. The Dorcon vessel's sets were constructed out of pre-existing flats and set-dressings from previous episodes. Attentive viewers would recognise actor Laurence HarringtonLaurence HarringtonLaurence Harrington is a British actor who has played DS Probert in Z-Cars, Lunar Guard in Doctor Who, George Latimer in Softly, Softly, the Lawyer in The Sweeney, Jackson in Space: 1999, Gary in Agony, Jeff Sadler in Boon, Cyril Harrington-Morse in Lovejoy, Vic Lawson in Love Hurts and James...
(playing Stewart) from his previous role as Tom Jackson in 'Journey to WhereJourney to Where"Journey to Where" is the fifth episode of the second series of Space: 1999 . The screenplay was written by Donald James; the director was Tom Clegg. The final shooting script is dated 18 February 1976, with amendments dated 2 March, 4 March, 11 March, 17 March, 18 March, 22 March and 25 March 1976...
'.
- This installment would fulfill first-series script editor Johnny Byrne's three-script commitment to producer Fred FreibergerFred FreibergerFred Freiberger was an American film and television screenwriter and television producer, with a career spanning four decades including The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Star Trek, and Space: 1999...
. After seeing his scripts 'The Biological Soul' and 'The Face of Eden' (later 'The MetamorphThe Metamorph"The Metamorph" is the first episode of the second series of Space: 1999 . The screenplay was written by Johnny Byrne; the director was Charles Crichton. Previous titles were 'The Biological Soul' and 'The Biological Computer'. The final shooting script is dated 19 January 1976...
' and 'The Immunity Syndrome') extensively re-worked (for the worse by his reckoning) for new series format, he gave the man a 'Freddie Freiberger/Johnny Byrne' action adventure story which would revolve around Maya, but done in such a way she would be rendered incommunicado. Tired of Maya being used to get out of every tough spot, he created a race that hunted Psychons as they would be able to control them. Byrne would rather Freiberger had used his script 'Children of the Gods' as the series finale, where the Alphans are terrorised by the mental powers of a pair of sociopathic children, who are revealed to be their distant descendants brought back in time by an alien race. The aliens, showing Koenig and company the complete amorality of humanity through the children (who were raised alone, without any human contact), intend to destroy Alpha to prevent the birth of these future Alphans. Koenig would then have to prove Mankind's worthiness to survive.
Novelisation
The episode was adapted in the sixth Year Two Space: 1999 novel The Edge of the Infinite by Michael ButterworthMichael Butterworth
Michael Butterworth is a British author and publisher who has written many novels and short stories, particularly in the genre of science fiction...
published in 1977. This novel was not released in the United Kingdom and only as a limited edition in the United States and Germany. The adaptation was based on the earlier version 'Return of the Dorcons'
External links
- Space: 1999 - 'The Dorcons' - The Catacombs episode guide
- Space: 1999 - 'The Dorcons' - Moonbase Alpha's Space: 1999 page
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