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Breakaway
(Year 1 / Episode 1)
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ITC Press Release
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"SPACE 1999"
Episode: "BREAKAWAY"
SYNOPSIS
Suspected radiation from nuclear waste containers provides (sic) a deep space probe
from Earth's space research centre on the moon. It is a prologue to disaster and
mankind's most fantastic adventure.
***
Preparations are well advanced for the most important space journey in the history
of man: a probe into deep space to explore the rogue planet Meta which has broken
away from a distant galaxy and is now closer to Earth's solar system. Already, identifiable
signals have come from the planet, indicating a high form of life.
John Koenig (MARTIN LANDAU) is commander of the mission to be launched from Earth's
Space Research Centre at Moonbase Alpha. He has just returned to the moon to oversee
the momentous adventure, but the probe is already in jeopardy. Two of the deep space
astronauts have been stricken with a mystery illness which has already claimed nine
lives. All but the astronauts have been working at the Nuclear Disposal Area Two
on the dark side of the moon to which nuclear waste from Earth has been consigned.
Dr. Helena Russell (BARBARA BAIN) is convinced that radiation has caused the terrible
brain damage to the victims. But evidence discounts her theories. There is no trace
of a leakage either from the deeply buried old containers at Disposal.Area One or
at the new area. Koenig is sure Helena is misdiagnosing. So are others. And scientist,
Professor Bergman (BARRY MORSE) confirms that there is no radiation. Koenig checks
for himself. Everything is normal - except for intense heat in Koenig's inspection
craft.
The two astronauts die. But of what? New facts emerge when their flight recorder
tapes are examined and show that everything went black for two minutes while flying
over the Disposal Areas, which leads to the discovery that the disused Disposal Area
waste had been subject to a magnetic subsurface firestorm. It seems that the same
thing may be happening to Disposal Area Two. It is the increased magnetic output
that has caused the deaths, and there is immediate disaster when efforts are made
to check on Area Two. A blinding nuclear explosion rocks the moon. Gravity control
is affected. The moon - with Moonbase Alpha - is pulled out of orbit, moving inexorably
away from Earth.
Koenig has to decide whether or not to abandon and makes his grim decision. Their
only hope is to remain where they are. To abort would be certain suicide. By now,
the moon is speeding even more rapidly away from Earth. And on Earth, the gravity
disruption is causing devastation.
At Moonbase Alpha, the unmistakable sound of Meta signals comes in, now quite loud
and clear.........
SCREENPLAY BY GEORGE BELLAK
DIRECTED BY LEE KATZIN
Guest Artist
ROY DOTRICE
with
PRENTIS HANCOCK as PAUL MORROW
ZIENIA MERTON as SANDRA BENES
ANTON PHILLIPS as DR. MATHIAS
NICK TATE as ALAN CARTER
PHILIP MADOC as COMMANDER GORSKI
LON SATTON as OUMA
ERIC CARTE as COLLINS
NB All spelling and punctuation as in the original.
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Episodes
are in production order.
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