2000 AD: the 297 men and women of Moonbase Alpha are joined by a metamorph from the planet Psychon in their search for a new home.
Gerry Anderson Productions/ITC
Produced: 1976
First UK broadcast: Saturday 4th September 1976 – 11.30am
London Weekend Television
24 episodes x 50 minutes
Executive Producer: Gerry Anderson
Producer: Fred Freiberger
Production Executive: Reg Hill
Associate Producer: F. Sherwin Green
Technical Director: David Lane
Director of Photography: Frank Watts BSC and Brendan Stafford
Production Designer: Keith Wilson
Special Effects Designed and Directed by: Brian Johnson
Music by Derek Wadsworth
Additional Music: Robert Farnon
| Episodes List | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
The Metamorph
In search of titanium, essential to the repair of the Alpha life support system, an Eagle is dispatched to the planet Psychon where it becomes enveloped by a ball of light and dragged to the planet’s surface. A Psychon named Mentor contacts the Alphans, offering to return the pilots at a rendezvous in space, but the rendezvous is a trap and Koenig is forced to land his Eagle on the planet. There, he discovers that Mentor seeks to transform his barren, volcanic world by molecular transformation, utilising a biological computer, Psyche. But Psyche is powered by the minds of intelligent beings and Mentor intends to feed the Alphans to his machine! Screenplay by Johnny Byrne Directed by Charles Crichton First UK Airdates:
Edited by Mike Campbell GBFE Original Titles: “The Biological Soul”, “The Biological Computer” Additional Cast:
|
| 2 |
The Exiles
53 cylinder-shaped objects take up orbit around the Moon. One of the cylinders is recovered from space and found to contain Cantar, a young alien exiled from the planet Golos. He implores Koenig to recover the remaining cylinders – each containing one of his fellow exiles – before the gravitational pull of the Moon destroys them, so Koenig cautiously allows a second cylinder to be brought to Alpha. It contains Cantar’s wife Zova and together they set about increasing the capacity of Alpha’s life support to cope with the additional strain that the 53 Golosians will place upon it. However, the pair have ulterior motives and, forcing their way into the power section they generate a transporter beam and escape to Golos, taking Helena and Verdeschi with them as hostages! Screenplay by Donald James Directed by Ray Austin Original UK Airdate: Saturday, 11th September 1976 – 11.30am (London Weekend) Edited by Alan Killick Additional Cast:
|
| 3 |
One Moment Of Humanity
Alpha is visited by Vegan woman Zamara who mistakes Helena and Verdeschi for lovers and demands that they return with her to the planet Vega. There, the pair are greeted with hostility, but Helena is warned by a servant, Number Eight, that if they show aggression, the Vegans will kill them. Taunted and insulted by the Vegans, Helena and Verdeschi remain calm, escaping from imprisonment to track down Number Eight. In caves beneath the city, Number Eight reveals that the Vegans are androids while he and his fellow servants are the true Vegans, hiding their faces beneath masks to conceal their emotions. The androids do not possess the necessary emotions that will enable them to kill, and intend to spur the Alphans to violence that they can emulate… Screenplay by Tony Barwick Directed by Charles Crichton Original UK Airdate: Saturday, 25th September 1976 – 11.00am (London Weekend) Edited by Mike Campbell GBFE Original Title: “One Second Of Humanity” Additional Cast:
|
| 4 |
All That Glisters
Koenig leads a geological survey to a dry, waterless planet in search of milgonite, a rare mineral vital to the Alphan life support system. Geologist Dave Reilly discovers a glowing rock formation in a cave and breaks a piece off to test in the Eagle laboratory, but there is a sudden blinding flash of light and Verdeschi is apparently killed. However, he soon returns to life and under some form of hypnotic control collects a second piece of rock and returns with it to the Eagle where the two pieces fuse into one. Communications with Alpha are cut off, the Eagle is immobilised and the party discover that the rock is an intelligent life-form which desperately needs water to survive. With horror, the Alphans realise that the rock sees them as the most convenient source of water… Screenplay by Keith Miles Directed by Ray Austin Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 28th October 1976 – 4.45pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Alan Killick Additional Cast:
|
| 5 |
Journey To Where
Alpha makes contact with Space Station One in Texas City on the Earth of 2120AD. Transference technology enables the Alphans to return to Earth so Koenig, Helena and Carter make the first trip, but during their journey an earthquake hits Texas City and the trio fail to re-materialise. They find themselves in a cold, wooded area quite unlike the conditions that they have been led to expect on 22nd century Earth. Helena contracts pneumonia and they are attacked by savage warriors who take them prisoner. As Dr. Logan and his team attempt to track down the Alphans, Koenig and Carter come to the realisation that they have travelled through time and arrived in 14th century Scotland in the midst of a bitter conflict between the Highland clans and English forces! Screenplay by Donald James Directed by Tom Clegg First UK Airdates:
Edited by Mike Campbell GBFE Additional Cast:
|
| 6 |
The Taybor
Alpha is visited by Taybor, an itinerant trader from Pinvith the Lesser, who lands on the Moon in his jump-drive spaceship, the S.S. Emporium. Unfortunately, his gifts – intended to illustrate his good will – have proven to be too advanced for the Alphans, blinding a hydroponics assistant and sending a technician into a catatonic trance, but Taybor assures Helena that neither is permanently harmed. Koenig is interested in the Emporium’s jump drive which could return the Alphans to Earth and Taybor is willing to trade. Koenig offers him Moonbase Alpha with fixtures and fittings intact but Taybor has designs on Maya, intending to add her to his collection of the galaxy’s most beautiful objects. Screenplay by Thom Keyes Directed by Bob Brooks Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 4th November 1976 – 4.45pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Alan Killick Additional Cast:
|
| 7 |
The Rules Of Luton
Koenig and Maya are exploring the planet Luton when they are accused of violating the laws of the sentient plantlife. The Judges of Luton decree that the Alphans must prove their innocence in trial by combat against three strange aliens, each of whom has unusual powers and abilities. Koenig is badly injured after dispatching two of their opponents and Maya turns into a bird to find water with which to clean his wound, but she is captured by the third alien who places her in a cage. Koenig is forced to face the alien in a final duel to save Maya before she loses control of her form and is crushed to death! Screenplay by Charles Woodgrove Directed by Val Guest Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 21st October 1976 – 4.45pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Mike Campbell GBFE Additional Cast:
|
| 8 |
The Mark Of Archanon
Two aliens, Pasc and Etrec, are discovered in a stasis chamber beneath the lunar surface and revived in the Medical Center. Introducing themselves as emissaries from Archanon, the planet of peace, Pasc explains that he and his son were imprisoned in the stasis chamber by their own people who had been effected by a contagion of evil while visiting Earth. Carter takes a shine to Etrec, but Helena discovers a virus in Pasc’s blood cells and the same virus, yet dormant, in Etrec’s. Unknown to the Alphans, this virus is a genetic sickness, handed down through generations of Archanon males, which overwhelms them with the urge to kill… Screenplay by Lew Schwartz Directed by Charles Crichton Original UK Airdate: Saturday, 16th October 1976 – 11.30am (London Weekend) Edited by Alan Pattillo Additional Cast:
|
| 9 |
Brian The Brain
A Swift spaceship from a 1996 Earth mission lands on Alpha. The pilot is a mobile computer called Brian who endears himself to the Alphans and explains that his creator, Captain Michael, and his entire crew have died in mysterious circumstances on the nearby Planet D – he has been orbiting the planet alone ever since. Then Brian reveals his true colours, abducting Koenig and Helena and taking them to Planet D where he forces Koenig to recover nuclear fuel from the Swift’s mothership while he holds Helena hostage. On board the mothership, Koenig discovers that Brian has murdered his own crew in a jealous rage… Screenplay by Jack Ronder Directed by Kevin Connor Original UK Airdate: Saturday, 2nd October 1976 – 11.00am (London Weekend) Additional Cast:
|
| 10 |
New Adam New Eve
An omnipotent figure arrives on Alpha and introduces himself as Magus, the creator of all life on Earth. He announces that he intends to give the Alphans a chance to begin again in a New Eden and transports Koenig, Helena, Maya and Verdeschi to his planet. There, they learn that Magus expects them to be the progenitors of a new human species, but for biological reasons he pairs Helena with Verdeschi and Maya with Koenig, enforcing the pairing with positive/negative magnetic field cocoons. When the Alphans discover a cave which hides strange, mutated creatures – the results of Magus’ attempts to learn the secret of creation – Magus is forced to admit that he is the last of a race of cosmic magicians, threatening to destroy the Moon if the Alphans do not co-operate with his plans! Screenplay by Terence Feely Directed by Charles Crichton Original UK Airdate: Saturday, 9th October 1976 – 11.30am (London Weekend) Edited by Mike Campbell GBFE Additional Cast:
|
| 11 |
Catacombs Of The Moon
Chief engineer Patrick Osgood leads a desperate search in the catacombs beneath the Moon to find tiranium, a rare metal vital to Alpha’s life support functions and the manufacture of an artificial heart that will save his wife Michelle’s life. Caught in the blast of his mining explosives, Osgood has visions of Alpha being destroyed by fire and, convinced that he is Michelle’s saviour, he forces Helena and Verdeschi to release her from Medical Center and drags her into the catacombs where he believes they will be safe from the coming holocaust. As Verdeschi leads a search party to rescue Michelle, it seems that Osgood’s visions are coming true when Koenig discovers a massive firestorm heading straight for Alpha! Screenplay by Anthony Terpiloff Directed by Robert Lynn Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 25th November 1976 – 4.45pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Bill Blunden Original Title: “The Catacombs Of The Moon” Additional Cast:
|
| 12 |
The AB Chrysalis
Koenig, Maya and Carter investigate the source of spatial explosions that threaten to destroy Alpha. Discovering a planet surrounded by a ring of moons, they land on one of the moons and encounter self-propelling Voice Probes who cryptically inform them that their Creators, the Masters, are not yet in existence. Travelling to the planet, they find more Voice Probes who explain that the Masters have a unique life-cycle: after growing old, they enter a chrysalis stage and are reborn, but while in this phase, the Masters are helpless and must be protected by a computer defence system which perceives Alpha as a threat. Only the Masters can countermand the computer’s instructions but the Guardian, the last of the Masters, has already entered his chrysalis phase… Screenplay by Tony Barwick Directed by Val Guest Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 18th November 1976 – 4.45pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Alan Killick Original Title: “The Chrysalis A-B-C” Additional Cast:
|
| 13 |
Seed Of Destruction
On a jewel-like asteroid, Koenig is trapped in a hall of mirrors and replaced by an evil double who returns to Alpha with a chunk of crystal and proceeds to organise the direction of an energy beam at the asteroid, apparently to neutralise an energy screen that surrounds the Moon. Maya becomes concerned at Koenig’s unscientific and illogical behaviour when he refuses to allow her to examine the crystal or investigate alternative methods of piercing the screen, and after she questions his decisions, he confines her to her quarters. Maya finds allies in Helena and Verdeschi and the trio discover that the crystal is a complex form of living matter that lies dormant, awaiting rejuvenation. Alpha’s energy beam will provide the necessary infusion to awaken the Kalthon, a dormant civilisation on the asteroid, but the energy drain threatens Alpha’s life support systems… Screenplay by John Goldsmith Directed by Kevin Connor Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 11th November 1976 – 4.45pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Mike Campbell GBFE Additional Cast:
|
| 14 |
The Beta Cloud
Sent to investigate a strange cloud, Eagle Six returns to Alpha bringing with it a huge, hideous creature that rampages through the base, completely unharmed by the Alphans’ weapons. With Koenig, Helena and Carter incapacitated by a mysterious illness, Verdeschi takes charge of the situation, instructing the computer to lock all doors and only to open them on his command. Assisted by Maya and Fraser, Verdeschi makes various attempts to stop the creature, but it proves to be immune to vacuum, chlorine and high voltage current. A voice emanating from the cloud announces that the creature has been sent to Alpha to take the Alphan life support core which will prevent the cloud’s extinction, so Verdeschi, Maya and Fraser make their last stand outside the life support centre… Screenplay by Charles Woodgrove Directed by Robert Lynn Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 16th December 1976 – 4.45pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Alan Killick Additional Cast:
|
| 15 |
Space Warp
Maya is struck down by a mysterious illness and deliriously relives the last days of Psychon. Then the Moon falls through a space warp leaving Koenig and Verdeschi marooned on a derelict spaceship, five light years from Alpha. Transforming into a scaly space animal, Maya breaks out of Medical Center and attempts to return to Psychon. She tries to lift off in an Eagle but is unable to control it in her creature form and it crashes inside the hangar. Maya is badly injured and Helena attempts to operate on her but she suddenly breaks free of her restraints and, turning into another creature, goes on a rampage through the base… Screenplay by Charles Woodgrove Directed by Peter Medak Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 2nd December 1976 – 4.45pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Mike Campbell GBFE Additional Cast:
|
| 16 |
A Matter Of Balance
Vindrus, an alien from the planet Sunim, helps botanist Shermeen Williams to be selected to join Koenig’s landing party. On Sunim, the team find a temple guarded by a monstrous creature and inside Vindrus explains to Shermeen that he requires her help to enable his corporeal body to cross over to this world. When the party returns to Alpha, Vindrus encourages Shermeen to steal a mobile nuclear generator so as to effect this process. He reveals that he is from a universe of anti-matter where the evolutionary process is in reverse, moving towards extinction. Vindrus and his people wish to cross into the matter universe but for every anti-matter person that crosses over, an Alphan must cross back! Screenplay by Pip and Jane Baker Directed by Charles Crichton Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 9th December 1976 – 4.45pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Archie Ludski Additional Cast:
|
| 17 |
The Bringers Of Wonder part 1
Koenig crashes Eagle Ten near the Nuclear Waste Domes and, dragged unconscious from the wreckage, he is hooked up to a cerebral wave machine in Medical Center. Incredibly, a Superswift arrives from Earth and the Alphans are reunited with their friends and relatives. However, two of the new arrivals exert some form of influence over a medical orderly who attempts to kill Koenig but he is rescued by Helena and Vincent. Koenig makes a complete recovery and is delighted to learn of the arrival of the Superswift, but when he joins the party in Command Center he sees the newcomers as hideous Plasma Aliens… Screenplay by Terence Feely Directed by Tom Clegg Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 4th August 1977 – 7.30pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Alan Killick Additional Cast:
|
| 18 |
The Bringers Of Wonder part 2
While Koenig tries to convince Helena and Maya that he has not gone mad, Carter, Ehrlich and Bartlett apparently arrive back on Earth. In reality, however, the trio are being influenced by the Aliens to insert atomic fuel into the nuclear waste core. To find out why, Maya turns into one of the Aliens and learns that they thrive on radiation which has run out on their planet – now starving, they intend to feed on the intense radiation that will result from the detonation of the waste dumps… Screenplay by Terence Feely Directed by Tom Clegg Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 11th August 1977 – 7.30pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Alan Killick Additional Cast:
|
| 19 |
The Lambda Factor
Alpha is plagued by petty disagreements and instrument malfunctions, but when medical technician Sally Martin dies in mysterious circumstances, Koenig suspects murder and questions Mark Sanders, Sally’s ex-fiancé, and his new lover Carolyn Powell. However, Koenig’s investigations are hampered by personal difficulties as he is troubled by the manifestations of two dead friends which appear when he tries to sleep. Helena conducts experiments into e.s.p. and discovers that latent telepathic powers are being boosted by a strange space cloud. One sensitive who exhibits particular talents in this field is Carolyn Powell, who becomes psychotic and uses her powers to take control of Command Center… Screenplay by Terrance Dicks Directed by Charles Crichton Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 23rd December 1976 – 4.45pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Mike Campbell GBFE Additional Cast:
|
| 20 |
The Seance Spectre
Greg Sanderson and his surface exploration team become convinced that a strange space phenomenon contains a habitable planet, questioning Koenig’s authority and accusing him of deliberately hiding the planet’s existence because he fears losing his dictatorial control over Alpha. But on reconnaissance in Eagle Four, Koenig learns that the phenomenon is on a collision course with the Moon – if it does contain a planet, Alpha will be destroyed. Sanderson is confined to Medical Center but with his colleagues’ help, he breaks out and the quartet engineer a malfunction in main computer, causing Koenig’s Eagle to crash onto the planet… Screenplay by Donald James Directed by Peter Medak Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 18th August 1977 – 7.30pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Mike Campbell GBFE Original Title: “The Mutiny” Additional Cast:
|
| 21 |
Dorzak
A Croton spaceship arrives on Alpha and is revealed to contain the Psychon philosopher Dorzak imprisoned in stasis. His captor, Sahala, is ferrying him to exile on Thesalena, claiming that he incited the Norvahn people to violence, but Maya refuses to believe her story as she knows Dorzak as a man of peace. Sahala tells how Dorzak used his mind power on her colleagues, Clea and Yesta, leaving Clea dead and Yesta badly injured, but when Yesta recovers she is still under Dorzak’s influence and accuses Sahala of Clea’s murder. On this evidence, Verdeschi allows Maya to free Dorzak from stasis and the real murderer is on the loose in Alpha… Screenplay by Christopher Penfold Directed by Val Guest Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 25th August 1977 – 7.30pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Ray Lovejoy Additional Cast:
|
| 22 |
Devil's Planet
Responding to a distress signal, Koenig and Maine journey to the planet Ellna where they find that the entire population has been poisoned by a nerve-killing pathogen in the air. Detecting humanoid life-forms on Ellna’s moon, Entra, they are about to land when their Eagle goes out of control and crashes. Unhurt, they go to the aid of a man being chased by a group of women armed with whips, but Maine runs into a force-field and is vaporised while Koenig is captured and taken to a vast, spartan complex. There he discovers that Entra is a penal colony for exiles run by sadistic amazon guards – and he has become their latest prisoner! Screenplay by Michael Winder Directed by Tom Clegg Original UK Airdate: Thursday, 1st September 1977 – 7.30pm (ATV Midlands) Edited by Alan Killick Original Title: “Devil’s Moon” Additional Cast: Elizia Hildegard Neil
|
| 23 |
The Immunity Syndrome
While surveying an Earth-type paradise planet, Verdeschi goes mad and attacks Koenig, three members of the survey team are poisoned, Eagle controls and commlocks fall apart and the Alphans find themselves stranded. Koenig realises that everything made of metal is disintegrating, although equipment made of plastic seems to be holding up. Discovering a mysterious structure with sophisticated molecular bonding, Carter locates an entrance powered by solar cells and, gaining access, he and Koenig find a holographic message from Zoran, the last survivor of an alien survey team. Zoran tells them that the planet is inhabited by an immortal being who only wishes to communicate with others, but the being’s communication methods have killed all those that it has contacted… Screenplay by Johnny Byrne Directed by Bob Brooks Original UK Airdate: Sunday 23rd October 1977 – 1.15pm (Granada) Edited by Mike Campbell GBFE Original Title: “The Face Of Eden” Additional Cast:
|
| 24 |
The Dorcons
The people of Dorca have hounded the Psychons for centuries, stealing their brain stems to achieve immortality. Now, the Dorcon leader Archon sets his sights on Maya, threatening Alpha with destruction unless Koenig gives her up. Koenig refuses and Alpha is subjected to a devastating barrage by the Dorcons, whose use of a Meson Converter to transform matter and energy makes them invincible. Transporting to Alpha, Consul Varda captures Maya and takes her back to the Dorcon ship, but Koenig leaps into the transporter beam and, arriving on the ship, is immediately thrown into a cell. However, the prospect of the Archon’s immortality displeases his heir Malic who enlists Koenig’s aid in his treacherous plans… Screenplay by Johnny Byrne Directed by Tom Clegg First UK Airdates:
Edited by Alan Killick Original Title: “The Last Of The Psychons”, “Return Of The Dorcons” Additional Cast:
|
| Cast List | |
|---|---|
| Commander John Koenig | Martin Landau |
| Dr. Helena Russell | Barbara Bain |
| Maya | Catherine Schell |
| Tony Verdeschi | Tony Anholt |
| Captain Alan Carter | Nick Tate |
| Sandra Benes | Zienia Merton |
| Bill Fraser | John Hug |
| Dr. Ben Vincent | Jeffery Kissoon |
| Yasko Nugami | Yasuko Nagazumi |