Space1999.org - Homage to the Space: 1999 science fiction series.
> Turn off print friendly version.

Learn more about Space: 1999...Learn more about the new Thunderbirds movie...
FAQ
FEATURES
DISCUSSIONS
GALLERY
REVIVAL

 

  Home
  FAQ
  Features
  Discussions
  Gallery
  Revival

  About this Site
  Conventions
  Open Content Model
  Site Index
  Search
  Store
  Webrings/Links
  Help
  Contact Us (E-mail)

  See also: FAB (Other Gerry Anderson-inspired works)


  Choose the style:

  Classic Theme
  Moonrise Theme
  Black Sun Theme
  Printer Friendly

Scene from 'Alpha Child'  

Episode Guide: Year One

Title: "Alpha Child"

Within this page: Overview | Backplot | Plot Synopsis | Unanswered Questions | Analyses/Observations | Comments | Memorable Lines



Overview

The first human child is born on the Moon -- or is it alien?

Production Number: 010 (Season One)
    - filmed Monday, July 8 - Monday, July 22, 1974

Original U.K. airing week: 16 October 1975 (ATV Midlands)
Original U.S. airing week: 28 November 1975 (syndication)
Written by Christopher Penfold (originally written by Edward di Lorenzo)
Directed by Ray Austin

Backplot

Plot Synopsis

(From the original ITC Press Release.)

From 'Alpha Child'
From 'Alpha Child'
From 'Alpha Child'
From 'Alpha Child'
From 'Alpha Child'

View additional images
from the episode,
"Alpha Child."

The first baby is born on the moon, but terrifying events follow with an outer space battle between spaceships deciding the fates of hundreds.

Cynthia Crawford (CYD HAYMAN) is the first woman on the moon to become a mother, but terror is soon to follow the birth of her baby, Jackie. Within hours, he grows into a five-year-old boy, alert and intelligent but a deaf mute. Cynthia is reduced to a state of shock and Commander Koenig (MARTIN LANDAU) and Helena Russell (BARBARA BAIN) wonder if the fantastic growth is a form of mutation caused by the artificial environment on Alpha. They are puzzled and intrigued by the skill with which the boy draws an amazingly detailed picture of an advanced spaceship and then, alarmingly, a green light in the space sky materializes into a craft identical to the one Jackie has drawn, a little later to be joined by three others.

The alien ships hover menacingly just above the moon's surface. Computer records some form of life inside, but it is not human. Attempts to bombard one of the craft with laser fire are in vain: the rays are defected.

Koenig takes quick action, putting into operation a four-pronged attack, but as he does so another startling transformation takes place in Jackie. In minutes, he grows into a man (JULIAN GLOVER). His name, he says, is Jarak, and he forced Helena to contact Koenig with the warning that, unless he calls off the new attack, Alpha will be destroyed.

He then demands to be taken to Cynthia Cawford. She dies as she sees him but is immediately revitalized into a ravishingly beautiful creature who greets Jarak passionately. He addresses her as Rena and explains that they are involuntary travellers through space, seeking a physical form which to conceal their own identities. On their planet, they faced extermination because they were different and now 120 of them are running away form the ruthlessly imposed genetic conformity.

Their plan is to take over the bodies of those on Moonbase. The moments of birth and death are ideally suited to this purpose and the birth of Jackie Crawford gave Jarak his chance. Now there will be more deaths as Jarak's companions in the hovering spaceships transfer themselves to dying Moonbase Alpha bodies that have been selected.

But a blinding flash is a warning to Jarak that his people's enemies have caught up with them. Six more space ships have arrived and the war of the spaceships is not raging. The outcome will decide that fate of Moonbase Alpha and its people and of Jarak and Rena.

SCREENPLAY BY CHRISTOPHER PENFOLD

DIRECTED BY RAY AUSTIN

Guest Artists
JULIAN GLOVER
CYD HAYMAN

with
PRENTIS HANCOCK as PAUL MORROW
CLIFTON JONES as DAVID KANO
ZIENIA MERTON as SANDRA BENES
ANTON PHILLIPS as DR. MATHIAS
NICK TATE as ALAN CARTER
WAYNE BROOKS as JACKIE

Unanswered Questions

Analyses/Observations

Comments

Memorable Lines

"It's a boy. Mother and son doing just fine. Seven pounds, eleven ounces. Dark hair, blue eyes. He's beautiful." - Helena Russell

"My baby. What happened to my baby?" - Cynthia Crawford

"Look, I'll give Cyn all the help she needs. I think we've got to give him the best chance we can." - Helena Russell

"Ah, yes. He's bright enough alright. And, as far as I can tell, a perfectly normal kid." - Victor Bergman   "Is he, Victor? I think all our inquiring minds have been just a little charmed with young Jackie." - John Koenig

"Look, we've got to stop calling that 'Jackie,' but rather some...some alien power amongst us which, sooner or later, we may have to destroy." - John Koenig

"Ah...uh.. Mm..Mm... Ahh... My... name... is... Jarak.. For... as... long... as... you... know me... I shall retain this form. I require to know what has been happening during the period of my growth." - Jarak

I like the intuitive quality of your mind, Commander. I like the unpredictability of your human emotions. I like the differences between you people. But on our planet we faced extermination because we were different." - Jarak

"We shall have begun our new life as inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha." - Jarak

"Do you think they gave themselves up?" - Helena Russell   "It's a nice thought, Helena. I don't think they had any choice." - John Koenig

 

Copyright 1999-2003 www.Space1999.org. All Rights Reserved. Legal notice.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License, in conjunction with our Open Source Content Model. This site uses XHTML and CSS and looks best with a standards compliant browser.

Back to the Top

Moonbase Alpha
Commander John Koenig
Dr. Helena Russell
Professor Victor Bergman
Alan Carter
Controller Paul Morrow