Episode Guide: Year Two
Title: "Dorzak"
Within this page: Overview | Backplot | Plot Synopsis | Unanswered Questions | Analyses/Observations | Comments | Memorable Lines
Overview
Maya learns of another living Psychon when a spaceship lands at Moonbase Alpha... with the Psychon as a prisoner!
Production Number: 021 (Season Two)
Original U.K. airing week: 25 August 1977 (ATV Midlands)
Original U.S. airing week: 25 August 1977 (syndication)
Written by Christopher Penfold
Directed by Val Guest
Backplot
- In the year 1999, lunar nuclear waste storage dumps have exploded, due to magnetic radiation, sending Earth's moon into interstellar space. The inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha, unable to escape, are seeking a new home.
Plot Synopsis
(From the original ITC Press Release.)
A space ship arrives on Moonbase Alpha carrying a prisoner, whom Maya is astonished to learn is Dorzac, a survivor from her planet, Psychon. But can he, a man of peace, really be guilty of the crimes of violence for which he is being exiled?
The crew of Moonbase Alpha are very much on their guard when a fantastic spaceship arrives and requests permission to land. In the absence of Commander Koenig (out on a mission) Tony Verdeschi (TONY ANHOLT) allows the ship to land, and all are astonished when from it emerges a beautiful young woman, Sahala (JILL TOWNSEND). She announces that she is from the planet Norvah in the Croton Galaxy and that she has a dangerous criminal onboard who has seriously injured a crew member, now in need of urgent medical attention. Tony agrees to help, but then Sahala catches sight of Maya (CATHERINE SCHELL) and shoots her down with a ray-gun!
Sahala immediately explains that she had to shoot Maya, as she recognised her as a Psychon. Not long ago a spaceship arrived on Norvah from Psychon, it's crew seeking refuge from their own planet as it was about to be destroyed. They were led by the man now she holds prisoner, Dorzak (LEE MONTAGUE) - and he incited the Norvahns to violence after thousands of years of peace, which is why he is now being exiled. Fearing for Maya's life, Tony orders Sahala under arrest. But Alan, (NICK TATE) who is very taken with her beauty, talks to her and persuades her to bring Maya back to consciousness.
Later, a very relieved Tony tells Maya about Dorzak and she, delighted that some other people got away from Psychon, wants to meet him. But she knows him as a philosopher and poet - a man of peace - and refuses to believe that Sahala's story is true.
Dr. Helena Russell (BARBARA BAIN) operates on the injured crew member, a girl called Yesta (KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT), and while dealing with her head wounds finds, and removes, a small, implanted golden capsule. Meanwhile Maya has gone aboard the spaceship to talk to Dorzac, who denies Sahala's accusations. But while Maya tells him of her life on Moonbase Alpha he is concentrating his mind on Yesta as she regains consciousness. Under his influence she accuses Sahala of causing all the trouble. Tony however, has had the golden capsule analysed and learns that it prevents ESP messages being received by the carrier. With her capsule removed, Yesta is now at the mercy of Dorzak's mind and if he can influence her he can influence the Alphans, too. X-rays show that Sahala also carries a capsule, which means that she is now the only person Dorzak cannot control. Maya is informed of this but still cannot believe her fellow Psychon capable of such behaviour. Tony suggests that the only way to convince her is to get Sahala and Dorzak alone together and, in the twinkling of an eye, Maya has transformed herself into Sahala.
But the meeting is a disaster, for she asks a question that Sahala wouldn't need to ask and Dorzak, knowing of Maya's gift of molecular transformation, realises what she has done and what it can do for him. Somehow he has to get Dr. Russell to remove the capsule from the real Sahala's head, then there will be no one left immune to his powers. He forces Maya to tell him the secrets of transformation - and swaps places with her! He is now free to use his powers on Helena and orders her to operate on Sahala...
"SPACE 1999" - SERIES II
CAST LIST
DIRECTOR: VAL GUEST
KOENIG - MARTIN LANDAU
HELENA - BARBARA BAIN
MAYA - CATHERINE SCHELL
VERDESCHI - TONY ANHOLT
CARTER - NICK TATE
DR. ED SPANDAU - SAM DASTOR
YASKO - YASUKO NAGAZUMI
ED MALCOLM - RICHARD LE PARMENTIER
1ST SECURITY GUARD - PAUL JERICHO
2ND SECURITY GUARD - JOHN JUDD
DORZAK - LEE MONTAGUE
SAHALA - JILL TOWNSEND
YESTA - KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT
Unanswered Questions
Analyses/Observations
Comments
Memorable Lines
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