Matter of Life and Death (Space: 1999)
| "Matter of Life and Death" | |
|---|---|
| Space: 1999 episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 2 |
| Directed by | Charles Crichton |
| Written by | Art Wallace and Johnny Byrne |
| Original air date | 27 November 1975 |
"Matter of Life and Death" is the second episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Art Wallace and Johnny Byrne; the director was Charles Crichton. The original title was "Siren Planet". The final shooting script is dated 8 January 1974. Live-action filming took place Monday 14 January 1974 through Wednesday 30 January 1974.
The Moon enters a new solar system on a path that will carry it close to a habitable planet. With the hope this could be the end of their captive journey, the Moonbase Alpha staff assigns the planet the code-name ''—New Earth. As per the first phase of the Operation Exodus colonisation protocol, Eagle One is sent on a low-altitude reconnaissance. While the staff awaits its return, preliminary data from the on-board computer is processed and confirms the planet has unlimited resources to sustain human life. Astronauts Parks and Bannion check in, marveling over the planet's similarity to Earth; with no sign of intelligent life, it seems to be waiting just for them.
Contact is broken when the ship is struck by an energy bolt snaking up from the planet surface. Before visual contact is lost, both men react as though being electrocuted. For a brief moment there is no communication from the ship, then flight status and medical telemetry transmissions resume—but no word from the pilots. The Eagle proceeds under automatic pilot and John Koenig orders preparations for an emergency touchdown. As the ship comes in for a landing, there is still no contact.
The Commander signals a red alert and goes to meet the ship with the medical team. The two pilots are found alive, but unconscious. A search of the ship turns up a third person in the passenger module. Helena Russell examines this unexpected casualty. After turning his head to look into his face, the doctor freezes, announcing in a shocked whisper that this is her husband—who died five years ago.
Lee Russell was medical officer on the Astro 7 mission. In 1994, the ill-fated exploratory vessel arrived at Jupiter and became trapped in orbit. When contact was lost, the ship was believed to have been burned up by that planet's intense radiation. In spite of the uncountable billions of miles they have travelled from their solar system, Helena is certain this man is her husband. Adding to the mystery, the electronic monitors in the care unit do not register his vital signs.
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