Missing Link (Space: 1999)
| "Missing Link" | |
|---|---|
| Space: 1999 episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 7 |
| Directed by | Ray Austin |
| Written by | Edward di Lorenzo |
| Original air date | 22 January 1976 |
"Missing Link" is the seventh episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Edward di Lorenzo; the director was Ray Austin. The final shooting script is dated 5 April 1974. Live-action filming took place Monday 22 April 1974 through Thursday 9 May 1974, with one day of second-unit filming on 22 July 1974.
As the Moon travels through a dense planetary cluster, Moonbase Alpha's sensors show the system to be devoid of life. A survey mission for mineral resources is launched, crewed by Victor Bergman, Sandra Benes and Alan Carter, with John Koenig commanding. Approaching a purple-coloured world, Eagle One is suddenly yanked down by a tremendous force, as if the planet's gravity had increased exponentially. After blasting free, the Commander aborts the mission. While returning to Alpha, the ship experiences a complete systems failure. Powerless, the Eagle tumbles toward the Moon.
As Koenig and company try to regain control, the ship skims over jagged terrain to belly-flop into the deep dust of a large crater. While the ship remains intact, the crew is not as fortunate; a battered Koenig is left sprawled over the flight controls, forehead gashed and bleeding, his medical wrist-monitor smashed by the impact. In Alpha's Medical Section, vital signs are being received from only three of the team; Doctor Helena Russell agonises over the lack of telemetry from Koenig's monitor.
Computer pinpoints the crash site in a crater over one hundred miles from the base and a rescue Eagle is prepared for immediate lift-off. On the lunar surface, Koenig, clad in space gear, is making for Alpha on foot. Spotting the ship as it flies overhead, he tries to attract its attention. When he goes unnoticed, he continues on. On Eagle One, Carter awakens. Seeing the injured Koenig beside him, he feels for and finds a weak pulse. He moves into the passenger module to find Bergman in pain from fractured ribs and Sandra unconscious from head trauma.
Ten minutes later, the Koenig seen walking arrives at Alpha and enters via the west airlock. When he removes his helmet, the viewer can see his forehead is unmarked. Moving into the base, he finds it deserted. In search of Helena, he passes through the darkened corridors leading to the diagnostic unit. The room is empty...except for fleeting, subliminal appearances of an alien man. Moving to the 'scopes displaying the vital signs of the survey team, he is disturbed to see his readings are flat-lined. Sensing movement behind him, he turns and beholds a young woman—who promptly vanishes.
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