The Last Enemy (Space: 1999)
| "The Last Enemy" | |
|---|---|
| Space: 1999 episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 18 |
| Directed by | Bob Kellett |
| Written by | Bob Kellett |
| Original air date | 19 February 1976 |
"The Last Enemy" is the eighteenth episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Bob Kellett (with additional material contributed by Johnny Byrne); the director was Bob Kellett. Previous titles include "The Second Sex" and "The Other Enemy". The final shooting script is dated 25 October 1974. Live-action filming took place Friday 8 November 1974 through Tuesday 19 November 1974. A three-day re-mount was scheduled from Tuesday 25 February 1975 through Thursday 28 February 1975. This re-mount concluded the filming of the first series.
The Moon is in transit of a small solar system. John Koenig and the Main Mission staff observe a star flanked by two small planets; one red, one blue. They are still too distant for a comprehensive survey, but long-range spectrographic analysis reveals both planets may possess Earth-type conditions. As Helena Russell reflects on how wonderful it would be to have a choice, far ahead on Betha (the blue planet pictured on the sun's left-hand side), a glamourous observer watches the approaching Moon with equal anticipation. Dione, a woman of considerable importance on this planet, stands in luxurious room that appears to be more sitting-room than operations centre.
An older woman—Commissioner Theia, head of Bethan Defence—appears on a screen to announce that the Council has unanimously decided to strike first, before the travelling Moon gets any closer. Dione smiles predatorily; they have waited a long time for this. Twenty-four hours later, Alpha's sensors are surveying the closer of the two planets. When Victor Bergman announces that the planet is not only habitable but inhabited, contact procedures are initiated.
On Betha, Theia informs Dione the Moon is approaching strike position. Dione reports to her ship, the colossal battle-wagon Satazius. As she greets her all-female crew, her second-in-command informs her they have detected radio signals from the travelling Moon. Dione orders them ignored and the ship leaves orbit. On Alpha, Bergman realises that the two habitable planets revolve around their sun in such a way that they are always on opposing sides—neither planet is ever visible to the other. However, the planet survey is interrupted by the detection of an unidentified powered object.
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