The Mark of Archanon
| "The Mark of Archanon" | |
|---|---|
| Space: 1999 episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 8 |
| Directed by | Charles Crichton |
| Written by | Lew Schwarz |
| Original air date | 16 October 1976 |
"The Mark of Archanon" is the eighth episode of the second series of Space: 1999 (and the thirty-second episode overall of the programme). The screenplay was written by Lew Schwarz; the director was Charles Crichton. The final shooting script is dated 12 April 1976, with amendments dated 21 April, 26 April, 27 April and 28 April 1976. Live action filming took place Tuesday 4 May 1976 through Tuesday 18 May 1976.
It is 640 days after leaving Earth orbit, and Alan Carter sings an absurd ditty as he strides through an underground mining gallery beneath Moonbase Alpha. Mineralogist Andy Johnson leads the way, searching for dylenide crystals (a component in the Eagles' atmosphere-scrubbing filters). The two mates banter as they set up a sonarscope and begin probing the cavern walls for the mineral. Johnson soon detects a mineral formation that is definitely not dylenide. Using the 'scope's thermal cutter, they uncover a transparent cabinet—containing two persons.
The occupants are humanoid—a man and an adolescent boy—standing immobile and apparently lifeless. Carter, thinking he sees movement within the cabinet, tries to brush away dust for a better look. Before his hand touches the glass, he is thrown back by a powerful force-field. As Johnson kneels to check on Carter, he glances at the aliens—and is shocked to see the adult's eyes are open, glaring at him with a burning intensity.
Rescue and medical teams arrive. Carter recovers from the shock while the others continue excavating the alien chamber. Despite the astronaut's insistence he saw the man's eyes open, scans of the aliens show no sign of life. With an internal temperature of 4° Celsius, the cabinet is definitely not a cryogenic suspension unit. Tony Verdeschi spies a familiar symbol etched in the glass, recognising it from a past planetfall on Krom Two. Known as Flammon the 'Death Glow', the symbol was left by a visiting god-like race to warn the indigenous population of areas containing life-threatening danger.
When focused on the adult for a longer span of time, the equipment records a greatly protracted heartbeat and a minuscule increase in the volume of air in the lungs—he is alive. The aliens are being held in a state of suspended animation. A second artefact is uncovered next to the cabinet: a control panel and power source. However, the excavations have weakened the cavern roof. With the ceiling collapsing, Verdeschi blindly manipulates the control panel and manages to deactivate the force-field. The adult alien is pulled to safety as the now-unprotected cabinet is smashed by falling debris. Carter risks his life by re-entering the cave-in to bring out the boy.
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