Episodes
The Last Sunset (Year 1 / Episode 11)
ITC Press Release
"THE LAST SUNSET"
Original ITC press release
The prospect of a normal life dangles tantalizingly for the occupants of the runaway moon. Real air and sunshine/ A new existence, similar to that on Earth. But there is drama behind the dream.
Since the day the Moon broke out of its orbit, life for the Moonbase Alpha personnel has been a strangely artificial existence, breathing made possible by the use of oxygen, life outside the base restricted to movements in pressurized spacesuits.
Now there is the prospect of normal life, with the warmth of a real sun, the invigoration of fresh air. They have found a new solar system with a planet Professor Bergman (BARRY MORSE) identifies as Ariel. Fears that an alien attache is being made prove to be groundless when a satellite-shaped object lands, pouring out a gas which creates fresh air. On the horizon, the long-forgotten sight of blue sky and a warm sun.
Gravity has returned. If the Moon can go into orbit, the gravity will be almost exactly equivalent to Earth's Dubious at first, Commander Koenig (MARTIN LANDAU) and Dr Helena Russell (BARBARA BAIN) have to agree that the future is bright. The Moon could become a new Earth. They could settle and build outside the Alpha base, fertilise the lunar dust and raise crops, create rainfall with cloud-forming crystals.
Already, they can play games and sun-bathe in the open, and for Paul Morrow (PRENTIS HANCOCK) and Sandra Benes (ZIENIA MERTON) there is now hope of their loving blossoming into a normal Earth-like relationship, creating a future with a home of their own and children.
But a violent storm shakes the moon. Out on a recce in an Eagle, Helena, Paul and Sandra, piloted by Alan Carter (NICK TATE) are caught in the turbulence. The Eagle crashers and they are trapped. Sandra is injured and their water supply is contaminated. They Paul, in search of water, finds a white substance, tastes it and finds that is slakes his thirst. They can survive. He carries Sandra to the hut he builds, declaiming exultantly that the future is theirs, but Helena and Alan realize that the situation is becoming even more desperate. Paul's mind has been affected by whatever it was that he tasted, and hopes of their being found by searchers from Moonbase Alpha are receding.
And from the planet Ariel there is at last verbal communication. The dream of the future is fading...................
NB All spelling and punctuation as in the original.
SCREENPLAY BY CHRISTOPHER PENFOLD
DIRECTED BY CHARLES CRICHTON
with
PRENTIS HANCOCK as PAUL MORROW
CLIFTON JONES as DAVID KANO
ZIENIA MERTON as SANDRA BENES
ANTON PHILLIPS as DR. MATHIAS
NICK TATE as ALAN CARTER
Episodes are in production order.
