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Scene from 'The Infernal Machine'  

Episode Guide: Year One

Title: "The Infernal Machine"

Within this page: Overview | Backplot | Plot Synopsis | Unanswered Questions | Analyses/Observations | Comments | Memorable Lines



Overview

A huge "living" spacecraft approaches Moonbase Alpha, trapping crewmembers aboard.

Production Number: 021 (Season One)
    - filmed Friday, December 20 - Tuesday, December 24, 1974; Monday, December 30 - Tuesday, December 31, 1974; and Thursday, January 2 - Thursday, January 9, 1975

Original U.K. airing week: 8 January 1976 (ATV Midlands)
Original U.S. airing week: 13 February 1976 (syndication)
Written by Anthony Terpiloff and Elizabeth Barrows
Directed by David Tomblin

Backplot

Plot Synopsis

(From the original ITC Press Release.)

From 'The Infernal Machine'
From 'The Infernal Machine'
From 'The Infernal Machine'
From 'The Infernal Machine'
From 'The Infernal Machine'

View additional images
from the episode,
"The Infernal Machine."

Machine or man? Alpha encounters one of the strangest mysteries of the universe - a living machine.

The strangest object over seen by man appears in the space sky. A huge spacecraft of some sort, but breaking every known law of aerospace propulsion. From it comes a voice. It is friendly, but appealing for help and for permission to land and, when given this permission, requesting a delegation and naming Commander Koenig (MARTIN LANDAU), Dr. Helena Russell (BARBARA BAIN) and Professor Bergman (BARRY MORSE).

Admitted to the craft, they find themselves in a room which is half a globe in shape with a floor kept level by gyroscopic action. As they stare at the complex mechanism all around them, they are probed by an intense ray of light. Lying on a couch is an extraordinarily ancient man (LEO McKERN) looking almost dead except for his bright and searching eyes. He introduces himself as "Companion" and addresses the mysterious voice as "Gwent". Everything, it seems, is Gwent. The whole machine is Gwent. Gwent is the machine. And the reasons for his approach to Alpha is to be found in a long list of urgent requirements.

His relationship with Companion is one of affection and bantering, cynical criticism. Companion tells his visitors "I have always been his Companion, I've grown old in his service. Companions die, but Gwent goes on. Forever."

Gwent dismisses Helena's appeal for Companion to be taken to Alpha for treatment: he is obviously desperately ill, but still loyal to his master. And he dies. Gwent is immediately beside himself with rage and sorrow, and back on Alpha they see the machine rise and twist in what seems to be agonized contortions.

Koenig and Helena are then told that they will have to take the place of Companion. They are helplessly in Gwent's grip until Koenig realizes that Gwent possesses the equivalent of all the senses except for sight and that, because his energy is running out, he is weakening. Attempts to attack the machine from Alpha are repelled, and there is no alternative, but for the essential supplies to be delivered. But by deliverately smashing a vital component, Koenig weakens Gwent even more and at last learns from the man-machine that he comes from a planet on which he was a scientist and has built this machine as an extension of himself, programming his entire personality into it, combining it with the superior ability of a computer's brain, all the might and power of such a machine. It has eventually taken him over completely.

The final battle of wits and determination between the Alphans and Gwent is launched.

SCREENPLAY BY
ANTHONY TERPILOFF
ELIZABETH BARROWS

DIRECTED BY DAVID TOMBLIN

Guest Star
LEO McKERN

with
CLIFTON JONES as DAVID KANO
ZIENIA MERTON as SANDRA BENES
NICK TATE as ALAN CARTER
GARY WALDHORN as WINTERS

Unanswered Questions

Analyses/Observations

This episode marked the first (and only) appearance of Moonbase Alpha's laser-armed tanks.

Comments

Memorable Lines

"Good day, dear friends. I wouldn't intrude, but I rather need your immediate help." - Gwent

"Show some compassion, Alan." - Winters   "Survival first, brotherhood after." - Alan Carter

"Oh, please. Please, don't anger him. Please. Call him... Gwent." - Companion

"Are you counting the costs, Commander?" - Gwent   "To both of us, Gwent." - John Koenig

"We're willing to risk our lives to stop you!" - Victor Bergman

"Gwent giveth." "And Gwent taketh away." - Gwent

"Oh, my dear Gwent. You were wrong from the beginning. To attempt to preserve one's personality is the ultimate vanity." - Victor Bergman   "Yes... yes... you are right. It was vanity. The first and last of all sins. I would like... to thank you. I welcome my release." - Gwent

 

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Moonbase Alpha
Commander John Koenig
Dr. Helena Russell
Professor Victor Bergman
Alan Carter
Controller Paul Morrow