Episode Guide: Year Two
Title: "The Lambda Factor"
Within this page: Overview | Backplot | Plot Synopsis | Unanswered Questions | Analyses/Observations | Comments | Memorable Lines
Overview
Paranormal mental powers increase in some Alphans, following base-wide exposure to lambda wave radiation. And in one Alphan's case, "absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Production Number: 017 (Season Two)
Original U.K. airing week: 23 December 1976 (ATV Midlands)
Original U.S. airing week: 24 December 1976 (syndication)
Written by Terrance Dicks
Directed by Charles Crichton
Backplot
- In the year 1999, lunar nuclear waste storage dumps have exploded, due to magnetic radiation, sending Earth's moon into interstellar space. The inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha, unable to escape, are seeking a new home.
Plot Synopsis
(From the original ITC Press Release.)
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A pretty, young Alpha technician dies a horrible and unexplained death. Dr. Russell's experiments reveal that one of the crew is possessed of paranormal mental powers and is trying to take control of the Moonbase...
Crossing an area of deep space, Moonbase Alpha should be enjoying a trouble-free time. But there are some annoying little disturbances for which there seems to be no explanation - minor instrument malfunctions and a few cases of indiscipline. And suddenly, a major tragedy - a pretty, young Medical Technician, Sally (LYDIA LISLE) dies a violent death in inexplicable circumstances.
Further disturbances arise among the crew and Commander Koenig (MARTIN LANDAU) is assailed by terrible nightmares. An autopsy reveals that Sally was killed by some monstrous force but Dr. Helena Russell (BARBARA BAIN) has no clue as to what it was. Security Officer Tony Verdeschi (TONY ANHOLT) starts an investigation and question Mark Sanders (JESS CONRAD) and Carolyn Powell (DEBORAH FALLENDER). Mark was engaged to Sally, but they parted and Mark took up with Carolyn. Both admit to the friction that followed, but deny any suggestion that they had a hand in Sally's death. Carolyn confirms that she is experimenting with some sort of pressure device but states that she hasn't achieved any results as yet. Maya (CATHERINE SCHELL) isn't so sure.
When Alan Carter (NICK TATE) reports that three-quarters of his Eagles are non-operational, sabotage is immediately suspected. Alan is checking things out when an atomic motor switches itself on. He turns it off but the motor just increases it's power until it is approaching danger level. Alan now hits the alarm button but nothing happens, so he tries desperately to wrench the power cable from the machine, but hasn't the strength. He runs to the door, but it won't open...
Alan's frantic hammering is heard by Tony and Maya, who transforms into a gorilla, breaks down the door and pulls out the power cable. In her room, Carolyn stares at her reflection in her mirror and begs the terrible power that has suddenly overcome her to go away...
For some time a large, gaseous cloud has appeared on the monitor screen -- and Moonbase Alpha is now right in the middle of it. Maya reports that her sensors are picking up Lambda waves and Helena, realising that these waves could affect certain people - giving them paranormal mental powers - decides to conduct some experiments.
Meanwhile, Commander Koenig is beset by his awful nightmares again and when Helena visits him in his quarters he is very much below par. She reports that some Alpha members, when tested, show a huge increase in paranormal powers and that one of them is Carolyn. Koenig is impressed but lost in his own problem - tells Helena how, long ago, he had to leave two colleagues to die on Venus. It is these friends, Sam and Tessa, who how haunt him in his dreams.
Upset by Sally's death, Mark tells Carolyn that he is convinced that she had something to do with it and that he can no longer continue their relationship. As he walks away, Carolyn's terrible power comes into play and Mark is crushed to death, just like his former fiancée.
When Mark is found, Tony immediately suspects Carolyn, but Helena asks to be allowed one more set of experiments. Carolyn breezes through them, succeeding where the others have failed. utterly convinced now, Tony tries to arrest her but she escapes to the command Centre and, using her extraordinary powers, takes control of Moonbase Alpha!
But now Koenig has beaten his nightmares with the help of Helena, who senses that he is the only one with paranormal power equal to Carolyn's. Together they go to the Command Centre where Koenig pits his mind against Carolyn's in a merciless mental battle that will decide the future of the Moonbase and its inhabitants...
"SPACE 1999" - SERIES II
CAST LIST
EPISODE NO. 17- "THE LAMDA FACTOR"
DIRECTOR: CHARLES CRICHTON
KOENIG - MARTIN LANDAU
HELENA - BARBARA BAIN
MAYA - CATHERINE SCHELL
VERDESCHI - TONY ANHOLT
CARTER - NICK TATE
SAHN - ZIENIA MERTON
CAROLYN POWELL - DEBORAH FALLENDER
MARK SANDERS - JESS CONRAD
GEORGE CRATO - ANTHONY STAMBOULIEH
CARL RENTON - MICHAEL WALKER
PETER GARFORTH - GREGORY de POLNAY
SALLY MARTIN - LYDIA LISLE
TESSA - LUCINDA CURTIS
SAM - DALLAS ADAMS
Unanswered Questions
Analyses/Observations
Comments
- Helena Russell uses the injector gun from the previous episode, "The Beta Cloud," to scan John Koenig in his quarters.
Memorable Lines
"You killed me, John Koenig. You left me to die." - Tessa
"No. That's the lambda variant. That's very strange. Normally the human brain swings between alpha waves and beta waves. But sometimes lambda waves are thrown off. Rarely, very rarely, the lambda variant. It was discovered during research on E.S.P. and other paranormal powers of the human mind. If that thing is sending off the lambda variant..." - Helena Russell
"You've changed, Carolyn. Something's different about you. I don't know what it is. I'm sorry." - Mark Sanders
"I command Alpha. Call me Commander." - Carolyn Powell
"Yes, you keep bringing them back. You keep punishing yourself for something you think they blame you for." - Helena Russell
"Your ghosts hate you. Your ghosts are a creation of your own mind." - Helena Russell
"John. Face your guilt. Your guilt is creating these ghosts. Face them, John!" - Helena Russell
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