One Moment of Humanity
"One Moment of Humanity" is the third episode of the second series of Space: 1999 (and the twenty-seventh overall episode of the programme). The screenplay was written by Tony Barwick; the director was Charles Crichton. The original title was "One Second of Humanity". The final shooting script is dated 12 February 1976. Live-action filming took place Thursday 4 March 1976 through Wednesday 17 March 1976. Story It is 515 days after leaving Earth orbit, and Helena Russell and Maya are preparing for a formal party to be held the next evening. Each models the gowns they have selected to wear. Helena suggests to Maya a different hairstyle might be more appealing to would-be suitor Tony Verdeschi; the Psychon woman uses her power of molecular transformation to instantly produce a new coiffure. Their fun is interrupted by the red-alert klaxon. By the time the senior staff has gathered in Command Centre, what started as a minor malfunction in the main electronics has grown into a cascading systems failure. Alpha experiences complete life-support malfunction, then a total power loss. A strange atmosphere pervades Command Centre. The staff is overcome first by a wave of lightheadedness, then rendered completely immobile. The eerie stillness is broken by a flare of energy, from which materialises a striking humanoid female. She wanders among the involuntary tableau vivant, singling out Helena and Verdeschi. They, like the rest, were affected by vertigo when falling under the alien power—and were supporting each other when frozen in place. Presuming them to be lovers locked in an amorous embrace, she is satisfied with her discovery. John Koenig revives first and confronts the intruder. She assures him his people are fine and, with a nod, releases them from their paralysis. After identifying herself as Zamara of the planet Vega, she declares the Moon has intruded upon her people's sphere of influence. Koenig explains the incursion is by accident and without hostile intent. She tells them Moonbase Alpha is being held in an electro force-field, which is not only suppressing their power but can immobilise their voluntary nervous systems. Permitting them forty-eight hours of minimal life-support, Zamara haughtily announces two Alphans are required to return with her to Vega for an undisclosed purpose. Koenig protests and is immobilised by the Vegan woman. She selects the 'lovers' Verdeschi and Helena to accompany her. They will travel via positronic transfer; all they have to do is wish it. After some initial hesitation, they concentrate—and instantly find themselves standing in a spacious indoor garden on Vega. Verdeschi looks out a frost-rimed window at a desolate snowscape. Caressing his torso, Zamara informs him the temperature outside is always sub-zero and the atmosphere almost too thin to support life. Within the city, they will find all they desire. As Helena wanders amid the foliage, she is startled by a being with an immobile plastic face wearing a hooded grey coverall with the numeral '8' on the chest. She then becomes aware of a well-built, arrogant male devouring her