RAB'S REVIEWS (PART 2)

It will disintegrate upon contact with the energy Barrier, it will end SIGMA and all similar projects to come, the creatures of your planet are not yet ready for space." John replies, "Who are you to decide." Van answers, "We have only your best interests at heart, in the realm of outer space you are only children and it is disastrous for children to enter areas where they have little understanding, John I can offer you the opportunity of joining us." John replies, "You can go to Hell!, I was born a human, and I'll die one, before I join a race that kills innocent people for abstract ideas." Van replies, "Abstract ideas, very well, you've made your decision, one I'm certain you'll deeply regret, for only death remains." Van puts his hand over John's chest, a high pitched tone is heard, John collapses into Van's arms, he puts him on the floor, just as Cybill enters, she sees John on the floor, she kneels down to John, Van says, "He couldn't stand the acceleration, I knew he should have stayed behind." Van leaves and goes to the control room and makes an announcement, "this is the Captain speaking, we have successively completed the first phase of our mission, and I wish to congratulate all members of the crew, I can now reveal the plan by which we can overcome the cosmic accumulations which have destroyed all of our previous manned satellites, the plan consists of 2 steps, step 1 has already been accomplished, this called for a Blast velocity of 1000 times that of our previous satellites, a force which has carried us into an orbit far beyond the moon, at our present velocity, this cosmic mass if encountered will act as a solid impenetrable wall, however at the first indication of this mass, the SIGMA BARRIER as we call it, we will put into operation the 2nd step of our plan, which varies according to necessity, if at this time we have accumulated enough solar energy for 750 miles per second, we shall be able to blast through the barrier,so doing destroying it, (Dave finds Cybill who is watching Van on the monitor) should the barrier appear before this, we shall take immediate action to avoid it." Cybill asks Dave, "What are you doing here, you should be in operations," Van continues, "I regret to inform you, there has been one casualty, Astronautical engineer John Compo was found dead apparently the result of Blast Acceleration, all hands not on duty will attend the space funeral at 14:00 hours." Dave says, "Cybill I've got to talk to you, it's about Van, he's not human." Cybill says, "Huh!, Dave don't be ridiculous." Dave replies, "I saw him split in two, he's been seen in two places at the same time." (Van has entered the room and hears this) He says, "Why are you not at your post." Dave snarls, "What happened to Jonny, did you kill him." Van answers, "We are now in outer space with one man dead, and I can't afford to loose another by confining you to quarters, so I'm giving you another chance, we'll say no more about your accusation, but I warn you, get out of line just once more and I'll take the necessary measures, I'll remind you, I'm the Captain of this ship and Astro-planetry log gives me supreme and unquestioned command, do I make myself clear." Dave says, "Yes!" and leaves. Cybill remarks, "Van please forgive him, we've all been under a great strain." Van replies, "there's no room for personal feelings on this mission, for his sake he'd better straighten himself out."

Sci-fier savour this outer space 'Shot' of the satellite passing over the Earth, great close-up work, inside John's funeral takes place. Van and a few other crew men stand alongside Van, Jonny's body is wrapped in plastic. Van speaks, "this is a sad thing we must perform, to say good-bye to a brave and beloved crewman, we must think of him as one who gave his life in a noble endeavour, the salvation of the human race. Dave and the Doctor enter a private room, the Dr says, "I feel it's all my fault, I never should have 'checked' the kid out." Dave replies, "You said there is nothing physically wrong with him." Doctor answers, "that's the curious thing, I was extra cautious, I double checked every test, there's just no reason he should have died from the same acceleration we all took, his training record was better than most." Dave replies, "He was murdered." "Murdered," repeats the doctor. Dave says, "Jonny knew something dangerous, something he shouldn't have known, and he was killed for it." Van commends John's body to the depths of space. John's body is dropped into a hatch in the floor. Some remarkable 'shots' as John's body is jettisoned into space. Dave says to the doctor, "Haven't you noticed Van's face there's something different about it, I can show you what I mean." Dave puts his employee identity card on the table and holds a small mirror across his I.D. photo, the Dr says, "Well that means nothing Dave everybody's face is slightly asymmetrical." Dave says, "Yes! but not Van's, I've been watching it, here's something else," the Dr gets a magnifying glass, Cybill enters the room, "I'd like you to see this Cybill." says Dave. Cybill replies, "Dave! you're disobeying orders." Dave answers, "Orders from Van, don't you realize he's trying to destroy us all." Dave inspects a card with Van's fingerprints on it and says, "they're identical, mirror images." Cybill asks, "What does that mean." Dave says, "What I've been trying to tell you, it's not Van, it's true I saw Van's car it was burnt to a crisp, all but the license plates, I checked those out, Van died in that car, this man is a substitute, a copy of the real Van." Cybill says, "You don't expect me to believe that fantastic nonsense." Dave replies, "Is it fantastic, that there's intelligence out there, that stops at nothing to keep us quarantined on our own planet, is the SIGMA barrier fantastic, they've destroyed every ship we've sent up, and now through him they mean to destroy this one, could those prints lie." The Dr speaks, "You know ever since his accident, Van has always given me an excuse to stop me from giving him a routine check up, I haven't even checked his heart." Dave says, "It's quite possible he doesn't have one." the Doc replies, "Well I'll find out, and we'll know for sure." he leaves. Van is sitting at his instrument panel, the Doctor (Howard) enters and says, "Well it's time for you're check up, I have to check you're heart, it has to go on the report." Van replies, "I'm in perfect health and you know it." Howard answers, "You fellows read the instruments, it's up to me to read the human being." Suddenly a mysterious 'BLOB' appears on the screen in the control room, and Van is called to the control room urgent, Van says, "I guess we'll have to put it of Huh!." Howard says, "No! No! I'll wait." Van says, "All-right I'll be back as soon as I can." he leaves. Van enters the control room and is informed, "the dials are acting up!." Van says, "It could be cosmic 'DUST' keep you're eye on it, if it continues to build call me." he leaves and before he returns to a waiting Howard, he enters another room where he is alone. He stands rigidly to attention, puts his hands on his chest, takes a deep breath, and slowly we begin to hear a heartbeat, he exits the room and meets Cybill who says, "Captain!" Van says, "Do you have to be so formal." Cybill replies, "I'm sorry," Van says, "Well I'm a little hurt, I thought we knew each other better, I've been wanting to talk to you, about Us," Cybill replies, "Of course Captain, I'm in the middle of a computation." Van says, "Half an hour then," Cybill nods and leaves. Van returns to a waiting Howard and says, "All-right! Dr you wanted to listen to my heart, proceed, I have work to do." Howard 'dons' his stethoscope and listens to Van's heart, Van says, "You know, I might almost believe you, though I didn't have the heart." Howard answers, "everybody has a heart." Van replies, "The Boy Dave put you up to this I suppose, quite typical of the childish mind, I'm sorry Howard, but I have no more time to waste." Howard asks, "What do you mean?" Van replies, "your a man of science what would you do if a guinea pig got out of control and threatened to ruin one of your experiments." Van is forcing Howard to retreat backwards. "I don't understand," he says. Van says, "Jonny didn't understand either." Van puts his hand on Howard's chest, who says, "What's this!!" Suddenly Van clutches Howard by the throat, and begins to strangle him. Howard tries to free himself, but Van is to strong, Howard falls to the ground Dead. Van leaves the room and meets two crew members he says, "I'm issuing an order for the arrest of one of the crew, I've discovered that John Compo did not die of natural causes he was murdered, I want staff engineer Dave Boy brought to my quarters immediately, you can use force if necessary." The crew men say "Yes Sir! and go." Dave and Cybill are talking, Cybill says, "I just saw Van, he seems so strange, I don't know what to think any more, maybe you're right Dave." Dave speaks,"I know I'm right, I've got to stop him somehow, I'm going after Van, you go to the Doctor, I don't want you here alone." The crewmen enter and arrest Dave who asks, "What for!" A crewman pulls a Gun and says, "No Questions!, lets go." they take Dave at Gunpoint. Meanwhile Van has brought Howard's body back to the Space lock to dispose of him into outer space, Van makes ready the air lock to jettison Howard's body, back at the control room a crewman notices that the gauges are going 'higher than normal' they think they should call Van, but decide it's only cosmic dust interference. Cybill enters the air lock room and sees Van 'tipping' Howard's body into the jettison chamber, Van 'spots' her, Cybill runs away through the corridors, Van jettisons Howard's body and gives chase. Cybill goes into the Solar energy room, Van is outside and calls, "Cybill I just want to talk to you." He forces the door open and enters saying, "I just want to talk to you Cybill." Cybill moves backwards. Meanwhile Dave is being escorted at gunpoint by the crewmen who arrested him, he turns quickly and 'Chops' one, and knocks the other one 'Out' with a punch, he lifts the gun. Van is being very menacing towards Cybill, he says, "I had no choice, I couldn't permit him to endanger the ship, please listen to me." Cybill says, "Yes!," Van continues, "I'm human now Cybill, I need you." A voice on the intercom declares, "Captain the prisoner has escaped." Van orders, "Alert all Hands."

Back on earth Scientists are watching the progress of the satellite on their flat screen T.V. it has reached sector H9 and the 'barrier' is in sector H12. A scientist says, "They're heading for it." The reply is, "the barrier is forming where the satellite is bound to travel, but Van knows what he's doing, he'll avoid it." the answer is, "Lets hope so, at least this time, lets hope so. Back on the satellite Dave is making his way through the corridors, gun ready. A voice on the intercom says, "Seize the prisoner at all costs," Van tells Cybill, "I'm sorry, but there's no alternative." he tries to take hold of her, she moves away. Again a voice on the intercom says, "Astrogater to Captain!, Astrogater to Captain!." Van touches a little switch on his neck, which allows him to reply, "Captain speaking." The Astrogater says, "Magneto Nebula cloud Mass forming dead ahead." (We see this on the screen..brill!), "Alpha contraction is building to critical point, expect SIGMA barrier." Van says, " Cybill I...." the astrogaters voice is heard again, "Captain SIGMA barrier dead ahead, we're bearing down rapidly, awaiting orders, repeat awaiting orders." Van replies, "Remain on course." The Astrogaters say, "remain on course...whats the matter with old Iron pants," The co-Astrogater replies, "I don't know, but if he don't get out a ball, this 3 million dollar balloon is gonna go bust, not only that, we're in it." Van repeats, "Remain on course." Cybill watches Van, she sees him split into 2 beings (2 Vans) one of the Entity's leaves, the other Van says, "cybill I want you to understand..." Cybill cries, "You're not human, who are you, what are you." Van says, "What am I, why I'm human, it's because of you I'm human." The (split) Van makes his way through the corridors, Dave 'spots' him, (split) Van goes into the computer room and announces, "Captain to Astrogater, readings are approaching mass." the Astrogater says, "It's about time, Alpha 102, Beta 107, Gamma 208, Thermo 477, Radiation 862, mass in quantum 39 (love it) estimate collision course, collision estimate 5 minutes." (Split) Van says, "Activate Plan B." Dave enters the room, he points the Gun and says, "Reverse that order, you'll destroy the ship." (split) Van says, "Don't be a fool you can't hurt me with that." So Dave shoots him, Van looks at his hand, it's covered in blood. Back at (original) Van who is with Cybill, he looks at his hand, it's covered in blood also. The Astrogaters see the barrier dead ahead, they pull a switch which seems to slow the ship down. Dave is still pointing the gun at (split) Van saying, "You've gotta be stopped." Van throws some papers at Dave and attacks him, a fight ensues, the Astrogaters report, "Radiation up, Alpha Beta and Gamma up we're deaccelerating," his buddy says, "We're just following orders,ours is but to do or die." The fight continues between Dave and Van, Dave finds the Gun again and shoots Van 3 times, Van falls to the ground. (original) Van is about to strangle Cybill who cries, "Dave!," she faints, (original) Van falls to the ground also. Dave takes the communicator from (split) Van's neck and says, "Reverse last order, ditch Plan B, activate Plan A." the Astrogaters respond, "Activating Plan A." Dave continues, "Secure all hands prepare to Blast!," The Astrogaters reassure each other, "Now that's more like it," his co-operator replies, "Hang on boy, we 'aint out of the woods yet!" Dave leaves, and we see (split) Van slowly de-materialize, and the (original) Van who is on the floor with Cybill de-materializes also. The Astrogaters are under a lot of pressure, one says, "Start burning that sunlight," his buddy turns the 'solar energy accumulator' knob up, but unbeknowist to him, Cybill lies unconscious beside the solar accumulator, she is in great danger, as the accumulator burns of it's energy. Hallucinative strobing negitive images, tell us Cybill is about to die horribily.....Wait!!! Dave is rushing through the ships corridors, he stops at a monitor, and switches through different locations on the ship, untill he sees Cybill, Dave now knows where she is. An Astrogater announces, "all hands secure for Blast." Dave reaches the solar energy room, he Bursts in, lifts Cybill in his arms, and carries her to safety. The Astrogaters get ready for 'BLAST', Dave straps Cybill into her 'Blast couch', the countdown continues, 5-4-3-2-1, Dave and Cybill hold hands...BLAST!!!, spectacular astronomical animate takes over, visual entertainment at it's best, as the ship passes into the Barrier, (nail biting stuff) as we hear the sound of someone using an arc welder in the background.

On Earth a watching scientist says, "they've dissapered they're destroyed." another replies, "I'm not so sure Hodge, we can still hear the solar Blast, LOOK!!" the ship passes through the barrier unscathed. The scientists recieve a message from the ship, "SIGMA calling!! Sigma Calling!! do you want satellite control, do you read me." A scientist lifts the 'Mike' and says, "U.N.S.C. calling SIGMA we read you, we read you SIGMA!!!" Dave replies, "We are passing through Andromeda at the speed of light, we've made it!!!!, the whole Universe is our new frontier." Nothing is left to the Imagination as we 'Zoom-in' to the magnificence of the great spiral galaxy Andromada, the 'heart' flutters, as galaxy after galaxy passes by at light speed, along with Nebula and everything interstellar, (boy is this ship travelling), Impressive intergalatic special effects, (planets 'dangling' on string) 'Zip' past, an animated Earth appears, as the ship with it's heroic crew hurtle towards it homeward, the music is 'obbligato' heart stoppingly exciting, Yes! it's over folks!!..Wow!!..What a picture!!

Finally, I would like to give a big 'Thank you' to everyone involved in the making of this Masterpiece, script writers, character actors and performers, production team, musicians and composers, designers, animators, artists, inventors, camera men, labourers, tea boy, sweepers...ect, I feel I'm Indepted to you.

Sleep well tonight Sci-Fier...Cheers! RAB.

Done