All language subtitles for S02E17 - The Lamba Factor

'Moonbase Alpha
status report,

'2,308 days after leaving Earth.
Dr Helena Russell recording.'

We're travelling
through an area of deep space

which we have named the Peace Zone.

No nearby stars, no space storms,
no possible dangers of any kind.

All should be well on Alpha,
but it isn't.

We're troubled by sporadic
disturbances and petty irritations.

One of these irritations has to do
with the matter of discipline.

Medical technician, Sally Martin,
has repeatedly failed

to complete her stores inventory.

As a result,

she's been ordered to complete this
work during her recreation period.

3.25 grams. And Dr Helena Russell
is a hard-hearted witch.

Erase that.

'You killed me, John Koenig.

'You left me to die.

'You killed me...

'You killed me.

'You killed me.'

Yes, Helena?

John, come to Medical immediately.
We have a casualty.

Be right there.

What kind of force did that to her?

The same kind that did this.

- It's not a laser cut.
- No, it's too jagged.

- Must've been ripped out.
- Did you check perimeter defences?

Yeah. Nothing broke in or left.

Something got in!
May still be here. What killed her?

You might have an idea.

Not at this stage.
I have to conduct an autopsy.

Why don't you? Tony, I want
a complete dossier on the girl.

- Get it to me as soon as you can.
- Yes, sir

I don't know.
It just doesn't make sense.

- Still getting malfunctions?
- Minor bugs, false signals, ghosts.

Just get rid of those bugs, OK?

- Commander?
- Yeah?

I think I may have found our problem.

What is it?

Some sort of space phenomenon.
I'm not sure what.

It's filled with...
electrically-charged particles.

Is that the best you can do?

They seem to be
affecting our sensors.

All the sensors?

No, but I assume we'll get more
malfunctions as we get closer.

It's pulsing at a fairly low level.

- It's too slight to harm anyone.
- Another assumption?

I can only go by my instruments.

I assume they are less fallible
in their read-outs than humans.

Mate.

I won!

- You did it again.
- Just luck, George.

- Let's call it a day.
- Sit down!

- That makes 17 games, Carl.
- Just a lucky streak.

This is a game of chance, right?

Sometimes I win, sometimes you win.
Only mostly I win.

How come I don't win anymore?

I'd just as soon stop.
I'm due back on shift soon.

Oh, no. One more!

I want to know more
about this lucky streak of yours.

I want to see how long it goes on.

- George, please.
- One more.

Play.

You...punk!

You lousy two-bit cheat!
You've been cheating...!

- Easy, George.
- Break it up.

Right, what's all the noise about?

He thinks I was cheating.
It sounds crazy, but I can't lose.

Oh, boy! You better
stay out of games of chance.

You're too lucky for your own good.

As for you, if you can't take
losing, don't play. Now, get lost.

You were really brave.

- Sorry to interrupt you guys.
- Hi, Tone.

Look, I hate to lay it on you
just straight like this, but...

Sally Martin is dead.

- Oh, no.
- Sally, dead?

Yeah.

We heard there'd been an accident.
But no one knew the full story.

No one knows the full story...yet.

The Commander wants to ask you both
a few questions. Maybe you can help.

Sure. Anything?

How did Sally die, Tony?

No cuts or bruises. No blast burns.

No sign that any weapon
at all was used.

But her body
was shattered internally.

John. I have Mark Sanders
and Carolyn Powell outside.

Let's talk to them separately,
Sanders first.

I'll check these findings
with the lab.

- Mark, sit down.
- Thank you, sir.

I'm pretty shaken up
over what's happened.

Yes, so are all of us.

Whatever I can do to help.

Mark, you and Sally. There was talk
that you were getting married.

- But you split up.
- Why?

That's a little personal,
don't you think?

Yes, it is. But our circumstances
are unusual, to say the least.

And we have to find answers.

All right. Where were you
when Sally was in Medical Stores?

I was in Carolyn's quarters.

Because, let's say,
Sally and I had our differences.

Picking up where Sally left off?

That's my business.

And security on Alpha
is my personal business, OK?

Now...

word was
that Sally went around saying

some un-ladylike things
about you after you broke up.

Are you trying to tell me
I killed Sally just to shut her up?

You said that, not me.

I'll admit
I was jealous of Sally.

But I did nothing
to get her away from Mark.

When he began seeing me,
she was furious,

and left the quarters
we'd been sharing.

- She blamed you for the break-up?
- I tried to explain,

but she wouldn't listen.

We had a terrible fight over it.

Carolyn, we picked up rumours

that...you weren't
particularly fond of Sally.

I didn't hate her,

but sometimes I wished she was dead
so Mark could be free.

I didn't kill her
and I don't know who did.

You're experimenting
on something in the labs.

- Yes.
- You haven't submitted reports yet.

I have an open-end priority
on research.

I don't have to meet
the Science Board until I'm ready.

Just exactly what results
are you hoping for?

Frankly, I don't know.
I'm just experimenting.

And now, if the harassment's
complete... May I go?

Yeah.

Well?

If she's perfected a device that can
exert tremendous internal pressure...

She's too smart
to do something so stupid.

Nobody ever accused a jealous woman
of being rational in love.

Only jealous men are rational?

She's holding back... I can feel it.

Tony, don't let prejudice
cloud your reasoning.

Yeah, well, that goes with my
being head of security, Commander.

Did you hear from Alan?
75% of Eagles are non-operational.

- I saw that.
- Sabotage?

Could be. Alan's checking it.

What gives you the right
to touch this device?

Murder. I would like
this device explained to me!

I don't have to explain
until I've completed this experiment.

You said that.
I'm not the Science Board.

No. Just the one trying
to humiliate me with your evil ideas!

- Why don't you just leave me alone?!
- Oh, I will, baby,

if you'll tell me about
the principle of this device!

Questions like,
"can it commit murder?" Is that it?

Is that it?!
Well, here's your answer!

Stop that! I said stop that!

Now you can't blame the device
for the next murder.

- Are you expecting the next murder?
- Aren't you?

I've worked with Eagles all my life.
I'd sooner cut my granny's throat.

It's on record.

Every time a job's come through
you we've had a malfunction.

I'd be risking my own neck.

I'm an Eagle test pilot
as well as an engineer.

- You were grounded after your crash.
- That was nothing.

- What, no after-effects?
- No.

I was cleared by Doc Russell.
I'm fully operational. You know that.

Well, if it's not you, what is it?

I swear, I don't know.

Have a look at this.

One starboard atomic booster motor
in 100% perfect condition.

On the bench...
she runs like a dream.

In the Eagle...she's dead.

So I take her out of the Eagle, put
her back on the bench and test her.

There's nothing wrong.
So you tell me what's happening.

Chief Engineer Garforth.

'Report to Maintenance
please. Urgent!'

They're playing my song.
I've gotta go.

I have to report
to the Commander myself.

- See you.
- Yeah.

Command Center!

Command Center!

The electrical pulse
is getting stronger.

Computer read-out?

Nothing like it
has ever been recorded.

It could be a life form,
couldn't it?!

Who knows? Our sensors
can't give us a proper reading.

- 'Maintenance.'
- Send Alan Carter down.

'He was in my workshop.
Said he was coming to you.

- 'Didn't he get there?'
- No. Thanks, Pete.

If that thing
might be affecting our sensors

and the instruments on the Eagles,

it might have something to do
with what happened to Sally.

It's remote...but possible.

Tony, you and Maya go to Medical.
Check on those autopsy reports.

OK.

Alan! Is that you in there?

Command Center! Command Center!

- Alan!
- Alan, can you hear us?!

- Alan!
- Tony? Get away from the door!

There's an atomic motor
about to go up in here!

Evacuate the area!

We've gotta break in there.

(Roaring

- Hey, still in one piece?
- Yeah.

Oh. Maya,
you sure play rough, honey.

What the hell went wrong this time?

Well...

I had the motor switched off,

and it came on again by itself.
No matter how I tried,

I just couldn't get it to go off.
Even the connections were seized.

Yeah, well, I'd call that sabotage.

Some unknown force kills Sally.

Instruments go haywire,
Eagles malfunction.

An atomic engine starts
by itself and won't stop.

All of this has happened
since the appearance of that thing.

Commander...

I'm getting new readings.

Lambda waves,

Or something very like them.

- Lambda waves?
- No, that's the lambda variant.

That's...very strange.

Normally, the human brain swings
between alpha waves and beta waves.

Sometimes lambda waves
are thrown off.

Rarely, very rarely,
the lambda variant.

It was discovered
during research on ESP powers.

If it is sending off
the lambda variant...

It could affect our people?

- Oh, yes. It could.
- How do we find out?

Well, I could conduct
some experiments.

All right, go ahead.

Right.

Lambda waves...

Mark, sit down.

Now, just relax.

Each of these cards
has a symbol on it

a triangle, square,
circle, cross, stars.

I want you...to tell me...

- How? I can't see the cards.
- Exactly.

Oh, I see

Well, it beats me,
but whatever you say. Cross.

Another cross?

Circle.

I have to move the ball
without touching the box?

That's right.

- How?
- It's easy. Just by concentrating.

Very good, Mr Renton.

I can tell you now,
this is not gonna work.

I'm an engineer and I know metals.

To bend this strip,
you need a vice and a wrench.

There's no way I'll affect this by...

Mark... I was waiting for you.

Yeah, I'm sorry, I got tied up.
Anyway, I knew I'd see you here.

- I've got to talk to you.
- Sure.

- We're doing these tests now.
- I've got to talk to you.

Yes. We'll speak later.

Carolyn. Will you be next, please?

It would be a pleasure, Dr Russell.

'You killed us, John Koenig...

'You killed us, John Koenig...

'You left us to die.'

No. No, no.

No, no, no.

- 'You left us to rot.'
- No.

'With Venusian plague.'

'You left us to rot.'

No!

John? I know it's late, but...

Come on in. I wasn't asleep.

I've got the preliminary
test results. They're fantastic.

Over 90% of subjects tested
showed a significant increase

- in paranormal powers.
- They do?

There are three groups.
The first shows a minimal increase.

The second, the largest group,

show a large increase
over a wide range.

- John?
- Go on - I'm listening.

The third group - here's where
the results get exciting -

I call them "the sensitives".

I've found three so far -
Carolyn Powell,

Carl Renton and Pete Garforth.

Look, John,
you need a good night's sleep.

- Take two of these...
- No. No.

John?

Helena...
do you think the lambda variant

could have anything to do
with the way I'm feeling?

I don't know that,
but I know you need some sleep.

I can't sleep.

That's why I want you to take these.

Helena...I'm afraid to sleep.

What is it, John?

Tell me.

I told you part of it.

A long time ago,
when I was an astronaut cadet,

we had to abandon some scientists
on a Venus space station.

I remember. You said
they caught some Venusian disease.

Yeah. Something for which
there was there was no antidote.

We couldn't bring that disease
back to Earth,

an epidemic would've killed
millions of people.

Before we discovered the disease...

two of our crew were on that
space station - an advance party.

Sam and Tessa.

We left them to die with the others.

There was no choice.

And now...every time
I close my eyes, I...

I see them standing there,
accusing me.

It's a dream, John.
Just a recurring dream.

Helena, Sam was my best friend.

We went through
astronaut school together.

He and Tessa were gonna be married.

You did what you had to do.

Don't you think
I keep telling myself that?

- But it doesn't do any good!
- You can't go on without sleep.

You'll begin hallucinating
and break down completely.

If I DO go to sleep, I'll go mad!

That's an interesting problem,
isn't it, Dr Russell?

How do I command
this base if I'm losing my mind?

What happened about that test
Helena was conducting?

Very interesting
but nothing definitive.

What is this thing?

It's a force field,
to block out the lambda variant.

Good.
That'll upset that whirligig thing.

This could point to the killer.

Whoever still emits
the lambda variant in here,

could be involved in Sally's death.

Mark! I need you so badly.

Carolyn,
there's something I must say.

What is it, Mark?

What's the matter?

I've been thinking about us.
Ever since Sally died...

What about ever since Sally died?

I've had a feeling
that you had something to do with it.

How can you say that?

You lied when you said
you didn't try to get me from Sally.

Everything I've done
is because I love you.

- It isn't gonna work.
- You loved me! You said so!

I'm confused about a lot of things,
but not about my feeling for you.

What if I said I needed you?
That I needed you now.

You've changed, Carolyn.
Something's different about you.

I don't know what it is.

I'm sorry.

I'll never let you go.

- No change?
- It's still covering the base

and there's no way to know
if we'll get out of it.

Commander!

Some sudden burst of energy.

Open the door! Open it!

Just like Sally.

That thing didn't do this.
We were watching it.

It was just sitting there,
peaceful and cosy.

Maya's instruments recorded
a tremendous surge of energy

just before this happened.

My vote goes to the human element.
One of Helena's "super sensitives".

- Carolyn?
- First Sally, now Mark.

You name a better suspect.

John, I'd like to
bring her in for questioning.

Can you hold off
until after the next tests?

John, we've got three suspects now.

Let me try to pinpoint it to one.

OK. One more time.

All right, but I wanna be there.

There you go. Now what?

All right. Step in there, please.
Take this with you...

and do exactly the same thing.

That rules him out.

I didn't mean to hurt you, Mark.

I told you I needed you,
but you wouldn't listen.

You walked out of my life.

You might've been able to save me.

But now it's too late.

It's too late for everyone.

That was just fine, Carl.

- Thank you very much.
- I only hope it helps.

- You wanted to see me?
- Yes, Carolyn.

- Please sit down.
- What would you like me to do?

We'd like your help with some tests.

Message from Recreation Centre.
Tests will be concluded in a...

- Commander? What is the matter?
- No...

No!

No! No...!

You can't escape us, John.

We shall always be with you.

You killed us, John Koenig.
You left us to die.

You can't escape us.

No... No...

You can't escape us.

No. No.

That's just fine, Carolyn.
Perfect score, just like last time.

If you'll take that and step into
that booth, please, we'll continue.

All right. Why not?

I'm sorry, Dr Russell,
nothing's happening.

Well, it couldn't have been her.
I'll make my report.

Still, let's not give up.
Let me try harder.

You play a child's game, Doctor.

Did you think
I'd be one of your children?

Thanks, Helena.
Carolyn, you come with us.

Of course I'll come, Tony

Helena, are you all right?

Carolyn?

'Commander Koenig has
locked himself in his quarters.'

Come on.

John?

Stand back.

Emergency medical unit to Commander
Koenig's quarters. Priority one.

Complete catatonic withdrawal.

- Can you bring him out of it?
- With narcosynthesis.

It's old-fashioned,
but the safest and best method.

It allows the mind
to jump barriers that it's built up.

This is a restricted message
to security personnel.

Carolyn Powell
is to be found immediately.

She is extremely dangerous.

- You're out of place, Carolyn.
- You're out of place, Alan.

Your place is in Flight Control.

Carolyn, please...

That would be too easy.

Down on your knees, Mr Verdeschi.

Kneel!

Kneel!

Now I command Alpha.

Call me Commander!

Commander!

- I...murdered...them!
- They were your friends,

they knew you.

They...keep coming back.

Yes, you keep bringing them back.

You keep punishing yourself

for something
you think they blame you for.

They hate me!

Your ghosts hate you.

Your ghosts are a creation
of your own mind.

I see them.

They're coming back again...

- You killed us, John Koenig.
- You left us to die.

I see them...

You left us to rot away
with Venusian plague.

They want me...

John!

- John, look at me!
- No!

- Stop running away!
- No.

Look at me!

John...face your guilt.
Your guilt is creating these ghosts.

Face them, John!

Face them!

Sam...

Tessa...

You're my friends.

I love you.

I left you to die.

But I had to.

You knew that.

You had to know I had no choice.

You had to know. I had to do it!

You're not Sam.

Tessa.

You are not Sam and Tessa!

I am not...

guilty.

John. All right now. All right.
This way. Come on.

Easy. Easy as can be. Come on.

Here we go. It's all right, John.

Now, crawl, Mr Verdeschi.

Crawl.

Crawl to my feet, like a worm.

San!

Ah, Maya.

Amuse us, my little alien friend.

Show us some of your clever tricks.
One or two shape changes?

- No...
- You will!

- No...
- Change!

Change into a monkey!

The results
of the sensitivity tests, John.

- Can you...?
- Yeah, sure. Go ahead.

The tests show that the lambda
variant is acting as a stimulus

to certain aspects of the psyche

of those people
that are in rapport with it.

Carolyn was in rapport, right?

Carolyn and you,
more than any of the others.

Her ESP potential is very powerful.

So that thing out there wasn't
using Carolyn, she was using it?

Not exactly.
It seems to be a two-way process.

Carolyn hated Sally and then Mark.

Her hatred was amplified to the
point that she wished them dead.

She drew power from it
and used that to kill them.

Now...a caterpillar.

Shall I stamp the life out of her?

No!

Please! No!

No! Please! No...

No.

I have a better idea.

Such a pretty creature. So fragile.

It should become
a beautiful butterfly.

Not...enough...
air... Suffocate...

"Not enough air. Suffocate"?

How much air does
a caterpillar need, I wonder?

Suppose we find out.

We can pass the time
by watching Maya die.

So, it boosted my guilt
so that I created ghosts.

My own ghosts,
in the shape of Sam and Tessa.

You overcame them.

Your ESP potential
is the only one equal to hers.

That's our weapon.

She's very, very dangerous, John.

She can take hatred and turn it
into violent physical force.

'Carolyn Powell
has taken over Command Center.

'She wants to see Commander Koenig.'

Commander Koenig will be there.

Two ghosts down, one to go.

You're in the wrong place,
aren't you?

You no longer command Moonbase Alpha.

Your authority has passed over to me.

- Has it?
- From now on,

I decide, you obey.

Carolyn, I know what you want.

- Do you?
- You want us to hate you,

to attack you,

so you can use
the energy of our minds

to build your strength.
It's not gonna work.

We neither fear you, nor reject you.

We ask you to come back to us.

Use your powers
for the good of Alpha.

You want to trap me,
you want to steal my power.

Carolyn, we...

I rule Alpha now.

Kneel!

You can't harm us, Carolyn.

You see, there's no hate or fear
for you to latch onto.

The only one you can hurt
is yourself.

- Hate me...
- We can't do that, Carolyn.

There is no hate in us for you.

Hate me!

- Hate me!
- I don't hate you, Carolyn.

Helena doesn't hate you.
San doesn't hate you.

Tony doesn't hate you.

Hate me!

I hate you!

I hate you!

No!

It's all right, Maya.

Take it easy.

Look!

It's left us, Carolyn.

It's gone.
It can't hurt you any more.

Move.

Come on, get out of that corner.

Ah, no luck. Nothing.

Don't fret.
It's the same for everyone else.

Carl's back to losing games
and Pete can't bend metal strips.

Just as long as
he can fix Eagles.

Right. Carolyn...
Well, for her, everything's gone.

Her powers, her memory,
even her speech.

She's like a new-born child.

She'll have to grow up
all over again.

I'm still not exactly sure why
everything happened the way it did.

Well, we were caught
in a telepathic web

and it increased
the powers of our own minds.

So we're back
to our un-magical selves.

Can't say I'm sorry.

Well, I am. Just a little.

Our brains are such...
incredible instruments.

Just think
what we might be able to achieve...

if we knew
how to use them

to their fullest potential.