Quatermass II: The BBC Television Serial Pt 1

Some people consider 'Quatermass II' to be the lesser of the Quatermass stories. This is probably due to it's Government conspiracy theme, which has been done to death in recent years, programmes such as 'The X Files', although having borrowed heavily from stories such as 'Quatermass II', use the conspiracy theme to death.

Nigel Kneale wrote 'Quatermass II' in an era when there was a lot of fear about Government projects such as those at Porton Down, the Atomic research centre at Harwell with their chosen admin staff and guarded entrances. This was also an era when early warning Radars were kept in huge domed pods, and bunkers were made for those who were chosen to survive a would be all out Atomic attack. Also the threat of spies was looming quite large in the UK at that particular point in the 1950s. All of these ideas Kneale put into a huge couldron & came out with this, his second Quatermass serial.

Kneale was unhappy at the time with the BBC over rights issues for 'The Quatermass Experiment', they had sold the filming rights to the then little known company of Hammer Films from right from under his nose, telling him that anything he wrote for them was BBC property. A very disgruntled Kneale was given a very small film credit on the actual film, writing duties for the Hammer Film were handed over to Director Val Guest & Richard Landau. Landau was totally at a loss as to what the original story was about, his script in fact had to be re-written by Guest.

Nigel Kneale says in the introduction to the 1979 reprint of the script by Arrow Books, that 'Quatermass II would help to put things right...'. He was also very unhappy with the hammer Film's casting of ex-Hollywood heavy Brian Donlevy in the role of Quatermass, a subject that would be a thorn in his side for the rest of his natural life, a one that when interviewed, Kneale would quite happily roll off a stream of insults aimed at Donlevy. All said in good humour, but nonethless meant from deep within.

Reginald Tate, who had turned out a brilliant performance as Professor Bernard Quatermass in the 'The Quatermass Experiment' (BBC 1953), was due to yet again reprise his role as Bernard Quatermass, & had even been given scripts to read, but unfortunately before any filming had begun Tate died of a massive Heart attack outside his home in Putney, London. So after some searching by producer Rudolph Cartier and kneale to find a replacement, they settled upon Liverpool born actor John Robinson.

Robinson would play the Professor rather awkwardly to begin with, but by episode 3 he noticeably became more confident with the part, although he seems to have been totally bypassed when casting for 'Quatermass and the Pit'(BBC 1958-59) came around. It is said that he was very uncomfortable with the more technical parts of the script, but in my own view he copes admirably. Hugh Griffith who plays Dr Leo Pugh is also said to have had the same difficulty.

Above: John Robinson as Professor Bernard Quatermass, poses wearing a Radiation Suit (BBC 1955).

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At a Military outpost somewhere in the English counrtyside, Scanners pick up a faint light that appear to be heading towards the ground. Captain John Dillon & Sergeant Grice head off to investigate the fallen object. Meanwhile in a nearby field a Farmer called Fred Large encounters the object itself, he is startled when the fallen Meteorite starts to open up...

The Military men arrive hurried along to the site where the Metoerite has fallen by the Farmer's Wife. The Farmer describes a smell like 'Old Stable', Dillon sniffs at the Meteorite fragments, evidently bemused. Dillon tells his colleague, Grice that he will visit a man that he knows, called Quatermass.....

At the BRG (British Rocket Group, having dropped the word 'Experimental'), Professor Bernard Quatermass and his chief Assistant Doctor Leo Pugh, are measuring Radiation levels outside casing of the Atomic powered 'Quatermass II' Rocket. Quatermass's daughter Paula, rings through to tell the pair that the Australian film of the prototype QII Rocket is ready, the rocket blew up on it's initial test & turned into a runaway Nuclear explosion.

Quatermass is somewhat distressed by the Australian test results, & reveals a huge wall diagram of his planned 'Moon Project', a colony of steel Domes, Pipes & Machinery, launching bays for Rockets to land, in effect a World in which Man can survive on the Moon - this he now believes is deliberately being underfunded by the Government. Just then John Dillon arrives, who we find out is romantically involved with Paula, but it is not her that he wishes to speak with, only her Father.

Dillon meets Quatermass & Dr Pugh, showing them the contents of a shoebox he has brought with him, he tells the group of what has happened. Pugh arrives at the conclusion, that when the Meteorite is assembled it forms a single smooth shape, furthermore it appears to be hollow....

Quatermass asks Dillon to accompany him to visit the Farmer from the previous day Fred Large & his Wife, Dillon agrees & they head off. Upon arrival at the Farmer's Cottage, the Farmer is very distant and vague, his Wife is bemused at his behaviour, believing that he may have caught a chill. Quatermass and Dillon are unconvinced by the Man's behaviour, & decide to visit a local Pub in order find out some more information about him.

In local village Pub they meet Robert, an elderly Gentleman who tells them of a village called Winnerden Flats, apparently Winnerden Flats was a village up until a while back, but now has been levelled with Bulldozers. He also tells them that there is some kind of clandestine project there with Guards & Guns, which is by all accounts something to do with the Government. Quatermass and Dillon head out to Winnerden Flats, here there are 'Government Property' warning signs, of the 'Keep Out!' variety. While Quatermass is driving he suddenly stops with an exclamation, he drives a bit further gets out of the car & stands staring down a hill, at the bottom in all it's glory is his own vision - 'The Moon Project'!

Quatermass drives closer, & thinks he hears something fall, he stops the car. He & Dillon go off in pursuit of the object, they find one of the Meteorites, and just then it breaks up leaving Dillon coughing and spluttering, a Klaxon starts up at the Plant (The Moon Project) & Quatermass sees something clinging to Dillon's face - 'Like a dark bubble..'. He grabs Dillon & tries to head off back to his car, just then an Army type truck comes thundering into view and armed Guards emerge from the vehicle. They bundle Dillon onboard, they give Quatermass his marching orders and head off back toward the plant.

Quatermass walks through the debris of what was once the village of Winnerden Flats, he stares in awe at the huge pressure Domes of the gigantic Plant, just then a voice alerts him, he sees a Tramp emerging from a nest he has made for himself in amongst the debris. He tells Quatermass that the village was a thriving place & that the new Plant has thousands of men working there, he points Quatermass in the direction of a Prefabricated Town about 5 miles away, Quatermass bids the Tramp farewell & gives him some Cigarettes, he then turns and heads off toward the Prefab New Town.

Driving into the New Town Quatermass see's signs for the 'Community Centre'. Inside the centre a little man is seen writing behind a desk. Quatermass enters at another desk is Dawson, a stocky man who is busy on a Telephone deep in conversation. Along the walls inside the centre, posters warning workers to be quiet about their jobs, or risk losing them are present. Dawson finishes his call & Quatermass see's a little Girl sitting on a chair.

Quatermass confronts Dawson about the plant, but the man tells him he can't do anything to help Quatermass about Dillon, Quatermass says he will phone the Police, but the man smiles and informs Quatermass that the Plant Guards are their Police. Just then a Woman enters the centre, the little Girl's mother. Quatermass tries to question the Mother about the childs behaviour, apparently the child heads toward the plant from time to time, and then is brought back. Quatermass asks the Mother if the child was ever sick, but the Mother is getting impatient with his line of questioning, so Dawson intervenes, giving Quatermass his marching orders.

Quatermass returns to the BRG after a visit to the local County Constabulary, and is informed by Pugh that he & an assistant have made a plaster model of the fragments Dillon brought in. Quatermass relays his story to Pugh and Paula, but saving some info for Pugh only, he informs him of the 'Dark Bubble' clinging to Dillon's face.

The next days Quatermass visits Scotland Yard in London, but is informed Lomax no longer works there by a Police Inspector, also the Inspector he talks to turns extremely evasive when Quatermass mentions 'Winnerden Flats'. Reluctantly Quatermass visits Fowler at the Ministry, the same Ministry that vets his funding for the 'Moon Project'. Fowler admits that they have been cutting down Quatermass's money of late, this he informs Quatermass is due to certain rival projects. He tells Quatermass that Winnerden Flats is set up to make 'Synthetic Food', Quatermass is shocked, why the armed Guards and secrecy?

Fowler Telephones an MP friend of his, Vincent Broadhead. Broadhead is trying to force an inquiry into the process at Winnerden. When Broadhead arrives at Fowlers office, he informs Quatermass that there are other such projects in Brazil & Sweden. He shows Quatermass & Fowler some aerial photographs to back up his claim. Broadhead informs the pair that he is going to a one man inquiry & is meeting the 'Winnerden Commission'. Quatermass quickly asks Broadhead if he can accompany him there, reluctantly Broadhead gives in, saying that he is fed up of secrecy.

At the Commission the slow 'Zombie' like members find their seats around a table and await Broadhead. He arrives with Quatermass in tow. Broadhead introduces Quatermass, and starts off by showing the rather disinterested members some of the ariel photographs of the other 'Plants'. Broadhead starts off a conversation by entirely twisting the information Quatermass has given him, instead saying that there may be infection aimed at the 'Plant'.

Quatermass tries to steer Broadhead back on track, but the man blunders on, at which point Quatermass notices the 'Mark' on one of the Commission & points this out to Broadhead. Broadhead is by now paying very little attention to Quatermass at all, that is until Quatermass produces from his briefcase, a plastercast model of the Meteorite brought in by Dillon the day before.

The man with the 'Mark' - Stenning, tries to tell them how he came into contact with the Meteorite, but soon trails off and returns to his subdued self. Broadhead, having had enough of Quatermass and his outbursts asks him to leave, he does & returns to Fowlers office.

Quatermass tells Fowler that he was aware of 'Menace' in the meeting & is concerned for Broadhead's safety. Fowler Phones through to the meeting room, but there is no response. So the pair head off to the meeting room. Inside they find Broadhead slumped at the table, and after a few gasps of air & a drink of water, Broadhead informs them that the inquiry is over. Fowler decides to get medical help, but just then a Doctor and 2 Ambulancemen turn up to give assistance to Broadhead. Quatermass tells Fowler that he must get inside the Plant, they arrange to meet at a 'Coffee Bar'.

Quatermass is sitting inside the 'Coffee Bar', when Fowler turns up with Rupert Ward. Ward is a PRO for Winnerden Flats, & similar establishments. It appears that Ward has a pass, & has been asked there by Fowler for the sole purpose of taking them inside the Plant. Meanwhile Pugh & Paula, discover that the Asteroid, the Meteorites are coming from is hidden somewhere in orbit on the dark side of the Earth, & is positioned in a state permanent eclipse.

While Quatermass's Party visit the Plant, just outside of the giant complex, on a nearby Beach a family prepare to have a Picnic. The Father struggles with bottles of pop down a steep bank & the mother prepares sandwich's. Their only son - Frankie plays nearby wearing a cheap scubber set. Just then armed Guards from the Plant arrive ordering the family away, but Frankie's Father is getting slightly wound up by the intrusion, becoming very irrate with one of the Guards for pointing a Machine Gun at him & his family. Just then Quatermass' car speeds past, on it's way to the Plant. Quatermass insists to Fowler that they shouldn't go back and help the family, as it may slow them up.

Quatermass, Fowler & Ward enter the Plant after showing a Guard Ward's pass. Quatermass is in awe at the vastness of the place. First call is 'The Medical Centre', where they are informed by the Intern that there was a man present the day before, but he was well enough to leave. They decide to drive around the place, and are dwarfed by the giant pipes and process units. Ward makes them stop to go into a low building, where the 'Food' is processed. They enter & are met by several overalled men, who are doing various jobs in different locations within the process unit. Quatermass & the others see inside one of the units. The main operations man opens a hatch door for them to inspect inside. The light from within dazzles them all. Quatermass asks the man if the process involves using certain gases, such as Ammonia & Methane - the man reluctantly confirms this is so. Just then a Machine gun is heard, Fowler is griped with fear as he & Quatermass realise that Ward has disappeared....they depart the building quickly.

Quatermass parks his car outside one of the main Domes, he & Fowler both conclude that the gunfire was too far away. Quatermass insists that he see inside one of the Domes, at which point a figure is seen clinging to a ladder on the side of the giant Dome. The figure appears to be in agony and is covered in a black corrosive substance - like slime. It drops at the foot of the ladder. Quatermass & Fowler run to it, only to discover that it is 'Ward'. Ward apparently went off to discover what was in the dome, but fell into the burning food slime. He has in his hand a mechanised device with an oval shaped casing. He gives the casing to Quatermass, & then dies. Fowler insists that they move, as Guards are approaching fast.

On the outside a breaker lorry is towing what appears to be the picnicking family's car. A Woman's limp arm dangles from the vehicle, just then Quatermass' car speeds past & through the gate. Quatermass asks Fowler to hand him a box in the rear of the car, Fowler does this & Quatermass puts inside the box Ward's collar and tie. Just then they pass the spot where the family had had their picnic, the ground blanket is splattered with blood & shattered crockery, as well as part of the Scubber set worn by Frankie, Quatermass stares at this in horror - then speeds off....

Not to give away any further plot I have decided to leave the rest to YOU the viewer, so get out there & get your copy of the BBC/2Entertain DVD entitled 'The Quatermass Collection', which was released in April 2005 ( You can also check out the Screenshots pages). The set also includes the only 2 surviving episodes of 'The Quatermass Experiment'(BBC 1953), & the tremendous & complete story 'Quatermass and the Pit'(BBC 1958-59). The set also includes PDF script files for the first Quatermass serial, as well as a wealth of other material, including a very entertaining Easter Egg, enjoy!

****Contains Spoliers****

Continued on page 2....

Stephen Reed. 2008.