“Matter of Life and Death” is episode thirteen of season one of Space: 1999.
Main Mission is trying to contact Eagle 1 which is returning from a planet they are approaching. According to David, onboard computer has called the planet Terra Nova and it will sustain human life. Eagle 1 finally contacts Main Mission, and the pilot is saying the planet is Earth-like and uninhabited, when he, the co-pilot and the Eagle are hit with electricity. Contact and lifesigns are lost, then regained as it comes in to land.
Alan, Commander Koenig, Dr Russell, Victor and a medical team head to the Eagle. The pilot and co-pilot are alive. But Victor has found a third man on a two-man mission. And Dr Russell recognises him. Her husband, Lee Russell.
In medical, the commander asks Dr Russell if she’s sure. Yes. He says it doesn’t make any sense. The doctor agrees, but it is her husband. Koenig says he’s been dead five years. Presumed dead, according to the doctor.
They head to Dr Russell’s quarters and the commander checks that Lee Russell was on the Astro 7 mission, which failed whilst orbiting Jupiter. The doctor says contact was lost. Koenig says they are a long way from Jupiter and many strange things have happened. Perhaps this time they’ll get an answer. Dr Mathias contacts Dr Russell, asking her to come to medical; something strange has happened. This being the instruments aren’t picking up any lifesigns from Lee. But the doctor can take his pulse.
At a meeting, David says Lee Russell checks out on computer but Victor points out they only have the data in Dr Russell’s file. Sandra says Terra Nova seems fine and Paul wants to check on progress. Phase 2 is behind schedule. It will take 20 hours and total evacuation of Alpha, Phase 3, will take 48. The commander asks David if Phase 2 can be cut in half. Yes, but only just. The commander wants to postpone Phase 2. He doesn’t want anyone going down to the planet until they know what’s going on.
Lee Russell briefly revives, recognises Helena and is trying to tell her why he’s there when he falls asleep again. Koenig is with Victor, who is suggesting that perhaps Lee’s time on Terra Nova caused his body to change so that their instruments can’t recognise him. Koenig has many questions, and wants Lee reviving so he can answer them. Dr Russell would prefer to wait, but Koenig says they lack the time. Lee is revived, but nothing useful is obtained before he passes out, and the doctor refuses to try again. However, once everyone else leaves, Lee revives again. He asks his wife where they are and why, and when she mentions colonising the planet grabs her. Electricity sends her flying across the room.
Koenig is in Main Mission when Dr Mathias asks him to come to Dr Russell’s quarters. He found her on the floor, but she’s okay. She thinks she must have passed out. She mentions speaking to Lee, but doesn’t remember mentioning the planet.
Victor has scanned Lee. The first scan shows him perfectly normal. The second shows him apparently dead, even though he was still breathing. The third shows him normal again. Victor is still suggesting Lee adapted. Koenig says that Dr Russell was there for the normal scans, but not for the abnormal one. Victor suggests Lee is being sustained by an outside source. Which Koenig thinks is Dr Russell.
Lee has awoken again. He says ‘Helena’ and she wakes. Dr Mathias finds Lee out of bed. Lee wants his wife and throws Mathias across the room. Lee doesn’t calm down until Dr Russell enters.
Lee seems to be trying to warn them about the planet. Then he dies. Commander Koenig plans to go to the planet anyway. This is not a good idea.
This was the second episode filmed, which is perhaps why Koenig calls Alan Carter ‘Carter’ and ‘Captain’ instead of ‘Alan’ as he normally does.