| Original UK Transmission: | Monday 26th March 1990, BSB Galaxy |
"Welcome to the happy hour." - Eliot Creasy
Jupiter system, December 31st, 2049. A space city coordinating a community of over one thousand inhabitants has been established on Callisto, the outermost of the Galilean moons, where Daedalus 10, an interstellar starship is being planned to take mankind on its first mission to another solar system.
In orbit over Callisto, a shuttle approaches the Ilea, home of Columbus College, University of Space. First Officer Finbow Lewis' science discussion group is coming to an end. He thanks guest speaker and head of Daedalus 10, Professor Charles Brelan. Brelan is impressed by Fiona McBride's enthusiasm for Daedalus. Finbow's enthusiasm is less welcome.
Rosie Greenwood, the college bursar, welcomes new arrival Victoria Frobisher aboard, and asks Timothy Shaw to show her around as she sorts out problems with the menus for the New Year's Eve party. Herlinde Gothard and Sara Robbins coerce Finbow into attending.
Lecturer James Bromwich calls his father to tell him that Brelan has offered him a place on the expedition. He will have to give his answer the following day.
Timmy shows Victoria the Dome, and she reveals that she is missing her father, who is working on the Helium 3 plant. Timmy introduces Victoria to Jean-Francois Baul and his sister Melody. He tells her that they have been going out for nearly a year, but Jean-Francois is returning to Earth the following week. Victoria wishes she was too.
In Club Galileo, Sara and Herlinde discuss their problems with men and their families. Sara discovers that her Earth based boyfriend, Bob, is planning to surprise her. Herlinde jokes that she will dedicate herself to Finbow. On Comcen bridge, Finbow is chastised by Captain Eliot Creasy for his interest in Herlinde, and tries to put him off the idea of Daedalus by telling him about Javelin, a previous expedition which ended in tragedy.
Sara and Herlinde meet Victoria in Cabin One, which she will be sharing with Sara and Melody. Victoria is feeling ill and Sara calls for Rosie and medical officer Piers Gilpin.
Victoria is unhappy with Piers and Rosie's attentions, despite the young medic's credentials. Rosie expresses her concern that Victoria may have contracted a space virus, and determines to contact Space City Medical Centre on Callisto, as they require Victoria's Genetic Finger Print for Medicom to diagnose her problem and treat her effectively. She asks Herlinde and Sara to take care of Victoria.
Whilst Finbow contacts Space City about an abnormality he has found on Comcen screen, Herlinde and Sara try to dissuade Timmy from defrauding the vending machine to obtain his fix of chocolate. In her cabin, Piers informs Victoria that if she did have a space virus, she would kill them all.
At the party, Sara, still concerned about the nature of her forthcoming surprise, catches Timmy eating stolen chocolate, and is appalled by Melody, who is dancing with Piers. Jean-Francois has not even left yet!
Finbow discusses the object he thinks he has found with Space Centre, who can find no object nor any malfunction. Herlinde contacts Finbow to entice him to the party.
Sara visits Victoria to try and get her to go to the party, but she wants to be left on her own. Back at the party, Sara tells Rosie that Victoria wishes she was dead. Melody and Jean-Francois visit the Dome, making the most of their last few days together.
In Comcen, James receives a call from his father, who is tries to persuade him to turn down the offer of a place on Daedalus. As he listens, James notices an abnormality on the screen which seems to pulse and grow bigger. Finbow, however, has joined the party and, on the stroke of midnight, shares a lingering kiss with Herlinde. As the chimes of Big Ben echo round the ship, Victoria, alone in her cabin, breathless and nervous, screams.
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