The Taybor
| "The Taybor" | |
|---|---|
| Space: 1999 episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 6 |
| Directed by | Bob Brooks |
| Written by | Thom Keyes |
| Original air date | 4 November 1976 |
"The Taybor" is the sixth episode of the second series of Space: 1999 (and the thirtieth overall episode of the programme). The screenplay was written by Thom Keyes; the director was Bob Brooks.
Several Alphans have taken the day to sunbathe in the Solarium Area. Suddenly a strangely shaped silver item appears in the solarium, and elsewhere on the base similar items appear. When the items are picked up, though, they shock the person and create blindness.
Doctor Russel says the abrasions seem superficial and the blindness is temporary, she hopes. With a flourish of horns, the main view screen shows a rainbow of colors and a booming voice cries "Ahoy there, permission to land." Koenig refuses permission to land until the voice identifies himself, and suddenly the rainbow screen clears to reveal a startling red spaceship landed on the surface on the moon, and almost immediately a rotund, jovial man appears in Main Mission. "Taybor's the name, trading's my game. Master of the SS Emporium. Greetings, friends." Then, with a gesture of his hand, Taybor activates the large cannon on a sort of space-tank on the surface of the moon, and it begins to swing toward Alpha.
Taybor is fascinated by Maya, and the other Alphans enjoy find his manner amsuing, especially after Taybor explains that no harm has come to the injured Alphans, and they will soon recover. Tony comes around when it's clear that The Taybor enjoys his home brew, often cited as unfit for human consumption by those who have tried it in the past.
Over dinner and drinks, the Taybor discusses hyper-space and the "Jump Drive," the method of propulsion for his ship. Koenig wants to learn how to build one, but a drunken Taybor explains he doesn't know how it works before passing out at the table.
Later, in the Command Center, Koenig asks Taybor if he can transport the residents of Alpha to the Earth, and he agrees. The Taybor notes that Maya seems unhappy about transport to Earth, and she explains that he can't take her to her home planet because it has been destroyed. Koenig offers the Moon in trade for passage to the Earth, and the bargain is struck.
Taylor begins questioning Koenig on how to find the Earth, but it soon becomes apparent that Taybor can't find the Earth without more information, and Alpha can't provide the information needed. Taylor invites Koenig to join him on his ship, and they both disappear in a flash of rainbow-colored light.
The SS Emporium is a collection of shelves and knickknacks of strange and intricate design that Taybor has spent years and effort "to accumulate this incomparable collection." Taylor shows Koenig the drive, then takes him on a journey through hyperspece. Tony and the other Alphans are sure Taybor has betrayed them, and launches Eagles to search, but neither Commander Koenig nor the Emporium can be found.
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