Pages 14-23.

It may seem an odd choice to begin an indepth V episode guide with V--
The Conclusion, but, bearing in mind the interview with Kenneth 
Johnson presented elsewhere in this volume, it somehow seems 
appropriate. 

Next issue we'll begin our coverage with the original V and follow 
with The Final Battle, the latter being the eventual outcome of The 
Conclusion. What we're doing now is essentially presenting a 
synopsis of Kenneth Johnson's intended followup to his original 
miniseries. In many cases you'll note similarities with The Final 
Battle, yet at the same time there will be subtle differences. There 
will also be drastic differences, providing a look at what might have 
been if the creative decisions had been left in the hands of V's 
creator.

V--The Conclusion
Second Draft
Dated October 5, 1983
Teleplay by Peggy Goldman
Story by Kenneth Johnson and Peggy Goldman, Craig Buck and Diane 
Frolov

Unaired

It's four months after the events of V, and we open with an exterior 
shot of the Mothership. Moving inside, we find ourselves in the 
cocoon chamber where Mike Donovan discovers his son, Sean, among the 
preserved humans destined to serve as fodder for the Visitors.

Freeing Sean from his cocoon, father and son embrace each other. A 
laser blast disrupts their reunion, and they tear off down the 
corridor. Donovan engages in a laser battle, but one of the storm 
troopers fires at Sean, who calls out to his father.

Donovan springs up in bed, bringing his nightmare to a temporary 
end. Julie Parrish is there to calm him. He's frustrated that they 
haven't been able to do enough to thwart the Visitors, but she 
emphasizes the progress they have made over the past several months.

Later, in Julie's lab, they meet with Sancho and a scientist named 
Cal who are performing experiments on lizards, and theorize that the 
Visitors might be sensitive to certain types of light which are 
harmless to humans. 

"Great," Donovan enthuses sarcastically. "I'm sure we're going to 
save the world with flashlights."

"Maybe not," interjects Father Andrew, "but we might lighten things 
up around here. Anyone ever tel you you can be a real downer, 
Donovan?"

This line of dialogue immediately makes the reader aware of the 
differences between the Father Andrew character Kenneth Johnson 
envisioned and the one who finally made it to the screen. The 
impression of a younger and hipper man, and someone more identifiable 
by the average viewer.

Donovan is curious if there's been any response on the radio to which 
he's told that there hasn't. Father Andrew states that it's just a 
matter of time before they're able to contact other underground 
groups. He also notes that the radio telescope is still trying to 
reach The Alliance, sworn enemies of the Visitors.

Turning towards Stanley and Lynn Bernstein (Daniel's parents), Julie 
is ecstatic to learn that they have been able to smuggle in some 
chocolate using Daniel's name. At the same time, she asks them to 
bring her any safety pins they are able to as her "underwear is about 
to bite the dust."

Safety pins, like chocolate, have become rare commodities since the 
Visitors took power. This is really an interesting bit of business 
as it shows how some of the most basic items in our everyday life are 
taken for granted, and how desperate things can become when our 
system of supplies is cut off.

Shortly thereafter, Donovan and Julie get into a confrontation over 
his attitude. She feels that he can't be so self-centered that all 
he cares about is his son when they are quite literally struggling as 
a team to save the human race.

In the Resistance schoolroom, Robin Maxwell is attempting to teach 
her siblings. Her sister, Polly, relates the latest Visitor joke 
("Have you heard about the Visitor double feature on TV tonight? 
Night of the Iguana and How Green Was My Visitor.")

Robin grows furious at this and her father, Robert, attempts to calm 
her down, telling his alien-impregnated young daughter that he could 
try to get in touch with the unborn child's father if it would make 
her feel better. She refuses, noting that she hates and wants 
nothing to do with him. Before the scene fades, we notice a yellow 
patch of skin on her throat.

Outside a children's hospital, Julie and Elias secretly meet with a 
doctor named Fred, who explains that the Visitors are having a big 
bash for governors and other VIP's at which they will present the 
promised cure for leukemia. The event, he adds, is supposed to be 
televised live. Julie says that this could be the event to prove the 
truth about the Visitors, that they are a race of humanoid reptilians 
hellbent on ravaging the earth. Fred grows angry, praising the 
aliens for being willing to cure the disease and save countless 
lives. 

"All they're giving us," replies Julie, "are a few lollipops to keep 
us happy and quiet while they systematically destroy the human race!"

He dismisses this as nonsense, pointing out that despite the fact 
he's working for the Visitors, he's managed to save lives every day. 
Julie sees this as nothing more than rationalization, and states that 
he's one of the lucky "scientists" who haven't been arrested or 
forced underground.

"I don't know anything about fighting," he says softly.

"On the job training," Julie retorts, "is how we all learn, Fred. If 
we do nothing, the whole planet is going to be exterminated."

This seems to reconcile the moment with Fred now willing to help them 
formulate a plan. Elias says that it's time for them to leave, but 
before they do Fred mentions that "reporter"/official Visitor 
spokesperson Kristine Walsh was "cut to shreds" by consumer advocate 
Corley Walker.

In a flashback sequence at a restaurant, she and a Visitor get out of 
a Mercedes, where Kristine is greeted by fans who want her 
autograph. Walker, carrying a copy of The Rights of Man, passes her 
by with hardly a notice. She calls out to him, explaining that they 
had met at Gerald Ford's Palm Springs home. He's extremely curt, 
chastising her for her relationship with the enemy. Kristine replies 
that it's not easy, but she tries to be impartial.

"Impartial?"  Walker laughs derisively.  "You're working for a dictatorship, or hadn't you noticed?...Read some history, lady--you are Goebbels come back to life, the Ministry of Fear wrapped up in designer clothes to seduce the masses.  You're just what these intergalactic fascists need to bring us down...and keep us down."

Julie is amused by this story, and believes that they should try to contact Walker.  Fred says it won't be that easy as two shock troopers led him away after the incident.  

On board the Mothership, Kristine, obviously shaken by Walker's words, is curious as to why Diana has not lived up to her promise of interviews with the President and Secretary of State.  Diana replies that she, too, gets frustrated at the bureaucracy, but adds that she will bring the subject up to Supreme Commander John.  This doesn't sit well with Kristine, who wonders why he must be consulted in the first place.

Coincidentally, John enters the room and Diana immediately informs him of Kristine's request.  He's incredulous that it hasn't taken place yet, but assures her that it will right after the Governor's Conference.  A pleased Kristine drops the subject and departs.

Alone, John and Diana debate over the amount of time the conversion process is taking on the president.

"It's not as simple to tap their minds as their water resources," she says simply.

At this, she reveals a senator whose mind has become a blank.  For every successful conversion, there are two like him.  John is fearful this will happen to the president, but Diana is confident that it will not if she is given enough time. 

That evening Kristine delivers her nightly newscast, reporting that a terrorist attack destroyed the California aqueduct system responsible for carrying water from the Colorado River to all of Southern California.  The Visitors, she adds, will work around the clock to repair the system, but until then residents are asked to cut back on their usage of water.

This bit is an interesting piece of propaganda, and a realistic one.  A society weak from lack of water and other vital supplies will not pose much of a threat to a superior force attempting to gain control.

In a secluded wooded area, Donovan meets with Visitor Fifth Columnist Martin, and wants to know why it's taking so long to find Sean.  Martin replies that there are only a limited number of Fifth Column members, and it's going to take some time.  Donovan softens, and expresses his gratitude.  What the Visitor needs to expedite the search is a photo of Sean.  Donovan, who has lost his wallet in a skirmish, says that he'll obtain one somehow.

Martin hands him a book, explaining that it contains mug shots of "terrorists," copies of which have been distributed to the bounty hunters Diana has enlisted from the various prisons.  This book, he hopes, will allow Donovan and his people to hook up with other resistance fighters.

Before they separate, Martin picks up a clump of leaves and studies them gingerly.

"My father," he says softy, "used to tell me about when our planet was green.  Before the drought.  It was one of his favorite memories.  I understand why, now."

"You should have seen this place before.  It was so beautiful.  There were flowers everywhere.  When it had enough water.  And the noon sun."

They stare skyward, to eye the underbelly of the huge Mothership.

In the ship's corridors, Diana informs Kristine that she wants the reporter to meet a "regular...booster" of the Visitors.  Kristine comes face to face with Corley Walker, who seems genuinely pleased to see her.  She's terrified by this personality switch, but does her best to conceal her fear from Diana.

This scene contains the same emotional impact of such previous science fiction films as the original versions of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and INVADERS FROM MARS; with the paranoia of knowing that something is amiss, yet not knowing what it is.  You know, "It looks like Uncle Ned; It sounds like Uncle Ned; but it ISN'T Uncle Ned!"

On the streets of Los Angeles, Visitor Youth Leader Daniel Bernstein leads four of his followers to a neighborhood cleaners, where he threatens the owner for protection money.  The man unhappily complies, while Daniel is visibly amused at both the man's fear and his own sense of power.

A short distance away, in a park, Harmy and Willie exchange some feelings for each other, and she invites him over to her place that evening.  Embarrassed, Willie nonetheless agrees.

Scenes follow in which we meet a cop named Bob, a true hero to the Visitors, but actually a rebel; Robin apologizes to Katie for blowing up at her; Brian makes love to Diana, while voicing his disgust at mating with a human (Robin), with Diana finding the prospect intriguing; and Donovan steals a photo from his mother's house, and is wounded by her in the process.  After he leaves, she calls the Visitor Command Headquarters, and a bulletin goes out for his arrest.

Meanwhile, Elias arrives in Julie's lab with a Visitor prisoner: Willie.  A blindfolded Harmy is brought in next by Robert Maxwell.  Various people, feeling as though they have captured a cancerous disease, begin to pummel him in retribution for the lives that the Visitors have taken, and the hell that they've turned the earth in to.  Julie stops the beating.

"If what we're fighting for is the right to be human; to live as humans," she cries out, "we've got to be careful not to lose our humanity.  Or else when it's all over and, please God, we've won, we'll have fought and died for absolutely nothing."

Her words strike a chord, and the group calms down, leaving a terrified Willie alone.

The wounded Donovan suddenly arrives and is treated by Julie.  He shows her the photo of Sean and "introduces" them to each other.

Once again aboard the Mothership, a group of humans, including Eleanor and Daniel, are given an official tour of the vessel.  As the ceremony begins, Martin draws closer to Barbara and they discuss the fact that Donovan is rumored to have escaped the shock troopers.

As the tour begins, Kristine boards a shuttle and heads back to earth.  John is not suspicious, as this is merely another tour, but the glare in Diana's eyes shows that she is.

In Julie's lab, she is taking blood samples from a restrained Willie.  The hatred in the room towards the Visitors is tangible.  While she and Robert study the hemoglobin of Willie's blood, Robin enters and asks if he knows who Brian is.  He doesn't, but, noting the yellow patch which nearly goes around her neck, asks when her child is due.  The mention of the unborn infant fills her with unease.

Daniel Bernstein and some Visitor friends are drinking rum and passing around joints.  Two couples heading home from school pass them by and he begins to verballs chastise them.  One of the guys drops his books and runs towards Daniel, who sidesteps him and knocks him down to his knees.  The boy is powerless, and his friends are too scared to help.  The Youth Leader insists that the boy clean his boots--not by wiping them, but by licking them.  During this moment of humiliation, a stoned Visitor named Gary sees a mouse and calls out "Munchies!"  He, unseen by the humans, grabs the mouse and swallows it whole.  Brian appears and is furious, stating that humans "must never see us eat."

The bit with Daniel is important, as it clearly demonstrates how a sense of power can change a disliked nobody into someone others are forced to accept as a superior power.  This supports Ken Johnson's original contention, that a taste of power will either elevate a person or corrupt them completely.

More of Kenneth Johnson's V: The Conclusion

At a cemetery, "mourners" Kristine and Donovan meet.  He's wary of her, fearing another setup, but willing to take the chance because he can't believe he could be so wrong about her and what they once had.

"I think, maybe..." she begins tentatively, "I'm the one who's been wrong."

She tells him about the situation with Corley Walker, and comes to the conclusion that Donovan's explanation of the Visitors' true intent has validity.

He hands her the key he lifted off a shuttle, saying that Sean is somewhere in Section 34.  She swears that she can be trusted, and that, no matter what, they will meet here again in one week.

They go their separate ways, and as Donovan begins to leave the grounds, the gatekeeper, dressed in a Visitor's technician uniform, makes visual contact, checks his mug book and makes the connection.  He picks up a radio phone.

The stoned Gary and co-pilot are in the cockpit of a shuttle, when they're signalled regarding Donovan.  They take off, while toting on a joint.  Their laser fire doesn't even come close, and, as they're giggling, they crash right into a mausoleum, the shuttle instantly exploding.

A satisfied Donovan watches the flames for a moment, and then departs.

In Resistance Headquarters, Robin, half awake, shuffles, into the kitchen area, removes a plate of raw meat from the fridge and begins eating it.  As the bloody juices run down her face, sh realizes what she's doing and lets out a scream of terror.  Robert comes in and tries to calm her.  Robin is left wondering what's happening to her.

In Resistance Headquarters, Harmy refuses to believe that Willie could harm anyone, or the story that the Visitors are really reptilians with designs on humans as food.  To convince her, Brad nears Willie and begins clawing at his hands until some of the plast-skin breaks away, revealing the scales beneath.  She asks Willie if the story about the Visitors is true, and reluctantly he admits that it is.  Sickened, Harmy turns away.

Once again aboard the Mothership, Kristine punches up the computer and requests information on Sean Donovan in Section 34.  It replies that there is no such person in storage.  Confused, but not convinced, she has the sequence erased and shuts down the computer.

Going down a corridor to Section 34, Kristine uses Donovan's key and enters the chamber, where she sees the unimaginable sight of thousands of human beings sealed in transport cocoons.  Gaining her composure, she nonetheless searches for Sean in a "children's section" and finds him.  Devastated, she leaves but is confronted by Steven and two Visitor security guards.

On earth, Julie details that Martin had explained that the Visitors had been immunized against earth diseases, and that so far Willie has not shown an allergic reaction to anything.

He expresses his understanding for what the humans are doing as "you have to do what you can to save yourselves.  Like we do."

"But," Julie counters, "surely there is some other way of saving your planet than to destroy ours."

He goes on to explain that his people were told that earthlings were little more than rats rather than beings equipped with intelligence on a par with the Sirians.  To Willie, and many of his people, this discovery has changed their opinion, but to others it doesn't make a difference.  Quite simply, their people are counting on them.

Robin eyes Willie's scales and begins to sob that she wants to have an abortion because it's going to be a reptile.  Robert is confused, and she admits that the father is Brian, and that's why she wants to be rid of it.  Julie, recovering from her initial shock, warns that an attempt could be dangerous due to the uniqueness of the conception.

Everyone begins to debate the issue, with Father Andrew noting that "there could be a deeper reason that this happened.  Maybe one we'll never understand, but still..."

Donovan has heard enough.  "There is no reason, in heaven or on earth, no reason important enough to outweigh Robin's right to make up her own mind."

A grateful Robin is looked at by the suddenly sobered faces, and says that she "wants it gone."  A tearful Robert hugs his daughter tightly.

As is the norm with science fiction, this moment was able to discuss a subject which, in many instances, is taboo on television.  A debate on whether or not to have an abortion is not all that common on primetime TV.

In Diana's quarters, Kristine is queried as to why she was in a restricted area.  She claims that she had gotten lost, an excuse the commander doesn't believe for a moment.

Diana admits that she needs Kristine to continue as their spokesperson, and that this can be obtained either willingly or through the conversion process.  The choice, she explains, is the reporter's, and with that she leaves Kristine alone with her thoughts.

Stanley Bernstein is watering his now brown lawn, when the water suddenly stops flowing from the house.  Daniel approaches and harshly informs him that he's already exceeded his water ration for the month.  He's also angry that his father has used his name to get extra food rations, and wants it stopped immediately.

Daniel sarcastically explains that he's made himself what he is without any help from his father or anyone else, "So you can just rot for all I care."  Laughing, he departs for a squad vehicle.

Stanley just looks on sadly and utters, "Goodbye, son."

V: The Conclusion, Part 1 by Kenneth Johnson continued

Julie begins an internal scan of Robin's body, and finds that the fetus has attached itself to her liver and bladder with hundreds of tiny umbilical cords.  As she attempts to cut one, the fetus begins to attack Robin's life signs.  In essence, it will kill her before it allows the abortion to take place.  

In seclusion, and frustrated, Julie cries to Donovan that she's angry at herself for not knowing what to do, and so very tired of the guerilla warfare they have to go through.  She just wants to go back to med school and continue her education.

Donovan tries to calm and reassure her, and the two nearly exchange their true feelings for each other.

"Don't get sentimental on me, Julie," he says wryly, "we have a banquet to crash."

A brief return to the Mothership has Kristine pondering her past and future.  She is suddenly terrified to learn that the Visitors have already gone to earth, and that Diana has ordered her to be kept on board until she returns.

At the new Visitors' Leukemia Treatment Center, Eleanor is sucking up to John, expressing platitudes of greatness towards the Visitors for the contributions they've made to earth.

Elias, dressed as a hospital orderly, calls Julie and informs her that there's not much in the way of fire power there because the Visitors are probably going for the clean-cut image.  Their plan is put into action.

The Resistance makes it move and effortlessly manages to hold the Visitors at bay.  While the event is being telecast live, Julie explains the true intent of the aliens and rips off part of John's mask in front of millions of viewers.  Diana orders the transmission to be interrupted, but on the Mothership, Fifth Column members Barbara and Mark make sure that it continues.  Kristine is shocked at what she's seeing; her blinded eyes seeing the reality of the situation for the first time.

Various people at the event react with shock, Eleanor in particular, looking back and forth between Donovan and John.  She and her husband, Arthur, back out of the room.

Visitor troops arrive and begin a barrage of laser fire.  The Resistance breaks off to escape.  Pandemonium ensues, with fist fights, more firing and Martin, unnoticed by his fellow beings, saving Julie's life.  A moment later the Resistance is surrounded, but a crippled elderly lady named Ruby pulls a sawed off shot gun from under her shawl and blows away four troopers.  The battle begins anew, but is quickly ended as the Resistance is captured and loaded into a squad vehicle.  It takes off, but the rebels are pleased to learn that Maggie, a fellow fighter, is piloting it.

All are delighted until they discover that somehow Julie was not loaded on board.  Donovan orders the craft turned around, but the others disagree, saying that Julie would be furious if they jeopardized everything for her.  Donovan has no choice.

Back at the hotel banquet room, Julie is led away by two Visitor shock troopers, with a seemingly triumphant Diana noting that it will only be a matter of time before they know everything about the Resistance.

On the Mothership, John is furious at the disaster, and cancels the Governors' Conference.  While Julie is being converted, he wants Kristine to go on the air denouncing the attack as nothing more than a terrorist hoax.  Diana doesn't believe that Kristine is up to it, because of her doubts concerning them and her plans call for immediate conversion.  John agrees, and Kristine is ordered to the conversion chamber.  Unknown to them, however, Kristine suspects what will be done with her, and leaps to her death down an air shaft tube, thus protecting her fellow humans as best as she can.

On earth, the Resistance is moving to new headquarters out of fear that Julie will inadvertently reveal their current location to Diana.

Harmy goes over to a handcuffed Willie, apologizes and explains that she still believes in him for who he is, rather than the fact that he's a Visitor.  She expresses her love for him, despite everything.

Arriving at the cemetery where he and Kristine had met a week earlier, Donovan grows disgusted at the fact that she hasn't shown up.  Angry, he walks away muttering, "Thanks a lot, Kristine."  As he leaves, he's spotted by a Visitor.

Elsewhere, Eleanor tells Steven that she will do all she can to continue helping the Visitors and asks in return for the release of her grandson.  She hands a photo of Sean to him.

At the new Resistance headquarters, Robin begins labor pains and calls out for Julie to help.

In Diana's conversion chamber, attempts at conversionary hallucinations against Julie have failed.  Diana believes that a change in approach is necessary.

Moments later, Julie seems to be in a tunnel with slimy walls which reach out to her with deformed arms and tentacles.  She runs forward and finds that the entire end of the tunnel is actually a giant mouth with horrifying teeth.  Julie screams, while an amused Diana watches her in the chamber, the human female imagining the horrors that are befalling her.

A sweat soaked, fearful and sobbing Julie shrinks down to the floor.  A smile crosses Diana's lips.

"Now then," she says softly, "at last we're getting somewhere.  And this is only the beginning."

End of Part 1, Part 2 to be presented next issue