Planet of the Slave Girls

Planet of the Slave Girls
Season 1, Episodes 3 & 4
Air date	September 27, 1979
Teleplay by	Steve Greenberg Aubrey Solomon Anne Collins
Story by	Steve Greenberg Aubrey Solomon
Directed by	Michael Caffey
Episode guide
Previous Awakening	Next Vegas in Space

"Planet of the Slave Girls" is the third and fourth episodes of the 1st season of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

Synopsis

The majority of Earth's Defense Directorate pilot corps becomes incapacitated after consuming poisoned food discs. Capt. William "Buck" Rogers, Col. Wilma Deering, Maj. Duke Danton and Maj. Fields fly to the distant planet of the food's origin, Vistula, returning Governor Tabor Saroyan's son there to recover. While on the planet Vistula, they find that Kaleel has been building up a mass of brainwashed followers alongside a fleet of Scorpion fighters in secret, planning to use them against Earth's weakened defense forces in order to conquer the Earth. With Earth's defense force now heavily outnumbered 10-to-1, Rogers decides that he must destroy the attack fleet and rescue Deering, who has become trapped in Kaleel's mountain fortress.

Plot

His father is Tabor Saroyan, the governor of Vistula. I suppose I should notify him personally.
Just how serious is his condition?
It's his nerves controlling his voluntary muscles and motor coordination. They're deteriorating, just like all the others.
Others?
Yes. The Computer Council has ordered that a definitive statement to the general public not be made just yet. But so far here in New Chicago, 25,000 case have been reported.
When did all this start?
Three days ago, while you and Buck were gone. And another thing: this disease, or whatever it is, has cropped up in other cities on Earth, but here in New Chicago it's much, much worse... You see, what the Computer Council is trying to keep secret is its effect on our defense squadrons, for they've been hardest hit of all.

 — Dr. Elias Huer and Col. Wilma Deering discuss the condition affecting Regis Saroyan, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century's "Planet of the Slave Girls"

• Capt. William "Buck" Rogers and Col. Wilma Deering perform a training flight run in a Thunderfighter, callsign Earth Recon 1, returning to Earth via Stargate 4. Rogers feels disoriented after exiting the space warp, and Deering notes that it is a normal reaction to those who've experienced the space warping for the first time.
• After exiting, they come across a pirate attack on a Thunderfighter referenced as Recon 3. Its pilot, a young man named Regis Saroyan, is scared and sick. Over the distress channel, Rogers hears Recon 3's call for assistance.
• Recon 3's leader, Maj. Duke Danton, admonishes Saroyan for lagging behind and instructs him to engage in evasive maneuvers.
• From Earth Recon 1, Rogers shares his belief that Recon 3 won't make it, and Deering agrees with the assessment. Between Rogers' piloting skills and Deering's shooting, they are able to fend off the attack, saving Saroyan at Danton's chagrin. Rogers surveys Recon 3's damage, noting that he sustained a hit on his starboard side.
• After Danton and Rogers get into a verbal tit-for-tat, Danton challenges Rogers to repeat his statements regarding "Funk & Wagnalls" face-to-face in New Chicago's flight bay. Rogers agrees while Deering, recognizing the voice, smirks silently.
• The pilots make their landings, and Danton grills Saroyan, who is clearly clammy and feverish. Rogers is quick to note this, and catches Saroyan before he face-plants into the hangar floor.
• After Saroyan is taken away, Danton identifies Rogers as being the one who interfered with a Directorate training mission. Before they get further into it, Deering arrives.

Notes

"Planet of the Slave Girls, Part II" title card on the syndicated version of the episode.

• Originally aired as a 120-minute episode, but has been formatted as two 60-minute episodes in most subsequent re-airings for scheduling reasons. While many guides list it as a two-parter, its initial airing and release on DVD as one double-length episode should make this the official recognition.
• In the scenes where Dr. Elias Huer and Col. Wilma Deering visit Regis Saroyan, and later when they make their way to Dr. Mallory's lab, Deering is wearing a gold wrist watch on her left wrist, over her uniform's sleeve. This fleeting appearance of the 20th century-looking timepiece is never explained, particularly as it is distinctly out-of-place with her entire uniform. It suggests that this is either a costuming error, or part of a sub-plot that was either reshot or discarded during production.
• Ardala's launch is re-used as the shuttle heading to Kaleel's fortress in the Sea of Stone.
• The Galactica shuttle makes its first appearance in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, although it is by accident as it is inferred that this is the craft piloted by Maj. Duke Danton and Capt. William "Buck" Rogers in pursuit of Deering's abductors—although that craft is later revealed to be the two-seater Thunderfighter.

Analysis

• Earth's reliance on outside sources for vital supplies is an Achilles' heel that is continually exploited by enemies.
• The fact that Earth has little knowledge of slavery (or indentured servitude) is discordant with facts around this episode, particularly when it seems abundant in the galaxy. It is not only exemplified by the subjects of the Draconian Empire, such as Ardala's handmaidens, but other direct examples of it in various later episodes. For instance:
  • Amos Armat is known for slave trafficking, according to Marla Landers (BR25: "Vegas in Space").
  • The Ruathan envoy Mr. DeBronin (an ambuquad) is conveyed by his human subject in much the same way Twiki conveys Dr. Theopolis (BR25: "Planet of the Amazon Women").
  • The illegal arms dealer Roxanne Trent uses Terran slave labor in the form of the deaf-mute Alicia, and goes to note that the only reason Alicia is still "employed" by Trent is because the Terran labor market is depressed (BR25: "Return of the Fighting 69th").

Questions

• Where did Wilma Deering get the gold wrist watch she carries, which seems out of place for her uniform?
• How did Kaleel come by his powers?
• What is Galen's story? How long ago did he defect from the Earth Defense Directorate?
• From what sources did Kaleel acquire his cache of weapons and Scorpion fighters?
• How did the Food Directorate not know of Kaleel and the slave labor, particularly as there have been 3 successive appointments of Tabor Saroyan?

Quotes

Duke Danton and William "Buck" Rogers

If you call that interference, there's something wrong with your Funk and Wagnalls.
I don't know what you mean by that, but how'd you like to repeat that in the flight hangar?
I'd love to.

 — Captain William Rogers and Major Duke Danton, (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls")

So you're Buck Rogers, huh?
Since the day I was born.
[to Deering, who arrives next to Rogers] I beg your pardon, Colonel, but, uh, he's no captain.
[Deering replies]That's not quite true, Duke. While Buck has formally declined to join the Defense Directorate, he does help us out on occasion.
"Declined to join"? Now, why would a big, brave hotshot like yourself do something like that?
[Rogers replies matter-of-factly] I didn't think I'd like the company.

 — Major Duke Danton, Captain William Rogers and Colonel Wilma Deering, (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls")

Brigadier Gordon and William "Buck" Rogers

Hey, nice double-teaming over there, whoever you are.
Gordon's the name. Thanks.
Have we met, Gordon?
I don't think so, Captain. We're from different times.

 — Captain William Rogers and Brigadier Gordon during the Battle of Vistula, (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls")

Gordon, where'd you learn to shoot like that?
I've been doing that sort of thing since before you were born, Captain.
[surprised] You think so, huh?
Young man, I know so.

 — Captain William Rogers and Brigadier Gordon during the Battle of Vistula, (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls")

Twiki and Dr. Theopolis

We're next, Twiki. [the launch channel's lights run towards them] Here we go.
[hits the throttle] Geronimo!

 — Dr. Theopolis and Twiki take their first flight into a Thunderfighter (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls")

[spotting an enemy fighter in his sights] Eat lead, sucker!
Lead? What lead? Twiki, what are you talking about?

 — Twiki and Dr. Theopolis in a firefight during the Battle of Vistula, (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls")

Other Quotes

I'm in danger! Assistance! Assistance! Danger. I am in danger. Assistance! Somebody come! Please! [Dr. Mallory arrives] Too late. Goodbye, Mallory. [Carl explodes]

 — Carl attempts to attract attention after Stella Warden plants an explosive device inside of Carl, (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls")

Hey, creep, I bet you wear that mask 'cause your face looks like it's been through a meteor shower!

 — William "Buck" Rogers as he and Duke Danton fight off nomads following their crash-landing in the Sea of Stone, (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls")

Capt. William "Buck" Rogers: Well, thanks, Theo.

Cast

*Gil Gerard as Capt. William "Buck" Rogers

• Erin Gray as Col. Wilma Deering
• Tim O'Connor as Dr. Elias Huer
• David Groh as Major Duke Danton
• Roddy McDowall as Governor Tabor Saroyan
• Brianne Leary as Ryma
• Macdonald Carey as Dr. Mallory
• Karen Carlson as Stella Warden
• Michael Mullins as Regis Saroyan
• Buster Crabbe as Brigadier Gordon
• Jack Palance as Kaleel
• Felix Silla as Twiki
• Mel Blanc as Voice of Twiki
• Robert Dowdell as Galen
• Sheila Wills as Major Fields
• Don Marshall as Julio
• Diane Markoff as Female Pilot
• June Whitley Taylor as Leila (credited as "Woman")
• Borah Silver as Leila's husband (credited as "Husband")
• Michael Masters as Worker
• Don Maxwell as Guard
• Nathaniel Brian Wine as Technician
• William Conrad as Voice of Narrator (uncredited)
• Eric Server as Voice of Dr. Theopolis (uncredited)

*Directed by Michael Caffey

Teleplay by Steve Greenberg, Aubrey Solomon and Anne Collins

Story by Steve Greenberg and Aubrey Solomon

Produced by Jock Gaynor, Medora Heilbron, Bruce Lansbury, Glen A. Larson, David J. O'Connell and David G. Phinney

Music by Johnny Harris

Cinematography by Ben Colman

Film Editors - Michael Berman and Leon Ortiz-Gil

Casting - Phil Benjamin

Art Directors - Fred Luff III and Paul Peters

Set Decorators - Victor Hugo and Frank Lombardo

Costume Designer - Sal Anthony

*Harker Wade - Unit Production Manager

*Bob Bender - First Assistant Director

Gerald T. Olson - Second Assistant Director

*Jerry Allen - Model Builder

Ted Wilson - Carpenter (uncredited)

*Earl Crain, Jr. - Sound

Dick Wahrman - Sound Effects Editor

*Chuck Arrigo - Special Effects Coordinator (uncredited)

*Peter Anderson - Visual Effects Supervisor: Universal Hartland

David M. Garber - Miniature Effects

Wayne Smith - Miniature Effects

*Bob Bralver - Stunts (uncredited)

*Gary Armstrong - Assistant Camera

Kenneth Hale - First Assistant Camera

*Johnny Harris - Composer: Theme Music (uncredited)

Stu Phillips - Composer: Theme Music (uncredited)

*Alan Brennert - Story Editor

Anne Collins - Story Consultant

External links

• Planet of the Slave Girls at IMDb
• Planet of the Slave Girls, Pat I at NBC.com
• Planet of the Slave Girls, Part II at NBC.com