The Taybor

Strange glowing, metallic objects
start appearing throughout Alpha.
They are discovered, and picked
up, various moonbase personnel
who are rendered unconscious, or
blinded and burned. Koenig then
alerts the base about the objects,
to avoid further mishaps.

Just after the announcement is
made, Alpha is contacted by a
voice asking permission to land,
but no ship can be detected by
their scanners. Koenig refuses
to give permission, but a
brightly colored ship materializes
near Alpha anyway. As Koenig

tries to get him to identify himself
the owner of the ship materializes
in Command Center. He introduces himself as Taybor the Trader.
Koenig and Tony keep their stun
guns aimed at him, but Taybor
shows them a huge cannon-like
weapon materializing on the

lunar surface and it is aimed at
Alpha. He then explains that it is
merely an illusion, and makes it
disappear. He says that surely
his gifts should have announced
his honest intentions. Koenig
explains that several of his crew
were injured by those "gifts".

Taybor is amazed that the Alphans
could be harmed by his "toys",
complete with color coded safety
instructions. Helena explains the
nature of the injuries, and Taybor
tells her the effects are temporary
and even pleasant for those
affected. Taybor requests some

refreshment before trade begins.
Over some of Tony's beer, Koenig
asks how his ship could appear
so suddenly without registering
on their scanners. Taybor tells
him that their instruments cannot
detect hyper-space. He explains
that in hyper-space, a ship can

"jump" almost instantaneously to
its desired destination. Koenig
thinks that if the Alphans can
adapt the jump drive to their
Eagles, that they might be able
to return to Earth. Taybor laughs
at the idea that the Alphans
would be able to understand

the technology, and passes out
before trade can be discussed.
The next day, Koenig asks if
Taybor could return the Alphans
to Earth. But without "universal
quadrants", "routing angles", "subcluster" and "spin drift", Taybor
is unable to fix coordinates

for the jump. He offers to take
Koenig aboard his ship to cheer
him up. Koenig tells Taybor that
he will give him anything he
wants for the jump drive. Taybor
tells him what he wants for it...
Maya! Koenig refuses, but offers
an exact likeness of her instead.

Helena creates a duplicate to
Taybor's specifications. He takes
the robot Maya back to his ship
and returns to trade wares with
the Alphans. He presents Helena
with a bottle of perfume for her
assistance in making the copy
of Maya. When the trading is

done, he gives Maya a necklace
as a gift. When they are alone he
transports them to the Emporium.
Koenig asks where Maya is,
and Tony tells him that she went
to show Helena her gift. When
Koenig finds Helena, she is under
the influence of Taybor's perfume.

He begins to be affected by it, but
manages to clear his head. He
goes back to Command Center
and contacts the Emporium. He
learns that intends to leave with
Maya aboard. He asks Taybor
to give her back. Taybor agree
and transports the duplicate

back. It explodes and Maya
demands to be sent back to Alpha.
Taybor moves his ship into hyper-
space. Maya transforms into a
dog, and Taybor imprisons her
in a glass case. Koenig contacts
the Emporium by means of the
limpet transmitter he attached

to the hull of Taybor's ship. He
tells Maya that Taybor likes
to be surrounded by things of
beauty, that's why she's there.
Understanding his meaning
Maya transforms into a "female
reflection" of Taybor, and tells
him she has locked herself

in that form. Unable to bear
the thought of being with this
ugly woman forever, he returns
her to Alpha. All of Taybors
goods start to vanish, and the
Alphans' things reappear. Even
the "diagram" for the jump drive
disappears out of Koenig's

hands. He says that Taybor was
a poor sport after all. Helena says
that they should "beware of traders
bearing gifts." Koenig tells Helena
that he's thinking about the perfume that Taybor gave her. She tells him
to keep thinking... they don't need
Taybor's perfume.

Screenplay........................................................................Thom Keyes

Director............................................................................Bob Brooks

Guest Stars

Taybor "the trader"................................................Willoughby Goddard

Slatternly Woman................................................................Rita Webb

Supporting Cast

Yasko Nugami.........................................................Yasuko Nagazumi

Dr. Ben Vincent..............................................................Jeffery Kissoon

Bill Fraser............................................................................John Hug

Kate...............................................................................Sarah Bullen

Karen...................................................................Larraine Humphreys

Andrews.............................................................................Mel Taylor

While I realize that The Taybor is not one of the more highly regarded episodes of the second season, I have to say that I actually like it. One of the highlights, for me anyway, is Derek Wadsworth's score. The main theme for the S.S. Emporium is light and playful, and the music for the cannon appearing is wonderfully threatening. There are exciting action cues, and the theme for hyperspace is full of wonder and mystery. One cue which does not work as well in the episode, as it does just listening to it, is for the scene when Maya demands to be returned to Alpha, but it is mixed very low in the episode and does not interfere with the viewing experience. It is a shame they did not use it in another episode (that I am aware of). You can check out a few of the tracks written for The Taybor, in MP3 format, on the Year 2 MP3 page.

Despite a slightly cartoonish script, I think Willoughby Goddard does a very good job as Taybor. He seems very natural in the part, especially in scenes like the one where he talks about his "humble origins". I think he does as much as possible with the character as it is written. And you have to love the "rooster comb" hairdo!

I love the design of the Emporium. It has a funhouse look that fits Taybor's "sideshow barker" personality. He even delivers a line of dialogue that reinforces that analogy. When Helena explains that some of the crew were injured by his gifts, he replies "...if there's anything I can do, I have excellent medicines to do wonders for all kinds of complaints." as though he is going to try to sell her a panacea.

I thought Martin Landau did an excellent job in the scene where he tries to convince Taybor to accept a duplicate Maya. He was almost hypnotic as he lowered his voice, and repeated key selling points, as he told Taybor about it. He truly is as adept a trader as Taybor!

I found it interesting that Koenig was so sure that the limpet transmitter would allow them to contact Taybor's ship after it jumped, when the Alphans appeared to have no knowledge of hyper-space whatsoever.

I also found it interesting how similar the necklace that Taybor gave Maya was to the one she already owned. Perhaps that was how he selected it.

There is a small goof in the episode when Helena descibed the memory amplifier as cylindrical, when it is pictured as hexagonal.

There is some really nice character developement in this episode. We get to see some of the Alphans hobbies via the trading session with Taybor; things like Doctor Vincent's ship in a bottle, Yasko's bansai tree, Kate's sweater, and so on. It was also nice to see the friendship between Maya and Helena displayed when Maya had to show Helena the necklace given to her by Taybor.

I think this episode succeeds, when taken as the playful romp it was clearly meant to be. Any replies to comments made here are always welcome. You can contact me by using the commlock in the
Communication Centre.

	The Emporium and Taybor appear, big as life, and twice as colorful!
	Taybor questions the mental capacity of the Alphans when he learns that they have mishandled his gifts.
	Taybor offers his assistance in treating the injured Alphans.
	Taybor and Maya become friends over some of Tony's beer.
	The Alphans learn about hyper-space from a very relaxed Taybor.
	The alphans learn that the jumpdrive could get them home.
	Maya explains to Taybor why she can never go home.
	Tony tries to locate John and Taybor after the Emporium moves into hyper-space.
	Koenig makes Taybor a counter-offer.
	Koenig tries to get Maya back and succeeds... almost.
	Koenig tells Maya what Taybor wants to hear.
	Maya offers Taybor companionship... forever.
	Maya returns to Alpha.
	The Alphans find out that Taybor is a sore loser after all.
	Background sound.