Original subtitles

(male narrator) Chosen from among all others

by the Immortal Elders

Solomon, Hercules, Atlas

Zeus, Achilles, Mercury

Billy Batson and his Mentor

travel the highways and byways of the land

on a never-ending mission

to right wrongs, to develop understanding

and to seek justice for all.

In time of dire need, young Billy has been granted

the power by the immortals

to summon awesome forces

at the utterance of a single word..

Shazam!

[thunderclap]

[instrumental music]

A word which transforms him in a flash

into the mightiest of mortal beings

Captain Marvel!

[music continues]

[birds chirping]

Chad?

Wait up, will you.

Chad.

Let me go, Danny.

Look, when mom and dad are at work

I'm in charge. Now, come on home.

No!

[dramatic music]

Oh, God, Chad..

Chad?

'Chad?'

Wow, it sure is great being on leave from the station

isn't it, Mentor?

Especially up here where it's so peaceful and quiet.

[thunderclap]

Was that lightning?

Possibly.

Then again it may be someone

'trying to get your attention, Billy.'

Holy moly. It's the Elders.

I'm late.

Oh, Elders fleet and strong and wise

appear before my seeking eyes.

Billy, someday your own image, your own identity

must be revealed to save a human life.

Oh, I'm not sure I understand, Solomon.

You may meet someone less fortunate than you.

Someone who feels he cannot cope with society.

But you can be the one to show him how wrong he is.

How worthwhile he can really be.

I can? How?

Perhaps by rembering

what the poet Wordsworth once said

"That best portion of a good man's life

"is his little nameless

unremembered acts of kindness and of love."

Elders, you talk of love and courage

but I'm not sure what it all means.

It is not our intention that you understand

everything clearly now, Billy.

Only that you'll use this knowledge when you need it.

- But, Solomon.. - 'Good luck, Billy.'

Mentor, do you understand what they were talking about?

Yeah, probably. But don't ask me to explain it.

I'm afraid it's something you must learn for yourself.

Well, can't you even give me a hint?

Oh, sure I can.

But I'm forbidden to.

[engine revving]

[dramatic music]

Great Elders!

[horn blaring]

[tires screeching]

[Chad groans]

- Oh, man. - Hey, are you alright?

Yeah, I, I think so.

You gave us quite a scare, son.

My name is Billy. What's yours?

You may meet someone less fortunate than you.

Someone who feels he cannot cope with society.

Well, you're blind.

Don't worry. It's not catchin'.

Ease up, man. I'm not hassling you.

It's alright, it's just that ever since I lost my sight

people treat me like I got some kind of disease or something.

Especially my brother.

Chad.

Here comes now.

Hey, what's going on?

Hey, what happened to your head?

I fell. It's no big deal.

Oh, Chad, why didn't you listen to me?

It was only about a year ago that my brother became blind.

'Only he can't take care of himself too well yet--'

I can, too. Quit bugging me, Danny.

Hey, could we give you two fellows a lift home?

Alright. Thanks.

- Come on, Chad. - I'm not helpless.

[instrumental music]

If you feel like sticking around I can fix that

bumper for you, Mentor.

Yeah, I could help too.

You better not, Chad.

You can get hurt messin' around with tools.

Wait, Danny, maybe Chad can.

Forget it.

(Danny) 'I'm only kind of worried about him lately.'

He's been real moody.

Oh, perhaps, um, if I maybe so blunt, Danny.

'Part of his problem could be the way you..'

...you overprotect him.

Well, when our folks are working I have to protect him.

Well, he sure can't take care of himself.

Well, how do you know until you let him try?

[knocking on door]

(Billy) 'Chad, it's me, Billy.'

'Can I come in?'

Hi, Chad.

"That best portion of a good man's life

"is his little, nameless

unremembered acts of kindness and of love."

"Tom Swayer."

Ah, it's all in Braille.

'Have you read this?'

I've read all those books.

What do you want with me, anyhow?

Nothin'. Just like to be your friend that's all.

Why? Feelin' sorry for me?

No, man, I just thought we could do some stuff together.

Like what? Sell pencils on street corners?

[sighs] Okay. You're blind.

But so are a lot of other people

like Jose Feliciano

Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.

So?

So they proved being blind

doesn't make any less of a person.

How would you know?

You're not blind.

No, but I'll bet you're more tuned into sounds and smells

and feeling things than I am.

Yeah, well, try smelling sunshine sometime.

[instrumental music]

I got a better idea.

Okay, now wait at the top of the stairs, Chad.

Okay.

Okay, Chad, now listen to the sound of the bell, alright?

The should of the bell.

'Good boy, Chad. Now throw it back to me.'

Listen to my voice and throw right back to me.

Good boy. Alright, now once more.

The should of the bell.

'Good boy, Chad.'

- I don't believe it. - Hm.

For a lad who feels useless

I can say that your brother has pretty fair hands.

I'm just afraid he's gonna get hurt messin' around like that.

Oh, that's a chance he has to take.

Look at that smile.

Well, just the same. I better keep an eye on him.

(Billy) 'Alright now, once more.'

'Good boy, Chad.'

(Billy) 'He's getting good, isn't he, Danny?'

Yeah, real good.

Just be careful, Chad.

[instrumental music]

- Toss me another one, Billy. - 'Chad, look out!'

Are you alright?

[grunting]

[instrumental music]

See what I mean?

He'll get it together, Danny.

Just give him time.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Chad!

Well, he..

He certainly is leading us a merry chase, isn't he?

Or maybe we better split up and cover a wider area.

Yeah, we can meet back here later.

Right and good luck.

Chad!

Chad!

Chad?

'Wait up, will ya?'

[snake rattling]

Ow!

'Chad!'

Chad, wait up, will ya?

[grunts] A rattler bit me.

It got me in the leg.

Are you puttin' me on?

I'm not putting you on.

- I gotta get help. - No!

Movin' all around like that will just spread that poison faster.

Now, you rest here, and I'll go for help.

How're you gonna make it? You can't see!

I'll make it. Now, you just lie down and keep that leg low.

[instrumental music]

(Billy) 'Chad!'

Billy!

'It's me, Chad.'

'Over here.'

Chad, are you alright?

Yeah, but you gotta get help for Danny.

He's been bitten by a rattler.

- Holy moly! - Where is he now?

Ah, about a mile back I guess.

Well, there's only one person that can lead us to him.

- And that's you, Chad. - You think you can do it?

Well, I got Danny into this, I'll get him out.

Attaboy.

There's one other problem.

Danny may need a snake-bite serum

and our paramedic kit's back in the van.

Our only chance to get it in time is Captain Marvel.

Captain Marvel?

Do what you must do, Billy.

Billy, some day, your own image, your own identity

must be revealed to save a human life.

Chad, I'm gonna ask you to keep a secret.

'Promise never to tell anyone'

'what's about to happen here today.'

I-I don't know, w-what're you gonna--

Chad, just promise me.

Okay, I promise.

[instrumental music]

Shazam!

[thunderclap]

[instrumental music]

Wow! What happened? Are you okay, Billy?

I'm fine, Chad, but I'm no longer Billy.

That voice, I've heard it

on the TV news.

You're Captain Marvel.

That's right. And that's a secret we must share.

Oh, don't worry, Captain Marvel.

I'll never tell anybody.

Chad, the success of this depends on you.

- Good luck. - Okay.

[instrumental music]

He really moves out.

[laughing]

Which way is it to Danny, Chad?

There's an old dead tree that creaks in the wind

It's this way. This way.

Chad!

Ah, who am I kiddin'?

He's probably wanderin' around lost out there.

[music continues]

[wind whooshing]

[rumbling]

[music continues]

I think I'm lost, Mentor.

We'll never find Danny.

He's gonna die, Mentor.

Oh.

Don't panic, Chad. Get a hold of yourself.

Now, look, I know you're afraid, so am I.

But we gotta stay calm and think this thing out.

Now, try once more to get you where he is.

Oh, it's no use, I can't.

Come on, try.

Wait.

[sniffing]

We're still on the right track, Mentor.

I remember smelling that stagnant water.

[sniffing]

Yes, I smell it now. Good work, Chad.

[instrumental music]

Wait.

I think we're getting close, Mentor.

Danny, we're comin'!

Why, he sure is bein' quiet.

Tree stump.

Yeah. Danny?

Danny?

My jacket. He's gone!

He's gone, Mentor.

Are you sure this is the spot?

Yeah, I think so.

My jacket, I'm sure.

Must've set out on his own.

- Danny! - Danny!

(Danny) 'Over here. I'm over here.'

- Let's go. - This way.

We're comin', Danny!

Hold on, Danny!

(Danny) 'B-behind these rocks.'

- Danny. - Help!

[groaning]

Danny, are you alright?

[wind whooshing]

Listen.

[instrumental music]

Here comes Captain Marvel.

[music continues]

- 'Captain Marvel.' - 'Captain Marvel!'

- Holy moly. - Down here, come on.

(Chad) 'Captain Marvel, my brother, get him, hurry.'

(Chad) 'Danny? Danny? Danny?'

Why'd you go? Danny?

There doesn't seem to be anything broken.

- How do you feel? - Crummy.

Now, we'll take care of that right now.

[music continues]

LA Hospital Emergency Unit

this is Captain Marvel, over.

(Swanson on radio) 'This is Dr. Swanson.'

'Go ahead, Captain Marvel.'

I have a teenage boy with a rattle snake bite

on the lower leg.

Presently treating him for shock.

Please advise, over.

(Swanson) 'Before administering the serum'

'the victim must undergo a sensitivity test.'

'We'll talk you through it.'

Roger.

Just relax, Danny.

Everything's gonna be alright now.

[instrumental music]

How're you feeling now, Danny?

A lot better, thanks to you, Captain Marvel.

Well, you should really thank Chad here.

'He lead us right to you.'

I never thought you'd pull it off.

That's why I tried walkin' out on my own.

Looks like I was the one that almost messed everything up.

(Mentor) 'Well, maybe we all learned something today.'

About ourselves and each other, huh?

Hey, where's Billy?

Oh, uh..

I'm sure we'll find him back at the house

keeping your mom and dad company.

- 'Right, Chad?' - Right, Captain Marvel.

[engine revving]

You know, it's really far out how much sounds can tell ya.

Well, for example?

Well, the sound of the tires tells me

we're on an asphalt highway.

Very good. What else?

The sound of the motor tells me that..

...we're running out of gas.

What?

Oh, no.

[instrumental music]

That last gas station is two miles back.

If only Captain Marvel could lend a hand.

There's no one around. It'd be perfect, huh?

[thunderclap]

Alright, alright, i-it was just a thought.

[instrumental music]

Hi, today we saw that everyone needs a helping hand.

The people with problems or handicaps

can get along almost as well as any of us.

All they need is a chance to gain self-confidence.

See you next week.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]

[music continues]