Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

- Okay, Venus?

- Okay, Steve.

- Right. Let's go.

(dramatic music)

(rockets blasting)

(ship whirring)

(rockets blasting)

(upbeat groovy music)

(dramatic music)

- Lieutenant Ninety, send out a general alert.

This is an emergency.

- Yes, sir.

World Space Control Headquarters, Space City,

calling all Earth tracking stations.

Emergency.

Priority one, stand by.

Repeat, stand by.

- [Man] Canaveral, roger.

- [Man] Woomerma Rocket Range, standing by.

- [Man] Okinawa, standing by.

- [Man] Jodrell Bank, standing by.

- What do you make of it, sir?

- As | feared, Lieutenant Ninety.

A missile.

- And according to the computer,

it's carrying a planetomic bomb.

- Which is powerful enough to destroy the whole Earth.

(dramatic music)

Lieutenant Ninety, check the exact position of the missile,

then instruct one of our spaceships to intercept.

Let's see.

Sector 25.

That's Fireball XL5, Steve Zodiac.

(adventurous music)

- Well, Robert, we're on our way home at last.

- [Robert] On our way home.

On our way home.

On our way home.

- Gee, | keep forgetting.

You're only a robot.

Say, Venus.

How's our beautiful doctor of space medicine?

- | gather by the compliment, Steve,

you want something to eat.

I'm preparing a meal right now.

- | just adore your French cooking.

What's on the menu today?

Blue pills, pink pills, or those delicious capsules

that you make up?

Boy, will | be glad to get back to Earth to have a steak.

Calling navigation bay.

Say, Professor Matic, how are we doing?

Are we on schedule?

- Eh, well, Steve, we are approaching position,

eh, 150 Blue.

And I'm registering minus 40G from the moon.

40G from the moon?

That can only mean one thing.

- [Steve] What's that, Professor?

- It's time to eat.

- Say, you gave me a scare.

| thought it was something important.

- [Man] Space City to Fireball.

Planetomic missile approaching Earth.

Position 240 red.

Intercept.

Repeat, intercept.

- Go, XL5.

(buzzer sounding)

Abandon routine procedure.

Intercepting enemy missile.

Arming all warheads.

Waiting course instructions.

(buzzer sounding)

- Steve, where is the missile heading?

- According to Space City, it's heading towards Earth.

We've got to stop it, Venus.

It's carrying a planetomic warhead.

- A planetomic warhead?

Why, Steve, that's a million times more powerful

than a hydrogen bomb.

- That's right.

Our only chance is to explode it in space

as far away from Earth as possible.

- Is the professor tracking the missile?

- [Steve] Yup.

He's getting me in position right now.

- Okay, Steve.

I'll go straight away to help him.

- Okay, Venus.

Good shooting.

- Steve.

Steer

184

zero blue.

- Roger.

All warheads go.

Fire starboard thrusters.

- [Robert] Roger.

(dramatic music)

(engines blasting)

- Okay, Professor, we're on course.

Maximum speed.

- Right, Steve.

Am switching to radar telescope.

Radar telescope, Venus.

- Radar telescope operating.

- I've got it!

Range,

2425.

Steve, we would have to fire the interceptors

at maximum range.

That way we will be clear of the radiation

when it explodes.

- Roger, Professor.

Prepare forward interceptors.

- [Robert] Roger.

(dramatic music)

- Fireball XL5 is dead on target.

(dramatic music)

- How are we doing, Professor?

- In range now, Steve.

Standby with interceptor.

- Standing by.

- Range 2400.

G rate two.

- 2400. G rate two.

- Master guidance system UHF.

- Master guidance system UHF.

- 10 seconds.

- 10 seconds, Steve.

- Roger.

Standing by to correct course.

- Six seconds to go.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Zero and go.

(buzzer sounding)

(rocket blasting)

(explosion booming)

- What's happened, Professor?

The interceptor exploded before it reached the target.

- It was exploded by radio waves.

There must be a crew on board.

- Yeah.

A suicide crew.

(dramatic music)

Interceptor two.

- [Robert] Roger.

Interceptor two.

(dramatic music)

- Venus, switch on jamming beam.

- Will do, Professor.

- 10 seconds.

(dramatic music)

(interceptor blasting)

(explosion booming)

- [Ninety] He's done it!

- Nice work, Steve.

You okay?

- [Steve] Fine, Commander.

What now?

- Steve, our computers have traced the source

of the missile to Planet 46, sector 25.

Looks like it's your baby.

Good luck, Steve.

- Roger.

Setting course for Planet 46 to investigate.

Say, how about some coffee, Venus?

| guess we've earned it.

(upbeat groovy music)

| sure am glad I've got Robert as a co-pilot.

- [Venus] How long, Steve, before we arrive at Planet 46?

- Oh, quite a few days yet, Venus.

I, uh, | suggest we rest all we can.

We don't know what's in store for us when we arrive.

- Say, how about that coffee?

- Oh, gee, I'm sorry.

I'm a tootie.

| almost forgot.

(mystical music)

(work station whirring)

(electronic beeping)

(soft dramatic music)

- Fireball XL5.

This is Space City.

According to our calculations,

you are now approaching Planet 46.

(mystical music)

- Space City, roger.

Just going into orbit.

We'll call you when we've carried out reconnaissance.

(mystical music)

Here we go.

Fire main retros.

- Okay, Steve. Firing retros.

(rockets blasting)

- All right, Steve, we're in orbit.

Robert is in the rear control centre.

You are clear to go.

- Okay, Professor.

Venus and | will take a quick look around.

If we need any help, we'll call you.

- I'll be standing by, Steve.

Eh, take care of Venus.

We don't want to lose our doctor of space medicine.

- Sure thing, Professor.

Safety belt fastened?

- Safety belt fastened.

- Here we go.

(suspenseful music)

- Steve, do you really think that the missile

was launched from this planet?

- Well, Venus, that's what the computers say.

We have no evidence that there's any life

on Planet 46, although it does have an atmosphere.

- What worries me, Steve, is that the computers

in Space City are very rarely wrong.

- Sure, that's why we're here.

(mystical music)

Let's unfasten our safety belts and go out

and investigate on our jet mobiles.

- Ah, good.

We've landed safely.

(hatch whirring)

(jets whirring) (mystical music)

- See what | mean, Venus?

No sign of life.

No plants, no water, nothing.

- Yes, but this could be just a barren part of the planet.

- No, it's all like this.

Professor Matic has carried out extensive surveys

of the planet from space.

- Gee, this place gives me the creeps.

Nothing but rocks and craters.

And boy, is it cold.

Steve!

Look!

Caves!

- That could be the answer.

I'm a tootie.

Why didn't | think of that before?

Come on, let's go.

(jets whirring) (mystical music)

- Look, Steve!

Diamonds!

Thousands of diamonds!

- Looks like we've stumbled on something, Venus.

Come on.

(jets whirring) (mystical music)

Venus, stop!

Venus, on the other side, look!

A door!

(dramatic music)

This can only mean one thing: life!

I'm going across, Venus.

You stay here.

If anything happens, get back to the ship right away

and get help fast!

- But Steve!

Steve!

(jet whirring) (mystical music)

(jet whirring) (soft dramatic music)

Steve, what's wrong?

- The forward thrust motors have failed.

Must be the heat.

My speed has dropped but | can still make it

as long as the hover jets don't stop.

(jets whirring) (soft dramatic music)

(liquid bubbling)

- Turn back, Steve.

- It's too late.

I've got to keep going now!

(soft dramatic music)

- Steve, you're almost there.

(dramatic music)

- Venus, | made it!

(dramatic music)

- Oh, Steve.

(jet blasters sparking)

(alien laughing)

(weapon blasting)

- Venus, get help.

Fast.

(dramatic music)

(jet whirring)

(Venus screaming)

(dramatic music)

(mystical music)

- Steve Zodiac.

You appear to have recovered from the effects

of the Coma Ray.

- What's happened to Venus?

- Your Earth woman is quite safe for the moment.

- Where is she?

- She is out there in the rocket

that will be launched against Earth

in exactly eight minutes from now.

- You're bluffing.

- Am |? (laughing)

(electronic beeping)

Commence launching procedure.

- Okay, what do you want me to do?

- Very simple.

Instruct your spaceship to land.

- And if | don't?

- [Leader] You will.

(mystical music)

- [Steve] Fireball XL5.

This is Steve Zodiac.

I've discovered launching bay and have occupants

held as prisoners.

Bring her down, Professor.

| can't carry them all in Fireball Junior.

- That's boss, Steve.

We're on our way.

Robert, landing procedure.

Position code 220 red.

- [Robert] Landing procedure underway.

- Excellent, Steve Zodiac.

Now instruct him to land at position

called 220 blue,

and your Earth woman will be released.

- Fireball XL5.

This is Steve Zodiac.

That's right, Professor.

Land at position code 220 blue.

- But Steve-

- [Steve] No questions, Professor.

Just do as | say, please.

- Okay, Steve.

Robert, change landing procedure.

New position, code 220 green.

- [Robert] Changing landing position

to code 220 green.

- [Professor] Correction. Blue.

Repeat, blue.

- [Robert] Understand, blue.

- [Professor] Now, now, Robert,

it's no need to get all steamed up.

We all make mistakes.

| Know you think I'm a bit of a toot.

But I'm only human.

(dramatic music)

- Good.

Now, Steve Zodiac.

Observe.

(dramatic music)

- They're sinking into the ground!

- They are, indeed.

All is going according to plan.

Your spaceship will sink in the ash.

The beautiful Earth woman will die

when the rocket hits its target, Earth.

Then it is your turn.

You have already cost us one failure.

- So much for your word as a Subterrain.

- Silence, Earth man.

Proceed with launch.

- Resuming countdown at minus 40.

39.

38.

37.

36.

35.

34.

33.

32.

(ship rumbling)

- [Professor] Robert, restart the motors.

Robert!

What's the matter?

Are you there?

(ship rumbling)

- 12.

11.

10.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Zero.

Ignite.

(rocket blasting)

Fault on guidance mechanism.

- Change guidance frequency.

(aliens speaking in foreign language)

- Rocket now under control guidance system.

Functioning normally.

- Don't worry, Steve Zodiac.

Unlike Earth men,

we do not make mistakes.

- That's what you think.

(gun firing)

(dramatic music)

- It's no good, Robert.

We, we can't get her out of this

without Fireball Junior.

What's happened to Steve?

(dramatic music) (jet whirring)

(glass shattering)

(adventurous music)

- Fireball XL5 from Steve Zodiac.

I'll be with you in a moment, Professor.

Once we get the nose cone attached,

we'll be able to pull Fireball out of the ash.

- Hurry, Steve.

We're almost completely submerged.

(adventurous music)

- Okay, Professor. I'm back.

Firing main boosters.

(boosters blasting)

(triumphant music)

- All right.

Instruct your Subterrain to abandon the missile

with Venus.

If you don't, we'll be forced to destroy your planet.

Now, transmit.

(mystical music)

- [Leader] This is your Subterranean chief speaking.

Abandon missile with Earth woman.

Repeat, abandon missile with Earth woman.

| have passed on your message,

but to no avail.

The Earth woman will die anyway.

They have no space equipment on board.

- Here, take this.

It's an oxygen pill.

It will enable you to live in space.

- Okay, Professor, I've taken my oxygen pills.

Gonna bring Venus and the Subterrain onboard.

- Take it easy, Steve.

(seats blasting)

Okay, Steve.

They've ejected.

- Roger, Professor.

(mystical music)

- Prepare intercept to missile to launch.

- [Robert] Message understood.

(dramatic music)

(mystical music)

- Ignition. And go.

(explosion booming)

- Well done, Professor.

Now winch us in.

(mystical music)

Well, Venus, there's Earth.

Sure looks better from here than inside

that Subterrain rocket.

- Thanks to you, Steve.

| guess | know now why they call you

the greatest astronaut on Space Patrol.

- | think you're cute, too.

Space Patrol, this is Fireball XL5 returning to base.

Mission complete.

Over and out.

(triumphant music)

~ 1 wish | was a spaceman S

~ The fastest guy alive

< I'd fly you round the universe f

f In Fireball XL5 I

~ Way out in space together J

~ Conquerors of the sky

My heart would be a fireball

A fireball

f Every time | gazed into your starry eyes f

S We'd take the path to Jupiter

~ And maybe very soon J

¢ We'd cruise along the Milky Way ¢

¢ And land upon the moon J

¢ To a wonderland of stardust J

~ We'll zoom our way to Mars I

My heart would be a fireball

A fireball

~'Cause you would be my Venus of the stars