Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

- Okay, Venus?

- Okay, Steve

- Right, let's go.

(rockets booming) (ship whirring)

(upbeat music)

(dramatic music)

(eerie music)

(dramatic music)

- Just one of these capsules

will immobilise the whole system.

And when Space City is immobilised,

then Earth is ours.

The Earth men, Steve Zodiac, all of them, powerless.

(plant man cackles)

(gentle music)

- All very impressive, Matthew.

Most impressive to think that this tiny reactor

supplies all the power for the entire Space City.

- Yeah, but of course it wouldn't be the same

without Jock here, our chief engineer.

He tends to it all most efficiently.

- Ah, nonsense.

It could run itself, Dr. Rootes.

- Of course this is all Greek to me.

I'm a mere natural historian.

- Now, now, now, now, Howard.

Ever since I've known you,

and that's more years than | care to remember,

you've always put up this ridiculous pretence

of not understanding anything that's mechanical.

(eerie music)

- We're ready to test this new ejection equipment

when you are, Steve.

- I'd like Professor Matic to be here.

- Where is he?

- Showing an old friend of his around, a Dr. Rootes.

- Thank you for showing us everything, Jock.

The elevator is just here, Howard.

You'll like Steve Zodiac.

He's what the kids say, real boss.

- Now | can get on with my work.

(dramatic music)

- The professor and his pal are on their way up, Commander.

- [Commander] Thanks, Jock.

(elevator whirring)

- Dr. Rootes has been away from Earth for at least 10 years,

conducting some plant experiments in space.

(dramatic music)

- What's happened, Professor?

- A power failure.

A most unusual thing to happen, | must say.

- Without Space City,

the whole world's virtually defenceless.

It's terrifying.

- | guess the emergency system will be on in a moment.

(ominous music)

- This is impossible.

The emergency supply has gone, too.

- What's happened to the emergency supply?

It should've come on by now.

- Could it have failed, too?

- Very unlikely.

- But not impossible.

- No, not impossible, even in Space City.

- How much longer, Professor?

| thought you said there was an emergency supply.

- | can't think what's gone wrong.

- Every minute the supply is off,

we are completely helpless.

- Hey, you don't think that-

- | don't know, none of us know yet.

(suspenseful music)

| think I'll go down the emergency stairs,

see what's going on.

- My goodness, we are moving again.

- Well done, Jock.

- A radioactive retardant capsule.

Somebody must've put it down the air intake.

This means a full scale inquiry.

- It couldn't have been very serious.

- [Jock] Chief engineer to control.

Chief engineer to control.

- Commander Zero here.

- Commander, I'm afraid we've got

a little matter of sabotage on our hands.

- Sabotage, how?

- A neat little capsule of radioactive retardant.

Of course, you realise that this means

a full scale security check.

- Alert security.

Seal off Space City immediately.

(alarm blaring)

- Quick, Steve, the space radar.

Emergency!

- [Steve] A space missile.

- And it's heading straight for us.

(ominous music)

- It must've crept up on us during the power failure.

- That explains the sabotage.

- Give the red alarm.

All alarms, go, go, go!

(alarms blaring)

- What's available to intercept?

- XL9 Sector 26 is the nearest.

Shall | recall him to base?

- There isn't time.

The missile will be in range in a matter of hours.

- And XL5 is under a systems check.

- We'll have to use XL1L5.

- Bit out of date, isn't it?

- And she hasn't been check out after the ejection tests.

- It's our only chance.

We've just got time to get her

on the launching pad by morning,

but we'll have to work hard if we're gonna make it.

(ominous music)

- [Commander] Launch area commander

reporting winch systems go.

(dramatic music)

Launch area commander,

emergency services at station handler.

XL1 in position.

Standby to clear winches.

Launch area commander to all sections,

XL1 in position.

- XL1 alpha ready to go, Commander.

- Phew, just made it.

- The missile's in range.

Look, on the space computer.

(ominous music)

- Ross is at the controls, he's very experienced.

He'll get us through, if anyone can.

- XL1 Alpha intercept planetonic missile.

- Position, 14 zero black.

- Intercept go, XL1 Alpha.

- Roger, all instruments go, go, go.

(alarms blaring)

(rockets booming)

- Roger, all checks here are a go.

Full power.

- And good luck, Ross.

- Thanks, Steve.

(rockets whistling)

- Here she goes.

(rockets booming)

(explosion booms)

- XL1 Alpha crashed on takeoff.

- And Ross?

- It all depends on the new experimental ejection equipment.

- Ross to Space City.

Sorry about the slip,

but the new ejection equipment works fine.

- Good to hear ya, Ross.

- Ross, we'll pick ya up straightaway.

(flames crackling) (ominous music)

- Missile approaching one zero black.

- We can't do a thing except wait for the big bang.

We're licked.

- How long, Steve?

- About 15 seconds, I'd say.

(dramatic music)

This is the end of the line, Venus.

(missile whooshing)

(missile booms)

(clock ticking)

Venus, we're going to be okay.

The missile, it hasn't exploded.

- It's just as well it didn't explode.

The computer shows it landed on the beach,

only a few miles from here.

- Let's go and take a look,

and see what it's all about.

(eerie music) (crickets chirping)

(ominous music)

- Well, whatever it is,

it doesn't seem to be destructive in any way.

- Course, we've only had a very cursory examination.

But it seems harmless enough.

In fact, utterly useless.

- Where is it from?

- Your guess is as good as mine.

We'll have a chance to make

a proper examination in the morning.

| suggest we all go home and get a good night's rest.

- You better put a guard on the object, missile,

whatever you'd like to call it.

- Yes, don't worry Professor.

It won't run away.

| don't want you oversleeping in the morning.

(suspenseful music) (crickets chirping)

(dramatic music)

- [Woman] This is your alarm service telling you

that it's time to get up for another day.

A happy day, we hope.

This is Space City alarm service,

wishing you good morning.

(intercom chimes)

- This is Space City alarm service,

wishing you good morning.

- Oh, come on Lazoon.

You know there is a lot to be said

for the old fashioned alarm clock.

At least you could switch it off.

(leaves rustling) (eerie music)

Jumping space fish, whatever is this?

- But this is fantastic!

- The whole launching area is covered with the stuff.

(ominous music)

Dr. Rootes, you're the natural history expert.

What is all this greenery, where does it come from?

- It's hedera helixa, particularly virulent form of ivy

developed, | believe on the planet Hedera.

- The jungle planet.

- That's it, Colonel.

The planet where plant life

dominates every other form of life.

- But, how did it get here?

- It must've come on the missile.

- But we searched the whole thing from top to bottom.

There was nothing there.

- But you weren't looking for just one very small seed.

- That's right, Doctor, we weren't.

Well, where do we go from here?

- | would very much like to ask the same question.

| thought | was never going to get here.

- Venus, I'm sorry.

- Do you generally leave a girl stranded all alone

in the middle of the jungle, Colonel Zodiac?

- Ooh, she's not gonna let Steve forget this one.

- We were just going to send a jetmocab for you,

weren't we, Professor?

- Oh, yes, yes, of course.

- Okay, | forgive you this time, you tooty.

Now then, where do we go from here?

- Dr. Rootes?

- There's only one place where we can get the hormones

that will destroy the hedera helix,

and that is the planet Hedera itself.

- And the sooner the better,

unless we want the whole of Earth

to be taken over by this creeper.

- But how are we gonna get there?

XL5 is covered in it.

- We've just got to hack our way through it, that's all.

(ominous music)

(saw whirring)

(axe thwacking)

They're almost clear.

- We'd better get down there.

We'll have to make a quick getaway

before this stuff starts to grow again.

- It's terrifying just how fast it does grow.

- It won't take long for it to stifle the whole of Earth.

- Come on, Doctor, let's go down to XL5.

- Me?

But I'm such a bad traveller.

Do you really need me?

- Without you, Dr. Rootes, we're lost.

Come on, I'll give you

some of my special space sickness tablets.

(dramatic music)

- Hold tight.

- Oh dear, oh dear, | feel distinctly ill.

- Now, come on Howard.

Have another space sickness pill.

(rockets booming) (ship whirring)

(Howard groans)

- Excuse me.

- Poor Dr. Rootes.

He really is a bad traveller.

- Yes, poor Dr. Rootes.

- You know, he used to feel sick

even in an old fashioned jet plane.

(eerie music)

- Now, it won't be long now.

Will it, my beautiful one?

- Course 164 zero yellow.

- Zero yellow.

- Feeling better, | hope, Howard?

- Much better, thank you.

- Venus will bring us a delicious cup of coffee in a minute.

(ominous music)

- My goodness!

- We'll soon be there now, Dr. Rootes.

- But you're wrong, Steve Zodiac.

We'll never reach Hedera.

- What's the matter, Doctor, are you feeling tooty again?

- Have another space sickness pill.

- There's nothing the matter with me,

nothing that doesn't apply to everyone on board.

You see, XL5 is doomed.

- He's right, Steve, look.

Somebody has planted the hedera helixa on board.

- Yeah, and I've gota good idea who it was.

- That's right, Steve Zodiac,

and you've just got time

to return to Earth if you turn back now.

- No, Doctor.

We're going on to get what we came for,

and you're going to help us.

- You, Howard?

| can't believe it.

Your years away from Earth sure have changed you.

(ominous music)

(upbeat music)

- Entering Hedera's atmosphere.

Standby for landing.

All systems go.

Say, it looks just like Earth.

| guess it should be.

It's an ideal place for vegetation.

Not a clearing in sight.

- There is nowhere to land on Hedera,

the planet of plants, magnificent plants.

- In that case, we'll park XL5 in free float,

and use our thruster packs.

- And we haven't too much time by the look of things.

- Robert, take care of our doctor friend.

- Let me down, you, let me down.

- Take good care of our doctor friend.

Take good care of our doctor friend.

(thrusters hissing)

(eerie music)

- Is this the one?

- This is where the control hormones are kept, yes.

- Come on.

Well, where is it, Doctor?

Don't waste time.

- [Plant Man] Here it is, Colonel Zodiac.

I've been expecting you.

(horror music)

- Colonel Zodiac, may | introduce The Chlorophon,

the master of the plant world.

The beautiful world of plants.

Plants that will take over the universe,

so that it was one wild and beautiful garden,

and it is all my work, my work!

- [Steve] Very pretty, | must say.

- Yes, but you see, The Chlorophon,

my own creation is unique.

He is the only one.

Now | want to make him some companions,

and that's where you come in.

| knew that if | sent the weed to Earth,

you would hardly be able to resist the temptation

to come to Hedera.

You see, you are far too inquisitive.

- He's crazy, plum crazy.

- It's horrible.

- Not horrible, my dear Venus.

You will make a beautiful Chlorophon.

Just one injection of hemoclorophyll formula,

and then, but we must be careful not to give an overdose.

That would never do.

- Now, who is for the first dose?

(ominous music)

- Robert!

(dramatic music)

(eerie music)

You see, you can't use a hypodermic on a robot, Doctor.

- You never were any good at mechanics, Howard Rootes.

- | think you'd better come back to Earth with us, Doctor,

where you can be taken care of.

- But don't forget the hormones.

We don't know how the weeds have progressed on Earth.

(eerie music)

(thrusters hissing)

(upbeat music)

- Look at that. - Fantastic!

- Amazing!

(rockets booming)

(gentle music)

- Well, Matthew, it's been quite a show.

- Yes, pity about poor Rootes.

He used to be such a nice fellow at Universe University.

Well, | guess he took the Ivy League too seriously.

- Seems Dr. Rootes is out of harm's way.

- Well, they'll take good care of him at the hospital.

But you know Steve, he isn't all bad.

Why only yesterday, he sent me some beautiful flowers.

- Did you say flowers?

(gentle music)

Look at that!

- Fantastic!

- [Narrator] This is where we came in.

(dramatic music)

(upbeat 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