Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

- Okay, Venus?

- Okay, Steve.

- Right, let's go!

(space vehicles whirring) (suspenseful music)

(majestic music)

(jets roaring)

(upbeat playful music)

(triumphant music)

(spooky echoing music)

- How's the situation, Lieutenant Ninety?

- Okay, Commander Zero, things are pretty quiet.

- How about Fireball XL5?

Steve Zodiac is due home soon, isn't he?

- Yes, Commander, he's standing by for XL9

to take over patrol of Sector 25.

- Well, get on with the job, Lieutenant.

Check XL9's position.

- Sometimes he doesn't give you time to think.

- What was that, Lieutenant?

Have you got something to say?

- Oh, no sir, I, | was just thinking out loud.

Space City to XL9, come in XL9.

(engine roaring)

Space City requesting position check.

- XL9 to Space City, we're on our way to Sector 25

to relieve Colonel Zodiac.

We've run against a slight hitch, Lieutenant.

The astroscope's not working,

but the flight engineer will have it fixed pretty soon now.

- Roger, XL9, report when you have established contact

with XL5, have a good trip!

- We sure intend to, Lieutenant.

Over and out.

(explosion blasts)

What the blazes is going on?

Emergency, we're under attack!

(dramatic music)

Returning to Earth!

(fire crackling) (dramatic music)

(upbeat triumphant music)

- Approaching Earth, Matt.

Another tour of Space Patrol duty nearly over.

- Yes, Steve, and do | feel tired.

- Oh (sighs), yes we're all feeling the strain, Professor.

Sleep in a spaceship is never so relaxing as on Earth.

- Fireball XL5 to Space City, returning to Earth now.

- Receiving you loud and clear, Colonel Zodiac,

but have | got a problem!

XL9 has been attacked and is out of commission.

- Gee, Commander Zero, what happened?

- Well, a ship tried to immobilise XL9.

XL9 was about to start its Space Patrol duty.

- Don't tell me, | know, you want us

to take over XL9's patrol.

- Reckon the Colonel can read your mind, Commander.

- Yeah, Lieutenant. How ‘bout it, Steve?

- Okay, Commander, see you in another three months!

(engines blasting)

Set course for the nearest space station, Matt,

we'll have to refuel.

- Let me see, yes, that'll be Companion 12.

(mysterious chiming)

- Companion 12, that's one of the first stations

to be put into space.

- Yep, reckon it's old, all right.

- Well, as long as it's got fuel

it can be a million years old.

Let's get to it.

(eerie music)

(rhythmic radar echoing)

(mysterious music)

There's the space station, Venus.

Gee, it sure is small.

- Yes, Steve, but it serves its purpose.

- Say, what's that spaceship on free float beside it?

(eerie music)

Check that ship out, will you, Matt?

- Eh, what's that? (snorts)

Why, sorry, Steve, | dropped off.

- Matt's getting to be as bad as your Lazoon, Venus.

- Yes, Steve, let's radio the space station.

- XL5 to Companion 12, come in, please.

(mysterious echoing chimes and static)

- That's strange, they don't reply.

- [Steve] Say Matt, have you found out

about that other rocket?

- It's very old, Steve, but I,

| can't make out the markings from here.

- We'll move in closer and go to free float.

Something mighty strange going on here.

(eerie music)

Fire main retros, Robert.

- [Robert] Fire main retros.

(retros blasting)

(mysterious echoing chiming music)

(suspenseful music)

- I'll have to turn off the gravity activator, Venus,

or Fireball will crash into the space station.

- Okay, Steve, let's fit our magnetic sole plate.

- Magnetic sole plate's on, Matt.

I'm gonna switch off XL5's artificial gravity.

(Matt snoring)

(laughs) He's dropped off again.

Let's see if we can wake him up.

(bright music)

(Matt thudding) (Matt groaning)

- Ooh, hey, what's happening?

Why, Steve must have switched off the gravity activator.

(laughs) This sure is undignified.

- Better give him his magnetic sole plates, Venus,

or he'll float about for hours.

(bright music)

Now come on, Matt, | want to take a look at that ship

before we go across to the space station.

Get the thruster packs, will you, Venus?

- [Venus] Okay, Steve.

(eerie music)

- Okay, ejecting now!

(thruster pack whooshes) (suspenseful music)

(thruster pack whooshes)

(thruster pack whooshes)

- [Robert] May bond free float.

(eerie music)

(thruster packs whooshing)

- No sign of life aboard the other rocket.

Say, Matt, look at those markings!

(dramatic music)

- Yes, Steve, they sure look fierce.

- Steve, Commander Zero said XL9 had been attacked

by a ship marked SS Thor.

This must be it!

- You're right, Venus, let's take a look at the cabin.

- I'll check the rear of the ship.

(eerie music)

- Deserted!

How ‘bout the stern, Matt?

- Nope, no one here either, Steve.

- Okay, Matt, my guess is the occupants

are inside the space station.

(eerie music) (jet packs whooshing)

(button clicks) (doors whooshing)

No space cabs.

(footsteps tapping)

Hello! Anyone here?

Better get your ray gun ready, Matt.

I've got an idea we're gonna need it.

(hatch door clicks)

| guess that answers my question.

Now Professor, Venus, you keep close to me.

Something tells me we walked into a trap.

(suspenseful music)

(door clicking)

(footsteps tapping)

(door clicking)

Keep as quiet as you can.

- Steve, | don't like this. I'm scared.

- Now, now, now, now, now, Venus,

there's nothing to be scared of, | hope.

(people laughing)

- What was that?

- [Man] It is no use, you are at our mercy.

Throw down your ray guns.

- Better play along, there's no telling

what they've got rigged up here.

(gun clatters)

- Guess you're right, Steve.

(gun clatters)

(people laughing)

- Come on, let's get to the bottom of this business.

(dramatic suspenseful music)

- Welcome to our humble abode, Steve Zodiac.

We are honoured by your visit.

(dramatic orchestra music)

(eerie music)

(dramatic suspenseful music)

Come in, come in, sure you're not afraid?

Not the famous Steve Zodiac.

- Mr. Space Spy himself, I've been wanting

to catch up with you.

- Let's get down to business.

- Well, what exactly is your business?

One thing's for sure, it ain't honest.

- Shut up.

- Will you shut up, Lieutenant Ninety.

XL9 is coming into touch down.

- I'm sorry, sir, | was just suggesting

we alert the fire tenders.

- Now you don't need my okay for that, Lieutenant!

Get on with it and sound the alarm.

(alarm blaring)

(XL9 engine roaring)

- [Pilot] Space City, request emergency clearance

for touch down.

- XL9, you're clear, bring that ship down here

and start thinking up some good excuses

‘cause brother, you're gonna need 'em!

(XL9 engine roaring) (alarm blaring)

You got too much speed!

Too much speed, XL9, cut back!

Fire retros!

- She's gonna crash!

(explosion booming)

(ship thudding)

They've made it, Commander!

- They sure have, but they've ruined the launching pad.

Why I'd like to get my hands

on the people responsible for this!

- | suppose you are responsible

for what happened to XL9.

- We needed a new up-to-date spaceship

for the headquarters of our universe spy organisation,

but my stupid husband bungled the whole thing.

- But Griselda, my love, the XL9 was better equipped

than our old ship.

- Shut up!

Always you have excuses,

this time | handle it.

We now have a new ship, Fireball XL5,

and Dr. Venus is our assurance of this.

- If you harm her, I'll-

- Keep quiet, Zodiac!

- You will be our hostage.

- You won't get away with this.

- No, sir! What about the space station crew?

- (laughs) They are miles from here,

drifting helplessly in the space cabs

and | have jammed the homing device.

Now, Steve Zodiac,

you will refuel Fireball XL5.

- Not you too.

(dramatic music)

(suspenseful music)

(footsteps tapping)

(dramatic music)

- I'll need some help to refuel XL5.

- Very well, Zodiac, but remember any tricks

and the Doctor and Professor Matic will be finished!

- (laughs) Soon every enemy planet

will be rushing to employ Boris and myself.

- You'll be stopped with or without me as a hostage.

(fueling hose clicks)

- Okay, refuelling completed.

- Good, we will return to the space station.

After you, Colonel Zodiac.

(thruster packs whooshing)

(eerie music)

What are you doing, Steve Zodiac?

- Your magnetic sole plates are coming off.

I'll adjust them.

- You are up to no good, Steve Zodiac,

get ahead of me again.

(dramatic music)

(hatch door whirs)

- Good, they are back.

(footsteps tapping)

- [Boris] Keep moving, Zodiac.

- Do you think Steve has a plan

to beat these two spies, Matt?

- Surprise me if he didn't, Venus.

You know Steve.

- Are you ready, my love?

What?

Stop it! What has happened?

- Guess your magnetic sole plates

finally broke loose, Boris.

- Please, Zodiac, Professor, oh! (laughs)

- You two, fix his boots at once and no tricks!

- Better take your boots off, Boris.

- Now get on with the work, Zodiac.

- Please, hurry! Being weightless makes me ill!

- Will it work, Matt?

- Well, |, | hope so, Steve.

That was quite an idea of yours.

(Boris screaming) (body thudding)

- Are you sure those ropes will hold you, Matt?

- | hope so, Steve, let's try anyway.

Push the remote control lever.

(lever clicks)

(sole plate jets whirring)

- It works, Matt!

- Sure thing, Steve, now turn the jets off.

(lever clicks)

(Matt thuds)

Ooh! It's, you coulda been more gentle, Steve.

- [Griselda] You have been working on those plates

for an hour, Professor.

- [Matt] Yes, Griselda, we're nearly through now!

- You have five more minutes to finish

or | will finish your precious Doctor Venus!

- Take it easy, Griselda, we've nearly fixed the boots.

- Guess we'd better hurry, Steve,

she may harm Venus.

- Well, sir, Steve Zodiac's an hour overdue

with his routine call.

- What? Well, then call him.

Don't just stand there twiddling your thumb.

He could be in trouble!

- Space City to Fireball XL5, come in, please.

(dramatic music)

Come in XL5.

- [Robert] On free float,

my Companion 12.

- | can only get a robot giving position

by a space station, sir.

- Well Lieutenant, XL5 has got to refuel, hasn't it?

Rockets don't run on willpower, you know?

- Yeah, bet Steve's having a ball at the space station.

The boys there sure will give him a welcome!

- And you're going to have a ball supervising

the repairs to XL9 and | don't want any rush job, either!

- It's a rush job, Steve, | sure hope it works.

- Okay, Matt, you did your best in the time.

I've got the remote control box, let's go.

(mysterious music)

(Boris yelping)

Hang on for a couple more seconds, Boris,

I'll soon have your boots on again.

- Now, my fair Venus.

We will go across to SS Thor

while Boris takes over Fireball XL5.

- I'm sorry to delay you, Griselda, my dear.

- Shut up, you fool, and let's leave.

And remember the air supply in here.

- Of course.

(gun firing)

(fire crackles)

(laughs) You will soon be finished, Zodiac.

And there are no oxygen pills here.

Without your breathing apparatus,

you have less than one hour to live. (laughs)

(dramatic music)

(hatch door clicks)

(footsteps tapping)

- Now, Steve, quick! Before he leaves the station.

(lever clicks)

(suspenseful music)

- It hasn't worked, Matt.

(lever clicks)

(dramatic music) (sole plates crackling)

(Boris screaming)

Nice work, Matt, you did it!

(air whooshes)

- Griselda! Help me, please!

Help me!

- Don't worry, fool, | will get you back!

- Help me!

- You can never do anything right!

(upbeat playful music)

| shall have to hurry or Boris will be out of reach.

(eerie music)

- Are you okay, Venus?

- Sure, Steve, that was some liftoff.

- You head for Fireball, I'll get the homing device working

so that the space cabs can get back.

(dramatic music)

- | can't get the rocket started, Boris.

- Griselda!

(eerie music)

Griselda!

| am in orbit!

(bright music)

- I'll switch on the gravity activator again.

Then we can get rid of these sole plates.

- Sure, Matt, | guess Boris wishes he could do the same.

Oh look, there's Steve.

- [Boris] Griselda, help!

- The space station crew should be on their way back now.

- Oh fine, Steve, they'll soon repair the air systems.

(triumphant music)

(engine roaring)

- All systems go, go, go.

Let's get on with that patrol.

- I'll plot the course, Steve.

Then you'd better shout if you need me.

I'm gonna get some sleep.

- [Venus] I'll make some coffee, Steve.

I'll bring it into the lounge.

- Venus, even though you are a woman,

you come up with some real cute ideas sometimes.

See you in 10 minutes.

- You know, Steve, I'm still smarting about that crack

you made earlier on about being a woman.

You know this is the 21st century.

- Yeah, | know, but just look what happens

when the woman gets the upper hand.

Can you imagine a world full of Griseldas?

Me, I'd just give in.

- Men, bah!

They're useless!

They are fools!

(triumphant music)

Idiots, all of them!

(upbeat playful music)

~ | wish | was a space man, the fastest guy alive

I I'd fly you around the universe 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

JS We'd take the path to Jupiter and may very soon f

£ We'd cruise along the Milky Way and land upon the moon J

~ To a wonderland of stardust, we'll zoom away to Mars I

My heart would be a fireball

A fireball

~'Cause you would be my Venus of the stars