Original subtitles

(ominous music)

- Okay, Venus? - Okay, Steve.

- Right. Let's go.

(jetmobiles whirring)

(ominous music)

(dramatic music)

(rockets roaring)

(burners firing)

(exciting music)

(dramatic music)

(ominous music)

(Al moaning)

- How are you doing, Al?

- | don't think I'm gonna make it, Ken.

| don't think I'm gonna make it.

- Sure you will, Al.

You just take it easy.

(earthquake rumbling)

- Oh no! Not again!

| can't stand anymore of it,

| just can't stand anymore.

- Take it easy, Al. Don't let it get you.

We're okay so long as we stay in here.

(earthquake rumbling)

- Look, Ken, we're trapped. We'll never get out of here.

Not alive, anyway.

(ominous music)

- Keep quite still.

Whatever you do, don't make a sound.

(monster roaring)

(intense music)

- Try once again, Lieutenant 90,

and use the neutroni transmitter.

If there's anyone alive up there,

we should get an immediate answer.

- Yes, sir. Fireball XL2, this is Space City.

Do you hear me? Over.

(electronics beeping)

Nothing, sir.

(upbeat dance music)

- [Venus] Come on, Steve. Try it.

- No thanks, may have been the rage 100 years ago,

but it's not for me.

~ This is the twist

- Are you still getting the distress signal?

- Yes, sir, still coming from the surface

of planet Monotain.

- Lieutenant 90, send for Steve Zodiac.

Have Fireball XL5 made ready for immediate launching.

- Yes, sir.

(upbeat dance music)

- Oh, it certainly is tiring.

People must have been really tough in those days.

(phone beeping)

Answer it, Steve, will you please?

- Steve Zodiac here.

- | want you over here right away.

We have an emergency!

- Okay, Commander.

- What's wrong, Steve?

- Looks like we're off on an important mission, Venus.

- As | say, we've been out of touch

with XL2 for several hours now,

and then we got this emergency transmission.

As you know, Steve, it's an automatic transmitter

that comes on when anything is wrong.

- That's the position it's coming from?

Why, that's the planet Monotain.

- That's right, Professor Matic is already in Fireball XL5.

He was here when the alert went out.

Now, how soon can you be ready for blast away?

- What do you say, Venus? About an hour?

- We should make it by then, Steve.

- Okay, an hour it is.

(dramatic music)

(rockets firing)

(rocket roaring)

(boosters firing)

Well, this is the part that gets me most of all.

We've set course for Monotain, and now we just have to wait.

- And make the most of it, Steve.

My guess is there'll be plenty of action when we get there.

- True enough. Say, Venus, where's Lazoon?

- | hope you don't mind, Steve,

but I've put him in the control cabin with Robert.

- In the control cabin with Robert?

- Don't worry, they have a lovely time together.

They spend hours amusing each other.

- [Robert] Steer 1620, red.

- Steer 1620, red.

- [Robert] Steer 1620, red.

- Steer 1620, red.

(steam hissing)

(Lazoon hissing)

- Steve, | wonder how the crew of XL2 are doing

at this moment.

- There were just two of them

on that reconnaissance mission,

Al Stomper and Ken Johnson, both great guys.

Let's hope they're still alive.

(monster roaring)

(debris pattering)

(monster roaring)

(ominous music)

- Well, Steve, | don't know about you,

but I'm goin’ to bed.

- Yes, me too.

- | feel kinda restless.

| think I'll just stay up for a while.

- Well, there's one advantage of being in space.

No day and no night.

So at least we can go to bed and get up

when we feel like it.

- Could've used that situation when | was a kid.

Boy, how | used to hate going to bed.

- Well, | have to get a lot of sleep

to keep me beautiful.

- Well, I'm just tired. See you later.

- Yeah, me too. Good night, Steve.

(dreamlike music)

- Space, one of the most exciting ventures of man to date.

But it can also be dark and mysterious and very lonely.

| just hope those guys are okay.

(solemn music)

(electronics beeping)

- Fireball XL5 should have been in contact with us

long before now.

How many check calls have you made, Lieutenant 90?

- Five, sir. - Try again.

- Fireball XL5, this is Space City calling.

Do you hear me? Over.

(electronics beeping)

| don't understand it, sir.

You don't suppose-

- We don't suppose anything in this outfit, Lieutenant.

| Know what you're thinking,

that XL5 may have met the same fate as XL2.

Well, maybe so, but for the moment,

just keep on checking every few minutes.

- Yes, sir. I'll have the neutroni transmitter checked.

- That, Lieutenant 90, is the first sensible thing

you've said today.

- [Steve] Space City, this is Fireball XL5 calling.

Do you hear me?

- And about time!

- Fireball XL5, Space City here, receiving you clearly.

I've been trying to contact you during the last hour.

Are you in trouble?

- Space City from Fireball XL5,

no, everything's just fine.

We're approaching Monotain.

We'll shortly be going into orbit.

We did pass through a heavy curtain of meteorites

a while back.

That could have upset the neutroni transmissions.

- Roger, Steve. Relieved you're okay.

Keep in touch and report

as soon as you have any news on XL2.

- And tell him no heroics!

- Oh, and Steve, a message from Commander Zero.

- Yeah, | can guess. No heroics.

Tell him I'll be a good boy as usual. Over and out.

- Well, sir, he's okay.

- Of course he's okay!

What did you expect?

Steve Zodiac's the best space pilot we've got.

- Yes, sir.

- And Lieutenant. - Yes, sir?

- And you're the best lieutenant I've got.

- Yes, sir!

(exciting music)

(electronics beeping)

(ominous music)

(dreamlike music)

- We're in orbit, ready to release Fireball Junior.

Is Robert in the central control cabin, Professor?

- Yes, Steve, | just saw his light go off.

- Okay, we're off then.

We'll keep in touch. - Good luck, Steve.

- Safety belt fastened?

- Safety belt fastened.

- And here we go.

(steam hissing) (rocket firing)

(ominous music)

Switch on detection apparatus, Venus.

- Okay, Steve. - That's it.

Now we'll search the surface of Monotain.

If XL2 is down there,

its special metal will register on the detector.

(ominous music)

(electronics beeping)

(dreamlike music)

- Space City to Fireball XL5. Commander Zero.

Say, Professor Matic, have you heard anything

from Steve yet?

- No, Commander, not for a while.

The last time he called up,

he was around the other side of Monotain,

but he still hadn't discovered anything.

- Okay, Matt. Give me a call as soon as you hear.

- Sure, Commander. Fireball Junior, Professor Matic calling.

Steve, have you found anything yet?

Commander Zero's getting kind of anxious.

- Nothing yet.

- | wish something would happen, Steve.

| don't like this.

(ominous music)

(electronics beeping) Steve, that must be it.

We must have located XL2.

- Keep your eyes peeled, Venus.

It should be around somewhere.

(ship rumbling) Hold tight, Venus!

Something's hit us! We're going out of control!

(steam venting) (ominous music)

- Steve, what's happened? What's happened?

- | don't know, Venus, but just hold on.

We're gonna crash!

(steam venting) (ominous music)

(ship booming)

Okay, we're down. - Yes, and in one piece.

But Steve, what hit us?

- | don't know.

I'll call the Professor,

then we'll get out and investigate.

Get the jetmobiles ready, will you, Venus?

- Okay, Steve.

- Calling Fireball XL5 from Fireball Junior. Over.

There's no reply.

| guess the crash must have wrecked the radio gear.

(dreamlike music)

- It's about time Steve called up again.

Haven't heard for a while.

(jetmobiles whirring)

(dreamlike music)

- Venus, look!

(ominous music)

No one could have got out of that alive!

- How terrible!

(storm rumbling) What's that?

- | don't know.

- It's getting louder. I'm scared, Steve!

- Sounds like some sort of electrical storm,

but it seems to be approaching so rapidly.

Venus, quick! There's a cave over there.

Let's get in quickly before the storm breaks!

- Why don't we go back to Fireball Junior?

- | don't like the sound of it, Venus.

| figure it'll be safer in the side of a mountain. Come on!

(jetmobiles whirring)

(ominous music)

Guess this is far enough. Let's stop here.

- Steve! Look!

(ominous music)

- Don't shoot, Steve! Don't shoot!

- Ken! Ken Johnson!

Boy, am | glad to see you! Where's Al?

- He's pretty sick, Steve.

But what happened? How did you know we were in the cave?

- We didn't, Ken, but something hit us in Fireball Junior,

and then we heard the same noise after we landed,

and we ran here for shelter.

- Yeah. Here we all are.

- Yeah, the same happened to us,

but we weren't so lucky.

Our ship crashed.

| hate to tell you this, folks,

but you walked straight into a trap.

- What do you mean?

- Look at the cave entrance,

and you'll see what | mean.

(ominous music)

(solemn music)

Sure am glad we've got a space doctor here.

She's pretty, too. - Yeah. Al's in good hands.

But what gives with this monster, Ken?

- | can't tell ya much, Steve.

But that's what hit you in Fireball Junior.

That thing's got a neck as high as a skyscraper.

- | guess we're safe in here,

but somehow we've gotta get out.

- Well, I've given him something to relieve the pain

for the moment, but we must get him back

to Fireball Junior pretty soon.

- Even if we do get out of here,

there's nothing to say that Fireball Junior

will still be in one piece.

(ominous music)

- Hey, what's going on?

(dramatic music)

- So far, so good.

- Look as much as you like, baby,

but just don't hurt it.

(dramatic music)

- Ya think, Steve? He could crush it just like an egg.

- Hey, Venus, contact the Professor on the jetmobile radio.

Tell him to stay right where he is.

If that brute destroyed Fireball,

it would be our last hope gone.

- Calling Fireball XL5, Venus here.

Do you hear me? Over.

(monster growling)

- Any luck? - Not yet, Steve.

| think the radio's dead.

- Calling Steve Zodiac in Fireball Junior.

Do you hear me, Steve? Over.

| don't like this.

Something must be wrong. | can't get them to answer.

Better check with Space City.

Calling Space City. Professor Matic here, XL5.

- Come in, Matthew. Zero here.

- I'm getting kind of worried, Commander.

I can't get any reply from Steve in Fireball Junior.

| guess they must have run into some sort of trouble.

- Well, all you can do is keep on trying, Matt.

- Nope, I'm going after them, Commander.

- Now, Matthew, you know the regulations!

- Don't give me that, Commander.

My guess is you'd do the same.

Why, | remember the time in space pioneer days when-

- Okay, that's enough, Matt!

Have it your own way.

But | know nothing about it, okay?

And off the record, Matthew, good luck.

- Thanks, Commander. Over and out.

Okay, Robert, change to landing procedure

code 22 zero green.

- [Robert] Understand. Code 22 zero green.

(dreamlike music)

- Now, we all agree that our only chance

to save Al is to get him to Fireball.

- Right. - Check.

- So what I've got to do is to get to Fireball Junior,

rejoin her to Fireball, and then destroy the monster.

- Right. - Check.

- Now, it should get dark on this side of the planet

in a few hours’ time.

That's when I'll get my best chance.

- Our best chance. I'm coming with you.

- | wish | could come too, Steve,

but | guess | should stay with Al.

- Well, now that's settled,

maybe we should try and get a little sleep.

We're gonna need all our energy in a few hours' time.

(rocket roaring)

- Yeah, nothing yet.

(dreamlike music)

(ominous music) (Al moaning)

Hmmm. | am now on the dark side.

It makes it more difficult to search.

Wait a minute, there it is!

| can see Fireball Junior!

Robert, land immediately.

Position 62 zero black.

- [Robert] Roger, understand. 62 zero black.

(rocket whooshing)

- Sounds like, it sounds like a spaceship.

It's can't be!

(intense music)

| must be dreaming!

- | just don't understand this at all.

The wreckage of XL2 and Fireball Junior intact,

and yet no one around?

There's something mighty strange going on.

No, | don't like this at all.

| got a strange feeling I'm being watched.

(monster roaring) (Professor Matic yelling)

(ominous music)

(teeth clacking) (comical music)

Help! (teeth clacking)

- Okay, hold it! Don't move!

- What goes on?

- Oh. (chuckles) Hi there, folks.

| just came down to see if | could be of any help. (laughs)

(monster roaring)

None too friendly, is he?

(monster roaring)

(ominous music)

- Ken, have you tried using your koma ray gun

against the monster?

- Yup, but it's just not powerful enough.

- The ones in Fireball Junior would probably do it, though.

I'll make my way over on foot.

- Well, what about me?

I'm goin' with ya, Steve.

- No, Ken, it's better if you cover me from here.

If the monster wakes up, fire your ray gun.

Maybe the light will blind him

long enough for me to make it.

- Well, | guess so, Steve,

but for Pete's sake, be careful.

(ominous music)

So far, so good.

(rock clunking)

(monster growling)

(ominous music)

- Oh, Ken, | can't bear it!

- Please, Venus, go inside the cave.

You can't help me or Steve.

(ominous music) (monster's footsteps rumbling)

(monster growling) (debris pattering)

(raygun firing)

(monster roaring)

(ominous music)

- [Steve] (groans) My leg. I think I've broken my leg.

(monster roaring)

It's no good, | can't move. | just can't move!

(raygun firing)

(monster roaring)

- Venus, bring me the other raygun quickly.

This one's failed!

(monster roaring)

(ominous music)

(Lazoon roaring)

- Ken, it's running away!

- It sure is. | don't get it.

(comical music) (Lazoon roaring)

- Look! Look at Fireball!

(Lazoon roaring)

- What's happened? What's going on?

- Look, Professor!

Lazoon, my wonderful Lazoon, he saved the day!

- | still don't get it.

- Well, you see, Lazoon always imitates sounds he hears,

and the monster obviously thought it was one

of his fellow creatures,

and has run off to join it.

- Well, we'd better get out of here

before he returns.

He might be kind of disappointed when he finds out

he hasn't got a buddy after all.

- Okay, Professor. You and Venus bring Al back to the ship.

I'll get Steve, and then let's beat it out of here.

(upbeat jazz music)

- | feel kinda foolish with this crazy plaster on my foot.

Some hero | turned out to be.

- | guess you did a sight better than me, Steve.

All I've got to look forward to

is a lecture from Commander Zero on disobeying regulations.

- Well, | think you're both wonderful.

- Let's face it, the real hero of the day

is that funny little Lazoon of yours, Venus.

| promise | won't complain about him anymore.

Robert, set course for home.

- [Robert] Set course for home.

- Set course for home.

- [Robert] Set course for home.

- Set course for home.

- [Robert] Set course for home.

- Set course for home. (Robert venting steam)

(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

f We'll zoom away to Mars S

My heart would be a fireball

A fireball

~'Cause you would be my Venus of the stars