Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

- OK, Venus?

- OK, Steve.

- Right, let's go.

(dramatic music)

(rocket engines firing)

(lively heroic music)

(dramatic music)

- Look Volvo.

Countless millions of tonnes of platinum.

And yet on Earth, itis a rare and precious metal.

If only | can reach Earth safely for the trade talks,

all our worries will be over.

- And in return your highness,

they will give us other minerals

that we so desperately need.

- Right, then the people of Platonia will be happy.

And my enemy Ginerva will lose his chance of seizing power.

It will be your job, Volvo, to protect me

until the Earth men arrived to take me to their planet.

- | have taken all necessary precautions, your highness.

- Thank you, Volvo.

You may go.

It is good to have someone | can trust.

(bomb exploding) (dramatic music)

- Four assassination attempts in five weeks.

Somebody means business, Steve.

- You can say that again.

We've just received a message on the neutronic transmitter

that there has been another attempt on Bizan's life.

Luckily he has survived.

- | don't get it.

| thought you said this Bizan was a good guy.

- Oh, he's on the level, all right.

He wants to trade with Earth.

His rival Ginerva wants to conquer it.

- So Fireball has been chosen to bring Bizan

to Earth safely for the trade talks, huh?

- Right.

Now, Steve, you know how important your mission is.

If he arrives safely, it means trade.

If anything goes wrong, it means war.

(dramatic music)

- Space City to Fireball XL5, zero minus 40.

- Fireball, this is Space City, roger.

Standby for blast away.

30 seconds.

(heroic music)

All systems, go, go, go.

- Roger.

All systems here are go, full power.

(rocket engines firing)

(lively energetic music)

- Lift A-OK.

- What do you know about Platonia, Matt?

- Not much, Steve.

But Bizan has a strong rival in Ginerva.

- Guess we're heading for trouble.

(dramatic music)

- Does the repair of the banqueting hall,

please your highness?

- Yes, Volvo.

If Ginerva could disgrace or kill me,

he would seize power immediately and declare war on Earth.

- Why do you not arrest him?

- You cannot arrest a man you can't find.

Ginerva is elusive as a snake.

- You need some refresher fluid, your highness.

- Yes, Volvo.

That is a good suggestion.

Ah, | am very weary.

Ah, a banquet, that's what we need.

We will entertain the Earth space men when they arrive.

- First drink your refresher fluid, your highness.

- You drink it, Volvo.

The thought of the banquet has refreshed me enough.

It's probably poisoned anyway.

- But | could not.

It is very valuable.

- Go on, drink it.

You are a good and faithful servant.

You deserve it.

- But your majesty.

- Your hesitation makes me think that it has been poisoned.

- Impossible, your highness.

| prepared it myself.

Your health, your majesty.

- Your health, Volvo.

For a moment | was beginning to be suspicious.

Our friends from Earth should be arriving soon.

(dramatic music)

Aha, the refresher fluid was good?

- Yes, your highness.

Now | will see to the banquet.

- Well, at least Volvo is faithful.

(dramatic music)

- The g-meter is giving a reading, professor.

- Yes, Steve, we are nearing Platonia.

- Yeah, | can see the planet clearly now.

(dramatic music)

- Okay, Matt, going into orbit.

Fire main retros, Robert.

- Roger, firing retros.

- All right, Steve.

Fireball Jr. clear to go.

- Okay, Matt, we'll keep in radio contact.

(dramatic music)

(rocket engine firing)

- Go to greet our visitors, Volvo.

- Very well, your highness.

- Stand guard, Robert.

Don't let anyone enter Fireball Jr.

- Roger, stand guard.

(upbeat music)

(heroic music)

- Welcome to Platonia.

Bizan awaits you.

- Stand guard.

Stand guard.

- Colonel Zodiac and Dr. Venus,

you will remain as my guests tonight.

| have prepared a wonderful banquet in your honour.

- These Platonian foods sure looks appetising.

(bright upbeat music)

- That was some meal, your highness.

- I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

Now for the seventh course.

- Seventh course?

This is a real planet hospitality.

(lively upbeat music)

- Here we go again.

- Gee that meal's just about fixed me.

I'm all in.

- As your doctor of space medicine, Steve,

| diagnose your trouble as a simple case of over eating.

- Guess you're right.

Say your Highness, if you'll excuse me,

I'd like to go to my room.

I'm pretty tired.

- Certainly, Colonel Zodiac.

Volvo show our guests to their rooms.

- This way. my friends.

- That is your room, Dr. Venus.

Yours, Colonel Zodiac, is down the corridor next to mine.

- Good night, Volvo.

Good night, Steve.

- [Steve] Good night, Venus.

- | hope you'll have a good night's rest, Colonel Zodiac.

Do not worry about your spaceship.

I'm sure your robot will guard it well.

- Sure, good night.

- Good night.

Pleasant dreams Colonel Zodiac.

- Zodiac to Fireball XL5, come in professor.

- How are things, Steve?

Will you be on Platonia overnight?

- Guess so, Matt.

I'll be glad to get back to Fireball.

- Don't worry, Steve.

You just get some sleep.

- Okay, Matt, but I'll be a real tootie

if anything happens to Robert or Fireball Jr.

- Relax, Steve.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Okay, Matt, night.

(ethereal music)

(dramatic music) (box beeping)

- Matt, are you awake?

There's something wrong, | just know there is.

Matt, I'm going out to Fireball Jr.

- I'll be standing by, Steve.

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

Robert.

What's happened to Robert?

Stop or I'll fire.

(gun firing)

It's Volvo.

(box beeping)

| get it.

He's been jamming Robert's controls.

(box exploding)

Volvo jammed your controls, but you're okay now, Robert.

Continue to guard Fireball Jr.

- Roger, guard Fireball Jr.

- Bring him around, Venus, while | check Fireball Jr.

- Roger, Steve.

The anti-coma serum will put him right.

He should be okay in 1/2 an hour.

- Right, meanwhile, I've gonna search Fireball, Jr.

My guess is he's planted a bomb.

(dramatic music)

I'm sure there's a bomb somewhere aboard.

Where could they hide it?

I've searched everywhere.

There are a thousand places it could be hidden,

but where?

Well, no luck.

Maybe we can force the truth out of Volvo.

(dramatic music continues)

- He refuses to speak, Steve.

- That's what | was afraid of.

We're due to take off soon.

There's only one answer.

Volvo will come with us.

If there is a bomb aboard, he'll soon tell us where it is

if he's in danger, too.

(rocket engines firing)

- Ready to connect, Steve.

Contact established, magnetic locks on, Steve.

- Now, we're on our way to Earth, Volvo.

Now where's the bomb.

There is a bomb, isn't there?

- Find out Earth man, | will tell you nothing.

(dramatic music)

- Hi, Steve.

His highness is enjoying the trip.

- Yes, Colonel Zodiac.

Your Fireball is very impressive.

- Well, let's hope it stays that way.

- I'll take some food to Volvo, Steve.

- Have you found the bomb yet, Colonel Zodiac?

- Now don't worry.

We're not even 100% sure there is one.

(dramatic music)

- | see Steve's added a new attachment to Robert.

| must remember to ask him what it's for.

(dramatic music)

(dishes breaking)

- Say where's, Venus?

Is she with you, Matt?

- No, Steve, | haven't seen her.

- | guess I'd better take a look.

(dramatic music)

Venus.

- Steve.

- Good-bye, Steve Zodiac.

- Too late, he's ejected.

(rocket engine firing)

- Steve, come to navigation bay at once, emergency.

A space fighter is leaving Platonia.

And he's on our course.

- My guess is it's going to pick up Volvo.

- Of course.

Anyone who objected into space without organising a pickup

would be a tootie.

- Well, he can stay out there

until we've taken care of that space fighter.

(dramatic music)

- Okay, professor, we're on course.

Maximum speed.

- All right, Steve, |am switching to radar telescope.

The radar telescope, Venus.

- Radar telescope operating.

- I've got it.

Range 24/25.

- Roger professor. prepare forward interceptors.

- Roger.

(lively energetic music)

- In range now, Steve.

Standby with interceptor

- Standing by.

- Range 2,400, g rate two.

- 2,400, 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.

(missile firing)

(spaceship exploding)

- A-okay, Matt, good shooting.

Now to pickup Volvo.

- We are approaching Volvo.

Firing retro rockets.

- Roger, Matt, ready to eject.

- Are you all right, Steve.

- Sure, Matt.

Contact established, winch us in.

- Roger, winch system go.

- Coming on board Fireball, now.

- Why did Ginerva not pick me up?

- You mean he was in that fighter we destroyed?

- Destroyed?

Then our cause is at an end.

Ginerva is finished.

- So will we be, if you don't tell me

where you put that bomb.

- You're right, Steve Zodiac.

The bomb is due to go off in half an hour from now.

But | refuse to tell you where it is.

- If that bomb explodes, you will die, too.

(dramatic music)

- Okay, well, let's see how tough you really are.

We'll sit it out and wait.

You have five minutes to live, Volvo.

- | don't want to die.

| don't want to die.

The bomb, it's in the robot.

- | can see it.

And we've only got two and a half minutes.

- Hurry Steve, there's only 90 seconds to go.

- Careful.

The slightest movement could set it off now.

- Get the ejection tube open, Matt.

- 60 seconds.

- Ejection tube open, Steve.

(clock ticking) (dramatic music continues)

- 30 seconds, Steve, be careful.

- 17 seconds, 16, 15,

14, 13, 12, 11, 10,

nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three,

two, one. (ejection tube wooshing)

(bomb exploding)

- Gee, that sure was close.

- Ginerva is no more.

Now my people will be at peace.

- | sure hope so, your highness.

Don't worry about Volvo.

He won't give any more trouble on this flight.

I've given him some knockout drops.

- And | have Steve Zodiac and his wonderful crew

to thank for everything.

- Okay, Robert, let's head for Earth.

Fireball XL5 to Space City.

Put down the red carpet, we're on our way, over and out.

(dramatic 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 S

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 Jf

¢ To a wonderland of stardust J

~ We'll zoom our way to Mars I

My heart would be a fireball, a fireball S

~'Cause you would be my Venus of the stars