Original subtitles

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Okay, Venus?

- Okay, Steve.

- Right, let's go.

(vehicles whirring) (dramatic orchestral music)

(rockets booming) (engine whining)

(rockets booming)

(dramatic orchestral music)

(suspenseful music)

(eerie music)

(fireball whooshing)

(dramatic orchestral music)

(explosion booming) (dramatic music)

(fire crackling)

(fireball whooshing) (dramatic music)

(fire roaring)

(dramatic music)

- Okay, I've got it. 2x4, standby.

Jumping catfish.

Another ball of fire has landed in Canada.

A whole forest is alight.

- | wonder what's causing these fireballs, Commander.

- If | knew that, Lieutenant,

I'd do something to stop it, wouldn't I?

- Yes, sir, sorry, sir.

Oh say, that cloud we located in space

just beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Do you think that's got something to do with it, Commander?

- | don't know, Lieutenant.

Scientists throughout the world are checking now.

(suspenseful music)

(fireball booming)

Yeah, | got it.

Okay, continue to stand by, 2X4.

Now, the Hall of Justice Brazil has been hit.

And it looks as though that cloud

is the fire raiser, Lieutenant.

- This is getting serious, Commander.

They're landing all over the Earth.

(fireball booming)

(suspenseful music)

(fire roaring)

(fireball booming)

(engine whining) (suspenseful music)

(explosion booming)

- Okay, I've got the position.

Roger and out.

Aircraft crashed, hit by a ball of fire.

- Steve Zodiac is on his way back

from space patrol, commander.

He's nearest to the space cloud.

- | know that, Lieutenant.

You don't have to tell me where my spaceships are.

| was just about to call Fireball XL5.

- Yes, sir.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- [Zero] Space City to Fireball XL5.

Come in Colonel Zodiac.

- XL5 to Space City.

What can | do for you, Commander Zero?

- There's a cloud drifting from space

into Earth's atmosphere, Steve.

| want you to analyse it.

- Yes, sir. What's so special about that cloud?

Gases do drift through space now and again.

You know that.

- Why is everyone trying to tell me my job?

According to the scientists, this cloud is igniting

when it enters our atmosphere, so it actually rains fire.

- Okay, Commander, I'll get Matt onto it right away.

- Oh, the nerve of that guy.

If he wasn't the best space pilot we've got, I'd fire him.

- What do you make of this mysterious cloud, Matt?

- Well, | tracked it, Steve.

But we can't analyse it from this distance.

We've gotta get near to Earth.

- Okay, let's increase our speed.

(engine roaring)

(mysterious orchestral music)

- Yeah, as | thought.

The cloud is a collection of gas, Steve.

- I'll get closer and you can collect some samples.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(suspenseful music)

(explosion booming)

We're on fire, tail section.

What's happened, Matt?

- Well, there's always some oxygen trapped

in the rocket exhaust, Steve.

| guess the gas found it and bingo, it's ignited.

- Firing emergency retros.

(retros roaring)

Take over, Robert, keep on free float.

- Keep on free float.

- [Steve] Check inside the tail section, Matt.

- Right, Steve.

Whatever happens, the fire mustn't reach our fuel tanks

or we'll blow up.

- [Steve] Look, I'll get a thruster pack

and see what | can do from the outside.

- Take it easy, Steve, and don't forget your oxygen pill.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(suspenseful music) (fire crackling)

(water whooshing)

(water whooshing)

- Okay, okay, it's nearly out, Venus.

- Good work, Matt.

I've checked the computers.

The flames have done no serious damage

to the rocket propellers.

Steve seems to be winning, too.

(dramatic music)

- Well, that was a close one, folks.

Luckily, we caught the fire in time

before it did too much damage.

- Well, it's proved our theories, Steve.

Oxygen does ignite the gas.

- Will we make it back to Earth okay?

- Providing we avoid that cloud, yes.

But XL5 will have to undergo a thorough check at Space City.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(engine whirring)

- Well, you had experience of this fireball firsthand.

Now, what's the answer?

- It's a tough one, Commander.

If only we could find some way to enclose the main cloud

before it reaches Earth's atmosphere.

- [Matt] Yeah, | see what you mean, Steve.

We could then inject oxygen into it

and it would burn itself out in space.

- But we'd need an enormous gas tank,

and we haven't got time to build one.

- Venus is right.

So far, we've only had particles.

What's gonna happen if the whole cloud decides to drift in?

Earth will be one massive flame.

- I've got it.

Hey, we can use our white elephant.

You remember, Matt, that giant satellite

that was built here.

- You mean Skybor One.

Why sure, it was intended to be a manned space station,

but it became obsolete before it was completed.

- Don't tell me it's still in existence, Steve.

That was built years ago.

- It was one of Commander Zero's brain waves.

Well, how about it, Commander, is it still around?

- You know full well it is, Zodiac.

| lost a chance at promotion through that satellite.

- How about it, Matt, could we use it?

- Well, there's not much time, Steve.

But it's worth a try.

- Okay, I'll get it out of cold storage right away.

But remember, Professor,

you've only got 12 hours at the most.

That cloud won't hold off much longer.

(dramatic music)

- Do you think he'll make it by morning, Steve?

- | hope so, Venus.

He hasn't got much time.

But you know Matt, he always works best under pressure.

- Now, let's see,

the whole thing would be assembled in space.

Yep, with the suction pumps

and the oxygen tanks in the control compartment,

| should be able to fix that cloud for good.

- I've asked the space stations to report

on that gas cloud's movements in space, Lieutenant Ninety.

They should come in every 10 minutes.

Oh, what's wrong with these aerials?

They're acting up.

(electricity crackling)

Ah, | guess it's time | had

a new neutronium receiver fitted.

- Yeah, Commander, they say the latest model,

the D400 Mark 10 is a dilly.

- | don't know how | can be expected

to control all our spaceships with out-of-date equipment.

(mysterious orchestral music)

- [Steve] Okay, Venus, I'll see you in the morning.

- [Venus] Okay, Steve, see you.

- Welcome home.

(Zunni speaks in foreign language)

- Hello, Zunni, so you're awake.

(Zunni muttering)

Good, you can help me tidy up.

This place is a mess.

- Good night. (moaning)

- Zunni.

(suspenseful music)

- [Station Nine] Space Station Nine to Space City.

Cloud direction Earth, drift is slow.

- Did you get that message, Lieutenant?

- Yes sir, sounds as though

we're gonna have another spate of fires.

- We have an emergency red alert on our hands

and my receiver has to act up.

(electricity sizzling)

Sufferin' spaceships.

The console's on fire.

Put out those flames, Lieutenant,

before the whole console blows up.

- Yes, sir.

(water whooshing)

Well, | guess you'll be able

to have a new D400 Mark 10 receiver now, Commander.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- [Station Nine] Space City from Station Nine.

A fireball is heading straight for you.

- Roger, Nine, alert Space City, Lieutenant, and fast.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- [Ninety] This is Space City Control calling emergency red.

Ball of fire heading towards this island.

Respective impact location, unknown.

- Venus, she's on her own.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(suspenseful music)

(bright cheerful music)

- It's no good, Zunni.

| can't just sit here.

I'm going to ring Steve and get him

to take me back to Space City.

(Zunni whining)

Oh, I'm sorry, Zunni.

But | am a member of the World Space Patrol,

and duty comes first.

(fireball whirring)

- Commander, the ball of fire is heading straight

for Venus's beach house.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(explosion booming)

(Zunni screaming)

(dramatic orchestral music)

- Come on, Zunni, let's get out of here.

(Zunni whimpering)

Great job, Zunni, the fire, the fire's all around us.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(suspenseful music)

(suspenseful music)

(glass breaking)

(Zunni whimpering)

- [Steve] Venus, Venus.

(dramatic music) (fire crackling)

(gentle music)

- Oh, Steve, Steve, what happened?

- You're okay, Venus.

| guess you were overcome by the smoke.

- My house.

My house, is it?

- I'm afraid it couldn't be saved, Venus. I'm sorry.

- [Venus] Oh, Steve, Steve, my beautiful house.

- There, there, Venus, don't worry.

We'll build you a new house,

exactly the same in every way.

(gentle music)

- How's Venus now, Steve?

- Oh, she's sleeping right now, Commander.

She's had a bad shock.

How's it going, Ninety?

- Well, Professor Matic's nearly finished work

on the suction pumps and oxygen tanks, Colonel.

- Great, Lieutenant. | checked on Fireball XL5.

The night crew will have her ready

for liftoff in the morning.

- Tomorrow's gonna be a big day for me, too.

I've been promised a new D400 Mark 10 neutronium receiver.

- Fine, Commander.

Maybe | won't have to repeat my messages

so much in the future.

Anyhow, I'm going to get some sleep.

- | reckon you'd better before | ground you for that remark.

Lieutenant, have you checked on the three rockets?

- Yes sir, they're ready on the launch pads.

The prefabricated gas tank

for the cloud is being loaded now.

Liftoff is at 0900 hours.

(mysterious music)

- Are you sure you feel okay, Venus?

That was a nasty shock you had.

- I'm all right now, thank you, Professor.

You know I'd rather be with you

and Steve when we're on a mission.

(suspenseful music)

- Okay, Lieutenant, get those rockets up there.

We've had reports that the cloud is moving

in a mass towards our atmosphere.

- Roger, Commander, starting 10 second countdown.

Warrior Seven.

10, nine, eight,

seven, seven,

six, Six,

five, five,

four, four,

three, three,

two, two,

one, zero, ignition.

(rockets booming)

Stand by, Trooper Two.

Final five second countdown.

Five, five,

four, four,

three, three,

two, one,

zero, ignition.

(rockets booming)

Clear for liftoff, Colonel Zodiac.

Warrior Seven and Trooper Two heading for space.

- Roger, Lieutenant.

They should be in orbit ready for us

by the time we get up there.

(rockets roaring)

(rockets booming)

(engine whining)

(rockets booming)

Okay, Professor, get ready.

We've got a lot of work to do and fast.

That gas cloud hasn't got far to go.

- Roger, Steve, the two rockets are in orbit.

- Keep XL5 in free float.

(suspenseful music)

- | sure wouldn't like to lift that down on Earth.

Oh well, to work.

(mysterious music)

(metal banging)

(mysterious music)

(dramatic mysterious music)

(engine roaring)

Prepare to operate remote suction pumps, Matt.

The cloud is approaching the sphere.

(eerie music)

- Suction pumps on, Steve.

(pumps whirring)

- It's working okay.

You did a swell job on those pumps, Matt.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(triumphant music)

- The gas cloud is secure in the container, Professor.

- Good. Okay, Steve, we can detonate it now.

- Okay, release oxygen valves.

We're well out of the blast area.

- Releasing valves now.

Wait for the big bang.

(mysterious music)

(dramatic music)

- What's happened? Why hasn't it blown?

- | don't know, Steve.

The remote control level has been operated.

- | guess a fuse is blown in one of the valves.

Well, that means the oxygen can't get through to the gas.

(suspenseful music)

Steve, the container's being pulled back

towards Earth by gravity.

- If it enters the atmosphere it'll explode,

and the entire Earth will become a giant fireball.

I've gotta release those valves, by hand if necessary.

- But, Steve, Steve, that'll be suicide.

- You can't do it, Steve.

You'd never get clear before the gas exploded.

- No, Steve, please don't do it.

- I've got to, or Earth will be a raging inferno.

Take over, Robert and return to sphere.

(dramatic music)

(suspenseful music)

- Steve's nearly there, Venus.

(dramatic music)

(door whirring)

- Matt was right.

A fuse has blown.

I'll have to release the valves

and try and get clear before she goes up.

- Oh, what's Steve doing, Matt?

- Ah, probably risking his fool neck, as usual.

- Well, here goes.

| hope my thruster pack responds to full pressure at once.

It's my only chance.

(dramatic suspenseful music)

(explosion booming)

- Matt, Matt, Steve's been caught by the blast.

(explosion booming)

- Sorry about that, folks.

| lost control for a minute but I'm okay now.

(upbeat music)

XL5 to Space City, come in, Control.

- Receiving you loud and clear, Zodiac.

Doubly clear, | might say.

- Hey, how come, Commander?

Your neutronium receiver caught fire, didn't it?

- Yes, Steve, but since you went up

to get rid of that cloud,

I've had a brand new D400 Mark 10 receiver fitted.

It's just great.

- Say, Matt, | guess for the next six months,

we'll have the Commander making small talk across space.

- Yes, Steve, he's just like a kid with a new toy.

- Listen, he's started already.

- This is Space City calling,

Space City calling, has anyone anything to report?

(radio crackling)

XL19?

XL27?

XL30, have you anything to report?

Will someone please say something?

Oh, what do you know about that?

Now, that | can hear them, no one's got anything to say.

(triumphant orchestral music)

(upbeat music)

~ 1 wish | was a spaceman S

~ The fastest guy alive

f I'd fly you around 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

£~ Through a wonderland of stardust S

~ 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