Original subtitles

(dramatic, orchestral music)

- Okay Venus?

- Okay Steve.

- Right, let's go.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

(rocket blasts) (rumbling)

(rocket whirring) (humming)

(rocket blasts) (whirring)

(jazzy, orchestral music)

(steam hissing) (jazzy music)

- All tanks refuelled.

Repeat, all tanks refuelled.

- Roger, Robert, recheck okay.

(machinery chugging) (quiet, orchestral music)

You're all ready for liftoff

as soon as Fireball XL-7 returns from patrol, Steve.

- Good, I've just got time to read the report

of the Interplanetary League spaceship race.

| hear it was a real boss race.

(gentle, orchestral music)

- Gee, that must have been some race.

One of these days we'll have to enter Fireball.

(chuckles) | bet we'd lick the pants off ‘em.

- Oh Professor,

can't you stop thinking about flying for once?

- Well, what else is there?

- Well | find plenty to do,

sewing on buttons and doing the laundry

for crusty old bachelors like you and Steve.

- (laughs) Venus, | don't know what we'd do without you.

- Well, what about some coffee, Professor?

- Well, only if you insist.

- | insist.

- Hm, I'm glad about that, | sure am thirsty.

(Zoonie whimpering)

Hey say Zoon, what's wrong?

(Zoonie whimpering)

You're acting mighty strange tonight, Zoon.

(Zoonie whimpering)

- Won't be a moment, Professor.

Say, what's wrong with Zoonie?

- Well something is worrying him all right,

it's uh, it's kind of uncanny.

- Well Zoons are known to be very sensitive creatures.

He must sense that something is wrong.

(Zoonie whimpering)

He's looking up into the sky.

(Zoonie whimpering)

- Well Venus, he does come from another planet.

Maybe he's homesick or something.

Or perhaps there's some sort of trouble out there in space.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

(radio buzzes)

- Space City, come in, emergency.

- [Captain Ross] Fireball XL-7 emergency, out of control.

Repeat, fireball XL-7 out of control.

- What's the matter?

- Fireball XL-7 emergency, Steve.

What is your position, Fireball XL-7?

Repeat, what is your position?

Over.

- It's impossible to tell, instruments have gone haywire.

- Tell Ross to use ejectors, it's their only chance.

- Eject,

eject,

eject,

emergency, eject.

Over.

(radio humming)

- Still no answer.

| don't like it.

As soon as the moon rises,

I'm going out there to investigate.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

(Zoonie howling) (whimpering)

- Professor, I'm worried.

I've never known Zoonie to act like this before.

- Yeah, | must admit it, it's very strange.

But you'd better try and get some rest

before we take off, Venus.

- Yes, | guess you're right, Professor.

- I'll be getting back on the Fireball to get some sleep.

Eh, thanks for the coffee.

- You know, it's about time

you got yourself somewhere to live, Professor.

Don't you see enough of Fireball while you are on patrol

without being there when we are back on Earth?

- Well | uh, | guess it's my home.

Besides, it's good enough for me.

Now now, don't get up, Venus, (laughs) I'll see myself out.

Now don't worry about little Zoon, he'll be okay.

Goodnight.

- Goodnight, Professor.

Sleep well.

Oh well, | suppose | should get some sleep.

Now Zoonie, are you feeling better?

(Zoonie whimpering)

(phone rattling) (ringing)

Now who can that be at this hour?

(Zoonie whimpering)

Hello?

Yes.

| see.

The Professor has just left.

He's going back to Fireball.

I'll be down right away, Steve.

I'll help you prepare for takeoff

so the Professor can get his sleep.

(gentle, orchestral music)

(playful, twangy music)

(alarm buzzing) (playful, twangy music)

- All pre-liftoff checks complete.

What's the time now, Venus?

- Well the Professor set that old alarm of his for 9:30

and there it goes now.

- There it went, you mean.

| can't think why he keeps that old clock.

It's a 1962 model, over 100 years old.

- He says it's more accurate than any space chronometer.

- (chuckles) He's just a toot.

- But a nice toot.

(alarm buzzing)

Shouldn't the moon be up by now?

- Yeah, it should.

Maybe our space time clock has gone wrong.

I'll call up Commander Zero.

- Bout time Zodiac was on his way.

Why haven't you cleared his takeoff?

- We're waiting for moonrise, Command Zero.

- [Steve] Hey Commander, what have you done with the moon?

It's overdue 10 minutes already.

| want to get out to look for our XL-7.

Over.

- | know it's urgent, Steve, but something's gone haywire.

You'd better get the Professor

to make some quick calculations.

- Okay, I'll wake him.

What goes on, are we on fire or something?

- Eh, anyone care for a cup of tea before we go?

- Professor, for Pete's sake, we've gotta work fast,

XL-7 has disappeared.

- Yes, and so has the moon.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

- Still no sign, Commander.

- And no response on Space Echo either.

| don't like it at all.

(gentle, dramatic music)

- According to my calculations,

no disturbance or eruption is due in the moon's vicinity.

It can't have just disappeared into space.

- But it has, it's nearly two hours overdue

and spaceship XL-7 patrolling that area is missing too.

- [Venus] Quick Steve, the moon, it's rising at last.

- Okay Venus, I'll be right with you.

Alert Space Commander Zero.

(gentle, dramatic music)

- Look, there it is.

- Look how far away it is.

Something's very wrong.

(rocket rumbling) (whirring)

- [Commander] Full power.

(rocket rumbling) (whirring)

All checks here are at go.

(cheerful, orchestral music)

- [Steve] Course 9240 red, set and hold.

- Course nine, two, four, zero, red, set and hold.

(cheerful, orchestral music)

Velocity maximum, course maintained.

- Roger.

Cut main power.

Next stop, moon.

I'll go back and see how the Professor's making out.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

What's your estimated time of contact, Professor?

- Well | should say our ETC is in about half an hour,

if our Space speed remains constant.

(chuckles) We just have time for a nice cup of tea.

- Professor, you and your cups of tea.

- Yes Professor, you and your cups of tea,

you've ruined another of my retorts

with that tea making contraption of yours.

You've overheated it and it's gone all out of shape.

Look.

- Oh gee, (chuckles) I'm sorry, Venus, | forgot.

- Well how about trying again, Professor,

and this time, can we please have some coffee?

(twinkling, cheery music)

Well Professor, | must say, your coffee is like your tea,

it's hard to tell the difference.

- Don't worry, Professor, | think it's real boss.

(cheerful, orchestral music)

- This is impossible, we're making no progress at all.

The moon is in exactly the same position

as it was half an hour ago.

- What's the matter?

- | don't know yet,

we'll have to increase our space velocity.

- You mean, fire main boosters?

- Yes, we'll have to use full power,

otherwise, we'll lose track of the moon all together.

Fire main boosters, Robert.

- Firing main boosters.

(boosters blasting)

(Professor thumps) (table clatters)

- Well, it's what | get for trying to be helpful

and do the clearing up.

I'll stick to my own quarters in future.

- [Steve] Sorry, Professor, there was no time to warn you.

- | should think so too.

This sort of thing is no good for me at my age.

- Poor Professor.

- | hope he hasn't ruined any more of my equipment.

- Look, we're gaining.

- Space velocity is increasing.

- That should do it.

Cut main boosters.

- Cut main boosters.

(rocket rumbling)

- Our speed should remain constant now.

- Main velocity 8.5 increasing.

- Increasing?

- 9.5 and increasing.

- We're getting out of control.

Switch to manual, Robert.

- Manual positive velocity 14 and increasing.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

- We're out of control, we can't keep conscious for long.

Must contact Space City.

- Look, the space time clock.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

- We must be in some ultra-magnetic field.

Contact Space City.

- Steve,

Steve, you're going too fast,

too fast. (head thumps)

- Fireball XL-5 to Space City.

Fireball XL-5 to Space City.

(rocket rumbling)

(dramatic, orchestral music)

- There's nothing, nothing we can do.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

They've missed, they've missed!

- But where are they heading, sir?

(dramatic, orchestral music)

- Course 249,

course 249.

- We've altered course.

- You mean we're no longer heading for the moon?

- Exactly, but we're still out of control.

- Out of control?

Then where are we heading?

- Course 2490 blue, out of control.

- 2490 blue?

- Yes, just like XL-7, we're out of control

and heading into the unknown.

Whatever force is dragging the moon into its orbit,

it's dragging us faster.

(dramatic, orchestral music) (rocket rumbling)

(cheerful, orchestral music)

- Mm, | thought so.

- Well, what's the answer, Professor?

Where are we heading?

- Well, according to my calculations, the planet Magneton.

- The magnetic planet, of course!

The planet with the most powerful gravitational pull

in the entire universe.

- Yeah but somehow, even its most powerful force

must have been increased thousands of times

to pull the moon and us halfway through the universe.

- Did you hear that, Steve?

- Yes, but you should see what | can see.

Magneton straight ahead of us.

Wow.

- Okay, we'll be right with you.

(suspenseful, eerie music)

(dramatic, orchestral music)

- Magneton.

- A gigantic, lifeless ball of metal.

- Not so lifeless.

There's only one chance,

I'm going to try and turn Fireball around

and then switch on full power.

She won't go!

(dramatic, orchestral music)

Made it.

Full power.

- Full power.

- Hold on tight this time, Professor.

(rocket blasting) (gentle music)

- Velocity decreasing.

- Prepare for landing procedure.

(rocket rumbling) (whistling)

(rocket hissing)

Now so far, so good.

Let's go.

- Look at Robert, he's out of action.

- Must be the effect

of the magnetic field on his electronics.

- Poor Robert.

- Oh he'll be all right, come on.

(gentle, twinkling music)

All set.

- All set.

(gentle, quiet music)

(hover bikes humming) (gentle, quiet music)

- Oh, | shall never get used to these infernal machines.

- Say, look at that!

Let's go and investigate.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

We'd better take a look around up there.

Get the thruster packs out of the jet mobiles,

will you Venus?

(gentle, quiet music)

- Eh, wait for me, Steve!

- Hey, take it easy, Professor.

- (grunts) Made it.

- Say Professor, look down there, a gigantic powerhouse.

- Generating magnetic power.

- How do we get inside?

- Well we've been around the building,

there doesn't seem to be a door anywhere.

- Quick Steve, Professor, look at this.

(machinery humming) (squeaking)

Some sort of scrap yard.

- What's it all about, Professor?

- Well | should say that eh, it's all been used in some way,

as fuel for these generators,

an ingenious method of using up old scrap.

- Look what's amongst that old scrap.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

Well, if that's the only way in, that's the way for us too.

We'll use our thruster packs,

and take it easy this time, Professor.

(machinery humming)

Look out!

Venus, look out!

- Professor!

(Professor thumps)

- Help, Steve!

Steve, help!

(items rattle) (machinery squeaking)

- Professor Matic.

- Ross.

It uh, it is Ross, isn't it?

- Well that's right, Professor,

pilot of Fireball XL-7, Chuck's here too.

- Jumping space fish.

- We've got to get the Professor out

before any scrap gets dumped on him.

- [Disembodied Voice] Don't worry,

there's plenty of room in there.

Your friend has got company already,

two of your other Earth spacemen.

- Where's the voice coming from?

- There must be an amplifier somewhere.

- [Disembodied Voice] We are right here, in this very room.

- And who are we?

- [Disembodied Voice] We are the Solars

The force of the universe and | am the Super Solar,

the supreme commander of all the Solars here on Magneton.

You cannot see us, Earth men, but we're here

and we can see you.

- Steve, they are invisible.

- [Disembodied Voice] Yes, we're invisible to you,

Earth people, but we do not intend your arrival

to interfere with our plan.

- And what is your plan?

- [Disembodied Voice] To bring your moon into our orbit

so that at last, we will no longer be creatures of the dark,

but have light on Magneton.

- Not if | can help it.

(lazar zapping) (disembodied voice groaning)

(chair clatters)

- Sounds as if Steve's come into contact

with the invisible Solars.

- And if | know Steve, (chuckles)

they'll get the worst of the deal.

(lazar zapping)

- Look out, Steve, the grab!

(levers clicking)

(machinery clatters)

- That settled the Solars.

Now let's get the Professor out.

- Steve!

Steve!

- Here we are, Professor.

We'll soon have you out of there.

Stand back.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

(lazar zapping)

Okay, out you come, boys.

Give the Professor a hand.

- [Venus] Feeling all right, everyone?

- [Captain Ross] Sure, fine.

- | just wish | had my glasses, that's all. (chuckles)

My, am | imagining things or has someone put a light on?

- It's the moon!

It's getting closer, we've got to reverse the power.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

Find the master switch.

- [Venus] How much time have we got?

- Only a matter of minutes.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

It's no good, we can't find the master switch.

- I'll eh, I'll see if it's up here.

- What are you doing, Professor?

- Oh, it's all right, Steve, | can manage.

The light's so good, | can see.

(gentle, suspenseful music)

(dramatic, orchestral music)

(machinery whirring)

- You've done it, you've done it, Professor.

- Yep, I've reversed the power, Steve,

and the moon is going back into its normal position.

Now would someone tell me how to find my way out of here?

| can't see a darn thing without my glasses.

- Don't worry, we'll have you down in a moment, Professor.

- Yep, and then home sweet home.

(cheerful, carefree music)

- Isn't it wonderful to see the moon again?

| never knew it meant so much to us on Earth.

- Yeah, | guess you do kinda take things for granted

when they're around you all the time.

- | know, Steve, even doctors of space medicine.

- How's that?

- Nevermind.

Forget it.

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

¢ To our wonderland of stardust, we'll zoom away to Mars £

My heart would be a fireball, a fireball S

£ And you would be my Venus of the stars I

(cheerful, upbeat music)

the fastest guy alive

f I'd fly you around the universe in Fireball XL-5 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

¢ We'd take the path to Jupiter and maybe very soon f

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

¢ To our wonderland of stardust, we'll zoom away to Mars £

My heart would be a fireball, a fireball S

£ And you would be my Venus of the stars I