Original subtitles

One more day to go. Yep, one more day.

Then, back to my favourite planet... Earth.

- Grant, we're gonna miss you. - Sure...!

No, really, having a character like you around breaks the monotony.

I'd love to stay, really, but...

I know, you got 100 chicks just waiting for you to call.

Well, let's not go overboard.

80 or 90, maybe.

(Air hissing)

- More coffee? - Thank you, sir.

Hey!

(Hissing continues)

(Klaxon)

Pressure leak!

(Hissing stops)

New port secure and tested. Repressurised.

I want every part of this sphere searched.

I want the remains of that port collected and reconstructed.

I want the answer.

Astronaut William Grant, killed in the line of duty,

April 12th, 1981.

There's your answer.

We've calculated that the projectile was fired

from a group of rocks about 200 metres from the base.

The chemical analysis hasn't told us much except it's part alloy.

One of the constituents is unknown on Earth.

You're saying that a UFO landed on the Moon - undetected -

and one of its occupants got out and fired this projectile at Moonbase?

Three days ago a large stream of meteorites played havoc with our tracking system.

- It could have landed then? - Yes, yes.

Then just taken off again after the attack?

No, the interference didn't last long enough. It's still on the Moon.

I've had the Interceptors searching for 24 hours.

- And if they find it? - My orders are seek and destroy.

Mm.

When is the next lunar launch possible?

'At 1400 hours tomorrow, sir.'

Alec, I'm going back to Moonbase with Commander Foster.

You will assume command here.

- Oh. and get me everything we've got

on the disintegration of UFOs in the Earth's atmosphere.

Give me 30 minutes.

Commander, I want you to countermand your orders to the Interceptors.

Tell them to seek and observe.

Yes, I know, I know. The natural reaction is to want to hit back.

I liked Bill Grant, too.

But we know a UFO disintegrates if it stays too long on Earth.

All our evidence suggests it has some reaction with our atmosphere.

And there's no atmosphere on the Moon.

This may be our best chance ever

to get our hands on a UFO - intact.

Look, Foster, we won't be able to leave for another 23 hours.

Why don't you go somewhere and unwind?

Yeah, I think maybe you're right.

I'll leave an address where you can contact me.

I think I know where.

(Rock music)

(Doorbell)

- Paul!

Paul, they're beautiful.

Why didn't you call? I look such a mess.

Well, Foster, we'll be home in time for supper.

Home?

Moonbase.

Tell one of the astronauts to get those aerial photos here fast,

that's the first thing he'll ask for.

The second thing, Space Tracker Harrington.

The first thing is a cup of coffee. Could you organise that?

- Miss Barry. - Yes, sir?

I met your father about a month ago.

I was happy to tell him I think you're settling in extremely well.

Thank you, sir.

Now, if you'd ask someone to bring the aerial photos to the Leisure Sphere.

Sir.

Oh, Harrington - that's with cream and sugar, please.

Yes, sir.

Infrared from 30,000 feet.

- (Straker) You say it's in there? - Yes, sir. Here's a blow-up.

(Straker) Ah, yes...

There it is.

How long would it take a Moon Mobile to get to that area?

- It's just below the Terminator. - All right, let's set it up.

I suggest we use two Mobiles, two men in each.

Fine. Who do you suggest as crew?

- I'd like a crack at that, sir. - Thank you.

Mark can handle it. He knows the area.

- Fine. Choose a navigator. - Thank you, sir.

Now, that just leaves the other Moon Mobile.

I'll pick my own crew as well. I suggest we use a missiles operative.

As Moonbase commander, your place is in the Control Sphere.

Maybe, sir. But I was the one who saw Bill Grant's face

as he tried to make it to that airlock.

Four to Control, three miles from Terminator.

'Roger.'

They'll soon be in darkness. Tell them to stick together.

Control to Mobiles, maintain close visual contact.

Roger, Control.

- Did you hear that, Mark? - Don't worry, sir.

I'll be breathing down your neck.

(Foster) 'Just under two miles from target.'

Foster, at the first sign of trouble, get the blazes out of there

and I'll send the Interceptors in, is that understood?

Understood. But we won't need them. Out.

Lights.

We should be able to see them from the top of the next ridge.

- (Foster) We'll go In on foot.' - Roger.

Right, let's go.

- It's there all right. - Any sign of life?

No.

Control, have positive sighting of UFO.

'Position?'

In the centre of a crater, as in the aerial shot. It hasn't moved.

- What does it look like? - Difficult to say,

but it could have been damaged on landing.

And the radiation check?

Negative. It's just sitting there.

I suppose it's just possible it might be abandoned.

There's only one way to find out.

- We'll move In In two minutes. - Rum,

Yellow alert.

All air supplies A-OK?

Time check. 11:04:45... now.

Check.

There's a rock just over that ridge.

Wait till the guy ahead reaches it before you come over the top.

- Right. Who's first in line? - My privilege.

- I'll follow you. - Then Brad and Don. Any questions?

- We could run into an alien. - Remember they're expendable.

We want the UFO.

Hold it.

Get down!

Control, the UFO has opened fire on us.

Red alert. Interceptors immediate launch.

(Alarm)

- Program computer for attack. - Yes, sir.

Get out of there. Fast.

Send the Interceptors. Tell them to hold fire till I say.

- Are you OK? - Yeah.

- Straker says to pull out. - We're pinned down here.

- I'll get the Moon Mobile. - What if the UFO takes off?

It's a chance I've got to take. Give me two minutes.

ETA target, four minutes.

This is Control. When will you be clear?

A couple of minutes, sir.

- What's the hold-up? - We'll be clear any minute now, sir.

Fall back to the Mobiles.

Come in, Mark. Can you hear me?

Come in, Mark. Can you hear me?

Come in, Mark.

Mark!

Interceptors 90 seconds from target.

Something must have gone wrong. Come on. Let's go.

The Interceptor leader has visual contact. The UFO's lifting off.

Order the attack.

Take cover!

Maybe he was thrown clear.

If I thought there was one chance in ten million...

- It could happen. - The Moon Mobile was destroyed.

No.

(Hiss)

It's a bad business, Alec. One Moon Mobile totally destroyed,

the other so badly damaged it's a miracle it made it back to Base.

The Moon Mobiles can be replaced.

And Commander Foster can't. Yes.

'That's one of the reasons I'm staying on here for a few days.

'A new commander will have to be appointed.'

- I didn't mean that. - 'I know what you meant.'

I feel the same way.

Look, Alec, there's one thing you can do for me.

Foster had no close relatives but there was someone.

- 'A girl?' - Yes.

She was as close to him as anyone.

- I think she should be told. - All right.

- What's her name? - 'Tina Duval.

'Apartment 19, Windermere Hall.'

Right.

(Buzzer)

- Miss Duval? - Yes?

I'm Alec Freeman, a friend of Paul Foster.

Relax, Lieutenant, relax.

I was just gonna grab some sleep, sir,

Yes, it's been a long 12 hours.

Mark, I'm sure you realise how important this base is.

It's a vital link in our defence system.

Whoever commands it has one of the most responsible jobs in SHADO.

I'd like you to consider it, Mark.

- Are you offering me the job, sir? - Yes. Does that surprise you?

Not altogether. And does it surprise you if I say no?

Well, it disappoints me.

Well, you've done your duty. You've asked,

and I've given you the “no" you wanted.

What do you mean, I've done my duty?

Sure, after Foster I'm the senior man. The obvious choice, if you like.

So, I offer you the command of Moonbase and you say no.

Why?

I asked you why.

- Because of this. - Don't give me that.

Racial prejudice burned itself out five years ago.

How would you know?

All right, on the surface, maybe.

But deep down inside of people, it's still there.

Maybe it will never show, and maybe it will.

Like some time I'm ordering a guy out on a mission,

a time the chances are he won't come back.

Look. I'm not offering you some easy number.

And I don't care if you're polka dot with red stripes.

You're the best man for the job. Now, do you want it?

Do you want it?!

Yes, sir, I would like it. But not like this.

No one wanted it like this.

Now, you get some rest...

Commander.

(PA) 'Astronaut Watson please report to Medical.'

- (Harrington) Good morning, sir. - Morning.

I'd just like to say we're glad to have you with us, sir.

Thank you very much.

This is Control to Moon Mobile 3, proceed to area 183 as instructed.

'Yes, sir.'

- You've sent out a Mobile? - Yes. sir.

- To the UFO crater? - Yes.

To look for wreckage of the UFO.

I did not know I needed your permission.

You don't, Commander.

Carry on.

I'll take her a couple of degrees over to port.

There's a bad crevasse field about ten miles on.

- We'll go round it. - Right.

I see what you mean.

- About what? - That crevasse field ahead.

Rough terrain.

Help. Help! Help!

Over here!

Help!

Hold it, sir.

Over here.

They've seen us.

Hey! Hey!

Come on, wake up! We're saved. They've seen us!

We're OK!

Bring an air cylinder. Hurry!

Listen, listen.

We're safe. We're safe.

They've found us.

Now, now... You... stay here.

Do you understand?

You... stay here.

Listen... there's an alien!

He's back there. He saved my life - he's a friend.

- He's trying to say something. - His radio's US.

Can't you hear me?! An alien!

OK, Commander, we can't hear you.

Right, let's lift him up.

Don't you understand? He's a friend!

- Take it easy, Commander. - What's he trying to say?

Don't know. Let's get him back to the Moon Mobile.

(Panting heavily)

- Shall we carry him, sir? - Hold it a minute.

Listen, there's an alien. He's a friend.

He saved my life.

(Breaking up) ...an alien!

Alien?!

- He said something about an alien. - An alien?!

No!

No! No!

You're right, I don't understand.

I'm told you're dead and you're alive.

And you walk in here as if nothing has happened!

I can't take it any more.

You've always known there are things I can't tell you.

About your job.

But does it come before everything? Even me?

Tina...

I'm sorry.

So am I, Paul.

Paul?!

Can I buy you a drink, Alec?

Fine.