Original subtitles

Sighting - radius, vector one-zero-nine-six.

Alter course, four-decimal-three-one degrees.

Confirm bearings.

(Flicks switches)

One-zero-nine-decimal-six.

Orbital altitude three-zero-six-decimal-two miles.

Vostok II, launched June 13, '65.

Fire limpet.

Limpet attached. Moving away.

Stand by.

Activate.

- Positive, sir. - Resume course.

Confirmed sighting at radius vector one-five-two-zero.

- There she is. - Position and data correct.

Log and resume course.

Apollo 8,

December 21,

1968.

What we say goes no further than this room, OK?

So let's get down to the infighting.

You have been a thorn in my side for years, Straker.

Consistently excessive demands

for the diversion of resources to your organisation.

Now you're saying a total clearance programme?

Right.

And I'm saying while I'm running this commission

I'll fight you on this issue every inch of the way.

(Freeman) Ah, you've been practising.

What are you working on, anyway, Alec?

One of Straker's projects.

It's a beautification campaign.

I won't deny you could use it.

No, space junk.

Straker wants it all cleared.

The Astrophysical Commission takes care of any space junk,

anything with hazard potential.

Straker thinks it could be used by the aliens to crack our defences.

He may be onto something.

If your report shows it's possible, the junk gets cleared.

- So what's the problem? - James I Henderson is the problem.

Cost! Time! Personnel! Resources!

You want reasons. Why not?

I can give you a hundred.

Listen, Henderson, every item of space junk could be cleared in weeks

if the commission gave its full support.

As for cost, I admit it would be high,

but safety factors alone would justify it.

- Safety factors? - Yes.

My organisation uses space more than any other.

My pilots take more risks with that junk in a month than---

My men do in a year?

No, we'd need facts, Straker. Details, statistics.

- You just don't have them. - Don't I?

- Of course not. - I have my report.

Your report.

You promised the commission would not take a final decision

on the clearance programme until my report had been fully considered.

And so it won't.

However, I confess I don't think it'll have much influence.

Then that must be because you've swung them against it.

Look, Straker. We've completed the annual clearance of all dangerous space junk.

The cost was more than double last year's.

And worth every penny.

Do you realise what a full clearance programme would cost?

Look. I'm not gonna swap dollar signs with you. Lives are at stake.

I want that junk cleared.

Every last piece.

- 'So where is he?' - On his way, sir.

Commander Straker.

Freeman.

'Alec, I want that space clearance report.'

I've only just got here. There's data still missing.

'I don't care what's missing.

'Looks like Henderson's commission have already decided against it.

We have to convince them otherwise.'

Give me 24 hours. It can't make any difference to you...

but it could make a heck of a difference to the report.

'I want that report, Alec. I don't care what shape it's in.'

'Just get it back here.'

(Woman) 'SHADO lunar module 32 cleared for takeoff at 14:21:34. Stand by.'

Roger, Moonbase. Confirm TET.

Affirmative. Trans-Earth trajectory green.

Lift off, 32.

Check delta coordinates.

Coordinates correct, sir.

Earth orbit insertion, two hours, 13 minutes, eight seconds.

Right.

Contact SHADO HQ and Moonbase.

Tell them we're going for EOI in... 43 minutes 29 seconds.

Right, sir.

32 reports Earth orbit insertion at 13-08-21, sir.

Contact SID. Tracking procedure green.

- Has SHADO HQ been alerted? - Yes, sir.

- So everything's fine? - Straker won't think so.

He's expecting you.

Re-entry angle six-decimal fifty-eight degrees.

EOI, four minutes, 12 seconds.

(Alarm buzzing)

Sighting, sir. At seven-zero-three-five.

That's in behind us. Confirm sighting.

Affirmative, sir,

and it's closing fast!

Contact Moonbase.

32 reports unidentified sighting, sir.

Signal red alert. (Alarm buzzing)

What's happening? Angle increasing!

His angle of re-entry's too steep.

Tell him to correct angle of re-entry!

Loss of signal, sir!

Still increasing! Something's pulling us off course!

We've got to correct!

Pitch actuator, one-decimal-three. Burn!

Earth orbit insertion now.

No response! We're in trouble!

Look, Henderson, all I need is another 48 hours.

- Another 48 hours? - Yes!

I can have a summary of the completed report on your desk by then.

You know I can't hold up the commission any longer.

Let me tell them that you decided to withdraw your proposal.

That'd get you off the hook.

I'll hold you to your word

to consider my report before deciding about the clearance.

All right, I think I'm reading you.

You want an alibi for that pilot of yours who killed himself, and his crewman.

You want to blame it on uncleared junk.

- I want your word, Henderson. - On one condition.

You consider your spacecraft was in a collision with space junk.

- It's a possibility. - Hmm.

A possibility, yes.

So suspend all lunar flights until we've investigated the... incident.

- You realise what you're doing? - Yes, I do.

I'm proving to the commission that your organisation in its present form

is an expensive and unworkable luxury.

Ahh, Ms Ealand. Hard at it?

I'm always hard at it. Sometimes you notice.

- How did it go, sir? - Go?

You know the code word "Washington Square"?

Not without looking it up. It's not a regular one.

- It's one I thought we'd never use. - What does it mean, sir?

It means shutdown. Cancel lunar flights.

Virtual isolation of Moonbase.

(Beeping)

(Man) 'SHADO Control to all units - Washington Square.

'I say again, Washington Square.

'Immediate compliance, Washington Square.'

Colonel Foster, sorry to disturb you, sir.

'Code message from SHADO - "Washington Square.“

'I'II check it right away.'

There's no need. It means shutdown.

What?

More specifically, a complete ban on all orbital flights.

(Buzzer)

- 'Colonel Freeman for you.' - Put him on.

- 'Why the ban on flights?' - Henderson.

- Why? What about the report?' - Forget it.

The commission will believe it's an attempt to blame space junk for the crash.

- 'When you think it was...' - Maddox. Pilot error.

Take a rest, enjoy the scenery, Alec.

What's Straker trying to do?

I don't know.

He doesn't usually take a thing like this lying down.

You couldn't call it typical.

Then there's Maddox. What do we do about him? Forget all about it?

What else can we do? Any pilot can make a mistake.

- And you're only allowed one. - Not Steve Maddox.

- Anyone can make a mistake. - Maddox was too experienced!

All right, all right, what caused the re-entry error?

He reported an unidentified sighting just before loss of signal.

But we didn't pick up anything.

It must have been something. Space debris.

Maybe.

Maybe.

And we just sit back and do nothing?

No. We make sure it doesn't happen again.

Get me 32's electronic log.

- Captain Maddox's flight? - Yes.

What's going on here?

- Who the devil's in that module? - Colonel Foster.

Why didn't you tell me?

Any of you!

Colonel Foster's Orders. We weren't to tell you until takeoff was imminent.

And irreversible.

Paul, cut your motors. (Computer clicking)

I said out your motors.

- 'Paul, this won't help.' - What won't?

Taking out a module...

if you're doing it for the reasons I think you are.

- I'm gonna fly Maddox's course. - Under the same conditions.

- Yes! - You're crazy! What will It prove?

For one thing, Maddox wasn't responsible for the loss of his ship.

Well, if you do make it, it won't mean much.'

Depends on how I get through.

'And if you don't?'

Then I don't.

Roger.

Three. Roger.

(Beep)

(Woman) What is it?

Two-nine calling Moonbase.

- Everything under control?' - So far.

EOI in two hours, 38 minutes, 22 seconds.

Roger. Have you contacted Straker?

No. But I have a feeling he'll be contacting me soon.

Sighting at galactic latitude 43-decimal-one-seven.

Longitude 14-decimal-five-three.

- That's Moonbase operations area. - Right. Call Straker.

(Straker) 'You'll turn back right now.'

EOI in one hour precisely.

- I've gone too far for that. - You're right, Foster. Much too far.

- Two-nine to Moonbase. - Go ahead, two-nine.

- 'Re-entry in six minutes nine seconds.'

Roger.

- Moonbase. - Receiving, two-nine.'

'EOI in four minutes, three seconds.'

Re-entry angle five-decimal- seven-three degrees. Confirm.

'Two-nine, confirm re-entry angle.'

Stay on two-nine!

Two-nine's re-entry angle, it's...

Paul, adjust re-entry angle, cut back to five.

'Cut back to five, you're far too shallow.

If he doesn't adjust he'll bounce off the Earth's atmosphere out into space.

Colonel Foster?

Foster here, I'm happy to say.

'Congratulations.'

Don't let my delight blind you to the fact that we have matters to discuss.

(Chuckling)

Ooh, you've gone too far this time, Straker.

- I don't see it that way. - You authorised a lunar flight!

I authorised nothing.

Look, Straker, I don't want to argue.

You are responsible whatever the circumstances.

I agree. But Colonel Foster has proved

that there is alien interference with our inter-orbital flights.

- Has he? - Yes.

And I was almost killed doing it.

- So you say. - Yes, I say!

My apologies.

Thank you.

It's time we laid our cards on the table.

All right. I'll tell you what I think of Colonel Foster's so-called proof.

You knew we would turn down your space junk clearance programme

so you instructed Foster to fly.

- Why should I do that? - Because you need evidence.

Goon

You rigged this information. But you won't get away with it.

The commission convenes in two days.

By the time I get through... you'll be out of a job.

Is that all?

I'll see you at the meeting.

Indeed you will, Commander.

Can he really do it?

- Do what? - Ease you out.

He can try.

What about our evidence? They've gotta take notice of that.

Evidence.

What's it gonna look like when Henderson claims we manufactured it

just to get a space-clearance programme?

But we're right!

Sometimes, Colonel, that's not quite enough.

(Door opens)

The tracking data's been processed, sir.

- Anything? - Not that we can see.

We should've picked up something.

There's nothing on Colonel Foster's log except a record of manoeuvres.

All right, send it to SHADO headquarters.

So what do we do now?

- Any suggestions? - No. But we can't just sit around.

I've solved quite a few problems by just "sitting around“, Colonel. Try it sometime.

The report on Colonel Foster's flight has arrived.

- And? - Nothing unusual. sir.

All right.

- So that leaves the MV3 detector. - Yes, they're processing the data now.

We haven't had much luck so far, maybe we're due for a break.

- The MV3 data, sir. - Ah, thank you.

Looks like an SP8 rocket of some sort.

Like the limpet rockets used in debris destruction.

Yeah.

It doesn't make sense. Why would the aliens put this device into Earth orbit?

Could be programmed to attack Moon flights?

A blockade on Moonbase? Maybe.

Why hasn't our radar picked it up?

(Foster) Space debris.

It's based in one of those burnt-out rockets over there.

Assuming you're right, which one could it be?

Considering Maddox and I flew practically identical paths...

it would have to be...

one of these two here... or Apollo 8 here, or 8-47.

Four possibilities.

I think we're onto something.

That should be OK.

(Beep)

- Freeman. - 'I have an assignment for you.

'Launch the Interceptors. Mission - to destroy four pieces of space junk.

'Control will relay the coordinates to the astronauts.'

You mean space junk in Earth orbit?

'Right. And I mean use all three interceptors.'

- All three? - 'I know,

'it'll leave Moonbase undefended. Nevertheless, do it, Alec, at once.'

You know what's gonna happen when Henderson finds out?

Ah, yes. Henderson.

Go over and tell him, Colonel.

What...?

He'll go berserk.

Yes.

Take a nice, slow drive. Give me about half an hour.

I hope you know what you're doing.

Control to Interceptor Leader, steer programmed course to Earth orbit.

'You will receive destruct details from Earth Control. Out.'

Ms Ealand, when James Henderson calls, tell him I'm unavailable.

And when he arrives, sir?

Show him right in, the red carpet treatment. He's a very important man.

Expect him at three o'clock.

I wanna see Straker - immediately.

And before you try to fob me off with some damned fool excuse,

I'm telling you I won't take no for an answer.

Of course you may see him, he's expecting you.

- Go straight in. - Oh.

Thank you.

- Straker! - Ahh, Henderson. You're late.

Won't keep you a moment - studio business.

Well, I think it's a great script, Mr Steiner.

There we are.

- Cleared for shooting. - Thanks.

- I like the way you operate. - Thank you.

Your policy of non-interference. Some executives crawl all over you.

Well, I can assure you you'll see very little of me.

And I'll give you a film the studio will be proud of. Thanks again.

Nice guy. Goodbye!

(Door closes)

All right, Straker! You know I never touch them.

Voice identification.

- James Henderson. - 'Identification positive.'

- 'Henderson, James L.' - Thank you.

I tried to call you, Commander. I was told you were not available.

- Were they your Instructions? - Yes.

I see. A very high-handed attitude. However, one more question.

Is it true you ordered all three Moonbase Interceptors

to destroy certain items of space junk?

Correct.

Do you realise what you've done?

You tell me.

You've blatantly and openly defied the commission,

and left Moonbase near-defenceless.

It was my decision. I realise the implications.

You'd better start packing, Straker!

When the commission hears about this, you're through!

Aren't you interested in my reasons?

No. Let's be kind.

Let's put it down to a mental aberration, the strain of command.

Get those Interceptors back on Moonbase, Commander,

while you can still give orders.

- Sorry, Henderson. - Don't push your luck, Straker!

- If Moonbase reports--- - A UFO sighting?

Stick around. I'm expecting it.

Possible contact, two-four-eight-zero-one-six red.

Contact confirmed. UFO two-four-eight-one-three-six red.

Red alert. Get me SHADO headquarters.

'UFO maintaining course two-four-eight-two-oh-four green.'

Get the termination.

Request trajectory termination.

'Predicted termination one-F-O-two-six, southern England.'

Close enough. Its target is this studio.

- Keep visual contact on countdown. - Yes. sir.

- Order a complete shutdown. - Shutdown?!

Everything! VHF, radar, computers, complete radio silence.

- Strakerl - As you said, I can still give orders.

Complete shutdown. Do it.

Termination, eight minutes, four seconds.

Commander Straker, I'd like to talk to you in your office.

You too, Colonel.

Straker. I'm relieving you of your command.

Colonel Foster will take over, as of now.

You can't do it. You require the unanimous backing of the commission.

- You think I won't get it? - Yes, but it would take time.

And this base is due to be attacked. Colonel Foster, assume command!

Colonel.

I take my orders from Commander Straker.

Now, for the first time in your life, Henderson, you're going to listen!

The aliens put a satellite into Earth orbit using space junk to cover.

Why? A blockade on Moonbase?

A logical reason, but obvious. Too obvious.

In time, we would have located and destroyed it.

So the satellite was a decoy, a red herring for something bigger.

An attack on this headquarters.

They hoped the satellite would draw the Interceptors from Moonbase.

And you fell right into the trap.

I acted as if the plan had worked, yes!

It would take a UFO of great power to destroy this underground base.

I didn't want that hanging over us.

All this guesswork does not explain the shutdown.

Why make it easy for them? The UFO is probably programmed onto our signals.

I don't buy it, Straker. I just hope you've guessed wrong.

Because if you're right we're about to be killed.

There's still time for you to leave.

All right, we all just sit here and wait.

- For what? - A voice.

Moonbase to SHADO Control. Come in, Control.

It's no use, sir, it's complete radio shutdown.

What the hell is Straker playing at?

Four minutes to termination.

Straker, if we contact the Interceptors there may still be time.

No, they can't operate in the Earth's atmosphere,

and the UFO's already in the stratosphere.

Termination: one minute 20 seconds.

We're sitting ducks.

Maybe.

(Jet roaring)

(Beeping)

Yes?

'Sky One has just overflown the studio at zero feet.'

Thank you, Ms Ealand.

- Switch everything on. - Yes, sir.

- And get me Captain Carlin. - Sir.

(Straker) 'Nice timing, Captain.

(Straker) 'Don't miss it.' - Roger, Control.

Sky One to Moonbase, request UFO fix and attack coordinates.

Will relay direct to outward computer.

- Straker, the sly old... - Fox?

45 seconds.

40 seconds.

35 seconds.

30 seconds.

Have visual contact. Going in for attack.

Sky One to SHADO Control, UFO destroyed.

Colonel Foster, would you get this operation computerised

then we'll prepare it for the commission in my office.

Well, I guess I owe you an apology. You were right.

The commission will recommend a complete clearance of space junk.

Thank you.

Of course, it'll take time. The money has to be raised.

Call it the Maddox fund.

- Maddox? - The pilot who was killed.

Ah, yes, Maddox.

Well...

If only you hadn't been so positive that you were right.

Like you?

Henderson.

I'll walk you to your car.