Original subtitles

- OK? - All clear.

Launch stations!

Good luck, Colonel.

Liftoff minus ten.

Sky One to Skydiver Control, airborne.

Roger, Sky One.

Replacement approaching.

Roger, Sky One. Have begun docking procedure.

You've got a great crew there, Captain.

lt's been a privilege working with you.

We've enjoyed your company, sir. Have a good furlough.

Don't worry, l really plan to let my hair down.

l'm glad you could make it. You're late.

l've got some catching up to do.

Let's start with a drink.

- What do you like? - Scotch.

- Good night, Sylvia, Paul. - Good night.

l'll walk you to the door. Fix yourself a drink.

Good night, Sylvia. Thanks for the lovely party.

ls this what you're looking for?

- lt's a great party. - Looks like it.

- What's the time? - 4:30.

D'you know, l've got to be up around seven tomorrow.

You poor little thing.

4:30...5:30... 6:30...

Do you know what you need?

An alarm clock.

- Here's your coffee, Keith. - That's just what l needed.

Good morning, sir.

Moonbase to Control. We have a sighting.

Area red 042184.

- How does it look? - Awaiting confirmation.

- Hi. - Hello.

Franklin.

Joe Franklin, missile technician.

Don't tell me- it's Ford? Fraser? Foster?

Paul Foster.

Glad to meet you, Colonel. l knew it had to begin with F.

These, er, poops are going through the entire alphabet.

Yeah, l hear everybody in SHADO has to go through it.

Colonel Paul Foster, report to room 1 7 on the first floor.

l think you're... you're first in line, sir.

You're, er, FO, l'm FR.

See you in the fun palace.

UFO 428. Speed: one and a half million miles per second.

Bearing: positive. Course: 01 7-234, red.

- Confirmed. UFO on positive. - Red alert.

lnterceptors, immediate launch.

Control, we have a positive sighting.

- Estimate trajectory termination. - Yes, sir.

Have you ever contracted scarlet fever, mumps,

measles, chickenpox?

- l had measles. - How old were you?

Four. Or was it five?

- Getting plenty of sleep? - Yes. Most of the time.

After two weeks here you'll feel on top of the world.

lt could be better, Foster.

Keep it up, Rowan.

We'll soon get rid of that, won't we, Franklin?

Course?

01 7-348-101 .

- Speed? - SOL 0,5, reducing.

Program the computer for the missile launch sequence.

1827-024.

Program computers for missile firing sequence. 18,4.

- Great place. - A giggle a nanosecond.

l can't wait to leave.

- Some workout. - And this is only the first day.

- Come on, one of you in the bath. - That's just what l could use.

And l'm first - O before R.

You reckon you're ready for this? lt's a sauna bath.

Moonbase for you, sir.

- Go ahead, Lieutenant. - We have the UFO termination.

Southern England, grid reference 4706.

- Ground radar gave us info. - How badly was it damaged?

lnterceptors scored a probable hit but the UFO maintained its course.

Lieutenant, maintain Moonbase on full red alert.

lf that UFO breaks cover l want it destroyed. Keep me informed.

Roger and out.

- Are the mobiles moving in? - Yes, sir.

- Nothing of significance here. - The centre is 15 miles away.

Aliens wouldn't travel a billion miles to visit a health farm.

- Even if it is run by SHADO. - Didn't Foster check in there?

- Colonel Foster. - Yes.

Get me Dr Fraser at that Research Centre.

- Radio contact negative, sir. - Well, keep trying.

- Get over there, Alec. Fast. - Right.

We've just landed. l couldn't see any activity.

Alec, the men from the mobiles have the place surrounded.

Hold them back, l'll move in with the helicopter crew. Out.

Let's go.

You wait here.

Come with me. You wait there!

- Are you certain? - We've searched; everyone's dead.

- There's no trace of Foster. - There's only one answer.

He's been taken by the aliens.

- Steer 128, maintain speed. - 128 it is, sir.

Control to Skydiver. l have Commander Straker for you.

- Waterman here, sir. - l have some news...

lt concerns Colonel Foster.

l'm afraid we must assume that he is in the hands of the aliens.

- Did you read me, Captain? - Yes.

The research centre was attacked. Colonel Foster is missing.

That UFO is still in the area. Maintain Sky One on full red alert,

- ready for an interception. - Yes, sir.

How can a thing like this happen?

We work on the assumption that Colonel Foster is alive.

OK?

This is supposed to be an operational alert.

- Let's get to it. - Seal all water locks!

Control to Skydiver, remain on standby for emergency launch.

- What are his chances? - Oh, come on, Alec...

Just tell me what you have in mind.

When that UFO lifts off the ground radar should find it.

- And? - We destroy it.

- Knowing Paul is aboard? - That's right.

You better hope l'm never in a position to press the button on you

How do you know he's even still alive?!

Paul Foster's a highly trained, dedicated, courageous officer.

He knows the entire SHADO setup.

Yes, he's trained to resist interrogation,

but what gentle means of persuasion will they use?

lf we destroy that UFO, Paul loses his life.

Quick and clean.

lf we don't get it...God knows what will happen to him.

Commander, we have a radar trace.

- Do we have a fix? - Computer triangulates 124-048.

- Speed? - 800 knots, accelerating.

- That must be it. - Where is Skydiver?

- Here, sir. - Compute.

Looks like we could intercept around here.

Where's that readout?

lt looks good.

Signal Sky One, immediate launch.

Launch stations.

Check boosters. 1 , 2, 3 !

Liftoff stations.

Sky One authorizing liftoff. Ready for liftoff.

Liftoff minus 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 , 0.

Sky One to Control, airborne.

We have you on positive track.

Set onboard computer for interception course.

- Check the UFO's airspeed. - Yes, sir.

- 1 ,500 knots. - What's the rate of climb?

10,4 MPM

- Maybe it's more damaged. - Let's hope so.

l have it on radar. Range, 29 miles, closing.

He must get it. lt's a sitting duck.

Have visual contact. Setting missile firing sequence.

You've got a great crew there, Captain.

lt's been a privilege working with you.

Missile launch, minus ten seconds.

How the blazes did he miss it?! Get me Lieutenant Ellis!

Excellent visibility. Positive radar tracking.

- lf l thought that Waterman... - Had any emotion?

Moonbase for you, sir.

Lieutenant, what are the chances of interception by Moonbase?

None, sir. UFO's leaving earth on an antilunar trajectory.

Beyond your range. Well, keep tracking it.

- Report any change. - Roger and out.

- Prepare to receive the Captain. - Yes, sir.

Open bulkhead.

Range, 26 million miles, receding.

Lieutenant?

lt can't be.

Check it, and tell Control.

How long is this going to take?

- ls it or isn't it? - lt's complex, sir.

Times, courses, trajectories, the interplay of G-forces.

Result sequence: 042-326 cyclic.

Lunar G variable, 7 /5,4.

Computer predicted power loss: seventy per cent.

Orbit fading. 0,4 GRT.

Predict impact lunar grid reference B 182.

- Moonbase to Control, positive. - Thank you, Lieutenant.

So the UFO's headed for the moon.

Yes, it hasn't the power to escape the lunar G-force.

lt must have been badly damaged.

You were asking about Foster's chances of survival.

They've improved. They must be down to a million to one.

- UFO maintaining trajectory. - Good.

Good. As long as it's heading for the moon, do nothing.

But if it develops enough power to escape, destroy it.

The astronaunts can be spaceborne in seconds.

- Keep me informed, Lieutenant. - Roger and out.

Do we have a closer fix on where it's gonna land?

Yes, grid reference 182-084.

That's about 40 kilometres.

l'm going out there.

Tell Moonbase to stand-by.

We'll be there in eight minutes.

- Keep me informed of progress. - Yes, Lieutenant.

- We're in position. - Confirmed. 2 minutes to impact.

60 seconds.

50 seconds.

40 seconds.

30 seconds.

20 seconds.

There it is.

- lt's going to crash. - 10, 9, 8...

- Ask Jackson to come in? - Yes, sir.

- Well, what's the situation? - l've just spoken with Moonbase.

lt's very difficult.

Colonel Foster's physical condition is satisfactory, all considered,

but he's in an alien spacesuit; he's breathing liquid.

We can transfer him to normal breathing.

- You've done it before. - Yes, with aliens, Alec.

And none have survived more than a few hours.

lt's an extremely hazardous operation.

There's another difficulty. Here at SHADO we've every facility.

On Moonbase the equipment is naturally more crude.

l'll be monitoring the operation by videolink. lf you'll excuse me.

You have to help with the helmet.

Listen, Alec, Paul Foster's in top physical shape.

He's an expert skin-diver, used to underwater pressure.

You think that may help?

Well, l'm no doctor, but it must be an advantage.

You could be right-strong lungs, good respiratory system.

Sure. He'll pull through.

Come on.

- We're all set here, sir. - Right.

Now listen carefully.

The main problem will be panic when the helmet is removed.

Colonel Foster has been breathing liquid for some hours now.

Drugs will have been used to help his lungs adapt.

Now, when we attempt to reverse to normal,

the physical experience will be similar to drowning.

Unless this moment is carefully controlled,

he could go into convulsions and possibly choke.

Let Colonel know the situation.

lf you can hear me, nod your head.

We're going to remove your helmet. Breathe normally.

Whatever happens, don't panic.

Do you understand?

- What is that? - 2 cc's of Petracol. Should help.

- ls the resuscitator ready? - Yes, sir.

All right, Lieutenant, begin.

Take hold of him.

Now.

Hold him, he could rupture his lungs!

Hold him down! Stop him struggling!

Relax.

Breathe deeply.

That's it.

- How's the breathing now? - Better.

Just take it easy.

How do you feel?

Fine.

What happened?

You passed out for a few minutes.

- A few minutes? - Here, drink this.

Burning the candle at both ends?

There was a party last night.

A sauna can be helpful, but there's one rule.

Never take one if you're feeling under the weather.

- l should have told you. - You're in good shape.

You'll be in even better shape when you leave.

Tomorrow we'll start to work.

Good luck.

- Who's the voice? - ln the dreambox.

Dreambox?

That's Colonel Foster.

He had a lulu in there yesterday.

Come on, Franklin!

lf all else fails, l'll remove that blubber surgically.