Thunderbirds

Original title : Trapped in the Sky
First Aired : 30.09.1965 (UK)
Director : Alan Pattillo
Writing credits : Gerry Anderson & Sylvia Anderson
Cast : David Graham (Captain Hansen), Peter Dyneley (Commander Norman / Interceptor One), Ray Barrett (Fireflash Co-Pilot / Control Tower Lt. / Harris / TX204 Pilot (Target One)), Shane Rimmer (TX204 Co-Pilot), Sylvia Anderson (Air Terrainean Guide)

The Story : "Trapped in the Sky" starts innocently enough, with Tin-Tin flying back home to Tracy Island to reunite with her father, Kyrano. Though on the maiden voyage of an atomic airliner capable of flying six times the speed of sound, Tin-Tin's flight may be delayed -- permanently -- as the Hood, her father's evil half-brother, has hidden a bomb in the vessel's landing gear. Will International Rescue arrive on time, or will its first mission come to a fiery conclusion? And what about the separate plan to be implemented before its arrival, which involved landing someone on the doomed plane's wing to remove the explosive? And, perhaps the most important question of all, will Alan Tracy ever see Tin-Tin again? Unfortunately, the specialized gear needed for the rescue is aboard Thunderbird 2, which has yet to arrive. If all goes according to plan, its arrival will leave a 10-minute window in which to save the plane. Will that be enough, assuming Thunderbird 2 will be on time? While the loss of 600 lives apparently means little to the Hood, the sabotage is merely the first part of a bigger plan, one that involves photographing Thunderbird I. After evading capture by the police, the Hood is seemingly in the clear -- until the lovely Lady Penelope enters the picture! Will she put an end to the Hood's fiendish plot? Maybe not, but she'll look good trying!

Original title : Pit of Peril
First Aired : 07.10.1965 (UK)
Director : Desmond Saunders
Writing credits : Alan Fennell
Cast : David Graham (Colonel Sweeney), Peter Dyneley (Ralph), Matt Zimmerman (Captain / Helijet Pilot Charlie), Ray Barrett (Lieutenant Mead), Shane Rimmer (Johnny)

The Story : In a remote jungle, the US Army has just concluded three weeks of successful testing for the Sidewinder, a new transport vehicle the Army expects will make it unstoppable. The congratulatory pats on the back prove a bit premature, however, as the Sidewinder fails to reach its rendezvous point. While smoke is sighted, there's still no sign of the vehicle, and attempts at radio contact have gone unanswered. When the crew finally does respond, it's to reveal that they've tipped over on their side and are unable to move. The fact that they have fallen 300 feet into a crater and are engulfed in flames certainly won't help matters either. Though far from civilization, the Army isn't as alone as it thinks, as International Rescue has been listening in on its plight with great interest. For the moment, however, International Rescue chooses not to jump into action and risk being an unwelcome presence. After two Army rescue attempts result in two hospitalizations, Jeff Tracy and company are finally called upon for help, but will they succeed where others have failed and reach the men before the flames do?

Original title : The Perils Of Penelope
First Aired : 14.10.1965 (UK)
Director : Alan Pattillo & Desmond Saunders
Writing credits : Alan Pattillo
Cast : Peter Dyneley (Sir Jeremy Hodge), David Graham (Professor Borrender / Roache / Waiter / Colonel Benson), Ray Barrett (Dr. Godber), Matt Zimmerman (Albert / TV Reporter)

The Story : Sir Jeremy Hodge -- without whom Brains could not have built any of International Rescue's vehicles -- has just finished his latest project, converting seawater into fuel. Sir Jeremy has little time to celebrate the accomplishment, however, as his colleague on the project has gone missing, mysteriously disappearing from the train on which he was traveling. Fearing that the knowledge possessed by his friend could be devastating should it end up in the wrong hands, Sir Jeremy arranges a rendezvous in a Parisian cafe with his old friend Lady Penelope. One barely avoided poisoned drink later (thanks to some quick thinking by Parker), and Penelope is off on yet another mission. Investigating a clue left behind at the cafe by the would-be assassin leads only to another attempt on her life, as Parker must again save his enchanting employer and her companion, this time from gas flowing into a windowless basement. Left with no options other than to ride the same train that prompted their investigation, Penelope and Sir Jeremy set out in search of more information. They encounter a conductor who clearly knows more than he's letting on, but he's thrown from the train just as he's ready to talk. Is the conductor's killer also responsible for the scientist's disappearance, and is he the person who's been hounding our two heroes as well? The trail ultimately leads Penelope and Sir Jeremy to the train from which the scientist disappeared, which is also where they finally come face to face with the villain. Taken to his evil lair hidden deep inside a train tunnel lying beneath the Alps, our captive heroes learn that Sir Jeremy's kidnapped colleague is still alive. Unfortunately, Lady Penelope may not be for long, as she becomes a pawn in the villain's plot to learn the secret behind the new fuel. Which will arrive first: someone to cut her from the tracks to which she is bound, or the train intended to run her down?

Original title : Terror in New York City
First Aired : 21.10.1965 (UK)
Director : David Elliott & David Lane
Writing credits : Alan Fennell
Cast : David Graham (Joe), Matt Zimmerman (Ned Cook), Shane Rimmer (Scanners / Washington), Ray Barrett (Sentinel Commander / Policeman - Site Control / Newsreader / TV Compere)

The Story : While on their way back to Tracy Island from extinguishing an oil well fire, Scott and Virgil inadvertently cross paths with the Sentinel, a new naval strike vessel. Mistaking Thunderbird 2 for a hostile aircraft, the ship fires several missiles and manages to connect, despite evasive maneuvering by Virgil. With Thunderbird 2 sustaining tremendous damage, Virgil slips into unconsciousness, barely awakening in time to pull up from his dive and continue toward home. Thunderbird 2 struggles to remain airborne and crashes just as it reaches the island, once again knocking its pilot out cold. Finding himself in the comfort of his own bed, Virgil again opens his eyes at just the right moment, this time to witness a broadcast of the Empire State Building's relocation. Nothing could possibly go wrong with hydraulically lifting a 102-story building and transporting it along tracks to its new destination, could it? Of course it could, starting with the ground beneath the sliding building weakening to the point of swallowing a reporter and his cameraman. Unfortunately, with Thunderbird 2 out of commission, International Rescue may be powerless to save them. Luckily, Brains is watching the broadcast when one of the men reveals that water is beginning to seep into the hole in which they've been trapped. He surmises that an underground river beneath the building must have weakened the ground, causing the horrific accident. And if water is involved, that can only mean one thing: Gordon! Even if Gordon were to arrive in time, he's probably rusty from never being given anything to do by his father. Can the forgotten Tracy and Thunderbird 4 navigate the underground river and reach the trapped men before they take their last breaths?

Original title : The Edge of Impact
First Aired : 28.10.1965 (UK)
Director : Desmond Saunders
Writing credits : Donald Robertson
Cast : Christine Finn (Police Radio), Peter Dyneley (Commander Norman), David Graham (Colonel Tim Casey), Ray Barrett (Stan / Control Tower Lt. / 2nd Policeman), Matt Zimmerman (Goddard / Captain)

The Story : The Hood is back and again up to no good, this time ordered by the evil general for whom he works to destroy the Red Arrow, a state-of-the-art fighter jet and the only thing standing between his boss and world domination. Thanks to the Hood, the first test of the Red Arrow ends in a spectacular crash, killing the pilot and leaving Colonel Tim Casey disgraced and off the project he was tasked with leading. Casey unexpectedly turns up at Tracy Island to seek advice from Jeff, an old buddy from the early days of space exploration. Despite help from Brains, the second Red Arrow test is destined to end the same as the first, because the Hood won't receive payment from the General until each plane is destroyed. Planting a homing device to pull the aircraft off course, the Hood causes it to crash into the control tower, leaving the two men at the top teetering and clinging to life. Can anything save them from falling to their deaths? And can anyone stop the Hood from carrying out more destruction? Colonel Tim Casey, a friend of Jeff Tracy, is booted from the project after the first crash destroyed the plane and killed the pilot. When a second crash threatens the lives of two men at the top of a control tower, the call is made to International Rescue. Unfortunately, Casey has paid a visit to the island and rescue operations cannot begin with him there. Jeff orders Tin Tin to do whatever it takes to get the colonel out of the way, and since Thunderbirds is a family show, that means exploring an underwater cave in pursuit of an imaginary sea mammal. With Casey far from sight, the launch of International Rescue's hidden vehicles can proceed, but will they arrive in time to save the men before a fierce storm topples the already unsteady tower?

Original title : A Day of Disaster
First Aired : 04.11.1965 (UK)
Director : David Elliott
Writing credits : Dennis Spooner
Cast : David Graham (Dave Clayton), Ray Barrett (Allington Bridge Controller / Kirby / Dr. Korda), Matt Zimmerman (Bill Craddock / 2nd NTBS Reporter), Peter Dyneley (Professor Wingrove / NTBS Reporter / Crane Chief)

The Story : Despite pounding rain and gale force wind, Allington Bridge, swaying back and forth, seems to be holding up in the face of a violent storm. When the storm finally dies down, work crews are dispatched to investigate any potential damage. All tests prove negative, but one cautious supervisor would like to run more. His boss, however, feeling pressure to reopen the bridge, rejects the idea. In order to reach its launch site, a spacecraft bound for Mars must first cross the bridge, or risk having to wait four more years before another takeoff is possible. Allington Bridge is indeed opened to the Martian space probe, but its crushing weight is too much and, one by one, its steel cables begin to snap and unravel. The probe, along with two astronauts aboard, plummets to the water below, where its buried beneath mangled girders and its automatic countdown is activated. Luckily, Brains has traveled to England to observe the launch. He and Lady Penelope speed off to the scene of the accident, but will the engineering genius be able to help before the ship is blown to bits? Already in England for the launch, Brains rushes off to help, but meets only with resistance. The official that scoffed at keeping the bridge closed, perhaps embarrassed by his deadly miscalculation, wants nothing to do with the International Rescue engineer, especially after catching him talking to his wristwatch. What he mistakes for rather strange behavior is Brains trying to contact the other members of his group, whom the official has up until now been too stubborn to alert. By the time he's exhausted all of his futile ideas and is ready to accept International Rescue's help, they've already arrived -- but are they too late? Precious hours have ticked away and the countdown is nearly complete, threatening to blow up both the ship and the two passengers aboard. Can the Tracy brothers -- following whispered instructions from Brains -- save the men from their watery grave?

Original title : 30 Minutes After Noon
First Aired : 11.11.1965 (UK)
Director : David Elliott
Writing credits : Alan Fennell
Cast : David Graham (Sir William), Ray Barrett (Southern (Tiger Four), / Officer Flanagan / Stranger), Matt Zimmerman (Tom Prescott / Frank Forrester / Policeman (Police Barrier)), Peter Dyneley (Dempsey / Officer Jones / Erdman Gang Member), Sylvia Anderson (Gladys Saltzman)

The Story : On his way home to celebrate his third wedding anniversary, Thomas Prescott is forced into an unexpected detour after picking up a hitchhiker. Upon dropping the man at what is supposedly the home of the hitchhiker's doctor, Prescott finds himself thanked with an explosive device clamped to his wrist and not much time to remove it before it detonates. The hitchhiker informs his confused victim that the key is hidden in his office and instructs him to leave the device in a file cabinet once it has been removed. Racing against both time and the police, Prescott does as he's told, but he's trapped in an elevator while fleeing the now-burning building. International Rescue has been monitoring the happenings and decides that now is the time to spring into action. But have they sat on the sidelines too long? Will they arrive in time to pull Prescott from the bottom of the elevator shaft in which he's trapped, or will the fire prove too much even for International Rescue's advanced equipment? Adding to their troubles, will they learn why both man and building were targeted in the first place before the criminals can strike again? After plunging to the bottom of the burning elevator shaft, the man, though injured, is eventually saved by International Rescue. When it's discovered that the explosion targeted government files on gang activity, the FBI is called in, and International Rescue removes itself from the case -- for now. When a British agent named Southern infiltrates the gang responsible for the blast, he and two other men are dispatched to a plutonium storage facility with a familiar calling card -- explosives attached to their wrists. Once inside the heavily fortified building, Southern turns on his companions in hopes of capturing the operation's ringleader, but is himself captured by one of the facility's robot guards and locked inside with the bombs. Can International Rescue save the agent and get to the explosives before half of England is destroyed? And will the gang again manage to escape, free to continue its destruction?

Original title : Desparate Intruder
First Aired : 18.11.1965 (UK)
Director : David Lane
Writing credits : Donald Robertson
Cast :

The Story : Taking a much-needed break from their rigorous schedules, Brains and Tin Tin set off on a working vacation in the Middle East, where they'll be assisting a renowned professor with the recovery of hidden treasure from the bottom of a lake. As our two intrepid heroes embark on their journey, Tin Tin's father, Kyrano, expresses his uneasiness to Jeff Tracy concerning the expedition. "A beautiful lake miles and miles from anywhere," Jeff says. "What could be safer?" Kyrano's fears are justified, however, as his evil half-brother, the Hood, has once again compelled him to reveal details about International Rescue's activities. Making a valuable discovery during their very first dive, Brains and Tin Tin anxiously await the next day's explorations. Unfortunately, they may not last that long, as the Hood infiltrates their camp and hypnotizes them. When morning comes, Tin Tin is slumped over in a chair and the professor is clearly injured and sprawled out on the floor of their trashed caravan. They're still in better shape than Brains, though, who awakens to find himself buried up to his neck beneath the blazing sun. Hypnotizing Tin Tin and Brains -- whom he also buries up to his neck in the sand -- and their companion, a respected professor, the Hood's plan seems to be working to perfection. The trapped engineer, however, musters up the strength to send out a distress signal, and International Rescue speeds to the scene. For Brains, help arrives just in the nick of time, and he's pulled from his sandy prison before any scavengers can gather and start circling his giant head, which would provide quite a hearty meal. Though the plan is to arrange for the professor to be transported to a hospital and head back to base once he's been safely removed from the campsite, Brains -- feeling guilty about the trouble he's caused -- sneaks off in the middle of the night to make amends. Sporting a horrific tan, Brains returns to the lake, where he encounters the Hood yet again and is hypnotized a second time for his troubles. He is also buried alive after an underwater explosion, and his air supply is dwindling, even if he's been spared massive internal injuries. Can International Rescue save him a second time, and capture the Hood as well?

Original title : End of the Road
First Aired : 25.11.1965 (UK)
Director : David Lane
Writing credits : Dennis Spooner
Cast : David Graham (Cheng), Ray Barrett (Eddie Houseman / J.B. Lester), Matt Zimmerman (Chuck Taylor)

The Story : Only days away from monsoon season, Eddie Houseman's construction company is racing against time to complete a mountain road and fulfill a contract. With the end seemingly in sight, Eddie sets off on a long-overdue vacation, to look up an old friend. When that friend happens to be Tin Tin, however, it's Alan Tracy who's left out in the cold -- and mocked by his older brothers for good measure -- while the two lovebirds jet set around the island. When Eddie stands up Tin Tin after receiving an urgent message from his company, Alan thinks his troubles are over, until he said the wrong things to tin-tin which causes the object of their affections to promptly storm off. Meanwhile, Eddie receives the disturbing news that seismic activity in the mountains, combined with heavy rains, threatens to halt the entire project. Seeing his future crumbling before his eyes, Eddie sneaks off against his senior partner's wishes to detonate atomic charges on the mountaintop, in hopes of forcing destructive landslides away from the road. The slightest wrong movement could blow Eddie sky-high. Of course, such an occurrence would allow Alan to regain his rightful place on the arm of Tin Tin, but heroes don't think like that, do they? Taking matters into his own hands, Eddie attempts to alter a landslide's path by detonating charges at the top of a mountain. When one of the charges sends his tractor -- still loaded with explosives -- teetering on the edge of a cliff, both his life and the project seem certain to go up in smoke. A call is made to International Rescue, but there's one problem: Eddie has met them all, meaning their cover will be blown if they attempt to save him. Never ones to turn away someone in distress, the group sets off to rescue Eddie, but will they be able to maintain the secrecy of their operation? Even more importantly, will Alan slither his way back into the good graces of Tin Tin?

Original title : The Uninvited
First Aired : 02.12.1965 (UK)
Director : Desmond Saunders
Writing credits : Alan Fennell
Cast : David Graham (Zombite Leader), Ray Barrett (Wilson / Zombite Guard), Matt Zimmerman (Lindsey / Zombite Controller)

The Story : After reporting back to his father regarding a mission that didn't require International Rescue's assistance after all, Scott Tracy and Thunderbird 1 are attacked by three unidentified aircraft. Forced to make an emergency landing, Scott, besides losing radio contact, receives a nasty bump to the head and passes out. Luckily for him, two explorers in search of a mysterious pyramid experience greater success in finding the wounded Tracy boy. They contact International Rescue, and Virgil, Brains, and Tin-Tin are dispatched to bring him home. Not long afterward, the two do-gooders encounter trouble after a jeep accident robs them of vital supplies. Will Scott arrive in time to repay the men's kindness? Or will their lack of water spell the end for the two explorers? Meanwhile, the two stranded explorers Lindsay and Wilson encounter something much more interesting -- the pyramid they had been searching for. Once inside, the door closes behind them. Scott follows there tracks and becomes trapped inside the pyramid too. The three men are not alone, however, as they are taken by strange beings that may or may not be the ones that shot Scott Tracy down. What will become of the men?

Original title : Sun Probe
First Aired : 09.12.1965 (UK)
Director : David Lane
Writing credits : Alan Fennell
Cast : John Tate (Solarnaut Camp), David Graham (Solarnaut Asher), Ray Barrett (Colonel Harris / Colonel Benson), Peter Dyneley (Professor Heinz Bodman), Matt Zimmerman (TV Reporter)

The Story : Three solarnauts in a research vessel have been launched into space. Their mission is to collect a piece of the sun. Naturally, the Tracy family, given their background, is huddled around the television awaiting the outcome. Conspicuous by his absence is Brains, who surprisingly seems more content to work on his robot, Braman, than watch history being made. The telecast is finally able to capture Brains' attention, but for all the wrong reasons. In recovering its data-collecting probe, the solar module has been forced out of orbit and, its control system disrupted by radiation, is now on a collision course with the sun. After efforts to steer the ship back on track via remote control fail, a plea for International Rescue's help is aired during the broadcast. Following hours of debate, they decide on a two-pronged attack, with both Thunderbird 2 and Thunderbird 3 attempting to fire the doomed ship's engines via radio beam. But will they reach the ship before it reaches the sun and incinerates the crew? After initial contact with International Rescue the airwaves fell silent for hours and the three solarnauts began to prepare for the inevitable. Suddenly, Thunderbird 3 gets within range and is able to guide the ship to safety. Before the celebration can begin it's discovered that Thunderbird 3 -- with Alan, Scott, and Tin-Tin (on her first mission), aboard -- has fallen victim to the same predicament as the sun probe. Soon, Thunderbird 3 will crash into the sun. Can Thunderbird 2, with Virgil and Brains, succeed where their three fellow heroes have failed? What does Brains have up his sleeve? That's the burning question.

Original title : Operation Crash-Dive
First Aired : 16.12.1965 (UK)
Director : Desmond Saunders
Writing credits : Martin Crump
Cast : David Graham (Captain Hansen), David Holliday (Newsreader), Peter Dyneley (Commander Norman / International Air Minister), Ray Barrett (Lt. Burroughs / Fireflash Co-Pilot Bob / Saboteur), Shane Rimmer (Radar Lieutenant), Matt Zimmerman (TV Reporter / Seahawk Pilot)

The Story : After narrowly averting disaster in the past, the atomic-powered airliner the Fireflash plunges into the sea while en route to San Francisco from London, killing all 600 aboard. Unfortunately, the latest incident occurred without warning, leaving the group powerless to act, save for monitoring the further testing that has temporarily grounded all Fireflashes. No mechanical flaws are found, and the aircraft is finally ready for its test flight. Following the same flight path as its predecessor, the Fireflash seems to be operating smoothly. It may have followed the path too closely, however, as it also loses radio contact and falls into the ocean below. International Rescue is better prepared this time, having been listening in on the conversations between the crew and their tower. They speed to the sight of the crash. After saving the crew from a watery grave, the group determines that the only way to solve the mystery behind the crashes is to accompany the next test crew. With Scott Tracy helping to man the Fireflash's cockpit, and Virgil and Gordon flying next to the craft, it looks as if problems are unlikely. Looks can be deceiving, however, and the latest flight follows an eerily similar path. Is Scott Tracy the Fireflash's next victim, or will his brothers come to his rescue in time? And is that mysterious figure Gordon spotted just a figment of his imagination?

Original title : Vault of Death
First Aired : 23.12.1965 (UK)
Director : David Elliott
Writing credits : Dennis Spooner
Cast : David Graham (Light Fingered Fred), Peter Dyneley (Lord Silton / Longman), Ray Barrett (Lovegrove), Sylvia Anderson (Lil), Shane Rimmer (Carter)

The Story : Lord Sulton, an official with the Bank of London, has enlisted Lady Penelope and her trusted servant Parker to help prove that their safe needs to be modernized. Though reformed, Parker's skill as a safecracker is virtually unmatched, and breaking in is no problem. The bank's board of directors acts quickly to install an up-to-date vault, one that removes all of its air to better preserve the documents inside. After Lord Sulton leaves (with the only key), for an evening at Lady Penelope's estate, the remaining employees realize that the bank workaholic has been locked in the safe, with only a few hours of air left. An emergency call from the bank interrupts Lady Penelope and Lord Sulton's dinner. Unfortunately, Parker, who just read that his former cellmate is loose, believes a robbery prompted the call and starts stalling for time. Will the employee suffocate before the confusion is cleared up? Parker, assuming the distress call to Lord Sulton was for a robbery courtesy of an old friend, is doing everything in his power to stall him from reaching the bank. Meanwhile, International Rescue has been summoned, but they soon realize that cracking the vault may be beyond even their capabilities. Even Brains is having trouble figuring this one out, but an unlikely source may have come up with the answer just when they think they've been stumped. Will Lady Penelope get to the bottom of Parker's strange behavior in time to save the trapped worker? And has International Rescue finally met its match?

Original title : The Mighty Atom
First Aired : 30.12.1965 (UK)
Director : David Lane
Writing credits : Dennis Spooner
Cast : Peter Dyneley (Professor Holden / 1st Reporter), Sylvia Anderson (Tannoy), David Holliday (Scientist Voice), David Graham (Collins), Ray Barrett (Reactor Controller Wade / General Speyer / Fire Chief / Guard), Matt Zimmerman (2nd Reporter / Press Officer), Shane Rimmer (Reactor Control Assistant)

The Story : Having failed a year earlier to steal the plans for an atomic station in Australia, the Hood has not given up trying to acquire the information that he believes will allow him to rule the world. Of course, International Rescue didn't exist at the time of his plan, and it still failed, so what makes him think he can get away from with now? The Hood may not have had International Rescue to contend with, but he also didn't have at his disposal the Mighty Atom, a powerful surveillance device disguised as a mouse. Atomic secrets aren't the only thing the Hood has his sights set on, however, as he plans to capture all of International Rescue's secrets on film as well. A potential nuclear explosion is just the sort of crisis the Hood needs to draw the heroes into action, and the first part of his plan goes off without a hitch. Will International Rescue be able to stop the reactors from overheating and exploding? Or will the Hood succeed in stealing all of their secrets, extinguishing countless lives in the process? s to these questions aren't intriguing enough to make you watch "The Mighty Atom," the fact that Gordon -- six episodes into the series -- has finally been given something to do, should be.

Original title : City of Fire
First Aired : 06.01.1966 (UK)
Director : David Elliott
Writing credits : Alan Fennell
Cast : David Graham (Tower Control Assistant), Ray Barrett (Joe Carter), Sylvia Anderson (Blanche Carter / Tommy Carter), Matt Zimmerman (Tower Controller / WTV Reporter), Christine Finn (Woman Driver), Peter Dyneley (Fire Chief)

The Story : Two vehicles -- one containing a family, the other a couple -- make their way toward the newly opened Thompson Tower, a 350-story shopping complex. The father of the family repeatedly comments on the other driver's recklessness. Unfortunately for the family, it isn't the last time the careless driver will impact their lives. Shortly after being pulled over and ticketed by the police, the couple speed toward the parking lot, only to crash upon entering. They promptly flee the scene, but not before their damaged car sets the garage ablaze. Unbeknownst to the family, measures to seal off the fire have already begun, trapping them inside the otherwise evacuated building. Sounds like the perfect job for Brains' new invention, a gas that acts as a laser beam, only much more effectively. Initial tests, however, have caused its users to pass out. Will International Rescue arrive in time? Even if it does, will it have the equipment to save the trapped family? International Rescue was contacted, and Scott and Virgil were on their way to provide assistance. Their job has become a lot more difficult as part two opens, as the tower collapses and the family is buried alive. They may not remain alive for very long, however, as the flames now surround the area in which they're trapped. Once inside, a number of steel fire doors separate the family from another successful International Rescue mission, and the only way to reach them is by using Brains' gas invention. Limited use caused Scott and Virgil to pass out before, so what effect will the amount required for this task have now? If they don't risk it, a family will surely die; if they do, they may die themselves. Be sure to tune in to see what choice Scott and Virgil make, and the outcome of their deadly decision.

Original title : The Imposters
First Aired : 13.01.1966 (UK)
Director : Desmond Saunders
Writing credits : Dennis Spooner
Cast : David Graham (Elliott), Peter Dyneley (Jeremiah Tuttle / Air Force Officer / Air Force Lt.), Ray Barrett (General Lambert / Jenkins / Hale / Fireflash Co-Pilot / Colonel), Matt Zimmerman (Eddie Kerr / Wakefield / Speed Merchant), Sylvia Anderson (Ma Tuttle / Fireflash Stewardess)

The Story : International Rescue is in the middle of saving yet another life in danger, but what makes this mission different is the large crowd that's witnessing the feat. Reporters are also on the scene, and are able to snap the first-ever photos of the team in action. Other than International Rescue's usual camera shyness, there's only one problem: Each member was already at home on Tracy Island, awaiting the next mission. Though confused as to why someone would steal their identities, they try not to think too much about it, especially since a life was saved. It quickly becomes apparent, however, that the whole thing was a ruse to steal plans for a fighter capable of light speed, and the real International Rescue has been blamed, memories of their heroism a thing of the past. With a worldwide manhunt under way to locate their base, the group is powerless to act, regardless of who needs assistance. Will they be able to clear their name without revealing their true identities or location? And what role will Jeremiah, International Rescue's hillbilly operative, play in solving the case? Making matters worse, International Rescue cannot even attempt to clear their name, because their every move is being tracked by the military. Though they must remain in hiding, there are apparently agents all over the world, and they are instructed to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. For all of you Thunderbirds fans that have been clamoring for a hillbilly agent named Jeremiah, your prayers have been answered. It's Jeremiah who reports strange tracks leading to a cave near his shack, and Lady Penelope is dispatched to the scene. Penelope is clearly a fish out of water in the backwoods Jeremiah calls home, but she'll need to get used to country living quickly, because the Tracys have again put another life ahead of their own. Ironically, it belongs to one of their pursuers. Will International Rescue be proven innocent, or end up imprisoned for a crime they didn't commit?

Original title : The Man From M.I.5
First Aired : 20.01.1966 (UK)
Director : David Lane
Writing credits : Alan Fennell
Cast : Ray Barrett (James Bondson / Ritter), David Graham (Carl), Matt Zimmerman (Third Man), Sylvia Anderson (Fireflash Stewardess)

The Story : Seemingly without a care in the world, a man relaxes aboard his yacht in the Mediterranean. Other than the five bullets he takes from a mysterious scuba diver that sneaks onto the vessel, life couldn't be sweeter. The assassin rummages through the dead man's desk, and flees when he finds what he has been looking for. The boat then explodes, attracting the attention of the victim's colleagues, who just happen to belong to the British secret service. Realizing that the explosion was no accident, and that plans for a nuclear device which were supposed to be exchanged are now missing, the British agents contact International Rescue. Lady Penelope, under the guise of a fashion model, plants a story in the paper that she has arrived to crack the case and expose the killers. Predictably, a man wielding a gun pays Penelope a visit and forces her from her yacht. Has she made a mistake by sending Parker off to gamble in Monte Carlo? It's possible that she's underestimated the viciousness of her captors, but will she live long enough to regret her mistake? Penelope is tied up and left behind with a bomb that will distract the police and allow her captors to escape in the submarine that they've been unable to move out of fear of detection. Has Lady Penelope finally met her match? Tied up and with time rapidly running out, it sure seems that way, especially since International Rescue is unable to get a lock on her location.

Original title : Cry Wolf
First Aired : 27.01.1966 (UK)
Director : David Elliott
Writing credits : Dennis Spooner
Cast : David Graham (Colonel Jamesn), Ray Barrett (Williams), Sylvia Anderson (Bob Williams), Christine Finn (Tony Williams), Matt Zimmerman (Lieutenant Lansfield)

The Story : Scott Tracy is off to Australia to save a young boy that has fallen over the side of a cliff and is now trapped on a ledge, his leg broken. By the time Tracy has landed, however, the boy has made a miraculous recovery and is back on firm ground, and he's talking with another boy that just so happens to be outfitted in International Rescue garb. It quickly dawns upon our hero that the boys were merely playing, and the curmudgeonly Scott scolds both them and their father for drawing International Rescue away from what could have been a real emergency elsewhere. Who would have guessed that he'd be so uptight, especially since the boys didn't do it on purpose? Just as he seems bound to lose the adoration of fans worldwide with his nasty demeanor, Scott reverts back to his usual mellow self and invites the boys to join him on Tracy Island. His plan is to demonstrate how important it is that his family's organization remain free of false alarms, and it seems to have worked. Unfortunately, the Hood has gotten word of the rescue attempt and, for reasons never quite explained to the viewer, surmises that the weather station where the two boys' father works is just a front for a secret government operation. The villain promptly plots a break-in, but what will happen to the boys when they cross his path? When their visit concludes, the boys apologize for all the trouble they have caused and vow not to let it happen again, which is why International Rescue is understandably upset when another distress signal arrives from the boys shortly afterwards. What the group doesn't realize, however, is that the boys really are in trouble, trapped in a mine in which the Hood has set off a bomb. The Hood is out to get his hands on secret photographs that the two boys' father possesses, and detonates the explosive to get them out of the way. Will International Rescue believe the boys before the rest of the mineshaft comes crashing down on top of them? Can anything stop the Hood from making off with the photographs?

Original title : Danger at Ocean Deep
First Aired : 03.02.1966 (UK)
Director : Desmond Saunders
Writing credits : Donald Robertson
Cast : John Tate (Captain, Ocean Pioneer II / Commander, Ocean Pioneer I / Stevens / Scottish Onlooker), David Graham (No 2 Ocean Pioneer 2), Peter Dyneley (Lord Worden), Ray Barrett (Captain Johnson / Sir Arthur / TV Reporter / Pioneer Base, Port London), Matt Zimmerman (Lieutenant Jensen)

The Story : Ocean Pioneer I, the world's most modern tanker, encounters a strange mist and suddenly explodes while transporting its cargo, killing its three-man crew. Six months later, its disappearance is still a mystery, but it'll take more than that to stop the maiden voyage of Ocean Pioneer II, christened by International Rescue's own Lady Penelope. Unbeknownst to onlookers, she is there on behalf of Jeff Tracy to investigate any signs of the sabotage that just may have caused the disappearance of its predecessor. Penelope gives it the ok, but Jeff has other concerns at the moment. He's lost all communication with Thunderbirds 1 and 2 -- sent out on a rescue in Hawaii -- and their space satellite as well. The good news is that his sons all manage to return in one piece, but radio contact is still vital to their operation. What is causing the mysterious interference, and what will happen if someone finds themselves in need of rescue, especially those aboard Ocean Pioneer II? After retreating to the laboratory, Brains deduces that the radio interference is being caused by the interaction of a particular type of liquid fuel with a rare ocean fungus. Loss of radio contact is suddenly the least of their problems, however, as the ship -- transporting a large cargo of the fuel -- is headed right for a huge deposit of the fungi, the result of which will be a lethal explosion. Will International Rescue reach the vessel in time to save the crew? Even if they do, will they be able to navigate through the heavy mist that's produced by the chemical reaction without being able to communicate with each other?

Original title : Move - And You're Dead
First Aired : 10.02.1966 (UK)
Director : Alan Pattillo
Writing credits : Alan Pattillo
Cast : David Holliday (Timekeeper), David Graham (Victor Gomez), Ray Barrett (Johnnie Gillespie / Kenny Malone / Parola Sands Announcer), Matt Zimmerman (WTV Commentator), Sylvia Anderson (Parola Sands Page)

The Story : A year after announcing his retirement from auto racing, Alan Tracy celebrates his comeback in spectacular fashion by emerging victorious, largely due to Brains' new engine. He shouldn't expect a congratulatory handshake from runner-up Victor Gomez anytime soon, however, as Tracy and his car now stand between Gomez and any future prize winnings. Could Gomez' jealousy be the reason that Alan and his grandmother are now trapped on a bridge, where the slightest movement will cause it to explode? Carefully reaching for his communicator, Alan is able to contact his father, who dispatches Scott, Virgil and Brains to the scene. They may not make it in time, however, as the blazing sun overhead causes Grandma to pass out, and a clearly weakened Alan may not be far behind. Knowing full well that Alan's ability to remain conscious directly influences whether or not the whole bridge goes up in smoke, Jeff Tracy tries to keep him talking. Alan is relaying how they ended up there to help pass time until help arrives in th form of Scott, Virgil and Brains. Though Grandma has already succumbed to the heat, Alan somehow manages to stay awake and maintain contact with his father. He reveals that after chief rival Gomez and his partner failed in their initial attempt to steal the winning car, he set off to pick up Grandma and bring her back to International Rescue headquarters. Having pretended to be reporters when talking to Grandma earlier in the day, Alan's rivals learn the route the Tracys will be taking and spring their trap, making off with the car and leaving them for dead. Will Alan and Grandma manage to escape, or will International Rescue be on the lookout for two new members?

Original title : The Duchess Assignment
First Aired : 17.02.1966 (UK)
Director : David Elliott
Writing credits : Martin Crump
Cast : Christine Finn (Grand Hotel Receptionist), Peter Dyneley (Chandler / Casino Owner / 1st Croupier), Sylvia Anderson (Mrs. Godolphin / Air Terrainean Hostess), Ray Barrett (Deborah, the Duchess of Royston / Brophy / Fireflash Co-Pilot / Percy's Friend), David Graham (Wilbur Dandridge), Matt Zimmerman (2nd Croupier / Hendricks)

The Story : British royalty cannot seem to distance themselves from scandal, even in the far future. The Duchess of Royston, thanks in part to her excessive gambling, is doing her part to maintain that grand tradition. Luckily, Lady Penelope is on this particular evening at the same Monte Carlo casino, and she notices that her old friend the Duchess is down on her luck. She also notices that the roulette table at which the Duchess is losing her shirt is fixed, and she and Parker set off in pursuit of the crooked dealer and casino manager. They unfortunately are unable to capture the two con men, but do eventually catch up with the Duchess -- now virtually penniless thanks to her addiction -- back in England. She does, however, still own a Picasso (only because it wasn't with her at the roulette table), and it may be the key to regaining some of her fortune. Enter Jeff Tracy, who actually leaves his office for the first time in recent memory. Jeff meets with an old friend who's flush with cash, and by the end of their conversation has found someone extremely interested in purchasing the painting. Unfortunately, the casino was filled with shady characters that night, and two other criminals have gotten wind of the valuable painting. Will it arrive safely at the New York headquarters of its buyer, or will the Duchess' life spiral further out of control? Disposing of the buyer's chauffeur before he can pick up the Duchess from the airport, one of the men assumes his identity and leads her out of the city and into the basement of a farmhouse, one rapidly filling with gas. Will International Rescue find the Duchess before fire completely engulfs her basement prison? And will her priceless painting ever be recovered, or has her chance to crawl out from under her massive debt gone up in smoke as well?

Original title : Brink of Disaster
First Aired : 24.02.1966 (UK)
Director : David Lane
Writing credits : Alan Fennell
Cast : David Graham (Warren Grafton), Ray Barrett (Selsden / 2nd Investor / Joe (Patrol 304), / Crook with Machine Gun), Matt Zimmerman (Doolan / Stan (Patrol 304), / Patrol Base), Peter Dyneley (Hugo)

The Story : Late for an appointment in her library, Lady Penelope must resort to drastic measures to shake two persistent gunmen in hot pursuit of FAB 1. With only a fireball in her rearview mirror, Penelope is finally free to greet her guest, but is she in far greater danger at home than on the open road? Her guest, named Warren Grafton, is actually a money-hungry con man intent on securing investors for his transcontinental monorail, and he won't take no for an answer. Lady Penelope's pledge to put him in touch with a wealthy friend isn't enough to deter him from planning an uninvited visit later on and emptying the contents of the library's safe. The wealthy friend is Jeff Tracy, who with the help of Brains and Tin Tin accepts a ride on the monorail to determine whether the investment is a sound one. Grafton seems more concerned with money than passenger safety right from the beginning, and is defiant when questions are raised over the issue. Grafton's arrogance over the unmanned monorail may be his downfall, however, as an aircraft used for inspections loses control and crashes into the track. Will our heroes put the brakes on both the scam and the monorail before plunging to their death? One team member who won't be available to help is Lady Penelope; she's facing her own troubles in the form of two burglars sent to her home by the con man to crack open her safe. The motivation behind a fully automated monorail was entirely financial, and Grafton's lack of interest in passenger safety is the reason why Brains' efforts to slow the train are now failing. Appearing to have succeeded only in speeding it up, he and his fellow team members seem finished. Though the bespectacled engineer is finally able to summon enough brainpower to halt the vessel in its tracks, the trestle beneath them has been weakened to the point of collapse. Will the Tracy boys be able to save their father, Brains, and Tin Tin from falling to their deaths? And will Lady Penelope and her trusted servant, Parker, fend off their intruders, or will she lose all of her jewelry to them?

Original title : Attack of the Alligators
First Aired : 10.03.1966 (UK)
Director : David Lane
Writing credits : Alan Pattillo
Cast : Matt Zimmerman (Hector McGill), Sylvia Anderson (Mrs. Files), David Graham (Culp), Ray Barrett (Dr. Orchard), John Tate (Blackmer)

The Story : At the request of two scientists with a business proposal, Mr. Blackmar heads deep into an alligator-infested swamp to learn about a revolutionary new drug. Derived from a rare plant that grows only in their part of the river, the two scientists' drug will eventually put an end to world hunger, thanks to its ability to enlarge animals many times their usual size. Unfortunately, Culp, the scheming boatman responsible for transporting Blackmar to the laboratory, overhears the conversation meant only for the ears of its three participants. When a storm forces Culp and Blackmar to spend the night at the scientists' home, Culp seizes the opportunity to steal the drug while the others are asleep. He clumsily spills some of it down the drain, not realizing the consequences until a giant alligator tips his boat the next morning. Though the thief has apparently been eaten, Blackmar makes it to shore with the help of one of his hosts, and the three men retreat into the basement laboratory. They may not be safe for long, though, as several giant gators swarm the house and start to tear it down by violently whipping their tails against it. Can anything save the trapped men from the aggressive reptiles with the overgrown appetites? After they manage to contact International Rescue, Scott is able to divert the animals' attention and infiltrate the house. All he's succeeded in doing is trapping himself with the others, cornered by both the alligators and Culp, who's actually alive and now armed with a gun. Things are rough for International Rescue all over, as Alan is knocked cold while distracting one of the mutated reptiles, meaning Gordon and Virgil will be down two brothers unless they act fact.

Original title : Martian Invasion
First Aired : 17.03.1966 (UK)
Director : David Elliott
Writing credits : Alan Fennell
Cast : David Graham (Bletcher), Ray Barrett (Goldheimer / Martian Ray / Brian), Matt Zimmerman (General X / Slim), Peter Dyneley (Martian Pete), Shane Rimmer (Director of Photography), Sylvia Anderson (Make-Up Girl)

The Story : Two skeptical police officers responding to reports of a flying saucer are quickly made believers when Martians chase them into a cave and begin filling it with a mysterious gas. Is the planet under attack? Not exactly, but it may soon be, thanks to an old nemesis of International Rescue. Both the cowering cops and alien aggressors are actors filming a scene for a movie, bankrolled by none other than the Hood! No, he hasn't gone straight; it's simply an elaborate plan to capture Thunderbird 1 on film. When sabotage on the set brings down the side of a mountain around the two actors in the cave, Scott Tracy speeds to the scene, with Virgil close behind. They set out to save the trapped men, unaware of the Hood's involvement. Much like his previous attempts, the plan to photograph an International Rescue vehicle is doomed to failure, thanks to Thunderbird 1's automatic camera detector. Or is it? And what role does Kyrano, Jeff Tracy's trusted servant, play? Despite failing time and time again to steal the secrets of International Rescue, the Hood is at it again. This time, however, his plan seems to be running smoothly. Funding a movie -- then sabotaging it -- to lure International Rescue to the set may seem like an overly elaborate plan, but not when you consider that the Hood is turning his investment of $4 million into $200 million. That's how much he stands to make by selling the secrets behind Thunderbird 1 to the equally evil General X. That type of shrewd dealing, combined with his nasty demeanor, would make the Hood a natural in Hollywood, but he's put his movie career temporarily on hold. For now, he's too focused on running off with the film he's taken, thanks to influencing Kyrano to disable the automatic camera detector. By the time Scott Tracy realizes that he's been filmed, the Hood already has a huge lead and is ready to make the exchange with the general. Can anything prevent all of International Rescue's secrets from being revealed?

Original title : The Cham-Cham
First Aired : 24.03.1966 (UK)
Director : Alan Pattillo
Writing credits : Alan Pattillo
Cast : Ray Barrett (Cass Carnaby / Commander, Matthews Field / Radio Maxwell DJ), David Graham (Olsen), John Tate (Maxie / Scheiler / Foreign Colonel), Matt Zimmerman (Banino / Macklin / Foreign Lieutenant)

The Story : A military aircraft takes off to make an important delivery but is quickly shot down by three enemy fighters, marking the third time a transporter has come under fire. Though the Air Force is mystified, Alan Tracy makes the keen observation that a live version of the song "Dangerous Game" had been playing on the radio at the time each of the three attacks occurred. Thinking that there may be a connection, Jeff Tracy sends Tin Tin and Lady Penelope to investigate the Cass Carnaby Five, the group behind the song with the mysterious power to disrupt military operations. Luckily for Tin Tin and Penelope -- sporting a brunette wig and posing as lounge singer Wanda Lamour -- the group is performing at Paradise Peaks, a posh Swiss resort. The two lovely heroes fail to make much progress in cracking the case, but they do an awful lot of flirting! Tin Tin and Penelope -- undercover as a lounge singer -- do some snooping at the resort to which they've been sent and learn that while the group behind the song is clean, their manager is not so innocent. After skiing to his chalet and peering through a window, the two agents gather enough information for Brains to deduce that the manager must be sending messages hidden within the song to the men responsible for the attacks. Penelope, singing that night with the unsuspecting band, changes the song enough to send out a false message, thereby saving the otherwise doomed plane. With their mission accomplished, Penelope, Tin Tin, and Parker descend down the mountain in a ski gondola to escape the bitter manager's wrath. Unfortunately, he's already sighted them and proceeds to cut the cables, sending them speeding out of control. Can anything save the three International Rescue members from plunging to their deaths?

Original title : Security Hazard
First Aired : 31.03.1966 (UK)
Director : Desmond Saunders
Writing credits : Alan Pattillo
Cast : Sylvia Anderson (Chip Morrison), David Graham (Morrison / Bob Gray / Solarnaut Asher / Captain Hansen / Frank / Dave Clayton), Ray Barrett (Eddie Houseman / J.B. Lester / Colonel Harris / Fireflash Co-Pilot / Control Tower Lt. / Allington Bridge Controller), John Tate (Solarnaut Camp), Matt Zimmerman (TV Reporter / Bill Craddock), Peter Dyneley (Commander Norman)

The Story : International Rescue has just wrapped up another successful mission, helping to extinguish an out-of-control blaze and pulling the men trapped by it from the bottom of a shaft. The mission hasn't run as smoothly as initially believed, however, as Jeff Tracy detects an intruder aboard Thunderbird 2. With blasters drawn, Jeff, Scott and Gordon converge on the hangar, only to discover the "saboteur" is a little boy that stowed away in an unguarded pod after excitedly witnessing the rescue in action. While Mr. Tracy gives three of his sons a stern lecture about the security breach, Virgil is supposed to be babysitting -- and keeping his mouth shut. He does a good job of it, until the boy challenges his manhood by saying that Thunderbird 1 -- Scott's ship -- is the best. Virgil's response to the inadvertent verbal slight is to fold like an accordion, spilling his guts about their adventure in episode 14. After Dad summons Virgil to his office, Alan assumes the task of watching the child. He claims that he'll reveal nothing, which of course means that he'll talk too much as well, recounting how he saved a doomed sun probe in episode 4. What will Jeff do about his sons' carelessness, which has compromised the secrecy of his organization? Whatever it is, he'd better act fast, because two of his sons haven't shut up yet. After blowing his top, Jeff is further infuriated by his sons' loose lips, as they each recount a mission on which they've excelled. Luckily, John is still in space, otherwise all of their radio transmission secrets would be revealed as well. At this point, Jeff should be ready to disown his sons and adopt four new team members, but he himself falls for the child's disarming nature, and it isn't long before he's describing his role in the group. The boys are off the hook, but problems still remain. The young intruder has seen all of their faces, and knows the location of the island base as well. How will they solve what is perhaps their greatest threat, despite its innocent appearance?