" OK?" " All clear." " Launch stations." " Launch stations!" "Good luck, Colonel." "Liftoff minus 10." "Sky 1 to Skydiver Control, airborne." "'Roger, Sky 1.'" "Replacement Sky 1 approaching rendezvous." "'Roger, Sky 1." "Have begun docking procedure." "You've got a great crew there, Captain." "It's been a privilege working with you." "'We've enjoyed your company, sir." "Have a good furlough.'" "Don't worry, I really plan to let my hair down." "# Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner" "# But he knew it couldn't last" "# Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona" "# For some California grass" "# Get back" "# Get back...#" "Paul!" " Excuse, me just a minute." " OK." " I'm glad you could make it!" " Hi, Sylvia." " A bit late for introductions." " I've got some catching up to do." "Let's start with a drink." " What do you like?" " Scotch." "Good night, Sylvia." "Good night, Paul." " Good night." " I'll walk you to the door." "Fix yourself a drink." "Good night, Sylvia." "Thanks for the lovely party." "Is this what you're looking for?" "It's a great party." "Looks like it." "What's the time?" "4:30." "D'you know, I've got to be up around 07:00 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 I needed." "Good morning, sir." "'Moonbase to Control: sighting." "'Area red 042-184.'" " 'How does it look, Lieutenant?" "'" " 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." "I knew it had to begin with F." "These poops are going through the entire alphabet." "Everything from Aaron to Zazinsky." "Yeah, I hear everybody in SHADO has to go through it." "Right." "'Colonel Paul Foster, report to room 17 on the first floor.'" "I think you're first in line, sir." "You're FO, I'm FR." "See you in the fun palace." "'UFO 428." "Speed:" "1,5 million miles per second." "'Bearing: positive." "Course: 017-234 red.'" "Confirmed." "UFO on positive track." "Red alert." "Interceptors, immediate launch." "Interceptors, immediate launch." "Moonbase to Control, we have a positive sighting." " Estimate trajectory termination." " Yes, sir." "Have you ever contracted scarlet fever, mumps, measles, chickenpox?" " Yes." " Yes?" " I had measles." " How old were you?" "4." "Or was it 5?" "Getting plenty of sleep, Colonel?" "Oh, yes." "Most of the time." "After 2 weeks here you'll feel on top of the world." "It could be better, Foster." "Keep it up, Rowan." "We'll soon get rid of that, won't we, Franklin?" "Course?" "017, 348, 101." " Speed?" " SOL 0,5, reducing." "Program computers for missile firing sequence." "'1837, 024.'" "Program complete." "Missile firing: 18,4." " Great place." " A giggle a nanosecond." "I can't wait to leave." "Some workout." "Yeah." "And this is only the first day." "Come on, gentlemen, one of you into the bath." "That's just what I could do with." "And I'm first:" "O before R." "Right." "You reckon you're ready for this?" "It's a sauna bath." "Moonbase for you, sir." "Go ahead, Lieutenant." "'We have the UFO termination fix." "'Southern England, grid reference 4706.'" "Yes, ground radar gave us the same information, Lieutenant." "'How badly was it damaged?" "'" "Interceptors scored a probable hit but the UFO maintained its course." "Lieutenant, maintain Moonbase on full red alert." "If that UFO breaks cover I want it destroyed." " Keep me informed." " 'Roger and out.'" " Are the mobiles moving in?" " Yes, sir." "Nothing of significance here, Alec." "The research 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 centre." " Yes, sir." "Radio contact negative, sir." " Well, keep trying." " Yes, sir." " Get over there, Alec." "Fast." " Right." "We've just landed." "I couldn't see any activity." "Alec, the men from the mobiles have the place surrounded." "'Hold them back, I'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 the centre." "'Everyone's dead and there's no trace of Foster. '" "There's only one answer, Alec." "He's been taken... by the aliens." "Steer 128, maintain present speed." "128 it is, sir." "'Control to Skydiver:" "I have Commander Straker for you.'" " Waterman here, sir." " 'Captain Waterman," "'I have some news..." "It concerns Colonel Foster." "'I'm afraid we must assume that he is in the hands of the aliens." " 'Did you read me, Captain?" "'" " Yes." "Sir, what happened?" "'The research centre was attacked." "Colonel Foster is officially 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." "Maximum speed!" "Seal all water locks!" "Control to Skydiver, remain on standby for emergency launch." "Well?" "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 that Paul Foster is almost certainly aboard?" "That's right." "You just better hope I'm never in a position to press the button on you." "How do you know he's even still alive, Alec?" "!" "Look, Paul Foster's a highly trained, dedicated, courageous officer." "But he knows the entire SHADO setup." "Yes, he's trained to resist interrogation, but what gentle means of persuasion will they use to chack him?" "No, Alec, if we destry that UFO Paul Foster loses his life, quick and clean." "If 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 reference 124-048." "Speed?" " 800 knots, accelerating." " That must be it." "Where is Skydiver?" " Here, sir." " Compute." "Roger." "Looks like we could intercept around here." "Where's that readout?" "It looks good." " Signal Sky 1: immediate launch." " Yes, sir." "Launch stations." "Check boosters 1, 2, 3!" "Clear 1!" "'1 and 2 clear.'" "Liftoff stations." "Liftoff minus 5, 4, 3, 2," "1, 0." "Sky 1 to Control: airborne." "We have you on positive track, Sky 1." "Set onboard computer for interception course." "Check the UFO's airspeed." "Yes, sir." " 1,500 knots." " What's its rate of climb?" "10,4 mpm." "Maybe it's more damaged than we thought." "Let's hope so." "I have it on radar." "Range, 29 miles, closing." "He must get it." "It's a sitting duck!" "Have visual contact." "Setting missile firing sequence." ""You've got great crew there, Captain."" ""It's been a privilege working with you."" "Missile launch:" "minus 10 seconds." "5, 4, 3, 2... zero." "How the blazes did he miss it?" "!" "Get me Lieutenant Ellis!" "Excellent visibility." "Positive radar tracking." "Positive infrared homing signal." "If I thought that Captain Waterman..." "Had any emotion for a man he's been serving with for 2 months?" "Moonbase for you, sir." "Lieutenant Ellis, what are the chances of interception by Moonbase?" "'None al all, sir." "UFO's leaving earth on an antilunar trajectory.'" "Beyond your range." "Well, keep tracking it and report any change." "'Roger and out.'" " Prepare to receive Cap." "Waterman." " Yes, sir." "Open bulkhead." "Range, 26 million, receding." "Lieutenant?" "It can't be." "Check it, and tell Control." "How long is this going to take?" "Is it or isn't it?" "It's complex, sir." "Times, courses, trajectories, the interplay of G-forces." "'Result sequence:" "trajectory 042-326 cyclic." "'Lunar G variable: 7/5,4." "'Computer predicted power loss: 70%." "'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." "It must have been damaged." "You were asking about Foster's chances of survival." "They've improved." "They must be down to a million to one." "UFO still maintaining its trajectory." "'Good." "As long as it's heading for the moon, do nothing." "'But if it manages to develop enough power to escape, destroy it.'" "The astronauts 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." "I'm going out there." " Tell Moon Mobile 1 to stand by." " Yes, Lieutenant." "We'll be there in 8 minutes." " Keep me informed of its progress." " 'Yes, Lieutenant.'" " We're in position." " 'Confirmed." "Two minutes to impact.'" "60 seconds." "'50.'" "40." "'30." "'20.'" "There it is." " It's gonna crash." " 'Ten, nine, 'eight, seven, 'six, five, 'four, three, 'two, one... '" " Would you ask Jackson to come in?" " 'Yes, sir.'" "Well, what's the situation?" "I've just spoken with Moonbase, it's very difficult." "Colonel Foster's general physical condition is satisfactory, considering what he's just been through." "But he's in an alien spacesuit, he's breathing liquid." "We can transfer him to normal breathing." "Come on, you've done it before." "Yes, with aliens, Alec." "And none have survived more than a few hours." "It's an extremely hazardous operation." "We've by no means perfected the technique." "There's another difficulty." "Here at SHADO headquarters we've every facility." "On Moonbase the equipment is naturally more crude." "Well, I'll be monitoring the operation by videolink." "If you'll excuse me." "You'll have to help me 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 background may help?" "Well, I'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." "'As I see it, '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." "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 the Colonel know the situation." "If you can hear me, nod your head." "We're going to remove your helmet." "Try and maintain your rhythm of breathing." "Whatever happens, don't panic." "Do you understand?" "What is that?" "2 cc of Petracol." "It should help, I hope." " 'Is 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." "Nice and relaxed." "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." "Colonel, have you been burning the candle at both ends recently?" "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." "I should've told you." "All right, Colonel, you're in good shape." "You'll be in even better shape when you leave here." "Tomorrow we'll get down to some real work." "Good luck." "# Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me #" "# Starlight and dewdrops...#" "# Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me #" "# Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee #" " Who's the voice?" " In the dreambox." "Dreambox?" "That's Colonel Foster." "He had a lulu in there yesterday." "Come on, Franklin!" "If all else fails I'll remove that blubber surgically." "# Gone are the cares of life's busy throng #" "# Beautiful dreamer, come wake unto me"