Thunderbirds: Road Rovers Rescue Brigade Ep 2

## Summary

A mysterious fire in an office building turns out to have been a test of
 a new explosive device, by a dangerous criminal gang. A British agent infiltrates the gang in an attempt to prevent its members from destroying a nuclear depot, but his cover is blown - and he's trapped in
 the explosive-rigged depot...

## Characters

* Balto
* Jenna
* Pongo
* Perdita
* Delilah
* John Tracy
* Jeff Tracy
* Brains
* Lady Penelope
* Parker

## Episode

(**On his way home from work**, Thomas Prescott stops to pick up a hitchhiker who claims to be going to visit his doctor.)

Thomas Prescott: Hi there.

Hitchhiker: (acting all innocent) Why hello. Ah, can you help me? Um, you going any place near Princeton Avenue?

Thomas Prescott: Why, sure! Want a lift? Hop in!

(Prescott turns the radio off and the hitchhiker gets in.)

Hitchhiker: Well, that's real nice of you. I'd sure be grateful.

(Prescott drives off.)

Thomas Prescott: Do you live down Princeton Avenue? That's a nice quiet neighborhood.

Hitchhiker: No, I don't, but my doctor does. I've just got to get him down to see my wife. Boy, she's real sick.

Thomas Prescott: Gee, I'm sorry to hear that.

Hitchhiker: Yeah! What a night for my car battery to go flat.

(Prescott turns right into a side street.)

Hitchhiker: Say, I sure was lucky to find you. You married, too?

Thomas Prescott: Yep. Sure am! In fact, today is our third wedding anniversary.

Hitchhiker: Is that so? Well, well! That, er explains the little flower display in the back seat.

Thomas Prescott: Uh-huh. And as soon as the baby-sitter drops around, I'm taking my wife out for a celebration diner. Hey, why didn't you phone for the doctor?

Hitchhiker: OK, just here. This'll be fine. The doc lives just behind those trees.

(Prescott stops the car.)

Hitchhiker: Thank you, sir. Very much. But before I let you go, there's just something I've got for you.

(The Hitchhiker clamps a metal bracelet round Prescott's right wrist.)

Thomas Prescott: Hey, what's this? Look, just because I gave you a lift, there's no need to - Hey, what is this?

(The hitchhiker pulls a gun on Prescott.)

Hitchhiker: Now listen to me, Prescott.

Thomas Prescott: How did you know my name?

Hitchhiker: Never mind about that. Now you listen to what I'm gonna say, and listen carefully, because I don't have time to repeat. You work at the Hudson Building. Room 1972, right?

Thomas Prescott: Right.

Hitchhiker: OK, if you go and look in the top drawer of the cabinet there, you'll find a key to get you out of that bracelet.

(Prescott tries to unlock the bracelet.)

Hitchhiker: You're wasting time, Prescott! It's made
of solid hydro-chromatised steel. And nothing's gonna break it under 20,000 degrees of heat. The box on it contains an explosive charge that is set to go off soon. Are we in business?

Thomas Prescott: All right. What do you want me to do?

Hitchhiker: Simple. All you gotta do is go to your room in the Hudson Building. When you find the key, you take the bracelet off and leave it in the same drawer.

Thomas Prescott: What happens then?

Hitchhiker: The whole place goes up. Pow!

Thomas Prescott: You must be crazy!

Hitchhiker: OK. I ain't got time to argue. You got 21 minutes before that bomb goes up. If you don't get that bracelet off your wrist soon,, your wife is gonna be a widow on her third wedding anniversary.

(The hitchhiker gets out of the car.)

Hitchhiker: And, uh.... just a friendly tip,

Prescott: Don't throw the bracelet out of the office window. You'll want to get further away than that. OK, you're wasting time, Prescott. That bomb is set for eight o'clock, and you've got thirty miles to go.

(Prescott turns the car round and drives off, back down the side
street, across a crossroads and past a police car, which then starts to chase him.)

Police Officer Flanagan: Highway Control from Car 107. Going in pursuit of red Capeman convertible on highway six.

Police Commissioner Garfield: Highway Control, check.

Police Officer Flanagan: You'd better get the barriers out for this guy. He's just about to take off.

Police Commissioner Garfield: Check, car 107

Policeman at barrier: This guy's not gonna stop!

(Prescott drives into the two police cars)

Policeman at barrier: Calling all cars. Calling all cars.

(Cue Hudson Building Records Division entrance. Prescott arrives,
 parks out the front and Sam Saltzman is looking out his apartment window)

Gladys Saltzman: Who is it, honey?

Sam Saltzman: I don't know, it looks like Mr Prescott's car. Seems to be in quite a hurry.

Gladys Saltzman: What did you say, honey? I can't hear you for the television.

Sam Saltzman: Looks like something's up. Oh, I guess he's got his own key with him.

(Police car arrives)

Sam Saltzman: Hey, looks like the cops are after him, too!

Gladys Saltzman: I can't hear you, honey.

Sam Saltzman: Gladys, what time is it?

(Prescott pushes the button for elevator on the ground floor)

Thomas Prescott: Come on! Come ON!

(Prescott looks at the bracelet on his wrist and elevator makes its way to the ground floor. He then enters. Cut to Sam Saltzman on the telephone to the police)

Sam Saltzman: That's right, officer. I figured you wanted him for something.

Gladys Saltzman: What did he say, honey?

Police Officer Jones: It's his car alright.

Police Officer Flanagan: Yeah. And look up there.

(The light is on in Prescott's Office. He unlocks the fling cabinet and starts looking through files)

Thomas Prescott: It's not here! The key is not here!

(cut to the Police officers on the ground floor)

Police Officer Jones: What do you suppose this guy's up to?

Police Officer Flanagan: Maybe we'll find out when the janitor comes with the key.

(Prescott unlocks the bracelet and places it in the cabinet. He then leaves the floor in the elevator. At 8:00, the bomb explodes, causing the elevator to crash to the bottom of the basement. Two vehicles from the Fire Department depart for the Hudson tower. Officer Flanagan is on a walkie talkie at the entrance of the building)

(cut to Garfield in his office)

Police Commissioner Garfield: Now listen, Flanagan. As soon as you've got this situation under control, I want a full rundown. That Hudson Building is government property. We can't afford any security slip-ups.

Police Officer Flanagan: I understand, sir.

Police Commissioner Garfield: How's the fire situation?

(close up of Garfield's monitor)

Police Officer Flanagan: It's getting worse, sir. The fire department are on their way. But the automatic extinguishers inside the building aren't working.

Police Commissioner Garfield: Not working? What about the guy who started all this?

Police Officer Flanagan: We can't find him, sir. He probably got hit by the explosion. The elevator is out of action, and we can't come near the scene of the explosion.

Police Commissioner Garfield: I wish I knew what the heck this is all about.

(cut to Thunderbird 5)

John Tracy: Base from Thunderbird Five. Base from Thunderbird Five. Calling International Rescue.

(cut to Tracy Island)

Jeff Tracy: Go ahead, John. Any more news about the Hudson Building?

(cut to John's hologram)

John Tracy: Well, the latest newscast is not too hopeful, I'm afraid. The fire department have got there now, but they're not having much success dad.

Jeff Tracy: I see. What does Brains make of it?

John Tracy: Well, Brains reckons it must have been some kind of incendiary explosion to cause so much fire so quickly.

Brains: Hold it, John. H-here's another newscast coming up.

TV Reporter Frank Forrester: Here at Spoke City, the fire department are trying desperately to cope with this mystery fire at the Hudson Building, which followed an explosion completely destroying the five top floors. The janitor of the building, Sam Saltzman, said he and
his wife were watching television at the time of the explosion, and that the incident was preceded by the arrival at the building of Hudson employee Thomas Prescott. Police commissioner Garfield says that his department will have several charges to make against Prescott, if they ever get him out of the inferno alive. The fire department say that first efforts to rescue the man have failed, but they are not optimistic about the auxiliary equipment they are now going to bring in. This is Frank Forrester, I return you to your programme.Jeff Tracy: Right, if that's not a call to action, I don't know what is. Since, everyone's out on mission, we need the Road Rovers Rescue Brigade.

John Tracy: If that's alright with you, I'll give them a call now.

(At Road Rovers HQ, evveryone was doing their own things.)

John: Road Rovers Rescue Brigade, we have a situation. A mystery fire at the Hudson Building has broke out and it seems like a great mystery.

Balto: All right, I better put Jenna and Delilah straight about which Pod will be required for the operation.

John: Gladly, this is a chance for you rovers to test the new fire rescue equipment that Brains designed. I'll monitor all broadcasts about the fire at the Hudson Building, and keep you updated.

Delilah: Okay, John, we're on our way. Thunderbirds are go!

(The three rovers geared up, suit up and got into both their vehicles.)

5 4 3 2 1

(Thunderbirds 6 and 7 depart)

Jenna: Thunderbirds are go!

(cut to the fire department attempting to extinguish the fire in the Hudson Building)

Police Officer Flanagan: I don't hold out much hope for the guy at the foot of the elevator shaft, sir. The place is getting badly flooded, even with the pumps working full-force.

Police Commissioner Garfield: What about the safety doors, Flanagan?

Police Officer Flanagan: Well the explosion caused them to shut automatically, sir. But the fire's damaged their release mechanism and now we can't get them open.

(cut from Garfield leaving his office to Prescott sitting in the elevator with rising water)

(Balto in the cockpit of Thunderbird 6)

Balto: Thunderbird 5 from Thunderbird 6. Calling Thunderbird 5 from Thunderbird 6.

John: Receiving you, Balto.

Balto: What's the latest at the Hudson Building, John?

John: The fire department are stopping the fire from spreading alright, Balto, but they can't really get it under control while Prescott is still at the bottom of the shaft. They also seem pretty certain that the automatic fire extinguishers could not operate when the fire broke out because the main water supply had been cut off.

Balto: So, there's more in this than meets the eye...

(cut to the fire department attempting to put out the fire)

Police Commissioner Garfield: Well?

Police Officer Flanagan: They've contacted Prescott by
 means of the elevator radio, but he appears to be in a pretty bad way. There's also been a radio message for you, sir.

Police Commissioner Garfield: Oh yeah?

Police Officer Flanagan: International Rescue are on their way, sir.

Police Commissioner Garfield: International Rescue?! Here, give me that radio!

(cut to Jenna and Delilah in the cockpit of Thunderbird 7)

Jenna: ETA rescue zone in 17 minutes. How's it going there, Balto?

Balto: Talking to the Chief of Police right now, Jenna. If you can get the fire department to keep the fire under control, we will undertake to get the man out of the elevator shaft.

Police Commissioner Garfield: Sure, I can fix that. The fire has spread to some of the basement floors by the elevator shaft.

Balto: How many basement floors are there?

Police Commissioner Garfield: Ten.

Balto: And what other access is there to them?

Police Commissioner Garfield: None at all, I'm afraid. The safety doors are jammed, as you know. I've got my men down there trying to cut a way through.

Balto: Right. Now, you'd better withdraw them right away. And we shall want part of the area cleared for landing.

Police Commissioner Garfield: All right, International
 Rescue. You can come down on the open area at the back of the Hudson Building. I'll have the rear entrance cleared.

Balto: Thanks. And I shall want your guarantee of secrecy for my organisation during the whole of this rescue operation.

Police Commissioner Garfield: You've got it, buddy! You've got it.

(cut to Thunderbird 6 landing)

Police Commissioner Garfield: Boy! Is that a sight for sore eyes.

TV Reporter Frank Forrester: Even now, as I talk to you, ladies and gentlemen, the eyes and hearts of the people of Spoke City are turned upwards to watch the arrival of the second International Rescue craft. Now she has disappeared behind the flaming facade of the Hudson Building. For, ladies and gentlemen, at the express wish of the International Rescue team, the entire operation is to be conducted in secret.

Jeff Tracy: OK, OK. But what about the man at the bottom of the shaft?

(cut to Prescott in the flooding elevator)

Police Commissioner Garfield: What do you suppose these International Rescue guys are up to? They've been in there 30 minutes!

Delilah: Right, Balto, we've got the dicetylene cage fixed up.

Balto: Okay, ready, Jenna?

Jenna: Ready.

Delilah: Okay you two. Down you go.

(Delilah uses Thunderbird 10 to lower it into the shaft. As head down the elevator shaft in their elevator in their Dicetylene cage.)

Jenna: Heat increasing.

Balto: Right. Starting dicetylene sprinklers.

(sprinklers start spraying dicetylene)

Jenna: Hey, this dicetylene is great.

Balto: Yeah, I only hope our supply lasts. I don't think the tank's big enough.

Delilah: How's it going, you two?

Balto: Alright so far, Delilah. But I doubt if the dicetylene supply will last.

(cut to Prescott in the elevator)

Thomas Prescott: "What was that?"

Jenna: Prescott? Prescott, this is International Rescue. Answer if you can hear me.

Thomas Prescott: Yeah! Yeah, I can hear you.

Jenna: Good. We've come to get you out of there. Now listen carefully. What kind of shape is the elevator in?

Thomas Prescott: Pretty bad. The water's rising all the time, I'm afraid.

Balto: But how is the frame of the elevator car? Is it still intact?

Thomas Prescott: Yeah, I reckon it is. Why?

(a grab is released from the Dicetylene cage to the elevator car)

Balto: All right, Delilah. I think we've got her. Take us up.

Delilah: F.A.B.

(Thunderbird 10's winch pulls and the dicetylene cage starts to rise with the elevator car)

Thomas Prescott: Hey, what goes on?

Balto: Dicetylene's finished.

Jenna: I was afraid that might happen.

Balto: But still we've just got to!

(The elevator car makes it back to the ground floor)

Balto: OK, Prescott, you're gonna be all right.

Police Commissioner Garfield: Well, did you see Prescott?

Police Officer Flanagan: Yes sir. But he's still sticking to that cock-eyed story about the guy giving him the bracelet.

Police Commissioner Garfield: I tell you, I never
heard an alibi like it. Here's the guy, goes out on his wedding anniversary, and commits enough offences to give him 20 years inside.

Police Officer Flanagan: Yeah! A guy with a spotless record, too!

Police Commissioner Garfield: You know what, Flanagan?"

Police Officer Flanagan: What?

Police Commissioner Garfield: I believe him.

Police Officer Flanagan: Huh?

Police Commissioner Garfield: Just think. One: that
explosion destroys the files on some of the most vicious gangs operating today, including the Erdman gang. Two: the automatic extinguishers in
the Hudson Building had been sabotaged. It adds up, you know. What you got there, Jones?

Police Officer Jones: We've just picked this up on the nineteenth floor of the Hudson Building, sir.

Police Commissioner Garfield: Why, that's it! That's the bracelet! Right, get me the FBI.

Police Officer Flanagan: Yes, sir!

Police Commissioner Garfield: We're gonna get to the bottom of this, even if it means employing a little deception.

(cut to the front page of the Spoke City Tribune)

Delilah: Well, we did the best we could to save him.

Balto: It looks to me as if the authorities are taking this line for a very
special reason. Could be they've got some kind of a scheme lined up.

Paddington: Gee, that Prescott was a nice guy. I wish there were something we could do to help.

Balto: That sort of thing is best left in the hands of the FBI and Interpol. My guess is they're hoping they can make the man responsible think it's safe to try the same trick again.

(cut to London)

Sir William Frazer: More tea, old chap?

British Security Service Assistant: Ah, oh, no thanks.

Sir William Frazer: Well, as I was saying, Southern is the best man for the job.

British Security Service Assistant: Well, believe me, they need to be tough to deal with the Erdman gang.

Sir William Frazer: Ah, here's Southern now.

Southern: Afternoon, sir.

Sir William Frazer: All set, then?

Southern: Yes, sir.

Sir William Frazer: Right. You won't be needing those. But you WILL need this.

(W.I.P)