Pit of Peril (Thunderbirds episode)

Infobox Television episode
Title = Pit of Peril
Series = 1
Season = 1
Episode = 2
Airdate = October 7th, 1965
Production = 2
Writer = Alan Fennell
Director = Desmond Saunders
Episode list = List of "Thunderbirds" episodes
Prev = Trapped in the Sky
Next =

"PIT OF PERIL" is the second episode of the Supermarionation television series "Thunderbirds" It was first Broadcasted in UK on October 7th,1965. It was Written by Alan fennel and Directed by Desmond Saunders

ynopsis

A 500-ton US Army walker (the Sidewinder) falls into a pit that sets off a spontaneous underground fire. International Rescue are called to rescue the crew of three before their oxygen runs out.

Plot

In the African jungle, The US Army are testing out a newly desgined all-terrain vechicle -"The SideWinder". After clearing large amounts of jungle, The Sidewinder heads back to base. But then the ground begins to give way under its feet and it falls into an blazing, fireing pit with the Three crew men Colonel Sweeny, Frank and Jonney trapped inside the control room. General Peters arrives at the scene in a Army Copter along with a reasue helijet to discuss the cause. they manage to get in contact with the Sidewinder and Sweeney reports that they are tipped on their side making them unable to move, also that they are 300 feet down.

Being unable to identify the cause, Lt.Meed is lowered down into the pit from the Helijet inorder to assess the situation, but he becomes badly burnt from the pit but still able to report the damage. He insists them to slip a harness line over the vechicle's leg to turn it up right. Luckily, John in Thunderbird 5 picks up the radio tansmission and contacts Jeff, but Jeff refueses to get involved in the situation that the army could be working a majour situation.

Back in the Jungle, Anouther man Sg. Reynolds is lowerd into the pit in order to slip the line over the Sindwinder's leg, but he too is badly burnt from the heat of the pit. The cable is then attached to Copter Watchdog (The General's helicoper) and begins turning the machine off its side, but the line slips off during the opperation.With no other solution avalible, General Peters contacts International Rescue and Jeff luanches Thunderbirds 1 and 2 to the danger zone,with Scott, Vergil and Brains.

Scott arrives there first and releses a remote controled hover camera into the pit and Brains discovers that the pit was once an open-cut mine that had been used as a dup for old army equipment after WWII, which caught fire as soon as to Sidewinder brushed agianst the decomposed scrap metal when falling into the pit. Branis relieses that the remain of the crust from the decompossed steel must be first removed so that the Sidewinder can be dragged up the side of the pit.

Vergil is lowered into the pit in heat protective suit to place explosive charges, around the side of the pit walls. At the same time, Scott uses a large digging machine from Thunderbird 2,(The Mole) and drills down to the bottom of the pit to collect Vergil when he finshes. Once outside, Brains sets of the charges blowing away the ramaining crust from the side of the pit. Vergil then releases the Recovery Vechicles, One hand driven and one remote controled both fitted with powerful electro magnets attachted to strong cables that are fired down to the sidewinder in order to bring it to the surface. But during the proccess one of the lines fails dragging the Siderwinder slowly down the pit. so Vergil refires the cable and continues to pull untill finally he managers to pull the Siderwinder out of the pit.

Sweeney, Frank and Jonney are all rescued and flown away in a medical helicopter, while Thunderbirds 1 and 2 take off, General peters says to him self "I would sure like to have those guys in my army"