Treble Cross

Infobox Television episode
Title = Treble Cross
Series = Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
Season = 1
Episode = 21
Airdate = February 23, 1968
Production = 29
Writer = Tony Barwick
Director = Alan Perry
Episode list = List of "Captain Scarlet" episodes
Prev = Fire at Rig 15
Next = Flight 104

"Treble Cross" is the 21st episode of the Supermarionation television series "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons". It was the 29th episode to be produced. Its original UK air date was February 23, 1968 on ATV Midlands. It was written by Tony Barwick and directed by Alan Perry.

Synopsis

Captain Black brings about the death of a test pilot and his victim’s reconstruction tries to carry out the Mysteron threat to destroy the world capital, Futura City. However, when the attempt backfires it is discovered that the real pilot has been resuscitated and is alive in hospital. Can Spectrum deceive the Mysterons into believing that the original pilot is their own and, in doing so, apprehend Black at last?

Plot

Late at night, a car carrying World Air Force test pilot, Major Gravener, is being driven along a country road. Ahead, Captain Black starts a heavy-duty truck and drives in the opposite direction. Unaware that Black has extended false headlights into their lane on a beam, Gravener's driver, Harris, fears a crash and swerves off the road into a lake. Black observes as the vehicle sinks and Gravener's drowned body floats the surface. As the Mysteron rings pan over the dead pilot, a Mysteron reconstruction appears beside him.

Transmitting to Earth, the Mysterons announce their intention to destroy the world capital, Futura City. In Cloudbase control, Colonel White warns that Spectrum must keep a lookout for clues on the attack. Meanwhile, two doctors, Mitchell and Baxter, are driving away from a conference when they stumble across the scene of Gravener's accident. Spotting his body in the water, they think that the pilot could be revived and call an ambulance to take them to Slaton Hospital.

As the time approaches midnight, Mitchell and Baxter fight to save Gravener, but his circulation and breathing have stopped and he is not responding to chest depressions. However, just as they are about to give up, the Major’s heart restarts and he inhales deeply. Baxter believes that Gravener is a very lucky man.

The next morning, the duplicate Gravener arrives at Slaton Airbase. He commands a sergeant to have an XK-107 bomber prepared for takeoff, armed with a nuclear warhead. However, the hospital calls to report the car accident and trucks block Gravener's path as he speeds down the runway. The Mysteron agent veers away and his plane explodes as it crashes into a building.

Cloudbase learns that there were two Graveners at the time of the incident. Colonel White dispatches Captains Scarlet and Blue to Slaton Hospital. There, the Spectrum officers enlighten the convalescent Major: because he was medically dead for two hours, the Mysterons were able to make a copy of him, probably to attack Futura City. Scarlet admits that Spectrum now require his help. The test pilot accepts despite the obvious risks.

Later, the real Major Gravener takes off from the airbase in another XK-107. In a Spectrum Saloon on the ground, Scarlet and Blue discuss how they intend to deceive the Mysterons by making it seem that the bomber is being piloted by their own agent. Gravener's journey will be tracked by Spectrum ground forces and hopefully the Mysterons will reveal details of their plan of attack on Futura.

Eventually, Captain Black contacts Gravener through his disembodied voice. He instructs the Major to land at Western Airstrip where he is waiting in his truck. Hearing the message over their car radio, Scarlet and Blue set off for the airfield. Scarlet deduces that the Mysteron Gravener's plane would have acted as a decoy so that the nuclear warhead could be transferred to a road vehicle and thedn covertly driven into Futura. Blue is confident that Captain Black will at last be captured.

The Angel craft fly over Western Airstrip and Black tries to flee in his truck. He races to drive through the exits but Spectrum vehicles obstruct his escape. As Black makes for an unguarded outlet, Scarlet orders Destiny Angel to divert him with a warning shot. Black crosses onto the runway just as Gravener touches down in the XK-107 and is forced to crash into a bunker. However, inspecting the wreckage, Scarlet and Blue find a dead, reconstructed Harris rather than Captain Black.

On Cloudbase, Colonel White acknowledges that Black has evaded Spectrum once more. Blue suspects that Black has a special "sixth sense" to warn him of danger. Scarlet points out that the Mysterons could not distinguish between the original Major Gravener and their reconstruction. He declares that they must exploit this chink in their armour to prise it open.

Cast

Regular voice cast

*Captain Scarlet — Francis Matthews
*Captain Blue — Ed Bishop
*Colonel White — Donald Gray
*Lieutenant Green — Cy Grant
*Destiny Angel — Liz Morgan
*Captain Black / Voice of the Mysterons — Donald Gray

Guest voice cast

In speaking order:

*Major Gravener — Jeremy Wilkin
*Dr Mitchell — David Healy
*Dr Baxter — Martin King
*Nurse — Liz Morgan
*Sergeant — Gary Files

Notes

*"Treble Cross" marks the second occasion in the series in which Spectrum almost capture Captain Black. A flashback of his first attempted apprehension in "Manhunt" features in this episode.

External links

* [http://www.fanderson.org.uk/epguides/scarleteg3.html#Episode%20Twenty%20Nine Fanderson.org.uk: "Captain Scarlet" Episode Guide: "Treble Cross"]
* [http://www.clivebanks.co.uk/Capt%20Scarlet%20Timeline.htm# Clivebanks.co.uk: "Captain Scarlet" Episode Guide]