Project 90

Infobox Television episode
Title = Project 90
Series = Joe 90
Season = 1
Episode = 3
Airdate = October 13, 1968
Production = 17
Writer = Tony Barwick
Director = Peter Anderson
Episode list = List of "Joe 90" episodes
Prev = Most Special Astronaut
Next = Hi-jacked

"Project 90" is the third episode of the Supermarionation television series "Joe 90". It was the 17th episode to be produced. Its original UK air date was October 13, 1968 on ATV Midlands. It was written by Tony Barwick and directed by Peter Anderson.

Synopsis

Criminal masterminds decide to uncover the secret behind WIN's File 90, which contains the BIG RAT project and details of Joe's involvement as Most Special Agent. When Mac is kidnapped for information, it is up to Joe to rescue him from the alpine clinic where he is being held – but how will he do it?

Plot

At his clinic in the Swiss Alps, Dr Conrad Darota, secretly a master criminal, introduces his subordinate, Kurson, to their organisation's next scheme. The doctor presents a series of photographs of WIN Headquarters London, Shane Weston, Sam Loover and Professor McClaine, and reveals that a "File 90" of WIN has been discovered. The contents of the file are unknown, but Darota is certain that they are significant and assigns Kurson to "Project 90" to unearth the secrets.

File 90 houses the BIG RAT project and Joe's involvement with WIN as Most Special Agent. In London, Kurson and an underling drive up to WIN Headquarters in a vehicle disguised as a laundry van and Kurson shoots a bugging device through the open window of Shane Weston's office. Shane returns to the room and notices the strange object embedded in the ceiling, but calls his secretary by intercom as if nothing has happened. Kurson believes that Project 90 is off to a good start.

At the McClaines' cottage, Joe tells Mac that he was approached by a man while returning home from school. The stranger, who was actually Kurson, introduced himself as Harry Kennett and claimed to know Mac, questioning Joe about his father's work. However, Professor McClaine cannot recall the name Kennett and notifies Shane by telephone. Eyeing the bugging device, Weston implies in his response that there is something big at Mac's cottage and asks if he and Sam can pay a visit to talk business. Later, in the van, Kurson plays back the recorded conversation and orders his assistant to have the cottage thoroughly bugged for the appointment.

Sam and Shane arrive at the cottage while Kurson and his assistant monitor the listening devices from a boat offshore. The crooks hear a reference to the BIG RAT and learn that Weston and Loover are inviting Joe on holiday to the Continent for a few days. That night, Kurson takes all their information back to Darota at the clinic for analysis. The doctor is intrigued by the phrase "Big Rat" and deduces that it is an acronym for one of Mac's inventions, with the second part probably standing for "Record And Transfer" in view of the professor's electronics background. They will find out the first part of the name in their next move.

After Joe has left with Sam and Shane, Kurson and the subordinate drive to the cottage in the early hours of the morning. The assistant knocks loudly on the door and rouses the professor, shouting that there has been a road accident. However, when Mac opens the front door he is dazzled by the car's headlights and Kurson shoots him with a tranquilliser dart through his rifle.

Mac wakes up at Darota's clinic. Met by the doctor and Kurson, he is informed that as he was ostensibly brought to the Alps as a patient, his night attire was accepted by customs. A detector sounds, warning Darota and Kurson that an aircraft is approaching the clinic. However, it is merely a mountain rescue unit. Darota reveals that instead of using radar, the equipment amplifies engine noise to identify nearby planes.

As Sam, Shane and Joe drive through the mountains with a caravan, Darota and Kurson order Mac to give details of the BIG RAT. The professor tells the truth about Joe and WIN, even divulging that File 90 was named after his son's field name, but the criminals do not believe him. Incredulous at Mac's coolness and his insistence that Joe will shortly rescue him, Darota and Kurson try a more direct approach by tying the professor to the wall in front of a huge drill and activating the machine to slide slowly towards him.

Meanwhile, Sam, Shane and Joe have stopped their car. As the two adults look on, Joe emerges from the caravan in the hot air balloon that was stored inside it. Dropping ballast, Joe uses the wind to navigate the mountains and make his way to the clinic.

As the drill bears down on Mac, Darota and Kurson urge him to change his story, but the professor has nothing more to say. Joe has reached the clinic undetected in the silent balloon and lands on the roof. Smashing through a skylight, Joe threatens his father's captors with his gun, but Kurson dives for his rifle and opens fire on the boy. As the crooks hurry to the cable car which will take them down the mountainside to safety, Joe deactivates the drill just as it is about to ravage Mac's face. Darota and Kurson have got away, but Mac reminds Joe that it was planned.

When the cable car arrives at the ground station, the crooks are confronted by Sam and Shane, who place them under arrest. Asked for evidence for a kidnapping charge, Shane reveals that a bug was slipped into Kurson's passport as he went through customs the previous evening. He then humiliates Darota and his assistant by playing back one of their recorded conversations.

Later, Shane has joined Joe and Mac in the balloon. The commander-in-chief of WIN is concerned by the safety of the vessel but is even more terrified when they launch without Joe's special glasses. Mac reminds Shane of his knowledge of ballooning and the fact that Joe used his brain pattern earlier. Nevertheless, Shane panics as the craft rises above the mountains.

Cast

Regular voice cast

*Joe McClaine — Len Jones
*Professor Ian "Mac" McClaine — Rupert Davies
*Sam Loover — Keith Alexander
*Shane Weston — David Healy

Guest voice cast

In speaking order:

*Dr Conrad Darota — Jeremy Wilkin
*Receptionist (voice) — David Healy
*Kurson — Keith Alexander
*Agent — David Healy
*Secretary (voice) — Jeremy Wilkin
*Driver — Jeremy Wilkin

External links

* [http://www.fanderson.org.uk/epguides/joeeg2.html#Episode%20Seventeen Fanderson.org.uk: "Joe 90" Episode Guide: "Project 90"]
* [http://www.bigrat.co.uk/episodes/episode_17.html Bigrat.co.uk: "Joe 90" Episode Guide: "Project 90"]
* [http://www.clivebanks.co.uk/Joe%2090%20Timeline.htm# Clivebanks.co.uk: "Joe 90" Episode Guide]