Viva Cordova

Infobox Television episode
Title = Viva Cordova
Series = Joe 90
Season = 1
Episode = 26
Airdate = March 23, 1969
Production = 30
Writer = Tony Barwick
Director = Peter Anderson
Episode list = List of "Joe 90" episodes
Prev = Attack of the Tiger
Next = Mission X-41

"Viva Cordova" is the 26th episode of the Supermarionation television series "Joe 90". It was the 30th and final episode to be produced. Its original UK air date was March 23, 1969 on ATV Midlands. It was written by Tony Barwick and directed by Peter Anderson.

Synopsis

A democratically-elected president comes to power in Latin America. Knowing that his corruption will be exposed, the country's former dictator plots his rival's assassination. When the new leader will not accept a bodyguard of any kind, it is up to Joe to protect the president and ensure a fair future for the state.

Plot

In a Latin American country, the results of the first free election in years are being announced. General Valdes, who has ruled as a dictator for the past decade, suffers a defeat at the hands of the democratic candidate, Juan Cordova. The new president addresses the people from the balcony of the government building, promising to expose the corruption of Valdes's regime. However, one of the general's followers, Garincia, has placed plastic explosive underneath the platform and Cordova is just able to spring back inside as the brickwork detonates beneath him. Cordova's wife, Dorina, suspects that Valdes set the trap.

Departing for their country house, the Cordovas argue over security arrangements. Dorina urges Juan to take a bodyguard for his protection, but the president is determined to be a man of the people and rejects the idea, believing that his status as a democratically-elected leader will shield him. Valdes will receive a fair trial for his crimes, even though he denied the right of impartiality to others. Dorina, however, is still worried and contacts the World Intelligence Network.

At WIN Headquarters London, Shane Weston informs Joe, Mac and Sam that they have been assigned to guard Cordova before he starts his investigation into Valdes. Joe will pose as Dorina Cordova's English cousin to protect the president without his knowledge; he is given the brain pattern of a top WIN agent and flies to the country with Mac and Sam. Dorina is initially sceptical that the boy could be an operative, but when Joe demonstrates his shooting skills on a champagne bottle and some glasses and proceeds to break a wooden board with a karate chop, she is convinced that her husband will be safe.

The Cordovas are to spend the next few days at a hotel in the mountains. While Juan sleeps, Joe and Dorina discuss the safety of the resort while a supposedly deaf, mute and loyal chauffeur, who is actually Garincia, drives the presidential car. Joe sees a flash in the rocks which he suspects is a signal; Mac and Sam, following in a helijet, confirm that some trucks have formed a barrier ahead and discover that another vehicle is in pursuit behind them. Realising that they are about to be ambushed, Joe orders Garincia to stop the car. The driver, however, swears longevity for General Valdes and throws himself out of the door. Joe manages to bring the car under control before it crashes, while Mac and Sam fly close to the ground and whip up dust in front of the tailing truck, causing the occupants to swerve off the road. Joe, meanwhile, takes a wide detour around the other vehicles while the president remains unstirred.

Dorina takes over at the wheel, and on arrival at the alpine hotel, Joe tells Juan that Garincia was unwell and was therefore dropped off en route. That evening, in the hotel bar, Joe notices the waiter slip a drug into the president's drink. The boy signals to Dorina, who interrupts Juan before he takes a sip and complains of a headache. The president escorts his wife to her room while the waiter makes a telephone call to Valdes, who impatiently commands his underling to eliminate Cordova as quickly as possible. Towards dawn, the waiter enters Juan's room with a knife. However, Joe has placed alarms in the accommodation and throws his gun at the agent's head, knocking him out. Joe then binds and gags the mole before locking him in the president's wardrobe.

Later, Cordova is fishing on the lake near the hotel. With the president due to start his inquest the next day, Valdes, increasingly irritated, instructs two frogmen to attach an explosive device to Cordova's line. Joe has said that he will go for a walk in the mountains with Dorina, but uses the opportunity to keep watch on the president. However, Joe is uneasy without knowing the situation underwater and dons his diving gear to check security. Joe stumbles across the rival agents as they try to fix the explosive and lets go of his propulsion vehicle, which slams into one of the men and knocks him out. His associate chases the boy with a knife, but Joe rams the criminal in the stomach and drags the assassins to the surface, where Mac, Sam and Dorina are waiting.

In the hotel bar, Cordova is surprised by Mac's arrival and asks Joe how his day went. As the boy replies that there was a little excitement, a handcuffed Valdes is driven away in a police car.

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:

*Speaker (voice) — David Healy
*Operator — Keith Alexander
*General Valdes — Jeremy Wilkin
*Dorina Cordova — Liz Morgan
*President Juan Cordova — Gary Files
*Garincia — David Healy
*Waiter — Keith Alexander
*Frogman — Keith Alexander

Notes

*General Valdes is played by a tanned version of the Captain Black puppet from "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons". It is the puppet's only appearance in the "Joe 90" series.

External links

* [http://www.fanderson.org.uk/epguides/joeeg3.html#Episode%20Thirty Fanderson.org.uk: "Joe 90" Episode Guide: "Viva Cordova"]
* [http://www.bigrat.co.uk/episodes/episode_30.html Bigrat.co.uk: "Joe 90" Episode Guide: "Viva Cordova"]
* [http://www.clivebanks.co.uk/Joe%2090%20Timeline.htm# Clivebanks.co.uk: "Joe 90" Episode Guide]