- Colonel McClaine
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"Colonel McClaine" Joe 90 episode Episode no. Season 1
Episode 5Directed by Ken Turner Written by Tony Barwick Production code 16 Original air date 27 October 1968 Episode chronology ← Previous
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"The Fortress"List of Joe 90 episodes "Colonel McClaine" is the fifth episode of the British Supermarionation television series Joe 90. It was first broadcast on 27 October 1968 on ATV Midlands.
Footage from this episode was later used as a flashback in the clip show episode, "The Birthday".
Contents
Synopsis
In Africa, a tunnel project is struggling due to sabotaged supply runs. Equipped with the brain pattern of an army driver, Joe is assigned to transport the required liquid blasting explosive overland. However, he is unaware that the canisters are rigged to explode at high altitude…
Plot
The Kuchunga Tunnel, intended to join two neighbouring countries and provide an economic boost for millions of people, is under construction in Africa. Kopal, a criminal who wishes that the project be cancelled so that his nation will have no competition from its partner, has paid World Army officer Lieutenant Pierce to sabotage helicopter shipments of U114 liquid explosive — essential for rock blasting at the Kuchunga site, the unstable substance has been rigged to detonate from atmospheric pressure drops at high altitude. Due to the large number of helicopter crashes and pilot fatalities, it is decided to transfer the next U114 consignment across land in three World Army trucks. WIN assumes command of the operation and Joe is given the brain patterns of both a driver and a bomb specialist. Presenting himself at the World Army base as "Colonel McClaine", Joe receives much scorn from Private Johnson and a Sergeant, who have been assigned to help deliver the U114 and cannot believe that a child is to be their commanding officer. After Joe puts his subordinates in their place, the group begin the 200-mile journey to Kuchunga.
Despite clearing a swamp, a mountain mudslide halts the team's progress. An effort to drive up the mountainside to higher ground ends in disaster when a cable snaps and one truck plunges back down, crashing into another vehicle and killing the sergeant with the loss of two-thirds of the U114 load. Johnson, a good friend of the dead officer, who feels more and more bitter towards Joe, loses patience with the WIN agent. Later, Sam radios Joe to report that Pierce has been exposed as the saboteur and that he has admitted to engineering the U114 canisters to detonate within minutes if brought above 5,000 feet. Opting not to abandon his post, Johnson remains in the last truck with Joe as the child skids the vehicle down the mountainside and across a collapsing bridge in a frantic race for survival. The World Army private and the WIN agent succeed in saving both their lives and the remnants of the U114 consignment. Joe leaves Johnson to complete the last, safe leg of the mission alone, parting from the officer on a note of mutual understanding.
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:
- Radio (voice) — Keith Alexander
- Preston — Gary Files
- King — Keith Alexander
- Kopal — Gary Files
- Lieutenant Pierce — Keith Alexander
- Sergeant — Gary Files
- Private Johnson — Keith Alexander
External links
Categories:- 1968 television episodes
- Africa in fiction
- Joe 90 episodes
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