Big Ben Strikes Again

Infobox Television episode
Title = Big Ben Strikes Again
Series = Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
Season = 1
Episode = 3
Airdate = October 13, 1967
Production = 3
Writer = Tony Barwick
Director = Brian Burgess
Episode list = List of "Captain Scarlet" episodes
Prev = Winged Assassin
Next = Manhunt

"Big Ben Strikes Again" is the third episode of the Supermarionation television series "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons". Its original UK air date was October 13, 1967 on ATV Midlands. It was written by Tony Barwick and directed by Brian Burgess.

ynopsis

The Mysterons try to destroy London by hijacking a transporter carrying an atomic device.

Plot

The Mysterons intend to destroy London and use their powers to hijack a transporter carrying an atomic device through the city by night. They seal the vehicle and its driver, Macey, in the underground Park View car park. Macey, who was knocked unconscious during the journey and does not know where he is, wakes up just in time to hear Big Ben strike midnight both through the air and over the transporter's radio, but is astonished to hear thirteen chimes rather than twelve. The Mysterons use their influence to start the atomic device's twelve-hour detonation countdown, knocking Macey out for a second time and leaving him in a deserted street.

Linking the Mysteron threat to destroy London with the disappearance of the atomic device, Spectrum is put on red alert. Macey is discovered by Captain Scarlet as he drives through the city in a Spectrum Patrol Car and is brought to Cloudbase to relate his account of the night's events. There are over 2,000 car parks in London fitting Macey's description of Park View, but Captain Blue seizes on the driver’s claim that Big Ben struck thirteen and deduces that the car park must be within 1,500 yards of Big Ben. A circle is programmed on the Cloudbase computer and it is found that Jupiter Way and Park View are the only car parks inside the radius which match the description.

With less than an hour remaining until the device's detonation, Scarlet and Blue immediately fly to London. The Jupiter Way car park is cleared and Scarlet and Blue locate the transporter at Park View in their SPV. However, there is not enough time to carry out the device's defusing procedure. Instead, Colonel White orders his officers to drive to a construction site just outside the city – the transporter's original destination – to allow the device to detonate safely at a prepared excavation two miles underground. The captains arrive at the construction site in time and Blue lowers the transporter, driven by Scarlet, to the excavation in a giant lift. Abandoning the vehicle, Scarlet ascends, but the lift shaft is damaged by the atomic explosion and Scarlet is fatally injured. However, he is healed by his retro-metabolic powers.

Later, Blue explains how he worked out the rough location of the car park and how Macey seemed to hear Big Ben strike thirteen: because he was within 1,500 yards of Big Ben and his radio was on, he was hearing two sets of midnight chimes. However, the chimes coming directly from the tower were delayed due to the distance between Big Ben and the car park. Therefore, the "thirteenth" chime was a repeat of the twelfth that Macey heard over the radio, having taken a few seconds to travel to the car park from Big Ben itself. Scarlet declares that he will make thirteen his lucky number.

Cast

Regular voice cast

*Captain Scarlet — Francis Matthews
*Captain Blue — Ed Bishop
*Colonel White — Donald Gray
*Lieutenant Green — Cy Grant
*Captain Ochre — Jeremy Wilkin
*Captain Grey — Paul Maxwell
*Destiny Angel — Liz Morgan
*Melody Angel — Sylvia Anderson
*Voice of the Mysterons — Donald Gray

Guest voice cast

In speaking order:

*1st Police Officer — Paul Maxwell
*Macey — Charles Tingwell
*2nd Police Officer — Martin King
*3rd Police Officer — Jeremy Wilkin
*4th Police Officer — Charles Tingwell
*Radio Announcer Voice — Jeremy Wilkin

Notes

*The original script for this episode featured some minor scenes which did not make the final cut. In these sequences, viewers would have seen that there are Spectrum agents codenamed Yellow and Purple and would also have been introduced to Cloudbase's Room of Sleep, which is mentioned in other episodes.cite book
author = Bentley, Chris
title = The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet
year = 2001
pages = p.61
publisher = Carlton Books
id = ISBN 1-84222-405-0]
*Footage from "Big Ben Strikes Again" is used as a flashback in the clip show episode, "The Inquisition".

References

External links

* [http://www.fanderson.org.uk/epguides/scarleteg.html#Episode%20Three Fanderson.org.uk: "Captain Scarlet" Episode Guide: "Big Ben Strikes Again"]
* [http://www.tv.com/captain-scarlet-and-the-mysterons/big-ben-strikes-again/episode/165444/summary.html TV.com: "Captain Scarlet" Episode Guide: "Big Ben Strikes Again"]
* [http://www.clivebanks.co.uk/Capt%20Scarlet%20Timeline.htm# Clivebanks.co.uk: "Captain Scarlet" Episode Guide]