Flight 104
Editor's note (I've always wanted to say that about
me, don't know why) - Details on this episode may be a little hazy, as the
aerial to my trusty TV and video doesn't quite fit a socket somewhere along
the line, and routinely comes out. Unfortunately, it chose Sunday night to do
this, and I didn't notice until after CS was on. Therefore, it did not tape,
so I am doing this from memory alone.
Captains Scarlet and Blue have been assigned to guard the president's
scientific advisor, physicist Dr. Conrad, and escort him to a conference in
Switzerland. Unfortunately for them, a journalist and his photographer spot
the scientist and realise that there's a story in it. The photographer
manages to disguise himself as a waiter, and delivers two steak dinners to
the captains' room. He gets some good shots of Scarlet, but when he returns
to his own room and develops the photos, Scarlet appears as a silhouette.*
When Scarlet, Blue and Dr. Conrad leave for the airport the next morning,
they are tailed by the paparazzi. Dr. Conrad is concerned, but Scarlet tells
him that at least, if the journalists are following them, they know where the
pair are. Once they reach the airport, it is explained that Spectrum have
bought all the seats on the plane, so as not to have any problems with
assassins or the like on board. However, Spectrum allows the journalists to
board the plane too, so that they are able to control the story that is
eventually released to the press.
However, disaster strikes when air traffic control loses contact with the
plane. Spectrum have no way of contacting the captains, as they are out of
uniform, so Colonel White sends out the Angels to make contact. Destiny
spreads red smoke outside the plane to alert the captains to the danger that
they are in. Blue breaks into the cockpit and the pair attempt to retake the
plane.
They have little success, and the plane begins to lose height over the Alps.
As it squeezes between two mountains, it passes over a power station,
and the Mysteron hold on the plane is released by the high voltage.
Scarlet and Blue pilot the plane to the airport where they are due to land. Unfortunately, when Blue shot through the lock, a stray bullet hit the
circuit controlling the undercarriage, and they will have to make an
emergency landing. Scarlet orders Blue to gather everyone at the back of the
plane and he lands, skids along the runway, and the nose crashes into a
building. The passengers of Flight 104 manage to jump free, escaping the
fate that Scarlet suffers; another death.
*Note: There are several explanations for this occurrence. One is offered by
Mary J. Rudy in 'A Chance For A Lifetime' - that Spectrum has a device
capable of causing the bearer to appear in silhouette in photographs
Another is that Mysterons cannot be photographed using normal methods, only
with a Mysteron detector. (If anyone can find the story with this reference
in it, I'd be most grateful)