Fire at Rig 15

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“Fire at Rig 15”
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 20
Written by	Bryan Cooper
Directed by	Ken Turner
Production no.	14
Original airdate	February 16, 1968
Episode chronology
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"Dangerous Rendezvous"	"Treble Cross"
List of Captain Scarlet episodes

"Fire at Rig 15" is the 20th episode of the Supermarionation television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. It was the 14th episode to be produced. Its original UK air date was February 16, 1968 on ATV Midlands. It was written by Bryan Cooper and directed by Ken Turner.

1 Synopsis
2 Plot
3 Cast
- 3.1 Regular Voice Cast
- 3.2 Guest Voice Cast
4 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The Mysterons threaten to immobilise the whole of Spectrum and turn an oil rig into an inferno. Colonel White believes that they intend to destroy the source of Spectrum's vehicle fuel and assigns Captains Scarlet and Blue to protect the oil refinery at Bensheba. But with a fire control expert called in to tackle the rig blaze, will the Mysterons gain control of his abilities for their own ends?

[edit] Plot

In the desert, near the Spectrum refinery at Bensheba, Rig 15 is drilling for oil. Ultrasound scanning soon detects the substance, but the supervisor, Kinley, wants to drill further before conducting a test. His subordinate, Hansen, questions the safety of the action, but Kinley tells him that he has sealed the master valve to control the oil pressure. However, no one on the rig notices as the Mysteron rings pan over the regulator and quietly open the valve. Looking at his instruments, Hansen is puzzled why the pressure is still increasing. Kinley orders for the drill to be stopped but the gauge continues to rise. Hearing a buzzing noise, he realises that the valve is open and orders for an immediate evacuation of the rig. As the structure begins to shake violently, Kinley and Hansen clear the area and observe as the jet of oil spurts out of the borehole. The liquid quickly ignites and the entire rig explodes in a ball of flame.

As the blaze continues, the Mysterons transmit to Earth and threaten to immobilise the whole of Spectrum. On Cloudbase, Lieutenant Green confirms that the fire was not caused by an accident. Colonel White holds a meeting with personnel in the Conference Room and announces that it is his belief that the Mysterons intend to render all Spectrum's aircraft and vehicles useless. The entire organisation's fuel is produced by the oil refinery at Bensheba and White feels that this will be the prime target. He dispatches Captains Scarlet and Blue to protect the plant and the officers fly out using a Spectrum Jet escorted by the Angels.

Scarlet and Blue decide to start at Rig 15. Kinley informs them that Jason Smith, a fire control expert, has been assigned to extinguish the inferno. An authority on explosives, Jason plans to "blow" the fire out using a carefully-placed charge.

Scarlet, Blue, Kinley and Hansen watch as a kitted-up Jason approaches the blaze in a heatproof tractor. The explosive pack is fixed on the end of a front-mounted pole and will detonate when its metal casing melts. Satisfied with the vehicle's position, Jason steps outside to move away from the area. However, he is unaware that Captain Black is scrutinising him through binoculars. Black fixes his gaze on the specialist and Jason collapses in the sand. Scarlet is uncertain that Jason got clear but Kinley is confident that such an experienced man would not allow himself to be caught in an explosion. The charge eventually detonates and the fire is instantly extinguished to Kinley's delight. The Mysteron rings trail over Jason's body and, seated inside the tractor, his reconstruction bulldozes it into the dirt to hide it.

That night, the Mysteron agent is working in Jason's explosives truck when Black enters to give him instructions. The next day, he will drive to the refinery at Bensheba and blow it to pieces. Black swiftly departs.

At breakfast the next morning, Kinley announces that the oil flow is under control. Scarlet wishes to thank Jason for his help but Kinley reveals that the fire expert has already left for his next assignment at a dam project in the mountains. Later, Scarlet and Blue are about to report back to Cloudbase when Smith's body is found in the rig wreckage. Kinley is bewildered, but Scarlet knows that Jason has been taken over by the Mysterons.

The reconstructed Jason is driving to Bensheba along the highway beside the oil pipeline. Scarlet requisitions an SPV from a dummy oil storage tank and sets off after the Mysteron agent. Blue suggests that the Angels attack Jason's truck but Scarlet forbids it, worried that an explosion in the pipeline could run all the way to Bensheba. Dangerously behind Jason, Scarlet crosses the desert to catch up with the truck. Jason drops a charge in the Captain's path but the SPV is barely damaged. Scarlet draws level with the Mysteron agent and is able to force him off the road just before he reaches the refinery. Jason crashes into a sand dune and the truck explodes, but Scarlet also loses control and collides with a set of fuel tanks. As both the tanks and the SPV burn, the Captain is fatally injured.

That night, Blue declares that Spectrum's fuel supply and the Bensheba complex are safe. He tells a despondent Kinley that Scarlet's "body" has been flown back to Cloudbase. In base control, Lieutenant Green informs Colonel White that Scarlet's jet has just landed. White radios Dr Fawn to prepare the Sickbay for an old patient – but is certain that he will make a full recovery.