Dangerous Rendezvous

"Dangerous Rendezvous" is the 19th episode of the Supermarionation television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. It was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on 9 February 1968 (1968-02-09) on ATV Midlands, was written by Tony Barwick and directed by Brian Burgess. In this sequel episode to "Crater 101", Spectrum uses the crystal pulsator recovered from the Mysteron complex on the Moon to contact the Mysterons and propose a cessation of hostilities in the war of nerves.

Plot

Following the second Moon mission, Dr Kurnitz has discovered that the Crystal Pulsator could be used for communication with the Mysteron complex on Mars. Captain Scarlet escorts Kurnitz to Cloudbase, where a transmission device has been constructed. The Pulsator is integrated with the circuitry and Colonel White, now on-air, recalls the disastrous Zero-X Mars mission, insisting that Captain Black's attack was motivated by fear rather than aggression. White ends his message with an offer of peace. Meanwhile, in their latest threat, the Mysterons have targeted Cloudbase itself, stating that it will be destroyed at midnight. Hourly Mysteron Detector sweeps have so far checked negative for suspicious devices.

Two hours after White's broadcast, Cloudbase receives a response from the Mysterons, who have agreed to negotiate on the condition that a member of Spectrum depart Cloudbase on an exact flightpath, unarmed and without communications equipment. Representing Spectrum, Scarlet departs in a Spectrum Jet and his course carries him into Greenland airspace. Ordered to eject at a precise moment by the bodiless Mysteron voice, Scarlet watches his aircraft lose altitude and crash. He is collected by a car driven by the Mysteron force and driven to what appears to be a derelict shack but which in fact contains modern furnishing and a flashing monitor screen.

Believing that he is being addressed by the Mysterons, Scarlet is unaware that Captain Black is seated behind the monitor. The Mysteron agent switches on a pre-recorded "message" to be conveyed to Spectrum – proving to be nothing more than a guarantee that the Mysterons will continue their "war of nerves" against Earth – and hurriedly leaves. Scarlet soon suspects deception and smashes the screen to find the tape equipment next to another Pulsator, which is shining fiercely. Scarlet escapes the shack just before it is torn apart in an explosion.

Suddenly it dawns on Scarlet that the source of the threat against Cloudbase could be the first Pulsator. With no radio, he is forced to requisition the saloon and rush to an unmanned radar station, from which he signals to Cloudbase in Morse code. Seconds before midnight, White deciphers Scarlet's message. Captain Ochre shoots out an observation window and jettisons the Pulsator, leaving to detonate harmlessly in the atmosphere. White later vows that Spectrum will re-open diplomatic channels with the Mysterons in the future.

Production

The third and final part of the story arc that started with "Lunarville 7",^[1] this episode was in fact filmed before the preceding instalment, "Crater 101".^[2] Initially underrunning the standard 25-minute length of a Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons episode,^[2] "Dangerous Rendezvous" was padded out with a flashback sequence occurring during Colonel White's transmission, to recount how hostilities commence between Earth and Mars in "The Mysterons",^[1][2] and additional scenes in which White gives Dr Kurnitz demonstrations of Spectrum communications devices and a display Angel launch.^[2] The Mysterons also threaten to destroy Cloudbase in "Attack on Cloudbase", although the method of assault is more direct with the use of armed spacecraft.

Reception

In a tie-in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons book, Chris Drake and Graeme Bassett praise "Dangerous Rendezvous" for the scene explaining Spectrum cap-communication devices,^[3] writing that it adds interest to the episode^[3] even though it is principally padding material.^[2] However, they question the logic of showing Kurnitz a demonstration Angel launch when the security of Cloudbase is at risk.^[3] Historian Nicholas J. Cull interprets "Dangerous Rendezvous" as a vehicle for one of a number of parallels that Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons draws from the Cold War,^[4] a major international concern during the 1960s: the possibility of negotiation between Earth and Mars, suggests Cull,^[4] is reflective of "shifting attitudes within the Cold War"^[4] during the decade. Comparing "Dangerous Rendezvous" with a number of other Gerry Anderson-related scripts written by Tony Barwick,^[4] Cull concludes that, "Barwick's storylines reflected a yearning for Détente and an alternative to the divided world."^[4] With a rating of "U",^[5] the British Board of Film Classification notes one "very mild" instance of violence in this episode.^[5]

Later appearances

Footage from "Dangerous Rendezvous" was re-edited and used in Revenge of the Mysterons from Mars, a Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons compilation film.

References

External links

• "Dangerous Rendezvous" at TV.com
• "Dangerous Rendezvous" at Fanderson.org.uk
• "Dangerous Rendezvous" at CliveBanks.co.uk
• "Dangerous Rendezvous" at TheVervoid.com