The Uninvited (Thunderbirds)

"The Uninvited" is the 10th episode of the first series of Thunderbirds, a British 1960s Supermarionation television series co-created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. Written by Alan Fennell and directed by Desmond Saunders, it was first broadcast on ATV Midlands on 2 December 1965.

In this episode, Thunderbirds 1 crashes in the Sahara Desert after being shot down by three unidentified aircraft. Two archeologists rescue Scott, but one good turn deserves another, and later on, Scott finds himself rushing rapidly back to the scorching desert when the pair become entombed in the lost pyramid of Khamandides.

Plot

Scott Tracy is returning from Tokyo to Tracy Island when Thunderbird 1 is suddenly attacked by a squadron of unidentified fighters. Thunderbird 1 crash-lands in the Sahara Desert. On Tracy Island, Jeff Tracy dispatches Virgil, Brains and Tin-Tin in Thunderbird 2 to treat Scott's injuries. Meanwhile, two archaeologists, Wilson and Lindsey, are returning home after a fruitless expedition in the desert when they come across the crippled Thunderbird 1. Stopping their all-terrain jeep and trailer, they treat Scott's injuries until Thunderbird 2 arrives. As the party prepares to camp out for the night, Brains tells the convalescent Scott that he has repaired the radio. Wilson reveals that he and Lindsey were on a mission to find the lost pyramid of Egyptian Pharaoh Khamandides until he decided that their efforts were futile. Some people claimed to have seen the pyramid while others believed that it was just a mirage. The International Rescue team head back to Tracy Island in the morning.

Later, Wilson and Lindsey have resumed their return journey, but frustration gets the better of Wilson. Driving too fast, he causes the coupling between their truck and the trailer to snap. The trailer rolls down a ridge and explodes, the men realising too late that it contained almost all their supplies. Lindsey sheepishly admits that he also stowed their radio in the trailer, only for Wilson to discover it practically intact in the sand. However, the internal circuitry is too badly damaged to enable them to call their base. With no water, an ailing radio and only enough fuel to last them 50 more miles, their situation looks hopeless. Wilson suggests that they travel to a waterhole 40 miles north, but their last hopes of survival are dashed when they arrive only to find it bone-dry.

On board the Thunderbird 5 space station, Alan Tracy has just relieved John as space monitor. His equipment picks up a distress call from Wilson, but their radio finally dies before he can respond and ask for the explorers’ location. On Tracy Island, Virgil identifies the voice as that of one of the men. Jeff sends out Scott in Thunderbird 1 to come to their assistance. In the Sahara, a delirious Lindsey spots a mysterious object on the horizon - none other than the lost pyramid that they originally came to find. Wondering if a nomadic tribe camp might be able to provide water, the men reach the pyramid on their dwindling fuel supply but find the area deserted. While Lindsey deciphers hieroglyphs on the side - telling of Khamandides being “Lord of the Eternal Fountain” - a block lifts up to reveal an entrance to the pyramid. Attracted by the sound of running water and the splendour of the King’s tomb, Wilson and Lindsey fail to notice the entrance closing behind them.

Later, Scott arrives in Thunderbird 1 to help, but a traumatised Lindsey accuses him of trying to steal his riches. A gunfight between Scott and Lindsey ensues. Eventually disarmed, Scott is saved by the arrival of two men, also bearing the “Z” logo, who shoot Lindsey’s gun out of his hand, knocking him unconscious. Scott and Wilson, who was stunned by one of Lindsey’s bullets, are ordered at gunpoint to follow their unlikely saviours deeper into the pyramid. On Tracy Island, Jeff is worried about Scott's lack of communication and sends out Virgil and Gordon on board Thunderbird 2 to investigate. On board a monorail car, the prisoners and their captors travel over a subterranean refinery where Scott and Wilson witness men in gas masks use a highly toxic and explosive gas to refuel fighters identical to those that previously shot down Scott. In a control room, the Zombite leader orders for a salvo of missiles to be fired at Thunderbird 2, which has started to circle the pyramid. However, Wilson punches one of the Zombites to the ground. Scott picks up his gun and shoots at the Zombites, killing several and eventually hitting the control panel. The missiles fire from the side of pyramid but detonate prematurely, missing Thunderbird 2 and alerting Virgil and Gordon to the confusion inside.

As one of the Zombites sounds an alarm, Wilson starts the monorail car in the opposite direction as Scott continues to shoot at the enemy through the door. Crossing over the refinery, Scott kills one of the workers, who knocks a lever and unwittingly discharges some of the deadly gas into the room. Realising that an explosion is imminent, Scott urges Wilson to move faster but the car is already running at top speed. Lindsey regains consciousness and Scott tells him that he will soon need to run for his life. As the surviving Zombites choke to death on the gas, Scott, Wilson and Lindsey reach the terminus and dash outside. Scott orders Virgil, who was planning to land Thunderbird 2 and venture into the pyramid, to get clear of the area as they board Thunderbird 1. Just as Thunderbird 1 takes off, the pyramid explodes. Reflecting on the fact that they barely escaped with their lives, the explorers are indebted to International Rescue.

Production

"The Uninvited" was the fifth episode of Thunderbirds to be produced. Written by Alan Fennell and initially filmed as a 25-minute episode in late 1964, "The Uninvited" was the first episode to have it's running time extended to 50 minutes following January to satisfy AP Films sponsor Lew Grade's order, on viewing the series' completed pilot episode. Filler material incorporated into the episode included Thunderbird 1 being shot down in the Sahara Desert.^[2]

The Thunderbird 3 launch sequence is recycled footage from Sun Probe. This episode marked the first appearance of Grandma Tracy.^[3] The explorer's desert jeep would later appear in The Mighty Atom, Martian Invasion and Cry Wolf. The pyramid tribe are referred to as Zombites because of the original script. They were never given a name in the actual episode.

Broadcast

First broadcast on 2 December 1965, "The Uninvited" aired as the 10th episode of Thunderbirds for both the series' original run on Associated Television and the majority of 1960s repeat runs.

Reception

The episode is often cited as one of the best of the series by many fans and critics alike.^[4]

References

Bibliography

• Bentley, Chris (2005) [2000]. The Complete Book of Thunderbirds (2nd ed.). London, UK: Carlton Books. ISBN 978-1-84442-454-2. 
• Pixley, Andrew (October 2000). "Fantasy Flashback: Thunderbirds – 'Sun Probe'". TV Zone (London, UK: Visual Imagination, published September 2000) (131): 68. ISSN 0957-3844. OCLC 226121852. 

External links

• "The Uninvited" at the Internet Movie Database
• "The Uninvited" at TV.com