Speed Racer (1967–1968): Season 1, Episode 18 - Girl Daredevil: Part 1 - full transcript

The Mach 5 team befriends Twinkle Banks, an acrobat whose family circus is being rendered bankrupt by a gang of crooks.

Here he comes,
here comes Speed Racer

He's a demon on wheels

He's a demon and he's gonna
be chasing after someone

He's gaining on you so
you better look alive

He's busy revving up
the powerful Mach 5

And when the odds
are against him

And there's dangerous
work to do

You bet your life Speed Racer
will see it through

Go, Speed Racer
Go, Speed Racer

Go, Speed Racer, go!

He's off and flying as he guns
the car around the track



He's jamming down the pedal
like he's never coming back

Adventure's waiting just ahead

Go, Speed Racer
Go, Speed Racer

Go, Speed Racer, go!

[SPEED] For months,
I've been driving in races

all over the world.

There've been a lot of bad crashes

and I've had some close calls.

But the danger is a part of racing,

just as is the thrill of winning.

[SPEED] I'll go on competing
in races throughout the world

because wherever there's a
challenge, I've got to meet it.

Trixie, Spritle, Chim Chim,
and ll were on our way to compete

in the Nitona Handicap when
I ran into an unusual adventure.



I wonder what's
going on over there.

[CROWD chattering]

There's something
happening, all right,

but I can't make out what it is.

[CROWD chattering]

[ALL gasp]

[SPEED] What's that girl
trying to do up there?

[TRIXIE] If she isn't
careful, she'll fall!

[MAN] She's gonna jump!

[ALL scream]

BOTH gasp)

[CLOWN] Isn't she a sensation,
folks? She's Twinkle Banks,

star of the fantastic Universal Circus.

As you've just seen, she's the
greatest acrobat in the world.

If you'd like to see
more of her tricks,

come and see the
Universal Circus.

[SPEED] Wow...

[TRIXIE] Hmph!

[SPEED] Ah...

[giggles]

See you at the circus, folks!

Come on, Speed! Let's
go to the circus!

[SPEED] Uh-huh!

We won't have time until after
the Nitona race, if ever.

[BOTH wail]

You win. If you stop that crying,

we'll go to the circus, Spritle.

[SPRITLE giggles]

Doesn't look like much
of a circus to me.

[SPRITLE gasps]

[BOTH laugh]

[CHIM CHIM gasps]

[SPRITLE laughs]

[BOTH laugh]

[growls]

[SPRITLE gasps]

[CHIMP DRIVER squeals]

[GORILLA growls]

[CHIM CHIM screams]

[ANNOUNCER] Ladies and gentleman!

Presenting our automobile acrobat,

the star of the Universal
Circus... Miss Twinkle Banks!

[single round of applause]

[TWINKLE] Ah...

[gasps]

BOTH gasp)

The lever's stuck!

[drumroll]

[gasps]

[TWINKLE] If I don't keep
up this speed, I'll crash down!

[drumroll]

[ALL gasp]

[SPEED] The car's being
held up by centrifugal force,

but one mistake and that'll
be the end of her.

[SPEED] She's just great!

[TRIXIE] Uh-huh!

[CHIM CHIM laughs]

[drumroll]

She'll fit right into my plans...

Now the lever's not working
at all! It's broken!

[grunting]

[CLOWN] ... can't get it to work...

[grunting continues]

She's been up there too long.
Something's wrong, I'll bet!

What's the matter?

The lever's jammed! I can't
get her down from up there!

[SPEED] Huh?!

[SPEED] If her car's
engine gets overheated

or if she runs out of gas...

If she can't keep going
at that rate of speed,

she'll be finished for good!

I can't stay up here much longer!

Twinkle, I don't know what
I can do to save you!

[sighs]

Twinkle! Twinkle!

I'll try to save her!

[SPEED grunts]

[SPEED] Oh... Here I go...

[SPEED grunts]

[CHIM CHIM laughs]

[screams]

I hope he can save Twinkle...

[SPEED gasping]

[creaking]

I don't think he'll make it!

Be careful up there, Speed!

[SPEED grunts]

[CLOWN] She's gonna
be all right.

All she needs is a little
rest to get over the shock.

Now, how can I thank
you for rescuing her?

The only way you can thank me, sir,

is to make sure your equipment
is in really good working order

so that it doesn't happen
the next time.

You're right. I wanted to
keep it in good repair,

but the Universal Circus
isn't making very much money,

so I haven't been able to keep things fixed.

You see, Twinkle and I
used to have a huge circus

once upon a time, but,
we had to give it up...

[CLOWN sobbing]

[CLOWN] We used to have
beautiful, wild animals,

but we loved them so much that
we spent every penny we made

buyin' them the tenderest
steaks and chops, and...

Then the money was gone and
Twinkle and I had to

abandon that lovely circus
to the bill collectors.

[SPEED] Here, maybe this'll
help you. Take it, please.

What can I give, hmm?

You've still got some candy left
in your pocket, Chim Chim!

That's not fair!

[SPRITLE] Here, Twinkle!

Thank you. You're very generous.

Thank you. You're all
generous and kind.

I hope you'll be up and ready
to perform again very soon,

Twinkle, because
I think you're great.

Goodbye, and the best of luck.

[SPARKY] Hiya, Speed!

I'm gonna change the gears
and differential today.

The Mach 5'll be in top
shape for the Nitona race.

Ah-- Hey! What's the
big idea, Speed?!

[SPEED] It's strange.

[TRIXIE] Uh-huh...

[SPEED] I'll ask.

Excuse me, sir, but we're
looking for the Universal Circus

that was here yesterday.
Do you know where it is?

You mean that cheap show that was here?

Maybe it skipped out
during the night

because it's not
around here now.

[SPEED] Thanks anyway...

[SPEED] Huh...
I wonder where it went...

[growls]

Ah!

It's about time!

If you don't give me
time to work on the car,

it won't be in good shape
for the Nitona race.

Speed? Well, how're the
brakes workin'? Okay?

[TRIXIE] Speed's got other
things on his mind, Sparky.

Things like girl daredevil drivers.

--[SPARKY] Ohh... Now I dig.
--[music plays on radio]

--[music plays on radio]

[REPORTER] We have a
special news bulletin

of special interests:

At three o'clock, a car will
be driven on a tightrope

across Niagara Falls.

Huh?!

[REPORTER] The driver of the car
will be Miss Twinkle Banks,

the star of the Universal Circus.

On a tightrope?!

If that doesn't get publicity
for the Universal Circus,

nothing will.

But it's too dangerous--
driving on a tightrope!

[TRIXIE] Mm-hmm!

We've got to try to stop her.

[SPARKY] Hey!

Come back here!

[SPARKY] You'll never
make the Nitona race!

[ANNOUNCER] In only a
short while, the world's

most-daredevil, daredevil
driver will drive across

these most tremendous falls on a tightrope.

[BROTCH] It's gonna be
fascinatin' to watch...

[BROTCH chuckles]

I hope we get there
in time to stop her

from driving across
that tightrope.

Oh, Speed, why're you
so worried about her?

After all, that car she'll be
driving is four-wheeled,

so it should be pretty safe.

I remember when four men
went across the falls

on only a one-wheeled bicycle.

Four wheels are
much more dangerous

because two ropes are used

to support the four wheels.

If the rope starts swinging
when the car's halfway across,

the wheels will slip from
under one of the ropes,

and there'll be no way to
hang on to the other

and Twinkle will fall to the bottom.

[CLOWN] Twinkle,
I just hope those ropes

don't start to swing.

[TWINKLE] If they do, I'll do
my best to keep control.

It's about 3,000 feet from here
to the other side, and the

most dangerous part of the
drive will be out in the center.

The water is falling at
least 150 feet onto

the rocks down below.

If you fall,
you won't have a chance.

Thousands of people are going
to watch... This should make

the Universal Circus famous
throughout the world and

we'll never again have to worry
about selling enough tickets.

[CLOWN] Thank you for doing this...

Now I'll think I'll
make sure everything's

ready for the drive.

[CLOWN] Ah! Mr. Cornpone Brotch!
ll wanna thank you for everything

you've done for us.

It was you who suggested
that Twinkle drive

across Niagara Falls on ropes,

and it was you who took
care of all of the money

we needed to arrange it.

I'm mighty glad
I was able to help.

All 1 hope is that it doesn't
get windy out there.

Windy?

It would be even more dangerous
for Twinkle if it gets windy.

[REPORTER] The wind will be
stronger at the Canadian side

of the falls, and there's
a possibility of a storm.

I hope Twinkle's listening
to this weather forecast

up there at the falls.

Oh! The radio weather forecast
just said that the wind will be

stronger on the Canadian side,
and there may even be

a storm approaching!

This is no time for
tightrope driving!

We've got to stop
Twinkle from doing it!

--[BROTCH] No!
--[CLOWN] Hm?

It's already been scheduled;
she must go through with it.

But Twinkle will be in terrible danger!
We've got to cancel it!

Ah. Oh...

I paid for this performance so
I don't want anything

goin' wrong with it startin' on time.

[THUG A] Don't worry!

[MR. BANKS grunts]

So far, the plan's workin'.

I'm gonna borrow that clown
suit you're wearing, clown.

Nobody will suspect that me,
Cornpone Brotch,

is playin' a clown! [laughs]

[BROTCH chuckles]

[BROTCH] It's workin'.
Nobody recognized me yet.

Okay! Come on, Twinkle!
You ready?

[TWINKLE] Mm-hm!

[SPEED] Only a few minutes and
Twinkle is going to start!

How can I make it in time?

--[MAN B] Look at her go!
--[MAN C] Wow!

Too late.

Hey, Mister, what're you
up to around here?

[THUG B] I, uh...

[BROTCH] Hmm?

Oh, now I get it. This is
all part of the show, eh?

And Twinkle Banks is
going to do another trick

after she crosses the falls.

Well, thanks for telling me.

Now I'll be able to relax,
enjoy the rest of the performance.

[BROTCH] Hmm.

Twinkle's act'll last about
another 30 minutes, so get

the rest of the job done
while everybody's still watchin' her.

[BROTCH] Hmm...
Accordin' to this old map,

there's a secret cave
in back of the falls,

and years ago, the Indians hid

a fabulous treasure in it.

It's fantastic enough
to be true.

Hey, Mr. Brotch, there's
somethin' down there.

Hold onto it while
I take a look.

[gasping]

[ANNOUNCER] Folks, it's
getting windy up there!

[TWINKLE grunts]

It's the wind.
She's gonna have trouble!

[SPEED] Uh-oh...

[CLOWN] Oh, no...
ll can't bear to watch...

[SPEED grunts]

[TRIXIE] What are
you going to do?

[SPARKY] I've been
looking all over for ya!

Here, lemme give you a hand.

Now we'll get the
car on the ropes!

Wait! Don't go yet!

The car would be too
heavy with you in there!

[TWINKLE grunts]

[ANNOUNCER] Isn't there
anyone who can rescue her?!

The car fell into the water,
but Twinkle's hangin' onto

the ropes and nobody's
able to rescue her.

[BROTCH] Good, that makes the
show even more excitin'

and keeps folks from noticin'
what we're up to.

How you makin' out down
there in the cave?

[BROTCH] Great! I think I
have just found the secret entrance

to the secret treasure chamber!

Ah!

That's amazing!
What a fabulous car!

[BROTCH] What're
you talkin' about?

What's goin' on
out there?! Tell me!

[SPEED] Twinkle!

[TWINKLE] Ah!

[CROWD cheers]

It's even more dangerous
backing up. Hang on!

[gasps]

[ALL gasp]

Ah!

[gasps]

[ALL gasp]

BOTH gasp)

[ALL] Oh!

[SPEED] Twinkle!
Wake up! Wake up!

[TWINKLE] Oh...
Where are we?

[SPEED] At the bottom
of the falls...

[TWINKLE] Oh, no!

[SPEED] It must
be very deep here--

the periscope can't
reach the surface.

The only way out is gonna be
by driving along the bottom.

I'll try it.

I don't think we're
going to make it.

We've got to because our oxygen
isn't going to last forever.

It's starting to get low.
There's only about a 15 minute

supply left and we've got to
get out before it's gone.

Otherwise, they may never
even find the car.

[TWINKLE] Mm...

[SPEED] The needle
just dropped lower!

That means we have no more
than one minute of oxygen left.

That's all!

[SPEED, TWINKLE panting]

[SPEED] Don't...
Don't worry, Twinkle...

...I'll get us out...
Somehow...

[NARRATOR] Trapped deep in the
water beneath Niagara Falls

and with the oxygen tank
down to zero,

will Speed be able to escape?

Don't miss the next thrilling
episode of Speed Racer

Subtitles: Astro Nomenov

Go, Speed Racer
Go, Speed Racer

Go, Speed Racer, go!

Go, Speed Racer
Go, Speed Racer

Go, Speed Racer, go!