The Six Million Dollar Man (1974–1978): Season 4, Episode 14 - Death Probe: Part 2 - full transcript
STEVE (VO): Last week
on Part 1 of "Death Probe"...
PILOT: Bandleader,
this is Zulu Four leader.
Flight in position.
Missiles armed.
Roger, Zulu Four.
Bogie will arrive your position in...
estimate ten seconds or less.
Seven... six.
(LOUD WHOOSH)
Zulu Four, Bogie has arrived your position!
Can you pursue?
Pursue? I can't even see it anymore!
We tracked it on the radar for 10 minutes.
It was travelling at mach 4.
Sounds like a spacecraft,
not an aircraft.
That's why they couldn't catch it.
A spacecraft comes down
out of the stratosphere.
Not across the horizon.
I take it that's what's got
the Secretary worried.
Exactly. It's a threat to our national defense.
TECHNICIAN: It's landing, General!
GENERAL: Where?
The United States.
That's impossible.
Could you be mistaken?
TECHNICIAN: No, sir.
No mistake.
Can you give me a more definite area?
TECHNICIAN: Northern Wyoming.
See that all our best people
in the area are contacted.
We must reach it
before the Americans.
(LOUD WHIRRING)
(LOUD THUMPING)
You stay away!
You stay away from me, hear?
What would Russia
have to do with this?
I don't know, but she works with
Major Anatoly Popov.
Who's Popov?
He's the top Soviet agent in North America.
We've been after him a long time.
Wait a minute. That farmer.
He fired a gun at the probe.
Yes, yes. What's that to do with it?
The probe's sensors could have read it
as a meteor shower or volcanic activity.
If that happened, the probe
would put itself on override.
There's nothing on Earth
that can stop it now.
If anyone other than myself
tries to open this...
the resulting explosion can
destroy an entire city block.
But why? What's in it?
It's a device to destroy the Venus probe.
We were ordered to dismantle the probe...
and take its circuits back to Russia,
not destroy it!
We have no time
for such foolishness!
Our main job is to keep
the secrets of the probe...
from getting into the hands
of the Americans. Excuse me.
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
OSCAR: Then it was
reported going north.
That town is right in its path.
Less than two hours away.
We've gotta evacuate
that town, Steve.
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
Where's Steve?
Tracking the space probe.
Oh no, Oscar.
You've got to stop him!
Irina, you know that Steve is bionic.
If he's just...
You don't understand!
I designed that probe for Venus.
Venus, Oscar!
A planet with temperatures
up to 900 degrees...
300 mile an hour winds...
pressures equal to
90 Earth atmospheres.
Even a bionic man couldn't survive
under those conditions.
And anything that could
would be more powerful.
Steve.
STEVE (VO): In a few moments,
the conclusion of "Death Probe".
FLIGHT COM:
It looks good at NASA One.
B- 52 >PILOT:
Roger.
BCS Arm switch is on.
FLIGHT COM:
Okay, Victor.
B-52 PILOT:
Landing Rocket Arm switch is on.
Here comes the throttle.
Circuit breakers in.
STEVE:
We have separation.
B-52 PILOT:
Inboard and outboards are on.
I'm comin' forward with the side stick.
FLIGHT COM:
Looks good.
PILOT:
Ah, Roger.
STEVE:
I've got a blowout in damper three.
SR-71 PILOT:
Get your pitch to zero.
STEVE:
Pitch is out. I can't hold altitude!
B-52 PILOT: Correction. Alpha Hold is oil“.
Threat selector is emergency.
STEVE: Flight Com. I can't hold it!
She's breaking up! She's breaking...
ANNOUNCER:
Steve Austin. Astronaut.
A man barely alive.
Gentlemen, we can rebuild him.
We have the technology.
We have the capability
to make the world's first bionic man.
Steve Austin will be that man.
Better than he was before.
Better, stronger, faster.
(MAIN TITLE THEME)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(METAL SCRAPING)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
We've got to find a way
to get this thing open.
Have you gotten through to them yet?
No, I've been patched in via satellite...
but the Soviet Space Command,
they just haven't responded yet.
They're stalling.
Why would they stall?
Because they want to keep the secret
metal alloy locked up safe and tight.
I don't believe it.
Believe it, Irina.
This is dirty business.
There isn't a government in the world
that wouldn't do the same thing.
It's okay. I'm all right.
Thank you.
Steve, are you all right?
I'm all right, Oscar.
Steve! Your arm!
It's okay, Irina. This is the one
that can be replaced.
Can you move it?
I can't move it.
I can't feel it.
The probe did this?
You better let me take a look
at that arm, Colonel Austin.
It's all right, Medic.
It's just a scratch.
Don't try and be a martyr, sir.
That won't me necessary, Medic.
Well, sometimes infection
has a way of setting in, you know?
Oh, God...
Rudy? I want you to get here
as soon as you can.
Yes, it's his arm.
You know what to bring.
Right. See you soon.
Steve, you're going to be out
of action for a while.
At least until Rudy gets
here from Washington.
Now I'll give you the bad news.
The bad news?
Come here a minute, Steve.
I want to show you something.
The probe travels in a preset
pattern as I told him.
We've been plotting it.
And if it maintains its pace
and direction...
it's going to devastate several
highly populated areas.
It might hit the dam at Eagle Lake, Steve.
Why doesn't it just run down?
Because it's fueled for
a minimum for five years.
What about Popov's weapon?
He's unconscious,
and that thing is booby trapped.
Irina, you built this space probe.
Won't anything stop it?
I designed the probe to withstand
anything in the Solar System.
The only thing that might pierce
its shell, is a nuclear warhead.
Well, we couldn't do that.
Nuclear weapon would cause
more damage than the space probe.
Command, this is Search One.
We have located the probe.
Where is it?
All right.
Right on course.
230 degrees.
(SIGHS)
A zigzag path right through
the center of Eagle City.
Oscar, do you have the authority
to order a nuclear weapon?
We'll use conventional weapons first.
Give it all we've got.
If afraid that there's very little chance
that they'll do any damage...
We gotta do something!
Hold on a minute.
Irina, I'm sorry.
We can't just stand around here and wait
for Popov to regain consciousness...
if he ever does.
This is Oscar Goldman speaking.
I wanna talk to the
Department of Defense.
Wait a minute, Oscar.
We know the probe was designed
to withstand just about everything.
What about heat?
No, no. We thought of that, too.
But how much heat?
It never goes beyond
900 degrees on Venus.
Even if you doubled that
for a safety factor.
What are you getting at, Steve?
Thermoancigel 247.
It burns at almost 3,000 degrees.
It's gotta have some effect.
Well?
It's possible.
Cancel that call to Defense.
Get me the chemical division.
(BIONIC EYE SOUND EFFECT)
There it is.
Chopper One, this is Spotter.
Come in on course 0-0-6 degrees.
Roger. 0-0-6 degrees.
STEVE: Chopper two.
Maintain position.
Stand by for back up.
Two, Roger.
Chopper One, stay on course.
You're right over it.
Now!
Let's see how it handles that.
No damage.
Give me that phone.
This is Oscar Goldman speaking.
Evacuate the town.
(GENERAL CHATTER)
(BABY CRYING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Mr. Goldman called, Colonel.
He's on his way back here
with Major Popov.
Major Popov has recovered?
It would seem so, Ms. Leonova.
At least enough to help us.
Good. How close is the probe?
We've located it in sector eight.
Captain, what about the town?
Evacuation is almost complete.
It's all right, Irina.
They'll all be back home tomorrow.
Will they have homes to return to?
It's not your fault.
Isn't it?
Look, you didn't know your research was
also being used to create a new weapon.
The result is the same.
Silence at the other end
when I ask my country to help yours.
Why does it have to be that way?
I don't know.
They're still not giving Colonels
like me all the answers.
Or Captains like me.
Colonels and Captains,
ranks and uniforms.
Sometimes I wonder, Steve...
what we could've had together
without all that.
I heard about the evacuation
of the town, Colonel, and I'm sorry.
I hope to prove it was
an unnecessary precaution.
Have you located the probe yet?
Sector eight.
Let's get busy.
Wha... what is the probe doing?
It appears to have found
a fascinating subject to study.
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
All right, now.
This is a wire-guided missile...
with an explosive charge...
designed especially
for this kind of emergency.
It'll punch right through the outer wall,
and explode that to pieces.
Major, my understanding is that
the probe down there...
is made of a special alloy,
the strongest substance on Earth.
Yes.
And the nose of this rocket is made
of exactly the same alloy.
Of course, just as one diamond
will cut another diamond.
I can't get to it if it's behind those trees.
Someone will have to go down
and lure it out of the clearings.
I can do that.
But you're injured.
That's okay. I can handle it.
Just tell me what to do.
Well, nothing in particular.
Just make a lot of noise so that
to attract its interests...
and wants to investigate, and then just
keep moving until it's in the clearing.
You got it.
You sure you wanna go
through with this, Steve?
I'll be careful.
We'll keep in touch
by walkie-talkie.
Right.
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
Okay, I'm in position, Oscar.
Whenever you're ready, Steve.
I'm ready.
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
No, no. Tell him more to the left.
Steve, go more to your left!
Into the clearing,
out in the open.
All right.
(BANGING)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
Is something wrong, Major?
This concussion is playing
tricks on my eyes.
I could've sworn Austin just...
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
I wasn't imagining things.
How did he do that?
Colonel Austin is
a remarkable athlete, Major.
Good. Good.
Range, 30 meters.
Inclination, 13 degrees.
No perceptible wind.
OSCAR: You've got your spot now, Major.
Wait until Steve...
Steve's all right.
What about the probe?
It isn't even scratched!
It's impossible.
Impossible? You just saw it
with your own eyes, Major.
Well, when Oscar called...
I had no idea how
extensive the damage was.
You seemed to be able
to fix it in a hurry.
Not really.
I don't know how long
it's going to hold together.
Now, give it a try, huh?
How's it feel?
Pretty good.
How'd the repairs go, Rudy?
I did the best I could.
I'm afraid it's only temporary.
We'll have to go back
to my lab for proper repair.
OSCAR: Oh, it doesn't matter.
There's nothing that Steve can do...
there's nothing that anybody can do.
Well, I did all I can do.
He's got his strength back,
but I don't know how long it's gonna hold up.
Without my lab,
I'm like a fish out of water.
Rudy, that's it!
Huh?
What you just said.
That's the key to destroying the probe.
What do you mean, Steve?
The probe. It's like a fish out of water.
Come on, I'll show you.
All right, look.
This is Venus, this is Earth.
Each planet has its own atmosphere.
The atmosphere on Earth is about 15
pounds for every square inch of our bodies.
15 pounds for every square inch?
We don't feel it, Oscar...
because the 15 pounds per square inch
inside our body equalizes.
Right. That's why a deep sea fish...
A fish out of water...
explodes when
it's brought to the surface.
It's pressurized for the bottom
of the ocean, not the air.
The bottom of the ocean is
much like the atmosphere on Venus.
It's thick, it's heavy, and it's dense.
The return from Venus, the probe would've
had to circle behind the planet...
getting up enough speed
to slingshot itself back to Earth.
It's like the same technique I used
to return from the moon.
But the probe never
landed on Venus, Steve.
How can it be
pressurized for it?
What if it passed through
the atmosphere as it went by like that?
Of course.
It's the only explanation.
It is pressurized for Venus.
That's why Popov's missile failed.
The pressure inside the space
probe is like a wall of granite...
shoring up the probe's skin.
Wait a minute, Steve.
Are you trying to say that this probe
is about to burst at the seams?
Right. And all we need to do to finish
the job is get it to a higher altitude.
Once it reaches the thinner air...
its own internal pressure will tear it apart
like an over-inflated balloon.
A higher altitude.
How much higher?
Wait a minute.
You know the probe,
what altitude would do it?
1,500 feet up should do it.
2,000 for sure.
How are we gonna get this probe
1,500-2,000 feet in the air?
Steve, he's right.
The probe's not gonna cooperate.
Wait a minute.
I got an idea.
OSCAR: What?
When I jumped over the probe, Irina...
I noticed a small opening.
Yes, that was where
the loading ring went...
when we put the probe
into the launch vehicle.
Do you remember its specifications?
12 centimeters in diameter,
standard metric threading.
Good girl.
Oscar, could you jury-rig a construction
helicopter to fly on autopilot?
In an emergency like this,
I could jury-rig a cloud, Steve.
We're gonna get this thing.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Here you are, Colonel Austin.
It's threaded to 12 centimeters.
Thanks, Sergeant.
Right.
But, Steve, that's still
not a loading ring.
Ah, well, we'll fix that.
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(METAL CREAKING)
How's your arm, pal?
Seemed to work pretty good.
Rudy wasn't sure that it'll hold up.
He gave me a 30 day guarantee.
(OSCAR AND STEVE LAUGH)
Well, let's get underway.
(ROMANTIC MUSIC)
Steve, if anything
should happen to you...
Don't worry.
Nothing's gonna happen.
Besides, when I get back,
we gotta bust out some Russian vodka.
(LOUD WHIRRING)
Now, get out of here.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(GEAR CLICKS)
(FAST WHIRRING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(WEAK BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
Oh, no!
OSCAR: His arm gave out!
(WEAK BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
No. Oh, no.
It's... it's trying to cut itself free!
If it does, can it survive the fall?
Yes.
400 feet. Colonel Austin
can bail out safely now.
(BUZZING)
(CABLE SNAPPING)
1,200 feet. Anticipate demolition
between 1,500 and 2,000.
1,700 feet.
We've lost our safety margin.
Steve, jump. Jump!
(BUZZING, CABLE SNAPPING)
1,800 feet.
Certain demolition within 200 feet!
TECHNICIAN: 190!
180!
Come on!
(BUZZING, CABLE SNAPPING)
30.
20!
10!
(BUZZING, CABLE SNAPPING)
2,000 feet!
What's holding that thing
together up there?
2,100 feet!
Steve!
Look!
Ah.
Well, we had quite a day.
Yeah.
By the way, how's your arm?
Nothing that Rudy can't fix
when we get back to the lab.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
Hey. Been looking for you two.
I've been on the phone
with the Secretary.
What did he say?
The charges against Major Popov
and the other Russians are serious.
But Irina didn't commit
any acts of espionage.
Technically speaking.
But the Secretary finally agreed.
I've arranged for a flight
for you tomorrow.
Thanks, Oscar.
Yes. Thank you.
For everything you've done.
It was a pleasure.
Why is it that the men I care for
all have their hearts in the sky?
What?
You're hopeless.
I was thinking.
Destruction was caused
by a space probe we built.
We?
Earthmen.
What will we do if we meet one
that was built out there?
(END THEME MUSIC)
on Part 1 of "Death Probe"...
PILOT: Bandleader,
this is Zulu Four leader.
Flight in position.
Missiles armed.
Roger, Zulu Four.
Bogie will arrive your position in...
estimate ten seconds or less.
Seven... six.
(LOUD WHOOSH)
Zulu Four, Bogie has arrived your position!
Can you pursue?
Pursue? I can't even see it anymore!
We tracked it on the radar for 10 minutes.
It was travelling at mach 4.
Sounds like a spacecraft,
not an aircraft.
That's why they couldn't catch it.
A spacecraft comes down
out of the stratosphere.
Not across the horizon.
I take it that's what's got
the Secretary worried.
Exactly. It's a threat to our national defense.
TECHNICIAN: It's landing, General!
GENERAL: Where?
The United States.
That's impossible.
Could you be mistaken?
TECHNICIAN: No, sir.
No mistake.
Can you give me a more definite area?
TECHNICIAN: Northern Wyoming.
See that all our best people
in the area are contacted.
We must reach it
before the Americans.
(LOUD WHIRRING)
(LOUD THUMPING)
You stay away!
You stay away from me, hear?
What would Russia
have to do with this?
I don't know, but she works with
Major Anatoly Popov.
Who's Popov?
He's the top Soviet agent in North America.
We've been after him a long time.
Wait a minute. That farmer.
He fired a gun at the probe.
Yes, yes. What's that to do with it?
The probe's sensors could have read it
as a meteor shower or volcanic activity.
If that happened, the probe
would put itself on override.
There's nothing on Earth
that can stop it now.
If anyone other than myself
tries to open this...
the resulting explosion can
destroy an entire city block.
But why? What's in it?
It's a device to destroy the Venus probe.
We were ordered to dismantle the probe...
and take its circuits back to Russia,
not destroy it!
We have no time
for such foolishness!
Our main job is to keep
the secrets of the probe...
from getting into the hands
of the Americans. Excuse me.
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
OSCAR: Then it was
reported going north.
That town is right in its path.
Less than two hours away.
We've gotta evacuate
that town, Steve.
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
Where's Steve?
Tracking the space probe.
Oh no, Oscar.
You've got to stop him!
Irina, you know that Steve is bionic.
If he's just...
You don't understand!
I designed that probe for Venus.
Venus, Oscar!
A planet with temperatures
up to 900 degrees...
300 mile an hour winds...
pressures equal to
90 Earth atmospheres.
Even a bionic man couldn't survive
under those conditions.
And anything that could
would be more powerful.
Steve.
STEVE (VO): In a few moments,
the conclusion of "Death Probe".
FLIGHT COM:
It looks good at NASA One.
B- 52 >PILOT:
Roger.
BCS Arm switch is on.
FLIGHT COM:
Okay, Victor.
B-52 PILOT:
Landing Rocket Arm switch is on.
Here comes the throttle.
Circuit breakers in.
STEVE:
We have separation.
B-52 PILOT:
Inboard and outboards are on.
I'm comin' forward with the side stick.
FLIGHT COM:
Looks good.
PILOT:
Ah, Roger.
STEVE:
I've got a blowout in damper three.
SR-71 PILOT:
Get your pitch to zero.
STEVE:
Pitch is out. I can't hold altitude!
B-52 PILOT: Correction. Alpha Hold is oil“.
Threat selector is emergency.
STEVE: Flight Com. I can't hold it!
She's breaking up! She's breaking...
ANNOUNCER:
Steve Austin. Astronaut.
A man barely alive.
Gentlemen, we can rebuild him.
We have the technology.
We have the capability
to make the world's first bionic man.
Steve Austin will be that man.
Better than he was before.
Better, stronger, faster.
(MAIN TITLE THEME)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(METAL SCRAPING)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
We've got to find a way
to get this thing open.
Have you gotten through to them yet?
No, I've been patched in via satellite...
but the Soviet Space Command,
they just haven't responded yet.
They're stalling.
Why would they stall?
Because they want to keep the secret
metal alloy locked up safe and tight.
I don't believe it.
Believe it, Irina.
This is dirty business.
There isn't a government in the world
that wouldn't do the same thing.
It's okay. I'm all right.
Thank you.
Steve, are you all right?
I'm all right, Oscar.
Steve! Your arm!
It's okay, Irina. This is the one
that can be replaced.
Can you move it?
I can't move it.
I can't feel it.
The probe did this?
You better let me take a look
at that arm, Colonel Austin.
It's all right, Medic.
It's just a scratch.
Don't try and be a martyr, sir.
That won't me necessary, Medic.
Well, sometimes infection
has a way of setting in, you know?
Oh, God...
Rudy? I want you to get here
as soon as you can.
Yes, it's his arm.
You know what to bring.
Right. See you soon.
Steve, you're going to be out
of action for a while.
At least until Rudy gets
here from Washington.
Now I'll give you the bad news.
The bad news?
Come here a minute, Steve.
I want to show you something.
The probe travels in a preset
pattern as I told him.
We've been plotting it.
And if it maintains its pace
and direction...
it's going to devastate several
highly populated areas.
It might hit the dam at Eagle Lake, Steve.
Why doesn't it just run down?
Because it's fueled for
a minimum for five years.
What about Popov's weapon?
He's unconscious,
and that thing is booby trapped.
Irina, you built this space probe.
Won't anything stop it?
I designed the probe to withstand
anything in the Solar System.
The only thing that might pierce
its shell, is a nuclear warhead.
Well, we couldn't do that.
Nuclear weapon would cause
more damage than the space probe.
Command, this is Search One.
We have located the probe.
Where is it?
All right.
Right on course.
230 degrees.
(SIGHS)
A zigzag path right through
the center of Eagle City.
Oscar, do you have the authority
to order a nuclear weapon?
We'll use conventional weapons first.
Give it all we've got.
If afraid that there's very little chance
that they'll do any damage...
We gotta do something!
Hold on a minute.
Irina, I'm sorry.
We can't just stand around here and wait
for Popov to regain consciousness...
if he ever does.
This is Oscar Goldman speaking.
I wanna talk to the
Department of Defense.
Wait a minute, Oscar.
We know the probe was designed
to withstand just about everything.
What about heat?
No, no. We thought of that, too.
But how much heat?
It never goes beyond
900 degrees on Venus.
Even if you doubled that
for a safety factor.
What are you getting at, Steve?
Thermoancigel 247.
It burns at almost 3,000 degrees.
It's gotta have some effect.
Well?
It's possible.
Cancel that call to Defense.
Get me the chemical division.
(BIONIC EYE SOUND EFFECT)
There it is.
Chopper One, this is Spotter.
Come in on course 0-0-6 degrees.
Roger. 0-0-6 degrees.
STEVE: Chopper two.
Maintain position.
Stand by for back up.
Two, Roger.
Chopper One, stay on course.
You're right over it.
Now!
Let's see how it handles that.
No damage.
Give me that phone.
This is Oscar Goldman speaking.
Evacuate the town.
(GENERAL CHATTER)
(BABY CRYING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Mr. Goldman called, Colonel.
He's on his way back here
with Major Popov.
Major Popov has recovered?
It would seem so, Ms. Leonova.
At least enough to help us.
Good. How close is the probe?
We've located it in sector eight.
Captain, what about the town?
Evacuation is almost complete.
It's all right, Irina.
They'll all be back home tomorrow.
Will they have homes to return to?
It's not your fault.
Isn't it?
Look, you didn't know your research was
also being used to create a new weapon.
The result is the same.
Silence at the other end
when I ask my country to help yours.
Why does it have to be that way?
I don't know.
They're still not giving Colonels
like me all the answers.
Or Captains like me.
Colonels and Captains,
ranks and uniforms.
Sometimes I wonder, Steve...
what we could've had together
without all that.
I heard about the evacuation
of the town, Colonel, and I'm sorry.
I hope to prove it was
an unnecessary precaution.
Have you located the probe yet?
Sector eight.
Let's get busy.
Wha... what is the probe doing?
It appears to have found
a fascinating subject to study.
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
All right, now.
This is a wire-guided missile...
with an explosive charge...
designed especially
for this kind of emergency.
It'll punch right through the outer wall,
and explode that to pieces.
Major, my understanding is that
the probe down there...
is made of a special alloy,
the strongest substance on Earth.
Yes.
And the nose of this rocket is made
of exactly the same alloy.
Of course, just as one diamond
will cut another diamond.
I can't get to it if it's behind those trees.
Someone will have to go down
and lure it out of the clearings.
I can do that.
But you're injured.
That's okay. I can handle it.
Just tell me what to do.
Well, nothing in particular.
Just make a lot of noise so that
to attract its interests...
and wants to investigate, and then just
keep moving until it's in the clearing.
You got it.
You sure you wanna go
through with this, Steve?
I'll be careful.
We'll keep in touch
by walkie-talkie.
Right.
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
Okay, I'm in position, Oscar.
Whenever you're ready, Steve.
I'm ready.
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
No, no. Tell him more to the left.
Steve, go more to your left!
Into the clearing,
out in the open.
All right.
(BANGING)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
Is something wrong, Major?
This concussion is playing
tricks on my eyes.
I could've sworn Austin just...
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
I wasn't imagining things.
How did he do that?
Colonel Austin is
a remarkable athlete, Major.
Good. Good.
Range, 30 meters.
Inclination, 13 degrees.
No perceptible wind.
OSCAR: You've got your spot now, Major.
Wait until Steve...
Steve's all right.
What about the probe?
It isn't even scratched!
It's impossible.
Impossible? You just saw it
with your own eyes, Major.
Well, when Oscar called...
I had no idea how
extensive the damage was.
You seemed to be able
to fix it in a hurry.
Not really.
I don't know how long
it's going to hold together.
Now, give it a try, huh?
How's it feel?
Pretty good.
How'd the repairs go, Rudy?
I did the best I could.
I'm afraid it's only temporary.
We'll have to go back
to my lab for proper repair.
OSCAR: Oh, it doesn't matter.
There's nothing that Steve can do...
there's nothing that anybody can do.
Well, I did all I can do.
He's got his strength back,
but I don't know how long it's gonna hold up.
Without my lab,
I'm like a fish out of water.
Rudy, that's it!
Huh?
What you just said.
That's the key to destroying the probe.
What do you mean, Steve?
The probe. It's like a fish out of water.
Come on, I'll show you.
All right, look.
This is Venus, this is Earth.
Each planet has its own atmosphere.
The atmosphere on Earth is about 15
pounds for every square inch of our bodies.
15 pounds for every square inch?
We don't feel it, Oscar...
because the 15 pounds per square inch
inside our body equalizes.
Right. That's why a deep sea fish...
A fish out of water...
explodes when
it's brought to the surface.
It's pressurized for the bottom
of the ocean, not the air.
The bottom of the ocean is
much like the atmosphere on Venus.
It's thick, it's heavy, and it's dense.
The return from Venus, the probe would've
had to circle behind the planet...
getting up enough speed
to slingshot itself back to Earth.
It's like the same technique I used
to return from the moon.
But the probe never
landed on Venus, Steve.
How can it be
pressurized for it?
What if it passed through
the atmosphere as it went by like that?
Of course.
It's the only explanation.
It is pressurized for Venus.
That's why Popov's missile failed.
The pressure inside the space
probe is like a wall of granite...
shoring up the probe's skin.
Wait a minute, Steve.
Are you trying to say that this probe
is about to burst at the seams?
Right. And all we need to do to finish
the job is get it to a higher altitude.
Once it reaches the thinner air...
its own internal pressure will tear it apart
like an over-inflated balloon.
A higher altitude.
How much higher?
Wait a minute.
You know the probe,
what altitude would do it?
1,500 feet up should do it.
2,000 for sure.
How are we gonna get this probe
1,500-2,000 feet in the air?
Steve, he's right.
The probe's not gonna cooperate.
Wait a minute.
I got an idea.
OSCAR: What?
When I jumped over the probe, Irina...
I noticed a small opening.
Yes, that was where
the loading ring went...
when we put the probe
into the launch vehicle.
Do you remember its specifications?
12 centimeters in diameter,
standard metric threading.
Good girl.
Oscar, could you jury-rig a construction
helicopter to fly on autopilot?
In an emergency like this,
I could jury-rig a cloud, Steve.
We're gonna get this thing.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Here you are, Colonel Austin.
It's threaded to 12 centimeters.
Thanks, Sergeant.
Right.
But, Steve, that's still
not a loading ring.
Ah, well, we'll fix that.
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(METAL CREAKING)
How's your arm, pal?
Seemed to work pretty good.
Rudy wasn't sure that it'll hold up.
He gave me a 30 day guarantee.
(OSCAR AND STEVE LAUGH)
Well, let's get underway.
(ROMANTIC MUSIC)
Steve, if anything
should happen to you...
Don't worry.
Nothing's gonna happen.
Besides, when I get back,
we gotta bust out some Russian vodka.
(LOUD WHIRRING)
Now, get out of here.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(PROBE CIRCUIT CLICKING)
(GEAR CLICKS)
(FAST WHIRRING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(WEAK BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
Oh, no!
OSCAR: His arm gave out!
(WEAK BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
No. Oh, no.
It's... it's trying to cut itself free!
If it does, can it survive the fall?
Yes.
400 feet. Colonel Austin
can bail out safely now.
(BUZZING)
(CABLE SNAPPING)
1,200 feet. Anticipate demolition
between 1,500 and 2,000.
1,700 feet.
We've lost our safety margin.
Steve, jump. Jump!
(BUZZING, CABLE SNAPPING)
1,800 feet.
Certain demolition within 200 feet!
TECHNICIAN: 190!
180!
Come on!
(BUZZING, CABLE SNAPPING)
30.
20!
10!
(BUZZING, CABLE SNAPPING)
2,000 feet!
What's holding that thing
together up there?
2,100 feet!
Steve!
Look!
Ah.
Well, we had quite a day.
Yeah.
By the way, how's your arm?
Nothing that Rudy can't fix
when we get back to the lab.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
Hey. Been looking for you two.
I've been on the phone
with the Secretary.
What did he say?
The charges against Major Popov
and the other Russians are serious.
But Irina didn't commit
any acts of espionage.
Technically speaking.
But the Secretary finally agreed.
I've arranged for a flight
for you tomorrow.
Thanks, Oscar.
Yes. Thank you.
For everything you've done.
It was a pleasure.
Why is it that the men I care for
all have their hearts in the sky?
What?
You're hopeless.
I was thinking.
Destruction was caused
by a space probe we built.
We?
Earthmen.
What will we do if we meet one
that was built out there?
(END THEME MUSIC)