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Series: The Planet Man
Show: Episode #1
Date: circa 1950s

ANNCR:

(COLD) The Planet Man!

SFX:

OPEN FADE TO

MUSIC:

ORGAN CHORD

SFX:

ANNCR SAYS EACH WORD AND PAUSES FOR ECHO. "MAN"HAS THE LONGEST ECHO

ANNCR:

The ... Planet ... Man!

MUSIC:

THEME ESTABLISH AND UNDER

ANNCR:

This is the fascinating story of Dantro, The Planet Man, troubleshooter for the League of Planets organization, the law enforcement body for peace and justice in the celestial world - whose headquarters and center of operations are situated on the capital of all the planets, Planeria Rex.

MUSIC:

STING. THEME COMES BACK UNDER THE WORD "DANGER"

ANNCR:

From Mercury to Pluto, wherever danger threatens the universe, you will find Dantro the Planet Man fighting for fair play.

MUSIC:

STING

ANNCR:

In a moment, The Planet Man.

(INSERT BREAK)

 

MUSIC:

THEME ESTABLISH

ANNCR:

When we left the crew of Earth's first rocket expedition, (STING) they were headed for a crash on the Moon. (STING) We find Dr. Darrow, (STING), his daughter Pat (STING), Slats the engineer, (STING), and our two young stowaways, Billy and Jane (STING) discussing their dangerous predicament.

MUSIC:

ORGAN PULSES AS AN ALARM

ANNCR:

The sound of the complicated control mechanism makes the control room seem like a chatterbox of confusion. And from the outside can be heard the mad whining of the Lunar currents. We find them now as they are getting closer and closer to the Moon's surface - Slats is speaking:

SLATS:

Our altimeter reading is dropping pretty fast, professor.

PAT:

Isn't there any way we can break our fall on the moon?

DARROW:

I've thought of everything, Pat, but there doesn't seem to be any answer. The extra power we lost on takeoff was our only hope.

PAT:

Father, I know you don't like to do things second best, but in a situation like this it might be necessary.

DARELL:

What do you mean, Pat?

PAT:

Well, what about using our remaining power to go into an orbit around the moon, as we discussed in our original plan?

DARROW:

Yes, but what good would that do? We still come to the same end, except that the agony would be prolonged.

SLATS:

Let's do it, professor! We've got nothing to lose.

BILLY:

Whatever it is, I'm game, Uncle John!

JANE:

Me, too, Uncle John!

SLATS:

You know what they say, professor, where there's life there's hope!

DARROW:

It would be a ticklish maneuver now, since we've gotten into the pull of the moon, and our power is limited. But if the rest of you are game, so am I. Stand by to maneuver! Pat, start the reactor.

PAT:

Yes, Father!

SFX:

CLICK. REACTOR BEINGS TO FIRE UP

DARROW:

Slats, check the radar range finder and make sure you pinpoint those readings on the moon.

SLATS:

Yes, sir!

SFX:

BEEPS BEGIN AND CONTINUE UNDER

DARROW:

I'll pilot. Now keep your fingers crossed! Heading ten degrees starboard!

SLATS:

Heading ten degrees starboard!

DARROW:

Cut the reactor, Pat!

PAT:

Cutting the reactor!

DARROW:

What's our reading?

SLATS:

It's sixty-three point-three. We need a bit more, professor!

DARROW:

Hit it again, Pat!

PAT:

Reactor on!

SFX:

REACTOR FIRES UP

DARROW:

Are we picking it up fast enough, Slats? What's the reading?

SLATS:

Not enough, professor, we need a fraction more!

DARROW:

Are you sure, Slats? I've got our heading way over, and our power can't last much longer with such a radical course heading! Slats, give me a reading! (BEAT) Slats, do you hear me? Give me a reading!

SLATS:

It's 89.4. Six more points, professor.

PAT:

That's the end of our power. I hope we make it!

SLATS:

Steady . . . steady . . . Just a bit more, Old Ironsides! There . . . There! Well, we made it! We made it, professor!

DARROW:

Good!

PAT:

O we made it!

GENEARL CONGRATULATIONS ALL AROUND

SLATS:

Hey, what are we all so happy about? We're right in the middle of nowhere.

BILLY:

You mean that we're not going to land on the moon, after all?

DARROW:

I'm afraid not, Billy.

JANE:

Then what's going to happen?

PAT:

Nothing, Jane. We're just going to circle the moon the way the moon circles the Earth!

SLATS:

Just look at that view of the moon. What a break! So near, and yet so far!

SOUND:

AIR CIRCULATORS - STARTS FAST, THEN SLOWS

BILLY:

Uncle John! Uncle John! Something is happening to the air . . . it's getting stuffy in here.

DARROW:

I know, Billy, it's the air circulators slowing down. Breathing will be just a bit difficult from now on, since our oxygen supply is limited.

MUSIC:

ORGAN STING, THEN DRAMATIC CHORDS TO INDICATE TRANSITION

SOUND:

HAMMERING ON METAL

SLATS:

(FILTER) Professor, can you hear me?

DARROW:

Slats, where are you? What are you up to?

SLATS:

(FILTER) I'm outside the ship, bringing up the Lunar communications generator. Thought we might as well set it up and try to make contact with the Earth.

DARROW:

You can't do that alone!

PAT:

(FILTER) I'm here, too!

DARROW:

Careful, Pat! Don't let go, now! (BEAT) Pat . . . Pat! Slats, grab her, she's floating away!

SLATS:

(FILTER) What?

DARROW:

Quick, Slats!

PAT:

(FILTER) Slats! Help me! Help me!

SLATS:

(FILTER) Pat here, grab my hand. Quick now!

PAT GRUNTS UNDERNEATH AS SLATS HELPS HER IN.

SLATS:

(FILTER) Hold tight now, easy, easy. There we are.

PAT SIGHS WITH RELIEF

SLATS:

(FILTER) There we are. Steady, now.

JANE:

He pulled her back, Uncle John!

DARROW:

Pat, Slats! Is everything all right?

PAT:

(FILTER) Yes, Father, thanks to Slats. I thought I was a gonner!

DARROW:

Don't forget you're out in space, Pat, and if you ever drifted away, we'd never be able to get you back!

SLATS:

(FILTER) It's all okay now, professor. We're comin' in!

MUSIC:

DRAMATIC ORGAN CHORDS TO SIGNIFY TRANSITION

SOUND:

SPACESHIP BG SOUNDS

BILLY:

Pat?

PAT:

Yes, Billy?

BILLY:

Jane and I know what's going on.

PAT:

What are you talking about?

JANE:

Pat, we know this whole trip was spoiled 'cause we stowed aboard. It's all our fault!

PAT:

Now listen to me, you two, and stop feeling guilty. It wasn't the best idea for you to sneak aboard, but it did happen. And besides, we could have been wrong in our calculations. The important thing now is for all of us to face up to whatever lies ahead. And I know that you two won't let me down.

BILLY:

Never, Pat.

JANE:

Not us, Pat.

PAT:

All right. Now let's just forget the whole thing and . . . I wonder where Slats and father are?

MUSIC:

DRAMATIC ORGAN CHORDS

ANNCR:

We will return to Planet Man in just a moment.

So . . . Level off!

(BREAK)

 

MUSIC:

ESTABLISH THEME THEN STING

ANNCR:

Well, it looks like the first trip from earth to the moon is coming to its tragic end. (STING) The good ship Constitution is in a hopeless orbit around the moon. (STING) The entire crew is slowly suffocating, because the oxygen supply is coming to an end. Professor Darrow and slats are in the posterior cargo chamber. Slats is apparently up to something.

BOTH MEN ARE STRUGGLING FOR BREATH

SLATS:

Why don't you go to the control cabin, professor, and lie down for a while? It'll be easier for you to breathe.

DARROW:

I think I'd better stay here. I hate to have Pat and the kids see me so worried and worn out. (BEAT) Slats, you've got something on your mind. What is it?

SLATS:

I been thinking, professor. I really haven't got anybody. Nobody'd miss me, and you and Pat and the kids would have a little extra time.

DARROW:

Now what are you driving at?

SLATS:

Well, a big guy like me uses a lot of oxygen. All I have to do is step through that port, and it'd all be over in a second. You people would have little longer.

DARROW:

Don't be a fool, Slats. We're all in this together! Besides, if anybody goes through the port, it would be me. I'm the oldest. And besides, the whole thing is my responsibility.

SOUND:

PORT OPENS.

SLATS:

(GRUNTS AS HE OPENS PORT) Now look, professor, I've made up my mind. There's no point in trying to stop me.

DARROW:

No, Slats! Don't jump-

SLATS:

Don't stop me professor, I'll hit you-

SOUND:

SLAP. BODY FALLS TO FLOOR.

PROFESSOR:

GRUNTS AS HE FALLS TO FLOOR.

SLATS:

I didn't mean to hurt you, professor, but this is the way it's got to be.

SOUND:

FOOTSTEPS ON METAL FLOOR. DOOR OPENS. (A REGULAR DOOR WITH KNOB)

SLATS:

So long, professor.

SOUND:

METALLIC CLANGING, SOUND FROM OUTSIDE THE SHIP

SLATS:

What's that?

PAT:

(OFF) What's going on in there?

SLATS:

Pat?

PAT:

What's that clanging?

SLATS:

We're not clanging anything. I thought it was you.

PAT:

(OFF) Slats, Father! Look out of the port, quick!

BILLY:

Boy, look at that:

JANE:

It's mammoth!

SLATS:

Professor! Professor! Get up! Something's happening!

DARROW:

(DAZED) What?

SLATS:

There's something next to our ship.

DARROW:

What? Oh, my head! The ship? (GRUNTS WITH EFFORT) Here, help me, let me see up there!

SLATS:

What?

DARROW:

It's impossible! Why, it looks like another ship is next to ours!

SLATS:

Let me help you, professor. We must get to the control cabin with the others.

SOUND:

FOOTSTEPS ON METAL

PAT:

Father! Slats, what is it?

DARROW:

I don't know, but now we'd better stay close together. Slats, where are you going?

SLATS:

Just to get this fission wrench. I don't know what's coming through that hatch, but I don't want to take any chances.

PAT:

Well, be careful, and don't get too close to the hatch.

DARROW:

Let's all be very quiet.

MUSIC:

ORGAN

SOUND:

METALIC CLANGING. HATCH OPENS.

PAT:

Oh! Uncle John! Look!

SLATS:

Stand back, whatever you are, I'll oof!

SOUND:

RAY GUN

BILLY:

Look, it's Slats! He can't move! He's frozen in his tracks!

PAT:

Oh, Slats!

JANE:

Why, it's a man!

DANTRO:

What did you expect? A three-headed Mercurian Man-eater? (BEAT) I am a man from the planets.

BILLY:

A planet man! Boy, wait until the gang hears about this!

PAT:

Billy, please. . .

DANTRO:

My name is Dantro - the Planet Man. And I come in peace. I represent the League of Planets. And my mission is to bring all of you to Planeria Rex.

DARROW:

Planeria Rex? League of Planets?

JANE:

Where is that?

DANTRO:

I'll explain in a moment. But I don't think we should leave your brave friend Slats in this paralyzed predicament. He'll snap right out of it with a shot of this ray gun neutralizer.

SOUND:

RAY GUN NEUTRALIZER. SLATS FALLS TO FLOOR

SLATS:

(DAZED) Why, what happened? Did I get him?

ALL:

LAUGH

DARROW:

It's all right, Slats, we're all safe. It seems that we've met a friend, and his name is Dantro, the Planet Man.

DANTRO:

It's nice to meet a brave man like you, Slats. Here, let me help you up.

SOUND:

GRUNTS AS DANTRO HELPS SLATS UP

DARROW:

Dantro, my name is John Darrow. This is my daughter, and assistant, Pat.

PAT:

How do you do?

DARROW:

And, heh, I think you've already met Slats.

SLATS:

Yeah.

DARROW:

And these two are Jane and Billy, my niece and nephew.

BILLY:

Well, hi!

DANTRO:

It's a pleasure to know you all. You see, we've really known you for a long time, since we've been able to watch your experiments. In fact, we've been in touch with this entire trip of yours. We've even learned to speak your language.

DARROW:

But how could you do all that?

DANTRO:

We planet men have many devices which Earth has not yet discovered. One of them is the Cosmic Communicator, which enables us to see and hear across the millions of miles of space.

PAT:

But why have you kept the existence of the League of Planets from the Earth?

DARROW:

Where is Planeria Rex and why haven't I been able to chart its position?

DANTRO:

Everything will be explained to you in due time.

SOUND:

ALARM CONTINUES UNDER CONVERSATION

BILLY:

What's that noise?

DANTRO:

It's coming from my ship; we must hurry along. It's the Bogey Warning Oscillator telling us there are some unidentified ships approaching.

DARROW:

But we can't leave the Constitution!

SLATS:

Not Old Ironsides!

DANTRO:

Your ship will be safe in this orbit for a thousand years. We must not waste time!

BILLY:

Will I get a spacesuit like yours?

JANE:

Will you let me fly the ship?

DANTRO:

I see Earth children are no different from ours.

SOUND:

ALARM GROWS IN INTENSITY

DANTRO:

There's our last warning. Quick! Through the hatch into my ship The Planeteer!

MUSIC:

ORGAN

ANNCR:

What adventures lie ahead for the Earth people? What will they find on Planeria Rex? (STING) Whose ships are those approaching the helpless Constitution?

MUSIC:

ORGAN CHORDS BUILD TO CRESCENDO

ANNCR:

We'll be back in just a moment. But first, here is a message that Dantro the Planet Man wants you to hear.

(BREAK)

 

ORGAN:

THEME ESTABLISH

ANNCR:

Tune in again for more transcribed thrills and adventures! (STING) Find out what happens to the Earth people as they speed toward a new world on Planeria Rex! (ROCKET SOUND) Rocket millions of light years into space with Dantro The Planet Man!

ORGAN:

CHORD

ANNCR:

(WITH REVERB) The . . . Planet . . . Man!