Manhunt (Captain Scarlet episode)

"Manhunt" is the fourth episode of the Supermarionation television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. It was the fifth episode to be produced. Its original UK air date was October 20, 1967 on ATV Midlands. It was written by Tony Barwick and directed by Alan Perry.

Synopsis

Spectrum launches a ground search for Captain Black after he becomes detectable on long-range Geiger counters.

Plot

The Culver Atomic Centre has been infiltrated by Captain Black, who is forced to make a getaway through a radioactive area after he is discovered by security staff. He is exposed to a short-life atomic isotope, which makes him detectable on long-range Geiger counters for a period of 48 hours. Spectrum, which now has proof that Black has been a Mysteron agent since the Zero-X mission's return to Earth, begins a ground search with Geiger-dish-fitted trucks to capture him.

In the search area around the atomic centre, Black murders a filling station mechanic to access a concealed SPV. When Captains Scarlet and Blue arrive to requisition the vehicle, they encounter the Mysteron reconstruction of the mechanic, who tries to kill them but is disposed of by Scarlet.

The Spectrum trucks detect Black's trace as he speeds down a highway in the SPV. Captain Ochre mounts a roadblock to stop him, but Black is warned of the obstruction by the Mysteron voice and ordered to return to the Culver Atomic Centre, where he will be undetectable to Spectrum from within the surrounding radiation. Symphony Angel, who sighted the SPV from the air, lands her interceptor nearby. She is abducted by Black, who crashes the atomic centre's gates to gain entry to the complex.

By night, the Spectrum forces have converged on the atomic centre. Inside, Black forces Symphony into an isolation chamber and subjects his hostage to lethal radiation, but eventually decides to spare her life. Instead, he forces Symphony to drive out of the atomic centre in the SPV – while Scarlet and the other officers pursue the vehicle, believing that Black is the driver, the entrance to the complex is unguarded, allowing Black to go through a cleansing facility to rid himself of his radiation before making his escape. Symphony soon crashes the SPV and Spectrum finds that it has been fooled.

Cast

Regular voice cast

• Captain Scarlet — Francis Matthews
• Captain Blue — Ed Bishop
• Colonel White — Donald Gray
• Lieutenant Green — Cy Grant
• Captain Ochre — Jeremy Wilkin
• Captain Grey — Paul Maxwell
• Symphony Angel — Janna Hill
• Captain Black / Voice of the Mysterons — Donald Gray

Guest voice cast

In speaking order:

• Harris — Charles Tingwell
• Richards — Gary Files
• Guard — Paul Maxwell
• Guard Voice 1 — Jeremy Wilkin
• Guard Voice 2 — David Healy
• Geiger Operator — David Healy
• Mechanic — Gary Files
• Security Chief — Martin King

Notes

• The music heard on the mechanic's radio in the scene when he is murdered by Black was originally the title music for Gerry Anderson's 1960 film Crossroads to Crime.
• Black's release of Symphony in this episode marks one of the few occasions in the series in which his moral values overcome the Mysterons' influence over his body.
• Spectrum makes a second attempt to apprehend Black in the episode "Treble Cross", which features a flashback from this episode.

References

External links

• Fanderson.org.uk - Captain Scarlet Episode Guide - "Manhunt"
• TV.com - Captain Scarlet Episode Guide - "Manhunt"
• Clivebanks.co.uk - Captain Scarlet Episode Guide