Space_Patrol_52-11-08_006_The_City_of_the_Sun

Summary

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Summary of "Space Patrol: The City of the Sun"

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Date: February 16, 2026
Original Air Date: November 8, 1952 (Golden Age of Radio)

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Episode Overview

This thrilling episode of "Space Patrol," titled The City of the Sun, plunges listeners into interplanetary intrigue and peril on the planet Mercury. Commander Buzz Corey and Cadet Happy race against sabotage and extreme planetary conditions to uncover the fate of the missing Professor Mallison and protect the vital city of Solaria from disaster. Blending mystery, action, and classic 1950s sci-fi adventure, the episode emphasizes teamwork, the value of water, and the importance of scientific discovery in space exploration.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Highlights

1. The Sabotage at Solaria

• Introduction to Crisis: Solaria, Mercury’s sun-baked city, faces emergencies: a missing scientist (Professor Mallison) and a sudden attack on its crucial water supply line.
  • "Who's behind the sabotage, sir?" (Cadet Happy, 03:24)
• Mineral Rush Motive: Solaria's importance has surged due to valuable mineral finds nearby—making it a target for rivals.
  • "Solaria has suddenly become very important because of the mineral deposits that have been found about 60 miles south of the city." (Commander Corey, 03:32)
• Robot-Controlled Mining: Mercury’s extreme environment demands innovative mining, with robots controlled from Solaria and human teams in short shifts using spacesuits.
  • "With robot controlled mining equipment operated from Sol. And with spacesuits, a few technicians can work in two hour shifts on the mining site itself." (Commander Corey, 03:41)

2. Mallison’s Disappearance and the Grim Search

• The Rescue Mission: Commander Corey and Cadet Happy organize search units with advanced viewscope scanners to sweep the dark side of Mercury for Mallison.
  • "They'll comb the entire dark side of Mercury with infrared viewscope scanners." (Commander Corey, 03:59)
• Cryptic Signals: An automatic signal, with Mallison’s code and the extreme temperature reading of minus 122°F, is received—raising doubts about Mallison’s fate.
  • "It was his code all right. But it was an automatic signal... All they got was Mallison's identification code. And the temperature. 122 degrees below zero." (Commander Corey, 04:16–04:42)

3. Dramatic Confrontation With Saboteurs

• Water Main Incident: Corey’s crew spots a geyser of steam—revealing sabotage of Solaria’s water main, not a natural quake.
  • "I'll give you our position. Check it against the location of water conduits leading to the city." (Commander Corey, 05:15)
• Chase and Escalation: They discover tracks leading from the break to a camouflaged atomic drilling machine, confirming sabotage.
  • "They're tracks." (Commander Corey, 08:57)
• Attack and Narrow Escape: Confronted by the saboteurs in a monstrous atomic driller, Corey and Happy struggle in Mercury’s deadly heat, barely escaping as the machine tries to run them down.
  • "They're trying to run us down with the machine, Commander." (Cadet Happy, 01:14)
  • "Get to the ship, Happy. ... The driller is big, but it can turn like a cat." (Commander Corey, 01:16–01:21)

4. Turning the Tide: Discovery and Rescue

• Saboteurs Flee: The saboteurs, Burdock and Rolf, torch the driller to cover their tracks and blast off in a hidden spacecraft.
  • "Before we leave, I'm going to set a magnesium bomb and leave it in here. It'll make sure that this drill is useless to anybody else." (Burdock, 16:17)
• Mallison’s Miraculous Survival: Corey and Happy locate the crashed lab ship—and find a living Mallison sheltering in a natural ice cave beneath Mercury’s inferno.
  • "Commander, that's ice." (Professor Mallison, 22:56)
  • "That's how you manage to stay alive. It's cool in the cave." (Commander Corey, 23:04)
• Game-Changing Discovery: The presence of massive underground ice reserves means Solaria’s water problems could be solved, turning disaster into hope.
  • "Think how easily it could be melted and piped to Solaria. Only a matter of a few miles in comparison with the present haul of more than a thousand." (Professor Mallison, 23:23)

5. Final Confrontation & Resolution

• Saboteurs’ Last Stand: The villains attempt to destroy Corey, Happy, and Mallison by ramming the cave with their rocket exhaust—but are thwarted when the ship is ejected by steam, crashing and allowing the heroes to capture them.
  • "The heat from his rocket exhaust turned the ice into steam and it popped the ship out of the cave like a cork." (Commander Corey, 25:14)
• Theme of Water’s Value: The episode closes with the reflection that water, in the form of ice, saved the day in dramatic and ironic fashion.
  • "It saved Professor Mallison's life. And when those two fellas turned it into steam, it simply cooked their goose." (Cadet Happy, 25:36)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Atmospheric Tension:
  • "It's hard to run in these bulky suits. Maybe we can dodge the driller." – Cadet Happy (01:17)
  • "Don't try it unless you have to. That driller's big, but it can turn like a cat." – Commander Corey (01:21)
• Science Meets Survival:
  • "It's cool in the cave. ... with 570 degrees outside. Inside, it's a constant 122 below zero." – Professor Mallison (23:07)
• The Value of Water and Science:
  • "This is not a new phenomenon by any means. Why, on the planet Earth more than a thousand years ago, Indians in the Arizona desert used to get ice from a natural cavern such as this." – Professor Mallison (23:47)
• Humorous Wrap-Up:
  • "I've really realized what a wonderful thing water is. In the form of ice. ... it simply cooked their goose." – Cadet Happy (25:36)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:24] — Discussion of sabotage motives and Solaria’s mineral importance
• [04:06] — Analysis of Mallison’s mysterious radio signals
• [05:32] — Discovery and assessment of the sabotaged water conduit
• [08:55] — Detection of machine tracks and suspected sabotage
• [12:13] — The driller attacks Corey and Happy; narrow escape
• [17:02] — The saboteurs destroy the driller to cover their tracks
• [22:32] — Professor Mallison found alive in the ice cave
• [23:23] — Discussion of the life-changing nature of the ice find
• [24:47] — Saboteurs’ failed attempt to trap the heroes; ship ejected by steam
• [25:36] — Corey's and Happy's closing remarks about the value of water

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Conclusion

The City of the Sun delivers a classic Space Patrol adventure, complete with dangerous villains, scientific detective work, and an unforeseen geological miracle on Mercury. The episode showcases the era's optimistic faith in science and teamwork. The interplay between survival in extreme environments, the threat of sabotage, and the ultimate life-saving discovery of hidden water reserves is a testament to the creative radio storytelling of the 1950s.

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Transcript

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[Narrator]

Wheat checks, rice checks and good hot Ralston Present Space Patrol High adventure in the wild vast reaches of space. Missions of daring in the name of interplanetary justice. Travel into the future with Buzz Corey, Commander in Chief of the Space Space Patrol. In today's transcribed adventure, Buzz and Happy are in their spacesuits investigating a gigantic six wheeled atomic digging machine on the planet Mercury.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

As they walk across the deeply cracked.

[Narrator]

Ground in 300 degree heat, the huge machine starts moving toward them with increasing speed.

[Cadet Happy]

They're trying to run us down with the machine, Commander.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Get to the ship, Happy.

[Cadet Happy]

It's hard to run in these bulky suits. Maybe we can dodge the driller.

[Narrator]

Don't try it.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

The driller is big, but it can turn like a cat.

[Cadet Happy]

It's gaining on us.

[Burdock]

Don't look back. Run.

[Grove]

Hey, Cap.

[Burdock]

On your feet.

[Grove]

My foot's caught in the crevice.

[Lieutenant R.]

Give me your hand.

[Narrator]

No. You, sir.

[Grove]

I can't get loose. I'm caught. Commander, get away please, while you can. The driller's almost on top of us.

[Narrator]

We'll be back in just a moment with today's Space Patrol story. The City of the Sun. Hey gang, listen to this poor old rocket ship here at the Lunar Fleet Base. You know what the trouble is? That rocket's trying to run on ordinary fuel. Now here's that same rocket ship loaded with super fuel. Now that's what I call a real blast off. And boys and girls, to get a bright and snappy start, you need super fuel too. Especially in the morning. So start your day with a breakfast that's super. Supercharges you a nourishing breakfast with a checkerboard super cereal like Rice Chex Triple Crisp. Rice Chex Triple Crisp because it's toasted three times. And oh boy is Rice Chex delicious. Makes breakfast sparkle. That's how good it is. Rice Chex. Golden shredded rice biscuits in that modern bite sized design for easy eating. So remember, gang, to start off bright and snappy in the morning, eat a nourishing breakfast with a checkerboard super cereal and get supercharged. Today. Try your spoon out on rice checks. Commander Corey and Cadet Happy are on the planet Mercury organizing space patrol units into a search for Professor Mallison, whose spaceship vanished on the dark side of the planet. But now a second emergency on another part of Mercury sends Buzz and Happy racing to the hot side of the tiny planet. To Solaria, the city of the Sun.

[Cadet Happy]

Who's behind the sabotage, sir?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

I don't know, Happy. That's what we've got to find out. But I've got a pretty good idea what the motive is. What's that, sir? Solaria has suddenly become very important because of the mineral deposits that have been found about 60 miles south of the city.

[Burdock]

South?

[Cadet Happy]

That means it's hotter than the Solaria area. How do they work it?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

With robot controlled mining equipment operated from Sol. And with spacesuits, a few technicians can work in two hour shifts on the mining site itself.

[Cadet Happy]

Oh, and whoever sabotaged the power plant doesn't want those mining operations to continue.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Probably cuts into their own source of revenue.

[Cadet Happy]

I suppose. This is more important, but I sure would have liked to locate Professor Mallison first.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

We've got the search units well organized, Happy. They'll comb the entire dark side of Mercury with infrared viewscope scanners.

[Cadet Happy]

Do you think the professor could still be alive, sir?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

He's been missing over four days. That would be a long time to hold out in sub zero temperature on the dark side of the planet.

[Cadet Happy]

How about the spaceophone signal picked up yesterday, though? That was from Mallison, wasn't it?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

It was his code all right. But it was an automatic signal. It could have been sent from one of the small rockets Mallison had aboard his ship. When released, it automatically sends back information on cosmic radiation, temperature and Rectory's own magnetic field.

[Cadet Happy]

That's what Mallinson was studying.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Yes. Even if you locate the rocket, it wouldn't mean it's anywhere near Mallison's ship. A commercial spaceship picked the signal up briefly, just for a few seconds. All they got was Mallison's identification code. And the temperature. 122 degrees below zero.

[Cadet Happy]

Which could mean that Mallison released the rocket several days ago. And it landed on the dark side of the planet. Right, Commander.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

What's that?

[Cadet Happy]

It looks like steam shooting out of the ground down there. Looks like a geyser.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Geyser on the hot side of Mercury. Happy, check our exact position. I don't like the looks of this.

[Cadet Happy]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

I'll call Solaria Space control. Corian Terra 5 to Space Control. Solaria Corian Terra 5 to Space Control, Solaria.

[Lieutenant R.]

Space Control. Solaria to Commander Corey. Lieutenant or is here.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Lieutenant, I'm flying low northeast of Solaria. My cadet and I have sighted something that looks like steam shooting out of the ground.

[Lieutenant R.]

Steam, Commander?

[Burdock]

Yes.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

I'll give you our position. Check it against the location of water conduits leading to the city.

[Lieutenant R.]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Happy, got the data?

[Professor Mallison]

Yes, sir.

[Cadet Happy]

We're 10 degrees, 27 minutes, 48 seconds south by 112 degrees, 51 minutes, 08 seconds east.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Got that, Lieutenant?

[Lieutenant R.]

Yes, sir. I'll check it against the chart.

[Cadet Happy]

Commander, do you suppose it is a broken conduit?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

I don't know what else it could be, Happy. Possibly a corporate wake broke the pipe.

[Lieutenant R.]

Commander. It looks like a broken conduit all right. Solaria's main water supply line runs right through that point from melting and pumping station number three on the cold side of Mercury.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Better check with Solaria Water Control. See if they've noticed a drop in pressure.

[Lieutenant R.]

Yes, sir. Thanks for telling us. If that's a bad break, we'll be in a tough spot here.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Is there a seismograph in Solarium?

[Lieutenant R.]

I believe there is, sir.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

I suggest you check the city engineering office. Have them contact other cities on the planet and see if there's been a quake in this area.

[Lieutenant R.]

Yes, Commander.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

We'll circle this vicinity to see if any further trouble develops. Report back when you get the information. Cory out.

[Cadet Happy]

From the looks of that ground down there, they must have a lot of quakes in this region.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

You mean those deep cracks? Well, those were formed millions of years ago, Happy, when Mercury first began to dry out under the terrific heat.

[Cadet Happy]

Yeah, but with one side of the planet covered with ice and the other side with blistering heat, well, wouldn't there.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Be a lot of quakes? As far as I know, there hasn't been a serious one reported in recent years. We'll keep circling till we hear from Solarium.

[Cadet Happy]

Can we?

[Rolf]

Take it easy, Burdock. This is pretty rough ground.

[Burdock]

These atomic drillers weren't made for comfort growth. And I want to get plenty of distance between us and that broken water conduit.

[Rolf]

We want 70 with.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

If we hit one of those cracks.

[Rolf]

At the speed will tip open.

[Burdock]

Just quit worrying. We're riding on six wheels and each of them are 20ft in diameter. And every wheel has its own power drive. I think we're in more danger of being spotted by a space patrol ship than we are of upsetting this monster.

[Rolf]

What do we do with the driller when we get to our spaceship?

[Burdock]

We just leave it? It's pretty well camouflaged to blend in with this cracked yellow ground here. We can find it again if we need it.

[Rolf]

You aren't planning to drill any more holes in the Solaria water supply, are you?

[Burdock]

No, not right. But this job will cause plenty of trouble.

[Rolf]

You think they'll be able to repair?

[Burdock]

Probably. But with things like this happening, trouble with power and water arrival companies are going to think twice about using Solari as a base of operations.

[Narrator]

Hey, Burdock, watch it. This nearly tipped us over.

[Burdock]

Only just three legs drove. We're almost to the ship.

[Cadet Happy]

Well, sir, it looks like the conduit broke in just that one place.

[Professor Mallison]

That's lucky.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

But even at that, it'll take several hours to get many equipment out here to repair it.

[Lieutenant R.]

Space Control Solaria calling Commander Corey aboard Terra 5.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Corey here. Go ahead, Lieutenant.

[Lieutenant R.]

A maintenance crew is getting ready to leave Solaria now, Commander. They know the location.

[Rolf]

Good.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

We'll head for Solarium. What about the seismograph reports?

[Lieutenant R.]

No quakes have been detected anywhere on Mercury, sir. The chief engineer doesn't understand how that conduit could have broken.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

How's your water supply?

[Lieutenant R.]

Pressure has dropped to less than a quarter of normal, sir. We're already on a strict water rationing. Nearly all industries have been ordered to shut down for 24 hours.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Will it take that long to repair the damage?

[Lieutenant R.]

At least. Oh, Commander. Colonel Henderson. I thought you might be interested in a report on Professor Mallison.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Yes, I am. Have they found him?

[Lieutenant R.]

No, sir. But another automatic signal was picked up by a cargo ship. Apparently from a grounded instrument rocket. It isn't much help.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

What do you mean?

[Lieutenant R.]

It's sending inaccurate information. The cargo ship pilot got a rough fix before the signal stopped. It's on the hot side of Mercury, but the Temperature data was 122 degrees below zero.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Same as the other report. The sending mechanism must have been damaged when the rocket landed.

[Lieutenant R.]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Thanks, Lieutenant. I'll contact you when we reach Solaria. Cory out. All right. Happy, get on. Beck for Solaria.

[Cadet Happy]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Hey, wait a minute. Look down there on the ground.

[Cadet Happy]

What is it, Commander?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

See those gouges? A sort of crisscross pattern?

[Cadet Happy]

Yeah, two rows of them.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

They're tracks.

[Cadet Happy]

What would make tracks that far apart?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Some heavy earth moving machinery probably.

[Cadet Happy]

Oh, from when the conduit was laid.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

I don't think so. Focus the viewscope toward the steam spout.

[Cadet Happy]

There.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

See it? Tracks end right near the place where the break is.

[Cadet Happy]

Hey, that's right.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Follow those tracks. In the other direction. Happy.

[Cadet Happy]

Hey, they lead away from Solaria.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Makes them interesting. Any surface equipment out here would be more likely to come from Solaria than anywhere else. We're gonna find out where those tracks lead.

[Burdock]

Just a few minutes more, Grove. Our ship's on the other side of the jagged butte.

[Rolf]

She'll be glad to get out of this villa.

[Burdock]

You're mighty peculiar, aren't you? You don't like spaceships either.

[Rolf]

Who says I don't?

[Burdock]

Well, didn't you get space sick the other day? Or was it because I shot down that lab ship?

[Rolf]

You shouldn't have done that, Burdock. He wasn't bothering us. He was on some scientific mission.

[Burdock]

Well, it's just too bad. He came snooping around just as we blasted off from our hideout.

[Rolf]

We didn't have a chance.

[Burdock]

Don't be so squeamy. By acting quickly, we probably kept the space patrol from spotting us near the power relay station and. What's the matter? Reduce.

[Cadet Happy]

Come.

[Rolf]

It's a ship.

[Burdock]

Yeah. It's flying low right toward us.

[Rolf]

Think they see us?

[Burdock]

I don't know.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Why'd you stop the driller?

[Burdock]

Because if we're moving, they might spud us. But with the sides and top of the drill camouflage, they might not notice.

[Rolf]

They went right over.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

It's a space patrol ship.

[Burdock]

They must have spotted the break in the water line.

[Rolf]

But why were they going so slow?

[Burdock]

How do I know? We'll just sit tight and see what they're up to.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Happy, look down there. The tracks stop.

[Cadet Happy]

It's hard to tell. The ground must be packed. Almost as hard as concrete in some places.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

I'll circle back. Use a viewscope scanner.

[Burdock]

Yes.

[Cadet Happy]

Uh. Oh. Hey, there is something down there. A hump of something. A small hill maybe.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Now look closer. Did you ever see a hill on wheels?

[Cadet Happy]

Yeah, I can see it now. It's a big piece of machinery and it's camouflaged.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Happy, get our spacesuits out of the locker. I'm setting the ship down.

[Burdock]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Check the refrigeration units and the suits carefully. We're gonna be walking around in oven temperature down there.

[Rolf]

They must have seen us. Why would they land their ship clear out here?

[Burdock]

Just take it easy, Rolf. We're safe in the driller. Nobody could get in unless we open the door.

[Rolf]

Somebody's getting out of the ship.

[Burdock]

Two men.

[Rolf]

Hey, that's Stera five.

[Burdock]

Come into Corey ship.

[Rolf]

If we don't open up, Corey will go back to a ship and report us. They'll send a crew out here with cutting Torches.

[Burdock]

If Corey gets back to the ship.

[Rolf]

How can we stop him?

[Burdock]

We'll stop him, all right. You just wait and see. Wow.

[Cadet Happy]

Now that we're on the ground, that machine looks enormous.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

It's an atomic driller, Happy. The camouflage covers the drill part, but it's built to cover the toughest kind of terrain and drill through solid rock.

[Cadet Happy]

Then that's what happened to the water conduit. Drilling into the main would be simple.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

For that machine that looks that way. Have your gun ready, Happy. Whoever's in there probably won't be too eager to answer questions.

[Cadet Happy]

Hey, Commander, it's moving.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

We're making a getaway. Get back to the ship, Happy.

[Cadet Happy]

Yes, sir. Commander is coming toward us.

[Narrator]

Run, Happy.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

They're trying to run us down.

[Cadet Happy]

It's hard to run in these bulky space suits. Maybe we can dodge the driller.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Don't try it unless you have to. That driller's big, but it can turn like a cat.

[Cadet Happy]

The ground's so full of cracks and ditches.

[Grove]

Commander, it's gaining on us.

[Burdock]

Don't look back.

[Narrator]

Run.

[Cadet Happy]

Hey.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

On your feet.

[Professor Mallison]

Quick.

[Narrator]

My foot's caught in the crevice.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Give me your hand.

[Burdock]

Run for it.

[Cadet Happy]

Commander.

[Narrator]

They can't get both of us.

[Grove]

You've got to get away.

[Burdock]

No.

[Lieutenant R.]

Give me your hand.

[Grove]

Hap. No.

[Narrator]

You.

[Grove]

Sir. I'm fought. Commander, look out. The ruler's right on top of us. You've got to leave me.

[Narrator]

We'll be back with Space Patrol in just a moment.

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[Burdock]

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[Commander Buzz Corey]

Shh. Space patroller dick 2 felt gang. I've got a secret for you. Wait till I close the door.

[Narrator]

Okay, now here's a secret. Buzz Corey wants you to know about the secret of how Space Patrollers get a rip roaring start in the morning. Now here's what they do. They eat a breakfast that supercharges them a good breakfast with one of the three checkerboard super cereals. Rice Chex, Wheat Chex and Instant Roston Chex. They're the super cereals with that modern bite sized design. The cereals with a swell new taste you'll like right off the Reel. And to warm up your motor, there's instant Ralston. The hot super cereal has a heart of the wheat flavor that you'll really warm up to. So now you know how space patrollers get that rip roaring morning start. Get a flying start yourself every morning, gang. Sit down to a nourishing breakfast with a checkerboard super cereal and get supercharged. Rice checks. Wheat checks good Hot Roston. The super cereals.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Flying low above the hot side of.

[Narrator]

The planet Mercury, Buzz and Happy have sighted a gigantic atomic drilling machine.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

The driller is driven by Burdick and Groff, who have bored a hole in.

[Narrator]

The water conduit leading to Solaria, a city in the sun baked mercury desert. Buzz and Happy dons spacesuits to investigate a cleverly camouflaged drilling machine. Suddenly, the driller started up, rolling across the cracked and fissured earth on its six giant wheels. Happy caught his foot in a large crack in the ground. And now as Buzz tries to pull Happy free, the enormous driller roars down upon them.

[Cadet Happy]

It's no use, sir.

[Grove]

It's still right after it. It's dive into that crevice quickly.

[Cadet Happy]

Yes.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Happy, are you all right?

[Cadet Happy]

I guess so, sir. I'm half buried in the dirt.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Don't move yet. Stay down in the crevice until the driller's out of sight. We don't want them coming back to finish the job.

[Cadet Happy]

I sure thought we were goners when that big thing thundered over us.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

We're lucky to find the crevice deep enough.

[Cadet Happy]

They're still going, I guess.

[Burdock]

Yeah.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Fortunately they didn't stop to wreck our ship. That means they're sure they crushed us under the wheels.

[Cadet Happy]

The driller's completely out of sight now, sir.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

All right, into the ship. Happy, we won't take time to get out of these suits till after we blast off and start our search for that drilling machine.

[Burdock]

Well, here we are.

[Rolf]

Here's your spacesuit, Burdock. Get into it. Let's get to the ship.

[Burdock]

I see you already.

[Rolf]

Yeah, all but the face piece.

[Burdock]

You know, sometimes I get the impression you don't enjoy riding in a driller.

[Rolf]

But the funny stuff.

[Narrator]

Let's get out of here.

[Rolf]

How do we know Corey didn't send a space phone message before he got out of his ship?

[Burdock]

You're right, Grove. But before we leave, I'm going to set a magnesium bomb and leave it in here.

[Rolf]

What for?

[Burdock]

It'll make sure that this drill is useless to anybody else. And it'll leave this cabin such a mess that the Space Patrol can't find any fingerprints.

[Rolf]

All right, all right. But let's get at it.

[Cadet Happy]

There's something up ahead, sir. Looks like smoke.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

You're right, Happy. It's the drilling machine that's on fire.

[Cadet Happy]

It's not moving. Do you suppose whoever was in it got out?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Let's hope so. Wait a minute. By the color of the smoke, that must be magnesium. It must have been deliberately started to wreck the control mechanism.

[Cadet Happy]

But where's the driver?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Take a look at that scorched area on the ground a few yards from the driller.

[Cadet Happy]

A blast off Scar.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Our driller operator, had a spaceship hidden here. Turn on the view scope, Happy. Maybe you can pick up a trace of him now. Contact Space Control Solaria. Commander Corey aboard Terra 5 calling Space Control Solaria. Commander Corey calling Space Control Solaria.

[Lieutenant R.]

This is Space Control Solaria, Commander. Lieutenant R. Speaking.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Lieutenant, relay this bulletin to all Mercury Space Patrol units.

[Lieutenant R.]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

A spaceship of unknown type just blasted off from the vicinity of the broken water conduit. Interrogate all spaceborne private craft. Ground all suspicious ships and hold the occupants.

[Lieutenant R.]

I'll relay that message, Commander. Can you give any sort of description of the ship?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

No. We merely saw the blast off Scar. Looked like it was from a small space cruiser. That water main break was deliberately sabotaged. An atomic driller did the job.

[Lieutenant R.]

Atomic driller?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Yes, we found it abandoned near the break. Tell Colonel Henderson I want investigators sent out to examine it. They'll need firefighting equipment.

[Lieutenant R.]

Yes, sir. Make an immediate check of all known.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Atomic drilling machines on Mercury, where they are and who has them.

[Lieutenant R.]

Yes, Commander.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

How's the water situation in Solarium?

[Lieutenant R.]

It's even more serious than we thought, sir. We're setting up cargo ships to bring some in from other cities. Oh, Commander. A Venus bomb passenger ship reported seeing a wrecked lampship south of Solaria. The pilot thought it might be Professor Mallison's ship.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

South of Solaria.

[Narrator]

How far south?

[Lieutenant R.]

15 du, sir.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

That's the hottest part of the planet. Even if the ship wasn't badly damaged by the crash, it looks bad for Mallison.

[Lieutenant R.]

The same passenger ship also picked up Mallison's automatic coat, sir. And another temperature report. 122 degrees below zero.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Below zero? That seems impossible. Have you sent any units to investigate?

[Lieutenant R.]

Not yet, sir. Colonel Henderson.

[Burdock]

Yes?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

I know you've got problems of your own, Lieutenant. Give me the location of that crashed ship. I'll investigate it myself.

[Lieutenant R.]

And 87 degrees, 16 minutes, 43 seconds west.

[Rolf]

But I suppose that's a ship you shot down.

[Burdock]

Shut up. In. I got their frequencies. Both of them.

[Lieutenant R.]

Got it, Lieutenant. One more thing, Commander. The passenger ship pilot isn't sure, but he thought he saw something moving near the crashed ship. It doesn't seem likely. No, it doesn't. But I'll get there as quickly as I can.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Cory out.

[Rolf]

Cory alive?

[Burdock]

Yeah. It was somebody else we ran over with the driller. Got it off.

[Rolf]

That is the first ship you shot down. And there's someone still alive.

[Burdock]

There could be.

[Narrator]

That was four days ago.

[Burdock]

And even in the best space suit made, nobody could live four days in that heat.

[Rolf]

What are we gonna do?

[Burdock]

Going to make sure. Maybe we can get there before Corey does. And if not, we'll cut Corey's investigation short.

[Rolf]

Burdock, maybe we didn't kill those men with a driller. Maybe it was Corey and somebody else.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

And they escaped somehow.

[Burdock]

Well, if he did, he wouldn't escape this time. You marked down those coordinates, didn't you?

[Rolf]

Yeah, yeah, right here.

[Burdock]

All right, I'll take the controls. You get on the view scope. We don't want to get close to another ship, especially Corey's.

[Cadet Happy]

We're nearly to the location, sir.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Drop her down a few thousand feet, Ham.

[Rolf]

Yes, sir.

[Cadet Happy]

This part of Mercury looks even worse than where we were before. Rougher terrain.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Yes, and it's even hotter. Close to 500 degrees. Now listen. Get that down, Hap.

[Rolf]

Yes, sir.

[Cadet Happy]

MLS 28.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Mercury lab ship 28. That's Malison's identification code.

[Cadet Happy]

Temperature minus 1 2, 2 degrees. Hey, it cut out.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Minus one hundred and twenty two degrees. I got a fixing that signal, Happy. It's almost directly below us.

[Burdock]

Look.

[Cadet Happy]

It's a cracked up ship all right. A lab job, too.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Get your spacesuit on, Happy.

[Burdock]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Whatever we do, we've got to do it fast.

[Cadet Happy]

Hey, Commander, down there by that cliff. It's a man in a spacesuit.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

That's incredible. He's waving to us. Stand by for repeller rain.

[Rolf]

At the lab ship.

[Burdock]

All right.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Even in the view scope you can.

[Rolf]

See it's pretty badly smashed up.

[Burdock]

Yeah, but we're too late. Khoury ship is landing right near it.

[Rolf]

What do we do?

[Burdock]

We'll probably go in to find what's left of Melusine. When he does, we'll swoop down and bless the wreckage. And then shoot up terrified.

[Rolf]

Better not get so low, Burdock. They may see us.

[Burdock]

There is not much they can do about it anyway. I'm keeping between them and the sun. Nobody's going to look up at the sun. Especially here on Mercury.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Wait A minute.

[Rolf]

They're running right past the ship.

[Narrator]

Where are they going?

[Burdock]

Oh, maybe seeing something close to the cliff.

[Rolf]

But it's a man.

[Narrator]

And he's alive.

[Burdock]

After four days in the blessed furnace down there. It's impossible.

[Rolf]

Keep it yourself.

[Burdock]

Must be Millicent. We've got to make sure that none of them. Get out of here. Get your spacesuits on, Grove.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

We aren't going to land?

[Burdock]

Not unless we have to. But I'm going to make sure that all three of them are finished before we leave.

[Rolf]

Here.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Check your suit. Spacer phone.

[Cadet Happy]

Happy. That's working okay, sir. And so is the temperature control.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

We'll need it. All right. Open the outer hatch.

[Cadet Happy]

Mallison's acting pretty strange, sir. He just stands over there and motions to us instead of coming toward us.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

It's hardly a normal way to greet rescue. Let's see if the spacesuit transmitter is working. Professor Mallison, this is Commander Corey. Can you read me?

[Cadet Happy]

He's just waving, more excited than ever.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Professor, if you hear me, hold both hands over your head.

[Cadet Happy]

He's doing it.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Apparently he can hear us, but his transmitter's out.

[Cadet Happy]

I thought I heard something in the earphones, just for a second. In another voice.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Professor, is there some reason why you want us to come over there? If there is, hold your hands straight out at your sides.

[Cadet Happy]

Yeah, that's what he wants us to do.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

We better do as he asks. How did he manage to survive in this heat?

[Cadet Happy]

Commander, it's a cave.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Yeah, I see.

[Professor Mallison]

Commander, can you hear me now?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Yes, Professor.

[Professor Mallison]

My spaceophone wasn't working, so I couldn't answer you. Commander, you've got to look at this.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

It's a happy surprise to find you alive, Professor. That spacesuit must be remarkably resistant to heat.

[Professor Mallison]

It isn't the suit that's responsible. Just look in here where the beam for my Atomo light is shining.

[Cadet Happy]

It just looks like an ordinary cave.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Further back. Look at the walls. Mean that shiny blue black mineral.

[Professor Mallison]

Commander, that's ice.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Ice? In this part of Mercury.

[Professor Mallison]

Right. Thousands of tons of it. Perhaps millions.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

That's how you manage to stay alive. It's cool in the cave.

[Professor Mallison]

Yes, with 570 degrees outside. Inside, it's a constant 122 below zero.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

And your automatic rocket transmitter was right.

[Professor Mallison]

Commander, do you realize what this underground ice means to Mercury? To the people of Solaria in particular?

[Commander Buzz Corey]

You mentioned millions of tons of conservative estimates.

[Professor Mallison]

Think how easily it could be melted and piped to Solaria. Only a matter of a few miles in comparison with the present haul of More than a thousand.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

It certainly is a timely discovery. Dozens of conduits can be built from here to Solaria at a fraction of the cost of the one line that was broken.

[Cadet Happy]

A spaceship? Yeah, it must be a space patrol craft.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Let's get to our ship. Professor, believe me, this news will be welcome in Solaria.

[Cadet Happy]

Well, what I don't understand is how all this ice could be underground. In the hot part of Mercury, the.

[Professor Mallison]

Rock above insulates it. This is not a new phenomenon by any means. Why, on the planet Earth more than a thousand years ago, Indians in the Arizona desert used to get ice from a natural cavern such as this.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Wait a minute. That's not a space patrol ship. It's a private cruiser.

[Cadet Happy]

You're right, sir. It's taxiing around on Repeller Ray.

[Professor Mallison]

I've seen that ship before. It's the one that shot my lab ship down.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Are you sure?

[Professor Mallison]

I'm positive.

[Cadet Happy]

Hey, what's a crazy fool doing? He's backing the ship right toward the cave.

[Professor Mallison]

Better get out of here or he'll run over us.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

He's got something worse than that in mind. He's seen us and doesn't want us to get out.

[Cadet Happy]

Well, maybe he's just backing up to get room to blast off between here and the opposite wall of the canyon.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Up in your life. Quickly. Get out of the cave. He's gonna put his stern in here and turn on his rocket blast. It's lucky we saw him in time to get out of the cave. I get behind this rock, maybe he won't see us from the ship.

[Cadet Happy]

Hey, you're right, Commander. He's pushing. Pushing the tail of his ship back in the cave with blasts from his forward rocket.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Really intends to see that we don't.

[Professor Mallison]

Get away from here.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

But keep close to the rock. I think we'll be safe here.

[Cadet Happy]

Hey, he's keeping his forward rockets on to hold the ship in the cave.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Something tells me he's going to regret this. Wow.

[Cadet Happy]

The ship wrecked.

[Professor Mallison]

He shot right across the canyon into the opposite wall.

[Cadet Happy]

His hand must have slipped off the controls.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

No Happy, the heat from his rocket exhaust turned the ice into steam and it popped the ship out of the cave like a cork.

[Professor Mallison]

We'd better get over there, Commander. They may be badly hurt.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

If they haven't got spacesuits on, they haven't a chance.

[Cadet Happy]

Commander, I see somebody getting out. Yeah, there are two of them.

[Professor Mallison]

And they do have spacesuits on.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Let's get them. By their attitude, I don't think we'll.

[Cadet Happy]

Have any trouble no, sir. You know, during the last few minutes, sir, I've really realized what a wonderful thing.

[Narrator]

Water.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Is that so?

[Cadet Happy]

Yes, sir. In the form of ice. It saved Professor Mallison's life. And when those two fellas turned it into steam, it simply cooked their goose.

[Narrator]

An exciting preview of next week's new Space Patrol adventure. After this important question. Have you sent for your Space Patrol Spaceophone yet? You better hurry. Yes, sir. This sensational offer is soon going to end. And you don't want to be left without one of these thrilling new spaceophone sets, do you? No siree. So hurry. More fun. You can talk back and forth on the Spaceophone to someone a straight 50ft away. Just like talking on the telephone. Complete with two spaceophones, 50ft of communication cord and secret briefing sheet. Now remember, these are official spaceophones made especially for you on Earth. Real beauties too. Gleaming blue and yellow plastic. Look exactly like the spaceophones Buzz Corey and the gang use. So don't wait a single day. Hurry. Yes, sir. You have to hurry because this offer soon comes to an end. To get the complete Space Patrol Spaceophone set, do this. Buy a box of Instant Ralston. Then with your name and address, send 25 cents in coin and an instant Ralston box top to Space Patrol, Box 686-St. Louis, Missouri. This offer good only in continental US and may be withdrawn at any time. That's space patrol, box 686-St. Louis, Missouri. And now for a preview of next week's exciting Space Patrol story. Buzz and Happy have just entered a spaceship in Neptune City spaceport in search of a traitor against the United Planets. They pause in the open hatch a moment.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

He may be up forward tampering with the controls.

[Rolf]

Wrong.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Yes, Gentlemen.

[Cadet Happy]

Commander, look out.

[Burdock]

Here we are, Cadet.

[Rolf]

I've got a ray gun.

[Cadet Happy]

Yeah, well I've got a.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Cardo. Put down that gun. Don't try to get to your feet, Commander. What are you doing in this ship? Preparing it for its last voyage.

[Rolf]

There's an explosive hidden aboard.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Time to go off. Two hours after blast off. And you, my friend, we'll be aboard.

[Narrator]

Be sure to be with us next Saturday for the exciting story the Queen of Space.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Boys and girls, this is your commander. Do you know how life giving oxygen is carried to the cells of the body by the bloodstream? So when a person loses a great deal of blood in an accident or in sickness, there's not enough blood left to do that job. Result, the person dies. So, will you help me save lives by joining the Space Patrol? Blood boosters it's fun. It's patriotic. So join the Space Patrol blood boosters today.

[Narrator]

Space Patrol, an original Mike Moser production, starring Ed Kimmer as Commander Corey and Lynn Osborne as Cadet Happy, was written by Lou Houston and directed by Larry Robertson. Other players were Ken Mayer and Norman Jolly. Dick Tufeld speaking.

[Commander Buzz Corey]

Now.

[Narrator]

Don't forget to tune in next Saturday and every Saturday when Wheat Chex Rice checks and Good Hot Ralston again present the new, exciting Space Patrol. And be sure to see another exciting Space Patrol story on your local ABC television station. Consult your local paper for time and channel. Space Patrol comes to you Transcribed From Hollywood this is ABC Radio Network.

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