Codename Europa

"Codename Europa" is the 30th episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by their company Century 21 Productions. Written by David Lee and directed by Alan Perry, it was first broadcast on 21 March 1968 on Granada Television.[1]

"Codename Europa"
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons episode
Episode no.Episode 30
Directed byAlan Perry
Written byDavid Lee
Cinematography byJulien Lugrin
Editing byJohn Beaton
Production codeSCA 25[1]
Original air date21 March 1968
Guest character voices
President Olafson
1st Vandon Base Guard
2nd Vandon Base Guard
Professor Gabriel Carney
Security Centre Guard

In this episode, the Mysterons kill and reconstruct an electronics professor as part of a plot to assassinate the Triumvirate of Europe, the three most powerful politicians on Earth after the World President.

Plot

The Mysterons (voiced by Donald Gray) vow to assassinate the Triumvirate of Europe, made up of Presidents Conrad Olafson, John Henderson and Joseph Meccini – the three most powerful politicians on Earth after the World President. Travelling to the rural bungalow of electronics professor Gabriel Carney, Captain Black (voiced by Donald Gray) uses a sniper rifle to shoot dead the professor, who is then reconstructed by the Mysterons to carry out their threat.

To protect the Triumvirate, Spectrum moves each member to a different secure facility. Driving to Vandon Maximum Security Base, which contains Olafson, the reconstructed Carney sets up a loudspeaker system to blare out sounds of machine guns and tanks to fool the guards into thinking that the base is under attack. As the Angel squadron bomb the surrounding forest, Carney cuts through the base's wire fence and drops a bomb in an air vent that he thinks leads to Olafson's underground quarters, not knowing that the vent is actually a dummy. The resulting explosion destroys the base above ground but leaves Olafson untouched.

Some time later, the body of the original Carney is discovered. When word reaches Cloudbase that a second Carney has been spotted, Colonel White (voiced by Donald Gray) realises that the professor has been taken over by the Mysterons and dispatches Captains Scarlet and Blue (voiced by Francis Matthews and Ed Bishop) to Carney's home, where the officers discover a mysterious note reading "123 OHM". Scarlet deduces that this is Carney's timetable: he targeted President Olafson first, so Henderson is second and Meccini third.

Returning to their Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle, Scarlet and Blue locate Carney's car and chase the professor as he speeds to the facility containing Henderson. Carney activates an electronic device that disrupts the SPV's viewing monitor, forcing Scarlet and Blue off the road. Reaching the facility, Scarlet and Blue find themselves and Henderson cut off after Carney flies a specially-adapted toy plane overhead, jamming radio transmissions in the area, and then uses a grenade to blow up the electricity supply, plunging the facility into darkness. Carney dons night-vision goggles to avoid the disorientated security guards and makes his way to Henderson's quarters armed with a gun. However, as he enters the room, he fails to spot a tripwire placed by Scarlet and Blue, stumbles over it and is shot dead by Scarlet. Scarlet and Blue note the irony of an expert being defeated by one of the most basic security measures.

Production

David Lee's script indicated that the original Professor Carney designed the security systems at Spectrum's maximum security facilities.[1][2][3] The script also included unfilmed scenes in which Carney's reconstruction disposes of the original's body by using a remote-controlled lawn mower to dump it in a pond.[1][2][3]

The puppet that plays Carney first appeared as Captain Brown in "The Mysterons".[1] It was fitted with a specially-sculpted "grimacing" head for the scene in which Carney is murdered by Captain Black.[3][4]

Some of the set pieces for Carney's bungalow were recycled from the films Thunderbirds Are Go (1966) and Thunderbird 6 (1968).[1][4]

References
  1. Bentley, Chris (2017). Hearn, Marcus (ed.). Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons: The Vault. Cambridge, UK: Signum Books. pp. 192–193. ISBN 978-0-995519-12-1.
  2. Bentley, Chris (2008) [2001]. The Complete Gerry Anderson: The Authorised Episode Guide (4th ed.). London, UK: Reynolds & Hearn. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-905287-74-1.
  3. Bentley, Chris (2001). The Complete Book of Captain Scarlet. London, UK: Carlton Books. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-842224-05-2.
  4. Brown, Stephen; Jones, Mike (2017). Jones, Mike (ed.). Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons: Close-Up. Fanderson. p. 57.
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