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SuperTed and The Stolen Rocket Ship was the third SuperTed episode in Season 1 of which was broadcast on 11th October 1983 in the UK on BBC 1. It originally aired in Wales on 3rd January 1983.
Summary[]
Texas Pete dreams of conquering the universe, so he steals a rocket ship and heads for outer space. SuperTed and Spotty chase after him, with spectacular results.
Plot[]
In one of the world's most technically advanced rocket bases, a launch is about to occur that is to make history. Three astronauts are to travel deeper into space that any man has ever been before. SuperTed and Spotty are VIPs for the special occasion as the flight director explains that the rocket set to launch is one of the fastest ones they've ever built. It will travel beyond the Solar System and into the Andromeda Nebula. Spotty jokes about the Andromeda Nebula from a holiday he had there, but SuperTed shushes him. As the flight director then points out the astronauts making their way to the capsule, SuperTed is suddenly struck with a suspicious feeling. His concern is justified; the astronauts making their way to the capsule are Texas Pete, Bulk, and Skeleton in disguise, but no one at the control room is aware of the deception as the launch enters final countdown and the rocket is launched.
Once into space, Tex celebrates his crew's success and how no posse is coming after them, while also explaining how he never dreamed he would have his own galaxy to rule. Back on Earth, as SuperTed and Spotty approach the launch pad, SuperTed explains his concern to Spotty as he noticed the spacesuits the astronauts wore didn't fit properly. A sudden hissing and rattling soon draws SuperTed's attention, and he and Spotty soon find the real astronauts, subdued and tied up by rattlesnakes. After freeing them, SuperTed and Spotty soon guess Texas Pete was behind the astronauts being subdued like they were, proving SuperTed's concern was justified. Saying his magic word to transform into his superhero attire, SuperTed and Spotty head to Spotty's rocket to take off in pursuit, while the astronauts presumably head back to the control room to tell the flight director of what happened and how the rocket has been hijacked.
Back aboard the stolen rocket, Texas Pete begins to dream of ruling the universe and having each and every planet or planetoid branded with his name, so it can be seen by every telescope in the galaxy. He soon wakes up and upon finding that the gravity on the rocket has been turned off, so they are floating about, is astonished. Bulk jokes that the ceiling is getting lower. Skeleton flies by, yelling in fear. Bulk comically bangs his head but Skeleton is still in one piece. Bulk stupidly tries to help Tex. This leads to Tex being pulled up, yelling in fear, and hitting his nose on a large button on the rocket's navigational computer, causing it to begin pinballing off planetoids before being picked up by the radar on the Spotty Rocket, alerting SuperTed and Spotty to its location.
Meanwhile, in the out of control rocket, Skeleton is trying to hold on to Tex to avoid floating off again. Bulk spots an asteroid heading right for the rocket, much to Tex's horror. Upon the asteroid hitting and detonating against the rocket, the ship itself is still intact, but the nose and tail fins are badly bent and crippled. Angered, Tex orders Bulk and Skeleton outside to make repairs lest they face his wrath if they don't, but once outside and attached to each other by a teether, before they can make the repairs, Bulk warns Skeleton if he can hear what he hears. Both realize it is SuperTed and Spotty finally arriving to recover the rocket.
Spotty appears unable to control his rocket pack and smacks into Skeleton, causing him to drop the nails he was going to use for the repair work. They end up puncturing and compromising his spacesuit, causing massive decompression, though Skeleton states it doesn't matter as he doesn't have any muscles anyway. SuperTed goes after Bulk, severing the air hose between him and Skeleton before then blowing and inflating Bulk's suit to be as big and round as a giant beach ball. When Bulk pleads to be let go, SuperTed grants his request, leaving him to deflate and fly off into space, screaming.
However, when SuperTed turns his attention to Texas Pete, Tex gets the drop on him, firing the rocket's engine, catching SuperTed by surprise, and rocketing off, leaving Spotty to check on SuperTed, who now floats badly battered and unconscious from the blast when Tex ignited the engine. When SuperTed is unresponsive to his verbal attempts to awaken him, Spotty uses some of his Cosmic Dust to resuscitate him, healing SuperTed's injuries, for which SuperTed is grateful. Once recovered, SuperTed notices Texas Pete has vanished and states they have to find him quickly.
Elsewhere, Tex cackles wickedly before firing the rocket's engine again and zooming off, taunting SuperTed and Spotty to catch him if they can before he intends to take out the Spotty Rocket to strand them in space forever. When Spotty sees what Tex intends to do, he pleads for SuperTed to stop him. Using his rocket boots for an extra burst of speed, SuperTed reaches the rocket, heads inside, and orders Tex away from the controls, only for Tex to taunt SuperTed to try and make him, leading to the rocket haphazardly continuing on its collision course with the Spotty Rocket as Tex and SuperTed are heard fighting for control as Spotty catches up.
The fight ends when SuperTed finally pulls Tex away from the controls and slams him into a console where Tex is violently electrocuted. SuperTed is amazed at what he has just done, but Spotty reminds him they are about to hit the Spotty Rocket. SuperTed is able to steer the rocket away just in time, before joking that Spotty would have "given him a rocket" if his own one had been hit.
Back at the rocket base on Earth, the flight director thanks SuperTed and Spotty for all their efforts, and assures them that they will deal with Texas Pete and his crew. Their job done, SuperTed and Spotty say goodbye and depart in the Spotty Rocket, but SuperTed does have one remark to Spotty about his rocket:
SuperTed: You were right about one thing, Spotty.
Spotty: Oh, what?
SuperTed: Your rocket ship. It can knock spots off anything we've got on Earth!
Spotty: (laughs)
The rocket continues it's journey through space, ending the episode.
Starring[]
- Derek Griffiths as Superted
- Peter Hawkins as The Narrator, The Rocket Station Boss & The Astronauts
- Jon Pertwee as Spottyman
- Victor Spinetti as Texas Pete
- Roy Kinnear as Bulk
- Melvyn Hayes as Skeleton
Home Media Releases[]
The Biggest Ever Superted Video
NSPCC Children's T.V. Favourites
Trivia[]
- This episode was included on The Tempo Video VHS called NSPCC Children's TV Favourites in 1987 (the video was released again in 1988 and 1990.)
- Although this is the third episode of the series, it is the first episode on all video and DVD releases.
- The sound effect used when Bulk and Skeleton leave the rocket ship was also used in SuperTed and Nuts In Space for when the freighter's door closes, locking Bulk out.
- The shot of Super Ted changing into his super form was used from the previous episode, except the background was changed from the tree house to the rocket base.
- An audio book of this story was later released, with the original cast returning to voice the characters.
Gallery[]
- Main article: SuperTed and the Stolen Rocketship/Gallery