Photo Script: Terror In New York City

TERROR IN NEW YORK CITY
Photostrip

Page One •

VISUAL

1. PORTRAIT OF GORDON TRACY

TEXT

Hi there, I'm Gordon Tracy, pilot of Thunderbird Four. In an emergency Virgil usually flies me to rescues in Thunderbird Two, but on this mission I had to find another way to get to the danger zone in time.

2. FRAME 07:01:07 or 09:07:06

It all started when Virgil was returning from a rescue.

3. FRAME 11:27:18

The World Navy was testing a new top secret warship, and mistook Thunderbird Two for an enemy aircraft.

4. FRAMES 10:32:12/10:33:16

(SENTINEL COMMANDER:) 'Launch interceptor missiles!'

5. FRAME 13:55:14

By the time they realised they were shooting at International Rescue it was too late !

(FROM THUNDERBIRD TWO :) 'The tail unit's been hit !

Terror In New York City

Page Two •

VISUAL

1. FRAME 14:21:01

TEXT

On Tracy Island, Dad called an emergency meeting.

(JEFF:) 'Get down to launch control and stand by with the fire-fighting equipment.'

(BRAINS:) 'F.A.B.'

2. FRAME 16:36:11

As Virgil came into land, it looked like he was going to make it, but then -

3. FRAME 16:54:11

(JEFF:) ' The wheel's have collapsed ! Release foam!

4. FRAME 17:06:18

Thunderbird Two was nearly wrecked and would take weeks to repair.

5. FRAME 18:59:16

But Virgil was O.K., and a few days later I called in to see him.

(GORDON:) Hi Virgil - Got your TV switched on ? They're moving the Empire State Building.'

6. FRAME 19:13:00

(VIRGIL:) This I must see!

Page Three •

VISUAL

1. FRAME 19:49:18

TEXT

TV reporter Ned Cook was at the scene -

(NED:) 'This is one of the greatest engineering projects of all time!'

2. FRAME 20:44:12

'The Empire State building was going to be moved to a new site - in one piece!'

3. FRAME 22:28:11

But before it could reach its' new home, disaster struck -

4. FRAME 22:43:20

(NED:) 'The ground around the building is crumbling!'

5. FRAME 22:50:10

In the lounge Dad could see the danger -

(JEFF:) 'Crazy fool! Why doesn't he get out of there?'

6. FRAME 24:33:01

But as Ned Cook and his cameraman Joe were ordered from the site, the ground gave way beneath their feet and the entire building collapsed above them!

Terror In New York City

Page Four •

VISUAL

1. FRAME 25:04:04

TEXT

The Empire State Building was now a mountain of rubble, but by a miracle, Ned and Joe had survived.

(NED:) 'Help ! Can you hear me ? '

2. FRAME 24:32:07

(NED:) We're trapped in an underground cavern and I can hear water coming in.

3. FRAME 19:24:08

(BRAINS:) 'It must be an underground river! We've got to get Thunderbird Four there right away.'

(TINTIN:) ' But we can't airlift it to New York without Thunderbird Two.'

4. FRAME 26:55:06

By now Virgil and I had arrived in the lounge.

(GORDON:) 'Then I'll have to go all the way by sea!'

(VIRGIL:) 'You'll never make it!'

5. FRAME 27:08:00

Dad knew Virgil was right.

(JEFF:) 'They might have had a chance if it hadn't been for the Sentinel.'

6. FRAME 27:32:20

But suddenly Virgil realised Dad had the answer.

(VIRGIL:) 'The Sentinel! They can put us back into action!'

Page Five •

VISUAL

1. FRAME 28:40:15

TEXT

Dad called the World Navy, and they agreed to send the Sentinel to meet Thunderbird Four - which I launched using the emergency ramp -

2. FRAME 28:13:06

While Scott blasted off for New York.

3. FRAME 28:59:08
(INSERT FRAME 29:23:01)

He was soon in touch with New York control.

(RIGHT HAND OFFICER:) 'The ground could give way any minute.'

4. FRAME 29:31:15

(SCOTT:) 'Right, I'll need detailed plans of the underground rivers.'

5. FRAME 29:32:15
(INSERT FRAME 29:37:17)

But I was only just being picked up by the Sentinel.

6. FRAME 32:12:09

Would we reach Ned Cook in time?

Terror In New York City

Page Six •

VISUAL

1. FRAME 34:15:02

TEXT

The Sentinel raced through the night to reach New York, and by the next morning we were approaching the city.

2. FRAME 34:45:05

But by now Ned and Joe were almost underwater.

(NED:) 'The water's coming up even faster now!'

3. FRAME 34:47:24

(SCOTT:) 'You'll have to use the breathing gear we got down to you - but hold on as long as you can.'

4. FRAME 35:51:16

As water filled the underground cavern, the Sentinel finally reached New York.

(GORDON:) 'O.K., I'll take it from here.'

5. FRAME 37:58:07

Soon I was diving into the Hudson River in search of the tunnel that led to Ned and Joe.

6. FRAME 38:10:05

(GORDON:) 'I've found it Scott! I'm moving upstream.

Page Seven •

VISUAL

1. FRAME 37:30:02

TEXT

Meanwhile, Scott told Ned and Joe to swim towards me.

(SCOTT:) 'You've got to find a way out of there.'

2. FRAME 37:40:21

(NED:) 'O.K., but Joe's in a pretty bad way.'

3. FRAME 38:06:14

But as I headed towards the two men, Scott heard some bad news.

4. FRAME 38:34:02

(OFFICER:) 'The land subsidence is spreading. The Fulmer Finance Building could go over any minute!'

5. FRAME 38:45:04

Scott realised (we) were in trouble!

6. FRAME 39:52:07

(SCOTT:) 'Gordon ! You've got to find them fast! There's another building up here that could come down on top of you!'

Terror In New York City

Page Eight •

VISUAL

1. FRAME 39:19:07

TEXT

I raced through the tunnels as fast as I could -

2. FRAME 43:09:07

While Ned and Joe swam towards me -

3. FRAME 42:26:10

Until I finally saw them in my searchlight.

4. MIX FRAMES 44:03:12 and 44:25:16

I only just got them on board before the Fulmer Finance Building came crashing down.

5. FRAME 45:41:05

Thunderbird Four was nearly buried - but we made it, and Ned Cook didn't miss his show that week...

(NED:) 'I'd like to thank International Rescue - wherever you are.'

6. FRAME 46:38:17

...But he'd have had a surprise if he'd known who was in the audience!

Notes:
• Sam Denham writes most captions from Gordon Tracy's perspective, but these are changed in the final versions to generic third-person descriptions.

Sam Denham
August 2004.