Sands Of Death

Synopsis:
Opposition leader Tirig plans to overthrow the Martian Presidency by launching a gas attack. Galasphere 347 is sent to investigate activity on Phobos but before they can be warned that this is where Tirig is based. The crew are captured. Tirig wants the Galasphere and when Dart refuses to co-operate, he and his crew are put in a cell that will fill with sand and suffocate them within a day...

Cast
Captain Larry Dart Husky Slim Colonel Raeburn Marla Professor Haggarty Cassie General Smith The Martian President Tirig Borse Professor Zeffer Zeffer's Assistant Tyrig's Accomplice UGF Major UGF Rocket Base	...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......	Dick Vosburgh Ronnie Stevens Ronnie Stevens Murray Kash Ysanne Churchman Ronnie Stevens Ysanne Churchman Dick Vosburgh Dick Vosburgh Dick Vosburgh Ysanne Churchman Dick Vosburgh Ronnie Stevens Ronnie Stevens Ronnie Stevens Ronnie Stevens

And The Moral Is:
• The Sands Of Time Are Running Out... (Or in this case, running in!)

Today I Will Be Mostly Learning... :
• There is very little gravity on Phobos.

Huskyisms:
• Husky doesn’t seem to understand Dart’s response “You can say that again!” and repeats himself.

Slimantics:
• “This is one time I regret not being as tall as a Martian.”
• “The structure of the rock is not as firm as I thought.”
• “It was just in time... I am overcome by the gas myself... “

Raeburnt:
• A long-winded conversation with the Martian President in which you almost get the opinion Raeburn either can’t be bothered to help or simply doesn’t like the man...

A Venusian Has...:
• The ability never to forget. Which is more than can be said for everyone else, regarding the Time Watch...

To Coin A Phrase:
• Husky “We haven’t got much time, I think...“ Dart “Time! That reminds me...“

Riding Along In My Monobile... ‘:
• Raeburn visits General Smith.

Continuity:
• Galasphere 347 has just returned from Pluto.

Plot Device:
• Yes, we’ve seen the Time Watch before but it’s appearance - if not the fact Dart had it all along - is nothing short of a cop-out...

Harmony For Strings:
• As the sand pours in, Dart moves backwards out of the way - but his legs don't, leaving him in a peculiar position as the scene fades out.

Haven’t I Seen... ?:
• Tirig is the gamewarden (HI), Borse is the Gallia puppet and the UGF Major is Jim Barratt.
• Another of Tirig’s men is Miga’s aide (UA).
• Tirig’s base is the top of Space Headquarters.

Take A Break:
• Emprisoned by Tirig, shutters cover the crossbars of their cell and sand starts to pour in. Dart comments to Slim and Husky "Tirig probably thinks it will make us change our minds about helping him."

For Those Of You Just Joining Us... :
• We get a whole introduction to the time watch again, courtesy of Haggarty and Cassie. And Dart and Slim explain exactly what it does again in case you didn't catch that.

Astro Viewer Working:
• Zeffer's assistant, interestingly, is wearing glasses and sporting a moustache.
• The United Galactic Forces use rockets.
• The plastifoam gun is of a different design.

Hoorah!:
• Call us sick but we had to laugh at Larry Dart's final position as the sand stops pouring in, kind of up to his nose with his arms over his head...

Boo!:
• Slim states twice that he cannot move because of the rising sand but all of a sudden he is free and able to reach the time watch on Dart’s wrist.

Computer Central:
• First screened: April 30th 1964 (Associated-Rediffusion London)
• Running time: 24 minutes 20 seconds
• Another episode not to feature Libby Morris.
• BFCC Classified - 15th July 1999
• VHS - Volume 8
• DVD - Complete Series Box Set, Disk 5
• The video release of this episode has no title sequence.

Listings
• London, April 30th 1964:
An unknown power is threatening the freedom of the planet Mars. Dart and his crew are given the perilous task of investigating.
• Tyne Tees, May 11th 1964:
The Martian president tells Raeburn that Tirig, his rival, is threatening to depose him. Tirig has a nerve gas, which makes people unconscious, and is threatening to use it. Raeburn is sceptical but send Dart to see Tirig.

Ready To Lift ?:
Again, a well written rehash of previous ideas. Tirig’s plan echoes that of Gallia in Volcanoes Of Venus and the time watch from Time Stands Still makes a reappearance. Thankfully in both cases we have slightly better outings than the originals but it doesn’t prevent a ‘been there, done that’ feel to the story.

On to the next episode