Beyond the Curtain of Space: Chapter 1 (Rocky Jones, Space Ranger episode)

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Rocky Jones, Space Ranger episode
“Beyond the Curtain of Space: Chapter 1”

Original Air Date	April 10, 1954
Season	1
Episode #	01
Production #
Writer(s)	Warren Wilson
Director	Hollingsworth Morse
Guest star(s)
Episode Order
Previous	Next

In this first episode of the Rocky Jones, Space Ranger TV series, we are introduced to several important elements of the series, and items that we would see echoed in later series.

Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, and his comic relief sidekick, Winky, are returning to Earth after a long mission. Winky is looking forward to some relief time for a little R&R. Rocky calls the Office of Space Affairs, where he speaks with Secretary of Space Drake by video transmission. Drake promises the time-off Winky wants.

When the ship lands, an unauthorized car zooms past. Veena Ray rushes into the building to speak to Secretary Drake. She wants to speak with him about Professor Newton. Drake wants nothing to do with Newman: the world believes he has defected to the planet Ophicius (sp?). Veena believes he is innocent: the Professor gave her a medal the secretary had once given him, which she sees as a message for her to contact Drake.

The Secretary asks to review the recording of Newman making his video declaration of his transfer of loyalties. Winky is anxious to get going, but Rocky wants to watch the video first. The speech seems a bit odd, and Professor Newman shows his 10-year old ward, Bobby, who is dressed like a Space Ranger and mentions Rocky.

Rocky and Veena both think the professor was either coerced or influenced in some way to make the transmission. Rocky wants to lead a rescue mission. The Secretary agrees, but says that there can't be any diplomatic backing of it. Rocky figures he and Winky can appear to land there accidentally.

Veena, who speaks the language, also wants to go. Rocky thinks a space mission is no place for a girl, but the Secretary wants to give the operation every chance to succeed. It turns out that Veena is also a skilled navigator.

On the ship, Veena is a bit nervous. She's traveled on a commercial space cruiser before, but that's nothing like the XV-2. Winky's okay with her being onboard, but Rocky still resents a female presence on his ship. At one point, he tells her derisively to go knit him a sweater. Put upon, she says she doesn't know how to knit. However, we do see her away from the cabin, trying to knit the sweater.

In space, an ambush awaits the XV-2. Fortunately, Veena detects the threat on a scope in time for Rocky to react. A dogfight ensues. Veena wants to help, but Rocky tells her to go back to her chair. The Space Rangers are able to shoot down the other ship. Unfortunately, damage in the battle has caused a leak in a back area of the XV-2. Rocky pinpoints the location by letting a regular party balloon loose, which is sucked to the spot and pops. Rocky goes back to the cabin with Winky, and doesn't tell Veena about the problem.

Veena checks out the back cabin, and quickly spots the leak. At that point, Rocky seals the back cabin, unintentionally and unknowingly locking Veena inside. She passes out as the oxygen rapidly depletes.

Rocky thinks they can limp into a space station for repairs. He wants Winky to bring Veena forward, so she can see what it's really like. Winky doesn't see Veena, and realizes she is trapped. The door can't be opened, so Rocky cuts through it with a torch. The Rangers don space helmets, and put one on Veena.

Back in the cabin, Rocky suggests that Veena get on a space express at the station. She's understandably angry: she detected the attack in the first place, saving the mission. She says she can tell Rocky what she thinks of him in 37 langauges, and starts with Martian. Winky turns a switch on Veena's helmet, and no one can hear what she is saying as she continues her remonstration.

As the ship docks with the station, thus ends Chapter 1: to be continued in the next episode.