The Trap (Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons)

Plot

Air Commodore Goddard, working with Spectrum, arranges a conference of the world's air force leaders to discuss anti-Mysteron defence. While flying to Cloudbase through a heavy storm, Goddard and his pilot Captain Holt are killed when their XQR plane is hit by lightning and crashes. Mysteron reconstructions of Goddard, Holt and the XQR continue the journey. Melody Angel, their escort, cannot confirm the strike due to poor visibility.

At Cloudbase, Goddard tells Colonel White the venue has changed to Glen Garry Castle in Scotland. The Mysterons warn that the "wings of the world will be clipped." At the castle, Captain Scarlet finds a secret alcove with a machine gun manned by Holt. Goddard holds Scarlet at gunpoint, ties him to a chair, and impersonates his voice to start the conference.

Symphony Angel is also captured, and both are imprisoned in the dungeon. Melody locates the XQR wreckage, and White, recalling the Mysteron threat, sends Captain Blue to Glen Garry. The caretaker Morton releases Scarlet and Symphony. Scarlet bursts into the hall, shoots Holt, and is wounded.

Goddard mans another gun on the battlements. Blue warns Symphony not to take off. Using a jet pack, Scarlet draws Goddard's fire as the Magnacopter clears the area. Goddard kills Scarlet, but Blue destroys the battlements with the SPV's cannon, killing Goddard. Scarlet later recovers.

Production

Script editor Tony Barwick asked Alan Pattillo to write for Captain Scarlet due to his work on Thunderbirds, but other commitments limited Pattillo to one script. The castle setting was influenced by Gerry Anderson's preference for Scottish subjects. Pattillo's script required technically complex puppet scenes with all ten conference delegates in one shot, and the wardrobe department made several new military uniforms. Two scale models of the XQR were built; the puppet-scale cockpit was adapted from Thunderbird 4.

The lightning effect was added via optical printing, distant lightning was simulated with an arc welder, and flames from the XQR were produced by Jetex fuel pellets. Petrol gel explosives created the crash scene, and the model was reused later. A shot of the reconstructed XQR approaching Cloudbase was cut. Glen Garry Castle was adapted from a model used in Stingray and Thunderbirds episodes and expanded for this episode.

The conference hall seats had appeared in earlier episodes. The puppet playing Morton was modelled on actor Robert Mitchum. The Magnacopter, unique to this episode, was designed by Mike Trim. Its interiors were built from existing sets to save time and money, forcing Trim to alter his original aerodynamic design.

Reception

Chris Bentley calls "The Trap" a viewer favourite, praising its atmospheric setting and tense climax. Shane M. Dallmann describes it as an imaginative change of pace and gimmicky. Fred McNamara regards it as a strong example of watchability with the right tone but criticises the plot and writing, calling the title uninspired and the premise unfulfilling. He argues that the air force leaders are treated as a soulless mass and that Spectrum plays into an obvious Mysteron plot. Though he finds the castle setting forced, he praises the puppet choreography of the gun battle, calling it expertly executed and electrifying.