Court Martial

“Court Martial” was one of the episodes on my list of
favorites. It’s not hard to figure out how it will
end, the fun is getting there. There are lots of
great lines in this episode, too. Of course I’ll
mention my favorites. I have to mention that this is
written at the end of a long day. I’ve been up for 18
hours. I worked for 9 and drove for 3. I’m a little
punchy, but can’t sleep, so this is what you get.

The teaser gives us Paul Foster being found guilty
(we’re not told of what) and sentenced to death by
General Henderson. Of course we know Paul didn’t do
it. After the title we fade into the past to find out
just what it is they think Paul did.

We start with Straker leaving the studio and marveling
at the miniaturization of electronics, in this case a
tiny radio on Miss Ealand’s desk. Then he’s in the
car and he calls Alec at home. What do you want to
bet Alec just came back from some hellish junket to
God knows where and hasn’t slept in days? “Freeman”
in a groggy voice. “Alec”. “Oh, don’t you ever
sleep?” LOL I love the way he says it. “I hope I
didn’t wake you,” except Straker smiles a little.
Alec doesn’t become alert until the alarm in Straker’s
car starts going off. And Straker shows us his less
than perfect side by looking for the offending bug
while driving. He almost ends up squashed like a bug
on the windshield of a huge tractor, scaring poor Alec
to death in the process. Somebody has bugged
Straker’s car and he thinks he knows who it is.

Next thing we know, Straker and Alec are barging into
Henderson’s office past his secretary, Miss Scott.
“Don’t worry, Miss Scott. Stopping runaway trains is
not part of your job.” LOL Henderson admits to
having the bug planted. He’s testing Straker’s
security. And the real reason? Henderson had to
squash a press report about Skydiver’s rendezvous with
a supply ship. Straker and Alec exchange an alarmed
glance. Straker looks upset but promises to find out
who the security leak is.

Meanwhile back at the ranch…er…apartment, Paul is
having a meeting with an oily agent for a young
actress (gold and avocado clothes, a preview of
kitchens to come, and blue and purple eye makeup –
interesting combination). I knew as soon as I saw the
guy he was trouble.

Then there is a short scene in Straker’s office where
Alec talks about how scary it is that someone he’s
worked with for years has sunk as low as a person
could go. Who is it? Straker hands Alec the order
authorized and sent by – Paul Foster.

I don’t think Straker ever truly believed the leak
came from Paul. He’s firm but not too adversarial
initially when he goes to talk to Paul in one of the
stages. This is one of those places where Paul gets a
lesson in who the alpha male of the outfit is. Paul
starts off sort of nonchalant. Straker exerts his
rank. Usually, interaction at SHADO is rather casual,
but Straker puts the meeting on a more formal basis.
I sense that it is to put Foster in line and to remind
him that, however lax Straker is about some things,
this is a military setting. “I believe I outrank you,
Foster”. “Yes”. “Yes, What?” (ouch!) Straker
finally gets the sort of response he is looking for
from Foster. He questions Paul about the orders and
Paul is confused. Alec calls and there has been
another leak of orders issued by Paul. Paul wants to
know what he is being accused of, but Straker says
he’s just looking for facts. He finally lets Paul
know how serious this might be when he mentions a
military court. “We’re at war. You realize the
penalty for espionage.” Suddenly Paul looks like he
is taking this VERY seriously. It doesn’t look very
good for out young hero.

There is another brief sequence in Straker’s office
where Alec tells him that it’s 3 until 9 (we have to
guess when the trial starts). Then Alec seems to try
to gauge Straker’s frame of mind.

The court martial starts. Dr. Jackson is at his
sleazy worst (or is it best?) as the prosecuting
officer. It is apparent that Ford doesn’t believe
Paul is guilty. Next, Waterman testifies. Nobody but
Paul knew the contents of the orders. Straker looks
worried.

Now we have an interlude with an irate director. He’s
going to see Ed Straker. He’s supposed to be the head
of the studio.

Straker is now on the stand. He doesn’t give Dr.
Jackson anything. He’s interested in facts, not
guesses. He gives the defense a little more. His
judgment was involved in making Paul part of SHADO.
Afterwards, Straker tells Alec he needs some air. As
he steps out of his office upstairs, Miss Ealand tells
him Carl Mason want to see him. It’s urgent. Straker
tells her not now. She starts to protest, but Alec
shakes his head at her. The look on his face suggests
he thinks Straker could blow up.

Straker goes out and walks the lot. The cuts suggest
it’s for a while. Mason sights him, but Straker pulls
a disappearing act.

Back to the trial. Paul testifies that he is not
guilty. Dr. Jackson is a meany in cross-examination.
Paul’s not worried until Dr. Jackson mentions that an
anonymous party has deposited 10000 dollars into his
account. How did that get in there?

In his office, Straker quizzes Paul about the money.
Where did it come from? Paul DOESN’T KNOW! Looking
like a whipped puppy, he asks Straker, as his
commanding officer, does he believe he’s guilty? The
evidence says yes, but Straker’s gut reaction is no.
Then the phone buzzes. The court is coming back in.

We’re back where we started. Notice the small
blooper. On the left side of Paul’s face, the
sideburn isn’t attached properly and you can see the
line of glue down Michael Billington’s face. After
the verdict, Straker’s face is unreadable. Paul
glances at him wondering what now. Straker really
doesn’t give him anything.

Alec and Straker are back in Straker’s office. The
evidence was all negative. No proof Paul actually did
anything. Cut to a woman selling what “appears to
military” to someone.

Even the security guards appear to think Paul is
innocent. If I were Paul I’d be worried, sentenced to
death and dreaming of the lights behind Straker’s
desk.

The next morning, Straker arrives to find Carl Mason
waiting for him in his office. He grabs Straker’s
arm. I’m surprised he still has a hand. Mason tells
Straker there is industrial espionage afoot. It’s
Paul Foster’s fault. He’s the only one Mason
discussed it with. Where? In his apartment.

So Alec and Ed go check Paul’s apartment yet again.
Still nothing. Look at those rocks. I’m always
impressed with the rocks in the shelves under Paul’s
window. Alec doesn’t want to reassemble the phone,
Foster isn’t going to need it. He seems to be
deliberately aggravating Straker who gives him a look.
Straker isn’t ready to give up. He was almost sure.
Alec comes up with the environmental therapy angle.
Straker turns it on and Bingo! They get a bug signal.
So Paul’s apartment was bugged but it only showed up
when the display lights were on.

Alec and Straker at the electronics seller was fun. I
don’t think I’d like to have them come visit me when
they are angry. You won’t like them when they’re
angry. Straker is the brains, Alec is the brawn.

“You’re a psychiatrist, Jackson. Would you say
Commander Straker has an artistic temperament?” LOL
And, look, Paul jumps through the light display in
Straker’s office. There is a handy-dandy elevator
hidden there and Paul escapes.

Alec and Straker get the goods. The culprit is a Miss
Jane Grant. Straker calls Henderson to gloat, but
Paul has escaped. Henderson has ordered the teams to
shoot. Straker is alarmed. But his apartment was
bugged! They need an affidavit from that Miss Grant!

Paul leads the guards on a merry chase. The guards
are lousy shots. Straker threatens Miss Grant but at
first she doesn’t believe he’s desperate. More chase.
Those blue uniforms with the white boots are just
dorky. Paul gets shot! Just look at that white,
white leg as Paul lies there in the dirt.

Straker gets the signed statement, but it is too late,
Paul has been shot. Straker almost runs over the lady
in purple in front of the IAC. She gives the car a
weird look. I don’t think she was an intentional part
of the scene.

Just when I think Straker is likely to be foaming at
the mouth, he comes into Henderson’s office very
quietly and ASKS politely to see him. Maybe it’s just
me, but Straker looks on the verge of tears as he
tells Henderson what really happened. Henderson calls
in Dr. Jackson, who hurries in, but stops and checks
his progress when he sees Straker, then he crosses the
room more slowly. Straker very quietly tears him a
new one. “Paul Foster was guilty of one thing. He
worked nights at home.” Straker hopes it keeps him
awake nights. And Jackson smiles. Henderson
interrupts with his pigheaded cretinous lout comment.
We don’t understand, Paul isn’t dead, Dr. Jackson had
them shoot Paul with anesthetic bullet. Straker
doesn’t say anything, but he gives Dr. Jackson a look
of gratitude, and Dr. Jackson nods in return. I have
to believe at this point that Jackson doubted that
Paul was actually guilty. Something of a new
appreciation of each other passes between Straker and
Jackson. Straker plays back Henderson’s comment again
and again. Jackson laughs.

And in a final scene, Paul returns the money to the
oily agent and tells the actress to get a new agent.
“You don’t know how much that check nearly cost me.”
No joke! Mason gives Paul grief. Straker looks on
with approval.

So, did you pick up the two references to two science
fiction shows of the past? What were the shows?


Diorite

--- In [hidden email], Diorite Gabbro <diorite@...> wrote:
>
> "Court Martial" was one of the episodes on my list of
> favorites. It's not hard to figure out how it will
> end, the fun is getting there. There are lots of
> great lines in this episode, too.

This is also one of my favorite episodes. It's a good Jackson one.
Actually, if it wasn't for Vladek Sheybal, I never would have
discovered UFO in the first place. This being only the 3rd episode I
saw when I first watched it, I still didn't know very much about the
show (I'd only seen "Exposed" and "Ordeal" before it), so I was just
sort of sitting back and watching it—not really thinking too much but
just enjoying the way things played out on their own.

> Afterwards, Straker tells Alec he needs some air. […]
> Straker goes out and walks the lot. The cuts suggest
> it's for a while.

I've always liked this. Whenever I need to memorize something or just
feel like thinking while looking busy, I like to wander around.

> Mason tells
> Straker there is industrial espionage afoot. It's
> Paul Foster's fault. He's the only one Mason
> discussed it with. Where? In his apartment.  
>
> So Alec and Ed go check Paul's apartment yet again.

I love the look that Straker gives Alec when Alec says, "It's a pretty
long shot." It says so much more than anything he could have said.

> Look at those rocks. I'm always
> impressed with the rocks in the shelves under Paul's
> window.

While rocks are awesome (I seriously should have been a geologist; I
went searching a park for rocks (and minerals, too) just today for no
reason other than I felt like it), I'm always excited by the hexagons
they're in. Somebody has a couch with hexagons on it, too. I forget
who's got it though. I've always thought hexagons are neat. I have a
puzzle book that has some hexagon-related puzzle in it where this one
guy's all upset because somebody messed his order up and sent him
pentagons instead, and all he could do was complain about how ungainly
they are in comparison. I have to agree. Hexagons are infinitely
better. But let me get back to UFO here.

> "You're a psychiatrist, Jackson. Would you say
> Commander Straker has an artistic temperament?"

This is a GREAT question! For me, I'm not really satisfied by the
escape hatch answer. I really don't think that the only reason for
that display being there is to hide that. The same display is on
Moonbase, and the time Straker spent the night there, it was in his
room like a night-light. Maybe it has to do with the claustrophobia,
therefore kind of making Jackson's "Maybe it soothes his nerves"
answer right.

> Paul leads the guards on a merry chase. The guards
> are lousy shots.

Not only that, the one guard was even smiling as he was shooting at
Paul and having a great time!

> Those blue uniforms with the white boots are just
> dorky.

And talk about a security risk! There they go wearing their SHADO
logos out in plain view!

> Straker almost runs over the lady
> in purple in front of the IAC. She gives the car a
> weird look. I don't think she was an intentional part
> of the scene.

I always thought it was kind of strange the way she was looking at the
car. My dad, who I have only very recently convinced to watch these
shows, came up with the brilliant question: "If he's supposed to be
the head of a film studio, why is he going into the International
Astrophysical Commission?" I'd never thought about that. He goes there
a lot, and you'd think someone might recognize him.

> So, did you pick up the two references to two science
> fiction shows of the past? What were the shows?

I'm much more of a science fiction reader than a
science-fiction-TV-show-watcher, so unless one is Star Trek, I have no
idea.

>Alpharaptor

--- In [hidden email], Diorite Gabbro <diorite@...> wrote:


This ranks as perhaps my favorite performance by Sheybal and he
really takes the ball and runs with it here, shining! The look he
gives Straker when the news of the anesthetic bullet is given is
priceless (I've sometimes felt that, for a psychiatrist, working in a
place like SHADO had to be the opportunity of a lifetime). His
reaction to Straker's playing Henderson's comment on the tape is also
good.  

I'm a "collector" of character actors, and Sheybal's always managed
to deliver 150% in anything he's done. If nothing else, UFO allowed
this actor to be in the limelight more and was the closest his fans
had to seeing him starring in a regular series.

Michael

--- In [hidden email], "Alpharaptor" <segara0@...> wrote:
 
> And talk about a security risk! There they go wearing their SHADO
> logos out in plain view!


I also remember this episode as being the one where SHADO got a
particularly good treatment, product-placement wise. The room where
the trial takes place is liberally strewn with SHADO logos (or seems
that way), and I always watch the episode wishing I could hear someone
whisper: "Hey! Where are we again?"

Michael

Diorite Gabbro wrote:


I nominate Diorite to write the (new-to-everyone-else-in-the-world)
pilot TV episode.

Eventually they'll run out of re-hashes, sequels and comic books that
appeal to the desired generation, and now that the writers are on strike
this might be a good time.

I'm actually willing to invest in such a project - I'm not wealthy by
any means but I could afford $1000 if I knew it was going towards a
project I like.

Paul (not Foster)

In a message dated 11/18/2007 1:54:54 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[hidden email] writes:

> Paul leads the guards on a merry chase. The guards
> are lousy shots.



Sorry to break in, but guards/bad guys are trained to lousy shots in TV. I
submit as proof any one who wore a red-shirt in ST:TOS or a Marine in that
dreadful "Enterprise" show.

Great synopsis, Dorite!

Wendy



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