- 5 months ago
CBS Radio Mystery Theater (a.k.a. Radio Mystery Theater and Mystery Theater) is a radio drama series created by Himan Brown that was broadcast on CBS Radio Network affiliates from 1974 to 1982, and later in the early 2000s was repeated by the NPR satellite feed.
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00:00Come in. Welcome. I'm E.G. Marshall. Welcome to the world of terrifying imagination. The
00:26fear you can hear. This time, a contemporary tale concerning the ill-fated flight of the
00:33first American woman astronaut, the flight of the Diana One, a tale of three astronauts
00:40who reached Skylab only to be literally snatched into the void. But before Diana One ever left
00:49the ground, the aura of doom hovered around her as she stood poised on the launching
00:55pad. This is Diana Control. We've been holding a T-minus 45 minutes while the faulty computer
01:01monitoring the loading of propellant has failed. This is a scrub. We will set back countdown
01:07to T-minus 13 hours. McDonald at Capcom. Gordon, do you read me? I read you. I'm sorry for
01:17the bad news. It's a scrub. Roger. Tell Luke I'm sorry, too. And, uh, what do I say to the
01:22doctor? Same thing. Same for all of us on the team. Yeah, but it's tougher on her. I mean,
01:28you know, the disappointment. First American woman into space and all. I'll tell you I'll
01:32manage it. Don't you worry about her. Over and out. Roger. Only I do worry. Ships, whether
01:40they ride on air or water, just don't mix with women. Our mystery drama, Out of Sight, was written
01:57especially for the Mystery Theater by Ian Martin and stars Julia Mead. It might have been far
02:13better if the scrub on the Diana One had been a total. This was only another in the long series
02:20of delays that had plagued the spaceship and haunted not only the astronauts themselves,
02:25but the ground crew as well. Returning to the compound from the launching, the most concerned
02:32of all was the first of Our Lady astronauts. I don't mind admitting it, but I really feel
02:42like it's bursting into tears. Who doesn't? Well, the difference is you're a man and I'm a
02:49woman. No doubt of that. Although I must say, I go for you a lot more as you are now
02:54than in the spacesuit. Down, boy. Back off, Marine. Hey, what are you getting so sorry
02:59about, Navy? You got her. And I mean to keep her. Yes, sir, Captain. I mean, uh, Commander.
03:06Hey, hey, don't pass my digs. Are we all having dinner together? Yeah, sure thing, but I want
03:11to get me a shower and a shave first. We were up on that, uh, that rocket so long I practically
03:18grew a beard on my knees. Well, I'll see you later. Good old Luke. I'm glad he's the third
03:30member of the team. Oh, no. The second. I'm the third wheel, Gordon. And do you know why I wanted
03:40to burst into tears? Like all of us. Disappointment? No, a lot more than that. Oh, Gordon, maybe
03:47today was an omen. Maybe I should cut out right now. I've got the strongest hunch this flight
03:52is jinxed. And I'm the jinx. Terry? Terry, where are you? At the window, Gordon. I didn't mean to wake
04:11you. It's okay. What's wrong, Terry? Look, darling. The sky is filled with stars, glistening
04:21like fish in a net. Hold me a minute. Of course. So many nights we've talked about this trip.
04:31Hope to make it together. All the long training and planning. And now it's here at last. Almost
04:40here. I'm not going. What? I'm not going, Gordon. But you've got to. You can't back out
04:49now. Lieutenant Neville's is back up for me. But she's not a doctor. She's a woman. That's
04:57the important thing. I wasn't picked for this trip primarily because I'm a doctor. But why
05:03would you cut out now? Because I'm scared. Oh, honey. Everybody gets buck fever. You know,
05:11I had it my first time. This is more than buck fever. What is it then? It's not me I'm scared
05:18for. It's you and Luke. Why? Because I'm a jinx. No, you're not going to start him with the
05:27superstitions like Luke. It's more than just superstition. Oh, darling, I can't tell you
05:35but I've been lying awake and getting the strongest ESP waves. You were dreaming. But I wasn't.
05:41I was wide awake. Oh, for the love of Mike. Don't do this to me. But it's you I'm thinking
05:47of, darling. I want you safe. And I honestly, for some reason, I, I can't explain why. I
05:58think if I go up there with you. Dammit, Terry, I never thought you'd do this to me. And I
06:02never thought the first woman astronaut would be such a flop. Oh, I'm so ashamed. You better
06:08answer that. Hello? Oh, yes, sir. Did you reach Luke Strong? Good. Yes, sir, we will. Within
06:17the hour. Oh, no, I can drive. Yes, sir, we'll go straight to the hospital unit. Thank
06:23you, sir. Good news for us, too. What is it? Weather forecasts are for quick changing conditions
06:31that would ground us for two to three weeks until, well, unless we get off tomorrow. They've
06:37restarted the countdown and it's go. We lift off in seven hours. I've committed you, Terry.
06:42If you don't go, it's a total scrub. Are you with me? You know I'm always with you, for
06:49better or for worse. Not just as a wife. Ready, willing, and able, Skipper. Astronaut Teresa
06:57Webber reporting aboard. Pilot to Capcom, you read me? Yes, Commander, we read you. Are
07:10we still on countdown? Yeah, Gaudy. T-5 and counting. Are you okay with you? All systems
07:16are go here. Check, Luke. Everything reads good to me. Cabin pressure is holding at 6.1
07:21pounds. Roger. We are T-40 and counting. Looks good all the way. Good. Keep me posted. Roger.
07:28Over and out. How do you feel, Terry? Now that I'm here, great. Hang in, lovely. You've only
07:36begun to live. What do you say, Luke? Well, let's get it all put together. Skylab, Skylab,
07:42here we come. That's the spirit. Let's check out the inertial guidance and the boosters again.
07:47What do I do, Captain? Just sit tight and get ready for the thrill of your life.
07:58This is Diana Control. The D-1 countdown is at T-35 seconds and counting. All systems are
08:05reported in a go condition. Pilot, co-pilot, and Dr. Webber are ready. The Diana spacecraft umbilical
08:12is cut. We have transferred to internal power. We are counting down starting now. 13, 12,
08:1911, 10, 9. Ignition sequence starting. 5, 4. We have ignition. All engines are running.
08:29We have a liftoff. The clock is operating. We are underway. Roger. Read you loud and clear.
08:48We're smoothing out some now. Now you're through Max Q. Through Max Q and smoothing out real
08:53fine. Sky looks very dark outside. Captain Pressure is holding at 6.1. Okay.
08:59Coming up on two minutes. Roger. Reading you loud and clear. Pitch 25 degrees. Your flight
09:06path looks very good.
09:14We're up on S-4B stage burn and I read it. Mark, two minutes. Roger. You have 22 seconds to
09:23shut off. Roger. Read that, Luke. What do you read your velocity?
09:26Twenty-five thousand, six hundred sixty-eight feet per second. Roger. We confirm. Coming
09:34up to burn off. Six, five, four, three, two. There she blows. Gentlemen, you are in orbit.
09:46Good. Hallelujah. We've achieved orbit. Whee! Skylab, skylab, here we come. You are go for a dock.
09:56Roger. Ah, you'll be losing me now. I'll pass you on to Bermuda. Roger. I'll see you in a couple
10:02of hours. Have a happy. We'll give you a final, uh, okay on docking then. Roger. My buddy thanks
10:08you, my wife thanks you, and I thank you. Over and out. Ah. Okay, Terry. What do you think
10:16of space flight now? Oh, it's marvelous. Wonderful. A rocking chair. I don't know what
10:23was the matter with me. Well, whatever it was, as long as it's gone, let's put it out
10:27of our minds. Now, this is going to be a milk run. A what? I'll tell you. A young man like
10:32me and a young woman like you wouldn't dig that talk. It's from World War II, but I've
10:36read about it. A milk run was, uh, like when you flew out to bomb and came back and knew
10:42old Hitler didn't have any more planes to bother you and you were just as safe as if you were
10:45taking a ride in your grandmother's electric automobile. A piece of cake. Yeah. But the
10:51best piece of cake we got riding with little old Diana is the middle astronaut here. Okay,
10:56Luke. Playtime's over. Let's run a full instrument check and give, uh, Terry a chance to start
11:01working on the medical reports. If I have to put up with wearing these electrodes like
11:05Frankenstein's monster, let's at least make it worthwhile.
11:18Can you boost your signal, Hawaii? Do you read me? Anything wrong, Gordon? No. We just passed
11:25out a range of Hawaii. We should be picking up on Houston and Mac any moment. It's always
11:29kind of scary, though, isn't it? What? Anytime the tracking stations don't overlap and you
11:34lose contact. Oh, you're getting used to it. It's only for a few moments at most. Wouldn't
11:39it be... Wouldn't it be what, Terry? Oh, that's just silly imagination. No, you got me going.
11:46I want to hear what? Well, I was just thinking, wouldn't it be awful if we did lose touch completely
11:53with Earth? Not possible. Too many backup systems, different frequencies, emergency equipment. Yeah,
11:59but just supposing as, uh, as long as Terry brought it up, we did lose contact. What would
12:04happen then? Well, we can still fly the ship. Well, with no arrangement for splashdown, where
12:09would we fly to? Well, we can always dock with Skylab and use their equipment. We don't need
12:13ground to make a dock. Yeah, but if Skylab's equipment goes out... Oh, come on now. It's just not
12:17possible, so forget it. I'm going to call in... Diana One, this is Skycom. Do you read
12:23me? Roger. I sure do. Loud and clear. Good. We'll have half an hour's clear contact. During
12:28that, we'll give you coordinates for the dock. Roger. Now, let's synchronize our time. I'm
12:33coming up on 1032. That's 2232. Mark, when I give you wow. Wow. Roger. I read you. Dead on
12:44the button. Hey, okay. Hear this then. In order to achieve, Trent... Mac? Mac? You read
12:53me? Mac? What is it? Oh, let me try another treatment. Mac? Mac? Capcom, Mrs. Pilate
13:04Webber, do you read me? Damn, try another. Diana One to Capcom. Capcom, do you read me?
13:14I can't raise a thing, Skipper. I've tracked over Bermuda, Africa. Everything's dead. Every
13:24frequency. I can't understand it. All other systems are go. Yet we've lost contact with
13:29ground. That means we're on our own? Unless we turn up Australia, Hawaii, or Mac back at
13:35Houston. And if we don't? We head for Skylab. Is that so terrible? Certainly its radio must
13:41be working. And if it isn't? Now, that isn't anything I want to start thinking about right
13:46now. Maybe we better, because... Because what, Terry? You don't know, Luke, about my dreams.
13:52For God's sake, this is no time for dreams. Hello? This is Diana One calling. That isn't going
13:57to do any good, Gordon. This is what I dreamed, that we'd lose contact. I remember that, that
14:04humming sound. You'll never get through it, even if we make Skylab. That would mean that...
14:11Thanks to me, the first woman, the jinx, we're lost. We're lost in space.
14:20Can you imagine being condemned to wander in space till food and oxygen gave out? Or the
14:35orbiting vehicle you made your home plunged through the friction of the atmosphere to roast you to
14:41ashes in fire and flame? The very thought of it makes my blood run cold. But perhaps,
14:50you will prove to be made of sterner stuff. For another full orbit, the Diana One circled
15:00the Earth. But it seemed that all communication was irretrievably gone. On all frequencies, on
15:08all tracking stations our astronauts tried to raise, they heard only that high, oscillating
15:14hum. Well, we've got to face it. We're clear out of touch. There's only one thing left to
15:22do. Make the dock ourselves. Well, we've used up a critical amount of fuel out of tootinizing
15:27ourselves to try to pick up Capcom signals. I know. Do we go for a dock this time around
15:31and wait till next orbit? Well, we've repositioned all the way around this time. We'll never be
15:36aligned more favorably. With a tweak, Baron, we ought to have precise apogee and gain on her
15:41enough to lock on to target with radar. How soon will we see the lab? 25 to 20 miles we
15:47ought to have clear. There she is. Ahead and just a little bit above us. She's right, Gordy.
15:53Okay. We'll intercept. We're on our own. We're going to have to chase for a while, but we're
16:00locked on by radar and fitting. Right on the money. Tight as an oyster. No thanks to me.
16:14What do you mean, Gordon? What is it, Skip? I don't know. Do you remember how we began to
16:20roll and swing over the Pacific? I thought you were maneuvering for the lock. I was trying
16:26to, but the ship just seemed to take over. We were rolling at 36 degrees a second. You
16:31pulled her out. It wasn't me. Now don't you understand, I couldn't fly her at all. We
16:38were rolling so bad and yawing, I thought we were going to lose any control and go toppling
16:42end over end. But we didn't, thanks to you. Not me. It felt like, well, it was just like
16:50ground or someone took over and was flying the ship. Someone else brought it into lock,
16:56not me. So what's the difference? We came home. Shall I open up the hatch so we can get
17:00into Skylab? We ought to secure everything here. We're airtight. We can get that later.
17:06We've got to reach ground. If we can't get in touch with Capcom... Oh, I'm afraid you can't.
17:12You see, we have jammed it. How do you do? I am Dracon. I have been waiting for you.
17:21Who's that? Who's that? I have said, Dracon is my name. Before I ask the other questions,
17:28where are you? I am here. Where's he hiding, Gordy? You know the setup here. But my dear
17:35earthling, I am not hiding. I ain't seen you yet. Nor will you. I am not made like you,
17:43nor are you civilized enough to be able to imagine me. Now, wait a minute. Hold it, Luke.
17:49Mr. Dracon, if I have your name right. The title is meaningless for me. And even the name
17:56is only an approximation in translation to your tongue. Call me then Dracon. Very well.
18:03Dracon. Who are you? I will try to simplify. I am not of your galaxy. I am a Centauri 7,
18:14a quintillion of light years from your solar system. What's going on, Gordy? It's the sort
18:19of thing I dreamed. It would be easier if you had a presence, Dracon. We could talk more sensibly
18:26then. Ah, no. I believe to the contrary. You could not conceive of me even if I could
18:33make some emanation before your eyes. No, the voice must be enough. Then what is it you want?
18:42For you to come with me. Supposing we refuse. But there's no way you can. I am going to take
18:49you to Centauri 7. A quintillion years away? Time is a relative factor. We shall go by
18:58time warp. But even so, I am a doctor. I must face physiological facts. I don't know what your
19:08physiology may be, but if we, earthlings as you call us, should pass a destination a quintillion
19:16years away. We wouldn't arrive as anything more than dust. I have said that time is a
19:24relative factor. We must leave. Are you ready to go? How? The trip will be short and not
19:31unpleasant. All those quintillions of miles? The advantage of the fifth dimension, the time
19:39warp, I mentioned. But time is relative, as you said. Who's to say that your time won't
19:46destroy us? How long will it take us? In your time, you would indeed be infinitesimal
19:53dust, as the doctor maintains. In our time, a millimeter of a second, of which we have wasted
20:00quite enough. Shall we go?
20:08Here are your quarters. We have tried to construct them in appearance and solidity as those places
20:14you live on earth. There are two bedrooms. One for the spouses and one for the drone.
20:21There will be food. You are welcome. We wish you to live as you live on your planet.
20:29For how long?
20:30We must control that. You are free to do as you will in these areas.
20:36Two bedrooms. Two baths. Living room. Dining area. Fully equipped kitchen. That's upper-class
20:45New York. Maybe six, seven hundred a month. Furnished up to a grand. Well, except for one
20:51thing.
20:52And that is?
20:54Out a window. And outside of closets and the room is only one door out of here.
21:00Which, unfortunately, we must keep locked. Why?
21:04We have our own security. I think occasionally you earthlings must have caught a glimpse of
21:10our machines. We have been observing you for some time.
21:14Why?
21:15For reasons of our own. Our saucers have even landed on occasions, too, as you do in your
21:22flights to the moon, for example, to pick up informative material. We have even considered
21:28gathering some of you before this. But in the areas we landed, we did not consider the
21:34specimens quite satisfactory. We do very much consider you excellent representatives of
21:41your primitive culture. We have selected you as, what is a word you use? Guinea pigs.
21:49You mean we're going to be locked up here like in a laboratory cage?
21:54Yes. So we can study you. Now I leave you to get adapted to your new surroundings.
22:06I have brought the earthlings, oh, ancient one.
22:10You did not pluck them from the planet itself?
22:15No, ancient one. From the atmosphere. From one of their spaceships.
22:20Why did you pick these?
22:24One is a female. Our first opportunity to gather such a specimen without alerting the earthlings.
22:32So be it.
22:35What is your wish now, Reitam?
22:39Permission to start the test.
22:42As you wish.
22:43Gordon, there's nothing in the big bedroom. It's just a box with some furniture. No openings
22:56anywhere. Any luck here?
22:58The front door doesn't have a handle, let alone a lock. The only openings are that vent up there
23:04and one on the floor on the opposite side. Air vents, obviously. Otherwise we wouldn't be able
23:09to breathe. You find anything, Luke? You think it's okay to talk? No, but we might as well.
23:16I'm sure we're bugged and they hear everything we say. What did you find?
23:20Nothing. You?
23:21Neither of us.
23:23Except two air vents in this room. If there was some way to... You hear a kind of hiss?
23:30Yes. And... Oh, it's getting stifling in here.
23:37They've turned on some kind of heat. Damn. What are they trying to do?
23:41I've got to get this suit off. I'm sorry, Terry.
23:45Oh, it's okay, Luke. Just forget I'm a woman.
23:49That'll be a day for the old prowler. Have a let's strip down. Come on.
23:53Well, nobody needs to have any hang-ups. I can tell you, as a doctor, we can stay in
24:01our thermals. It's safer if they try to roast us alive. Where's that ever-loving heat coming
24:07from? Probably the vent at floor level. Yes. Hey, come on. Let's all stuff our suits against
24:13it. Maybe we can keep it out. Good thinking, Charlie Brown. Man, I tell you, this is no way
24:19to go. You rotten sons of guns. Come on. Fight fair and give us a chance. Stop it, Luke.
24:31I don't mind dying. But I want a chance to fight back. Luke, it isn't doing any good. Don't give
24:38them the satisfaction of... Gordon? Yes, Terry, you're right. I don't know if we're just blocking
24:45it or... Wait a minute. What is it? He's testing to see if... They've stopped it. They've stopped
24:52feeding the heat. Thank God. I never could stand heat. I have a... I am scared witless of smothering
25:00to death or burning up in a fire. Who isn't? You all right, Terry? I'm okay, darling, but we've
25:05got to get out of here. How? I don't know. I'll leave that up to you fellows, but we've got
25:10to get away. To where? Anywhere but here. This is only the beginning. The beginning
25:15of what? The tests. Don't you see it? We're guinea pigs. And as a laboratory animal, you know
25:23what all guinea pigs have in common. You're the doctor. You tell us what. They're expendable.
25:30It's getting cooler. We passed the first one, but... Oh, no. What is it, Gordon?
25:37The other vent. Can you hear it? They're starting the Turkish bath treatment again.
25:43It's just the opposite this time, I think. This is Operation Cold Freeze. How can we get
25:49up to block that vent? Luke, get on the other end of the table there and drag it over.
25:54Roger, Skip. Terry, bring the flight suits. That air is like dry ice. Oh, I can take this
26:02better than heat. Here, Terry, I'll help. Now what, Skip? Oh, this is my weak spot. I can't
26:10stand cold. Ruth, get on table. Terry? Yes, darling? You get up. Luke's shoulders. I... Help.
26:21Then I... I pass flight suits to you. Block out cold air. There you go.
26:28No. I'm okay. Hand me the suits. I'm braced against the wall. Okay, Gordy. It's all right. No need.
26:44They've shut off the freeze. Here are the suits. I got them. Come on down, baby.
26:50Well, you're something to have around. Can you imagine old Gordy and me getting on each
26:58other's shoulders? I'm glad I'm of some use. Now it's the men's turn. What do you mean?
27:04This is only the beginning. How much more of this can we go through? One exposure or another
27:11is going to be too much for one or all of us. Let's try to get out of here. How? Only one
27:17way. The door. What we need is a prize of some kind. Oh, wait a minute. The table. It
27:26has metal legs. Help me turn it over, Luke. Sure. Yeah. There's a flange at the top and
27:35screws. Oh, no. If we just had something... Would you believe? I just happen to have a nail
27:41file. Oh, baby, you are the most. Come on. Let's have at it.
27:47Have we got the flange far enough in between the jamb and the door this time? This looks
27:55like it. Ready? If we do get the door open, then what, darling? First, let's get it open.
28:05Then we'll know. You ready, Luke? Roger. You too, Terry. Give us all the weight you can.
28:10I'm ready. Then all together. Set on the count of three.
28:23Three lost and desperate astronauts far beyond the stars. Should they succeed in opening this
28:31door, what can they hope to find at best? Another world and one apparently hostile to them.
28:40What infinitesimal chance do they have to return to landfall and splashdown on old familiar
28:47Mother Earth? Is there any threat worse to sanity than the unknown? And yet, faced with
28:58the prospect of death by any factor of the known, which of us would not gamble and reach for
29:05the unknown as an alternative. Our three lost astronauts are no different as they struggle to
29:12open a door on... On what? What kind of a world lies beyond it? She's open! But... Nothing.
29:25There's nothing. Nothing outside, but... What? It may look like nothing, but it's solid. It might just as
29:34well be a wall. For you, it is. For us on Centauri 7, it is our world, but not yours. Are you now satisfied?
29:44Nathan? But what do you intend to do with us? We must finish our tests before we tell you that. Now you are weary. First, you must rest.
29:56Terry. Terry. Terry, wake up. Hmm? What? What? Why, Luke? Shh! Don't wake Gordy. I've got to talk to you. What on earth? Please. Please. Come into my room. Okay. Just a second till I find my shoes. Come on. Come on. I'm coming.
30:26What is it?
30:27I've got to talk to you, Terry.
30:32We're all going to die here.
30:34We don't know that.
30:35Well, I do.
30:37And there's something I want before I do.
30:41What are you?
30:41You.
30:43I want you, Terry.
30:45Luke, listen to me.
30:46I'm not listening to anyone anymore, just myself.
30:49Now, Gordy stole you away from me,
30:51but just for once I'm going to steal something away from him.
30:55Gordy is your best friend.
30:56That's for laughs.
30:58Everything I ever wanted in life, I had to fight him for.
31:01The first space flight, the commandership of this one you, he always won.
31:05Came away from me.
31:06Not this time, not this once.
31:08You can't.
31:09I won't.
31:10I'll scream for Gordy.
31:11You do, and you get this in your throat.
31:14If I can't have you, he never will again.
31:16Oh, where did you get that knife?
31:18From the table.
31:18Three of them there.
31:20Okay, Terry.
31:21Come here.
31:21Get away from her, Luke.
31:23Gordy.
31:23Look out.
31:24He has the knife.
31:25So have I.
31:26All right, Luke.
31:27You wanted to use the knife?
31:28Come on.
31:29Try it on me.
31:30That suits me just great.
31:32You bought yourself a real Donnie Brooke.
31:34Stop it.
31:35Stop it, both of you.
31:36Stay out of this, Terry.
31:37I won't stay out of it.
31:38And for the information of both of you, I have a knife, too.
31:42Okay, Luke.
31:43Drop yours.
31:44Let your lousy husband get me in the back, no thanks.
31:47Stay out of this, Terry.
31:48He's had this coming a long time.
31:50Will you listen to me?
31:51Hey, both of you, don't you see this is just another test?
31:56A what?
31:57Don't you remember?
31:58We're guinea pigs.
31:59They're testing every kind of reaction in us.
32:03Luke, please.
32:04I know how you feel about me.
32:07You love me.
32:08That's right, Terry.
32:09But not that way.
32:10As a friend.
32:11As you love Gordon.
32:13Love?
32:14Yes, love.
32:15You weren't made for hate or frustration or violence any more than Gordon is.
32:22It's them, Dracon or whoever they are.
32:26They're putting it all into your heads.
32:29They want to see how far they can provoke us.
32:32How much we can stand.
32:34They're the ones we have to fight.
32:37They're the ones we can't let win.
32:40What am I doing with a knife?
32:45Oh, God, Terry.
32:47Gordy, forgive me.
32:48I didn't know what I was doing.
32:50Neither did I.
32:52I woke up choking with this black hatred and I...
32:56Where did I get this?
32:58They put them on the table.
33:00It's just as I said.
33:01Another of their tests.
33:03What's that smell?
33:06It's coming from this lower vent.
33:09It smells like...
33:10Bitter almonds.
33:13That's cyanide.
33:14Get away from there.
33:15They've sealed up the door again.
33:17We've got to get out of here.
33:18The bed...
33:19No, no, no.
33:20They're louvered doors.
33:21It'll seep through.
33:22We've got to get away entirely.
33:23How?
33:24Even if we could get the door open again, I...
33:27I thought of it when the heat was coming in before.
33:30I think the cover on that vent up there is loose.
33:33It's big enough to crawl through.
33:35Get the other table, Luke.
33:36Drag it over.
33:39I've got the table leg that we used on the door.
33:42Maybe I can pry it open with that.
33:44Come on, Luke.
33:45The smell is getting heavier.
33:47I'm with you.
33:48Okay.
33:49Now give Terry a hand up.
33:51There you go.
33:52Now open my shoulders.
33:55I've got the table leg.
33:56All right.
33:57I give it to her.
33:59Then support her while she levers it.
34:01Okay, Terry.
34:02Yes.
34:03I think I can.
34:06It's quite loose.
34:08I'm sure I can.
34:10Look out!
34:12Can you scramble in there?
34:14If...
34:14If I can just...
34:17Get your hands under her left foot, Luke.
34:18Roger.
34:20I'll get mine under the other.
34:21Now.
34:22Lift.
34:24All right, Terry?
34:26Yes.
34:27There's a duct.
34:30I can't see where it goes.
34:32Is it big enough for all of us to get through?
34:34Yes, but...
34:35But how?
34:36You're smaller than I am, Luke.
34:38I'll give you a leg up and Terry can lift from above.
34:40What about you?
34:41I'll get a chair.
34:42And you can haul me up from there.
34:44Come on.
34:45Let's not waste any time.
34:46The smell is getting stronger.
34:48Terry?
34:57What, Gordon?
34:58Why are you stopping?
35:00Another turn?
35:01No.
35:02It's a dead end.
35:04Oh, no.
35:05Are you sure?
35:06It's blocked in front.
35:08And I'm both stuck.
35:10Wait a minute.
35:11What?
35:12It's open above.
35:14Like a chimney.
35:15How wide is it?
35:17Just a moment.
35:19It's round.
35:20About two...
35:22No.
35:23No, maybe three feet in diameter.
35:25Any light?
35:26No.
35:26Just as dark in here.
35:28It's no use.
35:29We'll have to go back.
35:30We can't go back.
35:32Not to that cyanide.
35:33Maybe they stop pumping it in.
35:34What else can we do?
35:35We can try what mountain climbers do.
35:37What?
35:38Terry?
35:39Yes, Gordon.
35:40Can you stand up where you are?
35:44Yes.
35:45I think if I...
35:47Yes.
35:48I'm standing with my head in the chimney.
35:50All right.
35:51Now listen carefully.
35:53Remember when we climbed old Baldy?
35:56Yes.
35:57A million years ago.
35:58Now hang in, baby.
35:59Don't you flake out on him.
36:01I won't.
36:02You mean that guide that showed us how to chimney climb?
36:05Yes.
36:06Now turn towards me and put your back against the wall.
36:10Now, can you get your feet up there on the other side?
36:13Just about.
36:15Then I break my back and then push up, right?
36:18Right.
36:19Then slide your feet up an inch or two and keep repeating.
36:22Roger.
36:24You'll have to go next, Luke.
36:25You get it?
36:26I get the idea.
36:28But supposing that thing's 30 or 40 feet tall?
36:31We go as far as we can,
36:33and we all fall and break our necks together.
36:35Hold it.
36:44What now?
36:45It's getting wider,
36:46but I think it's another dead end.
36:48Oh, not another chimney.
36:50I couldn't make it.
36:52This one goes down.
36:54There's a draft and...
36:56Oh, Lord.
36:58What?
36:58We only had a light.
37:00I have only one match left.
37:02I've been saving it.
37:03It's...
37:04It's wider.
37:06You think you could come up here?
37:07I'll try.
37:09Watch it, darling.
37:11You're...
37:12You're right at the edge.
37:14Where do you suppose this could go?
37:16There's fresh air.
37:18Maybe outside.
37:19Let's see.
37:22Maybe we've gotten a break at last.
37:24That's only about a 30-degree pitch.
37:26Well, there goes the match.
37:31Yeah, but where goes the tunnel?
37:33I'll let you know any moment.
37:35If anything happens to me,
37:36you and Luke can try going back.
37:38Oh, no, sir.
37:40Anyone tries the roller coaster,
37:42old Luke gets to go first.
37:44No, Luke.
37:45Here I go.
37:47Feet first.
37:49Too bad I forgot my parachute.
37:50You're on the board.
37:57Luke.
37:59Luke, are you all right?
38:01I didn't break anything.
38:04Should we come ahead?
38:06Might as well.
38:09But you sure ain't gonna like it
38:11when you get here.
38:12All that for nothing.
38:23Right back where we started.
38:25At least we don't have to bother
38:26about trying the lower vent.
38:28We know where it goes to.
38:31And at least there's none of that cyanide gas.
38:33Yeah, but now what?
38:35Now we have finished
38:36with our external examination.
38:39I am sorry to say
38:40that the continuation of our test program
38:42may be even more unpleasant.
38:45Now, look.
38:45If you'll let Captain Strong
38:47and my wife go,
38:48you can dress them in it, old buddy.
38:50Same offer here, Draycon,
38:52or whatever your name is.
38:54Only I stay.
38:55I'm afraid not satisfactory.
38:58The female is essential
38:59for more reasons than one.
39:02Why?
39:03First of all,
39:04your physiology is quite different
39:06from the male.
39:07We will want to study that.
39:09Secondly, you are a doctor.
39:12We can use your expertise
39:14to dissect your male companions
39:16so that we may study
39:18how to work on you.
39:20No.
39:21Absolutely not.
39:22I won't lift a finger to help you.
39:24Suppose we were to offer
39:26to let your husband go.
39:28I'll answer that.
39:29No.
39:30Let me.
39:32Darling,
39:33I'd gladly die for you.
39:35But I couldn't kill for you.
39:37I wouldn't expect you to.
39:39I love you.
39:41I love you.
39:43And we both love you, Luke.
39:45One for all
39:46and all for one.
39:48I guess we bought it for good this time.
39:51But wherever we go,
39:53we stick together.
39:56Very well, Northlings.
39:58I will give you your wish.
39:59You'll have to execute a turnaround.
40:07Hey, Diana,
40:08one,
40:08do you read me?
40:10I read you loud and clear.
40:11Why?
40:13I don't know.
40:14Funny thing.
40:16I had a local notion
40:17we all did down here
40:19that we lost you
40:20for a couple of seconds.
40:22Not as far as I know.
40:24You didn't notice
40:25a kind of a time lag?
40:28Hold it, Capcom.
40:30You hear him, Luke?
40:31Mac?
40:32Yeah.
40:32I don't know what he's talking about.
40:34You, Terry?
40:35I...
40:36Capcom to Diana,
40:37one,
40:38do you read me?
40:39I read you.
40:40We registered
40:41a sort of oscillator hum
40:43during that two-second gap.
40:45How about you?
40:46I didn't hear it.
40:48Have a sec.
40:49Do you pick up anything
40:50on instruments, Luke?
40:51Or hear a sort of oscillator hum?
40:54I did.
40:56Just like in my dreams.
40:59Or...
41:00I think I did.
41:07And are you sure
41:09as they come,
41:11the Earth people
41:12will know nothing
41:13of our interference?
41:15Oh, ancient one,
41:17in their time reference,
41:19they were missing
41:19but the blink of an eye.
41:21And the three
41:23who were here
41:24will not remember.
41:26Can the eye
41:27of an earthling
41:28see a bullet?
41:29Can it follow
41:30the speed of light?
41:32They will not remember.
41:34As to the planet itself,
41:38what is your recommendation?
41:42Observing them
41:42close at hand,
41:44particularly the female one,
41:45I have seen
41:47a capability
41:48for self-sacrifice
41:50and love.
41:51There is some hope
41:53for them, then.
41:55We might allow them
41:57another millennium
41:58to better themselves.
42:01So be it.
42:03We will allow
42:04the earthlings
42:05one final chance.
42:08So there are
42:15no such things
42:16as flying saucers
42:17and strangers
42:19out of space.
42:20And man
42:21is the only creature
42:22to travel the roads
42:24among the stars.
42:26I wonder.
42:28Oh, well,
42:29it may not be
42:30too much longer
42:31before we find out
42:32for sure.
42:34Only a few
42:35thousand years.
42:36A thousand years.
42:49The millennium.
42:51Perhaps the one
42:52mentioned in
42:53the book of the Revelation
42:54when the angel
42:56came down from heaven
42:57with the key
42:58to the bottomless pit
42:59and a great chain
43:01in his hand.
43:03And he bound
43:04the devil
43:04and cast him
43:05into the pit
43:06and sealed it
43:07so that he should
43:08deceive the nations
43:09no more.
43:11Not a bad idea.
43:15Not a bad idea
43:16at all.
43:18We could all begin
43:19with the devil
43:20in all of us.
43:22It might just
43:23be worth a try.
43:26Our cast included
43:27Julia Meade,
43:28Sidney Walker,
43:29Ira Lewis,
43:30and Jack Grimes.
43:32The entire production
43:33was under the direction
43:34of Hyman Brown.
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