WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:11.000 Adventures in time and space transcribed in future deep. 00:11.000 --> 00:28.000 The National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Street and Smith, 00:28.000 --> 00:48.000 publishers of astounding science fiction, bring you Dimension X. 00:48.000 --> 00:58.000 The rocket drove through space like a silver fish in an endless tank, the stars in black velocities swirling by. 00:58.000 --> 01:08.000 Inside her case, tiny, finite specks of humanity controlled the tremendous power that entailed her so relentlessly toward the other galaxies. 01:08.000 --> 01:16.000 Who were these men? What mad, fantastic need and desire that caused them to abandon Mother Earth 01:16.000 --> 01:19.000 and venture to the ends of the universe. 01:19.000 --> 01:20.000 Captain Hollis. 01:20.000 --> 01:21.000 What is it Stone? 01:21.000 --> 01:23.000 Magnetic storm dead ahead sir. 01:23.000 --> 01:24.000 Any aperture? 01:24.000 --> 01:27.000 About a hundred mile gap between elements sir but shifting rapidly. 01:27.000 --> 01:29.000 Switch on the radar screen, let's have a look. 01:29.000 --> 01:30.000 Yes sir. 01:30.000 --> 01:33.000 There are asteroids in it Captain. 01:33.000 --> 01:37.000 I see that. Thank you Stone. 01:37.000 --> 01:39.000 Sir? 01:39.000 --> 01:40.000 What? 01:40.000 --> 01:42.000 Any change in course? 01:42.000 --> 01:43.000 What for? 01:43.000 --> 01:44.000 For start sir. 01:44.000 --> 01:47.000 If I decide to change course I'll issue the order. 01:47.000 --> 01:50.000 At the rate we're approaching it'll be too late to issue an order. 01:50.000 --> 01:53.000 Mr. Stone do I need to remind you who's master of this ship? 01:53.000 --> 01:59.000 Look sir there are 25 other lives to be considered beside their own. Those asteroids shipped out are our courses. 01:59.000 --> 02:00.000 That's enough Stone. 02:00.000 --> 02:01.000 It's not enough Captain. 02:01.000 --> 02:03.000 Return to your post. 02:03.000 --> 02:08.000 Captain for God's sake don't be pig headed about this. There's a magnetic storm dead ahead. 02:08.000 --> 02:14.000 Are you going to risk the lives of all of us just so you can hang your hat on some lousy interplanetary weapon? 02:14.000 --> 02:16.000 We know this means a lot to you. 02:16.000 --> 02:19.000 Sure you can be fleet admiral if you beat those asianic ships to Venus. 02:19.000 --> 02:22.000 That's fine but we value our lives. 02:22.000 --> 02:27.000 I happen to value my life just as much as any man aboard this craft Mr. Stone. 02:27.000 --> 02:31.000 But I wasn't brought up to be a lily livered dare nothing. 02:31.000 --> 02:36.000 Now get back to your post or I'll have you court martialed. 02:36.000 --> 02:39.000 Well Mr. Stone? 02:39.000 --> 02:40.000 Okay. 02:40.000 --> 02:42.000 Okay what Mr. Stone? 02:42.000 --> 02:47.000 Okay sir. 02:47.000 --> 02:49.000 Imprudent young chick. 02:49.000 --> 02:51.000 Maybe he's right with us. 02:51.000 --> 02:56.000 You stick to being ship's doctor. You're good at that. I'll navigate this dish. 02:56.000 --> 02:58.000 Really Captain? 02:58.000 --> 03:03.000 Surely I'd hate to pile up on some little asteroid especially when a simple thing like changing course. 03:03.000 --> 03:05.000 A simple thing? 03:05.000 --> 03:08.000 Do you know what a changing course would mean? 03:08.000 --> 03:13.000 The slightest deflection would throw us a million miles off at this speed. 03:13.000 --> 03:16.000 It'd take days to get back on the vector. 03:16.000 --> 03:23.000 By that time one of the asianic ships would have landed on Venus and claimed the whole blasted planet. 03:23.000 --> 03:25.000 We're in a race Charles. 03:25.000 --> 03:29.000 Well I suppose they did claim Venus. There's nothing but rocks and jungle anyway. 03:29.000 --> 03:32.000 It isn't that. It's the idea of someone beating it. 03:32.000 --> 03:37.000 You know Lewis, I always get a little bit jittery when men are willing to die. 03:37.000 --> 03:38.000 The symbol. 03:38.000 --> 03:40.000 You're a cynic. 03:40.000 --> 03:42.000 Get Morlis. Get Morlis. 03:42.000 --> 03:44.000 Morlis? What is it Master? 03:44.000 --> 03:47.000 The radar tracking shows a foreign object dead ahead. 03:47.000 --> 03:48.000 What? 03:48.000 --> 03:50.000 Check your screen sir. 03:50.000 --> 03:54.000 Good lord the whole blasted storm has shifted dead on. 03:54.000 --> 03:55.000 Answered room. 03:55.000 --> 03:56.000 Mission chamber. 03:56.000 --> 03:58.000 Fire up your starboard cyclotron. 03:58.000 --> 03:59.000 Aye sir. 03:59.000 --> 04:01.000 You can't make it in time Lewis. 04:01.000 --> 04:03.000 Listen to that radar. Now, shut up. 04:06.000 --> 04:08.000 Now hear this. Now hear this. 04:08.000 --> 04:10.000 Condition red. 04:10.000 --> 04:12.000 Pass in your space suits. 04:15.000 --> 04:17.000 Over cyclotron at capacity. 04:17.000 --> 04:19.000 Over the vision chamber. Emergency blast. 04:19.000 --> 04:20.000 Aye sir. 04:20.000 --> 04:22.000 We're taking it on. 04:22.000 --> 04:23.000 Repeat off. 04:23.000 --> 04:24.000 You think we'll make it? 04:24.000 --> 04:25.000 We've got to make it. 04:25.000 --> 04:27.000 Suppose one of those asteroids decides to shift. 04:27.000 --> 04:31.000 Will you shut up? 04:31.000 --> 04:32.000 It doesn't sound good Lewis. 04:32.000 --> 04:35.000 Another five seconds. 04:35.000 --> 04:37.000 Four. 04:37.000 --> 04:39.000 Three. 04:39.000 --> 04:40.000 Two. 04:40.000 --> 04:41.000 There was a meteorite. Good god. 04:41.000 --> 04:43.000 Look out! 04:48.000 --> 04:50.000 Hello. 04:50.000 --> 04:52.000 Hello anyone. 04:52.000 --> 04:54.000 Can you hear me? 04:54.000 --> 04:57.000 I can see you floating out there. Can you hear me? 04:57.000 --> 04:59.000 For god's sake, answer if you can. 04:59.000 --> 05:01.000 I don't want to just float out here alone. 05:01.000 --> 05:03.000 Stone, is that you? 05:03.000 --> 05:04.000 Who is it? 05:04.000 --> 05:05.000 Captain Hollis. 05:05.000 --> 05:06.000 What happened? 05:06.000 --> 05:09.000 We struck an asteroid. Ship blew up. 05:09.000 --> 05:10.000 Is anybody else alive? 05:10.000 --> 05:12.000 I don't know. 05:12.000 --> 05:17.000 I can see some space suits floating in space not far from me, but I don't know if they're alive. 05:17.000 --> 05:19.000 Maybe they just don't hear us. 05:19.000 --> 05:21.000 Their radios are working, they do. 05:21.000 --> 05:23.000 Hello? 05:23.000 --> 05:25.000 Hello somebody. 05:25.000 --> 05:27.000 Doc, is that you? 05:27.000 --> 05:28.000 Lewis? 05:28.000 --> 05:29.000 Yes. 05:29.000 --> 05:32.000 Thank god. Anybody else alive? 05:32.000 --> 05:33.000 Stone. 05:33.000 --> 05:34.000 Hello doctor. 05:34.000 --> 05:36.000 Oh, are you alright? 05:36.000 --> 05:37.000 Okay so far. 05:37.000 --> 05:39.000 That's three of us anyway. 05:39.000 --> 05:40.000 Lewis. 05:40.000 --> 05:41.000 Yes? 05:41.000 --> 05:44.000 We, we seem to be moving away from each other. 05:44.000 --> 05:47.000 See that's right. I can hardly see you now. 05:47.000 --> 05:51.000 It's the momentum. We were all thrown in different directions. 05:51.000 --> 05:54.000 If there's no friction, we'll pick up speed. 05:54.000 --> 05:57.000 Isn't there some way we could stick together at least? 05:57.000 --> 05:59.000 I'm afraid not. 05:59.000 --> 06:02.000 If there's no friction, then there's nothing to stop us. 06:02.000 --> 06:04.000 That's right, Stone. 06:04.000 --> 06:07.000 But then we'll, we'll just keep falling. Maybe forever. 06:07.000 --> 06:09.000 Not forever. 06:09.000 --> 06:14.000 You'll fall until you get into one of the gravitational fields of some planet. 06:14.000 --> 06:17.000 After that you'll fall toward the planet. 06:17.000 --> 06:20.000 Mother in heaven, what a way to die. 06:20.000 --> 06:22.000 Nobody's going to die. 06:22.000 --> 06:27.000 Those Asiatic ships will be along this way. We can radio to them when they get in range. 06:27.000 --> 06:29.000 Aren't you forgetting something, Lewis? 06:29.000 --> 06:31.000 Eh, what's that? 06:31.000 --> 06:36.000 The commanders of those other ships may not be quite so willing to run through a magnetic storm. 06:36.000 --> 06:38.000 They may have altered course. 06:38.000 --> 06:40.000 If they have, they won't come within a million miles of us. 06:40.000 --> 06:43.000 Well, that's to take our chances on that. 06:43.000 --> 06:45.000 It's a long way down. 06:45.000 --> 06:48.000 A long, long way down. 06:48.000 --> 06:50.000 Let's have no talk of that kind, Stone. 06:50.000 --> 06:51.000 I don't want to die. 06:51.000 --> 06:52.000 Stone, I said can it. 06:52.000 --> 06:53.000 Can it yourself. 06:53.000 --> 06:54.000 What? 06:54.000 --> 06:55.000 You heard me. 06:55.000 --> 06:57.000 This is a mutiny of one. 06:57.000 --> 07:01.000 Don't try to put your ink on me now, mister. You'll be ten thousand miles away in another hour. 07:01.000 --> 07:04.000 So help me, I'll have you caught, Marshals, when we're picked up. 07:04.000 --> 07:06.000 Let's not kid ourselves. 07:06.000 --> 07:08.000 Nobody's going to be picked up. 07:08.000 --> 07:13.000 I've got a few things to get off my chest before we lose contact with each other. 07:13.000 --> 07:14.000 No, when I drop this... 07:14.000 --> 07:15.000 Let him talk. 07:15.000 --> 07:16.000 Thanks. 07:16.000 --> 07:20.000 Your ship was a bad ship, and you were a bad captain. 07:20.000 --> 07:23.000 I hope you break when you hit the moon. 07:23.000 --> 07:25.000 Thanks for the goodwill, Stone. 07:25.000 --> 07:26.000 That isn't all. 07:26.000 --> 07:29.000 I believe there are different kinds of deaths, Captain. 07:29.000 --> 07:32.000 John says there are different kinds of lives. 07:32.000 --> 07:35.000 Yours should be pretty interesting because you've been dead for years. 07:35.000 --> 07:36.000 Stone! 07:36.000 --> 07:37.000 Let him. 07:37.000 --> 07:40.000 When was the last time you had an honest human feeling, Captain? 07:40.000 --> 07:43.000 Oh, but you don't even remember when. 07:43.000 --> 07:47.000 I don't think you're capable of any kind of strong feeling. 07:47.000 --> 07:49.000 Do you have a wife, Captain? 07:49.000 --> 07:52.000 I'll bet she won't miss you one bit. 07:52.000 --> 07:53.000 Children? 07:53.000 --> 07:56.000 I have a son, a little boy. 07:56.000 --> 07:59.000 Maybe he'll grow up to be a hero like his daddy. 07:59.000 --> 08:03.000 A tin hero with a piece of stone where other men have hearts. 08:03.000 --> 08:06.000 Are you quite finished? 08:06.000 --> 08:09.000 I've said it. 08:09.000 --> 08:10.000 Well, so long, Doc. 08:10.000 --> 08:11.000 So long. 08:11.000 --> 08:13.000 I'm headed for the sun. 08:13.000 --> 08:17.000 Somehow I don't like the idea of falling into the sun. 08:17.000 --> 08:19.000 I'm going to take a quicker way out. 08:19.000 --> 08:21.000 No, Stone, don't be a fool. 08:21.000 --> 08:24.000 I'm going to smash the base plate on my helmet and let the oxygen escape. 08:24.000 --> 08:25.000 Stone, don't do it. 08:25.000 --> 08:26.000 We're going to be rescued. 08:26.000 --> 08:27.000 Stone! 08:27.000 --> 08:29.000 See you all in some other universe? 08:29.000 --> 08:32.000 God have mercy. 08:32.000 --> 08:34.000 He was headed for the sun. 08:34.000 --> 08:36.000 I can barely see him now. 08:36.000 --> 08:39.000 Looks like mercury for me. 08:39.000 --> 08:41.000 How about you, Lewis? 08:41.000 --> 08:45.000 I'm headed for Earth. 08:45.000 --> 08:51.000 Funny, isn't it, that I should be going back to Mother Earth this way? 08:51.000 --> 08:54.000 I'm nothing but a human meteor, Charles. 08:54.000 --> 08:58.000 When I hit the Earth's atmosphere, I'll burn like a match. 08:58.000 --> 09:10.000 Charles? 09:10.000 --> 09:14.000 Charles, can you still hear me? 09:14.000 --> 09:16.000 I can hear you. 09:16.000 --> 09:18.000 It's getting fainter now. 09:18.000 --> 09:20.000 We must be several thousand miles apart. 09:20.000 --> 09:26.000 We should be able to talk for another 20 minutes or so at the speed we're falling away from each other. 09:26.000 --> 09:29.000 What are you thinking about, Lewis? 09:29.000 --> 09:33.000 I was thinking about Stone, what he said. 09:33.000 --> 09:35.000 Don't let it get you. 09:35.000 --> 09:36.000 You know, in a way, he was right. 09:36.000 --> 09:38.000 He was insane. 09:38.000 --> 09:40.000 Shock knocked him off balance. 09:40.000 --> 09:41.000 No. 09:41.000 --> 09:44.000 Each of us dies in a different way. 09:44.000 --> 09:48.000 Each of us has his own life to look back on. 09:48.000 --> 09:51.000 Huh? 09:51.000 --> 09:54.000 What's that? 09:54.000 --> 09:56.000 I don't know. 09:56.000 --> 09:58.000 It sounds like... 09:58.000 --> 10:00.000 Lester? 10:00.000 --> 10:02.000 Hello? 10:02.000 --> 10:03.000 Hello, Lester? 10:03.000 --> 10:07.000 Can you hear us? 10:07.000 --> 10:09.000 I don't think so. 10:09.000 --> 10:15.000 It's possible the sending unit of this radio is working, but the receiving unit is damaged. 10:15.000 --> 10:22.000 Singing goons tend to keep up their nerve. 10:22.000 --> 10:25.000 Hello? Hello? Anybody alive? 10:25.000 --> 10:28.000 This is Engineer's mate, Addy Lester. 10:28.000 --> 10:30.000 Hello? 10:30.000 --> 10:34.000 Mother of Heaven, ain't there somebody that talked to me at least? 10:34.000 --> 10:36.000 Lester, Lester, can you hear me? 10:36.000 --> 10:38.000 Hello? Listen, anybody? 10:38.000 --> 10:42.000 If you can hear me, this is Engineer's mate, Addy Lester. 10:42.000 --> 10:44.000 We had an accident. 10:44.000 --> 10:45.000 We were... 10:45.000 --> 10:47.000 Oh, what's the issue? 10:47.000 --> 10:49.000 He doesn't even know we can hear him. 10:49.000 --> 10:51.000 Poor devil may have forgotten to switch on his receiving unit. 10:51.000 --> 10:54.000 Well, there are three of us again anyway. 10:54.000 --> 10:57.000 There isn't much comfort. Maybe... 10:57.000 --> 10:59.000 Maybe Stone's the way he is best. 10:59.000 --> 11:02.000 Don't be a fool. They're going to be picked up. 11:02.000 --> 11:03.000 I doubt it. 11:03.000 --> 11:06.000 They must. I must. 11:06.000 --> 11:10.000 I have too much to accomplish in life to die like this. 11:10.000 --> 11:14.000 Fellow like Stone or Lester become a dime a dozen. 11:14.000 --> 11:18.000 I was in line to be commander of the whole fleet. 11:18.000 --> 11:21.000 You know what that means, Charles? 11:21.000 --> 11:23.000 Commander of the hemisphere. 11:23.000 --> 11:25.000 No, I don't know what it means. 11:25.000 --> 11:28.000 I never wanted to be commander of anything but myself. 11:28.000 --> 11:30.000 And I never even came close to that. 11:30.000 --> 11:32.000 Helen was counting on it. 11:32.000 --> 11:34.000 Stevie too, in his own little way. 11:34.000 --> 11:35.000 And hard as for Helen. 11:35.000 --> 11:37.000 Seeley's too young to understand. 11:37.000 --> 11:38.000 He'll know. 11:38.000 --> 11:41.000 He'll know his daddy went out with his ship. 11:41.000 --> 11:43.000 Like a man. 11:43.000 --> 11:47.000 They'll give him a medal. 11:47.000 --> 11:51.000 Lewis, I'm beginning to think that maybe Stone was right about you. 11:51.000 --> 11:53.000 What? 11:53.000 --> 11:54.000 What do you mean? 11:54.000 --> 11:55.000 Oh, nothing. 11:55.000 --> 11:58.000 No, no, Charles. I want to know. 11:58.000 --> 12:01.000 We've shipped together a good many years. 12:01.000 --> 12:04.000 You never told me what you really think of me. 12:04.000 --> 12:07.000 Whether or not you've envied my success. 12:07.000 --> 12:09.000 I'd like to know now. 12:09.000 --> 12:11.000 We've nothing to do but talk anyway. 12:11.000 --> 12:16.000 I have never envied anything except the fact that you're falling back to Earth, Lewis. 12:16.000 --> 12:20.000 I've admired you as I admired some sort of perfect machine. 12:20.000 --> 12:22.000 But that's where it stopped. 12:22.000 --> 12:24.000 You know the trouble with you, Lewis? 12:24.000 --> 12:25.000 Well? 12:25.000 --> 12:27.000 You can't cry. 12:27.000 --> 12:28.000 What? 12:28.000 --> 12:30.000 You can't cry. 12:30.000 --> 12:32.000 Well, men don't cry. Only children. 12:32.000 --> 12:35.000 That's what I mean, Lewis. You can't cry. 12:35.000 --> 12:37.000 I don't know what the devil you're babbling about. 12:37.000 --> 12:38.000 I'll skip it. 12:38.000 --> 12:39.000 No, no, look here. There's one thing... 12:39.000 --> 12:41.000 I had a wife on Mars. 12:41.000 --> 12:43.000 I had a wife on Jupiter. 12:43.000 --> 12:45.000 And I had a wife on Venus. 12:45.000 --> 12:49.000 Everyone had met money and treated me well. 12:49.000 --> 12:50.000 What's he babbling about? 12:50.000 --> 12:53.000 I don't know. He seems to be rambling about his life. 12:53.000 --> 12:56.000 I had some nice times, I guess. 12:56.000 --> 12:58.000 Oh, it's Roxy. 12:58.000 --> 13:00.000 He didn't know about any of their mothers. 13:00.000 --> 13:01.000 Roxy. 13:01.000 --> 13:06.000 Managed fifteen years and she still looked like a schoolgirl. 13:06.000 --> 13:08.000 And there's a boy, too. 13:08.000 --> 13:11.000 I don't know what he's doing now. 13:11.000 --> 13:14.000 Oh, Roxy's heart is so mixture. 13:14.000 --> 13:16.000 I don't know what I can smoke a bar. 13:16.000 --> 13:18.000 I'll tell you what I said. 13:18.000 --> 13:23.000 Now, my son, take good care of your own heart and don't get fresh with a girl. 13:23.000 --> 13:27.000 You'd frighten me if you didn't wink at me and smile at women's smiles of his and say, 13:27.000 --> 13:30.000 Oh, Dad, take care of your combat well. 13:30.000 --> 13:34.000 All in all, we miss you terribly much. 13:34.000 --> 13:37.000 Oh, well, Eddie, mister, you can't complain. 13:37.000 --> 13:40.000 You've had the best of it and sound despair. 13:40.000 --> 13:42.000 Simple as that, Will. 13:42.000 --> 13:43.000 Too simple. 13:43.000 --> 13:44.000 I am, Will. 13:44.000 --> 13:45.000 Why? 13:45.000 --> 13:48.000 Because he has all that to hang onto. 13:48.000 --> 13:51.000 Women always tried for me, a handful. 13:51.000 --> 13:55.000 Always wanting them and jealous of men like Lester for having them. 13:55.000 --> 13:59.000 And jealous of him for being able to spend money without fear. 13:59.000 --> 14:02.000 For as much happiness as he could have in his own wild way. 14:02.000 --> 14:04.000 Haven't you ever wanted that? 14:04.000 --> 14:06.000 Don't be a fool. 14:06.000 --> 14:09.000 The difference between us and Lester is that he lives in the present. 14:09.000 --> 14:12.000 He gets into the experience of the moment. 14:12.000 --> 14:16.000 You and I, Lewis, we live in the past and in the future, but never in the present. 14:16.000 --> 14:18.000 Could we change the subject? 14:18.000 --> 14:19.000 I thought you wanted to talk. 14:19.000 --> 14:22.000 Well, let's talk about something else. 14:22.000 --> 14:24.000 Hmm. 14:24.000 --> 14:28.000 Charles? 14:28.000 --> 14:31.000 Charles? 14:31.000 --> 14:35.000 Charles, are you there? 14:35.000 --> 14:37.000 Charles, answer me! 14:37.000 --> 14:39.000 I just switched my auxiliary battery. I'm sorry. 14:39.000 --> 14:42.000 Well, don't...don't do that. 14:42.000 --> 14:44.000 Huh, afraid to be alone? 14:44.000 --> 14:47.000 I've never been afraid of anything in my life, but you know it. 14:47.000 --> 14:51.000 I wonder. 14:51.000 --> 14:57.000 Why doesn't he shut up? 14:57.000 --> 14:58.000 Lewis. 14:58.000 --> 14:59.000 What? 14:59.000 --> 15:02.000 Lewis, I...I got myself into a meteor swarm. 15:02.000 --> 15:03.000 Some little asteroids. 15:03.000 --> 15:04.000 Meteors? 15:04.000 --> 15:12.000 I think it's that marmadone cluster that goes out past Mars and swings into Earth once every five years. 15:12.000 --> 15:14.000 I'm right in the middle of it now. 15:14.000 --> 15:16.000 It's like a big kaleidoscope. 15:16.000 --> 15:20.000 All kinds of colors and shapes and sizes. 15:20.000 --> 15:23.000 God, it's beautiful, all that metal. 15:23.000 --> 15:25.000 I'm going with them. 15:25.000 --> 15:27.000 They take me with them. 15:27.000 --> 15:29.000 Well, happy dog on. 15:29.000 --> 15:31.000 Remember when you were a kid, Lewis? 15:31.000 --> 15:35.000 Telling a kaleidoscope to your eye, gave it a twirl. 15:35.000 --> 15:36.000 That's what I'm part of now. 15:36.000 --> 15:39.000 Keep talking. I can barely hear you now. 15:39.000 --> 15:41.000 They're taking me off, Lewis. 15:41.000 --> 15:43.000 Charles. 15:43.000 --> 15:49.000 Charles, don't leave me alone like this. 15:49.000 --> 15:51.000 Charles! 15:51.000 --> 15:53.000 Charles! 15:53.000 --> 15:58.000 Charles! 15:58.000 --> 16:01.000 Lester? 16:01.000 --> 16:03.000 Lester? 16:03.000 --> 16:05.000 Lester! 16:05.000 --> 16:10.000 Lester, can you hear me? 16:10.000 --> 16:12.000 Hello! 16:12.000 --> 16:14.000 Lester. 16:14.000 --> 16:19.000 Why don't you shut up? 16:19.000 --> 16:25.000 It's all over, Lester. 16:25.000 --> 16:28.000 Just as if it never happened. 16:28.000 --> 16:30.000 You've no regrets, really. 16:30.000 --> 16:32.000 What good does it do you, you fool? 16:32.000 --> 16:34.000 When a thing's over, it's not good anymore. 16:34.000 --> 16:36.000 You're no better off than me. 16:36.000 --> 16:38.000 Look at what I've accomplished. 16:38.000 --> 16:39.000 Rox. 16:39.000 --> 16:44.000 You floating there languishing over some skinny, misbegotten slut of a wife. 16:44.000 --> 16:45.000 Rox. 16:45.000 --> 16:47.000 My wife is beautiful. 16:47.000 --> 16:50.000 Understand? Beautiful. 16:50.000 --> 16:52.000 Like marble. 16:52.000 --> 16:53.000 Like chiseled marble. 16:53.000 --> 16:55.000 You'll find yourself another man. 16:55.000 --> 16:57.000 She'll have some more good times. 16:57.000 --> 16:59.000 No, no, she won't. 16:59.000 --> 17:01.000 She'll be faithful to my memory. 17:01.000 --> 17:03.000 Helen. 17:03.000 --> 17:05.000 Helen, you will be faithful, won't you? 17:05.000 --> 17:09.000 You'll never forget me. 17:09.000 --> 17:11.000 I won't listen! 17:11.000 --> 17:20.000 I'll switch off my radio! 17:20.000 --> 17:23.000 There. 17:23.000 --> 17:27.000 There, that's better. 17:27.000 --> 17:30.000 You're alone now, Captain Hollis. 17:30.000 --> 17:39.000 Alone with yourself and your thoughts and your memories. 17:39.000 --> 17:46.000 Going back to Earth like a human rocket and remembering. 17:46.000 --> 17:51.000 I'll never forget you. 17:51.000 --> 17:53.000 Lewis. 17:53.000 --> 17:55.000 Lewis, is that you? 17:55.000 --> 17:57.000 Yes, Helen, it's me. 17:57.000 --> 17:58.000 I missed you. 17:58.000 --> 18:00.000 Have you? 18:00.000 --> 18:01.000 Didn't you know? 18:01.000 --> 18:03.000 But I thought... 18:03.000 --> 18:04.000 I mean, we quarreled. 18:04.000 --> 18:06.000 Oh, I've forgotten about that. 18:06.000 --> 18:07.000 I, uh... 18:07.000 --> 18:08.000 I had some trouble, Helen. 18:08.000 --> 18:10.000 We won't talk about it. 18:10.000 --> 18:11.000 You're home now. 18:11.000 --> 18:12.000 That's the important thing. 18:12.000 --> 18:14.000 Stevie is so excited. 18:14.000 --> 18:15.000 Stevie, where is he? 18:15.000 --> 18:17.000 Stevie? 18:17.000 --> 18:18.000 Stevie? 18:18.000 --> 18:19.000 Daddy! 18:19.000 --> 18:20.000 Daddy! 18:20.000 --> 18:21.000 Hello, son. 18:21.000 --> 18:23.000 You're going to stay with us this time, aren't you, daddy? 18:23.000 --> 18:27.000 You're going to stay at home and we'll go fishing and play pool together, just like you promised. 18:27.000 --> 18:28.000 Well, Stevie, you... 18:28.000 --> 18:30.000 I'm collecting seashells, dad. 18:30.000 --> 18:31.000 I've got a whole collection of them. 18:31.000 --> 18:33.000 All different colors. 18:33.000 --> 18:34.000 Would you like to see them? 18:34.000 --> 18:35.000 Yes, I would, son. 18:35.000 --> 18:36.000 I'll go up and get them. 18:36.000 --> 18:37.000 I've got them in my room. 18:37.000 --> 18:38.000 Don't go away, dad. 18:38.000 --> 18:39.000 I'll be right back. 18:39.000 --> 18:40.000 I won't. 18:40.000 --> 18:42.000 I won't go away. 18:42.000 --> 18:45.000 He's, uh, quite a little guy, isn't he? 18:45.000 --> 18:48.000 I'm glad you're finally getting together with him. 18:48.000 --> 18:49.000 What? 18:49.000 --> 18:51.000 What do you mean, Helen? 18:51.000 --> 18:53.000 You've always been so... 18:53.000 --> 18:55.000 Well, detached from him. 18:55.000 --> 18:58.000 Stevie's a ten-foot little creature. 18:58.000 --> 19:03.000 All he ever wanted from you really was just a little affection and respect, you know? 19:03.000 --> 19:07.000 Just a little respect for the things he's done and wanted. 19:07.000 --> 19:09.000 I've been a good father. 19:09.000 --> 19:13.000 Nobody can ever say I haven't been a good father. 19:13.000 --> 19:16.000 Certainly not you, not after what happened. 19:16.000 --> 19:17.000 Don't get defensive, Lewis. 19:17.000 --> 19:20.000 Please, that's time to bring us a little closer together. 19:20.000 --> 19:23.000 I've given him everything a boy should have. 19:23.000 --> 19:25.000 Toys, boxing gloves. 19:25.000 --> 19:28.000 I've taught him to hunt and take care of himself. 19:28.000 --> 19:30.000 Yes, you've done all those things. 19:30.000 --> 19:31.000 Well, then. 19:31.000 --> 19:32.000 It's just... 19:32.000 --> 19:38.000 Well, some times when he's come to you, he feels so alone. 19:38.000 --> 19:43.000 All he wants is for you to put your arms around him and reassure him, that's all. 19:43.000 --> 19:45.000 He's going to be a man. 19:45.000 --> 19:46.000 I don't want him to be soft. 19:46.000 --> 19:47.000 What is it, Lewis? 19:47.000 --> 19:50.000 What is there about being soft that you despise? 19:50.000 --> 19:51.000 Just he's a soft. 19:51.000 --> 19:52.000 Christ was soft. 19:52.000 --> 19:54.000 Now, don't start that business again, will you? 19:54.000 --> 19:56.000 I'm trying to make you understand. 19:56.000 --> 19:57.000 Please. 19:57.000 --> 19:59.000 I understand what you're trying to do. 19:59.000 --> 20:01.000 You're like all of them. 20:01.000 --> 20:05.000 They want to make you a woman, like them. 20:05.000 --> 20:09.000 They want to drain you of your manhood so they can control you, manipulate you. 20:09.000 --> 20:11.000 You won't understand, will you? 20:11.000 --> 20:14.000 You won't trust me or anybody else until you're yourself. 20:14.000 --> 20:15.000 Now you're talking belly wash again. 20:15.000 --> 20:17.000 Oh, let's not build that wall between us, Lewis. 20:17.000 --> 20:19.000 Not this time. 20:19.000 --> 20:22.000 I had it all planned when you came back. 20:22.000 --> 20:24.000 We'd get out on the beach. 20:24.000 --> 20:27.000 Remember the spot where we used to swim? 20:27.000 --> 20:31.000 In the moonlight you can see the water all luminous and green. 20:31.000 --> 20:33.000 And then we could have picnic supper there. 20:33.000 --> 20:36.000 Just you and Stevie and me. 20:36.000 --> 20:40.000 Stevie could sleep on the plank and we could go for a swim. 20:40.000 --> 20:45.000 Maybe, maybe we could recapture it, Lewis. 20:45.000 --> 20:48.000 It wasn't always like this. 20:48.000 --> 20:50.000 Maybe if we went back. 20:50.000 --> 20:52.000 I'm sorry, Helen. 20:52.000 --> 20:54.000 I'd like to, really. 20:54.000 --> 20:57.000 But, well, I'm shipping out tonight. 20:57.000 --> 20:58.000 Tonight? 20:58.000 --> 20:59.000 I've got a new command. 20:59.000 --> 21:01.000 A new ship. 21:01.000 --> 21:04.000 Having lunch with the admiral this afternoon. 21:04.000 --> 21:06.000 But you said you'd stay. 21:06.000 --> 21:08.000 This is an important thing, Helen. 21:08.000 --> 21:12.000 This is the most important thing that ever happened to me. 21:12.000 --> 21:14.000 More important than going for a swim. 21:14.000 --> 21:17.000 You don't get a chance of being fleet commander every day. 21:17.000 --> 21:20.000 You can go for a swim any time. 21:20.000 --> 21:22.000 Yes, but we never do. 21:22.000 --> 21:23.000 Now look, honey. 21:23.000 --> 21:27.000 Ever since I was a cadet, I've been pointing toward this job. 21:27.000 --> 21:29.000 It's big. 21:29.000 --> 21:32.000 If I have a success, you can name your own ticket. 21:32.000 --> 21:34.000 Big house up in Connecticut. 21:34.000 --> 21:36.000 Shoford. 21:36.000 --> 21:37.000 Find a school for Steve. 21:37.000 --> 21:39.000 I want you, Lewis. 21:39.000 --> 21:40.000 Now don't be unreasonable. 21:40.000 --> 21:41.000 Don't you be unemotional. 21:41.000 --> 21:42.000 What? 21:42.000 --> 21:43.000 I said don't be unemotional. 21:43.000 --> 21:44.000 I don't understand. 21:44.000 --> 21:46.000 No, I don't suppose you ever will. 21:46.000 --> 21:48.000 Let's not quarrel. 21:48.000 --> 21:54.000 Why do we always end up quarreling? 21:54.000 --> 21:58.000 Well, it's almost time now. 21:58.000 --> 22:02.000 Lewis, let's try once more. 22:02.000 --> 22:04.000 Goodbye, Helen. 22:04.000 --> 22:07.000 Say goodbye to the boy. 22:07.000 --> 22:10.000 All right, Lewis. 22:10.000 --> 22:14.000 Goodbye. 22:14.000 --> 22:18.000 Helen. 22:18.000 --> 22:22.000 Where are you, Helen? 22:22.000 --> 22:26.000 Helen. 22:26.000 --> 22:28.000 Oh, no. 22:28.000 --> 22:30.000 I must be going out of my mind. 22:30.000 --> 22:35.000 The whole thing was nothing but a dream. 22:35.000 --> 22:39.000 If only I had someone to talk to. 22:39.000 --> 22:40.000 Captain? 22:40.000 --> 22:41.000 Captain Hollister, is that you? 22:41.000 --> 22:42.000 Leifster? 22:42.000 --> 22:43.000 Yes. 22:43.000 --> 22:46.000 No, it's just another part of the same nightmare. 22:46.000 --> 22:48.000 Captain Hollister, can you hear me? 22:48.000 --> 22:50.000 Why must I be torched with like this? 22:50.000 --> 22:52.000 If you can hear me, for heaven's sake, don't, sir. 22:52.000 --> 22:55.000 I found a tube loose in this receiver. 22:55.000 --> 22:57.000 I can hear you talking to yourself. 22:57.000 --> 22:58.000 Leifster? 22:58.000 --> 22:59.000 Leifster, is it really you? 22:59.000 --> 23:00.000 Yes, sir. 23:00.000 --> 23:01.000 Thank heavens, Captain. 23:01.000 --> 23:04.000 Oh, any of the others still alive? 23:04.000 --> 23:05.000 Stone went to the sun. 23:05.000 --> 23:07.000 Dr. Carter went off with a meteor swarm. 23:07.000 --> 23:09.000 The others are scattered all over the universe by now. 23:09.000 --> 23:11.000 I'm headed right for Earth. 23:11.000 --> 23:12.000 I'll be in the orbit soon. 23:12.000 --> 23:14.000 It's good to hear your voice, sir. 23:14.000 --> 23:16.000 I was going insane all by myself here. 23:16.000 --> 23:19.000 Seems like I've been singing and talking the whole bloody night. 23:19.000 --> 23:20.000 We heard you. 23:20.000 --> 23:22.000 I'm glad we can reach one another. 23:22.000 --> 23:23.000 We can reach you, sir. 23:23.000 --> 23:25.000 Are you really glad, Leifster? 23:25.000 --> 23:28.000 I should think you'd hate and despise me. 23:28.000 --> 23:29.000 Why, sir? 23:29.000 --> 23:31.000 I could have saved us all by changing course. 23:31.000 --> 23:36.000 Well, the way I see it, Captain, you did what you believed in. 23:36.000 --> 23:38.000 That's the way each of us has to do. 23:38.000 --> 23:39.000 Thank you, Leifster. 23:39.000 --> 23:41.000 How long have you figured we got, sir? 23:41.000 --> 23:43.000 Not long, I'm afraid. At least not me. 23:43.000 --> 23:45.000 It's a terrible thing, isn't it, Captain? 23:45.000 --> 23:49.000 I mean, knowing you're going to die and not being able to do anything. 23:49.000 --> 23:51.000 At least you've got pleasant memories. 23:51.000 --> 23:52.000 Me, sir? 23:52.000 --> 23:55.000 No, never mind the way other beings. 23:55.000 --> 23:59.000 I should think you'd have some good thoughts to remember yourself. 23:59.000 --> 24:02.000 I? I never lived, Leifster. 24:02.000 --> 24:03.000 Sir? 24:03.000 --> 24:04.000 It's true, I never lived. 24:04.000 --> 24:05.000 But you were why? 24:05.000 --> 24:07.000 We were strangers. We never knew each other. 24:07.000 --> 24:08.000 A son? 24:08.000 --> 24:09.000 A son. 24:09.000 --> 24:14.000 Leifster, would you believe it if I told you I'd never put my arms around a boy 24:14.000 --> 24:16.000 and let him know how much I loved him? 24:16.000 --> 24:19.000 Oh, that's hard to believe, sir. 24:19.000 --> 24:20.000 It's true. 24:20.000 --> 24:23.000 It's odd, the way you talk about this, Captain. 24:23.000 --> 24:27.000 I was envied you, your position. You were commander. 24:27.000 --> 24:29.000 I thought so, too, but I know better now. 24:29.000 --> 24:32.000 My whole life was nothing but a running away from my own feelings. 24:32.000 --> 24:34.000 I had everything I really wanted. 24:34.000 --> 24:36.000 All I had to do was reach out my hand. 24:36.000 --> 24:38.000 There was Helen, Stevie, Pleasures. 24:38.000 --> 24:42.000 And I turned my back and looked at the stars. 24:42.000 --> 24:45.000 When they came to me filled with their love and their warmth, I ran. 24:45.000 --> 24:48.000 I fled to the stars and to the ends of the universe. 24:48.000 --> 24:50.000 It was all so wrong. 24:50.000 --> 24:53.000 How did things like that happen to us, Leicester? 24:53.000 --> 24:54.000 I don't know, sir. 24:54.000 --> 24:56.000 We were going to be divorced, Helen and I. 24:56.000 --> 24:57.000 Oh? 24:57.000 --> 24:59.000 Stupid, idiotic. 24:59.000 --> 25:01.000 Well, maybe you'll be picked up, Captain. 25:01.000 --> 25:04.000 There's lots of spaceships taking off from Earth. 25:04.000 --> 25:07.000 Maybe one of them will reach you before you hit the atmosphere. 25:07.000 --> 25:09.000 I dare to hope. 25:09.000 --> 25:11.000 We aren't that lucky, Leicester. 25:11.000 --> 25:13.000 Not many get a second chance. 25:13.000 --> 25:14.000 Well, keep hoping. 25:14.000 --> 25:17.000 I can see her now, Leicester. Mother Earth. Big and green and rich. 25:17.000 --> 25:20.000 It won't be more than a few minutes at this rate. 25:20.000 --> 25:23.000 Oh, there was something. 25:23.000 --> 25:25.000 Captain, are you sure, eh? 25:25.000 --> 25:28.000 Yes, I can feel the friction starting now. 25:28.000 --> 25:30.000 I'll burn in a minute. 25:30.000 --> 25:32.000 I'll be scattered like ashes all across the land. 25:32.000 --> 25:35.000 Funny, that's a useful act, isn't it, to help other things grow? 25:35.000 --> 25:36.000 Oh, I don't talk like that, Captain. 25:36.000 --> 25:39.000 I'm sorry, Leicester. You're a good man. I hope they rescue you. 25:39.000 --> 25:41.000 Well, I believe you are a good man, Captain. 25:41.000 --> 25:43.000 Maybe, Leicester, maybe I am after all. 25:43.000 --> 25:46.000 Oh, yeah. You just got a bit twisted, sorry. That's all. 25:46.000 --> 25:48.000 No, no, it wasn't my blame. 25:48.000 --> 25:49.000 Funny. 25:49.000 --> 25:50.000 Yes? 25:50.000 --> 25:53.000 I feel a sense of calm now. Almost relieved. 25:53.000 --> 25:56.000 Did you ever get out of a cold shower and feel like a new man? 25:56.000 --> 25:59.000 Clean and ready for breakfast on a new day? 25:59.000 --> 26:02.000 I have a feeling like that. 26:02.000 --> 26:05.000 It's a beautiful old Earth, Leicester. 26:05.000 --> 26:07.000 Good to go home. 26:07.000 --> 26:11.000 I wonder if anyone will see me. 26:11.000 --> 26:16.000 Eh, eh. 26:35.000 --> 26:37.000 What's the matter? 26:37.000 --> 26:40.000 Why don't you come down to the beach tonight? 26:40.000 --> 26:43.000 I don't know. 26:43.000 --> 26:46.000 I just wanted to see the ocean and the stars. 26:46.000 --> 26:48.000 Are you cold? 26:48.000 --> 26:50.000 No. 26:50.000 --> 26:52.000 Mom? 26:52.000 --> 26:54.000 Yes, darling? 26:54.000 --> 26:57.000 When's Dad coming back? 26:57.000 --> 27:00.000 I don't know, Steve. 27:00.000 --> 27:02.000 I don't know. 27:02.000 --> 27:04.000 Mom? 27:04.000 --> 27:06.000 Hmm? 27:06.000 --> 27:08.000 What's the matter between you and Dad? 27:08.000 --> 27:09.000 Nothing. 27:09.000 --> 27:11.000 Oh. 27:11.000 --> 27:13.000 Nothing you'd understand. 27:13.000 --> 27:16.000 Don't you love each other? 27:16.000 --> 27:19.000 I suppose in the way we do. 27:19.000 --> 27:22.000 It used to be quite different. 27:22.000 --> 27:26.000 Long ago when you were a tiny, tiny baby, 27:26.000 --> 27:30.000 your father and I used to come down here and swim at night. 27:30.000 --> 27:34.000 I was the first girl he ever loved. 27:34.000 --> 27:37.000 And then somehow 27:37.000 --> 27:42.000 something happened and he got frightened or something and 27:42.000 --> 27:44.000 we sort of lost each other. 27:44.000 --> 27:46.000 Oh. 27:46.000 --> 27:48.000 Come here, Steve. 27:48.000 --> 27:49.000 What's wrong, Mom? 27:49.000 --> 27:52.000 I'd just be a little chill. 27:52.000 --> 27:55.000 Perhaps we'd better be getting back. It's almost your bedtime. 27:55.000 --> 27:57.000 Okay, Mom. 27:57.000 --> 28:00.000 Mom, look up there. A falling star. 28:00.000 --> 28:01.000 Yes, I see it. 28:01.000 --> 28:06.000 Just down right this way. Did you see it, Mom? A falling star. 28:06.000 --> 28:10.000 Make a wish, son. 28:10.000 --> 28:13.000 Make a wish. 28:13.000 --> 28:30.000 You've just heard another adventure into the unknown world of the future. 28:30.000 --> 28:33.000 The world of... 28:33.000 --> 28:36.000 The Amazon. 28:36.000 --> 28:47.000 The Amazon. 28:47.000 --> 28:52.000 Dimension X is presented transcribed each week by the National Broadcasting Company 28:52.000 --> 28:54.000 in cooperation with Stephen Smith, 28:54.000 --> 28:58.000 publishers of the magazine Astounding Science Fictions. 28:58.000 --> 29:01.000 Today Dimension X has presented Plotoscope, 29:01.000 --> 29:05.000 written for radio by George Lefferts from the story by Ray Bradbury. 29:05.000 --> 29:10.000 Featured in the cast were George O'Tamter as the captain, 29:10.000 --> 29:15.000 Liam Jenner as Lesby, and John Alexander as Helen. 29:15.000 --> 29:19.000 Your host was Norman Rose. 29:19.000 --> 29:32.000 Music