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About this Episode
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Hosts & Guests
Transcript
Out of the night on the rocket, under my knife, the skull.
2000-plus science fiction adventures from the world of tomorrow, the years beyond 2000 AD.
2000-plus presents the rocket and the skull.
The world of the world of the world.
The world of the world.
The world of the world.
Lieutenant, have you heard from Colonel Bavaria?
No sir, I've been trying for ten minutes.
We'll try again, yes sir.
Be for base to our for rocket.
Be for base to our for rocket.
Come in the hour for rocket.
Every time Bavaria is more than five minutes late, I get the cheaters.
He's too important for this project not to know where he is every moment, yes sir.
Be for base to our for rocket.
Come in the hour for rocket.
Try a scan of the enemy.
He should be on the old hill of a lot of Detroit.
Yes sir.
Be for base to our for rocket.
Come in the hour for rocket.
We can't afford to have anything happen to him.
The first experiment is being conducted tomorrow morning.
Redberry is the only man who knows every step of the room.
Be for base to our for rocket.
Come in the hour for rocket.
You're not getting him.
Cut the scanner and return to standard beam.
Yes sir.
Come in the hour for rocket.
He should have left an hour earlier.
And he could have taken a scheduled flight.
But no, he has to work up for the last minute and then fly his own plane to get here in time.
Be for base to our for rocket.
Our for rocket.
Be for base, this is our for rocket.
Very is the in contact at 14 over six.
It's about 80 miles out of Detroit.
Give me that mic.
Red, this is General Hilton.
Are you receiving me?
Go ahead General.
What happened?
We couldn't contact you.
That's the problem with my stabilizer.
Thought I might have to land.
But it's okay now.
Are you sure?
We can't have anything happen to you.
But worry sir.
The first experiment is being conducted tomorrow morning.
Everything is ready for you.
The entire General staff will be there.
Maybe the president himself.
Is there anything you want me to have done before you come in?
Red, anything you want done?
Hello, after rocket.
I'm not getting a response.
Be for base to our for rocket.
Come in our for rocket.
What's funny sir?
He was receiving clear as a bell.
Come in our for rocket.
He said the stabilizer had been acting up.
I can mean a lot of trouble at 700 miles an hour.
What's that?
Automatic distress signal sir.
Coming from Colonel Bradbury's plane.
Hello, crash central.
This is V for base.
Automatic distress signal coming in on Channel 420.
Colonel Bradbury flying a rocket jet X-93.
Hey, it's stuck.
V for base to crash central.
Automatic signal, cease to register as beam contacts.
16 over 8.
Carry out emergency crash procedures.
Repeat.
Colonel Bradbury's rocket jet X-93 has crashed on beam position 16 over 8.
Check out.
I'm glad you were able to get here general.
We're going to operate very shortly.
I tell you it's a miracle he's alive.
It will be more of a miracle if he's alive one hour from it.
You've got to save him.
He's an important man.
Yes, the White House calls and sort of the Pentagon.
We know Colonel Bradbury is important.
But a shattered skull is very difficult.
I know you'll do all you can.
Stay right here general.
We'll keep you informed.
Well, it's out of our hands.
I have a report from crashed central sir.
Apparently Colonel Bradbury used the catapult parachute just before the plane crashed.
Otherwise he would have been killed instantly.
When he was catapulted up his shoot didn't open.
He fell into a group of trees who were bred.
It might have been better if he'd stayed in the ship.
You heard what the doctor said?
Yes sir.
A shattered skull.
The one brain we need to carry out the experiment tomorrow and this is what happened.
Bro.
Clams.
Scrunch.
Scalpel.
Batmine browners.
Clams.
Stallic.
80 over 40.
Patient thinking sir.
More oxygen.
Yes sir.
Patient responding sir.
Good.
Scalpel.
Scrunch.
Clams.
Scalpel.
I'm completely out.
Have you was cigarette?
Yes sir.
Here you are.
Thanks.
Oh this is waiting.
Waiting.
It's been more than an hour.
Brain surgery is very delicate sir.
May take another hour.
Or even more.
You carried out my orders to postpone the experiment?
Yes sir until further notice.
Brad doesn't believe we'll have to start another man all over.
May set the project back a year and the year could be dangerous.
Oh you look surprised lieutenant.
You don't know what this experiment's all about do you?
Well I see the code name for it on the paper sir but it never has a description.
After all it's Mark top secret.
Maybe it's about time you were told with Brad upstairs hanging under life by a thread
I'm going to need a bright young man to give me some important assistance.
You've come through with pretty good colors these last many hours.
Thank you sir.
Well we'll talk more about it in a little while.
Right now I'm going to stretch out and quite arrest.
I'm about done in.
If I hear anything I'll awaken you sir.
I don't expect I'll sleep.
Not with the fate of the world depending on a surgeon's life.
But there's nothing happening out there.
Plum.
Plum.
Adjust the light.
Yes.
Scale proof.
Probe.
Yes.
Quite a bone fragment.
Spum.
Plum.
Fictile.
70 over 40.
Oxygen again.
It's pure oxygen now sir.
Nurse.
Good there for transfusion.
60 over 40.
Patient thinking sir.
That's right nurse.
Go ahead doctor bone.
Hurry.
Condition same doctor.
He's getting the transfusion.
And let me help you doctor bone.
There.
Well.
It's solid.
80 over 40.
Good.
He's responding.
Alright.
Careful.
Probe.
No.
No.
It's even the rest.
How long has it been?
Almost two hours sir.
Two hours.
Just about now the general staff would be arriving.
And Brad would be checking everything for the experiment in the morning.
Lieutenant.
Have you any guests about that experiment about what it is?
Well I...
My guest is.
It's about a new kind of aircraft.
Why do you say that?
Well it's because it's an Air Force project.
Well I wouldn't say you were warm but you aren't cold either.
The experiment and the reason it's so important concerns a rocket to the moon.
A rocket to the moon but...
But why sir why send one there?
Who controls the moon controls the world.
If we had rockets on the moon we could compel peace on her.
The United Nations would press a button and wipe any aggressor off the face of the earth.
That means space travel.
You don't mean that we're all lieutenant.
We haven't found the way to send rocket ships with human beings to space not yet anyway.
But the rocket we're experimenting with is a two-way rocket.
It can land on the moon and return from the moon.
All electronically controlled from the earth.
Fantastic sir.
No it's quite feasible I assure you.
But we have reason to believe that we're not the only nation thinking of this.
Time is of the essence.
Colonel Bradbury knows more about operating these rockets than any man alive.
And just on the verge of the experiment this has to happen.
Quiet.
General Hilton.
Yes.
Dr. Rizio has to take a message down to you from the operating room.
But he's dead isn't he?
No general.
He's still hanging on.
Dr. Rizio says that he now has a 30% chance of surviving.
Thank god.
Part of Colonel Bradbury's call is in fragmented.
A head flight will have to be put on.
Because of the size of the area a new metal alloy plate will be used.
It will take about five or six more hours.
Dr. Rizio suggests you go home general where you'll be more comfortable.
The hospital will phone you if anything happens.
He's coming out of it.
Colonel Bradbury can you hear me?
This is Dr. Rizio.
Open the blinds a little.
Good.
Now easy to back until I'll hold in.
Thank you.
Ten days since the operation he's just now coming out of it.
He's a strong man.
Almost any other person would have died.
Colonel Bradbury.
Colonel Bradbury can you hear me?
The...
The base...
Rocket...
Are...
For Rocket?
Yes.
Beginning to talk.
Yes.
Have Dr. Keys come in at once?
Take a glass of coffee.
Rocket.
General.
Roger.
Something's wrong.
All right, Grandma.
Take it easy.
You call for me.
The nurse said he was coming out of it.
He's talking erratically.
Typical stuff.
Rocket.
Big base.
And that sort of thing.
Waits.
Tactical.
Jag on.
Air Force.
No.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
He was all sort of coding him.
Mars is probably one of them.
I think it about 48 hours.
You have to be out of shock completely.
We can call General Hilton.
Tell him to come over there for tomorrow.
Take it easy Colonel.
Six months.
You have to be in pretty good shape.
Nurse, keep him comfortable.
Back the keys and I will leave now.
Rocket.
Take the glass off.
Wrong.
Something wrong.
Must call General.
Call General Hilton.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
Mars.
Now read that back to me please.
A memorandum to General Staff.
One.
The new experiment is tentatively planned for April 3rd, 2016.
Two or security measures have been taken.
Three, although severely handicapped by Colonel Badbury's absence.
Newly trained specialist will endeavor to fill the gaps.
Anything more General?
No, no Lieutenant.
Sorry I should say no Captain.
You like that extra bomb?
Certainly do.
You've earned it Bob.
You've been a great help to me.
Okay note the memo with top secret and send it back similarly to the Pentagon.
I'll take it never mind.
Do you know who?
The President.
Oh yes Mr. President.
Of course sir.
Well I've just prepared a memorandum but that's only two weeks Mr. President.
We assumed about 60 days.
Oh yes sir.
A work day and night to do it.
Yes thank you Mr. President.
Captain, change the date in the first paragraph of the memo.
The new experiment is to take place in two weeks.
General that's almost impossible.
I know it and you know it.
But there's one man who doesn't know it and he says it's got to be done.
I'm not disposed to argue with the President of the United States.
I'd like to double check some of my notes on General Bradbury with you.
Of course.
Now this afternoon the general is coming to see him.
But, uh, Colonel Bradbury.
He's month of convalescence.
And he's not too lucid.
Now that's the point.
He's not too lucid but weak as he is.
He talks normally for a while.
Makes sense.
And then that strange blue option.
I've observed it myself three times.
Well, head injury cases are quite unpredictable.
Perhaps, but according to my notes, Colonel Bradbury's strange reaction is taking place.
Always either at 10 a.m. or 5 p.m.
Of the three instances I've observed, two have been at 10, one at five.
Well, that is unusual.
And in each instance.
Well, I can see now my minds.
He's sitting there lying in bed.
Talking quite sensibly.
Although, no, the weak voice suddenly he becomes tense.
He grimaces as if his head were in pain.
He even clutches the bed clothes with tight fists.
He appears to be rigid.
Then, as per a few minutes, invariably comes a flood of disjoint.
The disconnected sentence about messages, emergency, crisis, state of the world, and miles.
A general kitten is going to visit the Colonel this afternoon.
It's about five o'clock.
And do you expect the Colonel to have another strange reaction?
I don't know.
Surely, General Hill will realize that a man who had severe surgery can't tell what the general will realize.
But my fear is that he may feel the Colonel is not improving his ability, might.
And he may call in other doctors.
But we're doing everything humanly possible.
That is the irony of the situation.
I could have killed the Colonel in surgery.
It would have been very easy.
But, well, important government officials are concerned I get worried.
If we ever were investigated carefully, they might find out who you and I really are.
And that would be dangerous.
Very dangerous indeed.
In here, thank you, nurse.
Hello, Brad.
I don't understand.
You wanted to see me and I came as soon as I couldn't.
Sit down.
Sure, Brad.
Don't worry about me.
Brad, we're rescheduling the experiment.
You feel up to answering a few questions among the experiments?
Something to tell you.
Sure, Brad. Sure, I know there's a lot you want to tell me.
But when you are still a sick guy, so...
Suppose I just ask you a few questions and you answer them yes or no.
That will save your energy.
Time.
What time is it?
Well, it's a few seconds before five o'clock. Why?
I mean, message coming.
Message coming. What message?
Trying to tell you.
Couldn't tell anyone else.
Mars.
Marshal.
Mars.
Marshal.
Trying to tell me what?
Brad.
Go ahead and see.
What's the matter, Brad?
Nurse.
The doctor.
Something's happening to Colonel Bradbury.
Hurry! Hurry!
Colonel.
Colonel.
Doctor Lidjo.
Can you hear me?
Mars. Mars.
The general here in this here too.
Do you remember?
And, sir, the general.
Strange things happen to the human mind.
It's color, the metal plate.
Mars.
Calling Mars.
Earth. Calling Mars.
Most of it is like a city.
It is a different port.
Earth.
Calling Mars.
You are received.
Mars receiving your call.
Proceed.
And of that, Barry.
Colonel.
Nurse, we'll try a hypo.
Get one for me, please.
I'll get to Moon Experiment.
It will take a place at 12 o'clock.
Earth.
It's got a name.
No setting.
In fact, you're Colonel Bradbury.
We'll look at the post-cone project in definitely.
Thank you, Nurse.
Now I'll inject you.
You should relax in a moment.
Very incapacitated.
Government is ordered to experiment to proceed.
Here are your further orders.
The experiment must fail.
You are to be certain that Mars has some things.
There.
The hypo is released this tent from you sleep now.
They are all right when you wake in.
There would happen to him, Doctor.
I'm not certain, General, but in a few days,
we may be able to tell more.
I know you're doing everything possible, Doctor,
and we're grateful for your saving Brad's life.
But might not be wise to call in some specialists,
some other doctors for consultation.
There's so much information and advice we need from Colonel Bradbury.
Call in other doctors?
Well, General, I don't know that that's necessary.
It's so strange watching you.
Almost as if you were listening to something.
You know, now that I think of it,
he did say something about a message.
Do you think there's any connection I hardly think?
So, General, after all, we didn't hear anything.
No, no.
I'm afraid it was just the erratic talk of a thick and injured brain.
General, you really went through an experience watching the Colonel like that.
That thing he was almost in a fit.
Had some crazy idea he was getting messages.
Message you of hallucinations.
He was off his rocker for a while.
And the very day I was a little brusque with Dr. Regio.
He's a fine man, but I'd feel better
as some other medicals looked at Brad too.
A range for some specialists from Army Medical to Examining.
Will you kept him here?
Sir, I'll do it promptly.
The only thing more.
On the experiment file, you'll find it.
General Hilton's office.
At one moment, please.
For you, Sir Pentagon, intelligence section.
Intelligence.
Hello.
General Hilton.
Yes.
Yes.
Are you certain?
The president and the chief of staff been informed?
Good.
It's about over 50 minutes.
Right.
What are my car captain?
Things are happening.
Yes, sir.
General Hilton's cars stand by at West Empress.
What things, sir?
Intelligence reports that the Eastern Alliance is definitely planning a moon rocket
for blast off in six states.
You know what that means if they get there before the United Nations?
Six days, and we will be ready for 14 days.
We really wanted three months.
That's right.
But how somehow they must have found out about our experiment
and have agents that feed for some of our vital data.
That's what the emergency meeting is about.
Where your car's ready, General?
Good luck.
We're going to need it, Captain.
We're going to need it.
Keys.
Dr. Keys.
Have you heard?
What is it?
Some other doctors are examining Colonel Bradbury.
As I just met him.
What?
Of course I gave him permission.
I had no choice.
General Hilton requested it yesterday.
Or are they?
That's just it.
Army medical.
Army.
How you can be so cold and calculating in surgery.
And so nervous now, I cannot understand.
Your record here is flawless.
Your operation on Bradbury is superb.
No suspicion will attach to you or to me.
If we conduct ourselves in a normal and professional manner,
what is the risk?
Not they are the Army.
Now that means an intelligence section.
They have routines about these things.
We have no choice but to keep up with Erin.
I know.
I know.
But if they ever find out that
we are the agents of Eastern Alliance,
that we have masterminded the theft of certain mean rocket data,
they will be ruthless, Dr. Keys.
ruthless.
General Hilton's office.
Well, I'm sorry the General isn't here.
This is his aide.
No sir, I don't know when he'll return.
I suggest you place the information on our private facsimile line in code.
Our extension is 8-3.
I'll then give the paper to the General when he arrives.
Yes sir, I'll turn the facsimile line on now sir.
We can receive it at once.
Thank you.
Ah, it's coming in now.
Report regarding Colonel Bradbury.
Item 1.
We have him, Dr. Regio.
Item 2.
The metal plate, surgically applied to Colonel Bradbury's skull.
The metal skull plate.
Martian's voices.
So that's what the Colonel's hallucinations are.
It's fantastic.
The message is ended.
It was moved quickly.
Very quickly.
Military police.
Hello General Hilton's office.
At Central Hospital there are two staff doctors, Dr. Regio and Dr. Keys.
Right, place them under arrest at once.
Now, message headquarters please.
This is General Hilton's aide.
When the general returns, tell him I'll be at Central Hospital talking to Colonel Bradbury.
But Colonel, I'm the General's aide.
You can describe the voices to me.
Now, what happened?
My whole head vibrates.
Very painful.
Then I hear voices.
What are they saying?
It's talking tomorrow.
Martians.
Martians.
Apparently, the metal plate on your head somehow picks up certain high frequency radio waves.
At least that's the theory of the Army medical itself.
They want to stop the moon rocket.
And at least from a little word.
Colonel, you can't really believe that.
You must have misunderstood.
The real enemies are the Eastern Alliance.
But their agents have been caught.
Their moon project won't take place for a long time as a result.
You just take it easy, sir.
The Army is going to track down that wavelength that bothers your head.
Then you'll recuperate peacefully.
Captain, it's true.
Excuse me, sir.
It's almost 5 o'clock.
I've got to be going, sir.
Just take it easy, please.
Yes.
Eight, three.
Three, eight.
Nine, one.
One, nine.
Chronos.
Chronos is six, four, three.
Your code is correct.
Go ahead.
Do not send the message to Mars on the regular wavelength at five o'clock.
Hereafter, you will be alternate wavelength.
I will submit a report explaining how our communications were discovered.
But you can report this.
The Eastern Alliance agents have been captured by the Americans.
This reduces the chances of the Earth sending a moon rocket from two to only one.
I will say to it that that one does not succeed.
Are you bothered if you can execute this plan?
Without question.
Dawn.
You may report to my superiors on Mars that their observation base on the moon is safe from discovering.
Mars will continue to be the only planet controlling outer space.
That is all.
It shall be reported.
Kevin, I just heard that very simply message in my office.
It came as quickly as I could.
Now, what I know is just happening.
Nothing on Earth is happening, General.
What are you talking about?
Why I mean everything is all right now, sir, isn't it?
The Eastern Alliance has been taken care of.
And there's reason to believe Colonel Badbury's weird hallucinations won't recur anymore.
You know those are the two best pieces of news I've heard all day.
Kevin, I don't know what I do without you.
Thank you, sir.
I just try to do the best I can for my country.
Next week, another exciting adventure from the world of tomorrow.
From the years beyond 2000 A.B.
Be sure to listen.
2000 class is produced by Brian Reynolds and Productions Incorporated.
In today's cast, Arnold Robertson, who played General Hilton,
wrote the first visit to heaven.
Gregory Morgan was Dr. Riggio.
And that boy with him was Dr. Riggio with Colonel Badbury,
and Colonel George was Dr. Keith.
The orchestra was deducted by Emerson Buckley,
music composed by Elliott Jacobi,
sound, wall shaver, and Adrian Penner,
engineer Bob Aldrich.
This is Ken Marvin speaking.
Take care of our transcom.
Thank you very much.
