X Minus One - The Outer Limit

0:00Countdown for blast off. X minus 5, 4, 3, 2, X minus 1, fire. From the far horizons of the unknown come transcribed tales of new dimensions in time and space. These are stories of the future, adventures in which you'll live in a million could be years on a thousand maybe worlds. The National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of astounding science fiction presents... X minus 1, 1, 1, 1, 1.

1:10Tonight's story, the Other Limit by Graham Dore. We go ahead now in time to 1965, where on a vast concrete runway set in the desert of the southwest, a giant metal ship stands before us, prowl pointed for the stars. And in five minutes, the signal will flash and it will tear up through the atmosphere to the outer limit. The Attention, attention, I'll see you for takeoff, I'll see you. I've been in Steve. Right. Wormer up Charlie. I know all this. I want to go over procedure again Steve. No worry I got it straight.

2:10Just make sure. Okay, I take her up on jets to 50,000 and I cut in the rocket. No lore. Or your tail blast will burn out three counties. I climb four minutes on rockets and start maneuver tests. Remember that no more than four minutes. The ship isn't like those strato rockets as you've been testing. She's the first one built for outer space. If she works, you can go clear to the moon. But I know not I brought my toothbrush. Not this trick. Now get this Steve, you've got power there to clear the earth's gravitational field. But remember after you cut in the rockets, you've only got ten minutes fuel. If you'll go beyond the outer limit and don't say fuel for the return, you won't get down again ever. You'll drift out into space. Get that now. Ten minutes fuel. Okay. As far as I'm concerned, this project is a lot more important than that cosmic ray bomb that they're testing out in the Pacific tonight. The security commission brass doesn't think so. I don't see any under secretaries, under anything. Don't you worry, Steve, in the long run, our ship will make the CR bomb backpaged stuff. But in the meantime, it's just as dangerous. Now remember, half the principles in this ship are pure theory. Slide rules, Steve.

3:11If anything goes wrong, we may have to scrape you off the landscape with a soup spoon. Yeah, that's your aiming sense of humor. Here's what I'm getting at, Steve. We're risking your neck in this test. Anything blows. We don't want to have the next man pull the same boner. So keep your mic open. Keep talking. If anything goes wrong, we want to know exactly why. And we won't be able to ask you. Let us know before you pull every switch. Before you do anything. Got that? Even if you only have to blow your nose. All right, get those steel lights away. Well, I guess that's about all, Steve. Hey, that reminds me. If Mary calls, I'm just up in a milk run. I didn't tell her today was it. How is Mary? She's okay, but she's do about now, and I don't want her to get nervous. Hey, I didn't know the baby was that close? Steve, you know, I really ought to be sending a single man on this job. What, and cutting me out of a soft paycheck? We got it, Hank. You know you can't get anybody else who can take 15 G's acceleration when those rockets cut in. Yeah, I know. It's time, Steve. Yeah, I'll see you later.

4:12Don't worry, Hank. I'll sweat for both of us. Let me wrap Charlie. So long, Hank. So long. We'll give you the light from control. X2JDR to control. Are you there, yet, Hank? Okay, Steve. I'm ready to go. Mr. Hanson. Ready on radar, Sergeant? Yeah. Mr. Hanson, you better see this. What is it, Elsen? Message sent up, Steve. Mrs. Weston just left for the hospital. What? Hello, hello, Steve. Yeah. Stand by, minute. Shall I hold it up, Mr. Hanson? Uh, yes. No, no wait, Justin. It's too late now. Are you going to tell him? Maybe he's got enough to worry about. Hey, what's holding us up, Hank? Something on your mind? No, no, there's nothing, Steve. I just wanted to say good luck. All right, Charlie. Give him the light.

5:18All right, Steve. I'm reading you a clear. I'm at 20,000. Airspeed 600. It's running fine. Soundproofing works. There's a three-degree waiver in the A.G.Y. pressure. Got that, Charlie. Check. That's then run right down, Mr. Hanson. 50,000, huh? I'm cutting loose the port jet. Now the starboard. I'm off jets. Airspeed dropping. I'm opening the rocket ports. Switch sticks a little, Charlie. Oxi-alcohol pressure at 350. All right, now I'm advancing the ignition key. Air goes rocket one. Steve, Steve, you all right? Yeah. You don't like somebody to select me with a sledgehammer. Airspeed, not 1200. Air goes number two. She's okay, Hank. Running like a Swiss watch. She's okay.

6:25Hello, Steve. Elapsed rocket's time is now four minutes. Watch your altitude. Over to you. Speed 4,400, still climbing. Alitude. 297 miles. All right. You're at the outer limit. Level off for maneuver tests. You've got exactly six minutes fuel left. I'm starting a three-degree left bank. She's a little sluggish. Air, it's all right. There's a low vibration somewhere. Maybe the cockpit cover. I view screens a little fogged. Now I'm straightening out. Five minutes fuel left. I'm starting a three-degree right. Hey. Well, look. What's the matter? What's wrong? There's something up here. Something shiny. What are you talking about? There's something above me, Hank. I'm going to chase it. Steve, Steve, you're at the outer limit now. I can see it playing now. How Steve, don't go any higher. You want to get four minutes left.

7:25You want to make up? I'm getting static. I can't hear you, Hank. It's better head now. I'm going to make a pass out and get a good luck. Here goes. Hey, it's swarming to meet me. It's better head now. Look out, it's better head. Hello. Hello, Steve. Steve, come in. Nine minutes fuel gone. Hello. Hello, Steve. What happened? Charlie, get the crates squat out. Tell the Army squadron to alert their search players. Nine and a half minutes gone. Hello. Hello, Steve. Steve, listen to me. What's happened? Where the devil is he? Hello. Come in, Steve. Steve, come in. Hello. Hello, Steve. Hello. Hello, Steve. Ten minutes. Steve. That's the end of the fuel. How long has it been now? Ten hours, Mr. Hanson.

8:25Nothing more on radar, Sergeant? That's great, black. A Colonel could really call in. The search plans are back. Couldn't find anything. Should be some trace. He couldn't have bailed out, putty. You don't hit the silket 4,400 miles an hour. We either went past the outer limit and ran out of fuel or something blue and we'll find the pieces scattered from here to the coast. Why does it have to be the best man? Always the best man. Charlie, we've got to figure out what was wrong. Something must have blown. Mr. Hanson, there's a message from Northside Hospital, putty. Well, what is it? Mrs. Weston is fine. It's a boy. Thank you, LC. It's a boy, Charlie. Yeah. Fine, fine. It's a boy. You didn't even know that she went to the hospital. How am I going to tell Mary that? No, it wasn't your fault, Mr. Hanson. The ship was ten years old. Yeah, yeah, we'll build another and some other flying fool who'll shoot past the outer limit in the space. Now I'm getting old, Charlie. You can remember when I used to take him up myself. Now I've got to send other men.

9:25Look, it's a job, Mr. Hanson. Now I'm afraid. Every time I hear a jet go up, I jump. Every time I have to send somebody up on a new model, I start to sweat. Mr. Hanson, yeah. I think I've got something on the radar. No flight scheduled in or the rail sea. No, the whole day is cleared. It's coming in behind us. Here he comes over the building. What crazy, jockey-as-buzzling to feel like that. Is that an army plane, Charlie? No, I can't see. Here he comes back again. I know that engine. Guess it's Steve. That's impossible. Look, that's his ship. It can't be. He's circling back from landing. Charlie, clear the field. He's coming back here. Mr. Hanson, is that another ship in the world that looks like that? I tell you, it's got to be Steve. Thank God.

10:25All right, sit down over there, Steve. Quicker, we get this done. Quicker, you get over to see Mary and the baby. LC, give the order to check and refuel the rockets. I don't want anybody in here till I get Steve's reports. Mary and he calls. All right, Steve, let's have it. What the devil happened to you? Heck. That cosmic ray bomb. Does it still go off tonight? What are you talking about? Straighten out, Steve. Where have you been for the last 10 hours? Listen, Hank, there's something more important. Now, come on, come on. I've got to get a report on the screen to Washington. So let's have it, will you? I've got to know how you stretch 10 minutes fuel to keep you in the air for 10 hours. One thing before I talk. Now, look, Steve. Will you have the Geiger men run over the ship before they refuel? What did you run into? So help me, Hank. I don't know. We better check and make sure it isn't radioactive. LC, add a Geiger report on the standard check. Steve, maybe we better have the medic slip-cube over too. No, no, no, I'm all right. They said I'd be all right. They?

11:25Look, Simon, I know you've had a tough time, but we've had this field on the alert for 10 hours, boy. One of the army boys cracked up looking for you, and he's hurt bad. So let's have the story. Let's have it straight. I don't know how to tell you, Hank. Hank, I saw something up there. At 300 miles? I chased something up there, Hank, and I caught it. Now, don't hand me that, Steve. Listen! I was cruising along, just starting the right bank when I spotted something. I must have been going about half my speed. It was egg-shaped and smooth. I made a pass at it, and I came back for another, and then there was a humming sign. Humbing? Sort of a vibration. And then I blacked out. I was headed straight for it at 4,400 miles an hour. I thought I was going to be the biggest smash since Hiroshima. And... Listen, Hank, is there a drink in that bottle? Yeah, sure. Well... What happened?

12:25Hank, I came to inside their ship. Steve, this whole thing has been a devil of a straight-on, yeah? I'm going to call Major Dunelson from the Army Base, ask him to sit in. Is the psychiatrist? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's a good idea. Let him run his tests. They'll tell you I'm not kidding. Because, Hank, unless I miss my guess, I've just been tipped off to the way the world ends. You should be getting drowsy now. Count backwards from 10. Run? Nine. Eight. Seven. Three. Five. Three. Three.

13:25Three. He's under. Now we attach the headplate electrodes, and the cortical pick-up. Look up for that wire, Mr. Hanson. Three O's sitting, and 31.3. Now, throw that switch, Mr. Hanson. I have to start them off by suggesting... All right, Steve. You're in your ship now. You're in the rocket. You're in the rocket. You're in the rocket, and you've just sighted something strange. I'm starting a three-degree right. What's that? There's something up here. Something shining. His memory pattern. I'm going to chase it. I think static. I can't hear you, Hank. This is where we lost contact with it. I'm going to make a pass at it. Hey, it's warming to meet me.

14:25Oh, look out. Is that a pass? No. It's very blacked out. I'm telling you how long. Minutes or hours. What's that noise? I don't know. Where? How did I get here? What? Who are you? Is he seeing things? I'm acting patrol. What's that? What are they seeing, Steve? It's about no clear fishing. They know about it. They know the danger of it. Long ago, they had wars that almost destroyed them. Finally, they learned how they've outlawed war. Go on, Steve. They patrol space. When their detector picks up an atomic explosion, they send up a troll. They've been observing Earth, and they found wars and rumors of wars. What are they going to do? They've quarantined us. They've isolated all Earth because we're infected with a communicable disease.

15:28Because we don't know how to control ourselves yet. Until we learn we'll be a menace to the whole universe. What is this nonsense? How are they going to do it, Steve? They've spread out a layer here of... I don't know what to call it. It's all around the Earth. It's mild, Steve. When there's an atomic explosion on Earth, the radioactive particles will drift up to this layer and set off a chain reaction that will go around the world in like-ro seconds. And that's the end. Yes? Yes, I understand. You're going to bring back the warning. You're going to put me back in my ship to bring the warning. Now what? Liked out again. I guess it's all. What does all that mean? It's what he remembers. You don't think that really happens? No, no. Nacosokometry circuits produce what you remember. Just means that Steve believes this happens.

16:30And I don't like to see this. I've seen too many top pilot snaps. Steve is the best I've known. How bad do you think he is? Well, frankly, outside of the presence of this well organized hallucination, no signs of unbalance. May not be too serious. If you had a more plausible story, I'm glad to believe in you. Good morning. Hank, it's all right, boy. Did you hear it, Hank? Do you understand? Sure, sure. We've been quarantined. Yeah, let me give you something to make you sleep, Steve. Don't you understand? They fixed it so that if we set off one more nuclear explosion, we will have had it. Of course, of course. Don't, bro, just leave that. You don't believe me? Take it easy, Steve. Put the testers setting off the cosmic ray bomb, Hank. Tonight, what time is it? 11, 20. It's scheduled for midnight. Hank, we've got to stop that bomb. Let Donaldson give you the high post. You've got to believe me. I saw him. I got the warning. If we touch off the Cuba bomb tonight,

17:30we'll be the biggest galactic Fourth of July of all time. The whole Earth will go up like a Roman candle, April 10, 1965, the end. Look, Steve, you better calm down now. Don't you want to see Mary and the baby? You've got a new son, remember? That's just it. I want to see my son. I want him to live. If the bomb goes off, Hank, we've got to stop it. Mr. Hanson, I think we better get over to the base hospital. Thank you, got to believe me. Sure, sure, Steve. There's something to it. Look, look, it's out of our hands now, Steve. I'll put it in a report, shove it into Washington in the morning. In the morning? There won't be any morning, Hank. You've got to call Washington now. Get the head of the Security Commission and postpone the test. Oh, you know I can't do that. My neck would be out of my eye. Besides this is 1965, not 45. 20 countries have the atomic bomb now. What's the use of stopping just this one? The rest will keep right on popping them off. We'll have to call an international conference. Can't you understand, Hank? The first one that goes off finishes us. It's the end. They've given us the quarantine warning. Steve, I think you'd better go with us to the base hospital. Look, Steve, we can call up for a detail if we have to.

18:35All right. All right, I'll go with you. You don't need a straight jacket. That's the way, Steve. You'll probably feel better by morning. Let's go. I'll be right back. Tomorrow I'll drive you over to the hospital to see Mary and the kid. Sure. Look at the ship under the flood lights. Pretty, huh? You'll be flying her again soon, Steve. Don't worry. Yeah, I guess so. What's she doing out on the line? They refuel her? Yeah, we've got closures coming in tomorrow from Denver for another test. Figure we'd give you a day off. That's good. That's fine, Steve. Come on, Donaldson. Steve, Steve, come back here. He's ready for the rocket. That's crazy. Steve, get down off of there, Steve. We can't get out of here now. That hood is armor glass. He's waving to its control, the radio. Come on. I should have gotten the help.

19:37Come on, Donaldson. The radio is still hooked up. Hello? Hello, Steve. Listen to me, Hank. You've got to call Washington now. Look, Steve. Come out of the rocket. I'll call my men, Hanson. Don't try anything, Hank. They reaped you over the rocket for tomorrow. Take it easy, Steve. Listen, you know what'll happen if I fire the rocket tubes down here? Steve, don't please. Burn out every building for five miles. All of us in one big blast. What do you want, Steve? You've got to stop that bomb. You've got to call Washington now. They won't believe me. Do make that call, or I cut in the rocket. I mean it, Hank. You'll look my screen to yours in parallel. I want to see exactly what you're doing. All right, all right. Just don't fire those rockets. Get going, Hank. You've got 12 minutes to make that call and stop the bomb. All right. I'm making the parallel hook up now. Donaldson, you think you'll really blast? I don't know. But you know, I'd almost say it was normal. But this Hanson, he's liable to do anything. Steve, there you're getting it on your screen? Yeah. I've put that call through. All right. Operator. Yeah, this is screen to Washington.

20:38The business screen circuits are busy, sir. If you try again and have now. This is a Security Commission priority. Break in. Get me a line. Just a moment, please. At minutes, Hank. Listen, Steve, I'm trying. Ready to take your call, sir. Washington Security Commission 3. Urgent, I want under-secretary Herbert Ames. Washington 3. One moment, please. Hurry, will you, please? One moment, please. Chicago. San Marco calling Washington Business Screen 3. Urgent. Washington 3. One moment, please. What time is it, Donaldson? 11.51. Do you think you'll fire those rockets? He might. Washington. Oh, handsome, Marco. Business Screen 3. Mr. Herbert Ames. That is a coded exchange. I cannot accept your call without clearing it. Listen, Washington, put this through. This is Mr. Hanson of Hanson Rockets Incorporated at San Marco Air Base. This is the priority call I'm coded. One moment, please. I will check your code number. Get it through, Hank. That bomb was off at 12. Would you be a reasonable Steve? Your call has cleared San Marco. Washington Business Screen 3.

21:40Mr. Herbert Ames. This is your call, sir. Guilty commission, Ames. Oh, hello, Arthur. Listen, listen, Ames. You've got to get me the chief. Who, kidding? He's at the test control room. Yes, I know, but getting for me. Hey, what's up? You look lousy. Where is it, a bad circus? There's no time, Ames. I've got to get him before the test. It's about the Ray bomb. I can't take the responsibility. Get it through, I can ride blast. Hey, what's going on, man? Ames, my project has a high enough reading. This is a priority, a call. What? Well, it's your neck. OK, I'll try to get him for you. He's in the control room, though. You'll have to switch off your screen speaker and go on earphone. Too much going on in there. Security, you know. You hear that, Steve? I've got to cut the screen. All right, eight minutes, Hank. Hello? Hello? Yes, sir. This is Hanson at San Marco. No, sir. Priority A request to cancel the bomb test.

22:41No, look, look, I'm serious. I'm deadly serious. We sent the X2JTR up today to the outer limit, and we uncovered evidence. Yes, on the automatic instruments. What's that? No, no, this possible chain reaction. No, I can't tell you the whole story. There isn't time. Yes, I'll bring the readings into Washington in the morning. You've got to postpone the test, will you see them? Yes, I understand that. I understand about the press. I'll take complete responsibility for this. What's that? Look, I've worked on contracts for the commission for 10 years now. Yes, I have complete confidence in my information. You can record that. All right, all right. I'll call you back immediately. Goodbye. Hank? Hank? He's agreed to cancel. The Ray bomb won't go off. Thank God. All right, Steve. You can come down out of the ship.

23:50There it comes. He's opening up. All right, Steve. Come on down out of the ship. Sure, Hank. Hank, I was scared. How was playing scared? All right, easy now. It's all over. Bomb won't go off. Thank God. Hey, look, I want to see Mary and the baby. Can you give me transportation now? Well, it's almost 12. They won't let you in the hospital now. I want to see the baby. I'm sure you do, but you've been under strain. I've got a shot here for you, Steve. Give you a good night's sleep. All right. Call up your sleep. Sure. No. That'll make your sleep. Sausage will find you a bed. Come on, Mr. Wester. Well, good night, Hank. I am kind of beat. It's been a tough night.

24:52Sure has. But for a minute, he was going to blast those rockets and send us all the key and come. Yeah. Why does stunt getting the Ray Bomb test go all off? It isn't called off. The call. Aims couldn't get the chief. I was talking to a blank screen. Bomb goes off in a couple of minutes. Oh. For a Steve, he's one of the best. He was the best. One in 10 million. Some story of his book, I. A while, he almost had me believing that quarantine. Well, that's a very common delusion. The end of the world. Last night. Never saw the stars so bright. Better be getting in. Think when it's cold.

25:54Bomb goes off in 30 seconds. Poor Steve. You know Hanson, there's just one thing. Yeah? It's outside my field. But I'm curious. How did he keep that ship in the air for 10 hours? With only 10 minutes fuel. You have just heard X minus 1, presented by the National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of astounding science fiction. Tonight by transcription, X minus 1 is brought to you the outer limit by Graham Doar, as adapted for radio by Ernest Kenoy, featured in the cast where Joseph Julian, Wendell Holmes,

26:56Yoda Sattis, Bob Hastings, James Dukas, and Freddy Chandler, your announcer Fred Collins. X minus 1 was directed by Daniel Sutter, and is an NBC radio network production. You don't have to stop whatever you're doing till listen to your radio. Though you may have a lot to do, do whatever you've got to do. NBC will still get through with music and drama, a life-finder rama. NBC's always got something ruined. Listen and you'll agree that there's always a smile from a twin. I'm from the twist of the dial to radio and NBC.