September 7, 2024 • 30 mins
Hope you enjoy this episode of Dimension X! Find all our podcasts and OTR radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Dimension X was an anthology science-fiction series, originally aired from 1950-1951. This program dealt with more "adult" oriented themes like death, religion and science, war, politics and the moral issues of human being in regards to their place in the universe. Many the episodes were adapted from stories by the prominent science fiction writers of the era, for example, Kurt Vonnegut and Ray Bradbury. - Thank you for listening, consider a donation to help keep the OTR radio stations commercial-free: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jared.day.oldtimeradio - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 - Find all the podcasts here @ Spreaker.com
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Adventures in time and space transcribed in future tense. The
National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers
(00:30):
of Astounding science fiction, bring You Dimension X. Ralph Warlow
Emerson speculated, if the stars should appear one night in
a thousand years, how would men believe, and adore and
(00:55):
perceive for many generations the remembrance of the city of God.
Now this was philosophically interesting. But on the edge of
the galaxy, there is a planet which swings on its
orbit in a cluster of six suns. These suns hang
in the sky above, never less than two shine down
(01:15):
through the entire twenty three point eight hours of the
planet's day. The yellow light has burned down on the
planet continuously into the past, till the mind of Man
runneth Nut to the contrary. Thereman was a reporter for
(01:42):
the Saroh City Chronicle. He covered them all, from the
night police beat, the politics to the sports pages, and
the city editor wanted him to cover the biggest story
of the year, perhaps of all time. It was an interview,
a particularly difficult interview. But then, since his first days
as a cub therem and had specialized in difficult interviews.
(02:04):
He didn't expect violence though from an astronomer.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
You're from that newspaper. Well, you've got a lot of
gall coming here.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I'll wait a minute, doctor Raton. It's only a job.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
I've read your paper. You've been writing this Observatory for
two months now. You've attacked me personally. I have nothing
to say to you.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
All right, Look, this is your chance to get your
side in the paper. I'll give it to you straight.
Two months ago, the Observatory issued a press statement that
the world was coming to an end. That's the same
story that the Cult of Revelations has been preaching. And
when a scientist backs that up, it's news.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Our conclusions have nothing to do with the cult. The
Cult of Revelations is full of superstition and mysticism.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
We are scientists.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, and you got the people pretty angry.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
That does not matter.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
You know, if I can't get the story from you,
I'll have to go somewhere else. Go ahead, all right,
you know, doctor Ratta, and the paper can be pretty
rough on someone who doesn't co operate.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Young man, If you're not out of the Observatory within
five minutes, I shall call the police. Now get out.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
The reporter walks down the long hall from the observatory.
The light filters through the high windows. The yellow light
of Gamma, the brightest of the sick suns in the
planet's sky, Beta, is almost its zenith. Its red light
floods the landscape to an unusual orange. The planet's sun
Alpha is at the antipodes, and now, as Gamma sinks
(03:46):
below the horizon, the red dwarf sun Beta is alone,
grimly alone. It's a short drive from the observatory to
Sero City, and the red light glare is from the highway.
The temp of the cult stands hewn from the solid
rock of the dormite mountains outside the city, and in
the inner courtyard stands sore the priest of the cult.
Speaker 5 (04:11):
Whoa to the unbelievers.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Their souls will ross with the absence of lights far for.
Speaker 5 (04:22):
Wait, Irreverence.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Please please tell me, Irreverence, what will happen? What are
you waiting for?
Speaker 5 (04:30):
Here?
Speaker 2 (04:31):
The day, the day of the coming. It was written
in our Doctrine of Revelations. It came to pass that
the San Beta was alone in the sky.
Speaker 6 (04:45):
The world was shrunken and cold.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
Men dissemble in the public.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Squares and highways, their minds were troubled and their speech confused.
For the souls of men awaited the coming of the
stars the lip of the cave of darkness, past the
edge of beta, and loud were the cries of men.
There was no light on the surface of the world.
(05:12):
In this blackness there appeared the stars and countless numbers.
In that moment, the souls of men departed from them
and abandoned bodies became even as beasts. And the stars
then reached down the heaven's flame, where it touched the
(05:37):
cities of the world flamed a destruction, so that of
man and all the works of man naught remained.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
So it is written, doctor Charon, You're the only scientist
I could find in the city.
Speaker 6 (06:07):
Where is everybody in the hideout? In the hideout, the
place bored me. I wanted to be out here where
things are getting hot. I want to see the stars
the cultists are talking about. Besides, they don't want me
at the hideout. I'm too scrawny to survive.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Well, wait a minute, what is the hideout?
Speaker 6 (06:23):
Well, we professors have managed to convince a few people
that our prophecy of doom is valid. We've got about
three thousand people. They're supposed to hide where the darkness
and the stars can't get at them. We hope they'll
survive and leave records, survive, survive what, Oh, there are
(06:44):
lots of names for it. The cultists have their myths.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Oh yes, yes, yes, what about that? What is there
to these myths? As a matter of fact, what is
there to this doctrine of revelation?
Speaker 6 (06:55):
I'm a psychologist, not an archaeologist. How true it is,
I don't know. But the cultists say that every two
thousand and fifty years all the suns disappear and there
is a total darkness, and then they say things appear
called stars. Course, men go mad. They mix all this
(07:16):
up with a lot of religiomistic notions, but that is
the central idea.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Yeah, well that's impossible, isn't it. I mean, there are
always at least two suns in the sky most of
the time, four or.
Speaker 6 (07:29):
Five are not now only beta.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Doctor Sharon, You mean that there's going to be worldwide
darkness tomorrow, but all mankind will go violently insane.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
What's behind that?
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Well, for one thing, this is history of civilization of
the world. We've located a series of cycles of civilizations
comparable to our own, all of which, without exception, were
destroyed by fire at the very height of their culture.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
All right, all right, but is there any scientific theory
behind this?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
And that would explain it?
Speaker 6 (08:04):
The University Observatory finished their calculations two months ago. Tomorrow
there will be an eclipse of Beta, so that the
planet will become dark. That eclipse comes every two thousand
and forty nine years. Darkness comes maybe those mysterious stars
that no man has ever seen, and then madness and
(08:27):
the end of civilization.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
I see. And the scientists expect to live through this.
At the hideout.
Speaker 6 (08:38):
They plan to photograph the eclipse and leave the records,
and then the rest of mankind will.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Know what to expect.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Mm hm, doctor Sharon, What is there in darkness to
drive men mad?
Speaker 6 (08:52):
Have you ever experienced darkness? Young man?
Speaker 3 (08:54):
No? No, but I know what it is.
Speaker 5 (08:57):
It's just.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Well, no light.
Speaker 6 (09:01):
Draw the curtain.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Well what for if we had four or five sons
out there, we might want to cut the light down
for comfort, But with only baita that is the point.
Speaker 6 (09:11):
Just draw the curtain and then come here and sit down.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
All right, what, doctor Saron, I can't see you feel
your way. Yeah, but I can't see I can't see anything.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
Do you like it?
Speaker 4 (09:29):
What?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
No? No, it's awful.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
It was.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
They seem to be closing in on me. I want
to keep pushing him away.
Speaker 6 (09:42):
All right, Draw the curtain back again.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
The light, the light, doctor, sharony. Have you got a
drink right here?
Speaker 6 (09:58):
That was just a dark room?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yep?
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Yeah, it wasn't really so bad.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
And you're afraid, yes, I am.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Just darkness can do that.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
This isn't just a metaphysical theory, young man. It's promulgated
from observed data. Come with me, where the locked ward
down the corridor?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
All right?
Speaker 6 (10:27):
Were you at the Sarrow City Centennial Exposition two years ago?
Speaker 3 (10:31):
No, I was overseas on assignment.
Speaker 6 (10:34):
Remember hearing about the tunnel of mystery that broke all
records in the amusement area.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Yeah, there wasn't there some fuss about it.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
The ani Vice Society had it shut down.
Speaker 6 (10:43):
It was shut down, all right, But the Brunoses had
nothing to do with it.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Oh.
Speaker 6 (10:47):
That tunnel was nothing but a mile long passage through darkness.
You rode in a little car and it took fifteen
minutes to get through. Very popular one.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
It lasted popular.
Speaker 6 (11:00):
There's a fascination in being frightened when it's part of
a game. Absence of light is one of the instinctive
human fears. People came out of that fifteen minutes of
darkness shaking and half dead with fear.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
After I thought there were some deaths, bad hearts, but
that wasn't.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
The big danger.
Speaker 6 (11:23):
Now which key is this?
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (11:29):
The doctor showing where are we going?
Speaker 5 (11:30):
You'll see.
Speaker 6 (11:32):
No, the heart attacks were actually good for business, but
there was something else here.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
I'll show you.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
I want you to see somebody, Latimer, Latimer, Go away, Latima.
I want you to meet somebody. This is mister thereman.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
No now, go away.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Hello.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
This person may make you stop pushing me, go away
touching him.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
What's wrong?
Speaker 6 (12:02):
Latimer is afraid it was falling.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
In on me in the walls.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
I've gotta get out, Let me out.
Speaker 6 (12:08):
You can't go out, Latimer. It's all right.
Speaker 7 (12:10):
I'm gonna get out.
Speaker 5 (12:11):
Lub me up, let me oft.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
At sleeping period. We have to give him a shot
of morphine. Otherwise he'd batter his brains out against the wall.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
What's wrong with him?
Speaker 6 (12:22):
Nothing? Nothing but fifteen minutes in the darkness of the
tunnel of mystery.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Well, doctor, that's impossible.
Speaker 6 (12:28):
One person out of ten came out of the tunnel
that way. That's why we had to shut it down.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Why why should darkness do that?
Speaker 6 (12:36):
It's obvious man cannot exist without light. Longer periods of
darkness would obviously be fatal. The scientific theory is that
the consciousness of light is necessary for mental activity.
Speaker 8 (12:49):
Please please, doctor, let me outside, Let the outside.
Speaker 5 (12:53):
Please. I can't breathe the pushing me. There are with
I can't.
Speaker 6 (13:02):
There, you are theremen That's what fifteen minutes of darkness
will do. Man just wasn't built to operate without light.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
There are always at.
Speaker 6 (13:12):
Least two suns in the sky most of the time.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
More yeah, just fifteen minutes of darkness.
Speaker 6 (13:22):
Now, then look out of that window. Imagine darkness everywhere,
no light as far as you can see, black, everything black,
and the stars whatever they are. Well, can you conceie it?
Your mind wasn't built for that conception. When the real
(13:43):
thing comes, you'll go mad completely and permanently. There's no
question of it. Tomorrow there won't be a city left
standing in the world.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
Oh why doctor, why should the cities be destroyed?
Speaker 5 (13:56):
If you were in darkness?
Speaker 6 (13:58):
What would you want more than anything else? What would
it be that every instinct would call for light? And
how would you get light?
Speaker 3 (14:07):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (14:08):
You would burn something and every city in the world will.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Go up in flames.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
Shall we go back to my office, mister Ferreman, and
have another drink?
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Through the skies, the red sun beta shines along the
wind howls across the city. It's cold, cold that a
man can remember. And as the hour approaches, the reporter
goes out and speaks to the man in the street.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
I excuse me, sir, excuse me, but I'm from the Chronicle.
I'd like to talk to you, Ah repoire.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
That's right.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
My name is Palette.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Two elves, remember the two elves?
Speaker 3 (14:53):
All right, mister Pellett. What's your occupation?
Speaker 9 (14:56):
Power technician at the North Division plan. Huh you're making
some kind of a survey. Huh yeah, yeah, in a way.
Where are you going now home for supper?
Speaker 7 (15:05):
Well?
Speaker 4 (15:05):
How about Well, what I mean is what are you
going to do tonight?
Speaker 3 (15:11):
You mean about this star stuff?
Speaker 9 (15:12):
Yeah, well, I tell you, mister, it don't stand The
reason at the end of the world is going to
come boom like that.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
It just don't stand the reason. In other words, you
don't believe it.
Speaker 9 (15:21):
I didn't say that, but it just don't stand the reason.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Uh huh. Have you read what the signists say. I
don't read stuff like that, only the headlines. Yeah. How
about the cult?
Speaker 9 (15:30):
Well, like I always say, I've got nothing against religion.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
You don't believe them either.
Speaker 9 (15:34):
Well, they've always been shouting about doom and sin.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Listen.
Speaker 9 (15:38):
But when you've been around as long as I have,
you get to know the score. It's all right to
preach that judgment day is coming and on. But just
the same, I'm putting money in the bank.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Uh huh.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Well tell me how about how about darkness? About why?
How would you feel if there was no light? You're crazy?
Speaker 5 (16:00):
How could there be no life?
Speaker 4 (16:01):
Well, I suppose suppose all the sons went down at once,
suppose everything was black.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Well it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
What's used to supposing something like that?
Speaker 3 (16:08):
It couldn't happen, It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
Yeah, Well that's all, thank you.
Speaker 9 (16:15):
Sure, Look, mister, remember palette with two ells.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
Excuse me, sir, but I represent the Chronicle and we're
conducting a pole to determine public opinion with regard to the.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Predicted end of the world. How do you feel about it?
Speaker 10 (16:37):
Oh, this talk of scientific explanation, it's sinful, that's what
it is.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Oh I see. Well then you're a member of the culture.
Speaker 10 (16:47):
Ah, you sure been. Remember since I was a boar.
My daddy was a member too. I've seen the books.
It's all written down in the book.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Well, don't you believe the scientist explanation.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Don't need it?
Speaker 10 (17:00):
Going to save my immortal soul, going to stay on
the mountaintop in a white robe while the stars carry
me away to glory.
Speaker 5 (17:09):
Blessed be the stars.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Well, tell me what are the stars?
Speaker 10 (17:14):
The glory, the breath of the heaven, the spirit of
the ultimate, that's.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
What they are.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Eh.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Well, so the observatory has announced that it intends to
take pictures of these stars.
Speaker 10 (17:25):
Blasphemy. I sold my house, gave all my money to
the poor. Won't need it anymore, going to heaven with stars, glory, glory,
gold with the stars.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
The reporter checks the stock exchange. The stars business that
a standstill doesn't pay to buy anything today, not if
the world's going to end up. There are predictions of
economic collapse in the financial section, layoffs at the factories
on the edge of the city. Through the streets, the
people mill and turn I'm sure crying in fear or
(18:12):
shouting with bravano. But the story isn't here in the city.
And so as the hour approaches, the reporter goes again
to be observatory high in the hills.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
Now, look, doctor Raton, if you are right, if the
world is going to be destroyed, what's the difference if
I stay here and observe and take notes?
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Nothing, I suppose, But you'll be in the way. We
have work to do, all right. If I stay out
of the way.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
I can't be bothered with you. You'll have to leave,
mister Fairman.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Hello, Oh hello, doctor Sharon.
Speaker 6 (18:41):
Yeah, this place is like a mogue. It's freezing outside.
The wind is enough to hang icicles on your nose.
Beta doesn't seem to give any heat at all. It's
so far away.
Speaker 5 (18:50):
Why aren't you in the hideout? Sharon?
Speaker 6 (18:52):
Me, I'm part of the race that isn't worth perpetuating.
Who's got a bottle?
Speaker 2 (18:57):
There will be no alcohol today, would be too easy
to get my men drunk. I can't afford to tempt them. Well,
all right, damn, And you can stay but keep out
of the way.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Well, thank you doctor.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Well, gentlemen, I think it's time we took our positions.
The observatory dome is up these stairs, Yes, sir, after.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
You, doctor, what's that home?
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Quick? What is it? The plate? The photographic plate? So
ill smashed? There he is, occultest. He's going for a
telescope after me. I've got it.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
But it must be destroyed, it must be.
Speaker 5 (19:39):
It's all right, it's all right. He didn't harm anything.
Let him up.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Well that's the high priest. Doctor Sore is his name.
I was talking to him yesterday.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
What do you want, sir?
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Nothing that you would give me of your own free will.
I made a bargain with the cult to give me
certain data you had. In return, I promised to prove
the essential truth of the there's no need to prove
that stands proved by the doctrine of revelations. I offered
scientific backing for you believers.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
You made of the.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Darkness and the stars natural phenomenon, removed all its real significance.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
That was blasphemy. The facts exist. Your facts are a
fraud and a delusion. How do you know I know?
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I suppose you think in trying to warn the world
against the menace of madness. We are placing souls in jeopardy. Well,
we have not succeeded. If that makes you feel better,
your deflish instruments must be destroyed. We obey the will
of the stars. Someone call the police in Sero City.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
There's no time for that. Let me handle this.
Speaker 6 (20:45):
The eclipse is only a few minutes away. Look, so
will you give your word of honor to cause no trouble?
Speaker 5 (20:52):
I will not listen. Just as soon as the.
Speaker 6 (20:55):
Eclipse starts, We're going to take you and put you
in a closet with the door closed, and you stay there.
Then you won't see the darkness and you won't see
the stars, and that means the loss of your immortal
soul according to the cult. All right, now, will you
give your word of honor?
Speaker 2 (21:12):
You have it. You will all be damned for your
deeds of today.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Look camera, yes.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Sir, techn exposes catlic We will it's shaking, mister.
Speaker 6 (21:24):
I'll feel very well that I'm not losing your nerves.
Speaker 5 (21:27):
No, I'm just not used to this. You could probably
make the high work.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
I will assign to cover a story and tend to cover.
Speaker 6 (21:33):
It professional honor yeah, and I'd get my right arm
for a bottle. Right now, I need a drink. What's
that the cultist? That's the doctrine of Revelations.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
I don't understand it.
Speaker 6 (21:46):
He's chanting some old cycle language. The Doctrine of Revelations
was originally written in it. There are probably two million
people in Sarrow City who are trying to join the cult,
one gigantic revival.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Doctor Sharon.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
How do the colis manage to keep the Doctrine of
Revelations going from cycle to cycle?
Speaker 3 (22:06):
If everyone goes mad? Who won't this doctrine?
Speaker 6 (22:08):
There are some people who don't see the stars, the blind,
they would have memories and that, combined with the confused,
incoherent babbling of the mad, on the basis for the
Doctrine of revelations, the colt will be riding high down
there in the city. I hope they make the most of.
Speaker 5 (22:28):
It, Doctor Sharon.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Doctor Sharon, I've just heard from hideout on private line
are in trouble. They are safe, but the cities and
shambles you have no idea, get worse.
Speaker 6 (22:40):
What are you shaking about?
Speaker 5 (22:41):
Doctor?
Speaker 2 (22:42):
How do you feel we don't understand the coltists arousing
the people to starm the observat high, promising them salvation,
promising them.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Anything along till the total eclipse.
Speaker 5 (22:52):
An how I'm ready to check those cabins. It's a gamble.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
It will take time to get a mob out here.
If the darkness comes first, we're all right. Look at Beta.
Speaker 7 (23:03):
Yeah, it's cut in half.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
It's getting darker. An interesting phenomenon.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
The colors suddenly tight.
Speaker 6 (23:12):
Are you having any difficulty in breathing?
Speaker 4 (23:16):
No?
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Why?
Speaker 6 (23:17):
Difficulty in breathing is one of the first symptoms we've experimented.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
I'm cold. It seems to be getting colder.
Speaker 6 (23:25):
We'd better keep our minds on something else. One of
the astronomers has a theory about the stars. He thinks
they may be suns that are too far away to
see in the light. He developed a fantasy about a
planet revolving around one sun. It's a mathematical possibility. Of course,
(23:46):
there couldn't be any life. Part of the planet would
always be dark and without light.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
Well, it's obvious.
Speaker 6 (23:54):
Without light, there can't be any life.
Speaker 5 (23:56):
It's time for the artificial light. We can't read the
instrut artificial light.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
One of the researchers in the university worked it out.
It's animal grease packed around a wick. Here, I light
it with this spark.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Why it's beautiful.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
Yellow light.
Speaker 7 (24:19):
After four hours of red, it's beautiful light light.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
The dome is quiet. The priest in his yellow robe
sways slowly as his lips move in the ancient tongue.
Over and over he whispers the invocation to the stars.
The technicians hunt over the instruments, and the sky gradually
turns a horrible, deep purple red. The air grows denser.
(25:03):
Dusk like a palpable entity enters the room. The dancing
circle of yellow light about the torches etches itself into
ever sharper distinction against the ever gathering grayness beyond outside
beta is a mere, smoldering splendor. Taking a last look
(25:24):
at the world. The western horizon in the direction of
the city is lost in darkness, and along the highway
to the observatory surges a menacing shadowy mass.
Speaker 5 (25:37):
The mob from the city. They're coming. How long till
total eclips fifteen minutes? That mob will be here in five.
We'll hold them off.
Speaker 6 (25:44):
Come on to them.
Speaker 11 (25:45):
And there's no light down there. We have to block
the door. Come on, I can't I can't breathe. I
can't go down there. Take a torch, we take light
with us. Come on, asen asen.
Speaker 5 (26:10):
I'm here. Did you bar the door?
Speaker 6 (26:12):
He won't get in.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
All right now, everybody, one minute ti totality. One minute
just before totality, I'm changing the plate that will leave
one of you for each camera.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
Now.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Remember, if you feel yourself going, get away from the camera.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
It's dark. It's getting dark. Sharon, Sharon, worry. I can't
say it. I here thirty seconds about the friest.
Speaker 6 (26:38):
I can't see it.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
And the wicked shall.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Pish, and the souls of the true believers shall be
transported in glory to the stars.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
You can see him against the torch.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
Don't let him get to the telescope.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
From the stars there reached down a heavenly flame, and
where it touched the cities of the world flame toward destructure.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
Have him him, I'll take care.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
The world must be destroyed by the sess.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
Five seconds to totality four three two one.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
The sky is black and through it shines the stars.
Thirty thousand minute suns shine down in soul searing splendor.
It's more frightening, and it's awful. Indifference than the bitter
wind that shivers across the horrible, cold, bleak world.
Speaker 8 (27:41):
The stars, the stars, the rules are coming in omen
They're coming in light.
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Darkness, never, never, never, in the wall breaking in. We
did not know, We did not know, We did not know.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
On the horizon, in the direction of a city, a
crimson glow begins growing. A thousand fires, strengthened in brightness
that is not the glow of the sun. A million fires,
as a world mad in the darkness, screams in terror
for the light. The night has come again. You have
(28:56):
just heard another adventure into the unknown world of the future,
the world of With this program, Dementia X concludes the
present series. We hope to return to the air in
the near future. Watch your local newspaper and listen to
(29:18):
your local station for the resumption of the series.
Speaker 12 (29:28):
Dementsion X is presented transcribed each week by the National
Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of
the magazine Astounding Science Fiction. Today, Domention X has presented Nightfall,
written for radio by Ernest Kinnoy from the story by
Isaac Asimov. Featured in the cast were Lyle Sudreaux as
(29:50):
the reporter, Cameron Prudin as the astronomer, and John McGovern
as the psychologist, Your host Norman Rose. Music by Bert Berman.
The Mansion Act is produced by William Welch and directed
by Fred Way.
Adventures in time and space transcribed in future tense. The
National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers
(00:30):
of Astounding science fiction, bring You Dimension X. Ralph Warlow
Emerson speculated, if the stars should appear one night in
a thousand years, how would men believe, and adore and
(00:55):
perceive for many generations the remembrance of the city of God.
Now this was philosophically interesting. But on the edge of
the galaxy, there is a planet which swings on its
orbit in a cluster of six suns. These suns hang
in the sky above, never less than two shine down
(01:15):
through the entire twenty three point eight hours of the
planet's day. The yellow light has burned down on the
planet continuously into the past, till the mind of Man
runneth Nut to the contrary. Thereman was a reporter for
(01:42):
the Saroh City Chronicle. He covered them all, from the
night police beat, the politics to the sports pages, and
the city editor wanted him to cover the biggest story
of the year, perhaps of all time. It was an interview,
a particularly difficult interview. But then, since his first days
as a cub therem and had specialized in difficult interviews.
(02:04):
He didn't expect violence though from an astronomer.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
You're from that newspaper. Well, you've got a lot of
gall coming here.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
I'll wait a minute, doctor Raton. It's only a job.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
I've read your paper. You've been writing this Observatory for
two months now. You've attacked me personally. I have nothing
to say to you.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
All right, Look, this is your chance to get your
side in the paper. I'll give it to you straight.
Two months ago, the Observatory issued a press statement that
the world was coming to an end. That's the same
story that the Cult of Revelations has been preaching. And
when a scientist backs that up, it's news.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Our conclusions have nothing to do with the cult. The
Cult of Revelations is full of superstition and mysticism.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
We are scientists.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, and you got the people pretty angry.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
That does not matter.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
You know, if I can't get the story from you,
I'll have to go somewhere else. Go ahead, all right,
you know, doctor Ratta, and the paper can be pretty
rough on someone who doesn't co operate.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Young man, If you're not out of the Observatory within
five minutes, I shall call the police. Now get out.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
The reporter walks down the long hall from the observatory.
The light filters through the high windows. The yellow light
of Gamma, the brightest of the sick suns in the
planet's sky, Beta, is almost its zenith. Its red light
floods the landscape to an unusual orange. The planet's sun
Alpha is at the antipodes, and now, as Gamma sinks
(03:46):
below the horizon, the red dwarf sun Beta is alone,
grimly alone. It's a short drive from the observatory to
Sero City, and the red light glare is from the highway.
The temp of the cult stands hewn from the solid
rock of the dormite mountains outside the city, and in
the inner courtyard stands sore the priest of the cult.
Speaker 5 (04:11):
Whoa to the unbelievers.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Their souls will ross with the absence of lights far for.
Speaker 5 (04:22):
Wait, Irreverence.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Please please tell me, Irreverence, what will happen? What are
you waiting for?
Speaker 5 (04:30):
Here?
Speaker 2 (04:31):
The day, the day of the coming. It was written
in our Doctrine of Revelations. It came to pass that
the San Beta was alone in the sky.
Speaker 6 (04:45):
The world was shrunken and cold.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
Men dissemble in the public.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Squares and highways, their minds were troubled and their speech confused.
For the souls of men awaited the coming of the
stars the lip of the cave of darkness, past the
edge of beta, and loud were the cries of men.
There was no light on the surface of the world.
(05:12):
In this blackness there appeared the stars and countless numbers.
In that moment, the souls of men departed from them
and abandoned bodies became even as beasts. And the stars
then reached down the heaven's flame, where it touched the
(05:37):
cities of the world flamed a destruction, so that of
man and all the works of man naught remained.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
So it is written, doctor Charon, You're the only scientist
I could find in the city.
Speaker 6 (06:07):
Where is everybody in the hideout? In the hideout, the
place bored me. I wanted to be out here where
things are getting hot. I want to see the stars
the cultists are talking about. Besides, they don't want me
at the hideout. I'm too scrawny to survive.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Well, wait a minute, what is the hideout?
Speaker 6 (06:23):
Well, we professors have managed to convince a few people
that our prophecy of doom is valid. We've got about
three thousand people. They're supposed to hide where the darkness
and the stars can't get at them. We hope they'll
survive and leave records, survive, survive what, Oh, there are
(06:44):
lots of names for it. The cultists have their myths.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Oh yes, yes, yes, what about that? What is there
to these myths? As a matter of fact, what is
there to this doctrine of revelation?
Speaker 6 (06:55):
I'm a psychologist, not an archaeologist. How true it is,
I don't know. But the cultists say that every two
thousand and fifty years all the suns disappear and there
is a total darkness, and then they say things appear
called stars. Course, men go mad. They mix all this
(07:16):
up with a lot of religiomistic notions, but that is
the central idea.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Yeah, well that's impossible, isn't it. I mean, there are
always at least two suns in the sky most of
the time, four or.
Speaker 6 (07:29):
Five are not now only beta.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Doctor Sharon, You mean that there's going to be worldwide
darkness tomorrow, but all mankind will go violently insane.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
What's behind that?
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Well, for one thing, this is history of civilization of
the world. We've located a series of cycles of civilizations
comparable to our own, all of which, without exception, were
destroyed by fire at the very height of their culture.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
All right, all right, but is there any scientific theory
behind this?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
And that would explain it?
Speaker 6 (08:04):
The University Observatory finished their calculations two months ago. Tomorrow
there will be an eclipse of Beta, so that the
planet will become dark. That eclipse comes every two thousand
and forty nine years. Darkness comes maybe those mysterious stars
that no man has ever seen, and then madness and
(08:27):
the end of civilization.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
I see. And the scientists expect to live through this.
At the hideout.
Speaker 6 (08:38):
They plan to photograph the eclipse and leave the records,
and then the rest of mankind will.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Know what to expect.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Mm hm, doctor Sharon, What is there in darkness to
drive men mad?
Speaker 6 (08:52):
Have you ever experienced darkness? Young man?
Speaker 3 (08:54):
No? No, but I know what it is.
Speaker 5 (08:57):
It's just.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Well, no light.
Speaker 6 (09:01):
Draw the curtain.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Well what for if we had four or five sons
out there, we might want to cut the light down
for comfort, But with only baita that is the point.
Speaker 6 (09:11):
Just draw the curtain and then come here and sit down.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
All right, what, doctor Saron, I can't see you feel
your way. Yeah, but I can't see I can't see anything.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
Do you like it?
Speaker 4 (09:29):
What?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
No? No, it's awful.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
It was.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
They seem to be closing in on me. I want
to keep pushing him away.
Speaker 6 (09:42):
All right, Draw the curtain back again.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
The light, the light, doctor, sharony. Have you got a
drink right here?
Speaker 6 (09:58):
That was just a dark room?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yep?
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Yeah, it wasn't really so bad.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
And you're afraid, yes, I am.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Just darkness can do that.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
This isn't just a metaphysical theory, young man. It's promulgated
from observed data. Come with me, where the locked ward
down the corridor?
Speaker 3 (10:22):
All right?
Speaker 6 (10:27):
Were you at the Sarrow City Centennial Exposition two years ago?
Speaker 3 (10:31):
No, I was overseas on assignment.
Speaker 6 (10:34):
Remember hearing about the tunnel of mystery that broke all
records in the amusement area.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Yeah, there wasn't there some fuss about it.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
The ani Vice Society had it shut down.
Speaker 6 (10:43):
It was shut down, all right, But the Brunoses had
nothing to do with it.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Oh.
Speaker 6 (10:47):
That tunnel was nothing but a mile long passage through darkness.
You rode in a little car and it took fifteen
minutes to get through. Very popular one.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
It lasted popular.
Speaker 6 (11:00):
There's a fascination in being frightened when it's part of
a game. Absence of light is one of the instinctive
human fears. People came out of that fifteen minutes of
darkness shaking and half dead with fear.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
After I thought there were some deaths, bad hearts, but
that wasn't.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
The big danger.
Speaker 6 (11:23):
Now which key is this?
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (11:29):
The doctor showing where are we going?
Speaker 5 (11:30):
You'll see.
Speaker 6 (11:32):
No, the heart attacks were actually good for business, but
there was something else here.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
I'll show you.
Speaker 6 (11:41):
I want you to see somebody, Latimer, Latimer, Go away, Latima.
I want you to meet somebody. This is mister thereman.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
No now, go away.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Hello.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
This person may make you stop pushing me, go away
touching him.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
What's wrong?
Speaker 6 (12:02):
Latimer is afraid it was falling.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
In on me in the walls.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
I've gotta get out, Let me out.
Speaker 6 (12:08):
You can't go out, Latimer. It's all right.
Speaker 7 (12:10):
I'm gonna get out.
Speaker 5 (12:11):
Lub me up, let me oft.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
At sleeping period. We have to give him a shot
of morphine. Otherwise he'd batter his brains out against the wall.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
What's wrong with him?
Speaker 6 (12:22):
Nothing? Nothing but fifteen minutes in the darkness of the
tunnel of mystery.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Well, doctor, that's impossible.
Speaker 6 (12:28):
One person out of ten came out of the tunnel
that way. That's why we had to shut it down.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Why why should darkness do that?
Speaker 6 (12:36):
It's obvious man cannot exist without light. Longer periods of
darkness would obviously be fatal. The scientific theory is that
the consciousness of light is necessary for mental activity.
Speaker 8 (12:49):
Please please, doctor, let me outside, Let the outside.
Speaker 5 (12:53):
Please. I can't breathe the pushing me. There are with
I can't.
Speaker 6 (13:02):
There, you are theremen That's what fifteen minutes of darkness
will do. Man just wasn't built to operate without light.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
There are always at.
Speaker 6 (13:12):
Least two suns in the sky most of the time.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
More yeah, just fifteen minutes of darkness.
Speaker 6 (13:22):
Now, then look out of that window. Imagine darkness everywhere,
no light as far as you can see, black, everything black,
and the stars whatever they are. Well, can you conceie it?
Your mind wasn't built for that conception. When the real
(13:43):
thing comes, you'll go mad completely and permanently. There's no
question of it. Tomorrow there won't be a city left
standing in the world.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
Oh why doctor, why should the cities be destroyed?
Speaker 5 (13:56):
If you were in darkness?
Speaker 6 (13:58):
What would you want more than anything else? What would
it be that every instinct would call for light? And
how would you get light?
Speaker 3 (14:07):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (14:08):
You would burn something and every city in the world will.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Go up in flames.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
Shall we go back to my office, mister Ferreman, and
have another drink?
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Through the skies, the red sun beta shines along the
wind howls across the city. It's cold, cold that a
man can remember. And as the hour approaches, the reporter
goes out and speaks to the man in the street.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
I excuse me, sir, excuse me, but I'm from the Chronicle.
I'd like to talk to you, Ah repoire.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
That's right.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
My name is Palette.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Two elves, remember the two elves?
Speaker 3 (14:53):
All right, mister Pellett. What's your occupation?
Speaker 9 (14:56):
Power technician at the North Division plan. Huh you're making
some kind of a survey. Huh yeah, yeah, in a way.
Where are you going now home for supper?
Speaker 7 (15:05):
Well?
Speaker 4 (15:05):
How about Well, what I mean is what are you
going to do tonight?
Speaker 3 (15:11):
You mean about this star stuff?
Speaker 9 (15:12):
Yeah, well, I tell you, mister, it don't stand The
reason at the end of the world is going to
come boom like that.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
It just don't stand the reason. In other words, you
don't believe it.
Speaker 9 (15:21):
I didn't say that, but it just don't stand the reason.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Uh huh. Have you read what the signists say. I
don't read stuff like that, only the headlines. Yeah. How
about the cult?
Speaker 9 (15:30):
Well, like I always say, I've got nothing against religion.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
You don't believe them either.
Speaker 9 (15:34):
Well, they've always been shouting about doom and sin.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Listen.
Speaker 9 (15:38):
But when you've been around as long as I have,
you get to know the score. It's all right to
preach that judgment day is coming and on. But just
the same, I'm putting money in the bank.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Uh huh.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
Well tell me how about how about darkness? About why?
How would you feel if there was no light? You're crazy?
Speaker 5 (16:00):
How could there be no life?
Speaker 4 (16:01):
Well, I suppose suppose all the sons went down at once,
suppose everything was black.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Well it's crazy.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
What's used to supposing something like that?
Speaker 3 (16:08):
It couldn't happen, It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
Yeah, Well that's all, thank you.
Speaker 9 (16:15):
Sure, Look, mister, remember palette with two ells.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
Excuse me, sir, but I represent the Chronicle and we're
conducting a pole to determine public opinion with regard to the.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Predicted end of the world. How do you feel about it?
Speaker 10 (16:37):
Oh, this talk of scientific explanation, it's sinful, that's what
it is.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Oh I see. Well then you're a member of the culture.
Speaker 10 (16:47):
Ah, you sure been. Remember since I was a boar.
My daddy was a member too. I've seen the books.
It's all written down in the book.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Well, don't you believe the scientist explanation.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Don't need it?
Speaker 10 (17:00):
Going to save my immortal soul, going to stay on
the mountaintop in a white robe while the stars carry
me away to glory.
Speaker 5 (17:09):
Blessed be the stars.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Well, tell me what are the stars?
Speaker 10 (17:14):
The glory, the breath of the heaven, the spirit of
the ultimate, that's.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
What they are.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Eh.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Well, so the observatory has announced that it intends to
take pictures of these stars.
Speaker 10 (17:25):
Blasphemy. I sold my house, gave all my money to
the poor. Won't need it anymore, going to heaven with stars, glory, glory,
gold with the stars.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
The reporter checks the stock exchange. The stars business that
a standstill doesn't pay to buy anything today, not if
the world's going to end up. There are predictions of
economic collapse in the financial section, layoffs at the factories
on the edge of the city. Through the streets, the
people mill and turn I'm sure crying in fear or
(18:12):
shouting with bravano. But the story isn't here in the city.
And so as the hour approaches, the reporter goes again
to be observatory high in the hills.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
Now, look, doctor Raton, if you are right, if the
world is going to be destroyed, what's the difference if
I stay here and observe and take notes?
Speaker 5 (18:30):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Nothing, I suppose, But you'll be in the way. We
have work to do, all right. If I stay out
of the way.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
I can't be bothered with you. You'll have to leave,
mister Fairman.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
Hello, Oh hello, doctor Sharon.
Speaker 6 (18:41):
Yeah, this place is like a mogue. It's freezing outside.
The wind is enough to hang icicles on your nose.
Beta doesn't seem to give any heat at all. It's
so far away.
Speaker 5 (18:50):
Why aren't you in the hideout? Sharon?
Speaker 6 (18:52):
Me, I'm part of the race that isn't worth perpetuating.
Who's got a bottle?
Speaker 2 (18:57):
There will be no alcohol today, would be too easy
to get my men drunk. I can't afford to tempt them. Well,
all right, damn, And you can stay but keep out
of the way.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Well, thank you doctor.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Well, gentlemen, I think it's time we took our positions.
The observatory dome is up these stairs, Yes, sir, after.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
You, doctor, what's that home?
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Quick? What is it? The plate? The photographic plate? So
ill smashed? There he is, occultest. He's going for a
telescope after me. I've got it.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
But it must be destroyed, it must be.
Speaker 5 (19:39):
It's all right, it's all right. He didn't harm anything.
Let him up.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Well that's the high priest. Doctor Sore is his name.
I was talking to him yesterday.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
What do you want, sir?
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Nothing that you would give me of your own free will.
I made a bargain with the cult to give me
certain data you had. In return, I promised to prove
the essential truth of the there's no need to prove
that stands proved by the doctrine of revelations. I offered
scientific backing for you believers.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
You made of the.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Darkness and the stars natural phenomenon, removed all its real significance.
Speaker 5 (20:17):
That was blasphemy. The facts exist. Your facts are a
fraud and a delusion. How do you know I know?
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I suppose you think in trying to warn the world
against the menace of madness. We are placing souls in jeopardy. Well,
we have not succeeded. If that makes you feel better,
your deflish instruments must be destroyed. We obey the will
of the stars. Someone call the police in Sero City.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
There's no time for that. Let me handle this.
Speaker 6 (20:45):
The eclipse is only a few minutes away. Look, so
will you give your word of honor to cause no trouble?
Speaker 5 (20:52):
I will not listen. Just as soon as the.
Speaker 6 (20:55):
Eclipse starts, We're going to take you and put you
in a closet with the door closed, and you stay there.
Then you won't see the darkness and you won't see
the stars, and that means the loss of your immortal
soul according to the cult. All right, now, will you
give your word of honor?
Speaker 2 (21:12):
You have it. You will all be damned for your
deeds of today.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Look camera, yes.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Sir, techn exposes catlic We will it's shaking, mister.
Speaker 6 (21:24):
I'll feel very well that I'm not losing your nerves.
Speaker 5 (21:27):
No, I'm just not used to this. You could probably
make the high work.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
I will assign to cover a story and tend to cover.
Speaker 6 (21:33):
It professional honor yeah, and I'd get my right arm
for a bottle. Right now, I need a drink. What's
that the cultist? That's the doctrine of Revelations.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
I don't understand it.
Speaker 6 (21:46):
He's chanting some old cycle language. The Doctrine of Revelations
was originally written in it. There are probably two million
people in Sarrow City who are trying to join the cult,
one gigantic revival.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Doctor Sharon.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
How do the colis manage to keep the Doctrine of
Revelations going from cycle to cycle?
Speaker 3 (22:06):
If everyone goes mad? Who won't this doctrine?
Speaker 6 (22:08):
There are some people who don't see the stars, the blind,
they would have memories and that, combined with the confused,
incoherent babbling of the mad, on the basis for the
Doctrine of revelations, the colt will be riding high down
there in the city. I hope they make the most of.
Speaker 5 (22:28):
It, Doctor Sharon.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Doctor Sharon, I've just heard from hideout on private line
are in trouble. They are safe, but the cities and
shambles you have no idea, get worse.
Speaker 6 (22:40):
What are you shaking about?
Speaker 5 (22:41):
Doctor?
Speaker 2 (22:42):
How do you feel we don't understand the coltists arousing
the people to starm the observat high, promising them salvation,
promising them.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Anything along till the total eclipse.
Speaker 5 (22:52):
An how I'm ready to check those cabins. It's a gamble.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
It will take time to get a mob out here.
If the darkness comes first, we're all right. Look at Beta.
Speaker 7 (23:03):
Yeah, it's cut in half.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
It's getting darker. An interesting phenomenon.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
The colors suddenly tight.
Speaker 6 (23:12):
Are you having any difficulty in breathing?
Speaker 4 (23:16):
No?
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Why?
Speaker 6 (23:17):
Difficulty in breathing is one of the first symptoms we've experimented.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
I'm cold. It seems to be getting colder.
Speaker 6 (23:25):
We'd better keep our minds on something else. One of
the astronomers has a theory about the stars. He thinks
they may be suns that are too far away to
see in the light. He developed a fantasy about a
planet revolving around one sun. It's a mathematical possibility. Of course,
(23:46):
there couldn't be any life. Part of the planet would
always be dark and without light.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
Well, it's obvious.
Speaker 6 (23:54):
Without light, there can't be any life.
Speaker 5 (23:56):
It's time for the artificial light. We can't read the
instrut artificial light.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
One of the researchers in the university worked it out.
It's animal grease packed around a wick. Here, I light
it with this spark.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
Why it's beautiful.
Speaker 5 (24:16):
Yellow light.
Speaker 7 (24:19):
After four hours of red, it's beautiful light light.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
The dome is quiet. The priest in his yellow robe
sways slowly as his lips move in the ancient tongue.
Over and over he whispers the invocation to the stars.
The technicians hunt over the instruments, and the sky gradually
turns a horrible, deep purple red. The air grows denser.
(25:03):
Dusk like a palpable entity enters the room. The dancing
circle of yellow light about the torches etches itself into
ever sharper distinction against the ever gathering grayness beyond outside
beta is a mere, smoldering splendor. Taking a last look
(25:24):
at the world. The western horizon in the direction of
the city is lost in darkness, and along the highway
to the observatory surges a menacing shadowy mass.
Speaker 5 (25:37):
The mob from the city. They're coming. How long till
total eclips fifteen minutes? That mob will be here in five.
We'll hold them off.
Speaker 6 (25:44):
Come on to them.
Speaker 11 (25:45):
And there's no light down there. We have to block
the door. Come on, I can't I can't breathe. I
can't go down there. Take a torch, we take light
with us. Come on, asen asen.
Speaker 5 (26:10):
I'm here. Did you bar the door?
Speaker 6 (26:12):
He won't get in.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
All right now, everybody, one minute ti totality. One minute
just before totality, I'm changing the plate that will leave
one of you for each camera.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
Now.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Remember, if you feel yourself going, get away from the camera.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
It's dark. It's getting dark. Sharon, Sharon, worry. I can't
say it. I here thirty seconds about the friest.
Speaker 6 (26:38):
I can't see it.
Speaker 5 (26:39):
And the wicked shall.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Pish, and the souls of the true believers shall be
transported in glory to the stars.
Speaker 3 (26:46):
You can see him against the torch.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
Don't let him get to the telescope.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
From the stars there reached down a heavenly flame, and
where it touched the cities of the world flame toward destructure.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
Have him him, I'll take care.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
The world must be destroyed by the sess.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
Five seconds to totality four three two one.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
The sky is black and through it shines the stars.
Thirty thousand minute suns shine down in soul searing splendor.
It's more frightening, and it's awful. Indifference than the bitter
wind that shivers across the horrible, cold, bleak world.
Speaker 8 (27:41):
The stars, the stars, the rules are coming in omen
They're coming in light.
Speaker 5 (27:55):
Darkness, never, never, never, in the wall breaking in. We
did not know, We did not know, We did not know.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
On the horizon, in the direction of a city, a
crimson glow begins growing. A thousand fires, strengthened in brightness
that is not the glow of the sun. A million fires,
as a world mad in the darkness, screams in terror
for the light. The night has come again. You have
(28:56):
just heard another adventure into the unknown world of the future,
the world of With this program, Dementia X concludes the
present series. We hope to return to the air in
the near future. Watch your local newspaper and listen to
(29:18):
your local station for the resumption of the series.
Speaker 12 (29:28):
Dementsion X is presented transcribed each week by the National
Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of
the magazine Astounding Science Fiction. Today, Domention X has presented Nightfall,
written for radio by Ernest Kinnoy from the story by
Isaac Asimov. Featured in the cast were Lyle Sudreaux as
(29:50):
the reporter, Cameron Prudin as the astronomer, and John McGovern
as the psychologist, Your host Norman Rose. Music by Bert Berman.
The Mansion Act is produced by William Welch and directed
by Fred Way.
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