July 30, 2024 • 21 mins
Please enjoy Death Wish a great episode of the legendaryX Minus One radio - A Classic Old Time radio Show - OTR
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yeah, this is Nightline, your thie line of the world,
and this is Walter Okee.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Tonight of Visit the world's strangely different from ours, The
world of the future, the world of X minus one.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Now here is the future X minus one.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Condom for blast of X minus five for three two
X minus one fire from the far horizons of the
(01:17):
unknown comtaales 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 Galaxies Science Fiction Magazine,
presents Woe Tonight, Death Wish by ned Lang, but first Hells.
(01:58):
During the theater season in New York, people flock from
everywhere in the nation to see the latest Broadway plays,
but very few of these people have ever been fortunate
enough to experience the thrill and excitement backstage at one
of Broadway's top musical comedies.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Tomorrow Night Monitor invites you along as Don Russell goes
backstage at the Broadway musical hit Simply Heavenly, introducing you
to the cast. The author listening to the songs from
this fine musical show.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
It'll be an experience you won't soon forget.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Then on Saturday, for sports enthusiasts, Army versus Notre Dame
and Monitor brings you this football classic direct from Municipal
Stadium in Philadelphia. Add to these features, Monitor's special coverage
of the pomp, ceremony and celebration during Queen Elizabeth's tour
of Canada, visits from celebrities like Mickey Rooney, Tennessee Williams,
Tony Bennett, and Burrell Lives. And you have some idea
(02:47):
of the top variety of entertainment, Monitor will bring you
all weekend.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
So start your weekend.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Right with Monitor on Friday night and stay with Monitor
all weekend long over most of these same NBC radio
stations and now x minus one and tonight's story Death Wish.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
Fuel consumption normal.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
You'll reach point Able in ten seconds from now nine
eight seven, six, five four three two one. But well, gentlemen,
we're on our way to Mars, and mister Ratch, you
give me a thirty second warning before we reach Point Baker.
(03:47):
Very well, Captain. Now, mister Watkins, what's the condition of
your engines? Don't you worry about my engines? The Dedro
may be a cantankerous old craig, but she's good for
another five.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
Or ten round trips to Mars. You can lay to
that look at him.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
If anybody criticizes his engines, you can actually see that
walrus mustache at his bristles.
Speaker 6 (04:05):
In the raw check.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
I've had about enough of these personal remarks of yours.
Stick to your navigation on me alone, now, Watkins. Let's
not get into another of those arguments. And that's an order.
I sir, you had a reason for asking about your engines.
I've made enough trips to Mars to know the way
a ship should sound. There's something about this one I don't.
Speaker 6 (04:23):
Know quite well.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I had along with this ship, Captain Summers.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
I'll tell you something, though.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Every engineer where the salt knows there are just two
kinds of equipment, the kind of fails bit by bit
and the kind of goes all at once. When something
happened to the Didra, you'll know it right away. You
won't have to ask maybe soon. I wonder if our
cargo didn't shift on the takeoff, and mister Ratchick, would
you be kind enough to check on it?
Speaker 7 (04:48):
You bet, captain right away.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
You worried about that new parents and computer we're carrying, Captain.
Not worried exactly, but it's responsibility. That thing is by
far the largest, heaviest, most delicate piece of machinery have
but transported in space. It's an evil thing that's blinking
eyes and scheming brain.
Speaker 6 (05:12):
I'll be glad to get to Marsport and.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Get it off the ship for soul I wakins, but
not quite.
Speaker 6 (05:17):
For the same reason.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
I don't quite share your feelings about the personality of machine.
That's because you don't know anything about them, Captain. I do,
and I don't like that computer thing back there in
the whole.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
All in order, and the.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Whole boss cargo hasn't shifted all right, mus stretch it.
Speaker 6 (05:34):
Maybe I'm borrowing trouble.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Thirty seconds to point Baker, Sir Bara, strack yourselves on
the acceleration couches again. Be sure you don't read anything,
mister Watkins. I don't think, Sir. I'll vouch for every
bit of equipment on the DIDRA.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
Fifteen seconds to point Baker. Prepare for new acceleration engines.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
Ready for firing, Sir. Ten nine eight.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
We fire for exactly five seconds. I'm reaching points Baker
for maximum Ecre three two one fire.
Speaker 6 (06:06):
That's fine, I didn't cut off. We're over firing.
Speaker 7 (06:08):
My fuel, of course will.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Be of course, switch doesn't respond.
Speaker 5 (06:11):
Emergency cut off. Hit the emergency hit move my arms
stop it stop.
Speaker 7 (06:16):
The rockets go on to hit the.
Speaker 6 (06:20):
Switch. What happened?
Speaker 4 (06:27):
We're on emergency lights. We blew the generator. Oh the
lousy things to happen. Main firing circuit affused on us
metal fatigue, I'd say, must have been flawed for years.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
This last checked out.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Well, it's a sealed unit, Captain, it's supposed to outlast
the ship, absolutely full provements.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
It's flawed.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Now, don't go blaming it on me. Those circuits are
supposed to be x rayed. He treated fluoroscope. You just
can't trust machinery only on fuel, not enough to push
a kiddy car down main street.
Speaker 6 (06:56):
If I could just get.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
My hands on those factory inspectrus.
Speaker 6 (07:00):
How does this affect our course? I'm computing it now.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
I'm working as fast as I can, Mister Watkins. Can
we fire those rockets on manual?
Speaker 6 (07:06):
Sure?
Speaker 1 (07:07):
We can.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
We only have enough fuel for about a three second burst.
I don't mean a crash landing, but we're worried about.
Speaker 6 (07:11):
That when we come to it. Well, mister tragic, this
kills us. Captain.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
We're going to cross the orbit of Mars before Mars
gets there.
Speaker 6 (07:20):
How long? Too long?
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Captain, we're flying out of the Solar system. Adjust under
the speed of light. You are listening to death Wish,
(07:44):
the Night's attraction on X minus one. In many instances,
the handicapped exceell the able bodied workers. So emplayers, take
stock of your jobs and hire the handicapped. You'll find
that it's good business. Get in touch with your state
(08:06):
implement office.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
Now sh.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
A'll back to X minus one and death Wish.
Speaker 6 (08:27):
Look at him?
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Look at how he sits there staring at nothing. Here
we are cutting off into space, and what do you do?
We got a little fuel left. We can turn the ship,
can't we. Look, you are a navigator, aren't you? I am,
mister Watkins. And for your information, if I plotted my
courses the way you maintain your engines, we'd be plowing
into the middle of Australia right now.
Speaker 6 (08:49):
Are you a little company? Tony?
Speaker 5 (08:52):
At least I got my job, honestly, not by.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Marrying the owner's door, You dirty old man out stop
at both of you.
Speaker 6 (09:00):
This now, I give the orders here farthe and give
some tell him to plot a return curve.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
This is life and death, all the more reason for
keeping our heads stragic. Can you plot such a course?
The first thing I tried on the fuel we got left?
There isn't a chance. Best I could do would be
a degree or two.
Speaker 6 (09:15):
That won't help for you, I mean, or won't.
Speaker 5 (09:17):
We'll turn back into the Solar System.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Sure, but the best curve we can make will take
us a few thousand years to complete. What about a
landfall on some other planet Neptune Uranus? Impossible in the
first place. The right planet would have to be in
the right place at the right time. And if it were,
we'd need fuel, a lot of fuel to get into
a breaking orbit. And if we could, who'd come and
get us? No ship has gone past Mars yet. Eah,
(09:41):
But maybe there'd be a chance at the slim Chabee.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Maybe, But we can't swing it.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Gentlemen, I'm afraid we'll have to kiss the Solar System goodbye.
It just doesn't seem possible. Who would believe we're traveling
at almost the speed of light? Look out the viewing court,
you'd swear we were standing still in space. Yeah, that's
because there's no reference. As you know, I assure you,
we're traveling faster than any men have ever traveled.
Speaker 6 (10:04):
What you will do, Captain, I don't know what.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
I just don't know, Our noble captain can't face the situation.
Speaker 6 (10:10):
Of course I can face it.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
I can follow any course you prop That's my only
real responsibility. Now let's get a grip on ourselves. Mister Rajick.
Suppose you raise mars on the radio. Aye, I sir,
dra to mars Port, dred to mars Port. Urgent, repeat, urgent,
Come in mars Port, Marsport. Read you over, emergency mars Port,
(10:36):
firing mechanism, jammed fuel, almost totally expended acceleration fifteen seconds
past safe maximum heading out of solar system.
Speaker 7 (10:45):
Request help over, and you'd turn the ship D three.
Speaker 6 (10:50):
And you put it into any kind.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
Of an orbit over no fuel, mars Port. We can
only turn a degree or two over. You can't do
on dree over Captain Summers Marsport.
Speaker 7 (11:04):
Over, Captain, what do you propose to do, good lord man?
Speaker 4 (11:10):
That's what we're asking you.
Speaker 6 (11:12):
What are they saying? I don't know.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
I couldn't catch it, mister roget. Can't you get better reception?
Rapidly running out of range? Captain, I'll give it all
the game, I can guess.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
To Debra Arensports and Debra.
Speaker 6 (11:35):
Dedre, what can you do for us? Over?
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Captain, we can't think of the thing if you could
swing into.
Speaker 6 (11:45):
Any start of morb we can't. I told you that
under their second stances, Captain.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Do you have the right to try anything at all?
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Anything?
Speaker 6 (11:55):
Captain?
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Oh, that's nice of them expect us to do complain
to the company less than my mars port.
Speaker 6 (12:02):
Do you still read me? Over? Read you frankly? Go on,
but hurry.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
I can think of just one thing. We could bail
out in spacesuits as near Mars as possible. That Diana
is laying over there, isn't she You could have her
pick us up over Sorry.
Speaker 6 (12:21):
Captain, you're confused.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
If you left your ship, your momentum would not be effective.
Speaker 6 (12:26):
You and your crew would continue through space at the
same rate as this ship over.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
Of course, I wasn't thinking I have it. Send the
Diana out to intersect our course. Maybe we can find
some way to transfer. My navigator will help you PLoP
the intersection over.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
They've gone again.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Hello mars Port, Hello, mars Port, Come in, Marsport.
Speaker 7 (13:00):
I can't bring them in again to do it that way? Sorry, Over, you.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
Mean you can't do it?
Speaker 6 (13:10):
Why not? It is our only chance? Over, I amn't.
Speaker 8 (13:15):
Played up having her engines over her?
Speaker 6 (13:18):
How long before she can be spaceborn?
Speaker 4 (13:22):
Too long?
Speaker 7 (13:23):
Three weeks?
Speaker 6 (13:25):
Sorry, Captain, I wish we could hang you something. Fuck.
The only thing weak is the jess. What if I
didn't get it?
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Perceptions gone again, Captain, we're getting out of range. I
don't know whether I can raise them again or not.
Speaker 6 (13:36):
Well, try try, come on.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
Maybe that's at I suggested. We don't already know even
the statics getting weaker now we only knew what they
were going to say.
Speaker 6 (13:45):
What's the difference?
Speaker 4 (13:46):
They didn't really think it would work anyhow? Wait a minute, wait, wait,
maybe something to hold it, jes can.
Speaker 6 (13:56):
You hear the chest? Most unlikely?
Speaker 8 (14:00):
But try try calculate your try calculity.
Speaker 6 (14:11):
They're gone for good this time.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
I heard what he said, the calculator. Does he mean
the Farrens and computer in our hole?
Speaker 6 (14:18):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (14:19):
Yes, I see what he meant. The Farens is a
very advanced job. No one knows the limits of its potential.
He suggests we present our problem to it.
Speaker 6 (14:27):
Ah, that's ridiculous.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
The problem has no solution, it doesn't seem to. But
the big computers have solved other problems that seem to
have no solution. And we can't lose anything by trying,
not as long as we don't pin any hopes of
That's right. We don't dare hope. Mister Watkins, I believe
this is your department. What's the use you say, don't hope,
but both of you are hoping anyhow. You think the
(14:49):
big electronic god is going to save your lives?
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Well, it's not, but we have to try.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Man who says we do, I wouldn't give it the
satisfaction of turning us down. Are you implying that machines
thank you?
Speaker 6 (15:00):
Bet?
Speaker 4 (15:01):
I am, because they do. No, I'm not out of
my head. Any engineer will tell you that a complex
machine has a personality all its own.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
Do you know what that personality is like?
Speaker 4 (15:12):
It's cold, withdrawn, uncaring, unfeeling. A machine's only purpose is
to frustrate desire and produce two problems for everyone.
Speaker 6 (15:23):
It's halves And do you.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Know why a machine feels this way?
Speaker 6 (15:26):
Hysterical.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
No, I'm not.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
A machine feels this way because it knows it's an
unnatural creation in nature's domain. It wants to reach entropy
and cease. It's a death wish, a mechanical death wish.
Verish Watkins, Are you're going to hook up that computer?
Speaker 6 (15:42):
Oh? Sure, I'm human. I keep trying.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
I just wanted you to understand that there's no hope
I'll get it warmed up.
Speaker 6 (15:56):
We better watch him heavy or it.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Maybe he's blaming the Sitch situation on a machine personality
now trying to absolve himself of guilt. It's his fault
we're in this spot. An engineer is responsible for all equipment.
What's the good of blaming anybody? None, I guess personally,
I don't much care. This is as good a way
to die as any better.
Speaker 6 (16:18):
Than mone don't talk like that. Why not?
Speaker 4 (16:21):
Death in space is an appealing idea in certain ways.
Imagine an entire spaceship for a tomb, and you have
a certain choice in how you die. Thirst, hunger, heat, cold,
got that's in order. This is your first real emergency, Captain,
and you're responding like a stunned ox. Wake up. You
(16:44):
can't live with joy. At least try to extract a
little pleasure out of your diet.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Come out.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Well, chance, little tin gods ready and waiting. Anybody care
to make a burnt offering in front of it?
Speaker 6 (16:58):
Have you given it the problem? Most of it?
Speaker 4 (17:01):
You too have to punch up your own details. Position,
elapse time from maximum acceleration, water, oxygen, food, All right,
Come on, rechick, did you tell it we want to
return to Earth alive?
Speaker 6 (17:14):
Oh? Yes, yes, it loves that part.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
It'll get such pleasure out of rejecting the problem is unsolved.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
Oh no, no, no, I won't say that.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
It'll say insufficient data, and I'll punch up the rest
of the information.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
Insufficient data.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
You see the point It hints a solution is possible,
but just out of reach.
Speaker 5 (17:36):
A subtle torture.
Speaker 6 (17:38):
It can keep us hoping. There, that's the complete picture.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Now, let's see what happens when I press this. I'll
just keep your eye on that red light up there.
If it goes on, it means a problem is rejected.
Watch it now, and if it solves it. It's a
little bell, sort of like a bell. No, but you
won't hear it. Don't worry don't say that. It's a
(18:04):
matter of logic superstition.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
Shut up. You two have to keep up that everlasting wrangling. No,
not for long, Captain. We haven't much longer to live, Captain.
Maybe that's good. What's that a solution?
Speaker 4 (18:17):
It's found a solution.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
That must be a mistake. There is no solution. It's
fooling us, leading us on.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Now, who's superstitious? Here's the tape, the solutions on this slock.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
What to say?
Speaker 7 (18:28):
Come on, come up, read it? Read it not?
Speaker 6 (18:29):
May you read it? Katain?
Speaker 5 (18:31):
I won't play its fiendish game.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
Oh I see that's fine, that's just fine.
Speaker 6 (18:43):
What does it say?
Speaker 4 (18:44):
For the love of heaven, you figured a few thousand
years to return to the Solar system? Magic when the
computer agrees twenty three hundred years to be precise, Therefore
it has given us the formula for a longevity serum.
Twenty three hundred years. What are we supposed to do?
Speaker 7 (19:03):
Hybrid eight?
Speaker 4 (19:05):
As a matter of fact, the serum does awagh quite
neatly with the need for sleep. But twenty three hundred years, gentlemen,
we three sit here in this little ship and look
at each other. Twenty three hundred years of that. Yeah, Yeah,
(19:25):
that's just the sort of thing a machine would do.
(19:51):
Fred Collins again, and I'll have another word for you
about X minus one In a moment, that's how you
feel blue and miserable with a deep down cold.
Speaker 7 (20:06):
Listen.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Every second someone takes it for the misery, million more
take from Quinine.
Speaker 7 (20:13):
Every second someone chacks it.
Speaker 6 (20:14):
For the misery.
Speaker 8 (20:16):
A fine more people have taken more Promo Chlinine cold
tablets for more complete relief than any other cold tablet
ever sold.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
You could use aspirin or cost syrups or.
Speaker 8 (20:26):
Nose drops all day and not get Promo Chlinine's relief.
Romo Quinine works to relieve topped up nose, body aches, fever, irregularity,
the blues.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
And headache.
Speaker 8 (20:35):
Two yes, more complete relief or even virus colds. For
Promo Quinine is the only cold tablet sold with wonderworking
Quinine and five other medicines health fortified with vitamin C.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
Remember, every second someone takes it for the miser million
more take Promo Quinine.
Speaker 8 (20:53):
Get Promo Quinine brand cold tablets.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
You have just heard X minus one presented by the
National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Galaxy Science Fiction magazine,
which this month features You Are Right Joe by J. T. McIntosh,
the story of a time traveler who, going into the future,
hardly expected to encounter a Neanderthal man. Read it in
(21:17):
Galaxy Magazine on your news stand today. X minus one
has brought You Death Witch, a story written by Ned
Lang and adapted for radio by William Welch. Featured in
our cast were Ralph Camargo as Watkins, Maurice Tarplin as
Captain Summers, Walter Black as Ratchek, and Joseph Bell as
the radioman.
Speaker 6 (21:37):
This is Fred Collins Speaking.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
X minus one was directed by George Gutsas and is
an NBC Radio Network production.
Yeah, this is Nightline, your thie line of the world,
and this is Walter Okee.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Tonight of Visit the world's strangely different from ours, The
world of the future, the world of X minus one.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Now here is the future X minus one.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Condom for blast of X minus five for three two
X minus one fire from the far horizons of the
(01:17):
unknown comtaales 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 Galaxies Science Fiction Magazine,
presents Woe Tonight, Death Wish by ned Lang, but first Hells.
(01:58):
During the theater season in New York, people flock from
everywhere in the nation to see the latest Broadway plays,
but very few of these people have ever been fortunate
enough to experience the thrill and excitement backstage at one
of Broadway's top musical comedies.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Tomorrow Night Monitor invites you along as Don Russell goes
backstage at the Broadway musical hit Simply Heavenly, introducing you
to the cast. The author listening to the songs from
this fine musical show.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
It'll be an experience you won't soon forget.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Then on Saturday, for sports enthusiasts, Army versus Notre Dame
and Monitor brings you this football classic direct from Municipal
Stadium in Philadelphia. Add to these features, Monitor's special coverage
of the pomp, ceremony and celebration during Queen Elizabeth's tour
of Canada, visits from celebrities like Mickey Rooney, Tennessee Williams,
Tony Bennett, and Burrell Lives. And you have some idea
(02:47):
of the top variety of entertainment, Monitor will bring you
all weekend.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
So start your weekend.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
Right with Monitor on Friday night and stay with Monitor
all weekend long over most of these same NBC radio
stations and now x minus one and tonight's story Death Wish.
Speaker 6 (03:23):
Fuel consumption normal.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
You'll reach point Able in ten seconds from now nine
eight seven, six, five four three two one. But well, gentlemen,
we're on our way to Mars, and mister Ratch, you
give me a thirty second warning before we reach Point Baker.
(03:47):
Very well, Captain. Now, mister Watkins, what's the condition of
your engines? Don't you worry about my engines? The Dedro
may be a cantankerous old craig, but she's good for
another five.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
Or ten round trips to Mars. You can lay to
that look at him.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
If anybody criticizes his engines, you can actually see that
walrus mustache at his bristles.
Speaker 6 (04:05):
In the raw check.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
I've had about enough of these personal remarks of yours.
Stick to your navigation on me alone, now, Watkins. Let's
not get into another of those arguments. And that's an order.
I sir, you had a reason for asking about your engines.
I've made enough trips to Mars to know the way
a ship should sound. There's something about this one I don't.
Speaker 6 (04:23):
Know quite well.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I had along with this ship, Captain Summers.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
I'll tell you something, though.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Every engineer where the salt knows there are just two
kinds of equipment, the kind of fails bit by bit
and the kind of goes all at once. When something
happened to the Didra, you'll know it right away. You
won't have to ask maybe soon. I wonder if our
cargo didn't shift on the takeoff, and mister Ratchick, would
you be kind enough to check on it?
Speaker 7 (04:48):
You bet, captain right away.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
You worried about that new parents and computer we're carrying, Captain.
Not worried exactly, but it's responsibility. That thing is by
far the largest, heaviest, most delicate piece of machinery have
but transported in space. It's an evil thing that's blinking
eyes and scheming brain.
Speaker 6 (05:12):
I'll be glad to get to Marsport and.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Get it off the ship for soul I wakins, but
not quite.
Speaker 6 (05:17):
For the same reason.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
I don't quite share your feelings about the personality of machine.
That's because you don't know anything about them, Captain. I do,
and I don't like that computer thing back there in
the whole.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
All in order, and the.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Whole boss cargo hasn't shifted all right, mus stretch it.
Speaker 6 (05:34):
Maybe I'm borrowing trouble.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Thirty seconds to point Baker, Sir Bara, strack yourselves on
the acceleration couches again. Be sure you don't read anything,
mister Watkins. I don't think, Sir. I'll vouch for every
bit of equipment on the DIDRA.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
Fifteen seconds to point Baker. Prepare for new acceleration engines.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
Ready for firing, Sir. Ten nine eight.
Speaker 4 (05:55):
We fire for exactly five seconds. I'm reaching points Baker
for maximum Ecre three two one fire.
Speaker 6 (06:06):
That's fine, I didn't cut off. We're over firing.
Speaker 7 (06:08):
My fuel, of course will.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Be of course, switch doesn't respond.
Speaker 5 (06:11):
Emergency cut off. Hit the emergency hit move my arms
stop it stop.
Speaker 7 (06:16):
The rockets go on to hit the.
Speaker 6 (06:20):
Switch. What happened?
Speaker 4 (06:27):
We're on emergency lights. We blew the generator. Oh the
lousy things to happen. Main firing circuit affused on us
metal fatigue, I'd say, must have been flawed for years.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
This last checked out.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Well, it's a sealed unit, Captain, it's supposed to outlast
the ship, absolutely full provements.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
It's flawed.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Now, don't go blaming it on me. Those circuits are
supposed to be x rayed. He treated fluoroscope. You just
can't trust machinery only on fuel, not enough to push
a kiddy car down main street.
Speaker 6 (06:56):
If I could just get.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
My hands on those factory inspectrus.
Speaker 6 (07:00):
How does this affect our course? I'm computing it now.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
I'm working as fast as I can, Mister Watkins. Can
we fire those rockets on manual?
Speaker 6 (07:06):
Sure?
Speaker 1 (07:07):
We can.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
We only have enough fuel for about a three second burst.
I don't mean a crash landing, but we're worried about.
Speaker 6 (07:11):
That when we come to it. Well, mister tragic, this
kills us. Captain.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
We're going to cross the orbit of Mars before Mars
gets there.
Speaker 6 (07:20):
How long? Too long?
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Captain, we're flying out of the Solar system. Adjust under
the speed of light. You are listening to death Wish,
(07:44):
the Night's attraction on X minus one. In many instances,
the handicapped exceell the able bodied workers. So emplayers, take
stock of your jobs and hire the handicapped. You'll find
that it's good business. Get in touch with your state
(08:06):
implement office.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
Now sh.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
A'll back to X minus one and death Wish.
Speaker 6 (08:27):
Look at him?
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Look at how he sits there staring at nothing. Here
we are cutting off into space, and what do you do?
We got a little fuel left. We can turn the ship,
can't we. Look, you are a navigator, aren't you? I am,
mister Watkins. And for your information, if I plotted my
courses the way you maintain your engines, we'd be plowing
into the middle of Australia right now.
Speaker 6 (08:49):
Are you a little company? Tony?
Speaker 5 (08:52):
At least I got my job, honestly, not by.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Marrying the owner's door, You dirty old man out stop
at both of you.
Speaker 6 (09:00):
This now, I give the orders here farthe and give
some tell him to plot a return curve.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
This is life and death, all the more reason for
keeping our heads stragic. Can you plot such a course?
The first thing I tried on the fuel we got left?
There isn't a chance. Best I could do would be
a degree or two.
Speaker 6 (09:15):
That won't help for you, I mean, or won't.
Speaker 5 (09:17):
We'll turn back into the Solar System.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Sure, but the best curve we can make will take
us a few thousand years to complete. What about a
landfall on some other planet Neptune Uranus? Impossible in the
first place. The right planet would have to be in
the right place at the right time. And if it were,
we'd need fuel, a lot of fuel to get into
a breaking orbit. And if we could, who'd come and
get us? No ship has gone past Mars yet. Eah,
(09:41):
But maybe there'd be a chance at the slim Chabee.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Maybe, But we can't swing it.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Gentlemen, I'm afraid we'll have to kiss the Solar System goodbye.
It just doesn't seem possible. Who would believe we're traveling
at almost the speed of light? Look out the viewing court,
you'd swear we were standing still in space. Yeah, that's
because there's no reference. As you know, I assure you,
we're traveling faster than any men have ever traveled.
Speaker 6 (10:04):
What you will do, Captain, I don't know what.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
I just don't know, Our noble captain can't face the situation.
Speaker 6 (10:10):
Of course I can face it.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
I can follow any course you prop That's my only
real responsibility. Now let's get a grip on ourselves. Mister Rajick.
Suppose you raise mars on the radio. Aye, I sir,
dra to mars Port, dred to mars Port. Urgent, repeat, urgent,
Come in mars Port, Marsport. Read you over, emergency mars Port,
(10:36):
firing mechanism, jammed fuel, almost totally expended acceleration fifteen seconds
past safe maximum heading out of solar system.
Speaker 7 (10:45):
Request help over, and you'd turn the ship D three.
Speaker 6 (10:50):
And you put it into any kind.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
Of an orbit over no fuel, mars Port. We can
only turn a degree or two over. You can't do
on dree over Captain Summers Marsport.
Speaker 7 (11:04):
Over, Captain, what do you propose to do, good lord man?
Speaker 4 (11:10):
That's what we're asking you.
Speaker 6 (11:12):
What are they saying? I don't know.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
I couldn't catch it, mister roget. Can't you get better reception?
Rapidly running out of range? Captain, I'll give it all
the game, I can guess.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
To Debra Arensports and Debra.
Speaker 6 (11:35):
Dedre, what can you do for us? Over?
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Captain, we can't think of the thing if you could
swing into.
Speaker 6 (11:45):
Any start of morb we can't. I told you that
under their second stances, Captain.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Do you have the right to try anything at all?
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Anything?
Speaker 6 (11:55):
Captain?
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Oh, that's nice of them expect us to do complain
to the company less than my mars port.
Speaker 6 (12:02):
Do you still read me? Over? Read you frankly? Go on,
but hurry.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
I can think of just one thing. We could bail
out in spacesuits as near Mars as possible. That Diana
is laying over there, isn't she You could have her
pick us up over Sorry.
Speaker 6 (12:21):
Captain, you're confused.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
If you left your ship, your momentum would not be effective.
Speaker 6 (12:26):
You and your crew would continue through space at the
same rate as this ship over.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
Of course, I wasn't thinking I have it. Send the
Diana out to intersect our course. Maybe we can find
some way to transfer. My navigator will help you PLoP
the intersection over.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
They've gone again.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Hello mars Port, Hello, mars Port, Come in, Marsport.
Speaker 7 (13:00):
I can't bring them in again to do it that way? Sorry, Over, you.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
Mean you can't do it?
Speaker 6 (13:10):
Why not? It is our only chance? Over, I amn't.
Speaker 8 (13:15):
Played up having her engines over her?
Speaker 6 (13:18):
How long before she can be spaceborn?
Speaker 4 (13:22):
Too long?
Speaker 7 (13:23):
Three weeks?
Speaker 6 (13:25):
Sorry, Captain, I wish we could hang you something. Fuck.
The only thing weak is the jess. What if I
didn't get it?
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Perceptions gone again, Captain, we're getting out of range. I
don't know whether I can raise them again or not.
Speaker 6 (13:36):
Well, try try, come on.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
Maybe that's at I suggested. We don't already know even
the statics getting weaker now we only knew what they
were going to say.
Speaker 6 (13:45):
What's the difference?
Speaker 4 (13:46):
They didn't really think it would work anyhow? Wait a minute, wait, wait,
maybe something to hold it, jes can.
Speaker 6 (13:56):
You hear the chest? Most unlikely?
Speaker 8 (14:00):
But try try calculate your try calculity.
Speaker 6 (14:11):
They're gone for good this time.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
I heard what he said, the calculator. Does he mean
the Farrens and computer in our hole?
Speaker 6 (14:18):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (14:19):
Yes, I see what he meant. The Farens is a
very advanced job. No one knows the limits of its potential.
He suggests we present our problem to it.
Speaker 6 (14:27):
Ah, that's ridiculous.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
The problem has no solution, it doesn't seem to. But
the big computers have solved other problems that seem to
have no solution. And we can't lose anything by trying,
not as long as we don't pin any hopes of
That's right. We don't dare hope. Mister Watkins, I believe
this is your department. What's the use you say, don't hope,
but both of you are hoping anyhow. You think the
(14:49):
big electronic god is going to save your lives?
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Well, it's not, but we have to try.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Man who says we do, I wouldn't give it the
satisfaction of turning us down. Are you implying that machines
thank you?
Speaker 6 (15:00):
Bet?
Speaker 4 (15:01):
I am, because they do. No, I'm not out of
my head. Any engineer will tell you that a complex
machine has a personality all its own.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
Do you know what that personality is like?
Speaker 4 (15:12):
It's cold, withdrawn, uncaring, unfeeling. A machine's only purpose is
to frustrate desire and produce two problems for everyone.
Speaker 6 (15:23):
It's halves And do you.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Know why a machine feels this way?
Speaker 6 (15:26):
Hysterical.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
No, I'm not.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
A machine feels this way because it knows it's an
unnatural creation in nature's domain. It wants to reach entropy
and cease. It's a death wish, a mechanical death wish.
Verish Watkins, Are you're going to hook up that computer?
Speaker 6 (15:42):
Oh? Sure, I'm human. I keep trying.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
I just wanted you to understand that there's no hope
I'll get it warmed up.
Speaker 6 (15:56):
We better watch him heavy or it.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Maybe he's blaming the Sitch situation on a machine personality
now trying to absolve himself of guilt. It's his fault
we're in this spot. An engineer is responsible for all equipment.
What's the good of blaming anybody? None, I guess personally,
I don't much care. This is as good a way
to die as any better.
Speaker 6 (16:18):
Than mone don't talk like that. Why not?
Speaker 4 (16:21):
Death in space is an appealing idea in certain ways.
Imagine an entire spaceship for a tomb, and you have
a certain choice in how you die. Thirst, hunger, heat, cold,
got that's in order. This is your first real emergency, Captain,
and you're responding like a stunned ox. Wake up. You
(16:44):
can't live with joy. At least try to extract a
little pleasure out of your diet.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Come out.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Well, chance, little tin gods ready and waiting. Anybody care
to make a burnt offering in front of it?
Speaker 6 (16:58):
Have you given it the problem? Most of it?
Speaker 4 (17:01):
You too have to punch up your own details. Position,
elapse time from maximum acceleration, water, oxygen, food, All right,
Come on, rechick, did you tell it we want to
return to Earth alive?
Speaker 6 (17:14):
Oh? Yes, yes, it loves that part.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
It'll get such pleasure out of rejecting the problem is unsolved.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
Oh no, no, no, I won't say that.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
It'll say insufficient data, and I'll punch up the rest
of the information.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
Insufficient data.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
You see the point It hints a solution is possible,
but just out of reach.
Speaker 5 (17:36):
A subtle torture.
Speaker 6 (17:38):
It can keep us hoping. There, that's the complete picture.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Now, let's see what happens when I press this. I'll
just keep your eye on that red light up there.
If it goes on, it means a problem is rejected.
Watch it now, and if it solves it. It's a
little bell, sort of like a bell. No, but you
won't hear it. Don't worry don't say that. It's a
(18:04):
matter of logic superstition.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
Shut up. You two have to keep up that everlasting wrangling. No,
not for long, Captain. We haven't much longer to live, Captain.
Maybe that's good. What's that a solution?
Speaker 4 (18:17):
It's found a solution.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
That must be a mistake. There is no solution. It's
fooling us, leading us on.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Now, who's superstitious? Here's the tape, the solutions on this slock.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
What to say?
Speaker 7 (18:28):
Come on, come up, read it? Read it not?
Speaker 6 (18:29):
May you read it? Katain?
Speaker 5 (18:31):
I won't play its fiendish game.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
Oh I see that's fine, that's just fine.
Speaker 6 (18:43):
What does it say?
Speaker 4 (18:44):
For the love of heaven, you figured a few thousand
years to return to the Solar system? Magic when the
computer agrees twenty three hundred years to be precise, Therefore
it has given us the formula for a longevity serum.
Twenty three hundred years. What are we supposed to do?
Speaker 7 (19:03):
Hybrid eight?
Speaker 4 (19:05):
As a matter of fact, the serum does awagh quite
neatly with the need for sleep. But twenty three hundred years, gentlemen,
we three sit here in this little ship and look
at each other. Twenty three hundred years of that. Yeah, Yeah,
(19:25):
that's just the sort of thing a machine would do.
(19:51):
Fred Collins again, and I'll have another word for you
about X minus one In a moment, that's how you
feel blue and miserable with a deep down cold.
Speaker 7 (20:06):
Listen.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Every second someone takes it for the misery, million more
take from Quinine.
Speaker 7 (20:13):
Every second someone chacks it.
Speaker 6 (20:14):
For the misery.
Speaker 8 (20:16):
A fine more people have taken more Promo Chlinine cold
tablets for more complete relief than any other cold tablet
ever sold.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
You could use aspirin or cost syrups or.
Speaker 8 (20:26):
Nose drops all day and not get Promo Chlinine's relief.
Romo Quinine works to relieve topped up nose, body aches, fever, irregularity,
the blues.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
And headache.
Speaker 8 (20:35):
Two yes, more complete relief or even virus colds. For
Promo Quinine is the only cold tablet sold with wonderworking
Quinine and five other medicines health fortified with vitamin C.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
Remember, every second someone takes it for the miser million
more take Promo Quinine.
Speaker 8 (20:53):
Get Promo Quinine brand cold tablets.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
You have just heard X minus one presented by the
National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Galaxy Science Fiction magazine,
which this month features You Are Right Joe by J. T. McIntosh,
the story of a time traveler who, going into the future,
hardly expected to encounter a Neanderthal man. Read it in
(21:17):
Galaxy Magazine on your news stand today. X minus one
has brought You Death Witch, a story written by Ned
Lang and adapted for radio by William Welch. Featured in
our cast were Ralph Camargo as Watkins, Maurice Tarplin as
Captain Summers, Walter Black as Ratchek, and Joseph Bell as
the radioman.
Speaker 6 (21:37):
This is Fred Collins Speaking.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
X minus one was directed by George Gutsas and is
an NBC Radio Network production.
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