May 16, 2025 • 27 mins
A science fiction series that explores futuristic concepts and speculative scenarios, each episode delving into the possibilities of technology and space exploration.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
In just a moment X minus one. But first your
home will be filled with the voices of top entertainers
and fascinating experts in the homemaking field. Tomorrow when Virginia
Graham and Mike Wallace bring you another broadcast of NBC's Weekday.
Among the special guests is Rita gam Hollywood Starr, and
one of Grace Kelly's prospective bridesmaids. And Rita will be
(00:22):
joined by a singer whose unique style is well known
to his many fans, Johnny Ray. Then from Britain, It's
actor Trevor Howard. Meet them all tomorrow when NBC's Weekday
brings you another day of fact and fun on the station. Now,
stay tuned for X minus one on NBC.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Come down for Blast Off X minus five, four three
two X minus one fire h From the far horizons
(01:18):
of the unknown come transcribed tales of new dimensions in
time and space. These are stories of the future adventures
in which you'll live in a million, could be years,
on a thousand, maybe worlds. The National Broadcasting Company, in
cooperation with Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine, presents HE minus one Tonight,
(01:51):
a story by Frederick Paul Tunnel under the world.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
On the morning of June fifteenth, Guy Berkhardt woke up screaming.
It was more real than any dream he had ever
had in his life. He could still hear and feel
that sharp, metal ripping explosion, that searing wave of heat.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
He sat up, ry, Mary, Mary, very.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
Where are you?
Speaker 6 (02:30):
What's wrong? You're trembling? Where were you in the kitchen
cooking breakfast? What is it?
Speaker 7 (02:36):
No?
Speaker 8 (02:36):
A dream?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
I guess an explosion?
Speaker 9 (02:38):
Did you say an explosion? Yes, but that's the dream
I had. What I dreamed there was a big explosion,
and then something sort of hit me on the head.
Speaker 6 (02:48):
He smokes me.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Maybe there really was some sort of explosion.
Speaker 9 (02:52):
It started us streaming, Well, there'll be an explosion down
at your office if you don't hurry and get to work.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Coming in on the bus, Burkhart watched to see if
there was any.
Speaker 8 (03:13):
Evidence of an explosion. There wasn't.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
If anything, the town looked better than ever. The only
thing that seemed strange to him was the fact that
none of the usual crowd.
Speaker 8 (03:24):
Was on the bus.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
He was a little relieved when his old.
Speaker 8 (03:28):
Pal Henry Swanson finally got on.
Speaker 10 (03:32):
Excuse me, Henry, on me, Henry, what's the matter with you.
It's me Guy Burcott Burkhart. Sorry, I don't believe we've
met what Henry? For Pete's sake, it's me. If you'll
excuse me, this.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Is my stop.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
I'll like that.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Guy Burkhart got off in front of the Gigantic contro
Chemical building, took the elevator to the ninety eighth floor,
where he had worked in the accounting department for twelve years.
It wasn't until he was almost at his floor that
he realized the speaker was not playing the usual commercials.
Speaker 11 (04:14):
Friends, Are you happy with your present home freezer? Of
carsnin Well, the answer to your problems is a Feckle freezer.
Feckel freezers are better freezers. Most wives would do anything
for a Feckel freezer.
Speaker 8 (04:26):
Friends, Are you happy with your present home freezer?
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Morning is Horn?
Speaker 6 (04:35):
Good morning spirit?
Speaker 8 (04:37):
Well you head? Do I see why?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yes?
Speaker 6 (04:40):
Do you like it?
Speaker 8 (04:41):
That makes a lot of difference in your appearance.
Speaker 12 (04:44):
And mister Barton, no, sir, he had an appointment with
mister Dorton of the Human Research Institute today.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Today's the fifteenth of June. He has to sign the
quarterly statement.
Speaker 12 (04:54):
He said he wouldn't be in huh, that's mighty peculiar, Yes, sir.
Speaker 8 (04:59):
Oh, by the way, horn, what the.
Speaker 13 (05:01):
Devil is a freckle freezer fer? There's a new copy
on the elevator commercial the daughter you must have landed
another account freezes.
Speaker 12 (05:11):
I really don't know, mister Barricarr.
Speaker 8 (05:15):
It's a funny day. Can't quite put my finger on it.
But there's something strange going on. He couldn't shake.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
The thought out of his mind. It persisted all through
the day and through dinner. He was still brooding as
he and Mary got ready for bed.
Speaker 6 (05:38):
God, oh, well, no, anything wrong.
Speaker 8 (05:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
Well, I guess I'll get a good night's sleeping.
Speaker 8 (05:48):
I think I'll sit up and read for a while.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
At exactly midnight, Guyberghart lapsed into a sudden, deep sleep,
and the following morning he woke up screaming.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
Dolly, what is it? What's wrong?
Speaker 8 (06:18):
Oh? I think bad dream.
Speaker 6 (06:21):
I guess you gave me such a shock.
Speaker 13 (06:25):
I seem to be having a lot of nightmares lately. Really, Yes,
the one I had yesterday This was the same, A
big explosion and then nothing.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
You had a dream yesterday, Well, of.
Speaker 8 (06:36):
Course I did. You had the same sort.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
Of dream I, Guy, you're mistaken. I don't remember dreaming.
Speaker 8 (06:43):
Mary.
Speaker 6 (06:43):
You told me, Guy, you're mistaken.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
Mary.
Speaker 6 (06:45):
Maybe you dreamed I had a dream.
Speaker 13 (06:48):
Maybe yes, I might have done that. I suppose everything
did seem sort of strange yesterday.
Speaker 9 (06:54):
That's probably it. You better get dressed here, today's fifteenth.
That's when the quarterly is fifteenth.
Speaker 13 (06:59):
Yes, it must have been a dream, because yesterday was
the fifteenth.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Di Berkhart got up, dressed, ate breakfast, and took the
usual bus to work. Once again, everything seemed even brighter
and newer than usual, and once again he was puzzled
when he noticed none of the old crowd on the
bus hardon me.
Speaker 10 (07:31):
Please, oh look, don't shove so oh morning, Henry, morning,
for God's sake.
Speaker 14 (07:38):
Don't talk to me. What is it You've been followed
or something?
Speaker 15 (07:41):
Don't you know? I was sure you remembered, remember what?
I can't talk.
Speaker 14 (07:47):
This is my stopple.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
You excuse me, please, Hanry, Henry, for Pete's sake.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
As in yesterday's dream, Guy Berkhart got off at his
stop and took the elevator to the ninety eighth floor.
The speaker in the elevator purred a new commercial.
Speaker 16 (08:10):
This time Marlon secrets. They're sanitized. Does your present cigarette
make your throat feel raspy and unpleasant? Marlin cigarettes contain
a miraculous new drug which actually gives you the sensation
of smooth, creamy smoke. Marlin cigarette.
Speaker 14 (08:33):
Marlin Cigarette.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
He walked down the Marble corridor to his office.
Speaker 6 (08:45):
Good morning, is.
Speaker 8 (08:45):
Very Curt, Good morning, was Horn?
Speaker 12 (08:48):
Do you like my new haird.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yes? Is mister barthin?
Speaker 6 (08:56):
No there?
Speaker 13 (08:56):
He had no appointment with mister Dawton at the Research Institute.
I know you know well, I guessed it anyway, And
today is the fifteenth of June and he won't be
here to sign a quarterly statement.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
And I'm going nuts. Let me have a cigarette, will you?
Speaker 12 (09:10):
Yes, sir, try one of these. They're Marlins.
Speaker 8 (09:14):
Never heard of Marlins before today?
Speaker 4 (09:16):
What are we a bunch of guinea pigs?
Speaker 6 (09:18):
Something wrong wrong?
Speaker 8 (09:21):
Perish the thought, miss Horn. Perish the thought.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
He went to his desk and stared at the mail
before he opened it. He knew that the factory distributor's
envelope contained an order for twelve new electronic computers. He
knew that the Development Journal contained an article about a
new method of transprinting selective brain circuits of human engineers
onto the electric brain circuits of robot engineers to facilitate
(09:55):
the operation of automatic factories. He knew that there was
a complaint from Fine beck AND's about the contro chemical's
newest household robot circuit.
Speaker 8 (10:05):
After a long while, he forced himself to open them.
They were exactly as he suspected. Hello, this is.
Speaker 14 (10:18):
Swanson, Henry Swanson.
Speaker 8 (10:20):
What is it?
Speaker 16 (10:21):
Do you remember?
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Remember what?
Speaker 8 (10:23):
Just remember? All right?
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Now?
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Listen, Harry, Let's stop playing games. Yesterday, either I was
dreaming or you stubbed me on the bus. Today, the
same thing happens.
Speaker 14 (10:31):
You do remember, Thank Heaven? I thought so when I
saw you, when I couldn't be sure.
Speaker 8 (10:36):
Well, what is it you want?
Speaker 4 (10:37):
Listen?
Speaker 14 (10:38):
Tomorrow morning, when I get off the bus, you get
off with me.
Speaker 15 (10:43):
Be casual.
Speaker 13 (10:44):
They may be.
Speaker 8 (10:45):
Watching, who may be watching?
Speaker 5 (10:48):
Swanson?
Speaker 8 (10:50):
Hello?
Speaker 6 (10:58):
You buzzed, mister Baker.
Speaker 13 (11:00):
Yes, I'm still a out of cigarettes, sir? Would you
buy me a pack of Kelvins?
Speaker 12 (11:03):
Wouldn't you rather have Marlon? I smoke Kelvin's, But mister Barhard,
Marlins have that soft, creamy smoke that's so soothing.
Speaker 14 (11:12):
To your throat.
Speaker 8 (11:13):
You really believe that stuff?
Speaker 6 (11:15):
It's true.
Speaker 12 (11:16):
I wouldn't say this, mister Burkhard, except that, well, I've
gotten to know you pretty well, and I've wronged to
admire you so much. You see, would you mind, mister Burckhard,
if I told you that for months now, I've wanted
to well just comfort you.
Speaker 6 (11:36):
I know how troubled you've been.
Speaker 13 (11:39):
Well, you've never mentioned your feelings before, Miss Horn.
Speaker 12 (11:43):
April, my first name's April.
Speaker 8 (11:48):
Well that's pretty name.
Speaker 6 (11:49):
You see. I do have your welfare at heart.
Speaker 12 (11:52):
That's why when I see you smoking Kelvin's, and I
know Marlin's is so much better, won't you let me
buy some of them for you?
Speaker 8 (12:02):
Well? I suppose so, why not here? Bring me a carton?
Speaker 12 (12:08):
Thank you?
Speaker 6 (12:09):
Mister guy.
Speaker 8 (12:13):
I think you ought to go.
Speaker 6 (12:16):
I'll be bad.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
There was something wrong, something definitely peculiar about what was happening,
the call from Henry Sponson, the strange behavior of his
secretary in his horn, these new products. The dream guy
Burkhardt went home that night feeling like a man in
a nightmare.
Speaker 8 (12:45):
That you dear, it's me.
Speaker 6 (12:47):
Do you have a good day?
Speaker 8 (12:49):
Fair?
Speaker 6 (12:50):
Oh? Before you sit.
Speaker 9 (12:51):
Down, will you go down the cellar and put in
a new fuse. The switch in the hall closet blew out.
Speaker 6 (12:55):
I shut it off.
Speaker 9 (12:57):
Okay, supper will be rain in a minute, so don't
start fooling around.
Speaker 6 (13:00):
I've got a boat hull you've been building.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
I want, Harry, Marry, what is it? Come down here,
(13:23):
hurry up?
Speaker 8 (13:26):
What is it? I don't know, I'm not sure.
Speaker 13 (13:29):
I was looking for a fuse and I thought maybe
i'd dropped one under the boat house. So I scratched around. Look,
let me put the flap flight on it. Where Look
at the floor. What about the floor, It's supposed to
be cement. Well, well, let's copper.
Speaker 8 (13:45):
There's a thin layer of cement. But underneath its metal.
Look here underneath the concrete, more metal.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
And here on the wall you see metal under the floor,
behind the walls, every place.
Speaker 6 (14:03):
Well, I don't really understand, Mary.
Speaker 13 (14:06):
I know this sounds crazy, but somebody, for reasons I
can't even begin to guess, has taken this house and
replaced it with a clever imitation.
Speaker 8 (14:11):
Guy, Harry, I'm gonna look around little more.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
Well, your dinner will be ready.
Speaker 13 (14:15):
All right, say it for me. There are a couple
of things I've got to figure out.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
The following morning, Guy Burkhardt woke up scream. He dragged
himself into the kitchen where his wife Mary was preparing breakfast,
and discovered it was still June fifteenth.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Mary, where's the morning paper?
Speaker 8 (14:41):
Where is it outside the door?
Speaker 4 (14:43):
I guess h June fifteenth.
Speaker 9 (14:50):
You'd better hurry, dear, Today's the day mister Barr feels
out the quarterly tax return.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Oh no, it isn't. He won't be there. He'll get
a meeting with that crackpot drsu and at the Human
Research has to he'll be there, and miss Horn will
have a new hairdoo, and the elevator will be selling
some new product in Swanson.
Speaker 6 (15:07):
What about Swanson?
Speaker 8 (15:09):
Swanson?
Speaker 13 (15:09):
He said, I wonder if it's going to be the
same today.
Speaker 6 (15:14):
Guy, what in the world are you talking about?
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Nothing of min where's my coat?
Speaker 6 (15:19):
You haven't had any breakfast?
Speaker 4 (15:20):
I don't want to miss my bus. I'll see you tonight.
Speaker 8 (15:25):
Guy Burkhardt got on his bus.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
They were the same unfamiliar faces, the same unusually new
looking buildings, the same unusually bright sunshine, and on the
customary corner Henry Swanson, pale and furtive climbed a board.
Speaker 14 (15:44):
Huh, excuse me, sir, it's quite all right. Do you
remember the phone call?
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Yes?
Speaker 14 (15:49):
Thank heaven. Get off at the next corner and follow me.
Speaker 8 (15:52):
Where are you going?
Speaker 7 (15:53):
There's an excavation for a building about a blockdown. Make
sure you aren't followed. I'll go first, Burcott, here behind
the fence.
Speaker 8 (16:15):
All right, now, Henry, what's this all about?
Speaker 7 (16:17):
I'm not sure. At first I thought perhaps they were Russians.
Now I'm beginning to think they're Martians. No humans could
have accomplished what they've accomplished.
Speaker 8 (16:26):
Now, wait a minute, start from the beginning, Henry, what's
going on?
Speaker 14 (16:29):
Look, Burkhott, peculiar things have been happening to you, right? Yes,
a lot of your friends are missing. Your house seems changed.
Speaker 8 (16:38):
Something stranger than that.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
The date today is June fifteenth, Yet I could swear
yesterday was June fifteenth, and the day before that.
Speaker 7 (16:45):
You got it, friend, It's always June fifteenth, and you
and I are the only ones who know it.
Speaker 8 (16:52):
Why, Henry, how I'm not sure.
Speaker 14 (16:56):
I think it's some sort of mass hypnosis or something.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
Well, why doesn't it work for us? My wife Mary
doesn't remember a thing.
Speaker 14 (17:02):
Somehow, when it happened, they missed us.
Speaker 7 (17:05):
We were protected from the full force of the rays
or whatever they used.
Speaker 8 (17:11):
Or cut.
Speaker 14 (17:11):
Where were you on the night of the fourteenth, about midnight?
Speaker 13 (17:15):
Let me see that was Sunday night. Yes, yeah, I
was down in the cellar under the boat I'm building.
Speaker 14 (17:21):
I was in my dark room developing some pictures.
Speaker 8 (17:24):
This just doesn't make any sense to me. Russians, Martians,
What makes you think that.
Speaker 14 (17:29):
I've seen them? Where at the end of the tunnel?
Speaker 8 (17:33):
What tunnel?
Speaker 14 (17:34):
The one they built under tyler Town.
Speaker 8 (17:36):
Tunnel under Tyler Town.
Speaker 15 (17:38):
Yes, that's right.
Speaker 14 (17:39):
It's made out of copper or some alloy.
Speaker 8 (17:42):
God, wait a minute.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
I found a copper layer under my cellar floor last night,
So did I.
Speaker 14 (17:47):
That's how I discovered it. I found a way to
get into It's at the bottom of this excavation.
Speaker 10 (17:53):
Holy mackerel, Henry, Why don't we tell the police because
we can't trust them, even the police may.
Speaker 14 (17:59):
Be marshas in the sky.
Speaker 8 (18:00):
Oh come on, are you being melodrama?
Speaker 14 (18:02):
Why am I? But you just come with me where
into the tunnel? I'll show you.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Henry Swanson led Guy berghride to a small hole on
the side of the excavation. There, he removed the cut
out piece of metallic substance, and they crawled into a
dimly lighted tunnel. They walked for what seemed like two
miles until Swanson held his finger to his lips.
Speaker 15 (18:29):
We've got to be quiet now, Henry.
Speaker 8 (18:31):
This is fantastic. They've got a tunnel right under the hotwn.
Speaker 15 (18:35):
You haven't seen anything yet.
Speaker 7 (18:37):
There's a room a little farther down, so we'll be
able to look through a glass in the door.
Speaker 8 (18:42):
Is it safe.
Speaker 14 (18:43):
That's perfectly safe unless one of them comes along.
Speaker 15 (18:47):
Oh, come on, okay, here.
Speaker 7 (18:55):
Burkhart looked through this glass now, just so I know
I'm not completely insane.
Speaker 15 (19:01):
Tell me what you see, good lord.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Well, a tremendous panel with dozens of telescreens, and in
front of each of the several robots.
Speaker 8 (19:14):
They seem to be computing something.
Speaker 15 (19:16):
Yes, I've watched. They're evaluating data from the screens.
Speaker 8 (19:21):
Have you got a chance to look at the data
on those screens?
Speaker 7 (19:24):
No, I've been afraid to go in. There might be
a warning circuit somewhere.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
Well, if we knew what those robots were working on,
we could go to the authorities.
Speaker 15 (19:36):
I whisk it a few will. All right, it's worth
a chance.
Speaker 8 (19:40):
We're lost anyway.
Speaker 15 (19:41):
Okay, open the door. So far, so good.
Speaker 8 (19:52):
Come on, let's take a look at that data.
Speaker 15 (19:55):
But don't interfere with the robots.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Don't worry.
Speaker 8 (19:58):
Yeah, let's look at the screen.
Speaker 15 (20:02):
Listen to this.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Tests in the forty seven K twelve group with Marlin
cigarettes pulled eighty percent using the soft feminine approach. Indications
are that an extension of this approach would influence at
least seventy percent nationwide. The direct elevator pitch pulled only
ten percent. They should be abandoned and a new series
of high persuasion personal elements introduced.
Speaker 8 (20:26):
Henry, do you know what this means?
Speaker 15 (20:28):
I haven't the faintest idea.
Speaker 8 (20:29):
I don't blame you.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
This is crazy, but it fits the facts when I
think about it.
Speaker 8 (20:34):
Do you know who's behind this? Martian? No, not martians, Henry.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
Humans What humans were interested in developing the perfect propaganda machine?
Speaker 6 (20:43):
What?
Speaker 13 (20:44):
I don't know who they are or how they've done it,
but somehow they've taken Tyler Town over hypnosis, hypnosis, drugs,
maybe some kind of array or something. However they do it.
Speaker 8 (20:54):
What happens is that they let us live through a
single day.
Speaker 13 (20:57):
During that day, they pour all kinds of suggestions and
propaganda to into us. At the end of the day,
they evaluate the results, see how we've reacted. And at
midnight they washed the day out of our minds, and
the next morning we start the same day over again
with different Stimulia.
Speaker 8 (21:10):
Do you know what that means, Henry?
Speaker 4 (21:13):
Suppose one man learned how to influence people one why
in a year he could sell us anything from freezes
to political candidates. Wait a minute, where guinea pigs?
Speaker 15 (21:22):
Henry?
Speaker 4 (21:23):
This whole community is one big test tube for Dawton's
propaganda research.
Speaker 8 (21:28):
What do we do? I don't know, But somehow we've
got to get out of this town and get to
the FBI.
Speaker 14 (21:31):
How do you think we can?
Speaker 8 (21:31):
It's worth a try.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
Come on, wait, what is it?
Speaker 14 (21:35):
Look through the door. There's somebody coming down the tunnel.
Speaker 7 (21:39):
You've got to hide behind the circuit boxwa.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Good lord, it's Dawton, ahead of the research institute.
Speaker 11 (21:55):
All right, Burcott, come out.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
We know you're in this room.
Speaker 11 (22:02):
Ms Horn has informed us that you remember, I must
warn you that it's useless to buck us. Come out peacefully.
Let our maintenance crew adjust you properly so you don't
remember from one experiment to the next.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
It will be quite painless.
Speaker 11 (22:22):
If you don't come out peacefully, we'll have to get you.
Speaker 8 (22:25):
Henry, take this wrench when I give the word jumping.
Speaker 15 (22:29):
But he may be armed, and we've got nothing to lose.
Speaker 11 (22:32):
Very well, I'm coming after you.
Speaker 14 (22:37):
Now, very god, I've killed him.
Speaker 8 (22:45):
Get his coat un buttoned. Maybe his heart is still leading, Henry?
Speaker 15 (22:51):
What is it?
Speaker 14 (22:51):
What's wrong?
Speaker 8 (22:52):
Look underneath his coat?
Speaker 15 (22:55):
Heaven help us.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
It's a robot, a humanoid robot design look like Dawton.
Speaker 10 (23:00):
Come on, let's get out of here.
Speaker 15 (23:03):
Speaker.
Speaker 11 (23:04):
I told you it was useless. Gentleman. Who are you,
mister Drton? Naturally the real mister Drton?
Speaker 4 (23:13):
What are you trying to do to us?
Speaker 11 (23:15):
Merely trying to prevent you from damaging my experiment? Gentlemen,
you can't.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
Get away with this Dawton. Sooner or later somebody, the
FBI or somebody is going to get wind of this madness.
Speaker 11 (23:24):
Really, Burhart, you're quite naive. I why not be reasonable
and let the maintenance cruise adjust you?
Speaker 4 (23:32):
And if I refuse, I suppose you'll kill me.
Speaker 11 (23:35):
That would be quite impossible. Oh you see, Burhart, you're
already dead. Dead, you're shocked. It's quite true. You and
everyone else in this town were killed by a premature
atomic blast at the contro chemical plant. The blast occurred
(23:55):
at seven am on June fifteenth. That is the last
thing imprinted on your minds. That's why you wake up
screaming each morning.
Speaker 4 (24:03):
No, it isn't true, but it is.
Speaker 11 (24:05):
What I and my associates did was take the brain
circuits from your dead bodies. We stored them in electrochemical
batteries until we had a chance to rebuild the cities
and begin our tests.
Speaker 4 (24:16):
Do you think I believe a fantastic tale like that?
Speaker 11 (24:19):
I imagine you find it incredible. Of course, we didn't
rebuild everything exactly. After all, it only has to last
for a single day, June fifteenth. At midnight, we turn
off the power and wash out the memory of the day.
You're your friends once and unfortunately have defective circuits.
Speaker 8 (24:37):
You remember, it's no use.
Speaker 14 (24:39):
We're trapped to give up, not me. What can we do.
Speaker 8 (24:42):
We can make a run for it down the tunnel.
Speaker 4 (24:43):
Come on, it's useless, Burkard, keep going.
Speaker 11 (24:46):
It's useless.
Speaker 10 (24:47):
Use first, you fir.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Now, now this door is open. It opens. Oh no, no,
I don't believe it. Swats and look.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
They were standing on a ledge of smooth, finished metal.
At their feet, the ledge dropped away into a chasm
so deep they could not see the bottom. Beyond was
only a glare so bright that their eyes could not
stand to look into it. And yet just at the
limit of their vision, something towered, something so huge it
(25:48):
was almost inconceivable, something waker.
Speaker 5 (25:54):
Yes, this is tortune.
Speaker 11 (25:57):
How do you understand why it's useless?
Speaker 8 (26:01):
The great looming figure moved closer.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
It seemed to take shape now, and yet it was
so gigantic as to be unbelievable. It came closer, the
glare was partially blocked, and then Guy Burkhart knew that
the towering shape was none other than Dautchen himself.
Speaker 11 (26:23):
You see how I did it, Burkhert. I took your
brain circuits and had them reduced so they could be
transferred to tiny humanoid mannikins.
Speaker 4 (26:35):
That's what you are, Burkhart, a.
Speaker 11 (26:37):
Tiny miniature of yourself. And this city, this whole experiment
I'm conducting, is built on a table top.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
It was the morning of June fifteenth and Guy Burkhardt
woke up out of a dream.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
Screaming, who have just heard? X minus one presented.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
By the National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Galaxy Science
Fiction Magazine, which this month features another story by Tonight's
author Frederick Paul. It's the second installment of his novel
slave Ship Your Announcer, Fred Collins. X minus one was
directed by Daniel Sucker and is an NBC Radio Network production.
In just a moment X minus one. But first your
home will be filled with the voices of top entertainers
and fascinating experts in the homemaking field. Tomorrow when Virginia
Graham and Mike Wallace bring you another broadcast of NBC's Weekday.
Among the special guests is Rita gam Hollywood Starr, and
one of Grace Kelly's prospective bridesmaids. And Rita will be
(00:22):
joined by a singer whose unique style is well known
to his many fans, Johnny Ray. Then from Britain, It's
actor Trevor Howard. Meet them all tomorrow when NBC's Weekday
brings you another day of fact and fun on the station. Now,
stay tuned for X minus one on NBC.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Come down for Blast Off X minus five, four three
two X minus one fire h From the far horizons
(01:18):
of the unknown come transcribed tales of new dimensions in
time and space. These are stories of the future adventures
in which you'll live in a million, could be years,
on a thousand, maybe worlds. The National Broadcasting Company, in
cooperation with Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine, presents HE minus one Tonight,
(01:51):
a story by Frederick Paul Tunnel under the world.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
On the morning of June fifteenth, Guy Berkhardt woke up screaming.
It was more real than any dream he had ever
had in his life. He could still hear and feel
that sharp, metal ripping explosion, that searing wave of heat.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
He sat up, ry, Mary, Mary, very.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
Where are you?
Speaker 6 (02:30):
What's wrong? You're trembling? Where were you in the kitchen
cooking breakfast? What is it?
Speaker 7 (02:36):
No?
Speaker 8 (02:36):
A dream?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
I guess an explosion?
Speaker 9 (02:38):
Did you say an explosion? Yes, but that's the dream
I had. What I dreamed there was a big explosion,
and then something sort of hit me on the head.
Speaker 6 (02:48):
He smokes me.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Maybe there really was some sort of explosion.
Speaker 9 (02:52):
It started us streaming, Well, there'll be an explosion down
at your office if you don't hurry and get to work.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Coming in on the bus, Burkhart watched to see if
there was any.
Speaker 8 (03:13):
Evidence of an explosion. There wasn't.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
If anything, the town looked better than ever. The only
thing that seemed strange to him was the fact that
none of the usual crowd.
Speaker 8 (03:24):
Was on the bus.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
He was a little relieved when his old.
Speaker 8 (03:28):
Pal Henry Swanson finally got on.
Speaker 10 (03:32):
Excuse me, Henry, on me, Henry, what's the matter with you.
It's me Guy Burcott Burkhart. Sorry, I don't believe we've
met what Henry? For Pete's sake, it's me. If you'll
excuse me, this.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Is my stop.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
I'll like that.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Guy Burkhart got off in front of the Gigantic contro
Chemical building, took the elevator to the ninety eighth floor,
where he had worked in the accounting department for twelve years.
It wasn't until he was almost at his floor that
he realized the speaker was not playing the usual commercials.
Speaker 11 (04:14):
Friends, Are you happy with your present home freezer? Of
carsnin Well, the answer to your problems is a Feckle freezer.
Feckel freezers are better freezers. Most wives would do anything
for a Feckel freezer.
Speaker 8 (04:26):
Friends, Are you happy with your present home freezer?
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Morning is Horn?
Speaker 6 (04:35):
Good morning spirit?
Speaker 8 (04:37):
Well you head? Do I see why?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yes?
Speaker 6 (04:40):
Do you like it?
Speaker 8 (04:41):
That makes a lot of difference in your appearance.
Speaker 12 (04:44):
And mister Barton, no, sir, he had an appointment with
mister Dorton of the Human Research Institute today.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Today's the fifteenth of June. He has to sign the
quarterly statement.
Speaker 12 (04:54):
He said he wouldn't be in huh, that's mighty peculiar, Yes, sir.
Speaker 8 (04:59):
Oh, by the way, horn, what the.
Speaker 13 (05:01):
Devil is a freckle freezer fer? There's a new copy
on the elevator commercial the daughter you must have landed
another account freezes.
Speaker 12 (05:11):
I really don't know, mister Barricarr.
Speaker 8 (05:15):
It's a funny day. Can't quite put my finger on it.
But there's something strange going on. He couldn't shake.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
The thought out of his mind. It persisted all through
the day and through dinner. He was still brooding as
he and Mary got ready for bed.
Speaker 6 (05:38):
God, oh, well, no, anything wrong.
Speaker 8 (05:43):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
Well, I guess I'll get a good night's sleeping.
Speaker 8 (05:48):
I think I'll sit up and read for a while.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
At exactly midnight, Guyberghart lapsed into a sudden, deep sleep,
and the following morning he woke up screaming.
Speaker 6 (06:14):
Dolly, what is it? What's wrong?
Speaker 8 (06:18):
Oh? I think bad dream.
Speaker 6 (06:21):
I guess you gave me such a shock.
Speaker 13 (06:25):
I seem to be having a lot of nightmares lately. Really, Yes,
the one I had yesterday This was the same, A
big explosion and then nothing.
Speaker 6 (06:34):
You had a dream yesterday, Well, of.
Speaker 8 (06:36):
Course I did. You had the same sort.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
Of dream I, Guy, you're mistaken. I don't remember dreaming.
Speaker 8 (06:43):
Mary.
Speaker 6 (06:43):
You told me, Guy, you're mistaken.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
Mary.
Speaker 6 (06:45):
Maybe you dreamed I had a dream.
Speaker 13 (06:48):
Maybe yes, I might have done that. I suppose everything
did seem sort of strange yesterday.
Speaker 9 (06:54):
That's probably it. You better get dressed here, today's fifteenth.
That's when the quarterly is fifteenth.
Speaker 13 (06:59):
Yes, it must have been a dream, because yesterday was
the fifteenth.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Di Berkhart got up, dressed, ate breakfast, and took the
usual bus to work. Once again, everything seemed even brighter
and newer than usual, and once again he was puzzled
when he noticed none of the old crowd on the
bus hardon me.
Speaker 10 (07:31):
Please, oh look, don't shove so oh morning, Henry, morning,
for God's sake.
Speaker 14 (07:38):
Don't talk to me. What is it You've been followed
or something?
Speaker 15 (07:41):
Don't you know? I was sure you remembered, remember what?
I can't talk.
Speaker 14 (07:47):
This is my stopple.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
You excuse me, please, Hanry, Henry, for Pete's sake.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
As in yesterday's dream, Guy Berkhart got off at his
stop and took the elevator to the ninety eighth floor.
The speaker in the elevator purred a new commercial.
Speaker 16 (08:10):
This time Marlon secrets. They're sanitized. Does your present cigarette
make your throat feel raspy and unpleasant? Marlin cigarettes contain
a miraculous new drug which actually gives you the sensation
of smooth, creamy smoke. Marlin cigarette.
Speaker 14 (08:33):
Marlin Cigarette.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
He walked down the Marble corridor to his office.
Speaker 6 (08:45):
Good morning, is.
Speaker 8 (08:45):
Very Curt, Good morning, was Horn?
Speaker 12 (08:48):
Do you like my new haird.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yes? Is mister barthin?
Speaker 6 (08:56):
No there?
Speaker 13 (08:56):
He had no appointment with mister Dawton at the Research Institute.
I know you know well, I guessed it anyway, And
today is the fifteenth of June and he won't be
here to sign a quarterly statement.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
And I'm going nuts. Let me have a cigarette, will you?
Speaker 12 (09:10):
Yes, sir, try one of these. They're Marlins.
Speaker 8 (09:14):
Never heard of Marlins before today?
Speaker 4 (09:16):
What are we a bunch of guinea pigs?
Speaker 6 (09:18):
Something wrong wrong?
Speaker 8 (09:21):
Perish the thought, miss Horn. Perish the thought.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
He went to his desk and stared at the mail
before he opened it. He knew that the factory distributor's
envelope contained an order for twelve new electronic computers. He
knew that the Development Journal contained an article about a
new method of transprinting selective brain circuits of human engineers
onto the electric brain circuits of robot engineers to facilitate
(09:55):
the operation of automatic factories. He knew that there was
a complaint from Fine beck AND's about the contro chemical's
newest household robot circuit.
Speaker 8 (10:05):
After a long while, he forced himself to open them.
They were exactly as he suspected. Hello, this is.
Speaker 14 (10:18):
Swanson, Henry Swanson.
Speaker 8 (10:20):
What is it?
Speaker 16 (10:21):
Do you remember?
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Remember what?
Speaker 8 (10:23):
Just remember? All right?
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Now?
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Listen, Harry, Let's stop playing games. Yesterday, either I was
dreaming or you stubbed me on the bus. Today, the
same thing happens.
Speaker 14 (10:31):
You do remember, Thank Heaven? I thought so when I
saw you, when I couldn't be sure.
Speaker 8 (10:36):
Well, what is it you want?
Speaker 4 (10:37):
Listen?
Speaker 14 (10:38):
Tomorrow morning, when I get off the bus, you get
off with me.
Speaker 15 (10:43):
Be casual.
Speaker 13 (10:44):
They may be.
Speaker 8 (10:45):
Watching, who may be watching?
Speaker 5 (10:48):
Swanson?
Speaker 8 (10:50):
Hello?
Speaker 6 (10:58):
You buzzed, mister Baker.
Speaker 13 (11:00):
Yes, I'm still a out of cigarettes, sir? Would you
buy me a pack of Kelvins?
Speaker 12 (11:03):
Wouldn't you rather have Marlon? I smoke Kelvin's, But mister Barhard,
Marlins have that soft, creamy smoke that's so soothing.
Speaker 14 (11:12):
To your throat.
Speaker 8 (11:13):
You really believe that stuff?
Speaker 6 (11:15):
It's true.
Speaker 12 (11:16):
I wouldn't say this, mister Burkhard, except that, well, I've
gotten to know you pretty well, and I've wronged to
admire you so much. You see, would you mind, mister Burckhard,
if I told you that for months now, I've wanted
to well just comfort you.
Speaker 6 (11:36):
I know how troubled you've been.
Speaker 13 (11:39):
Well, you've never mentioned your feelings before, Miss Horn.
Speaker 12 (11:43):
April, my first name's April.
Speaker 8 (11:48):
Well that's pretty name.
Speaker 6 (11:49):
You see. I do have your welfare at heart.
Speaker 12 (11:52):
That's why when I see you smoking Kelvin's, and I
know Marlin's is so much better, won't you let me
buy some of them for you?
Speaker 8 (12:02):
Well? I suppose so, why not here? Bring me a carton?
Speaker 12 (12:08):
Thank you?
Speaker 6 (12:09):
Mister guy.
Speaker 8 (12:13):
I think you ought to go.
Speaker 6 (12:16):
I'll be bad.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
There was something wrong, something definitely peculiar about what was happening,
the call from Henry Sponson, the strange behavior of his
secretary in his horn, these new products. The dream guy
Burkhardt went home that night feeling like a man in
a nightmare.
Speaker 8 (12:45):
That you dear, it's me.
Speaker 6 (12:47):
Do you have a good day?
Speaker 8 (12:49):
Fair?
Speaker 6 (12:50):
Oh? Before you sit.
Speaker 9 (12:51):
Down, will you go down the cellar and put in
a new fuse. The switch in the hall closet blew out.
Speaker 6 (12:55):
I shut it off.
Speaker 9 (12:57):
Okay, supper will be rain in a minute, so don't
start fooling around.
Speaker 6 (13:00):
I've got a boat hull you've been building.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
I want, Harry, Marry, what is it? Come down here,
(13:23):
hurry up?
Speaker 8 (13:26):
What is it? I don't know, I'm not sure.
Speaker 13 (13:29):
I was looking for a fuse and I thought maybe
i'd dropped one under the boat house. So I scratched around. Look,
let me put the flap flight on it. Where Look
at the floor. What about the floor, It's supposed to
be cement. Well, well, let's copper.
Speaker 8 (13:45):
There's a thin layer of cement. But underneath its metal.
Look here underneath the concrete, more metal.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
And here on the wall you see metal under the floor,
behind the walls, every place.
Speaker 6 (14:03):
Well, I don't really understand, Mary.
Speaker 13 (14:06):
I know this sounds crazy, but somebody, for reasons I
can't even begin to guess, has taken this house and
replaced it with a clever imitation.
Speaker 8 (14:11):
Guy, Harry, I'm gonna look around little more.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
Well, your dinner will be ready.
Speaker 13 (14:15):
All right, say it for me. There are a couple
of things I've got to figure out.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
The following morning, Guy Burkhardt woke up scream. He dragged
himself into the kitchen where his wife Mary was preparing breakfast,
and discovered it was still June fifteenth.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Mary, where's the morning paper?
Speaker 8 (14:41):
Where is it outside the door?
Speaker 4 (14:43):
I guess h June fifteenth.
Speaker 9 (14:50):
You'd better hurry, dear, Today's the day mister Barr feels
out the quarterly tax return.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Oh no, it isn't. He won't be there. He'll get
a meeting with that crackpot drsu and at the Human
Research has to he'll be there, and miss Horn will
have a new hairdoo, and the elevator will be selling
some new product in Swanson.
Speaker 6 (15:07):
What about Swanson?
Speaker 8 (15:09):
Swanson?
Speaker 13 (15:09):
He said, I wonder if it's going to be the
same today.
Speaker 6 (15:14):
Guy, what in the world are you talking about?
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Nothing of min where's my coat?
Speaker 6 (15:19):
You haven't had any breakfast?
Speaker 4 (15:20):
I don't want to miss my bus. I'll see you tonight.
Speaker 8 (15:25):
Guy Burkhardt got on his bus.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
They were the same unfamiliar faces, the same unusually new
looking buildings, the same unusually bright sunshine, and on the
customary corner Henry Swanson, pale and furtive climbed a board.
Speaker 14 (15:44):
Huh, excuse me, sir, it's quite all right. Do you
remember the phone call?
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Yes?
Speaker 14 (15:49):
Thank heaven. Get off at the next corner and follow me.
Speaker 8 (15:52):
Where are you going?
Speaker 7 (15:53):
There's an excavation for a building about a blockdown. Make
sure you aren't followed. I'll go first, Burcott, here behind
the fence.
Speaker 8 (16:15):
All right, now, Henry, what's this all about?
Speaker 7 (16:17):
I'm not sure. At first I thought perhaps they were Russians.
Now I'm beginning to think they're Martians. No humans could
have accomplished what they've accomplished.
Speaker 8 (16:26):
Now, wait a minute, start from the beginning, Henry, what's
going on?
Speaker 14 (16:29):
Look, Burkhott, peculiar things have been happening to you, right? Yes,
a lot of your friends are missing. Your house seems changed.
Speaker 8 (16:38):
Something stranger than that.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
The date today is June fifteenth, Yet I could swear
yesterday was June fifteenth, and the day before that.
Speaker 7 (16:45):
You got it, friend, It's always June fifteenth, and you
and I are the only ones who know it.
Speaker 8 (16:52):
Why, Henry, how I'm not sure.
Speaker 14 (16:56):
I think it's some sort of mass hypnosis or something.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
Well, why doesn't it work for us? My wife Mary
doesn't remember a thing.
Speaker 14 (17:02):
Somehow, when it happened, they missed us.
Speaker 7 (17:05):
We were protected from the full force of the rays
or whatever they used.
Speaker 8 (17:11):
Or cut.
Speaker 14 (17:11):
Where were you on the night of the fourteenth, about midnight?
Speaker 13 (17:15):
Let me see that was Sunday night. Yes, yeah, I
was down in the cellar under the boat I'm building.
Speaker 14 (17:21):
I was in my dark room developing some pictures.
Speaker 8 (17:24):
This just doesn't make any sense to me. Russians, Martians,
What makes you think that.
Speaker 14 (17:29):
I've seen them? Where at the end of the tunnel?
Speaker 8 (17:33):
What tunnel?
Speaker 14 (17:34):
The one they built under tyler Town.
Speaker 8 (17:36):
Tunnel under Tyler Town.
Speaker 15 (17:38):
Yes, that's right.
Speaker 14 (17:39):
It's made out of copper or some alloy.
Speaker 8 (17:42):
God, wait a minute.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
I found a copper layer under my cellar floor last night,
So did I.
Speaker 14 (17:47):
That's how I discovered it. I found a way to
get into It's at the bottom of this excavation.
Speaker 10 (17:53):
Holy mackerel, Henry, Why don't we tell the police because
we can't trust them, even the police may.
Speaker 14 (17:59):
Be marshas in the sky.
Speaker 8 (18:00):
Oh come on, are you being melodrama?
Speaker 14 (18:02):
Why am I? But you just come with me where
into the tunnel? I'll show you.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Henry Swanson led Guy berghride to a small hole on
the side of the excavation. There, he removed the cut
out piece of metallic substance, and they crawled into a
dimly lighted tunnel. They walked for what seemed like two
miles until Swanson held his finger to his lips.
Speaker 15 (18:29):
We've got to be quiet now, Henry.
Speaker 8 (18:31):
This is fantastic. They've got a tunnel right under the hotwn.
Speaker 15 (18:35):
You haven't seen anything yet.
Speaker 7 (18:37):
There's a room a little farther down, so we'll be
able to look through a glass in the door.
Speaker 8 (18:42):
Is it safe.
Speaker 14 (18:43):
That's perfectly safe unless one of them comes along.
Speaker 15 (18:47):
Oh, come on, okay, here.
Speaker 7 (18:55):
Burkhart looked through this glass now, just so I know
I'm not completely insane.
Speaker 15 (19:01):
Tell me what you see, good lord.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Well, a tremendous panel with dozens of telescreens, and in
front of each of the several robots.
Speaker 8 (19:14):
They seem to be computing something.
Speaker 15 (19:16):
Yes, I've watched. They're evaluating data from the screens.
Speaker 8 (19:21):
Have you got a chance to look at the data
on those screens?
Speaker 7 (19:24):
No, I've been afraid to go in. There might be
a warning circuit somewhere.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
Well, if we knew what those robots were working on,
we could go to the authorities.
Speaker 15 (19:36):
I whisk it a few will. All right, it's worth
a chance.
Speaker 8 (19:40):
We're lost anyway.
Speaker 15 (19:41):
Okay, open the door. So far, so good.
Speaker 8 (19:52):
Come on, let's take a look at that data.
Speaker 15 (19:55):
But don't interfere with the robots.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
Don't worry.
Speaker 8 (19:58):
Yeah, let's look at the screen.
Speaker 15 (20:02):
Listen to this.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Tests in the forty seven K twelve group with Marlin
cigarettes pulled eighty percent using the soft feminine approach. Indications
are that an extension of this approach would influence at
least seventy percent nationwide. The direct elevator pitch pulled only
ten percent. They should be abandoned and a new series
of high persuasion personal elements introduced.
Speaker 8 (20:26):
Henry, do you know what this means?
Speaker 15 (20:28):
I haven't the faintest idea.
Speaker 8 (20:29):
I don't blame you.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
This is crazy, but it fits the facts when I
think about it.
Speaker 8 (20:34):
Do you know who's behind this? Martian? No, not martians, Henry.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
Humans What humans were interested in developing the perfect propaganda machine?
Speaker 6 (20:43):
What?
Speaker 13 (20:44):
I don't know who they are or how they've done it,
but somehow they've taken Tyler Town over hypnosis, hypnosis, drugs,
maybe some kind of array or something. However they do it.
Speaker 8 (20:54):
What happens is that they let us live through a
single day.
Speaker 13 (20:57):
During that day, they pour all kinds of suggestions and
propaganda to into us. At the end of the day,
they evaluate the results, see how we've reacted. And at
midnight they washed the day out of our minds, and
the next morning we start the same day over again
with different Stimulia.
Speaker 8 (21:10):
Do you know what that means, Henry?
Speaker 4 (21:13):
Suppose one man learned how to influence people one why
in a year he could sell us anything from freezes
to political candidates. Wait a minute, where guinea pigs?
Speaker 15 (21:22):
Henry?
Speaker 4 (21:23):
This whole community is one big test tube for Dawton's
propaganda research.
Speaker 8 (21:28):
What do we do? I don't know, But somehow we've
got to get out of this town and get to
the FBI.
Speaker 14 (21:31):
How do you think we can?
Speaker 8 (21:31):
It's worth a try.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
Come on, wait, what is it?
Speaker 14 (21:35):
Look through the door. There's somebody coming down the tunnel.
Speaker 7 (21:39):
You've got to hide behind the circuit boxwa.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
Good lord, it's Dawton, ahead of the research institute.
Speaker 11 (21:55):
All right, Burcott, come out.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
We know you're in this room.
Speaker 11 (22:02):
Ms Horn has informed us that you remember, I must
warn you that it's useless to buck us. Come out peacefully.
Let our maintenance crew adjust you properly so you don't
remember from one experiment to the next.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
It will be quite painless.
Speaker 11 (22:22):
If you don't come out peacefully, we'll have to get you.
Speaker 8 (22:25):
Henry, take this wrench when I give the word jumping.
Speaker 15 (22:29):
But he may be armed, and we've got nothing to lose.
Speaker 11 (22:32):
Very well, I'm coming after you.
Speaker 14 (22:37):
Now, very god, I've killed him.
Speaker 8 (22:45):
Get his coat un buttoned. Maybe his heart is still leading, Henry?
Speaker 15 (22:51):
What is it?
Speaker 14 (22:51):
What's wrong?
Speaker 8 (22:52):
Look underneath his coat?
Speaker 15 (22:55):
Heaven help us.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
It's a robot, a humanoid robot design look like Dawton.
Speaker 10 (23:00):
Come on, let's get out of here.
Speaker 15 (23:03):
Speaker.
Speaker 11 (23:04):
I told you it was useless. Gentleman. Who are you,
mister Drton? Naturally the real mister Drton?
Speaker 4 (23:13):
What are you trying to do to us?
Speaker 11 (23:15):
Merely trying to prevent you from damaging my experiment? Gentlemen,
you can't.
Speaker 4 (23:19):
Get away with this Dawton. Sooner or later somebody, the
FBI or somebody is going to get wind of this madness.
Speaker 11 (23:24):
Really, Burhart, you're quite naive. I why not be reasonable
and let the maintenance cruise adjust you?
Speaker 4 (23:32):
And if I refuse, I suppose you'll kill me.
Speaker 11 (23:35):
That would be quite impossible. Oh you see, Burhart, you're
already dead. Dead, you're shocked. It's quite true. You and
everyone else in this town were killed by a premature
atomic blast at the contro chemical plant. The blast occurred
(23:55):
at seven am on June fifteenth. That is the last
thing imprinted on your minds. That's why you wake up
screaming each morning.
Speaker 4 (24:03):
No, it isn't true, but it is.
Speaker 11 (24:05):
What I and my associates did was take the brain
circuits from your dead bodies. We stored them in electrochemical
batteries until we had a chance to rebuild the cities
and begin our tests.
Speaker 4 (24:16):
Do you think I believe a fantastic tale like that?
Speaker 11 (24:19):
I imagine you find it incredible. Of course, we didn't
rebuild everything exactly. After all, it only has to last
for a single day, June fifteenth. At midnight, we turn
off the power and wash out the memory of the day.
You're your friends once and unfortunately have defective circuits.
Speaker 8 (24:37):
You remember, it's no use.
Speaker 14 (24:39):
We're trapped to give up, not me. What can we do.
Speaker 8 (24:42):
We can make a run for it down the tunnel.
Speaker 4 (24:43):
Come on, it's useless, Burkard, keep going.
Speaker 11 (24:46):
It's useless.
Speaker 10 (24:47):
Use first, you fir.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
Now, now this door is open. It opens. Oh no, no,
I don't believe it. Swats and look.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
They were standing on a ledge of smooth, finished metal.
At their feet, the ledge dropped away into a chasm
so deep they could not see the bottom. Beyond was
only a glare so bright that their eyes could not
stand to look into it. And yet just at the
limit of their vision, something towered, something so huge it
(25:48):
was almost inconceivable, something waker.
Speaker 5 (25:54):
Yes, this is tortune.
Speaker 11 (25:57):
How do you understand why it's useless?
Speaker 8 (26:01):
The great looming figure moved closer.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
It seemed to take shape now, and yet it was
so gigantic as to be unbelievable. It came closer, the
glare was partially blocked, and then Guy Burkhart knew that
the towering shape was none other than Dautchen himself.
Speaker 11 (26:23):
You see how I did it, Burkhert. I took your
brain circuits and had them reduced so they could be
transferred to tiny humanoid mannikins.
Speaker 4 (26:35):
That's what you are, Burkhart, a.
Speaker 11 (26:37):
Tiny miniature of yourself. And this city, this whole experiment
I'm conducting, is built on a table top.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
It was the morning of June fifteenth and Guy Burkhardt
woke up out of a dream.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
Screaming, who have just heard? X minus one presented.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
By the National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Galaxy Science
Fiction Magazine, which this month features another story by Tonight's
author Frederick Paul. It's the second installment of his novel
slave Ship Your Announcer, Fred Collins. X minus one was
directed by Daniel Sucker and is an NBC Radio Network production.
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