[ Man Narrating ] TWO AMERICAN SCIENTISTS ARE LOST IN THE SWIRLING MAZE,,,
OF PAST AND FUTURE AGES,,,
DURING THE FIRST EXPERIMENTS ON AMERICA'S GREATEST AND MOST SECRET PROJECT‐‐
THE TIME TUNNEL,
TONY NEWMAN AND DOUG PHILLIPS NOW TUMBLE HELPLESSLY TOWARD A NEW FANTASTIC ADVENTURE,,,
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE INFINITE CORRIDORS OF TIME,
[ Explosion ] TONY!
[ Explosion ]
[ Whistling ] [ Explosions Continue ]
[ Men Shouting ]
[ Shouting, Indistinct ]
[ Explosion ]
WHERE'S THE REST OF THE CREW? TRAPPED,
OVER 200 OF 'EM,
ALL TRAPPED,
[ Explosion ]
THIS WAY!
IT'S BLOCKED OFF HERE, GO THE OTHER WAY,
HEY, YOU! GET OUT OF HERE!
[ Explosion ] HOLD ON!
WHAT'S HAPPENED? THERE'S MEN TRAPPED BACK THERE,
HOW MANY? MUST BE 200,
YOU BETTER GET OUT OF HERE, THERE'LL BE MORE EXPLOSIONS,
WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM OUT! NO! THAT'S MY JOB! NOW YOU GET OUT OF HERE!
TONY! TONY!
DOUG! DOUG, I'M HERE!
‐ ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? ‐ YES!
LISTEN, I CAN GET TO THE SURFACE! I'LL BRING HELP!
WE'LL GET YOU OUT! OKAY!
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK!
‐ WHERE'S THE RESCUE CREW? ‐ THERE ISN'T ANY,
WHAT?
ALL THOSE MEN DOWN THERE, THEY'LL DIE,
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? THEY'RE NO BETTER THAN THE REST OF US,
NOW YOU PICK UP THAT PHONE AND YOU GET SOME MEN TOGETHER,
WHO'D COME NOW? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO TALK ABOUT, MISTER? THAT‐‐ THAT THING OUT THERE,
[ Narrator ] THE TIME TUNNEL,
[ Oscillating ]
DR, SWAIN,
ROME! THAT'S ST, PETER'S SQUARE,
[ Ray ] AND NOT TOO FAR BACK, NO EARLIER THAN THE TURN OF THE CENTURY,
WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING AT?
ANN, CAN YOU CHANGE YOUR VIEWING ANGLE?
I'M TRYING,
AH, YOU'VE LOST CONTACT,
NO, WAIT, I'M GETTING A RESPONSE AGAIN,
NO, WAIT A MINUTE, THAT'S NOT ST, PETER'S,
ANYBODY RECOGNIZE IT?
IT LOOKS SEMITROPICAL, ANN?
COULD BE SOUTH AMERICA, BUENOS AIRES, PERHAPS, OH, IT'S FADING AGAIN,
[ All Shouting, Indistinct ]
THAT COULD BE ENGLAND, OR IS IT WALES?
YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THE PERIOD, RAY, LOOK AT THOSE CLOTHES,
[ Chattering ]
ANN, YOU'RE LOSING PICTURE AGAIN, CAN'T YOU HOLD IT IN ONE PLACE?
NO, WE HAVE A TIME FIX, BUT WE JUST HAVEN'T LOCATED THEM IN SPACE,
THAT'S WHY IT KEEPS SHIFTING,
A COMET, EARLY 20th CENTURY,
OF COURSE! HALLEY'S COMET,
JERRY!
JERRY, GET RESEARCH TO GIVE US EVERYTHING THEY'VE GOT ON HALLEY'S COMET,
RIGHT AWAY, GENERAL,
ITS LAST APPROACH WAS, LET'S SEE‐‐ 1910, LATE SPRING,
YES, THAT CHECKS WITH MY READINGS HERE,
TRY THE SPATIAL CONTROL NOW,
[ Flipping Switches ] CONTACT!
IT'S DOUG, YOU GOT THE FIX, ANN, NOW CLARIFY THE IMAGE,
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO HELP THOSE MEN OR THEY'LL ALL DIE,
NOBODY CAN SAVE 'EM, WE CAN'T SAVE OURSELVES,
THEN I'LL DO IT ALONE,
[ Pick Clanking ]
DOUG! [ Clanking ]
DOUG, IS THAT YOU?
HANG ON! I'LL GET YOU OUT!
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? [ Grunts ]
‐ WHERE ARE THE MINERS? ‐ TRAPPED IN THE NEXT SHAFT,
CAN WE DIG THEM OUT?
I DON'T KNOW, THE MAIN CAVE‐IN HAPPENED AT THE FAR END,
[ Rumbling ] WE'D BETTER GET OUT OF HERE,
THIS ONE'S ABOUT TO GO TOO, WHAT ABOUT THOSE MEN? WE CAN'T JUST LEAVE 'EM HERE TO DIE,
WE NEED HELP, ALL THE MEN WE CAN GET,
WELL, WHERE ARE THEY? WHY AREN'T THEY HERE? [ Rumbling ]
COME ON!
HE TELLS ME THERE ARE 200 MEN TRAPPED IN THAT BOTTOM SHAFT,
SO NOW THERE ARE TWO OF YOU,
I DON'T RECALL SEEIN' EITHER ONE OF YOU AROUND HERE BEFORE TONIGHT,
WHO ARE YOU ANYWAY? WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?
THERE'S A WHOLE SHIFT TRAPPED DOWN THERE, AND NO ONE'S LIFTING A FINGER TO HELP THEM,
‐ NO HELP FOR 'EM NOW, NO HELP FOR ANYBODY, ‐ WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
HAVEN'T YOU HEARD? THE WORLD'S COMING TO AN END,
TAKE A LOOK OUT THERE, TONY,
‐ MAY 1910, THAT'S HALLEY'S COMET, ‐ THAT'S RIGHT,
IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN BY THE END OF THE WORLD?
WELL, YOU'RE WRONG, THAT COMET'S NOT GONNA HIT US, IT'S GONNA PASS BY,
OH, YOU KNOW MORE THAN THE EXPERTS, HUH?
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I DO, THAT'S RIGHT, HENDERSON, THAT COMET WON'T DO ANY DAMAGE,
‐ BY THIS TIME TOMORROW, IT'LL BE GONE, ‐ IT'LL BE GONE, SO WILL WE,
MISTER, YOU'RE GONNA LET 200 MEN DIE BECAUSE OF A MISTAKE,
NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THAT,
AS FAR AS THOSE MEN DOWN IN THE HOLE GO,
I EXPECT THEY'RE ALREADY DEAD, WELL, MAYBE NOT,
THEY MIGHT BE DEAD AT THAT, TONY, THAT LAST CAVE‐IN WAS A BIG ONE,
DOUG, WE CAN'T ASSUME ANYTHING UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE,
WHO WAS IN CHARGE DOWN THERE? BLAINE, BEST YOUNG GANG BOSS ON THE PAYROLL,
‐ YEAH, WELL, HE SAVED MY LIFE, ‐ I FEEL REAL SORRY FOR HIM,
BUT THERE'S NO HELPING A DEAD MAN,
[ Ringing ]
THAT'S A DIRECT LINE TO THE SHAFT, YEAH?
THIS IS BLAINE,
WE'RE TRAPPED IN THE THIRD LEVEL, WE CAN'T GET THROUGH,
‐ HOW LONG CAN YOU HOLD OUT? ‐ I DON'T KNOW, THE SITUATION'S PRETTY BAD,
HOW SOON BEFORE A RESCUE CREW CAN GET HERE?
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHEN THE RESCUE CREW WILL GET TO THEM,
HOW DO I TELL THEM THERE ISN'T ONE?
THEY'LL BE BETTER OFF WHERE THEY ARE,
IF THEY GOT OUT, THEY'D‐‐ THEY'D HAVE TO FACE THAT,
‐ DO THEY KNOW ABOUT THE COMET? ‐ NO, WHEN THE WORD CAME, THEY'D ALREADY GONE DOWN BELOW,
IF YOU DIDN'T INTEND TO HELP THOSE MEN, WHY DID YOU BOTHER TO HANG AROUND HERE?
DIDN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY PURPOSE IN GOIN' ANYWHERE,
THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, YOU'RE AS BAD OFF ONE PLACE AS ANOTHER,
WHAT'S HAPPENING? I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING,
BLAINE, THE RESCUE CREW'S GETTING ORGANIZED, JUST HOLD OUT,
YOU HEAR THAT, MEN? HELP'S COMIN',
[ Explosion ]
TELL 'EM TO HURRY! TELL 'EM‐‐
HELLO? HELLO? [ Coughing ]
HELLO?
HERE'S THE RESEARCH YOU ASKED FOR ON THE COMET, GENERAL, RIGHT, THANK YOU,
WELL, IT'S GETTING CLOSER TO EARTH EVERY MINUTE,
NO WONDER THE PEOPLE BACK THERE WERE SCARED,
ACCORDING TO THIS, IT CAME EVEN CLOSER BEFORE IT VEERED OFF,
IS THERE ANY WAY IT COULD AFFECT THIS COMPLEX?
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, GENERAL, HAPPENED NEARLY 60 YEARS AGO,
WELL, THAT COMET'S SOMEWHERE IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM RIGHT NOW,
THAT'S RIGHT, IT FIRST APPEARED IN 1531,
AGAIN IN 1607,
THEN IT CAME BACK IN 1682, 1759, 1835,
AND THEN IN 1910,
BUT NO DANGER TO US TODAY IN 1968, IS THERE?
WELL, AS I SAID BEFORE, GENERAL, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HAPPENED NEARLY 60 YEARS AGO,
THAT'S NOT WHAT I ASKED, RAY, I'D LIKE A DIRECT ANSWER,
IS THERE ANY WAY IT CAN AFFECT THIS COMPLEX?
GENERAL, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE TIME TUNNEL IS NOT PERFECTED,
FOR EXAMPLE, IT HAS ONLY MARGINAL CONTROL OVER DOUG AND TONY,
WE'VE HARDLY REACHED A POINT WHERE ITS OPERATION IS EVEN 50% PREDICTABLE,
YOU'RE BOTH STILL BEATING ABOUT THE BUSH, I WANT TO KNOW,
CAN THAT COMET AFFECT OUR COMPLEX?
AFFIRMATIVE OR NEGATIVE?
UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN,
YOU SEE, GENERAL, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND‐‐ DUTY HERE IS VOLUNTARY,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE RELIEVED? NO, SIR,
IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GET A BETTER FIX ON 1910?
WELL, WE CAN TRY, GENERAL,
ANN, REFINE POLARIZATION, GIVE US A QUICK SCAN, RIGHT,
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD, THE WORLD IS NOT COMING TO AN END,
YOU JUST GONNA SIT THERE AND LET THOSE MEN DIE FOR NOTHING?
‐ WHO'S AINSLEY? ‐ HE'S A PROFESSOR UP AT THE OBSERVATORY,
A BRILLIANT MAN, EVERYBODY RESPECTS HIM,
YEAH, WELL, HE'S DEAD WRONG!
LOOK, HENDERSON, WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET A RESCUE PARTY,,,
UNLESS WE CAN CONVINCE ENOUGH MEN THAT THE WORLD ISN'T GOING TO END,
YEAH, THAT'S FOR SURE AND CERTAIN,
SUPPOSE I GOT THIS AINSLEY TO RETRACT HIS STATEMENT, TO ADMIT THAT HE WAS MISTAKEN,
WOULD THAT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE PEOPLE AROUND HERE?
YES, I‐‐ I EXPECT IT WOULD, AND, WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHY,
BECAUSE A HERD OF WILD HORSES COULDN'T MAKE THAT MAN SAY SOMETHING HE DIDN'T BELIEVE,
WELL, I DON'T THINK YOU COULD, EITHER,
THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW, BECAUSE HE IS WRONG,
TONY, I'M GOING TO GET AINSLEY TO RETRACT HIS POSITION,
HOW?
TELL HIM WHERE WE COME FROM? NO,
THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD IS WE WANT THESE PEOPLE TO THINK WE'RE OUT OF OUR MINDS,
IF ONLY WE COULD GET RAY OR SOMEBODY BACK AT THAT COMPLEX TO SEND US SOME MODERN INSTRUMENTS,
WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY CAN STILL READ US, YEAH, I KNOW,
I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THE FACTS THE BEST I CAN,
THAT'LL TAKE TOO LONG, THOSE MEN NEED HELP RIGHT NOW,
TONY, I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING, YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE ME,
OKAY, TRY IT, BUT I'LL DO IT MY WAY,
AFTER YOU'VE SEEN AINSLEY, MEET ME BACK HERE, HEY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
INTO TOWN, WE NEED MEN TO HELP,
HANG IT ALL, TOM, I HAVEN'T GOT A DEPUTY TO SEND,
I DON'T CARE WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE,
I HAVEN'T GOT NOBODY, NOBODY AT ALL,
TELL YOU WHAT, TRY PHILIPSBURG, COULD BE THEY'RE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN WE ARE,
ALL RIGHT, TOM, ALL RIGHT, JUST KEEP YOUR SHIRT ON,
THAT'S A GOOD ONE, ME SEND DEPUTIES,
THERE'S BEEN A BAD CAVE‐IN DOWN AT THE MINE, I NEED MEN, LOTS OF THEM,
OH, YOU DO? WHERE DO YOU FIGURE ON GETTIN' 'EM?
AREN'T THERE ANY MEN AROUND HERE AT ALL?
SON, I KNOW THERE'S TROUBLE AT THE MINE,
I HEARD THE DISASTER WHISTLE, BUT I DIDN'T PAY IT MUCH MIND,
NOT WITH THE WHOLE TOWN RUNNIN' OFF LIKE A BUNCH OF SCARED HORSES,
THERE ARE 200 MEN DOWN THERE, IF WE DON'T DIG THEM OUT SOON, THEY'LL ALL DIE!
‐ YEAH, I EXPECT THEY WILL, ‐ WELL, AREN'T YOU GONNA DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?
THERE'S JUST SO MUCH ONE MAN CAN DO, [ Rings ]
SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OH, HELLO, OWEN, WHAT?
OH, THAT'S A REAL SHAME, NO, NO, THERE'S NOTHING HERE AT ALL,
I'M SORRY, BOY, BUT I CAN'T HELP YOU,
NO, NO, IT WON'T DO NO GOOD TRYIN' CARVER,
THEY'RE UP TO THEIR NECKS IN TROUBLE OVER THERE,
NO, NO, NOT A CHANCE, I'M REAL SORRY,
LOOK, A HANDFUL OF MEN, THAT'S ALL I NEED, JUST A HANDFUL!
THAT WAS THE COUNTY SEAT ON THE LINE JUST THEN,
THEIR WHOLE TOWN'S ON FIRE, THE WHOLE TOWN,
AND ALL I COULD TELL 'EM WAS LET IT BURN,
WHERE CAN I FIND SOMEBODY? ANYBODY AT ALL THAT MIGHT HELP?
SON, HAVE YOU GOT ANY NOTION WHAT A BIG THING THIS IS? THAT'S FROM THE GOVERNOR,
RIOT IN THE STATE CAPITOL, NATIONAL GUARD MOBILIZED, AND HE WANTS ME TO SEND MEN,
ME, WITH NOBODY LEFT HERE AT ALL,
WHAT ABOUT THE TOWNSPEOPLE? THEY HAVEN'T JUST VANISHED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH,
TRY PILGRIMAGE HILL AT THE SOUTH END OF TOWN, THAT'S WHERE THEY ALL RUN OFF TO,
TOOK OFF? WHY? SEEMS LIKE THEY ALL TOOK UP WITH RELIGION ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THEY'RE PRAYIN' AND WAITIN', AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL A MAN CAN DO RIGHT NOW,
NO MUCH TIME FOR THAT EITHER,
I'M SORRY, SON, I WISH I COULD HELP YOU, I REALLY DO, BUT MY JOB IS RIGHT HERE,
NO MATTER WHAT ANYBODY ELSE DOES, I'M STICKING BY THIS POST NOW,
GOOD LUCK TO YOU, [ Rings ]
SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OH, HELLO, JOHNNY, [ Door Opens, Closes ]
NO, TWENTY MEN? NO, IMPOSSIBLE,
I HAVEN'T GOT A MAN TO SPARE, NOT A SINGLE MAN,
FOR YOUR INFORMATION,
EVERY MAJOR OBSERVATORY WE COULD REACH HAS CONFIRMED MY CALCULATIONS,
I CAN'T HELP THAT, PROFESSOR AINSLEY, THAT COMET WILL NOT COLLIDE WITH THE EARTH,
IT WON'T EVEN PASS CLOSE ENOUGH TO HAVE MEASURABLE EFFECT ON IT,
MY DEAR SIR, I WISH I COULD BELIEVE YOU,
YOU CAN, THERE ISN'T A DOUBT IN THE WORLD,
WELL, IN THAT CASE, I'D BE DELIGHTED TO GO OVER THE CALCULATIONS,,,
THAT HAVE LED YOU THIS HAPPY CONCLUSION, I'VE MADE NONE,
I SEE,
WELL, THEN THERE'S SIMPLY NO POINT TO FURTHER DISCUSSION,
THERE'S EVERY POINT! ALL THOSE MINERS WILL DIE UNLESS YOU PUBLICLY ADMIT YOUR ERROR,
YOU MAY HAVE MADE NO CALCULATIONS, BUT I HAVE,
CHECKED AND RECHECKED 50 TIMES BY THE FINEST MINDS IN THE UNIVERSITY,
THE VERY FINEST,
WHO ARE YOU TO CHALLENGE ALL THIS?
PROFESSOR, IF I WERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT MYSELF, YOU WOULDN'T BEGIN TO BELIEVE ME,
BUT IF I KNOW ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD, I KNOW THAT THAT COMET WILL NOT HIT,
MY DEAR SIR, WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT, MY STAFF HAS DESERTED ME,
BUT I INTEND TO STAY HERE AND TAKE OBSERVATIONS UNTIL‐‐
WELL, AS LONG AS I CAN,
WILL YOU PERMIT ME TO PROVE MY POINT?
HOW? DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE A SCIENTIST, I AM,
THEN I'D BE INTERESTED IN SEEING YOUR PROOF, THANK YOU,
I CAN SUPPLY YOU WITH ANY DATA YOU MAY REQUIRE,
[ Tony ] ROUND UP SOME MEN, AS MANY AS YOU CAN GET, THERE'S BEEN A CAVE‐IN AT THE MINE,
NEED HELP AT THE MINE, THERE'S BEEN A CAVE‐IN, THE MEN ARE TRAPPED,
THERE'S BEEN A CAVE‐IN AT THE MINE, WE NEED VOLUNTEERS,
ROUND UP SOME MEN, AS MANY AS YOU CAN GET,
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE?
LISTEN TO ME!
YOU LISTEN TO ME! I NEED VOLUNTEERS!
THAT'S NOT GONNA HIT! DO YOU HEAR ME?
IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE? LISTEN TO ME!
YOU LISTEN TO ME! I NEED VOLUNTEERS!
DOUG CAN'T HOPE TO PROVE MUCH WITH THE INSTRUMENTS OF THE PERIOD OF 1910,
IF HE ONLY HAD A RADARSCOPE TO WORK WITH,
WE HAVE ONE, NO, ANN, I DON'T WANT TO RISK SENDING ANYTHING BACK,
NOT UNTIL WE GET A MORE STABLE FIX ON THEM,
IT SEEMS TO ME IT'S WORTH THE RISK, RIGHT?
WITH A RADARSCOPE, HE COULD PROVE HIS POINT IN SHORT ORDER,
OH, I DON'T KNOW, GENERAL,
OH, I AGREE WITH THE GENERAL, I THINK WE SHOULD GAMBLE ON IT, ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT,
COME ON, JERRY, TAKE OVER THE CONTROLS, I'LL MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS,
NOW GIVE US A FIX ON THE COMET, JERRY, I WANT TO GET MORE READINGS,
DR, SWAIN, WHAT IF I SWITCH TO THE MINE SHAFT?
MAYBE WE COULD MOVE THOSE POOR GUYS DOWN THERE, NOT A CHANCE, JERRY,
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS TOO LONG ON THIS COMET, WHY?
WELL, I WAS JUST THINKING, IF OUR FOCUS PUTS US WITHIN ITS MAGNETIC FIELD‐‐
WHAT POSSIBLE EFFECT COULD THAT HAVE ON‐‐
MASSES OF OPPOSITE POLARITY ATTRACT EACH OTHER, SIR,
THE MAGNETIC FORCES WOULD BLOW OUT EVERY POWER UNIT IN THIS COMPLEX,
ASIDE FROM THE FACT WE'D HAVE A BIG REPAIR BILL ON OUR HANDS,
WOULD WE LEARN ANYTHING IF THAT SHOULD HAPPEN?
YES, SIR, SO FAR, WE'VE LEARNED MORE FROM FAILURE THAN SUCCESS,
HOLD THE FOCUS,
AND SHARPEN IT,
HENDERSON?
OH, I JUST CAME OVER TO SEE WHAT I COULD DO TO HELP, HOW'D YOU MAKE OUT ON THE HILL?
THERE'S NOBODY WITH ME, I'M NOT SURPRISED,
‐ WHERE'S HENDERSON? ‐ NOBODY HERE WHEN I CAME,
RECKON HE TOOK OFF FOR THE HILLS, YEAH, I GUESS SO,
WELL, LET'S NOT JUST STAND HERE, LET'S GO DIG THESE FELLAS OUT,
[ Clanking ] HENDERSON!
WELL, YOU KNOW‐‐ YOU KNOW, YOUNG FELLA, YOU GOT ME TO THINKIN',
EVENIN', SHERIFF,
A MAN HAS NO CALL TO SIT AROUND AND WAIT FOR THE END,
WHEN IT COMES, HE OUGHT TO BE DOIN' SOMETHIN', SO, HERE I AM,
SHERIFF, GET THAT PICK WORKIN',
GET TO WORK, DO YOU GOOD, NOW WAIT A MINUTE,
THREE OF US CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL WE BRING SOME TIMBERS DOWN AND SHORE UP THESE WALLS,
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? WHAT'S ANOTHER CAVE‐IN AMONG FRIENDS?
HEY, CUT THAT OUT, HEY, CUT IT OUT! GET BACK! GET BACK!
IT'S THE SAME EVERYWHERE‐‐ LOOTING, BURNING, PILLAGING,
NO WONDER THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE END OF THE WORLD,
THE RADARSCOPE IS READY TO SEND BACK,
GOOD, GET IT IN THE TUNNEL, RIGHT,
JERRY, GET A FIX ON DR, PHILLIPS, YES, SIR,
[ Sighs ]
HERE'S THE SPEED PER SECOND, DOES THAT CHECK WITH YOUR CHARTED ORBIT?
CHECK, ANGLE OF PERIHELION AND‐‐
YES?
IMPACT, OF COURSE,
YOU'VE DONE IT BEAUTIFULLY,
AND YOU'VE CONFIRMED MY FINDINGS,
INTERRUPT THE RECEPTION, [ Flips Switch ]
STAND BY FOR SWITCHING,
[ Beeping ]
NOW,
[ Oscillating ]
WHAT WENT WRONG? IMPERFECT FIX, OBVIOUSLY,
JERRY, ZERO IN ON THE COMET AGAIN,
WE'LL GET OUR TIME COORDINATES FROM THERE, YES, SIR,
IT CHECKS, EVERY OBSERVATION, EVERY FIGURE,,,
CHECKS, NATURALLY, I TOLD YOU THAT IN BEGINNING,
AND YET I KNOW THAT THAT COMET WILL NOT HIT,
YOU KEEP SAYING THAT, YOU'RE AN EXCEPTIONALLY INTELLIGENT MAN,
YOU'VE GIVEN ME AMPLE PROOF OF THAT,
AND YET YOU SAY THIS WITH A CONVICTION THAT'S VERY NEARLY MYSTICAL,
I'D APPRECIATE AN EXPLANATION,
I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU ONE,
MAYBE IF I COULD CONTACT TONY, TONY?
THIS LINE IS DEAD, I'M NOT SURPRISED,
THE OPERATOR, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, HAS GIVEN UP,
AFTER ALL, WE ONLY HAVE,,,
TWO HOURS AND 25 MINUTES UNTIL THE END OF EVERYTHING,
[ Grunting ]
‐ ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? ‐ GUESS SO, MAYBE I AIN'T SO EASY TO KILL,
[ Coughing ] HOLD IT,
HOLD IT, HOLD IT, YOU'LL START ANOTHER SLIDE,
GO ON, GET OUT, UH‐UH, I AIN'T LEAVING YOU HERE LIKE THIS,
POOR HENDERSON, HE WASN'T SO LUCKY,
‐ BETTER GET TO THE SURFACE WHILE YOU STILL CAN, ‐ WHAT ABOUT YOU?
‐ TRY TO GET SOME HELP, IT'S THE ONLY WAY, ‐ THERE AIN'T NOBODY UP THERE,
I'LL GET YOU OUT,
[ Grunting ]
[ Coughing ] WHAT'S THE MATTER? HUH?
[ Coughing ]
WHAT? EVERYBODY GIVING UP?
UH, RIGHT NOW THERE'S PROBABLY A HUNDRED MEN‐‐
200‐‐ DIGGING A PASSAGE TO US,
[ Coughing ] THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN,
WE'RE GONNA BE FREE,
[ Coughing ] YOU HEAR ME? HUH?
WE'RE GONNA BE FREE,
[ Screaming, Shouting ]
POOR DEVILS,
THEY REALLY ARE CONVINCED IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD,
IT WILL BE FOR SOME,
DOCTOR, THERE'S SOMETHING ODD GOING ON, HOW DO YOU MEAN?
REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE MAGNETIC ATTRACTION OF MASSES? YES, WHAT ABOUT IT?
WOULDN'T THE COMET AND EARTH ASSERT ATTRACTIVE FORCES ON EACH OTHER?
OF COURSE, JERRY, BUT, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING,
HALLEY'S COMET TODAY IS SEVERAL BILLION MILES AWAY FROM‐‐
JERRY, YOU'RE NOT KEEPING A CONSTANT FIX ON THE COMET, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN, I CAN'T,
THERE'S SOMETHING WEIRD ABOUT THIS THING, ABOUT THE WAY IT AFFECTS THE CONTROLS,
COME ON, LET ME TAKE OVER,
THE TIME IS VERY NEARLY UPON US,
AINSLEY, EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION WE HAVE TELLS US THAT COMET IS GOING TO HIT,
EXACTLY, SUPPOSE IT DOESN'T, JUST SUPPOSE, AN HYPOTHESIS,
WHAT COULD INTERFERE WITH IT AT THE LAST MOMENT?
ONLY ONE THING, OBVIOUSLY, SOME MASS GREAT ENOUGH TO DIVERT IT FROM ITS TRAJECTORY,
THAT'S IT, A MASS IN THE HEAVENS,
NO, NO, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE, THERE ISN'T ONE,,,
OR WE WOULD HAVE OBSERVED IT, A DARK MASS THAT REFLECTS NO LIGHT,
NOW YOUR INSTRUMENTS COULDN'T PICK THAT UP, COULD THEY? WELL, NO,
WELL, IT'S THERE, I KNOW IT'S THERE, IF WE ONLY HAD A RADARSCOPE,
I BEG YOUR PARDON? UH, NEVER MIND,
WHAT ELSE COULD WE USE? LET'S SEE, 1910,
1910,
IS IT TOO EARLY FOR THE RADIOMETER?
THE NICHOLS RADIOMETER, THERE AREN'T A HALF DOZEN OF THEM IN EXISTENCE,
‐ DO YOU HAVE ONE? ‐ AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE DO,
A GIFT TO THE UNIVERSITY, BUT I STILL DON'T SEE‐‐ GET IT FOR ME, PLEASE,
I'LL PROVE MY THESIS TO YOU, HURRY! VERY WELL,
NO! NO, YOU'LL BURY THE BOTH OF US!
THAT'S A CHANCE WE BOTH HAVE TO TAKE,
ALL THOSE PEOPLE AND NOT ONE WILLING TO HELP,
STANDING THERE IN THAT FIELD HOLDING THOSE STUPID TORCHES,
LOOKING UP AT THE SKY LIKE THEY COULD HARDLY WAIT TO DIE,
I GUESS IT'S HARD TO TELL HOW A PERSON WILL REACT IF THEY BELIEVE THEY'RE GONNA DIE,
FOR ME, I'D RATHER FACE IT LIKE OLD HENDERSON THERE,,,
OR THOSE POOR DEVILS IN THE LOWER SHAFT,
A CRUDE DEVICE, BUT IT JUST MAY WORK, CRUDE?
THIS IS THE MOST ADVANCED INSTRUMENT OF ITS KIND IN EXISTENCE,
OF COURSE, LET'S GET IT HOOKED UP TO THE TELESCOPE, SHALL WE?
MAKE A FOCUS, I'LL MONITOR THE DIAL, RIGHT,
START YOUR SCANNING,
‐ ARE YOU GETTING ANYTHING YET? ‐ NOTHING, TAKE ANOTHER SEGMENT,
WAIT! GO BACK ABOUT ONE DEGREE,
THERE! FREEZE!
‐ WHAT ARE YOU GETTING? ‐ INTENSE RADIANT ENERGY,
‐ WHAT DO YOU SEE? ‐ NOTHING!
NOT A DARN THING!
THEN IT'S‐‐ IT'S TRUE,
LOOK HERE,
I TOLD YOU, THERE'S AN OBJECT UP THERE,
A NONREFLECTING MASS OF SOMETHING, YOU CAN'T PICK IT UP VISUALLY,
‐ BUT IT'S THERE, ‐ I CAN'T ARGUE ABOUT THAT,
IS THE MASS BIG ENOUGH TO AFFECT THE TRAJECTORY OF THE COMET?
MORE THAN ENOUGH, OBSERVE,
IT'LL START EXERTING ITS PULL AT THIS POINT,
THE TAIL WILL APPEAR TO VANISH AS IT STARTS TO VEER OFF,
YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S GOING TO MISS THE EARTH,
WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS NEWS OUT, WELL, YOU WON'T DO IT THAT WAY,
YOU'VE GOT TO GO UP TO THE HILLS AND TELL THE PEOPLE,
I'LL EXPLAIN ON THE WAY, COME ON!
[ Crowd Chattering ]
[ Doug ] YOU PEOPLE, YOU DON'T KNOW ME,
BUT YOU KNOW THIS MAN‐‐ PROFESSOR AINSLEY OF THE OBSERVATORY,
HE'S THE MAN WHO TOLD YOU WHEN THIS COMET WAS GOING TO HIT,
YOU BELIEVED HIM THEN, LISTEN TO HIM NOW,
I WAS WRONG, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? WRONG,
THE WORLD WILL NOT END,
THE COMET WILL NOT DESTROY US,
THE SUN'S GOING TO RISE AS IT ALWAYS HAS, NOTHING WILL BE CHANGED,
THE COMET WILL GO OUT INTO SPACE WHERE IT CANNOT HARM US,
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE? HE'S TELLING YOU THE TRUTH!
WAIT, I'LL PROVE IT,
LOOK AT THE COMET, SEE THE TAIL?
THE TAIL IS A CLOUD OF FLAMING GAS,
IT'S GOING TO VANISH, PROFESSOR, TELL THEM EXACTLY WHEN THAT TAIL WILL VANISH,
IN EXACTLY,,, 15 SECONDS FROM NOW,
TEN SECONDS,
FIVE SECONDS,
YOU BETTER BE RIGHT, I AM,
TWO,,, ONE‐‐ LOOK!
[ Chattering ]
PROFESSOR, BRING THESE PEOPLE DOWN,
I'M GONNA GET BACK TO THE MINE,
DOCTOR, THERE'S A BIT OF SMUDGE ON YOUR CHEEK,
THERE, YOU'VE GOT THE FIX, NOW HOLD IT,
YES, BUT I'M GETTING A STRANGE REACTION ON THE DIALS,
YOU SEE THAT? THEY'VE GONE COMPLETELY WILD,
THAT IS STRANGE, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
SOME EXTERNAL FORCE WE CAN'T IDENTIFY, IT'S EXERTING SOME KIND OF MAGNETIC PULL,
IT'S THE COMET, WE'RE LOCKED IN ON IT, IT'S COMING RIGHT IN ON US!
JERRY, GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF,
THAT'S AN IMAGE, IT CAN'T POSSIBLY AFFECT US, GET BACK TO YOUR POST,
YOU SAID THAT OPPOSITES MASSES ATTRACT,
JERRY, THAT'S 1910,
BUT THE TUNNEL CONNECTS US WITH 1910 IN TIME,,, NOW!
[ Whirring ]
ALL RIGHT, ANN, I'LL TAKE OVER,
WE LEARN FROM FAILURE, YOU SAID,
BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD A FAILURE THAT WOULD DESTROY THE TUNNEL,
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN 1910 COULD TOUCH US PHYSICALLY?
JERRY'S RIGHT,
THE TIME TUNNEL DOES CONNECT US WITH THE COMET,
WE'RE IN THE SAME TIME SEGMENT, DON'T YOU SEE? THE QUOTIENT OF THE VALUE OF TIME‐‐
SEGMENT, QUOTIENT, YOU CAN PROVE ANYTHING WITH WORDS, EQUATIONS,
I'M TALKING ABOUT A COMMONSENSE DEFINITION OF TIME, COMMONSENSE DEFINITION?
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO ONE HAS EVER SUCCEEDED IN DEFINING TIME,
[ Electrical Explosions ] JERRY, CUT THE POWER!
CUT IT OFF! POWER OFF! ALL SYSTEMS!
JERRY, CUT THE POWER! I SAID CUT IT! I HAVE CUT IT OFF!
WHAT'S WRONG? THE POWER'S JUMPING THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS!
BUT THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE! I KNOW, BUT IT'S HAPPENING,
CLEAR THE TUNNEL COMPLEX! ALL PERSONNEL, OUT! CLEAR THE COMPLEX!
[ Alarm Blaring ] [ Explosion ]
[ Blaring Continues ]
[ Thunderclap ]
[ Ann, Indistinct ]
THE POWER'S OFF! I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT! IT SHOULD STOP!
[ Wind Howling ]
[ Kirk ] LOOK OUT! LOOK OUT! HOLD ON!
HELP! HELP ME!
JERRY! AHH! JERRY!
HELP ME!
[ Alarm Blaring ] [ Wind Howling ]
HOLD ON! CUT THE POWER GRID! SHUT THAT DOWN!
HELP! [ Thunderclap ]
[ Siren Stops ] JERRY,
YOU ALL RIGHT? HERE, COME ON,
COME ON, HERE, OVER HERE,
[ Sobbing ]
WHAT'S THE MATTER? HE STOPPED BREATHING,
HIS HEART HAS STOPPED, IT'S A MASSIVE ELECTRICAL SHOCK,
GET THE EMERGENCY RESUSCITATOR! ON THE DOUBLE!
HURRY! QUICK! GET HIS BREATHING STARTED,
HE'S NOT RESPONDING, HERE, PRESSURE ON THE BREASTBONE,
START HIS HEART, WHERE ARE THOSE MEN WITH THE RESUSCITATOR?
HERE, PUT IT ON HIM, HELP ME PUT THIS AROUND THE BACK,
RIGHT UNDER HIS HEART, GOOD, ALL RIGHT, NOW GET AWAY FROM HIM,
[ Ray ] ALL RIGHT! THAT'S ENOUGH,
COME ON, JERRY,
THAT'S ALL RIGHT, WE WON'T NEED IT NOW,
YOU'RE ALL RIGHT, JERRY BOY, SOME OF YOU MEN GIVE HIM A HAND,
YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT NOW,
[ Kirk ] WHAT THE DEVIL HAPPENED?
WE ALMOST BROUGHT THE COMET ITSELF BACK,
I'D SAY THAT IT'S TIME TO REEXAMINE THE WHOLE PROJECT,
NOW JUST WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? JUST THIS,
WE'RE DEALING WITH FORCES OF COSMIC PROPORTIONS ABOUT WHICH WE KNOW LITTLE OR NOTHING,
THE DANGERS, YOU MEAN, RAY, ALL EXPERIMENTATION HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DANGER,
A CERTAIN AMOUNT, ANN?
BRINGING THE FORCE OF HALLEY'S COMET ACROSS A FEW BILLION MILES,,,
AND RIGHT INTO THE TUNNEL‐‐ A CERTAIN AMOUNT?
THE H‐BOMB IS NOTHING BUT A TOY BALLOON COMPARED TO THE FORCES WE'RE LOOSENING HERE,
RAY, AREN'T YOU FORGETTING SOMETHING?
DOUG AND TONY? NO, ANN,
I'M ONLY TRYING TO MEASURE THEIR LIVES AGAINST OTHERS WE'RE ENDANGERING,
OUR OWN? OH, THAT ISN'T FAIR,
NOW, RAY HAS RISKED HIS LIFE AS OFTEN OR MORE OFTEN THAN ANY OF US ON THIS PROJECT,
‐ I KNOW, I'M SORRY, ‐ THE THING TO DO IS NOT TO SCRAP THE PROJECT,,,
BUT TO TRY AND BUILD MORE SAFEGUARDS AROUND IT,
GENERAL, DON'T WE SAY THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR?
THEN WE COME RIGHT BACK HERE THE NEXT MORNING,,,
AND START PLAYING WITH FORCES BEYOND IMAGINATION,
RAY, HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE YOU TO REPAIR ALL THIS?
[ Sighs ] I DON'T KNOW,
A FEW HOURS, A FEW DAYS,
WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK IT OVER,
IF WE'RE OUT OF TOUCH WITH DOUG AND TONY FOR TOO LONG, WE MAY LOSE THEM FOREVER,
I KNOW, ANN, I KNOW,
WE'LL GET THE REPAIR CREWS ON IT RIGHT AWAY,
[ Panting ]
WHAT'S THE TIME? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
A COUPLE MINUTES ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WON'T MATTER NOW,
IF THOSE MEN ARE DEAD, IT WAS ALL FOR NOTHING,
THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I FEEL, ALL FOR NOTHING,
[ Phone Ringing ]
‐ BLAINE! ‐ FOR THE LOVE OF HEAVEN, ‐ HELP US,
‐ HOW MANY ARE LEFT? ‐ ALL OF US,,, SO FAR,
BUT HURRY, WE CAN'T HOLD OUT,
HOLD ON, HOLD ON, WE'LL BE THERE,
DON'T LIE TO THEM, GIVE THOSE MEN FALSE HOPE,
HOW LONG,,, BEFORE YOU REACH US?
I GUESS YOU'RE RIGHT,
‐ [ People Shouting ] ‐ WE DID IT! THEY'RE COMING DOWN FROM THE HILLS,
A WHOLE MOB OF THEM, ENOUGH TO DIG OUT THOSE TUNNELS IN NO TIME FLAT,
‐ BLAINE, ‐ WHAT'S‐‐ WHAT'S HAPPENING? WHAT'S THAT SHOUTING?
WE'RE ON OUR WAY,
WE'RE ON OUR WAY!
THEY'RE COMING,
[ Crowd Shouting ]
COME ON, YOU MEN! HURRY UP!
THEY'VE BEEN SEPARATED IN TIME,
DOUG?
DOUG!
SEE WHO THAT IS,
HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, MISTER,
I'M ONE OF THE MEN IN CHARGE OF THIS STATION, [ Panting ]
YOU MUST BE NEW HERE, I'M DR, NEWMAN, I'M BACK,
I'VE BEEN HERE 14 MONTHS, MISTER, I NEVER HEARD OF ANY DR, NEWMAN,
FOURTEEN MONTHS? BUT I'VE BEEN HERE EVERY DAY FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS,
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM, SOLDIER?
JIGGS? [ Panting ]
IT IS YOU, ISN'T IT?
I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU WITHOUT THE MUSTACHE,
JIGGS, IT'S ME, DR, NEWMAN,
NEWMAN? I NEVER HEARD OF ANY NEWMAN AROUND HERE,
AND, MISTER, I NEVER HAD A MUSTACHE,
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? YOU KNOW ME, TONY NEWMAN,
MISTER, I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU BEFORE IN MY LIFE,
THEY BROUGHT ME BACK IN THE WRONG TIME,
HE LOOKS YOUNGER, AND LOOK AT THE LICENSE PLATE ON THAT TRUCK, MAGNIFICATION!
WE BROUGHT HIM BACK 10 YEARS AGO,
WE DIDN'T, IT JUST HAPPENED, A FLUKE, BUT IF HE'S THIS CLOSE,
RAY, WE'VE GOT TO CLOSE A 10‐YEAR GAP BEFORE WE LOSE HIM,
‐ WHY NOT JUST GO OUT THERE? ‐ YOU'D SEE NOTHING, YOU'RE IN THE PRESENT,
THAT'S TAKING PLACE 10 YEARS AGO,
WHAT'S THE TROUBLE HERE, SERGEANT?
DOUG! DOUG, THEY GOT YOU BACK TOO,
YOU BETTER GET GOING, DOC, WE GOT A WEIRD ONE HERE,
IT'S PHILLIPS, YEAH, 10 YEARS AGO,
NEWMAN WAS STILL IN SCHOOL, HE AND PHILLIPS HADN'T EVEN MET,
GOOD LORD! CAN YOU IMAGINE THE NIGHTMARE TONY MUST BE LIVING THROUGH NOW?
RAY, CAN'T YOU DO ANYTHING? INTENSIFY THE PROBE,
WELL, YOU BETTER SEE THAT HE GETS A RIDE BACK INTO TOWN, JIGGS,
AFTER WHAT HE'S SEEN, HE'LL HAVE TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS FOR OUR SECURITY OFFICER,
DOUG, DOUG, WAIT, TELL THEM WHO I AM!
DOUG, TELL THEM WHO I AM!
DOUG, TELL THEM WHO I AM! DOUG!
DOUG! DOUG, WAIT! WAIT! DOUG!
ON THE DOUBLE! IF HE DOESN'T STOP, SHOOT HIM!
TONY'S BROKEN AWAY, HE'S HALF OUT OF HIS MIND,
WE NEED MORE TIME TO TRY A RETURN TRANSFER,
HE DOESN'T HAVE TIME! HE'LL RESIST AND THOSE MEN MAY KILL HIM,
‐ SUPERIMPOSE HIS SIGNAL WITH DOUG'S, ‐ WE'LL LOSE HIM,
AT LEAST THE TWO OF THEM WILL BE TOGETHER WHEN WE TRY A LOCATION PROBE,
DOUG! DOUG!
‐ [ Gunshot ] ‐ DOUG! DOUG!
EVERYTHING MUST BE DESTROYED, EVERYTHING,
WE MUST LEAVE NOTHING FOR TOMORROW MORNING,
I WILL SEE TO IT, PROFESSOR,
EVERYTHING IN EVERY OFFICE, HAI,
HOW DID YOU GET IN?
WE, UH‐‐
WE SORT OF CAME IN BY MISTAKE,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? WHO ARE YOU?
WE'RE TOURISTS, UH, JUST SIGHTSEEING,
NOBODY SIGHTSEES INSIDE THE JAPANESE CONSULATE,
I ASSURE YOU WE‐‐ WE DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS THE JAPANESE CONSULATE,
EVERYBODY IN HONOLULU KNOWS THAT,
THE DAY BEFORE THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR,
IN THE JAPANESE CONSULATE,
LEAVE THE CONSULATE AT ONCE,
‐ PLEASE, ‐ TRY FOR A TIME LOCK, QUICK, BEFORE WE LOSE THEM,
POWER! ALL UNITS!
WE'RE SORRY TO HAVE INTRUDED,
THEY ARE SPIES, WHY LET THEM ESCAPE?
BECAUSE THEIR SUPERIORS WOULD TRACE THEM TO US,
AND IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO CREATE AN INCIDENT TODAY,
FOLLOW THEM, IF THEY MAKE ONE SUSPICIOUS MOVE, KILL THEM,