1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,640 In just a moment X minus one. But first, there's a certain water 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:07,759 commissioner who's interested in the ladies, sometimes overshadows his interest in civic affairs. 3 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,880 His name is a familiar one, Throckmorton, p. Guildersleeve, and he'll 4 00:00:11,919 --> 00:00:16,559 pursue his adventures tomorrow night, when NBC Radio presents another comic episode of the 5 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:20,239 Great Guilder Sleeve. So when you hear the familiar voice and hearty laugh of 6 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:25,039 the Water Commissioner from Summerfield tomorrow, why stay tuned and enjoy another romatic scramble 7 00:00:25,359 --> 00:00:32,079 with the one and only the Great Guilder Sleeve on this NBC station. And 8 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:45,640 I'll stay tuned for X minus one on NBC com down for blast off X 9 00:00:45,640 --> 00:01:19,239 minus five four three two X minus one. Fire from the far horizons of 10 00:01:19,239 --> 00:01:23,879 the unknown, come transcribed tales of new dimensions in time and space. These 11 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:29,319 are stories of the future adventures in which you'll live in a million, could 12 00:01:29,359 --> 00:01:34,079 be years, on a thousand, maybe worlds. The National Broadcasting Company, 13 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:53,599 in cooperation with Galaxy Science Fiction magazine, presents HE minus one tonight's story The 14 00:01:53,799 --> 00:02:10,800 Sea Shoot by Isaac Asimov. We were on our way home to Earth when 15 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:15,879 it happened. Six of us coming home as passengers aboard the Merchant spaceship Starfire 16 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:20,800 at the start of the second interstellar War, the one between Earth and the 17 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:30,280 planet Chloral. And then it happened. Now hear this condition red. Condition 18 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,800 red, we are under attack from a Chlorine battle cruiser. All hands forward 19 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:38,879 to battle stations. Passengers will remain confined to the after cabin. Condition red. 20 00:02:38,879 --> 00:02:43,360 We are being attacked. The interception by the Chlorine cruiser, the murderous 21 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:53,840 running jewel of energy blasts and force field defenses. We huddled in the passengers 22 00:02:53,879 --> 00:02:58,400 after cabin, terrified, not knowing how the battle was going. We could 23 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,199 hear the desperate bursts of steam through the steering tubes as a Starfire and maneuver 24 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:14,159 to dodge the enemy attacks. And then now what the beginning of the end 25 00:03:14,199 --> 00:03:15,280 you might call it? Well, what does it mean, Stu, It 26 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:19,360 you were the space pilot. It means our generators have been drained of energy. 27 00:03:19,879 --> 00:03:22,560 We can't fight back. But I don't worry. They won't destroy us. 28 00:03:22,599 --> 00:03:24,479 They need our ship too badly. They simply bored us and take over. 29 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:29,280 But what about the crew crew, Colonel, if they have any sense, 30 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,680 they'll surrender if they choose to fight their now they're coming aboard. Not 31 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:40,639 be very still, but in Heaven, help still, if only those fools 32 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:50,639 will surrender without a struggle. They are fighting. Ye see, we've gotta 33 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:52,719 help him, all right. Don't open that door. We just can't let 34 00:03:52,759 --> 00:04:00,960 them. Can't help him going. They stop him all right, his city. 35 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:08,879 Shut the door quickly, my brother, that poor fool. Get them, 36 00:04:09,319 --> 00:04:11,680 my brother, I swear to you, what get them? You better 37 00:04:11,719 --> 00:04:15,279 cover his body. The brutes, the monstrous green skin brutes, are normal 38 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,240 brutes than we are. Colonel. This is a war. Are you defending 39 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,879 them? I'm merely pointing out the facts. You might not save it for 40 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:27,879 the Chloros I will, I promise you I will. They're probably deciding right 41 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,319 now what to do with us. You might as well settle down and wait. 42 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:41,839 We sat there, for five of us, and listened while the Chloran 43 00:04:41,959 --> 00:04:46,879 invaders killed off the members of the starfires Crew. Among us was Colonel Anthony 44 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,680 Wyndham, an old Colonel Blimp type with a lame leg. Wyndham had spent 45 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,480 his life in the militia back on Earth, but had never seen a babble. 46 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:59,800 There was Demetrius Poliarchits, who had just watched his brother being killed by 47 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:04,000 a carbonizer. Paully was a huge man. He and his brother had tried 48 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:09,120 truck farming an arc tourists and given it up after two seasons. Then there 49 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:13,720 was LeBlanc, a sensitive, frightened young man of twenty two, and Randolph 50 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,680 Mullen, who looked like somebody's caricature of a bookkeeper, a mild, bawling, 51 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:23,839 milk toast little man. And there was myself, John Stewart. I 52 00:05:23,959 --> 00:05:27,600 was the only one who'd ever had contact with the Chloro people. I had 53 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:32,959 a pair of artaplasm hands to prove it. It is quiet now, Yeah, 54 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,920 they finished with a crew. Who, mister Stewart, Yes, mister 55 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:40,079 Mullen, What do you think will happen next? Well, I'll put a 56 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,759 prize crew of two aboard and take us to one of their home planets as 57 00:05:43,879 --> 00:05:46,639 prisoners of war. Only two of the Chloro's will say aboard. The two 58 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:51,079 is all I'll need. Why, colonel, you're thinking of leading a gallant 59 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:55,480 raid to retake the ship? Simply a point of information, as you know. 60 00:05:55,639 --> 00:05:58,399 Then let me give you another point of information. If you want to 61 00:05:58,439 --> 00:06:02,160 commit suicide quick, just open that bulkhead door. Three steps inside you'd fallen 62 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:05,959 your face. But why don't you smell anything the blank? Get close to 63 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:13,079 the door. It smells like gas. It is gas, chlorine gas. 64 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:18,079 They breathe it like we breathe oxygen. They've chlorinated the whole cruise compartment. 65 00:06:18,319 --> 00:06:21,759 One big whiff of that and we'd all be dead. So just forget about 66 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:26,959 rushing the chloros. How do you know so much about their habits, Stewart, 67 00:06:27,079 --> 00:06:30,920 I lived on a chloro planet for six months. You see these hands. 68 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:35,959 They were mangled in the oxygenating machinery of my own quarters. They grew 69 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:43,199 these artaplasm things and operated. They're weak, but at least I have hands 70 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:48,199 again, missus Stuart? Yeah, well they will they kill us. No, 71 00:06:48,959 --> 00:06:54,199 why do you say that, because in their own way they're gentlemen. 72 00:06:55,639 --> 00:07:00,199 Probably we'll be interned for the duration. You call them gentle men? After 73 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,800 they kill my brother in cold blood? You call them gentlemen? You know, 74 00:07:03,959 --> 00:07:09,319 Stuart, you sound more and more like I've blasted greene sympathizer, blusted 75 00:07:09,399 --> 00:07:13,040 man. Where's your patriotism and loyalty? How loyalty is where it belongs with 76 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:16,639 honesty and decency regardless of the shape of the being it appears in. This 77 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:20,480 is a ridiculous war. Why are we fighting these people? We can live 78 00:07:20,519 --> 00:07:24,759 only on planets with oxygen, and oxygen is poisoned to them. They can 79 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:28,720 live only in chlorine atmosphere, which is deadly to us. Yet we're fighting 80 00:07:28,759 --> 00:07:30,839 them over a bunch of worthless asteroids that neither of us can live uncomfortably. 81 00:07:31,439 --> 00:07:34,000 It's a matter of principle, it's a matter of stupid pride and greed. 82 00:07:34,639 --> 00:07:39,720 I can't try what you say, mister. Why not because you talk too 83 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:44,600 nice about these greeny scamp They're good to you, Eh, well, they 84 00:07:44,639 --> 00:07:47,160 weren't good to my brother. They killed him, and I think maybe I'll 85 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:56,959 kill you, you rotten. I can't break his hole. They are coming. 86 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:05,000 Let him go. They saved your life this time with the name finished 87 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:09,560 with dead. I think they're opening the lock. Who didn't get between us. 88 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:18,759 Only don't lose your head. They'll kill us all I greet you Earthman. 89 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,159 The Chloro was not a pleasant sight to anyone unused to him. He 90 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:33,480 was about the height of an earthman, but the top of him was just 91 00:08:33,519 --> 00:08:39,320 a green stalk with eyes. He was still wearing a spacesuit to protect him 92 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,559 from the oxygen in our compartment. In one of his tendrils, he carried 93 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:46,960 a chlorine gun. As he stood in the doorway, I could see Polliokeitha's 94 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:50,000 eyes begin to glisten with rage. Then, with a bellow like a huge 95 00:08:50,039 --> 00:09:01,080 bully, threw himself at the chloro He is not dead, temporarily paralyzed. 96 00:09:03,279 --> 00:09:07,559 You five will remain together as prisoners of war. We expect to reach our 97 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:13,639 own planet within several weeks. Your time there, you will be in turn 98 00:09:13,759 --> 00:09:16,879 for the duration of the war. If any of you attempts to leave this 99 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:22,399 compartment, we shall be forced to destroy you. That is all I have 100 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:33,159 to communicate. Hadn't we better do something for mister Polly archidies. Oh, 101 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:41,759 he'll be all right, Just hoist them up on the cot by Polly. 102 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:48,279 Can you hear me, you stupid brute? His voice is coming back now. 103 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,799 I know what's going on in that thick scull of your Polly. You 104 00:09:50,919 --> 00:09:54,600 think that when the paralysis wears off, you lease your feelings by slamming me 105 00:09:54,639 --> 00:09:58,799 around some more. Well, if you do, it'll be curtains for all 106 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,000 of us. How do you mean, sir? None of you know the 107 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:07,360 Chloros the way I do. Unlike us, they assume automatically that any group 108 00:10:07,399 --> 00:10:11,000 of earth men they find together comprises of biological grouping, like an ant colony. 109 00:10:11,919 --> 00:10:16,679 The result is that they consider the group as something well, something holy. 110 00:10:18,039 --> 00:10:22,759 Now, they'd never break us up, and if one of us did 111 00:10:22,799 --> 00:10:26,720 any harm to another, they'd have us all executed as a bunch of Chloro 112 00:10:26,799 --> 00:10:31,159 type perverts, a non functioning group. So call all the names you want, 113 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:45,320 but keep your hands to yourself, or we're finished. My little speech 114 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,879 had a sobering effect on the group. For the next twenty four hours we 115 00:10:48,919 --> 00:10:52,399 did little besides eat our rations and things. I tried to evaluate them. 116 00:10:52,519 --> 00:10:56,559 The colonel I had figured for an old windbag. Poliarchidas was a hate filled 117 00:10:56,559 --> 00:11:01,159 brute. The blank would crack first. It was like a frightened child. 118 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:07,120 Mullen. Mullen was a non entity, a mouse instead of a man. 119 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:15,399 Everything he did seemed precious. His voice had the quality of furtively rustling underbrush. 120 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:18,919 How long did you say the trip would take, mister Stewart well, 121 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:22,320 le Chloro said about two weeks. Gentlemen, If I may interrupt, Colonel, 122 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:26,759 now it has occurred to me that perhaps you know of some weakness that 123 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:31,639 might enable us to overcome these Chlorals. The only weakness they've got is that 124 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:35,159 they can't stand oxygen. But there must be some way to get the best 125 00:11:35,159 --> 00:11:37,519 of the man. After all, there are only two four, I answered, 126 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:41,039 colonel, I have to know your motive. Is it to save your 127 00:11:41,039 --> 00:11:43,519 own skin or help Earth win the war? Oh? Dash, it'd meant 128 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:48,080 to help us side. Of course, what we're looking for is the way 129 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:52,039 to save the ship for Earth without losing our lives. Yes, all right, 130 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:56,279 let's take a boat, then a blank. I have a wife waiting 131 00:11:56,279 --> 00:12:00,879 on Earth. Mister Steward, I do not want to die. Hero number 132 00:12:00,919 --> 00:12:05,440 one, what about you, Mullen? I don't see how we could accomplish 133 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:09,240 it? Well, Hero number two, Well, Paula Ketis. When I 134 00:12:09,399 --> 00:12:13,600 kill Chloris, it will be with my bad hands on the planet. I 135 00:12:13,639 --> 00:12:18,120 will kill dozens, I promise you. Ah three down, Well, colonel, 136 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:22,360 don't you want to march to glory an old militia man like you? 137 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,919 Your attitude is very cynical, and I'm becoming slice sea. Well then I'll 138 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:28,799 have to blow the ship up myself to it. Don't worry, Colonel, 139 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:35,080 I don't intend to be a dead hero. Of course, there is a 140 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:39,399 way we might do it. What did you say, mister Molon. There's 141 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:43,480 a spacesuit and magnetic boot stored in that locker over there. We might be 142 00:12:43,519 --> 00:12:48,600 able to reach the control room from the outside of the ship. The outside, 143 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:52,759 But how would we get outside? This compartment has a sea shoot, 144 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:56,159 it must what is a sea shoot? A sea shoot, my boy, 145 00:12:56,279 --> 00:13:00,919 is a casualty shoot. It doesn't get talked about much, but all the 146 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:05,480 main compartments have them. They're just little airlocks down which you slide a corpse 147 00:13:05,279 --> 00:13:11,039 burial in space. Oh, plastic melon. I suppose you did get outside. 148 00:13:11,279 --> 00:13:13,720 How could you re enter the ship through the steam tubes? The ones 149 00:13:13,759 --> 00:13:16,720 they used to guide the ship. Wait a minute, Mula, what do 150 00:13:16,759 --> 00:13:18,960 you know about steam tubes? I thought you were a bookkeeper. Well, 151 00:13:20,639 --> 00:13:26,960 on Arcturis, I got interested in spaceship models. I studied all about them 152 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:30,759 on my own time, of course, yeah, naturally, At any rate, 153 00:13:30,799 --> 00:13:33,559 I learned that the steam tubes have an access vent directly to the control 154 00:13:33,639 --> 00:13:37,360 room for repairs and so forth, and the close they are in the control 155 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,120 room. H what do you think, Stuart, Well, it's a video 156 00:13:41,279 --> 00:13:45,799 sort of idea, But it might just work. We could get permission from 157 00:13:45,799 --> 00:13:48,399 the Chlorus to open the sea shoot and bury Pol's brother, and one of 158 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:52,720 us could slip into it, work forward and climb up through the steam tube, 159 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:56,120 the question being which one. Well about you, you, with your 160 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:01,159 loud talk and your sneeze. I'm no hero. I've already said that my 161 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:05,360 object is to stay alive the steam tube let go while you were in it. 162 00:14:05,399 --> 00:14:09,799 You'd be broiled like a lobster. I'll at the colonel here. If 163 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,080 I were younger, blessed, I troublet you, you know very well, 164 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:18,480 with my injured leg, of course, not to mention my artificial hands. 165 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:24,200 Well, now, what unfortunate deformities do the rest of us have, pally, 166 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:28,360 You just keep talking, mister big Martin. Pretty soon we'll kick your 167 00:14:28,399 --> 00:14:31,240 teeth. Of course, that's your standard reply to everything, isn't it the 168 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:37,840 blank? Will you do it? I cannot not even to get back to 169 00:14:37,919 --> 00:14:41,159 Denise. Please, I I can blank and even go I'll do it? 170 00:14:41,799 --> 00:14:45,600 What? After all? It is my idea? Wait a minute of you 171 00:14:45,679 --> 00:14:52,080 serious? Mullen? Yes, well I don't understand why why you Well, 172 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:56,000 it seems no one else will do it. But that's no reason, man, 173 00:14:56,679 --> 00:15:01,080 I can't think any other. Look here, really intend to go through 174 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:03,840 with it, sir, Yes, I suppose I do. Well. Daesh 175 00:15:03,879 --> 00:15:07,559 it, man, let me shake your hand. You're you're an earthman by 176 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:11,559 heaven. You do this thing, and we know die. I'll bear witness 177 00:15:11,559 --> 00:15:22,399 for you. It was quite a moment, mull and the mouse had suddenly 178 00:15:22,399 --> 00:15:26,279 turned into a man. He just stood there awkwardly while the colonel pupped his 179 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:31,039 hand. All your Kita seemed stunned. Le Blanc was wide eyed, and 180 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:35,200 I well, I was in a peculiar position, one which I rarely found 181 00:15:35,279 --> 00:15:43,440 myself. I had absolutely nothing to say that ought to bring them. I 182 00:15:43,519 --> 00:15:52,960 hear one, what is an earthman? One member of our unit is dead. 183 00:15:54,679 --> 00:15:58,000 As you know. We request permission to jettison his body out of the 184 00:15:58,039 --> 00:16:03,360 casual is shoe. You may do so. You'll have to open the shoot 185 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:07,360 lock from the control room. I will do so. Is there anything else? 186 00:16:07,679 --> 00:16:18,159 No? Nothing else? Thank you? Oh boy? Yeah? All 187 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,639 right, come on now we'll have to work fast. Mulling, get into 188 00:16:21,639 --> 00:16:25,480 a spacesuit from the emergency locker. Holy help, mama, those magnetic boots. 189 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:30,840 I'm working as fast as I can the arm. All right, give 190 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:36,519 me the helmet. Okay, Now, Mullen, you better scratch your nose 191 00:16:36,519 --> 00:16:37,559 if you have to, at your last chance for a while. What about 192 00:16:37,679 --> 00:16:41,360 radio content. You can talk to us. We're listening on the helmet set 193 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:42,919 in one of the other suits. The Chloros won't have their set on the 194 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,960 interphone frequency. Wait a moment, What for DA what's he going to use 195 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,480 for the weapon? He isn't big enough to fight them bare headed? No, 196 00:16:48,799 --> 00:16:52,320 that's true. Well, how about one of those oxygen cylinders. Good 197 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:55,840 idea, use it to brush them over the head. I give them one 198 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:59,159 of the cylinders equipped with a reducing valve. Now, look, mullin, 199 00:16:59,399 --> 00:17:03,559 if you're magnetic boots fail and you start drifting away into space, open this 200 00:17:03,679 --> 00:17:07,319 valve. See that you can use it like a miniature jet and try to 201 00:17:07,319 --> 00:17:11,359 blow yourself back to the ship. Understand, I think so. One of 202 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,359 my only hope it works. All right, Here goes the helmet. You 203 00:17:14,519 --> 00:17:15,839 bet to hovey. The light is on over the sea. Shoot, yeah, 204 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:25,519 all right, that means I'm opened the lock here. How can you 205 00:17:25,519 --> 00:17:30,359 hear me? Leblank can be that other space helmet? Yes, let me 206 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:34,319 switch on the radio. Can you hear me, Mullen, I hear you. 207 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:40,559 Fine, well name er, here's okay, Pully open the sea shoot 208 00:17:44,839 --> 00:17:52,960 okay, now help me man already ready, well, good luck close the 209 00:17:53,000 --> 00:18:03,680 shot fully ejective valve. Now he's out, Oh God help him. The 210 00:18:03,839 --> 00:18:08,720 light is out. Yeah, the Chloro's have closed the shoot lock. I 211 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:15,960 I don't suppose he has much of a chance. Do you think Do you 212 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:22,440 think he knew it? I don't know. I just don't know. Should 213 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,200 I I try to contact him on the lady? Yes, Wait a minute, 214 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,880 what is it? Listen? The Chloro's coming. Good lord, he 215 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:33,039 shouted a miss Mullan. Wully, get your brother's body on the cot. 216 00:18:33,279 --> 00:18:37,279 Put a blanket over it. Pretend it's Mullin asleep. Pull me. For 217 00:18:37,319 --> 00:18:40,400 Heaven's sake. Brother, You've got to do it. Man, it's our 218 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:44,200 only chance. Listen. If Mullin could go out there, well, I 219 00:18:44,279 --> 00:18:52,839 will do it. Earth man, Yes, you have Jennison in the body. 220 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:59,039 Yes. Good. Is there something further we can do? No? 221 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:06,640 I we are very tired. Our grief is very great at losing one of 222 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:11,039 our unit. We would like to rest alone. I will respect your wishes. 223 00:19:11,839 --> 00:19:15,000 I see that one of your units sleeps already. Yes, yes, 224 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:26,799 mister Mullen was overcome with grief. I leave you, Oh, brother Pauley, 225 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:30,319 I thought sure you were gonna rush him with that brave little guy out 226 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:34,119 there. What do you think I am? Anyway? And to think I 227 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:41,319 laughed at him makes me ashamed. Yeah, I guess. I guess I've 228 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:45,960 been saying some things that maybe weren't too funny. I owe all of you 229 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,440 an apology. H Do you think it's safe to try the radio? Yeah? 230 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:56,559 We better. Hello, Hello, Mullin, can you hear me? 231 00:19:56,079 --> 00:20:00,359 Yes, I hear you. Where are you standing on the outside of the 232 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:04,599 ship? All right? Now? Take care. One misstep and you'll be 233 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:08,759 marooned in space. Now, can you find the steam tubes? I think 234 00:20:08,839 --> 00:20:14,839 I've found one of them already. I can feel the rim. I just 235 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:18,240 hope it doesn't let go and I get inside. Be careful. I'm going 236 00:20:18,279 --> 00:20:22,799 into the tube now. I can feel the ladder rungs they used to repair 237 00:20:22,839 --> 00:20:27,839 the inside, and we'll keep in contact. I'm in the tube now, 238 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:33,079 good lord, they've let go with a blasto. Well, it may be 239 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:37,480 the starboard tubes, Mullen, Mullen, still here. They use the other 240 00:20:37,559 --> 00:20:41,160 tubes. Fortunately, now if they don't try to correct for over deflection, 241 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:45,960 keep moving. I seem to be waiting. Yes, so yeah, I'm 242 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,279 at the end of the tube now where it opens into the control room. 243 00:20:49,279 --> 00:20:52,440 Good. Good, Now, look there's a small metal door there. Can 244 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:57,359 you feel it? Yes? Huh, I'm afraid it's slocked from the other 245 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:03,279 side. I can't budget well. Well, and listen to me, Steward. 246 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,839 I'm scared. I'm terribly scared. All right, all right, now, 247 00:21:06,839 --> 00:21:08,240 hang on, don't blow up. Listen to me. Are you listening? 248 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:15,319 Yes, Take the spare oxygen tank. Bang on the metal door that 249 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,119 leads to the control room. The chlorals are bound to hear you. When 250 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,640 one of them comes to investigate, try to hit him with the cylinder. 251 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,519 Now, aim for the stalk on top of his body. Try to blind 252 00:21:25,599 --> 00:21:30,359 him. Will you do that? I'll try well, now go on, 253 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:33,680 only one can come. The other will stay at the controls. I'll start 254 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:45,160 banging any luck. No, I wait, I hear something, something's opening 255 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:52,759 the lock the door. Knock. Ah, Mullin, mullon, what happened? 256 00:21:55,160 --> 00:22:14,720 Mullin? Can you hear me? Mullin, Mullen, Mullen, it's 257 00:22:14,759 --> 00:22:19,400 no use. They must have gotten He was one brave little guy, that 258 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,279 one. But suppose they have just got him in the control room. I 259 00:22:22,279 --> 00:22:27,400 mean, maybe he's not dead. Well, then maybe one of us could 260 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,440 watch them. We could bang on the door and jump the clock. The 261 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:36,680 first guy would be a cinch to die. I would be willing to take 262 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:40,759 the chance. You why not? I could try back you. I am 263 00:22:40,759 --> 00:22:42,200 the strongest. I do it now. Listen, Listen to you, chaps. 264 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:47,240 I'm an old man. I've got nothing to live for anyway. Suppose 265 00:22:47,279 --> 00:22:49,279 I throw myself at the eragon. Wait a minute, what's going on here? 266 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:52,279 Twenty minutes ago, there wasn't one of you who'd risk his little finger 267 00:22:52,319 --> 00:22:55,440 to get us out of here, And now you're falling all over each other. 268 00:22:55,839 --> 00:23:02,279 Maybe mister Mullen teaches us a lesson. Eh yeah, uh okay, 269 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:11,039 poorly, give me the wrench. I'll start banging on the door. They 270 00:23:11,079 --> 00:23:15,839 say that selflessness is contagious. I guess maybe it is. I'd been a 271 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,920 cynic all my life, a man who believed in nothing. Well, I'd 272 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,599 come face to face with four human beings who proved that I'd been living a 273 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:26,920 lie. I knew what I was going to do now when the Chloro came 274 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:30,839 to investigate our compartment, I had it all planned, if only my poor 275 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:41,599 weak hands would hold out long enough. Ready, Ready, here goes that 276 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:48,720 should bring him. Get wait, wait, listen, shit, he's at 277 00:23:48,759 --> 00:23:52,960 the door. Get ready, and it's opening the lock for poor old Mullin. 278 00:23:53,039 --> 00:24:04,759 Now steady, wait, good lord, it's Mullin. Get the helmet 279 00:24:04,759 --> 00:24:12,039 off, I said, well, wellin, are you all right? I 280 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:17,839 seemed to be quite all right. Well, the Chloros both dead at least, 281 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:22,279 I hope soon. What happened? Well, I banged on a steam 282 00:24:22,319 --> 00:24:26,240 tube hatch and a chloro open it. I hit him with a cylinder. 283 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:30,440 It blinded him, I guess, but didn't kill him. He grabbed me 284 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,400 and pulled me into the cabin. In the struggle he broke my transmitter. 285 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:38,240 That that's why I couldn't talk to you. Finally I managed to club him 286 00:24:38,279 --> 00:24:41,519 down. What about the other one? The other one almost got me. 287 00:24:42,279 --> 00:24:45,799 It must have heard the scuffle and came into the cabin with a ray gun. 288 00:24:47,079 --> 00:24:52,279 But I did I guess was pure reflex. The cabin atmosphere was chlorine, 289 00:24:52,319 --> 00:24:55,559 of course, and the Greenie didn't have a spacesuit on, so I 290 00:24:55,720 --> 00:25:00,559 just turned on the oxygen valve and that spare tube. It was like bring 291 00:25:00,559 --> 00:25:07,400 an insect with poison. But you're a brave man, Mullin. I'd have 292 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:25,319 been scared to death. Mullen, what is it? An hour later, 293 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:30,160 false hands and all. I was at the controls of the ship, headed 294 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:33,480 for Earth. We'd gotten rid of the chlorinating equipment and restored the oxygen. 295 00:25:33,559 --> 00:25:38,359 Naturally, Mullin was asleep in the cabin under a sedative, or so I 296 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:44,400 thought, until the cabin door opened. Mullin, for Pete's sake, get 297 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:48,279 back to bed. No, I'm quite all right now. Really, do 298 00:25:48,319 --> 00:25:51,400 you mind if I watch how you operate the ship? Oh? No, 299 00:25:51,599 --> 00:25:56,319 not at all. Sit down, you know, I guess sir. I 300 00:25:56,400 --> 00:26:02,799 owe you an apology and think too much of you. That's your privilege, 301 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:07,960 now, it isn't anybody's privilege. Wellin to despise another for years now, 302 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:14,680 I've abandoned hope of finding any decency in human beings. I owe you a 303 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:18,599 vote of thanks. You embarrass me, mister Stewart. I didn't do it 304 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:25,720 for any heroic reasons, I assure you, far from it. Why did 305 00:26:25,799 --> 00:26:30,359 you do it? Mullet That puzzles me very much. Well, mister Stuart, 306 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:34,960 I'm a bookkeeper. Seventeen years ago I left Earth to work on Arcturis. 307 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:41,400 I never made much impression on anybody on Earth, although I wanted very 308 00:26:41,519 --> 00:26:45,839 much to have people like me. Well, about a year ago I started 309 00:26:45,839 --> 00:26:51,799 to write to my family again, don't ask me why. And then I 310 00:26:51,839 --> 00:26:57,160 asked for a leave of absence to go home after seventeen years. Well, 311 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:03,240 I still don't understand. It wasn't patriotism, lovable woman, or money or 312 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:10,839 any of those things. What was it, mister Stewart? Haven't you ever 313 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:30,319 been homesick? You have just heard X minus one, presented by the National 314 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:34,920 Broadcasting Company and cooperation with Galaxy Science fiction magazine, which this month features a 315 00:27:36,039 --> 00:27:40,519 Gun for Dinosaur by l. Sprague de camp, a story of hunters in 316 00:27:40,559 --> 00:27:45,680 the bloodiest and most ferocious arena of all prehistoric Earth, where hunting reptal heavyweights 317 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:52,480 is no job for human lightweights. Galaxy Magazine on your news stand today tonight. 318 00:27:52,519 --> 00:27:56,480 By transcription. X minus one has brought you The s Shoot, a 319 00:27:56,559 --> 00:28:00,039 story from the pages of Galaxy, written by Isaac Asimonv and adapted for radio 320 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:06,000 by George Leffards. Featured in the cast were Lyle Soudra, Stan Earley, 321 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:11,400 Bob Hastings, Mercer McLeod, Danny acoll and John Gibson. You're Announcer Bill 322 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:18,200 McCory. X minus one was directed by Daniel Sutter and is an NBC Radio 323 00:28:18,279 --> 00:28:33,400 Network production. Next week on a distant planet. In a forgotten colony of 324 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:37,839 Earth, a man is ordered to commit a murder. Listen to skulking permit 325 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,079 on X minus one next week.