1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: Mm hmm, Calm down for blast off X minus five 2 00:00:06,759 --> 00:00:38,759 four three two x minus one fire. From the far 3 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,240 horizons of the unknown come transcribed tales of new dimensions 4 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,679 in time and space. These are stories of the future 5 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:48,759 adventures in which you'll live in a million, could be years, 6 00:00:48,799 --> 00:00:52,399 on a thousand, maybe worlds. The National Broadcasting Company, in 7 00:00:52,439 --> 00:00:55,840 cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers of Astounding Science Fiction, 8 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:01,280 presents minus one one. 9 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 2: One to Night Story courtesy. 10 00:01:14,519 --> 00:01:17,359 Speaker 3: This is the story of the second expedition to the 11 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:21,239 planet of Lando. I am recording it for any future 12 00:01:21,239 --> 00:01:25,760 expeditions which might land on this god forsaken sphere, the 13 00:01:25,799 --> 00:01:30,120 hope that they may learn from our tragic example. As 14 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:36,560 I write, there are two of us left, two out 15 00:01:36,599 --> 00:01:39,120 of an original complement of one hundred and eighty men. 16 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,840 One of us, myself, will be dead in less than 17 00:01:44,879 --> 00:01:50,079 twenty three minutes. As for the other, Heaven have mercy 18 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:51,480 on him, I. 19 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 2: Do not know. 20 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,719 Speaker 3: On June third, nineteen ninety seven, less than two months ago, 21 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,519 the last of our supply ships blasted off from Lando 22 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:07,959 for their return to Earth. After it had gone, I 23 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,919 remember looking out across the plain at the dead City, 24 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,840 one of thousands that dotted this planet. It had tall, 25 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:21,240 graceful buildings, atomic power systems, vacuum conveyors, all perfect, all deserted. 26 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 2: All ominous. How had it happened? 27 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:28,879 Speaker 3: The best guess was that the plague had frightened the 28 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:31,759 original inhabitants of the planet, so that they piled into 29 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,879 rocket ships and headed for some distant planet. I often 30 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:39,000 wondered why a civilization so advanced as Landro could not 31 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,319 find a serum to beat the plague. It had taken 32 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,159 out Earth doctors less than six months to develop an 33 00:02:45,199 --> 00:02:50,560 immunization method. Well, maybe those aborigines back in the hills 34 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,439 knew the answer. That strange, ugly little people who had 35 00:02:54,439 --> 00:02:57,800 taken to the caves the day we landed. I was 36 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:02,000 thinking these things when something happened that gave me the shock. 37 00:03:01,719 --> 00:03:08,439 Speaker 2: Of my life. Good evening, captain, what brings you here? Doctor? 38 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:12,639 It's the matter of the serum, sir, What about the serum? 39 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 3: It's no good now, God, it's too old, ten years 40 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,319 too old. Didn't you examine it? 41 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:24,719 Speaker 2: Yes? I did, But well, my eyesight has been failing lately. 42 00:03:25,599 --> 00:03:27,719 Speaker 3: Are you aware, doctor, that the last supply ship has 43 00:03:27,719 --> 00:03:29,599 returned to Earth? Do you know we'll have no more 44 00:03:29,599 --> 00:03:35,319 contact for two years. I just how long do you 45 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,479 give us? Well, the present immunity will last a week 46 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,800 or so. Then without booster shots, it's just a question 47 00:03:41,879 --> 00:03:45,719 of time until someone picks up the plague. After that, 48 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,120 what about the natives? They don't die from the plague. 49 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,719 The accepted theory is that they have developed an immunity. 50 00:03:54,439 --> 00:03:57,120 We suppose they haven't developed an immunity. Doctor, Suppose they 51 00:03:57,159 --> 00:03:59,719 get the disease, then they must have a treatment for it. 52 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,960 If they don't, there would be no natives. Would you 53 00:04:04,039 --> 00:04:05,960 be willing to go on an expedition to the hills 54 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:06,479 to find out? 55 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,719 Speaker 2: At this point, Captain, I'd be willing to do anything 56 00:04:10,039 --> 00:04:11,639 at solutely anything. 57 00:04:12,319 --> 00:04:18,879 Speaker 3: I I am truly sorry. You're sorry, Doctor Morgan. Some time, 58 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,040 when you aren't too busy, when you have a moment, 59 00:04:21,879 --> 00:04:25,920 I'd hate to inconvenience you. Would you mind telling me 60 00:04:25,959 --> 00:04:28,360 how it feels to murder a hundred and eighty men, 61 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:39,040 a hundred and eighty one, including yourself. I did a 62 00:04:39,079 --> 00:04:42,959 lot of thinking after doctor Morgan left my hut. It 63 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,439 was still unreal for me. After all, the planning of 64 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:48,160 an expedition was no simple thing. 65 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:49,199 Speaker 2: You put into it. 66 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,519 Speaker 3: The result of years of training and experience, years of 67 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,000 study at the academy, years of learning how to handle. 68 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:57,199 Speaker 2: Men and natives. 69 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 3: Every man on my crew was hand picked for his skin, 70 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:05,079 and yet a simple thing like a myopic surgeon misreading 71 00:05:05,079 --> 00:05:08,240 a label could blast the whole thing. 72 00:05:09,319 --> 00:05:10,160 Speaker 2: Yes, it was a. 73 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 3: Shame, and I did the only thing I could think of. 74 00:05:13,879 --> 00:05:18,439 I yelled for bat Ears. Brady, Brady, get your carcass 75 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:19,720 in here, take the lead off. 76 00:05:19,959 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 4: Okay, okay, yeah, what's up? 77 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:26,519 Speaker 2: Sit down, bat Ears? 78 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:33,639 Speaker 3: You have trouble, keV. We got trouble, right, The serum's 79 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:38,839 no good? What Morgan forgot to check it? It's ten years. 80 00:05:38,519 --> 00:05:41,639 Speaker 5: To holy jumping snails. You're gonna court myself. Wouldn't do 81 00:05:41,759 --> 00:05:42,199 much good. 82 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 3: We'll all be dead pretty soon unless somebody figures something out. 83 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,319 Speaker 2: Ah, what are you gonna do, keV? Well, there's only 84 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,800 one chance, one chance in ten million. 85 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 3: What then, cave rats, what good can they do us? 86 00:05:58,079 --> 00:06:01,199 They don't get the plague, so maybe they know a cure. 87 00:06:01,519 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 5: Okay, let's get a few of them and beat it 88 00:06:04,079 --> 00:06:04,759 at them. 89 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 2: That's why you're here. 90 00:06:06,519 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 3: Shoot, how'd you like to come along on a little 91 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,439 expedition up to the Cave Country, You, me, the doctor, and. 92 00:06:13,199 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 2: Er Faulkner all listen, Cap. He's worse than. 93 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 3: That, yes, but he knows more about the native culture 94 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:21,639 than anybody here. He's the only one who's completely familiar 95 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:23,240 with the records of the first expedition. 96 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 5: Okay, so it's me, you, the dark, and Faukner when 97 00:06:27,399 --> 00:06:28,120 we start. 98 00:06:27,959 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 3: Tonight in half an hour. We should reach the cave 99 00:06:31,519 --> 00:06:34,120 country by tomorrow, but luck we'll be able to find 100 00:06:34,199 --> 00:06:45,720 natives before night. Benny Faulkner was the expedition anthropologist, one 101 00:06:45,759 --> 00:06:50,040 of the most unfortunate looking individuals I've ever met. An 102 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:54,519 ugly man with large ears and a big nose. His 103 00:06:54,639 --> 00:06:58,519 body was small and consumpting, but he had a good brain. 104 00:06:59,399 --> 00:07:03,160 He was the best anthropologist the InterPlaNet Institute could recommend. 105 00:07:04,439 --> 00:07:06,639 He and doctor Morgan were the only two civilians on 106 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:16,959 the expedition. We set out and after several hours hard walking, Cap, 107 00:07:17,879 --> 00:07:21,279 Now what is it? Don't look now, but very slowly 108 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,439 turn your eyes to the right and look behind that 109 00:07:23,519 --> 00:07:35,399 big yellow rock. Okay, you see anything, No, keep looking, 110 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:37,120 don't stop walking. 111 00:07:37,399 --> 00:07:46,879 Speaker 2: Then Okay, there, yes, look like a shadow or something. 112 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,759 Speaker 4: It's one of them gimpos he's been found us now 113 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,519 for almost an hour, dodging in and out behind the rocks. 114 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:53,839 Speaker 2: Shall I ring him in? 115 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:58,439 Speaker 3: No, not yet. Just pretend you don't see him. Tell 116 00:07:58,439 --> 00:08:01,560 the others if they noticed, to show no fear, because 117 00:08:01,639 --> 00:08:11,000 nothing will start these simple minded cavemen like fear. The 118 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,800 manual said, under no circumstances shall a member of the 119 00:08:14,839 --> 00:08:18,439 patrol display fear before a native. The dignity of the 120 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:24,000 earth man must be preserved at all costs. Just before 121 00:08:24,079 --> 00:08:27,839 dawn we reached the cave country. We were tired and hungry, 122 00:08:27,879 --> 00:08:31,240 and we stopped to cook some food and rest. Everything 123 00:08:31,319 --> 00:08:34,799 was quiet. There was no sign of the gimpo which 124 00:08:34,799 --> 00:08:36,360 had been trailing us until. 125 00:08:36,519 --> 00:08:38,519 Speaker 5: Okay, get in there. 126 00:08:38,519 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 2: You're sneaking with a nucky man. 127 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 5: Come on, come on, before I break this. 128 00:08:41,519 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 2: Shovel on your star. 129 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 5: What's the trouble, cap, I caught me one of these 130 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:47,080 gimpos sneaking around outside the tent. 131 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 3: And bring him in the light of the fire. We 132 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,120 can get a look at him, Parkner, Yes, sir, keep 133 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,600 an eye on him. Try to establish some communication, all right, 134 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,200 look out, No need to knock him down, Patty. 135 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 5: Oh, that's the only language I understand. See if you're 136 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:03,120 going to reaching Faukner. Okay, captain, I'll need a drummer 137 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:04,159 some sort. What. 138 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:06,919 Speaker 6: Well, they have no language as we know it, and 139 00:09:07,039 --> 00:09:10,440 they have a very rudimentary sense of hearing it. I 140 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,200 find they communicate with one another through a very primitive 141 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:16,600 kind of vibration of the tongue. The closest I can 142 00:09:16,639 --> 00:09:19,200 come as a series of drum beats, a sort of 143 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:23,879 Morse code. The psychologist on the first expedition had it 144 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:25,879 worked out before he was killed by the plague. 145 00:09:26,639 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 2: I've studied his notes, and I think it'll work. 146 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,879 Speaker 5: You mean, these little critits can talk to one another. 147 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:33,039 Speaker 2: I believe they can. 148 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,039 Speaker 6: At any rate, we'll have a chance to find out. Uh, 149 00:09:37,879 --> 00:09:39,679 do we have something I can use for a drum? 150 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:40,159 Speaker 5: Hear? 151 00:09:40,799 --> 00:09:41,879 Speaker 2: Take my water bottle? 152 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:46,279 Speaker 6: Thank you doctor. Now, I'll tap it three times. That's 153 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:47,799 a greeting of some sort. 154 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 2: Just a moment, sir. 155 00:09:49,799 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 3: I don't want you treating this fellow like an equal. 156 00:09:51,879 --> 00:09:54,399 Don't give them the idea that we're desperate. Once they 157 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:58,240 sense that you're lost, I have to communicate with him, sir. 158 00:09:58,279 --> 00:10:02,000 I'll just bear in mind what I say, dignity. 159 00:10:02,519 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, I'll do my best, sir. It was a 160 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:09,720 strange sight. 161 00:10:10,799 --> 00:10:13,519 Speaker 3: On one side of the water bottle, crouched little Bene Faukner, 162 00:10:13,559 --> 00:10:17,120 looking for all the world like a human spider. Across 163 00:10:17,159 --> 00:10:21,279 from him crouched the Landrier, a humpbacked, gray little creature 164 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:25,080 with an enormous head in those huge, soft lavender eyes. 165 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,600 Every few moments, one would stop the strange tattoo of communication, 166 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:32,559 and the other would take it up. I'm setting forth 167 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,360 in this narrative the most vital part of their conversation, 168 00:10:36,039 --> 00:10:38,480 as Benny Faukner later transcribed it from the best of 169 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:44,120 his memory, Benny asked, why were your cities abandoned? Was 170 00:10:44,159 --> 00:10:48,759 it the plague? The native said yes. Benny said, do 171 00:10:48,799 --> 00:10:51,799 you still fear the plague? The native answered yes. 172 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,080 Speaker 2: Do any of your people become afflicted? The answer was some. 173 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,519 How do you treat them? Silence? 174 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 3: How can we find a cure for the plague? More silence? 175 00:11:07,399 --> 00:11:11,919 Then the native said, go among my people. Then he asked, 176 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:15,519 will we find the answer among your people? The native replied, 177 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,440 my people have the answer. Then he said, will you 178 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:23,279 tell me the answer? The native repeated, go among my people. 179 00:11:24,799 --> 00:11:27,519 As far as the Landering was concerned, the conversation was ended. 180 00:11:28,279 --> 00:11:30,960 He rose to go, and Faulkner stepped from his path, 181 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,039 but Brady was there to ensure the bed. 182 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:35,559 Speaker 2: Hold on there, Bucko, you ain't going no place. Don't 183 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,840 maltreating Brady. What did he say, Tony? He says, his 184 00:11:39,039 --> 00:11:41,639 people have the answer. What do you think? 185 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 6: There may be some truth in it, he says, some 186 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:46,519 of his people still get the plague. 187 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,279 Speaker 2: That must mean it isn't a question of immunity. They 188 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:51,519 must have a cure. Well, he wasn't clear on that. 189 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,159 Then they must have a vaccine to keep it from spreading. 190 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:57,759 Does he know his answer is for us to go 191 00:11:57,840 --> 00:11:58,720 among his people. 192 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,559 Speaker 3: Well, and that leaves it up to us. The first 193 00:12:03,639 --> 00:12:06,240 level of caves is on top of that cliff about 194 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:08,399 a mile ahead. It's a trap. I'll bet my last 195 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:13,120 dollar on it. Hell, maybe not, We'll have to risk it. Wait, well, 196 00:12:13,519 --> 00:12:16,039 let me go. I got you all into this. 197 00:12:17,039 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 2: How will you talk? Benny here can give me enough 198 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,519 of the code so I can ask the big question. 199 00:12:22,519 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 3: You understand that they might just decide to cut your throat. 200 00:12:25,879 --> 00:12:30,840 I'm fully aware of the risk. All right, doctor, you 201 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:32,759 go ahead. We'll wait at the foot of the cliff. 202 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:35,799 If you aren't back down in three hours, we'll come 203 00:12:35,879 --> 00:12:36,399 up after you. 204 00:12:36,639 --> 00:12:38,639 Speaker 2: What about the gimpo here, we'll hold. 205 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,759 Speaker 3: Him as a hostage to ensure the doctor's safety. If 206 00:12:41,759 --> 00:12:43,960 the doc comes back all right, we'll let him go. 207 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:47,519 If not, that's your job, Brady. 208 00:12:47,399 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 2: A pleasure. 209 00:12:54,519 --> 00:12:56,639 Speaker 3: It took Dr Morgan about an hour to pick his 210 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,240 way up the side of the cliff to the first 211 00:12:58,279 --> 00:13:01,240 of the openings, where the Landrian's lift. He waved to 212 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:02,960 us before he entered the mouth of the cave, and 213 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:07,320 we waved back. Then we settled down to wait. It 214 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,120 was a long, long wait. 215 00:13:18,879 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 2: Eight o'clock. He's been up there more than three hours. Cap. 216 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:24,320 We'll give him a little more time. 217 00:13:26,759 --> 00:13:29,639 Speaker 5: It's getting colder. Let's keep that fire going. How much 218 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:30,440 long are you gonna wait? 219 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,919 Speaker 2: Cap? Oh, we've got lots of time. 220 00:13:33,639 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 4: You'd think we'd have heard of something by now if 221 00:13:35,639 --> 00:13:38,440 they were gonna knock him off on me, not necessarily. 222 00:13:39,399 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 2: Wait, look up on the cliff. That's him, all right, 223 00:13:42,919 --> 00:13:44,960 And what's your running for? Don't know? He looks scared. 224 00:13:45,039 --> 00:13:45,879 That's crazy, fool. 225 00:13:45,879 --> 00:13:49,639 Speaker 5: If you don't look out, doctor Morgan, look out, look out. 226 00:13:59,519 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 3: We've found the doctor at the foot of the cliff 227 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:05,480 crumpled and broken. There were no marks on his body, 228 00:14:05,519 --> 00:14:09,480 nothing except a twisted mocking grin on his face. Oh yes, 229 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:13,639 and one other thing. Scrawled across the pad he had 230 00:14:13,639 --> 00:14:16,279 taken with him on which to make notes concerning the 231 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,080 answer was a single word. 232 00:14:19,799 --> 00:14:24,759 Speaker 2: The word was courtesy. We threw the paper away. 233 00:14:25,559 --> 00:14:29,639 Speaker 3: The expedition was a failure, though Battiers claimed he'd get 234 00:14:29,679 --> 00:14:33,919 it out of the gimpo fied letter. I nodded in agreement. 235 00:14:34,679 --> 00:14:37,399 Battiers took the little native off behind an outcropping of rock. 236 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:41,080 He was back in fifteen minutes, dripping with sweat. 237 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 4: Well, let's go camp. Nothing but nothing is he. They 238 00:14:49,159 --> 00:14:52,320 ain't made very good, these little gray people. They come 239 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:53,440 apart too easy. 240 00:14:53,279 --> 00:14:59,799 Speaker 2: So let's go. I'll camp all right, Benny, Benny, what 241 00:14:59,879 --> 00:15:05,240 is I feel kind of sick, all of a sudden 242 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,639 in the back of my head, dull kind of pain. 243 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:15,039 Speaker 3: Let me see your tongue. Ugh, come on, give me 244 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:16,639 my hand. Bat here, we've got to get him back 245 00:15:16,639 --> 00:15:16,960 to camp. 246 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 2: What is it? 247 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 3: I'm not sure, but that blackness on the tongue and 248 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:29,679 the headache, it could be the plague. By the time 249 00:15:29,679 --> 00:15:31,759 we got Benny Faulkner back to camp. He had the 250 00:15:31,799 --> 00:15:34,000 red spots on his body, and then the fever began 251 00:15:34,039 --> 00:15:37,000 to rage. It was the plague, no mistake about it. 252 00:15:37,759 --> 00:15:40,360 Before morning, Collins, the supply sergeant, had it. 253 00:15:40,679 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 2: Then it was Peabody. 254 00:15:42,519 --> 00:15:46,519 Speaker 3: After that the men went down like ten pins. Then 255 00:15:46,559 --> 00:15:49,279 one morning bat Here's Brady dragged himself into my tent 256 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:52,360 and sat down. The lines in his face told me 257 00:15:52,399 --> 00:15:53,840 the end was coming pretty fast. 258 00:15:55,799 --> 00:15:58,399 Speaker 2: Sit down, Brady. 259 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:05,039 Speaker 4: What's the count six left? We buried the chaplin today? 260 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:06,559 Got anything to drink? 261 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 2: Sorry, I'm all out? How about a cigarette? Then? You 262 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:16,440 you got a cigarette? Yeah? Sure, yeah? How was fucking? 263 00:16:19,159 --> 00:16:23,559 Speaker 4: I don't get it. He's still alive, still alive, yep. 264 00:16:24,519 --> 00:16:27,480 In fact, he's getting better. He's sitting up. 265 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:33,519 Speaker 2: Holy mackerel. It's a good cigarette. It's like any other. No, no, 266 00:16:34,679 --> 00:16:40,919 this one's different. This is my last. What do you mean, Brady? 267 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:47,679 Speaker 4: Take a look at my tongue, see little black spots. 268 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 3: Somehow I managed to get him into bed. He was 269 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,759 already raving when I gave him the last of the morphing. 270 00:16:58,799 --> 00:17:03,759 It was incredible, big brawling bat ears Brady, a tower 271 00:17:03,759 --> 00:17:08,960 of strength, lying sick and whimpering in a cot when 272 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:12,119 he died. I went out on the moors to think. 273 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:20,480 The sun was a dull rape glow, cold breeze with done. Somehow, 274 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:25,680 I couldn't forget Faulkner. Why should Faulkner recover from a 275 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:29,039 plague from which no man has ever recovered? Surely there 276 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:33,559 must be a reason. Nothing happened without a reason. I 277 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:39,759 turned and went back to see Benny Faulkner. Hello, Captain, Hello, Benny, 278 00:17:39,839 --> 00:17:41,839 how are you pretty good? 279 00:17:42,279 --> 00:17:44,079 Speaker 2: I got up and walked a couple of steps to day. 280 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:49,799 How goes it? Brady's gone? Oh? 281 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:58,279 Speaker 3: I just buried him. Listen, Benny, there must be some reason. 282 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 6: Why is nothing strange about me, nothing different from any 283 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:02,319 other man? 284 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:06,519 Speaker 3: There must be You survived the virus, Benny. I want 285 00:18:06,519 --> 00:18:08,599 you to tell me everything you know about yourself, everything 286 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,440 you can remember, because somewhere in your makeup is some 287 00:18:11,599 --> 00:18:14,599 little thing that makes the difference. If I can find 288 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,440 that thing, then maybe I can do something to save 289 00:18:17,519 --> 00:18:20,359 myself and the rest. Even if I can't, at least 290 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,920 I can leave a record for any future expedition that 291 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:23,680 comes to Lanrew. 292 00:18:24,079 --> 00:18:29,160 Speaker 2: Okay, okay, Captain, Where should I start. 293 00:18:28,799 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 3: At the beginning? I'm going to take notes. 294 00:18:31,519 --> 00:18:31,799 Speaker 2: Well. 295 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,400 Speaker 6: I was born on the second of July in nineteen 296 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:38,960 seventy one. My parents were ordinary people. 297 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:40,400 Speaker 2: My father was. 298 00:18:51,559 --> 00:18:55,519 Speaker 6: Look captain. I've told you everything I can remember. Three 299 00:18:55,599 --> 00:18:58,480 days now you've gone over me. Pardon me, question me? 300 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 2: What else can I I tell you? 301 00:19:01,559 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 3: Benny, let's go over that last part once again. 302 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:06,039 Speaker 2: Where should I stop? 303 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 3: Take it from where the natives started to walk away? 304 00:19:10,319 --> 00:19:13,680 You stepped out of his path and Brady grabbed him. 305 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:18,880 Speaker 2: Okay, so I stepped out of his path. Why what 306 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:22,440 do you mean? Why? Why did you step out of 307 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:31,319 his path? Why not? Courtesy? I guess what's the matter? Courtesy? 308 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,599 Speaker 3: That's the word that doctor Morgan had scrawled in his notebook. 309 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:42,559 I don't see that. I don't either. Tell me, Benny, 310 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,559 why should you want to be courteous to a native? 311 00:19:46,319 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 2: Why not? What about maintaining your own dignity? Are you 312 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:54,519 talking about dignity or arrogance? 313 00:19:57,799 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 3: I don't know, Benny. Listen, Maybe we were all wet 314 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:06,759 in our deductions. Maybe these cities here and Landro weren't 315 00:20:06,799 --> 00:20:09,119 deserted centuries ago. Maybe these little people up in the 316 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:10,759 caves are the same people who used to live in 317 00:20:10,799 --> 00:20:11,599 those big cities. 318 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:12,759 Speaker 2: Why would they leave? 319 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:15,880 Speaker 3: Maybe they found out the big cities weren't the answer. 320 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:20,440 Maybe they found out that civilization doesn't necessarily bring happiness, 321 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:23,240 so they just packed up and left, returned to the simple. 322 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 2: It doesn't make sense. You're forgetting the plague. What is 323 00:20:26,039 --> 00:20:29,720 the plague? Benny Well, I don't know. Is it a virus? 324 00:20:29,839 --> 00:20:32,480 I don't think they ever found out. You know what 325 00:20:32,519 --> 00:20:33,839 I think why? 326 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,160 Speaker 3: I think the plague is nothing more than what we 327 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,480 know as greed and arrogant. Captain, you're going off your ruck. 328 00:20:41,559 --> 00:20:44,440 I think maybe we're in line to die. Syum was good. 329 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:47,640 In fact, I don't think the Syrium had anything to 330 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:47,960 do with. 331 00:20:48,079 --> 00:20:51,759 Speaker 6: I never heard anything as crazy fantastic in my life. 332 00:20:52,559 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 3: No, I think I'll go back to my tent and 333 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:05,960 finish writing the report. I am beginning to sweat a little, Captain. 334 00:21:07,599 --> 00:21:11,039 Maybe it isn't a blank. It is I've seen her 335 00:21:11,079 --> 00:21:12,920 too many times to kid myself about it. 336 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 2: Maybe hot compresses or something. No better. 337 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 6: Listen, Captain, you don't you don't believe that junk about courtesy, 338 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:18,000 do you? 339 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 2: I mean, that's a lot of nonsense. You must know 340 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:27,519 that micro Captain, you you do believe it, don't you. 341 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:34,079 Good night, Benny. I think I'd like to be alone 342 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:38,799 for a while. Okay, good night, captain. 343 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 3: Maybe the supply ship will be early. You can you 344 00:21:43,319 --> 00:21:44,759 can probably stick it out. 345 00:21:46,079 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 2: Sure, good night, captain. And this concludes my report. 346 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,319 Speaker 3: I'm turning it over to Benny Faulkner in the hopes 347 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:11,200 that he will be able to transmit it to any 348 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:15,240 other expedition commander who contemplates exploring the planet of Landron. 349 00:22:17,039 --> 00:22:21,279 The fever is beginning to mount. Now my hands tremble. 350 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:21,839 Speaker 2: Is I right? 351 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:27,759 Speaker 3: The end should not be far off. There's little question 352 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:28,920 in my mind as to what. 353 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 2: It will be. 354 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:35,640 Speaker 3: You see, I didn't have a chance. I stepped out 355 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:40,599 of no paths. I showed no courtesy. 356 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,519 Speaker 7: You have just heard X minus one presented by the 357 00:22:52,599 --> 00:22:56,960 National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers 358 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:00,680 of Astounding science fiction. Tonight by transcription, an X minus 359 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,759 one has brought you courtesy, adapted for radio by George 360 00:23:03,839 --> 00:23:07,400 Lefferts from the story by Clifford Symad Featured in the 361 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:11,079 cast where Brett Morrison as Captain Irah Warren, Arnold Robertson 362 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:14,480 as Battier's Brady Edwin Jerome as Doctor Morgan and Bill 363 00:23:14,519 --> 00:23:18,519 Griffiths as Benny Faulkner. You're Announcer Fred Collins. X minus 364 00:23:18,559 --> 00:23:21,759 one was directed by Ken McGregor and is an NBC 365 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:35,640 Radio Network production and now next week. The Frontier is 366 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,839 a strange place, and the Frontier is not always easy 367 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:41,599 to recognize. It may lie on the other side of 368 00:23:41,599 --> 00:23:45,519 a simple door marked no admittance, but it is always 369 00:23:45,599 --> 00:23:49,200 deadly dangerous. What happens when an innocent girl ignores a 370 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,200 single regulation You will find out. 371 00:23:52,079 --> 00:23:57,680 Speaker 2: Next week at X X minus minus one one one. 372 00:23:59,279 --> 00:24:01,880 Speaker 7: When you buy United States Savings bonds, you help to 373 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,039 build your own future security. Here's an opportunity to save 374 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:09,000 systematically for long range personal objectives, and with their increased 375 00:24:09,039 --> 00:24:12,400 yield and other improvements, US Savings bonds are a better 376 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:13,839 investment than ever before.