1
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:00,400
Speaker 1: M h.

2
00:00:03,439 --> 00:00:09,160
Speaker 2: Contdown for blast off x minus five four three two

3
00:00:10,359 --> 00:00:39,759
x minus one Fire from the far horizons of the

4
00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,600
unknown come transcribed tales of new dimensions in time and space.

5
00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,399
These are stories of the future adventures in which you'll

6
00:00:47,399 --> 00:00:49,759
live in a million, could be years, on a thousand,

7
00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,759
maybe worlds. The National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Street

8
00:00:53,799 --> 00:00:59,200
and Smith, publishers of Astounding Science Fiction, presents he minus

9
00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:26,400
minus on Tonight's story. First contact by Murray Lemester. They

10
00:01:26,439 --> 00:01:29,400
had been in space six months now, moving with the

11
00:01:29,439 --> 00:01:33,599
incredibly faster than light speed of the overdrive. In six

12
00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,760
months they had gone from Earth outward and outward to

13
00:01:36,799 --> 00:01:40,439
the crab like Nebula with the twin Stars, a routine

14
00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,760
flight of exploration and scientific research.

15
00:01:45,879 --> 00:01:48,079
Speaker 3: Solid object about ninety thousand miles away.

16
00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,519
Speaker 4: Sir, located door exactly identify it a.

17
00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:56,439
Speaker 3: Small object, Sir Captain. I've never seen anything like this before.

18
00:01:56,599 --> 00:01:58,439
Speaker 5: Whatever it is out there is coming tortous at an

19
00:01:58,439 --> 00:02:00,920
incredible speed and retreating to zero just as rapidly.

20
00:02:00,959 --> 00:02:02,519
Speaker 4: What's the mass of the object, dord.

21
00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:04,560
Speaker 3: It varies with the distance from us.

22
00:02:04,439 --> 00:02:06,319
Speaker 4: Sir, Step up the scanners.

23
00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:12,039
Speaker 5: Nothing, sir, absolutely nothing shows out there, and yet there

24
00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:12,759
must be something.

25
00:02:12,759 --> 00:02:14,000
Speaker 3: Those alarms are fool.

26
00:02:13,759 --> 00:02:18,159
Speaker 4: Proof action stations, and all weapons condition of extreme alert,

27
00:02:18,199 --> 00:02:20,680
and all departments immediately Captain, what is it? Dort? I

28
00:02:20,759 --> 00:02:22,599
ran into the same thing once before on the Earth

29
00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,280
Mars run. We were being located by another ship, and

30
00:02:25,319 --> 00:02:28,240
their locator beam was the same frequency as ours. Every

31
00:02:28,319 --> 00:02:31,479
time it hit it registered to something solid and monstrous.

32
00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:34,680
Speaker 3: Captain, We're the only earth ship in eighteen light years around.

33
00:02:34,759 --> 00:02:37,319
Speaker 4: How I didn't say it was another Earth's ship out there, Dord.

34
00:02:39,159 --> 00:02:39,840
Speaker 3: Another race.

35
00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,680
Speaker 4: That's right, there's a space ship out there, all right.

36
00:02:43,319 --> 00:02:44,960
It's not manned by human beings.

37
00:02:51,759 --> 00:02:54,120
Speaker 3: It had been contemplated and speculated upon.

38
00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:58,240
Speaker 2: Mathematically it was almost a certainty that such a race existed,

39
00:02:58,879 --> 00:03:02,479
But an eighteen thuds thousand earth years, no human spaceship

40
00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,560
had ever encountered them. Now the situation was precipitated, and

41
00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,719
somewhere outside the Earth vessel there was an alien race

42
00:03:10,599 --> 00:03:15,000
of what sheep, of what quality? Of what psychology?

43
00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,240
Speaker 3: It's moving, sir, heading right for us?

44
00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,199
Speaker 4: That speed will be in touching ten minutes, heading right

45
00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,439
for us. Eh. Just what we'd do if a strange

46
00:03:25,439 --> 00:03:29,919
ship appeared in our hunting grounds? Friendly or maybe we'll

47
00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,159
try to contact them. We have to do that. Friendly.

48
00:03:34,479 --> 00:03:35,840
Thank the Lord for the blasters.

49
00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:37,599
Speaker 3: They may not be hostile, sir.

50
00:03:37,639 --> 00:03:39,159
Speaker 4: They may be. That's what I'm paid for, put on

51
00:03:39,159 --> 00:03:40,919
this job for to worry about the troubles. It may

52
00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:44,800
never happen to all hands. Now hear this. A ship

53
00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,439
is approaching man by an alien race. I'll give the

54
00:03:47,479 --> 00:03:50,199
signal for attack or defense if it be necessary. There'll

55
00:03:50,199 --> 00:03:52,439
be no move made unless I give the order. I

56
00:03:52,479 --> 00:03:54,639
do not wish to provoke trouble. Stand by.

57
00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,960
Speaker 3: Their ship is slowing down, Sir, it's stopped.

58
00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,800
Speaker 4: Weapons Department report. Weapons Department report.

59
00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,360
Speaker 6: Alien ship remarked target fixed weapons alert.

60
00:04:05,759 --> 00:04:09,000
Speaker 4: Communications Department report. Communications Department report.

61
00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,000
Speaker 1: We're receiving a modulated short wave, sir.

62
00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:16,680
Speaker 4: Frequency modulated apparently a signal, not enough power to do

63
00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:18,879
with any harm. We'll try to make some sense out

64
00:04:18,879 --> 00:04:21,160
of it. Report any progress to me immediately.

65
00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,879
Speaker 5: One thing in their favor, sir. They didn't attack immediately,

66
00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,439
without question. They're trying to establish contact. That seems to

67
00:04:28,439 --> 00:04:29,959
indicate they're reasonable, and we'll see.

68
00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,879
Speaker 4: We'll see what are they doing now? Can you make

69
00:04:32,879 --> 00:04:34,879
out the locator screen? Bring that power up?

70
00:04:36,079 --> 00:04:38,879
Speaker 5: They're doing something, na sir, there's a section of the

71
00:04:38,959 --> 00:04:40,959
hull opening, probably.

72
00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,600
Speaker 4: An analys if they breathe there, they're.

73
00:04:43,519 --> 00:04:46,480
Speaker 3: Letting something out. It's round a bombser.

74
00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,759
Speaker 6: A known object released from alienship, observed by weapons department,

75
00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:51,319
then targeted stand by.

76
00:04:52,439 --> 00:04:53,399
Speaker 3: See what they're doing, sir.

77
00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,639
Speaker 5: They've left the object out there, right where they were,

78
00:04:55,879 --> 00:04:57,199
and now they're withdrawing the ship.

79
00:04:57,279 --> 00:04:59,279
Speaker 4: There's no reason why that object couldn't be a bombers

80
00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,000
to do it intended to let us think precisely as

81
00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:03,000
your thinking right now.

82
00:05:04,079 --> 00:05:06,680
Speaker 5: I just have a hunch, sir. I think they're friendly.

83
00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:08,920
I think whatever it is out there is a means

84
00:05:08,959 --> 00:05:10,240
of communication.

85
00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,399
Speaker 4: Probably right, but I won't gamble the ship on the probability, Sir.

86
00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,560
Speaker 5: I'd like to volunteer to go out there and look

87
00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:15,160
that thing over.

88
00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:20,279
Speaker 4: You understand, whoever does examine it is expendable, yes, sir.

89
00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,279
Requisition of lifeboat if it's all right.

90
00:05:23,199 --> 00:05:23,600
Speaker 3: With you, Sir.

91
00:05:23,639 --> 00:05:25,759
Speaker 5: I'd prefer just a suit with the drive in it.

92
00:05:25,759 --> 00:05:27,720
It's smaller and the arms and legs won't make me

93
00:05:27,759 --> 00:05:29,720
look like a bomb, and I'll carry a scanner.

94
00:05:29,759 --> 00:05:29,879
Speaker 7: Sir.

95
00:05:30,639 --> 00:05:32,560
Speaker 4: You may leave when you're ready, Thank.

96
00:05:32,399 --> 00:05:32,800
Speaker 3: You, sir.

97
00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,519
Speaker 1: I'm already clear the lock and let me out.

98
00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:53,360
Speaker 6: Weapons Department reporting to the captain. Mister Dort located, mister

99
00:05:53,439 --> 00:05:54,680
Dort is targeted.

100
00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,360
Speaker 4: Stand by that object out there is a device to

101
00:05:57,399 --> 00:06:00,199
capture one of our people for observation and questioning. It'll

102
00:06:00,199 --> 00:06:11,439
be blown out of existence, including mister Dart. Stand by,

103
00:06:13,439 --> 00:06:18,000
mister Dart. Mister Dart, report.

104
00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,279
Speaker 5: Object is you can see on the scanner, Sarah, is

105
00:06:20,319 --> 00:06:23,480
covered with many small horns, like the detonating horns of

106
00:06:23,519 --> 00:06:26,000
the obsolete mines formerly used in naval warfare.

107
00:06:26,199 --> 00:06:28,160
Speaker 4: Is that their purpose? Do you assume, mister Dart.

108
00:06:28,399 --> 00:06:30,959
Speaker 1: I'm gonna find out, sir. I'm going to grab one,

109
00:06:32,879 --> 00:06:37,079
mister Dart. I'm here, sir. I don't think this is

110
00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:37,759
a mind.

111
00:06:37,959 --> 00:06:40,360
Speaker 4: Circle it so we can see it completely through your scanner.

112
00:06:42,879 --> 00:06:46,800
Speaker 1: Deadlock, sir. Nothing to report that the scanner hasn't shown yet.

113
00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:48,920
Oh wait a minute, sir. A section of the autohol

114
00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:50,079
seems to be opening. Do you see it?

115
00:06:50,519 --> 00:06:52,560
Speaker 4: Very good, Dart, hold that.

116
00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:54,959
Speaker 1: I'm sure it's a communications device, sir.

117
00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,079
Speaker 4: It looks like it. Fix your scanner, so it'll focus

118
00:06:58,079 --> 00:07:01,439
on that communications device. Returned to the ship.

119
00:07:12,079 --> 00:07:15,759
Speaker 1: Communications Department. Communications Department Progress Report.

120
00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:18,600
Speaker 3: We've established communication, sir.

121
00:07:18,839 --> 00:07:20,600
Speaker 4: Is there a psychologist on the team down there with you?

122
00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:22,360
Speaker 3: Yes, sir, mister Burns is working with us.

123
00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,319
Speaker 1: Both of you please report to the bridge at once.

124
00:07:31,959 --> 00:07:33,040
Speaker 4: You look tired, dork.

125
00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:37,480
Speaker 5: We've established fairly satisfactory communication, sir. They seem to have

126
00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:41,560
highly developed thought patterns. We've got a satisfactory translation.

127
00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:42,800
Speaker 3: From the machine on the fourth attempt.

128
00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:44,800
Speaker 5: We can say almost anything we want to say to

129
00:07:44,839 --> 00:07:47,439
each other now, because how much of what they tell

130
00:07:47,519 --> 00:07:48,199
us is the truth?

131
00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,079
Speaker 3: We have no way of knowing, mister Burns.

132
00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,120
Speaker 4: You're the psychologist. What do you think? Well, I don't know, sir.

133
00:07:53,199 --> 00:07:54,959
Speaker 3: They seem to be completely direct.

134
00:07:55,319 --> 00:07:57,360
Speaker 4: They haven't let slip even the hint of the tenseness

135
00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,360
we know exists. They act, as they were saying, up

136
00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,639
a means of communication for friendly conversation.

137
00:08:02,759 --> 00:08:04,639
Speaker 3: But well, there's an overtone that.

138
00:08:05,839 --> 00:08:08,439
Speaker 4: Well, mister Burns, I have a decision to make. On

139
00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,240
the one hand, opening contact with the friendly people of

140
00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:14,480
a vastly different culture could only be beneficial to us

141
00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,360
of Earth. On the other hand, if they're hostile, I

142
00:08:17,439 --> 00:08:20,800
had to bless amount of existence without any other preliminary But.

143
00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:25,360
Speaker 3: Sir, you cannot talking to you Dor. It's not warranted yet, sir.

144
00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:31,560
Speaker 4: Yes, now hear this. All departments, hear this, all departments.

145
00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,279
This ship is on an extended alert. Provisions will be

146
00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,840
made so that personnel can have maximum rest and nourishment.

147
00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,480
Speaker 2: Communication continued by means of the artificial language set up

148
00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,639
arbitrarily between the Earthman and the aliens, decoded by the

149
00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:00,000
mechanical decoders.

150
00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:01,000
Speaker 4: Disobeyed orders.

151
00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,879
Speaker 2: He lived on powerful stimulants so that he could stay

152
00:09:03,919 --> 00:09:11,919
with the communications machine, talking, talking, talking to the aliens.

153
00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:18,200
Speaker 3: Other people, other people. Are we being received?

154
00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,200
Speaker 1: We are receiving your message.

155
00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,120
Speaker 5: The chief of this ship wishes to speak with the

156
00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:25,200
chief of your ship.

157
00:09:25,639 --> 00:09:28,840
Speaker 7: The message is heard by the chief of this ship.

158
00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,240
The chief of this ship communicates that he will hear

159
00:09:32,279 --> 00:09:33,559
the message of the chief.

160
00:09:33,399 --> 00:09:34,360
Speaker 1: Of that ship.

161
00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:39,320
Speaker 4: Go ahead, Sair, people of the other ship, I'd like

162
00:09:39,399 --> 00:09:42,360
to say the appropriate things about this first contact of

163
00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:46,399
two dissimilar civilized races, and of my hopes that a

164
00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,480
friendly intercourse between the two peoples will result.

165
00:09:50,039 --> 00:09:55,039
Speaker 7: People of that ship, what you say is all very well,

166
00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:59,240
But is there any way for us to let each

167
00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:01,639
other go home alive?

168
00:10:04,159 --> 00:10:04,759
Speaker 3: That's all, Sair.

169
00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:09,399
Speaker 5: They've stopped sending very direct people, very direct, But Sir,

170
00:10:09,399 --> 00:10:12,360
I don't follow. I didn't know what that meant. You know,

171
00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:14,360
is there any way for us to let each other

172
00:10:14,399 --> 00:10:15,159
go home alive?

173
00:10:15,279 --> 00:10:16,639
Speaker 4: It means what it says, Dort.

174
00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,480
Speaker 5: So what's to stop us from just cutting communication and

175
00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:20,720
leaving and they can do likewise?

176
00:10:20,759 --> 00:10:23,759
Speaker 4: What's to stop us? Simply that whichever ship leaves first

177
00:10:23,799 --> 00:10:26,200
will be followed by the other. If they find Earth

178
00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:27,600
and get back to their own planet, and we don't

179
00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,960
know where that planet is, Earth will be completely at

180
00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:34,159
their mercy. If they leave first, we'll follow them. We'll

181
00:10:34,159 --> 00:10:38,000
attempt to find their home planet, Dort. Could you swear

182
00:10:38,039 --> 00:10:40,519
to any decision that the policymakers on Earth will come

183
00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:41,159
to sir?

184
00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:42,320
Speaker 3: Even if they do follow us.

185
00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:43,879
Speaker 5: The closer we get to home, the more of our

186
00:10:43,919 --> 00:10:45,159
ships and weapons they'll face.

187
00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:46,200
Speaker 3: They never get away.

188
00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:47,919
Speaker 4: Well, how do you know that they can't communicate with

189
00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:49,200
their home planet without returning?

190
00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:50,759
Speaker 3: We can't, sir.

191
00:10:51,279 --> 00:10:52,600
Speaker 4: How do you know they can't?

192
00:10:53,639 --> 00:10:54,279
Speaker 3: They don't, sir.

193
00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:57,679
Speaker 4: So that's the situation. We'll sit out here, facing each other,

194
00:10:57,919 --> 00:11:01,080
trying to out guess each other do. Time wears us out,

195
00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:03,480
and we'll have to face the fact either they destroy

196
00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:09,159
us or we destroy them. Navigation officer attention. Navigation officer attention.

197
00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,399
Every star map on this ship is to be prepared

198
00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:13,440
for instant destruction.

199
00:11:14,399 --> 00:11:17,480
Speaker 7: The chief of this ship wishes to know whether the

200
00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:20,639
chief of that ship can suggest an answer to the

201
00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:22,399
problem concerning us both.

202
00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:24,360
Speaker 3: Do you want me to answer that, sir?

203
00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:29,000
Speaker 4: I'll answer it myself. Tell me when to talk now, sir,

204
00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:35,240
I am giving that matter personal attention. Every effort will

205
00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,720
be bent to the solution of this problem. Will you

206
00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,399
consider a temporary truce in the meantime?

207
00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:47,240
Speaker 1: What would a truce gain? Would we trust you? Would

208
00:11:47,279 --> 00:11:48,320
you trust us?

209
00:11:49,279 --> 00:11:52,639
Speaker 7: I suggest that we continue as we have up to

210
00:11:52,799 --> 00:11:54,080
this particle of time?

211
00:11:54,919 --> 00:11:58,440
Speaker 4: I agree, sign off doing.

212
00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,480
Speaker 2: Weeks went by, and during the weeks the exchange of

213
00:12:09,519 --> 00:12:11,399
information continued without let up.

214
00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,600
Speaker 3: What particle of time? Are the people on that ship

215
00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:17,639
at the resting time?

216
00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:21,840
Speaker 7: All rest except myself and others on alert duty.

217
00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:23,000
Speaker 3: Same on this ship.

218
00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:27,240
Speaker 7: Your people of that ship are very similar in many ways.

219
00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,960
Speaker 3: Do you have a family, I have a mate.

220
00:12:32,399 --> 00:12:35,159
Speaker 1: I have a mate and three offspring.

221
00:12:36,279 --> 00:12:39,080
Speaker 7: It is too bad for them, as well as us,

222
00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:41,039
to have to kill each other.

223
00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:43,480
Speaker 3: This ship can't see any way out of it.

224
00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:47,279
Speaker 7: Can that ship if we could believe each ship, yes,

225
00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:51,360
our chief would like it. But we can't believe you,

226
00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:54,399
and you are afraid that we do not tell truth,

227
00:12:54,799 --> 00:12:59,240
although we do. This ship would trail you home. If

228
00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:03,480
this ship able to, that ship would do the same.

229
00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,320
But this ship feels sorry about it.

230
00:13:08,639 --> 00:13:10,159
Speaker 3: I believe you're a friend.

231
00:13:10,519 --> 00:13:15,600
Speaker 7: I share your belief and like you, but there is

232
00:13:15,639 --> 00:13:18,519
a possibility that you were put to make a trap

233
00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:22,759
for me. I will stop now and think it over.

234
00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:37,720
Speaker 8: Sit down, Do art control yourself.

235
00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,200
Speaker 4: We're all under tention. Doesn't do any good to pace

236
00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:41,320
like some caged animal.

237
00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,399
Speaker 3: Yes, sir, all right now, I've read.

238
00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,879
Speaker 4: The complete transcription of your conversations with this one alien.

239
00:13:46,639 --> 00:13:48,600
What does it prove, Dard, sir?

240
00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:52,240
Speaker 5: These people are so much like us, and they're thinking, well,

241
00:13:52,279 --> 00:13:53,159
so they're likable.

242
00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:57,159
Speaker 4: They're likable, and they breathe oxygen. Their air is twenty

243
00:13:57,159 --> 00:14:00,639
eight percent oxygen instead of twenty. You do very well

244
00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:04,799
on Earth be a highly desirable conquest for them, geord.

245
00:14:04,799 --> 00:14:07,440
I must set against violence as you are. I don't

246
00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:09,759
see any way out of us, and I think we've

247
00:14:09,759 --> 00:14:13,399
got to break this status quo. So if in seventy

248
00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,720
hours we don't see any other way, then I have

249
00:14:16,799 --> 00:14:17,600
no further choice.

250
00:14:19,639 --> 00:14:33,440
Speaker 8: I'll blow them to bits.

251
00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:40,639
Speaker 7: Will that ship receive communications? Will that ship receive communications?

252
00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:42,000
Speaker 3: This ship is listening.

253
00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:47,480
Speaker 7: It seems to me better to communicate than to sit by.

254
00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,320
Speaker 1: The machine silently.

255
00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:51,919
Speaker 3: I would have called you, but you signed off. Before

256
00:14:52,559 --> 00:14:53,600
the problem.

257
00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:56,639
Speaker 1: Goes around and around, I find no answer.

258
00:14:57,559 --> 00:14:59,559
Speaker 3: Perhaps we could turn our thoughts to other things.

259
00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,039
Speaker 7: The psychologist of this ship tells us that you people

260
00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:06,679
on that ship have a threshold of tolerance to tension.

261
00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:09,639
He tells us that you will be forced to take

262
00:15:09,679 --> 00:15:12,759
one action or another in a period of less than

263
00:15:12,799 --> 00:15:14,480
one hundred time particles.

264
00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:16,600
Speaker 3: I have no communication on this matter.

265
00:15:17,159 --> 00:15:20,200
Speaker 7: So the ship is not trying to extract unwilling information

266
00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,039
from that ship. A truth is mentioned in passing.

267
00:15:23,159 --> 00:15:25,240
Speaker 5: A report of this conversation will be carried to the

268
00:15:25,279 --> 00:15:26,120
chief of this ship.

269
00:15:26,679 --> 00:15:29,200
Speaker 1: It would be so we are prepared.

270
00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,159
Speaker 5: If only the people of this ship could meet in

271
00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,200
direct contact with the people of that ship, it might

272
00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:34,600
be better.

273
00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:36,120
Speaker 1: We could not communicate them.

274
00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,720
Speaker 7: The communications machine is too large to carry from place

275
00:15:39,759 --> 00:15:42,679
to place in direct contact. The peoples of the two

276
00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:48,440
ships would be further apart than now. That's true I

277
00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:52,879
am said, much that is pleasant has passed between us.

278
00:15:53,759 --> 00:15:54,679
Speaker 3: I am sad too.

279
00:15:55,759 --> 00:15:58,360
Speaker 1: We are not yet ready for each other.

280
00:16:00,159 --> 00:16:01,399
Speaker 3: Get ready for each other.

281
00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:06,279
Speaker 4: It's hard, isn't it, Dort?

282
00:16:07,159 --> 00:16:10,480
Speaker 3: Well, Captain, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were here.

283
00:16:10,399 --> 00:16:13,679
Speaker 4: So I've been here for quite a while. He's dropping.

284
00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:14,159
I'm afraid.

285
00:16:14,679 --> 00:16:17,440
Speaker 3: It's all right, sir. Nothing can be personal in a

286
00:16:17,519 --> 00:16:18,360
situation like this.

287
00:16:18,679 --> 00:16:22,679
Speaker 4: That's right. How long is one hundred time particles dirt?

288
00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:23,480
Speaker 3: Pardon sir?

289
00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:26,320
Speaker 4: That reference he made to us not being able to

290
00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:31,799
stand tenderness? Interesting? Their psychologist seem to make more out

291
00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:34,159
of us and we do out of them.

292
00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,080
Speaker 3: Don't they, Yes, sir, they hit the nail right on

293
00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:37,720
the head.

294
00:16:37,879 --> 00:16:41,159
Speaker 4: Yes they do, I think, Dort. We will just have

295
00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,159
to push our timetable up a bit. No further communication

296
00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,159
with the aliens under any circumstances. That's clear, isn't.

297
00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,919
Speaker 3: It, yes, sir, sir?

298
00:16:50,799 --> 00:16:53,080
Speaker 5: If they know so much about our psychology, isn't it

299
00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:55,840
possible that remark was intended to make us act more quickly?

300
00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:57,840
Speaker 4: Probable? Dort? Probable?

301
00:16:59,039 --> 00:17:00,120
Speaker 3: Why would they do that?

302
00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:02,720
Speaker 4: Why you tell me?

303
00:17:02,759 --> 00:17:06,559
Speaker 3: Why do it? All of a sudden I have an idea, sir,

304
00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:07,720
and that's crazy, and.

305
00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:11,599
Speaker 4: It doesn't matter how crazy. I'll listen to it, Sir.

306
00:17:12,079 --> 00:17:13,559
Speaker 5: I think these people are playing some kind of a

307
00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:18,000
joke on us. Joke, a joke, Dort, Yes, sir, Over

308
00:17:18,039 --> 00:17:20,200
and over again. I've noticed what I think is a

309
00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,680
sense of humor, a highly developed sense of humor. Do

310
00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:25,359
you recall when we went to all the Trouble to

311
00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,480
set up a fictitious star map, and then they just

312
00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:29,680
sent us back a mirror image of the same one.

313
00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,000
I think somehow they're playing a joke on us.

314
00:17:34,519 --> 00:17:39,480
Speaker 4: Maybe you're right, in which case you've seen practical jokers dirt.

315
00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:58,319
Their jokes aren't always funny. Sometimes they hurt people. All departments,

316
00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,200
Man instant Alert, All department. It's a man instant alert,

317
00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,400
Report instantly, report instantly.

318
00:18:03,599 --> 00:18:04,759
Speaker 6: Women's Department alerted.

319
00:18:05,039 --> 00:18:12,119
Speaker 4: Target the enemy ship on target, Sir, stand by fire.

320
00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:22,720
Speaker 3: They're gone, sir. Not a trace of them left, not

321
00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:26,519
a tiny trace. Now we can go home.

322
00:18:37,319 --> 00:18:39,960
Speaker 1: Communications to captain, Communications to captain.

323
00:18:40,079 --> 00:18:43,599
Speaker 4: Report, Sir. I'm picking up new signals, same frequency as

324
00:18:43,599 --> 00:18:46,559
the original Indian signals. That's impossible that ship was destroyed.

325
00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:48,039
Speaker 1: I'm receiving signals, sir.

326
00:18:48,319 --> 00:18:50,119
Speaker 4: Set the machine up. We'll be down there in a minute,

327
00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:51,680
mister dork, come with me, please.

328
00:18:58,279 --> 00:19:01,039
Speaker 1: It's good to be on the way home. Yes, it

329
00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:01,640
is good.

330
00:19:02,319 --> 00:19:04,839
Speaker 7: Do you suppose we'll ever figure out what happened to

331
00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:05,680
the other ship?

332
00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:10,119
Speaker 6: Never a blinding fashion and they were gone.

333
00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:13,200
Speaker 7: I suppose they couldn't figure a way out of the situation.

334
00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,799
An unstable people, they had no sense of humor to

335
00:19:17,839 --> 00:19:22,279
cope with the situation. They exploded themselves out of existence.

336
00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:23,480
Speaker 3: It seems reasonable.

337
00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:28,079
Speaker 7: They must have had powerful weapons to destroy themselves so completely.

338
00:19:28,319 --> 00:19:29,559
Speaker 3: Yes, what a shame.

339
00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:34,240
Speaker 1: In a way, I grew to like them.

340
00:19:34,759 --> 00:19:37,319
Speaker 5: This isn't meant for us, sir. I don't know what's happening,

341
00:19:37,319 --> 00:19:39,000
but I think we're overhearing a private conversation.

342
00:19:39,079 --> 00:19:40,240
Speaker 4: Understand or be quiet, will you?

343
00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:43,440
Speaker 7: Many things might have come out of a relationship with

344
00:19:43,559 --> 00:19:44,160
that people.

345
00:19:44,559 --> 00:19:48,920
Speaker 1: They were describing a disease they called cancer. I think

346
00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,079
it is similar to the Frogrin syndrome. We might have

347
00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:58,480
helped them. They might have helped us, too well. Too bad, we'll.

348
00:19:58,279 --> 00:20:01,400
Speaker 7: Never find them again. I think the odds of such

349
00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:04,839
a chance meeting in the vast space of the whole universe.

350
00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:09,519
There are no figures for such odds.

351
00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:10,960
Speaker 4: Turn it up door, turn it up louded.

352
00:20:12,759 --> 00:20:17,759
Speaker 3: That's all there is. The signals stopped there, Sir.

353
00:20:17,839 --> 00:20:20,039
Speaker 5: I don't know how, but somehow when we fired at them,

354
00:20:20,039 --> 00:20:21,839
we didn't destroy them, but we did set up a

355
00:20:21,839 --> 00:20:24,680
condition whereby they've become invisible to us and we've become

356
00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:25,480
invisible to them.

357
00:20:26,039 --> 00:20:28,759
Speaker 4: Captain to Engineering Department, Halt forward motion.

358
00:20:29,519 --> 00:20:30,400
Speaker 3: Captain, why are we stopped?

359
00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:32,279
Speaker 4: Listen? Do you say they're in r but they're not

360
00:20:32,319 --> 00:20:36,119
destroyed because we just heard them. They're out there somewhere invisible.

361
00:20:36,319 --> 00:20:39,279
Speaker 5: You heard them, so they're heading for home. We're invisible

362
00:20:39,279 --> 00:20:40,000
to them too, Sir.

363
00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:41,119
Speaker 4: How do you know, Dord? How do you know this

364
00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:42,160
whole thing isn't set up?

365
00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,200
Speaker 5: Suppose that's true, Captain, you heard their conversation. They weren't

366
00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:48,000
talking like any monstrous people. They seem decent and warm,

367
00:20:48,079 --> 00:20:49,160
just as decent and warm as we.

368
00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:51,519
Speaker 4: How do you know this conversation wasn't planned deliberately set up?

369
00:20:51,519 --> 00:20:52,960
For rest or here? How do you know that? Dort?

370
00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:58,599
Speaker 3: Yes, sir, you're right. They may be out there and

371
00:20:58,599 --> 00:21:01,519
they may not. They may be telling the truth, or

372
00:21:01,519 --> 00:21:04,680
they may be trying to trick us. They may be friends,

373
00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:07,160
or they may be the most deadly enemies.

374
00:21:07,319 --> 00:21:10,640
Speaker 4: You said they had a sense of humored Dort. What

375
00:21:10,799 --> 00:21:14,079
a joke to play, to deliberately set up a situation

376
00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:16,839
where we wouldn't know fact from fantasy, truth from lie.

377
00:21:17,839 --> 00:21:19,480
Wouldn't that be a joke, Dort.

378
00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,319
Speaker 3: But we don't know that they did that, sir, And.

379
00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:27,720
Speaker 4: We don't know that they didn't We don't know anything, sir.

380
00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:31,000
Speaker 3: Does that mean we never go home again?

381
00:21:31,839 --> 00:21:37,000
Speaker 4: I don't know. I have to think about it. I

382
00:21:37,039 --> 00:21:37,920
have to think about it.

383
00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:52,799
Speaker 2: You have just heard X minus one, presented by the

384
00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:57,279
National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Street and Smith, publishers

385
00:21:57,279 --> 00:22:03,960
of Astounding science fiction. Tonight by transcription, X minus one

386
00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,319
has brought you First Contact, written by Murray Leinster and

387
00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:10,720
adapted for radio by Howard Rodman. Featured in the cast

388
00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:13,960
were Wendell Holmes, Bob Hastings, Clark Gordon.

389
00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:15,400
Speaker 3: William Lalley and Stannerley.

390
00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:19,319
Speaker 2: Your announcer, Fred Collins. X minus one was directed by

391
00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:41,200
Daniel Sutter and is an NBC Radio Network production. Next week,

392
00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:44,640
at this time, over most of these stations, NBC will

393
00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:49,200
present This Is Carnegie Hall, a special concert featuring the

394
00:22:49,279 --> 00:22:50,680
Symphony of the Air orchestra,