Speaker 1: M h.
Speaker 2: Count down for blast off x minus five minus four
minus three minus two x minus one.
Speaker 1: Fire from the.
Speaker 2: Far horizons of the unknown come transcribe tales of new
dimensions in time and space. These are stories of the
future adventures in which you'll live in. A million could
be years on a thousand would be worlds. The National
Broadcasting Company presents X minus one.
Speaker 3: Tonight Universe.
Speaker 2: We are just beginning to discover how boundless our universe
really is. And yet as man reaches out to the stars,
out toward infinity, ironically enough, he may be building himself
a new kind of prison. What would it be like
to live all your life in a world no larger,
say than a single gigantic rocket ship bound on an
endless mercy.
Speaker 1: Que. Look out, you're right, yes, just miss me?
Speaker 4: What was it?
Speaker 1: Newton with a slingshot? I think must have dash down
that passage away. I want to go after it now.
We'd never catch it. Alan probably twelve decks above us
by now.
Speaker 5: I didn't think they ever came down as far.
Speaker 1: Trolls usually get them.
Speaker 5: Before they reach this level.
Speaker 1: They get more daring each generation. This will look like
a female.
Speaker 6: Male or female. It might have killed us.
Speaker 2: I told you this trip was pure foolishness, climbing twenty
four deck levels to hear a crazy old man rave.
Speaker 1: All right, Adam, we're almost there now. Let me see
Compartment X fifteen, level twenty four.
Speaker 7: This is the place serious smells as if it hadn't
been visited by a sanitation crew for generations.
Speaker 1: This part of the ship is almost deserted. Yes, is
this the compartment of John the Witness?
Speaker 6: Who are you?
Speaker 1: My name is Hugh Hoyland. Get that from scientist Barracks.
This is my friend Alan mahoney.
Speaker 4: What do you want to John the Witness?
Speaker 1: Well, only to talk?
Speaker 6: Are you a believer in Jordan?
Speaker 1: Naturally?
Speaker 5: I have heard that there.
Speaker 6: Are those among the younger scientists who doubt the word
of Jordan, to.
Speaker 1: Doubt his death. We're not heretics.
Speaker 3: Ah And.
Speaker 1: I've brought you a gift of tobacco grown on the
richest level. It smells good. I assure you it's of
the best.
Speaker 4: Wait here, I'll get him.
Speaker 3: What a ratsness?
Speaker 1: What the devil you think he can tell you? Alan?
I'm not sure. I'm not sure. Well are you John
the Witness? I am good eating to you. I'm you Hoyland.
This is my friend, Alan Mahoney.
Speaker 6: What brings a gentleman of the scientists cast to my
humble compartment.
Speaker 1: I've heard that you and your parents before you have
been keepers of the legend of the ship since Jordan
gave the word. I'm anxious to hear the word as
Jordan's spoke it. Why because our young scientists well among them,
there have been some who talk against the word.
Speaker 6: There are regulations against such heresy.
Speaker 1: Still, some of them say the ship has no purpose.
They say that we are here accidentally, that we have
no more grace in Jordan's eyes than the most deformed
mutant who dwells in the highest level of the ship.
Speaker 6: What shall I say to you?
Speaker 1: And I wish to hear the word from the mouth
of one who knows, in order that I may become
more convinced.
Speaker 6: Sid you a gift for the witness.
Speaker 1: The finest tobacco, good old.
Speaker 6: And the lights. I'll pay close attention for these other words,
as my father's father's father gave them to his son's sons. Son.
This is how the ship came into being, how our
people were created. In the beginning, there was only Jordan,
thinking his lonely thoughts. Out of his thoughts came a vision.
Out of the vision came a planning, and out of
the planning came decision. Jordan's hand was lifted and the
ship was borne mile after mile of good compartments, tank
after tank for golden corn, ladder and passage, door and locker,
fit for the needs of the yet unborn. He looked
on his work and found it pleasing meet for a
race that was yet to be. He thought of man,
and man came into being. Then Jordan checked his thoughts
and set for a key. Man untamed would shame his maker.
Man unruled would spoil the plan. So Jordan made the regulations,
and order came to the works of Man. A crew
he created to work at their stations, scientists to guide
the plan.
Speaker 1: Over them.
Speaker 8: All he created captain, made him judge of the race
of Man. Thus it was in the Golden age.
Speaker 1: These are the true words.
Speaker 6: As my father's father taught them.
Speaker 1: But what are the strange beast like people on the
upper levels of the ship. Surely Jordan did not create them.
Speaker 6: Jordan is perfect. All below him lack perfection. You have
heard of the legend of Huff.
Speaker 1: I have heard that he mutinied against Jordan.
Speaker 6: Darkness swallowed the ways of virtue. Sin prevailed upon the ship,
and before wisdom prevailed in the bodies of Huff and
his followers were fed into the converter. Some of the
rebels escaped and lived to father the mutants. They are
tainted with the sins of their fathers.
Speaker 1: Witness one more quest, speak, what is the ship?
Speaker 4: The ship is a great sphere twenty five kilometers wide
and one hundred levels deep.
Speaker 1: I know that, but the upper levels.
Speaker 4: Regulations forbid est to venture into the upper levels. But
it is said that beyond the levels of the mutants
lies the forbidden place where Jordan's spirit p So.
Speaker 1: I've heard yet something troubles me, something which prompted my
coming here. Yes, my son, what lies beyond the ship? What?
What lies beyond the ship? This is here is answer me.
Speaker 6: I will not permit such talk. The ship is complete,
The ship is universal, The ship is everywhere. The ship
is endless.
Speaker 1: Your mutterings are those of a frightened old man. They
answer nothing.
Speaker 4: You question the world.
Speaker 1: I think you lie.
Speaker 4: Hear me, mister Hoyland, for what you have already said.
I can have your body fed into the converter. You're
so launched on the endless trip you'll threaten me?
Speaker 1: You for Jordan's sake, do you think I fear this
dried figure of a man? You, sir, My friend is impetuously.
He does not understand I.
Speaker 6: Might be persuaded to forget substantial gift.
Speaker 1: Why you Alan, come on the side of this so
called holy man of friends me. You shall not leave.
Don't try to frighten me with that gun. Old man,
where you are heretics? I warn you. Put down that gun,
no closer, rape it.
Speaker 4: Very well, then death to the heretic.
Speaker 1: Alan, get him, Alan, he's not breathing. Is he dead?
I don't know. Come on here, we've got to get
out of here, right nowhere. We can't go back. They'd
feed us into the converter before we can even what's
up an alarm? That old woman must have turned it in.
Come on, Alan, the patrol will be here in no time.
Where'll we go? Well, where the upper level? So the
mutants will have to take our turn, He says, come on,
let's go. Listen, that's the patrol. Come on, we've got
to climb.
Speaker 9: There's a htchway on the Cord quickly, quickly Helen, Helen
up clatter.
Speaker 1: Sure pure Wait how far away from the outside wall?
Judging the slope of the deck about two miles. Let's
try this passageway here. If you hadn't asked him that
stupid question, how there's no use going over that?
Speaker 6: Why did you do it?
Speaker 1: I've been thinking about it for a long time, and
he began to give me those stupid tight answers. I
just saw red. I guess, who are.
Speaker 3: You to question the ways of Jordan?
Speaker 2: When you asked me to go with you to visit
the witness, I I thought you wanted spiritual help.
Speaker 1: And I'm sorry, Alan, I'm sorry I couldn't foresee this.
Speaker 3: Wait a minute, what.
Speaker 1: I saw something?
Speaker 3: Move?
Speaker 1: I don't see anything.
Speaker 10: Maybe my eyes are going back list kill me, highness?
Speaker 1: Oh what are you that night? Keep away from you?
Speaker 3: Are you forget my friend Bobo? Like so many of
my people, he's rather impetuous. Where members of the so
called super race?
Speaker 1: Who are you? What place is this?
Speaker 3: H I guess on my leg, I'm a mutant mutant?
Speaker 5: Where where is allan?
Speaker 3: Your friend is dead. I was not able to restrain
my people in time to save him.
Speaker 1: Why don't you destroy me and get it over with.
Speaker 3: We do not kill for pleasure, mister Hyland, only when necessary.
Speaker 1: You know my name?
Speaker 3: I read you're identification tag.
Speaker 1: Who are your mutants? Can't read?
Speaker 3: My name is Gregory Gregory. I'm a leader of my people.
You see, although we are unfortunately now I read it
to mister Hoyland. Many of us are quite intelligent.
Speaker 1: And why do you live like animals?
Speaker 3: You'd rather live like free animals than like regimented slaves
as you do.
Speaker 1: I've heard you practice cannibalism.
Speaker 3: Undoubtedly you hear any things about us turn your head.
Why that.
Speaker 1: A monster? I've never seen a creature.
Speaker 3: Kim Bobo isn't unfortunate. He was born without the power
of speech.
Speaker 1: How can you tolerate such a monstrusty?
Speaker 3: We've learned to live with difference. If we began to
destroy our imperfect as you do on the lower levels,
that would soon be no one left. It violates the
regulations a word of Jordan's state language. Your people are
really quite primitive and barbaric.
Speaker 1: Dare say that to me?
Speaker 3: And there say a good deal more. Let us go
to my compartment and speak further. I'm always interested in
information on the lower levels. I'll give you no information, Bobo.
Mister Harland and my cabin please adplies you to go
climb in too. Holand Bobo has a hatred of superior beings,
which is unfortunate but quite understandable. Proceed and to mister Harland,
this is where you live. Yes, but you have books
and from your library is mister Holland.
Speaker 1: Caps philosophy that are still a navigation solicitium mechanic.
Speaker 3: You've read these, most of them.
Speaker 1: I had no idea that you Why did you bring
me here? What do you intend to do?
Speaker 3: Do you believe in Jordan? Mister Holland? There is no
other belief? And the trip I suppose you believe in
the trip to what.
Speaker 1: Else is there to believe? When you die, your remains
a fend of the converter and your soul makes the trip.
Speaker 3: And where does the trip take you?
Speaker 1: And a centauris? Of course?
Speaker 3: Ah? And where what is saurus?
Speaker 1: Centaurus is? Mind you? I'm just telling you the Orthodox
answers sent tauris is where you arrive when you've made
the trip, grace, where everybody is happy, and where there's
always good eating, and you believe this well. The peasants
believe it literally, but many of the younger scientists, like
myself know it is figurative and symbolic. Why do you ask?
Speaker 3: Did it ever occur to you, mister Holland? But the
trip is exactly what your peasants believe. It is what
and that the ship and all the crew were actually
going somewhere moving.
Speaker 1: Ship can't go anywhere. It already is everywhere.
Speaker 3: Imagine a place bigger than the ship, mneyig, with the
ship inside it, moving inside it.
Speaker 1: There can't be any place bigger than the ship. There
just wouldn't be any place for it to be.
Speaker 3: For half sake, listen, you know the lowest level. Of course,
if you started digging a hole in the lowest level,
where would that hole go?
Speaker 1: It's forbidden to think such thoughts.
Speaker 3: Where would it go?
Speaker 1: I can't think about.
Speaker 3: It, Bobbo, I take mister Hoyland to the place. No where,
Where are we going to the top level? That's certain
death nonsense. I've been there a thousand times.
Speaker 1: No, I won't, I won't. You can't make me. I
think we can.
Speaker 5: Please, now.
Speaker 3: We proceed peacefully, or shall I have Bubo persuade you
wo open the door, bubble inside.
Speaker 1: Oh what place is this?
Speaker 3: This, mister Hoyland, is the main control room. And mister Hoyland,
you're trembling.
Speaker 1: It isn't true. Oh, there's no such place except in mythology.
Speaker 3: You younger men are so wise, mister Hoyland, except for
one thing. This happens to be the main control room
of the ship.
Speaker 1: Main control. But it's just a huge room with an
instrument panel.
Speaker 3: And what did you expect?
Speaker 1: How do you know this is the main control room?
Speaker 3: See these instruments using them to navigate, and many hundreds
of years ago, actually steered the ship on its voyage.
Speaker 1: I don't understand. I didn't suppose you would sit down
very well?
Speaker 3: Look up?
Speaker 1: What do you see?
Speaker 5: A huge shield?
Speaker 3: Watch it for one moment, mister Hoyland. You're going to
see something that few of us have ever been privileged
to witness.
Speaker 1: What are you doing laming the lights?
Speaker 3: Don't be frightened, Keep your eyes focused on the shield
above us. Ready, watch.
Speaker 1: It's sliding back.
Speaker 5: Coostaph Jorn.
Speaker 3: Well what.
Speaker 1: Am I seeing?
Speaker 3: The universe, mister Hyland. The universe and all its beauty,
the stars, the planets, the suns and moons and constellation.
Speaker 1: No, no, it can't be. The ship is the universe.
There is nothing but the ship.
Speaker 3: But there it is. You see it before your eyes
spread out like a canno pir of glory. Do you
still deny it? Answer me, mister Hoyland.
Speaker 1: Do you deny it?
Speaker 5: No?
Speaker 1: No, I can't deny it. They've lied, They lied to
all of us.
Speaker 3: I have showed this to others of your people whom
we captured, and though they saw it before their very eyes,
they would not believe it.
Speaker 1: Please please tell me all about it. Tell me the
truth about the ship and about the universe. What are
these things? How did this come about?
Speaker 3: Many thousands of years ago, on a planet like those
you have just seen, a planet called Earth, a scientist
named Jordan decided to build a ship that would carry
men from one planet to another. For many years, Jordan
and thousands of others studied and planned, and when they
were finished, they built the ship, a ship so large
that it had to be assembled in its own orbit
beyond the place called the moon. Sixty years it took
them to construct, and when it was finished, a whole
new science had been conceived. Then the trip was begun.
The trip that was to land a colony of earthmen
on a far off planet called Saint Paoris, millions of
light years beyond the furthest planet ever reached before.
Speaker 1: How do you know these things?
Speaker 3: Among my books are the log which Jordan himself kept,
and the records of the journey for the first forty years.
Speaker 1: What happened?
Speaker 3: There was a mutiny. A man named Hath led a
rebellion of those who wanted to turn back in the struggle,
the navigators were killed, the crew fell into a state
of anarchy. In the years to follow, small groups of
men trying to organize the ship for navigation, and each
time they failed. Finally the whole idea was abandoned. And
so for centuries we have swung in space, unmanned, un directed,
living in the lost world of our own making, without purpose,
without direction. Why have you told me this? Can't you
guess you want to finish the trip? Yes, but I can't.
You can't look at me, mister Hoyland. You see a mutant,
a man with a twisted leg. My people are outcasts,
condemned to death. If we saw much as set foot
in the lower levels of the ship. The main drive
is in the lower levels where my people a forbidden
to go. Oh, it would mean that both our people
would have to work together. Our difference is encouraged rather
than denied.
Speaker 1: All right, I'll see the Captain himself. I have an
uncle on the central board. I'll tell him what I've
seen here.
Speaker 3: And do you think he'll believe you?
Speaker 1: Send one of your people with me.
Speaker 3: That's asking a good deal.
Speaker 1: I'm risking a good deal by going back.
Speaker 3: Very well, Bobo will go with you.
Speaker 1: Bobo, he can't talk.
Speaker 3: There will be no need for talk. I will write
a message guaranteeing safe conduct for a group of unarmed
scientists to visit the main control room. Bobo will take
you safely through our territory. What happens when you reach
your own level?
Speaker 1: He's up to you?
Speaker 5: Yes, what you quick?
Speaker 1: Uncle? Let us in here? But this is this Newton
he's hartness? Please Uncle, please?
Speaker 5: Now, what is this you're wanted for?
Speaker 1: I know all about that, Uncle, Listen. I must see
the captain. Captain, are you mad? Uncle? You're a council member.
You can get me to see you.
Speaker 5: Cure you.
Speaker 1: You're wanted for, Harris, I don't care. I must speak
with the captain now, Uncle, you're close to him, you
can arrange it. I don't understand.
Speaker 5: Listen to me.
Speaker 1: The ship is moving. I can prove it. You understand
there is a purpose in the ship. I don't understand
what you're babbling them and never mind. Just talk to
the captain. Tell him I have information of tremendous importance.
Tell him I've arranged a truce with the mutants. Here.
Show him this paper signed by their leader. Do it, Uncle,
for my sake. I don't know what, uncle. Please, if
I'm to die, let this be my last request to you.
Very well. I'll speak to the captain.
Speaker 11: And you say, mister Hoyland, that you saw this with
your own eyes.
Speaker 1: I swear it, Captain, I swear it on the word
of Jordan.
Speaker 11: Hmmm, let me see the paper again. Commanderest what do
you think.
Speaker 1: I don't know, sir.
Speaker 6: It might be a trick.
Speaker 1: I guarantee you safe conduct.
Speaker 11: If these things are as mister Hoyland reports them, it
would pay to risk a few lives.
Speaker 3: A man is a convicted heretic.
Speaker 11: Still, we must not discount his word. He has a
safe conduct, and the mutant risked its life coming with him.
I think we might investigate captain, you mean you will
do it. I will have an expedition outfitted. Dismissed, mister Hoyland,
Thank you, sir, Captain demanders, Sir, you will make the
necessary arrangements for an expedition, and I trust you understand.
Speaker 5: Perfectly, sir, perfectly.
Speaker 1: Lieutenant hard are you better heart? For men here? This
is a what I see?
Speaker 3: No welcoming party of mutants.
Speaker 1: They've been in. Their leader will meet you inside the
main control room.
Speaker 3: You don't say? Just where is this main control room?
Speaker 1: Beyond that door? I see? All right? Man? Ready on, lieutenant,
Why are you ready? Arms in case of ambush? Ambush?
Wait a minute, lieutenant, what are those men doing with
that raygun?
Speaker 5: Just staiming it at the door?
Speaker 1: Are you mad? No, mister Harland.
Speaker 7: But most certainly you are to think that we could
be lured up here to be slotted with a fantastic
story about some mythical control rooms.
Speaker 1: Tenant, I warn you these people have acted in good faith.
You can't break that thing, oh mutant.
Speaker 10: Out for Jordan's sake, Lieutenant, why comfort, but don't open
the door.
Speaker 1: I won't let anything happen this opening.
Speaker 3: Ready, man, someone's coming out, ready.
Speaker 1: Very stay for.
Speaker 4: Two fools.
Speaker 3: You've killed him, become the rest of them, High High.
Speaker 7: I should teach him a lesson. They won't forget horraight
men inside the room. You're under arrest and a conspirator
in this amble.
Speaker 1: Ambush you fool, you blind, stupid fool.
Speaker 7: That'll be on now. I've been inside this place before. Yes,
what's this machinery?
Speaker 1: These are the controls he would have used to steer
the ship. Gone out of his mind. You can stay
of the ship. The leader, the one you killed, This
ugly mutant. This ugly mutant happened to be a man
of true genius, are you, mad am? I lieutenant? This
man had a vision which would have saved you, but
you chose to kill him because you couldn't stand the
sight of his difference from your help island. Don't listen
to him.
Speaker 9: Man, You can't shut your eyes, and you can't shut
your minds, and you can't shut your ears to this.
Speaker 1: You'll, yes, look, Let the.
Speaker 9: Vision of this confound your ignorance and blind your eyes.
This is the heritage of stars and open skies for
which men of you are for centuries. Try to destroy this,
and you will only destroy yourselves.
Speaker 3: Go to the hurritic.
Speaker 1: I I say to you, but you can't keep this
from our people. They they will seek it out. Ship
will be amen, and the ship will be steered, and
there will be freedom, purpose and respect for ourselves. This
is your heritage.
Speaker 6: Look look upon the universe.
Speaker 2: X minus one has just brought you Universe, a story
written by Robert Heinlein and adapted for radio by George Leffards.
Speaker 1: Heard in the cast for Donald Buck.
Speaker 2: As Hugh, Peter Cappel as Gregory, Bill Griffis as Allen,
Abby Lewis as the woman, Edgar Staley as the witness,
Jason Johnson as the Uncle, John Seymour as the captain,
and Ian Martin as the Lieutenant. Your announcer is Fred Collins.
X minus one is directed by Fred Way and as
a transcribed NBC Radio Network production. Nah next week, next week,
we have a strange story to tell, a sweet, blood
curdling little story that is really only two sentences long.
The last man on Earth sat alone in a room,
and then there was a knock on the door.
Speaker 3: What knocked on that door?
Speaker 1: You'll find out next week on one.
Speaker 2: When you buy United States Savings bonds, you helped to
build your own future security. Here's an opportunity to save
systematic for long range personal objectives, so invest in United
States savings bonds.
Speaker 11: Now follow the Abbots to mystery and adventure over most
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