Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969) - full transcript

- Good evening, Sergeant.
- Good evening, Dr. Hassler.

- File 7-8-4-2.
- Authority, please.

Thank you.

Your pen, Dr. Hassler.

Sorry, Sergeant.

Oh, well, my plan is ruined.

You see, this is not a pen
at all, it's a secret camera.

Well, better luck next time, Doctor.

Vault nine.

Thank you, Sergeant.

Now, we shall see.



My mistake, you were right.

- I'm sorry.
- That's all right, Doctor.

All right.

Cigar?

That's a little premature,
isn't it? You haven't won yet.

- You wanna bet?
- Yeah.

Three-thousand million pounds.

- All right?
- Everything's fine.

One minute to go.

Last as usual.

He's only got 100 yards
to walk.

- Security, Lise.
- Scrambling, operative.

Gentlemen,
gentlemen, please.

The 67th meeting...



of the European Space Exploration
Council is now in session.

This is a momentous occasion
for our organization.

Sun Probe One was
an unqualified success.

We had some
spectacular results.

However, this meeting is called
to consider one single result.

Startling in its implications.

Dr. John Kane, the project director.

Gentlemen,

an unmanned satellite
is naturally limited

in the transmission
of information.

Part of Sun Probe's equipment was a cine
camera set to take one picture a minute

for the duration of the flight.

Roll the film, please.

The far side of the sun.

Over 100 million miles from Earth.

Hidden from the eyes of radio
telescopes by the sun itself.

Now, at this point in the flight,
a strange thing happened.

The gyro mechanisms aboard were
influenced by another magnetic field.

And the capsule slowly
started to rotate.

Now, if you watch
your screens carefully,

you'll see that the capsule's
cine camera was panned off the sun

towards the force
that was attracting it.

That force, gentlemen, was the
gravitational pull of another planet.

Now, I'm going to hold the film here
to show you the first complete

photographic evidence of a new planet.

Hold and zoom.

A new planet in our solar system.

Thank you.

Photographic evidence
is only part of the story.

Instruments aboard the capsule report
that it is in the same orbit as Earth.

But directly on the
opposite side of the sun.

Orbital speed precisely the same as ours
is the reason it has remained undetected.

What information do we have from
the other systems on board?

Not enough.

Which brings me to the
purpose of this meeting.

A proposal, from the Chair, that we should
mount a manned flight to the new planet.

Lise. Book me a scrambled
satellite call to NASA headquarters

for the end of this meeting, please.
- It's already in hand, David.

- How come?
- Instruction from Jason Webb.

Oh, thanks.

Well, Jason, how much is it
gonna cost us this time?

- A point of order, Mr. Chairman.
- Another one!

Mr. Chairman will agree,
will he not, that all delegates

are entitled to share
in Eurosec information?

Correct.

Then, perhaps, the chairman
will share with us

his estimate of the cost
of this manned expedition.

A realistic estimate, gentlemen.

Three-thousand million
pounds...sterling.

Mr. Chairman, I'm sure I'm speaking
for the whole of the community

when I say that such a sum
is out of the question.

Trust a German
to louse it up!

They lecture us on penny-
pinching economics.

The French are only
too glad to agree with them.

The rest of the community goes whichever
way the wind blows! America's our only hope.

- If they contribute, the rest might follow.
- Oh, face it, Jason, we've had it.

Had what? This is only
a temporary setback.

Did you see Poulson's face
when you pitched the price?

No, I didn't.

Well, I did, and he's
not going to buy it.

- He'll buy it.
- Oh, for God's sake!

- Yes?
- David Poulson on the internal.

Are you free to see him?

- Send him right up.
- Yes, Sir.

You're gonna sit there and watch me
take a man for one billion dollars.

The words of an egotistical megalomaniac.

Maniac.

Remind me to be as charitable to you when
one of your rockets blows up on the pad.

Hadn't you better attend
to that cardiac warning?

Just a minute.

I'll make a deal with you.

You stick to the science.

- Let me handle the politics.
- I'll accept that deal.

I'll stick to the science
if you handle the politics.

Hello, John.

Hi, Jason.

Hello, David.

- Want a scotch?
- Thanks. Don't mind if I do. Straight.

All right.

Now, why don't you
give it to me... straight?

Well, as you know, the United States
has always cooperated with Eurosec.

- But in this case...
- I said, straight!

Okay, Jason. It's no go.

We discover a new planet
in our own solar system.

Military and scientific implications
beyond comprehension.

We ask our friends
for a... few dollars

- and it's "no go."
- One BILLION dollars, Jason.

Cheap at twice the price.

- You sure about this?
- Yes. Give it to Jason tonight.

Delay could be dangerous.

Oh, no, thanks.

You wouldn't want anybody else
to get there first, would you?

Oh, how could they? While we have
sole access of the information.

- Who else would know of the planet's existence?
- You know perfectly well...

that we have a security leak.

Well, we all have our problems.

I see. I get the message.

Look, I know how you feel
about this project, Jason.

But the answer is no.

I'm sorry. I really am.

So am I!

Miss Kirby!

I'm going home now. Tell Neuman
and Lise I want to see them at 7:30.

Yes, Mr. Webb. Oh, and, uh...
John Kane asked me to give you this.

Come in.

I want a rundown on the
current security position.

- Defensively?
- Mmm.

We've housed findings, computer programs and
visual data from Sun Probe One in vault two.

- Access?
- Restricted.

- To whom?
- Yourself, John Kane and Mark.

And offensively?

I've already reported the near
certainty of a security leak.

- Splashdown information.
- And so?

We picked up radio signals again
this morning and got a bearing.

Why not a fix?

Listen, Jason, that information is coded and
radioed out in a two-second transmission.

- Hmm.
- And there are 86,400 seconds in a day.

All right, you've made your point.

- When are you going to nail him?
- What?

When are you going
to nail him?

Depends on how much
rope we give him.

All right.

Lise, that access restriction
must be widened.

- To whom?
- Hassler.

Dr. Hassler.

You're serving up information
on a plate... to our prime suspect.

That's my responsibility.

Your responsibility is this:

If he shows his hand,
I don't want an arrest.

Understood?

Understood.

Has any of this
information been transmitted?

He certainly wasn't
broadcasting record requests.

So by now, the existence of a new planet
could be known outside Europe and the States.

- I'm afraid so.
- And preparations for a manned flight

- could shortly be underway by somebody else.
- Don't panic.

It would take some time.

Yes, we'd have to check out your
information, examine Hassler's body,

see the transmissions you monitored,

check the manufacturing origins
of his photographic equipment.

Arrange all that for
Mr. Poulson immediately.

- And put John Kane in the picture.
- Right.

Oh, can I have another look
at the photographic equipment?

Sure.

Does our side have
anything like this?

We have now.

Oh, Mark, give that
back to Kane, will you?

Tell him, I accept his apologies.

Right.

So, you're convinced now
there has been a leak?

Yes, and I'm left
with no choice.

I agree.

It'll be up to you to persuade
the rest of the community.

But you'd be prepared to
recommend that the United States

should contribute one billion dollars to
a manned flight conducted by Eurosec?

Yes. Full information sharing.

- Guaranteed.
- By you?

What else do you suggest?

Putting an American
astronaut on the team.

- Who?
- I've already called Cape Kennedy.

They've come up with our most
experienced. Fifty days of space flight.

Two manned projects to Mars.

Glenn Ross?

Passengers from NASA flight
1-5-5 will arrive at Bay seven.

Thank you.

Hold it, Mrs. Ross.

Thank you, Colonel.

- I'm Jason Webb. Welcome to Eurosec.
- Glenn Ross. My wife, Sharon.

- How do you do?
- Hello.

- This is Lise Hartmann, security.
- How do you do?

- Hello.
- Miss Hartmann.

- Dr. John Kane, our project director.
- How do you do?

Delighted to meet you.

Paulo Lende, public relations.
He'll be looking after you.

- How do you do, Mrs. Ross?
- Hello.

Oh, scotch, please.

- What's on your mind?
- I've been thinking, John.

- Hmm.
- About the second astronaut to accompany Ross.

Well, Borgener's the obvious
choice, or Mitchell.

If we want just an
astronaut, I agree.

But?

It occurs to me... that we
need someone more flexible.

- Well, they're trained to...
- I mean in terms of knowledge.

Someone who can take full advantage
of any findings on the new planet

however bizarre and
unusual they happen to be.

You mean an astrophysicist?

- Me?
- The idea doesn't appeal to you?

- You must be joking.
- It'll grow on you.

Well, there she is.

Fourth gantry.

We've been developing a lift-body
for controlled landings.

If analysis confirms an atmosphere on the
new planet, we use that as the last stage.

Without seeming too eager,
when does training start?

Tomorrow.

I can hardly wait.

400.

400.

450. 500. 600.

650. 700.

700. Fire retros!

- Hold it! - 750! - Jason!

800!

What are you trying to do, kill him?

- 800! 850!
- Now!

Retros!

- You okay, John?
- Okay.

Yes, I'm okay.

Hi.

Didn't know you'd be back.

You're late.

We drove into Lisbon
to see the cathedral.

And then stopped
over for dinner.

Oh! I could sleep for a week.

- I had my first medical today.
- Did you?

How did it go?

The doctors say everything's
all right, as usual.

Good.

EVERTHING'S all right.

We're not starting that
one again, are we?

Look, face it, Glenn, it's your job.
You're up in space hundreds of days.

You're subjected to radiation effects
and that's why we can't have children.

- Doctors say different.
- They're employed by politicians.

Do you really think
they'd tell even you the truth?

Great publicity.

America's top astronaut, sterile!

Your doctors don't work for
politicians so we know it's not you.

For god's sakes, I'm not about
to go through this again!

The brutal truth of the matter is that

you went up there a man, but
you came back less than a man.

Maybe this is why we're
not having kids, huh?

If you have anything to say,
you better say it now.

Is that how you prove your virility?

It's really one the only way
of attracting your attention.

You look like a man
with problem.

Yeah, well, I'll tell you
about them someday.

Thank you.

Would Mr. Edwards
please contact Reception?

- We don't often see you at Administration.
- Jason wants to see me.

How is the training going?

It's tough enough for me,
but it's hell for John.

It's a crash course
in space preparation.

- Glenn, there is something I shouldn't tell you.
- What's that?

- I know why Jason wants to see you.
- Why?

- He plans to put the launch date forward.
- Forward?

Mm-hmm.

Well, we'll see about that.

Good luck, Glenn.

- Lise.
- Hmm?

Thanks for the warning.

I'm forwarding
the launching date four weeks.

You're pushing too hard, Jason.

You don't understand.
In Germany, budgetary troubles.

In France,
political troubles.

Somebody's going to suggest
withdrawing from the project any day.

You're an administrator, you
know when a rocket's ready,

but you don't know when
a man's ready; Kane isn't.

I know more about human nature
than anybody else at Eurosec.

That's why
I'm in this office.

- And I'm telling you, Kane will make it.
- And I'm telling you he won't.

- Where do we go from here?
- There are other American astronauts.

That's right. You'd be
right back to zero again.

Nevertheless, I am
informing you officially...

that the launching date will
be brought forward... two weeks.

Two weeks.

- Now?
- Now.

My instincts tell me there's a little bit
of transportation around here somewhere.

- Don't the rules say we walk?
- Sure.

What's it like up there?

- Where?
- There.

Lonely.

How lonely?

The same as down here.
No different.

You mean you've got to have someone
with you down here up there?

Yeah, it's got to be the right person though,
otherwise it makes no difference.

No difference.

- Home again.
- Yep.

This is the part we have to make look
good, we're back uncomfortably early.

- I could grow attached to them.
- That's the idea.

Now you can be hooked up to the heart,
lung and kidney machine during the flight.

With sedation...

you will sleep
for three weeks there...

and three weeks back.

Well, that part
I'm looking forward to.

- Operational.
- This is Eurosec Launch Control.

Roger. Switch to R.T.
4-1-0 computers.

Roger. Operating now.

Roger, green.

Scope three standing by.
All other scopes at blue.

- Roger, blue.
- Fueling, first stage complete.

Roger, fueling.

2.7.

Liftoff now minus
seven hours, 46 minutes.

Q.R.S. Complex, good.

No T-wave depression.

Cardiac response normal.

This is Eurosec Launch Control.

Liftoff now minus
six hours, 51 minutes.

Astronauts' preflight
checks in four minutes. Repeat.

Astronauts' preflight checks
in four minutes.

Glenn.

I wanted to wish you luck.

Well, that's disappointing.
I thought you were coming with us.

No, I mean it.

- I have three greens.
- Electrics?

All go.

- Environmental control.
- Stand by.

- Should we hold the count?
- No, continue count, Control.

Read it out right now, what'll it be?

- S, three, Y, four, Zed minus seven.
- Environmental systems go.

Capsule from Launch
Control. Switch to external.

External.

Capsule condition?

Stand by.

This is Eurosec Launch Control.

Liftoff now minus three hours.

Stand by, Capsule,
to receive astronauts.

I think we're expected.

Jason.

- Oxygen host tank is pressurized.
- Water chillers operational.

Water separator unit
reading a-okay.

Roger.

Check. Suit heat
exchanger operational.

Main water system, go.

Main oxygen system, go.

Main suit system, go.

Cabin temperature
control system, go.

We have a computer report.

Orange sweep
Beta reading 4-7-5-3-2.

All phase three stations
progress position X-2-4. Check back.

Launches schedule are all go.

Control, this is Phoenix Command. Hatch
secure, ready for all systems check.

Affirmative.

Gas circulation, normal.

Procedures. Check.

Electrics green.

Go.

Flight Control.

Gas mixture, a-okay.

I have a low pressure reading
in oxygen inlet number three.

- Down two and a half pounds.
- Fuel temperature's correct.

Liftoff now minus

one hour, 26 minutes.

Countdown continues.

- Medical One to Flight Control.
Colonel Ross, pulse?

...in progress...

Remove gantry.

Roger. Stand by.

Remove fuel injectors. Roger.

Control, have X-ray Bravo keep us
informed about that weather front.

Check.

Cabin pressure
seems a little bit low.

It's being checked right now.

Medical One to Flight Control,
Colonel Ross.

74. Normal.

Normal.

Medical Two to Flight Control, Dr. Kane:

100 and 10

Blood pressure raised
100 and 50 over 100.

Normal.

Phoenix

Switch to internal!

Roger, internal.

Remove umbilical.

Liftoff minus two minutes.

- Status check. Command on internal.
- Affirmative.

- Kilometry in launch condition.
- Affirmative.

- Missile in internal D.C.
- Affirmative.

- Pressurization complete.
- Affirmative.

I have a fret complete light.
Box tanking secured.

This is Eurosec Launch Control.
Ignition sequence commences.

T minus 27 seconds and counting.
All recorders and oscillographs to fast.

Vernier start.

Lock start and pressurized.

Ten seconds, nine,

eight, seven, six,

five,

four, three,

two,

one.

Ignition.

Flight Control, this is Phoenix.

We have ignition. I say again,
we have ignition. All systems go.

Lift off.

- Well, she flies.
- Of course she bloody well flies.

- See you in three weeks.
- Let's hope the alarm clock goes off.

It'd better; you made it.

Good morning.

Bang on target.

Clouds. There are clouds, Glenn!

So there is an atmosphere.

All right, preliminary orbit 34,000 miles
from planet surface as planned, right?

Right.

Okay, two orbits to mark out
electronic survey.

Then we decide...
to land or not to land.

Well, let's have it.

Mass and gravitational pull,
similar to Earth.

There's an atmosphere.
Oxygen present.

- Suitable landing site?
- Established.

Seascape and vegetation.

So far no sign of life.

All right, mate.
What's the next move?

Well, like you said,
to land or not to land.

Well, this is one we can't put through
the computer. What do ya think?

I think, on the result of the survey,
we don't have a choice.

- You?
- I'm for go.

Let's go then.

Landing orbit coming up.

Cabin pressure zero.

Ready for transfer
to landing lift body.

- Thirty seconds.
- Okay.

The on-board computer should take us within
five miles of the selected landing site.

Ten seconds.

But if we have any trouble with the
guidance system, give me manual straightaway.

- Check.
- Here we go.

Computer checks.
Main retros five seconds.

Roger. Three, two, one.

Time check.

Three minutes to manual.
Four minutes to touchdown.

Manual!

Give me manual!

Landing lights.

Vertical check.
Full flap.

Do you speak English?

I'm Air-Sea Rescue.
Ulan Bator.

I will get your friend.

Well?

The results of the electronic medical
check. He's in pretty good shape.

But the readouts on items 20,
27 and 32 don't make sense.

They certainly don't.
Check the computer.

- It was checked out this morning.
- Then check it out again!

Never trust them.

- Any improvement?
- No.

Has he spoken?

Disjointedly.

It's impossible
to make out a meaning.

Arrange for anything
he says to be recorded.

Mark, I want a TOTAL security blackout
on news of their return,

until we find out what
the devil's gone wrong.

What about that
Mongolian rescue team?

I had a word with my opposite number
in the Soviet Academy of Space Science,

they've agreed to cooperate.

Does the clamp-down
include Mrs. Ross?

No, tell her to stand by.

Pontini!

No one, except authorized personnel,

are to see any of the results, until all
the computers have been completely rechecked.

- You're responsible.
- It's my department.

Well?

- Dr. Kane is still conscious.
- And Colonel Ross?

Apart from the shock
and superficial burning located in...

Is he fit?

I don't want details.

I only want to know one thing.

Is he fit for questioning?

Yes.

- Do I have to go through with this?
- It's your job.

Before we get started, this is the
Interrogation Room, not the Debriefing Center.

That's right.
Sit down, please.

Why did you turn back?

We did not turn back.

You continue to claim that
you completed your mission?

We reached the new planet, yes.

You agree that to fly
to the planet and return

- is a journey of six weeks?
- Yes.

You accept that you have in fact
returned three weeks after launching?

Well, I can't explain that.
All I can say is that...

- You completed the electronic survey?
- Yes.

- Of the new planet?
- Yes.

- And returned to Earth?
- We crashed.

- On Earth?
- On the planet!

You're here! On Earth!

To the planet and back
in three weeks?

I don't know.
There's a lot I can't explain.

You left Earth.

Three weeks later you return... crashed.

It takes six weeks to travel
to the new planet and return.

You were gone three weeks.
So you turned back!

- We did not turn back.
- Why?

Why? Why!

I'm sending Ross home. You won't

get any more out of him today.

The interrogation leaves us
with two possibilities.

Ross aborted the mission
and turned back.

If that was the case, he'd
deny it for obvious reasons.

Ross GENUINELY believes
he made the journey to the new planet,

and he is as surprised as we are that when
he landed he found himself back on Earth.

This is the theory
I prefer to believe.

Only one snag.

Why was there no sign of life
on his electronic survey?

Well, that could be explained.

Their orbit took them over the
Pacific, the Atlantic and the Poles.

What few land masses they
crossed are mainly uninhabited.

All right, so we prefer
the second theory.

But three weeks to the planet,
three weeks back.

That's six weeks in all.
They were only away three weeks.

That's right.

So, they turned back.

It still doesn't make sense.

The world's most experienced astronaut
and the leading scientist. Why?

The Council felt railroaded into
this project from the start.

They're going to turn like a pack
of wolves when they know it's failed.

They don't know yet.

And they won't know until
I've established exactly what happened.

You can't do that without the flight
recorder, and that's still on the Phoenix.

Arrangements have been made
to bring that back.

When is Poulson due
back from the States?

Not 'til the 17th.

Thank God for that.

- Was it rough?
- Yeah.

- Glenn, what really happened?
- What do you mean?

- What made you turn back?
- We didn't turn back.

Then it doesn't make sense.

Right.

You're covering for John
Kane, aren't you?

No. There's nothing
to cover for.

Look out!

What the hell are you doing?

That guy was on the
wrong side of the road.

It must have been rough.

I'll go make some coffee.

Sharon, what's going on?
Sharon!

- What is it, Glenn?
- You know damn well what it is! This room.

What about the room?

It's changed. Everything is changed.
What the hell's happened here?

Well, some disorientation isn't unusual
after a protracted period in space.

I understand that. But it's never
happened on any previous space flights.

All right. Keep me informed. If things
get worse, I promise immediate action.

What is it?

What's wrong?

The writing is reversed.

Everything is reversed.

Jason Webb, please.

Jason, this is urgent.
I must see you right away.

- Excuse me, Colonel.
- Yeah? What is it?

- Over here, Colonel.
- Ow! What the hell is this all about?

Do what they say, Glenn.

- Then he called me.
- From where?

Our bathroom in here.

See for yourself.

- He shouldn't have been sent home.
- He could have killed me.

- This does it. I'm getting out of here.
- You don't mean that, Sharon.

You bet I do.

What happened after he
smashed all the bottles?

He went crazy.

He said his own handwriting
was reversed, my watch, everything.

Well, look at this,
does this look reversed to you?

- The man's gone out of his mind.
- We don't know that yet.

Well, you may not, but I do,
I'm his wife. Remember that.

He's been violent before.

- Like this?
- He hit me.

- It was the flight.
- It was before the flight.

And like I said,
I'm getting out of here.

We know about your personal life,
Mrs. Ross. It's our job.

But you better forget
these ideas you have about leaving.

- You can't stop me.
- I can't stop you leaving this house.

But I can and will stop you
leaving Eurosec.

You can talk to him now.

So, everything
is reversed, huh?

Everything.

Look, Glenn,

we're going to check
a few things.

All right.

Set it up.

Now, watch the mirror,
please. Thank you.

Read it!

In the event of fire,

priorities are assigned as follows.

- Documentation.
- Research Specimens.

- Photographic Material.
- Progress Reports..."

All right!
Good enough for you?

What the hell
more do you want?

I don't envy him.

You completed your mission?

- Why did you turn back?
- We crashed.

Why? Why? Why?

Why! Why! Why!

You completed your mission?

- Why did you turn back?
- We crashed.

Why? Why? Why?

Why! Why! Why!

Satisfied?

"Satisfied"?

Satisfied that I was telling the
truth about the new planet?

You're bound to be a little confused
until the drug wears off.

- You're trying to check out my story, right?
- Uh-huh.

- You couldn't fault it, right?
- No. We couldn't fault it.

Right. You'll hear the
same story from John Kane.

What happened?

Tell me!

I'm sorry I'm late.
I was detained at the Medical Center.

Come and sit down. What I have to
say to you is very important.

No, Jason, you sit down.

Now, you've checked me, interrogated me.
You've looked into my brain,

and you've found out nothing. I want
you to sit down and listen to me.

I'm listening.

Now, what I'm going to
tell you is bizarre, weird.

But it's the only theory
that fits the facts.

I propose a complete
duplication of matter.

A situation where every single
atom, every molecule here,

is duplicated here, except
that it's in reverse.

Now, when I left Earth
to travel to the new planet,

another man left the new planet at
precisely the same time to travel to Earth,

another Colonel Ross.

The man you know as Colonel Ross is on
the other planet standing in an identical,

except reversed, room, talking
to an identical Jason Webb,

who's sitting in an identical chair rubbing
his hands together at this exact moment!

Look here.

Now, what do you see?

Go on.

You see the mirrored images
of Jason Webb and Glenn Ross.

There are now four
people in this room.

Two Jason Webbs,
two Glenn Rosses.

What I'm trying to say is, these
two planets have a physical connection.

One is the mirrored
image of the other.

But unlike the reflection
in the mirror, they both exist.

For every person on one planet,
there is a double on the other.

Don't you understand? Until a few
days ago, you and I had never met.

Are you trying to tell me that you don't
know any of the people here? Your wife?

- Lise? Neuman?
- Only their doppelgangers.

- Their what?
- Doppelgangers. Doubles.

The mirrored images of themselves.

I think I'd better
get you a drink.

All right, I know how it sounds.
Can you think of anything better?

I wish to God I could.

When I got your call, Dr. Pontini had
just completed a postmortem on John Kane.

And?

Kane's internal organs were found to
be on the opposite side from normal.

My normal, that is.

It was all there on
the computer readout

when you had your
electronic medicals.

I assumed wrongly
that it was a fault.

Never distrust a computer.

So you see, your
theory holds up.

It would seem I'm not
the Jason Webb that you know,

only an impish doppelganger.

How do you do,
Colonel Ross?

- It's only a theory.
- It's the best we've come up with.

But we can't prove it until
we've recovered the Phoenix.

Well, if we're right, you
realize your version of the Dove

won't be able to dock
with the Phoenix.

We'll have to reverse the controls
and the electrical systems.

Or does the polarity of
electricity remain the same?

Well, does it?

If we're wrong, you do realize
what would happen to you?

It's a chance
I'm willing to take.

And the other Colonel Ross?

Are you willing to take
a chance on him, too?

That was a penny
for your thoughts.

If they are as confused as mine,
maybe sharing them would help.

Did you say a penny?

Well, it's a buyer's market.

- What would you like to know?
- Sharon's left?

Yes. In a way, she
left a long time ago.

- Are you going to recover the Phoenix?
- Yes.

With reversed vision how
will you operate the controls?

It should be interesting.

Don't do it, Glenn.
You have done enough for Jason.

Well, it's not really
just for Jason.

I don't understand.

Well, you know how it is. There's so
much I'm not supposed to talk about.

Did you mind my coming over?

No, as a matter of fact, I'm glad
you're here, it's someone to talk to.

Why did you reverse
"Doppelganger," Colonel?

It's an inside joke

between me and myself.

- Good luck, Sir.
- Thank you.

- Network check complete?
- All set.

- Proceed condition.
- Proceed condition.

This is Eurosec Launch Control.
Phoenix on horizon.

- Liftoff, eight seconds.
- Roger, Control.

On-board computer indicates
liftoff five seconds.

Four, three, two, one.

Report on ground systems.

Procedures checked. All systems go!

Roger.

You couldn't stay away, hmm?

Launch Control,
this is Doppelganger.

12,500.

Roger, Doppelganger.

Countdown for second stage.
Ten seconds.

Five seconds, four,

three, two, one.

Control, this is Doppelganger,
now leaving Earth's atmosphere.

Roger, Doppelganger.
Rocket shutdown. Five seconds...

three, two, one.

Launch Control, this is
Doppelganger. In orbit.

Roger, Doppelganger, stand by for
computer report on Phoenix position.

Doppelganger, this is
Eurosec Launch Control.

Computer reports
Phoenix 20 miles ahead.

Your orbital position is correct
for automatic approach to Eurosec

should there be an
emergency condition.

Thank you, Control.

I see it now.

See it now, Control.
Beginning docking maneuvers.

From now on, it'll be just
as easy as parking a car.

For a man with
reversed vision?

Launch Control from Doppelganger.
Is Jason Webb there?

Jason Webb here.

I'm about to dock, Jason.
Any additional orders?

Proceed with docking.

Roger.

Launch Control from Doppelganger.
Jason, we were right...

There are two planets.
There are definitely two ident...

Doppelganger, say again,
we lost your last trans...

- Jason, I'm not reading...
- Repeat, we lost your last transmission.

Jason, I'm not reading you.
Maybe you're reading me.

The retros on the Phoenix have fired. I don't
know why, but they've fired. I'm pulling out.

I say again, there are definitely two
planets. Identical, but reversed in some way.

Launch Control, if you're
reading me, come in, please.

Give him the automatic
approach system.

- Dove now on automatic control.
- Roger.

Yellow condition.
All stations stand by.

This is Doppelganger to Launch Control.
If you're reading me, come in, please.

I've pulled out of the Phoenix.
Extensive damage all systems.

The one thing that's not reversed
is the polarity of electricity.

Instruments indicate negative still
negative, positive still positive.

Phoenix reentering.

Is there a separate
radar reading for the Dove?

- No, Sir.
- Reentry speed?

19,000 reducing.

Second blip on screen.
Could be the Dove.

Speed?

Stand by.

12,000 reducing.

- Controlled reentry?
- As far as I can see, Sir.

Fair.

Launch Control, cut
automatic approach system.

I say again, cut automatic approach system.
Unable to effect landing at Eurosec.

All vertical thrusters have...

Maintain automatic approach system.
We'll bring him right down the beam

until he breaks contact
for the final approach.

Launch Control, if you read me, cut automatic
approach system, unable to get off beam.

30 degrees.

Red alert. Repeat, red alert.

All stations!

Red alert!
All stations! Red alert!

Launch Control, cut automatic approach
system, unable to effect a landing at Eurosec.

All vertical thrusters
have failed.

There's no sign
of manual control, Sir.

Cut automatic approach system.
Break contact.

Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!

Glenn Ross...

and John Kane,

Dr. Pontini.

The only witnesses, gone.

Records, X rays, documents.

Everything destroyed.

So are you surprised
that no one believes me?

Come along now, Mr. Webb.
Once you get talking...

Put through an emergency
signal to Dr. Green.

That's right. Extension 402.