Riders to the Stars (1954) - full transcript

NARRATOR: Man, during his
brief existence on the Earth,

has met every challenge
but one.

The void of outer space.

Having explored the world he
lives in, he has turned his
gaze upon the heavens,

has focused his attention
on the timeless lure
of the universe.

Now, a rocket probes high
above the Earth,

travels through a region of
deadly radiation,
agonizing heat, and cold.

What story will it have
to tell?

What message will it
bring back?

[BEEPING]

NARRATOR: Then, the signal.



The rocket has returned!

Radar antennas pinpoint
the location.

The search begins.

[BEEPING]

[BEEPING]

[BEEPING]

[CONSTANT BEEPING]

[RADIATION DETECTOR CLICKING]

NARRATOR: We will study
the instruments and
the fragments of the rocket.

The best scientific brains
of our country will
analyze them,

weigh the facts,
and try once more.

For our government has given
us an urgent,
top-priority directive.

Find out if man can ever
survive in space.

If he can,



our men must be the first.

It's obvious that
the molecular structure has
undergone a radical change.

It's complete crystallized!

What was the maximum altitude
of the rocket?

Four hundred twenty-six miles.

At that altitude, it's obvious
the rocket was bombarded by
a strong concentration

of cosmic rays.

The same rays that are
turning the moon into
a ball of dust,

and eventually destroying it.

We'll worry about the moon
five billion years from now.

Right now, we've got
to solve this problem.

The security of the whole
world may depend upon it.

Yes, but there are some things
that are insoluble, Don.
This seems to be one of them.

The problem is to devise
some sort of shield.

Something that could resist
those cosmic rays.

Go on, Dr. Flynn.

FLYNN: There doesn't seem
to be any place to go.

Lead shields would be
impossibly heavy on a rocket.

Why lead shields?

Meteors travel through space
for thousands of years
under radiation bombardment,

-and, yet, they don't...
-[SLAPS THE TABLE]

By golly, you've given me
an idea, girl!

A fantastic idea!
Paul, push over that phone.

Miss Nelson, get me
extension 909 at the Pentagon.

NARRATOR: At the Office
of Special Personnel
in Washington,

electronic computers were set
in motion that automatically
scanned the names,

occupations and background
of 150 million people.

Further selection
eliminated many,

narrowed the field
to 30 million.

And, from this group,
12 men were chosen.

Twelve men whose fate was
known only to a few.

No matter where the 12 men
might be, they had
to be found.

Agents of Special Intelligence
were given the list.
The rest was up to them.

Richard? Can we speak to you
for a minute?

Sure, switch on the lights.

This is Mr. O'Herli
from Washington.

Dr. Richard Stanton
of our electronic
research department.

-How do you do.
-How do you do.

Well, that's a mighty eerie
effect, Dr. Stanton.

Yes, we're working on a lamp
that will operate without
wires to any source of power.

That's a little out
of my line.

Oh? What is your line,
Mr. O'Herli?

Rich, Mr. O'Herli wants you
to go to California for about
a week.

Business or pleasure?

It depends on how you
look at it.

Actually, all that I know is
that a request has been
put through for you,

with the government footing
the bill.

Am I being recalled
to active service?

No. No, this is more of
an invitation than an order.

Why am I being invited?

[CHUCKLES] It's the price
of being a hero.

Navy Cross, four years on
a carrier, your knowledge
of electronics.

I told him it wouldn't be easy
to spare you,

but this seems to have an even
higher priority than the work
we're doing.

Do you mind telling me what
this is all about?

[CHUCKLES] Sorry, I'm only
a messenger boy.

This is your plane ticket and
further instructions.

Now, if you decide not to go,
you let me know.

My telephone number is
on the envelope.

Thank you very much,
gentlemen. Don't bother to see
me out, I'll find my own way.

And, Dr. Stanton, good luck.

Good luck?

Sounds ominous.

WOMAN: But you can't do that
without recalculating and

correcting the progression
from the Newtonian laws...

-Yes?
-My name's O'Herli.

How do you do.

I'm sorry to interrupt.
It sounds fascinating.

Are you a mathematician,
Mr. O'Herli?

No, not quite.

-Good morning, Jerry.
-Good morning, Max.

What can I do for you?

You've been invited to fly
to California and to report
to this address.

What's this all about?

[CHUCKLES] Everybody asks me
the same question.

I don't know. I know what I'm
doing, but I don't know why.
It's frustrating.

Well, why pick on me?

Oh, you aren't the only one.

You seem to have certain
qualifications which are
required for this job.

Past accomplishments,
intelligence, unencumbered.

Or have you married lately?

No. Soon, I hope.

Well, before you leave, report
for a physical examination

at the address you'll find
in the information sheet.

Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute, this...

This sounds not at all
attractive to me.

Well, you're invited,
Dr. Lockwood, not ordered.

But you might be back
inside of a week.

That much information I am
permitted to give out.

But what about my classes,
my lectures?

The Dean has been informed,
and he has a replacement
for you.

If anything comes up, you can
reach me at this number.

Hope you have a nice trip.

-Thanks.
-Goodbye, Doctor.

Hello, this is Jerry Lockwood.
I wonder if I could speak
to Miss Manners?

Oh. Well, tell me, do you
suppose if I came over there,

I could talk with her
for a minute?

Huh. Thank you.

Hey, Susie.
Here comes the boyfriend.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Hold
your positions!

SUSIE: Hold your position,
sweetie, I'll be with you
in a minute.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Now, hold it!

All right kids, take five.

Wow! That was a long one!

How's my professor?

-Hi, Jerry!
-Hello, Jane.

I told you not to come here.
Too many pretty girls.

Oh, I've only got 20-20 vision
for you.

Susie, I want to talk to you.

Is it that important?

Susan, I may have
to leave town.

Oh! When?

Tomorrow morning, if I go.

What do you mean, "If"?

Well, I got an invitation from
Uncle Sam to go to California.

For some reason, they don't
want a married man.

That gives me a chance
to ask you again.

Will you marry me, Susan?

Surprised?
I've asked you before.

It must be something pretty
terrible if you want to marry
me to get out of it.

What do they want you to do?

I don't know.
Just that it's top secret.
I'll be gone for a week.

Only a week?

That's a long, long time
without you, Susan.

PHOTOGRAPHER: All right,
kids, everybody in!

Susan,

you don't know how important
your decision is to me.

Why, it means my whole future.

Darling, I can't make up
my mind right now.

It's an important decision
for me, too.
It means my future.

PHOTOGRAPHER: The work's
over here, Susan!

I'll write to you.

For sure?

You'll get my answer by mail.

Susan, I still have
this evening.

My plane doesn't leave till
eight in the morning.

Let me drive you
to the airport.

I wouldn't want to drag you
out of bed that early
in the morning.

Somebody has to wave
goodbye to you, darling.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Susan!

Hold this. Be at my house
at seven. Then I can have your
car for the week.

NARRATOR: The list complete,
12 men traveled across
the desert,

not knowing where they were
going, or why.

All they knew was they had
been requested not to reveal
to each other

their occupations
or specialties.

The trip passed
in awkward silence.

As they arrived at their
destination, they knew even
less about their assignment

than before.

Jet planes.
Is it an army camp?

By any chance,
were you a pilot?

I know the difference between
a jet, a rocket and a prop
job, if that's what you mean.

It isn't, but it will have
to do, I guess.

-Civilians!
-Yeah.

-I sort of expected army.
-Yeah.

-I'll make you a bet.
-What?

I'll bet you're not married.

You win that bet.

Let me get even.
I'll make you the same bet.
Are you married?

Good afternoon, gentlemen. I
trust you had a pleasant trip.

I'm Dr. Dryden.

Unfortunately, the nature of
my doctorate will

have to remain a secret
for a few days.

This is Dr. Delmar, and this
is Dr. Flynn.

-Speaking of jets...
-Please, no obvious remarks.

You're at the Snake Mountain
Proving Grounds,

operated by the Office
of Scientific Investigation,

where we hope you'll all
be comfortable as our guests
for a few days.

Unfortunately, however, we can
guarantee nothing.

What does he mean,
"Guarantee nothing"?

Very well, gentlemen,
I'll now turn you over
to Dr. Delmar and Dr. Flynn.

And please don't worry
about your luggage.
It will be waiting for you.

Follow me, gentlemen.

Anything yet?

Only one definitely. McBride.

McBride?

One of the top men
in astrophysics.

It's marked anxiety.
He's not for us.

-These are just routine forms.
-Thank you.

Would you fill them
out, please?

Would you sign this, please?

Just a formality.

"I hereby consent to submit
myself to certain tests"!

I don't understand. I'm a
scientist, not a guinea pig.

If you want to test me with
drugs, you'd better...

Oh, no, no, gentlemen, please.
Nothing like that.

This simply pertains
to certain aptitude tests.

For what? You can check my
service record for that.

What we want to find out
about you, gentlemen,
isn't on paper.

Doc?

I know better than this.

But you've got me curious.

And now, gentlemen, we'll have
to leave you to your own
devices for a while.

Probably for not more
than a few minutes.

Of course, you can converse
together freely, but

please don't reveal the nature
of your own specialties
to one another.

You'll find magazines,
cigarettes and writing paper
in the desk here.

Oh, from now on, any letters
you may care to write will be

forwarded to Mr. O'Herli
in Washington. He'll see
that they're delivered.

Oh, and would...

Would Dr. McBride please
come with me?

[JET AIRPLANES ROARING]

Don?

Yes, Paul, I'm in here.

I'm trying to get the bugs
out of this gyro unit.

We must find a way
to eliminate the precession.

I think we may have it if we
change the number
four circuit.

The boys have arrived, Don.

Yes, I know.

We've narrowed the field
down already.

McBride dropped out?

Yes, Klinger gave him
a definite negative.
He's testing him further now.

I'm sorry.
I counted on McBride.

I just finished reading
his book.

David Wells,

Richard Stanton.

How's my son?

You knew Rich was a candidate?

Yes, I did.

They sent me the list
from Washington.

Some of these tests we've
arranged for the boys are
going to be pretty rugged.

It would be easy to arrange
to have him drop out.

Oh, no, of course not.

Don, are you sure we're
doing the right thing?

No, I'm not sure.

But progress always
involves risks.

Somebody has to take
those risks.

Even if it means your
only son?

Yes, I want you to see that
he's given the same chance to
pass the tests as the others.

But suppose he's chosen.

Then he must make his
own decision.

Sure. I'll see you later, Don.

M-hm.

Why don't we try and
figure this thing out?
It may help to pass the time.

Yeah, I guess it wouldn't be
against the rules.

Did you notice
that fellow over there
at the writing desk?

M-hm.

He's reading a magazine
on nucleonics.

-And taking notes.
-Hm.

I peeked a while ago.

The title of the article is,
"Backscattering of Gamma Rays
in Windowless Counters."

[JET ENGINES ROARING]

I seem to be out of matches.

Sure.

Here you are.

-Thanks.
-How are you bearing up?

How should I bear up?

Waiting doesn't get you down?

I spent ten years
in submarines.

Then, it's your idea that we
all have something
to do with...

You know, electrons.
The little things that whirl
in space?

-Never heard of them.
-Hm.

What the devil did that guy
mean, "A few minutes"?

We've been cooped up here
for two hours!

Yeah, it's certainly taking
them long enough to make up
their minds.

Make up their minds to what?

That's what we'd all like
to know, wouldn't we?

Well, I'm getting out of here.

How do you like that?
It's locked!
They got us locked in here!

Hey! Take it easy!

There's nothing to get
excited about.

Yeah, I guess.
I'm sorry, fellas.

It's just that I don't like
being locked in.

[JET ENGINES ROARING]

What's with that guy?

I'd say he had a friend
in high places.

Yes, certainly, Dr. Klinger,
we're only interested in
the definite negatives.

If I were you,
I would reject Fuller.

The locked door upset
him markedly.

I'd hardly trust him for
the job you have in mind.

-Out goes Mr. Fuller?
-Out.

Too bad. I thought Fuller
would be our man.

Anyone else, Dr. Klinger?

I would also be very uncertain
about Guinness.

He paced the room for two
solid hours, chain smoking.

Not conclusive,
but indicative.

Hm.

And Wells.

He was the one, you remember,
who objected to signing
the waiver form.

Yes.

Rather belligerent, I thought.
Belligerency usually
means insecurity.

But belligerency can also mean
courage and aggressiveness.

That's why we need men
instead of machines
for this job.

You know, you're very right.

I think we'll go along with
Wells, huh?

As you wish.

I want to thank you gentlemen
for bearing with us,

and I hope you'll forgive us
for testing your patience.

Now I'm sure you'd all
like to get some sleep.
You have a big day tomorrow.

The COQ will show you
to your quarters.

Oh, and Mr. Guinness and
Dr. Fuller,

Dr. Delmar would like to see
you in his office, please.

-Good night.
-Good night.

-Good night, gentlemen.
-Good night.

-See you in the morning.
-Good night.

[JET ENGINES ROARING]

-Wow.
-Beautiful, isn't it?

Yes, very.

-Are you a flyer, Doc?
-Prop jobs.

I never had time to check
out in jets. Someday I will.

Look, on the level.
What were we doing in there?

You were being observed,
Dr. Stanton, by a very
famous psychiatrist.

It was a kind of a test.

Hm.

Of what?

I can only tell you that
you passed.
You should be very pleased.

Hm. And tomorrow, more tests?

-That's right.
-What kind?

You'll find out.
I think you'll find them more
interesting, if not pleasant.

I don't think I like the sound
of that.

Tomorrow you're having
a gravity test
in the centrifuge.

How many Gs?

About 12, if you can stand it.

Twelve? That's 12 times
a man's weight.

Be careful. If you eat
a pound of steak, it'll weigh
12 pounds in your stomach.

Good luck.

Good luck?

He can't take any more.
We'd better stop.

Get him out of there and
bring him up her for oxygen.

Well, he grayed out at nine
Gs. How long before he
blacked out completely?

It's hard to tell.
He might have taken ten Gs.

I doubt it. Well, even so,
that wouldn't be
nearly enough.

Well, let's test the next one.
Scratch him off the list.
Send him to the infirmary.

Out of 12 that leaves us
6 more to go, and we have
to have 4 who've passed.

Are you scratching Todder?
He took 11 Gs.

Yes, but he was woozy.
He made his landing 600 feet
into the ground.

I'm afraid that wouldn't do.

Now, Dr. Stanton, good luck.

Everybody keeps saying that
to me.

It looks like I'll need it,
too, eh?

I'm afraid so.

We have the centrifuge rigged
to test your resistance
to high temperatures

as well as to
gravity pressures.

Oh, I guess this is
the unpleasantness you were
talking about, eh, Doctor?

M-hm. He'll be all right with
a little oxygen.

As you know, there are air
pockets in this antigravity
suit of yours.

We do think up the strangest
little gadgets around here,
don't we, Dr. Stanton?

Now, during the test, we'll
inflate your suit, bringing
pressure to bear

against your body, and that
should help you to

resist the pressure
of gravity.

If you can, take it as high
as gravity 12.
It won't be easy.

Your blood will literally be
as heavy as iron.

All right, Dr. Stanton,
you're all set.

Thank you.

With all these wires connected
to me, I feel like
a television set.

You almost are. The cockpit
of the centrifuge is equipped
with a fluoroscope.

We'll be looking inside your
body all through the test.

Oh, and would you please put
this capsule under
your tongue.

Don't swallow it unless you're
requested to during the test.

Will I be able to hear you?

Yes, there's a squawk box
in the cockpit.

Would you please take him
to the infirmary.

I hope you feel better.

This makes me think
of my first ride
on a merry-go-round.

What happened?

I ate too much ice cream.
Got sick.

You're a big boy now.

Good luck.

Grip the control stick.
Move it around.
Get the feel of it.

You'll notice in front of you
a charting device.

The line drawn on the graph
paper corresponds to the
projected flight curve.

Follow that curve up
to the ionosphere.

Ionosphere?
That's 50 miles up!

It is, possibly higher.

On your climb and descent you
will encounter air friction,
therefore heat.

Be prepared for it.

Try to follow the descending
scale and land the ship
without cracking up.

This is Dr. Delmar.
Do you notice a light flashing
in front of you?

[BUZZER SOUNDS]

Yeah, a green one.

Now, whenever that light
flashes, you answer
in the same pattern

by pressing the button at
the top of your stick.

-[BUZZER]
-Okay, I've got it.

And Dr. Stanton, please
remember, do not swallow
the capsule unless

you're requested to
during the test.

-All right, Doc.
-DELMAR: Are you ready?

Ready here.

Heartbeat, 82.
Blood pressure, 135/90.

Gravity two.

Temperature, 84.

PAUL: Increase to
gravity three.

[BUZZER SOUNDS]

Wow!

I begin to see what you mean
about that 12-pound
steak, Doc.

He must be woozy already.
What does he mean,
"A 12-pound steak"?

Heart action speeding up.

Eighty-five,

eighty-seven...

Temperature, 90.

PAUL: Increase temperature
to 105.

Increase gravity. Let me know
when you reach nine Gs.

Gravity four.

Five.

Gravity six.

Gravity seven.

Gravity eight.

Gravity nine.

Increase gravity. Ten Gs.

Gravity ten.

Temperature, 105.

PAUL: Increase temperature
to 120.

Nervous reaction time
is lengthening.

[BUZZER SOUNDS]

-He's graying out.
-He can't be!

[HEARTBEATS]

Heart action labored, but
it should be adequate.

PAUL: Try him again,
Dr. Delmar.

[BUZZER SOUNDS]

[BUZZER SOUNDS]

Atta boy!

[BUZZER SOUNDS]

He's still navigating.

Temperature, 120.

Increase temperature, 135.

Increasing temperature.

Give me 11 Gs.

Gravity 11.

Have him swallow the pill.

Swallow the pill, Dr. Stanton.
Dr. Stanton, swallow the pill.

Salivary deficiency.
Convulsive throat reaction.

But he swallowed it!

Give me 12 Gs.
Hold it there for 30 seconds.

Increasing to gravity 12.

Gravity 12.

[HEARTBEATS]

[HEARTBEATS]

He's almost in.
Altitude, four miles.

Three...

Temperature, 135.
Holding at gravity 12.

Altitude, two miles.

Ten seconds to go.

Altitude, one mile.

[HEARTBEATS]

He can't take much more!

He's making his landing.

Three seconds.

Two seconds.

One second.

Test complete. Slow him down.

Well!

Looks like we've got
ourselves a boy!

Don, the boys are here.
It's time for the meeting.

Oh, yes. Yes, of course.

Have a seat, Dr. Lockwood.

Thank you.

Good to see you, son.

So, you're the man behind
the secrets.

Not exactly.
I didn't pick you, Rich.

Nor any of these gentlemen,
if it comes to that.

They dug out your
qualifications at
the Pentagon.

You're a tougher man than
I thought you were.

[CHUCKLES] Well, will you tell
us what this is all about?

Of course. Of course I will.

Do take a seat, gentlemen.
Make yourselves comfortable.

This piece of steel was part
of a rocket that was
flown into space.

Rather startling, isn't it?

We found the molecular
structure of the rocket hull
completely changed,

almost pounded into dust
by cosmic radiation.

Now I want you to see this
piece of metal.

It's a fragment of a meteorite
found here on Earth.

[JET ENGINES ROARING]

DON: The iron and steel of
which it consists
are undamaged,

yet it traveled through space
for an infinite period of time

without being destroyed
by cosmic rays.

Therefore, it must have had
some kind of protective
outer hull around it.

What?

What did its outer hull
consist of?

What kind of chemical
composition enabled it
to resist cosmic radiation

while our finest
steels disintegrated?

Gentlemen, in order
to continue with our work,

and to win the race
of conquering space, we must
answer those questions.

We must bring a meteorite
down to Earth intact.

We must study the molecular
structure of its outer hull
before it is burned away

by friction with the air.

We want you to go up
into space

and catch a meteor in flight.

[JET ENGINES ROARING]

Well,

what are the chances
of survival?

You'll have every
possible protection.

How do we get down?
How do we land?

The rockets are equipped with
wings that are extended
during the descent.

You mean we land like
a glider?

Right.

Suppose a meteor punctures
the hull?

The changes are 1 in 500.

Why don't you build
an electronic brain to fly
the rocket?

To construct an electronic
brain equal to the functions
of the human brain,

it would have to be at least
a mile long, and would weigh
thousands of tons.

It isn't possible.

As Dr. Werner said earlier,
where machines leave off,
men must take over.

I think what you're asking us
to do is ridiculous.
It's a suicide mission!

No one is asking you to make
up your minds right
away, gentlemen.

Here is an addressed envelope.

If you send it to me,

it will mean your acceptance.

If you tear it up,

well, that will be
your decision.

I'll give you a week
to think it over.

Cloak and dagger stuff, eh?

Mr. Wells, if we're not
the first nation to solve
the problem of space travel,

we'll have small chance
of survival.

Here we go again, boys.
War. Killings.

Every invention seems to have
the same end.

The exploration of space by us
may be the end of wars.

A space platform operated by
a dictatorship would make
slaves of all free people.

The man who invented the bow
and arrow probably gave his
countrymen the same speech.

Can I borrow your pen,
Dr. Stanton?

Certainly.

One thing I learned in
the army. Never volunteer.

Here's your envelope, Rich.

You're sure you're not making
too hasty a decision,
Mr. Gordon?

I made up my mind when
I first came here.

Mr. Wells, you live in
a free country.

We'll send you home,

but may I remind you not
to talk to anybody about
what you've heard or seen.

Don't worry, I know
the Espionage Act, and
the Articles of War.

Well, Rich?

Never make a big
decision immediately.
Always wait 24 hours.

That's what they taught me
when I was a cadet.

Hm. You can stay with me
until you've made up
your mind.

Special treatment?

Oh, I see. You know best.

I've got a week, so,
what's the rush?

You know, I'm very curious
myself to find out
whether I'll

tear this up or send it off.

Buy me a cup of coffee, Doc?

-Okay.
-Hey!

I thought you said you didn't
want any special treatment.

More coffee, Jerry?

It's good and hot.

No, no cream. Just black.

Good.

A computing machine as smart
as the human brain would be
about a mile long.

And that's just the way my
head feels after all those
tests we've been taking.

-Cream?
-No, thanks.

You know,

I've never met a space
medicine girl before.

-What's wrong with it?
-Nothing.

It just baffles me.

What made you decide to get
into that racket?

I once heard a lecture
by your father.

He spoke about the world
around us, and then he said
something I'll never forget.

It's funny. A sentence can do
that sometimes. Just a few...

[DOOR OPENS]

Hi.

-Hi.
-Coffee?

No, thanks.

Just what did my father say?

Something simple.

He said, "Man's desires
are his prayers.

"Everything in the realm
of imagination is also in
the realm of possibility."

Even a journey to the stars?

Why not?

I dream of it almost
every night.

Of what?

-Flying.
-In a rocket?

Of course.

Speed, 18,000 miles.

And then I look back on the
Earth, a huge, round ball.

As I fly toward
the ionosphere,

I can see
the Gulf of California
and the Pacific Ocean.

And the Atlantic.

Cities are like hazy stars
below me.

And, when I look up,
there's the sun

and myriads of stars no human
eyes have ever seen before.

[JET ENGINES ROARING]

We do live in a dark hole
down here on Earth, don't we?

Like blind moles.

Well, I never thought of it
quite like that, but

it could be.

Maybe we never have seen
the real stars.

I envy you going up there.

I haven't quite made up
my mind yet.

I wouldn't hesitate a minute
if I had the chance.

You're braver than I am.

I doesn't take courage.
What it takes is...

Hm?

-Dedication.
-M-hm.

And a certain amount
of lunacy.

"Man's desires are
his prayers."

That's right.
You have to believe.
It's the only way to arrive.

-Jane?
-Yes.

Can I use your pen?

Thanks for the use of
the typewriter.

Oh, and this letter. Since we
have to clear our mail
with O'Herli,

would you see that he gets
it in Washington?

Of course.

Tell him to forward it
right away. And...

Ask him if he hasn't got
some mail for me.

I'll be glad to.

Will you give this letter
to my father?

-You accepted?
-Yeah.

How about you?
Are you joining our club?

I don't know.

I've got to wait to make up
my mind.

I thought I'd wait and see.

Wait a minute, I'll walk over
with you.

Good night, Jean.

Richard?

Are you sure?

And, uh, thanks for making
up my mind.

Rich, pull down the screen,
will you?

Of course.

The film you're about
to see, gentlemen,

is the first photographic
record of actual space travel.

Gerry, will you switch off
the light?

Okay.

NARRATOR: A rocket
containing two white mice

was shot above the
Earth's atmosphere.

The mice in this
pressurized capsule

easily recovered from the
initial shock of acceleration.

-That's fascinating!
-M-hm.

DON: And notice
the rubber ball.

At this point there was
a complete lack of gravity.

Have you made up your
mind to accept yet, Jerry?

Yeah.

Last night.

STANTON: How many Gs
did they take?

DON: Thirteen, but they
never lost consciousness.

JERRY: What about loss of
balance during weightlessness?

DON: In a reclining position
with your eyes
on a fixed object,

you'll be able
to recover orientation.

NARRATOR: The new section,
of course, was dropped
by parachute.

The mice were removed
from the rocket

and taken to the laboratory.

DON: Incidentally, a swarm
of meteors will be passing
the Earth's orbit

on or about August 10.

They're being tracked by
the observatory at
Mount Palomar.

They'll keep us posted.

There you are, gentlemen.

The animals landed
in excellent condition

and are now living here
in our laboratory.

The film shows that men have
at least a chance of surviving
in space.

Tenth of August, eh?
That's two weeks away.

Yes.

You've all got hard work
ahead of you.

Horizontal position.
Completely horizontal.

You wouldn't stand the impact
of gravity sitting up.

In the rocket control cabin,
you will see in front of you
a gravity meter.

Watch it. It's one of your
most important instruments.

Start moving back when
the needle approaches two Gs.

Not before, or you'll
lose consciousness.

Now you try it, Dr. Stanton.

"It doesn't take courage.
What it takes is dedication."

Now, remember. The rocket
changes its attitude as you
explode directing charges.

This is your only method
of controlling the craft.

If you over-control,
the rocket may wobble and
spin off into space forever.

All right, Dr. Lockwood,
you drill him.

Okay.

-You ready?
-All set.

-Thirty degrees right.
-Thirty right.

-270 degrees left.
-270 left.

-90 right.
-90 right.

-30 degrees azimuth.
-30 degrees azimuth.

-270 degrees left.
-270 left.

-10 degrees nadir.
-10 degrees nadir.

-180 degrees right.
-180 right.

<30 degrees left.

Your rocket's wobbling!
Control with counter-gyro!
Counter-gyro!

There, you see what I mean?

Any mistake would send you
off into space.
You'd never return.

And there's no margin
for errors.

There won't be any errors.

All right,
you drill Dr. Lockwood.

Okay.

-All set?
-All set.

-30 degrees right.
-30 degrees right.

-90 degrees left.
-90 degrees left.

-180 degrees right.
-180 degrees right.

Dr. Lockwood!

-30 degrees left.
-30 degrees left.

Dr. Lockwood! Dr. Stanton
wants to see you
in his office.

-Now?
-He's waiting for you.

Okay.

We should hear from Palomar
Observatory any hour now
the exact time.

The hour, the minute,
the second

of the arrival of our
meteor shower.

But the entire project

will depend upon your skill
in handling this
meteor-catching scoop.

This is the climax of all
of our work.

To repeat, you equalize your
speed with that of the meteor,

open your funnel scoop.

By increasing your speed, you
move up and eventually
swallow the meteor.

The meteor will strike
the screen...

I know, I know. This will
cushion the impact and
the meteor will fall into

the recess provided for it,
and the scoop will
automatically close.

[CHUCKLES] It's running out
of my ears.

Ah!
The man from Washington again.

How are you?

In better shape than
I've ever been.
I feel like a 20-year-old.

What's up?

We want to clarify
a question, Doctor.

Sit down.

Go ahead.

What prompted you
to volunteer for this
assignment, Doctor?

What prompted me?

The same thing that prompted
your son, I suppose,
and Walt Gordon.

Couldn't it be that you
wanted to marry Miss Manners,
and that she turned you down?

I take it Mr. O'Herli has
been reading my mail.

It's part of my duty.

But it's just possible that
your emotional problems might
jeopardize your performance

and the outcome of your
mission, whatever it is.

You see, Doctor, we're
concerned that you may be
emotionally upset.

Subconsciously, you know, it's
possible that your real motive
in assuming this mission

might be suicide.
We want to be sure.

Dr. Delmar, I've studied
psychology, too,

and I try to make it a habit
to analyze my motives.

I honestly don't believe that
Miss Manners' decision has put
me in the mood for suicide.

If her answer had been
different, would you have
decided differently?

I don't know.

It might have influenced me,
and it might not have.

It's a hard question
to answer.

But I can assure you that
I'm in full control of myself.

His performance during
the tests, his reactions,
were all perfect.

Then it's up to you, Jerry.

I want to fly that rocket.

Good boy.

NARRATOR: Palomar
Observatory swung into action,

tracking the swarm of meteors
with calculated precision.

This giant eye reaching into
space stood ready to warn us
of any change in plans.

For, in the vast depths of
the universe,

meteors have been traveling
for billions of years,

but this would be the first
time man would be up there
to meet them.

Exact speed and position
was checked and rechecked.

There could be no mistake
for man's rendezvous
with the stars.

Here it is, Pete.

"Meteor swarm will cross
Earth's periphery
at time 5:22:34,

"height 153, four tenths,
miles. Moving from northeast
to southwest.

"Passing time, 32 seconds.

"Speed, 81344 miles per hour.

"Your rocket firing time
should be same,

"less 5 minutes, 22 seconds."

Seventeen minutes and
12 seconds after 5:00 a.m.

That means, gentlemen, that
your take-off time

is 54 minutes from now.

Dr. Warner will launch each
of your rockets from
the central control console.

Dr. Dryden, Dr. Delmar and
I will observe your take-off
visually, through these ports.

Two of these ports will have
filters in them for
photographic record purposes.

The third will be clear
blast-proof glass.

[JET ENGINES ROARING]

After your take-off,
you'll be tracked by radar.

Ascent will take 5 minutes,
21 seconds.

When you reach this point,
your speed will be
18,346 miles an hour,

and you will encounter a swarm
of meteors moving precisely

two miles an hour slower
than you.

At this point, you will take
over manual control of
you rockets.

You will each track a meteor,

approaching it with as little
difference in speed
as possible,

scoop it up as you've been
trained to do, and come back
to Earth.

You should have ten rockets
for the return trip.

We shall try to advise you,
of course, but,
in the last analysis,

it will be up to you to use
them properly
during deceleration.

That's it for now, gentlemen.

There's one thing, Rich.

Yes, Dad?

In many respects you're like
me, perhaps too much like me.

You strike out on your own,
take matters into your
own hands.

Don't do it today, son.

You must follow the exact
instructions you received
from us.

Down here, we'll have
an overall picture
of what's happening.

Don't deviate, even if you
think we're wrong.

Be a machine, for once.

Well, as much
as it's possible.

Do what you're told,
and nothing else.

Don't worry. I won't do
anything without checking with
the ground first.

Come back, son.

I will.

I don't know why
I'm so nervous,

I'll be safe in the blockhouse
all the time you're up there.

The whole operation will
only take 15 minutes.

Or even less, if you're
not lucky.

Well, I'm glad to see you're
human, after all.

I'm glad you found out.

Oh, I meant that as
a compliment.

I thought of you as part
of a computing machine, and
I think I envied you.

I wish I could detach myself
from my fears as well as
you can.

Just don't think. Then your
emotions can't catch up
with you.

PA SYSTEM: Walter Gordon,
Jerry Lockwood and
Richard Stanton,

report to the ready room
at once.

I don't feel very brave.

I want to come back.

There are a lot of things
I like down here on this Earth

where we live like
blind moles.

I guess I like other
blind moles.

You'll hear my voice during
the flight. I'll be in touch
with you the whole time.

Even if I want something
like a cup of coffee?

I'll bring it up.

You're very pretty,
Miss Flynn, if you don't mind
my saying so.

I don't mind.

I have a request to make,
an unusual one.

Yes?

You see, I'm not feeling
at all heroic.

I sort of need my ego boosted.
May I kiss you once?

That's the best excuse
I ever heard.

I wanted you to kiss me.

I have no excuse.

PA SYSTEM: Richard Stanton,
please report to ready room.

-I'll see you.
-See you.

Five fourteen.
Three minutes to go.

The pilots had their
equipment checked?

Yes, sir.
They should be boarding now.

Here's some coffee
for you, chief.

Thank you, Frank.

Paul, have you contact
with the observatory?

I have them on the line now.

-Electronic computer?
-Check.

-Radar?
-Check.

[HATCH CLOSES]

Stanton to control, testing.
One, two, three.
How do you read me?

How do you read me?

R5S8.

Jane, anything special you
want me to bring down for you?

Your transmission is
very clear.

I'll tell you what.
I'll bring you back a star.
That's a promise.

Control to Lockwood.
Control to Lockwood.

Lockwood.

Tilt your chair to
horizontal position.

Chair in position.

How are they doing, Jane?

Stanton, pulse slightly
increased to 81.

Lockwood, 80. Gordon, normal.

Gordon normal!

Yes?

One minute to go.

Right.

Is everything checked?

On the nose.

Clear the firing area.

Gordon here. Everything okay.

FLYNN: Check.

-[BUZZER]
-DELMAR: Warning blue.

-[BUZZER]
-DELMAR: Warning blue.

[BUZZER]

Name check.

Gordon.

Lockwood.

Stanton.

Good.

Forty seconds.

Thirty seconds.

Warning red.

Twenty seconds.

Ten seconds.

Stand by to fire rockets.
Observers stand by ports.

[SIREN]

-Seven seconds.
-FLYNN: Seven.

-Six.
-Six.

-Five.
-Five.

-Four.
-Four.

-Three.
-Three.

-Two.
-Two.

-One.
-One.

-Rocket two.
-Rocket two.

-Rocket three.
-Rocket three.

-Rockets off.
-Radar tracking.

Check.

Gravity two, gravity three,

gravity four, gravity five,

gravity six, gravity six.

Accelerating, on course.
Gravity nine.

Rocket two wobbling.

-Can you make correction?
-Trying.

Correcting.

Now he's all right.

Good boy.

-Gravity 11.
-Gravity 11.

Meteors approaching
the Earth's orbit.
Speed constant.

-Gravity 12.
-Gravity 12.

Give me a light check.

-Gordon.
-FLYNN: Gordon, light check.

[BUZZER]

FLYNN: Lockwood, light check.

[BUZZER]

FLYNN: Stanton, light check.

What's the matter
with Stanton?

Stanton. Come in, Stanton.
Rocket one doesn't answer.

He must be blacked out.

He took 12 Gs
in the centrifuge.

Thirteen Gs.

-What's the altitude?
-Sixty-three miles.

-Course?
-On the nose.

Gravity's falling.

He must be leaving the Earth's
gravitational field.
Try again.

Richard!
Can you hear me, Richard?

Richard! Are you all right?

[BUZZER]

I must have grayed out.

I think I'm okay now.

FLYNN: You've reached
meteor altitude. Level off
and switch to manual.

Stanton to control.
I can see the Earth below me.

My cabin is filled with
a strange pinging noise.

It must be cosmic particles
hitting the hull of the ship.

I can see the curve of
the Earth!

The oceans, both of them.
Atlantic and Pacific.

Tell him to stop sightseeing.

Heat inside suits, 80 plus.
No increase of radiation
in cabin.

Meteors approaching our
rockets, two o'clock high.

FLYNN: Attention all rockets.
Meteors approaching
your position.

Gordon here.
Have meteors in sight.
Give me my speed.

Check speed.

Gordon, 18,344 miles per hour.

Speed of meteors, 18,552.

-Check radar.
-Right.

Decreasing speed.

Trying to fly parallel.

[ROCKET BLAST]

Gordon here.
I have a meteor in my sight.

Adjusting speed.
Can't tell its size.

Opening scoop.

Meteor too big!

Gordon, wait for the radar
check. The meteor's too big!

Perfect pass. Off to catch it.
Stand by.

Don't take it. Decelerate!

He's hit the meteor!

Gordon! Come in, Gordon!

Richard! Richard! Can you see
what's happened to Gordon?

Good Lord!

Stanton. Stanton to control.

Gordon's disintegrated.

No. No!

Gordon!

Gordon! He's gone!
He's gone, do you hear me?

I'm coming back.
I'm coming back,
I'm coming down!

Rocket two,
wait for computations!

Altitude, 10,000.
I'm bailing out!
See you downstairs!

Good heavens, he thinks
he's back in the war!

DON: Lockwood, snap out of it!
Lockwood! Name check!

Lockwood! Lockwood! Lockwood!
Lockwood! Lockwood! Lockwood!

Lockwood! Lockwood! Lockwood!
Lockwood!

DON: Lockwood, answer me.
Lockwood, come in!
Do you hear me? Lockwood!

Lockwood! Come in, Lockwood!
Hello, Lockwood. Come in.

Bailing out.

DON: Lockwood!
Answer me, Lockwood! Come in!

Lockwood! Do you hear me?

There's no gravity!

Come in! Come in, Lockwood!

Lockwood! Answer me, Lockwood!

I'm coming back!
I'm coming down! Get me down!

Get me down!
[SCREAMS] Get me down!

[SCREAMS]

DON: Richard,
are you all right? Richard!

Richard, answer me! Can you
hear me, Richard? Oh, Richard,
are you all right?

This is Stanton.
Meteor swarm passed.

DON: What's happened
to Lockwood?

What's happened to Lockwood?

He's gone. He had full power
on nose and tail rockets.
He shot out into space!

Do you have rocket
under control?

Rocket under control.

Richard, listen to me. Return
to base immediately. We'll
land you by remote control.

Switch over to automatic.

Switching over.

-Bring him in over the base.
-Right.

Control to Stanton.
Control to Stanton.
Decelerate.

-Fire nose rocket one.
-Firing one.

Your speed, now 12,803.
On course. Guiding you in.

Check.

Stanton to control. There's a
brilliant object approaching.

Meteor approaching.
Converging on glide path.
Speed, about 18,200.

FLYNN: Caution.
Meteor approaching you,
intercepting your glide path.

Speed, 18,200.

It's crossing my path. I'm
going to take a crack at it.

No! Continue course.

Switching off automatic.

Richard, you're ordered
to return at once.

-STANTON: Give me its speed.
-Return at once!

If you go after it, you won't
have enough rockets left
to slow down for landing.

STANTON: I want the speed.

Stubborn fool!
Give him the speed.

FLYNN: Speed of object,
18,432. Your speed, 18,663.

Approaching meteor.
Slowing down.

Tell him to conserve those
deceleration rockets.
How are we going to land him?

You promised, Richard.
You promised.

Oh, Richard, please!

Closing in.

It's about 20 inches
in diameter.

I'm going to try for it.
It's like shooting fish
in a barrel!

He's out of his mind!
He'll never get down!

Falling behind.

Pulling in.

Opening scoop.

Getting lined up.

I did it! I've got it!
I've got a meteor!

He's right.
The meteor's disappeared.

Thank God. Thank God.

Release gliding wings.

Opening gliding wings.

Bring him in as close to base
as you can. All personnel,
stand by for a crash landing.

All personnel stand by for
a crash landing.
Emergency equipment.

Condition red.

-What's his gravity?
-Gravity zero.

Altitude, 78 miles. You're
in the upper atmosphere.
Can you feel the stick yet?

STANTON: Not very well.
Very sluggish.

FRANK: Temperature increasing
inside the rocket. One thirty.

One forty.

Control to Stanton.
Airspeed, 3,000.

He's got to decelerate
somehow, but tell him
to save his rockets.

Try to decelerate before you
hit heavier atmosphere.
Try to nose up.

Try to nose up.

She won't come up yet.
Not enough atmosphere.

Temperature, 190, 210.

He can't take more heat!

Two twenty.

I can't stand it! Get me out
of here, it's too hot!

I can't stand it!
Get me out of here!

FRANK: You must decelerate.
Use front rocket. Decelerate!

STANTON: I can't see
the instruments!
I'm taking my helmet off.

FRANK: Don't!
Don't disconnect oxygen!
Keep the helmet on!

Decelerate!
Use remaining rockets.

Stanton! Can you hear me?
Shoot off rocket two.

I can't.
I've used up all my rockets.

He must not die.
He's so close.

Stanton from control.
Can you hear me, Stanton?

I can see the Earth.
I'm over the North Pole.

Angle of flight, 80 degrees.
Altitude, 12,000 feet.

Speed, 2,000 miles.

FRANK: Temperature, 289.

He's got to pull up.
He's got to reduce speed!

Pull up! Pull up!

I can't!

I can't slow down!

FRANK: We're tracking you now.

I think I can bring him in
to sector four.

If he doesn't burn up first.

Sector four. There's nothing
we can do here. Come on, Jane,
let's ride with the ambulance.

Emergency equipment proceed
to sector four. Stand by.
Emergency red.

Altitude, eight, seven, six.

FRANK: You're still on course.

[SIRENS]

Approaching area.
Do you have control?

STANTON: I think so.

Altitude, 4,000,

3,000.

Change descent to two degrees.

Two thousand.

[SIRENS]

You're drifting right!

Hold it.

You're down to 1,000 feet.
Pull up your nose.

Pull up.

That's enough.

[SIRENS]

Altitude, 800 feet.
Brace yourself for crash.

When I give the signal,
pull your nose up sharply.

Steady.

Now!

[SIRENS]

Did he make it?

I don't know.

We did everything we could.

[SIRENS]

Where's that cup of coffee
you promised me?

The prize!

A meteor.

It looks to me like
crystallized carbon.

Rockets and space stations
will be able to stand the
bombardments of cosmic rays

with a coating of crystallized
pure carbon.

Crystallized carbon. That's
what diamonds are made of.

Remember, Doc? I said I'd
bring you back a star.