X the Unknown (1956) - full transcript

- One minute 14, dead.
- Very good, sir.

Ah! Well done lad.

All right, back to your
place, Corporal Webb.

Well, I think we'll call
it a day, Sergeant.

Sir.

Sir.

Yes, Lansing, what is it?

Please, sir. I haven't
had a turn yet.

That's right, Lansing.
You haven't, have you?

I think I should, sir.

All right.



Bury it again, Sergeant.

All right!

Come on, Lansing, move!

What are you waiting for?

Ah, Sergeant...

Bury it somewhere he won't
take all day to find it.

Thank you, sir.

Awk! I told you, didn't I?

We'll be the last platoon
at the cookhouse again.

The food's bad enough
when it's warm.

I'll give him, "Haven't
had a go yet."

All ready, sir!

Call him on!

Well, you men should have a pretty good
idea how to use a Geiger counter by now.



Remember what you've
learned here today.

It could save your life.

And one other thing...

You've been practicing with a piece
of harmless radioactive material.

If it ever comes to the real thing,
the radioactivity won't be harmless...

it will be extremely lethal.
So find it, mark it...

and get out of the way quickly.

Leave it to be dealt with
by those that know how.

Right?! That's got it.

When Lansing's done his
bit, we'll call it a day.

- Oh blimey, look at jet moving.
- He'll take a week to find it.

Not if I can help it, he won't.

Shouldn't take long, sir.

- I think he's found it.
- Oh, don't be so sure,

he couldn't find the
nose on his stupid face.

There... what did I tell you?

- Lansing... what is it?!
- I'm getting a very good reading, sir.

Give me the counter.

- Sergeant, fetch Major Cartwright!
- Right, sir.

I knew it.
We'll be out here all night.

Aye, aye, talk of the devil.

Bannerman wants
to speak to you, sir.

- Oh good, what is it?
- Over this ridge, sir.

Mr. Bannerman?

I was just coming over
to see you, Bannerman.

Why haven't you got
your men moving yet?

There was all the
transport back to camp.

There's something wrong here, sir.

We're getting a reading on the counter
where there shouldn't be one.

- Oh.
- It's ah... strongest about here.

- Where have you got your stuff buried?
- Over there, sir, by the tree.

- All right, let's have a look.
- Lansing!...

Mark this spot with my stick, will you.

- Very good, sir.
- Hang on here.

- Come on, Sergeant, where'd he put it?
- Somewhere around here, sir.

Try the counter, Mr. Bannerman.

- Haggis, do you know what?
- No, what?

It's uranium, that's what it is.
It's a bloomin' uranium mine.

I wonder if we'll get
a chance to stake a claim?

No, not if the army get
their hooks into it.

Sir? There's something
happening over here, sir.

Look, just a minute, Lansing!

Sir!

- See to it, Sergeant.
- Right, sir!

You see, sir, the reaction
couldn't possibly be because...

What on earth's that?

I don't know, sir.
It sounds like thunder.

Sergeant, get these men dispersed!

Quickly!

Right! You men, you heard what he said!
Come along, all of you!

Come on, jump to it!
Come along, come along, men!

Lansing!

Go and get that man.
He's got cloth ears.

Come on, now!
Move up there!

Come on, Lance.

Lansing, come out of there.
Lansing!

Attention, please, attention
please, will Dr. Adam Royston...

...report to the Director's
office immediately.

Attention, please, attention please...

...will Dr. Adam Royston report to
the Director's office immediately.

Cobalt, container 19.
Start your readings.

2,1,1, point 5.

Doctor Royston, report to the
director's office immediately.

Doctor Royston, report to the
director's office immediately.

Sounds like your Pa is
after Dr. Royston's blood.

He'll be after mine if
he catches me doing this.

Open it.

It's best to be the office type...
administration.

Peter... just a moment.

- Where's Dr. Royston?
- He asked me to stand by, sir.

So I see.

He's in his workshop, it's
all right, this is purely routine.

Maybe it is, but that's no reason
for you to be doing his work for him.

Master data coming up.

Cobalt, container 20, start reading.

What is Dr. Royston
doing in that lab of his?

Just an experiment.
One of his own.

Safe to come in, sir?

Safe to come in, sir?

Oh, it's you, Russell, come on in.

Stay behind the screen,
it's all radioactive.

Your radio needs fixing, sir.

Your radio, needs fixing,
it shouldn't make a noise like that.

Radiation...

The day I can cut the racket
in the radio without...

...putting that stuff back in
there, then...

then, that'll be clever.

Now, what was it you
wanted to see me about?

The director wants you up at
the establishment, sir. - Oh, no.

- Well, you got a car out here?
- No, sir, I came by bike.

All right, I'll walk,
I need a little exercise anyway.

Said it was urgent, sir.
Seemed a bit cross you might say.

Yes, I'm sure he did.
Tell him I'll run all the way.

I don't care what you say, Adam.
I am in charge here.

And I shall decide what you will
do and what you will not do.

While we're on the subject,
I do wish you wouldn't waste Peter's time.

You mean I should be
wasting my own time?

That is not the point.

Peter's job here
is administration

Oh, I know, he want's to be a scientist,

but, that's no reason for
you to encourage him.

He has a great future in front of him.

You must allow me to
decide what's best for him.

Oh, I'm sorry, John,
I didn't think for a minute...

I know you didn't, Adam,
that's just the trouble.

Well, let's see it
doesn't happen again, eh.

Oh, by the way,
the army has phoned it.

It appears they've picked
up some radiation reaction.

I'd like you to go and have a look at it.

What?
I've been working on a project.

- Couldn't you possibly send somebody else?
- I'm afraid not, Adam.

Have a car out in front in
5 minutes for Dr. Royston.

- May I see those solders now?
- Of course.

There's no radioactivity there
now, there's...

You're quite sure there couldn't
possibly have been some mistake?

Wait to you see those men,
there's no mistake about them.

Back, back... whoa!

Mr. Bannerman?

Just a moment, please?

This chap was nearest the explosion.

We thought he was just a
bit shaken up at first.

Then these burns
started breaking out.

- Not very pretty is it?
- No it isn't.

Thank you, boys.

- What about the other fella?
- He's over here.

He went back to fetch that one.
He wasn't quite so near the explosion.

Let's have a look at your
back, old chap.

What do you make of that, hey?

Were you carrying this when
the explosion happened?

Yes, sir.

Excuse me.

- OK, Sergeant.
- All right, sir.

All right, sir?

- Have you finished?
- Yes, thank you.

- All right, carry on, Sergeant.
- Come along, old chap.

Major, I'd like to get some...

...further equipment out here.

I wonder now if
there's any way that

that you can get a
message back to my office?

Yes, I'll take care of it,
I'll send it over the air to HQ.

- They'll phone it through from there.
- Good.

Poor old Lance is in a terrible state.
Did you see it?

Horrible. I saw a man once, fell up against
a furnace door, looked just about the same.

- He's passed over the nu.
- Passed over the what?

Died, screened all night he did.

Hey, do you mind,
I'm just going to have my tea.

Tea, we'll not be back
in time for breakfast.

- Swing that light off.
- If it was so sudden, Major...

How did you have time to disperse...?
- Major, you didn't answer my question.

Do you think it is atomic?

- Well, there certainly was radioactivity.
- What are they trying to do now?

I think they're trying to sound the pit.

If there was radiation, how do you
account for the absence of it now?

- I don't know.
- What about those burned men?

They've been taken to the hospital.
Military or civil? - Military.

- This one that died, who was he?
- His name was Lansing.

- A National Serviceman?
- Yes.

Is there anything in the fact that the only
one who died was a National Servicemen?

Good heavens man,
he was nearest the explosions!

- Sir?
- Yes, Sergeant, what is it?

- Dr. Royston wants to see you, sir.
- Aye, and we'd like to see Dr. Royston.

I'm sorry gentlemen,
I told you once before,

no unauthorized person
is allowed to approach.

What right do you have....?

Listen to me!

You are on War Department property.
I am in charge.

Either you do as I say or I shall
have you escorted from here.

Do you know who...?
Gentlemen, please!

- Dr. Royston's over by the equipment, sir.
- Thank you, Sergeant.

Good night, gentlemen.

I'm fair starved.

Did you hear the sergeant tell
those newspaper fella's off a strip.

It's all right for him,
he's had something to eat.

What's the matter with
you, have you got worms?

- You're quite certain about that?
- Yes, sir.

I'm getting quite a number
of readings off the sides, but

I don't think there
can be any doubt.

- You want me, Royston?
- Oh, Major, yes.

There's nothing more we can do out here,
I suggest that you leave a couple of

men on guard, even if it's only to keep
people from stepping over the edge.

No point in keeping men out here all night.

I'll have the area roped off and put
up a couple of "Keep Off" notices.

Kiddo, you get things wrapped up,
and I'll wait for you in the car.

What is it anyway?

Have you found out
how deep it is?

How deep?

No, we haven't.

Do you mean to tell me this
thing might be bottomless?

I mean the operative range
of this equipment is limited.

- Good night, Major.
- Good night, sir.

How deep do you think that
fissure really is, sir?

I don't know.

Now, the Major was going on about it being
bottomless, you seem to have told him.

Did I? That was very
unscientific of me.

We know it must have a
bottom somewhere,

whatever caused that split
had to have a beginning.

Had to have an end too.

Well, surely the forces causing
these surface splits just disperse.

Forces causing surface spits don't
burn a man to death by radiation.

What are you getting at, sir?

Peter, I'm not getting at
anything, I just don't know.

But, for the time being,
let's assume that you're right.

Let's not conjure up visions of nameless
horrors creeping around in the night.

It's all clear.

- They'll kill me when I get home.
- It's on mine.

But we swore,
and we can not break a swear.

Repeat the oath.

I swear to get into the tower, and look to
see if old Tom sleeps there every night.

- Are you scared?
- No.

How will ya then?
Let's get it over.

- You'll wait here?
- I'll wait for 5 minutes.

Three minutes!
Good luck, Willie.

Go on!
Make haste, Willie.

What was it, Willie?

What did you see?

Willie, wait for me!

Willie, wait!

Wait up, Willie!

Don't leave me!

Willie, wait!

Wait!

- What rate, Doctor?
- Sixty drops a minute.

Well?

First degree radiation burns, Kelly.

I thought so,
that's why I called you in.

Kelly, when did he come in?

About an hour ago. Perhaps you better
see the parents, they're outside.

- Replaced the dressings, nurse, will you?
- Yes, Doctor.

What's wrong with him, Doctor?

What is it?

Is there anything you can tell
us, Doctor?

Well, I'm afraid it's a
little early yet, to...

Your son has been badly burned.

- If you could tell us how or...
- Burned, burned by what?

That's what we're trying to find out.

When did you first notice anything?

- It was this morning.
- I went into his room to wake him up.

He was lying there with those
horrible marks all over him.

Well, yesterday,
what happened yesterday?

- Where did he go, do you know?
- We don't know.

He stopped out late with a friend of
his, Ian Osborne.

Ask him.

He'll be able to tell you
where they were last night.

Oh, Ian, just a moment.

Somebody wants to meet you, Ian.

Ian...

this is Dr. Royston.

- Dr. Royston, this is Ian Osborn.
- How are you, Ian?

Thank you.

Let's sit down, Ian.

Now, I've just come from visiting
your friend, Willie Harding.

He's not very well, Ian.

What's wrong with him?

Well, you know, you and he were
out late last night, weren't you?

And something must have
happened to him where you were.

I'd like you to
tell me what it was.

Where did you go, Ian?

Where was it, Ian?

I can not tell you.

We swore an oath.

Willie is sick.

He's very sick, Ian.

I can't, I can't, we swore an oath.

Yes, yes, but that was when Willie
was fit and healthy, wasn't it?

Wasn't it?

Now that he's sick, see, that's
different, he'd want you to tell.

Are you sure?

I'm very sure.

Well, we went out to the
tower in the marshes.

It was awfully creepy.

I dared Willie to go to the tower.

Hello, anybody there?

Mister.

Wake up, mister!

What is it... what, what, what is it?

Oh! Look at the waste.

- You care for a dram?
- No, no thank you.

- I came out here because...
- Oh, come on man, have a dram.

That container, that's mine, it came
from my workshop. Where did you get it?

- This? I found it lying about...
- Don't touch it!

Here man, mind what you're up to!

Stay away from that!
You touch it, and it may kill you.

Come in.

- Good evening, sir.
- Hello, Peter.

I can see what you
meant on the phone.

- Is it safe?
- Unfortunately, yes.

- This is lead, isn't it?
- Half an inch thick.

There's a sort of...

I know, I found the same
thing up at the tower.

There's a towel there.

You won't be able to wipe it off, Peter.

It'll just disappear in an hour or two.

What is it?

Well, whatever it is,
it's all over the place.

How do you explain it, sir?

All this extraordinary damage just
to steal on old sample container.

Do you know what's in that
container, Peter?

It's Tritium.

Don't be alarmed now,
it's completely harmless.

And how long would you say
Tritium retains its radioactivity?

It's not a very stable
compound, about 30 years.

28 actually,
now take a radiation reading.

No, the counters working all
right, here, look.

Just the luminous paint on my watch.

What happened, sir?
I don't understand.

Peter, I'm afraid I don't either.

Yesterday the material
on that container was

giving a danger point
radiation reading.

- Now as you just saw, it's nothing.
- But that's impossible!

Isn't it?

Yesterday I would have said yes,
but this fact is inescapable.

The energy trapped in that Tritium
has been sucked right out of it.

And furthermore, these windows were
barred and that door was locked all night.

So, whoever it was came in here must be...

most unusual.

- Really, Inspector McGill.
- Tristen.

I'm sorry, but the whole
thing's quite ridiculous.

I never thought anyone would
call you people in on this.

The local police called us.

As you know, sir, any crime,
however small, connected with

this establishment,
automatically comes through to us.

Quite possibly,

but this crime,

if you can call it that,

has nothing to do with
the establishment.

This tin can was stole from
Dr. Royston's own workshop,

it's purely a personal matter.

I should have thought
the local police

were well able to
take care of that.

As for the story of Dr. Royston's
about the tin containing some...

...radioactive material.
Well, I've spoke to the doctor about that,

and I don't want to hear anymore
about the matter, thank you.

Well, I do, sir.

So, perhaps you can tell me
where I can find Dr. Royston.

Obviously, Inspector...

...Mr. McGill...

If you place any credence in this
story, you don't

know the first thing about
the basic facts of science.

- Now, let me...
- Dr. Royston does.

- Does what?
- Know about the basic fact of science.

Look here, sir,
I've been sent up here to...

...pursue an investigation.

Perhaps you'll allow
me to do just that.

Where can I find Dr. Royston?

Don't you chaps even stop to eat?

My name's McGill,
do you mind if I sit down?

United Kingdom, Atomic Energy
Commission, Internal Security Police.

Sounds very impressive.

Impressive, yes, except on paydays.

- Well, Inspector, what can I possibly...
- Mister.

OK, Mac, what can I tell you?

It's about that child that was
burned, any idea how it happened?

Well, not for sure, no.

It's possible he may have handled
that sample container of mine.

Oh, the case of the missing radiation.
Yes, I've heard about that already.

- From the Director?
- From the Director.

There's no doubt as to his
opinions about the matter.

What about yours?
Oh, I'm not entitled to have any opinion.

I'm only interested in facts.

I was talking to that old
reprobate up in the tower, old Tom.

One fact I did manage
to learn was that child

never went near that
container of yours.

He was burned by something else.

Dr. Royston, I'd like you to
help me find out what it was.

I'm so sorry.

Oh, Willie.

I expect you'd like to stay here
awhile, use my room.

Thank you.

The boy's parents.

Is he dead?

I'm afraid so,
he never regained consciousness

Adam, we've got to find out
how this thing happened!

- That's what we're trying to do, Doctor.
- Kelly. - McGill

That's why we came
to seek for it.

Dr. Royston, isn't it?

- Mr. Harding, how...
- There's nothing you can say will help.

I know about you, Dr. Royston!

You're a scientist, not a doctor.

You don't look after the sick

You meddle with things that kill,
like they killed my boy in here.

You should be locked up Royston.

Locked up with other like you.

Letting off bombs you can't control.

You're not safe.

You're a murderer.

Mr. Harding, please.

I don't know what to do.
I just don't know.

My wife!

I don't think he really
meant what he said, Adam.

Yes, he did, Mac.
He meant it.

I'm sure you know, that though it all,
we only try to create, not destroy.

Two minutes?
Right.

Zena, in here.

Hmm, cozy.

- Convenient too.
- So I've heard from the other nurses.

You don't want to take any
notice of what they tell you.

Oh, but I do,
that's why I'm here.

What did you think
I came down for?

A course of... radium treatment?

Zena, darling,
why didn't we start doing this earlier?

I've given you enough
encouragement, haven't I?

But you should've been more direct.

You should've come up and said...

Harry, I want... I want...

- What the?
- It switched on.

Must be your electric personality.

Stay here, don't move.

This is where we stored the radium.

Yes.

Obviously, the radium was the target.

Safe proved no obstacle
whatsoever, did it?

What sort of heat would
be required to do this?

Heat far beyond anything
we ever dreamed of.

Don't forget the time element.

Whatever happened in here must've
taken place in a few seconds.

Perhaps we'll learn a bit more
when we can talk to the girl.

Look, there's another thing, Adam.

- I know, it's all over the place.
- Same as in your workshop.

Any luck?

I don't know if she'll recover,
but I think it would be a good

thing if we got here away from
here as quickly as possible.

You mean she won't be able
to tell us what happened?

She won't be able to
tell you her own name.

Royston?

What is this?
What are we dealing with?

How could anyone get in
here when there are people

outside there in the
corridor all the time?

Well, apparently,
this is the only place it could come in.

But, the grill doesn't open,
it's cemented to the wall.

- Came in through the grill.
- But, Adam, that's impossible.

Whatever it was that
did all this certainly

wasn't small enough
to come through that.

Well, how small is
10,000 gallons of oil?

What do you mean?

10,000 gallons of oil would take up
a pretty large area, wouldn't it?

And yet,
10,000 gallons of oil could come

through the holes in that
grill, couldn't it?

Yes, it could.

Then, that's the way it got into my
workshop, it came in under the door.

You know, obviously...

this thing can take up
any shape it needs to.

Where do you think it is now?

Somewhere out on the ridges.

Well, thank goodness
that Major didn't take my

advice and station a
couple soldiers out there.

But he did.

Brew up!

- What's that?
- Tea.

You don't hear something?

Like what?

I don't know.

Must have been...

No, it couldn't have been.

Hey, Spider,
there's a really great glow out here.

- What is it, Haggis?
- I'm not sure.

- You better go and have a look.
- Yeah.

- Why me?
- Frightened?

Yeah.... and I don't
mind admitting it either.

You know these parts better than
me, you go have a look.

I don't know these parts.

- You're a Scott, ain't ya?
- Aye, but I was born 300 miles from here.

Doesn't matter now,
anyhow, it's gone away.

Well, I suppose I'd
better go have a look.

- Keep my tea warm, Spider.
- OK.

Here, Haggis...

Haggis, I've been thinking...

Why don't you and me go
to Glasgow on our next 48?

You can show me the castle!

Hey, Spider, come here, quick!
Look!

Haggis?!

Haggis?!

What's the matter, Haggis?!

What is it, Haggis?

Haggis?!

Where are you, Haggis?

Haggis?

Guard?!

Guard!

Looks like we're too late.

I suggested this meeting
because I think I

have an idea of what
we may be dealing with.

Perhaps one of you
may have a solution.

Then again, perhaps one of
you may think I'm talking a

lot of nonsense and can offer
a more logical conclusion.

What's this going to be
then, Adam, fact or theory?

Partly fact, mostly theory.

I see, well, carry on,
we're all listening.

I'd like to resurrect for just a moment,
if I may, a treatise I did when I

was a student. Which has to do with
the cooling of the earth's Surface.

Hundred's of millions of years
ago, the earth was like the sun...

...no form, no solidity to it,
it was just a blazing mass of energy.

And then the Earth started cooling,
and as it cooled an outer crust was formed.

The energy was still there, but it was
being compressed beneath this crust.

As time went by, the crust grew deeper.

An the compression became
greater as this vast energy

was being squeezed into
an ever decreasing space.

May I interrupt a moment, Adam?
What you're telling us is

something every schoolboy knows.
What's it leading to?

I'm sorry, maybe I should
skip the preliminaries.

No, don't skip anything, Adam,
I was never very bright at school.

Well, then in a comparatively
short space of time,

a matter of a 100 thousand
years, man has evolved.

And man has evolved from
nothing, to becoming the most

intelligent creature on
the surface of this planet.

Now, considering the far
greater span of time involved...

...isn't it reasonable
to assume that the

forces contained in the
center of this earth...

...have developed an
intelligence of their own?

If we accept this, we must then
consider what these forces would think.

Their world is slowly being
compressed out of existence.

Therefore, survival must be
uppermost in their thoughts.

What's more natural in their
search for survival than that they

should return to the face of the
planet where once they lived.

Now...

...if you check, you will find every 50 years,
by virtue of the position of the Earth in the

solar system, a greater pull is exerted on the
surface of this planet than at other times.

Quite unnoticeable to us,
but 2,000 miles down, who knows?

And during the short period of
time that this pull is at it's most

powerful, you will also find there's
always been a freak earth tremor.

And that in each of these cases, a fissure
has opened in the surface of the Earth.

Now, what if, on these occasions,
some of the vast energy trapped below

had caused the eruptions or tremors
in an attempt to reach the surface?

What if, in fact,
it did reach the surface?

It looked around for a means
to sustain its existence.

For to live,
one must have nourishment.

And these forces are almost pure
energy, and what does energy live on?

- Energy.
- Exactly.

Energy can only be fed
with more energy... or...

...radiation, if you like.

50, 100, 150 years ago, these forces
found themselves without any means

of sustenance and their mass became
unstable and they disintegrated.

Now, we come to this 50 year cycle...

...this time, there's radiation!

There was radiation in the hospital.

There was radiation in my workshop!

As long as this thing feeds, it will live.

And the more it lives,
the more it will grow.

It's fantastic.

I admit, it does sound that
way, doesn't it?

But if anyone can offer a
simpler explanation of what's

been going on,
I'd be grateful and relived to hear it.

You're trying to tell us that some kind
of creature came up out of the fissure?

Mac, I'm not trying to tell you
anything, I'm just putting

forward a theory based on
the facts that we know.

- So, what do we look for?
- I don't know.

And what do we do if
we find something?

I'm afraid I don't know that either.

How big is this thing supposed to be?

Might be the size of my fist.

Might be as large as a house.

We can't stand about here, we've got
to find this thing, and destroy it.

Destroy it?

How are you going to do that,
shoot it, burn it, blow it up?

Listen to me, all of you!

We've been told a story based on a
little fact, and a great deal of fiction.

I'm amazed that this story
has been accepted by all

of you without the slightest
doubt or hesitation.

I said just now that I
thought the whole thing

was fantastic,
I'll go further than that...

...it's absolute rubbish!

Dr. Royston, you're a
scientist, you deal with facts.

A man of your intelligence and capabilities
has no right to talk as you have.

You astound me!

- What about that boy being burned?
- We've been all through that.

And that business
at the hospital?

There must be some perfectly
logical explanation for it,

I suggest we leave the police
to find out what it is.

I'm the police, in a way, and I've
come here to get Dr. Royston's advice.

In that case,
I'll waste no more time.

Good night, gentlemen.

I'm sorry if anybody
else feels that way.

Let's try and get a
look at this thing.

The only way we can do
that is go to the fissure.

But we've been there
more than once already.

We've seen nothing.

You misunderstood me. Somebody
has got to go down in the fissure.

Well, all ready, sir.

Peter, now, you're quite sure you
still want to go through with this?

I know, we've argued this out before.

After all,
I did volunteer for the job.

- He's right, Adam.
- OK, Peter.

Thank you.

- Senior doesn't like it at all.
- Ha ha, nor do any of us.

Director of the establishment’s
been on to him,

told him he thinks the whole
things a waste of time.

I hope you're not in any
trouble, Major.

Not yet,
but I have strict orders what to do.

All ready. Sir.

- You're all right now, are you?
- Yes, sure.

What's the drill?

If there's any radioactivity
on that Geiger counter,

let us know and we'll
get you out of there.

Right, lower it away.

Keep going.

Lower.

Lower away.

Keep going,

Lower.

You all right, sir?

Nothing to report, sir.

Lower.

Oop.

- Oop, stop, stop there!
- Hold it!

All right, lower away again.

Stop lowering!

You all right, sir?

He's all right.

What is it?

He's all right,
but something's happening, sir.

No, it's all right, keep lowering.

Keep lowering!

Stop! Stop lowering!

Get me out of here, quick!

Faster! Faster!

Faster! Fast as you can!
Come on now!

Bring him up, boys.

Come on, boys!

Faster! Heave! Faster!

Crank faster!

You were right, sir.

There's a body of a
soldier down there.

- It's all burnt up.
- What else?

Well, never mind about that,
let's get away from here.

Peter,
what did you see down there?

I don't know what it was,

it was like something out of a
nightmare, it was horrible.

We'll talk about that later,
and you get in the car, Peter.

I told you I had my orders, sir.

They were to take action if
anything was found down there.

What sort of action?

Kill whatever it is,
and concrete the whole thing over.

Concrete it over?

- You don't mean that?
- Those are my orders.

Well, Major, when do you start?

Tonight, right away.

- Sergeant?
- Right, sir!

Well, you seem to be
making a job of it.

I think this should do the trick.
What about you?

You know this Royston chap,
brilliant of course, I'm sure.

But the trouble with some
of these scientific types

is they can't see the
easy way out of anything.

It's got to be complicated
if it's going to work.

Come in, come in.

Hello, Mac.

Where you been all day?
Here, hold this.

- Down at the fissure.
- Oh, they finished down there?

- What did they do, exactly?
- Practically everything.

Flame throwers, high explosive,
and a neat little concrete tombstone.

Rest in peace, huh?

You don't think it's done any
good, do you?

Well, how could it?
Let's look at the facts, you know this...

Here, give me that.

There's this "X", this unknown
quantity, whatever it is, has

forced it's way through miles
and miles of solid rock.

How's a couple feet of
concrete going to stop it?

But what about the
flamethrowers and explosive?

Nothing could live after that!

Perhaps nothing we've ever
encountered before, but...

...no, this isn't a living
organism, as we know it.

It's life source may be
the same as we've got here.

Stay on the side of the screen.

That's good.

Now, Mac, how would you
go about killing that?

What is it?

It's a particle of mud.

And by virtue of it's atomic
structure, emits radiation.

That's all it is, just mud.
How do you kill mud?

Have you informed anyone
in London about all this?

Hmm, no more than a half a dozen times.

And?

Well, at first they were
interested, but skeptical.

They suggested I get in touch
with the Director about it.

And later on,
the Director got in touch with them.

The result is,
I've been called back to London.

- When?
- Tonight.

I'm catching the last
plane from Glasgow.

Mac, I'm sorry to hear that.

You've become one of
my staunchest allies.

Adam, this thing is going to
break out again, isn't it?

In my opinion, yes.

Isn't there anything
we can do to stop it?

I don't know.

Something I've been working
on a long time now. A method of...

...disintegrating atomic structure,
obviating with the sudden explosion.

Well, it's...

Look, what's an atomic bomb?

It's a breaking up of atomic
particles, isn't it?

Well, not quite, but that's close enough.
You see, I'm

trying to achieve this breaking
up, without the explosion.

This is a...

Look, I'll show you.

Now, in that lead container is
an atomically unstable compound.

Two things can happen to it...

Either it will continue to give off radiation
for the next 200 years, or it can be

subjected to an outside force which will
disintegrate it in a fraction of a second.

- A bomb, in fact.
- Well, if you like, yes.

But see,
that's what I'm trying to prevent.

Now, theoretically...

...if you draw this stuff
between the scanners...

...and adjust the scanners
to a certain pitch,

a neutralizing affect
should be achieved.

You mean to say that this apparatus
would neutralize an atomic bomb?

- So that it wouldn't explode?
- That's my point, it couldn't.

It couldn't, it wouldn't
be a bomb anymore, it would

just be a handful of mud
and a very expensive casing.

But, Adam, that's fantastic!

A step in the right direction
anyway, isn't it, Mac?

Will you be able to use this
against that thing out there?

Six months time, perhaps, but...

Yes, Russell, what is it?

Mr. Peters sent me down to
remind you of the time, sir.

Oh... yes, yes, thank you.

Oh, Russell, you were able to
locate Mr. Elliott, weren't you?

- Not yet, no sir.
- Oh, that's too bad.

All right, thank you,
I'll be right out.

We're taking the cobalt
out of the pile tonight,

and we haven't been
able to locate John yet.

Well, Mac, we're sure going
to miss you around here.

Goodbye, Adam. Good luck.

- Peter, is that truck ready?
- Yes, it's standing by outside, sir.

Well, as soon as these are all
out, I want you to

get a quick reading,
and then we'll load them.

The pile is now inactive!

The pile is now inactive!

OK, boys, let's get started
and I'll get these out.

No, sir, I don't. I think we have
every chance of seeing it again.

Excuse me...

I'm sorry, sir, the lines bad.

Yes, I see.
But I only want one more night, sir.

If nothing happens, I can catch
the first plane tomorrow morning.

Station Sergeant speaking.

Yes, of course. Aye.

Aye.

Where?

Well, thank you, sir.

Oh, there's one other thing.
I believe the Director,

Mr. Elliott's got in touch
with you earlier today.

You must speak up,
this phone's bad!

- Oh, yes, I've seen him.
- I've got that.

What about the occupants?

They what?
You must be mad!

No sir, he doesn't, I
know, but all the same.

All right, sir.

Very well, good night.

All right,
I'll send somebody out right away!

Williams, I want you to go
out, there's been an accident!

Right, Sarge.

- Thank you, Sergeant.
- Right, sir

And tell McGowan to report to
me when he comes off duty.

People melting, indeed.

- What's that you say?
- Oh, there's been an accident, sir.

Four miles from here.

Yes, I know, I heard that,
but what's this about people melting?

Well, that's what the man on the beat
said, I think he must be...

Let me have that address.
Thank you.

Hey, what do you
think you're doing?

Do you hear me?

I say,
what do you think you're doing?

Sorry, sir.

Where's the nearest telephone?

The nearest public phone is
a couple of miles away, sir.

But maybe one of these people
will let you use theirs.

Anybody live near
here have a phone?

Aye, there's a phone in my shop, half
a mile down the road. You can use that.

Thanks very much.
Pop in the car, I'll drive you down.

Dr. Royston?

John, we've just taken the
cobalt out of the pile.

- There wasn't time...
- On who's authority?

Well, there wasn't really
time to check with you.

You know how long it takes to
get that pile started again.

You'll put the cobalt bombardment
weeks behind schedule.

Entirely on you own initiative,
you break in on an official experiment.

You deactivate the pile
without consulting me.

This isn't your
workshop, Royston!

This is a government establishment,
and I'm it's director.

Look, I'm sorry,
you'll have to speak louder.

No, he's busy right now,
this is Peter Elliott.

Oh yes.

Yes.

I'll tell him, right away.

Dr. Royston, it's McGill.

It appears what you were
afraid of has happened.

It's just killed 4 people in a car.

The lines terrible,
but I think he said they'd melted.

Hello, Mac, this is Royston.

What's this all about?

Yes, yes, wait a minute.

Just a minute.

Do you have a pencil, please?

Go ahead.

Yes.

Where?

Yes, right... right.

Got it.

Do you have a local
surveying map in your office?

Yes, there's one up there.

- Let's take a look at it.
- Yes, of course, come on.

This point right
here is the fissure.

Now, here is the hospital.

This is where something
was seen glowing.

Now, over here, is my workshop.

If we follow this line,
right here is the old tower.

You know, this thing can
obviously sense radioactivity.

And once it does, nothing can stop it.
Makes straight for the radiation.

And then returns to the fissure.

And by these lines, it's pretty
clear it returns by the same route.

Now, this latest report,
this burned out car, is right here.

Now, if we extend the line from
the fissure through this point,

somewhere along this extended
line is where it's headed.

- I see.
- Here!

That's right, it's on its way for
the biggest meal of it's life!

Hurry up, man, hurry
up, open the gate!

- All right, all right.
- Oh, come along, man, open up the gate.

- Let's see your pass.
- Oh, you know me.

- Come along, open up!
- Sorry, sir, let's see your pass first.

- Here.
- All right, sir.

We daren't put that cobalt back in the
pile, we've got to get it out of here fast.

There must be a limit to the
distance it can sense radiation.

We've got to get
beyond that point.

Adam,
I just wanted to say that...

Oh, never mind.
I'll go and warn the security people.

- Mac.
- Adam.

- Any sign of it yet?
- No, not yet.

It can't be far off.

I've warned everybody to keep indoors.
Upstairs, if possible.

I posted every man I could lay
hands on to keep watch for it.

I tried to phone London again, but there's
something the matter with the lines.

It's all interference.

We've got the same trouble here.

- Nobody's spotted a thing, huh?
- None of my men have seen anything.

I'd like to know why?
A thing that big simply can't disappear.

No, but it might alter it's form
and become almost invisible.

Isn't that true?

What's going on here?

We're trying to get this
cobalt loaded and out of here.

What about the gates
around this place?

They're being watched.

I'd like to phone around the
gates, if I may?

There's a phone in there.

The line isn't very good, I'm afraid.

Peter!

Check the main gate.
See if you can spot it.

Clear this yard, boys!

- Adam, what about the cobalt?
- There's nothing we can do about that now.

But if it gets near, it might explode it.

Then we'll be the first to explode a
cobalt bomb, now clear out of here!

Boys, get out of this yard!
Come on!

Hello! Wait a minute!

It's the main yard gate.
Where can we see it from?

Up that ladder, sir!

Tell everyone to stay clear of the
west approach to the reactor building.

It's coming in that way.

Our only chance is the hope
that it absorbs radiation.

Won't that make it unstable
as the cobalt decays?

Yes, yes it would.

Dr. Royston...

...its on its way.

The man on the main gate
had it just like the others.

It's coming in on the west side.

Look! There it is on the roof!

Up there, quick!

It's growing larger.

The mass has to increase to
accommodate the extra radiation.

How big will it get?

The important thing is how
unstable is it going to get?

Isn't there anything we can do?

Well, we can try, but not here.

The only thing we can do is to
let it go back to the fissure.

Now we know the exact
route it will take so let's

clear that route and get
everybody out of its path.

I'll see if the army has a helicopter.
We can use that

to keep a check on it,
in case it changes direction.

What are you going to do, Adam?

- I'm going down to my workshop.
- It's moving.

Any luck?

I can't hear a thing,
the static's drowning out everything.

The sergeant says that's a sure
sign the thing's not far off.

- Aye, let's get back to Lock Mouth.
- Aye.

Come on now, hurry!
You'll be safe inside the chapel.

Come on now.
Inside, hurry!

- Do you need any help, minister?
- I don't think so.

How near is it going to come?

It should pass within a 100
yards of where you are now.

Between those trees.

- How much longer.
- About 2 minutes, as far as I can tell.

Come on, Mrs. McGinty,
let me take your bundle.

Come on, it's nice and warm inside.

There you are.

It's changed direction,
it's not following the same route.

Plot a map the other way out.

That was close.

Army copter to mobile, heading out
from Loch Mouth, traveling east.

Oh, what's the use, they'll never
hear anything in this static.

- Are you getting all this, lad?
- Oh, yes, sir.

Oh, fine, let's get over to Check Point 3.

Just... there.

Come on, ladies, hurry,
there is no time to lose, hurry!

Inside, quickly!

Wait here.

Every line out of this place is useless.
Radio's even worse.

There's no hope of getting
through to London now.

We've got to handle this ourselves.

I still think that as soon as it gets to
the fissure, we ought to leave it alone.

That is, until we can get
in touch with the ministry.

Look, Mr. Elliott,
Adam says the larger this

thing grows,
the more its range will increase.

You know the next
point it will make for?

There, that's it, the experimental
nuclear power station at Glen Cardiff.

And to reach there, it will go right
through the center of Inverness.

Now do you see, we've got to
stop this thing at the fissure.

And we've got to stop it for good.

- Well, Adam?
- How's it going?

Not too good,
I'm just ready to try again.

Watch out now, just in case.

- That's it, it's worked.
- You've done it, Adam, you've done it!

Adam, look!

The container, it's glowing!

What's happening, sir?

Well, that won't do,
we'll have to try again.

There's no time to try again!

If a piece of material no bigger
than a pin head can cause an

explosion like that can't you
imagine what would happen out there?

We've got to have time!

I don't care, Adam,
we've got to take the chance!

We've got to try and stop
this thing at the fissure!

Dr. Royston?

Those scanners, they could have
slipped out of synchronization.

They might have, yes.

Might have been a
hundred other things.

But could it have been the
scanners, Adam?

Yes, yes, they...

...being out of sync
might have caused it.

Everything you've asked for
is at the fissure, Adam.

Trucks, radioactive material...
everything's ready!

Well, if that's the way it's got to
be, let's get started.

Tell them to get that
copter away from here.

Noise enough to wake the dead,
let alone that thing down there.

Right, sir.

- Is everything here, Major?
- I don't know yet.

What are all these men doing?

Mac, let's clear this area.

Well, if anything goes wrong,
it won't matter much where they are.

True, but they'll get in our way.
Now, is this our Jeep?

That's it, just as you ordered.

You know what you got on the
back there is bait, don't you?

Yes, sir.

The purpose is to entice
whatever is down there, out.

Now don't you get any closer than 15
feet, you understand that?

Very good, sir.

Let's get started.

- Have the trucks follow.
- Right.

- Mr. Thomson, follow this car down.
- Right, sir.

Now, Peter, don't let that Jeep
get any closer than 15 feet.

- Remember that, 15 feet.
- Right, sir!

Can we do anything to help, Adam?

No, Mac, just keep your fingers crossed.

Right, well,
we'll stay out of your way, anyhow.

Major, impress upon your men the importance
of keeping these scanners in phase.

As soon as we're ready,
I'll give the signal for the switch on.

Right.

Everything all right?

Thank you, sir.
I've got the cobalt out.

- I'll get the men under cover, sir.
- What's that? Yes, yes!

Hold it, you lads, take cover.

Come along all of you,
get your heads down behind this bank here.

Come on, Dole, what are you waiting for?

What's going to happen, Sarge?

I'm gonna kick you head in if you don't
get it down, that's what's gonna happen.

Give me the OK as soon as
you're synchronized. - Right!

- You ready number one?
- Ready, sir!

Are you ready number two?

Ready, sir!

Excuse me, Major.

Peter!
Turn on the Jeep.

Bring out the Jeep!

Hey, what's the matter?

Right, come on, get
out, I'll take it.

Good luck, sir!

You better take cover too.

It's Peter.

- What do you think you're doing?
- The drivers sick.

That's no reason why
you should do it.

What's he doing?

Peter!

Peter, don't go any closer!

Peter, don't go any closer!
Peter!

Peter! Peter, don't be a fool!
Get back! Get back!

Peter!

Peter, get out, Peter!

Get out, and try to walk!

All right!

Switch on!

- Switch on!
- Right, sir!

Switch on!

It's gone.

Adam, it's gone!

It worked, Mac, didn't it?

Bring out the Geigers!
Let's have a reading!

What was that?

I don't know,
but it shouldn't have happened.

But the thing's gone!

You should be very proud, Adam.
Your theories worked!

It has, Adam.