The Outer Limits (1995–2002): Season 3, Episode 13 - Dead Man's Switch - full transcript
An American soldier learns that he is one of five people around the world who are separately sealed underground for a year and are charged with preventing Earth's self-destruction as the world awaits a possible invasion by aliens.
Don't they usually
put these inside
of mountains, sir?
Bunkers, I mean.
Let's hope they think
the way you do.
"They," sir?
Of course.
I keep forgetting
you're a last-minute
replacement for Samuelson.
How much did they tell you?
Only that I'd be working
in isolation...
for a maximum of a year, sir.
Well, you'll have
plenty of solitude.
Bunker level.
11, 000 feet.
This is the control room.
You'll spend
most of your time here,
so we tried to make it
as comfortable as possible.
We programmed
a pretty tough opponent
for Samuelson.
I hope you enjoy chess
as much as he does.
These elevator shaft doors
will weld shut.
You'll be sealed in here.
But not to worry.
It's completely
self-contained.
A small reactor
will provide
your electrical power.
A recycling and filtration
system will take care
of your air and your water.
Here.
Open it.
Inside, you'll find why
we quickly had to pull
all this together.
Too quickly for my taste.
It's like slapping it together
with spit and rubber bands.
Those were taken
from the Hubble.
We've been monitoring them
for almost 2 years.
We have a few weeks
to a number of months
before the aliens
reach the earth.
So, they could be
coming in peace?
Maybe. Our job
is to be ready
if they're not.
This bunker...
is a doomsday device,
Lieutenant,
able to annihilate
the entire planet.
My God.
And if I press that button,
it goes off.
Just the opposite.
It prevents it.
It's a dead man's switch.
Trains have them in case
the engineer falls asleep.
If he doesn't push a button
when a random alarm goes off,
it stops the train.
So it's like a fail-safe?
That's right.
If anything happens
to you down here,
the doomsday device goes off,
and if we don't
dig you out in a year,
you can assume
that mankind has been
defeated by the aliens.
That's when you stop
pushing that button,
and the aliens will be wiped
from the face of the planet.
I'm behind schedule.
I gotta go.
I'll contact you
and give you the rest
of your instructions.
General, you can't leave.
I have so many questions.
Have to. System's automated.
You'll be sealed in here
in less than a minute.
But what if the worst happens?
What if they invade, and...
Not that I would do it...
But out of self-preservation,
I just keep pressing
the button.
That'd be hard. After a year,
all the systems
will run out of fuel.
No power, no food, no water,
and no air.
But what if you haven't
dug me out by then?
Why do you think we call it
a dead man's switch?
There is nothing wrong
with your television.
Do not attempt
to adjust the picture.
We are now controlling
the transmission.
We control the horizontal
and the vertical.
We can deluge you
with 1, 000 channels
or expand one single image
to crystal clarity
and beyond.
We can shape your vision
to anything
our imagination
can conceive.
For the next hour,
we will control
all that you see and hear.
You are about to experience
the awe and mystery
which reaches from
the deepest inner mind
to The Outer Limits.
Young idealists often dream
of having the power
to save the world,
but would that dream
become a nightmare
if saving the world
could also mean destroying it?
Hello, Lieutenant.
You ready to test this baby out?
Y- Yes, sir.
Take the position
and initiate
the retinal scanner
and palm-print analyser
to your person.
I assume you read the procedure.
Yes, sir.
Identify.
Conklin, Benjamin P.
Dead Man One.
Authenticating.
Dead Man.
Verified.
Arming system.
The system's on-line now.
You have about 24 hours
with the layout and equipment
before the alarms begin.
You said to push
the button before...
the count runs out.
I was wondering
what would happen if it
ever reaches zero, sir.
This...
A full-capacity detonation.
Every nuclear, chemical,
and biological weapon
we've got
all over the world.
If we don't
come out of this alive,
no one else will, either.
We want our visitors
to know about this device
and what will happen
if we use it.
Can they disarm the system, sir?
Not without triggering
the destruct sequence.
They'd have to know
every feature, every trap.
It's just not possible.
We've thought this through,
Lieutenant.
We don't want the aliens
intercepting any signals
and tracing them back
to your bunkers
or feeding you
false information.
That's why you have
no access to radio
or TV signals
and can't call out.
We control what you receive
and only from this location.
Everything about this operation
is on a strict
need-to-know basis.
You won't be
the only person
at the switch.
There will be
4 other people
on your team,
each one stationed at
a different secret location
around the globe.
They'll be on-line
within 24 hours.
Any one of you
can stop the countdown.
A built-in redundancy.
How often
will you check in, sir?
Often.
In fact, if you have
any other questions,
save them for tomorrow.
Eiger out.
Good morning.
Good morning...
Hong or Donald?
Take a wild guess.
I am Donald.
Good morning.
It is afternoon in South Africa.
I'm Lieutenant
Ben Conklin.
U. S. Air Force.
Never mind him.
All he ever does
is play that game.
That's the doc.
She's a clinical psychologist.
Gwen Wellington.
Good to meet you.
Thanks. Likewise.
Yes? Hello.
Hello.
I'm Lieutenant
Ben Conklin.
U. S. Air Force.
Um, Katia Rubinoff.
Russian Republic Army.
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
Deactivation verified.
Congratulations, everyone,
on your first successful alert.
You just saved the world.
Wouldn't it be
a little more accurate
to say we didn't destroy it?
Looks like
it's past my bedtime.
Katia should be done
in a minute.
Why don't you get
some sleep, Hong?
Nah, once I've finished
this level...
I'm gonna try and get some news.
Short-wave radio?
Hey, how'd you smuggle that in?
Easy. I stuffed the parts
in my underwear and smelly
old socks.
Who's gonna search that, right?
Then I borrowed some wires
from the panels here,
tapped into the conduit
that runs the shaft.
I might be able to get a signal.
You tampered
with the control panels?
One of my degrees
was electrical engineering.
Hey, Gwen, let me
ask you a question.
Sure.
That pad that you're
always writing on,
is that a diary,
or are you supposed
to watch us?
Psychologically, I mean.
I've been working with
the Australian military.
We're studying the effects
of long-term isolation.
This was an opportunity
I couldn't pass up.
We were all chosen because
of our self-reliance.
Translation,
we're all anti-social loners.
Thanks a lot.
He is right about me.
I am still a little
unsure around people.
Still?
I was in prison 5 years ago.
Yeah?
What were you in for?
I'm a priest, but I got caught
preaching the wrong gospel.
Freedom.
So how'd you get here?
I made a few influential
friends during my stay.
Very influential.
And you?
Did you volunteer?
No.
I was ordered.
The commander said
that I fit the profile.
What was that?
I'm an orphan.
I have no friends
or family, really.
A loner, like you said.
After university,
I was put in a missile silo
back when we were the USSR.
And then when this
project came up,
they said
that I would be perfect.
That's exactly
what happened with me.
I was on a drilling rig
off New Orleans.
Then when I enlisted,
I worked a listening post
up in Alaska.
How about you, Hong?
Let us hear about you.
There's not much to tell.
I trained in the States
for 4 years.
Then I was
a computer programmer
for the military.
I worked so many hours,
I didn't have a life.
Might as well have been
down here.
Hey, I got something.
Been hit
with such force,
residents fled in panic,
spreading pandemonium
in the city streets.
What pandemonium
in the streets?
Have the aliens landed?
Are we being attacked?
Try to get the signal back.
The tornado winds
were clocked
at 210 miles per hour.
The death...
Tornado.
We got all worked up
over nothing.
That's why
we're not supposed
to get outside news,
because we don't need it
to do our jobs.
Sure you wanna stay in, Katia?
You already owe me
5, 000 roubles.
Yes, but what
you don't realize...
5, 000 roubles is only
1 American dollar.
Sorry I've been out of touch,
but I've been away
at an international summit.
We've finally been able
to translate the language
of the alien transmissions.
It's rough at best,
but we are actually
communicating with them.
What are the transmissions
saying, sir?
As near as we can figure,
they're some sort of a
scientific expedition.
So they're coming in peace.
Is this true,
General?
We also have some other
new information.
Our Hubble photo had only shown
a V-shaped wedge of vessels.
But computer augmentation
has determined
that there is a second wave
of much larger vessels coming.
They've already entered
our solar system.
From where they were,
wouldn't that require
light speed?
But where is the second wave?
I don't see...
My God.
They're generating
some sort of energy field
that displaces
light and radio waves.
Attack vessels?
Not likely.
With the technology they have,
their weaponry shouldn't
require any heavy ships.
So what are they?
Tankers.
Least that's what
they've told us.
Come on, General.
Level with us.
What do you think they are?
Colonists.
Check.
I didn't expect that.
I'm a lot less predictable
than the computer, no?
I'll say.
But it's nice.
I spend way too much
time with computers.
Check again.
You know, it's strange.
Here we are.
We're both in bunkers
halfway
around the world
from each other
playing chess.
10 years ago,
we would've been
pointing missiles
at each other.
I think I like this better.
You don't need
to look away, Ben.
I left my privacy setting
off on purpose.
What... What for?
For you.
I'm sorry.
Was I embarrassing you?
No.
I...
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
Mine's not working!
20 seconds.
Katia, you've got
to press your button!
Aah!
Katia, get out of there!
Katia, fight!
Aah! Save me!
I'm trying!
Where is everybody?!
No!
Bad dream?
No.
nightmare.
What about?
Did something bad happen to you?
No.
Actually,
something bad
happened to you.
I was fighting to save you.
Such chivalry.
You're a very brave friend.
You know, it was just a dream.
I don't know how brave
I'd be in real life.
It's too bad, though.
It was kind of nice
before all the bad stuff
started happening.
Da?
Tell me about it.
Well...
It was just...
you and me...
Um, I see where you are going.
You don't need to tell me
any more about it.
No, it wasn't like that.
It wasn't like that.
It was... I know where
I got the idea from.
The other night when
we were playing chess.
I thought, what would
it be like to...
kiss you.
And then I thought
when we get out of here,
maybe we could go on a date
or take a trip or something.
Ben, we are thousands
of miles apart.
And... And who knows
what the future holds?
It... It would be a cruel joke
to make us think such things,
to make us feel too much.
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
Come on, you guys.
It's your turn.
20 seconds.
Damn it!
10 seconds.
Deactivation verified.
I hit the switch first.
It's OK.
I know you're busy.
No big deal.
No, I don't think
you understand.
I hit the switch first.
It didn't cut off.
You sure?
I hit buttons all day.
I'm sure.
Nothing happened.
It didn't cut off.
If your switch could
stop working, then...
So could the others.
What... What are we gonna do
if we have another alarm?
Hey, what are you doing?
Fixing it.
I'm an electrical engineer,
remember?
Sh-shouldn't we wait?
What, for the repair man?
I don't think so.
Whose is gonna break next?
I mean, I don't know.
I just seems like there ought
to be some sort of rule or
procedure for...
My God. Look at this.
You said General Eiger
said this was put together
with spit and rubber bands?
He wasn't joking.
This is archaic.
Hong.
Hong?
Hong.
Hong.
Ben, what happened?
I don't know.
You know, General Eiger
is monitoring us.
He'd tell us if there was
something really wrong
with Ho.
He'd call us.
Unless, of course,
this is a test.
Honey, I'm home.
You're back.
Good as new?
Well, maybe the console,
but not me.
I'm beat.
It looks like it took
a lot of work.
What happened?
Well, the monitors
and the consoles share
the same power feed.
I had to take it off-line.
But I think I figured out
why the switch stopped working.
I scavenged some parts
from the ventilation
control system.
A lot of the circuits
are redundant,
so I just re-routed them.
Should work.
Should work?
What if it doesn't?
Well, we better hope
the other 4 keep working,
'cause this... is crazy.
Stand by
for a voice message
from General Eiger.
We're receiving
this transmission, folks.
Thought you might want
to look in.
They've reached Mars already.
Hey, I bet they did
a pass by Mars
to do a course
correction for Earth...
Just like that book 2010.
They could be using
gravity-wave generation
propulsion.
Pretty cool.
How does that affect the earth?
Well, major changes
in the tide, for one.
And some very rad
surf in Malibu...
in about 90 days.
Good night.
Are we really
ready for this?
So...
You ready to play?
Katia, my whole life
I've been a loner.
I've never loved anybody,
friends, family,
or a girlfriend.
I've never had
any of them to love.
It's ironic.
What?
Well, I got this job
because my life is like that.
But it took this job for me
to finally meet someone
that I can feel something for.
I think about you all the time.
When I wake up.
Before I go to bed.
Most of the time in between.
Ben...
please don't do this.
You said that we shouldn't
make any plans
and we shouldn't get any closer.
If that's how you really feel,
then I would like you
to stop playing chess
with me every day like you do.
It's just too hard on me.
but it's easy for me
when you give me
ultimatums.
You know how I feel
about this, Ben.
No.
Katia!
OK...
you win.
I'm meeting you for dinner
and a movie.
But no more talking
about trips, OK?
Let's just see
how our date goes.
OK.
The others have agreed
to give us some privacy.
So...
This is a dream.
It's real.
Very real, Jerry.
No, I...
I love you, Heather.
I have since
the first day I met you.
There I said it.
You are
such a sweet man.
That always makes me cry.
Do you think we'll ever
find our way home, Ben?
Couple of misfits like us?
You can count on it.
Well, then...
here's to...
going home together.
I think I'm getting tipsy.
Is that real wine?
I thought it was grape juice.
How'd you get that in?
I smuggled it.
I'm Russian. I know
how to get past guards.
I was saving it
for when we got out,
but what the hell.
We're not supposed
to have alcohol.
What if an alarm goes off?
You're the designated presser.
Relax.
The button is 20 feet
away from you,
and you're a fast runner.
Just don't fall asleep.
Not without kissing me
good night.
I wish I could.
Maybe you can.
I have a very good imagination.
Don't go anywhere.
Pretend to kiss me good night.
Describe it to me.
All right.
I'd put my arms
around you, and...
then I'd...
kiss you.
What is this, a handshake?
No. Tell me.
Just...
use your imagination and...
tell me what
you'd like to do to me.
Well...
First, I'd...
pull you close to me
so I could feel
the warmth of your skin
pressing against mine.
Go on.
I'd hold your face in my hands.
Running my fingers
through your hair,
I would slowly...
kiss your neck.
Then... Then I'd place my
hands on your shoulders,
caressing them,
massaging them.
My hands would move...
down your dress... if that's OK.
Yes, that's OK.
I want you to.
Down your dress,
my hands would brush...
up across your body...
caressing it's every curve
with my fingertips,
ever so lightly.
Gliding up...
and down.
And up.
Kissing you passionately,
your body,
making you lose
all control, all restraint.
You couldn't hold back.
You'd wanna let go.
You'd have to let go.
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
Deactivation verified.
Can't believe it.
It's never happened before.
How much longer, General?
Not much. I think
your wait is over.
The aliens have arrived.
When?
Last night.
A small landing craft
left their ships
and landed at Edwards.
They've begun sending us
their telemetry.
They've already begun
to gather data on the earth.
The last set of graphics
have something to do
with their orbiting link-up.
Whatever it is,
it could go either way
as far as their intentions.
They've broadcast
a message world-wide
announcing they're
only landing here
to make contact...
Peaceful contact.
They've asked for a meeting
with representatives
from every country.
I'll be one of the delegates.
What is the prognosis?
Cautiously optimistic,
emphasis on the "cautiously."
But it looks promising,
so keep your fingers crossed.
Anything?
No.
It's been a week.
We should have heard
something by now.
I keep thinking that...
There is a lot
of possible
explanations.
Yeah, like everyone's dead.
Hmph. Let's face it.
I mean, these bunkers were
like coffins from day one.
He knew. He knew damn well
we'd never get out of here.
We're already buried,
for crying out loud!
We're just not dead yet!
Stop it, Hong.
We're getting
cabin fever, that's all.
Long-term isolation
usually leads
to the feelings of stress,
fear, even paranoia.
We just need to stay calm.
A message
of some sort.
We're back in business.
Ceremonies were
interrupted after...
Alien representatives
returned to their mother ship.
News Front has received
a press release of the...
There is a new development,
and that...
Damn it! Overload!
CO2 scrubber's burst!
Hong!
Hong!
Somebody do something!
What would you have us do?
I keep waiting for him
to say some smart-ass remark.
I can't believe he's not here.
We'll all miss him.
Even the remarks.
What if it wasn't an accident?
Hong's system was jury-rigged,
patched together.
It had problems from the start.
He said he stole parts
from his air purification
system.
Maybe that made it malfunction.
The reality
is we don't know
what's happening.
Short-wave radio message
could mean many things.
It said there was
a new development.
Bad or good?
We don't know.
We can only deal
with what we do know.
And what we know
is our friend is dead.
If we want to hold together,
my prescription is rest.
OK.
I'll take the ship.
Gwen, you and Katia
get some sleep.
You go, too, Ben.
I will take it.
Sure you're OK?
You're shivering.
Yes.
It is awfully cold in here.
Is your place cold?
No.
Maybe you ought to run
a system check.
You could be having
a reactor malfunction.
No. Other problems
would be happening.
I'm sure it's just
the climate control.
Nothing a blanket won't fix.
You get some shut-eye, Ben.
I will be fine.
Katia, wake up!
You've got to see this!
My God. My God.
He's frozen.
My God.
Somebody help him.
Donald!
Donald, wake up!
Donald!
Can't you two see
that he's dead?!
Just like we're all going to be!
Don't say that.
Look, without Donald,
all together,
there's only three of us
to keep watch all the time now.
Just the three of us.
He was a religious man.
We argued once about
the existence of God.
I only hope he was right.
Ben?
Yes, Gwen?
Would you listen
to this, please?
I'm 100 points from
beating Hong's record.
I mean now.
OK.
What is it?
Reactor failure?
Or maybe my ventilation system.
Reactors are below us.
Listen, see if you can
pinpoint it.
I think it's coming
from my bedroom.
Sound like hydraulics?
It's coming from above!
You're... you're being rescued!
I knew I should've
brought champagne.
Careful.
They're breaking through.
They're lowering
some sort of cable.
Aah!
Gwen!
What happened?
Something took her!
Some kind of rope.
Somebody pulled her up.
I couldn't see.
Gwen?
Gwen!
Gwen!
Where are you?
Gwen!
Gwen!
Gwen, where are you?
Get some rest.
I can't.
If it was the aliens
that took Gwen,
then they have access to
the dead man's switch.
Yeah, but once
the perimeter's breached,
they'd have to use
both the retina
and palm scanners
to deactivate the button.
They respond
only to living tissue.
So you think Gwen is dead?
I don't know.
I do know
that she hasn't been
pressing her switch.
And since she disappeared,
the alarm's been
going off as usual.
It's only been you
and I stopping it.
So what do we do now?
You wanna finish the game?
No.
I've lost.
Face it, Ben, we've lost.
Katia.
Don't give me false hope, Ben.
I know what
they did to Gwen.
I know what I saw.
All we can do now
is wait to see
which one of us is next.
It's not gonna happen to you.
I wouldn't let it.
And how would you stop it?
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
There is only one way, Ben.
Let it go.
Ben, the aliens killed
the only real friends
that you and I ever had.
20 seconds.
Let it go.
What if the aliens haven't won?
What if there's a resistance,
if there's people
still out there trying
to fight them?
15 seconds.
There still may be a chance.
10 seconds.
9...
8...
7...
6...
5...
4...
3...
2...
Deactivation verified.
Sorry.
No.
You are right.
If there is just one person
hiding out there,
they deserve a chance.
I was being selfish.
That's why we have our orders.
Ben?
Our time is up, isn't it?
It's been a year.
Shouldn't all this
have shut down, then?
Yeah. My power
cut out last night.
I've been running
on a backup generator.
Well, how long will it last?
I don't know.
Sure you want to wait it out?
There might not be much left.
We have each other.
Ben...
whatever time I have left...
Days...
or hours...
minutes...
It's very precious to me
if I can spend it with you.
Don't worry.
Your power will come back.
No.
Something is wrong.
Warning.
System malfunction.
Katia!
The fire extinguisher!
Get your fire extinguisher!
No, the panel! The panel!
Katia, you've got
to get out of there!
Aah!
Katia, run!
Run!
My God!
Katia, are you all right?
Speak to me!
Katia, can you hear me?
Ben!
You've gotta get up!
You've got to run!
Go! Go!
Katia!
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
20 seconds.
15 seconds.
10 seconds remaining.
9...
8...
7...
6...
5...
4...
3...
2...
1.
Initiating final stage
destruct sequence.
I knew it wasn't
really 30 seconds.
30 seconds remaining.
Chemical warheads armed.
Biological weaponry armed.
20 seconds.
Nuclear warheads armed.
15 seconds.
Anybody listening?
The world explodes,
and there's no one
there to hear it!
10 seconds remaining...
Ben, do you read me?
For God sakes, man,
are you there?
General?
Ben!
3...
2...
1.
Countdown aborted.
Thank God you're alive.
We made it.
We stopped them?
We took staggering losses.
Most of our leadership
was in hiding.
But we used a new weapon,
and it drove them back.
What... So what's our plan now?
We get you out,
but it may take some time
to unseal the doors
and figure out a way
to disarm the system.
Right.
Dis... Disarm.
Disarm system.
Until we do,
no matter how much
exhaustion sets in,
stay near the switch
and keep pushing
that button.
You have to give us time
to reach you.
It's your duty.
Clear, soldier?
Yes, sir.
Keep pushing the button.
Must keep pushing the button.
Must keep pushing the button.
Must keep pushing the button.
Button.
Must keep pushing the button.
Must keep pushing the button.
Our destiny is controlled
by the choices we make.
Those choices can turn
an ordinary man
into a king
or reduce him
to little more than a pawn.
With the fate of the world
in your hands,
what would you choose?
Pushing the button.
put these inside
of mountains, sir?
Bunkers, I mean.
Let's hope they think
the way you do.
"They," sir?
Of course.
I keep forgetting
you're a last-minute
replacement for Samuelson.
How much did they tell you?
Only that I'd be working
in isolation...
for a maximum of a year, sir.
Well, you'll have
plenty of solitude.
Bunker level.
11, 000 feet.
This is the control room.
You'll spend
most of your time here,
so we tried to make it
as comfortable as possible.
We programmed
a pretty tough opponent
for Samuelson.
I hope you enjoy chess
as much as he does.
These elevator shaft doors
will weld shut.
You'll be sealed in here.
But not to worry.
It's completely
self-contained.
A small reactor
will provide
your electrical power.
A recycling and filtration
system will take care
of your air and your water.
Here.
Open it.
Inside, you'll find why
we quickly had to pull
all this together.
Too quickly for my taste.
It's like slapping it together
with spit and rubber bands.
Those were taken
from the Hubble.
We've been monitoring them
for almost 2 years.
We have a few weeks
to a number of months
before the aliens
reach the earth.
So, they could be
coming in peace?
Maybe. Our job
is to be ready
if they're not.
This bunker...
is a doomsday device,
Lieutenant,
able to annihilate
the entire planet.
My God.
And if I press that button,
it goes off.
Just the opposite.
It prevents it.
It's a dead man's switch.
Trains have them in case
the engineer falls asleep.
If he doesn't push a button
when a random alarm goes off,
it stops the train.
So it's like a fail-safe?
That's right.
If anything happens
to you down here,
the doomsday device goes off,
and if we don't
dig you out in a year,
you can assume
that mankind has been
defeated by the aliens.
That's when you stop
pushing that button,
and the aliens will be wiped
from the face of the planet.
I'm behind schedule.
I gotta go.
I'll contact you
and give you the rest
of your instructions.
General, you can't leave.
I have so many questions.
Have to. System's automated.
You'll be sealed in here
in less than a minute.
But what if the worst happens?
What if they invade, and...
Not that I would do it...
But out of self-preservation,
I just keep pressing
the button.
That'd be hard. After a year,
all the systems
will run out of fuel.
No power, no food, no water,
and no air.
But what if you haven't
dug me out by then?
Why do you think we call it
a dead man's switch?
There is nothing wrong
with your television.
Do not attempt
to adjust the picture.
We are now controlling
the transmission.
We control the horizontal
and the vertical.
We can deluge you
with 1, 000 channels
or expand one single image
to crystal clarity
and beyond.
We can shape your vision
to anything
our imagination
can conceive.
For the next hour,
we will control
all that you see and hear.
You are about to experience
the awe and mystery
which reaches from
the deepest inner mind
to The Outer Limits.
Young idealists often dream
of having the power
to save the world,
but would that dream
become a nightmare
if saving the world
could also mean destroying it?
Hello, Lieutenant.
You ready to test this baby out?
Y- Yes, sir.
Take the position
and initiate
the retinal scanner
and palm-print analyser
to your person.
I assume you read the procedure.
Yes, sir.
Identify.
Conklin, Benjamin P.
Dead Man One.
Authenticating.
Dead Man.
Verified.
Arming system.
The system's on-line now.
You have about 24 hours
with the layout and equipment
before the alarms begin.
You said to push
the button before...
the count runs out.
I was wondering
what would happen if it
ever reaches zero, sir.
This...
A full-capacity detonation.
Every nuclear, chemical,
and biological weapon
we've got
all over the world.
If we don't
come out of this alive,
no one else will, either.
We want our visitors
to know about this device
and what will happen
if we use it.
Can they disarm the system, sir?
Not without triggering
the destruct sequence.
They'd have to know
every feature, every trap.
It's just not possible.
We've thought this through,
Lieutenant.
We don't want the aliens
intercepting any signals
and tracing them back
to your bunkers
or feeding you
false information.
That's why you have
no access to radio
or TV signals
and can't call out.
We control what you receive
and only from this location.
Everything about this operation
is on a strict
need-to-know basis.
You won't be
the only person
at the switch.
There will be
4 other people
on your team,
each one stationed at
a different secret location
around the globe.
They'll be on-line
within 24 hours.
Any one of you
can stop the countdown.
A built-in redundancy.
How often
will you check in, sir?
Often.
In fact, if you have
any other questions,
save them for tomorrow.
Eiger out.
Good morning.
Good morning...
Hong or Donald?
Take a wild guess.
I am Donald.
Good morning.
It is afternoon in South Africa.
I'm Lieutenant
Ben Conklin.
U. S. Air Force.
Never mind him.
All he ever does
is play that game.
That's the doc.
She's a clinical psychologist.
Gwen Wellington.
Good to meet you.
Thanks. Likewise.
Yes? Hello.
Hello.
I'm Lieutenant
Ben Conklin.
U. S. Air Force.
Um, Katia Rubinoff.
Russian Republic Army.
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
Deactivation verified.
Congratulations, everyone,
on your first successful alert.
You just saved the world.
Wouldn't it be
a little more accurate
to say we didn't destroy it?
Looks like
it's past my bedtime.
Katia should be done
in a minute.
Why don't you get
some sleep, Hong?
Nah, once I've finished
this level...
I'm gonna try and get some news.
Short-wave radio?
Hey, how'd you smuggle that in?
Easy. I stuffed the parts
in my underwear and smelly
old socks.
Who's gonna search that, right?
Then I borrowed some wires
from the panels here,
tapped into the conduit
that runs the shaft.
I might be able to get a signal.
You tampered
with the control panels?
One of my degrees
was electrical engineering.
Hey, Gwen, let me
ask you a question.
Sure.
That pad that you're
always writing on,
is that a diary,
or are you supposed
to watch us?
Psychologically, I mean.
I've been working with
the Australian military.
We're studying the effects
of long-term isolation.
This was an opportunity
I couldn't pass up.
We were all chosen because
of our self-reliance.
Translation,
we're all anti-social loners.
Thanks a lot.
He is right about me.
I am still a little
unsure around people.
Still?
I was in prison 5 years ago.
Yeah?
What were you in for?
I'm a priest, but I got caught
preaching the wrong gospel.
Freedom.
So how'd you get here?
I made a few influential
friends during my stay.
Very influential.
And you?
Did you volunteer?
No.
I was ordered.
The commander said
that I fit the profile.
What was that?
I'm an orphan.
I have no friends
or family, really.
A loner, like you said.
After university,
I was put in a missile silo
back when we were the USSR.
And then when this
project came up,
they said
that I would be perfect.
That's exactly
what happened with me.
I was on a drilling rig
off New Orleans.
Then when I enlisted,
I worked a listening post
up in Alaska.
How about you, Hong?
Let us hear about you.
There's not much to tell.
I trained in the States
for 4 years.
Then I was
a computer programmer
for the military.
I worked so many hours,
I didn't have a life.
Might as well have been
down here.
Hey, I got something.
Been hit
with such force,
residents fled in panic,
spreading pandemonium
in the city streets.
What pandemonium
in the streets?
Have the aliens landed?
Are we being attacked?
Try to get the signal back.
The tornado winds
were clocked
at 210 miles per hour.
The death...
Tornado.
We got all worked up
over nothing.
That's why
we're not supposed
to get outside news,
because we don't need it
to do our jobs.
Sure you wanna stay in, Katia?
You already owe me
5, 000 roubles.
Yes, but what
you don't realize...
5, 000 roubles is only
1 American dollar.
Sorry I've been out of touch,
but I've been away
at an international summit.
We've finally been able
to translate the language
of the alien transmissions.
It's rough at best,
but we are actually
communicating with them.
What are the transmissions
saying, sir?
As near as we can figure,
they're some sort of a
scientific expedition.
So they're coming in peace.
Is this true,
General?
We also have some other
new information.
Our Hubble photo had only shown
a V-shaped wedge of vessels.
But computer augmentation
has determined
that there is a second wave
of much larger vessels coming.
They've already entered
our solar system.
From where they were,
wouldn't that require
light speed?
But where is the second wave?
I don't see...
My God.
They're generating
some sort of energy field
that displaces
light and radio waves.
Attack vessels?
Not likely.
With the technology they have,
their weaponry shouldn't
require any heavy ships.
So what are they?
Tankers.
Least that's what
they've told us.
Come on, General.
Level with us.
What do you think they are?
Colonists.
Check.
I didn't expect that.
I'm a lot less predictable
than the computer, no?
I'll say.
But it's nice.
I spend way too much
time with computers.
Check again.
You know, it's strange.
Here we are.
We're both in bunkers
halfway
around the world
from each other
playing chess.
10 years ago,
we would've been
pointing missiles
at each other.
I think I like this better.
You don't need
to look away, Ben.
I left my privacy setting
off on purpose.
What... What for?
For you.
I'm sorry.
Was I embarrassing you?
No.
I...
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
Mine's not working!
20 seconds.
Katia, you've got
to press your button!
Aah!
Katia, get out of there!
Katia, fight!
Aah! Save me!
I'm trying!
Where is everybody?!
No!
Bad dream?
No.
nightmare.
What about?
Did something bad happen to you?
No.
Actually,
something bad
happened to you.
I was fighting to save you.
Such chivalry.
You're a very brave friend.
You know, it was just a dream.
I don't know how brave
I'd be in real life.
It's too bad, though.
It was kind of nice
before all the bad stuff
started happening.
Da?
Tell me about it.
Well...
It was just...
you and me...
Um, I see where you are going.
You don't need to tell me
any more about it.
No, it wasn't like that.
It wasn't like that.
It was... I know where
I got the idea from.
The other night when
we were playing chess.
I thought, what would
it be like to...
kiss you.
And then I thought
when we get out of here,
maybe we could go on a date
or take a trip or something.
Ben, we are thousands
of miles apart.
And... And who knows
what the future holds?
It... It would be a cruel joke
to make us think such things,
to make us feel too much.
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
Come on, you guys.
It's your turn.
20 seconds.
Damn it!
10 seconds.
Deactivation verified.
I hit the switch first.
It's OK.
I know you're busy.
No big deal.
No, I don't think
you understand.
I hit the switch first.
It didn't cut off.
You sure?
I hit buttons all day.
I'm sure.
Nothing happened.
It didn't cut off.
If your switch could
stop working, then...
So could the others.
What... What are we gonna do
if we have another alarm?
Hey, what are you doing?
Fixing it.
I'm an electrical engineer,
remember?
Sh-shouldn't we wait?
What, for the repair man?
I don't think so.
Whose is gonna break next?
I mean, I don't know.
I just seems like there ought
to be some sort of rule or
procedure for...
My God. Look at this.
You said General Eiger
said this was put together
with spit and rubber bands?
He wasn't joking.
This is archaic.
Hong.
Hong?
Hong.
Hong.
Ben, what happened?
I don't know.
You know, General Eiger
is monitoring us.
He'd tell us if there was
something really wrong
with Ho.
He'd call us.
Unless, of course,
this is a test.
Honey, I'm home.
You're back.
Good as new?
Well, maybe the console,
but not me.
I'm beat.
It looks like it took
a lot of work.
What happened?
Well, the monitors
and the consoles share
the same power feed.
I had to take it off-line.
But I think I figured out
why the switch stopped working.
I scavenged some parts
from the ventilation
control system.
A lot of the circuits
are redundant,
so I just re-routed them.
Should work.
Should work?
What if it doesn't?
Well, we better hope
the other 4 keep working,
'cause this... is crazy.
Stand by
for a voice message
from General Eiger.
We're receiving
this transmission, folks.
Thought you might want
to look in.
They've reached Mars already.
Hey, I bet they did
a pass by Mars
to do a course
correction for Earth...
Just like that book 2010.
They could be using
gravity-wave generation
propulsion.
Pretty cool.
How does that affect the earth?
Well, major changes
in the tide, for one.
And some very rad
surf in Malibu...
in about 90 days.
Good night.
Are we really
ready for this?
So...
You ready to play?
Katia, my whole life
I've been a loner.
I've never loved anybody,
friends, family,
or a girlfriend.
I've never had
any of them to love.
It's ironic.
What?
Well, I got this job
because my life is like that.
But it took this job for me
to finally meet someone
that I can feel something for.
I think about you all the time.
When I wake up.
Before I go to bed.
Most of the time in between.
Ben...
please don't do this.
You said that we shouldn't
make any plans
and we shouldn't get any closer.
If that's how you really feel,
then I would like you
to stop playing chess
with me every day like you do.
It's just too hard on me.
but it's easy for me
when you give me
ultimatums.
You know how I feel
about this, Ben.
No.
Katia!
OK...
you win.
I'm meeting you for dinner
and a movie.
But no more talking
about trips, OK?
Let's just see
how our date goes.
OK.
The others have agreed
to give us some privacy.
So...
This is a dream.
It's real.
Very real, Jerry.
No, I...
I love you, Heather.
I have since
the first day I met you.
There I said it.
You are
such a sweet man.
That always makes me cry.
Do you think we'll ever
find our way home, Ben?
Couple of misfits like us?
You can count on it.
Well, then...
here's to...
going home together.
I think I'm getting tipsy.
Is that real wine?
I thought it was grape juice.
How'd you get that in?
I smuggled it.
I'm Russian. I know
how to get past guards.
I was saving it
for when we got out,
but what the hell.
We're not supposed
to have alcohol.
What if an alarm goes off?
You're the designated presser.
Relax.
The button is 20 feet
away from you,
and you're a fast runner.
Just don't fall asleep.
Not without kissing me
good night.
I wish I could.
Maybe you can.
I have a very good imagination.
Don't go anywhere.
Pretend to kiss me good night.
Describe it to me.
All right.
I'd put my arms
around you, and...
then I'd...
kiss you.
What is this, a handshake?
No. Tell me.
Just...
use your imagination and...
tell me what
you'd like to do to me.
Well...
First, I'd...
pull you close to me
so I could feel
the warmth of your skin
pressing against mine.
Go on.
I'd hold your face in my hands.
Running my fingers
through your hair,
I would slowly...
kiss your neck.
Then... Then I'd place my
hands on your shoulders,
caressing them,
massaging them.
My hands would move...
down your dress... if that's OK.
Yes, that's OK.
I want you to.
Down your dress,
my hands would brush...
up across your body...
caressing it's every curve
with my fingertips,
ever so lightly.
Gliding up...
and down.
And up.
Kissing you passionately,
your body,
making you lose
all control, all restraint.
You couldn't hold back.
You'd wanna let go.
You'd have to let go.
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
Deactivation verified.
Can't believe it.
It's never happened before.
How much longer, General?
Not much. I think
your wait is over.
The aliens have arrived.
When?
Last night.
A small landing craft
left their ships
and landed at Edwards.
They've begun sending us
their telemetry.
They've already begun
to gather data on the earth.
The last set of graphics
have something to do
with their orbiting link-up.
Whatever it is,
it could go either way
as far as their intentions.
They've broadcast
a message world-wide
announcing they're
only landing here
to make contact...
Peaceful contact.
They've asked for a meeting
with representatives
from every country.
I'll be one of the delegates.
What is the prognosis?
Cautiously optimistic,
emphasis on the "cautiously."
But it looks promising,
so keep your fingers crossed.
Anything?
No.
It's been a week.
We should have heard
something by now.
I keep thinking that...
There is a lot
of possible
explanations.
Yeah, like everyone's dead.
Hmph. Let's face it.
I mean, these bunkers were
like coffins from day one.
He knew. He knew damn well
we'd never get out of here.
We're already buried,
for crying out loud!
We're just not dead yet!
Stop it, Hong.
We're getting
cabin fever, that's all.
Long-term isolation
usually leads
to the feelings of stress,
fear, even paranoia.
We just need to stay calm.
A message
of some sort.
We're back in business.
Ceremonies were
interrupted after...
Alien representatives
returned to their mother ship.
News Front has received
a press release of the...
There is a new development,
and that...
Damn it! Overload!
CO2 scrubber's burst!
Hong!
Hong!
Somebody do something!
What would you have us do?
I keep waiting for him
to say some smart-ass remark.
I can't believe he's not here.
We'll all miss him.
Even the remarks.
What if it wasn't an accident?
Hong's system was jury-rigged,
patched together.
It had problems from the start.
He said he stole parts
from his air purification
system.
Maybe that made it malfunction.
The reality
is we don't know
what's happening.
Short-wave radio message
could mean many things.
It said there was
a new development.
Bad or good?
We don't know.
We can only deal
with what we do know.
And what we know
is our friend is dead.
If we want to hold together,
my prescription is rest.
OK.
I'll take the ship.
Gwen, you and Katia
get some sleep.
You go, too, Ben.
I will take it.
Sure you're OK?
You're shivering.
Yes.
It is awfully cold in here.
Is your place cold?
No.
Maybe you ought to run
a system check.
You could be having
a reactor malfunction.
No. Other problems
would be happening.
I'm sure it's just
the climate control.
Nothing a blanket won't fix.
You get some shut-eye, Ben.
I will be fine.
Katia, wake up!
You've got to see this!
My God. My God.
He's frozen.
My God.
Somebody help him.
Donald!
Donald, wake up!
Donald!
Can't you two see
that he's dead?!
Just like we're all going to be!
Don't say that.
Look, without Donald,
all together,
there's only three of us
to keep watch all the time now.
Just the three of us.
He was a religious man.
We argued once about
the existence of God.
I only hope he was right.
Ben?
Yes, Gwen?
Would you listen
to this, please?
I'm 100 points from
beating Hong's record.
I mean now.
OK.
What is it?
Reactor failure?
Or maybe my ventilation system.
Reactors are below us.
Listen, see if you can
pinpoint it.
I think it's coming
from my bedroom.
Sound like hydraulics?
It's coming from above!
You're... you're being rescued!
I knew I should've
brought champagne.
Careful.
They're breaking through.
They're lowering
some sort of cable.
Aah!
Gwen!
What happened?
Something took her!
Some kind of rope.
Somebody pulled her up.
I couldn't see.
Gwen?
Gwen!
Gwen!
Where are you?
Gwen!
Gwen!
Gwen, where are you?
Get some rest.
I can't.
If it was the aliens
that took Gwen,
then they have access to
the dead man's switch.
Yeah, but once
the perimeter's breached,
they'd have to use
both the retina
and palm scanners
to deactivate the button.
They respond
only to living tissue.
So you think Gwen is dead?
I don't know.
I do know
that she hasn't been
pressing her switch.
And since she disappeared,
the alarm's been
going off as usual.
It's only been you
and I stopping it.
So what do we do now?
You wanna finish the game?
No.
I've lost.
Face it, Ben, we've lost.
Katia.
Don't give me false hope, Ben.
I know what
they did to Gwen.
I know what I saw.
All we can do now
is wait to see
which one of us is next.
It's not gonna happen to you.
I wouldn't let it.
And how would you stop it?
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
There is only one way, Ben.
Let it go.
Ben, the aliens killed
the only real friends
that you and I ever had.
20 seconds.
Let it go.
What if the aliens haven't won?
What if there's a resistance,
if there's people
still out there trying
to fight them?
15 seconds.
There still may be a chance.
10 seconds.
9...
8...
7...
6...
5...
4...
3...
2...
Deactivation verified.
Sorry.
No.
You are right.
If there is just one person
hiding out there,
they deserve a chance.
I was being selfish.
That's why we have our orders.
Ben?
Our time is up, isn't it?
It's been a year.
Shouldn't all this
have shut down, then?
Yeah. My power
cut out last night.
I've been running
on a backup generator.
Well, how long will it last?
I don't know.
Sure you want to wait it out?
There might not be much left.
We have each other.
Ben...
whatever time I have left...
Days...
or hours...
minutes...
It's very precious to me
if I can spend it with you.
Don't worry.
Your power will come back.
No.
Something is wrong.
Warning.
System malfunction.
Katia!
The fire extinguisher!
Get your fire extinguisher!
No, the panel! The panel!
Katia, you've got
to get out of there!
Aah!
Katia, run!
Run!
My God!
Katia, are you all right?
Speak to me!
Katia, can you hear me?
Ben!
You've gotta get up!
You've got to run!
Go! Go!
Katia!
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
Alert.
Arming countdown.
30 seconds.
20 seconds.
15 seconds.
10 seconds remaining.
9...
8...
7...
6...
5...
4...
3...
2...
1.
Initiating final stage
destruct sequence.
I knew it wasn't
really 30 seconds.
30 seconds remaining.
Chemical warheads armed.
Biological weaponry armed.
20 seconds.
Nuclear warheads armed.
15 seconds.
Anybody listening?
The world explodes,
and there's no one
there to hear it!
10 seconds remaining...
Ben, do you read me?
For God sakes, man,
are you there?
General?
Ben!
3...
2...
1.
Countdown aborted.
Thank God you're alive.
We made it.
We stopped them?
We took staggering losses.
Most of our leadership
was in hiding.
But we used a new weapon,
and it drove them back.
What... So what's our plan now?
We get you out,
but it may take some time
to unseal the doors
and figure out a way
to disarm the system.
Right.
Dis... Disarm.
Disarm system.
Until we do,
no matter how much
exhaustion sets in,
stay near the switch
and keep pushing
that button.
You have to give us time
to reach you.
It's your duty.
Clear, soldier?
Yes, sir.
Keep pushing the button.
Must keep pushing the button.
Must keep pushing the button.
Must keep pushing the button.
Button.
Must keep pushing the button.
Must keep pushing the button.
Our destiny is controlled
by the choices we make.
Those choices can turn
an ordinary man
into a king
or reduce him
to little more than a pawn.
With the fate of the world
in your hands,
what would you choose?
Pushing the button.