The Outer Limits (1963–1965): Season 1, Episode 4 - The Man with the Power - full transcript

Emily!

Aah!

Aah!

There is nothing wrong
with your television set.

Do not attempt
to adjust the picture.

We are controlling transmission.

We will control
the horizontal.

We will control
the vertical.

We can change the focus
to a soft blur

or sharpen it
to crystal clarity.

For the next hour,
sit quietly,



and we will control
all that you see and hear.

You are about to participate
in a great adventure.

You are about to experience
the awe and mystery

which reaches from
the inner mind to...

In the course of centuries,

man has devoured
the earth itself.

The machine age has dried up
the seas of oil.

Industry has consumed
the heartlands of coal.

The atomic age has plundered
the rare elements...

Uranium, cobalt, plutonium...

Leaving behind worthless
deposits of lead and ashes.

Starvation is at hand.

Only here,
in the void of space,

is there a new source
of atomic power.



Above us, in the debris
of the solar system,

in the meteorites
and asteroids,

are the materials needed
to drive the reactors.

Yet, in their distant,
silent orbits,

these chunks of matter
are beyond the reach of man,

beyond the reach
of human hands,

but not beyond the reach
of the human mind.

Driving along a country road
in an ordinary car

is a modest man:

Harold J. Finley,

quiet and profound.

Hey, move over
a bit, can't you?

Why don't you turn around
and go the other way?

Well, that takes me
12 miles out of my way!

Then just wait
till we're finished!

Are you looking
for trouble, Mack?

Harold!

It's 20 minutes
past 8:00.

There are no classes
for me this morning.

I've got somebody
filling in for me.

I'm, uh, driving over
to Reedsville.

Oh, now, don't tell me
you're pestering

those space people
again.

You tried to get a job
with them last year.

They told you they need
research scientists.

Good ones.

I have more
to offer now.

Yes, you're
a year older.

Sometimes a man tries

to climb out
of the rut he's in.

I'm sick of teaching
at a second-rate college.

Did you
fix the faucet

in the upstairs
bathroom?

Yes. Yesterday,
when you asked me to.

Vera, I really mustn't
stand here talking.

Harold...

Harold!

Stop at the supermarket

and return
these bottles, will you?

They're waiting for me.

Oh, Harold.

What do they use you for,
an astronaut?

I've already seen one
of their most important men.

He's having me meet
with his entire staff.

They think I may be able

to save one of their most
important projects.

The asteroid belt is located
between Jupiter and Mars.

All shapes and sizes,
thousands of them.

Sometimes they collide,
shatter, and rain down.

The particles weigh
thousands of pounds.

Most of them are crude
metal structure, like iron.

But the big ones
contain rare earths.

Uranium and titanium,

in tremendous quantities.

That's no use if you
can't get to it.

Space capsules can't
crack an asteroid,

break off
hunks of it.

Well, we're
working on it.

We think we're
making progress.

Gentlemen,
I'm sorry.

I realize how hard
you have worked,

but Washington
has decided

to close you down.

You'll all
be transferred

to more practical
projects.

They can't close us down.

Why, this one project will
pay for the entire country.

For defense costs,
for schools, for highways,

for the whole
federal budget.

Why, we could
abolish taxes.

Your last report
to us admits

you simply
have not developed

any mining devices

light enough
to orbit

and heavy enough
to do the job.

No, we haven't.

And your
space capsules

can't possibly
generate enough power

to deflect
an asteroid mass

out of trajectory

into the earth's
pull,

much less control
them on the way.

Gentlemen...

You've met
Mr. Harold J. Finley.

Mr. Finley's
a college professor.

He's been studying
the electromagnetic

field phenomenon.

He and I have been
working together

on a possible solution.

Now I want you
to see this.

I think he's discovered
a means of gravity control,

far beyond
any power we know.

This fragment was found
near Redlands, Texas.

The metallic structure
has been fused and compressed

to a weight
of over half a ton.

Mr. Finley...

Tell them how
you do it, Finley.

I, uh...

I have developed a...

A link gate...

Complex enough
to regulate the forces

of the field energy
surrounding us.

These waves are...
Are all around us now,

like, uh, radio waves,
television channels...

X- rays, and so on.

The entire
electromagnetic flux.

I have no actual
power myself.

But by using
my brain patterns

as a sort of focusing device

I'm able to direct
electromagnetic field energy

into a discrete beam.

It's rather as though
my brain were a lens...

Focusing light waves
into a sharp line.

I'd like to see
the actual device.

Device?

The link gate,
uh, amplifier,

whatever it is.

I'm afraid
that's not possible.

You see, I had to have
a special operation.

It's embedded here.

Directly
in the frontal lobe.

Did you see it?

It's embedded
in the frontal system,

below the fissure
of Orlando.

6 months ago, Mr. Finley
showed me the link

and persuaded me
to authorize

an extraordinary
operation.

You?

Yeah. We knew
there'd be risks.

It was the toughest decision
I ever had to make.

But I insisted that I
really wanted it done.

And, frankly, we were
on the spot here.

We needed a miracle
to save us.

And no one was offering us
any miracles but Finley.

I've been running
some pattern tests.

If he can
control the power,

we'll have
one of the space crew

undergo a similar
operation.

A massive power control

built right into
one of our astronauts?

Perfect solution,
wouldn't you say?

Asteroids and meteorites
slowed down to boarding speed,

mineral fragments
smashed off...

All by the concentration
of force fields

directed
by conscious thought.

Forget about
that cancellation.

I have a report
to make.

I'm Dr. Hindeman,
project psychiatrist.

Yes, Dr. Hindeman.

Tell me, what made you
take the chance?

I mean,
why risk your life

in a major
brain operation?

Well, it was because

I wanted to work
with you people

here on the project.

You're aware, of course,
that the human brain

contains more than just
scanning waves...

Synapses?

Yes, sir, I am very well
aware of that.

These mechanical aspects
contain the human mind,

the emotions.

Our hates and fears.

It holds dark secrets

locked in the closets
of our memory.

Strange urges,
strange drives

that our conscious egos
are not even aware of.

What will happen...

If they, too, begin
to get control

over massive amounts

of electromagnetic
power?

Are you telling me

they actually
want to pay you?

Yes, twice the salary
I'm getting at the college.

They want to make me
an official member

of the research team.

Are they trying
not to catch up

with the Russians?

Happily, not everybody

has your exalted
opinion of me.

I don't get it.

I bet you're
making it up.

You've been acting
funny ever since

that brain operation
last winter.

Vera, I never
told you the truth

about the brain operation.

Oh?
No, you, see I...

I've invented
an energy link

sub-miniature, controlling
at cosmic voltage...

You're not listening.

Oh, you know how
technical talk bores me.

You were saying?
Your operation...

Oh, it doesn't matter.

We'll have
to sell this house.

What?

Yes, of course, if we're
moving over to Reedsville.

I'm not moving
over to Reedsville.

You want me to stay
a worm, don't you?

An unimportant,
unproductive,

classroom worm.

Some women
take their husband's hands

and say, "together,
we'll climb to the stars."

But not you.

Never you.

I- I'm going to see
Dean Radcliffe,

to arrange about
a teaching replacement.

Harold, I'd like to say yes,

but I'd be a poor
administrator indeed

if I didn't give
first consideration

to the welfare
of the school.

You have
a contract to teach

until the end
of the semester.

You could get
a replacement for me.

But I'm counting on you.

A new replacement
would be without experience,

and time would be wasted
in teaching him procedures,

familiarizing him
with techniques...

And students.

But I'm needed
on that project.

It's vital,
important work.

Nothing is more vital

than teaching the young,
Harold.

We have a responsibility
to the future.

We can't simply
turn our backs

on work half-done

and go off in search
of adventure.

I suppose you won't
object to my working

at the space center
in my spare time?

Oh, I'm sorry, Harold.

You've given me your promise
to serve on this faculty.

We ask full time.
We need full time.

No other member
splits his concentration

into other fields.

You have a commitment here,
and I must hold you to it.

I don't want
to replace you.

I can't replace you.

The answer is no.

The answer is no.

I'll be at the faculty club
for lunch...

Aah!

Ready?

All ready.

I won't register
full force this first time.

I'll keep it down to half.

All right.

Now full concentration.

Just make sure you don't
crystallize your thoughts

toward a specific task.

All right,
you can relax now.

According to these
field equations,

you're controlling
a directional force

equivalent to 1/2 million
kilowatts.

It increases
each time we do it.

I seemed to be able

to concentrate
more deeply.

Yes, your control is becoming
more effective every time.

Right now, you can
channel a force

strong enough to,
uh, power, uh...

A medium-sized
aircraft carrier.

All right,
gentlemen.

That'll be all
for today.

Thank you.

We're asking
an awful lot of you.

Putting you through
these tests,

examining you.

I hope you're not
trying to carry

your faculty work
at the college.

Uh, no, sir.
I've let that go.

This is all I want.

Just to be of some use

in something
really important.

You won't regret it.

One day, one of those
presidential citations

will probably read,
"Harold J. Finley."

Mr. Finley,
have you got a minute?

Yes.

My name
is Steve Crandon.

I volunteered
for the operation.

I don't know whether
they'll pick me,

but whoever they select,

you're going to be
right along

in that capsule with him.

All of them.
In spirit, I mean.

That's very gratifying.

It's very gratifying,
indeed.

I'm... I'm honored.

Oh, no, sir.

We're the ones
that are honored.

You risked your life.
You were first.

You know, you astronauts

have brought a whole new
vitality to bear

on the business
of living.

There's been
nothing like you

since the old
pioneering days.

Oh, thank you,
sir, but...

You make up for all
the miseries

and disappointments
and... failures

and kicks
in the teeth

that the rest of us
have to bear.

Failure? You?

Just do me one favor.

Don't wait until
you're my age

to make your Mark.

Do it while you're
young and strong

and vigorous.

Do it right now.

I hope you don't mind
this bit of fatherly advice.

I don't mind
at all, sir.

Don't let them
crush you.

Crush me?

Are you married?

No, sir.
Not yet.

But I have
the proverbial

girl back home.

What does she feel
about your work here?

She thinks
it's fine.

Good.

Mr. Finley...

Are there...

Any aftereffects?

What?

Oh, you mean the, uh,
the operation.

Uh, there are a few
headaches, naturally,

but they soon disappear.

It's a fascinating
concept.

The human brain acting
as a control center.

Having enough
cosmic energy

to blow half the world
off the map.

Pow!

It's a good thing
we're both

peace-loving
citizens.

Yes, sir.

Are you free for dinner?

Hello, Vera.

I brought somebody
home with me.

Meet Steve Crandon.

Vera?

We're working together
on the project.

How do you do,
Mrs. Finley.

How do you do.

Steve is one
of the astronauts, Vera.

Speaking of the space
center, Harold,

Dean Radcliffe dropped in
this afternoon.

Oh, yes?

He wanted to see you.
He seemed angry.

Said you were
neglecting your classes.

You can't say I didn't
warn you, Harold.

Oh, well, there's...

There's no use letting
a little bad news

spoil our dinner.

I've already eaten.

I left some things
on the stove

for you to heat up.

You said you were going
to come home early

and help wash windows.

You didn't, naturally,
so I can't stop now.

I seem
to have barged in

at a wrong time,
Mr. Finley.

I'll catch a bus back.

No, uh, wait a minute.

No, wait a minute.
Steve...

We'll have to make it
another time,

if you don't mind.

That's all right, Mr. Finley.
I understand.

You'll like Vera when
you get to know her.

Aaaaah!

Aah!

Vera!

It touched me.
Electricity.

Crawling all over my face.

It pushed me!

There
isn't anything here!

Dangerous things,
ladders.

I can't tell you
the number of people

who fall off them every year.

I didn't fall.

I felt something
ugly and crawling.

But you were alone...
Up there on the ladder.

You lost your balance.

I told you
something pulled at me.

It threw me down.

Vera, it must be
your imagination.

You were alone!
How could it have done...

How could anything
have pulled at you?

I don't know!

I'll send over a practical
nurse tomorrow morning.

Good night, Mrs. Finley,
Mr. Finley.

Uh, send for me
if you have any trouble.

Hello?

Is that you, Harold?
Dean Radcliffe here.

Did Vera speak to you?

Yes, she told me
you wanted to talk to me.

You've broken your word
to me, Harold.

You promised you would
devote yourself to teaching.

You signed a contract.

But, look... please.

Hello? Hello?

I'm here, Harold.

I want to give you a chance
to live up to your word.

If you realized
the importance

of what I'm doing...

Harold, I'm aware
of the importance

of space research
and atomic research

and the diplomatic corps,

but those are fields
for specialists!

You belong in the field
of education.

It's your lifework, and I won't
let you throw it away.

Listen. C-can I come over
and talk to you right now?

I'm in bed, Harold.
It's 11:30.

Well, first thing
in the morning, then?

If you want to, but I don't
see what I can do about it.

I don't see at all.

The man's a nobody...
A no-talent, ineffectual nobody.

Precisely the kind who gets
all the undeserved breaks.

Good night, Emily.

Good night, dear.

Sometimes I wish...

Find an extra pillow and put it
behind my back, Harold.

Yes.

Here.

I almost wish...

Emily!

Aah!

Aah!

It was like a force...

A weird shape,
as though it had life.

It, uh, pulled me
out of the bed.

It was like a...

Thousand crawling sparks
all over me,

and it, uh, threw me
against that door.

No noise?
No explosion?

No. Nothing like that.

I'm not even sure
I was awake.

Anyhow, I, um, I came to
out in the hall,

and I looked in here,
and I saw a thing...

Hard to describe.

It, uh, was like
a piece of a storm...

Snakes of lightning

striking in all
directions...

Stabbing and burning.

It, uh, it gave off a sound
like a ripping cloth.

Electricity snapping
and tearing.

No sign of your husband?

No, he's, uh, gone.

He said,
"good night, Emily,"

and I put out the light,
and that's the last I...

He's just gone.

It doesn't make sense.

Everything else is wiped out
except where you...

Yes, sir?

What are you doing here?

I...

Had an appointment
with the Dean...

This morning.

You keep tapping in
on more and more power.

It's like a cosmic
reservoir.

There's no limit
to the amount

that could be fed
into the link gate.

It won't be long
before we can direct it

into the city systems.

Won't need power plants,
not even atomic reactors.

Pure power...
Pure and perfect...

Controlled
by the mind of man.

That'll be enough.

You can relax now,
Harold.

You know, I don't want
to sound prophetic,

but, uh, we're close
to becoming gods.

What about Steve?

Did they select him?

Yes.

He'll be operated on
in the morning.

Mr. Finley, come in.

Dr. Hindeman.

Do you mind if I ask you

an entirely theoretical
question?

Not at all.

This, uh, cosmic energy
that I control...

We've... we measured it.

We've been testing it,
and, uh, it seems to be...

Sit down, please.

Thank you.

It seems to be related
to the substructure of space.

It has, uh, certain
electromagnetic properties,

but it's related
to the inertia field.

It's as if it were
the universal radiant

of all the stars
in all the galaxies.

Now you, as a psychiatrist...

Would you say that it's
possible that my emotions

could change the character
of these waves?

Well, that's
the point I made

the first day
you were here.

The force is constant,

but it can be misguided.

Since the beginning
of time,

men have believed
in the possibility

of projecting
evil thoughts.

Well, now we know that the
thought process can really

exercise control over
an electromagnetic force.

And this control can use
these powers to evil ends.

Then we can project
destruction?

Very possibly.

But not if I didn't want to...
Not subconsciously.

Have you ever been
under analysis, Mr. Finley?

No. I never thought
it would help me.

Hmm.

For all you know

there may be a hidden side
to your nature.

Could be a mass
of hostile urges,

bitterness, resentment
against this person or that.

You mean, I might want
to hurt somebody?

I... I might even
want to kill him?

Or her.

Without my even realizing it?

We all suffer
the slings and arrows

of an outraged
subconscious.

Vera.

The Dean's secretary
telephoned.

Dean Radcliffe's funeral
is on Tuesday.

Vera...

I killed him.

You what?

And you were right
about the ladder.

You were pulled off it
and thrown down.

I did it.

Have you gone
out of your mind?!

Well, you were home
when the Dean...

You weren't
near the ladder when I...

I can be a hundred miles away...

And still control matter.

Vera, I never told you
the truth about my operation...

About this brain operation.

It's... it's given me
a terrible power.

I could move mountains.

I could destroy the world.

Harold?

I'm a decent person,
aren't I, dear?

Anything but a violent man.

You've never known me
to hate... anybody.

The terrible thing is
there's a part of me...

There... there's
a piece of my brain...

Which... hates.

It's like a dark cloud
in my subconscious.

It did that to you,

and it blasted Dean Radcliffe
to his death...

Without my
even knowing about it.

Operator,
give me the county hospital.

Vera.

I'm going to get
an ambulance, Harold.

You're not in
any condition to drive.

You don't believe me.

You don't believe
a word of it.

You wouldn't hurt anyone
even if you could.

You're
not a violent man.

You've never
hated anyone... never.

Not to hurt them, no, Vera,

but I have this power,

and it acts whether
I want it to or not.

No, Harold,
you don't have any power.

You've always been quiet.

You've told me yourself
you're too mild.

You're too meek.

No more, Vera!

I could split this ceiling
open if I wanted to!

I could crash down
these walls!

I could splinter this whole
block into bricks and rubble.

Harold, you're
a little man...

A nobody. You don't have
any power.

You've been
under a strain.

You've been working
too hard without sleep.

You're letting your
imagination run away.

Believe me, please!
I beg you to believe me!

What is it?

What... what's
happened to you?!

I... can't...

Stop it.

Can't... stop it.

Vera!

Don't hate me.
Please don't hate me!

I don't hate you.

Don't kill me, Harold.
Don't kill me.

Please...
don't say that.

You're going to.
I know it!

Don't touch me!

What do you want me to say?

I believe you?
Yes, I believe you.

I've been wrong.
You have power.

I've been a bad wife.

I've hurt you.
I've hated you.

I admit it.
I've hated you!

Vera.

You wanted a child.

I didn't want
to give you a child.

I didn't want to have you
as the father of my child.

Stop. Vera...

I'll do anything you want.
Anything!

I want you to ask people
to the house.

From now on it'll all
be different, Harold.

Anything to make you
stop hating me.

You've got to give me
another chance.

Don't kill me, Harold.
Don't!

I don't seem to be able
to help myself.

Please, I must
talk to him alone. Please.

Steve, I want you to tell
them you want to back out.

Back out?

You don't want to be
a murderer, do you, Steve?

A murderer.

Well, that's exactly
what I am.

Believe me, Steve!

We weren't meant to control
a force of this magnitude.

Not until the human mind is
a whole lot healthier.

Finley,
I don't wanna back out.

I'm not afraid of... power.

This outer ring contains
octohedrite meteors

with carbite structures

containing troilite
and sulfites.

Here in this orbit the
asteroids are more likely

to carry strontium, uranium,
and the radiant elements.

Keenan!

Mr. Keenan, I want you to call
off Steve Crandon's operation.

Don't put him through
what I'm going through.

One human being trapped
by this thing is enough.

Calling off
this operation

means canceling
the whole project.

On what grounds?!

We're all partly mad!

Power like this
makes it total.

Nuclear fission
was also power,

so was the automobile,
the airplane,

wonder drugs
with their side effects.

Should the potential risk
ever impede human progress?

You realize, of course,
if he wants to,

he can stop the
experiment on Crandon.

Just by concentration.

We regret this,
Mr. Finley,

but we must proceed
with the operation.

You may stop it today, but
we will proceed tomorrow.

Nothing will be allowed
to stop it.

Not even you.

Doctor...

Here's the link
inside this container.

You're aware, of course,
that the shot I gave Finley

will take care of his
conscious opposition only.

As I told you, doctor,
what I'm counting on

is that subconsciously

Finley wants this project
to be a success.

N- no. No.

Nooo!

Noo!

Heaven, help me.

If I have such power...

Then I don't want
to live.

Deep behind
the kindest, gentlest soul.

May lurk violent thoughts...

Deadly wishes.

Someday men may learn
how to cope

with the monsters
of the mind.

Then, and only then,

when the human mind is truly
in control of itself,

can we begin to utilize
the great and hidden powers

of the universe.

We now return control
of your television set to you.

Until next week
at this same time

when the control voice
will take you to...