The Outer Limits (1963–1965): Season 2, Episode 7 - The Invisible Enemy - full transcript
The first manned expedition to Mars finds itself being killed one by one by an alien predator.
In the vast
immensities of cosmic space,
bold adventurers streak
their way to join battle.
With strange enemies
on strange worlds.
The alien, the unknown,
perhaps even the invisible.
Armed only with man's
earthbound knowledge.
We made it, Fred.
We're on Mars.
No sweat at all.
Check all systems.
Secure retros.
Maintain full power
at all times.
A- OK.
This is capt. Fred Thomas.
Commanding inter-planetary
vehicle m-1,
colonization probe.
To col. Hal Danvers,
headquarters communication,
planet earth.
Subject of report:
Arrival on the planet Mars.
Landing is completely
successful.
I'm going out, Jim.
Hey, Fred.
Yeah?
Remember the
general's orders.
How could I forget?
Stay in touch
at all times, huh?
A- OK.
This is Lt. James bowman.
Continuing arrival report.
As of 1340, capt. Thomas
has left the vehicle
for preliminary inspection
of the adjacent terrain.
We will be in constant
communication at all times.
And all information will be
monitored over I.D. Radio
to earth control.
Hello, Fred?
Hello?
You read me?
Loud and clear.
Just checking.
See anything
out there?
Mars. That's all.
Not a sign
of a single living thing.
Hello, Jim?
Do you read me?
A- OK. Gotcha!
I'm gonna circle on back
towards the vehicle.
I'll see you later.
Over.
Roger.
Hey, listen, Fred.
Be real careful, will you?
Over.
Hello, Fred? Hello?
Do you read me?
Loud and clear.
Just checking.
Hey, you see anything
out there?
Mars. That's all.
Not a sign
of a single living thing.
I'm moving out.
General, it's hard
to realize
it takes their voices
3- and-a-half minutes to reach us.
Unfortunate.
It puts them on their own.
I'd prefer more control
down here.
I just hope, colonel, they
observe all the instructions.
Continuing arrival report.
1348.
Mars time,
that is, colonel.
On earth you'll be receiving
this exactly
3- and-a-half minutes from now,
so just add that to my figures.
Capt. Thomas reports
no sign of...
Help me, Jim! Help!
Fred, I'm coming.
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...
The outer limits.
Fred?
What's happening?
Where are you?
Fred?
Gen. Winston, col.
Danvers, they're on again.
Hello, Jim?
Do you read me?
A- OK. Gotcha!
I'm gonna circle on back
towards the vehicle.
I'll see you later. Over.
Roger.
Hey, listen, Fred.
Be real careful, will you?
Yeah. Be careful, Fred.
For the 100th time, be careful.
Continuing arrival report.
1348.
Mars time,
that is, colonel.
On earth you will
be receiving this exactly
3- and-a-half minutes from now,
so just add that to my figures.
Capt. Thomas reports
no sign of...
Help me, Jim! Help!
Stay where you are, Jim.
Stay where you are.
Fred, where are you?
Answer me, Fred!
Oh, my god!
Help me, Fred!
What's up there?
What's doing it?
"No sign of life,"
he said!
Disobeyed orders
and gone!
Yeah. Be careful, Fred.
For the 100th time, be careful.
Come in.
He's here, sir.
Who's here,
col. Danvers?
That man,
with the briefcase.
His name is Jerome.
Mr. Jerome.
I asked him to make himself
at home in the lounge.
I wanted to give you
a few minutes
to get used to the idea
of having a civilian monitor.
No doubt he has a direct line
to the white house.
Hasn't every
assistant secretary of state?
How many hours?
According to schedule,
the m-2 will land on Mars in
exactly 3 hours and 40 minutes.
3 years in preparation.
4 months in flight.
5 years
of sleepless nights.
Just to put
a colony on Mars.
Well, let's meet
the man.
Gen. Winston?
Mr. Jerome.
It's a privilege
to meet you, sir.
I understand col. Danvers
has been filling you in.
Oh, mostly on
safety precautions
for this particular probe, which weren't
taken last time on the m-1 probe.
Yes, uh, procedure rules,
the instantaneous
communication.
The laser method. Brand new.
Didn't have it last time.
Cuts out the time lag.
Transmits an order instantly.
You might say,
I can quarterback
the entire operation
right from my desk.
I haven't told him
about tillie.
Tillie?
"Tillie" is T.L.3,
our electronic computer.
I suppose Mr. Jerome
would like to meet her.
Yes. Yes, indeed.
Gentlemen.
This, uh,
tillie wasn't
in existence
when the astronauts Thomas and
bowman were lost, was she?
No, it wasn't
finished then.
Well,
now that she's here,
how does she work?
What'll it correlate?
Here's where we feed tapes
of all communications.
Information about
the prescribed dangers.
You mean, like an
invisible enemy, a ghost?
As a matter of fact,
a ghost
is just what this contraption
has come up with
as the best possibility
to look for.
Calling earth control.
Calling earth control.
Earth control here.
Go ahead, please.
Hello, colonel, this is m-2 reporting, Maj.
Merritt commanding.
Right, Chuck.
Read you loud and clear.
We're ready here
for your report.
Roger. Wilco.
Stand by.
That's Maj. Charles Merritt.
You remember him?
Yes, sir.
I certainly do.
I was there when he received
the medal of honor
for saving those 5 men
under fire. Good man.
Oh, this is our finest crew.
Completely dedicated.
Down 3. Doubled.
That's 800 points, Buckley.
How lucky there are no dames where
we're going, for you to blow your pay.
I, uh, hate to bring it up,
major, but your Mike is still on.
That's all there is,
general. Over.
Put away the cards.
Lazzari, stand by
main fuel valves.
Relay orders
to engineering.
Johnson, topside
to main control deck.
I can't seem to get enough
of looking at that planet.
Time to start
the orbital glide.
Get the computer data.
Secure main power.
Rig solar batteries,
full charge.
Calling earth control.
Come in, major.
Observation report,
as requested,
300 yards.
Remains of the m-1.
No sign of life.
18 degrees
above Fahrenheit.
8.9 pounds per square inch.
Will support life.
No helmets needed.
Very well, major. Secure
the vehicle for the night.
No one is to disembark. You
understand that, major? No one.
Yes, sir.
What did they do down there,
fall asleep?
Keep your shirt on.
Calculations take longer
than decisions.
Besides, it's hard for
tillie to make up her mind.
Hmm.
You know women.
Now don't tell
Casanova about dames.
Now, he wrote
the book.
Ah, gee, fellows, I'm just a poor
little old country astronaut.
Stow it.
OK, Lazzari,
let's have it again.
Descend to base of
vehicle, and wait for orders.
Hey, very good. You got
that right that time.
Shut up, Buckley.
On command, proceed
with caution to target,
keeping always under
observation from the vehicle.
Purpose?
Reconnoiter target for
indication of hostile action
against personnel
of previous probe.
Namely, m-1, which may
have lead to their demise.
Mission?
Gather up all evidence of
exact nature of enemy, if any,
and bring it back
to the vehicle.
Safely.
Safely.
And that's it. And don't
forget it. Everybody.
It's all that simple.
Don't embroider it.
- Survival.
- Complete the mission.
Calling m-2. Calling m-2.
Merritt here, colonel.
OK, Chuck.
All precautions taken?
Affirmative.
This is gen. Winston.
Before I give the word,
I want to stress again.
That I won't tolerate the slightest
deviation from agreed procedure.
You understand that?
Yes, general,
I understand.
I'll be checking every move.
You'd better be right.
Yes, general.
When that man
goes out there,
I want every eye in the vehicle
to cover him all the way.
I'm waiting
for your orders, general.
OK, then. Proceed to investigate
target as instructed.
And keep this monitor hot.
Roger. Wilco.
OK, Lazzari,
you're on your way.
Give him a hand.
Orders received
and duly executed, sir.
Will keep you posted, over.
All ready, skipper.
OK. You move out
to the objective.
With caution.
From where I
am, pieces of this bird.
Seem to be scattered
all over the place.
Uh-huh.
Any sign of life?
Nothing.
OK, Paul.
Move on to the nearest piece
of wreckage.
That's where
you put your marker.
How do you feel?
Wilco, skipper.
And I feel fine.
Lazzari, you're out
of sight!
I'm here, skipper.
Right behind this wreckage.
There's something weird
the way it's twisted.
Get out where you can be seen.
You know the orders.
I'm sorry, but there's an odd-looking
piece of metal buried back there.
No elements can damage it,
the way it shows.
Strange marks on it,
like scratches.
Could you bring it back
to the vehicle?
I can try.
Long enough, Lazzari.
Let's see it.
Do you read me?
OK, Lazzari, you find something,
walk out from behind the...
Major!
Lazzari!
Lazzari! Paul!
Are you hurt?
Wait a minute!
Major!
Maj. Merritt,
what's going on up there?
There's been
a mishap, general.
Capt. Lazzari's
in trouble.
Request permission to leave the vehicle
immediately to go to his assistance.
Request under
consideration, major.
First I want
the facts.
Was capt. Lazzari
attacked?
If affirmative,
by what?
I don't know, sir.
He was under
constant surveillance?
He was temporarily blocked from
view behind wreckage of the m-1.
Well, how do you know
anything happened to him?
He screamed for help.
You believe there was an attack
and yet you request permission
to go out there, exposing
yourself to the danger.
I'm in command, sir.
As such, responsible for
the success of the mission.
A commander has do something
about losing a man, sir.
Regret to say, major,
permission denied.
May I ask the general
why, sir?
Until I've had time to study the
tapes of all transmissions,
no one is to leave
that vehicle.
Do you understand, major?
Acknowledge, please.
Let me go, skipper.
Yes, general.
I understand.
I'm sorry,
but there's an odd-looking piece
of metal buried back there.
No elements could damage it
the way it shows.
Strange marks on it,
like scratches.
Could you bring
it back to the vehicle?
I can try.
"8 may, 'o9, 11:00 A.M.
"All enemy possibilities
still in effect.
Disappearance, unobserved.
Safety factor ignored."
Just as I thought.
In spite of my orders,
capt. Lazzari was unobserved.
Increased possibilities
"that enemy is aware
of human presence.
Increased possibilities
that enemy is not visible
to human sight."
What's it mean
by that?
A computer always
reveals the obvious
with the Felicity
of an elephant.
No one saw the enemy.
I.e., invisible.
What's the procedure now,
gen. Winston?
Procedure?
We need to push on to
our 2 objectives, Mr. Jerome.
To find
and destroy the enemy.
To gather data for the
future colonization of Mars.
Obviously there are
no safety factors left
for the 3 astronauts
still up there.
Are you suggesting
we withdraw?
Well, that's, uh,
hardly within my province
to do that, gen. Winston.
Mr. Jerome,
we are going to continue
this mission as planned,
until it can be marked
"accomplished."
Get me Maj. Merritt.
Calling m-2.
Calling m-2.
Maj. Merritt here.
Come in, earth control.
Gen. Winston here.
Major, surely it isn't
necessary for me to stress
what any further deviation from
agreed procedure can mean?
No, sir. I understand.
Here are your
instructions.
Please keep me posted
of every step.
Assign a man to target.
Post the other halfway
and at a tangent
as sentry.
Constant surveillance
from you in the vehicle,
the sentry,
on the ground.
Armament, bazooka,
nuclear tipped.
Dispatch.
Hello, Jack. Read me?
You bet. Ready?
All clear.
You're on your way.
Take care.
Roger.
I'm getting
pretty close, skipper.
These binoculars
put me right alongside you.
When I lose sight of you, frank
will pick you up from his angle.
Everything seems a-OK.
Frank here.
You're coming into view
good for me, Jack.
I won't lose sight
of you.
Listen, skipper, if I
get rid of these sand shoes.
And stick to the rocks,
I'll make better time.
Roger. Be my guest.
See anything startling?
Yeah.
The metal's back there,
just like Lazzari said.
You've left me,
but I'm sure frank...
That's right, major. I
see him kneeling back there.
Lazzari was right here,
wasn't he?
Yes.
I hate to say it,
it sounds crazy,
but there's no sign that
lazzari was ever even here.
No struggle. Nothing.
The enemy must really be
invisible, like tillie says.
Can you get
that metal loose?
I take it
all back, skipper.
There's blood
on this thing.
Jack, bring that metal and
move out where I can see you.
Right now!
An enemy that draws blood
is not invisible.
This has really got me bugged.
How do you figure it?
We'll work
that out later.
You've done the job.
I want you and frank
to return to base.
Good work, Jack.
OK if I circle
around on the rock?
It's easier without my sand shoes.
I'll look for other evidence.
Keep in sight.
No problem, skipper.
Calling earth control.
Come in, m-2.
Col. Danvers here.
Ready with
reconnaissance report.
Gen. Winston is right here.
Yes, major. Winston.
Fully successful, general.
Capt. Buckley
assigned to point.
Secured physical evidence
for study and analysis.
Observed positive signs
of violence at the target.
What kind of signs?
Blood, sir.
Hey, a flower.
Don't use your hands.
Not on a flower.
I hope it'll keep.
It should,
in the freezer.
Now, on your way.
All right, Buckley.
Right here, skipper.
You're out of sight!
I'll be back there
in a minute.
Can't wait to show you
what I found.
I'm reporting
to gen. Winston.
Very well, major.
After I've studied the tapes, I'll
let you know the findings. Over.
Capt. Buckley,
I am not pleased at all.
What if something happened to you when you
were out of sight behind those scarps?
You're my responsibility!
And that doesn't seem to
concern you enough to suit me!
Yeah, well, I'm sorry
about that, skipper.
Hey, but wait till
you see what I found.
Where is Johnson?
I don't know.
When I was coming up, I was
expecting him to be here.
Frank!
He said he was watching me
at the wreckage.
Just before I found
the blood.
Frank, do you read me?
Frank, maybe you missed
the order to return.
Frank!
Frank!
Frank!
Frank!
Frank, answer me!
Where are you?
Frank!
Major, we
are starting our counting.
It is now 1 hour,
10 minutes to departure.
Meanwhile, neither man
leaves the ship. My orders.
Acknowledge, please.
Over.
Acknowledged, sir.
All preparations completed.
All systems go. Over.
OK, it was my fault.
If I hadn't gone
out of sight,
you could have
kept your eyes on frank.
You are selfish, Jack.
You are naturally
careless.
Someday you'll learn you can't
gamble solo on a trip like this.
It takes
a team effort.
Well, that's the way
I really feel, skipper.
I figure we're all partners
in my little pebble, too.
What pebble?
Did you ever see
a diamond in the rough, huh?
I was picking
that up at the time.
It's a gem of some kind. Hard as a diamond.
See the bluish color?
Tell me about it
on the long trip home.
This little pebble
is priceless.
You can't put any value
on it, on a bagful.
They're priceless
because they're unique.
N- now, look, wouldn't it be something
to help out Johnson's family with?
Or Lazzari's?
And... and the guys
from the first probe?
That pebble
belongs to the guys
who pay our salary.
Turn out the light.
Call me in a half-hour.
That's debatable,
who it belongs to.
Funny thing,
that sand at night.
It looks just like
the ocean at the cape.
I used to love to look
at the moon on the water.
Wait a minute.
That's it!
They're not visible enemies.
Skipper! Skipper!
Thar she blows!
Gotcha, you bloody killer!
Hey, hey, found you out there,
didn't I, baby, huh?
Living in the sand
like a shark in the ocean.
Hey, how many
of them are you, huh?
A whole army? Ha-ha.
Thank you.
Calling m-2.
Calling m-2.
Come in, please.
Maj. Merritt here.
Chuck, it's 60 minutes
to blastoff and counting.
Thanks, colonel.
Buckley! Where are you?
Major, what's happening?
Where is
capt. Buckley?
He is not here, sir.
Is he gone, too?
Ah, he may be up
in control, sir.
I'll report
back later. Over.
Buckley.
Calling earth control.
Winston here.
What about capt. Buckley?
He went out
against orders, sir.
The tension must have gotten to him.
Affected his judgment.
Order him back,
immediately.
We are not in
communications, sir.
He left his
walkie-talkie here.
What?
I'm leaving now, sir,
to bring him back.
Maj. Merritt, am I to understand
you're leaving your ship
without permission?
Against orders?
It's less than one hour
to blastoff.
What about your judgment?
My judgment, general,
right or wrong,
tells me there is a man out
there in danger of his life.
He's my responsibility.
I am going out
to get him, sir.
Maj. Merritt, I must, in all
fairness, give you a warning.
Since you choose
to employ your judgment
against my orders,
as project commandant,
under the circumstances, there's
nothing further I can do about it.
In effect it reduces me
to the capacity of advisor.
This is to be duly noted
and recorded in your record.
It constitutes a serious
breach of military discipline.
I understand, sir.
Please keep
your monitor open
and report
your progress.
Over.
Stop!
Stay there!
Skipper, stay there!
Stay there, skipper!
Merritt! Go around.
Go around the sand!
The sand! The sand!
Get out! Get out
of the sand!
Run! Run!
So, that's our
invisible enemy!
The sand is where
it lives.
This sea...
Like a bloodthirsty
shark in the ocean.
It is 48 minutes
to blastoff and counting.
And I'm marooned
on this tiny island of rock,
safe for the moment.
This sand
is like an ocean.
It seems to be rising
like a tide.
And that creature,
waiting for him.
Blastoff time cannot be changed.
This confirms it.
What happens
if we do change it?
The vehicle would never make it back
to earth with the fuel it carries.
Let's get all
the information.
Major?
Yes, colonel.
What about that tide?
It's coming in.
I've got a little over
a foot of rock left.
Capt. Buckley there?
I sent him back to the vehicle
to get some gear.
Buckley here,
in the cabin.
I'm trying to improvise
something that'll work.
I'm to blame for losing
capt. Johnson
and getting Maj. Merritt
into this situation.
I even missed trying to throw out
our last pair of sand shoes to him.
All I can say, colonel,
is that instead
of him out there,
I wish it were me.
I'm gonna get my gear now
and go back out to the scarp.
Later.
There are 26
minutes to blastoff, major.
The m-2 departure
cannot be delayed.
Do you read me?
Loud and clear, colonel.
We'll try to chart a proper
course of action for you.
Gentlemen.
Still 25 minutes.
What happens if Maj. Merritt doesn't
get back to the vehicle in time?
There's capt. Buckley.
I'd like a little more definite
answer than that, general.
Are you considering that
Maj. Merritt is expendable?
Mr. Jerome,
I'd like to explain
how the whole picture
adds up at this moment.
I've informed capt. Buckley
that he's to take command
of the m-2.
Order him
to blastoff on time,
thus assuring
her safe return to earth.
Or we can simply wait until Maj.
Merritt gets off that rock,
regardless of how long
it takes.
That could mean we could
sacrifice both men
and the vehicle,
plus whatever information
they've collected
which would prevent this
ever happening in the future.
Hal,
how would you decide it?
I would have to go
with your decision, general.
You haven't asked for my viewpoint,
but I feel I must tell you.
Were I in your place, I
wouldn't abandon Maj. Merritt.
It seems cruel
and inhuman.
And I'm sure the public
would react with the utmost
revulsion and disapproval.
All astronauts are aware
of the risk involved.
And they learn
to take it.
Just what have
we learned, general?
What have we learned?
Learning is a step by step
process, Mr. Jerome.
And if you can understand that
and accept it,
then,
regardless
of my personal feelings,
that vehicle must blastoff
in less than 20 minutes.
I...
I think I'm beginning
to see how you feel.
I wouldn't want the responsibility
of making that decision.
Thank you.
Hal, let's get that ship
back to earth.
Calling m-2.
Capt. Buckley?
Come in, capt. Buckley.
Calling m-2.
Capt. Buckley?
Come in, capt. Buckley.
Capt. Buckley,
come in. Come in.
18 minutes to blastoff
and counting.
Capt. Buckley, come in.
You'd better get back
to the cabin.
Maj. Merritt here, general.
Capt. Buckley
is out here with me.
He has no way
of answering your call
without going back
to the vehicle.
This, he seems
reluctant to do.
I'm not gonna leave you
out here alone.
Gen. Winston,
capt. Buckley
is greatly overwrought.
It would be unfair to hold his
refusal against him, sir.
Major, it is now
16 minutes to blastoff.
And no turning back.
It is with deepest regrets
that I give you this request.
Will you please inform
capt. Buckley.
That by my authority.
You are hereby relieved
as commander of the m-2.
He is officially appointed
to replace you.
I then command him to activate
all systems of his vehicle.
And to blastoff
on the minute.
At the agreed time
of departure.
I've got it!
Skipper, I've got it!
What?
I'll be the decoy!
Now, listen, skipper,
this is important.
I'm gonna run
into the sand at an angle.
Buckley, you're insane!
Now, you listen to me.
I'm not gonna
say it twice.
I'm gonna run
in that direction.
That'll decoy it to me and give you
a chance to run for it, understand?
Buckley, get back
to your vehicle!
You're not paying
attention to me.
Now, I'm gonna run
out there
whether you take advantage
of it or not.
All you gotta do is wait
for that devil to come for me,
then you run!
I'm not asking you,
I'm telling you
what I'm gonna do.
That's it!
I'm going!
Buckley!
Wait!
Buckley,
head for the shore!
There's a whole army
of them.
Calling m-2.
Calling m-2.
Earth control
to m-2.
Come in, please.
M-2,
Maj. Merritt here.
Can't anybody down there tell me
how long it is till blastoff?
Chuck, for the love
of Pete, what...
Gen. Winston here.
As of this exact moment,
it is 6 minutes
and counting,
all systems checked?
All systems go,
general, sir.
Ah, gen. Winston, sir.
Ah, look, anything
I said before,
I was just kidding, huh?
And about those pebbles,
can't we get a ruling from the Pentagon
or somebody about who they belong to?
Our contention is they belong to
the personnel of m-1 and m-2.
Let the guys who follow us
find their own.
Battle joined.
Casualties, yes.
Resolution, victory...
Of a sort.
A painful step
from the crib of destiny.
On another day,
a friend, perhaps,
instead of a deadly peril.
Part of the saga
of the space pioneers.
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,
The Outer Limits.
immensities of cosmic space,
bold adventurers streak
their way to join battle.
With strange enemies
on strange worlds.
The alien, the unknown,
perhaps even the invisible.
Armed only with man's
earthbound knowledge.
We made it, Fred.
We're on Mars.
No sweat at all.
Check all systems.
Secure retros.
Maintain full power
at all times.
A- OK.
This is capt. Fred Thomas.
Commanding inter-planetary
vehicle m-1,
colonization probe.
To col. Hal Danvers,
headquarters communication,
planet earth.
Subject of report:
Arrival on the planet Mars.
Landing is completely
successful.
I'm going out, Jim.
Hey, Fred.
Yeah?
Remember the
general's orders.
How could I forget?
Stay in touch
at all times, huh?
A- OK.
This is Lt. James bowman.
Continuing arrival report.
As of 1340, capt. Thomas
has left the vehicle
for preliminary inspection
of the adjacent terrain.
We will be in constant
communication at all times.
And all information will be
monitored over I.D. Radio
to earth control.
Hello, Fred?
Hello?
You read me?
Loud and clear.
Just checking.
See anything
out there?
Mars. That's all.
Not a sign
of a single living thing.
Hello, Jim?
Do you read me?
A- OK. Gotcha!
I'm gonna circle on back
towards the vehicle.
I'll see you later.
Over.
Roger.
Hey, listen, Fred.
Be real careful, will you?
Over.
Hello, Fred? Hello?
Do you read me?
Loud and clear.
Just checking.
Hey, you see anything
out there?
Mars. That's all.
Not a sign
of a single living thing.
I'm moving out.
General, it's hard
to realize
it takes their voices
3- and-a-half minutes to reach us.
Unfortunate.
It puts them on their own.
I'd prefer more control
down here.
I just hope, colonel, they
observe all the instructions.
Continuing arrival report.
1348.
Mars time,
that is, colonel.
On earth you'll be receiving
this exactly
3- and-a-half minutes from now,
so just add that to my figures.
Capt. Thomas reports
no sign of...
Help me, Jim! Help!
Fred, I'm coming.
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...
The outer limits.
Fred?
What's happening?
Where are you?
Fred?
Gen. Winston, col.
Danvers, they're on again.
Hello, Jim?
Do you read me?
A- OK. Gotcha!
I'm gonna circle on back
towards the vehicle.
I'll see you later. Over.
Roger.
Hey, listen, Fred.
Be real careful, will you?
Yeah. Be careful, Fred.
For the 100th time, be careful.
Continuing arrival report.
1348.
Mars time,
that is, colonel.
On earth you will
be receiving this exactly
3- and-a-half minutes from now,
so just add that to my figures.
Capt. Thomas reports
no sign of...
Help me, Jim! Help!
Stay where you are, Jim.
Stay where you are.
Fred, where are you?
Answer me, Fred!
Oh, my god!
Help me, Fred!
What's up there?
What's doing it?
"No sign of life,"
he said!
Disobeyed orders
and gone!
Yeah. Be careful, Fred.
For the 100th time, be careful.
Come in.
He's here, sir.
Who's here,
col. Danvers?
That man,
with the briefcase.
His name is Jerome.
Mr. Jerome.
I asked him to make himself
at home in the lounge.
I wanted to give you
a few minutes
to get used to the idea
of having a civilian monitor.
No doubt he has a direct line
to the white house.
Hasn't every
assistant secretary of state?
How many hours?
According to schedule,
the m-2 will land on Mars in
exactly 3 hours and 40 minutes.
3 years in preparation.
4 months in flight.
5 years
of sleepless nights.
Just to put
a colony on Mars.
Well, let's meet
the man.
Gen. Winston?
Mr. Jerome.
It's a privilege
to meet you, sir.
I understand col. Danvers
has been filling you in.
Oh, mostly on
safety precautions
for this particular probe, which weren't
taken last time on the m-1 probe.
Yes, uh, procedure rules,
the instantaneous
communication.
The laser method. Brand new.
Didn't have it last time.
Cuts out the time lag.
Transmits an order instantly.
You might say,
I can quarterback
the entire operation
right from my desk.
I haven't told him
about tillie.
Tillie?
"Tillie" is T.L.3,
our electronic computer.
I suppose Mr. Jerome
would like to meet her.
Yes. Yes, indeed.
Gentlemen.
This, uh,
tillie wasn't
in existence
when the astronauts Thomas and
bowman were lost, was she?
No, it wasn't
finished then.
Well,
now that she's here,
how does she work?
What'll it correlate?
Here's where we feed tapes
of all communications.
Information about
the prescribed dangers.
You mean, like an
invisible enemy, a ghost?
As a matter of fact,
a ghost
is just what this contraption
has come up with
as the best possibility
to look for.
Calling earth control.
Calling earth control.
Earth control here.
Go ahead, please.
Hello, colonel, this is m-2 reporting, Maj.
Merritt commanding.
Right, Chuck.
Read you loud and clear.
We're ready here
for your report.
Roger. Wilco.
Stand by.
That's Maj. Charles Merritt.
You remember him?
Yes, sir.
I certainly do.
I was there when he received
the medal of honor
for saving those 5 men
under fire. Good man.
Oh, this is our finest crew.
Completely dedicated.
Down 3. Doubled.
That's 800 points, Buckley.
How lucky there are no dames where
we're going, for you to blow your pay.
I, uh, hate to bring it up,
major, but your Mike is still on.
That's all there is,
general. Over.
Put away the cards.
Lazzari, stand by
main fuel valves.
Relay orders
to engineering.
Johnson, topside
to main control deck.
I can't seem to get enough
of looking at that planet.
Time to start
the orbital glide.
Get the computer data.
Secure main power.
Rig solar batteries,
full charge.
Calling earth control.
Come in, major.
Observation report,
as requested,
300 yards.
Remains of the m-1.
No sign of life.
18 degrees
above Fahrenheit.
8.9 pounds per square inch.
Will support life.
No helmets needed.
Very well, major. Secure
the vehicle for the night.
No one is to disembark. You
understand that, major? No one.
Yes, sir.
What did they do down there,
fall asleep?
Keep your shirt on.
Calculations take longer
than decisions.
Besides, it's hard for
tillie to make up her mind.
Hmm.
You know women.
Now don't tell
Casanova about dames.
Now, he wrote
the book.
Ah, gee, fellows, I'm just a poor
little old country astronaut.
Stow it.
OK, Lazzari,
let's have it again.
Descend to base of
vehicle, and wait for orders.
Hey, very good. You got
that right that time.
Shut up, Buckley.
On command, proceed
with caution to target,
keeping always under
observation from the vehicle.
Purpose?
Reconnoiter target for
indication of hostile action
against personnel
of previous probe.
Namely, m-1, which may
have lead to their demise.
Mission?
Gather up all evidence of
exact nature of enemy, if any,
and bring it back
to the vehicle.
Safely.
Safely.
And that's it. And don't
forget it. Everybody.
It's all that simple.
Don't embroider it.
- Survival.
- Complete the mission.
Calling m-2. Calling m-2.
Merritt here, colonel.
OK, Chuck.
All precautions taken?
Affirmative.
This is gen. Winston.
Before I give the word,
I want to stress again.
That I won't tolerate the slightest
deviation from agreed procedure.
You understand that?
Yes, general,
I understand.
I'll be checking every move.
You'd better be right.
Yes, general.
When that man
goes out there,
I want every eye in the vehicle
to cover him all the way.
I'm waiting
for your orders, general.
OK, then. Proceed to investigate
target as instructed.
And keep this monitor hot.
Roger. Wilco.
OK, Lazzari,
you're on your way.
Give him a hand.
Orders received
and duly executed, sir.
Will keep you posted, over.
All ready, skipper.
OK. You move out
to the objective.
With caution.
From where I
am, pieces of this bird.
Seem to be scattered
all over the place.
Uh-huh.
Any sign of life?
Nothing.
OK, Paul.
Move on to the nearest piece
of wreckage.
That's where
you put your marker.
How do you feel?
Wilco, skipper.
And I feel fine.
Lazzari, you're out
of sight!
I'm here, skipper.
Right behind this wreckage.
There's something weird
the way it's twisted.
Get out where you can be seen.
You know the orders.
I'm sorry, but there's an odd-looking
piece of metal buried back there.
No elements can damage it,
the way it shows.
Strange marks on it,
like scratches.
Could you bring it back
to the vehicle?
I can try.
Long enough, Lazzari.
Let's see it.
Do you read me?
OK, Lazzari, you find something,
walk out from behind the...
Major!
Lazzari!
Lazzari! Paul!
Are you hurt?
Wait a minute!
Major!
Maj. Merritt,
what's going on up there?
There's been
a mishap, general.
Capt. Lazzari's
in trouble.
Request permission to leave the vehicle
immediately to go to his assistance.
Request under
consideration, major.
First I want
the facts.
Was capt. Lazzari
attacked?
If affirmative,
by what?
I don't know, sir.
He was under
constant surveillance?
He was temporarily blocked from
view behind wreckage of the m-1.
Well, how do you know
anything happened to him?
He screamed for help.
You believe there was an attack
and yet you request permission
to go out there, exposing
yourself to the danger.
I'm in command, sir.
As such, responsible for
the success of the mission.
A commander has do something
about losing a man, sir.
Regret to say, major,
permission denied.
May I ask the general
why, sir?
Until I've had time to study the
tapes of all transmissions,
no one is to leave
that vehicle.
Do you understand, major?
Acknowledge, please.
Let me go, skipper.
Yes, general.
I understand.
I'm sorry,
but there's an odd-looking piece
of metal buried back there.
No elements could damage it
the way it shows.
Strange marks on it,
like scratches.
Could you bring
it back to the vehicle?
I can try.
"8 may, 'o9, 11:00 A.M.
"All enemy possibilities
still in effect.
Disappearance, unobserved.
Safety factor ignored."
Just as I thought.
In spite of my orders,
capt. Lazzari was unobserved.
Increased possibilities
"that enemy is aware
of human presence.
Increased possibilities
that enemy is not visible
to human sight."
What's it mean
by that?
A computer always
reveals the obvious
with the Felicity
of an elephant.
No one saw the enemy.
I.e., invisible.
What's the procedure now,
gen. Winston?
Procedure?
We need to push on to
our 2 objectives, Mr. Jerome.
To find
and destroy the enemy.
To gather data for the
future colonization of Mars.
Obviously there are
no safety factors left
for the 3 astronauts
still up there.
Are you suggesting
we withdraw?
Well, that's, uh,
hardly within my province
to do that, gen. Winston.
Mr. Jerome,
we are going to continue
this mission as planned,
until it can be marked
"accomplished."
Get me Maj. Merritt.
Calling m-2.
Calling m-2.
Maj. Merritt here.
Come in, earth control.
Gen. Winston here.
Major, surely it isn't
necessary for me to stress
what any further deviation from
agreed procedure can mean?
No, sir. I understand.
Here are your
instructions.
Please keep me posted
of every step.
Assign a man to target.
Post the other halfway
and at a tangent
as sentry.
Constant surveillance
from you in the vehicle,
the sentry,
on the ground.
Armament, bazooka,
nuclear tipped.
Dispatch.
Hello, Jack. Read me?
You bet. Ready?
All clear.
You're on your way.
Take care.
Roger.
I'm getting
pretty close, skipper.
These binoculars
put me right alongside you.
When I lose sight of you, frank
will pick you up from his angle.
Everything seems a-OK.
Frank here.
You're coming into view
good for me, Jack.
I won't lose sight
of you.
Listen, skipper, if I
get rid of these sand shoes.
And stick to the rocks,
I'll make better time.
Roger. Be my guest.
See anything startling?
Yeah.
The metal's back there,
just like Lazzari said.
You've left me,
but I'm sure frank...
That's right, major. I
see him kneeling back there.
Lazzari was right here,
wasn't he?
Yes.
I hate to say it,
it sounds crazy,
but there's no sign that
lazzari was ever even here.
No struggle. Nothing.
The enemy must really be
invisible, like tillie says.
Can you get
that metal loose?
I take it
all back, skipper.
There's blood
on this thing.
Jack, bring that metal and
move out where I can see you.
Right now!
An enemy that draws blood
is not invisible.
This has really got me bugged.
How do you figure it?
We'll work
that out later.
You've done the job.
I want you and frank
to return to base.
Good work, Jack.
OK if I circle
around on the rock?
It's easier without my sand shoes.
I'll look for other evidence.
Keep in sight.
No problem, skipper.
Calling earth control.
Come in, m-2.
Col. Danvers here.
Ready with
reconnaissance report.
Gen. Winston is right here.
Yes, major. Winston.
Fully successful, general.
Capt. Buckley
assigned to point.
Secured physical evidence
for study and analysis.
Observed positive signs
of violence at the target.
What kind of signs?
Blood, sir.
Hey, a flower.
Don't use your hands.
Not on a flower.
I hope it'll keep.
It should,
in the freezer.
Now, on your way.
All right, Buckley.
Right here, skipper.
You're out of sight!
I'll be back there
in a minute.
Can't wait to show you
what I found.
I'm reporting
to gen. Winston.
Very well, major.
After I've studied the tapes, I'll
let you know the findings. Over.
Capt. Buckley,
I am not pleased at all.
What if something happened to you when you
were out of sight behind those scarps?
You're my responsibility!
And that doesn't seem to
concern you enough to suit me!
Yeah, well, I'm sorry
about that, skipper.
Hey, but wait till
you see what I found.
Where is Johnson?
I don't know.
When I was coming up, I was
expecting him to be here.
Frank!
He said he was watching me
at the wreckage.
Just before I found
the blood.
Frank, do you read me?
Frank, maybe you missed
the order to return.
Frank!
Frank!
Frank!
Frank!
Frank, answer me!
Where are you?
Frank!
Major, we
are starting our counting.
It is now 1 hour,
10 minutes to departure.
Meanwhile, neither man
leaves the ship. My orders.
Acknowledge, please.
Over.
Acknowledged, sir.
All preparations completed.
All systems go. Over.
OK, it was my fault.
If I hadn't gone
out of sight,
you could have
kept your eyes on frank.
You are selfish, Jack.
You are naturally
careless.
Someday you'll learn you can't
gamble solo on a trip like this.
It takes
a team effort.
Well, that's the way
I really feel, skipper.
I figure we're all partners
in my little pebble, too.
What pebble?
Did you ever see
a diamond in the rough, huh?
I was picking
that up at the time.
It's a gem of some kind. Hard as a diamond.
See the bluish color?
Tell me about it
on the long trip home.
This little pebble
is priceless.
You can't put any value
on it, on a bagful.
They're priceless
because they're unique.
N- now, look, wouldn't it be something
to help out Johnson's family with?
Or Lazzari's?
And... and the guys
from the first probe?
That pebble
belongs to the guys
who pay our salary.
Turn out the light.
Call me in a half-hour.
That's debatable,
who it belongs to.
Funny thing,
that sand at night.
It looks just like
the ocean at the cape.
I used to love to look
at the moon on the water.
Wait a minute.
That's it!
They're not visible enemies.
Skipper! Skipper!
Thar she blows!
Gotcha, you bloody killer!
Hey, hey, found you out there,
didn't I, baby, huh?
Living in the sand
like a shark in the ocean.
Hey, how many
of them are you, huh?
A whole army? Ha-ha.
Thank you.
Calling m-2.
Calling m-2.
Come in, please.
Maj. Merritt here.
Chuck, it's 60 minutes
to blastoff and counting.
Thanks, colonel.
Buckley! Where are you?
Major, what's happening?
Where is
capt. Buckley?
He is not here, sir.
Is he gone, too?
Ah, he may be up
in control, sir.
I'll report
back later. Over.
Buckley.
Calling earth control.
Winston here.
What about capt. Buckley?
He went out
against orders, sir.
The tension must have gotten to him.
Affected his judgment.
Order him back,
immediately.
We are not in
communications, sir.
He left his
walkie-talkie here.
What?
I'm leaving now, sir,
to bring him back.
Maj. Merritt, am I to understand
you're leaving your ship
without permission?
Against orders?
It's less than one hour
to blastoff.
What about your judgment?
My judgment, general,
right or wrong,
tells me there is a man out
there in danger of his life.
He's my responsibility.
I am going out
to get him, sir.
Maj. Merritt, I must, in all
fairness, give you a warning.
Since you choose
to employ your judgment
against my orders,
as project commandant,
under the circumstances, there's
nothing further I can do about it.
In effect it reduces me
to the capacity of advisor.
This is to be duly noted
and recorded in your record.
It constitutes a serious
breach of military discipline.
I understand, sir.
Please keep
your monitor open
and report
your progress.
Over.
Stop!
Stay there!
Skipper, stay there!
Stay there, skipper!
Merritt! Go around.
Go around the sand!
The sand! The sand!
Get out! Get out
of the sand!
Run! Run!
So, that's our
invisible enemy!
The sand is where
it lives.
This sea...
Like a bloodthirsty
shark in the ocean.
It is 48 minutes
to blastoff and counting.
And I'm marooned
on this tiny island of rock,
safe for the moment.
This sand
is like an ocean.
It seems to be rising
like a tide.
And that creature,
waiting for him.
Blastoff time cannot be changed.
This confirms it.
What happens
if we do change it?
The vehicle would never make it back
to earth with the fuel it carries.
Let's get all
the information.
Major?
Yes, colonel.
What about that tide?
It's coming in.
I've got a little over
a foot of rock left.
Capt. Buckley there?
I sent him back to the vehicle
to get some gear.
Buckley here,
in the cabin.
I'm trying to improvise
something that'll work.
I'm to blame for losing
capt. Johnson
and getting Maj. Merritt
into this situation.
I even missed trying to throw out
our last pair of sand shoes to him.
All I can say, colonel,
is that instead
of him out there,
I wish it were me.
I'm gonna get my gear now
and go back out to the scarp.
Later.
There are 26
minutes to blastoff, major.
The m-2 departure
cannot be delayed.
Do you read me?
Loud and clear, colonel.
We'll try to chart a proper
course of action for you.
Gentlemen.
Still 25 minutes.
What happens if Maj. Merritt doesn't
get back to the vehicle in time?
There's capt. Buckley.
I'd like a little more definite
answer than that, general.
Are you considering that
Maj. Merritt is expendable?
Mr. Jerome,
I'd like to explain
how the whole picture
adds up at this moment.
I've informed capt. Buckley
that he's to take command
of the m-2.
Order him
to blastoff on time,
thus assuring
her safe return to earth.
Or we can simply wait until Maj.
Merritt gets off that rock,
regardless of how long
it takes.
That could mean we could
sacrifice both men
and the vehicle,
plus whatever information
they've collected
which would prevent this
ever happening in the future.
Hal,
how would you decide it?
I would have to go
with your decision, general.
You haven't asked for my viewpoint,
but I feel I must tell you.
Were I in your place, I
wouldn't abandon Maj. Merritt.
It seems cruel
and inhuman.
And I'm sure the public
would react with the utmost
revulsion and disapproval.
All astronauts are aware
of the risk involved.
And they learn
to take it.
Just what have
we learned, general?
What have we learned?
Learning is a step by step
process, Mr. Jerome.
And if you can understand that
and accept it,
then,
regardless
of my personal feelings,
that vehicle must blastoff
in less than 20 minutes.
I...
I think I'm beginning
to see how you feel.
I wouldn't want the responsibility
of making that decision.
Thank you.
Hal, let's get that ship
back to earth.
Calling m-2.
Capt. Buckley?
Come in, capt. Buckley.
Calling m-2.
Capt. Buckley?
Come in, capt. Buckley.
Capt. Buckley,
come in. Come in.
18 minutes to blastoff
and counting.
Capt. Buckley, come in.
You'd better get back
to the cabin.
Maj. Merritt here, general.
Capt. Buckley
is out here with me.
He has no way
of answering your call
without going back
to the vehicle.
This, he seems
reluctant to do.
I'm not gonna leave you
out here alone.
Gen. Winston,
capt. Buckley
is greatly overwrought.
It would be unfair to hold his
refusal against him, sir.
Major, it is now
16 minutes to blastoff.
And no turning back.
It is with deepest regrets
that I give you this request.
Will you please inform
capt. Buckley.
That by my authority.
You are hereby relieved
as commander of the m-2.
He is officially appointed
to replace you.
I then command him to activate
all systems of his vehicle.
And to blastoff
on the minute.
At the agreed time
of departure.
I've got it!
Skipper, I've got it!
What?
I'll be the decoy!
Now, listen, skipper,
this is important.
I'm gonna run
into the sand at an angle.
Buckley, you're insane!
Now, you listen to me.
I'm not gonna
say it twice.
I'm gonna run
in that direction.
That'll decoy it to me and give you
a chance to run for it, understand?
Buckley, get back
to your vehicle!
You're not paying
attention to me.
Now, I'm gonna run
out there
whether you take advantage
of it or not.
All you gotta do is wait
for that devil to come for me,
then you run!
I'm not asking you,
I'm telling you
what I'm gonna do.
That's it!
I'm going!
Buckley!
Wait!
Buckley,
head for the shore!
There's a whole army
of them.
Calling m-2.
Calling m-2.
Earth control
to m-2.
Come in, please.
M-2,
Maj. Merritt here.
Can't anybody down there tell me
how long it is till blastoff?
Chuck, for the love
of Pete, what...
Gen. Winston here.
As of this exact moment,
it is 6 minutes
and counting,
all systems checked?
All systems go,
general, sir.
Ah, gen. Winston, sir.
Ah, look, anything
I said before,
I was just kidding, huh?
And about those pebbles,
can't we get a ruling from the Pentagon
or somebody about who they belong to?
Our contention is they belong to
the personnel of m-1 and m-2.
Let the guys who follow us
find their own.
Battle joined.
Casualties, yes.
Resolution, victory...
Of a sort.
A painful step
from the crib of destiny.
On another day,
a friend, perhaps,
instead of a deadly peril.
Part of the saga
of the space pioneers.
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,
The Outer Limits.