The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985–1992): Season 6, Episode 9 - Silent Towns - full transcript
A technician accidentally stranded on Mars by a sudden evacuation searches desperately for another human being on the desolate world. When he finds an equally lonely woman, she is not what he was expecting.
[theme music]
RAY BRADBURY
(VOICEOVER): People ask,
where do you get your ideas?
Well, right here.
All of this is mine,
magician's toy shop.
I'm Ray Bradbury, and this is--
[mysterious music]
[wind blowing]
[phone ringing]
[message tone]
MAN (OUTGOING MESSAGE):
Mars Irrigation Board.
Please leave a message
after the tone.
[beep]
WALTER (ON PHONE):
Yes, Walter Gripp here.
[inaudible] What the hell's
happened to you guys?
It's been two weeks now.
Radio equipment's still out.
Relief hasn't shown and
I should be off-duty.
I'm coming into town to
have somebody's guts.
[hangs up]
[wind blowing]
[tires screech]
[tense music]
All the rockets gone?
You couldn't leave
me one damn rocket?
[suspenseful music]
They just up and flew?
I need a drink.
Yep.
Nobody waited for
me, not even my girl.
(SOUTHERN ACCENT)
You don't say.
Uh-huh.
Pretty, huh?
That's Clara.
Clara Hayslip.
Prettiest girl in
Marlin Village.
(SOUTHERN ACCENT) Yes, sir.
She's damn pretty.
Hell no, she's the
prettiest girl on Mars.
And I'm all alone.
Alone on Mars.
[scoffs]
[register dings]
All right, salami on rye--
[coins clink]
with mayonnaise--
[coins clink]
--and mustard.
[coins clink]
(BRITISH ACCENT) All right.
Coming right up, sir.
[wind blowing]
[machine whirring]
Joe?
[suspenseful music]
Joe?
[dramatic music]
[wind blowing]
[coins jangle]
One, please.
[MUSIC (ON FILM) - JOHANN
STRAUSS, "THE BLUE DANUBE"]
It's no use.
These people aren't real.
They're not real.
[phone ringing]
The phone ringing.
Why doesn't somebody answer it?
Hello, Clara?
[dial tone]
Dumb.
Why would I think it was Clara?
Still, it has to
be somebody, right?
Yeah, so she'll dial
other houses in town.
She?
It has to be a she.
Woman would call and
call-- somewhere on Mars--
[phone ringing]
--someone.
Shut up!
Listen.
[phone ringing]
OK, it's time!
Keep ringing!
Keep ringing!
Keep ringing!
Keep ringing!
Hello?
[dial tone]
[beeping]
[message tone]
HELEN (ON MACHINE): Hello?
- Hello, yes?
HELEN (ON MACHINE): Hello, Ann.
This is Helen.
Helen, yes?
HELEN (ON MACHINE): Look,
no answer from you today.
Please tell me what
ship you're going on.
If you're still
here, call me, OK?
Bye.
God help us all.
God help us all.
[phone ringing in distance]
If this is you, I
want the real Helen.
Hello?
MAN (ON PHONE): Good
evening, Mr. Tremain.
Uh, no.
This is Walter Gripp--
MAN (ON PHONE): This is Mars
Space Agency Emergency calling.
Last call.
The final spacecraft departs
for Earth at 1500 hours.
Last call.
1500 hours.
- A little late.
Don't you think?
MAN (ON PHONE): This a
recording repeated every hour.
[message tone]
I know.
I know.
OK.
Let's have it.
Ring again.
No tapes.
No messages.
Someone real.
There's got to be somebody
else like me, flesh and blood.
Maybe not Clara
Hayslip, but real.
Now, dammit.
Ring!
[overlapping phones ringing]
Stop!
[ringing stops]
Now, what do I do?
[machines clicking]
Tape machines calling
tape machines.
Which one is real?
How do I find you if I
don't know where you are?
[typing]
Start with the As.
[beeps]
[line ringing]
[message tone]
WOMAN (OUTGOING
MESSAGE): Hello, I'm
sorry we're not able to answer
the phone at the moment.
MAN (OUTGOING MESSAGE): So
please wait for the tone.
[beep]
WOMAN (OUTGOING MESSAGE):
Then leave your message.
MAN (OUTGOING MESSAGE):
And we'll get back
to you, just as soon as we can.
[message tone]
WOMAN (OUTGOING MESSAGE):
Thank you for calling,
and have a nice--
Oh, come on, Walter.
Think.
Think.
Where would Clara go?
Where would she be?
WOMAN (OUTGOING MESSAGE): Thank
you for calling Absolute Beauty
of New New York.
Unfortunately--
[overlapping recordings]
We regret to inform
you that, due to
unforeseen circumstances,
Glamour Garden
will be closed indefinitely.
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Yes?
Yes?
If-- If this is a
recording, I'll come
there and tear the place down.
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Hello?
Hello?
This is no recording, I'm alive.
I mean, I'm here-- here.
Who are you?
Where are you?
I-- You're real.
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE):
Yes, of course.
Real.
Where are you?
Where are you?
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE):
Oh, don't hang up.
I'd die.
No, I'd die.
What's your name?
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Genevieve.
Selsor.
Genevieve.
Genevieve.
I'm, uh, Walter.
Walter Gripp.
GENEVIEVE (ON
PHONE): Oh, Walter.
What a nice name.
Genevieve sounds fine.
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE):
Where are you, Walter?
Uh, Marlin Village.
Near the Great Red
Canyon, Angelito.
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE):
Oh, I'm on my way.
No, no, no.
You stay there.
I'm on my way.
Comfort Prospect's only--
900 miles.
Don't leave.
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): I
wouldn't dream of it, Walter.
Walter?
Yes?
GENEVIEVE (ON
PHONE): I'm waiting.
[tense music]
[tires screech]
Only two people, maybe,
left on Mars, and we did it.
[line ringing]
Genevieve?
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Walter?
500 miles away.
You still there?
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Yes.
Yes, I'm here.
[laughs]
[tense music continues]
[line ringing]
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Walter?
[chuckles]
Who else?
Only 50 miles.
[genevieve chuckles]
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Madness.
(SINGING) Oh, Genevieve.
Sweet Genevieve.
The years may come,
the years may go.
Oh, Genevieve.
Sweet Genevieve.
[tense music continues]
[mysterious music]
Come on you, Martian
Mystery Beauty Salon.
Red Desert Diner, no.
Copper Coin Laundry, Bank of
Mars, Open Spaces Real Estate--
aha!
Martian Mystery Beauty Salon.
[brakes screech]
Genevieve?
[suspenseful music]
GENEVIEVE: Walter?
Here I am.
Are those for me?
How sweet.
Now what?
Do we shake hands or do you
give me a teeny-weeny peck
on the cheek?
[genevieve chuckles]
My, you are the shy one.
Are you really Walter Griff?
Gripp.
Are you really Genevieve Selsor?
In the flesh, Walter.
In the flesh.
I see.
Now what?
I was thinking--
any good movies playing?
Movies?
Yeah.
There's a Gary Cooper
movie, you ever seen him?
He's been dead a long
time, swell though.
Come to think of it,
you look a lot like him.
Thanks.
Robert Redford movie?
It's very romantic.
I love romance.
That's why I love this salon.
The mystery of romance.
That about says it,
doesn't it, Walter?
Mama always said,
keep the mystery.
At least, keep them waiting,
so they can find it.
The hell with movies Walter,
I want to show you something.
Look.
I fixed this just for us.
Just us?
Go on.
Go inside, I have
another surprise.
[soft music playing]
GENEVIEVE: Walter?
Genevieve?
GENEVIEVE: Close your eyes.
Closed?
Closed, promise.
GENEVIEVE: You
can open them now.
Like it?
It-- old-fashioned, it--
That's me.
Mama always said, get your white
down first, then get your man.
You can pour me a
glass of wine, Walter.
[pouring]
To us.
Skol.
My, you were thirsty.
Genevieve.
How old are you?
Oh.
Mama always said,
bright girls never tell.
Guess.
Would you believe 32?
[genevieve chuckles]
We've a lot to find out
about each other, Walter.
[pouring]
GENEVIEVE: All right.
I'll go first.
[genevieve sighs]
Why am I the last human being
on Mars, except for you?
My silly parents decided
to go back to Earth.
Go on, I said.
What's there for
me to go back to?
I've got Mars.
I've got the whole planet
to myself, and why not?
What did Earth ever do for me?
And men.
I should tell you this, Walter.
Every time I thought I met
Mr. Right, he'd vanish.
I thought I'd had it with men.
But here I am.
Here you are.
Here we are.
[gulps loudly]
You know, Walter?
I think you should try
drinking a milkshake
when you're thirsty.
GENEVIEVE: Walter,
look at the sky!
Mama always said, give me the
moonlight, give me the man,
and I'll do the rest.
Walter, stand here!
Hold this!
Don't move.
Martian Seductress.
[sprays]
Oh, it's my favorite.
What do you think?
You haven't finished
your milkshake, Genevieve.
Walter!
Look, look!
Aren't these the sweetest little
baby booties you ever saw?
I love kids, Walter.
Do you love kids?
Yeah, kids are fine.
It's getting late.
Late?
I think I should
let you go to bed.
Gosh, you move fast.
WALTER: No, no.
Genevieve?
GENEVIEVE: Yes?
You're a very nice girl.
Oh.
Nice enough, Walter.
No, really.
Sweet and lovely.
Boy.
Genevieve?
GENEVIEVE: Yes?
There's something
I want to say to you.
It's--
(EXCITEDLY) Yes, yes, yes?
[dramatic music]
Good-bye!
Walter Griff!
Gripp!
[starting car]
[tires screech]
[tense music]
[phone ringing]
[clatters]
[continues ringing in distance]
[overlapping phones ringing]
[mysterious music]
RAY BRADBURY
(VOICEOVER): People ask,
where do you get your ideas?
Well, right here.
All of this is mine,
magician's toy shop.
I'm Ray Bradbury, and this is--
[mysterious music]
[wind blowing]
[phone ringing]
[message tone]
MAN (OUTGOING MESSAGE):
Mars Irrigation Board.
Please leave a message
after the tone.
[beep]
WALTER (ON PHONE):
Yes, Walter Gripp here.
[inaudible] What the hell's
happened to you guys?
It's been two weeks now.
Radio equipment's still out.
Relief hasn't shown and
I should be off-duty.
I'm coming into town to
have somebody's guts.
[hangs up]
[wind blowing]
[tires screech]
[tense music]
All the rockets gone?
You couldn't leave
me one damn rocket?
[suspenseful music]
They just up and flew?
I need a drink.
Yep.
Nobody waited for
me, not even my girl.
(SOUTHERN ACCENT)
You don't say.
Uh-huh.
Pretty, huh?
That's Clara.
Clara Hayslip.
Prettiest girl in
Marlin Village.
(SOUTHERN ACCENT) Yes, sir.
She's damn pretty.
Hell no, she's the
prettiest girl on Mars.
And I'm all alone.
Alone on Mars.
[scoffs]
[register dings]
All right, salami on rye--
[coins clink]
with mayonnaise--
[coins clink]
--and mustard.
[coins clink]
(BRITISH ACCENT) All right.
Coming right up, sir.
[wind blowing]
[machine whirring]
Joe?
[suspenseful music]
Joe?
[dramatic music]
[wind blowing]
[coins jangle]
One, please.
[MUSIC (ON FILM) - JOHANN
STRAUSS, "THE BLUE DANUBE"]
It's no use.
These people aren't real.
They're not real.
[phone ringing]
The phone ringing.
Why doesn't somebody answer it?
Hello, Clara?
[dial tone]
Dumb.
Why would I think it was Clara?
Still, it has to
be somebody, right?
Yeah, so she'll dial
other houses in town.
She?
It has to be a she.
Woman would call and
call-- somewhere on Mars--
[phone ringing]
--someone.
Shut up!
Listen.
[phone ringing]
OK, it's time!
Keep ringing!
Keep ringing!
Keep ringing!
Keep ringing!
Hello?
[dial tone]
[beeping]
[message tone]
HELEN (ON MACHINE): Hello?
- Hello, yes?
HELEN (ON MACHINE): Hello, Ann.
This is Helen.
Helen, yes?
HELEN (ON MACHINE): Look,
no answer from you today.
Please tell me what
ship you're going on.
If you're still
here, call me, OK?
Bye.
God help us all.
God help us all.
[phone ringing in distance]
If this is you, I
want the real Helen.
Hello?
MAN (ON PHONE): Good
evening, Mr. Tremain.
Uh, no.
This is Walter Gripp--
MAN (ON PHONE): This is Mars
Space Agency Emergency calling.
Last call.
The final spacecraft departs
for Earth at 1500 hours.
Last call.
1500 hours.
- A little late.
Don't you think?
MAN (ON PHONE): This a
recording repeated every hour.
[message tone]
I know.
I know.
OK.
Let's have it.
Ring again.
No tapes.
No messages.
Someone real.
There's got to be somebody
else like me, flesh and blood.
Maybe not Clara
Hayslip, but real.
Now, dammit.
Ring!
[overlapping phones ringing]
Stop!
[ringing stops]
Now, what do I do?
[machines clicking]
Tape machines calling
tape machines.
Which one is real?
How do I find you if I
don't know where you are?
[typing]
Start with the As.
[beeps]
[line ringing]
[message tone]
WOMAN (OUTGOING
MESSAGE): Hello, I'm
sorry we're not able to answer
the phone at the moment.
MAN (OUTGOING MESSAGE): So
please wait for the tone.
[beep]
WOMAN (OUTGOING MESSAGE):
Then leave your message.
MAN (OUTGOING MESSAGE):
And we'll get back
to you, just as soon as we can.
[message tone]
WOMAN (OUTGOING MESSAGE):
Thank you for calling,
and have a nice--
Oh, come on, Walter.
Think.
Think.
Where would Clara go?
Where would she be?
WOMAN (OUTGOING MESSAGE): Thank
you for calling Absolute Beauty
of New New York.
Unfortunately--
[overlapping recordings]
We regret to inform
you that, due to
unforeseen circumstances,
Glamour Garden
will be closed indefinitely.
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Yes?
Yes?
If-- If this is a
recording, I'll come
there and tear the place down.
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Hello?
Hello?
This is no recording, I'm alive.
I mean, I'm here-- here.
Who are you?
Where are you?
I-- You're real.
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE):
Yes, of course.
Real.
Where are you?
Where are you?
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE):
Oh, don't hang up.
I'd die.
No, I'd die.
What's your name?
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Genevieve.
Selsor.
Genevieve.
Genevieve.
I'm, uh, Walter.
Walter Gripp.
GENEVIEVE (ON
PHONE): Oh, Walter.
What a nice name.
Genevieve sounds fine.
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE):
Where are you, Walter?
Uh, Marlin Village.
Near the Great Red
Canyon, Angelito.
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE):
Oh, I'm on my way.
No, no, no.
You stay there.
I'm on my way.
Comfort Prospect's only--
900 miles.
Don't leave.
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): I
wouldn't dream of it, Walter.
Walter?
Yes?
GENEVIEVE (ON
PHONE): I'm waiting.
[tense music]
[tires screech]
Only two people, maybe,
left on Mars, and we did it.
[line ringing]
Genevieve?
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Walter?
500 miles away.
You still there?
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Yes.
Yes, I'm here.
[laughs]
[tense music continues]
[line ringing]
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Walter?
[chuckles]
Who else?
Only 50 miles.
[genevieve chuckles]
GENEVIEVE (ON PHONE): Madness.
(SINGING) Oh, Genevieve.
Sweet Genevieve.
The years may come,
the years may go.
Oh, Genevieve.
Sweet Genevieve.
[tense music continues]
[mysterious music]
Come on you, Martian
Mystery Beauty Salon.
Red Desert Diner, no.
Copper Coin Laundry, Bank of
Mars, Open Spaces Real Estate--
aha!
Martian Mystery Beauty Salon.
[brakes screech]
Genevieve?
[suspenseful music]
GENEVIEVE: Walter?
Here I am.
Are those for me?
How sweet.
Now what?
Do we shake hands or do you
give me a teeny-weeny peck
on the cheek?
[genevieve chuckles]
My, you are the shy one.
Are you really Walter Griff?
Gripp.
Are you really Genevieve Selsor?
In the flesh, Walter.
In the flesh.
I see.
Now what?
I was thinking--
any good movies playing?
Movies?
Yeah.
There's a Gary Cooper
movie, you ever seen him?
He's been dead a long
time, swell though.
Come to think of it,
you look a lot like him.
Thanks.
Robert Redford movie?
It's very romantic.
I love romance.
That's why I love this salon.
The mystery of romance.
That about says it,
doesn't it, Walter?
Mama always said,
keep the mystery.
At least, keep them waiting,
so they can find it.
The hell with movies Walter,
I want to show you something.
Look.
I fixed this just for us.
Just us?
Go on.
Go inside, I have
another surprise.
[soft music playing]
GENEVIEVE: Walter?
Genevieve?
GENEVIEVE: Close your eyes.
Closed?
Closed, promise.
GENEVIEVE: You
can open them now.
Like it?
It-- old-fashioned, it--
That's me.
Mama always said, get your white
down first, then get your man.
You can pour me a
glass of wine, Walter.
[pouring]
To us.
Skol.
My, you were thirsty.
Genevieve.
How old are you?
Oh.
Mama always said,
bright girls never tell.
Guess.
Would you believe 32?
[genevieve chuckles]
We've a lot to find out
about each other, Walter.
[pouring]
GENEVIEVE: All right.
I'll go first.
[genevieve sighs]
Why am I the last human being
on Mars, except for you?
My silly parents decided
to go back to Earth.
Go on, I said.
What's there for
me to go back to?
I've got Mars.
I've got the whole planet
to myself, and why not?
What did Earth ever do for me?
And men.
I should tell you this, Walter.
Every time I thought I met
Mr. Right, he'd vanish.
I thought I'd had it with men.
But here I am.
Here you are.
Here we are.
[gulps loudly]
You know, Walter?
I think you should try
drinking a milkshake
when you're thirsty.
GENEVIEVE: Walter,
look at the sky!
Mama always said, give me the
moonlight, give me the man,
and I'll do the rest.
Walter, stand here!
Hold this!
Don't move.
Martian Seductress.
[sprays]
Oh, it's my favorite.
What do you think?
You haven't finished
your milkshake, Genevieve.
Walter!
Look, look!
Aren't these the sweetest little
baby booties you ever saw?
I love kids, Walter.
Do you love kids?
Yeah, kids are fine.
It's getting late.
Late?
I think I should
let you go to bed.
Gosh, you move fast.
WALTER: No, no.
Genevieve?
GENEVIEVE: Yes?
You're a very nice girl.
Oh.
Nice enough, Walter.
No, really.
Sweet and lovely.
Boy.
Genevieve?
GENEVIEVE: Yes?
There's something
I want to say to you.
It's--
(EXCITEDLY) Yes, yes, yes?
[dramatic music]
Good-bye!
Walter Griff!
Gripp!
[starting car]
[tires screech]
[tense music]
[phone ringing]
[clatters]
[continues ringing in distance]
[overlapping phones ringing]
[mysterious music]