Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964–1968): Season 3, Episode 6 - Day of Evil - full transcript

[ Man On Speaker ]
OVER 60 KNOTS...

WHAT DO YOU
MAKE OF IT?
AND CLIMBING.

WHATEVER IT WAS,
WE'VE LOST THE TRACK.

POSSIBLY A LARGE METEORITE.
MM-MMM.

MUCH TOO SLOW FOR A METEORITE.
MUCH TOO FAST FOR A PLANE.

DO WE DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?
NEGATIVE.

WE'RE UNDER ORDERS TO
RENDEZVOUS WITH THE FLEET.

ANY UNIDENTIFIED
FLYING OBJECTS WILL JUST
HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEN.

SKIPPER, BETTER CHECK
THIS REACTOR READING.

SHE'S STARTING
TO RISE RAPIDLY.

APPROACHING
THE CRITICAL LINE, SIR.



WHAT'S OUR SPEED NOW, CHIP?
OVER 60 KNOTS
AND CLIMBING.

- ADMIRAL, THIS IS CRANE.
- YES, LEE?

THE REACTOR'S APPROACHING
WARNING LEVEL.

- I'D LIKE TO DAMP IT DOWN.
- THE AUTOMATIC CONTROLS
SHOULD HANDLE IT.

IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, I WANT
TO MAINTAIN FLANK SPEED TILL
WE RENDEZVOUS WITH THE FLEET.

I UNDERSTAND.
BUT, UH, KEEP ME POSTED.

- AYE, SIR.
- [ Kowalski ] STILL RISING.
TWO POINTS FROM THE RED LINE.

ADMIRAL, IT'S STILL RISING.
THE AUTOMATIC CONTROLS
HAVEN'T CUT IN.

THAT'S STRANGE. REDUCE SPEED
AND, UH, DAMP THE PILE.

AYE, SIR.
CLOSE THE REACTOR. FAST.

THERE'S NO RESPONSE
TO THE CONTROL.

MISSILE ROOM,
EMERGENCY!

MISSILE ROOM, AYE.
GET A MAN INTO
ANTI-RADIATION GEAR.

HAVE HIM SHUT DOWN THE PILE
BY HAND. ON THE DOUBLE.
AYE, AYE, SIR!



PATTERSON, YOU'RE ELECTED.
YOU TWO, GIVE HIM A HAND.
ON THE DOUBLE. COME ON!

COME ON. COME ON.
GET THAT THING SHUT DOWN.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?

COME ON!
GET OUT! QUICK!

[ Screams ]

[ Man ]
VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.

STARRING RICHARD BASEHART,

DAVID HEDISON.

VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA.

[ Crane ]
FIRE DETAIL.

DAMAGE CONTROL.

DAMAGE CONTROL, REPORT.

COMMUNICATIONS MUST BE OUT
ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT'S THE REACTOR.
IF THAT PILE'S GONE WILD,
WE'VE HAD IT!

TAKE OVER. I'M GOING BELOW.
AYE, AYE, SIR!

SHUT THAT BLOWER OFF!

NEAR OUR SWITCHES!

HE'S STILL BREATHING.
GET HIM OUT OF HERE FAST.

COME ON.

DON'T GO IN, SIR.
THE RADIATION'S WHITE HOT.

HOW MUCH MORE EXPOSURE
CAN WE TAKE?
TEN SECONDS.

WE'D BETTER
GET OUT OF HERE.
COME ON.

ANY CASUALTIES?

PATTERSON'S BADLY HURT.
WE SENT HIM TO SICK BAY.

WHAT'S THE GENERAL ESTIMATE?

IT LOOKS HOPELESS.
WE CAN'T GET AT
THE MAIN POWER PLANT AT ALL.

THERE'S TOO MUCH RADIATION
FROM THE REACTOR.

WITH FULL ANTI-RADIATION
GEAR, HOW LONG COULD
A WORK PARTY LAST?

LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES.

WHAT ABOUT THIS EMERGENCY
GENERATOR YOU HOOKED UP?

WELL, IF WE DON'T DRAIN OFF
TOO MUCH POWER, IT SHOULD
BE GOOD FOR ANOTHER HOUR.

AFTER THAT...
[ Nelson ]
GENTLEMEN...

I HAVE AN IMPORTANT
ORDER FOR YOU.

I'D BETTER
GIVE YOU A COMPLETE RUNDOWN
ON OUR SITUATION, ADMIRAL.

THERE'S NO NEED.
I'VE ALREADY MADE MY ESTIMATE.

I WANT YOU TO PREPARE
A NUCLEAR MISSILE FOR FIRING.

- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
- THE ORDER IS SELF-EXPLANATORY.

WE CAN'T FIRE THOSE MISSILES,
NOT WITHOUT WHITE HOUSE
AUTHORIZATION.

I WANT... THE MISSILE
MADE READY. IS THAT CLEAR?

AYE, SIR.

SEE TO IT, CHIP.
AYE, AYE, SIR.

AD...

[ Man Over Speaker ]
CAPTAIN, THIS IS SICK BAY.
PATTERSON'S CONSCIOUS NOW.

HE WANTS TO SEE YOU.

BEFORE YOU SEE PATTERSON,
THERE'S ONE THING ABOUT HIS
CONDITION I WANT YOU TO KNOW.

WHAT'S THAT?
A STRANGE MARK ON HIS FACE.

A SORT OF BURN.
IF I DIDN'T KNOW BETTER,

I'D SAY IT WAS MADE BY
A BRANDING IRON.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN IT?
I CAN'T.

- WHAT'S HIS GENERAL CONDITION?
- TERMINAL.

HE ACCEPTED
A MASSIVE RADIATION DOSE.

ISN'T THERE ANYTHING
YOU CAN DO FOR HIM?

I CAN MAKE HIM COMFORTABLE,
BUT THAT'S ALL.

THE EFFECT OF THAT AMOUNT
OF RADIATION IS IRREVERSIBLE.

HE'S GOING TO DIE.

CAN I SEE HIM NOW?
OF COURSE.

HI, SKIPPER.
TAKE IT EASY. I...

I JUST WANTED
TO SEE HOW YOU WERE.

I'M ALL RIGHT.
I'M JUST TIRED.

I GUESS I WAS LUCKY.

THAT'S RIGHT.
NOW TRY TO GET SOME REST.

SKIPPER, WAIT.

Y-YOU'VE GOTTA GET SOME REST.
DOCTOR'S ORDERS.

IT'S ABOUT THE EXPLOSION...
SOMETHING I GOT TO TELL YOU.
WHAT?

IN THE REACTOR ROOM...
WHEN I WENT IN,

SOMEBODY WAS
ALREADY IN THERE.
THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

NO, SIR.
HE WAS IN THERE, SIR.

I TRIED TO GET HIM OUT,

BUT HE KNOCKED ME UNCONSCIOUS.

WHEN I WOKE UP IN HERE,
THE DOC TOLD ME ABOUT
THE EXPLOSION.

- D-DID YOU GET A LOOK AT HIM?
- YES, SIR.

- A GOOD LOOK.
- WHO WAS IT?

YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THIS
HARD TO BELIEVE, SKIPPER.
WHO?

ADMIRAL NELSON.

ARE YOU SURE?

UH, DOCTOR, IS, UH...

IS THERE ANY WAY
THAT THE RADIATION COULD
HAVE AFFECTED HIS MIND?

HE'S RATIONAL,
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN.

WELL, WHAT ABOUT
THE SEDATIVE?

WOULD THAT MAKE
HIS MIND WANDER?

HE HASN'T HAD ENOUGH
TO AFFECT HIM. WHY?

NOTHING.

TAKE CARE OF HIM, DOCTOR.

OH. THERE WAS
AN EXPLOSION.

WHAT HAPPENED?

YOU BETTER HAVE DOC
LOOK AT THAT.
NO, NO.

IT'S NOTHING BUT A BUMP.
THE LAST THING I...

I REMEMBER WAS
THE SOUND OF AN EXPLOSION.
WHAT WAS IT?

WE'RE DEAD ON THE BOTTOM.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH POWER
TO BLOW TANKS.

THE NUCLEAR PILE?
THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'VE GOT A MASSIVE
RADIATION LEAK
AND NO WAY TO FIX IT.

- UNLESS... SOMEONE ELSE
SACRIFICES HIS LIFE.
- SOMEONE ELSE?

PATTERSON. HE'S IN
SICK BAY AS GOOD AS DEAD.

THERE'S NO HOPE FOR HIM.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.

SO AM I.
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DIE.

- IN EFFECT, HE WAS MURDERED.
- MURDERED?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

HE CAUGHT SOMEONE
SABOTAGING THE REACTOR.

- WHO?
- YOU.

L-LOOK, I HOPE
THIS ISN'T A JOKE.

NO, IT ISN'T A JOKE.

BUT THE WHOLE THING
IS RIDICULOUS ON THE FACE OF IT.

EVEN IF I WANTED TO SABOTAGE
THE SHIP AND KILL ALL OF US,
I COULDN'T HAVE...

BECAUSE I WAS HERE WORKING
UNTIL THE EXPLOSION
KNOCKED ME OUT.

YOU WERE IN THE CONTROL ROOM
AFTER THE EXPLOSION.

YOU TALKED TO ME.
YOU GAVE ME AN ORDER.

WHAT ORDER?
TO PREPARE A NUCLEAR
MISSILE FOR FIRING.

NOW, WHY WOULD I GIVE YOU
AN ORDER LIKE THAT?

ACTIVATED OR NOT, THEY CAN'T
BE FIRED WITHOUT FAIL-SAFE.

JUST THE SAME, YOU GAVE
THE ORDER, TO ME!

I TELL YOU I DIDN'T.
ISN'T IT
POSSIBLE YOU DID?

YOU HAD A BLOW ON THE HEAD.
YOU COULD HAVE BEEN
IN A DELIRIUM.

ONLY, WHAT ABOUT
PATTERSON'S STORY?
PATTERSON'S LYING.

PATTERSON ONLY HAS
HOURS TO LIVE.

HE HAS ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE OF
RADIATION TO KNOW THAT.

A MAN IN THAT CONDITION
DOESN'T USUALLY LIE, DOES HE?

THEN PATTERSON WAS
ACTING IN A DELIRIUM.

HOW ELSE CAN YOU
EXPLAIN IT?
I DON'T KNOW.

ONLY, WHAT ABOUT
THE MISSILE?
IT'S BEEN ACTIVATED.

FORGET ABOUT IT.
IT CAN'T BE FIRED
WITHOUT FAIL-SAFE.

NOW, COME ON. WE'VE GOT
TO SAVE THIS SHIP.

WE HAVE TO SHUT DOWN
THE NUCLEAR PILE.

NOW, WATER'S ONE OF THE MOST
EFFECTIVE SHIELDINGS
AGAINST RADIATION.

IF WE CAN FLOOD
THE REACTOR ROOM,
WE CAN DO IT.

THEN ONCE WE GET
THE MAIN GENERATOR GOING,

WE CAN CLEAR OUR TANKS
AND GET OFF THE BOTTOM.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE, UH...
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA
FLOOD IT IS FROM THE OUTSIDE.

A HOLE IN THE HULL...
THAT'S A BIG RISK, ADMIRAL.

THAT'S WHAT
WE HAVE TO DO.
UH, THIS IS THE SPOT.

GOT IT, KOWALSKI?
YES, SIR.

HOW BIG
A HOLE DO WE MAKE?

AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE.
WE'VE GOT TO WELD
A PLATE BACK ON IT.

- ABOUT THREE INCHES IN DIAMETER
WILL BE BIG ENOUGH.
- AYE, AYE, SIR. THREE INCHES.

OKAY, SKI, HAVE YOU
BEEN BRIEFED?
THEY'RE ALL SET, CHIEF.

THEN HERE YOU GO, KID.
AND WATCH OUT, YOU HEAR?

SURE, CHIEF!
GOOD LUCK.

ALL RIGHT, YOU MEN.
GIVE HIM A HAND HERE.

[ Kowalski Over Speaker ]
WE'RE OUTSIDE, SKIPPER,
WORKING OUR WAY FORWARD.

VERY WELL, KOWALSKI.
CARRY ON.
AYE, SIR.

MR. MORTON, I WANT
A WORK PARTY TO CHECK
ALL WATERTIGHT HATCHES...

BETWEEN FRAMES
47 AND 53.

- WE'RE GONNA
FLOOD THAT SECTION.
- AYE, AYE, SIR. WILL DO.

[ Kowalski Over Speaker ]
WE'RE OUTSIDE
THE REACTOR ROOM, SIR.

I'M STARTING TO
CUT THROUGH THE HULL.

WHAT WAS THAT?
KOWALSKI?

KOWALSKI, DO YOU READ ME?

COME IN, KOWALSKI!
WHAT IS IT?

[ Kowalski ] SKIPPER...
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT HAPPENED?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.
SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL
CHARGE IN THE HULL.

WE... WE WERE KNOCKED OUT.

ELECTRICAL CHARGE?
BUT THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

CAN YOU HANDLE YOURSELVES NOW?
CAN YOU GET BACK IN HERE?

YES, SIR. BUT WHAT ABOUT
CUTTING THROUGH THE HULL?

THEY BETTER NOT CHANCE IT.
NEXT TIME MIGHT KILL THEM.

FORGET IT.
GET BACK INSIDE RIGHT NOW.

AYE, AYE, SIR.

NOW WHAT?
I DON'T KNOW.

LET'S GET BACK
TO THE CONTROL ROOM.

TAKE OVER, CHIEF.

ALL RIGHT, RON.
LAY UP TO THE ESCAPE HATCH
ON THE DOUBLE.

ALL RIGHT, SKI.
HOW ARE YA?

ALL RIGHT, FELLAS.
HELP THEM OUT OF THEIR SUITS.

COME ON.
ON THE DOUBLE.

THE REACTOR ROOM
CORRIDOR'S SEALED OFF.
GOOD.

CAN A WORK PARTY REACH
THE MAIN GENERATOR?

NOT UNTIL WE FIND SOME WAY
TO SHUT DOWN THE NUCLEAR PILE.

WHAT'S THE RADIATION LEVEL
IN THE REST OF THE SHIP?

IT'S STILL WITHIN
SAFE LIMITS.

AS LONG AS THE TEMPORARY
GENERATOR HOLDS, WE'VE GOT
A LITTLE TIME TO FIGURE IT OUT.

WE CAN'T KEEP THAT
RIGGED GENERATOR RUNNING
MUCH LONGER.

[ Nelson ] HOW LONG?
TEN MINUTES AT THE MOST.
AFTER THAT, NO POWER, NO AIR.

ALL RIGHT, CHIP.
KEEP IT GOING
AS LONG AS YOU CAN.

AYE, AYE.

WE'RE KIDDING
OURSELVES, ADMIRAL. THERE'S
NOTHING WE CAN DO NOW.

IF, UH... IF WE COULD
SHUT DOWN THE NUCLEAR PILE,

WE COULD REPAIR
THE MAIN GENERATOR
IN SHORT ORDER.

"IF." THE REMOTE
CIRCUITS ARE SHOT.

SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO
GO INTO THAT ROOM
AND DAMP THE PILE BY HAND.

WELL?

IT MEANS A FATAL DOSE
OF RADIATION, DOESN'T IT?
CERTAIN DEATH.

LEE, I'M GOING TO SHOCK YOU
WITH A SUGGESTION.

NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN SAVING THIS SHIP
AND ALL OF ITS CREW. AGREED?

OF COURSE.
BUT IT MEANS DELIBERATELY
SACRIFICING ANOTHER LIFE.

NO. NO, IT DOESN'T.
THERE'S ONE MAN ABOARD...

WHO'S ALREADY AS GOOD AS DEAD...
YOU SAID THAT YOURSELF.

- PATTERSON.
- I TOLD YOU IT WOULD
SHOCK YOU.

UNDER ANY OTHER
CONDITIONS, IT WOULD BE
THE LAST THING I'D DO.

BUT RIGHT NOW,
IT MAKES GOOD SENSE.

NOTHING CAN SAVE PATTERSON.

BUT HE CAN SAVE THE LIVES
OF 125 MEN...

BY WALKING INTO THE REACTOR ROOM
AND SHUTTING DOWN THE PILE.

- I'LL SPEAK TO HIM.
- YOU'VE GOT LESS
THAN 10 MINUTES.

SICK BAY,
THIS IS THE CAPTAIN.
YES, CAPTAIN?

WHAT'S PATTERSON'S
CONDITION?

REASONABLY GOOD
UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
HE'S SITTING UP.

VERY WELL.
I'M COMING DOWN TO SEE HIM.

I THOUGHT YOU SAID HE WAS
CONSCIOUS AND SITTING UP!
HE WAS.

COMATOSE. HE JUST COLLAPSED
AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING.

OH, NO. CAN YOU
BRING HIM OUT OF IT?
I MEAN NOW!

I DOUBT IT.
YOU'VE GOT TO.

WE NEED HIM FOR SOMETHING.
IT'S VITAL TO THE SHIP!

I'M SORRY. BUT EVEN IF
I COULD BRING HIM AROUND NOW,

JUDGING BY WHAT'S JUST HAPPENED,
HE'D BE TOO WEAK TO MOVE.
ARE YOU SURE?

I DON'T LIKE TO
BE SURE OF ANYTHING.
BUT I'M SURE OF THAT MUCH.

IS THERE SOME OTHER WAY
I CAN HELP?

NO, DOC.
NOBODY CAN HELP NOW.

[ Whirring ]

[ Whirring Slows ]

MR. MORTON, TAKE A LOOK
AT THIS READING.

THE RADIATION LEVEL'S
DROPPING ALL OVER THE SHIP.

HE DID IT.
WHO, ADMIRAL?

PATTERSON, OF COURSE.

PATTERSON, SIR?
IS... IS HE ALL RIGHT NOW?

I'M AFRAID NOT,
KOWALSKI.

BUT HE SAVED THE LIVES
OF THE WHOLE CREW.

WE OWE HIM
A GREAT DEAL.

WHERE'S CAPTAIN CRANE?
I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM SINCE
HE WENT DOWN TO SICK BAY.

I'LL FIND HIM.
GET THEM WORKING ON
THE GENERATORS, CHIP,

AND WE'LL BE OFF
THE BOTTOM IN NO TIME.
AYE, AYE.

DOC.
ADMIRAL.

IS THE CAPTAIN HERE?
WHY, NO, SIR.
HE LEFT SOME TIME AGO.

HAS PATTERSON
COME BACK YET?

BACK, ADMIRAL?

HE NEVER LEFT.

YOU MEAN THAT PATTERSON HAS
BEEN HERE ALL THIS TIME?

OF COURSE.
HE'S MUCH TOO WEAK
TO BE MOVED.

CHIEF.
SIR.

FOLLOW ME.
AYE, AYE.

IS HE ALIVE?
YEAH.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
SOMEBODY HAD TO SHUT DOWN
THAT NUCLEAR PILE.

HE DIDN'T BOTHER
TO WAIT FOR VOLUNTEERS.

YOU MEAN IN THERE,
WITH ALL THAT RADIATION?

YEAH. LET'S GET HIM
TO SICK BAY NOW.

I MEAN, HE KNEW...
HE MUST'VE KNOWN.

CHIEF!
HUH? OH.
AYE, AYE, SIR.

WELL?

HE'S ACCEPTED A MASSIVE
RADIATION DOSE.
GO ON.

IN A CASE LIKE THIS,
THERE CAN BE
ONLY ONE PROGNOSIS.

HOW LONG?

A DAY...
TWO AT THE OUTSIDE.

YOU MEAN THE SKIPPER'S
NOT GONNA LICK THIS?

- HE'S GONNA DIE?
- I'M AFRAID THERE'S NO POWER
ON EARTH CAN SAVE HIM, CHIEF.

I'D MAKE A DEAL
WITH THE...

WITH THE STARS
IF THEY COULD HELP.

DO WHAT YOU
CAN FOR HIM, DOC.
I'LL, UH...

I'LL BE BACK
IN A LITTLE WHILE.

I'M GETTING A RESPONSE
FROM MAIN BALLAST CONTROL.

YOU'RE RIGHT.
THE MAIN GENERATOR'S CUT IN.
WE CAN BLOW BALLAST.

HEY! YOU GUYS HEAR THAT?
WE CAN LIFT THIS TUB
OFF THE BOTTOM!

[ Cheering ]

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
KNOCK IT OFF.
NOW, MAN YOUR STATIONS.

[ Man Over Speaker ]
ENGINE ROOM TO CONTROL.

THIS IS THE EXEC.
GO AHEAD.

THE TEMPORARY
REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED.
STANDING BY TO ANSWER BELLS.

VERY WELL.
PREPARE TO GET UNDER WAY.
AYE, SIR.

FULL ELEVATION ON
DIVING PLANES.

[ Man ]
FULL ELEVATION
ON DIVING PLANES. AYE.

BLOW ALL TANKS FOR 10 SECONDS.
BLOW ALL TANKS
FOR 10 SECONDS. AYE.

THE GENERATOR
PROBLEM'S LICKED, SIR.
WE'RE GOING UPSTAIRS.

VERY WELL.
INFORM ME WHEN
YOU BROACH SURFACE.

I'LL BE IN MY QUARTERS.

AYE, AYE, SIR.

[ Nelson ]
ADMIRAL NELSON.

WHO ARE YOU?
[ Laughs ]

IT'S RATHER LIKE LOOKING
INTO A MIRROR, ISN'T IT?

IT AMUSES ME TO ASSUME
VARIOUS APPEARANCES.

BUT OF COURSE IT'S NOT
ALL MERE AMUSEMENT.

I FIND IT GIVES ME A CERTAIN
INITIAL ADVANTAGE.

BESIDES, I DON'T THINK
YOU EARTHLINGS...

COULD STAND THE SIGHT
OF MY ACTUAL APPEARANCE.

[ Laughs ]
OH, YOU...

YOU SEE ME ALL RIGHT, ADMIRAL.
DO NOT DELUDE YOURSELF...

THAT YOU CAN MAKE ME
DISAPPEAR BY SIMPLY CLOSING
YOUR EYES TO ME.

I'M ALONE IN THIS ROOM.
THERE'S NOBODY HERE.

OH? THEN TO WHOM
ARE YOU TALKING?

WHY, I'VE, UH, JUST HAD
A BAD SHOCK. IT'S DONE
SOMETHING TO MY NERVES.

THIS IS QUITE TRUE.
THE SHOCK OF THE IMMINENT DEATH
OF YOUR FRIEND CAPTAIN CRANE.

HAPPILY FOR YOU,
I'VE DECIDED TO TAKE YOU UP
ON YOUR OFFER.

WHAT OFFER?
THE ONE YOU MADE
IN SICK BAY.

- I DON'T RECALL
MAKING ANY OFFERS.
- OH? BUT I DO, VIVIDLY.

LET ME REFRESH
YOUR OWN MEMORY.

HE'S GONNA DIE?

I'M AFRAID THERE'S
NO POWER ON EARTH
CAN SAVE HIM, CHIEF.

I'D MAKE A DEAL
WITH THE...

WITH THE STARS
IF THEY COULD HELP HIM.

THE STARS...
THAT UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
THAT FELL INTO THE SEA, YES?

YEAH, CRANE TOLD ME
ABOUT THAT.

AND NOW, MY DEAR ADMIRAL,
ABOUT YOUR PROPOSITION.

I MADE NO PROPOSITION.

I HAVE JUST DEMONSTRATED
THE CONTRARY.

CAPTAIN CRANE NEED NOT DIE.

OH? YOU CAN ACTUALLY
SAVE CRANE'S LIFE?

YES. WE HAVE THE POWER
TO ARREST DEATH.

I'LL DO EVEN BETTER.
I'LL SAVE THE LIFE
OF THE OTHER YOUNG MAN...

UH, PATTERSON, ISN'T IT?

AH, YEAH.
IN EXCHANGE FOR WHAT?

YOUR SILENCE CONCERNING ME.

- AND A SMALL FAVOR.
- MM-HMM. ALL RIGHT.
SUCH AS?

OH, PATIENCE, ADMIRAL.
PATIENCE.

AGREE TO THE DEAL
AND CRANE WILL BE SAVED.
PATTERSON TOO, OF COURSE.

NOT UNTIL I KNOW
WHAT THE FAVOR IS.

SORRY.
I CANNOT TELL YOU
IN ADVANCE.

WELL, THEN I CAN MAKE
NO PROMISES.

THAT'S TOO BAD. IN THAT CASE,
BOTH YOUR FRIENDS WILL DIE
WITHIN THE HOUR.

I HOPE THAT YOU'RE PLANNING
A BURIAL AT SEA.

I FIND THEM
SO DELIGHTFULLY AMUSING.

WAIT.
YES, ADMIRAL?

YOU PROMISE THAT CRANE
AND PATTERSON WILL LIVE?

YOU HAVE MY
PERSONAL GUARANTEE.
IS THE DEAL MADE?

IT'S MADE.

DECK CREW,
CRACK THE FORWARD HATCHES.

[ Man ]
AYE, SIR.

ADMIRAL, THIS IS MORTON.
WE'RE ON THE SURFACE.

ARE THERE
ANY ORDERS, SIR?

ADMIRAL NELSON?

- ADMIRAL?
- [ Groans ]

CHIEF!
SIR.

LAY UP TO
THE ADMIRAL'S QUARTERS.
SEE IF HE'S ALL RIGHT.

AYE, AYE, SIR.

[ Knocking ]

[ Coughs ]

COME IN.

MR. MORTON COULDN'T
RAISE YOU ON THE INTERCOM,

SO HE, UH, SENT ME UP
TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG.

WRONG?
I... I WAS JUST...

I WAS CONCENTRATING.
I DIDN'T HEAR HIM.

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN, SIR.
I'VE BEEN KINDA WALKING
AROUND IN A DAZE MYSELF...

EVER SINCE WE GOT
WORD ON THE SKIPPER.

YOU HAVEN'T MENTIONED THIS
TO ANYONE ELSE, CHIEF?

NO, SIR.
I JUST, UH...

I GUESS I GOT THE FEELING
IF I DIDN'T SAY IT OUT LOUD,
IT JUST WOULDN'T BE REAL.

WELL, I'LL INFORM
MR. MORTON NOW.

NO, LET'S KEEP THIS
BETWEEN OURSELVES UNTIL
AFTER THE REPAIRS ARE MADE.

- THEY'RE ALL GONNA HAVE TO
KNOW SOONER OR LATER.
- MAYBE NOT, CHIEF.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT
YOUR INSTINCTS WERE RIGHT.

MAYBE IF WE DON'T
PUT IT INTO WORDS,
IT WON'T HAPPEN AFTER ALL.

OH, I WAS JUST
SHOOTING MY MOUTH OFF, SIR.

I REALLY DIDN'T MEAN
ANYTHING BY IT.

WELL, I DID.
LET'S NOT DISCUSS IT FURTHER.

AYE, SIR.

UH, ADMIRAL,
I, UH...

I HOPE YOU DON'T
TAKE THIS WRONG, BUT, UH,
ARE YOU FEELING OKAY?

I MEAN, YOU'VE HAD A VERY
BAD SHOCK AND I KNOW...

I TOLD YOU
WE WON'T DISCUSS IT!

SORRY, SIR.
ADMIRAL NELSON,
THIS IS THE SHIP'S DOCTOR.

YES, DOC, WHAT IS IT?
ADMIRAL, SOMETHING'S
HAPPENED DOWN HERE.

COULD YOU COME TO SICK BAY
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE?

RIGHT AWAY.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU
JUST DON'T HAVE TO BE TOLD.

THE SKIPPER'S DEAD.

YOU BETTER
COME ALONG, CHIEF.

AYE, AYE, SIR.

BLOOD PRESSURE,
PULSE, TEMPERATURE,

BLOOD COUNT,
BASAL METABOLISM...

WOULD YOU SAY
THAT WAS THE CHART
OF A VERY SICK MAN?

I'D SAY IT'S THE CHART OF
A REMARKABLY WELL ONE,
WOULDN'T YOU?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO SAY ANYMORE.

I TOOK THESE READINGS
FROM LEE CRANE LESS THAN
10 MINUTES AGO.

HEY, DOC,
DOES THIS MEAN
WHAT I THINK IT DOES?

- THE SKIPPER'S GETTING BETTER?
- NOT GETTING BETTER.
HE IS BETTER.

HEY!
BUT DON'T ASK ME HOW.
I DON'T KNOW.

- HOW ABOUT THAT, HUH?
- WHERE IS HE?

HE'S IN THERE GETTING DRESSED.

CAPTAIN,
YOU'VE GOT VISITORS.

I GUESS I JUST LIVE RIGHT.
[ Laughs ]
OW...

WHAT'S THE MATTER?
IT'S NOTHING.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
BACK ON YOUR FEET AGAIN.
WE'D JUST ABOUT GIVEN YOU UP.

LET ME TAKE
A LOOK AT THAT HAND.
OH, IT'S NOTHING. IT'S...

IT'S A NASTY BURN.
BETTER LET ME TREAT IT.

HEY, SKIPPER, IT'S SURE
GREAT TO SEE YOU OKAY.

YOU KNOW, YOU SURE HAD
THE ADMIRAL WORRIED.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?

OH, ME, I... I KNEW
YOU'D LICK IT EVERY TIME.
STRONG CONSTITUTION.

I CAN SPOT IT
ALL THE TIME.

HOW'S PATTERSON?
IS HE STILL HOLDING ON?

ASK HIM YOURSELF.
COME ON. HE'S IN HERE.

HOW DID YOU
GET THIS, ADMIRAL?

IT WAS A LITTLE
ACCIDENT IN MY CABIN.
IT'S NOT IMPORTANT.

WHY?

BECAUSE I TREATED
ANOTHER BURN TODAY
EXACTLY LIKE IT.

OH? WHO?

PATTERSON,
ON HIS FACE.

OKAY, ADMIRAL, LOOK.
HE'S OKAY.

HOW DO YOU FEEL,
PATTERSON?
FINE, SIR.

NEVER BETTER.
HEY, HOW ABOUT THAT?

I'D LIKE TO TAKE
ANOTHER LOOK
AT THAT BURN.

OKAY, SIR.
HELP YOURSELF.

SOMETHING WRONG
WITH THE BURN, SIR?

NO. NO, THERE'S NOTHING
WRONG AT ALL.

IN FACT,
IT'S AMAZINGLY RIGHT.

NOW, OUR POSITION
IS HERE.

OUR RENDEZVOUS POINT
WITH THE FLEET IS...
RIGHT HERE.

ONCE WE GET UNDER WAY,
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT IN
A LITTLE LESS THAN FOUR HOURS.

THAT'S BETTER THAN I HOPED.
HOW ARE THE REPAIRS COMING?
SMOOTHLY.

UNLESS WE HIT A SNAG,
WE CAN HOLD TO
OUR ORIGINAL SCHEDULE.

GOOD. GOOD.

[ Nelson ]
COME IN, ADMIRAL.

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.

I GATHER IT'S TIME
FOR RECKONING.

YOU'RE A PRACTICAL, MAN.
I LIKE THAT.

ALL RIGHT.
I'M LISTENING.

I HAVE KEPT MY END OF
THE BARGAIN. BOTH CRANE AND
PATTERSON ARE COMPLETELY WELL.

- NOW YOU WILL KEEP YOURS.
- WELL, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT IS YET.

YOU WILL IN A MINUTE.
LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
OBSERVE.

THAT'S OUR
PACIFIC FLEET.

- WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO
RENDEZVOUS WITH 'EM NOW.
- YES, ADMIRAL,

WHAT WILL BE A VERY
FATEFUL RENDEZVOUS.

LOOK, AND YOU SHALL SEE WHAT
THE FUTURE WILL BRING.

ONE PICTURE, I FIND,
IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.

ALL RIGHT.
I GET THE IDEA.

SPLENDID! MY WORK IS
SO MUCH EASIER WHEN
I'M DEALING WITH BRIGHT PEOPLE.

IT'S ALL RIDICULOUSLY SIMPLE.

ONLY ONE BUTTON TO PUSH.

JUST ONE BUTTON,

AND WITH IT WILL COME
THE GREATEST CATASTROPHE
THE WORLD'S EVER SEEN.

IT WILL BE A THING
OF SHEER BEAUTY.

MASSIVE RETALIATION
AND COUNTER RETALIATION...

UNTIL THE WHOLE WORLD
IS A CINDER PILE OF DEVASTATION.

I CAN ALMOST TASTE IT NOW.

BUT WHY? WHY?

WELL, OTHER WORLDS BESIDE
YOUR OWN ARE FACED WITH
A POPULATION EXPLOSION, ADMIRAL.

OURS IS SUCH A WORLD.
WE NEED YOURS TO EXPAND ON,

AND THE RADIOACTIVITY
THAT WILL RESULT
TO FEED OUR MINDS AND BODIES.

WELL, I'M AFRAID THAT YOU'RE
IN FOR A DISAPPOINTMENT.

YOU SEE, OUR NUCLEAR MISSILES
ARE NOT SET OFF JUST BY
THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON.

THERE IS AN ELABORATE
CODE SYSTEM SET UP TO PREVENT
JUST SUCH A TRAGEDY.

[ Laughs ]
FAIL-SAFE?

YOU DO ME TOO LITTLE CREDIT,
ADMIRAL. I'VE ALREADY TAKEN
STEPS TO CIRCUMVENT IT.

WELL, IF YOU COULD DO THAT,
YOU COULD FIRE THE MISSILE
YOURSELF.

- YOU DON'T NEED ME.
- AH, BUT I DO.

UNHAPPILY, WE ARE
SO PSYCHOLOGICALLY ORIENTED
THAT WE... WE CANNOT KILL.

TO ACCOMPLISH THAT ACT,
WE MUST DEPEND
ON OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

IN THIS CASE,
ADMIRAL, YOU... THEREFORE,
YOU WILL PUSH THE BUTTON.

BUT YOU MUST KNOW
THAT I WON'T DO IT.

ON THE CONTRARY,
WHEN YOU MADE A PACT WITH ME,

YOU GAVE ME CONTROL
OF YOUR WILL.

I CAN FORCE YOU
TO PUSH THE BUTTON.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER
THE BUTTON'S PUSHED OR NOT.

FAIL-SAFE IS
COMPLETELY TAMPER-PROOF.

WE'VE SPENT YEARS OF WORK
PERFECTING THIS TECHNIQUE.

AND WE HAVE SPENT AGES,
LITERALLY, PERFECTING OURS.

TAMPERING IS
OUR SPECIALTY, ADMIRAL.

COME HERE.

THERE, YOU SEE?
ONLY ONE MORE KEY REMAINS
TO BE TURNED... YOURS.

I WON'T DO IT.
OF COURSE YOU WILL.

ALL YOU NEED IS, UH,
A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT.

HOW... HOW DID YOU
GET THAT?

KNOW-HOW, ADMIRAL.
SHEER KNOW-HOW.

YOUR, UH, TURN,
ADMIRAL.

COME NOW. JUST A SIMPLE
TWIST OF THE WRIST.

THE MISSILE IS ALREADY PRIMED
TO STRIKE ITS TARGET.

THEN ONE TOUCH ON THE BUTTON
AND YOUR WORK IS DONE.

IF I REFUSE?

WE HAVE MADE A PACT,
YOU AND I.

THERE IS NO WAY IN THE WORLD
THAT YOU CAN REFUSE.

TURN THE KEY.

- I CAN'T.
- TURN IT.

SPLENDID!

NOW, THE BUTTON.

NO, I CAN'T. I...

IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING AT ALL,
YOU KNOW I CAN'T TOUCH
THAT BUTTON.

BUT YOU CAN.

WHATEVER YOU MAY FEEL, YOU ARE
NO LONGER MASTER OF YOURSELF.

PRESS THE BUTTON, ADMIRAL.

PRESS IT.

PRESS IT!

NO!
YOU'RE A FOOL, NELSON.

YOU KNOW I CAN ARREST DEATH.

I CAN ALSO REVERSE THAT POWER.

THIS CAN COST
YOUR FRIEND HIS LIFE.

LEE CRANE MADE
HIS DECISION TO DIE...

WHEN HE DELIBERATELY WALKED
INTO THAT REACTOR ROOM.

HE DID IT TO SAVE
THE LIVES OF ALL OF US.
I HAPPEN TO THINK...

THAT ANY MAN ON THE SEAVIEW
WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING.

NO MAN'S WILL
IS STRONGER THAN MINE.

NO MAN'S!

YOU STILL
HAVE YOUR CHANCE,
BUT ONLY ONE.

IF HE DIES,
EVEN I CANNOT SAVE HIM.

SO BE VERY SURE
BEFORE YOU LET IT HAPPEN.

WHEN YOU WATCH HIM WRITHE
IN HIS FINAL AGONY,

PRESS THE BUTTON... IN TIME...

AND HE'LL BE SAVED.

REMEMBER THAT.

I'VE ALREADY MADE MY DECISION.

[ Whispering ]
CHIEF. COME HERE.

PSST.

CHIEF.

KOWALSKI, IF YOU GOT
SOMETHIN' TO SAY, SOUND OFF.

I DIDN'T FIGURE YOU WANTED THIS
YELLED OUT ALL OVER THE SHIP.

I MEAN, IT'S THE CAPTAIN'S
PLACE TO ANNOUNCE IT.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

THE FAIL-SAFE.
WE MUST BE AT WAR.

OH, WAR. SURE, SURE.
WE'RE AT WAR, AND I'M A...

HOLY...
YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH
SHUT ABOUT THIS.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS
TRYING TO DO.

SKIPPER,
WHEN DID IT HAPPEN?
WHAT'S THAT?

WAR.
WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

I JUST SPOTTED
THE FAIL-SAFE DEVICE, SIR.

WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?
I JUST SAW IT.
RIGHT, KOWALSKI?

RIGHT, CHIEF.

IT CAN'T BE ACTIVATED.
I NEVER USED MY KEY.

ADMIRAL,
THERE'S SOMETHING'S WRONG
WITH THE FAIL-SAFE.

HAS THERE BEEN A RED ALERT
FROM WASHINGTON?

NO. NO, NOTHING.

THEN IT'S A MALFUNCTION.
I'LL CHECK IT... OW...

WHAT IS IT, LEE?

NOTHING. UM, JUST
A CRICK IN MY SIDE.

I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN
I FIND THE FOUL-UP.

PATTERSON.
YES, SIR.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT NOW?
YES, SIR, I FEEL FINE.

JUST GREAT.
HOW ABOUT YOURSELF, SIR?
I'M JUST FINE.

JUST FINE. LOOK, I'VE GOT
SOME WORK TO DO ON FAIL-SAFE.
GET THESE BOYS OUT OF HERE.

AYE, SIR.
ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS,
LET'S CLEAR OUT OF HERE.

THE CAPTAIN'S GOT
SOME TOP SECRET
WORK TO DO.

COME ON.
LET'S GO.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ME?

DOES IT HURT
VERY MUCH, CAPTAIN?

I'M SEEING THINGS.

NOT AT ALL, CAPTAIN.
AT LEAST NOT YET.

WHO ARE YOU?

- WHAT IS THIS?
- IT'S A LONG, LONG
STORY, CAPTAIN,

AND QUITE BESIDE
THE POINT AT THE MOMENT.

THE QUESTION NOW IS,
DO YOU WANT TO STAY ALIVE?

ALIVE?
OF COURSE I DO.

GOOD. I CAN HELP YOU.

I CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE,
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO WORK FAST.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

JUST A LITTLE AGREEMENT.

FIRST, I WILL HELP YOU.

THEN, AT THE PROPER TIME,
YOU WILL HELP ME.

NO.
YOU MUST.

- I WON'T.
- YOU WON'T?

VERY WELL. THEN DIE.
[ Over Speaker ]
LEE, THIS IS THE ADMIRAL.

HAVE YOU FOUND
THE FAIL-SAFE TROUBLE YET?

THE ADMIRAL'S IMPATIENT.
HE'LL BE COMING TO LOOK FOR YOU.
WE CAN'T HAVE THAT, CAN WE?

LEE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

DO YOU WANT HIM
TO FIND YOU DEAD?

OR DO YOU WANT TO BE
FREE OF THE PAIN?

I CAN HELP YOU.

COME ON.
GIVE ME YOUR HAND.

COME ON.
GIVE ME YOUR HAND.

SLEEP WELL, CAPTAIN.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK,

ONCE I'VE DEALT
WITH THE ADMIRAL.

IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG
WITH THE SKIPPER?
I DON'T KNOW.

I'D BETTER HAVE A LOOK.
DON'T BOTHER, ADMIRAL.

LEE, WHAT IS IT?

CHIP, THE FAIL-SAFE
WAS SABOTAGED.

ONLY AN EXPERT COULD DO IT...
ONE OF THE DESIGNERS.

THE ADMIRAL'S
THE ONLY MAN ABOARD
WHO COULD QUALIFY.

- PUT HIM UNDER ARREST.
- LEE...

THAT'S AN ORDER.

AYE, AYE, SIR.
CHIEF?

SIR?

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
WITH CRANE?

HE'S, UH, SUFFERED
A MENTAL BREAKDOWN.

HE'S DANGEROUS.
TAKE CARE OF HIM.

TAKE THE ADMIRAL
TO HIS QUARTERS, CHIEF.

NO. PUT HIM IN THE BRIG
UNDER CLOSE GUARD.

- THE BRIG, SIR?
- CARRY ON, CHIEF.

AYE, SIR.

- ADMIRAL, I, UH...
- IT'S ALL RIGHT, CHIEF.

I WON'T GIVE YOU
ANY TROUBLE.

I'LL BE IN THE MISSILE ROOM
IF YOU WANT ME.

THIS WAY, CHIEF.
OH, NO, NO.
THE BRIG'S THAT WAY, SIR.

I'M NOT GOING
TO THE BRIG. WE'VE GOTTA
GET TO THE MISSILE ROOM FAST!

I CAN'T LET YOU,
ADMIRAL. YOU HEARD
THE CAPTAIN'S ORDER.

- BUT THAT WASN'T THE CAPTAIN.
- HUH?

OH. OH, YEAH, I KNOW.
IT LOOKED LIKE THE CAPTAIN.

BUT THAT IS AN ALIEN
FROM OUTER SPACE.

OH, SURE, ADMIRAL.
I SAW THAT RIGHT AWAY.

YOU DID?
OH, SURE, SURE.
I MEAN...

BUT I DID...
WE'LL FOOL HIM.

HE EXPECTS US TO
GO TO THE MISSILE ROOM.
RIGHT? BUT...

WE'LL GO TO THE BRIG
INSTEAD. COME ON.

IT'S JUST MY SHOULDER.

I GOTTA GET TO
THE MISSILE ROOM, OKAY?

NO OKAY.
YOU HEARD THE CAPTAIN'S...

TAKE OUT YOUR KEY
TO THE FAIL-SAFE, CAPTAIN.

YOUR WILL IS NOT
AS STRONG AS NELSON'S.

THE PAIN YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH
HAS WEAKENED IT.

THE KEY, CAPTAIN.

COME ON. THAT'S WHY
WE'RE GOING TO THE BRIG.

CH-CHIEF, L-LOOK!
WHAT?

[ Mutters ]

PUT IT IN
THE FAIL-SAFE.

TURN IT.

GOOD.

NOW PUSH
THE BUTTON.

THERE'S NO
CHOICE NOW, CAPTAIN.
I WILL YOU TO PUSH THE BUTTON.

YOU'RE TOO WEAK
TO RESIST ME.

PUSH IT NOW,
WHILE YOU CAN. NOW!

PUSH IT, CAPTAIN!

QUICKLY! QUICKLY!

[ Laughs ]
LEE!

NO, IT'S
TOO LATE, ADMIRAL.

THE MISSILE'S ON ITS WAY!
THE FLEET'S AS GOOD
AS DESTROYED!

[ Alarm Blaring ]

[ Nelson Laughs ]
SPORTSMANSHIP, ADMIRAL,
IS NOT OUR STRONGEST SUIT.

YOU HAVE BEATEN ME
IN A BATTLE OF WILLS.

MY SUPERIORS DON'T LIKE IT.
I'M BEING RECALLED.

BUT TIME IS ON OUR SIDE,
NOT YOURS.

THERE WILL BE OTHERS
WHO WILL VISIT YOU,

OTHER WILLS TO BATTLE.

SOONER OR LATER THE NUCLEAR
HOLOCAUST WILL COME,

AND OUR DAY WILL
DAWN ON THE EARTH.
[ Laughs ]

NEXT TIME,
WE'LL BE READY FOR YOU.

FAREWELL, GENTLEMEN.

PERHAPS...
[ Laughs ]
WE'LL MEET AGAIN!