"Do you read me?" "Do you read me?" "!" "Someone, please come in!" "My god, my god!" "Dr. Weitzberg, contact range officer." "Paging system now secured for emergency use only." "46 hours, 20 minutes, 0 seconds." "Space Operations, Florida division." "Hold on." "It's the press." "What do we tell them, Steve?" "I'll tell you what to tell 'em." "Tell 'em we sent our second man to the Moon..." "And looks like he's not coming back, either." "I'm sorry, Donna..." "I shouldn't have said that." "We can release no statement at this time." "Oxygen countdown." "Mr. Curan would like a countdown on the oxygen..." "Every 15 seconds." "2 minutes, 30 seconds." "No contact for 9 full hours." "Same thing all over again!" "Same thing all over again." "Yet the whole rig is clicking like a dream." "2 minutes, 15 seconds." "We licked every problem..." "Put a man on the Moon." "No, we got him off." "Everything worked fine, but Lockhart." "What happened to him?" "2 minutes, 0 seconds." "Mr. Curan's desk." "Yes sir, one moment." "The White House." "No, not now." "No." " 1 minute, 45 seconds." " Mr. Curan feels certain that there's..." "No hope for capt." "Lockhart." "Yes sir." "1 minute, 30 seconds." "You alright?" " 1 minute, 15 seconds." " How's our boss holding up?" "Barrenger?" "Well, as usual he's not said a word." "I wouldn't get too close to him, if I were you." "I was figuring on giving him a sedative." "60 seconds." "Ready?" "Who isn't?" " It isn't over yet." " Will be in about 60 seconds." "Well..." "We've done it your way, twice." "Well, now, we don't pretend to know all the answers." "Apparently, no one does." "For every frontier that's been explored..." " Men have died." " 45 seconds." "We've only lost 2 men on the strangest frontier of all." "There are millions of people in this world, Dr. Weitzberg." "But there are only 4 men left who can handle the lunar rocket." "We've lost 1/3 of the men we had." "It's like a conveyor tube to oblivion." " Mr. Barrenger..." " 30 seconds." "The situation that happened to those first 2 men..." "Was not only duplicated but widely exaggerated in their training." "Those men did not have a mental crackup." "I'd stake my life on it." "There is no duplicate for the solitude of space!" "If those men could've looked in their viewing screen..." "And seen 2, 3 or more sister ships alongside..." " 15 seconds." " Out there... they wouldn't have panicked!" "You heard those tapes." "Those men did not panic!" " The next time, we do it my way." " 10, 9..." " 8, 7, 6..." " The remaining 4 men in mass flight." " 5, 4..." " Well, then, do it without me." " 3, 2..." " The mass flight takes place next month." " We'll talk about it!" " 1, 0." "Oxygen, depleted." "Damn!" "I'll see you in Washington..." "tomorrow." "Steve..." "Think he knew about Don and Mel Lockhart?" "I don't know, doc." "If he did, I doubt if it'd make much difference." "Steve, might as well write off 4 more men." "I can't take much more of this, doc." "I wonder how he can justify it?" "Our boss is the secretary of Space Operations." "And that cabinet post..." "Entitles him to be a very daring man." "Well, we gotta stop him, doc." "Alright, Steve, before you go see him tomorrow, stop by my office." "I don't get it." "I just don't get it!" "The pattern is the same as before." "Perfect take-off." "Clear contact all the way." "Perfect landing." "You heard Lockhart when he was on the lunar surface." "Lift-off from the Moon, perfect!" "1 hour later, nothing!" "And we had him right here, doc!" "If he wanted to talk to us he didn't even have to push a lousy button!" "Do you read me?" "Do you read me?" "!" "Lockhart..." "X-20 approaching ionosphere." "Someone, please, come in!" "My god, my god!" "X-20 to Moon blat." "Do you read me?" "!" "Lockhart?" "This is Moon blat." "Curan, Steve Curan." "Come in, X-20." "Steve..." "It's coming on again." "My god..." "My god!" "Kill." "Kill!" "Doc... what's wrong with that man?" "I don't know, Steve." "This is doc Weitzberg." "How long have you been without oxygen?" "15, maybe... 20 minutes." "It's impossible!" "Why did you break contact?" "Wouldn't let make contact." "Please..." "Kill..." "No, no!" "Oh, don't..." " Steve..." " I..." "I can't make it..." "Lost control." "Push red..." "Push the red..." "I can't push that red button, that'll blow him up." "Way off course." "Can't make it." "No, no!" "Something..." "makes my arm move." "Makes me... do things." "Kill, kill!" "Doctor, we've got to help him." "I'm 200.000 feet!" "Push the red..." "Something in me..." "Push the red..." "Why do you want us to push it?" "You can push it, if you want to." "Won't let me." "I can't move my arm!" "Kill!" "Kill!" "165.000." "Push the red..." "No more time!" "What's his position, where is he?" "Inland." "Populated area..." "California." "140.000." "Push the red!" "Kill!" "My god!" "My god, Steve, help me!" "Help me!" "Push the red... 70.000!" "Push it...!" "My... my god!" "God, Steve, help me!" "Help me!" "Push the red... 70.000!" "Push it!" "Well, that's one tape we don't want Donna to transcribe." "Don't worry, I'll take care of it." "How can a man continue to function without oxygen for 20 minutes?" "Can't." "Lockhart did." "So, we know..." "Something kept him functioning." "A substitute for oxygen?" "I don't know, Steve." "But ever since we lost Nelson..." "An idea's been buzzing around in my brain, like a fly." "A very persistent fly." "After hearing Lockhart the buzzing stopped." "Ya know, I think I've hit on something." "Wanna hear it out with me?" "Go ahead, have at it." "Well, I think what kept Lockhart going, was life." "An independent vital force..." "Something..." "living." "Well, that's pretty wild, doc." "Well, "living" covers a lot of territory, Steve." "And I don't think Lockhart was alone..." "On his return flight any more than Nelson was." "Oh, now, doc..." "I'm not talking about little, green men." "As a matter of fact, I may not talk at all unless I get some encouragement." "Well, what do you need, uh, a drink, maybe?" "No... time." "And you're the one that can get Barrenger to give it to me." "Time?" "For what?" "Time, to prove that this force, this..." ""new life" was born on the X-20." "Go ahead." "I need you with me all the way, Steve." "Alright, I'm with you." "What makes life?" "A certain, particular combination of molecules..." "Or carbon, or silicone, or nitrogen." "Or any number of these things." "A certain temperature." "Mix well, call it what you will, but this mass..." "Swirling together in tiny orbits, fuses these things into a..." "Precise energy relationship which we call "life."" "Ah, now, wait a minute." "What you're saying is that, uh... in space..." "Life might mutate, or..." "Even fully evolve in a matter of hours, or... even minutes." "What happens when we send a man up there?" "You see, see... we don't just send a man in a rocket." "We send up living cells, molecules, bacteria, germs." "We throw in radioactivity." "We introduce all these to cosmic rays." "Do we upset this balance?" "Do we start a cycle?" "Does a living cell from Earth romance a cosmic ray..." "And give birth to an illegitimate monster who makes his nest in..." "In Lockhart and Nelson?" "It's beginning to add up, isn't it?" "Perhaps it was weakening, maybe dying..." "Anything evolving so rapidly couldn't live very long." "Well, Steve?" "Quite a chunk." "Ah, throw out the logic pills when you swallow it!" "This theory can't be measured by anything we already know." " Sounds like a good case." " I was hoping you'd say that." "Barrenger won't." "He won't go for a theory even if it's true." "Then lie to him!" "But buy me the time." "No dancing." "No dancing!" "Not allowed." "No dancing!" "No dancing, not allowed." "No rats, not allowed." "Marta, how can you stand those things?" "And you are gonna be a nurse, Patsy?" "!" "Well, what are you doing with them?" "I picked them up at the Express Office for grandpa." "They're for the lab at school." "Well, maybe your grandfather's a biology professor..." "And your boyfriend's a pre-med student..." "But my father's the sheriff and rats and the law don't mix." "Voilà!" "No rats." "Hey, you didn't bite!" "When I said "boyfriend."" "You mean, Paul?" "Then he isn't just a mutual interest in hives and chicken pox!" "He's very nice." "But how did you hook him?" "I know a dozen girls who tried." "The "lone wolf," they call him." "Well, I'm not saying you're not stacked, but he's just not with it." "We're just good friends." "Eat, drink and be merry..." "for tomorrow you die." "You think I'm kiddin', huh?" "Didn't you see that thing last night?" "No!" "I didn't see anything." "Well, I phoned your father." "Why, there was a fireball in the sky as big as a house." "He didn't see it either." "Well... what do you think it was?" "Didn't I tell ya?" "Eat, drink and be merry..." "Tomorrow you die." "And now, for your local news here at Palms, California." "The traffic commission has decided..." "Hi!" " Hi Paul." " Hi Paul." "Come on, sit down beside me." "Come on, finish your milk, let's get going." "Can we stop by my house?" "What for?" "It's getting late." "I gotta pick up my bathing suit." "But I told you I'd meet you here, you said you'd have your suit with you!" "I forgot it." "I just can't get used to going swimming at Christmas time." "Well, I can tell you one thing..." "What's that?" "It's for real... you sound like a married couple already." "Come on, finish your milk, let's go." "Alright!" "Ok?" "I gotta take... drop things at home for grandpa, anyhow." "Ok, let's get a m-move on." " Bye, Patsy." " Bye Patsy." "Goodbye, you two lovebirds." "Hey, Paul..." "What are they sayin' over at the school about that thing in the sky last night?" "Nothin', why?" "Everybody said it was a meteor." "Hey, come on!" "Don't tell me you're still scared of them flying' saucers?" "Eat, drink and be merry." "Hi, children." "Hi." "Picked it up for you at the Express Office." " Thank you, thank you, dear." " I love you, grandpa." "Gotta run!" "Hello there, mr." "Farnstrom." "I never will understand how you do it." "What's that, sir?" "It's 15 minutes past the last bell..." "And already, you're off somewhere with my granddaughter." "Well, we have a system, sir." "A secret system." "Secret..." "Paul... you keep things too much to yourself." "In science, you must learn that you have to share." "To work together, to accept help." "Not me, professor." "When I make it, I'll make it on my own." "All the way." "What did I tell you?" "Breaking the speed laws!" "Going swimming!" "I'll be back in time to make dinner." "Swimming?" "Where ?" "swimming?" "That's our secret, sir." "Our secret place." "You can't object to go swimming, grandpa!" "That's ?" "You look at me like this, I can't object to anything this safe." "Bye." " Bye, bye." " Love you." "Got your suit?" " Bye!" " Bye." "Bye..." "I wonder if they will come to good to science as much as you will." "Are you hurt?" "Only my pride!" "Poor boy!" "The sensitive male ego..." "so easily wounded." "I think I know now the secret of how to be successful with a woman." "You do?" "Tell me!" "You have to be weak, pathetic." "Then they feel sorry for you." "I think you discovered it." "I know I have." "I always wondered why some spindly, little runts had the girls chasing' after 'em." "Because they felt sorry for 'em." "Of course." "But you were fooling me!" "You're not weak." "Darn right." "Now I've got you." "Paul..." "I guess I'm not like those other women." "I don't like weak men at all." "Listen... will you once and for all give me a serious answer?" "What about?" "Are you going home, to Sweden..." "after the semester's over?" "Why not?" "I only planned to come to California for a year." "To see grandfather... to go to an American school for a while..." "Nothing has come up to change my plans." "Whaddya mean?" "What about me?" "No..." "I planned there would be a boy, too!" "Why you little...!" "Don't come any closer!" "I've nothing on." "Faker!" "You haven't had time to undress." "Maybe I didn't..." "But I have now!" "Ok!" "You win." "You know..." "I don't think your grandfather approves of me." "You're wrong!" "He considers you the best student in his class." "I meant as a member of the family." "What do I have to do, say it in Swedish?" "Paul?" "What does it mean I'm "stacked"?" "And you're "not with it"?" "Stacked?" "Where'd you hear that?" "Patsy." "This afternoon." "She must've seen you in that suit!" "Is something wrong?" "Yeah..." "I'm having non-clinical thoughts." "?" "me or not?" "How do you say it in Swedish?" "Say what?" "!" "Nothin'..." "let's hit the water." "You know something?" "American men marry much too young." "You know something?" "It's because of Swedish girls like you." "But Donna, I've called everywhere and haven't been able to find him!" "Didn't he say where he was going?" "No... he was quite upset when he left." "He banged on the typewriter for a while... he was in a mood." "I've gotta talk to him right away, it's urgent!" "When he acts like this, he wants to be alone." "Well, this is the one time he shouldn't be alone." "Doc, you've got me worried." "I didn't mean to scare you, this is a matter of the gravest importance." "I'll try." "I'll be here until I hear from you." "And Donna... everything alright?" " Yes, doc." " Good." " Bye." " Goodbye." "Boy, that water was cold!" "Alright... now!" "Now what?" "The answer." " Answer?" " That's right." "What answer?" "You gonna stay here?" "Well, why should I do that?" "So I can marry you, stupid!" "Marry me?" "Oh, good!" "Paul, Paul!" "Take me away, please!" "Sure, baby, sure." "Marta..." "Let me go back for it, I'll lock it in the trunk of the car." "No, no, I couldn't stand it!" "Let's go right to the sheriff, this is a murder!" " No, not a murder..." " A human hand, not a murder?" "!" "Listen, please..." "you've just got to trust me." "If it's what I think it is, it could be very important for me, please!" "No, no, just take me away from here!" "Put your hands up or I'll shoot!" "Mrs. Hotchkiss, it's only me..." "Paul, what are you doing here?" "You said you wouldn't be home until late." "Well I just remembered this old pile of papers..." "So I thought I'd come back and look something up." "Well, what'd you come in the back door for?" "You know how jumpy I am about noises in the house!" "I got mr." "Hotchkiss' old gun out..." "I thought they'd carry a burglar outta here tonight." "I'm sorry, I guess I just didn't think." "Well, it's a good thing I did..." "I was gonna shoot and ask questions later." "This thing's got a hair trigger, too." "Well... as long as it's you, it's ok." "How 'bout some supper?" "No thanks, I..." "I have some stew leftover from last night." "I could heat it up for ya." "No, I found what I was looking for..." "I'm not hungry, really." "I guess I'll just go up to my room, if you don't mind." " Good night." " Good night." "Yeah, Steve..." "it's positive." "There is a reading." "I said there was a positive reading." "This may be all the evidence we need to convince Barrenger." "Oh, really?" "Well, snap out of it, would you, Steve?" "Don't you understand I'm giving you the ammun..." "It's too late, doc!" " What's that?" " It's my resignation." "You talked to him." "No, not quite, he talked." "He said either get on his wagon or get out." "Well, I'm getting out." "Well now, wait a minute." "Tear it up, you don't need it!" "This is the gauge I've been telling you about." "It measures the results of cosmic rays." "Or the presence of something associated..." "What is the "something," doc?" "!" "Well, I..." "I don't know but I did make a very important discovery about Elmer, here." "Has he got it?" "!" " Very definite..." " Though, how did he get it?" "I see... you're not aware of..." "Elmer." "He's a very distinguished rat!" "He was a passenger on our last space probe..." "Before we launched our first manned rocket." "In the beginning we thought he was completely unaffected." "But he wasn't?" "By no means, you see, he's in that cage alone because I can't trust him..." "I don't know when he'll turn on the other rats and kill 'em." "Now, he can unlock an ordinary cage, that's why I had that padlock put on there." "Everyone else around here seems to think that..." "What he does is in the range of..." "An exceptional rat's capabilities." "But I don't, I think..." "Elmer has thoughts." " Are they human?" " Not necessarily." "Like this "something..."" "The same "something" that was in our pilots." "Well, Steve, there's a possibility!" "Jackson..." "Have you been makin' this noise out here?" "Come on, get down." "You know better than that!" "What is this doing out here?" "What a mess!" "That boy!" "Said he wasn't hungry and then he comes downstairs..." "And knocks these jars off to this shelf!" "The last time he'll get around here in my jelly, I'll tell you that!" "Cleaning after this kid." "God!" "That boy!" "Wait till I get a hold of him tomorrow." "Why the shower curtain?" "Child waking' me up in the middle of the night..." "I have had enough of it!" "Empty." "That oughta do it." "Mrs. Hotchkiss!" "Mrs. Hotchkiss!" "Operator..." "give me the sheriff, quick!" "Sheriff Townsend." "Who?" "!" "Paul?" "Paul Lawrence?" "Will you stop talking so fast?" "I can't understand a word you're saying." "And stop shouting!" "Yes?" "Mrs. Hotchkiss?" "Now, don't touch anything." "I'll be there in 5 minutes." "Now look, Paul..." "I know how you feel, son." "But I'll get there as fast as I can." "Lawrence boy says she's been murdered." "Try and raise the county coroner, Earl." "And call my wife." "Tell her I'm liable to be up all night." "We'll have to make prints of the place." "Sure thing, Ted." "Operator, I'd like to make a long distance call, please." "Never mind, operator." " Sheriff..." " Paul, where is she?" "In her bedroom." "I..." "I heard a shot." "I ran down from my room, I found her like this." "No signs of a bullet." "Did you hear anything else, like a door closing or somebody running?" "No..." "No, nothing." "Looks like she's been strangled." "You can see the marks on her throat... no doubt about it." "Now, tell me boy... did you ever see this gun before?" "It belongs to mr." "Hotchkiss..." "She told me that..." "it had a hair trigger." "Yes, it probably fired when it fell off the table." "Now I know this is hard on you boy, but..." "Anything you can remember will help." "Anything at all." "Now, do you recall... did she leave any valuables around the house?" "Any sizable amounts of money?" "N-n... she never mentioned it to me." "Not that I know." "Well, that isn't the way rumor has it." "That is if you can believe my wife, Edith." "And you can't always do that." "That'll probably be Earl." "I'll get the door." "That should do the trick." "At least that's what my wife Edith says... usually does for her." "2 of those and a glass of warm milk and she's out like a light." "We'll go over the routine questions in the morning." "Now Paul, just one other thing..." "Maybe you don't wanna stay here in the house." "I could drive you over to my house and we'll find you another place tomorrow." "No... no, I'll be alright." "Don't worry about it." "Soap and water'll take that ink off." "You better go upstairs and try and get some sleep." "All through downstairs, Ben..." "Think you got anything?" "Well, most of the prints were pretty small..." "They seem to match the ones we got off the gun and the flashlight." "A... woman's prints?" "Yeah, I think so but I can't tell yet..." "There was one that might be interesting..." "Got it off a medallion she was wearing." "How soon can we get a report?" "Well, I'll tele-photo a set of these to Washington..." "And run a make on 'em here, we oughta know something in... 5 or 6 hours." "What about the kid?" "Earl, I don't know." "I don't like to guess on a case like this." "I just don't understand why he wants to stay in the house." "I should think he'd want to get as far away from here as possible!" "He's a medical student, he's used to being around dead bodies." "Yeah, I suppose." "Now come on... we got a full night's work ahead of us." " Let's go." " Yeah, mayb... maybe if we're lucky..." "We'll get an hours sleep, huh?" "Space medicine..." "Dr. Weitzberg..." "Weitzberg, Weitzb..." "Operator, long distance please." "I'd like to call..." "A doctor Max Weitzberg." "In Washington D.C.." "No, no operator, I don't have the number." "Listen, operator..." "this is an emergency." "No, no, I'll hold on, ok?" "No, uh..." "Weitzberg." "W..." "E..." "I, T, Z..." "B..." "E..." "R..." "G." "No..." "G." "B, E..." "R..." "G." "Thank you." "Ring him for me." "Boy, I sure could use a beer." "Who couldn't?" "But we can't stop now." "But there's some in the kitchen." "Not me, not here." "Not even for a nice, cool beer?" "Listen, whoever got her is probably hundreds of miles away, by now." "Just think of that long, tall, foamy brew." "You could talk a snake out of its skin." "Ok, let's take a look." "With my luck, she won't even have any." "Dames likes her always keep beer around." "I told you there'd be beer in the refrigerator." "Holy...!" "Come here!" "What's the matter?" "What is it?" "I don't know but I'm gettin' outta here!" "Wait a minute, he might still be alive." "With a face like that and those marks on his throat?" "Listen, buddy, we were supposed to collect the dame and that's all." "This guy's on his own!" "He is alive, let's get him outta here." "Get the other stretcher, hurry up!" " Morning, Donna." " 9 o'clock, right on time." "Did you get any sleep?" "A little, not as much as I shoulda." "How do you do when you slip apartment?" "I'm alright, Steve." "Really." "There's... this thing's gonna be a bug." "This race from the space..." "You know how I feel about Lockhart, how we all feel." "But it's more than just his loss, could be the loss of the whole human race." " Doc and I are ?" " I understand, Steve." "What about Barrenger?" "Well, ?" "No..." "Well, he will." "Donna... did you figure out a good excuse for me to get out of the office?" "I don't wanna see him just now." "I'll do better than that..." "A mr." "Meidel from Security called..." "Wants you to see him as soon as possible." "It sounded in a very polite way like an order." "Well, I wonder what he wants..." "I have no idea." "Well, anyway it's a good excuse for to get out of here, isn't it?" "I'll tell you what..." "I'm going down to pick up Doc..." "Gonna meet the crime committee and see what it takes us to blame." "Goodbye." "This print is quite distinctive." "Notice the scar running directly through the loop..." "Makes them impossible to mistake." "Now, the one on the left was tele-photoed last night..." "From the sheriff's office at Palms, a small town in California." "So?" "We just thought you'd be interested in the fact..." "That this print belongs to a man connected with your department." "Who?" "An astronaut..." "by the name of Lockhart." "That's very interesting, Mr. Meidel..." "Would you tell me what Lockhart was doing, in California?" "He's suspected of murdering a Mrs. Hotchkiss." "Now, Mr. Curan... would you care to tell us where we can find Lockhart?" "Well, to be perfectly honest with you, Mr. Meidel..." "I haven't seen Lockhart in over a week." "But if I do get some information I'll be sure to pass it on to you." "I see..." "Well, we'll leave it at that, for the moment." "Now, I don't have to warn you that this is a police matter." "And beholding information could be serious." "Even for a person of your position." "Well, I'm very much aware of that, Mr. Meidel..." "And I don't wanna get mixed up in your department along with my troubles, thank you." "Meidel?" "Ok, I'll be right there." "If you excuse me, gentlemen..." "I'm gonna have to leave you." "Well, we can find the way out, thank you." "Well doc, would you mind telling me what that was all about?" "I can't." "I think we should stop it and see Barrenger." "I always thought that fingerprints didn't lie." "Now we know Lockhart wasn't in California." "We don't know anything of that kind, Steve." "I got a call this morning at 4 o'clock from Palms, California." "There was no one on the line." "Of course I don't believe it, who could?" "!" "And don't think I'm gonna let some fantastic story about a ghost..." "Fingerprints or no fingerprints, Stop me from carrying out this project!" " Now, wait a minute, Lee..." " I'm not waiting for anything!" "Look, when I took this job..." "I was given a goal and a time limit." "And the time limit has just about run out." "Lee, I think we're forgetting the facts of the situation." "I know it may all sound rather trivial, with all of your problems here..." "But the fact of the matter remains that a murder has been committed." "And the prime suspect in this case happens to be one of our men!" "That's right, Lee." "I gathered from the attitude of Mr. Meidel of Security..." "That it won't be long before he applied real pressure, right here." "We may find ourselves right in the middle of an investigation." "However, you do have an alternative, Lee." "When Meidel calls you can gain time by simply stating that..." "Lockhart had no authorization to be in California." "And at the present time, you haven't the slightest idea of where he is." "An absolutely true statement." "One, which you can't possibly be criticized for." "Steve and I can fly to Palms and investigate this... "ghost story."" "May hold up the project a couple of days..." "Practically nothing to lose." "Well, what do you say, Lee?" "Alright, you win." "Go on, take off." "Barrenger speaking." "Yes, Mr. Meidel." "Paul?" "Sheriff!" "You alright?" "Sure." "Where have you been?" "I... just took a walk." "I... woke up, I..." "I guess this thing bothered me a little more than I thought." "I..." "I just took a walk." "But you're filthy, dirty." "You're all sweaty." "You must'a walked awfully hard." "Now, look, Paul, I'm here because an ambulance driver called me." "He told me a strange kind of a story." "Have you got anything to tell me?" "No, sir." "Alright, I'll tell you what I want you to do." "I want you to stick close to the house." "I wouldn't go out at all, if I were you." "I don't care what you do, but stick close to the house." "You understand?" "Why don't you just go ahead and arrest me..." " And get it over with?" "!" " There's no charge against ya, boy!" "Not yet." "I suggest you go up and get some sleep." "You had a hard night." "Yes sir." "I'm telling this..." "really... for you..." "Professor Farnstrom..." "and Marta." "I know you will both realize..." "that it is the truth." "That I am not out of my mind." "You were right, professor." "I... shouldn't..." "keep things to myself." "I..." "I..." "I tried to be a lone wolf and..." "I guess..." "I wanted all the credit for myself." "Marta and I were swimming..." "And up on the sand... we found something quite... interesting." "It was an arm..." "just an arm." "Had a... strange... covering." "I... guess..." "Probably must've been..." "From..." "A... space suit!" "When'd this thing arrive, Earl?" " Why, what is it?" " It's from Washington." "We asked for a confirmation on those fingerprints at the Hotchkiss house." "Well, they say they belong to a guy I never heard of, Lockhart!" " Who?" "!" " Melvin Lockhart." "Do you know a Melvin Lockhart?" "Anybody in this town by that name?" "Never heard of one." "It isn't the half of it." " They're movin' in." " Who's movin' in?" "Washington!" "Great Caesar's ghost!" "Can you tell me why they want in on a case like this?" "A widow lady get's herself killed..." "A prime suspect..." "The only possible suspect I've got right here in my hands." "I was gonna make an arrest within a couple hours!" " Kid?" " Most certainly the kid." " Thank you." " You know the way he's been acting!" "The only one that could possibly have done it." "Now they come up with a man named Lockhart." "And they're taking over." "Earl, I'll tell ya what's happened." "They've got so many fingerprints in Washington they've got 'em all mixed up!" "Well, what's the use?" "We can't buck 'em, not yet." "They also wanna have us put a guard on the house." ""Nobody gets in."" "Want me to go over and sit on the place?" "Yeah, you better." "And while you're there..." "keep an eye on young Lawrence." "I s'pose I shoulda picked him up long before this, but I..." "Just didn't want him to have a record until I was 100% sure." "And then after those Washington boys get through fooling around..." "I'm afraid he's still gonna be it." "Now, I'd bet $100 on it!" "Ok, I'll get right over there." "Right." " Yes, what can I do for you?" " Afternoon, sheriff, I'm Steve Curan." "This is doc Weitzberg and we're from Washington D.C.." "Well, boy!" "You government boys really work fast!" "You got here in a hurry, let me get you some coffee." " Well, thank you, no..." " No, thanks." "Say, tell me..." "who's this man, Lockhart?" "Wait a minute, let's not get started off on the wrong foot here, sheriff." "Yeah, I know." "You ask the questions, I don't." "Well, you boys are from the Bureau, aren't you?" "Well, that's just it, sheriff." "We're from..." "Space Operations." "Spa..." "Space Operations?" "!" "Now, wait a minute, boys." "This is Palms, California." "Population: 2.306." "A woman gets knocked off and..." "We know all about that, sheriff." "We just want to ask you a few questions, is all." "About this very man, Lockhart." "Has he been seen?" "Well, I don't know who you boys are or why you're here." "As far as I'm concerned, you've got no authority at all to ask me questions..." "Now, wait a minute, we didn't come out here to get pushed around, sheriff." "Now Steve, just a minute... sheriff?" "As a matter of fact, all we want is your permission to go through the house." "Nobody goes through the house." "Not till the boys from the Bureau get here." "And I've got an armed guard that says nobody does." " We just talked to the sheriff..." " Yeah, he called me." "Didn't change his mind, did he?" "Nope!" "Well, uh... do you mind if we just look around outside?" "Nothin' to see, but help yourself." "Do you have any theories?" "Yeah, somebody killer her." "That's my theory." "Well, Steve, I guess we might as well be own our way." "Doc, you notice they don't build houses like this, anymore." "Go to rear" "No, they... they sure don't, do they?" "Well, we'll see you around." " See you later." " Yeah." "Whatever we gotta get done, we better get done fast." "That cold fish gonna be around here any second." "Could you distinguish whether it was a man or a woman?" "Well, it was a pretty quick glance doc, I'm not sure." "Look, Steve." ""Come back tonight after dark." "The back door will be unlocked."" ""I have something important to tell you."" ""Be careful of the deputy."" "No signature." "Well, I didn't have a date tonight, did you?" "Well, it looks like we both have now, doesn't it?" "Hey!" "Paul?" "Paul, are you here?" "Paul!" "What are you doing here?" "Get out." "Paul, are you alright?" "I read in the paper about poor Mrs. Hotchkiss." " Such a terrible thing!" " Never mind." "Get out of here." "Paul...?" "That thing on the beach..." "Just can't get it out of my mind." " Have you told anyone about it?" " No." "Get out!" "Why are you staying here?" "It's no good!" "You can come to our house!" "Marta, please!" "Marta, what are you doin' here?" "!" "Harrison, get her out of this house." "Just get her out!" "You just get back to your room." "There's no one allowed in here, Marta, you'll have to leave." "Now wait a minute..." "I've a right to see Paul!" "I'm a friend of his!" "Get her out of this house!" "Come on, Marta, out." "Come on!" "And don't let her come back!" "Mortuary" "Hope" "I didn't know she had any relatives back East at all!" "I know she used to speak of an uncle, but he was in England or some place." "Where'd you say you were from, again?" " Pennsylvania." " New York." " He's from New York." " And he's from Pennsylvania..." "We heard about the tragedy and flew out here." "I see... well, uh..." "here she is." "You can take a look, if you like." "Really looks very well..." "Of course, we got the body quite soon after the, uh... crime." "And there weren't any, uh, marks..." "except the ones on her throat." "You know, sometimes, in cases like this..." "Yes, we... we know." "Looks, uh..." "very well, I think." "Yes, Steve." "Yes!" "What's he doing?" "What is that thing?" "That wards off evil spirits." "I see." "There's absolutely no doubt." "Ah... thanks very much." "We're satisfied." "And you're absolutely right, she looks very well." "Hello?" "Anybody here?" " Looks like we're alone." " Yeah..." "Wonder where our little friend is?" "I think he was watching alright..." "he'll be down any minute, don't worry." "If we could only turn on a light!" "We do and that deputy'd be here in a second." "Yeah, that's right." "I gotta keep this flashlight away from the windows, too." " Steve!" " What?" "Give me the light." "Put it on the gauge." " Yeah..." " What do you see?" "Well there's an indication, it's..." "it's faint, but it's... definite." "Yeah, so I see..." "Steve!" "Keep it over here." "Yeah..." "Well, what's it read?" " This is very strange!" " What's that?" "Well, there's a very strong reading right here on top of the shelf..." "Nothing above, or below." "Well now, that's ridiculous, doc." "No man could get up on that shelf, it would never hold him!" "Doesn't have to be a man..." "Lockhart's fingerprints..." "remember?" "Yeah..." "Well, perhaps we can trace the trail back to where it came from." " Keep the light on the gauge." " Alright." "Yes..." "look!" "Stronger." "Look, Steve!" "It's right up the wall." "Steve..." "It's on the ceiling!" "Doc... what man do you happen to know that walks on the ceiling?" "Turn off the light!" "Alright, let him move first." "Hello?" "Come on, say something!" "Put the light on him." "Alright!" "Back into the house..." "Come on!" "Back up." "No..." "What are you two doin' back here?" "Well, don't bother about us, go after that maniac!" "Well now, you must've seen him, he rain right past you!" "I don't know what you're talkin' about." "Into the house, I'll call the sheriff." "Look officer, you're wasting time." "Go after that man!" "Shut up and get back into the house!" " But I..." " Alright, doc..." "Nothing we can do about it right now..." "I know I'll never remember this stuff!" "Ibsen, O'Niell..." "If I just get a D, I'll be happy!" "Do you understand it, Marta?" "What's the matter, pal?" "You collapsed?" "Hey... kid!" "That exam's tomorrow and you've got to pass." "You know they expect twice as much from foreign students." "It wasn't the sleep..." "It's just that..." "I know, you're concerned about Paul." "But he'll be ok." "Patsy...!" "I just don't understand it, what's happened to him?" "It's just terrible!" "He screamed at me... why is he staying in that house?" "Gee, I don't know..." "Pop hasn't said a word about it at home..." "Well, there's no use me asking him..." "He just won't tell me anything about stuff like that." "They're keeping him a prisoner!" "Well, he..." "may be a suspect." "Paul didn't kill anyone." "That, I'm sure of." "Pop always says you can't be sure what anyone is going to do..." "In certain circumstances." "He didn't kill anyone..." "I'm sure of that!" "I thought it's perhaps time for a little rest and refreshment." "You know studying at such a furious pace without pause can be very exhausting." "I'm afraid that's not the case." " At least not for me..." " No?" "Any case, there are sandwiches and coke..." "And I've made quite a tempting, little snack." "You've sold me, professor." "Lead the way." "And you, Marta?" "Forgive me, grandpa..." "I'm really not hungry." "I haven't been studying and I better start, I'm afraid, if I don't want to flunk tomorrow." "Well... as you wish." "Patsy and I will have to eat extra portions, then." "And I'm just the girl who can do it, too." "Be back in a few minutes, pal." "Paul!" "Could I talk to you for a minute?" "Yes, of course." "Come inside." "Paul, I've been so worried!" "I know..." "Listen." "I'm going away." "Away?" "When?" "!" "Now." "Just as soon as I get rid of something that..." "Must be destroyed." "I just could go without saying goodbye, first." "Paul... what's the matter?" "What are you afraid of?" "Tell me!" "I can't!" "Just one thing I wanna tell you..." "I didn't kill Mrs. Hotchkiss." "I know that, Paul." "You couldn't have!" "But there are people who think I did." "Sheriff Townsend..." "What's the difference?" "If you didn't, everything will be alright." "Grandfather will help you." "He loves you very much, Paul." "Don't touch me." "Listen..." "I..." "I can't explain it, but..." "I..." "I'm all mixed up." "And then, and there's something terrible that's happened to me... and I..." "I..." "I... and I..." "There's only one person that I could have relied on in this world, and..." "I almost killed him a few minutes ago!" "What do you mean?" "Never mind, it would take too long to explain..." "I don't have the time, I..." "There are times when I'm alright, and then I'm not, and then I'm..." "And then when I'm myself and I'm not." "And the periods when I'm myself I..." "Are getting shorter, and shorter, to wh..." " Do you understand?" "!" " No..." "Well, then don't try!" "I gotta get outta here." "Leave me alone." "No, Paul." "I'm not going to let you go." "If you're ill, we'll help you." "You can come and stay with us." "And we'll take care of you until you're well." "Listen, Paul..." "Do you remember when you asked me that question?" "Whether I was going back home after summer was over?" "I was only teasing you!" "I never meant to go!" "I want to stay here." "I want to be here with you!" " I love you, Paul!" " Oh, no, Marta... you don't understand." "I won't..." "I won't let you run away!" "No... no!" "No, get away from me!" "Paul?" "Paul, what's the matter with you?" "What is it?" "What's the matter with you?" "!" "Marta?" "Sheriff, we're sorry." "We shoulda listened to you." "We had no idea the boy was so dangerous." "You 2 should've thought of that when you helped him escape." "I'm booking' both of ya." "Be reasonable, now." "Look, if he does any harm to that Farnstrom girl I'll show you how unreasonable I can be!" "Earl, take the shortcut down Payne Avenue." "My daughter's at the Farnstrom place, too." "Paul..." "Paul's face..." "It was white." "It was horrible!" "There was an arm..." "lying in the sand." "May I speak with her, professor?" "For a moment." "Marta... it was Paul Lawrence, wasn't it?" "Paul...?" "Paul?" "Not... not really Paul." "It was in the sand." "It was an arm." "Lying in the sand..." "A human arm." "It was Paul Lawrence, wasn't it?" "Hey, his car's gone!" "It was parked right there at the curb." "Put a call out on the car..." "I'll make a double-check inside." "Unit 1 to Control..." "Paul?" "39-A, code 7..." "Spotted him heading down the county dump road but he gave 'em the slip." "Well you stick close to the house, just in case." "We'll check with you later." "39-A, clear." "What's this?" "Metallic cloth, it looks like." "I've never seen anything like that." "It's the material used for outer space travel." "Lockhart's." "I could bet my life." "I'll circle around this way." "There he is." "Wait a minute, you're not gonna gun him down, are ya?" "He's a killer." "If he doesn't come quietly, I'll have to shoot him." "But he's just a kid!" "Sure, he's just a kid!" "I know all about kids like him." "The county jail's full of 'em!" "Paul!" "Paul, don't do anything foolish!" "That's right, Paul..." "I don't wanna hurt ya." "Now put that bottle down and come over here quietly." "Come on now, boy..." "I wouldn't wanna use this gun!" "Now, put the bottle down so we can get back into town!" "Paul..." "listen to me!" "You didn't hurt her." "Marta is alright." "Paul... come on, now." "Are you gonna put that bottle down or am I gonna have to take it away from ya?" "We better get him to a hospital right away!" "Come on." "Doc!" "Doc, come over here!" "Fingerprints don't lie." "34, clear." "Ok you two, let's go!" "Not a trace." "Not a solitary trace." "What have I got, doc?" "Nerves, my boy." "Just hypertension, now." "What you had is an entirely different matter." "We'll talk about it when you get well." "What I had?" "What happened to it?" "Let's just say that life can exist under different temperatures and..." "A fever of 104 was enough to finish it off." "Fortunately for you..." "and for us." "I just talked to Barrenger, he wants to see it immediately." "Good." "I'm glad he does." "The sooner we get rid of it, the better." "Marta!" "Come on in." "Is he alright?" "For a little while, I think it'll do him more good than harm." "Excuse me." "Are you sure you got that thing fixed so it won't ever get away again?" "Don't worry about it, sheriff, it's in a metal box and it's locked." "And in about 2 minutes it's gonna be on an airplane and no one will ever see it again." "Well, that'll be alright with me." " Goodbye." " Sheriff." "Come on, tell me." "Did you mean what you said last night about staying here?" "Now, don't play games." "I'm too weak." "How can I help myself?" "You know women can't resist weak men." "Then you're gonna stay?" "Just you wait." "Just wait till I get out of this bed." "Just you..." "Wonder what all of the secrecy's about this time?" "There ya go, sticking' your nose into somethin' that's none of your business." "All we're supposed to do is deliver it to the airport." "Yeah, but those people inside got me curious." "You know that fella from Washington, the way he kept looking at it..." "Asking me if I was sure it was locked?" "I'd give anything to take a look inside." "Not me, I don't care what's in it." "Come on, let's get movin'." "That's your trouble, no curiosity." "You'll never get any place without curiosity." " You gotta find out about things." " Yeah?" "Well, I like it that way." "What harm will it do to take a look?" "I've got the key." "It might be dangerous." "What do you think, it's alive?" "!" "You don't see any holes in the box." "You think it'll bite you, or something?" "You're always talkin' me into doin' somethin' I don't wanna do." "Have I ever steered you wrong?" "The end"