"Yippee!" "Whee-ee-ee!" "Commander Koenig?" "Tony, you'd better see this." "John, what the hell's going on?" "'John, what's going on up there?" "'" " Uh-oh!" " 'Come in, John!" "'" " 'John, can you hear me?" "'" " Look, Ma, no hands!" "Do you read me?" "(Koenig continues laughing hysterically)" "'Baby!" "Look out!" "'" "He went to investigate a reported increase in the neutron count." "Haven't had so much fun since I burned Grandma's wig!" "(Continues laughing)" "Medical Unit, stand by." "You really gotta try this!" "You have to fly this baby to believe it!" "It's terrific." "(Continues laughing hysterically)" "Hallelujah!" "There are angels everywhere!" " He'll hit the nuclear waste dumps." " He's too low!" "He'll hit the domes." "John, get out of there!" "That's lethal!" "# Come and join us!" "Come and join us!" "# Come and join our happy band!" "#" "Ha-ha-ha!" "Yahoo-oo-oo!" "Whee-ee!" "Alan, take over Eagle 10 by remote." "Medical Unit to Launch Area." "Crash Unit 4 to Launch Area." "He's deactivated the remote control." "(Alarm)" "If he hits a dome, he could cause a nuclear explosion." "No, that would need stimulation with atomic fuel." "He's gonna crash." "Alan, get over there." "Take two nuclear physicists." "Ehrlich, Bartlett." "(Koenig) 'Whoo-hoo-hoo!" "'" "Keep your heads down." "Big Daddy's coming in!" "(Tony) 'Get outta there!" "'" "(Alarm)" "'Moonbase Alpha status report, '1,912 days since leaving Earth orbit." "Dr Helena Russell recording." "'Commander Koenig, while piloting Eagle 10, 'became suddenly irrational and unresponsive." "'He crashed in the area of the nuclear waste dumps.'" " What's the radiation count?" " Negative." "All clear." "He was lucky." "Will he be OK?" "He's got severe concussion." "It's a feedback complex, Maya." "It takes brain impulses, modifies them, feeds them back." "It's like a brain massage - electronic." "It is still experimental." "Then you don't know the side effects." "Is it worth the risk?" "If I DON'T take the risk..." " What happened to him up there?" " I don't know." "Tony, I have something on the screen." "I'm on my way, Sahn." "Hang in there, John." "Come on, Maya." " What is it?" " It's too far away to tell." "Maya?" "Sensors pick up configuration of a spaceship." "Range?" " 90,210,000 miles." " Heading?" "Directly at us." " (Helena) 'Medical Center.'" " How soon can I talk to John?" "15 minutes at the earliest." "I don't dare stop the brain complex." "OK, thanks." "Even at the speed of light, it would take an hour to reach Alpha." "Where is the monitoring crew that went to the nuclear waste area?" "They're on their way back." "Tony!" "Range 40,000,000 miles!" "It's impossible." "It's exceeding the speed of light." "32,000,000 miles." "We're lucky." "Damage to that nuclear dump was minimal." " Not a trace of radiation." " The nuclear waste is stable." "And it'll stay that way, too, for centuries, unless..." "Magnify it." "What do you make of that thing?" "That is a Superswift." " No, it can't be." " But it is, I tell you." "Superswift never got off the drawing board." "Not before we left Earth." "Things have changed." "Physics hasn't changed." "It's faster than the speed of light." "Sure in hell looks like the drawings of Superswift." "It seems like human technology to me." "It could be from Earth." "Whatever that is, let's not get sentimental about it." "Tony, it's moving in to land." "Weapon Section, arm all lasers." "Open a channel." "Moonbase Alpha to spaceship, identify yourself." "Repeat, identify." "Moonbase Alpha to spaceship, identify yourself." "Repeat, identify." "They're trying to come through." "It's Guido!" "Hi, little brother." "It's my brother Guido." "Guido!" " Tony!" " Guido!" "I saw you on that screen." "I didn't believe it!" "Still keeping that guard up, Carter?" "I've still got the Houston Base Championship!" "Only cos I wasn't here for a rematch." "Doctor Shaw!" "Helena, my dear!" "Diana?" "Peter, darling!" "Look, I'm a captain now." "I want a little respect from you." "Well, that cuts both ways." "How's your handicap?" "Hi!" "I hate to have to tell you this, but I can put a shot in the crater from 1,600 yards." "How's your handicap?" " You're looking so fit!" " Green grass and fresh air." "Well, hello!" "Hello." "Could you tell me where I could find Dr Ben Vincent?" " Mm-hm." "You're his sister, right?" " No." "His daughter?" " No." " I know." "You're his grandmother." "No." "That means you're gonna tell me what I'm afraid of." "Yes, I'm his fiancee." "Well done, sport!" "Wonderful!" "Did you make that physiotherapy major?" "Oh, without your coaching, it was difficult." "But I made it." "OK." "Listen, I've got a lot of stiff tendons...around here." "Around here?" "(General chatter)" "Listen, hold it!" "Hold it, everybody!" "Try and contain yourselves for a little while." "You've all got thousands of things you wanna know..." "Tens of thousands!" " ..how are things on Earth..." " How ARE things on Earth?" "..the time it took us to get here, how we got here..." "When are we gonna get back?" "..and when you're gonna get back - all the whys and wherefores." "Just give us a minute or two to get our breath back, then we'll answer all your questions, everything you wanna know." "Thank you." " What is that?" " Come on, I'll introduce you." "Maya, this is my brother, Guido." "I'm his elder brother and smarter brother and handsomer brother." "Otherwise, he's a poor second." " Put it there, old buddy." " Certainly, old buddy." "Is it always like this between you?" "No, I usually dominate him." "Fantasy!" "I always stole his girls." "He could never get any of his own!" "Oh, come on, I'll introduce you." "Helena, this is Peter Rockwell." "Hello." "How are you?" "He's a pilot." "We were going to get married when my tour of duty ended." "I've heard a lot about you." "I thought I'd lost her for good." "Never underestimate the extent of human inventiveness." "You haven't changed." "You knew each other before?" "Dr Shaw was my tutor at Medical College." "He taught me everything about being a doctor." " What do you do?" " He's a cab driver." "I captained the craft we came on." " It's a miracle you made it!" " You..." "How did you attain a speed faster than light?" "Little old Earth has progressed." "Physics came up with a new wrinkle." "We can make loops in the continuum." "He doesn't know what he's talking about!" "Rhinehart made the breakthrough at Cambridge." "Cambridge..." "England." "Massachusetts." "We can travel anywhere in the universe now." "The journey back to Earth is just a bus ride in Earth time." "We're just the scouting party." "When the big transporters arrive, it's "goodbye, Moon" for everyone." "I can't wait!" "Maya?" "She'll be all right." " How's Momma?" " You know Momma." "She's making you a mound of pasta the size of Vesuvius!" "And the sauce!" "I know, everything in it but holy water!" "How did she take the news that we'd blown out?" "Three days of weeping, then two weeks of phoning the White House to demand action." " That's Momma!" " Then she didn't believe it." "The scientists were talking out of their navels." " It was simply a matter of time." " And Poppa?" "He went quiet... and he got thin." "Yeah." "Sure." " And where did you meet?" " Oh...somebody's party." "You look a little lost." "Can I help you?" "Perhaps later." "Trouble?" "I bet she's been looking for John since she got here." "She knew him before..." "I did." "That gives her territorial rights?" "Diana Morris is like the Fifth Cavalry." "Wherever she plants her flag is home." "I'll leave you to it." "Thanks a lot!" "Helena, darling!" "We haven't had a proper little chat." "No, we haven't, Diana, but there's lots of time for that." "You poor dear." "It must have been terrible here." "It's obviously been awfully wearing." "I think space is generally very hard on women." "How long is it that you've been...?" "What is it?" "Navigating officer?" "Still, there's something to be said for a marooned society." "It does limit the men's choices." "And women's opportunities." "I always make my own opportunities." "There are some of us who still prefer THEM to come to US." "Clive, you're always with a camera!" "Is there anything you don't tape?" "This is for the record." "We're watching history being made." "There's only one thing..." "you won't be in the picture." "How do you get along with John Koenig?" "In a small community, everyone has to get along with everybody else." " Cosy." " Isn't it?" "Do you find him...interesting?" "He's everything you said he was." "I'm glad you can second my opinion." "As a matter of fact, he's much more than you said he was." "There are depths to him that I'm sure you never found out about." "I must look for them at once." "Where is he?" "At the moment, he is linked to an Ellendorf quadrographic brain complex." "Oh, very wise of you, darling." " Hi." " Hi." "(Machine beeps)" "This is a medical monitor." "These are strategically placed so we can check on our patients." "It's a good rational set-up." "Hey, why don't we get out of this heavy traffic, huh?" "I know a nice, cosy spot." "Ben...?" "Ben, I have some important questions to put to Louisa about the shape of things back on Earth, the configuration of the modern female form." "Darling, where have you got John on this brain machine?" "I'm dying to see him." "Can't I see him?" "I know he's longing..." "Ben!" "Sandstrom was trying to kill Koenig." "(Machine beeps)" "He's all right." "The cycle's completed." "If it had happened earlier..." " What happened?" " Are you all right?" " I'll tell you what happened!" " Ben!" " You tried to kill Koenig!" " No, Ben!" "I have to kill Koenig!" " He'll destroy us!" " All right!" " He could destroy us!" " Come on, here we go." "Easy." "What about fashion?" "What's everybody wearing?" "Well, there's a lot of silver about." "Necklines tend to be a little lower." "Skirts tend to be a little higher." "Now, where do you think you're going?" "Well, I..." "I didn't want to disturb the big reunion." "What are you talking about?" "Well, I..." "I don't want to disturb everybody." "Don't be ridiculous!" "You couldn't disturb anybody." " Come on." " No, no." "Um..." "I've got to check some computers." "Maya... come here." "Guido, what kind of propulsion boosts you past the speed of light?" "A development of the ion rocket." "But I never knew you were shy." "I do LOVE your make-up!" "A-hem." "Diana, this is Maya." "How do you do?" "Maya is a Psychon." "She's the last of her species." "I'm not surprised." "Tell me, how do you manage... to keep so fit up here?" "A little bit of this, a little bit of that." "We manage." " Do you jog?" " What?" "Jog." "Oh." "I do think exercise is SO important to a man, don't you?" "I mean, I think it's so important to his physical wellbeing." "(Whispers) Maya!" "I do a little yoga myself." "You can get into some lovely positions." "What happened to the Commander on the Eagle?" "Could it have anything to do with Sandstrom going berserk?" "In what way?" "Well, could it be infectious?" "Contagious?" "I found no evidence of virus or bacteria in John's blood samples." "Helena?" "How do you feel?" " You tell me." " You look great to me." "You're fine." "Wait a minute, wait a minute!" "Let's get this off of you." "Come on." " OK." " Gently." "Oh-h..." " All right?" " Yeah." " Eagle 10...?" " Totalled." "What happened, John?" "How long was I out?" " Just over five hours." " Five hours!" "You're lucky." "Your skull took quite a bang." "Without this complex, it could have been weeks." "What happened?" "Everyone must have seen what happened." "Rocket malfunction." "Well, that's what it was, wasn't it?" "The investigation crew found no evidence of rocket malfunction." "That leaves pilot error." "That's terrific." "(Helena) John, we don't know what happened." "You seemed to have lost control of yourself." "I only remember going out to check that neutron count." " John..." " Yeah?" "A rescue expedition has landed here on Alpha from Earth." "What?" "From Earth." "They came in a Superswift." "A Superswift?" "Tony's brother Guido captained it and Dr Shaw is here." "Dr Shaw?" "I told you all about Dr Shaw." "Course I remember Dr Shaw very well." " And Sahn's fiance Peter." " Sahn's fiance." " And Professor Hunter." " Professor Hunter." "And..." "Diana Morris." "Diana Morris - well, well." "Now, Helena, please don't even joke about that barracuda..." " Only you're not joking." " No." "You really mean it." " You mean, somehow something worked?" " Yes." "You mean they got it licked?" " They're really here?" " Yes!" " We can get back to Earth?" " Yes!" " Helena, Helena!" " Yes, yes!" " Helena." " Oh!" "OK, keep the arm straight... then get your eye on the ball..." "I didn't know you had such a big thing going with Diana Morris." "I didn't want to bore you." "I didn't think she was your type." " Childhood sweethearts." " She was never a child!" "We actually met in the jazz ballet group at MIT." " You liar!" " I'm no liar!" "'The Commander's on his way.'" "John, good to see you back." "John...darling!" "Don't come near me." "Stay away!" "John, this is my brother, Guido." "What's the matter, John?" "This is Guido, my brother." "Are you all right?" "Stay back." "Don't come near me." "What's the matter, John?" "Alan, what's the matter with YOU?" "Tony?" "Helena?" "Maya, what's the matter with you?" "!" " What's wrong with him?" " He was fine." "He's as erratic as he was up in the Eagle." "John, they're friends!" "Tony, they're not your friends!" "They're... horrible... ugly, hideous!" " Take it easy, John." " Listen to me." " Listen!" " You'll be all right." "LISTEN!" " Just calm down." " TONY!" " Clear the Command Center!" " John!" " Stay behind me." " 'Weapon Section.'" "Arm all lasers." "Destroy that alien ship!" "Weapon Section, ABORT laser guns." "Damn you, Tony, I'm in command!" "John, it's all right." " Stay clear, Tony." " John, no!" "'Status report." "Supplemental." "John Koenig continues his odd behaviour." "'He has no awareness that he acted strangely before his crash." "'With reluctance, I put him in restraint.'" "Gotta get out of here." "Things to be done." "Gotta find answers." "John, take it easy." "It's all right." "The entire base is in danger." "Helena, can't you do something?" " I'm trying." " His blood pressure's up." "Gotta get out." "Helena!" "Yes, John?" "Now, please, just take it easy." "Those things out there, what are they?" "What do they want?" "John, will you listen to me?" "Those are people from Earth." "You know some of them." "They've come to take us home." "They're not people!" "Are you blind?" "John, trust us." "Why can't you see what you've got out there?" "Dr Shaw, would you please assist me?" "Get that out of here!" "Get that out of here!" "Get that out of HERE!" "Get out of HERE!" "GET IT out of HERE!" "I'm sorry, Dr Shaw." "Of course, Helena." "He's the last man I would have expected to flip out." "Let me out of here, please." "I've got to get out of here!" "No, Helena, don't." "DON'T, please." "If you didn't let Ben Vincent out of your range, Koenig would be dead now." "HE interfered." "He escaped the Eagle crash we arranged and now this." "He's hard to kill, this John Koenig." "We can arrange to control him." "Why fear him?" "He is a strong leader." "His mind is no longer under our control." "Something has interfered." "He's in position now." "There IS resistance." "I need help." "Could that medical apparatus have aggravated his condition?" "The complex was tested extensively." "Ellendorf's results were quite impressive." "I just don't know, Tony." "His mind..." "Oh, it wouldn't just cave in, not John Koenig." "(Electronic chime)" "Command Center." "Maya, we've got trouble in the Records Lab." "Can you explain his wild ride on Eagle 10?" "And his claim that Guido's a monster?" "Tony, emergency at the Records Lab." " Maya, what happened?" " He's jammed the lock on his side." "We can't control them all at the same time." "Concentrate on Kander." "What's happening?" "Kander's trapped inside." "Stand back." "I'll blast it open." "Alan, he's got the emergency oxygen supply full on." "You'll blow the place to pieces." "Tony, I can get through the air vent." "She's a Metamorph!" "He's dead." "(Coughing in background)" "Tony, we're sorry about this tragedy." "I know this is a bad time, but we're getting out of the range of Earth." "If we're going to get you all home, we have to address ourselves to the problem." "A pilot ship will take three people." "If there's anyone you'd like to suggest?" "Tony, we should get to it as soon as possible." "Yeah, OK." "(General chatter)" "All right, everybody." "This is it." "Are you ready?" "I think I'm more nervous than anybody." "Ehrlich." "Yippee!" "Bramwell Beach, here I come!" "Bartlett." "Carter." "You did it, Alan!" "Fantastic!" "Home at last!" "Well, you win some, you lose some." " My eyes clear?" "Pulse rate normal?" " Yes." " Blood pressure down?" " Yes." " Do I seem rational to you?" " Yes." "Fine." "Now, will you believe that when I look at our friends from Earth," "I don't see what you see?" "What do you see?" "Something hideous, something ugly, horrendous and hostile and deadly." "Now, please, listen to me, PLEASE, listen to me." "Please, let me get out of here!" "No, please, don't do that." "Don't do that." "Please." "Please, don't do that." "Look... don't you find it strange that all the personnel on the rescue ship are people you know " "close relatives and friends?" "Don't you think the odds against that are pretty heavy?" "Not really." "They're all volunteers, John." "They specifically asked to come." "Fine." "OK, fine." "What about the pilot ship?" "You said you drew lots to see who'd go first." "Yes." "And Ehrlich, Bartlett and Alan were the winners." "That's right." "Now, don't you find THAT strange?" "The three men chosen are members of the radioactive monitoring team?" "Isn't that strange?" "John, I drew the names." "What's the matter?" "Can't you see you're being manipulated?" "!" "What's happened to your instincts?" "Listen to me!" "You're all blind!" "'Hey, all systems are go here." "What's the hold-up, Alpha?" "'" "'Tony, the pilot ship is ready for lift-off.'" "Tony, no." "Don't let them go." "Don't let them go, please!" "Helena, don't let them go!" "No..." "(Hissing)" "(Carter) There it is" " Earth." "Did you ever see such a beautiful sight?" "It's incredible." "It's only been a few hours." "Or has it?" "That's what they said the breakthrough they made was all about - time." "Don't you go away, blue eyes!" "I gotta tell the guys back on Alpha about this!" "(Beeping)" "Hey, you guys...it's beautiful!" "Look, it's beautiful!" "Maybe this will convince John - now that somebody has seen Earth again." " Are you all right?" " Terrific." "What the hell happened?" "I hit him with my stick." "(John cries out)"