"Mummy." "Mummy?" "Mummy, what's wrong?" "It's me, Liz." "No." "Don't come near me." "What's the matter?" "You're not real, you can't be." "Mummy, don't. lt's all right. lt's only me." "I thought I saw you before at the door, but I told myself I was imagining it." "We came through the time barrier." "Simon and me." "Simon?" "Simon Randall?" "Yes." "You remember how we used to be able to go in and out of the time barrier." "This time it's brought us here." " You're not here. lt's not possible." " Why not?" "Jean, the director asked me to ask you..." "Why are you here?" "I thought you'd gone." " Don't hurt her." " She had no right to come." "Leave her alone." "She came through the time barrier." "Just as you were able to do once." " Just as she was able to do?" " Yes, Liz." "Try to understand." "Beth is you." "You when grown-up." "You're one and the same person." "Two people but my only daughter - the trick the time barrier's played on us." " This...is me?" " Yes." " But..." "But how?" " lt doesn't matter how." "Why have you come?" "We've no use for you, don't you realise that?" " l didn't plan anything." " Are you following me, spying on me?" "We were going home from the naval station" " but when we came through the barrier..." " Those absurd tricks with time." " lt's not my fault." " How long before I outgrow them?" " This is really me grown-up?" "Honest?" " Yes." "I don't understand it all either but somehow it's happened to us." "People do change, you know." "At a certain time in my life I had to take some important decisions." "Break with the past, become different." "But why?" "What's the matter with me?" "I'm still as I always was, I don't want to change!" "My dear, I was a little idiot when I was you." "I had to force myself to grow up and find a purpose to my existence." "We can't be fools all our lives, I'm afraid." "You see, Liz, you have to appreciate how much things have changed for us." "How very much." "Beth wanted to come to the ice Box in 1980 and it was around then we lost our home." "Why did we lose our home?" "How?" "We won't talk about that. I was able to come with her because I'm a telepath and the director was interested in doing some experiments so that's how I live now." "The others experiment with physics and medicine." "And Daddy?" "is he here too in this..." "Ice Box?" "What's to be done?" "You shouldn't be in this time phase at all." " He is here, then?" " There may be more to it than that." " l shall have to make inquiries." " What inquiries?" "Simon and Liz just came through the time barrier exactly as she says." " Tumbled through by chance?" " Sort of." "I don't believe it." "We don't accept such explanations in the ice Box." "There must be deeper reasons for those committed to the advancement of science." "What's science got to do with it?" "When you know a little more about the ice Box you'll only ask what science hasn't to do with it." " Stop that, Jean!" " There was never any agreement" " l shouldn't speak my mind." " l shall report you to the director again." " What's she saying wrong?" " Keep out of it!" "You can't interfere just because you burst in on us from the past." "You're something that's finished with, behind me, dead." " Why did she change her name?" " Liz was childish." " l asked Mummy!" " She wanted to be different." " But why?" " Something happened in 1980." "We don't have to answer impertinent questions from you." "You'll keep quiet from now on and I'll find out the real reason you're here." "There isn't any real reason, it's just as she says." "is it?" "Did you know the computer had identified Liz and Simon as volunteers for the AB experiment?" "There's a very odd situation, wouldn't you say?" "The computer doesn't make mistakes." "Keep a close eye on her." "Wait!" "I don't know anything about being a volunteer for an experiment." " The computer doesn't make mistakes." " But you must know why I'm here." "If you're me and I'm here then you must remember this." " Simon and me getting into the ice Box." " Don't waste my time!" "And then going home to tell Mummy." "You remember?" "After we'd been in 1940, found out about the radar and why Daddy was sick." "Yes, I do remember that." " For goodness' sake, we came here." " No, Liz, I don't think so." "I didn't know a place like this was ever going to exist in those days." "There, you see?" "All nonsense." "I want you two to understand that this is not to be discussed until I find out everything I can." "I'm certainly not having it noised abroad I'm one and the same person as this stupid child." "Golly, Mummy." "It's all crazy." "How could I - anyone - turn out like that?" "Mummy, I'm sorry. lt's true I came back on purpose the second time but only because I'd seen you in this room and had to know what it was all about." "I didn't mean to upset you." "It's all right, Liz." "You couldn't know about it." "It's the kind of upset I live with all the time nowadays." "You mean you don't like it here?" "And Daddy?" "You still haven't told me about Daddy." "Liz, this has been an awful shock to me." "Would you mind if we didn't speak any more about it just now?" "So, what happened to you?" "A rocket from the director?" " You bet." " You'll have to get used to it." "Here we're all expected to behave as scientists should." "Our personal lives run a bad second to the work." "Yes, I'm beginning to get the idea." " And your friend Liz?" " Well, I don't know." "I hope she'll be all right on the ice field." "The computer will find her if she hasn't strayed out of the area." "Cheer up." " Dr Bukov?" " Yes?" "I'm still finding out about things round here." "What do you do exactly?" " Me?" " Your work." "Well, I'm a physicist, Simon." "Everything depends on nuclear energy here, so I have charge of that." "I'm experimenting into the uses of controlled radiation." " Yes, I see." " lntelligence enhancement." " What?" " Bringing people to the limit of their intellectual powers." " Oh, of course." " lt was a great step forward when we discovered the link with exposure to radiation in the '80s." "But you still need the right subject." "I'd like to do more, try and give it an application to everyone." " Yes." " You've had a course?" " ln what?" " lntelligence enhancement." " No, no." " Oh, that's strange." "From the beginning I wondered why you and Liz had been chosen for the AB experiment." "But the computer never makes mistakes." "Don't worry so much about the director sounding off at you, it's his job." "I've got to have a talk with Larry, you come and have a chat too." "(Wavering tone)" "Bukov, there you are at last." " What's the matter?" " My message said pronto." "Look." "This is the power graph for section four, isolated from the general operational record." "Watch." "(Steady high-pitched tone)" " (Wavering tone resumes)" " A blank in the record." "0516 hours today, a five-second power shut-off." " That can't happen." " lt's there." "I checked the reactor last night, there's no reason for it." "Just as there was no reason for the recent three-minute water supply closedown." "But that was my baby - this is your turn to have "human error" blown down your ear." "Yes, I'll inform the director." " What's wrong, Dr Bukov?" " A brief power cutoff early this morning." "Nothing to worry about but we've a number of little things like this going wrong recently." "Bukov to Director, operational report." "That's funny, he seems to have switched off his audio." " He must be going into Depth Research." " What's that?" "Depth Research?" "A very complex process - something the director has to do to make sure our work is proceeding along the right lines." "Only he has the talent." "A five-second power failure?" " The director must be a very clever man." " Are you kidding?" "He leaves ordinary mortals like you and me for dead." "With a computer to check his calculations and help his line of thought he must be the sharpest scientific mind in the world." "He's strange. I suppose he's related to that other Devereaux." " What other Devereaux?" " Of course he's dead now." "I read about him in my history of science book." "I wouldn't know about that." "All I know about is him." " The thing that really bugs me..." " Yes?" "Haven't you noticed?" "He never sees the funny side of anything." "He hasn't got a sense of humour." "(Wavering tone)" "(Music stops)" "Liz!" "Where did you spring from?" " Where do think?" "The time barrier." " You came back!" " Quick, aren't you?" " But your father..." " My father?" "He changed his mind." " You mean he let you come?" " Mm." " Why?" " Why not?" " He was so set against it," " l was afraid you'd get into trouble..." " You get afraid too easily." "But..." "I suppose I talked him into it a bit." " You did?" " Yes." "Then you wanted to come back." "Liz, that's great." "Simon, I've just found out something awful." " l've been discovering things too..." " No, something awful." "Mummy is here - l've just talked to her." " What's so awful about that?" " Nothing, except she doesn't seem to like it, she's doing telepathy experiments." " And that girl, Beth." " What about her?" "Well, you see, Simon, Beth and me..." "Yes?" "Beth and I...are the same person." "It's dead crazy but it's true." "We're in future time and I've found out Beth is me as I'm going to be in 1990." " You're joking!" " l wish I was." "I suppose it's possible with the time barrier." " Even Mummy says it's so." " You mean..." " You're going to grow up to be like that?" " lt's not my fault, is it?" "Isn't it?" "I dunno." " Blimey." " Where are you going?" "Nowhere, just for a stroll." "You can't walk out, we've got to talk about this." " Talk about what?" " A minute ago you were glad to see me." "I was, I am glad to see you." "To see YOU." "But if you're going to be..." "Beth..." "Simon, come back!" "(Door whirring)" " Beth?" " Director, I'm sorry to intrude but I wanted to report to you that the girl volunteer has been found." " Sound physical condition?" " Perfect." "Splendid." "That's splendid." "We'll initiate the AB experiment as soon as possible." "Start the volunteers on HA57 at once." "I was wondering, Director." "is that strictly necessary?" "Necessary to start them on HA57?" "Yes, they hardly seem the right kind of people for a prolonged stay in the ice Box." "Couldn't we get rid of them after the experiment?" "There must be a period of observation afterwards." "Part of the scheme is keeping the volunteers at their present age for an indefinite period." " l suggest they be replaced, then." " Why?" "They're not the right kind of people for our community." "Are they even the right volunteers?" "You're not suggesting the computer has made a mistake?" "No." "The computer instruction read, "Expect arrivals soonliest."" "But it didn't necessarily say these arrivals." "Then who on earth are they?" " That's hard to say." " Here in the Antarctic," " two people arrive by accident?" " No, unless..." " by some means we don't understand..." " This is a fine development." " l'm sorry, Director." " l thought I could rely on you." "But you can, Director." "I thought you understood." "I've admired your administrative work here, you know." "I've been thinking I should have a personal assistant and you could be right for the job." " Oh." " Not any more, it seems." "Why not?" "I haven't said anything..." "You're questioning, Beth." "The computer requires blind obedience." "I require it." "No matter how unlikely or perverse a directive may seem, it is beyond all question the right one." "Liz and Simon could not have come here at all if the computer hadn't summoned them." "That's the fact." "Everything else irrelevant." " l'm sorry, Director, I've been silly..." " Start them on HA57 at once, that's what's required." "That's what we do." "Yes, Director." " (Gas hissing)" " Ouch!" "There you are, your last anti-infection booster." "Hardly a disease known to man that either of you could catch now," " even if you wanted to." "All set, Beth." " Thank you, Dr Joynton." "Come along, you fed in all the vital data 10 minutes ago." "How long must we wait for the HA57 dosage?" "Oh, the computer takes its own time, you know." " How about some music tonight, Beth?" " With whom?" "Me." "When we're off duty. I've found some Andre Previn in the repertoire   we could have a go at it together." " l've got better things to do tonight." "You've always got better things to do when it's me making suggestions." " l'll listen to some music with you." " Liz, honey, I didn't know you cared." "I didn't mean it like that. I just like music." "And I don't like girls who can't be polite." "(Chuckles) They'll be fighting over me any minute!" "Liz, be mine!" "We'll make such wonderful music together!" " (Laughs)" " Really?" "Come over here, I'll show you something." " What's that, Dr Bukov?" " This?" " This could be called our "last ditch"." " Last ditch against what?" "We have to provide for every emergency here." "So, if by any unlikely chance the computer were to blow up or the reactor fall to pieces, these little bottles would be our salvation." " ln what way?" " They contain antifreeze." "Oh, I see, to stop us bursting when it gets cold." "If everything failed here we'd ice over, so we'd swallow these and manage to survive until help came." " Honestly?" " Short-term hibernation, yes." "We've solved that problem but as for long-term hibernation, that's a headache." "Did the director invent this too?" "No, it's a development from a much older technique." "HA57 is the director's great claim to fame." " lt must be an extraordinary formula." " Only he knows the secret." "He keeps it in his head where it can't go astray." "So there's nothing written down?" " Why should you want to know that?" " Like what?" "You want to know too much, particularly for a boy who's only a volunteer for an experiment." "I just said we have to provide for every emergency here." "We do." "So, if anything happened to the director, and that's the unlikeliest chance of all, there's a...testament somewhere." " A testament." " The work will go on, no matter what." "The work is what matters." "Much more than us." " (Buzzer)" " There's your order, kids." "Hot and piping." "Come and get it." "Dr Joynton, do you always behave as if you were summoning cowboys for supper?" "Don't mind me, Beth." ""Rough-as-bags Joynter" they called me at the medical school in Geneva." "But for all that, I turned out a better physician and surgeon than most of the smoothies there." "Take that now and come back each day at the same time for another delivery." "You feed your personal statistics into the computer as we showed you." "Down the hatch." "What are you waiting for?" "Don't be afraid, my children, this one's Maori magic." "What men have searched for down the centuries - the elixir of life." " He's left his office, it's OK." " Who's left what office?" " The director." "We're all right." " Oh, that." "Yes." "Bukov said there's a testament explaining the longevity drug." "The sooner I can find that for Traynor, the sooner we can get out." "I'm not sure I want to get out of here right away." "I want to find out more about Mummy and what happened." "What are they talking about?" "Me?" "Daddy?" "They won't tell me whether he's here or..." "We'll find out whatever you like but I must find out about the longevity drug first and now's the time - everyone's off duty." " All right, Simon." " Come on." "Keep watch and signal me if anyone comes." " Three loud knocks, OK?" " OK." "What are you doing?" "Didn't you hear me, what are you doing?" " What are you doing?" " l can be here if I want to, can't I?" " Not without a reason." " l want to see the director." " What about?" " That's my business." " l was going to knock." " He's not there." " Why do you want to see him?" " That's my business, leave me alone." "Come on, no trouble from you." "The truth." " Answer me." " What's going on, Beth?" "She was trying to get into your office." " How dare you!" " l wasn't!" "Simon!" " l'll deal with her later." " l wasn't doing anything wrong." " Simon is..." " lt's no use calling to your friends." "I only wanted to talk to the director about something..." "You, in here, while that girl..." "How dare you!" "I will kill you!" "No one dares pry into the director's affairs..." "No one dares pry into the dir..." "Director, I wondered if..." "Ah, Bukov, just the man I wanted to see." "That power failure, section four." " l thought something was wrong." " That was your fault." "No, I checked the reactor." "You picked up the germ of carelessness but we live an antiseptic existence." "We don't tolerate mistakes." "Human error." "You seem to have picked up the germ of careless..." "Am I never to get cooperation from my staff?" "Must I spend my years bearing the burden of responsibility alone?" "Go away." "Help me, all of you... or leave me be." " What happened?" " He got his hands round my throat." " l thought he was going to kill me." " Then?" "He just let go." "You were in his room without permission." "If you're going to meddle, there's something you'd better know." "Professor Devereaux is not like the rest of us in the ice Box." " What do you mean?" " Just what I say." "Oh, he's brilliant." "The finest scientific mind in the world." "But he isn't a human being as you and I understand the term." "He's a new species." "It's the biggest secret in the ice Box." "Professor Devereaux is different, Simon." "A man of the future."