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X Minus One - "Universe" (Old Time Radio, 1955) · X Minus One | Old Time Radio

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: On the immense multi-level spacecraft called the ship, Cadet Hugh
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: Hoyland lives under inherited regulations and the legends of its founder, Jordan.
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: A society occupies its lower levels. The upper decks are
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: feared as the domain of mutants. When Hugh begins asking
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: forbidden questions about the ship's purpose and what may exist
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: beyond it, he encounters inhabitants whose beliefs challenge his community's understanding.
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: From NBC Radio, this is X-1, Episode 4, Universe, first
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: heard May 15, 1955. Adapted for radio by George Lefferts
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: from Robert A. Heinlein's story and directed by Fred Weiher,
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: it stars Donald Booker as Hugh Hoyland. Ladies and gentlemen,
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: here is the original broadcast.
• 0:56
  Speaker 2: Countdown for blastoff.
• 0:58
  Speaker 3: X minus 5, minus 4, minus 3, minus 2, X
• 1:04
  Speaker 3: minus 1, fire! From the far horizons of the unknown
• 1:15
  Speaker 3: come transcribed tales of new dimensions in time and space.
• 1:20
  Speaker 3: These are stories of the future, adventures in which you'll
• 1:23
  Speaker 3: live in a million could-be years on a thousand would-be worlds.
• 1:27
  Speaker 3: The National Broadcasting Company presents X minus 1.
• 1:31
  Speaker 4: Tonight, Universe.
• 2:04
  Speaker 3: We are just beginning to discover how boundless our universe
• 2:08
  Speaker 3: really is. And yet as man reaches out to the stars,
• 2:13
  Speaker 3: out toward infinity... Ironically enough, he may be building himself
• 2:17
  Speaker 3: a new kind of prison.
• 2:20
  Speaker 2: What would it be like to live.
• 2:22
  Speaker 3: All your life in a world no larger, say, than
• 2:24
  Speaker 3: a single gigantic rocket ship bound on endless mercy?
• 2:32
  Speaker 5: Hugh, look out!
• 2:38
  Speaker 2: You all right? Yes. Just missed me. What was it?
• 2:41
  Speaker 2: A mutant with a slingshot, I think. dash down that passageway.
• 2:45
  Speaker 2: Want to go after it? No, we'd never catch it, Alan.
• 2:47
  Speaker 2: Probably 12 decks above us by now.
• 2:50
  Speaker 6: I didn't think they ever came down this far. Trolls
• 2:53
  Speaker 6: usually get them before they reach this level.
• 2:55
  Speaker 2: They get more daring each generation. This one looked like
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: a female.
• 3:01
  Speaker 6: Male or female, it might have killed us. I told
• 3:04
  Speaker 6: you this trip was pure foolishness, climbing 24 deck levels
• 3:08
  Speaker 6: to hear a crazy old man rave.
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: All right, Alan, we're almost there now. Let me see.
• 3:14
  Speaker 2: Compartment X-15, level 24. This is the place.
• 3:19
  Speaker 6: This area smells as if it hadn't been visited by
• 3:22
  Speaker 6: a sanitation crew for generations.
• 3:27
  Speaker 2: This part of the ship is almost deserted.
• 3:29
  Speaker 7: Yes?
• 3:33
  Speaker 2: Is this the compartment of John the Witness? Who are you?
• 3:37
  Speaker 2: My name is Hugh Hoyland. Cadet from Scientist Barracks. This
• 3:40
  Speaker 2: is my friend Alan Mahoney.
• 3:42
  Speaker 8: What do you want of John the Witness?
• 3:45
  Speaker 2: Well, only to talk.
• 3:47
  Speaker 8: Are you a believer in Jordan?
• 3:49
  Speaker 2: Naturally.
• 3:51
  Speaker 8: I have heard that there are those among the younger
• 3:53
  Speaker 8: scientists who doubt the word of Jordan.
• 3:56
  Speaker 2: To doubt is death. We're not heretics.
• 3:59
  Speaker 7: Ah.
• 4:00
  Speaker 8: Enter.
• 4:06
  Speaker 2: I've brought you a gift of tobacco. Grown on the
• 4:09
  Speaker 2: richest level.
• 4:11
  Speaker 5: Oh.
• 4:12
  Speaker 8: It smells good.
• 4:14
  Speaker 2: I assure you it's of the best.
• 4:15
  Speaker 8: Wait here. I'll get him.
• 4:22
  Speaker 2: What a rat's nest. What the devil do you think
• 4:25
  Speaker 2: he can tell you? Alan, I'm not sure. I'm not sure.
• 4:33
  Speaker 5: Well?
• 4:35
  Speaker 2: Are you John the Witness?
• 4:37
  Speaker 3: I am.
• 4:37
  Speaker 2: Good eating to you. I'm Hugh Hoyland. This is my friend,
• 4:40
  Speaker 2: Alan Mahoney.
• 4:41
  Speaker 5: What brings a gentleman of the scientist class to my
• 4:44
  Speaker 5: humble compartment?
• 4:45
  Speaker 2: I've heard that you and your parents before you have
• 4:47
  Speaker 2: been keepers of the legend of the ship.
• 4:49
  Speaker 5: Since Jordan gave the word.
• 4:52
  Speaker 2: I'm anxious to hear the word as Jordan spoke it. Why?
• 4:56
  Speaker 2: Because our young scientists, well, among them there have been
• 4:59
  Speaker 2: some who talk against the word.
• 5:01
  Speaker 5: There are regulations against such heresy.
• 5:04
  Speaker 2: Still, some of them say the ship has no purpose.
• 5:06
  Speaker 2: They say that we are here accidentally, that we have
• 5:09
  Speaker 2: no more grace in Jordan's eyes than the most deformed
• 5:11
  Speaker 2: mutant who dwells in the highest level of the ship.
• 5:15
  Speaker 5: What shall I say to you?
• 5:17
  Speaker 2: I wish to hear the word from the mouth of
• 5:18
  Speaker 2: one who knows, in order that I may become more convinced.
• 5:22
  Speaker 5: Sit. You have a gift for the witness?
• 5:27
  Speaker 2: The finest tobacco.
• 5:29
  Speaker 5: Good. I will dim the lights. Now pay close attention,
• 5:33
  Speaker 5: for these are the words as my father's father's father
• 5:36
  Speaker 5: gave them to his son's son's son. This is how
• 5:41
  Speaker 5: the ship came into being, how our people were created.
• 5:48
  Speaker 5: In the beginning there was only Jordan, thinking his lonely thoughts.
• 5:54
  Speaker 5: Out of his thoughts came a vision. Out of the
• 5:57
  Speaker 5: vision came a planning, and out of the planning came decision.
• 6:02
  Speaker 5: Jordan's hand was lifted and the ship was born. Mile
• 6:10
  Speaker 5: after mile of good compartments, tank after tank for golden corn,
• 6:15
  Speaker 5: ladder and passage, door and locker fit for the needs
• 6:19
  Speaker 5: of the yet unborn. He looked on his work and
• 6:22
  Speaker 5: found it pleasing. Meet for a race that was yet
• 6:25
  Speaker 5: to be. He thought of man and man came into being.
• 6:30
  Speaker 5: Then Jordan checked his thoughts and searched for a key.
• 6:40
  Speaker 5: Man untamed would shame his maker. Man unruled would spoil
• 6:45
  Speaker 5: the plan. So Jordan made the regulations and order came
• 6:50
  Speaker 5: to the works of man. A crew he created to
• 6:54
  Speaker 5: work at their stations. Scientists to guide the plan. Over
• 6:59
  Speaker 5: them all he created captain. Made him judge of the
• 7:04
  Speaker 5: race of man. Thus it was in the golden age.
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: These are the true words?
• 7:12
  Speaker 5: As my father's father taught them.
• 7:15
  Speaker 2: But what of the strange beast-like people on the upper
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: levels of the ship? Surely Jordan did not create them.
• 7:20
  Speaker 5: Jordan is perfect. All below him lack perfection. You have
• 7:25
  Speaker 5: heard of the legend of Huff?
• 7:27
  Speaker 2: I have heard that he mutinied against Jordan.
• 7:29
  Speaker 5: Darkness swallowed the ways of virtue. Sin prevailed upon the ship.
• 7:34
  Speaker 5: And before wisdom prevailed and the bodies of Huff and
• 7:37
  Speaker 5: his followers were fed into the converter... Some of the
• 7:40
  Speaker 5: rebels escaped and lived to father the mutants. They are
• 7:44
  Speaker 5: tainted with the sins of their fathers.
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: Witness, one more question.
• 7:49
  Speaker 8: Speak.
• 7:50
  Speaker 2: What is the ship?
• 7:52
  Speaker 8: The ship is a great sphere, 25 kilometers wide and
• 7:56
  Speaker 8: 100 levels deep.
• 7:58
  Speaker 2: I know that, but the upper levels.
• 8:01
  Speaker 8: Regulations forbid us to venture into the upper levels, but
• 8:04
  Speaker 8: it is said that beyond the levels of the mutants...
• 8:07
  Speaker 8: lies the forbidden place where Jordan's spirit prevails.
• 8:11
  Speaker 2: So I've heard, yet something troubles me. Something which prompted
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: my coming here.
• 8:16
  Speaker 5: Yes, my son.
• 8:17
  Speaker 2: What lies beyond the ship? What? What lies beyond the ship?
• 8:24
  Speaker 5: This is heresy.
• 8:25
  Speaker 2: Answer me. I will not permit such talk.
• 8:28
  Speaker 8: The ship is complete.
• 8:29
  Speaker 5: The ship is universal.
• 8:30
  Speaker 8: The ship is everywhere. The ship is endless.
• 8:32
  Speaker 2: Your mutterings are those of a frightened old man. They
• 8:35
  Speaker 2: answer nothing.
• 8:35
  Speaker 8: You question the world?
• 8:37
  Speaker 2: I think you lie.
• 8:38
  Speaker 8: Hear me, Mr.
• 8:39
  Speaker 5: Hoyland.
• 8:40
  Speaker 8: For what you have already said, I can have your
• 8:42
  Speaker 8: body fed into the converter. Your soul launched on the
• 8:46
  Speaker 8: endless trip.
• 8:46
  Speaker 2: You threaten me. You, for Jordan's sake. Do you think
• 8:49
  Speaker 2: I fear this dried fig of a man?
• 8:51
  Speaker 9: You.
• 8:52
  Speaker 2: Sir, my friend is impetuously... He does not understand.
• 8:55
  Speaker 5: I might be persuaded to forget a substantial gift.
• 9:00
  Speaker 2: Why, you... Alan, come on. The sight of this so-called
• 9:04
  Speaker 2: holy man offends me.
• 9:05
  Speaker 8: You shall not leave.
• 9:07
  Speaker 2: Don't try to frighten me with that gun, old man.
• 9:09
  Speaker 2: Remain where you are, heretic. I warn you, put down
• 9:12
  Speaker 2: that gun.
• 9:13
  Speaker 5: No, no, no.
• 9:14
  Speaker 2: No closer. Drop it.
• 9:15
  Speaker 8: Very well, then. Death to the heretic. Alan, get him.
• 9:19
  Speaker 2: Right here. Alan, he's not breathing. Is he dead? I
• 9:30
  Speaker 2: don't know.
• 9:30
  Speaker 6: Come on, Hugh, we've got to get out of here.
• 9:32
  Speaker 7: Right.
• 9:37
  Speaker 2: Nowhere. We can't go back. They'd feed us into the
• 9:40
  Speaker 2: converter before we could even... What's that? An alarm. That
• 9:43
  Speaker 2: old woman must have turned it in. Come on, Alan,
• 9:45
  Speaker 2: the patrol will be here in no time. Where can
• 9:46
  Speaker 2: we go?
• 9:47
  Speaker 5: Yes, where, where.
• 9:49
  Speaker 2: The upper levels. No, the mutants. We'll have to take
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: our chances. Come on, Alan, let's go. Listen, that's the patrol.
• 9:54
  Speaker 2: Come on, we've got to climb. There's a hatchway down
• 9:58
  Speaker 2: the corridor. All right, quickly, quickly.
• 9:59
  Speaker 8: Oh.
• 10:00
  Speaker 2: Alan, up the ladder. Come on, Alan, come.
• 10:13
  Speaker 7: On.
• 10:15
  Speaker 5: Hugh, Hugh, wait.
• 10:17
  Speaker 2: Wait. How far are we from the outside wall? Judging
• 10:22
  Speaker 2: by the slope of the deck. About two miles. Let's
• 10:28
  Speaker 2: try this passageway here. If you hadn't asked him that
• 10:33
  Speaker 2: stupid question. How there's no use going over that. But
• 10:36
  Speaker 2: why did you do it? I've been thinking about it
• 10:38
  Speaker 2: for a long time. He began to give me those
• 10:41
  Speaker 2: stupid tight answers. And I just saw red, I guess.
• 10:46
  Speaker 2: Who are you to question the ways of Jordan? When
• 10:49
  Speaker 2: you asked me to go with you to visit the witness, I...
• 10:52
  Speaker 2: I thought you wanted spiritual help. I never dreamed... I'm sorry, Alan.
• 10:56
  Speaker 2: I'm sorry. I couldn't foresee this.
• 10:57
  Speaker 7: Wait.
• 10:59
  Speaker 2: Wait a minute.
• 11:02
  Speaker 7: What? I.
• 11:05
  Speaker 6: I saw something move.
• 11:06
  Speaker 7: Where?
• 11:06
  Speaker 2: Near that bulkhead. I don't see anything. Maybe my eyes
• 11:13
  Speaker 2: are going bad. Listen!
• 11:15
  Speaker 7: Listen!
• 11:16
  Speaker 2: You behind us!
• 11:17
  Speaker 8: Alan, look out!
• 11:18
  Speaker 7: What are you? Put away that knife. Keep away from me, you.
• 11:31
  Speaker 2: Don't kill him.
• 11:31
  Speaker 7: Not yet. Who are you?
• 11:48
  Speaker 2: You must forgive my friend Bobo.
• 11:51
  Speaker 4: Like so many of my people, he's rather impetuous where
• 11:53
  Speaker 4: members of the so-called super race are concerned.
• 11:55
  Speaker 2: Who are you? What place is this? As you can
• 11:58
  Speaker 2: guess from my leg, I'm a mutant. Mutant? Where... where
• 12:06
  Speaker 2: is Alan? Your friend is dead.
• 12:08
  Speaker 8: Dead?
• 12:08
  Speaker 2: I was not able to restrain my people in time
• 12:10
  Speaker 2: to save him. Why don't you destroy me and get
• 12:12
  Speaker 2: it over with? We do not kill for pleasure, Mr.
• 12:14
  Speaker 1: Harland.
• 12:15
  Speaker 2: Only when necessary. You know my name? I read your
• 12:18
  Speaker 2: identification tag. Who are you? Mutants can't read. My name
• 12:22
  Speaker 2: is Gregory. Gregory?
• 12:24
  Speaker 4: I'm a leader of my people. You see, although we
• 12:26
  Speaker 4: are unfortunate in our heredity, Mr. Hoyland, many of us
• 12:30
  Speaker 4: are quite intelligent. Why do you live like animals? We'd
• 12:34
  Speaker 4: rather live like free animals than like regimented.
• 12:36
  Speaker 2: Slaves, as you do. I've heard you practice cannibalism. Undoubtedly,
• 12:42
  Speaker 2: you hear many things about us. You turn your head.
• 12:46
  Speaker 8: Why?
• 12:46
  Speaker 2: That Monster. I've never seen a creature like him. Bobo
• 12:53
  Speaker 2: is an unfortunate. He was born without the power of speech.
• 12:56
  Speaker 2: How can you tolerate such a monstrosity? We've learned to
• 12:59
  Speaker 2: live with difference.
• 13:01
  Speaker 4: If we began to destroy our imperfects as you do
• 13:03
  Speaker 4: on the lower levels, there would soon be no one left.
• 13:05
  Speaker 2: It violates the regulations. The word of Jordan states... You know, Mr.
• 13:09
  Speaker 4: Harland, your people are really quite Primitive and barbaric.
• 13:13
  Speaker 2: You dare say that to me? I dare say a
• 13:14
  Speaker 2: good deal more. Let us go to my compartment and
• 13:16
  Speaker 2: speak further.
• 13:17
  Speaker 4: I'm always interested in information on the lower levels.
• 13:20
  Speaker 2: I'll give you no information. Bobo, put Mr. Hoyland in
• 13:24
  Speaker 2: my cabin, please.
• 13:25
  Speaker 4: I advise you to go quietly, Mr.
• 13:29
  Speaker 7: Hoyland.
• 13:30
  Speaker 4: Bobo has a hatred of superior beings, which is unfortunate,
• 13:33
  Speaker 4: but quite understandable.
• 13:35
  Speaker 2: Proceed. Enter, Mr.
• 13:42
  Speaker 4: Harlan.
• 13:47
  Speaker 2: This is where you live?
• 13:49
  Speaker 10: Yes.
• 13:50
  Speaker 2: But you have books. Stolen from your libraries, Mr. Harlan.
• 13:54
  Speaker 2: Compton's astrophysics, philosophy of interstellar navigation, celestial mechanics. You've read these?
• 14:00
  Speaker 2: Most of them. I had no idea that you... Why
• 14:05
  Speaker 2: did you bring me here? What do you intend to do?
• 14:09
  Speaker 2: Do you believe in Jordan, Mr.
• 14:11
  Speaker 8: Harlan?
• 14:12
  Speaker 2: There is no other belief. And the trip. I suppose
• 14:16
  Speaker 2: you believe in the trip, too. What else is there
• 14:17
  Speaker 2: to believe? When you die, your remains are fed to
• 14:20
  Speaker 2: the converter and your soul makes the trip. And where
• 14:22
  Speaker 2: does the trip take you? To Centaurus, of course.
• 14:25
  Speaker 7: Ah.
• 14:26
  Speaker 2: And where or what is Centaurus? Centaurus is... Mind you,
• 14:31
  Speaker 2: I'm just telling you the orthodox answer. Centaurus is where
• 14:34
  Speaker 2: you arrive when you've made the trip. A place where
• 14:36
  Speaker 2: everybody is happy and where there's always good eating. And
• 14:39
  Speaker 2: you believe this? Well, the... Peasants believe it literally, but
• 14:43
  Speaker 2: many of the younger scientists, like myself, know it is
• 14:45
  Speaker 2: figurative and symbolic. Why do you ask? Did it ever
• 14:50
  Speaker 2: occur to you, Mr.
• 14:51
  Speaker 4: Hoyland, that the trip is exactly what your peasants believe
• 14:56
  Speaker 4: it is?
• 14:56
  Speaker 5: What?
• 14:57
  Speaker 2: And that the ship and all the crew were actually
• 14:59
  Speaker 2: going somewhere?
• 15:00
  Speaker 7: Moving?
• 15:01
  Speaker 2: The ship can't go anywhere. It already is everywhere. Imagine
• 15:06
  Speaker 2: a place bigger than the ship. Much bigger. With a
• 15:08
  Speaker 2: ship inside it. Moving inside it. Can't be any place
• 15:13
  Speaker 2: bigger than this ship. There just wouldn't be any place
• 15:14
  Speaker 2: for it to be. Oh, for half's sake, listen. You
• 15:17
  Speaker 2: know the lowest level? Of course.
• 15:19
  Speaker 4: If you started digging a hole in the lowest level,
• 15:21
  Speaker 4: where would that hole go?
• 15:22
  Speaker 2: It's forbidden to think such thoughts. Where would it go?
• 15:24
  Speaker 2: I can't think about it. Bobo, we're going to take Mr.
• 15:28
  Speaker 2: Hoyland to the place. No. Where are we going? To
• 15:33
  Speaker 2: the top level. But that's sudden death. Nonsense. I've been
• 15:36
  Speaker 2: there a thousand times.
• 15:37
  Speaker 8: How long?
• 15:38
  Speaker 2: No, I won't. I won't. You can't make me. I
• 15:41
  Speaker 2: think we can. No, no, please.
• 15:43
  Speaker 4: Now, shall we proceed peacefully, or shall I have Bobo
• 15:47
  Speaker 4: persuade you?
• 15:58
  Speaker 2: Open the door, Bobo. Inside.
• 16:03
  Speaker 7: Oh.
• 16:09
  Speaker 2: What place is this? This, Mr.
• 16:11
  Speaker 4: Hoyland, is the main control room.
• 16:14
  Speaker 7: Mr.
• 16:14
  Speaker 2: Hoyland, you're trembling. It isn't true. No. No, there's no
• 16:20
  Speaker 2: such place except in mythology. You younger men are so wise, Mr. Hoyland,
• 16:24
  Speaker 2: except for one thing.
• 16:25
  Speaker 4: This happens to be the main control room of the ship.
• 16:29
  Speaker 2: Main control... But it's just a huge room with an
• 16:34
  Speaker 2: instrument panel. And what did you expect? How do you
• 16:37
  Speaker 2: know this is the main control room? See these instruments?
• 16:40
  Speaker 4: Using them, the navigator many hundreds of years ago actually
• 16:43
  Speaker 4: steered the ship on its voyage.
• 16:45
  Speaker 2: I don't understand. I didn't suppose you would. Sit down.
• 16:48
  Speaker 2: Very well. Look up. What do you see? A huge shield.
• 16:55
  Speaker 2: Watch it for one moment, Mr.
• 16:56
  Speaker 7: Hoyland.
• 16:57
  Speaker 4: You're going to see something that few of us have
• 16:59
  Speaker 4: ever been privileged to witness.
• 17:02
  Speaker 2: What are you doing? Dimming the lights. Don't be frightened.
• 17:05
  Speaker 2: Keep your eyes focused on the shield above us. Ready? Watch.
• 17:13
  Speaker 2: It's sliding back. Coast of Jordan. Well? What am I seeing?
• 17:24
  Speaker 2: The universe, Mr.
• 17:25
  Speaker 4: Harland.
• 17:26
  Speaker 2: The universe in all its beauty. The stars. planets, the
• 17:31
  Speaker 2: suns and moons and constellations. No. No, it can't be.
• 17:37
  Speaker 2: The ship is the universe. There is nothing but the ship.
• 17:41
  Speaker 8: But there it is.
• 17:43
  Speaker 4: You see it before your eyes spread out like a
• 17:45
  Speaker 4: canopy of glory.
• 17:46
  Speaker 2: Do you still deny it? Answer me, Mr.
• 17:49
  Speaker 8: Hoyland.
• 17:50
  Speaker 2: Do you deny it? No. No, I can't deny it.
• 17:56
  Speaker 2: They've lied.
• 17:57
  Speaker 7: They've lied.
• 17:58
  Speaker 2: They lied to all of us. Good.
• 18:04
  Speaker 4: I have showed this to others of your people whom
• 18:06
  Speaker 4: we captured, and though they saw it before their very eyes,
• 18:09
  Speaker 4: they would not believe it.
• 18:10
  Speaker 2: Please. Please tell me all about it. Tell me the
• 18:15
  Speaker 2: truth about the ship and about the universe. What are
• 18:17
  Speaker 2: these things? How did this come about?
• 18:20
  Speaker 4: Many thousands of years ago, on a planet like those
• 18:24
  Speaker 4: you have just seen, a planet called Earth, a scientist
• 18:28
  Speaker 4: named Jordan decided to build a ship that would carry
• 18:31
  Speaker 4: men from one planet to another. For many years, Jordan
• 18:35
  Speaker 4: and thousands of others studied and planned. And when they
• 18:39
  Speaker 4: were finished, they built the ship. A ship so large
• 18:44
  Speaker 4: that it had to be assembled in its own orbit
• 18:46
  Speaker 4: beyond a place called the moon. Sixty years it took
• 18:50
  Speaker 4: them to construct. And when it was finished, a whole
• 18:54
  Speaker 4: new science had been conceived. Then the trip was begun.
• 19:00
  Speaker 4: The trip that was to land a colony of Earthmen
• 19:02
  Speaker 4: on a far-off planet called Centaurus.
• 19:06
  Speaker 2: Millions of light-years beyond the furthest planet ever reached before.
• 19:09
  Speaker 2: How do you know these things?
• 19:11
  Speaker 4: Among my books are the log which Jordan himself kept
• 19:15
  Speaker 4: and the records of the journey for the first 40 years.
• 19:18
  Speaker 2: What happened? There was a mutiny.
• 19:21
  Speaker 4: A man named Hath led a rebellion of those who
• 19:24
  Speaker 4: wanted to turn back. In the struggle, the navigators were killed,
• 19:29
  Speaker 4: and the crew fell into a state of anarchy. In
• 19:32
  Speaker 4: the years to follow, small groups of men tried to
• 19:35
  Speaker 4: organize the ship for navigation, and each time, they failed. Finally,
• 19:40
  Speaker 4: the whole idea was abandoned. And so, for centuries, we
• 19:47
  Speaker 4: have swung in space. unmanned, undirected, living in a lost
• 19:54
  Speaker 4: world of our own making, without.
• 19:56
  Speaker 2: Purpose, without direction. Why have you told me this? Can't
• 20:05
  Speaker 2: you guess? You want to finish the trip. Yes, but
• 20:11
  Speaker 2: I can't. You can't look at me, Mr.
• 20:14
  Speaker 5: Hoyland.
• 20:15
  Speaker 2: You see, a mutant, a man with a twisted leg.
• 20:20
  Speaker 4: My people are outcasts, condemned to death if we so
• 20:22
  Speaker 4: much as set foot in the lower levels of the ship.
• 20:25
  Speaker 4: The main drive is in the lower levels where my
• 20:27
  Speaker 4: people are forbidden to go. Oh, it would mean that
• 20:32
  Speaker 4: both our people would have to work together. Our differences
• 20:38
  Speaker 4: and courage Rather than denied.
• 20:42
  Speaker 2: All right. I'll see the captain himself. I have an
• 20:47
  Speaker 2: uncle on the central board. I'll tell him what I've
• 20:49
  Speaker 2: seen here. And do you think he'll believe you? Send
• 20:51
  Speaker 2: one of your people with me. That's asking a good deal.
• 20:55
  Speaker 2: I'm risking a good deal by going back. Very well.
• 21:00
  Speaker 2: Bobo will go with you.
• 21:00
  Speaker 8: Bobo?
• 21:02
  Speaker 2: He can't talk. There will be no need for talk.
• 21:06
  Speaker 4: I will write a message guaranteeing safe conduct for a
• 21:09
  Speaker 4: group of unarmed scientists to visit the main control room.
• 21:12
  Speaker 2: Bobo will take you safely through our territory. What happens
• 21:17
  Speaker 2: when you reach your own level is up to you.
• 21:28
  Speaker 5: One moment.
• 21:32
  Speaker 2: Yes, what?
• 21:33
  Speaker 5: You.
• 21:34
  Speaker 8: Quick, uncle.
• 21:34
  Speaker 2: Let us in. But this mutant... He's harmless. Please, uncle, please. Now,
• 21:40
  Speaker 2: what is this? You're wanted for... I know all about that. Uncle, listen.
• 21:44
  Speaker 2: I must see the captain. The captain? Are you mad? Uncle,
• 21:47
  Speaker 2: you're a council member. You can get me to see him.
• 21:50
  Speaker 2: He'll kill you. You're wanted for heresy. I don't care.
• 21:52
  Speaker 2: I must speak with the captain. Now, uncle, you're close
• 21:54
  Speaker 2: to him. You can arrange it. I don't understand. Listen
• 21:56
  Speaker 2: to me. The ship is moving. I can prove it.
• 21:59
  Speaker 2: Do you understand? There is a purpose in the ship.
• 22:01
  Speaker 3: I don't understand what you're babbling about.
• 22:03
  Speaker 2: Never mind. Just talk to the captain. Tell him I
• 22:06
  Speaker 2: have information of tremendous importance. Tell him I've arranged a
• 22:09
  Speaker 2: truce with the mutants.
• 22:10
  Speaker 8: Truce?
• 22:11
  Speaker 7: Here.
• 22:11
  Speaker 2: Show him this paper. Signed by their leader. Do it, uncle,
• 22:15
  Speaker 2: for my sake. I don't know what... Uncle, please, if
• 22:18
  Speaker 2: I'm to die, let this be my last request to you.
• 22:22
  Speaker 2: Very well. I'll speak to the captain. And you say, Mr. Hoyland,
• 22:33
  Speaker 2: that you saw this with your own eyes? I swear it, Captain.
• 22:38
  Speaker 2: I swear it on the word of Jordan.
• 22:39
  Speaker 9: Hmm. Let me see the paper again. Commander Hearst, what
• 22:46
  Speaker 9: do you think? I don't know, sir. It might be
• 22:49
  Speaker 9: a trick.
• 22:50
  Speaker 2: I guarantee you safe conduct.
• 22:52
  Speaker 9: If these things are as Mr. Hoyland reports them, it
• 22:55
  Speaker 9: would pay to risk a few lives.
• 22:58
  Speaker 2: A man is a convicted heretic.
• 23:00
  Speaker 9: Still, we must not discount his word. He has a
• 23:03
  Speaker 9: safe conduct, and the mutant risked its life coming with him.
• 23:08
  Speaker 9: I think we might investigate.
• 23:10
  Speaker 2: Captain, you mean you will do it? I will have
• 23:14
  Speaker 2: an expedition outfitted. Dismissed, Mr. Hoyland. Thank you, sir.
• 23:25
  Speaker 6: Captain, do you.
• 23:25
  Speaker 2: Commander, sir.
• 23:27
  Speaker 9: You will make the necessary arrangements for an expedition. And
• 23:32
  Speaker 9: I trust you understand?
• 23:36
  Speaker 6: Perfectly, sir.
• 23:38
  Speaker 4: Perfectly.
• 23:48
  Speaker 2: Lieutenant.
• 23:49
  Speaker 7: Mr.
• 23:49
  Speaker 2: Harlem. You better halt your men here. This is the spot. Atoll!
• 23:54
  Speaker 7: Halt!
• 23:58
  Speaker 2: Well, I see no welcoming party of mutants. There'll be none.
• 24:02
  Speaker 2: Their leader will meet you inside the main control room.
• 24:05
  Speaker 2: You don't say. Just where is this main control room?
• 24:09
  Speaker 2: Beyond that door. I see. All right, men. Ready arms. Lieutenant,
• 24:17
  Speaker 2: why do you ready arms? In case of ambush. Ambush?
• 24:20
  Speaker 2: Wait a minute, Lieutenant. Lieutenant. What are those men doing
• 24:25
  Speaker 2: with that ray gun? Just aiming it at the door.
• 24:27
  Speaker 2: Are you mad? No, Mr. Hoyland, but most certainly you
• 24:31
  Speaker 2: are to think that we could be lured up here
• 24:32
  Speaker 2: to be slotted with a fantastic story about some mythical
• 24:36
  Speaker 2: control room. Gun's ready, sir. Lieutenant, I warn you, these
• 24:39
  Speaker 2: people have acted in good faith. You can't break that faith. Oh, mutant!
• 24:44
  Speaker 2: Come out! For Jordan's sake, Lieutenant!
• 24:49
  Speaker 7: Mutant!
• 24:54
  Speaker 2: Open the door. Please, Jordan, don't let anything happen.
• 24:58
  Speaker 7: Don't let.
• 24:59
  Speaker 2: All right, it's opening. Ready, men. Someone's coming out. Steady. Gregory,
• 25:07
  Speaker 2: stay back!
• 25:08
  Speaker 3: Fire!
• 25:11
  Speaker 7: You fools!
• 25:12
  Speaker 2: You've killed him! Here come the rest of them.
• 25:14
  Speaker 7: Fire!
• 25:14
  Speaker 2: Fire!
• 25:14
  Speaker 7: You fools!
• 25:14
  Speaker 8: Fire!
• 25:28
  Speaker 2: That should teach them a lesson they won't forget. All right, men,
• 25:31
  Speaker 2: inside the room.
• 25:32
  Speaker 9: Hello, Hardin.
• 25:33
  Speaker 2: You're under arrest for the conspirator in this ambush. Ambush,
• 25:36
  Speaker 2: you fool. You blind, stupid fool. All right, that'll be enough.
• 25:41
  Speaker 2: You've been inside this place before?
• 25:42
  Speaker 8: Yes.
• 25:44
  Speaker 2: What's this machinery? These are the controls he would have
• 25:46
  Speaker 2: used to steer the ship. Gone out of his mind, Lieutenant.
• 25:49
  Speaker 2: Steer the ship?
• 25:49
  Speaker 3: Who?
• 25:50
  Speaker 2: The leader, the one you killed. This ugly mutant? This
• 25:54
  Speaker 2: ugly mutant happened to be a man of true genius.
• 25:58
  Speaker 2: Who are you? Mad, am I? Lieutenant, this man had
• 26:02
  Speaker 2: a vision which would have saved you, but you chose
• 26:05
  Speaker 2: to kill him because you couldn't stand the sight of
• 26:07
  Speaker 2: his difference from you. Shut up, Hyland. Don't listen to
• 26:09
  Speaker 2: a man. You can't shut your eyes and you can't
• 26:11
  Speaker 2: shut your minds and you can't shut your ears to this.
• 26:15
  Speaker 4: Roots moving back.
• 26:18
  Speaker 5: Yes, look.
• 26:20
  Speaker 11: Let the vision of this confound your ignorance and blind
• 26:23
  Speaker 11: your eyes. This is the heritage of stars and open
• 26:26
  Speaker 11: skies for which men have yearned for centuries. Try to
• 26:31
  Speaker 11: destroy this and you will only destroy yourselves.
• 26:34
  Speaker 2: Death to the heritage. But I say to you that
• 26:42
  Speaker 2: you can't keep this from our people.
• 26:48
  Speaker 10: They will seek it out. The ship will be manned.
• 26:53
  Speaker 10: And the ship will be steered. And there will be freedom, purpose,
• 26:57
  Speaker 10: and respect for ourselves. This is your heritage.
• 27:02
  Speaker 8: Look.
• 27:04
  Speaker 2: Look upon the universe. Kill him.
• 27:06
  Speaker 12: Kill him.
• 27:22
  Speaker 3: X-1 has just brought you Universe, a story written by
• 27:28
  Speaker 3: Robert Heinlein and adapted for radio by George Lefferts. Heard
• 27:34
  Speaker 3: in the cast were Donald Buca as Hugh, Peter Capel
• 27:37
  Speaker 3: as Gregory, Bill Griffiths as Alan, Abby Lewis as the woman,
• 27:40
  Speaker 3: Edgar Staley as the witness, Jason Johnson as the uncle,
• 27:44
  Speaker 3: John Seymour as the captain, and Ian Martin as the lieutenant.
• 27:48
  Speaker 2: Your announcer is Fred Collins.
• 27:50
  Speaker 3: X-1 is directed by Fred Way and is a transcribed
• 27:53
  Speaker 3: NBC Radio Network production. And now, next week. Next week,
• 28:10
  Speaker 3: we have a strange story to tell. A sweet, blood-curdling
• 28:15
  Speaker 3: little story that is really only two sentences long. the
• 28:20
  Speaker 3: last man on earth sat alone in a room. And then,
• 28:25
  Speaker 3: there was a knock on the door. What knocked on
• 28:29
  Speaker 3: that door? You'll find out next week on Act Minus One.
• 28:45
  Speaker 12: When you buy United States Savings Bonds, you help to
• 28:48
  Speaker 12: build your own future securities. Here's an opportunity to save
• 28:51
  Speaker 12: systematically for long-range personal objectives.
• 28:54
  Speaker 2: So invest in United States savings bonds.
• 28:57
  Speaker 12: Now follow the avids to mystery and adventure over most
• 29:00
  Speaker 12: NBC radio stations.
• 29:02
  Speaker 1: That was X-1's universe, originally heard on NBC radio in 1955.
• 29:06
  Speaker 1: Follow X-1 for more classic broadcasts.