 Countdown for blast off x minus five minus four minus three minus two x minus one fire From the far horizons of the unknown come transcribed tales of new dimensions in time and space These are stories of the future Adventures in which you'll live in a million could be years on a thousand would be world the national broadcasting company presents One one tonight Universe we are just beginning to discover how boundless our universe really is and Yet as man reaches out to the stars out toward infinity Ironically enough he may be building himself a new kind of prison What would it be like to live all your life in a world? No larger say than a single gigantic rocket ship bound on an endless mercy Yes, just missed me. What was it mutant with a slingshot? I think Dash down that passageway want to go after it. Oh, we'd never catch it Alan Probably 12 decks above us by now. I didn't think they ever came down this far Trolls usually get them before they reach this level. They get more daring each generation This would look like a female male or female. It might have killed us. I Told you this trip was pure foolishness climbing 24 deck levels to hear a crazy old man rave All right, Alan. We're almost there now. Let me see compartment X 15 level 24 This is the place This area smells if it hadn't been visited by a sanitation crew for generations Part of the ship is almost deserted Yes, is this the compartment of John the witness who are you my name is Hugh Hoylund Cadet from scientist barracks. This is my friend Alan Mahoney. What do you want of John the witness? I'll only to talk Are you a believer in Jordan? Naturally might have heard that there are those among the younger scientists who doubt the word of Jordan to doubt his death We're not heretics Enter I Brought you a gift of tobacco grown on the richest level It smells good, I assure you it's of the best wait here I'll get him What the devil you think he can tell you Alan, I'm not sure I'm not sure Are you John the witness? I am good eating to you. I'm you Hoylund. This is my friend Alan Mahoney What brings a gentleman of the scientist class to my humble compartment? I've heard that you and your parents before you have been keepers of the legend of the ship since Jordan gave the word I'm anxious to hear the word as Jordan spoke it. Why? Because our young scientists Well among them there have been some who talk against the word there are regulations against such heresy Still some of them say the ship has no purpose They say that we are here accidentally that we have no more grace in Jordan's eyes and the most deformed mutant Who dwells in the highest level of the ship? What shall I say to you? I wish to hear the word from the mouth of one who knows In order that I may become more convinced sit You have a gift for the witness be finest tobacco good I will dim the lights Now pay close attention for these are the words as my father's father's father gave them to his son's son's son This is how the ship came into being how our people were created In the beginning there was only Jordan Thinking his lonely thoughts Out of his thoughts came a vision Out of the vision came a planning and out of the planning came decision Jordan's hand was lifted and the ship was born Mile after mile of good compartments Tank after tank for golden corn Ladder and passage door and locker fit for the needs of the yet unborn He looked on his work and found it pleasing meet for a race that was yet to be He thought of man and man came into being Then Jordan checked his thoughts and set for a key Man untamed would shame his maker Man unruled would spoil the plan So Jordan made the regulations and order came to the works of man A crew he created to work at their stations Scientists to guide the plan Over them all he created captain made him judge of the race of man Thus it was in the golden age These are the true words as my father's father taught them But what are the strange beasts like people on the upper levels of the ship? Surely Jordan did not create them Jordan is perfect All below him lack perfection You have heard of the legend of Huff I have heard that he mutinied against Jordan Darkness swallowed the ways of virtue sin prevailed upon the ship And before wisdom prevailed in the bodies of Huff and his followers were fed into the converter Some of the rebels escaped and lived to father the mutants They are tainted with the sins of their fathers witness One more question speak What is the ship the ship is a great sphere 25 kilometers wide and 100 levels deep I know that but the upper levels Regulations forbid us to venture into the upper levels But it is said that beyond the levels of the mutants lies the forbidden place Where Jordan's spirit prevailed so I've heard yet something troubles me Something which prompted my coming here. Yes, my son What lies Beyond the ship What what lies beyond the ship? This is where is the answer me I will not permit such talk The ship is complete the ship is universal the ship is everywhere. The ship is endless Your motherings are those of a frightened old man. They answer nothing. You question the word. I think you lie Hear me, mr. Hoyland for what you have already said I can have your body fed into the converter You're so launched on the endless trip. You threaten me you for Jordan's sake Do you think I fear this dried fig of a man you Sir, my friend is impetuous. He he does not understand I might be persuaded to forget the Substantial gift why you Helen come on the side of this so-called holy man offends me Don't try to frighten me with that gun old man. The main way you are heretic I warn you put down that gun. Oh, no no no closer drop it very well then death to the heretic Allen get him Allen He's not breathing Is he dead? I don't know Come on here. We've got to get out of here right Now where we can't go back. They'd feed us into the converter before we could even What's that an alarm that old woman must have turned it in come on Allen the patrol will be here in no time Where can we go? Where where? The upper levels all the mutants will have to take our chances. Come on, Allen. Let's go Listen, that's the patrol. Come on. We've got to climb There's a hatchway come on the corridor like quickly quickly Allen Pure way Wait How far are we from the outside wall judging? I'll slow for the deck About two miles Allen let's try this passage way here If you hadn't asked him that stupid question how there's no use going over that but why did you do it? I've been thinking about it for a long time And he began to give me those stupid tight answers And I just saw red I guess Who are you to question the ways of jordan? When you asked me to go with you to visit the witness I I thought you wanted spiritual help. I never agree. I'm sorry Allen. I'm sorry. I couldn't foresee this Wait a minute. I saw something move. Where near that volcano. I don't see anything Maybe my eyes are going bad Listen You're behind us What are you That knife keep away from me you Who are you I must forgive my friend bobo like so many of my people. He's rather impetuous. We're members of the so-called super racer. Who are you? What place is this? And you can guess from my leg I'm a mutant mutant Where Where is allen? Your friend is dead dead. I was not able to restrain my people in time to save him Why don't you destroy me and get it over with we do not kill for pleasure, mr. Highland Only when necessary You know my name. I read your identification tag Who are your mutants can't read my name is greggory greggory? I'm a leader of my people. You see although we are unfortunate and now I read it to mr. Highland Many of us are quite intelligent Why do you live like animals? You'd rather live like free animals than like regimented slaves as you do I've heard you Cannibalism undoubtedly you hear many things about us You turn your head why that? That monster I've never seen a creature like him bobo is an unfortunate He was born without the power of speech. How can you tolerate such a monstrosity? We've learned to live with difference If we began to destroy our imperfect as you do on the lower levels there would soon be no one left it violates the regulations The word of jordan states the highland your people are really quite primitive and barbaric You dare say that to me and dare say a good deal more. Let us go to my compartment and speak further I'm always interested in information of the lower levels. I'll give you no information bobo Mr. Highland in my cabin, please That requires you to go quiet Bobo has a hatred of superior beings which is unfortunate but quite understandable Proceed And to mr. Highland, this is where you live. Yes But you have books stolen from your libraries mr. Highland Comptons astrophysics philosophy then is still a navigation celestial mechanic You've read these most of them. I had no idea that you why did you bring me here? What do you intend to do? You believe in jordan mr. Highland There is no other belief and the trip I suppose you believe in the trip too. What else is there to believe? When you die your remains are fed to the converter and your soul makes the trip and where does the trip take you? By the centaurus, of course And where or what is centaurus centauruses? Mind you i'm just telling you the orthodox answers centaurus is where you arrive when you've made the trip The place where everybody is happy and where there's always good eating and you believe this Well the Peasants believe it literally but many of the younger scientists like myself know it is figurative and symbolic Why do you ask Did it ever occur to you mr. Highland? But the trip is exactly what your peasants believe it is what and that the ship and all the crew were actually going somewhere moving Ship can't go anywhere. It already is everywhere. Imagine a place bigger than the ship much bigger With a ship inside Moving inside Can't be any place bigger than the ship. There just wouldn't be any place for it to be all perhaps sake listen You know the lowest level of course if you started digging a hole in the lowest level Where would that hole go? It's forbidden to think such thoughts. Where would it go? I can't think about it bubble We're going to take mr. Highland to the place no Where Where are we going to the top level that's certain death nonsense? I've been there a thousand times No, I won't I want you can't make me. I think we can Please We proceed peacefully or shall I have bobo persuade you? Open the door bobo Inside Places this this mr. Highland is the main control room And mr. Highland you're trembling it isn't true Oh No, there's no such place except in mythology You younger minors so wise mr. Highland except for one thing this happens to be the main control room of the ship main control But it's just a huge room with an instrument panel and what did you expect? How do you know this is the main control room see these instruments? Using them the navigator many hundreds of years ago actually steered the ship on its voyage. I don't understand I didn't suppose you would Sit down very well look up What do you see A huge shield watch it for one moment mr. Highland You're going to see something that few of us have ever been privileged to witness What are you doing? Keep your eyes focused on the shield above us ready I It's sliding back What am I seeing the universe mr. Highland The universe and all its beauty The stars the planets the suns and moons and constellation. No No, it can't be The ship is the universe There is nothing but the ship but there it is You see it before your eyes spread out like a canopy of glory You still deny it answer me mr. Highland. Do you deny it? No No, I can't deny it They've lied they lied to all of us I have showed this to others of your people whom we captured and though they saw it before their very eyes They would not believe it. Please Please tell me all about it Tell me the truth about the ship and about the universe. What are these things? How did this come about? Many thousands of years ago On a planet like those you have just seen and planet called earth A scientist named Jordan Decided to build a ship that would carry men from one planet to another For many years Jordan and thousands of others studied and planned And when they were finished they built the ship The ship so large That it had to be assembled in its own orbit beyond the place called the moon 60 years it took them to construct And when it was finished a whole new science had been conceived Then the trip was begun The trip that was to land a colony of earthmen on a far off planet called centaurus Millions of light years beyond the furthest planet ever reached before How do you know these things? Among my books are the log which Jordan himself kept and the records of the journey for the first 40 years. What happened? There was a mutiny A man named hath led a rebellion of those who wanted to turn back In the struggle the navigators were killed The crew fell into a state of anarchy In the years to follow small groups of men tried to organize the ship for navigation and each time they failed Finally the whole idea was abandoned and so for centuries We have swung in space unmanned undirected living in a lost world of our own making without purpose without direction Why have you told me this? Can't you guess You want to finish the trip? Yes But I can't You can't? Look at me mr. Hoyland You see a mutant A man with a twisted leg My people are outcasts condemned to death if we so much as set foot in the lower levels of the ship The main drive is in the lower levels where my people are forbidden to go Oh, it would mean that both our people would have to work together Our differences encouraged rather than denied All right I'll see the captain himself I have an uncle on the central board. I'll tell him what I've seen here And do you think he'll believe you? Send one of your people with me That's asking a good deal I'm risking a good deal by going back Very well Bobo will go with you Bobo He can't talk There will be no need for talk I will write a message Guaranteeing safe conduct for a group of unarmed scientists to visit the main control room Bobo will take you safely through our territory What happens when you reach your own level Is up to you Yes, what? You quick uncle let us in But this is this mutant He's harmless, please uncle please Now what is this you're wanted for I know all about that uncle listen I must see the captain Captain are you mad? Uncle you're a council member you can get me to see He'll kill you you're wanted for Harrison I don't care I must speak with the captain Now uncle you're close to him you can arrange it I don't understand Listen to me The ship is moving I can prove it do you understand There is a purpose in the ship I don't understand what you're babbling about Never mind Just talk to the captain tell him I have information of tremendous importance Tell him I've arranged a truce with the mutants Truce Here show him this paper signed by their leader Do it uncle for my sake I don't know what Uncle please if I'm to die let this be my last request to you Very well I'll speak to the captain And you say Mr. Hoylan that you saw this with your own eyes I swear it captain I swear it on the word of Jordan Let me see the paper again Commander erst what do you think? I don't know sir it might be a trick I guarantee you safe conduct If these things are as Mr. Hoylan reports them It would pay to risk a few lives A man is a convicted heretic Still we must not discount his word He has a safe conduct And the mutant who risked its life coming with him I think we might investigate Captain You mean you will do it I will have an expedition outfitted Dismissed Mr. Hoylan Thank you sir Captain Commander erst sir You will make the necessary arrangements for an expedition And I trust you understand And Perfectly sir Perfectly Lieutenant Mr. Hoylan Are you a better heart your men here this is the spot Patrol Well I see no welcoming party of mutants There'll be none Their leader will meet you inside the main control room You don't say Just where is this main control room? Beyond that door I see All right man Ready on Lieutenant Why do you ready arms? In case of ambush Ambush Now wait a minute Lieutenant What are those men doing with that ray gun? Just aiming it at the door Are you mad? No Mr. Hoylan But most certainly you are to think that we could be lured up here to be slotted with a fantastic story about some mythical control room Guns ready sir Lieutenant I warn you these people have acted in good faith you can't break that faith Oh mutant Come out For Jordan's safety Lieutenant Mutant Open the door Are these opening ready men? Someone's coming out steady Gregory stay back Hire You fools You've killed him Here come the rest of them Hire Hire You fools That should teach him a lesson they won't forget All right men inside the room Well I'm hard on you're under arrest with a conspirator in this ambush Ambush you fool you blind stupid fool All right that'll be enough You've been inside this place before? Yes What's this machinery? These are the controls he would have used to steer the ship Gone out of his mind Lieutenant Steer the ship who? The leader the one you killed This ugly mutant This ugly mutant Happened to be a man of true genius Why you're mad Am I? Lieutenant This man had a vision which would have saved you But you chose to kill him Because you couldn't stand the sight of his difference from you Shut up Highland Don't listen to a man You can't shut your eyes And you can't shut your minds And you can't shut your ears to this Roots moving back Yes look Let the vision of this Confound your ignorance and blind your eyes This is the heritage of stars and open skies For which men have yearned for centuries Try to destroy this And you will only destroy yourselves Death to the heritage Die! But I I say to you That you can't keep this from our people They will seek it out The ship will be man And the ship will be steered And there will be freedom, purpose and respect for ourselves This is your heritage Look Look upon the universe Kill him Die! X-1 has just brought you Universe A story written by Robert Heinlein And adapted for radio by George Lefferts Heard in the cast were Donald Buca as Hugh Peter Cappell as Gregory Bill Griffith as Alan Abby Lewis as the woman Edgar Staley as the witness Jason Johnson as the uncle John Seymour as the captain And Ian Martin as the lieutenant Your announcer is Fred Collins X-1 is directed by Fred Way And is a transcribed NBC radio network production And now Next week Next week we have a strange story to tell A sweet blood-curdling little story That is rarely only two sentences long The last man on earth sat alone in a room And then There was a knock on the door What not on that door You'll find out next week on Minus Minus Minus Minus One One When you buy United States savings bonds You help to build your own future security Here is an opportunity to save systematically For long-range personal objective