 Adventures in Time and Space, transcribed in future tense. When the first space rocket lands on Mars, what will we find? Will we be welcomed with open arms or will the Martians treat us as invaders? Only one thing is certain. Someday a giant metal ship will take off from Earth to travel through the black velocities, as the silent gulfs of space to descend at last into the darkness of the upper Martian atmospheres. And on that day, man will finally know the answers. The day we first land on Mars. Now hear this. Now hear this. Approaching critical deceleration. Fastened gravity suits. Stand by the land. Mr. Lustig, what do you make of the terrain? There seems to be a heavy ground, Miss Captain. We won't be able to use our infrared lights. And we'll have to come in on radar. Wasn't that a little risky, sir? Landing in the dark? I'd rather run the danger of a blind landing, Lieutenant, than come in without the cover of darkness. Remember, we don't know what kind of reception is waiting for us down there. Air speed 500. Altitude now 4,000. Bridge to engine room. Stand by for deceleration. Engine room, aye. Fire forward tubes 1 and 3. Aye. Skid's down. Skid's checked. Altitude 500, 4, 350, 3. Hop a point now. Alright, let's set her down. Look out! Cut the power. Masters pipe battle stations. Aye, sir. I'll secure it, sir. Well, we're on Mars, April 20th, 1987. 433, Greenwich time. Enter that in the log, Masters. Aye, sir. Well, gentlemen, it's less than two hours till dawn. As soon as it's light, we'll send out a landing party. Masters, get me an all-over hookup. All set, Captain. Now hear this. Now hear this. Alright, men. The smoking lamp is lit. We're 17 men on an alien world. And it's up to us whether we ever get home again. Next few hours should tell the story. And I want instant obedience to all commands. I'll court Marshal the first man who doesn't jump to when he's ordered. And one other thing. We may be on Mars, but this is still the United States Naval vessel. Officers will conduct a personal and weapons inspection in one hour. And so... Inspection, Captain, now? Mr. Lustig, we've got an hour and a half to sweat out before we find out what's outside that airlock. And rather have a man worried about his stripes. About what's waiting outside on Mars. Hear this. Landing party report to forward airlock. Captain Black, Lieutenant Hinkston, Lieutenant Lustig, and Dr. Horst report immediately to forward airlock. It is now landing time minus five. Sounds like they're paging us, Hinkston. You ready, Dr. Horst? Yes. Ready as I'll ever be. Oh, come on. Let's report to the airlock. It's time to go. Where's the Captain? Who knows? What difference does it make? Just want to get it over with, that's all. Is anybody, uh, got a cigarette? I think you're smoking too much, Lieutenant Lustig. Are you nervously off with your Horst? Wondering what's hidden outside underneath that ground mist? Very unusual planet, Mars. Why? It has an atmosphere. Wonderful thing, an atmosphere. Well, you'll find one, you'll find life. You mean Martians? What do you think they'll look like? Who knows? Intelligent life can take many forms. You mean they may have green skins and eyes on stalks or something? The comic book conception is possible. Or they may have developed a point that is far beyond us. Perhaps they have a science that can produce weapons far more dangerous than our atomic missiles. You think we may have to fight our way out? After all, we are invaders. Now hear this landing time minus two, landing time minus two. All right, all right, we heard this. I know what I'd like to find outside that airlock. Good old Illinois. You ever been there Lustig? Only in Chicago. Well, you ought to see my hometown. Green lawns, big white houses. Sounds like my hometown. My grandmother used to have one of those iron deers on the lawn. Every Halloween we'd paint another color. One time we painted it black and white like a host team cow. What does your family live of us? I have no family. When I was a child, they were gassed to death in the Dachau concentration camp. That's tough. Oh, it has its advantages. I have no ties on earth, nothing to lose now. I imagine I'm the only one on board who is free to enjoy our present peculiar position. All right, Lustig. We'll button it up now. Aye, sir. Now gentlemen, in one minute we'll be the first men to set foot on Mars. Quite an honor, eh? As long as the metals are not watered posthumously. Still uneasy, Dr. Horst? Captain Black, I have been uneasy ever since I can remember. On earth and on Mars. Well, 30 seconds. Give me the intercom phone, Lustig. Masters? Aye, sir. Battle stations will be manned till we return. If we're not back in two hours, I want no rescue parties sent out. Blast off and say the ship, you understand? Aye, sir. All right, gentlemen. Five seconds. Four. Three. Two. One. Lustig, open the outer airlock. Fresh air. Let's go. Hold on. It's too dark to move fast. Quiet, isn't it? Not even a wind. You can't see anything through this ground, Miss. Quiet. You don't know what's out here. Come on. I could swear that sound like a rooster. I don't hear it anymore. Very unlikely sound. A rooster crowing on Mars. Kingston, set that machine gun 25 yards to the flank. We'll stay here till the ground mist lifts. Aye, aye, sir. What do you make of the ground, Horst? Grass. Plain grass. You could see some large foliage. There were the mists then down here. What do I hate to say it? Kingston! Hold your fire, you fool! Some kind of wild animal I hid it. I could see the tracers, but it's still standing. Come on, Horst. Doctor, Doctor, where are you? Up ahead. Admiring the wild animal. Careful, Horst. Wait for us. Don't worry, Captain. It's an iron deer. A lawn ornament. That's impossible. It's hollow. Interesting, isn't it? A whitewashed Victorian iron deer. Sitting on a lawn in the middle of Mars. I don't understand. Look around. The mists lifting. Captain, look there. A house, a regular old-fashioned house. I'm Mars. Good lord. I haven't seen carves, scrolls and gingerbread like that in years. Look at that port's swing. The geraniums. I told you it was a rooster, Captain. Give me the glasses, Lustig. I want to take a look through that front window. What? There's an upright piano. Some sheet music on it. Lustig, it's beautiful Ohio. Beautiful Ohio? That can't be. Look here, Horst. Do you think that civilizations of two planets could be identical? I don't know. That specific variety of geraniums is only 50 years old on Earth. Is it logical they should develop in Mars? How about that port swing, that piano and beautiful Ohio? No, it's impossible, Captain Black. This looks like the town I was born in. Well, it looks like my hometown, too. I've thought of something, sir. It's the only solution. Maybe we're not the first ship to reach Mars from Earth. That's the only answer. That's impossible, Lustig. There've been space travel that couldn't be secret. Do you have any idea what ships cost, what industrial power is needed? There's got to be some logical reason. Captain. I think perhaps we might find out. The light just went on in that house. Kingston, cover that door with a machine gun. Aye, aye, sir. Come on, Horst. Bring that doorbell. There's got to be a scientific answer to all of this. There's something moving in there. Stand back, Horst. Give me a clear shot. Maybe a Martian. Help you? We... We were looking... Well, if you're selling anything, it's much too early. No, no. Wait, wait a minute. What... What town is it? What do you mean? Are you sent to stay here? No, we're strangers here. We want to know how this town got here. Is this a game? No, no, it's not a game. We're from Earth. From where? From Earth. Do you mean out of the ground? Hey, are... Are you sure you're feeling where? Madam, we came in a flying ship across space. We're from the third planet. This is... This is Mars. Now do you understand? Mars. You go away now, you hear? I'll call my husband from upstairs and he'll chase you now. But this is Mars, isn't it? This is Green Lake, Wisconsin, in the United States of America. Bounded on the east by the Atlantic and on the west by the Pacific. No, no, no. Go away. Goodbye. Horst, do you suppose it's really possible? I've got to find out more about this. For the last time, now go away. Pardon me, madam. What year is this? Year? Well, 1928, of course. Who's that gonna say? You hear that, Horst? And we know it's 1987. And we know it's Mars. Is it possible that we got fouled up, made some tremendous blunder and circled around and landed back on Earth? In 1928? Maybe some switch in time or dimension. Could we have shifted somehow and gone backward in time? Horst, it won't hold water. It's not logical. We've checked every mile. We went past the moon and out into space. We're on Mars. Find out anything, Captain. No, we're going back to the ship till I figure out some logical explanation for all this. Lustig, out at point. Aye, sir. Hinkston in the rear. Keep that gun at half-lives. Aye, sir. Horst, there's got to be some cold, logical solution. Captain, Captain. What? That house down the street. The white one with the green shutters. Lustig, what's the matter? I never thought. I never thought. Thank God. Lustig, Lustig, come back here. He's running for that house. That crazy fool after him quick. Lustig, stop. Come down off of that porch. Grandma and Grandpa, it is you. Lustig, what's going on here? Albert, why, it's been so many years. How have you grown, boy? Oh, it's so good to see you. Lieutenant Lustig. Oh, oh, Captain. Grandma, I want you to meet my friend. This is Captain Black. Captain, I want you to meet my grandpa. Howdy. Any friends of Albert, he's a friend of ours. How long you been here, Grandma? Oh, good many years. Ever since we died. Ever since you what? Oh, yes, sir. They've been dead 30 years. What? You mean to tell me that Mars is heaven? Oh, nonsense. No. All we know is here we're alive again. And who are we to question God's infinite ways? Lustig, we're going back to the ship. But, Captain, I want to talk to my grandpa. Lieutenant Lustig, I don't like any part of this. You'll come back with us. I have to club you and carry you. But, sir, they're my... Heaven only knows what they've run up against back at the ship. Come with a celebration? Celebration, they've abandoned ship. Every port is open. No guard's there. You, you, master. Hi, you, Captain. Meet my old dad, Dad. That's Captain Black. And he's not a bad guy for an officer. Abolvi. Hinkston. What's it? Bring that man back. Use force if you have to. Excuse me, sir. I'll be right back, Captain. What's the devil's voice? Don't you understand, sir? They've all found friends and relatives. They're all here. He's right, Captain. I've counted. The whole crew's out in the crowd. But I gave orders, definite orders. You don't understand, Captain. I understand mutiny. I don't care how many relatives show up. I'll have discipline. John! Johnny! Johnny, you old son of a gun. Edward. Edward. It's you. It can't be. Of course it is. Johnny, you old son of a gun. Ed. Edward. Dr. Horst. This is my brother, Edward. How do you do? Hello. It's wonderful to see you, Edward. Look, I've got to get back to my ship. Hey, I almost forgot. Mom's waiting at home. Mom? Dad, too. Mom? Dad are alive? Excuse me, Horst. Then you're real, Ed. Don't I feel real? How's that, huh? Ed. Ed, we've got lunch for you, Johnny. Mom's making corn fritters. Corn fritters? Dr. Horst, haven't you found anybody? No, Captain. I have nobody. Then you come on home with me, right, Ed? Sure you bet. Horst, you wouldn't believe it, but it's been 35 years since I had Mom's corn fritters. Bye, George. 35 years. There's plenty more in the kitchen, so don't hold back, Johnny. You too, Dr. Horst. Well, Johnny, you're still in the Navy, huh? That's right, Dad. I'm in command of the ship. And we're an old Navy family, Dr. Horst. All three of our boys in the service. Ed was the best pilot in the Pacific. What didn't happen, Ed? Oh, it's a difference. I'm here now. Oh, you know, it's almost perfect. All we're missing is your brother, Will. Then the whole family could be together. Well, it won't be long, Mom. We're on the edge of the XR-54. That's the next rocket coming out to Mars. Well, little Will. When does he leave, Johnny? Take off scheduled for September, but it depends on what we report. Well, there's no question about that now. Christmas together again. That'll be something, huh? Yes, sir. Well, this calls for a celebration. How about a little of the old dandelion wine, Ed, Johnny? Now, Father, don't you go giving Johnny too much wine. Oh, he's a big boy now, Mother. Well, sir, isn't everything just fine? Just fine. Well, Doctor Horace, what do you think of my little family? Very nice. You know, I can't understand why you didn't find any folks here, Doctor Horace. It's just a shame everybody else is so happy. I never remembered my family, Mrs. Black. All I know is they were gassed at Dachau during the Second World War. When I was liberated, I was a delirium three months. I cannot remember anything before then. The psychiatric phenomenon. That's terrible. Isn't there anything anybody can do? I don't want to remember. Oh. That of pleasant life. I prefer to be free of emotional entanglement to interfere with a scientific approach. I'm sorry, Doctor Horace. I'll get it, staying along in three shorts. I remember that. Well, maybe we'd better call it a night. You must be getting tired, Johnny. I better be going back to the ship. Oh, nonsense. You stay the night. Are we in sin? I just couldn't rest thinking of you all alone on that ship. I'll be all right. Well, good night. Wait a minute, Doctor Horace. That phone message was for you. Me? Yes, that's right. A message from Anna. Anna? I don't remember any Anna. She asked if you were better. Perhaps she's someone you knew at Dachau. Anna? She said she's coming over here first thing in the morning. So you'll have to stay over. Well, that settles it then. You stay here, Horst. You can bunk with me in my old room. Oh, but Johnny, we thought you'd like to be with Edward. So you could talk the way you used to. Well, we can't put Doctor Horst on the day bed. I think we'd better share the room tonight. There'll be plenty of time for talking, Ed. I guess so. Well, I suppose I'd better drop back to the ship. You know Ed, security check. Why do you have to do that here? Well, I don't know. There's no good reason, I guess. Well, I suppose we skip it tonight. Oh, sure. Good night, everybody. Oh, it's good to have you home, Johnny. It's good to be home now. Got them back. Are you asleep? No. I just been thinking about what we were expecting. Green-skinned Martians with eyes on the stalks. All the time there was only Mom and Dad and Edward waiting. Well, it's funny what tricks your imagination can play on you. Yeah, I guess Mars is heaven, Horst. Hmm, I've been thinking about Martians, too. Captain, just suppose, suppose there were Martians and they saw us land. Suppose they thought of us as invaders. What would be the best weapon they could use against our atom bombs? I don't see what you're getting at. They would want to disarm us first, to wipe out all suspicion, to make us feel at home. But suppose this house isn't real. Suppose the people are just images stolen from our own memories by Martians, created for us by telepathy, hypnotism. That's the craziest theory I ever heard. Maybe that's why there was no one for me, because in all my life there is no happy memory, no real loved person. How about that phone call from Anna? Yes. Anna. I don't remember who she was, but I do now. I just remembered. When I was freed from Dachau, sick and delirious, I raved about a wonderful kind nurse named Anna that took care of me. Sure, there you are. It's logical. She's coming to see you tomorrow. But there was no Anna. I'd be nursed by a man. What? Anna. There's only a dream. And there's only one way they could have learned about her. By reading my subconscious mind. But that's impossible, Horace. Why? The whole crew was thinking of home. Suppose the Martians read our minds. But there are Martians. If there are, they have a separated. Each man in a different house, trusting. No one at the guns. Look at my pistol downstairs. Do you think there's something to this horse? It's a... who would suspect his own mother, his grandparents. How easy. Just a knife in the heart of each sleeping man. It's impossible, Horace. We've got to get back to the ship. Listen, the crickets have stopped. We don't know when they change back to. Whatever they really are. Where are you going, John? Ed. Well, we... We wanted to drink a water. That's all, Ed. You're not thirsty, John. You don't want a drink. You don't want a drink. His face! It's changing! And his hands! He's a Martian! Run, Horace! Run! You can't get away, John! This way, Horace! Where are you? I'm calling from Mars. I've locked myself in the ship, but they've crippled it. I can't take off or fire the guns, and they're coming for me now. The Martians! I'm all alone here. All the rest are dead. Hanks and Lustig. Dr. Horace. Poor Horace. He didn't even reach the door. Listen. Listen. They're trying to break through the hall now. Edward and Mom and Dad and all the folks. But they're changing now. Melting and changing back into their Martians. Can you understand me? Martians are not men. They made us think that Mars was heaven. We fell into the trap. You hear me, Earth? You've got this. Tell my brother will. Tell my brother will not to come. They'll trap him too. Like Dimension X has presented and transcribed the Ray Bradbury story, Mars is Heaven. Adapted for radio by Ernest Kenoy. Featured players were Wendell Holmes as Captain Black and Peter Cappell as Dr. Horace. Your narrator, Norman Rose. Music by Albert Berman. Engineer, Bill Chambers. Dimension X is produced by Van Woodward and directed by Edward King. Robert Warren speaking. In a moment, Dimension X. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.