Satellite in the Sky Page #7

We don't know about the radiation.

- The suit will protect me.

- I hope so.

[CONSOLE BEEPING]

[BEEPING STOPS]

MERRITY:
What's he doing?

KIM:
He's pushing the bomb. It's moving.

Yes, it's moving. It's right behind us.

We can still get away. Start the jets.

- And leave the skipper out there?

- It's no good, look.

He can't do it.

He can't do it.

BARNETT:

So far we've had nothing but talk. Just talk.

The point is that the rocket ship

must not come down with the bomb.

BLANDFORD:
But we mustn't forget

there are human beings up there.

BARNETT:
We know that,

but there are only six of them.

If they bring that bomb down,

heaven knows how many will be killed.

MAN 1:
It's impossible to calculate where

the bomb will land. It might be anywhere.

ROSS:

Colonel, what's your opinion?

GALLOWAY:
Gentlemen, I've been connected

with the T-1 project for over three years.

To me it's the most important thing

in the world.

But at this moment, I'm more concerned

about those people up there.

BARNETT:
If this bomb

remains attached to the rocket...

...is there no way it can be made harmless?

GALLOWAY:
It's almost impossible.

The primer operates

by a process of corrosion.

Even if the detonator were removed,

the process would continue...

...and would result

in the explosion as planned.

MAN 2:
Doesn't Merrity know this? Is there

a chance he may remove the primer?

GALLOWAY:
I can't say. I'd try it myself,

but instead of stopping the process...

...it's possible that removing the detonator

might explode the bomb sooner.

BARNETT:
It looks as if the bomb

must be exploded above the stratosphere.

Has anybody any ideas?

Professor Bechstein.

I'm an astronomer,

not an expert in explosives.

All I can say is that the relatively

small mass of the bomb...

...will keep on being attracted

to the rocket's greater mass...

...unless something larger

than the rocket takes its place.

GALLOWAY:

Do you think a meteor could do it?

Possibly. But the chances of a large meteor

passing close enough to achieve that effect...

...are no greater than finding a particular

grain of sand at the bottom of the ocean.

The only possibility is some method

of propelling the bomb from the rocket.

But if such a method was available,

there would be no difficulty up there.

No, gentlemen, I can't see any hope.

Professor Blandford, you must radio the

Stardust and order them to stay up there.

That means a death sentence

for the crew.

We have no choice.

That's all, gentlemen.

MICHAEL:

Well, that's it, professor.

Metal fatigue and your precious

propulsion unit split open like a bad egg.

- Any ideas, Mike?

- I'm afraid not.

What are you looking glum about?

Not everybody gets a chance...

...to go out the way we will. Personally,

I'm gonna get a big bang out of it.

- You all agree that we stay up here?

CREW:
Yes.

I'm not.

I still say we can land in the desert.

We've been over that before. Pipe down.

- How dare you...

- Commander, we're all with you.

- I'm gonna be sorry that this lady...

- Don't get sentimental about me.

- I have only myself to blame.

- Well, I'm not prepared to die like this.

Start the jets!

Get him back.

- You all right, Mike?

- Start those jets!

MICHAEL:
Let's get him in the chair.

- He'll be all right now.

- Of all the crazy things to do.

- He was hysterical.

- He didn't know what he was doing.

- Jimmy, can't I get a message through?

- Lf I could send a story I'd feel better.

- No, the atmospherics are terrible.

They lost contact for the time being.

Too bad. I wonder what they're thinking

about us down there.

Dr. Blandford.

ROSS:
Any news from them, sir?

- Radio report, no contact.

- Will you inform General Barnett?

- Yes, sir.

I'm trying to get through

to the president's aide.

- Is there much chance even if...?

- Hello? Top priority.

Cross circuit 3, please.

Hello, Captain Carter?

Colonel Galloway here.

You've got to get

the president's authorization...

...for YX-140 to take off. It's the

last chance for these people up there.

At least there's a possibility that she'll

reach the rocket ship and get off the crew.

Yeah. Yes, I'll leave everything to you.

Remember, there's only four hours left.

Right.

What is YX-140?

Our newest jet. Top-secret.

This latest model hasn't even been flown

yet, but now's as good a time as any.

- But what's its range?

- Sergeant Kelly, please.

- Any hope of it getting up there?

- I don't know. Nobody knows.

Kelly, get my car around here right away.

It's the fastest thing we've ever had.

Well, it's nearly 5:00.

We haven't much time.

- What possessed you to stow away?

- Oh...

What do you mean, "oh"?

I tried to tell you a while ago,

but you said you weren't interested.

I'm interested now.

Why did I stow away?

Because in spite of what I said, I couldn't

see this happen and not be in on it.

What about the evil of science

and the senseless waste of life?

- What's changed your mind?

- I haven't changed my mind.

My brother died testing a jet

that was not a success.

He believed in it.

He talked just as you do.

I'm sorry, but I admire

your brother's attitude more than yours.

- My father had the same attitude.

- Your father?

He knew that space flight was possible

as soon as they found the right kind of fuel.

He spent his life searching for it.

Not that he got anywhere.

He was blown up in his own experiment.

- James Sheldon Hamilton.

- How did you know?

The fuel we're using

is a development of his work.

If it hadn't been for his experiments,

we couldn't have got up here.

It still seems to me that stowing away

would be the last thing you'd do.

It wasn't planned exactly.

What about that story you wrote?

"Is it necessary? Is it worthwhile?"

Then you hide on the ship

and come along and see.

It doesn't make sense, does it?

I expect it does, really. It's in your blood.

Your brother would understand it,

so would your father.

You're not in such bad company

after all, are you?

No, I'm not.

- Dr. Blandford. I must see him.

- I'm sorry, you can't without a pass.

Please. I'm Mrs. Noble.

My husband's in the Stardust.

Wait a minute, Mrs. Noble. I'll check.

BLANDFORD:

Memo, General Barnett in the War Office.

ROSS:
Teleprint?

BLANDFORD:
Yes.

"Unable to contact Stardust.

Last message received 1930 hours.

Blandford."

Atmospherics are bad. For a few minutes,

we received their telex.

- Try again.

- Lf it clears...

- You'll keep on trying.

- Captain Ross, Mrs. Noble.

Hello, Mrs. Noble.

I'm afraid we haven't much news.

BARBARA:
Is he all right?

- Mrs. Noble.

ROSS:

We nearly got through to them just now.

What are the chances, Dr. Blandford?

- Very small.

- But why can't they get down?

- What's wrong with the Stardust?

- Nothing at all.

They can't come down

without bringing the bomb.

They could get down, but they won't.

- That is what I mean.

- There is a slight hope.

A plane has gone up.

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