Seven Days to Noon Page #5

this is London. Stay tuned in.

Have paper and pencil ready."

Here, I'm getting out of this!

PAPER! PAPER!

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

EVACUATION OFFICIAL. PAPER, PAPER!

EVACUATION OFFICIAL. PAPER!

I said, "I can fix you up,

if it's just accommodation."

Did he seem ill?

Well, maybe. He seemed tired

but he didn't do nothing queer.

Wait a minute. It's

just coming back to me.

He said he was posting a letter

to the PM. I laughed, at the time!

His bag... did you have the opportunity

of going through it?

I certainly did not!

Did you notice what was in it?

He behaved like a gentleman

and I treated him the same way!

But can't you tell us anything?

If only I could, I would.

But he didn't say anything.

I made him a cup of tea - cheered

him up - and the next day he went.

He left me this note.

That's his writing, all right.

Anything else?

Oh, well, he did leave me a little something...

for the room.

Quite.

I don't think there's anything else.

You know what to do if you see him.

Not much chance of that.

I'm off to Aldershot.

Yes, sir?

Show this lady out, please.

Oh, well, goodbye. Goodbye, dear, I do

hope you find him soon. Come on, Trix.

Goodbye to a chance of finding him!

Goodbye to a chance of finding

him! How can we stop this thing?

I think it's time you went

home. Don't you, Folland?

No.

What?

We have just over 48 hours left.

Once most of the area is cleared,

we can really get to work.

Miss Willingdon could be

of more use than any of us.

That is, if you'd take the risk.

Of course.

Good. And cut out the alarm and despondency...

both of you.

the evacuation will

begin at 8am tomorrow.

During the rest of

today, the police will..."

It's terrible!

Yes.

Got your evacuation card?

Oh, I'm not hanging around for

that. I'm off now, to Aldershot.

What will you do there?

Entertain the troops.

Oh.

Go on, Trix, out the way.

Left his bag!

Please don't touch that.

It mustn't go off too soon.

Do you mean...?

It might, if we don't take care.

I thought you weren't coming back!

I'm sorry. Id nowhere else to go.

Well, I'm getting out.

I'm not staying here!

I'm afraid you have to stay.

I can't take chances.

But...

You're in no danger. Please believe

that. But you must do as I tell you.

If you don't... If you make one move

or utter one word to betray me...

...I shall detonate that weapon...

...and for you and thousands of others in

this area there'll be no chance of escape.

Right away to areas H, L and M.

Hello? Area H, this is HQ.

Please report progress. Over.

Yes. That is an order.

"Attention, please. All

passengers are reminded

that under the evacuation regulations...

...they can only travel

with enough luggage

to meet their immediate personal needs."

"Any additional property, such as pets,

pictures, furniture or

sporting equipment...

...is strictly forbidden."

Full up. Next train in five minutes!

Take your turn, madam.

I must catch this train!

I'm sorry.

You'll get away all right, but you

must take your place in the queue.

Nice hotel near Brighton.

20 a night. Who wants it?

Nice room, nice hotel near

Brighton. Three nights. Who wants it?

Come on, Alf. Hurry up.

Oh, all right.

Come on, hurry!

Come on, gran, upstairs only. Mind

yourself. Sorry, son, no chickens.

I can't take my chicken?!

He can put it under the seat.

Orders is orders. No cats,

dogs, rabbits or chickens.

They'll soon be gone now.

What is it?

I told you to go before we started.

Now you can wait until we get

there, that's all, you little devil!

Can't take these.

I can't go without my tennis

racket and fishing tackle!

Orders is orders.

I've never heard such nonsense!

- Where does he think he's off to

- Olympic Games!

Okay?

All aboard the Skylark!

Please stop that bus.

Too late, lady. Sorry.

My little girl's on that

bus! I went to get her doll.

Don't worry. Hop on one of these,

they're going to the same place.

I don't care what the wages of sin

are, you're not taking those boards.

Another four, please.

How long will you keep me here?

Till I hear from the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister?!

He's not gonna take notice

of a crazy old fool like you!

You're off your rocker, you are.

RIGHT OFF YOUR BLOOMING ROCKER I

EVERYBODY OUT OF HERE?

I'll go and check on the old woman.

Check up on Mrs Phillips,

too. I ain't seen her yet.

Hurry up, missus. The bus is waiting

No-one's up there. Mrs

Phillips has gone to Aldershot.

Oh, thanks.

They've all gone, Joe.

Okay.

Come on, ma. Give us your

bag. I'll give you a hand.

They've all gone.

A bulletin has just come in.

With 72 hours to go, we've checked

London Civil Atomic Defence centres

and learned the evacuation is going

smoothly and ahead of schedule.

I've just come back from

watching a stream of traffic...

...choking roads out of the city...

...with a tide of human cargo

seeking safety in the country.

transport of every description's in

use, from trains, trucks and buses...

...down to pathetic horse-carts

and broken bicycles."

the few possessions of a population

fleeing one man's mad ultimatum."

"Yet this exodus...

...is being carried out coolly,

resolutely and without panic."

Come on, ma, wake up. Take this

ticket and report for evacuation.

And you, pa. Come on.

the next train serving area

H sections 6, 7, 8 and 9...

...is now pulling into platform 10. All

evacuees for this area,

please hurry along."

"Hurry along, please."

You can't go on the train

with them boards. Hop it!

Any information from the mayoress?

Yes.

Okay, your turn to sleep.

Is it light outside?

Yes. A beautiful day, too.

Supposing the Prime Minister

doesnt do what you say?

He will.

Supposing he doesn't, will

you really set that thing off?

Yes.

But that's what you say you're

against! What good's it gonna do?

You think I've not thought about

it? I've had plenty of time to think.

Month after month, isolated,

knowing you're developing a power

greater than man's ever dreamt of.

Isolated? I'd isolate

you lot in the zoo!

Why did you start

this science lark?

Why did I start?

Why?

When I was young, I

saw in science a way of

serving God and my fellow

men. I wanted to serve.

Now I see my life's work

used only for destruction.

The dream has become a nightmare.

You won't help people by busting

up their homes and their lives!

It's better for a city

to perish than the world.

Well, why pick on London?

People are moving like

sleepwalkers towards

annihilation. If London

must be destroyed...

it will awaken man to the misuse of

powers that could bring happiness.

People can be happy, all

right. It's you and your sort...

...interfering with nature, that's

what's causing all the trouble.

No, you don't understand. Of course

you don't. Silly of me to expect it.

But some will. Perhaps some of my

fellow scientists will understand...

...and take courage from my example.

Well, gentlemen, the area is

now clear. The position is this:

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