The Day the Earth Caught Fire Page #12

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- But you have to be injected.

- Against what?

The end of the world?

Keep moving, please, down to

the embankment. The road's closed.

Can I get back on at the other end?

- Not tonight. This district's out of bounds.

- For medical reasons?

No, there's some teenage

kids kicking it up a bit.

They lit a few fires,

looted a bit of water.

- Where are you going, sir?

- Embankment terrace.

- Okay, let this one through!

- Thanks.

If you see any of them, keep driving.

- They're either drunk or drugged.

- Great party.

And stay clear of Chelsea.

They say it's pretty rough down there.

It always was, wasn't it?

Yee-hoo!

What do you think you're doing?

We're makin' a great clean end, man.

Real cool, clean finish.

I want to throw this lot over

on the stinky little cow.

This what you've been

saving up for, darlin'?

- Give me that...

- No, I wanna do it!

All right, that's enough!

Now get out!

Pete!

Saving up for a last little

bath together, were you?

I wanna bath him! I wanna

bath him! I wanna bath him!

I wanna bath him!

I wanna bath him! I wanna bath him!

Did they hurt you?

No, it's nothing. You?

It was time I hit something.

Come on.

I'll go and barricade that door.

- They've all gone insane.

- Yeah, it's the new fashion.

Did you hear the speech?

I heard.

Why did this all have

to happen, Pete?

It just had to, that's all.

We're all too smart.

All people want to do is live.

I don't think so.

I wish I could understand why.

A lot of people don't want

to live. It's too difficult.

They're tired, they're frightened.

They'd rather it was all over than

go on worrying, being frightened,

losing a bit more hope every day.

So they want it to finish.

But I don't.

I don't want it to.

Neither do I...

Now.

The time is now 10:41.

19 minutes before countdown.

19 minutes.

The time is now 10:46.

14 minutes before countdown.

14 minutes.

14 minutes before countdown.

You are advised to stay inside.

The time is now 10:47.

The time is now 10:51.

Nine minutes before countdown.

Nine minutes.

The time is now 10:52.

Eight minutes before countdown.

"The boy stood on the burning deck

whence all but he had fled..."

Hi, children. They fled to the machine

room where the booze is hidden.

But not the deck boy?

He has an assignment. See you.

Where are you going?

To see what happens after

the man says, "Zero".

Eyewitness account of whether

we're coming or just wind...

- Bill, let me cover it.

- No, Pete.

The time is now 10:56.

Oh, take her home to bed, you idiot.

Four minutes before countdown.

If we can make it to Harry's and

down it in three and a half minutes,

I'll buy you both a drink.

I got something, then!

Can't think what you want

to listen in for, anyway.

It's a historic occasion, May. It's like

the Queen's speech on Christmas Day.

Just a lot of numbers,

that's all you'll hear.

Don't see what's historic

about someone counting.

All right, open the safe!

What've you got left, May?

Oh, I'm so glad. It's so nice

to have someone in the club.

...in exactly 30 seconds from now.

30 seconds.

I've been saving this.

And this one's on the house.

Take it easy now, May.

That half bottle cost a fortune.

How I ever got to be manageress

to a mean old bastard

like you, I'll never know.

You've never said

anything like that before.

No, but I've thought it and now I've

said it, and I'm glad. There's yours.

Countdown must have started by now.

Drink up, then.

Here's how.

22...

21...

To the luck of the human race.

18...

17...

12...

11...

Mustn't lose count.

Must be about nine.

Seven...

It's always later than you think.

Six...

- May.

- Five...

- I'm here.

- Four...

- Did you mean all that piffle?

- Three...

- Of course I didn't, you silly old berk.

- Two...

- One...

- Bill, let me.

Zero.

All right, go on, you bloody idiot.

So man has sown the wind

and reaped the whirlwind.

Perhaps, in the next few hours,

there will be no remembrance of the past

and no hope for the future

that might have been.

All the works of man will be

consumed in the great fire

out of which he was created.

But perhaps at the heart

of the burning light

into which he has thrust his world,

there is a heart that cares more for him

than he has ever cared for himself.

And if there is a future

for man, insensitive as he is,

proud and defiant in

his pursuit of power,

let him resolve to live it lovingly,

for he knows well how to do so.

Then he may say once more,

truly the light is sweet,

and what a pleasant thing it is

for the eyes to see the sun.

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