This Island Earth Page #2

where do we start?

Right here.

You know what

my kids would say:

"Dig this crazy,

mixed-up plumbing."

Plug it in, Joe.

We'll see what happens.

Now what do I do? Clear

your screen, please.

- You... can hear me?

- Of course.

Use the intensifier disk,

the one in your hand.

Place it in position

on your right.

Now turn the control

You have successfully accomplished

your task, Dr. Meacham.

You've assembled an interocitor, a

feat of which few men are capable.

- Who are you?

- I'm called Exeter.

I'm a scientist, like yourself.

Shall we say a... a colleague.

My colleagues don't materialize out of

strange machines. They're flesh and blood.

So am I, Dr. Meacham,

as I hope you'll soon find out,

although I admit at the moment,

I do appear immaterial.

I represent a group which is seeking

scientists of exceptional ability.

All prospects must pass an aptitude

test, which you've just done.

I'm flattered,

only I don't remember

applying for any job.

You didn't. I beg your

pardon, Mr. Wilson.

Your camera will pick up

nothing but black fog.

Images on the interocitor don't

register on film. Put it away, Joe.

To continue,

Dr. Meacham,

We test out people without their

knowledge. We leave nothing to chance.

Except the chance that I'm not

interested in you or your group.

Come, come, doctor. It's not possible

that a man of your scientific curiosity...

wouldn't want to find out

who I am, where I come from,

Wouldn't give his right arm for more

examples of our superior

technical knowledge.

I think I can assume,

Dr. Meacham,

that you're sufficiently intrigued

to come to an immediate decision.

We'd like you to join our...

team, as you might say, at once.

You'll make arrangements to leave

immediately. Wait. I didn't say...

at 5:
00 wednesday morning, our

plane will land at your field.

It will wait exactly

five minutes and then depart.

Whether I'm aboard or not?

Place the catalog on

that table with the blueprints.

Now stand aside, please.

You too, Mr. wilson.

Just a minute. Please step

back or you may be harmed.

Further back.

You okay?

Okay...

Within reason. If there

is any reason around here.

There's no reading now.

Cal.

Yes, Joe?

Whoever that Exeter is,

I don't like him.

Don't you, Joe?

He was right about one thing.

I'm gonna be on that plane.

Cal, won't you reconsider?

I did... all night.

And, as a committee of one, I

came to a series of decisions...

at exactly

the fifth cup of coffee.

One:
whatever scientific knowledge

this Exeter character has,

should be

in our textbooks.

Two:
Joe Wilson,

my able assistant,

knows enough about a certain experiment

to carry on without me for awhile.

I'm not sure of that, Cal. Look, Joe,

my committee decided

I'm expendable.

Nothing you can say will change

that. You always were an obstinate...

Oh, well,

I'm not worried.

Not even a moth equipped with a lightning

bug could fly in here this morning.

So no plane is...

He made it.

No pilot.

No windows. Cal, you'll

really be flying blind.

Please be seated, Dr. Meacham.

And welcome aboard.

A seat belt is not

required, doctor.

Please clear the stairs.

Thank you.

So long, Joe. I'll be

dropping you a card.

Cal, get off right away! This

whole thing smells to high heaven!

Cal, I'm beggin' you.

Don't go!

Please don't go!

Good morning,

Dr. Meacham.

Hope you slept well.

We'll be landing shortly.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Where am I?

Georgia.

I kind of expected

Neptune or Mars.

Exeter asked me to greet

you. I'm Dr. Ruth Adams.

Ruth Adams! But this is

wonderful. I never expected...

Ruth, I'm Cal Meacham.

Cal.

Dr. Meacham,

of course.

Four or five years ago,

conference on thermal problems in

nuclear reactors. Boston, wasn't it?

Vermont! We were lecturing to a

symposium of graduate students.

Summer, three years

ago. After classes, we'd

go swimming in a little

river near the school.

You were an awful sissy

about that icy water.

Now, Ruth, don't tell me

you've forgotten.

Dr. Meacham, all I can say

is I'm deeply flattered...

and maybe a little envious of

the girl you've mistaken me for.

And now I think Exeter

is waiting to greet you.

I'm sure you must be

puzzled, doctor.

I'll never forget my own

feelings on the day of my arrival.

Exeter isn't exactly conventional

in his hiring methods.

Or his choice

of personnel.

I think that sounds like

rather a personal dig.

Once you're at the club, I'm sure

you'll like us much better. The club?

That's what we call it. Exeter has

spared nothing for our comfort...

or facilities

for our work.

Inside looks better, doctor.

They'll bring your bags in.

Your plane.

The elevators down to Exeter's

slave quarters. Our laboratories.

Our living room, social center, library.

This is Exeter's office and study. Not

exactly what you expected,

Dr. Meacham, is it?

Good morning, doctor.

Good morning, doctors.

Give me your coat.

Engelborg, from Munich. The doctor's

out for his morning constitutional.

He's been here a week, but

his English and my German...

Who's that one? That's Brack,

one of Exeter's assistants.

But you'll find them all

very helpful.

What language do they

speak? Anything you wish:

English, Hindustani,

Congoese. Anything.

Dr. Meacham.

Good morning.

Good morning. Please

come in, both of you.

Dr. Adams.

Sit down.

Oh, yes, Steve. About that

nuclear decay factor, Ruth.

I'm afraid my equation

just doesn't seem to work.

I was hoping you could find

time to go over it with me later.

I still think the basic principle

is all right. Maybe we can trust...

Yes, well,

thank you, Dr. Adams.

Oh, there you are,

Dr. Adams.

I was just reminding

Dr. Meacham...

that I'd promised to produce some

of his colleagues in the flesh.

May I use you

as exhibit "a"?

I'm afraid Dr. Meacham

isn't too happy with me.

At the airport, he was

sure we were old friends.

Obviously, I was wrong.

the lady hardly remembers me.

What is more important is... who

we are, what we're doing here.

Dr. Meacham, I represent

a group of scientists...

Who work with but one purpose:

to put an end to war.

Naturally, such a goal can't be attained

without experts of superior ability:

Men of vision, men such as

you, doctor, gathered here...

Exchanging information daily, putting

aside all thoughts of personal success.

We hope to achieve exciting new

techniques, leap years ahead of the others.

I don't think I need tell you how

effective our voices will be...

when the world learns

of our achievements.

Well, there you have it.

Nothing new, perhaps,

but then, what is?

However, let me assure you, doctor,

that we are dedicated men and women,

and as such,

we can accomplish wonders.

Well, what do you

think of us?

This all sounds great,

mr. Exeter, but why me?

Dr. Meacham, we happen to know

that you're on the threshold...

Of discovering limitless amounts

of free nuclear energy.

More specifically, the

conversion of lead into uranium.

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