When Worlds Collide

Needles in a heavenly haystack.

There are more stars in the heavens

than human beings on earth.

Through telescopes,

men of science constantly search

the infinitesimal corners

of our solar system

seeking new discoveries,

hoping to better understand

the laws of the universe.

observatories dedicated

to the study of astronomy

often are set in high and remote places.

But there is none more remote

than Mount Kenna observatory

in this part of south Africa.

If our calculations prove to be correct

this will be the most frightening discovery

of all time.

These two bodies have travelled almost

a million miles in two weeks.

- Is that Randall?

- I hope so.

Stanley, I want Randall

to leave as quickly as possible.

The plates are ready, catalogued

and marked for identification.

- Here are tonight's plates.

- Good! Include them.

I told Professor Hendron

I'd send as much detail as we have.

Paul, Stanley, it won't be necessary

to tell Randall what he's carrying.

ZS, MAP, Dave Randall

from Johannesburg.

Cabin monoplane,

request permission to land over.

Hello, Randall. This is Russ Curtis,

Mount Kenna Field.

Visibility fine. Take runway three.

Approach from southwest at 500.

There's a car waiting to take you

to the observatory. over...over.

Thank you, Mount Kenna Field!

- Hello, Randall.

- How are you, Stan?

You must have been held up.

We knewyou arrived two hours ago.

I had a friend's aunt

for a passenger to get home.

- I'm Emery Bronson.

- Hello, doctor.

- You've been well recommended.

- It shouldn't have taken much.

I understand all you want

is a package delivered.

Did you bring your passport

to the United States?

Yes. But who gets delivery ofwhat?

Your recommendation said I could depend

on a lack of curiosity.

I don't care what you're doing.

Just tell me where do I go

- and when I get paid.

- I didn't mean to be rude.

It's just that secrecy

is very important now.

Fly to Lisbon, then take

the transatlantic clipper to New York.

The delivery will be made to Dr Hendron

at the Cosmos observatory.

Here are several poses of Dr Hendron.

The delivery must be made

to him personally.

- To Dr Hendron only.

- Right.

You'll require this for expenses.

I'm supposed to get $1,500 plus expenses.

Hendron will pay on delivery.

Time is all that counts.

The money doesn't matter at all.

With me, doctor, money always matters.

Perhaps now.

But the day may arrive

when money won't mean anything.

Not to you, nor anyone.

When that happens to me,

I'll be six feet under.

Good luck, Randall.

There was another radiogram

for you at the last stop.

Thank you.

- I hope you're enjoying your trip.

- It's very nice, thanks.

Honestly, the inspection takes longer

than the trip across.

I brought Clara a fewthings.

She's so appreciative.

I'd rather junk the stuff right here.

I think that's the man,

carrying the black boX.

I'll see.

- David Randall?

- That's right.

May I see your passport, please?

Thank you.

Fine.

I'll handle this, Jim.

Give him his luggage.

That brown one over there.

Right this way, please.

- Here's your man.

- How do you do?

I'm Joyce Hendron,

Professor Hendron's daughter.

We're to go straight to the observatory.

This is better than a motorcycle escort.

You'll need a pass to get out

of the building. The pass.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

Right this way, Mr Randall.

Mr Randall. Mr Randall!

Mr Randall, I'm Donovan

from..The Sentinel...

- Some other time.

- We've raised our offer. $7,500.

Here's a cheque to your order.

No thanks.

I'm working on a better offer.

I can't imagine how..The Sentinel..

even had a hint about your errand.

But it's difficult to keep

secrets from the newspapers.

I'm glad you turned them down.

You knowwhat it would mean if the public

had this information prematurely?

of course.

We've been praying Dr Bronson is wrong -

that these pictures will show

some error in his calculations.

Don't you find yourself wishing...

Wouldn't you rather not know?

No, it's better to know.

I wish I had your courage.

But I'm frightened.

As frightened as all those people

would be if they knew.

I haven't the courage

to face the end of the world.

Joyce!

- I'm glad you waited for me.

- So am I.

Tony, this is Mr Randall.

- How are you?

- How do you do?

Alice, didn't my father know

Dr Drake was here?

I told Alice not to bother him.

He's in a meeting

of the observatory trustees.

They'll want to see you right away.

- You smoke?

- Thanks, I'll try one.

Have a south African one.

You part of this deal, doctor?

This stargazing?

No, I confine my gazing

to the eye, ear, nose and throat.

I'm an MD.

I gather you're not an astronomer either.

I'm just a high-priced messenger boy

who's beginning to doubt

the sanity of astronomers.

They should stick

to wrong weather predictions.

Astronomy is a very exact science.

But when they say Doomsday is around

the corner, we part company.

Who's been telling you that?

Mr Randall, come right this way.

Hello, Tony, come along if you want to.

- Please...

- one second.

I have people waiting.

- I'm supposed to make sure.

- Yes, of course.

They check.

Who told you that, about Doomsday?

Why doc, I thought

you were practically family.

Put it on the desk, Randall, please.

Thank you, dear.

Dr Bronson said I would get $1,500...

- I'll take care of it.

- But this is supposed to be COD.

Hold still, please.

oh, thank you.

Would you mind waiting in the anteroom?

He knows all the details, Dad.

Dr Bronson and I have no secrets.

Has Bronson been at this study long?

Two years. But I first heard

from him ten days ago...

He wanted me to check his findings.

Give this data to DA.

D for differential. A for analyser.

Differential analyser - DA.

Naturally.

We'll check these through the viewer.

- Dr Hendron, the key.

- Later, Randall, later...

Sometimes I wish I didn't know

Bronson's capabilities so well.

He rarely leaves any margin for error.

This was Bronson's first discovery.

Bellus, a star, a dozen times

larger than earth,

has been approaching earth

at tremendous speed.

Bronson's second discovery -

a new planet.

Bronson named it Zyra

and his measurements show

it revolves around Bellus more rapidly

than earth revolves around the sun.

This is in the constellation of scorpio.

Dr Frye, notice the position

of these new bodies.

Yes, I see.

But here again, Bellus and Zyra

have changed position.

Just how fast they've been moving

and their eventual destination

are among the mathematical problems

being determined

by our differential analyser.

We'll have the results in a few hours.

Zyra is about the same size as our earth.

Both these bodies are coming

into our solar system.

If Bronson's readings are correct,

they will destroy the earth.

How far away are they?

The calculator will be precise.

I estimate 3 billion miles.

Billion? Let people start worrying

in a hundred years.

You've flown ships faster than sound.

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