Original subtitles

It's still there, look.

Yes, I see it.

- It looks brighter. - It is.

Robert, what do you make of it?

I don't know.

- It's not a nova. - Have you checked?

Yes, I've been through the charts.

- There shouldn't be anything there. - A comet?

Could be.

The proper motion's too high, though.

The definition's sharper than any comet I've ever seen.

Me too.

- When did you first see it? - Three weeks ago.

Came up on the last batch of plates.

Well, let's have a look at it again.

- Could be we're both mistaken. - Could be.

Here we are.

This is our greatest treasure.

Oh, can I stop you for a minute?

This is Peter...

Oh, I say, I'm terribly sorry, I've forgotten your name.

- Barry. - Barry.

Yes, of course. How stupid of me.

Peter Barry.

- June Challis. - How do you do?

- And Robert Duncan. - How do you do?

- How do you do? - Peter's with UK Television.

He's working on a series about, erm...

- What was it now? - New developments in metallurgy.

Oh, yes. Bit out of my line, I'm afraid.

New developments in metallurgy?

- Oh, dear. - Yes, I know what you mean.

We run a weekly programme called The Latest in Science.

Oh!

This should be good for three or four programmes.

I hope you won't think me dense, but, er

what are you doing in an observatory?

Well, all's grist to our mill.

And Dr Ramsay here has very kindly offered to assist us

with a programme on astronomy. A series of programmes.

I missed him by inches in London

so I thought I'd try and run him to earth here in Scotland.

And he caught me.

Actually, it's these two you should be talking to.

I'm only a visitor here.

Dr Grundy's in charge, but he's in Canada.

How many programmes are you doing?

On astronomy? Six, I think.

- Six? - Yes, I know it's not enough.

What are you calling them?

Hm?

Oh, I don't know. The Floor of Heaven, perhaps.

- What are you thinking about? - What?

Oh, I was.

I was just wondering if there's anyone

anything up there.

Sending us radio signals, perhaps, century after century.

I wondered if anyone might be receiving them.

It would take a long time. The nearest star is four light-years away.

Yes, but we've been sending signals into space, haven't we?

You never know, someone or something might pick them up.

Intelligence out there?

Maybe.

If so, let's hope they have the intelligence to leave us alone.

What on earth is that?

Oh, that's what we call a blink comparator.

A what?

A blink microscope.

You take two pictures of the same star region

taken at different times

and you superimpose them like this.

I'm sorry, I don't get it.

Well, normally stars remain unchanged in their positions.

That's why they're called fixed stars.

But if anything new appears, like a new star, for instance

it'll appear on one plate and not the other.

By flicking the plates on and off

you can see the stars blinking on and off.

You can observe the effect very easily, even in a region crowded with stars.

Oh, I see.

Look at this.

Oh, I see!

Just off-centre there. It's blinking at me.

Exactly.

Those two plates were taken at an interval of three weeks.

And since the first plate was taken, a new object's appeared.

Ah. And what is it?

It's a nova, a huge explosion in space.

A nova? Well, the only nova I'm familiar with is a bossa nova.

What?

- Never mind. - Oh, I see.

Well, look, let me explain.

Every now and again, a star so faint that one can't normally see it

explodes like a... like a hydrogen bomb.

It's still just a point of light, however, because of the distance.

Let's see, now.

This star cluster, for instance

that's about, what, eighteen hundred light-years away?

It's quite an explosion.

Yes, it all happened a long time ago, of course.

This bang took place about the time of Nero.

We're just getting the news of it now, as it were.

Well, that's good stuff. We must try and get that into the programme.

Well, I must be off.

Well, Dr Ramsay, I'm very grateful for all your help.

Perhaps you'll call in and see us the moment you arrive in London.

UK Television will find me.

Certainly, Mr Murray.

Barry. -Oh!

I'm terribly sorry. Do forgive me.

- Goodbye. - Goodbye.

- Goodbye. - Bye.

- It isn't a nova. - What?

- It isn't a nova, sir. - What do you mean?

Look at that.

September 10th, nothing.

Yes.

September 15th

it's there.

Yes.

September 25th...

Now, look at that.

Good heavens!

Look at the proper motion!

June, get a message off to Harvard.

When first observed, a position, proper motion and magnitude.

We must try and, er

trace the speed.

Come on. I want to have a good look at this.

Diana?

Get me another coffee, will you?

- Here it is. - Thank you.

Er, not over my scripts, love.

- What's Merchant talking about? - Er...

Thermodynamics.

- Oh. - 'Ello, 'ello.

- Nobody doing anything as usual? - Hello, Peter. How are you?

- Hello, my lovely. Here. - You clod!

Did you, er, get hold of Ramsay?

Yes. I roughed out a programme.

He's gonna do six programmes for us starting on the 14th.

Good man. What about money?

Oh, well, that's up to you.

I told him to contact you the moment he arrived.

Right.

- Peter. - Uh-huh?

When did you see him?

A few days ago. Why?

Did he say anything about a comet?

A comet? No. Why?

Oh, he did mention a star that they'd seen on the great telescope.

Er, what was it he said it was called? A nova.

- That's a star exploding in space. - Well, it isn't.

We've had a whole lot of reports these last few days about a comet.

Look. Russia, South Africa, Japan, the United States.

Half the world's observatories have reported it.

And they all say the first report came from Ramsay.

- Then why would he say it was a nova? - Exactly.

- Hello? - He's England's top astronomer.

- An expert on spectroscopy. - Oh, yes, OK. Wait a minute.

Fellow of the Royal Society. Do you think he'd make a simple mistake like that?

No, I don't.

- Excuse me. He's here. - Who?

Dr Ramsay.

- He's in reception. - Ask him to come up.

Peter, this is your chance. He's a bolshie old bird, hates authority.

Loves to throw a spanner into the works.

Remember the row we had with the Atomic Energy people last year?

Yes, I covered it.

See if you can get a story. Trip him up.

Ask him why he said it was a nova when he knew damn well it wasn't.

- Ask him if he's under security wraps. - Brian?

Dr Ramsay, so nice to meet you.

- How do you do? - Er, you know Peter, of course.

- Yes, hello. - Hello, Doctor. Nice to see you again.

- Did you have a good trip? - Yes, thank you. It was very nice.

Diana will get us some coffee.

- I hope you don't mind paper cups. - Not at all.

Will you sit down? I'll just get these scripts out of your way.

Thank you.

Over to you, Peter.

Right, thank you.

Er, well, Doctor, I've

roughed out a script for the first programme.

- Perhaps you'd like to have a look at it. - Thank you.

Doctor, you remember that object you showed me at the observatory?

Yes, we've all been doing quite a lot of work on it.

There's Rickover at Palomar, Jung in South Africa and Baranov in Russia.

How far away is it?

Well, it's difficult to establish the distance, but it's several million miles.

Several million?

- It must be enormous. - Yes, it is.

Well, let's say, for example, that it's three million miles away.

It would have to be at least six miles across to be visible

even to our most powerful instruments.

Six miles?

On the other hand, it might be 10 or 20 times further away

in which case it would have to be much larger.

And what's happening about it now?

Well, Challis and Duncan are working on it at the observatory.

They're going to let me have the results as soon as possible.

- When will that be? - In about a week, I should think.

One thing's quite clear, though.

It's not of terrestrial origin.

And it's not a comet.

No, we're quite certain of that.

Then what is it?

That's what the observatories of the world are trying so hard to find out.

Proper motion, 14 seconds of arc in 24 hours.

Ascension, 24:16:4.

Declination, 39:14:12.

Further observations will be made at 12:00hrs GMT.

Proper motion, 14 seconds of arc in 24 hours.

Ascension, 24:16.

I just heard from Jodrell Bank.

- They've established the distance. - I'm more interested in finding its course.

Looks to me as if it's gonna come pretty close.

I've got the graphs.

At this rate, it should approach within a few hundred thousand miles.

- Quite a spectacle. - Yes, and it's growing brighter.

Should be visible without instruments in a couple of days.

- How's Mike getting on? - Oh, stuff's pouring in all the time.

He's feeding the computer as fast as he can

but the results won't be through for a while.

Shouldn't you have some rest? You've been at it since 6 o'clock.

Oh, I'm almost through.

Robert, what do you make of it?

The object?

I wish I knew.

I've never seen anything like it before.

Nor has anyone else, it seems.

It's the brightness I find most strange.

It's not what you'd expect from a cold body of that size.

Perhaps it's composed of snow or frozen hydrogen.

- That would have a high reflecting power. - Yes.

Its mass must be enormous, even if it is snow.

And if it's rock...

Have they worked it out yet?

Its mass? No.

Ah.

I've been comparing its course with the Earth's orbit.

Duncan here.

Yes?

I see.

Thank you.

Well, how close is it going to come?

Are we going to be able to see it?

It's heading straight for us.

Thank you.

Ah, Prime Minister, here's the report.

Thank you. What time does Ramsay arrive?

He was due in at London Airport an hour ago.

I sent a car, of course

- so he should be here at any moment now. - Good.

Well, according to this, there's no change.

"Object Z", as they're calling it now

is approaching the Earth at high speed.

When will it strike?

If this report is correct

in about six weeks.

Six weeks?

If my memory is correct

the Earth moves round the sun at a speed of 16 miles per second.

This thing's moving at about 15, isn't it?

That's right.

I'm thinking of relative speeds, John.

If the Earth and this thing are moving in the same direction

the speed of impact might be quite low.

There might be merely a graze.

Unfortunately, this object is approaching the Earth

directly into our orbit.

So we combine the speeds, 30 miles a second.

That's right.

- Good evening, Prime Minister. - Good evening, Ramsay. Do sit down.

- You have your report for me? - Yes.

There's no change, I'm afraid.

Can you say whether it will collide directly with the Earth

or strike a glancing blow?

Its course at present is almost in the plane of the Earth's orbit.

It's likely, for reasons which I won't bother you with at the moment

to strike a glancing blow.

But even a glancing blow with an object six miles across

travelling at a combined speed of 30 miles a second

is likely to be a serious matter.

How serious?

Well, that depends on its composition.

There are two kinds of meteors.

The stony and the metallic.

If this object is stony, then there's a chance that we might survive the impact.

Some of us, at any rate.

If it's metallic...

Yes?

Then I'm afraid the impact would be quite sufficient

to destroy all life on Earth.

I'm sorry to have to tell you this grim news.

You have no way of telling whether it's stony or metallic?

I'm afraid not.

These shelters we're going to build

will they help?

As you know, every country on Earth is planning shelters.

Will they be of any use?

Not if this thing is metallic.

There is one hope, though.

- Only a slight hope, I admit, but... - Well, go on.

We've managed to chart the course of this object with some considerable accuracy.

I believe that we might be able to destroy it

or at least deflect it from its course in space.

How do you mean? With a bomb?

You mean hit it with a missile of some sort?

- Could that be done? - It's impossible.

The problem of hitting it with a bomb of sufficient power

to destroy it is very difficult.

We would need a vehicle at least three times as powerful

as anything that we have at the moment.

And we would need the equivalent of a 400-megaton bomb.

400 megaton?

That's twice as large as anything in existence.

Yes, it is.

Could we build such a machine in time?

Well, I'm not an engineer, sir, but I believe that it could be done.

If we pool our resources with the Americans and the Russians

then the project is feasible.

I'm attending the World Conference next week.

I'll bring the matter up.

Well, that's that.

- Tired? - A bit.

I find it so strange to think that

we're two of the 20 or 30 people in the whole world

who are in on the secret.

What do you think they'll do?

When they find out, you mean? Oh, I don't know.

Depends on your temperament, I suppose.

Some people will pray.

Some people will take to drink.

Thanks.

Some people will do themselves in rather than face it.

Most people will carry on as usual, I should think.

There's nothing much else they can do.

Of course, they may be able to keep it from everyone until...

Until the big bang.

Well, I suppose that would be best.

Everybody looking at it.

Brighter than the full moon.

The most striking thing the world has ever seen.

And then the impact.

All over in a moment.

No fuss or pain.

What will you do?

What, with my last few days?

Well.

I'd like to begin by marrying you.

I mean it, June.

I can't offer you much future.

Six weeks, to be exact.

But I'd like to spend them with you.

What do you say?

But I don't want to have to cut there.

We'll see how the time goes. This is the point.

If we can get through to there in the time, we'll keep it...

One minute, studio!

Dr Ramsay, I must get up to the box.

Good luck. It's all going to be splendid.

- Thank you. - Good luck. Hurry, Brian.

Now, there's no need to be nervous.

We've had a good run through and most of it's on film, as you know.

When you're on film, you can use your script

and the floor manager will tell you when we're coming back to you.

- Right. - Now, I'm sorry we had to cut it down

but the Prime Minister's on at nine, as you know.

Yes, I know.

I wonder what it's about. A crisis, I suppose.

Yes, I suppose so.

- 30 seconds. - I must go.

- Good luck. - Thank you.

What are you doing here? We start in a moment.

Well, we're from the observatory in Scotland.

We came straight here to wish him luck.

Get rid of them, for heaven's sake.

- Come on, this way. - Good luck!

- Good luck! - Oh, thank you!

15 seconds.

Good luck, Doctor. Don't worry about a thing. You'll be fine.

Doctor, can you sit here, please?

10 seconds.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six.

Five.

Music on. Captions, stand by.

Few of us could have looked at the night sky

without beginning to ask some profound questions.

Is space infinite?

How did those millions of stars

those galaxies, thousands of light-years across

and millions of light-years away, come into existence?

Did the universe have a beginning

and will it have an end?

In the next six weeks...

In... in the next six weeks.

I will try

to give the answers to some of these questions.

Six weeks

is a short time.

What's the matter with him?

Come on, man. Come on.

I thought for a moment he was going to break down.

So did I.

- He should never have gone through with it. - Excuse me.

The name's Wade. Captain Wade. Security.

- You're June Challis, aren't you? - Yes.

And you're Duncan?

Yes.

- Security? - Yes. Special Branch.

- Won't you stay? - If I may.

I mean, the whole process probably took millions of years.

At this very moment, there are thousands of gaseous clouds in space...

Well, thank you, Doctor.

Now, before we close the programme, I'd like to ask your opinion on something

which I'm sure is in the mind of all our viewers.

This new object that's been seen in the sky

and is causing such a sensation throughout the world.

Has anything like it ever been seen before?

- Well, how do you mean? - Well, is it a comet?

Oh, I see. No, it's not a comet.

A comet, as I've said before, is not a solid object.

It usually, though not always, exhibits a tail.

The object that we're seeing has no tail.

It appears to be solid, like a meteor.

A meteor. How far away is it?

Oh, several million miles.

Of course, in astronomical terms, that's really very close.

But it is several million miles away.

Is it likely to get any nearer?

Yes. In the next few weeks, it's likely to become a very brilliant object.

How close will it come to the Earth?

- Quite close. - Yes, but how close, Doctor?

Is there any danger of it striking the Earth?

Oh, it's most unlikely.

But it could happen?

Yes, it could happen. The Earth is constantly being bombarded...

Thank you, Dr Ramsay. That was the first of a series of talks on astronomy

by Dr Ramsay, entitled The Great Machine.

That's all for this week. Until next week, goodnight.

Just a moment.

That was fine, fine. You're clear now. Thank you.

Excuse me, sir. Can I speak to you for a moment?

- Yes. - What do you mean by barging in like this?

- Don't you know that... - I'm from Security.

I don't care if you're Elvis Presley. I won't have anyone...

Brian, the Prime Minister's on now.

- I think he will explain, if you will watch. - Can we have sound on the floor, please?

I come before you tonight

with news of the gravest importance to this country

and to the world.

For those of you who are at work

I ask you to lay that work aside for the moment

and listen to what I have to say.

A few hours ago.

I was present at a conference

at which every nation of the world was represented

because the whole world

is threatened by a danger

which transcends political and national considerations of any kind.

The message I bring is this.

An object from outer space

may well pass close to the Earth

before going on into the vastness of space.

It is possible

and I tell you this in the light of the best scientific advice available

that it may strike the Earth a glancing blow.

It is even possible

that it may score what I can only describe

as a direct hit.

It is for this reason that work has begun

on the building of shelters against the impact.

As I told you

this thing may well pass us by.

Should this object collide with the Earth

the shock will be very great

and the provision of adequate shelters

is the best chance we have

of preventing severe loss of life.

It is for this reason

that I have asked members of the opposition

to join me at this moment in forming a national government

so that this country may be truly united

in the face of the grave danger.

In the meantime.

I ask for calm.

I ask all those of you who are listening to me

to set an example of courage and discipline

in face of the grave danger which threatens us all.

Goodnight.

So that's it.

- I suppose you knew all about it. - Yes, I did.

Well, Doctor, how long have we got, about six weeks?

For security reasons, I'd rather you didn't answer that.

Now, just a minute. Who the hell do you think...

- Now, look here! - Will you come with me, sir?

You too, Ms Challis. Mr Duncan, if you don't mind.

I'm sorry to have to hustle you off like this, sir

but there's a plane waiting, and there's a car outside.

- Where are we going? - Woomera, sir. In Australia.

- Woomera? - Yes, sir.

That's why I must ask you to hurry.

The plane leaves in a couple of hours.

- What I do about clothes and things? - I don't know.

Well, well...

So that's it. Poor devil, no wonder he was so rattled.

He knew all the time, but he was under pressure from security.

What a day. Let's get out of here.

- Goodnight, Brian. - Goodnight.

- See you tomorrow. - See you tomorrow.

- Let's go and have a coffee, shall we? - Great...

- It's good to get a bit of fresh air. - Yeah.

Is it my imagination or is it getting brighter?

It's your imagination.

Just six weeks to live.