All language subtitles for The 27th Day (1957).en

[Suspenseful music playing]

[Romantic music playing]

[Waves crashing]

How do you like it, Eve?

Eve: Lovely. What is it?

Man: My impression of
the coastline of Cornwall.

Eve: Oh, Harry, darling,

you've painted the entire
coastline of England.

I've yet to see anything
that looks like a wave.

Never mind. Keep on trying.

I'm going for a walk.

Harry: You've absolutely no
appreciation for modern art.

Voice: Miss Wingate.

Come with me, please.

[Typewriter keys clacking]

Man: 2 sugars? Man: 3.

Man: I like your style, Pete.

Someday, you'll be the boss

of the "Los Angeles
Record Telegram."

Pete: Thanks for the
compliment. That's 20 cents.

Man: My mistake. Someday
you'll be the treasurer.

Keep the change. Pete: Thanks.

[Resumes typing]
Voice: Mr. Clark.

Yeah?

Who's there?

Voice: My name is of
no importance, Mr. Clark,

but I must ask you
to come with me.

[Man shouting in Chinese]

Voice: Su Tan.

Come with me, Su Tan.

Well, I'm ready.

At least I remember to take
my notes with me to America.

Man: Koblenz has been
honored by your invitation

to the conference.

Man: Ah, the honor will
be to witness the launching

of the satellite.

They mark the beginning of
a new phase in the progress

of mankind...

perhaps the greatest
single step toward achieving

communication
between the planets.

Man: Professor. Professor: Hmm?

Man: Your plane
to America. 3:00.

Professor: Ah. It will
be difficult to get there

without it, huh?
Man: Well, Professor,

have a nice trip, and we'll
hear from you soon, huh?

Professor: Thank
you, Dr. Schmidt.

Good-bye. Schmidt: Good-bye.

Voice: Professor.
Professor Bechner.

Did someone call me?

Voice: Professor, I'm
afraid you'll have to interrupt

your departure for America.

"Interrupt"?

But why?

Voice: I'm afraid it's
not quite that simple.

Voice: Ivan.

Who goes there?

Voice: You are in no
danger, Ivan Godofsky.

Halt, or I'll fire!

Voice: Your gun will not help.

Excuse me. Aren't you
Professor Klaus Bechner?

But what are we doing here?

Where are we?

I don't know. I was
writing a column

in the office of the "Los
Angeles Record Telegram."

Somebody spoke to
me. Next thing I knew,

I woke up here.

Los Angeles? I was in England.

And I, my dear, was in Koblenz.

But how?

The "how," I suspect,
we may never understand.

What interests me now is why?

It"s pretty obvious where
you're from, my dear,

and you, soldier.

[Eve gasps]

[Motorized entrance humming]

People of Earth,

permit me to explain
your presence here.

Each of you is hearing my
words in his or her native tongue.

Who are you?

Since I'm a stranger
to each of you,

perhaps it would be
simplest to call me The Alien.

Where are you from?

The name of the planet I
come from is unknown to you,

one of many worlds
in a nearby universe.

Where are we now?

The Alien: In space.

I don't believe it.

If you please.

Eve: It's the Earth.

The Alien: Don't be frightened.

You'll be sent back to
Earth absolutely unharmed.

Furthermore, no measurable
time, by Earthly standards,

will pass while you're here.

Professor: Is such
a thing possible?

The Alien: You're
traveling at almost exactly

the speed of light.

At such a speed, time as
you know it does not exist.

Professor: Theoretically,
but in actuality...

Why have we been brought here?

The Alien: If you'll kindly
be seated, I'll try to explain.

You five are here, in
effect, as representatives,

not of your
particular countries,

but as representatives
of the human race.

Then you have come to
Earth to establish contact.

No, Professor.

We are here to help you
save your beautiful planet.

You talk as if the Earth
were about to be destroyed.

The Alien: That danger exists.

Your entire history is
one of self-destruction.

You have now what you believe
to be the ultimate weapon...

the H-bomb.

If you destroy yourselves,
you also destroy the Earth,

and that we cannot
permit, for it is needed.

Eve: Needed?

The Alien: The universe in
which my world exists is dying.

Soon, our sun will be
going into nova and explode.

Therefore, your people
need a new world.

The Alien: Within 35 days.

Clark: Then you're
going to invade us.

The Alien: Oh, no.

No, our moral code does
not permit us to invade

nor to destroy any
form of intelligent life.

We are prepared to lend you
a weapon, a weapon which will

permit you to destroy yourselves
without harming your planet.

This weapon affects
only human life.

Nothing else will be harmed.

It would be loaned to
you for 27 of the 35 days

remaining to us.

If at the end of that time,
midnight of the 27th day

Greenwich time,
you've not used it,

the weapon will automatically
become harmless.

You are under no compulsion
to make use of the weapon.

Yet you think we will.

We cannot hope for disaster.

We merely expect it.

Say you're wrong.

Say the 27 days go by and
we don't use the weapons.

Clark: What happens then?

Your race will
live. Mine will die.

Who are you going to
give the weapons to?

The weapons, one apiece,
will be given to each of you.

You may, of course, turn
them over to your governments,

but the decision is yours.

The weapons are yours
to do with as you wish.

[High-pitched humming]

[Humming stops]

The Alien: Not yet, Professor.

I can understand your curiosity,

but they're protected
by a force field.

Each of the boxes is tuned
to the electrical impulse

of its owner.

Now, Professor...

The one to your left is yours.

Ivan Godofsky,
the next is yours.

Eve Wingate, the next is yours.

Su Tan, you too.

The last is yours,
Jonathan Clark.

Each of you holds in your hands

the power of life and death.

Each box contains 3 capsules.

They are the weapon.

They surpass by many times

the power of anything
your race has yet created.

Each of the capsules has a
diameter of lethal radiation,

which is exactly 3,000 miles.

There is, then, in the combined
capsules more than enough power

to wipe out all human
life on your planet.

To use the capsules,

you remove the spindle,
place the capsule down,

speak loudly and clearly
the latitude and longitude

in the center of
the target area.

The energy thus launched
takes only human life,

damages nothing else.

It cannot be opened by
ordinary means, Professor.

Only your own thought waves
will actuate the release mechanism.

No other force on your Earth
is capable of opening the box,

but once it has been opened,
anyone can pull the spindle

and any voice can launch
them to their targets.

What if we die?

If any one of you
is called by death,

the capsules will become
ineffective immediately.

Professor: One
more question, please.

Do we have your solemn word

that if we succeed in
keeping the peace for 27 days,

Earth will be free of invasion?

You have my word, Professor.

Professor: 27 days. Huh!

You ask us to learn in 27 days

what has escaped the
world for thousands of years.

You ask us to
practice peace or die!

The Alien: The choice
is not new, Professor.

Only the weapons.

Now, if you'll forgive
me, time is short.

Will you be kind enough
to return to your seats

and you'll be sent
back to Earth?

[Motorized entrance humming]

[Loud whooshing]

Jonathan, I forgot your last
name. Where do you live?

Clark. Los Angeles, California.

[Waves crashing]

[Thud]

Man: Professor?

Professor, we have to
hurry to catch the plane.

Professor: Yes, of course.

[Footsteps approaching]

Officer: You fired that
shot? Ivan: Yes, sir.

Officer: What happened?
Ivan: I thought I saw something.

Officer: You saw something?

I... I guess I was mistaken.

[Phone rings]

City room. Clark.

Operator: Mr. Jonathan
Clark? Jonathan: Yes.

Operator: Just a
moment, Mr. Clark.

I have a paid call for you
from Cornwall, England.

Cornwall, England?

All right, I'll take the call.

Operator: Your party is on
the line. Go ahead, please.

Eve: Mr. Clark? Jonathan: Yes?

Eve: Mr. Jonathan Clark?
Jonathan: That's right.

Eve: This is Eve Wingate.
Do you remember me?

Why, of course I do.

Oh... how did you
know where to find me?

Eve: Well, I remembered
you said you were working,

and so I took a chance
and telephoned you.

Look, I'm going to
come to California.

Now, be sensible, Miss
Wingate, stay where you are.

Look, I can't. I... I've
made reservations

on the midnight
train from London,

and I'm coming anyway.

I'm leaving tonight.
Jonathan: Now, wait a minute.

I can't talk now.
[Receiver clicks]

[Hangs up receiver]

[Click]

[Dramatic music and
gunshots on television]

Waiter: Afternoon, Mr. Clark.

Hi, Joe. Joe: What'll
you have today?

Let me have a steak
sandwich, medium-rare.

Joe: Yes, sir.

[Static and high-pitched
whistling on television]

Man: Hey, Joe, fix
the television, will you?

Joe: Ah, nothing but trouble.

The Alien: This is
an announcement

of the most vital importance.

Joe: Sure it is!

The Alien: All television,
radio, and telephone

communications throughout
the world have been interrupted

so that this transmission
can be made.

People of Earth, I am
an alien from outer space.

Woman: What's he
selling... flying saucers?

The Alien: 36 hours ago,

5 members of the human race
were transported from Earth

to the space vessel
from which I'm speaking.

Each of them has since
been returned to Earth, bearing

with them information of
concern to every human being

on your planet.

These 5 people are Evelyn
Wingate of Cornwall, England;

Professor Klaus
Bechner of Germany;

Su Tan of the province
of Kunming, China;

Jonathan Clark of
Los Angeles, California;

and Private Ivan Godofsky,

a soldier from behind
the Iron Curtain.

[Horns honking]

Man: Going somewhere,
Private Godofsky?

Good evening.
This is Ward Mason.

Word just in confirms
that the strange broadcast

that has startled the world

has been heard
throughout the Iron Curtain

and the satellite countries.

As to the question
"Was it real?"

the answer must now
be held to be "Yes."

Ward: Insofar as can now
be determined, The Alien,

whoever or whatever he is,

effectively managed to blanket

every facet of the Earth's
communication facilities

for the 10 minutes in
which he had his say.

This has been
confirmed by the FCC.

The FCC's officials
privately admit

they are now convinced that
The Alien spoke from a point

somewhere beyond and
outside of the Earth's atmosphere.

One thing is uppermost
in the minds of the millions

of people who saw
and heard The Alien.

Where are the five people
whose names he kept repeating?

Who do they know?

What do they know?

Meanwhile, here in this country,

The search for Jonathan
Clark has been intensified.

Clark, a newspaper man,

disappeared from a downtown
Los Angeles restaurant

during The Alien's broadcast

and is assumed to be in hiding.

Man: Attention!
Read all about it!

Extra! Martians threaten Earth!

Read all about it!

Police set a dragnet
for Jonathan Clark!

Eve: Boy! Paper!

[Man muttering indistinctly]

Man: Extra! Martians
threaten Earth!

Extra!

Police looking for
Jonathan Clark!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Don't say anything. I
thought you'd never make it.

Neither did I. How
did you find me?

I didn't dare wire you.

I kept watching the
planes all morning.

Come on, let's go.

Man: Martians
threaten Earth! Extra!

Police looking for
Jonathan Clark!

Man: Where to, Mac?

Hollywood.

Does this thing work? Eve: Yes.

[Click] [Rock 'n
roll music playing]

What in heaven's name is that?

Rock 'n roll.

Eve: Rock 'n roll?
Jonathan: Music almost.

What's the matter?

You look different.

Of course, I... I'm disguised.

Oh, you shaved
off your moustache.

The best I can do
under the circumstances.

What are we going to do?

I wish I knew. Since
1:00 this afternoon,

I've been Public
Enemy Number One.

Are you sure we're
right in running?

Till I've had
time to think, yes.

Where do we run to?
Where do we hide?

We couldn't get out of Los
Angeles, even if we tried.

3 minutes after my
disappearance, they have this

whole town locked up.

Where to, then?

I think I know a place.

It's crazy, but it might work.

We're gonna have to stop
and buy some things first.

Isn't that risky?

That's a chance
we'll have to take.

There is no real
danger, Mr. Ingram.

There's a slight concussion,
but he'll be able to talk

in a few days.
Ingram: That long?

I'll have to inform
the President.

Nurse: Excuse me. Professor
Carl Neuhaus to see you.

Well, thank you. Excuse me.

Uh, Nurse, uh...

Ingram: How are you, Karl?

Sorry to drag you
away from your project.

Karl: How's the Professor?
Ingram: Recovering.

Have you been
able to talk to him?

Not yet.

Look, we found this
on the Professor.

That's why we called you.

And we'd very much
like to know what it is.

Is it anything you've
ever seen before?

No.

Can you open it?

I don't know.

If we're to believe
this fantastic story

of a spaceship, we must
assume there are 4 more of those,

including one behind
the Iron Curtain.

[Intercom buzzes]

Man: Private Godofsky's here.

Send him in.

[Door opens]

Come forward, Private Godofsky.

You have been honored
Private Godofsky.

The first member of
our country to visit space.

I understand you
were a little confused

when Colonel Gregor found you.

He had the peculiar impression
that you were running away.

The broadcast said that
you were taken aboard

a spaceship 36 hours ago.

Yes, sir.

How is it that you did
not come to us at once?

I was afraid no one
would believe me, sir.

I understand that these people
from space gave you some very

important information.

Yes, sir.

I'm waiting.

They just gave me that box.

Very interesting.

What are the capsules for?

I... I don't know, sir.

You don't know?
Ivan: Not exactly sir.

We were given these boxes.

All of you?

The Alien gave you
this without telling you

what it was for?

He said just they contain
the secret of great power.

Leader: Did he tell you
how to use this great power?

No, sir.

I see.

I suppose you were not
told how to open the box.

No, sir.

Were you told anything?

Just that if I were to die,

whatever was in the
box would be of no value.

That's fascinating.

Your story must be recorded
for everybody to know, Private.

You will be happy to
repeat it at greater length.

Will you not?

Yes, sir.

You're dismissed.

[Door closes]

You heard?

Yes, sir.

You know what to
do. Gregor: Yes, sir.

[Door closes]

A racetrack! It's the
last place on Earth

I would have
thought of coming to.

That's the general idea.

You sure nobody
will know we're about?

Well, not even the horses
are here out of season.

Are you OK? Come on, let's go.

[Vehicle approaches]

[Cat meows]

How many of those?

Just two. They have regular
rounds, but we can avoid them.

You're awfully
well-informed, aren't you?

I used to cover the
track for my paper.

I spent a lot of their
time and my money here.

Come on, let's go.

[Rattling lock]

[Rattling lock]

Jonathan: Phew...

Jonathan: I hope this
works. [Pulls chain]

Welcome to Shangri-La,

our home for the next 25 days.

Crazy, isn't it?

I just can't believe it.

You're lucky the
horses aren't here.

Hey! Blankets!

Human kind.

Which floor would madam
prefer, the upstairs or downstairs?

Look, before we really settle
down, I think we better start by

rearranging the
furniture, don't you?

One duplex coming up.

Eve: Cocktails, anyone?

You forced me.

Eve: Cheers.
Jonathan: Good luck.

Say, that's good!

Where'd you learn how
to fix such a good martini?

Was easy. You forgot
the vermouth. Ha ha.

You ready for dinner?

Peanut butter, and what?

No, thanks. I'm not hungry.

I'm going to bed.

Yeah, me too.

[Yawns]

Why don't you take your drink

and go and look
at the moonlight?

Women.

Oh, Jonathan.

Why don't you just call me John?

All right. John.

I trust you're a sound sleeper.

I don't walk in my sleep,
if that's what you mean.

It's exactly what I meant.

[Vehicle approaching]

He comes around
every hour on the hour.

I'd almost forgotten
we were hiding.

I know what you mean.

Miss Wingate was seen hurling
a small object into the sea.

Her gentleman
friend Harry Bellows,

who witnessed the incident,

reported that the girl
appeared highly distraught.

The populations
of Rockhurst Cove

and other coastal communities
are being evacuated

on the assumption that
the object might very well

have been a mine.

[Speaking French]

Ward: Late reports from England

confirm that there has
been sporadic rioting.

British government
sources indicate they believe

the Wingate girl might
have been acting under

The Alien's orders.

Miss Wingate is
believed to be hiding

with Jonathan Clark, who
has been missing several days.

The British have assumed
that the object in question was

a weapon, and the London
press is actively speculating that

all 5 of The Alien's visitors
may be acting under orders

to place the alleged
weapons in strategic positions.

All we have to do is get
rid of our capsules, huh?

But such panic.

Jonathan: What do you expect?

Reason, discipline, restraint?

Those people out there,
I feel sorry for them.

Well, I do.

They're bound with fear,

they're frightened,
every one of them.

Ever since The Alien
came into their lives,

they've been waiting, waiting
for they don't know what.

Those characters
you're feeling sorry for

are so full of hate, they'd
lynch us if they could get

their hands on us.

I know.

Forgotten how easily
hate comes alive.

People hate because they
fear, and they fear anything

they don't understand,
which is almost everything.

You're not terribly
fond of people, are you?

Right now, I can
take 'em or leave 'em.

John.

I'm still listening.

I wish there was some
way we could find out

what's happening to the others.

Are you starting that again?

Just wish we knew.

Well, we don't, we can't.

Let's hope we won't.

We who are supposed to
have the finest scientific minds

in the world cannot
open one small box.

Man: Sir, it resists every
test known to modern science.

Leader: You have heard the
news from our English "friends"?

They believe it is a weapon.

Man: There's no indication
that the capsules are...

Leader: I am indicating
the danger of other nations

discovering the
answer before we do.

I trust this danger is obvious.

We shall continue our efforts.

Leader: Thank you, gentlemen.

Leader: Well?
Gregor: Nothing, sir.

Leader: Do you think he's lying?

No. He's not clever enough
to have thought up a story

as incredible as
the one he tells.

Then there is something
he's not telling us.

Gregor: Exactly, but we've
been over the story 100 times.

It's taken tremendous courage
for him to go on like this.

Even torture cannot break him.

Leader: He must be broken!

Gregor: He insists
the contents of the box

will be useless if he dies.

He's right.

The Chinese girl. The capsules
disintegrated with her death.

You must find a way
to make Godofsky talk.

Yes, sir.

Oh, and Gregor...

Yes, sir?

How difficult do
you think it would be

to get to Bechner?

I'll find out, sir.

[Door closes]

[Slapping face]

Gregor: You liar!

You filthy, traitorous liar!

It was a weapon and you
pretended that you didn't know!

Look. "America Reveals
Space Box Weapon."

"American warmongers
are screaming

"that knowledge
of the alien weapon

"makes them undisputed
rulers of the world.

"Ivan Godofsky, who
refused his country information

"which might have protected
it against the American threats,

"will go down as
the greatest traitor

this country has ever known."

Gregor: You must
tell me the truth.

Tell me the truth, Ivan!

What is it?

Shock. You've
pushed him too far.

How long?

There's no way of telling.

Professor, I wonder if you
fully understand the concern

that has gripped the world.

Professor: It is
because of that concern

that I must withhold
my information.

The White House feels that
you should give us some idea

of The Alien's mission.

Ingram: Don't you see
that by remaining silent,

you create even
more apprehension?

I see it, Mr. Ingram,

but unfortunately, there
is nothing I can do about it.

I have no choice but to trust
your judgment, Professor.

However, there are a
few questions I must ask.

I hope you'll at least
try to answer them.

I will if I can.

Does The Alien in any
way constitute a menace

to our society?

I have already said that their
ethic does not permit them

to harm any form
of intelligent life.

Is this box or its contents
dangerous to our security?

The box and the contents
cannot in themselves

be harmful to anyone.

You must realize, Professor,
that there is at least one

and probably two of these
boxes behind the Iron Curtain.

Yes, yes.

Dr. Neuhaus.

We've given the box
every test we can think of

without success.

It can't even be
scratched, let alone opened.

We'll keep on trying, but
my personal opinion is,

we get nowhere. What is
your opinion, Professor?

I am sure that if the world's
foremost atomic scientist

has been unsuccessful,

there is no physical force
which will be more effective

than those already tried.

However... Ingram: Yes?

[Professor sighs]

Mr. Ingram, the capsules
are a mystery to me, too.

But I have a feeling about them,

something that The Alien said
and that I can't quite isolate.

If you'd only permit
me to examine them.

Ingram: Under the
circumstances, Professor,

that's out of the question.

I'm sure you understand.

Professor: Yes.

Thank you, Professor.
Good-bye, Carl.

Professor, I do hope
when all this is over

we will have
opportunity to talk.

I'd be most grateful for your
views on several ideas of mine.

And I, Doctor, would
like to have your views

on almost everything.

Thank you.

You did say, didn't you, that
there was no physical force

capable of opening the box?

I did, but mind you, Doctor,

it's only an old man's opinion.

Good-bye, Professor.

Time for your
medicine, Professor.

Professor: Mmm.

Ah! Chocolate!

Mmm.

What time is it?

Quarter of 11:00.

Planning on going somewhere?

No. I just wondered if we
couldn't get some news.

We haven't heard anything
about Professor Bechner for 2 days.

If he'd have told him
anything, we'd have heard.

How long are we gonna stay here

just hiding like hunted animals?

Look, I'm no Boy Scout
doing this for kicks.

You don't think I
like hiding, do you?

Funny thing. Here I
am a newspaperman

sitting on the best
story of my life,

and I can't do
anything about it.

Then why do we stay here?

Maybe for the first time
in my life, I think enough

about the next guy to
do the right thing by him.

Maybe you're wrong.

Why don't you just keep
doing what you're doing

and don't try to judge me.

I'm not interested
in your opinion.

Well, I have a right to them!

But I don't think you do!

Far as I'm concerned, you
lost your rights when you

threw those capsules away.

I'm sorry.

Men commit a variety of
crimes and they always seem

to have the same excuse.

We've been here 10 days,

and we've managed to
disagree on every one of them.

Jonathan: It's normal.

Take two strangers, put
them in close quarters.

Have 'em clean, cook, talk.

Actually, we've had all the
disadvantages of marriage

without any of the advantages.

Jonathan Clark!

But it's true.

It's time I went to bed.

Sleep well.

Jonathan.

Jonathan: Yes?

Were you in the last war?

Jonathan: Mm-hmm.

Were you a determined soldier?

Jonathan: What do you mean?

I mean, if you had
an objective to take,

were you always successful?

Jonathan: Uh-huh.

That's nice.

What did you say?

I said good night.

[Click]

[Traffic noises]

Man: Evening. Man: Good evening.

I'm Dr. Stephen Mizner.
Dr. Hawkins and I

have been asked to
examine Professor Bechner.

Man: Sorry, Doctor.
We've got orders

no one is to see
Professor Bechner.

Stephen: I think
this will supersede

any previous orders.

This is Kelly. Give me a check

on license New York 5-F9836.

Man: Well, I guess I
can't argue with this.

Go ahead, Doctor.
Stephen: Thank you.

OK, thank you.

Who was that just went in?

Man: Dr. Stephen
Mizner... Man: Mizner?

Mizner's home in bed. Come on!

Professor: I do not
have it, I tell you.

They took it away from me.

Man: The box, Professor.

Professor: I don't even
know where the box is.

You must believe me!

Man: You two all right?

Professor: Yes,
but who were they?

Man: I think we can both
make a pretty good guess.

Ward, over radio:
Bechner was unharmed

and is resting comfortably.

The official bulletin said,
merely that two unidentified men

were shot and killed
last night in an attempt

on Professor Bechner's life,
but it is widely assumed that

the two would-be assassins
were foreign agents attempting

to recover the mysterious box

believed to have
been given Bechner

[Vehicle approaching]
while on the alien spaceship.

[Click]

The search for Jonathan Clark
still goes on without success.

The federal authorities
are repeating their warnings.

People are not to take the
law into their own hands.

In the past 48 hours,

one man answering the
description of Jonathan Clark

has already been killed.

Remember, Clark is only in
contempt for refusal to obey

a Congressional summons
to surrender to the authorities.

[Click]

You're no more to blame
for the panic in the world

than any of the rest of us.

We all avoided
our responsibility

by running away from it.

[Clicks latch]

Do you think maybe a man
can be so pigheaded wrong

he can't see the truth even
when it's spelled out for him?

I wouldn't have much respect
for a man who wasn't pigheaded

when he was sure he was right.

A man like that
could be dangerous.

Maybe.

When The Alien first
gave us these capsules,

I thought the whole
thing was preposterous.

It seemed pretty obvious
that all we had to do is to

keep them hidden until
the 27 days were up.

Well, even the Chinese girl
and Ivan would have seen that.

It was all too easy.

Would have been all right

if The Alien hadn't
made a broadcast.

Yeah, but he did and now
we're being hunted like animals.

They tried to kill Professor
Bechner, and I hate to think

what may be happening
to Ivan and the Chinese girl.

Do you think if Ivan talks,

his government
would use the weapon?

They might.

They've been racing to
see who could discover

the most powerful weapon of war.

Compared to this, the
Hydrogen bomb is a toy.

Now both nations have
the ultimate weapon.

I tried to stay
out of it by hiding.

Are you thinking of
giving yourself up?

I don't know what
to think any more.

If I come in on my own accord,

I might be able to
stop some of the panic.

I thought you told me
that the world was built

on self-preservation and
the most important thing

in life was to look
out for number one.

A lot of my convictions
have begun to wear pretty thin

the last few days.

For instance, I had a very
strong conviction that there

wasn't a woman alive who
could make me fall in love.

What did you say?

Jonathan: It's a miserable
way to find out, isn't it?

It's a miserable way to say it.

Jonathan: Maybe
someday I could say it better.

You're sure it
isn't just all this?

I'm sure.

There's so little
time, only a few days,

maybe even less.

[Vehicle approaching]
Jonathan: I know.

You know, it's not gonna be
so easy to give ourselves up.

We just can't walk into
town and say, "Here we are."

What about the guard?

No. When we give ourselves up,

I want a lot of authority
around. Come on.

[Sirens]

Good morning.

I'm Jonathan Clark.

Leader: His mind will clear?

Doctor: For a time.

To administer Pentothol
after only 5 days,

you can question him sir,

but you understand
his condition.

Leader: Ivan.

There is no need
to be frightened.

I know now, you wanted only

to protect us from
the horrors of war.

Leader: Is that not so?

Yet you have failed.

The imperialist nations have
pooled The Alien's weapons.

We find ourselves defenseless
unless you can help us, Ivan.

You and you alone can save
your people from destruction.

Your father gave his life in
the defense of his country.

I have here a letter
from your mother.

She wants you to ensure
that your father's life

was not given in vain.

Help us, Ivan.

If you should have a relapse,

we would be at the
mercy of our enemies.

I'll tell you everything.

But we can't just sit
here and do nothing,

now that we know that Ivan
has put the weapon in the hands

of his government!

Professor: Are you
proposing that we use ours?

That would be the
first step in fulfilling

The Alien's plan.

The Alien! All this nonsense
about their high morality!

Why, it's double-talk!

They give us a weapon
and they expect us to use it.

And yet they give the impression
that they hope we won't!

Morality! Why, if
they're so full of morals

and loving kindness, how
come they just happen to have

15 nice, shiny, human
exterminators lying around?

Professor: I don't think you
are being fair to the alien.

Fair?! Professor:
They could have

simply used their capsules
and taken our planet.

Jonathan, imagine what we
must look like in their eyes.

Since the first men hit
one another with clubs,

the human race has spent
more time destroying itself

than in any other endeavor,

but the aliens have
not tried to judge us.

They have merely
intensified our choice,

a choice that has faced us
since the first atomic bomb.

Yeah, with them, it's
not so much a choice

as it is an ultimatum.

Professor: I think we are
all missing a significant point.

Eve: What's that, Professor?

Professor: If we were
a stable, mature people,

this would be almost nothing.

The Alien would have
presented us with the capsules,

and we, upon returning to
Earth, would have promptly tossed

them into the nearest sewer.

Jonathan: Or the nearest ocean.

Professor: Instead, we
return to Earth terrified. Why?

Because we knew that the
human race could not be trusted

to handle these bombs any
more than an undisciplined child

could be trusted with
a high-powered rifle.

Eve: That still doesn't
help us to know what to do.

Professor: If only they'd
let me work on the capsules,

but they are even afraid of me.

Jonathan: You have an idea?

Professor: I do not pretend to
know how the capsules operate,

but if only I could get my
hands on one of them, perhaps...

Eve: Perhaps what?

Professor: It's just a feeling
that I know something...

[Sighs] or I ought to know it.

[Knock on door]

Ingram: Would you
come with me, please?

We're wanted at the Pentagon.

Our government is seriously
concerned that other powers

have succeeded
where we have failed.

We were hoping, now that
there seems to be no further need

for concealment, that one
of you might enlighten us.

Carl: Amazing.

Ingram: You said
it couldn't open.

Professor: No
physical force on Earth

could have opened
this particular box.

Only my mental projection.

By the same token, no
one but Ivan Godofsky

could have opened his box.

They are keyed to the electrical
impulses of their possessors.

Man: Well, then,
their story is true.

Professor: It is true.

Agreed, but what
about their claim

that their capsules
have destructive powers

within a radius of 1,500 miles?

3 capsules, then,
would be able to destroy

every vestige of human life
on the North American continent

from Panama to Hudson Bay.

Can anyone believe that,

believe that such energy
is contained in a cylinder

smaller than the cap
of my fountain pen?

A cylinder that will understand
instructions like a robot?

I cannot.

Ingram: Then why should
The Alien give them to us

in the first place?

Carl: What better way to
start a war here on Earth

than to place these
boxes in our hands

and let us believe they will do

everything The
Alien says they will.

If you are right, Dr. Neuhaus,
it's almost too clever.

The only way we can check
the truth of The Alien's words

is to test one of the bombs,

and, of course, that's
out of the question.

Man: I'm not so sure.

There is an area more
than 3,000 miles diameter

off the east coast
of South America.

The test could be
conducted at sea.

Ingram: You forget, Admiral,
this test requires a human life.

We cannot put a human being
within the area when we have

every reason to believe
that his life might be the price

of our mistake.

Professor: Gentlemen,

much of our concern
may be unnecessary.

Remember, there
are still 12 days.

If I could have the capsules
long enough to examine them,

study them thoroughly,
perhaps there is another way.

That decision I cannot make.

However, I suggest we
adjourn for the present.

You will be notified
of a future meeting.

[Murmuring]

Gentlemen, I am
prepared to destroy all life

on the North American continent.

If the Americans do not
withdraw from Europe and Asia

and confine themselves to
continental United States...

Man: Sir, this will mean
a war that could finish us

as well as them.

There will be no war, Marshal.

If I launch these 3 capsules,

they will not have one
single person left alive

to give orders and
none to carry them out.

Where is your war then, Marshal?

But if they strike first...

The lessons of history have
been wasted on you, Marshal.

Democracies are appeasers,
and the Americans in particular

cannot be provoked into a war.

They must be bombed into it.

They will do something, sir.

Leader: Of course! They
will threaten and bluster

and make angry
speeches, and they will end

doing just as we ask.

I shall read to you the
ultimatum, which has already

been delivered to
the United States.

"Demand is hereby made
for the immediate withdrawal

"of all American forces and
civilians on land, sea, and air

to within the limits of
continental United States..."

"...on pain of total war.

"Such withdrawal is to begin
within 48 hours of the moment

"this document is placed in
the hands of the government

of the United States."

Ingram: This is not
their people speaking.

It is one man!

Man: Well, we can't accept it.

If we pull everything back home,

we've piled our potential
where he can destroy us

with a single blow.

If we can start the evacuation
within the time limit, seeming

to be complying with their
demands, they might not use

the weapons until it's too late.

But what about my suggestion?

If the boxes do not
actually contain weapons,

we're giving up the
world for nothing!

Professor: If you
would only permit me

to examine the capsules,
I have an idea that...

I'm sorry, Professor.

Approval has been given
to your suggestion, Admiral,

and the test site.

Most of the equipment
is readily available.

If we flew out of here
tonight, we could start

the test by the
day after tomorrow.

We still have the
problem of a test subject.

So as not to alarm the public,
the test must be conducted

in absolute secrecy.

For this reason, and even more

compelling, moral ones,

we cannot use
condemned criminals

or even ask for volunteers.

I must admit to being...

Gentlemen, I am
your test subject.

As soon as I heard of the
ultimatum, I subjected myself

to a fatal overdose
of gamma radiation.

You can check my statement
with a radiation counter, if you wish.

But Dr. Neuhaus...

I realized that you
would not accept me

if I volunteered,

so decided to
place in a position

where you could not refuse.

You see, although
I'm born in Germany,

I reside in Missouri.

I have to be shown.

Professor: Carl, the forfeiture
of a life such as yours.

Carl: I'm not at all sure
the test will be successful.

But if it is, then what is
one life against millions?

Stop all engines.

Aye-aye, sir.

All engines stopped,
sir. Captain: Aye.

Ships on station, Admiral.

Admiral: Thank you, Captain.

Admiral: Now, this is the
limit of the radiation radius.

Dr. Neuhaus is here,
just within the limit.

Our position is here, 1
mile outside the radius.

Officer: Sir, he's
coming through.

Professor, it's time.

It won't open.

I know what it is, Jonathan.

I do not really want
the box to open.

Jonathan: Radiation poisoning
is a pretty terrible way to die.

I can't. I can't do it.

Admiral: Latitude 71 degrees,
25 minutes, 13 seconds, south.

Longitude, 150 degrees,
14 minutes, 18 seconds east.

Jonathan: At midnight
tonight, the 27 days will be over.

Eve: We've almost won.
Jonathan: No, thank you.

Professor: Or are we on
the verge of annihilation?

If you were to launch the
bombs against someone,

when would you do it?

Jonathan: At the last
possible moment so that

your enemies have no
chance of striking back.

Professor: Exactly. It
is my firm conviction

that unless something
happens to prevent it,

the weapons behind the
Iron Curtain will be launched.

It is a question
of life or death.

No... not life or death.

Life and death.

What do you mean?

I think I have the answer.

What is it, Klaus?

Professor: Jonathan, I
must have your capsules.

Jonathan: What for?

Professor: I need
a complete set.

There is some message on
them. It's in a mathematical code.

Jonathan, you simply
must let me have yours.

Jonathan: Klaus, I
don't think I can do that.

Professor: But you must.
Don't you understand?

The Alien has put some
kind of message on them.

I think I know what it may
be, but I cannot be sure

without the third.

Please have the box
brought here and then decide.

Jonathan: Admiral,
will you please have

the capsules sent here?

Admiral: Captain.

You see, the etchings...

I transferred them to clay.

I made reliefs from
the two that were left,

but the message is incomplete.

Jonathan: And
these hieroglyphics

really mean something to you?

There are mathematical symbols,

some of which I have
never encountered before,

but in mathematics,
there is always a solution.

Eventually, I am sure I will
be able to decipher them.

Jonathan, there
are only 5 hours left.

And now I must be
left alone. Please.

Admiral: Clark, I hope
you know what you're doing.

Jonathan: Yeah, I hope so, too.

I just can't get over the
feeling that this whole thing

is unreal, a kind
of hideous joke.

Dr. Neuhaus' death,
the spaceship alien...

Two weeks of
housekeeping in a tack room.

I know.

And now this aimless
cruising around

in the middle of nowhere
while the world goes to pieces.

It all seems so hopeless.

It's supposed to have a purpose.

If Ivan were to
launch his capsules

and we were all in Washington,

there'd be no way
of striking back.

Maybe there's a kind
of weird justice in all this.

How do you mean?

Maybe the heavens
have had enough of us.

Maybe they've decided we
don't deserve what we've got.

Maybe... maybe people
really are worth saving.

I don't know. There are
a lot of nice ones around.

These are our targets.

2 minutes. Everything
is prepared?

Man: Our troops
will move the moment

the third capsule is released.

Soon, the world will be ours.

Leader: Latitude 29 degrees,
45 minutes, 26 seconds, north.

Longitude 95
degrees, 21 minutes...

[Gunshot] You
fools! Don't shoot!

If he dies, the
capsules are useless!

Go after him!

Latitude 45 degrees, 4
minutes, 23 seconds north.

Listen.

...12 minutes, 12 seconds, east.

Jonathan: Professor! No!
Stop! [Jiggling doorknob]

Professor Bechner!

It's latched from
the other side.

Jonathan: Professor
Bechner! [Rattling doorknob]

Professor!

Professor: Latitude
55 degrees, 45 minutes,

18 seconds, north.

[High-pitched humming]

Longitude 37
degrees, 37 minutes,

14 seconds, east.

Jonathan: Professor!
Don't! Stop!

[Humming getting louder]

[Doorknob rattling]
Jonathan: Professor Bechner!

[Humming getting louder] Oh!

Jonathan: Professor! Halt! Stop!

[Pounding on door]

Professor Bechner!

[Pounding continues] Professor!

Jonathan: Where
are the capsules?

Answer me, Klaus.
Where are they?

Professor: I've launched
them. I've blanketed the world.

Jonathan: Then the
capsules didn't work.

Eve: Of course. If they
had, we'd all be dead by now.

Professor: I think they worked.

I think they worked very well.

Ward: Ladies and
gentlemen, here it is,

the bulletin we've
been waiting for.

Scientists believe we have
been bombarded by invisible rays

from outer space.

Reports pouring in
from all over the globe

confirm sudden and
unexplainable deaths.

All the cases have shown
the same symptoms.

All heard a high-pitched,
almost supersonic noise

accompanied by acute
agony and severe shock

and followed by death.

I know it's
unbelievable, fantastic,

but the rays appear to
have killed every person

throughout the world known to
have been a confirmed enemy

of human freedom.

Yes, the entire world is
now united in a spiritual unity

unparalleled in its history.

There are those who
might say it can't last,

but let us pray it does.

Professor: Thank God.

Unlike you, Jonathan,

I never believed that The
Alien was acting in bad faith.

Well, what gave you the idea
the capsules could be altered?

Yesterday morning,
in my excitement,

I used the phrase
"life-or-death." Remember?

Jonathan: We both thought
you'd gone a little crazy.

Professor: Aboard the spaceship,

The Alien said, "You
hold in your hands

the power of life and death."

He might have meant that
the capsules could bring us life

as well as death.

Jonathan: And on
evidence like that,

you launched the capsules.

Professor: Yes. You see,

almost every form of energy...

fire, electricity,
nuclear fission...

has two diametrically
opposed uses:

as an asset for peace
or a weapon of war,

for good or for evil.

The capsules followed
the pattern. They had to.

The Alien was
incapable of giving us

a weapon only for destruction.

Eve: I suppose we
should be happy,

but I can't help thinking
what victory for us means

in terms of The Alien.

Yes, I cannot imagine
a greater tragedy,

not only for them, but for us.

Why for us?

We made contact with the stars.

How many years may pass by
before this can happen again?

Think of all the knowledge
they could give us

if we could help them.

Jonathan: But must we lose it?

We have vast uninhabited areas...

jungles, deserts, polar caps.

We can't use them,
but maybe they can.

Eve: But there's no time.

Professor: There
are still 8 days.

Jonathan: Klaus,
as long as this feeling

lasts on Earth, there are no
boundaries between nations,

no fear, no suspicion.

Professor: Perhaps, yes.
Perhaps it could be done.

Officer: Admiral.
Admiral: Excuse me.

Admiral: Thank you, Captain.

The Captain has orders to
rendezvous with a carrier.

You, Miss Wingate, Mr. Clark

will be flown back to
Washington immediately.

Man: Ladies and gentlemen,
I need not remind any of you

that for the past 24 hours,

we have been broadcasting
our invitation to The Alien

over all available wavelengths

in the hope that
every human being

within reach of a radio
receiver may hear his reply.

If we succeed in contacting
him, we have asked that

he answer our
invitation at midnight.

As of 5 minutes ago,

every radio and television
broadcast went off the air

to ensure clear reception.

Since Professor Klaus
Bechner has been almost

the sole instrument in
bringing us together here

in complete harmony
for the first time in history,

it is only just that he should
extend the final invitation.

[Applause]

Professor Klaus Bechner.

Man: Go ahead, Professor.

People from
space, this is Earth,

the people of Earth calling.

We offer you our
hospitality and our sanctuary

for as long as you may need it.

We offer you trust and
hope, now and in the future.

This invitation comes
from every nation

and every race
on the planet Earth.

If you hear us, we ask
you to reply in 15 seconds.

[People murmuring]

The Alien: People of Earth,
we accept your invitation.

We come in gratitude and love.

We bring you greetings
from 30,000 intelligent worlds,

and to tell you they're waiting to
greet you among the stars.