4D Man

A man, an idea,

the equipment, a place to work in secret:

All the ingredients are here.

He attacks the job of trying to pass a wooden dowel through a steel block

with the confidence of a man who knows it can be done.

Maybe it will work tonight.

It has failed many times before,

but driven by an obsession that it can be done,

he is unconcerned with failures of the past or dangers of the future.

His only interest is to prove his theory.

More power, more risk.

Now it's steel against steel.

Two objects can occupy the same space at the same time under proper conditions.

He knows his theory is sound. It's all down on paper,

a few precious pages that represent years of research and experimentation.

But he doesn't know that his obsession will transform a man into a monster,

a man whose life will be changed as he crosses the threshold

into the fourth dimension.

Oh, no!

Oh, no. No.

Is this your great contribution to science, Nelson?

- You think I'm proud of myself, Mr. Wells? - I might have known.

A man who's lost every job he's had, a man who comes to me

with a letter of recommendation not worth the paper it's written on.

If it hadn't been for your brother...

Nelson, you were hired to do a job...

not to work on your own projects after hours.

Mr. Wells...

- I'm sorry. - Fire.

Why should this happen to me?

Against all my better judgment.

- I give you a break... - Because I'm good.

...and this is the result.

It'll cost me $100,000, but that doesn't mean much to you, does it?

Look, Mr. Wells,

just tell me to go. I'll leave.

That's what you want, isn't it?

I'm glad to see you have some sense.

Don't shoot.

- What do I have to do to get in there? - You got a pass?

My name's Tony Nelson. I think my brother works in there.

- You Dr. Nelson's brother? - Yeah, that's right.

You better come with me.

I'm sure it'll be all right.

Linda, Scott's waiting for us. He wants to get this one off the ground.

I'll be right there.

Yes, Fred, I understand, but everyone's tied up in the lab at the moment.

Have him wait at the reception desk.

Thanks.

- All right, Roy, I'm ready. - Linda, how about dinner tonight?

- Tomorrow night. - Sorry.

I think I know the trouble, Linda.

You're too accustomed to this Prince Charming routine.

From now on, I'm going to try the caveman approach.

Scott's waiting for us.

You know, Scott may not always be the boss of this team.

Someday I may be in charge.

Well, if that's what you want, Roy, I wish you luck.

You don't think it's possible?

It's building number 3 at the other end of the plant.

How do I get there? Walk?

No hurry. Your brother's tied up with some laboratory hocus-pocus.

We're going to use reactor number 3, commencing in 30 seconds.

- Ready, Roy? - Okay.

Start her in.

Scott.

All right. Take it. I'm going down.

Scott. Scott, do you have to?

He keeps pulling stunts like this, and one of these days,

we're gonna wind up with one Scott Nelson, medium well-done.

Roy, it's a bust. Finish out the block, will you?

Let's not have any contamination problem this time.

Patient is dead, Doctor.

You wouldn't mind cleaning up the messy details, would you, Doctor?

Well, there is one messy detail you don't have to take care of.

That's explaining to Dr. Carson what went wrong today.

I don't suppose you're too sorry about that.

Carson? I'm not afraid of him.

Come on in, Tony.

Sit down. I've got to go to a meeting for a couple minutes.

Hey.

Hey, is this the stuff you're making?

Yeah. That's cargonite.

Cargonite, huh?

As in Carson?

Anything that's developed at this center is liable to have his name on it.

No matter who does the developing, huh?

That's not right, Scott.

You do the work, you ought to get the credit.

There are more important things in life.

Oh, boy, you haven't changed a bit.

But, my frowning, disapproving big brother, I'm glad to see you.

I'm glad to see you too, Tony.

Are you really, Scott?

Been a long time.

Okay, I'll leave.

Hey, Tony...

I'm glad to see you.

We'll talk later then.

Anything else for today, Scott?

Roy, come on in. I want you to meet my brother.

Tony. Tony, this is Roy Parker.

- Hi. - You two ought to hit it off.

Roy's electrodynamics too. He's Berkeley.

That's a good school too.

- You passing through on business? - No, no business.

Pleasure?

Not unless you call being out of work pleasant.

Roy, you can wrap it up tonight. We'll start a new run of tests Monday.

Right. Sure nice meeting you.

Hey.

I guess that's it.

Linda.

I haven't had time to change yet. Give me five minutes.

- Hello, Tony. - Hello.

Don't look so startled. I'm the good fairy who passed you through the gate.

- In that case, hello again. - And goodbye, if I'm going to get changed.

- I'll miss you. - Not for long.

We're having dinner together.

That's your assistant?

And secretary and right-hand man.

I could work here myself if you promise to get me one of those.

There aren't any more.

But I'm glad you like her, Tony.

I'm going to ask her to marry me.

Scott, that's wonderful. Congratulations.

- Hey, dinner's on me tonight. - It's a deal.

- If you lend me 20 bucks. - Let's get out of here.

Now, isn't this a nice place for a family reunion?

Now, I think this is a nice place for a family reunion.

Home cooking. That's what I like about it.

What are you drawing, Tony?

- No. Don't, don't. I want to see it. - Nothing.

It's probably full of hidden meanings.

Well, if you must know, it's a self-portrait.

Where do you go from here, Tony?

Just follow my destiny, I guess.

No definite plans?

Not exactly.

Why don't you stay here and work at the center?

- No, I... - Why not?

I don't know how many times Scott has said he'd like to have you work with him.

Tony, listen, why don't you?

I've got something going now you could lick hands down.

- Why don't you stay a couple of months? - Well, I...

Tony, Scott really needs you here.

I know you'd like it.

How do you know I'd like it?

Because I'm psychic.

- And I like to dance. - I don't.

You're gonna make me feel old and ugly.

I'm sorry. May I?

Well, maybe I'll get a spot on a bomb test in Nevada.

With my record, I should make a big man on a bomb test.

Why don't you be serious for a minute?

Why can't you stay?

Scott wants you to stay.

And I'm just getting to know you.

In that case, I should have left yesterday.

I don't know.

You seem harmless enough to me.

Why don't we get a date for Tony tonight and go out on the town?

Great idea. How about it, Tony? I know a lot of nice girls.

Thanks a lot, but, no, thanks.

Scott, don't tell me that your brother has a deep, dark secret past.

Come on, tell me. Who was she?

You have to ask Tony that.

Oh, no. Tony wouldn't get hurt.

He just leaves a broken heart in every lab and goes his charming way,

interested only in science.

- Got me all figured out, haven't you? - I'm psychic.

I'm going to beat Tony at something today if it kills me.

I can't.

Scott.

Scott, where are you going?

I forgot I have to do something.

Tony, would you mind taking Linda home for me?

Scott.

- What's the matter? - I'm not sure.

Come on. We're going back.

Now.

No, Roy, start the next block.

Let me know the instant it's finished.

I'll have to backtrack the procedure.

Just stay with it. I'll be back in a minute.

You're not going back down there again?

I keep hoping I'll catch something the monitor doesn't.

Scott, there's no need for risk.

The government will be just as satisfied if you do it next week or next month.

Yeah.

Scott.

Tony, I'm glad you decided to come after all. Come on.

I didn't come for the job, Scott.

I've got to talk to you. Listen, I've decided to leave.

You don't want the job, there's nothing to talk about.

- I've got to talk to you. - I can't talk now.

I'm running an experiment.

But this is important.

Important? Tony, why don't you grow up?

If a job isn't important to you, what is important?