Tales of Tomorrow

"Tales of Tomorrow."

And now C.H. Masland & Sons

bring you Act I of tonight's "Tale of Tomorrow,"

"Ice from Space," starring Edmon Ryan.

This is it, gentlemen, the Aerobee 76,

photographed from our takeoff compound two days ago.

Our radar followed her for 76,200 miles into outer space.

There our instruments were no longer able

to keep track of her.

According to our mounted calculator,

everything within the ship was behaving perfectly.

- And that's the last you saw of her?

- That's the last, sir. Sergeant, the lights, please.

For 48 hours there hasn't been a trace of the AR-76.

Perhaps, Congressman, your Investigating Committee

should look into the problem of who repealed the law

of "Whatever Goes Up Must Come Down."

- I don't consider this a laughing matter, Major.

There are millions of dollars

of taxpayers' money involved here.

The point has passed where we can laugh at such matters.

- Congressman, I think both the major and myself

understand your position.

As head of the scientific division here,

I'm more concerned right now with the fact

that we have a new, unexplainable phenomenon.

That rocket must come down!

The question is, when?

- You see, Congressman, our instruments indicate

that if the rocket maintained its original path of ascent,

it must come down within 50 miles of this post.

But when?

Well, I suppose there's nothing to wait for now

except the reports to come in.

It'll be interesting to discover,

when that rocket does come down,

what happened to our little passengers.

About these mice...

- Well, according to the boys at the rocket ramp,

these particular mice they call the Flying Mice Brothers.

Mice Brothers?

- It's just a joke the men have among themselves.

Joke, eh?

- These mice went up three weeks ago in the old AR-75

50,000 miles, Congressman.

I've learned a great deal

of useful information from their reactions.

- A year ago we were able to send them out 500 miles,

then 2,000.

Now that we're probing outer space,

there's quite a lot of tension among all of us.

And these little jokes such as the Mice Brothers

help to relieve this tension.

- How much would you reckon the AR-76 costs, Major?

- Well, I'm sorry, sir, but I couldn't rightfully say.

As you know, the 76 was designed

as the first rocket to carry a man,

though it hasn't done so yet.

- If you're gonna be close-mouthed about it,

I can always appeal to Washington.

Well, my orders confine me

to the launching of the rocket, nothing more.

I simply followed my instructions.

- Your father would've known how much was involved.

Your father would've made it his business

to know everything about the project.

Yes?

- Major, they've tracked the AR-76. She's down!

- Where? - On the Baker ranch.

They called in, said their kids

have already located it in the mesquite.

Kids!

Sergeant, get Lieutenant Garcia to take a detail

over there right away. - Yes sir.

Get the Baker family on the phone.

Tell them that AR is government property

and to keep their kids away from it.

Yes, Major.

Have him take a recovery group out there

and get a report back to me as fast as possible.

Now get a move on!

Well, that's it.

The Baker ranch is not more than 10 miles from here.

Well, she finally came down. - Yes, yes.

But why the delayed return?

She should've come down within hours after the takeoff.

What do you make of this, Dr. Meshkoff?

It's strange. Very strange.

- Are you making any guesses as to what we'll find inside?

Not just now.

I think we'd better wait and see it for ourselves.

Well, I hope it's not badly damaged.

After all, these things costs lots of money.

One o'clock.

Any idea how long before we'll be able to see it?

- We'll wait for word from the recovery group, Congressman.

How much longer, Major?

I have no idea.

Sergeant? - Yes sir?

Any word from that recovery group?

Not a word, Major.

- I want to be notified immediately when they're sighted.

Immediately, is that clear?

- Yes sir! - It's been over two hours

since Dr. Meshkoff left with the lieutenant.

Any idea what might be detaining them?

Could it be anything serious? - Might be anything.

Anything from a broken axle on the tow truck

to a broken head, how should I know?

I'm sorry, Congressman. I didn't mean to jump on you.

It's the heat, the pressure...

And my bad manners.

- Perfectly all right, perfectly all right.

Thanks.

One gets used to that sort of thing

on the Investigating Committee.

But please try to understand my position.

I believe I do understand it, sir.

The enormous amount of funds

being requested by your superiors

for these so-called top-secret projects

is beginning to raise questions.

You military people are secretive about everything

except the amounts of money you require.

- Naturally. - And quite naturally,

my committee became curious, quite curious,

about these new explorations into outer space.

They've expressed a desire to know

why money is being expended for such items of expense

as your "Flying Mice Brothers," as you put it.

I'm sure your father wouldn't have countenanced this.

Will you please stop telling me

how my father would've done things.

He was a great man, Major.

A credit to his country and to you.

This is my problem, not his.

I'm running this project, not my father.

Yes?

- Our retrieving group reported back, sir.

They've taken the rocket over to the barn

on the Baker ranch.

- Why did they do that? Order a jeep for me.

You're going to the ranch?

I'd like to go with you and see the rocket,

or what's left of it.

- As you well know, this project is top secret.

I'll have to ask you to remain here

until we make our preliminary examination.

Now see here, Dozier.

I represent the Congress of the United States

and I'll brook no interference from the military.

- I'm sorry, sir, but I'll have to refuse you.

And tell me what my father would've done in my position.

And according to the Baker kids,

according to them,

when they pried off the back plate of the rocket,

they found this object inside.

And the mice?

Dead, sir. Frozen stiff.

There was no evidence

that the rocket had been tampered with

during its ascent or descent.

Doctor, what is the possibility

that something or someone

could've dismantled this projectile somewhere out in space

and then put in this thing?

- Common sense would make me say

that such a thing is an impossibility,

yet here it is.

It was not in the AR-76 when it went up.

Now, here it is.

Who is to say how such things happen?

Then what next?

- I must have time. I must analyze this substance.

Test it. See what it's made of.

Discover its properties.

Very well, Dr. Meshkoff.

My facilities are at your command.

I don't know.

Perhaps it came through the hull

while it was in a gaseous or liquid state.

Then, once inside, it turned solid.

- Do you mean it may have seeped through the metal?

I'm only guessing, Major.

I've arranged to have Lieutenant Garcia move it here

in order that it may be further investigated and analyzed.

Sort of an isolation.

But I have never seen anything like this.

Harder than steel or any known alloys.

Glowing like molten lava,

yet freezing the very air about it with growing intensity.

Notice how cold it is in here, Major.

- Yes, it must be 20 degrees colder than outside.

Let's get back to the office, Doctor.

Lieutenant Garcia,

the film from the cameras that were on the rocket?

- Right here, sir. - Good.

Get them to the lab, please. - Yes sir.

Well? What have you found out?

Well?