Tales of Tomorrow

Tales of Tomorrow, science fiction

dramas that explore the unknown.

Presented by Jacques Kreisler, the name

that means quality in watchbands.

Tonight, our Tale of Tomorrow is The Crystal Egg by H.G. Wells.

And starring Thomas Mitchell.

What would you do if you thought someone from another world

was watching you?

Tonight we present The Crystal Egg, starring Thomas Mitchell.

My name is Vaneck.

I'm a man of science, and I've been chairman of the physics

department at Cambridge these past 10 years.

I am, I believe, well respected by my colleagues,

and I've published several important papers,

as well as three books.

My contribution as a scientist is a matter of record,

but this will not help the case I plead, for already some

of my colleagues are hinting that I'm acting strangely.

Vaneck is having hallucinations.

But this affects only me.

And there is something else involved.

There is involved the welfare of this country--

perhaps the world.

If something happens to me, this will be the only record

of the strange events that started that evening

in Cave's shop in the West End.

Oh, yes, sir?

Something I can show you, sir?

Yes.

The crystal egg in the window.

I should like to buy it.

The crystal egg.

Yes, sir.

An interesting piece, sir.

Now, here we are, sir.

A good looking piece, what?

Fine.

If you will wrap it, please?

Yes.

Excuse me just a minute, sir.

It doesn't seem to be marked.

-Well, why don't you look in the book?

Ah.

It's part of that junk we bought from Barton.

Can't be worth more than 10 bob.

We only paid 2 quid for the lot.

Yeah.

At least--

Are you wrapping it?

-Seems in a powerful hurry, that one.

-And the customer seems anxious to buy.

I haven't much time.

Yes.

Ah, we haven't discussed the price.

That'll be 5 pounds.

5 pounds?

For a piece of crystal?

Oh, but sir, this is--

I'll, uh, give you a pound.

A pound!

Oh, deary.

Oh, you-- you've shocked my wife.

Oh, a pound, indeed.

No, sir, the price is 5 pounds, and a steal at that, sir.

2 pounds 10.

That's all I have.

I'll hold it, sir, for you.

But I was told to-- Very well.

I'll return with the money.

-Of course, sir, if someone should come in--

Hold it for me.

The name, please?

I said I'd be back.

You'll recognize me.

Ha!

Idiot!

5 pounds for a bit of junk like that.

He'll never be back.

He'll be back.

And when he comes next time, I'll tell him I made an error.

I should have asked 10 pounds.

What?

Yes.

He seemed very anxious to buy the crystal egg.

Might it not be possible, deary, that this

is a particularly valuable kind of crystal?

I always wondered about this.

It's a strange piece.

You're the strange one.

Perhaps.

-I think I'll call Professor Vaneck.

I'd like the good professor to take

a look at this crystal egg.

Oh, you're crazy.

I'm crazy.

Heh.

Where was I when-- Ah, Professor, Vaneck.

Yes.

This is Cave.

Yes.

Cave of the curio shop, sir.

Yes, I have a favor to ask of you, professor.

I came so close.

So terribly close to telling him I was too busy.

I'd purchased several items at his shop,

and paid well for them, so I owed him no favors.

Perhaps I too wondered why anybody would

pay 5 pounds for a piece of crystal.

So I said I'd see him.

-That man comes over, we'll never get to the flicks.

-Did you really have your heart set on it?

Well, not that important.

But perhaps we could tomorrow night?

That I most definitely promise.

Do I disturb you?

I mean, can you get to work with me

hanging around here, and all?

-I'd say you were a slight disturbance.

I could go.

Oh, no, no.

Stay.

You know what I wonder?

What?

-I wonder how an educated man like

you finds a girl like me interesting.

Nonsense.

We compliment each other.

Oh?

-We go together, like tea and crumpets.

Like Georgette and the professor.

Oh.

-But I would like to see my visitor alone.

Oh, of course.

-Oh, now, Georgette, I'm not sending you away.

Darling, you know how much you mean to me.

But in this case, well, this man lives in the neighborhood,

and he's a talkative little buzzard.

And people do like to talk about old bachelor professors.

Run along now, darling.

And go out the back way.

All right.

But don't forget, the cinema tomorrow night.

I won't.

Good night.

Good night, dear.

Come in!

Good evening, professor.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Good of you to see me, sir.

Not at all.

Oh, my.

Oh, this is nice.

Oh, and here's a piece of mine.

One item of mine.

How well it looks in the room, sir.

Thank you, thank you.

I'm sorry I can't ask you to sit down, but I'm pressed for time.

Examination papers, you know?

Yes, yes, of course.

I understand.

Well, this won't take more than a

moment of your time, professor.

Now, I would like to ask you, what is this?

Huh?

It's a crystal.

A very ordinary crystal.

Ordinary crystal?

Are you sure, sir?

Is there no way of testing it?

-Well, if you want to leave it here, when I get time,

I'll examine it.

-Under your glass, the spectroscope?

Yes.

Oh, that would be fine.

That would show it up, wouldn't it?

So could you do it now?

Oh, no, I can't.

No, no, of course not.

-Well, in that case, I'll leave it here,

and I won't take up anymore of your time, professor,

if you'll do it.

Thank you very much, sir.

You're welcome.

Good evening, sir.

Good night.

I worked all night.

I couldn't stop.

In all my years of research, I'd never seen anything like this.

Nor did any of my books and charts help.

Of only one thing was I certain--

this landscape was not of this Earth.

Yes?

Is this professor Vaneck?

Hope I didn't wake you, sir.

Wake me?

Oh, what time is it?

It's 9:00, sir.

Have you any news for me, sir?

News?