JOSH: Mission Control...
I've got some news for you that's going to shock you so you better sit down.
Listen very carefully.
The Earth is flat, gentlemen.
That's right, it's flat as a table.
(CHUCKLES)
Hey, wait a minute, there's an elephant holding up the table!
And there’s something holding up the elephant.
Wait, it's a rhinoceros holding up the elephant.
Wait a minute, there's such a big cloud cover...
I can't make out what's holding up the rhinoceros!
It's...oh, no--
Gentlemen, I don't know how to tell you this...
but l'm just gonna have to come right out and say it.
The table, the elephant, the rhinoceros...
are being held up by a beautiful and gorgeous 20-year-old girl.
There goes the old ego among other things.
(CHUCKLES)
Yeah...
It's different out here.
View seems bluer than it does inside.
And it seems squashed, not as round.
Distortion or fact?
Uh-huh, the eye of the beholder.
(CHUCKLES)
Oh, it's incredibly beautiful.
(COSMIC SOUND EFFECT)
Hey!
Ohhh...
(LAUGHING)
Consider the sun as the origin of a four-dimensional vector space...
one vector of length, 1.4 times ten to the eighth kilometer...
rotating at a constant angular velocity.
Another vector of length 1.37 times ten to the third kilometer...
rotating diagonally at the end of the previous vector...
at its own constant angular velocity!
Andy!
(LAUGHING)
Hey, Andy! How ya' like them apples?
Hey, listen to this.
I’m Minnesota Fats, see? And l'm lining up a shot.
And l'm gonna put Earth into the corner pocket.
Pow!
(CLICKS OFF)
Well? What do you think?
Well, this first part, that's pure Josh Lang.
This Earth is flat bit, that's his sense of humor.
But this last part...
When you walked in space...
Well, I had about ten seconds of that same kind of high...
but I moved fast and got out of the electrical field, whatever it was.
How long did it take you to get back to normal?
Just several minutes.
See that's the weird part right there.
He's been back for what, over two weeks?
He's not acting normally at all.
You mean he's disturbed?
No, Steve, I don't know.
This is the strangest thing I've ever encountered.
BILLINGS: You know what it's like?
It's like his brain is supercharged.
Well, how bad is that?
Well...
And who is this Andy he's talking about, huh?
I don't know. Nobody in the space program.
See, it's things just like that.
No, he's too unpredictable.
What does the doc say?
Physically he's sound as a dollar.
Psychologically he's fine, except for these periods of extreme fantasy.
The risk is too great, Steve.
I can't send him up again.
You bounce Josh off of the next space shot, you'll break his heart.
(GRUNTS)
Sorry.
You've made up your mind, Cal?
His papers have been sitting on my desk for two days.
And if I agree that he should be scratched and confined for observation...
you'll sign them, huh?
Yeah, that's about it.
Steve, you know him better than anyone else does.
I'm willing to be guided by what you think is best for Josh...
and for the program.
Cal, don't do anything until I've had a chance to talk to him, huh?
Spend some time with him.
Okay, you got him.
It's up to you.
FLIGHT COM: It looks good at NASA One.
B-52 PILOT: Roger.
BCS Arm switch is on.
FLIGHT COM: Okay, Victor.
B-52 PILOT: Landing Rocket Arm switch is on. Here comes the throttle.
Circuit breakers in.
STEVE: We have separation.
B-52 PILOT: Inboard and outboards are on.
I'm comin' forward with the side stick.
FLIGHT COM: Looks good.
PILOT:Ah, Roger.
STEVE: I've got a blowout in damper three.
SR-71 PILOT: Get your pitch to zero.
STEVE: Pitch is out. I can't hold altitude!
B-52 PILOT: Correction. Alpha Hold is off. Threat selector is emergency.
STEVE: Flight Com, I can't hold it! She's breaking up! She's breaking--
ANNOUNCER: Steve Austin. Astronaut.
A man barely alive.
We can rebuild him.
We have the technology.
We can make him better than he was.
Better, stronger, faster.
(MAIN TITLE THEME)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(MUSIC CONTINUES)
(DEVICE BUZZES)
How do you do it? You were doing 66.
You know as well as I do. Better.
No, I mean, how do you know when your stride is right?
Well, I can feel a sort of natural rhythm in my upper body.
Don't your Legs ever run out from under you?
Not any more.
Running, using your bionic capacities, it's all instinct now, isn't it, Steve?
(PHONE RINGS) Yeah.
Hello.
Just a moment, please.
For you, Colonel Austin.
Thank you.
Hello.
Josh, hey, I've been leaving messages all over the place for you.
Great, but...
Well, whatever you say.
I'm on my way.
Steve, when you see Josh will you tell him to get his tail in here...
he's supposed to have another physical, which he didn't even show up for.
If you change quickly, I'll give you a lift.
No, thanks, Oscar, I promised I'd come alone.
You know Josh, he's a character.
Where are you meeting him?
Ocean World Amusement Park.
They say that Josh Lang is... well...
unstable.
They also said I'd never run again.
I'll see you, Oscar.
Okay.
Might not be a bad life in there.
Yeah, no telephones to answer... no money problems.
Why'd you want to meet here, Josh?
I don't know, ever since I came back from the last space shot...
I've just needed to come here.
Well, it's peaceful enough, that's for sure.
I've had all sorts of strange thoughts since I've been back.
Sometimes, it's almost too much for me to handle.
I guess the word is out, huh?
Josh Lang has flipped.
I don't know about that, but Billings is very concerned about you.
Did Billings send you to tell me I'm grounded?
No, he didn't, I volunteered.
But there's still a chance you won't be grounded.
If I behave myself, if I... pretend nothing happened up there, right?
I mean, it's all right to be the only odd ball in the space program...
but this time you've gone too far, right?
Now wait a minute.
If you go to Billings and tell him it was just a put-on, that I was only fooling around...
then I could go back up again, right?
Look, Josh, I'm just trying to help you.
Of course, you are.
JOSH: I'm sorry, Steve.
It's just that...
I know when I'm thinking and saying things that're fantastically wild and even foolish...
but...I mean I know it!
The thing of it is, I just can't turn it off.
I can't stop it.
(DOLPHIN SQUEALING)
It was a sudden jolt all right.
A sudden stab of something.
I thought my space suit conked out.
Then I knew...
Knew what?
That I'd walked into some kind of incredible, electrical field.
Same thing must've happened to you.
Well, just for several moments.
Didn't it make you feel like laughing? Like doing flips?
Well, I guess I didn't get enough of it.
I suddenly started getting way out ideas, fast as lightning...
and not just fragments, but complete ideas, new ideas.
Like the one about the sun as the origin of space.
I wanted to take a bath in whatever it was that zapped me.
It felt good.
I feel like a walking computer.
My mind races so fast...
but it feels good, Steve.
Josh, who's Andy?
I don't know any Andy. Why?
You mentioned his name when you were in space.
Did I?
HALDANE: Well, Steve? How do you feel about Josh now?
Well, I'm not sure.
Last couple of days, he's been normal.
He does have brief periods of time when he talks about things that are...
well, a little over my head.
Well, we've run all the tests twice, there's not the slightest abnormality.
I don't know what to do, other than recommend he be kept under observation.
That'll kill his chances for the next space shot.
I know, but maybe you're being too protective of him.
I understand why, but maybe the truth is that he's just a...
a casualty of space.
Since when does being super bright make you a casualty?
Are the things he says really over your head...
or are they the fantasies of a confused mind?
Look, I read that psychiatrist's report.
It's probably right about Josh.
I've been confused, too...
but I just didn't happen to do it when everybody at Mission Control was watching.
Ted, give him some more time.
Steve, do you know what you're asking?
(PHONE RINGING)
Haldane.
What?
I'll be right there.
It's Josh!
He's tearing the programming room apart. Come on!
It's a mistake and I'll prove it to you.
There's not a variable in the curl pattern.
Josh...
Why don't you just get out of here, let Tina put this all back in order.
There's no point in putting it in order if there's a mistake!
Josh, what's the problem?
He came in here and started looking at some of the computer print outs...
for the next space shot.
I spotted a mistake in the programming.
There's a mistake in the programming.
As soon as I find the seed factors you'll see it, too.
He just looked at it for a few moments, and then he started telling me that it’s wrong.
Josh, the program has been double checked by the computer.
Every department head approved it.
It think it's best if you left now.
There's a mistake, don't you understand?
Come on, Josh, I'll have it rechecked.
No, you won't.
You think I'm crazy, too, don't you?
Come on, Josh.
You don't want to go around scaring everybody, do you?
I'm sorry, Tina.
He just wouldn't listen to me.
He insisted that the programming had an error.
Well, what's the verdict on Josh?
I still don't know.
Oscar, I want you to run a check on a couple of things for me.
Does it have to do with Josh?
Yeah.
When he was in space, he came up with something to do about the sun...
as the origin of space.
I want you to have it programmed and run through the computer in Washington.
You're not serious?
Just now, he came up with an error in the programming for the next space shot.
Steve...
He says there's not a variable in the curl pattern.
That's what I want you to check, Oscar.
You're talking about two whole computer runs, Steve.
Well, I want to get an independent opinion on what Josh has come up with.
It'll cost a small fortune.
Well, he’s worth it, Oscar.
Okay, pal.
(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)
(COSMIC SOUND EFFECT)
Hey, Josh. Where you going?
Stay there! I'll get him.
Andy!
Don't worry, Andy, just hang on!
Josh!
(ELECTRICITY BUZZING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
You sure you're okay?
Yeah, I'm okay.
How'd you manage it? How'd you take that electricity? I couldn't move.
Well, my arm, it's not quite my own.
Bionics.
How'd you know?
I don't know, the name just popped into my head.
Hey old buddy, you're kind of special.
That's what they keep saying.
With your bionic strength and my far out brain...
we're both superior types, think about it, Steve.
We're the beginning of a whole new species.
Yeah. Let's go.
Josh, who's Andy?
I don't know.
Doesn't the name mean anything to you?
No, it doesn't.
Don't you want to know?
Look, I don't know any Andy.
Josh, I'm gonna have to tell them.
About my weirdness?
About my climbing up power poles?
About this Andy you keep asking me about?
Yes.
Can't have astronauts doing strange things like that.
I should be grounded.
I'm sorry, Josh.
All my life I've dreamed about going up into space...
and I want to go back.
You've done everything you can for me, Steve, I appreciate that.
The problem...
is in me, I see that now.
How's Josh?
Well, he's resting, seems to be comfortable.
They got him pretty heavily guarded down there.
BILLINGS: Find what you're looking for?
Not yet.
Yeah, well, reading the man's personal history file isn't going to help him.
He just needs a lot of rest.
BILLINGS: That's the only thing that's gonna help him, Steve.
Yeah, you may be right.
Well, I gotta go home.
I think I'll stay and finish this if it's all right with you.
Sure. No problem.
Put that back in the filing cabinet and lock it up before you go, would you?
You bet.
Okay.
Steve...
you did all you could.
See you tomorrow.
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
(CHIMES)
Okay, I'm your relief.
He's all yours.
Any problems?
Nothing, no trouble at all.
Just don't fall asleep.
2ND MP: Yeah, sure.
(PHONE RINGS)
Hello.
Steve, Josh is gone.
STEVE: How did he get out?
He traded places with the MP.
You mean he knocked the guard out?
HALDANE: Well, he must've...
but there's not a mark on the guard.
The nurse came in to give Josh his...
medication, and found the MP in bed instead.
I'd better call the police.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
Hold on a minute, Ted.
Colonel Austin, this was left at the main gate for you, sir.
Thank you.
JOSH: Come to that peaceful place where they have no telephones to answer...
no money problems... and come alone.
Ted, hold off before you call the police, huh?
All right, I'll wait until noon tomorrow.
Thanks, Ted.
(DOLPHINS CALLING)
Good morning.
You really dig this place, don't you?
You came alone, good.
Josh, what were you doing breaking out of the hospital?
It wasn't hard.
And how did you get past the guards out front?
I put them out with the electrical energy of my mind.
Oh, come on, cut it out.
Never mind that.
Steve, I know why I've been coming here these last two weeks!
Look, Josh, I want to help you.
Come on.
JOSH: It came to me when I was lying in the hospital bed.
STEVE: What came to you?
The dolphins, they came to me.
Listen to them, Steve.
(DOLPHINS CALLING)
(DOLPHIN SQUEALS)
Josh, why did you make a man named Arruza the beneficiary of your insurance?
Who is he?
I don't know any Arruza!
Listen to them.
That's the secret I'm sharing with you, Steve.
Yeah, I hear them.
I can talk to them.
That's the secret.
(DOLPHINS CHIRPING)
Listen to them, Steve.
(DOLPHINS CALLING)
They're talking to me.
To me, Steve!
Whatever happened to me out there in space has done something to my brain...
so I can hear them talking!
(SQUEALS)
(COMPUTER BEEPS)
Look, I can hear the ping sound.
No, no, not that.
That's mathematics!
(COMPUTER BEEPS)
They're communicating in math to me.
Oh, my God!
If I can understand them after being in that electrical field up there in space...
Do you realize what that means?
Those dolphins are in tune with that electrical field.
They're on the same frequency, the same wave length!
Josh...
Don't you understand?
Do you realize what we could learn...
if we sent one of the dolphins up into space into that electrical field?
Why there’s no mystery in the universe that you and I couldn't solve!
Josh, calm down.
It's too much, isn't it? Too much!
It's too much.
Too fast for you to understand, right?
Look, Josh, I didn't hear what you heard.
Steve...
if they can communicate with my brain...
then I can communicate with theirs.
Then will you believe me?
Boy, I sure would like it if someone would believe me.
Can you communicate with them, Josh?
I think so.
(COMPUTER BEEPS)
I'll bring one of them up.
(COMPUTER BEEPS)
(COSMIC SOUND EFFECT)
Now two.
(COMPUTER BEEPS)
(COSMIC SOUND EFFECT)
JOSH: Now four.
(COSMIC SOUND EFFECT)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(CALLING)
They're the future. Steve, the future! I mean it!
They should be up in space with us!
JOSH: Put them in a tank! Send 'em up on the next shot!
The Apollo-Soyuz!
Let who’s ever out there hear their sounds!
Maybe they can communicate with another world.
Help me try and convince them, Steve.
I'll try, Josh.
BILLINGS: It's ridiculous to even discuss the possibility of sending a dolphin into space.
That's how I felt, and then Josh called the dolphins, I saw it, they came.
All right, there's some other explanation for that, Steve.
These tests that Dr. Haldane's running on him, maybe they'll give us a clue.
I don't know.
How do you explain his escaping from the hospital last night?
I don't know, Steve... hypnotism.
I'm sorry.
Look, I know how you feel about what happened to Josh.
Josh has done a job for you, Cal.
Now you said it yourself, his mind is supercharged.
STEVE: Then why not give his ideas some thought, even if they are far out.
Steve...
We might learn something from the man!
All right, I've had it, now look!
The first thing the man told me was that my computer's programming is all wrong...
Now he wants me to send you and him up into space with a dolphin.
Steve, come on. This has gone too far.
I gotta talk with Josh... alone, Steve.
Yeah, listen, send Josh Lang in here now, would you please?
(HANGS UP PHONE)
Go easy, Cal.
Josh, I...
Don't worry so much about me, Steve.
Everything's gonna be all right.
(DOOR CLOSES)
Josh...
this has got to end.
I'm sorry, it's just gone too far.
I'm sorry, but I've got to put a stop to it.
It's not your fault what happened to you. I don't blame you for that.
But I can't handle it anymore.
Can you understand that?
I've got to have you confined.
I've got to have you treated, and this time...
Cal, Steve and I are going up with a dolphin...
and you're not gonna stop us.
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
Oh, Josh.
(COSMIC SOUND EFFECT)
(COMPUTER BEEPING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Hey, hey! I'm glad I caught you.
What about that computer run?
Josh is right, there is a mistake in the computer program.
And his "sun as the origin of space" theory?
Completely valid.
I've got all the print-outs here to prove it.
Come on.
What medical explanation, I don't know.
(DOOR OPENS)
What happened?
Somehow, Josh overpowered Cal and escaped.
Cal said he tried to call the MPs, but Josh stopped him from doing it.
How? By force?
No, with his mind, the power of his brain.
That's exactly right.
That must be exactly what he did.
He controlled me with his mind.
Oscar, I couldn't dial the telephone.
I had a headache and then suddenly... bam!
Passed out, just bam, just like that.
His brain must be incredible.
This is the encephalogram we ran on Josh.
I've never seen anything like it.
It's like his whole brain is supercharged with electricity.
He must be capable of fantastic comprehension.
Yeah, but I don't know how long it's gonna last.
What does that mean?
Right now, his mind is burning bright...
but like a light bulb that suddenly gets brighter just before it burns out...
I'm afraid that Josh's mind is gonna burn out, too, unless we can get him in here.
Can you stop him from burning out?
There's a chance, if I can treat him, but gentlemen, it has to be soon.
Well, let's have the police pick him up, that's the only way we're gonna get him.
All right.
Ah, security, yeah, get me the local police.
What are you going to do?
I've got to find him and bring him back before it's too late.
But where?
Well, this ought to do for a start.
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
(CAR DOOR CLOSES)
(KNOCKING)
Yeah?
Are you Mr. Arruza?
That's right.
Do you know Josh Lang?
The astronaut? Oh, sure.
Everybody around here does.
He used to live close by, you know.
I'm looking for him, Mr. Arruza, and I think maybe you can help me.
Who are you?
I'm a friend of Josh Lang's, my name is Steve Austin.
Oh, yes, of course. Come in, Mr. Austin.
Thank you.
How can I help?
Mr. Arruza, does the name Andy mean anything to you?
I don't like to talk about my son.
He's dead and buried.
Andy was your son?
That's right.
What is it you want?
Mr. Arruza, your son, Andy, and Josh Lang were boyhood pals.
Yeah, that's right. I kinda remember that.
But, you know, little boys, they're all ears and teeth.
Hard to separate 'em in the mind.
Mr. Arruza... when did Andy die?
Look, I know how you must feel...
but it would help me to know when he died.
He was ten.
On a high voltage wire?
Kids playin' around. What do they know?
I was workin' there.
Then as now...
I wouldn't go to his body.
They had to drag me.
Josh Lang might have been there.
Don't recall.
Look, will you take me to the place where it happened?
The whole power station has been changed a lot.
Build up.
It's right by the transformers.
Will you point it out for me?
FEMALE DISPATCH:Attention, all units, attention, all units.
Repeating an earlier broadcast of an APB on Josh Lang.
Suspect wanted by the military police.
Lang is described as male Caucasian, 5'11" in height, weight 170...
eyes blue, hair dark brown...
suspect last seen at the Houston Space Center...
wearing a blue jacket, light blue shirt and brown trousers.
Josh Lang is wanted by military police for questioning and examination.
Suspect is not armed, but should be considered dangerous.
DEPUTY: So, you like to bowl?
MILLIE: Yeah, but I'm not very good, though.
I'm terrible.
(CHUCKLES) So am I.
Really, all gutter balls.
Yeah? How about movies? You like movies?
Yeah, I'm glad to see you. I missed you.
Thank you.
Hang on. Okay.
Something cold.
Iced tea?
Yeah, that'll be great.
I suppose a lot of people from the power station drop in here.
Yeah, most of the guys who come in here are from the power station.
A few truck drivers...
a few guys just foolin' around.
They built it in the 30's. WPA.
A half a dozen of the workers died of heat exhaustion.
You know why?
Elimination of salts from the body.
That's when they started making salt pills...
and insisting that the construction workers take 'em.
Wow.
You from here?
Yeah, my Dad works over there.
Hey, do you know where Tower Number One is?
(COIN CLINKS IN PHONE)
Oh sure. It’s where it always was.
They've built it up a lot in the last few years, but it's still there.
MILLIE: It’s way on the other side.
There's some kind of a government sign.
Strange.
MILLIE: Huh?
I wonder where Tower Number One comes from.
Just a minute, sir.
Don't call for help, Officer. I'm not violent.
You're Josh Lang, aren't you?
(COSMIC SOUND EFFECT)
Don't stand in my way.
Don't get excited...
I know you've got a picture of me in your car.
It came over the telex.
You want to take me in.
Just for questioning, nothing serious.
I'm leaving.
Please... don't get in the way.
I've got to take you in, Mr. Lang.
Don't go for the handcuffs!
Hey, how did you know I was...
Don't go for your gun!
(COSMIC SOUND EFFECT)
He's dead!
Oh, my God.
You killed him!
Andy!
Mr. Goldman?
Yes. This is Steve Austin, Officer.
OSCAR: Is that the lady?
Yes, sir.
And she positively identifies him as Josh Lang?
Yes, sir. There's no question about it.
Any leads on where he went?
No... she's pretty shaken up.
It's gonna take her awhile to get it all sorted out.
May I talk to her?
Yeah.
Ma'am?
I'm a friend of Josh Lang's. My name's Steve.
Josh didn't mean to kill that deputy, I know that.
Josh wouldn't kill anyone deliberately.
His name was Frank.
The deputy?
I've got to find my friend before he hurts anyone else.
Did he say anything about--
How could he have killed Frank? He didn't touch him?
I don't know, ma'am.
Did he say anything about someone named Andy?
After he killed Frank, he said...
"Oh, my God... Andy."
MILLIE: How did you know?
Thank you, ma'am.
So?
I know where Josh went.
This is a job for the police, Steve.
He killed a man.
Not just a man, Oscar, a deputy sheriff.
I've got to get to him before they do.
Come on, Steve.
Oscar, he's my friend.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
(ELECTRICITY BUZZING AND CRACKLING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Andy!
Don't be frightened, Andy! I'm coming up!
I'm coming up to help you, Andy!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Josh!
I'm gonna save Andy!
Josh! It's me, Steve!
Steve, I didn't mean to kill him.
I couldn't help it.
I believe you, Josh.
Now listen to me.
You were right about the error in the computer programming, absolutely right!
And your idea about the sun being the origin of space vector...
they're both valid, Josh.
I had them both checked.
It's too late, Steve. It doesn't make any difference.
Josh, wait!
STEVE: They can help you, Josh!
They know how to treat you, but I gotta take you back right away.
They can't help me, I'm burning!
Burning!
Josh, I've gotta bring you down.
Don't come near me, Steve! Don't!
(BIONIC SOUND EFFECT)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Don't worry, Andy, I'm coming up.
Don't come any closer, Steve.
I don't want to hurt you!
I'm not responsible for what I do!
Josh.
Andy?
Andy, I shouldn't've dared you to come up the tower. I'm sorry.
I didn't mean it, I take it back.
Oh, Mr. Arruza, I'm sorry, Mr. Arruza, I'm sorry.
JOSH: It wasn't my fault that Andy fell off the tower.
I tried to bring him down.
Josh, stay where you are!
Steve!
(COSMIC SOUND EFFECT)
Don't come any closer.
I can't control it!
(COSMIC SOUND EFFECT)
I'm burning bright, now, Steve!
Looking at the sun...
as an origin of a four-dimensional coordinate system...
where position, which is represented parametrically...
is plotted against an orthogonal time axis...
is given by X One equals A cosine Omega T...
X Two equals A sine Omega T...
plus B cosine Gamma T...
times Three equals B sine Gamma T.
Josh...
This of course ignores the ellipticity of the Earth's orbit around the sun!
(WEAK COSMIC SOUND EFFECT)
The burial is tomorrow at Arlington.
A hero's grave.
You all right?
Yeah.
Well, I gotta give you credit, Cal.
He was an oddball from the very beginning...
and you took a chance with him.
You let him go into space even though he was a character.
Thank you, Steve.
You know there'll be other Josh Langs who'll want to go up.
Don't let what happened to Josh scare you, or change your mind.
I won't.
(MELANCHOLY MUSIC)
JOSH: Mission Control...
I've got some news for you that's going to shock you so you better sit down.
Listen very carefully.
The Earth is flat, gentlemen.
That's right, it's flat as a table.
(CHUCKLES)
Goodbye, Josh.
(END THEME MUSIC)