
Dimension X - Hello Tomorrow - 09/15/1950
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Professor Lois Burton
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The National Broadcasting Company delays the start of this program to bring you a special news bulletin from the NBC newsroom in New York. United nations troops have begun a breakthrough from their beachhead in South Korea, launching an attack from positions north of Taegu for a drive towards Seoul. The new offensive is timed with a big amphibious assault at Incheon, which is progressing on schedule. Keep tuned to your NBC station for the later news.
Dimension X Narrator
Space transcribed in future tense. Tonight, a story of the future and a star of the future. The story, hello tomorrow and the star, Ms. Nancy Olsen, the talented young actress who is currently winning critical acclaim for her performance in one of the outstanding pictures of the year, Sunset Boulevard. Tonight, Ms. Olsen becomes the first of a group of the stage and screen's most promising young stars of tomorrow to be invited to appear on the program of tomorrow, Dimension X. It was in the year 1991 that man disappeared from the face of the Earth. The third Atomic war had ended at last, leaving the land a mass of red radioactive dust, filling the air with gamma rays so deadly that life on the surface was no there was only one way out. The few survivors went underground, burrowing their way deep into the earth like hunted moles hiding from death in huge underground caverns. And it was there, in the next 2,000 years that they built the new civilization. A civilization in which the genetic survival of the race came first and every life and every law was shaped to serve that end. It is to this civilization, in the year of our Lord 4195 AD that we take you now.
Professor Lois Burton
Yes?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
I have a call from the Director of Emotional Stability for the third Oblong for Professor Lois Burton at the Institute of Genetics.
Professor Lois Burton
This is Professor Burton.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
One moment.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Go ahead, sir. Lois. Listen, darling. Good news.
Professor Lois Burton
What?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
The genetic board has approved our application for marriage.
Professor Lois Burton
Oh, so soon?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
The tests found our chromosomes perfect. We can marry anytime we want. Our offspring should be genetically in the 19th percentile of perfection. What's the matter there?
Professor Lois Burton
Oh, nothing, I. I'm just sort of breathless.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
You are happy about it, aren't you, darling?
Professor Lois Burton
Oh, of course. Terribly happy.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
I'm coming right over to the lab. I have a surprise.
Professor Lois Burton
Oh, not now, Walter.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
What?
Professor Lois Burton
Well, I mean, you'll have to give me some time.
Custodian / Security Guard
Time?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
What's the trouble?
Professor Lois Burton
No trouble. It's that genetic survey I've been working on.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
What about it?
Professor Lois Burton
Well, I've finally gotten permission to study an actual living case. A specimen of imperfect genetic transmission.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Really?
Professor Lois Burton
Yes. They're bringing him up from the condemned cages on the lower level.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
You will be careful, darling?
Professor Lois Burton
The supervisor says there's nothing to be afraid of. The specimen they're bringing is XJ12. It's been studied before, many times, and is quite well trained.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Well, I don't like it.
Professor Lois Burton
Nonsense, darling. I've been waiting for this opportunity for years. Oh, there's my door signal. I'll have to hang up, darling. See you later. Yes?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Professor Lois Burton?
Professor Lois Burton
Yes.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
I'm from the Philogenic Institute, lower level.
Professor Lois Burton
Oh, then you brought me specimen XJ12.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
May I come in?
Professor Lois Burton
By all means.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Oh, how horrible.
It all depends on your viewpoint. I happen to have a twisted leg. My parents were genetically unsound.
Professor Lois Burton
But then you.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Yes.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
I am specimen XJ12.
Professor Lois Burton
I see.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
I hope you aren't shocked.
Professor Lois Burton
No stable person permits feelings to enter into his work. I will admit to surprise. I was expecting something a little more. Abnormal.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Sorry. I try to be as abnormal as possible. If I am, the Philogenic Institute allows me out of the genetic cages every so often so I can breathe the pure air of the upper levels and
mingle with the genetically perfect.
Professor Lois Burton
You seem quite well educated.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
I spent the first years of my life here. In the upper Levels?
Professor Lois Burton
How is that possible? They segregate imperfects.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
As a small child, my mother concealed me from the Director of Selective Heredity. I was brought up in secret. My mother, actually.
Dreadful word.
Loved me.
Professor Lois Burton
I see. That would explain your obviously low threshold of emotional control.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
If you choose to call it that at first. You seem to be struggling to repress a few feelings yourself.
Professor Lois Burton
We will confine ourselves to the impersonal aspects of our work.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
As you please.
Professor Lois Burton
I shall require you as a demonstration for a lecture I'm delivering to one of my classes tomorrow.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
At your service, Professor.
Professor Lois Burton
Sit here, please. Grip these electrodes tightly. I'm going to calibrate your electrochemical tension.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
I'm quite familiar with the procedure. I realize it is an imperfect. I'm expendable. But I should hate to be electrocuted.
Professor Lois Burton
The charge is not lethal. Plus 15. Surface tension.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
You know, you have beautiful hair.
Professor Lois Burton
Plus 12, at a depth of 4 cm.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Lovely blue eyes, crystal clear.
Professor Lois Burton
Plus 10. 7 cm.
Checkpoint Guard
Pretty.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
A perfect woman. Lovely expressive hands and a heart of stone. Like all the rest of you perfect survival types.
Professor Lois Burton
Try not to jump, sir, when the current strikes.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
No feelings under control. Passed by the Director of Emotional Stability.
Professor Lois Burton
Shut up.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
You have feelings that will be quite enough. I seem to sense an air of emotional tension.
Professor Lois Burton
Nothing, dear. This is a specimen XJ12.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Oh, I see. An inferior type. Quite, you specimen. Can you understand me?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Yes.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Yes, what? Tell this dolt who I am.
Professor Lois Burton
Lois, this is a Director of Emotional Stability for the Third Oblong. He also happens to be my selected genetic partner. You will address him as sir.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Yes, sir.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
This creature seems quite impertinent.
Professor Lois Burton
He's only a specimen, darling.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
I suppose we'll use him and ship him back to the cages at the Institute. He's probably radioactive. You specimen. Mr. Director, you will confine your speech to answering only those questions addressed to you. Understand?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Yes, sir.
Perfectly. Attention.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Attention.
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Professor Lois Burton
If my teenager starts calling me Leslie
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Professor Lois Burton
That makes sense.
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Orin (Specimen XJ12)
The next demonstration will be conducted by Professor Lois Burton of the Institute of Genetics.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Her topic, the probability of radioactive damage in the chromosome heredity of imperfect non survival types.
NBC News Announcer
Professor Burton,
Professor Lois Burton
we are very fortunate today and having obtained a specimen of an imperfect genetic type through the good graces of the Philogenic Institute. Moreover, this specimen has been trained to tell in his own words about the factors in his upbringing. Specimen XJ12.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Thank you. My mother was a psychotechnician in the fifth oblong. My father was a historian specializing in the records of pre atomic surface culture in the earthquake of 2170. Apparently some hard radiation filtered down through the tunnels and penetrated the fifth Oblong. The effect on my hereditary factors is quite apparent in this twisted leg. I appreciate that you do not laugh. Most audiences seem compelled to laugh.
Perhaps you were different.
If so, perhaps you can be made to understand somehow what it means to be labeled an imperfect. Perhaps in some way I can penetrate the insulation with which the psychotechnicians, the drugs and the glandular experts have surrounded your emotions.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Wait. As Director of Emotional Stability for this oblong, I order you to confine yourself to the subject.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
My father taught me in the last days before he was executed that every human personality is born with certain inalienable natural rights. The right of free expression, the right to have feelings and the right to mature. And above all, the right to be different from every other living organism. Because every organism is different.
I submit to you, distinguished students, that
the attempt by this society to abridge these rights is a violation of nature. I say that the imperfects, the mutants, those who are different, have as much right to exist and be free as you. I say break open the cages. Free my people.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Stop him.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Give us back the right to be individuals. Stop him, I say.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Professor Burton, take this specimen back to your laboratory and confine him.
Professor Lois Burton
Yes, Mr. Director.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
You, specimen, go quietly. I warn you.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
I have nothing but contempt for your warnings.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
I'll have you destroyed for this.
Professor Lois Burton
The specimen is unstable. He doesn't know what he's saying.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Then get him out of here, quickly. He's an affront to our genetic type.
Professor Lois Burton
Hold still while I bandage your head. He'll be all right.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
I. I suppose you detest me for getting you into trouble. Don't squirm.
Not that I blame you.
Professor Lois Burton
I don't attest you.
Custodian / Security Guard
Oh.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Oh.
Professor Lois Burton
In fact, I thought you quite magnificent.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
You what?
Professor Lois Burton
As you spoke, something began to stir in me.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
You don't hate me?
Professor Lois Burton
I've never felt so strange.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Tell me what you feel. If I moved you, then I must have moved the others.
Some of them, at least.
Professor Lois Burton
I don't know quite how to explain it. A strange sympathy?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Compassion.
Professor Lois Burton
For some reason, I took pride in what you were doing, seeing you stand up against them. Why do you look at me like that?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Because I can't help it.
Professor Lois Burton
I wish you wouldn't. You're only an imperfect. You know. You have no rights. Please. XJ12.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
My name is Orin. Please say it. Orin.
Professor Lois Burton
Orin.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Again.
Professor Lois Burton
Orin.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Lois.
Professor Lois Burton
Orin.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Lois. Lois.
Professor Lois Burton
Lois, what is it? Why do I feel this way?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
In the cages, they call it love.
Professor Lois Burton
Love? We have no such concept in the upper levels.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
You've destroyed it.
Professor Lois Burton
Would it be correct to say I feel love for you?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
It would be correct.
Professor Lois Burton
I feel love for you.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Darling. Darling. Lois.
What about Walter?
You're going to marry him.
Professor Lois Burton
No.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
You're genetically suited to each other.
Professor Lois Burton
I don't care. I won't marry him. There must be some other way. But, Walter.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Very touching. Very tender.
Professor Lois Burton
Walter, how could you spy?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
In my capacity as Director of Emotional Stability, it is my duty to spy. Specimen XJ12 will be disposed of quite systematically by the state, for the good of the state, for the good of the genetic code and in the name of emotional stability. Come in, Lois. I wondered how long it would be before you came to my office.
Professor Lois Burton
Walter, I have to talk to you.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Go right ahead.
Professor Lois Burton
Walter, you mustn't destroy him. Send him back to the cages, but don't kill him.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
You speak of destroying an inferior creature as if it were something unethical.
Professor Lois Burton
Walter. Walter, please. For my sake.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Lois, I understand that you've entered a plea for postponement of our marriage at the Records Bureau.
Professor Lois Burton
Yes, I. I was too upset to go through with.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Came as a great disappointment to me. If you were married to me, you would be safe from influences such as this XJ12. Which case, I might even be persuaded to send him back to the cages instead of having him destroyed. You see.
Professor Lois Burton
Yes, I see.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Think it over. Well, my dear.
Professor Lois Burton
When can we be married?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Soon. Tomorrow, if you like.
Professor Lois Burton
The sooner the better.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Lois.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Lois, you make me very.
Professor Lois Burton
What about XJ12?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Oh, I see.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
A bargain is a bargain. Let me talk to the custodian, please. Hello. This is the Director of Emotional Stability for the third Oblong. I would like you to cancel the execution of specimen XJ12. Yes, yes, that's right. Turn him over to the security guard. He's to be remanded permanently to the genetic cages.
Professor Lois Burton
Let me talk to him.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Walter, my dear, I don't think.
Professor Lois Burton
Please, I want to be sure he's all right.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Very well. Hello? Connect a circuit in the cell block. I want to talk to XJ12. Here you are, my dear.
Professor Lois Burton
Hello, Orin. Yes. No, I'm all right. How are you? Fine. Orin, I. I've been talking to Walter. He's going to send you back to the cages. Yes, yes. No. No, I'm going to marry him because I. I want to. I'm not lying to you. I. I'm very happy. Yes, yes, I've got to hang up now. Goodbye. Goodbye.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
And now, Lois.
Professor Lois Burton
Walter, please, I. I've got to get back to the lab.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Of course. I'll pick you up in, say, an hour and we'll make plans for the wedding. All right?
Professor Lois Burton
Yes, yes, of course. Goodbye, Walter.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Hello? This is the director of Emotional stability again. I want you to cancel that last order. Proceed with the execution, but under conditions of absolute secrecy. No, don't use the lethal chamber. Take him to the tunnels on the upper level. That's correct.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Fine.
Custodian / Security Guard
This way.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Where are you taking me?
Custodian / Security Guard
You're being returned to the Phylogenic Institute. Orders from the Director of Emotional Stability. Into the elevator.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Very well. Why are we going toward the surface? The cages are on the lower levels.
Custodian / Security Guard
Radiation check.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
They've never done that before.
Custodian / Security Guard
New procedure. All right. Walk,
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Hulk.
Checkpoint Guard
State your business.
Custodian / Security Guard
I'm the custodian for the third Oblong. This imperfect is my prisoner.
Checkpoint Guard
You can't go beyond this checkpoint. There's radioactivity in the tunnels.
Custodian / Security Guard
This is a special mission, if you know what I mean.
Checkpoint Guard
Oh, I see. In just a moment, I'll open the airlock. Go ahead. You'll find two radiation suits in the chamber.
Custodian / Security Guard
We will need only one.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
So this is how they get rid of imperfects.
Custodian / Security Guard
March. Inside. All right. Turn around.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Suppose I refuse?
Custodian / Security Guard
It'll be less painful if you cooperate.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Before you dispose of me, could I
give you a message for a friend?
Custodian / Security Guard
That depends. What is the message? This. Security.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Help.
Professor Lois Burton
Security.
Checkpoint Guard
What is it?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
What happened?
Custodian / Security Guard
The prisoner. He struck me before I could recover. He escaped into the tunnels.
Checkpoint Guard
Well, he won't last long. If the radiation doesn't get him, he'll starve to death.
Custodian / Security Guard
Can you go after him?
Checkpoint Guard
I could send a robot, but it isn't worth the trouble. There's no way back from the tunnels except through here. Only other direction he can go is toward the surface. The closer he gets, the hotter the radiation. Now I think you can consider your prisoner dead.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
More wine, my dear?
Professor Lois Burton
No, thank you, Walter.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
You look very beautiful, my dear. Very beautiful. Beautiful.
Professor Lois Burton
Thank you.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
These hydroponic fruits are delicious, Aren't they? Oh, the wedding will just be a small affair. I've arranged for a few friends. The director of Endocrine Control, the chief of the security guards, one or two assistants to High Council members.
Professor Lois Burton
Walter did?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Yes.
Professor Lois Burton
Was he returned to the cages?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Now, why must you spoil this lovely dinner by bringing that up?
Professor Lois Burton
Was he? Walter? Well, was he?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Well, as a matter of fact, there was a little difficulty.
Professor Lois Burton
Difficulty?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Yes. You see, he escaped.
Professor Lois Burton
Escaped?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
He struck a guard and ran off into the tunnels.
Professor Lois Burton
The tunnels? But that's death.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
He's free to return anytime he chooses.
Professor Lois Burton
When did it happen?
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Just a few hours ago, as a matter of fact.
Professor Lois Burton
Walter.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Now, don't. Don't become upset again, darling.
Professor Lois Burton
You planned it, didn't you? Walter.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Stability, darling. Stability.
Professor Lois Burton
Stability. Stability. Is that all I'm to hear from you for the rest of my life? Darling, here's what I think of stability.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Were we not to be married, I'd be compelled to turn you over to the endocrine surgeons for doing that.
Professor Lois Burton
Well, you can go right ahead, because we aren't going to be married.
Checkpoint Guard
Checkpoint.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
This is the Director of Emotional Security.
Checkpoint Guard
Yes, sir.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
If Professor Burton tries to pass the checkpoint, I want to take it into custody.
Checkpoint Guard
Well, Professor Burton just passed, sir.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
She said, you idiot.
But she said.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
I don't care what she said. Stop her. Send robots after her. Get her back. I'll have you destroyed as incompetent if you fail.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Yes, sir.
At once, sir.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Robert.
Checkpoint Guard
Control. Checkpoint to Robot Control. Order out all televocal robots into the tunnels. Have them bring back any humans. This is a first priority order.
Professor Lois Burton
Orin. Orin. Orange. Orin, where are you? Orin.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Hello?
Professor Lois Burton
Orin, It's Lois.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
This way.
Behind the rocks. Over here.
Professor Lois Burton
Oh, darling. Darling.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Lois. Lois, why did you come here?
It's suicide.
Professor Lois Burton
I had to. Darling. Are you all right?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
So far.
Professor Lois Burton
You've got to turn back. Give yourself up.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
That'll kill me.
Professor Lois Burton
You can stay here. The radiation is plus 4 at this point. It gets worse as you approach the surface.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Go back, darling.
Professor Lois Burton
What will you do?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
I'm going ahead.
Professor Lois Burton
But you can.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
I can.
I'm going to the surface.
Professor Lois Burton
Not even the robots can. Can survive.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
At least I'll be the first human in 1100 years to see what the
surface of the Earth looks like.
Professor Lois Burton
Come back with me.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
No, darling.
Professor Lois Burton
Then I'm going with you.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Lois.
Professor Lois Burton
Don't try to stop me, darling. There's nothing to go back to now. Nothing but Walter and emotional stability.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Lois, you. You really want to come with me?
Professor Lois Burton
Yes.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
You know what it means?
Professor Lois Burton
I don't care.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Oh, darling. I can't let you go.
Professor Lois Burton
Orin, I. I love you. See, I. I know how to say it now.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Say it again.
Professor Lois Burton
Orin. I love you.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Lois. Lois. What's that?
Professor Lois Burton
Sounds. Oh, Orin. It's the robot control. It's looking for us.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Come on, we've got to hurry.
Professor Lois Burton
This way.
Custodian / Security Guard
Hurry.
Professor Lois Burton
Oh, and wait.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
It can't be much further, darling. Here, here, let me help you.
Professor Lois Burton
I can't.
Custodian / Security Guard
I just can't.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
All right, darling.
We'll stop here.
We may as well wait for it.
Professor Lois Burton
It's coming. I. I can see its light now.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Darling, listen. It stopped.
Professor Lois Burton
The lights are swinging around. Oren, it sees us.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Come on, darling. One last effort.
Professor Lois Burton
Come on.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Run.
Professor Lois Burton
Look.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Look ahead. You can see the lights. Reflecting from something.
Professor Lois Burton
It looks like a dog.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
It is.
Lois.
VRBoCare Announcer
Is it?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
It's a heavy lead door.
Professor Lois Burton
There's a lever. Hurry.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Come on through. Lois. There must be some way to close it.
Professor Lois Burton
Here, let me help you.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
It won't get through that. It's solid lead.
Professor Lois Burton
Oren, where are we?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
I. I don't know.
Professor Lois Burton
Look up there. A huge round light.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Lois?
Professor Lois Burton
Yes, Orin, That's.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
That's Luna. The moon. We're on the surface.
Professor Lois Burton
How red everything looks. How it glows.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
It's the radioactivity.
Professor Lois Burton
Quiet. Peaceful. Deadly.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Oh, darling, sit here and rest a while.
Professor Lois Burton
Put your arm around me. Orin. I'm afraid. Orin. We're going to die.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Don't think about it. Just think about us alone. The first humans to stand on the surface of Earth in 2000 years. Lois, that door must have been placed there by the last handful of survivors who went underground after the atomic wars. Those are the lights. The small ones. They must be stars.
Professor Lois Burton
Orin, I. I'm so tired.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Go to sleep, darling. Put your head on my shoulder and sleep.
Professor Lois Burton
Hold me, Orin. Hold me very. Orin. Oren, wake up.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
What is it?
Professor Lois Burton
Look. It's light. The whole universe is light. Oh, Orin, how beautiful. Look.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
By all the laws of nature, we should be dead. Lois, no life could survive this.
Professor Lois Burton
By all the laws of nature. Orin, what is it? We're not dead. This is Earth and we're alive. We're not going to die.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
But the radiation.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
It's present.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
You can see its effect.
Professor Lois Burton
Orin, did you ever hear of adaptation?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
Of what?
Professor Lois Burton
There is a natural law of adaptation by which an organism will try to adjust itself to its environment by changing. It's called a geotropism.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
I don't see what that has to
Professor Lois Burton
do with all these generations we've been bombarded by radiation filtering down through the Earth. Each successive generation must have inherited some degree of immunity to the effects of radiation.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
You think that.
Professor Lois Burton
Orin, it can't hurt us. Don't you see? We're immune. We're probably the first generation to inherit sufficient immunity.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
But if that's true, then. Then we can transmit that immunity.
We can pass it along to our children.
Professor Lois Burton
Come on, darling. We'll have to find food and water.
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
THE PRACTICAL WIFE oh, wait a minute, darling.
Professor Lois Burton
What are you doing with that rock?
Orin (Specimen XJ12)
I want to scratch something on the outside of this lead door. Lois and Oren 4195 A.D. hello.
Professor Lois Burton
Tomorrow,
NBC News Announcer
Tonight, Dimension X, the program of the future has introduced a new star
Dimension X Narrator
of the future, Ms. Nancy Olsen. Ms. Olsen.
NBC News Announcer
Appeared by courtesy of Paramount Pictures and may currently be seen in their production Sunset Boulevard. Next week on Dimension X, the strange and sinister story of Dr. Grimshaw's sanitarium.
Walter, Director of Emotional Stability
Tonight, Dimension X has transcribed hello Tomorrow, written by George Leffords. Appearing with Nancy Olson were Santa Satega as Walter and Donald Buca as Oren. Your narrator was Norman Rose, music by Albert Berman engineer Bill Chambers. Dimension X is produced by Van Woodward and directed by Edward King. Enjoy Bob Hope and Baby Snooks when they return this fall on NBC.
VRBoCare Support Announcer
A vacation rental shouldn't come with surprises. It should come with Verbo Care and 24. 7 Life Support. If the hot tub's broken, that's a Verbo Care thing.
Professor Lois Burton
If my teenager starts calling me Leslie,
VRBoCare Support Announcer
that's a family thing. Leslie VRBoCare and 24. 7 Life Support. If you know you verbo terms apply. See vrbo.com trust for details.
Grainger Announcer
If you work in university maintenance, Grainger considers you an MVP because your playbook ensures your arena is always ready for tip off. And Grainger is your trusted partner, offering the products you need all in one place, from H Vac and plumbing supplies to lighting and more. And all delivered with plenty of time left on the clock so your team always gets the win. Call 1-800-granger. Visit granger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Dimension X - Hello Tomorrow - #24
Date: May 5, 2026
This episode of "Harold's Old Time Radio" features the classic radio drama "Dimension X" with the story "Hello Tomorrow." Set thousands of years after a devastating nuclear war, humanity survives underground, governed by rigid genetic standards to ensure the survival and perfection of the race. The tale is both a romance and a critique of a coldly logical society, focusing on the forbidden love between a "genetically perfect" scientist and a so-called "imperfect" man, exploring themes of conformity, emotion, adaptation, and hope.
On Freedom and Identity:
"The attempt by this society to abridge these rights is a violation of nature...Free my people."
– Orin (11:18)
On Love in a Loveless Society:
"In the cages, they call it love."
– Orin (13:36)
Sacrifice and Defiance:
"We're not going to be married."
– Lois, finally breaking from Walter (22:17)
On Adaptation and Survival:
"There is a natural law of adaptation...Each successive generation must have inherited some degree of immunity to the effects of radiation."
– Lois (28:06–28:25)
Hope for the Future:
"Lois and Orin, 4195 A.D. Hello, Tomorrow."
– Orin (29:07)
"Hello Tomorrow" is a thoughtful, emotionally-charged broadcast from the Golden Age of Radio, exploring the tensions between scientific perfection and human emotion. Through the love story of Lois and Orin, it delivers a timeless message on individuality, adaptation, and the enduring power of hope—worthy of its place in radio drama history.