Dimension X - The Castaways - #19

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold’s Old Time Radio

Episode: Dimension X – The Castaways (#19)
Date: May 5, 2026
Main Theme:
A dramatic science fiction tale from the radio classic “Dimension X,” “The Castaways” explores the collision between military progress and a mysterious, ancient culture in the Pacific. As the U.S. military prepares to detonate a powerful new atomic bomb on a South Pacific island, they encounter an indigenous tribe that refuses evacuation—only to discover a cosmic and surreal revelation beneath the waves.

---

1. Episode Overview

• The episode replays a vintage “Dimension X” radio drama, returning listeners to the atomic era fears and the rich blend of science fiction and cautionary tale.
• The core narrative focuses on a military atomic bomb test on Tahani Atoll, the resistance of the local tribe to evacuation, and the bomb's inexplicable failure, leading to a mind-bending twist about the true nature of the islanders.

---

2. Key Discussion Points & Plot Progression

Setting the Stage: Military Preparation and Tension

• [02:54 – 05:16]
  • General Gaydosh and his staff prepare for an atomic test, expressing impatience with both the press (Mr. Cohen) and the locals.
  • Dr. Fred Muller, the civilian scientific director, appears more sympathetic toward the Tahani islanders.
  • The military is frustrated that the natives have not evacuated, despite warnings about the impending explosion:

    “I can't let a hundred half naked Kanakas hold up the bomb test.” (General Gaydosh, [06:04])

Conflict with the Tahani Islanders

• [06:16 – 08:23]
  • The Tahani Chief refuses to leave, citing ancestral burial grounds and a deep connection to the land:

    “The spirits of our ancestors are buried in the earth... What right have you now to carry us over the sea to a strange land where we would die weeping for our homes?” (Chief via interpreter, [06:31])

  • The chief places a curse on Gaydosh and the operation, warning:

    “The island will remember the tears of its children and punish the invaders. The great destroyer will not destroy. And the evil man who is the chief will travel far through the blackness of night. Even as the children of the island end, so will he.” (Chief via interpreter, [08:01])

The Unthinkable Event

• [09:41 – 10:22]
  • Under threat of force, the entire tribe marches into the lagoon, apparently committing mass suicide:

    “They marched up the cliff and right off into the lagoon. What, all of them? The women and the kids, too... They didn’t even scream. Not even the kids.” (Lt. Gilbert, [10:07])

• General Gaydosh and Muller argue about the moral dimensions of the event and the possibility of the curse.

The Test Goes Awry

• [11:36 – 14:26]
  • The bomb countdown proceeds, but inexplicably, the bomb does not detonate:

    “It didn’t go off. The bomb didn’t go off.” (Muller, [14:13]) “Don’t worry, Dr. Muller. It’ll take more than a mumbo jumbo cosmenative witch doctor to stop this operation. At H hour, that bomb goes off.” (General Gaydosh, [11:14])

The Descent and the Revelation

• [16:36 – 22:12]
  • General Gaydosh and Dr. Muller descend in an undersea crawler to locate and disarm the bomb.
  • They discover a hidden metal structure beneath the coral, which entraps them—revealed to be an alien spaceship.
  • Inside, they encounter the Tahani tribe and their chief alive.

    “Welcome to our ship.” (Chief, [22:52])

The Cosmic Twist

• [26:32 – 28:14]
  • Muller, rescued and in shock, recounts the truth:
    • The Tahani were not earth natives—they are aliens, castaways from another world, stranded on Earth for 400 years.

    “Their spaceship was wrecked here 400 years ago. They've been waiting ever since for a chance to go home.” (Dr. Muller, [27:11])

  • The bomb’s atomic core is what they needed to fuel their vessel for the journey home.
  • The final, shocking disclosure:

    “It was General Gaydosh who was holding [the gun]. … He was one of them. One of their spies, sent out to bring back the rocket fuel they needed. And now, after 400 years, the castaways are going home.” (Dr. Muller, [28:14])

---

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Progress and Its Price:

  “Stubborn idiots. In a way, it serves them right, Muller. It can't get in the way of progress.”
  — General Gaydosh ([12:20])

• On Colonial Arrogance:

  “We are preparing to blow up their island and we haven’t asked them about it.”
  — Dr. Muller ([07:32])

• On the Mysterious Curse:

  “The great destroyer will not destroy. And the evil man who is the chief will travel far through the blackness of night. Even as the children of the island end, so will he.”
  — Tahani Chief via interpreter ([08:01])

• On the Alien Revelation:

  “They're not savages. They're castaways. They're from another planet…”
  — Dr. Muller ([27:11])

• On Betrayal and True Identity:

  “It was General Gaydosh who was holding [the gun]. … He was one of them.”
  — Dr. Muller ([28:14])

---

4. Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:54] — Military test site set-up and tension over evacuation.
• [06:16] — Chief’s plea and cultural conflict.
• [08:01] — The chief utters the curse.
• [10:07] — The natives’ mass march into the lagoon.
• [11:36] — The failed bomb test.
• [14:13] — Realization that the bomb did not detonate.
• [16:36 – 22:52] — Undersea exploration and alien ship discovery.
• [27:11] — Full revelation of the Tahani’s extraterrestrial origin.
• [28:14] — General Gaydosh exposed as an alien spy.

---

5. Tone and Atmosphere

• The episode maintains an urgent, tense tone, balancing military coldness, anxiety about progress, and philosophical reflection.
• The language shifts from brusque military talk to awe and horror as the truth of the Tahani is revealed.
• The twist is delivered with stunned disbelief and a mix of science fiction wonder and ethical melancholy.

---

Takeaway

“The Castaways” delivers a striking mix of mid-century atomic dread and the science fiction tradition of blending the human with the cosmic. By turning colonial arrogance on its head—with the “savages” revealed as marooned space travelers and the bomb-happy General as their embedded operative—the episode asks what progress truly means and who the real outsiders are.

A must-listen for fans of vintage radio drama, “Dimension X” offers more than pulp entertainment—layering its suspenseful plot with big questions and a whiplash ending.

Transcript

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[General Gaydosh]

Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Oh, no.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[General Gaydosh]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Spokesperson]

Anyways, get a'@libertymutual.com or with your local agent.

[General Gaydosh]

Liberty. Liberty.

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

Liberty.

[General Gaydosh]

Liberty.

[Narrator / Announcer]

It's National Wheezies Week. Yes, it's national wheaties week. And wheaties present dimension x.

[Colonel Allen]

On stage tonight. Dimension X, another in the Wheaties big parade of exciting half hour presentations.

[Narrator / Announcer]

It's National Wheaties Week. Yep, time to try Wheaties. If you haven't had any for a while, try them now. If you've been eating them right along, have an extra bowl full for me. How about that? You know, I've been talking about Wheaties all summer, saying, see how Wheaties at 7 can help at 11? Well, by golly, they can. I get up to Wheaties bananas on mine. Thanks. And I honestly feel as if I had more pep all morning. And why not you? This is National Wheaties Week. Time for you to have some Wheaties breakfast of champion. Oh, go ahead, have some. It's National Wheaties Week.

[Narrator (Dimension X introduction)]

Now, tonight's adventure into the world of the unknown. The world of Dimension X. In the South Pacific, night comes on rapidly. The sun dips below the flat horizon. The sea is crimson for a moment, and then night falls. But on Tahani Atoll, giant arc lights turn night into. Across the waters of the lagoon within the barrier reef, launches and tugs skitter back and forth, while on the curving half moon of the island, army trucks and jeeps scuttle down the rough roads bulldozed by the Seabees just six weeks ago. A low quonset hut stands near the beach, surrounded by tangled wire. This is the preliminary command post. And inside is General Frank Gados, field director of the test Operation Destruction.

[Colonel Allen]

Well, everything on schedule, General Gados. Radiological surveys complete, instruments placement checked.

[General Gaydosh]

Get me Navy and tell them HRS is ordered. Send a periodic time check to Air Force and Ewintock and Observation Control on the Missouri.

[Colonel Allen]

Yes, sir.

[General Gaydosh]

I want a complete roster check on all personnel before HR. That test bomb is going off at 10 o' clock tomorrow morning. Even if there's a whole battalion stranded on the target vessels. We'll see that everybody's clear.

[Colonel Allen]

Yes, sir.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Oh, Nate.

[Colonel Allen]

Cohen wants to see you.

[General Gaydosh]

Who the devil is he?

[Colonel Allen]

AP man. He's been selected by the press radio

[Dr. Fred Muller]

pool to interview you.

[General Gaydosh]

Haven't got time. Come and speak to Major Breedenberg. He's the pro.

[Colonel Allen]

Well, I think perhaps you'd better see him, sir. The directive on public relations from Washington was very clear.

[General Gaydosh]

How in blazes am I supposed to run a bomb test and play my other hand to a bunch of reporters? Washington State. All right, all right, all right. Bring him in.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Relly.

[Military Radio Operator]

Yes, sir.

[General Gaydosh]

Have me some black coffee.

[Military Assistant]

Yes, Sir.

[Colonel Allen]

This is Mr. Cohen.

[General Gaydosh]

General Gaydosh.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

How do you do, General?

[General Gaydosh]

Lousy, as a matter of fact.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

That an official statement?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

No.

[General Gaydosh]

Run. Some of that World is at the Crossroads baloney.

[Narrator / Announcer]

I wrote that yesterday.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

General, what effect do you think the new bomb will have in the world situation?

[General Gaydosh]

I can't tell you that even if I knew. My job is to set the blaster thing off, see that nobody gets hurt, and collect the data.

[Colonel Allen]

Can I speak with you for a moment, sir?

[General Gaydosh]

Later, Alan.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Go ahead.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

Cone, you release anything on the scientific principles involved?

[General Gaydosh]

I don't even understand myself. Wait a minute. Dr. Muller?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Yes?

[General Gaydosh]

Go over here a moment, will you? Karn? This is Dr. Fred Muller.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

How do you do?

[General Gaydosh]

Civilian scientific director. He's the only one who knows what's inside that warhead.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

How do you do, Mr. Cohen?

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

How about a statement, Doctor?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Well, I. I'm afraid all I'm allowed to say is that the bomb is new, it's extremely powerful, and off the record, it's very tricky and dangerous.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

What'll happen if it goes off prematurely?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

I don't think we have to worry about that. In fact, we wouldn't even know about it. If you'll excuse me now.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

How about the natives?

[General Gaydosh]

What about them?

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

They're going to be evacuated from the island.

[General Gaydosh]

They already have been.

[Colonel Allen]

General Gadar.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

I saw the Tahani chief outside when I came in. The whole tribe's out there squatting down at the motor pool, having a conference.

[General Gaydosh]

What? Alan?

[Colonel Allen]

I've been trying to tell you, sir. The Tahani are still on the island.

[General Gaydosh]

But ELCT's already, aren't they?

[Colonel Allen]

Yes, sir, but they won't go.

[General Gaydosh]

They refused the scheduled call for their evacuation to Milani three hours ago.

[Colonel Allen]

I realize that, sir, but I hoped we could still get them off without violence.

[General Gaydosh]

Look, Alan, they're either on the island or off. Wait a minute, Cone.

[Colonel Allen]

That's all.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

What are you going to do about the natives, General?

[General Gaydosh]

I'll issue a statement later. You going to force them Go on out. I haven't Got time.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

All right, General, thanks. Thanks a lot.

[General Gaydosh]

All right, Allen, let's have it now. Sir, the Tahani have been kicking up

[Colonel Allen]

a fuss all along.

[General Gaydosh]

They won't leave. They won't? Do they know what's going to happen to the island? Do they know we're going to blow it higher than a kite? I told the chief and he just said they won't go. They'll go all right, if I have to. Get him in here, Chief. And the lieutenant who interprets. Yes, sir. How do you like that, Dr. Muller? I haven't got enough trouble.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

You know, I feel rather sorry for the Tahani. It can't make much sense to them. We arrive and tell them they've got to get out.

[General Gaydosh]

I appreciate your finer feelings, Muller, but I can't let a hundred half naked Kanakas hold up the bomb test.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

They're not Kanakas, General. Captain Cook discovered the island in 1780.

[General Gaydosh]

What's the difference?

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

Lieutenant Gilbert reporting, sir.

[General Gaydosh]

Ma Noa, I haven't got time for ceremony. Gilbert, tell the chief he and his tribe have to get off the island. We're providing homes for the Mamalani.

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

The chief says you do not understand. My people have lived on from the time that our ancestors were passed away on the island. The spirits of our ancestors are buried in the earth. Fathers are buried here. Our father's fathers.

[General Gaydosh]

If he thinks I'm going to move his graveyard, he's crazy.

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

In our ancestors time, the Tehani came in a great bird canoe. We were cast away on this island. We have made it our home. What right have you now to carry us over the sea to a strange land where we would die weeping for our homes?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

We will not go by the water of Babylon. There we sat down and we wept when we remembered Zion.

[Military Assistant]

Thank you.

[General Gaydosh]

Thank you, Dr. Muller. You're a great help.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Gilbert.

[Colonel Allen]

Yes, sir.

[General Gaydosh]

Tell him I have no choice. He's got till midnight to get his tribe on board those LCTs peacefully or I'll have the marine detachment carry them on board.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Rather harsh, General. After all, justice is on their side. We are preparing to blow up their island and we haven't asked them about it.

[General Gaydosh]

Dr. Muller, you will kindly confine yourself to the scientific aspect of this operation. I'll take care of administrative matters.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Well, if you could explain to them what is at stake.

[General Gaydosh]

Any further explaining I've got to do, I'll do with the marine detachment. I'm not going to hold up my schedule to coddle a hol.

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

Well, Gilbert, I told him so.

[General Gaydosh]

All right, get him out of here. I've heard enough. What the devil is that?

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

Some kind of a curse, sir. I can catch some of it. The island will remember the tears of its children and punish the invaders. The great destroyer will not destroy. And the evil man who is the chief will travel far through the blackness of night. Even as the children of the island end, so will he.

[General Gaydosh]

All right, Gilbert, take him away. Yes, sir.

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

Look here, Kai.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Kai.

[General Gaydosh]

Adl. Allen. Get a detail from the Marine detachment with tear gas and small arms down to the motor pool.

[Narrator / Announcer]

One hour.

[General Gaydosh]

Have those natives on that transport, and I don't care how they do it. Is that my coffee? Really?

[Military Radio Operator]

Yes, sir.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

They must know about the bomb. The great destroyer will not destroy.

[Military Assistant]

You worried about that curse?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

I should think you might be. He threatened you personally? If I were you, I'd carry a pistol till they got off the island. The chief looked as if he cheerfully strangled you with his bare hands.

[General Gaydosh]

I'm supposed to end the way they do, huh?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

What's that? Oh, probably the Tahani saying goodbye to their island. I think I'll go down to the motor pool.

[General Gaydosh]

Well, stay out of the way and get back here in an hour. We've got to have this wrapped up and headquarters moved out to the Missouri by dawn.

[Military Radio Operator]

Navy and instrument room checking in, sir.

[General Gaydosh]

That's the last. Have the Missouri take over control and send for my jeep. Yes, Sir. Are the LCTs standing by for those natives?

[Military Radio Operator]

Yes, sir. They're on the beach.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

The bomb unit is assembled in place, General.

[General Gaydosh]

23:30 right on the nose province. Start evacuation procedure.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

The Tahani have stopped.

[General Gaydosh]

Allen's probably moving them out to the beach. Check in with Navy and Air Force. Rally. Yes, sir. What's that?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

It's coming from the beach.

[General Gaydosh]

They're hardly making trouble. Come on.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

You.

[General Gaydosh]

You.

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

Gilbert, what is it?

[Colonel Allen]

Yes, sir.

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

Colonel Allen ordered the Marines in, sir.

[General Gaydosh]

What happened? What happened, man?

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

The natives, they just got up and started marching.

[General Gaydosh]

Did they embark?

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

You don't understand, sir. They marched up the cliff and right off into the lagoon. What, all of them? The women and the kids, too. They. They didn't even try to swim, sir.

[General Gaydosh]

What were you doing all this time? Just turning around with your thumb in your mouth? Where was the Marine detachment?

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

We couldn't stop them, sir. They just walked over the cliff. They didn't even scream. Not even the kids.

[Colonel Allen]

We sent the crash boats out, but we couldn't get any of them out.

[General Gaydosh]

Crazy idiots. Were any of the reporters there?

[Colonel Allen]

Cohen and a life photographer.

[General Gaydosh]

Get his film and hold it till I Release it.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

What are you going to do, General?

[General Gaydosh]

Postpone HR it's too late for that noun. Calling HR off isn't going to bring the natives back.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

But 100 men, women and children just walking into the water. It's horrible.

[General Gaydosh]

Look, I'm not happy about it either, but there's nothing we can do now. I gave them a chance to get off. They didn't want to take it. That's their hard luck, not mine.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

I hope you're right.

[General Gaydosh]

What do you mean by that?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Oh, I was just thinking about the curse the chief put on you. Even as the children of the island end, so will he. That's what he said to you, General.

[Narrator / Announcer]

I heard him.

[Military Radio Operator]

Keep waiting, General.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

The Great destroyer will not destroy. That must mean the bomb.

[General Gaydosh]

Don't worry, Dr. Muller. It'll take more than a mumbo jumbo cosmenative witch doctor to stop this operation. At H hour, that bomb goes off.

[Military Radio Operator]

There's Now H hour -1 minute, 30 seconds. H -130.

[Colonel Allen]

Video screens hooked in, sir.

[General Gaydosh]

All right, Check control stations.

[Colonel Allen]

Observation Station one.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

Observation Station one, check.

[Colonel Allen]

Radiation station.

[General Gaydosh]

Radiation control, check Testifying station two. Observation Station two, check.

[Colonel Allen]

Damage control station. Damage control, check communications.

[General Gaydosh]

Communications check.

[Narrator / Announcer]

All checked in.

[Military Radio Operator]

H minus 1 minute. H minus 1. Take a good look at that island on the screen, Muller. When we throw that key, it just won't be there anymore. Nothing but an atom mushroom over the lagoon.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

It's quite a funeral pyre for the Tahani.

[General Gaydosh]

Stubborn idiots. In a way, it serves them right, Muller. It can't get in the way of progress.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Progress? I wonder if it is, General.

[Military Radio Operator]

H minus 30 seconds. H hour minus 30.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

29, 28, 27, 26. The Great Destroyer. That's what he called the bomb.

[General Gaydosh]

Call it. Miller, Allen, report.

[Colonel Allen]

All checked in.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Cameras running.

[General Gaydosh]

Sound fire warning. Stand by for firing. Freddie Miller.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Ready.

[Colonel Allen]

12.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 1.

[Military Assistant]

Fire.

[Narrator / Announcer]

General.

[Monrovia Announcer]

For 100 years, Monrovia has been dedicated to finding and growing the very best varieties for gardens across the country. Discover Monrovia's Landscape Legends collection to find our greatest selections. Recommended by nurserymen, landscape designers and home gardeners. For time tested performance and long term impact. These reliable performers will add value to your landscape for years to come. Shop now [e-mail] or in person at your local garden center.

[VRBO Care Announcer]

Day or night. VRBO care is here 24. 7 to help make every part of your stay seamless. If anything comes up or you simply need a little guidance, support is ready whenever you reach out. From the moment you book to the moment, you head home. We're here to help things run smoothly because a great trip starts with the right support. And, hey, a good playlist doesn't hurt either.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

It didn't go off. The bomb didn't go off.

[General Gaydosh]

Relly signal standby. Condition red. Alan, check readings. Mellow. What's wrong? What happened?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

I don't know. The bomb didn't go off.

[General Gaydosh]

What do you mean? Why did it go off?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

I don't know, except for one thing. The Tahani Chief said the Great Destroyer would not destroy. It didn't, General. The bomb didn't go off.

[Colonel Allen]

The mansion acts will continue in just a moment.

[Narrator / Announcer]

It's National Wheaties Week, and from behind the scene in the radio studio, here comes one of Hollywood's foremost radio producers, Mr. Joe Parker, stepping out of the control room to help celebrate national wheaties week. Mr. Parker puts on radio programs and he's a visitor to Dimension X tonight. His regular program for Wheaties is Sarah's Private Keeper. Joe's a regular guy. He sits there in the glass cage called the control room, running his show. But right now, here he is at the microphone to say his say about Wheaties. Ready, Joe?

[Military Assistant]

Thanks, Frank. You know, folks, I sit there in the glass cage, as Frank calls it, and I have to stop my programs long enough for him to talk about Wheaties. But, you know, I don't mind. I kind of like this talk about Wheaties and milk and fruit. That's a lot of good eating. And I like the idea of celebrating National Wheaties Week, too. You know, we enjoy putting radio programs on for your entertainment. And we'd enjoy knowing that, well, that you're gonna try Wheaties because of us. I hope you'll get Wheaties tomorrow and have some. The whole family. Matter of fact, I think I'll join you.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Thank you, producer Joe Parker. If you like this program, friends, get some Wheaties and help celebrate National Wheaties Week.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

How about it, General?

[General Gaydosh]

What happened?

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

You got a statement?

[General Gaydosh]

Nothing you can use, Cone. Not until we find out what went wrong. We'll let you come aboard this ship.

[Narrator / Announcer]

I walked on.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

You don't know why the bomb failed?

[General Gaydosh]

It did.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Didn't fail.

[General Gaydosh]

Just didn't go off.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

Say, what's that tank thing on deck, General?

[General Gaydosh]

Undersea salvage unit, mark 4. They call it an undersea crawler.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

Somebody going down?

[General Gaydosh]

That bomb is down there in the lagoon somewhere. Could go off at any second. Somebody has to go down, find it and disarm it.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

That's a lovely job.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Who's elected?

[General Gaydosh]

I am. Dr. Muller. He's the only one who knows how to dismantle it.

[Colonel Allen]

Crawler's ready, General.

[General Gaydosh]

All right. Come on, Muller.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

I'm ready.

[General Gaydosh]

Well, as soon as we hit shallow water, get those gates open. We'll pull the crawler out. Then you get away in a hurry. That bomb goes off while we're working on it. I don't want any casualties.

[Colonel Allen]

Yes, sir.

[General Gaydosh]

Inside, Muller.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

All right,

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

I'm in.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

I'm in.

[General Gaydosh]

Remember, get this LCT out of the lagoon in a hurry. You got that, Alan? You take your orders from Admiral Yancy.

[Colonel Allen]

Yes, sir. And good luck.

[General Gaydosh]

Closing the hatch. Get the sonar and Geiger counter warmed up, Muller.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Right. I was just thinking of something, General. That curse part of it came true. The bomb didn't go off.

[General Gaydosh]

Oh.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

The second part of that curse was that you would end where they ended. And that was at the bottom of the lagoon.

[General Gaydosh]

What are you trying to do, Muller?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Nothing. I. I was just thinking. This crawler is going to take us right down there where the Tahani died.

[General Gaydosh]

I'm not worried about a handful of dead natives, Mullah. I'm worried about that bomb.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Okay, they're opening the gate.

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

Let.

[General Gaydosh]

Usu Porter Control. Depth 50ft. Bottom, Sandy. Dropping off sharp. Anything on sonar?

[Narrator / Announcer]

A school of fish.

[General Gaydosh]

You've been down to crawlable food Only

[Dr. Fred Muller]

in the tank at New London. I think I've got a Geiger reading dead ahead.

[Colonel Allen]

Hang on.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

We're going up over the reef. It must be the bomb, all right. The Geiger count is clucking like a prude hen.

[General Gaydosh]

Keep an eye on the front fishing plate. We run over the bomb, we're liable to set it off.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

I think I'm getting something on sonar. Left a point.

[General Gaydosh]

USU 4 to Control. Over. USU Fort, Control, over. That's a fine note. Radio's out. Dead ahead.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Looks too large to be the bomb.

[General Gaydosh]

Can't see much in the forward vision. Right.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Wait a minute.

[General Gaydosh]

That's part of the reef I had.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Well, that's where the Geiger reading indicated. The bomb must have settled in a hole in the reef.

[General Gaydosh]

Have to go after it in diving suits. Suits are in the locker. Let's get this over with. Less time I spent down here waiting for that bomb to blow, the better I like it. Ready? Mother, grab your helmet.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Getting me. All right, on your headset.

[General Gaydosh]

Okay, I'm gonna fill the lock. There goes the outer door. Let's go.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

This isn't like that diving tank at New London.

[General Gaydosh]

Look out for that coil. Cut you to rivets.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

There's A. There's an opening of some sort there.

[General Gaydosh]

Where'd I get the light up? See if we can get a Geiger reading out of that opening.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Just a. Over there. It's down there. All right, Devil.

[General Gaydosh]

I'll drop down first.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

See anything down there?

[General Gaydosh]

Well go down here fast.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

What is it? You find something?

[General Gaydosh]

The bottom of this hole. It's metal on the sides, but it's the coral reef. Look. Welded joints. There's a hulk plate of some kind. And look out above us. It's closing

[Dr. Fred Muller]

it.

[General Gaydosh]

Too late. Little hatch just lit over the top.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

This is impossible. What's going on?

[General Gaydosh]

It's like an ally.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Water's being pumped out. General, do you realize what this means?

[General Gaydosh]

I'm not sure. There's another door opening. Careful.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

It's a passageway. What do we do now?

[General Gaydosh]

There isn't much to do and take off our helmets, though. Now shows good air.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

All right, come on. What is this? An undersea fort? What's it doing here? What does it mean?

[General Gaydosh]

Whatever it is, our bomb must be down here. Wait. There's someone there.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

I can't see. There's a shadow. Who is it? Who's that?

[General Gaydosh]

Mahanua. Doctor. Mother. Welcome to our ship.

[VRBO Care Announcer]

Support is available 24. 7 with VRBocare. We're here day or night, ready whenever you need help. Because a great trip starts with the right support.

[VRBO Advertisement Voice]

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.

[VRBO Customer]

If my teenager starts calling me Leslie,

[VRBO Advertisement Voice]

that's a family thing. Leslie. Verbo Care and 24. 7 Life Support. If you know you Verbo terms apply. See verbo.comtrust for details.

[Narrator (Dimension X introduction)]

We have been waiting for you, General.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

It can't be. Do you see it? It's the Tahani.

[General Gaydosh]

Chief,

[Colonel Allen]

How long has the undersea crawler been down?

[Narrator (Dimension X introduction)]

Vereli?

[Colonel Allen]

Four hours.

[Military Radio Operator]

S2 since we lost contact.

[Colonel Allen]

Keep trying.

[General Gaydosh]

Yes, sir.

[Colonel Allen]

I've given them enough time. I'm gonna send another crawler down.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

What do you figure happened to them, Colonel?

[Colonel Allen]

Well, there are a lot of things.

[General Gaydosh]

Hey, how did you get in here?

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

I walked in. When are you gonna release this, Colonel? It's the biggest story since the election. The bomb at Dud. Dr. Muller, General Gadosh.

[Narrator / Announcer]

Dead.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

They're not dead.

[Colonel Allen]

At least we don't know they are. As long as the bomb doesn't go off, there's still a chance that something

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

the bomb.

[Colonel Allen]

Borelli, Condition red. Gilbert, Radiation Control into action. Get the hot squad into Tijani Lagoon

[General Gaydosh]

as soon as it's cleared.

[Colonel Allen]

And get me a PT board with radiation screens.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

What is it, Colonel?

[General Gaydosh]

What happened?

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

The bomb must have blown.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

What about Muller?

[General Gaydosh]

The general?

[Colonel Allen]

If they were down in that lagoon, you guess.

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

Radiation reading 75 and steady.

[Colonel Allen]

I'll take her in as close to the beach as you can.

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

Steady she goes.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

Is there any danger of more explosions?

[Colonel Allen]

No. When she goes, she goes.

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

Radiation 82.

[Colonel Allen]

The danger is radioactivity. Our shields aren't much good, but we've got to pick up the recording instruments as soon after the blast as possible.

[Lieutenant Gilbert]

Radiation 93.0.

[Colonel Allen]

Well, that's still safe. Hey, Cohen, is that something on the beach there?

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

Oh, yeah.

[General Gaydosh]

It looks like a body.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

Maybe you blew one of the Tahani

[Colonel Allen]

back out of the lagoon. No, no, no. It's.

[General Gaydosh]

It's moving.

[Colonel Allen]

Gilbert, glasses.

[General Gaydosh]

Yes, sir. It's a man. All right, head into the beach.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Aye, aye, sir.

[General Gaydosh]

Who is it, Colonel?

[Colonel Allen]

I can't tell, but he's in a diving suit. It's either Muller or General G.

[General Gaydosh]

No radiation burns, superficial bruises, mild shock.

[Narrator / Announcer]

He'll be all right, Colonel.

[Colonel Allen]

Can he talk for a while?

[General Gaydosh]

I'm going to give him a sedative shortly. Muller.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Muller, what happened?

[General Gaydosh]

How did the bomb go off?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

You didn't.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

He's still out of his head.

[Colonel Allen]

Quiet, Cone.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Quiet.

[Colonel Allen]

Go on, Doctor. Muller, what did you find?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

A ship. A giant metal ship there, under the lagoon.

[Colonel Allen]

A submarine?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

No, no, no. It was. It was a spaceship camouflaged right next to the reef.

[General Gaydosh]

What?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

When we went inside, we found the Tahani chief and all the tribe alive.

[Colonel Allen]

What are you saying?

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

They drowned in the lagoon. I saw them.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

No, they didn't commit suicide as we thought. They just dived underwater into the rocket.

[Colonel Allen]

A rocket built by Polynesian savages.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

But they're not savages. They're castaways. They're from another planet. Don't you understand? Their spaceship was wrecked here 400 years ago. They've been waiting ever since for a chance to go home.

[Colonel Allen]

This boy's out of his mind. You better put him under the sedative, Doctor.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

It's true. They'd exhausted their fuel. They couldn't find anything here on Earth to replace it until we developed atomic power.

[Mr. Cohen (Reporter)]

Atomic power? You mean they stole our bomb?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

They made me dismantle it for them at the point of a gun. And then just before they blasted off, they let me go.

[Colonel Allen]

But what about the general? You mean they killed him?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

You don't understand. I said I dismantled that bomb at the point of a gun. It was General Gaydosh who was holding it.

[General Gaydosh]

What's that?

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Gayos? Yes, he was one of them. One of their spies, sent out to bring back the rocket fuel they needed. And now, after 400 years, the castaways are going home.

[Colonel Allen]

Tonight, Dimension X has transcribed the castaways, written by Ernest Kanhoye, from an original story by Ernest Kanhoy and George Lefferts. Featured in the cast were Santos Ortega as General Gaydosh, Greg Martin as Dr. Muller, your narrator, Norman Rose, music by Albert Berman, engineer Bill Chambers. Dimension X is produced by Van Woodward and directed tonight by Jack Cuny. In a moment, we'll tell you about next week's show. And now, here is your Wheaties man, Frank Martin.

[Narrator / Announcer]

It's National Wheaties Week. And listen, if producer Joe Parker is going to buy Wheaties tomorrow, and I go out and buy Wheaties tomorrow, and you go out and buy Wheaties tomorrow, well, that makes three of us, huh? And if everybody goes out and buys Wheaties tomorrow, then the whole doggone country is going to be celebrating National Wheaties Week in the proper manner. And it's a real nice celebration, too. Pour out those golden flakes, Pour on the milk, put on the fruit and you'll be eating. Good to be feeling good. Breakfast of champions. Get yours. It's National Wheaties Week.

[Narrator (Dimension X introduction)]

Next week on Dimension X, a dramatization of Ray Bradbury's new novel the Martian Chronicles, the epic story of how man conquered a new planet and then lost his own. Another adventure into the unknown world of the future.

[Colonel Allen]

The world of Dimension X. X X.

[Narrator / Announcer]

And this is the Wheaties man, Frank Martin, inviting you to listen also on Saturday. That's tomorrow night to Joel McCrae in Tales of the Texas Rangers on the Wheaties big parade. It's National Wheaties Week.

[General Gaydosh]

Swing ya partners right and left.

[Wheaties Party Singer]

It's National Wheaties Week.

[General Gaydosh]

Come on everybody.

[Wheaties Party Singer]

To the Wheaties party. Eat a lot of Wheaties like the champions do Dance together cheek to cheek this is National Wheaties Week Eat a lot of Wheaties like the champions do

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Wheaties at breakfast of champions Sam.

[Colonel Allen]

Jack leith tells the story of the canada kid, next on NBC.

[VRBO Advertisement Voice]

Book a loved by guest property with VRBO and you get a top rated vacation rental that's loved for all the right reasons, like being in a great location or having great amenities.

[Dr. Fred Muller]

Ugh.

[VRBO Customer]

I love my VRBO for the view.

[VRBO Advertisement Voice]

Good reason.

[General Gaydosh]

Ooh.

[VRBO Customer]

Am the sauna sweet.

[VRBO Advertisement Voice]

Another good reason.

[VRBO Customer]

And that it's one of those good saunas with the hot rock thing. Ugh. Love a good hot rock thing. Fancy.

[VRBO Advertisement Voice]

That's also a reason. Don't worry about surprises. Book a VRBO you'll love with the Love by Guest filter. If you know you verbo with verbocare,

[VRBO Care Announcer]

help is always ready before, during and after your stay. We've planned for the plot twist, so support is always available because a great trip starts with peace of mind.