Exploring Tomorrow 5x-xx-xx (03) Desert Object (The Alien)

Summary

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Harold’s Old Time Radio – Exploring Tomorrow: Desert Object (The Alien)

Air Date: November 3, 2025
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio

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Episode Overview

This episode of Exploring Tomorrow—titled “Desert Object (The Alien)”—dives into classic sci-fi territory. The story centers on a small desert town disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious alien object, raising questions about human nature, communication, and the dangers of assumptions. The episode probes how humans interpret the unknown, often through the lens of their own desires, fears, and ambitions.

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Key Discussion Points and Story Highlights

1. Opening Reflection on Alien Communication

• [00:03] The narrator sets the theme, questioning how humans would engage an alien intelligence without shared symbols or subliminal cues.
  • “But we have no system of signs and no code of communication with the alien. How could we tell what the alien was thinking?” — Narrator [00:07]

2. Small-Town Life Interrupted

• [01:22]–[02:38] We’re introduced to Kathy, Abby, Rob, and the mundane yet tight-knit life of Tooth Spring, a wide spot in the desert with big dreams but limited means.
• A shooting star—a possible meteor—sparks excitement.
  • “Lots of shooting stars out tonight and here we sit looking at them...” – Abby [02:09]

3. Discovery of the Alien Object

• [03:29]–[04:47] Kathy and Rob retrieve the object, initially thinking it might be a meteorite or even a beach ball, but quickly realize it’s alive—a mysterious, rubbery entity with a mouth-like feature.
  • “That hole there. Like a mouth. It looks like it’s breathing.” – Kathy [04:32]
  • The alien utters its first words: “Nago. Nago.” – Nago [04:50]

4. Human Reactions: Greed, Hope, and Opportunity

• [04:57]–[06:02] Rob is instantly consumed by the potential for fame and fortune, wanting to keep the alien secret for their benefit, while Abby is more cautious—raising the question of their obligations.
  • “We can get rich off this if we don’t throw it away like dumb fools.” – Rob [04:59]
  • “We’re going to be rich, girl. We’re going to be rich.” – Rob [06:02]

5. Subtle Influence of the Alien

• [06:23]–[08:51] The alien’s effect on people grows apparent. Rob, buoyed by newfound confidence, gets a loan he’d never dared to pursue before.
  • “It was finding that thing in the back bedroom there that did it. It was like a sign. I felt like a new man.” – Rob [07:40]
• Family members wonder about how to care for or “feed” the alien, though its needs remain mysterious.

6. Rob and Kathy’s Late-Night Encounter With Nago

• [09:23]–[11:19] Rob seeks out the alien, driven by an almost magical hope that Nago, as Kathy dubs it, can fulfill dreams of success. Both Rob and Abby are increasingly under the alien’s sway.
  • “When I’ve got it around, I feel I know how to do it... with it, I’m sure.” – Rob [10:47]

7. Kathy’s Resistance—A Battle of Wills

• [11:31]–[12:44] In a pivotal moment, Kathy confronts Nago’s power as it tries to manipulate her self-image and desires.
  • “You can make me feel it, but you can’t make me believe it. Never. Never. There. You see? I won.” – Kathy [11:41]
• Seeing how the alien exploits what people want, Kathy takes evasive action to protect her family by hiding Nago in the desert.

8. Understanding Nago—The Alien’s True Nature

• [13:07]–[16:24] Away from the others, Kathy presses Nago for answers, beginning to realize its actions stem from desperation and maternal instinct, not malice.
  • “Tell me what you were after... What did you want from us? What?” – Kathy [14:38]
  • The revelation: Nago is a mother, trying only to get back to her own child.
  • “We forgot anyone could think of anybody but themselves. She’s a mother, Rob. And of course she’d do anything, promise anything to get back home to her child.” – Kathy [16:33]

9. Closing Reflection on Assumptions and Humanity

• [17:17] The narrator leaves listeners with a meditation on preconceptions, and the dangers of misjudging the unknown.
  • “Trouble with aliens is you tend to start with a preconception... But preconceptions aren’t always right. This time they weren’t.” — Narrator [17:17]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Human Cues and Alien Mystery:
  “How do you know when someone’s angry? Look at him. How do you know when someone’s hurt? He doesn’t say so, but there’s some clue you get. Suppose you were trying to communicate with someone who couldn’t speak but did all their communicating by the subliminal sign.” — Narrator [00:03]
• On Greed and Opportunity:
  “We can get rich off this if we don’t throw it away like dumb fools.” — Rob [04:59]
• On Facing False Promises:
  “You can make me feel it, but you can’t make me believe it. Never. Never. There. You see? I won.” — Kathy [11:41]
• The Revelation:
  “She’s a mother, Rob. And of course she’d do anything, promise anything to get back home to her child.”—Kathy [16:33]
• Final Reflection:
  “Is it a warrior?... Or perhaps a lost child? Or a mother who’s missed a turn and trying to get home to baby? We start with a preconception. But preconceptions aren’t always right.” — Narrator [17:17]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening Reflection on Alien Communication: [00:03]
• Meteor falls and object discovered: [03:29–04:47]
• First contact: Nago speaks: [04:50]
• Rob’s rising ambition and business plans: [06:23–08:51]
• The late-night confrontation with the alien in the storeroom: [09:23–11:19]
• Kathy’s resistance to Nago’s influence: [11:31–12:44]
• Kathy tries to understand Nago: [13:07–16:24]
• Final narration and reflection: [17:17]

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Episode Tone and Style

The tone is a blend of classic sci-fi suspense and small-town drama, maintaining a sense of wonder and caution reminiscent of midcentury radio storytelling. Characters speak plainly, their dreams and doubts laid bare against the vast desert backdrop. The arrival of the alien is less about spectacle, and more about how human hopes and fears are thrown into sharp relief by the unknown.

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Takeaway

This episode challenges the audience to face the unknown not with fear or grasping ambition but with empathy and humility. Ultimately, “Desert Object (The Alien)” suggests that what is truly alien may simply be misunderstood—and that sometimes, even strangers from across the stars just want to go home.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Major trouble in dealing with an alien is that we're accustomed to certain little signs, symbols, facial expressions, tones of voice that have meaning when a human being is communicating with a human being. But we have no system of signs and no code of communication with the alien. How could we tell what the alien was thinking? You've heard a lot about the subliminal advertising recently. There have been quite a bit of discussion about subliminal messages. You know, we use subliminal messages all the time but we don't quite recognize them. How do you know when someone's angry? Look at him. How do you know when someone's hurt? He doesn't say so, but there's some clue you get. Suppose you were trying to communicate with someone who couldn't speak but did all their communicating by the subliminal sign. You'd never be able to say just how you knew what the feeling was.

[Kathy]

Kathy. What?

[Abby]

Every. Come to the ice box and bring them out for me.

[Kathy]

Dishes got to be washed, dad.

[Abby]

Nobody in there. Nobody coming. Get yourself a root beer and come out and join it. Starting to cool off out here now. Just think, a girl would like to come and sit with a good looking fellow like Rob here now. Come on out, Kathy.

[Rob]

It's a real bright night outside here. You ought to see it.

[Kathy]

When isn't it on the desert?

[Rob]

What?

[Abby]

Kathy.

[Kathy]

I'm coming, I'm coming. I'm through now. Here. You'll have to open it yourself.

[Rob]

Got my opener Right here in my watch chain. Give him.

[Kathy]

Here.

[Rob]

You got one for yourself?

[Kathy]

Cappy didn't want one.

[Rob]

Move over. Lots of shooting stars out tonight and here we sit looking at them. I tell you, when I was your age, Rob, and if I'd have seen myself as I am now sitting on the front steps of a little cafe and gas pump 10 miles from nothing but a wide spot in the road, middle of the desert. Oh, Tooth Spring's not just a wide spot. 1500 something people.

[Kathy]

Half.

[Rob]

That's counting all the ranches 40 miles in every direction. And one town clerk and one town constable. Two, Jimmy Herbert and me.

[Narrator]

And it's Marshall, not constable.

[Rob]

You aren't but half a constable, Rob. A part time traffic cop. Nights. And why aren't you back guarding the town if it's so valuable instead of sitting here with me? That's all right. I gotta head back in a bit and check in at 11. Look, there's a bright one.

[Kathy]

What? Bright what?

[Rob]

That shooting star over there. See it? You'd think they was wonders of nature never seen before. Regular 4th of July light up. I'd rather look at that many silver dollars any day. And if I'd had a decent break, I'd be looking at them too. You kids get your wishes in before it fell. What'd you wish for, Rob? No need to ask. What Kathy wish for Kathy?

[Kathy]

No, Dad, I didn't say nothing bad.

[Rob]

Don't every woman wish for good looks?

[Kathy]

Dad.

[Rob]

Now you knew I was kidding you. I wouldn't look at that one. It's coming right at us.

[Kathy]

Hey, look. He's out. He went down. Over there.

[Rob]

Get that car of yours. Plenty nothing. Them meteors are worth money.

[Kathy]

Wait for me.

[Abby]

Nobody's got to mind the gas pumps. You stay put.

[Kathy]

What was it? What was it?

[Rob]

Let me. I'll carry it here into the house in back.

[Kathy]

Hey, it's one of those big rubber beach balls.

[Rob]

I'll put it on the sofa here. Good thing nobody's stopping for gas for a sandwich right now, easy. Beach balls, did you say, girl? Look again.

[Kathy]

That hole there. Like a mouth. It looks like it's breathing. You're darn right it's breathing.

[Rob]

We found it at the bottom of a little drop on the wash out there by a water boiler sort of thing. Acts like it's knocked out.

[Kathy]

It's moving. Grab it.

[Rob]

Don't let it run away.

[Nago]

Nago. Nago.

[Kathy]

It talked. It said something.

[Rob]

I knew it.

[Kathy]

I knew.

[Rob]

I really got something here. Something at last. I gotta get back to town. Report this. Owners. You crazy boy. Get out of your head. Can't you see what I got here? We can get rich off this if we don't throw it away like dumb fools. Let me go, Harp. I gotta report. This is my duty. Hi. Who else you think knows about it? There were lots of stars shooting around tonight, weren't there? Who was around but us to see it land? That noise it made coming down wasn't much, just a bump. Nobody you know, no one else could. This is ours. They're bound to find out sooner or later it came down. And if I didn't report it, how they knew you heard it or sorry? I tell you it didn't make much noise. Who's to. So you didn't find out about it for a couple of days. Don't you see, boy? That gives us time to figure out what to do, how to make the best of it. But I. You listen to me. This could be the best thing that happened to us. Now you get back to town. Go on, kid. But don't say a word. I'll keep it here. Come back tomorrow. Not early, but about the time of afternoon. You always drop in. What do you do with it? Just keep it safe. Just keep it safe. Keep going. Well, all right.

[Kathy]

Dad.

[Rob]

We're going to be rich, girl. We're going to be rich.

[Narrator]

Nadbo doesn't seem to be very communicative. But maybe. Maybe there's more communication there than appears an alien. How alien. How dangerous. How helpful.

[Rob]

What sort of reaction.

[Narrator]

This strange beach ball thing.

[Kathy]

Dad, Where'd you get that suit? What have you been up to all day?

[Rob]

Sit down, Kathy.

[Kathy]

What do you mean, sit down? Somebody's gotta watch the cash register all day. First you stay up all night with that whatever it is, and then you.

[Rob]

I've been at the bank. That's right. I've been talking to Jim Goschen. I made a business loan. We're going to make some changes and improvements in the place here.

[Kathy]

Oh, now, dad, you know Jim wouldn't loan the bank's money to us.

[Rob]

We've got a good spot here. It's natural for people to stop at after that long haul over the desert, particularly at night. And the line of motels is a good idea, too. Besides, it'd be a boost for the town. People who stop here will go on to buy things in two Springs.

[Kathy]

Well, what made him see that all of a sudden?

[Rob]

Why did. Girl, I should have gone in and laid things on the line him a long time ago. I don't know why. Before, things never seemed to go right. But now.

[Kathy]

I don't see why now should be any different.

[Rob]

It was finding that thing in the back bedroom there that did it. It was like a sign. I felt like a new man. This morning when I walked in on Jim Goshen, I was that sure. I was that sure he didn't have a chance. Shook me by the hand when we were all done and said, harvey, I believe in you. Yes, he did. That's just what he did.

[Kathy]

Dad.

[Rob]

What? What's the matter with you?

[Kathy]

Now, Dad, I don't like it.

[Rob]

Don't like it. For the first time since you were born, since your mother died, we look like we've got a chance in the world. And you say you don't like it.

[Kathy]

It's so sudden. Last night and now this.

[Rob]

This is what I was born to be. Born to do. I was always meant to make money, only I could never get started. Now I know how to go about it. Now, that's all there is to it. How's the thing? You. You look in on it?

[Kathy]

No. No, I'VE been too busy out front.

[Rob]

Let's see, then. Close the door. We don't want it rolling out of here. Wants to get away, back to the thing it came in.

[Nago]

No go.

[Kathy]

Dad. What do you feed it?

[Rob]

What? Feed it. Why? Feed it.

[Kathy]

Well, if you aren't gonna let it go.

[Nago]

No go feed it.

[Rob]

Let it go. You sound like that. No, I told him to stay away from here. Sit tight. Hang on to it. It'll make our fortune yet.

[Nago]

Ngo. Nice.

[Kathy]

Who's that? Who's there?

[Rob]

Kathy.

[Kathy]

Rob. Rob. What in the world. Just a minute. I've got to put on a robe. Rob. What are you doing rapping at my window in the middle of the night?

[Rob]

Kathy, I gotta come in.

[Kathy]

In here?

[Rob]

I gotta get to see it. Kathy, just see it for a minute or two. I'm coming in. Cassie, take me to it. It wants to see me. I can feel it, Rob. You don't understand, Kathy. It can do something for me. I know it can. Kathy, listen. Listen. You like me, don't you? Won't you do that for me? Just take me to it. I bet I know where it is.

[Narrator]

It's in that extra back bedroom you.

[Rob]

And your dad use as a storeroom, isn't it?

[Kathy]

Rob, come back here. Do you want to wake up dad?

[Rob]

Show me.

[Kathy]

All right, but for heaven's sake, be quiet. This way. Give me your hand.

[Rob]

Oh, Kathy.

[Kathy]

Stand still. I'll get the lights. Now, look out. It's right under your feet.

[Nago]

Now go.

[Rob]

There it is. Yes. Yes.

[Kathy]

Rod, don't look like that.

[Nago]

Now go.

[Rob]

Kathy, listen. Didn't you ever want to get away? To get out into the world and do things? Big things. To be famous, really famous?

[Kathy]

Oh, Rob. You come out of here.

[Rob]

No, wait, Kathy, I need it. I can do it. We can do it. All we have to do is take this thing with us. When I've got it around, I feel I know how to do it. It doesn't take much money, your brains. It's just being sure. And with it, I'm sure.

[Abby]

Watch all that lollies.

[Rob]

Listen to me.

[Kathy]

Kathy.

[Abby]

Kathy. What's going on out there? What are you doing?

[Kathy]

Nothing, dad. Go back to sleep.

[Rob]

Kathy.

[Nago]

No.

[Kathy]

You didn't take it, Rob. What would you do with it?

[Rob]

Keep it with us, what else? Long as it allows.

[Abby]

I'm trying to find out what's going on.

[Kathy]

There, there. You better go talk to him, Rob.

[Rob]

Yeah, yeah, I'll handle him.

[Narrator]

You wait here.

[Rob]

Keep an eye on it.

[Kathy]

I'll keep an eye on it, all right.

[Abby]

Now listen to Me?

[Nago]

You listen to me.

[Rob]

Go.

[Kathy]

And now for you.

[Nago]

Now go.

[Kathy]

Now you'll try it on me, will you?

[Rob]

Oh, yes.

[Kathy]

You know what I want? Of course you would. I can feel you making me feel the way a beautiful woman feels. But I'm not fooled like they were those men. I know I'm plain. You hear me? I know it. You think I can live with myself all these 19 years and let you fool me in a minute? Go ahead. You can make me feel it, but you can't make me believe it. Never. Never. There. You see? I won. All right. Now, you aren't going to drive dad or Rob crazy anymore. I'm going to take you out in the desert and lose you where they'll never find you. Come. Good thing you aren't too heavy. I know a fine hole in the side of a wash you'll never get out of.

[Nago]

No, don't Nago me.

[Narrator]

Nago's specialty seems to be what you might call a promissory note. She was promising things, apparently. But, you know, a woman is peculiar in one respect. She's remarkably practical as well as being idealistic. The practical pragmatism doesn't yield too well to promissory notes.

[Kathy]

Oh, here's a place that'll hold you. I'll just put you down here, open the hole a bit, lock you down with the stone. Well, aren't you gonna try once more? Come now, aren't you gonna try once more to make me feel lovely and wanted?

[Nago]

And listen, pretty Nago, what was it.

[Kathy]

You wanted from them anyway? From Rob and my dad? What were you after? Anyway? You ought to be able to make some kind of an answer. Go ahead. You can't fool me. Anyway, I'm onto your trick of finding out what people want and making them feel they can have it. Maybe they could have it. Seemed to work for dad. But even if you're making me feel attractive would make other people think so, too. I still wouldn't buy a pig in a poke. You hear that?

[Nago]

No.

[Kathy]

All right. I don't want to hurt you. Tell me what you were after, and I'll leave you here to save yourself. Or not. I don't care. What did you want from us? What?

[Nago]

Nice.

[Kathy]

I think I can hear you somehow. What?

[Nago]

Oh.

[Kathy]

Oh, I. I didn't understand. I didn't know. I. I didn't know. No. No. I'll get you to it. I'll get you to it in time. This way. Oh, I'll hurry.

[Abby]

Abby.

[Kathy]

You won't find us. You won't catch up in time. Oh, on. Just a little longer.

[Abby]

Kathy. Kathy. I'm coming. I'm following your tracks. You all right? Can you hear me, Kathy?

[Kathy]

I can see now. Just a little farther.

[Abby]

Kathy.

[Kathy]

Here. In with you. Quick. There. I'll meet him now. I'll keep him back. Here I am, Rob.

[Abby]

Kathy.

[Kathy]

Kathy.

[Rob]

Oh, Kathy. I thought something happened. I was crazy back there. I don't know what got into me. Kathy, I. I don't want. What I said all I want. Oh, you had me so scared when.

[Narrator]

I found you gone.

[Kathy]

Me? You were worried about me. Oh, Rob.

[Rob]

But, Kathy, that thing. I gotta find it. Kathy, maybe it's dangerous. You don't know.

[Kathy]

It's all right. You don't have to worry anymore. She's going home.

[Rob]

Kathy, you let it go, but you don't know what it tried. How could you trust it to go free? You don't understand.

[Kathy]

There she. Wave to her with me. Of course I know. We were the ones who didn't understand. We forgot anyone could think of anybody but themselves. She's a mother, Rob. And of course she'd do anything, promise anything to get back home to her child.

[Narrator]

Trouble with aliens is you tend to start with a preconception. But how can you tell when you don't know the meaning of the clues? Is it a warrior? A scout seeking to bring in an invading crew? A scientist? Or perhaps a lost child? Or a mother who's missed a turn and trying to get home to baby? We start with a preconception. But preconceptions aren't always right. This time they weren't.