Narrator (John Parker) (3:01)

When was the beginning? When I arrived at the base, I suppose. Went to the administration building for that first briefing session with Dr. Marlow and Roy.

Dr. Marlow (3:10)

Oh, it's good to see you again, John.

Narrator (John Parker) (3:12)

It's good to see you, Doctor. Great to have you aboard.

Theater5 Announcer (3:14)

John, did you mind our doing this? Pulling strings to have you assigned up here for a while?

Narrator (John Parker) (3:18)

Are you kidding? You said it was something interesting.

Theater5 Announcer (3:20)

We think it is as interesting and important as any space work that's being done anywhere today.

Narrator (John Parker) (3:25)

I know we'll be putting a man on the moon in a few years, but if we're to go on from there, one of the things we should know is what we're likely to find. In other words, whether there's intelligent life anywhere in the solar system. That's why I hated leaving the old project.

Dr. Marlow (3:40)

You haven't. This is still part of the old project. Remember what our problem was on Van Gogh?

Narrator (John Parker) (3:46)

Of course. A radio telescope can pick up any message from out there that might be beamed at us. But it's sometimes very difficult to tell precisely where it's coming from.

Dr. Marlow (3:56)

Exactly. Well, we're using a technique here that'll take care of that. A light beam rather than radio waves.

Narrator (John Parker) (4:03)

You mean a laser? Yes, yes, we discussed that. We've already hit the moon with a beam no bigger than a pencil. But suppose you do establish a contact. How do you get your feedback, your response?

Dr. Marlow (4:16)

Well, we believe we've solved that problem. Theoretically, at least. But we needed an electronic specialist to work on it with us. That's why we requested you.

Narrator (John Parker) (4:25)

When do we start?

Dr. Marlow (4:26)

Right away. By the way, you're sharing a cottage with Roy now. Why don't you go on down there with him? Drop your luggage. We'll get to work.

Narrator (John Parker) (4:36)

The work. I remember that. Weeks of it. Finally, the big night. The night of our first test. It was clear and cool. The ocean still not thundering, but whispering at the base of the cliffs, as if it were waiting. All the stars sharp and clear, like sign post on the road to the infinite. Dr. Marlow at the computer, Roy and I at the center console.

Theater5 Announcer (5:03)

T minus 2.

Dr. Marlow (5:04)

Check.

Narrator (John Parker) (5:05)

By the way, doctor, I meant to ask you before. What made you pick Damos as our first target?

Theater5 Announcer (5:10)

Well, it was a few weeks after you left the project. We got a message from there.

Narrator (John Parker) (5:15)

No.

Dr. Marlow (5:15)

Well, there was some question about it, John. First, as to whether it was really was a coherent message. And second, as to whether it was from Damos.

Theater5 Announcer (5:23)

The British got a fix on it too. And it was on the hydrogen wavelength. The one we always said anyone out there would use.

Narrator (John Parker) (5:30)

That's true.

Dr. Marlow (5:31)

And even though we never got another one, I thought it was worth exploring further, of course.

Narrator (John Parker) (5:36)

But that's fantastic.

Dr. Marlow (5:37)

Yes, it's an exciting prospect, but it's also a rather frightening one.

Narrator (John Parker) (5:42)

Why do you say that?

Dr. Marlow (5:44)

We're reaching out, John. We're getting close to the secret of matter. The origin of life, the mystery of the universe. Sometimes I become a little afraid. Afraid that we may stumble onto something that's too much, too big for us.

Theater5 Announcer (6:01)

T minus 10 seconds.

Narrator (John Parker) (6:02)

Check.

Dr. Marlow (6:03)

Power on. Give me a reading, John.

Narrator (John Parker) (6:10)

Vector 9.18.2 and steady.

Dr. Marlow (6:14)

Time?

Narrator (John Parker) (6:17)

How long to contact?

Dr. Marlow (6:19)

3 minutes, 28 seconds.

Narrator (John Parker) (6:25)

We sat there tensely, watching our instruments on the clock. Then there it is.

Dr. Marlow (6:31)

The feedback we've done it trick now will be to maintain contact. Wait a minute. What's that?

Narrator (John Parker) (6:39)

It sounds like a pattern. Listen. Even numbers now.

Theater5 Announcer (6:47)

Odd numbers.

Dr. Marlow (6:48)

Great Scott.

Narrator (John Parker) (6:48)

Do you think we've got something?

Dr. Marlow (6:49)

Follow it.

Narrator (John Parker) (6:50)

Follow it.

Voice of John Parker's Memories (6:50)

Start with an evening.

Narrator (John Parker) (6:58)

We started following the pattern and we got nothing. We kept at it all night. Most of the next day, still nothing. Wait, the next night. It's starting to come back to me now. I remember. I remember. It was the sound of the generators that woke me. It was about 2 in the morning. I padded out along the duck boards to the control building. The lights were on. I went in and there was Dr. Marlow. He was sitting at the control and he was strange. His eyes were open, but he didn't seem to see me. Dr. Marlo? Dr. Marlo, what is it? What are you doing? Dr. Marlow? Then something very odd happened. Half of him came alive. His right side first. His right eye lighting up while his left eye stayed dead. His right hand twitched while his left one remained slowly stiff. And then what?

Dr. Marlow (8:05)

Oh, hello John.

Narrator (John Parker) (8:08)

Is anything the matter, Doctor?

Dr. Marlow (8:10)

No, why should anything. Hey, what am I doing here?

Narrator (John Parker) (8:15)

Doctor, have you ever walked in your sleep before?

Dr. Marlow (8:19)

Not that I know of. Of course I have been sleeping too well lately. Rather disturbing dreams. But John, did you change this beam frequency?

Narrator (John Parker) (8:31)

No, Doctor, you must have done it in your sleep. Should I switch it back?

Dr. Marlow (8:36)

No, cut the power. But leave it. I'd like to look at it again in the morning. Do some thinking about it.

Narrator (John Parker) (8:48)

Somehow neither of us mentioned it. The next day we just went on with our work, collecting data, trying for another contact, if it had been a contact.

Spinquest Announcer (8:59)

Forget whatever plans you have this weekend because you're staying at home and playing on spinquest. And there's never been a better time to sign up than right now. New users get $30 coin packs for just $10. All the table games you love, with hundreds of slot games and real cash Prizes. That's at spinquest.com S P I N Q U-E-S-T.com Spinquest is a free to play social casino.

Narrator (John Parker) (9:23)

Void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

Grainger Announcer (9:29)

If you're an H Vac technician and a call comes in, Grainger knows that you need a partner that helps you find the right product fast and hassle free. And you know that when the first problem of the day is a clanking blower motor, there's no need to break a sweat. With Grainger's easy to use website and product details, you're confident you'll soon have everything humming right along call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

Narrator (John Parker) (9:59)

And that night, yes, it was that night that we discovered what it meant. The generators woke me again. I looked at my watch. It was almost 3 o', clock, and for some reason, I was terrified. The door of Roy's room was open. As I went by, I saw that his bed was empty. Then I was walking along the duck boards to the control building. The lights were on again. I looked in through the window. Dr. Marlow was at the panel, as he'd been the night before, with that same dead look on his face. And Roy was standing in front of him, talking to him. I could hear him through the window. Dr. Marlow?

Voice of John Parker's Memories (10:42)

Dr. Marlow?

Narrator (John Parker) (10:43)

What? Is. Is anything wrong? He's asleep.

Theater5 Announcer (10:49)

Walking in his sleep.

Narrator (John Parker) (10:51)

Better get John. He started toward the door. Then, apparently deciding he'd not leave the generators on, he turned and went toward the master switch. And as he did, Dr. Marlow moved. His face still dead, expressionless. He got up, took a heavy wrench and followed Roy. Then, just as Roy put out a hand to throw the switch, he hit him. I saw Roy's body crumpled to the floor. I stood there, frozen, unable to move. Dr. Marlow looked down at him for a moment with no sign of emotion on his face. Then, like a zombie, he went over to the workbench again, picked up an odd assortment of tools and returned to Roy's body. He bent over him, looking at him as if he were a laboratory specimen. And as I realized what he was going to do, my paralysis left me. I shouted and started for the door. But just before I reached it, I tripped, hit my head, and that was the last I knew. I'm not sure how long I was out, but when I came to, I was lying in front of the door and a dark shape was bending over me.

Dr. Marlow (12:09)

John, what happened?

Narrator (John Parker) (12:10)

Keep away from me. Don't touch me. I saw what you did in there.

Dr. Marlow (12:14)

And where? When?

Narrator (John Parker) (12:15)

Just now, in the control room. To Roy.

Dr. Marlow (12:16)

What do you mean? I just came up here from my cottage. I had a bad dream. Came out to get some air and I found you lying here.

Narrator (John Parker) (12:22)

But I tell you, I saw you. And I.

Dr. Marlow (12:24)

And what?

Narrator (John Parker) (12:27)

I must have imagined it. Dreamed it, because I thought I saw you kill him. We looked everywhere, but there was no sign of Roy. Then we hurried back to the control building and searched it again.

Dr. Marlow (12:45)

He's not here either, John?

Narrator (John Parker) (12:46)

No. Must be in my mind. Of course, if it had really happened, there'd be something if not his body, at least his blood.

Dr. Marlow (12:54)

Where, John? Where would it be?

Narrator (John Parker) (12:56)

Right here in front of the master switch. But there's nothing. No.

Dr. Marlow (13:01)

Except that the floor is wet. Looks as if it's been scrubbed.

Narrator (John Parker) (13:06)

Hey, you're right.

Dr. Marlow (13:07)

John, did you change the beam frequency this way?

Narrator (John Parker) (13:10)

No, Doctor, you must have done it just the way you did last night.

Dr. Marlow (13:14)

Last night? You mean something happened last night too?

Narrator (John Parker) (13:18)

You don't remember?

Alien Entity / Dr. Marlow (Possessed) (13:19)

No, no.

Dr. Marlow (13:21)

Tell me what you thought you saw happen tonight, whether you believe it or not.

Narrator (John Parker) (13:25)

Well, you were sitting at the control panel with your eyes open, but as if you were asleep.

Dr. Marlow (13:30)

Yes.

Narrator (John Parker) (13:31)

The generators were on and the beam frequency was set the way it is now. Roy was speaking to you, but you didn't answer him. Then when he started to cut the power, you picked up a wrench and hit him.

Dr. Marlow (13:43)

I hit Roy?

Narrator (John Parker) (13:44)

But that's not the worst of it. After that, you picked up some tools and bent over him as if. Well, as. As if he were a laboratory animal telling you about it. Now I know. The whole thing's mad. It's impossible.

Dr. Marlow (13:59)

I wonder.

Narrator (John Parker) (14:01)

You mean it could have happened some way without your knowing it?

Dr. Marlow (14:04)

In the old project, and in this one. We've been listening for messages from out of space, trying to determine whether intelligent life exists anywhere in our galaxy. John, if it did exist, what form would it take?

Narrator (John Parker) (14:21)

Well, it wouldn't necessarily look like us with two arms and legs.

Dr. Marlow (14:25)

Exactly. And suppose it existed in a totally different form, in the form of electrical energy.

Narrator (John Parker) (14:32)

Electrical energy?

Dr. Marlow (14:33)

Why not? Isn't that the way the brain functions? Giving off electromagnetic waves? And what do we know about Damos? Suppose. Suppose living beings existed there in the form of complex electrical charges, and a channel were suddenly opened between it and the Earth.

Narrator (John Parker) (14:51)

Our laser beam. You mean they could travel down and take hold of someone? You.

Dr. Marlow (14:57)

I'm speculating, John. Of course. Even if it's true, we don't know if these entities are malevolent, dangerous or not.

Narrator (John Parker) (15:05)

When they killed.

Dr. Marlow (15:06)

Made you kill Roy because he was going to shut off the transmitter, cut off contact with her base. As for the rest, well, they'd be very interested in the human body, particularly the brain. They'd want to examine it, study it.

Narrator (John Parker) (15:21)

Do you realize what you're saying? Suggesting, Doctor? Intelligences from outer space, another world. The taking over of a man's body by forces that we.

Dr. Marlow (15:31)

Yes, John, I know what I'm saying. And while I'm only hypothesizing, I don't really believe it's possible. Do you own a gun?

Narrator (John Parker) (15:43)

Yes.

Dr. Marlow (15:44)

So happens I Do well, start carrying it. And if you notice me doing anything strange, don't hesitate. Shoot. And shoot to kill.

Narrator (John Parker) (15:57)

I didn't go back to sleep that night. And I was convinced that I would never sleep again. Because it would be then that it would be easiest for them to. No. No, I can't think about it.

Dr. Marlow (16:10)

I won't.

Narrator (John Parker) (16:11)

Even now I felt a little better. In the morning I went over to have another talk with Dr. Marlowe, but he wasn't at his cottage. He wasn't anywhere on the base and no one seemed to know where he was. Then I called Colonel Gately at headquarters. No one there knew anything about Dr. Marlow or Roy. But by that time, something had happened to me. It had all become blurred, like an old nightmare that, you know was frightening, but whose details you can't remember. About a week later, the Colonel called me and asked me to meet him at the police station in the town nearby. You knew Swanson pretty well, didn't you, Parker? Yes, of course. Some fishermen found a body in their nets this morning. We'd like you to look at it. Oh, all right. Brace yourself. Here. Good Lord. I. I can't be certain, but I'm fairly sure it's Roy. How did he die? We'll have to wait for the coroner's report, but my guess is that he fell off the cliff. And Dr. Marlow? Nothing new on him yet. But if they were together, his body may turn up soon, too. He was a better prophet than he knew. Because Dr. Marlowe came back that very night. I'd taken something to make me sleep. It was the only way I could sleep. But the sound of the generators woke me. I took my gun, went to the control building. The lights were on. I opened the door and there was Dr. Marlow. He was standing near the console, his face thin and drawn and his eyes blank. And when he spoke, his voice was hardly human, as if someone was speaking through him.

Alien Entity / Dr. Marlow (Possessed) (18:09)

It is unfortunate that. That you awakened Parker. And even more unfortunate that you came in here.

Narrator (John Parker) (18:18)

What do you mean, Doctor? Where have you been? And why are you talking so strangely?

Alien Entity / Dr. Marlow (Possessed) (18:22)

We have been looking over your planet, studying it and its life. Particularly you so called humans. We have found it very interesting. And now we are ready to go.

Narrator (John Parker) (18:42)

Go? Go where? You said we, Dr. Marlow. Have they.

Alien Entity / Dr. Marlow (Possessed) (18:48)

You will stay where you are. You will not move. We have some preparations to make.

Narrator (John Parker) (18:58)

And then a voice, that horrible voice broke off and Dr. Marlow swayed as if he were about to fall. I grabbed him, held onto him. And then his eyes changed, came Alive. And when he spoke again, it was with his own voice. John.

Dr. Marlow (19:18)

John, for heaven's sake, help me.

Narrator (John Parker) (19:19)

What?

Dr. Marlow (19:19)

They got me. They took me that night. Took me all over the country. Looking, examining, studying. They picked my brain, John. And now they're going to take me with them. Take you back to where they come from. Not my body. They're not interested in that, but the essential me. And in heaven's name, shoot, John.

Voice of John Parker's Memories (19:38)

Shoot me.

Alien Entity / Dr. Marlow (Possessed) (19:43)

And now we are ready. Look here at his eyes. Look closely. Yes, like that. As your friend told you, we are taking him with us. But you will not remember what has happened. You will remember nothing.

Dr. Marlow (20:11)

Do you understand?

Alien Entity / Dr. Marlow (Possessed) (20:14)

Because someday we may come back.

Narrator (John Parker) (20:19)

I stood there frozen, holding Marlow. Suddenly he broke my grip, pushed me away. Walking stiffly and mechanically, he went to the door, opened it and went out along the duck boards to the edge of the cliff. Then, without hesitating, he stepped over the edge and disappeared.

Voice of John Parker's Memories (20:37)

Now do you remember, John?

Narrator (John Parker) (20:39)

It's all true.

Voice of John Parker's Memories (20:41)

They exist. And they've got me here. Not only that, but they may return to Earth again for others. John, they're coming back.

Dr. Marlow (20:51)

Now.

Voice of John Parker's Memories (20:52)

They're coming. Do something.

Narrator (John Parker) (20:57)

When I woke up about a half hour ago, I found this all written out on the pad I keep next to my bed. I remember some of what I'd written, but other parts like Roy's murder and Dr. Marlow's death, I don't recall at all. Either I'm mad, completely mad. Or. No, no, I can't think about that. In any case, if I showed this to anyone, the world would think I was mad. There's only one thing to do. Tear it up. Every last page of every last page of it.

Voice of John Parker's Memories (21:33)

Every last page of it.

Theater5 Announcer (21:52)

Theater5 has presented terror from beyond, written by Robert Newman and directed by Warren Somerville. In the cast, Robert Dryden, Ralph Camargo and Gilbert Mack. Audio engineers Marty Folia and Bill Sandreuter, Sound technicians Ed Blaney and MC Brock. Original music composed by Alexander Vlastatsenko Orchestra under the direction of Glenn Osser, Executive producer for Theater 5, Edward A. Byron. This is Fred Foy speaking.

Spinquest Announcer (22:41)

Forget everything you had planned for this weekend because you are sitting on your couch and winning from the comfort of your own home. I'm here with Spinquest where you can play hundreds of slot games, all the table games you love, and you could even win real cash prizes. New users 30 coin packs are on sale for 10@Spinquest.com SpinQuest is a free

Narrator (John Parker) (23:03)

to play social casino void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

Mint Mobile Announcer (23:10)

Well, the holidays have come and gone once again. But if you've forgotten to get that special someone in your life a gift, well, Mint Mobile is extending their holiday offer of half off unlimited wireless. So here's the idea. You get it now, you call it an early present for next year.

Narrator (John Parker) (23:25)

What do you have to lose?

Mint Mobile Announcer (23:26)

Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch limited time

Grainger Announcer (23:30)

50% off regular price for new customers. Upfront payment required $45 for three months, $90 for six month or $180 for 12 month plan taxes and fees. Extra speeds may slow after 50 gigabytes per month when network is busy. See terms.