The Outer Limit by Escape

Summary

Podcast Summary: Relic Radio Sci-Fi – "The Outer Limit" by Escape

Title: The Outer Limit
Host/Author: RelicRadio.com
Release Date: May 12, 2025
Starring: Frank Lovejoy as Bill Westfall

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Introduction

"The Outer Limit" is a gripping science fiction tale brought to life by Relic Radio Sci-Fi. The story centers around Major Bill Westfall, an adventurous pilot selected to test the cutting-edge RJX1, an experimental rocket jet aircraft designed to push the boundaries of human exploration into space. The narrative weaves tension, mystery, and the unknown as Bill embarks on a mission that transcends human comprehension.

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Mission Briefing and Launch Preparation

[00:59 – 04:34]
The episode opens with a dramatic introduction by the Control Tower Operator, setting the stage for Bill Westfall's daring mission. Colonel Hargrove briefs Bill and his team on the significance of the RJX1, highlighting its unprecedented capabilities:

Colonel Hargrove: "It's an eight rocket ship... designed to take man into areas of space that have never been explored before and at a rate of speed to which no pilot has yet been subjected."
[00:59]

Bill is assigned to lead the mission with his F86 chase planes ensuring observation at 35,000 feet. The Control Tower Operator provides a detailed weather report, emphasizing the clear conditions necessary for the mission's success. Tension arises as Colonel Hargrove expresses anxiety over the untested aspects of the RJX1's takeoff capabilities.

Colonel Hargrove: "Major Westfall. Stick around. I want to talk to you."
[04:06]

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Takeoff and Ascent into Space

[06:39 – 10:28]
As Bill initiates the takeoff sequence, the Control Tower coordinates the countdown, marking the tense moments leading to liftoff:

Control Tower Operator: "4, 3, 2, 1, 0."
[08:05]

Bill successfully launches the RJX1, achieving remarkable speed and altitude. Initial communications reassure Colonel Hargrove of the mission's progress:

Bill Westfall: "Everything's great, Hank. It's a doll, baby."
[08:47]

However, anomalies begin to surface as Bill approaches 40,000 feet. He detects a mysterious flying disc and experiences severe technical malfunctions:

Bill Westfall: "This thing, it's like a magnet. I'm being pulled toward it. I've lost control of my ship."
[14:00]

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Encounter with the Unknown

[16:17 – 23:16]
Bill's ship undergoes a harrowing experience as he loses communication with his chase planes. Suddenly, extraterrestrial beings make contact via telepathy, revealing a dire warning about Earth's destructive atomic capabilities:

Captain Zeglon: "We have flung ourselves 10,000 miles into space. What do you say to that, Earthman?"
[17:20]

The Galactic Guard explains that Earth's atomic activities have imperiled the universe's balance, leading to a quarantine enforced by a force screen designed to prevent further chaos. They present Bill with the mission to warn humanity:

Commander: "If you continue to make atom bombs... it would upset the balance of the entire universe."
[21:03]

Bill is instructed to return to Earth and deliver this critical message. As he attempts to comply, the force screen deactivates, allowing him to regain control and initiate his return journey.

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Return to Earth and Doubt

[23:29 – 27:55]
Bill successfully lands the RJX1, but upon returning, he faces skepticism from Colonel Hargrove and his team. Despite his urgent warnings about the extraterrestrial intervention and Earth's impending doom, his superiors dismiss his account as hallucinations caused by the high-stress mission:

Colonel Hargrove: "They said that? Come on, let's go over to my office."
[25:10]

Attempts to convince his colleagues and authorities fall on deaf ears, leading to frustration and disbelief. The tension peaks as Bill's insistence on the truth conflicts with the military's rigid stance:

Bill Westfall: "Our atomic bombs are a danger to the universe. One more and we're gonna... explode. Finish. Gone."
[25:52]

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Climactic Revelation and Closure

[27:54 – 28:52]
The episode concludes with a poignant reflection on the isolation Bill faces. As Colonel Hargrove and Mr. Hargrove discuss the necessity of treating Bill's condition as a psychological case, the gravity of his warnings remains unheeded:

Colonel Hargrove: "How did he keep that plane in the air for 10 hours when he had fuel to last him only 10 minutes?"
[27:55]

The narrative closes by highlighting the tragic irony of Bill's mission: despite his heroic efforts to save humanity, his warnings are dismissed, leaving listeners to ponder the fragile balance between technological advancement and universal responsibility.

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Conclusion

"The Outer Limit" masterfully blends suspense and speculative science, portraying the classic sci-fi theme of humanity's precarious position in the cosmos. Through Bill Westfall's journey, the podcast explores themes of duty, isolation, and the existential threat posed by unchecked technological prowess. The inclusion of telepathic communication and advanced extraterrestrial civilizations adds a compelling layer of intrigue, making "The Outer Limit" a standout episode in Relic Radio Sci-Fi's collection.

Notable Quotes:

• Colonel Hargrove on RJX1's potential:
  "It's an eight rocket ship... designed to take man into areas of space that have never been explored before..."
  [00:59]

• Bill's realization of the alien threat:
  "Our atomic bombs are a danger to the universe. One more and we're gonna be the juiciest galactic fourth of July of all time. Explode."
  [25:52]

• Captain Zeglon's warning:
  "If you continue to make atom bombs and hydrogen bombs... it would upset the balance of the entire universe."
  [21:03]

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Production Credits

"Escape" was produced and directed by William N. Robeson, featuring a stellar cast including Charles McGraw as Colonel Hargrove, Jeff Corey as Major Donaldson, Stan Waxman as Zeglon, and Ian Wolf as Silver. The episode's authenticity is underscored by contributions from rocket test pilot Gene May and experts from the Douglas Aircraft Corporation.

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Tune in Next Week:
Don't miss the upcoming episode, "2 if by Sea, Goodbye," where Roger Bax delves into a tale of forbidden love and government conspiracy on the Baltic Sea. Join us for another thrilling adventure with Relic Radio Sci-Fi!

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For more enthralling stories, visit relicradio.com and explore their extensive library of free episodes spanning horror, science fiction, crime, and more. Support the continued creation of these timeless tales by donating here.

Transcript

[Bill Westfall]

Relic Radio.

[Narrator]

This is Relic Radio. Sci Fi Old time Radio. Science fiction stories from relicradio.com.

[Control Tower Operator]

Tired of the everyday routine? Ever dream of a life of romantic adventure? Want to get away from it all?

[Narrator]

We offer you escape. Escape designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure.

[Control Tower Operator]

Tonight we escape with the pilot of an experimental jet rocket aircraft about to be hurled 40 miles out from the Earth's surface into the limitless boundaries of space, where he receives the most terrible warning in the history of man from which there is no escape, as Graham Dorr tells it in his thrilling and widely discussed story, the Outer Limit, Starring Frank Lovejoy. 0 minus 25. 0 minus 25.

[Colonel Hargrove]

All right, man. Settle down. Settle down, man. Okay, Colonel. Yes, sir. All of you will want to know why we took you one out of whatever warm bed you were in. Got a reason? The RJX1. Yeah. Yeah, that's right. The RJX1. The top, top secret experimental rocket jet aircraft. We've been babying it, nursing it, staying up nights with it for 16 months. Now, this morning, Major Westfall is going to wean it. Bella's going to take her out and beat her up to death. I can't impress upon you men how extraordinary this flight is. It's an eight rocket ship. That's what I said. Eight rockets. Eight rockets designed to take man into areas of space that have never been explored before and at a rate of speed to which no pilot has yet been subjected. Some of you men have already flown many times the speed of sound, so I don't have to tell you very much. Yo.

[Bill Westfall]

Yes, Colonel?

[Colonel Hargrove]

You'll lead the F86s. You and the other three Jet Boys will be Bill's chase planes. We want observation at 35,000ft.

[Bill Westfall]

Yes, sir.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Okay, here's how it plays. Pull the curtains on the map with you, Sergeant. Yes, sir. You see it circled here, your rendezvous point? We designate it Point X. It's roughly over Boulder Dam. Zero hour is 0900, Joe. You and your jets will take off at zero minus 15. You got that?

[Bill Westfall]

Yes, sir.

[Colonel Hargrove]

UF86s will make conventional climbs to 30,000ft, rendezvous at point X and call into meat control at 35,000ft. Right, Joe.

[F86 Leader]

That cuts a turn on.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Oh, no, wait a minute. Not quite how we hear about the weather, Pete.

[Control Tower Operator]

Yes, Colonel. Well, the weather's very pretty out, boys. All clear. Ceiling unlimited. Winds aloft at 10,080 miles per hour. 25,140 miles per hour. 40,150 miles per hour. Estimated temperature 45 below at 40,000ft. There's some scattered clouds northwest of point X at 15,000ft. Stratus at 30,000ft. 30 miles east of Point X.

[F86 Leader]

East.

[Control Tower Operator]

We expect no change for three hours. That's it, sir.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Okay, Pete, Joe, you and your boys go unwrap your F86s. Have a nice time.

[Bill Westfall]

Yes, sir. Come on.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Major Westfall. Major Westfall. Stick around. I want to talk to you.

[Bill Westfall]

Okay, Hank.

[Colonel Hargrove]

How you feeling, Bill?

[Bill Westfall]

Why, you worried, Hank? Don't worry.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Look, Bill, you've got only 10 minutes of rocket fuel. Get rid of those jets before you fire the rockets. Fire only one.

[Bill Westfall]

One rocket at a time. Yeah, that's right.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Now, look, I'll be listening in on the public address of control. I won't bother you until you're airborne. It'll be between you and the tower until then.

[Bill Westfall]

All right. Don't worry, Hank. I'm gonna fly that baby higher and faster than anybody ever did before. Just like you said. I'm gonna take it up and I'm gonna bring it back. And then you and I'll have dinner together.

[Control Tower Operator]

Zero minus three, zero minus.

[Mr. Hargrove]

Good morning, Colonel.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Mr. Hargrove, he'll be here at the control with me.

[Mr. Hargrove]

It's all right with you, Colonel?

[Colonel Hargrove]

I wouldn't have it any other way. You've checked the communications equipment, Sergeant? Oh, yes, sir. Major Westfold's been assigned a special radio frequency of 3-970. I've. Good, good. You'll take care of it, Sergeant? We don't want it to poop out or anything like that, do we? Yes. No, sir. Sir. Hargrove, I got a thing on my mind. That boy on the plane you geniuses designed. He's my best boy.

[Mr. Hargrove]

It's our best plane, Colonel.

[Control Tower Operator]

It better be.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Now it's your turn. What do you got on your mind?

[Mr. Hargrove]

Everything's in proper order, Colonel. Recording equipment, the television cameras in the cockpit, everything. Every known scientific device, even some unknown.

[Colonel Hargrove]

They've been very talking about a man, Hargrove. That's all I really want to get back out of this. What about the man?

[Mr. Hargrove]

There may be one difficulty.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Tell me about it.

[Mr. Hargrove]

I'd like to know the takeoff with all that load. The jets, the rockets, all at maximum fuel capacity. Never been tested that way before.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Go on, Mr. Hargrove.

[Mr. Hargrove]

Well, it's just that Major Westfall has only 6,000ft to get his ship airborne. If he accelerates from zero to 160 miles per hour in 6,000ft, he should be airborne in seven seconds.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Seven seconds at MC zero plus. Gene?

[Mr. Hargrove]

Yes, Colonel. Beyond zero plus g. Well, beyond that, we. We don't know. We just don't know.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Thanks. Thanks for everything, Mr. Hargrove. Sergeant. Yes, sir. Flip your switch on Major Westfall. I hear he's got a swell program. Flip them all, will you, Sergeant? Yes, sir.

[Bill Westfall]

RJX1 to tower. Any change in weather?

[F86 Leader]

Tower to RJX1. Barometer reading 29.7. Set your altimeter accordingly. Roger, win. 15 miles from south. Take off. Runway 27. Runway 27.

[Bill Westfall]

Got it.

[Control Tower Operator]

Zero minus one. 30.

[Bill Westfall]

RJX1 to control. Over.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Control. RJX1, go ahead.

[Bill Westfall]

This is just for you, Hank. Cabin pressure okay? Oxygen pressure okay?

[Colonel Hargrove]

All right, all right. Get off the dime, kid.

[Bill Westfall]

Take a pill, Hank. You'll need it to settle your stomach.

[Control Tower Operator]

0 minus 1 0.

[Bill Westfall]

RJX1 to crew chief.

[F86 Leader]

Over. Crew chief to RJX1. Go ahead. I'm ready to fire. Hold it. Okay. All set to fire.

[Bill Westfall]

Clear.

[F86 Leader]

Clear.

[Bill Westfall]

Starting right jet. Starting left jet.

[Control Tower Operator]

0 minus 30 second.

[F86 Leader]

Tower to RJX1.

[Control Tower Operator]

0, 30 seconds.

[Bill Westfall]

RJX1 to Tower.

[F86 Leader]

Go ahead. Western Airlines. Convair reported over Ventura. Got it. Eastbound Constellation at 17,000 over Salt Lake. Roger. Western Airlines. DC4 on base. Lake at 1,000 over Burbank. The rest of the air is yours. Thank you so much.

[Control Tower Operator]

0 minus 10.

[Bill Westfall]

RJX1 to tower.

[F86 Leader]

Ready for takeoff. Tower to RJX1.

[Control Tower Operator]

Clear for takeoff by.

[F86 Leader]

Good luck, Bill.

[Control Tower Operator]

4, 3, 2, 1, 0.

[Colonel Hargrove]

He's rolling. He's rolling.

[Bill Westfall]

B, B, E. Bill.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Lift it. Lift it. Lift it, Billy. He made it, bill. Made it. Mr. Har.

[Bill Westfall]

RJX1 to Control. RJX1 to Control.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Come in, Control. RJX1, go ahead.

[Bill Westfall]

Everything's great, Hank. It's a doll, baby.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Hey, you must have been kidding with that takeoff, weren't you?

[Bill Westfall]

It took that long to get off, that makes it a takeoff.

[Colonel Hargrove]

How fast are you climbing, kid?

[Bill Westfall]

1700Aminute. Air speed 550.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Retract your landing gear. It'll help.

[Bill Westfall]

Whoops. Sorry.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Call me at 20,000.

[Bill Westfall]

Heading is 87. Everything is real good. Come in, Hank.

[Colonel Hargrove]

How do you feel?

[Bill Westfall]

I like it here.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Pressure okay?

[Bill Westfall]

Okay.

[F86 Leader]

F86 leader to Control. F86 to Control. Come in.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Control to F86 leader. Go ahead, F86.

[F86 Leader]

Observing RJX1. He's really tearing, Colonel. Over. Point X at 35,000.

[Colonel Hargrove]

On schedule, Joe.

[F86 Leader]

On schedule.

[Bill Westfall]

RJX1 to Control. RJX1 to Control. Come in.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Control To RJX1. Go ahead, Bill.

[Bill Westfall]

40,000Ft Hank.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Still a down baby.

[Bill Westfall]

Still is. Ready to pressurize. Can you hear me okay, Hank?

[Colonel Hargrove]

Coming in fine.

[Bill Westfall]

Pressurized. Ready to prime rocket system in five seconds. Primed. Dropping right jet. Dropping left jet. All clear.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Good luck, Bill.

[Bill Westfall]

Firing number one. Rocket fired. Oh, Akin back. Firing number two rocket fired. Hey, honey.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Okay, Bill. What is it?

[Narrator]

Bill?

[Colonel Hargrove]

Are you receiving me? Control to RJX1. Come in. Come in, RJX1. Hello, Bill. Come in. Control to F86 leader. Control to F86 leader. Come in.

[F86 Leader]

F86 leader to control. Go ahead.

[Colonel Hargrove]

What about it, Joe?

[F86 Leader]

F86 observing RJX1. RJX1 at approximately 60,000ft, maintaining a heading of north northwest. I can barely make up, Colonel.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Try calling.

[F86 Leader]

Okay. F86 leader to RJX1. F86 to RJX1. Come in. Come in, RJX1.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Come in, Mr. Hargrove.

[F86 Leader]

F86 to IJX1.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Share it with me, Mr. Hargrove. Sit here and run your fingers through your hair and wait and think about it and share it with me.

[F86 Leader]

F86 to IJX1. F86 leader to control. F86 leader to control. Come in.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Go ahead, F86 leader.

[F86 Leader]

We've lost him, Colonel.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Stay up there, Joe, for as long as you can.

[Mr. Hargrove]

What do we do now, Colonel?

[Colonel Hargrove]

I just told you, Mr. Hargrove.

[Control Tower Operator]

We wait.

[Colonel Hargrove]

You and me.

[Bill Westfall]

We wait.

[F86 Leader]

We've lost him, Colonel.

[Bill Westfall]

You haven't lost me. I can hear you, Joe.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Stay up there, Joe, for as long as you can.

[Bill Westfall]

Hello? Hello? Hello? I'll try another frequency, Joe. RJX1 to F86. Can you make me. RJ X1 to F86. Come in. Come in. No good, huh? I'll switch back to channel Charlie. I still can't get you, Joe. I'll keep sending. Firing number eight. Rocket fired. Oh, brother. Oh, brother. RJX1 to all you ships at sea. To all you people anywhere. This is bill Westfall. Approaching 210,000. That's 40 miles straight up in the air. All you people. And that's where I am. You never saw anything like it. No clouds, a color no one ever named before and silence. Eight rockets roaring at my tail and I can't hear them. Their sound will never reach me at 1800 miles an hour. Silence so complete that the ticking of the clock on my instrument panel is a hammer in my brain. Silence. Otherwise, nothing. Nothing except no, nothing at all. Wait a minute. Yes, there is something, all right. At 2:00 clock. Hive. Oh, that's really something, brother. Maybe a Flying disc, and this is a big one, spinning like a top. And it's coming toward me. Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Listen. Something has just happened. Something. A missile shot maybe through the canopy. My pressure is going down. Something is happening to me. This thing, it's like a magnet. I'm being pilled toward it. I've lost control of my ship. I've no control. I'm going through decompression. I'm on the verge of unconsciousness. I'm blocking out some slack. Through your hands.

[Narrator]

You are listening to the Outer Limits starring Frank Lovejoy in another thrilling adventure. On escape.

[Colonel Hargrove]

He had only 10 minutes fuel. He's three hours overdue.

[Mr. Hargrove]

Well, that's that, Colonel.

[Colonel Hargrove]

But wait some more, Mr. Hargrove.

[Mr. Hargrove]

There's no point to it. May I make a suggestion, Colonel?

[Colonel Hargrove]

What?

[Mr. Hargrove]

Give it up. Make your report to Washington.

[Colonel Hargrove]

What about you, Mr. Hargrove?

[Mr. Hargrove]

To be frank with you, Colonel, in another 16 months there'll be another plane. The RJX2 in the army will give us another man to fly it.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Not till we're certain about this man, and we're not certain.

[Mr. Hargrove]

What do you propose to do?

[Colonel Hargrove]

The things that are in the manual. We'll organize search parties and put spotter planes up in the air. Maybe Bill came down on the ocean. We'll call a navy in.

[Mr. Hargrove]

Colonel, if the RJ X1 came down on the ocean, it would sink in three minutes. You know it had no life preserver equipment on it.

[Colonel Hargrove]

The added way to the call a navy in.

[Mr. Hargrove]

Whatever you say, Colonel. My guess.

[Colonel Hargrove]

What's your guess, Mr. Hargrove?

[Mr. Hargrove]

My guess is that sometime, somewhere on some beach or in some field, someone will pick up a piece of torn metal. That someone will be holding what's left of the RJX1.

[Bill Westfall]

You're aboard that just now. Am I getting through to you? Can you understand me? But there is no manifestation that we're in communication with him, sir.

[Colonel Hargrove]

All right.

[Mr. Hargrove]

There.

[Bill Westfall]

Yes, sir. I am Zeglon. You're aboard the space patrol ship S2J3.

[Captain Zeglon]

Am I in communication with you? Can you understand me? Are we in contact? Can you understand now what I am saying to you?

[Bill Westfall]

Yes. Yes. Yes, I can understand you, Earth man.

[Captain Zeglon]

Your brain is in turmoil, is it not? It has great difficulty in accepting what you see.

[Bill Westfall]

Yeah. Yes, that's right.

[Commander]

Accept it.

[Captain Zeglon]

What you see here exists.

[Bill Westfall]

All this. This exists.

[Commander]

It exists, Earthman. The spaceship you're on exists. Those jet dynamos you see before you exist. Jet dynamos driven by the harness power of a thousand Suns. Listen, Earth man. Listen to them. Do you know what happened as you listened, Earthman? We have flung ourselves 10,000 miles into space. What do you say to that, Earthman?

[Bill Westfall]

Why, I don't know what to say.

[Commander]

It's beyond the conception of your Earth brain. Then conceive this. Try to move, Earth man. You're not bound in any way. Try to move. It's impossible for you to move. There's a screen of force aimed at you. Now it's turned off. You may move about, Earthman. Proceed, Zeglon.

[Captain Zeglon]

Yes, Commander. Earthman, I perceive that your intellect now accepts the fact you are aboard space patrol ship S2J3. I am Captain Zeglon of the Galactic Guard.

[Bill Westfall]

Galactic. Galactic Guard.

[Captain Zeglon]

The Guardian of the Galaxy. The Guardian of the Universes. The instrument the Brotherhood of Worlds has set up in defense against such a civilization as yours. What puzzles you, Earth man?

[Bill Westfall]

Well, I. I. Well, I. I can't see you. I can feel that you're here, but I can't see you.

[Captain Zeglon]

There is no necessity for you to see us. It is sufficient that we communicate with each other.

[Bill Westfall]

Yes, but talking to you is. Well, it's not like talking, it's. Well, it's as if it were all happening inside my brain.

[Captain Zeglon]

It is. That is how I'm reaching you, by telepathy. Do you remember what happened to you before you blacked out?

[Bill Westfall]

Yes, I think so. There was a sharp sound, like a bullet hitting the canopy.

[Captain Zeglon]

It was not a bullet. It was a ray. It was necessary to stop your flight. We have so much to tell you.

[Bill Westfall]

But first tell me about my ship. Is it lost?

[Captain Zeglon]

No. It is such a crude little ship.

[Bill Westfall]

Crude?

[Captain Zeglon]

Easy for us to repair. It will be returned to you, and you will return to Earth, because you are the Earth's only hope of survival.

[Bill Westfall]

Hope of survival? What do you mean?

[Captain Zeglon]

I will show you. What you see on this screen before you is a panorama of your own universe, far greater in scope than an Earthman has ever seen before. Observe. Observe what? The line is pointing. Planet 3, Star 5, Galaxy C, Sector K. Is.

[Bill Westfall]

Is that the Earth?

[Captain Zeglon]

No. That dot that spec you see revolving in the vastness is your sun, a star whose surfaces 12,000 times that of your Earth. Your Earth is not even visible here.

[Colonel Hargrove]

What?

[Bill Westfall]

How did you know we even existed?

[Captain Zeglon]

That was our problem. We first became aware of your planet when we found atomic dust in the upper atmosphere. We traced it to your Earth.

[Bill Westfall]

It was that important to you?

[Captain Zeglon]

Quite. We determined that you were setting off atomic bombs. That's why the Galactic Council has Quarantined you?

[Bill Westfall]

Quarantined? I don't understand. How. How are we quarantined?

[Captain Zeglon]

We have sealed off your planet from the rest of space, but we have surrounded it with a force screen. When that screen has accumulated enough particles of atomic dust, your Earth will explode. Your civilization, you, all life, will disappear forever.

[Commander]

Listen to me, Earth man. Listen. We've had our own wars, wars that almost destroyed our civilization. But we have finally outlawed war throughout space, including Earth. Now, listen carefully, Earth men. If you continue to make atom bombs and hydrogen bombs, each many times more powerful than the last, and if you start making war with them, exploding them, it would upset the balance of the entire universe. Throw all space into chaos. This, of course, we cannot allow. And the force screen with which we have surrounded the Earth will prevent it by exploding the Earth itself. Remember then, Earthman, if you start an atomic war, the Earth will at once be completely destroyed. Warn them, Earthman.

[Captain Zeglon]

Yes, Commander. Earthman, you will rise from your seat and open that door. Descend those stairs, Earthman. You will now enter the chamber to your left. There's your ship. Get into it, Earthman. Are you ready?

[Bill Westfall]

Yes, I'm ready.

[Captain Zeglon]

While we were communicating, the patrol ship has returned to where we picked you up. And now you will be propelled toward Earth.

[Bill Westfall]

Close your canopy.

[Captain Zeglon]

Open aperture.

[Bill Westfall]

Warn them, Earth man. Warn them.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Fire.

[Bill Westfall]

RJX1 to tower. RJX1 to tower. Come in. RJX1 to tower. Come in, Tower.

[F86 Leader]

Tower to Funny Man.

[Bill Westfall]

You loaded, kid? How did you get in on this frequency? Listen. This is RJX1, RJX1 coming in for landing. Give me landing instructions.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Tower, the funny man.

[Bill Westfall]

Impossible that you're.

[F86 Leader]

RJX1.

[Bill Westfall]

He's 10 hours overdue. Get away from the area.

[F86 Leader]

Area cleared for bomber practice.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Approaches.

[Bill Westfall]

This is Major Westfallen, RJX1. Come on, kid, Give me landing instructions. I have no fuel. I'm gliding. What? Hey, hey. Yeah, I see you now, Major. Wait a minute. I'll restrict the area.

[F86 Leader]

Okay, RJX1, go ahead.

[Bill Westfall]

Approximately six miles north of field. Clear area for 10 miles being cleared. Watch your altitude. 10,000. Estimate six minutes to land. Tower to RJX1, you are clear to land, Runway nine. Wind east, southeast 15. Roger. Coming down. Hi, Hank.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Bill. Bill, what happened?

[Bill Westfall]

Hank, you won't believe it, but you've got to. I know you won't believe it. It'll knock you over.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Just take it easy, Bill.

[Bill Westfall]

Sergeant.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Yes, sir.

[Bill Westfall]

Have the ship gone over by Geiger counters for radioactivity and seal it. What? Oh, yes, Hank. You better mount a 24 hour guard on it.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Look, what did you run into?

[Bill Westfall]

Plenty. Listen to me, Hank. They said the Earth would explode. They said it was the end for us.

[Colonel Hargrove]

They said that? Come on, let's go over to my office.

[Bill Westfall]

You got to believe me.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Read it like an order. Bill. My office. I want Major Donaldson to look at you.

[Bill Westfall]

The psychiatrist? Hank, you've got to listen to him.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Come on over to the office.

[Bill Westfall]

Well, that's the story, Major Donaldson.

[Captain Zeglon]

I see.

[Bill Westfall]

Well, Hank, you believe it, don't you?

[Colonel Hargrove]

Well, Major, what do you think?

[Captain Zeglon]

I'm not sure.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Bill, these men from Mars.

[Bill Westfall]

I didn't say they were from Mars. Do you hear me say anything about men from Mars?

[Captain Zeglon]

No, you didn't.

[Bill Westfall]

All I'm trying to tell you is this. Whoever those people were, they knew all about us. Everything. And they warned me. Our atomic bombs are a danger to the universe. One more and we're gonna be the juiciest galactic fourth of July of all time. Explode. Finish. Gone. Like that. How do you like it?

[Captain Zeglon]

All right, Bill, roll up your sleeve.

[Bill Westfall]

Oh, now, forget it, Major. All I need is a couple of drinks.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Sorry, Boyle. Sorry. Not right now. Let the Major give you a hypo.

[Bill Westfall]

Now, look, I got a drink coming. A lot of drinks later.

[Captain Zeglon]

Come on, Bill, let's leave you hurting.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Bill.

[Bill Westfall]

All right. Yes, all right. If it's an order, go ahead.

[Colonel Hargrove]

There. You'll be okay in a few hours.

[Bill Westfall]

I'm okay now.

[Captain Zeglon]

Sure.

[Colonel Hargrove]

We'll leave you here, Bill. It's all right if Bill sleeps in here, isn't it, Colonel?

[Control Tower Operator]

Sure.

[Bill Westfall]

Yeah. Well, maybe you'll believe me tomorrow.

[Commander]

You'd better.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Come on, Major. He'll be okay by himself, Major.

[Control Tower Operator]

He's been under a strain, but he'll.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Sleep a long time.

[Control Tower Operator]

You better explain it to his wife somehow.

[Colonel Hargrove]

I'll talk to him tomorrow. Tough. I've heard he's one of the best. He's the best. A combination of nerve and loyalty and lightning reflexes that comes once in 10 million times. What about it, Major? How does Bill look to you?

[Captain Zeglon]

I can't tell yet.

[Colonel Hargrove]

Maybe a week, six months, six years. I'll need a whole lot of time with him before I can tell. I see. Well, he better get some sleep, too.

[Control Tower Operator]

Right.

[Colonel Hargrove]

And don't worry, Colonel, he's a strong boy. Best nerves I've seen. I'd say things will be all right. Delusions like Bills latched onto. Well, delusions like this. Major. Yes, Colonel. Major, when you make your charts for Bill, diagnose him and treat him and do all the things you have to when you do that, Major. Consider this.

[Captain Zeglon]

Yes.

[Colonel Hargrove]

How did he keep that plane in the air for 10 hours? For 10 hours, Major, when he had fuel to last him only 10 minutes?

[Narrator]

Escape is produced and directed by William N. Robeson and tonight starred Frank Lovejoy in the Outer Limit by Graham Doerr, adapted for radio by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. Featured in the cast were Charles McGraw as the Colonel, Jeff Corey as Major Donaldson, Stan Waxman as Zeglon, and Ian Wolf as Silver. Special music was arranged and conducted by Del Castillo. Actual flight details were authenticated by rocket test pilot Gene May, Sergeant Hartley Caldwell of the Air Force section of the Armed Forces Public Information Office, and by the Douglas Aircraft Corporation.

[Control Tower Operator]

Next week you were on the Baltic Sea, within sight of the Soviet coast where your Russian wife is is secretly waiting to escape with you to England. And on the cold, dark waters behind you, an armed patrol boat is about to discover your small sailing craft. If it does, you will never escape.

[Narrator]

Next week we escape with Roger Bax's thrilling and timely tale of a man and woman who dared to defy an entire government in order to be together. 2 if by sea, goodbye then until this same time next week when once again we offer you escape. Two all star bouts are promised on CBS this Wednesday night. Bing Crosby faces Fred Allen across the CBS mic to battle it out on who's funnier, singers or comedians. And in the second attraction, Gracie Allen and a smashed bender team up against not so gorgeous George Burns and a guilty conscience.

That's the show for this week, but don't forget there are thousands more like it at relicradio.com horror, strange tales, science fiction, crime, all available for free. If you'd like to donate to Relic Radio and help keep it all free, you can do that through the website as well. Visit donate. Relicradio.com to find out more to see the special downloadable sets that are available. My thanks to those who have donated and thanks for listening today. Talk to you again next week.