Original subtitles

[wind howling]

Don't they usually put these inside of mountains, sir?

Bunkers, I mean.

Let's hope they think the way you do.

"They," sir?

Of course. I keep forgetting

you're a last-minute replacement for Samuelson.

How much did they tell you?

Only that I'd be working in isolation...

for a maximum of a year, sir.

Well, you'll have plenty of solitude.

[automated voice] Bunker level. 11,000 feet.

[door buzzing]

This is the control room.

You'll spend most of your time here,

so we tried to make it as comfortable as possible.

We programmed a pretty tough opponent for Samuelson.

I hope you enjoy chess as much as he does.

These elevator shaft doors will weld shut.

You'll be sealed in here.

But not to worry. It's completely self-contained.

A small reactor will provide your electrical power.

A recycling and filtration system will take care of your air and your water.

Here.

Open it.

Inside, you'll find why we quickly had to pull all this together.

Too quickly for my taste.

It's like slapping it together with spit and rubber bands.

Those were taken from the Hubble.

We've been monitoring them for almost two years.

We have a few weeks to a number of months

before the aliens reach the Earth.

So, they could be coming in peace?

Maybe. Our job is to be ready if they're not.

This bunker...

is a doomsday device, Lieutenant,

able to annihilate the entire planet.

My God.

And if I press that button,

it goes off.

Just the opposite.

It prevents it. It's a dead man's switch.

Trains have them in case the engineer falls asleep.

If he doesn't push a button when a random alarm goes off,

it stops the train.

So it's like a fail-safe?

That's right.

If anything happens to you down here,

the doomsday device goes off,

and if we don't dig you out in a year,

you can assume that mankind has been defeated by the aliens.

That's when you stop pushing that button,

and the aliens will be wiped from the face of the planet.

I'm behind schedule. I gotta go.

I'll contact you and give you the rest of your instructions.

General, you can't leave. I have so many questions.

Have to. System's automated.

You'll be sealed in here in less than a minute.

But what if the worst happens?

What if they invade, and-- Not that I would do it,

but out of self-preservation, I just keep pressing the button.

That'd be hard.

After a year, all the systems will run out of fuel.

No power, no food, no water, and no air.

But what if you haven't dug me out by then?

Why do you think we call it a "dead man's switch"?

[beeps]

[Control Voice] There is nothing wrong with your television.

Do not attempt to adjust the picture.

We are now controlling the transmission.

We control the horizontal and the vertical.

We can deluge you with a thousand channels

or expand one single image to crystal clarity

and beyond.

We can shape your vision

to anything our imagination can conceive.

For the next hour,

we will control all that you see and hear.

You are about to experience the awe and mystery

which reaches from the deepest inner mind

to The Outer Limits.

[Control Voice] Young idealists often dream

of having the power to save the world,

but would that dream become a nightmare

if saving the world

could also mean destroying it?

[Eiger] Hello, Lieutenant.

You ready to test this baby out?

Y-Yes, sir.

Take the position and initiate the retinal scanner

and palm-print analyzer to your person.

I assume you read the procedure.

Yes, sir.

[beeping]

[whirs]

[automated voice] Identify.

Conklin, Benjamin P.

Code name, Dead Man One.

[automated voice] Authenticating.

-Dead Man. -[beeping]

[automated voice] Verified.

Arming system.

[alarm blaring]

[beeping]

[Eiger] The system's online now.

You have about 24 hours

to become familiar with the layout and equipment

before the alarms begin.

You said to push the button before...

the count runs out.

I was wondering what would happen if it ever reaches zero, sir.

This...

A full-capacity detonation.

Every nuclear, chemical, and biological weapon

we've got all over the world.

If we don't come out of this alive,

no one else will, either.

We want our visitors to know about this device

and what will happen if we use it.

Can they disarm the system, sir?

Not without triggering the destruct sequence.

They'd have to know every feature, every trap.

It's just not possible.

We've thought this through, Lieutenant.

We don't want the aliens intercepting any signals

and tracing them back to your bunkers,

or feeding you false information.

That's why you have no access to radio or TV signals

and can't call out.

We control what you receive,

and only from this location.

Everything about this operation

is on a strict need-to-know basis.

You won't be the only person at the switch.

There will be four other people on your team,

each one stationed at a different secret location around the globe.

They'll be online within 24 hours.

Any one of you can stop the countdown.

A built-in redundancy.

How often will you check in, sir?

Often. In fact, if you have any other questions,

save them for tomorrow. Eiger out.

[video game beeping]

-[man on screen] Good morning. -Good morning, uh...

Hong or Donald? Take a wild guess.

I am Donald.

Good morning.

It is afternoon in South Africa.

I'm Lieutenant Ben Conklin. U.S. Air Force.

[video game music]

[woman in Australian accent] Never mind him.

All he ever does is play that game.

That's the doc. She's a clinical psychologist.

Gwen Wellington. Good to meet you.

Thanks. Likewise.

[electronic trilling]

[in Russian accent] Uh, yes? Hello.

Uh, hello.

I'm Lieutenant Ben Conklin. U.S. Air Force.

Um, Katya Rubinov.

Russian Republic Army.

[clears throat]

[alarm blaring]

[automated voice] Alert. Arming countdown.

Thirty seconds.

[alarm continues blaring]

[beeping]

[alarm stops]

[automated voice] Deactivation verified.

Congratulations, everyone,

on your first successful alert.

You just saved the world.

Wouldn't it be a little more accurate to say we didn't destroy it?

[yawns] Looks like it's past my bedtime.

Katya should be done in a minute.

Why don't you get some sleep, Hong?

Nah, once I've finished this level...

I'm gonna try and get some news.

[Ben] Short-wave radio?

Hey, how'd you smuggle that in?

Easy. I stuffed the parts in my underwear and smelly old socks.

Who's gonna search that, right?

Then, I borrowed some wires from the panels here,

tapped into the conduit that runs the shaft.

I might be able to get a signal.

You tampered with the control panels?

One of my degrees was electrical engineering.

Hey, Gwen, let me ask you a question.

[Gwen] Sure.

That pad that you're always writing on,

is that a diary, or are you supposed to watch us?

Psychologically, I mean.

[Gwen] I've been working with the Australian military.

We're studying the effects of long-term isolation.

This was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

We were all chosen because of our self-reliance.

Uh, translation, we're all anti-social loners.

Thanks a lot.

[Donald] He is right about me.

I am still a little unsure around people.

Still?

I was in prison five years ago.

Oh, yeah? What were you in for?

I'm a priest, but I got caught preaching the wrong gospel. Freedom.

So, how'd you get here?

I made a few influential friends during my stay.

Very influential.

And you? Did you volunteer?

No.

I was ordered.

The commander said that I fit the profile.

[Hong] What was that?

Uh, I'm an orphan.

I have no friends or family, really.

A loner, like you said.

After university,

I was put in a missile silo

back when we were the USSR.

And then, when this project came up,

they said that I would be perfect.

[Ben] Hmm. That's exactly what happened with me.

I was on a drilling rig off New Orleans.

Then when I enlisted,

I worked a listening post up in Alaska.

How about you, Hong? Let us hear about you.

There's not much to tell.

I trained in the States for four years.

Then I was a computer programmer for the military.

I worked so many hours, I didn't have a life.

Might as well have been down here.

-[chatter over radio] -Hey, I got something.

[man on radio] ...been hit with such force,

residents fled in panic, spreading pandemonium in the city streets.

[static crackling]

[Ben] What pandemonium in the streets?

Have the aliens landed?

Are we being attacked?

Try to get the signal back.

[static crackling]

[man on radio] The tornado winds were clocked at 210 miles per hour.

The death...

Oh.

[Ben] Tornado.

We got all worked up over nothing.

That's why we're not supposed to get outside news,

because we don't need it to do our jobs.

[Ben] Sure you wanna stay in, Katya?

You already owe me 5,000 rubles.

Yes, but what you don't realize...

[keystrokes]

...5,000 rubles is only one American dollar.

Sorry I've been out of touch,

but I've been away at an international summit.

We've finally been able to translate the language

of the alien transmissions.

It's rough at best,

but we are actually communicating with them.

What are the transmissions saying, sir?

As near as we can figure,

they're some sort of a scientific expedition.

So they're coming in peace.

[Donald] Is this true, General?

[Eiger] We also have some other new information.

Our Hubble photo had only shown

a V-shaped wedge of vessels.

But computer augmentation has determined

that there is a second wave

of much larger vessels coming.

They've already entered our solar system.

From where they were, wouldn't that require light speed?

But where is the second wave?

-I don't see... -[beeping]

Oh, my God.

[Eiger] They're generating some sort of energy field

that displaces light and radio waves.

Attack vessels?

[Eiger] Not likely.

With the technology they have,

their weaponry shouldn't require any heavy ships.

So what are they?

Tankers.

At least that's what they've told us.

Come on, General. Level with us.

What do you think they are?

Colonists.

[shaver buzzing]

Check.

I didn't expect that.

I'm a lot less predictable than the computer, no?

I'll say. But it's nice.

I spend way too much time with computers.

Check again.

You know, it's strange.

Here we are. We're both in bunkers

halfway around the world from each other,

playing chess.

Ten years ago,

we would've been pointing missiles at each other.

I think I like this better.

[shower running]

You don't need to look away, Ben.

I left my privacy setting off on purpose.

What-- What for?

For you.

Oh, I'm sorry. Was I embarrassing you?

Uh, no.

I...

[alarm blaring]

[automated voice] Alert. Arming countdown.

Thirty seconds.

[beeping]

[alarm continues]

Mine's not working!

[automated voice] Twenty seconds.

Katya, you've got to press your button!

-[screaming] -[alien screeching]

-Katya, get out of there! -[Katya gasps]

Katya, fight!

Aah! Save me!

I'm trying!

Where is everybody?

[screaming]

[screeching]

No!

[panting]

Bad dream?

No.

Uh...

nightmare.

What about?

Did something bad happen to you?

No.

Actually, something bad happened to you.

I was fighting to save you.

[Katya laughing] Such chivalry.

You're a very brave friend.

You know, it was just a dream.

I don't know how brave I'd be in real life.

It's too bad, though.

It was kind of nice before all the bad stuff started happening.

[Katya] Da?

Tell me about it.

Well... [clears throat]

It was just...

you and me...

Um, I see where you're going.

You don't need to tell me anymore about it.

No, it wasn't like that. It wasn't like that.

It was-- I know where I got the idea from.

The other night when we were playing chess,

I thought, what would it be like to...

kiss you.

And then, I thought when we get out of here,

maybe we could go on a date

or take a trip or something.

Ben, we are thousands of miles apart.

And-- And who knows what the future holds?

It-- It would be a cruel joke to make us think such things,

to make us feel too much.

[video game music]

[alarm blaring]

[automated voice] Alert. Arming countdown.

Thirty seconds.

Come on, you guys. It's your turn.

[automated voice] Twenty seconds.

Damn it!

[automated voice] Ten seconds.

[alarm stops]

[automated voice] Deactivation verified.

-[beeping] -I hit the switch first.

[Ben] It's okay.

I know you're busy. No big deal.

No, I don't think you understand.

I hit the switch first.

It didn't cut off.

You sure?

I hit buttons all day. I'm sure.

Nothing happened. It didn't cut off.

If your switch could stop working, then...

So could the others.

[power drill whirring]

What-- What are we gonna do if we have another alarm?

Hey, what are you doing?

Fixing it.

I'm an electrical engineer, remember?

Uh, sh-shouldn't we wait?

What, for the repair man?

I don't think so. Whose is gonna break next?

I mean, I don't know.

It just seems like there ought to be

some sort of rule or procedure for...

Oh, my God. Look at this.

You said General Eiger told you this was put together with spit and rubber bands?

He wasn't joking. This is archaic.

Hong.

Hong?

Hong.

[beeping]

Hong.

Ben, what happened?

I don't know.

[Ben] You know, General Eiger is monitoring us.

He'd tell us if there was something really wrong with Hong.

He'd call us.

Unless, of course, this is a test.

Honey, I'm home.

You're back.

Good as new?

Well, maybe the console, but not me.

I'm beat.

It looks like it took a lot of work. What happened?

Well, the monitors and the consoles share the same power feed.

I had to take it off-line.

But I think I figured out

why the switch stopped working.

I scavenged some parts

from the ventilation control system.

A lot of the circuits are redundant,

so I just re-routed them.

Should work.

Should work? What if it doesn't?

Well, we better hope the other four keep working,

'cause this... is crazy.

[automated voice] Stand by for a voice message from General Eiger.

[Eiger] We're receiving this transmission, folks.

Thought you might want to look in.

They've reached Mars already.

[Hong] Hey, I bet they did a pass by Mars

to do a course correction for Earth.

Just like that book 2010.

They could be using gravity-wave generation propulsion.

Pretty cool.

How does that affect the Earth?

Well, major changes in the tide, for one.

[Hong] And some very rad surf in Malibu...

in about 90 days.

Good night.

[Katya] Are we really ready for this?

So...

You ready to play?

Katya, my whole life I've been a loner.

I've never loved anybody,

friends, family, or a girlfriend.

I've never had any of them to love.

It's ironic.

What?

Well, I got this job because my life is like that.

But it took this job

for me to finally meet someone

that I can feel something for.

I think about you all the time.

When I wake up.

Before I go to bed.

Most of the time in between.

Ben... please don't do this.

You said that we shouldn't make any plans,

and we shouldn't get any closer.

If that's how you really feel,

then I would like you to stop playing chess with me every day like you do.

It's just too hard on me.

Oh...

But it's easy for me when you give me ultimatums.

You know how I feel about this, Ben.

No.

[Ben] Katya!

Okay...

you win.

I'm meeting you for dinner and a movie.

But no more talking about trips, okay?

Let's just see how our date goes.

Okay.

The others have agreed to give us some privacy.

So...

[Jerry] This is a dream.

[Heather] It's real. Very real, Jerry.

[Jerry] No, I...

I love you, Heather.

I have since the first day I met you.

There, I said it.

[Heather] You are such a sweet man.

That always makes me cry.

Do you think we'll ever find our way home, Ben?

Couple of misfits like us?

You can count on it.

Hmm.

Well, then...

Here's to...

going home together.

Mmm.

I think I'm getting tipsy. [laughs]

Is that real wine? I thought it was grape juice.

How'd you get that in?

I smuggled it.

I'm Russian. I know how to get past guards.

I was saving it for when we got out,

but what the hell.

We're not supposed to have alcohol.

What if an alarm goes off?

You're the designated presser.

Relax.

The button is 20 feet away from you,

and you're a fast runner.

Just don't fall asleep.

Not without kissing me good night.

I wish I could.

Maybe you can.

I have a very good imagination.

Don't go anywhere.

Pretend to kiss me good night.

Describe it to me.

All right. Uh...

I'd put my arms around you, and...

then I'd...

kiss you.

[giggles]

[Katya] What is this, a handshake?

No. Tell me.

Just... use your imagination

and...

tell me what you'd like to do to me.

Well...

First, I'd...

pull you close to me,

so I could feel the warmth of your skin pressing against mine.

Go on.

Then...

I'd hold your face in my hands.

Running my fingers through your hair,

I would slowly...

kiss your neck.

Then I'd place my hands on your shoulders,

caressing them,

massaging them.

My hands would move...

down your dress, if that's okay.

Yes, that's okay. I want you to.

Down your dress, my hands would brush...

up across your body...

caressing it's every curve

with my fingertips, ever so lightly.

Gliding up...

and down.

And up.

Kissing you passionately,

your body,

making you lose all control, all restraint.

You couldn't hold back.

You'd wanna let go. You'd have to let go.

[alarm blaring]

[automated voice] Alert. Arming countdown.

Thirty seconds.

[alarm blaring]

[alarm stops]

[automated voice] Deactivation verified.

I can't believe it. It's never happened before.

How much longer, General?

Not much. I think your wait is over. The aliens have arrived.

-When? -[Eiger] Last night.

A small landing craft left their ships and landed at Edwards.

They've begun sending us their telemetry.

They've already begun to gather data on the Earth.

The last set of graphics had something to do

with their orbiting link-up.

Whatever it is,

it could go either way as far as their intentions.

They've broadcast a message world-wide

announcing they're only landing here to make contact,

peaceful contact.

They've asked for a meeting

with representatives from every country.

I'll be one of the delegates.

What is the prognosis?

Cautiously optimistic,

emphasis on the "cautiously."

But it looks promising, so keep your fingers crossed.

Anything?

No.

It's been a week.

We should have heard something by now.

I keep thinking that--

There is a lot of possible explanations.

Oh, yeah, like everyone's dead.

[scoffs] Let's face it.

I mean, these bunkers were like coffins from day one.

He knew. He knew damn well we'd never get out of here.

We're already buried, for crying out loud! We're just not dead yet!

Stop it, Hong.

We're getting cabin fever, that's all.

Long-term isolation usually leads

to the feelings of stress, fear, even paranoia.

We just need to stay calm.

[radio static]

[man on radio] ...a message of some sort.

We're back in business.

[man on radio] Ceremonies were interrupted after...

[static crackling]

Alien representatives returned to their mothership.

[static crackling]

News Front has received a press release of the...

There is a new development, and that--

Damn it! Overload!

[gasps]

[Hong] CO2 scrubber's burst!

[coughing, choking]

Hong!

[choking]

Hong! Somebody do something!

What would you have us do?

[static]

I keep waiting for him to say some smart-ass remark.

I can't believe he's not here.

We'll all miss him. Even the remarks.

What if it wasn't an accident?

Hong's system was jury-rigged,

patched together.

It had problems from the start.

He said he stole parts from his air purification system.

Maybe that made it malfunction.

The reality is we don't know what's happening.

Short-wave radio message could mean many things.

It said there was a new development.

Bad or good? We don't know.

We can only deal with what we do know.

And what we know is our friend is dead.

If we want to hold together, my prescription is rest.

Okay. I'll take the ship.

Gwen, you and Katya get some sleep.

You go, too, Ben. I will take it.

Sure you're okay? You're shivering.

Yes. It is awfully cold in here.

Is your place cold?

No.

Maybe you ought to run a system check.

You could be having a reactor malfunction.

No. Other problems would be happening.

I'm sure it's just the climate control.

Nothing a blanket won't fix.

You get some shut-eye, Ben.

I will be fine.

[Gwen] Katya, wake up!

You've got to see this!

My God. My God.

[Ben] He's frozen.

Oh, my God.

[Gwen] Somebody help him.

Donald! Donald, wake up!

Donald!

Can't you two see that he's dead?

Just like we're all going to be!

Don't say that.

Look, without Donald,

all together, there's only three of us

to keep watch all the time now.

Just the three of us.

[Katya] He was a religious man.

We argued once about the existence of God.

I only hope he was right.

[tapping buttons rapidly]

[video game beeping]

[Gwen] Ben?

[Ben] Yes, Gwen?

Would you listen to this, please?

I'm 100 points from beating Hong's record.

I mean now.

Okay.

[loud whirring noises]

What is it?

Reactor failure?

Or maybe my ventilation system.

Reactors are below us. Listen, see if you can pinpoint it.

I think it's coming from my bedroom.

Sound like hydraulics?

It's coming from above!

You're-you're being rescued!

I knew I should've brought champagne.

[Gwen giggles]

[Ben] Careful.

They're breaking through.

Oh!

[debris clattering]

They're lowering some sort of cable.

[Gwen screaming]

[Ben] Gwen!

What happened?

Something took her!

[Ben] Some kind of rope. Somebody pulled her up.

I couldn't see.

[beeping]

Gwen?

-[Ben] Gwen! -Gwen!

Where are you? Gwen!

[Katya] Gwen!

Gwen, where are you?

[Ben] Get some rest.

I can't.

If it was the aliens that took Gwen,

then they have access to the dead man's switch.

Yeah, but once the perimeter's breached,

they'd have to use both the retina and palm scanners

to deactivate the button.

They respond only to living tissue.

So you think Gwen is dead?

I don't know.

I do know that she hasn't been pressing her switch.

And since she disappeared,

the alarm's been going off as usual.

It's only been you and I stopping it.

So, what do we do now?

You wanna finish the game?

No.

I've lost.

Face it, Ben, we've lost.

Katya.

Don't give me false hope, Ben.

I know what they did to Gwen. I know what I saw.

All we can do now

is wait to see which one of us is next.

[Ben] It's not gonna happen to you.

I wouldn't let it.

Oh, and how would you stop it?

[alarm blaring]

[automated voice] Alert. Arming countdown.

Thirty seconds.

[Katya] There is only one way, Ben.

Let it go.

Ben, the aliens killed the only real friends

that you and I ever had.

[automated voice] 20 seconds.

Let it go.

What if the aliens haven't won?

What if there's a resistance,

if there's people still out there trying to fight them?

[automated voice] Fifteen seconds.

There still may be a chance.

[automated voice] Ten seconds.

Nine, eight, seven,

six, five, four,

-three, two... -[beeping]

[automated voice] Deactivation verified.

Sorry.

No.

You are right.

If there is just one person hiding out there,

they deserve a chance.

I was being selfish.

That's why we have our orders.

Ben?

Our time is up, isn't it?

It's been a year.

Shouldn't all this have shut down, then?

Yeah. My power cut out last night.

I've been running on a backup generator.

How long will it last?

[Ben] I don't know.

Sure you want to wait it out?

There might not be much left.

We have each other.

Ben...

Whatever time I have left...

days or hours,

minutes...

It's very precious to me if I can spend it with you.

[alarm buzzing]

Oh, don't worry.

Your power will come back.

No.

Something is wrong.

[automated voice] Warning. System malfunction.

Katya! The fire extinguisher!

Get your fire extinguisher!

No, the panel! The panel!

Katya, you've got to get out of there!

-[Katya screaming] -Katya, run!

Run!

[Ben] Oh, my God!

Katya, are you all right?

Speak to me!

Katya, can you hear me?

Ben!

Katya, you've gotta get up! You've got to run!

-Go! Go! -[Katya screaming]

Katya!

[alarm blaring]

[automated voice] Alert. Arming countdown.

Thirty seconds.

[alarm blaring]

[automated voice] Alert. Arming countdown.

Thirty seconds.

[alarm blaring]

[automated voice] Twenty seconds.

Fifteen seconds.

Ten seconds remaining.

Nine, eight, seven,

six, five, four,

three, two, one.

-Initiating final stage destruct sequence. -[beeping]

I knew it wasn't really 30 seconds.

[automated voice] Thirty seconds remaining.

[chuckling]

[automated voice 2] Chemical warheads armed.

Biological weaponry armed.

[automated voice 1] Twenty seconds.

[automated voice 2] Nuclear warheads armed.

[automated voice 1] Fifteen seconds.

Anybody listening?

The world explodes,

and there's no one there to hear it!

[automated voice] Ten seconds remaining...

[warbled voice] Ben, do you read me?

For God sakes, man, are you there?

General?

Ben!

[automated voice 1] Three, two, one.

[alarm stops]

[automated voice 1] Countdown aborted.

Thank God you're alive. We made it.

We stopped them?

We took staggering losses.

Most of our leadership was in hiding.

But we used a new weapon, and it drove them back.

What-- So what's our plan now?

We get you out,

but it may take some time to unseal the doors

and figure out a way to disarm the system.

Right.

Dis-- Disarm. Disarm system.

Until we do, no matter how much exhaustion sets in,

stay near the switch and keep pushing that button.

You have to give us time to reach you.

It's your duty. Clear, soldier?

Yes, sir. Keep--

Keep pushing the button. Must keep pushing the button.

Must keep pushing the button.

Must keep pushing the button.

[mumbles] Button.

Must keep pushing the button.

[squelching]

[groaning]

[alien screeching]

[Ben] Must keep pushing the button.

Must keep pushing the button.

[Control Voice] Our destiny is controlled by the choices we make.

Those choices can turn an ordinary man into a king

or reduce him to little more than a pawn.

With the fate of the world in your hands,

what would you choose?

...pushing the button.