Original subtitles

[Man Narrating] It cost Commander Robert Reary...

20 years of unremitting hardship and misery...

to reach the North Role finally in 1909.

It would have astounded Reary to learn that by the late 1950s and early '60s...

the vast, frozen top of the world he pioneered...

had become a vital highway for world travel and commerce.

Not just in the skies...

but also deep under the ice...

in the frigid five-million-square-mile depths of the Arctic Ocean.

Here, great passenger-and cargo-carrying atomic submarines...

glided by the dozens back and forth across the Role...

until a series of mysterious undersea disasters...

threatened to close the Arctic route forever.

The decisive moment came May 3 at 1315 hours...

when the undersea atomic liner, Sturgeon, largest of them all...

reached 87 degrees, 10 minutes north latitude...

only a few miles from the North Role itself.

[Electricity Crackling]

[Narrator] According to the official reports...

the next phase of the life-and-death drama...

occurred May 10 in Washington...

at a hush-hush supersecret meeting...

of the Arctic theater war room.

Gentlemen, this is the man we've been waiting for.

The skipper of the atom killer sub, Tiger Shark.

Commander Dan Wendover.

This is Justin Murdock, secretary of defense.

- Mr. Murdock. - Commander.

And I know you've heard a lot of Dr. Clifford Kent, Dan.

- Doctor. - Commander.

Dr. Kent had a lot to do with the development and design of your boat.

Sir Ian Hunt just flew in from London.

The Dr. Hunt, winner of the Nobel Prize for oceanography?

Oh, let's just say I took the bow for a team of very brilliant associates.

Uh, sit down.

Gentlemen, to begin, let me read you just one line...

from a detailed staff study prepared for theJoint Chiefs.

"In our judgment, these Arctic disasters...

may prove the gravest emergency in all history. "

Any comments on that statement?

A bit fanciful, isn't it, sir?

Possibly.

Let me read you, uh, a partial list of observed phenomena.

"Destruction of four surface vessels. Largest, 10,000 tons.

"Radioactivity in Arctic waters, flow ice and bergs.

"Reculiar television images preceding each distress call.

"Seven polar atom subs...

vanished without a trace. "

"Fanciful," did you say, uh, Sir Ian?

[Chuckles]

And now, Dan, we come to you.

You skipper the Tiger Shark...

the most advanced, the deadliest killer sub in the fleet.

Right now she's undergoing emergency around-the-clock modification...

in the Bremerton Navy Yard.

The orders call for special observation and testing instruments here...

removal of all but two atomic torpedoes...

special launching equipment for water-to-air ballistic missiles...

and a special escape hatch in the keel for the Lungfish.

The Lungfish?

Yes. Uh, a deep exploration device, sort of an animated diving bell.

The mission of the Tiger Shark...

is to hunt down and identify the cause of these Arctic disasters.

If humanly possible...

you will remove it.

[Man] Not that I don't think Lieutenant Commander Holloway...

is the finest exec in the entire sub fleet,Julie...

and not that he isn't the best friend that I have -

Come on, Dave. You talk too much.

Now be quiet, little mother. I - I feel behooved to warn you...

our friend Reef is no less than the number one howl in the entire sub wolf pack.

Nuclear powered.

And when it comes to women- Well...

he has got a built-in sonar detector that -

Dave, you know you're exaggerating, old buddy-buddy. You know it. Yes, you are.

You know, on most boats, a certain loyalty exists...

between the exec and his navigation and firing officer...

but in the case of Lieutenant David Milburn of the Tiger Shark and myself-

But su - She's a nice girl.

Uh, I've seen you work.

I think she deserves a fighting chance.

Helen, I appeal to you.

Dave, look at me. I'm the mother of your three children.

Will you please take me home to them at once?

There you are. Just drop in anytime.

Don't bother to call. Just -Just drop in. That's my way of life.

[Sighs]

Dave is exaggerating, you know.

I mean, a man spends three months in a deep freeze...

it'll take his whole leave just to thaw him out.

By that time, he's ready to report back.

It won't take me long to defrost. Not around you.

What was I saying about thawing out icebergs?

Yeah, you, uh - You never can tell about icebergs.

Only show one-ninth above water.

After that kiss, I'd say that's about right.

- Do you feel anything? - Are you kidding?

No, I mean that this is just the beginning of something.

That we didn't just meet accidentally.

Oh, that's original.

Doesn't the next chorus go something like...

"Let's not waste one precious golden moment.

Any second there could be a knock on the door and -"

Well, I've seen stranger things happen.

It happens all the time to heroes on television, plays, motion pictures.

The hero gets his leave canceled, and he's -

And she spends the rest of her life wishing that she'd -

Oh, honey.

Let's not waste one precious moment then.

[Knocking On Door]

What's that pounding?

Need I say more?

Mmm.

Reef, look.

- Oh, no. - What's wrong?

What is it?

Oh, no.

Skipper, I thought you were going to Washington.

I did. Just got back. Reef, I want you to meet a couple of our passengers.

Sir Ian Hunt and Dr. Clifford Kent. My exec, Commander Richard Holloway.

- Glad to know you, sir. - How do you do?

- Dr. Kent. Met you before. - Yes indeed, Commander.

You gentlemen are going with us. What for?

We'll discuss that later. Roberts.

- Have Chief Griffin report to me as soon as the crew's aboard. - Yes, sir.

- Watkins. - Yes, sir.

- Will you show these gentlemen to their quarters? - Aye, aye, sir. This way.

Well. Sorry we had to cut your leave short.

- Yeah. - Come at the wrong time?

Yeah.

Will do.

- Oh, it's you. - Yeah.

Griff, what's the scoop? Hauled out in the middle of the night, all leaves canceled.

We going to war, or what?

Don't you worry, Chester. When the skipper wants you to know what's going on, he'll tell ya. Okay?

- I don't like it. I mean, this is all mighty funny. - Ah, isn't it, though?

Suppose you get aboard anyway.

- I don't like it. - What did you say?

I like it. I like it.

Hey.

Well, skipper, I think I'll stow my gear.

- Well, Reef, I got some bad news for ya. - Oh, yeah?

- You're gonna have to share quarters this trip. - Who with?

- Dr. Neilsen. - Dr. Neilsen? When did that happen?

- Huh? - Oh, it's all right. We're old friends.

Dave, stand by to shove off as soon as Griff reports the crew aboard.

Right, skipper.

Well, looks like we're gonna share quarters, skipper.

Been a long -

Carl.

You?

Oh, of course. I should have suspected when I heard that "doctor. "

- I thought it was your father. - It was supposed to be.

- Dad had a heart attack two days ago. - He what?

It was mild. He'll be all right. But it was out of the question his coming along.

And they thought you could replace the skipper, huh?

There was no choice.

Dad and I developed the Lungfish together.

Except for him, I'm the only one qualified to dive in it.

- You could have trained somebody else. - Not in two days.

Look, do you think I wanted to come?

If it didn't mean so much to Dad, proving his depth explorer, I certainly wouldn't be here.

That I can believe.

[Narrator] The Tiger Shark left her dock at Bremerton at 0335 hours...

the morning of May 11...

on what was to prove the strangest, most fearful voyage ever made by a submarine...

atomic or otherwise.

Simultaneously with the Shark's departure...

and with his crew still in the dark concerning their secret, fateful mission...

Skipper Wendover made the first notation in the log.

The men would remain unbriefed for two hours...

until the Tiger Shark cleared Ruget Sound...

and was headed for open sea.

Who the devil belongs to this gear?

[Man] Uh, we do, Chief.

Oh. You two guys, huh?

And just what do you do around here?

Underwater demolition. Seaman First Class Powell, and I'm Carney.

Yeah, I know. So you're frogmen.

Yeah, we're off tin cans.

We've, uh, looked the pigboat over from, uh, fore to aft...

but can't seem to find an empty locker, uh, to store our stuff in.

An empty locker? In a sub?

Are you kiddin'?

This whole deal is makin' less and less sense to me.

What are frogmen doin'aboard the Tiger Shark?

Following orders, like everyone else in the navy.

Beats me. But orders are orders.

Yeah, well, uh, in the meantime, where do you want us to stash these gizmos?

Come on.

[Narrator] Shortly before dawn...

the Tiger Shark, running submerged at better than 30 knots...

had left the sound behind...

and was headed for open sea.

Here are our orders, Reef.

Look 'em over while I fill in the crew.

Now hear this. This is the captain speaking.

I know you're wondering about all the mystery.

[Wendover On P.A.] Well, our job had to be kept absolutely secret.

Our mission is to find out what caused the disasters under the Arctic ice.

Once we cross the Arctic Circle, any command you hear will be the real thing.

Rlease remember it.

That's about it.

Now you know as much as I or anybody else does, for that matter.

Oh, incidentally, I assured Washington...

that this was the best sub crew in the fleet.

I know you won't make a liar out of me.

Carry on.

That's it.

What do you think?

I think I should have joined the air force.

[Narrator] A week later, the Tiger Shark was still running due north at cruising speed.

So far, the voyage was routine, uneventful.

But the nearer they came to the Arctic Circle...

the more the tension increased...

the more tiny irritations were magnified into bitter feuds...

the more the crewmen pondered their possible fate.

On the morning of May 20...

the Tiger Shark crossed the Arctic Circle into the critical area.

You're always asking me why I stay a bachelor.

There goes one of the best reasons I can think of.

- Huh? - Yeah. I might have a son like that.

I don't get it. What goes with you two?

I guess his father, Skipper Neilsen, retired before you enrolled at the academy, didn't he?

I guess.

One of the finest men and officers alive.

A real hero in the best sense of the word.

World War II.

Taught engineering and design at the academy.

- Fought like a demon for atomic subs. - So?

So, when his only son dropped out of school, began making statements...

all sounding like borrowed propaganda -

"Ban the atomic test. " "Junk the nuclear subs. "

"Spend the military budget for peace. "

Well, it just about broke the old man's heart.

Then when the newspapers picked it up...

called Carl the honest, sincere son of a warmongering father...

well, Captain Neilsen resigned from the navy.

Oh, he still keeps his hand in with projects like the Lungfish...

but it broke him all the same.

Have, uh - Have you talked to Carl?

Tried to get his side?

His side?

He's all front with no back.

How can he have a side?

Either of you men seen Dr. Neilsen?

He's in here, sir.

Oh, uh, Tuttle, Powell, would you men mind leaving us alone for a few minutes?

Sure, Mr. Holloway.

Dr. Neilsen.

What is it?

You are out.

This came for you.

- My father? - Dead?

No. As a matter of fact, he's a lot better.

Just got out of the hospital.

- What did you mean I'm out? - Your father can be in Nome, Alaska tomorrow. We have two choices.

We can ask them to bring him out by helicopter and take you off...

or we can put the Shark back into Nome.

You trade school boys are all alike, aren't you?

Anybody who doesn't think like a little gold-braided puppet is ipso facto a coward.

You said it. I didn't.

Well, wearing a uniform doesn't bestow an automatic monopoly on courage, Commander.

It just so happens I'm not a coward - physical or mental.

And before I'd risk my father's life -

- We're all risking our lives. - That may be...

but Dad stays where he is, and I'm staying here.

Oh, you are a mixed-up oddball, aren't you?

Well, perhaps. But the idea of willingly going to school...

to spend my life at a Paleozoic pastime that should have disappeared with the thunder lizards -

I'm referring to war-

that strikes me as the worst cowardice of all - being spiritually yellow.

- You mean nothing's worth fighting for? - Peace.

The dignity of man, destiny of human spirit.

Now, you show me a man who says you win these fighting wars, and I'll show you an idiot.

Oh, Carl, you talk like so many young men I've - I've known.

You talk well. Literately, intelligently-

even brilliantly sometimes.

But you're all talk. What do you do about your ideas...

your ideals?

You mentioned my uniform. These are my work clothes.

They represent what I'm willing to do...

how hard I'm willing to work for what I believe in.

I doubt your willingness for anything...

except talk about what you're against.

That talk darn near killed your father.

[Loud Bang]

- [Man On R.A.] Mr. Holloway to the conn, please. - [Alarm Blaring]

[Dave] The instruments have all gone crazy, and take a look at the screen.

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

- What hit us? - It doesn't seem possible...

but could it be an electric storm center?

Underwater?

[Dr. Kent] High-intensity arcs will burn submerged...

and millions of volts discharged in random directions.

Is there any way out of this?

Seems all around.

What about down?

- I don't know. - Take her down.

- Maximum angle, maximum depth. - Aye, aye, sir.

Take her down. Maximum angle, maximum depth.

Sir Ian has evolved a theory.

At first I wasn't about to buy it...

but we have eliminated one by one every other logical explanation.

Mmm. It is rather fantastic.

But, uh...

here...

is a chart of the Arctic region.

On it I've plotted every instant of these peculiar phenomena...

the sinkings, electrical storms...

our own experiences.

Now, uh...

here is where we encountered the electrical storm.

The Sturgeon was lost about here.

The others here, here...

and here.

- Do you see it? - See what?

The pattern. The pattern.

Each incident occurred almost precisely 1,000 statute miles from the Pole.

A line drawn through the points of occurrence...

makes almost a complete circle around the Pole.

Which adds up to what, Sir Ian?

I cannot accept the idea that these phenomena were...

either random or natural.

I believe they were motivated by...

some sort of intelligence.

Do you mean that somebody is -

I didn't mean to imply a human intelligence.

Well, what on earth kind of intelligence is it, Sir Ian?

Oh, perhaps... it's not an intelligence on Earth.

Perhaps it's an intelligence from beyond the Earth.

What can we do about it, sir?

I've been thinking about that.

As you see, these occurrences were on this line...

almost a perfect circle around the Pole.

However, there may be a significant break in that ring...

here in the area of the Queen Victoria Sea near FranzJosef Land...

north of Murmansk and Finland.

Supposing your theorizing is correct...

then this could be the next danger point.

Yes. Yes.

But supposing we, uh, anticipated a little.

Supposing...

the Tiger Shark was lurking there, waiting.

He could be right.

We'll chart our course right straight across the Pole and bring us here.

The Queen Victoria Sea.

[Narrator] So, swiftly, implacably...

the Tiger Shark moved across the top of the world...

toward a rendezvous with what?

We've been running due south along the 30th degree of longitude.

By my reckoning we should be about here, just short of our planned position.

- And that should be - - Just about the critical point, if we're on the right track.

- Prepare to surface. Flank speed. - Aye.

Prepare to surface. Flank speed.

Mr. Milburn. Quick, look at this.

Skipper, Reef!

Those chunks of ice are coming right at us. Dive! Dive!

Dive! Dive!

- Determine extent of damage. - Aft to torpedo room, report.

This is Griff, Captain.

Moderate leak in overhead plates. Damage to main driveshaft housing.

Forced to full stop.

- We're dead in the water. - [Dave] Captain.

[Reef] Whatever it is, it certainly can travel.

Course and speed.

Speed, about 22 knots.

Course, due north.

Directly toward the Pole.

- Are you two flounders about set? - We're ready.

Now, try and remember, you're not going out to rehearse a water ballet.

- We need a damage report. - I never should have volunteered.

If I had enough sense, I would have -

Hey, uh, look out for the sharks, huh?

A pure oval shape...

with this cyclops-like eye, or turret, on top.

I'd estimate its diameter at, oh, 300 feet.

No discernible orifices.

The eye of Cyclops.

What did you say, Sir Ian?

Just musing about our one-eyed adversary...

and the Homer legend.

The Cyclopes were the sons of heaven...

who forged the thunderbolts thrown by Zeus.

Our own cyclops throws quite a thunderbolt itself.

I knew there was something familiar.

Take a look.

This picture was taken by an amateur astronomer over New Mexico.

I've had it since I served on the Air Force Evaluation Board...

for U.F.O. Reports.

"Unidentified flying objects. "

Then this is a flying saucer.

That was the popular designation, yes.

Weren't all the sightings in the sky, not underwater?

This would explain why there were never any reports of landings.

It's quite possible that whoever or...

whatever inhabits this craft...

is not a land creature at all...

but some form of marine life.

That would make our little green men actually little green fish.

Undersea flying saucers.

- Excuse me, skipper. - Yeah, Griff?

All internal repairs completed, and frogmen report exterior damage minor.

- Good. - Then we can get under way, huh?

- Right, sir. - Dave, you plotted the course of Cyclops?

Then that's our course.

Where he goes, we go until we get him.

Or perhaps until he gets us.

[Narrator] So the Tiger Shark began relentlessly stalking her space enemy.

Up to the Role, back to the Arctic Circle, again and again.

A week, a fortnight, a month.

[Narrator] Never a glimpse of their enemy, but there were reports.

New disasters, new ships and lives lost.

Invariably, the Tiger Shark made for the scene...

only to arrive after Cyclops had left.

For all its desperation, the pursuit seemed fruitless.

And then on July 3, Dr. Kent and Sir Ian...

held an urgent discussion with Reef and the skipper.

Why does Cyclops invariably turn to the Pole between attacks?

Never two in succession.

Always away and back, away and back.

We've asked ourselves that over and over a thousand times.

But answers are what we need, not more questions.

We think now we have them.

We took for granted his source of energy was nuclear.

But suppose it isn't at all.

What if it is magnetic?

Yes. Yes.

We harness energy on a small scale by cutting magnetic lines of force.

Supposing Cyclops does it on a superscale?

The North Pole is the positive end of the biggest magnet of all: the Earth itself.

What you're getting at is that you think our saucer friend...

must return to the Pole regularly to recharge his batteries.

That may be oversimplifying it. But, uh -

Now, uh, our present tactics are useless.

But suppose we place ourselves between Cyclops and the Pole.

In such a way as to prevent him returning to the Pole to...

as you put it, recharge his batteries.

If we are lucky enough to catch him with his power depleted.

Then we polish him off with an atomic fish.

We wait till the next report of trouble, and then we lie in wait for him...

right in his path, and bushwhack him.

- "Bushwhack"? - Yes, it's an American tactical expression.

Oh.

[Narrator] So, a change of tactics.

Now the Tiger Shark cruised almost over the North Role...

waiting for the radio report that would put the plan into effect.

On July 13, at 1600 hours, it came.

- We got it, Reef. - Cyclops?

Sounds like a distress signal from a small freighter between Ellesmere Island and Greenland.

- One Mayday, then nothing. - Where's the skipper?

Already in the conn.

- [Dave] We're here. - [Wendover] All right.

This is where Cyclops knocked off the freighter.

This is the way he has to head for home - the Pole.

Here we are, right in his path.

Sonar and TV-scan the bottom. Find a good place to hide and lie in wait for him...

maybe a cave or a valley.

Rig for silent running.

As soon as we're on the bottom, secure everything that hums or buzzes.

- I want absolute silence. - Very well.

Rig for silent running.

[Narrator] Hour upon hour, the Tiger Shark lay in its deep-six ambush.

The Arctic depths were as still and silent as an uninhabited world.

And then at 0600 hours -

[Clicking]

Skipper, Dr. Kent.

- What is it? - That's him.

It has to be.

Range: 22 miles.

Speed: I give it 14 knots.

His radiation level is very low.

That would confirm our theory about having to return to the Pole.

It better be correct.

Get me a setup on the T.D.C. Range: about seven miles.

Reef, arm atomic warheads. Load Tubes 1 and 2, and report to the conn.

- Sounds like we mean business. - Yeah.

Griff, you arm number two. I'll handle number one.

[Machinery Whirring, Beeping]

Load one and two. Open outer doors.

Stand by for action.

Range: now 15 miles.

- You sure it's Cyclops? - Take a look.

Range: 14.5 miles.

Griff to skipper. Tubes 1 and 2 loaded.

Outer doors open. Ready to fire.

Stand by.

[Beeping]

Range: eight miles.

Range: 73/4 miles.

Zero minus 10...

nine, eight...

seven, six, five...

four, three, two...

one, target zero.

Fire 1.

- Number one, fired. - Fire 2.

Number two, fired.

- How are they running? - Hot, straight and normal.

Number one missed.

How could it? We're dead on the target with the homing first.

- What's that? - A mass of jelly-like stuff came out of the thing and caught our torpedo.

It must function like a degaussing field.

We'll never get a torpedo through that.

Maybe not a torpedo.

Blow all main ballast tanks. Reactor room, stand by.

As soon as we're off the bottom, I want all ahead, flank.

- [Dave] What course, skipper? - Right at our one-eyed friend.

- Right at him? - That's what I said.

- But what can we accomplish? - We can ram him.

You've weighed the consequences, Captain, the lives involved?

Doctor, I've weighed the destruction that the Cyclops has done already...

and what he'll do in the future unless we stop him right now.

- There must be some other means. - What other means?

If the Tiger Shark can't stop him, no power on Earth can.

Now brace yourselves.

Sound the collision alarm.

[Siren Blaring]

[Rumbling]

We got him, skipper. Drove right into him.

Look at that. Speared him like a fish.

We did it, boys. Dove right through the saucer's side.

Reactor room, give me all reverse, full.

We're stuck tight.

Skipper, take a look at this depth gauge.

180 fathoms? We can't be sinking that fast.

It's our screws, skipper. At our declination angle, running in reverse...

they're pulling the shark and cyclops right to the bottom.

And we're at safe maximum depth already.

- Full stop. - Full stop.

[Thuds]

[Narrator] Hours later, the two titanic craft were still locked together...

in an apparent death grip...

on the bottom of the Arctic Ocean...

nearly 1200 feet below the surface.

Well, anybody got any ideas?

Anything's better than lying here.

Suppose there's some kind of atmosphere inside the Cyclops.

What do you mean?

Well, maybe we could get inside the saucer. We could use our torches...

- to cut the Shark loose. - That's all very well, young man.

How would one go about getting inside Cyclops?

Through the eye using the depth explorer.

Yes. The explorer was built to operate at even greater depths.

Yeah, but suppose there isn't any atmosphere inside the saucer.

Well, then the idea's no good. But we're no worse off than we are now.

- [Dave] You've gotta let us try, skipper. - Us?

Reef and I could take the explorer down, clamp it onto the eye -

[Neilsen] No. You can't, but I can.

I can deliver you to the eye. Then you -

A little out of your line, isn't it? Why don't you stay aboard and make a speech?

Maybe you could get them to ban flying saucers.

Listen, Holloway. However our ideas disagree, I've said before, I'm not a coward.

And it happens you have no choice. Either I take you down there in the Lungfish...

- or you don't get there. - I'd sooner swim.

- That's enough, both of you. - Very well, sir.

No use making the odds any longer than they are.

It so happens that Dr. Neilsen's right.

Get the explorer in the air lock and prepare for launching.

- Better take Carney and Powell with you. - The frogmen?

That's right. Their underwater experience might make them invaluable.

- You'll need sidearms. - Sidearms? The saucer's dead.

- You hope. - We better get ready.

Girls, you go everywhere I go.

All right, Carl. There's still time.

- You wanna show me how? - Get in.

[Griff On R.A.] Ready to open air lock door, Captain.

Go ahead, Griff.

- What now? - What do you say, Doctor?

- Shall we take a chance? - That's what we came for.

You all stay here. I'm gonna take a look inside.

Not alone, you're not.

Better breathe your oxygen, just in case.

- Air, pure air, under pressure. - That's a relief.

Well, we won't need these tanks.

Good luck, men.

All right, let's go.

The bow drilled through her, but she sealed herself right up.

Yeah, there's our problem.

The sawteeth of the ram are caught in the break.

Now, if we can cut it away, the Shark can pull herself loose.

- I think you're right. - Powell, go back to Dr. Neilsen.

Tell him to report to the skipper.

All right, let's get to work.

We read you, Doctor. Go ahead.

They're inside the Cyclops. It's full of breathable air.

- Wonderful. - That's great, Doctor.

Reef thinks that he can clear the Shark's bow so we can pull ourselves loose.

What's it like inside the Cyclops? This is a priceless opportunity to -

Doctor, tell Reef to make sure that you're in the clear before we make another move.

Right. Over.

- We may get out of this yet. - Skipper.

- Could you take a look here? - What's wrong, Griff?

The inertial navigation system must've been knocked out in the crash.

We're dead in the water, but it indicates we're moving.

- That's impossible. - The radiation level from the saucer is rising.

What direction does the system indicate?

Due north at five knots.

No, six.

Toward the Pole.

But that Cyclops is dead. We killed it, didn't we?

Beats me.

- Dave. - Yeah?

Do you hear anything?

I don't hear anything. You've been down here too long.

You better go topside and rest.

Strange you don't hear it.

- Reef. - Huh?

You know something? I think it's getting lighter in here.

Yeah. Yeah, it is.

If I didn't know better...

I'd swear we were moving.

Well, let's get back to work, and maybe we will be soon.

I'm getting an impression of movement, Captain. Is that possible?

We get the same reaction up here.

Now they're feeling it down below.

The radiation level, constantly rising.

As we near the Pole.

There's got to be an explanation.

I think there is.

I believe our friend Cyclops is returning to life.

[Male Voice] Commander Holloway, listen.

- Dave. - Commander Holloway, make no resistance.

Did you hear it?

That sound again?

This time it was a voice. It called my name.

Look, why don't you go topside?

[Voice] You will see- that avails nothing.

Where do you think the sound was coming from?

Down there somewhere.

[Low-pitched Hum]

[Hum Continues]

[High-pitched Hum]

[Loud Hum]

Carney! Carney, help me!

CarneyI Help me, CarneyI Help meI

[Hum Increases]

CarneyI Carney, helpI

[Hum Continues]

[Grunting]

- [Cracking] - [Gasping]

[Retching]

[Voice] Remove your weapons, Commander.

And come here below.

- Come where? - To me, here.

That voice again?

It wants me to go alone.

Oh, it does, does it?

You better stay here.

So, Commander Holloway, as you Earth inhabitants would express it...

we meet, face-to-face.

That's a face?

Roint of view is everything.

To us, your form of life is ugly...

as we appear to you.

Tell me something.

Why is it that I can hear you and the others can't?

You do not hear me.

Our individual brain frequencies are now attuned...

and we exchange wave-thoughts.

You mean, extrasensory perception?

Whatever your Earth term may be...

the principle is ancient and very simple.

It is not necessary for you to speak.

Your thought response will suffice.

My mission is to study various solar systems and planets.

Select the most suitable for colonization.

[Thinking] For horrors like yourself?

Of course. It may interest you to know I have visited hundreds of other worlds...

and of all of them, your Earth seems most suitable.

[Thinking] Swell.

[Creature] Your friend was to remain where he was.

- [Thinking] He did. - I am afraid not.

- Dave. - What's going on in here, lad? What -

Stand away from him, Commander.

He wants you back.

So this is your headquarters. Well, you've sunk your last ship, you -

[High-pitched Hum]

[Low Hum]

[Screaming]

[Thinking] Why not me? What am I, the closing act?

On the contrary. I want you unharmed, perfect.

[Thinking] Why?

I have selected you to return with me...

along with several other specimens for study.

We will examine you and the others...

discover desirable features to incorporate in our Earth colonizers.

[Thinking] And you just build them in, huh?

Of course. Evolution is much too slow a process.

On Earth, you build with inanimate material.

We employ living tissue.

This space vehicle, for example.

It is a living thing.

When damaged- you would say "wounded"-

it immediately heals itself.

[Thinking] Oh, that's why no water leaked inside when we rammed you.

Of course. But it is time to begin the return voyage.

[Thinking] To navigate, won't you have to see your way?

Obviously.

It'll be rough!

[Clicks]

- Back to the Shark, right now. - What about Dave and the others?

Fortunes of war.

Skipper, this is Reef from the depth explorer.

- Rull looseI - Right, Reef.

Reactor room, get me all back. Emergency.

- Well, what about the - - Skipper, we didn't kill it.

And if that thing ever gets back to where it came from...

- the Earth is doomed and everybody on it. - [Rumbling]

[Man On R.A.] We've pulled loose, Captain. We're freeI

[Reef] There it goes.

Headed straight for the Role, 50 knots.

Nothing we can do.

Excuse me, Captain. There may be one last desperate chance.

What's that?

It's possible I could adapt one of the torpedo guidance systems to the I.C.B.M...

so it would home on the saucer when he rises from the Pole.

What about the time?

The Cyclops will have to linger at the Pole to recharge its power banks.

Well, it's worth a chance.

Reef, take over as navigator and see if you can find us an air hole in the ice.

- Let's go. - Very well.

[Narrator] Adapt a complicated guidance system to a huge ballistic rocket.

Convert it to a water-to-air interceptor missile.

It was foolish. It was insane. It was fantastic.

But it was their only hope...

and the Earth's only hope.

- Ready? - As ready as we can be.

I'll report to the skipper.

Skipper...

we found our hole in the ice.

What's the corrected bearing to the magnetic pole?

357 degrees.

Prepare the I.C.B.M. for firing.

Well, that's about all we can do until our space friend decides to blast off.

Skipper, I think it's -

[Rumbling]

[Buzzing]

Fire! Fire!

[Explosion Continues]

Attention, all hands.

We got him.

Cigarette?

Ah, they're so remote, the stars.

- [Reef] Hmm. - Cold and beautiful.

- Now I wonder. - Yeah?

Which is the one? The one we have to worry about?

Well, we have enough ills here to worry about.

But maybe,just maybe...

when their ship doesn't return, they'll decide not to come here after all.

But if they do?

- Well. - Oh, I wouldn't worry.

Knowing we have boats like the Tiger Shark...

men like you, skipper...

Dave, Sir Ian, Kent, and my father-

And his egghead son. We'll give 'em a rough reception, won't we?

You know, I think I lost my little black book on that lousy thing.

While the Harvey system neither demands nor expects...

...the impossible from any employee, it does insist upon honest...

...excellent, hygienic, cleanly, prompt and cheerful service at all times.

Yes, siree, Bob. And he means every word of it.

You've been with him a long time.

I've been cooking in Harvey Houses for the last 14 years.

You must be well-done by now.

Madame! You say your coffee is weak?

Give it to me. I'll put it on the chair and let it rest awhile.

Just call me "Conscientious Connie," the queen of the waitresses!

I'm sorry, Miss Bliss.

That's all right, Ethel.

There's one thing you girls have yet to learn:

A Harvey girl is more than a waitress.

Wherever a Harvey House appears, civilization is not far behind.

You girls are the symbol and the promise of the order that is to come.

The restaurant we're opening in Sandrock is the first the town has ever had.

Its success depends upon how you conduct yourselves.

Now, how about some lunch?

It's lovely. I'm hungry.

- Here, let me help you. - Thank you.

Have you ever eaten a Chillicothe sandwich, Deborah?

- Chillicothe? What's that? - It's a secret recipe of my Aunt Melvina's.

Won her two blue ribbons and three husbands.

- Try it to see if you like it. - No, thanks. I'm full.

- Would you like to try it? - Why, yes. Thank you very much.

I always wanted to taste a Chillicothe sandwich.

Tastes just like chicken.

You have to try another before you can tell the difference.

Thank you. I hope I'm not depriving you.

If General Custer had our provisions, he'd still be standing.

I've wanted to meet you ever since we got on the train at Kansas City.

My name is Susan Bradley. I'm from Ohio.

- We're Harvey girls. - What's that, a college?

No. We're waitresses.

We're going to Sandrock to open a restaurant.

Sandrock! That's where I'm going.

- Is that your home? - No.

- Are you visiting? - No.

- Going to work? - Then why on earth are you going?

To get married.

- Does he live in Sandrock? - Yes, he owns a big ranch there.

- What's his name? - His name is H.H. Hartsey, Esquire.

Is he tall and handsome, and does he have raven-black hair?

And flashing blue eyes?

I like brown eyes.

- His are brown. - You said they were blue.

Well, they are. I mean, one of them is.

I mean...

Well, to tell you the truth, I haven't met him yet.

- How did you catch him? - I answered a matrimonial ad in the paper.

Well, really!

I once sent my picture to a lonely hearts club...

...but it came back marked, "We're not that lonely!"

Well, I think it's wonderful.

I think it's wonderful, too. When I answered the ad, he wrote back.

Thank you very much.

- What wonderful curlicues. - And commas after everything.

This is the first one.

- Would you like to hear a little of it? - Yes, indeed. Please.

"There is a dream here, in this great land, that not everybody sees.

"Mountains and sunlight, and the cleanest wind in the world...

"...waiting for a man and a woman with a little vision."

What was so wrong with Ohio?

There was nothing wrong with Ohio. It was just so old-fashioned.

There were several men in that town I could have married, I suppose.

Only, it's so smug and sure of itself and so settled...

...that I wanted a chance to do something different...

...to see something different, a whole new world opening up.

And, after all, the Constitution guarantees the pursuit of happiness...

...but it's up to me to do the pursuing.

So that's why I answered the ad, and that's why I'm on this train.

I think you did the right thing.

- Would you like to see my wedding dress? - Yes.

I must say, I admire your spirit.

Most girls would have come out here and gotten married in a navy blue suit.

That must be Sandrock!

Mrs. H.H. Hartsey, Esquire.

Mighty nice looking sign you're putting up there, Mr. Adams.

You being the manager of the place...

...I suppose you're optimistic enough to think it's going to stay there.

There are a lot of them around the country, Judge...

...and I haven't heard of any of them failing to stay put.

It's a pity you'll be disillusioned so soon.

- Hi, Judge. - Hi, boys.

- How are you, Judge? - Good day, Judge.

Hello, John Henry.

Hey, Mike, where's the boss?

Right over there.

Trent, I want to talk to you.

There's a lady singing.

- That's a good number. - Terry taught it to me.

- Good work, Terry. - Thanks.

- It's really Em's voice that puts them over. - My voice? He's so young.

Trent, I got to talk to you.

What is stopping you, Sam? The lady's finished her song.

- Hey, boss. - Yeah?

- Is he good for a drink? - Has he had it?

- Yeah. - He's good.

Now, look here, Trent, I've wasted all the time I've got to waste.

Got a match?

Mighty nice looking place you got here.

Next year, we plan to put up lace curtains.

Not if you have to shut down, you won't.

Who's going to shut us down? You?

You know what I mean. You can't laugh off the new Harvey outfit.

Have you ever seen a restaurant? They serve food.

Next, the church will open up again. Mark my words.

Are you boys admiring each other's eyes or reading each other's epitaphs?

Em, the Judge is losing his grip.

He's afraid of a place that sells vittles. Vittles and a pack of calf-faced girls.

Those girls can fill up a town faster than law officers.

- You listen to the Judge, Ned. - This is my business.

Let's get one thing straight: We're not partners.

You run the town, I'll run the Alhambra. You'll get your usual cut.

But not just as much.

He's right. Look what happened at Larrup.

The men married the waitresses faster than they could replace them.

They did?

It's so quiet, you'd think it was New England instead of New Mexico.

- Nice women can ruin a town, right? - And how.

- The house will buy you a drink. - That's a little better.

- Where's Trent? - He's over there, at the bar.

Hey, Ned!

It's all due to you.

- How can I ever thank you? - What?

- My bride's coming in on the noon train. - You're married, Hartsey?

I ain't, but I will be.

She's come all the way out here from Ohio to marry me.

And here's the fellow what's done it.

It was him. He writ the letters for me. He courted her for me on paper.

Hartsey, maybe you'd better hightail it to the desert.

- I'll meet her and send her back to Ohio. - It's like a blind date for life.

You don't know what you're doing. You can't tell by letters.

She probably weighs 200 pounds.

That's all right.

This calls for a celebration. Hey, everybody.

Hartsey will be married this afternoon. I'll treat to champagne.

Here's to H.H. Hartsey and his rosy happiness...

...coming in on the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe.

Here she comes!

All aboard!

- Miss Bliss? - Yes.

- I'm Jed Adams. - How do you do?

- Welcome to Sandrock. - Thank you.

I want you to meet Mr. Adams, the Harvey House manager.

Miss Walters, Miss Johnson, Miss Harper...

Why, you rambunctious coyote! I'll teach you.

- Wait a minute, ma'am. I'm Mr. Hartsey. - I don't care who you are.

But, ma'am, ain't you Miss Susan Bradley, the lady that came out here to marry me?

That's Miss Susan Bradley back there.

If you ladies will please follow me. We've been awaiting your arrival.

Really? That's very nice.

Who are they?

Ladies! Ladies!

How do, Miss Bradley?

Hello, Mr. Hartsey.

- Can I carry your bag, ma'am? - My bag? Where?

I thought we was going down here to...

Yes, please, do. Thank you very much.

- Are you disappointed? - Disappointed?

Well, I mean, you didn't expect a mangy old buzzard like me, or did you?

Yes, I did. I mean, I don't think you're a mangy old buzzard.

I mean, I...

You look like a very kind and reasonable man.

Then you like me? You mean you really like me?

I, of course, don't know you very well, but you...

...certainly look to me like a very kind and reasonable man.

Thank you, ma'am. I like you, too.

Thank you. Of course, there's one thing I forgot.

I left it out of my letters. I'm an awful housekeeper.

That's all right.

In these parts, we live outside mostly, anyways.

- I'm a terrible cook. - Don't let that worry you, ma'am.

Out here, we just put things over a fire and take what happens.

Well, that's just fine, isn't it?

It's great. I can't wait for us to be hitched up, can you?

Can't wait.

- I'm going to be the happiest man in town. - I'm going to be the happiest girl.

Well, after all, that's what I came out here for, isn't it?

Well, yes, ma'am.

Miss Bradley, I think you should know something more about me.

I chew tobacco and I drink. I'm a terrible drinker.

And I gamble. Gambling, that's my downfall.

Well, Mr. Hartsey, you sound as if you...

Could it be possible you don't want to marry me?

Wait, Miss Bradley. I want to marry you. I want to marry you badly.

I want to marry you something awful, but please, ma'am...

...please say no.

Mr. Hartsey, I think you're wonderful.

Of course, if you insist, I'll say no.

I sure do thank you, ma'am.

Well, anyway, I thought your letters were beautiful.

Gosh, I didn't even write them letters.

They was written by a fellow named Ned Trent.

Who's Ned Trent?

That was Ned's idea, all in the first place.

You know, I bet he thought that'd be some kind of a funny joke like.

- A joke? - Yes, ma'am.

You mean, I've come 2,000 miles for a joke?

- Where will I find this Ned Trent? - Well, he's right inside there, ma'am.

Miss Bradley, you can't go in there.

Pardon me, which one is Mr. Trent?

- The guy over there without the hat. - Thank you.

- Mr. Trent. Mr. Trent. - See me later, I'm busy.

Wait a minute.

- Mr. Trent! - Go away, will you?

Not until I've talked to you.

If it's about a job, grab a drink and I'll see you later.

- A drink? - Open.

Call and raise.

- How many, Trent? - Two cards.

How many?

Holding a kicker? My grandfather always said that...

Hang your grandfather!

If he were alive, it's more than likely he'd hang you.

Who are you? What are you doing in this place?

I'm just somebody who doesn't like you, Mr. Trent.

I don't know if you're a thief or a murderer, but I know one thing: You're worse.

I never met, or read, or heard of anyone lower than you are.

You're a yellow-dog, Mr. Trent. Good day.

- Who was that? - I don't know...

...but I'm sure going to find out.

Hey, wait a minute!

What was that all about, miss?

"When the setting sun lowers its mantle of gold...

"...over the valley that shall be our home..."

The letters! You're Hartsey's...

- But you couldn't be! - Well, I am.

Susan Bradley.

Well, look, take this and go on back to Ohio.

Nothing's happened...

...except that a nice girl has had an interesting trip.

Oh, wouldn't you love it if I went back to Ohio?

Me and the other nice girls who came out here today!

Well, they won't.

Whatever you and the other cutthroats do, we won't.

Listen to me. If anybody leaves here, it'll be you and your kind.

Men who run gambling palaces and send lying letters to girls...

...and sell a lot of liquor to drunkards.

Before we're finished with this town, you'll swallow those letters you wrote...

...and yes, I hope you choke on them, too!

- Miss Bliss. - Yes, Susan?

You've got yourself another Harvey girl.

Dining room to the left. Lunch counter to the right.

Ample notice will be given before the departure of the train.

- Hi, Goldust. When did you blow in? - Just passing through.

You've got too much class for these prairie dogs.

Come to the coast with me.

No dice, Goldust. Keep asking. It's good for my morale.

- Going to have supper with me? - As a matter of fact, I'm dining out.

- Harvey House? - I'll stroll over and size up the competition.

Yours or mine?

What do you mean?

I'd still like to know what was in those letters.

If I did, I'd probably know you as well as you know me.

It's no mystery, Em.

Why do you go out alone in the desert all the time?

- Who said I do? - Everybody knows you do.

What have you got buried in that valley?

You wouldn't believe this, Em, but I've got nothing in that valley.

It's nice to look at.

See you later.

- Your order, sir? - I'll have a great big sirloin steak.

One steak.

- Welcome to the Harvey House. - Thank you, Miss Bradley.

- How would you like your steak? - Rare.

Rare. Potatoes?

- Just the steak. - Just the steak.

If you can get it.

We're famous for our steaks, Mr. Trent.

We'll have your steak in a minute, sir.

Hey! What did she do that for? I wasn't finished.

It's because of your manners.

In a place like this, you don't blow on your soup.

You fan it with your hat.

One sirloin steak, rare.

- We ain't got it. - What?

No roast beef or lamb chops...

...and not a single one of those famous Harvey steaks.

- The meat's disappeared. - And so has our manager.

I think I know what's happened.

- Anything could have happened. - You think somebody stole all that?

I'm looking forward to the steak.

You shall have it, Mr. Trent.

Get out, you drunk!

Stick 'em up!

Come on. Stick 'em up, now!

Anybody that gets in my way...

...you're going to have to answer for the consequences.

So, come on. Stick 'em up!

Watch out, men. Be careful!

I'd rather have Deadeye Dick than a female with a gun in her hand!

Now, I'm from the Harvey House.

We got a lot of hungry people there waiting to be served.

And I don't want to hurt anybody. Honestly, I don't!

But we're famous for our steaks, and I'm not going to let anybody stop me.

So, come on, get 'em up. Put 'em up!

That's right.

Now, you, tell me where that meat is or I'll shoot.

What meat?

Lady, your meat's in there.

Come on, boys. Get your hands up!

Mr. Adams, are you all right?

John Henry, go there and untie Mr. Adams.

I need strong men to carry this meat.

- Right away. - Pick up the trays. Come on.

Get it back to the Harvey. You ought to be ashamed.

We have people to feed there. Come on, hurry up.

- Let's get moving! - Mr. Adams, will you take this?

- John Henry, get these down here. - Yes, ma'am.

Come on. Hurry up. March.

Come on. Out.

Thank you very much.

I just want to thank you all.

My!

Did I do that?

I am sorry, I didn't mean to let it go off again.

You've been very kind and thank you all very much.

- Good night. - Good night.

One steak, very rare.

Good night, Arabella.

Look at that little goose pimple, all moon-eyed over a song.

I just came out for a breath of air.

- Deborah's romantic. - It isn't that. It's just that I like music.

Imagine coming 2,000 miles from everywhere to hear a song like that.

And from a saloon.

Why did you become a Harvey girl, Deborah?

I thought it would be exciting. What I really wanted to be...

...was a dancer.

But my family thought it wasn't respectable.

A dancer?

- And you, Alma? - I lived on a farm.

- Why did you leave it? - I was hungry.

Well, here we are.

Yes, the three of us.

I don't know if we're the three musketeers or the three blind mice.

The low-down, crawling worm. Shooting at women!

Ladies, I'm afraid we can call that the opening gun in the battle for Sandrock.

You can fight it without me. I'm taking the first train out of here.

Girls! Please!

You'll not let this crude theatrical demonstration frighten you.

We won't stay here to get murdered in our beds.

I'm sure, when you calm down, you'll change your mind and stay.

If I stayed, it wouldn't be because I changed my mind, but because I lost it.

I'm leaving.

Girls...

...l'd hoped you'd have the courage to see this through.

But if you insist upon leaving...

...that's a decision which you'll have to make for yourselves.

Good afternoon, Judge.

So you're back? Still peddling religion?

Sandrock needs it a heap-sight more than folks on the circuit.

We don't aim to have a church in Sandrock.

You've already got a church in Sandrock, Judge.

All I aim to do is reopen it.

Listen, we agreed you were going to stay out of this town.

You agreed. I didn't.

You can't scare me the way you did those girls last night.

- Bullets are an old story to me. - What's this about bullets, Sam?

- Mind your own business, Ned. - I'll see you later.

There's always a gun popping off. That's how it is. Boys will be boys.

They fired a bullet into the lamp where the girls were sleeping.

That's what I mean.

No harm done, and we got rid of four of them already.

Pretty good?

Reverend Claggett, go ahead with the church.

Why, thanks, Mr. Trent.

Ned, the Reverend doesn't have a sense of humor.

- I'm not joking. Go right ahead, Reverend. - I will.

You go over to those girls right away and tell them not to worry.

There'll be no more accidental bullets in their lives.

Wait a minute, Ned. We're in this together, aren't we?

But let's stick to the Marquis of Queensberry rules.

We should lick a bunch of women with our hands tied behind our backs.

That's the biggest mistake you ever made.

If they want a church to let off steam in instead of the Alhambra...

...I guess the Alhambra can hold its own.

Now, go on over there and tell them.

Well, now, that's a promising idea. I'm quite sentimental about flowers.

I was discussing it with Reverend Claggett.

Reverend? I thought they'd closed the church.

Yes, but we aim to open it again real soon.

There are some people who don't like the idea of a church here.

Mr. Trent, for instance.

They don't like having you ladies here either...

...but we figure to overcome their objections.

Yes, indeed, beautiful flowers.

A church, lovely young ladies like you.

This town is going to be something to be proud of.

- May I? - Surely.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

A man's apt to forget his manners in a rough country like this.

- I'm Judge Purvis. - How do you do?

I'm Miss Susan Bradley and this is Miss Deborah Andrews.

- How do you do? - It's nice to meet a man like you here.

The pleasure is mine. I hope we'll see a lot of each other.

- Thank you. - Thank you. Good day, Miss Andrews.

- Miss Bradley. - Good day.

He's nice, isn't he?

Well, at least there's one gentleman in Sandrock.

Now I know who fired that shot...

...l'm going to do something about it right now.

Slumming, Miss Bradley?

- I was just looking for your employer. - You've got your own backyard. Stay in it.

You certainly don't mind my coming over to pay you a little call, do you?

In return for the call you folks paid us last night?

What do you want out of Ned Trent?

Nothing.

I want to thank him for all the hospitable things he's done for us.

- You're letting it go to your head. - Letting what go to my head?

Listen, don't fool yourself. Ned ain't doing this for you personally.

When he told Purvis to cut out the rough stuff, it was no love message to you.

When he told Claggett to open up the church...

...it doesn't mean he'll put on a pair of white gloves...

...and cuddle up to you in the front pew.

If you meant anything, he wouldn't have sent Judge to tell you.

Ned Trent can talk for himself. But you don't mean anything to him, see?

He don't consider you worth fighting. He'll give you your flowers and church.

You can sleep all you want at night.

But still he won't recognize you the next time he looks at you.

You're in love with him.

Me in love with him? Why, he don't even know I'm alive.

Him and his valley.

Valley? What valley?

He doesn't even know you're alive either.

- You're not very sure of yourself, are you? - Listen, you little insignificant...

I may be little, and I suppose I am insignificant...

...but I must be getting somewhere, my friends and I...

...or a significant citizen like you could never be so very, very worried.

'Morning.

You the new blacksmith?

We just opened up and I...

My name is Peters. Most people call me Marty.

Well, my name's Maule, but where I come from people call me Tex.

- Where do you come from, Tex? - Massachusetts.

Take good care how you shoe this horse.

Last time, they done it all wrong, and I didn't like it, see.

- Horse is like my own brother. - There is a resemblance.

That is, I mean to say, you can trust me, sir.

I'll shoe him like he was my own brother.

His shoes are about six and seven-eighths. There's one up there.

I'll be back.

Chris! What's the matter?

Marty Peters was here. He left his horse...

Marty Peters! The one that shot the last blacksmith?

Yeah. He seems to think a lot of this horse and... He did what?

It's really only a rumor based on circumstantial evidence.

- No eyewitnesses? - A few...

...but nobody actually saw the bullet leave the gun.

If you're going to shoe that horse, you'd better get started.

Alma, I've a confession.

- I'm afraid of horses. - That's all in your mind.

- Say to yourself, "I'm brave." - I'm brave.

- "I'm determined." - I'm determined.

- "I'm fearless." - I'm fearless. I'm a liar.

Come ahead, Chris. Show the horse you're not afraid of him.

Would you please sit down and give me your foot?

That's not the way, silly.

See?

It's very simple.

All you have to do is take the pincers and pry all the nails from the foot.

Then you take a rasp and file the foot down.

Then you take a hot shoe, red-hot, and burn his foot to a level.

Then he's ready for shoeing.

Place it on his foot and drive six long nails into it.

I suppose I'll have to do it.

No.

Lose something, Miss Bradley?

Mr. Trent. Do you mind if I come down?

Thank you.

This country's not healthy for a woman, Miss Bradley.

Why? Do you mean because I tripped? That could happen back in Ohio.

But back in Ohio they'd find you.

It's certainly a nice view from out here.

- Is this where you usually come? - Yes. Whenever I want to be alone.

I think that's a very good idea.

Getting off by yourself every so often. It gives you a chance to think things out.

- What are you thinking out? - Me?

I wanted to get a good look at a fellow...

...who'd run a saloon on one side and help a church on the other.

You're a little bit mixed up. I'm not helping any church.

My, your valley is beautiful, Mr. Trent.

Almost as beautiful as your letters.

I said I was sorry about the letters.

I'm not angry about that. I've forgotten about it.

I know you had a reason. You did it for a friend.

It was kind of like John Alden.

Alden?

Yes. Don't you know the story?

Well, it seems there was a man in love with a girl.

Priscilla, her name was.

And he sent John Alden to propose for him.

John Alden said he would. It's a wonderful story.

Anyway, right after John Alden finished proposing...

...Priscilla looked at him and said, "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?"

Go on. How does it end?

I don't know. It's pretty silly. I don't think you'd like it.

Why not? I like all the things Longfellow wrote.

Miss Bradley, do you mind if I ask you something?

Do you suppose if I wrote a letter, a serious letter, that...

...some girl might be willing to marry me?

I suppose judging by me, Mr. Trent, that she'd take you like that.

I don't know. Sometimes you don't even have to write.

That's a lot of trouble. Sometimes all you have to do is that.

Some girls are just a little harder to get than others.

- Like girls from Ohio? - Yes, Ohio will do. Yes.

Thanks for the story, Miss Bradley.

- You'd better get back to town. - No, I think I'll stay here.

- It's not safe for a woman alone. - Really, what could happen?

You could pitch off that cliff.

- We've got cliffs in Ohio. - There are coyotes.

- What else? - Not to mention a few million snakes.

We've got snakes in Ohio, too. What else?

You got that in Ohio, too?

Yes, we've got plenty of that in Ohio...

Here, here, what's the matter? You all right?

Of course, I'm all right.

I bet you think that's the first time I've ever been kissed.

Isn't it?

Big, strong man.

I bet you carry smelling salts when you go out with a girl.

- Did you want some? - No!

- It's been a lovely afternoon, Mr. Trent. - I enjoyed it, too, Miss Bradley.

- And now we part. - Right.

And you disappear back...

...into the gilt and glitter of your charming establishment.

How many men do you think would stay here without the Alhambra?

Sure the men drink and dance in my place...

...and some of them lose their money...

...but at least they get something in return. Fun, excitement...

...and a couple of hours of diversion.

And a headache and an empty pocketbook the next morning.

I was just going to pick up my slippers, and there it was.

- She might have been bitten. - Or any of us.

I don't know why I ever came to this horrible place, I'm leaving.

Me, too.

Strange. How could a snake have gotten into that closet?

Is this your idea of fun, excitement, and a little diversion, Mr. Trent?

I told you we're fighting fair, didn't I?

- You can't fight fair and take their side. - I killed the snake.

It doesn't matter, anyone could've done it.

The men who put the snake in there are still alive.

And you won't shoot them because they're your customers.

I just killed one of your pets, Sam.

- I don't get it. - Get this.

If anything else happens to the Harvey girls, you'll answer to me.

- You joined up with the petticoats? - I haven't joined anything.

All I'm saying to you is, lay off.

It's my turn. I'll get the next basket.

Hello.

Hello. I was just passing by and heard your song.

Do you like it?

It's beautiful. I heard you singing it the other night.

I hoped you were listening.

Deborah.

- I wondered what happened to you. - I heard the music and...

Susan, this is Mr...

O'Halloran, miss. Terry O'Halloran.

I hope you don't think there's anything wrong.

No. Of course, I don't think there's anything wrong.

Let's get out of here.

Listen. Wait a minute. My intentions are honorable.

Honestly, I mean, no fooling!

Miss Bradley.

I'll be along in just a moment.

Quite a run on Harvey girls we're having this morning.

Was there another matrimonial ad in some paper?

Look, miss, we hardly know each other, so suppose we keep it that way.

Just a minute.

I hear you and the Harvey girls are having a little party tonight.

It's a big party.

Don't you think you should stick to dishwashing?

We're minding our own business. Suppose you stick to your own profession.

Our profession is entertainment, see.

And we don't like competition.

Well, we're amateurs. Don't tell me you're afraid of us?

Afraid of you?

- Who are you kidding? - Come on.

- Let me at her. - Come on.

My arm!

You're tearing my dress.

- Good evening. - Good evening.

Good evening.

- Won't you go in? - Thank you.

Now, for the pi�ce de r�sistance!

Folks, we'll teach you a brand-new dance.

It's the first dance where a fellow puts his arm around the lady's waist.

It's a brand-new dance that's all the rage way back East...

...in Kansas City.

All right, girls, line up and demonstrate the waltz.

That's very good, girls. Now, get yourselves partners.

Come on, boys. Join in. Let's all have a good time.

- Come on. Let's have a good time. - I tell you, I can't do it, so help me, ma'am.

Anybody want our tickets?

I'll go, Miss Bliss.

- I'll take your tickets. - It's our turn to go slumming.

Thank you.

All right, folks.

Step lively now, and everybody choose your partners for the waltz.

Well, go ahead, ladies, choose your partners.

I'll bet you're glad to see me, Bucky-boy.

See you later. I'm already took.

- Hello, mister. Dancing? - Yes, ma'am. I'd be right...

I'm sure he'd like to, but you see, he has a very bad leg.

Well, maybe some other time.

Well, Miss Cassidy, I ain't got no bad leg.

You have now.

- Now you're acting more like a man, Ned. - I feel better myself.

Quite a little contest we're having.

Last year, if you didn't like somebody, you settled it with your fists or a gun.

- Now we dance it out, don't we? - We're doing all right, I'm proud of us.

- All right, girls, we don't belong here. - Let's go where we do belong.

Any of you gentlemen like to join us?

- How about you, Sam? - It would be a pleasure, Ned.

Any of you gentlemen care for a little recreation?

Miss Bradley, something wonderful has happened.

Look at that. Do you realize what's going on?

That's mighty fine, Reverend Claggett.

- It's wonderful. - Yes.

It's more than that.

On this night, the male population of Sandrock, for the first time...

...turned down a wild time in favor of a good time.

Did you lose something, Mr. Trent?

Yes. I lost a fight, Miss Bradley.

The gingham curtains and the flower pots get the decision.

You mean you're giving up?

Not exactly.

There's a mining town, Flagstaff, about 100 miles from here.

That's where Alhambra's planning to move.

When?

Tomorrow morning, the breakfast train.

Is that what you came up here to tell me?

Yes.

What do you expect me to say?

I don't know.

I guess I hoped you'd be glad. It might make it easier for me to leave.

All right then, I'm glad. I only wish you'd left a long time ago.

So do I. Maybe it wouldn't have happened then.

- What? - Meeting you.

Yes, that was bad, wasn't it? Two people as far apart as we are.

Yes.

Now, for the first time in my life, I've got things to remember.

I take it that you don't like memories, Mr. Trent.

They don't pay off.

They keep you awake nights.

Will you be awake many nights, Ned?

Every night. I'll be wondering if I should've stayed.

Well, you couldn't.

If you did, it wouldn't make any difference, you'd be giving in to me.

A thing like this can't be one-sided.

We'd both have to give in. Both of us together.

Where would that put us?

No place in this world...

...because it just can't be done.

Goodbye, Susan.

Can't leave you alone for a minute, can I?

Now, put out that fire.

- Sam, I won't let you do this. - You're not? We'll see.

We're going to the Alhambra to have a little talk.

Go ahead.

This way, ladies and gentlemen. Temporary quarters across the street.

Ample notice will be given before the departure of the train.

Right across the street. Temporary quarters across the street.

Trust me, after this town, Flagstaff will be a pleasure.

Do you want some sugar?

Em, I'll see you on the train.

All aboard!

- Where are you going, Ned? - I don't know myself.

- Well, come on inside. - Leave me alone. I've got to think.

You can think inside.

I'm sorry, Em...

...but I'm afraid my traveling days are over.

Divvy this up with the girls and say goodbye to them for me.

All right. Stay in Sandrock.

And thanks.

Thanks for nothing.

Goodbye.

- What happened to Trent? - I gave him his walking papers.

Em, do you mean what you're not saying?

Every word of it.

I'll buy San Francisco and put it around your wrist like a bracelet.

I'll put it in your hair like a crown.

I've got a present for the girls in the next car.

Well, greetings from the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe.

Hello.

I bet we're going 40 miles an hour.

We're getting further and further away from Sandrock every second.

Yes, I guess so.

We should be in Flagstaff in a couple of hours.

Are you planning to stop there by the way?

I'll stop there if he does.

He?

Who?

Ned Trent.

What are you going to do in Flagstaff, wait on tables?

I don't know, but I will if he wants me to.

Look, would you accept an apology?

I'm afraid that maybe I was wrong.

I mean, you see, I'm from a little town in Ohio.

I probably acted like a snob about girls like you.

I mean, what I thought girls like you were like.

And after all, it's only a matter of style, isn't it?

I mean, some people wear one kind of dress...

...other people wear another.

And this certainly is the barren...

...blistered end of creation out here.

I don't know.

Maybe it's good for the men to have a little entertainment.

You mean you want to join us girls?

I'd like to try.

You'd do that for him?

Well, that's what he wants, isn't it?

- What? - You're getting off this train.

- No, I'm going to Flagstaff. - You are.

No, please, don't.

I don't want to get off. I'll go where he goes.

- He's not on this train. Look. - What's the matter?

Thank you, Em.

Goodbye, Susan.

Goodbye.