All language subtitles for 1 The Martian Chronicles

On July 20th. 1976.

the first unmanned spacecraft
landed on the planet Mars.

Mankind waited
with intense expectation

for the answer to the question
that had puzzled him for centuries...

Is there life on Mars?

Those who had never believed
the Red Planet was inhabited

shook their heads knowingly.
as if to say.

"We told you so."

But believers pointed out

that the instruments could only
scan as far as the horizon.

If the Martians had sent a space
probe to Earth. They argued.

they could have landed
in even less promising terrain...

the middle of the Sahara desert.
for example.

On the whole.
the nonbelievers won the day.

However. If the spacecraft had only
landed a few miles further on.

things might have been different.

It is January. 1999.

23 years later.

and preparations
are almost complete

for the first
manned expedition to Mars.

- Missile and internal D.C.?
- Affirmative.

- Pressurization complete?
- Affirmative.

Status check...
brain safety arm light on?

Affirmative.

- Range ready?
- Ready.

Minus-7 hours to liftoff
of Expedition One.

This mission is for unmanned
main pad vehicle launch

in departing orbit. To await
crew mission linkup tomorrow.

All rocket stage systems checks
completed.

Switching command to internal.

Umbilical tubes
separated and clear.

Liftoff. Global motion.

We have good movement.

All systems go.

Vehicle clearing tower.

Trajectory within limits
and okay.

Main stage burn satisfactory.

Completion level two reached now.

- Here they come.
- Any comments, Colonel?

Look this way, please,
gentlemen.

Easy does it, Burt.

Where's Spender?

I feel less worried about the launch
than about confronting them.

You won't have to
say too much.

Just give them a nice
enigmatic smile. They'll be happy.

Good afternoon.

Any questions, please?
Yes?

Colonel, you've been working
on this project for 10 years now.

How does it feel
on the eve of the first mission?

I think you'd better ask that after
they've made a successful landing.

Yes.

All our evidence points to the fact
there is no life on Mars.

Do you expect to find it
any different?

No, but then we won't be sure
until we get there.

Where's York?

Captain York
will be along any moment.

As you all know,
this is just the beginning

of a major effort
on the part of NATO alliance

to explore the outer planets.

Yes.

Any last-minute changes,
Colonel?

Yes, we have decided
that Major Spender's efforts

would be of greater service here
during the first trip to Mars.

In the meantime,
let me introduce Captain Conover,

who is in charge of the scientific end
of this expedition.

Captain?

- Thank you, Colonel Wilder.
- Keep smiling.

When did you get news
on the change, Spender?

This morning from Wilder.

Well, don't sweat it.
It's just internal politics.

- You'll make the next trip.
- I'd better, I'll tell you that.

The atmosphere on Mars,
although thin by our standards,

is certainly capable
of supporting life.

Oh, Captain York.

I would like to conclude
that the British

have always endeavored to broaden
the frontiers of human civilization

by joining in these efforts.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like
to introduce Captain York.

How are you doing?

Don't worry, John. I won't
spoil the moment for you.

How many flights
does this make, Captain?

This one will make
my 24th liftoff.

Tracking shows parking orbit
established satisfactorily.

John, I'd like you to have a look
at these when you've got a minute.

Oh, yeah. Right.

Don't forget brunch Sunday.
Ruth and I are expecting you.

That a military command, sir?

No, just an order
from your elder brother. Be there.

Yes, sir.

Status check...
command on internal?

Affirmative.

- Telemetry and launch conditions?
- Affirmative.

Well, I wish
I were going with you.

If I know you, Colonel, you'll be
up there in a year's time.

Maybe we'll all be up there
someday.

- Good luck.
- Thank you, sir.

And our prayers go with you.

Test telephone switch to arm.
Arm light on.

- Pressurization complete?
- Affirmative.

Switching command to internal.

Launch tank is secured?

Launch tank is secured.

All recorders
and oscillographs to fast.

Bernier start.

Fore tank pressurized.

Spent fuel contact pressurized.

Ten... nine... eight...

Ignition!

Main stage.

... four... three... two...
one... zero.

Clearing tower.
Have global liftoff.

Yo. Honey!
Keep going. Baby!

Burn looking good.

We're on our way.

- Turnover initiated.
- We have it.

One thousand feet.
Looking good.

You confirm you have telemetry.
Online light indicating?

Affirmative.
We have green telemetry.

Roger. We have it back now.

We have green. All systems.
Burn normal.

Some vibration
during Mach-1 transition.

We copy. Roger.

Downrange tracking good.

You are go for standard
injection engine

and good rendezvous
input status.

Roger.

We have lock-on
for automatic docking sequence.

Roger.

Forty feet. Green.

Twenty feet. Green.

Closing. One foot per second.
Increasing.

Final sequence.

Probe contact engaging...

Locked.

Preparing transfer to main craft.

They live in a house
of crystal pillars on the planet Mars.

by the edge of an empty sea.

In the evenings. When the fossil sea
is warm and motionless.

Mr. Kay sits in his room
listening to his book.

York.

York?

I'm so sorry.

I heard you cry out.

Tell me...

...what did you encounter?

I had a...
I had a dream about a man.

He is not from our world.

I have never encountered
a thought like it before.

He came down from the sky
and spoke to me.

He said, "We are
from the third planet.

"My name is Nathaniel York.

There are two of us
in this ship."

Go on.

He said, "We come from Earth.

That is the name of our planet."

He used another language,
but my mind was able to translate it.

Is it possible that there are
people on the third planet?

Our scientists
have made it abundantly clear

that there is too much oxygen
in the atmosphere to sustain life.

Wouldn't it be fascinating
if there were people?

Injection looking good.
Do you have vibration?

Negative. Smooth burn.

We are nominal
on all systems here.

Confirmed.
Transfer to descent stage.

Affirmative. Counting down
for separation.

We read you.

- Undocked.
- Roger.

Separation normal.
moving away.

Five feet.

We have clear view
of the main craft.

Looks in pretty good shape
after that trip.

We copy.

We're right on track. Sir.

If everything is go. We'll be
on the surface at 0400.

Everything is a go
from our end, Captain.

This will be our last transmission

until we pass around the back side
and regain direct control. Over.

We read you.
Have a safe landing.

Thank you. Sir.

Yes.

York. York.

You've been dreaming again.

The same dream?

Yes.

The ship coming down
from the sky again.

The tall man York
stepping out to speak to me.

He said...

He said I was...

...beautiful.

It was only a dream.

Was it?

Is that all there was to it?

No.

What else?

He told me he would
lure me away in his ship

back to his planet.

Even kill for me
if he had to.

- It's a sign.
- A sign?

There really is a ship

from the third planet.

But you said...

It will land
in Green Valley, won't it?

You don't have to tell me.

I heard every word
you spoke in your sleep.

Even the time.

Forgive me.

I'm sorry.

It was only a dream.

Of course.

We're about to set down.

Carefully.

Don't worry. If we meet
any hostile Martians.

I'm ready for them.

Don't start any wars up there.

Actually, sir, I think there's
less chance of that up here

than down on Earth.

Touche.

You're very interested
in the sky tonight.

It's very beautiful.

Are you going to town?

It's the night
you usually go.

No. I have other, more pressing
matters to attend to.

I'll be back soon.

Where are you going?

To Paya's.
She invited me.

She lives in Green Valley,
doesn't she?

You know where she lives.

I'm sorry, Eila,
but you can't go.

I'm sorry...

...but you must stay here tonight.

I have an important mission
to perform.

You must stay here and inform Tria
in case I don't return.

Will you stay?

If you want me to.

Please, don't use that.

Is there not some other way?

One is justified in killing
when it is essential.

When one is protecting.

Protecting?

One's home, one's... land.

One's world, perhaps.

From what?

From whatever endangers it.

Furthermore,
this weapon is clean.

By releasing these bees...

...I merely speed them
on their way.

But someone...

things can get destroyed
in the process.

Naturally.

And it could be you.

That also?

The mask of conflict?

Stay here.

She cannot look at him.

She thinks only of the tall stranger
from another world.

but outside is only
the empty desert.

and the bright stars coming out
on the black sky.

and far away. The sound of water
stirring cold in long canals.

Expedition One. This is
Mission Control. Do you read me?

Come in. Please.
Expedition One.

Expedition One,
come in, please.

Expedition One,
do you read me?

Expedition One, this is
Mission Control. Come in, please.

Expedition One, come in, please.

This is Mission Control.
Expedition One, come in, please.

Do you read me, Expedition One?

This is Mission Control.
Come in, please.

I'm considering a recommendation
of discontinuance, John.

Discontinuance?

General, we're committed
to this project.

We may just have lost
York and Conover.

And maybe not.
It could be their equipment.

It could be interference
from the Martian atmosphere.

Do you think such a recommendation
would be accepted?

I don't know.

My guess is, we'll be expected to
send up an expedition within the year.

And you feel comfortable
about that?

It doesn't matter whether I feel
comfortable with it or not.

We can't stop now.

We're talking about an entire planet
that might be colonized.

Maybe.

The way things are going
here on Earth,

maybe it ought to be
given consideration.

That's why I want to lead
the second expedition.

Out of the question.

You know
what I mean, John?

Your importance
as project director

rules out any question
of your going to Mars.

Oh, Colonel, may I talk to you
about the next expedition?

Sure.

I know there was a reason why
I wasn't on the first.

Don't look for a special reason.
There wasn't any.

I'll do everything I can
to get you on it,

provided there is one.

You think there might not be?

I fear there might not be.

Why fear?
Is it so important?

You know it is.

Personally, I think
we should hold off.

However, if the project
does go,

I want to be a part of it, yes.

You know there's always a risk
of losing lives.

Sure I know that,
but that's not what bothers me.

What is it, then?

Hey.

John, what if,
despite all that we believe...

...there really is
life on Mars?

Have we the right
to invade their world?

Invade?

Should I say colonize?

What's wrong with colonization?

Of course...

...if there were life on Mars,
that would change everything.

I doubt very much
if there is, though.

Not life as we know it.

Anyway, let's hope we get
a chance to find out.

The ship comes down from space

without Wilder.

without Spender.

It has traversed
the black velocities.

encountering ancient moons

like a pale Leviathan slipping
through an otherwise empty sea.

It has come down
from the stars.

in the shining movements.
in the silent gulfs of space.

It is a new ship.

It has fire in its body

and three young men
in its metal cells.

The second expedition
to Mars has arrived.

God in heaven.

I'll be damned.

I'll be damned!

Hold it.

Let's examine this
before we move any closer.

Now, is it feasible

that two planets
could evolve the same way?

Clapboard houses...
a church steeple...?

Elm trees? Maples?

York and Conover...
maybe that explains it.

Explains what?

This?

The last radio transmission
from York and Conover

came in on the day
they reached Mars.

If they were still alive,

they would have made
some effort to contact Earth,

and even if they were alive
and had decided...

...for some unknown reason
to build a town like this,

how could they do it
so soon?

Look at those trees.

Some of them
are a century old.

No. No, this is
something different.

This is something
completely different.

Let me tell you something.

I was born in a town
called Green Bluff, Illinois.

And that town
looks so much like Green Bluff...

...it frightens me.

Sir, maybe Mars has evolved
in the same way as Earth.

Maybe there are identical
civilization graphs

on every planet
in the solar system.

This could be the greatest
discovery of the age.

No, that just couldn't be so.

Whatever it is, we can't just
stand here and speculate.

We've got to analyze it
on the spot.

Listen.

Let's go.

Let's try that house.

It looks as though
an entire town from Earth

has been transported to Mars.

There's only one way
this could have happened.

Sir, it has to be that space travel
began before the first World War.

No, that's just not possible.

What if there were people
in 1905, say,

who hated war and got together
with some scientists in secret?

Such a thing
could never stay secret.

What other explanation
is there?

They've just cut the grass.

Sir?

Nothing, Hinkston.

I don't believe this.

Can I help you?

You're speaking English.

Are you selling something?

What town is this?

Green Bluff, Illinois,
of course.

And the year?

1979.

That's over 20 years ago.

Are you census takers?

That why you're in uniform?

We are from Earth,

and this is Mars.

Young man, this is
Green Bluff, Illinois.

- If you'll excuse me now.
- Wait.

I'm sorry. I have things to do.

But I don't understand.
How...?

Sir...

...is it possible we went
through a space warp or something

and landed on Earth
as it was 21 years ago?

We're not on Earth.
The air's too thin.

You're right.

It's got to be that space travel
started long before we think it did.

The people built this town

to look like
the one they'd left.

She called it
Green Bluff, Illinois,

where I was born.

What if Sam is right, sir?

What if there was space travel
a long time ago,

and the people that came here
became so homesick for Earth

it resulted in some sort
of mass psychosis?

And what if the woman
in this house

just thinks she's on Earth?

That could be it.

Hypnosis,
passed through generations.

- No, no.
- What else could it be?

This is Green Bluff.

I know this town.

And I think...
I think I know...

What is it, sir?

- I think...
- What is it, Captain?

I know that man.

Arthur!

Edward!

It's you, Arthur! You!

Edward?

Yes, Edward.

But you died
when I was only 19.

Mom's at home.

- Mom?
- Dad, too.

They're alive?

No, that's not possible.

Why fight it? Here we are.
That's all that's important.

We're alive again...

...no questions asked.

Mars is heaven?

Who knows?

As mom always says,
who are we to question?

We have a second chance.

Right back in that house
on old Oak Knoll Avenue.

Bet I can beat you
to the front porch!

Oh, yeah?

Wait a minute, Captain!
You can't go off like that!

- David!
- Grandma!

Lustig!

Sam!

Sam Hinkston!

Aunt Thelma!

I beat you!

It's this thin air.

Mom?

Mom!

It's all right, dear.
It's all right.

You're home now.

You're home.

Arthur!

In the darkness
of Mission Control.

the fate of the second expedition
is in doubt.

There's been no transmission
from Mars for over 12 hours.

- Do you want some?
- Yes, please.

Dad.

I know. It's my favorite.

Mom, would you...?

I know you'll want some.

I knew you'd like it.

How is it, son?

Fantastic.

I still don't believe it's true.

I'm gonna wake up in the morning
and be on my ship in space,

and all this will be gone.

Don't think like that, son.

Let's just be happy.

Okay, Mom. I'm sorry.

But I do have to go back to the ship,
just for a little while.

Oh, not tonight, Arthur.

Not if you want the surprise
that's coming by later.

- Surprise?
- Mm-hmm.

Gets in from Chicago in...
in less than an hour!

Marilyn!

Do you mean Marilyn Becker?

Well, if I answered that,
it wouldn't be a surprise.

But how can that be?

They sent her away
just to forget about me.

I know.

If you go back
to your ship tonight,

you'll never know
what the surprise was.

Well, I really think
I ought to check up on it.

I don't think
anybody else is there.

No one will touch it, my son.

Do it in the morning, pal.

Why not!

Good!

Oh, Mom,
you look so tired.

Guess I am.

It's been quite a day.

It sure has.

And your bed's still there
whenever you're tired.

After your surprise.

Good night.

I just can't believe it, Marilyn.

But you have to believe it,
Arthur, because it's true.

But how could you
arrange it with your folks?

By telling them I didn't care
about getting my allowance cut off.

It's incredible.

Or not being able to go
to Europe with them next summer.

How could you do that?

It was easy,

because the one thing
I got out of college

was finding out
what I don't want.

Like rooting
at a football game

with some freshman

when I could be
here with you.

You're not sorry, are you?

That I'm here?

Sorry? My God, no.
It's just that...

I'm surprised your father
hasn't had me locked up.

I'm just plain old Arthur Black
from the wrong side of town.

You're my Arthur Black.

And I'm going to see to it
we both stand up to him.

All I ever needed
was a little encouragement.

You're getting it now, Arthur.

It is.

It's just the way
I remember it.

It feels so good.

Get your pajamas on.

It feels fantastic.

Boy, am I tired.

Marilyn Becker.

Good night, Arthur.

Good night, Edward.

Edward, I was just thinking.

Thinking is bad for you.

What if...

What if we actually have
landed on Mars, okay?

So this small Illinois town

is not really an Illinois town.

And?

And these people
are not my friends...

...not my family.

They're Martians...

...disguised to look
like Earth people.

And my mother is not...

Is not our mother?

Then what about me?

Then you're not
my brother Edward.

No, Arthur, I'm not.

Suppose there were Martians.

And they saw a rocket ship landing

and had no defense
against its weapons.

Suppose they used
the only real defense they had.

Telepathy.

Suppose they picked up
the childhood memory of a town

from the captain of the ship.

What?

Suppose the town
was deliberately populated

with the most loved people

from the memories
of all the ship's crew.

People like Marilyn Becker.

All the men seeing mothers,

aunts, uncles,
fathers, sweethearts,

dead ten, twenty,
thirty years ago...

...abandoning their ship.

Would there be any other way
to divide and overcome invaders?

You couldn't disguise the air.

No, we couldn't disguise the air.

I can't move.

The chocolate pudding
was drugged.

Except, of course, you only thought
that it was chocolate pudding.

Your death will be painless,
Captain.

Why?

A proper question, Captain.

We are not a violent people.

The members
of your first expedition

were destroyed by a husband
who convinced himself

the jealousy of his wife was actually
concern for his planet's welfare.

This is different.

We are joining forces
to destroy three lives.

Why?

Because we fear
for our existence.

We have seen your weapons.

More, we have
looked into your minds

and seen the violence there.

We have witnessed in your minds
what your kind have done to Earth...

...how your society trembles
on the verge of self-destruction,

seeking to find a solution
to its own troubles

on other worlds,

rather than solve them
on its own.

We cannot permit that
on our world.

Forgive us, Captain Black.

Once we were
an honorable people.

Now see the depth to which
we have inexorably fallen.

To murder out of fear.

Forgive us.

The Martians.
still under the influence

of the thoughts and memories
they have taken

from the minds of the Earthmen.

dig three neat holes.
and perform an alien ceremony

from a strange and distant world.

"He restoreth my soul.

"He leadeth me
in the paths of righteousness

"for His name's sake.

"Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death,

"I will fear no evil,

"for Thou art with me.

"Thy rod and Thy staff,
they comfort me.

"Thou preparest a table
before me

"in the presence of mine enemies.

"Thou anointest my head with oil.

"My cup runneth over.

"Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me

"all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in
the house of the Lord forever."

But slowly. Very slowly.

the thoughts and memories
fade away

like a long. Dying echo.

The Martians go back
to their own city

of crystal windows
and fragile towers.

shedding their human forms as
nightmares fade into a new dawn.

- Here's your margarita, Bill.
- Thanks, John.

Cheers.

Listen, I don't suppose you'd
reconsider heading up this mission.

I reconsider every time you ask.

There's no alternative...
unless you want to take my place.

Not this time.
It's too damned dangerous.

That's enough, you two.

Let's not discuss business
tonight, okay?

Here's your drink.

- Hey, look who's here.
- It's Sam and Jeff.

I can't seem to shake you two.

You'd better get used to it,
Colonel.

Well, how are you,
lovely lady?

I'm not the only one who knows
about this place, I see.

- Join us for dinner?
- No, wouldn't think of it.

- Elma's cooking tonight.
- How about you, Jeff?

I'd love to... if you ladies
don't mind, that is.

- No.
- Not a bit.

We won't be seeing you
for quite a while, I guess.

- Colonel.
- Then it's settled.

- Can I get you a drink, Sam?
- That's what I came here for.

I want you to know I went over
the final checklist today.

Everything's in order
and all set to go.

You tested the gyroscope?

Sure did. Double-checked it.

Good. How about a drink?

Yeah, I'll have a...
tomato juice.

Tomato juice?
Come on, it's your last night.

- Tomato juice is fine.
- All right. Okay.

It really doesn't bother you,

the thought of flying
all the way to Mars?

No, not at all. No.

Excuse me.

One of these days,
you'll all be making the trip.

Sam.

Not Bill. He'd never leave
without me.

- Would you?
- I might.

No, she's right, Sam.

I'm strictly
a Mission Control pilot.

I never had my brother's instinct
for defying gravity.

Well, he won't have to
leave without you.

Once we find
our way there,

it'll be a family scene.

You don't think I'd be any good
for more than a few weeks

without my Elma,
do you?

No.

Do you really
feel that way, Jeff?

Yes, I do.

Do you think it's right that we
should move in on any planet,

whether or not it's populated?

We wouldn't be moving in
as conquerors.

Wouldn't we?
Haven't we always?

I'm not qualified to answer that,

but I do know that John
doesn't think of himself

as anyone's conqueror.

Only yours, honey.

- And no one else's.
- I should hope not.

I think I'll join
that argument over there.

Thanks for the drink.

- How you doing?
- Okay... considering.

These hors d'oeuvres are delicious.

I'm going to have to hire
that chef for my restaurant.

- You have a restaurant?
- No, not yet...

...but I plan to open one as soon
as I finish my tour of duty.

Nothing spectacular,
you understand.

Just ordinary food... French fries,
hamburgers, hot dogs.

I didn't know you were
into gourmet food, Sam.

Gourmet food, Jeff!

I think our table's ready.

Now, look, hold it.

Before we start, I'd like to
make a little speech.

I want to wish you three guys
the safest of journeys.

May God watch over you
and protect you on your mission.

- I'll drink to that.
- Thank you.

- Amen.
- Thank you, Bill.

Aren't you coming to bed?

In a while.

Hey.

It's all right.

It's going to be all right.

I wish it were.

I'm not going to ask you
not to go.

I know you have to.

I know you do.

But two expeditions
have failed, John.

Why another? Why?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have asked that.

I know it doesn't help.

We're not going to fail
this time.

I promise you.

This time...

This time
we're going to make it.

There was an eerie stillness
when they first set up camp

in the dry cold
of a Martian night.

Now they stand around the fire
waiting and wondering.

I wonder how long
this city's been deserted?

We don't know
it is deserted.

Well, just look at it.

Check it out?

Not yet.

Wonder what happened to
the other two expeditions?

Looks peaceful enough down here.

We don't know that, either.

Wait a minute. What's with
all the gloomy talk here?

We made it.
We're safe.

We should be celebrating.

How about if I break out
the liquor rations now, sir?

Let's wait till Spender gets back
and we know it's safe.

It looks safe enough to me.

Wonder if it's possible there's
still living Martians there?

Looks to me as though this
civilization died a long time ago.

But who knows?

Yeah, who knows?
Who the hell knows?

What happened
to the other expeditions?

Hey, Cookie, come on,
where's that coffee, huh?

Right, okay.
Coffee, let's go.

Here we go.

Okay. Cookie, Cookie, Cookie.

You know, if Mars
is ever colonized...

...a man could make himself
a fortune here. A fortune!

What, build himself
a restaurant?

Why the hell not?
People got to eat.

Well, I'm not building anything.

If that don't work,
and I get home in one piece,

maybe they'll throw
a big parade for me.

Maybe I'll star
in their TV commercials.

Hell, I can be
sincere as the next fella.

I cashed in on this here trip.

- Sam, you're all heart.
- You betcha.

Hey, that's Spender.

Well?

That city there's been dead
for about a thousand years.

Same applies to three other cities
in the hills.

But a fifth one
about 70 miles from here...

Yes?

There were Martians
living in it last week.

What do you mean last week?
Where are they now?

Well, they're dead.

Dead?

I went into a house there

thinking the city had been empty
for a thousand years or more.

Inside, there were bodies
like piles of autumn leaves,

like dry sticks
or stacks of burnt newspaper.

I would say dead
ten days at the outside.

Then I went into towns and cities
within a hundred-mile radius,

and four out of five had been
empty for a thousand years or more,

but the fifth one
always contained the same things...

bodies.

Can you tell
what they died of?

You won't believe this,
but as near as I could figure,

they probably died of chicken pox.

Chicken pox?

Only it did things to the Martians
it never did to people on Earth.

We may not know what happened
to those first two expeditions,

but we know now what they
unintentionally did to the Martians.

- And you saw no sign of life?
- No, sir, I didn't.

I suppose it's possible that some
escaped to the hills,

but I doubt it, though.

And if that were true,

there wouldn't be enough of them
left to make any difference.

I would say as far as
the Martians are concerned...

...this planet is finished.

You know, a race creates itself
for a million years,

refines itself,

does everything it can to give itself
respect and beauty,

and then it dies...

part in its own time,
with dignity, as it should be,

but the other part...

Does it perish
of some majestic affliction?

No, it doesn't.

It dies of a disease that does not
kill the youngest child on Earth.

It's like saying
the Greeks died of mumps.

Or the Roman Empire was
decimated by athlete's foot.

All right.

Why don't you
get yourself some food, Jeff?

Some food?

Yeah, that's right, Spend.
Food. Drink.

Come on, relax a little, huh?

Get out of here, Briggs!

This guy.

How about
those drinks now, sir?

Maybe you'd better.

Hey, Cookie,
come on, gimme.

Let me tell you
about New York City.

Last I was in New York City,
I had this terrific blonde...

no, a redhead.

The blonde was New Jersey.

That's exactly what I've
always said about you, Briggs.

You don't know your armpit
from that hole in your face.

Oh, yeah?

Jenny, Jenny, Jenny.

- Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey.
- Oh, yeah?

Hold it, fellas.
You ready for this?

Come on, boys, get to it.

Come on, kick 'em up there.

That's it.

That's it, a little more of that.

Up higher.

That's it. Get 'em up higher.

Come on, girls.
Let's have a little dance here.

You look terrific.

What a pair!

Come on, girls, a little more.
Come on, higher, higher.

Come on, let's go here.

Whoo, boy.

A little more to drink
I think, huh?

Come on, girls,
higher, higher.

Come on, I get you a drink,
you kick higher.

I love it. It works.

Hey, come on,
we need a little more of that.

Got a garbage detail
going out here.

Hey, where you going, Briggs?

Come on, boys.
A garbage detail going out here.

Come on, get 'em together.
Are you coming or what?

Let's go.

I christen thee Briggs Canal.

Briggs Canal.

Hey, boys, Briggs Canal.

Briggs, you're polluting the river!

Jeff!

Hey, Spender, come here!

Spender, you son of a...

- You son of a...
- All right, all right.

I'll take care of it.
Get him some dry clothes on.

I'll take you back to the ship.

Suppose you explain yourself.

I don't know.

I don't know.
I was... ashamed.

Ashamed?

Of Briggs. Of all of them.

It's been a long trip.

A long trip, and it might
well have been fatal.

Do you begrudge them
some release from that?

After what I said
about the Martians?

A civilization dying?

They didn't see what you saw.

You can't expect them to feel
the same way you feel.

Where is their respect, sir?

Their sense of what is right?

I don't follow you.

Something horrible
has happened here,

and we are responsible.

We are?

We sent up those expeditions.

- Oh, Jeff!
- Well, didn't we?

Of course we did,
but what happened was unforeseen.

You really think we would have sent up
those expeditions if we'd known?

Yes, I do. Absolutely.
And they know it.

Doesn't it bother you,

the idea of them watching us
make fools of ourselves?

- Who?
- The Martians!

You said they were dead.

But doesn't an old thing know
when a new thing arrives?

What are you talking about?
Ghosts?

I just believe
in things that were done.

And there were
so many things done here.

Streets and houses
and books and big canals

and clocks
and places with names...

things that were used
and touched for centuries!

I don't see how we can ever use them
without feeling uncomfortable.

We can change the names...

...but the old names
will still be there.

So no matter
how we touch Mars,

We won't be able
to really touch it.

That'll make us angry. We'll get
mad at that and just rip it up.

We'll change it to suit ourselves.

And ruin it.

Like we've ruined Earth.

We're not going to ruin it.

- No?
- No.

Us Earthmen
have a talent for ruining things.

If there are any Martians
alive in those hills...

...they're going to
grow to hate us.

No, you're wrong.

There's no hatred here.

Looking at that city,

they were a graceful,
philosophical people.

They wouldn't mind our being here

any more than they would mind
children playing on their lawns,

knowing and understanding
children for what they are.

Looking at all this...

...we'll know
we're not so marvelous.

And we are children.

We'll learn from Mars.

- Will we?
- Oh, yes.

I won't report
what happened just now.

Don't let it happen again.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Let's take a look
at that city.

This is beautiful.

It's just beautiful.

Briggs is obviously moved.

Hello! Anybody home?

- Briggs.
- Sir.

Shut up.

Yes, sir.

Who were they, I wonder.

How did they live?

And who were their kings?

Think I'm gonna be sick.

I'll be back.

- Where are you going?
- I'll be back!

Don't be gone long.
We're heading back to the ship!

- Any sign of him?
- No.

If he's there, he must be hiding,

although why he'd want to hide,
I have no idea.

I don't think he's going
to be coming back, sir.

How do you mean?

Well, I don't know
exactly why.

It's just a feeling I got.

The way he acted tonight.
The way he looked in that city.

How?

Different. A way
he never looked before.

Spender.

Where the hell have you been
for the last week, huh?

I'm the last Martian.

You're the...

Hey, Spender!
Where you been?

I found a Martian.

Where?

I've been living
in a Martian city in the hills,

learning to read their books,
understand their art forms.

What are you talking about?

One day a Martian
appeared and said,

"Give me your boots,"
and I did.

And then he said,

"Give me your uniform,"
and I did.

I offered him my weapon,
but he said he had his own.

Are you crazy?

And then he said to follow him
and see what happened.

And he walked
across the desert...

...and he's here right now.

I don't see any Martians.

Don't you?

Sam.

What in hell
could have done this?

This wasn't done by our weapons.
Had to be a Martian weapon.

Spender?

Or a Martian.

My God.
Three of them dead.

It had to be Spender.
It couldn't be anybody else.

Can't be.

He probably went
off his rocker.

He always was
in his own little world.

Right. Let's arm ourselves,
go get him.

Yeah, right now.

What the hell was that?!

Must be the same weapon he used
to kill Briggs and the others.

Okay, what do we do now?

Drop 'em!

A truce!

Don't believe it, Colonel.

I could have killed you
just now.

I didn't.

I just want to talk to you.

I'm putting my weapon down.

You carry yours.

If I go for my weapon,
then kill me.

Don't you believe it, Colonel.
It's a trick.

A truce, Colonel. Let's talk.

- Let's go.
- No.

No.

Just Colonel Wilder.

Don't do it.

Why, Jeff?

Because I have found
that what the Martians had...

...was just as good as anything
man could ever hope to achieve.

I'm also concerned as to what
we might bring to this planet

to contaminate it on every level...

...until we blow it up.

Just the way we're bound to
blow ourselves up on Earth.

How will killing us stop that?

It will delay
the next expedition.

If you return, there'll be
a wholesale invasion of Mars,

won't there?

If we don't return,
they'll still come.

Yes, probably.

But with luck,
I'll live to be 60 or 70 years old...

...and every expedition
that comes to Mars...

...will be met by me...

...befriended by me...

...destroyed by me.

And Mars will remain untouched
for the next half century, at least.

And maybe they'll give up
by then.

Maybe the war will start,
and space travel will be finished.

You've got it all planned,
haven't you?

Yes, I have, John.

It's not going to work that way.

Within an hour, you'll be dead.

I found
some underground passages...

...and a place to live
you'll never find.

I can hide there
until you're off guard...

...and just pick you off.

I can't believe it's you
saying these things, Jeff.

I can't believe
it's you doing these things.

Murdering innocent...

men.

Let me show you
how they lived.

For half an hour.

It's all I ask, John.

Then you can come after me.

Parkhill!

Colonel!

I'll be back in 30 minutes.

Where you going?

- With Spender.
- Don't you trust him!

Here?

The answer's all here, Colonel.

I don't know
what you're talking about.

The secret to Martian life

is that they discovered the secret
of cooperating with nature.

Knowing that the reason for living
is simply life itself,

no more than that.

The enjoyment of pure being.

And yet they killed.

With two expeditions vanishing,

do you really think the Martians
had nothing to do with it?

If they did, it was only to defend
their way of life.

The way you're defending it?

Yes. Yes.

Because it's a way of life
worth defending, Colonel.

A way of life that blends religion
with art and science

while realizing in essence that

science is only an attempt
to investigate the miracle of life,

and art an attempt to explain it.

I'm sure their way of life
was wonderful. But that doesn't...

Then stay here.

Stay here, and listen to music

like you've never heard
in your entire life.

There's a patio near here

with a tape reel
of Martian music on it

that is at least
50,000 years old.

There are Martian books that
date back dozens of centuries.

An entire history of their planet,

their life, their culture,
their art, their philosophy.

Why go back to the others?
You're not at all like them.

Stay here,

and come to appreciate
the perfect simplicity

of Martian life.

Stay, John.

It's a shame there's no Martians left.

There are a few.

Where?

Where are the Martians?

You may never know,

but perhaps I'll
show them to you if you...

...if you stay.

You know I can't do that.

Well.

I suppose you had better
start back then, huh?

But do me a favor.

You want a favor?

Yes.

If you win,
will you do whatever you can

to keep them from
tearing this planet apart?

Well, I'll do everything I can,
of course,

but I'm afraid
that'll be damn little.

And if it'll help you
to accept this any easier,

just think of me as a man
who went berserk one summer day

and was never right again.

Turn around.

Turn around, Colonel.

Now walk.

Stop.

Jeff, l...

He won't come down.

Make it a clean shot.
Get it over with.

- With pleasure.
- Through the heart.

- After what he did?
- You heard what I said.

Take a look.

Who could be dressed like that?

Must be some kind
of a trick, Colonel.

I don't think so.

Let's split.

Dear God.

Is this the way it's going to be?

It was only then
that Colonel Wilder fully realized

what was going to happen.

Men would come
to the new frontier.

They would come because
they were afraid or unafraid.

because they were happy
or unhappy.

They would come
with small dreams

or large dreams
or no dreams at all.

But they would come.

And then what would happen
to Mars?

Monsters!

No, wait!
Come back!

Who is it?

He looks like David.

He's not
what you think he is!

A Martian!

Hit the dirt!