X Minus One: Mars Is Heaven

Count down for blast off X minus 5 minus 4 minus 3 minus 2 X minus 1 fire Horizons of the unknown come transcribed tales of new dimensions in time and space These are stories of the future Adventures in which you'll live in a million could be years on a thousand maybe worlds the National Broadcasting Company presents

Dennis. X-axis-axis. Minus. Minus. The night story, Mars is Heaven. When the 1st Space Rocket lands on Mars, what will it find?

Only the ruins of a dead and deserted planet, or will there be life intelligent life in some strange form that we can only imagine. Will we be welcomed with open arms, or will the Martians treat us as invaders?

Only one thing is certain. Some day a giant metal ship will take off from Earth to travel through the black velocities, the silent goats of space, to descend at last into the darkness of the upper Martian atmospheres.

on that day. Man will finally know the answers. The day we first land on Mars. Now I hear this, now I hear this broaching, critical deceleration. Fashion, gravity, and suits stand by the land. There it is. We've intersected the course of register. Alright, Mr. Lustig. Over to manual control.

I see. Masters. Sound general quarters. I see. What do you make of the terrain? There seems to be a heavy crown, Miss Captain. We won't be able to use the infrared lights. And we'll have to come in on radar.

There's not a little risky, sir. Landing in the dark. I'd rather run the danger of a blind landing lieutenant and come in without the cover of darkness. Remember, we don't know what kind of reception is waiting for us down there.

Airspeed 500. Altitude now 4000. Bridge to engine room, stand by for deceleration. Fire forward tubes one and three. Steady as she goes Mr. Lustig. As she goes there. As speed 100 altitude 1000. Radar and again. So level stretch, get ahead sir.

Altitude 500 350. Three. Up a point now. Let's set her down. Cut the power. Masters.

Fight battle stations. I said, oh, it's a good one. Well, gentlemen, gentlemen, we're now on Mars, April 20, 1987. 4.33, Greenwich time. Enter that in the log, Mr. Isaac. Well, gentlemen, it's less than two hours till dawn.

As soon as it's light, we'll send out a landing party. Masters, get me an all-over hookup. I'll go ahead and set you up. Now, here this. All right, man. smoking lamp is lit. Well, we're on Mars, the first man shipped to Earth to land. We don't know what we're going to find or what dangers we may face. We're a 17 man on an alien world,

and it's up to us whether we ever get home again. The next few hours should tell the story, and I want instant obedience to all commands. I'll put Mars for the first man who doesn't come to when he's ordered. And one other thing, we may be on Mars, but this is still a United

States naval vessel. Officers will conduct a personal and weapons inspection in one hour. That's all. And inspection kept now? Mr. Lustig, we've got an hour and a half to sweat out. Before we find out what's outside that airlock. And rather have a man worried about his stripes.

what's waiting outside. On Mars. Now I hear this landing party report the forward airlock. Captain Black, Lieutenant Hynstin, Lieutenant Lustig, and Dr. Hoss. Report immediately to forward airlock. He's now landing time minus five.

Hey, hey, Pagingus. Are you ready, Dr. Hoss? Yes, Mr. Lustig. As ready as I will ever be. Come on. That's getting the lock. He's in lusty and horse reporting in the airlock. Very well, so the captain will join you.

Four minutes to go. At least the captain would get here. What never does it make? I just want to get it over with, that's all. Anybody got a cigarette? I think you're smoking too much, Lieutenant Lustick.

Are you nervous, I offer you a horse. Wondering what's hidden outside underneath that ground mist? I've been giving it some thought. It'll be very interesting to find out. A very unusual planet, Mars. atmosphere. A wonderful thing in atmosphere. Well, you find one, you find life. Do you mean Martians? What do you think they'll look like? Who knows? Intelligent life can take

many forms. You mean they may have green skins and eyes on stalks or something? The comic book conception is possible, of course. Or they may have developed far beyond us. Perhaps they have a science that can produce weapons far more dangerous than our atomic missiles.

think we may have to fight our way up? After all, we are invaders. I am this landing time minus two. All right, all right, we heard this. Oh, and I'd like to find outside that airlock. Good old Illinois. Ever been there, Lester?

Only Chicago. You want to see my hometown, green lawns, big white houses? Sounds like my hometown. My grandmother used to have one of those iron deer on the lawn. Every Halloween we'd paint another color.

One time we painted black and white like a whole steam cow. What did your family live, Dr. Hoist? I have no family. When I was a child, they were guests to death in the Duh-ho concentration camp.

Not tough. No, it has its advantages. I have no ties on Earth. Nothing to lose now. I met and I'm the only one on board who was free to enjoy our present peculiar position. All right, Master, as you can button it up now.

I said... Well, gentlemen, check your sidearms. sidearms. In one minute will be the first men to set foot on Mars. Quite an honor, right? As long as the medals are not rewarded, hostamously. Still uneasy, Dr. Horst?

Captain Black, I've been uneasy ever since I can remember. On Earth and on Mars. Well, 30 seconds. Give me the intercom phone, Lister. Yes, sir. Masters, battle stations that will be manned till we return. If we're not back in two hours, I want no rescue party set out.

Blast off and save the ship, you understand? Eyes. All right. Five seconds. Three. Two. One. Lustig, open the outer airlock. Eyes, sir. Fresh air. Let's go.

Take it easy. It's too dark to move fast. Quiet, isn't it? Not even a wind. Can't see anything to miss ground, Mr.. I don't know what's out here. Right, come on. It's like a rooste.

I don't hear it anymore. Very homely, but unlikely sound. A rooste, a-crowing on Mars. Higgsley. I see. Set that machine gun 25 yards to the flank. We'll stay here to the ground, Miss Lifts. I see.

What do you make of the ground horse? Grass. Plain grass. You can see some large foliage there with a mist thinned down. What the... Hit it. I could see the traces, but it's still standing.

Come on, horse. Doctor, where are you? Up ahead. Admiring the wild animal. Careful, horse. Wait for us. Don't worry Captain! It's an iron deer! A lawn on the moon! That's impossible! It's hollow! Interesting isn't it?

A whitewashed Victorian iron deer sitting on a lawn in the middle of Mars. I don't understand. Look around. The mist's lifting. Captain, look there! It's a house! A regular old-fashioned house! What's that? A nice!

Good Lord. I haven't seen carves, crows, and gingerbread like that in years. Look at that port swing. The geraniums. That's when it was a rooster captain? Give me the glasses, Lustig. I want to take a look through that front window.

Now, there's an upright piano. Some sheet music on it. Lustig, it's beautiful Ohio. It can't be, sir. Horst. Horst, do you think that civilization of two planets could be identical? I don't know. That specific variety of geraniums is only 50 years old on us.

Is it logical that they should develop in Mars? How about that port swing of the piano and beautiful Ohio? Why, it's impossible. It happened like this looks like the town I was born in. Well, it looks like my hometown, too.

I thought it's something, sir. It's the only solution. Maybe we're not the first ship to reach Mars, sir, Murr. Don't be ridiculous, Lustig. Oh, how else can you explain it? Suppose some scientists got together.

They invented some spaceship and planet economy here. That's the only answer. impossible a stick. Been space travel it couldn't be secret. You have any idea what ships cost what industrial power is needed? No there's got to be some logical reason. I think perhaps we might find out Captain the light just went on

in that house. Gakes didn't cover that door with the machine gun. I see. All right come on horse. We're gonna ring that doorbell. There's got to be a scientific answer to all this. Something moving in there. Stand by quest. Give me a clear shot. Are you sure a bullet can stop a Martian? Steady now.

Can I help you? I... Will we? If you're selling anything, it's much to earn it. No, no, wait a minute. What... What town is this? What do you mean? Are you Census Takers? No, no. We're strangers here.

We want to know how this town got here. Is this a game? No, no, it's not a game. We're from Earth. From where? From Earth. Do you mean out of the ground? Are you sure you're feeling well?

Madam, we came in a flying ship across space. We're from the third planet Earth. This is Mars now. Do you understand Mars you go away now you hear? I'll call my husband from stairs and he'll chase you go on This is moms Isn't it this is green light, Wisconsin in the United States of America bounded on the east by the Atlantic and on the west by the Pacific

Now boy goodbye First please suppose it's really possible. I've got to find out more about this I call my husband now you go away. You've got to tell me one thing first. What year is this year?

1928 of course for goodness sake. You hear that horse? And we know it's 1987. And we know this is Mars. Horse is a possibile that we got fouled up, made some tremendous blunder, circled around and landed back on Earth.

In 1928? Well maybe some switch in time or dimension. Could we have shifted somehow, gone backward in time? Oh, horse, this won't hold water. It's not logical. We checked every mile. We went past the moon out into space.

We're on Mars. Lustig out at point, Kingston in the rear, keep that gun at half load. I said... First there's got to be some cold, logical solution. Captain! What? That house down the street, the white or the green shutters.

Lustig, what's the matter? I never thought! I never thought of... Stay, God! Lustig! Lustig, come back here! Running for that house! That crazy fool, after him, quick! Lustig, stop! Come down off of that port!

Stand by! But, Double, you'll think you're doing! Grandma! Grandpa, is you! Lustig, what is going on here? going on here. Oh, but it's been so many years. How you've grown, boy. It's so good to see you.

Whoa, Tana Dossig! Oh, Captain, Grandma, I want you to meet my friends. This is Captain Black. Captain, I want you to meet my grandpa. Howdy. Any friend of our books? Is a friend of ours?

How long have you been here, Grandma? Oh, a good many years. Ever since we died. Ever since you what? Oh, yes. They've been dead 30 years. What? Now don't you trouble yourself, it's alright. We're alive again, that's all.

You mean to tell me that Mars is heaven? Oh, none's ends know. All we know is here we're alive again. And who are we to question God's infinite ways? Well, I... Lustig we're going back to the ship. Captain, I... I want to talk to my grandfather.

You're kind of lustig. I don't like any part of this. You'll come back with us if I have to club you and carry you. I say... Now let's go! Heaven only knows what they've run up against back of the ship I understand, Newtony, I don't care how many relatives show up, I'll have decibels.

Johnny, Johnny you old son of a gun. It's you, Edward. Yes. It can't be. Of course it is. Johnny, Johnny. You old. Edward. Dr. Horst, this is my brother, Edward. How do you do? Hello sir.

It's wonderful to see you Edward. Look, I've got to get back to my ship. Johnny wait I almost forgot mom's waiting at home mom yeah and dad too mom and dad are alive then then you're real and well of course don't I feel real sad why add we've got lunch for you daddy mom's making corn fritters dr.

Horst I've been to found everybody oh no captain I have nobody well then you come on home with me right Ed. Why? Sure. Horst. Horst you wouldn't believe it. But it's been 35 years since I had mom's corn fidders.

By George. 35 years. Or in the kitchen so don't hold back Johnny. You too Dr. Horst. Well Johnny, you're stealing the Navy, Ed. That's right, Dad. I'm in command of the ship.

We're an old Navy family, Dr. Horst. All three of our boys in the service. Ed was the best pilot in the Pacific to. What did happen, Ed? What's the difference? I'm here now. Yeah, but...

You know, it's almost perfect. All we're missing is your brother Will, then the whole family could be together. Well, it won't be long, Mom. Will's in charge of the XR54. Next rocket coming out to Mars.

Oh, Will. Little Will. When did he leave, Johnny? It'll take off schedule for September, but it depends on what we report. Oh, yeah. There's no question about that now, huh? No. Christmas together again. That'll be something.

Yes, sir. Well, this calls for a celebration. How about a little of the old dandelion wine, eh, Johnny? Now, Father, don't you go giving Johnny too much wine? He's a big boy now, Mother. Well, sir, isn't everything just fine?

Just fine. Oh, one again, will you add to the show? Well, Dr. Horst, what are you doing sitting over here alone? What do you think of my little family?

Very nice. You know, I can't understand why you didn't find any folks here, Dr. Horst. It's just a shame everybody else is so happy. I never remembered my family, Mrs. Black. All I know is they were gassed at Dachar during the Second World War.

When I was liberated, I was in delirium three months. I cannot remember anything before then. A psychiatric phenomena. That's terrible. Isn't there anything anybody can do? I don't want to remember. I have not had a pleasant life.

I prefer to be free of emotional entanglements. entanglements they interfere with a scientific approach I'm sorry doctor or I'll get it as our ring along in three shorts I remember that well maybe we better call it a night you must be getting tired Johnny I'd better be going back to the ship no sense you stay the night there we insist I just couldn't

rest thinking of you all alone on that ship I'll be all right well good night oh wait a minute doctor Horst that phone message was for you me yes that's That's right. A message from Anna.

Anna? I don't... Well, there she must be an old friend, isn't that nice? I don't... If she was for me, I don't remember any, Anna. Aren't she asked if you were better? Perhaps she's someone who knew you were Dachau.

Anna? She said she's coming over here first thing in the morning. So you have to stay over. Yes, but... That settles it then. You stay here, Horst. You can bunk with me in my old room.

But, Johnny, we thought you'd like to be with Edward. So you could talk the way you're used to. I can't put Dr. Horst on the day bed. I think we better share the room tonight.

Be plenty of time for talking Ed. Yes, I guess so. I suppose I better drop back to the ship. You know Ed, security check. Well, why do you have to do that here? I don't know, Mom, there's no good reason, I guess.

It was supposed to be Skippet tonight, Ed. Well, good night, everybody. Oh, it's good to have you home, Johnny. It's good to be home, Mom. Black, huh?

You sleep? You know, I've been thinking about what we were expecting. Ha ha ha ha ha. Green skin martians. All the time there was only mom and dad and Edward waiting. That's funny what tricks your imagination can play on you.

Oh, I guess Mars is Heaven-Horscht. You know, I've been thinking about Martians too. Hmm? Captain. Just suppose... suppose there were Martians. And they saw us land. Suppose they thought of us as invaders. What would be the best weapon they could use against our app and bombs?

Huh? I don't see what you're getting at. They would want to disarm us first, huh? To wipe out all suspicion and make us feel at home. Suppose this house isn't real. Suppose the people are just images stolen from our own memories by Martians, created for us by telepathy.

Hypnotists! That's a craziest theory I ever heard. Maybe that's why there was no one for me. Because in all my life there is no happy memory. No real love person, not even my mother. I don't remember her.

Only the piles of rotting corpses of Daha. There was no happy emotion for these people to recreate. How about that phone call? Anna. Yes, Anna. I didn't remember who she was, but I do now.

I just remembered. When I was freed from Daha, sick, delirious, I raved about a wonderful kind nurse named Anna that took care of her. Well, there you are. It's logical she's coming to see you tomorrow.

But there was no honor. I'd be nursed by a man. What? And I was only a dream. And there's only one way they could have learned about her by reading my subconscious mind. That's impossible, Horace.

Why? A whole crew was thinking of home. Suppose the Martians read our mind. Yes, but if there are Martians... If there are, they have a separated. Each man in a different house. Sleeping. Trusting. No one at the guns.

I left my pistol downstairs. Do you think there's something to this horse? It's a perfect trap, Captain. Who would suspect his own mother? His grand parents. How easy. Just a knife in the heart of each sleeping man.

That's impossible, Horst. We've gotta get back to the ship. Listen, the crickets have stopped. Come on, we don't know when they change back to What ever they really are. I'm like careful. Fing John. Heh heh.

We, uh, we wanted to drink water that... That's all, Ed. You're not thirsty, John. You don't want to drink. Look out! You don't want to drink. His face! It's changing! He's a monster! Run horse!

Can you hear me, Earth? This is Captain John Black, the XR-53 calling for Mars. I've blocked myself in the ship, but they've crippled it. I can't take off or fire the guns and they're coming for me now. The Martians!

I'm all alone here. All the rest are dead. Pinkston, Lustig, Dr. Horst, Poor Horst, he didn't even reach the door. Listen! Listen! They're trying to break through the hall. Edward and Mom stand. All the folks. But they're changing now.

They're melting and changing back into their Martians. Can you understand? Martians, what men? They make me think that Mars was heaven and we fell through the trap. Can you hear me, or you've got to stop the next rocket?

Listen, tell my brother Will, tell my brother not to come, they'll trap him too, and kill them all! Hello! Is John Black on Mars? Tonight, X minus one has brought you the science fiction classic, Mars is Heaven, written by Ray Bradbury and adapted for radio by Ernest Kanoy.

Featured in the cast were Wendell Holmes as Captain Black and Peter Capell as Dr. Horst, with Bill Zuckert as Masters, Bill Lipton as Hinkston, Margaret Berlin as the old lady, Bill Griffith as Edward, Ken Williams as Lustick, Ethel Everett as Mom and Edwin Jerome as Dad.

Your announcer Fred Collins. X minus one was directed by Fred Wayne as a transpired NBC radio network production. Minus! Minus! One!