The Time Tunnel s01e12 Episode Script

Two American scientists are lost in the swirling maze of past and future ages during the first experiments on Americas greatest and most secret project- the Time Tunnel.
Tony ewman and Doug Phillips now tumble helplessly toward a new, fantastic adventure somewhere along the infinite corridors of time.
Stay at the door.
We might have been followed.
Lock your coordinates.
Whats the time period? I cantt tell anything from the way those men are dressed.
Im trying for a reading.
Itss holding steady.
Our readings match.
I think I can get a more precise measurement.
- Yes.
There it is.
February, 1861.
- Check.
The coordinates are shifting.
I cant get them to lock.
Let me try, Ann.
Doug and Tony must be somewhere in that theater.
- We just saw them in a barn.
- Why is that soldier on guard? Lincoln.
The Ford Theatre.
The assassination.
I dont understand it.
Lincoln was assassinated in 1865.
The time reading is definitely 1861.
You the man Abner sent from Frederickville? Uh, yes, he sent both of us.
Good.
Im Matthew Gebhardt.
Of course you know my brother,jeremiah, who was with john Brown at Harpers Ferry.
We will kill Abraham Lincoln.
Is it possible that Lincoln was killed in 1861? That would mean someone impersonated him for the next four years.
Lincoln is coming through Baltimore on his way to his inauguration.
We will have the opportunity to kill him within the next 12 hours.
Wait a minute.
Seems to me I remember reading about an earlier assassination attempt against Lincoln.
Ill program the history computer.
What do you make of it, Ray? How could we have picked up that earlier time zone without Tony and Doug being there? I dont- I dontt know.
The obvious connection is through the two separate attempts on Lincolns life.
But its almost as though the Tunnel is making its own projection independent of the probe on Doug and Tony.
By killing Lincoln here in Baltimore the Southern secessionists will be blamed and in revenge, the Northern states will invade the South and the cancer of slavery will at last be rooted out.
You in there.
! Come out with your hands above your heads.
! Quick! We got a way out! Come on! Follow me! The Time Tunnel.
No, Carver.
I wanna question him.
Scott, get after the others! Carver, get a message to the train dispatcher.
Order him to stop the presidents train at the depot here in Baltimore.
- Ill meet him there.
- Yes, Mr.
Pinkerton.
Get on your feet, you.
Get movin.
What happened? - Where are we? - We brought you here.
This is our house.
Wheres Doug, the man who was with me? Here.
Thisll clear your head.
- My friend.
What happened to him? - He was captured.
We saw him led away.
Just the morning train.
We dont live too far from the tracks.
- Can we get to Doug? - I dont know.
There must be some way.
Who were those raiders? Some government men.
We cant tell where they took him though.
Look, hes not important.
Matthew, go look in on David.
Yes.
That raid happened so fast.
I cant even remember what day it is.
That mustve been some clout you took on the head.
Itss the 22nd of February.
The year of Lincolns inauguration.
- Still asleep.
- Well have to keep our voices down.
Our little brother.
Hes only 11.
All right.
Now, the three of us.
my plan to kill Lincoln- - The three of us can still carry it out.
- No, you cant.
Those government men are onto your plans.
They might know Im after Lincoln, but they dontt know how I intend to get him.
- just keep quiet and listen.
- jeremiah, its impossible! I said keep quiet.
Nothings impossible.
John Brown and just a handful of us took over an entire arsenal and if a traitor hadnt exposed us, wedd have gone on to rally the nation to our cause.
Thats right.
I made this.
Its a timing dial.
All I have to do is set it for as long as I want.
- A time bomb? - Yes.
When this mark here reaches this one at the top a firing pin strikes a spark.
That sets off a charge strong enough to shatter a boulder.
Hmm.
jeremiah worked at the arsenal eight years.
Theres nothing I dontt know about explosives.
Now, listen.
Lincolns train is coming into Baltimore tonight from Philadelphia.
While the train is being switched through the city to the Washington line Ill hide on board and set the timer.
It wont work.
The train is sure to be heavily guarded.
Youll never make it! Whats the matter with you, boy? That knock on your head shake your determination? Listen.
Ive got a right to say what I think.
- Your whole plan is wrong! - Shh.
At the first sight of blood, you wanna run.
Every man came to that meeting prepared to give his life.
Now, you decide.
Are you with us or against us? - Theres no in-between.
- jeremiah, thatss enough.
I want his answer! What I meant was that just three of us cant do it! Three is plenty.
You and Matt cause a diversion while I get on the train.
Hey, whats for breakfast? - Im hungry.
- Welll fix you something.
- You go get dressed.
- Ill bring my clothes in here.
In your room, David.
Stay there till I call you.
- What did I do? - Do as I say! - Whats that? - David.
Uh, thats, uh- thatss kind of a clock.
Now, go on.
Its a funny-looking clock.
- Well all feel better after we eat something.
- Itss gonna be the way I say even if we all get killed, you understand? There definitely was an assassination attempt in 1861.
Heres an editorial from the ew York Tribune, February 25, 1861.
It tells about the assassination plot, but it doesnt name anyone.
This is strange.
Two items naming different groups of conspirators.
Oh, I think Ive got something that explains that.
This is Allan Pinkertonss record book.
Lets see.
It says-Yeah.
Several conspirators used code names.
The whole thing seems to be controversial.
Now, heres an item that says Pinkerton was hardly involved at all.
Look at this.
From Leslies Weekly.
LLincolnsss political enemies certainly had a field day trying to make him look ridiculous and cowardly.
Heres something written by one of Lincolnss closest associates, Ward Hill Lamon.
Says, OOn advice of Mr.
judd, the president agreed to Mr.
Pinkertonsss plan tto travel without his family and associates.
Pinkertons intention was to spirit the president through Baltimore undetected.
´´´ All right now.
From the beginning.
Pinkerton, Ive told you everything I know.
I was in the barn, and I overheard the conspirators.
You were one of them.
Admit it! - I was sleeping in the barn.
- Sleeping in a barn! - A man with your fine clothes? - I had no money.
You know that.
You searched me.
You carried no identification, so if you were caught, you could lie without trapping yourself.
Listen, Phillips, or whatever your real name is.
You can be hanged without a confession.
- Then why are you trying to shake it out of me? - I want all the others.
Give me their names, addresses, where their arms are stored, everything and Ill do my best to save you from the gallows.
All I know is that their ringleaders name is jeremiah, and thatss all I know.
Where does this jeremiah live? - You admit he intends to kill the president? - Yes.
Either youre a fool, or you think I am.
If I were in your place, Id be admitting it was all a mistake that all I broke up was a card game.
You confess to the plot and say you were an innocent bystander? Have you ever considered that I could be telling the truth? No, but Ill get the truth out of you.
- Scott? - Yes, sir? Wait.
That must be the presidents train.
Whats wrong,jeremiah? A trains comin.
.
No trains due here for a couple of hours.
Im going over to the tracks and take a look.
I dont want no one to leave here till I get back.
You see to that, Matthew.
- You want some more coffee? - Yes.
Ill get it for you.
- Guess thatll teach ya.
- I reckon it will.
- Thank you, David.
- Yeah.
Jeremiahs all wrong about Lincoln.
- We dont talk politics in this house.
- Sure you do.
- Leastwise, I always hearjeremiah.
- Dont brag about big ears.
Your brother doesnt understand what Lincolnss been saying.
- Thats enough.
- Matthew you and jeremiah will never succeed in what youre trying to do.
David, you go on out and chop some kindling in back.
- I filled the wood box yesterday.
- Never mind.
Do what I tell ya! You dont have to hear everything that goes on here.
Now, go on.
Get! Ohh.
Sometimes you have to kill, even if you dont want to.
Were like soldiers, and werre fighting a just cause.
But what about David? How long do you think you could keep him from finding out what youre up to? He dont know anything, and he wontt if you keep your mouth shut.
Youre fooling yourself, Matthew.
Youre refusing to calljeremiahss scheme what it is.
Itsss murder and Davids gonna find out sooner or later.
- jeremiah says killing Lincoln is right.
- Matthew, that wont work.
Just becausejeremiahs giving the orders doesntt make you any less responsible.
If you help him try to kill Lincoln youll fail- Illl tell you that- but youre gonna feel like a murderer for the rest of your life.
I dont wanna hear no more.
Now, you just stay put.
Whats the meaning of this additional delay? Another rumor? - Not at all, sir.
- Against my better judgment, I let my friends persuade me to agree to this ridiculous plan of yours to smuggle me through Baltimore.
- Sir, if youll let me tell you- - By all means, tell me but Im tired of rumor and hearsay.
There were conspirators, sir.
I followed a lead given me by an informant.
My men and I raided their meeting.
They put up resistance.
Four ofem were killed, and I took one prisoner, but some ofeem escaped.
Then rumor has for once turned to fact.
Till Im certain the way across Baltimore is safe, this train must remain here, sir.
- Arent we in Baltimore? - Yes, sir.
The north section of the city.
This depot and most of the buildings in this area were abandoned to make way for a new road.
- How long will we be forced to wait here? - I cant tell, sir.
If youd like to warm up, we have a stove going inside the depot.
Just a minute, Mr.
Lincoln.
- Scott? - Yes, sir? Bring that man out here.
- Take him back into town and lock him up.
- Yes, sir.
Lets go.
- Mr.
President- - Come here! Believe me, sir.
I had no part in any plot against you.
Believe me, sir.
I had no part in any plot against you.
Ive yet to hear a felon insist that hess guilty.
But dont take him away yet.
I want to talk to him.
- All right, sir.
Take him back inside.
- Yes, sir.
Will you sit down? Youre making me nervous.
- We got him, Matt.
We got him! - What are you talkin about? - Got who? - Lincoln! Hes at the old depot.
- But he wasnt due in the city till tonight.
- Well, hess here now.
I figure they intend to keep him there until they think its safe to take him through town.
Theyve played right into our hands.
Its fate, Matthew.
Fate.
Theyve got your friend at the depot.
All right, boys.
ow, the plan is the same.
Except, instead of blowing up the train, we just simply blow up the depot.
You cant.
Youlll kill Doug and everyone else whosss there.
Whats wrong with that? Welll get Lincoln; thatsss all thatssss important.
Your friend will die for the cause.
Your livers turned yellow, so Imm gonna kill you now and save any further trouble.
- No,jeremiah.
You cant kill him.
- You gone yellow too? - I wont stand for murder.
- You quittinmme, Matt? Im with you on Lincoln.
Thatss different.
- You convinced me of that.
Killin him is right.
- No, it isntt, Matt.
Shut up.
Shut up.
Shut up! Or Ill kill you no matter what he says.
Anyone with Lincoln might get killed.
You gonna balk at that too? If theyre with Lincoln, I reckon we dontt have a choice.
Then whats the difference with this man? Hess a traitor to the cause.
- I say we kill him.
- No! All hes done is disagree with you,jeremiah! I tell you, if you kill him, Im not with you anymore.
- You gonna stop me, Matt? - I intend to try, yeah.
All right.
Tie him up.
Let the devil take him after we get Lincoln.
Come on.
In the chair.
Youll fail.
You wontt kill Lincoln.
But a lot of other innocent people could be killed.
Whats the matter? How come yourre tying him up? Go on.
Tell him,jeremiah.
Tell the boy what youre plannin to do.
- Im warning you.
- Arentt you proud of yourself? Wont David be proud of his brothers? You pay him no heed, David.
Hes a bad one whodd do Matt and me harm if he could.
I dont understand.
Someday you will.
Now, get into that bedroom and stay put untiljeremiah and I get back.
We got business at the depot.
One man, this jeremiah, determined to plunge the nation into war? I cant believe anyone could be that mad.
Nor can I believe that men of reason could be driven to war because of the presidents death.
Yet in times like these, such a mad scheme could succeed.
But why me, sir? Why should men who want slavery abolished wish to assassinate me? Im opposed to slavery- believe that eventually, it shall cease to exist.
Jeremiahs a follower ofjohn Brownss, sir.
He wants immediate results.
John Brown was hanged, and so shall anyone else be who tries to start a revolt.
Slavery is an evil that men of reason will abolish by reason.
I wish I could believe that, sir but four states have already seceded from the Union, and others are certain to follow.
Nothing is certain.
Once I take office I shall do everything possible to bring those states back into the Union.
I know that, Mr.
President, but Im afraid war is inevitable.
You believe that? Yet youve declared jeremiah wants to assassinate me to cause the war.
Apparently you feel he will still succeed.
He will not succeed, and Ive told you the truth, Mr.
President.
- I have no part in his conspiracy.
- Grim flattery.
You think my death could alter the course of history? There will be no war between sister states.
What if the seceding states refuse to rejoin the Union? Youve a way of speaking that suggests you have an insight into the future.
- I do, sir.
- Indeed.
Ive met other men whovve claimed the gift.
Of course, their predictions can hardly ever be proved.
But tell me your version of the future.
Well, sir, youll- Not about me.
The nation.
Will the Union be standing a decade from now? Yes.
Even a century after the decade this nation will still be thriving.
Neither of us will live long enough to test your prophecy but it pleases me nevertheless.
Keep that man covered, Scott.
If he tries to run, shoot to kill.
Remain here, sir.
Halt! Stand where ya are! - Whats this? - Did you fire those shots? Well, I reckon I did.
I cant kill rabbits by spittin on eeem.
- Rabbits? - Why, sure.
Yeah? This section of towns home to half the rabbits in the county.
Rabbits.
Hell kill everyone.
Wevve got to transfer Doug! - Ray, can you do it? - I havent got a clear fix on him.
Try for it.
I dont want Doug placed in a time zone different from Tonyss.
Ann, see if you can get an image ofTony.
- Well, Mr.
Pinkerton? - I found the man who fired those shots, sir.
- just a hunter after rabbits.
- Mr.
Pinkerton perhaps youve heard Imm a patient man.
- Yes, Mr.
Lincoln, I have.
- Its a myth.
Im tired of this delay.
I must get to Washington.
Sir, weve got to take every precaution.
If I leave it to you, Mr.
Pinkerton, Ill spend my entire term in this building.
Till Im certain the dangerss over, sir, you must stay here.
Not here.
Im going out to my railroad car.
Do what you must, but do it quickly.
Ive an inaugural speech to give, and itss not yet written.
Ill walk with you, sir, and post a man outside your compartment.
- You can keep that man here for the time being.
- Yes, sir.
I was worried that they got ya.
Come here, Matthew.
I placed the bomb.
Lincoln will die.
- Lets go.
- No, no, no.
If we cross this way, they can see us from the depot.
Lets circle around to get back to the house.
Once that bomb goes off, theyll be sending troops out to search the whole area.
Matthew, well take David into the city for a few days and stay hidden.
Come on.
Lets go.
I want the route across the city fine-combed.
Buildings, rooftops, cellars.
Scott, arrest every suspicious character.
By the time theyre released, the president will be safe in Washington.
Right.
Carver, get to the train and tell the engineer to be ready to leave at any time.
Right, sir.
Stop that train.
! Theres a bomb.
! Stop that train.
! - Hold it.
- Get everyone out of the area.
A bombs been planted.
- Whats all the shouting about? Who are you? - Theress a bomb around here.
- Nonsense.
Take him inside.
- Wait a minute! Come on.
- Tony.
- Doug.
- Sit down.
- jeremiahs planted a bomb.
- Where? Here? - He knows Lincolns here.
- So, you two know each other.
- Get everyone away.
That bomb could go off at any time.
Whats this nonsense about a bomb? No one got near enough to place it.
Listen to him, Pinkerton.
That rabbit hunter couldve been a ruse.
- This platform was left unguarded for a few minutes.
- Put the cuffs on him, Carver.
Put your hands up.
- Hold it! - Get back! - I found the bomb.
I threw it over there.
- Keep your mouth shut and move.
Inside! You have enough power to transfer just the bomb? Ill have sufficient energy in 280 seconds.
Bring the bomb into the Tunnel.
Its a primitive device.
All we have to do is jam its dial to keep it from exploding.
This should prove Im telling the truth.
All it proves is that you burnt your wrists somehow.
If you want the conspirators, I can lead you to their house.
Sure.
Youd like me to take all my men and leave the president unprotected.
- Your orders were to stay on the train with the president.
! - I insisted, Mr.
Pinkerton.
- What was that shot I heard? - Another one of the conspirators.
- Hes attempted a diversion- something about a bomb.
- There is a bomb.
- I can show them where it is.
- Is there a bomb, Mr.
Pinkerton? - No, sir.
- Theres a simple way to prove it.
- Let him show it to you.
- Why hasnt it gone off? - Its a time bomb.
- Well, Mr.
Pinkerton? - Sir, I- - Shall we go look for the bomb together, Mr.
Pinkerton? No, sir.
My job is to protect you, sir.
- From imaginary bombs? - There may be one, sir.
Why, thats almost an admission that this man could be telling the truth.
- All right, sir.
Ill investigate.
- Wait.
Let me show you where it is.
It might go off before you find it.
Matt, where are you? Matt? Jeremiah? Where are you? Dont be afraid of me, son.
No, General.
The radiation.
- The boys in there.
- Hess shielded.
- You cant cut off the power? - On this retrieve, not for another five minutes.
- Son, can you hear me? - Yes, sir.
- You can step out here.
No one will hurt you.
- Where am I? - Ill explain that when you come out.
- No.
I wanna go home.
- David, you must come to me! - Howd you know my name? We know your brothers too: Jeremiah and Matthew.
Please trust us, David.
Son, do you know what that thing is youre holding? Its a kind of clock.
Id like to see it, David.
Would you show it to me? No.
Its jeremiahss.
He wouldnttt want nobody looking at it.
No, no, no.
Darling, you dont understand.
We want you to bring it here.
- Its hopeless.
Wevve got to send him and the bomb back.
- We canttt.
The bomb will destroy him, us and the Tunnel.
Im sorry.
- David, please listen to us.
- Prepare to transfer him.
Wait! Wait! David that is not a clock.
- Its a bomb.
- You are lyin Its jeremiahs clock.
Bring it out here quickly, David! When that dial gets to zero, the bomb will explode.
David, please.
Bring it out while theres still time for us to stop it.
Please! I wanna go home.
I dont like this place.
David, leave the bomb in the Tunnel and come out.
It cant be a bomb.
Itss jeremiahsss clock.
Are you going to wait until it explodes? Do as I say! Weve got to get him to jam that dial.
David, the dial.
Can you turn it back? That will keep it from exploding.
- It wont budge.
- Then bring it here.
- We cant hold him much longer.
- Send him back! David, can you jam the dial? Do you have anything- anything in your pockets? - Will this work? - Try it.
Wedge it in between the dial and the case.
- It wont stop.
- Son, try one of these tools.
Hes gone.
If he got to the depot, he mightve taken Lincoln out of danger.
What about David? Maybe he took David with him.
That bomb shouldve gone off by now.
He stopped it.
He stopped the bomb.
Why didnt you let me kill him? Matt,jeremiah.
Sit down.
- Where have you been? - I went down to the depot to find you.
I saw the man who escaped.
I ran to tell you, and then I found your clock.
- The clock? You found the clock? What did you do with it? - Leave him be,jeremiah.
- They said it was a bomb.
- No such thing, David.
One of the men said it would explode, but I stopped it with a funny-looking tool.
- What man? What man are you talking about? - One of the men in the cave.
- Theres no cave around here.
- Leave the boy alone.
I found the clock.
Then all of a sudden it was like I was in a big thunderstorm, and then the next thing I was standing in some sort of cave and everybody wanted me to come out.
- What kind of lying gibberish is this? - I aint lyin.
.
- What did you do with the clock, David? - I told ya.
I stopped it.
Then I was in another storm and right back near the depot.
Thats the truth.
Where is the clock, David? Just tell me where it is.
I left it, down near the horse trough.
- All right.
Youre gonna take me- - No.
They said it was a bomb.
- It might explode.
- You wanna get caught, and David with ya? - Lets get away.
- I gotta get that.
No.
No.
We failed.
- Maybe its a good thing.
- You give up mighty easily, Matt.
Im gonna get on that train, and Imm gonna plant that bomb.
I donttt need your help.
- I can kill Lincoln by myself.
- You wanna kill Lincoln? No.
He doesnt mean it, David.
No.
Hes old enough to know.
Someday youll understand.
Someday the whole nationlll be proud of your brother.
Thats all it is to you, isntt it,jeremiah? Honor! People cheerin ya! Your wantin to kill Lincoln has nothin to do with our cause nothin to do with what we believe! Right here.
Its gone.
Imm sure this is where it landed.
All right.
I called your bluff.
There is no bomb.
Pinkerton, isnt it just possible thatjeremiah came back and found it? Thats right.
He may try again.
Either youre the most persistent liars- Scott, get back to the president and keep guard with the others.
If anyone gets near the depot, shoot to kill.
All right now.
Well see it through.
Take me to that house where you were held prisoner.
Its down here.
Matt, wake up.
Wake up, please.
Matt, wake up, please.
- Do you still doubt what I told you? - Its my job to doubt.
Abolitionist incitements.
Quotations from john Brown urging open revolt.
An editorial calling the president a toady of the Southern cause.
Mr.
Pinkerton, if we were part of the plot against Lincoln why would I bring you here? - You still havent proven there was a bomb.
- Under the sink, the cabinet.
Theres a box.
Whats this? All the things a man would use to put a bomb together.
- Well, theres your proof.
- Wedd better find that bomb before it goes off.
Jeremiah might still be trying to get to him.
If he knows the presidents at the depot- Idd better get back, and quick.
What about us? You two can go on about your own business.
- Get away.
Matt aint done nothin to you.
- Now, hush, David.
Jeremiah- - Gotta find him.
- David, try to find a doctor.
No.
No.
Ill be all right, on my feet.
Help me up.
Please.
jeremiahs still after Lincoln.
We gotta-We gotta find him.
- We gotta stop him.
- He wont be able to get to Lincoln.
You gotta help me savejeremiah, keep him from murder.
- Hell be stopped.
Theyrre on the watch for him now.
- No.
Thatsss not what I want.
I gotta stop him.
I wanna stop him.
Now, youve gotta help.
I know- I saved your life.
You owe it to me.
You owe it to him! All right.
All right, Matt.
Well help you.
- Where is he? Do you know? - Well, I, uh- Hes headed back to the depot.
Now, you get on back to the house and you stay there, understand? - Yes, Matthew.
- Now, go on.
Get.
- Well soon be on our way, sir.
- Mr.
Pinkerton, I- Im sure rumors of the conspiracy plot will find their way into the newspapers.
It can be reported as more than rumor, sir.
I can name the ringleader.
- Its not here.
- jeremiah mustvve gotten it.
He must be somewhere near the train.
You and Matthew check the streets.
Ill check the depot.
Come on.
- jeremiah, dont- dontt try.
- Get out of here.
Im asking you for yourself, for David.
Let the president be.
It just wasnt meant to be.
No! All right! Get back! Dont take another step, neither one of you.
I came here to kill Lincoln, and if I have to get you too, Ill do it.
Well, then, youre gonna have to kill me too.
Dont make me kill you, Matt.
Kill me.
Go on,jeremiah! Kill me! I cant.
I cant, Matt.
Maybe killin Lincolnss not the way.
Come on,jeremiah.
Lets go home.
Davidss waiting.
Tony- look at that tool.
That could only have come from the Time Tunnel.
Doug, look out! Come.
! This way.
! This way.
! - Come on.
- Hurry up.
! Open the gate!