Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964) s01e16 Episode Script
Hail to the Chief
- [Typing.]
- [Phone Rings.]
SÃ.
SÃ, es muy importante.
No, no.
No más tarde.
Ahora.
¡Bien.
! - Gracias.
Mr.
Tobin.
- Yes.
Contact our destroyer.
Tell 'em to stand by.
Oberhansly, press corps.
I'm with the official party.
Larry, what's the big delay? You've got a half a million people waiting out there.
- Plans have changed, Joe.
- They've changed? - Let's just call it a security matter.
- What about the motorcade? Do me a favor.
Save the questions.
Don't push.
Don't play reporter.
When it's time to release the story, I'll give you the whole scam.
- I know that, but l - Take my word for it.
It's big enough to warrant a little patience, even from you.
[Sighs.]
Have the corridors cleared.
I hate to think what this could mean to the Geneva conference.
We'll need a cover story.
He's the one man who can keep peace at that conference.
Remember what nearly happened first in 1971 and then last year? What'll we tell them, Mr.
Secretary? Tell 'em anything anything but the truth.
I only wish we could make arrangements with the local hospital.
- That'd be a dead giveaway to the press.
- Larry's right, Doctor.
If this story leaks, we'll have an international panic on our hands.
I hope your plan works.
Are the arrangements complete? All set.
He'll be transferred to a destroyer in the harbor.
The copter's waiting.
He mustn't be airborne longer than 30 minutes.
He wouldn't survive it.
- How much time do we have, Doctor? - Well, without surgery I'd give him about Thirty-six hours.
And Washington still has to assemble the surgical team.
The destroyer will put to sea, meet the surgeons as close to home as possible.
Good.
That'll save a lot of time.
- If it can be done in secrecy.
- It has to be done.
This isn't my life or yours that's at stake.
This happens to be Henry Talbot McNeal, the president of the United States.
[Man.]
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
Starring Richard Basehart David Hedison.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
Ready to go ashore, Admiral? For a secret emergency mission, we seem to have a welcoming committee.
Norfolk, Virginia very hospitable town.
We'll need one of your crewmen one with double "A" security.
Kowalski.
- Sir? - [Crane.]
Come along with us, please.
- Aye, aye, sir.
- May I ask where we're going, General? - I'm not at liberty to say.
- If you don't mind, I'd like a minute to dismiss my crew.
Your crew is restricted to the submarine till further notice.
- On whose authority? This is a civilian ship.
- Mine.
Is that good enough? Thank you.
Won't you sit down? [Door Opens, Closes.]
Been in the navy long, sailor? Oh, I'm not in the navy anymore.
I work for a research outfit.
Really? Must be very interesting work.
Eh, it's a living.
How long do these meetings generally last? I wouldn't know.
The regular receptionist is out sick today.
- I'm from the steno pool.
- Oh? [Beeker On Speaker.]
Briefly, gentlemen, our problem is this: The president, immediately following his current goodwill tour of South America had planned to visit the NATO countries and attend the summit meeting in Geneva.
That meeting is scheduled for exactly one week from today.
His presence is absolutely essential, and it's become our responsibility to get him there: yours, mine, Dr.
Taylor's and Dr.
Kranz's.
I don't quite understand.
Is this a political or medical problem? Unfortunately, Commander, it's both.
The president is acknowledged to be the key figure at the conference.
It's his personal influence alone that prevents some of the major powers from tearing up their peace treaties.
Politically, his presence at the meeting is absolutely essential but medically, he's in no condition to attend.
The president took a bad fall this morning.
He sustained severe head injuries.
- How serious? - Dr.
Kranz.
The diagnosis is a subdural hematoma a blood clot under the lining of the brain.
It exerts undue pressure on the brain and must be dissolved or removed as quickly as possible.
- Meaning brain surgery.
- Dr.
Taylor.
It is hoped that surgery can be avoided through the use of the MG-Q.
That's a machine that I've developed to dissolve these hematomas.
Of course, if this doesn't work, we will then resort to surgery.
Naturally, we won't release this news until after the president is out of danger.
There are a few world leaders who'd be delighted to hold the conference without him.
If the president doesn't recover by the scheduled date, they'd take over the meeting.
What are the odds that either surgery or the ray treatment will be successful? Well, with Dr.
Kranz and Dr.
Taylor And the Seaview, we have a good fighting chance.
[Beeker.]
Yes, gentlemen.
The Seaview can solve several of our problems.
We can keep a tight reign on security.
Her medical facilities are further advanced than anything afloat.
She can transport the surgical team quickly in complete secrecy and have all the equipment ready to use the moment the president comes aboard.
- [Crane.]
Where will that occur? - You will rendezvous with a destroyer in the Caribbean at a prearranged time and place.
- [Safe Door Opens.]
- C.
N.
O.
is outlining your course.
Soon as details are worked out, your own courier will deliver sealed orders.
You will open your orders with this key.
This is the only duplicate in existence.
How soon can we plan on leaving? All arrangements are under way.
You may expect the sealed orders within a matter of hours.
We have learned that the American president is gravely ill We have learned that the American president is gravely ill and intelligence indicates there is the possibility of an emergency operation.
We must have full and complete details at once if we are to exploit this crisis to our fullest advantage.
I expect an immediate report.
[Buzzes.]
- Yes, sir.
- Send in the courier, please.
Right away, sir.
- You may go in now.
- Thank you.
- I was told to report to you, sir.
- Yes.
Your left arm, please.
Admiral Nelson is waiting for these orders aboard the Seaview.
- You will deliver this container of microfilm to him personally.
- Yes, sir.
We've taken certain precautions.
You will follow the prescribed route exactly.
That's it.
- All finished? - Yeah.
Boy, I gotta run.
Look, if I get shore leave, uh, maybe we could have dinner together.
Well, um, maybe.
- So long for now.
- Bye.
L-R-O to 7-X-35.
L-R-O to 7-X-35.
Confirm.
Courier will travel by motorcycle over prescribed route.
L-R-O to 7-X-35.
Out.
[Motorcycle Crashes.]
[Straining.]
[Grunts, Shudders.]
[Vehicle Approaching.]
[Engine Stops.]
- What happened to you? - [Yelps.]
[Groans.]
My cycle.
l [Zipper Unfastening.]
[Machinery Humming Softly.]
[Humming Continues.]
[Shutter Clicks.]
Take this one for decoding.
- Now one more.
- [Shutter Clicks.]
Now let's get him back.
[Groaning Softly.]
- How long was I out? - A minute or so.
Thanks.
[Engine Starts, Revs.]
- Hold it.
Where are you going? - To report to Admiral Nelson.
- On whose orders? - General Beeker.
- Your name? - Kowalski.
- [Knocking.]
- Come in.
Reporting as ordered, sir.
- What happened to you? - Ah, my my cycle threw me, sir.
l - I hit a rut and took a header.
- You all right? - Oh, yes, sir.
Nothing broken.
- You weren't, um, intercepted? No, sir.
I didn't lose more than a minute or so and some skin off my nose.
Well, last thing we want now is an accident any kind of an accident.
- Well, then it's actually settled, Dr.
Taylor.
- Oh, yes, Laura.
I'm to go to Norfolk at once and board the submarine.
I'm not at liberty to give you any other details.
Of course.
Of course, I understand.
I don't know how long I'll be away, but I know the clinic will be in good hands.
- I'm leaving you in full charge.
- I will not disappoint you.
And have a good trip, Dr.
Taylor.
- Well, let us say a successful trip.
- Yes.
- Good-bye, Laura.
- Good-bye.
- [Tires Screeching.]
- Dr.
Taylor! - [Man.]
It was hit and run.
Did anyone get the number? - Get a doctor.
Someone, quick! A most unfortunate accident but a necessary one.
Now, the demonstration, please.
- [Switch Clicks.]
- [Machinery Humming.]
[Humming Continues.]
Now a little closer.
A raw egg can be rather messy.
Now we focus.
Press and go! - That's it.
- [Humming Stops.]
Well, a raw egg exposed to the MG-Q ray for a few brief seconds.
Now you can understand the power of this machine.
- Can I have an ashtray, please? - Mm-hmm.
Without damaging the outer surface we can change the molecular structure of a raw egg [Chuckles.]
or any other living substance.
Dr.
Taylor designed this machine as a curative radiological instrument.
Now, let me explain something to you.
- The, um, MG-Q reactor, you see, adds a magnetic element to the Q-ray.
- Mm-hmm.
- Now, radioactive isotopes Could you please help me? - Oh, certainly.
are injected into the patient's bloodstream.
Used at, um, normal intensity, see, the magnetic ray brings the radioactivity of the isotopes into play on the malignant tissue or the hematoma or whatever it is we wish to dissolve.
At normal intensity.
But if the ray is intensified to this extreme surely they will know that something is wrong.
No.
See, they won't know.
They'll have no idea that I have increased the power of this machine to a destructive level because the gauges and the dials, they show normal readings.
- When I turn on this designated switch - [Machinery Humming.]
the power shows normal intensity.
Now, when I turn on this hidden switch the curative ray becomes, in effect a death ray.
[Humming Stops.]
Once the machine is in the operating room all I have to do is to turn on this hidden switch.
Your instructions are clear.
There must be no suspicion of anything but death by natural causes.
- [Rings.]
- Excuse me.
- Sure.
- It will result in a brain hemorrhage - [Rings.]
which could be attributed to any number of causes.
Dr.
Rettig speak Yes.
Thank you very much.
- [Handset Settles In Cradle.]
- That was from the hospital.
Dr.
Taylor died a few minutes ago.
He was a very fine man.
All right, gentlemen.
Here's the course that's been assigned to us.
South by southeast to this position, just off the Virgin Islands.
We're to run submerged all the way, maintain an average speed of 40 knots.
They've calculated our speed so that we'll arrive at the point of rendezvous the same time as the destroyer.
- At what point do we surface? - We don't.
The president and any other passengers will be transferred from the destroyer to Seaview by means of a diving bell.
Underwater transfer? That's pretty risky.
Not as risky as being spotted by a plane or a trawler nosing around in international waters.
Let's see.
At 40 knots we should get there in about, um, 13 hours.
Excuse me, Captain.
The surgical team has reached the dock area.
Thanks, Curley.
Engine Room, stand by to get under way.
- [Man On Speaker.]
Standing by, sir.
- Alert the crew.
- We'll get under way as soon as our passengers are aboard.
- Yes, sir.
Stand by to prepare to get under way.
Station a special sea detail.
- Dr.
Kranz, good to see you again.
- Thank you.
This is Dr.
Adams, my anesthesiologist.
I'll have your luggage taken aboard.
These are personal things.
Just a routine precaution.
Welcome aboard.
We'd like to look over the equipment before you get under way.
All right.
This way.
- Your name, please? - Laura Rettig, radiologist.
- I am taking Dr.
Taylor's place.
- Yes, I know.
- Well, welcome aboard the Seaview, Miss, uh - Rettig.
Dr.
Rettig.
Ah, yes.
Dr.
Rettig.
Lieutenant Baker will show you to your quarters.
[Morton On Speaker.]
Prepare to cast off all lines.
- We're out of the harbor now.
Take her down 200 feet.
- Aye, aye, sir.
- Prepare to dive.
- [Man On Speaker.]
Aye, sir.
- All green.
- [Klaxon Blares.]
Dive.
Dive.
Dive.
- We're at 200.
- Very well.
All engines ahead flank.
Steer course 0-9-5.
All ahead flank.
Course 0-9-5.
Uh, Dr.
Kranz, I, um I assume we'll be performing an encephalogram on the president.
No.
Dr.
Jamison has already done it aboard the destroyer.
He's located the hematoma.
I see.
Well, that should save us a lot of precious time.
I'm counting on your MG-Q machine, Dr.
Rettig.
Well, if it works as it should, I assure you, surgery will not be necessary.
I hope you're right.
Dr.
Adams and I will inspect the scrubbing facilities just in case.
- Excuse us, Dr.
Rettig.
- Thank you.
David? [Machinery Humming.]
[Humming Louder.]
Depth: 200, Captain.
- Depth: 200.
- Speed: 35 knots.
- I ordered 40.
- Yes, sir.
I know.
My reading here is 35.
Engine Room, my order was 40 knots.
How do you read? [Man On Speaker.]
40, Captain, just like you ordered.
- Still reading 35, Mr.
Morton? - Still 35, sir.
- Curley, run a check on those instruments.
- Yes, sir.
- What's the course on your gyro repeater? - [Man.]
2-3-5 true, Captain.
- Mr.
Morton, what course are we steering? - 1-7-0, sir.
This is a better ship than we thought.
We're going in two directions at once.
Watches, instruments, compasses Something is giving them fits.
I don't know.
We might have entered some kind of magnetic zone.
Oh.
On the other hand, a magnetic zone might have entered us.
[Loud Humming Continues.]
[Humming Softer.]
[Switch Clicks.]
- What's our depth? - Two hundred feet.
- The screen shows we're a lot closer to the bottom.
- Mr.
Morton what's our course? - Still 1-7-0, sir.
- Right on the nose.
[Sighs.]
Three chronometers, all different.
Dr.
Rettig.
Dr.
Rettig, do you have any magnetic gear in here? - Magnetic? - Anything that might affect our instruments.
Well, the MG-Q does produce a magnetic ray, but hardly enough to influence your instruments.
Have you turned on that machine at all? - Well, of course, to to make sure it was operative.
- Mm.
Lee, keep an eye on your instruments.
Let me know if there's any reaction.
- [On Speaker.]
Very well.
I'm watching them.
- Would you turn on the machine? Yes, of course.
- [Humming Softly.]
- Any change, Lee? No change, Admiral.
Sonar, any change in your readings? - No, sir.
No change.
- [Crane.]
No change at all, Admiral.
All right, Lee.
Thanks.
Dr.
Rettig, I'm sorry I bothered you.
No bother at all.
[Sighs.]
Chip I want detection devices set up throughout the ship.
Hook 'em up with our computer.
We may be getting some kind of magnetic feedback.
The next time it happens, the computer should be able to triangulate its position.
What about our position? If our instruments have been wrong - Get to work on that too, and fast.
- Aye, aye, sir.
[Heavy Banging.]
[Banging Resumes.]
[Man On Speaker.]
Port ballast controls not responding.
Pressure rising.
Repair party, lay to on the double! - Get it open.
Quick! - I can't.
It's stuck! Pressure buildin' up in all the tanks.
- How bad? - Not good.
- Check all points in Damage Control.
- Yes, sir.
- Sir, pressure's building up faster than we can handle it.
- Unless we can bleed off the port-side tanks in minutes, we'll have an explosion that'll put us on the bottom.
It's got to be one of the aft controls that's stuck.
Either seven or nine.
Ah, it would be the most inaccessible part of the ship.
- Sir, I could crawl in there and free the gear by hand.
- There may not be time.
There's only one thing we can do: Put the plate back and crack the valve.
That'll leave the inner hull open to the sea on this side.
It's the only way we can relieve the pressure in time.
Once we do that, we'll have to race to the nearest port or sink on the spot.
It'll be the end of this mission.
I'd like your permission to go in there and try it.
I'm sure I could make it.
You better know what you're up against before you decide.
Once that needle climbs three points past the red line I have no choice but to open the valve and flood the compartment even if you're still in there.
- I'll take the chance, sir.
- [Crane.]
Pressure's gone up another point.
[Coughs.]
[Coughing.]
Minor damage all over the ship.
- Stand by to crack the valve.
- With Clark in there? - Stand by! - Yes, sir.
[Coughing.]
[Yelps.]
Half point off the red line, sir.
Ow! [Yelling.]
Red line.
- Admiral? - Wait.
Clark! Clark! Can you reach it? Clark! [Shouts.]
Clark! Lee, I can't let that needle get three points past the red line.
Clark! Clark! - Clark! - [Yelps.]
[Coughing, Straining.]
Clark! Clark! I'm caught! I'm caught.
I can't get out of here! - Clark! Clark - [Yelps.]
- Where are you? - Here, Skipper.
I'm here.
Ah! - Over here, Skipper! - All right.
! - It's breakin' my arm! - [Crackling.]
All right! Hold on! - [Grunts.]
- Clark.
! - Come on.
- [Grunts.]
- All right.
Watch it.
- Turn.
- [Crane, Straining.]
Okay, now, wait.
- [Both Strain.]
[Yelps Loudly.]
[Nelson.]
Two and a half points over.
We can't wait much longer.
Put the plate back.
But sir - Put it back! - [Sighs.]
Yes, sir.
- [Clark.]
Don't pull.
- Can you - All right.
Watch it.
- Turn.
Break the glass.
Break it! It's on three.
I'll give them 10 more seconds.
Then it's out of my hands.
One, two, three, four - A little more.
[Strains.]
- Okay.
- Okay? - Yeah.
Nine, 10.
Curley.
[Valve Squeaking, Hissing.]
Wait! Wait! The pressure's dropping.
[Squeaks, Hissing Stops.]
Can you get through it all right? [Clark.]
Yeah, I'll make it.
I'll make it.
[Coughs.]
He freed the gear.
We're okay.
- [Chuckles.]
- We're okay.
! - Take that plate off and get 'em out of there.
- Yes, sir.
! - [Knocking.]
- Yes.
I'm worried, Admiral.
Time is running out.
Uh, Doctor Captain Crane has us back on course.
We've made up most of our lost time already.
[Sighs.]
Well, that's encouraging.
- And the instruments what went wrong with them? - We don't know yet.
Well, whatever it was, thank heaven it didn't affect the MG-Q.
- Dr.
Rettig tells me everything checks out perfectly.
- [Crane On Intercom.]
Admiral.
- Yes, Lee? - Radar reports a surface craft approaching at 2:00.
Thanks, Lee.
We're approaching our rendezvous point, Doctor.
You'd better get ready to receive your patient.
There she is.
Destroyer sighted.
Stand by to establish contact.
The diving bell is being lowered.
Chip, take over.
Diving bell sighted, bearing - Left five degrees rudder.
- [Morton On Speaker.]
Left five degrees rudder.
- All ahead one-third.
- [Man On Speaker.]
All ahead one-third.
- All ahead one-third.
- [Man On Speaker.]
All ahead one-third.
Depth two double on feet.
- Five on feet.
- One five on feet, sir.
Depth 1-7-5.
Depth 1-5-0.
- Maintain at 1-5-0.
- Maintain at 1-5-0.
- [Crane.]
All stop.
- All stop.
[Bang, Scrape On Hull.]
Missile Room, stand by for transfer of passengers.
[Morton On Speaker.]
Diving bell reports contact secured.
Missile Room standin' by, sir.
Escape hatch in operation, sir.
[Valve Hissing.]
- Pressure chambers.
- Operative.
- Hatch doors.
- Operative.
Proceed with transfer of passengers.
Pressure level.
Hatches open.
Diving bell all-go.
All systems green.
[Hissing Stops.]
- CommanderJamison.
- Welcome aboard, sir.
- I'll be assisting Dr.
Kranz.
- Over here.
- CommanderJamison.
- Doctor.
Dr.
Rettig.
Dr.
Adams.
- Has he been conscious at all? - Not since this afternoon.
Get him into sick bay.
Let's get an I.
V.
started and prepare the isotope solution.
No need to scrub up until after we try the MG-Q.
First time I ever saw the president up close.
Next time we see him, I hope he looks better a lot better.
Wish there was something more we could do.
We've done it.
It's up to them now.
The results of the encephalogram are rather encouraging, Doctor.
The hematoma shows up very clearly, right here.
Seems to be in an excellent position for surgery.
We can make a lateral incision here I'd rather not operate unless we have to.
We'll try the MG-Q first.
Still comatose.
Blood pressure low but holding.
Dr.
Rettig? - Yes, Doctor? - The MG-Q, please.
Yes.
- It will take a few moments to warm up.
- [Machinery Humming.]
[Humming Continues.]
His pressure is lower than we'd like it to be.
We haven't much time.
It won't take long.
May I see the X-ray again, please? [Humming Louder.]
- Sounds a bit too intense.
- No.
The, uh, readings are normal.
[Morton.]
There they go again, Captain.
Reading heavy interference, sir.
Computer's busy too.
- That should be enough.
- [Switches Click.]
- [Humming Stops.]
- Inject the isotope solution, please.
- Frame 60.
- [Crane.]
Readings normal again, Admiral.
Frame 60, that's that's sick bay! Lee, keep an eye on those dials.
If they act up again, yell! - All yours, Doctor.
- Thank you, Doctor.
- [Humming Resumes.]
- Position his head, Doctor.
[Humming Louder.]
[Humming Continues.]
- What's all this, Admiral? - We've got to stop that machine! Don't use that machine on the president! The power output is Stop her! No! You won't stop me now! [Humming Stops.]
- [Kranz.]
Is he all right? - He's all right.
- Put this woman under arrest.
- Don't touch me! If you're finished with this machine, Doctors I'd be happy to have it removed and taken apart.
Let's get ready for surgery, Doctor.
[Crane.]
Maneuvering, remain at dead stop.
Maintain absolute trim.
For the information of all hands, the surgeons have begun the operation.
Another item for your memory book, Lee: a personal thank-you from the president of the United States.
- Uh-oh.
- Harriman, I'm afraid I've got bad news for you.
Until further notice, you and your men are restricted to the ship.
- Now what? - I don't understand, George.
The president's fine.
He We can't take chances on this news leaking out not until the White House has notified the press.
I'm sorry.
You did a great job.
Well, let's go, Lee.
We don't know anyone in Norfolk, Virginia anyway.
- [Phone Rings.]
SÃ.
SÃ, es muy importante.
No, no.
No más tarde.
Ahora.
¡Bien.
! - Gracias.
Mr.
Tobin.
- Yes.
Contact our destroyer.
Tell 'em to stand by.
Oberhansly, press corps.
I'm with the official party.
Larry, what's the big delay? You've got a half a million people waiting out there.
- Plans have changed, Joe.
- They've changed? - Let's just call it a security matter.
- What about the motorcade? Do me a favor.
Save the questions.
Don't push.
Don't play reporter.
When it's time to release the story, I'll give you the whole scam.
- I know that, but l - Take my word for it.
It's big enough to warrant a little patience, even from you.
[Sighs.]
Have the corridors cleared.
I hate to think what this could mean to the Geneva conference.
We'll need a cover story.
He's the one man who can keep peace at that conference.
Remember what nearly happened first in 1971 and then last year? What'll we tell them, Mr.
Secretary? Tell 'em anything anything but the truth.
I only wish we could make arrangements with the local hospital.
- That'd be a dead giveaway to the press.
- Larry's right, Doctor.
If this story leaks, we'll have an international panic on our hands.
I hope your plan works.
Are the arrangements complete? All set.
He'll be transferred to a destroyer in the harbor.
The copter's waiting.
He mustn't be airborne longer than 30 minutes.
He wouldn't survive it.
- How much time do we have, Doctor? - Well, without surgery I'd give him about Thirty-six hours.
And Washington still has to assemble the surgical team.
The destroyer will put to sea, meet the surgeons as close to home as possible.
Good.
That'll save a lot of time.
- If it can be done in secrecy.
- It has to be done.
This isn't my life or yours that's at stake.
This happens to be Henry Talbot McNeal, the president of the United States.
[Man.]
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
Starring Richard Basehart David Hedison.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
Ready to go ashore, Admiral? For a secret emergency mission, we seem to have a welcoming committee.
Norfolk, Virginia very hospitable town.
We'll need one of your crewmen one with double "A" security.
Kowalski.
- Sir? - [Crane.]
Come along with us, please.
- Aye, aye, sir.
- May I ask where we're going, General? - I'm not at liberty to say.
- If you don't mind, I'd like a minute to dismiss my crew.
Your crew is restricted to the submarine till further notice.
- On whose authority? This is a civilian ship.
- Mine.
Is that good enough? Thank you.
Won't you sit down? [Door Opens, Closes.]
Been in the navy long, sailor? Oh, I'm not in the navy anymore.
I work for a research outfit.
Really? Must be very interesting work.
Eh, it's a living.
How long do these meetings generally last? I wouldn't know.
The regular receptionist is out sick today.
- I'm from the steno pool.
- Oh? [Beeker On Speaker.]
Briefly, gentlemen, our problem is this: The president, immediately following his current goodwill tour of South America had planned to visit the NATO countries and attend the summit meeting in Geneva.
That meeting is scheduled for exactly one week from today.
His presence is absolutely essential, and it's become our responsibility to get him there: yours, mine, Dr.
Taylor's and Dr.
Kranz's.
I don't quite understand.
Is this a political or medical problem? Unfortunately, Commander, it's both.
The president is acknowledged to be the key figure at the conference.
It's his personal influence alone that prevents some of the major powers from tearing up their peace treaties.
Politically, his presence at the meeting is absolutely essential but medically, he's in no condition to attend.
The president took a bad fall this morning.
He sustained severe head injuries.
- How serious? - Dr.
Kranz.
The diagnosis is a subdural hematoma a blood clot under the lining of the brain.
It exerts undue pressure on the brain and must be dissolved or removed as quickly as possible.
- Meaning brain surgery.
- Dr.
Taylor.
It is hoped that surgery can be avoided through the use of the MG-Q.
That's a machine that I've developed to dissolve these hematomas.
Of course, if this doesn't work, we will then resort to surgery.
Naturally, we won't release this news until after the president is out of danger.
There are a few world leaders who'd be delighted to hold the conference without him.
If the president doesn't recover by the scheduled date, they'd take over the meeting.
What are the odds that either surgery or the ray treatment will be successful? Well, with Dr.
Kranz and Dr.
Taylor And the Seaview, we have a good fighting chance.
[Beeker.]
Yes, gentlemen.
The Seaview can solve several of our problems.
We can keep a tight reign on security.
Her medical facilities are further advanced than anything afloat.
She can transport the surgical team quickly in complete secrecy and have all the equipment ready to use the moment the president comes aboard.
- [Crane.]
Where will that occur? - You will rendezvous with a destroyer in the Caribbean at a prearranged time and place.
- [Safe Door Opens.]
- C.
N.
O.
is outlining your course.
Soon as details are worked out, your own courier will deliver sealed orders.
You will open your orders with this key.
This is the only duplicate in existence.
How soon can we plan on leaving? All arrangements are under way.
You may expect the sealed orders within a matter of hours.
We have learned that the American president is gravely ill We have learned that the American president is gravely ill and intelligence indicates there is the possibility of an emergency operation.
We must have full and complete details at once if we are to exploit this crisis to our fullest advantage.
I expect an immediate report.
[Buzzes.]
- Yes, sir.
- Send in the courier, please.
Right away, sir.
- You may go in now.
- Thank you.
- I was told to report to you, sir.
- Yes.
Your left arm, please.
Admiral Nelson is waiting for these orders aboard the Seaview.
- You will deliver this container of microfilm to him personally.
- Yes, sir.
We've taken certain precautions.
You will follow the prescribed route exactly.
That's it.
- All finished? - Yeah.
Boy, I gotta run.
Look, if I get shore leave, uh, maybe we could have dinner together.
Well, um, maybe.
- So long for now.
- Bye.
L-R-O to 7-X-35.
L-R-O to 7-X-35.
Confirm.
Courier will travel by motorcycle over prescribed route.
L-R-O to 7-X-35.
Out.
[Motorcycle Crashes.]
[Straining.]
[Grunts, Shudders.]
[Vehicle Approaching.]
[Engine Stops.]
- What happened to you? - [Yelps.]
[Groans.]
My cycle.
l [Zipper Unfastening.]
[Machinery Humming Softly.]
[Humming Continues.]
[Shutter Clicks.]
Take this one for decoding.
- Now one more.
- [Shutter Clicks.]
Now let's get him back.
[Groaning Softly.]
- How long was I out? - A minute or so.
Thanks.
[Engine Starts, Revs.]
- Hold it.
Where are you going? - To report to Admiral Nelson.
- On whose orders? - General Beeker.
- Your name? - Kowalski.
- [Knocking.]
- Come in.
Reporting as ordered, sir.
- What happened to you? - Ah, my my cycle threw me, sir.
l - I hit a rut and took a header.
- You all right? - Oh, yes, sir.
Nothing broken.
- You weren't, um, intercepted? No, sir.
I didn't lose more than a minute or so and some skin off my nose.
Well, last thing we want now is an accident any kind of an accident.
- Well, then it's actually settled, Dr.
Taylor.
- Oh, yes, Laura.
I'm to go to Norfolk at once and board the submarine.
I'm not at liberty to give you any other details.
Of course.
Of course, I understand.
I don't know how long I'll be away, but I know the clinic will be in good hands.
- I'm leaving you in full charge.
- I will not disappoint you.
And have a good trip, Dr.
Taylor.
- Well, let us say a successful trip.
- Yes.
- Good-bye, Laura.
- Good-bye.
- [Tires Screeching.]
- Dr.
Taylor! - [Man.]
It was hit and run.
Did anyone get the number? - Get a doctor.
Someone, quick! A most unfortunate accident but a necessary one.
Now, the demonstration, please.
- [Switch Clicks.]
- [Machinery Humming.]
[Humming Continues.]
Now a little closer.
A raw egg can be rather messy.
Now we focus.
Press and go! - That's it.
- [Humming Stops.]
Well, a raw egg exposed to the MG-Q ray for a few brief seconds.
Now you can understand the power of this machine.
- Can I have an ashtray, please? - Mm-hmm.
Without damaging the outer surface we can change the molecular structure of a raw egg [Chuckles.]
or any other living substance.
Dr.
Taylor designed this machine as a curative radiological instrument.
Now, let me explain something to you.
- The, um, MG-Q reactor, you see, adds a magnetic element to the Q-ray.
- Mm-hmm.
- Now, radioactive isotopes Could you please help me? - Oh, certainly.
are injected into the patient's bloodstream.
Used at, um, normal intensity, see, the magnetic ray brings the radioactivity of the isotopes into play on the malignant tissue or the hematoma or whatever it is we wish to dissolve.
At normal intensity.
But if the ray is intensified to this extreme surely they will know that something is wrong.
No.
See, they won't know.
They'll have no idea that I have increased the power of this machine to a destructive level because the gauges and the dials, they show normal readings.
- When I turn on this designated switch - [Machinery Humming.]
the power shows normal intensity.
Now, when I turn on this hidden switch the curative ray becomes, in effect a death ray.
[Humming Stops.]
Once the machine is in the operating room all I have to do is to turn on this hidden switch.
Your instructions are clear.
There must be no suspicion of anything but death by natural causes.
- [Rings.]
- Excuse me.
- Sure.
- It will result in a brain hemorrhage - [Rings.]
which could be attributed to any number of causes.
Dr.
Rettig speak Yes.
Thank you very much.
- [Handset Settles In Cradle.]
- That was from the hospital.
Dr.
Taylor died a few minutes ago.
He was a very fine man.
All right, gentlemen.
Here's the course that's been assigned to us.
South by southeast to this position, just off the Virgin Islands.
We're to run submerged all the way, maintain an average speed of 40 knots.
They've calculated our speed so that we'll arrive at the point of rendezvous the same time as the destroyer.
- At what point do we surface? - We don't.
The president and any other passengers will be transferred from the destroyer to Seaview by means of a diving bell.
Underwater transfer? That's pretty risky.
Not as risky as being spotted by a plane or a trawler nosing around in international waters.
Let's see.
At 40 knots we should get there in about, um, 13 hours.
Excuse me, Captain.
The surgical team has reached the dock area.
Thanks, Curley.
Engine Room, stand by to get under way.
- [Man On Speaker.]
Standing by, sir.
- Alert the crew.
- We'll get under way as soon as our passengers are aboard.
- Yes, sir.
Stand by to prepare to get under way.
Station a special sea detail.
- Dr.
Kranz, good to see you again.
- Thank you.
This is Dr.
Adams, my anesthesiologist.
I'll have your luggage taken aboard.
These are personal things.
Just a routine precaution.
Welcome aboard.
We'd like to look over the equipment before you get under way.
All right.
This way.
- Your name, please? - Laura Rettig, radiologist.
- I am taking Dr.
Taylor's place.
- Yes, I know.
- Well, welcome aboard the Seaview, Miss, uh - Rettig.
Dr.
Rettig.
Ah, yes.
Dr.
Rettig.
Lieutenant Baker will show you to your quarters.
[Morton On Speaker.]
Prepare to cast off all lines.
- We're out of the harbor now.
Take her down 200 feet.
- Aye, aye, sir.
- Prepare to dive.
- [Man On Speaker.]
Aye, sir.
- All green.
- [Klaxon Blares.]
Dive.
Dive.
Dive.
- We're at 200.
- Very well.
All engines ahead flank.
Steer course 0-9-5.
All ahead flank.
Course 0-9-5.
Uh, Dr.
Kranz, I, um I assume we'll be performing an encephalogram on the president.
No.
Dr.
Jamison has already done it aboard the destroyer.
He's located the hematoma.
I see.
Well, that should save us a lot of precious time.
I'm counting on your MG-Q machine, Dr.
Rettig.
Well, if it works as it should, I assure you, surgery will not be necessary.
I hope you're right.
Dr.
Adams and I will inspect the scrubbing facilities just in case.
- Excuse us, Dr.
Rettig.
- Thank you.
David? [Machinery Humming.]
[Humming Louder.]
Depth: 200, Captain.
- Depth: 200.
- Speed: 35 knots.
- I ordered 40.
- Yes, sir.
I know.
My reading here is 35.
Engine Room, my order was 40 knots.
How do you read? [Man On Speaker.]
40, Captain, just like you ordered.
- Still reading 35, Mr.
Morton? - Still 35, sir.
- Curley, run a check on those instruments.
- Yes, sir.
- What's the course on your gyro repeater? - [Man.]
2-3-5 true, Captain.
- Mr.
Morton, what course are we steering? - 1-7-0, sir.
This is a better ship than we thought.
We're going in two directions at once.
Watches, instruments, compasses Something is giving them fits.
I don't know.
We might have entered some kind of magnetic zone.
Oh.
On the other hand, a magnetic zone might have entered us.
[Loud Humming Continues.]
[Humming Softer.]
[Switch Clicks.]
- What's our depth? - Two hundred feet.
- The screen shows we're a lot closer to the bottom.
- Mr.
Morton what's our course? - Still 1-7-0, sir.
- Right on the nose.
[Sighs.]
Three chronometers, all different.
Dr.
Rettig.
Dr.
Rettig, do you have any magnetic gear in here? - Magnetic? - Anything that might affect our instruments.
Well, the MG-Q does produce a magnetic ray, but hardly enough to influence your instruments.
Have you turned on that machine at all? - Well, of course, to to make sure it was operative.
- Mm.
Lee, keep an eye on your instruments.
Let me know if there's any reaction.
- [On Speaker.]
Very well.
I'm watching them.
- Would you turn on the machine? Yes, of course.
- [Humming Softly.]
- Any change, Lee? No change, Admiral.
Sonar, any change in your readings? - No, sir.
No change.
- [Crane.]
No change at all, Admiral.
All right, Lee.
Thanks.
Dr.
Rettig, I'm sorry I bothered you.
No bother at all.
[Sighs.]
Chip I want detection devices set up throughout the ship.
Hook 'em up with our computer.
We may be getting some kind of magnetic feedback.
The next time it happens, the computer should be able to triangulate its position.
What about our position? If our instruments have been wrong - Get to work on that too, and fast.
- Aye, aye, sir.
[Heavy Banging.]
[Banging Resumes.]
[Man On Speaker.]
Port ballast controls not responding.
Pressure rising.
Repair party, lay to on the double! - Get it open.
Quick! - I can't.
It's stuck! Pressure buildin' up in all the tanks.
- How bad? - Not good.
- Check all points in Damage Control.
- Yes, sir.
- Sir, pressure's building up faster than we can handle it.
- Unless we can bleed off the port-side tanks in minutes, we'll have an explosion that'll put us on the bottom.
It's got to be one of the aft controls that's stuck.
Either seven or nine.
Ah, it would be the most inaccessible part of the ship.
- Sir, I could crawl in there and free the gear by hand.
- There may not be time.
There's only one thing we can do: Put the plate back and crack the valve.
That'll leave the inner hull open to the sea on this side.
It's the only way we can relieve the pressure in time.
Once we do that, we'll have to race to the nearest port or sink on the spot.
It'll be the end of this mission.
I'd like your permission to go in there and try it.
I'm sure I could make it.
You better know what you're up against before you decide.
Once that needle climbs three points past the red line I have no choice but to open the valve and flood the compartment even if you're still in there.
- I'll take the chance, sir.
- [Crane.]
Pressure's gone up another point.
[Coughs.]
[Coughing.]
Minor damage all over the ship.
- Stand by to crack the valve.
- With Clark in there? - Stand by! - Yes, sir.
[Coughing.]
[Yelps.]
Half point off the red line, sir.
Ow! [Yelling.]
Red line.
- Admiral? - Wait.
Clark! Clark! Can you reach it? Clark! [Shouts.]
Clark! Lee, I can't let that needle get three points past the red line.
Clark! Clark! - Clark! - [Yelps.]
[Coughing, Straining.]
Clark! Clark! I'm caught! I'm caught.
I can't get out of here! - Clark! Clark - [Yelps.]
- Where are you? - Here, Skipper.
I'm here.
Ah! - Over here, Skipper! - All right.
! - It's breakin' my arm! - [Crackling.]
All right! Hold on! - [Grunts.]
- Clark.
! - Come on.
- [Grunts.]
- All right.
Watch it.
- Turn.
- [Crane, Straining.]
Okay, now, wait.
- [Both Strain.]
[Yelps Loudly.]
[Nelson.]
Two and a half points over.
We can't wait much longer.
Put the plate back.
But sir - Put it back! - [Sighs.]
Yes, sir.
- [Clark.]
Don't pull.
- Can you - All right.
Watch it.
- Turn.
Break the glass.
Break it! It's on three.
I'll give them 10 more seconds.
Then it's out of my hands.
One, two, three, four - A little more.
[Strains.]
- Okay.
- Okay? - Yeah.
Nine, 10.
Curley.
[Valve Squeaking, Hissing.]
Wait! Wait! The pressure's dropping.
[Squeaks, Hissing Stops.]
Can you get through it all right? [Clark.]
Yeah, I'll make it.
I'll make it.
[Coughs.]
He freed the gear.
We're okay.
- [Chuckles.]
- We're okay.
! - Take that plate off and get 'em out of there.
- Yes, sir.
! - [Knocking.]
- Yes.
I'm worried, Admiral.
Time is running out.
Uh, Doctor Captain Crane has us back on course.
We've made up most of our lost time already.
[Sighs.]
Well, that's encouraging.
- And the instruments what went wrong with them? - We don't know yet.
Well, whatever it was, thank heaven it didn't affect the MG-Q.
- Dr.
Rettig tells me everything checks out perfectly.
- [Crane On Intercom.]
Admiral.
- Yes, Lee? - Radar reports a surface craft approaching at 2:00.
Thanks, Lee.
We're approaching our rendezvous point, Doctor.
You'd better get ready to receive your patient.
There she is.
Destroyer sighted.
Stand by to establish contact.
The diving bell is being lowered.
Chip, take over.
Diving bell sighted, bearing - Left five degrees rudder.
- [Morton On Speaker.]
Left five degrees rudder.
- All ahead one-third.
- [Man On Speaker.]
All ahead one-third.
- All ahead one-third.
- [Man On Speaker.]
All ahead one-third.
Depth two double on feet.
- Five on feet.
- One five on feet, sir.
Depth 1-7-5.
Depth 1-5-0.
- Maintain at 1-5-0.
- Maintain at 1-5-0.
- [Crane.]
All stop.
- All stop.
[Bang, Scrape On Hull.]
Missile Room, stand by for transfer of passengers.
[Morton On Speaker.]
Diving bell reports contact secured.
Missile Room standin' by, sir.
Escape hatch in operation, sir.
[Valve Hissing.]
- Pressure chambers.
- Operative.
- Hatch doors.
- Operative.
Proceed with transfer of passengers.
Pressure level.
Hatches open.
Diving bell all-go.
All systems green.
[Hissing Stops.]
- CommanderJamison.
- Welcome aboard, sir.
- I'll be assisting Dr.
Kranz.
- Over here.
- CommanderJamison.
- Doctor.
Dr.
Rettig.
Dr.
Adams.
- Has he been conscious at all? - Not since this afternoon.
Get him into sick bay.
Let's get an I.
V.
started and prepare the isotope solution.
No need to scrub up until after we try the MG-Q.
First time I ever saw the president up close.
Next time we see him, I hope he looks better a lot better.
Wish there was something more we could do.
We've done it.
It's up to them now.
The results of the encephalogram are rather encouraging, Doctor.
The hematoma shows up very clearly, right here.
Seems to be in an excellent position for surgery.
We can make a lateral incision here I'd rather not operate unless we have to.
We'll try the MG-Q first.
Still comatose.
Blood pressure low but holding.
Dr.
Rettig? - Yes, Doctor? - The MG-Q, please.
Yes.
- It will take a few moments to warm up.
- [Machinery Humming.]
[Humming Continues.]
His pressure is lower than we'd like it to be.
We haven't much time.
It won't take long.
May I see the X-ray again, please? [Humming Louder.]
- Sounds a bit too intense.
- No.
The, uh, readings are normal.
[Morton.]
There they go again, Captain.
Reading heavy interference, sir.
Computer's busy too.
- That should be enough.
- [Switches Click.]
- [Humming Stops.]
- Inject the isotope solution, please.
- Frame 60.
- [Crane.]
Readings normal again, Admiral.
Frame 60, that's that's sick bay! Lee, keep an eye on those dials.
If they act up again, yell! - All yours, Doctor.
- Thank you, Doctor.
- [Humming Resumes.]
- Position his head, Doctor.
[Humming Louder.]
[Humming Continues.]
- What's all this, Admiral? - We've got to stop that machine! Don't use that machine on the president! The power output is Stop her! No! You won't stop me now! [Humming Stops.]
- [Kranz.]
Is he all right? - He's all right.
- Put this woman under arrest.
- Don't touch me! If you're finished with this machine, Doctors I'd be happy to have it removed and taken apart.
Let's get ready for surgery, Doctor.
[Crane.]
Maneuvering, remain at dead stop.
Maintain absolute trim.
For the information of all hands, the surgeons have begun the operation.
Another item for your memory book, Lee: a personal thank-you from the president of the United States.
- Uh-oh.
- Harriman, I'm afraid I've got bad news for you.
Until further notice, you and your men are restricted to the ship.
- Now what? - I don't understand, George.
The president's fine.
He We can't take chances on this news leaking out not until the White House has notified the press.
I'm sorry.
You did a great job.
Well, let's go, Lee.
We don't know anyone in Norfolk, Virginia anyway.