Out of the Unknown (1965) s02e08 Episode Script
Tunnel Under The World
1 [theme music plays.]
[sonic whirring.]
[bubbling.]
[creaking.]
[mechanical winding.]
[fan whirring.]
[high pitched whistling.]
[hissing.]
[siren blares.]
[bell ringing.]
[thunderous explosion.]
[muted screams.]
[man screams.]
Guy! Are you all right? [panting.]
Yes, of course.
Oh, you scared me.
Iâm sorry, darling.
I don't often wake up screaming, do I? Iâm jumpy, too, this morning.
Why? It was my explosion, not yours.
You weren't dreaming about an explosion? Why? Shouldn't I? So did I.
I thought Iâd woken up and then there was a great big bang and something hit me on the head.
Oh, I did better than that.
The whole roof seemed to fall in on top of me.
I couldn't move.
I couldn't breathe.
Oh, Guy.
Yes, it was quite a dream.
It is awful when you dream you've woken up.
You never know quite what to believe after that.
Still, the walls are still intact [solid tapping.]
built to last.
Whoever heard of an explosion that didn't break the windows? We're all in one piece, safe and sound, darling.
It was only a dream.
But we both dreamed it.
Hey, come on, it's eight o'clock.
Breakfast in two minutes? Yes.
Itâs nearly ready.
It might have been some sort of telepathy.
[tune plays.]
Oh, no.
They can't do that.
[pop music plays through loudspeakers.]
This is going to be one of those days.
I can tell.
First the And now this.
Breakfast in two minutes? [pop music continues.]
[hums along to pop music playing outside.]
Ready? [Guy.]
Almost.
I think, you know, everybody has bad dreams at some time or another.
ln all these years of the bomb jitters, who wouldn't dream of explosions? And considered that way, it's not even much of a coincidence.
Now don't consider too long, your breakfast is nearly ready.
[sizzling.]
You know, darling, on the other hand-- Oh, the post is early.
Yes.
Three for me.
One for you.
I was thinking, there may have been an explosion on the other side of the town somewhere and we both heard it and that started us dreaming.
What do you suppose could have blown up? Well, only a slight explosion, of course.
At the chemical plant, perhaps.
But you've always insisted that nothing can go wrong at the works.
Well, just a thought.
That's all.
âPop star wins the Pools.
â There can't be much wrong with the world when that makes the front page.
You know, there isn't even anything else on the front page, except advertisements.
Iâve never seen so many before.
I don't know what we take the paper for.
Now don't let the breakfast get cold.
I don't feel very hungry.
Oh, you're not still worrying about that silly dream, are you? If there is-- If there has been an accident at the works, it will be on the eight o'clock news.
There might even be a special flash.
[advertising jingle plays.]
#Crunch, crunch, crunch # Crunchie Pops Crunchie Pops Turn that off.
Switch it off, switch it off! I thought you wanted to hear it.
If there's any bad news, Iâll learn soon enough when I get to the office.
Look, Iâm sorry.
I don't mean to snap at you but all these commercials, they make a man irritable at the best of times without all this Who are your letters from? Well, there's one from Aunt Polly.
She wants to know when we're going over.
A bread and butter letter from the Farleys.
And Maison Pilkington inviting me to a preview of their new collection.
What's yours? Oh, a sample I expect.
Feels bulky.
What is it? There's no mention.
It says, âPress to Start.
â Are you going to? What? Press.
It might be some sort of practical joke.
[high-pitched recorded voice.]
You want a Feckle Freezer, you need a Feckle Freezer, you must have a Feckle Freezer.
Itâs another one of those confounded commercials, how dare they? - Switch it off.
- Okay.
[recording continues.]
It won't switch off.
There ought to be a law against-- Feckle Freezers? Blast the Feckle Freezers.
Blast.
Blast.
[recording becomes fragmented, then silent.]
[clattering.]
Iâd like to do that to whoever put that damn thing in the post.
[bell rings.]
Yeah, Iâm going to be late.
You haven't even touched your breakfast.
What am I supposed to do with it? Well, stick it in a Feckle Freezer.
[typing, phone ringing.]
Hello.
Hello.
Good morning, Mr.
Birkett.
Oh, good morning, Miss Mitkin.
Get hold of the operator and find out what's wrong with that line, will you? Iâve been trying to get Harry Barton for the last ten minutes.
But Mr.
Barton isn't here.
If you remember, he went down to the factory.
A fault in the storage section, wasn't it? That was yesterday.
Well, he hasn't been seen since.
That's odd.
Keep trying.
Iâm sure Mr.
Barton knows what he's doing.
Yes, Iâm sure he does, too.
You know what today is, don't you? The 15th, the day the tax returns have to be sent in.
I was just about to remind you of the tax returns, Mr.
Birkett.
That's Harry Barton's job.
We could drive over to the factory with them.
We'd be there and back in an hour.
No, Iâll do them for him, I suppose.
There's nothing to be afraid of at the factory, Mr.
Birkett.
The place gives me the creeps.
Well, if you'd rather spend half a day with these than half an hour at the factory.
Yes, I would.
It wouldn't be so bad if there were a few people about.
And all those machines! They're all programmed from the brain patterns of human beings.
Yes.
That's just it.
Machines.
The Spelman process.
They're perfectly reliable, there's no danger in the Spelman process.
Jim Benskin is killed in a car accident, and the storage section carries on with his brain.
Not his brain, Mr.
Birkett, only his brain pattern.
You're quibbling.
I don't like the Spelman process.
Think of it, a man controlling a machine after he's dead.
[bell ringing.]
Iâm afraid you let your imagination run away with you.
Coffee, Mr.
Birkett? Yes, please.
Two coffees, please.
And 20 cigarettes.
Your usual? Marlins.
Thank you.
I didn't know you smoked Marlins, Mr.
Birkett.
I don't.
Well, you just ordered them.
I did? Marlins? They are supposed to be really good for you.
They contain a special anti-cough ingredient.
Yes.
Check, 242.
325 [knocking.]
678.
5, 7 43.
5 Just a moment, please.
Mr.
Spelman.
Don't get up, don't get up, just an informal call.
[Spelman chuckles.]
Paul Birkett, isn't it? - That's right, sir.
Birkett.
- Yes.
Department running smoothly? I thought that you were in New York.
Yes, I was yesterday.
Back today, you know, keeping Contro Chemicals on its toes.
Yeah, but don't let me interrupt your coffee break.
By the way, I notice a lot of your colleagues have taken to Frosty Flips.
Very refreshing, I hear.
Yes, well Iâd rather stick to coffee.
Then these Frosty Flips will have to boost up their promotion campaign, won't they? Carry on, carry on.
Well, 5432-- Oh, I see you smoke Marlins, Mr.
Birkett.
Yes, they contain a special anti-cough ingredient.
Interesting, interesting.
81 .
9, 3532.
9.
[phone ringing.]
This is going to take ages.
Birkett here.
[over telephone.]
Swanson here, Birkett.
Swanson? Iâve got to see you, it's urgent.
What did you want to see me about? You must remember, you must.
Iâm on a pretty tight schedule today.
Look up the diary, will you, Miss Mitkin? Please, Mr.
Birkett.
Itâs dreadfully important.
I may be able to fix you in tomorrow.
Tomorrow's no good.
The day after? There's no such day as tomorrow.
It has to be today.
Not today, Mr.
Birkett.
But there's nothing down for tomorrow.
Today.
Please.
- 9.
30? - 9.
30? 9.
30 tomorrow.
I look forward to seeing you.
[high pitched wail and siren.]
[thunderous explosion.]
[screaming.]
Guy.
Guy, are you all right? Yes, of course.
You were screaming.
- Iâm sorry, darling.
- Did I scare you? Iâm jumpy, too, this morning.
Bad dreams.
There was a hell of a bang, I thought the whole roof was coming in on top of me.
You weren't dreaming about an explosion? Yes.
I suppose it's a common sort of nightmare.
But that was my dream, too.
A great big bang and something hit me.
Itâs odd.
Creepy.
- Guy? - Yes? Don't you get the feeling that-- What, darling? Well, I suppose it must have been a dream.
Is breakfast nearly ready? Yes, yes, two minutes.
Everybody has bad dreams at some time or another, darling.
I mean, with all these years of the bomb jitters, who wouldn't dream about explosions? Well, you consider your breakfast.
Itâs nearly ready.
[water trickling.]
[recorded voice.]
Join me in a Frosty Flip.
Frosty Flip, the ice cold drink with a secret ingredient.
Frosty Flip.
Join me in a Guy, Guy! What is it? What have you got there? - I can't make it stop.
- What is it? Iâve never seen anything like it before, I can't switch it off.
Damned thing! [voice continues.]
[smashing, voice becomes fragmented.]
It came in the post.
Yes, I can imagine.
Was there anything for me? No, just a note from Aunt Polly.
She wants to know when we're going over.
A bread and butter letter from the Farleys.
And Maison Pilkington invited me to a preview of their new collection.
Now don't let this coffee get cold.
There's something wrong, but I can't put my finger on it, but-- That silly dream, I suppose.
Or there might have been an explosion on the other side of the town somewhere, and we both heard it and that started us dreaming.
What do you suppose could have blown up? Nothing too disastrous, of course.
âPop Star Wins the Pools.
â [fire alarm rings.]
Fire.
[alarm continues.]
That's illegal.
Playing records of a fire engine, what do they think they're up to? Maybe it's a joke.
Something for Rag Week.
For one thing, this isn't Rag Week, and for another, that's no joke.
The police would be along in a minute, you'll see.
At any rate, it's stopped now.
[advertising jingle for Feckle Freezers plays.]
What the hell is a Feckle Freezer? Some kind of freezer, I suppose.
Some idiotic advertising stunt.
They'll soon be stopped.
Enough complaints, they'll lose their licence.
Well, that seems to be the end of it.
[man over loudspeaker.]
Have you got a freezer? It stinks! If it isn't a Feckle Freezer, it stinks! If it isn't this year's Feckle Freezer, it stinks! Feckle, Feckle.
Iâm going to ring the police.
Feckle.
Feckle.
Feckle Cheap freezers ruin food.
Do you eat rotting, mouldy food? Wake up and buy a Feckle.
Hurry up.
Hurry.
Hurry.
Hurry - Any reply? - No, it's engaged.
Everybody must have the same idea.
Try again.
[louder.]
Feckle, Feckle, Feckle Iâm going out for myself.
They've stopped now.
But for how long? Hooligans! This is going to be another one of those days.
Darling, what's the date? June 15th, why? Itâs a bit nippy.
Feels more like October.
[footsteps on stairs.]
There is no appointment down for the day, Mr.
-- - Swanson.
- I sure would have remembered.
Anyway, it would be here in the book.
Nine-thirty, he said.
And it isn't.
June 15th.
No sign of it here.
I might have known it wouldn't work.
You see, it has to be today.
Iâm afraid Mr.
Birkett has a very full schedule today.
Yes, I know.
He always has a very full schedule today.
On the other hand, if it's so important, I may be able to fit you in tomorrow.
I tell you, tomorrow is no good.
Iâve tried that.
Day after day, Iâve tried.
You see, and today was tomorrow yesterday and now it's today again.
You ought to calm down, Mr.
Swanson.
Can I take a message to Mr.
Birkett? Couldn't I just wait here till he comes? Iâve told you, Mr.
Birkett is a very busy man.
You have to make an appointment.
Well, if he could just see me, it might remind him.
Remind him of what? Good morning, Miss Mitkin.
Oh, good morning, Mr.
Birkett.
This is Mr.
Swanson.
He is under the impression he has an appointment.
- Oh? - I have.
I have.
Look, Iâm Swanson.
Think, Birkett.
Try to remember.
Please try.
Iâm very busy, Mr.
Swanson.
What can I do for you? Remember.
Remember what? You won't believe me unless you remember.
Iâve tried all that.
What am I supposed to remember? That night, you know The dark room.
It doesn't matter.
Sorry.
Iâm sorry about that, Mr.
Birkett.
He just walked in.
- What are those? - The tax returns.
They have to be sent in today.
June 15th.
Well, that's Harry Barton's job.
Mr.
Barton won't be here.
He's over at the factory.
We could drive over with them.
No, all right.
Iâll do them for him, I suppose.
Eyes down, Miss Mitkin.
[buzzing.]
Is Mr.
Birkett available? Iâd like to speak to him on behalf of Feckle Freezers.
Feckle Freezers? Well, if you were responsible for that hullabaloo this morning-- Oh, but that's just the point.
We want to apologise.
Oh, well.
If you could tell us where to get in touch with him.
Well, he'll be at the office now.
But he is very busy.
We want to recompense everyone who may have been inconvenienced by that outburst.
Everyone.
If you could tell us when Mr.
Birkett usually has lunch? Yes.
[advertising jingle plays.]
#Tang, tang tang, tang # Taste the tang of Chocobites.
Tingle tang of Chocobites.
The usual table? Yeah.
I see you've been redecorating.
Yes, sir.
What, since yesterday? Quite recently.
Yes, but I can't say that I like it.
Allow me.
Itâs stuffy in here.
Have you got the heating on? Yes, sir.
What, in the middle of June? If I might suggest a nice Frosty Flip.
- No, thank you.
- Very cooling, sir.
No, thank you.
No Frosty Flips.
I don't like their commercials.
I see, sir.
Mr.
Birkett? Yes.
April Dorn, I'm from the Feckle Corporation.
Oh, indeed.
Yes, well, after your company's demonstration this morning-- May I share your table, Mr.
Birkett? There's so much I want to talk to you about.
Well, I don't want to sound rude, Miss Dorn-- I would like you to call me April.
Yes, well, I was about to say, I don't think that I could talk about your company for very long without losing my temper.
That's why the Feckle Corporation would like to charge this lunch to their account.
Oh, no, no, no.
I couldn't.
You would rather not have lunch with me? No, no, no.
Itâs not that.
I want to apologise on behalf of the company, Mr.
Birkett.
Please? - Oh.
- Thank you.
- Waiter? - [waiter.]
Madame.
I hear the turtle soup is very good.
Is it? I can recommend the turtle soup, sir.
Well, turtle soup, then.
And then, sir? - Fillet mignon? - Fillet-- Petits pois and asparagus.
And a bottle of Nuits Saint Georges.
Very good, sir.
Well, that's not really necessary.
But you must accept.
This is the least the Feckle Corporation can do for you.
Why, you're letting them off lightly.
You could sue them for their last penny, disturbing your sleep like that.
Yes.
It was rather shattering.
You're just being nice about it.
Some people actually complained to the police.
Oh, it wasn't as bad as all that.
I knew you'd understand.
Itâs just that well, the Feckle is such a wonderful freezer.
Some of our outside men got carried away, they wanted everyone to hear about it.
Yes, we heard.
As soon as head office found out what had happened, they sent representatives around to every home in the neighbourhood to apologise.
But really and truly, Mr.
Birkett, the Feckle is a fine, fine freezer.
Yes, yes, Iâm sure it is.
Perhaps I shouldn't tell you this but well, Iâd do almost anything for Feckle Freezers.
White for madam, and black for you, sir.
Now I have your signature and you have mine.
Yes, yes.
But you have more than that, though.
You have a 12 cubic foot Feckle Freezer, self-defrosting, upright model.
Price £275.
Iâve never paid so much for a refrigerator in my life before.
I don't know what my wife's going to say.
Oh, Iâm sure your wife is very understanding and very sweet.
He was very sweet, darling.
He said he was a special representative sent to apologise.
Well, I couldn't leave him standing on the doorstop, could I? So I asked him in, and he started to tell me all about this-- This thing.
Guy, I signed a form this afternoon.
Guy, darling, wouldn't you like-- Not a Feckle Freezer.
Twelve cubic foot.
Self-defrosting.
Horizontal model.
Upright model.
Price £275.
- But you didn't-- - Oh, yes, yes.
We shall be the only couple in the neighbourhood with a Feckle Freezer apiece.
His and hers.
What are we going to do with them? There's not room in the kitchen.
Iâm sorry, darling.
- Darling, if only you told me-- - I wanted it to be a surprise.
Surprise? Itâs taking you to nearly midnight, to scrub enough courage to tell me.
And how long has it taken you? That's twice 27 5, that's £550 for two freezers we don't even want one of.
I knew today was going to be hell.
Feckle lousy Freezers.
[bell rings.]
At least we can be sure of one thing, nothing else can happen today.
Oh, blast.
The spring is gone.
The switch? Well, don't worry.
You go up to bed.
Iâll fix it.
Oh, must you do it tonight? Oh, darling.
We can't turn the light off.
Either I fix it now or we leave it burning all night.
I should remember to put that out of the way one of these days.
Well, it's just a matter of a couple of screws.
No need for you to wait up.
If you insist.
Yes, with the right tools, this is a simple job.
[clattering.]
Are you all right, Guy? Yes, yes.
Itâs just a fuse, darling.
Won't take a couple of minutes.
[Guy clanging in cupboard.]
[Guy sighs.]
[light clattering.]
Mary? Mary? [solid tapping.]
[taps wood.]
[thud.]
[clattering.]
[faint commotion, indistinct speech.]
[faint whirring.]
[loud whirring.]
[click then silence.]
[ticking.]
[alarm ringing.]
Guy? Guy? Where did you go? That was awful.
What? This dream.
It was like being caught up in an explosion.
It woke me up and I couldn't see you.
You're dressed.
Yes, I didn't get undressed.
I banged my head, I must have been in the cupboard all night.
Iâm not in a mood for jokes this morning, Guy.
No, Iâm not joking.
There's something very odd out there.
I mean, our walls, they're not brick anymore and the floor, it's-- Itâs metal with this sort of plastic covering.
Why? I suppose the builders knew what they were doing.
Oh, that was a very nasty dream.
I would never have noticed if it hadn't been for the fuse.
Fuse? Oh, the fuse, you know, the one that went last night, when I stayed up to repair.
But you went to bed ahead of me last night, I switched off the lights.
Darling, you couldn't, there's no switch.
No switch? No, I mean, it broke remember? I screwed it, I haven't had a chance to screw it back on yet.
So, where are you going? [footsteps on stairs.]
What's wrong with that? Watch, it shouldn't.
This is June 15th, Guy.
Not April 1st.
Itâs not even June 15th.
Itâs June 16th.
This is going to be another one of those days.
Oh, you see, it's already started with the wrong paper.
- Look, yesterday's.
- Yesterday's? Yes, I remember that headline.
- I don't.
- What? But it's the 16th Yes, of course it is.
Itâs the 16th.
15th.
I had an appointment at the hair dresser yesterday, which was the 14th.
Work it out.
Anyway, does it matter? No, no, I suppose not.
They're all for you.
Oh, darling, about the freezers.
- What? - Well, the Feckle Freezers.
I thought, you know, we could ring them up, explain that we'd made a mistake and ask them if they would take one.
What's the matter? What are Feckle Freezers? Now there is something wrong.
And the date is part of it.
Yes, I can remember the 15th.
I remember the tax returns.
I wouldn't imagine half a day's work now, would I? Guy, perhaps it was-- And I remember this headline, and your letters.
Go on, open them.
You've already opened them.
There was one from the one from the Farley's bread and butter.
And there was one from Aunt Polly.
Asking when are we going over.
And one from Maison Pilkington.
Inviting you to a preview again, you know.
You're trying to frighten me.
No, Iâm not.
Iâm just trying to get this straight.
[bell rings.]
Itâs eight o'clock.
Yes, I know what the time is, darling.
Itâs the date that worries me.
[jingle for Crunchipops plays.]
Turn that off.
- Turn that off.
- No, leave it.
Perhaps they know what the date is.
[radio presenter.]
Good morning.
Here is the eight o'clock news for today Wednesday, June 15th brought to you by Frosty Flip, the ice cold drink with the secret ingredient.
Oh, darling, you must have had a very nasty bang on your head.
No, I tell you it was nothing to do with the bang on my head.
[phone rings.]
Hello.
[over telephone.]
Could I speak to Mr.
Birkett please? My name is Swanson.
Yes, hold on, would you? Itâs for you, a Mr.
Swanson.
Swanson? Swanson.
- Birkett here.
- Do you remember yet? Now look, Swanson, what's going on? You went through this routine yesterday.
You remember? What's it all about? I can't tell you on the phone, where can we meet? At the office.
No, no, not there, not two days running.
They might suspect.
Look, what about-- What about that place you were at yesterday, The Crystal Restaurant? Yes, look, Swanson, has it Has it something to do with the date? Careful, Birkett, this is a public phone.
I can't Iâll see you there.
As soon as they open.
He knows, too.
He knows.
Guy! Chocobites are tangy.
Chocobites are tangier than tangy.
Taste one, and you'll want some more.
Won't you try my Chocobites? No, thank you.
Won't you try my Chocobites? No, thank you.
Miss Dorn.
I wanted to have a word with you about those freezers.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Well, about the freezer that you sold me yesterday.
But I didn't sell you anything.
Well, of course you did.
- Hey, you.
- Me, sir? You served us yesterday, didn't you? Did I, sir? Well, turtle soup, fillet mignon, and all the-- If you'll excuse me just one moment, sir.
Of course, it was you.
But you don't remember, not yesterday.
I couldn't forget you, Miss Dorn.
Iâm not Miss Dorn.
Well, wait.
You whoever you are.
- They know.
- Control yourself! - Birkett, let them go.
- Where have they gone? Look, they know we are on to them.
On to them? Swanson, you better start from the beginning.
Of course you don't remember any of this, do you? Look, about two months ago, you came banging at my door late one night.
I did? You were scared silly, babbling about men without faces and a huge hand in the sky.
- You begged me to hide you.
- Are you sure it was me? I thought that you were out of your mind.
And obviously you needed some help.
I have got this darkroom, you know.
It locks on the inside.
Anyway, to keep you quiet, we both hid in there.
And then in the morning, you said you've got something funny to show me.
You went out and you bought a newspaper.
The date on it, Birkett, it was June 15th.
And that's today.
I mean-- That's it, you got it, you see? Itâs always today, every day the same.
Every morning, the same news in the newspapers.
Only the advertisements change, but who wants to read advertisements? Always June 15th.
Yeah.
One night you stayed away too long before coming back into the darkroom.
They got you again.
When I found you a couple of days later you'd forgotten everything.
Somebody wants us to live the same day over and over again.
Why? Who are they, Swanson, and what's in it for them? I think they watch us.
Watch us? Yeah, I try to keep out of their way.
I only come out to look for you.
Watch us.
Well, if they're watching us, Swanson, we have nothing to lose.
Come on.
Birkett, look, it's dangerous.
Look here, Birkett.
What is it? Where are we? There's a ladder and it appears to be some sort of a tunnel.
Quite a substantial bit of engineering.
Tunnel? There can't be a tunnel.
There isn't a tunnel under That's just what I was thinking.
Come on.
[clanging.]
Metal alloy, like the floor of my house.
Look, Birkett, let's go back.
I think we ought to call the police.
Proportions They're all wrong.
Supposing one of them sees us? What does this remind you of? Look, they got your mind last time, Birkett.
Aren't you scared? Yes, yes, Iâm scared but what else can we do? Come on.
Wait for me.
Look, supposing we meet one of them.
Well, how do we know? Oh, well, they're easy to spot, once you know where to look.
You see, we're always the same but they change.
That girl for instance, sometimes she wears fancy dress like today, other times she is in ordinary clothes.
They play different parts.
There appears to be some sort of gate.
Itâs locked.
I wish I could place what it remind me of.
Come on, Swanson.
Let's try one of these.
[faint sonic whirring.]
What is it? What's the matter? This is the plant.
Contro Chemicals.
Where is everybody? There's nobody about.
There never was.
Itâs all controlled by computers.
The Spelman process.
He discovered how to transfer a man's thought patterns from brain cells to electronic matrices.
What does that do? It gives a machine the mind of a human being.
But why have all the machines stopped? They were working yesterday.
Harry Barton came over, too.
Look, this is working.
What is it? It doesn't belong here.
Mary.
That's my wife.
I told you they watch us.
[Guy.]
They must have cameras planted everywhere.
Why do they do it? I don't know but we'll soon find out.
- Itâs locked.
- There you are, you see.
There must be something in there worth keeping under lock and key.
Birkett, I don't think we ought to be doing this.
Just look at these.
Hey, look, Chocobites.
That girl was giving away Chocobites.
Marlin cigarettes campaign.
Marlin cigarettes.
Frosty Flip, I bought one of those.
Feckle Freezer, I bought two.
What's all this got to do with Contro Chemicals? The layouts out for Crunchipops.
Who put the crunch in Crunchipops? Swanson, you're right.
This has nothing to do with Contro Chemicals.
Now look, it's advertising.
Chocobites, Frosty Flip.
Well, they're at least ordinary anyway.
Listen to this, Swanson.
âAlthough test report K4 doubled the numbers sold, its use will be limited by local by-laws restricting the use of loudspeaker vans.
â Now when did you last hear a loudspeaker van, Swanson? They're around us all the time.
And what are they doing? Advertising.
Exactly, it's poured into us every day.
Newspapers, television, radio and even if we miss them, there are loud loudspeaker vans to get us out of bed.
That's what's happening every day, isn't it? - Yeah, that's what's happening.
- And it happens every night.
Every night, our minds are wiped clean of all that's happened during the day, so that we are all ready for the next day's trials.
We're a captive audience.
And they're recording our responses.
We're nothing but guinea pigs.
You mean they have taken over the whole town? Yes, I don't know how.
Mass hypnotism, drugs perhaps, and if anyone knew how to work that particular trick, it would be our Mr.
Spelman.
[conversation from outside the room.]
You don't have to worry about Birkett.
He's probably just wandering about.
We'll pick him up in the morning.
That's what you think.
Oh, I take it all back.
You were right.
Why aren't you at the office, Birkett? - What do you want? - I want an explanation, how you managed to kidnap 20,000 people.
Of course, you realise how absurd you sound.
Look, I know what you've done, Spelman.
I mean, all this is valuable information.
I don't know how much money is involved, I know for a fact that some companies spend two or three million a year on advertising.
Suppose they learn to cut their costs and increase efficiency at the same time.
Am I getting warm, Spelman? You're over-heated.
I don't think that's very funny.
You're coming with me to the police.
No, Birkett.
I said that you are coming with me.
I said no.
No.
Birkett.
Birkett, the girl.
You hit the nerve centre.
Makes it very difficult to control this body.
Iâm sorry.
It should have been Spelman.
Don't worry too much, I can't feel anything.
My real body lies asleep until I switch back to it.
But when I hit you-- Well, you've worked for Contra.
You know all about the Spelman process, linking brain patterns to machines.
You mean that that you're One of the Spelman machines, just like you.
Iâm afraid you're one of the other type, though.
What are you talking about? Iâm sorry for you, Mr.
Birkett, really sorry.
You see, I chose this way of living.
Iâm well paid and I can give it up any time I choose.
But you can't.
I tell you, Spelman's going to be stopped.
Iâll find my way out of this place.
You can't.
Why not? Because you're dead.
Dead? The explosion.
That was a dream.
It was this chemical plant.
One of the storage tanks blew up, almost everyone in the town died.
You died with them, both of you.
Iâm not dead.
Look, Iâm alive.
Your last day alive was June 14th.
It ended with that bang.
I tell you, that explosion was a dream.
A dream.
I woke up.
June 15th is the dream.
Itâs made afresh for you every day by Mr.
Spelman.
No, he couldn't.
He couldn't rebuild the whole town.
But it-- It wasn't necessary to have all the details exact.
It only lasts for one day.
At midnight, the maintenance crew swarms down the tunnel to every part of the town.
The tunnel? They put everything back the way it was on June 14th.
If one of you finds something wrong when he wakes, he forgets it again after midnight.
Swanson didn't.
I didn't.
- But you will.
- Itâs not possible.
It would have cost millions.
It made millions.
It goes on making the millions.
But that isn't the end.
Mr.
Spelman has political ambitions.
No, it's not true, it's not true, it can't be true! Iâll prove it to you.
Iâm switching back to my real body now.
Iâm going to disconnect.
Now.
Look.
[Spelman as robot.]
Forget it, Birkett.
Drop that bar before you do any more damage.
This is Spelman speaking.
You're not Spelman.
The mind is.
I just happen to be using this as a body.
And I doubt whether you could damage it.
So let's stop all this nonsense, shall we? I don't want to damage you either.
You were far too expensive to create.
Iâm Guy Birkett, Iâm not one of your damned machines! Iâll smash your synthetic empire.
You'll have to kill me if you want to stop me.
Go ahead.
Nobody's stopping you.
[siren blares.]
[bell ringing.]
[Spelman's voice.]
Birkett, this is Spelman.
Spelman in the flesh.
Now, why don't you be reasonable and let the maintenance crew adjust you? Iâm not beaten yet.
Iâll find the way out.
There's nowhere for you to go.
You can see that for yourself.
You see, Birkett, for my advertising laboratory, I wanted the town rebuilt, working replacements for its dead population.
Now that cost an awful lot of money.
Fortunately, I was able to compromise.
Why build an entire town when a scale model would do just as well? Listen to me.
Your world is built on a table top.
No! [muted speech.]
You won't use me again.
Iâll throw myself over the edge.
No, little Birkett.
No.
[siren blares.]
[thunderous explosion.]
[alarm clock rings.]
Guy! Guy, are you all right? Yes, yes, of course.
Oh, you scared me.
What a fantastic dream.
[advertising jingle plays.]
[man over loudspeaker.]
Are you a coward? No.
Are you a fool? No.
Are you going to let the incompetent run this country for five years? No.
What can you do? Vote for Spelman! Vote for Spelman! Vote for Spelman! Spelman! Spelman! Spelman! Spelman! Spelman!
[sonic whirring.]
[bubbling.]
[creaking.]
[mechanical winding.]
[fan whirring.]
[high pitched whistling.]
[hissing.]
[siren blares.]
[bell ringing.]
[thunderous explosion.]
[muted screams.]
[man screams.]
Guy! Are you all right? [panting.]
Yes, of course.
Oh, you scared me.
Iâm sorry, darling.
I don't often wake up screaming, do I? Iâm jumpy, too, this morning.
Why? It was my explosion, not yours.
You weren't dreaming about an explosion? Why? Shouldn't I? So did I.
I thought Iâd woken up and then there was a great big bang and something hit me on the head.
Oh, I did better than that.
The whole roof seemed to fall in on top of me.
I couldn't move.
I couldn't breathe.
Oh, Guy.
Yes, it was quite a dream.
It is awful when you dream you've woken up.
You never know quite what to believe after that.
Still, the walls are still intact [solid tapping.]
built to last.
Whoever heard of an explosion that didn't break the windows? We're all in one piece, safe and sound, darling.
It was only a dream.
But we both dreamed it.
Hey, come on, it's eight o'clock.
Breakfast in two minutes? Yes.
Itâs nearly ready.
It might have been some sort of telepathy.
[tune plays.]
Oh, no.
They can't do that.
[pop music plays through loudspeakers.]
This is going to be one of those days.
I can tell.
First the And now this.
Breakfast in two minutes? [pop music continues.]
[hums along to pop music playing outside.]
Ready? [Guy.]
Almost.
I think, you know, everybody has bad dreams at some time or another.
ln all these years of the bomb jitters, who wouldn't dream of explosions? And considered that way, it's not even much of a coincidence.
Now don't consider too long, your breakfast is nearly ready.
[sizzling.]
You know, darling, on the other hand-- Oh, the post is early.
Yes.
Three for me.
One for you.
I was thinking, there may have been an explosion on the other side of the town somewhere and we both heard it and that started us dreaming.
What do you suppose could have blown up? Well, only a slight explosion, of course.
At the chemical plant, perhaps.
But you've always insisted that nothing can go wrong at the works.
Well, just a thought.
That's all.
âPop star wins the Pools.
â There can't be much wrong with the world when that makes the front page.
You know, there isn't even anything else on the front page, except advertisements.
Iâve never seen so many before.
I don't know what we take the paper for.
Now don't let the breakfast get cold.
I don't feel very hungry.
Oh, you're not still worrying about that silly dream, are you? If there is-- If there has been an accident at the works, it will be on the eight o'clock news.
There might even be a special flash.
[advertising jingle plays.]
#Crunch, crunch, crunch # Crunchie Pops Crunchie Pops Turn that off.
Switch it off, switch it off! I thought you wanted to hear it.
If there's any bad news, Iâll learn soon enough when I get to the office.
Look, Iâm sorry.
I don't mean to snap at you but all these commercials, they make a man irritable at the best of times without all this Who are your letters from? Well, there's one from Aunt Polly.
She wants to know when we're going over.
A bread and butter letter from the Farleys.
And Maison Pilkington inviting me to a preview of their new collection.
What's yours? Oh, a sample I expect.
Feels bulky.
What is it? There's no mention.
It says, âPress to Start.
â Are you going to? What? Press.
It might be some sort of practical joke.
[high-pitched recorded voice.]
You want a Feckle Freezer, you need a Feckle Freezer, you must have a Feckle Freezer.
Itâs another one of those confounded commercials, how dare they? - Switch it off.
- Okay.
[recording continues.]
It won't switch off.
There ought to be a law against-- Feckle Freezers? Blast the Feckle Freezers.
Blast.
Blast.
[recording becomes fragmented, then silent.]
[clattering.]
Iâd like to do that to whoever put that damn thing in the post.
[bell rings.]
Yeah, Iâm going to be late.
You haven't even touched your breakfast.
What am I supposed to do with it? Well, stick it in a Feckle Freezer.
[typing, phone ringing.]
Hello.
Hello.
Good morning, Mr.
Birkett.
Oh, good morning, Miss Mitkin.
Get hold of the operator and find out what's wrong with that line, will you? Iâve been trying to get Harry Barton for the last ten minutes.
But Mr.
Barton isn't here.
If you remember, he went down to the factory.
A fault in the storage section, wasn't it? That was yesterday.
Well, he hasn't been seen since.
That's odd.
Keep trying.
Iâm sure Mr.
Barton knows what he's doing.
Yes, Iâm sure he does, too.
You know what today is, don't you? The 15th, the day the tax returns have to be sent in.
I was just about to remind you of the tax returns, Mr.
Birkett.
That's Harry Barton's job.
We could drive over to the factory with them.
We'd be there and back in an hour.
No, Iâll do them for him, I suppose.
There's nothing to be afraid of at the factory, Mr.
Birkett.
The place gives me the creeps.
Well, if you'd rather spend half a day with these than half an hour at the factory.
Yes, I would.
It wouldn't be so bad if there were a few people about.
And all those machines! They're all programmed from the brain patterns of human beings.
Yes.
That's just it.
Machines.
The Spelman process.
They're perfectly reliable, there's no danger in the Spelman process.
Jim Benskin is killed in a car accident, and the storage section carries on with his brain.
Not his brain, Mr.
Birkett, only his brain pattern.
You're quibbling.
I don't like the Spelman process.
Think of it, a man controlling a machine after he's dead.
[bell ringing.]
Iâm afraid you let your imagination run away with you.
Coffee, Mr.
Birkett? Yes, please.
Two coffees, please.
And 20 cigarettes.
Your usual? Marlins.
Thank you.
I didn't know you smoked Marlins, Mr.
Birkett.
I don't.
Well, you just ordered them.
I did? Marlins? They are supposed to be really good for you.
They contain a special anti-cough ingredient.
Yes.
Check, 242.
325 [knocking.]
678.
5, 7 43.
5 Just a moment, please.
Mr.
Spelman.
Don't get up, don't get up, just an informal call.
[Spelman chuckles.]
Paul Birkett, isn't it? - That's right, sir.
Birkett.
- Yes.
Department running smoothly? I thought that you were in New York.
Yes, I was yesterday.
Back today, you know, keeping Contro Chemicals on its toes.
Yeah, but don't let me interrupt your coffee break.
By the way, I notice a lot of your colleagues have taken to Frosty Flips.
Very refreshing, I hear.
Yes, well Iâd rather stick to coffee.
Then these Frosty Flips will have to boost up their promotion campaign, won't they? Carry on, carry on.
Well, 5432-- Oh, I see you smoke Marlins, Mr.
Birkett.
Yes, they contain a special anti-cough ingredient.
Interesting, interesting.
81 .
9, 3532.
9.
[phone ringing.]
This is going to take ages.
Birkett here.
[over telephone.]
Swanson here, Birkett.
Swanson? Iâve got to see you, it's urgent.
What did you want to see me about? You must remember, you must.
Iâm on a pretty tight schedule today.
Look up the diary, will you, Miss Mitkin? Please, Mr.
Birkett.
Itâs dreadfully important.
I may be able to fix you in tomorrow.
Tomorrow's no good.
The day after? There's no such day as tomorrow.
It has to be today.
Not today, Mr.
Birkett.
But there's nothing down for tomorrow.
Today.
Please.
- 9.
30? - 9.
30? 9.
30 tomorrow.
I look forward to seeing you.
[high pitched wail and siren.]
[thunderous explosion.]
[screaming.]
Guy.
Guy, are you all right? Yes, of course.
You were screaming.
- Iâm sorry, darling.
- Did I scare you? Iâm jumpy, too, this morning.
Bad dreams.
There was a hell of a bang, I thought the whole roof was coming in on top of me.
You weren't dreaming about an explosion? Yes.
I suppose it's a common sort of nightmare.
But that was my dream, too.
A great big bang and something hit me.
Itâs odd.
Creepy.
- Guy? - Yes? Don't you get the feeling that-- What, darling? Well, I suppose it must have been a dream.
Is breakfast nearly ready? Yes, yes, two minutes.
Everybody has bad dreams at some time or another, darling.
I mean, with all these years of the bomb jitters, who wouldn't dream about explosions? Well, you consider your breakfast.
Itâs nearly ready.
[water trickling.]
[recorded voice.]
Join me in a Frosty Flip.
Frosty Flip, the ice cold drink with a secret ingredient.
Frosty Flip.
Join me in a Guy, Guy! What is it? What have you got there? - I can't make it stop.
- What is it? Iâve never seen anything like it before, I can't switch it off.
Damned thing! [voice continues.]
[smashing, voice becomes fragmented.]
It came in the post.
Yes, I can imagine.
Was there anything for me? No, just a note from Aunt Polly.
She wants to know when we're going over.
A bread and butter letter from the Farleys.
And Maison Pilkington invited me to a preview of their new collection.
Now don't let this coffee get cold.
There's something wrong, but I can't put my finger on it, but-- That silly dream, I suppose.
Or there might have been an explosion on the other side of the town somewhere, and we both heard it and that started us dreaming.
What do you suppose could have blown up? Nothing too disastrous, of course.
âPop Star Wins the Pools.
â [fire alarm rings.]
Fire.
[alarm continues.]
That's illegal.
Playing records of a fire engine, what do they think they're up to? Maybe it's a joke.
Something for Rag Week.
For one thing, this isn't Rag Week, and for another, that's no joke.
The police would be along in a minute, you'll see.
At any rate, it's stopped now.
[advertising jingle for Feckle Freezers plays.]
What the hell is a Feckle Freezer? Some kind of freezer, I suppose.
Some idiotic advertising stunt.
They'll soon be stopped.
Enough complaints, they'll lose their licence.
Well, that seems to be the end of it.
[man over loudspeaker.]
Have you got a freezer? It stinks! If it isn't a Feckle Freezer, it stinks! If it isn't this year's Feckle Freezer, it stinks! Feckle, Feckle.
Iâm going to ring the police.
Feckle.
Feckle.
Feckle Cheap freezers ruin food.
Do you eat rotting, mouldy food? Wake up and buy a Feckle.
Hurry up.
Hurry.
Hurry.
Hurry - Any reply? - No, it's engaged.
Everybody must have the same idea.
Try again.
[louder.]
Feckle, Feckle, Feckle Iâm going out for myself.
They've stopped now.
But for how long? Hooligans! This is going to be another one of those days.
Darling, what's the date? June 15th, why? Itâs a bit nippy.
Feels more like October.
[footsteps on stairs.]
There is no appointment down for the day, Mr.
-- - Swanson.
- I sure would have remembered.
Anyway, it would be here in the book.
Nine-thirty, he said.
And it isn't.
June 15th.
No sign of it here.
I might have known it wouldn't work.
You see, it has to be today.
Iâm afraid Mr.
Birkett has a very full schedule today.
Yes, I know.
He always has a very full schedule today.
On the other hand, if it's so important, I may be able to fit you in tomorrow.
I tell you, tomorrow is no good.
Iâve tried that.
Day after day, Iâve tried.
You see, and today was tomorrow yesterday and now it's today again.
You ought to calm down, Mr.
Swanson.
Can I take a message to Mr.
Birkett? Couldn't I just wait here till he comes? Iâve told you, Mr.
Birkett is a very busy man.
You have to make an appointment.
Well, if he could just see me, it might remind him.
Remind him of what? Good morning, Miss Mitkin.
Oh, good morning, Mr.
Birkett.
This is Mr.
Swanson.
He is under the impression he has an appointment.
- Oh? - I have.
I have.
Look, Iâm Swanson.
Think, Birkett.
Try to remember.
Please try.
Iâm very busy, Mr.
Swanson.
What can I do for you? Remember.
Remember what? You won't believe me unless you remember.
Iâve tried all that.
What am I supposed to remember? That night, you know The dark room.
It doesn't matter.
Sorry.
Iâm sorry about that, Mr.
Birkett.
He just walked in.
- What are those? - The tax returns.
They have to be sent in today.
June 15th.
Well, that's Harry Barton's job.
Mr.
Barton won't be here.
He's over at the factory.
We could drive over with them.
No, all right.
Iâll do them for him, I suppose.
Eyes down, Miss Mitkin.
[buzzing.]
Is Mr.
Birkett available? Iâd like to speak to him on behalf of Feckle Freezers.
Feckle Freezers? Well, if you were responsible for that hullabaloo this morning-- Oh, but that's just the point.
We want to apologise.
Oh, well.
If you could tell us where to get in touch with him.
Well, he'll be at the office now.
But he is very busy.
We want to recompense everyone who may have been inconvenienced by that outburst.
Everyone.
If you could tell us when Mr.
Birkett usually has lunch? Yes.
[advertising jingle plays.]
#Tang, tang tang, tang # Taste the tang of Chocobites.
Tingle tang of Chocobites.
The usual table? Yeah.
I see you've been redecorating.
Yes, sir.
What, since yesterday? Quite recently.
Yes, but I can't say that I like it.
Allow me.
Itâs stuffy in here.
Have you got the heating on? Yes, sir.
What, in the middle of June? If I might suggest a nice Frosty Flip.
- No, thank you.
- Very cooling, sir.
No, thank you.
No Frosty Flips.
I don't like their commercials.
I see, sir.
Mr.
Birkett? Yes.
April Dorn, I'm from the Feckle Corporation.
Oh, indeed.
Yes, well, after your company's demonstration this morning-- May I share your table, Mr.
Birkett? There's so much I want to talk to you about.
Well, I don't want to sound rude, Miss Dorn-- I would like you to call me April.
Yes, well, I was about to say, I don't think that I could talk about your company for very long without losing my temper.
That's why the Feckle Corporation would like to charge this lunch to their account.
Oh, no, no, no.
I couldn't.
You would rather not have lunch with me? No, no, no.
Itâs not that.
I want to apologise on behalf of the company, Mr.
Birkett.
Please? - Oh.
- Thank you.
- Waiter? - [waiter.]
Madame.
I hear the turtle soup is very good.
Is it? I can recommend the turtle soup, sir.
Well, turtle soup, then.
And then, sir? - Fillet mignon? - Fillet-- Petits pois and asparagus.
And a bottle of Nuits Saint Georges.
Very good, sir.
Well, that's not really necessary.
But you must accept.
This is the least the Feckle Corporation can do for you.
Why, you're letting them off lightly.
You could sue them for their last penny, disturbing your sleep like that.
Yes.
It was rather shattering.
You're just being nice about it.
Some people actually complained to the police.
Oh, it wasn't as bad as all that.
I knew you'd understand.
Itâs just that well, the Feckle is such a wonderful freezer.
Some of our outside men got carried away, they wanted everyone to hear about it.
Yes, we heard.
As soon as head office found out what had happened, they sent representatives around to every home in the neighbourhood to apologise.
But really and truly, Mr.
Birkett, the Feckle is a fine, fine freezer.
Yes, yes, Iâm sure it is.
Perhaps I shouldn't tell you this but well, Iâd do almost anything for Feckle Freezers.
White for madam, and black for you, sir.
Now I have your signature and you have mine.
Yes, yes.
But you have more than that, though.
You have a 12 cubic foot Feckle Freezer, self-defrosting, upright model.
Price £275.
Iâve never paid so much for a refrigerator in my life before.
I don't know what my wife's going to say.
Oh, Iâm sure your wife is very understanding and very sweet.
He was very sweet, darling.
He said he was a special representative sent to apologise.
Well, I couldn't leave him standing on the doorstop, could I? So I asked him in, and he started to tell me all about this-- This thing.
Guy, I signed a form this afternoon.
Guy, darling, wouldn't you like-- Not a Feckle Freezer.
Twelve cubic foot.
Self-defrosting.
Horizontal model.
Upright model.
Price £275.
- But you didn't-- - Oh, yes, yes.
We shall be the only couple in the neighbourhood with a Feckle Freezer apiece.
His and hers.
What are we going to do with them? There's not room in the kitchen.
Iâm sorry, darling.
- Darling, if only you told me-- - I wanted it to be a surprise.
Surprise? Itâs taking you to nearly midnight, to scrub enough courage to tell me.
And how long has it taken you? That's twice 27 5, that's £550 for two freezers we don't even want one of.
I knew today was going to be hell.
Feckle lousy Freezers.
[bell rings.]
At least we can be sure of one thing, nothing else can happen today.
Oh, blast.
The spring is gone.
The switch? Well, don't worry.
You go up to bed.
Iâll fix it.
Oh, must you do it tonight? Oh, darling.
We can't turn the light off.
Either I fix it now or we leave it burning all night.
I should remember to put that out of the way one of these days.
Well, it's just a matter of a couple of screws.
No need for you to wait up.
If you insist.
Yes, with the right tools, this is a simple job.
[clattering.]
Are you all right, Guy? Yes, yes.
Itâs just a fuse, darling.
Won't take a couple of minutes.
[Guy clanging in cupboard.]
[Guy sighs.]
[light clattering.]
Mary? Mary? [solid tapping.]
[taps wood.]
[thud.]
[clattering.]
[faint commotion, indistinct speech.]
[faint whirring.]
[loud whirring.]
[click then silence.]
[ticking.]
[alarm ringing.]
Guy? Guy? Where did you go? That was awful.
What? This dream.
It was like being caught up in an explosion.
It woke me up and I couldn't see you.
You're dressed.
Yes, I didn't get undressed.
I banged my head, I must have been in the cupboard all night.
Iâm not in a mood for jokes this morning, Guy.
No, Iâm not joking.
There's something very odd out there.
I mean, our walls, they're not brick anymore and the floor, it's-- Itâs metal with this sort of plastic covering.
Why? I suppose the builders knew what they were doing.
Oh, that was a very nasty dream.
I would never have noticed if it hadn't been for the fuse.
Fuse? Oh, the fuse, you know, the one that went last night, when I stayed up to repair.
But you went to bed ahead of me last night, I switched off the lights.
Darling, you couldn't, there's no switch.
No switch? No, I mean, it broke remember? I screwed it, I haven't had a chance to screw it back on yet.
So, where are you going? [footsteps on stairs.]
What's wrong with that? Watch, it shouldn't.
This is June 15th, Guy.
Not April 1st.
Itâs not even June 15th.
Itâs June 16th.
This is going to be another one of those days.
Oh, you see, it's already started with the wrong paper.
- Look, yesterday's.
- Yesterday's? Yes, I remember that headline.
- I don't.
- What? But it's the 16th Yes, of course it is.
Itâs the 16th.
15th.
I had an appointment at the hair dresser yesterday, which was the 14th.
Work it out.
Anyway, does it matter? No, no, I suppose not.
They're all for you.
Oh, darling, about the freezers.
- What? - Well, the Feckle Freezers.
I thought, you know, we could ring them up, explain that we'd made a mistake and ask them if they would take one.
What's the matter? What are Feckle Freezers? Now there is something wrong.
And the date is part of it.
Yes, I can remember the 15th.
I remember the tax returns.
I wouldn't imagine half a day's work now, would I? Guy, perhaps it was-- And I remember this headline, and your letters.
Go on, open them.
You've already opened them.
There was one from the one from the Farley's bread and butter.
And there was one from Aunt Polly.
Asking when are we going over.
And one from Maison Pilkington.
Inviting you to a preview again, you know.
You're trying to frighten me.
No, Iâm not.
Iâm just trying to get this straight.
[bell rings.]
Itâs eight o'clock.
Yes, I know what the time is, darling.
Itâs the date that worries me.
[jingle for Crunchipops plays.]
Turn that off.
- Turn that off.
- No, leave it.
Perhaps they know what the date is.
[radio presenter.]
Good morning.
Here is the eight o'clock news for today Wednesday, June 15th brought to you by Frosty Flip, the ice cold drink with the secret ingredient.
Oh, darling, you must have had a very nasty bang on your head.
No, I tell you it was nothing to do with the bang on my head.
[phone rings.]
Hello.
[over telephone.]
Could I speak to Mr.
Birkett please? My name is Swanson.
Yes, hold on, would you? Itâs for you, a Mr.
Swanson.
Swanson? Swanson.
- Birkett here.
- Do you remember yet? Now look, Swanson, what's going on? You went through this routine yesterday.
You remember? What's it all about? I can't tell you on the phone, where can we meet? At the office.
No, no, not there, not two days running.
They might suspect.
Look, what about-- What about that place you were at yesterday, The Crystal Restaurant? Yes, look, Swanson, has it Has it something to do with the date? Careful, Birkett, this is a public phone.
I can't Iâll see you there.
As soon as they open.
He knows, too.
He knows.
Guy! Chocobites are tangy.
Chocobites are tangier than tangy.
Taste one, and you'll want some more.
Won't you try my Chocobites? No, thank you.
Won't you try my Chocobites? No, thank you.
Miss Dorn.
I wanted to have a word with you about those freezers.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Well, about the freezer that you sold me yesterday.
But I didn't sell you anything.
Well, of course you did.
- Hey, you.
- Me, sir? You served us yesterday, didn't you? Did I, sir? Well, turtle soup, fillet mignon, and all the-- If you'll excuse me just one moment, sir.
Of course, it was you.
But you don't remember, not yesterday.
I couldn't forget you, Miss Dorn.
Iâm not Miss Dorn.
Well, wait.
You whoever you are.
- They know.
- Control yourself! - Birkett, let them go.
- Where have they gone? Look, they know we are on to them.
On to them? Swanson, you better start from the beginning.
Of course you don't remember any of this, do you? Look, about two months ago, you came banging at my door late one night.
I did? You were scared silly, babbling about men without faces and a huge hand in the sky.
- You begged me to hide you.
- Are you sure it was me? I thought that you were out of your mind.
And obviously you needed some help.
I have got this darkroom, you know.
It locks on the inside.
Anyway, to keep you quiet, we both hid in there.
And then in the morning, you said you've got something funny to show me.
You went out and you bought a newspaper.
The date on it, Birkett, it was June 15th.
And that's today.
I mean-- That's it, you got it, you see? Itâs always today, every day the same.
Every morning, the same news in the newspapers.
Only the advertisements change, but who wants to read advertisements? Always June 15th.
Yeah.
One night you stayed away too long before coming back into the darkroom.
They got you again.
When I found you a couple of days later you'd forgotten everything.
Somebody wants us to live the same day over and over again.
Why? Who are they, Swanson, and what's in it for them? I think they watch us.
Watch us? Yeah, I try to keep out of their way.
I only come out to look for you.
Watch us.
Well, if they're watching us, Swanson, we have nothing to lose.
Come on.
Birkett, look, it's dangerous.
Look here, Birkett.
What is it? Where are we? There's a ladder and it appears to be some sort of a tunnel.
Quite a substantial bit of engineering.
Tunnel? There can't be a tunnel.
There isn't a tunnel under That's just what I was thinking.
Come on.
[clanging.]
Metal alloy, like the floor of my house.
Look, Birkett, let's go back.
I think we ought to call the police.
Proportions They're all wrong.
Supposing one of them sees us? What does this remind you of? Look, they got your mind last time, Birkett.
Aren't you scared? Yes, yes, Iâm scared but what else can we do? Come on.
Wait for me.
Look, supposing we meet one of them.
Well, how do we know? Oh, well, they're easy to spot, once you know where to look.
You see, we're always the same but they change.
That girl for instance, sometimes she wears fancy dress like today, other times she is in ordinary clothes.
They play different parts.
There appears to be some sort of gate.
Itâs locked.
I wish I could place what it remind me of.
Come on, Swanson.
Let's try one of these.
[faint sonic whirring.]
What is it? What's the matter? This is the plant.
Contro Chemicals.
Where is everybody? There's nobody about.
There never was.
Itâs all controlled by computers.
The Spelman process.
He discovered how to transfer a man's thought patterns from brain cells to electronic matrices.
What does that do? It gives a machine the mind of a human being.
But why have all the machines stopped? They were working yesterday.
Harry Barton came over, too.
Look, this is working.
What is it? It doesn't belong here.
Mary.
That's my wife.
I told you they watch us.
[Guy.]
They must have cameras planted everywhere.
Why do they do it? I don't know but we'll soon find out.
- Itâs locked.
- There you are, you see.
There must be something in there worth keeping under lock and key.
Birkett, I don't think we ought to be doing this.
Just look at these.
Hey, look, Chocobites.
That girl was giving away Chocobites.
Marlin cigarettes campaign.
Marlin cigarettes.
Frosty Flip, I bought one of those.
Feckle Freezer, I bought two.
What's all this got to do with Contro Chemicals? The layouts out for Crunchipops.
Who put the crunch in Crunchipops? Swanson, you're right.
This has nothing to do with Contro Chemicals.
Now look, it's advertising.
Chocobites, Frosty Flip.
Well, they're at least ordinary anyway.
Listen to this, Swanson.
âAlthough test report K4 doubled the numbers sold, its use will be limited by local by-laws restricting the use of loudspeaker vans.
â Now when did you last hear a loudspeaker van, Swanson? They're around us all the time.
And what are they doing? Advertising.
Exactly, it's poured into us every day.
Newspapers, television, radio and even if we miss them, there are loud loudspeaker vans to get us out of bed.
That's what's happening every day, isn't it? - Yeah, that's what's happening.
- And it happens every night.
Every night, our minds are wiped clean of all that's happened during the day, so that we are all ready for the next day's trials.
We're a captive audience.
And they're recording our responses.
We're nothing but guinea pigs.
You mean they have taken over the whole town? Yes, I don't know how.
Mass hypnotism, drugs perhaps, and if anyone knew how to work that particular trick, it would be our Mr.
Spelman.
[conversation from outside the room.]
You don't have to worry about Birkett.
He's probably just wandering about.
We'll pick him up in the morning.
That's what you think.
Oh, I take it all back.
You were right.
Why aren't you at the office, Birkett? - What do you want? - I want an explanation, how you managed to kidnap 20,000 people.
Of course, you realise how absurd you sound.
Look, I know what you've done, Spelman.
I mean, all this is valuable information.
I don't know how much money is involved, I know for a fact that some companies spend two or three million a year on advertising.
Suppose they learn to cut their costs and increase efficiency at the same time.
Am I getting warm, Spelman? You're over-heated.
I don't think that's very funny.
You're coming with me to the police.
No, Birkett.
I said that you are coming with me.
I said no.
No.
Birkett.
Birkett, the girl.
You hit the nerve centre.
Makes it very difficult to control this body.
Iâm sorry.
It should have been Spelman.
Don't worry too much, I can't feel anything.
My real body lies asleep until I switch back to it.
But when I hit you-- Well, you've worked for Contra.
You know all about the Spelman process, linking brain patterns to machines.
You mean that that you're One of the Spelman machines, just like you.
Iâm afraid you're one of the other type, though.
What are you talking about? Iâm sorry for you, Mr.
Birkett, really sorry.
You see, I chose this way of living.
Iâm well paid and I can give it up any time I choose.
But you can't.
I tell you, Spelman's going to be stopped.
Iâll find my way out of this place.
You can't.
Why not? Because you're dead.
Dead? The explosion.
That was a dream.
It was this chemical plant.
One of the storage tanks blew up, almost everyone in the town died.
You died with them, both of you.
Iâm not dead.
Look, Iâm alive.
Your last day alive was June 14th.
It ended with that bang.
I tell you, that explosion was a dream.
A dream.
I woke up.
June 15th is the dream.
Itâs made afresh for you every day by Mr.
Spelman.
No, he couldn't.
He couldn't rebuild the whole town.
But it-- It wasn't necessary to have all the details exact.
It only lasts for one day.
At midnight, the maintenance crew swarms down the tunnel to every part of the town.
The tunnel? They put everything back the way it was on June 14th.
If one of you finds something wrong when he wakes, he forgets it again after midnight.
Swanson didn't.
I didn't.
- But you will.
- Itâs not possible.
It would have cost millions.
It made millions.
It goes on making the millions.
But that isn't the end.
Mr.
Spelman has political ambitions.
No, it's not true, it's not true, it can't be true! Iâll prove it to you.
Iâm switching back to my real body now.
Iâm going to disconnect.
Now.
Look.
[Spelman as robot.]
Forget it, Birkett.
Drop that bar before you do any more damage.
This is Spelman speaking.
You're not Spelman.
The mind is.
I just happen to be using this as a body.
And I doubt whether you could damage it.
So let's stop all this nonsense, shall we? I don't want to damage you either.
You were far too expensive to create.
Iâm Guy Birkett, Iâm not one of your damned machines! Iâll smash your synthetic empire.
You'll have to kill me if you want to stop me.
Go ahead.
Nobody's stopping you.
[siren blares.]
[bell ringing.]
[Spelman's voice.]
Birkett, this is Spelman.
Spelman in the flesh.
Now, why don't you be reasonable and let the maintenance crew adjust you? Iâm not beaten yet.
Iâll find the way out.
There's nowhere for you to go.
You can see that for yourself.
You see, Birkett, for my advertising laboratory, I wanted the town rebuilt, working replacements for its dead population.
Now that cost an awful lot of money.
Fortunately, I was able to compromise.
Why build an entire town when a scale model would do just as well? Listen to me.
Your world is built on a table top.
No! [muted speech.]
You won't use me again.
Iâll throw myself over the edge.
No, little Birkett.
No.
[siren blares.]
[thunderous explosion.]
[alarm clock rings.]
Guy! Guy, are you all right? Yes, yes, of course.
Oh, you scared me.
What a fantastic dream.
[advertising jingle plays.]
[man over loudspeaker.]
Are you a coward? No.
Are you a fool? No.
Are you going to let the incompetent run this country for five years? No.
What can you do? Vote for Spelman! Vote for Spelman! Vote for Spelman! Spelman! Spelman! Spelman! Spelman! Spelman!