Out of the Unknown (1965) s03e12 Episode Script
The Yellow Pill
1 [theme music plays.]
[woman over intercom.]
Dr.
Frame? May I come in for a moment? Dr.
Frame? [door opens.]
John, are you all right? Yes, yes, Iâm fine.
I must've been dreaming.
What is it? There's Detective Inspector Slinn waiting to see you.
He phoned several times.
I told him you were well, busy.
But now he's come round.
Well, did he say what he wanted? [Helen.]
No, except that it was important.
- Iâd better see him then.
- You're sure? I mean You're sure you're not too tired? No, Helen.
Don't fuss.
Iâll get rid of him quickly.
Then we'll have dinner.
- Hmm? - Well we'll talk about that later.
Iâll send him in.
Come in, Inspector.
Been trying to get all afternoon, Doctor.
[Frame.]
Well I was a little tired.
Iâve been resting.
Superintendent Barry thought you might be of some assistance to us.
ln what way? We've got a bloke down at the station.
We're charging him with murder.
Only snag is we don't know very much about him.
Can't get any sense out of him at all.
He's either he's off his head, psychologically speaking or he's the world's greatest actor.
The superintendent thought you might help us to decide which.
You sound as if you've already made up your mind, Inspector.
Somebody commits a crime it doesn't matter to me whether he's a nut or a genius, or both.
My job is to apprehend him and charge him.
Right? Of course, nowadays they are all nuts.
But in my book they are still thieves and murderers just the same as they always were.
I am surprised you want my help.
[Slinn.]
What I want, Doctor, is a conviction.
[Frame.]
Yes, I'm not interested in that, Inspector.
- My sole interest is-- - Yes, sir I understand your sole interest is clinical.
And any opinion you may have will be available for the man's defence as well.
That is quite right, sir.
When would you like me to come down to the Yard? That won't be necessary, sir.
We can bring him here.
Save you a bit of trouble, won't it? - Yes.
But really I-- - No, that's all right, sir.
Itâs no trouble to us.
We'll bring him this evening.
Thank you, Dr.
Frame.
Oh, incidentally, this man is a murderer.
Tried armed robbery, shot and killed three people.
- Is it safe to bring him here? - Oh, he's dangerous.
But you'll be all right with us, Doctor.
We'll look after you.
[door opens.]
[door closes.]
Anything serious? [Frame.]
Somebody they're charging with murder.
They want me to examine him.
They are bringing him here this evening.
- [Helen.]
Here? - [Frame.]
Yes.
That's funny, it hadn't struck me.
Little odd isn't it? Bringing him here, I mean.
Anyway, it rather puts paid to our dinner date.
[Helen.]
Yes, it does.
[Frame.]
Well, doesn't that upset you? [Helen.]
Well I hadn't actually accepted.
[Frame.]
But Well, it's Tuesday.
We always have dinner on Tuesday.
[Helen.]
Yes, every Tuesday.
Routine, isn't that the word, John? [Frame.]
Helen! Wednesday, is that routine? Perhaps I want a little more than a clandestine dinner, once a week.
Are you asking me to make a decision? [Helen.]
Iâll leave that up to you, John.
[Frame.]
And Wednesday? [Helen.]
Perhaps we'd better get back to things as they used to be.
Remember you once asked me never to accept invitations to go out with you? That! Oh, that was just a typical piece of masculine rationalisation.
I was paving the way for rejection before you had a chance to reject me yourself.
Itâs called preserving the ego.
- Helen-- - Oh please, John, no - Will you stay on this evening? - Yes, if you want me to.
[faint, low humming.]
John, what's the matter? [Frame.]
Itâs that noise, I heard it earlier today.
- What noise? - But surely you-- [Frame.]
A kind of humming.
Well, maybe it was the lift.
These old lifts make strange sounds.
[Helen over intercom.]
Dr.
Frame? Inspector Slinn is waiting, Doctor.
Show him in, would you.
[door opens.]
- Good evening, Doctor.
- Good evening, Inspector.
[Slinn.]
Right, sit him down there.
[chair scraping.]
[handcuffs clicking.]
[Frame.]
Has anybody looked at that cut? [Slinn.]
Itâs only a bruise, Doctor.
Our friend gets a little violent.
- Must you keep him handcuffed? - Itâs better that way.
- Come on you.
Wake up-- - Inspector! If you don't mind Iâd like to handle this my way.
[Frame.]
What's his name? [Slinn.]
We're not very sure.
[Slinn.]
You two, sit either side of him.
[policemen sit down.]
[Frame.]
Can you hear me? Doesn't he call himself anything? [Slinn.]
Connor's the name he used.
[Frame.]
Connor, can you hear me? [Connor panting.]
Mr.
Connor, do you know where you are? And do you know who I am? Well, who am I? [Connor.]
Don't you know? [Frame.]
Yes, I know but do you? [Connor.]
Look, John, what happened? Why did you tie me up like this? You're not tied up.
You're handcuffed.
Iâll tell you why in a minute.
How do you know my name is John? Oh, for Pete's sake, old boy! You're John.
You're the John I did my training with, shared my quarters with.
Don't you want me to call you John? I mean, do you want to be addressed by rank? Very well, sir.
Permission to speak, sir.
May I say something about our present position, Commander Leason? [Slinn.]
Cut that out, whatever your name is! [Frame.]
Inspector, do you mind [Frame walks across room.]
[Frame picks up chair.]
[Frame.]
What was that name you just called me? [Connor.]
Itâs your name: Leason.
Shouldn't I call you that anymore? [Frame.]
I don't really mind, except that my name is Frame.
- Do you understand? Frame.
- Look, John [Connor.]
All right, so your name's Frame.
[Frame.]
And you believe your name is Connor? [Connor.]
Correction: I know my name is Connor.
That is a lot of nonsense.
[Frame.]
What do you mean? [Slinn.]
Gives his name as Wilfred Connor, born Hastings, Sussex.
And you know the date he gives? October the 7th, 1969.
1969! Is that correct, Mr.
Connor? [Connor.]
Is what correct? [Frame.]
Do you believe you were born in 1969? I think my mother would confirm it.
[Frame.]
Do you know what today's date is? [Connor.]
June the 3rd or 4th.
Iâm not sure.
- And the year? - 1996.
[Frame.]
The year is 1969.
This is 1969.
This is the year in which you claim to have been born.
[Connor.]
You really are gone, aren't you old boy? [Frame.]
Look, Connor, if I show you a calendar or a newspaper which clearly shows today's date is June the 4th, 1969 - will you believe me then? - No! Why not? Because this job we're doing is difficult enough and sometimes everybody doubts his or her reason.
The pressure's on all the time so you have to cling to certain unalterable things.
Like your name, the date, the names of friends Now, I know what year it is.
Do you understand that? I know! [Slinn.]
He was like this at the Yard.
[Frame.]
If I persist in telling you that this is 1969, what will you deduce from that? - That you're sick.
- Mad? [Connor.]
I said sick Temporary madness if you like but we were trained to recognise the symptoms and take precautions.
Now come on, untie me.
Let's try and talk the thing out.
[Frame.]
You're not tied up.
You're handcuffed.
You're under arrest.
Do you appreciate that? [Connor.]
Arrest? How can I be under arrest? [Frame.]
According to the police you shot and killed three people whilst attempting a robbery.
[Connor.]
John! You don't really believe that.
[Frame.]
I am only telling you what the police said.
[Connor.]
They weren't people, John.
Don't you remember? They weren't people.
[Frame.]
What were they then? [Connor.]
You know as well as I do.
They were space creatures.
Venusian space creatures.
[Frame.]
That's what you shot? Three space creatures? - From Venus? - That's right.
[Frame.]
Did the police doctors do any medical tests on this man? [Slinn.]
Quite a few.
Why sir? [Frame.]
This kind of hallucination could be compatible with drug taking or possibly severe alcoholism [Slinn.]
The tests didn't show anything like that.
[Frame.]
He told you the same story when he was arrested? [Slinn.]
Yes.
Said he'd killed three space creatures.
Connor, what were they like these space creatures? [Connor.]
You saw them yourself.
[Slinn.]
I know I've forgotten what they look like - can you remember? - I can remember all right! [Frame.]
Tell me about them.
[Connor.]
Of course, you never really believed in them, did you? But I knew.
Remember, John? We had a row about it.
Iâd said something about there being wild life all over the Earth and in the sea.
So why not in space? âOh no,â you said, âquite impossible.
â How could you be so sure? That's what got me.
Why shouldn't there be some kind of creature that the scientists hadn't even dreamed about? Well, we know now, don't we? I nearly spewed up when I saw them.
Not with fright Well, not just fright but just the way they looked.
- What did they look like? - Like lizards When you actually see them.
Almost transparent.
Outside we couldn't see them.
Then suddenly they were in the ship and we saw them forming before us.
Seems it takes them a second or two to adapt.
I grabbed the electron-gun, sprayed them twice.
Then we heaved them into the airlock vault and jettisoned them into space again.
[Frame.]
And that's what happened to you? [Connor.]
Don't you remember? You saw them yourself.
You were sitting just over there at the control panel.
[Frame.]
You think we're still in a space ship? [Connor.]
We are, John! We are! Look out of the port, tell me what you see.
Space.
The Earth a pinpoint in the distance.
Go on, look! [Frame's footsteps.]
- [Frame.]
This is the port? - [Connor.]
Of course it is! [Connor.]
Look out.
[footsteps.]
Now tell me what you see.
ln the sky, stars.
Down in the street, a few people, cars.
There's a bus just going by.
I can't see where it's going though.
We don't have buses any more, John! You're remembering the past.
A double-decker bus is a pretty tangible thing.
Itâs not an object to weave a fantasy around.
[Connor.]
But that's just what you're doing.
[Frame.]
How many of us are in this spaceship of yours? [Connor.]
Just the two of us.
- You should know that.
- And what about the Inspector? [Frame.]
Detective Inspector Slinn.
The man who brought you here.
And his two assistants.
There's no-one else here.
Just you and me.
[Frame.]
But you've been talking to them! [Connor.]
Correction, John: You've been talking to them, not me.
Yes, all right, Iâve been talking to them.
But you must be able to see them.
Inspector, would you mind standing in front of Connor just for a moment? [Frame.]
Now, the inspector's standing directly in front of you.
He's obscuring me from your view.
- Can you see him now? - No.
- [Frame.]
You're quite certain? - [Connor.]
Positive.
[Slinn.]
You don't believe all this bull, do you? He can't see me?! Right.
[Slinn slaps Connor.]
- [Frame.]
Inspector! - [Slinn.]
Ask if he felt that.
[Frame.]
I must insist I conduct this interview in my own way.
I strongly disapprove of violence being used-- [Slinn.]
All right, but ask him if he felt it.
Connor? Did you feel anything just now? [Connor.]
What do you mean? [Frame.]
Inspector Slinn just struck you with his hand.
Across the cheek.
Did you feel anything? No-one struck me.
[Frame.]
Do you still believe he is acting? [Slinn.]
He saw me all right when we arrested him.
He drew a gun on us.
What was he going to shoot, a figment of his imagination? [Frame.]
I wish I had your confidence, Inspector.
Your certainty.
Because as far as Iâm concerned, this man is telling the truth.
At least the truth as he sees it.
So you think he's completely barmy? At the moment he's deranged, he's suffering from an hallucination, a fantasy.
And when is he going to snap out of it? [Frame.]
Maybe never.
[Slinn.]
Look, Doctor I want a statement.
I need a statement.
Can't you get him to talk sense for a few minutes? He can't always have been like this.
Well we can try.
But at the moment he rejects all reality.
What Iâm hoping to do is establish some common ground with him.
Some knowledge that we can both share.
Like Well, let's try.
[Frame.]
Connor, we're going to play a little game.
We're going to try and get back to reality.
[Connor.]
My reality or yours? [Frame.]
Ours.
Now if I mention a date, say 1066, what does that mean to you? Battle of Hastings.
Norman Conquest.
- [Connor.]
What does it mean to you? - [Frame.]
Exactly the same.
[Connor.]
Good.
Then we're making progress.
[Frame.]
Thank you.
I was about to say the same thing.
[Frame.]
Now, Iâm holding something in my hand.
What is it? - [Connor.]
A book.
- [Frame.]
Good.
And this? - [Connor.]
Pen.
- [Frame.]
Correct.
[Frame.]
I put the pen down.
What do I put it on? The chart table.
Do you think this is a chart table? [Connor.]
Well, what do you think it is? [Frame.]
Itâs a desk.
Itâs a fairly ordinary desk.
There's a blotter on it, a telephone, an intercom with the reception room - [Frame.]
A few papers, a letter-- - [Connor.]
Itâs a chart table! Itâs made of plastic and light metal.
ln front of you are our navigational maps and operational orders.
On the left is a radio.
Well, why don't you call Base? Switch the radio on and call Base.
If I switch this on, I get through to my receptionist.
- You saw her as you came in.
- I didn't.
Come now, Connor, you could hardly miss her.
She's a very attractive young woman.
Is her name Helen? How did you know that? So Helen's on board! Helen Carter.
How did you know her name? You must have heard me speak to her when you came in.
[Connor.]
You didn't speak to her.
[Frame.]
Then how did you know? How? She lives near the park, doesn't she? I remember the music from the bandstand.
- [Frame.]
Well as a matter of fact-- - [Connor.]
Don't you remember? I drove you there once in my car.
You kept talking about your wife Wondering if you were doing the right thing.
Then you were going to give her up.
Don't you remember? You've talked about it so many times.
Try to remember.
She's real.
The only real thing in this dream world of yours.
Doesn't that prove something? I know about Helen.
And Carol.
I know about Carol too.
- Who is Carol? - Well, your wife, for Pete's sake - Carolâs your wife.
- Well, no, you're quite wrong.
Then what's your wife's name?! What's her name? [Frame.]
It's, er [struggles, hesitates.]
You don't know! You don't know! [tape player clicking.]
[Frame.]
Inspector I don't see much point in continuing this.
[Slinn.]
Right, Doctor.
Iâll take him away.
You manage to get anything? Oh, yes, quite definite progress.
This case interests me.
Connor has a strong personality.
I think we might see a great improvement tomorrow.
- [Slinn.]
In the morning? - [Frame.]
Yes, morning will be fine.
Good night, Inspector.
[Slinn.]
Good night, Doctor.
[pours whisky.]
- [Helen.]
All finished? - [Frame.]
Oh, yes.
[Helen.]
John what's the matter? Nothing, nothing [Helen.]
You seem so upset.
[Frame.]
A madman comes into my office.
A stark raving madman.
Do you know what he tells me? He tells me your name and address.
But how on earth did he know? [Frame.]
You've never seen him before? - [Helen.]
No, never.
- [Frame.]
How did he know? You know, that man intrigued me He intrigued and frightened me.
He actually frightened me for a moment.
Did he seem to recognise you when he came in? No, I don't even think he saw me.
[Frame sighs.]
No dinner, Helen.
Let's have a drink.
Shall we? [Helen.]
Oh, your wife rang and wants you to ring her - You better do it.
- My wife? Didn't you want her to know you were at the office? [Frame.]
What did she say? [Helen.]
Nothing much.
I said you were busy.
And she said, âWell, tell him Carol rangâ.
Her name is Carol.
Carol.
[Connor's voice on recorder.]
Doesn't that prove something? I know about Helen.
And Carol.
I know about Carol too.
- [Frame.]
Who's Carol? - Well, your wife for Pete's sake - Carolâs your wife.
- Well, no, you're quite-- John, you're here early.
Yes, I wanted to listen to that tape again.
- You still worried about it? - Iâm intrigued.
And surprised when a complete stranger Helen, are you are sure you've never met him before? [Helen.]
Yes, positive.
[Frame.]
Then how? How? Slinn! I wonder if Inspector Slinn has anything to do with it.
- But why should he? - I don't know why, but Slinn Slinn's a very odd character.
I don't know that I like him much.
I don't even know that I believe him.
When he says he's a detective, why should I believe him? [Helen.]
But John that's well, it's absurd.
The man said he was a detective.
[Frame.]
And that proves is, does it? We have people coming in here saying they're Napoleon.
Anybody Now why not a detective? [Helen.]
But he showed me his warrant card.
Did he? He didn't show it to me.
[Helen.]
I don't suppose he thought it was necessary.
[Frame.]
Of course not! Iâm only the Doctor.
And yet he did find it necessary to show it to you.
And how do I know you really saw it? You seem to figure in this thing in the most remarkable way.
Connor mentions your name, he tells me where you live and now you vouch for Slinn.
Just what is your interest in all this, Helen? What is it? I don't suppose I have to tell you Scotland Yard's telephone number? [dials telephone.]
Iâm sorry, Helen.
Iâm sorry.
Iâm so on edge about all this.
Well, perhaps, this will clear it up.
Superintendent Barry, please.
[to Helen.]
What do you think he'll tell me? That Slinn doesn't exist? Superintendent Barry? Oh, good morning, Tom.
This is John Frame here.
Iâm very well thank you.
Tom, about this Inspector Slinn and the man you sent with him.
[Frame.]
Yes.
Yes, I see.
No, no trouble.
Not at all.
Oh, yes, I think we'll get somewhere.
Iâm only too pleased to help.
Yes, of course.
Thank you, Tom.
Goodbye.
[puts receiver down.]
[sighs.]
Well Slinn, it appears, is a first class officer.
Superintendent Barry is sorry he didn't give me more warning.
But he thought it would be less of an imposition to send the prisoner to see me than have me go to the Yard.
- But that doesn't help us, does it? - No.
Perhaps Connor's Well, is there such a thing as telepathic thought? - [Helen.]
Well, is it possible? - [Frame.]
Not to that extent.
I mean a certain amount of telepathy exists but it's usually on a primitive level.
Connor was too precise.
He was too thoroughly sure of himself.
And that's another odd thing about him.
His confidence.
No wonder Slinn gets annoyed with him.
Authority can't bear the man with a mind of his own.
Even if the mind's deranged.
Look, maybe Slinn is right.
Perhaps Connor is perfectly normal and acting a part.
- [Frame.]
That still doesn't explain it.
- [Helen.]
But John, a sane man a really calculating man, couldn't he have made enquiries found out about us - just to try and confuse you? - But how and when? I mean, that presupposes that Connor knew he was going to be caught.
And also that he knew I would be called to examine him.
I just can't believe he's shamming.
[Slinn.]
Well, I can.
Good morning, Doctor.
The door was open.
[Frame.]
Morning, Inspector.
- [Slinn.]
Should I bring him in? - [Frame.]
Yes, all right.
[Frame.]
Have you noticed any change in him? [Slinn.]
You think he's mad, don't you? I mean, clean off his rocker.
[Frame.]
Well, that might be a legitimate interpretation for a layman.
[Slinn.]
Right, Doctor.
Have a look at that.
[opens paper document.]
[Frame.]
Well? - [Slinn.]
You know what it is? - [Frame.]
A confession, I assume.
[Slinn.]
That might be a legitimate interpretation for a layman, yes.
We in the police, on the other hand, designate it in a somewhat different manner.
This is what we refer to as a statement by the accused.
I have been endeavouring to get our friend here to sign this statement.
Now if he's really mad he'd sign it, shouldn't he? [Frame.]
I think you're confusing things a little, Inspector.
If he were sign this it would prove that he's stupid, not mad.
[Slinn.]
How do you mean? [Frame.]
I mean that stupidity, dullness, even idiocy are not necessarily the same thing as madness.
This man, Connor, is reasonably intelligent.
He's probably above the average.
He doesn't believe he committed the crimes that are mentioned.
So, obviously, he's not going to sign this 'statement' as you call it.
[Slinn.]
I don't think you quite understand what I am getting at.
[Frame.]
No, I don't think I do.
[Slinn.]
Well, if he's not mad enough to sign something that he knows will land him in trouble.
To my way of thinking that proves he's sane.
- [Frame.]
It does? - [Slinn.]
Definitely.
[Frame.]
My dear Inspector, would you sign this document? - [Slinn.]
Of course, I wouldn't.
- [Frame.]
Why not? [Slinn.]
For a start, I haven't committed the crimes listed-- [Frame.]
Then surely you can understand that Connor refuses to sign for the same reason.
He doesn't believe he committed the crimes that are mentioned.
[Slinn.]
Because he's putting on this insanity caper.
He was all right when he left here last night.
I had quite a reasonable chat with him.
- [Frame.]
He talked quite rationally? - [Slinn.]
Oh, yes.
Yes.
Not about the case, mind you.
He shut up quick when we got around to that.
The rest of the time he was fairly normal.
[Frame.]
Good.
Then we did get some results yesterday.
[Slinn.]
Doctor, the only result I am interested in today [slaps statement.]
is this.
[Frame.]
Iâm afraid that's your concern, Inspector.
I haven't been retained by the prosecution.
[Frame.]
Connor.
Come along now, wake up.
Wake up there's a good chap.
[Connor.]
How are you feeling? [Frame.]
Iâm very well.
What about you? [Connor.]
I thought for a moment you might have recovered.
[Frame.]
Strangely enough I was entertaining a similar hope about you.
Are you going to untie me now? [Frame.]
Untie? [Connor.]
I forgot, Iâm handcuffed.
Well, are you going to take the handcuffs off? I am afraid that's nothing to do with me.
But I am pleased to hear you agree you're wearing handcuffs.
Look, John, if it makes you feel any happier Iâll wear a ball and chain.
Anything you like.
[Frame.]
And you will agree that you are in my consulting room and not in a spaceship? [Connor.]
If that's what you want, then I am in your consulting room.
And you remember killing three people? Yes, if it makes you feel any happier then-- Just a minute! What happens to me if I admit killing three people? Well I imagine you'll go for trial.
- [Connor.]
And be found guilty? - [Frame.]
If there's enough evidence.
[Connor.]
And then what? - [Frame.]
Then you'll be sentenced.
- [Connor.]
Sentenced to what? [Frame.]
Well, whatever the judge decides.
Iâve no idea.
[Connor.]
Not much you haven't.
Iâll be sentenced to death.
Next you'll wake up thinking you're the public hangman and you'll want to carry out the sentence.
Well, I take back everything I said.
Iâm not handcuffed, Iâm tied up.
Iâm not in your consulting room Iâm in space craft P for Piper.
Iâm 137 485 Flight Lieutenant Connor, Wilfred.
Number Three Space Squadron, Royal Air Force.
The year is 1996.
I know who I am, what I am and where I am.
That's my lifeline.
And you can't destroy it, John.
- You can't destroy it.
- Now calm down, Connor.
I am not going to harm you.
Iâm not a policeman.
Iâm a doctor.
You're ill and I want to help you make yourself well again.
Now, yesterday I thought we got along fine.
We made real progress.
Didn't you find our talk yesterday interesting? [flatly.]
Yes, fascinating.
[Frame.]
We agreed on certain things, remember? [Connor.]
I remember.
[Frame.]
Well now, today I want to continue - our little game.
- It won't work.
- Well, let's give it a try.
- No! I was trying to humour you yesterday.
But that must be the wrong approach.
Today I stick to things as they are.
- [Slinn.]
You see? - [Frame.]
See what, Inspector? [Slinn.]
The moment the pressure goes on he starts acting mad again.
[Frame.]
Connor! Don't go to sleep again.
You must be very tired.
Didnât you have a good sleep last night? Of course, I didn't! How could I with you pacing up and down half the time?! - [Frame.]
Me? - [Connor.]
Yes, you! When you weren't prowling around you were muttering in your sleep.
The state you were in, I didn't dare go to sleep.
I can assure-- I spent a very comfortable night at home.
[Connor.]
With your wife? [Frame.]
Yes with my wife.
[Connor.]
That surprised you, didn't it? I mean, yesterday when I talked about your wife and Helen.
That shocked you, didn't it? [Frame.]
Shock is a rather strong word.
[Connor.]
You were shocked all right.
For a moment, I thought I had really got through to you.
Well I will admit that for a moment I was let's say, surprised.
Good.
I mean, you might even grant that I know more about you than you do about me.
- I wouldn't say that, Connor.
- No? Well, do you know my wife's name? l, er No I don't.
[Connor.]
Well there you are then.
Now, listen carefully.
You seem a bit better today, much calmer.
I think if you'd just take a pill, you'd be all right.
What kind of pill did you have in mind? A yellow pill.
There's a bottle of them in the second drawer of the chart table.
Oh, we're back on that now, are we? All right, all right, the second drawer of your desk.
The bottle's in there.
Take one.
Do you understand? What are they called, these pills? Everybody calls them 'Yellows' or Formula 73.
- Does that mean anything to you? - Yes, of course it does.
They've proved very successful in treating certain kinds of mental illness.
How do you know about them? I know.
That's all that matters.
Have you ever had one of these pills? [Connor.]
No, never needed one.
[Frame.]
Inspector, I take it you've checked with all the mental hospitals? [Slinn.]
Been no escapes, if that's what you mean.
[Frame.]
No staff reported missing or anything? [Slinn.]
Not to my knowledge.
What's all this about this yellow pill? Itâs very funny actually.
If our friend here was right.
lf, in fact, we were living in a time when long journeys through space were possible.
Well, temporary hallucinations brought about by prolonged spells of weightlessness would be an obvious hazard.
A kind of space hysteria.
And this pill he mentioned Formula 73, or something very like it that would be precisely the kind of antidote to use.
He couldn't be a doctor, could he? [Frame.]
Why don't you ask him? Hey, Connor, or whatever you call yourself Are you a doctor? Connor! I am talking to you [Frame.]
Why don't you answer the inspector? - [Connor.]
What? - [Frame.]
The inspector just asked you a question.
Why don't you answer him? [Connor.]
Because I can't see him and I can't hear him.
I deduce from that that he doesn't exist except in your mind.
His name's Slinn, isn't it? [Frame.]
If you think he's not there, how do you know that? [Connor.]
You told me yesterday.
Bit pompous, isn't he? That's the one reassuring thing about this fantasy world of yours, John.
All the people in it are real people.
Take old Slinn, for instance.
You remember Warrant Officer Slinn? king of the space-age square bashers.
Used to take us for drill.
I remember you saying at the time: âHow the devil do you stand to attention in a state of weightlessness?â Not a bad thought that Old Slinn as a police officer.
[Connor mimicking Slinn.]
âl apprehended the offender when I observed him committing the above mentioned offence.
â [Frame laughing.]
[Slinn.]
What's so funny? [Frame.]
Iâm sorry, Inspector.
I could actually hear you saying that yourself.
[Connor.]
Something tells you I am right, doesn't it? You remember Slinn now, don't you? [Frame chuckles.]
No, Iâm sorry, Connor.
[Frame.]
I met Inspector Slinn for the first time yesterday.
[Connor.]
Take one of those pills and see if you still say that.
[Frame.]
Connor, for the last time there are no yellow pills in this room.
[Connor.]
Look in the drawer.
Look in the drawer, go on.
[Frame.]
If I look in the drawer, you'll be satisfied? [Connor.]
Go on, look in it.
[Frame.]
Very well.
[rattling.]
[Connor.]
I told you they were there.
[Frame.]
There must be some-- Now take one, just one.
And everything will change.
You will be back to normal in a matter of minutes.
[Frame.]
I didn't put those pills in that drawer.
[Connor.]
It doesn't matter who put them there.
But they are there, that's indisputable.
So take one.
Go on.
Take one.
[Frame storms out of the room.]
- [Helen.]
What's the matter? - [Frame.]
Have you seen those before? - [Helen.]
No, I - [Frame.]
You didn't put them in my desk? - [Helen.]
Of course I didn't.
- [Frame.]
Then how did they get there? - [Helen.]
How on earth should I know? - [Frame.]
Now listen, Helen this is serious.
Connor just told me to look in the desk.
He knew those pills were going to be in there.
Now, there's only one other person who could have put them there, apart from myself.
- [Helen.]
And that's me? - [Frame.]
Yes! Well, who else could it have been? And just why would I want to do something like that? - You could have your reasons.
- Such as? Well, to say the least, you're acting - rather strangely today.
- Iâm acting strangely?! Oh, yes.
All this business about not wanting to go out to dinner with me About wanting something more than clandestine dinners - You did say that didn't you? - I think Iâd better go home.
Helen, Helen, I'm sorry I don't know what I am saying half the time.
That maniac He's beginning to make me doubt my own sanity.
Do you think that could happen? Could a maniac drive a perfectly sane man right off his head? No, of course he couldn't! [Frame.]
No, no.
You're wrong, Helen.
You're wrong.
Say Say you were in a house, all alone and suddenly somebody appears.
Now, whoever it is, he doesn't threaten you or frighten you.
He just insists that he doesn't exist.
He tells you he's an hallucination with a reality only in your own mind.
And then he disappears.
And the next day, what do you think? What do you believe? There's no evidence either for or against that person's existence.
You wouldn't know what to believe.
Is this room real? Is there really a maniac next door? And you, Helen Do you really exist? [Frame's voice, echoing.]
Are you really there, Helen? Are you really there? - [Helen.]
How are you feeling now? - [Frame.]
Iâm better, thanks.
That was stupid of me.
Iâm sorry.
[Helen.]
Look, they're still waiting.
Shall I tell them to go? [Frame.]
No, of course not.
Don't you think it would be wiser? - [Frame.]
No.
- [Helen.]
John, what is it? I was just wondering what would happen if I took one? What would vanish? And what would remain? Nothing would change and you know it! - [Frame.]
Do I? - [Helen.]
John, please don't.
Why are you frightened? [Helen.]
I don't know.
What happens if a perfectly normal person takes one? [Frame.]
Find out.
He gets a headache.
And he can't work.
You see, to a certain extent we all live in a world of symbols and illusions.
Imagination, if you like.
Now in the schizophrenic, this imagination is heightened.
Itâs uncontrolled to the point of fantasy.
This pill depresses the power of the imagination.
So if the schizophrenic takes one he comes back to the real world.
But if a normal person takes one he finds himself looking at life as it really is.
The essence of things.
For the very first time.
A face becomes a geometrical pattern.
You can scarcely bear to hear people talk because you realise that, most of the time they're not saying anything.
I took one once, a couple of years ago, as an experiment.
I couldn't work for a week.
We enjoy our illusions, you see.
The simple man and the sophisticated man.
Take away his illusions and you take away most of his life.
- [Helen.]
Don't see Connor again! - [Frame.]
So you're worried now.
[Helen.]
I just don't want you to take one of those pills! [Frame.]
Well, of course you don't.
Because you're just a symbol.
My wife and I quarrel and Helen becomes the embodiment of everything that's tolerant and understanding, glamorous and intelligent.
Every man has a Helen in his dream world.
And every Helen wants to preserve the man's image of herself.
[Helen.]
I think you're being insulting.
[Frame.]
How can I insult something that doesn't exist? If I take one of these I won't even see you.
You're just a symbol, a fantasy.
You don't exist, Helen.
You don't exist! [Helen walks away.]
[door slams.]
[Frame walks back to his desk.]
Did you take the pill, John? [Frame.]
If you don't mind Iâd prefer you address me as Doctor.
[Connor.]
All right.
Did you take the pill, Doctor? Certainly not.
But it might be an idea to give you one.
No.
I don't need one.
We'll be re-entering Earth's atmosphere quite soon now.
One of us has got to be fully fit to handle the ship.
If you pers-- If you persist in this kind of talk, Connor, Iâll have no option but to give you a pill.
No, honestly, I don't need one.
[Frame.]
But you still think we're in a spaceship? [Connor.]
That's right.
I thought you were coming round to my way of thinking.
[Frame.]
Did you? Well, you listen to me, Connor.
You think you're being very smart, don't you? You think you're confusing a lot of people, but not me.
I know.
You understand? I know.
The Inspector was perfectly right.
You're bluffing.
But this little yellow pill is going to call your bluff.
- [Connor.]
What do you mean? - [Frame.]
Take it! [Connor.]
No.
[Frame.]
You're frightened, aren't you? Take it! - [Connor.]
You can't force me to! - [Frame.]
I don't need to I don't need to.
You're frightened and that's your first real admission.
Because this little pill can explode your dream world.
Itâs not a dream.
Iâm in a spaceship.
You're in my office! [shouting.]
Desk! Chair! Detective! Office! Office! Now don't mess me about any more, Connor.
You've annoyed me.
You've tried to fool me.
I can write anything I like in my report.
Do you understand that? I can write enough to hang you.
So come on, Connor.
The truth.
- [Connor.]
But I keep telling you-- - [Frame.]
The truth! [Connor.]
Stop it, you're confusing me.
I didn't sleep very much.
You can sleep all you want when we're finished.
Come on, Connor Think.
Remember.
Perhaps you didn't mean it.
We can all understand that.
[Connor.]
Look, Doctor, Iâm tired.
You're so sure.
[Frame.]
Of course I am.
You keep giving yourself away.
Just now do you know what you called me? You called me âDoctorâ.
Now I didn't ask you to.
You just said it.
But how could I have done all these things? Murder? Iâm not a violent man.
Of course you're not Not now.
But it's in all of us, Connor.
That moment when we can't argue any more.
When the only way we can make our point is with a fist or with a gun.
Be reasonable, Connor.
It happens to all of us individually, collectively.
War.
Isn't that the kind of madness we all disclaim responsibility for? You're not unique, Connor.
You waged your own private war for half an hour.
But it's over now.
And the best thing to do is tell me about it.
Iâm not saying I couldn't have killed anyone.
[softly.]
Is that what I did? [Frame.]
Three people, Connor.
[Connor.]
I don't remember.
Do you suppose it was blackout or something like that? Of course it was.
[Connor.]
I can't explain it.
[Frame.]
But you know where you are now? Well, it's your office isn't it, Doctor? That's right.
you're not in a spaceship any more.
Spaceship? Is that what I said? That's funny I can remember telling you something about a spaceship.
[Frame.]
And you said you didn't kill three people just three space creatures.
[Connor.]
Space creatures! What the devil are space creatures? Well, that's what you said.
Space creatures! That's ridiculous.
Space creatures! [laughs uncontrollably.]
Connor! Connor! [stems laughter.]
I must be rather a violent man, wouldn't you say so, Doctor? I mean, aren't you a bit frightened having a murderer in your consulting room? - No.
- I might try to attack you.
[Frame.]
I don't think you wouldn't do that.
[Connor.]
No? Well what do you think I should do then? [Frame.]
I think the best thing would be for you to make a very full statement to the Inspector.
Just tell him what happened, how you felt.
[Connor.]
Wouldn't it be better if I just pretended to be mad? - [Frame.]
You are-- - [Connor.]
Go on say it.
You think I am mad don't you? [Frame.]
I told you before, you're ill.
You've had a mental breakdown.
At your trial your defence will plead insanity.
You won't go to prison if that's what you're worried about.
No Iâll get locked up in a stinking nut house, full of blokes who think they're Napoleon.
Well, it won't work, Doctor.
Iâve killed and Iâll kill again.
I won't be locked up.
Doesn't that frighten you? There are three policemen here, Connor.
They can handle you.
And you're handcuffed.
Quite securely.
Ha! Securely you said.
Now what about that, Doctor? Not so safe now, are you? [Frame.]
You're being very stupid, Connor.
[Connor.]
But you're scared just the same.
I don't need a gun to kill people.
[Frame.]
All right, Connor Now let go.
You'll only make things worse for yourself.
Connor! [Frame.]
Inspector! Give me a hand, will you! Will you two help me? Can't you see he's attacking me?! [Connor.]
See, you're not so safe after all.
You're not so safe, are you? You're not so safe, after all! You're not so safe! [struggling, gasping.]
[Connor choking, groaning.]
[gasping.]
[Frame.]
Connor? Connor? Connor! Oh, no, I didn't mean to Inspector, You saw what was happening.
Why didn't you help me? I didn't mean Inspector! Well you two, why did you just stand there?! You saw what he was trying to do.
Slinn answer me.
[sobbing.]
Why don't you say something? Oh, I see.
[sobbing.]
You were all in on it.
All four of you.
I should have guessed that.
It was me you were really after, all the time.
It was me.
You didn't know that I Connor [sobbing continues.]
Inspector Helen! Helen, help me.
Helen Where are you? Help me! Helen Will you come in here please? [faint whirring.]
[man over radio.]
Venus 347.
P for Piper.
Are you receiving our signal? You are due to re-enter atmosphere in one hour's time.
Repeat P for Piper.
Hello.
Hello, Base.
P for Piper answering.
P for Piper answering.
I am receiving your message.
[man over radio.]
What's been happening up there? We've been calling for five hours.
l Wait Hello, Base.
- We've had a bit of trouble.
- [Base.]
What kind of trouble? We were attacked by space creatures.
I don't remember it very clearly but Connor went berserk.
He tried to attack me.
It was an accident you understand but [Base.]
What happened then? Connor's dead.
[Base.]
That's hard luck, old man.
You all right? Yes yes, Iâm fine.
Went mad you said? l Something like that.
I must have passed out.
I don't remember much.
Didn't he take his yellow pill? What? I asked if Connor took his yellow pill.
No he wouldn't take one.
I tried to get him to, but he wouldn't.
That must have been the trouble.
Yes, it must have been.
Bad show.
Nice bloke, young Connor.
Yes, he was.
A nice bloke.
[woman over intercom.]
Dr.
Frame? May I come in for a moment? Dr.
Frame? [door opens.]
John, are you all right? Yes, yes, Iâm fine.
I must've been dreaming.
What is it? There's Detective Inspector Slinn waiting to see you.
He phoned several times.
I told him you were well, busy.
But now he's come round.
Well, did he say what he wanted? [Helen.]
No, except that it was important.
- Iâd better see him then.
- You're sure? I mean You're sure you're not too tired? No, Helen.
Don't fuss.
Iâll get rid of him quickly.
Then we'll have dinner.
- Hmm? - Well we'll talk about that later.
Iâll send him in.
Come in, Inspector.
Been trying to get all afternoon, Doctor.
[Frame.]
Well I was a little tired.
Iâve been resting.
Superintendent Barry thought you might be of some assistance to us.
ln what way? We've got a bloke down at the station.
We're charging him with murder.
Only snag is we don't know very much about him.
Can't get any sense out of him at all.
He's either he's off his head, psychologically speaking or he's the world's greatest actor.
The superintendent thought you might help us to decide which.
You sound as if you've already made up your mind, Inspector.
Somebody commits a crime it doesn't matter to me whether he's a nut or a genius, or both.
My job is to apprehend him and charge him.
Right? Of course, nowadays they are all nuts.
But in my book they are still thieves and murderers just the same as they always were.
I am surprised you want my help.
[Slinn.]
What I want, Doctor, is a conviction.
[Frame.]
Yes, I'm not interested in that, Inspector.
- My sole interest is-- - Yes, sir I understand your sole interest is clinical.
And any opinion you may have will be available for the man's defence as well.
That is quite right, sir.
When would you like me to come down to the Yard? That won't be necessary, sir.
We can bring him here.
Save you a bit of trouble, won't it? - Yes.
But really I-- - No, that's all right, sir.
Itâs no trouble to us.
We'll bring him this evening.
Thank you, Dr.
Frame.
Oh, incidentally, this man is a murderer.
Tried armed robbery, shot and killed three people.
- Is it safe to bring him here? - Oh, he's dangerous.
But you'll be all right with us, Doctor.
We'll look after you.
[door opens.]
[door closes.]
Anything serious? [Frame.]
Somebody they're charging with murder.
They want me to examine him.
They are bringing him here this evening.
- [Helen.]
Here? - [Frame.]
Yes.
That's funny, it hadn't struck me.
Little odd isn't it? Bringing him here, I mean.
Anyway, it rather puts paid to our dinner date.
[Helen.]
Yes, it does.
[Frame.]
Well, doesn't that upset you? [Helen.]
Well I hadn't actually accepted.
[Frame.]
But Well, it's Tuesday.
We always have dinner on Tuesday.
[Helen.]
Yes, every Tuesday.
Routine, isn't that the word, John? [Frame.]
Helen! Wednesday, is that routine? Perhaps I want a little more than a clandestine dinner, once a week.
Are you asking me to make a decision? [Helen.]
Iâll leave that up to you, John.
[Frame.]
And Wednesday? [Helen.]
Perhaps we'd better get back to things as they used to be.
Remember you once asked me never to accept invitations to go out with you? That! Oh, that was just a typical piece of masculine rationalisation.
I was paving the way for rejection before you had a chance to reject me yourself.
Itâs called preserving the ego.
- Helen-- - Oh please, John, no - Will you stay on this evening? - Yes, if you want me to.
[faint, low humming.]
John, what's the matter? [Frame.]
Itâs that noise, I heard it earlier today.
- What noise? - But surely you-- [Frame.]
A kind of humming.
Well, maybe it was the lift.
These old lifts make strange sounds.
[Helen over intercom.]
Dr.
Frame? Inspector Slinn is waiting, Doctor.
Show him in, would you.
[door opens.]
- Good evening, Doctor.
- Good evening, Inspector.
[Slinn.]
Right, sit him down there.
[chair scraping.]
[handcuffs clicking.]
[Frame.]
Has anybody looked at that cut? [Slinn.]
Itâs only a bruise, Doctor.
Our friend gets a little violent.
- Must you keep him handcuffed? - Itâs better that way.
- Come on you.
Wake up-- - Inspector! If you don't mind Iâd like to handle this my way.
[Frame.]
What's his name? [Slinn.]
We're not very sure.
[Slinn.]
You two, sit either side of him.
[policemen sit down.]
[Frame.]
Can you hear me? Doesn't he call himself anything? [Slinn.]
Connor's the name he used.
[Frame.]
Connor, can you hear me? [Connor panting.]
Mr.
Connor, do you know where you are? And do you know who I am? Well, who am I? [Connor.]
Don't you know? [Frame.]
Yes, I know but do you? [Connor.]
Look, John, what happened? Why did you tie me up like this? You're not tied up.
You're handcuffed.
Iâll tell you why in a minute.
How do you know my name is John? Oh, for Pete's sake, old boy! You're John.
You're the John I did my training with, shared my quarters with.
Don't you want me to call you John? I mean, do you want to be addressed by rank? Very well, sir.
Permission to speak, sir.
May I say something about our present position, Commander Leason? [Slinn.]
Cut that out, whatever your name is! [Frame.]
Inspector, do you mind [Frame walks across room.]
[Frame picks up chair.]
[Frame.]
What was that name you just called me? [Connor.]
Itâs your name: Leason.
Shouldn't I call you that anymore? [Frame.]
I don't really mind, except that my name is Frame.
- Do you understand? Frame.
- Look, John [Connor.]
All right, so your name's Frame.
[Frame.]
And you believe your name is Connor? [Connor.]
Correction: I know my name is Connor.
That is a lot of nonsense.
[Frame.]
What do you mean? [Slinn.]
Gives his name as Wilfred Connor, born Hastings, Sussex.
And you know the date he gives? October the 7th, 1969.
1969! Is that correct, Mr.
Connor? [Connor.]
Is what correct? [Frame.]
Do you believe you were born in 1969? I think my mother would confirm it.
[Frame.]
Do you know what today's date is? [Connor.]
June the 3rd or 4th.
Iâm not sure.
- And the year? - 1996.
[Frame.]
The year is 1969.
This is 1969.
This is the year in which you claim to have been born.
[Connor.]
You really are gone, aren't you old boy? [Frame.]
Look, Connor, if I show you a calendar or a newspaper which clearly shows today's date is June the 4th, 1969 - will you believe me then? - No! Why not? Because this job we're doing is difficult enough and sometimes everybody doubts his or her reason.
The pressure's on all the time so you have to cling to certain unalterable things.
Like your name, the date, the names of friends Now, I know what year it is.
Do you understand that? I know! [Slinn.]
He was like this at the Yard.
[Frame.]
If I persist in telling you that this is 1969, what will you deduce from that? - That you're sick.
- Mad? [Connor.]
I said sick Temporary madness if you like but we were trained to recognise the symptoms and take precautions.
Now come on, untie me.
Let's try and talk the thing out.
[Frame.]
You're not tied up.
You're handcuffed.
You're under arrest.
Do you appreciate that? [Connor.]
Arrest? How can I be under arrest? [Frame.]
According to the police you shot and killed three people whilst attempting a robbery.
[Connor.]
John! You don't really believe that.
[Frame.]
I am only telling you what the police said.
[Connor.]
They weren't people, John.
Don't you remember? They weren't people.
[Frame.]
What were they then? [Connor.]
You know as well as I do.
They were space creatures.
Venusian space creatures.
[Frame.]
That's what you shot? Three space creatures? - From Venus? - That's right.
[Frame.]
Did the police doctors do any medical tests on this man? [Slinn.]
Quite a few.
Why sir? [Frame.]
This kind of hallucination could be compatible with drug taking or possibly severe alcoholism [Slinn.]
The tests didn't show anything like that.
[Frame.]
He told you the same story when he was arrested? [Slinn.]
Yes.
Said he'd killed three space creatures.
Connor, what were they like these space creatures? [Connor.]
You saw them yourself.
[Slinn.]
I know I've forgotten what they look like - can you remember? - I can remember all right! [Frame.]
Tell me about them.
[Connor.]
Of course, you never really believed in them, did you? But I knew.
Remember, John? We had a row about it.
Iâd said something about there being wild life all over the Earth and in the sea.
So why not in space? âOh no,â you said, âquite impossible.
â How could you be so sure? That's what got me.
Why shouldn't there be some kind of creature that the scientists hadn't even dreamed about? Well, we know now, don't we? I nearly spewed up when I saw them.
Not with fright Well, not just fright but just the way they looked.
- What did they look like? - Like lizards When you actually see them.
Almost transparent.
Outside we couldn't see them.
Then suddenly they were in the ship and we saw them forming before us.
Seems it takes them a second or two to adapt.
I grabbed the electron-gun, sprayed them twice.
Then we heaved them into the airlock vault and jettisoned them into space again.
[Frame.]
And that's what happened to you? [Connor.]
Don't you remember? You saw them yourself.
You were sitting just over there at the control panel.
[Frame.]
You think we're still in a space ship? [Connor.]
We are, John! We are! Look out of the port, tell me what you see.
Space.
The Earth a pinpoint in the distance.
Go on, look! [Frame's footsteps.]
- [Frame.]
This is the port? - [Connor.]
Of course it is! [Connor.]
Look out.
[footsteps.]
Now tell me what you see.
ln the sky, stars.
Down in the street, a few people, cars.
There's a bus just going by.
I can't see where it's going though.
We don't have buses any more, John! You're remembering the past.
A double-decker bus is a pretty tangible thing.
Itâs not an object to weave a fantasy around.
[Connor.]
But that's just what you're doing.
[Frame.]
How many of us are in this spaceship of yours? [Connor.]
Just the two of us.
- You should know that.
- And what about the Inspector? [Frame.]
Detective Inspector Slinn.
The man who brought you here.
And his two assistants.
There's no-one else here.
Just you and me.
[Frame.]
But you've been talking to them! [Connor.]
Correction, John: You've been talking to them, not me.
Yes, all right, Iâve been talking to them.
But you must be able to see them.
Inspector, would you mind standing in front of Connor just for a moment? [Frame.]
Now, the inspector's standing directly in front of you.
He's obscuring me from your view.
- Can you see him now? - No.
- [Frame.]
You're quite certain? - [Connor.]
Positive.
[Slinn.]
You don't believe all this bull, do you? He can't see me?! Right.
[Slinn slaps Connor.]
- [Frame.]
Inspector! - [Slinn.]
Ask if he felt that.
[Frame.]
I must insist I conduct this interview in my own way.
I strongly disapprove of violence being used-- [Slinn.]
All right, but ask him if he felt it.
Connor? Did you feel anything just now? [Connor.]
What do you mean? [Frame.]
Inspector Slinn just struck you with his hand.
Across the cheek.
Did you feel anything? No-one struck me.
[Frame.]
Do you still believe he is acting? [Slinn.]
He saw me all right when we arrested him.
He drew a gun on us.
What was he going to shoot, a figment of his imagination? [Frame.]
I wish I had your confidence, Inspector.
Your certainty.
Because as far as Iâm concerned, this man is telling the truth.
At least the truth as he sees it.
So you think he's completely barmy? At the moment he's deranged, he's suffering from an hallucination, a fantasy.
And when is he going to snap out of it? [Frame.]
Maybe never.
[Slinn.]
Look, Doctor I want a statement.
I need a statement.
Can't you get him to talk sense for a few minutes? He can't always have been like this.
Well we can try.
But at the moment he rejects all reality.
What Iâm hoping to do is establish some common ground with him.
Some knowledge that we can both share.
Like Well, let's try.
[Frame.]
Connor, we're going to play a little game.
We're going to try and get back to reality.
[Connor.]
My reality or yours? [Frame.]
Ours.
Now if I mention a date, say 1066, what does that mean to you? Battle of Hastings.
Norman Conquest.
- [Connor.]
What does it mean to you? - [Frame.]
Exactly the same.
[Connor.]
Good.
Then we're making progress.
[Frame.]
Thank you.
I was about to say the same thing.
[Frame.]
Now, Iâm holding something in my hand.
What is it? - [Connor.]
A book.
- [Frame.]
Good.
And this? - [Connor.]
Pen.
- [Frame.]
Correct.
[Frame.]
I put the pen down.
What do I put it on? The chart table.
Do you think this is a chart table? [Connor.]
Well, what do you think it is? [Frame.]
Itâs a desk.
Itâs a fairly ordinary desk.
There's a blotter on it, a telephone, an intercom with the reception room - [Frame.]
A few papers, a letter-- - [Connor.]
Itâs a chart table! Itâs made of plastic and light metal.
ln front of you are our navigational maps and operational orders.
On the left is a radio.
Well, why don't you call Base? Switch the radio on and call Base.
If I switch this on, I get through to my receptionist.
- You saw her as you came in.
- I didn't.
Come now, Connor, you could hardly miss her.
She's a very attractive young woman.
Is her name Helen? How did you know that? So Helen's on board! Helen Carter.
How did you know her name? You must have heard me speak to her when you came in.
[Connor.]
You didn't speak to her.
[Frame.]
Then how did you know? How? She lives near the park, doesn't she? I remember the music from the bandstand.
- [Frame.]
Well as a matter of fact-- - [Connor.]
Don't you remember? I drove you there once in my car.
You kept talking about your wife Wondering if you were doing the right thing.
Then you were going to give her up.
Don't you remember? You've talked about it so many times.
Try to remember.
She's real.
The only real thing in this dream world of yours.
Doesn't that prove something? I know about Helen.
And Carol.
I know about Carol too.
- Who is Carol? - Well, your wife, for Pete's sake - Carolâs your wife.
- Well, no, you're quite wrong.
Then what's your wife's name?! What's her name? [Frame.]
It's, er [struggles, hesitates.]
You don't know! You don't know! [tape player clicking.]
[Frame.]
Inspector I don't see much point in continuing this.
[Slinn.]
Right, Doctor.
Iâll take him away.
You manage to get anything? Oh, yes, quite definite progress.
This case interests me.
Connor has a strong personality.
I think we might see a great improvement tomorrow.
- [Slinn.]
In the morning? - [Frame.]
Yes, morning will be fine.
Good night, Inspector.
[Slinn.]
Good night, Doctor.
[pours whisky.]
- [Helen.]
All finished? - [Frame.]
Oh, yes.
[Helen.]
John what's the matter? Nothing, nothing [Helen.]
You seem so upset.
[Frame.]
A madman comes into my office.
A stark raving madman.
Do you know what he tells me? He tells me your name and address.
But how on earth did he know? [Frame.]
You've never seen him before? - [Helen.]
No, never.
- [Frame.]
How did he know? You know, that man intrigued me He intrigued and frightened me.
He actually frightened me for a moment.
Did he seem to recognise you when he came in? No, I don't even think he saw me.
[Frame sighs.]
No dinner, Helen.
Let's have a drink.
Shall we? [Helen.]
Oh, your wife rang and wants you to ring her - You better do it.
- My wife? Didn't you want her to know you were at the office? [Frame.]
What did she say? [Helen.]
Nothing much.
I said you were busy.
And she said, âWell, tell him Carol rangâ.
Her name is Carol.
Carol.
[Connor's voice on recorder.]
Doesn't that prove something? I know about Helen.
And Carol.
I know about Carol too.
- [Frame.]
Who's Carol? - Well, your wife for Pete's sake - Carolâs your wife.
- Well, no, you're quite-- John, you're here early.
Yes, I wanted to listen to that tape again.
- You still worried about it? - Iâm intrigued.
And surprised when a complete stranger Helen, are you are sure you've never met him before? [Helen.]
Yes, positive.
[Frame.]
Then how? How? Slinn! I wonder if Inspector Slinn has anything to do with it.
- But why should he? - I don't know why, but Slinn Slinn's a very odd character.
I don't know that I like him much.
I don't even know that I believe him.
When he says he's a detective, why should I believe him? [Helen.]
But John that's well, it's absurd.
The man said he was a detective.
[Frame.]
And that proves is, does it? We have people coming in here saying they're Napoleon.
Anybody Now why not a detective? [Helen.]
But he showed me his warrant card.
Did he? He didn't show it to me.
[Helen.]
I don't suppose he thought it was necessary.
[Frame.]
Of course not! Iâm only the Doctor.
And yet he did find it necessary to show it to you.
And how do I know you really saw it? You seem to figure in this thing in the most remarkable way.
Connor mentions your name, he tells me where you live and now you vouch for Slinn.
Just what is your interest in all this, Helen? What is it? I don't suppose I have to tell you Scotland Yard's telephone number? [dials telephone.]
Iâm sorry, Helen.
Iâm sorry.
Iâm so on edge about all this.
Well, perhaps, this will clear it up.
Superintendent Barry, please.
[to Helen.]
What do you think he'll tell me? That Slinn doesn't exist? Superintendent Barry? Oh, good morning, Tom.
This is John Frame here.
Iâm very well thank you.
Tom, about this Inspector Slinn and the man you sent with him.
[Frame.]
Yes.
Yes, I see.
No, no trouble.
Not at all.
Oh, yes, I think we'll get somewhere.
Iâm only too pleased to help.
Yes, of course.
Thank you, Tom.
Goodbye.
[puts receiver down.]
[sighs.]
Well Slinn, it appears, is a first class officer.
Superintendent Barry is sorry he didn't give me more warning.
But he thought it would be less of an imposition to send the prisoner to see me than have me go to the Yard.
- But that doesn't help us, does it? - No.
Perhaps Connor's Well, is there such a thing as telepathic thought? - [Helen.]
Well, is it possible? - [Frame.]
Not to that extent.
I mean a certain amount of telepathy exists but it's usually on a primitive level.
Connor was too precise.
He was too thoroughly sure of himself.
And that's another odd thing about him.
His confidence.
No wonder Slinn gets annoyed with him.
Authority can't bear the man with a mind of his own.
Even if the mind's deranged.
Look, maybe Slinn is right.
Perhaps Connor is perfectly normal and acting a part.
- [Frame.]
That still doesn't explain it.
- [Helen.]
But John, a sane man a really calculating man, couldn't he have made enquiries found out about us - just to try and confuse you? - But how and when? I mean, that presupposes that Connor knew he was going to be caught.
And also that he knew I would be called to examine him.
I just can't believe he's shamming.
[Slinn.]
Well, I can.
Good morning, Doctor.
The door was open.
[Frame.]
Morning, Inspector.
- [Slinn.]
Should I bring him in? - [Frame.]
Yes, all right.
[Frame.]
Have you noticed any change in him? [Slinn.]
You think he's mad, don't you? I mean, clean off his rocker.
[Frame.]
Well, that might be a legitimate interpretation for a layman.
[Slinn.]
Right, Doctor.
Have a look at that.
[opens paper document.]
[Frame.]
Well? - [Slinn.]
You know what it is? - [Frame.]
A confession, I assume.
[Slinn.]
That might be a legitimate interpretation for a layman, yes.
We in the police, on the other hand, designate it in a somewhat different manner.
This is what we refer to as a statement by the accused.
I have been endeavouring to get our friend here to sign this statement.
Now if he's really mad he'd sign it, shouldn't he? [Frame.]
I think you're confusing things a little, Inspector.
If he were sign this it would prove that he's stupid, not mad.
[Slinn.]
How do you mean? [Frame.]
I mean that stupidity, dullness, even idiocy are not necessarily the same thing as madness.
This man, Connor, is reasonably intelligent.
He's probably above the average.
He doesn't believe he committed the crimes that are mentioned.
So, obviously, he's not going to sign this 'statement' as you call it.
[Slinn.]
I don't think you quite understand what I am getting at.
[Frame.]
No, I don't think I do.
[Slinn.]
Well, if he's not mad enough to sign something that he knows will land him in trouble.
To my way of thinking that proves he's sane.
- [Frame.]
It does? - [Slinn.]
Definitely.
[Frame.]
My dear Inspector, would you sign this document? - [Slinn.]
Of course, I wouldn't.
- [Frame.]
Why not? [Slinn.]
For a start, I haven't committed the crimes listed-- [Frame.]
Then surely you can understand that Connor refuses to sign for the same reason.
He doesn't believe he committed the crimes that are mentioned.
[Slinn.]
Because he's putting on this insanity caper.
He was all right when he left here last night.
I had quite a reasonable chat with him.
- [Frame.]
He talked quite rationally? - [Slinn.]
Oh, yes.
Yes.
Not about the case, mind you.
He shut up quick when we got around to that.
The rest of the time he was fairly normal.
[Frame.]
Good.
Then we did get some results yesterday.
[Slinn.]
Doctor, the only result I am interested in today [slaps statement.]
is this.
[Frame.]
Iâm afraid that's your concern, Inspector.
I haven't been retained by the prosecution.
[Frame.]
Connor.
Come along now, wake up.
Wake up there's a good chap.
[Connor.]
How are you feeling? [Frame.]
Iâm very well.
What about you? [Connor.]
I thought for a moment you might have recovered.
[Frame.]
Strangely enough I was entertaining a similar hope about you.
Are you going to untie me now? [Frame.]
Untie? [Connor.]
I forgot, Iâm handcuffed.
Well, are you going to take the handcuffs off? I am afraid that's nothing to do with me.
But I am pleased to hear you agree you're wearing handcuffs.
Look, John, if it makes you feel any happier Iâll wear a ball and chain.
Anything you like.
[Frame.]
And you will agree that you are in my consulting room and not in a spaceship? [Connor.]
If that's what you want, then I am in your consulting room.
And you remember killing three people? Yes, if it makes you feel any happier then-- Just a minute! What happens to me if I admit killing three people? Well I imagine you'll go for trial.
- [Connor.]
And be found guilty? - [Frame.]
If there's enough evidence.
[Connor.]
And then what? - [Frame.]
Then you'll be sentenced.
- [Connor.]
Sentenced to what? [Frame.]
Well, whatever the judge decides.
Iâve no idea.
[Connor.]
Not much you haven't.
Iâll be sentenced to death.
Next you'll wake up thinking you're the public hangman and you'll want to carry out the sentence.
Well, I take back everything I said.
Iâm not handcuffed, Iâm tied up.
Iâm not in your consulting room Iâm in space craft P for Piper.
Iâm 137 485 Flight Lieutenant Connor, Wilfred.
Number Three Space Squadron, Royal Air Force.
The year is 1996.
I know who I am, what I am and where I am.
That's my lifeline.
And you can't destroy it, John.
- You can't destroy it.
- Now calm down, Connor.
I am not going to harm you.
Iâm not a policeman.
Iâm a doctor.
You're ill and I want to help you make yourself well again.
Now, yesterday I thought we got along fine.
We made real progress.
Didn't you find our talk yesterday interesting? [flatly.]
Yes, fascinating.
[Frame.]
We agreed on certain things, remember? [Connor.]
I remember.
[Frame.]
Well now, today I want to continue - our little game.
- It won't work.
- Well, let's give it a try.
- No! I was trying to humour you yesterday.
But that must be the wrong approach.
Today I stick to things as they are.
- [Slinn.]
You see? - [Frame.]
See what, Inspector? [Slinn.]
The moment the pressure goes on he starts acting mad again.
[Frame.]
Connor! Don't go to sleep again.
You must be very tired.
Didnât you have a good sleep last night? Of course, I didn't! How could I with you pacing up and down half the time?! - [Frame.]
Me? - [Connor.]
Yes, you! When you weren't prowling around you were muttering in your sleep.
The state you were in, I didn't dare go to sleep.
I can assure-- I spent a very comfortable night at home.
[Connor.]
With your wife? [Frame.]
Yes with my wife.
[Connor.]
That surprised you, didn't it? I mean, yesterday when I talked about your wife and Helen.
That shocked you, didn't it? [Frame.]
Shock is a rather strong word.
[Connor.]
You were shocked all right.
For a moment, I thought I had really got through to you.
Well I will admit that for a moment I was let's say, surprised.
Good.
I mean, you might even grant that I know more about you than you do about me.
- I wouldn't say that, Connor.
- No? Well, do you know my wife's name? l, er No I don't.
[Connor.]
Well there you are then.
Now, listen carefully.
You seem a bit better today, much calmer.
I think if you'd just take a pill, you'd be all right.
What kind of pill did you have in mind? A yellow pill.
There's a bottle of them in the second drawer of the chart table.
Oh, we're back on that now, are we? All right, all right, the second drawer of your desk.
The bottle's in there.
Take one.
Do you understand? What are they called, these pills? Everybody calls them 'Yellows' or Formula 73.
- Does that mean anything to you? - Yes, of course it does.
They've proved very successful in treating certain kinds of mental illness.
How do you know about them? I know.
That's all that matters.
Have you ever had one of these pills? [Connor.]
No, never needed one.
[Frame.]
Inspector, I take it you've checked with all the mental hospitals? [Slinn.]
Been no escapes, if that's what you mean.
[Frame.]
No staff reported missing or anything? [Slinn.]
Not to my knowledge.
What's all this about this yellow pill? Itâs very funny actually.
If our friend here was right.
lf, in fact, we were living in a time when long journeys through space were possible.
Well, temporary hallucinations brought about by prolonged spells of weightlessness would be an obvious hazard.
A kind of space hysteria.
And this pill he mentioned Formula 73, or something very like it that would be precisely the kind of antidote to use.
He couldn't be a doctor, could he? [Frame.]
Why don't you ask him? Hey, Connor, or whatever you call yourself Are you a doctor? Connor! I am talking to you [Frame.]
Why don't you answer the inspector? - [Connor.]
What? - [Frame.]
The inspector just asked you a question.
Why don't you answer him? [Connor.]
Because I can't see him and I can't hear him.
I deduce from that that he doesn't exist except in your mind.
His name's Slinn, isn't it? [Frame.]
If you think he's not there, how do you know that? [Connor.]
You told me yesterday.
Bit pompous, isn't he? That's the one reassuring thing about this fantasy world of yours, John.
All the people in it are real people.
Take old Slinn, for instance.
You remember Warrant Officer Slinn? king of the space-age square bashers.
Used to take us for drill.
I remember you saying at the time: âHow the devil do you stand to attention in a state of weightlessness?â Not a bad thought that Old Slinn as a police officer.
[Connor mimicking Slinn.]
âl apprehended the offender when I observed him committing the above mentioned offence.
â [Frame laughing.]
[Slinn.]
What's so funny? [Frame.]
Iâm sorry, Inspector.
I could actually hear you saying that yourself.
[Connor.]
Something tells you I am right, doesn't it? You remember Slinn now, don't you? [Frame chuckles.]
No, Iâm sorry, Connor.
[Frame.]
I met Inspector Slinn for the first time yesterday.
[Connor.]
Take one of those pills and see if you still say that.
[Frame.]
Connor, for the last time there are no yellow pills in this room.
[Connor.]
Look in the drawer.
Look in the drawer, go on.
[Frame.]
If I look in the drawer, you'll be satisfied? [Connor.]
Go on, look in it.
[Frame.]
Very well.
[rattling.]
[Connor.]
I told you they were there.
[Frame.]
There must be some-- Now take one, just one.
And everything will change.
You will be back to normal in a matter of minutes.
[Frame.]
I didn't put those pills in that drawer.
[Connor.]
It doesn't matter who put them there.
But they are there, that's indisputable.
So take one.
Go on.
Take one.
[Frame storms out of the room.]
- [Helen.]
What's the matter? - [Frame.]
Have you seen those before? - [Helen.]
No, I - [Frame.]
You didn't put them in my desk? - [Helen.]
Of course I didn't.
- [Frame.]
Then how did they get there? - [Helen.]
How on earth should I know? - [Frame.]
Now listen, Helen this is serious.
Connor just told me to look in the desk.
He knew those pills were going to be in there.
Now, there's only one other person who could have put them there, apart from myself.
- [Helen.]
And that's me? - [Frame.]
Yes! Well, who else could it have been? And just why would I want to do something like that? - You could have your reasons.
- Such as? Well, to say the least, you're acting - rather strangely today.
- Iâm acting strangely?! Oh, yes.
All this business about not wanting to go out to dinner with me About wanting something more than clandestine dinners - You did say that didn't you? - I think Iâd better go home.
Helen, Helen, I'm sorry I don't know what I am saying half the time.
That maniac He's beginning to make me doubt my own sanity.
Do you think that could happen? Could a maniac drive a perfectly sane man right off his head? No, of course he couldn't! [Frame.]
No, no.
You're wrong, Helen.
You're wrong.
Say Say you were in a house, all alone and suddenly somebody appears.
Now, whoever it is, he doesn't threaten you or frighten you.
He just insists that he doesn't exist.
He tells you he's an hallucination with a reality only in your own mind.
And then he disappears.
And the next day, what do you think? What do you believe? There's no evidence either for or against that person's existence.
You wouldn't know what to believe.
Is this room real? Is there really a maniac next door? And you, Helen Do you really exist? [Frame's voice, echoing.]
Are you really there, Helen? Are you really there? - [Helen.]
How are you feeling now? - [Frame.]
Iâm better, thanks.
That was stupid of me.
Iâm sorry.
[Helen.]
Look, they're still waiting.
Shall I tell them to go? [Frame.]
No, of course not.
Don't you think it would be wiser? - [Frame.]
No.
- [Helen.]
John, what is it? I was just wondering what would happen if I took one? What would vanish? And what would remain? Nothing would change and you know it! - [Frame.]
Do I? - [Helen.]
John, please don't.
Why are you frightened? [Helen.]
I don't know.
What happens if a perfectly normal person takes one? [Frame.]
Find out.
He gets a headache.
And he can't work.
You see, to a certain extent we all live in a world of symbols and illusions.
Imagination, if you like.
Now in the schizophrenic, this imagination is heightened.
Itâs uncontrolled to the point of fantasy.
This pill depresses the power of the imagination.
So if the schizophrenic takes one he comes back to the real world.
But if a normal person takes one he finds himself looking at life as it really is.
The essence of things.
For the very first time.
A face becomes a geometrical pattern.
You can scarcely bear to hear people talk because you realise that, most of the time they're not saying anything.
I took one once, a couple of years ago, as an experiment.
I couldn't work for a week.
We enjoy our illusions, you see.
The simple man and the sophisticated man.
Take away his illusions and you take away most of his life.
- [Helen.]
Don't see Connor again! - [Frame.]
So you're worried now.
[Helen.]
I just don't want you to take one of those pills! [Frame.]
Well, of course you don't.
Because you're just a symbol.
My wife and I quarrel and Helen becomes the embodiment of everything that's tolerant and understanding, glamorous and intelligent.
Every man has a Helen in his dream world.
And every Helen wants to preserve the man's image of herself.
[Helen.]
I think you're being insulting.
[Frame.]
How can I insult something that doesn't exist? If I take one of these I won't even see you.
You're just a symbol, a fantasy.
You don't exist, Helen.
You don't exist! [Helen walks away.]
[door slams.]
[Frame walks back to his desk.]
Did you take the pill, John? [Frame.]
If you don't mind Iâd prefer you address me as Doctor.
[Connor.]
All right.
Did you take the pill, Doctor? Certainly not.
But it might be an idea to give you one.
No.
I don't need one.
We'll be re-entering Earth's atmosphere quite soon now.
One of us has got to be fully fit to handle the ship.
If you pers-- If you persist in this kind of talk, Connor, Iâll have no option but to give you a pill.
No, honestly, I don't need one.
[Frame.]
But you still think we're in a spaceship? [Connor.]
That's right.
I thought you were coming round to my way of thinking.
[Frame.]
Did you? Well, you listen to me, Connor.
You think you're being very smart, don't you? You think you're confusing a lot of people, but not me.
I know.
You understand? I know.
The Inspector was perfectly right.
You're bluffing.
But this little yellow pill is going to call your bluff.
- [Connor.]
What do you mean? - [Frame.]
Take it! [Connor.]
No.
[Frame.]
You're frightened, aren't you? Take it! - [Connor.]
You can't force me to! - [Frame.]
I don't need to I don't need to.
You're frightened and that's your first real admission.
Because this little pill can explode your dream world.
Itâs not a dream.
Iâm in a spaceship.
You're in my office! [shouting.]
Desk! Chair! Detective! Office! Office! Now don't mess me about any more, Connor.
You've annoyed me.
You've tried to fool me.
I can write anything I like in my report.
Do you understand that? I can write enough to hang you.
So come on, Connor.
The truth.
- [Connor.]
But I keep telling you-- - [Frame.]
The truth! [Connor.]
Stop it, you're confusing me.
I didn't sleep very much.
You can sleep all you want when we're finished.
Come on, Connor Think.
Remember.
Perhaps you didn't mean it.
We can all understand that.
[Connor.]
Look, Doctor, Iâm tired.
You're so sure.
[Frame.]
Of course I am.
You keep giving yourself away.
Just now do you know what you called me? You called me âDoctorâ.
Now I didn't ask you to.
You just said it.
But how could I have done all these things? Murder? Iâm not a violent man.
Of course you're not Not now.
But it's in all of us, Connor.
That moment when we can't argue any more.
When the only way we can make our point is with a fist or with a gun.
Be reasonable, Connor.
It happens to all of us individually, collectively.
War.
Isn't that the kind of madness we all disclaim responsibility for? You're not unique, Connor.
You waged your own private war for half an hour.
But it's over now.
And the best thing to do is tell me about it.
Iâm not saying I couldn't have killed anyone.
[softly.]
Is that what I did? [Frame.]
Three people, Connor.
[Connor.]
I don't remember.
Do you suppose it was blackout or something like that? Of course it was.
[Connor.]
I can't explain it.
[Frame.]
But you know where you are now? Well, it's your office isn't it, Doctor? That's right.
you're not in a spaceship any more.
Spaceship? Is that what I said? That's funny I can remember telling you something about a spaceship.
[Frame.]
And you said you didn't kill three people just three space creatures.
[Connor.]
Space creatures! What the devil are space creatures? Well, that's what you said.
Space creatures! That's ridiculous.
Space creatures! [laughs uncontrollably.]
Connor! Connor! [stems laughter.]
I must be rather a violent man, wouldn't you say so, Doctor? I mean, aren't you a bit frightened having a murderer in your consulting room? - No.
- I might try to attack you.
[Frame.]
I don't think you wouldn't do that.
[Connor.]
No? Well what do you think I should do then? [Frame.]
I think the best thing would be for you to make a very full statement to the Inspector.
Just tell him what happened, how you felt.
[Connor.]
Wouldn't it be better if I just pretended to be mad? - [Frame.]
You are-- - [Connor.]
Go on say it.
You think I am mad don't you? [Frame.]
I told you before, you're ill.
You've had a mental breakdown.
At your trial your defence will plead insanity.
You won't go to prison if that's what you're worried about.
No Iâll get locked up in a stinking nut house, full of blokes who think they're Napoleon.
Well, it won't work, Doctor.
Iâve killed and Iâll kill again.
I won't be locked up.
Doesn't that frighten you? There are three policemen here, Connor.
They can handle you.
And you're handcuffed.
Quite securely.
Ha! Securely you said.
Now what about that, Doctor? Not so safe now, are you? [Frame.]
You're being very stupid, Connor.
[Connor.]
But you're scared just the same.
I don't need a gun to kill people.
[Frame.]
All right, Connor Now let go.
You'll only make things worse for yourself.
Connor! [Frame.]
Inspector! Give me a hand, will you! Will you two help me? Can't you see he's attacking me?! [Connor.]
See, you're not so safe after all.
You're not so safe, are you? You're not so safe, after all! You're not so safe! [struggling, gasping.]
[Connor choking, groaning.]
[gasping.]
[Frame.]
Connor? Connor? Connor! Oh, no, I didn't mean to Inspector, You saw what was happening.
Why didn't you help me? I didn't mean Inspector! Well you two, why did you just stand there?! You saw what he was trying to do.
Slinn answer me.
[sobbing.]
Why don't you say something? Oh, I see.
[sobbing.]
You were all in on it.
All four of you.
I should have guessed that.
It was me you were really after, all the time.
It was me.
You didn't know that I Connor [sobbing continues.]
Inspector Helen! Helen, help me.
Helen Where are you? Help me! Helen Will you come in here please? [faint whirring.]
[man over radio.]
Venus 347.
P for Piper.
Are you receiving our signal? You are due to re-enter atmosphere in one hour's time.
Repeat P for Piper.
Hello.
Hello, Base.
P for Piper answering.
P for Piper answering.
I am receiving your message.
[man over radio.]
What's been happening up there? We've been calling for five hours.
l Wait Hello, Base.
- We've had a bit of trouble.
- [Base.]
What kind of trouble? We were attacked by space creatures.
I don't remember it very clearly but Connor went berserk.
He tried to attack me.
It was an accident you understand but [Base.]
What happened then? Connor's dead.
[Base.]
That's hard luck, old man.
You all right? Yes yes, Iâm fine.
Went mad you said? l Something like that.
I must have passed out.
I don't remember much.
Didn't he take his yellow pill? What? I asked if Connor took his yellow pill.
No he wouldn't take one.
I tried to get him to, but he wouldn't.
That must have been the trouble.
Yes, it must have been.
Bad show.
Nice bloke, young Connor.
Yes, he was.
A nice bloke.