The Time Tunnel s01e19 Episode Script

The Ghost of Nero

Two American scientists are lost in the swirling maze of past and future ages during the first experiments on Americas greatest and most secret project- the Time Tunnel.
Tony ewman and Doug Phillips now tumble helplessly toward a new, fantastic adventure somewhere along the infinite corridors of time.
Looks like World War I equipment.
The Alps.
Northern Italy or Austria.
Lets get out of here.
The Time Tunnel.
What was that? - Nero.
- The Roman emperor.
Wed better get out of here before this whole ceiling caves in! Corporal.
! The cellar.
! Take no prisoners.
! Another instant.
I cant get a firm fix on them, General.
Some strange interference.
Another life force dominating the readings.
Even the date reading wont hold steady.
Somewhere in 115.
Well, keep at it.
Who couldve killed him? Corporal.
! Did you find anyone? Major Neistadt! Major Neistadt, over here! Theyll think we killed that German.
Major Neistadt, over here.
Corporal Brunn- He came in here to look for survivors.
Did you search in there? Ja, but there is no one there, sir.
They mustve gotten out that way.
Go after him and kill him.
Watch it.
Just a rat.
These catacombs are centuries old.
- How could these matches have gotten here? - Somebodys been here recently.
Could be smugglers, bandits- Who knows? First thing we have to do is find our way out of here.
Lets see if we can figure out how to work the catch on that door.
Wed better not.
Those Germans are shooting first and asking questions later.
Maybe we can find another way out.
Major, it is impossible for anyone to get through these beams.
You overlook the obvious.
These beams fell after the killer got through the door.
Post sentries outside.
This must lead up into the house.
We will find the man.
Its blocked off.
Wait a second.
This type of armor dates back to the time of the caesars.
It ties in with Neros casket.
One direct hit, and we could be buried alive.
If we dont find another way out soon, wedd better chance getting by the Germans in the cellar.
Lets try those stairs.
Search the house room by room.
Its about a 40-foot drop.
Thieves, huh? You have come to rob and loot.
Well, there is very little left.
Wait a minute.
Were not looters.
- We took shelter in your cellar during the bombardment.
- Your accents.
- Were Americans.
- Americans? We were trying to get away from the attack, but our car broke down.
Oh, you think war is an amusement, huh? A matter of sightseeing.
Listen, a German soldier was killed in your cellar.
- Now, theyll think we did it.
Wevve got to get out of here.
- Here? - The Germans are already here.
- Only an advance squad.
- Do you have any rope? We could get out this window.
- If you didnt kill the German why are you trying to escape? America is neutral in this war.
The Germans wont harm you if you are Americans.
Whoever did kill him got away somehow, but if the Germans find us here, theyll think- Doug, try to open the wall.
Its our only chance.
What wall? What do you mean? What are you talking about? There must be a secret catch here.
Open the door.
Your names, please.
Listen.
I can save you.
- Tell me your names.
- Open up, or we will shoot.
Patience! I will open it! Your names! - Im Doug Phillips, and this is Tony Newman.
- If you want to live give me the gun.
Im Count Enrico Galba.
Let me do the talking.
Patience! Coming! Coming! You will back up against the wall.
- And you too, old man.
- Thank heavens you are here, Major.
Looters have been stripping my villa since the attack began.
My guests and I had to lock ourselves in these rooms for fear they will murder us.
Search the other room.
- You are Enrico Galba? - Yes.
I will not need this anymore.
We are safe now.
The major will protect us.
Herr Galba- You will address me as Count Galba and you and your men will treat my guests and I with courtesy and respect while you are in my house.
You dare order me? Youre my prisoners.
May I remind you, Kaiser Wilhelm himself issued orders concerning treatment of nobility.
With exceptions.
Should nobility oppose actions of the kaisers imperial army then you will be treated like any other enemy.
My house is yours until the Italian army drives you out.
A German soldier was killed in your cellar.
Soldiers are dying everywhere.
There is no one in the other room, Major.
There are no other exits.
These men could have killed my soldier, and you can be shot for protecting them.
What reason would I have to harm one of your soldiers? - Theyre American citizens, neutrals.
- Americans? Yes.
When the bombardment started Count Galbas servants deserted him, so we stayed on.
Major, use your famous German logic.
If we had anything to fear from the Imperial German Army wouldnt we have used the gun I gave you? This is a large house, Major.
The looter who killed your soldier must still be hiding.
- We will find him.
- So there will be no further suspicions while you remain may I suggest you lock us in this room? You will be locked in because you are my prisoners, not because you suggest it.
But do not try to escape, Count Galba, or you will be shot with the kaisers blessings.
- That was close.
- Shh-shh.
We are in serious danger.
The insignia on the majors uniform- signal corps.
Obviously they are here to establish a spotter post for their artillery.
See, from here every road in the valley can be seen.
The Germans can pinpoint their fire against any counterattack.
Wont the Italians realize your villass being used as a spotter post? Exactly.
Then well be caught between two fires.
- My villa will be destroyed.
- We came up from the cellar through the catacombs.
We can get out the same way.
I know that wall swings open somehow.
I never knew a secret passage existed.
This is my ancestral home.
Theres got to be a release or a spring or something.
I found it.
Some Germans may still be in the cellar.
You stay here with Count Galba.
Ill take a look.
If we can get through the cellar, the Germans may have a truck outside.
All right.
But be careful.
Dont try anything alone.
Excellent.
From here, we can see every major pass in the valley.
The Italian army will be completely destroyed.
- How long do we have to hold this position, Major? - A few hours.
Our intelligence reports that the Italians are already moving toward the front.
Once we spring the trap, our mission will be over.
- What of Count Galba und the Americans? - They will be killed.
Havent you stabilized yet? Theres some strange interference.
- Its preventing my stabilizing the fix.
- Keep trying! Wevve got to help! Heres something from the history computer.
Villa Galba was destroyed by artillery fire during World War I.
The date was October 23, 115.
That narrows the range.
Reset your controls.
The base date is May 115.
There was no significant action untiljune orjuly.
Well narrow the range to the period between july and October 23.
Im still getting that interference.
Amplify the radiation.
Thats it.
Hold the level steady.
Were getting a firm reading, General.
October 23 The villa may be destroyed at any minute.
Doug and Tonyll be killed.
If I were 20 years younger I would be commanding my own regiment.
I would drive the Huns back across the Alps.
Did you know that Nero was buried in the cellar? Thats an old wives tale.
You mustvvve heard it from the villagers.
- No one has ever found his grave.
- But I saw it.
Neros crypt was blasted open by an artillery shell.
When I was a child, I heard of the promise that Nero swore when he was dying.
Hed come back to revenge himself.
Oh, I know thats nonsense, utter nonsense.
If they find out Tonys not here, werre in trouble.
Go and see what that racket is.
Tell them to shut up! I dont understand.
They have the key.
What do you want? Why do you make so much noise? - Why didnt you answer before? - You will keep quiet.
It is the majors order.
You will be fed in due time.
Listen, Sergeant.
You gave us the message, so just report back to your major.
- Galba? You are the descendant of Emperor Galba? - Yes.
Your ancestor declared me to be a public enemy.
He forced me to flee from Rome.
- He drove me to my death.
- Youre drunk! - I will report you to your major.
- Now, wait! And now, Galba, you will feel the revenge of Nero! Nero will kill all men who defend Galba! Major, this man attacked Count Galba.
You were attempting to escape.
He tried to strangle me! He seemed possessed! He said he was going to take revenge on me because of what my ancestor did to Nero.
Ridiculous.
You expect me to believe such nonsense? He was raving about Nero and Emperor Galba.
He is drunk.
I will kill you.
I will kill all of you! Schweinehund.
! Take him out! Wait.
No doubt the ghost of Nero.
See? No ghosts.
The wind closes the door, and you superstitious fools shake with fear.
Take him out! I want no more trouble from you.
The next time I send a soldier, he will have orders to shoot no matter what my kaiser has ordered.
What happened to me, huh? Where am I? H- How can you explain? Lets not even try.
Now, our first objective is to get out of here alive.
Were lucky you came back when you did.
- If that major had discovered you missing- - His hands on my throat icy cold like a dead mans.
Youre imagining it.
Youvve got to pull yourself together.
o matter what nonsense that sergeant said, one thing was real enough.
He was trying to kill you.
Not a ghost, but a soldier.
And maybe on orders from the major.
I dont know.
I would like to believe you.
Better to face a living threat than- Ah! I dont believe in ghosts.
Listen.
The bombardment stopped.
Lets try to make a break for it.
We cant use the secret door.
The German soldiers are still in the cellar.
I think wed better wait till itss dark.
Ann, do we know what time the bombardments gonna hit the villa? No, sir.
Just the date: today.
Look at this.
While Tony and Doug were fighting the German the interference levels reached incredible peaks.
Theres some unexplainable force preventing us from getting a clear fix on them.
Unexplainable force? What are you talking about? Are you suggesting that Neros ghost actually took possession of the German? General, whatever the force is, its making us powerless to help Tony and Doug.
I asked for all the facts on Nero and Galba.
This is from an ancient Roman account of Neros death.
It says that Neros last words were, I shall return to kill all descendants of Galba.
Both of you scientists and yet youre seriously discussing the possibility of the existence of a ghost.
General, because we are scientists, we cant discard any possibility.
If that was a ghost that took possession of the German soldier then its a murderous threat to Doug and Tony.
You heard the German say hed kill Galba and anyone who stands in his way.
- General, we need help with this.
- You name it.
Ill give the authorization.
The best research man on the subject is Dr.
Steinholtz, Carton University.
- He may have some answers.
- Im willing to try anything at this point.
Were ready to go.
Were ready to go.
He said he would kill anyone who tried to help me.
- Arent you afraid? - Yes.
Of the Germans.
Of the bombardment, when it comes.
You make me ashamed.
No Galba was ever a coward.
Well, I am a Galba and if it is my fate to die at the hands of an invisible monster then Ill die.
Well, I dont know.
I have studied many psychic phenomena, but this- See, Doctor, these men are actually living in a different time zone.
Thats all.
Tony and Doug are our connection to that time zone.
And they can be affected by what you are doing here in the Time Tunnel? Yes, but theres been interference- abnormal interference-with our control.
You think it is the ghost? - Well, if there is a ghost.
- Oh, ganz mà glich, its quite possible.
During psychic phenomena, I have actually recorded enormous electrical energy surges on instruments.
- So youll tell me, please, what you actually know? - Yes, sir.
This way, please.
NNero fled for his life to a northern province.
There he was killed.
UUnsubstantiated: Nerosss last words were, lllI shall return to kill all descendants of Galba.
´´´ Yes.
The legendary curse of a dying man.
It frequently comes up in my research.
Tell me.
Did you see or hear anything unexplainable? Well, a door was being pounded, Doctor.
We actually heard it, but saw nothing.
Now, if the ghost is the kind called a poltergeist it is quite powerless against locked doors.
Doctor, the second thing we observed was that a German soldier seemed suddenly invested by the force.
He tried to kill Count Galba.
The man even talked strangely, as though he were ero.
Yes, well, sometimes a poltergeist can get into a human body.
That way, he can open locked doors and even get an innocent person to kill for him.
Im only interested in giving Tony and Doug every chance to get safely out.
You may call the interference a ghost, poltergeist or whatever.
We just wanna get rid of it.
It must be the ghost.
- What can we do about it? - Nothing.
Nothing until I have had a chance to study it in action.
Its only me.
Oh.
If we could only see it! Look, you stay with me, and well try for the exit.
Count Galba, where are you? Are you all right? Leave me to die.
Save yourself.
You hold on to me, and well try to get out of here.
Doug? Hes possessed.
The ghost force has taken possession of him.
- I think weve lost him.
- No.
We are the ones who are lost.
How can we fight the powers of a ghost? Oh.
Pain in my chest.
I- I cant go any further.
- Are the interference readings aligned with Tonys readings? - Yes.
Exactly.
Can you transmit a power surge- a million volts? - Youll burn him alive.
- Not if the surge lasts only one millisecond.
- Shock treatment.
- Yes.
Its worked with others possessed with spirits.
Its too risky.
The slightest miscalculation, and Tonylll be killed.
Well, if he gets to Doug and Galba, he may kill them or be killed himself.
Ray, can you send the surge? Im authorizing it.
Lock your coordinates, Ann.
Align power circuits.
Build to a million volts.
Voltage building.
One million.
All right.
Keep it steady.
Set your charge at a millisecond.
Ready.
The reading on Tony has dropped to almost zero.
- He may not come to.
- What are the interference readings? There are none.
The ghost force has left Tonys body.
Small consolation ifTony dies.
Maybe we can try for a retrieve.
If we can get Tony back here we may be able to save his life.
My chest! Now, you just settle back, relax.
The doors locked.
Locked doors seem to keep that ghost, or whatever it is, out.
- I ran in terror.
- I dont blame you.
Theres got to be a way we can get him.
- What happened? - I dont know.
- The readings are still constant.
- Ive lost the image, but Imm sure I can bring it back.
Oh, wait.
Wed better check the circuits.
The ghost is somewhere in this room.
- Whered it come from? - Whatever the force is, we have no control over it.
If we could only see it.
What do we do? We cant just wait for him to kill us.
His basic drive is toward Galba- the original Galba.
Now, maybe with the Time Tunnel, you can send him back to his own period.
Is that possible? Can he be sent through the Tunnel? Maybe.
As long as we have an energy reading to guide us.
First, he has to get into the Tunnel.
Ray, can you bring in an image of the period? We need coordinates from the history computer.
Ann.
Time and place of Emperor Nero.
All right.
Lock your setting and activate image power.
Hes attacking the image.
Retract the electrodes.
We must get him into the Tunnel.
Hell wreck the whole complex! In the Middle Ages, they used torches to get rid of poltergeists.
- They retreat before fire.
- Weve got to try something.
Flame guns to the control complex on the double! Get ready.
Fire when I tell you.
Now! - Set the transmission.
- For the day he died: 68 A.
D.
- Hurry it.
Hurry it.
- Im trying.
I keep setting the controls for 68 A.
D.
, but they keep slipping back to 115.
I cant control it, Ray.
Hes gone.
Yes, but hes gone back to the villa.
The reading for Tony is almost nil.
- Then he must be dying.
- And the villa is due to be bombarded almost any moment now.
Im ready.
- This time, I will not run away.
- Good.
Lets get back to Tony.
Hes in this room.
Nero, listen to me! Your revenge is a petty and minor thing.
What is the life of one Galba when the enemies of the Roman Empire are trying to destroy it? Nero! Emperor Nero! The Huns have invaded! Use your powers to destroy the Germans.
Save the land you once ruled! Achieve the greatness that you failed to attain when you lived! Tony? Tony? - Hes not wounded.
- Letss try to revive him.
One more minute, and the entire Italian division will be in our trap.
There is still no sign of the prisoners, Major.
When we abandon this position, our artillery will level the villa.
That will take care of our prisoners.
Signal to commence firing.
I dont remember.
- How did I get here? - You were unconscious when we found you.
Weve got to get moving.
Through the cellar.
Corporal, were Americans.
This is Count Galba.
Can you get him to safety? Take him to the field hospital.
Corporal, the Germans are using this villa as a spotting post for their artillery.
- Yes.
We know.
But how many are there? - A squad.
- Will you lead us to their observation post? - Yes.
Come on.
Through here.
- Weve got them again.
- And the fix is firm.
Power building.
- I wonder what happened to Neros ghost.
- We may never know.
Get ready to transfer them.
We are abandoning the villa.
Tell artillery to give us five minutes, then destroy the villa.
There are no ghosts! There are none! We will drive the Huns out, and in the end, Caesar will return.
- What is your name? - Corporal Benito Mussolini.
Wait! I am joshua, commander of the Israelites.
Who are you, and what do you want among us? We come from the future,joshua.
Rise.
Leave them with me.
The Lord appeared unto Moses and me in a cloud of dust! After that all miracles are one miracle.
But I must know if you are telling the truth.
Joshua! The warrior-prophet who brought down the walls ofjericho.
So the Bible tells us.
But are we supposed to accept the story literally? Well, there he is! Look! General, that merely proves the historical existence of a man called joshua.
All the rest could be mere legend- poetry.
Were going to see the proof before our eyes.
Ive always wanted to believe, and secretly doubted.
At last, Ill know.
As a scientist, I dont permit myself to believe in miracles.
Well see whether or not the walls came tumbling down.

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