there is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. it is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. it is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition. and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. this is the dimension of imagination. it is an area which we call the twilight zone. the blasting area will be cleared by 0200. repeat. the blasting area will be cleared by 0200. it's an odd way to spend the last night, isn't it? odd? well, the last night on earth you don't spend looking at your transportation. last night on earth, you spend enjoying earth. you walk its streets, go in its bars, dance with its women. that's going to be our world for a long time, Sam. and yet we stand out here watching her just three hours before we take off. Marcusson? mm? are you afraid? I don't think so. Are you? I am. very. it's different with you. you're trained for it. it's not the same with me. i'm a scientist, a biologist. my world is one of books and slides and microscopes. i'm being sent up there because they need my mind. and it's a pity they can't just send that. leave the body back here where it belongs. just send the mind. oh, I am frightened. I'm frightened of what we'll find up there. well, that's the one thing you shouldn't be frightened of. the unknown, sure. the- the loneliness, the silence. that should scare anybody. but i've got a philosophy about people. i mean, all people, Sam. they're the same all over. well, i'm sure that when god made human beings, he developed them from a fixed formula. they'd be the same here on earth as in the furthest reaches of space. people on Mars? wherever they're able to exist, they'd be the same. you're looking at a specie of flimsy little two-legged animal with extremely small heads whose name is man. Warren Marcusson, age 35. Samuel A. Conrad, age 31. hey, let's get ready, Sam. we've only got a couple of hours. they're taking a highway into space. man unshackling himself and sending his tiny, groping fingers up into the unknown. their destination is Mars, and in just a moment we'll land there with them. Marcusson? Marcusson? are you all right? Marcusson, what the-- Marcusson. any landing, you can walk away from, remember? what about the ship? the air pressure seems to be holding up. i got the lights running. i haven't had time to check anything else. you-you, uh, rest for a while. there's plenty of time. plenty of time? all right. all right, we'll see. Sam? Sam! hey. how long did i sleep? oh, a couple of hours. you needed it. conrad. well, let's plant the flag. you take it easy. there's plenty of time. we've come 35 million miles! so? another few hours won't make any difference. you won't be able to open it. the hydraulic's out. put her on the auxiliary, then. we can open it. no, we can't. i'll f ix it. i'll put her on the auxiliary. then we can open her up. that's what i'll do now. i'll open her up. Marcusson. you have to take it easy. open the door, Conrad. i've already told you, that door-- you're a liar! you can open the door. why, Sam? why won't you open the door? i don't want to open it. why not? because. whatever happened to the enquiring scientific mind, Conrad? i thought you brought that along. why did you come along anyway? look, i want out. i want you to open the door. you can lock it behind me. just help me up. that's all i ask. please, help me up. Sam. i'm busted up inside. i think i'm bleeding in there. listen, sam, i don't wanna die in here. i wanna see what i'm dying for. take me out, will you? take me out Marc, please. please! don't-don't be afraid, Sam. i got a strange hunch. if there's anybody out there, they'll help you. as long as they've got minds and hearts, that means they've got souls. that makes them people, and people are alike. they're bound to be alike. for god's sake! don't leave me alone, Marc. don't leave me alone! you said whatever is out there is just like us. well, i don't know that! i don't wanna know. i don't wanna know, i don't wanna know, i don't want to know! you're people. you're just like i am. face, body. everything. you're just like i am! oh, uh--forgive me. uh, don't be frightened. my name is-is, uh, Sam Conrad. u h, Samuel Conrad. that name, understand? my friend and i,we came here from the earth. look, i'll show you. u h, this is the earth, see? we are the third planet from the sun. this is you. where i come from, this planet is called Mars. the other one is dead. don't be alarmed, mr. conrad. we don't intend to harm you either. we've been wondering when you planned to come out. we've been waiting for hours. how do you know my language? we don't, mr. Conrad. as you'll no doubt soon realize, you are speaking our language. your language? unconscious transference. you'd call it hypnosis of a sort. but you must be tired. we'll prepare a place for you to rest. i'm appreciative, i really am. you'll forgive me.my staring, i mean. i just can't get over it. i mean, you're human beings, just like i am. people. Marcusson said you would be. Marcusson. mr. Conrad? we'll bury your friend for you. later on you can tell us what kind of marker you'd like. we'll repair your ship for you, too. thank you. you were right, old friend. they are people. just like us. i wish you lived to see that. there are so many questions i want to ask you. so many things i want to know about your civilization. your social structure, the way you live. your science. oh, a hundred questions. a thousand questions. we'll answer all your questions, mr. Conrad. but first, you must rest here for a while while we prepare a place for you, a place you'll feel familiar in. we'll be back soon. miss? you do have a name, don't you? i'm called Teenya. well, uh, Teenya, will you tell the others how very appreciative i am? i-i was so frightenened, so m iserably frightened. don't be frightened, mr. Conrad. no one will hurt you. no one will hurt you. you must believe that. thank you, Teenya. thank you. i'll see you later, mr. Conrad. good morning. did you rest well, mr. Conrad? long and well. may i see your city now and the rest of your people? very soon. first, first we have a surprise for you. a very pleasant surprise. really? would you accompany us, please? of course. where are we going? that's the surprise, mr. Conrad. are you coming? yes, i will come. is-is this a martian house? is this the way you live? oh, no, ours are considerably different. we built this during the night because we assumed this is the way you people live. oh, it's a perfect replica. perfect. a television set. the furniture, drapes, everything! but how could you build it so quickly? how could you possibly know? from your mind. you think very clearly, mr. Conrad. very clearly, indeed. very strong impression. would you care to see the rest of the house? uh-huh. it's fabulous. it's really fabulous! we wanted you to feel at home, mr. Conrad. do you? do you feel at home? it's unbelievable. thank you. we were wondering if you'd mind remaining here for a little while. you expressed an interest in seeing our city, meeting our people. we'll go out and arrange that. that's wonderful. you want me to stay here? do you mind? u h, i'd be delighted. good. for a little while then. enjoy yourself, mr. Conrad. enjoy your house. let me show you out. after all, it's my house. Teenya? i will see you again, won't i? of course you wi ll, mr. Conrad. if it's an illusion, a guy can live with it. that's the best scotch i ever drank. hey! you locked me in. what's the matter with you, people? i'm locked in! what's wrong? there aren't any windows. there aren't any windows anywhere! why are you doing this? why? why have you locked me in here? why are you looking at me like that? Marcusson! Marcusson, you were right. you were right. people are alike. people are alike everywhere. specie of animal brought back alive. interesting similarity and physical characteristics to human beings, in head, trunk, arms, legs, hands, feet. very tiny, undeveloped brain. comes from primitive planet named earth. calls himself Samuel Conrad. and he will remain here in his cage with the running water and the electricity and the central heat as long as he lives. Samuel Conrad has found the twilight zone.