Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:00 — 27.5MB)
In the far flung year of 1958, at a university, Professor Barnhouse talks with his assistant, Clinton. Robots are being used as drones for military service, but sometimes their brains go haywire. Though Clinton wants to leave to research a cure for those robot brains, Barnhouse presents a more intriguing problem. The professor demonstrates his unusual ability to continuously roll the dice, and come up with 7’s everytime.
What other power does Barnhouse have? Can Clinton help the professor use his untapped powers for good, and not evil? With just the lightest whim of his mind, he can flatten whole buildings. The military has a battery of tests to explore the extent of the damage that Barnhouse can do, but the professor doesn’t want to know that. He really would rather find the reason for the power. Don’t make that mild mannered professor angry. You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.
Having enough of the military tests, the super weapon turns out to be the first one with a conscience,a and ducks out. A manhunt is begun to find him, but what might the professor have as his motive? Is it possible at all for a super weapon to be a tool for peace? Time is running out. Will Barnhouse selfdestruct, or will world powers be out to capture him and claim his powers as their own?
The question Barnhouse wanted to know never gets answered, or does it? Where did the power come from? Is it reproduceable? Will the arms race go raging on? Will Clinton realize that he holds the answer? What will he do about it if he does?
PS: Far flung year? Fighter planes in the story are characterized by propeller planes. By 1950 when this show aired, jets were already taking over the Air fForce, though it may have been common for propeller planes to hang around. By the year 1958, I’m pretty sure there were no more propeller powered fighter planes. Only cargo planes, or others in support missions like observation planes. Am I wrong? Any airplane experts out there who want to set me right on this? Just leave a comment and tell me.
