Not Rated | 30min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, TV Series | Episode aired 3 March 1959
In 1940, a fearful Britain awaits invasion by Nazi forces. A husband and his wife, separated by their wartime assignments, suddenly dream that each is in danger, and both try frantically to see if their dream has come true.
Director: John Newland
Writers: John Dunkel, Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus
Stars: John Newland, Reginald Owen, Richard Lupino
In 1940, a fearful Britain awaits invasion by Nazi forces. A husband and his wife, separated by their wartime assignments, suddenly dream that each is in danger, and both try frantically to see if their dream has come true.
Director: John Newland
Writers: John Dunkel, Merwin Gerard, Lawrence B. Marcus
Stars: John Newland, Reginald Owen, Richard Lupino
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The amazing drama you're about to see is a matter of human record. You may believe it
00:08or not, but the real people who lived this story, they believe it. They know. They took
00:16that one step beyond. Dunkirk, France. June 4th, 1940. The last pitiful remnants of the
00:34British Expeditionary Force rescued only by heroic action. France crumbling. Belgium,
00:41the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, overrun. Germany everywhere victorious. And England,
00:49her army shattered, her arms and material captured, stood alone, virtually defenseless,
00:55under the merciless attack of the mighty Luftwaffe, and awaited the coming invasion.
01:00And now it has come to us. Stand alone in the breach and face the worst that the tyrant's
01:10might and enmity can do. Should the invader come to Britain, we shall defend every village,
01:18every town, and every city. Winston Churchill, Britain's most potent wartime weapon. In that
01:26dark time after Dunkirk, he rallied his people from despair and defeat. They fought with anything
01:33and everything, even the fantastic weapon of psychic power. Inside this command post of
01:41Britain's Home Guard, on the north coast in 1940, was a mild and most un-military fellow,
01:48who took that incredible one step beyond. But see for yourself. So bear ourselves,
01:59but if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years,
02:06men will still say, this was their finest hour. About time somebody give them ruddy Nazis what
02:18for. Churchill's a real old British bulldog himself. No doubt of it. He's the leader we've
02:23been needing right along. I'll tell you what. All right, you men. Finish up with this. You have to
02:29post guard before dark. Their finest hour. Well, it really gives you a sort of lift,
02:39doesn't it, Mr. Blakely? It does, Billy. It really gives one hope. Our side'll win in the end. Yes,
02:45but do you really think we will? I don't know. I suppose that depends on us, doesn't it? The
02:53blooming Nazis don't kill me. This food will. He ever told you you could cook, eh? Fine one to
03:00choose. Farmer probably never cooked a meal in his life. Do you think hauling coal in a
03:05dray qualifies you for any better? Oh, what a crew. Ruddy farmers, bank teller, overage chemist,
03:14headmaster of a blooming girls' school. Yeah, vicar and greengrocer, all bossed by a one-armed
03:21pensioner. He lost that arm in the First World War. Haven't got a DSC doing it. Oh, Blakely,
03:29I met Ethel when I was in town today. She said to take care that you wear that scarf against the
03:36night air. How did she look? Oh, same as ever, don't you worry. You know, I've never seen anything
03:42like it. Body, you'd think you were newlyweds instead of going on your 20th. Yes, Ethel and I
03:47sued each other. Oh, she said to tell you that the red platter dropped 28 fry, whatever that
03:54means. Sounds like Russian code. Maybe Blakely's in cahoots with the Ruddy Reds. A red platter is
04:02a small topical fish, very beautiful. One of mine just had 28 babies. 28? Glad my missus can't do
04:11that. Quite a sight they are. No bigger than the head of a pin. Locky, you take the outpost,
04:16you and Carl. Him? Do I have to have him for a partner? Why not? Well, I just wouldn't feel safe,
04:24that's all, with only a kid to protect me back. Look, Locky, we're all the same here,
04:29all doing our bit as best we can. Carl's done well so far. He's got no nerve, anybody can see that.
04:35If he had, he'd be in the services at his age. Quite obviously he was turned down by the services.
04:41Well, that's what I mean. Why? That's none of your business. Now, Locky, it's time you understood
04:48we're under military discipline here. This is war and you'll have to take my orders. Look here,
04:53I'll take Cliffy's place on the Cliff Ward. I was going to put you on telephone watch tonight,
05:00Herb. You need rest. We all do, don't we? I doubt if there's a man here who's had 10 hours sleep
05:04in the past week. Carl and I can spell each other. All right, that's how you want it? If it's all right
05:11with Carl and Locky. All right, you know the schedule of the watch and the signals. Now,
05:18no lights and no smoking from now on. Harrison. Yes. You and Charlie get to the lighthouse.
05:24Right. Bill, you take the near marker. It's going to be a dark night. Just the kind they'd choose.
05:44Do you really think we have to fear them this far north? Surely they'll hit straight across
05:50the channel at Kent and Essex. Our job is to watch for raiders, off subs and the like.
05:55They'll probably try to infiltrate all along the coast. A nice, quiet little inlet like ours is
06:01made to order for them. I hope they don't come tonight. Likely they'll find us all asleep.
06:07Any man caught sleeping at his post will face court martial.
06:13We're not the regular army, remember, Tim? We've all of us been on the consulate for more than
06:18three weeks, and every man's ready to drop. And every man's doing his duty. I appreciate that.
06:29Maybe as time goes on, we'll all toughen up, huh? Herb, you'd better take a gun with you out there.
06:36Probably a .22 or the Vickers-Berg gun. Wouldn't know how to use it anyway. We're only there to
06:42sign a warning. You must have a weapon of some kind. Take a sawed-off oar or a pitchfork. All
06:47right. I'll take a pitchfork, and here's your sawed-off oar. Herbert, would you like me to pray with you?
07:01Thanks, Novica. Makes me uncomfortable asking favors of heaven. Besides, it's not us I fear for,
07:08it's them back in town. My wife Ethel, your wife and all the others. But they'd have to land here first.
07:16I mean the bombers. Why would they bomb our little town? It has nothing of military importance.
07:22What reason? Reason enough for the Nazis. Remember Rotterdam? Just to show they can do it.
07:32Just to put the fear of God in us. Don't think of it. It won't happen here. They'll be all right.
07:39Farewell, Vickers. If you want to pray, pray for them.
08:09Well, if the war depends upon Lockheed or Charlie, or me, God help us.
08:21We're really at the bottom of the barrel. I wouldn't say that, Charlie.
08:26I'll bet you Lockheed can still put up quite a scrap, even with his crippled leg.
08:32Of course, I'll admit, as a warrior, I'm an excellent greengrocer. But well,
08:39perhaps our services won't be needed after all. Yes, but supposing they come,
08:44what are we going to do without guns to go round?
08:49They'll have guns, you know. Perhaps we can take them away.
08:55We can do the best we can. That's the strength of our army.
08:58We can do the best we can. That's the strength of it.
09:07Mr. Blakely, Lockheed was right, you know. I am a coward.
09:21Why? Because you're frightened? Yes.
09:25But everybody is, even Lockheed. Are you?
09:31Certainly. Now, curl up and catch a nap. Yes, but aren't you tired?
09:38I don't go to sleep now, and I shan't wake up till morning. So, I'll take the first watch,
09:44while you catch 40 winks, and then you can have the second. Now, don't worry, I shall wake you.
09:49Mr. Blakely, the reason why I couldn't join the service, I've got bad lungs.
10:09Go to sleep.
10:23What a ruddy boy.
10:25What a ruddy boy.
11:55Oh, no, no, no.
12:09Do you like it?
12:25Do you like it?
12:55Wow.
13:25Ethel.
13:27Herbert.
13:33Herbert.
13:39Ethel.
13:43Herbert.
13:45Ethel.
13:49Ah!
13:55Oh, my God.
14:05He's not alone, is he? We've got to signal the alarm.
14:25Oh.
14:55Oh.
15:25Oh.
15:35Ethel.
15:55Stop!
16:01Yes, sir.
16:03Yes, sir.
16:05Aye, easy.
16:07Oh.
16:11Ow.
16:15Aye.
16:21Oh.
16:24Seems you were wrong, Herbert.
16:28It was we who needed the prayers.
16:30How do you feel?
16:32Oh, it's nothing serious.
16:34I'll be back on my post tonight.
16:36Oh.
16:38The attack started ago for 17 hours,
16:40and lasted approximately seven minutes.
16:42Yes, I'm sure.
16:44We got them all.
16:46Five men and an officer.
16:48Ours?
16:50Well, I suppose every man's got a scratch or two.
16:53Only three, seriously.
16:55I'm sending them into hospital.
16:57Go ahead, Charlie.
16:59Yes, sir.
17:03Dead?
17:05Only one.
17:07Who?
17:09Lockheed.
17:11Oh.
17:23What did it hurt?
17:25It was my fault, Tim.
17:27Yours? Why?
17:29I was late giving the alarm.
17:31I was asleep.
17:33If that were true, you'd be dead.
17:35We got the alarm, all right.
17:37And from you.
17:39I woke up just at the last moment.
17:41And do you know what woke me?
17:43A dream.
17:45A dream?
17:47A dream that saved my life.
17:49Saved all our lives, probably.
17:52Tim, they
17:54bombed the town.
17:56In your dream?
17:58Yeah.
18:00I saw Ethel sleeping,
18:02and the I-bombers
18:04overhead.
18:06Didn't you hear them?
18:08No. Besides,
18:10why would they bomb us here?
18:12They must have passed over on their way to London.
18:14Are you sure?
18:16You didn't hear bombs falling in town over there?
18:18How could we, with all the noise here?
18:20I've got to go see.
18:22Maybe you think I'm balmy,
18:24but you've got to give me time off today to go in.
18:26You see,
18:28I saw Ethel
18:30in my house,
18:34and the bomb falling.
18:38It was only a dream.
18:40I've got to know.
18:42All right.
18:50Is Colonel Marlowe here?
18:52Can you tell me,
18:54did they bomb you in there just now?
18:58I see.
19:04You can ride in with the truck.
19:06Thanks.
19:08Herbert.
19:10Good luck.
19:12Thanks.
21:20Hello.
21:22Officially,
21:24she's still listed as missing.
21:26Herbert.
21:48Herbert.
21:56Herbert.
22:26What about Ethel, Herb?
22:30Rotten luck.
22:34What do you want to do?
22:36Let's go back.
22:38It's my place, isn't it?
22:56Herbert.
23:04Herbert.
23:06Herbert.
23:08I was so worried.
23:10I know it's against regulations,
23:12but I just had to come.
23:14I thought you were dead.
23:16I was dead?
23:18I dreamed some Nazis
23:20landed here and were going to attack you,
23:22and no one saw them coming.
23:24I screamed.
23:26It was so terrible.
23:28It saved my life.
23:30I woke up just as the planes were overhead,
23:32and I had just enough time to grab some clothes
23:34and run into the basement.
23:36I had a dream, too.
23:38What in the world are you doing
23:40with my shoe?
23:42Want to hear my dream, Ethel?
23:44I tried so hard to call you.
23:46I tried so hard to warn you.
23:48I wanted so badly for you to hear me.
23:50I think perhaps I did, Ethel.
23:54I think perhaps I did.
23:58A recorded case
24:00of the double dream.
24:02When a man and his wife
24:04met for a life-saving moment
24:06in the world outside the five senses.
24:10Sometimes people in love
24:12have been known to speak
24:14beyond time and space.
24:16To whom it happened,
24:18we know.
24:20Where it happened, we know.
24:22Or why it happened.
24:26In a moment,
24:28something about our next meeting
24:30in the unknown world.
24:36Now, as to next week.
24:38Ballet slippers for a very young ballerina.
24:40A lovely child
24:42who one afternoon long ago
24:44danced into the world of the unknown.
24:46And in one shattering moment
24:48had a terrifying look into the future.
24:50Would she? Or could she?
24:52Years later, once more,
24:54dance one step beyond.
25:20THE END