Dr. Larry Chambers (Gregory Harrison) helped build the colony on Janus Five. He and fellow scientist Dr. Amanda Harper (Kim Huffman) run computer simulations that show the planet's star will flash over in a matter of days, emitting waves of deadly radiation.
Opening narration
| "It has been said that for the truth to exist, it takes two people: one to speak it, and another to hear it." |
Plot
Dr. Chambers urges evacuation after checking that his simulations of an impending planetary disaster are accurate. Evacuation of the Janus Five colony is not a popular recommendation, especially among the colony's leaders who include council chairman Franklin Murdoch (William Atherton), security chief Montgomery Bennett (Alan Scarfe) and Amanda's father, Ian Harper (Ken Pogue). They point out that Chambers has been wrong before — the colony had to be moved at great cost after he warned of deadly volcanic activity that never occurred — and suggests that his judgment has been clouded by the death of his wife, Elise.
Since Chambers cannot be dissuaded, Murdoch and Bennett discredit him by falsely accusing him of being one of the aliens who originally inhabited the planet, suggesting that the evacuation plan is a plot to reclaim the planet for his people. Imprisoned and threatened with death, Chambers' only hope is that Amanda will uncover the truth in time to save him and the colony. She does manage to convince her father, who helps them into an escape rocket. However, when all three are cornered by an angry mob led by Murdoch, Chambers sacrifices himself and destroys the access panel to ensure the launching. He is then beaten to death by the mob. In a twist of fate, Murdoch learns that Bennett is actually an alien, who manipulated Murdoch into destroying the colony as the flash indeed occurs, killing everyone. The aliens survive the flash, now able to use humanity's technology for their own advantage.
Closing narration
| "Mankind will be forever doomed to destruction if we continue to ask for the truth, but then refuse to listen." |
Notes
- The indigenous population of Janus Five are shapeshifters. Janus was the Roman god of beginnings, transitions, time and duality who is usually depicted as having two faces.
- This episode aired on April 24, 1998, the same day that The Outer Limits creator Leslie Stevens died.
Cast
- Gregory Harrison as Dr. Larry Chambers
- Kim Huffman as Dr. Amanda Harper
- Alan Scarfe as Security Chief Montgomery Bennett
- Ken Pogue as Council Member Ian Harper
- William Atherton as Chairman Franklin Murdoch
- David Allan Pearson as Stanley Fenton (as David Pearson)
- Marcy Goldberg as Council Member Roark
- Doug Jones as Alien #1
- Eg Mahan as Alien #2
- Todd Scott as Colonist (uncredited)
- Kevin Conway as the Control Voice (voice)