Red Planet 2000

As Chris Cronyn (Peter Graves), an intrepid American astronomer, scrutinizes Martian images, he uncovers evidence of seismic environmental shifts, hinting at the presence of intelligent life with technological prowess. His pioneering work, fueled by his wife Linda’s (Andrea King) unwavering support, has enabled them to establish a hydrogen-powered radio link with the Red Planet, leveraging the innovative ideas of Nazi scientist Franz Calder. The initial exchange takes place through intricate mathematical concepts, such as the value of pi, gradually giving way to specific inquiries about Martian life and its peculiarities. The transmissions paint a captivating portrait of Mars as a veritable utopia, where technological advancements have supplanted scarcity and eliminated the specter of nuclear war.

This revelation sends shockwaves around the world, particularly in the Western hemisphere, precipitating an unprecedented maelstrom of political and economic upheaval. The U.S. government responds by imposing a strict news blackout and demanding that the transmissions cease, fearing that the Soviet Union might intercept and decipher their communications. However, this draconian measure is short-lived, as the next transmission delivers a stark warning: Earth’s inhabitants are condemned to perpetual fear of nuclear war as a punitive consequence for deviating from the teachings of the Bible.

The consequences of this revelation are far-reaching and profound. A global revolution sweeps across the globe, including the Soviet Union, which is toppled and replaced by a theocratic regime, met with jubilation in America. The world teeters on the brink of chaos as nations grapple with the existential implications of this unprecedented discovery, forcing humanity to confront the stark realities of its own moral compass.

As the silence falls like a curtain on the cryptic transmissions, Calder, hand grasping a handgun, strides into the Cronyns’ lab with an air of confrontation. The truth, he claims, is about to be revealed: the supposed messages from beyond this world were merely a ruse, a clever deception orchestrated by a secret Soviet-funded radio transmitter perched high above the Andes mountains in South America. This transmitter, now reduced to mere rubble following a devastating avalanche, has been silent ever since its destruction. Calder brandishes his log, evidence of his supposed deception, and scoffs at Linda’s inquiry about the religious messages that had captivated the world. He reveals that the United States government fabricated those messages, which he allowed to be broadcasted in order to witness the demise of the Soviet Union. The Cronyns, however, are privy to a different truth: the religious messages were not mere fabrications. Calder’s bombshell claim will be believed by all, spelling disaster for a world now at peace.

As Calder’s words hang in the air like a challenge, Chris slips unnoticed behind him, his hand grasping the valve controlling the hydrogen supply. Linda, sensing the gravity of the situation, implores her husband to leave, but he refuses to budge. The tension is palpable as she asks for a cigarette, only to be met with Chris’s quiet revelation that in all their years together, he has never seen her smoke. They both know the spark will ignite the hydrogen and destroy the lab, yet neither can bring themselves to act. Just as Chris is about to light the match, a strange message begins to filter through the airwaves, sending Calder into a rage. With gun drawn, he blasts at the screen, simultaneously destroying the transmitter, himself, and the Cronyns in a catastrophic explosion.

The blast may have silenced the transmission, but its contents are eventually decoded, and the world is forced to confront the words of the President as he reads aloud: “You have done well, my good…” The rest of the message eerily echoes the Parable of the Talents from the Gospel of Matthew, a haunting reminder that even in chaos, there can be purpose and wisdom.