Not Rated | 30min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery,TV Series | Episode aired 30 August 1960
In 1960 a series of earthquakes activate a tsunami, which heads towards Honolulu. Wheelchair-bound Margaret North, stuck in her house, prays for help and finds it when stone deaf, elderly Thomas Powers, lost on the island, comes to her house as a result of which both are saved. She believes it was no coincidence but a psychic phenomenon.
Director: John Newland
Writers: Merwin Gerard, Charles Larson, Lawrence B. Marcus
Stars: Jean Allison, Dennis Patrick, Cliff Hall
In 1960 a series of earthquakes activate a tsunami, which heads towards Honolulu. Wheelchair-bound Margaret North, stuck in her house, prays for help and finds it when stone deaf, elderly Thomas Powers, lost on the island, comes to her house as a result of which both are saved. She believes it was no coincidence but a psychic phenomenon.
Director: John Newland
Writers: Merwin Gerard, Charles Larson, Lawrence B. Marcus
Stars: Jean Allison, Dennis Patrick, Cliff Hall
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00This is an earthquake recording station.
00:06It's part of a seismic warning system established in 1946 by the United States Coast and Geodetic
00:13Survey.
00:14Seems a strange place for a true account of psychic phenomena to begin, doesn't it?
00:23But it's not so strange, really.
00:27Our research has taught us that unexplainable events can occur anywhere at any time, but
00:36that they tend particularly to occur when the human mind and heart come in conflict
00:42with cataclysmic events or emotions.
00:49Still nothing very cataclysmic seems to be happening here.
00:55But then disaster often begins quietly, doesn't it?
01:04Like this.
01:05This is an earthquake recording station, and it's part of a seismic warning system
01:29established in 1946 by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.
01:34The time, 5.15 a.m., Saturday, May 21st, 1960.
01:42Place, Chile, 15 miles beneath ground level.
01:48The earth gives a twitch, and 1,500 persons die.
01:57Nine volcanoes come to life in the winter cold.
02:01At Rupanco, a landslide buries 113.
02:06At Keilin, 630 are drowned.
02:12In the following week, 12 earthquakes are recorded.
02:16The largest, the sixth, is measured on the Richter scale of 8.5, slightly greater than
02:22the San Francisco quake of 1906.
02:27Then tragedy compounds tragedy.
02:31Off the southern coast, an underwater slippage occurs.
02:35The result, tidal waves.
02:39The Japanese call them tsunami, seismic sea waves.
02:46Moving at 425 miles an hour, with a crest of no more than three feet, they're quite
02:52harmless until they reach solid land.
02:58The first land ahead, Hawaii.
03:02What's the distance between crests now?
03:04Woodruff?
03:05Yeah.
03:06What's the crest separation?
03:07Between 80 and 100 miles, but they're getting closer.
03:12Speed?
03:13420 to 500.
03:166,800 miles.
03:18Say 420 an hour, 16 hours to Hilo.
03:21I radioed a 12-hour alert.
03:23Do you want a repeat?
03:24Order evacuation.
03:26Well, you're always screaming for a bigger serve, beach boy.
03:30No more, buddy, no more.
03:33For a day and half a night, the Pacific rolls toward Hilo, like a tablecloth being shaken
03:40from crumbs.
03:42Then it strikes its beach.
03:56Four large waves from 6 to 15 feet in height struck the Hilo waterfront within one hour
04:06earlier this morning.
04:07Despite warnings, eight persons are reported missing, 56.
04:13Damage is estimated at $50 million.
04:17I've got to get that thing fixed.
04:21I think I'll take it down Saturday.
04:23You can do that.
04:26Well, this time I mean it.
04:27Good.
04:29One of these days, I'll walk in here with a brand new one.
04:32You'll just keel over.
04:35Mmm.
04:38Ann?
04:39Yeah?
04:43Why didn't the waves hit us here in Honolulu?
04:45Well, they did.
04:47No, I mean harder.
04:49Well, I guess Hilo must have taken some of the snap out of them.
04:53We might not get off so easy the next time.
04:56Oh, those people.
05:02What a sky.
05:05Hey, you know, this might not be a bad day to take off.
05:09Well, I thought you fellows were so busy down there.
05:14Well, what's the sense of living on the edge of an ocean if you can't get a little fun out of it?
05:22You do like it here, don't you, honey?
05:24Will you stop worrying about me?
05:27You don't mind being alone?
05:29No.
05:31Well, I wish you and some of the neighbors around here would get acquainted.
05:35Just give it time.
05:36Well, aren't you supposed to be out baking cookies for each other
05:38and fooling around with cucumber sandwiches and all that sort of thing?
05:41Em, we just moved in.
05:45There's your ride.
05:46I heard it.
05:48Now look, you know the number out there.
05:51Yes, Em, I know the number.
05:53And if you get lonesome, the neighbor on that side is named Friar.
05:56Yes, Mama.
06:09You'll be good now.
06:10I'm safe enough here.
06:15We picked a good place to live, Em, for a couple of lucky bums.
06:21Goodbye, bum.
06:42Goodbye, Mama.
06:51Wednesday, May 25th, 1960.
06:56Mrs. Emmett North, polio victim,
06:59is alone on what is to become the longest day of her life.
07:04The time?
07:067.56 a.m.
07:09Here's another one.
07:13Oh, boy.
07:17Mark it 7.56.
07:21What's the wave measure?
07:23Big and growing.
07:25This was supposed to be a baby.
07:27She's picked up speed, hitting about 480 now.
07:29That'll put her at the islands around noon.
07:31Or a little later.
07:33Send out the alert.
07:34What about evacuation?
07:35Tell them we'll watch it and let them know.
07:42How long can it last, Lenny?
07:44Lord knows.
07:46By 9 o'clock, civil defense authorities have received and evaluated
07:51the seismic warning information,
07:54and have again gone on the air.
07:57All persons in low-lying coastal areas throughout the islands
08:01are alerted for possible evacuation.
08:04Inevitably, there are some who fail to hear the warning.
08:08This, however, is to be expected.
08:11The alert will be repeated at half-hour intervals.
08:15If evacuation becomes necessary, the sirens will sound.
08:21But there are some who will not even hear the sirens.
08:25In Kailua, on the east coast of Oahu,
08:29a retired naval commander named Thomas A. Powers
08:33prepares to make the leisurely 10-mile trip into Honolulu
08:37to visit an old friend.
08:39Commander Powers is the guest of Captain H.L. Morgan.
08:43He's unfamiliar with Honolulu.
08:46And he is deaf.
08:48Are you sure you've got the address?
08:51What?
08:53I say, have you got the address?
08:56I don't want you to get lost.
08:58Certainly I've got the address.
09:00You don't have to scream at me.
09:02I can hear better than you think I can.
09:05You couldn't hear Big Bertha if it went off in your ear.
09:08What?
09:11Never mind.
09:13Well, if you're going to say something, say it.
09:15I'm late now.
09:16Go on, go on.
09:19I'll be back for dinner.
09:21Take your time.
09:22What?
09:23I said, fine, Tom.
09:25Fine.
09:26All right, fine.
09:31Dearest Rebecca,
09:33I expect
09:36by now
09:38you've heard
09:40about our tidal wave.
09:43Hilo
09:45was terribly hit.
09:48But
09:50the danger,
09:52thank heaven,
09:54is past.
09:56Emmett
09:58is now working
10:00as
10:02a project engineer
10:05for the Navy.
10:08He's clear across the island
10:10and I'm as
10:12lonesome as if
10:14as if he were on the moon.
10:20Hey, Norris!
10:22Oh, Webb!
10:26What are you doing way out here?
10:28Who's keeping the store?
10:29I got a couple of admirals taking calls for me.
10:31Good man.
10:33Hey, did you hear the news?
10:34Oh, what news?
10:35There's a new tidal wave coming.
10:38Another one?
10:39There's nothing to worry about.
10:40We're okay.
10:41Oh, no.
10:42It's not me.
10:43It's my wife.
10:44She's all alone.
10:45Well, you got neighbors, haven't you?
10:48Yeah.
10:49Well, I'm sure they'll look after her.
10:52Yeah.
10:53Look,
10:54they're asking everybody to stay off the phones,
10:56but I'll check.
10:57See how she's getting along, okay?
10:59Would you, Dick?
11:00I'd sure appreciate it.
11:01Sure.
11:02Now, relax.
11:03There's nothing to worry about.
11:04It's probably just the usual warning.
11:07In fact, it's probably a false alarm.
11:09I'll see you.
11:19Relax.
11:21It's just the usual warning.
11:24No real danger.
11:37Evacuate.
11:40Civil defense.
11:42Evacuate.
12:07This is a tidal wave alert.
12:09Civil defense authorities have announced
12:11that a tidal wave is expected to hit
12:13the Hawaiian Islands in ten minutes.
12:15Repeat.
12:16A tidal wave is expected to hit
12:18the islands in ten minutes.
12:20All persons in lowland areas
12:22are ordered to evacuate.
12:37All right.
12:38Now.
12:40Now, be calm.
12:42Just think.
12:43Just think.
12:44Think.
12:45Think.
12:52Please.
12:54Please.
13:03Oh, God.
13:04Of course.
13:06Operator.
13:08Operator, I just now heard
13:10of the new alert.
13:11Well, I'm alone here,
13:13and I'm in a wheelchair,
13:14and I have no way
13:15of getting out of the house.
13:19Well, I...
13:20Yes, I can walk a little,
13:22but you see, if I fall down,
13:24I can't get up again.
13:28Well, I can't get up.
13:30I can't get up.
13:32I can't get up.
13:33I can't get up.
13:35Well, I can't go up and down steps.
13:39I...
13:40I understand that.
13:42Who can I call?
13:44Just a minute.
13:45Just a minute.
13:46Just a minute.
13:47All right.
13:48Go ahead.
13:49Civil Defense Authority.
13:53Number.
13:5452571.
13:5952571.
14:05Oh.
14:09Oh.
14:14Just shut up.
14:15Just shut up!
14:19There is in Honolulu
14:21one person whom the sound of the siren
14:24does not bother.
14:27The retired commander, Thomas Powers,
14:30can't hear it.
14:32And in addition to everything else,
14:35he is now hopelessly lost.
14:58Webb.
14:59Dick, this is Margaret North.
15:02Oh, hi, Mrs. North.
15:04I was just about to call you.
15:06Is Emmett there?
15:07No, he isn't.
15:08He's out checking on a job.
15:10Oh.
15:11You okay, Mrs. North?
15:13Well, I...
15:14I can't seem to get anybody.
15:16I...
15:17I can't get the taxi, the police, or anybody.
15:20Well, look.
15:21I'm going to call Pearl Harbor
15:23and have the Navy send somebody out to you.
15:25They should be there in about 20 minutes.
15:28The alert said the wave was going to hit in 10 minutes.
15:33Yeah.
15:34Let's see now.
15:35Well, how about your neighbors?
15:38Oh.
15:39Oh, what's wrong with me?
15:41Of course, of course.
15:42Yes.
15:44Okay, Mrs. North.
15:45Now, you get in touch with your neighbors.
15:47And, uh, well, if they're gone or something,
15:49well, you call me right back.
15:51But if I don't hear from you,
15:52I'll know that you're all right.
15:54Yes, Dick, yes.
15:59Operator.
16:00I...
16:02I just moved in here,
16:03and I want to call my neighbor,
16:04but I don't have her number.
16:06Her name.
16:07Yes, it's, uh, uh...
16:10Pryor.
16:12Uh, Forrester.
16:14Something like that.
16:15I...
16:16I can't remember.
16:19I...
16:21Well...
16:22Now, listen.
16:23You're supposed to help.
16:25I know you're busy, but...
16:28I can't walk that far!
16:30Never mind!
16:35Oh, wait.
16:36Wait.
16:37Wait.
16:38Wait.
16:39Wait.
16:54Mama?
17:00H...
17:01Hello?
17:07I need help!
17:18Help!
17:25Help!
17:27I can't get out of here!
17:30Help!
17:42A tidal wave is expected to hit the Hawaiian Islands in five minutes.
17:46Repeat, this is a tidal wave alert.
17:49You have five minutes in which to evacuate all low-lying coastal areas.
17:54This is a tidal wave alert.
18:00Help!
18:06Stop!
18:07Please!
18:08Please!
18:09Stop!
18:16Somebody!
18:18Please!
18:20Help!
18:22Help!
18:24Help!
18:26Help!
18:27Help!
18:28Help!
18:30Help!
18:33Stop, please!
18:45Please!
18:55Please, somebody!
18:57Please!
19:00Help!
19:10Help!
19:13Help!
19:23Help!
19:24I can't!
19:30I can't!
19:33I can't, Em!
19:34I can't!
19:39There's no answer.
19:40Well, that's what I keep telling you.
19:42She's gone with the neighbors.
19:43Now, we had it all worked out.
19:44If she hadn't been able to reach somebody, she was gonna call me.
19:47Yeah, but these lines have been pretty busy, Dick.
19:49Now, look, Em, if she was there, she'd answer, wouldn't she?
19:54Yeah, she must be all right.
19:56That's what I keep telling you.
20:00I hope so.
20:03Please!
20:05Please!
20:1512-24.
20:17White, sloping beaches.
20:20Waterfront towns.
20:22The bustling streets are quiet.
20:25Cleared.
20:27Waiting.
20:30Please!
20:35Oh, please!
20:37Please!
20:43Please help me!
20:45Please!
20:55Oh, please!
20:57Somebody help me, please!
21:00Please!
21:20Oh, somebody!
21:21Somebody, please help me!
21:30Oh, thank God!
21:34What's the matter, madam?
21:35Are you ill?
21:36I was alone, and I fell.
21:39What?
21:40What?
21:41I thank you for stopping.
21:44I was so frightened by the tidal wave.
21:47Tidal wave?
21:48What tidal wave?
21:49I don't know.
21:50I don't know.
21:51I don't know.
21:52I don't know.
21:53I don't know.
21:54I don't know.
21:55I don't know.
21:56I don't know.
21:57I don't know.
21:58I don't know.
22:00What tidal wave?
22:01Did you hear the radio and the sirens?
22:03No.
22:05No.
22:07Then...
22:08Then how did you hear me?
22:10Very plain.
22:11You said, somebody help me, please.
22:13Somebody help me.
22:14You shouted that.
22:15No, I didn't.
22:16I...
22:17I whispered it.
22:19Come on.
22:20Let's get out of here.
22:22I don't know how I'm going to be able to thank you for this.
22:25While I was headed to the beach, I might have drowned.
22:28You saved my life.
22:30They saved each other's lives, didn't they?
22:43In a most miraculous fashion.
22:45Indeed.
22:46Now, ladies and gentlemen, I'm sure that you'll be very happy to meet Mrs. Margaret North
22:51of 169 East Hind Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii, to whom the story you have just seen actually
23:01happened.
23:03Mrs. North, what happened to you really was a miracle, wasn't it?
23:09Yes.
23:10Indeed, it was a psychic miracle.
23:13A psychic miracle.
23:14Have you had any other psychic experiences?
23:19I think I may say that I have had other experiences, but nothing that was quite as dynamic as this
23:28which saved two lives.
23:30Isn't that marvelous?
23:32Mrs. North, you're a believer, aren't you?
23:34Yes, I am a believer.
23:36I believe that we are surrounded, perhaps unconsciously, by influences that oftentimes
23:44determine our destiny.
23:48I must say that I do, too.
23:51I do, too.
23:53Well, that's the story.
23:56Now, reports and occasions of thought transference have been reported through the ages, since
24:02the beginning of recorded time, as a matter of fact.
24:05And new cases are being authenticated every day.
24:09But how it happens and what makes it work, we don't know.
24:15Yet.
24:18Mrs. North knows it does happen.
24:21In a moment, something about next week.
24:47© BF-WATCH TV 2021