An astronaut on a mission to Venus begins to experience strange symptoms after his return to Earth.
Opening narration[]
"The most brilliant planet in our solar system is Venus, named for the Greek Love-Goddess. It is closer to Earth than any other planet — twenty-eight million miles away. Until sometime in the last half of the twentieth century it is still a planet shrouded in mystery, enveloped in a heavy blanket of clouds and steam. Because its surface temperature was believed to be several times that of Earth's, it was not thought possible for Man to reach Venus and come back... until one day, somebody did it."
Plot[]
After completing the first manned mission to orbit Venus as part of Project Vulcan, astronaut Jefferson Barton returns to Earth with recurring nightmares and an increasing inability to stay warm. Barton's condition continues to worsen and is accompanied by a peculiar webbing of his fingers. Only after his nightmares become more vivid does he recall an unrevealed alien encounter in the Venusian atmosphere. Barton's doctors suspect the astronaut had been genetically affected by his mission, and they then struggle to treat and cure him before his mutations completely take over. They require Barton to appear before a government committee to justify the expense of continued explorations of Venus.
The Venus Alien approaches Barton's ship
The doctors perform a blood transfusion and heat treatments, while his wife stays near him to keep him occupied. While in a treatment chamber, Barton sees the alien from his Venus mission floating outside his window, but his wife's voice keeps him focused and lucid. Barton eventually wakes up and asks for coffee, now clear-headed and feeling better. He appears before the committee and convinces them to approve the spending. He also explains his mutated hands as the result of spilling hot soup on himself.
Barton emerges from the meeting, looking slightly tired but certain they will approve the request that will allow his team to continue researching Venus and hopefully cure his condition.
Closing narration[]
"The eternal, never-ceasing search for knowledge often leads to dark and dangerous places. Sometimes it demands risks not only of those who are searching, but of others who love them. These, in their own special way, know that knowledge is never wasted, nor is love."
Cast[]
- William Shatner - Brig. Gen. Jeff Barton
- Geraldine Brooks - Ann Barton
- Malachi Throne - Mike
- Lloyd Gough - Matt Claiborne
- Dean Harens - Medical Technician
- James Sikking - Botany
- Lawrence Montaigne - Construction
- Henry Scott - as Electronics
- Julian N. Burton - Reporter #1
- Peter Madsen - Reporter #2
- Lou Elias - Guard
- Hugh Jensen - Chief
- Tim Huntley - Chairman
- Patrick Riley - Attendant #1
- Ray Kellogg - Attendant #2
- Vic Perrin - Newsman
Crew[]
- Cinematographer - Kenneth Peach