Two American scientists are lost in the swirling maze...
of past and future ages...
during the first experiments on Americas greatest and most secret project-
the Time Tunnel.
Tony ewman and Doug Phillips now tumble helplessly toward a new, fantastic adventure...
somewhere along the infinite corridors of time.
Where are we?
Could be anywhere. That sun up theres our immediate enemy.
- Weve got to find cover. - Letss get into those rocks.
Itd be like a furnace on this desert.
Well, maybe we can get to the mountains.
In this heat, wed never make it.
Doug, if we stand here, well fry!
- Come on, Tony. Help me. - What are you doing?
A few inches below this surface, the grounds ten degrees cooler.
Well dig a couple of pits and lie in them till the sun goes down.
I hope were not digging our own graves.
Thats no good. Itss too hot and too hard.
Weve gotta find something to dig with, and quick.
Tony!
Tony.! Come here.!
They dont look too friendly.
Maybe youre right. Wedd better find some cover. Come on.
What do you want with us? Weve done nothing to you.
Tony.!
The Time Tunnel.
Hes dead. Tonyss dead!
Come on, now. Hold on, Ann. He cant be dead.
If he were, we couldnt keep a fix on him.
- Yes, thats true, isntt it? - Whatsss your time fix, Ann?
Uh, 1886, middle of May.
Wait. Youre losing the picture.
Oh, its no use. The spatial fix is changing, and theress no way to stop it.
Tonys dead.
Dead, gentlemen! Dead.
If we lose India, it means the death of the British Empire.
I know, gentlemen. I know.
Here in London, these matters may seem remote.
But they are no less real and immediate.
A revolt is already brewing along the northern borders.
- It could break out at any moment. - Mr. Gladstone, I disagree.
I believe that I speak for more than one member of this cabinet.
If a revolt were to break out...
a mere handful of mountain tribesmen...
could never stand up to Her Majestys regulars.
They would be crushed, sir, in short order.
- Sir. - Hear, hear.
We are not dealing with a handful of mountain tribesmen, as you put it.
These northern borders are seething with unrest.
If the tribes should unite, all the troops we have in India...
could not prevent their sweeping south to engulf the whole country.
Well, then, we must put more troops into the field!
But there is no time. Were not talking about months, sir.
The crisis is at our door.
It could come to a head within a few weeks.
Then youre telling us theress nothing to be done?
On the contrary.
Our best hope is to pray for more time to strengthen our forces...
while doing everything within our power...
to forestall any attempts by those tribes to unite.
That is an impossible task, sir. Besides, there is nowhere to start.
Ah, but there is.
Our most dangerous opponent is a certain very ruthless tribal leader called Hira Singh.
His stronghold is here.
A most strategic position. Contain Hira Singh, and we can prevent the uprising.
Well, there must be garrisons in the area.
One, sir. One fort.
And that badly in need of reinforcement.
If Singh attacks, theyll be overwhelmed.
In short, gentlemen, India will be saved or lost...
right here, at the gates of the Khyber Pass.
- Its congee. - What?
Its rice water. Itss the best thing in the world for you.
Hey, take it easy. Too much of thats gonna make you good and sick.
Lets, uh- Letss get you back against this rock.
Youre lucky thatss Just a scalp wound.
- Where did you come from? - From the fort.
- What fort? - Fort Albert, of course.
Then, if youre a stranger, you wontt have heard of it.
Its not much of a fort, really. Itss more of an outpost.
How did you get here?
Its hard to answer. I dontt even know where I am.
Oh, well,just beyond that border over there- Those are the Afghanistan Mountains.
Then this is India.
I say, you are lost, arent you?
- What year is it? - Year?
Um, look. Youll be all right once we get back to the fort.
Do you think you can mount?
- I think so. - Splendid. Lets give it a try then.
I think its going to be a bit awkward, but welll manage.
Well just take it slowly at first.
- By the way, the year is 1886. - Thanks.
- I didnt catch your name. - Newman. Anthony Newman.
Oh. Im Kipling. Imm a journalist.
- Kipling? - Yes. Rudyard Kipling.
Shall we go?
I bring water for the prisoner.
Over here.
Congee. You drink.
Thank you.
- Thank you. - Later I bring you food.
Wait a minute. Whats your name?
- Kashi, sahib. - Kashi, where am I? What is this place?
You called me sahib. It must be India.
Afghanistan. India is where you were captured.
Whos holding me prisoner?
You can tell me that much.
- Hira Singh. - Who?
Hira Singh, most powerful chieftain of all the border.
- Is that good? - For you, sahib? No.
Whats this?
Congee for the prisoner.
- Who told you to speak to the prisoner? - No one, sahib.
Useless dog.
Wait!
I have plans for the English pig.
You! Get out!
Tie him up.
- Any luck? - Nothing.
The trouble must have something to do with the spatial fix.
Why else would we shift to London when Doug and Tony landed over 1,000 miles away?
Well, Ray will find the trouble, Im sure.
You dont think the problem might be right here in this console?
No. No, theres nothing wrong with the settings. Ivve checked them a dozen times.
All circuits are operating. We cant find anything wrong.
Oh, if we could just regain contact, even for a few seconds.
We cant. Wevve tried everything.
I dont understand. It just doesntt make sense.
Weve never lost complete contact without some reasonable answer.
Theres one explanation. Idd just as soon not think of it.
Any explanations better than none. What is it?
Our instruments would act this way under one condition I can think of.
All right, Ray. Out with it.
IfTony and Doug were dead.
Not too much of that. Weve got nearly an hour to go.
- Hows your head feeling? - Still sore.
Im all right. Letss go.
Oh, now listen. Weve got to rest the horse for a while anyway.
In this country,youve got to learn to conserve your strength.
Beastly country.
Enough to fry a mans brains.
Now, then. You say these brigands rode off with your friend?
And left me the way- way you found me.
That sounds like Hira Singhs work.
Whos he? Where can we find him?
Wherever theres trouble. And if yourre thinking of dashing off to save your friend, forget it.
- And let those people kill him? - Oh, no. Weve got to try and save him, of course.
- But we need help, and lots of it. - The fort?
Exactly.
Itll take at least a full troop of cavalry.
ow, the colonel in command is not the brightest chap Ive ever met...
but, well, I think hes a good soldier, and Imm sure hellll pitch in.
I think we better get a move on again.
They cant be dead! I wontt believe it without absolute proof.
No radiation readings.
There havent been for some time.
This is the longest weve gone without contact since we began operations.
- Hows your power output? - Optimum. Troubless not there, Immm sorry to say.
Then, Ann, how else can you explain it?
The trouble could be environmental interference of some sort.
- Theres no indication of it. - But itss a possibility. That must be the answer.
Youre refusing to admit, even to yourself that they both could have been killed.
I know theyre alive, General.
It must be something else. It has to be.
I hope youre right. But do you have any way to establish it?
- Ray? - At the moment, no.
Neither do I.
I said talk. Talk!
I dont know anything about the fort.
Youre very stubborn, even for an Englishman.
Ive told you. Imm not English. Immm an American.
Im not deceived by your feeble lie.
Tell the truth, and your death will be a much easier one.
You are a spy from the fort. But what is your mission?
- What were you sent to learn? - Nothing.
Im exactly what I said I was.
How dare you insult my intelligence with a wild tale of traveling in time.
You call us savages. You treat us like children.
But were intelligent men. The truth!
That is the truth. Now you go ahead and do what you want to with me.
I will.
You may rely on that.
Only I had hoped you would choose to die without a lie in your throat.
But still, it is of no real importance to me.
- What are you going to do? - Kill you, naturally.
You will die painfully and slowly.
Afterwards, you will be tied to a horse.
The animal will carry you to the fort where they will react with righteous horror...
to what I have done to one of their countrymen.
And just what possible good is that going to do you?
Oh, a great deal of good.
Because I have come to understand your kind so well...
I can picture the outrage on your colonels face.
He will call us bloody savages and swear revenge against us.
He will send soldiers to carry out his threat.
But they will never reach our camp.
An ambush.
With half the garrison dead, the fort will no longer be strong.
And then will come the night I have dreamed of these many years.
The night of the long knives.
My men will strike silently and swiftly.
If you massacre the fort...
the British will track you down in the hills and destroy you.
You English do us little credit.
The night of the long knives...
is only a signal to begin a general uprising all along these borders.
Every tribe from here to the east will spring into action...
driving south like hungry locusts.
When it is all finished, there will not be one foreigner left alive in all of India.
It will begin in exactly two days.
Now that you have learned the information for which youve been sent...
- what do you think of my plan? - I think youre a madman.
Im sorry you cannot be permitted to live long enough to see it all fulfilled.
But, of course, that would be impossible.
Honored One-
Have patience.
My scouts have brought me news.
They have spotted a train of wagons heading toward Fort Albert.
Wagons-That means supplies for the garrison.
The wagon train will go through the pass. We must ambush it.
What of your prisoner, sire?
I have a new plan for him.
We will use him as a hostage.
Get the men together. We will set up the trap at once.
Kashi!
It will suit my purpose to let you live a little while longer.
See that the prisoner is fed and given water to drink.
Hira Singh, eh? Troublesome beggar.
I dont doubt for a moment hess behind this business.
Look, Colonel, we need a rescue expedition to go in there immediately before hes killed.
I daresay you do, sir. However, the decision happens to be mine.
Colonel, do you mean youre going to let this man Phillips be murdered?
I dont wish to see anyone murdered, sir.
However, I command a small force here.
And its function is not to go rushing off wildly in all directions...
every time some traveler permits himself to be captured.
Excuse me, sir, but I think youre making a grave mistake.
- Youve got to rescue him. - Kipling.
As a journalist, you get pretty much of a free hand here.
But Im hanged if Illl let the press tell me what I must or must not do.
- Colonel, all hes trying to tell you- - Newman, Illl handle it.
You will handle nothing that has to do with my troops.
Before you get any angrier, sir...
let me tell you something that may save your career... and your life.
Do you want to see this border aflame from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea?
Ill answer to the queen for my actions, sir, not to your bloody newspaper.
Youll have insurrection on your hands. All-out civil war.
Because I refuse to risk my entire garrison to save a single man?
Precisely.
But if youve made up your mind, then theress nothing more to be said.
- Good day, sir. Come along, Newman. - Kipling! Come back here.
Now, lets get something straight.
I know all about this growing unrest, this talk about a general uprising against us.
aturally, I am doing everything in my power to prevent it.
By the same token, I will commit no rash act that may bring it about.
- Thats all. - And your decision?
I said thats all, sir.
Major Kabir!
- Sir? - Has Troop D been alerted?
Yes, sir. As you ordered. Does the colonel plan to cancel the alert?
Certainly not! Whatever gave you such an idea?
Excuse me, sir, but I heard you shouting at Mr. Kipling and the other man.
Theyre civilians, man.
Do you think I should inform them as to what I do or do not plan to do?
- No, sir. - Very well.
Inform Troop D to proceed with the planned sortie at once.
Yes, sir. At once.
- Any luck yet, General? - No.
Sir, Ive been going over this problem in my mind. Idd like to make a suggestion.
Fine. Go ahead. Im listening.
Well, first of all, I dont believe Doug and Tony are dead.
The only time we saw Tony, he looked either dead or dying.
But what if he is still alive? What if he needs immediate medical help?
We cant get contact. Wevve tried everything.
Theres one thing we haventt tried.
- You mean sending somebody back to help? - Thats right, sir.
Someone with a knowledge of our operations here...
and with training in emergency first aid.
Sorry, its impossible.
- General, Id like to do it. - No.
This is no time to play it safe. Weve got to start taking chances.
I agree. But taking a chance implies a possibility of success.
Without contact, theres no way we could place anyone within a hundred years ofTony and Doug.
Forget about it,jerry, and concentrate on regaining our fix.
Yes, sir.
Anyway, thanks for the offer.
- What did he say? - I didnt ask.
Didnt ask? They dontt even know what he looks like.
That means we have to stay here at the fort while they rescue Doug.
Not at all. I didnt ask simply because I was afraid that hedd say no.
- You know, civilians interfering in a military matter and so on. - Ill ask him myself.
I wouldnt do that if I were you. Count yourself lucky he ordered the attack.
- Besides, theres a better way. - How?
Well, we cant go as civilians, but we can go as troopers.
- Uniforms. - Right. Lets jump into them, shall we?
- Wed better hurry. Theyrre leaving. - What about horses?
Ive made arrangements for them. Theyrre over there, saddled and ready.
- Can you ride? - Come on.
Whoa.
The supply train for the fort.
Where have they gone?
Its all right, you dontt have to tell me. I already know.
I overheard them planning an ambush.
Something about a supply train on its way to Fort Albert.
Where is Fort Albert?
To the southeast. An hours ride.
- o more. - What kind of troops do they have there? British?
Yes.
- Is there any way I could reach them? - No.
Sahib, they have left guards around the camp.
We must speak carefully.
You risked your life for me, sahib.
I couldnt stand there and watch him beat you.
He will make you pay for what you did.
Hes going to kill me anyway. I can only die once.
He will make it seem a hundred times.
Im going to help you escape.
- If you do, theyll kill you. - No. I will get away too.
Are you sure?
My mind is decided.
These eyes, too, could once see.
This is the work of Hira Singh.
Now he thinks I am without brains, without feeling, as well as without eyes.
There is a horse you can take, but there is not much time.
Hira Singh and his men will return soon.
You must take the small trail.
Very steep, very rocky, very dangerous.
I can make it.
- What about you? - I know every inch of these mountain trails.
I will make my way on foot, by a way they will never discover.
And after that?
Someday, when it is safe, I will make my way to your fort.
Go now... with great speed.
Someday, Ill thank you for what youvve done here.
Go, quickly!
Kashi. Come with me.
No. Then we will both be caught.
Go alone. I will follow in my own way. Go! Quick!
General, I have that possibility you spoke of.
We cant make contact because we dontt have enough power on the coordinates.
- Right? - Right. Weve known that all along.
What if we bypass the breaker system?
Put one concentrated surge of power into the Tunnel.
I cant permit that. We could damage the Tunnel beyond the possibility of all repair.
- Or we could regain our fix. - No, no. Its altogether too risky,jerry.
Whats your opinion, Ann?
If it doesnt work, it means losing contact with them forever.
Weve already lost it.
Well, go ahead and tell them, General.
Tell them if we- if were gonna get them back, we have to take chances.
Ray, he may be right.
General, Im opposed. The risks are too great.
But, its your decision.
Im sorry,jerry. No.
The Englishman got away with the help of this dog. How do you want him killed?
With great skill.
- Wait. Do we have an English uniform in camp? - Several.
Get one. Put him in it. It will be a fine insult to our British friends.
At once.
Old man, you will regret the day you were born.
Colonel, Ive looked all over the fort. Kiplingss missing.
So Ive been told. Itss his own fault and yours.
You had no more business on that expedition than you have in that uniform.
- Ive a good mind to put you under arrest. - Thatss your privilege, Colonel.
But youve got to do something about Phillips and Kipling. Theyrre probably both prisoners.
Well, I dont know about Kipling, but I have some word about Phillips.
- Is he dead? - Major Kabir, send in that man, please.
Tony! I couldnt believe it when they told me you were alive.
- How did you get away? - Thats a long story.
Tell me, whats all this that Ivve heard about a, uh, man named Kipling?
Thats right. Itss the same one.
Colonel, weve got to get to him.
Well, you and young Kipling did have some small part...
in my decision to send out the rescue expedition.
Without it, our entire supply train would have been lost.
I suppose I owe you something but Kipling was almost certainly killed in that battle.
But if he wasnt? If hess a prisoner?
Major, what would happen to young Kipling as Singhs prisoner?
He would be better off dead, sir.
Exactly. All right, Major, be good enough to assign our guests sleeping quarters.
- Colonel, I- - Good night, gentlemen.
Where are those wagons going, Major?
The colonel is sending them back for more supplies.
You people must need them pretty badly.
Well, supplies are useful, Mr. Newman.
Your colonel doesnt realize what a jam hess in.
I tried to warn him when I first got here, but he just wouldnt believe me.
- Warn him? About what? - An uprising.
Its due to erupt any moment now...
and it could affect all of India.
And hes not going to do anything?
Well, he sent for supplies and reinforcements. What else can he do?
Unfortunately, thats no good. There just isntt enough time.
Whos that?
The man tied to that horse had this on him.
A note from Hira Singh. Your friend Kipling is his prisoner.
Youll order an expedition to rescue him at once, of course.
Im sorry, ewman. He was warned, as you were.
He had no business risking his life.
Colonel, Id like to know more about that man tied to the horse.
Poor old man. More dead than alive.
- Old man? - A blind man.
Where is he?
At the post infirmary, if hes still living.
Kashi. Kashi?
I do not have... much time.
You must listen.
They caught me before I could get away.
- Tortured me. - Theyll pay for it.
- Ill see to it. - They know how weak the fort is.
They know that supplies will not come...
for a long time.
Hira Singh has made his decision.
They will attack.
- You will all be killed. - When?
Tomorrow.
The night of the long knives.
You must attack tonight.
Surprise them. It is the only way. The only way.
Sahib.
What is it? What happened?
Its a power surge. But where did it come from?
The image screen! Look!
Weve got it! Theyrre alive! Both of them!
Whatever you do, dont lose them again.
No. The fix is getting stronger. We can hold on to it this time.
There must be something you can do.
I know those people. Hell never get out alive.
Cant you afford to release just one troop? One quick surprise attack?
No! Absolutely no. My decision is final.
Colonel, you could prevent a famous man from being killed.
Famous?
My dear sir, that young mans sole claim to fame...
is the fact that his family is not unknown here in India.
Thats about all the fame hess ever likely to achieve.
Colonel, you can forget about Kipling if you want to...
but youve got to start thinking about your own command.
Tomorrow will be the night of the long knives. This garrison will be wiped out.
And after that, all of India will be in revolt.
Thats enough! I want no advice on strategy from a pair of civilians.
- Major Kabir! - Yes, sir?
Escort these gentlemen from my office.
Dont bother, Major. Werre just leaving.
- Now,just a minute, I want to- - Youre wasting your time.
Oh, uh, one moment, Major.
You know, those chaps are right. Singh is planning that revolt for tomorrow night.
Well, sir, among my troops, its already common knowledge.
You feel the only way to prevent it is to attack tonight?
- Yes, sir, I do. - Unhappily, I cant do that.
I dont understand, sir.
I have a confidential message here, direct from Whitehall.
It warns of the same explosive situation.
It also orders me to take nothing but defensive measures. You realize what that means?
Yes, sir. You cannot attack.
Exactly.
Your own troops, Major, are brilliant fighters.
Theyve only one weakness-
a tendency to ignore official orders- to go off on wild forays of their own.
Uh, yes, sir, Colonel, but, um, I assure you that-
No, no, no, Major, I... dont need any assurances.
I wouldnt dream of trying to change them.
- That would be a terrible thing to happen, sir. - Yes, wouldnt it?
Thats all, Major.
Thank you, sir.
You have troops for an expedition?
The finest fighters in the world, Mr. Newman, at my command.
- All volunteers. - Why would these men be willing to do a thing like this?
Because they know as well as you do, if Singh is not defeated by tonight...
the great rebellion will begin.
And if we do not kill them, they will kill us.
Well, like it or not, were going with you.
Like it? I insist upon it.
Mr. Phillips,you were at their camp. We can use you as a guide.
Major, what if Colonel Fettretch finds out?
- Have no fear about that. - Okay.
Good. Now, if you gentlemen will follow me, I will provide you with uniforms.
We leave in one half hour.
- Where are they holding Kipling? - Probably that tent near the center of the camp.
- Thats where they kept me. - Itss gonna be hard to reach him once the attack starts.
Almost impossible. Look, theres only one thing to do.
Ill go first. ow,you give me about a 30-second head start...
and then you signal Major Kabir to start the attack.
Can you make it past all those sentries?
I think so.
At any rate, weve got to risk it.
Good luck.
Shh. Ill get you out of here.
On your feet!
You should never have surrendered, gentlemen.
Before Im through with you, youlll regret that error.
Start with him.
Whats wrong with you chaps? Theyrre waiting for you at the reviewing stand.
- Come on. - And face the colonel again? No, thank you.
- Hed probably throw us in the jug. - Not on your life.
The old chaps as happy as could be.
Why, the threat of an uprising is over, and Hira Singh is dead.
Well,just the same, well pass.
Well, in that case, Id, uh, better get him to order you over. Wait here.
Colonel?
I thought you said they were here.
Well they, uh, they were a second ago.
- Its incredible. - Theress absolutely no place they could have gone to.
No, there isnt.
An amazing pair, Colonel.
Absolutely amazing.
Come on. Come on!
I have a consignment here to deliver.
I am one hour late. Here are my orders.