The Cold Equations (The Twilight Zone)
Encyclopedia
The Cold Equations is the fifty-first episode (the sixteenth episode of the third season (1988–1989) of the television series The New Twilight Zone
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While she is overwrought about the fact that she cannot make it to see her brother and the ship they are on will crash because of her added weight, they attempt to compensate by jettisoning all possible extra weight. They discover, however, that the extra weight jettisoned is only half of what they need.
Barton suggests that the girl try to contact her brother so they could at least talk before the impending doom. She does finally contact him in time, but only to talk about the fact they can't meet in person. Barton considers sacrificing himself so the girl can survive, but finds this is impossible since she would not be able to pilot the ship herself. Resigned to her fate, Marilyn enters the airlock and allows herself to be jettisoned into space, leaving Barton to grieve in silence...
by Tom Godwin, this was made into a longer feature for the SciFi channel starring Billy Campbell
and Poppy Montgomery
. It was also made into an episode of the X Minus One
radio program in 1955.
The New Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is the first of two revivals of Rod Serling's acclaimed 1950/60s television series of the same name. It ran for two seasons on CBS before producing a final season for syndication.-Series history:...
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Opening narration
Synopsis
Thomas Barton is an astronaut who must deliver a vital cargo of vaccine to a plague-stricken colony world. However, a young girl, Marilyn, has stowed away on his vessel with hopes of reuniting with her brother once the vessel reaches the colony world. Now the entire mission is in jeopardy, as her presence on board was not calculated into the flight plan and there will be no way for the pilot to compensate for her added weight.While she is overwrought about the fact that she cannot make it to see her brother and the ship they are on will crash because of her added weight, they attempt to compensate by jettisoning all possible extra weight. They discover, however, that the extra weight jettisoned is only half of what they need.
Barton suggests that the girl try to contact her brother so they could at least talk before the impending doom. She does finally contact him in time, but only to talk about the fact they can't meet in person. Barton considers sacrificing himself so the girl can survive, but finds this is impossible since she would not be able to pilot the ship herself. Resigned to her fate, Marilyn enters the airlock and allows herself to be jettisoned into space, leaving Barton to grieve in silence...
Closing narration
Note
Based on the original short storyThe Cold Equations
"The Cold Equations" is a science fiction short story by Tom Godwin, first published in Astounding Magazine in 1954. In 1970, the Science Fiction Writers of America selected it as one of the best science fiction short stories published before 1965, and it was therefore included in The Science...
by Tom Godwin, this was made into a longer feature for the SciFi channel starring Billy Campbell
Billy Campbell
William Oliver "Billy" Campbell is an American film and television actor. In television, he is best known for his roles as Rick Sammler on Once and Again, as Det. Joey Indelli on Crime Story, as Jordan Collier on The 4400, and as Dr. Jon Fielding on the Tales of the City Miniseries...
and Poppy Montgomery
Poppy Montgomery
Poppy Montgomery , is an Australian actress. She is best known for her role as Samantha Spade on Without a Trace...
. It was also made into an episode of the X Minus One
X Minus One
X Minus One was a half-hour science fiction radio drama series broadcast from April 24, 1955 to January 9, 1958 in various timeslots on NBC.-Overview:...
radio program in 1955.