The Black Hole

Hans Reinhardt: Tonight, my friends, we stand on the brink of a feat unparalleled in space exploration. If the data on my returning probe ship matches my computerized calculations, I will travel where no man has dared to go. Alex Durant: Into the black hole? Reinhardt: In... through... and beyond. Harry Booth: [surprised] Why, that's crazy! [laughs] Impossible! Reinhardt: The word "impossible", Mr. Booth, is only found in a dictionary of fools.

The Black Hole, CC BY-SA 4.0

Dan Holland: Kate, try to get through to V.I.N.C.E.N.T with your E.S.P. Kate McCrae: I got through to V.I.N.C.E.N.T! He said there are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are very few old, bold pilots! [R.J. Childerhose] Lieutenant Charles Pizer: She's tuned into V.I.N.C.E.N.T all right! Dan Holland: Good.

The Black Hole, CC BY-SA 4.0

B.O.B.: The officer the men trusted most was Frank McCrae. Charlie Pizer: Kate's father. B.O.B.: They turned to him when Dr. Reinhardt ignored the orders to return home. They tried to take control of the Cygnus. Reinhardt called it mutiny and killed Mr. McCrae. Dan Holland: What became of the crew? B.O.B.: They were captured by the sentry robots and they're still on board. Harry Booth: What?! Pizer: Where? B.O.B.: In the command tower, the power center. V.I.N.CENT.: Robots, Mr. Pizer! Humanoid robots! B.O.B.: The most valuable thing in the universe, intelligent life, means nothing to Dr. Reinhardt. Without their wills, the crew became things he can command. Holland: That explains the funeral. Pizer: Right. Holland: [to Harry Booth] And the limping robot you spotted. Booth: [to B.O.B.] Do you mean to tell me that there's actually a human body under that clothing? B.O.B.: Exactly, Mr. Booth. Holland: We can't just take off and leave these poor devils behind. Harry, it looks like we're go

The Black Hole, CC BY-SA 4.0

V.I.N.CENT: [beep] 2130; day 547. Unscheduled course correction due at 2200. Pre-correction check: rotation axis plus three degrees. Nitrous oxide pressure: 4100 rising to 5,000. Quad jet C and D on preselect. Rotor ignition sequence beginning in 3-0. Thruster line reactors on standby. Dan Holland: V.I.N.CENT, notify me with 15 to go. Alex? Durant: Yes, Dan? Dan Holland: Have you determined a difference in ETAs with and without our correction? Durant: Working on it. You know, we shouldn't be needing a correction at this time. V.I.N.CENT, run a confirmation on the last inertial fix and check it with another celestial, please. V.I.N.CENT: [beep] I have. It is correct. But I think I've found the reason for our present variation. Mr. Pizer? Lieutenant Charles Pizer: Yes, V.I.N.CENT? V.I.N.CENT: [beep] Mr. Pizer, I think you should come up here.

The Black Hole, CC BY-SA 4.0

Dan Holland: It's only dinner. V.I.N.CENT: Said the spider to the fly. [Mary Howitt]

The Black Hole, CC BY-SA 4.0

Harry Booth: If Reinhart has anti-gravity strong enough to hold us here, I figure he's got enough to pull away. Lieutenant Charles Pizer: So? Harry Booth: So? So why not take this ship and Reinhart back home? Dan Holland: That's a long shot you're talking, Harry. Harry Booth: Oh, come on! You've got two scientific wizards here who could figure out the computers and possibly even reprogram the robots. And the three of us can handle Reinhart and that pet monster of his. I tell ya... we could all be heroes. Dan Holland: We could also be dead.

The Black Hole, CC BY-SA 4.0