Minute 019: In a True Biological Crisis

GUEST HOST: Jordan Rich Senator Phillips of Vermont picks up a letter, and looks at General Sparks. “Now, let’s talk about this famous letter Dr. Stone sent to the president some two years ago,” says Senator Phillips. “From what you’re saying, it was just a shot in the dark?” “Perhaps that’s a little unfair, Senator,” replies General Sparks. “Dr. Stone and I were consultants with NASA on the Lunar Receiving Lab. He wasn’t completely satisfied. He felt a more advanced lab was required.” “You mean more expensive, don’t you?,” says Senator Phillips. “I call that Dr. Stone’s ninety million dollar mash note to Uncle Sam.” -FLASHBACK- Dr. Stone reads from a draft letter, with the letterhead “LABORATORY of JEREMY STONE, Berkeley, California” TITLE: “UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA FACULTY CLUB… MARCH 20, 1969” Five men are seated around a table. Besides Stone, the only other familiar face in the group is Dr. Charles Dutton. “In a true biological crisis which our exploration of space could bring about,” reads Stone, “the present Lunar Receiving Laboratory might prove inadequate. I therefore urge the establishment of a facility to deal specifically with an extraterrestrial form of life.” He continues: “The purpose of this facility would be to limit the dissemination of such an unknown organism from outer space and to provide laboratories for its analysis. I recommend that this facility be located in an uninhabited region of the United States -“