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Dr. Jenkins.................Skip Homier
Dr. Winslow.................Curt Conway
Angie.......................Zale Perry
Danny.......................Frank Graham

You might mention that science is always held back by small unimaginative minds.--Jenkins

Two scientists, Jenkins and Winslow, are at work in an undersea laboratory. They talk about the long process of research and experimentation, the many years it has taken to get to this point. They discuss drugs and injections, and physical changes--lowered blood pressure, eyes which can see in less light--and as Winslow unwraps a bandage from Jenkins' neck it becomes apparent that in these experiments the scientist himself has played the role of guinea pig. On either side of Jenkins' neck is a small metal vent, an artificial gill. Winslow wonders if perhaps their work has gone too far, too soon, but Jenkins has no such concerns as he climbs into a tank of water for the final test. It's successful--the gills enable him to breathe under water! Congratulating Winslow on creating the first amphibian human being, he leaves the lab and swims into the ocean.

Somewhat later, in the control room of the Seaview, Morton and Crane discuss the undersea lab they are approaching. Morton finds it hard to understand how the two scientists working there could survive six months underwater; Crane says that when Nelson and Winslow set up the experiment, the plan was for the scientists involved in the project to live in the lab for a solid year.

Jenkins enters the lab from the sea, carrying a suited diver with the aid of two amphibian men. A woman follows, also equipped with metal gills. Jenkins tells Winslow to get the diver ready; Winslow says that he thought they had decided to stop this, but Jenkins replies that they need manpower. Winslow orders the woman, Angie, to her quarters, and tells Jenkins that the Seaview will be arriving soon. Just then, the radio sounds and Winslow answers; it's Crane, and the Seaview is approaching. Winslow asks them to stay 500 yards from the lab, "to minimize disturbance." Crane doesn't mind, saying that it'll mean a longer swim, but he can use the exercise. He asks if they need anything, and Winslow requests pepper, saying that they've been able to synthesize everything else that they've needed.

Winslow goes to Jenkins, who says that the captured diver will make a good recruit. Winslow feels that they are moving too fast; Jenkins replies that it has been three months since his conversion and he has experienced no side effects. Since the Seaview is there, they put the diver in a cold storage locker for the time being. Jenkins wants to know when they will be letting Nelson know what they have accomplished, but Winslow doesn't think it's time yet; he is still concerned about side effects--despite Jenkins' assertions to the contrary, he has noticed changes in his colleague, saying that he's not the same man anymore. "No," says Jenkins, "and neither are you," pulling away the collar of Winslow's sweater to reveal metal gills. Winslow, however, is less worried about physical changes than about mental ones--do the drugs change the nervous tissue? Of course, says Jenkins; they are more alert. Winslow, wondering if the change may be more fundamental, leaves.

The Seaview approaches the lab and settles on the bottom at a safe distance. Crane, in diving gear, exits through the hatch and swins toward the lab.

In the lab, Winslow asks Jenkins if the report is ready for Nelson; Jenkins, still unhappy about their recent converstion, says that it is complete, except for the most important part. Winslow reminds him that Nelson is against any human experimentaion; they must continue to accumulate information until there is so much data that Nelson has no choice but to give consent. Fine, says Jenkins, unconvinced; he insists that they must break away from the land and from Nelson, creating their own undersea world. Taken aback, Winslow says that that's what he meant when he said that Jenkins had changed.

Crane enters the lab; Nelson isn't there, but will come to the lab on the next supply run. Winslow is glad, since he wants to discuss the direction of their research with Nelson. Jenkins hands the report to Crane to give to Nelson. Crane comments that the two scientists seem to be doing well, and that life under the sea seems to be workable. Winslow and Jenkins agree about the ability of humans to live under the water. Crane gives them the pepper and is about to leave, when Jenkins quickly says that they want to proceed with the next logical step in their research--human experimentation. Crane politely reminds him the Nelson has always been opposed to that; Jenkins says that if he himself volunteered to be the subject, who could object to that? Crane says that Nelson could and will. Winslow is not happy about Jenkins' outburst, but as long as the subject has been introduced, he mildly asks Crane to tell Nelson how well he and Jenkins have accommodated to undersea life. Crane, changing the subject, comments that he sees that they are still working with mice, and goes to a small tank where several surgically altered mice are swimming. Kowalski, who accompanied Crane to the lab, seems a bit uncomfortable with the idea of amphibious mice; he goes to get the lab's empty oxygen cylinders. Crane tells the scientists that he will pass on their message to Nelson, and he and Kowalski return to the Seaivew. After they leave, Winslow tells Jenkins that he's a fool.

Back at NIMR, Nelson reads the report while Crane paces. Crane says that the scientists are impatient--almost as if they've changed. Nelson asks how, and Crane says that there seems to be a sort of shift in character; he assumed that they were getting on each other's nerves. Or, says Nelson, they may have started drug therapy on themselves. Crane is shocked--that would be insane! Nelson points out that the entire report is a plea to do just that. Morton enters the room and tells them that the oxygen tanks from the lab weren't empty--only 80% of the oxygen was used. Impossible, says Crane. Nelson has to go to Washington, but asks Crane to return to the lab and find out about the excess oxygen. Crane wonders if they've been experimenting with a drug to reduce their comsumption of oxygen; Nelson hopes it's that simple. Police authorities visited NIMR that morning; with all the publicity the lab has gotten, they wondered if there was any connection between the lab and several recent news articles about missing scuba divers.

The Seaview returns to the lab; this time, they approach quietly, with engines off. The strategy works--they see Angie, swimming without scuba gear, and note the metal gills on her neck.

Crane, with a team of divers armed with spearguns, prepares to leave the ship; just then, the Seaview is detected by the laboratory's sonar. Since they've lost the element of surprise, Crane picks up a microphone and asks to be connected to the lab.

Meanwhile, the lab has picked up a large mass on sonar, and they know it must be the Seaview. They see two divers leave the submarine. Winslow answers Crane's call; Crane tells him that Nelson is worried about their oxygen use. Winslow acts surprised to hear about the discrepancy. Crane asks to come over to the lab and do some testing, and Winslow agrees. Jenkins calls the oxygen issue a blunder--they should have realized that all the time they spent in the water would reduce the amount of exygen they consumed in the lab.

On the Seaview, Crane leaves the lab again, telling Morton to make a lot of noise, so that it sounds as if the ship is undergoing repair work.

In the lab, Winslow and Jenkins create what they hope is a reasonable explanation for the unused oxygen. Winslow is still worried; then, Jenkins tells him that they have enough plastic explosives to destroy the Seaview. Winslow is horrified, thinking first of the Seaview's crew, and Jenkins assures him that they will save as many of the men as possible for recruits. Winslow, bothered by the fact that Jenkins' plan actually makes sense to him, says in realization that he's becoming like Jenkins--no longer afraid, sure that they are right in what they do.

Crane arrives and he and Kowalski enter the lab. Winslow tells him that Jenkins had a simple explanation for the extra oxygen--he'd been operating an electolysis system, breaking water down into hydrogen and oxygen. Winslow had forgotten about that experiment and unforunately no accurate figures had been kept, but it certainly could account for the discrepancy. Crane tells Kowalski to go and check the outer shell for leaks. Winslow wonders why Crane is worried about leaks when the lab used less oxygen than expected; Crane calls it a precaution and heads for the door leading to the rest of the lab. Jenkins rushes to step in front of the door to stop Crane, telling him that it's locked, since that area is being used for gas mixture experiments and will be for another 24 hours--and by then the Seaview will be gone. Maybe not, says Crane; he says that the ship has had a pressure leak, which they must repair before they can set sail. He invites the scientists to the Seaview for dinner, but Winslow says that's not possible because of their routine. As soon as he leaves, Jenkins turns to Winslow and says "He knows!" Winslow says that they'll take the two guards from the Seaview; when Jenkins asks about the ship itself, Winslow says that it they haven't left in two hours, they'll destroy it.

Angie swims out to the guards' hiding place and beckons to them to follow her. When they do, the amphibian men throw a net over the guards, shoot them with tranquilizer darts, and bring them to the lab.

On the Seaview, Crane and Morton compare a photo of Angie, the missing diver, to the girl they saw swimming; it certainly looks like the same girl, which means that she was kidnapped by Winslow and Jenkins. Morton suggests that they lay it on the line, telling the scientists that they know what they have been up to, but Crane says they can't take any chances with the lives of the kidnapped divers. Kowalski enters the room with unsettling news--divers were sent out to replace the two guards, but when they arrived no one was there. Crane turns on the camera. Morton asks if Winslow and Jenkins could be responsible, and Crane asks what other explanation there could be. He asks Sparks to contact the lab, and tells Morton to keep looking for the missing divers.

The Seaview guards are brought into the lab. Soon they receive a call on the radio; Winslow says that Jenkins was right, and Jenkins says he will go get the explosive packets and bring Angie in. As soon as they leave, Winslow is to reply to Crane, stalling him. Winslow seems unsure--is this the right way to reach their goal?--but Jenkins replies that it's the only way. Winslow, agreeing, tells him to place the explosives so that they disable the Seaview rather than destroy it--with the entire crew as recruits, they'll need the living space. Angie enters with another amphibian, and Jenkins tells them what to do.

On the Seaview, Crane receives Winslow's reply; he says that they were in the middle of an experiment and couldn't come to the radio immediately. Just then, they hear heavy electronic interference, and the ship's camera stops working. Crane says that their sonar has been jammed, and asks if the scientists are doing any work that could account for that. Winslow denies it, saying that Jenkins is outside in scuba gear and he is observing him on the lab's sonar as a safety precaution. Crane asks if the two missing crewmen came to the lab, and Winslow denies this as well. Morton tells Crane that according to Sparks, the lab is definitely the source of the jamming. Crane asks Winslow to come to the Seaview to talk, since he can hardly hear him over the radio, but Winslow says he can't while Jenkins is outside. Crane signs off, and orders the crew to get underway; just then, several explosions go off.

Smiling, Angie and the other diver return to the lab. Jenkins says they did a great job, then tells Angie to get him something to eat, which she does. He looks out at the Seaview. Winslow says that while they were gone, he gave himself an EEG--his brain waves are totally different now, and he has no idea what it means. Angie brings Jenkins a tray of food, and he says it's excellent--she has become a very good cook. She smiles and leaves. Winslow calls the Seaview.

On the Seaview, repairs are underway. Morton rubs his arm, hurt in the explosion; he points out that they could destroy the lab with one torpedo. Crane says no, they have to save the hostages; however, he orders a protective electronic screen put up. Morton points out that that will slow repairs, but Crane replies that they need it. Just then Winslow calls the Seaview. Crane takes the call; Winslow is coming over. He says that the captured crewmen are safe, and will remain so as long as Winslow returns to the lab safely. After they sign off, Crane and Morton agree that Winslow must be insane. Crane orders the guards to search Winslow thoroughly before letting him on board.

Winslow boards the Seaview and is taken to the observation nose. Morton tells Crane that the electrical screen is ready to test; it will keep the area at leat 100 yards around the Seaview safe.

In the observation nose, Winslow starts to cough. He asks Kowalski about the electrical sound he hears; just then Crane enters the room and Winslow asks him about the electrical field. Crane calls it repair work, and asks Winslow to explain himself. No longer concealing anything, Winslow talks in detail about the project and shows Crane his gills. Crane asks why they have done this; Winslow replies that if he only understood, he would beg to join them. Crane tells him that according to Nelson, the drugs they have taken change the brain tissue. Winslow denies this, but the conversation stops as they are distracted by sparks coming from a nearby panel. Winslow coughs harder and seems weakened. He tells Crane that he has no choice--the entire Seaview crew will become amphibians soon enough. He gives Crane two hours to decide to surrender and leaves. Crane notes Winslow's reaction to the short circuits, and wonders if the amphibians have a weak spot after all--ozone.

Winslow returns to the lab and tells Jenkins that he gave Crane two hours to surrender the Seaview. Jenkins, however, is sending Angie over with more explosives; she's dressed in scuba gear so that the crew will think she is one of their own. Shocked, Winslow says that he gave them two hours; "I didn't," replies Jenkins.

On the Seaview, Crane goes out on guard duty himself.

In the lab, Jenkins tells Winslow what Angie is going to do, and she leaves. If she's discovered, she's to set off the explosives, killing herself as well.

On the Seaview, Morton watches Crane at his guard post. Soon he reports a diver, wearing tanks, but emitting no air bubbles. Obviously it's one of Winslow's amphibians, so he tells Morton to keep the electrical field on. Crane approaches Angie, who immediately reaches for the plunger to set off the bomb she's carrying. They struggle, and her tanks--filled with explosives instead of oxygen--fall to the ocean floor. They explode, and the concussion knocks her out; Crane carries her back to the Seaview.

Jenkins and Winslow, watching from the lab, see that Angie failed; they must disable the Seaview, and this time Jenkins himself will do the job. Meanwhile, the two Seaview crewmen are ready for the surgery that will transform them into amphibians.

Crane returns to the Seaview and tells Kowalski to take Angie to sickbay. As Kowalski carries her off, Morton tells Crane that the ozone generators they have been working on are ready. They'll test them on Angie.

In sickbay, the doctor says that the blast doesn't seem to have hurt Angie; he is very impressed by the surgery Winslow and Jenkins did on her. They turn on the ozone generator, and Angie starts to moan and thrash around. They turn off the machine and the doctor gives her oxygen; Crane tells him to keep her there.

In the lab, Jenkins is preparing to leave. Winslow is worried about Angie. Jenkins tells him to turn the Seaview crewmen into amphibians as soon as possible, while he takes care of the Seaview.

Jenkins swims toward the Seaview. Crane and another diver are on guard, armed with ozone generators. They see Jenkins heading for the electrical field and follow; Jenkins hits the field and falls. The leave him and head toward the lab, where they set up ozone generators underneath. Soon Winslow and the others collapse, and Crane enters.

Winslow wakes on the Seaview, and Crane tells him that the experiment is over--Jenkins is dead. The ship's doctor enters, smiling; according to Nelson, the effects of the drugs and surgery should be completely reversible. Winslow, Angie and the others are not pleased; Winslow pulls out an explosive device and tells Crane to let them go. They follow him to the escape hatch and enter. Winslow sets the bomb to explode in three minutes. They start to climb the ladder, but Crane cuts the intake valve--they can't open the hull hatch until the pressure is equalized. As they argue back and forth, Crane takes some grenades to blow the inner hatch. The men put mats against the hatch, the grenades go off, and the hatch opens. Crane grabs the disoriented Winslow's bomb and shoots it out a torpedo tube.

Back at NIMR, the Seaview is docked; Winslow, Crane and Nelson talk in the observation nose. Nelson is concerned about getting the divers back to normal; Winslow says that if he's right, it can't be done. Nelson replies, "If I were you, I'd start praying that you're wrong."