Soldier (episode)

"Soldier" is an episode of the original The Outer Limits television show. It opened the second season of shows on 19 September, 1964.

For the second season, Ben Brady took over as producer from Joseph Stefano. This is the first of two episodes written by the renowned science fiction author Harlan Ellison.

Opening narration

Night comes too soon on the battlefield. For some men it comes permanently; their eyes never open to the light of day. But for this man, fighting this war, there is never total darkness. The spidery beams of light in the sky are the descendants of the modern laser beam—heat rays that sear through tungsten steel and flesh as though they were cheesecloth. And this soldier must go against those weapons. His name is Qarlo, and he is a footsoldier, the ultimate infantryman. Trained from birth by the State, he has never known love, or closeness, or warmth. He is geared for only one purpose: to kill the Enemy. And the Enemy waits for him...

Exceptional additional narration

"Time is fluid. The waters of forever close—and passage may not be completed. The present and the future are for a moment united. And the Enemy, half-today, half-tomorrow, is locked between..."

Plot synopsis

Forthcoming.

Closing narration

"From the darkest of all pits, the soul of Man, come the darkest questions: Did the soldier finally come to care for those he protected? Or was it just his instinct to kill? Questions from the dark pit. But no answers. For answers lie in the future. Is it a future in which men are machines, born to kill, or is there time for us? Time. All the time in the world... but is that enough?"

Cast

Lloyd Nolan – as Kagan
Michael Ansara – as Qarlo Kobregny
Tim O'Connor – as Paul Tanner
Catherine McLeod – as Abby Kagan
Jill Hill – as Toni Kagan
Alan Jaffe – as The Enemy
Ralph Hart – as Loren Kagan
Marlowe Jensen – as Sgt. Berry
Ted Stanhope – as Doctor
Jamie Forster – as News Vendor
Mavis Neal Palmer – as Woman

External links and references

Detailed episode guide by 'Monsieur Vincent'
Episode at TV.com