The Atomic City

[explosion]

The atomic age begins.

On a 7,000-foot plateau

in a remote section of New Mexico,

American and allied

scientists and technicians

had worked and struggled

for more than four years

to the end that the horror of World War II

be quickly concluded.

They succeeded.

Since then, these same people

and others like them

have continued to work--

to invent, to improvise--

to improve the old weapons

and develop new ones

because the spirit of aggression

is not yet dead in the world.

But the atom is not all

death and destruction.

This, too, is a product of the atomic age.

Isotopes and other atomic techniques

are saving lives all over the world.

And the people-- the men and women

who man the laboratories

and factories of Los Alamos--

what of them?

Their work is almost

unbelievably dangerous.

Every move, carefully checked

and double-checked.

The slightest misstep is serious.

Anything more--disaster.

Outside the laboratories,

the same checking goes on...

Their daily comings and goings

scrutinized minutely.

And everywhere, the barbed wire...

the gates, the signs...

the guards.

But they know it is necessary.

Absolute security is vital

if the free world is to survive

and if the atomic age

is to at last free man

from his long bondage to power.

This, then, is Los Alamos...

the atomic city.

I got a television set delivery

for dr. Addison--Frank Addison.

Get your clearance in the office.

Anything wrong?

Just a routine search.

Say, what do these sets sell for?

$173. 50, installed.

Hmm. Guess I'll wait

till they come down some.

That's the trouble with business.

Everybody's waiting.

I got a television set delivery

for a dr. Frank Addison, 1118 Rose Street.

What's your name?

John Pattiz. That's with a double T.

Where were you born, mr. Pattiz?

New York. Bronx.

I'll see if we have a pass

in the file for you.

I'm congressman Davenport.

The manager's expecting me.

Yes, sir. May I see

your identification, sir?

Sign this, please.

Surrender that pass

when you're leaving.

Sure thing. Thanks.

I'm commander Wright.

Do you have some identification

with you, commander?

Certainly.

Hi!

Oh, hi.

Lunch, Tommy! In a minute, mom!

This is the newest new model, isn't it?

Yeah.

What are these two wires,

the ones running into the condenser?

Oh, those are, uh...

Let's see...

They look like lead-in connections.

Huh? Oh, yeah, sure.

That's the latest thing.

Don't handle them.

They kick up a lot of voltage.

Between 15,000and 20,000 volts...

if they're connected.

That's enough to kill a man twice over.

No, sir. 20,000 volts won't kill you.

It'll just knock you

against the wall or someplace.

Who says so? My father.

Yeah? Your father an electrician?

No, sir. A physicist. Nuclear physics.

Aw, sure.

Say... He one of them bomb makers?

That's classified information.

Nobody's allowed to give

classified information.

Tommy. The gentleman will

excuse you while you have lunch.

I won't have time to help you.

I'm going to the fiesta with my teacher.

My son doesn't care about anything today

except the Santa Fe fiesta prizes.

My boss had to donate one of them.

He's giving them

one of those 17.95 portable radios.

The two-wheel bike's the best prize.

Come on, Tommy.

I've got three chances to win something.

Boy! I hope it's a bike!

Hey, doc, if you don't win the bike,

just build one of your own.

That's a swell idea.

Chew your food, Tommy.

I am.

How much do bicycle parts cost?

Better ask dad. He'll know.

Mom? Mm-hmm?

If I grow up, know what I'm going to do?

It's when you grow up, dear, not if.

I'm going to build bicycles...

millions and millions of them.

[doorbell chimes]

Finish up. Peggy will let herself in.

My mother says we're going to wait and see

if your television set

works before we buy one.

After my father and I

look it over, it'll work fine.

You know what, Peggy? If I grow up,

I'm going to build bicycles--

millions and millions

and millions of two-wheelers.

[explosion]

Maybe I'll even build a few for girls.

Hey, what was that?

Oh, just a routine morning test.

Routine?

What a way to live.

Bye, mom.

Don't forget your jacket.

Remember, only one cotton

candy and nothing else.

Promise?

I promise.

Bye, mom. Routine.

Bye, mrs. Addison. Routine.

Bye.

Hey, doc... Hey, was that some of that,

uh, nooclee--uh, n--uh, nooclee--

uh, the whatchamacallit?

Nuclear physics? Yeah.

No, it's--

that's classified information!

Yeah.

[door closes]

Hi, kids!

Hi. Hi, Russ.

Well, how's the future newspaperman?

I've given it up.

I'm going to be a manufacturer.

He says he's going to build bikes.

Millions and millions

of two-wheelers... For boys.

Hey, that sounds big.

Oh, there's your teacher.

Hello, miss Haskell.

Hi, miss Haskell. Peggy.

Hi, Ellen. Hello, Russ.

You're a hero to take

this battalion to Santa Fe.

I like it. Will you beat the dance tonight?

Sure. I've got to write

a story on it for the paper.

Oh?

Maybe I'll squeeze in enough time

to let you dance with me.

Oh, thanks.

[kids cheer]

You should see our new television set.

Nice, huh? Yeah.

Tommy, there's your father!

Hi, dad! Hi, dad!

Hi, Tommy! Be a good boy!

Good morning, doctor.

Good morning, fellas.

Good morning, doctor.

Good morning.

Dr. Schambach get here?

Yes, sir.

[Geiger counter clicks]

There's that radium dial

of yours again, doctor.

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