The Cold Equations (The Twilight Zone)

"The Cold Equations" is an episode of the third season of 1980s television series "The Twilight Zone".

Cast

* Thomas Barton: Terence Knox
* Marilyn Cross: Christianne Hirt
* Commander: Michael J. Reynolds
* Gerry Cross: Barclay Hope

Opening narration

ynopsis

Thomas Barton is an astronaut who must deliver a vital cargo of vaccine to a plague-stricken colony world. However, a young girl, Marylin, has stowed away on his vessel with hopes of reuniting with her brother once the vessel reaches the colony world. Now the entire mission is in jeopardy, as her presence on board was not calculated into the flight plan and there will be no way for the pilot to compensate for her added weight. They attempt to compensate by jettisoning all possible extra weight, but this is ineffective; Barton briefly considers killing himself so the girl can survive, but she will not be able to pilot the ship herself. Resigned to her fate, she enters the airlock and jettisons herself into space, leaving Barton to grieve in silence.

Closing narration

Trivia

Based on the original short story by Tom Godwin, this was made into a longer feature for the SciFi channel starring Bill Campbell and Poppy Montgomery. It was also made into an episode of the X Minus One radio program in 1955.