The Parallel

Gaines' space capsule loses communications, and he blacks out. He wakes up on Earth with no memory of the return flight or what happened in orbit.

Back home, Gaines notices a white picket fence he does not recall. Helen insists it was always there since they bought the house. The mismatch signals a fracture in his perceived reality.

In a family photo, his insignia has changed from Major to Colonel. Helen says he has been a Colonel for months. This conflicting memory sharpens his sense that something is deeply off.

Helen kisses him to reassure him, but the gesture feels unsettling. She immediately senses something is different about him. She tries to call his fellow officer friend for help, but Gaines interrupts, claiming she was merely inviting him to dinner.

Gaines insists on turning himself in for examination to determine what happened. He seeks objective validation rather than relying on his altered memories. The move marks his push for formal inquiry.

He asserts that John F. Kennedy is the President, a claim that others cannot corroborate. This fuels his conclusion that he has slipped into a parallel universe. The others dismiss it as a delusion, but the doubt lingers.

A mechanic reports the capsule Gaines returned in is not identical to the one he was sent out in. The physical difference provides tangible support for his alternate-reality theory. Gaines uses this clue to bolster his case with authorities.

Gaines is summoned to inspect the capsule. As he approaches, he begins to slip back toward his original universe. The shift is gradual and tied to the capsule's condition.

He lands the craft safely and reports what happened to his superiors. They are inclined to treat it as a nightmare rather than a tangible phenomenon. The officials begin to question the limits of their own assumptions.

Ground controllers receive a transmission from Colonel Gaines. The message cuts out seconds later, and the Colonel disappears from radar. The mystery deepens as the timeline becomes unstable.

The Major returns home and is joyfully greeted by his daughter, who recognizes him. The white picket fence is absent, suggesting he has returned to his original reality. The scene closes on a quiet, relieved family reunion.