Great Britain, United States

A devastating nuclear war has reduced Earth to a sterile wasteland. The few colonists who did not return home during the early days of the war are all that remain of Earth’s civilisation. John wilder and his family travel to an ancient Martian city, as Wilder tries, for the last time, to make contact with some vestige of the Martian civilisation. As he wanders among the ruins, the vision of a Martian elder appears and wilder, at last, comes to know and experience the purity and simplicity of the Martian view of life. He returns to his family with a new sense of purpose and strength.

As his children clamour to also see the Martians, Wilder takes them to the edge of an ancient canal. As they gaze upon the surface of the water, the Martians appear. Reflected in he water are Wilder, his wife and their children.