His car dead, Clark seeks shelter from the pouring rain at the home of elderly Adolphus Quigley.
He soon is led to believe the old man is nuts. He tells Clark that the huge computer in the house, known as the Controller, has been correcting terrible historic events and keeping others from happening. He tells Clark that he will soon die of a heart attack and that the younger man is his replacement as the attendant of the Controller - a 24/7 job Quigley has performed for 40 years.
When Clark attempts to leave, a brief fight ensues. Quigley dies prematurely. When the Controller begins beeping for attention, Clark does not know what to do. He begins pressing buttons and flipping switches randomly. His actions free historic events the Controller was keeping at bay, including a devastating earthquake, an alien invasion, and an attack of giant Gila monsters.
As the Controller goes dead, Clark feels a razor-sharp claw pierce his right shoulder down to the bone.