Diagnosis

In Short

This psychological science fiction story centers on Donald Jensen and Mary Mason, two researchers developing a machine to map human brain waves. During a dangerous test, the apparatus malfunctions, projecting a fantastical, hallucinatory narrative onto a laboratory screen. The story captures the friction between professional detachment and personal longing, using the conceit of a "visualized subconscious" to explore the jealousy and unspoken attraction simmering between two colleagues. It remains a fascinating relic of mid-century pulp fiction, blending earnest scientific ambition with the dramatic, melodramatic storytelling tropes of its era.

The Story

Donald Jensen and Mary Mason spend their days in a laboratory, working on a complex experiment designed to measure the subconscious mind via the pineal gland. Beneath their professional exterior, a palpable tension exists; Donald is deeply jealous of a man named Brannan, whom Mary dates frequently. Donald believes his experiment is a "man’s job," a chauvinistic remark that Mary frequently uses to tease him. Despite her warnings about the danger of the equipment, Donald insists on using himself as the test subject.

As Mary initiates the experiment, the machine—an oscilloscope hooked up to a television screen—begins to amplify brain waves. Initially, the screen shows a wavering image of Mary, but as Donald increases the power, the equipment emits a violent shock. Mary attempts to disconnect the electrode, causing both researchers to lose consciousness as the machine continues to run, recording the contents of their minds.

What follows is an unfolding, cinematic fantasy. In this projected dream, a man named Dahnjen Saan (a clear projection of Donald) carries a woman named Marima Saan (Mary) through a dark, treacherous valley. They are pursued by a sinister figure named Bra Naan—the personification of Brannan—who controls a monstrous, slavering beast. Dahnjen, wielding a rifle, battles his way through the terrain, killing the monster and defying the priest-like Bra Naan. The fantasy reaches a tragic climax at the valley’s exit: Marima leaps in front of an arrow intended for Dahnjen, dying in his arms, after which Dahnjen kills the priests and collapses in grief.

When the two researchers wake up, they are confused and disoriented. They decide to review the film captured by the camera to understand what happened while they were unconscious. Watching the screen together, they see their own internal anxieties played out as a heroic, albeit violent, adventure. Mary identifies the themes of the dream as Donald’s suppressed frustrations, his jealousy toward Brannan, and his desire to play the hero. However, the tragic ending—where she dies to save him—confounds them both, as it does not align with Donald’s conscious desires. Realizing the machine has successfully externalized their buried emotions, they move past the professional facade. Donald confesses his love, Mary reveals she was only dating Brannan to provoke him, and they agree to a future together, satisfied that they have unlocked a powerful new tool for psychological diagnosis.

How It Unfolds

The laboratory tension Donald and Mary bicker over her social life and his possessive attitude while preparing for a high-stakes experiment. Their dialogue establishes the professional hierarchy and the underlying romantic frustration that defines their partnership.

The accidental projection Mary activates the equipment to record brain waves, but a surge of power causes a violent discharge. Both researchers are knocked unconscious while the machine continues to capture their subconscious thoughts on film.

The nightmare journey The narrative shifts to a surreal, dark valley where a hero and his lover flee from a malevolent priest and a monstrous beast. This sequence dramatizes the jealousy and possessiveness felt by the male protagonist, manifesting his fears as a life-or-death struggle.

The confrontation with truth Upon waking, the pair reviews the recording, forcing them to confront their projected anxieties. The film serves as a mirror, exposing the raw, unvarnished emotions that were previously hidden behind scientific jargon and workplace banter.

The resolution The couple acknowledges that their professional experiment has revealed their genuine feelings for one another. They choose to stop competing and instead embrace a shared future, viewing their discovery as a breakthrough for both science and their personal lives.

The People

Donald Jensen is an ambitious, somewhat arrogant scientist who prides himself on his intellect. He is deeply insecure regarding his colleague, Mary, and uses his work as a shield for his romantic frustrations. By the end, he is forced to confront his own psychological projections, which leads him to abandon his defensive, argumentative stance in favor of vulnerability.

Mary Mason is a highly qualified, sharp-witted researcher who holds degrees in psychology and psychiatry. She is perfectly capable of holding her own against Donald’s chauvinism, often using irony to challenge his authority. She serves as the intellectual equal who ultimately dictates the emotional pace of the story, eventually pushing Donald to admit his feelings rather than hiding behind his "scientific" ego.

Brannan exists primarily as a spectral figure of jealousy. While he is a flesh-and-blood man in the "real world," he is transformed into a malevolent, cloaked priest within the machine's projections. He represents the barrier—both real and imagined—that keeps Donald and Mary from acknowledging their mutual attraction.

In Its Own Voice

"You work with me in this laboratory eight hours a day. You are engaged in a very complex experiment with the human brain, registering its waves and emanations in relation to thought, emotions and purely psychological relations."

Donald attempts to pull rank and remind Mary of the gravity of their shared professional work.

"The pineal gland--the mystery gland of the human brain. Mystics call it the 'third eye.' Some say it is an atrophied eye, in the center of the forehead, others say it is a new sense man is developing, for use in the future."

Before the experiment begins, Donald explains the theoretical focus of their scientific inquiry into the subconscious.

"Why, it's all so obvious. Here you are, carrying a torch for me, and taking out your frustration in comic-book daydreams."

After viewing the recorded projection, Mary bluntly interprets the violent fantasy as a manifestation of Donald's hidden romantic longings.

What It's Really About

The story functions as an inquiry into the nature of the subconscious and the reliability of the psyche. It explores the idea that our internal lives are often governed by narratives—heroic myths or tragic scenarios—that we construct to deal with interpersonal conflict. By literalizing the "projection" of thoughts, the story argues that truth is often buried beneath intellectualization and pride. It asks whether we can ever truly know another person, or if we are merely interacting with the versions of them we have constructed in our own minds. Ultimately, it suggests that the "diagnosis" of the self is the only way to resolve the tensions that prevent genuine human connection.

Why Read It Today

This story is a rewarding read for those who enjoy "laboratory-set" fiction and the mid-century pulp aesthetic where science and melodrama collide. It offers a glimpse into how authors of the 1950s imagined the intersection of technology and the human psyche; the idea of a machine that turns dreams into video is both charmingly retro and surprisingly prescient in our modern age of digital imaging.

Readers should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes regarding gender; Donald’s insistence that his research is a "man’s job" and his possessiveness toward Mary are artifacts of the era’s social norms. However, Mary’s witty, assertive retorts provide a necessary balance, making the dynamic feel more like a sparring match than a simple power imbalance. The prose is efficient and moves with the brisk pace characteristic of short-form science fiction of the time. What lingers is the cleverness of the plot device: the realization that the most dangerous, complex "machine" in the room is the human brain itself. It is a brief, punchy, and surprisingly humanistic story that treats its high-concept sci-fi premise as a bridge to a classic romantic reconciliation.