Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956) - full transcript

[Man Narrating] SINCE BIBLICAL TIMES,
MAN HAS WITNESSED AND RECORDED...

STRANGE MANIFESTATIONS
IN THE SKY...

AND SPECULATED ON
THE POSSIBILITIES OF...

VISITORS FROM ANOTHER WORLD.

[Teletype Clicking]

TODAY, FROM THE
SKIES OF CALIFORNIA,

THE FIELDS OF KANSAS,

THE RICE PATTIES OF THE ORIENT,

THE AIR LANES OF THE WORLD...

COME PERSISTENT
REPORTS OF U.F.O.s:

UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS,



WHICH WE HAVE COME TO
KNOW AS "FLYING SAUCERS."

[Whining Sound]

[Narrator] IN DAYTON, OHIO, THE
AIR INTELLIGENCE COMMAND...

GATHERS AND SIFTS DATA FROM
ALL QUARTERS OF THE GLOBE.

NINETY-SEVEN PERCENT OF THE
OBJECTS PROVE ON INVESTIGATION,

TO BE OF NATURAL ORIGIN.

BUT 3% STILL ARE
LISTED AS UNKNOWN.

THE AIR FORCE IS AWARE
OF THE WIDELY-HELD BELIEF...

THAT SOME OF THESE COULD BE
FLYING SAUCERS FROM ANOTHER PLANET.

WHILE THERE IS NOTHING
CONCLUSIVE IN THE EVIDENCE,

THE PROBING AND DIGESTING OF INFORMATION
ABOUT U.F.O.s CONTINUES UNCEASINGLY.

AS A RESULT, HEADQUARTERS
OF THE HEMISPHERIC

DEFENSE COMMAND
IN COLORADO SPRINGS...

ISSUED AN ORDER:



"ALL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS
ARE TO FIRE ON SIGHT...

AT ANY FLYING OBJECTS
NOT IDENTIFIABLE."

BUT EVEN AS THEY DID SO,
THE MILITARY WONDERED...

WHETHER THEIR SCIENTIFIC
KNOW-HOW AND THEIR BEST WEAPONS...

WOULD BE EFFECTIVE
IN ANY BATTLE OF...

JULY 16. TO: INTERNAL
SECURITY COMMISSION.

RE: SKY HOOK.

SUMMARY AND PROGRESS REPORT, FROM
PROJECT DIRECTOR DR. RUSSELL A. MARVIN.

AND MRS. DR. RUSSELL A. MARVIN,
WITHOUT WHOSE INSPIRATION...

AND UNTIRING CRITICISM THIS REPORT
COULD NEVER HAVE BEEN WRITTEN.

MARRIED TWO HOURS, AND ALREADY
SHE'S CLAIMING COMMUNITY PROPERTY.

NOW THAT YOU'RE MARRIED, DR. MARVIN,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SNEAK UP ON ME.

YOU ALWAYS DID HAVE EYES
IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD.

BESIDES, IT'S NOT SAFE WHEN
YOU'RE DRIVING. BUT PRETTY.

I THOUGHT INTELLECTUAL GIANTS WERE
SUPPOSED TO BE BACKWARDS AND SHY.

MY THIRD GRADE TEACHER, MISS
HICKEY, SAID I WAS A QUICK STUDY.

YOU'RE STARTING SOMETHING YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FINISH.

[Sighs] YEAH.

YEAH, TODAY I'VE GOT A HOT
DATE WITH A THREE-STAGE ROCKET.

WELL... [Grunts]

NOW, PLEASE, NO INTERRUPTIONS.

BECAUSE OF RECENT
SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES,

IT IS NOW POSSIBLE TO
REALIZE AN ANCIENT DREAM:

THE EXPLORATION OF OUTER SPACE.

TO PREPARE FOR THIS
GREAT STRIDE FORWARD,

WE ARE ASSEMBLING DATA ON
CONDITIONS AT ATMOSPHERIC LEVELS...

BEYOND THOSE HITHERTO EXPLORED.

TO COLLECT THE NECESSARY DATA,
UNMANNED AUTOMATIC OBSERVATION POSTS...

ARE BEING SENT UP IN
MULTIPLE-STAGE ROCKETS...

TO A DISTANCE HUNDREDS OF
MILES ABOVE THE EARTH'S SURFACE.

THERE, SWINGING IN ENDLESS
ORBITS AROUND OUR PLANET,

WILL BE 12 TINY, MAN-MADE
SATELLITES, OR "MOONS."

THEY WILL REPORT TO US BY RADIO,
THUS PROVIDING PRIMARY INFORMATION...

NEEDED TO PREPARE THE WAY
FOR OUR ASCENT INTO SPACE.

THE EFFECTS OF
GRAVITATIONAL LOSS,

SHOWERS OF METEORIC DUST,

THE FIERCE AND
UNDILUTED HEAT OF THE SUN,

THE COSMIC RADIATION... ALL
WILL BE STUDIED AND ANALYZED.

AT THE PRESENT TIME, WE HAVE
LAUNCHED TEN OF THE ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES.

OR "BIRDS," AS WE CALL THEM.

WE... [Whirring Sound]

DO YOU HEAR
SOMETHING? HEAR WHAT?

[Continues] I DON'T
HEAR... SH! LISTEN.

[Whirring Intensifies]

[Gasps] PULL OVER.

[Shrill Whining]

RUSS, IT WAS A SAUCER.

A FLYING SAUCER?

WELL, WE SAW WHAT APPEARED
TO BE A FLYING SAUCER.

THAT'S ALL WE CAN SAY.

WE SAW IT. WE
HEARD IT. BOTH OF US.

WHAT MORE DO WE NEED TO KNOW?

WELL, WE HAVE TO HAVE TIME
TO THINK, TO EVALUATE THIS,

BEFORE WE SOUND OFF.

LE-LET ME HAVE A LIGHT.

OF COURSE. IT WASN'T
A SAUCER AT ALL.

I JUST SHAKE LIKE
THIS ALL THE TIME.

CAROL, I WANT YOU TO TRANSCRIBE
THESE NOTES FOR MY REPORT.

YES, BOSS.

BUT THERE'S ONE
LITTLE THING, FIRST.

NOW THAT YOU'RE MARRIED, DR. MARVIN,
THE FIRST THING YOU'VE GOT TO LEARN IS,

NO MORE PASSES AT THE
SECRETARIES... [Chuckles]

DURING BUSINESS
HOURS. ALL RIGHT.

[Marvin On Recorder] OR
"BIRDS," AS WE CALL THEM. WE...

[Flying Saucer Whirring]

RUSS!

THE SAUCER SOUND!

IT'S ON THE TAPE!
[Shuts Off, Rewinds]

YOU FORGOT TO TURN IT OFF.

[Saucer Whirring]

I REMEMBER NOW. I
TURNED IT OFF AFTERWARDS.

[Whirring Intensifies]

WELL, THAT'S... [Clicks Off]

THAT'S ONE PIECE OF
CONCRETE EVIDENCE.

[Man On Speaker] ROCKET NUMBER
11 WILL BE LAUNCHED IN 20 MINUTES.

WE'LL LEAVE IT FOR NOW. COME ON. WE
JUST GOT TIME TO GET TO THE BUNKER.

GENERAL HANLEY REPORTING
TO PROJECT SKY HOOK.

MAKE IT FAST, WILL
YOU? I'M IN A HURRY.

NOBODY ALLOWED IN, SIR.
THERE'S A ROCKET TAKING OFF NOW.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO STOP.

LET ME SPEAK TO
DR. RUSSELL MARVIN.

WEST GATE TO BUNKER NUMBER TWO.

DR. MARVIN.

[Phone Rings] BUNKER NUMBER
TWO. MARVIN SPEAKING.

THIS IS THE WEST GATE, SIR.
GENERAL HANLEY WANTS YOU.

OH! PUT HIM ON!

CAROL, IT'S YOUR FATHER.

CALLING FROM PANAMA? NO.
RIGHT HERE AT THE PROJECT.

HELLO, RUSS? HELLO!

WELCOME HOME, GENERAL.
WHAT'S THE NEWS FROM PANAMA?

IT'S BAD, I'M AFRAID. I THINK YOU
OUGHT TO HEAR WHAT I FOUND...

BEFORE YOU SEND
UP ANOTHER ROCKET.

CAN YOU POSSIBLY PUT IT OFF?

I'M AFRAID I CAN'T. WE'RE TIED TO A
DEFINITE SCHEDULE OF LAUNCHINGS.

WAIT A MINUTE. UH, THERE'S
SOMETHING ELSE I WANTED...

UH, JUST A MINUTE.

[Softly] IT'S YOUR PRIVILEGE.

- HI, DAD.
- WHAT IS IT, HONEY?

I JUST WANTED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE, AND TELL
YOU RUSS AND I WERE MARRIED LAST NIGHT.

MARRIED? OH, FORGIVE US FOR
NOT LETTING YOU KNOW, DARLING.

[Alarm Buzzing]

I'VE GOT TO HANG UP.
LET'S HAVE DINNER TONIGHT.

CAN YOU? DON'T FORGET. BYE.

[Hangs Up Receiver]

[Dr. Marvin] FOURTEEN.
THIRTEEN. TWELVE.

ELEVEN. TEN. NINE.

EIGHT. SEVEN. SIX.

FIVE. FOUR. THREE.

TWO. ONE.

[Hanley] I KNOW HOW THE DESIGNER
FEELS, HEARING A THING LIKE THIS.

BUT PROJECT SKY HOOK HASN'T WORKED
OUT THE WAY THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT HOPED.

TELL ME, HOW MANY BIRDS
HAVE YOU SENT UP SO FAR?

ELEVEN, COUNTING TODAY'S. AND HOW
MANY ARE YOU IN CONTACT WITH RIGHT NOW?

JUST ONE: TODAY'S. I ADMIT, WE HAVEN'T
BEEN ABLE TO TRACK THEM VISUALLY, SO FAR.

BUT WE'LL CORRECT THAT.
DON'T BE TOO SURE OF THAT.

WE CAN CERTAINLY TUNE
THEM IN, IF WE'RE UP THERE.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU IS
THAT THEY'RE NO LONGER "UP THERE."

THAT WASN'T A METEORITE
THAT FELL ON PANAMA.

IT WAS THE BURNED REMAINS OF NUMBER
SEVEN. I MADE SURE OF THAT, MYSELF.

WHAT? AND INTELLIGENCE HAS
REPORTS NOW WHICH CONVINCE US...

THAT ONE AND THREE
FELL OVER AFRICA.

NUMBER FIVE, AROUND
THE NORTH POLE.

AND NINE AND TEN
ALONG THE ANDES.

THE REST CAN BE PRESUMED TO
HAVE BEEN LOST SOMEPLACE AT SEA.

- WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM?
- APPARENTLY, THEY BLOW UP
IN OUTER SPACE.

WHY? THERE'S NOTHING
EXPLOSIVE IN THEM.

YOU CAN TAKE IT FROM ME.

WHEN A ROCKET'S BLASTED OFF, IT
SHOULD CIRCLE THE EARTH FOR A LONG TIME.

THAT IS, UNLESS...
[Carol] RUSS? DAD?

UNLESS WHAT?

UNLESS SOMEONE, SOMETHING SHOOTS
THEM DOWN AS FAST AS WE SET THEM UP THERE.

[Chuckles] WHY, NO GUN IN THE
WORLD CAN SHOOT THAT HIGH.

NO. NO, OF COURSE NOT.

BRING SPOONS FOR YOUR COFFEE!

AH, MY SPECIAL BARBECUE. MM-HMM.
THAT'S TO MAKE UP FOR NOT TELLING YOU...

ABOUT OUR GETTING MARRIED. IT
WAS KIND OF SUDDEN FOR US TOO.

SUDDEN? I'VE ONLY BEEN
AFTER HIM FOR A YEAR.

I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU...
BOTH OF YOU... HOW PLEASED I AM.

WELL, I'M GLAD OF THAT. I WOULDN'T
LIKE IT VERY MUCH IF YOU WEREN'T.

THANK YOU.

RUSS, WHAT WERE YOU
DRIVING AT BACK THERE?

ABOUT SOMETHING SHOOTING
DOWN ONE OF THE SATELLITES?

GENERAL, WE SAW A STRANGE
THING THIS AFTERNOON.

WE SAW WHAT APPEARED
TO BE A... FLYING SAUCER.

[Chuckles] A FLYING SAUCER?

IT NEARLY RAN INTO
US. YOU'RE SURE OF IT?

BOTH CAROL AND I ARE SUBJECT TO
THE SAME ATMOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES...

THAT MAY HAVE AFFECTED
OTHER OBSERVERS.

BUT THERE IS A QUALITATIVE
DIFFERENCE, WHEN YOU'RE A SCIENTIST.

WE DO HAVE ONE PIECE
OF SUPPORTING EVIDENCE:

AN ACCIDENTAL RECORDING
OF THE SOUNDS IT MADE.

THE TAPE IS IN THE
LAB, AT THE PROJECT.

I'D LIKE YOU TO
HEAR IT TOMORROW.

YOU BOTH SAW THIS? YES.

EXCUSE ME.

FROM CAPTAIN HALOWAY, SIR. WILL
YOU SIGN HERE, PLEASE? MM-HMM.

WHO'S HALOWAY? HE'S ON
MONITOR DUTY THIS EVENING.

[Jeep Engine Starting]

[Jeep Revving, Departing]

THEY'VE JUST LOST
CONTACT WITH NUMBER 11.

OH, RUSS, I'M SORRY.

IS IT STILL IN RANGE
OF OUR RECEIVERS?

IF IT HASN'T BEEN
KNOCKED DOWN. LOOK!

WHAT ARE THOSE LIGHTS? THEY'RE
WHAT THE PILOTS CALL "FOO LIGHTS."

ST. ELMO'S FIRE,
IN ANCIENT TIMES.

THE SUPERSTITIOUS REGARD
THEM AS OMENS OF THINGS TO COME.

THE BEST SCIENCE HAS BEEN
ABLE TO MAKE OUT OF THEM...

IS THAT THEY'RE ELECTRIC
PARTICLES, AGITATED BY MOVING AIR.

SAME PRINCIPLE AS
THE AURORA BOREALIS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY
THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS,

WE ALL JUST TAKE
THEM FOR GRANTED.

BIRD ELEVEN OUGHT TO BE
VISIBLE IN THE SKY RIGHT NOW,

ON ITS SECOND LAP
AROUND THE WORLD.

LOOK! THERE IT IS!

WAS THAT IT? YES.

WELL, SURELY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
SEND UP NUMBER 12 TOMORROW, AFTER THIS!

I HAVE TO. WHY?

WITH A TELEVISION PICKUP, CAMERAS AND
MICROPHONE, I SHOULD HAVE DONE IT BEFORE.

I'M GOING TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING
UP THERE, OR KNOW THE REASON WHY.

COME ON. LET'S
FINISH OUR DINNER.

CHECKING TV PICKUP.
GETTING A GOOD IMAGE?

FINE.

TV's OKAY. I'LL BE DOWN
IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

TELL THEM TO HURRY IT UP.

[Clicking Off]

SAY, DO YOU NOTICE ANYTHING
DIFFERENT SINCE YOU WERE HERE LAST?

SOUNDPROOFING? THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU COULD FIRE A CANNON OFF OUTSIDE,
AND YOU COULDN'T HEAR A THING DOWN HERE.

[Man On Speaker] NUMBER
12, OKAY FOR TAKEOFF.

AS AN OLD ROCKET MAN FROM WAY BACK,
I'D RATHER WATCH FROM GROUND LEVEL.

DR. MARVIN. DR. MARVIN.
MARVIN HERE.

[Chuckling] ARE YOU
GETTING READY FOR A SIEGE?

RUSS AND I ARE GOING TO TAKE TURNS
MONITORING THIS ONE OURSELVES.

FOR DAYS, IF NECESSARY.
SOUNDPROOF PRIVACY,

AND THE LAST WORD
IN SCIENTIFIC SOLITUDE.

HAPPY HONEYMOON,
DARLING. THANKS, DAD.

[Sighs]

[Man On Intercom] PREPARE
ROCKET FOR LAUNCHING.

PREPARE ROCKET FOR LAUNCHING.

[Siren Wailing]

ROCKET NUMBER 12 WILL BE
LAUNCHED IN FIVE MINUTES.

FOUR MINUTES TO ZERO.

CHECK. TAKE HER UP AT
ZERO, MAJOR KIMBERLY. OKAY.

STAND BY.

OBSERVATION TOWER "A", COME IN.

EVANS, RADAR TO TOWER "A."

OBSERVATION TOWER
"A". SERGEANT NASH.

U.F.O. DUE WEST.
APPROACHING FAST.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK
LIKE? CAN'T TELL YET.

I'LL CALL WHEN I GET A BETTER
READING ON MY SCOPE. DO THAT.

AS YOU WERE, SERGEANT. UNIDENTIFIED
FLYING OBJECT REPORTED DUE WEST, SIR.

PROBABLY A
BUZZARD. [Phone Ringing]

SERGEANT NASH,
OBSERVATION TOWER "A."

WHAT?

FORGET IT, WALTERS.
THIS IS NO TIME FOR GAGS.

IT'S TWO MINUTES TO ZERO!

SENTRY AT WEST GATE HAS
SPOTTED A FLYING SAUCER, SIR.

EVANS. RADAR TO TOWER "A."

TOWER "A," NASH.

I GOT A BETTER READING
ON MY SCOPE, SERGEANT.

THAT U.F.O. IS OVER
THE WEST SENTRY POST.

DOES IT LOOK LIKE A FLYING
SAUCER, EVANS? YES, IT DOES.

SKY HOOK CONTROL TO
APPROACHING OBJECT.

[Engine Whining]

WHAT IS IT?

I WOULDN'T KNOW.

CONNECT ME WITH
DR. MARVIN'S LAB.

[Whining Continues]

THE LINE IS DEAD.

LOOK AT THAT, GENERAL!

IT'S LANDED!

[Eerie Humming]

[Siren Wailing]

BATTERY, PREPARE TO FIRE.

FIRE!

THEY SET UP AN
ELECTRONIC SCREEN.

THE ARTILLERY DOESN'T PENETRATE.

[Gunshots]

THE LINES ARE OUT.

ABANDON ALL FIRING POSITIONS.

MIKE'S GONE DEAD.

TRY THE PHONE.

[Jiggling Hook]

THE OPERATOR DOESN'T ANSWER.

- LOOK!
- [Rockets Firing]

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

I DON'T KNOW. I...

[Explosion]

[Sighs] [Explosion Rumbling]

I'M SCARED, RUSS.

[Panting] THEY'LL...
THEY'LL DIG US OUT.

[Whirring Sound]

WHERE AM I? WHAT...

[Alien Voice] WE ARE SPEAKING TO YOU
THROUGH THE TRANSLATING DEVICE...

ABOVE YOUR HEAD.

CAN YOU UNDERSTAND US?

YES. AND I HOPE YOU
CAN UNDERSTAND ME.

WHOEVER YOU ARE,
WHATEVER YOU ARE,

YOU'LL REGRET WHAT
YOU DID AT THE PROJECT.

PERHAPS YOU CAN EXPLAIN
WHY, AFTER CONTACTING

DR. MARVIN, WE WERE
MET WITH VIOLENCE.

YOU'VE CONTACTED
DR. MARVIN? WE SPOKE TO HIM.

ALL HE HEARD WAS
MEANINGLESS SOUNDS.

THE SAME KIND OF
SOUNDS I JUST HEARD.

WE HAD HOPED A
SUFFICIENT ADJUSTMENT...

FOR THE TIME DIFFERENTIAL
BETWEEN US WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

EVIDENTLY, YOU DO NOT REALIZE YOU
ARE IN AN INTERSTELLAR CONVEYANCE.

YOU ARE ALREADY OUTSIDE THE
ATMOSPHERE OF YOUR OWN PLANET.

AS A PRISONER, ALL I AM
REQUIRED TO TELL YOU...

IS THAT I AM GENERAL JOHN
HANLEY OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

[High-Pitched Whining]

THESE ARE ALL THE FACTS LEADING UP TO THE
ROCKET EXPLOSION AT OPERATION SKY HOOK.

TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE,

MY WIFE AND I ARE THE
ONLY ONES LEFT ALIVE,

SINCE WE HAVE NOT SEEN
OR HEARD ANYONE FOR HOURS.

THE AIR IS BECOMING TOXIC.

IN THE EVENT OF OUR
DEATH, THIS REPORT,

TOGETHER WITH THE RECORDING
OF THE SAUCER SOUNDS ON THIS TAPE,

CONSTITUTE ALL THE DATA WE HAVE.

THE BATTERIES ARE FAILING.

THE RECORDER IS NOT
RUNNING UP TO SPEED.

THIS IS DR. RUSSELL A. MARVIN.

[Clattering] RUSS?

WHERE ARE YOU? IT'S ALL RIGHT,
HONEY. THE GAS GENERATOR'S STOPPED.

PLEASE COME CLOSE. I'M
AFRAID OF THE DARKNESS.

[Whirring Sound] [Distorted
Voice] DR. RUSSELL MARVIN.

THE TAPE! IT IS VERY URGENT...

THAT WE MEET.

WE WILL APPEAR TOMORROW,

[Slowing Down] AT
OPERATION SKY HOOK...

WHEN YOUR SUN...

IS EXACTLY...

OVER YOUR...

LOCAL...

MER-I-DI-AN. [Stops]

THAT'S THE SOUND OF THE
SAUCER WE HEARD ON THE TAPE.

THE MESSAGE WAS SENT
AT AN ACCELERATED SPEED.

SO IT JUST SOUNDED
LIKE GIBBERISH TO US.

WHEN THE BATTERIES DIED,
THE TAPE SLOWED DOWN...

AND THE VOICE BECAME CLEAR!

IF I'D ONLY FIGURED
IT OUT BEFORE.

MAYBE WE WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN TRAPPED DOWN HERE.

[Male Narrator] WHAT HAD
SNUFFED OUT HUNDREDS OF LIVES,

AND LEVELED AN INSTALLATION
WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS?

AN AROUSED PUBLIC
DEMANDED AN ANSWER,

AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEDICATED
THE STRENGTH OF ALL ITS BRANCHES...

TO THE TASK OF FINDING ONE.

HOWEVER, WHEN DR. MARVIN
AND HIS WIFE WERE RESCUED,

THE ANSWER WAS TO BE FOUND IN THE
EXPERIENCE OF THE ONLY TWO HUMAN SURVIVORS,

AND IN A REEL OF TAPE RECORDING
THEY CARRIED TO WASHINGTON, D.C...

AND THE PENTAGON.

[Distorted Voice]
OPER-ATION SKY HOOK.

THERE CAN'T BE ANY DOUBT
ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS.

A LANDING AT THE PROJECT WAS
PROPOSED ON THE DAY OF THE DISASTER.

THERE WAS TO HAVE
BEEN A MEETING.

IF I COULDN'T KEEP THE APPOINTMENT,
A MESSAGE WAS TO BE SENT...

ON A DESIGNATED WAVELENGTH BY
ORDINARY SHORTWAVE TRANSMISSION.

DOES ANYONE WANT TO HAVE
THE RECORDING PLAYED AGAIN?

YOU'VE HEARD IT A DOZEN TIMES.

MY WIFE AND I, FOR THREE DAYS AND
NIGHTS, HAVE BEEN TELLING WHAT WE KNEW.

WE'VE BEEN BEFORE EVERY COMMITTEE,
COMMISSION AND REVIEW BOARD IN WASHINGTON.

IT'S TIME WE DECIDED
TO DO SOMETHING!

THE TAPE IS BY NO
MEANS CONCLUSIVE.

IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T PROVE THAT
YOUR SO-CALLED FLYING SAUCER...

CAUSE THE DESTRUCTION
OF OPERATION SKY HOOK.

I GRANT YOU THAT.
A STRANGE VOICE,

A SET OF INSTRUCTIONS THAT
MIGHT HAVE COME FROM ANYWHERE!

WELL, HAS ANYONE A BETTER
IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENED?

PERSONALLY, I'M INCLINED TO
ACCEPT DR. MARVIN'S CONCLUSION...

ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN
THE MESSAGE AND THE DISASTER.

- ALL RIGHT. SO AM I.
- THEN WHY NOT LET ME
TRY TO CONTACT THEM?

MEET THEM. FIND OUT
WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

IF WE ARE TO BE CONFRONTED
WITH A HOSTILE AND UNKNOWN POWER,

ANY DECISION TO MEET WITH THEM
MUST BE MADE AT THE CABINET LEVEL.

WELL, I JUST HOPE THAT WHILE WE'RE
WAITING, ANOTHER DISASTER DOESN'T OCCUR.

WE'RE PRESSING FOR THE
EARLIEST POSSIBLE ACTION.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS
FLYING BACK FROM EUROPE.

THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
IS RETURNING FROM THE PACIFIC.

IF A MEETING COULD BE
ARRANGED IN THE MEANTIME,

THE ONLY RISK WOULD BE TO ME.

I FEEL PERSONALLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED.

I WAS IN CHARGE. HUNDREDS
OF LIVES WERE LOST.

- MY OWN WIFE'S FATHER...
- IF I HAD THE AUTHORITY,
I'D GRANT IT TO YOU.

BUT WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT. BUT I
PROMISE YOU THAT WE WILL RECOMMEND...

THAT YOU BE AUTHORIZED
TO MAKE RADIO CONTACT,

AND MEET WITH...

WITH WHOEVER THEY ARE.

[Sighs, Clicks Tongue] ARE
WE THROUGH FOR THE NIGHT?

YES. BUT WE'RE GOING TO ASK
YOU TO REMAIN AT YOUR HOTEL.

YOU MEAN, I'M UNDER DETENTION?

YOU MAY BE NEEDED AT ANY TIME.

MAJOR HUGLIN IS
ASSIGNED AS YOUR LIAISON.

GOOD NIGHT. [Man] GOOD NIGHT.

DR. MARVIN, I DON'T LIKE THIS WATCHDOG
ROUTINE ANY BETTER THAN YOU DO.

I'M UNDER ORDERS.
I HAVE A JOB TO DO.

WE'RE BOTH ON THE SAME SIDE.

I'M SORRY. I'M JUST
TIRED AND WORRIED.

I KNOW. WELL, YOU WERE IN
THERE. YOU HEARD BOTH SIDES.

WHO DO YOU AGREE
WITH? I AGREE WITH YOU,

AS FAR AS THE URGENCY'S
CONCERNED, BUT THEY'RE RIGHT TOO.

THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE
TO A CHAIN OF COMMAND.

THEY HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. THIS THING
MAY BE TOO BIG TO ALLOW FOR MISTAKES.

[Softly] RUSSELL MARVIN,
CALLING ON 225.6 MEGACYCLES.

OVER. [Clicks]

DR. RUSSELL MARVIN,
CALLING ON 225.6 MEGACYCLES,

AS PER INSTRUCTIONS.

ARE YOU LISTENING? IF
YOU HEAR ME, PLEASE REPLY.

I AM TUNED IN ON THE
SAME WAVELENGTH. OVER.

[Alien Voice] WE HEAR YOU,
DR. MARVIN, AND WE UNDERSTAND YOU.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND US?

YES. WHO ARE YOU?

LISTEN. IT IS NOW
9:30 A.M. EARTH TIME.

GREENWICH MERIDIAN TIME.

WE WILL BE WAITING
AT EXACTLY 11:00 A.M.,

AT THE SHORE OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY,
WHERE THE NORTH BEACH ROAD REACHES THE SEA.

DO NOT RAISE AN ALARM,
AND KEEP THIS APPOINTMENT.

LISTEN TO ME. I CAN'T KEEP THE
APPOINTMENT. I'M UNDER ORDERS.

I'LL BE ABLE TO MEET
YOU IN A FEW DAYS.

DO YOU HEAR ME?
OVER. [Mike Clicking]

RUSS? HELLO, HELLO!

DR. RUSSELL MARVIN CALLING ON
225.6 MEGACYCLES. DO YOU HEAR ME?

PLEASE COME IN! OVER.

11:00 GREENWICH TIME.

THAT WOULD BE 6:00
HERE. I CAN JUST MAKE IT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING! I HEARD
YOU SAY YOU'RE UNDER ORDERS.

I DIDN'T ARRANGE THIS MEETING,
I JUST ASKED THEM TO WAIT.

WHO ORDERED THAT
RADIO? I DID, TODAY.

I WAS HOPING THEY'D GIVE ME
THE GO-AHEAD AND LET ME USE IT.

YOU CAN'T GO. I'VE
ALREADY LOST DAD.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE CALLED THEM.

WELL, MAYBE I SHOULDN'T
HAVE, AND MAYBE I SHOULD.

BUT IT'S STARTED NOW, AND
I'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH WITH IT!

BUT IT'S NOT YOUR JOB ALONE!

CALL SOMEONE! CALL MAJOR HUGLIN!

ROOM 312. MAJOR
HUGLIN. HURRY, PLEASE.

[Phone Ringing]

[Rings]

HELLO?

YES. YES?

THANKS.

CALL THE GARAGE. TELL
THEM NOT TO GIVE HIM A CAR.

WELL, TELL THEM... TELL
THEM HE'S SICK. ANYTHING.

OUT OF HIS MIND. I'LL BE RIGHT
DOWN TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

SURE THING, MRS. MARVIN.

FRANK? MAY I HAVE
MY CAR, PLEASE?

GEE, DR. MARVIN. I-I CAN'T.

I WAS TALKING TO YOUR WIFE ON
THE PHONE, A-AND SHE SAID THAT, UH...

I...

BUT DR. MARVIN, I CAN'T
LET YOU HAVE THE CAR. I...

GET OUT OF MY WAY, FRANK. PLEASE,
DR. MARVIN. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY JOB.

[Grunts]

[Starts Engine, Revs]

THERE HE IS. SEE IF YOU
CAN GET HIM ON THE RADIO.

HELLO, RUSS. THIS IS CAROL.

RUSS, COME IN!

HE WON'T ANSWER ME.

[Tires Screeching] [Carol]
WAIT FOR US, RUSS.

MAJOR HUGLIN AND I
WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

[Kick Starts Engine]

[Siren Wailing]

[Siren Continues]

[Siren Stops]

RUSS, PLEASE COME BACK WITH US.

I'M SORRY, BUT I HAVE TO
DO MY JOB. LET'S GO BACK.

- [Alien Voice] PLEASE COME IN...
- LET'S GET OUTTA HERE.

- NO, WAIT.
- WITH YOUR FRIENDS,
DR. MARVIN.

[Whirring, Whining]

I'M COMING WITH YOU.
PLEASE, COME IN. ALL OF YOU.

I'M GONNA PHONE HEADQUARTERS.

YOU'D BETTER DO AS THEY SAY.

WE MUST BE THOUSANDS OF
MILES AWAY FROM THE EARTH.

AND IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.

YOU ARE MANY MILES
AWAY FROM YOUR PLANET.

BUT NOT IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.

LISTEN TO YOUR
WATCH, DR. MARVIN.

STOPPED. IT'S SUPPOSED
TO BE ANTI-MAGNETIC.

WE GENERATE A MAGNETIC FIELD STRONGER
THAN THE GRAVITATIONAL FIELD ON YOUR EARTH.

THIS IS THE PRINCIPLE BY
WHICH WE MOVE THROUGH SPACE.

WE HAVE ADJUSTED THE
MAGNETIC FIELD TO COMPENSATE...

FOR THE NORMAL LOSS OF GRAVITATIONAL
EFFECT IN ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.

BUT YOUR WATCH HASN'T STOPPED.

FEEL YOUR PULSE.

I HAVEN'T ANY.

NEITHER HAVE I.

WE OPERATE IN A VERY
DIFFERENT TIME REFERENCE.

YOU MIGHT SAY, ALL THIS IS HAPPENING
BETWEEN THE TICKS OF YOUR WATCH,

OR THE BEATS OF YOUR
HEART. THAT'S WHY WE...

WE COULDN'T DECIPHER
YOUR MESSAGE.

UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE.

IT MADE IT NECESSARY FOR US TO
DEFEND OURSELVES AT SKY HOOK.

THEN, YOU SHOT
DOWN OUR 11 ROCKETS.

WHY?

AT THAT TIME, WE HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING
THEY WERE ONLY PRIMITIVE OBSERVATION POSTS.

WE THOUGHT THEY MIGHT BE
WEAPONS DIRECTED AGAINST US.

WHO ARE YOU? WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP IN
EXPLORING THE FIELD OF OUTER SPACE,

WE THOUGHT YOU COULD
BEST UNDERSTAND...

THAT WE ARE THE SURVIVORS OF
A DISINTEGRATED SOLAR SYSTEM.

AT THIS MOMENT, THE REMAINDER OF
OUR FLEET IS CIRCLING YOUR GLOBE.

[Whirring Sound]

THEY ARE AWAITING A SIGNAL
TO TELL THEM WHERE TO LAND.

WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH ME?

ARRANGE FOR YOUR WORLD LEADERS TO
CONFER WITH US IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON.

THEY MAY NOT LISTEN.
I'M ONLY A SCIENTIST.

WE WILL SHOW YOU HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO CONVINCE YOUR LEADERS.

IN AN INSTANT OF YOUR TIME,

WE TRAVEL FROM BEYOND YOUR
MOON TO THE SURFACE OR YOUR EARTH.

THERE WERE 300 MEN ON THAT SHIP.

SPEED, MANEUVERABILITY,
AND FORCE.

WITH A WEAPON LIKE THAT, WHY
DON'T YOU JUST LAND AND TAKE OVER?

TO DO THAT WOULD
CAUSE WORLDWIDE PANIC.

DESPITE OUR POWER, THE FEW OF
US WOULD BE BUSY INDEFINITELY...

TRYING TO SUPPRESS A
LARGE, HOSTILE POPULATION.

IN THE END, WE WOULD BE MASTERS
OF A WRECKED AND HUNGRY PLANET.

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU'LL
CONQUER US WITHOUT A FIGHT?

WE FELT IT WOULD BE BEST TO MEET
WITH YOU SO FIGHTING COULD BE AVOIDED.

SUCH AGREEMENTS HAVE
BEEN MADE ON EARTH BEFORE.

HOW DO YOU KNOW
SO MUCH ABOUT US?

WE HAVE THE MEANS OF
ACCUMULATING INFORMATION.

IF YOU WISH TO CONVINCE YOURSELF
ABOUT OUR DETAILED KNOWLEDGE, TEST US.

- ANY QUESTION.
- WHAT'S THE SIZE OF THE ARMED
FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES?

[Man's Voice, Echoing] IT IS APPROXIMATELY
THREE AND ONE-HALF MILLION MEN.

WH-WHAT TEAM HAS WON
THE MOST WORLD SERIES?

THE NEW YORK YANKEES.

WHO WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES?

WASHINGTON. I KNOW THAT VOICE!

- WHO ARE YOU?
- [Voice] JOHN HANLEY.

MY FATHER. WHAT
HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM?

[Alien Voice] YOU HAVE BEEN
ADDRESSING GENERAL HANLEY'S MIND.

NOT GENERAL HANLEY.
LOOK BEHIND YOU.

DAD!

HE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE YOU.

HE HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO A MACHINE WE
CALL AN "INFINITELY INDEXED MEMORY BANK."

WE HAVE TRANSFERRED ALL KNOWLEDGE
FROM HIS BRAIN TO OUR MACHINE.

THUS, WE HAVE AVAILABLE,
AND READILY ACCESSIBLE,

HIS TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

WE CAN DO THIS TO
AS MANY AS WE LIKE,

AND LEARN WHATEVER WE MUST KNOW.

OH, STOP IT! PLEASE STOP IT.

PUT THAT GUN AWAY!

DON'T LOOK AT THAT.

[Whirring Intensifies]

[Whining Sound]

[Alien Voice] THIS IS THE
BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS...

BY WHICH WE READ THE BRAIN FOR
THE INFINITELY INDEXED MEMORY BANK.

WHAT HAVE YOU
DONE WITH MY FATHER?

WE WILL RETURN HIM
TO YOU EVENTUALLY.

AND THE POLICE OFFICER TOO.

WILL YOU ARRANGE A
CONFERENCE FOR US?

WE WILL TELL THE AUTHORITIES YOU
WANT ONE... THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
COOPERATE WITH THESE MONSTERS!

IT MAY TAKE WEEKS OR
MONTHS TO SET IT UP!

YOU WILL HAVE TWO OF YOUR
LUNAR DAYS, OR 56 DAYS, EARTH TIME.

LET THEM KILL US NOW, AND
BE DONE WITH IT. PLEASE, CAROL.

IF OUR OFFICIALS DON'T BELIEVE
ME, I CAN'T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.

WHEN YOU TELL OF THE
DESTROYER BEING SUNK,

REFER TO LATITUDE 30
DEGREES, 20 MINUTES,

LONGITUDE 45
DEGREES, 15 MINUTES.

THEY WILL BELIEVE YOU.

WELL, SUPPOSE MAJOR HUGLIN, MY
WIFE, MYSELF, WERE ALL HYSTERICAL...

OR HYPNOTIZED OR
WHATEVER YOU'RE THINKING.

THAT WE NEVER SAW WHAT THESE FIENDS DID
TO GENERAL HANLEY OR THE POLICE OFFICER.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
THE DESTROYER?

THE ATLANTIC FLEET HAS LOST
CONTACT WITH A VESSEL IN THE AREA,

BUT THERE'S NO
CONFIRMATION OF A SINKING.

HOWEVER, WE'RE
CONTINUING TO CHECK.

[Another Man] YOU REALIZE YOUR
CONTACTING THE SAUCER IN THE FIRST PLACE...

VIOLATED OUR INSTRUCTIONS?

THIS MAY HAVE PLACED THE SAFETY
OF THE COUNTRY IN JEOPARDY.

NOW THAT THE DAMAGE IS DONE,
AND ASSUMING YOUR STORY IS VERIFIED,

ARE YOU PROPOSING THAT WE MEET
WITH THESE... THESE CREATURES...

AND YIELD TO THEIR DEMANDS?

AND WHY WASHINGTON? IF THEY WANT
TO PARLEY WITH THE WHOLE WORLD,

WHY DO THEY CHOOSE THE
CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES?

THEY APPEAR TO BE REALISTS, AND WASHINGTON
IS ONE OF THE CENTERS OF POLITICAL POWER.

WHAT ABOUT OUR ATOMIC
AND HYDROGEN WEAPONS?

WOULDN'T THEY BE EFFECTIVE
AGAINST THESE SAUCERS?

I'D LIKE TO ANSWER THAT
QUESTION, SIR, IF I MAY.

OUR ATOMIC WEAPONS MIGHT BE
EFFECTIVE, IF WE COULD DELIVER THEM.

BUT TO USE NUCLEAR POWER WHEN THEY
LAND WOULD DESTROY OUR OWN CITIES.

AND THEN WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER
THEY ARE VULNERABLE OR NOT.

IN ANSWER TO YOUR
QUESTION, MR. CASSIDY,

I'VE LEARNED A LITTLE ABOUT
THEIR MODE OF OPERATION.

AND I'VE GOT AN IDEA FOR
A NEW KIND OF WEAPON.

IT'S ONLY A GUESS, OF COURSE.

A NEW WEAPON, IN
LESS THAN 56 DAYS?

I HAVE AN IDEA FOR
AN ULTRASONIC GUN.

WITH ENOUGH SCIENTIFIC
AND ENGINEERING HELP,

WE COULD CONSTRUCT A WORKING
MODEL IN A VERY SHORT TIME.

MAYBE IT'LL WORK. IF NOT,
WE'LL KNOW SOON ENOUGH.

AND IN THE MEANTIME, YOU'LL BE WORKING
ON EVERY OTHER MEANS OF DEFENSE.

WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO USE EVERY
CONCEIVABLE WEAPON IF THEY LAND.

GENTLEMEN, PLEASE.

THE DESTROYER FRANKLIN EDISON WAS
SUNK AT LATITUDE 30 DEGREES, 20 MINUTES,

LONGITUDE 45
DEGREES, 15 MINUTES...

AT APPROXIMATELY 06:00.

WE ARE EXPECTED AT THE
WHITE HOUSE IN AN HOUR,

FOR A POLICY DECISION
THAT WILL PROBABLY INVOLVE...

NOT ONLY OUR OWN COUNTRY
BUT THE ENTIRE WORLD.

WHATEVER THE DECISIONS, YOU MAY BE
CERTAIN YOU'LL BE GIVEN EVERY ASSISTANCE...

IN TESTING YOUR THEORY.

I SUGGEST YOU START TO WORK
RIGHT AWAY. MAJOR HUGLIN...

WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR
WHATEVER FACILITIES YOU MAY REQUIRE.

THANK YOU.

- HELLO. HOW'S IT GOING?
- HI.

WELL, INSTEAD OF TURNING ELECTRIC
IMPULSES INTO ULTRA-HIGH-FREQUENCY SOUND,

WE NEARLY BURNED THE
PLACE UP ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.

WHAT?

[Russ] ALL RIGHT, LET'S TRY
IT OUT ON THE CEMENT BLOCK.

[Humming, Whistling]

ALL THE WAY.

WELL, THERE GOES YOUR GENERATOR.

BUT IT WORKED, RUSS.
IT WORKED, DIDN'T IT?

WE KNOW WHAT HIT
SKY HOOK. SOUND. WHAT?

SOUND? [Chuckles] HAVING TWO
SMALL BOYS AROUND THE HOUSE,

I KNOW THAT NOISE DOESN'T
DO A MAN MUCH GOOD, BUT...

BURN HIM UP, KNOCK
HIS HOUSE DOWN?

THE SOUND I HAD IN MIND
WAS OF A HIGHER WAVE

FREQUENCY THAN WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE.

THEN YOU MEAN WE'VE
GOT THE WEAPON?

NO, I'M AFRAID NOT.

WITH THE BEST MATERIALS AND CIRCUITS
AVAILABLE, ALL WE'VE SUCCEEDED IN DOING...

IS PULVERIZING THE
END OF A CEMENT BLOCK.

THE THEORY IS BEAUTIFUL.

WE DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS OR
THE MATERIALS TO MAKE IT WORK.

MAYBE IN TEN YEARS,
FIVE, EVEN TWO.

HOW MANY DAYS
LEFT? TWENTY-SEVEN.

RUSS, REMEMBER THAT REPORT
FROM DR. PATOK IN NEW DELHI?

HE SUGGESTED A
DIFFERENT APPROACH.

INSTEAD OF ATTEMPTING TO DUPLICATE
THE ULTRASONIC DEVICES OF OUR... VISITORS,

WE TRY TO INTERRUPT
THEIR MAGNETIC FIELD...

BY PROJECTING A HIGHLY
INTERMITTENT, INDUCED ELECTRICAL FIELD.

NOW, SUPPOSE WE
TAKE... OF COURSE!

WE CUT THE ULTRASONIC
WAVELENGTH INTO THE CIRCUIT,

AND KNOCK THEM DOWN LIKE
CLAY PIGEONS! NOT SO FAST, RUSS.

IT CAN WORK. IT CAN WORK.

HERE, MAJOR, GET
ON THE PHONE. YES?

WE'LL NEED THE LARGEST PORTABLE
GENERATOR THAT SCHENECTADY MAKES.

[Narrator] FROM ALL PARTS OF
THE GLOBE, UNDER TOP PRIORITY,

CAME EVERY FACILITY AND SCIENTIFIC HELP THE
GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD COULD FURNISH.

DR. MARVIN AND HIS STAFF ASSEMBLED
THESE MATERIALS IN A CONCEALED LABORATORY,

WHERE THEY WERE TO TRANSLATE A SHORT
EXPERIENCE IN A CRAFT FROM OUTER SPACE...

INTO A FORMULA, THEN PLANS,

AND FINALLY, A
FUNCTIONING REALITY.

IT'S ONLY A HOLLOW STEEL BALL,

BUT FOR OUR PURPOSES,
IT'S A FLYING SAUCER.

YOU CAN START UP
THE GENERATOR NOW.

[Buzzing]

THE MAGNET DOES
THAT, DOESN'T IT?

THE MAGNETIC ATTRACTION ABOVE IS ENOUGH TO
COUNTERACT THE PULL OF GRAVITY FROM BELOW.

[Whining, Rising In
Pitch And Intensity]

GO AHEAD, IT WAS YOUR IDEA.
YOU BE THE FIRST TO TRY IT.

MY IDEA? NONSENSE. IT WAS JUST AS
MUCH YOURS, AND DR. PATOK'S IN INDIA,

AND A DOZEN OTHER SCIENTISTS
ALL OVER THE WORLD. COME ON.

[Shrill Whistling]

IT WORKS! WORKS FINE.

RUSS, LOOK!

[Whining, Fluttering]

[Explosions]

WHAT WAS IT?

THE SAME KIND OF THING THAT'S WATCHED
US SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT.

WATCHED WHO? RUSS, AND ALL THE
DEVELOPMENTS OF THE ROCKET PROGRAM.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT
IT WAS ST. ELMO'S FIRE.

I'LL HAVE TO CHANGE
MY MIND ABOUT THAT.

WELL, WHATEVER IT WAS, THE SAUCERS
SENT IT DOWN TO FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE HAVE TELEVISION. THEY MAY HAVE
SOME TOTALLY DIFFERENT DEVICE...

THAT SERVES THE SAME PURPOSE.

WE'D BETTER GET TO WASHINGTON
BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO DROP IN ON US.

MAJOR, GIVE CUTTING A HAND, AND
LOAD THAT GUN ON THE GENERATOR TRUCK.

RIGHT. NEVER MIND
THE FILES, PROFESSOR.

I'LL TAKE THE DIAGRAMS.

WE OUGHT TO BE IN
WASHINGTON IN ABOUT AN HOUR.

I HOPE THEY HAVEN'T SPOTTED US.

LET'S PULL AWAY
FROM THE LAB. COME ON.

IF THAT SAUCER
STAYS IN FIRING RANGE,

WE MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE
THE GUN ITS FIRST REAL TEST.

SAUCER LANDING NEAR BELMONT LAB.

MAJOR HUGLIN CALLING FOR
AERIAL PROTECTION. OVER.

THEY'RE SENDING A BOMBER.

WE OUGHT TO GO ON WITH THOSE
DIAGRAMS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

I'LL GET THEM FROM
RUSS. I'LL GO WITH YOU.

FIRE UP THE GENERATOR. WE'RE
GONNA SEE IF THIS GUN REALLY WORKS.

- WHAT'S THE MATTER?
- CAN'T GET THIS
BLASTED THING STARTED.

[Engine Sputtering]

THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR US, ALL RIGHT.

[Engine Cranking]

RUSS, GETTING YOU AND
THE PLANS TO WASHINGTON

IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

SHE'S RIGHT. SHE'S RIGHT
IF THIS MACHINE WORKS.

IF NOT, IT DOESN'T
MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

[Engine Sputtering, Starting]

[Whistling]

IT WORKS! IF WE JUST
HAD A LITTLE MORE POWER.

RUSS, LET'S GO. PLEASE!
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

KEEP THE GUN CIRCLING OVERHEAD,
AND THE SAUCER WILL STAY AWAY.

RUSS, BE CAREFUL.

I THINK IT'S DEAD.

IT'S LIGHT AS A FEATHER.

[Russ] HUMANOID, AND ANCIENT.

THESE SUITS MUST SERVE AS AN
ELECTRONIC AND MECHANICAL OUTER SKIN.

TAKE THE PLACE OF THEIR
ATROPHIED FLESH AND MUSCLES.

I MUST GET THIS TO A LAB.

DON'T GO OUT THERE!
DON'T GO OUT THERE!

[Sobbing]

[Sobbing Continues]

OH, HERE ARE DOCTOR
AND MRS. MARVIN NOW.

CAROL. RUSS. WE'VE
BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.

THANKS. HOW DO YOU
DO. THIS IS DR. ALBERTS.

YOU KNOW GEN. EDMUNDS.
ADMIRAL ENRIGHT. YES.

CERTAINLY. AND MRS. MARVIN
IS GEN. HANLEY'S DAUGHTER.

MRS. MARVIN. YOUR FATHER'S DEATH
WAS A GREAT LOSS TO ALL OF US.

THANK YOU.

WELL, I SEE YOU'VE BEEN BUSY.

OH, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE
WORK. HERE, LET ME SHOW YOU.

DIDN'T TAKE TOO LONG TO
BREAK THIS THING DOWN.

THESE HELMETS HAVE A LANGUAGE
TRANSLATING DEVICE IN THEM.

MRS. MARVIN, WOULD YOU SAY
SOMETHING INTO THE MICROPHONE?

- THE QUALITY OF MERCY
IS NOT STRAINED.
- [Repeats In Alien Language]

IT DROPPETH AS THE
GENTLE RAIN FROM HEAVEN.

[Alien Translation]

SHAKESPEARE WOULDN'T
LIKE IT. [Chuckles]

PROFESSOR ALBERTS SAID IF WE
READ THE DICTIONARY INTO THE DEVICE,

WORD BY WORD, WE'D HAVE A TRANSLATION
OF THOSE WORDS INTO THEIR LANGUAGE.

BY TRANSLATING THEIR COMMUNICATIONS INTO
OUR WORDS, WE WERE ABLE TO DECODE THEM.

PROF. ALBERTS REQUISITIONED
THE ELECTRONIC TRANSLATOR...

WHICH HIS UNIVERSITY HAD DEVELOPED,
AND THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN STARTLING.

WE'VE RECORDED A NUMBER
OF THEIR MESSAGES ON TAPE.

ONE OF THE MESSAGES
APPEARS TO BE A PLAN OF ATTACK.

[Edmunds] THE REST WERE
OPERATIONAL ROUTINE.

I'LL SHOW YOU HOW IT
WORKED. OVER HERE.

[Machinery Humming]

[Humming Intensifies]

WE CAN EXPECT TROUBLE
WHEN MERCURY IS IN PERIHELION.

- WHEN WILL THAT BE?
- IT HAPPENS TWICE
EVERY THREE MONTHS.

INFORMATION THAT'S TOO
VAGUE TO BE OF ANY USE TO US.

- AND THE SUN IN CON POLARIS?
- THAT IMPLIES
AN ORBITAL RELATION...

BETWEEN THE STAR
POLARIS AND THE SUN.

WE'VE NEVER BEEN
ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

THE BLANKS PROBABLY REFER
TO THEIR TIME COMPUTATION.

BUT THESE MESSAGES
DO INVOLVE THE SUN.

PALOMAR AND THE OTHER OBSERVATORIES
ARE WATCHING IT AROUND THE CLOCK.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE A
NEWER AND STRONGER VERSION...

OF OUR INTERFERENCE MACHINE ON
THE DRAWING BOARDS AT ABERDEEN.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY DETERMINATION
OF THE WEAPON'S USEFUL RANGE?

THERE'S A WEAKNESS.

OUR INSTRUMENTS INDICATE
THAT THE POTENTIAL EFFECT...

DROPS OFF SHARPLY
AFTER 1500 YARDS.

WE'LL HAVE TO HOPE
THAT THAT'S ENOUGH.

WELL, MAYBE WE'LL BE READY
FOR THEM WHEN THEY COME.

- ANYONE TRIED THAT HELMET ON?
- YES, WE HAVE.

I THINK YOU'D BE
INTERESTED. TRY IT.

IT WEIGHS ONLY A FEW GRAMS.

WHAT'S IT MADE OF?
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY.

"SOLIDIFIED ELECTRICITY" IS THE FANCY NAME
GIVEN TO IT BY THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS.

IT RESISTS EVERYTHING
WE USED ON IT,

INCLUDING THE MOST
EXTREME TEMPERATURES.

[Muffled] IT MAKES ME
SUPERMAN, FOR ONE THING.

- YES, WE KNOW.
- I HAVE A PECULIAR RANGE
OF VISION.

I CAN ALSO HEAR A YOUNG MAN
JUST OUTSIDE THAT WINDOW...

DISCUSSING A PROBLEM
IN ADVANCED BIOLOGY.

CAROL, WOULD
YOU SEE IF I'M RIGHT?

[Man] SO I TOOK HER HOME AND WHEN I
KISSED HER GOOD NIGHT, SHE SLAPPED MY FACE.

SO I SAID, "WHAT'S THE IDEA? I DIDN'T SLAP
YOURS WHEN YOU ORDERED A $4.00 STEAK."

YOU KNOW, JUST AS WE NEED
GLASSES AND HEARING AIDS,

THESE PEOPLE NEED ELECTRONIC
AMPLIFICATION OF ALL THEIR SENSES,

ESPECIALLY SIGHT AND HEARING.

DOES THAT SUGGEST ANYTHING TO
YOU? THEY HAVE THEIR WEAKNESSES.

WHEN WILL WE BE READY? WE'LL
NEED AT LEAST A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

[Alien Voice] PEOPLE
OF EARTH, ATTENTION!

PEOPLE OF EARTH, ATTENTION!

THIS IS A VOICE SPEAKING TO YOU FROM
THOUSANDS OF MILES BEYOND YOUR PLANET.

THIS IS A VOICE
SPEAKING TO YOU...

FROM THOUSANDS OF
MILES BEYOND YOUR PLANET.

LOOK TO YOUR SUN FOR A WARNING.

LOOK TO YOUR SUN FOR A WARNING.

FOLLOWING ERUPTIONS ON YOUR SUN,
THERE WILL BE EIGHT DAYS AND NIGHTS...

OF METEOROLOGICAL
CONVULSIONS. TURN IT DOWN.

SOON THEREAFTER, WE WILL LAND IN
FORCE. THEY'RE ARROGANT ENOUGH,

ANNOUNCING THEIR SCHEDULE IN
ADVANCE. THEY'RE COMING TO TAKE OVER.

THEY MADE THAT CLEAR
TO US IN THE SAUCER.

THEY CAN MOVE SO
FAST AND STRIKE SO HARD,

THEY OUGHT TO BE ABLE
TO SNEAK IN AND FLATTEN US.

THEY EXPECT TO TERRIFY
US WITH A DISPLAY OF POWER.

THEY'RE CONTEMPTUOUS
OF OUR DEFENSES.

[Alien Continues] PEOPLE
OF THE EARTH, ATTENTION!

THIS IS A VOICE SPEAKING TO
YOU FROM THOUSANDS OF MILES...

IF I'M RIGHT, THEY'LL SAIL INTO
WASHINGTON IN BROAD DAYLIGHT...

AND EXPECT US TO
CAPITULATE WHEN THEY LAND.

SPEAKING TO YOU FROM THOUSANDS
OF MILES BEYOND YOUR PLANET.

PEOPLE OF EARTH, ATTENTION!

PEOPLE OF EARTH, ATTENTION!

THIS IS A VOICE SPEAKING TO YOU FROM
THOUSANDS OF MILES BEYOND YOUR PLANET.

THIS IS A VOICE
SPEAKING TO YOU...

FROM THOUSANDS OF
MILES BEYOND YOUR PLANET.

LOOK TO YOUR SUN FOR A WARNING.

LOOK TO YOUR SUN FOR A WARNING.
IT'S COMING OVER EVERYWHERE.

FOLLOWING ERUPTIONS ON YOUR SUN,

THERE WILL BE EIGHT DAYS AND NIGHTS
OF METEOROLOGICAL CONVULSIONS.

SOON THEREAFTER... PANIC CAN
IMMOBILIZE THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

[Alien Announcement
Continues] THE WHOLE WORLD.

LET ALL NATIONS BE REPRESENTED
IN WASHINGTON TO CONFER WITH US...

[Alien Speaking In Spanish]

[Chinese]

[Russian]

[French]

[Announcement Continues]

PEOPLE OF EARTH, ATTENTION!

[Narrator] IN EVERY COUNTRY OF
THE WORLD, IN EVERY LANGUAGE,

EVERY MEANS OF ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATION WAS JAMMED WITH THE MESSAGE.

THE WARNING WAS DINNED INTO THE
EARS OF THE EARTH'S POPULATION...

UNCEASINGLY FOR 12 HOURS.

AND AFTER THE
12th HOUR, SILENCE.

THEN, A TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION...

ON THE SURFACE OF THE SUN.

NINE DAYS? THAT MUST BE
WHAT THE MISSING WORDS MEANT.

I GET THE PICTURE. THANKS.

IF I NEED ANY MORE INFORMATION,
I'LL CALL YOU BACK. GOOD-BYE.

THAT WAS THE BUREAU
OF METEOROLOGY.

AS WE KNOW, SUNSPOTS HAVE A
DIRECT EFFECT UPON OUR WEATHER.

WE CAN EXPECT HEAVY STORMS,
TIDAL WAVES, HURRICANES. WHEN?

BEGINNING NOW AND
CONTINUING FOR EIGHT DAYS.

THAT'S WHEN WE MOST NEED OUR
COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT.

WE'LL HAVE TO WORK UNDER
THE WORST POSSIBLE CONDITIONS...

TO PREPARE FOR AN ATTACK.
WHAT'S THE SCHEDULE, GENERAL?

YOU'RE WORKING ON THE INSTALLATION
OF THE INTERFERENCE UNITS.

OUR PLANS FOR EVACUATING
THE CITY ARE ALREADY UNDER WAY.

THEN IT'S BEEN DECIDED
THAT WE'LL FIGHT?

WHEN AN ARMED POWER LANDS IN OUR CAPITAL,
WE DON'T MEET HIM WITH TEA AND COOKIES.

THERE'S A JOB OF PRODUCTION
EXPEDITING WAITING FOR ME.

I DON'T BELIEVE FURTHER
DISCUSSION WILL SOLVE OUR PROBLEM.

BEFORE WE BREAK UP, LET
ME REMIND YOU THAT WE HAVE...

NINE DAYS LEFT.

ONE OF THOSE DAYS
IS ALREADY HALF GONE.

WHAT A NICE GOING-AWAY PRESENT.

YOU MIGHT CALL IT THAT.
IS MY BAG PACKED? MM-HM.

MINE TOO. WHAT TIME DO WE LEAVE?

I HAVE TO LEAVE RIGHT NOW.

I'M GOING TO ABERDEEN TO
SUPERVISE THE INTERFERENCE PROJECT.

SO THAT WASN'T A
HELLO KISS AT ALL.

IT WAS GOOD-BYE.
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE
TOWN. THEY'RE EVACUATING WASHINGTON.

WHERE AM I GOING? PALM SPRINGS.

REMEMBER THE PLACE
I TOLD YOU ABOUT?

MM-HM.

WE WERE GOING THERE
TOGETHER. I KNOW.

YOUR PLANE LEAVES TONIGHT.

RUSS, LET ME STAY.
MAYBE I CAN HELP.

THERE'S NOTHING MORE YOU CAN DO.

HERE'S YOUR TICKET.

YOU'LL ARRIVE BEFORE
THE BAD WEATHER SETS IN.

AND I'LL BE THERE SOON.

[Narrator] FIRST OF MAN'S VITAL
COMMUNICATIONS TO SUFFER...

WERE THE SHIPPING
LANES AND AIRWAYS.

THEN, TRANSPORT BY RAIL...

AND HIGHWAY GROUND TO A HALT.

WHEN THE TELEPHONE AND
TELEGRAPH SYSTEMS HAD FAILED,

AND THE RADIO NETWORKS WERE
FORCED TO BEAR THE BURDEN ALONE,

THEY TOO SUCCUMBED
TO INTERFERENCE...

KNOWN TO ORIGINATE IN AN
INCREASING DISTURBANCE IN THE SUN.

THE WORLD, CRIPPLED
BY THESE EVENTS,

WAITED FOR THE FIRST SIGN...

OF AN INVASION FROM OUTER SPACE.

BECAUSE OF THE
ATMOSPHERIC VIOLENCE,

IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE NINTH DAY
THAT AN ORDERLY EVACUATION...

OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON
COULD BE ATTEMPTED.

ALTHOUGH THE AUTHORITIES AND
THE MILITARY WORKED MIRACLES,

WHEN THE TENTH DAY DAWNED, MORE
THAN 60% OF THE PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON...

WERE STILL IN THE
METROPOLITAN AREA.

TAKE THESE TO
THE C.I.C. YES, SIR.

- [Knocking On Door]
- MRS. MARVIN.

YOUR HUSBAND TOLD ME
YOU WERE IN PALM SPRINGS.

THE PLANE SCHEDULES WERE
CANCELLED BEFORE I COULD GET AWAY.

HAVE YOU HEARD FROM RUSS?

THERE'S BEEN PRACTICALLY
NO COMMUNICATION

WITH ABERDEEN. WIRES
ARE DOWN, RADIO JAMMED.

BUT I'M EXPECTING A COURIER
ANY MINUTE. [Air Raid Siren Wails]

[Phone Ringing]

- A RED ALERT.
- [Sirens Blaring]

[Barking]

[Klaxon Buzzing]

[Air Raid Sirens
Continue In Distance]

[Man] SAUCER HEADING IN LOW
OVER THE ATLANTIC, COMING IN FAST.

[High-Pitched Whirring]

THEY'RE BREAKING
THROUGH OUR DEFENSES.

GROUND ALL AIRCRAFT.

THEY'LL BE OVERHEAD ANY MINUTE.
YOU'D BETTER GET DOWN TO THE SHELTER.

[Ringing]

WAIT A MOMENT, MRS. MARVIN.

TRUCK CONVOYS FROM ABERDEEN
ARE TAKING UP POSITIONS IN THE CITY.

YOUR HUSBAND'S SECTION IS
NEARING THE PENTAGON. THANKS.

[High-Pitched Whirring]

[Confused Shouting]

[Interference Beam Droning]

[Unstable Whirring]

MOBILE UNIT CALLING G.H.Q. SAUCER
HIT AND DOWN IN THE POTOMAC.

[Screaming]

KEEP IT IN YOUR FIELD
SO IT CAN'T FIRE AT US.

[Water Bubbling]

[High-Pitched Whine]

KEEP FIRING AT THE
SAUCER UNTIL IT CRASHES.

RUSS! RUSS!

CAROL, I THOUGHT YOU'D GONE TO...
[Radio: Man] G.H.Q. CALLING ALL H.F. UNITS.

G.H.Q. CALLING ALL H.F. UNITS.

SAUCER HOVERING VICINITY
WHITE HOUSE AND CAPITOL.

[Engine Starting,
Gears Grinding]

ATTENTION ALL UNITS. SAUCER
NOW LANDING VICINITY WHITE HOUSE...

[Static] ATTENTION ALL UNITS...
SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE JAMMING US.

[Bullets Ricocheting]

[Gunfire Continues]

[Beam Droning]

[Unstable Whirring]

[Screaming, Yelling]

[Droning]

[Unstable Whirring]

[Screaming]

[Droning]

[Unstable Whirring]

[Beam Whining]

[People Screaming]

- [Droning]
- [Weakened Whirring]

DR. MARVIN! DR. MARVIN! WE'VE
MADE CONTACT WITH G.H.Q.

G.H.Q. TO ALL H.F. UNITS. ATTENTION. SAUCER
HAS LANDED IN FRONT OF CAPITOL BUILDING.

ALL H.F. UNITS, ATTENTION!

G.H.Q. TO ALL H.F. UNITS.

KEEP FIRING AT SAUCERS.

[Air Raid Sirens
Sound "All Clear"]

[Man On Radio] THE
PRESENT DANGER IS ENDED.

THE PRESENT DANGER IS ENDED.

THE PRESENT DANGER IS ENDED.

THE PRESENT DANGER IS ENDED.

ALL UNITS REPORT TO YOUR
COMMANDERS FOR FURTHER ORDERS.

THE PRESENT DANGER IS ENDED.

DON'T WRIGGLE.
HERE'S WHAT IT SAYS.

"THE PRESIDENT HAS ORDERED
PROJECT SKY HOOK REBUILT...

"AND THE SPACE EXPLORATION
PROGRAM CONTINUED...

"UNDER THE DIRECTION
OF DR. RUSSELL A. MARVIN.

"THE UNITED NATIONS ASSEMBLY
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TODAY...

TO AWARD A GOLD
MEDAL TO DR. MARVIN."

AND TO MRS. MARVIN GOES A
GOLD MEDAL FROM DR. MARVIN...

FOR HER LOVE, COURAGE, DEVOTION,

ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

RUSS, DO YOU THINK
THERE ARE ANY MORE?

WILL THEY COME BACK AGAIN?

NOT ON SUCH A NICE DAY.

AND NOT TO SUCH A NICE WORLD.

I'M GLAD IT'S STILL
HERE. AND STILL OURS.