Mars Needs Women (1968) - full transcript

Ruth?

Ruth!

Well, when did
you decipher?

At exactly 04:00.

Let's have it!

It's just 3 words.

I didn't ask

for a word count.

Give me
the message.

You won't
believe it.

We've checked
and double-checked.



It keeps coming up
the same thing.

Colonel,
the message is:

"Mars needs women."

You're it?

I'm it.

Since you want
to limit the press,

you give me
the handouts.

I'll feed
the news pool.

I trust we won't
disappoint them.

I'll see to it
that you get everything

short of
classified information.

And anything
"in the national interest"?

I don't have
to be reminded

of the ground rules,
stemmons.



Well then,
colonel,

maybe we can start
with this question:

Just how long have
we been receiving

these mysterious
signals from outer space?

3 days.

Do we know
from where

or from whom
they are coming?

We do not.

Well, here's the
$64 million question.

We know you wouldn't
have come down here

at this hour after all
the sleep you've lost

in the last
3 days

if the message
had not been decoded.

What is
the message?

That information
will have to be

given to you
from another level.

From the presid--

did you
cut me off?

I'm sorry to trouble you
at this hour, Mr. Secretary.

That's quite
all right.

Where are
we, bob?

The code
is broken.

Trouble?

Big!

Security?

I have the lid
on tight.

Well, take it
off for me.

The message is:

"Mars needs women."

Mars needs--

hmmm.

It's a gag!
It's a prank!

It's a fake!

I don't
think so, sir.

As you're
well aware,

we've been receiving
these signals

for the past
3 days now.

It's progressively
stronger

and always
the same rhythmic log.

The patterns
we have broken

are distinct
and repetitive.

The readout
has been confirmed

by the
8600 transponder.

The final message,

just those
3 words?

Well, I know
it's crazy.

It could be
a password.

It's not
a distress signal,

its intermittence
is perfect.

I...I'm going to have
to relay the message

to the president
on the hot line.

Oh, um...

About the
press, sir,

they voted
on stemmons

to feed the pool.

You know what
that means.

Now, we'll
risk panic

if we give out
too much information.

Well, we'll
guarantee panic

if we don't
give out enough.

So, open up.

Our story can be that
this is nothing more

than a freakish
malfunction

of a highly
sophisticated

global com system.

That'll be all. I'll take
it from here, bob.

Yes, sir.

Mr. President?

The rhythmic log changed

while you were
in the solo room.

They're going
to communicate.

Communicate?

They have
a condition:

We must agree
to shut down

everything
that scans.

Only radio
can stay hot.

Ultimatums...

Ultimatums
from an enemy

we haven't even
seen yet!

Sir, how can we be
sure it is an enemy?

Let's go.

Kill the servos,

Transponders,

doppler relays.

Attention, monitor 1.

Do you read us?

Reading loud
and clear.

We have attempted

to seize 3 women
by transponder.

We have been
unsuccessful.

Now we come
in person.

Prepare for
materialization.

What do
you mean

"materialization"?

Forgive me.

I forget
the scientific distances

that
separate us.

In the center
of the room, please.

All earthmen
clear

for a space
of 3 yards.

I will
join you

as soon
as it is clear.

You reach for me,

you try to
restrain me,

and just as
I materialized,

so I will
disappear.

Everyone back.
Don't try anything!

My name is dop.

I come from canali
primary debarkation,

red planet mars.

We have been
spaceborne for 70 days

and we have
maintained a constant

of 25,000
miles per hour.

We have asked you to
neutralize all scans

that may locate us

or determine
our silhouette.

We have complied.

Now you must
disclose your mission!

We come
not as hostiles.

We are medical
missionaries.

A critical recession
in the y chromosomes

in our genetics

has resulted
in a preponderance

of male births
over female.

The ratio is now
100-to-1.

Advanced techniques
have failed

to solve
this problem.

Therefore,
we have come

these 50 million miles
to your earth.

Will you define
your mission?

Ours is an
experimental voyage.

Our craft is small,
a crew of 5,

but with room for
5 more passengers

to return to mars.

We seek female
volunteers,

unmarried,
of good health

and possessing
the common indicators

of fertility
and reproduction.

Why, your suggestion
is insane!

We are
in earnest!

The life of our planet
depends upon this.

Although
we may sympathize

with your problem,

yours is still
an overt action

of abduction
and war.

We demand that you
abort your mission

and return
to mars.

It is unfortunate

that you do not
choose to cooperate.

Under the
circumstances,

I return
to my ship

to carry out
our mission with

or without
your cooperation.

In 30 seconds,

we will begin
radio silence.

You will not hear
from us again

until our cargo
is secured

and we are well
on our return

to the
planet mars.

Well, stemmons,

at least
you've heard the story.

Tell it.

And at the united nations

in new york,

our ambassador
has called

for an
emergency meeting

of the
security council.

He urged a cessation
of all world conflicts

so that
we may unite

to meet the threat
from outer space.

He called
the martians

the world's first
common enemy!

And here
in washington,

the capitol

is stunned
by the macabre situation.

There is no panic,
just paralysis,

as the most powerful
nation on earth

is humbled by 5 men
in a space cylinder

hurtling toward

the approximate
vicinity of

houston, texas.

Short otter to cheetah.

Short otter to cheetah.

This is 15--

they're sending up the x-15.

Cheetah 15,
go ahead short otter--

Trouble on cheetah.
Trouble on cheetah.

Advise. Repeat.

Advise, advise.

Why have you broken
retaliation silence?

I have been stopped

at 40,000 feet.

No explanation.

Instruments okay,
but it's like

I've hit a brick wall
every time I push up.

Condensation, fuelling?

Negative. Negative.

Advise.

Short otter
to cheetah.

This is exit.
This is exit.

Are you still
over desert?

Roger.

Limits?

No limits.

You must drop warhead

and return
to base.

Jettison.

You must touch down
before missile hits floor,

or it's
certain destruction.

Roger.

I'm ready to jettison.

You must touch down

before warhead
reaches desert floor.

Roger.

And now, this latest

from the strategic air
command headquarters:

Jets have been
finally ordered aloft

for interception.

As you heard earlier,

the command
was reluctant to order

any retaliatory
maneuver or interception

until there was
positive identification

of the visitors

or at least
a silhouette.

But the radar,
rendered impotent

by the martians,
has made this impossible.

Obviously,
this is a desperate

hit-or-miss interception,

in which
the command

can hope for
at least a visual sighting.

Otter to formation. Over.

Otter, this is 23.

MY VUs ARE
ACTING CRAZY.

Altimeter, fuel,
dme, everything!

This is 2-1. Same here.

My panel's
gone haywire.

Nothing
reading right.

Otter to big pad.

Read you, otter.

Have you lost
your panel video?

Voice still loud
and clear. Over.

Report malfunction

of panel instruments
on all aircraft.

All went out
simultaneously.

Request orders. Over.

Roger.
Return to base. Repeat.

Return to base.
Over.

Wilco.

They've neutralized
everything that scans,

but they've left us
voice channels.

Does that mean
they can't

knock out our
big transmitters?

Any intelligence
that can neutralize

our big dishes
on the coast

could certainly
kill our voice.

No! There's some
other reason.

But what, sir?

Well, they're letting us
keep our big voice

because voice
can't determine

their silhouette
and locate them.

And there's
another reason.

They can listen
to us burn

and enjoy their
superiority
all the more.

What do we
do now, sir?

We do the only thing
we can do:

Wait!

Wait,
wait, marv.

I believe
I got somethin'.

Burt, look!
Look!

We'd better
get out of here.

We've both
had too many.

And don't you say
a word about this

to claire, either.

She'd say
that red flare

was a pink
elephant.

Our first concern

is chemicals.

We need brine,
ammonias,

salts and sodium.

The necessary chemicals
are here.

Our information
was correct.

This ice plant
hasn't produced
for years.

Yes, our scale model
was quite accurate.

Our timetable
is plotted

very carefully,
so listen.

Our 70 days in space
have produced

no apparent ill effects,
but some warnings.

Doctor?

You've already
noticed the change

in surface gravity.

You're twice as heavy
as you were on mars.

You will
tire quickly.

So rest
whenever possible.

Choose your motions
carefully.

Since our tenure
on earth will be

for only 24 hours,

do not, repeat,

do not eat
any of the earth food.

You must continue
your encapsulated diet

from the tubes.

What if there
is resistance?

Fellow 3, this is a
non-hostile mission.

I see no reason
for violence.

If, however,
you are confronted,

you may resort to
the use of hypnosis.

Our immediate needs
are earth apparel,

an automobile,
earth currency

and a map of the city
and its environs.

Fellow 2, you and
I will remain behind

to check power lines
and supplies.

And to see what
must be done

to make operation
sleep freeze a reality.

Fellow 3,
currency and a city map

are your
assignments.

The best place for this
is a fuel stop

which the
earthmen call

"filling stations."

Fellow 4,

transportation is
your responsibility.

We cannot buy
or rent a vehicle,

so it must
be borrowed.

To take just
any automobile

would invite interference
from the police.

We must be sure
that the lender

will not miss the car
for at least 24 hours.

Fellow 5,

your assignment
is earth apparel.

Now, make your strike

at the first shopping complex
you come to.

The locks
on these doors

are of crude
tri-tumbler design

and should present
no problem to you

with the air-knife.

Remember,
sizes must be exact

from shoes
to ties.

So follow carefully
the conversion charts

between mars
and the earth planet.

These ties serve
no functional purpose.

Red planet abandoned
the use of ties

50 years ago as
useless male vanity.

It simply reveals
the environmental naivete

of the earthmen.

Well, apparently,
we've made

our conversion
to earthmen

with no ill effects.

It's unfortunate
that fellow 3

saw fit to disable
the fuel-station attendant.

My action was
dictated by expediency.

Well, we'll hope that it
will be dismissed

as part of a juvenile
crime wave

that grips
earth's cities.

You've been well rehearsed
in every conceivable

situation you will
encounter as earthmen,

even to the use
of earth slang.

And you are now,

for all
practical purposes,

earthmen.

Doctor.

Our time
is short,

considering that
in the next 20 hours,

each of us
must survey, choose,

examine
the medical records of,

and abduct
a female

meeting the exacting
qualifications

of operation
sleep freeze.

Since the earthmen,
especially the americans,

seem to place
their faith in "luck"

rather than
scientific certainties,

I wish you
all "luck."

Having to maintain
this snail's pace

is very
frustrating.

I know,
but we can't risk

being stopped
by the police.

♪

♪

May we have a large
double room, please?

Have you
a reservation?

No.

I'm sorry.

It's out
of the question.

We're
completely booked.

It's this
martian scare.

Every newspaperman
in the country

must be here.

It's bad enough
when we have

a space shoot,
but with all this talk

about the
martians

coming to take us girls,
it's the limit.

I guess they have
to sell their newspapers.

They have
to sell newspapers,

and you have
to sell rooms.

Huh?

Yeah, sure, um...

You could wait
upstairs in the bar

and if we have
a cancellation,

we can call you.

That'd be very good
of you. Thank you.

Uh-huh.

What was
that name?

♪

May we have
2 martinis, please?

How long have
you been in texas, mister?

You must be one of
those reporter fellas.

You can't get
a mixed drink here in texas.

Beer or wine?

2 beers,
please.

2 beers.

And a spokesman

from monitor 1,

the united states
surveillance center,

confirmed the fact
that top military

and cabinet officers
have been summoned

to the center
from washington.

After meeting
nothing but big brass

and tight-lipped
politicians all day,

reporters had
a pleasant surprise

when one expert
jetted into

houston's international
airport.

Dr. Marjorie bolen
turned out

to be
a stunning brunette

who found it
hard to hide her charm

behind her
horn-rimmed spectacles.

Dr. Bolen wrote her thesis
on space medicine

and received a pulitzer prize
for her book space genetics.

Dr. Bolen will be part of
a high-level meeting

scheduled at monitor 1
for tomorrow morning.

A briefing for newsmen
has been set

for tonight
at the holiday inn.

That's network news
for this hour.

Bulletins will be issued
when received.

Stay tuned now
for the sports picture.

This promises
to be an exciting weekend

for the football fans
both in college games

and pro games
slated to be televised.

♪ Long, long ago ♪

♪ when the world was
very, very young ♪

♪ in the spring,
when the first of the... ♪

They didn't
touch a drop.

Those reporters!

I wonder...

What, doctor?

What if one
of our candidates

for operation
sleep freeze

just happened to be
well versed in genetics,

both fundamentally
and as it applies to space?

And?

And she just
happened to be

blessed
physically, too.

Anatomically
speaking.

I wonder
if she's single.

That can
be confirmed,

just as her
medical history

can be
determined

by one long-distance
call from me.

Let's investigate.

We'll, ah...

We'll need
a press card.

And we've got to
get a room

at the base
of operations.

The others
may be trying

to contact us
by radio.

Come with me.

I'm with
the houston post.

I'm expecting some
reporter friends

of mine from
the west coast.

A Mr. Ross
and a Mr. Miller.

The only recent arrival's

from the west.

Let's see, there's a mister...
A Mr. Fast from seattle.

He's with
the seattle sun.

Fast. That's it.
Yes.

May I have his
room number, please?

Just checked
into 303.

303. Thank you very much,
operator.

In exactly
5 minutes,

go to room 303
and apologize to Mr. Fast

for having
rented him my room.

You'll have to resort
to the hypnotic state.

Well, we don't have
time for anything else.

But what about when
he comes out of hypnosis?

I'll induce
a post-hypnotic mode

and send him back
to seattle.

It's a long chance.

Well, time is short.

We have to
take long chances.

5 minutes.

Yes?

Excuse me, Mr. Fast,
I'm with the hotel.

A previous occupant
left behind a hat.

I wonder if
I could pick it--

yeah, yeah, yeah, sure.
Come right on in.

Feel free just
to look around.

I'm sure it's around
here someplace.

I'm trying to get
through with the wife

on the phone. It's
very important.

Go look around.

Hello?

Hello, operator?

Yes.

This is Mr. Fast.

I'm trying to get
a hold of my wife

on the phone
in seattle.

And I talked to
her friend...

All right. Well
then, thank you.

Sorry to have
troubled you, Mr. Fast.

No! No trouble
at all.

Have you seen
the view from this room?

View? View?

Are you afraid
of heights, Mr. Fast?

Heights? Heights?
I don't follow you?

Of course,

we're only
3 stories high.

But if you
look down,

you'll see
that heights have

their own power
of persuasion.

No, but
really, mister--

it would take
more than that.

Persuasion,
Mr. Fast,

persuasion,
suggestion,

making you
want to do...

Deeply...

To do my will...

My will,
Mr. Fast.

You will do
as I say.

You will do
my will.

Will...

Yes.

You are now
in a hypnotic trance.

You can help us, Mr. Fast,
on this mission.

First, give me
your press card.

In a moment,
you will wake up,

but you will be

in a post-hypnotic
state for 24 hours.

You will discover
that you have lost

your press card

and you will go
back to seattle.

Back...to seattle.

And there, you will be able
to conduct your business

as though nothing
had happened,

as though this had
never transpired.

Yes.

When I snap
my fingers,

you will leave the
first level of hypnosis,

but you will remain
in a post-hypnotic state.

Yes, it is a lovely view.

Come in.

I'm very sorry, Mr. Fast,
about the mix-up.

No, no. No
problem at all.

It's all my mistake,
all the way around.

Funny....

What seems
to be the problem?

I seem to have
misplaced my press card.

Sorry about that.

Oh, no sweat,
I probably left it

on the dresser
at home.

I won't need it
anyway.

That is, unless
you know

of some
out-of-the-way place.

No, I guess
you wouldn't.

I'll, ah...

Get my suitcase.

We can't risk
voice response.

There's no way of knowing
what they're doing

or who they're with.

But I would like
at least a condition green.

Condition green,
intermittent.

He reads us but doesn't
think it's safe to send.

Let's go to 4.

He's constant.
He's going to send.

Go ahead, 4.
We read.

Fellow 4, here,
calling red planet top com.

We read you.

4, signal is weak.

Advise.

Signal dissipated

because I'm in
phone housing, airport.

Is there
a progress report?

Report yellow.

Several subjects
rejected.

Now have
excellent lead

under surveillance.

Does the new
subject conform

to basic
specifications?

The subject meets
physical specs,

at least
superficially.

What about
marital?

Can you be
sure of status?

At this point,
I can only be as sure

as the airline
that hired her.

Understood.

Keep subject under
surveillance. Out.

2 down,
1 to go.

Malfunction?

No, the signal
is circuited.

Then he's either
not responding

or he can't hear us.

♪

♪

Who are you?

What do you want?

Get out of here!

Ah! Ah!

Ah!

Operator, this is
Mr. Fast in 303.

Would you
please tell me

where dr. Bolen's
news conference

is taking place?

Thank you,
operator.

Would you like to
see my subject close up?

No, I've got
my own subject to find.

Your subjects
are night people,

but co-eds
are early risers.

I want to be
on the campus at sunup.

This double weight
I've been carrying

has tired me.

No, I'd better
turn in.

This dr. Bolen
intrigues me.

Yes, with her knowledge
of both earth

and extraterrestrial
medicine,

she could be the
most valuable cargo

we could
take to mars.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

I guess this
martian scare

was another joke
we fell for, huh?

Yeah, we weren't sure
for a while though,

were we?

Just like these
flying saucers.

Why now, we really
fell for that one,

didn't we? Heh-heh.

We sure did.
It takes me back

to that radio
show years ago.

Lets see,
what was it? Ah...

Invasion from mars.

Something like that,
remember?

No, that was
before your time.

That was about
30 years ago.

And it was the darndest
thing you ever heard.

Why, people were faintin'
all over the country.

Heh-heh.

You know, there was
even a heart attack

or 2 'cause of it.

Imagine, with our rockets

and space programs
and all,

that we should let
some practical joker

get on our
defense system

and just scare the
daylights out of us.

Do you think
they're gonna catch

the prankster
that did this?

You know, I just wonder
what the guy's feeling like

right now, you know?

Gettin' us
all stirred up,

and spendin'
all that money,

and sendin' up
those planes...

Well, the girls
they take to mars are going

to have it great,
won't they, doctor?

100 men
to every woman!

Just like washington

during wwii,
remember?

No, it was
the other way around,

wasn't it, fellas?

20 girls
to every man.

Gentlemen,
I left some students

who are seriously
trying to find out

about themselves and
their environment,

and came here
at the request

of my government
because I thought

I could be
of some service.

I agreed to this interview
because

my special interest
in education

should throw
some light

on what's happening.

Now, obviously,
you think it's a big joke.

Unless someone can

come up with
a pertinent question

relating to the
emergency that exists,

this interview
is over!

Dr. Bolen...

Yes.

Fast,
seattle sun.

There's been
a lot of talk

about
breaking the code.

The new discoveries
regarding

the structure
of the dna molecule,

and the non-chromosomal
factors

involved
in genetics.

Doesn't this suggest
that what happened

on mars
could happen here?

Well, it looks like
at least one newspaper

sent a medical reporter
instead of

ambulance chasers.

That's correct,
Mr. Fast.

The public is not yet
fully informed on dna

and our attempts
to break the genetic code.

However,
experiments with

white mice mutations
have thrown a new light

on the dominant
or recessive natures

of these mutants--

at least enough
to establish a possibility

of an imbalance
in the ratio of births.

Then you're saying
these martians,

if they exist,
could be mutants,

odd-looking
creatures,

like something
out of

a science-fiction
movie?

No, Mr. Stemmons.

It's just that
no real insight

into genetics
is possible

without an
understanding

of mutations.

Now, it's very presumptuous
of us to believe

that martians are
going to be any different

than we are.

It's merely a freak
in their genetic code

that has brought
them to this planet.

And I'm sure
they don't plan to harm us,

at least not yet.

And now, if you'll
excuse me, gentlemen,

I must
prepare for

monitor 1
meeting tomorrow.

Stemmons, usp.

Fast,
seattle sun.

Say, you know,

you made a monkey
outta these guys.

I'm afraid they can't
take it all too seriously.

How about you?

I think it's a strange vanity
that makes us think

we're the only ones
in the solar system.

You know, you make
a lot of sense.

Say, I'm in charge
of pool info

out of monitor 1.

I'm sure I
could arrange

to have you help
me in the booth.

After all, I could
use an interpreter.

It would be
a pleasure.

Good. See you
at monitor 1.

Thank you,
Mr. Fast.

For what?

For keeping this
session from becoming

completely useless.

Boy, after my flight
and a million jokes

about sex in space,
I just feel like i'm--

you're bushed.

Yes, that's
the word for it.

Oh, please. I--i didn't
mean for you to go.

Aren't you tired?

Emotionally, yes,
but I don't think

I could sleep
a wink now if I tried.

You know what i'd
really like to do?

I'm not very good
at guessing.

That's right,
the scientific mind:

Facts only.

I guess I'm really,
deep down,

like those reporters
out there.

I just can't believe

we have visitors
from mars.

Right now,
I'd like to be

as far away from
scientific thinking

as possible,

in the most
unlikely atmosphere.

Bread and butter.

Welcome to
the planetarium.

Won't you come in
and be seated?

It looks as if
you're the only 2

that will be taking
this trip to mars today.

I think I spoke
too soon.

Attention,

attention,

rocket control
to space ship.

All systems are
in readiness for blastoff.

Are you ready?

Ready!

All preparations
for our trip to mars

have been completed
and we are counting.

7, 6,

5...

4, 3, 2, 1.

Blast off!

Yay!

X plus 1.

Ignition stage has passed
and we are

well established
into main stage.

Our thrust
is building up

to its full value
of 396 tons.

We are leaving earth
very rapidly now

and will soon
be traveling

at the rate
of 25,000 miles per hour.

We are now
12 days out.

According to
our flight-path prediction,

you may be able
to see a sight

never before seen
by human eyes:

A transit of the earth
and the moon

across the flaming
surface of the sun.

Hey, that's neat.

This transit
is important

for our voyage
to mars because

the timing
of these objects

across
the sun's surface

will indicate
any corrective thrust

maneuver
that must be made.

This is necessary
for our expedition

to meet mars at the
appointed rendezvous point.

Mars:

This large
multi-colored disk,

with its red,
white and green

shadings is mars.

The one planet
that shows ev--

Fix it!

Mars...

The one planet

that shows evidence

of being habitable.

Its distance from
the earth varies

from between 65 and
35 million miles.

It's about half
the size of earth.

Cool!

If you'll notice,
mars has polar caps

over the north
and south poles.

Between those
polar caps is

one of the biggest
controversies about mars:

The crisscrossing
of a network

of canals that is
geometrically perfect.

Many believe
that these canals

are used as part
of a vast irrigation system,

by which water,
which is rare on mars,

is pumped
from the polar caps

to supply the needs

of the rest
of the planet.

Temperature
varies from between

minus 130 degrees
fahrenheit

and 55 degrees
fahrenheit,

except on
the plain of salator,

where it gets
even warmer.

The red color of mars
indicates that most

of the oxygen
has been eaten up in rusting

and oxidizing the rocks
on the surface.

Yes, the conditions
for life

do exist on mars.

But unless somehow,

it can
renew itself,

the first earth
explorers will find

only the sad remnants

of a civilization

that was brighter

than that
of the earth.

And then
returned to dust.

Bravo! Yay!

Thank you!

Goodbye.
Goodbye, children.

We are indebted
to you, sir.

I'm surprised that our
tape deck held up

as long as it did
without jamming.

You know,

ever since
this martian scare,

the planetarium

has been filled
to capacity.

It was
my pleasure.

You know...

Folks really
want to believe

that the martians
are coming.

They're bored.

They want
some excitement.

And, after all,
they come here

because this is
the closest thing

that they can get

to actually being
on the planet mars.

Well, I hope you don't
have any more trouble.

Oh, well, thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.

And, uh, goodbye.

And come to
see us again, will you?

I'm afraid a little
of their enthusiasm

has rubbed
off on me.

I don't really feel
like going back

to the hotel now.

When was
the last time

you took a pretty
girl for a walk?

I MEAN A PRETTY GIRL
WITH A Ph.D.

We've known
one another

less than 5 hours.

According to

dr. Einstein's
calculations...

Time is relative.

Well, I can't dismiss

what's
happening to me

with any
scientific equations.

I think I better start
acting less like a woman

and more like
a scientist.

I'm on surer ground
that way.

You're late.

Hold that line!
Hold that line!

♪

And now,

the event
we've all been waiting for:

The crowning of
the homecoming queen!

As you know, all week long,
these finalists

have been under
the eyes of the judges,

who are basing
their selection today

on those qualities

that make up
the ideal woman:

Good looks,
good health,

good deportment
and personality.

In short,
the good woman,

as we know her
in the 20th century.

One of these
lovelies will carry

her honors
and her crown

throughout the year
on campus.

And that student
who most approaches

the perfect woman,

as chosen by, first,
the student body,

and then
by the exacting eye

of the
judges' panel today.

I believe I hear
a gun signaling

the judges
have reached a decision.

And now,
ladies and gentlemen,

homecoming queen

by a majority
of the judges:

Brenda noland,
senior.

There you have it:

The queen,
brenda noland,

a really
popular girl on campus.

As you heard,
she is a senior.

Her major
is journalism

and she looks
for a career

in mass-media
communication.

Although
some lucky young man

may change
those plans,

for the time being,
she is queen on campus

and the pride of her sorority,
delta gamma!

Yes, hypnosis,
Mr. Secretary. Hypnosis:

That science that
we only now

are beginning
to use properly.

The martians have got
to be using hypnosis.

The striptease artist,

we dismissed that

as a routine
missing persons report.

But remember,
her car is missing, too.

Then the airline hostess,
then today,

the homecoming queen
disappears.

And don't forget
the martian's voice,

as you gentlemen
described it.

It had a
hypnotic cadence

that makes it very
difficult to disobey.

But let's not speculate,
let us use logic.

So far, the
pattern of activity

has been erratic.

But soon,
we will have a pattern

that will
give us a lead.

At any rate,
we are dealing with an enemy

that professes
non-hostility,

while abducting
earth females.

We are helpless

because he has
mastered a science

that we still treat
as a parlor game.

One thing we can
be sure of,

he is working
against time

and he will
stop at nothing

to achieve
his goal

before his time
runs out.

Yes, it's true.

The worst fears
of the experts

here at monitor 1
have been confirmed.

What seemed like
a cruel joke yesterday

has now been confirmed
as the truth.

In less than
12 hours,

3 women, all beautiful
and all unmarried

have disappeared,
leaving no trace

of what may have
happened to them.

The experts
in space genetics

and space
communications

have been in
conference here all day

without so much
as a coffee break.

One thing we do know
about the victims,

they have to be
pretty special to qualify.

Darn wind.

There's an old
painter's trick:

White paint.

You just put
a few dabs of the paint

onto the
canvas here.

And stick the paper
to the paint.

Somehow
white works best

and there's no
paint-out problem

when you go to
use the canvas.

Well, i'll
remember that.

Trees...

Funny, trees are
the most difficult things

in the world
to paint properly.

Yet children always
start with trees.

That's right,
they do.

Trees do have
a fascination.

If you stare
at the sun

through the leaves
of the trees,

you get an almost
hypnotic sensation.

I never thought of that.

I never thought
about it,

painting
and hypnosis.

Number 4.

All lovely,

built like
goddesses,

and unmarried.

1 more to go.

Now, there's got
to be a pattern

here somewhere--

a clue.

Now, the blue pins
are where

the strikes
were first made:

The filling station,
the clothing store.

And the red pins

are where the
girls disappeared.

If we draw our
primary peripheries,

we find that the action
surrounds this area,

principally made up
of a big lake,

just east of the city.

Now, there's nothing here

but abandoned wharves,

an old ice factory,

and a large
generating plant.

Pardon me,
colonel,

you said an old
ice factory?

Yes.

How long has that
been inoperative?

Well, the city condemned
it years ago.

Could there be
a chemical inventory

there now?

Yes, there
could be.

Ammonia,
salts, brine?

Dr. Hayward?

Well, if I recall,
it's just as it was.

It was padlocked
back when we had

the controversy
over the fluoridation

of the city
water supply.

Then that could be
your target.

Explain
your theory.

Most of you
are familiar

with the term
"sleep freeze"?

Labs are now
conducting experiments

in the new science
of frozen surgery.

In transplants,
in operations that have

to be postponed
for a period of time,

it's literally
suspended life

through
frozen techniques.

Now, more than
1 authority

has suggested that

our first interplanetary
travel will be done

in a state of sleep
and frozen.

Hence the term
"sleep freeze."

If these techniques
are perfected,

man can be thrust
through space

never knowing
the ill effects

of space travel,

or the boredom
from being confined in

a closed vehicle
over a long period of time.

Dr. Bolen is right.

But may I ask you,
how do you

happen to be familiar
with "sleep freeze"?

Freezing is the key

in our latest
mapping techniques

with
non-chromosomal genes.

I'm no scientist,
but as a soldier,

I feel I'm on
safer ground

when I know where
the enemy is.

And I think we just
may have found him.

Something's up.

They haven't been
this positive

since the
alert began.

Now they've
cut everything.

It must mean they're
getting somewhere.

It must be something
dr. Bolen has said.

If I remember correctly,
there's a water canal

that enters
the ice plant.

Large enough
for a vehicle

of some kind
to enter?

Within reason, yes.

I've cut the
news arteries.

Now, each of you
must regard our plan

as top secret.

Now, we can't make a raid
with a large party

or during
the daylight hours.

Now, since I feel that
their departure

is scheduled
for after dark,

we can risk waiting
until then.

However,
after sundown,

every second
is precious.

Dr. Bolen
is in on this.

Fast, this is
an important story.

I want you to
get her confidence.

I must.

What do you want
to do this evening?

Just being with
you is enough.

Hungry?

No, not really.
Are you?

Not really.
I-I had a late lunch

while you were in
that inner circle.

How did-- how did
you ever become

an authority
on genetics?

Oh, I grew up
with it.

My father devoted
his entire life

to that field.

Then after he died,
it seemed only natural

for me to continue
his work.

He must be
very proud of you

winning the
pulitzer prize.

He made it
all possible.

Would you like
to meet my father?

Yes.

I am the talking woman.

As you walk about
these corridors,

you will see
some of

the outstanding
illustrations

of the work
of the late

dr. Gustave bolen,

the renowned
authority on genetics

in the
20th century.

Today, the theories
and discoveries

of this renowned
scientist are explored

in health museums
like this one

all over
the country.

Dr. Bolen's credo
is found

in the words
of alexander pope:

"Know thyself,
presume not god to scan;

"the proper study
of mankind is man."

Do you agree

the best study
of mankind is man?

Or woman?

What time
is it?

I kiss you and your
only response is:

"What time is it?"

It's 8:02.
A late date?

Of course not.
I have a mission.

I'm on an assignment,
remember?

This time
tomorrow night,

you'll be safe
and snug in seattle.

I may never
see you again!

Tomorrow?

What do you mean,
tomorrow?

We think we've found

the martians' hideout.

And there's gonna be
a raid on it tonight.

Why didn't you say
something before?

I'm sworn
to secrecy.

I'm not allowed
to say where.

I know where.
When?

At 9:00.

I have to go.

It's best that you
don't go with me.

The exotic dancer is secured.

Pulse is high.

Temperature?

Pulse normal.

Sedative is
at zenith.

Blood pressure
at zenith.

Temperature: 99.4.

Pulse?

Sedative at zenith.

Blood pressure: 118/78.

Pulse: Normal.

Dilation reduced.

Blood pressure: 125.

Sedative at zenith.
Temperature: 99.1.

Pulse: High.

Blood pressure:
122 over 82.

Dilation high.

Abort the mission!

We've been concerned
for you, fellow 1.

There's no time
for concern.

There's a raiding
party on the way.

They're due
here any minute.

Abort!
Take to the ship!

Fellow 1? You?

Please leave
before they arrive.

Nobody leaves
this room!

What happens
if you go

without the women?

There's no time
to complete preparations

of the subjects.

They'll have
reinforcements soon.

I'm not coming with you,
fellow 2.

To abort this mission
is failure enough.

To leave you behind

would mean
death to us all!

Why not take
both of them?

We could freeze her
en route.

As a test case
for insemination?

You must
make a decision.

One of you goes.

Dr. Bolen
would compensate

for the
aborted mission,

one good subject.

But if you
decide to go,

I don't have
to remind you

of the consequences
of your actions...

Or of abandoning
your mission.

You must
decide now!

She stays!

What I have to say
is for your ears only.

The word "love"
went out of

our vocabulary
100 years ago.

But whatever
love is,

I know it must be
what I feel for you.

Subjects are
under mild sedation.

They'll come out
of it shortly

with no
ill effects.

What were
they like?

Will you be able
to describe them?

Well, can't you
tell us anything?