Village of the Damned (1960) Movie Script

Good morning.

Would you get me Major Bernard

at his Whitehall number?

Thank you.

Hello.

Thank you.

Alan? It's Gordon.

Look, you're coming down here today,

aren't you?

Could you pick up a book for me

and bring it with you? It's...

Gordon?

Operator.

Operator?

Oh, blast it.

Got cut off.

That was my brother-in-law.

Would you try again?

I have to change.

Yes, sir.

Operator, we've been cut off

from Midwich 25.

Would you get it again, please?

Hello? Hello?

Will you replace your receiver, please?

Please replace your receiver.

Hello? Hello?

- For more than an hour, you're saying?

- Yes, sir.

Perhaps something's wrong

with his phone.

This is what puzzles me. I've also tried

the vicar, the stores and the post office.

I can't get any reply

from any of them.

Country telephone exchanges

being what they are.

Yes, I know, sir, but look here, sir.

Midwich is here.

Now, Fourth Brigade are running

that exercise of theirs all round there.

I don't suppose there is anything in it,

but as I was going down there...

...could I have your permission

to leave earlier than intended?

All right, Alan. Give me a ring later.

I'll be here till 5.

Thank you, sir.

- Oh, Alan.

- Yes, sir?

Have a nice weekend.

Give my respects to Gordon.

I will. Goodbye, sir.

- Hello, Gobby.

- Oh, it's Major Bernard, sir.

What's happened to the telephones?

I've been trying to get through.

It's funny you should ask.

I've been sent to look for the bus

which hasn't turned up.

We can't get through by phone either.

There's your bus, Gobby.

Strewth.

Better have a look.

All right, get hold of the local area

commander. What's his name?

- Ward Johnson, sir.

- Oh, yes.

Tell him to call me if he wants

authorization. I'll get things moving here.

- Oh, Alan?

- Yes, sir?

Make sure the newspapers

don't get hold of this for now.

If anything has got out of hand there,

we don't want any panic.

- Report back as soon as you have results.

- Right, sir.

Get me

southeastern command, please.

Over here, sergeant.

Drop it. Come on, that's it.

Over this way.

Look, the canary.

- You needn't go in if you don't want to.

- I'll have a go.

- Quite sure?

- Sir.

Is the captain there?

We're ready, doctor.

- What on earth's happening-?

- Just a minute.

Hello, doctor. I'm glad you're here.

We may need you.

- What's wrong with him?

- We're trying to find out.

- Will you take a look at him, doc?

- Take off the respirator.

Pulse is normal.

Seems to be breathing normally.

I think he's just fainted.

He's coming round.

Let me know what this is all about.

- When were you last in the village?

- Midwich?

I left at about 10:00. Had a couple

of patients to see in Widmarsh.

There are roadblocks

all over the place.

I've got to get back.

I've got patients to see.

My hunch is that all your patients there

are in the same state as him.

All right. All right, old chap.

Take it easy.

What can it be?

To put a man out like a light,

penetrate our respirators, do all this.

- Some sort of gas?

- No, it can't be.

Any breeze would've blown it about.

The edges of the area

are as well-defined as that hedge there.

Cold.

- What did you say?

- Ice-cold.

I'm all right, sir. Only cold.

My hands are like ice.

Midwich to Charlie Alpha.

Can you see anything? Over.

Everything looks all right from here.

Over.

Let me speak to him.

Hello, Charlie Alpha.

This is Major Bernard speaking.

Can you see nothing unusual at all

in Midwich? Nothing moving?

No, sir. Nothing.

Matter of fact, that's odd.

Nothing is moving down there.

I can see some people,

but they're not moving either.

They're lying on the ground.

- As though they've fallen?

- Yes, sir.

Right. Take it down slowly,

but pull up the minute you feel anything.

Feel anything, sir?

Anything unusual.

Roger.

Still nothing moving, sir.

Taking her down.

Careful, now.

Easy.

There's another aircraft.

Send out a general warning.

All aircraft to avoid this area

and not to drop below 5000 feet.

Midwich to base. Midwich to base.

Emergency. I say again, emergency.

Warn all aircraft to avoid area,

5-mile radius.

Latitude 51 degrees,

10 minutes, 30 seconds north.

Longitude 1 degree,

11 minutes, 20 seconds west.

Maintain minimum altitude

of 5000 feet. Out.

Blimey. Look!

Gordon.

Darling, I'm sorry.

I must have dozed off.

Look at the time. It's almost 3:00.

Why didn't you call me?

I'd better go and see about lunch.

Anthea.

I found myself asleep on the floor.

What an extraordinary thing to do.

I'm- I'm cold.

Well, the fires have gone out.

Did you...?

Did we faint?

We must have blacked out.

Why?

And my hands are quite numb.

Gordon.

What did happen?

I don't know.

- Alan.

- You're all right.

- You're late.

- I couldn't get through.

- Get through?

- What did you mean, "You're all right"?

- I mean, how did you know?

- We blacked out for several hours.

- I know.

- It must have been a gas leak-

It wasn't only you two.

- The whole village fell asleep.

- The whole village?

All of Midwich was cut off

from the outside world for several hours.

- Anything registering, son?

- No, sir, nothing unusual.

Well, keep at it.

- Oh, Mr. Zellaby.

- Yes, Miss Ogle?

Are these people

from the telephone company?

- Not the telephone company.

- That's what I said.

If they want to pull the wool over our

eyes, they ought to do better.

- Well, I'm trying to find out-

- After all, we're not stupid, are we?

- What's happened isn't natural.

- Tell you what we'll do.

I'll press for an official explanation...

...while you help to stop the rumors

getting about. All right?

Do you mind?

- Soil samples? Plant life?

- Even the bark on the trees.

Don't forget insects, grasses,

water, metals.

The sooner and more elaborate

these tests can be made, the better.

It's all right.

This is Professor Gordon Zellaby.

- Oh, yes, sir.

- Alan.

Well, no one seems

to have come to any harm.

A few cuts and bruises

where they fell.

Lucky no one was in their bath.

They might have been drowned.

Yes. Hello, Mrs. Harrington.

Well, I think the least they can do

is offer us some kind of compensation.

- But you feel all right?

- No thanks to them if I do.

And a large burn in my best dress

into the bargain.

What the wife means is...

...well, you don't hardly expect

to drop asleep before dinner, do you?

We've established that whatever it was,

was static, odorless, invisible.

It didn't register on radar.

It was nonmetallic.

It showed nothing on Geiger counters.

You've got the reports.

No signs of any physical, biological

or psychological changes.

Well, that's practically meaningless.

For instance, serious exposure

to x-rays or gamma rays...

...need not have an immediate effect.

These people have to be kept

under observation.

- And yourself.

- And my household.

It would be a bit tricky

to put you all in a sanatorium.

My instructions are to keep

the whole incident out of the limelight.

- National security, eh?

- If you like.

Well, until we know the cause,

we shan't know what to expect.

Since you're there, Gordon, suppose you

keep an eye on Midwich for us?

If you find anything, let us know through

Alan. No need for any direct contact.

More security, eh? Ever cautious.

It gets under the skin, you know.

- Anything else today, Mrs. Zellaby?

- No, that's all, thank you.

I'll have to get in a new supply of pickles

if you go on like this.

Yes, I do seem to be getting through

a lot these days, don't I?

That will be 17 and 6.

- Shall I add it to the account?

- Yes, thank you.

- Oh, how's the professor?

- Oh, he's very well. Very well indeed.

- Good morning.

- Miss Ogle, dear.

- Yes?

I think there's going to be news

up at Kyle Manor.

News? What kind of news?

Hello.

I said, hello.

- How long have you been here?

- Ages.

Liar.

I've discovered a fascinating thing.

Here are the plant samples

we took that day.

This one for example.

A perfectly ordinary pelargonium zonal.

What's happening is exactly

what you'd expect if I made a 50-

Why did you kiss me like that?

Come on, what's the secret?

Something's afoot.

Why are you so happy?

- Now, Gordon, I want you to sit down.

- All right.

Keep quite calm.

There's nothing to worry about.

Now.

We have apparently succeeded...

...in crossing a Zellaby Gordonius

with a Zellaby Antheum.

Just what the results will be,

we shan't know for some time yet.

I think you should sit down.

- Can I get you some tea?

- No.

A drink? No, that wouldn't be right.

Feet up? Something to eat?

- Yes, please.

- What?

Cheese, pickles

and half a dozen anchovies.

Recently my favorite diet.

Hadn't you noticed?

Mrs. Plumpton at the shop has.

I've been too engrossed in my work,

but we'll change all that.

Thank you, darling.

You've made

my happiness complete.

But all the more so because

I am old enough to appreciate it.

Now, then, what was it you wanted?

Cheese, pickles

and half a dozen anchovies.

I'm afraid there's no doubt about it.

Milly, I wish there was something

I could say to comfort you.

I know what

you'll have to put up with...

...from some of the people

in the village over this.

But you can count on me to do anything

I can to help you and your child.

But do you think I'd-?

Do you think that I could-?

Milly, I told you,

there's no doubt about it.

Now, if there's anyone

you want me to talk to about this.

But I've never...

It's impossible.

This is some present, Jim.

Thanks a lot.

Where did you say you got it? Tokyo?

It's a real beauty.

You can take action pictures in this light.

Jan, look at me.

When I learn to use this properly,

I might go into the photo business.

Jan, turn this way. That's right.

I want to see how...

What's the matter with you?

Jim comes back after a whole year, and

you look as if you're going to a funeral.

An attempted suicide.

Janet Pawle, whose husband

only came back from sea yesterday.

- It's dreadful-

- Three women half out of their minds.

Milly Hughes, Rose Shepherd,

Mary Burnett.

- Don't go-

- That's why we're asking you to tell us.

Please don't keep on.

Don't you see that what you're

asking me, it's not right ethically?

For heaven's sake, vicar.

How do you think I feel?

I married late in life.

When my wife told me

she'll have a baby...

...it was the happiest moment

I've ever known.

Don't talk to me about ethics.

Don't you see that this is something

which concerns all of us?

That this is the one moment when

it is your duty to break confidence?

Very well.

Four of them have been to see me.

One of them is only 17.

- Evelyn Harrington?

- Yes.

She was terribly frightened,

and, frankly, so am I.

I know these girls.

I've watched them grow up.

When they tell me they've no way

of accounting for their condition...

...I am compelled to believe them.

That means every woman

in this village...

...who is capable of childbirth

is going to have a baby.

- I can't believe it.

- This is not a matter of belief, vicar.

It's a matter of fact.

And there's something else.

All this seems to date

from that day two months ago...

...when Midwich was cut off

from the rest of the world.

Who's next?

This is Anthea Zellaby's, doctor.

Let's have a look at it.

It's one of the most perfectly formed

embryos I've ever seen.

Yes, but is it normal?

It's more than normal.

It's a 7-month embryo

after only 5 months.

It's all right. I've seen the x-rays,

and it's a fine specimen.

Dr. Willers says it's perfect,

absolutely normal.

- That should make us very happy.

- It's going to be all right.

Is it? Is that what you believe?

You're tired, darling.

That's right. I'm tired.

And do you know why?

Because every night

I lie awake and worry.

- You don't have to worry anymore.

- You don't really believe that?

- Dr. Willers says-

- I don't care what Dr. Willers says!

So it's not a monster.

It's a perfect specimen.

- But what does that tell me?

- You're going to have a baby.

Whose baby? Yours?

Does it tell me what kind of life

is growing inside me?

What sort of brain it has?

Where it comes from?

- Does it tell? Where does it come from?

- Stop it!

You must stop it.

We've got to be rational about this.

We may not be any better off

than the others...

...but there's absolutely nothing

we can do but wait.

Maybe it's ours, maybe it isn't.

- If it's ours, we shall know it. If it isn't-

- Gordon.

I'm afraid.

I'm so afraid.

I hope that none of them lives.

What a ridiculous way to behave.

We're terribly busy, but doctor said

to tell you that Mrs. Zellaby's fine.

- And the baby?

- Perfect.

- In every respect?

- Hello, Gordon.

- Got a cigarette?

- How about the baby?

Splendid. Unusually heavy, though.

Ten pounds, 8 ounces.

Strange eyes.

Oh, all right. You can go in now.

- Got a cigarette?

- Yes, of course.

How many others

have been delivered so far tonight?

Anthea's my third.

- What about their weight?

- All slightly over 10 pounds.

They've all got these strange eyes.

All that worrying. And now...

Oh, Gordon, have you seen him?

He's such a beautiful baby.

Gordon...

...I do love you so.

He's probably jealous.

Now, be quiet, Bruno.

Lie down and behave yourself.

Handsome, isn't he?

Take a look at this, doctor.

It's a section of hair.

Yes, it's flat on one side,

on the other, an arc.

Somewhat in the shape

of a narrow capital D.

It belongs to my son, David.

Have you ever seen

such a hair type before?

- Have you noticed their nails?

- Yes, they're narrower than ours.

Covering less

of the upper surface of the digit...

...but as flat as normal nails.

- What did the blood test show?

- Oh, it's too early to tell.

The blood circulating at present

is still that of the mother's group.

So they're apparently normal children

with these exceptions:

Strange eyes, arresting, I would say...

...an unknown hair group

and unusual fingernails.

Whatever they are, their physical

development is absolutely startling.

In point of time,

they're 4 months old...

...but their development and capabilities

is that of 18 months.

No, please stop it. Oh, no.

She won't stop, sir. She won't stop!

Gordon.

Now, what happened?

I- I was giving David his bottle.

I must have forgotten to test it.

It was too hot for him.

He spat it out.

- He just seemed to glare at her.

- Get my bag from the car.

Is that any reason to scald yourself?

This box is a product

of Oriental ingenuity.

There are no visible means

of opening it...

...but if you do what I've shown you,

it comes open.

Now, see if you can do it.

- That's right.

- Like that?

That goes down and...

Oh, there.

- Now, you've got it.

- That's it.

Splendid.

You see, it shows that I was right

to marry your sister.

Your family has brains.

Let's see if I can do this myself.

There you go.

Now, watch this.

And remember

that he is only 1 year old.

Go on, open it, David.

Yes, there's something inside.

It's a chocolate.

Come along, it's time for your bath.

This is fantastic.

You think so?

Come with me.

It's all right,

it's only a box with a chocolate in it.

I don't know, sir.

I never allow her to have chocolates.

It's quite harmless, really.

I just gave some to David.

You didn't even show her

how to do it.

Well, that's exactly my point.

I didn't have to.

If you demonstrate something

to one of them, they all know it.

Now, watch.

- I want that.

- Keith, give it back to him. At once!

No, Nancy, leave them alone.

Ted Brower!

You come inside this moment!

I've told you about playing

with those children before.

Where's my Philip?

You're always all together.

It's his turn to study.

He's at your home.

It's his home too.

You are anxious for us to leave,

aren't you?

You have the same every week:

12 jars, 15 shillings...

You wish we wouldn't come here

anymore, Mrs. Plumpton.

- But I- I never said-

- It's what you're thinking.

You have nothing to fear from us.

However, in future,

someone else will come for our order.

Goodbye, Mrs. Plumpton.

Good afternoon, Miss Ogle.

Are you ready, Gordon?

- Coffee?

- No, thanks.

Don't you think Anthea should know

about this conference...

...what's being discussed?

There's no reason to alarm her

just because you are alarmed.

I haven't got your cold

scientific detachment.

People, especially children,

aren't measured by their IQ.

What's important about them

is whether they're good or bad.

And these children are bad

to everyone but you.

But they are children, Alan.

And children are not born with a sense

of moral values. They have to be taught.

With their intellect,

that should be simple.

Intellect! That's all you care about.

What if you can't teach them?

What if you can't put

the brake of morals on them?

- First, we must try.

- You're blinded by this vision of intellect.

- You see David as an Einstein.

- Potentially greater.

Solving the riddle of the universe.

Your son, David.

Anthea's son.

I have no proof that he is mine.

- Where has father gone?

- To London.

- You must hurry, David.

- Why?

You'll be late.

No, I meant,

why has he gone to London?

He has some business there.

- What sort of business?

- A conference.

Don't you like me to help you, David?

Thank you, but I'm old enough

to do things for myself.

Father agrees with that.

Darling, your finger.

Let me do that.

- It doesn't hurt. Please don't fuss.

- It might turn septic.

There.

You said I must hurry.

Goodbye, Mother.

Goodbye, David.

And, gentlemen, as the home secretary

has permitted this disclosure...

I can now inform you that Midwich

is not the only colony of such children.

Here, in the township

in Northern Australia...

...30 infants were born in one day.

But apparently something went wrong.

All the children died

within 10 hours of birth.

In an Eskimo community,

there were 10 births.

The community

didn't take kindly to this.

Golden-haired babies born of

black-haired mothers violated the taboos.

None survived.

In the communist world...

...there were two time-outs

similar to the one at Midwich.

One at Irkutsk, here,

on the borders of Outer Mongolia.

A grim affair.

The men killed the children.

And their mothers.

Second,

in the mountains of the northwest.

All the children survived.

Our reports, though limited...

...indicate that they are receiving

education on the highest level.

All these time-outs happened

on the same day as the one at Midwich.

This is now three years ago.

Have we established anything

about the children's origins?

- There is very little to go on.

- Zellaby, you must have some theory.

May I suggest that he may be

somewhat too intimately involved?

My position as a dubious father

is influencing my scientific detachment.

- Is that what you think?

- I have reason to believe so.

Well, let's hear

what the others have to say.

Dr. Carlisle?

I went into the question of mutation.

Once in a great many thousand years,

an abrupt jump may take place...

...in animal or in vegetable life.

A new variation suddenly occurs

for no apparent reason.

Would that explain

why groups of people...

- ...were cut off for several hours?

- No, sir. It would not.

- Very well. Any other line of thought?

- Yes.

There is the possibility

of the transmission of energy.

May I put it this way?

Already, we can direct radar beams

out into space with the utmost accuracy.

Electrical impulses

have been bounced off the moon...

...and we are continually receiving

impulses from other planets and stars.

And impulses are energy and matter.

We're aware of that, Professor Smith.

But where does it take us?

The professor and I think alike.

What we can do, others, elsewhere

in the universe may be able to do better.

- Exactly.

- Let me get this straight.

You imply that these children

may be the result of impulses...

...directed towards us

from the universe?

Of course that's just a theory,

but there's nothing to disprove it.

They may be a case of mutation.

They may be the world's new people.

What we need

is time to investigate. Time!

Just a moment, Zellaby.

You told me of some developments

at Midwich. What are they?

A series of casualties,

mostly among the village children.

In each case, after some contact

with the others.

Children get into fights

all over the world.

These were not fights

in the normal sense.

No direct physical violence

was involved.

But two weeks ago, a boy,

a good swimmer...

...was drowned in the Midwich pond

for no logical reason.

- Children also have accidents.

- Gordon, you've seen it for yourself.

The extraordinary power

these children have...

...and the sinister way they use it.

Extraordinary power, certainly.

That's precisely why we need time.

It's only a matter of time before

these children get out of hand.

With fatal consequences.

- So, what do you suggest?

- That they be shut away.

- You mean put in prison?

- Bluntly, yes.

You might as well

do away with them altogether.

- This isn't a police state, yet.

- But don't you see what you're doing?

If you imprison them,

you'll deprive the scientific world...

...of the greatest opportunity

it's had.

- Opportunity for what?

- For study.

Gentlemen, a great deal has been said

about the power of these children...

...but nothing about

the nature of this power.

What we are dealing with

is a mass mind.

An entirely new development.

Like a colony of ants and bees.

These children

all want to dress alike...

...and what one learns, they all learn.

I've demonstrated this to Alan Bernard.

They are one mind to the 12th power.

Just think what it would mean

if we could guide it.

We could leap forward

in science 100 years.

At the risk of being destroyed.

What can't be understood

must be put away.

Is that your view?

The age-old fear of the unknown?

On the other hand, Leighton has a point.

There is a potential danger here.

We are gathered here as advisers,

as scientists, as government experts.

Now, take a look at our world.

Have we made a good job of it?

Who's to say these children

are not the answer?

- The answer to what?

- Well, to wars, to disease...

...to human want, misery, to problems

we've been unable to cope with.

If they don't make an end of us.

We cannot throw away this potential

just because of a few incidents.

- What is your suggestion?

- I'll compromise with Leighton.

Let them live together under one roof,

in our village, where they can observed.

We couldn't accept the responsibility.

I personally will assume

full responsibility.

- Just give me a year.

- I can't agree to this.

But all I ask is a year.

Now, surely that's not too much time

when so much is at stake.

Just give me one year.

Very well. I will officially recommend

your compromise.

Thank you, gentlemen.

That's as far as we shall go today.

Our next lecture will deal with structure.

And by the way, don't forget

you'll be living here from tomorrow.

Now...

Why do you smile? David?

You don't know

how to put your question.

There isn't much point

in my trying to be subtle, is there?

The question I was going to put was-

By the way...

...just how deep do you see

into my mind?

Everything that's in the front

of your mind.

The thought processes? The reasoning

that leads to my spoken words?

We still have to master that.

It will come.

That's frank. Thank you, David.

At least I still have some privacy.

The question I want to ask is this:

Are you aware of life on another planet?

Then let me put it this way.

It is possible that life exists

elsewhere, isn't it?

We don't seem

to be getting anywhere.

Why are you so nervous

when an aircraft flies above you?

You're very observant, Father.

Yes, but that doesn't

answer my question.

All right. Until recently, we haven't

been able to make our control...

- ...reach as far as a high aircraft.

- And now you have, is that it?

What are you going to do

with that power?

Father, we know

what you're trying to find out.

It would be better

if you didn't ask these questions.

We want to learn from you.

All right, that'll be all for today.

- David.

- Yes, Father?

I'll walk home with you.

What I meant was that you don't

have to go, David, if you don't want to.

I'd rather go.

Because the others are moving into

the school you feel you must too.

- Is that the logic?

- Yes.

- Your mother is quite distressed about it.

- I don't really know why I should be.

Lots of parents send their children

away to school.

David will only be half a mile away.

I suppose there is nothing

that will make you change your mind?

No.

I think that's all.

Thank you.

I'm very sorry. It was all my fault.

You all right?

Mrs. Zellaby, I wish you'd be

more specific in your testimony.

I know these things are difficult...

...but it's our obligation to determine

the responsibility for this man's death.

I find it very difficult to remember.

You told constable Gobby

you heard the screech of his brakes.

Yes, that's right.

He...

He got out of the car.

Then, what did he do, Mrs. Zellaby?

Then, he...

He got back into the car...

...and drove straight for the wall.

Thank you, Mrs. Zellaby.

I don't think we need go any further.

It seems to me quite apparent

what happened here.

Edward Pawle, the deceased,

his vision obscured...

...came close to striking

and injuring a child.

Then, obviously in nervous shock,

struck the wall.

I recommend that you bring in

a verdict of accidental death.

Mrs. Zellaby,

you know they killed him!

Ask them! Just ask them!

Who is that man?

James Pawle, sir,

brother of the deceased.

Then I shall overlook this outburst.

Can't you see now that Midwich

is living on top of a volcano?

A force is building up.

Sooner or later, it will explode.

We still haven't any proof.

How much more proof do you need?

The death of James Pawle-

Alan, I'm much more aware

of the situation than you think-

- Jim.

- Why? Look what they did to my brother.

- This won't bring him back.

- Who's gonna stop them?

You can't stop them with that,

believe me.

They're not human.

- They ought to be destroyed.

- Go home.

I said, go home! Leave here now

before they get any closer.

All right, Mr. Zellaby.

All right, all right, I'm responsible.

I never denied it.

It's quite possible that, but for me, they

would be alive. I was over optimistic.

There's a shindig in London.

- They may be after your blood.

- Do you think I care?

What beats me is that I failed

to reach the children.

They're shouting for action, now.

Things have gone too far.

The village is very near panicky.

If I could get inside the children's

minds and read their thoughts...

...as quite obviously,

they can read ours.

Doesn't that assume

they have thoughts in mind?

As we understand them?

Alan, it's for you. General Leighton.

Excuse me.

Thank you.

Yes, sir?

I see. Yes, sir.

It's as though their minds

were surrounded by...

...a brick wall.

- If only I could break through it.

- Yes, sir, certainly.

Have I your permission

to pass this on?

Right, thank you, sir. Goodbye.

I'm afraid there have been

grave developments.

The Russian army in the Western Urals

is equipped with a new gun.

It can project a shell up to 60 miles.

An atomic shell.

And apparently,

they tried it out yesterday...

...on the village of Ramensk,

where their children live.

And the village of Ramensk

no longer exists.

- You mean everyone there-?

- The entire place. They gave no warning.

They couldn't evacuate without the

children learning what was to happen.

They developed more quickly than

ours. They'd begun to take control.

An attempt to move them

with the soldiers proved disastrous...

- ...to the troops and the adults.

- I see.

So now I suppose we're going to blow

Midwich off the face of the earth?

No, no.

But in view of recent events,

they feel your compromise has failed.

Leighton feels we ought to move,

immediately before it's too late.

Destroy them?

Well, they're meeting tonight

to come to a decision.

They want me in town.

What I say is, it's got to stop!

- Yeah!

- First Ed, then Jim Pawle.

The authorities don't do nothing.

Are we gonna wait

till we all get wiped out?

- No!

- All right, then.

Those that are with me, follow me!

David, come here.

I want to speak to you.

- A man is dead.

- We must protect ourselves.

- The law exists for your protection.

- It's of no use to us.

Of no use to you, is it?

If you think you're allowed to live by

your laws, laws we don't subscribe to-

You're thinking of what happened

to the others, in another country.

If you know about that,

you should know what to expect.

It will not happen to us.

- You little-

- It won't happen to us...

...because we have to survive,

no matter what the cost.

I don't think you'll go to London.

We are now the only ones left...

...and you must learn

that we are determined to survive...

...and that there's nothing

you can do to stop us.

You have to be taught

to leave us alone.

Leave us alone.

He's out of danger now.

Go to the library and I'll join you there.

I've never seen as severe a case of

shock as this. It's medically impossible.

For a while, he was totally paralyzed.

Now, his pupils

are returning to normal.

His pulse is less rapid,

his color's returning.

I've never seen anything

like this before.

- It's time London sent in some troops.

- I talked to General Leighton.

Troops are not the answer.

The children would only make them

shoot one another.

Tonight should be enough

for all of us, even me.

- What is the answer, then?

- I don't know.

But no more people must be hurt.

Is there no limit to the power

of these children?

No more than there is a limit

to the mind.

David.

- What do you want here? I should have-

- I want to speak to my father.

David, why do you do

these dreadful things?

Wherever it is you come from,

you are part of us now.

Couldn't you learn to live with us

and help us live with you?

I want to speak to my father.

The effects seem to be wearing off.

Major Bernard will be all right.

What we did was only to warn him...

...and all of you.

Leave us, Anthea.

- But I-

- Please.

You are not afraid of us.

No.

But I'm sorry, David.

I'm sorry I was wrong about you.

If you didn't suffer from emotions,

from feelings...

...you could be

as powerful as we are.

Yes.

You'll never reach our minds.

I've come to say

it's time for us to go.

Go where?

Away from here

before they try to destroy us.

- What will you do?

- Spread out and disperse.

Soon we'll have reached the stage

when we can form new colonies.

In the meantime,

we've attracted too much attention.

You must help us to leave.

How would you wish me to help you?

You'll arrange a method to get us away

from here without attracting attention.

You'll find a number of families spread

over the country that'll take us in.

Yes, well, that'll take a bit of organizing.

I'll need a few days.

Yes. And be sure no one finds out.

Otherwise, more people will be hurt.

You'll tell us the arrangements

you've made...

...when you come to give us

our lesson on Friday.

- David-

- You won't be able to deceive us.

You know that, don't you?

- Yes, I know that.

- Very well.

Let us know

your arrangements on Friday.

Good night, Father.

Good night, David.

A brick wall.

- All right, now?

- Yes, sight's still a bit foggy...

...but clearing all the time.

I'll just go and tell Gordon.

Remember this?

You wore a dark blue dress.

Your hair was longer then.

It caught the moonlight.

- We're ready, Gordon.

- Good.

- I wish you'd-

- It's 8:15, you'll be in London by 9:30.

I wish you'd let me stay here,

or come with us.

You know that isn't possible.

I have things to do here.

Poor old Alan would go into

the nearest tree if we let him drive.

Nothing like feeling useless.

- You're still seeing the children tonight?

- Yes.

- Every Wednesday and Friday.

- After what happened?

Especially after what happened.

I think I've found a way

of getting through to them.

If I'm right,

we'll have no more trouble.

- How?

- I'll tell you if I succeed.

Now, come on. I don't want you

to be on the road all night.

Here, now.

- This isn't like you.

- I know it.

It's silly of me,

but I'm afraid of them...

...and I'm afraid for you

whenever you're with them.

They won't harm me.

In a strange way, they trust me.

Why, even David

seems to accept me.

Divorced from my emotions,

of course.

All right?

Off you go.

Alan, look after her for me.

I'll give you a ring in the morning.

Yes, in the morning.

A brick wall.

I should think of a brick wall.

I'm sorry, old man.

You can't come.

Look after your mistress.

Alan?

- What did he mean?

- What?

Why should he ask you

to take care of me?

I don't know.

Just a manner of speech, I suppose.

What's the matter?

- Alan, I'm going back.

- Why?

I'm going back.

Good evening, children.

Tonight we shall talk about

atomic energy...

...and how discoveries

made about 100 years ago...

...completely changed

our conception...

...of the elements

and the place of the atom.

You were to tell us tonight

what arrangements you've made for us.

The place of the atom.

It's 8:27.

Why are you nervous?

The arrangements, yes.

Yes, I'll tell you about those

in a few moments.

But first of all,

I want to finish my lesson.

The question of atomic energy.

You're not thinking of atomic energy.

You're thinking of...

...a brick wall.

A brick wall.

I must think of a brick wall.

A brick wall.

I must think of a brick wall.

A brick wall.

I must think of a brick wall.

It's almost half past 8.

A brick wall.

Only a few seconds.

Brick wall. Brick wall.

Brick wall.

Nearly over.

A brick wall.

Village of the Damned (1960) - full transcript