The Invaders (1967–1968): Season 1, Episode 11 - The Betrayed - full transcript

NARRATOR: Three months ago

David Vincent had come

to the Carver Oil
Fields in Houston.

There had been reports
of unexplained lights

and that same night

two watchmen had
been found dead.

The verdict in both cases...
Cerebral hemorrhage.

(tone whirring)

Now, suddenly

after endless nights of
vigil in the Carver Fields

David has found proof
that the invaders are here.



(camera shutter clicking)

(truck engine idling)

(tone whirring)

♪ ♪

(soft whirring)

(tones beeping)

(whirring continuing)

(shutter clicking)

(high-pitched tone whining)

(tone humming)

(machinery humming)

♪ ♪

(grunting)

(truck engine idling)



NARRATOR: Starring Roy
Thinnes as architect David Vincent.

The invaders...

alien beings from
a dying planet.

Their destination... the earth.

Their purpose... to
make it their world.

David Vincent has seen them.

For him, it began one lost night

on a lonely country road

looking for a shortcut
that he never found.

It began with a
closed, deserted diner

and a man too long without sleep

to continue his journey.

(eerie whirring)

It began with the landing of
a craft from another galaxy.

(whirring intensifies)

Now David Vincent knows
that the invaders are here

that they've taken human form.

Somehow, he must
convince a disbelieving world

that the nightmare
has already begun.

The guest stars
in tonight's story:

Laura Devon... Nancy Wickwire...

Norman Fell...

and special guest
star Ed Begley.

NARRATOR: David Vincent has
found proof that the invaders are here.

Minutes after dawn, he
seeks out Simon Carver

owner of the enormously
successful Carver Oil Company.

Now, finally, three months
of waiting and watching

are about to pay off.

MAN: What is it?

What's going on here?

Say, what are you doing here?

Mr. Carver, I
have to talk to you.

Please let me in... I
have to talk to you.

It's 5:00 in the morning.

This is urgent.

Henry! Henry!

Mr. Vincent... Hello, Henry.

Just a... Okay,
Vincent, what is this?

Look, I know how
this is going to sound

but you got to get
the security guards

out to Field One right away.

Do what?

Sir, I don't have time to
explain this to you fully.

Make time.

Listen, pal... you
come breaking in here,

raving like a lunatic
you better have a reason.

I have, right here.

What's that supposed to be?

A computer tape. So?

I found it inside an abandoned
tank car in Field One.

The car's equipped

with a lot more
than just a computer.

Vincent, now I know
you're out of your skull.

There's nothing in that
tank car except rust.

It's been sitting...

What I saw won't make sense now

but once you've seen
it, you'll understand.

Now let's call the guards.

Beat it... in there.

We don't have time.

I said, "in there."

You've been on the
hairy edge of being canned

a couple of times
since I hired you.

Now, give it to me straight

or you've had it.

This tape is proof

that the two men
who were killed in...

Killed? What are
you talking about?

They weren't killed.

Two cerebral hemorrhages

in the same night,
the same area?

Come on, Mr. Carver,
they were healthy men.

They were killed

because they knew
about this tape.

David!

Oh, come in. Join us.

We'll have a party.

What's going on?

Tell her. Maybe it'll
make some sense to her.

Where did Evelyn
put those pills?

Right-hand drawer.

I hired you to design
a plant, not to give me

some cock and bull
about my guards.

I'm not asking you to believe
it without seeing evidence.

I can prove it, so
give me that chance.

Henry.

Yes, Mr. Carver?

Get me some clothes.

Yes, sir.

Hello, Sam?

Round up the guards.

Meet me at Field
One, on the siding.

Yes, now.

Dad, you're not going out.

He asked for his chance.

I'll give it to him.

DAVID: My car is outside.

Mind if I put my pants on?

David, he shouldn't be
going out at this hour.

What's so important?

You'll have an explanation
when I get back.

You do some very
peculiar things, you know?

You want an apology?

I apologize.

I love your charming manners

and I love it when
you take me out

then leave me at 8:00 or 9:00

whenever you have
something better to do.

Susan, I've had to.

You'll know why when I get back.

I don't really have to...

I thought you were so hopped-up

to get going.

I'll explain it to you
when I get back.

Oh, it's really much
more fun this way.

Well?

Good morning...

Mr. Vincent.

Miss Bowers.

Evelyn, you're dressed.

You didn't have to get up.

Anything wrong, Mr. Carver?

I'll tell you when I get back.

(door opening)

Susan, where are they going?

Well, they're having a
convention on Field One.

I've been your father's
secretary long enough

to get used to things
like this, but 5:00...

You got me out at
5:00 in the morning

to look into this rusty,
beat-up, old tank car?

What am I supposed to do...

Drop in a dime and make a wish?

It's not the same car.

Vincent, this car has been here

ever since we
abandoned this spur.

Here, let's go. And
you, I want to see you

later this morning in my office.

Will you listen to
me for a minute?

I've listened and I've
come and I've had it.

At my office.

(car doors closing)

(engine starting)

Mr. Taft?

What is it?

FBI?

FCC?

Licensing commission?

No, no, nothing like that.

I got it.

You're a private investigator.

My name is David Vincent.

I may have a job for you.

What is it, Charlie?

You think your wife's cheating?

I have a special job.

Computer tape?

You tell me.

That's your primary field.

What makes you think so?

I started out this morning

at NASA headquarters
and the university.

I asked for a name. I got yours.

My former bosses, huh?

You left out a few, you know.

You're a specialist
in cryptography.

The government used you
to break liberated tapes...

find out what the
tapes are for...

what machines they control.

And they fired me...

as did the university...
as you must know.

You were fired
for breaking rules.

For nonconformity.

But never inefficiency.

I need this tape decoded.

Well, when I tell
you my price, pal

you may change your mind.

Well... as friend to friend

what side of the law am I on?

You don't have to
worry about the law.

But I should tell you one thing.

If anybody finds
out where this tape is

your life won't be worth a cent.

Keep it, pal.

This kind of
trouble I don't need.

You'll be safe as long as I
don't know where you are.

Take the tape and disappear.

I'm the one they're looking for.

If I can't tell them,
how can they find you?

All right.

The school can live without me.

I'll meet you tonight at 10:00.

Now, this is 26th and Maple.

At 10:00 tonight

start walking south,
past the storage tank.

If there's nobody following
you, I'll pick you up.

All right, 10:00.

(door unlocking)

You've stolen something
from us, Mr. Vincent.

It isn't here in your room.

I'd appreciate
knowing where it is.

The tape, Mr. Vincent,
if you please.

I don't have it.

The tape... where is it?

I don't know.

Mr. Vincent the tape.

I don't have it.

Who? Who has it now?

Who?

Neal Taft.

Who is Neal Taft?

Taft school of electronics.

Thank you, Mr. Vincent.

(grunts)

(knocking on door)

David, what...?

What are you doing here?

When you didn't
show up at dad's office

I was worried in
spite of myself.

What happened?

You got to get out of here.
They might come back.

Who? Who did this?

Don't ask questions.

Just leave, please.

No. You're in trouble.

The way you acted about
that tape this morning...

this has something to do
with that tape, doesn't it?

Yes.

David, what is it?

Now, please, just leave.

No. Tell me.

This ties in with where you
went every night, doesn't it?

Why you'd leave me.

You know, for a while

I thought there
was someone else...

Another girl.

Oh, David, if you
were in trouble

you should have told me.

I'd help you no
matter what it is.

I think... Don't.

What did you think
I was going to say?

That I love you?

I do.

I guess I do love you.

Susan... you've got to trust me.

If I told you what
was going on now

you wouldn't understand.

It wouldn't make sense.

I'm going to meet someone

who's going to give
me all the proof I need.

Then I'll tell you.

Now, go home and wait for me.

David...

(door opens and closes)

Susan?

Oh, Susan, could I see you

for a moment, please?

In the morning,
Evelyn. Do you mind?

Is my father still at the club?

It's really very
important, Susan.

I'm afraid I'm going to have
to ask a favor of you, Susan.

Your friend, Mr. Vincent,
has something I need.

Something very important.

What is all the
cloak-and-dagger?

What's David mixed up in?

I can't tell you.

You trying to make
me believe he's a spy

or something?

I don't believe it.

And I don't think
my father would...

Don't call your father, Susan.

Because if you do...

in the year I've been here

I've found out
about Carver Oil...

even how he managed
to build one useless oil well

into an empire.

I have some facts, Susan,
about a man named Arnold Mayer

and they're not very pleasant.

I really wouldn't
like to use them.

Your father's not a young man.

His heart condition
couldn't stand the strain

of a scandal like this.

Now what do you say?

You want me to inform on David?

Oh, you make it
sound so terrible.

After all, it's not
much of a price to pay

for your father's life.

Vincent.

Relax.

You look terrible.

I had some visitors.

Those kind of
friends I don't need.

What did you come up with?

Look, I been in this
business a long time.

You give my name?

Well, not voluntarily.

That's why I insisted

upon not knowing where you were.

It saved your life and mine.

They won't kill anybody

until they get that tape.

Hey, look, my
car's right over here.

I'm not too thrilled about
meeting your friends

in case they're still looking.

Let's ride.

Dad.

Something tells
me I've got trouble.

Vincent?

No.

Oh, don't tell me no.

He doesn't show
up to see me today

you go to see him

and I come home from the club

and find you sitting in the dark

like a piece of furniture.

Dad, who's Arnold Mayer?

I thought we were
talking about Vincent.

You were.

Who's Arnold Mayer?

Where did you
find out about him?

Does it matter?

Dad, tell me.

Arnold Mayer was my partner.

I had a well that
wasn't practical.

He had a technique
for bringing it in.

And how did you get
his technique from him?

Did he sell it to you?

Is that any of your business?

It's true, then.

I know how you got it

and I know what
he did to himself

after you stole it from him.

If you know that

then there must be
something else you want to ask.

Why did I do it?

Go on, ask it.

Don't you want to
know who I did it for?

I know.

I know who you did it for.

Now, don't jump me, Vincent.

I just said I couldn't
crack the language.

Actually, there's
something else on the tape...

Numbers, equations...
The universal language.

The only language
that doesn't shift

from country to country

or planet to planet.

What do you mean,
planet to planet?

Well, try this on.

On the tape, let's
say there are, what...?

A hundred coordinates.

Now, those numbers
could represent

longitude, latitude,
intersections...

and, if I'm right

the very first intersection

is somewhere right
here in Houston...

Somewhere near
the Carver Oil Fields.

That grabs you, huh?

What else?

The pattern on the tape

is the same as one we used

when, uh... well, when NASA

was paying my room rent.

We used it to activate
a homing control

that governed reentries
of space capsules.

I got somebody at
the university now

checking into the equations

to make sure I'm not
going off half-cocked.

Wait a minute.
Don't worry about it.

He can keep his mouth shut.

It's my brother Joey.

I'll tell you what you do.

Tomorrow afternoon sometime

call my answering service.

Let them know where
you'll be tomorrow night.

I'll have my brother
Joey pick you up.

Now we better get back.

I got a long way
to go on that tape.

Good afternoon, Susan.

I hope you had a pleasant sleep.

Susan, I know you talked
to your father last night

about Arnold Mayer.

Look, Evelyn, I don't
know what it is you're after...

or why.

All I want is the
present address

of a friend of Mr. Vincent's.

A man named Neal Taft.

That and what they've done
with a certain computer tape.

That's all.

That's the whole deal, I swear.

You know something?

I don't think you have the
nerve to expose my father.

Where would you b e
once the scandal broke?

You'd be out of a
job, out of the house

and out of all the
nice fringe benefits

that seem to go with it.

All right, try me.

Ruin your father just
because you resent me.

It's entirely up to you.

All right, Evelyn.

I'll do what I can.

Thank you, Susan.

Oh, it won't be too hard.

Just call Mr. Vincent.

Arrange to have a
quiet dinner someplace

where you can talk.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Could we go?

You asked me to meet you here

and now you want to leave.

I know. I just...

I guess I just
don't like this place.

Well, I'm expecting
a phone call.

Very good.

Could you pour later, please?

Yes, sir.

Something is wrong.

No. It's just that you gave me

an awful shock last night.

David, I can't believe

that you're involved in
something dishonest.

But if this is what happens
because of that tape

get rid of it.

Can't you go to the police?

I don't have the tape.

What did you do with it?

I can't tell you.

You must know where it is.

No.

You must know.

There's a call for
you, Mr. Vincent.

Thank you.

Yes?

Behind what theater?

All right. The Fannin
Street parking lot.

I'll see you in 15 minutes.

You don't have to
bother taking me home.

I'll call dad and
have him send a car.

Susan, I'm sorry.

It's all right. Go, please.

In 15 minutes.

Some theater parking
lot on Fannin Street.

I don't know.

That would be the
Imperial, I guess.

No, don't thank me, Evelyn.

Please, don't thank me.

Mr... uh, Vincent?

That's right.

Why don't we talk in the car?

Uh, you were, uh...
supposed to be alone.

In the car, please.

Well, uh, wh-what is this?

What are you...
what are you doing?!

Let go of me!

What are you doing?

What are you looking for?

Nothing.

I don't have anything on me.

Joey?

Joey Taft?

Why would... why
would they do that?

Listen... tell my...
tell my brother...

that I tr... I-I
tried... to do...

Joey, Joey, where
is your brother?

He's... uh...
uh... he's at the...

university.

In-in my lab.

I said come in here.

Where did you go?

I had to see David.

I said come in.

I have to go up to New Orleans.

I want to set you straight

on what you asked
last night before I go.

Sit down.

Dad, I'd like to go to bed.

Please.

If you're going to talk
about Arnold Mayer...

Please don't.

I'm the last person in the
world to sit in judgment.

Any explanation I
could give you, Susan

would be just a lot of words.

What I did, I... I did.

I... stole the formula.

Arnold Mayer... killed himself.

I can't change that.

It took me years of
sleepless nights...

too much bourbon, too
many pills to realize that.

I sent Arnold Mayer's
wife money all the time

but nothing can ever wipe
out the stink of what I did.

I thought that was
dead, Susan... buried...

But now... somebody
wants to make trouble

and whoever it is can.

Big trouble.

I want to know who told you.

You're safe.

You can forget
about Arnold Mayer.

How?

I did something tonight.

Let's just say... Simon
Carver and his daughter Susan

can go back to living
the way they always lived.

You don't have to
worry about anybody

making any trouble for you.

And you don't have to worry

about David Vincent.

He's still in surgery.

They can't tell me anything.

(sighs)

Well, Vincent,
you better tell me

who ran down my brother.

I can't give you a name.

Well, you better give
me something, pal.

The men who
attacked your brother...

they weren't from... here.

They were from somewhere else.

Listen to me.

The military power of
this world depends on fuel.

The source of fuel... crude oil.

Now, suppose you wanted to
invade and conquer this earth

and you had some
other source of power.

What the devil are
you talking about?

If you could destroy
our fuel supplies

planes wouldn't fly.

Ships wouldn't sail.

We'd be disabled.

You could attack
without fear of retaliation.

Attack from where?

Outer space.

From where, pal?

You know it's possible.

I'm saying it's true.

Oh, for the love of Mike.

Neal... that tape was intended

to bring in something special

either equipment or...
or one of their specialists.

That tank car is
a homing device.

They must move it in

whenever one of their
saucers is coming down.

Their last beachhead
was Carver's oil field.

They killed those two guards
and they ran down your brother.

Let me tell you
something, Vincent.

I'm getting sick and tired
of hearing about "they."

Now, you're protecting somebody

that knew about our meeting.

Who was with you at the
Blue Lion when I called?

Who?

Susan.

DOCTOR: Mr. Taft?

Yeah.

Vincent.

My brother just died.

My brother... just died.

You have some
funny habits, Vincent

and breaking in here
in the middle of the night

is one you can keep.

I want to see Susan.

Maybe you're not
as smart as I thought.

Whatever happened
tonight, whatever you two did

you're not going
to clean it up now.

Does she come downstairs

or do I go up?

You go one place,
buster, and that's out!

It's all right, Dad.

This is between David and me.

Go ahead. You've
got a plane to catch.

It's all right.

It's your life.

Henry!

Yes, Mr. Carver.

Let's go!

Yes, sir.

David... I told Dad that I
didn't want to see you anymore

and I meant it.

Is that something you decided

after we had dinner tonight?

Why can't you just
accept it and leave?

Accept it the way I did

when you said you loved me?

That was a mistake

so why don't we
just call it quits?

Now that you've
got what you're after.

I won't even ask you
what you mean by that.

I hope you had a
successful meeting.

There was no meeting.

Why? Didn't your friend show up?

Who?

The man who called you. Taft.

I never told you his name.

Oh, you must have.

Taft showed up, but
it was the wrong one

and now he's dead.

Why?

Oh, David.

Who did you tell?

Just get out of
here, David, please.

The kid's name was Joey

and I want you to remember that.

His name was Joey.

(motors chugging)

(brakes squeaking)

(parking brake locked)

You're right... This
sighting checks out

with the coordinates
on the tape.

Now, if your story is right

this could be a landing field.

Now, you know the
top men at NASA.

Now, take the tape to them

and all the
information you have.

Convince them.

Just like that?

I was canned for
nonconformity, remember?

Do you think they're going
to believe a story like this...

Especially from me?

How many chances

do you think we're going
to get before they wipe out

the human race?

Oh, sure, sure, sure... we're
going to stop them, you and me.

Maybe we won't, but this is
the one chance you'll have to find

who killed your brother.

Okay... all right.

I'll try.

But how do we find out when?

Susan.

Who are they?

Friends.

Oh, and they're just as
unhappy about last night as I am.

Our superiors are
even more unhappy.

It wasn't my fault.

I got your information.

We're not blaming you, Susan.

It was a mistake.

This time, we'll
be more careful.

"This time"?

We have a schedule
to meet by tonight.

If that schedule is canceled

then our work is set back
for a year, maybe two.

We can't afford that.

Who are you?

Just who are you, anyway?

I asked you a question.

Susan, whether or not we
can meet that schedule tonight

depends on what Mr. Vincent
or Mr. Taft have learned...

What danger they represent.

Now, find that out for
us, and you'll be free.

How could I go to
David after last night?

He knows what I did.

He'd never trust me now.

Oh, he might.

After all, he called you,
said he wanted to see you.

I kept my end of the bargain.

You don't understand.

I've been made
aware that I've failed.

And if I fail again, I die.

And if I die, you die.

And so does your father.

(knocking)

I was going to give
you ten more minutes.

I've been driving
around for an hour

trying to find some way I
wouldn't have to come here.

But there isn't.

David, I know what
you must think of me

and it isn't going to do
any good to apologize

because it's going to
be worse in a minute.

But you've got to help me.

I don't know what

you're trying to
do, but forget it.

A man died because of you.

Don't you think I know that?

But you've got
to help me, David.

If you don't, my
father's going to die.

What? She'll have it
done... I know she will.

Who? Evelyn.

David, there isn't
time to ask questions.

You've got to tell me.

I have to know tonight.

Know what?

There's something that's
going to happen tonight

and it's so important.

I have to know what you
found out from that tape;

if you're a danger to them...

if you can stop them.

Are they waiting for you?

Yes.

Where? At the house.

David, I have to
bring them the truth.

If I don't, they'll
find out if I'm lying.

Please, tell me. Do
they have your father yet?

No. He's at a meeting
in New Orleans.

Then he's safe

for now.

Susan... don't go home.

Call Evelyn.

Tell her we don't
know anything...

That we couldn't
decode the tape.

Is that the truth?

No, but make her believe you.

They've got to go
through with their plans.

Tell her the tape is in...

is in a safe in Taft's office.

I'll make sure it's there.

That'll convince her.

But promise me you
won't go back to the house.

Take a plane.

Disappear for a couple of days.

If they go through
with their plans

you'll know when
it's safe to come back.

But go to the airport
to make that phone call

and then get the first
plane you can get.

I know it doesn't make
any difference now

but there was one
thing I wasn't lying about.

I do love you.

Be careful.

(knocking)

Come in.

Well?

Better call your friend at NASA.

It's happening tonight.

WOMAN (over PA): Regina Airlines,
jet flight number five from Honolulu

now arriving at Gate 32.

Could I have
operator 216, please?

Operator, this is Susan Carver.

Could you try my call
again to New Orleans?

I've been trying for
over half an hour.

My plane leaves in five minutes.

Thank you.

(loudly): Hello?

Could I talk to Simon
Carver, please?

Yes, I know he's in a meeting.

It's urgent.

This is his daughter.

Thank you.

Dad?

Listen, Dad, you've
got to do something.

Now, get out of that
meeting as fast as you can

and don't tell anybody where
you're going... not anybody...

And get on a plane and meet
me at the Mirador in Mexico City.

Now, you've got to do it, Dad.

I'll explain later.

Look, Dad, I love you,
and your life is in danger.

Do you promise?

I'll explain everything then.

All right.

Last call, Flight
421 for Mexico city...

Susan... What are
you doing here?!

I told you what
you wanted to know.

I told you where you
could find that tape.

You said that Mr. Vincent
had found out nothing.

We simply want to check that.

(motors chugging)

What time did they
tell you they'd be here?

They're due any minute.

Vincent!

There's Susan.

They found her.

They know she lied.

No, they don't know. They
wouldn't have come here.

They would have
called off the landing.

Well, then, they'll find out
in a minute, and that's that.

We've got to get to her.

Just the two of
us? Are you crazy?

Look, the NASA
people and the FBI

are due here any minute...

I know what they'll do to her.

Well, you can't help her.

If you go in there now,
she'll be killed for sure.

I told you, he doesn't
know anything.

Why did you run?

Is that so hard to understand?

I was scared.

They're already
inside the lunar orbit.

If there's any question
about bringing in the ship

I must know within three
minutes or I can't turn it back.

Miss Carver, you've
told us the truth?

They know nothing?

(odd noises)

Yes.

We must have the truth.

David... knows nothing.

Absolutely nothing?

Noth... nothing.

Nothing?

They know... they know.

(noises abruptly stop)

Turn the ship back now.

Path reversed.

Ship rising.

Activate the destruct
cycles and abandon control.

Now, quick, before
the radiation reaches

the critical level.

What about the girl?

She's finished.

They do know.

(droning)

(rapid beeping)

Susan... Oh...

(rapid beeping)

(hyperventilating)

Susan... Susan... I can't get...

I can't get my...

David... Susan... Oh, David...

Susan...

They're here.

It's too late.

I... just don't
understand it... any of it.

I just don't understand.

I can't expect you to.

But I know one thing...
She was... special.

What she did was special.

Good-bye.

Vincent...

she did love you.

How is he?

Well, he's tough.

He'll make it.

How about you?

I'll make it, too.

David... if there's
anything I can do...

Thank you.

How about taking
me to the airport, huh?

NARRATOR: A girl's life--

For David Vincent, a
very personal reason

why the war must go on...

why the world must be alerted...

why the invader
must be destroyed.