The Invaders (1967–1968): Season 1, Episode 6 - Nightmare - full transcript

(electrical whining )

(whining grows louder )

(gasps )

Fred. Fred, what are
you doing on your feet?

You should be off your ankle.

We're going to have a
history test on Monday

and I brought your
schoolbooks so that...

(whining quiets )

Constable.

Mr. Danielson.

(switch clicks whining stops )



Fred, what are you doing?

What are you...?

Fred!

(switch clicks )

(loud electrical
whining resumes )

(gasping )

(whining intensifies )

(gasping )

(locusts buzzing loudly )

(gasps )

(shrieking )

ANNOUNCER: Starring Roy
thinness as architect David Vincent.

NARRATOR: 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.

ANNOUNCER: The guest
stars in tonight's story:

Kathleen Widdoes...

Robert Emhardt...

Jeanette Nolan...
James Callahan.

NARRATOR: 30 miles from the
geographical center of America

at its very heart, is
the town of Grady.

Population: 5,312.

Principal industry: farming.

Grady, Kansas:
the American gothic.

Rigid, proud of its tradition,
protective of its own,

resentful of any threat
from the world outside.

(door opens )

She's moved.

Could you tell me where?

We don't know where.

(door slams )

You looking for Ellen?

That's right.

What about?

It's about this
story on the locust.

I want to ask her
some questions.

Look, fella, she was scared.

Said a lot of wild things.

Things she just imagined.

Things she just imagined.

But she's all right now.

She's herself again.

Questions would just upset her.

Well, if she doesn't want
to talk to me, she'll say so.

Forget it, fella.

Now, you just catch a
bus and get out of town.

I'd appreciate it.

I'll think about it.

You do that.

Ugh! Honestly,
one of these days,

we'll all be eaten alive.

(knocking )

MAN: Yes?

Mr. Ames?

Come in.

I'll be right there.

Now, just, just wait a moment.

Mr. Ames?

Oh, you're one of
those newspaper fellows

from the city.

Oh, no, sir.

I'm David Vincent.

I'm here looking
for Ellen Woods.

I want to ask her
some questions.

I know you're the principal at
the school where she teaches,

and, uh...

I wonder if you
know where she is.

Is she here?

I can't tell you where
she is, Mr. Vincent.

Well, why not? I've talked
to five people in this town,

and it seems as
though everyone's trying

to keep me from talking to her.

Perhaps if I told you
something, you'd understand.

I might.

Ellen has always
been a nervous...

well, sensitive girl.

About a year ago,

just before she
was to be married,

there was a terrible accident.

Both of her parents were killed.

Now, for weeks, she...

She just refused to
believe that they were dead.

Now, she was in a sanitarium
in the city for a few months.

Well, since she's been home,

she's been getting
along just fine,

that is, until this
business with the locusts.

She's... she's getting
married in a few weeks.

I'm afraid a lot of questions

would just upset her again.

I won't be upset,
Mr. Ames, really.

Ellen, you shouldn't be up.

I'm all right, really.

Now, Ellen, there is
no need to tire yourself.

No, no.

Now, please, go
back to your room.

I'm fine. I'm fine.

What would you like to know?

I'd like to clear this
up once and for all.

Well, Miss Woods, David Vincent.

Uh, it's about that
newspaper article I read.

Now, you say you
saw a metallic box,

and that box
brought the locusts.

The box I imagined I saw.

When those
newspapermen found me, I...

I was still hysterical
from the locust attack.

There was no box.

I don't care what I told them.

There... there was no box.

It was... it was...

It was all in my mind.

Well, even so, would you mind

telling me what it
looked like? Mr. Vincent,

look, she just told
you she imagined it.

Miss Woods?

I... I, uh... forget.

Do you also forget the
Danielsons were there?

The constable?

The Danielsons

both denied having been
in their barn that afternoon,

and the constable
was in his office.

One of his deputies,
Henry Braden, swore to that.

Mr. Ames, I think they're lying.

I-I didn't see
anything in that barn.

What frightened you
so much that you ran

all the way to the next farm?

Nothing. Nothing frightened me.

Did they try to hurt you?

Mr. Vincent, I think
you should stop now.

Miss Woods, you said
you saw a metallic box

that brought the locusts.

Now, did it or didn't it?

I tell you... I... I...
I made it all up.

I think you're holding
something back. Did it?

No, no. I just imagined
it. How could it?

Well, you said it could once.

I... I was wrong.

Now, why are you lying?
Who are you afraid of?

Enough! You've got
enough! Now get out!

Will you please go!

Yes, sir?

Coffee, please.

Anything else?

No, thank you.

Well, maybe you
could help me out.

I'm looking for the
people who own that farm,

where the girl was
caught in that locust attack.

The Morgans?

Yes. Do you know them?

Well, I did.

They moved.

Sold their farm and moved away

just yesterday.

Can't say that I blame them.

You friends of theirs?

No. just interested in the farm.

Who bought it?

Ira Danielson.

He has the farm next door.

(door opens )

WOMAN: Hello, Ed.

I warned you.

(woman screams )

Hold him!

Hold him!

You get the message?

Stay away from her!

Let him go.

(groans )

He's out cold.

It was your brother Ed.

They went out the back door.

Shall I go after him?

Why? You want to get
your brother in trouble?

This one had it coming anyway.

Grab his arms.

We're taking him in.

(keys jangling )

All right, outside.

We're giving you
a break, Vincent.

We're driving you
over to the next town...

Myers Corners...

Where you're catching a bus out.

What about the guys
who beat me up?

You doing anything about them?

That's my job.

Stop sticking your nose

in other people's business.

All right, Braden, let's go.

(knock on door )

Ed?

Oh, Ed.

It's okay. It's okay.

That Vincent guy won't
bother you anymore.

Ed...

He believed me, Ed.

How can he believe when I don't?

I've tried so hard
not to believe.

You tried so hard...

Ellen...

Come on, honey,
just tell me the truth.

Don't be scared.

You can tell me anything.

What did you see in
Ira Danielson's barn?

Ed...

Just tell me.

Ed, can't we just
forget about all this?

All I want to do is
move into the house...

Ellen... nothing you do or say

will ever change the
way I feel about you.

Don't be afraid to tell me.

As God is my witness, Ed...

I saw Ira Danielson
in that barn,

and his son Fred and
constable Gabbard.

And there was a... metallic
box with... dials and things and...

it made a loud, whining noise.

And...

And?

And... I believe
what Mr. Vincent said.

That it brought the locusts.

Oh, Ed...

Ed, I'm so sorry.

I know it sounds crazy,
but it's what I saw.

That's all right, honey.

You have nothing
to be sorry about.

Ellen, I love you.

I've loved you ever
since we were kids.

And I'll stay with you

until you forget all
about these locusts

and this nightmare...
the whole thing.

I can wait.

I don't care.

I can wait forever.

You come first.

Ah, this looks good.

Pull over.

(tires screeching )

(gunshots )

Put me through to Danielson.

(groaning )

(locusts chirping )

I don't understand it.

All the years I've lived here,

I've never seen
anything like this.

I don't understand it.

ELLEN: Mr. Ames!

Mr. Ames. The locusts...
They've come back.

I know.

We've got to get there.

You'll see for
yourself... The box.

Ellen, you just said
you imagined all that.

We've got to get
to the Danielsons

while the locusts
are still here.

Ellen, I forbid you to go there.

Now, go back to your room.

You're hurting my wrist.

Ellen, I... I didn't
mean to hurt you,

but I cannot let
you go out into that.

Now, come on, my dear.

Go on up to your room.

Now, come on.

Ellen, come... Come
back here, Ellen!

Don't go out there!

Ellen!

Ellen, come back here!

You were right, Oliver.

The poor thing.

(grunts )

(locusts chirping )

ELLEN: Mr. Vincent!

Mr. Vincent, I've come to...

(screaming with pain )

We have to go.

Come on. Never mind.

(screaming )

(screaming )

All right, take it easy.

Take it easy. Stand still.

I'll get them off of you.

All right, get them off my back.

All right.

Are you all right?

Yes, yes.

It's all right. Calm down.

Come on.

Wait for me.

(panting )

What is this, Mr. Vincent?

I don't know. I'm not sure.

I'm not sure of anything
but those locusts.

They were after us.

That's impossible.

Let's go.

Where are we going?

I'm going to call
the state police.

Do you trust Ames?

Yes, yes, I think so.

You drive to his house.

Call Ed, tell him to stay
with you till I get some help.

You're in danger here.

But I don't understand.

Why would anyone
want to hurt me?

If they wanted to kill me,

they could have
done it right away,

right after I saw that box.

That would have aroused
too much curiosity.

Now they have no choice.

You've seen too much.

I'll make my call from
that lunchroom there.

Remember, call Ed,
tell him what happened.

And wait for me

at Ames' house.

You got a telephone?

Yeah, right there
in the washroom.

(coin clinking in slot )

Operator, I want
the state police.

It's an emergency.

Hello, I want to speak
to whoever's on duty.

This is an emergency.

Yes, uh, my name
is David Vincent.

I'm calling from a coffee
shop called the Lunch Counter.

It's in the town of Grady.

Now listen to me, please.

Well, Mr. Vincent, that
isn't really in our jurisdiction.

All right, we'll see
what we can do.

I'll have somebody out
there in a few minutes.

All right, thank you very much.

All right.

Hello, this is Jim Walton.

Fine, just fine.

Uh, listen, we just got a
call from somebody in Grady.

A David Vincent.

Yeah.

Well, he says he's in
some kind of trouble

out at the Lunch Counter.

Sure, okay.

I'll go over and pick him up.

Thanks.

Pick who up?

Not my brother again?

No, just Braden.

He got a flat tire.

I'll drop him off at his place

on my way home.

Lock up when
you're through there.

Sure.

Ellen! Ellen, thank
heaven you're safe.

We were just
going to look for you

in Miss Havergill's car.

I tried to stop you, dear.

Whatever possessed you?

I'm sorry I hurt you,

but I'd have used
any kind of force to...

What are you doing?

He's not there.

Who's not there?

Ed. I want him to stay with
me until the police get here.

Police? What for?

What happened out there, Ellen?

What did you see?

Ellen?

I don't know.

S-Something.

I... I don't know, I...

I can't remember.

I can't remember anything.

Please, find Ed.

I... I want Ed to take me
back to that sanitarium.

Do you understand?

I... I want Ed.

Yes, it's all right,
dear. Now just be calm.

Everything's
going to be all right.

Please!

Can't... can't one of you stay?

We could have some tea.

Don't you be afraid.

I'm going to stay right
by your side every minute.

Sit down.

How's the shoulder?

Fine. Can I have
some coffee, please?

Yeah.

Can you tell me something?

There's a farm next to
the Danielsons' place...

They have a double silo.

Oh, yeah, sure.

That, uh, used to belong
to a fella named Kirby.

Now, he sold out, too,

right after the
first locust attack,

uh, oh, uh, a couple months ago.

Then he got
disgusted with the boys

from the agriculture department

when they couldn't
come up with an answer.

Who bought it?

Oh, the constable, Ned Gabbard.

He's got some men
working it for him.

Local people?

No. He brought
some of his family in

from out of town.

A couple of months
after he got here.

I don't know any
of them too well.

They don't seem to be...

mixers, you know what I mean?

Yeah. Thanks.

Yeah, sure.

(tires squealing outside diner )

What is it, Ned?

What... what's going on?

Was there a fella in
here using the phone?

A stranger, dark suit?

Well, yeah, he just
went back in there.

Where's Ellen?

She's upstairs.

Miss Havergill is with her.

Ed, don't. I've got to see her.

Please, Ed, listen...
Mr. Ames, I want to be with her.

Do you want to
lose her for good?

I've called the
doctors in the city.

They don't want you to see her.

I'm sorry, Ed, but
it's their orders.

But that isn't fair.

How could they be so cruel?

What do they know?

They were supposed to
help her before, weren't they?

I made arrangements
with a new hospital.

They have better doctors.

What new hospital?

I don't care what anyone says.

Ellen isn't going anywhere.

But they're doctors, Ed.

The Forsythe Clinic.

Believe me, they know
what they're talking about.

She wants to go, Ed.

And if the doctors say
you shouldn't see her...

They insist she be spared

any emotional
strain, Ed, of any kind.

They're afraid of
what might happen

during a good-bye with you.

I'm driving her to the city.

The doctors insist
upon her getting there

as quickly as possible.

When is Ed coming?

He should be here soon, Ellen.

I want Ed to take
me to the city.

No one else.

Yes, dear, yes.

Just try to get a rest now.

It's going to be a long drive.

Miss Havergill, when Ed comes,

you'll send him up
right away, won't you?

There's something
I must tell him.

Of course.

Just don't you
worry about a thing.

Ed?

Ed?

ELLEN: Why? Why
wouldn't you let him see me?

HAVERGILL: We told
you, dear, doctor's orders.

He respects that
because he loves you.

We'd better leave now.

No, no. Why can't
Ed take me to the city?

Please, Ellen, don't
be more difficult.

Please, please, I want
Ed to take me to the city.

Let me go! Let me go!

Here, you must be calm.

Please, Ellen. No,
no, please help me.

Help me. He's trying to kill me.

Nobody's trying
to hurt you, Ellen.

We're trying to help you.

No, he is, he is.
Please get Ed for me.

Get Ed.

Oh, you poor child,
you poor twisted child.

Help me! Please help me!

Help me! Help me!

No! Now take it easy now.

We don't want
her to hurt herself.

No! Please get Ed!

Get Ed for me, please!

Take a deep breath.
(muffled screams )

Take a deep breath.

That's a good girl.

(breathing deeply )

(door slams )

What are you doing here?

I need your help.

Get out.

Now listen just for a
minute. Ellen's in danger.

I called the state police,
but something went wrong.

Now answer this:
Did you talk to Ellen?

Ames wouldn't let me.

He's taking her to the
city to a mental hospital.

Well, why wouldn't
he let you talk to her?

Doctor's orders.

Listen, will you leave
us alone? Get out of here.

Ellen's going to be killed.

I know it's hard to believe,
but Ellen's going to be killed.

Now, we've got to stop it.

She's going to be killed, Ed!

I'm calling the constable.

You're the one
that ought to be...

Look, you'll regret
calling the constable.

Ed, Gabbard took a shot at me.

Why? Why would...

The same reason
Ellen's in trouble.

She's seen too much.

Now, if you want to
make a phone call,

call that hospital Ames
says he's taking her to.

The last thing in
the world they want

is to get her to a doctor.

Go ahead. Call the hospital.

Go on.

Operator?

Um... Get me
information in Wichita.

Yes, I'll wait.

Uh, information?

Um... Could you
give me the number

of the Forsythe Clinic?

(door opens, then closes )

Uh, Ed, you seen
that Vincent fella?

You know, the guy
I kicked out of town?

Yes.

Yes. Thank you.

Well, how about it, Ed?

Have you seen him?

Uh, no, Mr. Gabbard.

I haven't.

He probably moved on.

Well, I got a tip
he's still in town.

If you see him, let me know.

Yes, I'll do that.

(door creaks open,
then slams shut )

He's gone.

What'd the operator say?

There's no such hospital.

Well, come on. Let's go.

I don't understand. Why
would anybody want to Ellen?

Come on, Ed. There's no time.

Why would anyone want to...

Did you call Danielson?

Is everything ready?

Yes.

CLARE: Ed!

Where's Ellen?

I thought the
constable took him...

I asked you where's Ellen.

Oliver just took her
with Miss Havergill.

ED: How long ago?
Just now, a minute ago.

Oh, and she kept saying
such wild, crazy things.

Said Oliver was
trying to kill her.

CLARE: Yes, Oliver had to
quiet her with some medicine.

But what is it, Ed?

What's wrong?

My brother Carl lives out
of town by the highway.

He'll stop them.

Carl. Carl, this is Ed.

Listen, there's something
you got to do for me.

Now, Ames has taken
Ellen in Miss Havergill's car.

I want you go out on that
highway and stop them.

Carl, no questions,
just do what I ask.

Ellen's life may depend on it.

I don't care how you do it,

but do it.

Come on. Ames' car is outside.

Everything you've told me...

I'm not saying I believe you,

I'm not saying I
don't... but why Grady?

Well, I can only guess.

Grady's about three miles
from dead center of America.

I think they're going to try
and send signal vibrations

from that silo...

Vibrations to reach every
point of America simultaneously.

Now, if that happens...

insects will attack
from every point.

For every square mile
of the earth's surface,

there must be
millions of insects.

Now that's quite an ally.

Ed, in that silo, I saw
butterflies eat flesh...

Butterflies.

They got the owners of the
surrounding farms to sell out.

Danielson and
Gabbard bought them.

Now those silos are surrounded

by private property
owned by them.

Carl, did you see them?

No. They never came this way.

They must have turned
off on Iverson Road.

What's going on,
Ed? Iverson Road...

That's past Danielson's place.

Get to a phone and
call the FBI. What?

Carl, Carl, give me your gun.

What's going on?

Just call the FBI.

We'll be at Danielson's place.

Hurry up!

No, Ed!

(screaming )

No...

(tires screeching )

ELLEN: No, Ed!

(screaming )

(tires squealing gun firing )

(glass shattering )

(Gabbard screaming )

(locusts chirping )

It's okay.

It's okay.

(progressively rapid beeping )

(explosion )

(door closes )

What did you find out?

They've all left town...
Havergill, Ames...

half a dozen families.

We can't prove anything, can we?

Well, why not?

I want you both
to talk to the FBI.

Please... Mr. Vincent...

I have Ed now.

All I want is to be
left in peace with him.

I...

I can't live through
another nightmare...

People listening to a
story they don't believe...

people looking at
me as if I were crazy.

Do you understand that?

No. I don't understand it.

Not after all that's happened.

I'm sorry, Mr. Vincent.

We're just not going to talk...

ever.

I'm sorry. That's it.

All right.

Good luck to the both of you.

(door closes )

NARRATOR: Grady, Kansas...

proud of its tradition,

protective of its own,

resentful of any threat
from the world outside.

David Vincent has
faced the invader here,

and for a little while, that
threat has been pushed aside.