The Invaders (1967–1968): Season 2, Episode 15 - The Ransom - full transcript

David and Edgar intercept an alien en route to a regeneration station, and discover that he is a leader, a powerful figure in the alien hierarchy! But without regeneration he will not last the length of a trip to Washington. And, his people manage to surround David and trap him in a small cabin, the home of poet Cyrus Stone and his niece Claudia. Claudia resents that David has dragged her family into this, even after she sees an alien die the fiery death of his kind when on Earth. David tries to figure out how to get word to a nearby military base, while the aliens strive to recover their leader.

You know, I was
raised in these woods.

Got my name carved
on half those maples.

My name and a few of the
local ladies from Bennington.

I think we'll coast from here.

If there are any guards,

I don't want them to hear us.

I've been here twice
without seeing any guards.

I figure if it's
what you say it is,

they do their business at night.

It's over there.

Looks like the
world's fair in there;



tubes, flashing lights
and pretty exotic circuitry.

You're the only one
who could say for sure.

Garth!

Stop!

You can put your weapon away.

No one will harm you.

I give you my word.

You all right?

Yeah.

A ricochet caught me in the leg.

Can you walk?

I think so.

Don't take me...
for your own good.

Can you hold out until
we get him to Washington?



You'll never get to Washington.

Two men.

They've broken into the lodge.

They've taken the leader.

Get the others.

I'll get rid of the equipment.

But hurry, we've got
to get the leader back.

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.

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

Now David Vincent knows
that the invaders are here.

That they have taken human form.

Somehow, he must
convince a disbelieving world

that the nightmare
has already begun.

The guest stars
in tonight's story:

Alfred Ryder, Karen
Black, Kent Smith,

Anthony Eisley

and special guest
star Laurence Naismith.

A surprise encounter
in a closed ski lodge,

the capture of an alien being

whose importance David
Vincent cannot know.

A leader whose loss

jeopardizes the invaders
foothold on the planet Earth.

How far to the main road?

Three, maybe four miles.

Is the leg bad?

No. I've done worse shaving.

You heading for the motel?

Yeah.

We can call Ed from there.

We'd better call
the police first.

I'll call the police.

Get me the police.

You appear to be a
sensible man, mister...

Torin.

Mr. Torin.

I don't know what your
friend has told you...

There was a Mary Torin.

Does that ring a bell?

No.

Los Angeles, October 11.

A motel on Garvey Street.

I'm not familiar.

A couple of your
boys murdered her.

I read a report.

My wife.

Mary Torin.

Remember the name.

Mr. Torin, I... And
remember this...

There are seven of us now.

It's a new ball game.

We're at the Lexington Motel.

Now, they know we have him.

All right.

Now, how long do the
police say they'll take?

About ten minutes to get here,

but they're checking
the lodge, too.

Can you stay where you are?

It could get pretty warm here.

You know where Camp Belding is?

No, but I'm sure Bob Torin does.

Get there.

Ask for Colonel Ralph Gentry.

I laid a Nike site
in for him in '64.

Use my name.

I think you'd better
come up here, Ed.

Right. I'll meet you at Belding.

Soon as you can.

Bye.

I've covered everything
between here and the lodge.

They must have
turned off somewhere.

Well, maybe the motel.

You know, I went through
Anzio without a scratch.

All through the war and
nothing worse than a hangnail.

Gentlemen, you're
doing a very foolish thing.

You think so?

Where I come
from, I am a leader.

There is no equivalent here.

Unless I am released,

there will be a
terrible retribution.

Like what?

One of your cities
may be destroyed.

Your leaders killed.

I can't be sure.

If you were willing
to destroy cities,

you would have
done so before now.

We've never been
in a position like this.

Make your offers to our
leaders in Washington.

Take your chances with them.

I won't make it to Washington.

I must regenerate
within seven hours.

If I don't, I shall die

and you will have caused
a bloody retribution.

Now you take your
chances with that!

Hear me out.

Work with us.

Become our liaison
with your people.

You can be masters... rulers...

anything you want.

Sorry.

You're determined to go
on with this foolish plan.

That's right.

Then I'll make
you a final offer.

We will withdraw.

Our expedition will retire.

We will go home.

Our war will be
over, Mr. Vincent,

and you will have won.

All for my release.

No one's that important.

I am.

Nobody has that authority.

I have.

It could mean we've won, David.

What guarantee do you offer?

You have my word.

I've been beaten,
shot, tortured.

My friends have been murdered

and you ask me
to take your word.

You're being emotional.

Practical.

We go to Washington.

If you go out there,

my men will kill
those policemen.

Every time my buddy gets
on one of these benders,

he thinks he sees elephants
or men from Mars or something.

I got a gallon of
black coffee in him.

He won't bother you
again, officer, I promise.

He sounded sober to me.

Yeah, well, he always does.

Car five, come in.

Car five, come in.

Frank, we're at the
Walden Ski Lodge.

Whoever called must
have been a crank.

The place is empty.

Okay.

You heard him.

Now, he better not call again

or next time he
sleeps it off in jail.

Right, sir.

Th-thanks, officer.

David...

It's no good.

You go ahead.

Is there an army camp
around here... Camp Belding?

About 12 miles north.

Well, Ed's flying in.

We can make
contact with him there.

I know this area.

You sit on our friend here,
and I'll drive to Belding.

Think you can make it
back to the car on that leg?

Well, if they're following you.

All right.

You ask for Colonel Gentry.

We'll head for that
farmhouse over there.

You and Ed send
back help, all right?

Take care of that leg.

Right.

Move out.

Any sign of them?

No.

Well, keep looking.

Who is it?

Can we come in?

It's an emergency.

Do you have a telephone?

What is it?

Two men, Grandpa.

They just want to use the phone.

Oh.

Well, tell them not to
make so much noise.

Operator. Operator, uh...

Contact the others.

We've got him cornered.

Give it up, Mr. Vincent.

What's this all about?

Who are you?

Who are those men out there?

Police.

This man's a kidnapper.

He's holding me for ransom.

It's not true.

They're not police.

They're from another country.

I was trying to call the police.

Don't believe him.
He's got the gun.

Let her go.

I said, let my granddaughter go.

You're making a mistake.

A mistake. Of course.

So those men out there
kicking up my seedlings

are enemy agents, are they?

Foreign devils come to
murder us while we sleep.

That's right.

And you say you're
being held as bounty?

That's the truth.

Well, the one truth
we know for sure

is that I have this gun

and one of you two
gentlemen is a liar.

Claudia, take the
young man's gun.

Now... to determine the truth.

Try the back.

Wonderful!

Beings from another
planet, you say?

Son, you really are
most entertaining.

Feel his pulse.

Go on... feel his pulse.

I don't feel any pulse.

He has no pulse.

He has no heartbeat.

He's not human.

I've known men
without hearts before.

Cold stone men who still
were born of this earth.

There's nothing new
about a man without a heart,

but a man without a pulse,
now that's something else again.

And if you were
some rare creature

from the galaxies
come a conquering

would that be so bad?

Tell me, do you have
war on your planet?

Napalm? Gas ovens?

Compared with what we've
got, they can't be so bad.

Let them come.

I'll give them a hand.

I don't care what you think

as long as you keep your
gun on him until help arrives.

Help?

I sent a friend of mine

to a nearby army
base to get help.

Put that gun on the table.

You... step back.

Kill them.

Claudia, will you make
some tea for our... guests?

Or would you prefer coffee?

Nothing.

No, thank you.

I guess you don't drink
tea where you come from.

You should cultivate that habit.

A cup of tea is a sobering thing

when men
contemplate the planets.

Grandpa, make them get out.

Take your gun.

Please, go.

Put the water
on, will you, girl?

Mr. Vincent, I've
five hours left.

May I remind you that
unless I'm out of here in time,

this entire house and
everyone in it will be destroyed.

Yes, sir.

My name is Torin.

I have to see Colonel Gentry.

It's important.

One moment, sir.

The Colonel will be
happy to see you, sir.

If you'll just park over
here in the visitor's lot,

a car from the motor pool
will be here any minute.

Look, I don't
have time for that.

Where are you headed?

Colonel Gentry.

Hop in the back.

Corporal, see to his car.

Where are the
Colonel's quarters?

This is taking too long.

Where you going?

Where you...

Do you know that the
doctors and I have been trying

to keep this man
alive for four years?

And you come in
here with your guns.

Sorry.

You know what you're doing?

You know who this man is?

Claudia.

He's Cyrus Stone.

Cyrus Stone... that's
whose life you're risking.

The poet.

Yes.

You think a million
of them, or you

are worth one Cyrus stone?

Yes, I'm guilty of poetry.

But it doesn't mean
much anymore.

My granddaughter's
under the illusion

that, because 20 years ago

a man could string
a few words together,

he's somehow greater
than a mere mortal.

Maybe she's right.

Nonsense.

Anyway, I'll be
the judge of that.

Surprises some folks to think
that I lived to 71 on my own.

And they're sure
I'll never reach 72

without them to look after me.

Don't make fun of me, Grandpa.

Fun?

No... not for the world.

I'm just a little
surprised is all.

And flattered
that a girl like you

should stay with a
worn-out old farmer like me.

It's not so hard for
me, growing old,

but it sure plays the
devil with my poetry.

I've gone out of style here.

Maybe you could, uh...

make me popular
where you come from?

You see, we trade in our
poets like we trade in our autos...

A new one every year or two...

When the chrome tarnishes

or the styles change.

My time was back a ways...

before megatons
and, uh... overkill.

I don't find those
words very poetic.

Get back, or I'll kill him.

Get back!

Yes, I... I would say
poetry is out of style.

You're only buying
hours, Mr. Vincent.

You can't win.

Let me go and save these people.

Why can't you let him go?

There's more at stake
than the three of us.

They'd kill us as soon
as he got out the door.

My grandfather has a bad
heart and you're killing him.

My friend is bringing help.

I can't let him go.

Bob!

Three hours, Mr. Vincent.

I could go into that truck

and be regenerated
in five minutes.

Then I could come back

and we could talk
this over reasonably.

First Mary Torin, then Bob.

I should kill you right now.

Uh... Claudia?

Yes, Grandpa?

Oh, uh, I went to sleep.

Yes, our... spaceman.

Do you sleep?

No.

Ah. What a world
without sleep...

with people scurrying
back and forth like... sables.

I don't think I'd like that.

Mr. Stone, I'm going to try
to make it to Camp Belding.

Will you watch him?

I'm not sure.

Why do you think I should?

My friend is dead.

Now, obviously, he
didn't make it to Belding

so the authorities
don't know we're here.

Someone has to tell them.

Well and good,
but... if you're not back

in a couple of hours, he dies.

If he does, those wild,
red Indians out there

will come in here and
scalp me and that girl.

No, I... don't think
you can trust me at all.

Mr. Stone...

Mr. Stone, with that
gun in your hands,

you can force him to let me go.

I've been reading
your poems, Mr. Stone.

A world... a world
you've dreamed of...

a world... without
poverty... Think of that...

a world without
war, without disease.

You're ill, Mr. Stone.

Your heart is failing.

Yes. For those of us who
have hearts, they sometimes fail.

Our medicine can cure that.

How would you like
another 20 years? 50 years?

How many...

poems could you write
in 50 years, Mr. Stone?

Who would read them?

When we're all your slaves,
who'd have time for poetry?

Yes, Mr. Man from Space,

who would read them
in a world of slaves?

Who reads them now?

You said you'd been forgotten.

But... 50 years
to create beauty.

50 years.

What do you say to that, boy?

When I was in college,
I drew plans for a city.

No one was standing around
waiting to read those plans

but I drew them; I had to.

Because I knew one day

somebody might build that city.

There has to be
someone to create for...

or what sense does it make?

Mr. Vincent, even
in a world of slaves,

there are masters
with taste and intellect...

Men who'd
appreciate your poetry.

Mr. Stone...

I offer you a world
with poets as kings.

Are there poets on your planet?

Of course.

I'd like to hear
one of your poems.

I'm going to Camp Belding.

I'll guard him.

David, wait.

I hate dying.

I've cherished life.

The thought of
leaving it angers me.

But I'll die if need be.

But that girl, now, that's
something else again.

Grandpa...

I make one condition
for my death.

The girl goes with
you, and she lives.

Now, you see to that.

Grandpa... don't send me away.

It's time, girl.

There's a world out there.

Grandpa...

Take her out through
the cellar quickly.

They'll die out there.

If they do, you'll die in here.

Pour me out
another cup of tea...

if you would be so kind.

Well, if you hear from them,

would you ask them
to call me? Please.

Edgar Scoville, Camp Belding,

Colonel Gentry's office.

The motel doesn't
know where they are?

No.

Can you tell me
what this is about, Ed?

Two friends of mine are in
something up to their necks...

and I don't know
how to get them out.

Come in.

Yes, sir?

That man you said
wanted to see me...

Uh, Torin... where is he?

I thought with you, sir.

I never saw him.

He came on the base?

Yes, sir.

And... just disappeared?

He hitched a ride
with some lieutenant.

What lieutenant?

I don't know, sir.

You never saw him before?

No, sir.

If they're still at
Belding, find them.

Yes, sir.

Ralph, I need a favor...
No questions asked.

Five or six men who can keep
their mouths shut... armed...

And a couple of Jeeps.

I'd come myself, Ed,
but there's a big flap on.

Washington's been
on my ear all day.

Camp Belding.

Colonel Gentry's office, please.

The lines are busy,
sir. Will you wait?

This is very important.

Can you cut in?

I'm sorry, sir. It's a
long distance call.

Lieutenant, you going
to Camp Belding?

Sure thing. Climb aboard.

Claudia.

Don't worry. He'll be all right.

No. He's a tired old
man with a weak heart

and he won't be all right.

You're underestimating him.

He's one of the
strongest men I've met.

He wants you to think that.

What do you mean?

He wants to die.

He's told me.

I can't believe that.

He has too much to give.

He has one thing to give... me.

As long as he's alive,
I'm going to stay with him.

But he wants me to leave,
to go out there, to be normal.

He knows I won't
as long as he lives...

so he keeps saying
he wants to die.

Soon. If that's what it takes.

Why won't you go out there?

You don't think
it's normal either...

to be a 19-year-old girl
living on a farm in the woods

caring for an invalid...
if she loves him?

Loves his farm?

Loves his world...
better than yours?

It is unusual.

What is normal for
a 19-year-old girl.

Miniskirts?

Protest marches?

Pot?

What's normal for an architect
who dreams of building cities?

I guess you'll go
back to the farm

no matter what he says.

Yes. I'll go back to the farm.

Hour and a half.

Time is running out, Mr. Stone.

Time is running out
for us old men all over.

It needn't. Look out there.

We can generate enough
power out there to...

light a city or lift a rocket

or erase this entire
farm and everything on it.

That power can
give old men life.

Or death.

It's up to you, Mr. Stone.

Let them go!

Release me, and they'll be free.

Mr. Stone, don't let
him... don't let him go!

Yes, please,
Grandpa, let him go!

No.

Please, let me talk to him.

I'll convince him.

Grandpa, you've
got to release him.

Don't you see?

She's right, of course.

All you can do now
is wait for me to die...

That won't take long...

And then they'll
kill you... All of you.

And for what?

If I let you go, we
won't be harmed?

You have my word.

I'd rather have something
more substantial.

But then...

go ahead.

Don't do it!

Don't believe them!

He's dead.

I'm sorry he had to die.

We thank you, sir.

We feel better for that.

There was no need.

Now, if you will
put down that gun.

Wait.

You're not out of
here yet, neighbor.

You told me you'd give
me another 50 years of life.

Yes.

That machine out there

can bring life, can't it?

Yes, I told you.

That 50 years...
give them to him.

Bring him back with
your life machine.

I don't know.

That's your ransom...
One life for one...

his for yours.

A man's brain can lack
oxygen for only three minutes.

Well, one is gone already,
so you'd better hurry.

Garth!

Come here!

Save your tears, girl.

Help me get him into the van.

Current.

Cut the power.

I'm sorry. We tried.

Well, try again.

Try again!

Cut the power.

You could have had the world.

You gave it up for one man.

Very peculiar species, we men.

We value life exceedingly.

That's why we endure.

Remember that,
Mr. Man from Space,

when you go a-conquering...

That's why we endure.

Put him on the sofa.

We robbed you.

Of what?

Those years you gave him.

They could have been yours.

Child, child, child...

If only I hadn't run...

if only I hadn't
called out to you.

It's done with now...

and you daren't feel guilt.

Claudia... Hush. Don't talk.

Where are they?

It's all right.

They've put everything
back as it was.

No one will ever know
they've been here.

We'll know.

Yes, we'll know.

They've gone.

Bob was born and
reared in these woods.

It's a good part of the world.

That's what he always said.

Thank you, my dear.

Well, good-bye, son.

So long.

Remember that city
when your war is over.

Remember that city.

Yes, sir.

Good-bye, David.

Good-bye.

When you build that city,

I'd like to come live in it.

David Vincent, given
life by his enemies,

continues his search.

And an old man and a girl
will watch the skies and wait.