War of the Worlds (1988–1990): Season 1, Episode 16 - The Meek Shall Inherit - full transcript
The aliens plan to disorganise human society by paralysing its means of communication.
In 1953, Earth experienced
a war of the worlds.
Common bacteria
stopped the aliens,
but it didn't kill them.
Instead, the aliens lapsed
into a state of deep hibernation.
Now the aliens have
been resurrected,
more terrifying
than ever before.
In 1953, aliens started
taking over the world.
Today, they're taking
over our bodies.
It's not the cold.
It's something else.
Hey, hey. Don't you...
don't you be telling me I've
got to wait for my money.
Understand?
Oh, Dottie, that's
not what happened.
You see, Bobby told
Johnny that Linda told Cindy...
Sit down and eat your breakfast!
That you and I told
Herbert that he was a nerd.
Okay. Give her a try.
Your mother said
get off the phone.
Well, I wouldn't
necessarily tell it to you...
On a small scale,
our experiment has
proven successful.
Yet, its value on a larger
scale continues to elude me.
Humans are decidedly
social animals
and they rely heavily on
their ability to communicate
with others of their species.
Suggesting?
Suggesting that by disrupting
their communications we
will also disrupt their society.
The ensuing chaos will leave
the humans highly vulnerable
to all forms of attack.
Then it's time for us
to step up our operations.
We must deal the humans a blow
that they will
not easily forget.
Our equipment is ready
and we are standing
by, Advocate.
All we need is the power
source to complete our mission.
Be patient.
Even now, soldiers
are moving into position
to steal the power
source you require.
Understood.
We are nothing
without your counsel.
To life immortal.
Out of the way!
Molly! Molly!
How many times
have I got to tell you,
the silent bit doesn't
work any more!
No spiel, no meal!
Do you have a bottle
stashed in there?
Relax, Molly.
Old Pollito ain't
gonna take nothing
isn't rightfully his.
Step aside and
watch the maestro.
Excuse me, sir, madam.
I haven't had a dry
place to sleep in a week.
I can't take this
weather any more.
Not since 'Nam!
The cold gets right in my bones,
right on the bullet in my leg!
People don't take care
of their vets anymore.
That's why I dodged the draft.
Gonna try my luck down on Main.
See you later.
Hey, Pollito!
Got ourselves a bottle.
You interested?
You don't have to ask me twice.
Dayton, old buddy.
This is good stuff.
Here, good stuff.
Come in, dear.
That's it. Come on in.
There you go.
You're gonna
like it here, Molly.
You'll be clean, well-fed
and you won't have
to sleep on the street.
Why don't you let
me take those for you.
Uh!
All I'm going to do
is put them in your room.
Here.
Miss Stone, we do not tolerate
this kind of behavior here,
charity case or not.
Excuse me.
We're guests here.
We're not inmates.
I think if she wants to keep
her things you should let her.
This is none of
your concern, Sylvia.
Oh, really?
Well, fiddle-de-dee.
I'll take charge
of the new girl.
Hello.
My name's Sylvia van Buren.
Now if you have any questions
or you need anything,
why don't you just come to me.
I've been here
longer than anyone.
Not bad, Coleman.
Thank you, Colonel.
Not good either.
You made as much
noise springing that lock
as you would have
setting off a flare.
I'll work on it, sir.
You're dismissed for
the evening, Sergeant.
We'll start again at 0600 hours.
Don't forget to
secure the perimeter
on your way out.
Well?
Pacing and looking
over my shoulder
is not going to help me
get an open phone line
to the Pentagon.
I can't save the world, if
you are unable to access
the Pentagon computer
when I ask for it.
I can do a lot, Harrison.
I can even do the
impossible sometimes.
But nobody, and I mean nobody,
can control the phone company.
What about an end-around?
You call Hawaii, then
computer to Alaska,
and then across to Toronto,
and then land lines down to DC.
I tried that!
And I tried a few other
combinations as well.
But for some reason,
all the long distance lines
are out at this end
of the continent.
Now you're just
going to have to wait
until they make the repairs.
To think that the
fate of the world
is resting in the hands
of the phone company!
Do you have any pull
with the phone company?
Only slightly less than I
have with the post office.
Suzanne, I don't
think that you and I
are communicating
as well as we might.
Is this your way of saying
that you are not pleased
with the candidates
I have chosen
for your Omega Squad?
Well, I think that you should
redraw your
psychological profile
and submit new candidates.
Why, Paul?
Because you don't think
a woman, any woman,
has any place in a special unit
designed to provide,
quote, tactical backup
in case of a major altercation
with aliens, unquote?
Not exactly.
And the other candidates
are too rebellious,
too individualistic, too casual
when it comes to
taking their own initiative.
Where did I... Exactly!
Now would you please take a
look at your recommendations?
Well, yeah, uh, sure.
I can if you want.
But I'm telling you right now,
it's not going to
make any difference.
The psychological profile I
designed is absolutely perfect
for the job you've described.
How can you say that?
I mean, who'd you model
this profile on, Rambo?
Why no, Paul.
I modeled it on you.
Very funny, Suzanne.
This way.
Come on, guys. Follow me.
Hold it right there!
Didn't I tell you bums
to stay off this property?
We can take him.
No. It might raise an alarm.
Sorry, Bull.
Didn't mean no harm.
Just looking for
someplace warm to sleep.
I'll make things warm if you
don't stay away from here.
No! No! Can't you feel it?
They're back again.
Can't you feel their slimy
three-fingered hands?
They're crawling...
They're crawling
all over you!
Harry! Get them all off of me!
Don't take me to my room!
I've got to hide!
I have to hide!
A little of this will chase
the demons away, Sylvia.
Oh, it won't, and they're
not demons! They're aliens!
Don't you listen?
Don't you hear me?
Don't you see, dear?
No, I don't want it!
Don't! Don't do that! Don't!
There you go, dear. Ow!
You'll feel better in a minute.
No, I won't feel better.
Not till you call Harrison.
I've got to warn him.
Don't you understand?
Harry knows what to do.
Harry always knows what to do!
Maybe we'll call him in a day
or two after you're feeling better.
No! You've got to call
him now before it's too late!
We've been bothering
Dr. Blackwood far too frequently.
There's no reason to
trouble him with this matter.
You don't believe me!
You still think
I'm some crazy old woman!
Why don't you believe me?!
You still think I'm
some crazy old woman!
Oh, why doesn't
somebody believe me?
Why doesn't
somebody listen to me?!
Nobody listens to me. Nobody...
I believe you.
Stop coughing.
Enter.
Corporal Alexander
Stavrakos, sir.
Thank you, Sergeant.
Good morning, Colonel.
29 years of age,
raised in foster homes,
entered the service
on your 18th birthday...
And still a corporal.
Reduced in rank
three times in 11 years.
Something about
the rank of sergeant
that disagrees
with you, Corporal?
Too much responsibility, sir.
Says here you're quite
a reader, Stavrakos.
All the Keyhoe
books, Van Daniken,
Ruppelt's Report
on Unidentified Flying Objects.
Don't you believe that life on
other planets is possible, sir?
Don't you believe in the
swamp gas theory, Corporal?
Project Blue Book... it
wasn't good enough for you?
I suppose if aliens were
to invade this planet,
you'd be the first one
to pick up a weapon
and start shooting.
Don't think I'd be
the first, Colonel,
but I'm sure I
wouldn't be the last.
Last time I checked,
this planet was ours.
That'll be all, Corporal.
May I ask what
this is all about?
No.
Oh, how you doing, Doc?
Refreshments, Gertrude.
How's the downloading
going? Smooth as silk.
We'll have everything you
wanted off the Pentagon computers
in less than an hour,
unless the phone company
decides to get cute again.
Sit down, Doc.
Try some of my new brew.
Did you ever find
out what happened?
Well I couldn't
resist a little prying.
I mean, after all,
when you're at the mercy
of the phone company...
Norton, this is Harrison.
Save your excuses for
somebody who cares.
Just trying to stay
in shape, Doc.
The party line...
Pardon the pun... At
the phone company
blames it on saboteurs unknown.
Really?
How come it never made the news?
Well, I wondered that myself.
I mean, saboteurs usually
try to claim all
the credit they can.
Disruption of public
services is a great forum
so that they can, uh,
save the sewer worm
or free political prisoners
in Antarctica or something.
Now you don't mean to suggest...
Ah, hold on now, Dr. Blackwood.
Did I say anything about aliens?
No. Not one single word.
Though it does seem strange.
Aren't you being the slightest
bit paranoid, Mr. Drake?
Well, perhaps it's the
company I keep, Dr. Blackwood.
A little too much chicory.
Really, you think so?
Mm-hmm.
Better keep an eye on things...
Just to be on the safe side.
Well with these guys,
the safe side's the side
I want to be on, Doc.
I'm leaving.
Want to come?
Uh, uh...
Nobody's going to believe you
if you don't prove it to them.
All right.
Oh.
Derriman, I can't believe
that you're still in the service.
Well, after 'Nam I found
out that the only employer
that wanted me was the Army.
Now we've known each
other for a long time.
I can tell you I'm pulling
together a squad...
Special missions.
Very elite.
Well, best of luck
to you, Colonel.
Personally, I've had
more than my share
of being a moving target.
I'm not asking for volunteers.
I'm hand-picking qualified,
able-bodied recruits.
Not bad, Derriman.
But you'll still have
to lose that spare tire.
Aw hell. That's "hell, Colonel."
We've got temporary quarters
set up for you in the guest house.
Yeah, but Colonel...
You'll be working with
Sergeant Coleman.
You don't have any
problems working with
a woman noncom, do you?
And if I said yes?
Then we'd have to work
out our problems together.
You're dismissed, Sergeant.
Oh, this is amazing!
I've never been
in a truck before!
Please?
Thank you.
Here. Try one of
these. They're fresher.
You got the touch, Sylvia.
You really got the touch.
Come on. Let's go, you sissies!
Come on, Corpman.
Get that weapon up!
Why wasn't I notified sooner?
We can't be held responsible...
I am holding you personally
responsible, Doctor.
I'm supposed to be
notified immediately
about any change in
Miss van Buren's condition.
The fact that you waited this
long to tell me that she's missing...
Look, I'm sorry... Look, we
will continue this discussion
after I am sure
that she is safe.
It isn't just Sylvia. There's
some charity case...
A woman named Molly
Stone who's missing, too.
Someone remembers seeing
two women matching
their descriptions
trying to hitch a ride
toward Portland. The police?
Nothing there, no.
Well, maybe she's
on her way here to see you. Yeah,
that would make perfect sense, Norton,
excepting she has
no idea where here is.
God, the woman has
been sheltered for so long
she has no idea how to
deal with the real world.
Norton, do me a favor.
I want you to drop
whatever it is you're doing...
Say no more, Harrison...
Police reports, hospitals,
missing persons, Jane Does.
If anybody can
find Sylvia, it's me.
Thanks.
What are you gonna do?
Sylvia was heading
towards Portland.
If I'm going to find her,
that's a pretty
good place to start.
This is where it happened.
This is where I saw that
thing pounce down on Pollito
and sort of smother
him while those...
those other...
those other two...
stood there and watched.
Course, it was dark then,
but you... you
could see the moon,
and if you kept your eyes open,
if you were real still, you
could see-see everything.
I've seen my share of things,
good and bad... mostly bad...
but in all my days, I never
seen nothing like this.
It happened right...
here.
This is not a good place.
As repulsed as
Sylvia is by aliens,
she's also drawn to
them like a magnet.
We've got to find her
before she finds them.
Agreed, but aren't we being
a little haphazard about it?
Yeah, we probably are.
Have any better ideas?
No. Not really.
Me, neither.
So haphazard it will be.
♪ ♪
Hi, sweet thing.
Excuse me.
Hi. Hi.
We're looking for a woman.
Gonna cost you extra.
I don't think you phrased that
quite right. Hey,
no problem, doll.
I deal with all
kinds of phrases.
The woman we're
looking for, she's, uh...
she's 5'6"; she's
in her mid-50s.
She's got grayish red hair.
Her name is Sylvia van Buren.
Look, I don't do information.
Would you happen to
know of a street person
- named Molly Stone?
- Excuse me, Miss.
Excuse me, doll. Some of
us have to work for a living.
Hi there. Hi.
Let's go.
I believe you saw what
you said you saw, Molly.
Doesn't matter.
It happened. I saw it.
Well, would you believe me
if I told you I can
feel certain things?
Molly...
there are aliens around here.
They're beings
from another world.
I know they're around here,
because I can feel them.
That's what you saw
in the alley, Molly...
You saw aliens.
Oh, it's not so incredible
that you won't
believe me, please.
Please tell me
it's not too crazy.
You believe that's what it was?
Yes, I do.
Then that's what it was.
Snow's getting heavier.
Got to find a roof.
Bull's coming!
All right,
you bums, I know
you're hiding in here.
I warned you about
using these yards
as your own personal hotel.
Are you sure this
is a good idea?
Do it all the time.
Mostly the guards
leave us alone.
Bull's the only one
you got to look out for.
Bull's the mean one.
Come on!
Hurry!
You could've used his body.
He didn't give me a chance.
I think his heart quit on him.
We'll have to gamble
that nobody misses him.
The truck will be
here in seven hours.
Come on.
Come on. Hurry up, hurry up.
Get in.
Get in.
Made it.
H-Have I ever...
told you about Harry?
Three times.
Oh.
We'll be warm soon.
It's not the cold.
It's something else.
We seek your counsel, Advocate.
The bodies we have chosen
are unwanted, anonymous,
but they are also
very unhealthy.
We are in a position
to await the arrival
of the truck carrying
the power source.
ADVOCATE #1: I remind you that
your success is
vital to this mission.
An adequate power source is
an important key to our success.
Without their ability
to communicate,
the humans are nothing.
And without your
counsel, we are nothing.
Anybody got a clue what kind of
special operations we're training for?
Nope. Must be big, though.
The colonel isn't
letting up for a second.
Did a hitch with him in country.
Get used to looking at his back,
'cause he'll always be on
point expecting you to keep up.
You know why?
Because the view
from the rear is lousy,
and the information
is always late.
That's just what I was
gonna tell them, Colonel.
Tell them on the way
back to quarters, Sergeant.
Double-time it! Move it!
Sorry, Harrison. I
haven't been able to dig up
a lead on Sylvia or
this Molly Stone person.
I did, however, intercept
a couple of alien
radio transmissions.
Pass it on to the
Colonel, will you, Norton?
If it turns ugly,
we're gonna break off and
come back to the cottage.
Otherwise I'd like
to keep on looking.
No problem, Doc.
I'll keep working on
it from my end. Bye.
No luck, I take it.
Not unless you're
counting bad luck.
Well, Portland's a big city.
They haven't built
the city big enough
to hide from Norton Drake.
Did I hear you mention
something about transmissions?
Oh. Thanks. Uh, yeah.
There are just a few short
bursts, probably nothing.
Harrison said for me
to give them to you.
I've got the coordinates
in the margin.
I've been so busy
trying to locate Sylvia
I haven't been able
to pinpoint the location.
Norton, are you sure these
coordinates are correct?
Well, that sounds like a
loaded question. What gives?
According to this,
those transmissions
originated in Portland.
And Harrison and
Sylvia are in Portland.
Portland is becoming
a very popular city.
I'm thinking of Sylvia
out there on the streets...
All cold, wet, hungry,
nobody to rely on,
nobody to take care of her.
We're doing everything
we can, Harrison.
I know, I know.
That doesn't make me
feel any better though.
I know giving up this
search is not very heroic,
but I am running out of ideas.
What else can we do?
We haven't got any leads.
We don't even know
the right questions to ask.
Hi, sweet thing.
Want a cup of coffee?
We really haven't been
asking the right questions.
Hello again.
Hi, sweet thing.
Oh, it's you again.
Ever find that girl you
were so anxious to find?
Not yet. Do you mind
answering a question for me?
Mind paying for
services rendered?
Sure.
If you're down
and out in this city,
where's the one place
you can pretty much count
on getting a good meal?
Hmm.
Truck yard's the best place.
Sometimes the drivers give
the street people handouts.
Security guards don't like it,
but the truckers don't care.
The truck yards, eh?
Oh! No! No! Don't
touch me! No! Oh! Oh!
Oh, Molly. Oh, I'm sorry.
I... I must have fallen asleep.
Time to go.
Go? Outside?
It's cold out
there. We'll freeze!
Truckers feed us sometimes.
You can always get warm again,
but you got to take food
when there's food to take.
I... I don't want to go.
I... I'm not hungry.
Really, I'm not.
Oh, Molly...
I'll hide. But please
don't make me.
I can't go outside.
There's something out
there. I know there is.
Don't make me
go outside, please.
Food is what's out there.
No. I can feel it. I
can feel it inside me.
Maybe I'll bring
you something back.
Molly, don't go! Don't
leave me, please!
Molly! Molly! Oh!
Molly.
Terrible night to
be outside, isn't it?
A much healthier body.
And it has additional knowledge.
A woman... Sylvia...
Has spoken to this human.
Uh... most of it made no sense.
But she knows about us.
And she has a friend...
Harry... Harrison Blackwood...
Who has a unique understanding
of who and what we are.
No! We can't let her get away!
The truck is due any minute.
If we don't intercept
the power source,
we will have failed.
And our failure means
failure of the entire mission.
First, we get the power source.
Then we get the woman.
And then we get the human
called Harrison Blackwood.
Look!
Oh!
Oh! Oh!
Sylvia!
Harrison, help me!
I'm stuck!
Sylvia! Are you all right?
Oh, thank God you're here!
This is where they got Molly.
Oh, you do believe me, Harry?
Yes, I do, Sylvia.
Oh, my Lord.
I told her all about you.
Paul's already on his way, Doc.
Now, his parting words
were for you and Suzanne
to stay clear of the aliens.
Let him handle it.
There's nothing I'd like better,
but I'm here, and he's not.
Norton, they know who we are.
Unless these aliens are
stopped now, before they
get word out about us,
we're in a lot more trouble
than I care to think about.
Well, I'll pass it
on if he checks in.
You do that. We need him.
We need him now like we've
never needed him before.
What are we going to do now?
I don't know.
Search and destroy
is not exactly my field.
Look!
It's Molly!
Not anymore, it isn't.
Harrison!
Is that an alien?
No. At least I
don't think it is.
No. I'm sure
I'd feel if it were.
That poor man.
He doesn't know
what he's walking into.
God! I hate when this happens.
Harrison!
Easy, pal.
I'm not going to hurt you.
Damn right you're not!
Norton told me to expect you,
but not to expect this.
Any idea what we're facing?
By my count, there are
three aliens out there:
two men and a woman.
We don't know
what they're after,
but I spotted them
working their way
toward that
dispatcher's shack there.
Omega Squad is
moving into place.
Why don't you take cover.
Okay.
Get down!
Team leader, check in.
In position.
I see two approaching
the dispatcher's shack.
Affirmative. Standing by.
You got a handout
for a couple of hungry
men down on their luck?
Sure. Come on inside.
Get in position now!
There's no one here.
Only half right,
sucker! Hands up!
On your knees now!
The colonel's got
a hell of a lot of
explaining to do.
Keep a sharp eye.
In pursuit.
Hold it right there!
Harrison, look out!
a war of the worlds.
Common bacteria
stopped the aliens,
but it didn't kill them.
Instead, the aliens lapsed
into a state of deep hibernation.
Now the aliens have
been resurrected,
more terrifying
than ever before.
In 1953, aliens started
taking over the world.
Today, they're taking
over our bodies.
It's not the cold.
It's something else.
Hey, hey. Don't you...
don't you be telling me I've
got to wait for my money.
Understand?
Oh, Dottie, that's
not what happened.
You see, Bobby told
Johnny that Linda told Cindy...
Sit down and eat your breakfast!
That you and I told
Herbert that he was a nerd.
Okay. Give her a try.
Your mother said
get off the phone.
Well, I wouldn't
necessarily tell it to you...
On a small scale,
our experiment has
proven successful.
Yet, its value on a larger
scale continues to elude me.
Humans are decidedly
social animals
and they rely heavily on
their ability to communicate
with others of their species.
Suggesting?
Suggesting that by disrupting
their communications we
will also disrupt their society.
The ensuing chaos will leave
the humans highly vulnerable
to all forms of attack.
Then it's time for us
to step up our operations.
We must deal the humans a blow
that they will
not easily forget.
Our equipment is ready
and we are standing
by, Advocate.
All we need is the power
source to complete our mission.
Be patient.
Even now, soldiers
are moving into position
to steal the power
source you require.
Understood.
We are nothing
without your counsel.
To life immortal.
Out of the way!
Molly! Molly!
How many times
have I got to tell you,
the silent bit doesn't
work any more!
No spiel, no meal!
Do you have a bottle
stashed in there?
Relax, Molly.
Old Pollito ain't
gonna take nothing
isn't rightfully his.
Step aside and
watch the maestro.
Excuse me, sir, madam.
I haven't had a dry
place to sleep in a week.
I can't take this
weather any more.
Not since 'Nam!
The cold gets right in my bones,
right on the bullet in my leg!
People don't take care
of their vets anymore.
That's why I dodged the draft.
Gonna try my luck down on Main.
See you later.
Hey, Pollito!
Got ourselves a bottle.
You interested?
You don't have to ask me twice.
Dayton, old buddy.
This is good stuff.
Here, good stuff.
Come in, dear.
That's it. Come on in.
There you go.
You're gonna
like it here, Molly.
You'll be clean, well-fed
and you won't have
to sleep on the street.
Why don't you let
me take those for you.
Uh!
All I'm going to do
is put them in your room.
Here.
Miss Stone, we do not tolerate
this kind of behavior here,
charity case or not.
Excuse me.
We're guests here.
We're not inmates.
I think if she wants to keep
her things you should let her.
This is none of
your concern, Sylvia.
Oh, really?
Well, fiddle-de-dee.
I'll take charge
of the new girl.
Hello.
My name's Sylvia van Buren.
Now if you have any questions
or you need anything,
why don't you just come to me.
I've been here
longer than anyone.
Not bad, Coleman.
Thank you, Colonel.
Not good either.
You made as much
noise springing that lock
as you would have
setting off a flare.
I'll work on it, sir.
You're dismissed for
the evening, Sergeant.
We'll start again at 0600 hours.
Don't forget to
secure the perimeter
on your way out.
Well?
Pacing and looking
over my shoulder
is not going to help me
get an open phone line
to the Pentagon.
I can't save the world, if
you are unable to access
the Pentagon computer
when I ask for it.
I can do a lot, Harrison.
I can even do the
impossible sometimes.
But nobody, and I mean nobody,
can control the phone company.
What about an end-around?
You call Hawaii, then
computer to Alaska,
and then across to Toronto,
and then land lines down to DC.
I tried that!
And I tried a few other
combinations as well.
But for some reason,
all the long distance lines
are out at this end
of the continent.
Now you're just
going to have to wait
until they make the repairs.
To think that the
fate of the world
is resting in the hands
of the phone company!
Do you have any pull
with the phone company?
Only slightly less than I
have with the post office.
Suzanne, I don't
think that you and I
are communicating
as well as we might.
Is this your way of saying
that you are not pleased
with the candidates
I have chosen
for your Omega Squad?
Well, I think that you should
redraw your
psychological profile
and submit new candidates.
Why, Paul?
Because you don't think
a woman, any woman,
has any place in a special unit
designed to provide,
quote, tactical backup
in case of a major altercation
with aliens, unquote?
Not exactly.
And the other candidates
are too rebellious,
too individualistic, too casual
when it comes to
taking their own initiative.
Where did I... Exactly!
Now would you please take a
look at your recommendations?
Well, yeah, uh, sure.
I can if you want.
But I'm telling you right now,
it's not going to
make any difference.
The psychological profile I
designed is absolutely perfect
for the job you've described.
How can you say that?
I mean, who'd you model
this profile on, Rambo?
Why no, Paul.
I modeled it on you.
Very funny, Suzanne.
This way.
Come on, guys. Follow me.
Hold it right there!
Didn't I tell you bums
to stay off this property?
We can take him.
No. It might raise an alarm.
Sorry, Bull.
Didn't mean no harm.
Just looking for
someplace warm to sleep.
I'll make things warm if you
don't stay away from here.
No! No! Can't you feel it?
They're back again.
Can't you feel their slimy
three-fingered hands?
They're crawling...
They're crawling
all over you!
Harry! Get them all off of me!
Don't take me to my room!
I've got to hide!
I have to hide!
A little of this will chase
the demons away, Sylvia.
Oh, it won't, and they're
not demons! They're aliens!
Don't you listen?
Don't you hear me?
Don't you see, dear?
No, I don't want it!
Don't! Don't do that! Don't!
There you go, dear. Ow!
You'll feel better in a minute.
No, I won't feel better.
Not till you call Harrison.
I've got to warn him.
Don't you understand?
Harry knows what to do.
Harry always knows what to do!
Maybe we'll call him in a day
or two after you're feeling better.
No! You've got to call
him now before it's too late!
We've been bothering
Dr. Blackwood far too frequently.
There's no reason to
trouble him with this matter.
You don't believe me!
You still think
I'm some crazy old woman!
Why don't you believe me?!
You still think I'm
some crazy old woman!
Oh, why doesn't
somebody believe me?
Why doesn't
somebody listen to me?!
Nobody listens to me. Nobody...
I believe you.
Stop coughing.
Enter.
Corporal Alexander
Stavrakos, sir.
Thank you, Sergeant.
Good morning, Colonel.
29 years of age,
raised in foster homes,
entered the service
on your 18th birthday...
And still a corporal.
Reduced in rank
three times in 11 years.
Something about
the rank of sergeant
that disagrees
with you, Corporal?
Too much responsibility, sir.
Says here you're quite
a reader, Stavrakos.
All the Keyhoe
books, Van Daniken,
Ruppelt's Report
on Unidentified Flying Objects.
Don't you believe that life on
other planets is possible, sir?
Don't you believe in the
swamp gas theory, Corporal?
Project Blue Book... it
wasn't good enough for you?
I suppose if aliens were
to invade this planet,
you'd be the first one
to pick up a weapon
and start shooting.
Don't think I'd be
the first, Colonel,
but I'm sure I
wouldn't be the last.
Last time I checked,
this planet was ours.
That'll be all, Corporal.
May I ask what
this is all about?
No.
Oh, how you doing, Doc?
Refreshments, Gertrude.
How's the downloading
going? Smooth as silk.
We'll have everything you
wanted off the Pentagon computers
in less than an hour,
unless the phone company
decides to get cute again.
Sit down, Doc.
Try some of my new brew.
Did you ever find
out what happened?
Well I couldn't
resist a little prying.
I mean, after all,
when you're at the mercy
of the phone company...
Norton, this is Harrison.
Save your excuses for
somebody who cares.
Just trying to stay
in shape, Doc.
The party line...
Pardon the pun... At
the phone company
blames it on saboteurs unknown.
Really?
How come it never made the news?
Well, I wondered that myself.
I mean, saboteurs usually
try to claim all
the credit they can.
Disruption of public
services is a great forum
so that they can, uh,
save the sewer worm
or free political prisoners
in Antarctica or something.
Now you don't mean to suggest...
Ah, hold on now, Dr. Blackwood.
Did I say anything about aliens?
No. Not one single word.
Though it does seem strange.
Aren't you being the slightest
bit paranoid, Mr. Drake?
Well, perhaps it's the
company I keep, Dr. Blackwood.
A little too much chicory.
Really, you think so?
Mm-hmm.
Better keep an eye on things...
Just to be on the safe side.
Well with these guys,
the safe side's the side
I want to be on, Doc.
I'm leaving.
Want to come?
Uh, uh...
Nobody's going to believe you
if you don't prove it to them.
All right.
Oh.
Derriman, I can't believe
that you're still in the service.
Well, after 'Nam I found
out that the only employer
that wanted me was the Army.
Now we've known each
other for a long time.
I can tell you I'm pulling
together a squad...
Special missions.
Very elite.
Well, best of luck
to you, Colonel.
Personally, I've had
more than my share
of being a moving target.
I'm not asking for volunteers.
I'm hand-picking qualified,
able-bodied recruits.
Not bad, Derriman.
But you'll still have
to lose that spare tire.
Aw hell. That's "hell, Colonel."
We've got temporary quarters
set up for you in the guest house.
Yeah, but Colonel...
You'll be working with
Sergeant Coleman.
You don't have any
problems working with
a woman noncom, do you?
And if I said yes?
Then we'd have to work
out our problems together.
You're dismissed, Sergeant.
Oh, this is amazing!
I've never been
in a truck before!
Please?
Thank you.
Here. Try one of
these. They're fresher.
You got the touch, Sylvia.
You really got the touch.
Come on. Let's go, you sissies!
Come on, Corpman.
Get that weapon up!
Why wasn't I notified sooner?
We can't be held responsible...
I am holding you personally
responsible, Doctor.
I'm supposed to be
notified immediately
about any change in
Miss van Buren's condition.
The fact that you waited this
long to tell me that she's missing...
Look, I'm sorry... Look, we
will continue this discussion
after I am sure
that she is safe.
It isn't just Sylvia. There's
some charity case...
A woman named Molly
Stone who's missing, too.
Someone remembers seeing
two women matching
their descriptions
trying to hitch a ride
toward Portland. The police?
Nothing there, no.
Well, maybe she's
on her way here to see you. Yeah,
that would make perfect sense, Norton,
excepting she has
no idea where here is.
God, the woman has
been sheltered for so long
she has no idea how to
deal with the real world.
Norton, do me a favor.
I want you to drop
whatever it is you're doing...
Say no more, Harrison...
Police reports, hospitals,
missing persons, Jane Does.
If anybody can
find Sylvia, it's me.
Thanks.
What are you gonna do?
Sylvia was heading
towards Portland.
If I'm going to find her,
that's a pretty
good place to start.
This is where it happened.
This is where I saw that
thing pounce down on Pollito
and sort of smother
him while those...
those other...
those other two...
stood there and watched.
Course, it was dark then,
but you... you
could see the moon,
and if you kept your eyes open,
if you were real still, you
could see-see everything.
I've seen my share of things,
good and bad... mostly bad...
but in all my days, I never
seen nothing like this.
It happened right...
here.
This is not a good place.
As repulsed as
Sylvia is by aliens,
she's also drawn to
them like a magnet.
We've got to find her
before she finds them.
Agreed, but aren't we being
a little haphazard about it?
Yeah, we probably are.
Have any better ideas?
No. Not really.
Me, neither.
So haphazard it will be.
♪ ♪
Hi, sweet thing.
Excuse me.
Hi. Hi.
We're looking for a woman.
Gonna cost you extra.
I don't think you phrased that
quite right. Hey,
no problem, doll.
I deal with all
kinds of phrases.
The woman we're
looking for, she's, uh...
she's 5'6"; she's
in her mid-50s.
She's got grayish red hair.
Her name is Sylvia van Buren.
Look, I don't do information.
Would you happen to
know of a street person
- named Molly Stone?
- Excuse me, Miss.
Excuse me, doll. Some of
us have to work for a living.
Hi there. Hi.
Let's go.
I believe you saw what
you said you saw, Molly.
Doesn't matter.
It happened. I saw it.
Well, would you believe me
if I told you I can
feel certain things?
Molly...
there are aliens around here.
They're beings
from another world.
I know they're around here,
because I can feel them.
That's what you saw
in the alley, Molly...
You saw aliens.
Oh, it's not so incredible
that you won't
believe me, please.
Please tell me
it's not too crazy.
You believe that's what it was?
Yes, I do.
Then that's what it was.
Snow's getting heavier.
Got to find a roof.
Bull's coming!
All right,
you bums, I know
you're hiding in here.
I warned you about
using these yards
as your own personal hotel.
Are you sure this
is a good idea?
Do it all the time.
Mostly the guards
leave us alone.
Bull's the only one
you got to look out for.
Bull's the mean one.
Come on!
Hurry!
You could've used his body.
He didn't give me a chance.
I think his heart quit on him.
We'll have to gamble
that nobody misses him.
The truck will be
here in seven hours.
Come on.
Come on. Hurry up, hurry up.
Get in.
Get in.
Made it.
H-Have I ever...
told you about Harry?
Three times.
Oh.
We'll be warm soon.
It's not the cold.
It's something else.
We seek your counsel, Advocate.
The bodies we have chosen
are unwanted, anonymous,
but they are also
very unhealthy.
We are in a position
to await the arrival
of the truck carrying
the power source.
ADVOCATE #1: I remind you that
your success is
vital to this mission.
An adequate power source is
an important key to our success.
Without their ability
to communicate,
the humans are nothing.
And without your
counsel, we are nothing.
Anybody got a clue what kind of
special operations we're training for?
Nope. Must be big, though.
The colonel isn't
letting up for a second.
Did a hitch with him in country.
Get used to looking at his back,
'cause he'll always be on
point expecting you to keep up.
You know why?
Because the view
from the rear is lousy,
and the information
is always late.
That's just what I was
gonna tell them, Colonel.
Tell them on the way
back to quarters, Sergeant.
Double-time it! Move it!
Sorry, Harrison. I
haven't been able to dig up
a lead on Sylvia or
this Molly Stone person.
I did, however, intercept
a couple of alien
radio transmissions.
Pass it on to the
Colonel, will you, Norton?
If it turns ugly,
we're gonna break off and
come back to the cottage.
Otherwise I'd like
to keep on looking.
No problem, Doc.
I'll keep working on
it from my end. Bye.
No luck, I take it.
Not unless you're
counting bad luck.
Well, Portland's a big city.
They haven't built
the city big enough
to hide from Norton Drake.
Did I hear you mention
something about transmissions?
Oh. Thanks. Uh, yeah.
There are just a few short
bursts, probably nothing.
Harrison said for me
to give them to you.
I've got the coordinates
in the margin.
I've been so busy
trying to locate Sylvia
I haven't been able
to pinpoint the location.
Norton, are you sure these
coordinates are correct?
Well, that sounds like a
loaded question. What gives?
According to this,
those transmissions
originated in Portland.
And Harrison and
Sylvia are in Portland.
Portland is becoming
a very popular city.
I'm thinking of Sylvia
out there on the streets...
All cold, wet, hungry,
nobody to rely on,
nobody to take care of her.
We're doing everything
we can, Harrison.
I know, I know.
That doesn't make me
feel any better though.
I know giving up this
search is not very heroic,
but I am running out of ideas.
What else can we do?
We haven't got any leads.
We don't even know
the right questions to ask.
Hi, sweet thing.
Want a cup of coffee?
We really haven't been
asking the right questions.
Hello again.
Hi, sweet thing.
Oh, it's you again.
Ever find that girl you
were so anxious to find?
Not yet. Do you mind
answering a question for me?
Mind paying for
services rendered?
Sure.
If you're down
and out in this city,
where's the one place
you can pretty much count
on getting a good meal?
Hmm.
Truck yard's the best place.
Sometimes the drivers give
the street people handouts.
Security guards don't like it,
but the truckers don't care.
The truck yards, eh?
Oh! No! No! Don't
touch me! No! Oh! Oh!
Oh, Molly. Oh, I'm sorry.
I... I must have fallen asleep.
Time to go.
Go? Outside?
It's cold out
there. We'll freeze!
Truckers feed us sometimes.
You can always get warm again,
but you got to take food
when there's food to take.
I... I don't want to go.
I... I'm not hungry.
Really, I'm not.
Oh, Molly...
I'll hide. But please
don't make me.
I can't go outside.
There's something out
there. I know there is.
Don't make me
go outside, please.
Food is what's out there.
No. I can feel it. I
can feel it inside me.
Maybe I'll bring
you something back.
Molly, don't go! Don't
leave me, please!
Molly! Molly! Oh!
Molly.
Terrible night to
be outside, isn't it?
A much healthier body.
And it has additional knowledge.
A woman... Sylvia...
Has spoken to this human.
Uh... most of it made no sense.
But she knows about us.
And she has a friend...
Harry... Harrison Blackwood...
Who has a unique understanding
of who and what we are.
No! We can't let her get away!
The truck is due any minute.
If we don't intercept
the power source,
we will have failed.
And our failure means
failure of the entire mission.
First, we get the power source.
Then we get the woman.
And then we get the human
called Harrison Blackwood.
Look!
Oh!
Oh! Oh!
Sylvia!
Harrison, help me!
I'm stuck!
Sylvia! Are you all right?
Oh, thank God you're here!
This is where they got Molly.
Oh, you do believe me, Harry?
Yes, I do, Sylvia.
Oh, my Lord.
I told her all about you.
Paul's already on his way, Doc.
Now, his parting words
were for you and Suzanne
to stay clear of the aliens.
Let him handle it.
There's nothing I'd like better,
but I'm here, and he's not.
Norton, they know who we are.
Unless these aliens are
stopped now, before they
get word out about us,
we're in a lot more trouble
than I care to think about.
Well, I'll pass it
on if he checks in.
You do that. We need him.
We need him now like we've
never needed him before.
What are we going to do now?
I don't know.
Search and destroy
is not exactly my field.
Look!
It's Molly!
Not anymore, it isn't.
Harrison!
Is that an alien?
No. At least I
don't think it is.
No. I'm sure
I'd feel if it were.
That poor man.
He doesn't know
what he's walking into.
God! I hate when this happens.
Harrison!
Easy, pal.
I'm not going to hurt you.
Damn right you're not!
Norton told me to expect you,
but not to expect this.
Any idea what we're facing?
By my count, there are
three aliens out there:
two men and a woman.
We don't know
what they're after,
but I spotted them
working their way
toward that
dispatcher's shack there.
Omega Squad is
moving into place.
Why don't you take cover.
Okay.
Get down!
Team leader, check in.
In position.
I see two approaching
the dispatcher's shack.
Affirmative. Standing by.
You got a handout
for a couple of hungry
men down on their luck?
Sure. Come on inside.
Get in position now!
There's no one here.
Only half right,
sucker! Hands up!
On your knees now!
The colonel's got
a hell of a lot of
explaining to do.
Keep a sharp eye.
In pursuit.
Hold it right there!
Harrison, look out!