War of the Worlds (1988–1990): Season 1, Episode 3 - The Walls of Jericho - full transcript

ANNOUNCER: 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 before.

In 1953, aliens started
taking over the world.

Today, they're taking
over our bodies.

GENERAL WILSON: They
sure don't die very pretty, do they?

Nothing more seems to
be developing, General.

I'm beginning to feel
cautiously optimistic.



Yes, sir, I couldn't
agree with you more.

I'll speak to him right away.

Yes, yes, sir.

I'll keep you informed.

Mind some company?

Not at all.

Days like this, makes you wonder

what we're still doing
here, don't they?

On the contrary, Colonel.

It inspires me to
work all the harder.

Then you must be
feeling very frustrated

right about now, Doctor.

Six weeks without
any new sightings,

without any new
radio intercepts.



Is there a hidden agenda to
this conversation, Colonel?

Hardly. It just seems
kind of obvious:

either the aliens are out there
somewhere still pose a threat,

or they've been neutralized,

which means our purpose
here is no longer valid.

The military's talent
for reducing things

to their extremes
never fails to amaze me.

Well, General Wilson feels
the aliens have been neutralized.

So do I.

The general feels that
we eliminated all of them

when we blew up their ships.

Well, that's a
premature conclusion,

based on an insufficient
number of facts.

The general's very proud

of the work that
you've done, Doctor.

He doesn't feel that
you or any of the others

should be kept from carrying on

with the rest of your lives.

Doesn't anybody understand?

There won't be
a rest of our lives

if we give up too soon.

The general is just concerned

about the lack
of activity, Doctor.

He wants to know
what he's paying for.

Research. That's
what he's paying for,

in case the aliens
haven't been neutralized.

Norton is still trying to
decipher their language.

Suzanne is trying to get a
handle on their physiology.

And you?

I'm just trying to get
in my morning run.

[ sirens blaring]

[ garbled radio transmission]

What is so all-fired important

you've just got to pull me
away from Betty Jo on one

of the few mornings
she's in the mood?

Can't tell you, Ted.

Got to show you.

Well, this better be good, Zeke.

This better be good.

Good?

Ain't nothing good about it.

Fact is, it's about the
worst damned mess

I ever did see.

Zeke, if you drug me out here

'cause kids've been skinny-
dipping in your pond again.

Yeah, I just wish.

Got another couple
of dozen of 'em,

just like this one.

Coyotes maybe?

Just how many coyotes

you ever heard of can drain
every single drop of blood

out of all these here steers?

And that's about the
long and short of it, Claire.

Now you be a good girl
and make sure my report

gets on the computer
so it gets filed

with the national crime network.

Why, we might be
on to one of them

statewide devil's cults
or something here.

I'm out.

10-4.

That's it, Ted?

That's all you're gonna do?

What else can I do, Zeke?

Well, what in the hell
am I supposed to do

with 25 slaughtered
steers out here?

If I was you, maybe I'd
get a few friends together

and have me a barbecue.

I have a difficult time
accepting that the instrument

of our salvation could
also become our damnation.

The concept is foreign.

But we cannot ignore the
inevitable conclusion, comrades.

The radiation which gave us a
second life is slowly killing us.

We seem to be faced with
a most challenging dilemma.

[ speaking alien language]

Our analysis indicates the high
level of radiation needed to protect us

from the indigenous
bacteria of this planet

causes our metabolisms
to heat to dangerous levels.

Our scientists seem
to have a firm grasp

on the obvious.

Tell us something
we don't already know!

Isn't there anything you
can do to disperse the heat?

We are doing our best, Advocate.

As you have seen, the
treatments are slowing

the degeneration process.

But not reversing it.

Unfortunately not.

This planet's natural resources

contain different elements
than those on our planet.

The lower classes are all alike.

Excuses for every shortcoming.

But, Advocate,

it takes time for a species to
adapt to a new environment.

We don't have time!

In our weakened state,
our invasion will fail.

As it is,

we are already too weak

to separate from
this decaying flesh.

Perhaps if you sought the
guidance of the council...

No! Our leaders
must be protected

from such negative news.

They must hear only of victory.

Since your medicines
are proving inadequate,

you will find a more
effective method

of dealing with
this killing heat.

Solutions, not excuses.

As you wish, Advocate.

ALL: As we order, scientist!

That was an easy one.

Without tissue samples, most
of this is just educated guessing.

But... I think I understand

how an alien blends with
whomever happens to be

unfortunate enough
to get in its way.

It's a combination of osmosis
and cell-face matching.

Watch.

Through osmosis, alien
cells invade a human body.

These cells then spread out,

seeking human cells
that it can bond to.

This bonding allows all
the genetic information

from the individual human cells

to communicate
to the alien cells.

Killing the human
cells in the process?

Yes, but apparently

not before it absorbs
all of the intelligence

of the human victim.

NORTON: We're talking Night
of the Living Dead here, folks.

Not only do these guys
get to pick our brains,

they also get to use our
bodies as a perfect disguise.

I don't call open sores
and radiation sickness

the perfect disguise.

I mean, it's not
exactly difficult

to spot these things in a crowd.

For now, maybe.

But it's only a matter of
time until they figure out

a better way to
protect themselves...

and conceal themselves.

If any more of
them are still around.

Let's send what you've
done to General Wilson.

Let him see what he's
getting for his money.

If I had tissue samples,

I know I could
make more progress.

Life span... reproduction...

side effects of long-term
exposure to radiation.

Side effects?

I thought the radiation was
the thing that kept them going.

That may be only short-term.

I made you a little snack.

Well, Mrs. Pennyworth,
thank you very much.

Perhaps Mr. Drake would
like a sandwich as well.

I'm sure he would.

Dr. Forrester's notes
indicate that the aliens

are just as susceptible to
radiation poisoning as we are.

Why haven't you
mentioned this before?

I hadn't realized
you're that interested

in alien physiognomy, Colonel.

SUZANNE: Dr. Forrester's notes

are terribly incomplete.

It's hardly more
than speculation.

But maybe that's why we haven't
heard any noise from the aliens.

Maybe they died...
For good this time.

You're jumping to
conclusions again, Colonel.

Am I, Doctor?

Or does this fall under the
category of educated guessing?

[ train whistle blowing]

[ horn honking]

Hi.

Uncle Hank!

Debi, dear!

Oh-ho-ho-ho!

Look at you.

You've grown into a
beautiful young lady!

I'll be 12 next month.

Will you?

How come Mom didn't
tell me you were coming?

Well, she didn't know.

It's a surprise.

Hello, Major.

Good to see you again.

And you, sir.

[ chuckling]: I've been out of
uniform a long time, General.

Using my rank really
isn't appropriate anymore.

Since when do
majors tell generals

what's appropriate or not?

You've earned the rank, Major.

I'm proud to use it.

Thank you, sir.

Come on.

Let's go surprise Mom.

All right! Where is she, now?

In the kitchen.

In the kitchen,
eh? I see. All right.

When, uh, Colonel
Ironhorse told me

you were planning to send
some of your research to me,

I thought

I'd use that excuse to drop by

and see how you
folks were doing.

Yes... how very
interesting, indeed.

Well thought out. Good.

Good work.

I don't see any mention
about that amnesia theory

you told me about

a few weeks ago.

Oh, essentially
that's the theory

that's made popular by people
who believe in UFOs, General.

NORTON: Which should,

all weird things
being considered,

include all of us in this room.

HARRISON: Thank you, Norton.

General Wilson...

I'll get you the details as soon
as I'm satisfied it's complete.

I see.

SUZANNE: Uh, Harrison,

couldn't you give Uncle Hank
just a few of the highlights?

Yes, Doctor.

Do you think you could
manage to do that?

HARRISON: The theory holds

those people who
have had contact

with extraterrestrials,

often are unable to
remember this contact

without the aid of
regressive hypnosis.

And why is that, Doctor?

HARRISON: There are two
schools of thought on that.

I'd say the answer is
probably a little of both.

One is that the aliens
possess the means

to make us block
out the incident.

And the other is that
we block it out ourselves.

It has to do with
selective memory,

the mind's ability
to deeply submerge

into the subconscious things...

In this case the
existence of aliens...

That it finds too disturbing

to deal with on
a conscious level.

IRONHORSE: Sounds like

a lot of head shrink
double-talk to me.

I'm not surprised.

WILSON: I was a
second lieutenant

in 1953.

I saw a hell of a lot of
action during that war.

For the life of me, I
can't seem to remember

a detail.

Exactly.

Is there anything else
you wish to see, General?

What?

Uh, no, no.

I think I've been pretty
well brought up to date...

except for a briefing
by you, Colonel.

If you'll just follow
me, please, sir.

You are staying to dinner,
aren't you, Uncle Hank?

I wouldn't miss it.

Am I the only one
who's suspicious

of the general's
motives for surprising us

with this little visit, huh?

Come on, Norton.

It's just the way the
military operates.

It's like a snap inspection.

HARRISON: I think
the real surprise

is yet to come.

[ police siren blaring]

[ coughing]

How does an entire
graveyard shift...

12 men and women...
Disappear without a trace?

You've got me, Lieutenant.

Here's the manager's
list of what's missing.

Plastic tubing...

some kind of plastic
fabric they make here,

and a truck... I guess
to haul the stuff away.

No money? No drugs?

[ speaking Chinese]

What do we got here?

She's the janitor, I think.

I found her hiding
in the utility closet

out back. What's
your name, ma'am?

[ speaking Chinese]

Hey, Chin! Chin...

Get in here.

What do you need, Lieutenant?

A vacation.

I'll settle for a translator.

Uh, uh, my Chinese
is a little rusty.

Oh, yeah? Guess what.

So's mine.

Go on, lady. Talk to the man.

[ speaking Chinese]

She's saying something
about monsters...

No, no, no... about dragons.

At least, I think it's dragons.

[ speaking Chinese]

And the dragons disappeared...

and everybody got up

and left like nothing
ever happened.

That's it.

Dragons, huh?

Why not ghosts or hobgoblins

or something I could understand?

Take her in and
get a full statement.

Yes, sir.

This planet is getting
weirder by the minute.

I want your report

filed ASAP.

And make sure it
gets on the computer.

Want me to include that
stuff about the dragons?

Why not?

Why should we be the
only ones having all the fun?

[ coughing]

Such progress
is a positive sign.

We still...

[ coughing]

We still have so much to do.

You have to stay strong.

The Advocacy will be severely
weakened without the three of us.

Mrs. Pennyworth
sets a wonderful table,

don't you think?

Yes. She and Mr. Kensington
have made us all very comfortable.

You'd never know it,

but Mrs. Pennyworth
was a very valuable asset

in the American
section of Berlin

during the last war.

Her husband did the
same thing with the Brits.

[ chuckling]

Rumor has it they met one night

when they were
both trying to infiltrate

the Russian sector.

Oh, that woman has seen

a lot of history.

Even helped write
some of it, too.

And this house has had its
own share of history as well.

A few nuclear physicists

lived here in the early days
of the Manhattan Project.

And just before you, we
kept a KGB defector here.

I wonder who the
next occupants will be.

[ laughing]

Harrison,

does that sound

suspiciously like an
eviction notice to you?

I wouldn't look at it
that way, Mr. Drake.

All missions eventually
come to an end.

And that's why I'm here.

To thank you all personally
for a job well done.

I'm sorry, General,
but the job isn't done.

Well I'm completely satisfied

with everything
you've accomplished.

We've hardly
accomplished a thing.

Uncle Hank, I can't
believe you're cutting us off!

WILSON: Suzanne,

your own research suggests
the aliens were susceptible

to radiation poisoning.

How do you know that?

I haven't released
that data yet!

IRONHORSE: I don't think

it takes a scientist to realize

that any of those creatures

that weren't blown
up with their ships,

have died from
radiation poisoning.

General, if you
shut us down now,

you're going to be
repeating the same mistake

that was made 35 years ago.

On the contrary.

The aliens are finished.

And now I suggest you all
get on with the rest of your lives.

How much of this is
your doing, Colonel?

The general asked
me to make reports.

I make reports.

I'm just doing my job, Doctor.

I wish to God you
would let me do mine.

Uncle Hank,

isn't there something you can
do to delay closing us down?

It's all been decided.

I'm sorry, honey.

So am I.

Bye-bye.

[ birds chirping]

[ car starts]

Good morning.

Well?

[ sighs]: I told you

the sentimental
approach would not work.

At least it was worth a try.

What are you gonna do now?

I don't know.

I guess the new Pacific
Institute makes the most sense.

Still have room
for a microbiologist

on your staff?

Still willing to spend
time with a nutcase?

[ laughs softly]:
Well, that depends...

on what the nutcase
wants me to do.

Mm.

Well, if the general is right,
and the aliens are dead...

then we just pick
up where we left off.

And if he's wrong?

If he's wrong...

none of this matters anyway.

A few more boxes
for you, Doctor.

Thank you, Mrs. Pennyworth.

I don't know what all
the rush is about, though.

General Wilson said you could use as
much time as you needed to move out.

Well, I guess I'm just
one of those people

who doesn't like to stay
where he's not wanted.

Gonna miss having you
and the others around.

Hm, it's almost like
having a real family.

I know.

You need a hand
with anything in here?

No, thanks.

My daddy always
used to tell me...

Never get so comfortable
with a place... or a woman...

That you can't leave
in five minutes flat.

That must have been a
great comfort to your mother.

Well, my folks were married
42 years, had six kids.

[ chuckles]: Must have
been doing something right.

[ computer plays
electronic melody]

What's that? Oh, a little
something I rigged up

on the computer to let me
know when it's on to something.

To work, Gertrude!

[ melody continues]

Well, well, well, well,
well, what have we here?

One of the jobs I have
this little baby performing is

constantly monitoring the
National Crime Network computer

to see if there's any bizarre
stuff we might be interested in.

[ electronic melody plays]

SUZANNE: Excuse me, but
isn't tapping into that computer

just the tiniest bit
against the law?

I don't know. I never asked.

[ laughs]: Well, let's see

if there's something
worth going to jail for.

Slaughtered cattle.

A few missing factory workers.

Stolen plastic products.

Why are you showing me this?

Because I think those
incidences are connected.

First to the aliens,
and then to each other.

And I think you're looking for
imaginary dragons under imaginary rocks.

Where did you get this list?

Norton has his own way

of finding these things out.

Didn't Mr. Drake
get the message?

Didn't any of you
people get the message?

This operation is terminated.

You people are no longer
in the alien-busting business.

You could bring this
list to General Wilson,

Colonel, and you could
ask him to give us more time.

Oh, really?

And what am I supposed
to say to the general?

That the aliens are trying
to take over the world

by cornering the
market on plastic tubing?!

Give me a break, Doctor.

He's got a point,
you know, Harrison.

What are the aliens up to?

I haven't got the faintest idea.

We still lack an
adequate coolant.

Liquid nitrogen would
be the ideal substance.

Why are you not
producing the substance?

We have tried, Advocate.

This planet's atmosphere contains
ample amounts of the nitrogen element,

but converting the
nitrogen into a useful form

is beyond the scope of the
materials we have on hand.

If you're incapable of
manufacturing what we need,

then you will acquire
it in another way.

And quickly, before
permanent harm

comes to those
of us still alive.

We cannot allow submersion
into this rancid pool

to become our destiny as well.

[ speaking alien language]

Sorry, Harrison.

I've run this data through the
computer a dozen different ways.

Now, as far as I can
see, nothing we are trying

to lay on the aliens has
any communications value.

Of course, when you
get right down to it,

how can you tell
with these guys?

I haven't been
able to conjure up

any military
applications, either.

So that brings us right
back down to biological.

Mm, thank you.

You come up with
anything? Well, unless

it's for nutritional value.

At the moment we
don't know a thing

about the aliens' dietary needs.

I haven't got a clue what
they'd be using bovine blood for.

NORTON: Maybe it had

some sort of
religious significance.

What if it does?

Where does that take us?

It takes us...

nowhere, is where it takes us.

What about the stolen plastic?

Uh, well, I did some checking.

This is what I found:
the fabric that was stolen

had some pretty
interesting properties.

It's a special plastic blend

woven to create
microscopic vents

which allow the
fabric to breathe.

Used one way,

the venting allows the
escape of built-up gases,

but used another way,

it creates a near
perfect shield for things

as small as most bacteria.

Like a contamination suit?

Yes, I guess it is.

Interesting.

[ train whistle
blowing] [ dog barking]

[ barking continues]

MAN [ over radio]: Radio
check, section three.

This is three. Go
ahead, control.

Security breach, section
12, perimeter fence.

[ dog barking
excitedly] On our way.

Stop!

Hey! You!

Stop!

[ barking] [ alien screaming]

[ distorted screaming]

[ slow, distorted groaning]

NORTON: It must have
been the description

of what was left of the body

that triggered the computer.

Forward, Gertrude.

But why would the
aliens want rocket fuel?

They haven't any ships.

NORTON: At least
none that we know of.

It wouldn't matter anyway.

Alien ships were not designed
to be propelled by liquid nitrogen.

Nah, they need it
for something else.

Something. Something.
I don't know what.

Think we should call
the colonel in on this?

Sorry I asked.

URICK: After all this time,
the suits are finally completed.

EINHORN: Completed, yes.

But completely useless
without some form of coolant.

Our attempt to steal the liquid
nitrogen from the rocket facility

was, at best, poorly conceived.

Desperate times call
for desperate measures.

My own body temperature
has risen to untold levels.

So has mine.

If we cannot survive, who will
assume the mantle of the Advocacy?

I fear there are not three worthy
candidates from among our ranks.

Then pray that
our current attempt

at the refrigeration
plant meets with success.

To life immortal.
To life immortal.

[ indistinct alien chatter]

CHAMBERS: For once our
scientists have accomplished

what is expected of them.

It will be interesting to see

if they will rise to the challenge
of maintaining their success.

Our production of
the liquid nitrogen

is exceeding your
quotas, Advocates.

Then we will increase
the quotas, Commander.

Now isn't the time to
grow lazy or complacent.

Have your engineers
double their output.

We've been away
from battle far too long.

It will be good to resume.

[ electronic boinging] Yes! Yes!

I can beat that.

[ boinging continues]

Ha!

NORTON: Yeah,
yeah, yeah... All right!

NORTON: Oh!

I gotcha!

You are getting too
good for this game.

One more?

Okay.

As soon as

Bob finishes up. Morning, Bob.

Good to see you
again, Mr. Drake.

Any problems to report?

Well, Bob, the computer is the
only thing that isn't a problem.

That's what we like
to hear, Mr. Drake.

I'll just recharge the
coolant and be on my way.

If the computer never breaks,

why do you always
have to get it serviced?

Well, to make sure
that it doesn't break.

You see, it's just like
having a little baby,

only instead of changing
diapers, you have to change

the liquid nitrogen coolant.

Like with a car?

Mom's always putting that
coolant stuff into the radiator.

Right, Mom?

That's right, sweetheart.

Listen, if my little angel here

starts wearing out her welcome,

don't be shy about
kicking her out.

I enjoy the company.

Yes, Debi, you
see it is exactly like

putting coolant into
the car's radiator.

Because, you see, the
computer works so fast

and generates so much
heat, that without putting

the liquid nitrogen
coolant in, it would overheat

and then you wouldn't be able
to beat me at this stupid game.

Norton!

Rocket fuel!

It's mostly made of
liquid nitrogen, right?

Right.

Right!

Liquid nitrogen isn't
only a propellant, Colonel,

it's a coolant!

Why am I supposed
to be interested

in such an exciting fact?

Because it could be

the coolant the aliens need
to counteract the effects

of radiation on
their metabolisms.

Okay, for the sake of argument,

I'll buy what you're saying.

But the aliens... if it
really was the aliens...

They didn't get their hands

on any of the liquid nitrogen.

So what the hell's the problem?

You're the soldier,
Colonel. You tell me.

Now just because you can't
get your supplies from one source

doesn't mean you don't
try raiding another source.

But these creatures are
supposed to be so smart,

uh, why don't they
just make their own?

Because they probably
don't have the means.

That's why they're trying
to steal what they need.

Okay.

Where do you propose
they're going to strike next?

I thought he'd never ask.

Thought you'd never ask.

Now based on what the
aliens have been doing so far...

What you assume the
aliens have been doing.

Yes, assume.

We know that
they've been operating

within a fairly limited area.

Norton did some checking.

He found there was only

one reasonable
source of liquid nitrogen

in the same general area.

All right.

You've worn me down.

I'll go with you...

but...

you've got to
promise me one thing.

If you're wrong, you're
gonna get the hell out of my life

and stay out.

I won't even send
you a Christmas card.

Good.

Where are we
supposed to be going?

Let me.

You're in no condition.

I count 12, maybe
one in the shadows.

I'm not sure I can
take all of them

if things get ugly, Doctor.

Why would things
get ugly, Colonel?

I thought you said all
the aliens were dead.

Something I can
help you with? Yes.

Department of Health and Safety.

I wasn't informed
of any inspection.

Well, that's the way
our department works,

especially when we
conduct PCB tests.

PCBs? I don't know
what you're talking about.

There aren't any PCBs here.

That's what they all say.

Look...

you can let us do our job

or we can come back
with some sheriff's deputies

and a subpoena.

I don't think that's
really necessary.

Do what you have to do.

What are PCBs?

You don't want to know.

Should we appropriate
their bodies?

No.

It might attract
unwanted attention

before we've
accomplished our goal.

What are they doing?

Testing for PCBs.

Well, are you
satisfied that this isn't

the stronghold of
alien activity, Doctor?

We just got here.

You just hate to admit

when you've made
a mistake, right?

Oh, my ego is healthy
enough to admit mistakes.

Wait a minute.

Are you telling me mine isn't?

That's not for me
to say, Colonel.

[ clicking]

This is not a healthy
area, my friend.

Worse than PCBs?

A lot worse.

I'm reading some very dangerous

radiation levels here.

[ machine clicking]

Department of Health and Safety.

Your city working for you.

He's carrying enough radiation

he should have died days ago.

Maybe he did.

This has gone on
long enough, Ralph!

Three days you
haven't been home.

You don't call.

You don't return my calls.

I've been working.

You really expect
me to believe that?

This is a factory,
not a hospital.

I mean how important

could this be?

I've been working.

What's her name, Ralph?

You owe me that much.

Who is she?!

Why is he treating me like this?

He's been working.

Good.

Then he'll have plenty of
money for a divorce lawyer.

Did you hear me,

Ralph?

I don't know whether or not

these guys are aliens, Doctor,

but they are definitely weird.

Weird is weird, Doctor.

Weird does not mean aliens.

But what about
the radiation levels?

And the way the
workers were acting?

It was like, like...

Like they were
there and not there,

at the same time.

Thin.

Too thin to have allowed
myself to be dragged here.

Colonel?

We've come this far, General.

I recommend we go
just a little bit further.

GENERAL WILSON: What
the hell do you mean by that?

Meaning, this will tell us

where they've taken
all that liquid nitrogen.

[ device blipping]

[ railroad crossing
bell dinging]

General, if you'll stay
here with Suzanne.

I can do this alone, Doctor.

I never said you
couldn't, Colonel.

Shall we?

I'm getting too old for this.

[ electronic whooshing]

What are they doing?

How should I know?

I'm as new to this
stuff as you are.

Are you getting a good look
at that one guy's face, Colonel?

Affirmative, Doctor.

You were right all along.

Okay, now let's just
plant this transmitter

and get the hell out of here.

[ alien command over PA]

Now what?

It's called the strategic
withdrawal, Doctor.

[ speaking alien language]

You don't belong here.

You're telling me.

We cannot let you interfere.

Look, buddy...

whatever you peop...
things are doing,

you're not going
to get away with it.

We have a mission.

Your guns cannot stop us.

You want to bet?

[ gunshot]

[ speaking alien language]:

Let's get the hell out of here.

Maybe this wasn't a
wild goose chase after all.

Uncle Hank,

are you sure about this?

If I'm wrong,

I'll apologize in the morning.

[ engine revs]

Sounds like the general
is getting into the action.

SUZANNE: Now you see
what we're fighting, Uncle Hank.

GENERAL WILSON: They
sure don't die very pretty, do they?

[ grunts]

[ yelling]

[ speaking alien language]

Go! Get out of here!

[ yelling]

Watch the eyes, Colonel.

[ alien grunting]

Mind if I join you, Doctor?

[ yelling in alien language]

HARRISON: General!

Do you still feel
the job is done?

[ electronic whooshing]

The failure of our comrades

to maintain control of
the refrigeration plant

is something of a setback.

Agreed.

But it's hardly cause
for serious concern.

We have more than enough coolant

to see our invasion through
to its victorious conclusion.

ALL: To life immortal.