War of the Worlds (1988–1990): Season 1, Episode 5 - A Multitude of Idols - 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.

[ theme music playing]

ALIEN VOICE: Don't be scared.

This won't hurt you.



Okay.

These workers are loading

cargoes of death
onto these trucks.

Sound like sensationalism?

You'll wish it was.

These steel drums are filled

with what they call in
the business "hot stuff"...

Radiation waste.

Radiation waste
that will remain lethal

for over 1,000 centuries.

Their destination: a government
toxic waste storage facility

high in the mountains
at James Pass,

over 800 miles away.

And if there's an
accident along the way...



the thought is
positively chilling.

These and other shipments

are rolling time bombs
on our nation's highways.

Did you get that? Mm-hmm.

Let's get out of here
before they bust us.

The logistics of this
operation are complex.

Complex or not,
our war can be won

if we are able to move among
the Earthlings undetected.

Be thankful that
they're childishly casual

with their nuclear materials.

Stealing what we need
should pose no problem.

True, but we still haven't
found a secure location

to revive more of
our sleeping brethren.

Nor do we have
an adequate supply

of suitable humans
whose bodies we might use.

One problem at a time, comrades.

It's a puzzle with many pieces.

We deal with the
nuclear material first.

Hi.

SIMON: Yo, Blanche.

How's it going?

They treating you okay?

'Cause if they ain't,

you send them to
see good old Sly. Yo.

I'll give the
situation a look-see.

Who's that "they" you're
always talking about?

The bad guys.

They're all bad
guys to you, Simon.

That's your problem.

[ chuckling]

Well, somebody's got
to be on guard, right?

Mr. Burden would
like his copy of 40-B.

Ah, the hazardous
waste shipment schedule.

Comes out tomorrow... Thursday.

You know that, Blanche.

40-Bs have been
coming out on Thursday

ever since the
Hoover administration.

Today, if I'm not
mistaken, is Wednesday!

Mr. Burden is going
out of town tomorrow.

Blanche, what do
you want me to do?

Give me a copy of 40-B.

[ imitating Cary Grant]:
Blanche, Blanche, Blanche.

I can't.

I wish I could, but...

SUZANNE: You don't understand.

I cannot work

in an atmosphere of chaos.

In the original Greek,

chaos and creation
were the same word.

At least I think they
were the same word.

But I need order.

You are absolutely
and totally undisciplined.

I'm very suspicious

when somebody's
absolutely and totally anything.

Oh, really? Mm-hmm.

It happens to be a
very rare character flaw.

Children, children.

Problems?

We are working on
some cell-facing studies.

We each have our
designated tasks.

However, Dr. Cosmic
Procrastinator over there

has repeatedly failed
to deliver his data,

which leaves my
work dead in the water.

Dr. McCullough is
having a little trouble

being open-minded and
flexible about my work habits.

Correction: your
lack of work habits.

Suzanne, no doubt you
would prefer a machine,

but, alas, we are all too human.

Exactly what is that
supposed to mean?

That is supposed to mean

that what makes us
interesting people,

unique and special
in our own way,

should be encouraged,
supported and fought for,

not homogenized
so we're all the same.

Take Norton, for example.

And if I'm elected, I'll...

Which brings me

to another point.

How do you expect
anyone to sleep

with you buzzing around

all night long?

"Buzzing"?

I don't buzz; I pace.

Pacing helps me think...
Always has, always will.

But my bedroom is
right over your pace track.

Uh, an accident of...
architectural karma.

Ah!

It's like living in
a mental ward.

I choose to take
that as a compliment.

As do I.

Better late than never.

That's it.

So, why did I have to go
through all this to get it?

You never did.

Suzanne, if you
go with the flow,

you'll live a lot longer.

Trust me.

We have an incoming
transmission from General Wilson.

It's important.

Our master's voice.

IRONHORSE:
Apparently, the Department

of Transportation
computer was accessed.

The top secret list of hazardous
waste shipments was copied.

We have one dead
and one missing.

It's the aliens.

Based on?

Based on experience...

and my gut.

IRONHORSE: I'm afraid
that's not good enough, Doctor.

HARRISON: We've seen
this form of mutilation before.

We know they have a
need for radiation; it's them.

Why do they have
to mutilate people?

HARRISON: Because
it's war, Suzanne.

And we're the enemy.

There are thousands of employees

in the Department
of Transportation.

Any one of them
could have done it.

I've seen this type of
thing before, doctors...

In Vietnam.

Fighting an enemy
that you can't see.

You don't know
who the hell is who.

Maybe we should
ask them to fight fair.

It's not funny, Mr. Drake.

I think the question is
now, what do we do?

We wait for the
other shoe to drop.

ELYSE: Doesn't it scare
you driving that hot stuff?

There ain't a load
alive can scare me.

He lights his cigarettes
on the plutonium.

How did you guys get into

driving hazardous
material, anyway?

They spells it M-O-N-E-Y.

They pay us like we're hauling
the crown jewels, or something.

It's great.

How about you?

Oh, he told me
we'd get laid... dies

Ladies. He said ladies.

Does it work?

ELYSE: I tell you,
I'm a little nervous

just walking near these trucks.

What-what's in the drums anyway?

Well, to tell you the
truth, I don't know

what the hell's in there,
but it's not as if we're going

to open them up and look inside,

now, is it? No way.

[ truckers laughing]

Well, you've both
been a lot of help.

Our pleasure.

Thank you. Thank you.

Good night.! Night.

Bye.

She's crazy about you.

Loser buys in James Pass?

You're on.

[ gasping and choking]

[ alien growling]

[ grunting]

[ speaking alien language]

[ speaking alien language]

[ trucker speaking
alien language]

ELYSE: Did you get it?

That stuff in the diner was...

Alex, did you get it?

Hey, Elyse.

Alex, did you get
what just happened

between those trucks?

I don't know.

What's the big deal?

I'm not sure.

I just know it was the
strangest thing I ever saw.

I just hope you got it.

What if I did?

Then we have the
story of the century.

And I have my shot at network.

I programmed the supercomputer
to recognize cue words

and record them off police
band radios, television,

commercial radio,

ham, short wave...
you name it...

Nationwide.

"Cue words?"

Yeah... words like "alien"
"flying saucers," "creepazoids."

You know, words like that.

HARRISON:
Fascinating idea, Norton.

But couldn't this have at least
waited until morning, Mr. Drake?

Well, since we're up...

did it work?

"Bizarre." That's
one of my cue words.

There's something really
bizarre going on here.

MAN: There's something bizarre

going on everywhere, Elyse.

That's why... What
exactly is this?

It seems to be a reporter
signaling back to her station.

I know it... a really big story.

MAN: Elyse, for God's sake.

Please, Roy, let me
go after those trucks.

ROY: Okay, Elyse.

Let me see the tape again.

Patch it in, Alex.

ROY: I don't see anything except

big trucks and vague
shadows, Elyse.

See you back here in an hour.

Roy? Roy!

Damn it!

Well, uh, what do you think?

It's impressive.

I think it's remarkable.

I think that's an
understatement.

With all due respect,
technology is impressive, yes.

The data, however,
is at best inconclusive.

It's just a series

of meaningless, blurry images.

Good night.

Who was that guy?

Can you enhance
this image digitally?

Does a computer
download in the woods?

Enhance the image digitally?

I just wish the original
material was better.

Okay, that's as good
as it's gonna get.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I believe we have the
first photographic record

of an alien hand.

Structurally, it is consistent
with the data we have.

I'm convinced.

This is worth pursuing.

HARRISON: Simply stated,

how do we get that
tape from the reporter

without tipping our hand?

I say we just go
ahead and ask her for it.

Tell her as little as
we can get away with

and swear her to secrecy.

Dr. McCullough,
she's a reporter.

She'll swear to
an oath of secrecy

and then we'll see
it on the 6:00 news.

I think we should go
through legal channels

to obtain the tape.

Nice idea, Colonel. We
don't have enough time.

I'm surprised no
one has suggested

we break in and steal it.

I always love it when
you guys do that.

I can just see the
headlines on that one.

What if we had my uncle call?

No, no.

That would create suspicion.

Wait a minute.

You're absolutely right.

Anything we tell her
about who we are

is going to make
her suspicious, right?

So, let's not make
her suspicious.

Let's lie.

Uh, so how're you going to spend

the three million
dollars you've just won?

I-I'm gonna buy some
dogs, thousands of 'em.

Buy 'em some food, some
rawhide chips for 'em to chew.

I'm gonna get me
a whole lot of dogs.

Lotta dogs.

Uh, well, that's great.

Thank you both a lot.

Is this gonna be on television?

Yeah, Channel 6 at 5:00.

Well, thanks again.

Good-bye.

Miss Elyse Conway?

Yes?

I'm Lieutenant
Colonel Paul Ironhorse.

Yes?

I'm from the documentary
division of the USIA,

and we're just thrilled that
you've even considered

doing this six-hour
investigative report.

You know, we've been
watching your work locally,

and, well, we feel
you're absolutely perfect

for this assignment.

Colonel Ironhorse.

Please excuse me. Excuse me.

Miss Conway.

HRH Blackwood, GAO.

I'm afraid the, uh,
energetic Colonel

may have spoken out of turn.

We are considering you for
this investigative series, but...

IRONHORSE: Now
you can stand to make

maybe a quarter
of a million dollars...

Colonel, please! That's enough.

Miss Conway...

I've got two questions for you.

One... would you consider

doing a hard-hitting
journalistic series

for the government?

Uh, well, uh...

depending on the
details, of course, uh,

yes, I'd be very interested.

Good. Number two.

We haven't seen any of your
real investigative reporting yet.

Just some features
and human interest stuff.

Do you have anything
with a little more grit to it?

Well, there is some raw footage.

Um, an expose we've been doing

on toxic waste
disposal facilities.

That sounds great.

[ chuckles]

Good.

[ chuckles]

[ chuckles]

What's going on here?

We have a video tech on board.

He's copying your
tape so we can show it

to our selection committee.

What's all this about?

Miss Conway, this
may be your chance

for the Rosenthal Award.

[ engine starts]

So, what's the scoop?

I think I was just hustled.

What do you mean?

I'm not sure.

Huh...

I need to find out where
those radiation trucks went.

What for?

Well, whoever those people were,

they were very interested

in what went on
at that truck stop.

So am I.

Do we have the license
numbers of those trucks?

We got something better.

We got the numbers on the roofs,

and since we are in
the news business,

we can get our choppers from our

affiliates in Fresno
and Sacramento

and get them to check
out the major roads.

You are a genius.

Eh.

CHAMBERS: The town they call Beeton
seems tailor-made for our purposes.

Away from their cities.

Off their main highways.

And best of all, it's
completely abandoned.

CHAMBERS: The
place called Beeton

won't be abandoned
for long comrades.

We must begin

transporting the burial drums

containing our sleeping brethren

to this location immediately.

The puzzle is almost complete.

Yes, except for the last,
most important piece.

We still need human bodies.

Many human bodies.

[ indistinct conversations]

[ feedback hisses]

Oh!

[ chuckles]: Oh, my!

Well, hello, everyone.

And welcome to the bean supper.

Oh, once again I think
the Ladies Auxiliary

deserves a big hand for the
wonderful work they've done

in organizing this
month's supper, hmm?

Now, a few short announce...

Good afternoon. May I help you?

Yeah, we're sorry to interrupt.

Federal Bureau of Investigation.

For reasons of
national security,

I'm afraid we're going to
have to evacuate this area.

[ indistinct conversations]

There's no need to be alarmed.

If everyone remains calm,

there'll be nothing
to worry about.

We have everything
under control.

I believe your church
has its own buses?

Uh, yes, we do.

We'll be commandeering them.

Now, ladies and gentlemen,

there's nothing to worry about.

We're being asked

to evacuate the area.

Frank, would you get the
keys to the buses please?

If we could please hurry.

All right, folks. Come on in.

Step right up. Lots
of room on the bus.

That's okay.

Yup, we'll take care of you.

You'll be home in no time.

Nothing to worry about.

Come on. Here we go.

[ speaking alien language]

Excuse me.

You're excused.

Thanks for dropping
by. Have a nice day.

I hate to ask this, but why
do you stand on your head?

Relieves the force of
gravity on my organs.

The body is two-thirds water,
Suzanne, just like the Earth.

Over time, the organs sink
to the bottom of your stomach.

Standing on your head
reverses that process.

You should try it.

You could use it.

Thank you very much,
but my organs are just fine.

Oh, I'm sure you have
wonderful organs, Suzanne.

Oh, Ironhorse heard
from General Wilson.

Why didn't you tell me?

What do you think
I've been waiting for?

Oh, Harrison!

I've been thinking.

I'd like to expand my
area of alien research.

Good idea. Go for it.

Excuse me.

Wouldn't you like to know
what direction I'm taking?

Suzanne, I believe
in giving people

who work with me their own head.

You'll just have to make
your own decisions.

I have no problem
with making decisions.

Harrison!

The message from General Wilson.

In my experience, it is not
only customary but mandatory

to discuss any
changes in direction.

Your apparent
indifference to my work

makes me feel like I'm
not sure why I'm here.

Suzanne, you are an integral
part of what's happening here.

And the last thing I want
is to make you unhappy.

Now, you were used to
being part of a research team,

working together,
everybody interfacing.

I come from a
different tradition.

My model is a scientist
who goes for three weeks

without sleeping in order
to solve a certain problem.

It's a solitary process.

I can't do anything about it.

Unfortunately, it does affect
how I relate to your work,

and for that I'm sorry.

Okay. I can appreciate that.

Good.

Now, you see how
well we're getting along?

This is a perfectly-balanced,

high-tech throwing tomahawk,

a modern-day version of my
people's most lethal weapon.

I had it designed to
my own specifications.

Do you think less of me

if I don't have a
tomahawk, Colonel?

Do you think any less
of me because I'm not

a bleeding-heart liberal
like you, Mr. Drake?

A little.

What are, uh,

those marks there?

Those are coups.

Coups?

Victories.

Well, that sounds ominous.

[ knocking]

Washington able to
locate those trucks?

That's a negative, Doctor.

Nothing showed on
the satellite photos?

Well, apparently,

the powers that be haven't
approved the release

of any of the super
high-resolution

satellite photography yet.

Why would they be
so uncooperative?

Well, these are
professionals, Doctor.

If they don't feel that
it's in the best interests

of the United States to
release those photographs,

then they damned well shouldn't
release those photographs.

And if the aliens are successful

and wipe every human
being off the face of the Earth

because they didn't
release those photographs,

they'd still be right?

Look, Blackwood, I pushed this

as far as I possibly could.

Personally, I find groveling
to be quite effective.

Different strokes, Doctor.

We're wasting our time.

Now, you told us we were
going to have your total support.

But you people

don't understand:
my hands are tied.

There must be another
way to solve this problem.

Gertrude, pace.

The optimum way is
surveillance satellites.

That's what they're there for.

The trucks have numbers
painted on their roofs.

We could locate them easily.

We've got to try
another approach.

I know they have this data.

They're data collection freaks.

Dr. McCullough is right.

We have to try another approach.

Norton, how would you
feel about three to five

in a federal penitentiary?

Talk to me, Doc.

I'd be very surprised
if we couldn't put

the combined brain
power in this room together

to figure out a way to tap into

the satellite systems
package and generate

our own photographs.

Harrison, you got
one strange head,

but I like it.

[ chuckles]

Gertrude, home base.

We got work to do.

Blackwood, we're talking
a violation of security,

criminal trespass,
possible treason.

Colonel, Colonel, the
government is the people, right?

That's our information in there.

We're just going
to pay it a little visit.

Officially, I haven't
heard any of this.

Harrison, you can't be
serious. Wait a minute, Colonel!

Isn't the planet being
threatened by aliens serious?

Isn't the elimination

of every life-form
on Earth serious?

Wouldn't we be negligent
if we had the capability

of getting this information,
and we didn't do it?

I rest my case.

Phil?

Elyse Conway.

Station said you were
trying to get a hold of me?

You did?

[ chuckles]

Uh-huh.

That's great.

[ laughs] I owe you, Phil.

I owe you big.

Thanks.

EINHORN: For once, everything

is proceeding according to plan.

URICK: Yes.

With new human hosts
arriving every hour.

CHAMBERS: These
pathetic earthlings

have even less
intelligence than our own

planet's vegetation.

URICK: Our own planet.

If only we could
see it one last time.

EINHORN: Erase those thoughts

from your mind, comrade.

Our planet is already well
into its final death rattle.

CHAMBERS: You must remember that

this planet is our home now.

EINHORN: As it will be
home to those on the way.

Our colonists are relying
upon us to be strong.

CHAMBERS: The three of us.

URICK: Of course.

I must remember
to deal with what is

not with what might have been.

I appreciate your
patience, comrades.

My lapse will not be repeated.

CHAMBERS: We have
much to be grateful for.

Within 24 hours,

we will have increased
our numbers by twofold.

URICK: Perhaps we should
inform those on the way

of our progress.

EINHORN: Yes,
they will be pleased.

Very pleased.

[ speaking alien language]

Welcome to Ozzie and
Harriet, USA. [ chuckles]

Why don't you go steal some
generic small-town footage?

You got it.

Okay.

[ gasps]

Oh.

[ chuckles] You scared me.

[ chuckling]: Oh, I'm sorry.

I just wanted to
welcome you to Beeton

and to let you know that
we'll be having services

on Sunday at 8:00.

Oh. Everyone's invited.

Well, good.

Thank you.

SUZANNE: Harrison,
with all that map shuffling,

do you have any
idea where we are?

HARRISON: You happen to
be talking to one of the men

who just broke into the
Defense Department computer,

changed a few
commands here and there,

and got us hard copies
of the satellite surveillance

showing the trucks
we're looking for.

Of course I know where we are.

SUZANNE: I knew it. We're lost.

HARRISON: We'll see
some landmark soon

or see somebody
or maybe a phone.

There must be something
on these photographs.

It's criminal that our Defense
Department computers

are that easy to access.

They're not.

Norton is a genius.

I'm sure we're
going the right way.

I'd bet money

this is the road. You're on.

$10 if you don't know
what the next town is.

Okay, we should be coming up

to... Beeton.

Beeton?

Where have I heard
of Beeton before?

Kind of off the
"Beeton" track, isn't it?

[ tuning fork humming]

Are you all right?

I'm having breakfast.

The sun is moving
across the table.

[ strikes fork]

I'm reading the newspaper.

Yeah, that's it.

Beeton... Radiation Town,

USA... closed due to high levels

of radiation.

This whole town was evacuated.

The government had an
atomic lab here in the '60s.

The radiation material
was improperly stored.

It seeped down
to the water table.

And they closed this town down,

and they moved
all these people out.

Excuse me.

I-I hope you don't
think I'm prying,

but exactly what is
the tuning fork routine?

I was doing some
memory research.

This is a retrieval technique.

Now, where did I put
that Geiger counter?

[ device ticking]

Miss Conway.

[ chuckles]

Remember us?

Uh, how did the drive go?

Smooth as silk.

Uh, I've...

I've got a couple
of calls to make.

Why don't I catch up
with you guys... later?

What are you...
what's going on here?

Don't be scared.

This won't hurt you.

[ screams]

[ device ticking]

[ tires screeching in distance]

Heads up.

Something's wrong
with this Geiger counter.

I'm getting extraordinarily
high radiation readings,

way beyond the
normal ambient readings

I would expect in a town
with this kind of history.

Harrison,

that can't be the way to fix it.

Watch out,

there's someone coming.

Let's take a walk.

Thanks.

Mmm.

So do you think the people

might have just moved back here?

No, I don't.

Mmm.

You know, I really
shouldn't be eating this,

but it's so good, oh.

What?

We're in big trouble here.

[ speaking alien language]

[ speaking alien language]

[ speaking alien language]

[ electrical whirring]

You're telling me all of these
people have aliens inside them?

To life immortal.

WOMEN: To life immortal.

Just a hunch.

To life immortal.

To life immortal.

To life immortal.

Hello.

To life immortal.

WOMAN: To life immortal.

Ironhorse.

MAN: To life immortal.

Blackwood, I just want to know,

what the hell am I
doing dressed like this?

I feel like a jerk!

Somehow I think the sight
of you choppering into town

in full battle dress might
arouse a little suspicion.

I love the knees.

[ sighs]

Where are the aliens?

They're all around us.

Now, are you sure
these are aliens?

All I know is, this town is
supposed to be abandoned,

and this Geiger
counter is going nuts.

Smile, Colonel.

[ camera shutter clicking]

[ Geiger counter buzzing]

[ shutter clicking]

Shall we?

[ sighs]

How is it?

It's hot. It's real hot.

[ Geiger counter popping]

I wonder what's going
on in that warehouse.

Check out those suits.

They're Feds.

So, what's your plan, Doctor?

Are we just gonna
waltz in there?

My plan is
embarrassingly simple.

I take Suzanne's station wagon,

and I drive down that
alley, and I hit those cans.

Those two guards
come over and help,

and then the Colonel,
as he likes to say,

wastes them, and we're in.

You're kidding.

He's kidding.

IRONHORSE: Doctor, I do believe

that this is my department.

[ whistles]

[ grunts]

Oh, God! Oh!

Well, if a job's worth doing,

it's worth doing
well, I always say.

Now, are you sure that
you want to go inside?

This is a major alien operation.

I wouldn't miss
this for the world.

I want to see what's
going on in there.

Blackwood!

[ speaking alien language]

[ electrical humming
and buzzing]

[ high-pitched squealing]

This is really sick, Blackwood.

[ electrical buzzing]

[ indistinct chatter]

They're reviving new aliens.

This whole town's been set up

to recruit host
bodies for aliens.

It's like an alien Bates Motel.

ALEX: Great Mother,

pray for us sinners...

N-No! No!

[ electrical popping
and sizzling]

[ screaming]: No!

[ screaming]

IRONHORSE: Damn it!

He's gonna get himself killed.

[ electrical buzzing]

[ speaking alien language]

[ speaking alien language]

[ high-pitched wail]

[ wailing continues]

[ whimpering]

Let's get the hell
out of here now!

It was a regular
assembly line in there.

They were shocking
those poor people

into submission and
turning them into monsters.

We've got to wipe
these bastards out

before they possess
any more innocent victims.

Okay, so let's run
down our options.

Good. Go.

I'll call in an air strike.

You've got to he kidding.

We can't even get
surveillance photos

from them, and you want

to call in napalm?

I'll do it myself.

I've got enough explosives here.

I'll blow this alien
factory sky-high!

And blow the radioactivity

into the atmosphere
right along with it?

I don't think so, Colonel!

Quick! We have intruders!

Stop them!

[ speaking alien language]

Ah, let's go, people!

[ panting]

Get them! Get them!

Hurry! Hurry!

Get them!

[ crowd clamoring]

MALE: Fire!

[ gunfire]

[ clamoring]

[ Suzanne grunting]

[ loud, indistinct chatter]

[ engine revving]

[ screaming]: Oh! Oh!

[ engine revving]

[ engine revving]

[ tires squealing]

Oh!

[ clamoring, Suzanne sighs]

[ low, indistinct shouting]

[ indistinct shouting]

MAN: Move it! Move it!

MAN: Come on.
Kick it! Kick it! Kick it!

Move, move!

[ indistinct command]

There!

Come on, move your butts!

Move it!

Oh, let's go. Let's go.
Let's go. Let's move it!

Let's go!

Gone.

They're all gone.

We did everything we could.

That's not good enough, Suzanne.

He's right.

We keep losing like this,
we're dead meat on this planet.

They must have revived
a thousand of them.

And now, they're out there.

They're out there among us.

[ liquid dripping]

And now on the
lighter side of the news,

apparently, it's that
time of the year again.

Our station has received
numerous local reports

of, quote,

"An invasion by aliens
from another planet."

We checked with nearby
Goodwin Army Base,

and Public Relations
Officers there have confirmed

that military personnel
were involved

in routine training exercises

at the time of the
alleged incident.

So far, no aliens
have come forward

to dispute these reports.

But our door is open.

Is yours?