War of the Worlds (1988–1990): Season 2, Episode 12 - The Pied Piper - full transcript

♪♪

There's rioting breaking
out throughout the city.

Fires continue to
burn everywhere.

Troops are shooting people.

My God, I... I don't know why.

There's a woman dying in front
of me, and no one's helping her.

There are conflicting reports
about who or what started the chaos.

Will someone tell
me what's happening?

This is madness.

What is this world coming to?

Behold, the firstborn.



Our future.

In the two months
since his birth,

he has grown to the equivalent
of a 9-year-old human.

He physically and mentally possesses
the highest abilities of the Morthren race.

It's the emotional needs of
his human side we can't fulfill.

I'm aware of that.

Look at him.

He rarely speaks, and his
energy grows lower each day.

I've been considering a way

whereby he can heal himself.

Outside the city, there's an
institute called the Creche.

It is where this society
has focused its efforts

on improving itself.

It's the perfect place for
him to absorb what he needs



from their children while
advancing his own people.

We'll call him Adam.

They say he was
the first of their race.

No, Martin! That is my
final word on the subject!

You're stifling him.

You're mothering him
to death. He's a prodigy.

He's a little boy. I want
him to have a childhood.

He needs special education.
He needs a schedule of classes.

He's got to get a head start now, otherwise
he'll never achieve his potential.

Potential. I hate that word!

You're pushing
him too hard, Martin!

And I won't let you do it!

You won't let me?

- Is that what you said?
- Stop yelling!

- Shut up!
- I'll take him away from you, Martin.

I swear to God.

Don't you ever
threaten me, bitch.

Patrick!

Patrick!

Daddy!

No!

Daddy!

Daddy!

Patrick?

Patrick?

Oh, my God.

Patrick.

Suzanne!

Thank God you got my message.

I've been trying to
contact you all week.

I must have tried every computer
network in the city. Come on in.

You're not going to believe
what I'm about to tell you.

I'm not crazy, I'm not on drugs,

and I only have the
occasional scotch.

Martin, what is it?

One night last week, I
had a dream about Patrick.

I woke up in a cold sweat.

I know, I... I went
over to the window...

and down in the yard, I saw him.

I saw my son.

I rushed down to him, but...

it wasn't him.

It was another boy.

His face... for a moment,

he looked so much like Patrick.

Since he's been here, I've
been trying to get through to him.

But I don't know who he
is, where he comes from.

He won't talk to me.

- Where is he now?
- He's here.

I wasn't about to turn
him over to the police.

So I called you.

I was hoping maybe you'd
help me find out who he is,

where he belongs.

You know, all the feelings of the
past came back to me when I saw him.

Will you help?

Of course, I will.

Thanks. Come on.

All right, Deirdre,

time for our small game.

You remember Billy.
You can trust Uncle Billy.

- Are we ready?
- Make sure she can see me.

Deirdre, come to Uncle Billy.

Come on, you can do it.

15 seconds.

Deirdre, look at me, honey.

This is incredible.

We call it the
imagination chamber.

25 seconds.

Hello... Deirdre. Come on.

We run these tests
periodically from infancy

so we can monitor
their level of trust.

- Why?
- Because we move them

through the education process
at a highly accelerated pace.

If they mistrust,
they resist learning.

That's right.
You're doing great.

That's okay. Don't be afraid.

You can make it.

Come on. Keep it up.

That's it.

- Good baby.
- Much better... under a minute.

Yeah.

She's improved
significantly, Doctor.

Miss Gholston, this is
Suzanne McCullough.

I'd like her to meet
the boy. Where is he?

He's in the recreation
area with the other children.

I've been working
with him for hours.

Still no response.

Come on.

Here. Try.

Try and throw it.

The boy's social
skills seem nonexistent

and he makes no
attempt at physical activity.

Children, go to
the slides, please.

Hi.

My name is Suzanne.

Do you feel okay?
Can you talk to me?

I bet you can tell me your name.

Adam... Adam Warner.

That's good, Adam. Can you
tell me about your parents?

How did you get here?

Never mind. I'm sure
you'll remember later.

Are you hungry? Tired?

He's fine, and he
ate a short time ago.

The child does not look
well. He needs some rest.

We have to run some tests
first. It'll only take a moment.

- Tests?
- It's okay. It's okay, a simple test...

- What kind of tests?
- We've made a breakthrough. Come on.

My God, that's not possible.

A 9-year-old understanding
Laplace's Equation?

Our own students
can't even do this.

The boy's knowledge of
algorithm is above genius levels,

beyond any known standards.

Martin, can I speak
to you, please?

Privately.

In a moment.

Now, please.

Stay with him.

My office.

What is it? What's
bothering you?

What are you doing
with all of these children?

Suzanne, this is an
unconventional school.

You know what we do here, the
public can't even begin to understand.

All right then, let's
just talk about Adam.

He's not one of your students.
Why are you testing him this way?

Because he's exceptional.

All children should be
tested to see where they fit in.

They're our future.

Has he seen a doctor?

He'll undergo a complete
physical tomorrow.

Well, I get the feeling
that you would be

just as happy if I
didn't find his parents.

What matters now
is that he's here.

Martin, who are these kids?

Where are their families?
What is this place?

I thought you knew.

All our students are
genetically engineered...

Test tube babies.

Martin was married
to my best friend Janet.

And I was godmother
to their son Patrick.

He was killed in a car accident
when he was 9 years old.

After that, their
marriage broke up.

I haven't heard
from Janet since.

Do you know a place
called the Creche?

Yeah, it's an experimental
school for unusually gifted kids.

Martin founded that in
memoriam to his son.

He's engineering super-kids.

They're the most unhappy
kids I've ever seen.

I didn't hear one of them laugh.

Are you going to start a one-woman
campaign against the Creche?

No, really, I just want
to find out about one boy

who showed up at the school.

So what have we got to go on?

I have a set of fingerprints that
Martin gave me and a picture.

I want you to help
me find his parents.

We're ready to
accelerate the program.

He's beginning to adjust
to his new environment.

Then Adam should be ready
to receive his instructions.

One facet at a time.

He'll have a great
deal to accomplish.

Our priority is to acquire all
information on genetic engineering

stored at the Creche.

It is vital for Adam's survival

and for our own.

He will begin by winning
the trust of the other children

and then... and only then...

Will he access
the institute's files.

Listen, Kincaid, I
can get in big trouble.

I'll make it worth your
while. You know that.

The department is awfully
touchy about the Creche.

It's classified,
right up to the top.

Yeah, I figured it might be.
You going to help me or not?

Okay. Okay, the usual
place... Two hours. Okay.

Ted?

Mr. Kincaid.

That's not a very smart idea.

Drop it and get your hands up.

Sorry, Mr. Kincaid, but Ted
couldn't make the meeting.

However, I do have
a message for you.

You gentlemen are prying
into things better left alone.

- Who are you?
- Search them.

You're interfering in
matters of national security.

It's best you forget this.

You never even heard about it.

Whose national security?

I'm asking you in a
nice way, understand?

Sure, I understand.

Make sure he doesn't forget.

Adam.

Adam, I've returned to you

just as I said I would.

- Have you come for me?
- No, not yet.

Good, I like it here.

Then we must begin our work..

What shall I do?

It's time to make contact
with the other children

and bring them home to us.

I'll bring them home.

I wish I could be that bird.

Why?

'Cause I could fly
way over that fence.

I could see everything.

I could see cities, forests,

I could even see the oceans..

Julie, you could be that bird

if you want.

All you have to do is imagine.

I know.

It's... It's just not the same.

You don't understand.

The ability to be that bird
is already in your mind.

You just have to use it.

I can do it.

Right. Give me a break.

It's true.

I can change things.

I'll show you how...

If you want.

Inside, everyone.

Let's go.

- Adam, can you teach me?
- Children!

♪♪

Have you been able to remember
anything about your past?

No. I've tried, but I can't.

Give it time.

I just want you to know
that you have a friend, okay?

I care about you.

I care about you, too.

Adam, you have an
appointment with the doctor,

and then it's time for lunch.

See you later, Adam.

Hi, Adam.

Adam.

I'd like to talk to
you about Adam.

Have you learned
anything more about him?

I've never seen
anything like it.

He's a true prodigy, Suzanne.

You should see him
work on the computer.

I've been giving
this a lot of thought.

Adam does have parents
somewhere who are worried about him,

and I think until we find
them, it would be better if we...

I've asked him.
I've tried everything.

I can't get any information.

You think some agency's
going to do any better?

Children should be
cared for. They need love.

What do you call the years of
research that went into their engineering?

I call it science, Martin.

Adam, you said you'd teach me.

Can you teach all of us?

All right, it's very simple.

First, we have to
choose a vision.

What kind of vision?

Anything we want.

We could take a trip
through the universe

to another galaxy...

or to the bottom of the sea.

Maybe a trek
through green jungles

with lions and tigers.

Sounds wonderful.

Let's go.

Let's go into the universe.

Then follow me

as we travel into
our very own world.

Look at these kids!

They know the definition of fun,

but they haven't experienced it.

Look,

the problems facing this
country won't be solved with fun.

We need minds capable of
correcting 2,000 years of mistakes

and perfect bodies
to house them.

Look, I have no trouble with screening
for hereditary diseases and defects...

But...

But personality

and cosmetic alteration
offends you, right?

Come on, Suzanne.

It's all the same work.

One gene properly manipulated

can open the door to everything.

Exactly... manipulated.

Everybody, hold tight.

Hold tight onto the dream.

Now close your eyes

and move with me
into the universe.

We can locate the
genetic markers

that determine everything
that makes up a human being.

We can produce kids
that won't be affected

by the weakness of
the human psyche.

We can order a child's
appearance and personality

like ordering a
meal from a menu.

Martin!

What gives you the right?

Look around you.

You see one child overweight,

with glasses, buck teeth?

Martin, you know
as well as I do,

there's no way to predict
the long-term effects of this.

These children are the
results of genetic control.

They're perfect.

If you wanted something perfect,

you should have built a machine,

not a child.

Concentrate, believe,

feel it.

Imagine as we fly away

above the school

through the clouds
and beyond the sky,

past the moon and
out among the stars...

soaring beyond planets
of our own galaxy,

and out into the
unknown universe.

Adam. Adam.

What are you doing?

Nothing, Miss Gholston.

Ah.

I want you to get Adam Warner
to testing room A immediately.

- Martin...
- Not now.

- Wait a minute, what's the matter?
- I'm not sure.

Miss Gholston, take Adam
Warner to testing room A.

I'll meet you there.

Talk to me. What's going on?

I looked over Adam's
physical reports, his X-rays...

You said he was fine.

- This isn't about sickness.
- What is it about, then?

Nothing. Nothing,
it's not important.

You're lying. I want
to see for myself.

No!

You have to leave. Security!

What are you hiding, Martin?

This is a
government-restricted area.

Your presence has
disturbed my students.

Make sure she leaves the
premises and don't let her back in.

Martin, no! Don't
do this, Martin!

Adam.

You're doing very well, Adam.

Very well.

You look well.

The school has
been good for you.

I have friends here.

They want to travel with me.

Good.

You must do something
else for us, Adam.

Anything...

Anything you ask.

Memorize the information
in Dr. Daniels' files... all of it.

I will. My friends can help me.

If you succeed,

you can bring your
friends home to us.

The Eternal is waiting.

What are you, Adam?

What is it that you see?

What just happened? Tell me.

Adam, if you have
a power, an ability,

I need to know.

Who are you?

Dr. Daniels.

Dr. Daniels, I am
not of your world.

You will never
understand my powers

unless you join with me.

- Where are you?
- I'm here.

Where? Where?

- Patrick!
- I'll take him

- away from you, Martin. I swear to God.
- Patrick?

Don't you ever
threaten me, bitch.

Daddy!

He's a little boy. I want
him to have a childhood.

Stop yelling!

- Patrick!
- Daddy!

No!

No! No!

Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!

- No!
- Daddy!

No!

Julie.

Julie. Julie, help me.

Hi.

Memorize the information
in Dr. Daniels' files... all of it.

Adam, how the hell did
you get out of quarantine?

- Oh, damn it.
- You okay?

Yeah.

What the hell
happened to you two?

Nothing, just ran
into a little trouble.

It was a government reception party.
They took Adam's prints and picture.

Yeah, and we were
asked to butt out.

I got thrown out of the Creche.

You did?

I thought this guy
was your friend.

He's become irrational.

Look, I want to get
Adam out of there.

So do I.

- We'll need to choose another vision.
- Under the sea, Adam.

Close your eyes.

Run into the waves. Dive in.

We don't need to hold our breath

as we sink beneath
the blue, blue sea.

And look, a corral reef.

Where are we going?

To the place of the Eternal.

What is going on here?

Security...

How did you get
out of quarantine?

Security, report to
the imagination...

The rest of you go
back to your rooms. Now.

There's no security.

I'm going to look for Adam.

Check the files
in Daniels' office.

It's to the right when
you go through the door.

Where's Dr. Daniels?

Dr. Daniels is dead.

What? What happened?

I don't know, but Adam knows.

Where is he?

Maybe he went
back under the sea.

Adam, do you know what
happened to Dr. Daniels?

I want you to tell me.

Tell me!

I think he suffocated.

Here it is.

Here.

Oh, no. This is impossible.

- Look at the size of the heart and lungs.
- Alien?

- I can't reach him.
- You must reach him. Keep trying.

You're afraid of me, too.

Miss Gholston told the
other children that I'm bad.

Where is Miss Gholston, Adam?

She wanted to hurt me.

- Where is she?
- Over there.

Am I bad? Am I?

Everything is going to be fine.

- Does he have the genetic research?
- Yes?

He's imprinted the files.

Then he's ready to return.

With perfect human children.

He's an alien.

Adam, go sit down over on
the stool, just for a minute.

It's okay.

Return, Adam.

Concentrate.

Remember your mission, Adam...

To bring the children home.

Show them the way, Adam.

Then they'll understand.

I will.

- Let's just get the kids out of here.
- Does that include him?

He's killed three
people already.

Kincaid, he's a
frightened little boy.

Whatever he is, I
know I can reach him.

He's here for a reason, Suzanne.

This is a highly-restricted
government research center.

He's here after Daniels'
work on genetics.

Adam! Adam!

Somehow, he can
alter our perceptions.

But the man in Daniels'
office died of suffocation

for no apparent reason.

The door is where it should be.

Where it should be.

It's begun. He's
leaving the institute.

Arrange for them to be met.

- Let's split up.
- Don't go near him alone.

Hurry. Come on, hurry.

Come on.

It's the air conditioning unit.

Any idea where it leads?

The generators are
on the playground.

Is that the place
of the Eternal?

Are you sure you
want to come with me?

It looks wonderful.

You can't come back.

I wouldn't want to.

Over there!

Looks like he took
them towards the city.

Where are we, Adam?

Don't be afraid.

I don't like this place.

- I'm scared.
- It won't be long.

- Let's go back to the Creche.
- No!

We can't.

At least we were safe.

I'll take you under
the sea again

or to the green jungles.

I promise.

Follow me.

Follow me!

John! I see them! Stop!

Suzanne! Su...

Can you make it?

Suzanne!

At the place of the Eternal,

we can have all the fun we want.

We're hungry,
Adam. And it's so cold.

Julie, I've taken you places
you've never been before.

We won't stop here.

Trust me.

Close your eyes.

Adam!

Adam!

No, she'll take you back!

Adam, let them go.

You have to make a choice.

He's not taking
you where you think.

If you go with him,
you won't come back.

I like Adam.

He's my friend.

He takes us
places... fun places.

I know.

I like Adam, too.

Adam, tell them.

Tell them it's not real.

If you come near
me, I will take them.

What will they do
in your world, Adam?

They're children.
They're not experiments.

But I have to bring them home.

This is their home.

They need to be
with their own kind.

They weren't
happy at the Creche.

They want to come with me.

So your people can use them the same
way they were using them at the Creche?

Adam,

they need someone to love them

just like you do.

Please,

let her go.

Julie, come with me.

I'll give you any
dream you want.

They're only dreams, Julie.

You can come, too, Adam.

Can't he?

Of course he
can... if you want to.

Take them.

Come on. Let's go.

Everyone, let's go.

We're going home.

Suzanne!

You've been very
successful, Adam.

At least we can begin to work

on the development
of the hybrid...

A Morthren perfectly adapted
to the earth's environment.

I wish I could be that bird.

Adam. Adam.

I like Adam.

He's my friend.