War of the Worlds (1988–1990): Season 2, Episode 20 - The Obelisk - 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?

Yes, the situation is critical.



That's why I must...

Eternal spirit of Morthrai,

I have done as you wished.

Allow me to consult the obelisk.

No!

Let me continue with my work.

Please.

Yes.

I will find another way.

Leave me.

You're aware of our
continuing failure.

The obelisk. Why?

Our situation demands it.

Did the Eternal
order you to do this?



Yes.

It is my right.

I led us here. I'm responsible.

My duty is to secure
our existence here.

He demands that I take
drastic measures immediately.

We are losing this war.

The green has
witnessed the past.

The blue guides the future.

It's the sacred wisdom that
only the Morthren leader can see.

Until now,

it was not in our best
interest to eradicate life here...

but time is running out.

What are you proposing?

That we use the Telesian spores.

- We'd inherit a dead planet.
- My decision is final!

Test it!

.01 units per million

should be sufficient
for this area.

The wind is rising.

The conditions are right.

The spores will spread quickly.

Debi.

Your men can pull over there.

Would you rather...

Look at their body positions.
They must have died instantly.

- No radioactivity.
- Germ warfare?

Maybe. Let me take a sample.

- Hey! What are you doing here?
- Okay, let's get out of here?

- Why'd you do that?
- You could have been killed.

What about you?

Didn't really think about that.

They'll never change.
It's going to go on and on...

Yeah, but one day, we're
going to take their places.

Are we going to stop it
then or will we be like them?

We have fulfilled the
wishes of the Eternal,

and we have
sustained great losses.

But our destiny is within reach.

As commanded by the
Eternal, I consulted the obelisk.

And it has answered me.

We will release
the Telesian spores.

Debi.

I've got to warn her.

Debi, what are
you doing up here?

Well, it was dying, so I
had to bring it up here.

- Well, you said...
- Come on down into the shelter right now.

Let it go for now, Deb. There's
something really wrong up above.

- Mana.
- What is it?

These spores... It'll
kill all of them won't it?

You heard Malzor. It's
the will of the Eternal.

It was organisms like these
that killed our own people.

- The spore's use has always been forbidden.
- I know it's forbidden!

Do not speak about the past.

Mana, this is wrong!

You control your thoughts!

The time you spent with the
humans has poisoned your judgment.

You know that.

Ceeto,

our survival is at stake.

Now go.

I've never seen
anything this deadly.

Whatever it is has shattered the
molecular structure of these cells.

- Do you know what it is?
- Suzanne, would you look at this?

Alien tissue...
scrapings from the site.

Their properties are similar.

It's them.

If they were
planning to kill us,

why haven't they
done it already?

Maybe they've only
just figured out how.

Well, if it's in the mucous membranes
in the mouth, it's got to be airborne.

And if they're going to
distribute it on a mass scale,

they have to pick key
locations for its release.

They have to use more
than one point of dispersal.

Places where the prevailing
wind will pick it up and spread it.

Okay, Suzanne and I have
to work on this bacteria.

Why don't you check the
weather office for wind patterns?

Okay.

Why is this taking so long?

The spores are delicate.
I can't rush the process.

Is there no alternative?

There are 40 of us left.

Do we all have to die
in this forsaken place?

If you're not equipped for this, then
someone else will take your place.

According to the weather office, there's
a cold front moving in tomorrow morning.

They'll aim at that. This time of
year, strong winds come down

from the northwest.

- What are we going to do?
- Find the dispersal points.

There isn't any time.

They can release this
thing whenever they want.

- It's all right.
- We're going to die down here.

Okay, in order to
break this stuff down,

we're going to need a
more sophisticated lab.

You get some information
from the government.

- They've got to be working on this too.
- I'll try.

Good.

Who's there?

- What are you doing?
- These spores... stop their distribution.

Are you giving the
orders now, Ceeto?

This time, your
punishment will be death.

Ceeto has taken the obelisk.

- What?
- I want everyone available searching.

- Yes, but...
- Never mind. Never mind.

I'll coordinate myself.

Ceeto?

Ceeto!

- You came.
- I thought I'd never see you again.

What happened?
What did they do to you?

It doesn't matter. We've
got to get out of here.

- Why? What's wrong?
- Everything.

Debi!

Harrison!

- What is it?
- She's gone to meet Ceeto.

- Where?
- The theater!

He's been here.

I remember this place.

I know where he is.

Debi!

Mom, it's okay!

Oh!

- Ceeto, why did you contact us?
- My people have a weapon

that can destroy all life here
and they're going to use it.

They're after him. We
have to go somewhere.

Let's go.

Debi!

"Kincaid, Debi's in trouble.

She's gone to meet
Ceeto, the alien boy.

We've gone to find her."

Find him!

- When will they disperse it?
- I don't know, but it'll be soon.

Our lead Malzor has gone mad.

- Why is he after you?
- Because I took this.

It's a sacred icon of our race.

- Why?
- It reveals our past.

I wanted you to know about
us... That we're not murderers.

All right, let's
get off the streets.

- But I said he could stay with us.
- Honey, we can't do that.

- Come on.
- Come on, this way.

Ah!

The green records our
history in absolute truth.

The other is the crystal
of the Morthren leader.

It reflects his
energy, good or bad.

You have to put your hands on
mine. You have to make contact.

The planet Morthrai...

We're the only intelligent
life in our galaxy.

We've lived in perfect
harmony since our race began.

The obelisk will translate

so you can understand.

You'll see our
people in your terms.

When is this, Ceeto?

In earth time, it's 1945.

Your work on the
crystal is brilliant.

What you've done will provide the
hyperspace drive I need to power a ship.

One day, we'll
explore the universe.

It's time. Lord Tallick
expects us at Counsel.

- What's this light here?
- I think it's also

generated by the atmosphere.

Join us.

My daughter has discovered
an anomaly in this galaxy.

We were just reviewing it.

There's been a disruption here,

a tremendous release of energy that
appeared suddenly and then vanished.

- We think this has been engineered.
- Engineered?

You mean another life form?

- Where?
- The third planet... earth.

I have consulted the obelisk.

Lady Tila will be in
charge of an exploration.

You'll have to
accelerate your program.

We'll need all the crystal you can generate
to power a voyage of that distance.

Impossible.

The depletion will create an
imbalance in our ecosystem.

You will find a way.

Lord Tallick, may
I speak with you?

It was as though a
small sun exploded...

- You were worried about the crystals.
- No, it's Tila.

I don't want her to
go on this expedition.

I need her help in my work.

She is our most
brilliant scientist.

She is my wife.

It is not easy for me, either.

Then don't send her.

I need her.

We can do great
work here on Morthrai.

Tallick, the resources needed
to build and power a ship

will drain us.

You have a right
to your opinion.

It's not opinion.

It's fact.

I want this tabled at Counsel.

You will abide by my decision.

Yeah, 1945.

The atomic bomb.

I don't understand.

We were at war, Ceeto.

Those two atomic bombs killed
hundreds of thousands of people.

That was the sudden
flash your people saw.

That was what drew
them to the earth.

Harrison?

- Yeah?
- What is your location?

I'm in an abandoned warehouse
at Beverly and Winslow.

I just ran into an alien reception
committee at the theater.

Kincaid, get over here.

I'm on my way.

Mana?

- Anything?
- Not yet.

The search teams are still out.

No one is to return
until the obelisk is safe.

- Do you hear me?
- And how?

How can we find it? There
are 24 quadrants in the city

- and few of us are left...
- Don't argue with me!

Just do it!

As you wish.

No, wait. You're right.

Implement the plan.

Release the spores.

It'll be easier to find Ceeto
if he's the only thing alive.

This is 8 earth years later.

1953, the year
the aliens invaded.

You'll be Tallick's successor.

You'll lead our people someday.

And I'll return and
we can share that life.

I'm afraid for you.

Don't be.

I love you.

Malzor.

Tila?

Yes, I'm sorry.

Our quest for
knowledge was costly.

We pay a price
for what we learn.

You drained our planet of energy

to satisfy your own vanity.

You sacrificed the
greatest minds we had

to some malignant planet.

And for what?

Mana's developing a serum

to combat the bacteria that
destroyed our expedition.

Why?

I gave her no such instructions!

- They're my orders.
- She will stop immediately.

You have overstepped your rank.

The planet support disease.

It's a plague loose
in the universe.

We must go back and destroy it.

We follow the wishes
of the Eternal, not yours.

Was it his wish for
Tila to die like that?

Enough.

There will be no
further expeditions.

Tila and the others
must be avenged.

If you cannot accept this,
you will not succeed me.

Yes, I will.

Now I will lead.

Ceeto, what's wrong?

It was all a lie.

The wind current is wrong.

We have our orders.
Set the program.

There is still some beauty here.

Not for long.

Humans are self-destructive.

As were we.

You're not to speak of Morthrai.

The last pod is to be
placed in quadrant 9.

Harrison!

Kincaid, this is fantastic.
We're seeing it all here.

- What's he doing here?
- Look, Kincaid, with his help,

we can finally stop them.

- What's that thing?
- Their history.

The truth.

The truth is we're going to die if
we don't get the hell out of here.

John!

We're finally finding out who they
are and what they're doing here.

Come on, I'll show you.

I'll cover the place. Go on.

Go on!

This is 35 earth years later.

You don't age?

The lifespan on Morthrai
is nearly 1,000 years.

They destroyed our world!

We have no choice!

The last of the power
must be used to escape.

The fools who went before
us will pay for their failures!

And what about our failure?

Exploiting our
planet for your war!

Collect the others and
board the spacecraft!

It won't hold us all!

Then choose only our best!

- I can't!
- You must!

If we are to survive this, we
must sever all ties with Morthrai!

Our traditions, our
memories, our past,

we must leave it all behind!

From now on, we're a new race!

And you and I must lead it!

Enter.

The pods are in place.

Activate them.

The wind must
change direction first.

Liar.

You've been against this
project since the beginning.

I will not tolerate
this insubordination.

Malzor, what is wrong?
What's happened?

You! You are what's wrong.

Now do as I command. Now!

Aah!

Now get back to your station.

If you cross me again,
I'll have you terminated.

Now get out.

Get out!

Malzor betrayed us.

And he betrayed the Eternal.

The Eternal?

The Eternal is your god?

He is everything.

He knows our destiny
before we come into existence.

And Malzor?

He told us Tallick died,
and we believed him.

Why?

Tallick was very old.
He was in his 900th year.

And we trusted Malzor.

I have to contact the base.

Are you alone, Mana?

Yes. Where are you?

We've been betrayed.

What do you mean?

Return the obelisk now.

No. Come to me. I
want you to see the truth.

What?

Malzor killed your father.

Tallick.

Tell me where you are.

Give me your word
you'll come alone.

You have my word.

Ceeto.

Mana.

Kincaid, no!

Mana, don't!

What have you done?

You've got to stop the spores.

That bitch killed my
brother! You saw her!

Damn it, I was there.

But she's our only
chance of survival.

You're crazy. She wants us dead.

We need her to stop the
release of the bacteria,

or it's all over for everyone.

They can't be trusted.

No. It's Malzor who lied to us.

Come, Mana, see for yourself.

It's the only way for
you to understand.

Over there.

Go on. Come on.

Now do you understand?

How could this have happened...

All the killing, all
the destruction...

For a lie?

I'm sorry.

We've got to stop this now.

- Aah!
- It's a trap!

Let's get out of here. Come on!

- Go! Go!
- Go, Kincaid!

Down!

That way.

The spores are to be released
by remote control from our base.

- I have to stop him.
- Where is it? Where is the base?

She's going to lead
us into another trap.

We have to trust her,
or we'll die anyway.

Mana, you can't do this
alone. What's it going to be?

It's not a choice I would
have thought possible.

When we reach the perimeter,
there'll be guards. I'll go first.

How many of them are there?

Malzor and 20 soldiers.

No, Debi, you're staying here.

But what if you don't come back?

I love you.

Give me the obelisk.

Ceeto, stay with your friend.

If I am unsuccessful,
you must try again.

I will.

I never even saw him.

- There it is.
- They have the obelisk.

I have one request.

What?

To kill you for what you did
to my father and to our people.

He lied to us from
the beginning!

They won't listen to you.

I've warned them about you.

No.

You defy the wishes
of the Eternal?

Kill them!

Kill them!

Stand up! She's lied to you!

I am your leader!

Tila and the others
must be avenged.

If you cannot accept this,
you will not succeed me.

Yes, I will.

Let's get him.

No.

Ardix, release the spores!

Do it!

Malzor!

Aah!

It's over.

Debi!

Make sure that all the
spores are destroyed.

And then destroy this place.

But our experiments,
all our work.

Everything.

Ceeto...

He was my son.

Your planet faces the
same fate as our own.

You must know that.

Will you help us change it?

That's up to you.

What do you think
they're going to do now?

I don't know.

Deb.

He saved us.

Yeah, I know.

I think we should
get out of this place.

Let's get some air.

Well?

Nice morning.