Original subtitles

Next, the invaders in color.

What are you doing on your feet? You should be off your ankle.

We're going to have a history test on money, and I brought your school books

that...

Constable.

Mr. Danverson.

What are you doing?

you

Invaders. A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Roy Finnis as architect David Vinter.

The Invaders.

Alien beings from a dying planet.

Their destination, the Earth.

Their purpose.

to make it their world.

David Vincent has seen them. For him, it began one lost night on a lonely

country road looking for a shortcut that he never found.

It began with a closed, deserted diner and a man too long without sleep to

continue his journey.

It began with the landing of a craft from another galaxy.

Now, David Vincent knows that the invaders are here, that they have taken

form. Somehow, he must convince a disbelieving world that the nightmare

already begun.

The guest stars in tonight's story, Kathleen Widow, Robert Emhart,

Jeanette Nolan, James Callahan.

Tonight's episode...

Nightmare.

30 miles from the geographical center of America, at its very heart, is the town

of Grady.

Population, 5 ,312.

Principal industry, farming.

Grady, Kansas.

The American Gothic.

Rigid. Proud of its tradition.

Protective of its own.

Resentful of any threat from the world outside.

She's moved.

Could you tell me where?

We don't know where.

You looking for Ellen? That's right.

What about her?

It's about this story on the locust. I want to ask her some questions. Look,

fella, she was scared.

Said a lot of wild things. Thinks she's just a man.

I think she just imagined.

But she's all right now. She's herself again.

Questions that just upset her.

Well, if she doesn't want to talk to me, she'll say so.

Forget it, fella.

Now, you just catch a bus and get out of town.

I'd appreciate it.

Think about it. You do that.

Honestly, one of these days we'll all be eaten alive.

Come in.

I'll be right there now. Just wait a moment.

Mr. Raines?

Well, you're one of those newspaper fellows from the city. Hello, sir.

I'm David Vincent.

I'm here looking for Ellen Woods.

I want to ask her some questions.

I know you're the principal at the school where she teaches, and...

I wonder if you know where she is.

Is she here?

I can't tell you where she is, Mr. Vincent.

Well, why not?

I've talked to five people in this town, and it seems as though everyone's

trying to keep me from talking to her.

Perhaps if I told you something, you would understand.

I might.

Ellen has always been a nervous, well, sensitive girl.

About a year ago, just before she was to be married, there was a terrible

accident.

Both of her parents were killed.

Now, for weeks, she just refused to believe that they were dead.

She was in a sanitarium in the city for a few months.

Well, since she's been home, she's been getting along just fine. That isn't

until this business of the locusts.

But she's getting married in a few weeks. I'm afraid a lot of questions

just upset her again.

I won't be upset, Mr. Eames, really.

Ellen, you shouldn't be up.

I'm all right, really.

No, Ellen, there is no need to tire yourself. Now, please go back into your

room. I'm fine.

What would you like to know?

I'd like to clear this up once and for all.

Miss Woods, David Vincent.

It's about that newspaper article I read.

You say you saw a metallic box, and that box brought the locust.

The box I imagined I saw.

When those newspaper men found me, I...

I was still hysterical from the locust attack.

There was no box.

I don't care what I told them there.

There was no box. It was... It was... It was all in my mind.

Well, even so, would you mind telling me what it looked like? Mr. Vincent, look,

she just told you. She imagined it.

Miss Woods?

Forget. Do you also forget that the Danielsons were there, the constable?

The Danielsons both denied having been in their barn that afternoon.

And the constable was in his office. One of his deputies, Henry Braden, swore to

that. Mr.

Ames, I think they're lying.

I didn't see anything in that barn.

What frightened you so much that you ran all the way to the next barn? Nothing.

Nothing frightened me. Did they try to hurt you? Mr. Benson, I think you should

stop now.

Miss Woods, you said you saw a metallic box that brought the locust. Now, did it

or didn't it? I tell you, I made it all up. I think you're holding something

back. Did it? No, no, I just imagined it. How could it?

Well, you said it could once. I was wrong. Now, why are you lying? Who are

afraid of? Enough. Shut it up. Now, get out of here.

Will you please go?

Yes, sir.

Coffee, please.

Anything else?

No, thank you.

Well, maybe you could help me out. I'm looking for the people who own that farm

where the girl was caught in that locust attack.

The Morgans?

Yes. Do you know them?

Well, I did.

They moved.

Sold their farm and moved away just yesterday.

I can't say that I blame them.

You friends of theirs?

No, just interested in the farm.

Who bought it?

Ira Danielson. He has the farm next door.

He's out cold.

If he's your brother, Ed.

They went out the back door.

Shall I go after him?

Why? Want to get your brother in trouble?

This one had it coming anyway.

Grab his arms. We're taking him in.

All right, outside.

They're giving you a break, Vincent.

They're driving you over to the next town.

The Myers Corners.

Where you're catching a bus.

Out. What about the guys who beat me up? You do anything about them?

That's my job. You stop sticking your nose in other people's business.

All right, Braden, let's go.

Vincent, I won't bother you anymore, honey.

Ed.

He believed me, Ed.

How can he believe when I don't?

I've tried so hard not to believe.

Ruth, don't be scared.

You can tell me anything.

What did you see in Ira Daniels in Spartan?

Oh, Ed.

Just tell me.

Ed, can't we just forget about all this?

All I want to do is move into the house and... Nothing you do or say will ever

change the way I feel about you.

Don't be afraid to tell me.

As God is my witness, Ed, I saw

Ira Danielson in that barn and his son Fred and

Constable Gabbard.

And there was a metallic box with dials and things and

it made a loud whining noise.

I believe what Mr. Vincent said.

That it brought the locusts.

Oh, Ed.

Ed, I'm so sorry.

I know it sounds crazy, but it's what I saw.

That's all right, honey. You have nothing to be sorry about.

Ellen, I love you.

I've loved you ever since we were kids.

And I'll stay with you till you forget all about the locusts.

This nightmare, the whole thing.

I can wait. I don't care. I can wait forever.

You come first.

This looks good. Pull over.

Run me through to Danielson.

All the years I've lived here, I've never seen anything like this.

I don't understand it.

Mr. Ames!

Mr. Ames, the locust. They've come back. I know.

We've got to get there.

You'll see for yourself. The box.

Ellen, you just said you imagined all that. We've got to get to the Danielsons

while the locust is still here.

Ellen, I forbid you to go out there. Now go back to your room.

You're hurting my wrist.

I didn't mean to hurt you, but I cannot let you go out into that.

Now, come on, my dear.

Go on up to your room. Come on.

Ellen, come on. Come back here. Don't go out there.

Ellen.

Ellen, come back here.

You were right, Oliver, the poor thing.

Thank you.

Come on, never mind.

It's all right. Calm down.

Come on.

What is this, Mr. Vinson?

I know, I'm not sure.

Not sure of anything but those locusts. They were after us.

That's impossible.

Where are we going?

I'm going to call the state police.

Do you trust Ames?

Yes, yes, I think so.

You drive to his house and call Ed. Tell him to stay with you till I get some

help.

You're in danger here.

But I don't understand. Why would anyone want to hurt me?

If they wanted to kill me, they could have done it right away, right after I

that box.

That would have aroused too much curiosity.

Now they have no choice.

You've seen too much.

I'll make my call from that lunchroom there.

Remember, call Ed, tell him what happened, and wait for me at Ames House.

You got a telephone?

Yeah, right there in the washroom.

Operator, I want the state police.

It's an emergency.

Hello, I want to speak to whoever's on duty.

This is an emergency.

Yes, my name is David Vincent. I'm calling from a coffee shop called the

Counter. It's in the town of Grady.

Now, listen to me, please.

Well, Mr. Vincent, that isn't really in our jurisdiction.

All right, we'll see what we can do. I'll have somebody out there in a few

minutes.

All right, thank you very much.

All right.

Hello, this is Jim Walton.

I'm fine, just fine.

Listen, we just got a call from somebody in Grady.

Uh, David Vincent.

Yeah.

Well, he says he's in some kind of trouble out at the lunch counter.

Sure. Okay.

I'll go over and pick him up.

Thanks.

Pick who up? Not my brother again.

No, just Braden. He got a flat tire. I'll drop him off at his place on my way

home. Lock up when you're through there.

Sure.

Ellen! Ellen, thank heaven you were safe.

We were just going to look for you in Miss Havergill's car. I tried to stop

there, whatever possessed you. I'm sorry I hurt you, but I'd have used any kind

of force to... What are you doing?

He's not there.

Who's not there?

Ed.

I want Ed to stay with me until the police get here.

Police? What for?

What happened out there, Ellen?

What did you see?

Ellen?

I don't know.

Something. I... I don't know. I... I can't remember.

I can't remember anything.

Find Ed.

I... I want Ed to take me back to that sanitarium.

Do you understand?

I... I want Ed.

Yes, it's all right, dear. Now, Jessie, be calm.

Everything's going to be all right.

Can't one of you stay?

We could have some tea.

Don't you be afraid.

I'm going to stay right by your side every minute.

Yeah, how's the shoulder?

Fine. Can I have some coffee, please? Yeah.

Can you tell me something?

There's a farm next to the Danielsons' place. They have a double silo.

Oh, yeah, sure.

That used to belong to a fellow named Kirby.

You know, he sold out, too, right after the first locust attack.

Oh, a couple months ago.

Yeah, and then he got disgusted with the boys from the... agriculture

department, but they couldn't come up with an answer. Who bought it? Oh, the

constable, Ned Gabbard.

He's got some men working it for him.

Local people?

No, he brought some of his family in from out of town a couple of months

he got here.

I don't know any of them too well.

They don't seem to be mixers, you know what I mean?

Yeah.

Thanks. Yeah, sure.

What is it, Ned?

What's going on?

Was there a fellow in here using the phone in a stranger dark suit?

Yeah, he just went back in there.

She's upstairs. Miss Havergill is with her. Ed, no.

Please, Ed, listen. Mr. Ames, I want to be with her. Do you want to lose her for

good? I've called the doctors in the city. They don't want you to see her.

sorry, Ed, but it's their orders.

Oliver, that isn't fair. How could they be so cruel?

What do they know?

They were supposed to help her before, weren't they? I made arrangements for

new hospital, Ed. Better doctors. What new hospital?

I don't care what anyone says. Ellen isn't going anywhere.

But they're doctors, Ed.

The Forsyth Clinic. Believe me, they know what they're talking about.

She wants to go, Ed.

And if the doctor said you shouldn't see her...

They

insist she be spared any emotional strain, Ed, of any kind.

They're afraid of what might happen during a goodbye with you.

I'm driving her to the city.

The doctors insist upon her getting there as quickly as possible.

When is Ed coming?

He should be here soon, Ellen.

I want Ed to take me to the city, no one else.

Yes, dear, yes.

Just try to get a rest now.

It's going to be a long drive.

Let's have a go.

When it comes you'll send them up right away. Won't you there's something I must

tell him of course Just don't you worry about a thing?

Why?

Why wouldn't you let him see me? We told you, dear, doctor's orders. He respects

that because he loves you.

We'd better leave now. No, no.

Why can't Ed take me to the city? Please, Ellen, don't be more difficult.

Let me go. Let me go. Here.

You must be calm. Please, Ellen.

No, please help me. Help me. He's trying to kill me.

Nobody's trying to hurt you, Ellen. We're trying to help you. No, he is. He

Please get Ed for me. Get Ed. You poor child. You poor twisted child. Help me.

Please help me.

No help!

What are you doing here?

I need your help.

Get out.

Now, listen, just for a minute. Ellen's in danger.

I called the state police, but something went wrong.

Now, answer this.

Did you talk to Ellen?

Ames wouldn't let me.

I've taken her to the city, to a mental hospital.

Well, why wouldn't he let you talk to her?

Doctor's ordered.

Listen, will you leave us alone? Get out of here. Ellen's going to be killed.

I know it's hard to believe, but Ellen's going to be killed.

Now, we've got to stop it.

She's going to be killed, Ed.

I'm calling the constable. You're the one that ought to... Look, you'll regret

calling the constable. Ed Gabbert took a shot at me.

Why? Why would... For the same reason Ellen's in trouble.

She's seen too much.

Now, if you want to make a phone call, call that hospital Ames says he's taking

her to.

The last thing in the world they want is to get her to a doctor.

Now, go ahead. Call the hospital.

Go on.

Operator?

Give me information in Wichita.

Yes, I'll wait.

Information?

Could you give me the number of the Forsyth Clinic?

Ed, you seen that Vincent fellow? You know, the guy I kicked out of town?

Yes.

Yes, thank you.

Well, how about it, Ed? Did you see him?

Uh, no, Mr. Gabbert, I haven't.

He probably moved on.

Well, I've got a tippy still in town. If you see him, let me know.

Yes, I'll do that.

He's gone.

What did the operator say?

There's no such hospital. Well, come on, let's go.

I don't understand.

Come on, Ed, there's no time.

Why would anyone want to...

Did you call, Danielson? Is everything ready?

Yes.

Ed!

Where's Ellen?

I thought the constable took her. I asked you, where's Ellen? Oliver just

her with Miss Havergill.

How long ago?

Just now, a minute ago.

Oh, and she kept saying such wild, crazy things.

Said Oliver was trying to kill her. Yes, Oliver had to quiet her with some

medicine.

But what is it, Ed? What's wrong?

My brother Carl lived out of town by that highway. He helped them.

Carl. Carl, this is Ed. Listen, there's something you've got to do for me.

Now, Ames has taken Ellen and Miss Hevergill's car.

I want you to go out on that highway and stop.

Carl, no questions. Just do what I ask.

Ellen's life may depend on it. I don't care how you do it, but do it.

Come on, Ames car is outside.

Everything you've told me.

I'm not saying I believe you. I'm not saying I don't. But why Grady?

I can only guess.

Grady's about three miles from dead center of America.

I think they're going to try and send signal vibrations from that silo.

Vibrations to reach every point of America simultaneously.

Now, if that happens, insects will attack from every point.

For every square mile of the Earth's surface, there must be millions of

Now, that's quite an ally.

Ed, in that silo, I saw butterflies eat flesh.

Butterflies.

They got the owners of the surrounding farms to sell out. Danielson and Garrett

bought them.

Now those silos are surrounded by private property owned by them.

Carl, did you see him? No, they never came this way. They must have turned up

Iverson Road. What's going on, Ed?

Iverson Road.

That's Pat Danielson's place. Get to a phone and call the FBI.

What? Carl, Carl, give me your gun.

What's going on? Just call the FBI. We'll be at the end of it. Like, hurry

so so

Where'd you find out?

They've all left town.

Havergill, Ames.

Half a dozen families.

We can't prove anything, can we?

Why not?

I want you both to talk to the FBI.

Please.

Mr. Benson.

I have Ed now.

All I want is to be left in peace with him.

I can't live through another nightmare of people listening to a story they

believe.

People looking at me as if I were crazy.

Do you understand that?

No, I don't understand it. Not after all that's happened.

I'm sorry, Mr. Benson.

We're just not going to talk.

Ever.

I'm sorry.

That's it.

All right.

Good luck to the both of you.

Grady, Kansas.

Proud of its tradition.

Protective of its own.

resentful of any threat from the world outside.

David Vincent has faced the invader here.

And for a little while, that threat has been pushed aside.