Original subtitles

Next, the invaders in color.

Shortly before dawn, a spaceship landed near Phillipsburg, Colorado.

bringing to Earth a strange and ominous experimental cargo, two dozen spores.

After exposure to the Earth's atmosphere, each will develop and grow

perfectly formed alien.

On the success of this experiment rests the possibility of future shipments

numbering hundreds, perhaps thousands of alien invaders, and possibly the future

of the human race.

you get yourself a grown -up car instead of that little scooter.

Maybe I don't want to get fat and lazy like some guys.

You call that fat?

That's solid muscle.

How they doing up there?

There's about 40 tons of dirt sitting all over the road. Listen, if you see

guy with the dozer, tell him to get it out of low, will you?

All right.

Stick around. I'll be back.

Good hunting.

The Invaders.

A Quinn Martin production.

Starring Roy Finnis as architect David Vincent.

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.

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

Somehow he must convince a disbelieving world that the nightmare has already

begun.

The guest stars in tonight's story, Gene Hackman, Mark Miller,

Patricia Smith, John Randolph, Wayne

Rogers. Tonight's episode, The Spores.

Let me ask you once again, Mr.

Jessup.

Are you absolutely certain that what you saw is not what Sergeant Goldhaver here

reported?

You mean the disappearing act?

That's right.

I'm afraid not.

You must have. You were right there.

I'm not saying it didn't happen. I just didn't see it.

I'd been walking along the road, and when this truck came at me, I guess I

myself into the ditch.

Must have blacked out a couple seconds.

And what happened to the people in the truck?

Ernie, we don't know that there were any people in the truck. Except the driver,

of course.

And he probably wandered off in the woods, shocking everything. The boys are

looking for him. They'll probably find him. Well, I told you, I saw it too.

Ernie, could we talk for a second?

Mr. Jessup, you'll excuse us. When we get back, you can be on your way. Ernie.

Sit down, Ernie.

You don't believe me, do you?

Ernie, sit down.

All right. How about it?

How about what?

Oh, come on now. You know what I'm talking about.

I mean, maybe I've been hoisting a couple.

Well?

Not today.

Not for two years.

Ernie, level with me.

I am leveling with you. I haven't been near a bottle since I came off

suspension.

Look, how much time you got before retirement, huh?

One year and three months.

Why?

What do you think's going to happen when I send up that report?

I don't know.

Oh, yes, you do. You'd know that whoever wrote it was up to his eyeballs in

booze.

Is that what you think?

Look, Ernie, ever since I've been here, you've had a good record.

One of the best.

I'd kind of like to think maybe you're telling the truth.

I am telling the truth, to you and in that report. Yeah, and to that kid from

the radio station.

Oh, Ernie, I wish you hadn't have done that. I saw it, the whole thing.

No, you think you saw it.

Now, listen, you go on suspension again, and your retirement starts right now.

No pension.

Tell me something. Could you swear that what you saw was not an optical illusion

or something?

I don't know.

Maybe it was. That's exactly what it was.

Come on, we'll tell Mr. Jeff if he can be on his way.

Several hours ago, a radio newscast carried a strange report.

A deputy sheriff in Phillipsburg.

reported an accident in which the passengers vanished in a burst of flame.

A policeman's delusion or evidence of invaders?

David Vincent travels to Phillipsburg to discover which.

Look, we already told you. It was an optical illusion. That's all.

Well, what if it wasn't?

What if the sergeant really did see that?

Well, if you'd gotten here a couple of minutes earlier, you could have talked

the other eyewitness. Now, he said nothing happened. Maybe you would have

believed him. Wait a minute. Another eyewitness?

That's right. A fellow named Jessup. My man just put him on the bus. I guess you

missed him.

What did he look like?

Oh, a guy in his mid -thirties.

Sandy hair. Gray suit, I think.

No, it was brown.

Say, he was just leaving when you came in. You probably saw him outside.

Yes, I think I did.

What did this accident happen?

What difference does it make?

I'd like to know.

I've been on the road about 100 yards this side of the Milford Junction.

Okay, thanks.

Ernie, you better start changing this report.

I wonder if you could tell me, is this the way to Milford?

You lost?

Yeah, I guess so. I read of this thing, forgot to ask for a map.

Take your first ride down here.

It's about 25 miles.

Okay, thanks.

You want a ride?

If you don't mind stopping while I use the phone.

No, no trouble.

Yeah, my car broke down a few miles back.

I got an appointment in Milford.

Harper.

Dave Harper, insurance.

I'm Tom Jessup.

I'm a salesman.

What do you sell?

Huh?

Jewelry? Case like that?

Seeds.

No kidding.

Everything started from seeds once.

Even you and me.

Never thought about it that way.

Can't tell.

It might come up with a whole new species someday.

Of what?

Who knows?

Maybe even people.

There's a coffee shop.

They must have a phone.

Mr. Harper, I don't know if you'd mind locking your car in my sample case, you

know. Sure.

I guess I'll take it in with me.

Some people.

You know?

I know some people have some pretty big mouths.

Coffee, please.

Wow, baby brother. You really dragged us to a great joint.

I told you, they got good food.

Yeah, I can see.

They got samples all over the menu.

No, they weren't damaged.

But three of our people perished.

I know.

But I have to get the spores to the incubation point.

All right.

Where will you meet me?

I'll get this man to drop me off.

Al, put it back.

Mister, those kids stole your suitcase.

I'll call the doctor.

No, call the police.

Call the police.

What do you think's in it?

Well, it's got to be something we didn't have before.

So long, fella.

That was a real dumb move.

We lost him, didn't we? I mean about taking that thing.

Shut up.

You saw the way he put us down.

What do you mean you had to steal from him?

You too, huh?

Why don't you both just clear out of here?

What if he calls the cops?

If he did, it's your fault.

If you hadn't started to panic back there, nobody would have seen me take

They were looking right at you.

They were watching the fight.

Now, let's see what we got.

You want me to try?

The guy next door has some tools.

Be right back.

This is Jessup.

The spores have been taken.

No, they don't know what they have.

I can't. I'm driving a stolen car.

You'll have to pick me up.

Yes, but hurry.

If they manage to get it open, it could be dangerous.

All right, the kids don't matter.

But Jessup does, and so does that case.

So how can you call him a car thief? After all, all he did was take out after

those kids who stole his sample case.

He's not just a car thief.

What are you trying to tell me?

All I know is I'm responsible for that car.

Look, Mr. Vincent, he'll probably bring the car back. Maybe he already has.

Look, I'm recording a stolen car to you. It's up to you to follow it through.

Wait a minute. Are you trying to tell me my duties?

It looks as though somebody has to.

All right.

All right. Ernie, get a description of the car from Mr. Vincent.

Put out our routine circulation.

Look, time is very important.

I got a whole town full of problems. What do you want from me? Take care of

them, Ernie.

What are you planning to do?

Go back out there, I guess.

Start somewhere.

Mind if I tag along?

I could drive you out in my car.

The way I see it...

Something funny on the fire, and I think maybe you got hold of the handle.

Maybe.

What's in that sample case?

Nothing good.

Man, this must be the hardest stuff in the world.

Tell. What?

Tell, let's take it back, huh?

You're kidding.

Look, maybe if we take it back, they'll just forget we took it.

Maybe you're right.

You want him so much, take him.

Tired of playing wet nurse anyhow.

Come on.

He's the one that's got the job.

He's the one paying the rent.

It's just because every time I get a good deal going, I got him around to

it up.

Do not.

What about the time that guy offered us $200 a week just to do some crummy

driving?

You blew the whistle.

Yeah.

Yeah, he wanted us to take stolen cars out of the state.

You call that a good deal?

I can't get this thing open.

Then let's take it back.

Well, we can't just sit around here all day, huh?

Okay.

What are you gonna do?

You mean, what are you...

You took something of mine.

I don't know what you mean, mister.

I'd like it back.

I'd like it back now.

I got nothing of yours.

What are you doing?

You want to die, son?

My brother.

He's got it.

Where's he?

I don't know.

I meant what I said about dying.

I'll just keep this key.

I'm surprised you didn't call for the check.

Your brother says you got my case.

I got rid of it.

Where? I threw it in the white convertible out front. The one with the

top.

You better not be lying, son.

I never thought we couldn't afford to go to sleep.

Well, we have $7. A day late and a dollar short.

They'll accept a credit card.

Look, I'm sorry about going to Vegas.

I'm sorry about losing the money.

I'm sorry about a lot of things.

But what's done is done.

Now I'm tired and I have to get some sleep.

Something will turn up. It always has.

Not this time, Jack. You are tapped out.

financially and spiritually, and I've had it.

Whose is this thing?

It's not ours. I never saw it before.

Well, I told you something would turn up, not to worry.

Are we desperate enough to steal now?

No, but we're desperate enough to accept a reward when we return it to the

owner.

Anybody lock something up this tight, it's either a woman or diamonds.

And that doesn't look like any woman I've ever seen.

Listen, go check us in.

I'm going to go see if I can find a chisel.

Sure.

You stole that suitcase and never even looked inside.

We couldn't get it open. I swear, we couldn't get it open.

You got a phone?

A white convertible with a black top going south on 94. Put out an APB for

okay?

How long ago?

Who?

They've already put out the call.

Jessup phoned it in.

Why'd they send an ambulance?

He's dead.

Let's get out of here.

Is it okay?

I almost got it.

What's your guess?

With your luck, dirty laundry.

You know, the trouble with you, Sal, is you've got no faith.

They must be worth something.

What are they?

Some kind of seed.

Awful, disgusting seeds.

Let's get out of here.

No, first let me find the owner.

He'll pay us something.

I don't want to wait.

I never saw anything like this in my whole life, Sal.

I want to go home, and they're not coming with me. Get rid of it, Jack,

You're forgetting. We're broke.

We are flat broke.

Now we can get a new start. We can win it all back, but you've got to be

patient. We can't afford a motel room, and I should be patient so you can get

another gambling stake?

Where are the keys?

All right.

I'm coming, too.

Not with that box.

You can get a plane when you're rid of it.

How?

Use your credit card.

That autopsy is going to show that that boy died of a cerebral hemorrhage.

How do you know that?

I've seen it happen before.

A kid that age.

Tough?

It's worse than tough.

He was murdered.

You don't like things that get too dull, do you?

Anytime it slows down, you feed me another zinger.

Flying saucers.

Alien invaders now wait just a minute.

You saw two of them die this morning out there that wreck Okay

Looks

like Jessup and your lieutenant Matson are friendly

What are you talking about?

Patson. How much do you know about him?

That he comes with grade A references and has cut the mustard just fine around

here for one solid year.

Well, if I killed the man, I wouldn't go to the police unless the lieutenant was

a friend of mine.

You're crazy. We don't know Jessup killed anyone.

He just wanted help getting his suitcase back, that's all.

Ernie, I know how they work.

They brought a saucer down around here because Matson is one of them. He's the

one who told you not to send in your report.

Now they're together.

It fits.

Well, it's been fun and all that, Vincent, but that's it. Out.

I know how it sounds, but trust me, check on it.

Out. I'll risk my pension and all that, but I'm not going to spend my declining

years in a straitjacket.

Move.

I wasn't speeding, and I didn't go through a red light. And if I say,

can I go now?

How long do I have to wait here?

It won't be long, ma 'am.

You Madison's friend?

That's right.

He doesn't have it with her.

Sorry to have inconvenienced you this way, miss, but I'm missing a small

suitcase, and I was hoping you could help me get it back.

I didn't take it.

Oh, nobody said you did.

I'd be very grateful if you could point me to it.

How grateful?

With a, um... $200.

All right.

$500.

For a bunch of funny -looking feet?

You've got a deal.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

Guess I'm just tired.

Anything new on that metal suitcase?

No.

Listen, I think I'll go next door and get a cup of coffee. You want a sandwich

or something?

Oh, yeah, thanks.

Roast beef on white.

This is Sergeant Ernest Goldhaver.

I'd like to call the Philadelphia Police Department and build a call to my home

phone. Yes, sir. Your home phone number?

623 -1399.

Confirm tonight.

Yes, sir.

Police Department, Sergeant Mines. Sergeant, this is Sergeant Goldhaver,

Phillipsburg, Colorado.

Right. Well, I'm looking for someone who can tell me about a John Mattson who

used to work with you people.

Well, uh, what's he doing now?

You didn't hear?

I guess not.

Hear what?

A couple of hophead kids ran him down last year. Judge called it manslaughter.

We called it murder.

I'll get you his wife's number if you want.

No. I mean, uh, well, thanks, Sergeant.

Thanks very much.

Forgot my wallet.

Jack? Oh, Sal.

Thank heavens you're back. You were right.

No, I wasn't. Sal, I got something to tell you. Listen, just listen. No, you

listen. It's about the box. I found him, Jack, the owner. I got rid of it. I

threw it away. He's giving us $500 for it.

Threw it away.

Where?

Come on.

I usually do a thing.

Are we going to plant them? Where?

In the hothouse. Dummy, where else?

I don't think that's such a good idea. It might be dangerous or something.

Well, no one says you have to come.

Where are you going, Earl?

To the hothouse.

Shut up, stupid.

Can I come?

This is pretty dangerous work.

Nitroglycerine and dynamite.

So don't tell anyone, Liz.

Especially Mom.

Okay.

You want to blow us all to pieces?

Sorry, sir. It won't happen again, sir.

You run with a guy for a year.

You think you know everything there is to know about him.

John Mattson and I were tight.

We were thick.

I know the feeling.

No, I really got a report to fill out.

They'll know I'm back on the sauce.

Maybe you better countersign it.

If we find that case before Jessup does, he'll believe everything you say.

I'll almost drink to that.

I miss it.

Had your dinner yet, Mike?

Try one.

You know what you can do.

You

guys are

crazy.

Get out of here, chicken.

Don't worry.

Nothing to it.

The police report says that you had the case.

If I still had it, Mr. Vincent, I would have given it to that Mr. Jetham. At

least he was offering coin in the realm.

All right, when you threw the case away, was there anyone around?

No. Are you sure? I told you, nobody.

Oh, there was a couple of kids up the block.

What kind of kids?

Kids, kids.

Boys, probably freckle -faced, who notices kids?

Thank you.

You don't mind too much, do you, honey?

Why? Well, when I threw that case away, blew the reward.

I'll tell you something. It's the first time I knew you to toss in a winning

hand.

How do you want to handle this?

House by house by house.

He didn't call in?

He didn't leave a message?

No, sir.

Like he just disappeared.

Is Lieutenant Mattson around?

Nope. What's the trouble?

When do you expect him?

I don't know.

When he comes back, will you tell him I want to see him?

Some friends of mine have found something, and I think it's dangerous.

What'd they find, son?

I don't know exactly.

A metal case?

Yes, sir.

I lost the suitcase.

You didn't say there was anything dangerous in it, Mr. Jessup.

Well, there isn't. It's just seeds.

Isn't that right, son?

Yes, sir.

And seeds aren't dangerous, are they?

No, sir.

We have a car outside. Why don't you come with us?

Tell the lieutenant for me, will you?

Hello.

Where's your mama?

She's not at home.

What's your name?

Elizabeth Garber.

You have a brother?

What's his name?

Earl Garber.

And where's Earl, Elizabeth?

I'm not telling you. You can't make me.

Elizabeth, does your brother have a case that looks like

a suitcase?

Where did he take it?

It's a uniform.

I'll wait outside.

What does he have in that case?

Dynamite.

Dynamite?

Well, he shouldn't be playing with dynamite.

Where is he?

The hop house.

What's a hop house?

For flowers.

Oh, yes, I know what that is.

Thank you.

Everything's okay.

Look at him grow.

Somebody's going to walk in here and throw a fit.

It ain't going to be me.

We're not sorry.

You really panicked, huh?

Get them out of here.

Wish you had another gun. I wish we had a bomb Only we had an empty bottle Only

a full one in the glove compartment

I wish you hadn't wasted the bottle that way, Vincent.

That was good drinking whiskey.

Well, it's all there.

You want to sign as a witness?

It won't hurt our case, honey.

Ernie, don't turn this in.

Don't?

Well, that's a switch.

How much longer do you have to wait for your pension?

A little over a year.

Don't take a chance on losing it.

This is the big thing, David. I like money as well as the next guy, but...

Ernie, chances are they won't believe you any more than they believe me.

But you're the one who told me.

Let's make a deal.

In a year from now, when you have your pension, If I'm still working on this,

we'll get together.

You and me.

That sounds good.

Yeah.

About that bottle in the glove compartment?

Forget it. I've been looking around for a long time to fall back on.

I mean, I wasn't sure.

Well, I'm sure.

One year and three months. Good enough.

So long. So long, David.

The destruction of the alien spores becomes a major victory for David

a continuing relentless war in which victories are few.