Original subtitles

Since the world began,

ever inventive man has constantly pushed forward into the unknown.

One by one the frontiers of science have fallen before him.

The science of speed, travel, radio.

Now he stands on the threshold of a new age,

a terrifying age.

Man goes forward into the unknown.

But how does the unknown react?

The unknown planet.

Planet x.

...

All ready, doctor Laird?

Right.

Circuit A.

Circuit A.

Circuit B.

That's the B.

Alright, Gil. It in GF2.

Yes, sir.

Gently.

Gently.

GF2 entered, sir.

Sayers, you fool.

Get away from there.

Barney's done today.

So racking.

What happened, love?

We all went white.

Blinding love.

It's the second time this week.

It ain't right.

Just because they have to muck about with a current for the sake of that blooming experiments, we have to suffer.

They'll bust me too.

£18 them new tubes cost.

Who's going to pay me? I'd like to know, if the tube busts.

Fred, the old clock stopped again.

Good.

After that, I reckon we need just one more.

Alright. Is this time?

Feeling alright now, love?

Of course, I'm alright. Don't fuss me.

Would you like a glass of water?

Water?

I want something stronger than that. I'm gonna finish my drink.

Go or not.

The things you say, you're better than any telly.

Oh, you think so?

Shall we go?

- I don't mind. - Go on, Lynn.

It's a lovely night.

Hello then, George. What's the idea?

- What's up, Dick? - What's up?

Here's what's up.

It's half past ten, and you're still serving drinks.

That clock stopped again.

Very convenient, that clock of yours, George.

Very convenient.

Time, gentlemen, please. Come along.

You're well over time.

Finish up your drinks, please.

How is he, doctor Laird?

Sayers, he'll be alright.

His hand is badly burnt.

Means he'll be out of circulation for quite a while.

Yes, that clumsy doe.

Why did he want to go near GF2?

He knew it might arc.

Why does it arc?

Heaven knows.

It could be the timing is wrong.

Sayers never did get the timing right with this Yankee computer.

- Oh, sorry, though. - It's alright.

We could try a slightly higher frequency,

but it's more likely to be edge currents and that'll mean more damping.

Heaven knows what that'll cost.

It'd be kind of a job changing those frequencies without Sayers' help.

Impossible.

We'll have to wait for another operator.

I'll phone Wilson in the morning. They've got to let me have somebody.

Morning, Wilson.

Good morning, Brigadier.

- Please sit down. - Thank you.

I take it you've come about Laird.

Yes. He's got to stop, Wilson.

That'll be your recommendation to the committee?

Of course. Don't you agree?

You're thinking of this business of Sayers.

I am thinking of the cost.

By the way, I've replaced Sayers.

The devil you have.

There's no alternative while the present setup last.

We're committed to two assistants.

Then the sooner we close the whole project down, the better.

Now look, Wilson,

I am just a plain bone-headed brass hat.

I wouldn't say that, Brigadier.

You would and you shall well do. I know.

It's true anyway.

But I do know when an experiment is successful,

and I do know when it's costing the Earth,

even though I don't fully understand it.

I don't suppose there are more than half a dozen people

do understand precisely what it is that Laird is trying to achieve.

Then why on Earth...

As far as Laird is concerned, his work is pure research.

Pure baloney.

But the practical implications

may well affect thinking on defense matters.

That is why we are financially supporting the project.

Financially supporting?

Do you know how much money we've poured down that drain to date?

A quarter of a million pounds.

Can you justify that? Can Laird?

Justify?

Has anyone ever been able to justify pure research?

At the time.

Without it?

No radio, no television,

no radar, no guided missiles?

Is Laird under something like that?

Laird is engaged on experiments which are aimed to study the changes,

if any, in the nature and properties

of metals, living tissues, and other materials

when introduced into powerful magnetic fields.

I know. I know. I can read.

Alright.

If Laird can produce a magnetic field more powerful

than any that has been produced before,

If he can demonstrate that important changes do occur--

Has he?

He's nearly bumped off Sayers, and he's having trouble with his equipment.

He's on the phone this morning. He's asking for more--

More? Oh, this is preposterous.

I'm going straight down there this morning

to get to the bottom of this piece of folly.

That might be a good idea, Brigadier.

Seriously, though, Laird tells me he's already had some limited success.

You might check on that.

I certainly will.

Oh,

I promised to send him this.

Let's see what we're taking.

What is it?

Piece of metal.

An alloy, such as used in aircraft.

What's Laird supposed to do with that?

You can tell him if you like.

Well, I'd love to.

In that case, you better take this piece too.

I'd like to think that one experiment at least was some use to the country.

Is this the same?

Well, actually, no. I want testing on both eventually.

You're going straight away?

Yes, this morning.

Good.

We have to soften the old boy up on his new assistant.

It's a woman.

- A woman? - Yes.

I can hardly wait to tell him.

Well, here we are.

Oh, Gil, this is Brigadier Cartwright from the Ministry.

How do you do, sir?

This is Gil Graham, Brigadier, my chief assistant.

He's from McGill in Connecticut.

- Well, fine university. - Thank you, sir.

My other assistant was injured. We're expecting another one today.

Oh, lord. I'm sorry. I've forgotten.

I was to tell you your new assistant is a woman.

- A woman? - You must be joking.

- Oh, it has to be joking. - I'm afraid not.

There's no one else available to operate this computer of yours.

But a woman? This is preposterous.

This is highly skilled work.

She's very highly qualified, doctor.

Yeah. I know the type.

Frustrated, angular spinster,

very dedicated to her calling,

without a sense of humor, bossy, and infuriatingly right every time.

Sorry, I know how you feel.

I'm not having this. I'll go up and see Wilson.

Look, doctor. Don't you think you better show me

what you brought me down here to see?

Maybe you won't need an assistant soon.

Very well.

Bend this.

This is a piece of copper.

So is this. Bend it.

But this is flexible like steel.

Precisely.

Doctor Leonard, I'll take these GF2 figures to your office.

This is really most remarkable.

It has had its molecules realigned in there.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

I was told to come down here.

Who did you wanna see?

Doctor Laird.

- Are you-- - No, no. I'm Gilbert Graham,

his assistant.

I was told to report here.

Well, he's right here in the laboratory.

Oh, ahh...

are you the you the new comp operator,

the replacement for Sayers?

Yes, I am. I heard about Nicky Sayers.

I'm terribly sorry.

Oh, I don't know.

Weren't you expecting me?

Not exactly.

You're, you're French, aren't you?

Yes, I am.

Are you surprised?

- Very agreeably so. - Thank you.

And I think that, doctor Laird will be too.

How is he to work with?

Oh, he's great as long as you stand up to him.

I see.

Well, mister Graham, can I have a word with you?

Certainly. This is, Michele Dupont,

- General Cartwright. - How do you do?

As soon as I see her in the doctor Laird, I'll meet you up in the office.

Yes.

Excuse me.

In this business of altering the molecular structure of metals,

has he got any defense angle?

Well, if the molecular structure of the alloys

used in building an aircraft were to be altered,

the plane would probably crash.

Remember the comet one.

Oh, yes. Yes. Of course.

But research of that nature into metal fatigue

and all that sort of thing,

that's already been carried on elsewhere.

Well, not quite, sir.

How do you mean?

Well, our research may lead to discovery of means

to crash an enemy's aircraft.

You're not suggesting I take it

the enemy would allow us to cook his airplane alloys

in that contraption of yours?

Well, I don't think that'd be necessary. Let me try to explain.

Magnetism is a force, the only force other than gravity.

It may be one and the same thing

that operates over a distance.

I see you have nine circuits in operation here

and only one in reserve.

Is that not rather dangerous?

This infernal machine has only 10 circuits

and I need as many surges as I can get.

The thing is supposed to compute and then fire the electrical impulses.

I use a field of high intensity but short duration.

I understand.

Nevertheless, I think you should have at least three in reserve

and one overriding spare.

And I mean one not in actual use.

That will give me only six charges and it isn't enough.

Oh, I see you do not understand this machine.

Each circuit is capable of use over and over again.

If it has a few microseconds to clear itself,

that means you can have as many surges as you like

in banks of three.

Yes.

Yes, of course.

But do you mean that Laird could produce a magnetic field,

perhaps enough to reach out beyond the machine,

beyond the house?

From what the people down in the village are saying,

he's done it already,

spasmodically.

Is it true? Do you think so?

I don't know.

Sometimes I wonder.

Look, if we're be honest about this, it's important.

Are you saying all is just to try and save the project?

No, I'm not.

I'm not at all sure I wanna save it.

Not if...

Not if what?

Well, there are dangers, the the imponderables.

Look.

I've got a piece of airplane alloy here.

Would Laird experiment on this, do you think?

Well, if our new assistant can get the computer going,

we might try it tonight.

Let's go and find out.

I wouldn't say anything to doctor Laird about the

effects over a distance,

not yet anyway.

Come in, Miss Dupont.

Gil?

Gil, you were hopelessly wrong.

Miss DuPont is brilliant and not at all bossy.

She's not a bit frustrated, and I think she's quite good looking.

Don't you? What do you think, brigadier?

Oh, I'm of your opinion, doctor.

Though I know nothing about computers.

She's fixed it, Gil. We've got all the power we need.

For the time being...

That's fine. The brigadier would like for us to cook this tonight.

Why not? You'll stay and watch us?

Yes. I think I will. It should be interesting.

- Hello? - Hello.

Have you got one yet?

- No. - Jane.

What do you mean talking to that tramp?

How dare you?

He's nice. I met him in the woods yesterday.

What?

He likes insects too.

He's promised to give me a flea when he can catch one.

I'll give you a flea. Come on in this minute.

How many times have I told you not to speak to strange men?

Tell me.

What do you do for entertainment here?

Entertainment?

Yes.

Well, we have television.

Of course, we don't have much time for that sort of thing.

Once in a while, I combine my pleasures

and watch it down at the village pub.

Oh, I adore, village pubs.

- Do you often go? - Often as I can.

Like to join me sometime?

- I'd love to. - Good.

But I warn you though, we're, not very popular down there.

No? Why?

Well, they seem to think that some of our activities

up here create some odd interferences

in their TV and radio.

Is it possible?

Doctor Laird doesn't think so.

And you? Do you think so?

Could be.

Is is what we're doing dangerous?

Not yet.

But then you were thinking of Sayers.

No, I was not thinking of that kind of danger.

That's to be expected.

Yes.

You know, I've been thinking you don't have to stay here.

I mean, you'll be going back to France pretty soon.

Why not?

I'm not scared, Mr. Graham.

Of course not.

You know, we're all kind of,

as the English say, "matey" around here.

Makes things easier.

Think you can manage to call me by my first name?

Gil, isn't it?

Gill.

I saw your name in the letter you brought.

Michelin?

Michele.

Oh, that's it, Michele.

I like that it suits you.

You didn't answer my question.

- About the danger? - Yes.

You see, I'm no expert in magnetic fields,

but it just occurred to me this field Dr. Laird is using here,

well, it's a very large field, isn't it?

I mean, isn't it possible?

Could it spread outwards?

Doctor Laird doesn't seem to worry.

Laird.

You're always telling me what Laird thinks or doesn't think.

I'm asking you.

I think you're a very clever young woman.

Mhmm. I see.

And bossy?

Oh, no. Wait a minute.

Frustrated?

Look, Michele, you're taking unfair advantage.

I mean, after all, I didn't know you then.

What I mean is the female scientist types

that I've always known were,

or shall we say, different.

I'm sure.

Well, I think we'll call the others.

Oh, Michele, look.

Your letter of introduction...

what I mean is...

is there anything besides your name?

Oh, yes. Bachelor of science.

Yeah. But...

And mademoiselle.

Mademoiselle.

Well, I do make it nice.

That's American slang. It means I do make it nice.

Oh.

Well, doctor, I'd like to get back tonight.

Do you think we could start?

Certainly. If that remarkable young lady has finished her work,

shall we go down?

- Oh, by the way, have you a watch? - Yes.

I should leave it here if I were you.

Watches are delicate mechanisms.

They're best not taken to near magnetic fields.

All metals in the lab are either non magnetic

or have been demagnetized.

I see.

There's no danger, of course.

Alright, Gil. Switch on the recorder.

We'll record everything, Brigadier. It's useful for checking later.

But surely tapes are magnetic.

Very smart, miss Dupont, and you're quite right.

Now, we don't use tapes.

We have a microphone that we record on disk in the next room.

Switch on the generators, Gil.

I'll take the circuits.

- But, Dr. Larder-- - Over here, Brigadier.

Do sit down, Brigadier.

Thank you.

Circuit A on.

Computer.

Computer on.

Circuit B on.

Integrate.

Integrating.

10.

20.

30.

Hold.

All ready, Gil?

All set, sir.

Right. Steady now.

GF2.

Gently.

Gently.

GF2 over.

Three banks under reserve in operation, Doctor.

Good.

Switching off power!

Look out, Michele!

What the devil are you doing?

Good heavens, sir.

Are you hurt?

No, I don't think so.

Must be the rough skin.

Oh, I'm sorry. It was the only thing to do.

- What happened? - I don't know.

I'm sorry. It was my fault.

I left my keys in there.

That was very careless of me.

You seem to have been successful, Doctor.

Look. What's that?

All in the "Standard"!

All the latest!

Big storm on the south coast!

All in the "Standard"!

Big storm on the south coast, all the latest!

Ah, let's see. Ah, yes.

Quote, "Is space travel..."

No, no. Unquote. I'm sorry, yes. Let's see.

Quote, "Could they invade us?"

Unquote. Yes, something like that.

Then, we will carry a follow-up on page three with readers' letters.

They'll have seen hundreds of ruddy flying saucers by the time we're through with them.

Okay.

Who exactly is invading us? Mars?

Hey?

Oh, oh, no. They won't like that.

- Who? The Martians? - Um, idiot, no. The...

No, make it... make it, uh...

Yes, that's it, Planet X.

The invasion from Planet X.

Well, that was some of your bold fast,

if you don't mind my saying, sir.

Yesterday you're all for folding up poor old Laird.

- Today, you tell the committee-- - Look, Wilson,

I couldn't say all I wanted to in front of the committee.

Hey, they're supposed to be in the picture. They have to decide...

No, the picture's changed.

This affair is too big for the committee to handle.

There are security risks.

I'm afraid I don't quite follow.

You showed us the alloy,

and I'll admit it was most impressive, but

we knew something of this before.

I showed you and the committee one piece of alloy,

the piece Laird put into his apparatus.

Now, this is the other piece you gave me.

Look.

Now, that remained in this case during the whole experiment.

It and the case

and the hook it was hanging from

ended up by flying right across the laboratory

and almost injuring the new assistant.

Not another one.

Oh, she's all right thanks to Gil Graham.

But don't you see?

This wasn't in the confounded witch's cauldron.

- I see. - Do you?

Look at this.

That fell off the TV area along Laird's roof.

It's a different alloy,

but it's gone the same way as the rest,

at least 30 feet away from the apparatus.

You know what you're saying, don't you?

Yes.

Action at a distance, the military's dream.

Look, Wilson, from now on, this is top security.

All right. We'd better call in Jimmy Murray in that case.

Yes, I think we'd better.

Come in.

Hi. How are you feeling?

Broken neck would feel worse, I guess.

Do you always take your female assistants

in a low-flying tackle like that?

Depends on the mood.

When I'm away from an intense magnetic field,

my technique's a little different.

I should hope not.

You didn't come here to demonstrate, did you?

Might be kind of interesting.

- Help yourself. - Thanks.

As a matter of fact, Michele,

I... I have something else on my mind.

Can't say I'm sorry.

What's the trouble?

Before I grabbed you last night,

I switched off the power from the generators.

Yes?

That should've shut the whole machine off at once.

Well, it did surely.

- Laird was pretty furious. - Think back for a minute, Michele.

- Must I? - Please.

Okay.

After we hit the floor, the...

the briefcase flew across the room into the computer.

- Correct. - GF2 was arcing then.

- Right. - Then, how the devil could that be?

With the current off,

the whole contraption should've been dead.

- That's right, but-- - There's another thing, too.

Of course, that screaming noise!

Yeah, well, then I'm not crazy. You do remember.

Yes.

The circuits continued to operate

after I'd switched off the power.

But, Gil, what are we saying?

This is completely ridiculous.

You couldn't have switched it off.

Yes, I did. I checked the switch this morning.

There was no current flowing from the generator when GF2 arced,

when that briefcase flew across the room,

and while the circuits continued to scream.

- There's one way of checking. - How's that?

The recording.

Of course. What's the matter with me?

- Come on! - Wait.

- What? What's the matter? - I'm still creaky.

- Let me give you a hand. - Thanks.

You don't look all that fragile, you know.

This is the bit...

Listen.

Switching off power!

Look out, Michele!

Well?

Gil, what does it mean?

I don't know.

That apparatus was receiving power

from some place, somehow.

The storm maybe?

No. That's absurd.

But very likely.

Gil?

I'm scared.

Yeah, well, so am I, Michele.

So Laird's circus gets top security rating?

That's about it, Jimmy.

Well, if you both think so.

Don't you?

Frankly, Brigadier, I just don't register yet.

What you have been telling me sounds, well...

I know. I know.

But you will take my word for it at the moment.

Okay. But what with you and Laird,

freak storms, and the press going to town about flying saucers

and invasions from Planet X,

I'm beginning to feel like Dan Dare.

Am I likely to meet any little green horrors

with eyes on the ends of their whiskers.

I don't think that at all likely,

though you may meet some characters with snow

on their boots, if you know what I mean.

Yes, I know.

And you know we've had a call from Air Force security

saying that three of their radar stations

report sighting some unidentified object?

Do you think there's any connection between this and Laird's work?

I don't know. I just don't know,

but we must take every possible precaution.

You and Wilson travel down separately.

Okay.

Wilson will supervise the ordering

and delivery of Laird's new equipment.

It's going down in plain vans.

- Watch it, Murray. - I will.

And remember, Wilson, you must impress on Laird

the importance of a wide margin of safety this time.

Laird seems to be a tricky customer

to give advice to.

He is. In fact, he's more than tricky. He's...

Oh, well, I suppose you must make some allowance for genius.

And work in close touch with Graham.

I'm pretty sure he's aware of the risk.

And they must understand the whole aim of the project now

is to make the force directional.

Right, sir.

Keep in touch, and the best of luck.

I hope that fence will work. It's costing enough.

Yeah, it should form an anti-magnetic screen.

Particularly ugly one.

There ought to be a law about corrugated iron.

Another lorry load of cabins arriving.

You know, this is getting a bit ridiculous.

Besides, creating a condenser

to make it look like a sight board is darned expensive.

I'd better go down and check it in.

Right. Oh, Gerald, when you're finished,

I'd like to have a private word with you.

- Okay, I'll be back. - All right.

Did I frighten you? I'm sorry.

I'm not frightened. I... I was just going home anyway.

I don't know you. What is your name?

Smith.

Smith?

We've got a teacher at school called Smith.

Are you her husband?

No.

Good. I hate her.

She threw my bugs away.

- Bugs? - Mm-hmm.

She called them insects, of course.

She's very stupid.

And weren't they insects?

Some were. You see, all insects are bugs,

but all bugs are not insects.

And is that what you were doing just now, collecting bugs?

- What were you doing? - Oh, nothing.

Um, please, I was just trying to find my way.

My goodness. Are you lost?

Yes.

Fancy getting lost in Bryerly Woods.

Is this Bryerly Woods?

Of course it is. Everyone knows that.

Are you a foreigner? You look like one.

You've got funny whiskers.

Yes, I suppose I am.

At least, I came here from a long way off.

What's so funny about my whiskers anyway?

I haven't seen anyone else with funny whiskers like that.

Well, perhaps I'd better shave them off then.

I don't want want to look funny or different from anybody else.

How did you get here?

If I told you, you wouldn't believe me.

I would, you know.

Even if I said I came on the back of a giant dragonfly?

Oh, no. There aren't any drag... dragonflies.

There are where I come from.

There aren't any drag... dragonflies anywhere.

What about on the moon then?

Oh, well, if you come from the moon, that's different.

Where are you staying?

I don't know. As a matter of fact,

I'm looking for somewhere to stay.

I expect we could've put you up at our house,

only there's a new lodger coming today.

I don't think I shall like her. Her name's Forsyth,

and she's going to be the new teacher at our school.

Is there anywhere else around here

I may be able to stay?

I don't supposed they'd put you up.

They're very narrow-minded.

Oh, of course.

Are there any big places around here, you know,

factories, workshops, anything like that?

Nothing like that, only Dr. Laird's house, of course,

but it's no good going there.

He's a mad inventor.

And what does he invent?

It's a secret. No one knows.

Well, I must go home.

Why is Dr. Laird mad?

Almost every night, he switches on his machine

and busts up all the television sets.

Where does he live?

It's no good.

He won't take lodgers.

You can see his house from the top of the hill.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Mm.

Now, let me get this straight.

What you're trying to tell me, as I see it,

is that this fearsome contraption of yours

went on working

after you'd cut off the current.

- Is that it? - That's it.

I speak from unfathomable depths of ignorance,

but is that so very remarkable?

Of course it is.

If I switch off, say, an electric fan,

wouldn't it go on turning for a while?

Momentum or something?

Yeah, but you wouldn't get an electric shock from the terminal.

Our circuit, GF2 we call it,

leapt across about 5 seconds after I switched off the power.

That's impossible.

That's what I keep telling myself and Dr. Laird.

What did he say?

Same as you did... impossible.

Refuses to listen.

There's more to it than that, too, Gerald.

You know, I'm not the brains of this joint, but...

I've been figuring a few things out during the past 10 days.

That apparatus was building up a field far in excess

of anything that we could've reasonably expected

from the power we were feeding into it.

Personally, I think you're all getting slightly neurotic over this business.

Did you say you had a recording of the session?

That's right. You ought to hear it.

Hmm. That's funny. It's gone.

This looks like a case for Jimmy Murray.

Where is he?

On his way down from London. I promised to meet him for a pint

in the Crown and Mitre this evening.

- You'd better come, too. - Yeah.

Shall I bring Michele?

Not necessary. She's coming.

I asked her this morning.

Oh...

I'm gonna start getting up earlier.

...

Aah!

Help! Help! Help!

Aah!

Help!

Are you all right?

I guess, I think so.

Wait a minute.

Thank you.

Where do you live?

Well, I'm going to Bryerly Bay.

I'm a teacher.

I started the school there on London.

Bryerly Bay?

Well, after we've reported this to the police, I'll take you there.

Please sit down, Mr. Murray.

Thank you, Inspector.

We're taking a statement from Miss Forsyth now.

I understand you're taking her home to her lodgings at Bryerly Bay.

Yes, I was taking her myself, to Dr. Laird's establishment.

Inspector, what are you going to do about this man?

Well, we'll comb the woods, of course.

But first, let me ask you a question.

Oh, I don't say I should be able to reply.

I know you security chaps,

but this is important.

You see, a man has been seen in the woods,

and it's been reported that he has a large burn

mark on his face.

Tell me,

has Laird been using radioactive materials?

I can tell you that, Inspector. The answer is no, definitely no.

Thank you, sir.

Well, we'll have to try another line of approach.

Come in.

Miss Forsyth's ready now, sir.

Right. Just coming.

Well, goodbye, Inspector.

Goodbye, and thank you very much for all your help.

...

What about another drink? Not for me, thanks.

Pass.

Do you mind if I...

No.

You're very quiet, Gil.

- What's on your mind? - Oh, nothing.

Everything.

You mean you feel comme ci, comme ca?

Eh.

How long you known Gerald?

Why? Does it matter?

Sorry.

Didn't mean to interfere or intrude.

I don't want to quarrel with you, Gil.

Cheers.

What about O'Sante?

I wonder where that man Murray is.

He was supposed to meet us here.

What will you have, sir?

What's that?

Well, old Boggs?

- Mild and bitter. - I'll have that.

Certainly, sir.

That music you hear comes from a proper band.

At last.

- Sorry I'm late. - Okay.

Meet Michele Dupont and Gil Graham.

- How do you do? - How are you?

- What's the trouble? - Things have been happening.

There's a maniac at large in the woods.

- A what? - Maniac?

Oh, there you are.

Nice of you to take me dancing.

What are all the pretty girls going to do now

that they haven't got Gene Kelly to dance with,

nurse their perishing colds?

- Oh, I haven't been long. - Oh, no.

You were going to get me a drink half an hour ago.

I thought you were going to have a nice cup of tea.

Tea?

Get me a glass of nourishing stout.

All right, love.

Evening, Art.

Evening, Mrs. Packer. Evening, Mr. Graham.

Oh, hello, Art.

Where's Gillian?

Isn't she here?

I haven't seen her.

Well, you see, I was supposed to be working late tonight, and...

well, she said she'd meet me here.

Here you are.

That's women for you. Can't let them out of your sight.

Never mind, Art. Have a drink.

I'd expect Gillian's had to wait until her dad's got home.

He hasn't been too well lately.

No, I, uh, I think I'll stroll down the lane

and see if I can meet her.

I thought the band was noisy.

The microphone was too near the loudspeaker.

A syndrome!

That's it. That's what was the matter. We had a syndrome in the...

in the magnetic field.

- Are you all right, old boy? - What are you babbling about?

You understand, don't you, Michele?

Yes, I believe I do.

Would you mind explaining? Or have you both gone crazy?

Did you hear that screech from the loudspeaker?

- I'm not deaf. - Yeah, well, look.

The microphone was too near to the speaker.

The sound goes in. It comes out louder,

back into the microphone,

around and out louder still and so on and so on.

It's called a syndrome.

You mean a sort of vicious circle?

That's right. And if you don't put a stop to it,

it keeps piling up and piling up

until the amplifier or some part of the circuit goes bust.

I get it. But why all the dramatics?

Have you got your car here?

- Yes, why? - I want to get back to the lab.

- What? Now? - I've got to see Dr. Laird right away.

You do understand, don't you, Michele?

Yes, I do. I think you ought to go.

Can't you tell us what all the excitement's about?

I'll try and explain.

- You must go. - You'll be all right, won't you?

- Of course. - Come on. Let's go.

Oh, Gerald, I'm sorry, but this is important.

Gil, I hope you know what you're talking about.

So do I.

Let's be practical, my boy.

You make an excellent theoretical case

for the build-up in the field being syndromic.

But where exactly in the circuit does the phenomenon occur?

As I see it, it's between these two circuits.

You have a first-class brain, Gil.

It's a pity that you allow your imagination to run away with you.

Meaning what?

Meaning that, in the first place,

you have reached the correct conclusion from the wrong premise.

Oh, I don't understand.

Secondly, that you are allowing a self-evident fact to scare you.

You were driven to your clever piece of reasoning

by worrying about a lot of silly diddle daddle,

freak storms and the like.

Haven't you considered the possibility

that we might've caused some of the things

which took place that night?

I never consider anything which might interfere with my research.

Seems rather short-sighted, doesn't it?

If one always stopped to calculate the risks, there would be no research.

But you think I'm right about the syndrome?

I know you're right.

I reached the same conclusion over a week ago.

Well, but you said nothing--

Because I knew you would be all for delay.

Well, wouldn't that be the wiser course, Dr. Laird?

I don't think so.

We have accidentally stumbled upon the secret

of producing an enormously more powerful magnetic field

than we had ever hoped for.

We have saved ourselves years of work,

and you want to throw those years away.

No, I don't want to do that.

I just feel that we ought to proceed with the utmost caution.

We have new equipment, more powerful generators

but the same circuits.

We have taken great precautions, the iron fence, for instance,

the direction field,

better insulation

and the screening between the terminals of GF2.

Yes, well as I see it, the screening

of the GF2 terminals is the main danger.

It's like, uh, like putting a 6-inch nail

across a 5-amp house fuse.

Perhaps you would allow me to be the best judge of that.

I've been engaged in this work all my life.

Well, I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean to sound impertinent.

Not impertinent, just frightened,

and a frightened assistant is no good to me.

If you would care to terminate your appointment here?

Oh, of course not. I...

I wouldn't think of deserting you at this stage of the game in any case.

Please do not allow questions of personal loyalty to affect you.

Under the circumstances, I wouldn't.

I was thinking more the complicated operation of the apparatus.

It's not so complicated now, you know.

It will be possible for only one person to operate.

Yes, sir.

Gillian!

Gillian! Gillian! Gillian!

No.

Aah!

Now then, go ahead down.

How about a drink?

Is the bar closed?

Yes, sir. The dance goes on until midnight.

It's getting very late.

Is it that I'm positively repulsive?

Or could there be someone else?

I'm afraid there is.

I'm sorry. I just realized it now.

Gil?

Please, let's go.

Lucky devil.

Ah, Miss Dupont, are you going?

Yes, why?

It's Gillian Betts. I ahh...

They've just found her.

Is young Art here?

What's happened? An accident?

No, sir, not an accident, murder.

Murder? Well, what's this?

In Bryerly Woods, sir.

The maniac.

- Are you quite sure? - I can't say any more.

No, course not.

Darling, are you all right?

- Yes, but we can't we go? - You are together, sir?

- Yes. - And you have a car?

- Oh, yes. - Then that'll be all right.

You see, we haven't found the fellow yet.

And what about you, sir?

Are you with...

No, Officer. I am alone.

If you're going past Bryerly Woods,

I don't think you ought to be by yourself, sir.

Could I give you a lift?

Thank you.

Not at all. My car's outside.

Goodnight, miss. Goodnight, sir.

Goodnight. I'll warn the others upstairs.

Right.

Where shall I drop you, Mr...

Smith.

If you could drop me at the other end of the village near Dr. Laird's house.

- Oh, yes. We're going that way. - Thank you.

I'm just thinking,

that young man went to meet Gillian.

Don't you think we should tell the police?

Yes, of course. I'll go back in and tell him.

Will you forgive me if I take this opportunity of speaking to you?

What is it?

I overheard what Mr. Graham said tonight about syndromes.

Well?

You see, I understand something of your work.

How much? Who are you anyway?

That is not important.

I must speak to you and Mr. Graham as soon as possible.

It will have to be tomorrow after we have finish our work at the lab.

Very well. Shall we say here at 6 o'clock?

All right.

Okay. I told him. Let's go.

Did he give you any clue as to why

he wanted to meet you and Gil?

Not really, but he seemed to know a lot about our work.

You didn't tell him anything?

Of course not, Jimmy. I'm not that stupid.

Well, I don't like it. I just don't like it.

Who is this chap, Smith?

Know anything about him, Gerald?

- Not a thing. - Gil?

I saw him for the first time tonight at the dance.

Gerald, when you took him in the car tonight,

did he say where he lived?

No, he just told me to drop him near here.

Yes, he said it was okay to drop him here.

That's right. He must be staying in the village.

Well, that should make it easy for us to keep tabs on him.

Gil, Michele, you must meet him

tomorrow evening as arranged.

- What's the drill? - See if he tries

to pump you about Laird's work.

- Find out all you can. - Right.

How did Laird react to your inspiration, Gil?

- What, the syndrome? - Mm-hmm.

He guessed it already.

Ah, that's tough.

Is it going to foul things up?

Nope. He's pressing on regardless.

You're worried, aren't you?

I am. I'm in a bit of a fix.

I... I don't like to go behind the old man's back,

but I think we're moving along a little too fast.

That apparatus is ready to work,

but nobody knows for sure what it'll do.

Doesn't Laird know?

You try asking him. I almost got sacked tonight.

Oh, no, Gil.

Would you like me to contact Cartwright?

Well, I think we should in any case,

but he better not come here,

not with Laird in his present mood.

I agree.

Where then?

Oh, police headquarters.

Royal Inspector Burns ought to be put more in the picture.

We may need his help yet.

Just you say, Jimmy. I'll phone Cartwright in the morning.

I'll meet him at the station in the car.

Well, if there's nothing else, time for bed.

- Would you mind? - Oh, yes.

Coming, Jimmy? - Hmm?

Oh, yeah.

I'll see you two before you meet Smith.

- Good night. - All right. Good night.

I'm, uh...

I'm sorry about tonight. I didn't mean to butt in.

It isn't really any of my business.

Isn't it, Gil?

After you had gone, Gerald kissed me.

Why tell me? I'm not enjoying it.

Neither did I. Funny, isn't it?

Well, that's too bad. I'm sorry.

Are you really?

Not really.

I enjoyed that.

So did I.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Feeling better? - Yes, much better. Thanks.

This is Jane.

I'm staying at her house for the time being.

She's taking me to see her school.

I'm going to catch a beetle for her. They're horrid-looking.

I'm terribly thrilled about that.

When does school start?

On Monday. I've got the key from the head

so I can look around my classroom and get everything ready.

You both like being busy,

what with beetles and school.

Look, I'm rather tied up today, but I thought

of taking a boat out tomorrow, Sunday.

When did you think about that?

Just a moment ago. I can't think why.

- Care to come? - I'd love to.

I must fly now. Got to meet my chief off the train.

Oh, by the way, Jane, ever met a man

called Smith in the village?

No, but I met a Mr. Smith in the woods.

- What? - He's nice.

He helps me look for insects.

Oh. Well, if you meet him again,

try and find out where he lives, will you?

So that's our school, Jane?

Are you going in, Miss Forsyth?

- Yes, I must. - Oh, well. If you must.

And you?

I'm going to look for that beetle larvae.

All right. But don't be late home.

- You promised your mother. - I won't. Goodbye.

- A lot of beers here, George. - Thank you, sir.

There we are. Thanks.

Just right. Thank you, sir.

All right, Mr. Smith, shoot.

I'll come straight to the point, Mr. Graham.

I overheard your conversation last night,

and that led me to suppose that you are concerned

with Dr. Laird's experiments.

I see.

And what's your interest in those experiments?

Will you accept, for the moment,

that it is purely scientific?

Go on.

I take a great interest

in the subject of magnetic fields, Mr. Graham.

Why not? What's that got to do with Dr. Laird's experiment.

Will you also accept that I am not a complete fool?

All right.

Thank you.

Dr. Laird is no doubt a very clever man.

He must be to have built an apparatus capable

of recently causing such atmospheric disturbance.

However, I suspect he is also a single-minded man

and possibly an unimaginative one.

Mr. Graham, the earth has a magnetic field.

Have you considered the dangers of upsetting that field?

It has happened before in history, you know, with catastrophic results.

Yes. Yes, I've considered the possibility.

You seem to be a remarkably well informed man, Mr. Smith.

Please go on.

There is also another danger,

the danger of radioactive rays.

We're not using any radioactive materials.

I know that, but not all radioactive particles

are man-made. There is another source.

Yes, that's true. There are cosmic rays.

They bombard us constantly, but they...

they do little apparent harm.

Because you are shielded from all

but the harmless ones by the ionosphere,

the... the so-called heavy-side layer.

The heavier it is, the sodium,

for example, never normally reach the earth.

Yes, that's true, but, uh...

but I don't quite follow you.

Mr. Graham, the ionosphere could be affected by magnetism.

It could be bent or fractured.

But surely the ionosphere is 50 or 60 miles up.

And ships at sea 18 miles away

were affected by your experiment.

Don't you see?

If, at the points of maximum strength of your field,

the heavy side layer had been temporarily fractured

or pulled down close to the earth,

heavy and possibly dangerous cosmic rays

could've reached the Earth's surface

and may have affected many people in strange ways.

How do you mean?

I mean, they may have been driven mad.

The human beings who may have been affected by the rays

will probably all die,

though not before they may have killed many people.

But there is something else.

It would normally take many years for any change

to become apparent in the human race or in animals

with a long gestation period.

But what of the quick breeders, the insects?

Insects?

Oh, mon dieu, no.

Yes.

Some insects, ants,

spiders could already have mutated.

In what way?

That is impossible to say.

They could've become a different species.

They could've become smaller or much larger.

Look, some of my colleagues are

in a conference now at the police station.

Would you come along with me and state your case to them?

No, Mr. Graham. I'd rather not.

- But why not? - There are reasons.

Besides, they would probably regard me as a crank.

Well, I don't.

I hoped you wouldn't. That's why I chose to speak to you.

- Well, please... - No, Mr. Graham.

The responsibility rests with you. I can only wish your success.

Miss Dupont.

Well, Gil, what do you think?

I think he may be right, Michele.

Look, I... I want to go see Cartwright.

- Can you make it home all right alone? - Of course.

Darling, make them believe you.

I know you can be very persuasive

when you want to.

Right.

Excuse me, miss. Being as you're a scientist,

I wish you would look at what our Jane's found.

I rung the police, but they didn't say much,

and, well, I don't like the look of it.

Do you have something to boil this in?

- Well, yes. I have. - You boil it immediately.

- Boil it, Miss? But... - Please, Mrs. Hale.

Don't argue. You boil it.

You understand? You boil it. It's very dangerous.

And, incidentally, you lock your door

and close all your windows and keep everybody inside.

But what about Miss Forsyth?

Who is Miss Forsyth?

My new lodger, the new school teacher, she's still out.

She went to the school this afternoon.

Where is the school?

Well, the quickest way is through the woods. There's a path opposite.

Don't worry. I'll find Miss Forsyth.

The whole idea is utter nonsense.

The chap's trying to scare us off.

I'm surprised at you, Gil.

I'm inclined to agree.

I certainly think this man, Smith,

needs pulling in for further questioning.

You know anything about him, Inspector?

Not a thing.

But then there are quite a lot of Smiths about.

Exactly. He's too good to be true.

Who is he? Where does he come from?

I can't get a lead on him anywhere.

All the same, I agree with Graham. We must hold up

all further experiments with Laird's apparatus

until a thorough check-over has been made.

All right, that's agreed.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Inspector Burns here. Yes.

What?

Mark Davison's been found,

dead, mutilated.

- Oh, my. - His body was cleaned dry of blood.

You see? Smith was right. It's those insects.

They've mutated, and they're hungry.

- Oh, come off it. - Shut up, will you, Jimmy?

Inspector, Brigadier, you've got to cordon off those woods.

Insects are tremendous eaters.

There won't be anything left long in there.

Get me every available man.

Graham's right. No, give me that telephone.

This is a military operation.

Get me the nearest army depot.

Aah!

Bryerly Woods. That's it. Goodbye.

Graham, get down to the lab at once.

On no account must Laird touch that damn machine of his.

Where's Wilson?

- He should be at Laird's house. - I'll phone him.

He can have a word with Laird.

Yes, son?

Well, Sergeant, I didn't think it was important at first, but now...

Well? Well?

Mrs. Hale, sir,

she rang up to say her daughter had found a whopping great egg.

What was that?

- An egg, sir. - Who said that?

Mrs. Hale, sir.

And she said that her lodger, a Miss Forsyth, was out late.

Oh, no. Does she know where she went?

She was at the village school, sir.

Gil, quick, Bryerly School!

Go back! Go back!

Aah!

Aah!

Helen! Helen!

Are you all right, Helen.

There's another girl in the woods.

Who is it?

From, uh... Dr. Laird's assistant.

- Michele! - Gil, come back!

Mr. Graham!

Michele... she's in here!

I'll come with you. Hurry.

Michele!

Michele!

- Wait! - What do you mean, wait?

Leave this to me!

This way.

Aah!

Oh, what is it? What is it?

I just had a message from Brigadier Cartwright, Dr. Laird.

Oh, I can't be bothered with you or Cartwright just now.

I'm sorry, Doctor. This is important.

So is this, much more important

than anything Cartwright has to gossip about,

and I'm nearly ready for testing.

It's about that.

You mustn't operate the machine.

I must not operate my own apparatus?

- Did you say that... - I'm afraid I did!

Some entirely new factors have arisen which make it

imperative that all testing shall be indefinitely delayed.

Indefinitely delayed?

How easily wise old bureaucrats betray a red-tape fetish.

Indefinitely delayed.

There will be no delay, Mr. Wilson.

I alone am competent to decide

when this apparatus shall be tested,

not some two-penny brass hat or upstart civil servant.

Now, get out!

Dr. Laird, don't be ridiculous. Put that gun down!

You're behaving like a madman. Nobody wants to interfere.

Get out!

If you say another word, I'll shoot you.

Do you understand? I'll shoot you.

Please listen.

This apparatus has cost lives.

It is dangerous--

Feeling better, Michele?

You're going to be all right, Michele.

- Well? - I think we've covered this section

of the woods, Mr. Murray.

I wouldn't like that job again.

Any casualties?

It's a good job we acted when we did.

The woods were thick with eggs.

- Another few days and we'd... - Yes, all right.

There is to be no relaxing.

Keep patrolling all night

and tomorrow we'll have a thorough comb-out.

You better report to Brigadier Cartwright straight away.

Right, sir.

Good Lord.

To think we have to do this in every wood in the country.

That will not be necessary, Mr. Murray.

Hmm?

Mr. Smith.

One or two questions I'd like to ask you.

Where do you come from?

Uh, Jimmy, uh,

I'm afraid that's going to be a kind of an awkward question for him to answer.

- Isn't it, Mr. Smith? - Yes, indeed.

Uh, you said that some of the RAF boys

had reported unidentified objects flying south.

Yes, that's right. The usual sort of nonsense.

Yes, well, this time, it wasn't nonsense, I'm afraid.

Was it, Mr. Smith?

I landed here shortly

after your first disastrous experiment.

Landed? What are you talking about?

Well, this is difficult.

Let me put it this way, Mr. Murray.

Without being aware of it,

your newspapers were very near the truth

when they spoke of mysterious invaders from Planet X.

Am I going crazy?

In fact, there was but one invader.

It was I.

Jimmy, I... I realize it's going to be a little...

hard for you to believe.

But the truth of the matter is,

Mr. Smith is the legendary character from outer space.

Right?

Get me Brigadier Cartwright.

Hurry.

Cartwright here.

Cartwright?

Wilson here.

Listen.

Laird's gone mad.

What's that?

No. Don't talk. Listen.

He shot me.

Come... quick.

For heaven's sake, come.

He's alone.

Wilson!

Wilson!

Wilson...

Wilson!

Wilson!

We have had your planet under close observation

for many years.

Flying saucers?

That's what you have chosen to call our spacecraft.

We've also been monitoring your radio.

That's how I come to speak passable English.

But, you... you are like us.

Is that so very surprising, Miss Forsyth?

There are many planets with the same

physical conditions as here on Earth.

And, on them, life has gone through

the same evolutionary processes.

Where is this Planet X?

If I were to tell you, you would neither understand

nor believe me.

Time and space are still the great mysteries to you.

Why have you come to pay us this visit?

Because of your experiments in magnetism.

You brought down one of our spacecraft

on the night of your experiment.

Our craft use the planetary lines

of magnetic attraction as their means of propulsion.

That's why we were so concerned with your experiments.

Alarmed, I might say.

We had to act in what you would call

enlightened self-interest.

Is that the only reason that you came?

No.

We have never interfered with your development before.

But, this time, your entire planet was in danger.

It still is if you continue with your experiments.

You mean we might reverse the Earth's polarity,

tilt the Earth on its axis?

Yes, I do.

It has happened before, but then the force was extraterrestrial.

I thought you said there was no further danger from these insects.

That is correct.

We were able to calculate the center of disturbance

and the points of maximum intensity.

This, I assure you, is the only place on land

to be affected by cosmic ray bombardment.

On land?

There were some areas in the sea.

There, life will have been spontaneously created,

microscopically,

just as it was millions of years ago

before there was an ionosphere to protect you.

You've had a very narrow escape, Mr. Graham.

- Well? - Message from Brigadier Cartwright, sir.

Will you and Mr. Graham come down to Dr. Laird's house immediately?

- What's happened? - It's Mr. Wilson, sir.

He's been shot.

Gerald shot?

- Is he... - We're afraid he's dead.

Dr. Laird seems to have gone mad,

and the Brigadier's worried he may start his machines again, sir.

I was afraid of this.

- We've got to stop him. - Let me come with you.

It's like I thought,

locked and bolted.

We could break it down, I suppose?

We might, but it'd be a tough job. It'd take hours.

Oh, that will be enough to set him off.

Look here, Smith. Can you help us?

- Do you really want me to? - Of course we do.

Smith, there's very little time left.

If Laird switches on that infernal machine...

well, I understand you know more about these things than we do.

I do, sir.

We must stop him. Can you help us?

Look. How about that... that gun thing,

the one you used to kill the spider with?

No.

I can help you, but the decision for what I do must be yours.

Go on.

It is a question of one man's life

or perhaps the very existence of the Earth.

That's not a difficult decision.

For us, it would be. Life is more simple for you.

Your press has spoken of our world as Planet X.

We too have the equivalent of X in our language.

Our children learn in their schools about the strange

world of Planet X.

You mean, uh...

Yes.

Yours is the strange world, Mr. Graham.

Brigadier, if I were to destroy this machine,

would you promise me not to rebuild it?

I give you my word.

Without Laird, I don't think we could.

- Right, Graham? - Absolutely right.

Very well. I want you to take your men away

from the house, well away.

What are you going to do?

Mr. Graham, Miss Dupont, would you come with me, please?

...

Now we must wait.

There it is.

Goodbye.

Will you come back?

Who knows?

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