Original subtitles

**

Hello, darlings. Yes, it's me.

That piece that everyone's dying to rest in,

Elvira, MOTD.

Well, the dead don't get no rest in this movie

because this story is a grave one.

Well, actually, it's black and white.

But it's still grave, 'cause they cast

all the extras from a graveyard.

(crickets chirping)

So if you like zombies like I like zombies,

and you need brains just like I need... brains,

then you're in for

a scary treat with plenty to eat.

I'm very proud to serve up tonight's special,

because this movie put dozens of actors

whose careers were dead back to work.

Like me.

It's Georgie A. Romero's carnivorous classic,

"Night of the Living Dead."

Not to be confused with the documentary

about the Rolling Stones.

Now, the plot is kind of complicated,

so it's gonna take three of me

to explain it.

(overlapping) So...people keep getting eaten by dead people--

--and they're attacked by one of those creeps

that tries to clean your windows at a stoplight--

--having a smorgasbord of the stupid people

who don't listen to news broadcasts.

Now, I don't want to spoil the movie and your appetite,

so it's best not to watch this movie on a full stomach,

'cause it won't be full for long.

Unlike the zombies who can eat all they want,

but they never seem to gain an ounce.

Guess it's on account of that high-protein,

low-carb diet.

Anyway, it does have an equal opportunity ending

because everyone dies equally in the end.

(gasps) Or do they?

Let's find out together.

So everybody, put your cell phones on vibrate,

curl up with a bowl of popcorn,

and pour some butter on the one you love.

This is a special date night.

"The Night of the Living Dead."

** (ominous)

They ought to make the day the time changes

the first day of summer. What?

Well, it's 8:00, and it's still light.

A lot of good the extra daylight does us.

Now, we've still got a three-hour drive back.

We're not gonna to be home until after midnight.

Well, if it really bugged you, Johnny, you wouldn't do it.

You think I wanna blow Sunday

on a scene like this?

You know, I figure we're either gonna

have to move Mother out here,

or move the grave into Pittsburgh.

She can't make a trip like this.

Oh, I don't know that she can't.

Is there any of that candy left?

No.

Look at this thing. "We still remember."

I don't. You know, I don't even remember

what the man looks like.

Johnny, it takes you five minutes.

Yeah, five minutes to put the wreath on the grave

and six hours to drive back and forth.

Mother wants to remember, so we trot 200 miles

into the country, and she stays at home.

Well, we're here, John, all right?

(radio static) Testing. We back on?

Oh, uh...

Ladies and gentlemen... Hey--

We're coming back on the air after

an interruption due to technical problem--

There's nothing wrong with the radio.

Must've been the station.

Which row is it in?

Well, there's no one around.

Well, it's late.

If you'd gotten up earlier...

Oh, look, I already lost

an hour's sleep in the time change.

I think you complain just to hear yourself talk.

There it is.

I wonder what happened to the one from last year.

Each year, we spend good money

on these things, we come out here,

and the one from last year is gone.

Well, the flowers die,

And the caretaker or somebody takes them away.

Yeah, a little spit and polish,

he can clean this up-- (thunder rumbles)

sell it next year.

Wonder how many times we bought the same one?

(thunder rolling)

Hey, come on, Barb, church was this morning, huh?

(thunder crashes)

(thunder crashes)

Hey, I mean, praying's for church, huh? Come on.

Hmm, I thought church was for sleeping.

--at church lately.

Well, there's not much sense

in my going to church.

Do you remember one time, when we were small,

we were out here?

It was from right over there.

I jumped out at you from behind the tree,

and Grandpa got all excited,

and he shook his fist at me, and he said,

"Boy, you'll be damned to hell."

(laughing) Remember that?

Right over there.

Well, you used to really be scared here.

Johnny.

Hey, you're still afraid.

Stop it now, I mean it.

They're coming to get you, Barbra.

Stop it. You're ignorant.

They're coming for you, Barbra.

Stop it! You're acting like a child.

They're coming for you.

Look! There comes one of them now.

He'll hear you. Here he comes now.

I'm getting out of here.

Johnny!

Aah! No!

Oh! Johnny! Help me!

(growling)

Oh, that's why they call 'em

"headstones."

Now, if this were a schlocky movie,

she would fall right about now.

Oh.

Now, that's what you call a hand carwash.

Hey, you missed a spot.

Aah! Aah!

(thunder crashes)

(thunder booms)

(thunder rumbles)

(thunder rumbles)

(thunder crashes)

(thunder rumbles)

(thudding)

Oh, sorry, but "click-click-click"

isn't here right now.

(low oscillating tone)

Aah!

(tires screech)

(door opens)

It's all right.

Don't worry about him. I can handle him.

Probably be a lot more of them as soon as

they find out about us.

Truck is outta gas.

This pump out here is locked, is there a key?

We can try to get out of here if we can get some gas.

Is there a key?

I suppose you've tried this.

(low oscillating tone)

Do you live here?

(whimpering)

Jesus.

We've gotta get out of here.

We have to get to where there are some other people.

Maybe we better take some food.

I'll see if I can find some food.

Uh, could you get me some nachos?

(dripping)

Dude, you're making so much noise,

you're gonna wake the living dead.

What's happening?

I'll be just a second.

What's happening?

(glass breaking)

Two of them.

There are two of them out there.

Have you seen any more around here?

I can take care of those two. I don't know.

I don't know. Look, I know you're afraid,

but we have to-- I don't know!

I don't know! What's happening?

(zombie grunts)

Welcome to the automobile club.

(Ben grunting)

(zombie grunting)

(zombie grunting)

They know we're in here now.

(Ben) Don't look at it.

(crickets chirping)

Get some more lights on in this house.

Why don't you see if you can find some wood,

some boards, something there by the fireplace,

something we can nail this place up?

Well, goddamn--

Look. I know you're afraid.

I'm afraid too.

But we have to try to board the house up together.

Now, I'm going to board up the windows and the doors.

Do you understand? We'll be all right here.

We'll be all right till someone comes to rescue us.

But we have to work together, you'll have to help me.

Now I want you to go in and get some wood

so I can board the place up.

Do you understand? Okay?

Okay?

** (music box chimes)

That'll hold 'em, but it's not that strong.

Here, I want you to pick out some nails.

Pick out the biggest ones you can find.

There, this room looks pretty secure.

If we have to, we can run in here

and board up the doors.

Won't be long before those things'll be back

pounding their way in here.

They're afraid now.

They're afraid of fire.

I found that out.

You know a place back down the road

called Beekman's?

Beekman's diner?

Anyhow, that's where I found that truck I have out there.

There's a radio in the truck.

I had jumped in to listen to it...

when a big gasoline truck came screaming right across the road.

Well, there must have been...

ten, 15 of those things chasing after it,

grabbing and holding on.

Now, I didn't see them at first.

I could just see that the truck was moving

in a funny way,

and those things were catching up to it.

The truck went right across the road.

Slammed on my brakes to keep from hitting it myself.

It went right through the guard rail.

I guess...

I guess the driver must have cut off the road,

into that gas station by Beekman's diner.

It went right through the billboard.

Ripped over a gas pump and never stopped moving.

By now, it was like a moving bonfire.

Didn't know if the truck was going to explode or what.

I can still hear the man, screaming.

This thing is just backing away from it.

I look back at the diner to see...

if there was anyone there who could help me.

That was when I noticed that...

the entire place had been encircled.

Wasn't a sign of life left,

except...

By now, there were no more screams.

I realized that I was alone

with 50 or 60 of those things,

just standing there,

staring at me.

I-- I started to drive, I...

just plowed right through them.

They didn't move, they didn't run,

or...

just stood there, staring at me.

Just wanted to crush them.

They...

scattered through the air, like bugs.

We were riding in the cemetery.

Johnny and me.

Johnny.

We...

we came to put a wreath on my father's grave.

Johnny and...

And he said,

"Can I have some candy,

Barbra?"

And we didn't have any.

And...

Oh, it's hot in here.

Hot.

(Barbra groans)

And-- and he said, "Oh, it's late."

"Why did we start so late?"

And I said, "Johnny,

"if you'd gotten up earlier,

we wouldn't be late."

Johnny asked me if I were afraid.

And I said, "I'm not afraid, Johnny."

And then this man started walking up the road.

He came slowly,

and Johnny kept teasing me and saying,

"He's coming to get you, Barbra."

And I laughed at him and said,

"Johnny, stop it."

And then Johnny ran away.

And I...

I went up to this man,

and I was going to apologize...

Why don't you just keep calm?

I can't calm down!

And I said, "Good eve..."

And he grabbed me!

He grabbed me!

And he ripped at me!

He held me, and he ripped at my clothes!

I think you should just calm down.

Oh, I screamed,

"Johnny! Johnny, help me!

Oh, help me!"

And he wouldn't let me go,

he ripped...

And then Johnny came, and he ran, and he...

he fought this man,

And I got so afraid I ran.

I ran. I ran...

And Johnny didn't come.

We've got...

we have to wait for Johnny.

Maybe-- we'd better go out and get him.

We have to go out and get Johnny.

He's out there.

Please, don't you hear me?

We've got to go out and get him!

Please! We have got to go get Johnny!

Please help me!

Please!

Girl, look, don't you know what's going on out there?

This is no Sunday school picnic.

Don't you understand?

My brother is alone!

Your brother is dead.

No! My brother is not dead!

Oh!

Oh...

(static buzzes)

Because of the obvious threat

to untold numbers of citizens,

and because of the crisis

which is even now developing,

this radio station will remain on the air,

day and night.

This station and hundreds of other

radio and TV stations

throughout this part of the country

are pooling their resources

through an emergency network hookup

to keep you informed of all developments.

At this hour, we repeat,

these are the facts as we know them.

There is an epidemic of mass murder

being committed by a virtual army

of unidentified assassins.

The murders are taking place

in villages, cities,

rural homes, and suburbs

with no apparent pattern

or reason for the slayings.

It seems to be a sudden, general

explosion of mass homicide.

We have some descriptions of the assassins.

Eyewitnesses say they are ordinary-looking people.

Some say they appear to be in a kind of trance.

Others describe them as being...

Just plan A-holes.

So, at this point, there is no really

authentic way for us to say who or what

to look for and guard yourself against.

Misshapen monsters.

Reaction of law enforcement officials

is one of complete bewilderment at this hour.

So far we have been unable to determine

that any kind of organized investigation is yet underway.

Police, sheriffs' deputies, and emergency ambulances

are literally deluged with calls for help.

The scene can best be described as mayhem.

Mayors of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Miami,

along with the governors of several eastern

and Midwestern states have indicated the National Guard

may be mobilized at any moment,

but that has not happened as yet.

The only advice our reporters

have been able to get from official sources

is for private citizens to stay in their homes

behind locked doors.

Do not venture outside for any reason,

until the nature of this crisis has been determined

and until we can advise what course of action to take.

Keep listening to radio and TV

for any special instructions

as this crisis develops further.

Thousands of office and factory workers

are being urged to stay at their places of employment,

not to make any attempt to get to their homes.

However, in spite of this urging and warning,

streets and highways are packed with frantic people

trying to reach their families,

or apparently to flee just anywhere.

We repeat, the safest course of action

at this time is simply to stay where you...

Everybody hurry right down to that

La-Z-Boy fire sale.

(zombies groaning)

Ladies and gentlemen, we've just received word

that the president has called a meeting

of his cabinet to deal with

the sudden epidemic of murder which has seized

the eastern third of this nation.

The meeting is scheduled to convene within the hour.

Members of the presidential cabinet will be joined

by officials of the FBI

and the joint chiefs behind closed doors.

Well, let that be a lesson.

Never hire a carpenter from Craigslist.

...as soon as possible following that meeting.

This is the latest dispatch

just received in our newsroom.

Latest word also from national press services

in Washington, D.C.

now tells us that the emergency

presidential conference which we've just mentioned

will include high-ranking scientists from

the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

That's the extent of this latest...

Yo, Barack, you missed the door!

...the joint chiefs of staff

and the scientists from NASA

should be there within the hour.

All radio and TV stations across the eastern part

of the country including the one

to which you are listening have joined their facilities

in an emergency network

to bring you this news as it develops.

We urge you to stay tuned to radio and TV

and to stay indoors

at all costs.

Late reports reaching this newsroom

tell of frightened people seeking refuge

in churches, schools, and government buildings,

demanding shelter and protection

from the wholesale murder which apparently

is engulfing much of the nation.

Law enforcement officials are at a loss to explain

or, even at this hour, even to theorize about

the reasons for this wave of murder.

So far...

Chief T.K. Dunmore of Camden, North Carolina,

is quoted as saying, quote,

"Tell the people, for God's sake,

to get off the streets."

Tell them to go home and lock their doors

and windows up tight.

We don't know what kind of

murder-happy characters we have here."

End quote. That's Chief Dunmore

of Camden, North Carolina.

So far the only descriptions,

the only clues anyone has of the killers

come from frightened witnesses...

These eyewitness accounts variously describe

the murderers as "ordinary looking people,

"misshapen monsters,

people who look like they're in a trance,"

and "things that look like people but act like animals."

Some eyewitnesses tell of seeing victims

who look as though they had been torn apart.

This whole ghastly story

began developing two days ago

with the report of the slaying

of a family of seven in their rural home...

Since then, reports of some senseless killings

began snowballing in a reign of terror

which has hopscotched in

an irregular, disconnected manner

throughout much of the eastern

and Midwestern United States.

Efforts keep track of the murder reports

by the placing of markers on a map

seem to indicate a general spreading

from the extreme southeastern

United States, north and west.

Our newsmen, who have been on the telephone

talking with officials of other cities,

have determined that none of this kind of mass murder

has yet been reported west of the Mississippi River,

except in the extreme

southeastern portion of Texas.

Similar killings have been reported around the Houston

and Galveston areas, but nothing like the...

I found a gun and some bullets out there.

It was only late yesterday...

Oh, and these. ... first became clear

we were facing some kind of national emergency.

When first reports began filtering in,

newsmen and law enforcement agencies were of the opinion...

This place is boarded up pretty solid now.

We ought to be all right here for a while.

We have a gun and bullets.

Food and the radio.

..suspect an obscure kind of conspiracy...

Sooner or later, someone's bound

to come and get us out.

... creatures from outer space.

So again, we join with law enforcement agencies

encouraging you to seek shelter in a building.

Lock the doors and windows securely.

Hey, that's us. We're doing all right.

...cautious of any suspicious strangers,

and keep tuned to your radio

and television for survival instructions

and further details of this continuing story.

Look, I don't know if you're hearing me,

but I'm going upstairs now.

...it's almost as though some critical balance...

If anything should try to break in here,

I can hear it from up there.

And I'll be down to take care of it.

...the savage killers.

We repeat, this radio station...

Everything is all right for now.

I'll be back to reinforce

the windows and doors later.

But you'll be all right for now, okay?

Okay?

Civil defense officials in Cumberland

have told newsmen that murder victims

show evidence of having been...

partially devoured by their murderers.

Consistent reports from witnesses to the effect

that people who acted as though they were

in a kind of trance were

killing and eating their victims

prompted authorities to examine the bodies

of some of the victims.

Medical authorities in Cumberland

have concluded that, in all cases,

the killers are eating the flesh

of the people they murdered.

Repeating this latest bulletin,

just received moments ago from Cumberland, Maryland.

Civil defense authorities have told newsmen

that murder victims show evidence of

having been partially devoured

by their murderers.

Medical examination of victims' bodies

shows conclusively that

the killers are eating the flesh

of the people they kill.

And so this incredible story

becomes more ghastly with each report.

(footsteps)

...but these are the reports

we have been receiving and passing on to you.

Reports which have been verified

as completely as is possible

in this confused situation.

It is happening, and it would appear

that no one is safe from this wave of mass murder--

Aah!

Aah! (muffled voices)

Hold it! Don't shoot! We're from town.

A radio! ...county, Pennsylvania.

The Butler county sheriff has verified that reports

of murder victims

being partially eaten by their slayers is true.

No further details available at this time.

How long you guys been down there?

I could've used some help up here.

That's the cellar. It's the safest place.

You mean you didn't hear the racket we were making up here?

How were we supposed to know what was going on?

Could've been those things for all we knew.

That girl was screaming, surely you must know

what a girl screaming sounds like.

Those things don't make any noise.

Anybody would know somebody needed help.

Look, it's kind of hard to hear

what's going on from down there.

We thought we could hear screams, but...

for all we knew, that could have

meant those things were in the house after her.

And you wouldn't come up and help?

Well, if there were more...

That racket sounded like the place was

being ripped apart, how were we supposed

to know what was going on?

Now, wait a minute. You just got finished

saying you couldn't hear it from down there.

Now you say it sounded like the place was being ripped apart.

It would be nice if you'd get your story straight, man.

All right, now you tell me.

I'm not going to take that kind of a chance

when we've got a safe place.

We luck into a safe place, and you're telling us

we've gotta risk our lives

just because somebody might need help, huh?

Yeah, something like that.

All right, why don't we settle this--

Look, mister! We came up, okay?

We're here.

Now I suggest we all go back downstairs

before any of those things find out we're in here.

They can't get in here.

You got the whole place boarded up?

Yeah, most of it.

All but a few spots upstairs.

They won't be hard to fix.

You're insane.

The cellar's the safest place.

I'm telling you, they can't get in here.

And I'm telling you,

those things turned over our car.

We were damn lucky to get away at all.

Now you tell me those-- those things can't get

through this lousy pile of wood?

His wife and kid's downstairs.

The kid's hurt.

Well, I still think we're better off up here.

We could strengthen everything up, Mr. Cooper.

With all of us working, we could fix this place up

in no time-- we have everything we need up here.

We can take all that stuff downstairs with us.

Man, you're really crazy, you know that?

You got a million windows up here. All these windows.

You're gonna... you're gonna make 'em

strong enough to keep these things out, huh?

I told you, those things don't have any strength.

I smashed three of them

and pushed another one out the door.

And did you hear me when I told you

they turned over our car?

Oh hell, any good five men can do that.

That's my point-- only there's not

going to be five or even ten.

There's gonna be 20, 30,

maybe a hundred of those things.

And as soon as they know we're here,

this place is gonna be crawling with them.

Well, if there're that many, they'll...

probably get us wherever we are.

Look, the cellar.

The cellar, there's only one door, right?

Just one door, that's all we have to protect.

Tom and I fixed it so it locks and boards

from the inside.

But up here, all these windows,

Why, we'd never know where they were gonna hit us next.

You got a point, Mr. Cooper.

But down in the cellar, there's no place to run to.

I mean, if they did get in, there'd be no back exit.

We'd be done for. Ahh...

We can get out of here if we have to.

And we got windows to see what's going on outside.

But down there, with no windows,

if a rescue party did come, we wouldn't even know it.

But the cellar is the strongest place.

The cellar is a death trap.

I don't know, Mr. Cooper.

I think he's right.

You know how many's out there?

I don't know, I figure maybe six or seven.

Look. You two can do whatever you like.

I'm going back down to the cellar,

and you better decide,

'cause I'm gonna board up that door,

and I'm not going to unlock it again

no matter what happens.

Now wait a minute, Mr. Cooper.

No, I'm not gonna wait!

I've made my decision, now you make yours.

Now wait a minute! Let's think about this.

We can make it to the cellar

if we have to.

And if we do decide to stay down there,

we'll need some things from up here.

So let's at least consider this a while.

...at all costs.

Late reports reaching this newsroom...

If you box yourself in the cellar,

and those things get in the house, you've had it.

At least up here, you have a fighting chance.

(crickets chirping)

Yeah, looks like about eight or ten out there now.

That's more than there were.

There're a lot out back, too.

(woman) Harry?

Harry, what's happening?

It's-- it's all right!

(muttering)

(gunshot)

We've gotta fix these boards.

You're crazy!

Those things are gonna be at every window

and door in this place!

We've got to get down into the cellar.

Go down in your damn cellar and get out of here!

I'm-- I'm taking the girl with me.

You leave her here.

Keep your hands off her, and everything else

that's up here too, because, if I stay up here,

I'm fighting for everything up here,

and the radio and the food is part of what I'm fighting for.

Now if you're going down in the cellar, get!

The man's insane. He's insane.

We've... We've got to have food down there.

We've got a right. This your house?

We've got a right!

You going down there with him?

Well-- Yes or no?

This is your last chance.

No beating around the bush.

L--Listen, I got a kid down there.

She can't possib-- I couldn't bring her up here.

She can't possibly take all the racket

from those-- those things smashing through the windows.

Well, you're her father.

If you're stupid enough to go die in that trap,

that's your business-- however, I am not

stupid enough to follow you.

It is tough for the kid that her old man is so stupid.

Now, get the hell down in the cellar.

You can be the boss down there.

I'm boss up here.

You bastards!

You know, I won't open this door again.

I mean it.

Mr. Cooper, with your help, we can--

With my help.

Let him go, man. His mind is made up.

Just let him go.

Wait a minute!

Judy? Come on up here, honey.

You're gonna let them get her too, huh?

It's all right, honey, go ahead.

If we stick together, man, we can fix it up real good.

There-- there's lots of places

we can run to up here.

Mr. Cooper?

We'd all be a lot better off

if all three of us were working together.

Hey. Hey, kid.

He's wrong, you know.

I'm not boxing myself in down there.

We repeat, this radio station

will remain on the air day and night.

Well, we're safe now.

It's boarded up tight.

What about Tom and Judy?

They wanna stay up there, let 'em.

There are...

... two other people upstairs.

A man and a girl.

We heard the screaming.

Yeah, but I didn't know who they were,

and I wasn't about to...

take any unnecessary chances.

Of course not, Harry.

Is she all right?

I don't know what it is.

She feels warm. Maybe it's shock.

Where'd you get the bandage?

Some laundry in the basket.

I tore a sheet.

Let them stay upstairs.

Let them.

Too many ways those monsters can get in up there.

We'll see who's right.

We'll see, when they come begging me

to let them in down here.

That's important, isn't it? What?

To be right. Everybody else to be wrong.

What do you mean by that?

Does anyone up there know why we're being attacked?

Whatever it is, it isn't just happening here.

It's some kind of mass murder.

It's going on everywhere.

The radio said to stay inside--

Radio?

Radio, upstairs. I heard the news bulletin.

There's a radio upstairs,

and you boarded us in down here?

I know what I'm doing. What did it say?

Nothing! Nothing.

They don't know anything yet, the--

There's mass murder everywhere, and--

and people are supposed to look for a safe place to hide.

Take the boards off that door.

We are staying down here, Helen.

Harry, that radio is at least some kind of communication.

If the authorities know what's happening,

well, they'll send people for us,

or they'll tell us what to do.

How are we going to know what's going on

if we lock ourselves in this dungeon?

We may not enjoy living together...

But dying together isn't going to solve anything.

Those people aren't our enemies.

(Tom) Mr. Cooper!

Mr. Cooper? Ben found

a television set upstairs.

Let's go up.

Tom?

(Tom) Yes?

If Judy would come downstairs

for a few minutes,

Harry and I could come upstairs.

(Tom) Okay, yeah, right away.

Will you do it?

Do I have to?

Look, honey, nothing's gonna get done

with them down there and us up here.

Do this. For me.

Okay.

Okay, open up!

I'll take good care of her, Helen.

She's all I have.

Why don't you go upstairs now?

Her brother was killed.

(Ben) Hey, give me a hand with this thing!

I gotta go help Ben with the television.

Don't be afraid of me.

I'm Helen Cooper.

Harry's wife.

This place is ridiculous.

Look at this.

There's a million weak spots up here.

Give me one of those.

Her brother was killed.

And they talk about these windows.

I can't see a damned thing.

There could be 15 million of those things out there.

That's how much good these windows are.

Why don't you do something to help somebody?

Here, I have it.

Drag a couple of those chairs together.

There's a socket over here.

Now, you'd better watch this and try

to understand what's going on.

I don't want anyone's life on my hands.

Is there anything I can do to help?

I don't want to hear any more from you, mister.

If you stay up here, you take orders from me!

And that includes leaving the girl alone.

It's on, it's on!

There's no sound.

Play with the rabbit ears.

--reports, incredible as they seem,

are not the results of mass hysteria.

"Mass hysteria." What do they think,

we're imagining all this?

Shut up!

...in all parts of the country.

The wave of murder which is sweeping

the eastern third of the nation

is being committed by creatures who feast upon...

Hmm, guess they got that TV stand on sale at Ikea.

First eyewitness accounts of this grisly development

came from people who were understandably frightened

and almost incoherent.

Officials and newsmen at first discounted

those eyewitness descriptions as

being beyond belief.

However, the reports persisted.

Medical examinations of some of the victims

bore out the fact that they had been

partially devoured.

But they took the leftovers home in a doggy bag.

I think we have some late word just arriving,

and we interrupt to bring this to you.

This is the latest disclosure

in a report from national civil defense headquarters

in Washington.

It has been established that persons who have

recently died have been

returning to life

and committing acts of murder.

A widespread investigation

of reports from funeral homes,

morgues, and hospitals

has concluded that the unburied dead

are coming back to life and seeking human victims.

It's hard for us here

to believe what we're reporting to you,

but it does seem to be a fact.

When this emergency first began,

radio and television was advising people

to stay inside,

behind locked doors, for safety.

Well, that situation has now changed.

And we're able to report

a definite course of action for you.

Civil defense machinery has been organized

to provide rescue stations

with food, shelter, medical treatment,

and protection by armed National Guardsmen.

Stay tuned to the broadcasting stations

in your local area

for this list of rescue stations.

This list will be repeated

throughout our news coverage.

Look for the name of the rescue station

nearest you,

and make your way to that location

as soon as possible.

So we have that truck-- if we can get some gas,

we can get outta here. There's a pump out by the shed.

I know, that's why I pulled in here, but it's locked.

...called this afternoon by the president.

Since convening, this conference

of the presidential cabinet, the FBI,

the joint chiefs of staff, the CIA...

has not produced any public information.

Why are space experts being consulted

about an earthbound emergency?

So far, all the betting on the answer to that question

centers on the recent explorer satellite shot to Venus.

That satellite, you recall,

started back to Earth, but never got here.

That's the space vehicle which orbited Venus and then

was purposely destroyed by NASA,

when scientists discovered it was carrying a mysterious

high-level radiation with it.

Could that radiation be somehow responsible

for the wholesale murders we're now suffering?

Newsman Don Quinn

in Washington has posed those questions.

It's obvious. Our best move is to try to get out of here.

How're you gonna get over to that pump?

Look!

You're coming from a meeting regarding

the explosion of the Venus probe,

is that right, sir?

Yes, yes, that was the subject of the meeting.

Do you feel there is a connection between this and the phenomenon--

There's-- there's a definite connection.

A definite connection.

In other words, you feel that the radiation on

the Venus probe is enough to cause these mutations?

There was a very high degree of radiation.

Well, just a minute. I'm not sure that

that's certain at all. I don't think that has--

That's the only logical explanation

that we have at this time.

In other words, it is the military's viewpoint

that this radiation is not the cause of the mutation.

I can't speak for the entire military

at this time, gentlemen. There seems to be--

I must disagree with these gentlemen presently,

until we-- until this is irrefutably proved.

Everything is being done that can be done.

We'll have to hurry for our next meeting.

Professor, you feel that there is a definite

connection between... A definite connection

as far as Dr. Keller and myself.

Doctor, please.

I thought we decided that is not proved yet.

Was it... was the satellite...

When the satellite was exploded...

It was an unusual amount of radiation,

enough to cause mutation under certain circumstances.

Could have happened to have a bearing on it.

It does seem to have a bearing on it.

Will there be a reply for the--

Later. There will be a reply.

Yes. Later this afternoon.

Will there--

There will be a report this afternoon.

Well, perhaps there will be Yes, yes.

a report later...

Will you close the window?

We are doing everything possible

to solve the problem.

We're hoping to get some...

further explanation of this...

We've heard all we need to know.

We have to try to get out of here.

He said the rescue stations have doctors

and medical supplies.

If we can get Karen there, we can get help for her.

...is one of the world's foremost authorities

on space science and technology.

(Ben) Willard. I saw a sign that said Willard.

(Tom) It's only about 17 miles from here.

You know this area. Are you from around here?

Judy and I are both from around here.

We were on our way up to the lake to go swimming.

And Judy had a radio, and we heard the first

reports about this.

So we knew the old house was here, and we came in,

and found the lady upstairs, dead.

Then these other people came.

We went down into the basement

and put a bar across the door,

and it is pretty strong.

How could we possibly get away from here?

We've got a sick child,

two women, one woman out of her head,

three men, and the place

is surrounded with these things.

Dr. Grimes, your entire staff,

I know, has been working very hard

to find some solution to these things that

are happening.

Do you have any answers at this time?

Yes, we have some answers.

But first, let me stress

the importance of seeking medical attention for

anyone who's been injured in any way.

We don't know yet what complications

might result from such injuries.

How bad has your kid been hurt?

Now, how about the basic...

Um... she...

Look. You go down there and tell...

what's her name, Judy?

Yeah, you tell Judy to come up here,

and you stay with the kid, all right?

...direct action taken with regard to the Venus probe.

In the cold room at the university,

we had a cadaver.

A cadaver from which

all four limbs had been amputated.

Sometime early this morning,

it opened its eyes and began to move its trunk.

It was dead, but it opened its eyes and tried to move.

They want you upstairs.

Did she ask for me?

She hasn't said anything.

I don't understand.

Baby?

It's Mommy.

I hurt.

I'll come back down as soon as I find out

what they want.

Thank you, Judy.

The bodies should be disposed of at once,

preferably by cremation.

Well, how long after death, then,

does the body become reactivated?

It's only a matter of minutes.

Minutes? Well, that doesn't give

people time to make any arrangements--

No, you're right. It doesn't give them

time to make funeral arrangements.

The bodies must be carried to the street

and-- and burned.

They must be burned immediately.

Soak them with gasoline and burn them.

The bereaved will have to forgo

the dubious comforts that a funeral service will give.

They're just dead flesh.

And dangerous.

I see. Judy, I need you to find

some bedspreads or sheets to tear up

into small strips, okay?

Is there a fruit cellar here?

Yes. We need some bottles or jars to make

Molotov cocktails to hold them off while we try to escape.

Hey! There's a big can of kerosene down there.

(Judy) I'll see what I can find.

I'll look for the bottles.

There's a big key ring down there.

There may be a key to the gas pump on it.

I'll check.

We can toss the cocktails from a window upstairs.

Meantime, a couple of us can go out and try to get

the gas, then we can come back for the rest of the people.

But that'll leave a door open someplace.

Yeah, that's right.

It better be this door.

It's closer to the truck.

Before we go out, we'll put some supplies behind the cellar door.

While we're gone, the rest of you can hole up in there.

I found some fruit jars in the cellar.

And there's a key on here that's labeled

for the gas pump out back.

I'm not really that used to the truck.

I found it abandoned.

I can handle the truck, no sweat.

...and kill living human beings

and feed upon their flesh.

You're it, then. You and I'll go.

We'll put whatever lumber we find

behind the cellar door.

You can go upstairs and toss the cocktails from a window.

Tom, you and I will have to unboard this door.

After you toss the cocktails, you hustle

back down here and lock this door.

It's no good to board it up because we'll

have to get back in quickly.

After we get the gas and get back into the house,

then we'll worry about getting everybody into the truck.

Now, let's move it.

No place to flee for safety,

except to the rescue stations which have been set up.

Indications are that, before this emergency

is over, we will need

many, many more such rescue stations.

You always have a smile for me.

How can you smile like that all the time?

How many do you have done?

Come on, honey, we gotta move.

Tom, are you sure about the phone?

The phone is dead out.

All you get is a recorded message.

If I could only call the folks.

They're going to be so worried about us.

Everything'll be all right.

As soon as we get to Willard, we'll call them.

They might even be there.

I know.

Tom...

Are you sure we're doing the right thing, Tom?

What, about getting outta here? Yeah.

Well... the television said that's the right thing to do.

We've got to get to a rescue station.

I don't know. Come on, honey.

You're starting to sound like Mr. Cooper now.

But why do you have to go out there?

Look, I know how to handle that truck.

And I can handle the pump.

Ben doesn't know anything about that stuff.

But we're safe in here.

For how long, honey?

We're safe now.

But there's gonna be more and more of those things.

I know. I know all that.

Hey, listen.

Remember when we had the big flood?

Remember how difficult it was for us to convince you

that it was right to leave?

Remember? Remember we had to go to Willard then?

This isn't a passing thing, honey.

It-- it's not like just a wind passing through.

Whew! We've got to do something, and fast.

I just don't want you to go out there, that's all.

Hey...

Smile, honey.

Where's that big smile for me?

Boy...

you sure are no use at all, aren't you?

We've got work to do, honey.

And you... you...

We better get her downstairs.

We have to go downstairs now, Barbra.

She's right.

You have to go downstairs now.

Just for a little while, until we get back.

Then we can all leave.

Oh, I'd like to leave.

Yes.

Well, if you ain't staying, I ain't staying.

Good luck. Yeah.

Are you getting "board" yet?

(zombies moaning)

You ready upstairs? (Harry) Yeah!

Okay, toss 'em!

Go ahead! Go on!

I'm going with him!

Get back in the cellar! I'm going!

It's too late-- it's too late!

Well, if you're coming, come on!

Get in!

Come on! This key won't work.

Watch out.

Watch the torch!

We've gotta get away from the pump!

Hang on!

Tom! Tom, you're crazy, get out of the truck!

Help me! Help me!

Let's get outta here!

Come on, come on!

My jacket's caught.

(zombies moan)

Let me in!

Let me in!

Cooper!

Cooper!

I ought to drag you out there and feed you to those things!

(zombies moaning)

Mmm, barbecue brains!

Pass me a thigh.

Mmm, grisly!

(crickets chirping)

Isn't it 3:00 yet?

There's supposed to be another broadcast at 3:00.

(Harry) Ten minutes.

Oh.

Only ten more minutes?

We don't have very long to wait.

We can leave.

Well, we better leave soon.

It's ten minutes to 3:00.

Do you know anything about this area at all?

I mean, is Willard the nearest town?

I don't know.

We were...

Just trying to get to a motel

before dark.

You said those things turned your car over.

You think we can get it back on its wheels

and drive it? Where is it?

Seems like it was pretty far away.

Seems like we ran.

Forget it. It's at least a mile.

Johnny has the keys.

You're gonna carry that child a mile?

Through that army of things out there?

I can carry the kid.

What's wrong with her? How'd she get hurt?

One of those things grabbed her.

Bit her on the arm.

What's wrong?

Who knows what kind of disease

those things carry?

Is she conscious?

Barely.

She can't walk. She's too weak.

Well, one of us could try to get to the car.

You gonna turn it over by yourself?

You can't start the car. Johnny has the keys.

You have a car? Where? Where is it?

You won't be able to start it.

Yeah, yeah, I know. But where is it?

(zombies moan)

Good Lord.

...being monitored closely by scientists

at all the radiation detection stations.

At this hour, they report the level

of the mysterious radiation

continues to increase steadily.

So long as this situation remains,

government spokesmen warn that dead bodies

will continue to be transformed

into the flesh-eating ghouls.

All persons who die during this crisis,

from whatever cause,

will come back to life to seek human victims,

unless their bodies are first disposed of

by cremation.

Our news cameras have just returned

from covering such a search and destroy operation

against the ghouls, this one conducted

by Sheriff Conan McClellan

in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

So now let's go to that film report.

All law enforcement agencies and the military

have been organized to search out

and destroy the marauding ghouls.

The survival command center at the Pentagon

has disclosed that a ghoul can be killed

by a shot in the head

or a heavy blow to the skull.

Officials are quoted as explaining that,

since the brain of a ghoul has been

activated by the radiation,

the plan is...

kill the brain, and you kill the ghoul.

Want anything from the supply wagon?

No, we're all right.

Hey, Cass, put that thing all the way in the fire.

We don't want it getting up again. All right, I gotcha.

Chief McClellan, how's everything going?

Oh, things aren't going too bad.

The men are taking it pretty good.

You want to get on the other side of the road over there.

Chief, do you think we'll be able to defeat these things?

Well, we killed 19 of them today, right in this area.

Those last three we caught

trying to claw their way into an abandoned shed.

They must have thought somebody was in there.

There wasn't, though.

We heard 'em making all kind of noise.

We came over and beat 'em off, blasted 'em down.

Chief, as soon as you're finished, can I see you here? Yeah, okay.

Chief, if I were surrounded by six or eight of these things,

would I stand a chance with them?

Well, there's no problem.

If you had a gun, shoot 'em in the head.

That's a sure way to kill 'em.

If you don't, get yourself a club or a torch.

Beat 'em or burn 'em. They go up pretty easy.

Well, Chief McClellan, how long do you think it will take you

until you get the situation under control?

Well, that's pretty hard to say.

We don't know how many of 'em there are.

We know when we find 'em, we can kill 'em.

Are they slow-moving, Chief?

Yeah, they're dead. They're all messed up.

Well, in time, would you say

you ought to be able to wrap this up in 24 hours?

Well, we don't really know.

We know we'll be into it most of the night,

probably into the early morning.

We're working our way toward Willard,

and we'll team up with the National Guard over there,

and then we'll be able to give a more definite view.

Thank you very much, Chief McClellan.

This is Bill Cardille, WIC-TV 11 News.

Thank you, Bill, for that report.

Official spokesmen declined to speculate

just how long it may take to kill off all the flesh-eaters

so long as the heavy ra...

(ominous music)

Is the fuse box in the cellar?

I don't know, I...

It isn't the fuse.

The power lines are down.

Helen, I have to get that gun.

Haven't you had enough?

Look, two people are dead already on account of that guy.

Take a look out that window. Look at--

(ominous music)

Get over here, man!

Come on!

Go ahead! Go ahead!

You wanna stay up here now?

Helen, get in the cellar.

Get in the cellar now! Move!

(gunshot)

Aah! Oh!

(whimpering)

(whimpering)

(screaming)

Karen?

Karen?

Karen.

Hope that kid's not still breastfeeding.

Oh, baby...

Baby...

(whimpering)

Come on, Mommy, let's play spades!

(screaming)

No! No!

No!

No, no!

No!

No, get out!

No! No! Johnny!

No! No, no!

Oh, help me, help me!

Oh, help!

Help me, please!

(gun cocking)

(gunshots)

(gunshot)

(zombies moaning)

(birds chirping)

(police radio transmission)

Hey, Vince, Bill, you wanna get

about four or five men and a couple dogs?

There's a house over here behind those trees.

We wanna go check it out. Right.

You still here, Bill?

Yeah, Chief, we're going to stay with it

'til we meet up with the National Guard.

Where'd you get the coffee?

One of the volunteers.

You're doing all the work-- you take it.

Thank you.

We should be wrapped up here.

About three or four more hours,

and we'll probably get into Willard's end.

I guess you can go over there

and meet the National Guard.

Nick, you and the rest of these men

wanna come with me?

Bill, I'm checking the office to see what's happening.

All right, Steve-- tell 'em we're going to stay with it

and everything appears to be under control.

(dogs barking)

(dogs barking)

(gunfire)

They need you down there by the barn.

Okay.

You guys can follow the wagon down.

I only need a few men to check out the house.

Somebody had a cookout here, Vince.

Yeah, sure looks like it, Con.

(sirens wailing)

(sirens wailing)

(man shouting)

(gunshots)

(gunshots)

He's a dead one. Get up here!

Nick! Tony! Steve!

You wanna get out in that field

and build me a bonfire.

You-- Drag that out of here and throw it on the fire.

Nothing down here.

All right, go ahead down and give 'em a hand.

Let's go check out the house.

There's something there. I heard a noise.

All right, Vince. Hit him in the head.

Right between the eyes. (gunshot)

Good shot. Okay, he's dead.

Let's go get him.

That's another one for the fire.

(police radio transmissions)

Over.

All right, send the wagon through.

(overlapping chatter)

Roger, here comes the wagon.

George, George!

Keep those dogs back off of those things.

Move more quickly!

(helicopters flying overhead)

**

Come ahead with the motorcycle, please.

Let's go, men!

(overlapping chatter)

Hey, Randy, light these torches over here.

Get those people in the back-- way in the back!

**

Well, that was "Night of the Living Dead."

Now, I don't know if I should thank George Romero or spank him

for starting a stampede of sequels.

I mean, if he'd made it right the first time,

he wouldn't have had to make it over and over and over again.

I mean, Steven Spielberg never made no sequels.

Oh, well, except for that "Minnesota Jones" movie.

So, I think from now on, there should be a ban on all sequels,

starting with "Spider-Man."

Oh, but then, I'm secretly in love with Stan Lee,

and we're partners in kamikaze,

and if nobody made any sequels, I'd be out of a job.

So I say, hit it!

**

* Up up with sequels

* You see 'em wherever you go *

* Up up with sequels

* They're the same storylines you know *

* If more people made more sequels *

* Then that equals some more prequels and more sequels *

* In the sequel of life

Unpleasant dreams.

**

* Up up with sequels

Sing along!

* You see 'em wherever you go *

* Up up with sequels

* They're the same storylines you know *

* If more people made more sequels *

* Then that equals some more prequels and more sequels *

* In the sequel of life *