Original subtitles

Red Two to Topkick.

Stand by.

Red Two reporting, sir.

- Slater here. - General, all personnel dead, sir.

No enemy force on site.

The only security breach a civilian van on the base, but no driver to be found.

Any evidence this is a preemptive CW strike?

- No, sir. - Coming in!

Go on in!

Sergeant.

Who the hell are you?

Relax, Major.

Please take your finger off the trigger and I will explain.

- That your van out by the gate? - Yeah.

- How did you get into the complex? - It's a complicated story.

It starts a year ago, but let's skip that.

Let me tell you about last night and this morning.

Search him.

What's that?

- Man your positions. - Sunflower seeds.

Get it analyzed.

- Who is this? - The van driver, sir.

- What the hell is he doing here? - Sir, unidentified force. Range, 30 miles.

- Closing from what direction? - Not closing. Outgoing.

Check him out...

- and tell him to put his hands down. - Yes, sir.

- What have you got? - Estimated speed, 7 miles per hour.

- 7 miles per hour? - Whatever it is, it's big.

Slater to Air Search One.

Contact and identify outgoing objects, bearing 183 degrees.

Distance, 30 miles. Estimated speed, 7 miles per hour.

Repeat, that's 7 miles per hour, not 700.

Air Search One to Topkick, roger.

Air Search One to Topkick. We have visual contact.

Identify.

A black mass. A moving black mass!

Zero altitude, dead ahead.

- They're hitting us! - Oh, my God!

We're out of control!

Oh, my God! Bees! Millions of bees! Air Search Two-Eight to Base.

- Bees! Millions of bees! - Bees?

Yes, they're all around me now! All over the canopy, trying to get in!

- Get above them, man! Take it up! - I can't, sir! I'm losing power!

Oh, my God!

Good Lord...

Call Hastings Air Force Base.

Have them scramble and track those bees.

- This is Captain Cord. Get me Hastings. - Major! Bring him in here!

Hastings? This is Captain Cord at the missile complex.

This is a top-priority order from General Slater.

Scramble all aircraft and track a swarm of bees some 30 miles from the complex.

Yes, bees!

Now, what's his story?

- Bradford Crane, sir. - That all?

Ph.D., Institute of Advanced Study, Princeton, via Cambridge.

- English? - American, for the last eight years.

Well, Dr. Crane...

you're in big trouble.

What the hell are you doing in this complex?

I saw the swarms coming up early this morning.

There were so many they almost blotted out the sun.

I followed them, but when I got here, they were gone.

Then I saw the missile gates open and I thought they'd flown down here.

So I came to see if there was anybody still alive, if I could help.

- What did you find in his van? - Scientific equipment.

- What kind? Sabotage, explosives, what? - Biological.

None of it looks lethal. Of course we're checking it out.

- Who are you? - I'm an entomologist.

- Bugs? - Insects, General.

What I do for a living is not important.

What is important, critical...

is that there are probably other invading swarms...

and what these bees did here, they can do again all over the Southwest...

- and ultimately all over the country. - Are you telling me bees killed the men here?

Yes. Just like they knocked your choppers down.

I don't know what happened to my two choppers, not yet.

But I do know that thousands of people are stung by bees every year.

And it's damn rare if anybody dies from bee stings!

- Then they have to be African, don't they? - African killer bees?

- Yes. - Not likely. I've read their progress reports.

If they ever manage to come this far north, it's 10 years away at the earliest.

Oh, yes? By whose timetable, General? Yours or theirs?

Crane, either you're some crackpot...

or there's a direct tie-up between what's happened here and you being in it!

Yes, but we can clear that up fast, and we'd better!

Kick on your com system and connect to Dr. Connors in the White House.

- Arthur Connors, the President's advisor? - That's him.

Are you trying to cite him as your authority for being in this complex?

Dr. Connors hasn't the foggiest idea whether I'm on or under this complex!

- But I have to speak to him right now! - Lock him up!

- Yes, sir. - General, thank God, you got hem, sir.

- What? - This is Dr. Anderson.

She managed to get six missile men into the hospital bunker...

and closed the interlock in time to isolate them.

Two of them are dead. The other four are still critical.

I need antitoxins.

I have Cardiopep compound in my van.

Cardiopep? I just read an article in the medical journal about Cardiopep...

by some scientist named Crane, I think.

Our preliminary results are most encouraging.

You're Crane?

Yes. Our tests indicate that Cardiopep normalizes irregular heartbeat.

Now, wait a minute, we're not using experimental substances on these men.

But, sir, this is his area. It seems to me that if he feels...

Captain, I don't give a damn what he feels.

You're the doctor. You tell me what antitoxins you need...

I'll have 'em here in less than 30 minutes.

Well, that's the problem, sir, I don't really know.

None of the usual procedures seem to be helping.

I need to talk to an immunologist.

Get Atlanta on the horn. National Center for Disease Control.

The best immunologist in the country is Walter Krim, in Virginia.

You'll find his card in my wallet. Call him.

- Go ahead. - I know him very well.

I'd be pleased to talk to him, if you let me.

Alright. Go with him. Go with him.

Now, what happened here, Captain?

I'm sorry, sir... You mean, you don't know?

Well, uh, not exactly.

- We were attacked by bees. - Attacked?

I was in the hospital bunker when I heard the alarm.

I turned on the video-control unit, saw what was happening.

I used an air-conditioning duct to get over to pod 3...

"....and lead the stand-by crew out.

The bees attacked us when we reached the hospital bunker.

I managed to get six men inside.

Well, it's damn hard to believe that insects have accomplished...

what nothing in the world could've done...

except germ warfare or a neutron bomb:

Neutralize an ICBM site.

Okay, let's go. Come on, Paul.

- Alright. - Wow. Isn't this beautiful?

Neat!

Here, Paul, take this.

- Here you go, hon. - Thanks, babe.

Hey, Paul, look at that over there.

I think there's a waterfall we can go to afterwards.

- Hand the cups, please. - Sure.

- Thank you. - Paul, would you go to the car...

- and get the thermos? - Sure, mom.

Go away.

Yeah, it's just a bee. If you leave 'em alone, they won't bother you.

They're into everything.

I'll get them.

Get out of the way, honey.

Oh, it's hot.

- Hey, wait for Paul. - I can't. I'm starving.

Mom, clad, look!

Dad! Come on, get in the car!

Mom!

Dad!

Mom!

Dad!

Mom! Dad!

General Thompson coming on-screen.

General, we've received and decoded your report.

Now, we're having credibility problems...

with that portion which relates to the nature of the attack.

Specifically, with your statement it was not a preemptive chemical warfare strike.

We can find no evidence of that, sir.

Your suggestion that the attack is of natural origin -

- now, What the hell is that? - Sir, I'm having the same problem...

accepting the fact that swarms of bees attacked...

Has that civilian with you been cleared, General?

No, sir.

Then what the hell is he doing in our complex?

Well, after the alert when I arrived with my special defense unit...

he was already inside the complex.

Claims he walked in through the open gate.

I am Dr. Brad Crane, an entomologist.

I have asked your man here to check my credentials...

with Dr. Arthur Connors in the White House.

So far nobody believes me and I have been placed in custody.

General, every minute now is precious.

We have been invaded by an enemy far more lethal than any human force.

Well, Dr. Crane, we're gonna check with the White House.

Dr. Connors had better know you for your sake.

- Afternoon, Felix. - Afternoon, ma'am.

How are you feeling today?

Now that you're here, I'm just doin' fine. Thank you.

Nicely said.

Well, everything's looking mighty pretty, Maureen.

- And that's including you. - Thank you, Clarence.

The wire and the pliers, please.

Felix, you think that riggin' of yours is gonna keep my banner up there?

Clarence, just because you're the mayor of Marysville...

that doesn't make you an engineer.

Now, don't you be worrying about my rigging, Clarence.

She'll stay up there in a hurricane.

Now, I was just thinking how corny your banner reads.

Makes us all look like a bunch of hicks.

Look, nobody asked you to leave Houston and come here to retire, you know?

Now, Clarence, that's not nice.

Well, we've been doing just fine with our Flower Festival for years...

until this master mechanic and all-around-genius came here...

to tell us all how to run things.

Well, actually, the sign is sort of hicky...

but that's what people expect from us. The hammer, too.

That's why they flock here by the thousands each year to see the parade...

and all our beautiful flower floats.

That's right. We'll grant you, Felix, this isn't Pasadena.

I mean, it isn't the Rose Bowl...

but it's, by golly, a pretty fair country-town imitation.

I'll tell you one thing I do approve of.

This year's theme:

Love.

- Now, that was Clarence's idea. - That's right.

Well, everybody's got to have one good idea now and then.

- Even Clarence. - Now look, Felix...

Mom! Dad!

Paul!

They killed my mom and my dad!

General Thompson coming on-screen.

Dr. Crane...

your credentials have been authenticated.

Nothing more?

Well, I confess to being surprised over the turn of events...

but the president has instructed me to place you in direct command...

of all operations relating to this present emergency.

What are the limits to my authority?

None. General Slater.

Yes, sir.

You will provide Dr. Crane with full cooperation.

You will give him the full equipment...

whatever facilities, manpower he needs.

All this to be made available to him without question.

Without question, sir?

Affirmative.

- Dr. Crane. - Yes?

The president's adviser, Dr. Connors...

told me he'll personally be calling you within an hour.

And I 'd like to join with him in wishing you good luck.

Thank you.

Major, when you checked the non-lethal equipment in my van...

did you by any chance come across a beat-up briefcase?

Yes, sir.

- Are you familiar with its contents? - Yes, sir.

An inventory of the contents is in the process of being typed.

Correction, sir. Was being typed.

Thank you.

I want the particular file that I'd marked "Personnel"...

- to give to General Slater. - Yes, sir.

And while you're about it, could I have my leather pouch, please?

The one with the sunflower seeds in it.

Sergeant, would you get the items he requested?

The file contains the names, addresses and telephone numbers...

of everyone I want flown in.

Just tell them the war that I've always talked about has finally started.

That's all, huh?

- And they'll drop everything? - I'm counting on it.

- Anything else? - Yes.

In that same briefcase there is a list of equipment.

And I'd appreciate it if you got the Pentagon's top procurement man on the job...

and had him get everything on that list flown down here...

- not later than this time tomorrow. - Why here?

Because we're setting up headquarters here, General.

Time is the one thing we're short on.

Now, I want to talk to the survivors, please.

Take Dr. Crane to Captain Anderson.

Yes, sir. Would you come with me, please?

Yes.

Brother...

Major...

I believe you were an investigative officer...

in Intelligence prior to your assignment to me, right?

That's correct, sir.

Okay.

I'm assigning you to this Dr. Crane...

as his personal military liaison.

Watch every move he makes. Build me a dossier on him.

I can't believe he just happened to be here at the exact moment...

a swarm of bees hit this complex...

and that he'd already prepared with such remarkable foresight...

a list of personnel and equipment to be flown in here.

It does seem strange, sir.

You stay with the son of a bitch.

Yes, sir.

This man is the most stable of the four, but his heart rate is still 120.

Take another blood sample from these men just before Dr. Krim gets here.

That'll be, uh, three hours at the outside.

Infirmary. Major Baker.

Well, hold on a minute. Captain Anderson.

Dr. Anderson.

Oh, my God!

Yes.

Yes.

- I'm leaving right now. - What is it?

The bees are moving toward Marysville.

They've killed all the Durant family, except Paul.

- I must go to him. - Yes, I'll go with you.

Major, you drive.

Ah, there's a bee in here! Please, help!

There's a bee in here!

- Get him out of here! Please. Please! - Paul, take it easy, Paul.

Get him away!

- Kill him! There's a big bee! - Paul! Paul!

Doctor, would you let him go, please? Let him go.

- Do what he says, Tomas. - Back away.

- Back away. - There's a bee. Help...

Paul, Paul, listen to me.

- There is no bee. No bee in this room. - Yes, there is.

No, there isn't. You are having a nightmare.

Only a nightmare.

Can you hear me, Paul?

The bee is not real.

I... Paul, I promise you it isn't.

Now reach out and it will go away. You'll see.

Now, please, Paul, reach out.

Reach out, Paul.

Please trust me.

Reach out.

Further. Go on.

There.

You see, Paul? No bee.

Everything I tried failed.

I was afraid I was gonna lose him.

I know how special he is to you, Dr. Anderson, so I called you.

- Thank you. - How many times was he stung?

- I removed two stingers from him. - Well, that's one break.

- At least he's not pump full of venom. - But he's delirious...

muttering about this giant bee all the time.

It was... it was big! It was really big.

About half the size of this room.

It's gone now, Paul.

It was only in your mind and he won't be back.

I have to go.

Dr. Crane.

Thank you for helping me.

Walter!

Got a message for you from Mrs. Krim.

I know, Carol is furious at me for dragging you back to work, right?

She wants to know if you think I'm the only immunologist in the world.

Well, that's what you've always told me.

You're ready to go to work, Dr. Krim?

Now I am, Dr. Crane.

Oh, uh, this is General Slater.

Hello, doctor. Just let me know what you need.

- We'll be right on it. - Thank you, General. We've got to move fast.

I agree, and in my opinion the fastest move is a quick knockout.

Not necessarily, General.

It's only the final result that counts.

Thank you, Brad.

So you still refuse to oil this thing, huh?

I don't intend to be stuck in this damn thing forever.

You've finally met some miracle healer or what?

I'm studying Tibetan levitation.

In a few hundred years or so I expect to be able to just float around.

- You still writing dirty books? - Not this year.

Raunchiest thing I ever read...

that paper of yours on the mating habits of Bombus medius.

Yeah, those queen bees really are something.

Sergeant, this is Dr. Krim.

The two officers with Major Baker are doctors Richards and Moore.

And until they finish their work, you don't admit anyone.

Have someone oil these wheels later.

Brad.

You okay, Brad?

- Yeah. - You go on now.

I'll handle this part and call you when I'm ready.

Walter...

thanks for coming over here so quickly.

- Problem, doctor? - About what?

Well, I noticed that Dr. Crane seemed uneasy in here.

Can't imagine why anybody'd be uneasy around all these dead men.

Can you, Major?

Well, is the man coming or isn't he?

Yes, sir, the general is coming but you still have to wait outside.

What the hell is this about shutting off our water?

- Are you the man in charge here? - That's right. I'm General Slater.

Well, I'm Jud Hawkins.

I asked these tin soldiers of yours if I could see my son...

and they tell me it's impossible, no way.

Who is your son? Why do you think he's here?

Because he was stupid enough to join your damn outfit, that's why.

His name is Mark, Airman Mark Hawkins...

and he's stationed here, and I want to see him.

Well, I'm afraid that might not be possible, Mr. Hawkins. Not just yet.

Well, I'll tell you what makes it possible.

Me being the county engineer.

That makes it right now, can do, possible.

- Do you understand me, General? - Out of the question.

Look, I throw the switches that controls all that damn water in this county...

and, by God, I'll shut yours off unless I get to see my son.

I'll shut this whole damn base down in ten minutes.

Why, you won't even have enough water...

to flush your toilets when I get through with you.

I'm not sure you have the authority to do that to a federal installation.

Well, while you're checking with your superiors to find out...

if I've got the authority, I'm gonna be a-turning those valves.

Now you listen to me, General.

The word in town is that them same bees that killed the Durant family this afternoon...

killed a whole lot of men on this base here this morning.

Now, I wanna see my son.

I want to find out if he's alive, and I mean right now!

Alright, Mr. Hawkins. Open it up.

Come with me.

Anything?

The toxic content in their tissue is the highest I've ever found.

It's even more virulent than the venom of the Australian brown-box jellyfish.

If that baby taps you, you got two minutes to say your prayers.

Well, I...

- That's it, then? - Yup.

Looks like your nightmare has finally arrived.

The combined venom delivered by the stingers of three or more of these bees...

may be a fatal dosage to the average human being.

The victim would be unconscious in a minute.

We've been fighting a losing battle against the insects for 15 years...

but I never thought I'd see the final face-off in my lifetime.

And I never dreamed that it would turn out to be the bees.

- They've always been our friends. - Until this species evolved.

Sir, General Slater is just outside with next of kin of one of the dead men.

- He wants to come in here? - He said it was imperative.

Alright.

Oh, God! No!

I'm afraid you can't take him, Mr. Hawkins.

The only way you can stop me to, General, is to shoot me...

and I'd thank you if you would.

Hubbard. Dr. Newman.

- Thank you for coming so quickly. - Glad to help, Dr. Crane.

Crane, I think you should know I came here reluctantly.

Well, that's better than not at all, now, isn't it?

This way, gentlemen.

Would you excuse me a moment, please?

Major Baker, when the others arrive...

give them 30 minutes, no more, to shower and unpack...

and then have them go to the briefing room.

- Very well, sir. - Gentlemen.

Rude son of a bitch, isn't he?

Never even introduced us.

You'd think he was a general.

- He's asked for the duty watch tapes. - Why?

Well, he seems to know all about the fact...

that there's an automatic, round the clock taping system in the duty room.

He wants to audit the tape for the period just prior to the bee attack.

I've already played them back. Not a damn thing on it that'll help us.

Alright, go ahead. Let him hear it. And stay with him.

- Build up that dossier. - Yes, sir.

So, what are you gonna do about Rita?

She's been slinging hash at Pete's long enough.

- I 'm gonna marry her. - Hey, guys don 't do that anymore...

- just 'cause they're gonna have a kid. - Hey, man, I love Rita.

I'd marry her Whether we were gonna have a kid or not.

At the tone, mark 0-4-30.

It says here on the watch order we 're scheduled to run a test...

on the alarm system right after the 0-4-30 mark.

Okay. Stand by.

Activating.

What alarm system is that?

It's a fallback system in case we lose the phone lines or radio contact.

What's that?

- Just the alarm. - No, listen, listen.

Jerry, do you hear what I 'm hearing?

- Yeah. - Duty officer.

- What is it? - Right away, sir.

A couple million chain saws!

- That came from the corridor - Cover me. I'll go look.

Jerry! Behind you!

My God!

Dr. Crane, they're ready for you now, sir.

Okay.

Keep the tapes on the machine. I want to hear them again.

- How's Paul doing? - Recovering, thank you.

That's good.

Hey!

- Hey, you guys ready? - Yeah, we're ready!

Well, c'mon, give me the binoculars and let's go.

Okay, let's go.

- Mornin'. - Hi!

Hi, boys!

Morning, Rita.

Morning, Mr. Austin.

Instead of the usual I'll just have coffee this morning.

- Alright. - I'll get it, Rita.

Morning, Felix!

A man would think you'd let her have some time off, Pete.

At least let her go to the missile base and...

- pick up Jerry's things. - I told her!

I even said to her, I said, "Rita...

why don't you go home for a few days, pull yourself together."

But she said:

"If I was to go home, stare at them four walls...

knowin' I'd never see Jerry again...

I'm just liable to take his service pistol and blow my head off."

Now, that's what she said.

No, I reckon she's better off here pretending it never happened.

Pretending them killer bees never got up here.

I bet I can guess what school teacher them roses belongs to.

You don't need no crystal ball for that.

Yup, the way I hear it is Maureen is favorin' you over Clarence.

I sure am counting on it.

Yes, sir, the gossip is the odds have shifted in your favor.

Now, them is my kind of odds.

- Well, I gotta be goin'. - So soon?

Yeah, but I'll be seein' you.

- Okay, have a good day. - Yeah, thank you.

- Oh, Maureen. - Mornin', Felix.

- Got you some roses. - Oh, Felix, they are lovely.

I usually get apples.

- Oh, Maureen. I, uh... - Something wrong, Felix?

Oh, Maureen, I'm not too good with words...

but I am a retired master mechanic...

and my education...

well, it's all in these hands.

And I know you know what I'm trying to say.

Your roses speak for you.

Most eloquently.

Thank you.

And I'm mindful of it.

Then there is hope for me?

Oh, look at the time. I'd better hurry.

How'd it look for me to be late for school?

Let me help you.

- And I'll keep your roses near me. - Thank you.

As a reminder.

Thank you.

- I'll be seeing you real soon. - You will.

- Bye. - Bye.

We've picked up a massive swarm, sir.

On this scale that puts it only 200 miles from Houston.

I can have choppers there in half an hour.

We'll eliminate them before they get away.

- With what? - Airborne chemical agents.

May we talk?

Alone?

Sure.

I don't recall our discussing the need to use chemicals agents.

Now, listen...

My orders are to assist you in your scientific endeavors.

Not to consult with you on military matters...

which are none of your damn concern, sir!

Come on, let's get them.

We've got to kill them this time!

Ready? Now!

Let's get out of here!

I can't imagine where he's gone. We've looked everywhere.

He's been running a fever.

I got him back to the clinic right after the funeral...

but the minute I left, he disappeared.

We'll find him.

With everything else you've got on your shoulders, you really didn't need this too.

I know I'm taking you away from all your responsibilities.

Paul is one of them.

Besides...

I like being with you.

You're the one positive thing that's happened to me here.

I like that. I really do.

What is it?

Look.

The bees.

They're heading toward Marysville.

- Come on, wait! - Hey, wait for me!

- I'll beat you outside! - No, you won't.

Now, Miss Cook?

In a minute, Mr. Tuttle.

- Is this what you want? - No, I need a note from your mother.

- Now, Mr. Tuttle. - Oh, thank you.

Would you excuse me?

That'd be alright.

Well, Clarence, who's minding the store?

Maureen, how long have we known each other?

Clarence, maybe you'd better sit down.

Uh, no, no, thanks, I'll stand. How long?

Well, I can remember you in short pants.

But I just soon not figure out how long ago that was.

In all that time, have you ever heard me beg?

Oh, not you, Clarence.

You're the original high-spirited, independent soul.

Well, Maureen, I'm willing to beg now.

Yes? Blue will do.

Where was I?

Oh, yeah.

Maureen, I want you to marry me.

Oh, Clarence...

do sit down.

Uh, you just name the date and I'll make all the arrangements.

Well, I'm not sure I'm the wife you need.

Oh, you'd make the best wife in the world.

Well, Clarence, I think I'm already married...

completely married to this school.

Maureen, I love you.

Oh, I know people look at me and think I'm just an old man...

behind the aspirin counter but in my heart I'm as young as I ever was.

Maybe younger.

And I want to take care of you.

Thank you, Clarence.

Well, I guess I have to choose, don't I?

I... I guess that's about what it comes down to.

Please hold the calls.

Maureen, I know I may not win out...

because for all my pretending I can't stand Felix...

I know he's a fine man and he'd make a good husband.

But I know one thing:

I love you. I always have...

and I'll always will.

No matter... what you decide.

How lucky I am.

Well...

alright.

I'll give you both my answer before the end of this school term.

How's that?

That's fair enough, I guess.

Oh, I... I brought these for you.

Thank you.

Why'd they send us varsity way out here?

- Any stringer could've covered this story. - You're wrong, Hal.

This isn't just a story about a family killed by bees.

Something else is going on around here. I can feel it.

We're the first national news people on the spot.

Okay, Anne, if you say so.

Well, let's check in.

Get back.

Yeah, I've got it right here in front of me.

- The African bees! - I'll call you back.

The African bees that killed Paul's mother and father are back!

Get everyone inside and everything locked up! Come on.

You call the park, you call the ball field, I'm calling the school!

Get inside! The bees are coming!

Get inside! The killer bees are coming!

Everybody get inside! Do you understand?

Maureen, those killer bees are coming in.

Get all the kids off the playground into the building.

Don't you understand?

The killer bees are coming! Get inside immediately!

Get all the children! Get them inside!

Take any children you see with you!

Quickly, get inside!

Quickly, take your children with you!

If you see any children alone, take them in!

Get inside the house!

Keep all the air conditioning vents closed and don't let anybody out...

- until you get an all clear from me. - I understand.

I'll do it immediately.

Attention. Attention.

This is Miss Schuster.

Please listen very carefully.

A swarm of killer bees is coming this way.

I want every teacher and every student...

to close off whatever area you may be in at this very moment.

Children! Children! It's all right. It's alright.

Quiet. Quiet.

Here they come. Inside, fast.

Get it all on tape!

Close your windows! Close your doors!

Stay inside! Please, listen to us!

Run!

- Brad! - Get some ice!

They're coming in here!

- Is there a freezer? - Yes, around this way.

Get in it.

Mr. Harris! He's locked it!

Hey!

- Is he crazy? - He's afraid.

Mr. Harris is afraid of everything!

Aren't we safe in here?

I don't know.

No, the air conditioning is on.

They'll come through the vents.

Just a minute.

It's 40 degrees in here. We'll be alright for a while.

Bees don't function well in temperatures under 50.

Helena!

Helena?

Helena?

This is Anne MacGregor reporting from Marys ville.

The swarm left behind it a devastated community.

The town '5 people are still reeling under the impact of the vicious raid...

that left many of their friends or relations dead or dying.

Marysville have been preparing for its annual Flower Festival.

And authorities speculate the nearby fields in full bloom...

This is Frank Blair in New York.

We are awaiting a statement from the President's chief adviser...

Dr. Arthur Connors in the White House.

Dr. Connors is currently evaluating data from Bradford Crane...

said to be one of the leading authorities on the deadly African bee.

Crane is now at the scene of the tragedy.

- Dr. Krim. - Are we able to locate him?

We're trying to get to him on our mobile units.

- Please stand by, sir. - Every opening into homes...

churches, schools, and offices is being closed tight.

Scientific authorities are warning against overreacting to the threat.

Scientists are of the opinion...

that the Marysville tragedy is a freak localized phenomenon...

and could not possibly be repeated.

Take it easy. Okay, there we go.

Come this way.

Clear the way, please.

- Hello. - Krim here.

Oh, hi, Walter, it's Brad.

I just heard about Helena.

- Is she alright? - Still unconscious.

- Not good. - How are things back there?

Damned unsettling development here.

One of those four survivors of the initial attack...

Yes?

Higgins, the airman...

with only two stings, he just died.

- What happened? - I don't know. He was doing fine.

I was even thinking of releasing him.

Within the matter of minutes his condition turned critical.

All the classical signs of cardiovascular failure.

He was gone before we could reverse it.

Keep those three survivors there...

until we could plot some kind of recovery versus relapse pattern.

How bad is it in Marysville?

About as bad as it can get.

216 dead...

33 victims still alive.

We haven't got a count yet on the number of stings...

Tomas...

We're too damn busy trying to stabilize 'em.

Dr. Crane.

I'm sorry, I've got to 90, Walter. Bye.

Is it me you're seeing, or a bee?

You.

- Dr. Crane. - Yes?

General Slater is out front on the horn with Washington.

- He requests your presence, sir. - Alright. I'll be back.

- I'll be up. - Oh, no, you won't.

Paul...

Paul, what's the matter?

It's all my fault.

I threw firebombs at the swarm.

Oh, Paul...

Paul...

You know you're going to have to tell Dr. Crane.

Well, I'd like to, General, but the civilian Crane is in charge.

- I just follow orders. - I'll check 'em out back here.

Right, I'll keep in touch.

General.

Well, Crane, it's panic time from coast to coast.

If we'd gone after the bees right at the beginning...

instead of wasting time tooling up those science teams of yours...

we wouldn't be in this damn mess!

Okay, if you were in charge, what would you do?

I'd evacuate this area.

Put up roadblocks across the state.

And spray the hell out of every tree and bush from here to the gulf.

Right, now let's take that a piece at a time.

Why evacuate?

I've been trying to tell you:

When that swarm finds out some of their friends have been taken captive...

they might come back to Marysville.

Are you endowing these bees with human motives?

Like saving their fellow bees from captivity?

Or seeking revenge on mankind?

I always credit my enemy no matter what he may be...

with equal intelligence.

Okay.

Evacuate Marysville, but not the complex.

We will not waste our time moving our facilities!

- Agreed. - Now, about this...

spraying every bush and tree between here and the gulf...

- How will you manage that? - Send out aircraft.

With radar and pesticides I'd track down and destroy...

every African swarm in this country, wherever they are!

- Sir. - Major?

232 dead, sir.

232 dead...

I know that, General.

But how will you prevent the wind from carrying your pesticides across cities...

parks, farms and schools?

Sometimes you have to choose the lesser of two evils.

Ridiculous, General!

You want action and so do I! Well, we do it my way!

Now, give it a chance!

Dr. Crane!

Dr. Crane!

- I gotta talk to you. - Okay.

It was my fault...

what happened here with the bees.

I knew where they were...

- and I should've told you. - Yeah.

- Why didn't you, Paul? - Because they killed my family!

I wanted to get 'em.

And I did.

I got a lot of 'em.

And the rest of them flew in the air and...

Hey. Hey, hey, hey, Paul.

Come on.

I'd have done the same thing. The exact same thing.

You gotta believe me.

Now... look at me, Paul.

Look at me.

When I was a little younger than you...

just about seven...

We had a fire where we lived.

And I lost my mother and father that night.

It's not good to have to grow up without a mother and father.

You can ask me. I know firsthand.

I know a lot of unlucky kids all over the world have to...

but it sure isn't recommended, you know.

Now...

why don't you go back upstairs, and just...

sort of keep an eye on Dr. Anderson for me?

- Will you do that? Okay? - Yeah, okay.

Good boy. Okay, go.

DC ready.

Not exceeding five volts.

Testing dry volts.

Good.

DC activated.

- How's it going? - We'll be ready in a minute.

Honey-coated. Three volts at 0.5 amps.

Okay, bring on the gladiators.

I'll stir them up.

Pesky little devils.

Spread 'em all over the grid.

They're getting ready to attack.

They're stinging the hell out of the grid.

- We're getting plenty of venom now. - Great, we need all we can get.

If there's a positive side to the tragedy at Marysville...

it's gonna be these Africans and the queen bees.

With all this venom, I can really go to work on an antidote.

That's fine.

But, Hubbard, can you have your poison pellets ready by morning?

By morning?

I don't see how.

Well...

that makes your deadline even earlier, Walter.

Smells like bananas.

See how fast it dries.

- Any further complications? - No, sir.

Dr. Anderson has just examined them, and they're doing well.

Dr. Anderson? When did she get back on her job?

A short while ago, Major.

I couldn't rest at the clinic knowing I had sick patients here.

Besides, Dr. Martinez says, I'm fine.

Well, good.

Captain, I've been planning on having a little private talk with you.

- Yes, Major. - It's about the civilian, Crane.

I've received confidential reports about your association with him.

Reports which indicate that your relationship is now of a personal nature?

I wasn't aware you had assigned anyone to spy on me.

Has Crane asked you anything about our operations here...

- no matter how indirect? - Why should he?

Dr. Crane is a highly respected scientist...

and has been appointed by the President to head this project.

Ah-ha, but still, Captain, it might be advisable for you...

to discontinue the relationship.

With all due respect, sir...

what I do on my off-duty time is my own business...

and does not concern the Air Force.

I shall continue to see whomever I wish.

Only one suitcase to a person, please. Move it along.

Not since the 305...

when families by the thousands fled the Oklahoma Dust Bowl...

has a thriving American community had to be totally evacuated.

Not even flood, fire, or hurricane have turned a whole section of a state...

into a no man's land, until today.

With a number you've been issued.

- Slow down. - That's it. Move right along.

On the stairs, please, move forward.

Everything that they hold dear because of killer bees.

Imagine having such a natural phenomenon to do something to a...

Take this. Give me a hand with her.

Get her in the car. Is the hospital here operating?

- Yeah. - Right over this way...

Thank you.

- You alright? - Yes, its better now.

- We'll get you there. - Thank you very much.

Hold on.

Oh, hurry.

You enter the car with the number you've been issued.

That car's number is five! Five!

Let's get this train the hell out of here.

Those damn bees could be back any minute.

- Ed? - Yeah?

- There's a bee in here. - A bee?

- Don't take any chances. - Maybe he wants the apple.

Well, then give it to him.

Hey! Goddamn! What will I do now?

Don't move. Don't get him mad!

No, Charlie!

For God sake, Crane, when are we gonna stop this massacre?

Our first airdrop is scheduled in half an hour.

And I've seen what you are planning to drop.

Those damn poison pellets of yours won't get us anywhere.

Excuse me, General, those are my damn poison pellets...

and I think they'll work.

And I'm counting on them working, General.

Or we fall back to almost impossible odds.

My coming up with a mass antidote which might never be perfected.

Thank you, gentlemen, for your support.

But, uh, Captain, feed this into the computer.

African bees attack a train...

70 miles northwest of Houston.

Now, give me a revised time fix, please.

General, I know how you feel.

Especially because of what just happened.

But right now we are ready to drop millions of lethal pellets...

without harming either the population or the plant life.

- I'll support that. - So will I.

But what we need is every helicopter that you have.

Alright, you've got them.

Revised timetable coming through, sir.

They're not touching the pellets!

They're not touching the pellets!

They seem to sense it's something that will kill them.

They're brighter than we thought.

They always are.

Maybe you should have tried Bourbon and branch water, and got them drunk.

You've got a beautiful 6.5 pound beautiful daughter.

Thank you.

I guess it's true what they say...

That a woman sort of falls in love with her doctor at this time.

Well, you dropped your poison pellets and the Africans spit at them.

Now, they're moving towards Houston faster than expected.

General, you should know the enemy is always expected to do the unexpected.

- Yeah. - Dr. Crane.

Oh, Major Baker. Let's hear your rundown.

"Three steel mills, seven oil refineries...

two beet sugar plants and a nuclear power center.

Plus 46 towns, not including Houston...

are now directly in the path of the Africans."

We'll have to evacuate the towns and close the factories.

Well, I can tell you right now, we're gonna have trouble with that nuclear power plant.

No way they'll shut down voluntarily.

Millions of people in the area need the energy.

If we don't shut them down, the bees will.

Well, I'll check with Washington and see if I can get an official directive.

Brad, I know most of the key executives at that plant.

I've fought them in court often enough on environmental issues.

I'll fly in and try to jaw bone some sense into them.

Might be a lot quicker than Washington.

Okay. You got it. Thank you.

More bad news?

Everything we tried has failed.

Our last hope is your mass antidote.

How close are you, Walt?

I've tried it on all these rabbits.

It knocks hell out of them.

These are the only two still alive.

Think I'm on the right track, but I need more time to experiment.

If you can't perfect it, Walt...

we might just as well pack it in right away and ship out to New Zealand.

What we need is something that people can self-inject...

if they get stung by an African bee.

And we need it right now.

Alright, alright. I get the picture.

First thing in the morning, I'll try it on a human being.

Like who?

We're trying to come up with volunteers.

- Like me? - Forget it.

Walter, it'll maybe take two or three days to convince anybody...

how much we need human guinea pigs.

Meanwhile, I am here and I am convinced.

I'm not ready for you yet. When I am, I'll let you know.

Okay.

Oh, and Walter, will you please start eating the food they serve here?

It has been specially weighed and measured to ensure...

you get enough energy for the long hours that you work.

What the hell does a man have to do to get a simple beer and a pizza around here?

All a man has to do, Walter, is ask.

All my notes are right here, Brad, on the desk next to the recorder.

They contain the exact instructions, and I mean exact...

on how to prepare the antidote that I have developed.

Every experiment with its individual notes...

and conclusions is documented in this text.

I'm going to test the serum on myself.

Why?

Because you're just damn fool enough to make me try it on you.

It's my antidote, so it'll be my risk.

First, I'm going to inject myself with the same input of venom...

I'd receive from the stings of six toxic bees.

That's double the amount that anybody has been able to take and survive.

Then I'm gonna see if I'll still be able to use the self-injector with my serum...

or whether muscular stiffness will make it impossible.

I'll dictate the rest of this to the other recorder.

I'm all ready.

Physiograph is recording, everything is laid out.

Now, from the moment of being stung...

a frightened victim, medically inexperienced...

would need about 60 seconds...

to get the self-injector from pocket or purse...

pull up a sleeve, waste a few seconds hesitating...

because he was afraid of the needle, and finally put it in.

I'm going to give myself the same 60 seconds.

Heartbeat rising rapidly.

Heartbeat now 140.

I've put the antidote on the table right in front of me.

55 seconds since I administered the venom.

I'm gonna start reaching for it.

It won't move.

My arm feels like it's strapped to my side.

Heartbeat, 160.

Close to outer limit.

Dropping now.

Good.

Good!

140...

130...

Going to normal.

120.

Look, dropping now.

Dr. Krim, what are you doing?

You missed the tough part.

- How much of a dosage did you take? - About six stings' worth.

Dr. Krim...!

Respiration still high, but not abnormally so.

Well, let's see now.

I administered the antidote about...

66 seconds after the venom was injected.

The antidote works.

My God, it works.

Dr. Krim...

Now here's something.

The four physiological responses...

They are swinging from normal...

to some really spooky levels.

They don't seem to want to stay down, do they?

In fact, they're turning bad.

All of them.

Heart rate, rising again.

130.

140.

150.

Oh, my God!

Losing... losing respiration.

First sign, respiratory arrest.

There it is.

I just don't understand your request.

You will. You will.

Have you any idea, doctor, the consequences...

if I ask Washington for permission to shut down?

Less disastrous than not shutting down.

Look at all this.

Don't you realize we supply power over a 500-mile area...

and purify the drinking water of seven million people?

Yes, sir, I do realize that...

but I don't think you realize how critical this situation is.

What's more, there's nothing here that could possibly attract those bees of yours.

I wouldn't be so sure of that.

The infrared rays could signal and act like a beacon.

No, no, no, doctor. See this:

Billions of dollars have been spent to make these nuclear plants safe.

Fail-safe!

The odds against anything going wrong are astronomical, doctor.

I appreciate that, doctor, but let me ask you:

In all your fail-safe techniques...

is there any provision against an attack by killer bees?

Andrews here. Come in, control.

Control, this is Andrews. What's happening?

Control, go to manual!

The bees. Let's get the hell out of here!

No, no, no! This way.

Oh, God!

Crane?

Crane!

I've been authorized by the president to close down your operation.

From now on, the war against the Africans...

will be under military direction. The way it should've been from the first.

- What's the ETA now? - General?

I'll say this for you, Crane:

You tried.

In spite of what you might think...

I kind of hoped you'd pull it off.

Please arrange protective crating for the two oscilloscopes...

and personally fly with them to Houston.

I'll see you there with the tapes and the rest of the equipment.

I'll be there.

I haven't surrendered yet, General.

Estimating that more than 600,000 people...

have already been evacuated from Houston.

Elsewhere, in the nation, people stayed indoors or went to church.

- Where are you going, sir? - Air Force Headquarters.

- Go right ahead, sir. - Thank you.

General.

Hello, Crane.

- Doctor. - General.

I'm really glad you're here for the finale.

Is there anything I can do to help?

I'm not sure, but come with me.

- Very impressive. - By tomorrow there'll be no more Africans.

At least not in the Houston sector.

Have you really found a way to stop them?

I hope so. If we can do it here, we can do it anywhere.

This is really a dress rehearsal...

a set procedure for any future African challenges.

This is Houston computerized.

And this is Houston.

You see, the bees have formed almost a complete circle.

Billions of them.

And that's What we've been waiting for.

Waiting for what?

The battle plan is to get them all into one area and then zap 'em!

Take a look over here.

Captain. Doctor.

- Major. - Major.

You planned your arrival perfectly. Here they come.

Freeze it.

- Prepare to use the neutracide. - Neutracide?

- That's right. - General, if you use that...

nothing will grow out there for the next ten years!

Why worry about shaving when somebody's about to cut your head off? Go!

- General? - Crane.

Leader One to all aircraft. Deliver your cargo on target... now!

They're coming through.

They have learned to live with it.

I was afraid of this.

They've become immune to any pesticide.

So...

The occupation of Houston has begun...

and General Thaddeus Slater is your first officer in history...

to get his butt kicked by a mess of bugs.

The Defense Department in Washington, DC...

has just confirmed the tragic news.

With the approval of the White House...

and as a matter of last resort, the city of Houston...

will suffer massive man-made burning before daybreak.

The burnout is scheduled to be handled by flamethrowers...

- Within a matter of minutes. - Light them up!

Move out! Move out!

Burn them out!

Street Fighter to Topkick! Come in, Topkick, come in!

Topkick, can you read me?

You two, come here! I can't get through to the General!

Too much interference! Damn bees!

Listen, get back to headquarters.

Tell General Slater we need more reinforcements now! Go!

You wonder, don't you?

Houston on fire...

Will history blame me or the bees?

- My compliments, General. - On What, for God's sake?

On being able to maintain a long-term historical perspective.

Well, Crane, at this point there's no other viable perspective.

- Our time is up. - Not quite, General.

We're ready with a final experiment.

Please don't give up.

Okay.

Thank you.

We'll do another half dozen of these and if we don't have any luck...

we'll get some sleep and start after lunch, okay?

Okay.

And now, what's this? We've not had this before.

Look at this, doctor. Look.

Something's coming. Here we go.

- I think we've done it. - I don't believe this.

Yes, we have.

- General, we've done it. - What?

Look, we've got a match! By God, we've got a match.

You understand, General, we've discovered two identical sound patterns.

No, I don't understand.

What the he" has that got to do with killing bees?

What you are hearing now is the African bee's mating sound.

But listen to this.

This one was made by the sonic alarm system at the missile base...

not by the bees, but they sound exactly alike.

It was the sonic alarm system at the missile base which drew them in.

It was the similarity that confused them.

- But when it stopped, they left. - I still don't understand.

General, the sonic alarm system...

happens to be an exact duplicate of the duet...

between the queen bee and the young queen bee...

- challenging her domain. - But bees can't hear.

That's right. They go by vibration.

But to the other bees, the sonic alarm...

felt like the vibration of a ritual they had to attend.

Then you're saying, our alarm system attracted the bees into the complex?

That's right, and we'll use this very sound to pull them out of Houston.

Okay, I'm convinced.

Kill the bees! Don't hit the man!

No! Get it up!

General? General!

- What he" is going on? - The bees have broken inside!

Now what?

- You two get going! - Not without Helena.

We'll take care of her. Now get the hell out of here!

Use that new weapon you've come up with. Go!

Slater. Dodge Airfield. Code seven. Fast!

- General! - Get out!

I'm going to get Helena!

If I don't make it you know what has to be done!

Okay.

Major!

There's no time for that. Let's go. Put this around you.

Drop those! Drop them!

- Newman! - Go, Brad, go!

Move out!

General!

Dr. Crane, this is Dodge Field, air tower number two.

We read General Slater's instructions loud and clear.

We're prepared to assist in every possible way.

Please come in, Dr. Crane. Please come in.

Do you read me? Do you read me?

- Affirmative. - Very good.

Load the choppers with the sound horns...

and spread the big oil slick over the gulf, acknowledge.

- Roger. - Out. Let's go.

To all air force tankers.

Spread your oil over the Gulf of Mexico.

Four minutes to flaming.

- Ready when you are, doctor. - Fine.

Dr. Crane, is this alright here?

Yes, that's fine. Is there one on the other side?

- Yes, sir. - Well, please hurry.

Won't the noise of the helicopter drown out your sound?

No, it's an entirely different sonic level.

All set, sir.

Rescue Five to Alpha One, come in, please.

Ditch sound floats. Ditch sound floats.

Rescue Five to Alpha Two, come in.

Rescue Five to Alpha Three.

Pilot, get us to the firing point as quickly as you can.

Here they come.

Operation Sonic Drop complete. All aircraft clear at target.

Okay, thank you.

Fire it now, fire now!

Fire 1, fire 2, fire 3, fire 4, fire 5!