Original subtitles

Can't weigh two hundredweight, can it? What's it made of?

- It's definitely kryptonite. - What's that?

- Pull the other one! - Hang on.

Mr Lamont, stay right there.

- Thank you. I'll take that. - Wait a minute. This is my shed.

- Want to end up in the Tower of London? - No.

No.

- Malcolmson. - Sarge.

I want you to stay here. Don't want anyone taking photographs.

Cheerio. Shut the door behind you.

Have I really got to stay? It's past my dinner break.

I'll send you down a sandwich.

Where the tent was is contaminated. Further out it suddenly fades.

Then there's only one conclusion, isn't there?

Yeah.

Whatever it was that was here, whatever it was killed Symonds,

must be saturated with gamma radiation.

It certainly looks that way.

Except that no living creature could survive that radiation.

Nothing we know of. It's got to be something outside our experience.

Maybe it's wearing some kind of protective clothing.

Have you noticed something?

We've all started saying "it".

Those tent poles fair cut your hands, eh?

- What's up, Davey? - Och, nothing.

You'll pull worse than that from the sea.

It's not that. I was talking to him on Wednesday.

He was looking forward to going home. Another couple of weeks.

You need a drink. Here, Alex. Get another bottle of rum, eh?

He had twin daughters, you know.

Just wee lassies.

Everything all right, Inspector?

So far. The cliff path will be the hardest.

We can take you to the point, lend you a proper stretcher,

if you and Mr Gaffikin can manage the rest.

Yeah.

I'll get Sergeant Carch to meet me.

How the hell did that happen?

The trigger's faulty. Symonds told me yesterday.

I promised to look at it for him.

It's a wonder it wasn't smashed to bits.

- Everything else was. - Even his tape recorder.

A soldier? What makes you say that?

Camouflage combat gear. And a rucksack. Uh-huh?

And he ran away when you spotted him?

Right. No, if you see him, don't approach him. He might be dangerous.

Just contact us right away. OK.

Thank you for your help. Cheerio.

- I'm sorry to butt in, Sergeant. - What can I do for you, sir?

I've been thinking about this murderer.

It seemed to me that the constabulary might need some help.

In what way?

Volunteers for search parties, that kind of thing.

I'm ready and willing to do all I can.

That's very public-spirited of you. I'll let the inspector know.

He's still out on the moors, is he?

Why was Miss Patterson with him?

She knows the island better than any of us.

Hardly work for a girl, though, from what I hear.

- What are you hearing, sir? - The whole towns buzzing with rumours.

Something nasty in the mortuary, so they say.

The contents of a mortuary usually are, sir. Nasty.

- (PHONE RINGS) - Excuse me.

Hello. Police.

Yes, sir.

I see.

Yes. I'll get onto that right away.

Goodbye, sir.

- Was there anything else, sir? - No.

Not for the moment.

(DIALS NUMBER)

Hello, Dr Goudry. Sergeant Carch here. There's been another killing.

(CARCH) Yes.

Inspector Inskip says this time it's much worse.

- Something puzzling you, Fiona? - The camera's run out of film.

- What does that mean? - It shouldn't have.

Dr Symonds brought films in yesterday. He's had no chance to shoot this whole roll.

It's got an automatic firing device.

If the flash unit's been triggering off that film, then...

I see what you mean.

There's a chance it's taken a picture of the killer.

- That's great. Can you develop it for me? - As soon as we get back.

Here's a stretcher. The lads will take you to the point.

I'll give them a hand.

Thanks for the drinks, McGrath.

Listen. Look out for yourself tonight.

I don't want you boys trying to play heroes.

That thing found Symonds. It could easily find you.

Easy does it.

I don't know what sort of creature we're looking for,

but if it's anywhere near human,

it'll be lucky if it stands trial.

(CREAKING)

It's only me.

I've finished with this bit. The inspector can add it to his collection.

- Funny-looking thing, eh? - Aye. 'Tis that.

It's getting on my nerves.

It moves, you know.

Moves?

Every hour or so it sort of shivers, Doctor.

Gives a wee sighing noise. Scared the hell out of me the first time.

It's as if it's alive.

It's probably... hydraulics.

- Something like that, anyway. - Maybe.

It's very spooky, all the same.

Still, it cannae harm you.

Can it?

If you're going to develop the film now, shall I make some tea?

Oh, God, Mike. The way Symonds was killed was so disgusting.

It's changed everything, hasn't it?

Nothing can ever be the same here.

Listen, Fiona. We can make sure it doesn't happen again by finding his killer.

We have the camera film and we have the cassette.

That could give us something else to work on.

Yes, of course.

I'll start in the darkroom in a minute. But I've only got a record player.

If I go and fetch my tape recorder, will you be all right?

- Don't be long. - I'll take the key.

Have you examined Symonds' body yet?

Not yet. I'll have my tea before I start on him.

I always like to do an autopsy on a full stomach.

I took that piece of tubing you brought me back to the chandlery.

- What did you make of it? - There was blood on it, right enough.

Different from the woman's. B negative.

But it was human blood?

- Of course. What did you expect? - I don't know, Alan.

Gaffikin was suggesting that submarine thing might be alien.

- You mean from up there? - Aye. Some kind of spacecraft.

Next time I get something wrong with my teeth, I'm going to the mainland.

(LAUGHS) There was one odd thing about it, though.

The white-cell count was abnormally high.

- What does that mean? - It comes from someone who's very sick.

Radiation has the same effect.

Radiation?

There was a great deal of radiation in the area of Symonds' camp.

The coastguards went over it with a Geiger counter.

- You think your killer's radioactive? - No. Gaffikin suggested it.

I'm beginning to think he was right. It's the only explanation.

I don't know too much about the subject,

but anyone who can absorb radiation to that level must be a medical miracle.

- He should be six feet under. - Fiona suggested that.

Oh, I don't know.

This whole business gets more freakish every day.

That would certainly tie our killer in with that submarine thing.

At least we know how he got here. I suppose that's something.

So we're looking for a crazy radioactive matelot with funny teeth.

Your guess is as good as mine, Tom.

Oh, our parachutist. We've had another sighting, up at Balhaldie Hill.

This time he had a machine gun.

- Machine gun? - Aye. Ran away when he was sighted.

Balhaldie Hill. It's not even in the same area, Tom.

Suppose our killer escaped from somewhere in that submarine.

- Maybe the army are looking for him. - One parachutist?

We don't know there's only one. Soldiers look much the same.

Surely the army would have told us, Tom.

Wouldn't they?

(CLATTER)

Hello? Sergeant Carch?

Is that you, skipper?

- (KNOCK AT DOOR) - Come in.

I've just had a message from HQ.

The navy say our submarine doesn't sound like theirs, but they'll send a man over.

What's the forecast?

They reckon it'll be clear in about 24 hours.

If they're right, it's the first good news we've had.

The bad news is that our radioactive freak may be heading this way.

- What makes you say that? - It's the line he's been taking.

Once he hits the headland, he'll have to turn back unless he goes in the sea.

- We should be so lucky. - Aye.

- Thank God there are no crofts. - There's a coastguard station.

They're ready for trouble.

And we can't keep this under wraps any longer.

I think most folk know that something's up.

If only we knew what we were up against.

There's no motive for that carnage at Symonds' camp or at Dove Cottage.

- Or the sheep. - Aye.

It's like some kid tearing the wings and legs off a fly for the hell of it.

I blame television. Some people see "The Sound Of Music"

once too often and something snaps.

Come here. Don't go. How many armed men can you muster?

Er... about 30. That's with licences. Maybe another dozen that we don't know of.

(LAUGHS) Aye, well, tell them their inspector is declaring an amnesty.

Listen, I want four patrols of about five or six blokes covering the town all night,

with one of our guys in control of each patrol.

Tell them to keep a tight control. I don't want anybody shot by accident.

- (KNOCK AT DOOR) - You can come in.

- Hi. I've got it. - Great.

- How's it going? - Well, I hope there's something here.

I imagine the film's badly overexposed.

These cameras do everything except say cheese.

It's not the camera, it's the radiation.

The image won't be clear, but I might get some sort of picture.

At least we might have more idea of what we're up against.

I know what we're up against. A vile killer that tears its victims to pieces.

God knows what we'll find when this is finished.

Whatever this thing is, it's affecting all our lives here on the island.

It makes me sick. The worst thing is, there's nothing any of us can do.

It's like a nightmare. I feel as if the island has become contaminated.

Listen, Fiona.

Once the fog has lifted, maybe tomorrow,

the mainland police will be over with cars and helicopters.

Even if it's the Abominable Snowman out there, he won't stand a chance.

Do the police know anything about that craft?

I don't think so.

It's in the chandlery, under guard.

I wish it hadn't been brought into the town.

- It's just a piece of machinery. - That's not what you thought before.

No. Well, maybe I watch too many horror movies.

Once it finds its craft has gone, it'll look for it.

That means it'll come here, right into the town.

Your patrol's between the harbour and the top of North Street.

Use your radios to contact other patrols.

- Sorry, I'm out of season. - (ALL LAUGH)

The main thing is stick together and stay alert.

If you see something resembling the Loch Ness Monster, let everyone have some fun.

Right. Off you go. (SPEAKS GAELIC)

Good evening. I wish to speak with Colonel Howard, please.

Thank you.

- There you are, Colonel. - Thank you very much.

- Yes? - Mother asked me to call.

Mother knows best. How is her chicken?

Still free-range, I'm afraid.

Then forget the chicken. I've arranged for the egg collection.

- Can you close the coop? - Yes, I can see to that right away.

Excellent. We'll RV at 2300.

- Cannibalism? - Half the left flank has been sliced off.

Definitely with a knife. I can only assume it was for food.

But for God's sake, man, why?

It's the part most people would go for. It's easily accessible.

- If you want to see... - No, I'll take your word for it.

Now I really have heard everything.

Would you like to speculate just what we are up against?

Hm.

Would you?

I don't go in for fancy theories. I stick to facts.

I must admit, out on the moor today my imagination was running riot.

I wouldn't have been surprised to see King Kong.

All the evidence we've got to date

points to something which is half-human, half-animal.

- What happened to you? - Somebody clobbered him.

- Somebody broke in. I couldn't see who. - Let's see your head.

What were they after?

That bit of tubing's been taken from my pocket.

How long ago was this?

I can't say. I don't know how long I was out.

- Come on, Tom. Let's take a shufti. - Let's have a look at you.

- I've got six patrols out. - Good.

- How many men? - 43 including our lads.

If anything happens, it'll be the OK Corral.

I damn well hope not. How are they organised?

They're keeping in constant radio contact. We can monitor them.

That's it, Tom. We've done our best. Let's hope it's enough.

- Anything? - No.

That's nice. Thanks.

Damn jamming's getting worse.

I can't get anything on the radio now.

I'll try Ullapool, see if it's general or just here.

I like it like this. It's more peaceful.

(DIALS)

That's strange. Not a sound.

(DIALS)

No. Completely dead.

It can't be.

That's funny.

I'm getting a dialling tone.

- It's ringing now. - Good.

Mrs McAllister. This is McGrath at the coastguard station.

I'm trying to raise Ullapool at... What's that you say?

Oh, I see.

How long ago was that?

Ah.

The exchange says that the lines to the mainland were cut 20 minutes ago.

Cut? You mean deliberately?

They don't know. Just that they're not getting through.

- Shh. - What's the matter?

I thought I heard something outside.

(CLICKING)

(CLICKING STOPS)

- That was close. - He's moved out of range.

I'll leave it switched on in case he comes back.

- You all right, Davey? - Fine.

- All right, Tom? - Aye.

All clear here.

There's no sign of any interference.

- I wonder who it could have been. - At least he's human.

Our killer wouldn't have left him with just a bump on his head.

All he was after was that wee bit of tubing.

Tom, what if this... whatever it is...

What if it's top secret?

I can't see the KGB having anyone on the payroll here.

But I did catch the postmistress reading "The Gulag Archipelago" the other day.

Inskip. Fiona's developed that film.

- Great. Anything on it? - See for yourself.

You're both invited to the world premiere.

The slides are not very clear, but some of the shots have come out.

- What is it? 35mm? - Mm-hm.

I'm running the frames in a sequence that will match the tape recording.

- A tape recording as well? - Symonds must have been dictating notes.

The machine was smashed but the cassette survived.

It's pretty gruesome. Would you put the light out, Sergeant?

Here we go.

...bird that has arrived several days ahead of the flock.

Since I ringed three adult birds last year, I would be interested to see...

- (CLATTER) - Damn sheep.

(RASPING AND SHOUTING)

(GROWLING)

(GROWLING INTENSIFIES)

Human, I think.

It might look human, but it certainly didn't sound human.

Nothing intelligible, anyway.

I don't think it was talking, Inspector.

I think it was laughing.

- Is it cold in here or is it just me? - Aye, I was thinking that.

I'll check the thermostat.

- What's for supper tonight, Davey? - Whatever's on the label.

It's down to 50, Neil. The changeover valve on the tank must have stuck or something.

- Somebody ought to check it. - Hang on.

- I'll go, man. - Now, wait.

- Right. Look after yourself. - Right.

(CLUNK)

(GROWLING AND CHOKING)

What's he doing?

- (MCGRATH EXCLAIMS) - Where's the gun?

He's taken it. Out, Davey, quick!

Lock it, Davey. I'll get the axe. Keep watch.

(GROWLING AND SCREAMING)