Original subtitles

Ezekiel saw the wheel.

This is the wheel he said he saw.

These are unidentified flying objects that people say they are seeing now.

Are they proof that we are being visited by civilizations

from other stars? Or just what are they?

The United States Air Force began an investigation

of this high strangeness in a search for the truth.

What you are about to see is part of that 20-year search.

You see, we should have turned left at Bellefontaine.

Now you tell me. Now look,

we'll follow this road to La Reine and then double back to Chateau Bel Air.

We should only lose about a half an hour.

If it is a half an hour, we will lose forever.

There's a small village in France, about 100 miles

southwest of Paris. It's called Brebeuf.

Now, there have been several incidents of unusual

UFO sightings there in the past few weeks.

Last night, a woman reported that her husband had been abducted by a flying saucer.

We want you to investigate.

Why would you want us to become involved, sir?

The French have excellent investigators.

There's a full report here.

Eyes only.

Have you ever heard of Carlton Tanner?

I believe so.

Presidential envoy.

Right.

The missing man is Carlton Tanner's son.

Major, your orders have come from the highest levels of authority.

All I'm at liberty to tell you is that for the past six months,

Carlton Tanner has been involved in delicate negotiations,

vital to the security of this country and Western Europe.

A publicity of any kind could jeopardize that mission.

Now, we've been in touch with the French government. They've agreed to cooperate.

You're both to work out of uniform and to keep a low profile.

There's a midnight flight to Paris. Now, if you hurry,

you'll have time to digest that report and catch the flight.

Listen, you'll need this.

Non-military passports.

Who's our contact?

You'll be met at Oldley Airport by the Air Attaché, Colonel Ed Keller.

Yes, sir.

You men, do the best you can.

Find Tanner's son or find out what this UFO abduction business is all about.

Again, there's one item we cannot afford.

Yes, sir, what's that? To pick up a newspaper and see it in the headlines.

Good morning, Major Gatlin. Right. Sergeant Fitz. How are you?

Colonel Ed Keller. Air Attaché, American Embassy.

Good flight? Yes, sir. First trip for me, sir.

Too bad it's going to be a working vacation, Sergeant.

Well, gentlemen, we've all been briefed on the ground rules,

so let's keep it simple. If you need anything, call that number.

It's a good idea to rent a car and drive down. It'd be the most expedient. Yes,

sir, that's what we planned. Good.

I've already notified the Inspector Marchand, the local police down there,

and he's waiting for you. Thank you. Good.

Oh, one more thing.

We're in France, not the U.S.

And here, the gendarmes are in charge, and they're good, and they are tough.

So the key word is to work close with them. That's what we had in mind.

Good.

Stay out of the papers.

May I help you, sir? Yes, ma'am.

We would like to rent a picture.

I didn't know you spoke French.

Just a little something I picked up, sir.

I'm better with slow French.

Yes, sir. How's this?

What kind of a car would you like?

Well, that's very good, ma'am.

I like to say most people speak English over here these days.

I'm Jake Gatlin.

This is Harry Fitts, sir. Monsieur Fitts.

Well, gentlemen, it is my pleasure to welcome

you to France and to our little village.

We're very glad to be here, sir.

My government has explained to me your mission.

I can assure you that my department will do everything it can to be of assistance.

That's very kind of you, sir.

We would like to speak to Mrs. John Tanner as

soon as possible. Certainly. Oui, Inspector.

Merci.

You must be very tired after your trip. Maybe first you would like to rest, eh?

Oh, no, sir. First we'd like to talk to Mrs. John Tanner.

Then we'd like to examine the area of the UFO sighting.

UFO?

Ah, oui, oui, I understand. La voilà.

That is Mrs. Tanner over there.

Suivez-moi, s'il vous plaît.

Mrs. John Tanner, may I present Mr. Gatlin and Mr. Fitz.

Please sit down.

You're going to find my husband.

We're going to try, Mrs. Tanner.

I would like to believe you.

But until they release him, there is nothing anyone can do.

Mrs. Tanner, when was the last time you saw your husband?

I don't know who they are.

Beings from another world, space people. They took him.

And we have no other way of getting him back.

Please, Mrs. Tanner, please. These men are here to help you.

They will help us find your husband. You must have faith.

I'm sorry.

Mrs. Tanner, can you tell us exactly what happened that night?

I, uh... You see...

John and I were on our way to the town of Chateaudun.

We were married there at a little church, L'Eglise Saint-François,

just outside of town.

We wanted to spend our first anniversary at the

same inn where we had spent our wedding night.

We had just stopped.

By the side of the road to check our map when suddenly

everything go by like it was daylight.

What is it? What's happening?

John, no! No!

Wait a minute. What's going on? I don't know, I'll see.

Wait for me here.

I'm with you. All right, let's go.

Hurry up!

Why would they take him?

What would they want with him?

Mrs. Tanner, did you actually see your husband board that machine?

No.

No, I ran while he was walking toward it.

But he did. I know he did. He was moving right toward it.

We understand, ma'am.

We'll try and find out what happened.

Do you think this is, how do you say it, a fake, a fraud? Is that what you believe?

No, Mrs. Tanner, that's not what we believe.

But it is possible that there's another explanation.

I understand. I'm sorry, it's just that...

I feel so helpless, so alone. I have no one else to turn to.

Have you talked to your father-in-law about this?

Mr. Tanner is not the kind of man you turn to for comfort, especially me.

Are you going to stay here in town for a while?

I have nowhere else to go.

Inspector, we'd like to see the sighting where it took place.

Of course, we can go in my machine.

Excusez-moi, madame, j'entrerai en contacte avec vous plus tard.

Monsieur Gatlin, what do you really believe happened to my husband?

We don't know.

What do you make of it? Four of them. Looks like tank treads.

I'll get a weight reading and take some soil samples.

See that road sign over there? Yes, sir, I did.

May I ask you what you're doing, monsieur?

Checking for magnetic variations.

Anything? 20 degree deviation at this signpost.

Let's make sure we get a complete geological survey of this area.

What do you make of these tracks?

Possibly a military machine. A tank, maybe.

They sometimes travel through here on their way to Manubus.

But then again, no. They are much too large. And notice, there are four of them.

They don't connect. They're not continuous the way a tank would lay them down.

Quite right, monsieur. Quite right.

It must have been something other than a military machine.

Unless there's some new piece of hardware the French army has we don't know about.

What's the matter? I will inquire. Got your camera?

Yes, sir.

Let's take some pictures.

Give me your tape.

When you finish, we'll measure them.

Hold it, please. Allow me, I will assist you. All right, sir. Thank you.

20 feet, 8 inches. What do you think, monsieur?

Would it have been something from outer space? I mean,

these tracks are quite possibly physical evidence, are they not?

Maybe. Maybe.

Depends on what made them.

Inspector, these gentlemen are waiting to see you.

Mr. Marson.

Yes. I am Commander Paul Gérard.

I present to you Captain Philippe Dubois of the intelligence

service. How are you, Mr. Commissioner?

Mr. Gatlin, Mr. Fitz, Commander Gérard, and Captain Dubois.

Dubois, French intelligence.

We have been ordered by our government to cooperate with you in this investigation.

I'm sure we can use all the help we can get.

To be frank with you, monsieur,

I do not understand the necessity of your being here because

my department is perfectly capable of handling the situation, you know?

Yes, sir, I'm sure it is, but like you, we've been ordered here by our government.

And we need your help, and we'd like to work with you.

We will cooperate with you. And we exchange all information, huh? Absolutely.

Then we will begin by advising you of the tread

markings at the so-called landing site.

They are not French military.

Early this morning, before you arrived, we took the measurements.

And we even have photographs.

Currier does his job. Those samples will be in the lab at Wright Pad by morning.

What about the geological survey report?

Girard and Dubois are getting it for us. They

know what they're doing, no doubt about that.

I think they're a little uptight about our being here.

But if the situation were reversed, I'm sure we'd feel the same way.

Well, how's it going, gentlemen?

Fine.

Fine. Would you care to join us? Well, thanks. Some other time.

My car's outside. I'll explain it to you on the way. We don't have much time.

Gentlemen, I'm Carlton Tyler.

Would either of you care for a cigar?

No, thank you, sir. No, sir.

Any progress? We've talked to your daughter-in-law,

and we've examined the area of the supposed siding.

We've sent our samples back to Wright-Patterson for analysis,

but we don't expect to hear of any results for a couple of days.

And nothing on my son?

No, Mr. Tanner, not yet.

When my son disappeared, the first thing I thought about was political kidnapping.

But if that was the case, we would have heard something by now.

And just for the record, I don't believe in flying saucers.

So much for my daughter-in-law's wild imaginings.

She's young and impressionable.

Sir, what do you think happened to your son?

As a father, that's a difficult question to answer.

You see, my son and I never really got along.

I didn't want him to marry Michelle.

John has always championed the existence of

UFOs and intelligent life on other planets,

while I, on the other hand, have been harshly critical of that belief.

Are you saying your son and his wife created all this just to hurt you?

Yes, I'm afraid I am saying that.

Yes? I get it, Major.

What's he saying? I don't know something about

the inspector. Un moment, s'il vous plaît.

Right. Merci.

Sean wants to see us right away, fast.

I'm sorry to have to disturb you at this time of night,

but I was sure you would want to be called.

Monsieur?

Hello.

What's the matter? His brother, Harry, he has disappeared.

They say that he too was kidnapped by a flying saucer.

When did this happen?

Less than an hour ago.

Would you ask them to tell us exactly what happened?

He and his wife were asleep.

I heard his brother already shouting, help me, help me, don't let them take me.

They could see nothing, but Ari was gone.

They know that he was taken away just like that other

man. He refers, of course, to Mr. John Tanner.

Would you ask them if they saw a space machine?

They only saw the lights and heard the noise from the engines.

What do you make of it? This time, we will start all even.

Commander.

Major.

Take a look at those tracks.

Metal bands, like a farmer's wagon.

Doesn't seem that would be too unusual around here.

Except that someone went to the trouble to try to brush those away.

Inspector, will you ask him if there's an electrical outlet around?

He says there is an outlet about 30 meters down. He uses it for an irrigation pump.

I'm going to take a look.

Now ask him if he has a DC generator.

What have you got? I'm not sure. Looks like a piece of carbon from an arc light.

He owns a small portable generator, but he does not think that it is working.

I found this near the electrical outlet over there.

You are thinking the same thing we are.

To me, it has all the appearance of a fake. Suppose we talk to the brother.

I think it's a good idea. Harry, keep checking.

Let's see what else we can come up with.

Yes, sir. Inspector, we'd like to know a little bit more about the two brothers.

I can tell that you are somewhat suspicious in this matter.

It's the nature of this business.

And you, you concur? Totally agree.

The older brother and I, we have been friends for many years.

I don't believe that he would lie.

We're not ready to say that.

I understand.

But if you do, you will let me tell him, please.

Or fake.

Why?

He loves his brother.

I asked him if his brother loves him.

Of course.

But in my opinion, the whole thing is a fake.

It is, as you say, a hoax.

The younger brother is trying to prove something to the older brother.

Maybe.

Both farmers, either one of them could have repaired that generator.

And they could always find an arc light someplace.

You know something? You and I work with the same principles.

Examine and re-examine, take nothing for granted.

Until you find the truth. I like that. Is there any other way?

You know something?

I'm going to suggest that Dubois and I will check the nearest...

That's a good idea. Let's do that, if you don't mind.

And thanks, still not clearing my mind. What is that?

Your opinion, you say one brother's trying to

prove something to the other. That is correct.

You know them that well? I mean, you done a background

check on them? Oh, monsieur, we have done nothing.

To me, it is quite simple.

Oh, how's that? Have you taken a look, a good look, at the older brother's wife?

Mrs. Tanner?

There's no more reason for me to be here.

I'm going back to Paris to be with my family.

Why are you leaving, ma'am?

I no longer care for what Mr. Tanner has to say.

What did he say to you?

I believe it is his opinion that John and I

made up this whole story just to hurt him.

Did he tell you that?

In those words?

No.

But I feel it.

I know how he thinks about John, because John believes in such things.

Such things as what, ma'am?

Space machines, people from other stars.

A great many people believe in those things.

Well, Mr. Turner does not.

And I know he thinks that John and I lied about what we saw.

No, Mrs. Tanner, that's not what we believe.

And we'd like for you to stay here until after we

complete our investigation. Will you do that?

Mr. Gatlin, I have told you everything.

It was the truth.

You must believe that. We cannot make up such a story.

All right, Mrs. Tanner.

Will you stay?

Yes, all right. I will stay.

He says, excuse me, he says that he has known the brothers Reno for 20 years.

There are no more honest men in the whole Loiret province.

What about the younger brother?

He's a very smart man, but he has an eye for the women.

Ask him if he saw or heard anything three nights ago.

I said, no. Mr. Inspector, I said, no, I didn't hear anything strange.

Three nights ago, I didn't hear anything.

Yes, that's right, yes, yes. Two days, two days, during

the night, precisely, during the night, I...

I heard noise. It was a noise. It was wonderful, very loud. Woof, woof, woof, woof.

Three nights ago, he saw nothing, but two nights ago, he did.

Oui, il faut que vous sachiez que je me couche très tôt.

Je me couche très tôt, et c'est ce bruit-là qui m'a réveillé. C'était épouvantable.

He goes to sleep very early, but two nights ago,

he was awakened by a very loud noise.

He heard Henri's voice shouting, help me, help me, don't let them take me.

He did not see Claude that night,

but he had seen him earlier driving off to the market.

That night, I saw her kissing the devil.

She would never have found me if she hadn't ruined everything by saying I was.

He says we never would have found them if she had not weakened and told us.

And all along, he thought she loved him.

And so it all comes to this.

Henri went to the city of Rouen.

There he rented an arc light, the material to change the color,

and the tape recorder to create the sound of the machine taking off.

Where did he get the sound?

What did he use?

He bought a recording of a jet aeroplane.

He recorded that on the tape recorder, and he played it backwards.

Ingenuity.

And so it went.

First, with the help of his brother's wife, they repaired the broken generator.

And they hid it some distance away from the farmhouse

so the brother Claude could not see or hear it.

Then they hid the wagon out in the woods.

Then they unloaded the arc line and the gelatin

material to change the color of the lights.

Then the both of them, they attempted to wipe away the impressions

made by the wagon wheels without much success, as we know.

Then they unloaded the tape recorder.

Next, the ballet tights. They were originally beige, but Madame Reno here,

she dyed them red. And now we slip them on.

And the ruse was ready to rehearse before the part was played out.

That was the rehearsal. And we have confirmation on that

from the old man who lives next door to Ari and Claude.

All that remained was to wait until the next

night to play the performance for Claude.

And we probably know why, but I'd like to hear him say it.

Oh, he has already admitted everything.

He thought that if he could convince everyone

that he was taken away in a space machine,

he and Madame Reno here could run off and live happily ever after.

She'd just run off and leave Claude, is that it?

That was the plan.

But they made the eternal mistake.

They broke the tenth commandment.

Inspector Marchand here. Where is this, please? The place.

We have another report on a sighting.

Busy today, isn't it? This sighting took place three days ago.

The individual has just now decided to come forward.

Inspector.

He wanted to know when his brother wished to see him.

What did you tell him? When he gets married, not before, Raoul.

His name is Emil Bernou. What do you want to ask him?

Why did he want us to come out here?

Because I want you to see the exact place where I saw him.

Because he wanted us to see the exact place where it occurred.

What was he doing the night of the incident, and how many passengers did he have?

He was returning to the depot after his run, and there were no passengers aboard.

Did you ask him to tell us exactly what he saw?

He had just left Chateau Blair on his way to Chartres.

He was going to the garage to check in his bus for the night.

The road was very dark, but then he glanced into his rearview mirror

and he noticed that the road was very strangely lighted.

First he saw the big space machine.

Then he saw the creature dressed in red.

Then he saw Henri Reynaud.

Then he saw John Tanner appear in the space machine.

Monsieur Tanner walked out of the machine and moved toward Henri.

Then John Tanner indicated to Henri that he

should go with him into the space machine.

Both of the men walked toward the machine and went inside.

The bus driver does not speak any English, so let me say at this point,

he is trying to help Henri because he is his best friend.

You must understand that people in these provinces are very close to each other,

and sometimes they tell a small lie.

But one thing is certain.

We know he doesn't tell the truth about Henri.

But what of Monsieur Tanner?

He says he never saw anything like that in his life, and if he lives to be 100,

he will never forget that night.

Now we are where, gentlemen? We know he's half wrong. We know where Henry is,

don't we? Yes, but, Monsieur Tanner, where is he?

Bonjour, Monsieur.

We have located John Tanner.

Bonjour.

Where?

Dubois and I were attempting to analyze the situation.

If Madame and Monsieur John Tanner were in Brebeuf,

and if they were there for the reason of celebrating their wedding anniversary,

there would only be one place they would be going to.

Where's that? The church in which they were married.

The church of Saint François in Brebe. Good thinking.

Is that where Tanner is? Indeed.

But it is not that simple.

True.

John Tanner is in the church, but you cannot see him. How's that?

The priest has given him sanctuaries.

You know, I think it is best if you two talk to the priest. I agree.

You tried without success. This father speaks English.

Perhaps he will talk to you.

Yes?

Father, this is Sergeant Harry Fitz. I'm Major Jake Gatlin, United States Air Force.

And you are here about this unidentified flying object business.

And you would like to speak to young John Tanner?

That's right, Father.

John Tanner is a very troubled man.

He has asked for and been given sanctuary in this house of God.

We understand.

What you may not know is, under canon law,

You cannot enter for the purpose of removing young Tanner from this holy place.

That's not our intent, Father.

We just want to talk to him.

Oh, well, that is entirely up to him.

He has a wife that's very concerned about his well-being.

She doesn't know he's here.

That's all right, Father.

I'll see them.

Very well.

You may enter.

This was the only place that I could come to.

This is Harry Fitz.

My name's Gatlin.

Yes, I heard.

You're with the Air Force.

How is Michelle?

Is she all right?

Yes, sir, she's fine.

But she's worried about you.

I love her. I love her very much.

Why don't you come along with us?

You and your wife can tell us exactly what happened that night.

No, I won't do that.

It helped clear up a great many things.

Not really.

All right.

That's as far as we can take it.

But you have talked with Michelle.

We have.

Then believe her as you would me.

We saw that machine.

She only ran because she was afraid.

She shouldn't have been.

Please tell her that I'm safe now.

All right.

He is troubled, but he will be fine.

You know, in this highly complicated world we find

ourselves living in, every so often, Touched.

A touch may be as gentle as a butterfly's wing, but he is touched.

Make no mistake.

And he cannot comprehend why it was he who was selected.

And he becomes troubled and puzzled at one and the same time.

But he thinks about it for a while, a good long while.

He wonders why he was not permitted to return the touch, to be grateful.

But suddenly it all becomes very clear.

There is nothing to return, nothing to give back.

It was, after all.