Fiend Without a Face (1958) Movie Script
We've gotta figure out
where that power fade comes from.
Okay, I'll see you later.
Bye.
You ever think of trying sleep
instead of benzedrine?
You know, you might like it.
Brother, I've had some tough nuts
to crack in my time.
Thanks.
But nothing like this.
And to top it off, this guy has to go
and get himself killed right outside.
- If he was killed.
- What do you mean?
Well, he could have died
from natural causes, you know.
Oh. That's a switch
coming from a base security man.
You fellows are usually
suspicious of everything.
Here's the sentry's reports,
and, uh, this just
came in from the FBI.
- That's what they have
on the dead man Griselle.
- Oh, yeah?
"Jacques Griselle, 35.
French Canadian.
"Graduated Toronto University.
Specialized in scientific farming.
"Good war record.
Born in Toronto.
"Went north for farming after the war.
Has sister Barbara, age 24,
living on the farm with him."
Well, both the Griselles got a clean
slate. There's nothing suspicious.
Yeah? What was Griselle doing
in the woods at 3:00 in the morning?
- Farming?
- Cigarette?
No, thanks.
What are you gonna do now? Get
yourself all involved in this business?
Let the local authorities
figure it out, Jeff.
The colonel doesn't think
it's that easy, and neither do I.
Besides, who can forget the look
on that dead man's face?
There's probably
some simple explanation.
Hmm. I don't know.
Maybe Doc Warren has the answer.
He should be finished with the autopsy
by now. Let's go on over.
Okay.
- Morning, Doc.
- Morning, Jeff, Hal.
- Hi, Doc.
- I've just been trying to get you.
- Well, what's the story?
- Sit down.
- I wasn't able to perform your autopsy.
- Why not?
Because the mayor of Winthrop
and a local doctor named Bradley,
who's the coroner too, came up
and claimed the body this morning.
- Why didn't you call me?
- The mayor had already
talked to the colonel.
- Oh, that's ridiculous.
- They've got the body, so it's finished.
Finished?
I wouldn't bet on it.
They'll probably blame the death
on our atomic reactors.
Mmm, it's this fear
of radioactive fallout.
We're not exploding atom bombs.
We're just using atomic power
for our radar experiments.
Go out and tell him that.
You know, we're 1,000 miles from
the nearest decent-sized city.
What a bunch of backward people.
They've blamed us for too little
rain, too much rain,
the blight, the beetle,
even Mrs. O'Leary's ailing cow.
We have to have an autopsy,
so we can prove the death
wasn't caused by radiation.
Well, the coroner said it was
heart failure. That oughta do it.
He's one of them.
- Well, you can't figure
their minds, though.
Excuse me, sir.
Colonel Butler phoned...
to ask the major to report
to his office right away.
All right, Mr. Mayor,
if that's the way it is,
no sense in asking you
again, is there?
No, sir. There'll be no autopsy.
Come in.
Ah, Major Cummings.
- You sent for me, sir?
- Yes, Major.
I'd like to introduce
Miss Barbara Griselle and Mayor Hawkins.
- Major Cummings.
- How do you do?
- Major.
- If you don't mind,
I've made up my mind.
Just this one point.
You know that our governments,
Canada and the U.S.A.,
have set up this base as a joint
protection for our people.
We know that, and we've told you that
we feel that the refusal of an autopsy...
Sorry, Miss Griselle... Refusing
to do it won't disrupt the effort.
Miss Griselle, Mayor Hawkins,
I'm no parley diplomat,
I'm an army man.
I'm straightforward,
maybe even blunt.
But I'm afraid I must use
stronger methods of persuasion.
Do you recognize this,
Miss Griselle?
It's your brother's notebook.
He's made some very
interesting notations.
Major, take a look
at this page here.
What's it look like to you?
It's a timetable schedule.
Do you note the times
indicated in each line?
- What is it?
- Why, the schedule
of our takeoffs and landings.
That's enough to give me
what I want, Miss Griselle.
- May I have a look at that notebook?
- Give it to her, Major.
Thank you.
This schedule is a list
of your takeoff and landings.
Our herds milk
at four-nothing cream content,
and my brother felt it was due
to the jets flying overhead.
That's why he was gathering
this information.
If you notice in the following pages,
here's what it says:
"Helen: Less nervous today,
quality low.
"Diane: Apathetic, quality poor.
Mabel: Very pert,
general improvement. "
And so on with the other
members of the herd.
This was a daily reaction
of each cow.
Perhaps the colonel can tell us
what he thought the items referred to.
I guess that's all
we have to discuss.
Thank you for coming.
The colonel's a nice guy really,
but he does have his problems.
- You don't have to apologize for him.
- Well, I'm not.
It's just that he has a job to do,
a difficult one under the circumstances.
Please, I'd rather not discuss it.
Okay. I was only trying to...
- Trying to what?
- Oh, I don't know.
I guess I was looking for a way to say
I understand what you've been through.
- Do you?
- What the heck? We're all human here.
We're not monsters from outer space.
- Well, thanks.
- What for?
Oh, for the lift
and the words of comfort.
I wish I could do more.
I have no hard feelings,
if that's what you're thinking.
Well, I was, but not anymore.
So long.
Control ready, sir.
Green Dog, Green Dog,
this is Pyramid.
Are you ready
for Test Baker? Over.
This is Green Dog. This is Green Dog.
We are circling quite
easily at 40,000 feet.
Standing by for Test Baker.
Over.
Okay, Green Dog,
commence Test Baker.
Commence Test Baker.
Over.
Try starting out
on the 500 mile range.
Set for the 500 mile range,
Sergeant.
Master scope
set at 500 mile range.
Generators set.
Position six Charlie.
Start scanning, normal speed.
Scanning, normal speed.
Increase scanning speed 20 rpm's.
Scanning now, 20 rpm's.
Increase range to 1,000 miles.
Range increased
to 1,000 miles, sir.
Steady on your sensitive
control, number three.
Right, sir.
Increase range to 1,500 miles.
Range increasing
to 1,500 miles, sir.
- Hold it steady now, Sergeant.
- Right, sir.
Okay, Sergeant,
increase to 2,000 miles.
Increasing range
to 2,000 miles, sir.
Range increased to 2,000.
Look, sir. Siberia.
Increase range to 2,500 miles.
Range increased to 2,500, sir.
If we can keep this
equipment working right,
we can watch those Russians 24 hours
a day right in their own backyard.
We can spot any plane, any missile,
anything that's airborne.
Image is fading, sir.
There it goes again.
Same trouble.
Green Dog, Green God,
this is Pyramid.
Check your equipment.
Our image is fading. Over.
This is Green Dog.
This is Green Dog.
Our equipment
is working okay. Over.
The signal's going out okay from here,
sir. There's no drop in power.
- There must be some interference.
There's no other answer.
- Try increasing the power.
We're pushing the atomic plant
as much as we can now.
We've got to lick this power fade.
Tell them to pour it on.
Peterson.
Pete, this is Cummings,
Master Control.
We want you to give us
everything you've got.
But Jeff, we've already
exceeded the designed limits.
Every time you take a test
you ask for more power.
If I take any more rods out, the
reactor's liable to go out of control.
Well, take some more out.
We'll have to risk it.
- We've got to have more power.
- Okay, it's your funeral.
Mine too, probably.
- Yes, sir?
- Remove ten more rods
from reactor number three.
- That's crazy, sir.
- Yeah, I know, but it's an order.
Power's been boosted, sir,
but still can't increase image further.
It doesn't matter how much
we boost the transmitter power
if it doesn't reach the plane.
You know, it's almost as if the power
were being drained off.
Well, we'll just have to
keep working on it.
And in the meantime, what new excuse
do I give the Pentagon?
This is Green Dog.
This is Green Dog.
Standing by
for instructions. Over.
Okay, Green Dog.
Okay, Green Dog.
Test Baker is completed.
Return to base.
Repeat, Test Baker is completed.
Return to base. Over.
- Roger and out.
- Okay, Sergeant, let's close shop.
Jacques Griselle's sum of good
overshadows the other.
What has he marked up
in the ledger for good...
as against the ledger for bad?
He was a good and generous man...
And now we consecrate the worldly
remains of our beloved Jacques...
to the good earth
from whence he sprang.
- Closer and closer.
- Thank goodness the cows
are getting used to them.
Aye.
Are we eating soon?
It'll be ready in a minute.
I just want to feed the chickens first.
Amelia! Amelia!
Amelia! Amelia!
What is it?
What is it?
What happened?
Amelia!
- Can I see you home, Barbara?
- No, thank you, Mayor.
I think I better go back with Professor
Walgate, keep my mind occupied.
Are you sure you want to?
My work can wait, you know.
Say, Mayor!
Ben Adams and his wife are dead,
same as young Griselle.
- Where?
- Up at their farm.
At the edge of the air base.
But Mayor Hawkins, you're taking
a great deal for granted.
There is absolutely no evidence...
pointing to radioactive fallout...
or radioactive
contamination of any kind.
Yes, we'll do everything we can,
I assure you.
Yes. Yes. Good-bye.
In addition to our headaches
with the Pentagon,
we're now being accused of killing off
the people in this town.
Perhaps they'd cooperate,
sir, if we could explain more
about our antimissile program.
- Not the secrets...
- You know that's impossible, Jeff.
Come in.
It'll be rough
if the town turns against us.
Sir, we began a complete
investigation of the Adams farm,
but the local constable,
a man named Gibbons,
told us to get off the place.
Said it came under his jurisdiction,
and we had no business being there.
What kind of cooperation
do you call that?
They're nervous, upset. We've got
to find out how those people died.
Suppose you get
all of the Adams' relatives.
See if you can persuade them
to let us do an autopsy.
- Yes, sir, I'll try.
- Reassure them. Promise them anything.
But get hold of those bodies.
I made a complete autopsy
on both cases.
I called Dr. Bradley in to check
my findings, and our opinions concur.
It's fantastic.
On examination
of the skull of Mr. Adams,
I noticed two small holes on
the base of the occipital region here.
They penetrated
to the medulla oblongata,
where the spinal cord
meets the brain.
I opened the skull
to investigate and found this.
The brain, it's gone!
Yes, sucked out like an egg
through those two holes.
That's not all.
The entire spinal cord is missing.
But it...
it's incredible.
It's as if some mental
vampire were at work.
Where has the brain
and spinal cord gone?
I'm a doctor, Colonel,
not a detective.
There's nothing like this
in the books.
Major Cummings had the best
explanation so far... mental vampire.
That's rubbish!
Possibly some animal...
Colonel, Colonel, I've lived
in these backwoods all my life,
and I can assure you there's no animal
in these parts that could do that.
Maybe that guy Gibbons was right
about the supernatural.
Well, whatever the explanation,
we'll find it.
We must find it.
In the meantime, Doctor,
I trust I can rely on your discretion.
Not to tell the mayor or
the townspeople?
Of course. I've got an overworked
practice as it is, Colonel.
Thank you.
Dr. Warren, I want you
to get on the phone.
Consult the top medical specialists,
wherever they are.
- Yes, sir.
- Captain,
contact the best authorities.
Tell them what the problem is.
Find out what they have to say.
Jeff, the townsfolk know you.
Talk to them.
Check on anything that seems to be
extraordinary, no matter what it is.
Hello?
Anybody home?
Uh, Miss Griselle?
Oh, Miss Griselle, I, uh...
Great.
Look, um, Miss Griselle,
I'm sorry for, um,
barging in like that.
But, well, I knocked
and there was no answer.
The door was open, so l...
Make yourself at home, Major.
I'll be out in a minute.
Uh, thank you.
Found something interesting?
Oh, I was just glancing around...
That's all right. Prof. Walgate was
preparing these for publication anyway.
- Are you collating his material?
- I do most of it.
He dictates on this.
I edit the tapes and prepare
the draft manuscripts.
- That's some job.
- Mmm, but interesting.
The professor must be
quite a guy... thought control,
sibonetics, all that stuff.
That's only half of it.
Strange, isn't it, finding a man
like that here in Winthrop?
In these uncivilized backwoods,
I think you were going to say.
Well, I'm afraid so.
The explanation is quite a simple one.
Prof. Walgate had a stroke
about five years ago.
- He's retired now.
- Well, he still works.
- And at odd hours.
- Odd hours?
He thinks nothing of starting
work at 11:00 at night...
and working until the small
hours of the morning.
The mayor mentioned that Walgate
was an authority on psychic phenomena.
- Is that still a hobby if his?
- I don't know.
If it is, he'll have
Dr. Bradley after him.
Dr. Bradley said
no more overwork or excitement.
- What about you?
- What do you mean?
Don't you ever get
some time off?
Well, sometimes.
Hello, Howard.
Come on in.
Oh, this is Major Cummings
from the base.
Yeah, I know.
We've met.
Well, I guess
I'll be running along.
You've only just
been here a few minutes.
I was just passing
on my way back to the base.
Quite a roundabout route.
The new airfield extension
covers a lot of ground.
- Too much for Winthrop's liking.
- It must keep you busy.
Yes, yes,
there's a lot to do.
- I'll bet there is.
- Come again?
You found that G.I. Killer yet?
You'd be far better off huntin' him down
instead of tomcattin' around here.
I should bust you...
Cut it out, the both of you!
Come on!
Sorry. I hope
I didn't break anything.
I think you'd better leave. You've done
enough damage for one morning.
- Good night, sir.
- Oh, good night, Sergeant.
When you tell me you haven't
known me long enough...
Oh. Yeah, okay.
Okay, I'll see ya later.
How do you like that? She says
we haven't been properly introduced.
And she's a nurse.
I hope you made out better
with the museums and stuff.
- They all think I'm crazy.
How'd you make out?
- We've got work to do.
Uh-uh. You're the guy
who works after 5:00, not me.
This is serious. I want you
to get me all the information
you can on Prof. Walgate.
Everything he's ever written...
books, articles, everything.
Don't worry. I'll have this guy
in check by tomorrow night.
So long, Mayor.
All right, fellas, all right.
Let's stop this nonsense.
No fancy atomic radiation
caused these deaths.
What about the mayor?
What killed him?
Who are you trying to fool?
It's the atomic fallout.
Hold it, fellas! Hold it!
Someone murdered the mayor.
The same maniac that killed Jacques
Griselle, Ben Adams and his wife.
- Where is he?
- If you'll shut up, I'll tell you.
Quiet there. Let him talk.
Now, the fellow we're after
is out there in the woods.
Probably some mad G.I.
That's gone wild.
He can't move far if we move fast.
- Let's stop jabbering and get after him!
- Let's get him!
All right, now. Let's go!
Right, fellas.
Let's find this guy.
- Keep a sharp lookout, okay?
- Yeah, Gibbons.
Okay, let's go.
Excuse me, sir.
This just came in from the FBI.
Hmm. "Walgate. Brilliant scientist.
Recluse. Considered highly eccentric."
That old guy Walgate sounds like a cross
between Einstein and Robinson Crusoe.
It gets more interesting
all the time.
Okay, Sergeant,
I'm going out for a while.
Well, hello.
Nice to see you again.
I'm very busy.
Well, I'd like to see the professor.
Oh. Yes, of course.
Thank you.
Come in.
Prof. Walgate, Major Cummings
from the air base to see you.
- Sorry to barge in like this, Professor.
- Not at all.
These days I welcome
any excuse to stop work.
Isn't that so, Barbara?
Please take a chair, Major.
Thank you.
I came to see you
about this business with the mayor.
Oh, terrible tragedy.
Really terrible.
- I need your help.
- Anything you say. Just name it.
This is the fourth death
in the space of a few days.
Not only are they terrible tragedies,
but they're turning the townsfolk
against us.
It's just ignorance,
my dear fellow.
These people are simple, one might say.
Narrow in their outlook.
Of course, the very secrecy
of your activities doesn't help.
This development of radar
boosted by atomic power.
What gave you that idea, sir?
There was a piece in the Patents Journal
about your work on reactors.
It wasn't a year ago I read somewhere
about the new radar patents.
Wasn't this territory's
idea for that kind of work.
I put two and two together.
- And made five?
- Shall we say four and a half?
But you don't have to worry, Major.
What I surmise I keep to myself.
- Well, I hope so, sir.
- Let me offer you a drink. Whiskey?
Uh, yes, please.
Straight.
- Barbara?
- Uh, no, thank you, Professor.
I'll have the last chapter
finished tomorrow.
That's fine.
That's real progress.
I've already begun on volume two.
My mind is really buzzing
with these strange words.
Just a few elementary ideas
on the subject, Major.
Not so advanced
as present-day developments.
I'll transcribe these
while you talk. Excuse me.
That business with her brother...
She was devoted to him.
Yes, it was a tough break.
I don't want to seem morbid,
but did you see his face
after he died?
- Yes.
- What was it like?
I have a reason for asking.
Well, it was an expression
of complete horror.
Fright.
Almost insane, I guess.
- What is it? What gives?
- Did you get him?
- Okay, fellas, okay.
- Was it him?
No, just a false alarm.
That's all.
As you said yourself, sir, the people
here are simple and superstitious.
- Maybe they're not so wrong after all.
- What do you mean?
Mmm, about the supernatural.
Something unreal, something
never seen by anyone before.
I can't accept that.
I've always disproved such theories.
- What is it, then?
- Nothing supernatural, I'm sure.
I can't believe that.
I'm a scientist.
You've made a study of psychic
phenomena, haven't you?
It can't be that!
It can't be!
Professor, you know
what Dr. Bradley said.
Was it absolutely necessary
to upset the professor?
It's nothing, nothing, Barbara.
The major and I were just
having a quiet talk. I got dizzy.
Well, your quiet little talk
is over, Major.
First Howard Gibbons,
now the professor.
Do you have to go around
making trouble?
- You really believe that, don't you?
- I can believe my eyes.
I'm sorry, Professor.
I didn't mean to disturb you.
No, not at all.
Forgive me if I don't rise.
Yes, certainly. Excuse me.
It's me! It's Frank!
Have you finished
searching the quarry yet?
Yeah, and the men are tired.
They want to go home.
But they can't quit now!
We've almost reached the air base.
Well, you better tell 'em.
They won't listen to me.
Okay, fellas,
you spread out again.
We'll join up
at the Adams' fence.
- Say, you hear something?
- Yeah. Funny sound.
You take that path,
and I'll take this one.
- If you see anything, shout.
- You said not to let
each other out of sight.
These parts run almost parallel
to each other. We'll meet up a ways.
The dawn's beginnin' Let's
wait a little. We'll see better then.
Oh, we're close to it.
Now come on, boy.
Go on, fella.
You take that way.
Gibbons! Gibbons!
Where are you?
Gibbons!
Where the heck are you?
Gibbons!
Gibbons! Gibbons!
Where are you?
Gibbons! Gibbons!
Gibbons!
I think you should go home,
Mrs. Gibbons.
No. I'm all right, Doctor.
I'll wait here for my boy.
Don't worry.
We'll find him.
Oh, where is Howard?
Where is he?
- We've searched everywhere.
- He just disappeared.
Oh, I don't believe it.
He must be there.
- I'm gonna look for him myself.
- You can't go in the woods alone.
Oh, but I've got to find him.
I've got to find my boy!
You'd better see that she gets home.
Get your wife to look after her.
- Have you searched
the woods thoroughly?
- We kept calling for him.
If Gibbons is out there
and alive, he would've heard us.
No point in searching any more.
I reckon we ought to call
a council meeting...
and decide
what we're going to do.
- What about it, Bradley?
- Well, let's get Melville.
He's the deputy mayor.
I suppose it's up to him.
I think that's a good idea.
Good evening.
Everyone quiet, please.
You all know why we're here.
We've had four deaths, and now
our constable has disappeared.
The cause of these deaths
is still unknown.
Everybody seems to have
their own ideas,
and they all seem connected
with the new air base.
- Now you're talkin'
- For this reason,
I've asked Major Cummings
to this meeting.
He's going to help us
in any way he possibly can.
That goes for his commanding officer,
who is very concerned
about what's happened.
Cut out the soft soap, Melville.
Let's get down to brass tacks.
All I know is, before this air base
came here, we were doing fine.
Now you and these Air Force fellows
tell us that it's not radiation at all.
Well, maybe you're right at that.
I don't know.
But forgetting about the deaths,
how do you explain the change in quality
of the cows' milk, even the quantity?
Let the major tell me about that.
Go ahead, Major.
No one can make anyone believe something
if they don't want to believe it.
But it has been proven
that there has been no radiation
affecting anyone in Winthrop.
- Hmm.
- Not even the cows.
As for the milk... I don't know enough
about farming, but I would assume...
Griselle did.
He knew his business.
So do I. It was the noise
of the jets that did it.
It frightened the herd.
But I can tell you
that the herd is normal again.
They've got used to it.
Thank you.
As for the deaths, gentlemen, we are
equally at a loss to give an answer.
Now, there's been some talk
of a mad G.I. On the prowl.
This, I can assure you,
is not true.
We've checked and rechecked
our personnel.
We know how you feel,
but we're trying to protect our
countries from a guided missile attack.
If you'd only help us
instead of fighting us.
Ah, it's all a waste of time.
Let's get rid of the base.
We had no trouble before they came here.
I think that's rather extreme...
Gibbons!
It was terrible, Jeff.
What could have happened to him?
I don't know.
- Would you like a drink?
- No. No, thanks.
Barbara, I think Prof. Walgate
is involved in these deaths.
- I don't understand.
- Neither do I. Maybe it's just a hunch.
But his background, his training...
- Oh, Jeff!
- Look, Barbara, I checked on Walgate.
This research of his...
Somehow I think it ties in with
what's happened in Winthrop.
- Oh, that's crazy.
- Is it?
- Mind if I borrow this?
- Where are you going?
I'd like to take a look
at your cemetery.
Hey! Hey!
Anybody out there?
I'm locked in here!
Hey!
Hey!
- Any word yet from Major Cummings?
- Not a thing yet, sir.
- Well, keep trying.
- Hello?
Hello, Miss Griselle.
This is Captain Chester.
I've been trying
to locate Major Cummings.
- He left here about 7:30.
- Well, did he say where he was going?
Yes. He borrowed a flashlight and said
something about going to the cemetery.
Look, I don't like
the sound of all this.
You wait there.
I'll be over right away.
Are you sure this is the place?
Oh, this is the place all right.
Hey, listen.
- Huh?
- Listen.
I don't hear anything.
Wait a minute.
Over this way.
There's someone inside all right.
It's jammed.
Here, hold this.
- Oh, hurry! Come on!
- Hold the flashlight closer.
There, it's coming.
Here he is!
Jeff! Jeff!
There's no air in here.
Keep the door open.
- He'll be all right.
- Jeff, it's me... Barbara.
- Are you all right?
- Barbara.
Yeah, you're not dreaming,
buddy, it's Barbara.
- I was locked in, no air.
- Take it easy now.
Come on, we'll get you
back to the base.
- I gotta see Walgate.
- You're in no shape to see anybody.
I've got to see Walgate.
Come in.
Good evening.
Major Cummings.
Oh, Barbara...
It's very late.
I hope you don't mind, sir.
Oh, on the contrary,
I'm glad to see you. Sit down.
We missed you
at the town council meeting.
I saw Gibbons afterwards.
His mind was gone completely mad.
- It was dreadful.
- I was hoping maybe you could help us.
- Me? How can I help you?
- You're an atomic expert.
- Who told you that?
- Our files in Washington.
- Have you been checking on me?
- Yes.
- Oh.
- Here, would you care
for a cigarette, Professor?
No, thanks.
I'm attached to my pipe.
Uh, Professor,
I read one of your books...
on the materialization
of thought.
You denied that it was possible,
but the thought was intriguing.
Yes, if it could be done, why,
man could create power by thought.
He could will a door to open.
He could perform useful work
without moving from this chair.
- Practically anything.
- I said it was impossible, didn't I?
Is it? Perhaps with atomic power
it could be done.
Oh, please. I'm tired and sick.
Stop badgering me.
I will if you'll answer me
a few questions.
- Jeff!
- I'm sorry, but I've got to go on.
What were you doing
in the cemetery tonight?
Were you, uh, looking for this?
I didn't mean to shut you in,
close the door on you.
I was frightened when I heard you.
I only wanted time to get away.
I only realized later
that you might be shut, trapped.
- I called Barbara, but...
- If she hadn't rescued me,
I wouldn't be alive.
- Jeff!
- What were you doing there, Professor?
I had to examine the mayor's body.
I had to find out the truth.
What was that?
Professor, what's the matter?
- Here, sit back.
- Professor, can you hear me?
It's a terrible story.
Shut down
your atomic plant, Major.
Call Dr. Bradley right away.
I'm going back to the base.
Jeff... be careful.
I'm afraid.
I'll be back right away.
I'd like to try that again
when I have more time.
But the thing's fantastic.
You can't shut down a whole atomic
power plant on such a wild theory.
We can't deny the facts, sir.
Griselle, the Adams couple, the mayor.
They all died a few minutes
after the peak of our radar tests,
right after our atomic plant
was operating under full power.
But it'll take months to get
the plant operating again.
That's better than risking
any more lives or madmen like Gibbons.
Okay, let's put it on ice.
How soon will you be ready, Pete?
We'll shut her down in five minutes.
- The rods are all smashed!
- What happened?
- I don't know.
- We'll never be able
to shut her down now.
- What about spares?
- We have no extras of anything.
There must be some way
of controlling the reaction.
Without the rods,
we don't stand a chance.
The nearest supply would be at
the Hanford Works on the Columbia River.
- How soon can we get
a shipment flown in?
- Four to six hours.
Get me the Hanford Works
on the Columbia River right away.
Well, Doc, how is he?
Oh, there's no question.
It's another attack, a little
more serious than the last.
- He'll be all right?
- Oh, sure, sure, sure.
See he gets plenty of rest.
Call me if there's any change.
For goodness sake, get somebody
out here to stay with you.
Jeff... Major Cummings
said he'll be back soon.
Jeff? Major Cummings?
Mm-hmm.
Obviously, those rods were destroyed.
How and for what reason we don't know.
But we do know that
we're in trouble up here.
Serious trouble.
Hello. Yes, put her through.
It's for you, Jeff.
Barbara Griselle.
Thank you.
Hello, Barbara.
Okay, good.
We'll be right over.
Right. Bye.
Walgate's regained consciousness.
I think we better get over there.
- Right.
- Al, we better get some sidearms.
Kasper, get hold of Dr. Bradley
and Melville right away.
Have them meet us
at Walgate's house.
I should feel better
after I've told you everything.
Maybe you can help me to
clear up this ghastly business.
But no matter what you do to me,
remember those horrible deaths
were beyond my control.
Go on, Professor.
For many years now,
I have been working on a theory
of thought materialization.
The entire apparatus
to give it the required boost...
is in my laboratory.
Laboratory?
I didn't know you had one.
There are many things
you didn't know, my child.
If you had, you'd never
have come here again.
You can see it later.
I knew I could never succeed
on the principles of telepathy.
I needed to stimulate my brain...
to the extent that I could detach
thought from my conscious...
to give it a separate
entity of its own.
I concentrated
on the simplest experiment:
To turn the page of a book.
I designed an instrument
to create...
a sudden and powerful
electrical boost...
to help me free my thought.
But each application
of the electric charge...
created a shock
almost equal to electrocution.
It made me ill.
Dr. Bradley diagnosed exhaustion.
He thought my illness
was caused by overwork...
in getting my papers
ready for publication.
He introduced me
to Barbara Griselle.
With Barbara as my secretary,
I was able
to satisfy my publisher...
and continue my experiments
to materialize thought.
For a long time, I persisted
in this one experiment...
without success...
until one night.
The lightning,
in striking the house,
gave my instruments a sudden
violent charge of power.
And my thought was free,
free to turn the page of a book.
I altered the design
of my equipment...
to generate
these violent power boosts.
But it was very dangerous,
and I could only undergo
each experiment...
after a long period of rest.
Whenever I felt well enough
to absorb the shock,
I found no difficulty
in moving small objects.
Eventually, I developed
a certain tolerance...
to the high voltages I used.
But what I really needed
for regular experiments...
was a new form of power,
something that was smoother,
something that would flow through
my brain without causing collapse.
The new atomic plant at the air base
provided me with this power.
I devised additional apparatus
that enabled me...
to divert a portion
of the atomic power...
that was radiating
between the ground station...
and the radar aircraft
circling 40,000 feet above.
It was power
which I could control,
and I learned how to amplify
my thoughts without hurting myself.
I was able
to detach my thoughts...
and allow them
to work on their own.
I began to devise a being...
into which the thought,
once released,
could enter and preserve itself
for all humanity.
I envisaged something akin
to the human brain...
with life and mobility...
but without the limitations
of man's body.
I concentrated my entire thought
on its creation.
I succeeded!
But, like thought itself,
it was invisible.
That night I entered my laboratory...
to take advantage of a radar test...
only to find the place in shambles,
my equipment wrecked beyond repair.
All of my notes
about its creation...
and how I thought
it could be controlled...
were destroyed.
I knew now that
I had created a fiend.
There was no other explanation.
I was helpless,
but whom could I tell?
Who would believe
such a fantastic story?
I could sense the presence of the fiend
there in the room with me,
growing more powerful
with each succeeding day.
My one desire
was to destroy the thing,
but I possessed no means
of projecting my thought to do so.
Then I could hear it.
Was it possible that
there were more than one?
I was unable to stop them.
They were now drawing power
from the atomic station.
Its intelligence had expanded.
It now knew how to escape.
And then followed these horrible
deaths and Gibbons' madness.
I had to know what I had done.
I had to see one of the bodies.
I went to the mayor's tomb.
I now know that I have
created a mental vampire,
a fiend that needs
to drain the intellect...
to survive and multiply.
I'll get it.
Supposing you're right, Professor,
how does it live?
How else but on the brains
and nerve centers...
removed from these dead people.
Then where are they, and why
can't we see them? This is nonsense.
We're facing a new form of life...
that nobody understands.
I believe it feeds on the radiation
from your atomic plant,
and that it's evil.
Professor, it's my opinion
that the evil's all in your mind.
You're in need
of medical assistance.
Doctor, I'm glad you're here.
This man's become a raving lunatic.
Hey, what's going on out there?
Hey, look!
Hello. Hello!
Professor, what's wrong
with your telephone?
Nothing should be the matter,
unless they've got enough
intelligence to cut the lines.
Jeff, I want you to get over to
the air base. I want emergency patrols.
He's dead.
Give me a hand with this.
Barricade those windows!
Have you got anything
we can nail across that window?
There's some lumber
in my laboratory.
- I've gotta get out!
- Oh, pull yourself together
and help me with this!
Well, at least lock the door!
Oh, never mind!
- Hey, Captain, give me a hand.
- Yes, sir.
If we'd only see them,
we'd know what to do.
- Is there any way to make them visible?
- Not that I know.
Unless it's a question of the amount
of atomic radiation that's available.
Hello? Hello, Kasper?
I want to talk to the colonel.
Hello? Hello, Kasper?
Are you there? Hello, hello?
I've got to get out of here,
I tell you!
Oh, no, no.
Melville, no, no.
Get back. Get back.
Melville, Melville,
get a grip on yourself.
- Get ahold of yourself.
- But l...
Why are they so quiet?
Maybe they're gonna leave us alone.
I doubt it. But they've
just put out a burst of energy.
Perhaps they need to rest.
Colonel Butler, how long does it take
to shut down your atomic plant?
- Why?
- If my theory is right,
without the radiation of which
I was speaking, these things must die.
- Good grief!
- What is it?
What do you see?
Let me through!
Hey, Jeff, Professor,
they're becoming visible!
Someone or something must have increased
the power at the atomic plant.
What have I unleashed?
- It's ghastly! It's horrible!
- You can say that again.
It all ties up with what
Dr. Warren explained to us.
Look carefully.
Al, get those sidearms.
I'm sure it's the atomic plant.
So long as it goes on,
they will multiply,
getting stronger and stronger.
Yeah, well,
we'll see about that.
Well, anyway, they're mortal.
Hold it!
You'll hit him!
- He's dead.
- We've got to stop 'em!
There's only one way:
Shut down your atomic plant.
Unless we shut off the radiation,
we'll all be destroyed.
- Heaven knows how many others.
- There's a dynamite shed
between here and the plant.
If I can get through,
I can blow up the control room.
Well, if that's the way
it's got to be.
- I'm afraid it is.
- Jeff!
Must it be you, Jeff?
- I know the control room layout.
- Be careful, Jeff, please.
Yeah, I will.
And be sure and lock this door.
He can't go alone. He won't last
a minute amongst those fiends.
It's too late, Professor.
Somebody had to get through.
Then cover him
as he leaves the house.
And shoot straight.
Don't waste the shot.
- Do you see him?
- No, not yet.
- You can't, Professor!
- It's suicide!
They're my creation.
Perhaps I can control them.
Give Jeff a chance.
Lock it after me.
- That was a brave man.
- What's gonna happen to Jeff?
Take it easy now.
I know that guy.
If anybody can
get through, he can.
Oh, it's been so long
since Jeff left.
Don't even think about it.
It's so quiet.
I wonder what they're up to.
We're almost out of ammunition.
Well, Captain,
let's get started.
Doc, I'll send you some help
as soon as I get over to the air base.
- Thanks, Colonel.
- What about Jeff?
He's been gone for hours.
Jeff! Jeff!
I thought that...
It's okay, honey.
It's all over.
Well, Major,
I'm leaving you in charge.
Report back when you have
the situation well in hand.
- Good luck, Jeff.
- Thanks, boy.
Well, Doc, I hope now
that we got this thing licked,
you'll encourage your people
to cooperate with us.
Well, I reckon
we owe it to you, Major.
And it strikes me you
are setting a very good example.
where that power fade comes from.
Okay, I'll see you later.
Bye.
You ever think of trying sleep
instead of benzedrine?
You know, you might like it.
Brother, I've had some tough nuts
to crack in my time.
Thanks.
But nothing like this.
And to top it off, this guy has to go
and get himself killed right outside.
- If he was killed.
- What do you mean?
Well, he could have died
from natural causes, you know.
Oh. That's a switch
coming from a base security man.
You fellows are usually
suspicious of everything.
Here's the sentry's reports,
and, uh, this just
came in from the FBI.
- That's what they have
on the dead man Griselle.
- Oh, yeah?
"Jacques Griselle, 35.
French Canadian.
"Graduated Toronto University.
Specialized in scientific farming.
"Good war record.
Born in Toronto.
"Went north for farming after the war.
Has sister Barbara, age 24,
living on the farm with him."
Well, both the Griselles got a clean
slate. There's nothing suspicious.
Yeah? What was Griselle doing
in the woods at 3:00 in the morning?
- Farming?
- Cigarette?
No, thanks.
What are you gonna do now? Get
yourself all involved in this business?
Let the local authorities
figure it out, Jeff.
The colonel doesn't think
it's that easy, and neither do I.
Besides, who can forget the look
on that dead man's face?
There's probably
some simple explanation.
Hmm. I don't know.
Maybe Doc Warren has the answer.
He should be finished with the autopsy
by now. Let's go on over.
Okay.
- Morning, Doc.
- Morning, Jeff, Hal.
- Hi, Doc.
- I've just been trying to get you.
- Well, what's the story?
- Sit down.
- I wasn't able to perform your autopsy.
- Why not?
Because the mayor of Winthrop
and a local doctor named Bradley,
who's the coroner too, came up
and claimed the body this morning.
- Why didn't you call me?
- The mayor had already
talked to the colonel.
- Oh, that's ridiculous.
- They've got the body, so it's finished.
Finished?
I wouldn't bet on it.
They'll probably blame the death
on our atomic reactors.
Mmm, it's this fear
of radioactive fallout.
We're not exploding atom bombs.
We're just using atomic power
for our radar experiments.
Go out and tell him that.
You know, we're 1,000 miles from
the nearest decent-sized city.
What a bunch of backward people.
They've blamed us for too little
rain, too much rain,
the blight, the beetle,
even Mrs. O'Leary's ailing cow.
We have to have an autopsy,
so we can prove the death
wasn't caused by radiation.
Well, the coroner said it was
heart failure. That oughta do it.
He's one of them.
- Well, you can't figure
their minds, though.
Excuse me, sir.
Colonel Butler phoned...
to ask the major to report
to his office right away.
All right, Mr. Mayor,
if that's the way it is,
no sense in asking you
again, is there?
No, sir. There'll be no autopsy.
Come in.
Ah, Major Cummings.
- You sent for me, sir?
- Yes, Major.
I'd like to introduce
Miss Barbara Griselle and Mayor Hawkins.
- Major Cummings.
- How do you do?
- Major.
- If you don't mind,
I've made up my mind.
Just this one point.
You know that our governments,
Canada and the U.S.A.,
have set up this base as a joint
protection for our people.
We know that, and we've told you that
we feel that the refusal of an autopsy...
Sorry, Miss Griselle... Refusing
to do it won't disrupt the effort.
Miss Griselle, Mayor Hawkins,
I'm no parley diplomat,
I'm an army man.
I'm straightforward,
maybe even blunt.
But I'm afraid I must use
stronger methods of persuasion.
Do you recognize this,
Miss Griselle?
It's your brother's notebook.
He's made some very
interesting notations.
Major, take a look
at this page here.
What's it look like to you?
It's a timetable schedule.
Do you note the times
indicated in each line?
- What is it?
- Why, the schedule
of our takeoffs and landings.
That's enough to give me
what I want, Miss Griselle.
- May I have a look at that notebook?
- Give it to her, Major.
Thank you.
This schedule is a list
of your takeoff and landings.
Our herds milk
at four-nothing cream content,
and my brother felt it was due
to the jets flying overhead.
That's why he was gathering
this information.
If you notice in the following pages,
here's what it says:
"Helen: Less nervous today,
quality low.
"Diane: Apathetic, quality poor.
Mabel: Very pert,
general improvement. "
And so on with the other
members of the herd.
This was a daily reaction
of each cow.
Perhaps the colonel can tell us
what he thought the items referred to.
I guess that's all
we have to discuss.
Thank you for coming.
The colonel's a nice guy really,
but he does have his problems.
- You don't have to apologize for him.
- Well, I'm not.
It's just that he has a job to do,
a difficult one under the circumstances.
Please, I'd rather not discuss it.
Okay. I was only trying to...
- Trying to what?
- Oh, I don't know.
I guess I was looking for a way to say
I understand what you've been through.
- Do you?
- What the heck? We're all human here.
We're not monsters from outer space.
- Well, thanks.
- What for?
Oh, for the lift
and the words of comfort.
I wish I could do more.
I have no hard feelings,
if that's what you're thinking.
Well, I was, but not anymore.
So long.
Control ready, sir.
Green Dog, Green Dog,
this is Pyramid.
Are you ready
for Test Baker? Over.
This is Green Dog. This is Green Dog.
We are circling quite
easily at 40,000 feet.
Standing by for Test Baker.
Over.
Okay, Green Dog,
commence Test Baker.
Commence Test Baker.
Over.
Try starting out
on the 500 mile range.
Set for the 500 mile range,
Sergeant.
Master scope
set at 500 mile range.
Generators set.
Position six Charlie.
Start scanning, normal speed.
Scanning, normal speed.
Increase scanning speed 20 rpm's.
Scanning now, 20 rpm's.
Increase range to 1,000 miles.
Range increased
to 1,000 miles, sir.
Steady on your sensitive
control, number three.
Right, sir.
Increase range to 1,500 miles.
Range increasing
to 1,500 miles, sir.
- Hold it steady now, Sergeant.
- Right, sir.
Okay, Sergeant,
increase to 2,000 miles.
Increasing range
to 2,000 miles, sir.
Range increased to 2,000.
Look, sir. Siberia.
Increase range to 2,500 miles.
Range increased to 2,500, sir.
If we can keep this
equipment working right,
we can watch those Russians 24 hours
a day right in their own backyard.
We can spot any plane, any missile,
anything that's airborne.
Image is fading, sir.
There it goes again.
Same trouble.
Green Dog, Green God,
this is Pyramid.
Check your equipment.
Our image is fading. Over.
This is Green Dog.
This is Green Dog.
Our equipment
is working okay. Over.
The signal's going out okay from here,
sir. There's no drop in power.
- There must be some interference.
There's no other answer.
- Try increasing the power.
We're pushing the atomic plant
as much as we can now.
We've got to lick this power fade.
Tell them to pour it on.
Peterson.
Pete, this is Cummings,
Master Control.
We want you to give us
everything you've got.
But Jeff, we've already
exceeded the designed limits.
Every time you take a test
you ask for more power.
If I take any more rods out, the
reactor's liable to go out of control.
Well, take some more out.
We'll have to risk it.
- We've got to have more power.
- Okay, it's your funeral.
Mine too, probably.
- Yes, sir?
- Remove ten more rods
from reactor number three.
- That's crazy, sir.
- Yeah, I know, but it's an order.
Power's been boosted, sir,
but still can't increase image further.
It doesn't matter how much
we boost the transmitter power
if it doesn't reach the plane.
You know, it's almost as if the power
were being drained off.
Well, we'll just have to
keep working on it.
And in the meantime, what new excuse
do I give the Pentagon?
This is Green Dog.
This is Green Dog.
Standing by
for instructions. Over.
Okay, Green Dog.
Okay, Green Dog.
Test Baker is completed.
Return to base.
Repeat, Test Baker is completed.
Return to base. Over.
- Roger and out.
- Okay, Sergeant, let's close shop.
Jacques Griselle's sum of good
overshadows the other.
What has he marked up
in the ledger for good...
as against the ledger for bad?
He was a good and generous man...
And now we consecrate the worldly
remains of our beloved Jacques...
to the good earth
from whence he sprang.
- Closer and closer.
- Thank goodness the cows
are getting used to them.
Aye.
Are we eating soon?
It'll be ready in a minute.
I just want to feed the chickens first.
Amelia! Amelia!
Amelia! Amelia!
What is it?
What is it?
What happened?
Amelia!
- Can I see you home, Barbara?
- No, thank you, Mayor.
I think I better go back with Professor
Walgate, keep my mind occupied.
Are you sure you want to?
My work can wait, you know.
Say, Mayor!
Ben Adams and his wife are dead,
same as young Griselle.
- Where?
- Up at their farm.
At the edge of the air base.
But Mayor Hawkins, you're taking
a great deal for granted.
There is absolutely no evidence...
pointing to radioactive fallout...
or radioactive
contamination of any kind.
Yes, we'll do everything we can,
I assure you.
Yes. Yes. Good-bye.
In addition to our headaches
with the Pentagon,
we're now being accused of killing off
the people in this town.
Perhaps they'd cooperate,
sir, if we could explain more
about our antimissile program.
- Not the secrets...
- You know that's impossible, Jeff.
Come in.
It'll be rough
if the town turns against us.
Sir, we began a complete
investigation of the Adams farm,
but the local constable,
a man named Gibbons,
told us to get off the place.
Said it came under his jurisdiction,
and we had no business being there.
What kind of cooperation
do you call that?
They're nervous, upset. We've got
to find out how those people died.
Suppose you get
all of the Adams' relatives.
See if you can persuade them
to let us do an autopsy.
- Yes, sir, I'll try.
- Reassure them. Promise them anything.
But get hold of those bodies.
I made a complete autopsy
on both cases.
I called Dr. Bradley in to check
my findings, and our opinions concur.
It's fantastic.
On examination
of the skull of Mr. Adams,
I noticed two small holes on
the base of the occipital region here.
They penetrated
to the medulla oblongata,
where the spinal cord
meets the brain.
I opened the skull
to investigate and found this.
The brain, it's gone!
Yes, sucked out like an egg
through those two holes.
That's not all.
The entire spinal cord is missing.
But it...
it's incredible.
It's as if some mental
vampire were at work.
Where has the brain
and spinal cord gone?
I'm a doctor, Colonel,
not a detective.
There's nothing like this
in the books.
Major Cummings had the best
explanation so far... mental vampire.
That's rubbish!
Possibly some animal...
Colonel, Colonel, I've lived
in these backwoods all my life,
and I can assure you there's no animal
in these parts that could do that.
Maybe that guy Gibbons was right
about the supernatural.
Well, whatever the explanation,
we'll find it.
We must find it.
In the meantime, Doctor,
I trust I can rely on your discretion.
Not to tell the mayor or
the townspeople?
Of course. I've got an overworked
practice as it is, Colonel.
Thank you.
Dr. Warren, I want you
to get on the phone.
Consult the top medical specialists,
wherever they are.
- Yes, sir.
- Captain,
contact the best authorities.
Tell them what the problem is.
Find out what they have to say.
Jeff, the townsfolk know you.
Talk to them.
Check on anything that seems to be
extraordinary, no matter what it is.
Hello?
Anybody home?
Uh, Miss Griselle?
Oh, Miss Griselle, I, uh...
Great.
Look, um, Miss Griselle,
I'm sorry for, um,
barging in like that.
But, well, I knocked
and there was no answer.
The door was open, so l...
Make yourself at home, Major.
I'll be out in a minute.
Uh, thank you.
Found something interesting?
Oh, I was just glancing around...
That's all right. Prof. Walgate was
preparing these for publication anyway.
- Are you collating his material?
- I do most of it.
He dictates on this.
I edit the tapes and prepare
the draft manuscripts.
- That's some job.
- Mmm, but interesting.
The professor must be
quite a guy... thought control,
sibonetics, all that stuff.
That's only half of it.
Strange, isn't it, finding a man
like that here in Winthrop?
In these uncivilized backwoods,
I think you were going to say.
Well, I'm afraid so.
The explanation is quite a simple one.
Prof. Walgate had a stroke
about five years ago.
- He's retired now.
- Well, he still works.
- And at odd hours.
- Odd hours?
He thinks nothing of starting
work at 11:00 at night...
and working until the small
hours of the morning.
The mayor mentioned that Walgate
was an authority on psychic phenomena.
- Is that still a hobby if his?
- I don't know.
If it is, he'll have
Dr. Bradley after him.
Dr. Bradley said
no more overwork or excitement.
- What about you?
- What do you mean?
Don't you ever get
some time off?
Well, sometimes.
Hello, Howard.
Come on in.
Oh, this is Major Cummings
from the base.
Yeah, I know.
We've met.
Well, I guess
I'll be running along.
You've only just
been here a few minutes.
I was just passing
on my way back to the base.
Quite a roundabout route.
The new airfield extension
covers a lot of ground.
- Too much for Winthrop's liking.
- It must keep you busy.
Yes, yes,
there's a lot to do.
- I'll bet there is.
- Come again?
You found that G.I. Killer yet?
You'd be far better off huntin' him down
instead of tomcattin' around here.
I should bust you...
Cut it out, the both of you!
Come on!
Sorry. I hope
I didn't break anything.
I think you'd better leave. You've done
enough damage for one morning.
- Good night, sir.
- Oh, good night, Sergeant.
When you tell me you haven't
known me long enough...
Oh. Yeah, okay.
Okay, I'll see ya later.
How do you like that? She says
we haven't been properly introduced.
And she's a nurse.
I hope you made out better
with the museums and stuff.
- They all think I'm crazy.
How'd you make out?
- We've got work to do.
Uh-uh. You're the guy
who works after 5:00, not me.
This is serious. I want you
to get me all the information
you can on Prof. Walgate.
Everything he's ever written...
books, articles, everything.
Don't worry. I'll have this guy
in check by tomorrow night.
So long, Mayor.
All right, fellas, all right.
Let's stop this nonsense.
No fancy atomic radiation
caused these deaths.
What about the mayor?
What killed him?
Who are you trying to fool?
It's the atomic fallout.
Hold it, fellas! Hold it!
Someone murdered the mayor.
The same maniac that killed Jacques
Griselle, Ben Adams and his wife.
- Where is he?
- If you'll shut up, I'll tell you.
Quiet there. Let him talk.
Now, the fellow we're after
is out there in the woods.
Probably some mad G.I.
That's gone wild.
He can't move far if we move fast.
- Let's stop jabbering and get after him!
- Let's get him!
All right, now. Let's go!
Right, fellas.
Let's find this guy.
- Keep a sharp lookout, okay?
- Yeah, Gibbons.
Okay, let's go.
Excuse me, sir.
This just came in from the FBI.
Hmm. "Walgate. Brilliant scientist.
Recluse. Considered highly eccentric."
That old guy Walgate sounds like a cross
between Einstein and Robinson Crusoe.
It gets more interesting
all the time.
Okay, Sergeant,
I'm going out for a while.
Well, hello.
Nice to see you again.
I'm very busy.
Well, I'd like to see the professor.
Oh. Yes, of course.
Thank you.
Come in.
Prof. Walgate, Major Cummings
from the air base to see you.
- Sorry to barge in like this, Professor.
- Not at all.
These days I welcome
any excuse to stop work.
Isn't that so, Barbara?
Please take a chair, Major.
Thank you.
I came to see you
about this business with the mayor.
Oh, terrible tragedy.
Really terrible.
- I need your help.
- Anything you say. Just name it.
This is the fourth death
in the space of a few days.
Not only are they terrible tragedies,
but they're turning the townsfolk
against us.
It's just ignorance,
my dear fellow.
These people are simple, one might say.
Narrow in their outlook.
Of course, the very secrecy
of your activities doesn't help.
This development of radar
boosted by atomic power.
What gave you that idea, sir?
There was a piece in the Patents Journal
about your work on reactors.
It wasn't a year ago I read somewhere
about the new radar patents.
Wasn't this territory's
idea for that kind of work.
I put two and two together.
- And made five?
- Shall we say four and a half?
But you don't have to worry, Major.
What I surmise I keep to myself.
- Well, I hope so, sir.
- Let me offer you a drink. Whiskey?
Uh, yes, please.
Straight.
- Barbara?
- Uh, no, thank you, Professor.
I'll have the last chapter
finished tomorrow.
That's fine.
That's real progress.
I've already begun on volume two.
My mind is really buzzing
with these strange words.
Just a few elementary ideas
on the subject, Major.
Not so advanced
as present-day developments.
I'll transcribe these
while you talk. Excuse me.
That business with her brother...
She was devoted to him.
Yes, it was a tough break.
I don't want to seem morbid,
but did you see his face
after he died?
- Yes.
- What was it like?
I have a reason for asking.
Well, it was an expression
of complete horror.
Fright.
Almost insane, I guess.
- What is it? What gives?
- Did you get him?
- Okay, fellas, okay.
- Was it him?
No, just a false alarm.
That's all.
As you said yourself, sir, the people
here are simple and superstitious.
- Maybe they're not so wrong after all.
- What do you mean?
Mmm, about the supernatural.
Something unreal, something
never seen by anyone before.
I can't accept that.
I've always disproved such theories.
- What is it, then?
- Nothing supernatural, I'm sure.
I can't believe that.
I'm a scientist.
You've made a study of psychic
phenomena, haven't you?
It can't be that!
It can't be!
Professor, you know
what Dr. Bradley said.
Was it absolutely necessary
to upset the professor?
It's nothing, nothing, Barbara.
The major and I were just
having a quiet talk. I got dizzy.
Well, your quiet little talk
is over, Major.
First Howard Gibbons,
now the professor.
Do you have to go around
making trouble?
- You really believe that, don't you?
- I can believe my eyes.
I'm sorry, Professor.
I didn't mean to disturb you.
No, not at all.
Forgive me if I don't rise.
Yes, certainly. Excuse me.
It's me! It's Frank!
Have you finished
searching the quarry yet?
Yeah, and the men are tired.
They want to go home.
But they can't quit now!
We've almost reached the air base.
Well, you better tell 'em.
They won't listen to me.
Okay, fellas,
you spread out again.
We'll join up
at the Adams' fence.
- Say, you hear something?
- Yeah. Funny sound.
You take that path,
and I'll take this one.
- If you see anything, shout.
- You said not to let
each other out of sight.
These parts run almost parallel
to each other. We'll meet up a ways.
The dawn's beginnin' Let's
wait a little. We'll see better then.
Oh, we're close to it.
Now come on, boy.
Go on, fella.
You take that way.
Gibbons! Gibbons!
Where are you?
Gibbons!
Where the heck are you?
Gibbons!
Gibbons! Gibbons!
Where are you?
Gibbons! Gibbons!
Gibbons!
I think you should go home,
Mrs. Gibbons.
No. I'm all right, Doctor.
I'll wait here for my boy.
Don't worry.
We'll find him.
Oh, where is Howard?
Where is he?
- We've searched everywhere.
- He just disappeared.
Oh, I don't believe it.
He must be there.
- I'm gonna look for him myself.
- You can't go in the woods alone.
Oh, but I've got to find him.
I've got to find my boy!
You'd better see that she gets home.
Get your wife to look after her.
- Have you searched
the woods thoroughly?
- We kept calling for him.
If Gibbons is out there
and alive, he would've heard us.
No point in searching any more.
I reckon we ought to call
a council meeting...
and decide
what we're going to do.
- What about it, Bradley?
- Well, let's get Melville.
He's the deputy mayor.
I suppose it's up to him.
I think that's a good idea.
Good evening.
Everyone quiet, please.
You all know why we're here.
We've had four deaths, and now
our constable has disappeared.
The cause of these deaths
is still unknown.
Everybody seems to have
their own ideas,
and they all seem connected
with the new air base.
- Now you're talkin'
- For this reason,
I've asked Major Cummings
to this meeting.
He's going to help us
in any way he possibly can.
That goes for his commanding officer,
who is very concerned
about what's happened.
Cut out the soft soap, Melville.
Let's get down to brass tacks.
All I know is, before this air base
came here, we were doing fine.
Now you and these Air Force fellows
tell us that it's not radiation at all.
Well, maybe you're right at that.
I don't know.
But forgetting about the deaths,
how do you explain the change in quality
of the cows' milk, even the quantity?
Let the major tell me about that.
Go ahead, Major.
No one can make anyone believe something
if they don't want to believe it.
But it has been proven
that there has been no radiation
affecting anyone in Winthrop.
- Hmm.
- Not even the cows.
As for the milk... I don't know enough
about farming, but I would assume...
Griselle did.
He knew his business.
So do I. It was the noise
of the jets that did it.
It frightened the herd.
But I can tell you
that the herd is normal again.
They've got used to it.
Thank you.
As for the deaths, gentlemen, we are
equally at a loss to give an answer.
Now, there's been some talk
of a mad G.I. On the prowl.
This, I can assure you,
is not true.
We've checked and rechecked
our personnel.
We know how you feel,
but we're trying to protect our
countries from a guided missile attack.
If you'd only help us
instead of fighting us.
Ah, it's all a waste of time.
Let's get rid of the base.
We had no trouble before they came here.
I think that's rather extreme...
Gibbons!
It was terrible, Jeff.
What could have happened to him?
I don't know.
- Would you like a drink?
- No. No, thanks.
Barbara, I think Prof. Walgate
is involved in these deaths.
- I don't understand.
- Neither do I. Maybe it's just a hunch.
But his background, his training...
- Oh, Jeff!
- Look, Barbara, I checked on Walgate.
This research of his...
Somehow I think it ties in with
what's happened in Winthrop.
- Oh, that's crazy.
- Is it?
- Mind if I borrow this?
- Where are you going?
I'd like to take a look
at your cemetery.
Hey! Hey!
Anybody out there?
I'm locked in here!
Hey!
Hey!
- Any word yet from Major Cummings?
- Not a thing yet, sir.
- Well, keep trying.
- Hello?
Hello, Miss Griselle.
This is Captain Chester.
I've been trying
to locate Major Cummings.
- He left here about 7:30.
- Well, did he say where he was going?
Yes. He borrowed a flashlight and said
something about going to the cemetery.
Look, I don't like
the sound of all this.
You wait there.
I'll be over right away.
Are you sure this is the place?
Oh, this is the place all right.
Hey, listen.
- Huh?
- Listen.
I don't hear anything.
Wait a minute.
Over this way.
There's someone inside all right.
It's jammed.
Here, hold this.
- Oh, hurry! Come on!
- Hold the flashlight closer.
There, it's coming.
Here he is!
Jeff! Jeff!
There's no air in here.
Keep the door open.
- He'll be all right.
- Jeff, it's me... Barbara.
- Are you all right?
- Barbara.
Yeah, you're not dreaming,
buddy, it's Barbara.
- I was locked in, no air.
- Take it easy now.
Come on, we'll get you
back to the base.
- I gotta see Walgate.
- You're in no shape to see anybody.
I've got to see Walgate.
Come in.
Good evening.
Major Cummings.
Oh, Barbara...
It's very late.
I hope you don't mind, sir.
Oh, on the contrary,
I'm glad to see you. Sit down.
We missed you
at the town council meeting.
I saw Gibbons afterwards.
His mind was gone completely mad.
- It was dreadful.
- I was hoping maybe you could help us.
- Me? How can I help you?
- You're an atomic expert.
- Who told you that?
- Our files in Washington.
- Have you been checking on me?
- Yes.
- Oh.
- Here, would you care
for a cigarette, Professor?
No, thanks.
I'm attached to my pipe.
Uh, Professor,
I read one of your books...
on the materialization
of thought.
You denied that it was possible,
but the thought was intriguing.
Yes, if it could be done, why,
man could create power by thought.
He could will a door to open.
He could perform useful work
without moving from this chair.
- Practically anything.
- I said it was impossible, didn't I?
Is it? Perhaps with atomic power
it could be done.
Oh, please. I'm tired and sick.
Stop badgering me.
I will if you'll answer me
a few questions.
- Jeff!
- I'm sorry, but I've got to go on.
What were you doing
in the cemetery tonight?
Were you, uh, looking for this?
I didn't mean to shut you in,
close the door on you.
I was frightened when I heard you.
I only wanted time to get away.
I only realized later
that you might be shut, trapped.
- I called Barbara, but...
- If she hadn't rescued me,
I wouldn't be alive.
- Jeff!
- What were you doing there, Professor?
I had to examine the mayor's body.
I had to find out the truth.
What was that?
Professor, what's the matter?
- Here, sit back.
- Professor, can you hear me?
It's a terrible story.
Shut down
your atomic plant, Major.
Call Dr. Bradley right away.
I'm going back to the base.
Jeff... be careful.
I'm afraid.
I'll be back right away.
I'd like to try that again
when I have more time.
But the thing's fantastic.
You can't shut down a whole atomic
power plant on such a wild theory.
We can't deny the facts, sir.
Griselle, the Adams couple, the mayor.
They all died a few minutes
after the peak of our radar tests,
right after our atomic plant
was operating under full power.
But it'll take months to get
the plant operating again.
That's better than risking
any more lives or madmen like Gibbons.
Okay, let's put it on ice.
How soon will you be ready, Pete?
We'll shut her down in five minutes.
- The rods are all smashed!
- What happened?
- I don't know.
- We'll never be able
to shut her down now.
- What about spares?
- We have no extras of anything.
There must be some way
of controlling the reaction.
Without the rods,
we don't stand a chance.
The nearest supply would be at
the Hanford Works on the Columbia River.
- How soon can we get
a shipment flown in?
- Four to six hours.
Get me the Hanford Works
on the Columbia River right away.
Well, Doc, how is he?
Oh, there's no question.
It's another attack, a little
more serious than the last.
- He'll be all right?
- Oh, sure, sure, sure.
See he gets plenty of rest.
Call me if there's any change.
For goodness sake, get somebody
out here to stay with you.
Jeff... Major Cummings
said he'll be back soon.
Jeff? Major Cummings?
Mm-hmm.
Obviously, those rods were destroyed.
How and for what reason we don't know.
But we do know that
we're in trouble up here.
Serious trouble.
Hello. Yes, put her through.
It's for you, Jeff.
Barbara Griselle.
Thank you.
Hello, Barbara.
Okay, good.
We'll be right over.
Right. Bye.
Walgate's regained consciousness.
I think we better get over there.
- Right.
- Al, we better get some sidearms.
Kasper, get hold of Dr. Bradley
and Melville right away.
Have them meet us
at Walgate's house.
I should feel better
after I've told you everything.
Maybe you can help me to
clear up this ghastly business.
But no matter what you do to me,
remember those horrible deaths
were beyond my control.
Go on, Professor.
For many years now,
I have been working on a theory
of thought materialization.
The entire apparatus
to give it the required boost...
is in my laboratory.
Laboratory?
I didn't know you had one.
There are many things
you didn't know, my child.
If you had, you'd never
have come here again.
You can see it later.
I knew I could never succeed
on the principles of telepathy.
I needed to stimulate my brain...
to the extent that I could detach
thought from my conscious...
to give it a separate
entity of its own.
I concentrated
on the simplest experiment:
To turn the page of a book.
I designed an instrument
to create...
a sudden and powerful
electrical boost...
to help me free my thought.
But each application
of the electric charge...
created a shock
almost equal to electrocution.
It made me ill.
Dr. Bradley diagnosed exhaustion.
He thought my illness
was caused by overwork...
in getting my papers
ready for publication.
He introduced me
to Barbara Griselle.
With Barbara as my secretary,
I was able
to satisfy my publisher...
and continue my experiments
to materialize thought.
For a long time, I persisted
in this one experiment...
without success...
until one night.
The lightning,
in striking the house,
gave my instruments a sudden
violent charge of power.
And my thought was free,
free to turn the page of a book.
I altered the design
of my equipment...
to generate
these violent power boosts.
But it was very dangerous,
and I could only undergo
each experiment...
after a long period of rest.
Whenever I felt well enough
to absorb the shock,
I found no difficulty
in moving small objects.
Eventually, I developed
a certain tolerance...
to the high voltages I used.
But what I really needed
for regular experiments...
was a new form of power,
something that was smoother,
something that would flow through
my brain without causing collapse.
The new atomic plant at the air base
provided me with this power.
I devised additional apparatus
that enabled me...
to divert a portion
of the atomic power...
that was radiating
between the ground station...
and the radar aircraft
circling 40,000 feet above.
It was power
which I could control,
and I learned how to amplify
my thoughts without hurting myself.
I was able
to detach my thoughts...
and allow them
to work on their own.
I began to devise a being...
into which the thought,
once released,
could enter and preserve itself
for all humanity.
I envisaged something akin
to the human brain...
with life and mobility...
but without the limitations
of man's body.
I concentrated my entire thought
on its creation.
I succeeded!
But, like thought itself,
it was invisible.
That night I entered my laboratory...
to take advantage of a radar test...
only to find the place in shambles,
my equipment wrecked beyond repair.
All of my notes
about its creation...
and how I thought
it could be controlled...
were destroyed.
I knew now that
I had created a fiend.
There was no other explanation.
I was helpless,
but whom could I tell?
Who would believe
such a fantastic story?
I could sense the presence of the fiend
there in the room with me,
growing more powerful
with each succeeding day.
My one desire
was to destroy the thing,
but I possessed no means
of projecting my thought to do so.
Then I could hear it.
Was it possible that
there were more than one?
I was unable to stop them.
They were now drawing power
from the atomic station.
Its intelligence had expanded.
It now knew how to escape.
And then followed these horrible
deaths and Gibbons' madness.
I had to know what I had done.
I had to see one of the bodies.
I went to the mayor's tomb.
I now know that I have
created a mental vampire,
a fiend that needs
to drain the intellect...
to survive and multiply.
I'll get it.
Supposing you're right, Professor,
how does it live?
How else but on the brains
and nerve centers...
removed from these dead people.
Then where are they, and why
can't we see them? This is nonsense.
We're facing a new form of life...
that nobody understands.
I believe it feeds on the radiation
from your atomic plant,
and that it's evil.
Professor, it's my opinion
that the evil's all in your mind.
You're in need
of medical assistance.
Doctor, I'm glad you're here.
This man's become a raving lunatic.
Hey, what's going on out there?
Hey, look!
Hello. Hello!
Professor, what's wrong
with your telephone?
Nothing should be the matter,
unless they've got enough
intelligence to cut the lines.
Jeff, I want you to get over to
the air base. I want emergency patrols.
He's dead.
Give me a hand with this.
Barricade those windows!
Have you got anything
we can nail across that window?
There's some lumber
in my laboratory.
- I've gotta get out!
- Oh, pull yourself together
and help me with this!
Well, at least lock the door!
Oh, never mind!
- Hey, Captain, give me a hand.
- Yes, sir.
If we'd only see them,
we'd know what to do.
- Is there any way to make them visible?
- Not that I know.
Unless it's a question of the amount
of atomic radiation that's available.
Hello? Hello, Kasper?
I want to talk to the colonel.
Hello? Hello, Kasper?
Are you there? Hello, hello?
I've got to get out of here,
I tell you!
Oh, no, no.
Melville, no, no.
Get back. Get back.
Melville, Melville,
get a grip on yourself.
- Get ahold of yourself.
- But l...
Why are they so quiet?
Maybe they're gonna leave us alone.
I doubt it. But they've
just put out a burst of energy.
Perhaps they need to rest.
Colonel Butler, how long does it take
to shut down your atomic plant?
- Why?
- If my theory is right,
without the radiation of which
I was speaking, these things must die.
- Good grief!
- What is it?
What do you see?
Let me through!
Hey, Jeff, Professor,
they're becoming visible!
Someone or something must have increased
the power at the atomic plant.
What have I unleashed?
- It's ghastly! It's horrible!
- You can say that again.
It all ties up with what
Dr. Warren explained to us.
Look carefully.
Al, get those sidearms.
I'm sure it's the atomic plant.
So long as it goes on,
they will multiply,
getting stronger and stronger.
Yeah, well,
we'll see about that.
Well, anyway, they're mortal.
Hold it!
You'll hit him!
- He's dead.
- We've got to stop 'em!
There's only one way:
Shut down your atomic plant.
Unless we shut off the radiation,
we'll all be destroyed.
- Heaven knows how many others.
- There's a dynamite shed
between here and the plant.
If I can get through,
I can blow up the control room.
Well, if that's the way
it's got to be.
- I'm afraid it is.
- Jeff!
Must it be you, Jeff?
- I know the control room layout.
- Be careful, Jeff, please.
Yeah, I will.
And be sure and lock this door.
He can't go alone. He won't last
a minute amongst those fiends.
It's too late, Professor.
Somebody had to get through.
Then cover him
as he leaves the house.
And shoot straight.
Don't waste the shot.
- Do you see him?
- No, not yet.
- You can't, Professor!
- It's suicide!
They're my creation.
Perhaps I can control them.
Give Jeff a chance.
Lock it after me.
- That was a brave man.
- What's gonna happen to Jeff?
Take it easy now.
I know that guy.
If anybody can
get through, he can.
Oh, it's been so long
since Jeff left.
Don't even think about it.
It's so quiet.
I wonder what they're up to.
We're almost out of ammunition.
Well, Captain,
let's get started.
Doc, I'll send you some help
as soon as I get over to the air base.
- Thanks, Colonel.
- What about Jeff?
He's been gone for hours.
Jeff! Jeff!
I thought that...
It's okay, honey.
It's all over.
Well, Major,
I'm leaving you in charge.
Report back when you have
the situation well in hand.
- Good luck, Jeff.
- Thanks, boy.
Well, Doc, I hope now
that we got this thing licked,
you'll encourage your people
to cooperate with us.
Well, I reckon
we owe it to you, Major.
And it strikes me you
are setting a very good example.