Project Blue Book (2019) s01e01 Episode Script
The Fuller Dogfight
1 [Wind howling.]
Hey, McManus, training's over.
What do you say we start some trouble? I think you miss the War.
I'm low on fuel, need to head back.
Last wheels down buys beers? You go ahead.
I got one more stop to make.
Now what? It's the playoffs.
Got to support the home team.
Down by 10? Come on, guys.
You just need a little encouragement.
Go, Titans! Whoo! MAN: This is KKJH in San Diego.
[Distorted music playing.]
Control? This is flight niner-one-five.
Is there any other aircraft in the vicinity? MAN: Fargo tower.
Negative, Coop.
Nothing but open sky between you and Bismarck.
[High-pitched buzzing.]
Okay.
Come on.
[Machine-gun fire.]
[Buzzing continues.]
[Grunts.]
Control! Control.
Control.
high the moon - The darkest night would shine - [Screaming.]
You would come to me soon [Projector clicking.]
KLAATU: I came here to give you these facts.
It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet, but if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned-out cinder.
Your choice is simple.
- Join us and live in peace - All right, turn that thing off.
- Turn it off! - or pursue your present I can't take any more of this.
FAIRCHILD: Well, get used to it.
There are 15 more just like it in production right now.
It is very compelling.
The point is Truman assembled this group to control the narrative on this issue, not Hollywood.
And we are losing that war.
Maybe stop admitting defeat all the time, and you won't feel that way, Mister Secretary.
The public knows there's something going on now.
- The deeper we try and bury it - The safer we'll be.
Need I remind you we don't even know what the hell we're dealing with here.
Let Hollywood be the distraction.
It's the situation in Fargo we need to be worried about now.
[Murmuring.]
MAN: Sir.
- Sir? - Is he in? Yes, but he's in the file room.
I can get him.
- General.
- At ease.
I like what you've done to the place.
Thank you, sir.
Month in, figured I should decorate a little.
I thought you said you weren't gonna get too cozy, this just being a pit stop on your way to a post in D.
C.
No, sir.
I am fully committed to Project Blue Book.
We have a situation in Fargo.
Pilot of ours claims to have gotten into a dogfight - with an alien craft.
- A pilot of ours? Evidentially, the plane has the battle scars to prove it.
I'll get down there right away.
I need you to meet with someone first.
Name's Dr.
J.
Allen Hynek teaches astrophysics at Ohio State.
You've done great work for us, but I think it's time we got you a partner.
I've heard of him.
Did some things for us during the War.
He's a real genius dedicated his life to the sky.
If you get someone like Hynek to give the press the logical explanations that we need The public sleeps better at night.
I understand, sir.
Fair warning, though I hear he's a bit odd, kind of quiet.
So appeal to his intellect in the interview.
You should be able to close the deal.
He's not on board yet? No.
So don't let me down.
HYNEK: The past cannot be changed.
But the future is yet in our power.
Artificial satellites launched into space They will explore the upper atmosphere, create a vast communications network, and, yes, one day put a man on the moon.
Now, when we launch these objects into the sky and we will race the Russians to get there we will need to track their progress.
This satellite tracking camera system is an instrument for the collection of trajectory points.
It will provide angular measurements at the line of sight to any object and permit us - to obtain accurate positional data.
- Professor Hynek But in order for it to fulfill its potential, it will require financial support.
Professor, how does this figure into pitch? It was in the file that you laid out for me earlier.
I'm so sorry.
That, um, that be That belongs to my son.
He Sometimes he goes through my things.
He likes the drawings and the graphs, and he loves Flash Gordon.
Well, given the science-fiction we're discussing, I suppose it is appropriate.
Well, there is a big difference between science-fiction and informed speculation, Roger, although both do require an open mind.
Well, Professor, as head of our astronomy department, I suppose you would know.
So please continue.
As I was saying, the, uh the future is yet in our power.
[Knock on door.]
I'm so sorry to interrupt.
Professor Hynek, there's an urgent call for you from the Air Force.
Uh, excuse me, gentlemen.
QUINN: July of '47, Roswell, New Mexico.
Are you familiar with it? Yeah, this was that crashed Army weather balloon.
Do you remember the first reports? Invasion of the Spacemen.
My son wouldn't stop talking about it.
Yeah, when that story hit, it jammed phone lines nationwide even broke a few switchboards in the process.
"War of the Worlds" all over again who could forget that? Uh, you said on the phone that this concerned my research.
Indianapolis, '48 A man sees strange lights, calls the cops.
Papers catch on, the whole town goes nuts.
Turns out to be migrating geese.
Oregon, '49 Fisherman swears he sees a metallic disk covering a state park.
It turns out to be a water tower.
Uh, about two weeks ago in Manhattan, a college kid sees this "unearthly anomaly.
" Do you know what that is, Doc? - That's the moon.
- Bingo.
It took four Coast Guard vessels combing the Hudson for two days to arrive at that same astute determination.
That is why you're here.
Our nation is suffering from a form of mass hysteria right now, one we can't afford Not with Russia breathing down our necks and a nuclear arms race on the brink of disaster.
When people panic, communication channels jam, police can't do their jobs, and the border patrol literally chases the moon.
How would you like to help the U.
S.
Air Force instill rational scientific thinking back into our public consciousness again? Um, how? For starters, come with me to Fargo.
Pilot there by the name of Henry Fuller claims to have gotten into a dogfight with an alien spacecraft.
You want me to investigate flying saucers? I want you to help me prove to the public the truth They don't exist.
Captain, I already have a full-time job, and a grant that I'm applying for with people who are depending on me.
Thank you for the offer, but this is really not my field.
[Sighs.]
Thought you were smarter than that.
"Genius" is what I was told.
In my experience, that doesn't always mean intelligent.
What are you trying to say, Captain? I'm trying to say I think you're missing out on a great opportunity here.
I just told you this wasn't my field.
You think I started out here? I was a pilot in the Air Force, 10 years.
Flew countless missions during the War that was my field.
Never imagined I'd be doing this.
But you know why I did it? Because it's this is a chance to show the world the truth.
Kind of like Newton did when he proved the world was round.
- Pythagoras.
- Come again? Pythagoras was the first to suggest the Earth was round.
Newton is better known for discovering the law of gravity.
But you knew that already, didn't you? You are good at this persuasion.
I studied a little psychology.
It's how I got the job.
I know people.
Then tell me this If these saucers don't exist, then why so many reports? Why are people lying about what they see in the skies? I never said they were lying.
I just think they're misinformed.
But if they had the right teacher, someone they can trust, who can help clarify what's really going on up there Okay, Captain.
But I have three conditions.
MIMI: So you're still keeping your job at the University? Of course.
Nothing is more important than that.
- Well, what about the second? - A paycheck.
I can use the extra money to help secure the grant for my satellite tracking camera.
Maybe even an extra vacation this year.
And the third condition? Recognition.
The study of the flying saucers has never been done before.
- Because they're not real.
- Yes, but that's never been proven.
Not scientifically.
With my credibility, I can do that.
And maybe even get what my heroes Galileo, Kepler never did.
Recognition in my own lifetime.
You know, when I first met you, I knew you were special - a little crazy, but - Eccentric.
- I am eccentric.
- [Laughs.]
Okay.
But if this can help the world see what I see in you? I support it.
What's going on? Why are you packing? I have to leave town for a few days.
- For a new job.
- What is it? Well, um you know how Flash Gordon is always fighting these evil spacemen in your comics? Well, it's going to be a little bit like that.
That sounds silly.
Yeah, you're right, it does.
Okay, come on.
Bed time.
Come on, evil spaceman.
MIMI: Hon, remember to call me when you get there.
Okay.
Don't worry, Mrs.
Hynek.
I'll bring him back in one piece.
[Engine starts.]
HYNEK: Captain, I saw in the case file this pilot, Fuller, he flew during the War.
QUINN: Yeah, twice decorated.
So his story should be very credible.
Pilot says "aliens attacked my plane.
" I think credibility is asking a lot.
MAN: Ten hut.
Captain, welcome to Fargo.
Right this way, sir.
Lieutenant Fuller's just this way.
Is that his plane? What are they doing to it? QUINN: Not sure.
- I haven't seen that before.
- [Geiger counter clicking.]
Gentlemen, you got here quick.
We brought him out of the infirmary for your interview.
Doctors who examined him said it's mostly shock.
Keeps mumbling this song, "How High the Moon.
" Won't tell us why.
I'm told you boys are here to make this all make sense.
Sure would appreciate it if you'd do that quick.
D.
C.
's got the whole squadron grounded till you sign off.
[Singing indistinctly.]
Henry Fuller? I'm Dr.
Allen Hynek.
We'll speak the same language.
Lieutenant, I'm Captain Michael Quinn.
What's your call-sign? Lieutenant? It's Coop.
Coop.
What, like Gary Cooper? So you're a ladies' man, huh? I'm sorry, what was that song you were just singing? Those lyrics? Coop? Come on, we're both pilots.
You want to tell me what happened up there? [Mumbling indistinctly.]
Why don't you check out what's going on with that plane? You're making him nervous.
It's gonna be okay, Coop.
Just tell me what happened.
Excuse me, sir.
This area is not safe.
Radiation on the plane is way too high.
- What are your readings? - I said it's not safe.
Up until 1950, 25,000 millirems was considered the annual occupational limit.
That standard was recently lowered because short-term exposure to non-ionizable radiation has since been considered acceptable.
Did you know that? So I will ask you again.
What are your readings? And to the third decimal so I can decide if it's safe.
[Geiger counter clicking.]
Coop, come on, come on.
When did you first see it? It was, uh It was after I cleared the football field.
This was a night game, right? So a lot of light on the field This wasn't on the field, okay? This light, it was it was moving.
This light was moving fast.
Moving faster than anything I'd ever seen.
And every time I tried to catch up, it would just disappear until it attacked me.
[Machine-gun fire.]
I was fighting for my life.
So you're saying this, uh, whatever it was was was attacking you? It told me so.
Through the song.
Somewhere there's music So you're saying this thing was speaking to you through a song? Not just the lyrics.
It was It was something deeper, in the melody something I can't explain.
That's when I-I chopped power, I hit rudder, I came around on its six and I fired! Wait, wait, so you actually engaged this thing? Yes.
But it moved sideways.
The Goddamn thing, it was toying with me.
This was real, okay? This was real.
I honestly thought that I was gonna die.
You knew I was lonely, looking for someone to love Hi.
Looking for something? You knew I was lonely, looking for someone to love Excuse me, could I ask your opinion? Which shade do you think works best? It depends on who it's working for.
But, honestly? With your complexion, neither.
It's just with your hair color and features, pinks won't work.
Something a bit bolder I could show you if you'd like.
Sure.
Stay still.
What do you think? [Laughs.]
I love it.
Now your boyfriend's gonna owe me.
- You mean my husband.
- Oh, I should've known.
I'm a newlywed myself.
- Susie.
- Mimi.
Mimi.
What do you know about men's ties? Wait his plane was radioactive? Any time metal breaks the upper troposphere, it can acquire a temporary radioactive charge.
As a pilot, I would've thought you'd be familiar with that.
Sure.
But how bad was Fuller's? Normal flight even transatlantic, you won't get readings above a few millirems.
But his plane was was excessive.
Yeah, well, so is his story.
The flight maneuvers he described when that light was coming at him? Best pilot on the planet couldn't do what he said he did.
This hotshot fly-boy buzzes a football game, tries to cover it up with an even bigger lie, now we're stuck in Fargo for the evening.
That's the story I'm sticking with.
Okay, well, let's just say - that you are correct.
- Which I am.
How do you explain the damage to the underside of his plane? What type of UFO could do that? I'm I'm sorry, U.
F.
what? Unidentified flying object.
I'm simply condensing the terminology that you've been using.
Added my own touch.
This is a new science we're creating here.
It needs its own terminology.
Well, if it saves us time typing up the reports, I love it.
But in this case, I think I can actually identify what it is Fuller saw.
If you log enough time in the air, you're bound to come across more than a few of these.
It's a weather balloon.
Standard data-recording device.
They scare you when you're not expecting them.
Flight records show there was one in the area that night as well.
So the light from the stadium reflects off its white surface, creates the orb Fuller described.
Wind currents push it toward his plane, and he thinks he's in a dogfight.
Look at this.
Solid metal.
You fly too close and scrape that, it'll leave a mark.
You're impressed, aren't you? Hungry, actually.
I need to make some calculations.
That's not how it works, Doc.
So, how long have you been married? 12 years.
No.
But you're so young.
And what does your husband do? He teaches.
Astrophysics.
Should I pretend to know what that is? - It worked for me for the past 10 years.
- [Both laugh.]
Mimi, I'm new in town.
Where are all the fun spots in Columbus? And if you say the roller rink, I'm gonna squeal.
I don't think I'm the right person to ask.
Allen and I used to rumba down at the Rec Center.
But he works so much now.
Just picked up another job, too.
Really? Doing what? I can't really talk about it.
Hm.
QUINN: Good pie.
I thought you were hungry.
All right.
I'm gonna pay, then we're gonna get in the car, hit the road.
Case is closed.
This was a good chat.
Thanks.
Here you go.
Crazy about that saucer, eh? Whole town's on edge about it.
Everyone that comes in here, that's all they want to talk about.
Well, you can tell them all it was just a weather balloon.
No aliens in Fargo right now.
Yeah, that we know of.
[Chuckles.]
[Coin clatters.]
HYNEK: So the lights on the game would've given off approximately 50,000 lumens.
On a clear night at 5,000 feet, that would diffuse to approximately 100th of that.
When you take into account refraction, wind currents, uh, the fact that the balloon is cone-shaped What are you saying? Somewhere there's music Did you just put on that song? Yeah, why? In your notes, you said that Fuller said the song that song told him that he was in danger.
And you just put it on.
I don't know what you're getting at there, but song, no song it was a weather balloon.
But on paper On paper is not the same as being up in a fighter plane 5,000 feet in the air traveling 200 miles an hour.
I am just trying to find a reasonable explanation for the evidence that we have.
You have a reasonable explanation.
Me.
Well, take me up and prove me wrong.
You show me what a weather balloon looks like at 5,000 feet and I will agree with you and write the report.
But until then, the math says otherwise.
You want to play chicken at three g's just to prove a point? All right.
I'll take you on a ride.
Show you what those numbers really mean.
So, the weather-service guy sent a balloon up a couple hours ago.
Weather's a little choppy, but we should be able to re-create Fuller's exact [Indistinct conversations.]
All right, I got you.
You a little nervous, maybe? I'm not nervous.
Okay.
Maybe a little.
This is Fuller's account of the incident.
Read it aloud once we're up there.
That way we can re-create his exactly maneuvers.
I've already read this file and memorized its contents.
You sure you're not the alien? Well, maybe I am.
[Chuckles.]
MIMI: I don't know.
It's a little tight.
Well, come out and show me first.
Living a full life to call myself Mimi.
You look amazing.
I couldn't get the I don't have to drink to have myself a fling I don't have to think I'm crazy to sing I envy your husband right now.
When it comes to love You really think he'll like it? It's really expensive.
Didn't you say he just started a new job? - Mm-hmm.
- Then you deserve this.
And when he sees you in it, he'll take you out dancing every night.
And then maybe you and I can do this again sometime.
[Thunder rumbling.]
You're awfully quiet back there, Doc.
You all right? Just fine, thanks.
Might be a little bumpy if we got to go through this storm.
Should we just turn back? No, we're all right.
Hey, you're wearing that parachute, ight? Ha, ha.
[Thunder continues.]
- Hey, Captain.
- Yeah? With all the time you've logged in the air, you've never once come across something you can't explain? There's a lot of guys I know who claim they've seen lights.
"Foo fighters," they called them when we were over there.
Me personally? No.
Nothing.
All right.
There it is.
You ready with Fuller's flight sequence? - I'm ready.
- From the top.
After he saw the ball of light, - he did a 4 g dive to get under it.
- 4 g's? Better hold onto your lunch.
[Grunts.]
He saw the light speeding past.
That's when he pulled hard rudder.
[Groans.]
I thought you said this was impossible.
Don't worry.
I got this.
Captain! Stop! Look out! What's happening? We're going down.
Brace yourself, doc.
[Grunts.]
[Men shouting indistinctly.]
I got a civilian.
Need a stretcher over here.
Sir, don't move.
Can you hear us? One, two, three.
Who was that man? [Telephone ringing in distance.]
You're okay.
Well What happened to us? Well, not to get all technical about it, but we crashed.
How could you do that to us? I told you to stop.
You told me you wanted to prove your theory.
Yeah, well, I think you are trying to prove something else.
[Chuckles.]
Look, I did what you asked me to do.
I tried duplicating Fuller's moves.
Which are impossible.
And if I wasn't as good a pilot as I am, we would've been killed.
Oh, and that's supposed to make me feel better? I was fine with what we found.
I said close the case.
Yeah, well, maybe that's why the Air Force wanted me here.
Because you you let things slide too easily.
- Where are you going? - To call my wife.
MAN: Without confusion, the city of Spokane is suddenly deserted and a ghostly quiet prevails until police sound the "all clear" signal.
Despite cold and rain, Spokane demonstrates that American cities Hello? Honey? I lost track of time.
which tracks the planes and sends out the alarm.
Joel, what's wrong? Mom, how far away is Spokane, Washington? Spokane? Why? while in outlying areas, school children are guided to their appointed Oh, honey, don't watch this.
In the meantime, the National I'm sorry I'm late.
I got hung up at the store.
Come here.
- Did your father call? - Mnh-mnh.
Tell you what.
Why don't you go wash up and I'll fix us some dinner.
Okay.
HARDING: Captain.
At ease.
General, no one mentioned you were coming.
Well, I certainly wasn't planning on it.
Until they told me that you crashed a plane.
Where's the professor? Sorry, if if I may? First? That plane had a faulty service record - that no one told me about - Oh, shut up.
What the hell were you doing up there in the first place? - Testing a theory.
- What? That the Air Force doesn't know what it's doing? Need I remind you of our purpose here? The first thing I told you in our meeting? Flying saucers don't exist.
That's right.
This professor, is he bossing you around or something? No, sir.
Well, then, stop indulging his bullshit.
I want to go talk to this Airman Fuller.
I needed to disprove his theory, sir.
I don't need you disproving a theory.
I need you to write reports and close cases.
And if you can't, I'll find someone else who can.
Captain.
["How High the Moon" playing.]
Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there's heaven How high the moon What is it about that song? FULLER: You're still here.
If you would come to me soon Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? [Song stops.]
The Captain and I went up and re-created your version of the encounter.
- With a weather balloon.
- It wasn't a weather balloon.
Well, we replicated your flight path precisely, according to your account, and, uh, our plane crashed.
According to the Captain, you're lucky to be alive.
Well, frankly, we all are.
If, in fact, you did in fact do what you said you did up there.
I never said that I did.
I said the plane flew that way.
What do you mean the plane flew that way? I mean I wasn't in control.
The light flew it for me.
It was as if it was It was like it was showing me what it could do.
Why didn't you say anything about this before? Everybody else thinks I'm crazy.
You're the only one that asked about the song.
Well, I'm telling you, this is how it communicated with me.
A song playing through your headset could easily have come - from a radio station nearby.
- No.
No, no, no.
This came from my hometown.
I mean, I recognized the familiar voice.
The deejay call sign.
"This is KKJH, San Diego" Logically, that's not possible.
Logic can't begin to explain what we're dealing with here.
[Indistinct conversations.]
Hey, maybe I should drive.
I still have two good arms.
The car's yours, actually.
I got to get a flight back to D.
C.
from here.
Oh, everything all right? Yeah, just got to clean up a few things, check in with the head honchos.
They're a little pissed but, you know, we're fine.
I'll fill out the report by myself then.
I already filled it out.
Sent it out this morning.
[Helicopter rotors whirring.]
You wrote the report and you sent it in without showing it to me? Well, what did it say? Just what we proved.
That it was a weather balloon.
I spoke to Fuller last night.
He said a-all these other crazy things that you wouldn't have heard.
Like the the song Was broadcast from his hometown on the West Coast? That the light was trying to talk to him? Look, there's something you don't know about pilots who've seen combat like he has.
They can crack up.
See and hear weird things.
But I put any of that crap you're talking about in the report, he loses a career and we're stuck with a case open for no good reason.
And you don't think finding out the truth is a "good reason"? Tank's a little low.
You need to fill 'er up.
I'm a-goin' home to the hills I used to know And my thoughts are never re MAN: and a new enemy will more likely strike whenever it feels that the relativity in military or other potential is in its favor.
[ Static.]
[Crash.]
[Tires screech.]
Hey! Hey! Hey! Where are you taking me? [Projector whirring.]
VALENTINE: This encounter goes deeper than we think.
At least we may have another candidate on our hands.
You went up there, you saw Fuller.
What's your gut? Initiate him into the program.
Okay.
You make the call.
I'll make sure the Secretary stays off our back.
GIRL: 5, 3, 5, 8, 9, 7, 9, 3, 2, 3, 8, 4, - 6, 9 - [Overlapping voices.]
[Door closes.]
Allen.
I was getting worried.
I'm sorry, you know, it was just long drive.
What happened here? Oh, that was, uh, on the base.
You know, I wasn't paying attention, tripped over You know how distracted I can get.
That Air Force Captain better not be putting my husband in any danger.
How'd it all go? Dad! Oh! Here is he is.
Oh! Did you keep any eye on the house while I was gone? We started doing duck-and-cover drills at school.
- Really? - Yeah.
Dinner's ready.
Why don't you sit at the table and we'll finish all that after, okay? Duck-and-cover drills.
What other excitement did I miss? Well, I made a new friend.
She helped me pick out this new color.
What do you think? Yeah, it's, uh it's different for you.
I I love it.
[Laughs.]
Come on.
You can tell us about your new adventure.
Put Flash Gordon away.
Operator, yes, I'm trying to reach long distance.
It's a radio station in San Diego.
KKJH.
Yeah, that must be it.
Can you connect me? Hello, my name is Doctor Allen Hynek.
I was wondering if you could help me out.
By any chance, do you keep records of the songs you play and when? You do? Great, okay.
Well, if it isn't too much trouble, I was wondering what song you were playing at approximately 8:15 p.
m.
on March 3rd.
Okay.
Yes, thank you.
[Telephone rings.]
Quinn.
HYNEK: You're there.
Yeah, I just got in.
I came to pick up a few things.
What's going on? There's something you need to know.
The song that Fuller heard from San Diego? It's He was telling the truth.
I just confirmed it with the radio station.
Don't start with this again.
It's not just the song.
I think there's something more going on that's connected to what's happened.
What do you mean connected? Doc? You know what, I'm I'm wrong.
I'm overthinking this.
The case is closed.
What are you not telling me right now? [Door opens.]
Captain, I have to go.
We can talk about this later.
Have a good night.
[Dog barking in distance.]
What are you doing out here? I, uh I thought I heard something.
I guess I'm just being paranoid with all this "duck-and-cover" talk.
[Airplane engine running in distance.]
[Camera shutter clicking.]
Lieutenant? We need to do a little follow-up.
I feel fine.
[Grunting.]
What are you doing? It's okay.
You won't remember a thing when it's all over.
The darkest night would shine If you would come to me soon Until you will, how still my heart How high the moon It's taken care of.
You gonna rest easier now? GIRL: 3, 1, 5, 4, 5, 6, 5, 9.
Hey, McManus, training's over.
What do you say we start some trouble? I think you miss the War.
I'm low on fuel, need to head back.
Last wheels down buys beers? You go ahead.
I got one more stop to make.
Now what? It's the playoffs.
Got to support the home team.
Down by 10? Come on, guys.
You just need a little encouragement.
Go, Titans! Whoo! MAN: This is KKJH in San Diego.
[Distorted music playing.]
Control? This is flight niner-one-five.
Is there any other aircraft in the vicinity? MAN: Fargo tower.
Negative, Coop.
Nothing but open sky between you and Bismarck.
[High-pitched buzzing.]
Okay.
Come on.
[Machine-gun fire.]
[Buzzing continues.]
[Grunts.]
Control! Control.
Control.
high the moon - The darkest night would shine - [Screaming.]
You would come to me soon [Projector clicking.]
KLAATU: I came here to give you these facts.
It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet, but if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned-out cinder.
Your choice is simple.
- Join us and live in peace - All right, turn that thing off.
- Turn it off! - or pursue your present I can't take any more of this.
FAIRCHILD: Well, get used to it.
There are 15 more just like it in production right now.
It is very compelling.
The point is Truman assembled this group to control the narrative on this issue, not Hollywood.
And we are losing that war.
Maybe stop admitting defeat all the time, and you won't feel that way, Mister Secretary.
The public knows there's something going on now.
- The deeper we try and bury it - The safer we'll be.
Need I remind you we don't even know what the hell we're dealing with here.
Let Hollywood be the distraction.
It's the situation in Fargo we need to be worried about now.
[Murmuring.]
MAN: Sir.
- Sir? - Is he in? Yes, but he's in the file room.
I can get him.
- General.
- At ease.
I like what you've done to the place.
Thank you, sir.
Month in, figured I should decorate a little.
I thought you said you weren't gonna get too cozy, this just being a pit stop on your way to a post in D.
C.
No, sir.
I am fully committed to Project Blue Book.
We have a situation in Fargo.
Pilot of ours claims to have gotten into a dogfight - with an alien craft.
- A pilot of ours? Evidentially, the plane has the battle scars to prove it.
I'll get down there right away.
I need you to meet with someone first.
Name's Dr.
J.
Allen Hynek teaches astrophysics at Ohio State.
You've done great work for us, but I think it's time we got you a partner.
I've heard of him.
Did some things for us during the War.
He's a real genius dedicated his life to the sky.
If you get someone like Hynek to give the press the logical explanations that we need The public sleeps better at night.
I understand, sir.
Fair warning, though I hear he's a bit odd, kind of quiet.
So appeal to his intellect in the interview.
You should be able to close the deal.
He's not on board yet? No.
So don't let me down.
HYNEK: The past cannot be changed.
But the future is yet in our power.
Artificial satellites launched into space They will explore the upper atmosphere, create a vast communications network, and, yes, one day put a man on the moon.
Now, when we launch these objects into the sky and we will race the Russians to get there we will need to track their progress.
This satellite tracking camera system is an instrument for the collection of trajectory points.
It will provide angular measurements at the line of sight to any object and permit us - to obtain accurate positional data.
- Professor Hynek But in order for it to fulfill its potential, it will require financial support.
Professor, how does this figure into pitch? It was in the file that you laid out for me earlier.
I'm so sorry.
That, um, that be That belongs to my son.
He Sometimes he goes through my things.
He likes the drawings and the graphs, and he loves Flash Gordon.
Well, given the science-fiction we're discussing, I suppose it is appropriate.
Well, there is a big difference between science-fiction and informed speculation, Roger, although both do require an open mind.
Well, Professor, as head of our astronomy department, I suppose you would know.
So please continue.
As I was saying, the, uh the future is yet in our power.
[Knock on door.]
I'm so sorry to interrupt.
Professor Hynek, there's an urgent call for you from the Air Force.
Uh, excuse me, gentlemen.
QUINN: July of '47, Roswell, New Mexico.
Are you familiar with it? Yeah, this was that crashed Army weather balloon.
Do you remember the first reports? Invasion of the Spacemen.
My son wouldn't stop talking about it.
Yeah, when that story hit, it jammed phone lines nationwide even broke a few switchboards in the process.
"War of the Worlds" all over again who could forget that? Uh, you said on the phone that this concerned my research.
Indianapolis, '48 A man sees strange lights, calls the cops.
Papers catch on, the whole town goes nuts.
Turns out to be migrating geese.
Oregon, '49 Fisherman swears he sees a metallic disk covering a state park.
It turns out to be a water tower.
Uh, about two weeks ago in Manhattan, a college kid sees this "unearthly anomaly.
" Do you know what that is, Doc? - That's the moon.
- Bingo.
It took four Coast Guard vessels combing the Hudson for two days to arrive at that same astute determination.
That is why you're here.
Our nation is suffering from a form of mass hysteria right now, one we can't afford Not with Russia breathing down our necks and a nuclear arms race on the brink of disaster.
When people panic, communication channels jam, police can't do their jobs, and the border patrol literally chases the moon.
How would you like to help the U.
S.
Air Force instill rational scientific thinking back into our public consciousness again? Um, how? For starters, come with me to Fargo.
Pilot there by the name of Henry Fuller claims to have gotten into a dogfight with an alien spacecraft.
You want me to investigate flying saucers? I want you to help me prove to the public the truth They don't exist.
Captain, I already have a full-time job, and a grant that I'm applying for with people who are depending on me.
Thank you for the offer, but this is really not my field.
[Sighs.]
Thought you were smarter than that.
"Genius" is what I was told.
In my experience, that doesn't always mean intelligent.
What are you trying to say, Captain? I'm trying to say I think you're missing out on a great opportunity here.
I just told you this wasn't my field.
You think I started out here? I was a pilot in the Air Force, 10 years.
Flew countless missions during the War that was my field.
Never imagined I'd be doing this.
But you know why I did it? Because it's this is a chance to show the world the truth.
Kind of like Newton did when he proved the world was round.
- Pythagoras.
- Come again? Pythagoras was the first to suggest the Earth was round.
Newton is better known for discovering the law of gravity.
But you knew that already, didn't you? You are good at this persuasion.
I studied a little psychology.
It's how I got the job.
I know people.
Then tell me this If these saucers don't exist, then why so many reports? Why are people lying about what they see in the skies? I never said they were lying.
I just think they're misinformed.
But if they had the right teacher, someone they can trust, who can help clarify what's really going on up there Okay, Captain.
But I have three conditions.
MIMI: So you're still keeping your job at the University? Of course.
Nothing is more important than that.
- Well, what about the second? - A paycheck.
I can use the extra money to help secure the grant for my satellite tracking camera.
Maybe even an extra vacation this year.
And the third condition? Recognition.
The study of the flying saucers has never been done before.
- Because they're not real.
- Yes, but that's never been proven.
Not scientifically.
With my credibility, I can do that.
And maybe even get what my heroes Galileo, Kepler never did.
Recognition in my own lifetime.
You know, when I first met you, I knew you were special - a little crazy, but - Eccentric.
- I am eccentric.
- [Laughs.]
Okay.
But if this can help the world see what I see in you? I support it.
What's going on? Why are you packing? I have to leave town for a few days.
- For a new job.
- What is it? Well, um you know how Flash Gordon is always fighting these evil spacemen in your comics? Well, it's going to be a little bit like that.
That sounds silly.
Yeah, you're right, it does.
Okay, come on.
Bed time.
Come on, evil spaceman.
MIMI: Hon, remember to call me when you get there.
Okay.
Don't worry, Mrs.
Hynek.
I'll bring him back in one piece.
[Engine starts.]
HYNEK: Captain, I saw in the case file this pilot, Fuller, he flew during the War.
QUINN: Yeah, twice decorated.
So his story should be very credible.
Pilot says "aliens attacked my plane.
" I think credibility is asking a lot.
MAN: Ten hut.
Captain, welcome to Fargo.
Right this way, sir.
Lieutenant Fuller's just this way.
Is that his plane? What are they doing to it? QUINN: Not sure.
- I haven't seen that before.
- [Geiger counter clicking.]
Gentlemen, you got here quick.
We brought him out of the infirmary for your interview.
Doctors who examined him said it's mostly shock.
Keeps mumbling this song, "How High the Moon.
" Won't tell us why.
I'm told you boys are here to make this all make sense.
Sure would appreciate it if you'd do that quick.
D.
C.
's got the whole squadron grounded till you sign off.
[Singing indistinctly.]
Henry Fuller? I'm Dr.
Allen Hynek.
We'll speak the same language.
Lieutenant, I'm Captain Michael Quinn.
What's your call-sign? Lieutenant? It's Coop.
Coop.
What, like Gary Cooper? So you're a ladies' man, huh? I'm sorry, what was that song you were just singing? Those lyrics? Coop? Come on, we're both pilots.
You want to tell me what happened up there? [Mumbling indistinctly.]
Why don't you check out what's going on with that plane? You're making him nervous.
It's gonna be okay, Coop.
Just tell me what happened.
Excuse me, sir.
This area is not safe.
Radiation on the plane is way too high.
- What are your readings? - I said it's not safe.
Up until 1950, 25,000 millirems was considered the annual occupational limit.
That standard was recently lowered because short-term exposure to non-ionizable radiation has since been considered acceptable.
Did you know that? So I will ask you again.
What are your readings? And to the third decimal so I can decide if it's safe.
[Geiger counter clicking.]
Coop, come on, come on.
When did you first see it? It was, uh It was after I cleared the football field.
This was a night game, right? So a lot of light on the field This wasn't on the field, okay? This light, it was it was moving.
This light was moving fast.
Moving faster than anything I'd ever seen.
And every time I tried to catch up, it would just disappear until it attacked me.
[Machine-gun fire.]
I was fighting for my life.
So you're saying this, uh, whatever it was was was attacking you? It told me so.
Through the song.
Somewhere there's music So you're saying this thing was speaking to you through a song? Not just the lyrics.
It was It was something deeper, in the melody something I can't explain.
That's when I-I chopped power, I hit rudder, I came around on its six and I fired! Wait, wait, so you actually engaged this thing? Yes.
But it moved sideways.
The Goddamn thing, it was toying with me.
This was real, okay? This was real.
I honestly thought that I was gonna die.
You knew I was lonely, looking for someone to love Hi.
Looking for something? You knew I was lonely, looking for someone to love Excuse me, could I ask your opinion? Which shade do you think works best? It depends on who it's working for.
But, honestly? With your complexion, neither.
It's just with your hair color and features, pinks won't work.
Something a bit bolder I could show you if you'd like.
Sure.
Stay still.
What do you think? [Laughs.]
I love it.
Now your boyfriend's gonna owe me.
- You mean my husband.
- Oh, I should've known.
I'm a newlywed myself.
- Susie.
- Mimi.
Mimi.
What do you know about men's ties? Wait his plane was radioactive? Any time metal breaks the upper troposphere, it can acquire a temporary radioactive charge.
As a pilot, I would've thought you'd be familiar with that.
Sure.
But how bad was Fuller's? Normal flight even transatlantic, you won't get readings above a few millirems.
But his plane was was excessive.
Yeah, well, so is his story.
The flight maneuvers he described when that light was coming at him? Best pilot on the planet couldn't do what he said he did.
This hotshot fly-boy buzzes a football game, tries to cover it up with an even bigger lie, now we're stuck in Fargo for the evening.
That's the story I'm sticking with.
Okay, well, let's just say - that you are correct.
- Which I am.
How do you explain the damage to the underside of his plane? What type of UFO could do that? I'm I'm sorry, U.
F.
what? Unidentified flying object.
I'm simply condensing the terminology that you've been using.
Added my own touch.
This is a new science we're creating here.
It needs its own terminology.
Well, if it saves us time typing up the reports, I love it.
But in this case, I think I can actually identify what it is Fuller saw.
If you log enough time in the air, you're bound to come across more than a few of these.
It's a weather balloon.
Standard data-recording device.
They scare you when you're not expecting them.
Flight records show there was one in the area that night as well.
So the light from the stadium reflects off its white surface, creates the orb Fuller described.
Wind currents push it toward his plane, and he thinks he's in a dogfight.
Look at this.
Solid metal.
You fly too close and scrape that, it'll leave a mark.
You're impressed, aren't you? Hungry, actually.
I need to make some calculations.
That's not how it works, Doc.
So, how long have you been married? 12 years.
No.
But you're so young.
And what does your husband do? He teaches.
Astrophysics.
Should I pretend to know what that is? - It worked for me for the past 10 years.
- [Both laugh.]
Mimi, I'm new in town.
Where are all the fun spots in Columbus? And if you say the roller rink, I'm gonna squeal.
I don't think I'm the right person to ask.
Allen and I used to rumba down at the Rec Center.
But he works so much now.
Just picked up another job, too.
Really? Doing what? I can't really talk about it.
Hm.
QUINN: Good pie.
I thought you were hungry.
All right.
I'm gonna pay, then we're gonna get in the car, hit the road.
Case is closed.
This was a good chat.
Thanks.
Here you go.
Crazy about that saucer, eh? Whole town's on edge about it.
Everyone that comes in here, that's all they want to talk about.
Well, you can tell them all it was just a weather balloon.
No aliens in Fargo right now.
Yeah, that we know of.
[Chuckles.]
[Coin clatters.]
HYNEK: So the lights on the game would've given off approximately 50,000 lumens.
On a clear night at 5,000 feet, that would diffuse to approximately 100th of that.
When you take into account refraction, wind currents, uh, the fact that the balloon is cone-shaped What are you saying? Somewhere there's music Did you just put on that song? Yeah, why? In your notes, you said that Fuller said the song that song told him that he was in danger.
And you just put it on.
I don't know what you're getting at there, but song, no song it was a weather balloon.
But on paper On paper is not the same as being up in a fighter plane 5,000 feet in the air traveling 200 miles an hour.
I am just trying to find a reasonable explanation for the evidence that we have.
You have a reasonable explanation.
Me.
Well, take me up and prove me wrong.
You show me what a weather balloon looks like at 5,000 feet and I will agree with you and write the report.
But until then, the math says otherwise.
You want to play chicken at three g's just to prove a point? All right.
I'll take you on a ride.
Show you what those numbers really mean.
So, the weather-service guy sent a balloon up a couple hours ago.
Weather's a little choppy, but we should be able to re-create Fuller's exact [Indistinct conversations.]
All right, I got you.
You a little nervous, maybe? I'm not nervous.
Okay.
Maybe a little.
This is Fuller's account of the incident.
Read it aloud once we're up there.
That way we can re-create his exactly maneuvers.
I've already read this file and memorized its contents.
You sure you're not the alien? Well, maybe I am.
[Chuckles.]
MIMI: I don't know.
It's a little tight.
Well, come out and show me first.
Living a full life to call myself Mimi.
You look amazing.
I couldn't get the I don't have to drink to have myself a fling I don't have to think I'm crazy to sing I envy your husband right now.
When it comes to love You really think he'll like it? It's really expensive.
Didn't you say he just started a new job? - Mm-hmm.
- Then you deserve this.
And when he sees you in it, he'll take you out dancing every night.
And then maybe you and I can do this again sometime.
[Thunder rumbling.]
You're awfully quiet back there, Doc.
You all right? Just fine, thanks.
Might be a little bumpy if we got to go through this storm.
Should we just turn back? No, we're all right.
Hey, you're wearing that parachute, ight? Ha, ha.
[Thunder continues.]
- Hey, Captain.
- Yeah? With all the time you've logged in the air, you've never once come across something you can't explain? There's a lot of guys I know who claim they've seen lights.
"Foo fighters," they called them when we were over there.
Me personally? No.
Nothing.
All right.
There it is.
You ready with Fuller's flight sequence? - I'm ready.
- From the top.
After he saw the ball of light, - he did a 4 g dive to get under it.
- 4 g's? Better hold onto your lunch.
[Grunts.]
He saw the light speeding past.
That's when he pulled hard rudder.
[Groans.]
I thought you said this was impossible.
Don't worry.
I got this.
Captain! Stop! Look out! What's happening? We're going down.
Brace yourself, doc.
[Grunts.]
[Men shouting indistinctly.]
I got a civilian.
Need a stretcher over here.
Sir, don't move.
Can you hear us? One, two, three.
Who was that man? [Telephone ringing in distance.]
You're okay.
Well What happened to us? Well, not to get all technical about it, but we crashed.
How could you do that to us? I told you to stop.
You told me you wanted to prove your theory.
Yeah, well, I think you are trying to prove something else.
[Chuckles.]
Look, I did what you asked me to do.
I tried duplicating Fuller's moves.
Which are impossible.
And if I wasn't as good a pilot as I am, we would've been killed.
Oh, and that's supposed to make me feel better? I was fine with what we found.
I said close the case.
Yeah, well, maybe that's why the Air Force wanted me here.
Because you you let things slide too easily.
- Where are you going? - To call my wife.
MAN: Without confusion, the city of Spokane is suddenly deserted and a ghostly quiet prevails until police sound the "all clear" signal.
Despite cold and rain, Spokane demonstrates that American cities Hello? Honey? I lost track of time.
which tracks the planes and sends out the alarm.
Joel, what's wrong? Mom, how far away is Spokane, Washington? Spokane? Why? while in outlying areas, school children are guided to their appointed Oh, honey, don't watch this.
In the meantime, the National I'm sorry I'm late.
I got hung up at the store.
Come here.
- Did your father call? - Mnh-mnh.
Tell you what.
Why don't you go wash up and I'll fix us some dinner.
Okay.
HARDING: Captain.
At ease.
General, no one mentioned you were coming.
Well, I certainly wasn't planning on it.
Until they told me that you crashed a plane.
Where's the professor? Sorry, if if I may? First? That plane had a faulty service record - that no one told me about - Oh, shut up.
What the hell were you doing up there in the first place? - Testing a theory.
- What? That the Air Force doesn't know what it's doing? Need I remind you of our purpose here? The first thing I told you in our meeting? Flying saucers don't exist.
That's right.
This professor, is he bossing you around or something? No, sir.
Well, then, stop indulging his bullshit.
I want to go talk to this Airman Fuller.
I needed to disprove his theory, sir.
I don't need you disproving a theory.
I need you to write reports and close cases.
And if you can't, I'll find someone else who can.
Captain.
["How High the Moon" playing.]
Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there's heaven How high the moon What is it about that song? FULLER: You're still here.
If you would come to me soon Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? [Song stops.]
The Captain and I went up and re-created your version of the encounter.
- With a weather balloon.
- It wasn't a weather balloon.
Well, we replicated your flight path precisely, according to your account, and, uh, our plane crashed.
According to the Captain, you're lucky to be alive.
Well, frankly, we all are.
If, in fact, you did in fact do what you said you did up there.
I never said that I did.
I said the plane flew that way.
What do you mean the plane flew that way? I mean I wasn't in control.
The light flew it for me.
It was as if it was It was like it was showing me what it could do.
Why didn't you say anything about this before? Everybody else thinks I'm crazy.
You're the only one that asked about the song.
Well, I'm telling you, this is how it communicated with me.
A song playing through your headset could easily have come - from a radio station nearby.
- No.
No, no, no.
This came from my hometown.
I mean, I recognized the familiar voice.
The deejay call sign.
"This is KKJH, San Diego" Logically, that's not possible.
Logic can't begin to explain what we're dealing with here.
[Indistinct conversations.]
Hey, maybe I should drive.
I still have two good arms.
The car's yours, actually.
I got to get a flight back to D.
C.
from here.
Oh, everything all right? Yeah, just got to clean up a few things, check in with the head honchos.
They're a little pissed but, you know, we're fine.
I'll fill out the report by myself then.
I already filled it out.
Sent it out this morning.
[Helicopter rotors whirring.]
You wrote the report and you sent it in without showing it to me? Well, what did it say? Just what we proved.
That it was a weather balloon.
I spoke to Fuller last night.
He said a-all these other crazy things that you wouldn't have heard.
Like the the song Was broadcast from his hometown on the West Coast? That the light was trying to talk to him? Look, there's something you don't know about pilots who've seen combat like he has.
They can crack up.
See and hear weird things.
But I put any of that crap you're talking about in the report, he loses a career and we're stuck with a case open for no good reason.
And you don't think finding out the truth is a "good reason"? Tank's a little low.
You need to fill 'er up.
I'm a-goin' home to the hills I used to know And my thoughts are never re MAN: and a new enemy will more likely strike whenever it feels that the relativity in military or other potential is in its favor.
[ Static.]
[Crash.]
[Tires screech.]
Hey! Hey! Hey! Where are you taking me? [Projector whirring.]
VALENTINE: This encounter goes deeper than we think.
At least we may have another candidate on our hands.
You went up there, you saw Fuller.
What's your gut? Initiate him into the program.
Okay.
You make the call.
I'll make sure the Secretary stays off our back.
GIRL: 5, 3, 5, 8, 9, 7, 9, 3, 2, 3, 8, 4, - 6, 9 - [Overlapping voices.]
[Door closes.]
Allen.
I was getting worried.
I'm sorry, you know, it was just long drive.
What happened here? Oh, that was, uh, on the base.
You know, I wasn't paying attention, tripped over You know how distracted I can get.
That Air Force Captain better not be putting my husband in any danger.
How'd it all go? Dad! Oh! Here is he is.
Oh! Did you keep any eye on the house while I was gone? We started doing duck-and-cover drills at school.
- Really? - Yeah.
Dinner's ready.
Why don't you sit at the table and we'll finish all that after, okay? Duck-and-cover drills.
What other excitement did I miss? Well, I made a new friend.
She helped me pick out this new color.
What do you think? Yeah, it's, uh it's different for you.
I I love it.
[Laughs.]
Come on.
You can tell us about your new adventure.
Put Flash Gordon away.
Operator, yes, I'm trying to reach long distance.
It's a radio station in San Diego.
KKJH.
Yeah, that must be it.
Can you connect me? Hello, my name is Doctor Allen Hynek.
I was wondering if you could help me out.
By any chance, do you keep records of the songs you play and when? You do? Great, okay.
Well, if it isn't too much trouble, I was wondering what song you were playing at approximately 8:15 p.
m.
on March 3rd.
Okay.
Yes, thank you.
[Telephone rings.]
Quinn.
HYNEK: You're there.
Yeah, I just got in.
I came to pick up a few things.
What's going on? There's something you need to know.
The song that Fuller heard from San Diego? It's He was telling the truth.
I just confirmed it with the radio station.
Don't start with this again.
It's not just the song.
I think there's something more going on that's connected to what's happened.
What do you mean connected? Doc? You know what, I'm I'm wrong.
I'm overthinking this.
The case is closed.
What are you not telling me right now? [Door opens.]
Captain, I have to go.
We can talk about this later.
Have a good night.
[Dog barking in distance.]
What are you doing out here? I, uh I thought I heard something.
I guess I'm just being paranoid with all this "duck-and-cover" talk.
[Airplane engine running in distance.]
[Camera shutter clicking.]
Lieutenant? We need to do a little follow-up.
I feel fine.
[Grunting.]
What are you doing? It's okay.
You won't remember a thing when it's all over.
The darkest night would shine If you would come to me soon Until you will, how still my heart How high the moon It's taken care of.
You gonna rest easier now? GIRL: 3, 1, 5, 4, 5, 6, 5, 9.