Quatermass II (1955) s01e05 Episode Script

At the Quatermass Rocket Group, the source of the abnormal meteorites has been located.
A body, orbiting in space, nearing the Earth every 14 hours.
As evidence grows that artificial means are being used to spread these living things and their contact infection, Quatermass decides on desperate alternatives.
First, he orders the atomic rocket, with all its dangers, to be prepared for action, for time is short.
At the very moment of finding proof of further plague spots in the world, his Ministry contact, Fowler, is overcome.
With the prominent journalist Hugh Conrad as witness, Quatermass goes to the prefab town near the secret plant of Winnerden Flats.
He appeals to construction workers.
Proof of his words comes quickly - a fresh fall of meteorites now being sought by special personnel from the plant.
The things are coming down in hundreds.
A full invasion is on.
Conrad, infected by one of them, struggles to send a report.
Meanwhile, in special squad uniform, Quatermass manages to enter the plant where the recovered meteorites are being transferred to the first giant steel dome.
In the re-created conditions of another world, now expanding, grouping, changing in mass and shape and size, are the ammonid things.
What is the matter? Why are you looking into the inspection window? Come here and tell.
Come here and tell why you viewed the inspection window.
Attention! Attention all special personnel! Go to Gate Four.
Repeat - Gate Four.
Emergencyl Emergency! Special personnel attend to emergency at Gate Four! All special personnel to Gate Four.
Quickly, quickly, quickly! Gate Four.
They are maintenance workers, estimated 30 in number.
Stop estimating and let us in! We demand to see the management and we're going to see them now! Let us inside! Silence! Silence! This disturbance must end! It'll end as soon as this gate is open! Is that right, boys? - Tell them they've got to listen to us! - That's right, Paddy! - You tell them, Paddy! - We can hear.
No! We want to see! All right, then.
Mac, you tell them.
We have reason to believe there is something wrong with the process.
Quiet, everybody! Hear them? Things falling out there? We want to know what they are! Well, what are they? That's what we've got to know! Those are overshots.
They are to do with the working of the process.
That's no sort of answer! Where do they come from? They are harmless.
They are being collected by our special squads.
As a union official, I must object to this treatment.
Special personnel, clear the gates for trucks to enter.
Clear the gates! Special personnel, clear the gates for trucks to enter.
Clear the gates! Is that door closed? Where the hell are the light switches? Get them off! - Is he dead? - No.
But Frank and young Green.
And a whole bunch of our boys from the tent.
Filthy, slaughtering swine! Well, youse that's here, have you all got guns? And magazines like I told you? All right.
Get to that window.
And you over there, keep a lookout.
- It'll stop them.
- They were set for trouble and got it! Here's something a bit heavier.
A bazooka.
They were ready for tanks, too! - We nearly dropped it once.
- Frank and the other fellas - All right, lad.
- Were they killed? - Maybe not.
- We ran and ran.
Why did you bring us here? It's the best place.
They'll think twice before they attack, for the sake of the apparatus.
Get this beauty ready in case they bring anything heavy against us.
- Listen! - Hello there! Don't shoot! I'm coming through.
- It's a zombie! - Just a minute! - I thought I heard voices.
I had to be sure.
- It's that fella! - Where did you get those things to wear? - I took them.
- We thought you were a zombie.
- You'd be in heaven if you had been! Tonight they've killed decent men.
- And been killed.
- They started the shooting! - Of course, I'm glad you're here.
- Now, wait a minute.
There's things to tell us.
- There isn't time.
- You led us into this, you and that reporter.
- Conrad? He's gone back to London? - No, he's down there making the best of it.
- He said he was infected.
- Did he get the story through? - He was trying.
- Pray that he did.
He said that what we call overshots are really from outside the Earth.
There's something inside them alive.
Well? Look.
- The pressure dome? - Ten minutes ago I was in there.
Through an armoured panel I saw what came in those shell cases.
Tiny things in their hundreds which, while I watched, grew into strong, powerful forms! - Alive? - Breathing.
If they breathe.
Gases poisonous to us.
Absorbing black ammoniac slime.
As they did 800 million miles away.
- 800 million?! - I won't believe it! - Feeding on slime? - Yes.
The real food product of this plant.
And you've all helped to develop it! How much of this do we believe? Look here.
Oh, go on.
He can't hurt you.
Somewhere on his skin you'll find a mark, shaped like a double ring.
- Behind the ear.
- I've seen that before.
On them.
- Only on them! - What about us? - If you're right, why aren't we like that? - It wasn't necessary.
- What? - You were doing what was wanted.
- And if we hadn't? - There would still be that dome out there.
- And other plants in other countries.
- There are none! They're being made ready now! The means for these creatures to colonise the Earth.
The human being of the future! Ready to die for them.
Mister, we can't afford to disbelieve you.
We're committed.
What's the next action to take? Is it from here the gases are pumped to the pressure dome? - Cut off the supply, you mean? - Can that be done? It might.
Here.
- Who worked this place? - They did.
Aye, but we were on the construction of it, so we ought to be able to - Mac, isn't that the line of the junction pipe? - Yes.
It must be.
It would lead us to this set of Combined pressures.
200 atmospheres.
Three sub-controls.
Ammonia, methane, hydrogen Hydrogen? The product of electrolysis of water.
- Biggest unit in the country.
- What happens to oxygen? - It's piped through to the power section.
- Yes, it would be.
- Where is it piped through? - Through here.
Then we're in control! Can your men open up that food pipe and pump oxygen into it? We could try, but surely oxygen To those things in that pressure dome, it's a deadly poison.
Paddy! Paddy, where are you? We've got to get this whole section out.
Swing a length of superhose across - How long? - Give me an hour.
Ernie, hurry them up.
- No! The tackle first! - Attention! Calling unauthorised personnel now in occupation of the pressure control block.
Resistance by you must end.
It must end immediately.
Lay down your weapons and leave in an orderly fashion.
You will then be permitted to go to your homes pending further action.
- Is that so? - It is known that Quatermass is among you.
- How do they know? - Pay no attention to this troublemaker.
- See anything? - Cease resistance now.
You will be fairly treated.
Abandon all weapons and come out.
Come out and Come out and be shot to death, is it? - Trying to move in on us.
- Have they gone? One got clear.
- You know an odd thing? None tried for cover.
- Their reactions aren't normal men's.
Swine.
They must be kept away.
They may be carrying something.
You go round the boys.
Tell them what to do.
Here.
I've got work to do.
All right, let's get on with it.
Lower away.
No.
It's no good - an internal line.
I tried it.
The old woman's a worrier.
No, I haven't heard from him.
Hello? I'm his daughter.
I told them that before.
I understood he was to meet one of your staff reporters tonight.
Yes, Hugh Conrad.
Did they meet? Did you get a story from them? Why can't you tell me? Do you know where my father is? Where am I? Why do you want to know? Preparations? No.
None.
I'm working alone.
Hello? Hello?! Get me the Firing Base, quickly.
Hello, Leo! I'm worried.
There's something I want to tell you.
Stay and I'll come down.
Oh, thanks.
Hmm.
That sees everything checked, then.
Go and get some sleep in case there's an early alert.
- I said in case.
There's still no decision.
- Yes, sir.
- Hello there! You! - What is it, sir? - Oh, it's all right.
Just want to make sure.
- You can trust me, sir.
- Who's that? Right you are, miss.
- Leo! Something's gone wrong! - Oh? - I know it's meaningless now, but They rang up just now from that newspaper.
Asking as if they hadn't had the story.
- Yet they knew what it was.
- Who spoke to you? They refused to say.
They kept asking.
That was what was so odd.
Leo, they only wanted to know about this rocket.
- The rocket? - I was suddenly afraid.
- Did you tell them anything? - No.
Ohh, it's so cold.
Seven hours till dawn.
It'll get colder.
They knew where Father was.
They denied it, but I could tell.
- How? - Those voices.
The way things were put.
Leo, he's inside the plant.
I'm sure of it.
- I'll go.
- You? Oh, isn't there some other way? - The police? Or some official way? - They're a risk now.
- But surely - A risk we dare not take.
- May I come with you? - Just one of us.
No.
It's closing in, isn't it? Those woods over there.
The colour of the moonlight.
The air itself.
As if it were changing already.
Allegations have been made concerning the nature and operation of the process.
These allegations are without foundation in fact.
There has been violence.
Also, an interruption of gas supplies by unauthorised personnel.
- How is it up there? - Nearly finished! Hurry it up, will you? I said an hour.
We'll be well under.
The normal working of the plant must be allowed to proceed.
Usual night shift amenities are being provided.
Amenities? Music while you work! We have it whenever there's a night shift.
Playing it now - are they mad?! - What do you make of it? - Persuasion.
- Who are they trying to persuade? - You - that this is just a routine night and you've been led into a wild blunder.
Listen to it! There's men lying dead! - No, no! We may need that! - Paddy! All clear! Right! Let them set this to music! Let her go, Mac.
Ernie, don't take your eye off it.
Going at full pressure.
Go on.
- Pure oxygen.
Are you sure about that? - Yes.
Once it begins to work - when that will be depends on many factors, mostly unknown - but come here.
That pipe must be kept clear.
It goes pretty well straight up and high.
They'd have a job to get at it, but Did you hear that, mates? - How long before something happens? - I can't tell.
Damn music! When you mix oxygen and what do you call it hydrogen, isn't it an explosive mixture? Eventually, but that's not what we're trying to do.
The oxygen should work on its own by now.
Ahh.
How long is it? Only a few hours since we were down at the pub.
Celebrating.
Aye.
It's the day now.
I'm 25 years married.
- Good old Mac.
- You should try it sometime, Paddy.
- The wedded state.
I remember once we - Attention! Attention! Normal working must be restored.
Disruption must cease.
The management are anxious to co-operate.
Anyone injured in recent violence will be treated immediately.
The canteen is also open for normal service.
Unauthorised personnel in the pressure control block report to the canteen.
All questions can be settled there.
Leave any weapons and go to the canteen.
- Go now! Go! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! - Listen! It must be starting to work! "Leave any weapons"! Do you hear them? Everybody stay right where you are! - A zombie trying to get to the pipe.
- They'll try anything.
- Think they'll rush us? - Not till the last.
Attention! Attention! This is a final appeal.
You are destroying the process you worked to create, you and your comrades.
Oxygen gas being passed into the Pressure Dome A will destroy a priceless food product.
You have been misled.
You are betraying your comrades.
They will suffer for your folly.
Here is an offer.
The entire plant is open for your inspection as from now.
Whatever you wish to see will be shown to you.
This is in good faith.
- Hear that? - It's just a bluff, isn't it? - It's what we asked for! - They're desperate.
McLeod, you're a fool - What proof have you given us? - For heaven's sake, man! - I've listened to you too long! - This is the last appeal to reasonable men.
- Do not betray your work and your comrades.
- Hello? Hello? You are chosen workers in a unique and revolutionary process.
- My name's McLeod.
Put me through.
- Who is that? EJ McLeod, shop steward.
I'm accepting your offer.
- I want to see inside Pressure Dome A.
- Don't do it! I told you what's in there! - At the least, you'll be infected! - Hurry.
Come alone or bring your companions.
- Make them go with you.
- I want your men to come with me.
- Agreed.
- They're at their most dangerous! They'll be in mortal agony! Meet one minute from now outside Pressure Dome A.
Confirm this.
- I'll be there.
- Mad and useless! They said good faith.
If they break it, do what you can.
- I'll go with you.
- No.
You're in charge here.
But the others - I'm with you, Mac.
We've stuck together.
- Let's have that door open.
- For the last time, won't you believe me? - I'll believe my own eyes.
Keep them covered, as far as you can.
Did you see their men? No guns on any of them.
Maybe they mean it.
It won't be long now.
One way or the other, we'll know when they come out.
Hey, listen! - I heard something along the pipe like - What, Ernie? - Men.
- Men? - A long way off, sort of yelling.
- How long did it go on? - Just a moment.
A few seconds.
- Ssh! - There's something.
- It's It's different now.
Seems to come from the other end of the pipe.
At the dome.
Men! Do you see anything? Hello? Hello? Is anybody there? - What was that? - No reply? I thought I saw a man.
Running away from the dome.
A zombie? Look at the pressure! Hey, up there! Cut the oxygen, quick! Walter! Everything off! No higher.
- You know what that meant.
- The pipe's blocked.
- Blocked? How could it be? - I said they were in agony.
- They had to stop the oxygen flowing.
- What with? - I'm going to open it up! - No! Don't do that! I'm going to do it, mister! If what you said is true, what's blocking that pipe might even be Come on, everybody! Ernie, never mind that gauge! It's coming! When I shout, everybody back! Right! It's coming now! There's something trickling.
You hear it? Hear it? Blood! - I tried to stop them.
- You mean? Mac? And the others? Their own men, too.
They They must have taken them and used them to block the pipe.
Th-They're jammed in the pipe? A human pulp! - No, no, no! - Hold it, men! If the gas is sparked, there'll be no chance! Leo, what are you doing here? Quatermass! I got here The explosion The whole tank went up.
Leo, it was full of them.
The ammonates.
It's clearing now.
Lucky you had the window closed.
Leo, there are men back there.
They've got to get help.
- In the pressure tank? - That's nothing.
- I went to look.
There's nothing.
They're gone.
- Destroyed? All of them.
The whole plant's a wreck.
- They're finished.
- So Sounds like helicopters.
Coming this way.
Leave it to them! Quatermass, we've got to get back to the rocket! Quickly! - Why? What's happened? - You drive.
Got to get back to the rocket! This is what Leo told you about.
The list.
Father, I couldn't believe I'd see you again! Calls every few minutes asking for you and then cutting off.
No names.
And always different voices.
As if they knew, knew you were dead.
- Have there been planes over here before? - No.
Hello? When did Fowler send this? Not long after you left.
From the Ministry.
Just those names of countries, over and over.
- Gradually, he couldn't speak.
- "Protected information"! All these, in all parts of the world.
And we've only wiped out a single nest.
Hello? For heaven's sake, check the number! I wish you'd leave it.
Don't try to make that call.
I must make this known.
There's at least another two plants nearly completed and we've only got days, hours.
- One's destroyed, the others will be.
- Who's to do it? Who knows? - We can't be the only people.
- And if we are? Hello! This is Bernard Quatermass.
To whom am I speaking? Have you had the report from Hugh Conrad? Your man Conrad! About the project at Winnerden Flats! Well, have you or have you not? There's a lot more to add.
A riot last night, half the plant destroyed Hello? Hello? Hello? I've been cut off.
What? All of them? Keep trying.
There's something wrong with the lines.
- You mean they've been cut? - Leo? Have you got all the trajectories set? All possible points of interception? How are the internal lines? Up in an hour? In one hour 23 minutes.
- Miss that, you wait another 14 hours.
- "You"? Right.
Alert all sections for rocket take-off at 0817 hours.
Get me the Firing Base.
Here, you take it.
We must be able to hold out this place long enough.
There must be somebody there.
I thought I saw figures.
- Figures! - Firing Base? Hello? Who is that? Who? Your voice It's John Dillon.
He's come back.
Yes, back.
The rocket base is under our control.