Original subtitles

My name is Thomas Vail, or at least it was.

I'm a photographer.

I had it all. A wife, Allison, friends, a career.

And in one moment, it was all taken away.

All because of a single photograph.

I have it.

They want it.

And they will do anything to get the negative.

I'm keeping this diary as proof that these events are real.

I know they are.

They... Have to be.

I'm not always sure of the information that I receive.

I've been given single names, street names, addresses, places of business,

names of towns.

But this time, I've been given more than usual.

A name and an address.

The man's name is John Meyerson.

He lives in Rockwater, a small town in Colorado.

And that's what brought me out here.

The hope that maybe, just maybe, if I could find John Meyerson, I might come

step closer to the truth.

Man, I should have stuck my thumb out before it got dark.

Meyerson, thanks a lot.

Not a problem.

Hank Bauer's the name.

Tom Vale.

Nice to meet you, Tom. Likewise.

Thanks.

Got any interest in scrap?

No, not that I know of.

Well, don't knock it till you've tried it.

There's about 200 bucks worth back there. Oh, yeah? That took only three

scratch up.

Some weeks are better than others, though.

Yeah, I know the feels.

Do they make a living off that stuff?

Oh, no, I got a repair shop back in town.

Fixing cars is my meat and potatoes.

Scrap's just sort of a... a passion thing.

So you live in Rockwater? All my life.

Probably then some.

You know a man named Meyerson?

What's your business with John Meyerson?

Uh, just, uh, just personal.

I'm afraid you're out of luck.

Oh, yeah? Why's that?

Guess you don't know much about what's been going on around here the last

of years

What is all this?

Folks come for the sightings.

Sightings? Well, call them what you like.

Close encounters, UFOs, whatever name you got for them.

When it happens, it's a hell of a show.

You're welcome to stick around if you want.

Rockwater's about ten miles down the road. Don't turn right, don't turn left,

you'll find it. Listen, Hank, what did you mean when you said I was out of luck

if I was looking for John Meyerson?

John Meyerson disappeared 16 months ago.

Went out one night for a walking.

No one's never seen or heard from the man again.

Of course, that's not the first or last time something like that's happened

around here. What are you saying? He just disappeared?

Just like he was erased or something.

Nobody knows what happened to him?

Oh, I didn't say that.

The night John Myerson disappeared was the night we had our second sighting.

Wait a second.

What are you telling me? You think John Meyerson was abducted by aliens?

It's not what I think, Tom. It's what everyone thinks.

Hey, you hang around here long enough, you'll think so, too.

Listen, Hank, do you think there's any chance at all maybe one of these people

will give me a lift the rest of the way into town?

Oh, yeah.

Good. Great.

Of course, you're going to have to stick around for a few hours because we're

hoping to see a show.

Could happen. Right, folks?

Wake up. It's going to happen.

Is the human ego so big, so big, so enormous that we can't accept other life

forms? Well, we did it. We've had three abductions, multiple sightings. The

evidence is there. The evidence more than supports the theory. The problem is

we're talking about an event that radically augurs clarity. That's true.

frankly,

that scares the hell out of people.

That's great. Thank God.

You're welcome. I appreciate that.

What's up, bud?

Willie, Will.

What do we got? We missed a great show last night, Will.

Damn ship came right over our heads and whoosh, went out over that hill and over

these flats.

First light, me and a bunch of the guys, we came over in this direction. How'd

you make out in town last night?

Usual, lots of power hits, a few outages.

One of the farms over in Somerville, they reported a few dead cattle. You

tell me you're still skeptical, Will.

I'm not skeptical about what I can see, bud.

Burnt circles in the ground, dead cattle and power outages. It's just what

causes them I'm not so sure about. Well, you got a better explanation?

Nope. Just because I can't explain something doesn't mean that the answer's

to come from somewhere out there.

We had a whole 30 good people here who saw it happen. You got a good 30 people

here who saw a bunch of lights in the sky and want to believe they know what

happened. So you're not going to do anything about this?

I'm going to do what I always do.

I'm going to make a report on what happened.

That's it?

You do what you do, bud. I'll do what I do.

Catch you around the campfire.

How you doing?

Frustrated.

My name's Tom Vail.

Bud Atkins.

Yeah, so I heard. I gather you're the resident expert around here.

In as much as there can be an expert in that sort of thing.

You're not from around here.

No, no.

I'm here, actually, because I'm looking for a man named John Meyerson.

Hank gave me the details. He told me Meyerson disappeared, what, about 18

ago? That's about right.

Do you know if there's any kind of investigation?

Oh, I'm sure there was a pretty thorough investigation, but for the details you

have to ask, well, that's Sheriff Wilkes.

But I can tell you this much.

They never found anything.

His daughter said that he went out about midnight one night to take a walk under

the stars.

Turned out there was more in the sky that night than just stars.

So he has a daughter?

Yeah. Tell it.

Shook her up pretty bad. I'm not sure she'll ever be the same again.

She's young.

Pretty.

It was bad all around.

So, uh, what's your business with Meyerson?

Oh, it's personal.

So, uh, you know where I can find Helen Meyerson?

She still lives in the house.

I'm headed back into town. You need a lift?

Yeah, I've been stuck out here all night. That'd be great. Thanks.

I'm just right over here.

Thanks for the ride.

Can't you just have some boots?

Hello? What are you doing here?

I, uh, wanted to talk to Helen.

You a friend?

I knew her father.

She's in the kitchen.

I'm going out to do the shopping.

Wipe your feet. I just mopped the floor.

What can I see?

Of course.

Of course.

It's my child.

My greatest creation.

It's magnificent.

Here, now, watch.

Step forward.

Does it have a mind of its own?

I control this airway.

Keep doing my thing, whatever I say.

Here, take this from me.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

God, do you think I could make a cup of tea without destroying the house in the

process?

Let me just give you a hand with this.

Here, I'll take this.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you like that. Your, um, housekeeper told me

you were back here and I, uh... Hi.

I'm Tom Vale.

Uh, what are you doing in my kitchen, Tom Vale? Are you selling something?

No, no. I, um... I wanted to talk to you about, uh... your father.

My father's not here.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... It's okay. I just don't like to talk about it

very much.

Is that your father?

I'll tell him you came by.

Okay.

Hank, what's up?

Heard you went out to see Helen Meyerson.

Yeah, that's right. I know, I was just out there.

She's a piece of work, huh?

I guess considering the way her father treated her, it's amazing she's even

normal.

What do you mean?

The guy was a complete workaholic.

Never had two words to say to anybody around here, and I don't think he said

more than that to his own daughter.

Housekeeper's the one who raised her.

It would have been better if he disappeared a long time ago.

Being around but not really being there, that's the worst thing for a child.

Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?

Partly.

I think I found something this morning, Tom.

Something that might interest you.

Yeah, why?

Because you're looking for John Myerson.

What I found just might have something to do with what happened to him.

Yeah, but I thought everybody knew what happened, Myers.

Yeah. Well, there's a chance maybe everyone's wrong.

What'd you find?

I'd be better if I showed you. I've got to run this scrap over to Morley right

now. I'll tell you what.

There's a road out there by the burnt circle we found. Meet me out there at

and you can see for yourself and tell me what you think.

I've got to find a car. Is there a place I can rent one around here?

Yeah, go on down to my shop. My cousin George will rent you a car for ten.

Fifteen bucks.

Tell him I sent you.

Okay. Thanks a lot. All right, see you at nine.

Nine o 'clock it is.

I know what I told you. All he said was he thought he found something that might

be connected to John Meyerson's disappearance.

And he asked you to meet him.

Here? Yeah, that's right.

What's your business with Meyerson?

That's personal.

Well, a man's disappeared. In my book, that's kind of personal, too.

How'd you get tied up with Hank?

I met him the night before last, during one of the sightings.

Are you a buff?

A buff?

A UFO freak, whatever.

You here for the show?

No, I came out here looking for John Myers and I just ran into the show.

Tell me about it.

Hank give you any specifics on what it was he might have found?

No, he just, he said he thought it'd be better if he showed me.

Guess he was wrong about that.

You staying in town?

Yeah, I got a room at the Rockwater.

Good. You hang around for a while. Maybe I'll think of a few more questions to

ask.

Hey,

bud.

Find anything?

They're getting closer.

Who's that?

Them? I wouldn't be surprised if they're not planning to make some sort of

contact with us. Multiple sightings, four abductions in the last two years.

They're planning something.

I don't know what it is, but I sure as hell hope I'm here when it happens.

Well, I can see you'll probably be right at the head of the line.

That's fine with me.

God dang it, Leo. Can't you teach your guys how to measure and how to count?

I need to know exactly how far those circles are apart. Not just some sort of

thing that he's just making up out of his head.

Oh, no, no, no. Just relax.

You know what you're done.

I leave my doctor on this. My high blood pressure's just fine.

Hi.

You're beautiful.

Thank you.

I'm sorry to bother you again.

Look,

I told you, if it's about my father, I really don't want to talk about it

anymore. No, it's about Hank Bauer.

He told me he came by to see you yesterday.

That's right, so did you.

What does it matter?

He disappeared last night.

I don't know anything about it.

Listen, Helen, he asked me to go and meet him out by the sightings.

And he said he might know something about what happened to your father.

I don't know what you're talking about. I know what happened to my father.

Helen, did Hank, did he tell you anything when he came to see you

Does this mean anything to you?

Look, why are you here?

You know, I don't even know who you are and you come in here and you start

asking all these questions.

What's in all this for you?

Well, maybe getting my life back.

Listen, I know how painful this is for you.

I know what it feels like to lose somebody that's important to you.

Helen, have you ever considered that what happened to your father might not

had anything to do with UFOs or sightings?

No. Why should I?

Because it might have had something to do with human beings, with people.

People who were trying to hurt him.

Why would anyone want to hurt him?

I really need to get these bulbs planted before the weather changes.

Feels like the rain's coming.

You have to plant them eight inches deep.

Six is too shallow, and the first rain will wash away the soil and kill any

more than eight.

And the soil's too packed.

and the roots won't take.

Don't take it away from her.

What's that?

What she needs to believe.

Do you believe that Dr. Myerson was abducted by aliens?

It's not important what I believe.

The girl's not had the easiest life.

Over the last year, she finally seems to be coming to terms with things.

Do you really want to take that away from her?

What are you doing here?

I thought you'd be headed here.

Well, you figured right.

Why can't you just let things be?

Because things aren't right.

All these lights in the sky, Hank's disappearance.

I just don't think you can explain that away with people from another planet.

You're one of those people who can't believe in something unless it's staring

you right in the face.

What are you afraid of finding out?

I'm not afraid.

Then help me.

That medallion that you found yeah, I

Know where it's from

Well, are you sure this is the place?

Yeah, I'm sure this is the place that he had marked on the map.

These people that you said might be trying to hurt my father, what did they

to you?

What? It's so hard to explain.

They took my life.

Everything that meant anything to me.

I think they may have done the same thing to your father.

Is there a Helen out there somewhere looking for you?

I'd like to think so.

My wife, Allison.

But I can't even be sure of that anymore.

But why?

Why would somebody do that?

That's what I'm trying to find out.

There's something here.

There's something buried here.

Ow! Damn it!

It's happening!

Get out. Come on.

It was them, Tom.

Did you see it?

It was them.

My father's a physicist.

He spent most of his time at a place called the Weaver Institute, but he had

workshop back here in the garage.

The lights never worked in here.

Here.

Thanks. Oh, you said your father came in here to work.

What are we supposed to be looking for?

I don't know.

They came after me for a photograph.

I just thought your father's work might have had something to do with what

happened to him.

I didn't even know that still worked.

Well, the question is how.

I'm not plugged in.

What is it? I don't know. I mean, somehow it's generating some kind of

to run the trains by.

I've never seen anything like it.

Tom, come out here.

What is it?

Just come out here for a minute.

Whatever that is, look at it. There's a light.

It's like it's drawing current from the house, but it doesn't make any sense.

It's not using house current. It's not even plugged in.

It's like the sightings.

What?

Every time there's been a sighting, most of Rockwater has power surges. I've

seen it from the rise. It's the same thing.

Ellen, where's the Weaver Institute?

Good morning, Weaver Institute. Please hold.

Weaver Institute. Yes, I'll put you through. Good morning, Weaver Institute.

I'm not sure I understand your questions, Helen.

Why have you taken such a sudden interest in your father's work?

Because I... I think it might have had something to do with what happened to

him.

Why do you think that?

I don't know. I'm not sure.

But last night, I was in his workshop, and I saw this experiment he had set up

with a train set.

A train?

I'll have to put you on hold.

Reaver Institute.

Oh, one moment, Mr. Kramer. Let me see if I can help you.

Yeah.

Okay. It's right here.

Yeah, it looks like next Tuesday at 3 o 'clock.

Sure, no problem. Good morning, Weber Institute.

I'll sit here looking very complacent. I said the stabilization movement has to

be done immediately, not last week.

What are you smiling about?

I should have had your butt out of here long ago.

Are you going to be able to do what I've asked you to do? You keep saying yes,

yes, yes. But do you do it? I don't see it.

Excuses, y 'all. Give me nothing but excuses.

And I'll have no more of it. You understand that?

How much do you know about Bud Atkins?

Bud Atkins, the author?

What's his connection to Weaver?

What makes you think there's a connection?

Well, when you were in there with Weaver, I was poking my nose into some

board meeting, and I couldn't make out what they were saying, but there was no

doubt about the fact that Bud was clearly running the show.

What'd you get from Weaver?

How much?

He just kept reassuring me and telling me that everything would be okay.

Didn't say anything about the type of work your father was doing? No.

All he said was that all the work to do at the Institute is classified.

By who, the government?

I don't know.

Is there another way back into town from the Institute?

No, this isn't the only road in or out. Why?

Well, if we're going to get any answers, we're just going to have to stay put

and wait to follow the answer.

That's BuzzFan. Let's go.

Where does this road lead?

Out toward the glass.

Oh, that's where we were last night.

Was there anything else out there?

Not really.

There was a farm over there, but it's been closed up for years.

Maybe somebody opened it up again.

Was that the farm?

What's after that?

What are they doing?

What's happening?

I don't know. I don't think I've got the slightest idea.

Do you see anything?

Oh, there's nothing. Just Bud's van.

Hang on a second.

I couldn't have just disappeared.

What the hell was that?

Well,

you've

come this far, Helen.

I suppose you'll be wanting to see your father.

Put these on, you're driving.

Rather impressive, don't you think?

Electromagnet.

Beyond that, balanced magnetic field conduction.

These coils transmit electrical power.

No need for wires, outlets, cables.

Receiving electricity is as easy as placing a television antenna on your

It is not stable yet. You're still testing.

We're getting closer.

Well, except for the fact that right now it draws almost as much power as it

transmits. Not to mention the heat problem.

Tom, how do you know all this?

Remember those power surges when we were at your house the other night in your

father's workshop?

When I was running the trains? That coil withdrawing power from the main house.

What's happening here is they're using the sightings as a cover.

What are you saying?

Every time they fire up a test down here, it creates havoc on the surface.

So between the power surges and the burns on the ground, they had to cook up

way to cover up what they were doing.

You're a really smart fellow, aren't you? That's why they had to get rid of

Hank. About to discover what was going on.

You killed him, didn't you?

Fall over here!

Professor!

Dad?

Yeah, I'm fine.

I can't believe I'm really seeing you.

You didn't have to bring her here.

I didn't?

He did.

He followed me from the Institute.

She didn't need to get involved in this.

Dad, what's going on here?

Get her out of here.

It's going to be okay, Ellen. I'll explain everything to you.

Just move along. Move along.

Go on. That's right.

Be helpful.

Nobody did this to you, did they? This is your project.

It's my life's work. She's your daughter. She's her mother's daughter. I

nothing to say about it.

My child is right here.

Bud, set up the disposal unit.

We have two more abductions to arrange.

Why?

She doesn't know anything about any of this.

As far as she's concerned, she's been taken on board an alien spaceship and

father's being held hostage against his will.

You know, using your UFO phenomena to cover up the testing is more effective

than you might have imagined.

That's exactly what they planned.

Being able to spread paranoia and generally disrupt the populace is a very

useful tool to have.

When people don't understand something, When they're confused or frightened,

they tend to grasp for answers.

They're usually quite willing to accept the first explanation offered to them,

no matter how implausible it might seem.

When my work is finished, they will dominate.

You see, unlike fossil fuels, the Earth's sources of magnetism will never

depleted. Whoever controls that power... The people you're working for are

trying to dominate every aspect of our lives.

Why not just give them what they want?

They're offering you a chance most men never get.

And what's that?

A happy life in exchange for a meaningless photograph.

Get him out of here.

He'll be back.

He'll be back when they're through with him.

Listen.

Over there, do you see it?

Oh, it's beautiful.

It's so beautiful, Jason.

Yeah.

I wonder where they're taking him.