Original subtitles

At the time, the OAO, weighing 4,900 pounds, was equipped with the largest

ultraviolet telescope ever orbited.

Department of Special Research.

One moment, please.

It's Washington. General Mason. Are you in?

I'll take it.

McCary here.

Absolutely, General. Go right ahead.

What?

This morning?

Just disintegrated?

Disappeared? No trace at all?

This is the first involving an aircraft, isn't it?

Off Southern California coast.

On Sukatonic, man.

Vandenberg Air Base.

Pershing Island.

We need your experience, Doctor, and you're there on the coast practically at

the scene.

What do you expect me to accomplish?

Find out what happened to our plane.

The most advanced one we have in service. And you'll have full authority.

I'll back you up whatever you desire.

But I'm a research man.

A scientist.

You're also the authority in this kind of phenomena.

Can you get on it right away?

Well, I'm working on it. Well, whatever it is, shelve it.

This can't wait.

I'll get started right away, General.

That one yours? Yeah.

I'd have a look at that regulator there. Oh, yeah? Something wrong with it?

Ever give you any trouble?

No.

Well, it's off on the pressure reading. A little slow.

Well, can you check it, see if anything's wrong with it?

I don't have time to do it right now.

Oh, we're going out to that island, see? Pershing? Yeah, we gotta get going this

morning. Yeah, there's a ways out there.

Look, do you think this is dangerous?

I don't know.

I can rent you another one if you like. How much is that?

Six dollars.

Sure, six bucks. Why not wait and see?

You'll take a check?

Oh, you're going out to Persia?

Yeah, you ever been out there?

Oh, sure, lots of times.

Very nice.

Very nice this time of year.

Big underwater caves. Why, you ain't got a wreck out there on the east side.

That fixed satellite over Vandenberg should tell us something.

Yes, Captain. Here's the latest from radar tracking.

The unidentified object. It's over Pershing Island.

What's on that island? A lighthouse.

People? Keeper and his wife.

I want to talk to them.

We've tried before, sir, but the lines are out. The interference is so bad on

the radio, it's useless.

What kind of interference?

I don't know, sir. It's not the usual type of static.

Tracking station reporting again.

Unidentified object is 4.3 kilometers southeast of Pershing. How

far is that from here?

And what else is that close by?

There's a nuclear plant at Morro Bay, which is 30 miles from Vandenberg. And

as we're about 30 miles from Pershing... Almost a perfect triangle.

Alpha particle.

A reading of 1001.07.

I understand that.

Radiation reading is normal. I know, I know, but it's putting out something.

Probably not radiation, but some other form of energy.

Possibly magnetic.

Anyway, we don't have the instruments to read it.

Well, then.

What's next, Doctor?

Radiation.

Energy.

Kraft is putting out something that's erecting a dangerous field.

We should notify all military operations within 200 miles to stand by a yellow

alert for SAC.

Have the Coast Guard quietly warn all boaters to stay away from the island.

And notify all air controllers that we're holding military combat games and

to keep all other aircraft away from the area.

Peterson, keep trying to get through to those people on Pershing. Got to get

them off the island.

If we can.

Did you hear that?

Yeah. What was it?

Something passed overhead.

Then it exploded out over there.

There's something out there now.

What is it?

It's moving.

Uh, no.

It stopped moving.

Here, let me take a look.

Well, if it is an aircraft, I better call it in.

Why don't you stay here and keep an eye on it?

Maybe it'll start moving again.

Better send a message to national security.

No proof of air collision as yet.

But evidence indicates an unidentified aircraft

in vicinity of accident.

We'll continue to investigate missing aircraft.

But first priority.

is evacuation of personnel from island.

End.

Sir, we've contacted the recon helicopter heading toward Pershing.

This is base command to rescue unit. Do you read me? Roger, base command.

On course bearing 0500.

Beginning to lose now, this crew. How far is he from the island? About 15

miles. You should be nearing the outer edge of the field.

Base Command to Rescue Unit, do you still read me?

Read you, Base Command.

Very weak signal.

Experiencing instrument malfunction.

Sir, I picked up a change in the object's position.

Command to Rescue Unit, you should be entering the field now. Over.

General, the object has moved. What?

It's changed position.

It should not approach from the south. It'll be in a direct line with it.

Have him turn back immediately.

Base command to rescue unit, do not approach the island. Turn back at once.

Repeat, turn back. Do not approach the island.

It's huge.

This shape.

God damn, it's real, all right.

Base command to rescue unit, turn back. Repeat, turn back. Do not approach

further.

Sir,

the helicopter's losing altitude.

He must have lost his engines entirely.

He'll have to ditch at sea.

See if you can pick up on his emergency beacon and get some help out there to

him.

Doctor, some other news just came in.

It's not too good either.

A man who owns a marina down the coast said two skin divers left early this

morning for Pershing.

They ignored the off-limits warning?

Devin, the man who owns the place, said he hadn't heard about it yet.

Evidently, the divers hadn't heard either.

Two more to evacuate.

Yes, sir. And that's not all.

The National Security Council wants you to set up a briefing for some top brass.

SAC, NASA, Systems Command.

They want to know what's going on.

All right.

You better set it up right now.

Pershing to Coast 6.

Pershing to Coast 6. Request reply.

Pershing to Coast 6. Request reply.

What

is

it? Where's the camera?

The camera?

The camera.

Don't we have a camera? Yes.

I think it's in the bedroom.

Why don't you step back in the house?

Did you call him on the radio?

Yeah.

He's out.

He's dead.

You think it's because of that thing?

Yeah, it could be.

What's wrong?

That thing could be giving up radiation.

Radiation? How can you tell?

I don't know.

I can't tell for sure.

But it might have been what caused these pictures to fog.

We can't get through to anybody until it's gone.

What if it doesn't go?

Maybe we'd better go over to the lighthouse The walls are thicker if

there is any radiation we'd be safer there

I just want to check it with the ranging telescope.

150 feet of diameter.

It's holding rock steady out there.

It's incredible, really, when you think what it is, where it's come from.

It's like nothing you've ever seen before.

What's the matter?

What's going to happen to us?

I wish it would go away.

It's really got me scared.

Scared? What do you mean?

Well, they want to take us away in that thing. What if they try to hurt us?

Diane, what are you talking about? They could take us away in that thing. Diane.

You don't know what it is, what's inside.

Of course I don't know what it is. There's nothing we could do to stop

them. Stop who?

You don't know that it's anything like that.

Don't get yourself worked up like this.

Nothing's happened.

Thank you.

This is Pershing to Coast 6.

Pershing to Coast 6, please reply.

It's not gone.

No.

It's just gone over to the other side of the island.

It's gone down behind the cliffs.

It's landed?

I don't know.

Stop moving.

It might have landed.

I'm going over to the other side of the island.

All right. You don't have to go if you don't want to.

No, I'll come.

Is there any more film for that camera?

I'll see.

Did you find the film? No, there isn't any.

Well, this will just have to do.

You sure you want to go?

Yes.

Let's get going.

I'll try to answer your questions as best I can, but I only have a few

minutes, gentlemen, so please be brief.

Dr. McCary, about that F-16 we lost.

Well, as far as we know, General, it disintegrated at 30,000 feet and

vanished. Was it the result of a collision with another craft?

The F-16 vanished instantly from our screen, but we were able to track the

other craft through the vicinity of Pershing Island, so a collision is

unlikely. The intruding craft, is it under surveillance now?

Not by observation, but by instrument.

Certain magnetic forces emanating from the island make it impossible for any

craft to approach it.

All right. Thank you, Doctor.

Yes, Sheriff.

Are there any people or personnel on the island now?

Yes. Diane and Lawrence Summers, lighthouse personnel.

They're on Pershing Island.

There's also the possibility that there are two divers there.

Do you know who they are?

No, we haven't made positive identification.

Haven't been able to check them out.

Have you talked to the Summers on the island?

Well, we're constantly trying, but radio facilities are out. Then you don't even

know if they're still alive.

No. Well, I presume some attempt has been made to evacuate them. We sent out

a helicopter, but as I said before, there's a magnetic force that has the

island sealed off completely.

An area up to 10 miles, protruding into the air at least 30,000 feet.

Any contact with this particular force?

Shuts any motor down.

Dr. McCary, why do you think all of this is happening?

Frankly, I don't know, Major Waters.

But you do have some ideas.

You must understand that these ideas are merely my thoughts.

Not hypothesis, not even theory.

Well, you're an authority on the subject, and we're anxious to hear what

you think.

All right.

You'll recall that six months ago a sighting was made up in Nova Scotia.

The unidentified aircraft seemed to be... reconnoitering the area and less

than three months ago another sighting was made on the east coast at that time

the craft remained only a few hours but the family a man his wife two children

disappeared from the farm where the craft had landed and were never found or

heard from again you think they were kidnapped by the ufo you can't discount

it as a possibility major this incident on pershing island is just another

incident A whole island, sealed off, impenetrable. But why? For what?

Probes.

Eureka. Study.

Observation.

We've placed men on the moon for that purpose.

We're planning a probe on Mars.

Isn't it possible that another civilization might have noticed all this

activity and decided to return the favor? But we haven't harmed anyone.

No one has been kidnapped.

Possibly our kidnapped persons were taken for observation.

We returned later.

Then what is the existing danger on the island?

We must consider the possibility that our uninvited guests are unaware of our

human frailty, unconscious of their lethal effects on us.

So far, the off-limits have attracted only local attention.

Media simply took it as a routine military exercise.

Do I tell them anything?

Well, this is out of my jurisdiction, but personally, I'd say no.

I concur with Dr. McCary.

Not a word of this to the news media.

It could.

In fact...

It would result in panic.

Any other questions, gentlemen?

That will be all for now.

Our most urgent concern is for the safety of our people stranded on

Pershing and gathering further data.

I'll try to keep you all informed of our progress through the PR office of Major

Waters.

Some people think they come from under the ocean.

Of course, nobody knows for sure.

They've been seen all over the place, but nobody knows for sure.

Of course, they might know more than they're telling.

That's certainly a possibility.

Anything's possible.

But you don't think it's dangerous?

Well, maybe.

And it doesn't make any difference to you?

Well, it's dangerous to do a lot of things.

It's just a chance to see it.

seen it you've got pictures what more can you do if you want to go back to the

house

I saw it go down near here.

We must be close to it.

Mary, stop.

I can't... I can't breathe.

I can't faint.

Here, lie down.

My head.

Just rest a bit.

So... Eight.

The instruments just picked this up.

What is it?

There's been an explosion on the island.

Explosion? A tremendous surge of heat and radiation.

I don't think anyone could have survived.

It must have been fatal for everybody on the island.

What about the field?

Is it still intact?

Yes, there's been no change.

How far up does that field extend?

30,000 feet.

What are you thinking, General?

High-altitude reconnaissance.

At least we'll have pictures, detailed pictures. We can't go on working in the

dark like this.

How long will it take to get the pictures back?

Just a little over an hour.

It won't start.

Okay, hold. I'll take a look.

Hey, Paul.

I think she's gone into shock.

Let's get her back to the house.

Thank you.

This is Pershing Island. This is an emergency.

Please respond.

Any luck with that radio?

Nothing. It's dead out.

How would she get burned like that?

I don't know.

They probably won't send a rescue out for us until tomorrow morning.

Hey, Paul, come out here.

There's somebody out there.

These photos just came in.

Aerial shots of the island taken about an hour ago.

Been enlarged? Some, but not all. There wasn't time.

Here on the south tip of the island is an unidentified craft.

Big.

133 meters across.

I don't see a trace of any people.

Well, there wasn't time to go over the photos in great detail.

But here on the opposite end of the island, apparently the diver's boat.

And here, near the landing, is something that looks like a small raft.

How could they have survived the explosion?

If they were underwater at the time, they might have. If they weren't...

If anyone's still alive on that island, we'd better get them off.

Well, planes are too risky.

But we may be able to ask for another attempt by ship. All right, let's

contact the Coast Guard and have them send out a cutter

Vic?

We're getting off this island right now.

Now all we got is that raft.

But we still got a boat.

Is there any chance that you can fix the engine?

The wiring's burnt.

The rest of the engine should be okay, though.

Maybe we could find something to use to fix it with. Vic, you've got to fix it.

Did you find what you needed?

Yeah, this should do it.

Here, compliments of the house.

Looked like you could use a shot.

You're right. This whole business is starting to get to me.

You know, while we get out of here, maybe we'll be all right.

I saw those lights again. They're still out there, whatever they are.

Just as long as they stay over there. I don't care to find out what they are.

Yeah.

The sooner we get off this island, the better I'm going to feel.

The moon should be out soon.

Nearly full, too.

We better shut off the lantern and just wait it out here until it gets light.

I don't know what's causing it, but it's not man-made.

It does seem to be some sort of transmission, though, sir.

Near as I can fix it, it is coming from Pershing.

Make a tape.

We'll study it later.

Sparks is picking up a transmission from Pershing.

Oh, communications are back in order. Not the kinds you're talking about. The

signals are from the UFO.

The Coast Guard just reported that their cutter couldn't get in.

That doesn't leave us much of an option, does it, Doctor?

No, it doesn't.

Have the copter stand by, and we'll try it again as soon as feasible.

Continuing, I hear. Yes, sir.

A long one.

Naturally, we don't know the code, if it is one.

Certainly, we don't know the language.

If it is what I think it is, it's a telemetry.

A data transmission of a very complex numerical code.

It covers a full range of frequencies, sir.

It could very well be the same force that's putting up the energy fields and

causing the radio interference.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Can you hear me?

Vic?

You gotta come out to the boat with me.

I can't fix the motor by myself.

You gotta come out there with me.

We're not gonna get out of this.

They're too much for us.

Vic? Vic?

Wake up.

Where are we?

We're still on the island.

So cold.

I'm going out to the boat.

I'll be back.

I'm going back to the mainland.

It checks out, sir.

Energy forces are falling rapidly on the island.

Good.

Maybe we can get a copter in there now.

I'd like Matt Cummings to go with it. He's a good investigator.

We've worked together before.

Matt, this is James McCary.

Get out here to the airbase immediately.

You're going to leave on a copter for Pershing Island.

I want a full and complete report as soon as possible.

I don't know what happened there. You find out and tell me.

Good luck.

What about your friend?

Do you have no idea what happened to him?

He was gone, too.

I looked for him.

I couldn't see him anywhere.

Have you told anyone else about this?

The doctors, the attendants, did you say anything to them?

You going home now?

My wife's waiting outside for me.

I'm going to ask you not to say anything about this to anyone.

Not even your family, is that clear?

Okay. Not until I get in touch with you tomorrow.

We'll know better how this whole thing is going to be handled.

You're going to be all right?

Yeah, I'm okay.

They said you were in some boating accident.

I'll be all right.

What about Paul?

I'm still with the hospital now.

The woman's still in a coma.

They don't know if she'll come out of it.

So I don't know when I'll be able to talk to her.

Yes, she must have been on the surface of the island during the explosion.

And the body they found must have been that of her husband.

What about the other two men, the divers?

The sea search is still out for the other man from the boat.

There's been no word from him.

What about him yet?

What about the man that was found with the woman?

Have you talked to him?

He doesn't know what happened to him. He was unconsciously part of it. But he

does remember what happened before.

You told me that you were injured when they found you.

That you'd already been burned.

You said they found your husband's body on the island that night.

The autopsy shares that your husband died of massive electrical burns.

There's another man missing that was on the island that night.

There's a sea search underway now, but they found nothing.

If you know of anything that may have happened to him...

Was the man alive when you found him on the beach?

No.

Was there anyone else on the beach?

No.

Was there anything in the sky?

No.

Can I go home now?

Sure, Doug. Go ahead.

I'm sorry, sir. I don't know when he'll be back.

Just a moment, please.

Good morning, Dr. McCary. Welcome back.

Morning, Nancy. It's good to be back.

I guess you had a busy time.

That, Nancy, is the understatement of the year.

There's a phone call for you. General Mason.

Yes, General.

Doctor?

Thank you.