Original subtitles

(BEEPING)

(WHOOSHING)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(LIGHTNING CRACKS)

MAN: Mayday! Mayday!

This is the trawler Annabelle. I've lost my bearings and I'm taking on water.

My last good reading is 44 degrees north, 68 degrees...

MAN: (OVER RADIO) Portland Station to Annabelle. What is your current position?

I don't know exactly, Portland.

Off the coast somewhere near Rockwell! Wait.

The lighthouse! I see it!

(CRASHING)

(GASPS)

(LIGHTNING AND THUNDER CRACK)

(GULLS CALLING)

(BIRDS TWEETING)

(MAN TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

(BICYCLE BELL RINGING)

WOMAN: Over here, honey!

(COUNTY MUSIC PLAYING)

HOGARTH: Hey, Mom! You won't believe our good luck.

Guess what I found?

Hogarth, we've been through this before.

No pets.

- Oh, but he's not a pet, Mom. - (SQUEAKING)

He's a friend.

Hogarth, we've got to rent a room this year if we're gonna make ends meet,

and no one wants to live in a place with shredded upholstery.

You'll never know he's there. I'll keep him in a cage.

Until you feel sorry for him and set him free in the house!

ANNIE: Do you remember the raccoon, Hogarth?

Ugh... I remember the raccoon.

Please, Mom, at least look at him.

Oh, all right, all right. Where is this guy?

WOMAN 1: Annie, I can't read this handwriting.

ANNIE: Yeah, that one, that one should have lettuce, tomato, extra mayo.

I will go get him, okay?

ANNIE: So he wants us to hold the mayo and the mustard.

How about just hold the flavor altogether?

(SQUEAKING)

HOGARTH: Excuse me.

Excuse me. Sir?

Sir?

Sir!

- Excuse me... - (SNORING)

(MAN CLEARS THROAT)

- Huh? What's that? - Please don't move, sir.

My pet's under your table. Don't look!

If you make a scene, my mom won't let me keep him.

- What kind of pet, kid? - A squirrel.

But don't worry. He's friendly.

I'm telling the truth, dang it! It came from outer space.

I saw it.

And it was headed toward land.

I called the government in Washington about it.

May, maybe it was a Sputnik or an invader from Mars.

That's what it is. It's an invader from Mars!

A spaceship of some kind. An unidentified flying object.

Unidentified? Knowing you, Earl, I'd say it was either whiskey or beer.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Hey. I saw it, too.

I rest my case.

(LAUGHING)

- Ah... - I believe you.

What if it is Sputnik?

- Or a flying saucer from Mars? - (SQUEAKING)

I bet we could find it.

Sorry, kid. I didn't really see anything.

But if we don't stick up for the kooks, who will?

Is my son bothering you, sir?

Yes. (LAUGHS NERVOUSLY) No!

Call me Dean.

Uh, Hogarth, you were going to get your pet, honey?

I will, Mom.

- Right after I finish talking with... - Dean.

- Dean. - (LAUGHING NERVOUSLY)

- Found your pet. - Where?

It's up my leg, man.

Squirrel's up my pants, Hogarth. I'm trying not to wig out here.

Don't wig out.

Okay. He's heading north now.

I'm sorry, kid. I'd like to apologize to everyone in advance for this.

- (ZIPPER OPENING) - (SQUEAKING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Ooh!

(GLASS BREAKING)

- WOMAN: Ah! - MAN: Oh!

(CUTLERY CLANKING)

(PEOPLE SCREAMING)

Check, please.

WOMAN 2: It's a rat!

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello, this is Hogarth Hughes speaking. Who's calling, please?

Hogarth, honey, I'm really sorry, but...

Thank you.

I need to work late tonight. There's some cold chicken in the icebox.

- You can have that and some carrots... - I'm way ahead of you, Mom.

- Good. I'll make it up to you, okay? - Okay.

- I love you, honey. - Me too.

And, Hogarth, no scary movies, no late snacks, in bed by 8:00. Got it?

Come on, Mom. It's me, remember?

Why, the porpoise can communicate telepathically, Miss Mullen.

If we can transplant at least 15% of their brain matter into ours,

we may be able to read minds.

- (GLASS BREAKS) - (WOMAN MOANING ON TV)

Darn. A perfectly good brain wasted.

I think you've seen enough. How about a nightcap?

Let's say, my place.

- Oh, jeez. - (MAN ON TV LAUGHING)

I was thinking the same thing. (GIGGLES) Mind reader.

Darn. I seem to have left my keys in the lab.

(DOOR OPENING)

Hmm.

(SWISHING)

(MUFFLED) You're gonna get it.

- (KEYS JANGLING) - (CLATTERING)

MAN: (ON TV) Who's there?

No. No. No!

(SCREAMING ON TV)

(THUDDING)

(MAN GRUNTING)

Oh, come on!

Stupid antenna.

(WHISPERING) Invaders from Mars!

(DOOR CREAKS)

(SPLATTERS)

(GULPS)

(INSECTS BUZZING)

(PANTING)

(GUN CLICKING)

(THUDDING)

(GRUNTING)

(METAL CLANKING)

(CLANGING)

(CLANKING)

(CRUNCHING)

(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)

(ROARING)

- (DOOR OPENING) - (TV STATIC)

Oh, Hogarth.

(ROARING)

ANNIE: Oh!

Hogarth?

Honey?

(ROARING)

- (RUMBLING) - (GASPING)

- (CRASHING) - (YELLS)

(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)

ANNIE: Hogarth?

Hogarth!

(ROARING)

(GIANT SCREAMING)

(ELECTRICITY CRACKLING)

(ROARING)

(SCREAMING)

- (GRUNTING) - (ROARING CONTINUES)

(GRUNTING)

(THUDDING)

(METAL CREAKING)

(CRASHING)

(CLANKING)

(CLATTERING)

(SCREAMING)

(RUSTLING)

(SCREAMING)

(PANTING)

Help! Help! Stop! Help!

(CAR STOPPING)

ANNIE: Hogarth?

- Hogarth! - Mom!

What do you think you're doing?

Don't you know better than to wander off at night alone?

What if something happened to you?

I'm sorry, Mom.

Oh, don't you ever do that to me again, Hogarth.

I was so scared. I thought I'd lost you.

Mom, you won't believe this.

Something ate our TV antenna.

- Oh, Hogarth... - No, no! I'm serious!

Oh, but it's not Sputnik, like Mr. Stutz thought.

Hogarth...

- No, it's a robot! No, really, it is! - Hogarth... Hogarth...

- And the robot, it's 100 feet high! - Please...

- Hogarth! - And it eats metal!

Stop it! Just...

Stop.

I'm not...

(SIGHS)

I'm not in the mood.

Come on. Let's go home.

(THUDDING)

(THUDDING)

MAN: A peaceful stay-at-home kind of day, in a town very much like your own.

But then, suddenly without warning...

(EXPLODING)

Atomic holocaust!

But how does one survive an atomic attack?

Hey. Did you hear about crazy Mr. Stutz?

(LAUGHS) He says his boat ran into a sea monster.

I heard it was sunk by a meteor.

No, no, no. It was a metal meteor.

- It ate his boat. My dad says... - Ah...

It wasn't any of those things.

What would you know about it, Poindexter?

- Hogarth! - Shh...

Don't make me come over there.

(A CAPELLA MUSIC ON VIDEO)

(EXPLOSION)

(WHISPERING) It's about 50 or 60 feet high and it only eats metal.

Shut up, you little spaz!

It's probably been sent by foreign enemies to take over the country.

We should bomb it to smithereens before it does.

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

('50s MUSIC PLAYING)

Why's a nice girl like you serving coffee to a guy like me?

Particularly when I have the right to refuse service to anyone.

I'm sorry about yesterday. I, uh...

I'm usually, hmm...

(LAUGHS) Not like that?

(LAUGHING) Right.

Oh, it wasn't your fault.

Hogarth just...

I think he's lonely.

Yeah.

Well, he's a good kid.

Hey, come on outside.

I got something to show you.

DEAN: Thanks for the scrap, Floyd.

Sorry I can't pay you more. But it, it's got this,

- um, this large bite out of it. - (MACHINE WHIRRING)

That's why I'm selling it. It's got a large bite out of it.

What could've done this?

- I told you what. - Oh, yeah.

(SNICKERS) Strange invaders.

Thanks for believing me. I really did call the government.

Yeah. They're sending someone to take care of the whole thing.

Jeez, Earl. You really are crazy.

I mean, who in the hell would the government send?

Kent Mansley, United States Government, Unexplained Phenomena Department.

- Marv Loach. I'm the foreman here. - What happened here?

Not sure. Sometimes the line'll snap if the weather is bad, sure.

But for a whole tower to get twisted up like that, whoa!

It's got me beat.

It's almost like it was bitten off by some enormous beast.

Enormous beast.

Yeah, what do you think? Escaped gorilla?

Uh, what department is that again?

Frankly, I'm not at liberty to reveal the particulars of the agency I work for

and all that, that implies.

You mean, uh, national security?

(CHUCKLES) Let's put it this way.

Every once in a while, things happen

that just can't be rationalized in a conventional way.

People wanna know that their government has a response.

I am that response.

So, were there any witnesses?

Well, sir, if you'll just follow me.

- (METAL CLANKING) - We did find this.

MARV: United States Government, huh?

Guess that means something big's happening here, eh?

No, Marv. Big things happen in big places.

And the sooner I fill out my report, the sooner I can get back to them.

Enormous beast, yeah...

(CHUCKLES)

Biggest thing in this town is probably the homecoming queen.

Oh, my God!

- Come on, Marv. Come on. - MARV: Okay.

I need a witness. It's around the corner. Come on.

- Pick up the pace here. - Don't pull so hard.

I've never seen anything like it. It's like a big, big "chomp"

- out of the side of the car. - Take it easy...

It's like a bite out of a ham sandwich, like a, uh...

(GASPS)

What uh, what are we looking at here, Mr. Manley?

Something big, Marv.

Something big.

HOGARTH: Hello!

Come out!

- Hey, big metal guy! - (METAL CLANKING)

- I got food here for you! - (METAL CLANKING)

Metal!

Crunchy, delicious metal!

- Come and get it! - (METAL CLANKING)

(FLASH POPPING)

(METAL CLANKING)

- (BIRDS TWEETING) - (CROWS CAWING)

- (CLANK) - (GASPING)

(PANTING)

(THUDDING)

(THUDDING)

- (THUDDING) - (HOGARTH GRUNTING)

(PANTING)

(CRASHING AND GRUNTING)

(GROANING)

(METAL CLANKING)

(CREAKING)

(THUDDING)

So, I guess you're not gonna hurt me, huh?

(GASPING)

(METAL CLANKING)

HOGARTH: The shutoff switch.

You saw me save you.

So, where are you from?

You came from the sky, right?

From up there?

Don't you remember anything?

Hmm. Maybe it's that bump on your head.

Do you talk?

You know, words? "Blah, blah, blah," like that?

Can you do that? "Blah, blah, blah?"

(GRINDING)

Well, you get the idea anyway.

Let's see.

See this? This is called a rock.

Rock.

(GARBLED) Rock.

Good.

Rock.

Yes!

(UPROOTING)

- Rock. - No, no.

That is a tree.

Rock. Tree.

Get it?

Rock. Tree.

That's right!

Wow! My own giant robot.

I am now the luckiest kid in America!

This is unbelievable.

This is the greatest discovery since...

I don't know, television or something!

I gotta tell someone. I should call some...

No, they'll panic.

People always wig out and start shooting when they see something big like you.

- Hmm? - Oh, wig out. It means crazy.

You know, like, uh...

(SPEAKING GIBBERISH)

No, no, no! Don't do that!

That's the kind of stuff that makes them shoot at you.

MANSLEY: Two nights ago, at approximately 1900 hours, sat com radar

detected an unidentified object entering Earth's atmosphere.

Losing contact with it two-and-a-half miles off the coast of Rockwell.

Some assumed it was a large meteor or a downed satellite.

But my office in Washington received a call from someone

who reported an actual encounter with the object.

This is no meteor, gentlemen.

This is something much more serious. So...

So, we can't call Ripley's Believe It or Not because they wouldn't believe it.

- And... - (WAKES UP WITH A START)

Oh, it's getting dark. And if I don't get home soon

Mom's gonna wonder where I am.

If she comes looking for me and sees you then we got the screaming problem again.

So, for now, would you, you know, just...

Just stay here, okay?

I'll come back tomorrow.

(METAL CLANKING)

Wow.

Well, goodbye.

(GIANT'S FOOTSTEPS POUNDING)

No, no.

Me go.

You stay.

No following.

Good.

(GIANT'S FOOTSTEPS POUNDING)

I told you!

I'll come back tomorrow!

Now, stay!

(GIANT'S FOOTSTEPS POUNDING)

HOGARTH: No, no, no!

Bad robot!

(GIANT'S FOOTSTEPS POUNDING)

Look, you can't go stomping around and you can't come with me.

My mom will wig out.

- (LAUGHING) - That's right.

So you have got to stay in the forest, and I'll bring you some food tomorrow.

But I gotta go home now.

So, goodbye.

(CLANKING)

Hmm...

Hey.

(METAL CLANKING)

- Hey, wait a minute! - (METAL GRINDING)

What do you think you're doing?

Look at this mess!

(TRAIN BELL RINGING)

(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS)

Oh, no.

Put it back!

Put it back right now!

Help me! I need your help!

Good, good!

(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS)

Okay, put them together. See, like this.

This one here, that one there.

- Okay, over, over. Good, good. - (METAL CLANKING)

- Now the other one. - (TRAIN BELL CONTINUES RINGING)

Okay. Good enough. Let's go!

- What the... - (TRAIN APPROACHING)

That's fine! Leave it alone! The train is coming!

The train is coming!

Come on, let's go!

(CRASHING)

- (THUDDING) - (SCREAMING)

(THUDDING AND CLANKING)

Oh, no, no, no, no.

- (THUDDING) - (GASPING)

You're alive!

(BEEPING)

(BEEPING CONTINUES)

MAN: Hello? Anybody out there?

Oh, we're in trouble now.

MAN: Are you all right?

Look, I've changed my mind. You can follow me home.

Okay. Let's go.

- (PHONE RINGS) - (WOMAN CLEARS THROAT)

Mayor's office.

What? A train accident?

WOMAN: What do you mean, he hit a giant creature?

What creature could be big enough to...

I need your car.

- (ENGINE STARTS) - (TIRES SQUEALING)

(BEEPING)

(WHIRRING)

(BUZZING)

(BEEPING)

(METAL CLANKING)

(CLINK)

Hmm...

Wow! You can fix yourself?

Neato. (GASPS)

Uh-oh, Mom's home. Just stay here, okay?

- (CAR DOOR CLOSING) - I'll be back. Bye!

Bye. Hmm?

(MEN TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

MANSLEY: What happened here?

Go on. Tell him what you saw, Frank.

You're not gonna believe this, but it was a giant metal man.

(CLINK)

Does anyone know where I can get to a telephone nearby?

Would you say grace, please?

Oh, my God!

Um... Oh, my God,

we, uh, thank you.

For the

food that Mom

has put in front of us and... Stop!

The, the devil

from doing bad things and, uh...

Get out of here! Ah...

Satan?

Go! Go, so...

That we may live in peace. Amen.

Amen.

That was, hmm, really unusual, Hogarth.

- Forgot to wash my hands. - Well, uh, okay.

(FLOOR SQUEAKING)

- (HOGARTH GASPS) - MAN: (ON TV) Tomorrowland...

Promise of things to come.

(GRUNTING)

(WHISPERING) Stop, stop, stop!

All right. Come on. Come on. Over here.

Oh. (GRUNTING)

(CLANKING)

- (CLATTERING) - Oh...

Come on. Come on, over here. Come on.

Hey there, scout. Kent Mansley.

- I work for the government. - (DOOR SLAMMING)

- (GASPING) - ANNIE: Hogarth?

(KNOCKING AND DOORBELL RINGING)

ANNIE: Hogarth?

Hey there, scout. Kent Mansley.

Work for the government. Your parents home?

- We're eating. - Mmm, boy.

Who's there, honey?

Oh, hello there. (CLEARS THROAT)

- Do you have a telephone I could use? - Yes.

- There's one in the kitchen. - Well, thank you.

Thank you very much.

Here. Pretend you're a gangster.

(MANSLEY CHUCKLING)

Damn it, Mansley. You call me at home for this?

You don't understand, sir. (STAMMERS) It ate my car.

GENERAL: And you saw this happen?

No, I didn't actually see it. It went off into the woods.

So, you don't have any evidence?

But, but, sir, I've got an eyewitness!

An eyewitness with a concussion.

This thing... This thing is a menace.

(STAMMERS) It tore up the power station. It...

- (TRING) - It caused a train wreck!

What did? Tell me again, Mansley, and this time listen to yourself.

(BREATHING DEEPLY)

A giant metal monster.

(GENERAL LAUGHING)

Please, sir. I've got a feeling about this one.

That's lovely, Kent. But let me try to explain how this works.

If you told me you'd found, say, a giant footprint,

I might send over an expert to make a plaster cast of it.

Hell! You get me a photograph of this thing

and I could probably get some troops over there!

But you tell me you've got a "feeling"?

All right then, fine. You want evidence?

I'll get you evidence. And when I do, I'm gonna wanna a memo distributed.

- That sounds swell, Kent. - (TELEVISION PLAYING)

I'm gonna want that memo carbon copied and redistributed...

(DIAL TONE)

(YELLS INDISTINCTLY)

(BANGING RECEIVER)

(PANTING)

(INHALES DEEPLY)

Hi. Thanks for the use of your phone.

Well, thank you for the use of your phone, Mrs...

Hughes. Annie Hughes. And this is my son, Hogarth.

Thank you, Annie. Hobart.

That's Hogarth!

- (CAR STARTING) - Hogarth.

(SNICKERS) What an embarrassing name.

Might as well call him Zeppo or something.

What kind of a sick person would name a kid Hogar...

(WHISPERING) Hog Hug...

Hog Hug. Hogarth Hughes!

(BRAKES SQUEALING AND TIRES SCREECHING)

(KNOCKING)

Kent Mansley. You work for the government.

I wasn't gonna say that.

I have something for you, Hogarth.

Your BB gun. Where did you find that?

Up at the power station.

- Hogarth was out there the other night. - Really?

See anything unusual, Hogarth?

No... thing... unusual, really.

(TOILET FLUSHES)

Gotta use the bathroom.

(DOOR CREAKS)

(GASPS)

Strange, he's so tightlipped now.

And the other night he couldn't stop talking.

I mean, 100-foot robots and whatnot.

(CHUCKLING) A hundred-foot robot?

(LAUGHING) That's nutty!

- What else did he say? - HOGARTH: No, wait, stop!

(THUD)

Excuse me.

(GRUNTING)

- Hogarth? - (KNOCKING)

ANNIE: What is going on in there?

(GRUNTING)

- Are you all right? - (HOGARTH GRUNTING)

HOGARTH: I'm fine.

You know, this sort of thing is why it's so important to really chew your food.

(HOGARTH CONTINUES GRUNTING)

- (CRASHING) - Hogarth?

- (UNZIPPING) - Hogarth?

- Mom! A little privacy? - (SCREAMS) Sorry.

- Ow. Ha-ha. Ow. - Sorry.

Oh, Lord, he's been acting strange lately.

That hurt.

(SIGHING)

(THUDDING)

Thank you again, Annie.

Good night, Hogarth. I'm sure we'll see each other again

- real soon. - (CAR STARTS)

If you're gonna stay here you gotta keep better track of yourself.

Sheesh.

Anyway, I thought you'd like, you know, a bedtime story or something.

I've got some really cool ones.

MAD Magazine, (LAUGHS) very funny.

The Spirit, very cool.

Boy's Life... Ehh...

Oh, here.

This guy is Superman.

Sure, he's famous now,

- but he started off just like you. - Hmm...

Crash-landed on Earth. Didn't know what he was doing.

But he only uses his powers for good, never for evil.

Remember that.

Oh, that's Atomo, the metal menace.

He's not the hero. He's the villain.

He's not like you.

You're a good guy.

Like Superman.

Superman.

(STOMACH GROWLS)

- Oh, you're hungry, aren't you? - Mmm-hmm.

But I don't have any metal here.

Just follow me.

Pick me up, okay?

(GASPS)

Wow.

Okay, now, march!

(GRUNTS)

(GRUNTING)

Whoo.

(HOGARTH CHEERS)

(GIANT GRUNTS)

GIANT: Hmm?

HOGARTH: Oh, yeah. That's Rockwell.

- Nice place, huh? - Rockwell?

Yes, I was born right down there.

Rockwell!

HOGARTH: No, stop! Look out for the cow!

- Come on, no, not there! - (RUSTLING)

Please stop. No, stop!

We can't go there yet.

People just aren't ready for you.

(GROANING)

(STOMPING)

(THUDDING)

That was close.

We can't go running around like that, okay?

- GIANT: Hmm... - Hey, look!

Hmm?

I guess that would be okay to eat. It's been there for months.

Oh, no. We gotta hide!

You know, hide?

It's when you... You know, when you...

Just get behind something, quick!

(WHISPERING) Don't move.

(WHIRRING)

- (DOOR CLOSING) - (METAL CLANKING)

(CAR STARTING)

(SIGHING)

(GROANS)

Our troubles are over.

(GIANT LAUGHS)

HOGARTH: This is it.

All you can eat.

(CRUSHING)

(CLANGING)

(CLATTERING)

- (CRUNCHING) - (HORN HONKING)

Shh. Turn it off!

(WHIRRING)

(HORN HONKING CONTINUES)

Come on, just turn it off!

(WHIZZING)

(CRASHING)

- Oh, no. - (DOG BARKING IN THE DISTANCE)

All right, who's out there?

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(PANTING)

Hey, hey, I know you. Squirrel boy.

Hogarth.

By night, known as Hogarth. Got it.

Well, come on inside, kid.

Sorry about the crowbar.

You'd be surprised how many people wanna steal scrap.

But, man, once I turn it into art, I can't give it away.

I mean, what am I?

A junkman who sells art or an artist who sells junk?

You tell me.

HOGARTH: I like it... I think.

Listen, you're, you're not gonna call my mom, are you?

She doesn't know I'm out. I...

Don't worry, kid. Look, it's not my style to report a guy to the authorities.

(GIANT MAKING SOUNDS)

DEAN: I'm gonna have some coffee. What do you want, some, uh,

milk, or what? Milk?

Coffee's fine.

- Yeah. I drink it. I'm hip. - (CLICKS FINGERS)

I don't know.

This is espresso, you know? It's like coffee-zilla.

I said, I'm hip.

So she moved me up a grade because I wasn't fitting in.

So, now I'm even more not fitting in.

I was getting good grades. You know, like all A's.

So, my mom says, "You need stimulation."

And I go, "No, I'm stimulated enough right now."

- That's for sure. - She goes,

"Uh-uh, you don't have a challenge.

"You need a challenge." So, now I'm challenged, all right.

I'm challenged to hold on to my lunch money,

because of all the big mooses who wanna pound me

because I'm a shrimpy dork who thinks he's smarter than them.

But I don't think I am smarter, I just do the stupid homework.

If everyone else just did the stupid homework

they could move up a grade and get pounded too. Is there anymore coffee?

Look, it's really none of my business, kid,

but, um, who cares what these creeps think, you know?

They don't decide who you are. You do.

You are who you choose to be.

(CLATTERING)

Did you hear that?

No, wait. Stop!

- (GROWLING) - (GASPS)

- It's okay! - My God!

- He isn't gonna... - Run, kid! Run!

(THUDDING)

- HOGARTH: It's okay. He isn't... - (THUDDING)

- (SIGHING) - It's okay. He isn't gonna hurt me.

Oh, hey...

Don't squash him! No! Don't...

Do not...

Squash him.

HOGARTH: His name is Dean.

We like Dean.

- Dean. - (WHIMPERING)

- (CLATTERING) - DEAN: So...

Where'd, uh, where'd he come from?

He doesn't remember.

He's like a little kid.

Little. Yeah. (CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)

Wait a minute. You can talk to him?

Kinda. He can't say a lot of words yet but he understands things pretty good.

DEAN: Oh, yeah. I see.

- (METAL CLANGING) - (BOTH CHUCKLING)

He needs food and shelter.

You got plenty of room here. This place is perfect.

DEAN: Go away.

I can have him push the door down. You know I can.

Hogarth. I can't hide it here.

- "Him," not "it." - Whatever.

You don't even know where "he" came from

or, or what the hell "he" is!

He's my friend.

Yeah, what am I? Am I your friend?

Bring some Franken-bot with out-of-state plates over here,

make me change my tune.

I don't like that jazz. God, I'm tired.

So, he can stay?

Tonight. Tomorrow, I don't know. I don't know about tomorrow.

(EXHALES)

Sleep tight.

(WHISPERS) I'll see you tomorrow.

(GROANS)

(GROANS)

(DOOR OPENS)

- You're up already? - Just making the bed.

That's nice. Come downstairs. I have a surprise for you.

(GRUMBLING)

Morning, sport. Sleep well?

Mom?

Isn't it wonderful, Hogarth? We finally rented our room.

Ugh. I'm not very hungry.

Oh, yeah.

(PHONE RINGS)

Hello, this is Hogarth Hughes speaking. Who's calling, please?

I said he could stay the night, kid.

It's morning now.

(SOFTLY) Look, I'll try to come over, okay?

But there's this weird guy here who's watching me.

What's that supposed to mean?

I got this big, giant... Giant thing out here.

- I can't talk right now, okay? Bye. - Hogarth!

Who was that, sport? Friend of yours?

Yeah. He's, uh, a new kid.

What... I... Hey, hey! Stop! Stop that! Stop it!

Hey, mind if I ask you a few questions there, buckaroo?

Now, why would you tell your mom about a giant robot, slugger?

Say, what'd you see at the power station? Huh, tiger?

You tell anyone else about this, buddy? How big is this thing, ranger?

Been in the forest lately? Hey. Where you going?

Champ? Slugger? Hey, cowboy? Where you goin'?

- Where you goin'? - I'm going out!

Why don't you take Mr. Mansley with you? Show him the sights.

Oh, Mom, the sights?

Hey, I'd love that. Give us a chance to get acquainted, swap some stories, huh, chief?

There are two kinds of metal in this yard.

Scrap and art.

If you gotta eat one of them, eat the scrap.

What you currently have in your mouth is art!

Art?

(METAL CREAKING)

Oh, forget it. Forget it!

It's gone. It's...

Hmm. That's not bad.

HOGARTH: First, you take a chocolate bar. Any bar'll do.

- Oh. - Do you mind if I, uh...

No, knock yourself out, skipper.

You crumble up the chocolate into little pieces.

Then you kind of stir it into the ice cream. See?

Yes, I see. What do you call this again?

Landslide. It's new. Very new.

Mmm. Landslide. Topnotch. Mmm.

You know, Hogarth, we live in a strange and wondrous time.

The Atomic Age.

But there's a dark side to progress, Hogarth.

Ever hear of Sputnik?

Yeah, it's the first satellite in space.

Foreign satellite, Hogarth, and all that that implies.

Even now, it orbits overhead.

Boop. Boop.

Watching us.

We can't see it, but it's there.

Much like that giant thing in the woods.

We don't know what it is or what it can do.

I don't feel safe, Hogarth.

- Do you? - What are you talking about?

What am I talking about? What am I talking about?

I'm talking about your goldarned security, Hogarth!

While you're snoozing in your little jammies,

back in Washington, we're wide-awake and worried. Why?

Because everyone wants what we have, Hogarth! Everyone!

You think this metal man is fun. But who built it?

The Russians? The Chinese? Martians? Canadians? I don't care!

All I know is, we didn't build it, and that's reason enough

to assume the worst and blow it to kingdom come!

Now, you're going to tell me about this thing. You're gonna lead me to it.

And we are going to destroy it before it destroys us!

(STOMACH GURGLING)

Just hold that thought and stay right there.

Oh-oh.

(MANSLEY SIGHS)

DEAN: Little lower. Little bit lower...

Hey. I thought you were in trouble.

DEAN: That sucks. Let me just... Up a little.

I had to ditch this weird guy who's staying at our house.

It took me hours to shake him!

I kill myself to get out here!

And you have him doing... Arts and crafts!

You got a problem with arts and crafts, little man?

He's a giant robot, Dean. It's a little undignified.

Yeah? Well, smart guy, what would you have him do?

(MAKES ENGINE SOUNDS) Main systems on. Main engines.

One, two and three.

All systems go. Five, four, three two, one!

Blast off!

(SCREAMING)

We're landing. We're landing!

We're landing!

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

Say, can you guys cool yourselves a little?

I feel like we're pressing our luck here.

Hey, baby, we are cool!

Welcome to downtown Coolsville.

Population? Us.

(CHUCKLES) Well, can you move Coolsville to someplace less conspicuous?

- How about the lake? - Okay.

Aw, come with us. It'll be fun.

(BLUES MUSIC PLAYING)

(INAUDIBLE)

(GROANS)

This can't last forever, Hogarth. We gotta tell somebody about him.

Ah, you worry too much.

Hey, Dean! Watch this!

All right, we're watching. We're watching.

This one's for professionals only!

Banzai!

(TREMBLING) Come on in!

(STAMMERS) The water's great!

(CHUCKLES) No, thanks.

You weenie!

Come on in.

It's really, really refreshing.

(GIANT GRUMBLES)

What? You too?

You big baby!

(POUNDING FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Banzai!

(HOGARTH LAUGHS)

Whoo!

- Hey. - Yeah?

- You're right in the middle of the road! - (ANNOYED) Yeah?

All right.

(PIGS OINKING)

I think that's enough fun for one day.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

ANNIE: Are you okay in there, Mr. Mansley?

I'm back with the toilet paper you needed.

(CHUCKLES) Thanks! I think I'm feeling better now.

Much. Much better.

It's beautiful, huh?

Hey, look!

HOGARTH: It's a deer.

- Deer? - Shh.

(WHISPERS) Let's get closer.

(TWIG SNAPS)

Hmm. Well, I guess he decided to...

(GUN FIRES)

(RUMBLING)

It's the monster!

Oh, no.

It's dead.

Dead?

Don't do that!

Why?

It's dead. Understand?

They shot it with that gun.

HOGARTH: Hey, what's wrong?

- Guns. - Yes. Guns kill.

GIANT: Guns kill.

(METAL CLANKING)

I know you feel bad about the deer. But it's not your fault.

Things die.

It's part of life.

It's bad to kill.

But it's not bad to die.

You die?

Well, yes, someday.

I die?

I don't know.

You're made of metal but you have feelings.

And you think about things.

And that means you have a soul.

And souls don't die.

Soul?

Mom says it's something inside of all good things,

and that it goes on forever and ever.

Souls don't die.

(CLAPPING)

You're very kind. Thank you so much.

You ever seen a better picture than that? Look at those details.

This is the famous 60 second Polaroid land camera.

Seeing the results on the spot...

(CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)

(RATTLING)

(GIANT MAKING SOUNDS)

In 60 seconds...

You know, if you... (CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)

HOGARTH: Don't you remember anything?

HOGARTH: You saw me save you.

You came from the sky, right?

DEAN: You don't even know where "he" came from.

Or what the hell "he" is!

HOGARTH: Guess you're not gonna hurt me.

(GASPS AND SCREAMS)

(TV AUDIENCE CLAPPING)

(GIANT GRUMBLING)

- MANSLEY: You're late for dinner, Hogarth. - (GASPS)

Your mom's working late tonight, Hogarth.

So it's just us guys.

And we're gonna have a little chat. Sit down!

How's that? A little too bright? Good.

(MANSLEY CHUCKLES)

Forgive me, Hogarth. I wanted you to learn something.

What can I learn from you?

You can learn this, Hogarth.

That I can do anything I want, whenever I want,

if I feel it's in the people's best interest.

The giant metal man, where is it?

I don't know what you're talking about.

You don't? Well.

Does this ring a bell?

No?

How about this?

You've been careless, Hogarth.

It doesn't prove anything.

It's enough to get the Army here with one phone call.

- Then what's stopping you? - (YELLS) Where's the giant?

You can't protect him, Hogarth,

any more than you can protect your mother.

My mom?

Ah, it's difficult to raise a boy all alone.

We can make it more difficult.

In fact, we can make it so difficult

that it would be irresponsible for us to leave you in her care

and all that that implies.

- You'll be taken away from her, Hogarth. - You can't do that!

Oh, we can. And we will.

He's in the junkyard.

McCoppin's Scrap, off Culver Road.

The junkyard. Of course! Food for the metal-eater.

I wouldn't worry about this, Hogarth. It isn't really happening.

This is only a bad dream.

(MUFFLED SCREAMS)

MANSLEY: Where's the giant?

(ECHOING) This is only a bad dream.

MANSLEY: Yes, sir.

This thing is real, sir.

I not only have incontrovertible evidence, General,

I know where it's hidden.

I don't know who built it, but it's here.

It's massive and we're running out of time.

There's no doubt we should act. The only question, sir, is...

Can you afford not to?

Excellent, sir. You won't regret it. Thank you, sir.

The Army arrives in the morning, Hogarth. Don't get cute.

I gotta warn Dean.

I'll be watching you.

(AWAKES WITH A START)

(MANSLEY SIGHS)

Morning, Kent.

For some reason, the Army is in our front yard, Mr. Mansley.

Please, call me Kent.

(SIGHS)

(RUMBLING)

Okay.

(SOLDIERS BARKING ORDERS)

- All right, where is it? - DEAN: What?

You know darn well what. The monster.

The giant thing. The metal man.

Ah, the metal man. Jeez, you were scaring me there for a second.

I thought I was under attack or something.

He's in the back.

Come on. I'll show you.

You guys got here just in time.

This rich cat, you know, some industrialist,

wants him for the lobby of his company.

He whipped out his checkbook on the spot.

I said, "Hey, you got him for the rest of your life.

"But, what, I gotta let go the moment I give birth? I mean, come on.

"Give me some time to cut the umbilical, man."

Here he is.

(MEN CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY)

Anyway, I haven't sold him yet.

So if you really want him and if, you know, you throw in

a competitive bid... (CHUCKLES)

Sir, I... Listen... Sir, listen...

- Step outside, Mansley. - Yes.

(YELLING) You realize how much hardware I brought out here?

You just blew millions of Uncle Sam's dollars out of your butt!

I gotta admit, I'm relieved that

this is what Hogarth was talking about. (LAUGHS)

I mean, I was beginning to, um, think it was real. (LAUGHS)

- (DEAN CHUCKLES AND CLEARS THROAT) - I mean, don't get me wrong, I like it.

But, uh, do you need all this stuff on the surface?

Well, um, no, actually.

(STUTTERING) It just sort of... It seems kind of slapped on.

You know, not as thought-out as this other piece.

- You like that one? - Yeah.

(THE GENERAL YELLING INDISTINCTLY)

You'll be chief inspector of subway toilets

by the time I'm finished with you!

Now, pack up. I'll expect you back in Washington to clear out your office.

MANSLEY: Yes, sir.

Hmm. I see why Hogarth sneaks out here.

You mean, you know about that?

(LAUGHS) Aw. Now I do.

(ENGINE REVVING)

Bye, Kent, and all that that implies.

DEAN: Okay, you can move now.

(METAL CLATTERING)

Nice job!

HOGARTH: Thruster to base.

I'm goin' in.

Only one creature could create so much destruction.

The hideous, people-eating,

killing machine, Atomo!

Atomo?

No Atomo.

I Superman.

Okay, Superman.

Take this!

(BUZZING)

Stupid gun.

(GASPS)

Hey. What's wrong?

As I was saying, take this!

(BEEPING)

Oh!

What happened? What was that...

Shh. Stay down and follow me.

Shh.

Get back!

I said, get back! I mean it!

No, stop. Why?

It was an accident. He's our friend.

He's a piece of hardware, Hogarth. Why do you think the Army was here?

He's a weapon! A big gun that walks!

I, I...

I not gun.

Yeah, what's that, huh?

You almost did that to Hogarth!

No.

- Come back! - Hogarth.

- Hey, stop! - HOGARTH: Giant!

Come back!

It was defensive.

He reacted to the gun.

You're not gonna get there fast enough on foot.

See, I told you it was a big hoax.

- Dad said... - (GASPS) Give me the binoculars.

- What? What? - Hey, there it is. I see it!

It's big. It's walking away.

- Hey. Gimme those. - Over there. See it?

The monster! Holy cow!

(BOTH SCREAMING)

MAN: Watch it!

Help!

Somebody help me!

- BOY: I don't wanna fall! - BOY 2: Help!

(INDISTINCT CHATTER AND CONFUSION)

I'm slipping!

- I can't hold on much longer! - (GIANT POUNDING)

(PEOPLE YELLING)

(SCREAMING)

(PEOPLE GASPING)

- BOY 1: Dad! - BOY 2: Daddy!

- MAN: He saved those boys! - WOMAN: It's friendly!

(GASPS) What...

(HORN HONKS)

Oh!

(GRUNTS)

Stop! Look!

Look behind you! The giant, it's attacking!

It's stomping the town! I was right!

- Sweet mother of God. - MANSLEY: Look, damn you!

(ENGINE ROARING)

I am not a gun.

Hey, Mom.

(ROARS)

(PEOPLE SCREAMING)

Let's get out of here!

Run!

(GASPS)

Hey. Stop! There's a kid in his hands!

Stop shooting!

Kent! He only reacts defensively.

If you don't shoot, he's harmless. You gotta tell the General!

This is all your fault, beatnik. If you hadn't...

Would you shut up and listen?

You've gotta make them stop. The giant's got the kid with him.

I'll take care of it.

He says the monster's killed a kid. Sir, we must stop it at all costs.

Go to code red. Repeat, code red!

Mr. President, we have a situation, sir.

SOLDIER: Watch it, lady!

- Look out for the bus! - (GIANT MUMBLES)

(HORN HONKS)

(HOGARTH SCREAMS)

You can fly?

You can fly!

Hogarth!

Try pointing your arms straight ahead, like Superman!

(GASPS)

(BEEPING)

No, no!

I've lost visual. Repeat, lost visual!

HOGARTH: Man, that was close!

(EXPLODING)

No!

Ha. Gotcha!

(GROANS)

Good call, Mansley.

Secure the area. Let's find out what this thing is and who sent it.

Huh?

(GASPS)

(WHIMPERING)

SOLDIER 1: Halt! Set your perimeter!

- It's still alive! - Shoot at it!

SOLDIER 2: Retreat! Retreat!

Let's get out of here!

(SOLDIERS YELLING)

Hogarth!

He's unconscious, but he's okay. Let's get him in the car.

Drive, baby, drive! Step on it! Floor it!

It's gaining on us. Faster! Faster! Hurry!

(SOLDIERS YELLING INDISTINCTLY)

All battleships fire at the robot!

Now!

Now, damn it, now!

Nothing can stop this thing! We've hit it with everything we've got!

Not everything, General. The bomb.

The Nautilus has first strike capability and is not far offshore.

You scare me, Mansley.

You want us to bomb ourselves in order to kill it?

General, the giant seems to follow whatever attacks it.

We can lure it away from the town, then destroy it.

Radio the Nautilus. Tell them to target the robot and await my command.

This is Nautilus. What is the giant's current position?

SOLDIER 1: 67. 71972 degrees west,

by 44.50177 degrees north.

Locked and loaded.

Oh, my baby, I'm so sorry.

- Stop the car. - Hogarth! My God, honey, you're all right.

Go back! We've gotta help him!

Are you crazy, kid? You're lucky to be alive!

We're taking you to a hospital.

(SOLDIERS YELLING)

SOLDIER 2: Everyone! Out of the car! We're evacuating the area.

What are you talking about? We gotta get this boy to a hospital.

What boy?

Hogarth!

Hogarth, no!

(BEEPING)

Hey! No! Stop!

This is General Rogard.

Ready the attack and prepare to retreat to the fallback position.

No! No! Stop! My son is out there!

No, wait. It's me, Hogarth. Remember?

It's bad to kill. Guns kill.

And you don't have to be a gun.

You are what you choose to be.

You choose.

Choose.

GIANT: Hogarth.

(WHIMPERS)

It's okay. It's okay.

We gotta show them you're good.

Nautilus to Rogard, missile armed and ready.

What are you saying, he's friendly?

Yes. Attacking him is triggering a defense mechanism.

Don't listen, General! Destroy the monster while we still have the chance!

(GIANT'S FOOTSTEPS POUNDING)

General, you shoot and the whole thing starts all over again.

- Stop it now! Our future's at stake! - Orders, sir?

Which is why you have got to stop, General!

- It's getting closer! Orders, sir? - Don't shoot! Don't shoot!

- Hogarth! - Hold your fire! The boy's alive?

It's a trick! Launch the missile.

Are you mad, Mansley?

All units, stand down!

Rogard to Nautilus. Come in, Nautilus.

MAN: This is Nautilus standing by.

Launch the missile now!

That missile is targeted to the giant's current position!

Where's the giant, Mansley?

What... Oh...

We can duck and cover. There's a fallout shelter right there.

There's no way to survive this, you idiot!

You mean, we're all going to...

To die, Mansley, for our country.

Screw our country! I want to live!

(CAR STARTS)

GENERAL: Hold him, men.

Make sure he stays here, like a good soldier.

(ALARM WAILING)

(CHATTERING)

Oh!

- (ALARM WAILS) - Oh, no.

- Hmm? - It's a missile.

When it comes down everyone will die.

WOMAN: There it is!

(CHATTERING)

- Shouldn't we get to a shelter? - It wouldn't matter.

GIANT: I fix.

Giant?

GIANT: Hogarth.

You stay.

I go.

No following.

I love you.

HOGARTH: You are who you choose to be.

Superman.

(PEOPLE CHEERING)

Let's go home.

(CHILDREN LAUGHING)

Your best work yet, honey. No doubt about it.

You think this is my best? Really?

(NERVOUSLY) Well, you know, next to that bug, uh, thing.

You know, the one with the, uh, shovels...

(CLEARS THROAT) Um, Hogarth? Come on, honey. Time to go.

- See you later, guys. - BOY: See you later, Hogarth.

Oh, hey, Hogarth, um, the General sent this to you.

What is it?

DEAN: He said it was the only part recovered.

He thought you should have it.

I miss him.

(KNOCKING)

(GASPS)

(BEEPING)

(TAPPING ON WINDOW)

See you later!

(BEEPING)