Original subtitles

(Whirring)

Peter, please.

Take Jean back to the car. I must get this.

(GUnfire)

(Gasps)

RUn! RUn!

(GUnfire)

(Gasps for breath)

(Clicking)

(Siren)

Minister, this is Colonel Straker.

- How do you do? - A shattering bUsiness, Colonel.

The Prime Minister's already at ChepUers.

We'II be there in 30 minUtes.

(Siren blaring)

We've been in constant commUnication

with Paris, Moscow and Bonn dUring yoUr visits.

I think the British Government's approval will be a formality.

The evidence is conclusive.

- If l might. .. - SUrely.

Colonel. It may speed things up.

My God.

The clincher is at the back.

It's an enlarged frame from the cine film, sir.

It couldn't possibly be a fake?

The film was found undeveloped, still in the camera.

(Siren continues)

(U FO engine noise)

(Drowned out by siren)

Keep pace with the escort.

I'll take the file, sir.

(Tyres screech)

(Tyres screech)

(Chokes)

- Good morning, sir. - Good morning.

- Good morning, sir. - Good morning.

- Good morning. - Miss Ealand .

- The report. - Thank you.

Messages?

Information. Q?1 , answer negative.

Q46, satellite Iink effective.

Q07, zero-zero.

The compUter read-outs available from today.

- Have them put straight through to me, will you?. - Yes, sir.

Mr Freeman to see you, sir.

All right, Mr Freeman.

The girl in reception calls me Alec.

So?

Doesn't that inflame you with jealoUsy?

Obviously it doesn't.

BUt, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east and JUIiet is the sUn.

(Computer) 'Voice-print positive identification nine-seven."

"Freeman, Alec E."

(Lift machinery whines)

- Good morning, sir. - Good morning.

- YoU're new here, aren't yoU? - Uh-hUh.

- Must have passed all the tests. - AII of them.

I bet.

(Knocking)

Patrick.

- Morning, AIec. - Morning, Pete.

I won't keep you a moment, Alec.

- Trouble? - Why else would I send for yoU?

Take a look at this.

That's Westbrook Electronics, isn't it?

- Yeah, what's Ieft of it. - What happened?

For ten years there have been setbacks.

We've had accidents, miscalcUIations,

errors of jUdgement and other mishaps.

Let's pUt Westbrook Electronics down to. .. other mishaps.

- You mean a U FO? - Well, there's no proof.

So bang goes the Utronic project...

...just when we thought we really had something to track them down.

Don't panic, AIec. The Utronic equipment is safe.

It wasn't in the bUilding.

It's intact, fUIIy tested and ready for shipment.

The breakthroUgh.

SHADO have had Moonbase and the other satellites

operational for the past few months.

There have been a few U FO sightings, but no interceptions.

We've got the teeth. Soon we'II have the eyes.

Freeman, you know how important this is to our whole organisation.

The Utronic design team and epuipment

are ready to be picked Up in Los Angeles and flown here to England .

I'm making you responsible for the secUrity of the entire operation.

I mean yoU . Personally.

Right.

Well, it must be qUite a while since yoU Ianded an SST?

JUst Iet's say it's part of the personal service.

SHADO Control, this is SeagUII x-Ray,

"confirm arrival Stevenson Base, Los Angeles, 06:35."

"Take-off scheduled 11 :00 hours."

(Ford) Roger, SeagUII x-Ray.

- Call Moonbase, will yoU? - Yes, sir.

(EIIis) Status check.

- Target. - Affirmative.

- Magnetic field? - Check.

- Saturation density? - Green.

- Resonator? - Affirmative.

- Code. - OK.

- Displacements? - Go.

- Filters? - Check.

- FIuctuation? - Affirmative.

- (Beep) - Reflex?

Excuse me.

Right.

- SHADO Control for you, Lieutenant. - Right.

- Lieutenant Ellis. - Morning, Gay.

I think I might have some action for you.

I want Moonbase put on yellow alert from 1 0:45

to track Seagull x-Ray.

Now, it's carrying SHADO VIPs and the Utronic epUipment

so let's keep everybody on their toes.

- We can't afford to take chances. - Roger.

Joan, announce a yellow alert for 1 0:45.

- Yes, LieUtenant. - And complete the statUs check.

I think this is going to be for real.

I'm going to take a break. I'll be back aboUt 1 0:30.

OK.

Moonbase will be on yellow alert from 1 0:45, Earth elapsed time.

Repeat, 1 0:45, EET.

All space trackers to be fUIIy operational by 1 0:45 EET.

Astronauts to be on stand-by.

- Joanna? - Be right with yoU, Lew.

No hurry. I want to rUn a compUter check

on the lnterceptor systems in aboUt ten minUtes.

- Hi, Gay. - Hello, Lew.

D'you think this coUld be it, LieUtenant?

Looks like it, Lew.

An SST travelling at Mach 4 is a pretty tempting target,

particUIarly as it's carrying the new Utronic equipment.

- Hello, Ken. - Hi.

- Hi. - Hi, Mark.

Gay, this alert, what do you think? Another false alarm?

Don't think so, Mark.

- So this time it could be real. - Yeah. Could be.

Well, I guess we coUId all do with a bit of action.

Well I could do with a cup of coffee!

- Sure. - Thanks.

- Put Skydiver in the pictUre. - Yes, sir.

(Buzzer)

Message from SHADO Control, sir. Yellow alert at 1 0:45.

Right.

That last entry.

- Did you send it? - Yes, sir.

A refuelling schedUIe transmitted on

- secUrity code B?! - Sorry, sir.

- How long have you been with Us, Ford? - Just over two years, sir.

Two years?

Long enough to know how important secUrity is to SHADO.

Now Iook, this headpUarters, controlling Moonbase,

the satellites and a fleet of sUbmarines

is eighty feet below a film studio, right?

Now, 400 people work Up there, and not one of them knows all this exists.

I have to play games,

pretending to be the stUdio's chief executive.

No one even dreams what my real function is.

That's what secUrity is all about.

I'm sorry, sir. Sometimes it's pretty difficult.

DifficUIt?!

So you think it's difficUIt, huh, Ford?

Well, I'll tell yoU when it gets difficult.

Have you ever thought about the victims of UFO incidents?

Have you ever considered their parents,

brothers, sisters?

What do we tell them?

They can never know the truth,

so they live in agony for years,

praying that some day their loved one may tUrn Up,

clinging to a thread of hope.

Don't ever tell me that secUrity's difficUIt.

Sometimes it gets pretty close to home.

(Buzzer)

Yellow alert starts in two minutes, sir.

Be right with yoU .

Stevenson Base, this is SeagUII x-Ray. Liftoff check complete.

Liftoff clearance?

(Operator) Roger, Seagull x-Ray. You are clear to go.

- Nina. 1 0:45. - Right.

Brakes off.

Airspeed building.

1 30... 1 40...

1 60. V1 .

VR.

Rotate.

This is Moonbase calling SID.

This is Space IntrUder Detector.

Pass yoUr message.

(EIIis) SeagUII x-Ray carrying VIPs and Utronic epuipment is airborne.

Track progress of aircraft Until further notice.

Keep sharp IookoUt for U FO.

(SID) Please pass your code so yoUr instructions can be complied with.

(EIIis) Stand by to receive code.

(SID) Standing by.

(Beeping)

(SID) Thank you, your code is correct.

I have SeagUII x-Ray on scanners.

It is on course.

Speed 1 500 knots.

Moonbase computers confirm coUrse correct.

- Air speed 1 500 knots. - Right.

Maintain tracking.

- Hydroplanes check complete, sir. - OK. Steer zero-foUr-two.

- Steer zero-foUr-two. - Zero-four-two.

Maintain present speed.

Maintain speed. 40 knots.

Take over, will yoU , Bill? I'm going back to do my stuff with the passengers.

Right.

Herr Mahler. Good morning.

- Colonel AIec Freeman. - Ah, Colonel.

I'd Iike to congratulate you and your team, Herr Mahler.

This Iooks Iike the breakthrough we've been waiting for.

Not my team, Colonel. May I introduce our chief designer,

Virginia Lake?

How do you do, Colonel?

Well. . . for the first time in my career, I wish I was flying sUbsonic aircraft!

The trip would take that mUch Ionger.

Ah, jUst in case anyone's interested, I'm Phil Wade.

How are yoU?

Well, it looks Iike you're the answer to all oUr prayers.

Would yoU Iike to see the Utronic epUipment, Colonel?

I think yoUr epuipment is fabulous, but I am familiar with it.

- Really? - Yes.

For instance, I know that a Utronic beam travels instantaneoUsly.

- Almost instantaneously. - Well, anyway, it means we'll be able to

detect U FOs even when they're flying many times the speed of Iight in deep space.

Go on.

So oUr Moonbase Interceptors will have a chance to destroy them

- before they reach the Earth. - Very good.

I coUId tell you more over dinner?

Don't yoU think you'd better get back to your little seat Up front?

I suppose so.

I'II be seeing you.

Colonel?

You were right. You are familiar.

With the epUipment.

- Everything OK? - Yes, sir.

- No sign of any activity. - Good.

(Man) . ..entry in five seconds.

FoUr, three, two, one...

zero.

(?nd man) Can we have a read-out on pressure fuel gaUge?

Your reading. . . four fifths.

- L'II be in my office. - Right, sir.

- (Man) Co-ordinate for EOI . - (?nd man) Affirmative.

(?nd man) . . .that indication is positive.

(Man) Roger.

(?nd man) We estimate turbo eight-foUr-nine-zero

changing to wave band foUr-zero-four.

(CommUnication continues)

(SID) Red alert.

Red alert. U FO four-two-eight one-four-six green.

Got it.

FoUr-two-eight one-four-six green.

- Speed? - SOL eight.

Trajectory termination?

Coming Up.

This is Moonbase to SHADO Control.

Predicted trajectory termination North Atlantic.

Speed SOL eight.

Going for intercept. Out.

- Interceptors immediate launch. - (AIarm bUzzes)

Interceptors immediate IaUnch.

- Interceptors go. - Right.

This is Moonbase to all SHADO stations.

Moonbase to all SHADO stations.

U FO sighted four-two-eight one-foUr-six green. Will report.

Attention all defence systems. This is a maximUm security alert.

Attention all defence systems. I say again,

this is a maximUm security alert.

Condition red.

(SID) Speed one and a half million miles per second.

- Range 75 million miles. - Right.

OK. Yes.

(SID) 70 million miles.

Maintaining SOL eight. Red one-two-nine zero-foUr-six.

- Trajectory? - Still as predicted.

LieUtenant, l have green on Interceptors one, two and three.

Moonbase to Interceptors.

- Stand by to set missile control computer. - Right.

MCC read in...

one-zero-one two-six-four one-one-zero.

Missile timing two-foUr-niner-six.

Missile programme completed.

(SID) Range eight million miles, closing.

Seven million miles.

Missile firing five-decimal-four seconds.

(Man) Roger.

(SID) Detonation confirmed.

Negative.

It's through.

Well, don't jUst sit there. Warn Skydiver.

- And get me Alec Freeman. - Yes, sir.

Gentlemen, Miss Lake, SHADO Control have informed me

that a U FO is approaching the north Atlantic.

I'm afraid we must assume that this aircraft is its target.

We're going to reduce height in order to gain the advantage of cloud cover.

This will mean we will have to reduce speed ,

but, of course, in the dense atmosphere, so will the U FO.

Presumably that increases SHADO's chances of intercepting it?

Yes, it does.

I'd fasten yoUr seatbelts, if I were yoU .

Look, don't worry. lt'II be OK.

Anyway, we have a dinner date.

I woUldn't let anything interfere with that.

Thank you.

(Radio commUnications)

(Man) Roger.

(Ford) U FO entering visUal speed range.

Radar on visual alert.

(Man) Zero-decimal-foUr.

U FO on radar, track speed Mach 5.

(Man) Latest, one-decimal-zero four-seven. Stand by for new coUrse.

Thank God for the atmosphere. It's the best protection we have.

We have positive radar fix.

Well, it's up to Skydiver now.

- In position, sir. - Right.

- Stand by! - Five, four, three, two, one,

- zero. - Launch stations.

- CIear one. - One clear.

- Clear two. - Two clear.

- Ready for take-off, sir. - Liftoff stations.

- Liftoff stations. - Checking boosters.

CircUits.

- CUt boosters. - CircUits OK.

CUtting boosters.

- Relays OK. - Good lUck, Skipper.

- Interlocks engaged. - Stabilise gyros.

Trigger circuits OK.

Right. Stand by for Iiftoff.

SHADO Control from Sky One. Airborne.

Position zero-two-zero red.

(Ford) Roger, Sky One.

Air speed down to 600 knots.

- Right. Lower heat shield . - Right.

I don't like it. These clouds give aboUt as much cover as a G-string on a belly dancer.

- Sky One to SeagUII x-Ray. Over. - Oh, Peter. Am I glad to hear you!

- What's yoUr position? - Right above yoU . Levelled off at ?0,000.

Sky One to SeagUII x-Ray, have UFO on screen.

Closing rapidly.

- Roger. Ten degrees port. - Right.

(U FO Whirring)

U FO at 1 ? o'clock. You are the target! Coming in to attack.

U FO entered cloUd Iayer. Keep a sharp lookoUt.

Roger.

- (Explosion) - Hold her! Hold her steady.

Sky One to SHADO Control. Reporting direct hit on U FO.

- It's gonna crash into the sea. - Good shooting, Sky One.

Come in, SeagUII x-Ray. Alec, are yoU OK?

I've aged about five years but we're still in one piece.

Hello, Sky One. Follow it down, Captain.

- Use yoUr reconnaissance cameras. - Roger. Will do.

It went straight under.

It seems to be breaking up.

Hold it!

There's a body!

Please confirm. Did yoU say "body"?

Yes. It's a body.

How's it going, Alec?

- Everything's fine. - Good. Good.

Moonbase and the other tracker stations

will have the Utronic system fitted and operational within a week.

That's jUst great. YoU Iook tired, AIec. Why don't yoU help yourself to a drink?

Thanks. Think l will.

- YoU never touch it, do yoU? - Uh-Uh. Self-control.

Maybe drinking needs more self-control?

When does. . . "it" arrive?

Any time now.

We've waited a Iong time for this one.

Yes.. . ten years.

It's been ten years

And that was after a decade of speculation, reports,

- official denials. You name it. - You know, AIec?

When I was made commander of SHADO, I thought it was all going to happen.

You've done a good job - the best.

Well, l've tried .

BUt how far have we progressed?

I mean, what do we really know about U FOs?

What are they? Where do they come from?

What do they want?

(Siren)

(Buzzer)

Yes?

(Man) Mayland Hospital, SHADO section.

Your special patient has arrived , sir.

We will use Underground corridor 3? to SHADO medical centre.

Right.

Well, maybe some of the answers are coming in now?

- Well done, Peter. - Thanks.

- YoU're wanted in debriefing immediately. - Right. See yoU Iater.

- What's the position, Doctor? - AIive but in a critical condition. Excuse me.

What are the chances of survival?

Well, he was epUipped with an advanced apparatus

that enabled him to breathe IipUid.

The helmet was removed as soon as he was picked Up.

The problem is that there's still some lipuid Ieft in his lUngs.

So it's too early to say yet. Excuse me.

Space travel in a lipuid environment.

The very thing we've been experimenting with.

Yes, well apparently they've done it.

I must ask you to Ieave now.

Right. Let me know the moment you have anything, Doctor.

Commander Straker?

- Is he alive, Doctor? - Yes.

Well?

The general analysis shows that he is hUmanoid .

You mean.. . Iike us?

More or less. Body temperatUre three degrees paranormal,

blood pressure rather Iow, muscUIar development poor.

The skin has an artificial green coloUration,

probably absorbed from the IipUid.

The interesting thing here is that the hair hasn't picked Up this tint,

which sUggests that the IipUid contains a bio-acraphilic compound.

Also the fact that the eyes were protected by plastic shells seems to sUpport this theory.

Anyway, we'II know more when we get the computer read-oUt

from the first electro-medical check. It'll be a few minUtes.

A man...

from a solar system probably a hUndred million million miles from Earth.

It's incredible.

What is?

Well, we can't be certain yet, but this preliminary test shows

organ and gland transplants.

Heart, Iiver...

left lUng, thyroid.

D'you realise what this coUId mean, Alec?

- It's still theory. - Theory?

Fact.

After almost ten years of possible, probable,

and confirmed U FO incidents.

Fact. On a nUmber of fUIIy documented occasions,

mutilated bodies foUnd after U FO attacks.

Organs missing. Fact.

An electro-medical examination

on the first alien we lay oUr hands on shows organ transplants.

- The doctors aren't certain. - No. Not yet.

BUt I'm willing to bet that our proof Iies at the end of that corridor.

Dr Shroeder?

Intensive care unit. We have an emergency.

(Gasps)

(Monitor beeps)

I'm afraid he's dead.

- When can I have a post-mortem? - 46 hoUrs.

Make it 24.

Not the details. Just what really matters.

The rapid ageing isn't docUmented in the report.

We're not sure why it happened,

but it's certainly connected with the reaction of Earth's atmosphere on the body.

Now, gentlemen, let's concern oUrselves with

with the three main pUestions regarding U FOs.

One, where do they come from?

Now the fact that the lUngs were filled with an oxygenated IipUid

seems to indicate a subjection to phenomenal acceleration

and fantastic speed over a long period.

Long enough for the skin to pick up the green colouration of the IipUid.

All this would appear to add Up to an extended journey throUgh space,

perhaps several months at many times the speed of light.

Question nUmber two: who are they?

Obviously, in science and technology,

several hundred years in advance of man.

BUt everything in this report seems to add up to a dying race.

Hereditary sterility was evident.

BUt by Using drUgs and advanced transplant technipUes,

they could have found a way to stop the natural ageing process.

They're also highly intelligent, so they presumably come to Earth

knowing the risk of contact with oUr atmosphere.

Which brings us inevitably to puestion nUmber three...

Why do they come?

This report indicates five major organ and gland transplants.

In the case of the heart,

tissue compatibility tests show that it was hUman in origin.

It came from Earth, gentlemen.

Therefore one of the reasons they mUst obvioUsly come

is to obtain organ replacements.

BUt there may be other reasons.

Imagine a dying planet in some distant corner of the Universe,

its natUral resources exhaUsted,

its inhabitants sterile,

doomed to extinction.

A situation we may one day find oUrselves in, gentlemen.

So they discover Earth, abUndant and fertile,

able to satisfy their needs.

They look Upon Us not with animosity but with calloUsness,

as we look upon our animals whom we depend on for food .

Yes...

it would appear they are driven by circumstance

across a billion miles of space,

driven on by the greatest force in the universe -

sUrvival.

The check on the test, sir.

- There's no possible doUbt? - No, sir.

Electronic tissUe analysis is as positive as a voice-print.

Right.

You wanted to tell me something?

Yes.

I wanted to have a word with yoU before you flew out.

- It's aboUt my sister, isn't it? - Yes.

I'm afraid she's dead, Peter.

There's no longer any doubt.

I think yoU know how sorry l am.

What happened?

I don't think you'd Iike to know the details.

I think I'd like to know.

Your sister was last seen in the vicinity of a UFO incident

nearly ten years ago.

The alien's body recovered from the sea

The heart was a transplant.

The donor was Leila Carlin.

- What will yoU tell your parents? - I don't know.

You realise, of coUrse, that they can never know the trUth?

(Straker) A funeral withoUt a body.

A symbol of human compassion.

The long finger of tragic coincidence

Is this the end or the beginning?

Where does the Universe end?

Where does it begin?