INVASION: PILOT (SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The premiere in this science fiction series about water-based extraterrestrials that infiltrate a small Florida town, taking over the bodies of townspeople.
The episode begins as a weather plane flies into the eye of a hurricane nearing Miami. The pilot spots a series of lights under the water, which quickly emerge and overwhelm the plane. In Everglades National Park, ranger Russell Varon rounds up locals to shield them from the approaching storm, then calls his pregnant wife, Larkin Groves, after she finishes reporting on Hurricane Eve for her TV station. Larkin tells Russell that his children, Rose and Jesse, are at home with her well-meaning but irresponsible brother Dave.
At the nearby hospital, Dr. Mariel Underlay, Russell's ex-wife, calls Dave to check on Rose and Jesse. She's then informed by her new husband, Sheriff Tom Underlay, to leave work and get home as soon as possible. Tom picks up his teenage daughter Kira at school, noting that the steady rain has become a deluge. Meanwhile, Mariel goes to Russell's home and is distressed to find that Rose has gone into the woods to look for her cat. When Russell arrives, he starts a search.
Rose watches from the shore as mysterious lights descend from the sky into the water. Russell then spies her and gets her into his truck, where her cat had been hiding. On the drive home, winds cause Russell to swerve and the trucks rolls over. Back at the house, Larkin gathers the others inside, just as the living room picture window implodes.
The next morning, National Guardsmen find Russell and Rose unharmed in the overturned truck. The two are driven back home, which has sustained considerable damage though Larkin, Dave, and Jesse are okay. Tom stops by as Mariel has yet to be found. After getting a report that her car was sighted, Tom, Russell, and Jesse comb the area for her. They finally spot her, lying nude in an isolated swamp. Tom revives Mariel and takes her to the hospital, where she complains about feeling odd.
Later, Dave takes Rose via airboat to the area where she saw lights diving into the ocean. There, he finds some plane debris as well as something in the water, after which he hurriedly drives off. Dave later confides to Russell that he returned and fished out a skeleton covered with a gelatinous substance. Dave believes that extraterrestrials have invaded, and wants to return to the site that evening with Russell. Elsewhere, Mariel takes Jesse and Russell to her home with Tom, after which Rose notes that Mariel "smells different"
Russell agrees to accompany Dave to where the skeleton was found, after which they see an illuminated object in the water. When Dave tries to touch it, it pulls him into the water. Russell jumps in and saves Dave, after which Dave's bloodied legs are treated at the hospital. As Russell learns that Tom has quarantined the area, he observes Tom talking to Father Jeffrey Scanlon, who weathered the storm in the elements as Mariel had. Russell senses something strange about Jeffrey as well as Mariel. As Russell returns to his home to re-examine the skeleton, Tom and Mariel go back to the swamp, where they gaze at new objects growing out of the water. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 21, 2005 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:08
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:88193
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science ficiton
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2005-2006
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "A History of Violence" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Flight Plan" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Lord of War" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Serenity" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "The Fog" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - American Lung Association
- TV - Commercials - American Red Cross organization
- TV - Commercials - Chili's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - DHL shipping services
- TV - Commercials - Hummer trucks
- TV - Commercials - Kia automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Lunesta sleep aids
- TV - Commercials - Monster.com website
- TV - Commercials - Pontiac automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Sears department stores
- TV - Commercials - Sprint/Nextel phone services
- TV - Commercials - TIAA-CREF financial services
- TV - Commercials - Target department stores
- TV - Commercials - The Foundation for a Better Life
- TV - Commercials - USA Freedom Corps organization
- TV - Promos - "Alias"
- TV - Promos - "Boston Legal"
- TV - Promos - "Commander in Chief"
- TV - Promos - "Desperate Housewives"
- TV - Promos - "Night Stalker"
- TV - Promos - "Nightline"
CREDITS
- Shaun Cassiby … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Thomas Schlamme … Executive Producer, Director
- Robert D. Simon … Producer
- Jonathan C. Brody … Associate Producer
- Neal Ahern, Jr. … Line Producer
- Jason Derlatka … Music by
- Jon Ehrlich … Music by
- William Fichtner … Cast, Tom Underlay
- Eddie Cibrian … Cast, Russell Varon
- Kari Matchett … Cast, Mariel Underlay
- Lisa Sheridan … Cast, Larkin Groves
- Tyler Labine … Cast, Dave Groves
- Alexis Dziena … Cast, Kira Underlay
- Evan Peters … Cast, Jesse Varon
- Ariel Gade … Cast, Rose Varon
- Aisha Hinds … Cast, Mona Gomez
- Jeannetta Arnette … Cast, Ruth
- Holmes Osborne … Cast, Mayor Littles
- Bryan Anthony … Cast, Guardsman
- Phe Caplan … Cast, Young Woman
- Ryan Honey … Cast, Navigator
- Aramis Knight … Cast, Hispanic Boy
- Lorena Mena … Cast, Hispanic Woman
- Gwen Mihok … Cast, Weather Officer
- Robert Standley … Cast, Pilot
- Juan Ramirez … Cast, Hispanic Man
- Mesan Richardson … Cast, Dropsonde Operator
- Rich Skidmore … Cast, Anchorman
- Amy Watt … Cast, Miss Gilroy
- John Everlove … Cast, Policeman
- Bella Carlson … Cast, Baby Faith
- Chloe Carlson … Cast, Baby Faith
- Ivan Brogger … Cast, Father Jeffrey Scanlon
- Frank Collison … Cast, Earl
- Don Festge … Cast, Police Officer
- Scott Mercer … Cast, AA Reporter
- Brandon Saario … Cast, National Guardsman
- Richard Wolford … Cast, Deputy Sheriff