INVADERS, THE: THE CONDEMNED {SEASON ONE FINALE} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of science fiction programs about architect David Vincent's attempts to stop space aliens from taking over the world. A pair of men steals a file from a company vault within the plant of the Peninsula Telecommunications Laboratory, chased off by the plant's security. A car chase ensues and they are run off of the road; one escapes while the other is trapped in the truck as it is disintegrated by one of the plant's security men, armed with one of the aliens' weapons. This incident is witnessed by a little girl in a nearby barn, and soon David learns about the incident and speaks to the girl. The man fleeing from the truck is identified as Morgan Tate, head of the Peninsula Telecommunications Laboratory. David goes to visit the plant, unaware that it is secretly being used by the aliens as a command center. He meets with Lewis Dunn, who has leased the plant from Tate and is secretly one of the aliens. Dunn fabricates a reason for Tate's disappearance and David leaves. On the way out, David spots two of the aliens working on the plant's electrified fence. One of the guards attacks him from behind and a struggle ensues. David manages to overpower him and throw him over a railing onto a nearby beach, whereupon his body disintegrates. David tries to escape but is cornered by the plant staff and several teenage beachgoers who witnessed the struggle. He is arrested and the authorities search for the body out at sea, finding nothing. Dunn tries to use the incident to convince the police that Tate is dead and that David had just murdered him. David is taken into custody and two days later a fisherman accidentally finds a body he believes to be Tate's. The body is in bad condition, making it difficult to identify. Tate's daughter Carol, who has not spoken to her father in years, is called upon to identify the body. During her visit, David tries to convince her of the truth about Tate's disappearance, asking her to speak to the little girl he visited. The police are dismissive of his claims, but Carol begins to wonder about the veracity of David's story. David manages to escape custody and flees. Dunn speaks with the little girl and calls Carol, asking her to visit the plant to sign some important documents. David visits Carol before she leaves, asking her to help find Tate, but she declines. However, David learns from the exchange that Tate is a diabetic. When Carol arrives at the plant, Dunn reveals to her that Tate is still alive and stole an important file from the company vault. He asks her to stay at the plant so that when he tries to contact her, she will be able to convince him to give back the file. Carol, somewhat shocked, agrees. Meanwhile, news of David's arrest has made the front page of the local newspaper. He visits a local pharmacy and bribes a kid working there to give him access to the prescription delivery information, allowing him to determine the address of the motel Tate is staying at. He visits the motel and pleads with Tate to come out, explaining that he wasn't sent from the plant and wants to help him. Tate is too frightened to emerge, and the police arrive to arrest David before he can get an answer. Tate emerges and sees the newspaper article on David, including a photograph of Carol. He decides to call Carol and is redirected to the plant's telephone. He speaks with Carol, who tersely orders him to return the file he stole. He tries to explain to Carol that Dunn and his men are not what they seem, but she does not hear him. Dunn gives Tate an ultimatum: return the file or Carol will be harmed. David is brought to the police station and finds Tate already there, who tries to convince the police that the news of his death was a misunderstanding and that David did not assault him, and that his subsequent disappearance was the result of shock. David is cleared of the murder charge and Tate pays his bail to secure his release. Tate and David head to a nearby bar to discuss their next move. He wants David to act as a middleman to negotiate Carol's release, in exchange for giving himself up to Dunn. He reveals that he knows Dunn and his associates are aliens, and is surprised to learn that David has been investigating the alien invasion for over a year. The file Tate stole contains a list of names of alien invaders posing as influential leaders in countries around the globe. The aliens have been using the plant as a "nerve center" to communicate with these leaders and give them instructions from the alien homeworld. He reveals that the file is hidden in the plant itself and David agrees to help him secure Carol's release, hoping to bring the file to the government and finally expose the alien invasion. David visits the plant and the switch between Tate and Carol is under way. Tate gives David instructions on how to infiltrate the plant. He also explains that Carol has been bitter towards him ever since her mother's death; she believes Tate is responsible but in truth her mother was an alcoholic who committed suicide. David accompanies Carol out of the plant as Tate enters. He then doubles back and infiltrates the plant as Tate tries to stall Dunn. When Tate reveals the file to Dunn, David pounces from hiding upon him and snatches the file. David manages to escape with the file, but Dunn fires at Tate with an alien weapon, disintegrating him. With their command roster compromised, the aliens shut down their nerve center at the plant. David visits Carol and decides to tell her the truth about her father and mother. Soon, the alien leaders all die or vanish mysteriously so as not to reveal their secrecy; because of David's actions, the invasion faces a considerable delay. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: May 9, 1967 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:56
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:34695
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1967-1968
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Commercials – Girl Scouts youth organization
- TV – Commercials – Salem cigarettes
CREDITS
- Quinn Martin … Executive Producer
- Alan A. Armer … Producer
- Anthony Spinner … Associate Producer
- Richard Benedict … Director
- Larry Cohen … Created by
- Robert Sherman … Writer
- Sidney Cutner … Music by
- Dominic Frontiere … Theme Music by
- Roy Thinnes … Cast, David Vincent
- Ralph Bellamy … Cast, Morgan Tate
- Marlyn Mason … Cast, Carol Tate
- Murray Hamilton … Cast, Lewis Dunn
- Larry Ward … Cast, Detective Carter
- John Ragin … Cast, John Finney
- Wright King … Cast, Ed Tonkin
- Garry Walberg … Cast, Detective Reagan
- Harlan Warde … Cast, Ed Peterson
- Paul Bryar … Cast, J. O. Brock
- Kevin Burchett … Cast, Paul
- Gordon Wescourt … Cast, Joey
- Geoffrey Deuel … Cast, Teenager
- Debi Storm … Cast, Victoria
- Seymour Cassel … Cast, Driver
- Stuart Nisbet … Cast, Coroner