[instrumental music]
[sheep bleating]
[music continues]
Good morning.
Uh, would you get me Major Bernard
at his Whitehall number?
Thank you.
[telephone rings]
Hello.
Thank you.
Alan... it's Gordon.
Look, you're coming down here today, aren't you?
Could you pick up a book for me and bring it with you?
It's...
[intense music]
Gordon?
Operator? Operator?
Oh, blast it.
Got cut off.
That was my brother-in-law.
Would you try and get through again?
I've got to go and change.
Yes, sir.
Operator, we've been cut off from Midwich 2-5.
Would you get it again, please?
(female #1) 'Hello? Hello?'
'Will you replace your receiver, please?'
'Please replace your receiver.'
'Hello? Hello?'
[engine rumbling]
[telephone ringing]
[water running]
[record skipping]
[bell chiming]
[chiming continues]
(male #1) 'For more than an hour, you're saying?'
Yes, sir.
Perhaps something went wrong with his phone.
Ha, but this is what puzzles me, sir.
You see, I've also tried the vicar
the general stores and the post office.
I can't get any reply from any of them.
Well, country telephone exchanges being what they are...
Yes, I know, sir, but, uh... look here, sir.
Midwich is here.
Now, Fourth Brigade are running
that exercise of theirs all around there.
Well, I don't suppose there is anything in it, sir
but I was wondering, as I was going down
for the weekend anyway, whether I
could, uh, have your permission
to leave earlier than I intended?
Alright, Alan. Give me a ring later.
- I'll be here till 5:00. - Thank you, sir.
Oh, Alan.
- Yes, sir? - Have a nice weekend.
Give my respects to Gordon.
I will. Goodbye, sir.
[door closes]
[engine rumbling]
- Hello, Gobby. - Ohh. It's Major Bernard, sir.
Well, Gobby, what's happened to the telephones?
I've been trying to get through all morning.
It's funny you should ask, major.
I've just been sent to look for the bus
which hasn't turned up.
We can't get through by phone either.
[engine rumbling]
[tires screech]
Here's your bus, Gobby.
(Gobby) It's truth.
Better have a look.
[engine rumbling]
Alright, Alan, you better get hold
of the local area commander.
- What's his name? - Ward Johnson, sir.
Oh, yeah. Tell him to call me if he wants authorization.
I'll get things moving this end.
- Oh, Alan, - 'Yes, sir.'
Make sure the newspapers don't get hold
of this for the time being.
If anything has got out of hand there
we don't want any panic.
Report back as soon as you have any results.
Right, sir.
Get me south-eastern command, please.
Over here, sergeant.
'Set up the tug line system.'
'Bring your men over here, sergeant.'
'Over this way!'
(male #2) 'Look, the canary!'
You needn't go in if you don't want to.
I'll have a go, sir.
- Quite sure? - Sir.
Hold it!
Be careful, now.
(male #3) 'When you are ready, doc.'
Alan, what on earth's happening...
Just a minute. Oh, hello, doctor.
Glad you're here. We may need you.
What's wrong with him?
That's what we're trying to find out.
Will you take a look at him, doc?
Well, take off the respirator.
Pulse is normal.
Seems to be breathing normally.
Ah, I think he's just fainted.
Uh, he's coming around.
Alan, you better let me know what this is all about.
Doctor, when were you last in the village?
Midwich? Oh, after about 10:00.
Had a couple of patients to see in Widmarsh.
Now there are roadblocks all over the place.
Alan, I've got to get back. I've got patients to see.
Well, my hunch is that all your patients in Midwich
are in the same state as this man.
[groaning]
Alright. Alright, old chap. Take it easy.
What can it be?
To-to put a man out like a light
penetrate our respirators, do all this?
Some sort of gas?
No, it can't be.
Any breeze would have blown it about a bit.
The edges of the area are as well-defined
as-as that hedge there.
[exhales]
Cold.
- 'What did you say?' - Ice-cold.
I'm alright, sir. Only cold.
My hands are like ice.
[airplane droning]
Midwich to Charlie-Alpha. Midwich to Charlie-Alpha.
Can you see anything? Over.
Everything looks alright from here. Over.
Let me speak to him.
Hello, Charlie-Alpha. This is Major Bernard speaking.
Can you see nothing unusual at all in Midwich?
Nothing moving?
No, sir, nothing.
Matter of fact, that's odd. Nothing is moving down there.
'I can see some people, but they're not moving either.'
They're... they're lying on the ground.
As though they've fallen?
'Yes, sir.'
Right. Take it down slowly.
But pull up the minute you feel anything.
Feel anything, sir?
'Anything unusual.'
Roger.
Still nothing moving, sir.
Taking her down.
Careful, now.
[engine rumbling]
Easy.
[rumbling continues]
[explosion]
[aircraft droning]
There's another aircraft approaching.
Send out a general warning immediately.
All aircraft to avoid this area
and not to drop below 5000 feet.
Yes, sir. Midwich to base. Midwich to base.
Emergency. I say again, emergency.
Warn all aircraft to avoid area five-mile radius.
Latitude 51 degrees, ten minutes, 30 seconds north.
'Longitude one degree, 11 minutes, 20 seconds west.'
Maintain minimum altitude of 5000 feet.
Out.
[mooing]
Blimey! Look!
[dramatic music]
[mooing continues]
[water running]
[music continues]
Ah.
[music continues]
Gordon...
Darling, I'm sorry. I... I must have dozed off.
Well, look at the time. It's almost 3:00.
'Why didn't you call me?'
I'd better go and see about lunch.
A-Anthea...
I found myself asleep on the floor.
What an extraordinary thing to do.
Oh...
I'm... I'm cold.
Well, the fires have gone out.
Did you...
Did we faint?
'We must have blacked out.'
Why?
Oh, I... my hands are... quite numb.
Oh.
Gordon... what did happen?
I don't know.
[engine rumbling]
- Alan. - You're alright.
- You're late. - I couldn't get through.
"Couldn't get through?"
Alan, what did you mean, "You're alright?"
I mean, how did you know?
Well, it's an extraordinary thing but we seemed
to have blacked out for several hours.
- I-I know. - It must have been some...
It wasn't only you two.
The whole village fell asleep.
The whole village?
All of Midwich was cut off
from the outside world for several hours.
[engine rumbling]
Anything registering, son?
No, sir. Nothing unusual.
Well, keep at it.
(Ogle) Oh, Mr. Zellaby!
- Uh, yes, Miss Ogle? - You see...
Are these people from the telephone company?
(Gordon) 'Not the telephone company.'
- 'No.' - That's what I said.
I mean, if they want to pull a wool over our eyes
they ought try something better.
Yes. Well, I'm trying to find...
After all, we're not stupid, are we?
What's happened isn't natural.
Tell you what we'll do
I'll press for an official explanation
while you help to stop the rumors getting about.
Alright?
Do you mind?
- Soil samples? Plant life? - Yes, sir.
Even the bark on the trees, but I...
Don't forget insects
grasses, water, metals.
The sooner and more elaborate
these tests can be made, the better.
- Yes, sir? - It's quite alright.
This is professor Gordon Zellaby.
- Oh, yes, sir, certainly. - Alan.
Well, no one seems to have come to any harm.
A few cuts and bruises where they fell.
Lucky, no one was in their bath.
They might have been drowned.
Yeah. Hello, Mrs. Harrington.
Well! I think the least they can do is
offer us some kind of compensation.
But you feel alright?
No, thanks to them if I do.
And a large burn on my best dress into the bargain.
What the wife means is...
Well... you don't hardly expect to drop asleep
before dinner, do you?
Well, we've established that whatever it was
was static, odorless, invisible.
It didn't register on radar, it was non-metallic
it showed nothing on our Geiger counters.
You've got the reports there, Gordon.
There are no signs of any physical
biological or psychological changes.
Well, that's practically meaningless.
For instance, serious exposure to X-rays or gamma rays
need not have an immediate effect.
But these people have to be kept under observation.
- And yourself. - And my household.
It would be a bit tricky to put you all in the sanatorium.
In any case, my instructions are to keep
this whole incident out of the limelight.
National security, eh?
If you like.
Well, until we know the cause
we shan't know what to expect.
Since, you're there, Gordon, suppose you keep an eye
on Midwich for us.
If you find anything, let us know through Alan.
No need for any direct contact between us.
More security, eh? Ever cautious.
Gets under the skin, you know.
[piano music]
[dramatic music]
(female #2) 'Anything else today, Mrs. Zellaby?'
No, that's all, thank you.
I'll have to get in a new supply of these pickles
if you go on like this.
Yes, I do seem to be getting through a lot these days.
Don't I?
That'll be, uh, 17 and six.
Shall I add it to the account?
Yes, thank you.
Oh, how's the professor?
Oh, he's very well. Very well, indeed.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
[door shuts]
- Miss Ogle, dear. - Yes?
I think there's going to be news
up at Kyle manor.
News? What kind of news?
Hello.
I said hello.
Oh.
How long have you been here?
- Ages. - Liar.
I've just discovered a fascinating thing.
Here are the plant samples we took that day.
Now this one, for example
a perfectly ordinary pelargonium zonale.
And you see what's happening? Exactly what you'd expect.
If I made a 50 percent gra...
Why did you kiss me like that?
[chuckles]
Oh, come on. What's the secret?
Something's afoot.
Why are you so happy?
Now, Gordon, I want you to sit down.
- Alright. - Keep quite calm.
There's nothing to worry about.
Now...
...we have apparently succeeded
in crossing a Zellaby Gordonias
with a Zellaby Antheam.
Just what the results will be
we shan't know for some time yet.
I think you should sit down.
- Can I get you some tea? - No.
A drink! No, that wouldn't be right.
Uh, feet up? Something to eat?
- Yes, please. - What?
Uh, cheese, pickles, and half a dozen anchovies.
Recently my favorite diet.
Hadn't you noticed?
Mrs. Plumpton at the shop has.
I've been too engrossed in my work
but we'll change all that.
[instrumental music]
Thank you, darling.
You've made my happiness complete.
And all the more so because I'm old enough to appreciate it.
Now then, what was it you wanted?
Cheese, pickles
and half a dozen... anchovies.
Hmm.
I'm afraid there's no doubt about it.
Milly, I wish there was something I could say
to comfort you because I know the sort of thing
you'll have to put up with from
some of the people in the village over this.
But you can count on me to do anything I can
to help you and your child.
But do you think that I've, do you think that I could...
Milly, I've told you, there's no doubt about it.
Now, if there's anyone you want me to talk to about this...
But I've never...
[crying] It's impossible!
[sniffling] 'It's impossible.'
[sobbing]
(male #4) 'This is some present, Jim. Thanks a lot.'
'Where did you say you got it? Tokyo?'
Oh, it's a real beauty.
You can take action pictures in this light.
Jan, look at me.
When I learn to use this properly
I might go into the photo business.
Jan, turn this way.
That's right. I want to see how...
What's the matter with you?
'Jim comes back after a whole year away'
'and you look as if you were going to a funeral.'
[dramatic music]
An attempted suicide, Janet Pawle
whose husband only came back from sea yesterday.
Three other women in the village half out of their minds.
'Milly Hughes, Rose Shepherd and Mary Bernard.'
That's why we're asking you to tell us, Vicar.
Please don't keep on.
Don't you see that, what you're asking me...
...it's not right, ethically.
Oh, for heaven's sake, Vicar.
How do you think I feel?
I married late in life.
When my wife told me that she was going to have a baby
it was my happiest moment I've ever known.
Don't talk to me about ethics.
Don't you see that this is something
which concerns all of us?
'That this is the one moment'
'when it is your, your duty'
'to break confidence.'
Very well.
Four of them have been to see me.
One of them is only 17.
- Evelyn Harrington. - Yes.
She was terribly frightened, and frankly, so am I.
I know these girls. I've watched them grow up.
And when they tell me that they have no way of accounting
for their condition well...
...I'm compelled to believe them.
That means that every woman in this village
who is capable of childbirth
is going to have a baby!
I can't believe it.
This is not a matter of belief
Vicar, it's a matter of fact.
And there's something else.
All this seems to date from that day two months ago
'when Midwich was cut off from the rest of the world.'
[instrumental music]
Who's next?
[music continues]
This is Anthea Zellaby's, doctor.
Let's have a look at it.
It's one of the most perfectly formed embryos, I've ever seen.
Yes, but is it normal?
It's more than normal.
It's a seven-month embryo after only... five months.
[dramatic music]
It's alright, darling, I've seen the X-rays
and it's a fine specimen.
Dr. Willers says it's perfect, absolutely normal.
That should make us very happy.
But it's going to be alright!
Is it? Is that what you believe?
You're tired, darling.
That's right.
I'm tired.
And do you know why?
Because every night, I lie awake and worry!
Well, now you don't have to worry anymore.
You don't really believe that.
- Do you? - Dr. Willers says...
I don't care what Dr. Willers says!
Alright, so it's not a monster.
It's a perfect specimen.
'But what does that tell me?'
You're going to have a baby.
Whose baby? Yours?
Does it tell me what-what kind of life is growing inside me?
What sort of brain it has, where it comes from?
Does it tell me that? Where does it come...
Stop it! You must stop it.
Y-we-we-we've got to be rational about this.
We may not be any better off than any of the others
but there's absolutely nothing we can do but wait!
Gordon?
Maybe it's ours, maybe it isn't.
If it's ours, we shall know. If it isn't...
Gordon.
I'm afraid.
I'm so afraid!
[engine revving]
[instrumental music]
[gate creaking]
[music continues]
[music stops]
I hope that none of them lives.
What a ridiculous way to behave.
[baby crying]
They're terribly busy, Mr. Zellaby, but doctor said
to tell you that Mrs. Zellaby's fine.
- And the baby? - Perfect.
In every respect?
Gordon, you got a cigarette?
- How about the baby? - Oh, splendid.
Unusually heavy, though, ten pounds, eight ounces.
Strange eyes. Oh, alright.
You can go in now. Got a cigarette?
[whimpers]
(Alan) 'Yes, of course.'
'How many others have been delivered so far tonight?'
Anthea's my third.
What about their weight?
All slightly over ten pounds.
They've all got these strange eyes.
All that worry, and now...
Oh, Gordon. Have you seen him?
He's such a beautiful baby.
[whimpers]
[instrumental music]
Gordon...
...I do love you so.
[growling]
He's probably jealous.
[growling continues]
'Now be quiet, Bruno.'
Lie down and behave yourself.
Handsome, isn't he?
Take a look at this, doctor. It's a section of hair.
(Willers) Yes. I-it's flat on one side.
On the other, an arc.
Somewhat in the shape of a...
...narrow capital D.
It belongs to my son David.
Have you ever seen such a hair type before?
Have you noticed their nails?
Yes. They're narrower than ours.
Covering less of the upper surface of the digit
but as, as flat as normal nails.
What do the blood tests show?
Oh, it's too early to tell.
The blood circulating at present
is still that of the mother's group.
So they're apparently normal children
with these exceptions...
Strange eyes, arresting, I would say.
An unknown hair group
and unusual fingernails.
Whatever they are, their physical development
is absolutely startling.
In point of time, they're four months old
but their development and capabilities is...
...that of 18 months.
(Anthea) 'Aah!'
[dramatic music]
No, please, Mrs. Zellaby, you wouldn't. No, no, please!
Aah!
She won't stop, sir, she won't stop!
Oh, Gordon.
[panting]
Now, what happened?
[panting] I, I was giving David his...
...his bottle.
I, I must have forgotten to test it.
It was, it was too hot for him.
'He, he spat it out.'
(female #3) 'He just seem to glare at her.'
Get my bag from the car.
Is that any reason to scald yourself?
[intense music]
This box is a product of oriental ingenuity.
There are... no visible means of opening it.
But if you do just what I've shown you, it comes open.
Now see if you can do it.
Mm-hmm.
Down there.
- 'That's right.' - 'That's right?'
(Gordon) 'Mm-hmm.'
'And that comes down, and...'
[mumbling]
- 'Now you've got it.' - 'That's it.'
Splendid.
Now you see, it shows that I was right
to marry your sister.
Your family has brains.
See if I can do this myself.
Alright, well, now watch this.
And remember that he's only one year old.
Go on, open it, David.
[dramatic music]
'Yes, there's something inside.'
'It's a chocolate.'
Come along. It's time for your bath.
This is fantastic.
You think so?
Come with me.
(Gordon) 'It's alright, Evelyn, it's only'
'a box with a chocolate in it.'
I don't know, sir, I never allow her to have chocolates.
Huh, well, it's quite harmless, really.
I just gave some to David.
[intense music]
But you didn't even show her how to do it.
Well, that's exactly my point. I didn't have to.
If you demonstrate something to one of them
they all know it.
Now watch.
I want that!
Keith! G-give it back to him!
At once!
[intense music]
[music continues]
[instrumental music]
[laughing]
[dramatic music]
No, Nancy.
Leave them alone.
Ted Rowett! You come inside this moment!
I've told you about playing with those children before!
Where's my Philip? You're always all together.
It's his turn to study.
He's at your home.
It's his home, too.
You're anxious for us to leave, aren't you?
You, you have the same every week.
Twelve jars, 15 shillings.
You wish we wouldn't come here anymore, Mrs. Plumpton.
I, I never said...
It's what you're thinking.
You've nothing to fear from us.
However, in future, someone else will come for our order.
Goodbye, Mrs. Plumpton. Good afternoon, Miss Ogle.
[bell dinging]
[door shuts]
Are you ready, Gordon?
Some coffee?
No, thanks.
Gordon, don't you think Anthea should
know about this conference, what's being discussed?
There's no reason to alarm her just because you're alarmed.
I haven't got your cold, scientific detachment.
People, especially children aren't measured by their IQ.
What's important about them is whether they're good or bad
and these children are bad to everyone but you.
But they are children, Alan.
And children are not born with a sense of moral values.
They have to be taught.
With their intellect, that should be simple.
Intellect? Intellect? That's all you care about.
What if you can't teach them?
'What if you can't put the'
'brake of morals on them?'
First we must try.
You're blinded by this vision of intellect.
You see David as another Einstein!
Potentially greater.
Solving the riddle of the universe.
Your son, David!
Anthea's son. I have no proof that he's mine.
Where's Father gone?
Oh, to London.
You must hurry, David.
Why?
You'll be late.
No, I meant, why has he gone to London?
He has some business there.
What sort of business?
A conference.
Don't you like me to help you, David?
Thank you, but I'm old enough to do things for myself.
Father agrees with that.
Darling, your finger!
Oh, let me do that.
It doesn't hurt. Please don't fuss.
It might turn septic.
There.
You said I must hurry.
Goodbye, Mother.
Goodbye, David.
(Leighton) 'And gentlemen, as the Home Secretary'
'has permitted this disclosure'
I can now inform you that Midwich
is not the only colony of such children.
Here, at a township in northern Australia
thirty infants were born in one day.
Apparently something went wrong.
All the children died within ten hours of birth.
In an Eskimo community, there were ten births.
The community didn't take kindly to this.
Golden-haired babies born of black-haired mothers
violated the taboos.
None survived.
'In the communist world there were two time-outs'
similar to the one at Midwich.
One at Irkutsk, here...
...on the borders of outer Mongolia.
A grim affair.
The men killed the children and their mothers.
Second, in the mountains of the northwest.
All the children survived.
Our reports, though limited
indicate that they're receiving education
on the highest level.
All these time-outs happened on the same day
as the one at Midwich.
This is now three years ago.
Have we established anything about
the origins of these children?
There's very little to go on.
Zellaby, you must have some theory.
May I suggest that Zellaby may be somewhat
too intimately involved.
My position as a dubious father
is influencing my scientific detachment?
- Is that what you think? - I have reason to believe so.
Well, let's hear what the others have to say.
Dr. Carlisle?
I went into the question of mutation.
Once in a great many thousand years
an abrupt jump may take place
in animal or in vegetable life.
A new variation suddenly occurs for no apparent reason.
Would that explain why entire groups of people
were cut off for periods of several hours?
No, sir. It would not.
Very well. Any other line of thought?
Yes. There is the possibility of the transmission of energy.
May I put it this way?
Already we can direct radar beams
out into space with the utmost accuracy.
Electrical impulses have been bounced off the moon
and we are continually receiving impulses
from other planets and stars
'and impulses are energy and matter.'
We're aware of that, Professor Smith
but where does that take us?
(Gordon) 'The professor and I think alike.'
'What we can do, others, elsewhere in the universe'
'maybe able to do better.'
Exactly.
Let me get this straight.
You imply that these children
may be the result of impulses
directed towards us from somewhere in the universe?
Well, of course, that's just a theory
but there's nothing to disprove it.
They may be a case of mutation.
They may be the world's new people.
What we need is time to investigate! Time...
Just a moment, Zellaby.
Uh, General Leighton, you've told me of some
developments at Midwich, what are they?
A series of casualties, mostly among the village children
and each case after some contact with... the others.
Children get into fights all over the world.
These were not fights in the normal sense.
No direct physical violence was involved
but two weeks ago, a boy, a good swimmer
was drowned in the Midwich pond for no logical reason.
Children also have accidents.
Gordon, you've seen it for yourself.
The extraordinary power these children have
and the sinister way they use it.
Extraordinary power, certainly. Yes.
That's precisely why we need time! Time...
In our view, it's only a matter of time
before these children get entirely out of hand
with fatal consequences.
And what do you suggest?
That they be shut away.
- You mean put in prison? - Bluntly, yes.
You might as well do away with them altogether.
This isn't a police state, yet.
But don't you see what you're doing?
If you imprison them you'll deprive
the scientific world of the greatest opportunity
it has ever had.
Opportunity for what?
(Gordon) 'For study.'
Gentlemen, a great deal has been said here
about the power of these children
but nothing about the nature of this power.
What we're dealing with is a mass mind
an entirely new development
like a, like a colony of ants and bees.
These children all want to dress alike
and what one learns, they all learn.
I've demonstrated this to Alan Bernard.
They are one mind to the 12th power.
'Now just think what it would mean'
'if we could guide it.'
'We could leap forward in science 100 years.'
At the risk of being destroyed.
What cannot be understood must be put away.
Is that your view, of the age old fear of the unknown?
On the other hand, Zellaby, Leighton has a point.
There is a potential danger here.
We are gathered here as advisers
as scientists, as government experts.
Now, take a look at our world.
Have we made a good job of it?
'Who's to say that these children are not the answer?'
- 'The answer to what?' - Well, to wars.
To disease, to human want and misery.
To all of our problems we've been unable to cope with.
If they don't make an end of us in the meantime.
We cannot throw away this potential
just because of a few incidents.
What is your suggestion?
(Gordon) 'I'll compromise with Leighton.'
Let them live together under one roof in our village
where they can be kept under observation.
My department couldn't accept the responsibility...
I personally will assume full responsibility!
Just give me a year.
Mr. Home Secretary, I can't agree to this.
But all I ask is a year.
Now, surely that's not too much time
when so much is at stake.
'Just give me one year.'
Very well.
I will officially recommend your compromise.
Thank you, gentlemen.
[indistinct chattering]
Now, that's as far as we shall go today.
Our next lecture will deal with structure.
'And by the way, don't forget'
'you'll be living here from tomorrow.'
Now...
Why do you smile? David?
You don't know how to put your question.
[chuckles]
There isn't much point in my trying to be subtle, is there?
The question I was going to put was...
By the way...
...just how deep do you see into my mind?
Everything that's in the front of your mind.
The thought processes?
The reasoning that leads to my spoken words?
We still have to master that.
'It will come.'
Hmm. Well, that's frank. Thank you, David.
At least I still have some privacy.
The question I want to ask is this...
Are you aware of life on another planet?
[instrumental music]
Then let me put it this way.
It is possible that life exists elsewhere, isn't it?
We don't seem to be getting anywhere.
Why are you so nervous when an aircraft flies above you?
You're very observant, Father.
Yes, but that doesn't answer my question.
Alright.
Until recently, we haven't been able
to make our control reach as far as a high aircraft.
Oh, now you have, is that it?
What are you going to do with that power?
Father, we know what you're trying to find out.
It would be better if you didn't ask these questions.
We want to learn from you.
Alright, that will be all for today.
- David? - Yes, Father?
I'll walk home with you.
'What I meant was that you don't have to go, David'
'if you don't want to.'
I'd rather go.
'You mean that, because the others are moving'
'into the school, you feel that you must, too?'
- 'Is that the logic?' - Yes.
Your mother is quite distressed about it.
I don't really know why I should be.
Lots of parents send their children away to school
and David will only be half a mile away.
I suppose there's nothing that'll
make you change your mind.
No.
I think that's all.
Thank you.
[engine revving]
[brakes screeching]
[dramatic music]
I'm very sorry! It was all my fault.
You alright?
[dramatic music]
[engine turning over]
[music continues]
(male #5) 'Mrs. Zellaby, I wish you'd be more specific'
in your testimony.
I know these things are difficult
but it's our obligation to determine
the responsibility for this man's death.
I find it very difficult to remember.
I...
You told constable Gobby
you heard the screech of his brakes.
Well, yes, that's right.
He...
He got...
...out of the car.
Then what did he do, Mrs. Zellaby?
Then he...
...he got back into the car...
...and drove straight for the wall.
Thank you, Mrs. Zellaby.
I don't think we need go any further.
But it seems to be quite apparent what happened here.
'Edward Pawle, the deceased, his vision obscured'
'came close to striking and injuring a child'
'then, obviously in nervous shock'
'struck the wall.'
'I recommend that you bring in a verdict of accidental death.'
Mrs. Zellaby, you know they killed him!
[indistinct chattering]
Ask them! Just ask them!
[gavel pounding]
Who is that man?
James Pawle, sir.
Brother of the deceased.
Then I shall overlook this outburst.
Gordon, can't you see now that
Midwich is living on top of a volcano?
A force is building up.
Sooner or later it's bound to explode.
We still haven't any proof.
For heaven's sake, how much more proof do you need?
- The death of James Pawl... - Alan.
I'm much more aware of the situation than you think.
[dramatic music]
- Jim! - Why not?
Look what they did to my brother!
This won't bring him back.
Who's going to stop them if I don't try?
You can't stop 'em with that believe me.
'They're not human! They ought to be destroyed!'
Go home, Jim. I said go home!
Leave here now, before they get any closer.
[music continues]
Alright, Mr. Zellaby.
[intense music]
[music continues]
[gunshot]
[music continues]
Alright, alright. I'm responsible!
I never denied it!
'It's quite possible that, but for me, these two men'
'would still be alive, I-I-I was a little optimistic... '
There's quite a shindig in London
they may be after your blood, Gordon.
Do you think that I care a rap about that?
What beats me is that I failed to reach the children!
But the point is, they're shouting for action.
Now, things have gone too far.
The village is very near panicky.
Oh, if only I could get inside
the children's minds and read their thoughts
as quiet obviously they can read ours.
Doesn't that assume they have thoughts in mind
as we understand them?
Alan, it's for you. General Leighton.
Excuse me.
Thank you.
Yes, sir?
I see. Yes, sir.
It's as though their minds were surrounded by...
...a brick wall.
If only I could break through it.
(Alan) 'Yes, sir. Certainly.'
Have I your permission to, to pass this on, sir?
Right. Thank you, sir. Goodbye.
I'm afraid there have been grave developments.
The Russian army group in the western Urals
is equipped with a new type of gun.
It can project a shell up to 60 miles
an atomic shell.
And apparently, they tried it out yesterday...
...on the village of Reminsk
where their children live
and the village of Reminsk no longer exists.
You mean everyone there...
The entire place. They gave no warning.
They couldn't evacuate the villagers without
the children learning what was to happen.
They developed more quickly than ours.
They'd begun to, to take control.
'An attempt to move them with soldiers'
'proved disastrous to the troops and the adults.'
I see.
So, now I suppose we're going to blow Midwich
off the face of the Earth.
No, no, but...
...but in view of recent events
they feel your compromise has failed.
'Leighton feels you ought to move immediately'
'before it's too late.'
Destroy them?
Well, they're, they're meeting tonight
to come to a decision.
They want me in town.
[dramatic music]
What I say is, it's got to stop!
(all) Yeah.
First Ed, then Jim Pawle.
(all) Yeah.
The authorities don't do nothing.
Are we going to wait until we all get wiped out?
[indistinct screaming]
Alright then, those that are with me, follow me!
[shouting]
[instrumental music]
[intense music]
[music continues]
[dramatic music]
David, come here.
I want to speak to you.
A man is dead.
We must protect ourselves.
The law exists for your protection.
It's of no use to us.
Of no use to you, is it?
If you think you're going to be allowed to live by your own laws
laws we don't subscribe to...
You're thinking of what happened to the others
in another country.
Yes, if you know about that, you should know what to expect.
- It'll not happen to us. - You little...
It'll not happen to us because we have to survive
'no matter what the cost.'
[dramatic music]
I don't think you'll go to London.
'We're now the only ones left'
and you must learn that we're determined to survive.
And that there's nothing you can do to stop us.
You have to be taught to leave us alone.
[intense music]
Leave us alone.
He's out of danger now.
Go to the library. I'll join you there.
I've never seen a severer a case of shock as this.
It's medically impossible.
For a while, he was totally paralyzed.
Now his pupils are returning to normal.
His pulse is less rapid. His color's returning.
I've never seen anything like this before.
It's time London sent in some troops.
I talked to General Leighton. Troops are not the answer.
The children would only make them shoot one another.
Tonight should be enough for all of us, even me.
- What is the answer, then? - I don't know.
But no more people must be hurt.
(Willers) 'Is there no limit to the power of these children?'
No more than there's a limit to the mind.
'David!'
What do you want here? I should have...
I want to speak to my father.
David, why do you do these dreadful things?
Wherever it is you come from
you're, you're part of us now.
Couldn't you learn to live with us
and help us live with you?
I want to speak to my father.
The effects seem to be wearing off...
Major Bernard will be alright.
What we did was only to warn him...
...and all of you.
- Leave us, Anthea. - But I...
Please.
You are not afraid of us.
No... but I'm sorry, David.
I'm sorry I was wrong about you.
If you didn't suffer from emotions
from feelings, you could be as powerful as we are.
Yes.
You'll never reach our minds.
I've come to say it's time for us to go.
Go where?
Away from here before they try to destroy us.
What will you do?
Spread out and disperse.
Soon we'll have reached the stage
when we can form new colonies.
In the meantime, we've attracted too much attention.
You must help us to leave.
How would you wish me to help you?
You'll arrange a method of getting us away from here
without attracting attention.
You'll find a number of families spread over the country
that'll take us in.
Yes, well, that'll take a bit of organizing.
I'll need a few days.
Yes, and be sure no one finds out.
Otherwise, more people will be hurt.
You'll tell us the arrangements you've made
when you come to give us our lesson on Friday.
David...
You won't be able to deceive us, you know that, don't you?
- Yes, I know that. - Very well.
Let us know your arrangements on Friday.
Good night, Father.
Good night, David.
[instrumental music]
A brick wall...
Are you alright now?
Yeah, sight's still a bit foggy
but clearing all the time.
I'll just go and tell Gordon.
[piano music]
Remember this?
'You wore a dark blue dress.'
'Your hair was longer then.'
It caught the moonlight.
- We're ready, Gordon. - Good.
- I wish you'd... - It's 8:15.
You'll be in London by 9:30.
I wish you'd let me stay here or come with us.
Oh, now you know that isn't possible.
I have things to do here.
And poor Alan would go into the nearest tree
if you let him drive.
Nothing like feeling useless.
You're still going to see the children tonight?
Yes. Every Wednesday and Friday.
After what happened?
Especially after what happened.
I think I've found a way of getting through to them.
And if I'm right, we'll have no further trouble.
How?
I'll tell you if I succeed.
Now, come on. I don't want you to be on the road all night.
Here, now. This isn't like you.
I know that... it's silly of me
[sobbing] but I'm afraid of them.
And I'm afraid for you whenever you're with them.
They won't harm me.
In a strange way, they trust me.
Why, even David seems to accept me
divorced from my emotions, of course.
Alright?
Off you go.
Alan, look after her for me.
I'll give you a ring in the morning.
Yes. In the morning.
[instrumental music]
[engine cranking]
[music continues]
A brick wall.
'Now, just think of a brick wall.'
I'm sorry, old man.
You can't come.
Look after your mistress.
[music continues]
[engine revving]
- Alan? - Mm-hmm.
- What did he mean? - What?
Why should he ask you to take care of me?
I don't know. Just a manner of speech, I suppose.
[tires screeching]
What's the matter?
- Alan, I'm going back. - Why?
I'm going back!
[engine revving]
Good evening, children.
Tonight, we shall talk about atomic energy
and how discoveries made about 100 years ago
'completely changed our conception of the elements'
'and the place of the atom.'
You were to tell us tonight
what arrangements you've made for us.
The place of the atom.
It's 8:27.
Why are you nervous?
[dramatic music]
Oh, the arrangements, yes.
Yes, I'll tell you about those in...
...in a few moments.
But first of all, I want to finish my lesson.
The question of
atomic energy.
You're not thinking of atomic energy.
[dramatic music]
'You're thinking of...'
...a brick wall!
[thinking] A brick wall. A brick wall.
I must think of a brick wall.
A brick wall.
I must think of a brick wall.
A brick wall...
Brick wall...
I must think of a brick wall.
It's almost half-past 8:00.
Brick wall...
Only a few seconds more.
Brick wall...
[intense music]
A brick wall...
[explosion]
[intense music]
[instrumental music]
[music continues]