War of the Worlds/Epiphany

Epiphany
Season 1, Episode 11
Airdate	January 2, 1989
Written by	Sylvia Van Buren
Directed by	Neill Fearnley
← 1x10 The Good Samaritan	1x12 → Among the Philistines
War of the Worlds — Season One

Epiphany is the eleventh episode of the first season of War of the Worlds.

Jared Martin (Harrison Blackwood), Lynda Mason Green (Suzanne McCullough), Philip Akin (Norton Drake)

and Richard Chaves (Colonel Ironhorse)

Special Guest Stars: Deborah Wakeham (Katya Rodin), David Ferry (Policeman)

and Patrick Macnee (Valery Kedrov)

Also Starring: Richard Comar (Advocate #1), Ilse Von Glatz (Advocate #2), Michael Rudder (Advocate #3), Michael Kramer (Commander), John Liddle (Worker #1), Frank Crudell (Worker #2), Maggie Huculak (Female Worker), Bob Dunn (Journalist)

Featuring: Patti Gail (Nun #1), Brenda Kamino (Nun #2), Jackie May (Nun #3), Paul Brogren (Small Boy), Nick Kantas (Pre-Teen #1), Troy Di Berto (Pre-Teen #2), Stella Sprowell (Old Lady), Gary Chessman (Young Hood) Marty Galin (Cabby), Conrad Coates (Driver), Stephen Walsh (Co-Worker), Paula Barrett (Reporter), Barbara Barnes Hopkins (Parking Officer), Paul Martin Charters (Security Guard), Sarah Lynn Campbell (Young Girl), Andrew Thompson (Uniformed Cop), Patrick Patterson (Tow Truck Driver)

Uncredited: Corinne Conley (Mrs. Pennyworth), Rachel Blanchard (Debi McCullough), David Calderisi (Advocate #1), Randy Atmadja (Man at scene)

Plot Overview

Harrison is reunited with a past lover who's in the country as part of a disarmament pact between the United States and Soviet Union. However, her hopes of defecting become a large problem. Meanwhile, the aliens find the tension from the upcoming disarmament to be an opportune time to set off a nuclear weapon with hopes that it could incite global conflict and hasten humanity's end.

Notes

Teaser Quote

"We must plan for the future."
"A future without humans."

Base Three

• In the teaser, three alien scientists, as nuns in sunglasses, are seen observing human behaviour.

• Three agents are sent to steal the materials for and arm the nuclear bomb.

• The aliens wind up stealing three cases of plutonium, which add up to 12 kilograms.

• To coincide with the scheduled disarmament, the bomb is set to go off at 3:00.

Locations

• Santa Clarita, California

Timeline

• Dialogue establishes that Harrison and Katya met 8 years ago and it was 1980, confirming that it's still 1988 as of this episode.

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• Harrison divulges to Katya about the aliens. She plans to return to Russia to begin a resistance to them, making it the first known country outside of the U.S. to do so.

• The alien commander forfeits his life after his failings and the Advocacy soon appoint a new Commander in his absence.

Characters

• Harrison rekindles an old romance with a Russian scientist, but it ends when she returns to Russia.

• Ironhorse initially butt heads with Harrison over helping Katya to defect, but softens even though Katya agrees to return to Russia. Harrison is appreciative, seeing Ironhorse as "an amazing friend."

Trivia

The Show

• Last appearance of the Commander. His position is refilled, but it's difficult to discern if his successor is present in future episodes, as there are no explicit references to a commander after this point.

Behind the Scenes

• The third and final episode credited under a pseudonym, this one simply under character name of Sylvia Van Buren. Written by an anonymous scab, it was one of the only three scripts available for filming after the pilot. It and "The Good Samaritan" were pushed back in airing for further mending due to the nature of the writing.

• This is the last episode to feature Richard Comar, who went on to star in Bordertown (the show first premiered less than a week after this episode aired). In fact, the scene in the teaser is his only appearance; the remainder of the scenes with the Advocacy are done with an uncredited David Calderisi.

• Despite playing old flames on screen, Jared Martin stated in an interview that he and Deborah Wakeham had absolutely no chemistry together offscreen and that she would flutter hands about before each take, which drove Jared crazy.

• Ironhorse's "Thank you, Grandfather" line originates back from Richard Chaves's role in The Gambler III in which he heard it used as an expression.

Allusions and References

• One of the bullies in the teaser has the image of Angus Young from AC/DC on the back of his jacket.

Memorable Moments

• The alien reveals to the policeman that the close contact with the plutonium has caused its host body's face to become distorted.

• Katya and Ironhorse cut the timer on the bomb, at which the tense music suddenly cuts off with it.

Goofs

• When the alien breaks the guard's arm, the insert shot was clearly filmed elsewhere as the red wall in the background goes from bricks to tiles.

• As Ironhorse watches Harrison leave the Cottage in his jeep, and the camera moves behind him, a distinctive shadow of something resembling a boom mike passes over his back.

• When Harrison, Ironhorse, and Katya exit the van, the jeep they arrived in is no longer parked where they left it.

• In the penultimate scene, Valery gets out of the limo from the left side and stands there, holding the door open. However, a short shot later shows him coming from the right side with the door closed and proceeds to stand there with it as such until it cuts to a shot continued from before.

• Andrew Thomson's last name in the closing credits is misspelled as Thompson.

Quotes

• Nun #1: Look, Sister Margaret. Somebody stole her purse.

Nun #2: What a pity. No one is helping her.

• (two bullies are scared off by the trio of nuns)

Small Boy: Why didn't you do anything?!

Nun #2: God works in mysterious ways.

Nun #3: His wonders to behold.

• Commander: Our scientists have concluded that the filthy, inferior beings on this planet are hopelessly combative.

Advocate #1: Meaning?

Commander: Meaning that in time, these parasitic cretins will inevitably destroy themselves.

Advocate #2: Our scientists are certain of this?

Commander: Based on statistical analysis, there is a 96.875 percent probability that the human race will eliminate itself as a direct result of tribal warfare. All the pathetic creatures need is a push in the proper direction.

Advocate #3: We need immediate action, Commander, not subtleties.

Commander: Not wishing to disagree...

Advocate #1: Then do not.

Commander: But direct intervention has failed us time and time again.

Advocate #2: It would be more accurate to say that it was you who has failed us, Commander.

Advocate #3: Be forewarned, Commander. You must not fail us again.

• Reporter: Officials of both governments are hoping that this, as well as the simultaneous dismantling of Russian warhead by American scientists, will spell the beginning of the end of the threat of nuclear confrontation between the superpowers.

Ironhorse: (turning off TV) It's the beginning of the end, all right.

Norton: I guess all this mushy peace talk kind of makes guys like you obsolete, huh, Colonel?

Ironhorse: You've got it backwards, Norton. Nuclear warheads are the only guarantee of peace we have right now.

Harrison: Colonel, would you mind enlightening us on that one?

Ironhorse: Look, figure it out, Harrison. The Soviets outnumber us four to one on conventional forces, ten to one on tanks, three to one on surface ships, two to one, submarines. The threat of nuclear retaliation is the only thing keeping the Reds from knocking down our fence and stomping all over our cornfield.

Suzanne: Assuming, of course, anyone wants to "stomp all over our cornfield."

Ironhorse: You're not really that naive, are you, Suzanne?

Suzanne: You think I'm naive because I don't share your twisted view of the world? Paul, I think you're a little naive yourself, don't you?

Ironhorse: Look, in the real world, the strong dominate the weak - always have, always will. Darwin's theory, Suzanne. Somebody starts swinging a club at you, and you better have a club of your own to swing.

Norton: Well, I guess that takes care of politics. Anyone care to discuss religion?

• Advocate #1: Commander, you are making progress?

Commander: The fabrication of a nuclear device is, to use a crude, earthly expression, nothing more than child's play. It should be ready shortly.

Advocate #2: You are still certain that exploding this device will create enough suspicion between the planet's tribes to incite open warfare?

Advocate #3: And their eventual self-annihilation?

Commander: I stake my very existence on it.

Advocate #2: No, Commander, you stake our existence on it.

• Norton: Now, Colonel, what is it that has you so hot and bothered?

Ironhorse: Washington just replied to an inquiry I made, Mr. Drake! It seems that since 1980, the good doctor has had a girlfriend no one knew about. I don't know how the hell we missed that in the security check!

Suzanne: Aren't you blowing this just a little out of proportions, Paul? I mean, if he's got a girlfriend, isn't that his business?

Ironhorse: I'm not talking cheap thrills and Valentine's Day cards, Suzanne! This girlfriend is an important scientist! An important Russian scientist!

• Norton: I've known Harrison for a long time. I'm sure he has a logical explanation.

Ironhorse: Right. Logical, as in, "Sorry, folks, I've got a better offer. Maybe I'll consider defecting to the other side."

Suzanne: You have no grounds for that accusation.

Ironhorse: Why are you so quick to defend him? You know, the heart can make a man do funny things, Suzanne.

• Harrison: I wish there was more I could do. I even threatened to quit this... what it is we're doing here if they didn't agree to help you, but they still refused.

Katya: Well, if they knew you as I do, they would know that you would never quit. You see, I have... I have been watching you and I know that you're working on something that is completely taking you over. And until you're finished, I know there's no space in your life for anything else.

Harrison: You're a very perceptive woman.

• Uniform Cop: Oh, God, I wish I was someplace else.

Policeman: All gotta be someplace. Might as well be right here.

• Ironhorse: General Wilson wants us all evacuated from the fallout area. Our project is too important to jeopardise.

Norton: Notice he said our project and not our lives.

• Harrison: What's the use of protecting the world against aliens, if we're not first willing to protect it against ourselves?

• Ironhorse: It's so small.

Katya: Just how big do you like your bombs?

• Commander: I misjudged the wretched Earthlings; both their ingenuity and their will to survive.

Advocate #1: You can take comfort in the knowledge that your efforts will be revered forever and all time, Commander.

(the Commander turns and drops himself into a bottomless abyss)

Commander: (subtitled) To Life Immortal!

(the Advocacy turn to the policeman)

Advocate #2: And so, new Commander, tell us what plans you have to rid this planet of its repulsive inhabitants.