War of the Worlds/The Meek Shall Inherit

The Meek Shall Inherit
Season 1, Episode 17
Airdate	February 13, 1989
Written by	D.C. Fontana
Directed by	William Fruet
← 1x16 The Prodigal Son	1x18 → Unto Us a Child Is Born
War of the Worlds — Season One

The Meek Shall Inherit is the seventeenth 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: Diana Reis (Molly Stone)

and Ann Robinson (Sylvia van Buren)

Also Starring: Michael Copeman (Dayton), John Gilbert (Sensky), Sam Malkin (Pollito), Norah Grant (Sgt. Coleman), Vito Rezza (Stavrakos), Steve Pernie (Derriman), Gene Mack (Bull)

Featuring: Diane Douglass (Nurse), David Calderisi (Advocate #1), Michael Kramer (Advocate #2), Martin Neufeld (Advocate #3), Steve Makaj (Lineman), Kim Cayer (Hooker), Mary McCandless (Mom), Will Finlay (Dad), Susan Lowry (Daughter), Jed Dixon (Stan)

Plot Overview

The aliens have constructed a means of paralysing humans' means of communication, but need a proper generator to utilise it to full scale. To retrieve it, three operatives are sent and take over the bodies of the homeless in order to go about undetected. A witness is a homeless girl sent to the Whitewood Sanitarium where she befriends Sylvia. The only one to believe her talks of the aliens, the two escape, unknowingly putting themselves in danger.

Notes

Teaser Quote

"It's not the cold. It's something else."

Base Three

• Three aliens are in charge of testing the device to knock out the phone lines.

• Another three soldiers are sent to retrieve the power source.

• The device used to disable communication has delta-shaped crystal-like object in the middle.

Locations

• Portland, Oregon

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• Ironhorse assembles his Omega Squad.

Characters

• Sylvia is shown in a rare period of lucidity. Unfortunately, this breaks when the aliens become active in the area.

Trivia

The Show

• Derriman is the only named and profiled member of the Omega Squad not to be seen after this episode.

Behind the Scenes

• D.C. Fontana was not given a chance to do more than a first draft. She observed that the final version of her script left many contradictions and confusions, many things left unclear as to what the aliens were doing and why. However, she liked that the presence of Sylvia and her relationship with Molly Stone were left intact.

Allusions and References

• According to Ironhorse, Stavrakos has read up on the works of Donald Keyhoe (a Marine Corps officer and author who became a well-known UFO researcher in the 1950s), Erich von Däniken (a Swiss author known for helping to popularise the "ancient astronaut" theory), as well as The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, which was published by Edward J. Ruppelt in 1956, detailing some of his time in Project Grudge and Project Blue Book.

Memorable Moments

• The Omega Squad is put into action and are introduced to fighting the aliens, much to their bewilderment upon seeing their remains.

Goofs

• When Norton tastes the coffee Harrison rejects, the cup inexplicably jumps from his right hand to his left.

• The shot of the three aliens when they see the truck is clearly a reused shot from earlier when they see Sylvia.

Quotes

• Advocate #1: On a small scale, our experiment has proven successful. Yet, its value on a larger scale continues to elude me.

Advocate #2: Humans are decidedly social animals and they rely heavily on their ability to communicate with others of their species.

Advocate #1: Suggesting?

Advocate #3: Suggesting that by disrupting their communications, we will also disrupt their society. The ensuing chaos will leave the humans highly vulnerable to all forms of attack.

Advocate #1: Then it's time for us to step up our operations. We must deal the humans a blow that they will not easily forget.

• Lineman: Our equipment is ready and we are standing by, Advocate. All we need is the power source to complete our mission.

Advocate #2: Be patient. Even now, soldiers are moving into position to steal the power source you require.

Lineman: Understood. We are nothing without your counsel.

Advocate #2: To Life Immortal.

• Norton: I can do a lot, Harrison. I can even do the impossible sometimes. But nobody, and I mean nobody can control the phone company.

• Suzanne: The psychological profile I designed is absolutely perfect for the job you've described.

Ironhorse: How can you say that? I mean, who'd you model this profile on? Rambo?

Suzanne: Why, no, Paul. I modeled it on you.

• Bull: Hold it right there! Didn't I tell you bums to stay off this property?

Pollito: We can take him.

Sensky: No. It might raise an alarm.

Dayton: Sorry, Bull. Didn't mean no harm. Just looking for someplace warm to sleep.

Bull: I'll make things warm if you don't stay away from here!

• Stavrakos: Don't you believe that life on other planets is possible, sir?

Ironhorse: Don't you believe in the swamp gas theory, corporal? Project Blue Book - it wasn't good enough for you? I suppose if aliens were to invade this planet you'd be the first one to pick up a weapon and start shooting.

Stavrakos: Don't think I'd be the first, Colonel, but I'm sure I wouldn't be the last. Last time I checked, this planet was ours.

• Harrison: Did you ever find out what happened?

Norton: Well, I couldn't resist a little prying. I mean, after all, when you're at the mercy of the phone company...

Harrison: Norton, this is Harrison. Save your excuses for somebody who cares.

Norton: Just trying to stay in shape, Doc.

• Harrison: Now, you don't mean to suggest...

Norton: Ah, hold on now, Dr Blackwood. Did I say anything about aliens? No. Not one single word. Though it does seem strange.

Harrison: Aren't you being the slightest bit paranoid, Mr Drake?

Norton: Well, perhaps it's the company I keep, Dr Blackwood.

• Harrison: We're looking for a woman.

Hooker: Gonna cost you extra.

Suzanne: I don't think you phrased that quite right.

Hooker: Hey, no problem, doll. I deal with all kinds of phrases.

• Molly: We'll be warm soon.

Sylvia: It's not the cold. It's something else.

• Advocate #2: Without their ability to communicate, the humans are nothing.

Pollito: And without your counsel, we are nothing.

• Derriman: Get used to looking at his back 'cause he'll always be on point expecting you to keep up. You know why?

Ironhorse: Because the view from the rear is lousy and the information is always late.

• Ironhorse: Portland's a big city.

Norton: They haven't built the city big enough to hide from Norton Drake.

• Ironhorse: Norton, are you sure these coordinates are correct?

Norton: Well, that sounds like a loaded question. What gives?

Ironhorse: According to this, those transmissions originated in Portland.

Norton: And Harrison and Sylvia are in Portland.

Ironhorse: Portland is becoming a very popular city.