War of the Worlds/The Resurrection

The Resurrection
Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2
Airdate	October 7, 1988
Written by	Greg Strangis
Directed by	Colin Chilvers
Produced by	Jonathan Hackett
— N/A	1x03 → The Walls of Jericho
War of the Worlds — Season One

The Resurrection is the first and second episodes of the first season of War of the Worlds.

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

and Richard Chaves (Colonel Ironhorse)

Guest Stars: Richard Comar (Chambers), Gwynyth Walsh (Charlotte), Ilse Von Glatz (Urick), Eugene Clark (Sgt. Gordon Reynolds), Michael Rudder (Einhorn), Corinne Conley (Mrs. Pennyworth), Larry Reynolds (Mr. Kensington), Rachel Blanchard (Debi McCullough)

and John Vernon (Gen. Wilson)

Co-Starring: Frank Pellegrino (Mossoud), Martin Neufeld (Finney), Ric Sarabia (Teal), Desmond Ellis (Orel)

Featuring: Jack Mather (Doc), Harry Booker (Sheriff), David Hughes (Dr. Jacobi), Donald Tripe (Dr. Gutterman), Steve Atkinson (Corporal #1), Kevin Fox (Corporal #2), Ted Follows (General Arquette), Judah Katz (Pilot #1), Jeff Knight (Pilot #2), Daryl Shuttleworth (Signal Corps Technician), Richard Sali (Hunter #1), Don Keppy (Hunter #2)

Plot Overview

When a small band of terrorists take over a nuclear waste site, they accidentally revive the remains of aliens who invaded Earth in 1953 who had been thought long dead and were stored away to be forgotten. Utilising an ability to take possession of human bodies and under leadership of a triumvirate known as the Advocacy, they set out to continue where they left off.

As the military, lead by Lt. Colonel Paul Ironhorse, is on their trail, only astrophysicist Harrison Blackwood is aware of the alien threat. Aided by computer expert Norton Drake and newly acquired microbiologist Suzanne McCullough, he hopes to convince others and prevent the aliens from successfully taking over Earth.

Notes

Base Three

• The People's Liberation Party is composed of six members.
• Their ATVs, which the aliens briefly use, are three-wheeled.
• The Advocacy is composed of a triumvirate.
• The aliens make bolas with three weighted ends.
• The aliens recover three of their war machines.

Locations

• Los Angeles (New Pacific Institute of Technology)
• Washington, D.C. (Pentagon)
• San Francisco (The Cottage)
• Nevada

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• Doctor Clayton Forrester was doing research on the aliens and did not believe the aliens to be dead due to their bodies not decaying. Not wanting to hear this, the government stored the alien remains away.

• The bacteria that infected the aliens is negated by radiation. The alien make use of an ability to take possession of human bodies. However, due to the presence of radiation they need, this causes damage to their hosts.

• The aliens have the ability to take over of human bodies. Suzanne has a theory regarding cell-phase matching. Examining a sample from a dissolved alien-possessed body, she finds the cells from both have merged to form something new and unique.

• The invasion force follows the leadership of a triumvirate known as the Advocacy who themselves appear to be under a higher authority known as Council.

• After witnessing the alien take out Ironhorse's Delta Squad, Harrison manages to convince Suzanne's uncle General Wilson to permit him an operation a force to stop them. Other than security, he has full clearance for whatever he needs. However, Ironhorse joins in as a co-signer. He takes Harrison, Norton, Suzanne, and her daughter Debi to a government safe house known as the Cottage. Where the property is managed by Mr Kensington and Mrs Pennyworth.

• Suzanne attempts to create a strain of bacteria that is harmless to people, impervious to radiation, and lethal to the aliens.

• The Advocacy set up base of operations in the caverns of a Nevada desert used for nuclear bomb testing. When their plan to retrieve the warships a failure, they dedicate themselves to improvise, being aware that they are on a deadline.

Characters

• Harrison's parents were killed in the alien invasion and was adopted by Dr Clayton Forrester who was a colleagues of theirs. Harrison grew up steeped in his research.

• Harrison was engaged to a woman named Charlotte. Their relationship ends due to his obsession with the aliens.

Referbacks

• As Harrison stares at the photo of his young self with his parents, we get a flashback that features scenes from the 1953 film.

Trivia

The Show

• Originally aired as a 120-minute episode, but has been formatted as two 60-minute episodes in most subsequent re-airings for scheduling reasons. While many guides list it as a two-parter, its initial airing and release on DVD as one double-length episode should make this the official recognition.

• This episode was novelised by J.M. Dillard, who has written many Star Trek books. It is based on the script featuring a few scenes that either were deleted or never filmed, and even gives away the aliens' planet name of Mor-Tax before it was revealed in the series. However, it also contains a subplot revolving around an alien revolt and the integration of Dr Clayton Forrester. This and a few other additional pieces of background information do not align with information with this and subsequent episodes, making the bulk of the novel non-canon.

• A leitmotif heard in the score sounds appropriately similar to Gustav Holst's "Mars, the Bringer of War". It would continue throughout the season, even incorporated into the opening theme song. It's notable that while it is largely associated with the aliens, it first appears during the raid on Fort Jericho before the aliens have even appeared.

Behind the Scenes

• Norton has a noticeable Jamaican accent throughout the film, but is never heard with the accent in any subsequent episodes.

• The only episode written before the 1988 Writer's strike.

Script

The script for the episode was found, a Second Draft, dated February 22, 1988. The script is fairly close to what made it to screen, but there are some significant differences. It's unknown how many of the excised scenes were filmed and cut, but some were incorporated into the novelisation.

• On their way to Fort Jericho (named Jericho Valley in the script), the terrorists are pulled over by cops. When they want to inspect the back, he offers them the keys, claiming he doesn't want to be potentially exposed to the nuclear waste. This scares them off to admit they pulled them over because of a short in their taillights and they peel off.

• Before arriving at the gas station, the aliens stop in a small town and scare off some punks watching Star Trek outside a retail TV store. After scaring them off, they assess that the "Earthlings are still no threat" and prepare to move on.

• That no one seems to remember the 1953 invasion is brought up by Harrison and suggests it might be some kind of mass amnesia.

• A scene that brings more closure to the relationship between Harrison and Charlotte. In it, Ironhorse is accompanying Harrison as he packs his things for the Cottage (still named "The Ranch" in the script) when he notices Harrison reading a letter and looking at a picture of Charlotte. Harrison leaves both the photo and letter by the nightstand instead of packing them.

• Suzanne collecting the tissue sample isn't present, nor is the scene where she shows Harrison what she's found.

• The flashback to The War of the Worlds is inserted while Harrison is watching the monitors and proceeds his storming out of the trailer.

• The aliens' planet of Mor-Tax is named in dialogue by the Advocacy.

• During their introduction in the terrorists' bodies, it's made explicit that the aliens are seen wearing sunglasses, something that would become more common for alien-possessed people in later episodes and explained in "The Prodigal Son".

Allusions and References

• When the two drunk helicopter pilots emerge from the bar, they are singing the theme to Cheers.

Memorable Moments

• The Awakening - the moment the first alien is revived and pokes its hand out of the steel drum.
• The aliens retrieve a trio of their war machines and bring them back to life by unleashing its Heat-Ray.

Goofs

• Urick is standing at the back of the truck, in front of the door when she opens it. However in the next shot, when the ATVs fly out, she is gone.

• The shot of the ATV rounding the corner when the soldier sees him is reused from earlier in the scene, made obvious when it cuts to a wide shot that shows there is too short a distance for the soldier to prepare to attack in that time.

• The position of the soldier Urick shoots is different when Mossoud finds him later.

• When we first see Harrison and Suzanne parked at the roadblock, Harrison has a cup in in his right hand. When it cuts to the next shot, it's gone.

• During the raid at the farmhouse, the aliens wrap one bola around Ironhorse's legs, which trips him, and then a second around his torso. However, after Harrison cuts the one to free the colonel's arms, Ironhorse then cuts not one, but two around his legs.

• When the two possessed pilots begin operating the helicopter, a close-up shot shows one of their gloved hands flipping switches despite previous shots making it clear that neither one is wearing gloves.

• When Harrison is tapping the grid of the alien fighting-machine, the close-up shot is inconsistent with the rest of the scene. Harrison had just taken off his cap, which he never puts back on, and the grid is aiming downwards. Harrison is not only wearing the cap in this shot, but it is the only time in which the triangle-shaped lock is aiming upwards.

• The length of Norton's hair is not consistent throughout the episode. Through most of the episode it is cut close to his head, as it is throughout the rest of the series, but in a few shots, his hair is clearly grown out more.

Quotes

• Corporal #1: Got some fresh coffee in the shack!

Chambers: Uh, later, maybe.

Corporal #2: When did you folks add women to your crews?

Urick: Don't tell me you're threatened by a woman, soldier.

Corporal #2: Oh, no way, ma'am. I just like 'em, that's all.

Urick: What a nice thing to say. (pulls out a gun)

Corporal #1: Hey, what's going on?

Chambers: Liberation, my friend.

• Harrison: I'm a firm believer a person's response to a joke is a window to their soul.

• Chambers: 47 minutes.

Urick: We will be ready.

Chambers: You know, something about the irony of pirating a U.S. communications satellite to broadcast our demands always makes me smile.

Urick: Smile on camera. No one will take us seriously!

Chambers: Well, then we'll just have to blow up this dump and send a big fat radioactive cloud of nuclear waste floating over their nice middle-class homes! Right?

• Suzanne: Tell me, Doctor, about the projects requiring someone in my field.

Harrison: Not Doctor. It's Harrison. I hate titles, especially doctor titles. Especially when we're not even talking MD doctors. Okay, Doctor?

• Suzanne: For obvious reasons, I would prefer not to work too many nights and weekends.

Harrison: Me, either.

Suzanne: Being a parent really does change your priorities, doesn't it?

Harrison: Well, I wouldn't know about parenting. I just hate to work nights and weekends.

• Norton: Harrison, didn't your parents teach you any manners? Don't you know you're not supposed to interrupt a man when he's standing at the tee?

Harrison: What happened to "Jamaica, no problem, mon"?

Norton: Even in Jamaica it's only no problem when it's no problem.

• (Norton offers Suzanne a cup of his own brew of coffee)

Norton: You like it black, I hope.

Suzanne: Yes, Norton, I like it black.

Norton: (to Harrison) She can stay.

• Alien Soldier #1: (possessing the body of Mossoud) These bodies are weak, and contaminated by negative thoughts. We would better accomplish out mission in our natural state.

Advocate #1: (possessing the body of Chambers) Consensus is that yours is not an accurate statement. These bodies protect us from detection.

Advocate #2: (possessing the body of Urick) Until we know more, we must use the resources available to us.

Alien Soldier #2: (possessing the body of Finney) We surrender to your judgment as always, Advocate.

Alien Soldier #3: (possessing the body of Teal) We must release the others so that our battle may resume.

Advocate #3: (possessing the body of Einhorn) There is no time for transmutation. Collect our brethren as they are.

(The three alien soldiers leave to start collecting the aliens trapped in the metal containers)

Advocate #3: Without the guidance of the Council, we are nothing. We must make contact.

Advocate #1: Agreed. Once the Council is aware of our plight, it will know how to proceed.

Advocate #2: Their equipment is primitive.

Advocate #1: But adequate is properly refined.

• Advocate #2: The transponder signal is very strong.

Advocate #1: Triangulating the location of our ships should not prove difficult.

Advocate #2: All is well.

Advocate #3: Our mission will succeed. We will live life immortal.

Advocate #1: It is time to leave.

• Harrison: I've got to leave town.

Charlotte: Why?

Harrison: I don't think you'd understand.

Charlotte: Try me.

Harrison: It has to do with an anomalous parity of radio waves being intercepted from space and others emanating from Earth.

Charlotte: I don't understand.

• Ironhorse: Is it clean?

Reynolds: More or less. Well, more "less" than more, but the Tech Sarge swore there wasn't enough radiation on this batch to knock more than a few months off your life.

Ironhorse: Why am I not reassured?

• Harrison: Does it make any difference, Colonel, that we both have top secret clearances?

Ironhorse: Not to me, it doesn't. Around here, it's "need to know," Doctor, and you don't need to know.

• Harrison: What would you say if I told you that Earth was being invaded by aliens from another planet?

Suzanne: Read my letter.

Harrison: I'm serious!

Suzanne: Okay, see a psychiatrist first, then read my letter. It's my resignation.

• Harrison: In 1953, we experienced what can only be described as a War of the Worlds. If it wasn't for common everyday bacteria attacking the aliens' immune systems, they would have won this war, and you and I would not be having this conversation.

Suzanne: But we are having this conversation, which I don't want. So I fail to see your point.

Harrison: My point is that although the bacteria stopped the aliens, I don't think it killed them!

Suzanne: Excuse me, but I think you have been sitting too close to your television set.

Harrison: Really? How do you explain the radio signals? How do you account for the barrels? The barrels that entombed what were supposed to be dead aliens forced open from the inside?! What the hell happened to the hundreds of other barrels that used to be stored in that location?!

Suzanne: Just because I don't have an answer doesn't mean there isn't a logical explanation for your... paranoia!!

Harrison: I am attempting to offer you a logical explanation. In 1953, bacteria forced the aliens into a state of hibernation, or suspended animation or estivation or anabiosis. I don't know the terms; that's your field, not mine. But now, something has happened to wake the aliens up. That nuclear disposal site was hot with radioactivity, right? Maybe that's it. Maybe the bacteria which infected the aliens is now being wiped out by exposure to radiation.

Suzanne: So now, the aliens, hundreds of them...

Harrison: At least!

Suzanne: ...are loose?

Harrison: Yes!

Suzanne: You're nuttier than I thought.

Harrison: That doesn't make me wrong! At least listen to my proof!

• Orel: This thing looked like a gorilla, only it weren't no gorilla 'cause I seen a gorilla one time at the zoo, and this gorilla didn't have no hair like that other gorilla did. This thing picked up ol' Doc by the throat and throttled him.

Sheriff: Can you identify anybody else, Orel? Maybe did ya get a license?!

Orel: License?! I'm tellin' you about gorillas that ain't good, and you're asking me did I get a license?

• Ironhorse: We had an incident involving suspected terrorists. There's a good chance they've been through this area.

Orel: Terrorists. Hot damn! I knew it! Didn't I tell you, Sheriff? (to Ironhorse) I've been reading about this here guerrilla warfare. Only thing is, I didn't know those, uh, terrorists use real gorillas.

• Harrison: The alien attack wasn't three days old before my parents were killed. They were colleagues of Dr. Forrester's. Anyway... Dr. Forrester, who was practically my second father as he was, ended up taking me in. I grew up steeped in this research, listening to his theories... seeing how broken he was when nobody took him seriously. He said that if the aliens invaded once, they could do it again. Nobody wanted to hear that. He said that until we get adequate research, we couldn't even be sure the aliens were really dead. Apparently, their bodies weren't decaying as might be expected. Well, that really drove people crazy. Instead of expanding its research, the U.S. Government collected the alien remains and sealed them in steel drums... out of sight, out of mind. You still think I'm a nutcase?

Suzanne: Have you ever heard of the African lungfish? The lungfish can survive for... at least four years, maybe as many as ten, without water. It goes into such a profound state of anabiosis that the average person would think the fish was long dead. However, pour water over it, and... it's like a resurrection. The fish is alive and swimming again.

Harrison: So you don't think I'm a nutcase?

Suzanne: Definitely a nutcase. However... like you said, that doesn't make you wrong. (tears up her letter of resignation) And I can always write another resignation.

• (Harrison Blackwood has just finished telling General Wilson about the history of the aliens who invaded the planet Earth in 1953)

General Wilson: That is the most fantastic story I think I've ever heard.

Harrison: That's no story, General. That's scientific theory supported by a fact presented in a logical and reasonable fashion. I'm a respected astrophysicist. I'm not some kook spouting UFO stories.

General Wilson: Oh, I don't mean to suggest otherwise, Doctor. That you were brought here by my niece gives you more credibility than I think you realize.

Harrison: Niece? (to Suzanne) You told me that he was your father's friend.

Suzanne: Uncle Hank is my father's favorite brother.

General Wilson: And you're my favorite niece. Unfortunately, Doctor, I'll need some hard evidence before I can act on your theory. Now this morning, I read a report based on the incident you made reference to, which suggests the work of a terrorist group. What the hell are they called? (opens a booklet and reads a page which contains a report about terrorists) Ah, yes; the People's Liberation Party.

Harrison: General, I'm trying to warn you about something a lot more insidious than terrorists!

General Wilson: Why don't you try to look at it from my point of view?

Harrison: You don't have a point of view! 35 years ago, these things tried to take over the world! They're completely ruthless with absolutely no sense of mercy! My God, they killed my parents!

General Wilson: I'm truly sorry, Doctor. You bring me something concrete, and I'll give you my word. I'll see to it that it gets to the right people. (Harrison leaves while Wilson has a brief talk with Suzanne) Suzanne, you're making some strange new friends.

Suzanne: Uncle Hank, he really does believe what he's saying.

General Wilson: (kisses Suzanne on the cheek) You take care of him.

Suzanne: Thank you. (leaves the office)

General Wilson: (to Miss Underwood, who enters the office) Miss Underwood, put me on the President's afternoon calendar, and then connect me with Lt. Colonel Paul Ironhorse.

• Norton: The transmission was only a few short bursts, but I managed to pin down the location. Drive hard and you could be there in about 11 hours.

Harrison: No, we'll charter a helicopter.

Norton: Oh, easy, my friend. Do you know how much that's gonna cost?

Harrison: How much does a new world cost, Norton? And where do you go to buy one?

• Ironhorse: I listened to that tape you gave me. Transmissions made by terrorists. 20 minutes of The Best of Buddy Rich is more like it, Doctor!

Harrison: You got a problem with homegrown American music, Colonel?

• Suzanne: I am not uptight! I am a professional!

Harrison: Who does not know how to follow orders. Now you were supposed to stay out of sight in the woods!

Suzanne: You neglected to tell me that those things, aliens or whatever they are, would be crawling all over! By the time I worked my way down here, you and the Colonel were doing your off-road routine, so I figured this would be the best place to wait things out! Where are they?

Ironhorse: Long gone.

• Ironhorse: This is weird stuff we're dealing with here, Blackwood! Bolas! Terrorists that don't... act like terrorists! Terrorists that don't die like terrorists! I actually saw a body dissolve after I shot it!

Harrison: We all saw some fairly extraordinary phenomena, Colonel!

Ironhorse: Well, when in God's name is someone going to start explaining things to me?!

Harrison: I've already explained as much of it as I understand myself!

Ironhorse: You've explained nothing, mister! I don't believe in ghosts, and I sure as hell don't believe in aliens from another planet!

• General Wilson: Too many variables. Strength unknown, resources unknown, purposes, goals, locations... unknown, unknown, unknown.

Harrison: I can only tell you what I saw.

Suzanne: What we all saw, Uncle Hank. It was horrible; those things were not people anymore. But I do have a theory about cell-phase matching.

General Wilson: Suzanne, whatever you and Dr. Blackwood saw, no matter how extraordinary, cannot be considered as evidence.

Suzanne: Well, talk to your Colonel. He was there!

General Wilson: The Colonel and I talked at length. Admittedly, something incredible did take place. However, Colonel Ironhorse is not yet ready to attribute those events to aliens from another world.

Harrison: He's more comfortable believing the Russians have some secret weapon that makes us all see things that aren't really there.

General Wilson: Colonel Ironhorse is a highly effective warrior, Doctor. He's been trained to deal in absolutes.

Harrison: In this case, General, he is absolutely wrong!

General Wilson: I agree. And so do a few of my superiors. However, they want this entire matter kept hush-hush.

Harrison: Hold it, General. Nobody's gonna silence me the same way they silenced Dr. Forrester 35 years ago.

General Wilson: What happened to your adopted father, Doctor, was unfortunate for all of us. However, the President and my superiors would rather not let this become a political issue. They don't want to ignore this. They want it kept quiet. And I'm here to offer you a job. Find the aliens, Doctor, and stop them before they do more harm.

Harrison: And I can do things my way?

General Wilson: Completely. Your own people, your own methods, anything you want. Naturally, we'll have to establish certain... security procedures.

Harrison: What kind of procedures?

General Wilson: To protect you and your colleagues. To protect the secrecy of the project. Nothing I assure you, Doctor, you wouldn't do yourself. Aside from that, you have a blank check. But you'll need a co-signer. (Colonel Ironhorse enters the room and stands in front of General Wilson and Harrison) I believe you all know one another.

• Ironhorse: Welcome to government property #348, also known as "The Cottage". 25 totally secure acres in the middle of nowhere. Without proper authority, no one comes in... no one gets out.

Norton: Hmm. Makes pizza deliveries a bit rough.

• Harrison: Somebody obviously wanted to make me feel right at home.

Ironhorse: Perfect copy of your office, isn't it?

Harrison: As if my life before this thing didn't matter... or never really existed at all.

• Ironhorse: Since my great-great-grandfather was shaman of our tribe...

Debi: What's a shaman?

Ironhorse: A shaman is a spiritual leader. Sometimes called a medicine man. He is the most respected man in the tribe, more even than the chief. Anyway, the warriors, they brought their strange discovery to my great-great-grandfather to find out what it meant.

Debi: What was it?

Ironhorse: It was a flat rock with drawings on it that no one had ever seen before. It was very old, too. Older than the nearby cave drawings or the drawings on ancient piece of buffalo hide that had been passed down through the generations.

Debi: What kind of drawings?

Ironhorse: I'm glad you asked that. They were of a man wearing a bowl that covered his entire head. And his eyes glowed, and he carried a wand.

Debi: A magic wand?

Ironhorse: It seemed like magic because the wand, it threw out bolts of light. Well, my great-great-grandfather, he took the rock, and he went into the desert for one moon – that's about a month – and when he came back, he gathered everyone in the tribe together, and in a very strong voice, even though he was very weak and hungry, he said, "We know that our people were the first to walk this Earth, but... others came before us."

Debi: Wow. What did they do, then?

Ironhorse: Let's just say... they fired him and got themselves a new shaman.

Debi: You made that up!

Ironhorse: Only the last part, Debi. The rest... I – I don't know.

• Norton: Colonel, you really believe that story?

Ironhorse: Indian folklore, Mr Drake. Nothing more... nothing less.

Harrison: Funny thing about folklore. Almost always there's an element of truth in it.

• Advocate #2: All is well.

Advocate #1: We're strong again, and ready to resume our invasion.

Advocate #2: Not too hastily, comrade.

Advocate #3: Our ships' onboard computers must finish their pre-flight checks first.

Advocate #2: We've been patient for so many years. We can afford to wait a little longer.

• Harrison: Norton, does the number three mean anything special to you? (Norton shakes his head) It sure meant something special to the aliens. Think about it. Their ships flew in groups of three; their optics were divided into three units. They attack their targets in three different directions. Even their weapons, the bolas, had three weighted ends. Three, Norton. Think three. I know the answer is there.

Norton: Number three. I'll think on it. What have we got to lose, huh?

• Harrison: You find something interesting?

Suzanne: Hmm. Have a look.

Harrison: What is it?

Suzanne: You tell me.

Harrison: This is the tissue sample you took from the dissolved body?

Suzanne: Mm-hm. But it's not exactly human anymore.

Harrison: Then what is it?

Suzanne: Half-human, half-alien. It's as if the cells from both species have merged to create something new, unique.

Harrison: And this sustains your cell-phase matching theory?

Suzanne: Oh, no, Doctor Blackwood, you're not gonna make me jump to a conclusion that I haven't had time to prove yet.

Harrison: Fair enough, Dr. McCullough. Suzanne, good work.

Suzanne: Thanks, Harrison. Thanks a lot.

• Ironhorse: You expect me to climb into the heads of these, these creatures; you've got to give me more to go on.

Harrison: Okay, they're soldiers... the same as you. Now you tell me. How do soldiers think?

Ironhorse: I spent four years at the point, fifteen more active duty. Hell, Doctor, I'm not sure I do think anymore. I... I react.

Harrison: Okay, start there. You're their leader. React to their situation.

Ironhorse: Okay, I... need good intelligence. Know your enemy. Communications. They already seem to have that. Supplies. They gotta keep the troops fed. Weapons.

Harrison: Definitely weapons.

Ironhorse: They don't have it. Or at least none that amount to anything. That's their primary weakness.

Harrison: Which makes it our strength. Have you ever heard of Hangar 15?

Ironhorse: No.

Harrison: The place where the Air Force stores all its UFO evidence.

Ironhorse: You mean Hangar 18. The... building 18 at Wright-Patterson? Forget it, Doctor. That's all a myth.

Harrison: No. Hangar 18 is the myth, Colonel. That's disinformation created by the military. Hangar 15... that's the real mccoy.

Ironhorse: I don't believe it.

Harrison: Dr. Forrester did; it's in his papers. I think now might be the time to call General Wilson. Ask him if it's a myth.

• Ironhorse: According to General Wilson, the U.S. Government has had three of the alien ships mothballed in Hangar 15 since 1953. You want to guess as to the location of Hangar 15?

Harrison: Kellogue Air Force Base.

Ironhorse: Right smack dab in the middle.

Harrison: You've read the material, Colonel. You know what happens if the aliens get their hands on those ships!

• Harrison: Thanks, Colonel. I don't believe in guns.

Ironhorse: I'm sure the aliens will respect that.

• Suzanne: (hearing a noise outside the hangar) What is it?

Ironhorse: Helicopter.

Harrison: Bad guys or good guys?

Ironhorse: Considering what we're doing, Doctor, even the good guys are bad guys.

(the helicopter blows open the entrance with a missile)

Harrison: Bad, bad guys!

• Ironhorse: General Wilson is taking care of the joint military forces board of inquiry. I'm told that, unofficially, of course, the board is predisposed to lay the blame on an unnamed terrorist organization.

Norton: A whole lot closer to the truth than they'll ever realize.

Suzanne: I'm just glad all of this is behind us.

Harrison: Is it? Is it really?

• Advocate #2: Our Council allows us no margin for failure.

Advocate #1: The primitives have proven to be unexpectedly clever.

Advocate #3: Their cleverness will not save them. We will improvise.

Advocate #1: As long as we meet the deadline.