Here we go again.
Red alert. Red alert. Interceptors immediate launch.
Ground Defence Control, position rocket launchers.
Moonbase to SHADO Control. Moonbase to SHADO Control.
Go ahead, Moonbase.
Ground defences ready. Interceptors space-borne.
- Contact minus four-seven. - Roger.
Firing range minus eight.
UFOs retreating. Giving chase.
It smells.
Moonbase, tell your ground defences to get nervous.
Three more UFOs approaching, orbital reference three-one-eight.
Decoys! Moonbase, instruct the Interceptors to return immediately.
Ground defences out.
That's it. They're wide open now. Where are they?
Eight UFOs destroyed in a week. Do you think they'll take the hint?
First, two under cover of sunspot activity,
then three at ground level.
Now six in a decoy manoeuvre.
All or nothing. Last fling.
Do you think they'll give up?
Colonel Lake, they didn't lose all those craft just to give up.
What worries me is...
what will they try next?
- Coffee? - Yeah, black.
- Two. - I think I'm a bit old for this.
- Steve? - Yeah?
- Twelve more hours... - Then home to Mother Earth.
Great! 48 hours in our natural habitat.
- Enough time just to mow the lawn. - What?
I said I'm going to mow the lawn.
The following personnel report for combat training.
Phillips, Robinson...
and Regan.
- Never a dull moment. - The show must go on.
- See you later. - Give 'em hell, baby.
- Touché. - My pleasure.
- Come on, Regan. You're half asleep. - It's been a long day!
Oh, yes...
- Submit. - No.
Come on, it'll break. Oh...
You should have broken it. That was a mistake!
One, two, three,
four, five, six...
- You're coming on, Regan. - You're still too good for me.
You nearly had me but you lack killer instinct.
- Well, I'm a nice fella. - Earth tomorrow?
- Give my regards to the wife. - See you. Thank you.
You're welcome.
I think we'll stick to theory for a little while.
Bit formal for chess. Why are you in this gear?
Straker's orders. All astronauts on alert until relieved.
From bed to battle in 128 seconds. What more does he want?
With no ground defences, he's taking no chances.
And he wants five practice alerts a day until further notice.
He'll have us living in that launching bay next.
Don't even suggest it.
Will the real James Regan stand up, please? It must be me.
Morgan! Get out here!
Hello, Jim. They tell me you had a busy time up there.
Dan Dare wasn't in it. How are you, Earthman?
- Can't complain. - See you Thursday.
- Sure thing. - Cheers, Morgan.
Jim.
I was so worried about you.
We don't talk about those things, remember?
I'm sorry. It was just that I...
Hard time? You look exhausted.
I'm fine.
You're the nicest excuse for an early night I can think of.
- The Thompsons... - Thompsons? Lovely people.
- The Thompsons. - What about the Thompsons?
- What about the Thompsons?! - Dinner. Tonight.
The Thompsons. Remember?
Do we have to?
- It was your idea. - That was a week ago.
- I was a young man. - Come on.
You'll feel better after a shower and a drink. In you go, Methuselah.
How are you?
- Would you like a drink? - Only if you bring it in, fair lady.
- Yes, master. - OK.
Don't forget, if they bring out those home movies, you develop a headache.
Don't be so mean. You know how proud your cousin is of his photography.
Yes, I know. But the films he makes.
Take the last one - The Courting Habits Of The British Earthworm.
- The fellow's kinky. - Oh, Jim. You are a fool!
It's so nice to have you home again.
We could always turn back, tell 'em we had a puncture.
Nothing I'd like more but we can't. We must go.
- Muriel's made your favourite meal. - Oh, not again.
I've no idea where it came from.
There was a knock, but nobody was there, just this package.
I thought it was a face cream I'd ordered,
but when I unwrapped it, it was this Ouija thing.
Help me put the cards out, darling. Can't imagine who sent it.
I know it's all nonsense but why look a gift horse in the mouth?
- I thought we'd try it for fun. - What about Albert's latest film?
This'll be much more fun. Albert doesn't mind, do you?
- We'll save yours for next time. - It isn't actually finished yet.
Good. You sit there, Albert, Jean there and Jim here next to me.
Come on, Jim.
Now, everyone has to put a forefinger... Oh, wait a minute!
I'll lower the lights.
Must have a bit of atmosphere, in case we frighten away the spirits.
Now, right forefinger on the top of the glass.
What happens now? Oh, yes. Somebody asks a question.
- Jean, you ask. - OK. Are we having a boy or a girl?
No. You'll have to rephrase the question.
We've got a "yes" card and a "no" card.
So, you ask, "Is the baby going to be a boy?"
If it says "no", you know it's a girl.
- What if it's twins? - That's a point!
Don't be difficult, Jim.
Are we having a boy?
It's a boy! I suspect there was some cheating going on there.
Now, come on. We must take it seriously.
- Albert, you ask a question. - Yes, let me see now...
Oh, my goodness! I'll ask one while you're thinking.
What is going to be the fashionable colour next year?
S...
E...
A... Sea green?
N...
C...
E...
S-E-A-N-C-E? Seance. How strange!
Oh, come on. Somebody was pushing.
Not me. I didn't even know how to spell it!
Well, Let's have a go. Everybody hold hands.
- Really, it wasn't me. - Never mind. Come on.
Everybody concentrate.
Is there anybody there?
Muriel!
Is there anybody there?
Albert, take that pipe out of your mouth.
Perhaps we ought to concentrate with our eyes closed.
Right.
Is there anybody there?
- Are you all right, darling? - Let me get you a brandy.
No...
No. I'm fine.
What happened? I must... I passed out.
- Are you sure you're all right, Jim? - Yes.
I'm fine. Must have been more tired than I thought.
Silly damned game. I don't know what came over me.
It must have been that foul tobacco that Albert smokes.
It was rather frightening.
Oh, come on. Let's not make something out of nothing.
You are the last person to believe in that nonsense.
Course I don't. I was just worried about you.
Just tiredness catching up with me. I'll be fine after a night's sleep.
Jim. Why are we taking the long way home?
Sorry.
- Just wasn't thinking. - Do you want me to drive?
Perhaps you'd better.
What on earth...? Why did you do that, Jim?
Something in the road.
Poor thing.
It was dazzled by the lights.
Yeah. He was lucky I saw him. Well, we can't just leave it.
We'll drop it in at the police station.
- Jim? - Yeah?
- If they can't trace the owner... - Here it comes.
Can I keep him? He's so beautiful. He'd be company when you're away.
I'll have to think about it. I don't like competition, you know?
Who said cats were lucky? I think we'll call this one Jonah.
Get out! Quick!
Jean...
Jean? Jean!
Jean?
Jean...
- Straker? - Yes.
- Jim, what's the matter? - I want to see Straker.
Regan!
- Regan! - Voiceprint positive.
...and then they gave us what could only be a medical.
Spare parts. Transplant organs.
- No! - That's all it could have been.
No. It couldn't. It couldn't. Or they would have taken me as well.
You could have been an unsuitable donor. Wrong body tissue group.
But why leave you alive?
What puzzles me is how come they pick on a member of SHADO?
Could be coincidence. Four other people were taken on that road.
A woman was left behind, apparently dead.
Before she died she told us what had happened. She had a weak heart.
Who shall I assign to replace Jim?
No one.
You will report for normal duty tomorrow.
That's all, Regan.
Can't you see the man's in shock? He needs to...
We need. With all these attacks, the Venus probe coming in soon
and that UFO still around, we need every astronaut available.
That's all, Colonel.
Doctor Jackson.
Commander.
You heard what happened about Regan?
Yes.
Poor man.
A tragedy.
- I've ordered him back to duty. - Quite right.
The only thing you could do.
Well, it's nice that somebody understands.
I'd like you to keep an eye on him, though, Doctor, just in case.
I most certainly will.
You look a bit under the weather, yourself.
Just a headache. If it makes you feel better, I'll have an aspirin.
All right.
They asked me to drop this in as I was passing.
I've got a couple of weeks' leave due, if you want to relieve Regan.
That's nice of you, Paul, but I think he'll be better off occupied.
I want to go through the Venus probe escort procedure.
- Thank you, Doctor. - Don't go.
This is the result of the autopsy I carried out on the alien's body.
The one found after the attack?
It could shatter all our past theories.
Go on.
This is mostly conjecture. The head was badly damaged.
I may be wrong. Until more proof is available...
Cut the caution. We're not likely to quote you.
All right. I'm sorry.
As you are aware, up until now, we've believed they were humanoid.
A dying race, keeping themselves alive
by transplanting our organs into their bodies.
The alien I examined this morning, I think... his whole body was human.
- His brain? - Even his brain.
You mean he was one of us?
Outwardly, yes.
- But if his brain... - His brain may have been human
but it doesn't mean his mind was.
- Mind, brain - they're the same. - No, no, no. Let me try to explain.
There was so much damage, it was almost impossible to tell
but certain sections of the brain seemed to be missing.
The parts that control emotion, creativity.
Only the analytical, the logical remained.
It's possible that these creatures are not humanoid at all.
They just use our bodies, erase from the brain all knowledge,
wipe it clean and reprogram it with - or transmit to it -
their own thought patterns, their own intelligence.
- But why? - Ah?
That I don't know.
It could be they aren't capable of travelling in space.
The form of life they take, I can't begin to imagine.
They may have no physical being at all,
and therefore need a vehicle...
a container...
our bodies.
And so, with spare-part surgery,
they're able to keep these human computers alive
and free from senility during their years in space.
- Exactly. - Well, that's unbelievable.
So were UFOs.
Yes, as fantastic as it sounds,
they could be living computers.
What are you doing? I should report you.
This is a restricted area.
Looks like we've got ourselves a mascot.
Red alert. Red alert.
UFO leaving earth. Area PZ-17.
Direction Amber 4-G. Speed 1,500.
Moonbase. UFO approaching.
Area Amber 4-G. ETA three-eight-seven.
Red alert. Red alert. Interceptors immediate launch.
ETA in Area Amber 4-G minus three-six-four.
Instruct Interceptors, new course.
Area Blue one-two. ETA minus one-nine-seven.
The UFO will cross their path diagonally.
- Maintain station 150 miles apart. - Yes, sir.
Near miss. Some damage.
UFO speed dropped to 250,000.
A sitting duck. Regan must get him.
Regan?
His wife's aboard that craft.
I swear I don't know what happened.
One moment it was right in my sights, next it was gone.
It was unfortunate that you had to encounter that particular UFO.
The fact that my wife was on board made me more determined.
I wanted that UFO. I'd rather she was dead than...
It wasn't entirely your fault.
I made a bad decision, sending you back to duty so soon.
But now I'm resting you for a month.
I'm on Venus probe escort tomorrow. There may be another chance.
I can't afford vendettas. Colonel Foster will take your place.
- I have to go. - You're suspended. That is an order.
- But... - That's all.
Colonel Foster will be replacing James Regan until further notice.
Inform all departments.
- Doctor Jackson? - Jackson.
I've just relieved Regan from duty.
I want a full physical and psychiatric report.
So, that's where you got to.
Oh, is it yours?
My wife's.
Well... he would have been.
We found him in the road just before...
just before the UFO...
- Are you all right, Jim? - Just a headache.
Well, how's show business?
There's no business. Well, hardly.
They've finished The Rebels Of Santa Domingo
and there's a dog food commercial on stage four,
and a script for your approval.
It's a period piece about World War II.
Well, I'll leave this until Miss Ealand gets back.
- Let her handle it. - Right.
I haven't thanked you for filling in.
No need. It makes a break from Section Nine.
How is Colonel Blake?
He's the same.
- I'll give him your regards. - Yes, do that.
Well, I suppose I'd better show my face. Stage Four, you say?
Yes. Sir, how's Jim Regan taking it?
He's taking it.
Jim, what are you doing here?
It was terrible about Jean. I don't know what to say.
If there's anything I can do.
Are you OK?
I'll take you back.
Now wait a minute. Wait...!
Hello, Jim.
- Sorry about... - Yeah.
- You're late. - Got held up.
Wait a minute. I thought Colonel Foster was taking your place.
The order was cancelled.
- I should check. You know Straker. - Straker's orders.
I should still check.
But seeing it's you... Good luck.
Interceptor crew change minus 30 minutes.
I wonder how poor old Jim's taking it.
Yeah, she was a nice girl.
Interceptor pilots, stand by to escort Venus probe in.
- Foster's cutting it fine again. - Probably in the gym. Don't worry.
Interceptors, standby. Three minutes.
Well, I'd better report.
Jim, I thought Paul was taking your place.
- The order was changed. - I wasn't informed.
- Last-minute decision. - I'm sorry, Jim.
I don't doubt your word, but I must follow procedure.
Hello, Operations Room? Captain Minto here.
I'd like to speak to Major Heath.
Interceptors, immediate launch.
- Doctor Jackson. - Jackson.
The medical report on Regan hasn't come through.
I haven't been able to contact him. Nobody seems to know where he is.
Locate Regan. He is to report to Doctor Jackson.
- Straker. - 'Morgan here, sir.'
Regan went to Moonbase this morning.
- Colonel Foster replaced him. - But he said you'd cancelled it.
I'll see you tomorrow, Morgan. I won't have my orders ignored.
Yes, sir.
Moonbase.
- Moonbase. - I wanna talk to Captain Regan.
- He's escorting Venus probe in. - Where's Foster?
- The Colonel's not on Moonbase. - Find out what Regan's playing at.
Yes, sir.
Regan? Come in, Regan.
Regan. Come in...
- Regan's flying. - I thought you grounded him.
- I did. - He's never disobeyed orders before.
That's what worries me. Find Foster.
- Is he on Moonbase? - No, he isn't. He's here somewhere.
- Yes, Commander? - The minute Captain Regan lands,
- I want him brought back here. - Yes, sir.
God Almighty! Paul, what happened?
Regan. He was like a madman.
Why? Why did he do it?
I don't know. I tried to reason with him but he was like a wild animal.
- Did he say anything? - No, nothing.
- Nothing at all? - He just made noises...
- like a cat. - A cat?
There is a cat. Belonged to his wife. He said he found it near the UFO.
Something else. When he picked it up, he suddenly developed head pains.
- Jackson? - Jackson.
That theory of yours, could it apply to an animal?
- Well, without researching... - Is it possible?
The brain structure is different...
- Never mind that. Yes or no? - Yes. But...
I'll get the building searched.
Let's make sure it's still here. Get Miss Holland.
Miss Holland.
Yes, I did.
About half an hour ago.
Commander, Regan's broken formation.
Trajectory?
Interceptor Three on collision course - Moonbase.
I repeat, collision course, Moonbase.
They're using Regan to destroy Moonbase.
Instruct Interceptors One and Two, pursue and destroy Interceptor Three.
- Say again, sir. - You heard me.
Yes, sir.
Interceptors One and Two, destroy Interceptor Three.
Something's wrong. No power.
Same with me, nothing.
- Find that animal. - We haven't time.
Try!
Wait a minute... The dogs!
That's it. Get on to it.