INVADERS, THE: MOONSHOT (TV)
Summary
One in this series of science fiction programs about architect David Vincent's attempts to stop space aliens from taking over the world. In the Florida Keys, two astronauts are killed when a helicopter deposits a strange red mist on their fishing boat, suffocating them to death. Both of them were to have participated in an attempt to land on the moon. The incident is widely reported in the press and David arrives to attempt to speak with Charlie Coogan, the lone eyewitness to the event. However, Coogan is being held by security officer Sergeant Gavin Lewis. When David tries to enter Sgt. Lewis has him sent to the office. He knows about David and his obsession with aliens, and doesn't believe him when he tells Sgt. Lewis that the Invaders are responsible for murdering the two astronauts. Sgt. Lewis instructs David to remain in his office while he gives a press conference about the incident, but David leaves to speak to Coogan. However, he arrives too late to prevent one of the Invaders, disguised as a security guard, from using an alien device to brainwash Coogan into believing that he didn't see anything. The Invader knocks David unconscious and flees just as Sgt. Lewis approaches. Sgt. Lewis becomes more receptive to David's claims when he observes Coogan's drastic change in behavior. Sgt. Lewis takes David back to his office while one of the Invaders secretly places a briefcase inside Sgt. Lewis's car. Sgt. Lewis reveals that he was an astronaut who was supposed to embark on the mission to the moon, but that one night he was driving home when he lost his memory, and the next day an issue with his blood pressure convinced his superiors to take him off the project. Sgt. Lewis now believes that the aliens might be responsible for his memory loss, and hopes David can help him find the answer. David tells Sgt. Lewis about how to recognize the Invaders, such as their lack of a heartbeat and a deformity in their hands. As they exit the building they witness Sgt. Lewis's car disintegrate before their eyes. He and David head to the launch site and Sgt. Lewis has David stay in his apartment, keeping his presence secret. While there Sgt. Lewis encounters Angela Smith, wife of Commander Hardy Smith, one of the astronauts scheduled to embark on the moon mission. Angela remarks that in recent weeks Hardy has been acting strangely; his memories and personalities seem off-kilter to her. Sgt. Lewis blames Hardy's strange behavior on his experiences in the Vietnam War. David and Sgt. Lewis observe as Angela meets Hardy at the airport and poses with him for photographs. David notices a suspicious fellow watching nearby, and Sgt. Lewis identifies him as Owens, one of the moon mission's medical technicians. David believes that Owens is one of the Invaders and asks Sgt. Lewis to get him checked. In private, "Hardy" uses a device to simulate a heartbeat so as to fool the medical examiners into believing he is human. Sgt. Lewis and David review film of the astronauts involved in the moon mission. Sgt. Lewis reveals that while preparing to return home from Vietnam, Hardy suffered injuries in an attack on his hotel in Saigon which necessitated extensive facial reconstruction surgery. David conjectures that the real Hardy was killed in the attack and was replaced by an Invader in his likeness. He believes that the Invaders are tampering with the moon mission because they wish to prevent earthly reconnaissance on the moon's surface; he believes the Invaders are maintaining some sort of moon base. With less than twelve hours until liftoff, David suggests obtaining Hardy's medical records to prove his hypothesis, although Sgt. Lewis has difficulty believing David's assumptions. Sgt. Lewis attempts to get Stan Arthur, one of the mission controllers, to launch a formal investigation concerning Hardy's identity. Arthur, however, believes that Sgt. Lewis is being motivated by his relationship with Angela; Sgt. Lewis denies it but both Arthur and Hardy suspected Sgt. Lewis of having an affair with her. Arthur calls in Owens to deliver the medical report, but Sgt. Lewis notices Owens's manual deformity, realizing that David was right about him being an alien. This convinces Arthur that Sgt. Lewis has lost his sanity, and he calls Washington to request that Sgt. Lewis be transferred. David decides to visit Angela to convince her of the truth. He finds her in the midst of packing her bags to return to Houston. He asks her questions about Hardy's recent behavior, and she is highly distressed about the matter. The hour of the launch approaches and Sgt. Lewis bids the astronauts farewell as they make their way into the flight tower. David tells Angela about the aliens, but at first she doesn't believe him. However, he convinces her to put his theory to the test. She calls Hardy and has a short conversation with him, wishing him luck on his mission. She hangs up and realizes that David is right; she explains that Hardy is extremely superstitious and doesn't allow anyone to wish him luck, but that this time he had no reaction to the phrase. She calls Arthur and tells him that Hardy is actually an impostor and that the mission must be delayed. Arthur tries to have the technicians return Hardy to mission control, but he fights them off and seals himself in the rocket. He initiates a premature launch, but the rocket explodes over the ocean, killing him. The press believes that Hardy simply went berserk under the pressure of his mission. David believes that this incident will force the Invaders to abandon their moon base, delaying their invasion plans. Sgt. Lewis assures David that he'll do what he can to bring the truth of the matter to light. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: April 18, 1967 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:36
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:34753
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1967-1968
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Commercials – Bayer aspirin
- TV – Commercials – Camel cigarettes
- TV – Commercials – Dial soap
- TV – Commercials – Flair pens
- TV – Commercials – Gillette shaving razors
- TV – Commercials – Goodyear tires
- TV – Commercials – Magic clothing spray
- TV – Commercials – Phillips laxatives
- TV – Commercials – Salem cigarettes
- TV – Promos – "The Second Hundred Years"
CREDITS
- Quinn Martin … Executive Producer
- Alan A. Armer … Producer
- Anthony Spinner … Associate Producer
- Paul Wendkos … Director
- Larry Cohen … Created by
- John W. Bloch … Writer
- Rita Lakin … Writer
- Dominic Frontiere … Music by
- Roy Thinnes … Cast, David Vincent
- Peter Graves … Cast, Sgt. Gavin Lewis
- Joanne Linville … Cast, Angela Smith
- John Ericson … Cast, Commander Hardy Smith
- Kent Smith … Cast, Stan Arthur
- Anthony Eisley … Cast, Tony LaCava
- Richard X. Slattery … Cast, Riley
- Paul Lukather … Cast, Correll
- Strother Martin … Cast, Charlie Coogan
- John Lupton … Cast, Major Clifford Banks
- Robert Knapp … Cast, Lt. Colonel Howell
- Ross Elliott … Cast, McNally
- John Carter … Cast, Owens
- Charles A. McDaniel … Cast, Roberts
- Steve Cory … Cast, Attendant
- Morgan Jones … Cast, First Reporter
- Lee Millar … Cast, Second Reporter
- Bob Duggan … Cast, Third Reporter
- Ollie O'Toole … Cast, Fourth Reporter
- Steve Ferry … Cast, Technician