| The Invisibles | |
|---|---|
| Season 1, Episode 19 | |
| |
| Air date | February 3, 1964 |
| Written by | Joseph Stefano |
| Directed by | Gerd Oswald |
| Episode guide | |
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A Government Intelligence Agency (G.I.A.) agent is sent to infiltrate a fascist organization, which is actually the cover for an alien invasion. The aliens are monstrous parasites born in the darkness between the stars who puppeteer human hosts.
Opening narration[]
You do not know these men. You may have looked at them, but you did not see them. They are newspapers blowing down a gutter on a windy night. For reasons both sociological and psychological, these three have never joined or been invited to join society. They have never experienced love or friendship, or formed any lasting or constructive relationship, but today, at last, they will become a part of something. They will belong. They will come a little closer to their unrealistic dreams of power and glory. Today, finally they will join th... I almost said the human race, and that would have been a half-truth, for the race they are joining today is only half human.
Plot[]
Don Gordon stars as Luis Spain, a seemingly friendless, disaffected man who, along with other men just like him, are recruited to join a secret organization called the Invisibles, which turns out to be run by the state governor named Hillerman (played by George Macready). Hillerman and others in his conspiracy have been taken over by ages-old, parasitic, tick-like creatures from outer space that need human men as hosts so that they can be placed near high positions of government in order to take over the country's leaders. Spain works as as an agent of the Government Intelligence Agency (G.I.A.) and must find a way to stop them, which wont be easy. Spain and the rest of the men are inoculated against being parasitized by the alien beings so that they may act as covert agents and deliver the aliens to government officials. However, the inoculation also carries the risk of mutating and killing the men, and while Spain survives, they are not all so lucky. Later, Spain meets with his G.I.A. contact to relay a report on what he has observed.
The recruits receive their orders and are sent out to perform their infiltrations. Spain is sent to Washington, D.C. to serve as a driver for the wife of Hilary J. Clarke, General at the U.S. Defense Department. Spain's onsite handler gives him his instructions to attach the alien to the General while his handler distracts the General's wife. He finds an opportunity to call his agency, but unbeknownst to him, his handler is tracking him and spots him placing the call. Spain finally meets the General and they briefly chat, but then Spain overhears the General and handler when he returns for his hat. The General holds him at gunpoint while the handler brings an alien to take over Spain's body, planning to use him as a double agent against the but the General is suddenly attacked telekinetically by his masters for revealing too much to Spain. He flees and they discover that he killed the alien that would have been used against him.
Spain is injured while attempting to flee and is secured in the house with an injured leg while a new alien is brought to the General's house. Mrs. Clarke tends to his injury and then helps him escape. Spain attempts to meet with one of the other recruits, Planetta, who has not been parasitized by an alien, but Planetta feels betrayed when he discovers that Spain is a G.I.A. agent and lied to him. He leaves Spain to be taken over by an alien. G.I.A. agents appear and shoot both the alien and Planetta to save Spain, vowing to end the invasion conspiracy.
Closing narration[]
You do not know these men. You may have looked at them, but you did not see them. They are the wind that blows newspapers down a gutter on a windy night and sweeps the gutter clean.
Notes[]
- Memorable-looking and -sounding creatures are the highlight of somewhat rambling plot, with overtones of both "The Manchurian Candidate" and "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers".
- Some critics have seen clear homoerotic overtones in this episode.
Cast[]
- Don Gordon - Luis B. Spain
- George Macready - Larry K. Hillerman
- Dee Hartford - Mrs. Clarke
- Walter Burke - Recruiter
- Neil Hamilton - Hilary J. Clarke
- Tony Mordente - Genero Planetta
- Len Lesser - GIA Agent
- John Graham - Supervisor
- Richard Dawson - Oliver Fair
- William O. Douglas Jr. - Henry Castle
- Chris Warfield - Johnny
- Vic Perrin - voice of GIA Chief (uncredited)
- Robert Johnson - voice of Invisibles (uncredited)
Crew[]
Cinematographer - Conrad Hall