Oct. ,
Please don't hurt me.
How did you get in here?
No!
- Ow
- Oh, oh.
Frankenstein,
are you all right?!
It's not funny, Mom!
I can't see.
The mask takes away
- my "perfil" vision.
- Oh.
I'll cut the eyeholes bigger.
Don't worry, Dobber.
You'll have the best costume
tomorrow.
Pops!
Hi, Pop.
I'm gonna be Frankenstein
for Halloween.
That's swell,
champ.
Hello, dear.
Looking beautiful this evening.
Supper ready?
more minutes.
How was work?
'Nother great day.
The Edgar Bergen Show!
We're missing it.
Well, go put it on.
Thanks, pet.
Ladies and gentlemen,
we interrupt our program
of dance music
to bring you special bulletin
from Intercontinental Radio
News.
At minutes before :
Central Time,
Professor Ferrell of the Mount Jenngservat
Chicago, Illinois,
reports observing
several explosions
of incandescent gas
occurring at regular intervals
on the planet Mars...
...Something's happening... ni out of the pit.
The mouth is... kind of V-shaped
with saliva.
Those quivered pulsating monster
or whatever it is
can hardly move.
The thing's rising up now
and the crowd falls back.
Lord, they're turning
into flame!
He's followed by the woods...
- Mom.
- Shh. it's all right.
...the vast pigs...
At least people,
including six state troopers,
lie dead in a field east...
Ladies and gentlemen, I have
a grave announcement to make.
Incredible as it may seem,
both the observations
of science and the evidence
of our eyes...
...lead to the inescapable
assumption
that those strange beings
who landed
in the Jersey farmland tonight
are the vanguard of an invading army
from the planet Mars...
Hello?
Yes.
Oh, my God.
All right.
Felton, what is it?
That was Mrs. Brown next door.
The Martians
are only a mile away.
We have to go.
But...
Dobber, get your coat.
Where are the car keys?
In your pocket.
We need to pack
up our bags.
Where's Loki?
We can't leave Loki behind!
The dog'll be fine.
- I'll get him.
- But, Audrey...
He's just
in the backyard.
I will be right back.
Get Dobber's things,
Felton.
I'll be right back.
Extra! Extra!
Read all about it.
"Martians Take
Audrey Metz?"
Thank you, sir.
Can you at least
tell us if the police
will be issuing a statement?
Those yoyos
are up early.
We find Hoffa
in this hole, boss?
Not quite.
Deceased female.
Broken hyoid bone.
Strangled.
ME says the remains
have been down there
for at least years.
An old well.
Clever dump site.
Coins in her purse
are all dated
from the ' s.
Hmm.
A- W-M.
Her initials?
I ran them against
all the missing persons records
from the ' s.
You two believe in Martians?
Is this that woman that
disappeared in the ' s?
Audrey W. Metz.
It was the end of the world.
My grandmother was eight.
Said she had nightmares
for over a year.
What the hell you guys
talking about?
October , , Scotty.
Orson Welles
did a radio broadcast
of The w*r of the Worlds.
Only he made it seem
like it was a news report.
People believed it.
Millions thought
the Martians were invading.
Mass panic
across the country.
And Audrey Metz
disappeared that night.
And the legend began.
A lot of crazy rumors
of what happened
like, uh,
Martians really did take her.
Or the Germans.
There were Audrey Metz
sightings
for the next years.
Like someone saw her
scuba diving in Jamaica.
Or working as a spy in Berlin.
People got way too much
time on their hands.
Everyone thought Audrey
traveled far and wide.
But She never made it out of Philly.
I still can't
believe it.
Martians?
Didn't anybody know
this was a prank?
The power of radio
in those days, Nick.
Was the only live
news source.
Back when the news wasn't all
about the latest starlet's
drunk driving bust.
"My wife and I heard it
come over the car radio.
"All we could think of
was to get back home
to see our children
before the final attack. "
Well, churches around the country held
"end of the world"
prayer meetings.
One guy heard the news
post-shower,
drove all night
from New York to Florida
in a towel to see his fiancee.
Suddenly, everything precious
in life became crystal-clear.
Yeah.
Who do you want to be with
when the world ends?
I wanna be with the guy
that knows it's a hoax.
Audrey was
a -year-old housewife
with a husband, Felton
and an eight year
old son, Robert.
Family was packing to go.
She went out back to get their dog,
never returned.
Cops had no leads.
It was like she just vanished
into thin air.
Torn movie ticket found
in Audrey's purse.
Country's panicking,
Audrey hits the movies?
Maybe the usher did it.
There's handwriting
on the back.
A- Y-S.
More initials?
Or second half of a word.
Maybe part of an address
she wrote down?
Nick, you and Miller
check St. Luke's Hospital.
Elmer Gibbins, witness from back in the day,
keeps calling,
says he knows
who did it.
Elmer the same guy
that saw her in Germany?
Got to start
someplace.
Meanwhile, let's meet with any
of the family still in town.
When I was little,
I liked to think all those
rumors about my mom were true.
Living on an exotic
island somewhere.
She used to read
adventure stories to me.
I always hoped
she was off on one of her own.
Anyway, that's
what I had to believe.
You notice anything different
about her behavior
before she disappeared?
My mom was very happy.
Week before
she vanished.
That a Hudson,
Mr. Metz?
Yep.
model.
Saw one of those at
a classic car show
few years back.
Guy was asking
grand for it.
Think ours cost $ .
Lot of money in the Depression.
Especially with your dad
out of work for three years.
Put a strain on
their marriage?
Of course.
But they loved each other.
Well, sometimes that's
not enough.
Maybe she chose
that night to split.
My mom would never abandon me.
Dad, why were we always
so mad at the Indians?
Weren't they
here first?
Aud, have you seen my glasses?
Come on, Dobber.
No strange questions
- at the table.
- Put the book away, Sitting Bull.
It's time to eat.
Soup again?
Stop complaining, son.
But it doesn't
make me full, Dad.
I get tummyaches at night.
Have my bread, sweetie.
Work picking up?
Any day now.
Well, in the meantime
we have bills to pay.
Winter's coming.
- We can't afford the gas.
- Dobber,
fetch me some water.
What the hell do you think
you're doing?
We do not discuss
these things
in front of Dobber.
When will we discuss them?
We're in trouble, Felton.
Things will pick up.
You can't
keep putting on
a suit and tie
and going to an
empty office.
It's my job.
We're down to pennies, Felton.
Maybe
it's time you found other work.
The WPA...
The WPA will have me
digging ditches.
If it means putting food in
Dobber's stomach, so be it.
For the love of God, Felton,
the boy's wasting away.
I will not become
a pampered poverty rat.
What will
the neighbors think?
Who cares what they think?
This is your son.
I have a reputation.
You think the neighbors
care about reputations?
Like Ralph Bodine,
who put a b*llet in his head
when the stock market crashed?
How about Ruth Cayler?
I saw her selling apples...
Pass the salt, please.
Sounds like
the marriage
was strained.
It was just the Depression
talking.
Their fights
ever escalate?
I was with my dad that night.
We drove around looking
for Mom until sunrise.
I understand your dad
lives here with you.
Yes.
He's not well.
Alzheimer's.
Any way we could talk to him?
You're welcome to try.
Hello, Aud.
Have you seen my glasses?
Mr. Metz...
You look
beautiful this morning.
I'm... I'm Detective
Lilly Rush,
and this is my partner,
Scotty Valens.
We'd like
to talk to you
about the night
your wife disappeared.
What time's supper?
Uh...
Mr. Metz,
do you remember the, uh,
w*r of the Worlds broadcast?
The Martians on the radio.
Yeah, the Martians.
Remember that?
October .
Dobber was going to be
Frankenstein that Halloween.
That's right.
We searched
all night for Audrey.
Then I got the news...
This just in: we can now confirm
the Martian landing was a hoax,
a radio show.
The governor has issued
a statement; it's all a hoax.
We really thought
it was the end of the world.
Orson Welles,
what a son of a bitch.
Hello, Aud.
Have you seen my glasses?
Elmer Gibbins.
Just had hip replacement
surgery.
Claims he saw Audrey
back in the day.
Doing what?
Scuba diving?
Well, well.
How you doing, neighbor?
Hey, Toni.
You remember Kat Miller.
Hi.
Nice to see you again.
I'll be down the hall.
Sure.
Uh, interviewing a witness.
Right.
Don't let me keep you.
No, no.
I, uh, I got a sec.
How you been?
Good.
Don't see you much
around the building.
Busy.
People keep k*lling
each other, so...
You?
Same.
People keep getting sick.
Never changes.
Nothing ever does.
Well... it's good to see you,
Nick.
You too.
Take care of yourself.
Yeah.
I can't believe you
finally found Audrey.
You knew her well?
Yes, ma'am, saw her once a week
at the th Street breadline.
Real nice lady.
Tell ya, I always thought they'd
be too clever to get caught.
"They"?
The FBI, dipstick.
Don't you get it?
Audrey knew
the invasion was coming.
The store should've opened
an hour ago.
All we got's time, Audrey.
Waiting is as close
as I got to a purpose.
I got to get home.
Dobber's sick.
Again?
Is he getting
any meat or fruit?
Only when he dreams about it.
The best part of my day
used to be waking him up.
I swear, he used to sleep
with a smile.
He'd always have a joke
or a funny dream
to tell me about when he woke.
Now...
I like to let him sleep in.
Good afternoon, ma'am.
If I may be so bold-
you're too beautiful
for this much sorrow.
I...
Thank you.
Come to th
and Diamond.
Yours will be
the prettiest taxi.
I don't understand.
Rest assured,
I only pick a chosen few.
Good day.
"Prettiest taxi"?
Any idea what that meant?
Some kind of government code.
FBI.
This man said
he was with the FBI?
Of course
he didn't say it.
He was an undercover agent,
not a moron.
Is this guy new?
Total rookie.
Figures.
You see,
Audrey was picked special.
The FBI knew
that the Martians were coming,
but the Martians got to her
before she could run.
Then, the FBI covered it over.
Right.
Is the boss punishing
us for something?
Told you not to steal
his paper clips.
Miss her?
Don't even think about it.
Expect me to believe that,
dipstick?
Oh, here's a good one.
Lady said, "I saw Audrey jogging
with Hitler in Fairmount Park. "
Let me guess, she's alive
and wants to make a statement.
Called ten minutes ago.
How about a dance boss?
Ten cents gets you one song.
Oh, this better be good.
That guy told Audrey to meet him
at th and Diamond, right?
Used to be where the
Palomar Ballroom was in .
Palomar Ballroom?
What's that?
Dance hall.
Lot of young women worked there
as taxi dancers.
I talked to the guy who runs it now,
real history buff.
That's not a movie ticket.
It's a dance ticket.
For a dime-a-dance girl.
- Mm-hmm.
- That's right. Men would pay for dances
would last the amount you paid-
like a taxi ride.
Yeah.
G- rated version of a lap dance.
Guy who managed it
was named Buzz Moran.
He died in .
So this Buzz
was recruiting Audrey.
And that ticket says
she took the job.
Opens a whole new world
of suspects.
Yeah.
My money says her k*ller was a client.
The Palomar Ballroom.
My, oh, my, that feels
like a hundred years ago.
How did you find me?
The Palomar has photos
from your day.
You're the only one
we found, Penny.
You mean,
I'm the only one still alive.
Oh, I'll be
gosh-darned.
Now, who can imagine
being that young?
We're investigating the m*rder
of Audrey Metz.
We think she was a dancer there.
Audrey...
I read about it in the papers.
You knew her at the club?
Oh, you betcha, by golly.
We got to be very close.
She don't seem to fit
the profile of a dancer.
Oh, true.
Most of us were
working-class girls
who wanted to dance
professionally
or be in the movies.
Not many moms?
Oh, gosh, no.
I heard stories
about the Palomar in those days.
Cops were called in to break up
a lot of fights.
It could be a rough and humble place.
It attracted
a lot of dangerous types.
How did Audrey handle it?
Different class of gal.
Had trouble
with the tough customers.
Have a pleasant evening.
You must be Audrey.
I'm Penny.
Oh, you're gonna love it here.
Oh, well, this is
just temporary.
Till my family gets
back on its feet.
Do we just stand and wait?
You don't wait.
You advertise.
What if they touch you
where they're not invited?
Oh, don't worry.
Most of these guys
are Okay Joes.
It's how I met my fiancee Crick.
There he is now.
The thing is,
times ain't that bad.
There's good
if you know where to look.
You think so?
You betcha, by golly!
Now the band's gonna play
a slow one for you.
This is called "Always. "
How ya doing, toots?
Ticket doesn't pay for that,
sailor.
Yeah. What does?
How about two sawbucks,
you polish my golf shaft?
Go to hell.
Hey, relax.
Let me buy you
some giggle water.
Warm you up a bit.
Why don't you take a rest, pal.
The lady seems tired.
Why don't you mind
your beeswax.
You drunk, stupid or both?
You wanna talk outside, buster?
Sorry, my mistake.
Thank you.
The owner, Buzz, gave a talking
to that sailor.
He shipped out
the next day anyway.
So who was
this knight in shining armor?
Will Paige.
He'd sit in the dark
and stare at Audrey,
night after night.
He was this
lonesome rich guy
with nothing to lose, and...
he gave me the heebie-jeebies.
You thinking
Will might've hurt her?
He was awful violent.
Rumor was,
he quit the booze
'cause he got in a drunken fight
and he k*lled a guy.
Mr. Paige?
Detective Rush and Vera.
We're investigating the m*rder
of Audrey Metz.
I checked your record.
Three drunk
- and disorderlys back then.
- You sent a man
to the hospital with your fists,
almost k*lled him.
Glad I stopped drinking.
Got a witness says
you were stalking her
at the Palomar Ballroom.
Rich man with too much
time on his hands?
How'd you make out so well
during the Depression?
I was an inventor.
Already retired.
Sounds like you were just
another guy out to buy
a piece of tail.
You get rough with her?
Audrey wasn't
like the other girls.
Every night I bought up
all her tickets.
That's a lot of dancing.
Oh, we never danced.
My wife is
desperately ill.
Hospitalized.
I found a strength
I never knew I had.
I did everything I
could to help her.
And then one day...
You lost her?
Yeah, I lost her.
It's like life is
just about survival.
Like, love has...
fled forever.
You can't even see it
in people's eyes anymore.
You mean you and your husband?
I truly loved him once, but...
...since things got so bad,
I don't know him anymore.
- You think he's changed?
- No.
What I fear is this
is who he's always been.
Or you're the one who's changed.
Maybe I have.
I know I'd do anything
to protect my son.
Maybe I've found the strength
that I never knew I had.
You were awful tough
with that sailor.
I was afraid.
You were brave.
I was thinking, "There's
someone who can hold her own. "
I was also thinking
how big he was,
hoping you'd take
the first shot.
I forgot about that.
What?
Laughing.
Maybe one night we should dance.
Maybe.
I should...
get back out on the floor.
Audrey?
You're a damned disgrace.
Sounds like her husband
was a little jealous.
He never saw me.
Besides, there was nothing
to be jealous about.
I was still in love
with a ghost.
Felton didn't know
about her dancing?
Middle class housewife
becoming a taxi dancer...?
Scandalous.
Tough for an ego
- like that to take.
- I suppose.
I never saw her again.
Maybe m*rder was
the only way to get her
to hang up her dancing shoes.
This is absurd. I told you
I was with my dad
the whole night.
Your mom was a taxi dancer.
He found out.
You knew.
Might've mentioned that to us.
Hasn't there been
enough speculation
and rumor about my mom?
Can't you let her rest in peace?
We just want to find out
what happened.
What happened is my mom was
trying to feed our family.
She sacrificed
everything for me.
Yeah, but your dad
couldn't handle
what she was doing.
No.
They came to an understanding.
I told you, Audrey.
You will not go back
to that place.
What do we have to show
for these past two weeks?
We don't have food to put
on the table again!
At least I can walk
down the street
without people thinking
that my wife is a...
People can think what they want.
I applied for a shipping job
at the Piper factory.
They said
I wasn't qualified enough.
My God, I've got a degree
from Dartmouth.
Then we don't have a choice.
Then I have to go back.
It'll be our secret.
You needn't be ashamed
of me, Felton.
Do you remember
when Dobber turned four?
That blizzard we got caught in?
I had to push the car
out of the snowbank.
You called me your "hero. "
You still are.
Tell your ma
Penny's here.
Tell her the good's gone, kid.
- Penny?
- Yeah.
My mom had to take her
to the hospital.
She had bruises
on her neck?
Like she was choked.
Same way Audrey died.
You married
Crick in .
Yes, we had
wonderful years...
Well, then,
the cancer got him.
You were Crick's second wife.
In the divorce records,
his first wife
said he was physically abusive.
Well, that's not my business.
Penny, we talked
to Dobber,
said you showed up
at their house.
Said you had bruises
on your neck.
I wanted to believe
people were good.
But I was wrong.
What do you mean?
Crick wanted me
to sell myself.
- I said "no," and...
- He beat you?
Maybe he did the same to Audrey.
If anyone is to blame...
it's me.
You?
I went to Audrey
for help;
I was so upset that night, I just...
What is it, Penny?
I was jealous of her and Will.
I had to prove to Audrey
that the world
was a bad place.
What'd you do?
I told her
Will Paige's real secret.
You sure you're
feeling better?
You betcha, by golly.
Hello.
Hi, Will.
Look, Buzz says I have to take
other tickets. I can't...
Just give me a minute.
I need to talk.
Where were you?
I was worried.
I'm fine. I can
take care of myself.
I bought a special ticket tonight.
The song that was playing
when I first saw you.
It's how long
this ticket lasts.
"Always. "
Before I met you,
I thought anything
good in my world
was gone forever.
I started believing people
that said life was just cruel.
And then I met you.
Love hasn't gone anywhere.
It's right here in front of us.
The cruel thing
would be to ignore it.
Will, I can't leave my son.
He's all I have.
I'll help take
care of Dobber.
Whatever it takes.
I can't.
Because of your husband?
Because of your wife.
I know she's alive, Will.
You're still married.
I thought you were the kind
of man who faced the truth.
At least my husband doesn't lie.
You're the cruelest of them all.
Audrey!
Shot of rye, Mickey.
Mr. Paige,
you never drink.
To hell with never.
To hell with her.
Are you sure the word
"always" was on the ticket?
Oh, yes.
Positive.
Same ticket that ended up
with Audrey's body.
Will saw her again.
seems that you've got a selective memory, Will...
You saw Audrey again.
Only this time
she was on to all your lies.
Telling people
your wife was dead?
- That's cold.
- Don't you people understand?
She might as
well have been.
She was institutionalized
for three years.
Back then they called it
"mood swings. "
She was bipolar?
What difference is the name?
The stigma of mental illness
in those days was worse than TB.
She never got better?
There was a terrific
new treatment...
called a lobotomy.
Left her good as dead.
Both of us.
I sat in the dark
for three years.
And then Audrey walked in.
That was real romantic, homes.
One problem.
You were still married.
Audrey left you in the dust.
Maybe you k*lled her
to keep her.
She wasn't mine to keep.
- But you found her that night.
- No.
She found me.
I Thought I lost
her forever.
No feeling worse than that.
But things change
when it's the end of the world.
How so?
It was as if nothing else
existed but her.
...in Washington, DC,
early reports tell us that
over are dead or missing
in the Capitol.
This adds
to the widespread devastation...
Is that ticket still good?
...we have already encountered
from the horrible
Martian attack.
Thousands are fleeing west
from the frightful invaders
from space with nothing but fire
and destruction in their wake.
This announcer cannot help
but wonder if these are the end
times our Bible has prophesied.
It does say "Always. "
Leave with me, Audrey.
It's not too late.
Will, you know
I can't.
What are we going to do?
Just hold me.
Hold me one time
before it's over.
We had that one dance,
and then she left.
I drove around the rest
of the night in a daze.
And the Martians
never came.
I didn't have a radio in my car.
I didn't even know it
was a hoax till morning.
But you had that dance.
If I had let
that moment slip away,
I couldn't have lived
with myself.
Toni Halstead?
She's a nurse. Toni... Halstead?
she's...
Dr. Bruce, telephone, please.
Toni?
Toni! Toni?
Ah, Toni.
- Hey.
- Me?
- Hi.
- What's wrong?
Nothing's wrong.
I'm on a case.
Guy thought it was the end of the world,
had to see the girl
he was in love with,
and they danced to their song,
and it made me think
about that Sinatra song that was
playing on our first date.
- Sinatra?
- I don't care
that you hate my job,
or you think
we're no good together.
I don't want
to lose you.
I can't live without you.
Sinatra wasn't playing
on our first date.
What?
Tupac was.
Tupac?
Sinatra was playing
at the restaurant
on our third date.
Point is...
I didn't want to wait
until the end of the world
to do this.
Hold it!
You think
you can just waltz in here
like some crazy-assed
Jerry Maguire,
and we're back together?
Just like that?
I was kind of hoping.
Don't say it.
Think about it.
I'll be waiting.
I'll be waiting!
I was talking to this,
uh, guy.
Had a car just like that.
Said he didn't get the news
about the hoax 'cause
he was driving all night.
- So?
- Well, cars didn't have radios till .
That Hudson
didn't have one.
That's a model.
You came over
to talk about cars?
Your father heard the news
about the hoax when he was home.
You really look
for your mother till sunrise?
She came home
that night, didn't she?
I...
I had to believe
the world was a good place.
You saw her?
No, but I heard her come home.
I was...
I was in bed, falling asleep.
The next morning,
I convinced myself
it was just a dream.
After a while,
I started to believe that.
Better than the reality.
I swear
I don't know what happened.
My dad could never...
He's...
He's just a sick...
old... man.
Thank you, Aud.
What time is supper?
About minutes.
Felton?
Yes.
I can't believe
it was all a hoax.
Is Dobber all right?
Dobber's in bed.
Where were you?
Answer me. Damn it!
I was at the ballroom.
I was with him.
I finally had something
to believe in
at the end of the world.
What did you have, Felton?
Nothing.
Is everything okay?
Where's Dobber?
I looked everywhere
for the dog,
and I had to help Miss Curran
start her car, and...
It was a hoax.
What?
The invasion-
it was a lie.
Just like the one
you're telling.
You went to see someone.
Yes.
I had to.
What did that place do to you?
It made me strong.
I... met someone...
...who made me realize
that I'm still alive.
What about us?
Our marriage died years ago,
Felton.
Aren't you tired
of playing pretend?
I just want the girl
that I fell in love with.
That person doesn't exist
anymore.
Why should you have someone
to go to?
Felton...
Everyone was
afraid tonight.
Do you know what
scared me the most
at the end?
I had no one to turn to.
My world was empty.
Go to bed, Felton. You're tired.
Don't you tell
me what to do!
Now fix me my supper.
Fix it yourself.
Audrey... you will
do as you're told.
- Felton, please.
- You're my wife.
You love me, damn it!
I'm your hero!
I'm your hero!
In case you missed it, folks,
there's no Martians.
The only danger
was in our imagination.
Now let's all relax
with some romantic music.
Here's "Always. "