Night of the Living Dead (1968)

They ought to make the day the time changes the first day of summer.

What?

Well it’s eight o’clock and it’s still light.

A lot of good the extra daylight does us. We’ve still got a three-hour drive back. We’re not going to be home until after midnight.

Well if it really bugged you, Johnny, you wouldn’t do it.

You think I want to blow Sunday on a scene like this? You know, I figure we’re either going to have to move mother out here or move the grave into Pittsburgh.

She can’t make a trip like this.

I don’t know that she can’t. Is there any of that candy left?

No.

Look at this thing. “We still remember.” I don’t. I don’t even remember what the man looks like.

Johnny, it takes you five minutes.

Yeah, five minutes to put the wreath on the grave and six hours to drive back and forth. Mother wants to remember so we trot 200 miles into the country and she stays at home.

Well we’re here, John. All right?

Testing. Back on? Oh. Ladies and gentlemen, we’re coming back on the air after an interruption due to technical problems.

There was nothing wrong with the radio. It must have been the station.

Which row is it in?

Well there’s no one around.

Well it’s late. If you’d gotten up earlier …

Oh, look. I already lost an hour of sleep with the time change.

I think you complain just to hear yourself talk. There it is.

I wonder what happened to the one from last year. Each year, we spend good money on these things. We come out here and the one from last year’s gone.

Well the flowers die and the caretaker or somebody takes them away.

Yeah, a little spit and polish, you can clean this up, sell it next year. Wonder how many times we’ve bought the same one. Hey. Come on, Barb. Church was this morning. Hey, I mean praying is for church. Come on.

I haven’t seen you in church lately.

Well there’s not much sense in my going to church. Do you remember one time when we were small we were out here? It was from right over there. I jumped out at you from behind a tree and grandpa got all excited and he shook his fist at me and he said, “Boy, you’ll be damned to hell.” Remember that? Right over there. You used to really be scared here.

Johnny.

You’re still afraid.

Stop it now. I mean it.

They’re coming to get you, Barbara.

Stop it. You’re ignorant.

They’re coming for you, Barbara.

Stop it. You’re acting like a child.

They’re coming for you. Look. There comes one of them now.

He’ll hear you.

Here he comes now. I’m getting out of here.

Johnny. No! Johnny! Help me!

It’s all right. Don’t worry about him. I can handle him. Probably be a lot more of them as soon as they find out about us. Truck is out of gas. This pump out here is locked. Is there a key? We can try to get out of here if we can get some gas. Is there a key? I suppose you’ve tried this. Do you live here? Jesus. We’ve got to get out of here. We have to get where there’s some other people. Maybe we better take some food. I’ll see if I can find some food.

What’s happening?

[inaudible 00:15:59].

What’s happening?

Two of them. There are two of them out there. Have you seen any more around here? I can take care of those two.

I don’t know. I don’t know.

I know you’re afraid, but we have to-

I don’t know! I don’t know! What’s happening?

They know we’re in here now. Don’t look at it. Get some more lights on in this house. Why don’t you see if you can find some wood, some boards, something by the fireplace, something we can nail this place up? Good God … Look. I know you’re afraid. I’m afraid too, but we have to try to board the house up together. Now, I’m going to board up the windows and the doors. Do you understand? We’ll be all right here. We’ll be all right here until someone comes to rescue us, but we’ll have to work together. You’ll have to help me. Now, I want you to go in and get some wood so I can board the place up. Do you understand? Okay? Okay?

Not that strong. Here, I want you to pick out some nails. Pick out the biggest ones you can find.

(24:28)
Yeah, this room looks pretty secure. If we have to, we can run in here and board up the doors. Won’t be long before those things will be back pounding their way in here. They’re afraid now. They’re afraid of fire. I found that out.

(24:49)
You know a place back down the road called Beekman’s, Beekman’s Diner? Anyhow, that’s where I found that truck I have out there. There’s a radio in the truck. I had jumped in to listen to it when a big gasoline truck came screaming right across the road with, it must have been 10, 15 of those things chasing after it, grabbing and holding on. Now I didn’t see them at first. I could just see that the truck was moving in a funny way and those things were catching up to it. The truck went right across the road. I slammed on my brakes to keep from hitting it myself. It went right through the guard rail. I guess the driver must have cut off the road into that gas station by Beekman’s Diner. It went right through the billboard, ripped over a gas pump and never stopped moving. By now it’s like a moving bonfire. Didn’t know if the truck was going to explode or what. Still hear the man screaming. This thing is just backing away from it. I looked back at the diner to see if there was anyone there who could help me. That was when I noticed that the entire place had been encircled. There wasn’t a sign of life left except… By now there were no more screams. I realized that I was alone with 50 or 60 of those things just standing there staring at me. I started to drive, I just plowed right through them. They didn’t move, they didn’t run. Just stood there staring at me. I just wanted to crush them. They’d scattered through the air like bugs.

We were riding in the cemetery, Johnny and me. Johnny. We came to put a wreath on my father’s grave. Johnny, and he said, “Can I have some candy, Barbara?” And we didn’t have any. And oh, it’s hot in here, hot. And he said, “Oh, it’s late. Why did we start so late?” And I said, “Johnny, if you’d gotten up earlier, we wouldn’t be late.” Johnny asked me if I were afraid. And I said, “I’m not afraid, Johnny.” And then this man started walking up the road. He came slowly and Johnny kept teasing me and saying, “He’s coming to get you Barbara.” And I laughed at him and said, “Johnny, stop it.” And then Johnny ran away and I went up to this man and I was going to apologize.

Why don’t you just keep calm?

And I looked up and I said, “[inaudible 00:29:40].” And he grabbed me. He grabbed me and he ripped at me. He held me and he ripped at my clothes.

I think you should just calm down.

And oh, I screamed. “Johnny. Johnny help me. Oh, help me.” And he wouldn’t let me go. He ripped and then Johnny came and he ran and he fought this man and I got so afraid, I ran. I ran. I ran. And Johnny didn’t come. We have to wait for Johnny. Mick, we better go out and get him. We have to go out and get Johnny. He’s out there. Please. Don’t you hear me? We’ve got to go out and get him. Please. We have got to go get Johnny. Please help me. Please.

Don’t you know what’s going on out there? This is no Sunday school picnic.

Don’t you understand? My brother is alone.

Your brother is dead.

No.

My brother is not dead.

Because of the obvious threat to untold numbers of citizens and because of the crisis, which is even now developing, this radio station will remain on the air day and night. This station and hundreds of other radio and TV stations throughout this part of the country are pooling their resources through an emergency network hookup to keep you informed of all developments. At this hour, we repeat these are the facts as we know them. There is an epidemic of mass murder being committed by a virtual army of unidentified assassins. The murders are taking place in villages, cities, rural homes, and suburbs with no apparent pattern or reason for the slayings. It seems to be a sudden general explosion of mass homicide. We have some descriptions of the assassins. Eyewitnesses say they are ordinary-looking people. Some say they appear to be in a kind of trance. Others describe them as being-

(32:59)
So at this point, there is no really authentic way for us to say who or what to look for and guard yourself against. Misshapen monsters. Reaction of law enforcement officials is one of complete bewilderment at this hour. So far, we have been unable to determine that any kind of organized investigation is yet underway. Police, sheriff deputies and emergency ambulances are literally deluged with calls for help. The scene can best be described as mayhem. Mayors of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Miami, along with the governors of several Eastern and Midwestern states have indicated the National Guard may be mobilized at any moment, but that has not happened as yet. The only advice our reporters have been able to get from official sources is for private citizens to stay in their homes behind locked doors. Do not venture outside for any reason until the nature of this crisis has been determined. And until we can advise what course of action to take, keep listening to radio and TV for any special instructions as this crisis develops further.

(33:58)
Thousands of office and factory workers are being urged to stay at their places of employment, not to make any attempt to get to their homes. However, in spite of this urging and warning, streets and highways are packed with frantic people trying to reach their family or apparently to flee just anywhere. We repeat, the safest course of action at this time is simply to stay where you-

(34:19)
Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve just received word that the President has called a meeting of his cabinet to deal with the sudden epidemic of murder, which has seized the eastern third of this nation. The meeting is scheduled to convene within the hour. Members of the presidential cabinet will be joined by officials of the FBI and [inaudible 00:34:55]…

(34:53)
… Behind closed doors. White House spokesman in announcing this conference says there will be an official announcement as soon as possible following that meeting. This is the latest dispatch just received in our newsroom. Latest word also from National Press Services in Washington. D.C. now tells us that the emergency presidential conference, which we’ve just mentioned, will include high-ranking scientists from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. That’s the extent of this latest bulletin [inaudible 00:35:22]. All radio and TV stations [inaudible 00:35:32] the country, including the one to which you are listening have joined their facilities in an emergency network to bring you this news as it develops. We urge you to stay tuned to radio and TV and to stay indoors at all costs. Late reports reaching this newsroom tell of frightened people seeking refuge in churches, schools and government buildings demanding shelter and protection from the [inaudible 00:35:56] murder, which apparently is engulfing much of the nation.

(35:59)
Law enforcement officials are out of luck to explain or even at this hour, even to theorize about the reasons for this wave of murder. So far, the advice we are able to give the public is [inaudible 00:36:06]. Chief T.K. Dunmore of Camden, North Carolina was quoted as saying, “Tell the people for God’s sake to get off the streets. Tell them to go home and lock their doors and windows up tight. We don’t know what kind of murder-happy characters we have here.” Here’s Chief Dunmore of Camden, North Carolina. So far the only descriptions or the only clues anyone has of the killers come from frightened witnesses of some of the slayings. These eyewitness accounts variously describe the murderers as ordinary-looking people, misshapen monsters, people who look like they’re in a trance and things that look like people but act like animals.

(36:49)
Some eyewitnesses tell of seeing victims who look as though they had been torn apart. This old ghastly story began developing two days ago with the report of the slaying of a family of seven in their rural home near [inaudible 00:37:02]. Since then reports of such senseless killings began snowballing in a reign of terror, which has hopscotched [inaudible 00:37:08]. Helping to keep track of the further reports by the placing of markers on a map seemed to indicate a general spreading of the extreme southeastern United States from north and west. Our newsmen who have been on the telephone talking with officials in other cities have determined that none of this kind of mass murder has yet been reported west of the Mississippi River, except in the extreme southeastern portion of Texas. Similar killings have been reported around the Houston and Galveston areas, but nothing like-

I found a gun and some bullets out there. Oh and these-

It was only late yesterday when it first became clear we were facing some kind of national emergency. When first reports began filtering in, newsmen and law enforcement agencies were of the opinion that-

This place is boarded up pretty solid now. We ought to be all right here for a while. We have a gun and bullets. Food and the radio.

… Suspect an obscure kind of conspiracy.

Sooner or later, someone’s bound to come and get us out.

… Creatures from outer space. So again, we join with law enforcement agencies urging you to seek shelter in a building. Lock the doors and windows securely.

Hey, that’s us. We’re doing all right-

Be cautious of any suspicious strangers, and keep tuned to your radio and television for survival instructions and further details of this continuing story.

Look, I don’t know if you’re hearing me but I’m going upstairs now. If anything should try to break in here, I can hear it from up there. I’ll be down to take care of it. Everything is all right for now. I’ll be back to reinforce the windows and doors later, but you’ll be all right for now, okay. Okay?

Civil defense officials in Cumberland have told newsmen that murder victims show evidence of having been partially devoured by their murderers. Consistent reports from witnesses to the affected people who acted as though they were in a kind of trance were killing and eating their victims prompted authorities to examine the bodies of some of the victims. Medical authorities in Cumberland have concluded that in all cases, the killers are eating the flesh of the people they murdered. Repeating, this latest bulletin just received moments ago from Cumberland Maryland, civil defense authorities have told newsmen that murder victims show evidence of having been partially devoured by their murderers. Medical examination of victims’ bodies shows conclusively that the killers are eating the flesh of the people they kill.

(40:22)
And so this incredible story becomes more ghastly with each report. It’s difficult to imagine such a thing actually happening. But these other reports we have been receiving and passing on to you, reports which have been verified as completely as is possible in this confused situation, it is happening. And it would appear that no one is safe from this wave of massacring.

Calm down, calm down.

(40:41)
Hold it. We’re from town.

A radio.

… Pennsylvania, the Butler County Sheriff has verified that reports of murder by their slayers is true. No further details available at this time.

How long have you guys been down there? I could have used some help up here.

That’s the cellar. It’s the safest place.

You mean you didn’t hear the racket it was making up here?

How are we supposed to know what was going on? Could have been those things for all we knew.

That girl was screaming. Surely you must know what a girl screaming sounds like. Those things don’t make any noise. Anybody would know somebody’s been in need of help.

Look, it’s kind of hard to hear what’s going on from down there.

We thought we could hear screams, but for all we knew that could have meant those things were in the house after her.

And you wouldn’t come up and help?

Well, if there were more.

The racket sounded like the place was being ripped apart. How were we supposed to know what was going on?

Now wait a minute. You just got finished saying you couldn’t hear from down there. Now you say it sounded like the place was being ripped apart. It would be nice if you get your story straight, man.

All right. Now you tell me. I’m not going to take that kind of a chance when we got a safe place. We luck into a safe place and you’re telling us we got to risk our lives just because somebody might need help, huh?

Yeah, something like that.

All right, why don’t we settle this-

Look, Mr. We came up. Okay, we’re here. Now I suggest we all go back downstairs before any of those things find out we’re in here.

They can’t get in here.

You got the whole place boarded up?

Yeah, most of it. Other than a few spots upstairs. They won’t be hard to fix.

You are insane. The cellar is the safest place.

I’m telling you they can’t get in here.

And I’m telling you, those things turned over our car. We were damn lucky to get away at all. Now you tell me those things can’t get through this lousy pile of wood.

His wife and kid’s downstairs. The kid’s hurt.

Well, I still think we’re better off up here.

We could strengthen everything up, Mr. Cooper.

With all of us working we could fix this place up in no time. We have everything we need up here.

We can take all that stuff downstairs with us. Man, you’re really crazy, you know that? You’ve got a million windows up here. All these windows, you’re going to make them strong enough to keep these things out, huh?

I told you those things don’t have any strength. I smashed three of them and pushed another one out the door.

Did you hear me when I told you they turned over our car?

Oh, hell. Any good five men can do that.

That’s my point. Only there’s not going to be five or even 10. There’s going to be 20, 30, maybe 100 of those things. And as soon as they know we’re here, this place is going to be crawling with them.

Well, if there’s that many, they’ll probably get us wherever we are.

Look, the cellar. The cellar, there’s only one door, right? Just one door, that’s all we have to protect. Tom and I fix it so it locks and boards from the inside. But up here, all these windows, why we’d never know where they were going to hit us next.

You got a point, Mr. Cooper. But down in the cellar, there’s no place to run to. I mean, if they did get in, there’d be no back exit. We’d be done for. We can get out of here if we have to. And we got windows to see what’s going on outside. But down there with no windows, if a rescue party did come, we wouldn’t even know it.

But the cellar is the strongest place.

The cellar is a death trap.

I don’t know, Mr. Cooper. I think he’s right. You know how many’s out there?

I don’t know. Thinking maybe six or seven.

Look, you two can do whatever you like. I am going back down to the cellar and you better decide because I’m going to board up that door and I’m not going to unlock it again no matter what happens.

Now, wait a minute. Mr. Cooper.

No, I’m not going to wait. I’ve made my decision. Now you make yours.

Now wait a minute. Let’s think about this. We can make it to the cellar if we have to. And if we do decide to stay down there, we’ll need some things from up here. So let’s at least consider this a while.

You box yourself into the cellar and those things get in the house, you’ve had it. At least up here you have a fighting chance.

Yeah, it looks like about eight or 10 out there now.

That’s more than there were. There are a lot out back too.

(44:49)
We got to fix these boards.

You’re crazy. Those things are going to be at every window and door in this place. We’ve got to get down into the cellar.

Go down in your damn cellar. Get out of here.

I’m taking the girl with me.

You leave her here. Keep your hands off her and everything else that’s up here too. Because if I stay up here, I’m fighting for everything up here and the radio and the food is part of what I’m fighting for. Now if you’re going down to the cellar, get.

The man’s insane. He’s insane. We’ve got to have food down there. We’ve got a right.

This your house?

We’ve got a right.

You going down there with him?

Well…

Yes or no? This is your last chance. No beating around the bush.

Listen, I got a kid down there. She can’t… I couldn’t bring her up here. She can’t possibly take all the racket and those things smashing through the windows.

Well, you’re her father. If you’re stupid enough to go die in that trap, that’s your business. However, I am not stupid enough to follow you. It is tough for the kid that her old man is so stupid. Now get the hell down in the cellar. You can be the boss down there. I’m boss up here.

You bastards. You know I won’t open this door again. I mean it.

Mr. Cooper, with your help we can-

With my help?

Let him go, man. His mind is made up. Just let him go.

Wait a minute. Junie. Come on up here, honey.

You’re going to let them get her too, huh?

It’s all right, honey. Go ahead.

(48:20)
If we stick together, man, we can fix it up real good. There’s lots of places we can run to up here. Mr. Cooper, we’d all be a lot better off if all three of us were working together.

Hey. Hey, kid.

(48:46)
He’s wrong, you know? I’m not boxing myself in down there.

Let me repeat, this radio station will remain on the air day and night.

Well, we’re safe now. It’s boarded up tight.

What about Tom and Judy?

They want to stay up there? Let them. There are two other people upstairs, a man and a girl.

We heard the screaming.

Yeah, but I didn’t know who they were and I wasn’t about to take any unnecessary chances.

Of course not, Harry.

Is she all right?

I don’t know what it is. She feels warm. Maybe it’s shock.

Where’d you get the bandage?

Some laundry in a basket. I tore a sheet.

Let them stay upstairs. Let them. Too many ways those monsters can get in up there. We’ll see who’s right. We’ll see when they come begging me to let them in down here.

That’s important, isn’t it?

What?

To be right, everybody else to be wrong.

What do you mean by that?

Does anyone up there know why we’re being attacked?

Whatever it is, it isn’t just happening here. It’s some kind of mass murder. It’s going on everywhere. The radio said to stay inside.

Radio?

Radio upstairs. I heard a news bulletin.

There’s a radio upstairs and you boarded us in down here?

I know what I’m doing.

What did it say?

Nothing. Nothing. They don’t know anything yet. There’s mass murder everywhere and people are supposed to look for a safe place to hide.

Take the boards off that door.

We are staying down here, Helen.

Harry, that radio is at least some kind of communication. If the authorities know what’s happening, well, they’ll send people for us or they’ll tell us what to do. How are we going to know what’s going on if we lock ourselves in this dungeon?

(51:15)
We may not enjoy living together, but dying together isn’t going to solve anything. Those people aren’t our enemies.

Mr. Cooper! Mr. Cooper, Ben found a television set upstairs.

Let’s go up. Tom?

Yeah.

If Judy would come downstairs for a few minutes, Harry and I could come upstairs.

Okay. Yeah, right away.

(51:48)
Will you do it?

Do I have to?

Look, honey, nothing’s going to get done with them down there and us up here. Do this for me.

Okay.

Okay, open up.

I’ll take good care of her, Helen.

She’s all I have.

Why don’t you go upstairs now?

Her brother was killed.

Hey, give me a hand with this thing.

I got to go help Ben with the television.

Don’t be afraid of me. I’m Helen Cooper, Harry’s wife.

This place is ridiculous. Look at this. There’s a million weak spots up here. Give me one of those.

Her brother was killed.

They talk about these windows. I can’t see a thing. There could be 15 million of those things out there. That’s how much good these windows are.

Why don’t you do something to help somebody?

Here. I have it. Drag a couple of those chairs together.

There’s a socket over here.

You better watch this and try to understand what’s going on. I don’t want anyone’s life on my hands.

Is there anything I can do?

I don’t want to hear any more from you, mister. If you stay up here, you take orders from me and that includes leaving a girl alone.

It’s on, it’s on!

There’s no sound. Play with the rabbit ears.

[inaudible 00:55:21] reports, incredible as they seem, are not the results of mass hysteria.

Mass hysteria. What do they think? We’re imagining all this?

Shut up!

… in all parts of the country. The wave of murder, which is sweeping the eastern third of the nation, is being committed by creatures who feast upon the flesh of their victims. First eyewitness accounts of this grisly development came from people who were understandably frightened and almost incoherent. Officials and newsmen at first discounted that there was eyewitness descriptions as being beyond belief. However, the reports persisted. The medical examinations of some of the victims bore out the fact that they had been partially devoured.

(56:05)
I think we have some late word just arriving, and I’m interrupt to bring this to you. This is the latest disclosure in a report from National Civil Defense Headquarters in Washington. It has been established that persons who have recently died have been returning to life and committing acts of murder. A widespread investigation of reports from funeral homes, morgues, and hospitals has concluded that the unburied dead are coming back to life and seeking human victims.

(56:37)
It’s hard for us here to believe what we’re reporting to you, but it does seem to be a fact. When this emergency first began, radio and television was advising people to stay inside, behind locked doors for safety. Well, that situation has now changed and we’re able to report a course of action for you. Civil defense machinery has been organized to provide rescue stations with food, shelter, medical treatment, and protection by armed national guardsmen. Stay tuned to the broadcasting stations in your local area for this list of rescue stations. This list will be repeated throughout our news coverage. Look for the name of the rescue station nearest you and make your way to that location as soon as possible.

So we have that truck. If we can get some gas, we can get out of here.

There’s a pump out by the shed.

I know. That’s why I pulled in here, but it’s locked.

… emergency meeting called this afternoon by the president. Since convening, this conference of the presidential cabinet, the FBI, the joint Chiefs of Staff, the CIA has not produced any public information. Why are space experts being consulted about an earthbound emergency? So far all the betting on the answer to that question centers on the recent Explorer satellite shot to Venus. That satellite, you’ll recall, started back to earth but never got here. That’s the space vehicle which orbited Venus and then was purposely destroyed by NASA when scientists discovered it was carrying a mysterious high-level radiation with it. Could that radiation be somehow responsible for the wholesale murders we’re now suffering. Newsman Don Quinn in Washington has posed those questions.

It’s obvious our best move is to try to get out of here.

How are you going to get over to that pump?

Look.

You’re coming from a meeting regarding the explosion of the Venus probe. Is that right?

(58:27)
Yes, yes. That was the subject of the meeting. Do you feel there is a connection between this and the phenomenon?

(58:32)
There’s a definite connection. A definite connection.

(58:35)
In other words, you feel that the radiation on the Venus probe is enough to cause these mutations?

(58:39)
There was a very high degree of radiation.

(58:40)
Well, just a minute. I’m not sure that that’s certain at all. I don’t think that has been irrefutably proved.

(58:45)
That’s the only logical explanation that we have at this time.

(58:47)
In other words, it is the military’s viewpoint that the radiation is not the cause of the mutation?

(58:52)
I can’t speak for the entire military at this time, gentlemen.

(58:55)
Seems to be.

(58:56)
I must disagree with these gentlemen presently until this is irrefutably proved.

(59:01)
Everything is being done that can be done.

(59:03)
We’ll have to hurry for our next meeting.

(59:06)
Professor, you feel that there is a definite connection between-

(59:09)
There’s a definite connection as far as Dr. Keller and myself.

(59:12)
Doctor, please. I thought we decided that is not proved yet.

(59:17)
When the satellite was exploded-

(59:19)
Not proved? There was an unusual amount of radiation, enough to cause mutation under certain circumstances.

(59:22)
[inaudible 00:59:23] could have happened.

(59:24)
[inaudible 00:59:25] have a bearing on it?

(59:26)
It does seem to have a bearing.

(59:28)
Will there be a reply [inaudible 00:59:31]. Later.

(59:31)
Yes.

(59:31)
There will be a reply later this afternoon.

(59:32)
There will be a report this afternoon.

(59:38)
Perhaps there will be a report later.

(59:41)
Will you close the window?

(59:42)
We are doing everything possible to solve this [inaudible 00:59:45].

We’ve heard all we need to know. We have to try to get out of here.

He said the rescue stations have doctors and medical supplies. If we could get Karen there, we could get help for her.

… world’s foremost authorities on space, science and technology.

Willard. I saw a sign that said Willard.

It’s only about 17 miles from here.

You know this area. You from around here?

Judy and I are both from around here. We were on our way up to the lake to go swimming. Judy had a radio and we heard the first reports about this, so we knew the old house was here and we came in and found the lady upstairs dead. Then these other people came. We went down into the basement and put a bar across the door and it is pretty strong.

How could we possibly get away from here? We’ve got a sick child, two women, one woman out of her head, three men and the place is surrounded with these things.

Dr. Grimes, your entire staff I know has been working very hard to find some solution to these things that are happening. Do you have any answers at this time?

(01:00:44)
Yes, we have some answers, but first let me stress the importance of seeking medical attention for anyone who’s been injured in any way. We don’t know yet what complications might result from such injuries.

How bad has your kid been hurt?

I see. That’s certainly good advice, doctor. Now how about the basic [inaudible 01:01:03]?

Look, you go down there and tell … is her name Judy? Yeah, you tell Judy to come up here and you stay with the kid. All right?

… action taken with regard to the Venus probe. In the cold room at the university, we had a cadaver, cadaver from which all four limbs had been amputated. Sometime early this morning, it opened its eyes and began to move its trunk. It was dead, but it opened its eyes and tried to move.

They want you upstairs. Did she ask for me?

She hasn’t said anything.

I don’t understand. Baby? It’s Mommy.

I hurt.

I’ll come back down as soon as I find out what they want.

Thank you, Judy.

The body should be disposed of at once, preferably by cremation.

(01:01:58)
Well, how long after death then does the body become reactivated?

(01:02:02)
It’s only a matter of minutes.

(01:02:04)
Minutes? Well, that doesn’t give people time to make any arrangements.

(01:02:06)
Oh, you’re right. It doesn’t give them time to make funeral arrangements. The bodies must be carried to the street and burned. They must be burned immediately. Soak them with gasoline and burn them. The bereaved will have to forego the dubious comforts that a funeral service will give. They’re just dead flesh and dangerous.

(01:02:27)
I see.

Judy, I need you to find some bedspreads or sheets to tear up into small strips. Okay? Is there a food cellar here?

Yes.

We need some bottles or jars to make Molotov cocktails and hold them off while we try to escape.

Hey, there’s a big can of kerosene down there.

I’ll see what I can find.

I’ll look for the bottles.

There’s a big key ring down there or maybe a key to the gas pump on it.

I’ll check.

We can the cocktails from a window upstairs. Meantime, a couple of us can go out and try to get the gas and come back for the rest of the people.

But that’ll leave a door open someplace.

Yeah, that’s right. It better be this door. It’s closer to the truck. Before we go out, we’ll put some supplies behind the cellar door. While we’re gone, the rest of you can hold up in there.

I found some fruit jars in the cellar and there’s a key on here that’s labeled for the gas pump out back.

I’m not really that used to the truck. I found it abandoned.

I can handle the truck. No sweat.

You’re it then. You and I’ll go. We’ll put whatever lumber we find behind the cellar door. You can go upstairs and toss the cocktails from a window. Tom, you and I will have to unboard this door. After you toss the cocktails, you’ll hustle back down here and lock this door. It’s no good to board that because we’ll have to get back in quickly. After we get the gas and get back into the house, then we’ll worry about getting everybody into the truck. Let’s move it.

… no place to flee or safety, except for the rescue stations which have been set up. Indications are that before this emergency is over, we will need many, many more such rescue stations.

You always have a smile for me. How can you smile like that all the time? How many do you have done? Come on, honey. We got to move.

Tom, are you sure about the phone?

The phone is dead out. All you get is a recorded message.

If I can only call the folks. They’re going to be so worried about us.

Everything will be all right. As soon as we get to Willard, we’ll call them. They might even be there.

I know.

(01:04:55)
Tom? Are you sure we’re doing the right thing, Tom?

What? About getting out of here?

Yeah.

Well, the television said that’s the right thing to do. We’ve got to get to a rescue station.

I don’t know.

Come on, honey. You’re starting to sound like Mr. Cooper now.

Why do you have to go out there?

Look, I know how to handle that truck and I can handle the pump. Ben doesn’t know anything about that stuff.

But we’re safe in here.

For how long, honey? We are safe now, but there’s going to be more and more of those things.

I know. I know all that.

Listen, remember when we had the big flood? Remember how difficult it was for us to convince you that it was right to leave? Remember? Remember we had to go to Willard then? This isn’t a passing thing, honey. It is not like just a wind passing through. We’ve got to do something and fast.

I just don’t want you to go out there. That’s all.

Hey, smiley. Where’s that big smile for me? Boy, you sure are no use at all, are you? We’ve got work to do, honey, and you …

We better get her downstairs.

We have to go downstairs now, Barbara.

She’s right. You have to go downstairs now, just for a little while until we get back. Then we can all leave.

Oh, I’d like to leave. Yes.

Good luck.

Yeah.

You ready upstairs?

Yeah!

Okay, toss them!

Go ahead! Go on!

I’m going with them.

Get back in the cellar.

No!

It’s too late!

Well, is she coming? Come on! Get in!

(01:09:21)
Come on!

This key won’t work.

Watch out. Watch the torch!

We’ve got to get away from the pump!

(01:10:37)
Hang on!

Tom, turn your tires and get out of the truck!

Let’s get out of here! Come on, come on.

My jacket’s caught.

I ought to drag you out there and feed you to those things.

Isn’t it three o’clock yet? There’s supposed to be another broadcast at three o’clock.

10 minutes.

Oh, only 10 more minutes? We don’t have very long to wait. We can leave or we better leave soon. It’s 10 minutes to 3:00.

Do you know anything about this area at all? I mean, is Willard the nearest town?

I don’t know. We were just trying to get to a motel before dark.

You say those things turned your car over. You think we can get it back on his wheels and drive it? Where is it?

Seems like it was pretty far away. Seems like we ran.

Forget it. It’s at least a mile.

Johnny has the keys.

You’re going to carry that child a mile through that army of things out there?

I can carry the kid. What’s wrong with her? How’d she get hurt?

One of those things grabbed her.

Bit her on the arm.

What’s wrong?

Who knows what kind of disease those things carry. Is she conscious?

Barely.

She can’t walk. She’s too weak.

You have a car? Where? Where is it?

You won’t be able to start it.

Yeah, yeah, I know, but where is it?

Good Lord.

Being monitored closely by scientists at all the radiation detection stations. At this hour, they report the level of the mysterious radiation continues to increase steadily. So long as this situation remains, government spokesmen warn that dead bodies will continue to be transformed into the flesh-eating ghouls. All persons who die during this crisis from whatever cause will come back to life to seek human victims unless their bodies are first disposed of by cremation.

(01:17:58)
Our news cameras have just returned from covering such a search and operation against the ghouls. This one conducted by Sheriff Conon McClellan in Butler County, Pennsylvania. So, now let’s go to that film report. All law-important agencies and the military have been organized to search out and destroy the marauding ghouls. The Survival Clan Center at the Pentagon has disclosed that a ghoul can be killed by a shot in the head or a heavy blow to the skull. Officials are quoted as explaining that since the brain of a ghoul has been activated by the radiation, the plan is kill the brain and you kill the ghoul.

Anything from the supply ragging, Gus?

No. We’re all right.

Hey, Cass. Put that thing all the way in the fire. We don’t want it getting up again.

All right [inaudible 01:18:48].

Chief? Chief McClellan. How’s everything going?

Oh, things aren’t going too bad. Men are taking it pretty good. You want to get on the other side of the road over there?

Chief, do you think we’ll be able to defeat these things?

Well, we killed 19 of them today right in this area. Those last three we caught trying to claw their way into an abandoned shed. They must’ve thought somebody was in there. There wasn’t though. We heard them making all kinds of noise. We came over and beat off blasted him down.

[inaudible 01:19:13] you’re first, can I see you here?

Yeah. Okay.

Chief, if I were surrounded by six or eight of these things, would I stand a chance with them?

Well, there’s no problem. If you had a gun, shoot them in the head. That’s a sure way to kill them. If you don’t, get yourself a club or a torch, beat them or burn them. They go up pretty easy.

Well, Chief McClellan, how long do you think it will take you until you get the situation under control?

Well, that’s pretty hard to say. We don’t know how many of them there are. We know when we find them, we can kill them.

Are they slow moving, chief?

Yeah, they’re dead. They’re all messed up.

Well, in time, would you say you ought to be able to wrap this up in 24 hours?

Well, we don’t really know. We know we’ll be into it most of the night, probably into the early morning. We’re working our way toward Willard and we’ll team up with a National Guard over there, and then we’ll be able to give a more definite view.

Thank you very much, Chief McClellan. This is Bill Cardill, WIIC, TV-Eleven News.

Thank you, Bill for that report. Official spokesmen declined to speculate just how long it may take to kill off all the flesh eaters so long as they had raised-

Is the fuse box in the cellar?

I don’t know. It isn’t the fuse. The power lines are down. Helen, I have to get that gun.

Haven’t you had enough?

But two people are dead already on the count of that guy. Take a look out that window [inaudible 01:20:48].

Get out here, man. Come on.

Go ahead. Go ahead. You want to stay up here now? Helen, get in the cellar. Get in the cellar now. Go.

Oh, baby. Oh, baby.

Hey Vince. You want to get about four or five minutes and a couple dogs. There’s a house over here behind those trees. We want to go check it out. You’re still here, Bill?

Yeah, chief, we’re going to stay with it until we meet up with the National Guard.

Where’d you get the coffee?

One of the volunteers. You’re doing all the work. You take it.

Thank you. We should be wrapped up here about three or four more hours. We’ll probably get into Willard then. I guess you can go over there and meet the National Guard. Nick, you and the rest of these men want to come with me?

They’ll go and check in the office and see what’s happening.

All right, Steve, tell them we’re going to stay with it and everything appears to be under control.

They need you down there by the barn. You guys, follow the wagon down. I only need a few men to check out the house. Somebody had a cookout here, Vince.

Yeah, it sure looks like it, cop.

[inaudible 01:31:57] Here’s a dead one. Get up here. Nick, Tony, Steve, you want to get out in that field and build me a bonfire? You, drag that out of here and throw it on the fire.

Nothing down here.

All right, go ahead down and give him a hand.

Let’s go check out the house. I hear something there. I heard a noise.

All right, Vince. Hit him in the head right between the eyes. Good shot. Okay, he’s dead. Let’s go get him. That’s another one for the fire.

(01:33:07)
[inaudible 01:33:21].

(01:33:07)
All right. Send the wagon through.

Keep those dogs back off of those things.

(01:35:06)
[inaudible 01:34:44] with the motorcycl,e please. Let’s go [inaudible 01:35:06]. Hey, Randy light these torches over here, back, way in the back.