UFO

Out-of-this-world action and suspense in orbit as Earth's defence organisation comes under threat from aliens. At Moonbase Control, the defence team wages a spectacular battle with alien invaders, explores mysteries of the universe, discovers computer love affairs and encounters dying extra-terrestrials who need human organs for survival. One of the best of its genre, UFO combines the remarkable talents of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson with those of special effects director Derek Meddings. With a stellar cast including Ed Bishop, Michael Billington and George Sewell. Episode 23, "The Sound of Silence": Drama speeds down from outer space to engulf a country family and an intruder on their land ... In the air, Sky One is swooping low in search of a UFO which is reported to have landed. Down below, Russel Stone (Michael Jayston) and his sister Anne (Susan Jameson) are riding their horses across the family farm. Russ is a famous Internationale Showjumping Champion, thoroughly at home in the saddle and unworried by the sound of the plane. he is far more concerned when he sees a column of smoke rising near some trees, guessing that an intruder he has warned before is responsible. His suspicions are correct. He finds a drop-out named Culley (Nigel Gregory). Russ loses his temper and warns him that there will be real trouble if he trespasses again. Meanwhile, back at SHADO Control, Foster (Michael Billington) orders mobiles to the spot but reports to Straker (Ed Bishop) that the search from the air has revealed nothing. Russ and Anne Stone are, of course, completely unaware that anything unusual is taking place, though Anne us puzzled by the way her horse keeps breaking intro nervous sweats. Russ is equally surprised the following morning when his horse refuses to take a fence. In attempting to force him to do so, Russ is thrown - but the only sign of him is his riding crop and hat. When their father (Richard Vernon) joins in the search, he is startled to come across the mutilated body of the mongrel which belonged to Culley. Has Russ had another encounter with Culley and come to blows? The implications are even more ominous when Culley's dead body is found. The SHADO search for the missing UFO now includes a search for the missing Russ. Foster, who is in charge of the search, orders depth-charges to be fired into a lake in which he believes the UFO may have fallen. The UFO breaks the surface. The SHADO mobiles fire, and the UFO fires back, finally falling back into the water, sinking quickly and exploding. Then a cigar-shaped cylinder comes to the surface. Taken back to SHADO H.Q., the cylinder undergoes tests which are fraught with tension. Will it explode before its secret ca be revealed? And what, or whom does it contain?