Aliens in the Mind 77-01-23 (4 of 6) Official Intercessions

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Aliens in the Mind 77-01-23 (4 of 6): "Official Intercessions"

Date: March 6, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio

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Overview

This episode is part four of the classic radio thriller "Aliens in the Mind," starring Vincent Price and Peter Cushing. The drama centers on the aftermath of Flora Keary’s rescue from the isolated Isle of Luig, a place harboring a community of powerful telepathic mutants. Curtis Lark and John Cornelius have brought Flora to London to investigate her psychic abilities, only to be swept into a rapidly escalating web of intrigue, paranoia, and danger, where questions of national security and personal identity entwine.

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Key Discussion & Plot Points

1. Flora’s Traumatizing Hypnosis and Guilt

• Flora is hypnotized and forced to relive her traumatic past, laying bare the manipulation and abuse she and her mother suffered at the hands of others on Luig. Under hypnosis, she unwittingly reveals “controllers” among the mutants.
  • Notable Quote (01:39, Flora Keary):
    "She punished my mother. Punished her for begetting me in sin. She burned her. Burned her in hell fire... And mother was still screaming for help. Help. Help. Oh, help me, somebody, for God's sake."

2. Abduction and Confusion

• Amid the session, Flora is abruptly taken away by Ian Sanderson, an MP (member of parliament), revealing the involvement of high-profile individuals.
  • Notable Quote (03:17, John Cornelius):
    "He's an MP. The opposition spokesman on defence matters."
  • Notable Quote (03:21, Professor Lark):
    "Oh, my God."
  • Tension rises as Cornelius observes:
    "What was a subject for scientific research has suddenly become a question of national security." (03:22)

3. A Security Riddle: Meeting with Colonel Gulliver

• Lark and Cornelius navigate government bureaucracy to explain their findings to Home Office security man Colonel Gulliver.

  • Key exchange:
    • (06:27, Colonel Gulliver): "Well, it all sounds a bit like science fiction, I must say. Telepathy and mutants and all that. I mean it sounds more like. More like HG Wells."
    • (06:37, Professor Lark): “Wasn't it Wells who wrote in the country of the blind, the one eyed man is king?”

• The duo reveals Flora’s abilities and how she orchestrated her own abduction by planting thoughts in Sanderson’s mind, hinting how deeply mutants may have infiltrated British society.

4. Sanderson’s Shocking Claim

• A confrontation with Sanderson leads to the bombshell—he claims to be Flora’s father.

  • Notable Quote (12:29, Ian Sanderson):
    "Flora Keary is my daughter, Professor. My natural daughter."
  • Humorous aside (12:38, Lark and Cornelius banter about mackerel and Muscadet).

• Lark is skeptical, dubbing the claim "too pat, too glib" (13:14), but some details—verified only by the Reverend Schooler—appear to check out. The duo debates whether Flora might have implanted the idea in Sanderson’s mind.

5. Watching and Watching Over Flora

• The men agree to keep Flora under observation. They take her sightseeing to maintain appearances and perhaps flush out other controllers.
  • Witty exchange (16:13, Lark):
    "Oh, why not? It’s much more likely that you would want to see the sights than I would. After all, you are a foreigner."

6. Danger Strikes Again

• Flora becomes agitated while at Horse Guards Parade, saying someone is looking for her. Professor Lark splits off to observe if anyone is following; soon, a man named McBinnie, believed to be from Luig, is injured while pursuing Flora.
  • (17:13, Flora): “Someone’s looking for me.”

7. Psychic Manipulation and New Threats

• Colonel Gulliver refuses to believe in telepathic powers, but Flora admits she subconsciously willed McBinnie to “show himself,” leading to his injury.

  • (20:03, Colonel Gulliver): "Stop this silly charade. I don't believe a word of it. It's all some damn fool prank."

• Tensions with Gulliver escalate as he accuses them of lies and melodrama, even as events suggest something far stranger is at work.

8. Violence at Sanderson’s Home

• Arriving at Sanderson’s house, they find it beset by emergency vehicles. Sanderson’s butler, Gwent, has been shot.
  • (23:17, Professor Lark): "It's Gwent."
    Lark rushes to hustle Flora away from the scene, worried about the psychological impact.

9. Heightening Paranoia

• Sanderson is now guarded by police; Flora grows increasingly fearful, convinced people are coming to kill her.

  • (26:19, Flora): “They're going to kill me. They're going to kill me.”

• She barricades herself, and Cornelius and Lark urge her to use her powers to fend off the two men coming for her.

10. Tragedy and a Bleak Revelation

• Despite their efforts, Flora is killed (27:43).
  • Notable Moment (27:43, Professor Lark):
    "Flora’s dead."
  • Lark grimly warns Cornelius that this proves a powerful controller is still operating in London.

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Memorable Quotes and Moments

• On government skepticism about supernatural phenomena:
  (06:24, Colonel Gulliver): "And it's all done by telepathy?"
  (06:26, John Cornelius): "Almost certainly."
  (06:27, Colonel Gulliver): "Well, it all sounds a bit like science fiction, I must say."

• On the risk mutants and controllers pose:
  (07:48, John Cornelius): "Our mutant MP is one of the opposition spokesman on defense matters."
  (07:52, Colonel Gulliver): "Oh no."

• On Flora’s mental and emotional fragility:
  (13:21, Professor Lark): "She desperately needs affection, security, someone to lean on. She only had to think of him as her father and he would have accepted it as fact."

• The cost of meddling with psychic powers:
  (27:44, John Cornelius): "I can't believe it. Such a waste."
  (27:48, Professor Lark): "Yes, John, but now you have to believe that there… There is another controller right here in London."

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Structuring the Narrative – Main Timestamps

| Time | Key Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 01:35 | Flora’s hypnosis and emotional outburst | | 03:11 | Flora abducted by Ian Sanderson | | 04:06 | Lark & Cornelius arrive at Home Office | | 06:06 | First full explanation of mutant telepathy | | 12:29 | Sanderson claims to be Flora’s father | | 16:51 | Flora’s sightseeing and rising paranoia | | 18:28 | McBinnie incident (flushed by Flora’s will) | | 22:09 | Police/ambulance at Sanderson’s home: butler shot | | 26:19 | Flora's panicked stand against police | | 27:43 | Flora’s death |

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Tone & Style

• The tone is suspenseful, cerebral, and laced with dry wit—mainly through the banter between Cornelius and Lark. Concepts of paranoia, government secrecy, and the ethics of psychological experimentation are explored amidst a noirish, fantastical backdrop.
• The cast’s performances (notably Vincent Price’s arch professor and Peter Cushing’s cool-headed Cornelius) lend gravitas and melancholy, accentuating the tragic arc of Flora.

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Concluding Notes

"Official Intercessions" dramatically raises the stakes: psychic abilities, government secrets, and deepening paranoia converge with life-and-death consequences. Flora’s death is both a shock and a dark affirmation that the threat of mind control is not only real but perhaps now inescapably close at hand. The episode ends on a somber note, setting up further confrontations with unseen controllers and compelling listeners to question where the real danger lies—in the minds of the mutants, or perhaps in the institutions charged to contain them.

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Transcript

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[Narrator]

Aliens in the mind. Co starring vincent price and as curtis lark and peter cushing as john cornelius. Lark and Cornelius take Flora Kiri away from the remote isle of Luig with its frightening colony of mutants and and bring her to London, where they hope to investigate her mysterious powers as a controller. Under hypnosis, Flora unwittingly exposes more of the mutants nearer to home.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Flora, why did you let Molly Kyle die?

[Flora Keary]

Careful. Because she found out Kiri was not my father. So she. She punished my mother. Punished her for begetting me in sin. She burned her. Burned her in hell fire. She told her her legs were paralyzed. And my mother thought she couldn't walk. And she just lay there screaming and screaming for help. And the flames kept nearer and nearer. And then it was too late. That they were burned in hellfire. And mother was still screaming for help. Help. Help. Oh, help me, somebody, for God's sake.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

It's all right. It's a paroxysm. It's all right.

[Flora Keary]

I burned her.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Hold her down. Hold her down, for God's sake. Hold her down, child. Can't we stop her?

[Colonel Gulliver]

It's all right, Flora.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

It's all right. Here you are.

[John Cornelius]

What's that? What's going on? Hey.

[Flora Keary]

Here.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

What do you think you're doing? I say look out.

[Flora Keary]

I don't care.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Stop him. No, no, no. He's still coming. For God's sake, Curtis. Are you just going to let him pick up the girl and walk out with her? But there's no way of stabbing him.

[Flora Keary]

Where's he taking her?

[John Cornelius]

Didn't either of you recognize him?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Recognize him? Why should we?

[John Cornelius]

It's Ian Sanderson.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Who's he?

[John Cornelius]

He's an mp. The opposition spokesman on defence matters.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Oh, my God.

[John Cornelius]

But I just don't understand it. I think I do. What was a subject for scientific research has suddenly become a question of national security.

[Butler Gwent]

Part four.

[Narrator]

Four official intercessions.

[Security Officer]

Would you mind just filling that in, please, sir?

[John Cornelius]

Certainly.

[Security Officer]

You too, please, sir.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

What is it?

[Security Officer]

A security parcer.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

What Are they keeping here, John, the crown jewel?

[John Cornelius]

This is the Home Office, not the Tower of London.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Well, what do they keep here, I sometimes wonder. Yeah.

[John Cornelius]

Thank you.

[Security Officer]

Thank you, sir. Your appointments with Colonel Gulliver, is it, sir?

[John Cornelius]

That's right, yes.

[Security Officer]

He'd be in room. Yes, here we are. Room 517.

[John Cornelius]

517?

[Security Officer]

Yes. Follow that corridor down to the end and then take the lift to the fifth floor, sir. If you turn right when you get out, you'll find 517 almost facing you.

[John Cornelius]

Thank you very much. Come along, Curtis, my boy.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

I'm coming.

[Security Officer]

You can't miss it, sir. The rooms are clearly numbered.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

John. You know, what I don't understand is if this Gulliver is a Colonel, what's he doing in the Home Office, huh?

[John Cornelius]

Well, Harry Gulliver's ex army, actually. Something to do with security. Now, bit tight lipped on the surface, but he's not a bad sort when you get to know him. Anyway. You sometimes have generals in the White House, don't you?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Oh, yes, and we usually end up regretting it. What do they want, Gulliver?

[Colonel Gulliver]

I've no idea, sir.

[Narrator]

Not yet.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Oh, damn it, man.

[Colonel Gulliver]

I would have thought you'd have enough in your play without inviting coach loads

[Professor Curtis Lark]

of civilians to come poking their noses in the security cabinet. I suppose you know what you're doing. Excuse me. Oh, good day to you, sir. Good day to you, sir.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Ah, there you are, Cornelius. Sorry about that.

[John Cornelius]

Colonel, may I introduce Professor Curtis Lark, Colonel Gulliver.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Ah, pleased to meet you, Professor.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Hello, Colonel.

[John Cornelius]

Who.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Who was that that just went out?

[Colonel Gulliver]

Brigadier Sherman, my head of Department.

[John Cornelius]

Like the tank, you know.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Bit of a blimp really. Take a pew, won't you?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Oh, thank you.

[John Cornelius]

Thank you so much.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Well, now, what's all this about?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

You tell it, John.

[John Cornelius]

Me?

[Security Officer]

Yeah.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

You won't embroider it as much as I would?

[John Cornelius]

Oh, very well. It all started on the Isle of Luig.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Where the hell's that Luig?

[John Cornelius]

Oh, it's one of the Outer Hebrides. Professor Lark and I had gone up there to attend the funeral of a mutual friend.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Now let me get this straight, Cornelius. You're telling me that up on this Scottish island, whatever it's called, the Isle of Luig?

[Security Officer]

Yes, yes.

[Colonel Gulliver]

There are these people, these mutants, didn't you call them?

[John Cornelius]

That's right.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Who can be manipulated simply by having thoughts put into their heads by these

[Professor Curtis Lark]

controllers without the mutants being aware of it. That's the point, Colonel. They have no recollection of having been manipulated in this way.

[Colonel Gulliver]

And it's all done by telepathy?

[John Cornelius]

Almost certainly.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Well, it all sounds a bit like science fiction, I must say. Telepathy and mutants and all that. I mean it sounds more like. More like HG Wells Who?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Wasn't it Wells who wrote in the country of the blind, the one eyed man is king?

[John Cornelius]

Very clever.

[Colonel Gulliver]

You must admit it sounds rather unbelievable. Anyway, I really can't see why you should come to me with this fairy tale.

[John Cornelius]

We found one of these controllers, as we call them. A girl about 19 years old called Flora Keary. And we managed to get her to London for various tests. Now they might prove something or other.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Well, that sounds more promising.

[John Cornelius]

Indeed.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

But somebody walked off with her last night.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Walked off?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Yes. Stole. Kidnapped?

[John Cornelius]

Abducted is the word, Curtis.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Ah, thank you. Yes, someone abducted her, Colonel.

[Colonel Gulliver]

And have you informed the police of this abduction?

[John Cornelius]

That won't be necessary. We know who the man is and why he did it.

[Colonel Gulliver]

And why did he do it?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Because she told him to. She just put the thought in his head.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Ah, you mean this fellow was one of these mutants?

[John Cornelius]

Is one of them, Colonel. He is also a member of Parliament.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Is that meant to be some sort of joke, Cornelius?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Oh, you haven't heard the payoff line yet.

[Colonel Gulliver]

What does he mean Cornelius? Why can't a damn fellow speak English?

[John Cornelius]

My friends of an accurate. You ain't heard nothing yet.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Come to the point dammit.

[John Cornelius]

Our mutant MP is one of the opposition spokesman on defense matters.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Oh no.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Now do you see why we came to you with this fairy tale, Colonel? One way or another. I think we put that over rather well, John. You know, we'd make quite a good double act on the hall.

[John Cornelius]

Saints preserve us.

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[Security Officer]

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[John Cornelius]

Personally, I felt we were hamming like mad.

[Security Officer]

Don't we? Ho.

[John Cornelius]

Speak for yourself.

[Security Officer]

Shall we have your parties, gentlemen?

[John Cornelius]

Yes.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Okay. Here you go.

[Security Officer]

Thank you, gentlemen. Good day to you.

[John Cornelius]

Good day.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Oh, boy. Fresh air at last.

[John Cornelius]

Yes, it was a bit stuffy in there, so I think old Gulliver got the message in the end.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Yes, but will he do anything about it?

[John Cornelius]

I doubt it. He can't move openly against someone like Sanderson without definite proof.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

And we've no proof without Flora.

[John Cornelius]

No. That's the next step, isn't it?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Yes, but what can we do? We can't just walk up and ask for her back.

[John Cornelius]

What? What did you just say?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

I said we can't just walk up to Sanderson and ask him to give Flora back to us.

[John Cornelius]

But that's exactly what we can do. In fact, it's the only way.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

It is.

[John Cornelius]

My dear Curtis, you really do have the most unerring nose for these things.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Oh, I don't know. It's quite an ordinary nose, really. Chic, perhaps. Patrician, even.

[John Cornelius]

We can soon alter that.

[Butler Gwent]

Yes?

[John Cornelius]

John Cornelius. I telephoned earlier.

[Butler Gwent]

Oh, yes, Mr. Cornelius.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

And this must be Professor Curtis Luck.

[Butler Gwent]

Indeed. Do come in. Mr. Sanderson is expecting you.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Thank you.

[Butler Gwent]

If you would care to wait here for a moment, I'll inform Mr. Sanderson of your arrival.

[John Cornelius]

Thank you.

[Butler Gwent]

If you'd excuse me.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

A real old world English butler. Isn't he just adorable.

[John Cornelius]

Down, Curtis.

[Butler Gwent]

Down this way, if you please, Mr. Cornelius. Professor Lark, sir.

[Ian Sanderson]

Ah, thank you, Gwent. Do come in, won't you?

[John Cornelius]

This is Professor Lark, sir, and I. Mr. Cornelius.

[Ian Sanderson]

How do you do? Sit yourselves down, won't you?

[John Cornelius]

Thank you.

[Ian Sanderson]

Oh, I know you both by name, of course. And in your case, Mr. Corneille is by reputation. But I can't pretend to understand the. The reason for this visit.

[John Cornelius]

I'll come straight to the point, Mrs. Harnderson. We've just returned from the Isle of Luig. Luig?

[Ian Sanderson]

Good heavens. I was born there.

[John Cornelius]

So we understand.

[Ian Sanderson]

Such a beautiful place. Marvelous place to grow up in. It has many, many happy associations for me. You were saying about Luig?

[John Cornelius]

When we came back, we brought with us a young lady who showed all the classic symptoms of what could prove to be a brain tumor. We wanted to run a series of medical checks on her.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

She's been living in John's apartment just across the road. Until yesterday evening, when she disappeared. Yes.

[John Cornelius]

Her name is Flora Carey.

[Ian Sanderson]

Yes, I know. Strange, isn't it? So many years later, not knowing what she was or where she was or what she looked like. And then suddenly waking as for a dream and finding she had come from nowhere to hold your hand and ask to be taken home for tea. And you suddenly realized that all her life she will just stay a child and never do anything but hold your hand and ask to be taken home for tea?

[John Cornelius]

I'm sorry, I don't quite follow.

[Ian Sanderson]

Oh, you've brought me hope, Mr. Cornelis. A small hope, but something that I can hang on to, that I. I can at least begin to understand. And for that, I thank you both for myself and my daughter.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Your what?

[Ian Sanderson]

Flora Keery is my daughter, Professor. My natural daughter.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Holy mackerel.

[John Cornelius]

Never profane the mackerel, my dear Curtis. It is the most underrated fish, well spoke and washed down with a little Muscadet. It is to the more discerning palate, eminently preferable to the more esteemed and popular trout.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

John.

[John Cornelius]

Mm?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

It was I who suggested the mackerel.

[Narrator]

Did you?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

And the Muscadet.

[John Cornelius]

Really? Then I commend you, my dear Curtis. Your palate is obviously improving.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Could we get back to cases? Do they?

[John Cornelius]

Oh, by all means. You obviously doubt Sanderson's claim to be Flora's father.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Yes, frankly, I do, John. I honestly do. It's all too pat, too glib.

[John Cornelius]

Well, he seems to believe it, and I think that was genuine.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Yes, but who's to say that she didn't put the idea into his head? She desperately needs affection, security, someone to lean on. She only had to think of him as her father and he would have accepted it as fact.

[John Cornelius]

Agreed, but at least the dates matched. And I really don't think she could have put all that background detail into his head.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

You could be right. I can't see how she could have known all that stuff either.

[John Cornelius]

No, I'm sure all she knew was that her mother was murdered. For. What did she call it? Begetting her in sin?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Yes. Yes, it all comes back to the Reverend Donald Schooler, doesn't it? That man's got an awful lot to answer for.

[John Cornelius]

Since the Reverend Schooler is the only person able to verify Sanderson's story, we have no option but to accept it at face value, at least for the moment.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Well, does that mean we have to leave Flora and Sanderson's care?

[John Cornelius]

I really don't see what else we can do. She'll be well looked after and we have complete access to her. Besides.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Besides what?

[John Cornelius]

Well, what will we do with Laura when we've finished all our tests? Checks? Send her back to Louis into the

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Reverend Schoolhouse tender clutches? Over my dead body.

[John Cornelius]

Quite right. Sanderson's claim to be her father could suit us very well. Very well, indeed.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Could it, Gerard? Or could it be risking Flora's life?

[John Cornelius]

Curtis, melodrama does not become you. It sits badly on your accent.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Look, now, honestly, so seriously, there must be a controller behind Sanderson.

[John Cornelius]

It doesn't necessarily follow just because Sanderson is a mutant.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

No, but it's possible and you know it. I mean, otherwise you would never have suggested going to someone like Gulliver.

[John Cornelius]

All right, Curtis. Point taken.

[Ian Sanderson]

Good.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Then no fully fledged controller is going to take kindly to a butterfly mind like Flora's fouling up the works.

[John Cornelius]

No, no, I would think that might well be true. On the other hand, one could argue that if there is another controller, Flora's butterfly mind might be just the thing to flush him out into the open.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

You make her sound more like a sprat to catch a mackerel.

[John Cornelius]

How appropriate. Curtis, more wine.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Well, John, once we get back to the fl. But what's our next step going to be?

[John Cornelius]

To amuse Flora. Poor Sanderson seems most anxious for us to maintain our professional interest in the girl. Yeah, and we certainly want to keep her under observation.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Absolutely.

[John Cornelius]

So it might be a nice gesture if you were to invite Flora to do a little sightseeing.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Me? Why me?

[John Cornelius]

Oh, why not? It's much more likely that you would want to see the sights than I would. After all, you are a foreigner.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

If you xenophobia ill becomes you, John. Though it does sit well enough on that accent.

[John Cornelius]

I thought the changing of the guard might be appropriate.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Buckingham Palace? No.

[John Cornelius]

Horse Guards Parade. Then I thought we might perhaps pop in for morning coffee with Colonel Gulliver. His office is quite close by.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

And here I was thinking Machiavelli was dead.

[Flora Keary]

Oh, aren't the horses lovely?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

They're beautiful.

[Flora Keary]

Why aren't all the soldiers wearing red?

[John Cornelius]

Because they're from two different regiments. The ones in red are the lifeguards. The ones in blue are the Royal Horse Guards. Or is it the other way around, Curtis?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Why ask me? They're your. Your soldiers, Jo.

[Flora Keary]

Oh, no.

[John Cornelius]

What's the matter, Flora?

[Flora Keary]

Someone's looking for me.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Oh, come on, Flora, relax. Look at the soldiers. They're so pretty.

[John Cornelius]

I think striking would be more apt.

[Flora Keary]

I want to go home.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

But we've only just arrived.

[Flora Keary]

Someone's looking for me.

[John Cornelius]

Nonsense, Flora.

[Flora Keary]

I'm frightened. I want to go home.

[John Cornelius]

Oh, no. Come along, Flora. Don't be so silly. You're imagining things.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

That doesn't reassure me one whit. Please, John, why don't you take Flora, go see our friend Gulliver?

[John Cornelius]

And what do you propose doing?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Well, I'll hang around here and make sure that no one is following her.

[Butler Gwent]

Following?

[John Cornelius]

Oh, come on, Curtis, please.

[Flora Keary]

I must go home.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

You know, John, as well as I do that Flora has an unfortunate habit of being right about these things. Anyway, it might even be the first of your mackerel. Please do as I suggest. Please, John, take Flora to see Gulliver. If anyone is following her. There's no way he can cross street as wide as Whitehall without showing himself.

[John Cornelius]

And if he does?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Well, then I'll follow him, of course.

[John Cornelius]

Oh, very well. Come along then, Flora.

[Flora Keary]

Oh, thank you.

[John Cornelius]

There's no one following us yet.

[Flora Keary]

He's still looking for me.

[John Cornelius]

Well, I wish he'd show himself if he's going to.

[Flora Keary]

Oh, so do I. I wish he'd show himself. I wish he'd show himself. I'm frightened.

[John Cornelius]

There, Father. There's nothing to be frightened of. You're quite safe enough with me, I promise.

[Flora Keary]

Oh, there he is,

[Narrator]

Poor devil.

[John Cornelius]

Slight concussion, contusions on the face and arms. Nothing serious, Colonel.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Where is he now?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

In the hospital. Presumably they took him off in an ambulance.

[Colonel Gulliver]

And you think he was following you?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Following Flora, Colonel? I'm sure of it.

[Flora Keary]

He was looking for me. He was the one.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Well, he wasn't one of my men.

[John Cornelius]

His name was McBinnie.

[Colonel Gulliver]

How do you know that?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Well, we checked his identity before they put him in the ambulance.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Well, I don't have anyone of that name on my staff.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

The police on the Isle of Luig have a sergeant by that name.

[John Cornelius]

This wasn't the same man, though.

[Flora Keary]

No, but there's lots of McBinnies on

[Colonel Gulliver]

L. Ms. Carey, is there any reason, any reason at all why anyone from Luig should be looking for you to take me back?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Laura, listen to me. Did you want that man, McVinnie? Did you want him to cross the road?

[Flora Keary]

I wanted him to show himself. I didn't mean to hurt him. I wanted him to show himself.

[John Cornelius]

It's all right, Flora. Really it is.

[Flora Keary]

There, you see? Said you wanted him to show himself. So I concentrated and willed him too. I didn't know he'd get hurt.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Stop this silly charade. I don't believe a word of it. It's all some damn fool prank. I'm surprised that you, Cornelius, a man in your position. And you, young lady, I don't know what you hope to gain from all this nonsense.

[Flora Keary]

I want to go home.

[Colonel Gulliver]

I'm sure you do. But you're not going.

[Flora Keary]

Take me home.

[Colonel Gulliver]

You're not going anywhere till we've got to the bottom of this tissue of ludicrous lies.

[Flora Keary]

Take me home.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Sit down.

[John Cornelius]

Steady on, Colonel. There's no need to adopt that tone.

[Colonel Gulliver]

I shall adopt whatever damn tone I please.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Take me home and it will stop that sniveling. Oh, come on now, Flora. Be a good girl and keep quiet.

[Flora Keary]

Take me home. I want to go away from here.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Yes, I know, Flora. Just leave it to old Uncle Corney, eh? He's going to talk our way out of this, aren't you?

[John Cornelius]

Oh, my God.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Well, you've certainly got some explaining to do.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Thank you, dear. Sherman.

[Colonel Gulliver]

What can I do for you, sir? But, sir.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Forget it, Colonel. There's nothing you can do but watch. We can go home.

[Flora Keary]

We can go home. Please.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

We can go home. We can go home. We can go. Go home.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Where's he taking her?

[John Cornelius]

Home, by the sound of it. We'd better go after them.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

You go, John. You might be able to sweet talk her into switching off. And you, I'd better stay here. I've got some explaining to do.

[John Cornelius]

Do your best.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Okay.

[Colonel Gulliver]

Would you mind filling me in?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

What?

[Colonel Gulliver]

What exactly is going on around here?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Well, to put it simply. Simply? Flora's been sending out telepathic distress signals. And your gallant Brigadier answered them.

[Colonel Gulliver]

You mean.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

I do. And it couldn't happen to a nicer man.

[Colonel Gulliver]

The brigadier's the head of the department.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

In that case, Colonel, the department's got quite a headache. You should have seen poor Gulliver's face, John. It was a picture, an absolute picture.

[John Cornelius]

So was Sherman's. He was halfway down the corridor when I caught up with him. And he couldn't understand what he was doing there. He was terribly concerned about himself. Anyway, it's an ill wind.

[Flora Keary]

Is this our street?

[John Cornelius]

Yes. Your father's house is just down there

[Flora Keary]

on the left where the ambulances.

[John Cornelius]

Ambulance?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

She's right. There is an ambulance and the police.

[John Cornelius]

Stop here, driver.

[Security Officer]

Very good, sir.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Now, Flora, you stay with Uncle Cornelius, and I'll just go and see what's going on, huh?

[Butler Gwent]

All right, all right. Stand back there, please.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Come on.

[Butler Gwent]

Move along, if you would. There's nothing more to see.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

What happened, officer?

[Butler Gwent]

And that's what we're trying to find out, sir.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

But why the ambulance?

[Butler Gwent]

Because someone went and got themselves shot, didn't I?

[John Cornelius]

That piece.

[Butler Gwent]

Come along now. It's all over.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

But who, Officer? Who's been shot?

[Butler Gwent]

They're bringing him out now, sir. Let us know if he's a friend of yours, won't you? Now, come along. Now, stand back, if you please.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Let the man breathe a little oh, my God.

[Flora Keary]

It's.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

It's Gwent.

[Security Officer]

Gwent?

[John Cornelius]

Who's he?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Saunderson's butler.

[Security Officer]

What?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Well, now you understand why I was hustling you and Flora away from there. Yes, Well, I couldn't say much in front of her.

[John Cornelius]

No, no, of course.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

It could have set the whole Clockwork Orange ticking all over again.

[John Cornelius]

My word. Yes, it's a rum business.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

You can say that again. Well, cheers.

[John Cornelius]

Cheers.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Where's Flora now?

[John Cornelius]

Staring out of her bedroom window, waiting for her father. For Sanderson to come back.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

It shouldn't be long now. Apparently he went down to the police station to make a formal statement.

[John Cornelius]

Those things can drag on for hours. Wonder if Gulliver's heard the news.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Does the left hand ever knoweth what the right hand doeth?

[John Cornelius]

No, it doesn't. That's the British definition of security. I better go and phone him.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

You do just that.

[Commercial Announcer]

Well.

[John Cornelius]

Hello, Flora.

[Flora Keary]

Hello, Uncle Cornelius.

[John Cornelius]

Go on in. I'll be with you in a second. Just have to make a phone call.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Hello, Flora.

[Flora Keary]

Hello, Professor.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Your daddy not back yet?

[Flora Keary]

He came back to snow.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Oh, good. That'll make you happy.

[Flora Keary]

Yes. He came in a big car. There were two other men with him. Oh, yes, there were two.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Well, they were just policemen. Probably policemen Only to look after him. Your daddy's a very important man, you know.

[Flora Keary]

Oh, yes.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Anyway, let's go tell Mr. Cornelius the good news and then we'll take you home.

[John Cornelius]

I'd be most grateful if you would tell him that. Bye. Well? He wasn't there.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Well, Sanderson's just got back.

[John Cornelius]

Oh, Dan.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

I thought I'd just walk her across.

[John Cornelius]

Right. Her. John Cornelius, Ian Sanderson speaking.

[Ian Sanderson]

Is Flora with you?

[John Cornelius]

Oh, yes, she is. Hold on, Curtis. She was just about to leave.

[Ian Sanderson]

Well, I'd rather she didn't. Not just at the moment. The place is in a bit of a shambles.

[John Cornelius]

Yes, I imagine it would be.

[Ian Sanderson]

I don't want her to see it like this. It. It might upset her.

[John Cornelius]

I can understand that. Don't concern yourself about her. Perhaps you'll let us know when you'd like her to come back.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Yes.

[Ian Sanderson]

Yes, I will. Thank you.

[John Cornelius]

Not at all.

[Ian Sanderson]

By the way.

[John Cornelius]

Yes?

[Ian Sanderson]

There are two men on their way over to you now. Policemen.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Oh.

[Ian Sanderson]

They want to talk to Flora about the business here this afternoon. Someone broke into my flat, you know. Damn near killed my butler.

[John Cornelius]

Yes, so I heard. But Flora knows nothing about it. She was. She was with us all the afternoon.

[Ian Sanderson]

Yes, I told them that, but they insist. They seem to think Flora was the intended victim. Not Gwent. Cornelius.

[John Cornelius]

They could very well be right, Mr. Sanderson. They could very well be right.

[Ian Sanderson]

I'll ring you later. Goodbye.

[John Cornelius]

Goodbye. That's odd.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

What is it?

[John Cornelius]

John Sanderson said there's a couple of policemen on their way over to talk to Flora.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

So it must be them already.

[John Cornelius]

Well, I suppose I'd better let them in.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

No.

[John Cornelius]

What?

[Flora Keary]

No, don't let them in.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

But they're only policemen, Flora. Don't be silly.

[Flora Keary]

No, don't let them in. Don't let them in. Keep them out. Keep them out.

[John Cornelius]

She's putting the chain on the poor.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Flora.

[Flora Keary]

They're going to kill me. They're going to kill me.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Charms. She means it. Quick, phone Gulliver.

[John Cornelius]

I did. He's not there.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Well, we mustn't let those men in.

[Flora Keary]

They're going to kill me. They're going to kill me.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Calm down, Flora. Calm down and concentrate.

[Flora Keary]

They're going to kill me.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Now listen. Listen to me, Flora. They can't kill you if you want them to go away. Now will them to go away. I can make them go away, Flora. Oh, come on. You can do it if you want to.

[Flora Keary]

I can. I can. I won't go.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Oh, try. Try.

[Flora Keary]

I am trying.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Come on, Flora.

[Flora Keary]

It's not working, man. It's not working. They're going to kill me.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Get down, sonny, get down. Keep down. Flora. Don't move. Flora. Flora, are you all right? Flora.

[Security Officer]

What?

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Flora's dead.

[John Cornelius]

I can't believe it. Such a waste.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

Yes, John, but now you have to believe that there. There is another controller right here in London.

[Narrator]

That was part four of Aliens in the Mind. Co starring Vincent Price as Curtis Lark and Peter Cushing as John Cornelius. With Sandra Clarke as Flora Keary, Fraser Carr, Ian Sanderson, William Eadle Gulliver, Clifford Norgate, Brigadier Sherman and Michael Harbour as Gwent. Aliens in the Mind was written by Rennie Basilico from an idea by Robert Holmes. Production by John Dyess.

[Professor Curtis Lark]

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