The Second Seal

The Second Seal
Season 1, Episode 7
Air date	November 7, 1988
Written by	Patrick Barry
Directed by	Neill Fearnley
Episode Guide
Previous Eye for an Eye	Next Goliath Is My Name

"Contact with that crystal is affecting your behavior!"
"I'm in total control, Suzanne."

―Suzanne McCullough and Harrison Blackwood

"The Second Seal" is the seventh episode of the 1st season of the War of the Worlds TV series.

Plot

The aliens begin infiltrating a military base in hopes of possessing a list containing the location of 10,000 of their stored-away comrades.

Synopsis

While examining Dr. Forrester's papers in an underground vault, Harrison and Suzanne discover an alien crystal. Its narcotic effects hamper them in battle with alien-possessed soldiers searching for a list where 10,000 comatose aliens are stored. Ironhorse, alerted by Norton, fights through to Harrison and Suzanne as they evade alien demolition charges in the vaults. Ironhorse shoots an alien escaping around a corner, apparently with the list. Do the aliens have it?

Quotes

Newswoman: [possessed] General. Any statement on charges the army's secretly storing highly toxic materials here at Kirby Hall? General Masters: No statement, ma'am. Nice legs, though. Norton: Well, that's the scary part, Doc. Secrets become so secret that you can't even find them anymore. Harrison: Yeah? What are you gonna do about it? Norton: Nobody, and I mean nobody, can hide anything from Norton Drake. Harrison: Wow! After 35 years, this alien tissue sample is still alive? Suzanne: Not in a heart beating, conscious kind of way, but, yes, there is definitely some cell activity taking place here. Harrison: That's incredible. Suzanne: Incredibly frightening. General Masters: [possessed] We need your assistance, Advocate. Advocate #1: What is your status? General Masters: We have secured the archive facility. Access to the underground vaults is impossible because of a voice lock. Advocate #2: Their locking device must recognize our presence within. Advocate #3: You must get that list! General Masters: As you command, Advocate. (to Lieutenant Hamill, who is also possessed) Use the woman. Harrison: If they get their hands on that technology, it's going to be like the breaking of the second seal. It will be like the apocalypse unleashed. Suzanne: You don't have to be so melodramatic. Guard: [possessed] No admittance, sir. Top security. Ironhorse: No problem. I have a pass. [proceeds to bury his knife into the guard's gut] Ironhorse: Are you aliens? Harrison: Are you? Suzanne: Well, if you have to ask, nobody is. Ironhorse: You're probably right. Harrison: You really kicked some alien butt in here, didn't you? Ironhorse: What? Give me a break, Blackwood, please. Harrison: No, I'm serious. I think I'm serious. Harrison: Where are we now, Suzanne? Suzanne: Somewhere between scientific observation and... coming down. Ironhorse: Are you two sure you're not aliens? Harrison: That's a pretty interesting effect that crystal has on primal behavior patterns, isn't it? Suzanne: Interesting is hardly sufficient. I saw a part of myself I hardly knew existed. Harrison: I know what you mean. I felt like... Suzanne: Like Ironhorse? Harrison: You're right... a little. Suzanne: And I was... Harrison: Maybe just a little bit looser. Suzanne: Meaning I'm uptight? Harrison: Meaning... where are we now? Ironhorse: What the hell are you two talking about? I hate to interrupt this cozy conversation, but can someone please call me an ambulance? Suzanne: You're an ambulance. [catches herself] Sorry. Crystal. Harrison: It's empty. The list isn't here. Ironhorse: List? What the hell are you talking about, list? Harrison: Dumpsites, Colonel! Dumpsites containing the remains of 10,000 aliens! Suzanne: But if it's not in the tube, where is it? Who has it? Harrison: I don't know, Suzanne. Maybe it's still in the vaults. Maybe it's destroyed along with everything else. Maybe... God, we'd better pray that it is.

Cast

Episode Cast

• Jared Martin as Harrison Blackwood
• Lynda Mason Green as Suzanne McCullough
• Philip Akin as Norton Drake
• Richard Chaves as Lt. Col. Paul Ironhorse
• Lynne Griffin as Amanda Burke
• Greg Morris as General Masters
• Michael McKeever as Lt. Hamill
• James Kidnie as Captain Murphy
• Anne Farquhar as Newswoman
• Kirk Dunn as Hancock
• Miriam Newhouse as Ellen
• Roy Lewis as Cameraman
• Paul Eves as Alien MP/Courier
• Wally Bondarenko as Officer at the Bar
• Todd Schroeder as Guard
• Richard Comar as Advocate #1 (uncredited)
• Michael Rudder as Advocate #3 (uncredited)
• Ilse von Glatz as Advocate #2 (uncredited)

Episode Crew

• Directed by Neill Fearnley
• Written by Patrick Barry
• Produced by Jonathan Hackett, Greg Strangis and Sam Strangis
• Original Music by Billy Thorpe
• Cinematography by Robert Saad
• Film Editor - Tim Williams
• Production Designer - Gavin Mitchell
• Art Director - Rolf Harvey
• Set Decorators - Gareth Wilson and Greg Chown (uncredited)
• Costume Designer - Leonie Reid

Makeup Department

• Jenny Arbour - Hair Stylist
• Jane Meade - Makeup Artist
• Jacques Fortier - Special Makeup Effects Technician (uncredited)

Production Management

• E.A. Jemison-Ball - Post Production Supervisor
• Susan Murdoch - Production Manager
• Robert Wertheimer - Executive in Charge of Production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

• Megan Banning - Third Assistant Director
• Linda Fox - Third Assistant Director
• David Warry-Smith - First Assistant Director
• Terry Ingram - Second Assistant Director

Art Department

• Dan Bezaire - Property Master
• Ken Sinclair - Set Dresser
• Stuart Land - Sculpted Main Title Alien Hands (uncredited)
• Andriy Pereklita - Props: Second Unit (uncredited)

Sound Department

• David Appleby - Dubbing Mixer
• John J. Thomson - Sound Mixer
• Robin Short - Sound Editor
• Allan Scarth - Boom Operator (uncredited)

Special Effects

• Tony Hayman - Special Effects Editor
• Ted Ross - Special Effects Coordinator
• Bill Sturgeon - Prosthetics: Alien

Visual Effects

• Brian Howald - Matte Artist
• Steve "Spaz" Williams - Graphics Artist

Stunts

• Ted Hanlan - Action Coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department

• Ira Cohen - Gaffer
• Joel Guthro - Assistant Camera
• Jill MacLauchlan - First Assistant Camera
• Mark Manchester - Key Grip
• Christian John Murray - Grip (uncredited)

Casting Department

• Gabrielle Iviney - Extras Casting
• Brian Levy - Casting: Canada
• Caro Jones - Casting: Los Angeles

Costume and Wardrobe Department

• Isabel De Biasio - Wardrobe Mistress

Editorial Department

• Stewart Dowds - Assistant Editor
• Bernie Laramie - Post Production Consultant
• Mary Jane Patterson - Post Production Coordinator
• Dave Hussey - Colorist (uncredited)

Location Management

• David Coombs - Location Manager

Music Department

• Larry Brown - Composer: Additional Music
• Ernie Savage - Music Mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department

• Eddie Bowman - Transportation Coordinator

Additional Crew

• Jack Crain - Designer: Custom Edged Weapons
• Catherine Reynolds - Continuity Supervisor
• Janet Gayford - Production Secretary
• Tom Lazarus - Executive Script Consultant
• Heather McIntosh - Production Auditor
• Susan Perry - Assistant to Producers
• Nan Skiba - Production Coordinator
• Herbert Wright - Creative Consultant
• Karen Nadon - Production Accounting Clerk (uncredited)

References

External links

• The Second Seal at the Internet Movie Database
• Thesis: The Second Seal (War of the Worlds 1×06) at TrenchcoatSoft Interactive

Video

WAR OF THE WORLDS TV Series (1988-90) Advert for Ep 6 THE SECOND SEAL

War of the Worlds TV Series - Season 1

The Resurrection I The Walls of Jericho I Thy Kingdom Come I A Multitude of Idols I Eye for an Eye I The Second Seal I Goliath Is My Name I To Heal the Leper I The Good Samaritan I Epiphany I Among the Philistines I Choirs of Angels I Dust to Dust I He Feedeth Among the Lilies I The Prodigal Son I The Meek Shall Inherit I Unto Us a Child Is Born I The Last Supper I Vengeance Is Mine I My Soul to Keep I So Shall Ye Reap I The Raising of Lazarus I The Angel of Death