An Alien Voices Production for Simon and Schuster Audio
Based on the novel by: H. G. Wells
Script by Nat Segaloff Dir.: Jack Fletcher
Alien Voices Cast (alphabetically)
Susan Bay,
John de Lancie,
Richard Doyle,
Robert Ellenstein,
Jerry Hardin, MarnieMosiman,
Kate Mulgrew, Leonard Nimoy,
Ethan Phillips,
Dwight Schultz
and Nana Visitor
Dir.: John de Lancie
Writers: Nat Segaloff and John de Lancie
One of Science Fictions seminal works is: The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells. Its premise is intriguing. What would it be like to be hidden from view? What would it be like to be invisible? At first there would be the advantage of watching others without being noticed. But what would you do when the novelty wore off and the invisibility didn’t?
Would you become a prisoner of your own freedom? Or perhaps a madman enslaving others? The novel was written in 1897 when the world believed that science could cure all ills. But as we will learn from the story from the story of The Invisible Man the achievements of the human mind are worthless without a human soul to guide them.
Come with us now as Alien Voices explores the tragic life of a young scientist who seemed to be on the threshold of a brilliant future when something quite unexpected happened.
An excited crowd asks the inspector to answer their questions. Things are missing, damages were done and unexplained things happened.
The inspector begins to summarize while looking back. Herbert Griffin (John de Lancie) was a promising medical student. Professor Kemp said he’s brilliant. The flower he gives to his friend, Rebecca, is nearly transparent as she noticed. He tells her about a breakthrough which happened last night...
Dr. Kemp (Leonard Nimoy) had come to discuss his research inviting him to being his assistant. When Dr. Kemp had left he noticed something which went wrong in his laboratory. Microbes were boiling which were supposed to be gently heated. When he poured them onto another subject it disappeared.
Now he shows Rebecca that the rose did so, too. The moment she realizes that Griffin has created a substance which makes things invisible, Dr. Kemp approaches repeating his offer. When he left Rebecca shares her concern about the reliability of Dr. Kemp.
Coming home he finds Dr. Kemp in his laboratory copying his notes. While Dr. Kemp demands that this is his right as his future employer to know what he is doing, Griffin now is sure: The professor uses the findings of his students to sell them as his own and puts forward his charges officially, but is not believed and dismissed without graduation.
Rebecca and Harding go to see him at his laboratory it is locked. They hear Griffin through the door and know he is desperate: Kemp has not only stolen his notes but also put him into disgrace. They make sure he knows about their loyalty. And again professor Kemp comes along. He forces himself into the laboratory – they find no one to be inside. Secretly Griffin whispers to Rebecca: "I am here beside you." He is invisible.
Half a year later a stranger a stranger enters an inn. He is thoroughly wet but refuses to take off his wet clothes. As Mrs. Hall, the landlady, enters the room unexpectedly she finds him bandaged all over his head.
Teddy Hall, the landlord, let himself in and sees the visitor who is sleeping in a chair. His mouth seems to be of enormous size which is quickly covered when the visitor woke up. He accepts two months pay in advance from the visitor and sees that he is desperate. About an accident the visitor had talked, but not described which kind of accident had happened. A day later his luggage arrives. The stranger works around the clock demanding solitude for several months.
Distressed the stranger asks Mr. Hall why she did not bring him food for some time. She demands money, claims he did not pay for a long time and demands an answer for his strange behavior. For an answer the distressed man takes off his clothes. Everybody in the inn was prepared for disfigurement, scars…. but not for nothing.
When the policeman tries to arrest him, Griffin goes on taking off anything he wore – and is not found again. As Griffin returns he finds people going through his belongings. Getting his papers he escapes leaving a trail of destruction when they try to follow him.
Griffin now steals money with the help of a man from the street, Franky Marvel. Trying to get away from Griffin he takes his precious notes and runs away followed by Griffin. Asking for help Marvel finds the sheriff of a village. When he is attacked by Griffin someone shoots in the air. Soon afterwards blood is found on the floor, the trail leading out the back door.
Soon later, at Dr. Kemp’s house, the doorbell rings. When Dr. Kemp opens nobody is seen. Dr. Kemp finishes his work, pours himself a nightcap and goes upstairs. There he finds the doorknob smeared with fresh blood and himself in the grip of Griffin. Pushed down into his laboratory Kemp is forced to show Griffin his notes. He had hardly done any progress. But Griffin needs Kemp to make him visible again and explains how he arrived at his achievements and that Marvel now got his journals.
He has to tell Kemp everything because he needs his help. In detail Griffin describes how the first feeling when being invisible had been after the pain of the chemicals had vanished. "Have you ever tried negotiating stairs when you can’t see your feet?" Griffin is vulnerable to the weather because he could not wear anything. Then wigs and spectacles were needed. The disadvantages became obvious. Snow disposes the shape, no way to carry money, no way to interact with the world...
"I must get back to visibility," Griffin declares and shares the trail of destruction he already left. As well as he shares his future plans: To have power over other people. They suddenly hear a knocking at the door. Knowing that Griffin is behind him threatening to kill with a candleholder if he makes a mistake Kemp opens and is asked why bare footprints lead to his home. When the inspector asks about his recent research about invisibility Kemp shouts out that he is here and a struggle begins. As the other policemen approach Griffin escapes. All trains out of the area are cancelled and the area is searched.
Hunted the Invisible Man attacks the most peaceful people. Every house was locked and he was forced to stay in the cold and without access to food.
Rebecca learns through the paper that Griffin has killed. "Oh, you poor tormented soul" she says as she hears his voice. "I have become invisible even to myself," Griffin says referring to his personality. They still love each other, but Griffin leaves for Kemp.
With the inspector as a witness he makes Kemp confess that he stole his notes. Policemen arrive and shoot at the spot where they see a gun is being held in the air. In that moment Rebecca hurries in. The wounded Griffin reappears. Dying he confesses his love to Rebecca while all his wounds slowly become visible, too.
His journals were found and someone knew how to make use of them by trying the mixture for himself...
