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Fess Parker as Alan Crotty

A former college athlete at the University of Texas, Fess studied drama in the early fifties and debuted in Springfield Rifle (1952). He made only a handful of movies until he was signed by Walt Disney to star in the "Davy Crockett" series.

When Walt was looking for an actor to play the part of Davy, he screened the sci-fi movie Them! (1954) with James Arness. When he saw Fess in a scene, he chose him over Arness and Fess became an instant celebrity when "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier" debuted in 1955.

His appeal with children was enormous with the coon-skinned hat, the #1 hit song " "The Ballad Of Davey Crockett",The Davy Crokett Bubble Gum Cards and Comic Books. But the craze ended almost as fast as it started in 1956, and Fess was typecast.

Fess appeared in other Disney movies dealing with the early years of Davey and also in non-Crockett parts such as Old Yeller (1957). By 1959, unable to achieve the success that he had gained as Crockett, his career had leveled off.

He made guest appearances on a number of television shows, but his attempted return to television in the series "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1962) was not successful. Unable to procure the rights to play Crockett from Disney, Fess tried the frontiersman role once again with the TV series "Daniel Boone" (1964).

He played this role for six years and the fact that he had a beautiful red-headed wife in a color series did not hurt him at all. After "Daniel Boone" (1964), Fess retired from the screen and went into real estate, which was profitable. He was later forced to sue his "Daniel Boone" producers over the profits generated by the series.

Graham is on the phone with Major Kibbee.

PETERSON: Okay Kibbee, we'll meet you at the airport in twenty minutes. Okay, bye. . . . . Says he can have us in Brownsville in three hours, Doctor.

H. MEDFORD: Good.

PETERSON: Good luck Bob.

MERCY HOSPITAL PSYCHOPATHIC WARD, LATER: Graham and Patricia meet with Alan Crotty.

CROTTY: They ain't kidding me, nobody's kidding me. Not you, not nobody. This is no hospital, this is a loony bin, a nut house. You think I'm crazy? . . . Well, I don't care what you think, I'm not. I saw those things with my own two eyes. You think anybody could make up a story like that? A guy would have to be nuts to make . . . I mean. Look,

Crotty approaches Kibbee.

CROTTY: Look, you're a flyer, you didn't get that yard of medals on your chest sitting on the ground. You've seen guys blow their stacks, haven't you? You think I act and talk like a guy who has lost his marbles?

KIBBEE: No.

P. MEDFORD: Would you please tell us what you saw, Mr. Crotty.

CROTTY: I've already those head-shrinking doctors four dozen times. I'm sick of telling it. I tell it and I get laughed at or clucked over, or clucked over and laughed at. . . . . You promise not to laugh.

GRAHAM: Promise.

CROTTY: Okay . . . I was flying south from Corpus Christi heading here, Brownsville. And I turned into a gulf heading for the airport about forty miles out. All of sudden, I seen these . . . these flying saucers, three of them. One big one and two little ones. I had to do some fancy flying or they would have run right into to me.

I went into a dive and I lost them, and I sat down the first place I saw, so it was a street. I never been so rattled in my life. I cracked up a little, sure. I plowed into an old Ford and ended up on somebody's front porch. But who wouldn't lose their head a little after seeing something like that?

P. MEDFORD: They were flying saucers?

CROTTY: Well I don't know what else to call them. They were shaped like . . . well . . . like ants.

Patricia and Graham glance at each other.

CROTTY: I know that sounds crazy, but that's what they were shaped like. The big one was maybe fifteen feet long and had wings like a fly or something. And the other two seemed to be chasing the big one. And one here and two here they were zooming around like regular kamikaze's.

Like to scare me out of my pants! . . . . . Excuse me, ma'am. . . . Lady said that Ford was a brand new one, it was beat up to begin with. So what's all the beef? . . . . You don't believe me either, do you!

P. MEDFORD: On the contrary, we do.

CROTTY: You do? Good, listen I wouldn't . . . . .

P. MEDFORD (interrupts): Which way would say those . . flying saucers were going, the last time you saw them?

CROTTY: West, I'd say. Yea, due west. . . Hey, would you all get me out of here?

GRAHAM: We'll speak to the doctor about it.

CROTTY: I sure would appreciate it. Try and get my clothes too, they wouldn't give me nothing but these slippers. Wouldn't even give me a rope to hold up my pants with.

GRAHAM: We'll be seein' ya'.

CROTTY: Be right neighborly if could help. . . I sure be hoping.

GRAHAM: Sure.

Patricia and Graham leave Crotty's room, the ward psychiatrist stops them.

PSYCHIATRIST: Oh Mr. Graham.

GRAHAM: Yes.

PSYCHIATRIST: Tell me, how was your talk with Mr. Crotty?

GRAHAM: Well I think you're wise to keep him locked up, Doctor.

PSYCHIATRIST (puzzled): I've recommended his release. He's not demented. I'm convinced he's trying to pull a publicity stunt with this weird story.

GRAHAM: Well that's why your government would appreciate it if you would keep him here, so he doesn't get any publicity.

PSYCHIATRIST: The government?

GRAHAM: He's to have absolutely no visitors. And if any information is given out about him, Washington will hold you responsible, Doctor. I'm sorry I can't tell you why this is essential. We'll let you know as soon as possible. We'll send you a wire and tell you when he's "well".