Invasion U.S.A.

In a New York City bar, television news reporter Vince Potter asks several patrons if they are for or against a universal military draft for businesses and individuals. Wealthy cattle baron Ed Mulvory complains about excessive government restrictions and high taxes, while manufacturer George Sylvester calls the universal draft Communism. Sylvester adds that he refused the government's request to construct tanks rather than tractors, as it would interfere with his profit earnings. After former model Carla Sanford laments that war work ruined her hands, Illinois congressman Arthur V. Harroway tells Vince that the public is anti-Communist but reluctant to consider war. At the far end of the bar, Mr. Ohman listens to the various discussions and remarks ominously that America is in need of fresh leadership and has little inclination to look after itself. After Ohman departs, the patrons' attention turns to the television over the bar as a news alert announces that an unidentified air squadron is attacking Alaska. The live broadcast shows paratroopers dropping into an Alaskan harbor, before transmission is cut off. Meanwhile, at an unnamed military base, enemy officers stand before a map of the North American continent and discuss their invasion plans. Back at the bar, Vince rushes to his news station while the rest of the group speculate about the attack. Soon television reports confirm that an atomic bomb has been dropped on Alaska. As the group watches anxiously, the president makes a televised speech promising to retaliate against the enemy and firmly defend the Pacific coast. A little later Vince returns to the bar and informs the group that Washington state has been virtually overrun and that U.S. troops are struggling to contain the invasion. Hearing that the enemy is advancing down the Pacific coast, George decides to return to his home in San Francisco, and Ed leaves with him to return to Arizona. Carla and Vince, who are attracted to each other, remain in the bar following the reports. At the travel center, George and Ed discover tense crowds and learn that most flights have been booked solid. When Ed is unable to get a flight to Arizona, he takes George's flight to California. As their plane lands in San Francisco, enemy aircraft fly over the Golden Gate bridge. George and Ed take a cab to George's apartment, and while bombs rain down upon the city, Ed convinces the cab driver to drive him to Arizona. George returns to his factory and begins switching the works over to tank production. An undercover spy at George's factory, however, foments dissension among the workers, which allows an enemy attack to proceed smoothly. George refuses to assist the enemy and is shot. Back in New York City, Vince reports that the U.S. forces are taking a severe beating, despite England and France's pledge to come to their aid. Carla volunteers for the Red Cross and later Vince comes by to tell her that he has been rejected from each branch of the military service because there is not enough equipment for the number of men wanting to enlist. Meanwhile, Ed and the cab driver anxiously head across the desert. Ed grows alarmed upon hearing radio reports that air squadrons have been spotted over Boulder Dam. The dam is bombed and Ed and the cabbie race to pick up Ed's family, but as they speed away, the flood waters overtake them and all are drowned. In New York, Vince and Carla exit the bar, just as the first enemy planes are sighted over the city and the Empire State building is bombed. The bartender, Tim, dies but Vince and Carla escape serious injury. In Washington, D.C., as Harroway delivers a speech, enemy troops descend upon the Senate and kill the occupants. Back in New York, Carla waits anxiously at Vince's apartment, listening to his news broadcast, which is abruptly cut off as the enemy takes over the station and begins delivering Communist propaganda. Shortly afterward, Vince is brought to his apartment by armed enemy guard, who demand he broadcast for their new order. Vince refuses and is killed. Hysterical, Carla throws herself from the window. Back at the bar, George, Ed, Vince and Carla are startled to find themselves uninjured, but possessing the same recollections of the invasion. Tim tells them that Ohman is a hypnotist and fortune-teller and may have caused their joint hallucination. Ohman returns to pay for his drink and tells the group that they just experienced what will happen if they do not change. Each of the group leaves the bar, committed to working for war preparedness.