Conal Cochran: You don't really know much about Halloween. You thought no further than the strange custom of having your children wear masks and go out begging for candy. It was the start of the year in our old Celtic lands and we'd be waiting in our houses of wattles and clay. The barriers would be down, you see, between the real and the unreal, and the dead might be looking in to sit by our fires of turf. Halloween, the festival of Soun. The last great one took place three thousand years ago when the hills ran red with the blood of animals and children.
Dan Challis: Sacrifices.
Conal Cochran: The part of our world, our craft.
Dan Challis: Witchcraft.
Conal Cochran: To us it was a way of controlling our environment. It's not so different now. It's time again. In the end we don't decide these things, you know. The planets do. They're in alignment and it's time again. The world's going to change tonight, doctor. I'm glad you'll be able to watch it! And, happy Halloween.
Marge Guttman: Damn factory! Got their orders all screwed up, and now I have to stay in this dump again.
Ellie Grimbridge: Irish Halloween masks?
Daniel Challis: In California, you never know.
Ellie Grimbridge: I feel like a goldfish.
Daniel Challis: Company town.
Daniel Challis: I saw something that night... I don't know, your father came into the hospital. He - I thought he was crazy, out of his mind. He's hanging onto a Halloween mask, he wouldn't let it go... And what he said was, "They're gonna kill us all." And in a little while he was dead. And I don't know what the hell is going on.
Commercial Announcer: It's almost time, kids. The clock is ticking. Be in front of your TV sets for the Horrorthon, followed by the Big Giveaway. Don't miss it. And don't forget to wear your masks. The clock is ticking. It's almost time.
Walter Jones: I was always taught that when someone needs help, you help them. Unless there's trouble. There isn't going to be any trouble is there?
Daniel Challis: Teddy, do me another favor, will you? Find out everything you can about Conal Cochran. He runs Silver Shamrock, the Halloween mask people.
Teddy: Conal Cochran. Okay, but this is gonna cost you some serious dinners when you get back.
Daniel Challis: I'm always ready for dinner with you.
Teddy: Liar. Bye.
Walter Jones: He just walked up out of the rain! I swear to God that's all there was to it! I just brought him here.
Conal Cochran: It will be morning soon. Halloween morning. A very busy day for me.
Starker: Hey Cochran, fuck you.
Conal Cochran: It's time again. In the end, we don't decide these things you know, the planets do. They're in alignment and it's time again. The world's going to change tonight, Doctor. I'm glad you'll be able to watch it.
Daniel Challis: It's getting late. I could use a drink.
Conal Cochran: I do love a good joke and this is the best ever: a joke on the children.
Curfew Announcer: It's six o'clock. It's six o'clock... Curfew. Curfew... All residents of Santa Mira please clear the streets. Curfew is now in effect. Please confine your activites to your own home... Thank you... Have a plesant evening.
Harry Grimbridge: They're going to kill us. All of us! All of us.
Linda Challis: Children, we leave our food AT the table.
Daniel Challis: I'm sorry, it's bad timing.
Linda Challis: I'm used to it. Remember?
Commercial Announcer: It's time. It's time. Time for the big giveaway. Halloween has come. All you lucky kids with Silver Shamrock masks, gather 'round your TV set, put on your masks and watch. All witches, all skeletons, all Jack-O-Lanterns, gather 'round and watch. Watch the magic pumpkin. Watch.
Answer: He was trying to perform a human sacrifice. He mentioned to the doctor when he was tied up that three thousand years ago, there was a massive sacrifice where the world flowed with the blood of children and animals. Now the planets were aligned again and it was time for a new one in order for the people of his craft to control their environment.
Zorz