The Space Children

Seven children playing on the seaside trailer park beach witness a beam of light that descends from the sky. A small glowing object floats down amid the beam and vanishes among the rocks. Bud Brewster hears a mysterious voice that only he can hear.

That evening, after a community cookout, the kids return to the beach and encounter a small alien life form resting. The alien telepathically assigns them a secret mission and designates Bud as their leader.

Bud and his brother Ken tell their parents about the alien. Dave grows angry, accusing them of making up stories to excuse staying out late. When Dave grabs Bud, his arm becomes paralyzed, and the alien's protection shields the kids.

Tim is accosted by his drunken stepfather Joe as he tries to return home. The alien glows and knocks Joe backward, causing him to flee in fear. The incident confirms the alien’s protective role for the children.

Dave leads six of the kids back toward the alien's hideout while Tim, pursued by Joe, eventually reaches them at the lair. The alien silently conveys its instructions to Bud, confirming their secret mission.

Back at the trailer, the alien is carried inside by Dave. Bud tells his mother Anne that the creature must be kept safe until the following evening, though he does not reveal why. Anne worries for the family's safety.

The next morning, Tim returns to the trailers and discovers Joe's body; an ambulance arrives at the scene. The alien’s earlier actions have left the family shaken and uneasy.

The alien has doubled in size and its purpose is tied to the Thunderer rocket to be launched that night. Bud and Ken carry the alien to a cave along the beach to hide it.

Dave hurries to the base to warn authorities about the possible threat from the alien. When he meets Dr. Wahrman and Colonel Manley, his voice is paralyzed and he collapses before he can relay the message.

During the next hours, the children perform tasks around the base while the alien mentally guides sentries, gates, and other systems to keep the mission on course. The base personnel sense unexplained interference.

In the infirmary, Dave explains what he has learned to Wahrman, who realizes he is also unable to speak about it. They drive to the alien’s cave, where they find the creature has grown even larger.

The Thunderer rocket reaches launch, but an internal explosion destroys the nuclear warhead in the nose cone, making the rocket useless. The children have sabotaged the weapon and a planetary catastrophe is averted.

Wahrman orders soldiers to return to the cave and confront the children blocking the entrance. The alien glides out of the cave and ascends toward space on another beam of light.

Bud reveals that the children of various countries have sabotaged rockets to prevent global self-destruction. He explains that the aliens are concerned with humankind’s welfare and rely on loyal children worldwide to stop such catastrophes.

The alien intervention suggests a global network of children protecting the world from nuclear danger. Bud and the others carry the knowledge that their actions helped prevent a terrible mistake.