The Vast of Night

In 1950s Cayuga, New Mexico, teenage disc jockey Everett gears up for an important high school basketball game. His excitement is palpable as he shares his enthusiasm with his friend Fay, who is also part of the day’s events.

Everett and Fay decide to test a new tape recorder, sensing it could be useful for documenting their experiences. This moment foreshadows the important role the tape recorder will later play in uncovering the mysterious occurrences in their town.

After testing the tape recorder, Everett escorts Fay to her job as a switchboard operator. This reflects their friendship and the small-town routine, which will soon be disrupted by extraordinary events.

As Fay tunes into Everett's radio show, she is interrupted by a strange, ominous signal. Disturbed, she begins receiving calls from citizens who report a bizarre wind-like phenomenon in the sky, hinting at something otherworldly.

During Everett’s show, a caller named Billy shares his experiences at a secret military installation. His claims about a mysterious signal and an enormous object hidden underground set the tone for the emerging danger and curiosity.

Billy discusses military cover-ups and his lung condition, believed to be caused by his time at the secret facility. His warnings about the signals potentially being communications create a sense of urgency and mystery.

Billy reveals a shocking detail about the personnel involved in the project, stating they were predominantly black or Mexican to undermine their credibility. This revelation deepens the plot's intrigue and reflects on societal issues.

Fay learns that crucial recordings related to the mysterious signal are in the local library. Deciding to take action, she steals the tapes, demonstrating her resolve in the face of mounting uncertainty.

As Everett and Fay attempt to broadcast the recordings, the radio station suffers a power outage. This dramatic twist further escalates the tension and illustrates the fragility of their efforts to expose the truth.

In the switchboard office, Fay receives an influx of reports about unidentified objects in the sky. This surge in calls adds urgency to their investigation as more citizens express their concerns about the strange occurrences.

Everett and Fay visit Mabel, an elderly woman who cryptically speaks of the aliens and their intentions. Her assertions about the hypnotic abilities of the extraterrestrials cast a shadow over their investigation, heightening the mystery.

While playing Mabel's cryptic message, Everett accidentally causes a trance among his friends, leading to a near-fatal car accident. This incident heightens the atmosphere of fear and pressure surrounding their night filled with supernatural events.

In the woods, Everett, Fay, and Maddie come across charred branches and an ominous opening, signaling a crash site. This discovery forces Everett to confront the possibility that aliens may indeed be real, shifting their investigation into a shocking reality.

In an open clearing, the group witnesses a flying saucer near a massive mothership. The sight of the hovering craft transforms their fears into awe, marking a pivotal point in their journey as they realize they are part of something extraordinary.

As the basketball game concludes and the crowd disperses, Everett, Fay, and Maddie vanish without a trace. Their footprints and eerie tape recorder are the only remnants left behind, leaving the town unaware of the extraordinary events that have just unfolded.