Returning from a field trip late one night, high school teacher Ralph Hinkley (William Katt) and his class of remedial students become stranded on a desert road when their bus breaks down. As Ralph walks to get help, he’s almost run down by a car driven by old-school FBI Special Agent Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp). While the arrogant agent is insisting that he couldn’t control the vehicle, two bright purple lights come out of the sky and a spaceship appears. The auto is under the aliens’ control and they speak to the pair via the car radio.