All of the people and animals within the quiet coastal town of Midwich in California's Marin County fall asleep at a 10AM "blackout" and regain consciousness at 4PM. Following the blackout, ten women are mysteriously pregnant, including a virgin girl, as well as a married woman who has not been sexually active for a year. None of the women seek abortions after having dreams, and all the babies are born the same night in a barn – five boys and five girls, though one girl is stillborn. The surviving children are all healthy and sound, but have pale skin, unusually smooth, white-blonde hair, cobalt eyes, and fierce intellect.