Changes

== Plot ==

== Plot ==

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United Planets Cruiser C57D, Cmdr. John J. Adams commanding, arrives in the [[Altair]] system after a journey of more than a year. After decelerating from hyperspeed (no small matter), they find themselves in the Altair system and begin reconnoitering its fourth [[planet]], where a colony ship, named ''Bellerophon'', had landed 20 years earlier and had never been heard from again. At first they see no signs of civilization whatsoever, but they then come under a radar scan, and receive an urgent voice message from a man identifying himself as Edward Morbius, formerly of the ''Bellerophon'', strenuously warning them not to land. Adams insists on landing, as his orders dictate, and Morbius reluctantly gives them standard geographical coordinates for landing.

United Planets Cruiser C57D, Cmdr. John J. Adams commanding, arrives in the [[Altair]] system after a journey of more than a year. After decelerating from hyperspeed (no small matter), they find themselves in the Altair system and begin reconnoitering its fourth [[planet]], where a colony ship, named ''Bellerophon'', had landed 20 years earlier and had never been heard from again. At first they see no signs of civilization whatsoever, but they then come under a radar scan, and receive an urgent voice message from a man identifying himself as Edward Morbius, formerly of the ''Bellerophon'', strenuously warning them not to land. Adams insists on landing, as his orders dictate, and Morbius reluctantly gives them standard geographical coordinates for landing.

Shortly after the ship lands, a very fast hovercraft rushes out to meet them. Its driver is a [[robot]] who, though he looks ungainly, addresses them politely and announces that he has orders to transport them to "the residence." Adams, executive officer Jerry Farman, and ship's surgeon Ostrow ride to the residence. There they meet Morbius, who is in a much more polite frame of mind than he was when he gave that urgent warning, and Morbius' adult daughter Altaira, who is strikingly lovely and also naive. Quite simply, she remembers no human beings other than her father. Morbius explains that every other member of the ''Bellerophon'' crew and expedition died violently at the hands of "a force that never once showed itself," to which force (which also destroyed the ''Bellerophon'') Morbius and his wife (who died a few months later of unexplained "natural causes" were somehow immune. He also demonstrates some of the capabilities of his robot, named "Robby." He can not only walk, talk, and drive a hovercraft, but can synthesize virtually any substance or object, edible or otherwise, on demand, and gives instant, selfless, unargued obedience to any command—except only a command to kill a human being, which produces a state of mind block until the person giving such an order cancels it. Morbius boasts that he built the robot, but won't explain how he could build him. Robby, quite simply, is a product of a technology more advanced than anything that the United Planets has come up with, not to mention that the engineering involved is ''not'' Morbius' field of study.

Shortly after the ship lands, a very fast hovercraft rushes out to meet them. Its driver is a [[robot]] who, though he looks ungainly, addresses them politely and announces that he has orders to transport them to "the residence." Adams, executive officer Jerry Farman, and ship's surgeon Ostrow ride to the residence. There they meet Morbius, who is in a much more polite frame of mind than he was when he gave that urgent warning, and Morbius' adult daughter Altaira, who is strikingly lovely and also naive. Quite simply, she remembers no human beings other than her father. Morbius explains that every other member of the ''Bellerophon'' crew and expedition died violently at the hands of "a force that never once showed itself," to which force (which also destroyed the ''Bellerophon'') Morbius and his wife (who died a few months later of unexplained "natural causes" were somehow immune. He also demonstrates some of the capabilities of his robot, named "Robby." He can not only walk, talk, and drive a hovercraft, but can synthesize virtually any substance or object, edible or otherwise, on demand, and gives instant, selfless, unargued obedience to any command—except only a command to kill a human being, which produces a state of mind block until the person giving such an order cancels it. Morbius boasts that he built the robot, but won't explain how he could build him. Robby, quite simply, is a product of a technology more advanced than anything that the United Planets has come up with, not to mention that the engineering involved is ''not'' Morbius' field of study.

Adams explains that he cannot merely leave Morbius and Altaira alone without further orders, and proposes to build a transmitter and use his ship's power reactor to power it. Morbius offers to help by having his robot "run off" several tons of lead shielding. Morbius is not merely being "obliging": he wants Adams and his crew off the planet before they get themselves killed. Or so he says.

Adams explains that he cannot merely leave Morbius and Altaira alone without further orders, and proposes to build a transmitter and use his ship's power reactor to power it. Morbius offers to help by having his robot "run off" several tons of lead shielding. Morbius is not merely being "obliging": he wants Adams and his crew off the planet before they get themselves killed. Or so he says.

The next morning, Adams and his crew set about building their transmitter and unshipping the power core. Robby arrives and delivers the lead shielding. But Robby has also brought Altaira with him, though one senses that Altaira stretched a point of her father's orders "not to go anywhere near the ship." When the cook takes to ogling Altaira, Adams orders the men driving their electromagnetic tractor to pick up the cook and haul him away. But later, the cook asks Robby to meet him privately and gives him a bottle of Kansas City bourbon to analyze. Robby promises to synthesize 60 gallons of this [[alcoholic drink]], which amazes the cook.

The next morning, Adams and his crew set about building their transmitter and unshipping the power core. Robby arrives and delivers the lead shielding. But Robby has also brought Altaira with him, though one senses that Altaira stretched a point of her father's orders "not to go anywhere near the ship." When the cook takes to ogling Altaira, Adams orders the men driving their electromagnetic tractor to pick up the cook and haul him away. But later, the cook asks Robby to meet him privately and gives him a bottle of Kansas City bourbon to analyze. Robby promises to synthesize 60 gallons of this [[alcoholic drink]], which amazes the cook.

Altaira goes back home and tells her father about the awkward interaction, and says that she does not like Adams, who looks at her with an obviously burning passion that she cannot understand. Morbius tells her that she need not see the men again, but he is much troubled when she tells him the full particulars of her interactions with Adams and his exec.

Altaira goes back home and tells her father about the awkward interaction, and says that she does not like Adams, who looks at her with an obviously burning passion that she cannot understand. Morbius tells her that she need not see the men again, but he is much troubled when she tells him the full particulars of her interactions with Adams and his exec.

That night, Crewmen Grey and Strong think that they hear something pass by, breathing heavily, but see nothing, so they think nothing of it. In fact, an invisible creature is entering the ship and destroying what was to be a key component of the improvised transmitter. Crewman Youngerman, inside, says only that he thought he had a dream. The next morning, Adams angrily disciplines all three men, "pending further evidence," and orders Chief Quinn to repair the damaged part as best he can. Then Adams and Ostrow set off in the tractor to Morbius' residence, seeking to question him about the unauthorized entry into their ship. Altaira is there to meet Adams, this time wearing an "eye-proof" dress. Modest or not, Adams can contain himself no longer, and neither can she: they have fallen in love with one another, in spite of themselves. But in falling in love with Adams, Altaira has lost her "influence" over her "friend" the tiger, who attacks, forcing Adams to disintegrate it with his directed-energy sidearm. Altaira is equal parts upset over the loss of her "friend" and mystified that the tiger did not recognize her anymore.

That night, Crewmen Grey and Strong think that they hear something pass by, breathing heavily, but see nothing, so they think nothing of it. In fact, an invisible creature is entering the ship and destroying what was to be a key component of the improvised transmitter. Crewman Youngerman, inside, says only that he thought he had a dream. The next morning, Adams angrily disciplines all three men, "pending further evidence," and orders Chief Quinn to repair the damaged part as best he can. Then Adams and Ostrow set off in the tractor to Morbius' residence, seeking to question him about the unauthorized entry into their ship. Altaira is there to meet Adams, this time wearing an "eye-proof" dress. Modest or not, Adams can contain himself no longer, and neither can she: they have fallen in love with one another, in spite of themselves. But in falling in love with Adams, Altaira has lost her "influence" over her "friend" the tiger, who attacks, forcing Adams to disintegrate it with his directed-energy sidearm. Altaira is equal parts upset over the loss of her "friend" and mystified that the tiger did not recognize her anymore.

Adams rejoins the doctor, who has been waiting for Morbius to come out of his study, where, as Robby informs them, he is never to be disturbed. Then the study door slides open—and Morbius is not present. Adams and Ostrow look at a sheet of drawings on Morbius' desk, drawings that look like hieroglyphics but are not [[Egypt]]ian, cuneiform ([[Babylonia]]n), [[China|Chinese]], or anything else they can recognize. Then an entire wall slides away, revealing a wide, angular archway. Standing in it is a very put-out Morbius who accuses the men of burglary. Adams, refusing to rise to the bait, tells Morbius frankly that someone or something entered his ship the night before, and damaged some equipment.

Adams rejoins the doctor, who has been waiting for Morbius to come out of his study, where, as Robby informs them, he is never to be disturbed. Then the study door slides open—and Morbius is not present. Adams and Ostrow look at a sheet of drawings on Morbius' desk, drawings that look like hieroglyphics but are not [[Egypt]]ian, cuneiform ([[Babylonia]]n), [[China|Chinese]], or anything else they can recognize. Then an entire wall slides away, revealing a wide, angular archway. Standing in it is a very put-out Morbius who accuses the men of burglary. Adams, refusing to rise to the bait, tells Morbius frankly that someone or something entered his ship the night before, and damaged some equipment.

Morbius realizes that Adams suspects him, and decides to share a secret that nearly blows Adams and Ostrow away: the planet was once home to a highly advanced and enlightened race called the ''Krel'', who, millions of years ago, came to earth and brought back specimens (including the ancestors of the tiger, the deer, and several trees on Morbius' land). The Krel apparently died 200,000 years ago, and every above-ground structure crumbled and blew away long before the ''Bellerophon'' arrived. Morbius reveals that on the day they died, they were about to complete a project that would free them from any need for physical "instrumentality."

Morbius realizes that Adams suspects him, and decides to share a secret that nearly blows Adams and Ostrow away: the planet was once home to a highly advanced and enlightened race called the ''Krel'', who, millions of years ago, came to earth and brought back specimens (including the ancestors of the tiger, the deer, and several trees on Morbius' land). The Krel apparently died 200,000 years ago, and every above-ground structure crumbled and blew away long before the ''Bellerophon'' arrived. Morbius reveals that on the day they died, they were about to complete a project that would free them from any need for physical "instrumentality."

Then Morbius shows him the most important artifact of all: a vast automatic machine, a cube 20 miles on an edge, with its own incredible geothermal and thermonuclear power sources.

Then Morbius shows him the most important artifact of all: a vast automatic machine, a cube 20 miles on an edge, with its own incredible geothermal and thermonuclear power sources.

While Morbius is giving this tour, his crew have erected an electronic force-field fence to protect their camp. The cook asks permission to leave the camp, and Farnam, though he doesn't believe a word of the cook's unlikely story, lets him leave, on condition that he return before Adams does. And so the cook is away from camp, and in the company of Robby the Robot, who has brought, as promised, 480 pints of synthesized bourbon which the cook proceeds to drink without a hangover—when an invisible creature passes through the fence (causing an apparent electrical short as the only sign), leaves huge footprints in the dirt, bends the steps on the ladder as it enters the ship, and then brutally murders Chief Quinn. The guards are aware only of the shorting-out of the fence when they hear Quinn's anguished death scream.

While Morbius is giving this tour, his crew have erected an electronic force-field fence to protect their camp. The cook asks permission to leave the camp, and Farnam, though he doesn't believe a word of the cook's unlikely story, lets him leave, on condition that he return before Adams does. And so the cook is away from camp, and in the company of Robby the Robot, who has brought, as promised, 480 pints of synthesized bourbon which the cook proceeds to drink without a hangover—when an invisible creature passes through the fence (causing an apparent electrical short as the only sign), leaves huge footprints in the dirt, bends the steps on the ladder as it enters the ship, and then brutally murders Chief Quinn. The guards are aware only of the shorting-out of the fence when they hear Quinn's anguished death scream.

Adams and his crew bury Quinn, and Morbius, with Altaira in tow, warns them that they must leave at once, or face a more general attack. Morbius refuses to explain how he knows this, claiming a "premonition."

Adams and his crew bury Quinn, and Morbius, with Altaira in tow, warns them that they must leave at once, or face a more general attack. Morbius refuses to explain how he knows this, claiming a "premonition."

Adams organizes a defense that includes not merely a fence but a battery of very powerful directed-energy weapons, including rifles and cannons as well as the pistols that they all carry. That night, an invisible radar contact "as big as a house" attacks the camp, and kills Crewmen Grey and Strong and executive officer Farman when they get too close. Then the creature, visible within the electric fence as an outline of a huge, long-toothed predator, abruptly breaks off its attack. Adams orders the boatswain to strike camp, except for the fence, and to take off immediately if anything threatens. Then he and Ostrow go back to the residence. Their plan: evacuate Morbius and Altaira, by force if necessary. Also, Adams wants one of them to get into the Krel laboratory and use the educator to increase his intellectual capacity and find out what Morbius knows and, they now suspect, won't tell.

Adams organizes a defense that includes not merely a fence but a battery of very powerful directed-energy weapons, including rifles and cannons as well as the pistols that they all carry. That night, an invisible radar contact "as big as a house" attacks the camp, and kills Crewmen Grey and Strong and executive officer Farman when they get too close. Then the creature, visible within the electric fence as an outline of a huge, long-toothed predator, abruptly breaks off its attack. Adams orders the boatswain to strike camp, except for the fence, and to take off immediately if anything threatens. Then he and Ostrow go back to the residence. Their plan: evacuate Morbius and Altaira, by force if necessary. Also, Adams wants one of them to get into the Krel laboratory and use the educator to increase his intellectual capacity and find out what Morbius knows and, they now suspect, won't tell.

In fact, Morbius has been sitting at the library projector, sniffling in petulant indignation, while sixteen of the gauges behind him have been lit up. Altaira screams from inside the house, and Morbius, his concentration broken, rushes from the laboratory as, unnoticed, the gauges shut themselves down. He literally does not recognize the connection between his own resentful thoughts and the activity of the gauges. Altaira, of course, suspects nothing—but she cries out that she has had a horrible dream of thunder and lightning and a fierce creature moving through the display and attacking the camp.

In fact, Morbius has been sitting at the library projector, sniffling in petulant indignation, while sixteen of the gauges behind him have been lit up. Altaira screams from inside the house, and Morbius, his concentration broken, rushes from the laboratory as, unnoticed, the gauges shut themselves down. He literally does not recognize the connection between his own resentful thoughts and the activity of the gauges. Altaira, of course, suspects nothing—but she cries out that she has had a horrible dream of thunder and lightning and a fierce creature moving through the display and attacking the camp.

When Adams and Ostrow arrive, Robby refuses admittance, protesting his orders. Altaira arrives and issues an "emergency cancellation," and the robot backs off. Altaira begs Adams to leave, protesting her immunity. Adams turns to Ostrow, saying that he is in over his head talking to  Altaira, and then notices that Ostrow is missing. Just then, Robby enters from the study, cradling Ostrow, who is clearly injured.

When Adams and Ostrow arrive, Robby refuses admittance, protesting his orders. Altaira arrives and issues an "emergency cancellation," and the robot backs off. Altaira begs Adams to leave, protesting her immunity. Adams turns to Ostrow, saying that he is in over his head talking to  Altaira, and then notices that Ostrow is missing. Just then, Robby enters from the study, cradling Ostrow, who is clearly injured.

The monster then attacks Morbius directly. At that instant, the gauges start to go dark. Eventually, they all go dark, because the monster has now destroyed the source of its own motivation. But Morbius is still fatally injured. He begs Adams to start the self-destruct sequence, and informs him that he has twenty-four hours to get "a hundred million miles" (one [[astronomical unit]]) away from Altair 4, before the great machine destroys itself and the planet with it. With that, Morbius dies.

The monster then attacks Morbius directly. At that instant, the gauges start to go dark. Eventually, they all go dark, because the monster has now destroyed the source of its own motivation. But Morbius is still fatally injured. He begs Adams to start the self-destruct sequence, and informs him that he has twenty-four hours to get "a hundred million miles" (one [[astronomical unit]]) away from Altair 4, before the great machine destroys itself and the planet with it. With that, Morbius dies.

Taking Altaira with him, Adams drives back to camp; Robby follows behind, presumably on his hovercraft sled. In the next scene, the ship is in space and moving off one AU away from Altair 4, as Morbius warned them to. Robby is now a member of the crew, adapting well to shipboard discipline. Altaira watches as the planet explodes in a blaze of blue-white light. Adams consoles Altaira by saying that someday, humankind will reach the same level of technological achievement as the Krel did, and that her father's name would shine like a beacon in the annals of humanity.

Taking Altaira with him, Adams drives back to camp; Robby follows behind, presumably on his hovercraft sled. In the next scene, the ship is in space and moving off one AU away from Altair 4, as Morbius warned them to. Robby is now a member of the crew, adapting well to shipboard discipline. Altaira watches as the planet explodes in a blaze of blue-white light. Adams consoles Altaira by saying that someday, humankind will reach the same level of technological achievement as the Krel did, and that her father's name would shine like a beacon in the annals of humanity.