1951
An alien named Klaatu lands his flying saucer in Washington, D.C., accompanied by the powerful robot Gort, and is immediately shot and wounded by an anxious soldier. Klaatu, adopting the alias Mr. Carpenter, escapes the hospital and seeks to meet with the world's leading scientists, specifically Professor Barnhardt, to deliver an urgent message to humanity. To demonstrate his power and force global attention, Klaatu orchestrates a worldwide power outage for thirty minutes, excluding essential services, revealing his true identity to Helen Benson, a woman he befriended, and her son Bobby. Helen's suitor, Tom Stevens, discovers Klaatu's identity and turns him over to the military, leading to Klaatu's death. Gort retrieves Klaatu's body, resurrects him, and Klaatu delivers a final ultimatum to the assembled delegates: humanity must abandon its warlike ways or face destruction by the intergalactic police force, represented by Gort, who will eliminate any threat to universal peace.
Save the Cat beat sheet
An otherworldly object appears on global radars and an alien emissary, Klaatu, arrives in Washington under the guise of Mr.
Open full beat sheetKlaatu is listed as Extraterrestrial visitor. Human in appearance, possesses immense dignity, superior knowledge, and advanced technology. In the parsed data, Klaatu is connected to 34 scenes, 97 dialogue lines, 105 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
34 scenes / 97 dialogue linesHelen Benson is listed as Boarding house resident. Attractive woman in her thirties, mother of Bobby. In the parsed data, Helen Benson is connected to 23 scenes, 50 dialogue lines, 50 text mentions, first appearing around scene 19.
23 scenes / 50 dialogue linesBobby Benson is listed as Helen's son. Eleven-year-old boy, curious and imaginative. In the parsed data, Bobby Benson is connected to 13 scenes, 28 dialogue lines, 28 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
13 scenes / 28 dialogue linesTom Stevens is listed as Helen's suitor. Personable insurance salesman, ambitious. In the parsed data, Tom Stevens is connected to 8 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 29.
8 scenes / 14 dialogue lineschar_0 is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, char_0 is connected to 7 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
7 scenes / 11 dialogue linesGort is listed as Klaatu's companion/enforcer. Ten-foot tall robot with greenish metal flesh, capable of immense destructive power. In the parsed data, Gort is connected to 7 scenes, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
7 scenes / 0 dialogue linesProfessor Jacob Barnhardt is listed as Scientist. World-famous Nobel Prize-winning scientist. In the parsed data, Professor Jacob Barnhardt is connected to 6 scenes, 29 dialogue lines, 29 text mentions, first appearing around scene 33.
6 scenes / 29 dialogue linesGeneral Cutler is listed as Military leader. High-ranking Army official. In the parsed data, General Cutler is connected to 5 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 50.
5 scenes / 8 dialogue linesMrs. Crockett is listed as Landlady. Stern-faced middle-aged woman. In the parsed data, Mrs. Crockett is connected to 5 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 34.
5 scenes / 3 dialogue linesMr. Harley is listed as White House Secretary. Dignified, intelligent diplomat. In the parsed data, Mr. Harley is connected to 3 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
3 scenes / 2 dialogue linesAn American radar operator tracks an unidentified target.
British soldiers track an unidentified target on radar.
An Indian announcer broadcasts news of the object.
A Russian radioman tracks the object.
French farmers listen to radio reports about the object.
American and British announcers report on the object.
Driver and fare listen to radio reports.
Attendant listens to radio report.
Reporter describes the atmosphere in Washington.
The spaceship lands in Washington.
Military officials coordinate response.
Drew Pearson broadcasts about the spaceship.
Klaatu emerges from the ship and is shot.
Klaatu, GortKlaatu meets with Mr. Harley.
Klaatu, Mr. HarleyKlaatu and Mr. Harley discuss the failed diplomatic efforts to arrange a meeting of world leaders.
Klaatu, Mr. HarleyKlaatu escapes from his hospital room.
KlaatuKlaatu walks through a residential neighborhood and finds a boarding house.
KlaatuKlaatu introduces himself as Mr. Carpenter to the boarding house residents.
Klaatu, Helen Benson, Bobby Benson, Mrs. CrockettBoarders discuss the space man during breakfast.
Klaatu, Helen BensonKlaatu interacts with the boarders while Helen prepares to leave with Tom.
Klaatu, Helen Benson, Mrs. CrockettHelen and Tom discuss their plans, and Klaatu offers to watch Bobby.
Klaatu, Helen Benson, Bobby Benson, Tom StevensKlaatu and Bobby visit the Lincoln Memorial.
Klaatu, Bobby BensonKlaatu asks Bobby about the greatest thinker in America.
Klaatu, Bobby BensonKlaatu and Bobby observe the space ship and Gort.
Klaatu, Gort, Bobby BensonKlaatu and Bobby visit Professor Barnhardt's home.
Klaatu, Bobby Benson, Professor Jacob BarnhardtKlaatu and Bobby visit the grave of Bobby's father.
Klaatu, Bobby BensonA detective arrives at the boardinghouse to find Klaatu.
Klaatu, Bobby BensonHelen and Tom return home.
Helen Benson, Tom StevensHelen and Tom share a romantic moment in a car before Helen returns home.
Helen Benson, Tom StevensHelen returns home to find Klaatu and a detective preparing to leave.
Klaatu, Helen Benson, Bobby BensonKlaatu is questioned by a police lieutenant while the station processes various detainees.
KlaatuKlaatu is intercepted by an Army captain with orders to take him to Barnhardt.
KlaatuKlaatu meets with Professor Barnhardt to discuss his mission and the threat to Earth.
Klaatu, Professor Jacob BarnhardtHelen prepares to go out while the other boarders play cards.
Helen Benson, Mrs. CrockettHelen and Klaatu discuss Bobby and the detective's visit while Mrs. Crockett passes through.
Helen Benson, Mrs. Crockett, KlaatuTom arrives to pick up Helen; Klaatu appears, causing an awkward encounter.
Helen Benson, Tom Stevens, KlaatuTom and Helen argue about Klaatu.
Helen Benson, Tom StevensKlaatu helps Bobby with homework; Helen confronts Bobby about Klaatu.
Helen Benson, Bobby Benson, KlaatuBobby follows Klaatu to the space ship site.
Klaatu, Bobby BensonKlaatu signals Gort and enters the ship; Bobby watches in terror.
Klaatu, Gort, Bobby BensonKlaatu uses the ship's communications panel.
KlaatuBobby tells Helen and Tom about the space ship; they find a diamond in Klaatu's room.
Helen Benson, Bobby Benson, Tom StevensKlaatu confronts Helen at her office.
Helen Benson, KlaatuKlaatu and Helen are trapped in an elevator.
Helen Benson, KlaatuHelen and Klaatu are trapped in an elevator when the world's power is neutralized.
Klaatu, Helen BensonBarnhardt discusses the power outage with his secretary Hilda.
Professor Jacob Barnhardt, Mrs. CrockettMilitary leaders discuss the power outage and the status of the robot.
General CutlerTom shows a diamond to a jeweler, who confirms it is not of this world.
Tom StevensTom confronts Helen about Klaatu and decides to turn him in to the military.
Helen Benson, Tom StevensThe Colonel and soldiers arrive at the boardinghouse and track the taxi's movement via radio.
Mr. Harley, General CutlerKlaatu and Helen discuss the meeting with Barnhardt and the threat of Gort.
Klaatu, Helen BensonThe military traps the taxi at a roadblock.
Klaatu, Helen Benson, General CutlerGort breaks out of his plastic casing and Helen arrives to deliver the message.
Gort, Helen BensonThe Colonel confirms Klaatu's death and orders a guard for the body.
General CutlerGort breaks into the jail and retrieves Klaatu's body.
Klaatu, GortGort resurrects Klaatu.
Klaatu, Gort, Helen BensonThe Colonel demands the meeting be called off.
Professor Jacob Barnhardt, General CutlerKlaatu prepares to address the meeting.
Klaatu, Helen Benson, Professor Jacob BarnhardtKlaatu delivers a final ultimatum to the delegates regarding Earth's future and the role of Gort.
Klaatu, Gort, Professor Jacob Barnhardt, Helen BensonI am leaving soon and you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. The Universe grows smaller every day -- and the threat of aggression by any group -- anywhere -- can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all -- or no one is secure... This does not mean giving up any freedom except the freedom to act irresponsibly. Your ancestors knew this when they made laws to govern themselves -- and hired policemen to enforce them. We of the other planets have long accepted this principle. We have an organization for the mutual protection of all planets -- and for the complete elimination of aggression. A sort of United Nations on the Planetary level... The test of any such higher authority, of course, is the police force that supports it. For our policemen, we created a race of robots-- Their function is to patrol the planets -- in space ships like this one -- and preserve the peace. In matters of aggression we have given them absolute power over us. At the first sign of violence they act automatically against the aggressor. And the penalty for provoking their action is too terrible to risk.
The ship, designed for travel outside the earth's atmosphere, landed in Washington today at 3:47 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. We still don't know where it came from, but I can reveal that military leaders are considering two possibilities; that it came from some unfriendly power here on earth -- or that it actually arrived from another planet.
I called you from your work and from your homes all over the world because we were to meet here tonight with a man from another planet -- the man who came here in this ship. As you all know, this is no longer possible. I can only say that I share the bitterness of your disappointment.
Mustn't be frightened, darling -- It was just a bad dream. Here -- we'll prove it to you. Tom, will you ask Mr. Carpenter if he'll come down for a minute. The room right opposite mine.
I couldn't go to sleep, Mom. I had to tell you! I followed Mr. Carpenter -- right after you left -- and, gee, Mom, where do you think he went? Right into the space ship!
--under the circumstances, the Army people have asked us to leave the building. And, since their concern is for our safety, I can do nothing but suggest that we comply--
General Cutler's coming down here right away. Take a squad of men, Lieutenant, and post a guard around that cell. Captain, don't let anyone in or out of the building.
Your choice is simple. Join us and live in peace. Or pursue your present course -- and face obliteration. We will be waiting for your answer. decision rests with you.
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