Visit to a Small Planet

by Gore Vidal

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Summary

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Act I

Visit to a Small Planet begins with a glimpse into the home of Roger Spelding, a television news commentator, situated in a comfortable middle-class neighborhood near Manassas, Virginia. General Tom Powers, a friend of Roger's, informs him that an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) has been seen hovering above the Spelding residence for the past twelve hours. Despite Roger's skepticism, Powers persuades him to take a look outside, where Roger indeed sees the UFO. Originally intending to tell his television audience that UFOs are nonexistent, Roger becomes frantic and asks Powers for permission to report the sighting. The general denies his request, stating the information is "classified."

Roger's nineteen-year-old daughter, Ellen, appears on the terrace with her boyfriend, Conrad Mayberry, whom Roger dismissively calls "the boy farmer." As they discuss their future plans, they are interrupted by the UFO landing outside the house. The hatch opens, and Kreton, an extraterrestrial visitor, enters the room. Kreton, who resembles a human from the 1860s with side-whiskers and period attire, requests to be taken to General Robert E. Lee. After some initial confusion, Kreton explains that Earth has been his 'hobby'; he intended to witness the Civil War Battle of Bull Run. However, he realizes he miscalculated the coordinates for his time-traveling spacecraft. Roger, hoping to interview Kreton on his television show, invites him inside, and Kreton eagerly accepts, excited to see "a real house."

General Powers returns with an aide and begins questioning Kreton in Roger's study. It is revealed that Kreton not only hails from another planet but also from another dimension, where beings do not die and can read minds—a skill Kreton demonstrates to the general. Ordered by Powers to inspect Kreton's ship, the aide reports back that the door is sealed, and "some kind of invisible wall" has been erected around it. When Powers inquires about the creation of this force field, Kreton wryly replies, "I don't think I could ever explain it to you." Powers then declares that no one is permitted to leave the house. Continuing his investigation, the general speculates that Kreton "has been sent here by another civilization for the express purpose of reconnoitering prior to invasion." Kreton refutes the idea that he was "sent here" by anyone, but admits he plans to "take charge" of the entire world. When Powers attempts to arrest him, Kreton envelops himself in another invisible force field. As the curtain falls, the audience hears the characters' thoughts and Kreton's voice saying, "Tomorrow will be a wonderful day for all of us. Sleep tight!"

Act II, Scene 1

The following morning, Kreton is in the living room studying a globe and conversing with Rosemary, the Speldings' cat. He can read and understand her thoughts. Roger has gone to Washington with General Powers, Reba (Roger's wife) has been given permission to go shopping, and Conrad is still asleep upstairs. Ellen brings Kreton breakfast, which he declines because he doesn’t eat. He tells Ellen that the people of his world have stopped reproducing since they are immortal. He further explains that after eradicating diseases like scarlet fever, mumps, and the common cold, they eliminated "the ultimate disease:" passion. Kreton states, "We feel nothing. We do nothing. We are perfect." Ellen discovers that this absence of passion or strong emotions was what drove Kreton to visit Earth and escape his dull commander, Delton 4.

Ellen and Kreton become more acquainted, and Ellen persuades the alien to teach her the mind tricks he has been using throughout the play. Eventually, she manages to levitate a vase over the fireplace mantle for a few...

(This entire section contains 1209 words.)

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seconds, much to Conrad's amazement as he watches. Kreton then considers how he will take over the planet, dismissing ideas like "drying up one of the smaller oceans" or "monkeying around with the moon" in favor of a more subtle approach. At that moment, the audience sees the aide on the porch watch in shock as his rifle floats out of his hands into the air. Kreton explains that he has just made all the rifles in the world levitate for fifteen seconds.

General Powers returns and informs Kreton that he has been "classified as a weapon" and that the U.S. government expects him to provide "a comprehensive list" of his "various mental powers." Roger enters with the startling news that "at eleven twenty-six this morning every rifle in the Free World was raised fifteen feet in the air and then lowered again." Not considering that this might be one of Kreton's tricks, Roger concludes, "It's the Russians, obviously." Kreton then reveals the true intention behind his latest trick to the cat: "Well, I do believe I have started a war... After all, that's what I came down here to see!"

Act II, Scene 2

Roger is in his study, delivering a newscast and interviewing General Powers, who informs viewers that "it doesn't look good." Meanwhile, upstairs, Kreton is enjoying his first bath. Roger tells Conrad, a committed pacifist who despises war, that he should join the Army. Conrad declines and proposes to Ellen, but she turns him down, citing his lack of "drive." Kreton then comes downstairs dressed in full Confederate Army attire and challenges Conrad's pacifism by singing a series of patriotic songs. Conrad remains unaffected. As a final attempt to provoke Conrad's "primitive" fighting instincts, Kreton projects Powers's aide's thoughts about Ellen into Conrad's mind; when Conrad hears the aide refer to Ellen as "the babe with the crazy build," he attacks the aide. Kreton watches the ensuing fistfight with delight. Ellen, impressed by this display of passion, agrees to marry Conrad. As the young couple exits, Powers enters and Kreton reveals to him that he has used his mental abilities to "arrange a sneak attack" by U.S. bombers on Russia, set to occur in forty-seven minutes, marking the approach of "zero hour."

Act III

Half an hour later, Kreton has turned the Speldings' living room into a command center, using toy planes and soldiers to model the impending destruction. Powers reports that the Russian military is "completely mobilized" and shares a final drink with Kreton. Conrad and Ellen plead with Kreton to stop the looming war, but Kreton argues that "war is not only fun," but "creative," as many of humanity's greatest inventions were developed during wartime. Ellen cleverly tricks Kreton into revealing how he would contact his leader, Delton 4, if necessary; Kreton's response, "concentration," inspires her to attempt a similar "mind-trick" as she did in Act II. While the cast scurries across the stage, Ellen sits on the sofa, repeating, "Delton 4 ... Delton 4 ... Delton 4," until Kreton's leader arrives in response. Wearing an elegant morning suit, Delton 4 thanks Ellen for the alert and explains that Kreton "is a rarity" among his kind, as "he is morally retarded and, like a child, views this world as his plaything." He also informs the cast that Kreton had "escaped from his nursery" and that he will be taking him back home. Kreton bids farewell, admitting he envies humans for being "so violent... so loving... so beautifully imperfect" and "so much happier" than they realize. After the aliens depart, time reverts to the exact moment before Kreton's arrival, leaving the characters with no memory of the events that transpired.

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