Quatermass and the Pit

During construction of an underground extension, workers uncover a human skull buried in the ground at Hobbs End. Dr. Matthew Roney identifies it as five million years old, older than any previous find. A fragment of a metallic object is uncovered nearby, suggesting an unexploded bomb from the London Blitz.

Believing the object to be a bomb, the team summons the army's bomb disposal unit. Colonel Breen is assigned to the British Experimental Rocket Group, and Professor Bernard Quatermass accompanies him to Hobbs End as military attention increases. He also learns that his Moon colonisation plans are to be taken over by the military, who intend to base missiles in space.

Another skull is discovered within the chamber of the object, reinforcing that the artifact is five million years old. The object's heat resistance leads Quatermass to suspect an alien origin rather than a mundane bomb. The discovery deepens the mystery surrounding Hobbs End.

Roney's assistant Barbara Judd accompanies Quatermass to the site and becomes intrigued by the place. They visit the bombed-out house opposite the station, where legends of hauntings suggest the area is linked to disturbing events. The trio's exploration widens the inquiry beyond science into folklore.

Quatermass and Barbara uncover historical accounts of hauntings and spectral appearances dating back centuries, which align with the ground disturbances around Hobbs End. The investigations hint that the site may be a doorway or trigger for otherworldly forces. The line between folklore and science begins to blur.

A bomb disposal team member witnesses a spectral apparition of the apeman through the object's wall. An attempt to drill open a sealed chamber with a Borazon drill initially fails, but a small hole is eventually seen. The encounter intensifies the sense that something alien lies within the craft.

The hole widens to reveal the corpses of insectoid creatures with horned heads. Their physiology suggests they originated on Mars, reinforcing Quatermass's theory that the ship is of alien origin. The creatures resemble depictions of the Devil, strengthening the mythic link to Hobbs End.

Researchers present their findings to the press, arguing that the alien craft's occupants came from a dying Mars and used advanced techniques to influence early humans. Quatermass posits a plan of remote colonization by proxy, embedding Martian faculties in human evolution. Public attention grows as the implications sink in.

Colonel Breen dismisses the alien craft as Nazi propaganda designed to sow fear among Londoners. A government minister pressures to unveil the ship publicly, planning a press conference despite the scientists' warnings. The clash between skepticism and curiosity raises the political stakes.

The drill operator Sladden is overwhelmed by a psychic force emanating from the craft, triggering telekinetic disturbances. He flees and eventually ends up in a church, where he experiences a vision of Martians under alien skies. The episode foreshadows the craft's reach beyond the immediate site.

At Hobbs End, Quatermass uses a device to tap into the subject's primeval psyche and records Barbara's thoughts on a genocidal purge by Martians. He shares this recording with the minister and other officials, but they dismiss it as unreliable or sensational. The attempt marks a turning point where science clashes with political reluctance.

A power line is dropped into the craft, triggering a surge of psychic energy that spreads through London, triggering rampages. A small portion of the population proves immune to the Martian influence. Colonel Breen is drawn toward the ship and killed by the energy, while Quatermass begins to resist the invasion.

Roney climbs a construction crane and uses it to discharge Martian energy into the earth, blasting the spectral image from the sky. The fire destroys the image and its influence, but Roney dies in the process. The immune minority remains, offering a fragile glimmer of human resilience.