Due to the violence of the attack by interstellar police hell-bent on arresting Zaphod, a huge computer bank behind which Arthur and the others are hiding explodes with enough force to tear a hole in space-time and shove them through it. The travelers awaken in Milliway’s, the famed Restaurant at the End of the universe, built on the ruins of ancient Magrathea. Milliway’s travels forward in time, giving its patrons a glimpse of the death of the universe while they dine. In the meantime, Marvin – the depressed robot from the Heart of Gold – took the scenic route through time, waiting millions of years as Magrathea crumbled around him and was then turned into Milliway’s. He’s now parking spaceships in the garage at Milliway’s, and one of his latest charges catches the eyes of both Zaphod and Ford, and they decide to steal it. There’s only one problem…their newly-procured ship is locked onto an automated course taking it straight into the heart of a nearby sun.
written by Douglas Adams and John Lloyd
directed by Alan J.W. Bell
music by Paddy KingslandCast: Peter Jones (The Voice of the Book), Simon Jones (Arthur Dent), David Dixon (Ford Prefect), Mark Wing-Davey (Zaphod Beeblebrox), Sandra Dickinson (Trillian), Jack May (Garkbit, the Head Waiter), Colin Jeavons (Max Quordlepleen), Barry Frank Warren (Hotblack Desiato), Dave Prowse (Bodyguard), Colin Bennett (Zarquon), David Learner (Marvin), Stephen Moore (voice of Marvin) and Peter Davison (Dish of the Day)
Notes: Though already famous from his All Creatures Great And Small stint and his upcoming reign as the fifth Doctor Who, Peter Davison was persuaded to play a well-disguised cameo by his then-wife, Sandra Dickinson. Look for another cameo in this episode by an actor who was taking time off from his most famous acting gig as a certain Dark Lord of the Sith.
LogBook entry by Earl Green