In the play “Visit to a Small Planet,” the scene is set in the Spelding house in Maryland, with the night sky and stars providing a backdrop. The time is “the day after tomorrow.” Roger Spelding, a middle-aged and unctuous man, is wrapping up his TV broadcast in a room that strikes a balance between expensive decor and homeliness. His wife, seemingly bored and vague, knits while he speaks from his desk.
Technicians operate the equipment, and their daughter, Ellen, a lively twenty-year-old, listens restlessly. Roger Spelding delivers the news, debunking rumors about a mysterious flying object, and concludes with his signature sign-off, “good night to Mother and Father America.” The technicians compliment him, but beneath his mechanical smile, Roger appears weary. His wife offers polite praise, and Ellen, though claiming to have liked the broadcast, can’t recall the specifics, leading to a playful exchange with her father. The scene sets the stage for the comedic and intriguing events that follow in the play.