Dune

In the year 6041,

before the reign of the Padishah Emperors,

the Universe was ruled by thinking machines with human minds.

Computers and conscious robots.

The people deteriorated into a state of apathy.

Then they became victims and slaves of other men with machines.

Finally came the Great Revolt,

the religious crusade against the machines.

After the Great Revolt,

human beings were forced to develop their minds.

Thus mental training schools were established.

These schools would change the history of the Universe.

Only two of these ancient mental training schools remain.

One is the Bene Gesserit school,

which was established primarily for female students.

The function of the Bene Gesserit school

is to carry on a selective breeding program among humans.

Now, the other existing school,

the Spacing Guild, or the Guild,

emphasizes pure mathematics.

The Guild's Space Navigators,

through the use of the orange spice drug,

are able to fold space.

That is, to guide spaceships

without moving from one planet to another.

It is through the Guild's monopolies

on the economic life of the Universe

that makes it so powerful.

Know then

that it is the year 10192.

The Known Universe is ruled by

the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV.

For many years,

the Emperor Shaddam IV has ruled on planet Kaitain

over all the great houses of the Landsraad.

The great houses of the Landsraad

are members of the royal families,

who rule or govern over the major planets of the Universe

according to the ancient feudal system of government.

Two of the great houses of the Landsraad are

the House of Atreides on planet Caladan

ruled by Duke Leto Atreides

and the House of Harkonnen on the planet Giedi Prime

ruled by the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.

In this time,

the most precious substance in the Universe

is the spice melange.

The spice extends life.

The spice expands consciousness.

The spice is vital to space travel.

CHOAM company controls the mining of the spice.

The CHOAM company is controlled

by the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV

and the great houses of the Landsraad

with the Guild and the Bene Gesserit as silent partners.

This combine is the key to the wealth

and political power of the Universe.

It is the Emperor Shaddam IV

who dispenses CHOAM directorships and contracts

to the various great houses of the Landsraad.

The spice exists on only one planet in the entire Universe.

A desolate, dry planet with vast deserts.

The planet Dune, also known as Arrakis.

Up until this time, the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen

has held a directorship from the Emperor Shaddam IV,

giving him a contract to mine the spice on planet Arrakis.

The Baron Vladimir, with his two nephews,

the Count Rabban and Feyd Harkonnen,

live on the planet Giedi Prime.

The planet Caladan is ruled by Duke Leto Atreides,

cousin to the Emperor Shaddam IV.

He resides in the ancient Castle Caladan

with the Bene Gesserit Lady Jessica, and their son,

the ducal heir, Paul Atreides.

The Emperor, fearful of the Duke's increasing popularity

among the great houses of the Landsraad

has conspired with the Duke's mortal enemies,

the Harkonnens, to destroy the House of Atreides.

A secret report within the Guild...

"Four planets have come to our attention regarding a plot,"

"which could jeopardize the spice production."

"Planet Arrakis: Source of the spice."

"Planet Caladan: Home of House Atreides."

"Planet Giedi Prime: Home of House Harkonnen."

"Planet Kaitain: Home of the Emperor of the Known Universe."

"Send a third-stage Guild Navigator to Kaitain"

"to demand details from the Emperor."

"The spice must flow."

Father?

Irulan, you must leave.

Why does the Guild send a third-stage Navigator here?

The spice.

It has to be.

He senses my plan.

My lord, the Reverend Mother is here.

All entrance corridors and chambers have been cleared.

We are dismissed?

Yes, yes, he'll sense the least surveillance.

No eavesdropping of any kind.

A third-stage Guild Navigator will be here within minutes.

We felt his presence.

I shall want telepathy during his visit

and a report when we're finished.

Their minds are so...

They move in strange directions.

Yes?

Forced spice evolution with humans changes many things.

I must sit close to him.

He will not permit anyone but me to see him.

You must be outside this room.

I am your Truthsayer, my lord.

He's here, my lord.

The Bene Gesserit witch must leave.

Leave us.

Yes, my lord.

We are alone.

We have just folded space from Ix.

Yes?

How was your journey?

Many machines on Ix.

New machines.

Oh?

Yes?

Better than those on Richese.

You are transparent.

I see many things.

I see plans within plans.

Is there a problem?

Usually there's a problem when one of you makes a visit.

The answer is within the problem.

I see two great houses,

House Atreides, House Harkonnen feuding.

I see you behind it.

Yes.

You must share with us.

Duke Atreides' House is building a secret army

using a technique unknown to us.

A technique involving sound.

The Duke is becoming more popular in the Landsraad.

He could threaten me.

I have ordered Duke Atreides to occupy Arrakis to mine the spice,

thus replacing their enemies, the Baron Harkonnen.

The Duke will not refuse, because of the tremendous power

they think they will gain.

Then, at an appointed time,

Baron Harkonnen will return to Arrakis

and launch a sneak attack on Duke Atreides.

I have promised the Baron

five legions of my Sardaukar terror troops.

So, the Harkonnens will rid you of House Atreides.

Yes.

Listen to me. The spice must flow.

The spice has given me accelerated evolution for 4,000 years.

It has enabled you to live 200.

It gives the Bene Gesserit sisterhoods

the metaphysical ability to see beyond.

You want superior powers.

Our power to fold space is in the spice.

Without us, your empire will be lost.

On isolated scattered planets, you would be lost.

One small point.

Here it comes.

We, ourselves, foresee a slight problem

within the House Atreides.

Paul. Paul Atreides.

You mean, of course, Duke Leto Atreides, his father?

I mean Paul Atreides.

We want him killed.

I did not say this.

I am not here.

I understand.

Why would they want the Duke's son killed?

Well?

They fear that putting House Atreides on Arrakis will hurt spice production.

For us,

a small amount is enough to greatly extend our lives.

But they consume tremendous quantities.

A great deal is needed to evolve the seeing eye.

They worry.

The Universe worries when they worry.

What else?

So much was unclear.

You may go, Helen Mohiam,

Bene Gesserit.

Yes, my lord.

She's Bene Gesserit.

There's nowhere in the Universe you can escape them.

Her loyalty to the sisterhood is stronger than her loyalty to me.

Watch her carefully.

Why would they want the Duke's son killed?

We must have a look at Paul Atreides.

On Caladan.

I mean Paul Atreides.

We want him killed.

Why would they want the Duke's son killed?

We must have a look at Paul Atreides.

On Caladan.

The powerful Bene Gesserit sisterhood,

for 90 generations,

has been manipulating bloodlines