Synopsis
2001 does not use conventional narrative techniques, and it is difficult to do justice to the film with a simple synopsis. The film is divided into four 'movements':
1. "The Dawn of Man". In pre-historic Africa, a mysterious black monolith appears near a tribe of apes. One of these apes subsequently discovers the possibilities of the tool, and using bones as weapons these apes become the dominant group. As the ape tosses a bone skyward in victory the image of the spinning bone becomes a spinning satellite...
2. Dr Heywood Floyd is en route from Earth to the moon, via Space Station 5. It emerges that Floyd is on a mission to investigate a black monolith which has been dug up on the moon. As the sun rises over the monolith it emits a high-pitched signal...
3. "Jupiter Mission: Eighteen Months Later". Astronouts Dave Bowman and Frank Poole, together with 3 scientists held in cryogenic sleep, are bound for Jupiter on the Discovery One, on a mission of unknown purpose. The ship is run largely by an artificial intelligence, a HAL 9000 computer. The key events of this section are set in motion when HAL predicts the failure of their communications unit, a prediction which they are unable to verify when the unit is brought in for testing, and which an earth-based HAL computer reports is incorrect. Concerned at the possibility that their supposedly infallible computer may be malfunctioning, the two astronauts discuss their options sealed within one of the ships pods. They believe HAL cannot overhear them, but have not taken into account that he can see them - and can lip-read.
INTERMISSION
HAL and the astronauts agree to replace the original unit and 'let it fail'. However, as Frank attempts the replacement his pod suddenly accelerates, severing his oxygen hose and cutting him loose from the ship. Dave leaves the ship to retrieve Frank, only to find that HAL has shut the bay doors against his return. Meanwhile, HAL has cut off life-support from the remaining scientists on board, eliminating any possible threat to him and - he claims - to the success of the mission. Dave, however, gains entry to the ship via the emergency airlock, and proceeds to the control room in order to disconnect HAL. In doing so, he discovers the purpose of the mission: to investigate the reason for the radio signal directed from the monolith on the moon towards Jupiter....