Kate McCrae

### **Appearance**

Slender, curly and short blonde hair, matching eyebrows, blue eyes, fair skin, pink lips, rosy cheeks, crimson space uniform

### **Allies**

V.I.N.CENT, B.O.B., Alex Durant, Dan Holland, Harry Booth, Charlie Pizer

### **Enemies**

Maximilian, Hans Reinhardt, Sentry Robots

### **Fate**

Travels through the black hole in the Cygnus Probe ship

“*I had a professor whop predicted that, eventually, black holes would devour the entire universe.*”
―Kate remarking on the black hole
**Dr. Kate McCrae** is the junior scientist assigned to the USS Palomino.

## Background

### Character

She has ESP capability, sharing this with V.I.N.CENT. Her father Frank McCrae was on the USS Cygnus and was stated missing at the start. She wore a maroon jumpsuit and had curly light brown hair. She stated that she had a professor who forsaw that black holes would eventually devour the entire universe.

## In the movie

Kate made some remarks when witnessing the black hole although not as much as the other Palomino crew especially Dr. Alex Durant. When the Palomino neared the Cygnus, it witnessed zero gravity and she remarked it was like "the eye of a hurricane". When Durant said "something's on that ship" she stared in deep thought thinking about her father. When the black hole started to pull the Palomino towards it, she cried that the there was a break on another system and along with Durant and Harry Booth attempted to fix it. c went outside to secure the number four hatch but lost communication so Captain Holland request she communicate with the robot via her ESP. She was successful and V.I.N.CENT answered he was fine using his philosophical quotes. Kate reported that V.I.N.CENT managed to secure the hatch but the robot's tether line broke. She show care by asking V.I.N.CENT if he was alright in the Cygnus' docking elevator. Upon entering the Cygnus victors' area, she remarked it was like a thousand eyes watching them. When moving through the Cygnus, she still had hopes her father was alive though Dan dissuaded her not to think so.

Upon meeting the eccentric Dr. Hans Reinhardt, that scientist told her her father stayed with him but passed away and was a loyal friend to him, Reinhardt. As Dan, Charlie and V.I.N.CENT left with Maximilian, Dan warned her to be careful and she replied affirmative. When on tour with Reinhardt, she asked for a demonstration of the power source and learnt it was called "cygnium". At dinner with Reinhardt, he charmed her during a toast to the Palomino crew. After Reinhardt left with Maximilian to check the data from the Probe ship, Dan asked Kate's thoughts and she said the scientist was "walking a tight rope between genius and insanity". Everyone else agreed except Durant. Kate received an ESP message from V.I.N.CENT, who wanted Dan and Charlie back to the ship and Harry tagged along. Alone with Alex Durrant, the senior scientist told her Reinhardt would solve a scientific mystery while she continued to oppose. Reinhardt suddenly reappeared and question how Dan, Charlie and Harry were recalled then surmised that Kate had ESP ability. Later, Kate said the mad scientist plan was risky but he rebuffed her.

Reinhardt took Kate and Durant back to the command center but after receiving another ESP message from V.I.N.CENT, she learnt the deadly truth and immediately took Durant aside and told him. Durant was shocked, but did not believe it and lied for Kate when Reinhardt questioned them. The senior scientist accepted the truth after removing a Humanoid's mask, grabbed Kate but was killed by Maximilian. Kate moved back to the elevator but Sentry Robots were prepared and Reinhardt ordered them to take her to the hospital. There, she was wrapped tightly in metallic foil with the top of her head similarly wrapped. Laser beams fired at foil on her head but Dan reached the center and destroyed the conical structure where the beams. The other two robots engaged the Sentry robots, Dan got into a tackle with one but Kate was lifted out finally. Both Dan and Kate initially hide in the Humanoid's gown but removed it after engaging more Sentry robots and then were trapped in a firefight with an army of Sentry robots. A Sentry Robot shot at B.O.B. but Kate shot it in the head, destroying it permanently.

With Harry 'stealing' the Palomino and after it being shot and crashing into the Cygnus, the survivors ran back towards the Probe ship. More sentries caught in a firefight in the garden but they destroyed with the freezing cold of space entering the garden. Kate helped lift a panel for them to reach the Probe ship. Maximilian suddenly appeared but with V.I.N.CENT attacking that robot, the humans escaped to the probe ship and V.I.N.CENT joined them later. It was revealed the Probe ship was unable to be re-programmed and was programmed to enter the black hole. Kate and the survivors entered it and reached a new world.

## Trivia

The actress chosen for Kate McCrae was initially Sigourney Weaver, however, the casting director did not like her unusual name. Jennifer O'Neil was chosen. however, after drinking heavily after having her hair styled, she was involved in a car accident leaving her unconscious and in intensive care. O'Neil downplayed her injuries however she lost the part and the role was given to Yvette Mimieux.