Brett

Lore & Background

Brett occupied a specific role on the Nostromo as an engineering technician, working closely alongside Parker, who served as his engineering chief. Their dynamic was defined by Brett's constant advocacy for financial rewards; he persistently angled for increased-pay and bonus awards he felt were owed to him for his labor. Beyond his duties with machinery, Brett shared a distinct bond with Jones, the ship's cat. When the crew dispersed to locate the hostile organism, Brett prioritized finding the animal over personal safety. He ventured into the ship's depths where the Xenomorph was active. The mature Alien intercepted him during this search, resulting in his immediate death and dragging his remains into the ventilation system.

In Their Own Story

The sequence of events leading to Brett's demise began when he attempted to retrieve Jones while the rest of the crew searched for the creature. Harry Dean Stanton, who portrayed the character, noted that he was not initially a fan of science-fiction or horror films upon auditioning for the role, though director Ridley Scott shared this sentiment yet expected the film to succeed. In the narrative, Brett's search for the cat led him directly into the path of the Xenomorph. The creature killed him and dragged his body into an air duct. Several scenes depicting this event were removed from the original theatrical cut. Specifically, a scene showing Ripley and Parker witnessing Brett's death, along with his cocooned corpse in the Alien's lair, was excluded until the 2003 director's cut. Writer Dan O'Bannon stated that these deleted scenes hinted that Brett's body was intended to become an Alien incubator.

Reader's Guide

Samuel Elias Brett function as the Nostromo's engineering technician, a role requiring intimate knowledge of the ship's industrial systems and lower decks. He is characterized by his pragmatic focus on compensation, persistently asking for increased-pay and bonus awards throughout the film. His primary narrative function involves his connection to Jones, the ship's cat. When the crew faces the Xenomorph threat, Brett deviates from survival protocols to search for the animal. This decision proves fatal as he encounters the mature Alien in the cargo areas. The original 1979 release omitted key moments of his death and subsequent state; however, the 2003 director's cut restored scenes where Ripley and Parker observe his demise and his cocooned body, providing a darker context suggested by writer Dan O'Bannon regarding his potential use as an incubator.

Did You Know?

• Harry Dean Stanton stated he was not a fan of science-fiction or horror films when he auditioned for the role of Brett.
• Director Ridley Scott replied to Stanton that he also did not like those genres but expected Alien to do well.
• Deleted scenes from the 1979 original cut showed Ripley and Parker seeing Brett's death and his cocooned corpse in the lair.
• Writer Dan O'Bannon noted that the deleted scene with the cocooned body hinted Brett was becoming an Alien incubator.
• Brett persistently angled for increased-pay and bonus awards he felt were due to him during the mission.