The Restaurant at the End of the Universe begins just as The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ended. Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Trillian, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Marvin have just left the planet Magrathea when they are attacked by a Vogon ship commanded by Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz. They find they are unable to use the Improbability drive to escape, as Arthur has accidentally jammed the computer with a simple request for a cup of tea which proved a rather difficult problem.