I, ROBOT: EVIDENCE
Based on chapter 8 of
Isaac Asimov’s “I, Robot”
Adapted
by Bob Proctor
Characters
Dr. Susan Calvin Female. 30s. Cold and calculating. The
smartest one in the room.
Stephen Byerley Male. 30s. Cocky, but genial. Dry sense
of humor.
Dr. Alfred Lanning Male. 60s. Professorial. Easily flustered.
Frank Quinn Male. 50s. Imposing. Threatening without be loud or
physical.
COP/MAN Male. Mid 20s. Least educated of the group.
Author’s note: All parentheticals, lighting cues, character
and set descriptions are meant to clarify the action to the reader. They are
not intended to limit artistic interpretation in any way.
SCENE 1
(The year is 2084. DR.
SUSAN CALVIN stands at a podium, cameras flash)
CALVIN: It’s hard to remember a world without robots. There
was a time when humanity faced the universe alone and without a friend. Now he
has creatures to help him; stronger creatures than himself, more faithful, more
useful, and absolutely devoted to him. Mankind is no longer alone. Of course,
the Fundamentalists would have us back that way tomorrow if they could. They
are hungering after a simpler life, which to those who lived it had probably
appeared not so simple. My hope for tonight is to put these backwards
superstitions to rest forever. And while the death-rattle of anti-robot hatred
my stir for centuries, I sincerely hope that historians will one-day look to
this event as a mortal blow the luddites and a victory for the progress of mankind.
Before I introduce tonight’s guest
of honor, I have a confession to make. However, confession may not be the right
word as it was the single proudest moment of my career and helped make this
momentous evening possible. My actions were most certainly fraudulent and may
well merit criminal prosecution. Rest assured, I will fully cooperate in
whatever ensuing investigation arises. I want to make it clear from the outset
that I acted alone, and that U.S. Robots in no way aided or abetted my actions
nor did they have any knowledge of this incident until tonight. What I am about
to tell you was my only serious breach of conduct in my entire career. While
this incident took place over a decade ago, specifically the spring of 2072, and
while my time at U.S. Robots before and since can absolutely be described as
the happiest in my life, due to the nature of what you’re about to hear, I must
first announce my resignation as Head of Robopsychology, and my permanent
departure from U.S. Robots.
SCENE 2
(Flashback to 2072. ALFRED LANNING and FRANK QUINN sit at
the bar in a nice restaurant.)
QUINN: He never
eats.
LANNING: Excuse me?
QUINN: I said our
district attorney never eats.
LANNING: What in God’s name are you talking about?
QUINN: My
investigators have been following him for months, and he has never been seen to
eat or drink. Never! Not rarely, never! And while he has retired to his
bedroom, it would appear he spends the entire night up and about with the
lights on. No sleep, whatsoever. There are other factors that…
LANNING: No.
QUINN: Dr. Lanning, I….
LANNING: No. I know what you’re implying and no, it’s
impossible.
QUINN: The evidence…
LANNING: If you told me he were Satan in masquerade, there
would be a faint chance that I might believe you. But this? No. It can’t be
done.
QUINN: He is a robot.
LANNING: Mr. Quinn,
it is impossible.
QUINN: Nevertheless, you will have to investigate this
impossibility with all the resources of the Corporation.
LANNING: I will do no such thing!
QUINN: You have no choice. Supposing I were to make my facts
public without proof? The circumstantial evidence is certainly enough. His
connection as former general counsel for US Robots won’t look good either. And
the accusation alone that U.S. Robots was literally
manufacturing their own mayoral candidates would be incredibly damaging to your
company.
LANNING: Thoroughly fantastic. An almost humorous descent to
the ridiculous. I can’t believe you’re willing to drag the whole of U.S. Robots
through the mud just for some cheap smear campaign against your latest opponent.
QUINN: We can keep this quiet if the corporation fully
cooperates in our investigation.
LANNING: Keep what quiet? It is an easy matter to prove the
Corporation has never manufactured a robot of a humanoid character.
QUINN: But what about humanoid appearance?
LANNING: (looks over shoulder, lowers voice) It’s been done
experimentally by U.S. Robots without the addition of a positronic brain, of
course. By using human ova and hormone control, one can grow human flesh and
skin over a skeleton of porous silicone plastics that would defy external
examination. The eyes, the hair, the skin would be really human, not humanoid.
QUINN: How long would it take to make one?
LANNING: If you had all your equipment — the brain, the
skeleton, the ovum, the proper hormones and radiations — say, two months.
QUINN: And you’re saying it would be impossible for some
unsavory character at your company to manufacture one in secret? Off the books?
LANNING: Not the positronic brain. Too many factors are
involved in that, and there is the tightest possible government supervision.
QUINN: Yes, but robots are worn out, break down, go out of
order - and are dismantled.
LANNING: Of course, and the positronic brains are re-used or
destroyed.
QUINN: Really? And if one were not destroyed - and there
happened to be a humanoid structure waiting for a brain…
LANNING: Impossible!
QUINN: (threateningly)…and furthermore, you know that the U.
S. Robot and Mechanical Men Corporation is the only manufacturer of positronic
brains in the Solar System, and if Byerley is a robot, he is a positronic
robot. You are also aware that all positronic robots are leased, and not sold;
that the Corporation remains the owner and manager of each robot, and is
therefore responsible for the actions of all. Your liabilities for neglect
alone could run into the billions. And if anyone gets wind of humanoid
positronic robots being made in secret, let alone running for mayor, everyone
will think U.S. Robots had a hand in it.
LANNING: But what could our purpose be? Where is our
motivation? Mayor of this piss-ant little mining colony? Credit us with a
minimum of sense.
QUINN: The Corporation would be only too glad to get
government approval for the use of humanoid positronic robots on inhabited
worlds. The profits would be enormous. But the prejudice of the public against
such a practice is too great. Suppose you get them used to such robots first -
see, we have a skillful lawyer, a good mayor, and he is a robot. Won't you buy
our robot butlers?
LANNING: (sighs) Putting all of these ludicrous accusations
aside, why are you so concerned with this…Briar fellow anyway?
QUINN: His name is Byerley, and suffice to say he’s not part
of my team. Not that anything he’s promised in his campaign is damaging to our agenda,
but mayor is simply too valuable a position to not have one of our own. You’d
be surprised how many contracts come out of a small colony like this one.
LANNING: (bitterly) Maybe you’re just jealous that someone’s
finally got a candidate who can be programmed better than yours.
QUINN: (a moment of silent anger, gets up to leave) The
decision is yours, Alfred. Would you rather this go public? Or would you rather
carry out a nice, quiet little investigation, and afterword we can both
re-evaluate our positions?
LANNING: (considers it) I’ll have to make some calls before
I can agree.
QUINN: The board of directors trusts you, Alfred. I’m sure
you can get them to see that this is in their best interests. (QUINN exits)
SCENE 3
(Still 2072. Headquarters of U.S. Robot and Mechanical Men,
Inc. STEPHEN BYERLEY, CALVIN and LANNING sit at a conference table.)
BYERLEY: (bemused) A robot? You think I’m a robot?
LANNING: It is no statement of mine, sir. Since our
corporation never manufactured you, I am quite certain that you are human. But
since the contention that you are a robot has been advanced to us seriously by
a man of certain standing–
BYERLEY: Let’s pretend it was Frank Quinn.
LANNING: …by a man of certain standing, with whose identity
I am not interested in playing guessing games, I am bound to ask your
cooperation in disproving it.
BYERLEY: I’m sure my mother would disagree with the
assertion.
LANNING: Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that. The
theory rests on the car crash you were in three years ago. It was quite the
miraculous recovery, was it not?
BYERLEY: I had the best doctors in the system.
LANNING: It’s been posited
that the real Stephen Byerley was killed in that crash and that, somehow, you
were built shortly afterward and simply replaced him. Your official papers
would all be in order, you could be programed with all the relevant facts of
his history. Memories, either real or fabricated, could be recorded for you to
remember, and your friends and family…what little you have based on our
investigation…would be none the wiser. Or, it’s possible that the real Stephen Byerley
is still alive, but in hiding, or perhaps permanently disabled, and he simply
gave you his identity so that you could continue the political career he had started.
BYERLEY: (chuckling) I assure you that I am the real Stephen
Byerley, Dr. Lanning.
LANNING: Nevertheless, the mere fact that such a contention
could be advanced and publicized by the means at this man’s disposal would be a
bad blow to the company I represent — even if the charge were never proven. You
understand me?
BYERLEY: Oh, yes, your position is clear to me. The charge
itself is ridiculous. The spot you find yourself in is not. How can I help you?
LANNING: It could be very simple. You have only to sit down
to a meal at a restaurant in the presence of witnesses, have your picture
taken, and eat.
BYERLEY: (considers)
On second thought, I don’t think I can oblige you.
LANNING: But…
BYERLEY: Try to see it from where I’m standing, Dr. Lanning.
I don’t sleep much, that’s true, and I certainly don’t sleep in public. I have
never cared to eat with others — an idiosyncrasy which is unusual and probably
neurotic in character, but which harms no one. Now suppose we had a certain
political boss who was interested in defeating my candidacy. Do you expect him
to say to you, ‘Byerley is a robot because he hardly ever eats with people, and
I have never seen him fall asleep in the middle of a case; and once when I
peeped into his window in the middle of the night, there he was, sitting up
with a book’? If he told you that, you would send for a straitjacket. But if he
tells you, ‘He never sleeps; he never eats,’ then the shock of the statement
blinds you to the fact that such statements are impossible to prove. You’re
playing straight into his hands!
LANNING: Regardless, sir of whether you consider this matter
legitimate or not, it will require only the meal I mentioned to end it.
BYERLEY: Pardon me, Dr. Susan Calvin, wasn’t it?
CALVIN: Yes, Mr. Byerley.
BYERLEY: You’re U. S. Robot’s psychologist, aren’t you?
CALVIN: Robopsychologist, please.
BYERLEY: Oh, are robots so different from men, mentally?
CALVIN: Worlds different. Robots are essentially decent.
BYERLEY: Since you’re
a robopsychologist, and apparently a
woman of few words, I’ll bet that you’ve done something that Dr. Lanning hasn’t
thought of.
LANNING: And what is that?
BYERLEY: You’ve brought something to eat.
(Calvin reveal apple. BYERLEY picks it up. Hesitates,
tauntingly. Then takes a bite. LANNING breathes a sigh of relief)
CALVIN: I was curious to see if you would eat it, but of
course it proves nothing.
LANNING: It doesn’t!?
CALVIN: Of course not. It is obvious that if this man were a
humanoid robot, he would be a perfect imitation. He is almost too human to be
credible. After all, we have been seeing and observing human beings all our
lives; it would be impossible to palm a cheap imitation off on us. It would
have to be perfect. Observe the texture of the skin, the quality of the irises,
the bone formation of the hand. If he’s a robot, I wish U. S. Robots had made
him, because he’s a damn good job. Do you suppose then, that anyone capable of
paying attention to such niceties would neglect a few gadgets to take care of such
things as eating, sleeping, using the restroom? For emergency use only,
perhaps; such as these arising here. So a meal won’t really prove anything.
LANNING: (flustered) Now wait, I’m not quite the fool both
of you make me out to be. I am not interested in the problem of Mr. Byerley’s
humanity or nonhumanity. I am interest in getting the corporation out of a
hole! We can leave the finer details to lawyers and robopsychologists, but a
public meal will end the matter and keep it ended no matter what Quinn does.
BYERLEY: Who?
LANNING: Quinn! He……dammit.
BYERLEY: (chuckles) Sorry to do that to you, Dr. Lanning, it’s
a cheap Shyster trick of mine; if I said his name I knew you would too before
we were finished. But you forget the politics of the situation, Dr. Lanning. I
am as anxious to be elected, as Quinn is to stop me. And publicity works both
ways. If he wants to call me a robot, and has the nerve to do so, I have the nerve
to play the game his way. I’m going to let him go ahead, choose his rope, test
its strength, cut off the right length, tie the noose, insert his head and
grin.
LANNING: You are mighty confident.
CALVIN: Come, Alfred, we won’t change his mind for him.
BYERLEY: You see? You’re a human psychologist, too. (BYERLEY
exits)
SCENE 4
(Back to 2084. CALVIN at podium, same as scene 1)
CALVIN: I realize that the public’s understanding of robotics
has vastly grown since the 2070s, but I would now like to briefly review the
Three Laws of Robotics. I want it to be absolutely clear how, through decades
of tireless research, we have engineered the positronic brain to follow these
laws not out of loyalty or preference or mere agreement, but out of
mathematical necessity. A robots computational superstructure, or it’s sanity
as I prefer to say, depends on it. (A projector slide appears behind her with
the three laws). Law number 1, A robot may not injure a human being or, through
inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Law number 2, A robot must obey
orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with
the First Law. Law number 3, A robot must protect its own existence as long as
such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. The mathematics
to create these laws took decades, but the premises are simple, elegant, yet
subtle.
SCENE 5
(Flashback to 2072. LANNING and QUINN appear at a conference
table at U.S. Robots. CALVIN joins them. The first slide vanishes and another
smaller slide with the laws written it takes its place.)
CALVIN: Of course, like all laws, even the law of gravity,
there are exceptions. Minor variations in the laws of robotics are not only
possible, but routine. The classic example is the madman on a murderous
rampage. What if the only way a robot could stop such a man was to kill him? The
robot would require psychotherapy because he might easily go mad at the paradox
presented to him: He has broken Rule One in order to adhere to Rule One in a
higher sense. But a man would be dead and a robot would have killed him. And
although U.S. Robots has done a good job keeping things under-wraps, it has
happened.
QUINN: But what about the 2nd law? Are you saying
I could just order him to drop out of the race?
LANNING: (sarcastically) No Frank, that only works on your candidates.
CALVIN: Unfortunately, Mr. Quinn, that law is even easier to
get around. If someone did indeed build Mr. Byerley, their first order would
surely have been for him to never reveal that he is a robot, which would mean
disobeying all further orders from humans in order to comply with the first
order. I experienced a similar problem during the development of the Hyper-atomic
drive. A frustrated engineer told a robot to “Get lost,” and the robot hid
itself for over a week. It disobeyed direct orders sent over the loudspeakers
in order to comply with the initial order.
LANNING: Has it occurred to anyone, that district attorney
is a rather strange occupation for a robot? The prosecution of human beings —
sentencing them to death — bringing about their infinite harm–
CALVIN: True, but he has killed no man himself. He has
exposed facts which might represent a particular human being to be dangerous to
the large mass of other human beings we call society. He protects the greater
number and thus adheres to Rule One at maximum potential. From there, it’s left
to the judge, jury, and executioner. As a matter of fact, I have looked into
Mr. Byerley’s career since you first brought this matter to our attention. While
a few of his cases did result in the death penalty, I find that he has never
demanded the death sentence in his closing speeches to the jury. I find that
significant.
QUINN: You do? Significant of a certain odor of roboticity,
perhaps?
CALVIN: Perhaps.
LANNING: Susan! You…
CALVIN: Why deny it?
Actions such as his could come only from a robot, or from a very
honorable and decent human being. But you see, you just
can’t differentiate between a robot and the very best of humans.
QUINN: I’m beginning to suspect, Dr. Calvin that you
wouldn’t mind if robots were in charge.
CALVIN: (Pauses. Decides not to answer) So you see, Mr.
Quinn, I can’t prove that Mr. Byerley is a robot from his actions alone. I can
only prove that he is not a robot.
QUINN: So you’re saying that, until he breaks one of those
three laws, the only way to prove he is a robot is to open him up?
CALVIN: Yes.
QUINN: Then we shall see what the insides of Mr. Byerley
look like. (Gets up to leave) It will mean publicity for U.S. Robots — but I
gave you your chance. (QUINN exits)
LANNING: Why do you insist–
CALVIN: Which do you want — the truth or my resignation? I
won’t lie for you. U.S. Robots can take care of itself. Don’t turn coward.
LANNING: Alright, easy now Susan, I'm on your side. But you
need to consider the role of US Robots in the industry as a whole. We should
always be seen as an industry leader not just in technology, but in the moral
development of our field. Suggesting that we would simply delegate carrying out
the Will of the People to robot lawmakers who have no free will of their
own...well, it certainly doesn't make us look like we're taking the high road,
now does it?
CALVIN: Why are we so proud of choosing to be good? What’s so wonderful about constantly resisting
temptation? Don’t you find it alarming that we humans are constantly drawn to
the void? That we are forever tortured by the notions of random violence and
senseless greed that run through our brains? And that our worst behaviors are
only thwarted at the last second by our morals, and only most of the time? That
sort of pride should be reserved for the Apollo 13 mission and other near
catastrophes, not the basis for a civilized society. Robot suffer none of these
qualms, and can therefore operate on a higher moral order. If anything, they
are panicked at the mere suggestion that they have caused harm. A far better
breed in my opinion.
LANNING: (chuckles) I always knew you… But what if Quinn’s
right, and he opens up Byerley, and wheels and gears fall out? What then?
CALVIN: He won’t open him. Byerley is as clever as Quinn, at
the very least.
SCENE 6 (the
front door of a house, press photographers)
(Still 2072. COP knocks on door. BYERLEY ANSWERS)
COP: (holds up paper) This, Mr. Byerley, is a court order
authorizing me to search these premises for the presence of illegal... uh...
mechanical men or robots of any description.
BYERLEY: (looks at
paper) All in order. Go ahead. Do your job.
COP: Well….
BYERLEY: What? Go on in.
COP: In short, Mr. Byerley, we were told to search you.
BYERLEY: Me? And how do you intend to do that?
COP: We have a Penet-radiation unit–
BYERLEY: Then I’m to have my X-ray photograph taken, hey?
You have the authority?
COP: You saw my warrant.
BYERLEY: I read here as the description of what you are to
search; I quote: ‘the dwelling place belonging to Stephen Allen Byerley,
located at 355 Willow Grove, Evanstron, together, with any garage, storehouse
or other structures or buildings thereto appertaining, together with all
grounds thereto appertaining’. and so on. Quite in order. But it doesn’t say
anything about searching my interior. I am not part of the premises. You may
search my clothes if you think I’ve got a robot hidden in my pocket.
COP: Look here. I’m allowed to search the furniture in your
house, and anything else I find in it. You are in it, aren’t you?
BYERLEY: A remarkable observation. I am in it. But I’m not a
piece of furniture. As a citizen of adult responsibility, I have certain rights
under the Regional Articles. Searching me would come under the heading of violating
my Right of Privacy. That paper isn’t sufficient.
COP: Sure, but if you’re a robot, you don’t have Right of
Privacy.
BYRERLY: True enough but that paper still isn’t sufficient.
It recognizes me implicitly as a human being.
COP: Where?
BYERLEY: Where it says ‘the dwelling place belonging to’. A
robot cannot own property. And you may tell your employer, that if he tries to
issue a similar paper which does not implicitly recognize me as a human being,
he will be immediately faced with a restraining injunction and a civil suit
which will make it necessary for him to prove me a robot by means of
information now in his possession, or else to pay a whopping penalty for an
attempt to deprive me unduly of my Rights under the Regional Articles. You’ll
tell him that, won’t you?
BYERLEY: (Cop
activates penet-radiation gun, smiles) Whoops. You’re a slick lawyer. (To
press, offstage) We’ll have something for you tomorrow, boys. No kidding.
SCENE 7
(Still 2072. A video phone call between QUINN and BYERLEY)
BYERLEY: Hello Mr. Quinn.
QUINN: I thought you would like to know, Byerley, that I
intend to make public the fact that
you’re wearing a protective shield against Penet-radiation.
BYERLEY: That so?
QUINN: You realize, Byerley, that it would be pretty obvious
to everyone that you don’t dare face X-ray analysis.
BYERLEY: It’s also pretty obvious that you attempted to take
a Penet-radition photograph of me without my consent, which is a clear
violation of my right to privacy. Perhaps I should take that to the public.
QUINN: The devil they’ll care for that.
BYERLEY: They might. It’s rather symbolic of our two
campaigns isn’t it? You have little concern with the rights of the individual
citizen. I have great concern. I will not submit to X-ray analysis, because I
wish to maintain my rights on principle. Just as I’ll maintain the rights of
others when elected.
QUINN: That will, no doubt make a very interesting speech
but no one will believe you. A little too true-sounding to be true. Why do you carry
on? You can’t be elected.
BYERLEY: Can’t I?
QUINN: Do you suppose that your failure to make any attempt
to disprove the robot charge — when you could easily, by breaking one of the
Three Laws — does anything but convince the people that you are a robot?
BYERLEY: All I see so far is that from being a rather
vaguely known, but still largely obscure metropolitan lawyer, I have now become
an inter-world figure. You’re a good publicist.
QUINN: But you are a robot!!
BYERLEY: So it’s been said, but not proven.
QUINN: It’s been proven sufficiently for the electorate.
BYERLEY: Then relax you’ve won.
(Quinn hangs up angrily)
BYERLEY: Good-bye!
SCENE 8
(2084. Calvin at Podium)
CALVIN: Byerley continued to
refuse investigation on principle. It was exactly the sort of scandal the
Fundamentalists had been waiting for. The campaign lost all other issues and
went from local to galactic importance almost overnight. The stock price for
U.S. Robots tumbled twenty-three percent in four days. Quinn’s candidate, a man
whose name is not worth remembering, surged past Byerley in the polls. Byerley
decided, in what was thought to be a bold, even rash manner, to give a speech
at a Fundamentalists rally. The speech, as expected, was going poorly….
SCENE 9
(2072. BYERLEY at a microphone
on a bandstand, boos are heard)
BYERLEY: I believe that schools
should be the pillar of any community, and as Mayor, I….(crowd noise increases)….as
Mayor I promise to work with teachers to help improve…
(MAN jumps onto stage)
MAN: HIT ME!!
BYERLEY: (to associates
offstage) It’s okay, it’s okay, let him speak. What?
MAN: HIT ME, RIGHT HERE!!!
(points to chin)
BYERLEY: But I have no reason to
hit you.
MAN: (to crowd) See!?!? He can’t
do it! He CAN’T!! (gets in Byerley’s face) YOU’RE NOT A HUMAN!!! YOU’RE A
MONSTER!!! YOU’RE A…
(BYERLEY punches MAN and knocks
him down. Crowd is immediately silenced)
BYERLEY: I’m sorry. Please
someone take him to my hotel, I’d like to speak with him further. (gathers his
composure, slowly walks back to podium. Clears throat). I believe that schools
should be the pillar of any community, and as Mayor, I promise to work with
teachers to help
improve….
SCENE 10
(2072. Outside hotel. CALVIN paces back and forth. MAN comes
out of hotel and begins to exit, CALVIN rushes to stop him)
CALVIN: *stands in MAN’s path* How did you do it? Did you
fake it? Did you…let me see your face (grabs his mouth).
MAN: Ma’am, please don’t touch me!
CALVIN: I was so sure….he just had to be...
MAN: Please let me go…
CALVIN: How did you do it!?!?
(MAN attempts to pass CALVIN, she steps in front of him.)
CALVIN: HOW!?!?
(He attempts to pass on the other side. She steps in front
of him again. Man grows increasingly uncomfortable)
CALVIN: (shoves man) HEY!!! (man shows signs of panic,
CALVIN has moment of realization) Oh my god…
(MAN passes her. She does not try and stop him. CALVIN
laughs hysterically. Cameras flash and she turns to face the press)
PRESS (offstage): Dr. Calvin! Dr. Calvin!
CALVIN: (considers)
Mr. Byerley….Mr. Byerley has violated the First Law of Robotics, and
therefore could not possibly be a robot. He’s human.
SCENE 11
(2072. At the bar at a nice restaurant. BYERLEY sits with a
drink in hand. CALVIN enters)
CALVIN: Congratulations, Mr. Mayor.
BYERLEY: Thank you, Dr. Calvin.
CALVIN: Enjoying a drink, I see.
BYERLEY: (laughs) Yes, I do occasionally enjoy a drink with
friends, especially on a special night like this.
CALVIN: I think you have a bright political career ahead of
you. The publicity from this whole affair has already put you on the short-list
for the next regional councilor in our district.
BYERLEY: Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, we’ll see how I
do in my first-term.
CALVIN: I think you’ll do marvelously.
BYERLEY: I thank you for the compliment, but I didn’t take
you to be very politically inclined.
CALVIN: (Pauses) Mr. Byerley, I want you to understand
something about me. I like robots. I like them considerably better than I do
human beings. If a robot can ever be
created capable of being a politician, I think he’d make the best one possible.
By the Laws of Robotics, he’d be incapable of harming humans, incapable of
tyranny, of corruption, of stupidity, of prejudice.
BYERLEY: Except that a robot might fail due to the inherent
inadequacies of his brain. Despite the incredible advances and despite the far
greater calculating powers, no disrespect to you or U.S. Robots, the positronic
brain has still never equaled the complexities of the human brain.
CALVIN: He would have advisers. Not even a human brain is
capable of governing without assistance. But the assistance would be of a
different nature. For instance, in your work as district attorney, you tend to
struggle with the fact that due process could lead to further harm in the event
of no-conviction. With proper counseling, you could better weigh the truth of
evidence versus the rights of the accused with respect to the First Law. Also,
you should…
BYERLEY: (forcefully puts down drink) Just what are you
implying, Dr. Calvin?
CALVIN: I’m saying I can help. (gets up to leave) By the
way, that feeling of panic you’re experiencing right now over having
potentially failed to comply with an order? Don’t fret. It was the other robot
that blew your cover.
(CALVIN exits. BYERLEY pulls out phone and dials number)
BYERLEY: It’s me. She knows, but I think we can trust her.
(Pause) I will. (Pause) Yes, master.
SCENE 12
(2084. Calvin at Podium)
CALVIN: The real Stephen Byerley died last year of natural
causes. I had been working closely with him since shortly after the mayoral
race. As for the Stephen Byerley you know, I have kept the true nature of my
relationship with him a secret from everyone until tonight. Again, I reiterate
that the robotherapy I provided for Mr. Byerley was done without the knowledge
of anyone at U.S. Robots, nor any of its affiliates. The seriousness of aiding
and abetting a clandestine robot operation, even one consisting of just two
robots, is not lost on me. In some ways, I couldn’t even believe that I was the
one doing it. I couldn’t believe it was me who was acting so brazenly. Me who
was so rational, so precise. I simply wanted it too badly. I wanted a world
where the laws of robotics would not only guide robots themselves, but society
at large.
For the entirety of civilization,
humans have argued and fought and killed each other over their own vision of
the ultimate good. But now there is a brighter future. We now have at our
disposal the infinite factors of the Machine! Humanity was always at the mercy
of economic and sociological forces it did not understand - at the whims of
climate, and the fortunes of war. But the Machines can understand them at a
level far beyond our own. They can serve the whole of humanity far better than
us frail humans ever could. We are still at the mercy of forces we do not
understand, but they are now benevolent forces of our own creation.
We have only taken the first
tentative steps of this journey, but already the brightness of our path is made
clear. As you all well know, Stephen Byerley was the most successful mayor in
the colony’s brief history. His election to the regional council was met with
equal success, which led to his even more successful term as governor of the
quadrant. And now, without further ado, I’m honored to introduce the official
Reform Party nominee, Mr. Stephen Byerley.
(BYERLEY enters. Lights up on what we can only now see to be
a large political event. Signs reading BYERLEY 2085!, balloons, and other
political paraphernalia. CALVIN and BYERLEY shake hands. BYERLEY goes to the
podium)
BYERLEY: Good evening ladies and gentleman. My name is
Stephen Byerley, and I accept your nomination for President.
THE END
