The Outer Limits (1963–1965): Season 2, Episode 9 - I, Robot - full transcript

God looked upon his
world and called it "good,".

But man was not content.

He looked for ways
to make it better.

And built machines
to do the work.

But in vain
we build the world,

unless the builder
also grows.

Come on, boys.

What happened?

That tin man
hurt me.

He tried
to kill you,

just like he did
doc link.



Just dumb,
brute savagery.

Which way
did he go?

There!

Come on.

You stay
with the girl.

Hold it.

Fred, you follow me.

Come on around, boys. There
ain't gonna be no trouble.

Ugly brute,
ain't it?

Thing weighs
more than 300 pounds.

The question is, how we
gonna get it back to town?

It's too heavy
to carry.

That won't be necessary.

I will go
under my own power.



There is nothing
wrong with your television set.

Do not attempt
to adjust the picture.

We are controlling
transmission.

For the next hour, we will control
all that you see and hear.

You are about to experience
the awe and mystery.

Which reaches from
the inner mind to...

The outer limits.

Doc built himself
this here mechanical man.

Because he's
a crackpot scientist.

Anyway, it got out of control
and killed him.

Frankenstein,
killed by his own monster.

Sheriff,
this is the space age.

Mister, that thing in there
ain't no joke.

Did you get
a signed confession?

Look, there's no doubt
he killed him.

Doc was alone
in his lab.

Nobody else could have
done it.

Sheriff Barclay?

Yes, ma'am.
What can I do for you?

I'm Nina link.

Miss link, would you be the doc's
niece from over at union town?

Yes.

I'd like to speak
to Adam.

Terrible thing, miss link.
Your... your uncle was a fine man.

Miss link, I'm Judson Ellis, St.
Louis herald. Can I get a statement?

How do you do?
Sheriff...

Miss link, if there is anything
at all we can do for you...

Yes, there is.

I'd like to speak
to Adam link, alone.

Adam? You don't mean
that gadget?

But he's nothing
of the sort.

He's my...
My legacy.

Maybe you don't understand
the circumstances.

Your uncle was killed
by that thing.

Well, I don't believe that.

Adam is kind
and gentle,

and he was devoted
to uncle Charles.

You talk
like it was human.

Well, he is, almost.

Please, let me talk to him.

Well, I'm sorry,
I can't do that, miss link.

We don't know yet what makes
that infernal machine work,

or when it might go off.
It's just like a bomb!

When are you going to evacuate
the town, sheriff?

You know, fella, we got smart-aleck
reporters right here at home.

Any town that could dream up
a hoax like this

has a sense of humor that I
wouldn't try to compete with.

If you want any pictures,
mister, you better get 'em now,

because as soon as I get
an acetylene torch,

there ain't gonna be nothing
left but scrap metal.

You can't do that!

Adam was uncle Charles'
property

and I'm his only relative.

So, now he's my property.

And if you so much as
lay a hand on him,

well, I'll have to sue you
for willful destruction.

Well, we'll see what the district
attorney has got to say about this.

Dilly!

That was very good,
miss link.

You really put
that clown in a spot.

Well, thank you, Mr...

Ellis. Judson Ellis. Defender
of the constitution.

"All robots are
created equal."

Your assistance
is appreciated, Mr. Ellis.

It moves. It talks.
It's human.

You still think
it's a trick, Mr. Ellis?

Certainly.

But it's the best
I've run into.

I'll admit I haven't
spotted the gimmick yet.

Look, I want an exclusive
interview with you,

but I've got to round up
a photographer, first.

Don't let that boondock sheriff
dismantle it before I get back.

He's not going to touch Adam.

He will destroy me, Nina.

All he needs is a state order.

Declaring me
an unlawful weapon.

That's right.
How did you know?

I read every book
in Dr. Link's library.

There was one volume on law.

Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

That's what we need.
Counsel for the defense.

It'll be the story
of the year.

The state versus Adam link,
first all-functional robot.

Thinks. Talks. Acts.

Accused of murder.

Thurman Cutler! Is he still alive?
Is he still around these parts?

I don't know.

You find out. Track him down
and tell him the whole story.

He'll give you a bad time, but
don't take no for an answer.

Now, move!
Run all the way!

The herald will pay
the legal fees,

but don't tell Cutler
I sent you.

Stiff upper lip,
nerves of steel.

You may end up a skillet,
tin man.

But I'm going
to make you famous.

All right. All right.

Somebody's coming,
what of it?

Mr. Cutler?

I'd like to talk
to you, Mr. Cutler.

Please,
it's very important.

Talk.

Who are you?

Nina link.

Are you related
to old doc link?

His niece.

Pull up a rock.

Your uncle is a dreamer.

One of the worst
cribbage players I ever met.

How is he?

Didn't you know?

He was killed
yesterday.

Did he blow himself up
in that crazy old lab of his?

No. They say
Adam did it,

but it isn't true.

I don't care
what sheriff Barclay says,

he couldn't have done it.

Young lady,

if you've come all the way
out here to ask me to help,

you've had a long walk
for nothing.

I'm retired
from the human race.

Go away.

Well, what are you waiting for?
I said no.

You don't have to shout at me.

Your uncle was one of the
finest men I ever knew.

I'm not lifting a finger for
any skunk who killed him.

Adam's a robot.

But it's true.

Uncle Charles
built him, himself.

But he's almost human.

He thinks and he talks.
He remembers.

Now wait a minute.

Are you telling me that sheriff
Barclay arrested a mechanical man?

Yes. And the district attorney
wants to destroy him.

That's the first good laugh
I've had in 35 years.

I'm sorry. I meant
no disrespect to the doc.

When you get to be my age,

death doesn't seem to be all
that important, somehow.

Barclay never did have brains
enough to pour water out of a boat.

And the D.A.
Has the taint of ambition,

which makes him no better.

A mechanical man.

A robot.

"A Daniel
come to judgment."

Yay, a Daniel."

Any statement for the
press, counselor?

Little Judd Ellis,
isn't it?

Ah, the young man of great
promise, and all of it broken.

You're still at it,
huh, Cutler?

Well, for once we're gonna
be on the same team.

And, brother,
you'll need me.

Well, it seems I didn't
retire a minute too soon.

With the herald behind me,
I'd be ruined.

No, don't give me
that line.

Who do you think sent
Nina link after you?

And you came like a shot,
didn't you?

For an opportunity like this, one
last crack at the philistines,

wild horses
couldn't have stopped you.

I know you, Mr. Cutler.

You're as automatic
as that robot.

Are you referring
to Mr. Adam link?

The living egg beater.

Hmm. "Living"?

Yeah, I'd guess
you'd call him that.

He thinks and remembers,
doesn't he?

And he knows something
about the law,

which is more than you can
say for sheriff Barclay.

Hmm. He talks,
so he can't be animal.

Ah, man-like creature,
wouldn't you say?

Practically human.

And therefore,
entitled to his civil rights

as guaranteed
under the constitution.

What's he
been charged with?

I don't think sheriff Barclay
has bothered charging him yet.

Why,
that's illegal detention.

I'm shocked,

shocked at Sheriff Barclay's
disregard for the law.

They're saying that this
creature murdered Dr. Link.

Well, that is yet
to be proven.

May I quote you,
counselor?

Naturally. Excuse me, I have
to consult with my client.

Yes, of course.

No robot can equal the
human body for efficiency.

It required a billion years
for nature to develop it.

Dr. Link
had only 20.

You mean you have
certain limitations?

Yes, Mr. Cutler.

For instance,
I cannot see colors,

nor do I have
the sense of smell or taste.

What about feelings?

Feeling is nature's method
of protecting a fragile body.

My body is not fragile.

That's not what I meant.

How do you feel
about being in here?

Would you like being
in a cage, Mr. Cutler?

I have thought of leaving.

And how do you propose
to get out?

I see, now, why people think
you killed doc link.

You gave yourself up.
Why?

For the same reason I did not
resist being brought here.

I don't want
to hurt anyone.

What happened with doc link?

It was an accident.

Did you kill him?

No. He was my creator.

My emotions
are the same as his.

Why should I kill him?

When he died,
I felt sorrow.

Mr. Cutler!
Mr. Cutler...

Well, Mr. Cutler,

I heard you were back
in town

for the first time
in 12 years.

Now what's this nonsense
with doc link's robot?

Hello, Tom.

You've come
a way in the world.

Well, a matter of knowing and using
the law, as you used to say.

That's why I'm here.

I hear you're withholding property
that belongs to my client.

That's miss Nina link, here.

We're not
withholding it,

we're going
to dismantle it.

Oh?

I don't recall that my client
received a writ or an order

depriving her
of her personal property.

That's an engine
of destruction.

An engine of destruction?

You mean
he committed a crime?

It committed a crime.

It killed doc link.

But that's
a murder charge.

Then that's
what it is, murder.

Wanton, savage murder.

But denied.

What?

I'm simply repeating
your charge

and entering
a plea of "not guilty."

Are... are you suggesting
we put a robot,

a... a computer,

wires, electrodes, and what all
else, on trial for murder?

Well, it's not a bad idea,

but you said this was
to be a civil case.

It is a civil case.

Not when you've got
the defendant

locked up in jail
on a charge of murder.

Mr. Cutler...

I've always known you've
never had much use for us.

But are you trying to make this
city the laughingstock of America?

There's always the alternative
of a civil suit.

Which you could make equally ridiculous,
with appeals and more appeals.

True, and that's why
I like your shortcut.

A simple hearing,
without a jury.

Closed to the public.
Closed to the press.

Just for the purpose of ascertaining the
destructive abilities of the robot?

Uh-huh.

You'd accept the judge's
decision as final?

That is, if it's all right
with my client.

I'll do whatever you say.

Ah, it's mad.

I- it's ludicrous.

Oh, I'll do anything in
the pursuit of justice.

Hadn't you better draw up those papers
before I think of something else?

Well...

Deputy?

I almost forgot to ask
if this is all OK with you?

Let one thing
be understood:

This is a court of law.

That the circumstances
are bizarre,

I might say, outrageous,

does not alter the facts.

As you yourself said,
your honor,

"this hearing
will be conducted

on strict procedure,
and on the highest level."

Because I believe Mr. Cutler
has more on his mind

than the defense
of a pile of iron.

Object!

Sustained.

Please limit yourself to your
opening remarks, Mr. Coyle.

The state contends
and will prove

that the defendant murdered
Dr. Charles link.

The state contends that a
verdict of guilty is mandatory

to protect the people of this
community and this state

against the mindless violence
of a destructive machine.

Mr. Cutler.

Your honor, the defense will not
make its opening statement,

but we do have a motion.

We move this case
be dismissed

on the grounds it is
manifestly impossible

that the defendant
is guilty.

In his deposition,

Adam link swore
he did not kill doc link.

Since he is a robot,

he can only repeat information

which is programmed into him.

Ergo, he cannot lie.

Therefore, on irrefutable
testimony, he is innocent.

Your honor,

it is true that a
computer can answer

only what has been
programmed into it.

But if it has been told
that white is black,

and it responds
that white is black,

isn't it telling
an untruth?

No, your honor,

a computer
is capable of lying.

On this score,
and on another,

which the prosecution will
take up at the proper time.

Motion to dismiss,
denied.

Proceed, Mr. Coyle.

The state calls
Mrs. Mccrae.

What was your relation
to the late Dr. Link?

Oh, we weren't related.

I was his housekeeper, and nothing
more, for the past 9 years.

Mrs. Mccrae,

I'm only trying
to establish

that you were well
acquainted with his work.

Of course, I was.

Cleaned up that lab
of his every week.

Then you must have been one of
the very first to see the robot,

the defendant.

I saw him when he was nothin'
but a heap of nuts and bolts.

Oh, there you are,
Mrs. Mccrae.

I thought you'd
forgotten about lunch.

Then why have I been screamin'
at you for the last 2 hours?

Oh, was that you?

I thought
it was a barn owl.

You know,
you shouldn't bring that

all the way out here
from the house.

You'd starve to death
if I didn't.

I don't mind the work.

Mrs. Mccrae, just wait till I
get Adam, here, assembled.

He'll do all the hard work.

You're badly foolin'
yourself, Dr. Link,

if you think that mechanical
man will ever move for you.

Huh, it's against nature.

No better man ever lived
than Dr. Link.

But it was the devil's toys
he was playin' with.

The next time I saw it,
it was all together.

Mrs. Mccrae,
you found another mouse?

That... that... that thing!
It... it moved!

It's staring at me!
It's alive!

There wasn't a week passed that I
didn't drive over from union town

to have dinner with uncle.

And I watched him
give Adam his lessons.

He was training him?

Yes, he taught him,

just as you would
teach a child.

He even had to learn
how to walk.

I built a 3-dimensional
spirit level into the brain.

It will tell him what's
horizontal, vertical and oblique.

Now, when I turn on
this switch,

he should walk,

I hope.

Well, that's that.

Back to the drawing board.

I was so certain
it would work.

Look, uncle.
He's crawling like a baby.

That's it.

Come on. Good boy.

Crawl over this way.
Crawl to me.

Now, why do you
suppose he's...

Oh, uncle,

anybody but an old bachelor would know that
a baby has to crawl before it can walk.

Nonsense,
I never crawled.

Oh!

Chair.

Chair.

Table.

Table.

Generator.

Generator.

My hand.

My hand.

No,

this is my hand.

This is your hand.

My hand.

Your hand.

Yes, yes, but gently,

or it won't be a hand at all.

"See Johnny run.

"Run, Johnny, run.

"See Sally run.

Run, Sally, run."

"'Take some more tea, '.

"The march hare said
to Alice, very earnestly.

"'I've had nothing yet, ' Alice
replied in an offended tone,

'so I can't take more."'

"the characteristic spectrum.

"Produced by the atom
of a given element,

"either in emission
or absorption,

"is determined by
the aggregation.

"Of possible energy levels.

"Of the atoms of that element.

The ratio between
the powers..."

Do you think he really
understands all that stuff?

Well, I'm not sure I know
how to answer that, Nina.

Certainly he remembers
everything he reads.

Not only that,
he makes cross-references

which produce
logical conclusions.

Well, then he has a mind?

A human mind?

Well, basically, yes,
I suppose he is human.

I'm teaching him to think,
to reason, to perform.

But he's still
a creation.

A machine.

If he has any
emotional responses,

I think they're the ones
he acquired from me.

Oh, that means he's going
to be a woman-hater.

Not true.

I just don't want
to be caged up.

I wanna be free.

Then I take it,
miss link,

you consider
the defendant

a creature
of high intelligence.

Well, he's a lot smarter
than I am.

You stated that the
defendant read voraciously.

Yes, he never had to sleep,

so he read at night.
Hundreds of books.

Every book
in your uncle's library?

Yes, and more that I brought
from the public library.

Miss link...

I hold in my hand a volume
containing Dr. Link's book plate.

Since it came from his home,

may we assume
the defendant read it?

Yes, most likely.

Would you read the title,
please?

It's a novel
entitled Frankenstein.

The premise of which is

that a created man,
lacking a soul,

must turn against his creator.

Against humanity.

Oh, yes, but that's only a novel.
It's not...

No more questions.
It's not true!

No more questions,
miss link.

I work for doc, regular.

You know, uh, odd jobs.

Like that crate I built for
him to ship the robot in.

Had to be mighty sturdy.

Oh, this'll do
just fine, Fred.

Try it out, Adam.

You want me
to get in there?

That's right. I wish you could
sit in the Pullman with me,

but I'm afraid the other passengers
might not like the idea.

Adam's making his debut.

I'm taking him to Chicago
next week.

That right?

He's the first of his kind,
but not the last.

In the future, Adam will
be the greatest aid to man

and civilization since...

What are you waiting for, Adam?
Try it out for size.

I don't like being locked up.

- They were still arguing about it
when I left.
- 00.

Arguing about it?

Sure, they had arguments.

Differences of opinion,
some people might say.

There were some things that that
robot just couldn't understand.

Like what?

Well, the idea of his
strength, for one.

How to use it.

The... the ethics of usin' it,
as doc would say.

Oh?

There was times that doc
thought about takin' it apart,

and startin' all over again.

I guess he was right.

That afternoon
I heard the argument,

I went to town
to cash my check,

and, well, I found out
doc hadn't signed it.

I guess he was
just absent-mined.

So, I went back.

Doc?

Doc, you forgot to put
your "John Henry" on my...

Doc?

Doc?

What have you
done to him?

You crazy monster.

You killed him!

No, it was an accident.

You put that thing down.

You're in enough trouble.

I'm gonna call the law!

Well, sure, we knew that doc had built
a mechanical man up at his place,

but how could we figure
it'd turn on him?

We got the report.

We got together a few of the deputies
and when out looking for him.

That's when we ran across little
Evie Cooper, near the pond.

And, uh, you were out
playing, hmm?

Yes.

And where... where
were you?

By the edge
of the pond.

By the edge of the pond,
uh-huh.

And then you heard
something?

Yes.

And what was the
first thing you saw?

The big tin man.

Yes?

And what did he do?

Pushed me in the water.

He did?

Yes.

What... what else
did he do?

He grabbed me out by the arm

and hurt me.

He hurt you?

Yes.

Broke your arm,

then he pushed you in the water
and wouldn't let you out?

Yes.

Maybe something else
he couldn't understand,

that a human being can drown.

He's the one,
the tin man!

Professor,

you have an impressive string
of degrees after your name.

With your many
scientific achievements,

would it be proper to say

that you're one of the leading
figures in your field?

Oh, possibly. I'm not much
impressed with ratings.

You knew Dr. Link
personally?

Intimately.

What kind
of a man was he?

He was a wonderful man.

Gentle?

Kind.

Shame he met
such an untimely death.

More than a shame. It's a
loss to the entire world,

both as a scientist
and as a human being.

Yes, you worked with him
scientifically.

You've done some
outstanding work

in the field of electronic
brains, I understand?

Computers. Yes.

Would you say the
defendant is a computer?

He's a true robot.

That is to say, he was constructed
to perform manual tasks,

much in the manner of an
automated industrial plant.

However, Dr. Link
succeeded in creating

a very advanced
type of computer brain,

a really marvelous
creation.

In other words, he functions
as a human being?

Well, physically, I would say he
could out-perform any human being.

Is he capable
of human emotion?

Ah, well,
that's something else again.

I would suggest he would
adopt some, but not all.

In other words,
if he was taught to love,

he would not automatically learn
that the opposite side was hate?

In my opinion, that would
be completely impossible.

And where would he derive
his emotions from?

From environment, uh,
from his programmer.

In this case, undoubtedly,
Dr. Charles link.

And would you say Dr. Link had the
emotions of a fiend or a murderer?

No, of course not. I've already
described the sort of man he was.

Oh, yes,
so you did.

I'm through
with the witness.

Tom, you wish
to cross examine?

Yes,
Mr. Cutler.

Tell me, professor,

isn't the defendant
animated by electricity?

Oh, yes, there's an electronic
power source in the chest.

Then what would happen if
he were to leak, or rust?

Oh, it would cause a short
circuit, I suppose.

Now, I ask you,
Professor Hebble,

what would be the result?

Oh, it would damage some
of the cells, I suppose.

I really can't say.

In other words,
he would be disrupted?

Thrown out of kilter?

Or in human terms,
go berserk.

The analogy is not completely
far-fetched. I suppose.

Would it be possible
to simulate such a damage

to the cells of
this creature's brain?

Yes, I could switch off
one or 2 of the sensory wires

leading to a portion
of his iridium memory bank.

I ask the court's indulgence.

Object!

Your honor,

this type of theatrics
went out with vaudeville.

This is not germane.

Overruled.
I think it is germane.

And I think the prosecutor has
laid the proper foundation.

And I am interested
in the experiment.

However, Mr. Coyle,
could this be dangerous?

Under some conditions,
yes, your honor.

But I've taken
some precautions.

Adam link,
will you step forward?

Mr. Cutler?

Let him do it, Adam.

I will no longer be
responsible for my actions.

We just had a ruling.

Let him do it.

Shall we, doctor?

Ah, have you
a screwdriver?

Thank you.

Ready, professor?

We have here,
your honor,

Dr. Link's
remote-control unit.

All right?

Go ahead.

No! Stop! No!

Stop! Stop!

No!

Get the control box!
Hurry!

Have you got it?
Is he safe now?

He's safe now,
your honor.

Thank you, Mr. Coyle,
for the demonstration.

And now we will recess,

clean up the courtroom,

and get on with the hearing.

Adam, what were
your sensations?

I had no sensations.

What were your thoughts?

I wanted to destroy.

Had you ever had thoughts
like that before?

No.

Had you ever wanted
to destroy before?

No.

Now, I want you to think back to
the afternoon of doc link's death.

Can you remember
what happened?

I remember everything,
Mr. Cutler.

I am incapable
of forgetting.

Yes, well,
that's something I forgot.

Tell us what happened
that day.

After Fred,
the handyman, left,

Dr. Link started working.

I went into my reading room.

Dr. Link, you should
not try to fix things.

That is what
you have me for.

Wait, I will move it
off you.

Are you hurt, Dr. Link?

You will have to tell me
what to do.

I have never seen
an injured human being.

Hey, doc, how do you expect
a man to pay for his beer

when you won't
sign his pay check?

What's going on here?

Dr. Link
has been injured.

Please tell me
how to help him.

You hit him
with that thing.

No, it was an accident.

You killed him!

You stay away from me.

Keep back!

Dr. Link
still had not moved.

His head was bleeding.

I had to find someone
who would tell me what to do.

There he is!
There's the monster!

No! No!

Help Dr. Link!

And so, the posse chased me,

armed with weapons,
guns and axes.

And the incident with
the child at the pond?

I must have frightened her.

She was playing and tripped,
and fell into the pond.

And what did you do?

I lifted her out.

Why?

I was afraid
she might come to harm.

You lifted her out
by the arm?

Yes.

You broke her arm, Adam.

I never touched
a child before.

They are very fragile.

Tell me something.

You have the strength
of 10 men.

When you were cornered
in that shack,

why didn't you fight back?

I did not want
to injure anybody.

Afraid of your
own strength, huh?

Yes.

And how about
getting wet?

When you waded into the
pond to rescue that girl,

didn't you give yourself
a short circuit?

No.

All my wiring is insulated.

Didn't catch a cold? No rheumatism.
No ill effects of any kind?

None.

Tom, your witness.

Adam,

you testified to pulling the
little Cooper girl from the pond,

because you were worried
she might come to harm.

Yes.

You were worried?

And the reason
you didn't resist arrest

was concern over
injuring someone?

Yes.

And about
Dr. Link's death,

you felt sorrow?

Yes.

Worry. Concern. Sorrow.

These are certainly
human emotions?

Would you agree they'd
arrived from your creator?

I am only an extension
of Dr. Link.

And you didn't know that he
suffered from claustrophobia,

a strong fear
of being closed in?

He never told me.

You objected to being closed
in that carrying crate,

didn't you?

I do not like to be caged up.

But when he insisted, you were
carried away by your emotions.

Your inherited fear
of being caged up.

And then you wrenched the
angle iron from the wall,

and struck him violently
over the head.

Isn't that true,
Mr. Link?

No, no,

the generator
fell on him.

You must believe that!

It was an accident!

I find it very difficult
to believe,

considering you're very close
to breaking my arm.

You know,

there was an old heavyweight
I used to like.

A real crowd pleaser,
when he had it.

But he got tired.

You're tired,
Mr. Cutler.

You don't mix it.

Sure, you can still put on a
flurry at the end of a round.

Coyle nearly came
out of his skin, once.

But you didn't follow up.

Tell me something, little Judd. How
do you think the trial's going?

Now, are you trying
to tell me you're worried

that animated tin can will
end up in a scrap heap?

Yes, I am.
More than you think.

Oh, come off it.

All you wanted was another
shot at coyle and Barclay

and that whole crowd
of entrenched stupidity.

"Entrenched stupidity,"
that's not half bad.

Tell me something,

is that confined to small towns, or
do you find it in big cities, too?

Sure, but we have a better
class of stupidity.

Your honor,

this trial, if we can now
call it that in summation,

since it is
a devisement

based on a compact between miss
Nina link and the prosecution,

still is binding

on the life or death
of Adam link.

I am not now entering a plea for
mercy or extenuating circumstances,

because that would
imply guilt.

And under no circumstances

does the defense
admit guilt.

Of course, the district attorney is
not really trying a robot for murder.

We both knew
from the beginning

that he is trying
all of society

on the concept
of a robot itself.

On progress.

On science.

On the future.

On the ability of society

to control what it creates.

If you find Adam link guilty,

you are convicting society
of irresponsibility.

You are telling society
to put away

its yearning
for a better world,

its hunger
for a better way of life,

its reaching for the stars.

Mr. Coyle.

Yes, your honor.

I admit it. Society is
really on trial here.

Society as creator.

Adam link didn't commit
the murder, we did.

We turned him
on and off.

Aren't we rushing pell-mell,
without responsibility,

towards some
dreadful catastrophe?

Wouldn't we all be better off

if science hadn't exploded
its technology in our faces?

Now we're asked,
in the name of progress,

to control a piece of machinery
with a brain of its own.

I don't think we,
society, are ready for it.

It's an unreasoning piece
of destructive machinery

and never will be
properly mastered.

I don't think we should let such
a force loose on the earth.

The judge is still out.

I know.

Shame,
that was no flurry.

You were swinging
from bell to bell.

Pretty good show, huh?

All right, I was wrong.

Tell me something...

If you care so much
about people,

why did you retire
from the human race?

I could ask you
the same question.

Me? I just got out
of town.

Why did you send
that girl to me?

Who else do I know
who could latch on

to the real meaning
of this incident?

One thing you'll learn, if you
manage to live as long as I:

There's always
more than one man,

always more than one hope.

Go on, write your story.

I can't.
I haven't got the finish yet.

Under normal circumstances, I would
find the evidence sufficient

to bind the defendant
over for trial by jury.

However,

under the abnormal
circumstances of this hearing,

the court is charged with
rendering a final verdict.

The court finds the defendant
guilty as charged.

The defendant
is to be destroyed, then?

It is so ordered.

All rise.

You are not surprised,
Mr. Cutler?

No, it'll take a long time
to change human nature.

And you thought
a trial might help?

That's what I thought, Adam.

I thought,
if a robot can understand,

maybe in time
we mortals will catch on, too.

Where's the wagon? I gave
orders to have it waitin'.

Afraid of
a lynching, sheriff?

I brought him out the
back for a good reason.

Ain't nobody gonna get within
50 feet of this thing.

If Adam were going to escape,
he'd have done it long since.

There's the wagon.

The tin man!

OK, baby.
It's all right.

Too bad, sheriff.

Adam just cheated
the executioner.

Well, there's the end
of your story.

Everybody can sleep
easy tonight.

That terrible monster
won't harm anybody ever again,

he's as dead
as old doc link's dream.

It's not the end
of the story.

It's just
the beginning.

Out of every disaster,

a little progress is made.

Man will build more robots.

And learn
how to make them better.

And given enough time,

he may learn how to do
the same for himself.

We now return control
of your television set to you.

Until next week,
at this same time,

when the control voice
will take you to...

The outer limits.