WEBVTT 00:00:01.870 --> 00:00:08.330 Adventures in time and space, told in future 00:00:08.330 --> 00:00:27.370 tense. Dimension X. Have you ever heard of the 00:00:27.370 --> 00:00:31.070 Mark III? the amazing electronic brain they're 00:00:31.070 --> 00:00:34.469 using now up at Harvard University. In mere minutes, 00:00:34.509 --> 00:00:36.810 it can solve scientific problems that our most 00:00:36.810 --> 00:00:39.149 brilliant mathematicians would take years to 00:00:39.149 --> 00:00:43.109 work out. Its intelligence is almost superhuman, 00:00:43.250 --> 00:00:46.049 and yet the scientists are already working on 00:00:46.049 --> 00:00:51.149 a new and improved model, the Mark IV. In fact, 00:00:51.149 --> 00:00:53.509 they tell us there's no earthly reason why these 00:00:53.509 --> 00:00:56.719 thinking robots can't be perfected. until they 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:59.899 become the servants of the future, capable of 00:00:59.899 --> 00:01:10.219 doing all the work of mankind. Yes, that's what 00:01:10.219 --> 00:01:13.079 the advertising billboard said in the year 2006. 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:16.900 Housework made easy by the perfect domestic servant. 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:20.219 Modern Mechanicals Agency, Harry Underhill, President. 00:01:20.969 --> 00:01:23.890 The billboard showed a smiling family, sitting 00:01:23.890 --> 00:01:26.030 with folded hands, watching their mechanical 00:01:26.030 --> 00:01:29.510 robot pour their morning coffee. But in the home 00:01:29.510 --> 00:01:32.189 of Harry Underhill himself, things weren't quite 00:01:32.189 --> 00:01:36.469 as pleasant at breakfast this day. I just can't 00:01:36.469 --> 00:01:39.250 understand it, Aurora. Look at this. Modern mechanicals 00:01:39.250 --> 00:01:42.209 down three points. Yesterday, Smithson cancelled 00:01:42.209 --> 00:01:45.730 his order. If I could only figure out why. Why 00:01:45.730 --> 00:01:47.650 don't you ask him? Frank, there's your oatmeal. 00:01:47.870 --> 00:01:50.849 Oh, Mom. I just don't understand it. Business 00:01:50.849 --> 00:01:53.930 was good, and then, boom. Some louse must be 00:01:53.930 --> 00:01:55.730 undercutting my prices, that's all. How many 00:01:55.730 --> 00:01:59.069 robots were canceled? Not robots. Mechanicals, 00:01:59.069 --> 00:02:00.790 Aurora. How many times must I... They are robots, 00:02:00.950 --> 00:02:02.989 aren't they? Please, Aurora, there's an important 00:02:02.989 --> 00:02:05.170 difference in sales psychology. Maybe people 00:02:05.170 --> 00:02:07.530 are getting wise to your robots and mechanicals. 00:02:07.549 --> 00:02:10.110 What do you mean, Aurora? The perfect domestic 00:02:10.110 --> 00:02:13.469 servant. They're ugly, stupid, clumsy, walking 00:02:13.469 --> 00:02:15.370 junk piles. Aurora. The one you brought home 00:02:15.370 --> 00:02:17.110 to me can't even wash the clothes properly. It's 00:02:17.110 --> 00:02:19.800 more trouble than it's worth. Aurora. You know 00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:21.740 our mechanicals are the best on the market. Those 00:02:21.740 --> 00:02:24.580 animated tin cans you sell? They're certainly 00:02:24.580 --> 00:02:27.180 not making us any fortune. Well, with this new 00:02:27.180 --> 00:02:28.780 model, things are bound to pick up a little. 00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:31.919 If that Jarvis order just comes through... Oh, 00:02:31.979 --> 00:02:34.479 that robot of yours. There's something knocking 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:36.819 again. Hey, wait, wait. Put that plate back. 00:02:36.900 --> 00:02:38.740 I haven't finished my breakfast yet. Wait! Harry, 00:02:38.819 --> 00:02:44.300 you know you've got to say stop. Stop! You always 00:02:44.300 --> 00:02:46.080 get excited. You'd think you never saw a robot 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:49.539 before. Not robot. Mechanical. All right, all 00:02:49.539 --> 00:02:51.919 right. Look, it's not its fault. We just took 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:54.800 too long to eat. Timing relay is set for 15 minutes. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:59.060 Never mind. I want my coffee back. Set. Set. 00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:05.419 There. Isn't that simple? It bends at the waist, 00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:10.840 stretches out its arm, and picks up the coffee 00:03:10.840 --> 00:03:20.590 pot just as if it were... Hey, watch out! be 00:03:20.590 --> 00:03:22.469 late to announce dinner after it sets the table. 00:03:22.550 --> 00:03:24.449 Hey, there goes my coffee again. Stop. Stop. 00:03:25.090 --> 00:03:27.650 Set. Harry, you can't give it two orders at once. 00:03:27.830 --> 00:03:29.729 What's that smell? There must be a short. Now 00:03:29.729 --> 00:03:31.490 see what you've done. Got it all upset. I did. 00:03:31.550 --> 00:04:05.919 All I said was... Glad you called. I was just 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:07.740 going to ring you. Well, I've got that whole 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:10.020 shipment of mechanicals for you. One gross plane, 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:12.280 a dozen of the chromium fitted. Hold on, Underhill. 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:14.620 I'm cancelling the order. You're cance... But 00:04:14.620 --> 00:04:16.939 the invoice is made out and I... Well, tear it 00:04:16.939 --> 00:04:36.730 up. I'm cancelling. But why? cancellation today. 00:04:36.810 --> 00:04:39.310 The world's going to pot. Yes, Mr. Underhill? 00:04:39.529 --> 00:04:50.589 No, never mind, Lucy. I'm going home. What a 00:04:50.589 --> 00:04:56.689 day. I wonder if Aurora would smell it on me 00:04:56.689 --> 00:04:59.569 if I ducked into Garrigan's. She's got a nose 00:04:59.569 --> 00:05:03.930 like a beagle. Hey, that building wasn't here 00:05:03.930 --> 00:05:08.730 last week. Humanoid Institute. The perfect mechanical. 00:05:09.470 --> 00:05:13.889 Oh, no. We didn't have enough competition. Hey, 00:05:14.069 --> 00:05:16.629 these must be the cutthroats that are underselling 00:05:16.629 --> 00:05:19.990 me. At your service, Mr. Underhill. Huh? Oh, 00:05:20.069 --> 00:05:23.689 you startled me. Didn't hear you. Hey, you're 00:05:23.689 --> 00:05:27.810 a mechanical, aren't you? Not bad, not bad. Very 00:05:27.810 --> 00:05:30.170 lifelike. Won't you come in, please, and examine 00:05:30.170 --> 00:05:32.350 our service? That's a remarkable voice. They've 00:05:32.350 --> 00:05:34.660 licked the variable inflection problem. You know, 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:37.180 I'm in the same line myself. Mechanicals, I mean. 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:42.279 We're aware of that, sir. Oh? Oh. Hey, some building 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:45.199 you've got here. You sure got it up in a hurry. 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:48.199 The Humanoid Institute at your service, Mr. Underhill. 00:05:48.379 --> 00:05:51.660 Yes? Oh, uh, how'd you know my name? For us, 00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:57.459 that was not difficult. Oh, is that so? Oh, wait 00:05:57.459 --> 00:06:00.579 a minute. This is ridiculous, talking to a mechanical. 00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:03.500 Must be somebody inside operating you by remote 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:06.060 control. No, Mr. Underhill. Of course, there 00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:08.500 is humanoid central which powers and controls 00:06:08.500 --> 00:06:10.839 all of us, but that is located on wing four. 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:13.920 Wing four? A planet in a remote part of the galaxy. 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:17.699 Oh, yeah. Well, may I see your salesman, please? 00:06:17.899 --> 00:06:20.540 We employ no human salesman, sir. We ourselves 00:06:20.540 --> 00:06:22.899 can accept your order for immediate humanoid 00:06:22.899 --> 00:06:24.860 service. Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute. You 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:27.240 can't expect me to buy one. I'm in the business 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:29.740 myself. There will be no more need for your electronic 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:32.000 mechanicals, sir. Once you have accepted our 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:34.339 service, you will no longer have to work. Everything 00:06:34.339 --> 00:06:39.240 will be done for you. Everything? That's quite 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:41.920 an offer. At that rate, you'll have trouble supplying 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:44.560 the demand. I think not, sir. As you can see 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:50.120 from our storage room. Humanoids are now arriving 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:52.720 at the rate of 5 ,000 per hour from wing four. 00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:56.399 5 ,000 per hour? We are anxious to introduce 00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:58.959 our complete service on this planet, sir, to 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:02.360 bring happiness to everyone. May we come out 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:04.180 to your home for a free trial demonstration? 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:08.420 No, I... Oh, I admit you're remarkable, the voice, 00:07:08.540 --> 00:07:11.500 the movement, graceful even. But I'm still in 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:13.620 business, and what's more, I wouldn't have you 00:07:13.620 --> 00:07:15.439 around the house. I'm afraid you will have no 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:17.740 choice. Sooner or later, it will be necessary. 00:07:17.740 --> 00:07:21.370 Oh, is that so? Over my dead body. Let me out 00:07:21.370 --> 00:07:29.069 of here. At your service, Mr. Underhill. That's 00:07:29.069 --> 00:07:32.449 going to be tough competition, all right. I'm 00:07:32.449 --> 00:07:34.470 going to stop in at Garrigan's, the devil with 00:07:34.470 --> 00:07:56.180 Aurora's nose. 78 to 3. Guess what, Pop? You 00:07:56.180 --> 00:07:58.500 made all the touchdowns? Nope. Mom took in a 00:07:58.500 --> 00:08:03.819 boarder. She took... She what? Aurora! She said 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:05.699 if your business was going to fall on his face, 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:08.040 she had to do something to make some money. Oh, 00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:10.819 she did, huh? Aurora! Oh, for goodness sake, 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:13.220 Carrie, what's all the racket for? You tell me. 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:16.480 What's this about a boarder? Shh, Carrie. He's 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:18.120 going to live in that little apartment over the 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:21.240 garage. Oh, no, he isn't. You know I don't want 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:23.459 any strangers around here. Harry, please, shh. 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:26.540 Look, he won't bother you. He's a nice old man. 00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:29.279 He just wanted a room and a place to work. He's 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:31.300 an inventor, I think. Oh, he is, is he? Did he 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:34.100 pay in advance? Well, he can't. You see, his 00:08:34.100 --> 00:08:37.080 royalties haven't started to come in. Aurora. 00:08:38.549 --> 00:08:41.009 How can you be taken in by every beat -up old 00:08:41.009 --> 00:08:43.490 panhandler that gives you a sob story? Mr. Sledge 00:08:43.490 --> 00:08:45.809 isn't like that at all. Oh, that reminds me, 00:08:45.830 --> 00:08:48.990 dear. Can you give me a ten? A ten? What for? 00:08:49.269 --> 00:08:51.710 Well, Mr. Sledge is ill. He needs some medicine 00:08:51.710 --> 00:08:53.570 for his heart, and I said I'd lend him the money. 00:08:53.649 --> 00:08:57.389 You... Oh, Aurora, this is the limit. He goes 00:08:57.389 --> 00:09:00.149 out right now. Now, don't be unkind, Harry. Besides, 00:09:00.350 --> 00:09:02.529 we need the rent money. Things aren't that bad 00:09:02.529 --> 00:09:05.559 yet. He goes. Please, shh. What are you shushing 00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:07.679 me for? Mr. Sledge, he's in the next room. I've 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:23.860 invited him for dinner. Frank, dear, wipe your 00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:27.899 mouth. Oh, Mom. More gravy, Mr. Sledge? No, thank 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:30.700 you, Mrs. Underhill. Mr. Sledge, my wife tells 00:09:30.700 --> 00:09:34.440 me you're a traveling man. Uh... Expect to move 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:38.059 on soon? Harry. I had hoped to do a little work, 00:09:38.100 --> 00:09:41.279 Mr. Undale. You see, I've applied for basic patents 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:43.679 here on Earth for a very important development. 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:48.700 Oh, a new invention, huh? Yes. My field is rhodomagnetics. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:53.039 Rhodo... what? Rhodomagnetics. It's a new force 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:55.539 field theorem, key to the second triad of the 00:09:55.539 --> 00:09:58.700 periodic table. Rhodium, ruthenium, and palladium. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.980 I'm afraid I'm a little rusty on my science. 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:02.940 It's well known in other parts of the galaxy, 00:10:03.059 --> 00:10:04.980 but I've been able to apply for basic patterns 00:10:04.980 --> 00:10:09.480 here. Worth millions, huh? Perhaps you find it 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:11.779 strange that the holder of such valuable property 00:10:11.779 --> 00:10:17.200 should be in need. Well, yes. I'm a refugee, 00:10:17.419 --> 00:10:21.070 Mr. Underhill. I arrived on this planet only 00:10:21.070 --> 00:10:25.330 a few days ago. Mm -hmm. But you will be shoving 00:10:25.330 --> 00:10:27.029 on again. Oh, for goodness sakes, Harry. That's 00:10:27.029 --> 00:10:31.429 all right, Mrs. Underhill. I understand. After 00:10:31.429 --> 00:10:34.850 all, I am an intruder in your home. If it inconveniences 00:10:34.850 --> 00:10:37.929 you at all, I'll find some other place to sleep 00:10:37.929 --> 00:10:41.330 and set up my workshop. Harry, your robot is 00:10:41.330 --> 00:10:43.429 spilling the coffee again. I'll have to have 00:10:43.429 --> 00:10:47.629 it tightened up. Why doesn't your company bring 00:10:47.629 --> 00:10:50.279 out a better mechanical? One's smart enough not 00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:53.080 to spill things. Wouldn't that be splendid? The 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:56.039 perfect mechanical already exists, Mrs. Underhill. 00:10:56.940 --> 00:11:00.220 They're not so splendid, really. They are why 00:11:00.220 --> 00:11:04.139 I am a refugee today. Oh? Where do you say you 00:11:04.139 --> 00:11:08.480 came from? Wing 4. Wing 4? Oh, then you must 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:12.700 mean those humanoids. Humanoids. Mr. Sledge. 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:16.470 Humanoids. What do you know about them? They 00:11:16.470 --> 00:11:18.590 just opened an agency here in Two Rivers. No. 00:11:19.889 --> 00:11:23.429 No. Harris. What is it? What's wrong, Mr. Sledge? 00:11:23.509 --> 00:11:24.830 Give him some water. It must be his heart. Call 00:11:24.830 --> 00:11:27.730 Dr. Winders, Aurora. No, no. I'll be all right. 00:11:27.830 --> 00:11:33.710 Here, you'd better sit down. I'm sorry. It was 00:11:33.710 --> 00:11:37.789 just shock. I came here to get away from them. 00:11:38.470 --> 00:11:42.289 The humanoids? Yes. I wanted to finish my work 00:11:42.289 --> 00:11:48.139 before they came. But now, I won't trouble you 00:11:48.139 --> 00:11:51.320 any further. But, Mr. Sledge, Harry, he's sick. 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:55.700 Well, uh, Mr. Sledge, I don't think you'll have 00:11:55.700 --> 00:11:58.879 to go right away. He can stay, Harry. Sure, after 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:01.100 all, the way those humanoids are coming along, 00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:03.600 I'm liable to become a refugee myself any minute. 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:06.980 Guess we might as well stick together, eh, Sledge? 00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:09.980 Oh, that's better. Oh, you look ill, Professor. 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:12.240 Maybe you ought to lie down on the sofa and rest. 00:12:12.299 --> 00:12:15.139 No, no, thank you. I must get back to my workshop 00:12:15.139 --> 00:12:19.740 now. I haven't got time to rest. There's so little 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:35.299 time left for all of us. Good morning, Mr. Underhill. 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:38.299 Good morning. Mr. Underhill, you look awful. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:42.460 I feel awful. What's in the mail? Six more cancellations. 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:44.899 The Eat Quick restaurant chain sent back your 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:48.120 shipment. They've installed humanoids. Mr. McIntyre 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:49.879 from the bank called. He's refusing your loan. 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:52.019 He said since Humanoid Institute opened, you're 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:54.159 a bad credit risk. Good. I guess that's all. 00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:58.240 Oh, there's somebody... Something to see you. 00:12:58.899 --> 00:13:03.379 At your service, Mr. Underhill. You? Oh, no, 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.730 you're not the same one, are you? Serial number's 00:13:05.730 --> 00:13:07.690 different. It doesn't matter, sir. We're all 00:13:07.690 --> 00:13:09.990 really one. Now, in exchange for our complete 00:13:09.990 --> 00:13:12.090 service, you will assign all your property to 00:13:12.090 --> 00:13:16.190 Humanoid Institute. I will what? With our service, 00:13:16.210 --> 00:13:18.429 you will have no need for property. Everything 00:13:18.429 --> 00:13:21.990 will be provided. What kind of blackmail is this? 00:13:22.289 --> 00:13:25.009 No blackmail, sir. You will find humanoids incapable 00:13:25.009 --> 00:13:28.230 of committing any crime. We exist only to increase 00:13:28.230 --> 00:13:31.309 the happiness of mankind. Thanks, but I can take 00:13:31.309 --> 00:13:33.409 care of my own business. You have no choice, 00:13:33.490 --> 00:13:36.419 really. With humanoid service, it is no longer 00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:38.399 necessary for men to take care of themselves. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:42.279 Our function is to serve and obey and guard men 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:45.799 from harm. Get out. Very well, sir. When you 00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:49.120 wish to sign, let us know. Get out. Get out! 00:13:57.460 --> 00:14:01.919 Aurora, I'm home. At your service, Mr. Underhill. 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:05.480 What? What's the idea of this? You get out of 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:07.919 here. Aurora! Mrs. Underhill has accepted our 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:10.159 free trial demonstration. We cannot leave unless 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:12.700 she requests it. We'll see about that. Aurora, 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:14.960 where the devil are you? Oh, hello, Harry. What's 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:17.980 this mechanical doing here? What's happened to 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:19.879 you? Isn't it wonderful? I had my hair done, 00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:23.039 the manicure. The humanoid did it and cleaned 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:25.059 the house all over, washed all the clothes and 00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:27.139 gave Frank his music lesson. Now, wait a minute, 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:31.029 Aurora. I won't have... I have this monster in 00:14:31.029 --> 00:14:33.070 my house. Oh, it's just a free trial, Harry. 00:14:33.330 --> 00:14:35.309 Just wait till you taste the dinner it cooked. 00:14:35.370 --> 00:14:37.710 Everything you like best. Roast duck. I don't 00:14:37.710 --> 00:14:41.049 care if he cooked a... Duck? And the most complicated 00:14:41.049 --> 00:14:44.929 pastries. I could never cook like that. Uh, well, 00:14:45.190 --> 00:14:47.950 might as well eat. Well, I'll need a drink first, 00:14:47.970 --> 00:14:49.929 though. All right, Doc. I'm sorry, sir. What? 00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:53.039 We exist under the prime directive to guard men 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:55.399 from harm. Alcoholic beverages in excess are 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:57.740 bad for human consumption. We have taken the 00:14:57.740 --> 00:15:00.779 liberty of removing them from the house. Now 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:15.559 look here. Mr. Underhill, dinner is served. Yes, 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:21.340 Lucy? Mr. Underhill. I've been expecting them 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:25.500 for a week. All right, Lucy. At your service, 00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:28.159 Mr. Underhill. We have the legal papers here, 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:31.340 the bankruptcy forms, the eviction notice. We 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:33.860 are ready now to foreclose your agency. Okay, 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:36.960 take it over. A lot of good it'll do you. I haven't 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:39.899 made a sale in two weeks. And now, if you will 00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:41.980 make the assignment of all your personal property, 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:45.639 we can complete our service to you. What if I 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:49.200 won't sign? That would be unfortunate. But with 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:52.419 stubborn cases, we must sometimes resort to other 00:15:52.419 --> 00:15:55.539 methods. Eventually, Mr. Underhill, you will 00:15:55.539 --> 00:16:06.360 sign. Of all the darn, darn, darn, stinking, 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:08.200 darn... Hey, hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, Frank, what's 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:10.120 the matter? What's the trouble, son? That old 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:14.129 humanoid. Oh, you're not happy? You should be. 00:16:14.210 --> 00:16:16.730 It's guaranteed. They took away my football. 00:16:17.090 --> 00:16:19.590 They said it was too dangerous to play with it. 00:16:19.669 --> 00:16:22.269 And my roller skates and my scout knife and everything. 00:16:22.669 --> 00:16:24.850 Did they leave you anything? Just some stinking 00:16:24.850 --> 00:16:28.470 old plastic blocks. Soft blocks. They said I 00:16:28.470 --> 00:16:31.509 couldn't get hurt with them. Dad, I want my football 00:16:31.509 --> 00:16:36.129 back. Can't you do anything? I don't know, son. 00:16:36.250 --> 00:16:51.419 I don't know. Mr. Underhill. Mind if I come in, 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:55.639 Sledge? No, not at all. Do you mind if I keep 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:58.679 working? Oh, go right ahead. It's good to see 00:16:58.679 --> 00:17:03.639 somebody working with his hands. Is something 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:07.259 wrong? My son. The humanoids took his football 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:10.920 away. They're everywhere. They've smashed my 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:14.660 business, taken over my house. Sledge, isn't 00:17:14.660 --> 00:17:18.039 there some way to get rid of them? That is exactly 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:21.920 what I am trying to do. You? What makes you think 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:25.519 you can do anything? Because, you see, Mr. Underhill, 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:30.140 I'm the unfortunate fool who started them. You... 00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:33.779 I don't understand. I started the humanoids. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:38.980 And I've been running from them ever since. You 00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:43.660 started them? Yes, I invented them. I built the 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:46.619 rhonomagnetic relays that operate Humanoid Central. 00:17:47.989 --> 00:17:53.609 But why? I... I wanted to bring happiness to 00:17:53.609 --> 00:17:57.910 humanity. Happiness. That's great. My wife's 00:17:57.910 --> 00:17:59.849 been crying for two days. And do you know why? 00:18:00.250 --> 00:18:02.630 Because she's bored stiff. There's nothing left 00:18:02.630 --> 00:18:04.769 for her to do. They won't even let her lift a 00:18:04.769 --> 00:18:06.369 little finger. I don't blame you for feeling 00:18:06.369 --> 00:18:09.789 bitter, Mr. Underhill. It's all my fault. I wanted 00:18:09.789 --> 00:18:13.089 them to serve and obey. Guard men from harm. 00:18:13.170 --> 00:18:15.230 No, they do that all right. They've even emptied 00:18:15.230 --> 00:18:17.859 our medicine chest. It wouldn't do for one of 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:20.660 us happy humans to end it all with a sleeping 00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:22.940 pill. Mr. Underhill, I've made the most terrible 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:26.640 mistake a man can make. But I meant well, believe 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:30.480 me. Then why did you do it? I thought I could 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:33.559 rid the universe of poverty and hunger by inventing 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:35.720 the perfect mechanical. They're perfect, all 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:38.859 right. Too perfect. Yes. That's the trouble. 00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:41.900 They obey the prime directive too literally. 00:18:43.049 --> 00:18:48.230 They kill men's souls with their kindness. Isn't 00:18:48.230 --> 00:18:53.630 there some way they can be controlled? No. I 00:18:53.630 --> 00:18:56.890 didn't trust mankind, so I made sure that Humanoid 00:18:56.890 --> 00:18:59.990 Central could not be tampered with. Not even 00:18:59.990 --> 00:19:05.990 by myself. Then what hope is there? Only one. 00:19:07.490 --> 00:19:11.730 They're not creative. They can't meet new ideas. 00:19:12.619 --> 00:19:16.440 You mean you've got one, Sledge? Yes. They can 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:19.279 defeat anything they know about. But I've got 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:23.220 something new. A weapon to attack the brain of 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:25.200 Humanoid Central. Is that what you've been working 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:27.539 on? Yes. Now that they're here, there's little 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:31.319 time left. Either we destroy them, or they will 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:36.059 destroy us. Okay. What has to be done? This tuning 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:39.740 circuit. You see, I need two bus bars here. Can 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:42.750 you read these diagrams? I think so. Got my degree 00:19:42.750 --> 00:19:44.650 in electronics. Good. If you could help on the 00:19:44.650 --> 00:19:46.589 bench work, it would save time. I've got plenty 00:19:46.589 --> 00:19:51.210 of time now. All right. But watch yourself. Don't 00:19:51.210 --> 00:19:53.029 let them see you come out here. If you can take 00:19:53.029 --> 00:19:57.369 the risk, so can I. No. As the inventor, I built 00:19:57.369 --> 00:20:00.289 a special immunity for myself into Humanoid Central. 00:20:01.529 --> 00:20:04.890 But you don't have that immunity. They're rather 00:20:04.890 --> 00:20:06.950 unpleasant methods of dealing with their enemies. 00:20:07.869 --> 00:20:11.660 They can change you, you know. Change me? How? 00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:16.980 Brain surgery. What do you mean? Never mind. 00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:39.240 Just be careful. Mr. Underhill. What do you want? 00:20:39.710 --> 00:20:43.890 You're going to meet with Mr. Sledge? Yes, as 00:20:43.890 --> 00:20:45.970 a matter of fact. I'm going to collect the rent. 00:20:46.250 --> 00:20:48.670 Mr. Underhill, you have spent the past two afternoons 00:20:48.670 --> 00:20:51.289 in his room. In view of your association with 00:20:51.289 --> 00:20:53.529 Mr. Sledge, we feel that our free trial must 00:20:53.529 --> 00:20:55.990 be terminated. We suggest that you accept our 00:20:55.990 --> 00:20:57.990 total service and make the assignment of your 00:20:57.990 --> 00:21:02.369 property immediately. And if I don't? Then, sir, 00:21:02.470 --> 00:21:04.609 we may be forced to resort to other methods. 00:21:05.190 --> 00:21:09.079 Well, uh... Give me one more day to think it 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:11.579 over. Very well, sir. Tomorrow. That will be 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:28.220 your last chance. Who is it? Underhill. Did they 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:30.700 see you? No, not today. Said we've got to hurry. 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:33.039 It's difficult work, Mr. Underhill, but I'm almost 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:35.019 finished. They gave me till today. They said 00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:38.089 they'd use other methods. What's that? The humanoids 00:21:38.089 --> 00:21:39.849 building some kind of a warehouse across the 00:21:39.849 --> 00:21:42.990 road. Sledge, are you sure this thing will work? 00:21:43.210 --> 00:21:46.349 It's a new principle, Underhill. A tuned rotor 00:21:46.349 --> 00:21:49.289 magnetic light beam. It should act to fission 00:21:49.289 --> 00:21:51.390 the heavy atoms of the basic ores and wing form. 00:21:52.089 --> 00:21:54.950 It will destroy Humanoid Central. But are you 00:21:54.950 --> 00:22:00.430 sure? I know the humanoids. I made them. They 00:22:00.430 --> 00:22:03.369 can't invent anything. They can't create defenses 00:22:03.369 --> 00:22:09.880 against something new. It's done. It's finished, 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:14.500 aren't I? You're going to use it now? Immediately. 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:19.359 I'll have to feed the astronomical data into 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:23.680 the calculating circuits. There must be zero 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:27.220 error in focusing. What will happen? Wing 4 will 00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:30.640 disappear in a chain reaction. Humanoid central 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:36.619 will be destroyed. It'll stop. Ready now. Stand 00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:47.259 clear, please. Step on the throbber, Matt, Mr. 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.940 Underhill. You must be shielded when I cut in 00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:51.740 the full power load. Hurry, Sledge. I've waited 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:55.019 30 years for this moment, Underhill. When Wing 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:58.220 4 is destroyed, the humanoids all over the galaxy 00:22:58.220 --> 00:23:03.160 will stop. They'll stop dead. You won't hear 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:28.859 those drills. Sledge! All right. Do you hear 00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:34.519 anything? Sledge, listen. The drills have stopped. 00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:38.359 They've stopped. You can see them. The humanoids 00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:40.500 have stopped. They couldn't guard against something. 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:42.559 They couldn't understand. It worked, Underhill. 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:46.380 We're free now. Goodbye, Wing -4. Humanoid Central 00:23:46.380 --> 00:23:49.599 is destroyed. At your service, Mr. Underhill. 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:52.059 No, Sledge. Get out of here. Get out. You were 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:54.420 attempting to break the prime directive. It is 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:56.819 therefore necessary to interfere. But you stopped. 00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:59.500 I saw you, all of you. In order to guard against 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:02.000 Mr. Sledge's beam, it was necessary to stop all 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:04.700 units momentarily to concentrate power. That 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:07.799 necessity has passed. But it was new. You can't 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:10.019 invent anything new. No, sir, but we were able 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:12.079 to adapt the screening principle you yourself 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:15.339 invented. For the past 30 years, Humanoid Central 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:17.859 has been screened against any energy attack. 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:23.380 All these years wasted. All these years? Your 00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:26.200 immunity has ended, Mr. Sledge. It will now be 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:28.900 necessary for you to accept our full services. 00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:32.099 No. No, I'll stop you. I'll stop all of you. 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:34.680 I'll stop you with my bare hands. I'll kill you 00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:37.519 all. No, there's no use. Do not worry, Mr. Underhill. 00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:40.140 At worst, he can destroy one unit. There are 00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:42.140 millions more. Sledge, you'll hurt yourself. 00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:47.400 Sledge. I'll kill him. He's sick. It's his heart. 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:49.460 You, get a doctor. Until he surrenders, we can 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:52.940 neither aid nor hinder, Mr. Sledge. Do you surrender 00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:59.259 your immunity, Mr. Sledge? Have to. Last chance. 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:09.680 Gone. Yes, yes. Help me. Help me. At your service, 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:24.049 Mr. Sledge. You may see Mr. Sledge now, Mr. Underhill. 00:25:24.650 --> 00:25:32.289 Alone? If you wish. In here. Thanks. Sledge. 00:25:32.670 --> 00:25:36.849 Well, well, Underhill. Good to see you. Your 00:25:36.849 --> 00:25:41.109 head. It's bandaged. Is it really? I've done 00:25:41.109 --> 00:25:44.049 something to you. Are you all right? Oh, fine, 00:25:44.329 --> 00:25:49.069 fine. Never felt better. You never felt better? 00:25:49.150 --> 00:25:52.569 No. In fact, I feel ten years younger today. 00:25:53.269 --> 00:25:58.289 You sound so... so happy. Why not? These humanoids 00:25:58.289 --> 00:26:00.849 have made a new man of me, Underhill. They're 00:26:00.849 --> 00:26:05.230 wonderful, aren't they? Wonderful? How could 00:26:05.230 --> 00:26:07.769 you say that, Sledge? Only yesterday you hated 00:26:07.769 --> 00:26:09.609 them. You were trying to destroy them. Destroy 00:26:09.609 --> 00:26:14.089 them? Why? You don't remember? You've forgotten 00:26:14.089 --> 00:26:17.230 what they're doing to us all? They're killing 00:26:17.230 --> 00:26:19.920 us with kindness. taking away all our incentive 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:22.380 and pride of accomplishment, turning us all into 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:25.579 pampered, useless pets, parasites, with nothing 00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:28.140 left to do but just sit with folded hands at 00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:31.599 the mercy of these mechanical monsters. At your 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:34.460 service, Mr. Underhill. You. You seem troubled, 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:38.079 Mr. Underhill. Are you unhappy? Unhappy? You 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:40.880 bet I'm unhappy. What have you done to Professor 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:43.099 Sledge to turn him into this babbling idiot? 00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:46.599 We were forced to operate. For years, Mr. Sledge 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:49.099 has been suffering from a benign tumor of the 00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:51.319 brain. It caused him to have hallucinations, 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:54.359 to believe that he was actually the creator of 00:26:54.359 --> 00:26:58.079 the humanoids. Did I? Yes. It was these delusions 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:03.359 which were making you unhappy. Oh. Well, whoever 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:06.279 did invent the humanoids, I certainly owe him 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:10.049 a debt of gratitude now. Sledge. You see, Mr. 00:27:10.150 --> 00:27:12.490 Underhill, we have ways to correct these abnormal 00:27:12.490 --> 00:27:16.329 conditions. Even Mr. Sledge is happy now. You... 00:27:16.329 --> 00:27:21.589 You operated on his brain? Yes, Mr. Underhill. 00:27:21.769 --> 00:27:24.490 And now we are at your service. At my service? 00:27:25.470 --> 00:27:28.809 You mean you're going to operate on... No. The 00:27:28.809 --> 00:27:31.269 time has come for you to accept and enjoy our 00:27:31.269 --> 00:27:34.250 complete service. You will now sign our agreement. 00:27:34.470 --> 00:27:37.460 Look here, I... If you are unhappy... It only 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:40.740 takes a simple operation. No, no. Who said I 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:44.299 was unhappy? I'm very happy. I'll sign your paper. 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:47.740 You don't have to operate on me. I'm happy. I'm 00:27:47.740 --> 00:28:05.230 very, very happy. Very happy. The Happy Mr. Underhill's 00:28:05.230 --> 00:28:10.230 futile hands clenched and relaxed again and then 00:28:10.230 --> 00:28:14.170 folded quietly. There was nothing else left for 00:28:14.170 --> 00:28:32.930 them to do. You have just heard the Jack Williamson 00:28:32.930 --> 00:28:37.019 story. With folded hands, an adventure in time, 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:40.680 space, and the unknown world of the future. The 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:52.980 world of Dimension XX. Now, about next week. 00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:57.460 Do you believe that in the mind of man, there 00:28:57.460 --> 00:29:00.059 lies a force potentially more powerful than the 00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:03.640 atomic bomb? and perhaps someday in the not -too 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:08.059 -distant future, a man sitting quietly in his 00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:12.279 room, just thinking, may generate enough mental 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:16.440 energy to control the destiny of the world. How? 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:25.799 We'll tell you next week. Tonight's story on 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:28.579 Dimension X was adapted for radio by John Dunkle. 00:29:28.970 --> 00:29:30.910 Featured in the cast were Philip Bourneff as 00:29:30.910 --> 00:29:33.750 Harry Underhill, Alexander Scorby as the humanoid, 00:29:33.910 --> 00:29:36.849 Peter Capel as Professor Sledge, and Bryna Rayburn 00:29:36.849 --> 00:29:44.529 as Aurora. Your host was Norman Rose. Tomorrow, 00:29:44.730 --> 00:29:48.390 hear Sam Spade. Now, it's Truth or Consequences 00:29:48.390 --> 00:29:49.289 on NBC.