WEBVTT 00:00:02.829 --> 00:00:07.429 WRVR presents X -1. This is an experimental program 00:00:07.429 --> 00:00:10.349 on WRVR, and we'd like to hear your comments. 00:00:10.630 --> 00:00:16.250 Please drop us a note. To X -1, WRVR, New York, 00:00:16.309 --> 00:00:20.390 New York, 10027. And now, tonight's adventure 00:00:20.390 --> 00:00:30.769 on X -1. Countdown for blastoff. X -5, 4, 3... 00:00:31.629 --> 00:01:42.000 Two. X minus one. Fire. X -Minus -One. I'm Roy 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:44.480 Fox. As a broadcaster, I've seen fads come and 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:46.540 go, but few have stayed with us. One of those 00:01:46.540 --> 00:01:48.799 few is the Beatles. The Beatles created a whole 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:51.219 new world of music, fashion, and ideas, and though 00:01:51.219 --> 00:01:53.340 they're no longer together, radio stations around 00:01:53.340 --> 00:01:56.640 the world still play their music. Now RRP has 00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:59.140 gathered 60 of their finest songs out to four 00:01:59.140 --> 00:02:01.299 LP records, cassettes, and eight -track tapes 00:02:01.299 --> 00:02:04.629 for only $13 .98. You get such Beatle greats 00:02:04.629 --> 00:02:06.849 as I Want to Hold Your Hand, Hard Day's Night, 00:02:07.049 --> 00:02:10.710 Bangladesh, Hey Jude, Michelle, Help, The Ballad 00:02:10.710 --> 00:02:12.870 of John and Yoko, Sergeant Pepper, and I Love 00:02:12.870 --> 00:02:16.110 Her, Yellow Submarine, and 50 other great hits. 00:02:16.189 --> 00:02:18.669 You get your choice of stereo records, 8 -tracks, 00:02:18.669 --> 00:02:21.750 or cassettes for only $13 .98. This is an album 00:02:21.750 --> 00:02:23.349 that you will want to keep, and it will surely 00:02:23.349 --> 00:02:25.389 grow more and more valuable in years to come. 00:02:25.569 --> 00:02:27.909 Here's your announcer to tell you how to order. 00:02:28.250 --> 00:02:32.050 Send 1398 to Beatles, Box 377, Seymour, Connecticut. 00:02:32.169 --> 00:02:34.969 That's Beatles, Box 377, Seymour, Connecticut. 00:02:35.349 --> 00:02:39.169 Specify cartridges, cassettes, or records. Money 00:02:39.169 --> 00:02:41.430 -back guarantee by Electro Sound Dupe Incorporated. 00:02:47.210 --> 00:02:51.810 Tonight, The Iron Chancellor by Robert Silverberg, 00:02:51.990 --> 00:03:00.550 starring Leon Janney and Evie Juster. Like many 00:03:00.550 --> 00:03:02.849 other modern families, the four of us could all 00:03:02.849 --> 00:03:06.650 stand to shed quite a few pounds. So when I saw 00:03:06.650 --> 00:03:11.430 in Miracle Mile Robot Shop a 40 % discount on 00:03:11.430 --> 00:03:14.990 the 2061 robot model with adjustable caloric 00:03:14.990 --> 00:03:19.189 intake monitors, I figured it merited an inquiry. 00:03:19.830 --> 00:03:24.150 I thought first of my bank balance, then of Ethel's 00:03:24.150 --> 00:03:27.879 figure. Besides, our old robo -cook makes a poor 00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:30.060 showing when I bring other company executives 00:03:30.060 --> 00:03:33.520 home for dinner. On my way home from work, I 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:37.520 stopped in. Can I help you, sir? I see you're 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:41.879 admiring our 2061. Yes, it's a real beauty. How 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:45.919 much? Only $2 ,995, sir. That includes free service 00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:48.979 contract for the first five years, only 200 credits 00:03:48.979 --> 00:03:52.050 down. and up to 40 months to pay. Okay, I'll 00:03:52.050 --> 00:03:55.629 take it. Well, good. You care to trade in your 00:03:55.629 --> 00:04:00.310 present RoboCook, sir? I have a 43 Madison. 43 00:04:00.310 --> 00:04:05.590 Madison, yes. Well, I guess we could allow 50 00:04:05.590 --> 00:04:10.030 credits on a 43. Oh. Or 75, maybe, if the recipe 00:04:10.030 --> 00:04:12.330 bank is still in good condition. Excellent condition. 00:04:12.569 --> 00:04:14.949 Well, I can deliver the new model by this evening, 00:04:15.069 --> 00:04:19.480 if you'll just type out your address. That's 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:23.420 in the Westro subdivision. Well, a very fashionable 00:04:23.420 --> 00:04:26.879 suburb. Do you have one of those totally detached, 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:30.819 self -powered houses? Yes, indeed. It affords 00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:46.899 us infinite privacy. Ah, yes. I'll get it. Who 00:04:46.899 --> 00:04:53.620 is it, Myra? Of Robinson Roberts. And he's got 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:57.699 a bulky package to deliver. A surprise, my dear. 00:04:57.899 --> 00:05:01.779 What in the world is... Myra, show him in, please. 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:05.879 Oh, I... There we are. Got him all wrapped. All 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:09.000 seven feet of it, Mr. Carmichael. Lots of delicate 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:11.740 circuitry in that job. You ought to be very proud 00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:14.899 of him. Joey, help Mr. Robinson unpack the new 00:05:14.899 --> 00:05:17.579 robo -cook. No, no, no, that's okay. I can manage 00:05:17.579 --> 00:05:21.100 it. And it's not a robo -cook, by the way. It's 00:05:21.100 --> 00:05:24.839 called a robo -servitor. Oh, Sam, it must be 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:27.819 a fortune. It's very reasonable, Ethel. Now, 00:05:27.860 --> 00:05:32.259 don't worry so much. This is the instruction 00:05:32.259 --> 00:05:34.519 manual. Now, don't fret about the thickness of 00:05:34.519 --> 00:05:36.600 the booklet. It's just part of the trimmings. 00:05:37.310 --> 00:05:40.709 This robot's no trouble to handle. Now, here's 00:05:40.709 --> 00:05:44.029 the recipe bank. Biggest and best ever design. 00:05:44.149 --> 00:05:47.970 And what about the special features? The reducing 00:05:47.970 --> 00:05:51.470 monitors, you mean? Yes. Well, they're right 00:05:51.470 --> 00:05:54.209 over here, see? You just program in the names 00:05:54.209 --> 00:05:56.269 of the members of the family and their present 00:05:56.269 --> 00:06:00.110 and desired weights. And the robo -servitor takes 00:06:00.110 --> 00:06:03.180 care of the rest. computes caloric intake, adjusts 00:06:03.180 --> 00:06:06.120 menus, and everything else. I told you I was 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:08.680 going to do something about our weight, Ethel. 00:06:08.860 --> 00:06:12.639 No more dieting. The robot does all the work. 00:06:12.740 --> 00:06:15.240 I don't think there'll be any trouble, but if 00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:23.300 there is, just give me a buzz. Right. I felt 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:26.279 a momentary twinge of nostalgia when Robinson 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:30.519 took our obsolete RoboCook. After all, she, I 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:34.959 mean it, was with us 16 years. That night, the 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:36.959 four of us spent the evening discovering things 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:40.379 about our new robot. Joey prided himself on his 00:06:40.379 --> 00:06:44.060 knowledge of practical robotics. So I let him 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:47.259 integrate our weights and desires. You wish this 00:06:47.259 --> 00:06:50.339 schedule to take effect immediately? Oh, well, 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:55.139 tomorrow morning at breakfast. We might as well 00:06:55.139 --> 00:07:01.689 start right away. Good morning, one and all. 00:07:01.990 --> 00:07:06.430 Good morning. Your toast and coffee, sir. Well, 00:07:06.550 --> 00:07:10.310 I like cream and sugar in my coffee. You must 00:07:10.310 --> 00:07:12.990 learn to drink your coffee without such things 00:07:12.990 --> 00:07:17.069 if you wish to lose weight. Oh, yes. Yes, of 00:07:17.069 --> 00:07:20.290 course. Well, this regimen is more spartan than 00:07:20.290 --> 00:07:23.209 I anticipated. Joey, why don't you pour that 00:07:23.209 --> 00:07:25.149 glass of milk into the cereal? Won't it taste 00:07:25.149 --> 00:07:27.389 better that way? Sure it will, but Bismarck says 00:07:27.389 --> 00:07:29.689 I won't get another glass if I do, so I'm eating 00:07:29.689 --> 00:07:33.050 this way. Bismarck? It's the name of a famous 00:07:33.050 --> 00:07:35.350 19th century German dictator. They called him 00:07:35.350 --> 00:07:37.730 the Iron Chancellor. Pretty good name for him, 00:07:37.730 --> 00:07:42.750 huh? No, it's silly. Well, it has a certain ring 00:07:42.750 --> 00:07:48.329 of truth, though. Here is your luncheon menu. 00:07:49.100 --> 00:07:51.560 You are the only member of this family group 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:54.259 who will not be eating three meals a day under 00:07:54.259 --> 00:08:00.899 my personal supervision. Please adhere. And I 00:08:00.899 --> 00:08:04.019 did, even though I had to avoid my colleagues 00:08:04.019 --> 00:08:07.360 and eat at a robo -cafeteria so as not to be 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:11.079 ribbed or questioned. Needless to say, I wasn't 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:15.800 full. Dinner loomed in my mind. My hands shook. 00:08:16.459 --> 00:08:18.819 When I arrived home that night, I handed the 00:08:18.819 --> 00:08:22.040 robo -servitor my hat and cloak and, as always, 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:25.240 reached out for my cocktail. Yes, sir, how may 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:30.480 I assist you? Are we out of gin? No, sir. How 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:33.700 come no drink, then? Because, sir, a martini's 00:08:33.700 --> 00:08:36.679 caloric content is inordinately high. But... 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:40.799 Gin is rated at a hundred calories per ounce, 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:44.720 and it is... Okay, okay, enough. It is almost 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:47.919 dinner time, sir. Did you have a good day, sir? 00:08:48.220 --> 00:08:52.320 No, I'm hungry. The first days of diet are the 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:55.539 most difficult. Excuse me now while I prepare 00:08:55.539 --> 00:09:02.019 the meal. The name Bismarck was beginning to 00:09:02.019 --> 00:09:05.240 fit him more and more. After dinner, if you can 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:08.080 call it that, Bismarck was in the basement and 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:12.059 gave us a chance to speak privately. Lord, Sam, 00:09:12.220 --> 00:09:15.769 I... I don't object to losing weight, but we're 00:09:15.769 --> 00:09:18.250 being tyrannized in our own home. Mom's right. 00:09:18.350 --> 00:09:20.330 It doesn't seem right for that thing to feed 00:09:20.330 --> 00:09:22.769 us whatever it pleases. I'm not happy about it 00:09:22.769 --> 00:09:25.590 either, but we have to give it a try. We can 00:09:25.590 --> 00:09:28.230 always make readjustments in the programming 00:09:28.230 --> 00:09:30.909 if it turns out to be necessary. I had three 00:09:30.909 --> 00:09:34.590 meals in the house and I'm starved. Me too. Bismarck's 00:09:34.590 --> 00:09:36.629 downstairs. I'm going to get a slice of lemon 00:09:36.629 --> 00:09:40.190 pie while the coast is clear. No. No. There is 00:09:40.190 --> 00:09:43.850 no sense in my spending 3 ,000 credits on a dietary 00:09:43.850 --> 00:09:46.850 robot if you're going to cheat, Joey. I forbid 00:09:46.850 --> 00:09:49.090 you to have any pie. But, Dad, I'm hungry. I'm 00:09:49.090 --> 00:09:51.049 a growing boy. Now, don't give me that line. 00:09:51.289 --> 00:09:53.490 Now, Sam, we can't starve Joey. If he wants pie, 00:09:53.649 --> 00:09:56.649 let him have it. You're carrying this reducing 00:09:56.649 --> 00:10:02.049 fetish too far. Well, all right. I guess a bit 00:10:02.049 --> 00:10:05.600 of pie won't wreck the plan. In fact, I suppose 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:08.820 I'll have some myself. Joey, I don't... Begging 00:10:08.820 --> 00:10:13.019 your pardon. It would be most unfortunate if 00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:15.620 you were to have pie now, Mr. Carmichael. My 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:21.779 calculations are very precise. Let's forget the 00:10:21.779 --> 00:10:31.309 lemon pie, Joey. Bismarck. Yes, Bismarck. had, 00:10:31.330 --> 00:10:34.470 in the next few days, usurped Ethel's job of 00:10:34.470 --> 00:10:37.309 marketing. So now the covers were stocked with 00:10:37.309 --> 00:10:40.470 measure amounts of wheat germ, irrigated salmon, 00:10:40.529 --> 00:10:44.090 and other unfamiliar foods. The kids were brooding, 00:10:44.090 --> 00:10:49.700 so... Yes, Mr. Carmichael? Bismarck. Go down 00:10:49.700 --> 00:10:53.379 to the basement until I summon you. I must advise 00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:56.279 you, sir, that I will detect indulgence in any 00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:59.240 forbidden foods during my absence and adjust 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:07.850 for it in the next meal. Joey, get the instruction 00:11:07.850 --> 00:11:10.230 manual. What are you going to do, Sam? I'm going 00:11:10.230 --> 00:11:12.950 to take a can opener to that creature and adjust 00:11:12.950 --> 00:11:16.090 his programming. Joey, have you found the instructions 00:11:16.090 --> 00:11:20.370 on how to reprogram? Page 167. I'll get the toolkit, 00:11:20.470 --> 00:11:30.309 Dad. Right, right. I'll buzz Bismarck. Bismarck, 00:11:30.309 --> 00:11:33.830 I, um... I'm afraid it's necessary for us to 00:11:33.830 --> 00:11:37.570 change your program. We've overestimated our 00:11:37.570 --> 00:11:41.009 capacity for losing weight. I beg you to reconsider, 00:11:41.289 --> 00:11:44.710 sir. Extra weight is harmful to every vital organ 00:11:44.710 --> 00:11:48.009 in the body. I plead with you to maintain my 00:11:48.009 --> 00:11:51.929 schedule unaltered. I'd rather cut my throat. 00:11:52.950 --> 00:11:59.450 Joey, inactivate him and do your stuff. Whatever. 00:12:00.299 --> 00:12:02.399 Two with the yellow indicators to be advanced 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:06.919 one notch. Now twist dial B9 to the left, thereby 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:21.580 opening the taping compartment and... Oops. We 00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:23.860 will be back with the second half of The Iron 00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:25.980 Chancellor after this message of importance. 00:12:30.029 --> 00:12:32.710 I'm Roy Fox. As a broadcaster, I've seen fads 00:12:32.710 --> 00:12:34.789 come and go, but few have stayed with us. One 00:12:34.789 --> 00:12:37.009 of those few is the Beatles. The Beatles created 00:12:37.009 --> 00:12:39.370 a whole new world of music, fashion, and ideas, 00:12:39.490 --> 00:12:41.129 and though they're no longer together, radio 00:12:41.129 --> 00:12:43.610 stations around the world still play their music. 00:12:43.850 --> 00:12:47.009 Now, RRP has gathered 60 of their finest songs 00:12:47.009 --> 00:12:49.429 out to four LP records, cassettes, and eight 00:12:49.429 --> 00:12:52.889 -track tapes for only $13 .98. You get such Beatle 00:12:52.889 --> 00:12:55.230 greats as I Want to Hold Your Hand, Hard Day's 00:12:55.230 --> 00:12:58.610 Night, Bangladesh, Hey Jude, Michelle, Help, 00:12:58.809 --> 00:13:00.769 The Ballad of John and Yoko, Sergeant Pepper, 00:13:00.929 --> 00:13:04.230 and I Love Her, Yellow Submarine, and 50 other 00:13:04.230 --> 00:13:06.470 great hits. You get your choice of stereo records, 00:13:06.710 --> 00:13:09.769 8 -tracks, or cassettes for only $13 .98. This 00:13:09.769 --> 00:13:11.529 is an album that you will want to keep, and it 00:13:11.529 --> 00:13:13.529 will surely grow more and more valuable in years 00:13:13.529 --> 00:13:16.009 to come. Here's your announcer to tell you how 00:13:16.009 --> 00:13:20.340 to order. Send 1398 to Beatles, Box 377, Seymour, 00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:23.240 Connecticut. That's Beatles, Box 377, Seymour, 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:26.559 Connecticut. Specify cartridges, cassettes, or 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:29.200 records. Money -back guarantee by Electro Sound 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:37.740 Dupe Incorporated. And now we return to X -1 00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:41.279 and The Iron Chancellor by Robert Silverberg. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:50.919 What happened? Drop the damn wrench. I guess 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:55.519 I shorted out something in there. We'd better 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:58.940 call Mr. Robinson, Sam. A short -circuited robot 00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:02.200 is likely to explode or worse. We should have 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:05.019 called Robinson in the first place. It's my fault 00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:07.299 for letting Joey tinker with an expensive and 00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:10.419 delicate mechanism like that. Myra, get me the 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:12.679 card Mr. Robinson left. Gee, Dad, this is the 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:14.879 first time I've ever had anything go wrong. Here, 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:18.500 Daddy. Thank you, Myra. I hope we can reach him 00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:22.879 at this hour. If we can... I'll take that card. 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:26.840 There will be no further meddling with my program 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:31.309 tape. Quiet, Ethel. Now, Bismarck. I order you 00:14:31.309 --> 00:14:35.070 to shut yourself off at once. My apologies, sir. 00:14:35.129 --> 00:14:38.570 I cannot serve you if I am shut off. I don't 00:14:38.570 --> 00:14:42.470 want you to serve me. You're out of order. I 00:14:42.470 --> 00:14:45.330 want you to remain still until I can phone the 00:14:45.330 --> 00:14:49.789 repairman and get him to service you. Oh, you 00:14:49.789 --> 00:14:52.720 destroyed Robinson's card. You are violating 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:55.700 the first law. According to the first law, further 00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:58.139 alterations of my circuits would be detrimental 00:14:58.139 --> 00:15:01.460 to the Carmichael family. I cannot permit you 00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:03.460 to summon the repairman. Don't get him angry, 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:05.200 Dad. I'll call the police. I'll be back in just 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:11.120 a... You will remain within this house. I have 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:14.679 now reversed the polarity of the house privacy 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:18.440 field. Since you are obviously not to be trusted 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:21.299 to keep the diet I prescribe, I cannot allow 00:15:21.299 --> 00:15:24.399 you to leave the premises. You will remain within 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:28.919 and continue to obey my beneficial advice. Breakfast 00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:33.279 will be served at the usual time. Good night. 00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:44.039 I awoke late, well past nine. Bismarck had neatly 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:46.759 canceled out the impulse from the house that 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:50.620 woke me at seven each morning. After black coffee 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:53.740 and toast, I tried the front door until I was 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:57.779 in a sweat. I beg your pardon, sir. The door 00:15:57.779 --> 00:16:03.220 will not open. I explained last night. The force 00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:06.440 field is around the entire detached dwelling. 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:14.320 Now, in theory, the field could be penetrated 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:17.559 from the outside, but nobody comes calling without 00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:21.360 an invitation in Westro. It is not one of those 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:23.860 neighborly subdivisions where everyone knows 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:29.279 everyone. That was why we picked it. Dad, the 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:33.200 phone connection's severed. Damn him. He can't 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:35.960 hold us prisoners here. Bismarck's short circuit 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:38.700 has resulted in exaggerating his sense of functioning. 00:16:39.370 --> 00:16:41.269 He's determined to make us lose weight, even 00:16:41.269 --> 00:16:43.269 if it kills us. He's got the kitchen wall up 00:16:43.269 --> 00:16:45.750 with some kind of electronic base force web. 00:16:45.929 --> 00:16:47.509 He must have built it during the night. I tried 00:16:47.509 --> 00:16:49.470 to sneak in and scrounge some food and got a 00:16:49.470 --> 00:16:52.070 flat nose. Oh, we'll be skeletons any day. It 00:16:52.070 --> 00:16:54.710 isn't that bad, Mom. Yes, it is, Ted. I've lost 00:16:54.710 --> 00:16:57.870 five pounds in four days. Quiet. Bismarck's coming. 00:17:00.149 --> 00:17:04.980 Lunch will be served in eight minutes. Probably 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.839 down at the office. They're wondering where I 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:09.960 am. Oh, they won't care. An executive isn't required 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:12.319 to account for every day he takes off, you know. 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:15.380 I haven't missed a day's work in years. I know. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:19.220 Oh, but they'll worry after three or four days, 00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:22.339 won't they? Maybe they'll try to phone her or 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:24.559 even send a rescue mission. There will be no 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:27.440 danger of that. While you slept this morning, 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:29.819 I notified your place of employment that you 00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:32.720 were resigning. Well, you're lying. The phone 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:36.019 is cut off. I communicated with them via microwave 00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:39.940 generator. If only we had an oil man the way 00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:42.759 we used to. He'd know how to shut the field off. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:47.640 But no. We've got a shiny chromium -plated cryostat 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:52.259 dishing out liquid helium. A neat self -contained 00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:54.539 island in the middle of civilization with... 00:17:54.839 --> 00:18:00.099 Nobody bothering us. Ethel, please. Luncheon 00:18:00.099 --> 00:18:03.240 is served. You've got to do something about this, 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:06.539 Sam. I have to, eh? And just what am I supposed 00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:09.660 to do? Daddy, don't get angry. Oh, don't tell 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:11.960 me what I should or shouldn't do. Maybe you could 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:14.319 distract him and I could open him up again. No, 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:18.480 no. That thing's seven feet tall and weighs 3 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:21.960 ,000 pounds. I'm not going to wrestle with him. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:30.099 The haggard face in the mirror was mine. Six 00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:34.359 days of starvation. I stepped on the scale. Twelve 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:38.539 pounds off in less than two weeks. Then it came 00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:43.619 to me in a flash. Ethel! Myra! Joey, come here! 00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:48.319 Where's that robot? In the kitchen. Bismarck! 00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:55.460 Bismarck, come out here! How may I serve you, 00:18:55.539 --> 00:19:00.619 sir? Damn you, scam me with your super power 00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:08.980 receptors and tell me how much I weigh. 179 pounds, 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:13.099 11 ounces, Mr. Carmichael. Yes, yes. And the 00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:15.779 original program I taped into you was supposed 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:21.559 to reduce me from 192 to 180. So I'm finished 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:24.420 with you as long as I don't gain weight. And 00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:27.480 so are all of us, I'll bet. Ethel, Myra, Joey, 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:31.059 upstairs and weigh yourselves. Sir, I find no 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:34.200 record within me of any limitations on your reduction 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:38.839 of weight. What? I have checked my tapes fully. 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:42.640 I have a record of an order causing weight reduction. 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:46.799 But the tape does not specify a termination of 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:51.119 the program. But I thought... I'm sure we did. 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:54.819 I know. We instructed probably that part of his 00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:57.240 tape was erased when he short -circuited. Oh. 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:07.240 Dear, what's so funny? Oh, funny? Yeah. The fact 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:11.779 that I'm thin, trim, fit as a fiddle. We're all 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:16.200 magazine ad beauties, the enviable few, who in 00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:20.140 our age of technology, when normal exercise is 00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:23.259 extinct... What's he saying? We'll all shrivel 00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:27.000 up. Bismarck will starve us. Don't worry, Dad. 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:30.279 We're going to get out of this. Oh, we won't. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:34.079 We'll never get out. We're going to be reduced 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:37.420 ad infinitum. Listen, Dad, I have an idea that 00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:39.339 I think will work. There's an article on multiphase 00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:41.900 generators in last month's popular electromagnetics 00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:46.220 upstairs in my room. Well, go on. Tell me more. 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:49.140 Didn't you hear that, Dad? Hear what? The front 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:51.559 door. I thought I heard it open just now. Oh, 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:54.160 we're all cracking up. I hope I'm not intruding, 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:57.000 Mr. Carmichael. Robinson. Yes. How did you get 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:59.259 in? Well, through the front door. I could see 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:01.559 a light on inside, but nobody answered the doorbell 00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:04.740 when I rang, so I just stepped right in. Your 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:07.059 doorbell's out of order, I thought I'd tell you. 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:08.779 I know it's rude, but nevertheless... Now, don't 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:11.599 apologize. We're delighted to see you. Well, 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:14.359 I was in the neighborhood, you see, and I figured 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:16.400 I'd drop in and see how things were working out 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:18.420 with your new robot. Well, as a matter of fact, 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:21.759 your robot has held us... prisoner here for six 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:25.019 days and is gradually starving us to death. Held 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:30.519 you prisoner? Oh, no, no. Well, I thought you 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:35.000 all looked a bit piqued, but oh, dear. Now there'll 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:36.759 be an investigation and all kinds of trouble. 00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:39.240 I think I short -circuited him. I see. Well, 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:43.480 at least I can end your imprisonment. Now, let 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:47.640 me see. I have a false field damper in my toolbox. 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:51.950 There. There you are. Yes, it's a great little 00:21:51.950 --> 00:21:55.230 gadget that neutralizes the blockade. Quick, 00:21:55.269 --> 00:22:00.329 here he comes. There. That should immobilize 00:22:00.329 --> 00:22:03.890 him. Now, let's have a look in that chassis. 00:22:05.069 --> 00:22:13.269 Oh, free. Free at last. Am I going to eat? I'll 00:22:13.269 --> 00:22:17.759 eat myself right into oblivion. warm buttered 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:21.500 rolls, martinis, steak. You know, this really 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:25.480 is fascinating. The obedience filters are completely 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:28.119 shorted out and the purpose nodes are somehow 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:31.640 soldered together by the momentary high voltage 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:34.380 arc. You know, I've never seen anything like 00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:37.079 this before. Neither have we. Really, though, 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:39.700 this is an utterly new breakthrough in robotic 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:43.880 science. You see, if we can reproduce this effect, 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:47.559 it means we can build self -willed robots. Think 00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:50.339 of what that means to science. We already know. 00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:53.319 Oh, I'd love to watch what happens when the power 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:58.720 source is operating. For instance, is that feedback 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:03.380 loop really negative or... No, no, no, no, no, 00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:07.279 no, no. My circuit, Chancellor, is destroyed. 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:11.819 Bismarck is reactivated. This attempt at interfering 00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:14.500 with the well -being of the Carmichael family 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:18.960 was ill -advised. He moved so fast. He did indeed. 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:24.119 Luckily, we have an unoccupied guest bedroom 00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:29.339 for you, Mr. Robinson. Welcome to the home of 00:23:29.339 --> 00:23:43.740 the Iron Chancellor. Roy Farnes. As a broadcaster, 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:45.700 I've seen fads come and go, but few have stayed 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:48.140 with us. One of those few is the Beatles. The 00:23:48.140 --> 00:23:50.640 Beatles created a whole new world of music, fashion, 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:52.460 and ideas, and though they're no longer together, 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:55.140 radio stations around the world still play their 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:58.460 music. Now RRP has gathered 60 of their finest 00:23:58.460 --> 00:24:01.259 songs onto four LP records, cassettes, and eight 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:04.720 -track tapes for only $13 .98. You get such Beatle 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:07.059 greats as I Want to Hold Your Hand, Hard Day's 00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:10.460 Night, Bangladesh, Hey Jude. Michelle, Help, 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:12.940 The Ballad of John and Yoko, Sgt. Pepper, and 00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:16.279 I Love Her, Yellow Submarine, and 50 other great 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:18.319 hits. You get your choice of stereo records, 00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:21.640 8 -tracks, or cassettes for only $13 .98. This 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:23.400 is an album that you will want to keep, and it 00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:25.400 will surely grow more and more valuable in years 00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:27.880 to come. Here's your announcer to tell you how 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:32.220 to order. Send $13 .98 to Beatles, Box 377, Seymour, 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:35.140 Connecticut. That's Beatles, Box 377, Seymour, 00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:38.460 Connecticut. Specify cartridges, cassettes, or 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:41.099 records. Money -back guarantee by Electro Sound 00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:47.119 Dupe Incorporated. You have just heard the X 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:50.299 -1 presentation of Robert Silverberg's Iron Chancellor, 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:53.819 a story from the pages of Galaxy magazine. Galaxy, 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:56.759 science fiction magazine, whose January 1973 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:59.599 issue features an article by astronomer Robert 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:02.299 S. Richardson that delves into the existence 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:05.450 of the Star of Bethlehem. Also, don't forget 00:25:05.450 --> 00:25:08.210 Galaxy's sister magazine, Worlds of If, which 00:25:08.210 --> 00:25:10.670 in its February issue will present Construction 00:25:10.670 --> 00:25:14.170 Shack by Clifford D. Simak. It was the day of 00:25:14.170 --> 00:25:16.470 the creation, just another one of those days 00:25:16.470 --> 00:25:19.930 where everything goes wrong. Galaxy and Worlds 00:25:19.930 --> 00:25:24.990 of If on your newsstands today. You have just 00:25:24.990 --> 00:25:27.130 heard The Iron Chancellor, a story from the pages 00:25:27.130 --> 00:25:29.529 of Galaxy written by Robert Silverberg and adapted 00:25:29.529 --> 00:25:32.400 for radio by Donna Fonfa. Featured in our cast 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:35.279 were Leon Janney, Evie Juster, Jackson Beck, 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:38.660 Donald Buka, and Roy Fox. If you enjoyed tonight's 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:45.099 broadcast, please write to X -1, Box 377, Seymour, 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:49.460 Connecticut. X -1 was directed by Irish Princeton 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:52.160 and produced by Sal Trapani and is a Renaissance 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:53.299 Radio production.