A robot's creator is dead and a disillusioned lawyer takes on the task of defending the robot in court.
Opening narration
| "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." |
Plot
A robot named Adam Link is chased and captured by sheriff's deputies after being accused of murdering his creator, Dr. Charles Link. The doctor's niece, Nina, believes Adam would never do such a thing, and enlists the aid of Thurman Cutler, a reclusive retired lawyer who accepts the challenge of defending Adam in court. A reporter named Judson Ellis encourages her to seek out Cutler as he hopes to generate a good story for his paper.
Sheriff Barclay and D.A. Thomas Coyle balk at the idea of putting a robot on trial, as they believe he is dangerous property and must be destroyed. But Cutler convinces them that it must go before a judge. A hearing begins and Coyle argues that Adam is property without rights, while Cutler proposes that Adam is programmed to prevent deception or murder. Various witnesses testify to their experiences with Dr. Link and Adam, often expressing their discomfort with being around the robot. Nina, however, explains that Adam has the capacity to learn and grow after she witnesses him reading various books. Coyle uses the argument against her by pointing out that one of the books he read is Frankenstein, in which a creature created by man cannot have a soul. One witness, Fred, testifies that he was the one to catch Adam over Dr. Link's dead body.
Coyle proposes an experiment to alter Adam's circuits to cause him to go berserk, proving that the robot could cause harm if his circuitry was damaged. Adam complies and a scientist alters his circuits, causing Adam to wreck furniture in the court and nearly attack the judge. The frightening display clearly has an impact on all involved. When Adam is put on the stand, he explains that he found Dr. Link dead after a generator fell on him, and so Dr. Link's death was purely an accident. He felt sorrow after Link's death. But Coyle pushes Adam about his feelings over attempts to keep him locked up until he grabs Coyle's arm and nearly breaks it.
In their summations, Cutler claims that the trial is not just about the murder of Dr. Link, but about society's feelings toward scientific and technological advancement, whereas Coyle confirms that he does believe science has gone too far and that Adam represents mankind's unrestrained and dangerous progress, citing nuclear weapons as an example.
The court ultimately find Adam guilty and he is to be destroyed. As Sheriff Barclay walks Adam outside, a truck comes bearing down on a little girl in the street. Adam rushes in and moves the girl out of the way. He saves her life but is destroyed by the truck. Ellis notes, "It's not the end of the story, it's just the beginning."
Closing narration
| "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." |
Notes
- The episode was remade under the same title in 1995. Leonard Nimoy appeared in both versions, taking over the part of the lawyer Thurman Cutler in the latter adaptation. Neither version has any connection to the famous I, Robot stories of Isaac Asimov. The name was chosen by the publisher, against Asimov's wishes.
- Both Leonard Nimoy and John Hoyt would go on to star in the first Star Trek pilot "The Cage".
- This is the only episode directed by Leon Benson.
Cast
- Howard da Silva as Thurman Cutler
- Ford Rainey as D.A. Thomas Coyle
- Marianna Hill as Nina Link
- Leonard Nimoy as Judson Ellis
- John Hoyt as Professor Hebbel
- Robert Sorrells as Fred
- Hugh Sanders as Sheriff Barclay
- Mary Jackson as Mrs. McCrae
- Peter Brocco as Professor "Doc" Link
- Ken Drake as The Judge
- Christine Matchett as Evie Cooper
- Read Morgan as Adam Link
- John Caper Jr. as Adam Link (voice) (uncredited)
- Vic Perrin as the Control Voice (voice)