Sergeant Ramsay, line 2232.
Sergeant Ramsay, line 2232, please.
- They want me. - I've got this.
Ramsay. What's the model?
7799 agricultural?
- Ramsay? - What location?
- This is Marvin. Officer Thompson. - Nice to meet you.
That's Ramsay, your partner.
Your new partner. Good luck with him.
- Hi. Jack Ramsay. - Karen Thompson.
- I'm on my way. - A runaway, Jack?
- Yeah. Can you order us a copter? - Yeah.
- Come on, partner. - Now?
If you're gonna keep up, you gotta move.
Give me the pad.
I need a chopper for Ramsay.
You'll need your gloves and standard Pro-Gs.
Standard Pro-Gs?
- What was your last assignment? - Traffic.
Did you like it?
Working with you is a step up from traffic.
Maybe.
You know anything about robotics and computers?
A little.
Basics.
I was gonna be a data programmer. Do we need all this to...?
- Jack, your copter's on the pad. - Great.
Let's go, partner.
Is that it?
Standard agricultural model 7799 pest controller.
CPU is an old 8088.
- Any armament? - Just a claw.
It's only programmed to look for things smaller than an inch.
Could be a problem.
You may not need all that. You may just have to throw a switch.
That's all?
Well, you never know until you get there.
I guess you've been doing this for a while?
Yeah, a couple of years. It's interesting work.
Dave, how far away are we?
Should be almost there. Let's have a look.
Right up there, Jack.
What do you know?
It's a clear runaway track in the field to the left.
You okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
I just don't like heights.
My brother has the same problem. Take deep breaths.
I'm fine.
Dave, can you land this sucker?
Put on your gloves.
They sure took long enough to get here.
- What's the problem? - That thing's running a zigzag course.
I'm not going in that field after it.
Fuel cells will blow up in your face.
You go on and take a look.
- Have you had it serviced? - Regular.
Isn't that what you're getting paid for? You skedaddle in there.
Oh, there you are.
I seen that coming.
You okay? Let's get him.
World War III!
I think they got it.
I could've done the same thing with my.22.
We could've blown the damn thing up.
- It's all yours, fellas. - Thanks a lot.
How long you say you've been doing this?
I just sort of fell into it by accident.
I kind of liked it, so I took some night courses in robotics, APL.
All of a sudden, I just seemed to know more about it than anybody else.
You ever wanna work the regular force?
This is the regular force.
You mean working the streets? I did that. I had to stop.
Because of vertigo?
I don't like heights. I've had it all my life.
Anyway, I just decided it wasn't a good idea...
...to work the streets with that kind of fear.
You wouldn't run into a situation like that very often.
- You could work the streets... - I decided I'd rather do this.
Hey, Jack, Lois called.
- Leave a message? - Nope.
- Can you call her back? - Sure.
Lois?
I'm fine, thank you. How are you?
Whatever you wanna fix is fine.
Oh, that sounds good.
I won't be late.
Okay, bye.
- Why did Jack quit the regular force? - Why'd he quit, Marvin?
What'd he tell you?
Because of vertigo, but I don't believe him.
Well, it's true, in a way.
A few years back, Jack was chasing this guy. Bad guy.
The guy ran into a building that was under construction.
Jack freaked out, started sweating.
Couldn't follow him. The guy got away.
So a guy got away.
Later that night that same guy killed six people.
A family up in Ridgemont.
- But that isn't Jack's fault. - Yeah, I know.
He can't blame himself for that.
Yeah, well, he does.
It's always on his mind. The guy that got away...
...that Jack let get away.
He never wants to let anybody get away from him again.
Is that why he's a robot expert?
I think he feels a lot safer doing this work.
Now, why do you do what you do?
Oh, long story. I was gonna be a dancer...
...but I hurt my knee.
Then I was gonna be a data programmer...
...but I didn't like sitting down. Then I started...
Runaway 2, we have a 709 alert.
- to the Police Academy.
Runaway 2, we have a 709 alert.
Runaway 2, Runaway 2, we have a 709 at Fifth and Sumter.
What's a 709?
It means people have died.
Oh, God!
- Hey, Jack. - What's up?
A model 912 cut up two people inside, wife and her sister.
Bodies are over here. They managed to run out before they died.
- Anything else? - There's a 10-month-old kid inside.
- Dead? - No. The kid's in a crib.
Maybe that's why, but it hasn't touched the kid yet.
- We gotta save that kid, Jack. - Tell me.
What was the weapon?
Pathologist said it was probably an ordinary kitchen knife.
We kept them for you to see.
Let's get them out of here, or they'll be on the news.
What've you done?
Power cut, white light bath, white sound bath.
- Floater? - No.
- Can you prep one for me? - Right now.
What have you got on the 912?
It's a new domestic model.
Does housework, cooks meals, answers doors.
- Run on house current? - Batteries.
What kind of sensors?
Sees and hears everything.
Great.
- Is it standard? - May be modified.
Anytime you change them, who knows how they'll behave?
The father's over there. Electronic engineer, name of Johnson.
- You got that floater yet? - We're programming it now.
We'd like a direct feed off your floater.
- That's impossible. - The public has a right to know.
We got a 10-month-old baby in there.
The rest of the family's been cut up...
...and we don't know if the 912 will attack the child.
I'm sure you don't want a carved-up baby on your network.
We can be the judge of what's newsworthy.
Yeah, I know. Not tonight.
The first confirmation from Sgt. Ramsay of Runaway...
...that there is a baby inside, still alive.
Police are preparing a floater camera...
...to enter the house to locate the runaway 912 and the infant.
I can't see. Lights on in the house.
Hit the house lights.
- Where's the baby? - In the playroom, near the back.
How big's this 912, anyway?
About the size of a hatbox.
- Look. - It dropped the knife.
Maybe the battery power's fading.
Maybe.
- You get an audio? - Confirmed as a.357 Magnum.
- The bastard's got a gun. - Now what?
- I'm going in. - We can send a disarm robot in.
It hit the floater, it'll hit the disarm, and it'll hit the kid.
I want light lines out here. No audio, no radio, no nothing.
I don't want it to know what we're doing.
Mr. Johnson?
I'll be going in your house soon to get your baby.
What modifications were made to the robot?
I didn't make any modifications. I didn't touch that thing.
Then why has it gone out of control?
Well, how should I know?
You think I should have some idea why it's doing this?
Take it easy. I'm just asking.
Well, don't ask! I don't know!
What about the gun?
- It's got a gun? - Yes.
- Oh, my God, he's crazy. - Who's crazy?
- My God, he's crazy. - Who's crazy?
No television! No pictures!
I won't be on television! No pictures!
No television!
What was his problem?
Yeah, he was really upset. That was very hot stuff.
Sgt. Ramsay is wearing his electromagnetic scatter suit.
He apparently is going in.
What is your next move now?
I really can't say.
It looks as if you're going in after the robot.
You're broadcasting on an electromagnetic frequency...
...that the robot reads.
Let's get out of here, John.
This is exciting. Our own John Wilson...
...is accompanying Sgt. Ramsay into the house...
...for exciting live coverage of the runaway robot.
I'm coming out with the kid.
It's all right, darling.
You okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Here you go. Where's the father?
He disappeared.
He disappeared?
With his own kid still in there?
After two tense hours and the tragic death of a KBEX cameraman...
...it was all over when Sgt. Ramsay...
Hello?
That was great!
See, they're running it again. You're on instant replay!
Hi, guy. Bobby, this is Karen.
- You're his new partner. - Nice to meet you, Bobby.
I saw you on TV too, but you didn't go in the house.
Wow! It was neat when Dad went in there.
I'll bet you wished you could go in there too, huh?
It was pretty scary. I watched the whole thing.
How come the father ran away?
Didn't he wanna see his baby safe?
We were talking about that.
It seems pretty funny to me.
I think you should...
When you hear the tone, the time will be 10:45...
...which is exactly one hour and 45 minutes past your bedtime.
Aw, Lois!
This is a weeknight. Tomorrow is a school day.
- I know, Lois, but... - Hey, Bobby.
- Lois is right. To bed. - Okay.
- Nice meeting you. - You too.
- Do you like sports? - Sure.
Bobby, bed.
- Good night, Dad. - Good night.
Good night, Bobby.
He is adorable.
- How about a beer? - Got anything diet? Soda?
I will verify that Bobby brushes his teeth. Excuse me.
So that's Lois.
I thought Lois was your wife.
Sometimes she thinks she is.
Or my mother.
Do you have a wife?
She died.
Sorry, I didn't know.
It was a couple of years ago. A car crash.
But Lois is a big help.
What is she, a Series 10?
No, a Series 12.
Series 12s are much better.
A lot of the Series 10s were lemons.
My mom had a Series 10 that kept burning toast. Started fires.
- Lois is pretty reliable. - Bobby is eating a chocolate bar.
His dinner, too, was nutritionally inadequate.
- What did you give him? - Hot dogs.
- You can't keep giving him hot dogs. - It is all he would accept.
- Did he do his homework? - Yes, he got an A in math today.
- Will your guest be staying for dinner? - Me?
- You're welcome if you'd like. - You are welcome if you would like.
No, thank you.
- It's no trouble. - It is no trouble.
- Lois, I was talking to her. - Excuse me.
- Actually, I better go. - You sure?
Thanks for the juice.
- May I show you out? - That's okay, Lois. I can find my way.
Well, see you tomorrow.
- Will I see you tomorrow? - Lois, she was talking to me.
Excuse me, sergeant.
I'll see you tomorrow.
- Good night. - Good night.
Is that someone to be put in memory?
Yes. She's my new partner.
- How should she be listed? - As Karen. Or Officer Thompson.
Very well.
There is a power surge from Bobby's room.
I'll handle it.
The next dinosaur giant is brontosaurus, "thunder lizard."
Like the other two giants, she's a peace-loving plant-eater.
She is not as heavy as the Brachiosaurus, but she does...
Come on, tiger.
Lights out.
Oh, Dad.
Is she still here?
No, she's gone home.
She's nice. Do you like her?
Well, sure, I like her.
She's my partner.
Does she have a husband?
I don't know.
She didn't have a ring on.
You noticed, huh?
It wouldn't kill you to marry again.
I know, and it wouldn't kill you...
...to go to sleep.
Come on, tiger.
- Hey, Dad? - What?
Were you really scared in there?
Sure I was.
Was there blood and stuff like that?
Were you really scared?
Me? Not me.
Not even just a little?
Well, a little.
That's okay.
- But everything is fine now. - That's right.
Everything's fine.
Good night, son.
- Hey, Dad? - Yeah?
Would Lois ever go crazy like that other robot?
No, never.
Sleep now.
Good night.
Dinner is served.
This concludes the menu for today.
Reminder: I have not received the menu for tomorrow.
Captain McNichol, emergency phone call.
- Son of a bitch! - What is it?
We got a non-standard chip here.
See that red stripe?
It's not a commercial chip. It didn't come with the robot.
Damn sophisticated, though.
Maybe it's experimental.
- What's it do? - Looks like hard-wired instructions.
- I'm not sure. - So the 912 was modified.
- Definitely. - That guy said it wasn't modified.
Maybe somebody else did it, and he didn't know.
- We got a dense pack! Floor! - Floor!
Assholes.
There is a high level of smoke in the room. Please be careful.
What was that?
Monodichromate dense pack...
...the arson special. What the hell is this all about?
I don't know.
This isn't a runaway.
This is murder.
Jack, you got a call. You're gonna love it.
Great.
He said you were gonna love it.
Come on, this way, guys.
Careful.
You have a lot of robots here.
This is nothing. You should see the construction project over on Main.
There aren't any people working there at all, just hundreds of robots.
No coffee breaks, no union hassles.
So, what's the problem?
Stacker.
Gone nuts!
It's stacking where there's no place to stack.
It's on the 18th floor. Come on, I'll show you.
Have one of your people shut it off.
Our insurance doesn't cover it.
Looks pretty open.
Robots don't need doors. Come on.
How about I take this one?
Yeah, I think this one's all yours.
No problem. I worked construction at one time.
Of course.
I'm on the 18th floor.
It's pretty windy up here.
I can see the stacker now. We're looking for...
I found the junction box but can't find the switch.
I got it! No problem! I turned it off!
Jack, do you read me?
I got it!
Think it's better than it was when people did all this work?
Sure.
But machines always break down.
I'll tell you how it is. Nothing works right.
Relationships and people don't work right.
People make machines, so why should machines be perfect?
- Because they're machines. - Yeah?
Well, that's not the way it is.
- Hi, Sally. - Hi, Jack.
- How's the new car? - It's in the shop.
You're kidding. Did you check the door recorder?
No, not yet.
- Is it clean in here? - Yeah, it's clean.
Hi, Mary. It's Sally. I guess you're not home.
I came by to see if you wanted to go to that ceramics class.
Call me when you get in. Bye.
Hi, Dave?
I'm a little nervous about our project and...
Meet me at the office, will you? It's important. Really.
Okay? Okay.
This is Acme Robot Repairs. We got a call...
...that one of your 912s was not functioning, and I'm...
It's been erased.
Yeah, but not completely.
This is Acme Robot Repairs. We got a call...
...that one of your 912s was not functioning, and I'm...
I wanna know who this guy is.
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
I'm glad you're satisfied.
Satisfied?
I'm delighted. I'm ecstatic.
That's good. Good!
Where are the chips?
Be very careful with these chips, Dr. Luther. They're very dangerous.
I know. That's why they're so valuable.
Valuable to whom?
The Mafia, terrorist organizations, foreign agents.
Anyone who'll offer me the most money.
Well, then...
...how about my money?
Harry...
...these aren't all the chips.
And where are the templates to make more?
The rest of the chips and templates are locked in a safe.
We'll give you the key after Johnson and I get paid.
Have you seen Johnson?
No.
He didn't come in today.
It's terrible, what happened to his family.
It's a tragedy.
Would you like me to pay now, Harry?
I really would.
I thought so. I brought the money with me.
Sentry, on rounds!
Dr. Luther?
Damned, evil son of a bitch!
- He's still in there? - Came an hour ago.
I bet he's the only electrical engineer there.
- What room? - 404. Fourth floor.
Coffee, black.
Keep an eye on the elevator.
Police!
Drop it, Johnson!
- Now! - Okay! Yeah, okay!
You are the cops.
Who were you expecting?
Nobody.
You got a suitcase packed. You got an alarm and a gun.
You got a permit for this?
Come on.
What are you gonna do?
Take you to the station for questioning.
Sorry.
Is this about the robot?
Yeah, it's about the robot. Come on.
- I can't go out there. - Why not?
- I can't go! - Sure you can.
I can't go out!
Dispatch, this is Runaway 2!
What the hell are you trying to do? Come here.
We're the police!
He had different eyes, hm? Is that him?
Face was narrower.
The eyes were squintier.
More like that?
Pretty close.
That's a lot like him.
That's good.
Jesus!
It's picking up diphenyl compounds and tetrahydrocarbons.
Tetras are explosive and diphenyls are solid propellant...
...like they use in rockets.
How big did you say these missiles were?
About that big.
- And they went around corners? - Yeah.
Who was this guy?
His name's Johnson, electronic engineer.
- Where did he work? - A company called Vectrocon.
Welcome to Vectrocon Security Systems.
A retinal identification check is required to proceed.
Retinal identification is now being carried out.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Retinal identification is now confirmed.
How can we help you?
I need data files.
Data files for what person?
Employee David Johnson.
One moment. I will search the records.
That's a pretty good voice. What is it, a 5590?
Yeah, it's a 5590 processor, but with a Z-77 phonetic ROM.
Gives it that lifelike tone.
Thank you for waiting.
David "Dave" Johnson is 32 years old.
He has been with the company four years.
A graduate in electronic engineering.
He has worked on several projects:
The Vectrocon Security System, the Phantom Missile...
...and a laser-guided smart bomb.
For the past year, he has worked in Special Projects.
Dave enjoys skiing, biking and water sports.
- It's a standard PR bio. - What'd you expect?
- It's no good to me. - It's what you requested.
What do you wanna know?
This Vectrocon Security project. What about that?
- That information is classified. - Keep quiet.
- Do you wish to disconnect? - How do I find out?
- We have a call. - Have another unit take it.
Yeah, but our call is right here.
- On my way. - In this building?
You wanna handle this? It seems like we got a runaway.
Sure.
All right!
Hello?
Anybody there?
Who is she?
Jackie Rogers, one of the executive secretaries.
Hello? Can anybody hear me?!
We hear you, Miss Rogers. This is Sergeant Ramsay.
Will you guys get me out? This damn robot won't let me pass.
He's zapped me twice. Can you see that?
You just sit tight, Miss Rogers. She's very attractive.
- Should she be in there? - Maybe she's working late.
Let's see the runaway.
A 577 Sentry?
Yeah, 577 with office-checking routines onboard.
Got it. Insulated wheels, steel hull.
- Delivers Taser shocks only? - Standard issue.
We don't modify them. We run them as they come.
Supposed to voice-inactivate with a code.
Do you know the code?
Sentry. Input. Vetro.
Zip off. 891. Clipper.
I've already tried that. It isn't responding.
With these Sentries, the temperatures get too high...
...and they pop their chips right off the motherboard.
Would you guys please do something?
All this thing can do is deliver shocks? What level?
Sting level only. Irritating, but it can hurt.
No bio, cardiac, nothing.
Want me to get the insulation and padding?
- Are you sure? - I'll knock this baby off quick.
Miss Rogers, this is Sergeant Ramsay. I'll be right with you.
You just sit tight.
Thank you.
I thought you got armed before you went up against a runaway.
I think he's in love.
- Hello. - Hi.
You just stay put, Miss Rogers.
This will only take a minute.
Better watch out for him.
I think I know what I'm doing.
It's set for stun, not sting level.
I noticed.
- Want the padding now? - No.
- Are you all right, sergeant? - I'm fine.
- Is this the way you usually do it? - Sure.
What are you doing?
You didn't have to do that!
Judgment call.
It was a new jacket.
Yeah, but the Sentry's ruined. I'll have to report this.
If I find there's any irregularities...
...we'll shut down all your machinery as hazardous for 60 days.
- Are you okay, Miss Rogers? - I'm fine.
- I'll just see you to the door. - No, it's fine.
- I insist. - You've done enough.
It's my duty. Here you are...
...working late all by yourself.
- I just had to finish up. - I insist.
- Let me help you. - No, really...
- What's this? - It's not my fault.
- He made me get them from the vault. - Who?
Luther. They're his chips! I don't have anything to do with this.
He said he would kill me if I didn't get them tonight!
He would kill me the way...
...he killed Johnson and the others. He's evil, I'm telling you!
Where's this Luther now?
- A meeting. - What meeting?
- I don't know! I'm not involved... - Where is he?!
The Ritz Hotel.
Ritz Hotel.
The presidential suite.
Two guys with him and two girls.
They've got an EVS scrambler on, so we can't hear or see shit.
Where exactly are they?
Can't determine where without a probe, and they'll pick that up.
- You using passives only? - Passives only.
- All the exits and elevators covered? - We don't have enough people.
This guy's a killer. I'm not gonna let him get away.
Something's going on in there.
- I better go in. - You taking responsibility?
You okay about this?
- Yeah, fine. - You sure?
It's more interesting than traffic.
Okay.
I'm gonna go in first and when you hear me...
...you come in. - Okay.
Honey, did I leave my purse out there?
Did I leave my purse out there or not?
Are you listening to me?
He's not even there.
Don't shoot, please. Please don't shoot.
Come on, now.
Nobody move.
Just stay cool. Everything's gonna be fine.
You said there wouldn't be trouble.
Nobody move. Jack?
Right here.
Okay, let's take it easy.
Everybody move real slow, and we won't have any trouble.
Hey!
Drop it, sucker.
I said, "Drop your gun."
I'm not kidding, asshole.
Drop your gun.
Please.
Now kiss your ass goodbye!
Police! Hold it!
I'm okay. Get him.
- Where? - The stairs!
Officer down, inside. Call for backup.
They're on the roof!
It's all right. It's all right.
You're okay.
The coroner's office has authorized the removal of the bodies.
- Come on. - She's a witness, Billy.
- May we have a word with you? - Go away.
- Later. - I want to talk to you.
Chief, any further comment?
No, there's no comment right now.
- How is it, kid? - Fine.
Didn't even break any bones.
I'm going to the hospital. They'll take the bullet out there.
Take it out there?
That's right, in case she starts bleeding.
But you can't move her.
Hold on a minute. Come here.
Take a look at that screen again. That's not a bullet.
It's an unexploded microshell. It can go off anytime.
- It can blow her whole arm off... - That's right.
You gotta take it out here. Don't move her.
- The chief wants your ass. - I know.
Hey.
Just sit tight. It's gonna be fine.
I'm trying not to breathe.
You do that.
Look at this. Look.
Those two dead hoods? We got a make off the prints.
Tommy Aracaro, degree in electrical engineering, Cal Tech.
- Great. - And...
...Luigi Bandini, degree in solid state physics, M.I.T.
These guys are high-tech shoppers. But what are they buying?
- Good question. - Now, Ramsay!
Get over here, Ramsay.
- Who the hell do you think you are? - It's my operation.
It's a runaway operation? No runaways in that room.
You screwed up good. We've got two dead officers, understand?
Two dead cops!
Two wounded, one of them your own partner.
We got two dead Guinea punks!
And nobody knows what it's all about!
- I know what it's about. It's about this. - What is this?
It's some kind of new bullet, like a guided missile.
It can go... What the hell is this?!
Disarm robot. There's an unexploded fragment.
You can't use that thing on her!
- They sent for it. - They screw up all the time.
- We have to. It's a live shell. - It'll screw up!
It'll blow her arm off.
- Can't you get a CVD? - There's none available.
It's over a year old and, they were never any good!
Jesus Christ, you've got nerve to complain!
Haven't you done enough for one day?
- I'll get the bullet out. - You?
I'll disarm the goddamn bullet. Get it out of here!
All right, clear out. We've got a disarm job.
Clear out! Can you get them to clear out?
I want Tensolite shields! I want blast pads!
I want to clear the fucking room now!
Ramsay! You're on television.
I don't give a shit. Get that thing out of my face.
Get out. Clear it out!
Ladies, I'll give you a statement down here.
Let's go. Get out!
Yes, I will give the public a statement.
What's this?
Remote TV.
Of course.
Okay, guys, let's clear out.
Better get away from the door.
- How we doing, kid? - Okay.
I heard the news.
Yeah?
Well, don't sweat it.
You don't have to do this.
Yeah, I know.
- You can let the robot do it. - I wouldn't miss this for the world.
Okay, just hold real still.
- Too tight? - No, it's okay.