Original subtitles

Folks, we're gathered here because, quite frankly, inobotics has become

stagnant. And that's why Charlie Booten's division has been searching for

areas of business for this company to explore.

And today, he's going to talk about their conclusion.

Charlie? Thank you, Mrs. Janice.

On average, 64 % of the children in this country have two working parents.

Last year, nine million children were in some form of child care, and their

parents paid between $6 ,000 and $12 ,000 a year for it. This is a huge

just waiting to be tapped.

What are you suggesting, Gooden? I'll show you.

Mary.

Valerie 23?

No, Mary 25.

named after the famous nanny in the movies.

What I am suggesting, ladies and gentlemen, is that we reactivate the

program. Inorganic child care project?

That's what your department's been working on?

Have you lost your mind?

There's a reason that project was shelved, Mr. Booten. I would rather not

another Valerie 23 incident. Can you imagine?

This time, the robot killed the kid.

We prefer to call them inorganics.

And Valerie 23 never killed anyone.

She was created to be a companion.

I'm really looking forward to our time together.

I think we have much in common.

Charlie tells me you enjoy opera.

I love opera.

I hear loud behind him, Dan. We should go.

Maybe she didn't actually kill anyone, but she came damn close.

Frank Heller's girlfriend would be dead right now if he hadn't thought fast

enough to short -circuit the robot.

Valerie! I think you may have rebroken my back.

Darling?

Are you okay?

I didn't mean to hurt you.

The inorganics just need to be repurposed. It's a simple matter of

Valerie 23 was programmed to maintain a strong relationship no matter what.

A fuzzy concept at best. It's understandable how it could go wrong.

Mary, tell them what your programming is.

I'm programmed only to protect and care for the children under my supervision.

Which means the only person she might hurt is a kidnapper or a child molester.

Or the kids themselves.

Not a chance. Not with the programming we're developing. Let me demonstrate.

Mary, you understand that this is just a simulation. And you are to act as if

this doll is a real child.

Yes, I understand.

Good.

Let me introduce a professional boxer, Vince Scabari.

Today, Vince will be playing the role of a child abductor. Vince, Mary.

Looks like Mary would be no match for him, doesn't it? I'm sorry,

I cannot allow you to approach the child.

Okay, Mary, you can release him.

By the way, you'll notice she wasn't hurting him in any way.

She was only restraining him.

She had three fail -safes to prevent her from hurting anyone.

Thank you.

This, of course, was just a simulation. However, in a real emergency, Mary is

connected to the telephone by a cordless transmitter.

programmed to autodial first 911 and then the parents.

She's also trained in CPR and many other medical procedures.

Any questions?

Does it run on the same power principles as Valerie 23?

Burning food for fuel, sleep mode, etc.? Yes, she burns food for fuel, and each

parent is equipped with a remote control to put her into sleep mode at any time.

Another failsafe to ensure that nothing can go wrong.

So why did you make her so much like 23, so, um, sexy?

My team of engineers, led by Melbourne Ross, adapted a second -level prototype

from the Valerie 23 project.

These units happen to be built already this way and with this appearance.

You're asking us to go out on a very dangerous limb to test this on the

If a child was hurt, it could be the end of this company.

I'm sorry, I can't let that happen.

Mrs. Janice.

Forget it, Boone.

Mrs. Janice, wait.

What if I tell you that I'm willing to field test the Mary 25 on my own

children?

There is nothing wrong with your television.

Do not attempt to adjust the picture.

We are now controlling the transmission.

We control the horizontal and the vertical. We can delude you with a

channels or expand one single image to crystal clarity and beyond.

We can shape your vision to anything our imagination can conceive.

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

You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the deepest

inner mind to the outer limits.

Our children need protecting from much more than physical harm.

Just as threatening to the fragile child are the dangers of the mind and the

dangers of the heart.

Well, I wanted to be here when you got home.

How'd your presentation go today? That's why I wanted to talk to you. It went

okay, but there was a lot of resistance because of Valerie.

Well, you knew that was going to be a problem. They weren't going to let me

forward with the field test. I was seeing the project eye right before my

So they killed your project?

Couldn't let them. That would have been career suicide.

Wait, wait.

Would you hear me out?

Mommy! Well, hello, Brad.

Hello, Brooke. Hi, kids.

Hi, Daddy.

Carmen taught us a cool new game. She did?

What game?

It's called Go Fish.

Really? Will you teach me?

Uh -huh. Here you go, Carmen. Thank you.

This is too much money, Mr. Charlie. I gave you a little extra at the severance

fee. Your services are no longer required.

What does that mean?

Yes, Charlie, what does that mean? That's what I tried to tell you out

You mean your prototype?

Kids, why don't you go wait in the family room? We'll join you in a sec,

Yeah, come on, kids.

I'll try to explain.

I did nothing wrong.

No, Carmen, you were great.

If you need a letter of recommendation, I'll be happy to give you one.

Good night, Mommy.

Good night.

Carol, I'm doing the right thing here.

Mary will be great with those kids. Well, what do we know about Carmen? I

she could turn out to be one of those psycho kidnappers for all we know. Oh,

Bull.

Well? Carmen is an angel, and you know it.

Okay, I admit, it wasn't the nicest thing in the world, but it was a

move.

Would you rather I lost my job?

What do you think pays for all this? What do you think paid for Carmen?

I don't get this project off the ground. I'm gone. Do you want that?

You should have told me. I tried to tell you.

Come on, babe.

You know that inorganics are better suited for this kind of work than

You know that better than anyone.

I promise you it'll all work out.

And if you want, in a few weeks, we'll get Karma back again, okay?

Okay.

Good. Melbourne will bring her over in the morning.

You don't have a problem with seeing Melbourne again, do you?

Oh, right, I forgot.

So it's not a problem, then.

That'd be Melbourne.

Brad, honey, here's your breakfast.

Hi, Charlie.

Hi, Terrell.

Hello.

Come in.

Come on in, Mary. This is your new home for a while.

Well, uh, let's go meet the kid.

This is Mary, your new nanny.

Hello.

What are your name?

Are these children able to speak?

Yes, of course they are.

They're just a bit shy around new people.

This is Brooke.

And this is Brad.

Hello, Brooke.

That is a very pretty name. You and I are going to be very good friends.

Did you know that Mary's an inorganic?

What's that?

It's like a robot, and you like robots, don't you? A robot? Like from where you

work? Yes.

Like Mr.

Boltz on TV?

Oh, sort of.

Cool.

Why don't you two kids take Mary and show the family room?

Okay?

Go on.

Do you have x -ray vision?

No, I'm sorry. I don't.

Well, that was easier than I thought it was going to be.

See? I told you it wouldn't be a problem.

So Melbourne will be here the whole time.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

They don't pay me the medium -sized bucks to sit in a nice comfy house all

I have too much work to do back at the lab.

Melbourne will check in three times a day at first. Then once everything seems

to be running smoothly, he'll come by once a day.

Here's the key.

Lock up when you leave.

You're just going to leave?

Just like that?

Have to go to work, don't I? And so do you.

You're going to leave this prototype with our kids in this house all alone.

Well, that is the idea, Terrell. I don't care. How do you know it's programming

is complete?

Look, we talked about it.

Don't screw it up for me. I'm not screwing anything up.

I'm just going to stay here and observe.

For how long?

I don't know.

Until I'm satisfied.

A few days, I guess.

Why are you doing this?

Because I care about your children.

Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?

Yes. Yes, but for the project to prove its worth, Mary has to be alone with the

kids, okay? I don't care. Well, then start to care!

For once, for a change, start to care about my career, about our livelihood.

Okay?

And do what I tell you to do.

No, what?

Well, it isn't that Terrell that I knew would never let a man talk to her like

that.

What Terrell did you know?

Well, I knew this beautiful, fun, smart woman who wouldn't take that kind of

crap from anyone.

Really?

What happened to her?

Good question.

Why didn't you ever return any of my calls?

Or at least wrote me a note or something.

I have a husband now.

So? So what?

So, he loves me.

Oh, well, yeah, that's obvious.

This is really none of your business.

And the big bad wolf said, Open up, little pig, or I will huff and puff and

your house down.

Can a wolf really blow a house down?

No. A wolf isn't capable of generating the sufficient volume of air or the

velocity necessary to disrupt even a house made of straw.

Then why did he do it in the three little pigs?

Because it is a story.

Fiction. It is intended to teach you the value of hard work, to inspire you not

to do things the lazy way. Would you like me to continue?

Can a wolf really eat a pig?

Yes, it is possible.

They are carnivorous.

What does that mean?

They like to eat meat.

Can a wolf eat a person?

Yes, it is possible.

They are carnivorous.

Shall I continue?

May I voice my opinion without making you angry?

Sure.

I think your team hasn't done a very complete job in Mary's programming.

She is a work in progress. You have a problem, talk to Melbourne.

He'll adjust her program.

Charlie, you're experimenting with your children.

I love my children.

Don't you ever imply otherwise.

Adjusting my lubrication system?

Tell me, Mary.

Did Mel leave you fully functional?

I'm sorry, I don't understand the question.

Like your predecessor, Valerie 23, are you fully functional like she was?

I'll show you.

They didn't change their body. Come here.

It's okay, Mary. You can enjoy it.

My mechanisms have not been altered.

But my programming did not encompass the activities you are trying to attempt.

You got artificial intelligence, right?

So you can learn.

going to work today?

I have to.

I've used up my thick day.

Good. I'll see you tonight then.

Harold.

Hi, Mel. Hi.

What happened to you?

Oh, I fell.

You fell?

Yeah.

anyone hurt that beautiful face.

Do you really think that?

What?

That I have a beautiful face.

Very much so.

Not missing it.

Why didn't you ever return any of my calls, Daryl?

I don't know.

What you and I had.

It was special, wasn't it?

Very much so.

And I've never lost my feelings for you.

I'm sorry for you.

Harry, will you play with us?

Yeah. What would you like to play?

I'm sorry.

I'm not programmed to participate in those sorts of games.

Perhaps a nice game of mask -away will suffice.

That was boring. We played yesterday.

We want to play hide -and -go -seek.

I'll tell you what, kids.

I have some work to do with Mary.

But as soon as I finish, she'll play hide -and -go -seek with you. And if

real quiet until then,

I'll play with you, too.

late for work.

You sure you're okay?

I usually give them three cookies each.

Three of these cookies contained exactly 8 .3 grams of sugar.

and 12 .4 grams of fat.

The fat will cause the start of plaque buildup in your arteries, even at your

age, and could cause you to have an early heart attack when you're an adult.

I'm sorry.

Three cookies is not permitted.

You just stop what you are doing.

I will not allow you to hurt each other.

Where are the children?

Mommy!

Hi, honey.

Oh.

Where's your brother?

Mommy!

Brad?

Hi, sweetheart.

Ow, that hurts.

What are you doing?

The children were fighting.

I cannot allow them to harm each other. Therefore, they must be separated.

That is ridiculous. Get away from my daughter. I cannot.

You can and you will. You are programmed to obey the parents' wishes. That is

correct. However, I can override, provided their wishes are misguided and

harm the children.

My primary program is to protect the children from all harm. They were

each other.

Well, that's good, but you can let them be together now. Brooke, there is a 70 %

probability rate that they will harm each other again. Mary, let Brooke go

I cannot.

Let her go.

Mommy!

Mommy!

Mary, Mary, no!

Line 1 -2 -5 -9 in subroutine 8 -2 -3 -A.

Required that I take the actions that I took.

Well, we'll just have to adjust that little line of code, won't we?

You know what, Melbourne?

Why don't you just take it back to antibiotics?

We don't want it anymore. I beg your pardon?

This was a minor setback.

Charlie, obviously it's proven how dangerous it is. How so? Mary wouldn't

hurt you. She was only going to restrain you.

Her programming had three fail -safes to prevent her from harming you. Isn't

that right, Melbourne?

Whatever you say, boss.

That's why we have the remote controls?

Melbourne will make the adjustments so it won't happen again.

I want that thing out of my house.

Come here. I want to talk to you.

ever talk to me like that in front of one of my employees again do you

understand i am getting sick of repeating myself we are completing the

trial with mary period end of discussion do what i say

You leaving too?

I'm not sure. I'm just... Terrible.

They'll be fine.

I'll be here most of the day myself, just to be sure.

You will?

Well, yeah. I know I can pass up a great game of bunnies alone.

Good.

Yes. Why does Daddy make Mommy cry sometimes?

Please rephrase the question.

Why does Daddy hurt Mommy sometimes?

I'm sorry. I'm not programmed with that information.

Perhaps you should ask your father.

Thank you.

Very good.

Do you intend to replace me with Mary?

You're kidding, right?

I'm not blind, Charlie.

She's got Valerie 23's looks, which I know turns you on.

And you seem to think she's great with the children.

She's designed to be a nanny, and you're just as good looking.

Answer my question.

Are you replacing me with her?

Of course not.

Hi, Mel. Morning.

Where's Charlie?

He went in early.

And Mary and the kids?

They're outside playing.

Good.

Can I talk to you about something?

Sure. What?

Well, yesterday the kids asked Mary a question that worried me a bit.

What?

They asked why Daddy hurts Mommy.

And what did Mary say?

Well, she responded kind of like a human nanny would. She didn't quite know what

to say.

Did he hurt you?

It doesn't matter.

If the hell it doesn't.

I'm not important. Only the children are important.

Yes, the children are important, but so are you.

And Charlie should treat you like you deserve to be treated.

How would you treat me now?

Oh, you know how I treat you.

The way I used to.

How would you treat me now?

I don't know, like a lady, I guess.

Like a best friend.

Someone I love.

Would you kiss me?

Yes, of course I would, all the time.

No, I mean, would you kiss me now, Mel? I don't think that's such a good idea.

I mean, I want to.

But it's not right.

You're married to my boss.

Who hasn't kissed me like that in years?

I'm sorry I've made you uncomfortable.

I'm late.

Mary, please, sit down.

What would you like to talk about, Mr. Roth?

Well, I need some information.

What information are you looking for?

Does Mr.

Booten ever hurt Mrs. Booten?

Yes.

How? In the time that I have been here, he has struck her three times, he has

thrown items at her twice, and he has brought her to tears with words on the

daily basis.

Hi.

What are you doing here at this hour?

I just came by to see if you're okay.

I'm fine.

By the way, you're still a great kisser, too.

I am with you.

Hey, Charlie, I just came by to get Mary to take her in the shop for some

adjustments. Stuff I can't do here because I need the crate. You think you

get by without her for a few hours?

I think it's absolutely necessary.

Oh, it is.

It's definitely necessary.

What are you doing?

I'm changing some of your programming.

Why?

Never mind.

Mary, do you remember the talk we had about Mr. Booten hurting Terrell?

Yeah, I do.

How come you've never done anything to stop him?

That is not part of my programming.

I am programmed only to protect and care for the children under my supervision.

Mr. Booten has never hurt them.

Maybe not directly, but don't you think that hurting a children's mother hurts

the children?

Yeah.

You are correct.

And do you realize that Mr. Booten is a direct danger to those children?

Yes.

Yes, I do.

You're overriding my fail -safe.

I see.

Thanks, but you really could have brought her back in the morning. The

already in bed.

Yeah, but then she wouldn't be here to protect them tonight or when they wake

in the morning.

Right? Right.

See you tomorrow.

Well, come on.

Good night.

Would you care to participate in our nightly activity?

No, not tonight.

Good night.

I had hoped it wouldn't come back.

What did I tell you about questioning my decisions?

You want me to act like your slave?

Like Mary, 25, never questioning you?

I have... I have opinions, you know. Keep your opinions to yourself. That's

I want you to do. Keep your stupid opinions to yourself.

You're hurting me.

Disrespect me, I'll show you real hurt.

I can't permit you to

continue this behavior.

What are you talking about?

I can't allow you to continue hurting the children in this way. Hurt the

children? I never laid a hand on them.

Hurting their mother is like hurting them.

What?

Did Melbourne change on you tonight?

I can't allow you to remain in a position to hurt the children.

A child can be hurt without ever really touching them.

Hi, Carmen. Everything okay?

Everything's fine.

Come on, kids. We have a painting to finish.

Well, thanks for dinner.

You're welcome.

You sure you're okay? You don't need anything?

Yeah, I'm sure.

Mel, I do need one thing.

Name it.

Would you like to stay the night?

You know what's amazing?

You haven't changed a bit in nine years.

Thanks.

What's this?

Oh, that.

That was Charlie's.

This is Mary 25's remote device. I thought I took this when I took her to

dismantled. That's where Charlie left it.

I'm not permitted to touch it.

Why not?

You're a... Inorganic.

You knew that.

No, I didn't.

You worked at the inorganic department.

You helped build me.

No, I... I built Valerie 23 and the unfinished Valerie

24, but we scrapped that one.

Charlie took me.

He changed my face and hair to match that of the original Tarot.

What happened to the real Tarot?

Charlie killed her.

Kiss me, Mel.

Like you said, I deserve.

Kiss me, Mel.

You set me up.

You wanted me back in love with you so that I... You set all this up.

Don't you see how perfect it all is?

I was designed to be the perfect companion to a man.

Charlie didn't want me anymore.

But you said you wanted me.

And now, you have me.

And the children have a much better father.

It's perfect.

Let us hope that no technology will ever exist that can replace human warmth and

compassion. For when such a technology does exist, will we cease to be human?