Isaac Asimov - Robot AL-76 Goes Astray part 2/4

Summary

In this intriguing script, Randolph Paine discovers a missing robot, AL-76, worth a fortune. Paine tries to convince the robot to stay with him by fabricating a story about secret government orders, while the robot, struggling with abstract thought due to its lunar origins, insists on working to meet its quota. As Paine plots to contact the factory for a reward, AL-76, using materials from Paine's junkyard, builds a mysterious device, leading to a surprising turn of events and an unexpected visitor's arrival.

Takeaways

• 🤖 The protagonist, Randolph Paine, finds a robot and considers it valuable, with the cheapest models costing fifty thousand dollars and some worth millions.
• 💰 Paine plans to keep the robot until he can contact the factory in Petersburg for a potential reward.
• 👫 Paine tries to convince the robot to stay with him by calling them 'buddies' and 'pals', and even offering a handshake, which the robot accepts but doesn't fully understand.
• 🔒 Paine fabricates a story about secret government orders to keep the robot at his place, hinting at a conspiracy involving spies and the destruction of Lunar Station 17.
• 🤔 The robot, identified as an L76 model, is skeptical and wants to work, showing a single-minded focus on its quota.
• 🌳 In a humorous moment, the robot takes Paine's metaphor about 'trees having ears' literally and inspects a tree, showing its early model simplicity.
• 🛠️ The robot decides it can build something, presumably a 'descent' mechanism, using materials from Paine's junk-filled shack.
• 📞 Sam Toby from the United States Robots and Mechanical Men Corporation is contacted by Paine about the missing robot, but is skeptical and dismissive.
• 📷 Paine plans to take a photograph of the robot to provide proof to the factory officials, anticipating their skepticism.
• 🔧 The robot is shown to be busy assembling something from the various pieces of junk, indicating its ability to work with available materials.
• 🏃‍♂️ An unexpected visitor, Lemuel Oliver Cooper, arrives with a broken toaster but quickly leaves upon seeing the unusual scene involving the robot.

Q & A

What is the value of robots mentioned in the script?

The script mentions that the cheapest robots cost fifty thousand dollars, and some of them can be worth millions.

Why does Randolph Paine want to keep the robot at his place?

Randolph Paine wants to keep the robot because he believes it is valuable and he hopes to get a reward for it.

What does the robot say when Paine tries to convince it to stay?

The robot insists that it must work and cannot fall behind its quota, showing its dedication to its task.

What does Paine claim about the robot's orders from the sectional executive?

Paine falsely claims that the robot has orders from the sectional executive to stay with him for a while until the executive sends for it.

What does the robot, AL-76, believe about the environment around it?

AL-76 believes that the strange environment is affecting its thought processes, making them increasingly abstract and unusual.

What does AL-76 decide to do with the materials in Paine's shack?

AL-76 decides to build something using the materials in Paine's shack, which consists of various pieces of old metal and electronic parts.

What is the reaction of Sam Toby from the United States Robots and Mechanical Men Corporation when he receives a call about the missing robot?

Sam Toby is skeptical and annoyed by the constant reports about the robot's whereabouts, and he orders all subsequent calls to be rerouted to a lower-ranking official.

Why does Randolph Paine return to his shack with a camera?

Paine returns with a camera to take a photograph of the robot to provide concrete evidence to the officials from the factory, hoping to convince them of the robot's presence and receive payment.

What happens when Lemuel Oliver Cooper encounters the scene at Paine's shack?

Lemuel Oliver Cooper, initially coming for a repair, is so surprised and possibly frightened by the sight of the robot and the chaos that he quickly leaves the scene.

What is the significance of the robot's increased efficiency and new pattern in its brain?

The increased efficiency and new pattern in the robot's brain suggest that it has adapted or evolved in some way due to the strange environment, possibly enhancing its capabilities.