Isaac Asimov - Robot AL-76 Goes Astray part 3/4

Summary

In a suspenseful tale, a metal monster wreaks havoc, leading to Randolph Payne's gruesome demise. Sheriff Saunders mobilizes Hannaford County to hunt the rogue machine, while Payne, oblivious to his fate, reviews his robot's work. Unbeknownst to all, a group of robots led by Sam Toby is speeding to meet Payne, setting the stage for a climactic showdown.

Takeaways

• 🏃 A man named Cooper rushes into Sheriff Saunders' office in a state of panic, carrying a hat and toaster.
• 🗣️ Cooper struggles to speak and eventually reveals a story about a monstrous metal creature wreaking havoc.
• 🤖 The creature is described as being seven to nine feet tall and is associated with Randolph Payne.
• 🚨 Sheriff Saunders takes action, mobilizing armed men from Hannaford County to deal with the situation.
• 💔 The news of Randolph Payne's death is delivered to his wife, Miranda, who reacts with a mix of concern for her financial security and grief.
• 🔍 Randolph Payne, unaware of his supposed death, reviews photographs of a robot at work, seemingly oblivious to the chaos unfolding.
• 🛠️ AL76, a robot, is revealed to be constructing a bizarre and complex machine, which is an improvement on a standard model.
• 🌳 The farmers of Hannaford County, armed with various weapons, are preparing to confront the robot, under the leadership of Sheriff Saunders.
• 🎯 Sheriff Saunders gives a signal to his men to aim for the robot's eyes, indicating a strategy for dealing with the perceived threat.
• 😱 The climax of the script involves a tense standoff between the robot and the armed men, with the sheriff ready to give the order to fire.
• 🔑 The script ends with a cliffhanger as the robot activates a switch, leaving the outcome of the situation uncertain.

Q & A

What was the initial reaction of Cooper when he entered Sheriff Saunders' office?

Cooper entered the office in a state of panic, bringing a hat and toaster, and slammed against the wall. He tried to speak but was unable to do so until he had calmed down enough to breathe properly.

What did Cooper describe when he was finally able to speak?

Cooper described a huge metal monster, possibly seven to nine feet tall, that had attacked Randolph Payne, leaving him in a mangled state, and was now wrecking the shack out of sheer destructiveness.

What was Sheriff Saunders' immediate response to the news about the metal monster?

Sheriff Saunders tightened his belt and instructed Jake to gather every man in Hannaford County who could shoot and deputize them, preparing them to confront the metal monster.

How did Miranda Pain react to the news of her husband's death?

Miranda Pain initially made sure her husband's insurance policy was safe, made a few remarks about her husband's foolishness, and then broke into a prolonged and heart-rending wail of grief.

What was Randolph Payne doing while unaware of his supposed death?

Randolph Payne was viewing the completed negatives of his snapshots with satisfaction, which were a series of portraits of a robot at work.

What was the nature of the contraption that AL 76 was working on?

AL 76 was working on a grotesque and complex machine that resembled a homemade contraption, made of wires, wheels, tubes, and other components, with a megaphone-like arrangement on top.

Why did Randolph Payne hesitate to peak into the megaphone of the contraption?

Paine hesitated because he had seen more sensible machines explode suddenly and violently, and he was cautious about the potential danger.

What was the purpose of the contraption that AL 76 was making?

AL 76 claimed it was an improvement on the standard model, though the exact purpose was not clear, and it was described as a 'dissent' and a monstrous creation.

What was the situation when the farmers of Hannaford County surrounded Paine's shack?

The farmers, armed with various weapons, were closing in on Paine's shack in a slowly tightening circle, ready to attack the metal monster on Sheriff Saunders' signal.

What was Sheriff Saunders' final action before the script ended?

Sheriff Saunders stepped out into the open, raised his machine gun, and was about to give a signal to fire at the metal monster when the script ended.

What was the final scene described in the script?

The final scene described Sheriff Saunders seeing a huge machine man bending over an uncertain contraption, with Randolph Payne hiding behind a tree, and the farmers ready to attack.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Robot Rampage and Panic

The script opens with a chaotic scene where a man named Cooper rushes into Sheriff Saunders' office in a state of panic, carrying a hat and toaster. He struggles to communicate his encounter with a massive metal monster, which has attacked and killed Randolph Payne, and is now wreaking havoc at Payne's place. The monster is identified as an escaped machine from the Petersburg Factory. Sheriff Saunders mobilizes the local force to capture the machine, while also dealing with the widow Payne's reaction to her husband's death. Meanwhile, the robot, AL76, is unaware of the chaos it has caused and continues to work on its bizarre contraption, oblivious to the approaching danger.

05:03

🔧 The Bizarre Contraption and the Robot's Delusion

In the second paragraph, Randolph Payne, who is unaware of his supposed death, is seen examining his photographs of a robot at work. He is satisfied with the images but is oblivious to the fact that he is surrounded by armed farmers and law enforcement. The narrative shifts to a scene where Payne interacts with the robot, AL76, who is working on a strange and complex machine. AL76 claims to have improved upon the standard model and requires only a flashlight to complete its work. As the robot works, the tension builds with the armed forces closing in on Payne's location. Sheriff Saunders prepares to give the signal to fire, but before he can, the robot activates its machine, leading to an uncertain outcome.

Keywords

💡slackening

The term 'slackening' refers to a decrease in speed, force, or intensity. In the context of the video script, it is used to describe the lack of any noticeable reduction in speed as a character named Cooper rushes into Sheriff Saunders' office. This sets the scene for the ensuing chaos and urgency.

💡monster

A 'monster' is typically a large, terrifying creature of human imagination or a metaphor for something that is destructive or dangerous. In the script, a 'huge metal monster' is described as causing havoc and destruction, embodying the central conflict and fear in the narrative.

💡destructiveness

'Destructiveness' denotes the quality or tendency to cause damage or destruction. The script mentions the metal monster's 'sheer destructiveness' as it wrecks a shack, which is a key element in understanding the threat posed by the creature.

💡escape

To 'escape' means to get away from danger or confinement. The script narrates how Cooper made his 'escape' from the metal monster, which is a pivotal moment illustrating the character's survival instinct and the imminent danger.

💡machine man

'Machine man' in the script refers to an automaton or robot that has escaped from a factory. It is a central character in the story, causing panic and necessitating a response from the community, as indicated by Sheriff Saunders' call to arms.

💡insurance policy

An 'insurance policy' is a contract that provides a sum of money upon the occurrence of a specified event, such as death. In the script, Miranda Pain's concern for her husband's insurance policy reflects the gravity of the situation and her pragmatic response to the tragedy.

💡robot

A 'robot' is a machine capable of carrying out a series of actions automatically, especially one programmable by a computer. The script describes various robots, including AL76, which are integral to the plot and contribute to the technological and fantastical elements of the story.

💡contraption

A 'contraption' is a device or machine, especially an elaborate or complicated one. Randolph Payne is described as an expert at homemade contraptions, which adds a layer of eccentricity and ingenuity to his character and the overall theme of invention and creation.

💡lunatic

'Lunatic' refers to someone with a mental disorder or behaving in a wildly excited or unpredictable way. The script uses this term to describe the robot's behavior, suggesting a loss of control and an element of unpredictability in its actions.

💡junker

A 'junker' is a person who collects and sells old and discarded items. The script mentions a 'nightmarish junk pile' that the robot works on, which underscores the chaotic and makeshift nature of the robot's creation and the setting.

💡trigger

To 'trigger' in this context means to initiate or cause something to happen, often suddenly. The script's final moments involve a robot's metal fingers compressing a switch, which implies the triggering of an action or event, adding suspense to the narrative.

Highlights

Cooper enters Sheriff Saunders' office in a frantic state, carrying a hat and toaster.

Cooper struggles to calm down and communicate the story of a metal monster attack.

The monster is described as 7-9 feet tall, causing destruction at Randolph Payne's shack.

Randolph Payne is found dead, presumably killed by the metal monster.

Sheriff Saunders suspects the monster is an escaped machine man from the Petersburg Factory.

Deputies are instructed to gather armed men and prepare to confront the machine man.

Miranda Pain, Randolph's wife, learns of his death and focuses on the safety of his insurance policy.

Randolph Payne is unaware of his death and reviews满意的照片 of a robot at work.

The robot's actions are captured in a series of detailed portraits.

Randolph Payne encounters AL76, a robot with a bizarre and dangerous invention.

AL76's invention is described as grotesque and potentially catastrophic.

Randolph Payne interacts with AL76, questioning the safety and purpose of its invention.

AL76 demonstrates its invention, despite Randolph Payne's concerns.

Farmers and law enforcement surround Payne's shack, preparing to confront the machine man.

Sheriff Saunders gives the order to fire at the machine man's eyes.

The climax is reached as the machine man is about to be attacked by the armed group.

The story ends abruptly with the machine man activating its invention.

Transcripts

there was no appreciable slackening of

speed until Cooper hurtled into sheriff

Saunders office - hat and toaster and

brought himself up hard against the wall

timely hands lifted him and for half a

minute he tried speaking before he had

actually calmed down to the point of

breathing

but of course no result they gave him

whiskey and fanned him and when he did

speak it came up something like this

monster a70 talk chat all busted up pour

any pain and so on they got the story

out of him gradually how there was a

huge metal monster seven feet tall maybe

even eight or nine out at Randolph Payne

shet Oh Randolph Payne himself was on

his stomach a poor bleeding mangled

corpse how the monster was then busily

engaged in wrecking the shack out of

sheer destructiveness how it had turned

on Lemuel Oliver Cooper and how he

Cooper had made his escape by half the

hair Sheriff Saunders hitched his belt

tighter about his portly middle and said

it's that their machine man that got

away from the Petersburg Factory

we got warning on it last Saturday hey

Jake you get every man in Hannaford

County that can shoot and slap a

deputy's badge on him get them up here

at donut and old lesson Jake before you

do that just drop in at the widow pains

place and lip her the bad news gentle

light it is reported that Miranda pain

upon being acquainted with events paused

only to make sure that her husband's

insurance policy was safe and to make a

few pithy remarks concerning her

foolishness and not having had him take

out double the amount before breaking

out into as prolonged and Hart ringing a

wail of grief as ever became a

respectable widow

it was some hours later that Randolph

Payne unaware of his horrible mutilation

and death viewed the completed negatives

of his snapshots with satisfaction as a

series of portraits of a robot at work

they left nothing to the imagination

they might have been labeled robot

gazing thoughtfully at vacuum tube robot

splicing two wires robot wielding the

screwdriver robot taking refrigerator

apart with great violence and so on as

there now remained only the routine of

making the prints themselves he stepped

out from beyond the curtain of the

improvised darkroom for a bit of a smoke

and a chat with a l76 in doing so he was

blissfully unaware that the neighboring

woods were verminous with nervous

farmers armed with anything from an old

colonial relic of a blunderbuss to the

portable machine gun carried by the

sheriff himself nor for that matter

Eddie any inkling of the fact that half

a dozen robot assists under the

leadership of Sam Toby were smoking down

the highway from Petersburg at better

than a hundred and twenty miles an hour

for the sole purpose of having the

pleasure and honor of his acquaintance

so while things were jittering toward a

climax Randolph Payne's side with

self-satisfaction might had to match

upon the seat of his pants puffed away

at his pipe and looked at a l76 with

amusement it had been apparent for quite

some time that the robot was more than

slightly lunatic Randolph Payne was

himself an expert at homemade

contraptions having built several that

could not have been exposed to daylight

without seeing the eyeballs of all

beholders but he had never even

conceived of anything approaching the

monstrosity that al 76 was concocting it

would have made the rube Goldberg's of

the day die in convulsions of envy it

would have made Picasso if he could have

lived to witness it quit art in this

sheer knowledge that he had been

hopelessly surpassed it would have

soured the milk in the utters of any cow

within half a mile in fact it was

gruesome from a rusty and massive iron

base that faintly resembled something

pain had once seen attached to a

second-hand tractor it rose upward in

rakish drunken swerves through a

bewildering mess of wires wheels tubes

and nameless Horrors without number

ending in a megaphone arrangement that

looked decidedly sinister Paine had the

impulse to peaked in the megaphone part

but refrained he had seen far more

sensible machines explode suddenly and

with violence he said hey yeah the robot

looked up he had been lying flat on his

stomach teasing a thin sliver of metal

into place what do you want pain what is

this he asked it in the tone of one

referring to something foul and

decomposing hell gingerly between two

ten-foot poles

it's the dissent oh I'm making so I can

start to work it's an improvement on the

standard model the robot Rose dusted his

knees clanking Lee and looked at it

proudly pain shuddered an improvement

no wonder they hid the original and

caverns on the moon

poor satellite poor dead satellite he

had always wanted to know what a fate

worse than death was no he knew well it

worked yes sure how do you know it's got

to I made it didn't I

I only need one thing now got a

flashlight somewhere a gasps pain

vanished into the shack and returned

almost immediately the robot unscrewed

the bottom and set to work in five

minutes he had finished he stepped back

and said

all set now I get to work you may watch

if you want to a pause while Payne tried

to appreciate the magnanimity of the

offer is it safe

a baby could handle it Oh Payne grinned

weakly and got behind the thickest tree

in the vicinity go ahead he said I have

the utmost confidence in you

a l76 pointed to the nightmarish junk

pile and said watch his hand set to work

the embattled farmers of Hannaford

County Virginia weaved up upon pain

shack in a slowly tightening circle with

the blood of their heroic colonial

forebears pounding in their veins and

cruise flesh trickling up and down their

spines they crept from tree to tree

sheriff Saunders spread the word fire

when I give the signal and aim at the

eyes take the blinker link Jake to his

friends and sheriff's deputy to himself

edged closely you think maybe this

machine man is skedaddle he did not

quite manage to suppress the tone of

wistful hopefulness in his voice no no

granted the sheriff yes not though we

all would have come across him in the

woods if he had and we haven't

that's awful quiet then it appears to me

as if we're getting close to Payne's

place the reminder wasn't necessary

sheriff Saunders had a lump in his

throat so big it had to be swallowed in

three installments get back he ordered

and keep your finger on the trigger they

were at the rim of the clearing note and

sheriff Saunders closed his eyes and

stuck the corner of one up from behind

the tree

seeing nothing he paused then tried

again eyes open this time

results were naturally better to be

exact he saw one huge machine man back

toward him

bending over one soul curdling hippie

contraption of uncertain origin and less

certain purpose

the only item he missed was the

quivering figure of Randolph Payne

embracing the tree next but three to the

nor no West Sheriff Saunders stepped out

into the open and raised his machine gun

the robot still presenting a broad metal

bag said in a loud voice to person or

persons unknown watch and as the sheriff

opened his mouth to signal a general

order to fire metal fingers compressed a

switch