I, Robot Page #4

18.

SPOONER:

Stop the recording.

Spooner turns away from the footage. Stares at Calvin.

SPOONER:

They do, Doctor. Unless they.ve

always been there -- and never

left.

Calvin looks at him. Trying to understand.

CALVIN:

You think the murderer was in the

lab the entire time?

SPOONER:

If I.m right, it.s still there...

Spooner turns back to the screens. The IMAGE paused at the

exact moment the MECHANICAL GUARD rolled in front of the lab

door.

SPOONER:

We just locked it in.

23 INT. METAL CORRIDOR - DAY 23

The STEEL ARMS of the ROBOTIC GUARD retract with a CLANG. The

laboratory doors slide open.

24 INT. HOGENMILLER.S LAB - DAY 24

Spooner and Calvin step inside. It.s dark. Quiet. Police

and technicians long gone. Silhouettes of hanging limbs.

Eyeless heads. Clumps of wire and metal.

The LIGHTS, flicker on. Calvin sees Spooner reaching into

his coat with his left hand. Pulling out a GUN. Reacts.

CALVIN:

A robot cannot harm a human being,

Detective. The First Law of

Robotics forbids it. And we hard-

wire the Three Laws into every

model. Without exception.

SPOONER:

Yeah, I saw the commercial.

Spooner steps deeper into the lab. Eyes scanning. Twisting.

To avoid touching any robot parts. Passes a MAZE holding a

METAL INSECT. SUDDENLY. The bug WHIRS to life.

19.

Spooner startles. As the metal bug scurries through the

corridors. Clamps his hand down on it.

SPOONER:

And if a robot was given a direct

order to kill?

CALVIN:

The Second Law of Robotics would

prevent it. A robot must obey an

order only if it does not conflict

with the first law.

Spooner approaches a MOUND of ROBOT PARTS. Arms and legs.

Half torsos. All tossed haphazardly onto the pile.

SPOONER:

But a robot can defend itself.

CALVIN:

Only when that action doesn.t

conflict with the First or Second

Laws. This is the Third Law of

Robotics.

SPOONER:

Yeah, well, you know what they say

-- Laws are made to be broken.

CALVIN:

Not these laws.

Spooner. Starts nudging the pile with his shoe. Calvin,

growing impatient...

CALVIN:

You.re not hearing me, Detective.

There.s nothing here...

WHEN SUDDENLY:

The PILE ERUPTS in front of Spooner...Parts flying...AS A

ROBOT LEAPS UP FROM BENEATH IT!...

Spooner...knocked back...his GUN...skittering across the

floor...right to...

CALVIN.S FEET.

SPOONER:

Dr. Calvin!

Calvin. Stunned. Speechless. The Robot. Fixing his

ILLUMINATED EYES. Right on her. She steps forward...

20.

SPOONER:

Goddammit! Stay back!

Spooner. Scrambling towards his gun. Calvin. Reaching out

towards the Robot...

CALVIN:

Calm down, Detective. There is no

danger here...

Spooner. Grabbing up his gun and wheeling round just as...

CALVIN:

(to Robot)

De-Activate.

And the Robot. Suddenly FREEZES.

Spooner. Heart POUNDING. Gets to his feet. Training the

gun on the Robot. Calvin turns to him.

CALVIN:

How did you know it was under

there?

SPOONER:

If I was metal and didn.t want

anyone to find me, I.d hide under a

pile of junk.

CALVIN:

This Robot wasn.t hiding. What

you.re looking at is the result of

clever programming. The illusion

of self-interest and free will.

Nothing more.

Spooner. Steeping closer to the Robot. Cautiously.

Holstering his gun. As Calvin turns for the door.

CALVIN:

I.m going to go get Dr. Lanning...

...THE ROBOT.S HAND SUDDENLY SHOOTS OUT...grabbing Spooner.s

gun...from his holster...LIGHTENING FAST...pointing it...

right back at him...

CLOSE ON Calvin. Cannot believe this is happening...

CALVIN:

I said De-Activate!

21.

SPOONER:

Move away from the door, Doctor.

Calvin.s voice. Cracking from desperation. Confusion.

CALVIN:

Commence emergency shut-down!

SPOONER:

Now!

Spooner. Staring into the Robot.s eyes. A thin bead of

SWEAT. Trickling down his temple. Calvin. Moving away from

the door...

CALVIN:

I...I gave you an order...

The Robot. Starts backing towards the door. The gun.

Shaking in its hand. As if he.s desperate. Conflicted. He

touches the WALL PANEL. The doors slide open. The Robot

steps out into the metal corridor. Turning to RUN as the

doors begin to shut...

Spooner. Reaching down to whip out a BACK-UP GUN. From an

ankle holster. Slapping in a LARGE CARTRIDGE.

CALVIN:

This is impossible. A robot...

SPOONER:

...can.t do that. Yeah, yeah, I

know.

CALVIN:

My God -- did you see how it moved?

I.ve never seen an NS-2 move that

way...

Starts running for the door.

CALVIN:

Wait! Please, you can.t destroy

it. We have to study it...

SPOONER:

That thing took my gun. You.ll be

lucky if you get a handful of bolts

back!

SLAMS the wall panel and...

22.

25 INT. METAL CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS 25

...sprints out into the hallway. The Robot Suspect. About

to turn to corner...

VICTOR. Suddenly appearing.

VICTOR:

The suspect is nearing the end of

the hallway, Detective.

SPOONER:

Gee, thanks.

Spooner raises his gun and FIRES...Pegging the robot in the

LEG...It starts jerking wildly...He takes aim again when...

CALVIN. Races out into the hallway.

SPOONER:

Get back to the lab!

She heads for the Robot.

CALVIN:

(to Robot)

You.re malfunctioning. Let me help

you!

The Robot turns. To look at her. GUN pointing to the floor.

Spooner. FOCUSING in on his HAND. AS ONE FINGER TWITCHES...

And he DIVES for Calvin. Forcing her to the floor as the

Robot FIRES. Again and again. Bullets. RICOCHETTING around

them. SPARKING against the walls...

The ELEVATOR opens. The Robot, leaping inside.

Spooner. On top of Calvin. Looks down at her. Her HANDS.

Clutching his coat. Trembling.

SPOONER:

That was a pretty convincing

illusion of getting shot at.

CUT TO:

26 INT. ELEVATOR - CONTINUOUS 26

The ROBOT SUSPECT standing inside the elevator. Looks down

at the bullet hole blown through its leg. Reaches down.

Metal fingers touching the damage. As if curious. Afraid.

23.

Looks back at the other ROBOT. Standing in the back of

elevator. A primitive model. No reaction. Face, blank.

CUT BACK TO:

27 INT. METAL CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS 27

Spooner springing to his feet. Helping Calvin up.

VICTOR:

I took the liberty of alerting

Security .003 Seconds after the

first shot was fired...

SPOONER:

Where.s that elevator going?

VICTOR:

Sub Level 5.

Spooner SLAMS against a nearby DOOR. Hurtling down the

STAIRS...

28 INT. LOBBY - CONTINUOUS 28

A PHALANX of SECURITY PERSONNEL. Crossing the lobby.

PIERCING ALARM BELLS, RINGING...

29 INT. ANOTHER METAL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS 29

More SECURITY PERSONNEL. Pouring into a HALLWAY...

30 INT. STAIRWAY - CONTINUOUS 30

Spooner and Calvin. Racing down the stairs. Victor.s face

meeting them at every landing.

VICTOR:

I have directed a security team to

meet the elevator containing the

errant robot...

Spooner. Whipping past him. Calvin. Barely keeping up.

Not used to this much activity.

Spooner. BURSTS through a door and out into...

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