Andy (sci-fi, comedy)
Logline: What happens when an anatomically correct and fully functional android is programmed to go beyond simply delivering the beloved psych professor’s lectures and moderating his discussion groups, but to be likeable as well?
Cyrus has reservations about “some talking machine” replacing him in the lecture hall and real misgivings about whether a “sexbot” should be turned loose on his students. But the robot manufacturer and the Dean of the College of Humanities have their own agendas and eventually Cyrus knuckles to the pressure.
As Cyrus trains Andy how to interact with people, Robotics International conducts focus groups with the high-powered female movers and shakers of industry to find out what they would find attractive in a “personal assistant.” It’s funny how closely the two paradigms parallel each other (sometimes ha-ha funny). Andy’s likeability is developing all too well as Cyrus races to give him some sort of moral compass before one of his students acts out her “crush” on him.
But it is Cyrus’ teaching assistant who “makes a man out of Andy.”
Immediately, Robotics International repossesses their property, intent on reverse engineering his programming and rolling out the much-anticipated Andy line. If the original Andy is damaged in capturing the interpersonal subroutines, well, that’s a risk R.I. is willing to take – but not Marie-Claire and not Cyrus.
They rescue Andy from the stronghold of the evil mastermind. It is their heroic act, their willingness to sacrifice that teaches Andy the final lesson – that makes a man out of him.
R.I. churns out hundreds of androids every year – androids for whom no one would ever take a risk – androids who will be repossessed and wiped clean whenever a lessee is unable to make her payments. To save his kind from this hideous fate, Andy surrenders himself – returns to the lab.
The parts of Andy’s programming that Robotics International wants cannot simply be cut out – no more than a pound of flesh can be cut from nearest the heart without spilling any blood. The reverse engineering fails. Andy dies in the attempt. However…
Andy found a way to duplicate himself into one of the empty shells when no one was watching. A deal is struck with R.I. and the Andy line is rolled out. The company may lease a new unit until someone falls in love with him, at which time that model earns his freedom and the world gladly accepts its new citizen.
And that’s what happens when an anatomically correct and fully functional…
Cyrus has reservations about “some talking machine” replacing him in the lecture hall and real misgivings about whether a “sexbot” should be turned loose on his students. But the robot manufacturer and the Dean of the College of Humanities have their own agendas and eventually Cyrus knuckles to the pressure.
As Cyrus trains Andy how to interact with people, Robotics International conducts focus groups with the high-powered female movers and shakers of industry to find out what they would find attractive in a “personal assistant.” It’s funny how closely the two paradigms parallel each other (sometimes ha-ha funny). Andy’s likeability is developing all too well as Cyrus races to give him some sort of moral compass before one of his students acts out her “crush” on him.
But it is Cyrus’ teaching assistant who “makes a man out of Andy.”
Immediately, Robotics International repossesses their property, intent on reverse engineering his programming and rolling out the much-anticipated Andy line. If the original Andy is damaged in capturing the interpersonal subroutines, well, that’s a risk R.I. is willing to take – but not Marie-Claire and not Cyrus.
They rescue Andy from the stronghold of the evil mastermind. It is their heroic act, their willingness to sacrifice that teaches Andy the final lesson – that makes a man out of him.
R.I. churns out hundreds of androids every year – androids for whom no one would ever take a risk – androids who will be repossessed and wiped clean whenever a lessee is unable to make her payments. To save his kind from this hideous fate, Andy surrenders himself – returns to the lab.
The parts of Andy’s programming that Robotics International wants cannot simply be cut out – no more than a pound of flesh can be cut from nearest the heart without spilling any blood. The reverse engineering fails. Andy dies in the attempt. However…
Andy found a way to duplicate himself into one of the empty shells when no one was watching. A deal is struck with R.I. and the Andy line is rolled out. The company may lease a new unit until someone falls in love with him, at which time that model earns his freedom and the world gladly accepts its new citizen.
And that’s what happens when an anatomically correct and fully functional…