Out of the Unknown (1965) s03e07 Episode Script
The Naked Sun
1 [theme music plays.]
[Baley's voice.]
Endless, curving corridors a city within a city and to think there was a time when buildings had windows.
And above the buildings the sky, the sun and stars Forbidden Thoughts! Less than a hundred years ago before we shut out the air, roofed over our cities, retired to our caves of steel protected, closed in isolation, safe.
[patriotic music plays.]
[recorded voice.]
The Under-Secretary will receive you.
Enter.
[Baley.]
Plainclothesman Elijah Baley reporting.
I haven't been told the reason for being called to Washington, Under-Secretary.
- [Minnim.]
Cigar? - [Baley.]
No, thank you.
[Minnim.]
How's little old New York these days? [Baley.]
Crowded as usual, Miss Under-Secretary.
[Minnim.]
Sit down.
Plainclothesman Baley.
You are being temporarily reassigned.
[Baley.]
Outside of New York? [Minnim.]
Quite a distance.
We are assigning you to temporary duty on Solaria.
[Baley.]
That's impossible! No earthman has ever set foot on Solaria.
[Minnim.]
An emergency.
Heaven-sent, you might say.
Solaria has had a murder.
The first for two hundred years.
[Baley.]
A little out of our jurisdiction, isn't it? [Minnim.]
They want a territorial detective assigned to the case.
You were specifically asked for.
Evidently they were impressed by the way you handled the murder of that spacer in Brooklyn [Baley.]
May I see the report? [Minnim.]
No reports.
You will be briefed on Solaria.
[Baley.]
You expect me to go there cold, Under-Secretary? [Minnim.]
This could be very important to us, Baley.
You'll appreciate there are 50 of these Outer Worlds, each maintaining a military potential 100 times greater than ours.
By means of their positronic robot economies.
Precisely.
Now, what's the major factor keeping us in this humiliating position? Iâll tell you, Baley.
Ignorance! The Spacers know all about us.
They send missions to Earth whenever they please.
We stay cooped up in our covered Earth-cities, knowing only what they choose to tell us.
Your position on Solaria will be unique, Baley.
Unique.
You mean Iâm to spy for Earth? We should be grateful for any information gathered in the course of your assignment You realise, of course, that the atmospheric pressure alone might kill a man.
A calculated risk.
There's the sun.
Iâd have to face the sun.
No doubt they'll assign you to some special building.
Under-Secretary, in any investigation one has to be mobile, move from place to place, risk constant exposure Their world is not enclosed.
They have the sun! And you have your orders.
What do I pack? A Solarian transport capsule leaves in half an hour.
You're on it, Baley.
[whirring.]
Partner Elijah! Daneel Olivaw.
You on this case? A team that worked so well in Brooklyn should not be broken up.
Besides, I have some experience of your world, such as your aversion to open spaces.
And I know nothing about Solaria.
[Olivaw.]
Ask me.
For a start, how big is it? Solaria? Nine thousand five hundred miles in diameter.
Fertile areas - 30 million square miles.
ln climate and atmosphere, resembling Earth.
- Population? - Twenty thousand.
You mean 20 million, don't you? [Olivaw.]
Twenty thousand.
Thirty million square miles for 20 thousand people? Their expectation of life is not 90 years, partner.
It is 350! Besides, they have the services of some 200 million positronic robots - Of course.
You know that.
- Oh, of course.
[whirring.]
Is this thing convertible? Can it be made to slide back? It can.
Then push it back.
I want to try I want just a glimpse of the sky.
I cannot allow that, partner.
Daneel, if I arrive on Solaria with my Earth-agoraphobia intact, Iâll be at their mercy completely.
I can't be that vulnerable.
I must prepare.
You must arrive, partner.
Iâve got to test my resistance Itâs probably no worse than a nightmare.
For you, earthman? - I have to do my job, Daneel.
- So do I.
The answer is no.
You are not Daneel Olivaw, are you? You know me.
Your name is R.
Daneel Olivaw.
Robot Daneel Olivaw.
I am here for your protection, partner.
[Baley.]
Really? Then why the disguise? Close association with a robot would lower your status with the Solarians.
If they believe me to be human, it will help with your investigations.
Besides, Iâm not a Solarian robot, am I? I have eyes.
You will recall I was made on Aurora.
I don't care why you were made.
I order you as a robot-- As a robot, my first duty is to protect you.
First law of robotics.
I order you to let me see the sky.
I can endure it, I must for a short time.
[voice of RX-247 5.]
Contact! Contact! Contact! We're landing.
We're landing.
[rustling, movement.]
You won't move my hand without hurting me, Robot! You'll have to break my finger! [whirring.]
[Baley screaming.]
Where am I? ln the house specially built for you, Partner Elijah.
- Built for me? - On the Estate of Hannis Gruer, Head of Solarian security.
Right.
Let's go and see Gruer.
- How far is it? - No travel is necessary.
[Gruer.]
Welcome to Solaria, gentlemen.
Are you comfortable? [Baley.]
Iâm sorry.
I wasn't aware you had-- Do not apologise, earthman.
Iâm Hannis Gruer.
You may find our ways a little strange at first, earthman.
Iâll have to take notes.
You have the police report on this case? Well, no - [Baley.]
No report.
- No police.
- What? - There is no crime here.
Therefore no occasion for police.
Well, you appear to have a crime now.
A murder.
What was the victim's name? [Gruer.]
Rikaine Delmarre.
- Profession? - Foetologist.
[Baley.]
Sorry.
And I suppose the murderer is completely unknown? [Gruer.]
Not at all.
There is only one person who could have done the deed.
[Baley.]
Then you have no problem.
[Gruer.]
That person could not have done it either.
I see Anyone around who could give me a first-hand account of the murder? His wife.
Mrs.
Delmarre Any children? [silence.]
Any children? I must leave you now.
At once.
Our officials are at your disposal.
The service robots have a list and will help you to make contact My deputy will assist you.
Done viewing.
What the hell? [Baley.]
Where's he gone? [Daneel.]
He's never been.
What you saw was a trimensional image.
You need a good night's rest, partner.
You can continue your investigations tomorrow How? Like this? By trimensional images? It is the only way Solarians communicate with each other except in the most The most delicate circumstances.
Then how am I supposed to investigate this case, Daneel? Iâve got to see these people.
[electronic whirring, bleeping.]
Which of the officials on Gruer's list do you wish to view, partner? All of them.
Let's start with Mrs.
Delmarre.
[robot.]
Contact contact contact Denied.
Let's have the doctor Dr.
Thool [robot.]
Contact contact contact Approved.
- My name is Baley, sir.
- [Dr.
Thool.]
Yes.
Iâm investigating the murder of Dr.
Rikaine Delmarre Yes, I know.
Welcome to Solaria, Mr.
Baley.
You're dining.
Perhaps I should come and see you after you've finished.
What? See me? This is monstrous! Done viewing.
[Baley.]
Wait a minute! All right! Try again! [robot.]
Contact contact Deputy Head of Security Corwin Attlebish, master.
Contact.
[Attlebish.]
Good day to you, Mr.
Baley.
Look, with all due respect, Mr.
Attlebish, how can I investigate this murder of yours strapped in a chair-- Strapped? You are uncomfortable? I was speaking figuratively.
I have to make personal contact, Mr.
Attlebish-- Our customs, Mr.
Baley.
Sure, but if you want me to clear up this mystery-- Mystery? There is no mystery.
Rikaine Delmarre was killed by his wife.
We shall find out how and why You imply that Iâm not needed here, Mr.
Attlebish You infer that.
Well, try our Chief Sociologist, Anselmo Quemot.
Done viewing, Mr.
Baley.
Quemot? Quemot, did he say? [robot.]
Anselmo Quemot.
Contact Contact.
[Quemot.]
Quemot, sociologist.
I was expecting you to contact me.
- How are you feeling Mr.
Baley? - Frustrated.
Tell me Dr.
Quemot You and Rikaine Delmarre, the murdered man.
- You were friends? - We were acquainted.
[Baley.]
What sort of man was he? A very wealthy man, devoted to Solaria.
- An idealist? - By definition.
He volunteered for his job as Foetal Engineer.
Sometimes to relax, he played chess with me.
Oh, you saw one another.
No, Baley.
Even if I could stomach personal presence, Delmarre would have never allowed it.
His delicate job did not count his sensibilities.
He was extremely finicky.
And Mrs.
Delmarre, you know her also? We've viewed one another.
A perceptive mind.
Would she be capable of killing her husband? She was the only one close enough to Rikaine to kill him, to be sure.
He was too finicky to see anyone else.
Almost as finicky as Dr.
Leebig.
Leebig? The roboticist? He's on my list of contacts [robot.]
Contact Dr.
Leebig, master? [Dr.
Quemot.]
Do contact him by all means.
You may find him a rather difficult character.
I have another viewing contact waiting.
Good day to you, Baley.
Done viewing.
[Dr.
Leebig.]
Yes? Are you one of the earthmen? Why do you presume to disturb me at work? Itâs my job, Doctor Leebig.
As a roboticist, were you a close associate of the murdered man? Yes, but you are here against my advice.
Done viewing! Don't break contact, please.
Could I come and see you, Dr.
Leebig? No earthman vulgarity, please! If you as much as tried to invade my estate What would you do? Kill me? Do you usually make such threats, Dr.
Leebig? I make no threats.
My studies in robotics can be of little use to you.
- You have no knowledge - Then teach me, Dr.
Leebig.
[robot.]
Contact established, master.
Contact.
- What? Which monitor? - In the rest room, master! Done viewing, I say! Done viewing! Delayed contact! Mrs.
Delmarre, master.
[clattering, electronic bleeping.]
[hissing.]
Hello, Mr Baley.
Sorry to have kept you waiting.
Hannis Gruer told me you'd be wanting to view.
You're from Earth, I understand.
It might be better, Mrs.
Delmarre, if you were to put on some articles of clothing.
Why? You don't think Iâd let you see me [Baley I am seeing you.
You're viewing me, Mr.
Baley.
- What is your first name? - Elijah.
And you? Gladia.
[hissing stops.]
- Shall we proceed? - Sure.
- How long were you married? - Ten years.
- Happily? - How do you mean? Well, you saw one another constantly, so-- I should hope not! We're not animals, you know.
Tell me, did you actually witness the murder? He came to me that day, because it was the assigned day for for seeing.
We spoke for a while and then he left to return to his work.
About 15 minutes later, I heard a shout.
Iâd never heard him shout before.
What did you do? I ran to his laboratory.
I found him.
Dead.
- He was alone? - Of course.
My husband was very strict.
He never saw anybody.
But somebody had killed him.
So someone had seen him.
How many more times? We Solarians don't go around seeing each other.
We're not like you earthmen.
A Solarian who would commit a murder, wouldn't mind doing a bit of seeing, now, would he? Oh, you don't understand at all! His head was allbloody.
I called a robot, and he alerted the others, and they took care of me.
And the body? Burned like any dead body.
Tell me, Gladia, have you any images of your husband? You mean a painting? A photograph? No, no.
Something more.
A record, electronic visual, anything Well, I have a film recording a scheduled assignment.
Itâs quite usual, but nobody would ever view it except me or my husband.
Your husband is dead, Gladia.
I need to view that film.
I want to ask you a question.
Go ahead.
That That person with you Daneel? You two, at this moment You aren't viewing I mean each other.
- You're doing the other thing.
- We're here together.
- You could touch him.
- Right.
How absolutely disgusting.
Gladia, did you kill your husband? Done viewing.
You will show me that film, Gladia.
Iâm breaking contact.
Done viewing.
Done viewing! [high-pitched electronic whirring.]
[Baley groans.]
You seem upset, Mr.
Baley.
[Olivaw.]
Plainclothesman Baley is feeling the effects of open spaces [staggering.]
I must try to continue this investigation.
[exhales, sighs.]
[Baley.]
What confuses me is the absence of a weapon The weapon used to kill Mr.
Delmarre.
[Gruer.]
We have not been able to locate it.
Robots searched for it under my viewing supervision.
ln vain.
Could it have been removed by Gladia Delmarre? When the robots arrived, she was on the floor, unconscious - [Baley.]
Could the robots have removed it from the scene of the crime? [Gruer.]
The robots touched nothing.
But they removed the body! A robot was found on the scene of the crime! It was completely disordered.
[Baley.]
Where is it now? Scrapped? [Gruer.]
We have no use for faulty robots.
I don't understand you! The only evidence you had you destroyed! Why? Would you mind asking your associate to leave the room? What? [to robot.]
Water, please.
I understand.
Call me if you need me, partner.
Listen! There's something more to this murder.
Much more! There are parties on Solaria, secret organisations Dr.
Delmarre was a traditionalist.
There are new forces among us, forces for change.
Delmarre has been silenced! [Baley.]
By whom? His wife? There is an organisation I tell you.
Delmarre was on the track of something He told me before he died.
The whole human race may be in danger.
And is that why you asked for my help? There are too few of us here, earthman.
I haven't dared speak to anyone.
I do not know who is involved in the conspiracy Not a word to Mr.
Olivaw.
And when you speak to Corwin Attlebish [Gruer.]
Oh, no.
No! Burning.
Burning! Robots! Robots! Your master has been poisoned! Contact! Contact! Contact contact Hannis Gruer's household robot.
Will your master live? [household robot.]
The doctor is attending him All right.
Now get me Dr.
Thool! [robot.]
Contact! Contact! Ah, good.
How is your patient, Doctor? - He may not survive.
- What was the poison? Iâm afraid I don 't know.
I cannot recall a poisoning case in 200 years' practice.
Well, test the reservoir tap! How could I do that? - We have no experience - Jumping Jehoshaphat! Take an animal with you.
Inject some of reservoir water into its veins.
Use your intelligence man! Do something! - Test the water in the pitcher! - What pitcher? The pitcher from which Gruer poured the poisoned drink! Well, dear me.
I presume that it has all been cleared away! The household robots would not be likely to leave it standing about.
What? The moment we produce an item of evidence, some damn robot destroys it! We cannot interfere with a robot's task orders without a thorough programme of re-scheduling.
Oh! Done viewing! Done viewing, I say! I want to view Gladia Delmarre! Done viewing! Contact! Contact! Hello, Elijah! I didn't mean to interrupt you I have decided to let you view that film.
- Thank you.
- And afterwards Yes? I suggest you join me for dinner.
Iâm quite properly dressed this time.
Join you you mean come over to your place? [Gladia laughs.]
You, earthman, have a one-track mind! What I meant, of course, was that you order dinner in your room.
Then you get your robots to join our trimensional images.
And then we eat.
All right, Elijah? All right.
But first the film.
[robot.]
Contact! Contact! [robot.]
Mr.
Delmarre arriving for scheduled personal presence.
I have made the room darker, Rikaine.
Last time you complained.
It has been an unusually hard quarter.
I have taken to sleeping upon an inflated pillow.
It rests my back.
My household robots have been given the requisite instructions.
I will give the instructions, Rikaine.
Do you wish to view a book-film? It would make you feel more comfortable.
I am as comfortable as can be expected.
No book-film.
I have my thought-selector From our last viewing, it would appear that you look well, Rikaine.
I find this ordeal even more daunting if one has to talk.
To one's wife? It is only a matter of time.
Solaria will be the first world to abolish completely this primitivism Animal primitivism of scheduled seeing We don't have to We're not scheduled.
I mean there's no need to Really? Rikaine, I hope you don't mind, We are so rarely scheduled for for visiting I have taken the liberty of recording a presence film -just for me.
- What? Now? You are having a schedule filmed? Oh, Rikaine! Why not? Just for me when Iâm alone Your vulgarity takes my breath away.
Itâs unbelievable! Robots! Robots! Dismantle.
[glass clinks.]
About the poisoning, Gladia Poisoning.
Maybe it wasn't poison.
Oh? There was nobody in his presence How do you know? There couldn't have been.
Hannis Gruer hasn't got a wife since he's completed his quota of Iâm sorry, I can't say that word.
So, he must have done it himself.
Are you enjoying the vegetables? - I viewed it, Gladia.
- Then you know who did it.
The same one who killed your husband, obviously.
Gruer, as we say where I come from, knew too much.
Yes.
Yes, the vegetables are fine.
Then it couldn't have been me, could it? That's why you wanted to join me, isn't it? To find out Well, Iâve never been near Gruer's estate in my life Never Never in my life! Gladia! Aren't you holding your knife rather tightly? Break contact! Done viewing! What news of Hannis Gruer, Mr.
Attlebish? He has been vomiting a great deal, but he will live.
Is that all, earthman? No, that's not all.
Your poisoners on Solaria seem to lack practical experience.
They gave Gruer too much and he threw it up.
Poisoners? There is no evidence for poison, according to Dr.
Thool.
Dr.
Thool ! Your doctors don't know any more than your detectives.
Iâve never seen such an incompetent-- If you wish to leave Solaria, feel free to do so.
Not till Iâve completed my assignment.
We hired you, earthman.
We can, therefore, also discharge you.
I order you to return to your home planet.
If you kick me out, Mr.
Attlebish, the next delegation to arrive in Solaria will come in warships! Iâm from Earth, and that's the system! You insult us, we send warships.
Got it? Done viewing.
Right.
That does it.
Done viewing.
From now on, anybody I talk to on this god-forsaken planet, Iâm going to see in the flesh! Are you all right? That could be very dangerous, partner.
[Baley.]
Iâll survive.
Iâve stood it so far.
Iâm not referring to atmospheric dangers.
Hannis Gruer, the key Solarian figure in the investigation of this murder, has been poisoned.
Does it not follow that if you expose yourself indiscriminately, you might be the next victim? My first duty is to protect you, partner.
Even from yourself.
How will you stop me, robot? This is an interim report by Plainclothesman Baley on my investigation into the murder of Solarian, Rikaine Delmarre.
The following Solarians have been interviewed: Dr.
Thool, Dr.
Quemot, Corwin Attlebish, and the next step Yes? Have you contacted the roboticist? Dr.
Leebig directs you to call tomorrow.
He is engaged on important work.
- You tell Dr.
Leebig.
- I have no contact, master.
All right, tell his contact robot that Iâm here by invitation of the Solarian authorities, Iâm getting no cooperation at all, and if Iâm not viewing him in five minutes, Iâll be over at his estate seeing him within the hour.
Use the word! Iâll see him! The other contact is waiting, master.
What? Hello.
I wanted to apologise for losing my temper last time we viewed.
That's all right, Gladia.
Iâm going to see you in a few hours No, please Gladia, your chief robotist, Dr.
Jothan Leebig.
Do you know him? Of course.
My husband was very interested in robotics.
Jothan and I often used to go for walks together.
- For walks? - Viewing, of course.
Did your husband order Dr.
Leebig to stop paying attention to you? What an extraordinary question.
Well, did he? You don't understand at all.
Iâve got to see you, Gladia.
Is it absolutely necessary? Absolutely.
Contact with Dr.
Leebig! Excuse me.
This is really most regrettable.
- I told you last time - Just listen to me, Leebig! It is my belief that throughout the history of the positronic robot, the laws of robotics have been deliberately misquoted.
What are you talking about? To hide the truth that robots can commit murder, Dr.
Leebig! Really? ln Solaria, Mr.
Baley, distrust of the robot is regarded as a disease.
Then let's meet face to face and Iâll produce evidence! Seeing is impossible! Others are seeing me and so will you! Daneel! No! I can't I mustn't.
[Leebig sobbing.]
- [Olivaw.]
Yes, partner? - [Baley.]
Look at him.
[Leebig panting.]
[Olivaw.]
He's regressing! [Baley.]
He's regressing to a five-year-old so that it will be legitimate for him to see me! Protect yourself, Leebig.
- Iâm coming over.
- No seeing! No seeing! Iâll break contact! Then answer my questions right now.
What do you want to know? Just this: If a man says to a robot, âPlace this liquid into a glass of water.
Afterwards, forget you've done it.
â Won't the robot do as he's told? Yes And if the robot hands this water to a man and the man drinks it and dies-- The robot would be innocent.
The man would be the murderer, but no man would give such orders.
Iâm trying to prove that, despite your robotic laws, a robot could be the instrument of murder.
Nonsense! The laws are devised to protect us.
What are your feelings towards Gladia Delmarre, Dr.
Leebig? I understand, you went for walks together.
What did you talk about? Robotics.
She's a good listener.
Did you find her pleasant physically attractive? I really can't answer these questions.
- They're filthy.
- All right.
Why did you stop walking with her? Did she stop being a good listener? We ran out of things to say.
Then you no longer find her pleasant.
But you know her very well, don't you? What could her motive be? Not oven a Solarian could commit a murder without a motive There was a motive.
She told me frequently that she quarrelled with her husband.
Bitterly and frequently.
Didn't she tell you, earthman? She hated her husband! Hated him! May I come closer, Gladia? Not Not too close.
Can you stand the sun? Itâs very low in the sky.
Shall we walk? We have some flowerbeds you might like.
Iâve never walked with anyone before seeing.
When you walked with Dr.
Leebig, were you dressed like this? It depended on weather.
Sometimes like this, sometimes more lightly.
I believe, he tried to teach you robotics? He never gave up.
When I didn't understand, he'd scold me.
If we were anywhere near the lake Iâd jump in and splash him! I thought you were viewing! Of course.
The water couldn't touch him, but he'd duck just the same.
Am I too close to you? Iâm getting used to it.
This is a native plant.
Most of the flowers here are from Earth originally.
- [Baley.]
You've killed it.
- [Gladia.]
I picked it.
Are you saying that because I pick a flower, I could kill my husband? [Baley.]
It smells like a woman's perfume.
[Gladia.]
And every woman smells different.
Sometimes I try to imagine it.
Crowds and crowds of people all - All - Seeing each other? [Baley.]
Have you ever viewed scenes on Earth, say, in a film? [Gladia.]
Itâs different in a film.
It just seems like a multi-view.
[Baley.]
Do people kiss in Solarian films? - I don't view that kind.
- Never? Well, there are always a few dirty films going the rounds Itâs sickening really.
[Baley.]
Why did you tell Dr.
Leebig about your quarrels with your husband? I understand you hated him.
I thought you wanted to be a friend.
I was wrong.
You are a detective.
Your husband was not a very affectionate man, was he, Gladia? You, on the other hand, are affectionate.
Aren't you? Itâs disgusting to talk about it! But you talked about it to Dr.
Leebig.
Your husband was cold and unloving, and you resented it.
Your film proved conclusively.
Nothing of the kind.
Rikaine was a good Solarian and we We weren't scheduled for For Did you kill him, Gladia? We were quarrelling at the time the time he died I suppose I screamed at him, lost my temper.
I was so angry I don't remember - Don't remember what? - What? He was dead and I was screaming and then the robots Oh, help me, Elijah.
Help me.
The sun is so red.
So red.
[prolonged high-pitched tone.]
I want I want to help Are you sick? I thought I could stand it if I experienced it gradually in easy stages.
[Gladia.]
What do you want me to do, Elijah? [Baley.]
I must get back inside.
Try Try a little longer.
What are you trying to do? You know it's not possible to bear it for long - [Gladia.]
Close your eyes - [Baley.]
No I can't stand it.
I can't! Why am I here? Over-exposure.
[sighs.]
The red sun You should not venture into the open without me, partner.
I am here to protect you, remember? - Where is Mrs.
Delmarre? - Under house arrest.
- By whose order? - By mine.
I can't be sure.
She had the opportunity more than she admitted.
She did not rush to the scene when she heard her husband scream.
She was there all along.
but I can't be sure.
They all refuse to see you or if they did, they took the most extravagant precautions.
Mrs.
Delmarre, on the other hand Perhaps she has a strong interest in the opposite sex.
And Dr.
Delmarre was not the type to encourage such interest, was he? He would regard it as psychotic.
It must have been very frustrating for her.
Frustrating enough to commit murder in a moment of passion.
ln that case, she would also have attempted the murder of Gruer.
And the murder of yourself, partner.
Did she suggest the meeting at sunset? I think I know, Daneel.
Contact, master! Contact! Earth contacting! - Earth? - Yes.
Under-Secretary Minnim.
[prolonged high-pitched tone.]
Contact approved.
[Minnim over radio.]
Plainclothesman Baley, You're ordered back.
You're ordered back at once.
I can't, I haven't finished.
I personally order your return.
All arrangements are made.
I can't leave now There will be serious consequences if you disobey.
- I myself - Break contact! Contact broken, master.
You can't defy the Under-Secretary.
I have done so, Daneel.
Where were we? You haven't even found the weapon, partner.
- How can you-- ? - I want you to call a meeting, with all the suspects on our list.
If you know, you are in very great danger, partner.
From whom, Daneel? From whom? Contact Gladia Delmarre! Contact Mr.
Attlebish! [humming, bleeping.]
Contact Dr.
Leebig! Contact Dr.
Thool! Contact Dr.
Quemot! Contact Contact.
This is no good! I said all together! - You didn't think you could - See them? They'd regard that as a 20th century orgy.
I want their images frozen together.
- What do they call it? - A multi-view? Iâll instruct the robot.
[robot.]
Contact.
Contact for multi-view.
And you know what else I want you to do, Daneel.
Yes, partner, I do.
The question remains was Gladia the only one with a motive for killing Dr.
Delmarre? According to Dr.
Leebig, she and her husband quarrelled frequently.
ln fact, I believe that Dr.
Leebig himself was on the point of breaking off relations with both Doctor and Mrs.
Delmarre-- False! I shall break off contact, earthman.
Let him continue.
As for you, Dr.
Quemot, it seems that Dr.
Delmarre's death left you conveniently in absolute charge of Solarian population control.
You judge by the moral standards of Earth, Mr.
Baley.
All Iâm saying is, motive alone won't get us very far.
Any of you could have wanted Dr.
Delmarre dead Prove it! One point on which you all agree is that Dr.
Delmarre was a good Solarian.
A primitive island poet once wrote âHe is all fault who has no fault at all.
â A glass of water, please.
Dr.
Delmarre was on the point of discovering a conspiracy on Solaria A conspiracy that was preparing an assault on the rest of the galaxy for Thank you.
for purposes of conquest.
He wanted to prevent that.
- [Leebig.]
Rubbish! - [Attlebish.]
Proof! Surely, we must concentrate on the question of opportunity.
Who could have been close enough to Delmarre-- Nonsense! You know very well that Dr.
Delmarre would never tolerate personal presence! [Baley.]
If he were aware that personal presence was involved.
I don't follow, Iâm afraid.
[Baley.]
When I first viewed Gruer, I imagined he was in my presence.
When you treated Mrs.
Delmarre at the scene of the crime, she initially assumed you were viewing her, didn't she, Dr.
Thool? These theories are all Earth-orientated, and, therefore, quite useless.
You have not even discovered the murder weapon, have you, earthman? Dr.
Thool had the opportunity of removing the weapon.
I removed nothing.
I swear it! All right.
But the victim and the unconscious wife were not only individuals on the scene, were they? There was also a disorganised robot.
Well? What logically follows if you all speak the truth? The murder weapon was in that robot! [Leebig.]
Robots don't kill! [Thool.]
The first reaction law of robotics! [Leebig.]
ln any case, how could anyone arrange to have a robot smash a man's skull? Shall I explain how, Dr.
Leebig? Do you really want me to? Go ahead! Robot, give me your arm, will you? - My arm, master? - Yes.
Daneel [crashing.]
No matter what spectacles you provide for us, earthman, everything still points to her! [Baley.]
Does it? But Mrs.
Delmarre knows nothing about handling robots, - does she, Dr Leebig? - Not exactly.
[Baley.]
ln fact, you tried to teach her robotics! She was completely hopeless, wasn't she? [Leebig.]
She might have pretended ignorance-- [Baley.]
Oh, come now.
As a roboticist, are you prepared to say that Mrs Delmarre was sufficiently skilled to drive robots to indirect murder? [Quemot.]
Are you saying someone else would have the skill? [Baley.]
I am.
Dr.
Jothan Leebig, self-admittedly the best roboticist on Solaria! [Leebig.]
I studied the Delmarre robot after the murder! He had no detachable limbs.
There are dozens of different models in use [Baley.]
But you disposed of the robot pretty quickly, didn't you? [Leebig.]
Iâve told you before! It was disorganised, useless! It had witnessed a murder.
[Baley.]
Perhaps we could ask Mr.
Attlebish to check if any robots with detachable limbs were at any time available to Dr.
Delmarre [Leebig.]
No! My records are not to be tampered with! Done viewing! [Baley.]
Why âDone Viewingâ if you have nothing to hide? [Baley.]
Re-contact! Re-contact! [robot.]
Cannot contact for multi-view.
[Baley.]
All right, get him alone on one of the scanners! Quickly.
[robot.]
Try contact! Contact! [robot.]
Contact! Contact! [Leebig.]
Iâm sick and tired of these insinuations! Why should I want to dispose of Delmarre? Why? Motive, earthman? [Baley.]
You were very friendly with his wife, weren't you? I know you didn't consort with women, but even a Solarian roboticist may fall victim to certain urges [Leebig.]
Stop this filth! [Baley.]
Perhaps you didn't recognise your own feelings! Maybe you hated Mrs.
Delmarre for inspiring them, and her husband for, well, being her husband.
By killing Dr.
Delmarre in such a way as to throw suspicion on Mrs.
Delmarre, you could be avenged of both at once! [Leebig.]
Filth! An earthman maybe! Never a Solarian! [Baley.]
You also had a second motive, didn't you, Leebig? Dr.
Delmarre stood in the way of certain plans Robots, contact Deputy Head of Security, Attlebish! [robot.]
Contact! Contact! [Leebig.]
Plans? What plans? [Baley.]
The conquest of the galaxy! [Leebig.]
Madness! This earthman is insane! [Baley.]
Listen, Leebig! My partner is on his way now, to examine your records! [Leebig.]
What? Your colleague's invading my estate? Personal human presence! [Baley.]
We only wish to see your records.
They will establish [Attlebish.]
ln order that these accusations may be finally disproved, I order the examination of Dr.
Leebig's records to take place! [Baley.]
Robot, contact all the others! Quickly! [Leebig.]
I won't I refuse to see anyone in person.
Why do you want to torture me? All right! Iâll tell you.
Delmarre's robot had detachable limbs! And I could have arranged Gruer's poisoning! The poisoned arrow could have been placed into the hands of the robot.
I say yes to anything, only, please Keep the human away from me! Don't let him come.
No personal contact! Please! Please don 't let him come! I can't bear seeing, can't bear it.
l can't bear it.
You fool, it's only a robot! Partner Elijah, the human is dead.
[rustling.]
[Baley.]
Iâm seeing you? [Gladia.]
How can you tell? You're wearing gloves.
You don't mind? Why have you decided to see me? I have to get used to it if I'm going to Aurora.
Through Daneel? Itâs arranged? He seems to have influence Iâm still frightened.
You'll forget, Gladia.
I don't want to.
Not everything And you'll marry again.
That, forgive me, is not the most attractive prospect for me, Elijah.
You have to go back, now? The Under-Secretary is more determined than I thought.
Elijah Itâs all true, you know, I mean about Jothan Leebig I know.
Other roboticists have been over his records.
They found experiments for the purpose of constructing unmanned, intelligent spaceships.
They also found robots with replaceable limbs.
Don't talk about it anymore.
Why not? You were close to Leebig.
Yet he was genuinely terrified of people.
He was prepared to destroy other worlds just to make sure that Solaria's taboos on personal presence could not be assailed.
He also killed himself to avoid personal presence When it can be so When it can be so Iâll never see you again, will I? Listen, Gladia.
ln 40 years Iâll be dead or at best a wizened old man.
You'll look pretty much as you do now [Gladia.]
May I May I touch you? [Baley.]
Be careful, Gladia.
.
[Gladia.]
Iâm not afraid.
Your hand.
[Minnim.]
You didn't do a bad job, Plainclothesman, as a detective.
[Baley.]
Thank you.
Iâm sorry you had to go to all this trouble to make sure of my return to Earth.
[Minnim.]
You had another assignment.
[Baley.]
I believe I have recognised the weakness of the Solarians.
[Minnim.]
Indeed? They've done away with something that mankind has known for a million years.
Co-operation between individuals.
Only one science flourishes in Solaria, robotics.
That one science could mean the end of our world.
If applied to conquest by men like Leebig.
Did you intend him to commit suicide? I intended to force a confession.
He was a dangerous man Whose work could have been vital if made available to us, Baley.
Didn't you ever stop to consider your own position if the Solarians had realised that Realised what? That Leebig couldn't possibly have murdered Rikaine Delmarre! Who did kill Delmarre, Baley? If you mean who struck the actual blow [Minnim.]
Yes of course that's what I mean.
[Baley.]
It was Gladia.
And you let her go to Aurora? Leebig wanted Delmarre dead, and Gladia incriminated.
So he supplied Delmarre with a robot, and programmed it to hand Gladia one of its detachable limbs during an argument with her husband.
At the height of her rage.
Morally, she was no more responsible than the robot.
Iâm not concerned with one murder, Baley.
Iâm concerned with the future of our planet.
So am I.
That's why I have to go back to Solaria, Under-Secretary.
If you study Solarian society carefully you will see it's modelled closely and directly on Earth itself! They've progressed more rapidly than we have, that's all.
But we're bound to end up the same way unless we change.
Not our department, Baley.
You're a policeman not a sociologist.
[shuffling.]
- What do you think you're doing? - Iâm going to let in the sun [Minnim.]
Have you gone insane? Sit down at once! Robots! [Baley.]
Before it's too late! We've got to learn to face the sun.
Robots! Help! [Baley.]
The sun [Minnim.]
Robots! [whirring.]
Robots!
[Baley's voice.]
Endless, curving corridors a city within a city and to think there was a time when buildings had windows.
And above the buildings the sky, the sun and stars Forbidden Thoughts! Less than a hundred years ago before we shut out the air, roofed over our cities, retired to our caves of steel protected, closed in isolation, safe.
[patriotic music plays.]
[recorded voice.]
The Under-Secretary will receive you.
Enter.
[Baley.]
Plainclothesman Elijah Baley reporting.
I haven't been told the reason for being called to Washington, Under-Secretary.
- [Minnim.]
Cigar? - [Baley.]
No, thank you.
[Minnim.]
How's little old New York these days? [Baley.]
Crowded as usual, Miss Under-Secretary.
[Minnim.]
Sit down.
Plainclothesman Baley.
You are being temporarily reassigned.
[Baley.]
Outside of New York? [Minnim.]
Quite a distance.
We are assigning you to temporary duty on Solaria.
[Baley.]
That's impossible! No earthman has ever set foot on Solaria.
[Minnim.]
An emergency.
Heaven-sent, you might say.
Solaria has had a murder.
The first for two hundred years.
[Baley.]
A little out of our jurisdiction, isn't it? [Minnim.]
They want a territorial detective assigned to the case.
You were specifically asked for.
Evidently they were impressed by the way you handled the murder of that spacer in Brooklyn [Baley.]
May I see the report? [Minnim.]
No reports.
You will be briefed on Solaria.
[Baley.]
You expect me to go there cold, Under-Secretary? [Minnim.]
This could be very important to us, Baley.
You'll appreciate there are 50 of these Outer Worlds, each maintaining a military potential 100 times greater than ours.
By means of their positronic robot economies.
Precisely.
Now, what's the major factor keeping us in this humiliating position? Iâll tell you, Baley.
Ignorance! The Spacers know all about us.
They send missions to Earth whenever they please.
We stay cooped up in our covered Earth-cities, knowing only what they choose to tell us.
Your position on Solaria will be unique, Baley.
Unique.
You mean Iâm to spy for Earth? We should be grateful for any information gathered in the course of your assignment You realise, of course, that the atmospheric pressure alone might kill a man.
A calculated risk.
There's the sun.
Iâd have to face the sun.
No doubt they'll assign you to some special building.
Under-Secretary, in any investigation one has to be mobile, move from place to place, risk constant exposure Their world is not enclosed.
They have the sun! And you have your orders.
What do I pack? A Solarian transport capsule leaves in half an hour.
You're on it, Baley.
[whirring.]
Partner Elijah! Daneel Olivaw.
You on this case? A team that worked so well in Brooklyn should not be broken up.
Besides, I have some experience of your world, such as your aversion to open spaces.
And I know nothing about Solaria.
[Olivaw.]
Ask me.
For a start, how big is it? Solaria? Nine thousand five hundred miles in diameter.
Fertile areas - 30 million square miles.
ln climate and atmosphere, resembling Earth.
- Population? - Twenty thousand.
You mean 20 million, don't you? [Olivaw.]
Twenty thousand.
Thirty million square miles for 20 thousand people? Their expectation of life is not 90 years, partner.
It is 350! Besides, they have the services of some 200 million positronic robots - Of course.
You know that.
- Oh, of course.
[whirring.]
Is this thing convertible? Can it be made to slide back? It can.
Then push it back.
I want to try I want just a glimpse of the sky.
I cannot allow that, partner.
Daneel, if I arrive on Solaria with my Earth-agoraphobia intact, Iâll be at their mercy completely.
I can't be that vulnerable.
I must prepare.
You must arrive, partner.
Iâve got to test my resistance Itâs probably no worse than a nightmare.
For you, earthman? - I have to do my job, Daneel.
- So do I.
The answer is no.
You are not Daneel Olivaw, are you? You know me.
Your name is R.
Daneel Olivaw.
Robot Daneel Olivaw.
I am here for your protection, partner.
[Baley.]
Really? Then why the disguise? Close association with a robot would lower your status with the Solarians.
If they believe me to be human, it will help with your investigations.
Besides, Iâm not a Solarian robot, am I? I have eyes.
You will recall I was made on Aurora.
I don't care why you were made.
I order you as a robot-- As a robot, my first duty is to protect you.
First law of robotics.
I order you to let me see the sky.
I can endure it, I must for a short time.
[voice of RX-247 5.]
Contact! Contact! Contact! We're landing.
We're landing.
[rustling, movement.]
You won't move my hand without hurting me, Robot! You'll have to break my finger! [whirring.]
[Baley screaming.]
Where am I? ln the house specially built for you, Partner Elijah.
- Built for me? - On the Estate of Hannis Gruer, Head of Solarian security.
Right.
Let's go and see Gruer.
- How far is it? - No travel is necessary.
[Gruer.]
Welcome to Solaria, gentlemen.
Are you comfortable? [Baley.]
Iâm sorry.
I wasn't aware you had-- Do not apologise, earthman.
Iâm Hannis Gruer.
You may find our ways a little strange at first, earthman.
Iâll have to take notes.
You have the police report on this case? Well, no - [Baley.]
No report.
- No police.
- What? - There is no crime here.
Therefore no occasion for police.
Well, you appear to have a crime now.
A murder.
What was the victim's name? [Gruer.]
Rikaine Delmarre.
- Profession? - Foetologist.
[Baley.]
Sorry.
And I suppose the murderer is completely unknown? [Gruer.]
Not at all.
There is only one person who could have done the deed.
[Baley.]
Then you have no problem.
[Gruer.]
That person could not have done it either.
I see Anyone around who could give me a first-hand account of the murder? His wife.
Mrs.
Delmarre Any children? [silence.]
Any children? I must leave you now.
At once.
Our officials are at your disposal.
The service robots have a list and will help you to make contact My deputy will assist you.
Done viewing.
What the hell? [Baley.]
Where's he gone? [Daneel.]
He's never been.
What you saw was a trimensional image.
You need a good night's rest, partner.
You can continue your investigations tomorrow How? Like this? By trimensional images? It is the only way Solarians communicate with each other except in the most The most delicate circumstances.
Then how am I supposed to investigate this case, Daneel? Iâve got to see these people.
[electronic whirring, bleeping.]
Which of the officials on Gruer's list do you wish to view, partner? All of them.
Let's start with Mrs.
Delmarre.
[robot.]
Contact contact contact Denied.
Let's have the doctor Dr.
Thool [robot.]
Contact contact contact Approved.
- My name is Baley, sir.
- [Dr.
Thool.]
Yes.
Iâm investigating the murder of Dr.
Rikaine Delmarre Yes, I know.
Welcome to Solaria, Mr.
Baley.
You're dining.
Perhaps I should come and see you after you've finished.
What? See me? This is monstrous! Done viewing.
[Baley.]
Wait a minute! All right! Try again! [robot.]
Contact contact Deputy Head of Security Corwin Attlebish, master.
Contact.
[Attlebish.]
Good day to you, Mr.
Baley.
Look, with all due respect, Mr.
Attlebish, how can I investigate this murder of yours strapped in a chair-- Strapped? You are uncomfortable? I was speaking figuratively.
I have to make personal contact, Mr.
Attlebish-- Our customs, Mr.
Baley.
Sure, but if you want me to clear up this mystery-- Mystery? There is no mystery.
Rikaine Delmarre was killed by his wife.
We shall find out how and why You imply that Iâm not needed here, Mr.
Attlebish You infer that.
Well, try our Chief Sociologist, Anselmo Quemot.
Done viewing, Mr.
Baley.
Quemot? Quemot, did he say? [robot.]
Anselmo Quemot.
Contact Contact.
[Quemot.]
Quemot, sociologist.
I was expecting you to contact me.
- How are you feeling Mr.
Baley? - Frustrated.
Tell me Dr.
Quemot You and Rikaine Delmarre, the murdered man.
- You were friends? - We were acquainted.
[Baley.]
What sort of man was he? A very wealthy man, devoted to Solaria.
- An idealist? - By definition.
He volunteered for his job as Foetal Engineer.
Sometimes to relax, he played chess with me.
Oh, you saw one another.
No, Baley.
Even if I could stomach personal presence, Delmarre would have never allowed it.
His delicate job did not count his sensibilities.
He was extremely finicky.
And Mrs.
Delmarre, you know her also? We've viewed one another.
A perceptive mind.
Would she be capable of killing her husband? She was the only one close enough to Rikaine to kill him, to be sure.
He was too finicky to see anyone else.
Almost as finicky as Dr.
Leebig.
Leebig? The roboticist? He's on my list of contacts [robot.]
Contact Dr.
Leebig, master? [Dr.
Quemot.]
Do contact him by all means.
You may find him a rather difficult character.
I have another viewing contact waiting.
Good day to you, Baley.
Done viewing.
[Dr.
Leebig.]
Yes? Are you one of the earthmen? Why do you presume to disturb me at work? Itâs my job, Doctor Leebig.
As a roboticist, were you a close associate of the murdered man? Yes, but you are here against my advice.
Done viewing! Don't break contact, please.
Could I come and see you, Dr.
Leebig? No earthman vulgarity, please! If you as much as tried to invade my estate What would you do? Kill me? Do you usually make such threats, Dr.
Leebig? I make no threats.
My studies in robotics can be of little use to you.
- You have no knowledge - Then teach me, Dr.
Leebig.
[robot.]
Contact established, master.
Contact.
- What? Which monitor? - In the rest room, master! Done viewing, I say! Done viewing! Delayed contact! Mrs.
Delmarre, master.
[clattering, electronic bleeping.]
[hissing.]
Hello, Mr Baley.
Sorry to have kept you waiting.
Hannis Gruer told me you'd be wanting to view.
You're from Earth, I understand.
It might be better, Mrs.
Delmarre, if you were to put on some articles of clothing.
Why? You don't think Iâd let you see me [Baley I am seeing you.
You're viewing me, Mr.
Baley.
- What is your first name? - Elijah.
And you? Gladia.
[hissing stops.]
- Shall we proceed? - Sure.
- How long were you married? - Ten years.
- Happily? - How do you mean? Well, you saw one another constantly, so-- I should hope not! We're not animals, you know.
Tell me, did you actually witness the murder? He came to me that day, because it was the assigned day for for seeing.
We spoke for a while and then he left to return to his work.
About 15 minutes later, I heard a shout.
Iâd never heard him shout before.
What did you do? I ran to his laboratory.
I found him.
Dead.
- He was alone? - Of course.
My husband was very strict.
He never saw anybody.
But somebody had killed him.
So someone had seen him.
How many more times? We Solarians don't go around seeing each other.
We're not like you earthmen.
A Solarian who would commit a murder, wouldn't mind doing a bit of seeing, now, would he? Oh, you don't understand at all! His head was allbloody.
I called a robot, and he alerted the others, and they took care of me.
And the body? Burned like any dead body.
Tell me, Gladia, have you any images of your husband? You mean a painting? A photograph? No, no.
Something more.
A record, electronic visual, anything Well, I have a film recording a scheduled assignment.
Itâs quite usual, but nobody would ever view it except me or my husband.
Your husband is dead, Gladia.
I need to view that film.
I want to ask you a question.
Go ahead.
That That person with you Daneel? You two, at this moment You aren't viewing I mean each other.
- You're doing the other thing.
- We're here together.
- You could touch him.
- Right.
How absolutely disgusting.
Gladia, did you kill your husband? Done viewing.
You will show me that film, Gladia.
Iâm breaking contact.
Done viewing.
Done viewing! [high-pitched electronic whirring.]
[Baley groans.]
You seem upset, Mr.
Baley.
[Olivaw.]
Plainclothesman Baley is feeling the effects of open spaces [staggering.]
I must try to continue this investigation.
[exhales, sighs.]
[Baley.]
What confuses me is the absence of a weapon The weapon used to kill Mr.
Delmarre.
[Gruer.]
We have not been able to locate it.
Robots searched for it under my viewing supervision.
ln vain.
Could it have been removed by Gladia Delmarre? When the robots arrived, she was on the floor, unconscious - [Baley.]
Could the robots have removed it from the scene of the crime? [Gruer.]
The robots touched nothing.
But they removed the body! A robot was found on the scene of the crime! It was completely disordered.
[Baley.]
Where is it now? Scrapped? [Gruer.]
We have no use for faulty robots.
I don't understand you! The only evidence you had you destroyed! Why? Would you mind asking your associate to leave the room? What? [to robot.]
Water, please.
I understand.
Call me if you need me, partner.
Listen! There's something more to this murder.
Much more! There are parties on Solaria, secret organisations Dr.
Delmarre was a traditionalist.
There are new forces among us, forces for change.
Delmarre has been silenced! [Baley.]
By whom? His wife? There is an organisation I tell you.
Delmarre was on the track of something He told me before he died.
The whole human race may be in danger.
And is that why you asked for my help? There are too few of us here, earthman.
I haven't dared speak to anyone.
I do not know who is involved in the conspiracy Not a word to Mr.
Olivaw.
And when you speak to Corwin Attlebish [Gruer.]
Oh, no.
No! Burning.
Burning! Robots! Robots! Your master has been poisoned! Contact! Contact! Contact contact Hannis Gruer's household robot.
Will your master live? [household robot.]
The doctor is attending him All right.
Now get me Dr.
Thool! [robot.]
Contact! Contact! Ah, good.
How is your patient, Doctor? - He may not survive.
- What was the poison? Iâm afraid I don 't know.
I cannot recall a poisoning case in 200 years' practice.
Well, test the reservoir tap! How could I do that? - We have no experience - Jumping Jehoshaphat! Take an animal with you.
Inject some of reservoir water into its veins.
Use your intelligence man! Do something! - Test the water in the pitcher! - What pitcher? The pitcher from which Gruer poured the poisoned drink! Well, dear me.
I presume that it has all been cleared away! The household robots would not be likely to leave it standing about.
What? The moment we produce an item of evidence, some damn robot destroys it! We cannot interfere with a robot's task orders without a thorough programme of re-scheduling.
Oh! Done viewing! Done viewing, I say! I want to view Gladia Delmarre! Done viewing! Contact! Contact! Hello, Elijah! I didn't mean to interrupt you I have decided to let you view that film.
- Thank you.
- And afterwards Yes? I suggest you join me for dinner.
Iâm quite properly dressed this time.
Join you you mean come over to your place? [Gladia laughs.]
You, earthman, have a one-track mind! What I meant, of course, was that you order dinner in your room.
Then you get your robots to join our trimensional images.
And then we eat.
All right, Elijah? All right.
But first the film.
[robot.]
Contact! Contact! [robot.]
Mr.
Delmarre arriving for scheduled personal presence.
I have made the room darker, Rikaine.
Last time you complained.
It has been an unusually hard quarter.
I have taken to sleeping upon an inflated pillow.
It rests my back.
My household robots have been given the requisite instructions.
I will give the instructions, Rikaine.
Do you wish to view a book-film? It would make you feel more comfortable.
I am as comfortable as can be expected.
No book-film.
I have my thought-selector From our last viewing, it would appear that you look well, Rikaine.
I find this ordeal even more daunting if one has to talk.
To one's wife? It is only a matter of time.
Solaria will be the first world to abolish completely this primitivism Animal primitivism of scheduled seeing We don't have to We're not scheduled.
I mean there's no need to Really? Rikaine, I hope you don't mind, We are so rarely scheduled for for visiting I have taken the liberty of recording a presence film -just for me.
- What? Now? You are having a schedule filmed? Oh, Rikaine! Why not? Just for me when Iâm alone Your vulgarity takes my breath away.
Itâs unbelievable! Robots! Robots! Dismantle.
[glass clinks.]
About the poisoning, Gladia Poisoning.
Maybe it wasn't poison.
Oh? There was nobody in his presence How do you know? There couldn't have been.
Hannis Gruer hasn't got a wife since he's completed his quota of Iâm sorry, I can't say that word.
So, he must have done it himself.
Are you enjoying the vegetables? - I viewed it, Gladia.
- Then you know who did it.
The same one who killed your husband, obviously.
Gruer, as we say where I come from, knew too much.
Yes.
Yes, the vegetables are fine.
Then it couldn't have been me, could it? That's why you wanted to join me, isn't it? To find out Well, Iâve never been near Gruer's estate in my life Never Never in my life! Gladia! Aren't you holding your knife rather tightly? Break contact! Done viewing! What news of Hannis Gruer, Mr.
Attlebish? He has been vomiting a great deal, but he will live.
Is that all, earthman? No, that's not all.
Your poisoners on Solaria seem to lack practical experience.
They gave Gruer too much and he threw it up.
Poisoners? There is no evidence for poison, according to Dr.
Thool.
Dr.
Thool ! Your doctors don't know any more than your detectives.
Iâve never seen such an incompetent-- If you wish to leave Solaria, feel free to do so.
Not till Iâve completed my assignment.
We hired you, earthman.
We can, therefore, also discharge you.
I order you to return to your home planet.
If you kick me out, Mr.
Attlebish, the next delegation to arrive in Solaria will come in warships! Iâm from Earth, and that's the system! You insult us, we send warships.
Got it? Done viewing.
Right.
That does it.
Done viewing.
From now on, anybody I talk to on this god-forsaken planet, Iâm going to see in the flesh! Are you all right? That could be very dangerous, partner.
[Baley.]
Iâll survive.
Iâve stood it so far.
Iâm not referring to atmospheric dangers.
Hannis Gruer, the key Solarian figure in the investigation of this murder, has been poisoned.
Does it not follow that if you expose yourself indiscriminately, you might be the next victim? My first duty is to protect you, partner.
Even from yourself.
How will you stop me, robot? This is an interim report by Plainclothesman Baley on my investigation into the murder of Solarian, Rikaine Delmarre.
The following Solarians have been interviewed: Dr.
Thool, Dr.
Quemot, Corwin Attlebish, and the next step Yes? Have you contacted the roboticist? Dr.
Leebig directs you to call tomorrow.
He is engaged on important work.
- You tell Dr.
Leebig.
- I have no contact, master.
All right, tell his contact robot that Iâm here by invitation of the Solarian authorities, Iâm getting no cooperation at all, and if Iâm not viewing him in five minutes, Iâll be over at his estate seeing him within the hour.
Use the word! Iâll see him! The other contact is waiting, master.
What? Hello.
I wanted to apologise for losing my temper last time we viewed.
That's all right, Gladia.
Iâm going to see you in a few hours No, please Gladia, your chief robotist, Dr.
Jothan Leebig.
Do you know him? Of course.
My husband was very interested in robotics.
Jothan and I often used to go for walks together.
- For walks? - Viewing, of course.
Did your husband order Dr.
Leebig to stop paying attention to you? What an extraordinary question.
Well, did he? You don't understand at all.
Iâve got to see you, Gladia.
Is it absolutely necessary? Absolutely.
Contact with Dr.
Leebig! Excuse me.
This is really most regrettable.
- I told you last time - Just listen to me, Leebig! It is my belief that throughout the history of the positronic robot, the laws of robotics have been deliberately misquoted.
What are you talking about? To hide the truth that robots can commit murder, Dr.
Leebig! Really? ln Solaria, Mr.
Baley, distrust of the robot is regarded as a disease.
Then let's meet face to face and Iâll produce evidence! Seeing is impossible! Others are seeing me and so will you! Daneel! No! I can't I mustn't.
[Leebig sobbing.]
- [Olivaw.]
Yes, partner? - [Baley.]
Look at him.
[Leebig panting.]
[Olivaw.]
He's regressing! [Baley.]
He's regressing to a five-year-old so that it will be legitimate for him to see me! Protect yourself, Leebig.
- Iâm coming over.
- No seeing! No seeing! Iâll break contact! Then answer my questions right now.
What do you want to know? Just this: If a man says to a robot, âPlace this liquid into a glass of water.
Afterwards, forget you've done it.
â Won't the robot do as he's told? Yes And if the robot hands this water to a man and the man drinks it and dies-- The robot would be innocent.
The man would be the murderer, but no man would give such orders.
Iâm trying to prove that, despite your robotic laws, a robot could be the instrument of murder.
Nonsense! The laws are devised to protect us.
What are your feelings towards Gladia Delmarre, Dr.
Leebig? I understand, you went for walks together.
What did you talk about? Robotics.
She's a good listener.
Did you find her pleasant physically attractive? I really can't answer these questions.
- They're filthy.
- All right.
Why did you stop walking with her? Did she stop being a good listener? We ran out of things to say.
Then you no longer find her pleasant.
But you know her very well, don't you? What could her motive be? Not oven a Solarian could commit a murder without a motive There was a motive.
She told me frequently that she quarrelled with her husband.
Bitterly and frequently.
Didn't she tell you, earthman? She hated her husband! Hated him! May I come closer, Gladia? Not Not too close.
Can you stand the sun? Itâs very low in the sky.
Shall we walk? We have some flowerbeds you might like.
Iâve never walked with anyone before seeing.
When you walked with Dr.
Leebig, were you dressed like this? It depended on weather.
Sometimes like this, sometimes more lightly.
I believe, he tried to teach you robotics? He never gave up.
When I didn't understand, he'd scold me.
If we were anywhere near the lake Iâd jump in and splash him! I thought you were viewing! Of course.
The water couldn't touch him, but he'd duck just the same.
Am I too close to you? Iâm getting used to it.
This is a native plant.
Most of the flowers here are from Earth originally.
- [Baley.]
You've killed it.
- [Gladia.]
I picked it.
Are you saying that because I pick a flower, I could kill my husband? [Baley.]
It smells like a woman's perfume.
[Gladia.]
And every woman smells different.
Sometimes I try to imagine it.
Crowds and crowds of people all - All - Seeing each other? [Baley.]
Have you ever viewed scenes on Earth, say, in a film? [Gladia.]
Itâs different in a film.
It just seems like a multi-view.
[Baley.]
Do people kiss in Solarian films? - I don't view that kind.
- Never? Well, there are always a few dirty films going the rounds Itâs sickening really.
[Baley.]
Why did you tell Dr.
Leebig about your quarrels with your husband? I understand you hated him.
I thought you wanted to be a friend.
I was wrong.
You are a detective.
Your husband was not a very affectionate man, was he, Gladia? You, on the other hand, are affectionate.
Aren't you? Itâs disgusting to talk about it! But you talked about it to Dr.
Leebig.
Your husband was cold and unloving, and you resented it.
Your film proved conclusively.
Nothing of the kind.
Rikaine was a good Solarian and we We weren't scheduled for For Did you kill him, Gladia? We were quarrelling at the time the time he died I suppose I screamed at him, lost my temper.
I was so angry I don't remember - Don't remember what? - What? He was dead and I was screaming and then the robots Oh, help me, Elijah.
Help me.
The sun is so red.
So red.
[prolonged high-pitched tone.]
I want I want to help Are you sick? I thought I could stand it if I experienced it gradually in easy stages.
[Gladia.]
What do you want me to do, Elijah? [Baley.]
I must get back inside.
Try Try a little longer.
What are you trying to do? You know it's not possible to bear it for long - [Gladia.]
Close your eyes - [Baley.]
No I can't stand it.
I can't! Why am I here? Over-exposure.
[sighs.]
The red sun You should not venture into the open without me, partner.
I am here to protect you, remember? - Where is Mrs.
Delmarre? - Under house arrest.
- By whose order? - By mine.
I can't be sure.
She had the opportunity more than she admitted.
She did not rush to the scene when she heard her husband scream.
She was there all along.
but I can't be sure.
They all refuse to see you or if they did, they took the most extravagant precautions.
Mrs.
Delmarre, on the other hand Perhaps she has a strong interest in the opposite sex.
And Dr.
Delmarre was not the type to encourage such interest, was he? He would regard it as psychotic.
It must have been very frustrating for her.
Frustrating enough to commit murder in a moment of passion.
ln that case, she would also have attempted the murder of Gruer.
And the murder of yourself, partner.
Did she suggest the meeting at sunset? I think I know, Daneel.
Contact, master! Contact! Earth contacting! - Earth? - Yes.
Under-Secretary Minnim.
[prolonged high-pitched tone.]
Contact approved.
[Minnim over radio.]
Plainclothesman Baley, You're ordered back.
You're ordered back at once.
I can't, I haven't finished.
I personally order your return.
All arrangements are made.
I can't leave now There will be serious consequences if you disobey.
- I myself - Break contact! Contact broken, master.
You can't defy the Under-Secretary.
I have done so, Daneel.
Where were we? You haven't even found the weapon, partner.
- How can you-- ? - I want you to call a meeting, with all the suspects on our list.
If you know, you are in very great danger, partner.
From whom, Daneel? From whom? Contact Gladia Delmarre! Contact Mr.
Attlebish! [humming, bleeping.]
Contact Dr.
Leebig! Contact Dr.
Thool! Contact Dr.
Quemot! Contact Contact.
This is no good! I said all together! - You didn't think you could - See them? They'd regard that as a 20th century orgy.
I want their images frozen together.
- What do they call it? - A multi-view? Iâll instruct the robot.
[robot.]
Contact.
Contact for multi-view.
And you know what else I want you to do, Daneel.
Yes, partner, I do.
The question remains was Gladia the only one with a motive for killing Dr.
Delmarre? According to Dr.
Leebig, she and her husband quarrelled frequently.
ln fact, I believe that Dr.
Leebig himself was on the point of breaking off relations with both Doctor and Mrs.
Delmarre-- False! I shall break off contact, earthman.
Let him continue.
As for you, Dr.
Quemot, it seems that Dr.
Delmarre's death left you conveniently in absolute charge of Solarian population control.
You judge by the moral standards of Earth, Mr.
Baley.
All Iâm saying is, motive alone won't get us very far.
Any of you could have wanted Dr.
Delmarre dead Prove it! One point on which you all agree is that Dr.
Delmarre was a good Solarian.
A primitive island poet once wrote âHe is all fault who has no fault at all.
â A glass of water, please.
Dr.
Delmarre was on the point of discovering a conspiracy on Solaria A conspiracy that was preparing an assault on the rest of the galaxy for Thank you.
for purposes of conquest.
He wanted to prevent that.
- [Leebig.]
Rubbish! - [Attlebish.]
Proof! Surely, we must concentrate on the question of opportunity.
Who could have been close enough to Delmarre-- Nonsense! You know very well that Dr.
Delmarre would never tolerate personal presence! [Baley.]
If he were aware that personal presence was involved.
I don't follow, Iâm afraid.
[Baley.]
When I first viewed Gruer, I imagined he was in my presence.
When you treated Mrs.
Delmarre at the scene of the crime, she initially assumed you were viewing her, didn't she, Dr.
Thool? These theories are all Earth-orientated, and, therefore, quite useless.
You have not even discovered the murder weapon, have you, earthman? Dr.
Thool had the opportunity of removing the weapon.
I removed nothing.
I swear it! All right.
But the victim and the unconscious wife were not only individuals on the scene, were they? There was also a disorganised robot.
Well? What logically follows if you all speak the truth? The murder weapon was in that robot! [Leebig.]
Robots don't kill! [Thool.]
The first reaction law of robotics! [Leebig.]
ln any case, how could anyone arrange to have a robot smash a man's skull? Shall I explain how, Dr.
Leebig? Do you really want me to? Go ahead! Robot, give me your arm, will you? - My arm, master? - Yes.
Daneel [crashing.]
No matter what spectacles you provide for us, earthman, everything still points to her! [Baley.]
Does it? But Mrs.
Delmarre knows nothing about handling robots, - does she, Dr Leebig? - Not exactly.
[Baley.]
ln fact, you tried to teach her robotics! She was completely hopeless, wasn't she? [Leebig.]
She might have pretended ignorance-- [Baley.]
Oh, come now.
As a roboticist, are you prepared to say that Mrs Delmarre was sufficiently skilled to drive robots to indirect murder? [Quemot.]
Are you saying someone else would have the skill? [Baley.]
I am.
Dr.
Jothan Leebig, self-admittedly the best roboticist on Solaria! [Leebig.]
I studied the Delmarre robot after the murder! He had no detachable limbs.
There are dozens of different models in use [Baley.]
But you disposed of the robot pretty quickly, didn't you? [Leebig.]
Iâve told you before! It was disorganised, useless! It had witnessed a murder.
[Baley.]
Perhaps we could ask Mr.
Attlebish to check if any robots with detachable limbs were at any time available to Dr.
Delmarre [Leebig.]
No! My records are not to be tampered with! Done viewing! [Baley.]
Why âDone Viewingâ if you have nothing to hide? [Baley.]
Re-contact! Re-contact! [robot.]
Cannot contact for multi-view.
[Baley.]
All right, get him alone on one of the scanners! Quickly.
[robot.]
Try contact! Contact! [robot.]
Contact! Contact! [Leebig.]
Iâm sick and tired of these insinuations! Why should I want to dispose of Delmarre? Why? Motive, earthman? [Baley.]
You were very friendly with his wife, weren't you? I know you didn't consort with women, but even a Solarian roboticist may fall victim to certain urges [Leebig.]
Stop this filth! [Baley.]
Perhaps you didn't recognise your own feelings! Maybe you hated Mrs.
Delmarre for inspiring them, and her husband for, well, being her husband.
By killing Dr.
Delmarre in such a way as to throw suspicion on Mrs.
Delmarre, you could be avenged of both at once! [Leebig.]
Filth! An earthman maybe! Never a Solarian! [Baley.]
You also had a second motive, didn't you, Leebig? Dr.
Delmarre stood in the way of certain plans Robots, contact Deputy Head of Security, Attlebish! [robot.]
Contact! Contact! [Leebig.]
Plans? What plans? [Baley.]
The conquest of the galaxy! [Leebig.]
Madness! This earthman is insane! [Baley.]
Listen, Leebig! My partner is on his way now, to examine your records! [Leebig.]
What? Your colleague's invading my estate? Personal human presence! [Baley.]
We only wish to see your records.
They will establish [Attlebish.]
ln order that these accusations may be finally disproved, I order the examination of Dr.
Leebig's records to take place! [Baley.]
Robot, contact all the others! Quickly! [Leebig.]
I won't I refuse to see anyone in person.
Why do you want to torture me? All right! Iâll tell you.
Delmarre's robot had detachable limbs! And I could have arranged Gruer's poisoning! The poisoned arrow could have been placed into the hands of the robot.
I say yes to anything, only, please Keep the human away from me! Don't let him come.
No personal contact! Please! Please don 't let him come! I can't bear seeing, can't bear it.
l can't bear it.
You fool, it's only a robot! Partner Elijah, the human is dead.
[rustling.]
[Baley.]
Iâm seeing you? [Gladia.]
How can you tell? You're wearing gloves.
You don't mind? Why have you decided to see me? I have to get used to it if I'm going to Aurora.
Through Daneel? Itâs arranged? He seems to have influence Iâm still frightened.
You'll forget, Gladia.
I don't want to.
Not everything And you'll marry again.
That, forgive me, is not the most attractive prospect for me, Elijah.
You have to go back, now? The Under-Secretary is more determined than I thought.
Elijah Itâs all true, you know, I mean about Jothan Leebig I know.
Other roboticists have been over his records.
They found experiments for the purpose of constructing unmanned, intelligent spaceships.
They also found robots with replaceable limbs.
Don't talk about it anymore.
Why not? You were close to Leebig.
Yet he was genuinely terrified of people.
He was prepared to destroy other worlds just to make sure that Solaria's taboos on personal presence could not be assailed.
He also killed himself to avoid personal presence When it can be so When it can be so Iâll never see you again, will I? Listen, Gladia.
ln 40 years Iâll be dead or at best a wizened old man.
You'll look pretty much as you do now [Gladia.]
May I May I touch you? [Baley.]
Be careful, Gladia.
.
[Gladia.]
Iâm not afraid.
Your hand.
[Minnim.]
You didn't do a bad job, Plainclothesman, as a detective.
[Baley.]
Thank you.
Iâm sorry you had to go to all this trouble to make sure of my return to Earth.
[Minnim.]
You had another assignment.
[Baley.]
I believe I have recognised the weakness of the Solarians.
[Minnim.]
Indeed? They've done away with something that mankind has known for a million years.
Co-operation between individuals.
Only one science flourishes in Solaria, robotics.
That one science could mean the end of our world.
If applied to conquest by men like Leebig.
Did you intend him to commit suicide? I intended to force a confession.
He was a dangerous man Whose work could have been vital if made available to us, Baley.
Didn't you ever stop to consider your own position if the Solarians had realised that Realised what? That Leebig couldn't possibly have murdered Rikaine Delmarre! Who did kill Delmarre, Baley? If you mean who struck the actual blow [Minnim.]
Yes of course that's what I mean.
[Baley.]
It was Gladia.
And you let her go to Aurora? Leebig wanted Delmarre dead, and Gladia incriminated.
So he supplied Delmarre with a robot, and programmed it to hand Gladia one of its detachable limbs during an argument with her husband.
At the height of her rage.
Morally, she was no more responsible than the robot.
Iâm not concerned with one murder, Baley.
Iâm concerned with the future of our planet.
So am I.
That's why I have to go back to Solaria, Under-Secretary.
If you study Solarian society carefully you will see it's modelled closely and directly on Earth itself! They've progressed more rapidly than we have, that's all.
But we're bound to end up the same way unless we change.
Not our department, Baley.
You're a policeman not a sociologist.
[shuffling.]
- What do you think you're doing? - Iâm going to let in the sun [Minnim.]
Have you gone insane? Sit down at once! Robots! [Baley.]
Before it's too late! We've got to learn to face the sun.
Robots! Help! [Baley.]
The sun [Minnim.]
Robots! [whirring.]
Robots!