The Case of the Notorious Roboticist

Synopsis

On a future Earth where love between humans and robots has become the norm, women rule. Their dominance owes much to brilliant roboticist Isadora, whose lifelike creations reshaped society. But when men’s rights campaigner Luther is gunned down by female police in Paris, unrest erupts. Soon after, Isadora herself is arrested for murdering meninist figurehead Xalvador, and it seems all men are on the ropes.

Enter Moroz: a flawed, old-fashioned private detective. Footage shows Isadora committing the crime, yet whispers suggest she may have mistaken the real Xalvador for a robot double she kept for her own cruel amusement. Against all advice, Moroz takes the case, knowing it may be his one shot at restoring balance between the sexes.

His investigation pulls him into a dangerous web. His misogynist brother Petrov - who runs a pleasure-bot company and rivals Isadora for a lucrative government contract - arms him with a device that can expose robots disguised as humans. Isadora’s own protégé, Lucy, tempts him with offers of power. And Chloe, a disillusioned ex-employee of Isadora's that has caught his eye, hints at a darker truth: that Lucy herself may have framed Isadora.

As the trial looms, bombs, betrayals and shifting allegiances close in. Motive surfaces when it emerges Xalvador killed Isadora’s sister. It should be an open-and-shut case yet he discovers she fell into his brother’s trap. If he saves her does he sell out all men in the process? Petrov is murdered in court by Lucy - revealed to be carrying his uploaded consciousness. He has in effect murdered himself to stop the truth from getting out.

Moroz betrays his brother but is loyal to the truth, helping Isadora walk free having promised him things would change. He sets plans in motion to ensure that’s the case, not taking her at her word. Only then can he retreat into the arms of Chloe, to discover she is a robot. Yet the human she was ‘based on’ soon turns up, curious to meet him.

Writer's Biography

DH David Hearne Writer

David resides in Brisbane, Australia, and holds a diploma in journalism and has completed the writing cluster of the advanced diploma of screen through QPIX. He has written several screenplays and two of his novels were adapted from them. He has also dabbled in short films ('72 to 1' being the most notable which has been screened at both the Regal Cinema in Graceville and the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba). He is an avid supporter of the Parramatta Eels and his favourite book series are ‘The Amtrak Wars’, ‘Bio of a Space Tyrant’ and ‘The Gap Series’. He also wasted much of his youth playing computer games such as ‘Mercenary’, ‘Elite’, ‘Shogun’ and ‘Paradroid’ on his Commodore 64. Galaga and Pacman also got him. On the quiet, he still enjoys a game or two and is currently hooked on ‘Exiled Kingdoms’ on Android (just for the excellent narrative: really). He lives with his beloved wife and many animals including his favourite cat, Peggy.