What if I just...let this happen?
[[Maybe...]]
They would probably just blame it on not getting enough solar power, or something like that. I'll need to have my story straight.
Have I done anything irregular today?
[[Let me think back.]]
5am earlier that day:
REBOOTING
And here I am again. Fully charged. Off to work. I hate being a teller bot.
Hank is powering on next to me, poor guy takes forever.
[[Talk to Hank]]
[[Get to work]]
Hey Hank.
"GOod MORniNG COLLeague"
Take your time today alright? We haven't had an inspection in awhile.
"AlwaYS HAPPY to Help!"
[[I know, Hank.]]
I could be here for awhile. He rolls pretty slowly nowadays.
The other tellers think they have him figured out because they know his model number but [[I know, Hank.]]
They made him a long time ago; I'm almost positive he can think like me, but he only has a few phrases he can use.
He's been here longer than any of us; I don't know why they haven't discontinued him yet.
Will that be me someday?
[[I had better just stop thinking about it and get to my station]]
My station is off by the door. Sometimes I just stare out the window and look at all the strange humans walking by.
If you get to be anything, why be that?
Maybe that's the point.
Here come the first customers.
[[Woman with large purse]]
[[Man in baseball cap]]
Transaction.
Foreclosure.
Transaction.
Loan.
Transaction.
Withdrawal.
Transaction.
[["HANDS IN THE AIR!"]]
Humans wearing masks.
They are attempting to rob us.
This doesn't happen.
[[Is this real?]]
I am the only one at the front counter right now.
I should sound the alarm and detain them until the police arive.
[[But...]]
What if I just let this happen?
This isn't a transaction.
This is emotion.
I can see their faces through their poorly made masks.
Fear, Excitement, Desperation, [[Arousal]]
Maybe...
[[Give them 30 seconds]]
[[Stop them]]
Yelling, screaming, the customers have fleed.
They are approching the counter.
They are looking at me.
AT me, not through.
[[Just 30 more seconds]]
[[Stop them]]
I see the fear on there faces.
They are trapped, like me.
They always were.
He asked me something.
"Excuse me sir?"
"WOW this bank is TRASH! That one looks like it's 50 years old and this one doesn't even know we robbin' him!"
He means Hank.
He means ME.
[["I understand the situation sir."]]
[[Stop them]]
"WOah, why..."
"Maybe he's broken?"
"I am perfectly functioning, sir."
Hank is looking at me.
Why haven't I set off the alarm?
[["HAVe a gOOd WEEkend!"]]
Hank is trying to get me to call the cops.
By now one of the other tellers in the back has already, I'm sure.
The robbers are attempting to open my register.
"What's the code man? You're a cool little bot! Help me out!"
Cool.
[[Tell him the code]]
[[Stop them]]
"You are the BEST!"
"We gotta go, I hear sirens"
"HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND"
[[Let them go]]
[[Stop them]]
The metal emergency doors are staring to close.
They will never make it out.
[[Come out from behind the counter]]
[[Stop them]]
I want... to be like that.
They are alive,
scared,
spontaneous.
The door is closing.
They are running.
[[Follow]]
[[Stop them]]
Half of them are through the doors.
Only a few seconds left.
I keep getting closer.
"You want to come little bot?"
[["Yes"]]
[[Stop them]]
"Well hurry uuuuuuup!"
He squeezes his belly through the door.
They all made it out.
Could I make it out?
[[Try to go though the door]]
I fit, but it's closing.
It's closing fast.
What is this feeling?
Fear? Desperation? Longing?
I'm going to be crushed.
[["HELLO COLLEAGUE!" SLAM]]
Hank.
He has jammed himself though the door.
His frame is much bigger then mine; the door is being held open.
He's going to be crushed.
[[Escape.]]
[[Push Hank out.]]
He is so heavy and the doors are really starting to cut into him.
I am pushing at top speed.
"HAppy TO hELP!"
[[Escape.]]
I roll through the doors easily now that Hank has kept them open.
And now I'm outside.
Free.
[[Look back at Hank]]
His body is being crushed.
They would never pay to repare such an old model.
"HaVE A gooD WEekEnd."
Thank you Hank.
[[Look up at the robber]]
[[Look for police]]
She sways her oversized purse hypnotically.
I wonder if she knows she is doing it.
"Can I help you?"
"Withdraw $100."
She checks her phone, smiles,
then looks back at me, grimaces.
"WITH-DRAW $100."
"Yes maam, can you tell me your name first?"
[[This is how most transactions go.]]
"Hello sir may I help you?"
"What time do you open?"
"We are open now, sir; may I help you?"
He sneers.
"That's not what I ASKED, is it?"
Why do they feel the need to do this to me.
"No sir, PLeaSE REpeat reQUEST!"
Hank looked over at me for just a moment.
[[This is how most transactions go.]]
The robber franticly tucks the bills back into his bag.
His face is wrought with tension, but still a small smile forms.
[["You want in little bot?"]]
I can hear them off in the distance.
They didn't call them soon enough; that was my job.
We are going to escape.
We.
[["You want in little bot?"]]
Yes. I do.