Not Quite Human (1987) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A scientist protects an android whose journey through family, school, and danger challenges the meaning of being human.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A New Family Experiment

Jonas creates an android and incorporates it into his family as a son. After moving to a new town, he places the android in school and observes its attempts to function socially.

Key Events

• Android Creation — Jonas Carson creates an android designed to look like a human teenage boy. Characters: Jonas Carson Location: Jonas Carson's laboratory
• Family Adoption — Jonas presents the android as his son and part of the family. Characters: Jonas Carson Location: Carson home
• Move To New Town — The family relocates, beginning a new phase of ordinary social life. Characters: Jonas Carson Location: New town
• School Enrollment — The android is enrolled in high school alongside the family's daughter. Characters: Jonas Carson Location: High school
• Teacher Position — Jonas fills a science-teaching vacancy to observe the android closely. Characters: Jonas Carson Location: High school science classroom

School Rules And New Allies

The android's literal behavior causes conflicts with school authorities but also attracts acceptance from other teenagers. Jonas quietly monitors the experiment while the android begins forming a social identity.

Key Events

• Literal Behavior — The android's literal behavior creates awkward and amusing reactions at school. Location: High school
• School Authority Clash — The android runs afoul of Coach Duckworth and strict teachers. Location: High school gym
• Unexpected Friendships — Other teenagers interpret the android's literal actions as resistance to the system. Location: High school
• Outside Surveillance — Gordon Vogel begins stalking Jonas and searching for the android. Characters: Jonas Carson, Gordon Vogel Location: New town

The Contract Pursuit

Gordon Vogel and J.J. Derks reconnect Jonas's creation to an old defense contract. Their plan escalates from surveillance to kidnapping and unauthorized reprogramming.

Key Events

• Derks Remembers — Derks recalls Jonas's earlier idea of creating a realistic android. Characters: Jonas Carson, J.J. Derks Location: Unknown meeting place
• Military Reprogramming Plan — Vogel orders Derks to capture and reprogram the android for military purposes. Characters: Gordon Vogel, J.J. Derks Location: Vogel's operations area
• Android Kidnapping — Vogel and Derks seize the android and begin their plan. Characters: Gordon Vogel, J.J. Derks Location: Unknown holding area
• Self Destruct Revealed — The captors discover a self-destruct mechanism activated by unauthorized reprogramming. Characters: Jonas Carson, Gordon Vogel, J.J. Derks Location: Junkyard holding area

The Junkyard Reversal

Jonas and the family's daughter are trapped while Derks attempts the reprogramming. Jonas provides the password, but the android deceives Vogel and turns the transport plan against him.

Key Events

• Family Trapped — Jonas and the family's daughter are trapped in Vogel's van at the junkyard. Characters: Jonas Carson Location: Vogel's van
• Password Surrender — Jonas gives Vogel the password after being urged to prevent the android's destruction. Characters: Jonas Carson, Gordon Vogel, J.J. Derks Location: Junkyard
• Crate Deception — The android tricks Vogel into entering a crate and seals it shut. Characters: Gordon Vogel, J.J. Derks Location: Junkyard
• False Departure — Derks drives away, believing the signals indicate that Vogel is ready to leave. Characters: J.J. Derks Location: Junkyard road

Humanity Reclaimed

The android rescues Jonas and the daughter but appears destroyed by a short circuit. Its revival restores the family and confirms Jonas's belief that humanity is defined by behavior and belonging.

Key Events

• Junkyard Rescue — The android rescues Jonas and the daughter by pulling the machine's power wires. Characters: Jonas Carson Location: Junkyard crushing area
• Apparent Shutdown — Jonas takes the short-circuited android home, but it appears unable to revive. Characters: Jonas Carson Location: Carson home
• Family Reunion — The android revives, asks whether it is human, and reunites with the family. Characters: Jonas Carson Location: Carson home

Story Breakdown

• Artificial Son — Jonas creates an android and brings it into his family as a son.
  • Android Creation — Jonas builds a realistic teenage-looking android.
  • Family Adoption — The android is accepted as part of the household.
• New Town Arrival — The family relocates and begins a new life in an unfamiliar community.
  • School Enrollment — The android enters high school with the family's daughter.
  • Science Classroom — Jonas takes a teaching position to observe the android.
• School Resistance — Literal behavior creates conflict with authority but attracts peer support.
  • Authority Clashes — Coaches and strict teachers react negatively to the android.
  • Unexpected Friends — Teenagers interpret the android's behavior as opposition to the system.
• Contract Pursuit — A former employer seeks control of the android through an old defense arrangement.
  • Vogel's Demand — Vogel claims ownership and demands access to the creation.
  • Derks Investigates — Derks recalls Jonas's earlier android research and tracks him.
• Junkyard Captivity — The opposing team captures the android and attempts to convert it for military use.
  • Self Destruct — Unauthorized reprogramming activates the android's destructive safeguard.
  • Password Crisis — Jonas must choose between withholding control and preventing destruction.
• Crate Reversal — The android uses intelligence and deception to escape the captors' transport plan.
  • Vogel Trapped — The android tricks Vogel into entering and sealing the crate.
  • Derks Misled — Derks drives away while mistakenly believing the plan is proceeding.
• Final Rescue — The android saves the family but appears to sacrifice itself before returning.
  • Power Wire Escape — The android disables the crushing machine and frees Jonas and the daughter.
  • Humanity Confirmed — The android revives and receives emotional recognition from Jonas.

Directed by

Steven Hilliard Stern

Key Cast

• Jay Underwood — Chip Carson
• Alan Thicke — Jonas Carson
• Robyn Lively — Becky Carson
• Joseph Bologna — Gordon Vogel
• Robert Harper — J.J. Derks