Mutant Copper (TV story)

Mutant Copper was the eighteenth episode of Series 1 of K9. In it K9 explored emotion further.

Synopsis
The CCPC's are hunting a rogue officer who has developed a personality and consciousness. K9, Starkey and Jorjie take the rogue CCPC back to Gryffen's mansion and hide him from The Department, only to face the mutant copper causing mayhem.

Plot
A crowd of people including Jorjie and a friend watch a broadcast. The CCPCs show their new, greater powers for health and safety. They may now enter homes without permission, search without a warrant, and make the world a safe place for anyone who isn't guilty. Jorjie's friend asks about public freedom. As the CCPC broadcast repeats, Starkey (who is with K9 behind the crowd) decides to use a device to interfere with it, mockingly impersonating the CCPC. Two CCPCs on patrol notice this and move towards him. K9 tries to warn him. Starkey and K9 move next to Jorjie. As the CCPCs look through the crowd, they can't find the person they are after. After they leave, Jorjie introduces Starkey to her fellow agitator for freedom, Marcus. Starkey tells him he might know him as "Stark Reality", Marcus tells him he only knows what "JJ" has told him. They decide to move on but are soon met by a CCPC which has damage to its face and a voice different from the others. As the CCPC admires the Birds, four more arrive. The gang run away and are followed by the other CCPC. As they are met by two more, the CCPC tells them to follow him. The team hid behind several bins as the CCPCs leave. K9 scans the CCPC's neural functions and finds his connection to Department Central Control has been disconnected. He also finds traces of human DNA in his system. As he looks through the bushes, Marcus determines he's a type of "Mutant". K9 believes that the CCPCs are pursuing him and not the team and Starkey decides to get rid of him. Jorjie asks what will they do with him. The CCPC tells her that he will be liquidated. Starkey says they may just turn him back into a Robot,. Jorjie argues that's even worse.

Jorjie compares him to a "Lost Puppy". K9 insists that robots aren't part of the animal kingdom; he is not a Dog and the CCPC is not a Puppy. Jorjie says that even if he saved himself, he helped the others as well. When Marcus suggests taking him to a hiding place, Jorjie decides to take him to the Gryffen House. When Starkey argues about how they are going to get him there, Jorjie suggests Mariah and contacts Darius. Later on, they go to Mariah and Jorjie introduces Darius to Marcus. Starkey and Darius are shocked that he calls her JJ. At the Gryffen House, Gryffen takes a look at the CCPC's neural circuitry and finds implanted human DNA. K9 wonders why they would ruin a perfectly good robot. Gryffen tells him some wouldn't consider it 'ruining' as the human element adds another dimension: emotions, instinct, intuition. Jorjie says they have to have to help him but Gryffen says he's certainly not human and he's no longer strictly a robot. Due to his love for Birds, Jorjie decides to call him Birdie. Starkey warns that interfering with a CCPC unit is a maximum crime and even having him here could land everyone in Detention facilities. Marcus says it's worth the risk, Starkey tells him it isn't worth the risk as he was once in one. Gryffen decides that everyone rests and they make their decision in the morning.

That night, in Starkey's bedroom, K9 tells him that humanity is "a mass of uncontrolled motivations and other brain aberrations" and that "the so-called modern human skull houses a Stone Age mind". His point is that human intelligence is not perfect, yet humans act as if it is the highest level of evolution and the worst thing that could happen to Birdie is that he is turned back into a Cyborg, like himself. Starkey tells him that there's nothing wrong with being a Cyborg if that's what you are, but Birdie isn't one thing or the other and doesn't fit in anywhere, even though he's dangerous to have around. Starkey can't help feeling sorry for him. K9 tries to process that into a logical statement as Starkey goes to sleep. Darius is going to brush his teeth when he spots Birdie behind him, shocking him. He asks to borrow a toothbrush, but Darius tells him he doesn't have any teeth. Birdie requests permission to borrow teeth. Darius tells Birdie to take being human one step at a time, even if he's excited. He tells Birdie to start by going to sleep. Birdie begins to shut himself down on the spot, but Darius tells him to go upstairs.

In the morning, Gryffen smells toast and finds that Birdie has taught himself to make toast. K9 tells him that "electrocuting bread is not Rocket Science". Gryffen says that his human initiative to learn is developing. June arrives at the door. She knows about Birdie and demands to enter. Starkey hides Birdie. June accuses them of interfering with the CCPC. Starkey tells her they didn't do anything and Gryffen says that he was like that when they found him. Gryffen determines there's only one place a Department Cyborg's neural circuitry could be experimented on in this way: the Department laboratories. June argues that she would have known as all experiments on Cyborgs are strictly regulated. Starkey suggests Thorne might be behind it. When June asks Thorne at Department HQ he says it's an interesting story but doesn't deny it as it's his policy to neither deny or confirm. June is suspicious as Thorne has CCPCs scouring London for the rogue cyborg. He tells her the public could be in danger and it's his duty to find it. She warns him that if she finds out he has been experimenting with the CCPC, the people will know he is responsible. He tells her if any experiments have gone on, they are terminated now, along with any evidence, except for the cyborg as June notes. When she leaves, Thorne orders all CCPC units to override all existing command protocols and gives them a new priority: locate Birdie.

Marcus goes to see Jorjie at Gryffen's house to find out how Birdie is and how he enjoyed yesterday with her. Darius tells him he's a protester as well. Jorjie tells him complaining about Gryffen's cooking isn't protesting. Gryffen calls them and alerts everyone to the situation that the CCPCs are hunting Birdie. Gryffen agrees with Birdie that he won't be able to hide. Starkey asks what course of action they should take. Marcus and Jorjie argue against kicking him out but Darius says they should help him and asks for Gryffen's support. Gryffen doesn't agree but says that he can't be found here. K9 suggests that as Birdie's problems result from mixing human and Cybernetic, they fully convert him to one intelligence or the other. As Gryffen says that full conversion to human would be impossible, K9 suggests converting him to fully cyborg. This shocks Jorjie as Birdie takes an interest in the artefacts in Gryffen's house. Gryffen says that they'll need a new control cortex and he has nothing like it here. K9 suggests getting one from the Department laboratory and that Birdie's identity chip will gain him entrance. Starkey argues that it's too dangerous as he doesn't know his way round. Birdie confirms to Gryffen that he knows the layout of the Department laboratory and can guide K9. Starkey says it's too great a risk and asks if he's worth it. K9 says that Birdie isn't one thing or the other and doesn't fit in anywhere and even though he's dangerous to have around, he can't help "feeling sorry for him" as Starkey points out, although K9 says he does not feel. Gryffen prepares to remove Birdie's identity chip and attach it to K9.

Later on, K9 makes his way to Department HQ and through the rooms. Gryffen notes that all the CCPCs in London hunting for Birdie actually works in their favour as the building is deserted. Birdie guiding him, K9 finds himself at CCPC storage where he sees several CCPCs. Starkey thinks its a trap but as the CCPCs aren't moving, K9 scans them and finds that they are in a decommissioned state, scheduled to be liquidated. Gryffen determines that they are failed experiments. K9 finds a control cortex and takes it. Thorne is contacted by a CCPC who says that a CCPC's identity unit has been activated and is exiting Department HQ. Back at the house, K9 confirms to Gryffen that he has destroyed the identity chip so the Department can't track them. Gryffen starts to modify him back to a Cyborg and detaches his head but is interrupted by a call at the door by Thorne and his CCPCs, demanding to enter or he'll break the door down. Gryffen tells Darius and K9 to hide Birdie, who reattaches his head. A CCPC shows Thorne the cutting equipment Gryffen used on Birdie. Jorjie says they were giving Starkey a haircut. Thorne orders the CCPCs to arrest them and they put them in cuffs. Thorne orders them to find Birdie and to tear the place apart. Darius, K9 and Birdie hide in the garage, whereupon Birdie suggests that he turn himself in K9 notes how his human element is continuing to develop as he shows the human compulsion to sacrifice himself for others.

Darius argues he can't and decides to get him out of the city. K9 warns that the likelihood of evading the London Surveilance network is minimal, Darius assures K9 that he and Mariah know a few tricks. K9 says he has a plan and tells Darius to push the the car into the lane. As the CCPCs search, they report to Thorne 'nothing to find'. He tells them to keep searching, saying there will be no reward until it is found, making Jorjie curious as Marcus gets worried. Thorne intercepts Birdie's signal and orders all CCPCs to the garage. They arrive, only to find K9 with Birdie's voice. He tells them it's a diversion as Thorne realises they're escaping. Jorjie realises Marcus told Thorne that Birdie was in the house, which was why he wanted Birdie to be kept here. He says he originally spoke to June. Gryffen realises that's how she knew about Birdie. Jorjie asks him for the reason and Marcus says because of a chance of a reward and possibly a job at the Department. This shocks Jorjie. He tells her he plans to fight the system from the inside and it pays well. Jorjie tells him he's only interested in creds. He says he has to live on something and human beings aren't robots. She says he betrayed Birdie. When he argues he's just a machine she tells him he betrayed her as well. He says he was going to split the reward money with her, she angrily says she doesn't want it.

Thorne and his CCPCs arrive. He assures them that Birdie, K9 and Darius won't get far. Gryffen tells Thorne to remove the cuffs and asks what the charge is. Starkey says there's no evidence of Birdie. Thorne shows Gryffen the stolen cortex. Gryffen jokingly thanks him for the loaner. Thorne claims to Gryffen that K9 broke into Department HQ and stole property. Gryffen corrects him: he borrowed it and he didn't break in, he entered, using a stolen identity chip. Gryffen again asks him for evidence as Starkey says there's no law against borrowing cortexes. Thorne says he has a witness in Marcus. Jorjie makes up a story that Marcus was having him on, trying to make a fool of the Department as he always does. Marcus asks for his reward. Marcus tells him that Birdie was here. Thorne is outraged at this new name, while the others claim he made it up. Thorne demands that Marcus tell him where he is. Marcus tells him he doesn't know. As Thorne leaves, Marcus asks Jorjie to tell him. Jorjie refuses and tells him to stop calling her "JJ".

Later, Jorjie is embarrassed that she could be so wrong about someone. Starkey reassures he everyone was fooled. K9 argues that Starkey was a fool all along as Starkey quiets him. Gryffen tells them that human relationships, as beautiful as they are, can be difficult and that he sometimes envies K9 as he doesn't have to deal with them. They are then contacted by Darius, who has managed to help Birdie escape. He shows them Birdie, who bids them goodbye. K9 asks how his human element feels. Birdie says it feels scary because he has to make decisions for himself but also beautiful for the same reason. As the others laugh, K9 promises to Birdie he will be kept in his memory banks. Jorjie apologises to Darius for earlier; he doesn't have to be a protester to make a difference. The team all say goodbye, Birdie says goodbye to Darius as he leaves "Free as a Bird". Darius records him admiring the beauty of nature, especially the Birds.

Cast

 * K9 Mark 2 - John Leeson
 * Starkey - Keegan Joyce
 * Jorjie Turner - Philippa Coulthard
 * Darius Pike - Daniel Webber
 * Professor Alistair Gryffen - Robert Moloney
 * June Turner - Robyn Moore
 * Thorne - Jared Robinsen
 * Marcus - Thomas Calder
 * Birdie - Josh Norbido
 * Birdie (voice) - Peter Kent

Production crew

 * Writer - David O'Brien
 * Director - James Bogle
 * Producers - Penny Wall, Richard Stewart, Simon Barnes
 * Executive producers - Jim Howell, Grant Bradley, Steve Robbins
 * Associate producers - Bob Baker, Paul Tams
 * Supervising producer - Dale Bradley
 * Co-Executive producers - Mark Blythe, Sam Tromans
 * Line producer - Pam Collis
 * VFX Director - David Napier
 * Series Production Designer - Jon Dowding
 * Episodic Designer - Adam Head
 * New K9 Design by - Paul Tams, Alex Kubalsky
 * Series Director of Photography - Ben Nott
 * Episodic Director of Photography - Tony O'Loughlan
 * Music by - Christopher Elves
 * K9 theme music by - Michael Lira
 * Editor - Patrick Stewart
 * Casting - Faith Martin and associates
 * Episodic casting - Lisa Maloney
 * Drama/Dialogue coach - Peter Kent
 * Story Producer - Greg Walters
 * Script Adaption - Michaeley O'Brien
 * Production Accountant - Pru Donovan
 * 1st Assistant Director - Peter McLennan
 * Script Supervisor - Sue Ketchington
 * Costume Designer - Joanne Thompson
 * Makeup Designer - Sharon Robbins
 * Puppeteer - David Pawsey
 * Location Manager - Charles Boyle
 * Sound Recordist - Ian Grant
 * B Camera Operator - Dan Maxwell
 * Gaffer - Steve Monk
 * Key Grip - Billy Harmer
 * Special thanks to - Space Furniture, Shredox, J. Barbour & Sons Ltd, Heath Williams at Firefly Lighting, Videopro
 * Safety Supervisor/Stunt Coordinator - Danny Baldwin
 * Transport Manager - Alister Ward
 * Unit Manager - Graeme Suhr
 * Post Production Facility - Cutting Edge Australia
 * Head of Post Production - John Lee
 * Sound Design - Warren Pearson

Story notes

 * This episode aired on the same day in the UK as the Doctor Who episode, The Hungry Earth.

Ratings
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Myths
to be added

Filming locations
to be added

Production errors
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Continuity

 * Despite the fact K9 has shown emotions in previous episodes and in Doctor Who, he has a negative attitude towards them reminiscent of the Daleks and the Cybermen.

Home video releases
This episode is featured in the Series One complete boxset.