A reclusive scientist builds a robot that looks exactly like him to go on a long-term space mission. Since the scientist seems to lack all emotions, he is unable to program them into his automaton, and an eccentric woman is hired to "educate" the robot on human behavior. In the end, she falls in love... but is the robot or the Dr. Mr. Right?

A US politician (Sam Waterston) visits his poet friend (John Heard) in Mont. St. Michael, France. While walking through the medieval island discussing their philosophies of life they happen upon Sonja (Liv Ullman), a scientist in recluse, who joins in their conversation. The two men listen to the ideas of this brilliant woman and discuss how her ideas can work in their own politician and poet lives.