Not Quite Human (1987) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Dr. Carson created Chip as an android designed to look and behave like a teenage boy specifically to test whether such a machine could blend into human society. He enrolled Chip in the local high school alongside his daughter Becky so he could observe Chip's social interactions up close and gauge how an android would fit into the world of teenagers.

Foreshadowing: Carson treats Chip as both a son and Becky's older brother from the start, treating the experiment as a family matter.

• chip
• dr carson
• android
• high school
• experiment
• social integration

Gordon Vogel is a former employer of Dr. Carson with defense contractor ties. He believes Chip is his property and wants to reprogram the android for military purposes, intending to secure a patent for the creation. Vogel sees Chip as a valuable asset rather than a family member.

Foreshadowing: Vogel and his associate Derks begin stalking Carson and Chip shortly after the move, confirming their intent from the start.

• gordon vogel
• chip
• military
• reprogramming
• capture
• patent

Chip was designed with a self-destruct mechanism that activates if anyone attempts to reprogram him without entering Dr. Carson's password. This built-in safeguard was meant to protect Chip from unauthorized modifications, though Vogel and Derks attempt to override it anyway.

Foreshadowing: The android project was always meant to be protected, with Carson building in defensive protocols.

• chip
• self-destruct
• password
• reprogramming
• safeguard
• protection

When Derks begins reprogramming Chip and the self-destruct mechanism threatens to activate, Becky urges her father Jonas to provide the password to prevent Chip's destruction. She recognizes that losing Chip to the self-destruct would be worse than risking reprogramming, showing her priority is Chip's survival.

Foreshadowing: Becky has always treated Chip as her older brother, calling him family throughout the story.

• becky
• password
• chip
• reprogramming
• family
• protection

Chip tricks Vogel into climbing into the wooden crate that was supposed to transport the android to Washington, D.C. for the patent. Once Vogel is inside, Chip slams the lid shut, trapping him. This clever maneuver foils Vogel's plan and buys time for the rescue.

Foreshadowing: Chip's literal-mindedness throughout the film proves advantageous in unexpected ways.

• chip
• vogel
• crate
• trap
• escape
• washington

Chip pulls the van's power lines to short-circuit the car-crushing machine that was threatening Jonas and Becky. By disabling the mechanism, he frees them from the dangerous trap and ensures their safety during the junkyard confrontation.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Chip's unusual physical capabilities and quick thinking.

• chip
• car crusher
• rescue
• junkyard
• short circuit
• save

After bringing Chip home following the junkyard rescue, Jonas and Becky attempt to revive him. Their initial efforts appear to fail, and they mourn what they believe is the loss of Chip. However, Chip suddenly reawakens on the table, surprising them both.

Foreshadowing: Chip's self-destruct mechanism was triggered during reprogramming, yet his core systems remained intact.

• chip
• revival
• home
• destroyed
• reawaken
• family

Chip's question at the end represents his search for identity and belonging. After experiencing family love, friendship, and risking his life for others, he wonders if those experiences have made him truly human. Jonas's answer that he is "as human as they get" confirms that humanity is defined by love and connection, not by physical makeup.

Foreshadowing: The entire film builds toward this moment, showing Chip's evolution from experiment to beloved family member.

• chip
• human
• identity
• belonging
• family
• love
• meaning

Vogel believes he has a claim to Chip because he was Carson's former employer and funded the original android research. He intends to prove ownership and use Chip to secure a military patent, viewing the android purely as valuable technology rather than a person.

Foreshadowing: Derks reveals during a meeting that Carson once told friends about his android project, giving Vogel leverage for his claim.

• vogel
• property
• ownership
• patent
• military
• android

Chip's android programming causes him to interpret language literally, leading to awkward and humorous confrontations with teachers and Coach Duckworth. His unconventional approach frustrates authority figures but also earns him a circle of friends who appreciate his unique way of bucking the system.

Foreshadowing: From his enrollment, Chip's literal worldview creates both conflict and charm throughout school scenes.

• chip
• school
• literal
• teachers
• coach duckworth
• awkward