Faced with an aging U. S. population overwhelming the nation's nursing homes and a growing shortage of geriatric physicians to care for them, it seemed a good idea to employ an advanced computer to help out. But when the prototype in San Antonio, Texas, begins killing its patients to save the Government money, a local Medicaid employee must fight a lonely, frustrating battle to stop it, against a determined computer and an intent bureaucracy. He is inhibited by his son's unwelcome engagement to his obstinate boss's daughter.