The Robot Killer

Samuel "Happy Sam" Donaldson, a television host, visits a robotics professor to see a robot, Robert 23, which is to be given away as a grand prize on his show. The professor expresses concern about the irresponsibility of giving such an advanced machine to the public, foreshadowing the potential dangers. During the live show, Robert 23 is introduced as a remarkable mechanical man capable of following commands, leading to a series of demonstrations. However, during a rehearsal, the robot accidentally kills a kitten, highlighting its unintended lethal abilities. Shortly after, John Hanold, a winner of the show's jackpot that includes Robert 23, returns home to his recovering wife, Mary, who exhibits signs of jealousy and instability towards a neighbor, Virginia. As John's absence stretches, Mary becomes increasingly influenced by the robot, commanding it to destroy objects in her home as she spirals into a dark obsession. Eventually, her jealousy drives her to instruct Robert 23 to kill Virginia, but the robot, lacking emotional capacity, cannot fulfill this command. When John arrives, he discovers the chaos and danger that has unfolded, and the robot’s mechanical limitations are clarified by the professor, revealing that while it can follow precise commands, it is incapable of emotional actions such as murder.