Faithful Robot (Polish: Wierny robot) is a 1963 television play by Stanisław Lem.
Mystery writer Tom Klempner receives a box from the robotic employment bureau containing a robot; however, the bureau claims they never sent it. The robot, Graumer, is extremely efficient, even consulting Klempner on his writing, but it soon becomes clear he also leads a strange double life, secretly performing what looks like shady chemical experiments.
The play has been adapted to the screen three times — in the Soviet Union in 1965, in Czechoslovakia in 1967, and in East Germany in 1977.
Tropes featured in the play:
- Batman Gambit: Graumer sends himself to Klempner, labelling the box as coming from the employment bureau. After realizing that he got a robot for free, Klempner doesn't reveal it to anyone, making his house a perfect hiding spot for Graumer.
- Can't Hold His Liquor: Klempner has a drinking problem, which Graumer berates him for.
- The Nameless: Graumer's creation is only credited as "The Strange Guy", since nobody ever gets around to giving him a name.
- Rewatch Bonus: Upon rereading, one can notice the first hint of Graumer being a liar — he claims to be the newest model and soon afterwards mentions having served with at least three owners.
- Robo Romance: Mrs. Donnel recalls a robot who had a romance with a robotic maid next door.
- Russian Reversal: Graumer, the eponymous robot, wants to create a human.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: As Klempner gets used to Graumer, he quickly becomes bratty and entitled.
- Uncertain Doom: Graumer gives Klempner and the Guy glasses with poisoned whiskey, but we never know if either ends up drinking it.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: If Mr. Higgins hadn't called Klempner during a party, Klempner would have heard Inspector Donnel's description of Graumer's modus operandi.
- Zeerust: It's the 21st century, with advanced robots and holidays on the Moon being an ordinary thing (at least for the rich)… and Klempner uses a typewriter.
