The Illustrated Man

Two friends, Smith and Braling, walk home together after their first night out in years. Smith wishes they could stay out longer. He wonders if Braling put sleeping powder in his wife’s coffee for her to allow it in the first place, but Braling says that would be unethical.

Their conversation reveals that Braling’s wife had forced him into the marriage by threatening him with a rape accusation in 1979, 10 years before. Braling had always dreamed of going to Rio, but his wife’s controlling nature would not allow it. Meanwhile, Smith is married to a woman who “overdoes it.” She is overbearing physically and emotionally and might be a bit “simple-minded” (212).

At Braling’s home, he shares his secret with Smith: In the bedroom window stands an exact replica of Braling, down to his mustache and “grieved eyes” (213). Braling introduces Smith as Braling Two, an exact robotic replica created by Marionettes, Inc. Braling keeps Braling Two locked in the cellar and takes him out when he wants to escape the watchful eye of his wife. He will finally take that trip to Rio: “It may be splitting hairs,” he tells Smith, “but I think it is highly ethical. After all, what my wife wants most of all is me. This marionette is me to the hairiest detail” (214). Braling Two confirms that he enjoys spending time with Braling’s wife.

Smith asks how long the marionette can go before recharging and takes a business card for Marionette, Inc., excited to get a robot for himself. His wife Nettie “can’t bear to have [him] gone for an hour” (215). The card makes clear that while legislation is pending to legalize Marionettes, Inc., owning a robot is still a felony. Still, Smith is determined because Nettie’s affection has recently become physically painful. He and Nettie have a shared bank account, and he plans to take out eight thousand dollars to buy the replica.

At home, Nettie is sleeping. For a moment, Smith is overwhelmed with love, remembering how Nettie had chosen him over her crush, Bud Chapman. He is tempted to rip up the business card but remembers Nettie’s bruising hugs and goes for the money. Ten thousand dollars is already missing. He assumes Nettie spent it frivolously, but when he presses his ear to her chest, he hears the trademark ticking of a robot. He is overwhelmed with terror and loneliness.

At Braling’s home, Braling Two confronts his human counterpart about hating being locked in the cellar while Braling gets to go to places like Rio. He admits that he has fallen in love with Braling’s wife. Interrupting Braling before he can make a phone call, presumably to Marionettes, Inc., Braling Two ominously tells him good-bye. Braling is confused.

Ten minutes later, “someone” kisses Mrs. Braling’s cheek. She comments that he has not done that in years. The figure responds, “We’ll see what we can do about that” (221).