- Kolchak investigates a US military developed weapon called R.I.N.G; a robot which uses deadly force to defend itself against those who would harm it.
- Carl Kolchak can't determine the exact cause of death for a man he's writing the obituary on. Kolchak's investigation into the man's mysterious demise uncovers a scientific experiment called Project R.I.N.G., which is developing an artificially intelligent robot that might also be dangerously homicidal.—Woodyanders
- Synopsis of Season 1, Episode 12: Mr. R.I.N.G
"April 2, Sunday, 11:25 p.m. Professor Avery Walker was working late. Prof. Walker was a member of a crack team of researchers, but tonight he was working alone. He had received specific orders, and being a fastidious man, he intended carrying out those orders to the letter."
Kolchak is assigned to write the obituary of the Professor Walker, but soon begins an investigation when no one will tell him straight out how the scientist died..
On the quiet city streets, a postal van drives by. "1:15 the same night. Postal Worker Arnold Techman was an hour behind. Techman was addicted to hot Texas chili, but it always made him sick... and late. That made the mail arrive late. But tomorrow, it would arrive even later."
A mysterious figure sneaks up behind Techman and hurls him into a pile of crates, then steals his uniform.
In the next scene, the same mysterious figure stands outside a novelty store, looks over the masks in the window, then breaks in and steals a blue one that is almost human looking.
Meanwhile, Carl drives to the Walker house, and sees that there is a car parked across the street, and the driver is intently watching the house. The driver makes a call on his car phone.
Carl interviews the widow Walker. He asks for details about how the professor died, but Mrs Walker will only say They said it was a heart attack. Carl asks who the they is, and she tells him the doctors at the Tyrell Institute, where he was working. Carl asks what type of government work he was doing and Mrs. Walker said I just told you, secret. All I know is that it had something to do with a ring. She tells Carl that they most likely let Leslie Dwyer see him. Dwyer works with her late husband, and Mrs. Walker suspects the two were having an affair.
In the meantime, the mysterious figure, still wearing the stolen postal uniform, breaks into the Glengary Mortuary, and when confronted, throws a construction worker and a cop aside like rag dolls.
When Kolchak shows up to interview the staff, the mortuary owner, a man named Carmicheal, tells Carl that he and his assistant discovered the figure stealing putty cosmetology makeup.
Carl then heads to the Tyrell institute to speak with Dwyer. He inquires about ring but is met with stony silence. In the next scene, the figure tear off a side mirror from a van, and then starts applying the freshly stolen mortuary wax over his face.
The next day Carl is updating Tony on his investigation, but Tony wants to send him to San Francisco due to an emergency with Ron. He even includes a huge expense account, which immediately makes Kolchak suspicious. Is the government on to him and his investigation?
That same evening, at 11:25, Leslie Dwyer is confronted at her apartment by the figure, who kidnaps her.
Carl again updates Tony on his investigation, and says that Professor Walker, Leslie Dwyer and the Tyrell institute were creating the first robot with artificial intelligence, and that when Walker tried to shut down the robot, he killed the professor. Carls concludes that RING is the name of the robot. Meanwhile, the government is threatening to block INS use of the international wire, claiming there is an uprising in El Salvador.
Kolchak drives out to Dwyers apartment and again grills her. She finally admits that RING stands for Robomatic Interalized Nerve Ganglia), and that it killed Walker to protect itself. RING then tracks down Dwyer to instruct it in moral behaviour. RING crashes through the door and heads toward Kolchak. Dwyer tells RING to stop, and it does.
Several cop cars and Army jeeps surround Dwyers apartment and the Colonel calls for everyone to surrender. The soldiers advance on the robot, who goes haywire and starts attacking the soldiers. One soldier shoots RING in the chest. Kolchak takes several pictures, but is dragged away by the soldiers and is drugged.
In the end, Carl is sitting at his desk, tape recorder in hand. "I can't even be sure the events ever happened the way I told them. Perhaps when I'm complete back in this world, I'll turn on this tape and not believe any of it myself. But I doubt it. Because I believe that somewhere, some place, they or someone else will put some other RING together without the help of Leslie Dwyer. And who...who will program him then?"
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