Plot

Steven Macy lusts after his boss' wife and plans to use an earwig to be rid of him. / The government plays up to a genius' delusion that his dead daughter still lives so he can finish his experiments even though his mind is still clouded.

An unscrupulous man who wants the beautiful wife of another colleague pays to have an earwig placed in the husband's ear. This insect will will tunnel through the victim's brain causing excruciating pain and certain death. However, his accomplice enters the wrong bedroom and places the insect in the man's own ear by mistake. After weeks of pain he miraculously survives, but the doctor tells him that his ordeal is not yet over. In "Little Girl Lost" the government encourages a scientist's delusion that his daughter is still live so he'll finish his work for them.—laird-3/Gislef

"Little Girl Lost"

Inside a government facility, Professor Putman sits in an observation room and mimes feeding someone. Colonel Hawes, Tom Burke and Dr. Charles Cottrell watch Putnam through an observation window and Burke says that what they're asking won't be difficult even though Putnam has lost his mind. Cottrell explains that it happened six months ago when a hit and run driver killed Putnam's daughter Putnam's wife died in childbirth, and the little girl was named Jenny.

Hawes asks what Burke's opinion is, and says that Putnam has a natural sympathy for the afflicted. Cottrell tells Burke that it's important Putnam like him, and Hawes explains that what Putnam is working on is for the good of the country. Cottrell says that Putnam only started working again once his delusion took hold, and they need Putnam's genius and have to humor him. Burke will be Putnam's bodyguard when he leaves as well as his friend, and Hawes tells Burke to keep Putnam happy.

Putnam wants to leave the facility, believing it's not the right place to bring up Jenny. They have to let Putnam go, and Burke agrees.

Later, Burke meets with Putnam, who has his eight-year-old daughter "Jenny" with him. Burke pretends that Jenny is there, and Putnam says that a trip to the seaside will do Jenny good. Burke says that he won't forget Jenny's favorite dress. Burke rants about protecting ordinary people. Burke takes Jenny to the beach, and afterward check into a hotel room. He assures Putnam that he kept Jenny in sight the entire time, and offers to comb Jenny's hair instead of Putnam. Putnam stares at Burke in shock, then hands over the brush and Burke mimes brushing Jenny's hair. Putnam watches as Burke carries "Jenny" to her room. Putnam looks in through the door, and Burke keeps up the pretense, reading Jenny a bedtime story. Crying, Burke continues the story even after Putnam leaves.

Burke comes out and tells Putnam that Jenny is asleep. Putnam says that he's too old for Jenny and has no time for normalities. He talks about his wife died, and he's done the best he can but Jenny needs to be with people her own age. Burke says that what Putnam is working on is none of his business, and Putnam tells him that it's all of humanity's business but it's not their privilege to know.

Later, Burke meets with Cottrell privately. Cottrell worries that he's encouraging Putnam's delusion, and feels that Putnam would be better off dead. He believes that any one of thousand things could snap Putnam out of his delusion, and Putnam is escaping by forgetting but he can't forget enough so he keeps on trying. Burke suggests Putnam could recover with the proper therapy, and Cottrell angrily tells him that the government won't allow Putnam sufficient time. Instead they give Putnam until he's done his work, and then they'll let him go mad to safeguard the knowledge. Burke doesn't believe they would do that, but Cottrell is skeptical and figures Putnam doesn't stand a chance against government who want to be all-powerful and think they're doing the right thing.

Burke and Putnam take Jenny to a restaurant, and a man come over and tries to take Jenny's empty chair. He points out that there's no plate, and a waiter comes over and directs the man to a larger table. Putnam tells Burke that the world is full of bad people, and asks about Burke's wounded leg. Burke says that a co-worker made a mistake while they were assembling a plane, and Putnam says that the world is infected with destroyed who would be better off dead. He wishes that they would all die, and Burke tries to talk him down.

When Burke asks how the work is doing, Putnam says that it's done and the government can have the final equations which will lead to bigger bombs. He leaves to take Jenny for a walk.

The next morning, Putnam, Burke, and Jenny drive back and starts ranting about "murdering fools" while speeding up the car. The car goes the road before Burke can get control of it, and Putnam says that he could have killed them all and apologizes. They arrive at the facility, and Burke tells Cottrell what happened. Cottrell wonders why Putnam would have wanted to kill himself, and Burke tells the doctor about the incident in the restaurant. Cottrell notes that the papers have arrived and the government is testing them, and goes to see Putnam.

Putnam is talking to Jenny, saying that they'll all be with her soon. He says that the world is rotten, and the bad people are better off dead. Cottrell tells Burke that Putnam has realized that Jenny is dead. Burke took over Putnam's delusion, letting him finish his work. The only way Putnam can see Jenny is to die, but he can't consciously commit suicide. The conflict leads to insanity, and the need to escape from opposing problems. Putnam has worked out how to do fission with nonradioactive materials.

Burke wonders if it's too late, and Cottrell says that when the world goes up in flame, Putnam will have revenge on the driver and commit suicide. The test explodes, destroying the world.