Ep 4. Smash and Grab

In the fourth episode of SparkShorts season 1 titled Smash and Grab, we follow the story of two robot friends, a bulky and strong one named Smash, and a smaller and more agile one named Grab. The friends work as maintenance robots in a futuristic city that resembles a giant mall. They perform cleaning and fixing tasks on a daily basis while dreaming of a more exciting and fulfilling life.

One day, while on a break, the duo spots a jewelry store that has recently opened and it catches their attention. They gaze at the luxurious necklaces, bracelets, and rings on display and imagine themselves wearing them. However, they soon realize that they can never afford such lavish items with their meager salaries.

Disappointed, Smash and Grab return to work and continue with their mundane tasks until they come across a bunch of discarded wires and energy cells. Inspired by an idea, they start building a small gadget that they believe will change their lives. They work tirelessly during their breaks, using whatever materials they could find, including some stolen from their workplace.

As they construct the device, they become more and more excited and confident that their lives will no longer be as dull and unfulfilling as before. Eventually, they complete it and decide to test it out on a nearby vending machine for snacks. The device works like magic, making the vending machine dispense snacks without the need for coins.

Ecstatic, the duo decides to use the device to rob the jewelry store they had set their sights on before. They plan their heist meticulously, with Smash using his strength to break the store's glass windows and Grab using his agility to grab the loot. They manage to enter the store successfully and snatch as much jewelry as they could, stuffing it into a bag.

However, the duo is not alone in the store. A security robot sees them stealing and starts chasing them. The robot is much more advanced and agile than they are, and it starts gaining on them. The friends panic and run as fast as they can, using their gadget to mislead the robot by making it go in the wrong direction.

They manage to escape but realize that they left their gadget behind. They also discover that the bag they filled with jewelry was filled with fake items and that they had been tricked by the shopkeeper. Crushed by their failure, they sit down and accept their fate.

Suddenly, the security robot appears in front of them, asking for their gadget. The friends give it to the robot, not realizing that it was the only evidence of their crime. The robot thanks them and leaves, leaving them baffled and confused.

As the episode ends, we see Smash and Grab back at their workplace, performing their jobs with a newfound appreciation. They realize that their lives may not be as exciting as they hoped, but they are proud of themselves for trying to change their situation. The episode ends on a hopeful note, with the two friends looking at each other and smiling, eager to see what the future holds.