Zotz!

An amulet is sent to Cynthia by a boyfriend from an archaeological dig, and Professor Jones quickly discovers its magical powers. The amulet can make a target feel excruciating pain by pointing, slow time for the target by saying Zotz!, and kill instantly by both pointing and saying Zotz!. The existence of such power attracts attention from both government and Communist agents who imagine it as a potential weapon.

Jones and rival professor Kellgore are both in line for a promotion to lead the language department after retiring Dean Updike. The competition fuels tense campus politics and raises the stakes for how the amulet's power could influence scholarly life. The outcome remains uncertain as power and prestige hang in the balance.

Professor Fenster is introduced as a new colleague and potential romantic interest for Jones. Her arrival unsettles the campus dynamics and foreshadows personal entanglements to come, especially as Jones's behavior becomes increasingly erratic. Her presence hints at a new angle to the Zotz mystery.

In an early scene, Jones mentions the word Zotz, triggering Fenster's dramatic first appearance. She stands naked outside a window during a thunderstorm, created almost by Jones's utterance. Jones quickly invites her inside and tries to shield her from the storm.

Jones lends Fenster his niece's clothes and a borrowed umbrella to weather the storm. The encounter reveals Fenster's tale of being struck by lightning and having her clothes blown off by the bolt's electrostatic charge. Jones, convinced by her story, shows sympathy and grants her shelter.

A party thrown by Updike's wife spirals into chaos, highlighting the campus's volatile atmosphere. Fenster's reactions to Jones's odd behavior during the event deepen the sense of unpredictable power around Zotz. The scene underscores the blend of humor and danger running through the story.

The film presents the amulet's three powers as potential tools of great harm and manipulation. A direct action like pointing can cause excruciating pain in a target, while saying Zotz! can slow time for those targeted, and a combined pointing and Zotz! can be immediately fatal. These capabilities set the stage for the geopolitical and academic rivalries that follow.

News of the amulet's powers spreads to government and Communist circles, each eager to explore military applications. They begin to monitor Jones and the university, hoping to leverage the artifact for strategic advantage. The pursuit introduces a tense external threat layered over the internal department politics.

As outside interest grows, the internal competition for the department head position intensifies. Kellgore's and Jones's strategic moves clash with the amulet's shadowy potential complicating decisions. The race threatens to overshadow scholarly pursuits and tests the professors' loyalties.

The relationship between Jones and Fenster becomes a focal point as their professional and personal boundaries blur. Fenster's presence raises questions about trust, ambition, and the misuse of power represented by Zotz. Their bond grows in parallel with the mounting tension surrounding the amulet.

Near the film's end, Jones refers to Fenster as Mrs. Jones, implying marriage or a forthcoming marriage. This moment caps the evolving relationship that began with Fenster's chaotic first entrance. It also highlights the tension between scholarly life and the ominous power of Zotz.

The amulet's future remains unresolved, with both scientific curiosity and geopolitical interest still in play. The story uses the artifact to mirror the era's anxieties about nuclear power, showing how knowledge without safeguards can destabilize institutions and nations. The conclusion leaves questions about who should control such power.

Throughout the story, Zotz functions as a symbolic hook, representing how sudden, uncontrollable forces — like weapons of mass destruction — can upend everyday life. The amulet's capabilities become a cautionary tale about responsibility in scholarship, politics, and personal relationships. The film ends with lingering tension over the amulet's influence.