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Number 5 finds itself at the home of animal-lover Stephanie Speck ( Ally Sheedy ) in Astoria, Oregon, a young woman who is in an abusive relationship with her ex-boyfriend Frank.

At first, Stephanie initially thinks the robot is an extraterrestrial visitor.

She later determines that the robot was built by Nova.

After she helps Number 5 satisfy his cravings for " input " ( due to its malfunction ), and explains the nature of life and death to it, Stephanie and the robot realize the power surge has brought the robot to life.

Number 5 subsequently gains a respect for life, rejecting the destructive nature of his military programming and developing a fear of the disassembly that awaits him back at Nova, which he sees as akin to death.