“Living Doll” is about a little girl named Christie (Tracy Stratford), who lives in a troubled household with her mother Annabelle (Mary La Roche) and new stepfather Erich (Telly Savalas). Erich is a mean, insecure man, frustrated by his infertility and inability to have a child with his new wife. He also rejects his stepdaughter’s affections, telling her he is not her father. The problems in the family get worse when Annabelle buys Christie a new doll called Talky Tina, which Erich disapproves of because of the cost. This also sparks a fight in front of Christie and her new doll.

When the key in Tina’s back is wound up, she says, “My name is Talky Tina, and I love you very much.” But when Erich is alone with the doll and he turns the key out of simple curiosity, the doll says to him, “My name is Talky Tina and I don’t think I like you.” After that, every time he’s left alone with the doll, it says increasingly threatening things, like, “My name is Talky Tina, and I’m beginning to hate you.” He initially thinks it's a trick from his wife designed to humiliate him. Once he’s convinced the doll is some evil entity out to get him, he tries to destroy it, but it continuously reappears in Christie’s bed as Erich grows more erratic.