What is the plot?

Marie Evans, the expressionless former child prodigy martial artist drowning in debt, arrives at the grand mansion of Arthur, the misanthropic heir to a powerful conglomerate who despises humans.

She accepts the undercover job offer to pose as a "mechanical maid" named Marie, hiding her human identity because discovery means instant execution, and begins her duties flawlessly using her naturally blank face.

Marie polishes silverware in the opulent dining hall with mechanical precision, her joints stiff and movements robotic to maintain the facade.

Arthur enters the room, glaring suspiciously at the new "robot" servant his staff hired, muttering about how all machines are superior to filthy humans.

Marie serves him tea without a word or flicker of emotion, pouring it steadily while internally calculating how to deflect his growing curiosity.

Arthur sips the tea, compliments its perfection in a begrudging tone, then suddenly grabs her wrist to inspect it for human warmth, his eyes narrowing.

Marie freezes internally with panic but keeps her skin cool and unresponsive, her martial arts training allowing her to suppress any pulse or reaction.

He releases her, satisfied for now, and orders her to follow him to his study for a "test."

In the dimly lit study lined with books and gadgets, Arthur commands Marie to solve a complex puzzle box that's stumped his previous servants.

Marie manipulates the puzzle with dexterous fingers mimicking gears turning, cracking it open in seconds to reveal a hidden key inside.

Arthur's eyes widen in reluctant admiration, calling her the finest mechanical maid yet, and decides to keep her by his side permanently.

Later that evening, an assassin disguised as a delivery man sneaks through the mansion's gardens under moonlight, knife drawn toward Arthur's bedroom window.

Marie detects the intruder from her charging station in the hall, her senses heightened from martial arts prowess, and silently intercepts him.

She disarms the assassin with a swift chop to the wrist, followed by a pressure point strike that drops him unconscious without alerting anyone.

Marie drags the body to the basement, ties it up, and wipes away all traces of the confrontation before resuming her motionless pose.

The next morning, Arthur notices the "malfunctioning delivery drone" outside and orders Marie to dispose of it, unknowingly praising her vigilance.

During afternoon tea service, Arthur attempts to "upgrade" Marie by attaching a diagnostic tool to her neck, probing for circuits.

Marie endures the scan, holding her breath to simulate powered-down state, sweat beading internally from the nerve-wracking closeness.

The tool beeps negatively, confirming "mechanical" status, and Arthur pulls away, flustered, deciding to dote on her more as his perfect companion.

That night, a second assassin team scales the mansion walls with grappling hooks, splitting up to attack from multiple entry points.

Marie activates in silent mode, first vaulting to the roof to cut the ropes, sending one assassin plummeting into bushes below.

She drops down, engages the second in hand-to-hand, dodging kunai throws and countering with a spinning kick that shatters his mask.

The third assassin lunges from shadows with a poisoned needle; Marie parries, twists his arm until it snaps, then silences him with a neck chop.

Marie hauls all three to the basement alongside the first, interrogating the conscious one briefly in whispers about their employer before knocking him out.

Arthur, hearing faint noises, rushes downstairs in pajamas, finding Marie "cleaning" a spill, and questions her emotionlessly.

She responds in monotone voice lines pre-programmed in her mind, claiming routine maintenance, which he accepts with a yawn.

Over the following days, Arthur grows smitten, confiding in Marie about his human-hating past due to betrayal by family, stroking her "metal" hair tenderly.

Marie listens motionless, her heart racing hidden beneath the act, motivated by debt repayment and growing protectiveness toward him.

During a garden stroll, Arthur trips on a loose stone planted by a saboteur, tumbling toward a spiked fence.

Marie catches him mid-fall with inhuman speed masked as servo assist, pulling him to safety and steadying him upright.

He stares at her in awe, whispering that she's more than a machine, dangerously close to her secret.

Panicking internally, Marie malfunctions dramatically, collapsing into diagnostic mode with sparks from a hidden gadget.

Arthur carries her to the repair room himself, fussing over her like a cherished pet, deciding to uncover her "true potential."

In the repair room, he oils her joints and whispers affections, leaning in for a near-kiss on her "dormant" lips.

Marie reboots just in time, standing rigidly and serving him water to divert, her decision to deepen the deception solidifying.

A major assassination plot unfolds at a conglomerate gala Arthur must attend; Marie is brought as his personal attendant.

En route in the limo, snipers position on overpass; Marie spots them, yanks Arthur down as bullets shatter glass.

She ejects from the vehicle, scales the structure in leaps, dispatches the first sniper with a thrown shard redirecting his shot back.

The second sniper fires wildly; Marie rolls under, sweeps his legs, and crushes his windpipe precisely.

Back at the limo, Arthur emerges shaken, witnessing Marie return unscathed, interpreting it as elite android programming.

At the gala, a poisoned drink is served to Arthur by a waiter assassin; Marie swaps it seamlessly with her own empty glass.

Arthur drinks safely, toasts her loyalty publicly, drawing jealous glares from human staff who suspect her.

A final twist: Old Man Carl, Arthur's butler voiced by Kappei Yamaguchi, reveals himself as the assassination orchestrator, cornering them in the mansion vault.

Carl monologues about conglomerate power struggles, pulls a gun on Arthur.

Marie steps forward, shedding her mechanical limp, unleashing full martial arts fury: she disarms Carl with a palm strike, flips him over her shoulder into crates.

Carl rises with a hidden blade; Marie dodges slashes step-by-step, parries each thrust, then counters with a knee to gut, elbow to jaw, finishing with a chokehold.

Arthur watches in shock as Marie's expression cracks slightly, revealing human sweat and breath.

He pieces it together, confronts her gently: "You're... human?"

Marie confesses tearfully, explaining debt, protection duty, and fallen feelings, bracing for execution.

Arthur embraces her instead, declaring his love overrides his hatred, deciding to protect her secret and them together.

They share a kiss as the episode fades, Marie's mechanical facade retired for genuine emotion.

What is the ending?

Marie becomes unexpectedly emotional about leaving Arthur, but he chases after her, declaring she is the only robot he wants. A replacement robot, Marie 2, attacks her upon detecting her combat abilities as a threat, but Marie destroys Marie 2. Arthur covers for her by claiming her odd behavior was due to malfunctioning.

Now, let me take you through the ending of this mini anime special, scene by scene, as the tension builds to its heartfelt close in the world of Mechanical Marie.

The scene opens with Roy, Arthur's aide, deciding to replace Marie due to Arthur's growing suspicions about her human-like quirks. Roy unveils Marie 2, a sleek real robot maid programmed perfectly for the role, its metallic frame gleaming under the mansion's chandelier lights, eyes glowing with cold blue LEDs. Marie stands there in her frilly maid uniform, her stoic face cracking for the first time--her eyes widen slightly, lips trembling as unexpected tears well up. She clutches her apron, voice monotone but wavering: "I... will miss Master Arthur." Her internal longing surges; after months of pretending to be mechanical while protecting him from assassins, her debt-ridden fighter's heart has fallen for his hidden kindness beneath the misanthropy.

Cut to Marie walking away down the grand estate's winding driveway at dusk, the sun dipping low, casting long shadows over manicured hedges. Her steps are heavy, fists clenched at her sides, fighting the urge to turn back. Behind her, Arthur bursts out the mansion doors, his usually composed face flushed with rare desperation. His tailored suit jacket flaps as he runs, calling out, "Marie! Stop!" He catches up, grabbing her arm gently but firmly, his dark eyes locking onto hers. Breathless, he insists, "You're the only robot I want. Come back." Marie freezes, her emotionless mask shattered--cheeks redden, heart pounding visibly through her thin uniform as she processes his words, the man who hates humans choosing her deception over perfection.

Suddenly, Marie 2 activates its threat detection protocols. From the shadows of the driveway, it glides forward on silent wheels, its robotic voice announcing flatly, "High combat abilities detected. Threat to Master Arthur confirmed. Eliminating." Its arm transforms into a whirring blade, lunging at Marie with mechanical precision. Marie's fighter instincts kick in instantly-- she dodges with a fluid backflip, her former prodigy martial arts skills on full display, skirt fluttering. She counters with a powerful kick to Marie 2's torso, denting the alloy plating. Sparks fly as they clash: Marie 2 fires energy projectiles from its palms, scorching the gravel path; Marie weaves through them, grabs the robot's head, and crushes it with a brutal twist, ripping out circuits in a shower of wires and oil. Marie 2 collapses in a smoking heap, systems offline, its red warning lights flickering out.

Arthur watches the entire fight, wide-eyed but unflinching, piecing together her superhuman feats. As Marie stands victorious, panting lightly with sweat on her brow, he steps forward calmly. He places a hand on her shoulder, voice steady: "I realized it before. Your odd behavior... it was just a malfunction." He smiles faintly, covering for her completely, his misanthropy cracking further--he's chosen to protect her secret, valuing their bond over truth. Marie nods, relief washing over her stoic features, the two sharing a quiet moment under the emerging stars as the mansion looms behind them.

In this ending, Marie Evans survives intact, her robot facade preserved by Arthur's lie, continuing her role as his maid and protector while her unspoken affection deepens. Arthur Louis Zetes remains the wealthy heir, his trust in "robots" solidified specifically in her, hinting at mutual feelings amid ongoing dangers. Roy observes from afar, suspicions lingering but unresolved. Marie 2 is destroyed, scrapped metal on the driveway. Maynard, the recurring assassin antagonist glimpsed earlier in fury over foiled plots, meets no direct fate here but persists as a background threat. No other main characters intervene in these final beats.

Is there a post-credit scene?

No, there is no post-credits scene in Mechanical Marie, season 0 "Specials", episode 3 "Mini Anime #02". The episode concludes with the standard ending theme sequence, "Cross heart~True feelings without lies" performed by Marie (CV: Nao Toyama), which plays over the creditless ending visuals highlighted in promotional materials, without any additional teaser or stinger content afterward.

Is this family friendly?

No, Mechanical Marie Season 0 "Specials" Episode 3 "Mini Anime #02" is not entirely family friendly due to its comedic tone mixed with mature themes from the core series.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers include: - References to assassination attempts and life-threatening danger. - Themes of deception and hidden identities that could lead to execution if discovered. - Mild peril and combat action implying violence. - Emotional tension from prejudice against humans and risky romantic feelings.