You'll Be the Death of Me story
A newlywed bride becomes suspicious of her husband when she finds a button belonging to a young woman who died not far from their mountain cabin. Directed by: Robert Douglas. Story by: William D. Gordon (teleplay), Anthony Gilbert (story).
14 total · 7 major · 7 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| adapting to life in a foreign culture | major | Mickey was Driver Arthur's foreign wife and, although she seemed to be doing rather well, there were numerous references to her the efforts she made or needed to make to adapt. She had to learn the language for one. She was encouraged to come down and mingle with the townsfolk, which she had presumably not yet done. |
| husband and wife | major | Driver and Mickey Arthur. Driver ended up killing her because she was going to leave him, and he thought that would expose him as the murderer of his ex-girlfriend. |
| law enforcement | major | The town sheriff was central to the plot, even though he was not ubiquitously present. |
| murder of a lover | major | Driver killed his old flame in a quarrel. |
| muteness | major | Ruby was mute and had a chalkboard to scribble on at her mother's grocery shop. She solved the murder mystery by doing just so at the conclusion. |
| romantic jealousy | major | Driver's ex girlfriend was jealous of his new wife and tried to blackmail him somehow because she wanted a piece of him for herself. Mickey was more complicated, but she was certainly concerned about Driver having seen a girl in town (although the feeling of jealousy was undoubtedly swiftly overpowered with dread when she suspected he had might have killed her). |
| spouse murder | major | Driver Arthur ended up killing his wife because she was going to leave him, and he thought that would expose him as the murderer of his ex-girlfriend. |
| coping with the death of a spouse | minor | After strangling his new wife in something of a rage, Driver returned to his mountain cabin and immediately voiced regret over what he had done. |
| coping with unwelcome romantic attention | minor | Bette Rose told off Kyle Sawyer for touching her pretty waist. He was too penniless for her tastes, and she was unapologetic about her preferences. |
| greed for riches | minor | Bette Rose was unapologetically in the market for a man who had wealth and possessions. She said so quite explicitly. |