Maria story
Leo Torbey works at a carnival and awakes one day after a night of drinking to discover that he has bought a strange monkey for his sideshow. The monkey is actually a dwarf named Maria who draws portraits of people while disguised as a monkey. Maria falls in love with Leo which causes problems with Leo's wife Carol. When Leo is away, El Magnifico tries to seduce Carol. Maria draws a picture depicting Carol and El Magnifico in an embrace. Seeing the picture, Leo accuses Carol of cheating on him. She leaves after an angry denial. Finally having Leo all to herself, Maria confesses her love for Leo. Angrily, Leo spurns her affections and sells her to another carny named Benny. Leo writes to his wife begging her to return. Unfortunately, Leo is killed by an angry Benny who was driven to a murderous rage after he saw a drawing of Maria that showed Leo and Benny's wife in a romantic embrace. Directed by: Boris Sagal. Story by: John Wyndham, John Collier.
9 total · 7 major · 2 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| con artistry | major | The story concerns a marvelous drawing monkey who is, in fact, a woman in disguise. Alongside her purported "owners" she hoodwinks the gullible at a carnival. |
| hell hath no fury like a woman scorned | major | The conclusion of the story is that Maria, the marriage wrecking dwarf, avenges herself on Leo after he rejected her romantic overture. |
| husband and wife | major | Leo and Carol's were married. |
| love triangle | major | Maria was in love with Leo who was in love with his own wife, Carol. |
| murder | major | The story concluded with Benny shooting Leo dead in cold blood. |
| romantic jealousy | major | The marriage wrecking dwarf Maria was jealous of her owner's wife, Carol. In the end, Maria manipulated another man into shooting Leo dead to prevent Leo from reuniting with Carol. |
| unrequited love | major | The plot was driven by the marriage wrecking dwarf Maria's unrequited love for her owner, Leo. |
| drawing | minor | The story concerns a drawing monkey, who is in fact a drawing dwarf girl. |
| romantic infidelity | minor | Maria led Leo to believe that Carol had been unfaithful to him. |