The Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl story
A guest murders his host and then becomes obsessed with cleaning any evidence that can implicate him in the crime. Directed by: Gilbert M. Shilton. Story by: Ray Bradbury.
14 total · 2 choice · 4 major · 8 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| murder | choice | The narrative chronicles Mr. Acton's futile attempts to cover his tracks after strangling Mr. Huxley in the latter's own home. |
| obsession | choice | Mr. Acton became maniacally obsessed with removing his fingerprints from the scene of Mr. Huxley's strangulation. |
| coping with personal failure | major | Mr. Acton didn't take it well when Mr. Huxley declined to publish the story that Mr. Acton had spent nearly a year writing. Mr. Acton reacted by strangling Mr. Huxley in the latter's own home. |
| descent into madness | major | Mr. Acton went insane while trying to remove all evidence from the scene of his crime. |
| how to cover up a murder | major | After strangling Mr. Huxley, Mr. Acton went insane trying to remove his fingerprints from the scene of his crime. |
| what if I were in a tight spot | major | After strangling Mr. Huxley, Mr. Acton went insane trying to remove his fingerprints from the scene of his crime. |
| coping with a terminal illness | minor | The late Mr. Huxley's physician revealed that Mr. Huxley had terminal cancer. The physician mused of how Mr. Huxley's killer had, in a way, done Mr. Huxley a favor. |
| creative writing | minor | Mr. Acton was devastated when Mr. Huxley refused to publish the story that the former had spent nearly a year writing. As far as Mr. Huxley was concerned, the story was "no good", and Mr. Acton was a talentless hack. In the introduction, Ray Bradbury shared with the viewer the wellsprings of creativity that inspire his writing. |
| extramarital affair | minor | Mr. Huxley was romantically involved with Mr. Acton's wife, Mary. |
| husband and wife | minor | Mr. Huxley was romantically involved with Mr. Acton's wife, Mary. |