The Lonely One story
A woman ventures out amid a serial killer's rampage and finds herself walking home alone at midnight. Directed by: Ian Mune. Story by: Ray Bradbury.
11 total · 2 choice · 2 major · 7 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| fear for one's life | choice | Lavinia mocked Francine and Helen for being on edge about going out at night while a serial killer was on the loose. Lavinia was overcome with terror as she took a shortcut through the ravine while walking home alone at midnight. |
| serial murder | choice | The story concerns a little town in which a serial killer, nicknamed "The Lonely One", was running amok. Three women were discussing their fears (or lack thereof) of becoming the next victim. The story ends with the implication that Lavinia was about to be murdered by him in her own home. |
| courage | major | With an air of bravado, Lavinia insisted on going out for a night on the town while a serial killer was known to be on the prowl. |
| friendship | major | The story follows three friends (Lavinia, Francine, and Helen) who went out for a night on the town while a serial killer was known to be on the prowl. |
| contemplating suicide | minor | One of Lavinia's friends suggested that she was so bold because she had a death-wish. |
| coping with the death of a friend | minor | Lavinia and Francine stumbled on the body of their friend, Elizabeth, in the ravine. Their reactions couldn't have been more different: Lavinia was content to shrug it off and have a night out as planned, while Francine was shaken up and felt the evening should be called off. |
| creative writing | minor | In the introduction, Ray Bradbury shared with the viewer the wellsprings of creativity that inspire his writing. |
| facing one's darkest fear | minor | Lavinia decided to face her fears by walking through the ravine alone in the middle of the night. She bit off a bit more than she could chew. |
| law enforcement | minor | Because a serial killer was on the loose, Officer Kennedy offered to escort Lavinia through the ravine shortcut on her walk home after an evening out with friends. Lavinia refused, citing that Officer Kennedy himself could be the serial killer for all she knew. Although the identity of the killer was left open, Officer Kennedy must be considered a suspect, as the killer was waiting for Lavinia in her home shortly after Officer Kennedy mysteriously disappeared from the ravine area. |
| loneliness | minor | Lavinia, a self-described "old maid", didn't exactly deny feeling lonely living alone in a big house when her friend Francine asked her about it. |