SHELEG@SRI-AI.ARPA (10/25/85)
From: SHELEG@SRI-AI.ARPA I know I said my previous message would be my last. Think of this as appending to it. I was too rough on Buck Henry's story, and am writing this to apologize both for bashing it so badly and for sending a flame without labeling it. There were a number of nice things which almost (but don't) save it. The murdering persona was rendered quite well (and rather frighteningly). The credit here should probably go to the actor. I very much liked the way the story used truth for misdirection. For instance, the district attorney describes quite honestly the motivations the wife had for killing her husband, and we instantly disbelieve him. After all, the idea that he is mearly trying to claw his way to the top (which he actually IS trying to do but in a slightly different way (also very nice)) is also very believable. One small missing fact (that they are working together) makes us completely misinterpret the situation. All quite elegant. A few other minor things can be explained without too much effort. As for why the kid brother would be such a staunch supporter of his brother's killer? Well, remember, he actually believes this stuff. He probably feels that HE is responsible for the killing. He does seem to be taking the death quite well, but if memory serves, we are never told how much time passes between the murder and that scene in the hospital. Perhaps quite a lot. Why kill them both? Well, one can only guess that a will or some such thing would stop her from getting most of the money otherwise. Ok, all right, all nice icing. Now if only there were a cake beneath. If someone would like to try to explain the rest of it to me (see my last message) I would be both interested and (assuming you actually pull it off) in awe of your reasoning faculties. I'll also mention again that one episode of Amazing (Ha!) Stories was quite good (The Main Attraction). Also, I was away one Sunday and didn't think to set up my VCR, so there is a (slight) possibility something else worthwhile was on. Bye forever (well, at least a long time), -Bob Sheleg -------