William Pearl has selfishly controlled his wife, Mary (Elaine Stritch), throughout their marriage. She has not been allowed to drink, smoke, wear makeup, or buy a television. When he dies, Mary receives a letter stating she should visit neurologist Dr Landy, and to continue with her Straight Edge lifestyle. The doctor explains that William has agreed to experimental treatment that will allow his brain to continue living after his death. He has one eye linked to his brain via machinery, allowing him to consciously view the world. Mary asks to take William's brain home. She places his eye right in front of the television and drinks and smokes to her content, while William can only whir and beep in rage.
Examples:
- Awful Wedded Life: William has been emotionally abusive to Mary for a long time.
- Brain in a Jar: William becomes a glorified version of this. He can see what goes on, but he can't act on it at all. This proves to be the Fatal Flaw of his plan.
- Control Freak: William has completely controlled Mary's life before he died.
- Deadpan Snarker: Mary has a lot of this in her lines, most likely brought on by the frustration of her marriage.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Mary does exactly what William has forbidden from her, and forces him to watch it helplessly.
- Plot-Triggering Death: The story begins with and depends on William's death.
