Read the excerpt from The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.
When a crowd gathers outside Les's house, Steve
comments, "Let's not be a mob!" What does this show
about Steve?
As they suddenly start toward the house. In this brief
fraction of a moment they take the first step toward
performing a metamorphosis that changes people from a
group into a mob. They begin to head purposefully across
the street toward the house at the end. Steve stands in
front of them. For a moment their fear almost turns their
walk into a wild stampede but Steve's voice, loud, incisive
and commanding, makes them stop.
He has managed to remain much more calm and
rational than the rest of his neighbors.
He has become the main instigator of the mob as they
rush toward Les Goodman's house.
He has been taken over by emotions and lost his ability
to think sensibly.
He thinks the aliens are attacking the neighborhood and
he must defend himself.
STEVE
Wait a minute... wait a minute! Let's not be a mob!
The people stop as a group, seem to pause for a moment
and then much more quietly and slowly start to walk across
the street.