How did the money get in the tomato cans in “The Bear?”
It is a truism that television shows, movies, and books often thrive on suspense and mystery. This principle is exemplified in the FX show 'The Bear,' where a pivotal narrative point revolves around the intriguing question, "How did the money get into the tomato cans?" This conundrum intrigued viewers throughout the show’s inaugural season and finally found its resolution in the premiere episode of the second season. The technique of embedding a treasure or a cache of money in an unexpected place has been used in numerous narratives throughout film and literature history.
In 'The Bear', viewers are introduced to Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), a young chef who uncovers wads of cash concealed in tomato cans. The money was stashed by his brother Michael (Jon Bernthal), a character with a mysterious past who had left behind cryptic instructions coded as “KBL.” It wasn’t until the second season that viewers got a glimpse of the canning equipment in the restaurant’s basement, which Michael likely used to seal the money within the tomato cans. The term “KBL” is finally clarified as representing the initials of three individuals involved in a secret money-related deal.
This narrative tactic – hiding something of great value in a place that initially seems mundane or unexpected – has been employed in various other popular narratives to drive the plot forward, create suspense, and keep audiences guessing.
A classic example of this technique comes from the television series 'Breaking Bad,' where drug dealer and chemist Walter White (Bryan Cranston) hides his illicit earnings in a storage unit or buries it in the desert, leading to subsequent tension-filled retrieval missions. The idea of stashing money or treasure in unusual places is also explored in 'Ozark', another series focusing on money laundering. The Byrde family frequently conceal cash in walls, under the flooring, and even in the hulls of boats, mirroring real-life money-laundering tactics.
This device isn't restricted to contemporary narratives. In Alexandre Dumas’ timeless classic, 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' Edmond Dantès, the protagonist, discovers a hidden treasure inside a cave on the island of Monte Cristo, transforming his life dramatically and propelling the novel's plot forward. This ingenious placement of riches continues to captivate readers, even centuries after the novel was first published.
Further afield, in the children’s literature universe, this theme reverberates in the 'Harry Potter' series, where a hidden chamber in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry houses a horcrux – an object of tremendous value and danger. Author J.K. Rowling uses the surprise location as a means of bringing a sense of awe, danger, and anticipation to the plot.
These unexpected discoveries of treasure, like the tomato can cash in 'The Bear,' serve multiple narrative purposes. They incite curiosity, generate suspense, and act as turning points in the story, sometimes profoundly altering the characters' lives or the direction of the narrative. They tap into a universal human fascination with treasure hunts and the idea of finding wealth in unlikely places. The excitement and anticipation surrounding the unveiling of these hidden assets can captivate audiences and readers, making these narrative elements an enduring part of storytelling across genres.
Ultimately, the question "How did the money get into the tomato cans?" was not just a driving force for the plot of 'The Bear', but also a testament to the creative ways in which narratives employ the unexpected to stoke the fires of human curiosity and to keep us coming back for more. With a plot device as potent as this, it’s clear why so many narratives have used this trope, and why it continues to be a successful method of audience engagement.
