Fayah's Food Tray (in Sallah's truck)

A single tray of food—loaded with dates, cheese, bread (also described with a chicken leg and grapes in some accounts)—carried into Sallah's crowded truck by Fayah and set out for Indy, Sallah, Amir, and Fayah. During the tense discussion a monkey snatches and eats the dates, convulses, and dies; Sallah removes the remaining date and identifies the dates as poisoned.

2 appearances

Purpose

Provides food and drink to the group during planning

Significance

Exposes Nazi poisoning plot when dates kill the monkey, shifting mood from hope to alert

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S1E1 · RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Wrong Spot — The Staff Miscalculation

Fayah's tray provides the food spread that distracts and humanizes the group; the bowl of dates on the tray becomes a lethal plot device when the monkey eats poisoned fruit, quickly transforming a domestic prop into evidence of enemy surveillance or sabotage.

Before: Full tray placed on the table with dates, bread, grapes, and chicken leg.

After: Tray remains but the dates have been eaten by the monkey; the tray is emotionally tainted as the site of poisoning.

View full event

S1E1 · RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

Bad Dates — Dead Monkey, Sudden Threat

Fayah’s tray of food provides the immediate setting for celebration and the vector for the assassination attempt — the bowl of dates it carries is where the monkey forages and where poisoned fruit reveals hostile intent.

Before: Set on the table containing a bowl of dates, cheese, bread, grapes and a chicken leg.

After: Scattered and compromised: dates have been stolen and consumed by the monkey, leaving pits and a dead animal; the tray remains but its contents are suspect.

View full event