<Tr> <Td> ← Previous "Profile in Silver" </Td> <Td> Next → "Need to Know" </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> List of The Twilight Zone (1985 TV series) episodes </Td> </Tr> <P> "Button, Button" is the second segment of the twentieth episode from the first season (1985--86) of the television series The Twilight Zone . The episode is based on the short story of the same name by Richard Matheson; the same short story forms the basis of the 2009 film The Box . In a documentary on the making of the movie The Box, Matheson states the inspiration of the story came from his wife, whose college professor had asked a similar question as a way of promoting a class discussion . </P> <P> Arthur and Norma Lewis live in a low - rent tenement and are slowly descending into abject poverty . One day they receive a mysterious locked box with a button atop it and a note that says Mr. Steward will come visit . Then, just as the note said, a smartly dressed stranger who introduces himself as Mr. Steward comes to their door while Arthur is away . He gives Norma the key to the box and explains that if they press the button then two things will happen: they will receive $200,000 but in consequence someone "whom (they) don't know" will die . </P>

What is the box called when you die