Final answer:
The real monster in the teleplay 'The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street' is the collective paranoia and suspicion among the residents, not individuals like Steve or Tommy. This psychological monster arises from fear and leads to social chaos as the neighborhood descends into a fear-driven mob.
Step-by-step explanation:
The REAL monster on Maple Street, as suggested by the teleplay The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street by Rod Serling, is not a single individual like Steve or Tommy, but rather the collective paranoia and suspicion that infects the residents. This psychological monster is the byproduct of fear and the tendency of humans to turn on each other under stress. The story makes it clear that the real danger lies within the community members as they descend into chaos, driven by unfounded accusations and irrational behavior. This is exemplified when neighbors begin to suspect each other of being aliens after a series of inexplicable events, leading to the breakdown of social order. As evidence of this, characters turn on Steve after his rational suggestions and Tommy's fantastical speculations fuel the fire of hysteria.
It's a reflection of how easily society can be manipulated into self-destruction when reason and trust are replaced by fear. The narrative suggests that the 'monster' is the worst aspects of human nature, capable of transforming a neighborhood into a mob.