A Bullet for Baldwin story
When middle-aged Mr. Stepp is suddenly fired, he shoots his boss Baldwin. Stepp is surprised when Baldwin is at work the next day as though nothing happened. Baldwin's partner, King (Reed), convinces Stepp that he hallucinated the shooting, but King has actually hired a look-alike actor named Davidson to take Baldwin's place in order to close an important deal. King and Davidson agree to stage Baldwin's "death" later, and in order to close all possible leaks, King forces Stepp to retire. In retaliation, Stepp shoots and kills King. Directed by: Justus Addiss. Story by: Joseph Ruscoll, Eustace and Francis Cockrell.
8 total · 5 major · 3 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| boss and employee | major | Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Stepp. King and Mr. Stepp. |
| doppelgänger | major | King hired a look-alike actor named Davidson to take Baldwin's place in order to close an important deal. |
| getting fired from one's job | major | Mr. Stepp was fired (and then he fired). |
| murder | major | Mr. Stepp first shot Baldwin dead, and then King. |
| questioning one's sanity | major | King manipulated Mr. Stepp into thinking that he'd hallucinated himself shooting Mr. Baldwin dead. In fact, Mr. Stepp had done the deed. |
| bad luck signs | minor | The cleaner told Mr. Stepp that opening an umbrella inside gives you bad luck. |
| extramarital affair | minor | King subtly suggested to Mr. Davidson that he was romantically involved with Mr. Baldwin's wife. |
| suicide | minor | Mr. Stepp briefly put a gun to his head as if he were going to blow his brains out before thinking better of it and taking out his boss instead. |