The Derelicts story
Businessman Ralph Cowell kills his silent partner, Alfred Sloane, in order to avoid paying what he owes. The murder is witnessed by vagrant Peter J. Goodfellow, who picks up Sloane's cigarette case with the IOU inside, and uses it to blackmail Cowell. Goodfellow and his friend Fenton Shanks move into Cowell's home, much to the disgust of Cowell's wife, Herta. After months of Goodfellow and Fenton living with them and pawning almost everything in the Cowell home, Cowell is able to find the IOU and burn it. Goodfellow and Fenton leave, but soon afterward a policeman arrives with a pawn ticket signed by Cowell for Sloane's cigarette case, tying Cowell to the Sloane murder. Directed by: Robert Stevens. Story by: Terence Maples, Robert C. Dennis.
9 total · 1 choice · 4 major · 4 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| blackmail | choice | Ralph was being blackmailed by a vagrant who'd witnessed Ralph murder a business partner in the park. |
| facing financial ruin | major | Ralph was so hard up for money that he couldn't afford to pay up when his silent business partner came knocking. Later, two vagrants nearly blackmailed Ralph into the poorhouse. |
| gold digging | major | Ralph's beautiful wife Herta was ready to pack up and leave the moment it became apparent that he could no longer bankroll her lavish lifestyle. |
| husband and wife | major | Ralph and Herta Cowell. |
| murder | major | The businessman Ralph murdered his investor Alfred in the park. |
| alcohol abuse | minor | Peter's vice was the drink. |
| coping with an unwelcome house guest | minor | Ralph and Herta had to put up with two blackmailing bums who took up residence with them. |
| problem gambling | minor | Fenton's vice was gambling. |
| the business world | minor | Ralph was briefly shown running his successful company from his office. |