Fatal Figures story

ahp3x29 · 1958-04-20

Statistics-obsessed Harold Goames feels unimportant in the world and starts committing crimes in order to become "significant". After committing auto- theft and robbery, he murders his sister Margaret and confesses to the disbelieving police officer his reasons. For his last statistically- significant act, Harold commits suicide. Directed by: Don Taylor. Story by: Rick Edelstein, Robert C. Dennis.

16 total · 2 choice · 6 major · 8 minor

Theme	Level	Motivation
the desire for fame	choice	The point of the story was Harold's obsession with being somehow significant to society and posterity. He therefor stole, robbed, killed, and committed suicide to add his own data points to the statistics.
the desire to be remembered	choice	The point of the story was Harold's obsession with being somehow significant to society and posterity. He therefor stole, robbed, killed, and committed suicide to add his own data points to the statistics.
boredom	major	Harold was fed up with following the same dull routine after 13 years.
brother and sister	major	The adult siblings Harold and Margaret Goames shared a house together and quarreled much like a stereotypical old married couple.
controlling family member	major	Harold complained that he had let his domineering sister boss him around for 13 years.
coping with someone controlling your life	major	Harold complained that he had let his domineering sister boss him around for 13 years.
fratricide	major	Harold murdered his own sister in order to be a significant contributor to the murder statistics of his time and place.
obsession	major	Harold became so obsessed with achieving any distinction whatsoever, that he stole, robbed, killed and self-slaughtered, in that order.
coping with the death of a family member	minor	Harold feigned to grieve over his late sister whom he had poisoned.
coping with the death of a friend	minor	Harold mourned his so-called friend, the flowerer, whose name he did not even know.