The Hero story
While on a cruise ship Sir Richard Musgrave sees a former business partner, Jan Vander Klaue, whom Richard thought that he had killed years ago, but is now living under a new name. Upon learning that he was also responsible for the death of Jan's wife, Richard jumps overboard. Jan seemingly tries to save Richard, but in actuality drowns him, though he is afterward hailed as a hero for his "attempt". Directed by: John Brahm. Story by: Henry De Vere Stacpoole, Bill S. Ballinger.
13 total · 1 choice · 4 major · 8 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| the desire for vengeance | choice | It turns out that Jan wanted revenge for his wife's untimely demise, for which he blamed Richard. |
| having a skeleton in the closet | major | We learn that Richard had a skeleton in the closet, or so he believed: he thought he had murdered a man in the past. |
| murder | major | Richard thought he had murdered Jan in the past. Jan drowned Richard in the end. |
| what if someone I knew returned from the dead | major | Richard thought he had killed a man named Jan Vander Klaue many years in the past. He was might concerned to encounter this man alive. |
| what it is like on a passenger liner | major | The story took place on a cruise ship. |
| coping with the death of a spouse | minor | Jan held Richard responsible for the death of his own wife. |
| father and daughter | minor | Richard's daughter bid him farewell before he embarked on an ocean cruise. |
| heroism | minor | Jan was hailed as a hero for having tried to save Richard, although he had in fact drowned Richard. |
| human self-sacrifice for another | minor | Jan jumped into the water after Richard, and people thought he was trying to save Richard at great risk to himself. |
| husband and wife | minor | Mrs. Musgrave saw her husband Richard off before he embarked on an ocean cruise. Jan spoke of his late wife. |