The Woman Who Wanted to Live story
After killing a gas station attendant in a robbery attempt, a wounded escaped convict Ray Bardon stops a girl named Lisa and demands to be driven to safety. Lisa realizing that her life is in danger agrees. As she drives, Ray falls asleep. Suddenly the car gets a flat tire. Instead of making an escape, Lisa changes the tire. Later the two stop at a hotel. Ray wonders about the girl's loyalty and asks why she didn't run and go to the police. As he talks, Lisa manages to get his gun. She reveals that the gas station attendant was her fiancee and that she didn't leave because she was waiting for an opportunity to kill Ray. Directed by: Alan Crosland, Jr. Story by: Bryce Walton.
7 total · 2 choice · 2 major · 3 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| the desire for vengeance | choice | The grand revelation of the story is that Lisa had merely been playacting while waiting for an opportunity to slay the murderer of her gas station attendant fiancée. |
| the desire to survive | choice | Although revealed as a ruse in the end, the plot hinged on Lisa's supposed desire to avoid being killed at any prize. |
| murder | major | the plot turns on Ray shooting dead a gas station attendant in a botched robbery. The viewer is strongly led to believe that Lisa took Ray's life in an act of revenge at the story's conclusion. |
| trust in a potential foe | major | Ray was reluctant to let his guard down and get burned by his seemingly loyal captive, Lisa. But in the end he did and paid the ultimate price. |
| engaged couple | minor | Lisa and the late gas station attendant had been engaged to be married, we understand. |
| robbery | minor | Ray robbed a gas station. |
| violent crime | minor | Lisa was assaulted by three no-good punks who were about to drive off with her. |