Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room story
A nervous gangster faces himself when his boss gives him his latest assignment. Directed by: Douglas Heyes. Story by: Rod Serling.
11 total · 1 choice · 5 major · 5 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| becoming a more self-assured person | choice | The whole story was about Jackie becoming a bold go-getter instead of the nervous, prevaricating wreck he had been his whole life. |
| acute anxiety | major | Jackie was a nervous wreck in his $4 a night hotel room. |
| cowardice | major | George chewed Jackie out for being such a spineless wimp, and Jackie asked himself why he was always scared. |
| facing one's darkest fear | major | Jackie was terrified of getting caught and facing justice, which would have meant death. |
| human vs. self | major | The story followed the smalltime gangster Jackie as he struggled with his inner-self over whether or not he was going to do a mob hit that would likely land him in the slammer. |
| murder | major | Jackie was ordered by a low-level gangster to murder a local shopkeeper. |
| coping with memories of a lost love | minor | Jackie's reflection openly lamented losing his old sweetheart after Jackie was sent to reform school for stealing his teacher's locket. |
| crime | minor | Jackie had a litany of petty crimes under his belt. |
| organized crime | minor | Jackie and George were smalltime gangsters. |
| reminiscence about one's youth | minor | Jackie thought back on his youth in school and then in some street gang. |