The Self-Improvement of Salvadore Ross story

tz1959e5x16 · 1964-01-17

A suitor discovers he can trade his physical assets for those of others. Directed by: Don Siegel. Story by: Henry Slesar, Jerry McNeely.

11 total · 1 choice · 5 major · 5 minor

Theme	Level	Motivation
human self improvement	choice	The whole story turns on the brash 26-year-old upstart Sal trying to improve his character and social standing after Mr. Maitland said he wasn't good enough to marry his daughter.
compassion	major	After giving Mr. Maitland $100,000 in exchange for his sense of compassion, Sal became an extraordinarily sensitive man.
father and daughter	major	Mr. Maitland disapproved of his daughter Leah marrying the young upstart Sal.
ironic twist of fate	major	The hard-hearted young man Sal made a big mistake by giving old Mr. Maitland a large sum of money in exchange for his highly cultivated sense of compassion. For Sal was shot dead the next day by a now callous Mr. Maitland when the young man stopped by to apologize for what he had done.
speculative ability	major	Sal discovered that he had the ability to trade personality traits and physical conditions with other people. For example, he exchanged his broken hand for another man's cold.
unrequited love	major	Sal doggedly pursued Leah's hand in marriage even after she broke off their relationship, ultimately winning her over.
be careful what you wish for	minor	The old man with the cough regretted trading his affliction for Sal's hand injury.
becoming a more emotionally sophisticated person	minor	The hard-hearted young man Sal gave old Mr. Maitland a large sum of money in exchange for his highly cultivated sense of compassion.
coping with getting dumped	minor	Sal wouldn't take no for an answer when Leah put her foot down and ended their relationship.
loser character	minor	Sal, while ambitious, was stuck in a go nowhere job and had little hopes of achieve his goals in life until such time as he discovered that he had a most unique ability.