The Lineman story
A lineman gradually discovers everything comes with a price after being struck by lightning, gaining the ability to hear other people's thoughts, and using his newfound powers for personal and financial gain. Directed by: Jonathan Frakes. Story by: Pen Densham.
23 total · 1 choice · 3 major · 19 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| mind reading ability | choice | After being struck by lightning Tyler became able to hear thoughts of nearby people, which he used to enrich himself. |
| electricity | major | Tyler was struck by lightning while working on the telephone wires; he became "charged" somehow and measured his capacity with a multimeter several times; he stuck his head in a microwave oven in order to enhance his powers. |
| friendship | major | Tyler and Buddy were best buds, and had been so since childhood. |
| infatuation | major | Tyler was besotted with his cute blond boss Shannon. |
| alcohol abuse | minor | Tyler's friend's dad had taken to the bottle after Tyler's friend's mother died. Tyler himself ended up hitting the sauce pretty hard in an effort to dampen his psychic powers. |
| be careful what you wish for | minor | The Narrator summed up the lesson Tyler was supposed to have learned with his turn of phrase. |
| compromising one's ethical principles for personal advantage | minor | Tyler could sue for seven figures if he accused his boss of negligence, but he rather liked his cute blond boss and passed up the opportunity. |
| coping with the death of a parent | minor | Tyler's friend had emotional thoughts about when Tyler's friend's mother died. |
| divorce | minor | Shannon spoke of her ex-husband using his divorce lawyers to get back at her. |
| drunk driving | minor | Tyler was driving recklessly down in street in broad daylight with a half-full (or half-empty) bottle of hard liquor in hand. |