Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

The salesman is introduced through his sporting-goods occupation and his birthday. His professional role is connected to a supply of basketballs.

Birthday Premise — The salesman undertakes a cross-country trip on his birthday. Characters: Salesman Location: Unspecified
Sporting-Goods Store — The salesman works in a sporting-goods store and handles basketball sales. Characters: Salesman Location: Sporting-goods store
Basketball Supply — A supply of basketballs becomes the commercial purpose of the journey. Characters: Salesman Location: Sporting-goods store

On his birthday, the salesman begins a cross-country trip. The journey gives the simple sales assignment a personal dimension.

Cross-Country Departure — The salesman travels across the country on his birthday. Characters: Salesman Location: Cross-country route

The stated destination is the salesman's old gym coach. The visit is a central reason for undertaking the long journey.

Coach Visit Objective — The trip is intended to take the salesman to his old gym coach. Characters: Salesman Location: Old gym coach's location

The salesman plans to meet the coach and sell him a supply of basketballs. The available synopsis does not specify the result of the meeting.

Basketball Sales Meeting — The salesman intends to visit the coach and sell him basketballs. Characters: Salesman Location: Old gym coach's location

Story Breakdown

Birthday Premise — The journey takes place on the salesman's birthday.
- Personal Occasion — The salesman is traveling on his birthday.
- Journey Motivation — The birthday frames the trip as a personally significant undertaking.
Salesman Role — The central character works as a salesman in a sporting-goods store.
- Store Employment — The salesman is associated with a sporting-goods store.
- Commercial Task — His objective involves selling a supply of basketballs.
Basketball Supply — Basketballs are the concrete product connecting the job to the journey.
- Sports Equipment — The goods involved are basketballs.
- Planned Sale — The salesman intends to sell the basketballs to the old coach.
Cross-Country Journey — The salesman undertakes a long trip across the country.
- Long-Distance Travel — The route extends across the country.
- Birthday Departure — The trip begins as part of the birthday premise.
Old Coach Visit — The stated destination is the salesman's old gym coach.
- Past Connection — The coach is described as someone from the salesman's past.
- Planned Meeting — The salesman travels to visit the coach.
Personal Sales Mission — The trip combines a professional sales purpose with a visit to the old coach.
- Professional Purpose — The salesman wants to sell basketballs.
- Personal Destination — The intended customer is also the old gym coach he plans to visit.