The intruder chooses Gerrard as the man whose identity he wants to take on because he believes that Gerrard's life is similar to his own and that he can easily replace him. Gerrard is a playwright, living in a secluded house, which the intruder sees as a perfect cover for his criminal activities. The intruder also assumes that Gerrard’s profession makes him an ideal target since he doesn’t think anyone would miss him, and his lifestyle is something he can easily imitate. Moreover, the intruder thinks that Gerrard will not have much resistance due to his calm and seemingly non-threatening demeanor.