Day 10 Assignments

[Angelina Fluehler]

Angelina Fluehler – Inciting Incident

“What I learned doing this assignment is…?” I learned that a scene can be presented in following steps: beginning/middle/end or as opening/triggering event 1/ inciting incident / triggering event 2.

KEY SCENES 2 and 3 – (“1.OPENING” was swapped with “2.INCITING INCIDENT”, which is better to start the movie with!):

(Key Scene 2: Exciting opening scene intros a main character, the conflict and/or world).

(Key Scene 3 The protagonist reacts emotionally to the Inciting Incident).

EXT. – DAY – sunny, on a motorboat on the lake

OPENING: Tory is back home. On a sunny day he is driving a motorboat on a lake with his family: wife and two kids (boy and girl).

PLACEHOLDER: DIALOG with the wife.

… She is asking about his trip.

INT. – MORNING – next morning at their beautiful house

TRIGGERING EVENT 1:

The phone of the wife rings while she is in a bathroom. He sees her lover is calling, he doesn’t react and stays calm and says smiling “again him, such an annoying man”. As he knows that he also has a lover, which just texted him. Tory is annoyed with his “old” ways and life style and his new awareness and “new” ways which are intuitively breaking into his ordinary life style.

PLACEHOLDER: DIALOG with his lover. So, he agrees to see the lover in the evening at the restaurant.

PLACEHOLDER: DIALOG with his wife. That he will be away for the business dinner.

INT. – EVENING – a FANCY restaurant

INCITING INCIDENT: At the restaurant he wants to finish his relationship with his lover and tells her about it. However, suddenly his wife and her lover come in. Both couples accidentally show up in the same restaurant. He notices his wife and her lover.

TRIGGERING EVENT 2:

PLACEHOLDER: DIALOG in 4. Conversation in 4 happens. He says to them “I always knew”. He announces to leave both women and leaves the restaurant. His wife is “now I need to make sure I have a good layer”.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by  Angelina Fluehler.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by  Angelina Fluehler.

[Danielle Dillard]

What I learned doing this assignment is learning how to develop an inciting incident to help define my protagonist’s journey.

EXT. AMUSEMENT PARK – DAY

Beginning: Montages of Barry, Tina and her kids having a great time at an amusement park.

Middle: Montages of Barry taking Tina’s kids to school, being romantic with Tina and fixing up her home.

End: Montages of Barry, Tina and the kids having dinner together, playing video games and looking like a happy family.

INT. TINA’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Beginning: Tina walks in and sees Barry sitting on the couch playing video games with her kids. Tina’s concerned and tells Barry she went to the elementary school he said he works at and was told that he doesn’t work there. She demands an explanation. Barry plays it cool in front of the kids and casually asks where’s her trust in him. Tina responds with where’s the truth and wonders why he lied about his work.

Middle: Barry ignores her and continues playing the video game. Tina turns it off. Her kids gripe. Barry keeps his composure. She tells the kids to go next door to their neighbor’s apartment for a few minutes. As the kids leave, Barry kind of checks out Tina’s daughter as she and her brother leave the apartment. Tina notices. When the kids leave, Barry strikes her across the face and tells her to never question his whereabouts again. He takes the keys to her car and leaves.

End (INCITING INCIDENT): Tina gets up from the floor. She goes into the bathroom and sees blood on her nose. She looks at herself in the mirror knowing she’s made a mistake moving Barry in. She’s scared and knows she’s in deep. (This begins her journey of having to get away from a violent man to not only protect herself, but also her children).

[Carol Dougherty]

Carol Dougherty’s Inciting Incident

NOTE: My Inciting Incident was contained within Pen’s Opening Scene. The emotional reaction to the Inciting Incident was contained within Kate’s Opening Scene. Those are both in the 9th Assignment, so I have chosen two other Key Scenes in the First Act to write.

What I learned doing this assignment: I noticed how different these scenes were from
the first two, especially the first. Those had a lot of Action/Description
because they were very visual scenes. The ones for today were much more
dialogue. It’s not that one is better than the other, just different. It does
feel as if I’m learning on the fly, literally, and while that’s nerve-wracking
at times, it’s also exhilarating.

Outlines:

Key Scene 2:

INT. GREEN ROOM – DAY

BEGINNING: Pen gets coffee for the two of them while Katie gets them a place to sit.

MIDDLE: They talk and get to know one another, and Pen begins calling Kate, Katie. Their mutual attraction simmers under the surface with the occasional blush on Katie’s part.

END: Laurence shows up to find Katie – she is late for her appointment. They leave.

Key Scene 3:

BEGINNING: Terry catches Pen watching Katie.

MIDDLE: They bicker over Pen’s intentions toward Katie and Terry warns Pen not to mess with her.

END: They sit together in silence, Pen restless with thoughts of Katie.

Key Scene 2:

INT. GREEN ROOM – DAY

Pen and Kate enter from the hallway, Pen still pulling Kate by her hand. The Green Room is a gathering place/eating area for the company. A large opening into the kitchen provides a place to order food or drinks. At this hour, the two of them are the only ones there other than the man behind the counter.

JACKY is an African-American male with gray-streaked dreadlocks with enormous presence. He once shared a stage with Pen, and they are informal with one another.

PEN

We’ll have some coffee before your meeting with Laurence. Or would you prefer tea?

KATE

Coffee, thanks.

PEN

Coffee it is then.

Pen releases Kate’s hand and gestures toward a picture window overlooking a lake.

Why don’t we sit on that sofa by the window? You go over and I’ll bring your coffee. Cream, sugar?

KATE

Just black, thanks.

Pen watches her walk across the room. Kate is awkward and self-conscious, shifting her backpack from shoulder to hand as she walks.

JACKY

Planning to order today are you, Pen?

Pen turns to smile at him.

PEN

Sorry, Jacky. Two coffees, please.

She turns back to watch Kate, who glances over and blushes when she is caught looking.

JACKY

The cat’s away, eh?

He chuckles as he glances from Kate to Pen, who grins.

PEN

You know me too well, my friend.

JACKY

(In a grim tone)

I do, indeed.

Pen picks up the coffees and goes over to the sofa. Kate starts to get up but Pen puts one mug in front of her.

PEN

Stay where you are, I’ll join you.

She sits on the sofa, her body angled to face Kate.

What time is your meeting with Laurence?

KATE

Nine-thirty.

PEN

Wonderful. We have plenty of time to chat.

KATE

Thanks so much for the coffee and the help Penny, Penel- I mean, Ms. Parrish.

Kate gets more and more embarrassed with each version of Pen’s name.

PEN

Pen or Penny, please! Penelope is for playbills, contracts, and Sebastian. And Ms. Parrish is

much too formal for friends. I do hope we’re going to be friends, Kate.

KATE

(her face lights up)

Oh – yes, that would be great.

Pen studies her for a moment and Kate gets embarrassed again. Pen lays a hand on her arm.

PEN

I’m sorry, Kate, I’m making you uncomfortable. I wonder, do you mind if I call you Katie?

KATE

No. No, that’s fine.

PEN

And Penelope is not a name for “this working-day world.”

KATE

As You Like It.

PEN

Do you know the whole quote?

KATE

“O how full of briers is this working-day world!”

PEN

I’m impressed. I saw a Royal Shakespeare Company production once. Susan Fleetwood played Rosalind.

Pen glances at her to see if she knows the name and Kate nods.

She had a scene with Derek Godfrey as Jacques that I’d never noticed before. They played it almost as a seduction scene.

Pen tucks one foot under her and takes a sip of coffee. Kate waits, absorbed in the story, which Pen notices.

I couldn’t imagine where the scene came from – I even went back to the text to see if they’d added it, but no, it was there. Terry and I tried to act it out, but we couldn’t make it work, we couldn’t make sense of what they did. In the end, I wrote her a letter to ask how they’d come up with their interpretation, and their business in the scene.

KATE

You wrote to another actress to ask about her performance?

PEN

(Nods)

I was a student then. She wrote back, too. A lovely note all about the scene and how they’d worked it out that Rosalind and Jacques were north and south poles. I still have it. I only wish I’d had the chance to meet her and talk shop before she died.

KATE

I thought I was the only one who did things like that. My emails to Terry brought me here this summer.

PEN

(looks at her over the mug as she drinks)

He let me read a few of them. That’s one of the reasons I asked Sam if you could rent the cottage.

Staccato footsteps echo through the room, coming closer. The room has begun to fill with a dozen men and women scattered at the surrounding tables and chairs.

LAURENCE, a tall, thin man with a wild mane of ginger hair and bushy beard stands in front of the couch, glaring.

Pen pastes an insincere smile on her face.

PEN

Laurence, are you looking for us?

LAURENCE

Ms. Finnegan and I had a meeting scheduled to start five minutes ago.

KATE

I’m very sorry –

PEN

Oh, Laurence, it’s all my fault. Katie told me you had a meeting, but I wouldn’t stop talking.

LAURENCE

No doubt.

Kate stands and picks up her empty mug. He heads for the door without speaking. Pen sticks out her tongue at his retreating back and Kate grins.

KATE

Thank you for the coffee.

PEN

Goodbye, Katie. We’ll talk again once you’ve escaped.

Kate looks at her mug and then at Laurence disappearing through the door. Pen reaches up and takes the mug from Kate.

PEN

Go. I’ll take care of this.

KATE

Thanks, Pen.

Kate flashes a bashful smile at Pen, grabs her bag and rushes after Laurence. As she crosses the room her bag almost trips her, and she glances back to see Pen smiling at her.

Key Scene 3:

INT. GREEN ROOM – DAY

Immediately following Kate’s exit.

TERRY has entered, unnoticed and stands a few feet away, watching Pen watching Kate. As Kate goes out the door, Terry moves closer to Pen, who still doesn’t notice him.

TERRY

Pen, what are you up to?

Pen jumps and sloshes coffee onto the table. She mops it up with a napkin to avoid his question.

PEN

You rat, look at the mess you made. Why are you sneaking up on me?

TERRY

I’m not sneaking, you’d have seen me if you hadn’t been watching Kate so intently. What are you up to, Pen?

Terry sits in Kate’s vacated spot on the couch and takes a big gulp of his tea. He grabs the wet napkin from Pen, tosses it in the mug and looks at her from under shaggy brows.

PEN

Why Terry, whatever do you mean? I’m innocent as a newborn lamb.

She gives him a “who me” expression and he snorts.

TERRY

(voice low)

You don’t fool me. I saw you. You were practically licking your chops.

Pen takes his mug and drinks some tea to avoid answering. She watches him over the mug.

Don’t you play with that child, Pen.

His expression is stern, lips compressed in a tight line.

PEN

She’s not a child, she’s a grown woman.

TERRY

Yes, and don’t you know it! Don’t mess her about, Pen.

Pen puts his mug down.

PEN

I don’t understand you. For months now you’ve been raving about Katie and how wonderful she is.

He tries to speak, and she talks right over him.

I thought you wanted me to be friendly with her.

TERRY

By all means, be friendly. As long as you don’t play any of your tricks with her.

PEN

What’s the matter, Terry? You’re very concerned. Do you have an interest there yourself?

(pats his knee)

Don’t tell me the leopard has changed his spots?

Terry finally grins and he roars with laughter. Everyone in the green room turns to see him doubled over with laughter. He notices their interest and grabs Pen’s hand from his knee and carries it to his lips in an old-fashioned, courtly gesture.

TERRY

Only for you, my darling.

Pen pulls her hand away and slaps his shoulder. They collapse on each other in giggles, everyone shakes their heads and returns to their own business.

PEN

You’re so naughty, to tease them all like that.

TERRY

Yes, well, they should know better. You’ve broken enough hearts in this room, male and female.

PEN

Me? You’re a bigger heartbreaker than I am. You never give the poor girls an opportunity, and the lads complain you won’t play around enough.

TERRY

Never you mind about my love life, Pen, you are not distracting me from my point.

PEN

But your love life should be the point.

(sits up)

I’m going to find you a nice, young man for the summer!

TERRY

Don’t you dare.

PEN

Don’t threaten me, I can still beat you up Terence Patrick Gibbs.

TERRY

Not since we were thirteen, brat.

Pen makes a fist and waves it under his nose.

PEN

I could try.

TERRY

Waste of time, I’m in better shape.

He puts his arms around her in a crushing hug and they fall back against the couch, her head on his shoulder.

You’re incorrigible, you know.

PEN

Thank you, sir.

Pen relaxes into his arms, thinking about Katie, her body humming with the thrill of the chase. She squirms slightly and Terry’s embrace tightens, then relaxes.

TERRY

Settle down, Pen.

She closes her eyes and smiles, listens to the sound of clattering dishes and the rise and fall of familiar voices. She realizes Katie is with Laurence, who is one of her exes, and sits up abruptly, banging her head on Terry’s chin.

PEN

Ow! What are you doing, trying to kill me?

TERRY

Don’t flail around so. We’ll both end up damaged.

(moves his jaw)

Unbroken. No thanks to you, brat.

PEN

Your chin is unbreakable. My head, on the other hand –

Terry leans down to drop a kiss on the sore spot.

TERRY

All better?

PEN

No.

(chuckles)

But I’ll live.

She glances up when there is no answering laugh. Finally, his lips twitch with a reluctant smile.

TERRY

Kate will be at my party tomorrow night and I want you to behave yourself. I’ll beat you senseless if you mess her about.

PEN

You can try.

He tightens his arms and drops another kiss on her head.

I’ll be good, Terry. As good as I can.

TERRY

(chuckles)

Mmmm. That’s not much.

PEN

Bastard.

They sigh in unison and sit silent.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by  Carol Dougherty. Reason: forgot to put in what I learned