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Day 10 Assignments
Reply to post your assignments.
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7 Replies
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Subject line: Ben’s Beat Sheet
What I learned doing this assignment is
I need to learn to come up with short descriptions for A, B, and C story. There is still a lot I need to learn in writing Beat Sheet.
ASSIGNMENT
1. Tell us your Show Concept and Inciting Incident.
Concept: An ugly beggar decides to learn magic and prove her birth father wrong, but magic
is taught only to the pretty ones.
Inciting Incident: Nora’s adopted father, Old Beggar, finds her birth father, and she discovers that he abandoned her because she’s ugly to learn magic and bring pride to the family. Nora decides to learn magic and prove her birth father wrong.
2. List your A, B, and C Stories.
A Story: Nora wants to get into the Affinity Academy.
B Story: Array is exposed and must find a way to get out of the Affinity Academy.
C Story: Reed isn’t interested in learning magic and Mo must do his duty.
3. Present your current Beat Sheet with no dialogue.
BEAT SHEET
TEASER
EXT. SKY – DAY
Clear sky. Suddenly the sky starts to shake. Then a small crack appears, turning into a tear across the sky.
EXT. ANOTHER AREA, SKY – DAY
Terra, Shard, and three men ride flying creatures. All in a rush. Terra is leading them.
EXT. SKY – DAY
The tear turns into a rift. Light spills out.
EXT. DESERT – DAY
It is calm, but a strange wind begins to pick up, getting stronger and stronger. Suddenly the plants are yank off the ground. The next thing happening, earth is torn from its place, everything is flying up.
EXT. SKY – DAY
The rift has expanded, showing its red and infused with lightening inside. A strong wind flows in. It’s sucking something — the earth.
EXT. SKY – MOMENTS LATER
Terra, Shard, and three men push through the debris. Their bodies shrouded in light and flying toward the rift.
EXT. RIFT – DAY
The five men send streams of light into the rift, forming a seal over it. The seal holds briefly and breaks. They send streams, forming another seal. Same thing happens. Terra, Shard, and three men start to show signs of exhaustion. Terra nods to the three men. They chant a spell, and light shoots out of their bodies. They turn into three balls of light, merge, and fly into the rift.
EXT. RIFT – CONITUES
An explosion comes from inside the rift, sending out a shock wave that destroys everything. The rift stops sucking, and giant bone-like chains appear from within the rift and zips it up.
Turning Point: Terra and four sorcerers stopped the rift from wreaking havoc, but it’s still there, held together by giant chains.
ACT 1:
EXT. RYSTER CITY – DAY
A ring-like city built from nicely polished stones.
EXT. MARKET – DAY
Two average looking teenagers leave one stall and head for grocery man’s stall. Along their path, they see a very ugly beggar girl on the ground with her begging bowl. They run away when they recognize the beggar is Nora the cursed girl.
EXT. GROCERY STALL – DAY
Grocery man sees that and throws rotten vegetables and fruits at Nora to make her go away. He blames Nora that her present is the reason he hasn’t had a single customer all day and wants her to spread her curse somewhere else.
EXT. ANOTHER AREA – DAY
Parents are out shopping with their children. These children, 10 – 17, have one thing in common. They are all very pretty, and their parents buy them whatever they want.
EXT. MARKET – DAY
Nora is moving down the market, avoiding everyone and trying to get out of here. Children, 5 – 7, begin to follow her while throwing rocks at her. Nora screams at them to stop and ends up frightening them. A woman strikes Nora and tells her off for scaring their children.
EXT. ANOTHER AREA – DAY
Nora is keeping her distance. Ginn, 15, asks her mother why everyone thinks Nora is cursed and if it is the reason why she was abandoned. Ginn’s mother thinks it is because Nora is too ugly and she caused her mother’s death in childbirth.
EXT. BACK ALLEY, TAVERN – DAY
Nora is starving. She searches the dumpster for food and finds nothing. A tavern worker steps into the alley with leftover food and gives it to the dog.
EXT. BEGGAR TOWN – NIGHT
Part of Ryster city in ruins.
INT. SHELTER – NIGHT
Nora’s adopted beggar sister, Anna, blames Nora that their adopted father has neglected her and wants Nora to leave the city. Nora refuses, and Anna calls her boys to threaten Nora, forcing her to leave.
EXT. BEGGAR TOWN – NIGHT
Nora tries to find a place to sleep. The beggars, even ugly ones, are afraid of Nora spreading her curse to them and chase her away.
EXT. STREET – NIGHT
Nora tries to talk sense into Anna’s boys who are following her to make sure that she leaves the city. They threaten to beat her instead.
INT. SHELTER – DAY
Nora and Anna’s adopted father, Old Beggar, interrogates Anna and her boys to find out what they have done to Nora. They lie, but Old Beggar knows that Anna is behind it. He chases them out of the Beggar town and warns them of the consequences if he ever sees them again.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE CITY WALLS – DAY
Old Beggar tells Nora he’s found her birth father, but Nora is afraid she might find out what people are saying about her abandonment, being cursed, and causing her mother’s death in childbirth to be true and refuses. Old Beggar reminds her why she wanted to find her father, and she agrees to see him.
EXT. COURTYARD, EUCHER’S HOUSE – DAY
Nora confronts her birth father, Eucher, to find out the truth and discovers he abandoned her because she is ugly to learn magic and bring pride to the family.
Turning Point: Nora discovers her birth father, Eucher, abandoned her because she’s ugly to learn magic and bring pride to the family. Turns out magic is taught to pretty ones.
Act 2:
EXT. AFFINITY ACADEMY, MYSTIC MOUNTAIN – DAY
Like Ryster city, it’s built from nicely polished stones.
INT. CLASS – DAY
Sparrow agents rush in, seize the students and out with them without care even to the teacher.
INT. GREAT HALL OF SKAI RUSE – DAY
Sparrow agents gather the students in the hall and lock the door. The students demand to know what is happening, and Mo threatens to expel them and makes sure that they will never be accepted into any school. Then he orders Sparrow agents to inspect students’ faces. They find nothing, and Mo allows the students to return to classes.
INT. GREAT HALL OF SKAI RUSE – LATER
Teachers are worried that if words of what happened gets out, it will not only ruin their reputation but also school’s. To ease their worries, Mo tells them that the school is in lockdown and Array will be arrested.
INT. SHELTER, BEGGAR TOWN – DAY
Nora lies in bed, silently crying. The door is bolted. Only her in the vast room.
EXT. SHELTER – DAY
Old Beggar tries to make Nora open the door. Nora does not, and he tries everything he can to make her feel better. Nothing works.
INT. GREAT HALL OF SKAI RUSE, AFFINITY ACADEMY – DAY
Zin tells Mo the story of the king and his two best friends, warning him that he knows about his scheme with teachers to take over Terra’s position. Mo denies it.
EXT. WOODS – DAY
Array is running from something or someone but runs into a Sparrow agent waiting for him. Sparrow agent tells Array to give up and come with him. Array attacks him instead, and Sparrow agent sends out a signal in the form of a sparrow.
INT. GREAT HALL OF SKAI RUSE – DAY
Mo orders Natchez to find and arrest Array before upcoming event in three days. Natchez is worried that Mystic Mountain is too big to find Array in a short time. A sparrow flies in and transforms into Sparrow agent who intercepted Array and requests for reinforcements.
EXT. WOODS – DAY
Array beats Sparrow agent and escapes before Natchez arrives with reinforcements. Natchez asks Sparrow agent the direction Array ran to. Sparrow agent points them, and Natchez orders the other agents to pursue. Then he helps Sparrow agent to his feet and both chase after Array.
EXT. O’LLER AND ALOE’S HOUSE, RYSTER CITY – DAY
Toto, 17, asks Aloe, 16, and Reed, 15, if they are excited about the upcoming recruitment in three days. Aloe is excited to join Affinity Academy and learn magic, but Reed isn’t interested and wants to become someone else. Aloe reminds him that it is not up to him but his father. That troubles Reed.
INT. DUNE’S HOUSE – DAY
Reed’s mother, Lynn, tells Reed his father can’t make it back to take him to the Affinity Academy and wants him to go with Aloe and Toto.
EXT. SHELTER, BEGGAR TOWN – DAY
Nora opens the door to let in Old Beggar. She asks him why magic is so important, and if it is why is there a ridiculous rule of teaching magic only to the pretty ones. Old Beggar tells her all he knows is that the founder of the Affinity Academy, Skai Ruse, introduced it 800 years ago in the Affinity Academy, but nobody knows why.
EXT. PORTAL GATE, AFFINITY ACADEMY – DAY
Array watches from behind a tree. A spell shrouds the gate and Sparrow agents tightly guard the place. Natchez comes and orders Sparrow agents to sweep surrounding areas. Array leaves.
INT. SUPPLY BUILDING – DAY
Array slips into the room through the window and conjures a fire to torch the supplies. The fire spreads and blocks his way out. He goes through the door and the guards are right there.
INT. GREAT HALL OF SKAI RUSE – DAY
The man in charge of supplies reports to Mo that all their reserved supplies are gone and the guards dead. What is left of supplies will not last a day and requests Mo to allow him to get supplies. Mo grants it.
INT. RESTROOM – DAY
Jitt rushes into the room and undoes his pants. Array grabs him from behind, but he slips from his grasp and trips toward the door, calling for help. Array knocks him out cold.
INT. SHELTER, BEGGAR TOWN – DAY
Nora asks Old Beggar why no one has tried to change the rule. Old Beggar believes that people are afraid or have grown to accept it. Old Beggar becomes suspicious that Nora is up to something.
INT. O’LLER AND ALOE’S HOUSE – DAY
O’ller is worried that Aloe is becoming too close to her friends and will forget her mission for going to the Affinity Academy. Aloe tells her that it is all part of her cover.
INT. SHELTER – DAY
Old Beggar questions Nora what she is up to. She tells him her decision to learn magic and wants his help to get into the Affinity Academy.
Turning Point/Midpoint: Nora tells Old Beggar her decision to learn magic to prove Eucher wrong and wants his help to get into the Affinity Academy.
Act 3:
INT. SHELTER – DAY
Old Beggar reminds Nora of the rule and getting executed for breaking it to change her mind. Nora uses her birth father’s reason for abandoning her and wanting to prove him wrong to convince him. Old Beggar refuses to send her to her death no matter her reason, angering her.
INT. ARRAY’S HIDEOUT, AFFINITY ACADEMY – DAY
Array tries get info from Jitt what Affinity Academy is planning to do about the supplies. Jitt lies that he is just a student and knows nothing. Array tortures Jitt into telling him everything and discovers that his plan to use supplies run to escape has failed.
INT. ARRAY’S HIDEOUT – LATER
Jitt tries to break the spell holding him. Array comes in and almost catches him in the act. He attempts to distract Array but ends up hitting his wound Array almost kills him.
EXT. MAIN STREET, RYSTER CITY – DAY
The two average looking teenagers who ran away from Nora in the market whispers about a man who can get anyone into any school and how it is a god’s given chance for them to gain respect they deserve. Nora tries to get info from them but scares them away.
EXT. MARKET – DAY
One of the average looking teenagers buys meat from the butcher. He sees Nora watching him and runs but trips and falls. He blames Nora. Nora tells him she will follow him wherever he goes. Scared, he tells Nora the man’s name and where to find him.
INT. ARRAY’S HIDEOUT, AFFINITY ACADEMY – DAY
Jitt is alone. No Array. He casts a spell, breaks the restrain and bolts out of here.
EXT. ARRAY’S HIDEOUT – DAY
Jitt finds Array at the entrance of the cave, distracted. He uses the opportunity to knock him down with a ball of light and runs for it.
EXT. WOODS – DAY
Jitt is running. Not wasting a moment for Array to catch up with him.
EXT. ANOTHER AREA, WOODS – DAY
Natchez is leading Sparrow agents and heading in the same direction Jitt is running from.
EXT. WOODS – DAY
Jitt sees Natchez and tries to call out. Array covers his mouth and drags him in the bushes. Jitt struggles to get out of Array’s grasp, almost alerting Natchez and Sparrow agents passing. Array knocks him out.
INT. ARRAY’S HIDEOUT – DAY
Array drags unconscious Jitt in and casts a spell to restrain him. He looks at Jitt’s face and his eyes light up. He has a crazy idea.
EXT. O’LLER AND ALOE’S HOUSE, RYSTER CITY – DAY
Reed tells Aloe about his father wanting him to get into the Affinity Academy with her and Toto. Then he asks her what to do knowing his father will not allow him to follow his dream. Aloe suggests he asks his mother to talk to his father, believing she may have a way to convince him.
EXT. DUNE’S HOUSE – DAY
Reed tells Lynn about not being interested in learning magic and begs her to promise to talk to his father. Lynn reluctantly promises.
EXT. OLD DOCK – DAY
Mani takes money from the average and ugly looking children and tells them to meet here in two days. Nora asks Mani if he can get her into the Affinity Academy. Mani thinks it is difficult but not impossible. Then he charges Nora 50 Shais, and she has two days to get the money.
INT. TAVERN – DAY
Nora asks the owner for work. He laughs and tells everyone about it. They all laugh before the owner instructs his men to throw her out. The men throw her out.
EXT. GROCERY STALL, MARKET – DAY
Nora asks grocery man if he is looking for someone to run a few errands for him. Grocery man is shocked at first before bursting into laughter. Then he mocks her, and she steals his money bag.
EXT. MARKET – DAY
Grocery man chases Nora down the market. Nora is too fast that she out runs him in a short time.
EXT. ALLEYWAY – DAY
Nora walks in and checks the content of the bag. Grocery man and the people helping him surround her. They badly beat her before grocery man drags her out.
EXT. FRONT GATE, AUTHORITIES BUILDING – DAY
Grocery man drags Nora in front of the guards and demands they lock her up. The guards laugh and wave him away with the people. Grocery man beats Nora again before leaving.
EXT. FRONT GATE – LATER
Concerned, Old Beggar runs up to Nora curled up on the ground and tries to help her. Nora pushes him away and passes out.
INT. SHELTER – DAY
Nora is shaking and sweating. She has a fever. Old Beggar calls a young beggar to watch over her.
EXT. DOCTOR’S HOUSE – DAY
Old Beggar follows the doctor around as he examines the patients with strange disease. He begs the doctor to see Nora. The doctor believes his patients are more important than a beggar and wants him to leave. Old Beggar offers to work for him for free. The doctor tells him to leave or someone will make him.
EXT. OLD DOCK – DAY
Old Beggar threatens to expose Mani who turns out to be a con man. Mani offers Old Beggar money to shut him up, but he demands Mani gives him all the money he conned from the children.
INT. SHELTER – DAY
Old Beggar asks the doctor about Nora’s condition. The doctor tells him she has multiple broken ribs and internal bleeding. She would have died if he hasn’t looked for him.
EXT. COURTYARD, AFFINITY ACADEMY – DAY
The man in charge checks the supply run team to make sure everyone is present. He finds Jitt missing and asks others who know nothing. Jitt shows up fixing his pants and tells the man in charge he’s been stuck in the toilet. Everyone covers their nose because he stinks.
EXT. PORTAL GATE – DAY
The man in charge leads supply run team toward the gate. Just when Jitt gets close, he sets off wards and gets trapped in a spell. Turns out he is Array disguised as Jitt and supply run is a trap. The man in charge turns into Natchez and arrests him.
INT. GREAT HALL OF SKAI RUSE – DAY
Sparrow agents leave Jitt’s dead body next to bound Array. Mo casts a spell that turns Jitt’s dead body into its true form — a wood. Jitt’s face Array is wearing dissolves into nothingness, revealing his real and hideous face. Mo orders Natchez to execute Array.
Turning Point: Array turns out to be an ugly young man disguised as a pretty one to learn magic.
Act 4:
INT. SHELTER, BEGGAR TOWN – DAY
Old Beggar watches over Nora as she sleeps. She wakes up and asks Old Beggar again to help her. He refuses, and she uses the condition she is in and the possibility of losing her life while finding her own way to threaten him. Old Beggar agrees to help her.
INT. GREAT HALL OF SKAI RUSE, AFFINITY ACADEMY – DAY
Mo tells teachers about scrutinizing the children in the upcoming recruitment and doing thorough background investigation every now and then to make sure what happened never happens. Zin reminds Mo that he is the head of the Sparrow Agency and cannot make that kind of decision. Only Terra, the head of the school, can.
INT. GREAT HALL OF SKAI RUSE – LATER
Lynn tells Mo about Reed not being interested in learning magic and tries to convince him to let Reed follow his dream, but Mo threatens to disown Reed or worse if he breaks their family value.
INT. SHELTER, BEGGAR TOWN – DAY
Old Beggar asks Nora if she is willing to do whatever it takes to learn magic. Nora is confident that nothing can stop her. He hopes that is the case.
INT. SHELTER, BEGGAR TOWN – LATER
Authorities barge in and roughly grab Nora. Authority man tells her she is being arrested for planning to break the rule to learn magic.
INT. CELL, AUTHORITIES BUILDING – DAY
Guards torture Nora. Mani is with Authority man in guard’s uniform and loving what he sees. Authority man explains to him that he has informed Affinity Academy and Sparrow agents are on their way.
INT. OFFICE, AUTHORITIES BUILDING – DAY
Terra wants Authority man to release Nora into his custody, but Authority man is suspicious of why the head of the Affinity Academy is doing his agents’ duty. Terra uses his status to threaten him into handing over Nora.
INT. GREAT HALL OF SKAI RUSE, AFFINITY ACADEMY – DAY
Kins is worried that Zin is more than suspicious of their scheme with teachers to take over Terra’s position. He will find evidences to expose them if they don’t do something about it. Mo tells Kins the time isn’t right.
EXT. MAIN ROAD, OUTSIDE THE CITY – DAY
Terra releases Nora and tells her to forget wanting to learn magic, but if she continues with her plan, he will execute her himself.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE CITY WALLS – DAY
Old Beggar finds Nora by the wall. She tells him about Terra’s warning and that she is determined to get into the Affinity Academy no matter the cost.
EXT. STRANGE SORCERER’S HOUSE – DAY
Old Beggar tells strange sorcerer he needs his help to make Nora his special disguise. Strange sorcerer is worried putting her through the process in her condition is risky. She has to wait until she is better, unintentionally angering Nora.
INT. KITCHEN, DUNE’S HOUSE, RYSTER CITY – DAY
Reed asks Lynn if she had a talk with his father. Lynn tells him she needs time, but Reed believes that she is afraid and is disappointed in his mother for making a promise she can’t keep.
EXT. STRANGE SORCERER’S HOUSE – DAY
Strange sorcerer asks Old Beggar if he explained everything to Nora about the disguise. Old Beggar believes that she needs to find it out from him and hopes she will change her mind.
EXT. O’LLER AND ALOE’S HOUSE – DAY
Lynn tells Aloe about Mo’s threat and wants her help to convince Reed. Aloe has an idea.
INT. STRANGE SORCERER’S HOUSE – DAY
Nora apologizes to strange sorcerer about how she behave earlier. Strange sorcerer tells her the special disguise requires one’s life force to retain its nature and wearing it for too long will lead to her demise. She has to decide whether to continue or not.
Turning Point: Turns out wearing the disguise for too long will lead to Nora’s demise and must decide whether to go ahead with it.
Act 5:
EXT. STRANGE SORCERER’S HOUSE – DAY
Nora asks Old Beggar whether she should go ahead with the disguise or not. Old Beggar tells her to make the decision. It is about her life, and no one has the right but her.
INT. STRANGE SORCERER’S HOUSE – DAY
Nora tells strange sorcerer she wants to go ahead with the disguise. Strange sorcerer tells her he is ready to begin.
INT. GREAT HALL OF SKAI RUSE, AFFINITY ACADEMY – DAY
Mo threatens Zin that if he doesn’t allow him to do his duty and the school reputation is ruined, it will be in his hands. Zin tells him he will have a talk with teachers to let him do his duty.
INT. O’LLER AND ALOE’S HOUSE, RYSTER CITY – DAY
Lynn and Aloe use Dune family value to convince Reed to follow his father’s orders. Reed reluctantly agrees.
INT. STRANGE SORCERER’S HOUSE – DAY
After going through the procedure and checking herself in the mirror, Nora finds out that she is a very pretty woman and loving it, but strange sorcerer tells her he discovered the disguise will kill her sooner than he had imagined. He also warns her to avoid injuries that may impact her life force or her death will be quicker.
EXT. PORTAL GATE, RYSTER CITY – DAY
Nora is waiting with Aloe, Toto, Reed, and other children. Mo appears from the portal with Natchez and Sparrow agents. He casts a spell to lock down the place and orders Sparrow agents to examine Nora and children’s faces to find out who might be wearing a disguise. They find nothing and allow Nora, Aloe, Toto, Reed, and the children to go through the portal.
EXT. PORTAL GATE – LATER
Mani shows up and updates Old Beggar on what happened at Affinity Academy. Turns out Old Beggar is Terra and Mani’s Lord who is actually Shard. Both of them are wearing disguises, and Terra is behind Array getting into the Affinity Academy and exposing him.
Turning Point: Turns out Old Beggar is actually Terra the head of the Affinity Academy and Mani’s lord who is Shard.
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Tim Barley’s Beat Sheet
What I learned from doing this assignment is that it has been a long time since I wrote out a beat sheet to complete an episode of TV. It’s been a great practice and it uses a muscle I have long since let atrophy…
Show Concept: An unremarkable office drone finds out that he is the blood heir to a millennia-old power. He may not want it, but it seems everyone else does.
Inciting Incident: Alex’s first demonstration of his power defending himself draws the attention of those who want his power for their own purposes.
A Story: Alex’s power manifesting itself and his attempts to learn how to use it without killing himself, others or the whole planet.
B Story: All the politicking and conniving of the Ancient Houses on both sides to claim Alex and his power.
C Story: The love quadrangle between Alex, Jade, Feenix and Allistar.
BEAT SHEET:
TEASER
INT. HOSPITAL 25 YEARS AGO – NIGHT
Alex’s father and mother drag him to a hospital room. Alex’s dad leaves him with his mom and closes the door behind him. A bright light glows under the door.
ACT 1:
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Alex snaps to attention as his boss is speaking to him to carry more of the load. Billy comes by and says their taking the new girl, Feenix out and to come along.
INT. CLUB – EVENING
The group is talking at a booth. Alex gets up to get drinks. A woman strikes up a conversation with him. He looks like he’s going to close the deal. She walks away. Feenix is there. They smile at each other.
EXT. ALEX’S APARTMENT – LATER
Alex arrives home to find his neighbor, Allistar, sitting on their landing, smoking a bong. He offers up one to Alex, who partakes. Allistar says he’s sorry that he didn’t hook up tonight even though he could’ve as Alex passes out.
ACT 2:
INT. ALEX’S APARTMENT – MORNING
Alex wakes up confused. He gets ready for work and leaves.
EXT. ALLISTAR’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS
Alex knocks and Allistar opens the door. Alex asks about last night. Allistar said he didn’t know what he was talking about.
INT. OFFICE – DAY
All hands staff meeting. More work for Alex. He’s dejected. Billy says he’ll help. Feenix volunteers. Boss not happy with this.
INT. COFFEE HOUSE – EVENING
Alex orders. His coffee house nemesis barista makes it not the way Alex wants it. It’s been a bad day and Alex just wishes it had been made right. There’s a jolt, like a bad edit, and another barista hands him his order.
EXT. DARK STREET – LATER
A shadow breaks free from another bigger shadow in Alex’s path. Concerned, he turns and crosses the street. Another one appears. They are human shaped figures, but no discernible features; black on shades of black. Alex runs.
EXT. ALLEYWAY – CONTINUOUS
Alex runs into a group of muggers. About to mug him when the No Things approach and dispatch the muggers, who die screaming. Sirens approach. Alex runs. A hand grabs him and pulls him aside. It’s his neighbor. On the building above someone is watching.
ACT 3:
EXT. STREET – NIGHT
Allistar leads a bewildered Alex away from the gathering flashers of police cars, trying to answer Alex’s questions while leading them home.
INT. BOMBED OUT BUILDING – UNKNOWN
Edris and 12 other men are bound on their knees, threatened with beheading. He pretends. not to understand their language until just before they cut his throat. He calmly tells them what is going to happen before dispatching the terrorists. Private merc types burst in, taking the other men out. He’s given a dossier. Opens it; it’s a picture of Alex.
EXT. STREET – NIGHT
Allistar and Alex have made their way almost home. A black car pulls up. Like the No Things, it doesn’t really have boundaries. The beings get out. Allistar readies for a fight, but another figure drops down in front of them and blinds the No Things away. She turns around, it’s Feenix. Allistar is not pleased.
ACT 4:
EXT. STREET – NIGHT
Feenix asks if Alex is alright, much to Allistar’s complaining, then moves them to Alex’s apartment.
INT. APARTMENT – NIGHT
Feenix and Allistar argue. It’s apparent they are siblings. What they are talking about doesn’t make sense to Alex. He says to tell him or get out.
EXT. SMALL AIRPORT LA – NIGHT
Edris. now dressed impeccably, disembarks the jet to a waiting driver, They drive off.
ACT 5:
INT. ALEX’ APARTMENT – SUNRISE
Alex seems flabbergasted. He tells them it can’t be true. They tell him his real name. His real father, the mother he doesn’t speak to and his inheritance. They leave.
EXT. ALEX’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS
Feenix and Allistar talk about what’s going on. Allistar is pissed. Alex comes out ready for work.
INT. OFFICE – DAY
Bill stops by and asks questions about Alex’s night. Tells him of the investigation into the muggers. Billy leaves some files about some historical items that “are wrong.” Alex questions how he knows. Just does.
INT. OFFICE – EVENING
Alex leaves with Feenix looking on.
INT. ALEX’ APARTMENT – EVENING
Alex enters to find Edris there wanting to “tell him the truth.”
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Assignment #10
Wendy Weising’s Beat Sheet
What I learned doing this assignment is that I loved writing the Beat Sheet.
1. Tell us your Show Concept and Inciting Incident.
Concept
After an accident, a housewife wakes up in a hospital, finds out that the doctors are aliens mining human brains for chemicals, escapes to find her children, discovers she’s an alien, and becomes a warlord who conquers the planet and leads her people to a cure in a new galaxy.
Inciting Incident
When a wife and mother wakes up in a hospital, is told she has never had a family, and the doctors are killing the patients, she decides to escape and rescue her children.
2. List your A, B, and C Stories.
A Story: Jane’s Journey
B Story: Relationships in the hospital
C Story: Love story
3. Present your current Beat Sheet with no dialogue.
Scene breakdown
TEASER
Jane stands with her army, overlooking the enemy, and yells charge. They rush down the hillside and clash with the enemy, sword to sword. Jane runs toward the fiercest fighter. When he turns, she is shocked for a moment because it is her husband. He laughs and swings his sword. She blocks him. They fight. She pins him to the ground. He knocks her sword away. She grabs his throat and squeezes with all her strength. The man yells for her to stop.
She opens her eyes and finds herself on top of her husband, with her hands wrapped around his neck. She holds her position a moment longer and then let’s go. They both stare at each other, alarmed. He asks her what got into her. She tells him the dream. He laughs at her and tells her that it has to be a dream. She usually wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Act 1
Jane is sitting next to her son Michael in the stands while they watch her other son play soccer. When Josh allows a ball into the goal that he is guarding, his coach comes onto the field, yelling insults. He drags the boy by his shirt off the field. Michael asks Jane if she going to do something. She timidly stands us, steps down the bleachers, hesitates, and then returns to her seat. Michael chastises her. She tells him that the referee has it all under control, which he clearly does not.
Instead, we see Josh and Michael with the latest video game, shooting at screen aliens and each other’s avatars. Every time they viciously shoot, stab, and kick an alien, it shrieks hideously, and Jane puts her fingers in her ears. She goes into the kitchen and turns on a cooking show. She moves around her perfect kitchen with its island.
Suddenly, her sight is blurred. Then she is in tactical gear. She talks on her watch about having the transport pod ready. She uses a glasscutter, sticks her arm through the whole in the window, and unlocks it. She slides through the window and into the house. She enters the room of three sleeping children. She quickly puts tape over the two older kids mouths, which awakens them. She picks up the baby who begins to whimper and hold her hands out to something in her crib. Jane scoops up a neon pink teddy bear and gives it to the baby, who snuggles with it. She hands the baby through the window. She rolls the two older kids up in their sheets. Then she hands them off to someone outside. Just as she hands off the last child, the mother enters, screaming at her. She pulls out a phasor and shoots the woman. Her husband follows, and Jane shoots him. She checks their pulses. She radios that she has two live ones coming. When she looks back, but they’re gone.
Someone is shaking her. It’s Dan. He’s hungry. What’s going on?
Act 2
They sit at the dinner table in silence. Her husband asks about the new game. The boys tell him about their mom’s failure on the field. He excuses the boys. He speaks smoothly to her about how he will take care of it because that’s his job. Hers is to make him happy. She begins to pick up the dishes. He grabs her hand and pulls her on his lap. He talks about how much he misses his Sweet Tart during the day. He has to make up for it every night. His hands are moving inside her robe. His phone rings. He has to take the call. He goes out on the deck. She continues to clean as she watches her husband watching her and laughing.
The next morning, Jane uses a heart cookie cutter to cut the kids’ sandwiches. She asks them to get dressed for school, but they are on their phones and ignore her. Her husband arrives and asks why the kids aren’t ready to go. She’s told them. He yells at them, and they move. While the kids are upstairs, Dan tells Jane that he’ll miss his little Sweet Tart. He grabs Jane, pushes her against the wall, and begins kissing and groping her. They are interrupted by the honking of the school bus. The kids come running. She kisses each boy, hands him a lunch, and watches him get on the bus. Dan grabs her again, kisses her, says, “To be continued,” and slaps her rear. She cringes. He goes out and gets into his gold mustang as Jane watches.
As soon as she gets to the kitchen, her husband calls her. She heads to the mailbox, where she finds a note, “Au Revoir, my Sweet Tart.” Then a gold mustang plows through her. She wakes up in a hospital where the doctors tell her that she has no family.
Act 3
Jane is in restraints and thrashing. Dr. Jones holds her face still and tells her that the drugs she took and almost overdosed on are making her hallucinate. Jane makes it clear that she doesn’t take drugs. Dr. Jones won’t listen, so Jane spits in her face and then yells for her husband. Dr. Jones mumbles that he won’t help her. Jane wants to know what she meant. Dr. Jones tells her that the medication causes hearing problems as well. Dr. Jones asks the nurse to get a tranquilizer. Dr. Zyn acts like he knows Jane, using her name. He tells tries to her to calm her down, but she doesn’t know him. He needs to stop touching her. The tranquilizer kicks in.
Dr. Zyn argues with Dr. Jones about taking the restraints off Jane, and it infuriates Dr. Jones. She argues that they don’t have enough staff to have patients wandering around. Two of their staff left during the previous week. Everyone wants the final product, but they don’t want to be part of the distasteful process. So they are stuck with the work. She wins the argument. Polly spies on them.
Dr. Jones stands before a screen filled with older women (Leaders of the Old Regime). Dr. Jones doesn’t want to report on her failures, so she pretends that things are going well. They advise her that she must take a mate soon or she will lose her position in the regime.
Polly, with book in hand, is fixing a burner in the kitchen. Ava comes in and tells her that they have a new arrival.
Polly and Ava scurry into Jane’s room. Polly is an extremely intelligent and introverted hoarder who hates change. Ava is an empathetic teenage patient. Polly cleans while Ava presents food and sings. As Ava sees tears running down Jane’s face, she takes out a hankie, dries her eyes, and tells Jane that they will take care of her. Even knowing the horrible consequences that she will face, Ava decides to take off the restraints. Polly isn’t sure but produces a key. Ava frees Jane.
Act 4
Jane waits until she is alone that night and then sneaks out of her room. She runs down dark hall after dark hall, trying to find a way out of the hospital. She finally creeps down to the basement. She sees light coming from under a door with a “Do Not Enter” sign on it. She can’t open it. She hears someone coming. She hides. As the nurse opens the door, she thinks she sees what looks like a brain surgery in progress.
She moves on, trying doors. Then she gets to a small window that has condensation on it. She uses her hospital robe to wipe it off. She sees two nurses carrying a skull-less body. They dump it in a pit. Then they bring out another body and dump it. Jane backs away. As she turns in terror, Dr. Jones appears with two nurses.
Dr. Jones escorts the hysterical Jane back to her room. As Jane rants about murdered patients, Dr. Jones reassures her that there’s no such room where patients are being killed. She was just hallucinating headless bodies. As Jane continues to fight the nurses, Dr. Jones stabs her with a hypodermic, and Jane passes out. Dr. Jones tells the nurses to carry her back to her room. They are not to tell anyone what is in that room; otherwise, there will be consequences.
Act 5
Dr. Jones rails against Ava and Polly for taking off Jane’s restraints, but when her back is turned, Polly steals a book off her shelf and half-smiles at Ava. Dr. Jones catches her smile. She draws a bulls-eye on Polly’s forehead and tells her that she’s next unless she spies for her. Polly is terrified. Dr. Jones mentions that Ava needs to entertain some male friends that she has coming to a party. Ava passes out.
Polly is searching for something in her nest. She pulls out the book and writes something in it. Dr. Jones appears and questions Polly about where she has found that item. Polly thinks it’s the book, but Dr. Jones thinks it’s a broach. When she snatches the broach and slaps Polly, Polly exhales slowly.
Polly and Ava go to Jane’s room. Jane lies in her bed in restraints again. She has shut down and won’t talk. Ava sings a song about a bird being poisoned as she strokes Jane’s hair. Polly shushes her and tucks a very pink, very old teddy bear in Jane’s arms. She inserts the book into a pocket at the front of the bear. Ava tries to get Jane to eat, but she won’t. Jane falls asleep.
Outside of her room, Polly reports that Jane won’t eat to Dr. Jones. Dr. Jones makes them leave and then uses an ultrasound device on Jane as she sleeps. She finds a baby.
Jane finally notices the teddy bear and hugs it to her. There is something wrong with it. She finds the pocket and the book. She opens the book to its bookmark and reads the note in the book, which says, “Don’t believe them. They’re lying about everything.”
3. Present your current Beat Sheet with no dialogue.
BEAT SHEET
TEASER
EXT. BATTLEFIELD—DAY
Jane leads her army into battle. She pins the enemy’s leader to the ground, but he knocks her sword away, so she grabs his throat and begins to squeeze hard.
INT. BEDROOM—DAY
Jane is on top of her husband, Dan, with her hands squeezing his neck. He wrestles her off of him and yells her name. When she wakes up and tells him about her dream, he laughs hysterically because she couldn’t hurt a fly.
ACT 1
EXT. SOCCER FIELD—DAY
Jane and her younger son, Michael, watch her son Josh play soccer. When Josh lets a ball into the goal and the coach belittles him loudly, Jane goes to intervene but changes her mind and sits back down.
INT. FAMILY ROOM—EVENING
Josh and Michael are playing the new video game that Jane substituted for courage. To escape the noise, Jane moves to the kitchen, where her sight is blurred.
INT. BEDROOM—DAY
Jane is in tactical gear. She breaks into a home and ties up the children. She gives the baby a pink teddy bear to quiet her. Then she immobilizes the parents with a phasor. She calls for backup, but when she looks back, the parents are gone.
INT. KITCHEN—EVENING
Dan shakes Jane awake. He wants to know where dinner is.
ACT 2
INT. DINING ROOM—EVENING
Jane’s family is eating dinner. When Dan asks about the new games, the boys share their mom’s failure at the soccer game. He dismisses the boys. He tells Jane he will take care of everything as long as she is his Sweet Tart and then gropes her until he gets a phone call. He takes the call out on their deck. She cleans the kitchen from top to bottom.
INT. KITCHEN—MORNING
Jane uses a cookie cutter to make heart-shaped sandwiches for the boys’ lunches as they play on their phones and ignore her reminders to get ready for school. Her husband tells them, and they obey. He begins to remind her of how sweet of a tart she is when the school bus honks and the boys coming running down. She watches the boys leave on the bus and Dan in his gold mustang. While cleaning up after breakfast, she receives a call from Dan.
EXT. MAILBOX—DAY
When Jane opens the mailbox, she finds a note that reads, “Au Revoir, my Sweet Tart,” and a gold mustang plows through her.
INT. HOSPITAL—DAY
Jane wakes up in a hospital, in restraints. When she wants to know about her kids, the doctors tell her that she has no family.
ACT 3
INT. HOSPITAL—DAY
As Jane thrashes to get free from her restraints, Dr. Jones tells her she’s hallucinating because of the medication she has taken. Dr. Zyn acts like he knows her, using her name and touching her. She kicks at him. Then she spits in Dr. Jones’s face. For that, she gets tranquilized.
INT. DR. JONES’S OFFICE—DAY
Dr. Zyn wants to take Jane’s restraints off. Dr. Jones says they don’t have enough staff—they lost three more people the previous week. Polly is spying on them. Dr. Jones wins.
INT. DR. JONES’S BEDROOM—NIGHT
Dr. Jones is standing before the matriarchs of the Old Regime, her bosses. She lies about the staff departures. They advise her that she must mate soon or lose her position in the regime.
INT. KITCHEN—EVENING
With a fix-it manual in hand and a wrench in the other, Polly is trying to fix a burner. Ava tells her that they have a new arrival.
INT. JANE’S ROOM—EVENING
Polly cleans Jane’s room while Ava presents food to Jane and sings. Ava sees the restraints and feeds Jane. When Jane begins to cry, Ava wipes her eyes. Then she puts her hand out to Polly. Polly shakes her head. Ava gets in her face and tells her that it’s important. Polly produces a key, and Ava unlocks Jane’s restraints.
ACT 4
INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY—LATE NIGHT
Jane runs down hallway after hallway, trying doors. She goes down to the basement. She sees light coming from under a door, but a sign on it says, “Do Not Enter.” She tries the door anyway. It’s locked. When a nurse goes in, she think she sees a brain surgery in progress. Now she frantically looks for a door out of the hospital.
INT. STORAGE CLOSET—LATE NIGHT
Jane finds a window. She wipes the grime off to see outside. Two nurses carry a body—without the top part of its skull. Then they bring out another body in the same condition. Jane turns and runs into Dr. Jones.
INT. JANE’S ROOM—LATE NIGHT
Jane rants about people being killed as two nurses drag her into her room. Dr. Jones stabs her with a tranquilizer and tells her that no one’s killing anyone. It’s all just a bad dream until Jane passes out. Then Dr. Jones tells the nurses that they must keep their mouths shut about the basement.
ACT 5
INT. DR. JONES’S OFFICE—DAY
While Dr. Jones rails against Polly and Ava for taking the restraints off, Polly steals a book off a shelf, hides it, and smiles at Ava. Dr. Jones only sees the smile, but it’s enough. She draws a red bull’s eye on Polly’s forehead and says she’s next if she doesn’t have information on Jane by tomorrow. When she mentions that Ava will be entertaining some of her male guests that evening, Ava passes out.
INT. POLLY’S NEST—DAY
Polly is searching her stash. She finds the a pen and writes in the stolen book. She just has time to stash it as Dr. Jones appears wondering where a certain stolen item it. Polly is terrified. But Dr. Jones doesn’t find the book but picks up a broach and slaps Polly on the back of the head.
INT. JANE’S ROOM—DAY
Jane won’t eat or talk. Polly tucks a pink bear in her arms while Ava strokes her hair. Jane falls asleep.
INT. JANE’S ROOM—EVENING
Polly reports to Dr. Jones that Jane won’t eat. Dr. Jones sends everyone away. She ultrasounds Jane while she sleeps and finds a baby. Jane is pregnant.
INT. JANE’S ROOM—LATE EVENING
Jane finds the pink bear, which has slide down the side of the bed. She hugs it, but something is wrong with it. She finds a pocket and pulls out a book. She opens it to where it is bookmarked. Words have been written over the words in the book, which say, “Don’t believe them. They’re lying about everything.”
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Subject line: (Laurie Brown’s) Beat Sheet
What I learned from this assignment is how to cut back the scene descriptions to the essence.
A story = High Concept story – Fifteen year old, Geri Martin decides that becoming an Army Colonel is the only way to the power she will need to get to the bottom of her mother’s brutal death.
B story = Colleagues and Competitors – Headmaster Learned follows the wishes of Col Martin re: Geri. Love scorned Leo vows to take revenge.
C story = Other relationships – Her Dad has something to hide from Geri. Her mom is dead but Geri talks to her all the time. Bette challenges Geri and that makes her mad.
BEAT SHEET: THE CORP TRUTH Teaser:
Essence: Geri Martin adores her mother and would do anything to make her happy, including being a fill-in for her cold, absent father, until she finds her mother in a pool of blood.
INT. Martin’s Kitchen – Day
Geri (15) is served breakfast by her mother, who delights in Geri’s monologue about celebrating their anniversary with a surprise and Officer’s Club when Geri gets home from work. Bonnie Martin takes her prescription.
EXT School – Day
The bell ringing Geri races out the door with something in her hand. A slew of boys try to catch up so she increases the gap until they fall off behind.
INT. Martin House – Day
Geri runs through the back door, picks up her paper hat, puts it on and hollers to her mother in the play voice “I’m home, darling, and do I have a surprise for you. She runs in the kitchen, and almost tripping on her mother’s body, the hat falls off in the pool of blood beneath her feet.
Turning Point: Geri finds her mom in a pool of blood a hat and $100 bill at the scene.
Act 1:
Essence: Geri takes the hat and a snaps a photo of the scene and swears to solve her mysterious death once she has the power she needs to bring the perpetrator to justice.
INT. Kitchen – Day
An Army hat, identical to her paper hat is at the scene. She takes the hat. She searches the house for something and then comes back into the kitchen with the camera. She takes a photo.
Geri sits at the kitchen table and reads her straight A report card to her dead mother. She vows to her mother very emotionally, that she will do whatever it takes to find the cause of her mysterious death but first she must gain the power she needs to bring the perpetrator to justice. She puts on the hat.
Geri starts washing her hands over and over again in the kitchen sink. KNOCK KNOCK. Geri hides the camera and stashes the hat under her shirt . Mrs. Johnson comes to a sobbing Geri. The cat comes into the room and rubs up against Geri’s leg.
INT. Johnson House – Kitchen – Day
Geri watches from the window as the Police interrogate Col Martin. Mrs. Johnson’s she says something nasty about Col Martin never being home or much of a husband. Surprised they ever even were together enough to have Geri.
EXT. Martin House – Dusk
The police question Colonel Johnson. When they mention his un-mowed lawn and messy house, he angrily calls off the investigation claiming legal jurisdiction as the Colonel over the military base housing (name the base). The police leave and Col Martin goes into the house and brings the cat to Mrs. Johnson.
He gets in the car. Geri runs out begs to go with him. He says no, he’ll be back in the morning. He asks her about the hat? She lies that it wasn’t there. He says he doesn’t mean the stupid paper hat. Geri grabs the cat.
INT. Mrs. Johnson’s Bedroom
Mrs. Johnson puts her to bed, then goes back to the house to pack up Geri.
INT. Kitchen – Johnson – Day
At breakfast, Mrs. Johnson tells Geri about her father’s plans for her. Geri, through her tears declares that will be perfect for what she has in mind.
Turning Point: Colonel Martin picks up Geri and they drive off as the cat looks on from the front yard. Geri looks sad and afraid.
Act 2:
Essence: Col Martin drops Geri at Military school entrusting her with his friend Headmaster Learned who says he will “take good care of her”.
INT. Military School Office – Day
Before the clerk comes in the headmaster acts all gaga around Col. Martin, who looks around his Learned’s messy office with disgust. Col Martin brags that his new appointment will be coming up soon and that he would love for HL to come, but it’s for military personal only. Col Martin about having “high expectations for Geri’s grooming”. The headmaster promises Col Martin that he will “take good care of her like he has done for Leonard”
EXT. Military School – Day
HL gives Geri a tour of the campus. The girls make snide remarks. The boys look over Geri and make cat-calls. HL comes on the scene and physically
threatens Leonard for violating the boy’s curfew. He’ll have to punish him by giving him the girl’s curfew. Leonard makes a smart-ass remark and HL hits him.
INT. Military School – Bunk house.
After the tour, HL takes Geri to her bedroom and searches Geri’s bags. Bette and Marge look on from either side of Geri’s curtained bunk.
Turning Point: Headmaster Learned finds the hat and threatens her graduation if she ever says anything to anyone about it again. Geri cleans her entire bed area and goes to the bathroom and starts washing her hands.
Act 3:
Essence: Geri overcomes the bullying by the girls and makes friends with Bette – but not so much Marge. Geri searches everywhere, everyday after school for the hat.
EXT. School yard – Day
Geri, ignoring the bullying by the girls races the boys and gets the girls respect, especially Bette. Marge, Bette’s best friend acts jealous.
INT. Bunkhouse – Night
Geri awakens to giggling and a curtain being pulled between her and Marge’s bed. She feels someone in her bed. It’s Bette in her bed. She and Bette hear a word that sounds like Learned. They hold eachother in fear.
Next night, Geri is awakened again and scared Bette gets in bed with her, they cuddle.
INT. Martin House – Bedroom – Night
Geri flashbacks on cuddling with her mother. INT. Bunkhouse – NightShe snaps out of the flashback when Bette kisses her. Geri accuses her of being a pervert. Bette breaks into tears and runs from the room. Geri wipes up the area around her bed and goes to the bathroom and washes her hands.
Series of scenes
Photos of Bette, Marge and Geri changing from 15 to 18.Photos of Geri with military school medals increasing in number on her uniform.
Photos of Bette with new boyfriends, one after the other.
Marge with medals for good behavior and academic excellence, often with headmaster Learned at her side.
EXT. Schoolyard – Day
The teachers are setting up the stage and chairs for graduation. Geri is running around all over the campus looking for something.
Bette’s parents show up with a new convertible for graduation. Bette tells her parents she will not go to the family’s alma mater or marry Ron Paul!
INT. Learned’s office – Day
Headmaster Learned is in his office signing the diplomas. He gives a special commendation to Marge. Valedictorian. He gets to Geri’s diploma and the scene cuts.
EXT. Auditorium – Day
Marge gets her diploma, then Bette and at the very end a concerned Geri. Geri takes off to the Headmaster Learned’s quarters.
Headmaster Learned’s Quarters – Day
Geri and tears around his apartment making a big mess.EXT. Military Campus
Geri says goodbye to her dad, Col Martin, then sees Bette in her new convertible. Geri says goodbye to her dad and says she has to go.
INT. Headmaster Learned’s Quarters – Day
Headmaster Learned, picking up the place, goes to a hiding place. Nothing is there. Colonel loses it over Learned’s messy incompetence.
Turning Point: Geri, Bette and Marge drive down the highway away from military school in Bette’s new convertible radio blaring, Geri, wearing the hat, hangs on to it in one hand and her diploma in the other.
Act 4:
Essence: Five Years Later. The girls graduate from nurse’s school. Geri meets Leo at the Officer’s club.
INT. Auditorium – Day
(Opening Leo) Col Martin stands in the back at Nursing School graduation ceremony. Geri comes up and she introduces her new commanding officer Lt. Leo Dahnert. They act strange until Geri walks away to congratulate Bette and Marte. Leo keeps looking at Marge until Col Martin invites him to his office.
INT. DOI Office – Day
Colonel Martin promotes Leo as secret operative to the DOI. Tells Leo should take good care of her. But not like you did in Korea. Leo responds “Yes sir. I understand”
INT. Officer’s Club – Night
Leo approaches Geri and Marge at Officer’s Club. Flirts excessively and dances with Geri. He tells Geri how he was hurt in combat in Korea and that is why he wears the eye patch and has the scars. They dance and really hit it off. After Geri leaves the officer’s club Leo acts totally different with Marge.
INT. Base Apartment – Same Night
Turning Point: Marge, who lives with Geri, comes in late, disheveled, but happy in a strange way. Geri asks her where she was. She has a big story. Geri says how much she likes Leo but asks if it’s okay to date your commanding officer. Marge is silent.
ACT. 5 Geri gets engaged. Marge gets sick and put into isolation. INT. Officer’s Club – Night
Leo wines and dines Geri with a jealous Marge staying home every night alone.
INT. Base Apartment – Day
Marge is throwing up violently in the morning. Geri calls Leo. Leo tells Marge she will have to go into isolation, under the rules of the Dept of Interior.
INT. Base Apartment – Night
Geri and Leo are in bed, naked. Geri is a virgin and very uncomfortable but allows Leo what he wants. They get out of bed and Leo gives Geri an engagement ring.
One month later, Geri wakes up sick. She cleans the apartment and washes her hands compulsively and gets a call that she is being called into the enlistment office. She is eligible for her interview.
Turning Point: Geri goes to the interview trying to cover up her illness and the stress is causing her OCD to act up. She must change the subject at the interview so as not to lie.
Act 6
Essence: Geri passes the interview. She lies about her current health and her OCD as described listed on the health questionnaire. She passes the requirements and enlists.
INT. Base Apartment – Day
Home from the interview Geri is very nervous and can’t stop her hand washing.
Geri calls Bette, now in Korea to tell her. Bette says she’ll be home again soon, and can hardly wait. War is simply a game for the Generals to play, but no one cares for the men who sacrificed, and whose lives are barely accounted for.
Geri mentions the paperwork. She didn’t know what would be required of her. Bette says she bets that’s not applicable to the men. Bette tells her that she can change her mind, that she shouldn’t give up who she is simply for the career. She can still work for the Army. Gerry angrily says that is not the answer. Bette says more but we cannot hear. Geri writes down a phone number behind NYC.
INT. Officer’s Club – Day
Geri meets with Leo to plan the wedding but instead calls off their engagement giving no explanation. Leo over reacts and threatens Geri that she’ll never reach her goal as long as he is in charge. Geri walks out on him.
INT. Enlistment Office – Day
Lock In: After taking Pepto Bismal, Geri gets fitted for her first U.S. Army Uniform, AND HER OWN HAT. She requests to be stationed at the base she grew up on.
INT. Bus Station – Day
Dressed in her new Army Uniform, Geri boards a bus for NYC. -
Module 3 Lesson 10 Creating A Beat Sheet
Elizabeth Dickinson’s Beat Sheet
What I learned doing this assignment is that it went faster than expected. Not sure how to identify different areas of camp.
Show Concept and Inciting Incident
To achieve dearest wish, an Oversoul with 120 lifetimes learns to become an angel and stop human reincarnation, it must purge regrets of 5 key past lives, starting with a 1<sup>st</sup> AD lifetime as a captured young Celt boy who becomes a gladiator.
First season: To protect village, young Celt makes dangerous agreement with Celtic god of thunder to go with Romans, unintentionally becoming a slave and eventual gladiator.
A Story: Oversoul’s desires and Celt learning to survive in Roman culture
B Story: Sirius and Piran
C Story: Clu, Coran, Village
Teaser
EXT. Heaven
Oversoul sees angels, laments situation, discovers he must purge regrets of past lives. Past lives introduced.
INT. Celt’s hut – night
Celt slips out at night but not before being questioned by youngest sister about what he’s doing. Pet mouse introduced.
EXT. Outside hut – night
Celt and best friend Coran go out patrolling.
EXT. Ceremonial fire – night
Village wise woman Marta instructs girls in goddess worship. Celt and Coran watch. Coran tells Celt he should tell village elders about his abilities to see divinities. Celt says that’s for girls.
Ext. Roman legion camp – night
Celt and Coran spy on Roman soldiers from trees, learn fellow Celt Clu is teaching Romans to speak their language and that Romans are looking for boys to serve emperor.
Ext. Celt’s village – night
Village elders holding council with village to decide what to do with information Celt and Coran brought about Romans. Disagreement about whether to be aggressive. Vulnerable tribal members sent away. Celt, Coran, Piran, Tyran, volunteer to stay, along with Celt’s mother, father, and youngest sister. Celt, Coran initiated as adults.
Ext. Celt’s stable – night
Celt gives beloved horse Emer into safekeeping of his crush Aiolfe. Sounds of Romans arriving.
End of Act 1
Act 2
Ext. Village green – dawn
Remaining villagers work or play. Roman Commander asks for boy volunteers, Marta stalls. Sirius brings out map of Rome, uses soft power to charm. Roman Commander loses patience, menaces Celt’s mother. Celt has psychic vision of triskele symbol landing on destruction, then sees Taranis, accepts Taranis’ patronage in exchange for village safety. Volunteers to go with Romans, along with Coran, Piran, Tyran. Coran rejected by Romans because of crippled hand. Goddess Brigit castigates Taranis.
End of Act 2
Act 3
Ext. Track through Woods – day
Piran and Tyran can’t keep up with soldiers. At rest stop, Celt feeds them from his pack, admonishes them not to drink too much water. Sirius asks for more time to rest for boys and Commander refuses.
Ext. Deeper in forest – day
Piran and Tyran are given to Sirius and soldier Cletus to carry on their backs. Tyran vomits on Cletus. Cletus throws Tyran against tree, breaking his neck. Commander docks Cletus’ pay.
Ext. Roman campfire – night
Sirius tells Celt that Cletus will have to pay for Tyran’s death with extra duties. Celt and Piran look/feel sickened.
Ext. Path in woods – day
Sirius teaches Celt bird names in Latin. Celt corrects Sirius about difference between ravens and crows, to Sirius’ annoyance.
Ext. Roman campfire – night
Piran tells Celt they are a pair now, like Piran used to be with his twin. Celt dreams he’s trying to teach Latin to his sister’s mouse.
Celt is woken up by Coran’s hooting.
Ext. Base of tree – night
Celt learns Coran followed them and wants Celt to escape, learns village has regrets letting boys go. Celt tells Coran he can’t leave without Piran.
Ext. Roman campfire – night
Piran woke and is calling for Celt, thinking Celt abandoned him. Celt runs to him.
Piran’s noise wakes Cletus who’s angry and cuts out Piran’s tongue. Celt cauterizes Piran’s tongue by heating knife using Cletus’ cloak to hold knife, burning a hole in it. The commander knocks Celt out. Piran faints.
End of Act 3
Act 4
Ext. Mountain cliff – day
Celt wakes up being carried on Cletus’ shoulder. He asks to be let down to pee, asks about Piran.
Ext. Roman campfire – night
Celt tries to give herb plantain to Piran but Piran rejects Celt. Sirius explains that Piran thought Celt abandoned Piran. Cletus demands recompense for damaged cloak. Sirius says he was already paid in tongue. Cletus and Sirius start to fight, which is broken up by commander.
Celt tells Sirius he’s going into woods to pee/poop.
Ext. Forest – night
Celt meets Coran, who urges him to leave, producing Piran’s tongue.
Celt says he’ll come after everyone’s asleep so he can bring Piran. Coran questions whether that will work.
Ext. Roman campfire – night
Piran struggles against Celt. Cook wakes, asks what’s happening. Celt lies, saying it’s a nightmare.
Coran uses bird calls to get Celt to leave.
Celt abandons Piran.
Ext. Forest – night
Celt meets Coran, but sees a warning triskele. Celt tells Coran he can’t leave Piran. Celt has vision of Coran married to Aiolfe with Emer and a baby.
Coran gives Celt a black feather.
Ext. Roman camp – night
Celt returns, sees Clu, asks him what he should do. Clu just tells him to survive.
Ext. Another Roman camp – day
Aggregation of other legions bringing captives, loot.
Celt girls are kept separate to service Roman soldiers.
Celt confront Sirius, who seems helpless.
Ext. Roman camp – night
Celt tries to instruct smaller Celt boys in Roman ways.
Rudhek arrives, beaten up, and disses Celt.
Ext. Officers’ area – day
Sirius asks Roman Commander if Celt can get wider access to other Celt boys to teach them Latin. Commander agrees, so long as Sirius gives Celt something that shows/proves what he’s doing to others.
Sirius looks at his oroboros (snake eating its own tail bracelet).
End of Act 4
Act 5
Ext. Roman camp – night
Celt wears oroboros and tells young boys story of Lugh and how he defeated bad gods with special sword.
Rudhek derides Celt’s efforts, calls him a collaborator and slave.
Ext. Roman camp – day
More caravans of captives arrive.
Celt asks Sirius when Rome will send Roman boys as surrogates to Celtish tribes.
A small boy says another boy was beaten to death because he didn’t understand what a Roman soldier wanted.
Triskele whirs.
Rudhek id’s Celt to someone else as the boy wearing the enemy’s jewelry.
Ext. Roman camp – night
Celt prays to goddess Anu, but Taranis appears. Taranis offers to help Celt, but Celt refuses.
Ext. Roman camp – day
More caravans. Celtic parents and children are separated, beaten.
Celt tries to help, is rebuffed.
Rudhek and soldiers treat Celt like dog, throw dirt at him.
Celt sees triskele become snakes who taunt him.
Celt runs away.
Sirius and Pilus arrive, knock sense into Celt’s tormentors.
Ext. Another part of camp – night
Celt runs by Roman soldiers practice fighting against gourds painted blue like Celtish war paint.
Celt runs by soldiers beating boys.
Ext. Place where Celt girls are kept – day
Soldiers drug girls, including one who looks like Aiolfe.
Ext. Roman campfire – night
Celt has vision of triskele snakes and oroboros snake coming alive taunting him to cut out his own tongue to stop collaborating and betraying his tribe.
Celt is stopped from doing this by Piran.
Ext. Roman campfire – day
Piran tends Celt with plantain.
Sirius arrives, wants to bring Celt to meet the Primus Pilus so Celt can be promoted.
Celt opens mouth, lets Sirius believe he’s cut out his tongue.
Sirius thinks Piran has done it, but Celt points to himself.
Sirius is appalled, abandons Celt.
Unseen, goddess Brigit confronts Taranis about Celt’s mistreatment, threatens Taranis with a hearing before the other gods.
Ext. Roman camp – night
Celt and Piran sleep in cage.
Celt dreams of home.
Cletus wakes them up, taunts them.
Ext. Beach – Day
Small boats take Celt, Piran, other captives to ship. Piran vomits on Cletus.
Celt sees animals in cages loaded, learns they’re for Roman circus.
Soldiers can’t fit a bear cub, leave it in cage to drown in incoming tide.
Celt prays to Artios, bear goddess for help.
Clu frees the cub.
Celt watches the shore disappear as fog covers him
End of Act 5
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Avi Kapurala’s Beat Sheet
What I learned doing this assignment is: The beat sheet really brings to life everything we’ve been doing. It’s a great experience and I need to remember that not all gaps need to be filled in right away. It’s a process.
BEAT SHEET
Show Concept: Venture capital tycoon Viktor Brazhinsky and his wife Maya plot the downfall of a rival who plans to expose Viktor’s chilling secret — he’s a serial killer who’s never been caught…
Inciting Incident: The collapse of the Tyson Electric-Richardson gas station deal brought on by Viktor and Maya.
TEASER
EXT- WAREHOUSE-NIGHT
A masked figure peers around a corner to see if anyone is watching a warehouse he wants to enter. He proceeds to enter the warehouse through a fire escape at the back.
INT-VAN-NIGHT
Someone is watching from a van parked a block away.
EXT-WAREHOSUE-NIGHT
The watcher gets out of his car and quickly plants a device under the masked man’s car. Gets back into his van.
EXT-WAREHOUSE-NIGHT
Masked man exits the warehouse from the fire escape.
INT-VAN-NIGHT
A hand grips the steering wheel and another gets ready to turn on the ignition.
EXT-WAREHOUSE-NIGHT
The man jogs quickly to his vehicle, loads the duffel bag into the trunk.
INT-CAR-NIGHT
Man gets in, starts the car.
EXT-CAR-NIGHT
The warehouse explodes. Man drives away. The van pulls out and starts tailing him discreetly.
EXT-DARK ROAD-NIGHT
The car drives along a lonely road.
EXT-SEASIDE-NIGHT
The man reaches a boat tied to an old jetty. He loads the duffel bag in the boat and casts off. Goes a little bit and dumps the bag. Turns around comes back ashore. Drives away.
INT-CAR-NIGHT
Man sends a text- Mermaid away.
INT-CAR-NIGHT
A long distance away, the man following the van watches a dot blinking on a tracking device.
EXT-WOODS-NIGHT
The masked man pulls back into the woods, sets the car he was in on fire and gets back into his own car. Drives away.
EXT-WOODS-NIGHT:
A short while after the masked man burns the car and drives away in his own, the watcher pulls up and sees that the car he was tailing is now a burnt ruin. He gets back in his car and texts an unknown recipient- lost trail, but have interesting home movie.
ACT 1
EXT-MANHATTAN-NIGHT
Jacob gets into a helicopter. Swanson 1. Chopper takes off. Crowd noise OS.
EXT-MANHATTAN-NIGHT
Chopper takes off. Aide hands over a file to Jacob. TYSON ELECTRIC on the folder.
INT-BALLROOM-NIGHT
Big crowd, seated at tables. Well dressed. A speaker talking on the stage. Maya texting. Where are you?
INT-LOCKER ROOM-NIGHT
Phone lights up in a locker room. The text Maya sent- where are you? Crowd noise builds.
INT-CHOPPER-NIGHT
Jacob asks his aide if “he’s’” there. Aide replies ‘negative’. Jacob-where the fuck is he?
INT-BOXING RING-NIGHT
Viktor kneeling and praying. Has a tattoo ‘Son of a whore’ on his back. Gets up and faces off with his opponent, a huge bear of a guy. Bloody match.
INT-BALLROOM-NIGHT
Maya is calling someone on her phone. No answer.
INT-LOCKER ROOM-NIGHT
Phone ringing, no answer.
INT-BOXING RING-NIGHT
Opponent going at each other. Viktor is badly beaten up, but landing his own punches. Opponent taunts him about his mother and if she’s a whore. Viktor enraged and goes into overdrive.
EXT-ROOFTOP HELIPAD-NIGHT
The chopper lands, Jacob gets out and is rushed in.
INT-BALLROOM-NIGHT
Awards ceremony commences. The Maya drains champagne, Jacob from the chopper walks in.
INT-BOXING RING-NIGHT
Viktor wins, barely standing. Opponent is dead. Start: Jacob is trying to find out if Viktor’s at the awards ceremony.
INT-BALLROOM-NIGHT
Maya’s name is called, Jacob from the chopper presents her an award. Ceremony ends. They have a conversation, he flirts with her, she’s angry. They leave to get a drink at a bar.
INT-BOXING RING-NIGHT
Viktor is being carried around. Then his trainer is patching him up in the locker room. Missed calls checked on phone. Tries calling Maya back.
INT-BAR-NIGHT
The Maya’s phone buzzes. She looks at it, silences it and turns her phone facedown. Deep conversation between Jacob and Maya. They know each other from before. He tries to kiss her after a bit, she pushes him away, gets up and leaves. Jacob disappointed.
EXT-STREET-NIGHT
Maya’s car picks her up, drives her home.
INT-CAR-NIGHT
Viktor is being driven back home by his trainer.
INT-CAR-NIGHT
Maya looks pensive, calls someone.
EXT-DRIVEWAY-NIGHT
Both cars reach the same house. Viktor and Maya get down. Face each other. Maya turns away and walks into the house, Viktor follows.
INT-HOUSE-NIGHT
Viktor and Maya fight. Selfish, family, betrayal, let’s not pretend we care about each other, it’s all business. Break it off as tomorrow is a big day. Viktor sleeps in a different room. Maya lies awake in bed.
INT-GYM-DAY
Maya running on a treadmill, trainer supervises workout. She gets a text, ‘lunch is on’.
INT-LIVING ROOM-DAY
Viktor wakes up, note on the coffee table- see you at the office, told Anya to fix you up. Don’t ignore. Viktor gets ready, brushes away Anya, who wants to put makeup on his face to cover up bruises.
INT-SHOWER-DAY
Maya showering after workout, gets dressed, heads to car.
EXT-STREET-DAY
Car reaches office tower, Maya exits, enters building.
EXT-DRIVEWAY-DAY
Viktor gets into car, drives off. Reaches the office tower. Someone is following him and takes pictures.
INT-OFFICE-DAY
Applause as Viktor and Maya enter. Cheers and handshakes. Viktor and Maya linger, then head to separate cabins. Maya is pissed. Viktor ignored the make up.
INT-OFFICE CABIN-DAY
Maya goes over schedule with assistant, emphasizes to switch her afternoon schedule as she’s meeting a friend, Nancy. Calls an employee in and asks to short shares of Tyson Electric. The employee asks why she’s interested in Tyson Electric? She then heads into Viktor’s cabin. Talk, then she leaves.
INT-OFFICE CABIN-DAY
Viktor gets on a video conference. DriveNXT founders, bank also on call. Discuss upcoming IPO.
INT-HOTEL CONFERENCE ROOM-DAY
Board meeting. Maya tells the board that returns are great and they are forcing a sale to capitalize. Arguments. Maya overrides everyone and walks away.
INT-CAR-DAY
Maya pensive.
INT-ART GALLERY-DAY
Maya runs into Nancy. Expresses surprise, they talk. Maya invites herself to lunch. Texts Viktor ‘IN’.
INT-OFFICE CABIN-DAY
Viktor- between meetings, is flirting with ‘Claire’ over text. Replies Good Luck to Maya’s text of IN.
INT-RESTAURANT-DAY
The two women meet with two men, one quite older. Hugs all around, they start talking. Maya rubs older man’s thigh under the table. She gets up to go to the ladies’ room, older man waits and follows. They get into a stall. He asks if she missed him and that’s why she’s here. She grabs his balls and threatens him. Walks out.
EXT-RESTAURANT-DAY
Maya texts Viktor – GO.
INT-OFFICE CABIN-DAY
Viktor calls someone and asks them to do it. Texts Maya DONE.
INT-OFFICE-DAY
The TV news and phones begin buzzing with a video of Dave Richardson being a pedophile.
INT-BEDROOM-NIGHT
Maya is reading in bed. The news is about the collapse of the Tyson Electric deal with Richardsons. Maya texts Richardson- rot in prison, you bastard.
Viktor walks in late. Showers and sleeps in his room.
ACT 2
INT-OFFICE-DAY
Jacob is watching the news of Tyson Electric’s collapse. The news talks about a rival company signing a deal with another national chain of gas stations. He gets a call from someone who wants to meet him. Gets so angry he hurls the phone at the wall.
INT-HOME-DAY
Maya gets a text from Tara- I know you hate him, but do you want him to die?
Maya calls Tara and says she’ll do it and she wants to see him.
EXT-DELI-DAY
Viktor is walking into the deli. An analyst from his office is waiting for him. They talk about PrimaCorp, a new lead the analyst is pumped about. The deli owner shares a story about Viktor’s childhood.
EXT-STREET-DAY
Viktor tells the analyst why he gets coffee from the deli everyday even though it’s bad. Wants to know more about PrimaCorp.
INT-OFFICE-DAY
Viktor and Maya are in a meeting with DriveNXT. IPO going live in a few days. Maya steps away during the meeting. Calls a hospital and talks to the head. Wants the best care.
INT-HOME-DAY
Jacob is sitting with an older man, who is berating him and wants to know if he needs a reminder in how to fuck people. Jacob gets angry and leaves.
INT-CAR-DAY
As he drives, Jacob makes a phone call and asks the person where they are with Derek. The person gives him an update. Jacob asks him to step on it, he wants it done now.
INT-OFFICE-DAY
An analyst at Viktor and Maya’s office gets a text. Meet tonight, or wife finds out.
INT-OFFICE CABIN-DAY
Viktor is flirting with Claire again. Dinner tonight?
EXT-PARK-NIGHT
Derek is sitting on a bench with Eddie. Conversation about passing on information from Viktor’s office. Blackmail about his gambling debt, house mortgaged and revealing it to his wife. What deal is going down now? Any weaknesses? One. DriveNXT, whistleblower.
EXT-CAFÉ-NIGHT
Viktor is having dinner incognito with Claire. Slips something in her drink when she goes to the ladies’ room. Pays with cash and they leave. Someone is photographing/following them.
INT-HOSPITAL-NIGHT
Maya is at an old man’s beside. He’s unconscious, hooked up to machines.
EXT-HOME-DAY
Flashback to childhood and losing home.
INT-HOSPITAL-NIGHT
Talks to Tara. Does not want to see mother yet. Curls up on chair and falls asleep.
INT-HOME-NIGHT
Viktor comes home late. Maya not there. Texts her. Gets a reply- staying with friend.
EXT-HIGHWAY-NIGHT
Eddie is driving. Texts Jacob- promising lead, chasing it down.
INT-STOCK EXCHANGE-DAY
Viktor and DriveNXT founders at the ringing of the bell, for their IPO launch. They head to a news interview. Viktor is trying to reach Maya with no luck.
INT-HOSPITAL-DAY
Maya wakes up. Father still unconscious. Tara comes in and asks if she wants to go home and freshen up. Maya freshens up in the hospital and meets the head of the hospital. Texts Viktor good luck for the interview. Evades his question on where she is.
INT-NEWS STUDIO-DAY
Viktor and the founders of DriveNXT have an interview to boost the IPO launch. They’re pleased with it.
INT-OFFICE-DAYA
Derek plugs his phone in to his desktop to charge.
INT-OFFICE-DAY
Jacob’s office- They’re into Viktor’s servers and comms.
INT-CAFÉ-DAY
Viktor and founders having lunch. The IPO is performing very well. Everyone happy.
EXT-TOWN-DAY
Eddie is driving around a small suburban/rural town, asking for Steve Latham. Maybe cabin up in the woods.
INT-OFFICE-DAY
Jacob calls Hanson and asks him to wait till there’s blood, buy at 10.
EXT-WOODS-DAY
Eddie finds Latham, convinces him to pack up and accept $2 million. Will be relocated securely.
INT-NEWS STUDIO-DAY
Latham is giving an interview about botched safety features in DriveNXT cars. Produces documents.
INT-OFFICE-DAY
The IPO immediately begins tanking.
Viktor and DriveNXT founders shocked, Viktor furious, sends someone on the double to locate and silence Latham.
INT-OFFICE-DAY
Jacob is watching the numbers fall. Hanson calls and says ready. Jacob says go.
INT-OFFICE-DAY
Viktor and his team watch as the numbers keep falling. Someone is buying up large chunks of DriveNXT. The IPO is lost. Viktor has lost billions. He cannot contact Maya.
INT-HOSPITAL-NIGHT
Maya’s father slips into a coma. Dies. Her mother arrives.
ACT 3
INT-OFFICE-DAY
Viktor’s office is buzzing with calls from investors about the failed IPO. They are spooked.
INT-OFFICE-DAY
Jacob is gloating over his father.
INT-HOSPITAL-DAY
Maya and her mother and Tara are emotional from the father’s death and the reunion after years.
EXT-STREET-DAY
Derek meets Eddie. Wants out as he delivered. Eddie says they’re just getting started. The threat remains. What’s next? PrimaCorp.
INT-OFFICE-DAY
Viktor is angry. He wants to know how they got blindsided and how someone got to Latham. The news is all about DriveNXT and the losses are huge. Where the fuck is Maya?
EXT-WATERSIDE-NIGHT
Viktor and Jason talk. Mole in the office, spyware. Everything could be exposed. Texts Maya- need to talk.
INT-HOME-NIGHT
Maya is home to pack a bag. Viktor confronts her. Fight. He accuses her of betraying him and passing on information to Jacob. Maya storms out and heads back to mother’s house. Calls Jacob- need a friend. Jacob will meet her.
ACT 4
EXT-CEMETERY-MORNING
Maya’s father’s funeral. Several members of the press get a time and location. Viktor shows up uninvited and gets into an argument with Maya. She ends up falling and the press laps it up. Jacob is there and helps Maya, which antagonizes Viktor and he punches Jacob.
INT-OFFICE-MORNING
The police walk in to Viktor’s office to question him regarding a Claire Logan, whom he met for dinner a few days ago. He denies any knowledge of what happened after dinner.
INT-OFFICE-NIGHT
Viktor calls Jason on burners- secure Brooklyn.
INT-DOMINATRIX CHAMBER-NIGHT
Viktor is getting whipped by a dominatrix, who tells him he’s going to get the pain he deserves. He keeps asking for more. Why? Flashback to his childhood. Trapped in a closet, watching a woman whip a man.
INT- WAREHOUSE ROOM-NIGHT:
Inside the warehouse, the masked man enters a smaller room. A masked and chained figure in the middle of the room.
INT-CAR-NIGHT:
Back inside his car, the watcher sees the man unmasking the dead body. HE texts someone It’s her.
INT-WAREHOUSE-NIGHT:
The masked man cuts up the body.
EXT-WAREHOSUE-NIGHT
The watcher’s clock shows forty-five minutes have passed.
INT-WAREHOUSE-NIGHT
The masked man stuffs the plastic sheet containing the body in a bag. He starts a fire and exits the warehouse.
INT-CAR-NIGHT
A hand grips the steering wheel and another gets ready to turn on the ignition.
EXT-WAREHOUSE-NIGHT
The masked man dumps the bag in his trunk and drives away.
EXT-CAR-NIGHT
The watcher starts following the masked man’s car at a very discreet distance.
EXT-DARK ROAD-NIGHT
The masked man’s car is speeding along dark and deserted country roads. The watcher’s car tails him at a safe distance so he cannot be seen.
EXT-SEASIDE-NIGHT
The masked man reaches the sea, gets in a boat and dumps the bag out in the water.
INT-CAR-NIGHT
The masked man gets into his car and takes his mask off. Man sends a text- Mermaid away.
INT-CAR-NIGHT
A long distance away, the man following the van watches a dot blinking on a tracking device.
EXT-WOODS-NIGHT
The masked man pulls back into the woods, sets the car he was in on fire and gets back into his own car. Drives away.
EXT-WOODS-NIGHT:
A short while after the masked man burns the car and drives away in his own, the watcher pulls up and sees that the car he was tailing is now a burnt ruin. He gets back in his car and texts an unknown recipient- lost trail, but have interesting home movie.
ACT 5
INT-BOXING RING-MORNING
Jacob drops in. Confrontation between him and Viktor. Jacob vows that this is just the beginning. Maya is going to be his again and, he knows about Brooklyn.
EXT-AIRPORT-PLANE-DAY
Maya and Jacob leave for an unknown destination.
INT-RESORT/CHALET-NIGHT
Jacob shows Maya the tape.
INT-HOME-NIGHT
Viktor gets a text – All the laundry in the bag is dirty. Dropped off at cleaners.
Viktor texts back- then it’s war.
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4. Answer the question, “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.
It’s easy to create a beat sheet using final draft to autocomplete your scene headings. I’m glad I bought an new upgrade version for this class.
1. Tell us your Show Concept and Inciting Incident.
Childhood friends James Wong and Maria Cortez have their billion-dollar software company stolen with a shady contract. They find the ultimate power-up to fight back: become president. They change their names to None of the Above and More Jobs. Who won’t vote for more jobs in a bad economy?
On surveillance tapes, Maria finds a secret that puts her and anyone who helps her in danger. She must unravel the conspiracy before they find the last tapes and kill her.
Inciting incident: Renquist steals control of the company with a shady contract and threatens Maria’s life when she tells him about the surveillance tapes.
2. List your A, B, and C Stories.
A: Getting the company back and chasing the presidency to gain power to fight back against Renquist.
B: Keeping Renquist from getting all the surveillance tapes and investigating the conspiracy.
C: The love lives of James and Maria.
3. Present your current Beat Sheet with no dialogue.
TEASER
INT. UNDERGROUND ICE CAVERN – DAY
In a misty cavern, the mist forms letters “begin quarantine simulation.” The letters dissipate and the mist reform into holograms.
INT. WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM – DAY
All face point towards a Hispanic woman, the PRESIDENT. Nukes launch in fourteen hours. Nothing can be done.
The mist swirls.
EXT. PLANE WRECKAGE – DAY
Plane wreckage surrounds a burning piece of mangled metal with the American presidential seal on it. Air Force One is down!
The mist swirls.
EXT. LOW EARTH ORBIT – DAY
Missiles launch across America. Nukes stream high into the atmosphere. To prepare for retaliatory strike, satellites swivel into new positions.
The mist swirls.
EXT. WHITE HOUSE BUNKER – DAY
On a satellite feed, two blinding lights detonate over a city. Mushroom clouds rise as the city below is obliterated into ash.
A centipede-like body with thousands of tentacles rises like a skyscraper. It sucks the debris cloud into its body. The ground liquifies and absorbs into the growing monstrosity.
INT. UNDERGROUND ICE CAVERN – DAY
The mist swirls into red flashing letters in midair: “Ascension event timeline detected.”
END TEASER
ACT ONE
INT. EXECUTIVE SUITE – DAY
Renquist gropes Maria, suggests a makeover for her, and offers to make her interim CEO. She leaves to get James.
INT. TECH CUBICLES – DAY
James playful and happy about selling company. Returns to office with Maria.
INT. EXECUTIVE SUITE – DAY
Renquist announces he’s stolen control of the company with a shady contract and replacing James with Maria. Maria leaves to her office.
INT. MARIA’S OFFICE – DAY
Maria watches executive suite on security cameras while she does a make over. She puts hard drives in mail envelopes. Renquist’s bodyguards hold None down as Renquist kill James’ pet ants and remove him from the building.
INT. TECH CUBICLES – DAY
Maria drops the packages off with Thelma and goes into executive suite to see Renquist in sexy outfit.
INT. EXECUTIVE SUITE – DAY
Maria pretends to come on to Renquist, then kicks his ass. She tells Renquist about the surveillance tapes and he threatens to kill her.
EXT. JAMES’ APARTMENT – DAY
Maria tells James she didn’t betray him. James’ car gets repossessed.
INT. BEER BEAKERS – NIGHT
James decides to run for president with Maria as VP.
END ACT ONE
ACT TWO
INT. BEER BEAKERS – NIGHT
James bluffs some punks with steam in a steampunk bar to impress Maria.
EXT. MARIA’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Maria uproots campaign signs from her lawn and goes inside.
INT. MARIA’S HOUSE – NIGHT
James and Maria make a practice video. James gets drunk, smashes her table and passes out. She uploads the video unedited out of anger. She lets James sleep it off in her bed.
END ACT TWO
ACT THREE
INT. MARIA’S HOUSE – DAY
James thinks they had drunk sex, only to be embarrassed when pointed out he’s still fully clothed. James assumes Maria broke the table. James’ friends are avoiding him because Renquist is on the warpath. Maria will take James home.
EXT. JAMES’ APARTMENT – DAY
James opens mail. His unemployment was blocked. He’ll sell his furniture to make rent. Behind him, Maria opens the door to a ransacked apartment with destroyed furniture.
INT. JAMES’ APARTMENT – DAY
James’ belongings are destroyed without obvious reason. Maria confesses about the surveillance tapes. James realizes the car was repossessed so they could search it. James and Maria leave for Maria’s apartment.
EXT. MARIA’S HOUSE – DAY
Maria’s door is ajar. She rushes in. James calls the police.
INT. MARIA’S HOUSE – DAY
Two intruders search her things. Maria grabs her katana from her bedroom and chases them. Intruders flee into the bathroom. Maria stabs one as they escape.
EXT. MARIA’S HOUSE – DAY
Maria runs across her balcony and crosses her neighbors yard with bloody katana in hand. Cops take Maria to jail.
END ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
INT. POLICE INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY
Police question James. They imply domestic violence. James denies it, but when he lifts his shirt, he’s badly bruised. The cops leave. Renquist’s henchman comes in and threatens him if he doesn’t turn against Maria. When he gets let out, he finds out the campaign video went viral and the bruises are from smashing the table.
INT. MARIA’S HOUSE – DAY
Maria looks through her stolen movie collection. James tries to figure out why their video went viral, but no one is talking about him. James tells Maria about the threats. She is really onboard with the president idea.
INT. MARIA’S HOUSE – DAY
Everyone is talking about “none of he above” and “more jobs,” the things they said in the video. Everyone is calling themselves “none of the above.” Take Back America endorse “none of the above” and “more jobs.” James knows what to do.
INT. MARIA’S CAR – DAY
Maria brings James to the courthouse. He’s decided to change his name to None of the Above. The surprise is that she’s going to change her name to More Jobs.
END ACT FOUR
ACT FIVE
EXT. COURTHOUSE PARKING LOT – DAY
Maria chases James around the car. He points out that their names have to match the Take Back America Movement’s endorsement if they want to take back their message.
INT. COURTHOUSE – DAY
The judge lets James change his name and use the millions of views instead of the newspaper. Maria can change her name to More Jobs, but needs millions of views, or else she’ll have to use the newspaper and wait.
INT. OFFICES OF SHEN WONG – DAY
None and Maria go to the offices of Shen Wong so that James can apologize to his brother. None still blames Shen for losing the company. Shen goes over the escape clauses from the contract they could use, but all of them are out of reach. He agrees to be their campaign manager. They will head out on national road trip to get on the ballot before Take Back America knows they’re a real campaign.
END ACT FIVE
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