Day 14 Assignments

[Bob Rowen]

Bob Rowen’s Act 2 Middle Scenes

What I learned doing this assignment is how this approach to writing the script aids in the formatting of the storyline of it.

Outline Key Scene 2 (Protagonist makes a plan and executes it)

BEGINNING: Virgil explores with Forrest and two others ways to address the problem of unnecessary, needless, and senseless radiation exposure.

MIDDLE: Virgil tightens up on the enforcement of radiation work permits with enhanced restrictions.

END: Virgil seeks approval of the radiation protection engineer and his first-line supervisors.

Key Scene 2

INT. GRACIE’S POOLHALL – NIGHT

Virgil, Forrest, RAY SKIDMORE (late 30s), and V.C. TEAGUE (late 20s) are meeting in the back of Gracie’s playing pool, drinking beer, eating pizza and talking about the research findings Virgil and Forrest they came up with at the University. Teague, an electrician, is a good friend to all three men at the power plant. Skidmore is a nuclear control technician who basically trained Virgil and Forrest throughout their apprenticeship programs.

TEAGUE

I can’t believe what you guys came up with. Like you said Virgil, what the Company has said is a big lie.

FORREST

The question now is what can be done about it?

TEAGUE

What can we do?

VIRGIL

Why can’t we get the union to help us out? After all, it’s clearly a safety issue.

FORREST

I’d be surprised if the union would take it up.

VIRGIL

Why do you say that?

FORREST

You can give it a try but the guys in the gas and line departments are going to wonder why there aren’t more power plant employees complaining.

VIRGIL

It’s our job to first educate, then motivate them!

FORREST

Yeah, good luck with that!

VIRGIL

The Control Technicians can tighten up on our RWPs with enhanced protections and restrictions. Edgar indicated we could work with our first line supervisors to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure.

SKIDMORE

I seriously doubt if any of the other CTs would support a more strict approach to Rad protection. And I know they want to do things as cheaply as possible because that’s an important way to keep Edgar happy!

VIRGIL

You may be right, Skidmore but it’s very much worth a try.

TEAGUE

Who’s getting the next round?

SKIDMORE

This one’s on me, then I’m heading home.

Virgil and Forrest go to the pool table for one last game.

Outline Key Scene 3 (Not only does his plan fail, but…)

BEGINNING: First-line supervisors ignore most of Virgil’s recommendations.

MIDDLE: The Union is not interested.

END: Most of the employees view Virgil as a troublemaker. What really matters to Virgil is truth and the reality of radiation exposure.

Key Scene 3

INT. UNION HALL – NIGHT

Virgil and Forrest have arrived early at the Union meeting. They are the only ones in the room.

VIRGIL

You were right.

FORREST

About what?

VIRGIL

I approached our rad protection engineer and got his agreement but then he wasn’t supported by Edgar.

FORREST

Which supervisor are we talking about? We now have two rad protection engineers, Gail Allen and Jerry Boots.

VIRGIL

Boots.

FORREST

So what happened?

VIRGIL

There were three crews working over the open reactor last week during the outage without wearing any lifelines. Boots agreed with me that they should be using lifelines but they refused to put them on. And when I complained to Edgar, he told me he was aware of what happened and had already discussed it with Boots. He said what Boots decided made sense but when he talked to the supervisors involved, they all said their men didn’t want to use them so Edgar didn’t back up Boots.

FORREST

So no lifelines were used. That’s insane!

VIRGIL

Yep, and there’s more. I proposed ways to significantly reduce radiation exposure when collecting reactor water and off-gas samples, and nothing happened.

FORREST

To who?

VIRGIL

Both Allen and Boots. They said my ideas were too expensive.

More union members are trickling into the union hall. Skidmore and Teague enter and sit with Virgil and Forrest. The four power plant employees chat privately. The room now has approximately forty members present.

UNION CHAIRMAN

It’s time to get this meeting started. Bud will lead us in the flag salute.

All members stand and recite the flag salute then they sit back down.

UNION CHAIRMAN

Okay, I’m moving Item 12 concerning radiation safety at the power plant to Number One. How many power plant members are here tonight?

Four hands are raised.

UNION CHAIRMAN

That’s about what I expected. I talked with all the union shop stewards at the plant and was told there really isn’t a problem with radiation safety out there so I’m deleting this item from the agenda.

KENNY

Who made the request to have this put on the agenda?

UNION CHAIRMAN

It was Virgil Prater from Unit 3.

KENNY

That figures. He’s just a fucking shit stirer. That’s what he did when he was in the line department.

Virgil, Forrest, Skidmore and Teague get up and walk out of the Union Hall. As they are leaving Virgil makes a statement.

VIRGIL

What really matters to me is truth and the realities of radiation exposure.

[Robert Springfield]

Robert Springfield’s Act 2 Middle Scenes

What I learned doing this assignment is how the story continuously builds in a step by step fashion after the TP in Act 1.

INT. TRAIN – PASSENGER AREA – NIGHT

BEGINNING: Mark practices with the app and discovers a file that should be used for emergencies only.

MIDDLE: Mark uses the prohibited file anyway, it starts to malfunction because it’s not properly downloaded.

END: Mark gets bored/amused and starts to annoy Jeff and the family with the app, creating more bickering.

INT. TRAIN – SECURITY AREA – DAY

BEGINNING: Mark gets apprehended by the train’s security for pulling pranks with the app.

MIDDLE: Jeff can’t control Mark in front of security. Mark continues to act out because he’s afraid and doesn’t know how to deal with his emotions.

END: Mark and the family get booted from the train because the arguing.

[Harley Grant]

Harley Grant’s Act 2 Middle Scenes

What I learned doing this assignment is that I am finally getting a feel for my main characters.

EXT. JAIL – MORNING

Beginning: Raj picks up Rohan as he walks out of jail. They talk about business and it is obvious that Rohan is the one who is actually in charge.

Middle: Rohan is angry when Raj tells him that that his men were unable to secure his daughter Sia.

End: Raj says he has it under control. He will pick up Sia and without the need for violence. Rohan agrees and Raj drops him off at his apartment.

INT. PAWNSHOP BASEMENT – MORNING

Beginning: Priyanka wakes up with a massive headache. She is confused and tries to understand what happened the night before. Her phone is gone she locked in the basement of the pawnshop.

Middle: Priyanka tries to get out by picking the lock and knocking down the door. These options do not work.

End: Priyanka realizes that there must be guns hidden somewhere in the basement. After rummaging through boxes and opening crates, Priyanka finds a hidden compartment under the stairs that leads to a full arsenal. She grabs a shotgun, loads it, and blows the basement door off its hinges.

[Arial Burnz]

Subject: Arial’s Act 2 Middle Scenes

What I learned doing this assignment is…that this method challenges my original ideas of how things should go, thereby helping me refine the storyline.

Key Scene 2: Protagonist takes on a plan and executes it.

INT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS – MONTAGE – PASSAGE OF TIME

BEGINNING: As pathetic as it sounds, Aylen’s plan is to fall into the depths of despair.

MIDDLE: She deteriorates, going from the sweet half-elf girl who had everything going for her to a broken soul who is giving up on life. She refuses to eat, but is forced to eat by the hulking female guard who beats her up regularly.

END: Aylen tries to hang herself with her bedsheets, but awakens in her cell, having been saved by the guards.

Key Scene 3: Not only does their plan fail, but…

Trying to hang herself only gets her into trouble and she is now naked and without bedsheets.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Arial Burnz.