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Day 3 Assignments
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PS80 DAY 3 BOBS THREE ENDINGS JANUARY 14 2022
What I have learned by doing this assignment is…?
Valuable lesson in endings informing what sets up endings and helps set the scene for what I want to write. Notably, even though only one ending is historical (the tragic ending), in this I have learned how there is still some material from other endings that I can still include in my script.
THE HAPPY ENDING
(Totally unhistorical for my screenplay about the making of “The Blue Angel.”
Beginning of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Act.
Emil Jannings accidentally (on purpose) injures Marlene Dietrich with whom he has had a feud.
Twist:
Director von Sternberg begs them to reconcile and partner for art in making “The Blue Angel” a great motion picture.
Marlene Dietrich does an outstanding final scene of singing “Falling in Love Again.”
Emil Jannings does an outstanding final scene as the ruined Professor who dies gripping his classroom desk.
Crisis:
. Emil Jannings is told by pro-Nazi studio chief Hugenberg to perform in Nazi Propaganda films as any further work in Hollywood is not going to happen because Jannings’ heavy German accent doesn’t work in Hollywood “talkies.” .
Emil Jannings and Marlene Dietrich chat at the Wrap Party. Both compliment each other for their outstanding performances. They reconcile. She invites Jannings to come to Hollywood. He tells her that he had already been excluded from talkies because of his heavy German accent.
She encourages him to come to Hollywood anyway, improve his English, and try again. She mentions others are coming to Hollywood, i.e., Peter Lorre, Conrad Veidt, Martin Kosleck- they have German accents. So, she encourages him, he should come to Hollywood.
Climax:
Jannings says to Dietrich that he will go to Hollywood. He does. And the film ends with a montage of film scenes in which he is playing German parts in American Films, that he could have played if he had come to Hollywood.
We see scenes of him in these films with Jannings in the role).
Again, with Dietrich and director von Sternberg, Jannings appears in
“Shanghai Express” as Herr Baum, who was actually to be portrayed by German actor, Gustav von Seyffertitz.
“A Night at the Opera” with the Marx Brothers as a heavy director of the New York Opera, Herman Gottlieb, actually, played by Sig Rumann..
“Dr. Srangelove” as Dr. Strangelove, reducing Peter Sellers part’s to only two.
Jannings meets his goal. Closing voice over says as much with short clips of these films (above) recreated but with Jannings in the designated roles.
THE TRAGIC ENDING
(Historical)
Beginning of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Act.
Emil Jannings accidentally (on purpose) injures Marlene Dietrich with whom he has had a feud.
Twist:
Director von Sternberg begs them to reconcile and partner for art in making “The Blue Angel” a great motion picture.
Marlene Dietrich does an outstanding final scene of singing “Falling in Love Again.”
Emil Jannings does an outstanding final scene as the ruined Professor who dies gripping his classroom desk.
Crisis:
. Emil Jannings is told by pro-Nazi studio chief Hugenberg to perform in Nazi Propaganda films as any further work in Hollywood is not going to happen because Jannings’ heavy German accent doesn’t work in Hollywood “talkies.” .
Emil Jannings and Marlene Dietrich chat at the Wrap Party. Both compliment each other for their outstanding performances. They reconcile. She invites Jannings to come to Hollywood. He tells her that he had already been excluded from talkies because of his heavy German accent.
She encourages him to come to Hollywood anyway, improve his English, and try. Mentions ohers are coming to Hollywood, i.e., Peter Lorre, Conrad Veidt, Martin Kosleck- they have German accents. So she insists that he should come to Hollywood.
Climax:
Jannings says to Dietrich that he will not go to Hollywood. He wants to stay in Germany with his family but would make Nazi Propaganda films as a wide to hide in the open and protect himself and family, including his Russian-born Jewish mother. And the film ends with a montage of film scenes from the propaganda films with a voice over explanation of what they were.
Scene dissolves to the Office in which Jannings is trying to avoid denazification, but Major Kershaw pulls from his files a report that Jannings campaigned for the Nazi Party in the Reichstag elections in 1938. Which means, he must be denazified. Clutching his Oscar as his character in “The Blue Angel” clutched his classroom desk, Jannings laments that now because he can have no acting career – barred as he is from public appearances.
THE IRONIC ENDING
(Totally unhistorical for my screenplay about the making of “The Blue Angel.”
Beginning of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Act.
Emil Jannings accidentally (on purpose) injures Marlene Dietrich with whom he has had a feud.
Twist:
Director von Sternberg begs them to reconcile and partner for art in making “The Blue Angel” a great motion picture.
Marlene Dietrich does an outstanding final scene of singing “Falling in Love Again.”
Emil Jannings does an outstanding final scene as the ruined Professor who dies gripping his classroom desk.
Crisis:
. Emil Jannings is told by pro-Nazi studio chief Hugenberg to perform in Nazi Propaganda films as any further work in Hollywood is not going to happen because Jannings’ heavy German accent doesn’t work in Hollywood “talkies.” .
Emil Jannings and Marlene Dietrich chat at the Wrap Party. Both compliment each other for their outstanding performances. They reconcile. She invites Jannings to come to Hollywood. He tells her that he had already been excluded from talkies because of his heavy German accent.
She encourages him to come to Hollywood anyway, improve his English, and try. Mentions
others are coming to Hollywood, i.e., Peter Lorre, Conrad Veidt, Martin Kosleck- they have German accents. So come he should come to Hollywood.
Climax:
Jannings says to Dietrich that he will go to Hollywood. He does. And the film ends with a montage of film scenes in which he is playing German parts in American Films, that he could have played if he had come to Hollywood.
We see scenes of him in these films with Jannings in the role).
Again, with Dietrich and director von Sternberg, Jannings appears in
“Shanghai Express” as Herr Baum, who was actually to be portrayed by German actor, Gustav von Seyffertitz.
“A Night at the Opera” with the Marx Brothers as a heavy director of the New York Opera, Herman Gottlieb, actually, played by Sig Rumann..
“Dr. Srangelove” as Dr. Strangelove, reducing Peter Sellers part’s to only two.
Jannings meets his goal. Closing voice over says as much with short clips of these films (above) recreated but with Jannings in the designated roles.
Then, we see Jannings with Broderick Crawford climbing out of their car drunk.
VOICE OVER
But Jannings made the mistake of
Acquiring a drinking – Broderick
Crawford. And one night the LAPD
Pulled the boozing buddies over.
And while Jannings evade arrest by
the Gestapo. he could not elude the
the drunk tank of the LAPD with Broderick
Crawfort. After that episode, Broderick Crawford
went on to television acclaim in “Highway Patrol,”
While Jannings couldn’t even get a role as a Nazi
in “The Dirty Dozen.”
We see Jannings begging a director on the set of the chateau in “The Dirty Dozen” amid other “Nazi Actors.”
Jannings meets his goal but blows it on a bender with Broderick Crawford.
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Rob Bertrand’s Three Endings
What I learned: I learned the three traditional movie endings and their structures.
THE UP ENDING
– Beginning of 3rd Act: After the police find evidence that Annie faked the paranormal activity, all the strageness has stopped. Annie finds herself in a spiral of depression and isolation after learning that Jocelyn is dating a guy and won’t return her calls.
– Twists: After weeks, Jocelyn finally video chats Annie and reveals herself to be a poser. She talks a good game about being a rebel, but in reality she lives in fear of her father. Annie writes her off, but has learned from the experience.
– Twists: The paranormal activity is back and worse than ever! Annie and Jocelyn are attacked and flee the house.
– Crisis: Jack goes missing after entering the house. Annie makes the choice to go find him.
– Climax: It’s revealed that the house isn’t haunted. Danny Laplante has been living inside the walls, faking the paranormal activity. After a psychotic break, he’s taken on the persona of Nora Andrews and has taken Jack hostage. He wants to replace Annie’s mom and kill Jack because he overheard Annie say, “The wrong parent died.” Annie plays into his psychosis and tricks Danny into giving her the hatchet. Annie saves Jack, but not before he loses some fingers. Danny is set on fire, but escapes…for now.
– Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both: Annie acheives her goal when she finds the courage to come out to her father. Jack is accepting and also reveals that he went to rehab and has been sober for 12 months.
THE DOWN ENDING
– Beginning of 3rd Act: After the police find evidence that Annie faked the paranormal activity, all the strageness has stopped. Annie finds herself in a spiral of depression and isolation after learning that Jocelyn is dating a guy and won’t return her calls.
– Twists: After weeks, Jocelyn finally video chats Annie and reveals herself to be a poser. She talks a good game about being a rebel, but in reality she lives in fear of her father. Annie can relate and forgives her. She wants to try and be friends.
– Twists: On video chat, Jocelyn sees a ghost behind Annie. Annie and Jocelyn are attacked and must flee the house.
– Crisis: Jack goes missing after entering the house. Annie makes the choice to go find him.
– Climax: It’s revealed that the house isn’t haunted. Danny Laplante has been living inside the walls, faking the paranormal activity. After a psychotic break, he’s taken on the persona of Nora Andrews and has taken Jack hostage. He wants to replace Annie’s mom and kill Jack because he overheard Annie say, “The wrong parent died.” Annie plays into Danny’s psychosis, pretending he’s her mom. Jack loses a few fingers, after Danny chops them off. Danny gives Annie the hatchet. He wants her to kill her father, so they can be together. Annie tries to kill Danny, but he overpowers her. Jocelyn saves Annie in the knick of time, but Danny mortally wounds her. Jocelyn dies. Annie lights Danny on fire, but he escapes…for now.
– Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both: Annie tries to come out to her father, but stops herself. She’s just not ready. The family, emotionally traumatized, sell the house and move away. Danny escapes custody…off to find a new family.
THE IRONIC ENDING
– Beginning of 3rd Act: After the police find evidence that Annie faked the paranormal activity, all the strangeness has stopped. Annie finds herself in a spiral of depression and isolation after learning that Jocelyn is dating a guy and won’t return her calls.
– Twists: After weeks, Jocelyn finally video chats Annie and reveals herself to be a poser. She talks a good game about being a rebel, but in reality she lives in fear of her father. Annie writes her off, but has learned from the experience.
– Twists: The paranormal activity is back and worse than ever! Annie and Jocelyn are attacked and flee the house.
– Crisis: Jack goes missing after entering the house. Annie makes the choice to go find him.
– Climax: It’s revealed that the house isn’t haunted. Danny Laplante has been living inside the walls, faking the paranormal activity. After a psychotic break, he’s taken on the persona of Nora Andrews and has taken Jack hostage. He wants to replace Annie’s mom and kill Jack because he overheard Annie say, “The wrong parent died.” Annie plays into Danny’s psychosis, pretending he’s her mom. Jack loses a few fingers, after Danny chops them off. Danny gives Annie the hatchet. He wants her to kill her father, so they can be together. Annie tries to kill Danny, but he overpowers her. Jocelyn saves Annie in the knick of time. Danny stabs Jack and mortally wounds him. Annie lights Danny on fire, but he escapes…for now. Annie comes out to Jack, as he lays bleeding out. Jack is accepting before he dies.
– Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both: Annie is able to achieve her goal of coming out to her father, but loses him in the process.
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Because my trilogy is so complex, I will list each thread with three endings.
Betty’s fate: Happy: She is accused of crimes, but the proof isn’t solid, so she keeps taking the BBBB and lives on her own boat, going wherever she wants.
Worse for her: She goes to jail, a long trial, a horrible future as a senior in jail.
Ironic: Her crimes are exposed so she helps Jake, and the kids get the BBBB, finishes Ibrahim off, and choreographs her death the way Hitler did.
Ibrahim: Happy: He stays married to Litonya, CEO of STEMGARCHS, Jake dies of PD or is at least hospitalized, the world depopulates, and he continues to flourish to 120 or older.
Down ending: He is killed on the boat.
Ironic: He lives but must expose STEMGARCHS, lose Litonya, his money, and his power to Jake and the kids. Maybe he finds Islam again.
Jake: Happy: He gets the BBBB in time to stop his Parkinson’s,
Officially marries Litonya after Betty kills Ibrahim, lives happily ever after past 100 with her, working out, seeing clients, and being the patriarch of a large family that listens to him.
Down: He dies of PD soon after learning Litonya and Ibrahim will stay married, he doesn’t get the BBBB, and his kids must lead humble lives. His down is Ibrahim’s up.
Ironic: He gets the BBBB, lives another 20 years, but loses Litonya or he gets Litonya but loses the BBBB. Without the BBBB, his PD will get worse.
Litonya
Happy: She wants to save the earth but lacks the people power so Kisele gets Ibrahim’s money and power and becomes head of the Global Greens, exposes STEMGARCHS, and saves the earth as well as its people with population control and better sustainability.Down: The earth gets more crowded, polluted, and heads for its apocalypse. Jake dies so that is the end of her good sex and domestic bliss. Maybe she is still Ibrahim’s wife so his up would be her down.
Ironic: She marries Jake when Ibrahim and Betty die, but doesn’t take the BBBB, Kisele is in the Global Greens but compromises are made, and she and Jake die naturally in their eighties during an earthquake while rock scrambling in the Palisades.
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Janeen’s Three Endings
What I learned doing this assignment is changing the ending will require changing a number of setups, motivations and conflicts earlier in the screenplay and definitely in the 3rd act.
UP Ending
Beginning of 3rd Act — Amber kills her husband and Morgan is happy that Amber is safe.
Twists — Amber is arrested, Morgan is charged as an accessory to murder
Crisis — In court, Amber is show to have premeditated the murder of her abusive husband. Morgan is painted as someone who used black magic to incite Amber to kill him.
Climax: The defense proves that it was kill or be killed for Amber so self-defense wins and she is free. Morgan’s work is painted as nothing more than Thoughts and Prayers so she is off the hook, but knows she helped Morgan in spite of the characterization of her work as “only thoughts and prayers”.
Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both. Morgan got her goal of saving Amber, but did not get her need to be more that a trophy wife because her defense downplayed her role.
DOWN Ending
Beginning of 3rd Act — Amber kills her husband and is arrested for murder.
Twists — Word that Morgan was “helping” her and possibly inciting her angers the cops. They arrest her and to save herself, Amber testifies against her saying that she had given her the Waterman book early on, encouraged her to defy her husband rather than work things out with him, etc.
Crisis — In court, Amber testifies against Morgan as a plea bargain to go from Murder 1 to Manslaughter. The other members of the guild testify against Morgan saying she was trying to incite Amber to get out by any means and knew that her other efforts and invoked violence by abused women.
Climax — Amber is sent to prison for manslaughter for twenty years. Her pre-schoolers will be raised by strangers. Morgan is convicted of inciting Murder (not sure of the name of that charge) and sentenced to prison for 5 years. Her husband will probably divorce her.
Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both. — Amber loses her freedom and kids. Morgan loses her “more than a trophy wife” status, but not in a good way. She is seen as an evil “witch”. She loses her trophy wife status by having her husband shun her as well.
IRONIC Ending
Beginning of 3rd Act — Amber kills her husband and Morgan is happy that Amber is safe
Twists — Amber is arrested for murder, charges are lowered to manslaughter based on the abuse. Morgan and the guild are arrested for aiding and abetting. Morgan’s sense of victory leads her to believe herself very powerful, very good at mind control and she vows to help more women.
Crisis — In court, Amber’s lawyer gets experts to testify that Amber would be killed by her husband if she didn’t do anything, her position was extremely powerless. Morgan’s work is argued to be “thoughts and prayers”.
Climax — Although premeditated, Amber’s killing of her husband is deemed self-defense (burning bed style) and she is exonerated. Morgan is exonerated, but she feels vindicated in using her “powers” to help women even though most resort to violence rather than escaping abuse peacefully. Morgan’s husband finds her determination to continue reprehensible and divorces her.
Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both. — Morgan does help women in abusive relationships, but loses her husband’s respect and he no longer flouts her as his trophy wife. She intends to use her powers in ethically ambiguous ways that do not give her a good reputation even though they make her feel powerful and useful.
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Amy’s Three Endings
What I learned doing this assignment is the ending that I had planned all along for my story I thought was an up ending, but it’s actually an ironic ending. I think the different endings are supposed to change the story, so I might need to look at this again as I didn’t really have any breakthroughs about my story.
Up Ending
Beginning of 3rd Act: Josh has just told Andrea that he is going through with his marriage to Meagan. The kids have basically given up on her because she’s never there for them. There is a fire at the lab where the supercollider is. Andrea’s boss wants her to go cover it. She’ll also be going live with the network. This is her chance to prove herself to the network.
Twists: Andrea had planned to go to Chloe’s dance recital.
Crisis: Andrea’s boss threatens to fire her if she doesn’t cover the fire, Chloe needs her at her dance recital.
Climax: Andrea goes to the fire at first, but when the professor says he saw Meagan exit the building just before the fire, she takes the story to Chloe’s dance recital where Meagan is. She proves to Josh that Meagan is no good and wins him back. She does her story and signs off and then gets a call after the dance recital that the network is interested in hiring her.
Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both: Andrea gets both the network job and her family back.
Down Ending
Beginning of 3rd Act: There is a fire at the lab where the supercollider is. Andrea’s boss wants her to go cover it. She’ll also be going live with the network. This is her chance to prove to herself to the network.
Twists: Andrea had planned to go to Chloe’s dance recital.
Climax: Andrea chooses to go to the fire, but when the professor tells the police he saw Meagan in the building before the fire started, she decides to take the cameras to where Meagan is, at the dance recital. At the dance recital, Andrea causes a big scene with the cops taking Meagan in for questioning and the news camera rolling. Andrea announces on air that she is signing off to watch Chloe’s dance recital. Not only does she not get hired by the network, but she also gets fired by the local station. Josh is mad that Andrea ruined Chloe’s dance recital and tells her they are through for good.
Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both: Andrea didn’t get the network job and she didn’t get Josh back.
Ironic ending
Beginning of 3rd Act: There is fire at the lab where the supercollider is. Andrea’s boss wants her to go cover it. She’ll also be going live with the network. This is her chance to prove herself to the network.
Twists: Andrea had planned to go to Chloe’s dance recital.
Climax: Andrea goes to the fire. The professor identifies Meagan as having been in the building before the fire started. Andrea shows up at Chloe’s dance recital with the police, cameras rolling. The police take Meagan in for questioning in front of everybody. Andrea announces on air that she is signing off the watch her daughter’s dance recital.
Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both: Andrea gives up her goal but gets her need.
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PS 80- Michelle Damis Three Endings
What I learned doing this assignment is that I really enjoyed going the opposite way in order to see new possibilities. I think this is a really good creative exercise.
1. UP ending
– Beginning of 3rd Act. The family has found out and wants nothing to do with him.
– Twists.
Osgood realizes what he had and wonders if he can find it again? Or if he is too depressed and really wants to give up.
The council plans to kill the family anyway to protect the secret of vampire existence.
Osgood finds out about the plan and at first is angry for them turning him out but then realizes he MUST save them.
-Osgood warns the family, but they don’t believe.
– Crisis. The council shows up and takes them all.
– Climax. Osgood sacrifices himself in front of the family and the family realizes that he really does care for them and they were wrong. They all fight the council.
– Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both. The council is destroyed and the family accepts Osgood.
2. The DOWN ending
– Beginning of 3rd Act. Osgood secret has been revealed and he has been accepted with open arms from the family.
– Twists. The council of vampires is jealous and angry and vows to take the family away so Osgood is alone
Osgood is given an ultimatum to leave them and they will be spared
The council has no plan to spare them, they feel their secret is at risk.
– Crisis. Family kidnapped and in danger.
– Climax.- Osgood leaves to spare them but then finds out they are in danger anyway.
– Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both. –Osgood sacrifices himself and perishes but the family is safe and he experienced a family and love for a short time.
3. The IRONIC ending:
– Beginning of 3rd Act. Nina has found out about Osgood, but her parents don’t believe it. Osgood is planning to leave to protect them.
– Twists. The council plans to kill or turn the family, gives them a choice.
Osgood has to explain that immortality is NOT better then mortality.
The Nun will come back to save and add a entire new element.
Jim rare blood type is a surprising weapon and key.
– Crisis. Everyone is danger. The nuns save them but using Jims blood.
– Climax. They escape but cannot escape the sun. They say their goodbyes, but then the family uses their bodies to shield him the entire day. They sacrifices for his sacrifice.
– Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both. He survives and uses his immortality to protect the family and changes humankind. He has a vile of Jim’s blood to use when he is ready.
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Jodi’s Three Endings – Day 3
By doing this exercise it helped me figure out different ways to find more twists and interesting endings. After reading the other endings posted it seemed the most interesting endings were the ironic ones. I came up with some ideas here but I’m going to give this exercise more thought and workouts later as well.
UP ENDING:
– Beginning of third act: Pam finds out that her partner Lieutenant Miller attacked her friend Chloe, but she doesn’t know why yet.
– Twist: Pam gets a warning in the mail that it will be public information that her Dad went awol and he’ll lose his congregation if she doesn’t back off from the governorship.
– Twist: Pam still can’t get her Dad to talk to her.
– Crisis: She wants to help save her Dad’s church and be a part of her family’s life again, but she also wants to help save women and children from certain poverty and abuses living under the reproductive ban that is currently in place.
– Climax: As is with the statistics that reflect the general population of the country, the people vote her to replace the Governor and her speech guarantees them that she will start immediate reversal procedures on SB8.
– Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both: Pam got both. Pam, her husband, Daughter and friends celebrate the reinstatement of the constitutional reproductive rights of all women therefore reversing the directive to bear unwanted forced babies from living a life of misery in the foster systems, and at the same time saving the state billions of dollars that go directly into these systems annually. Also, Pam’s Parents learned how to love her unconditionally.
DOWN ENDING:
– Beginning of third act: Pam finds out that her partner Lieutenant Miller attacked her friend Chloe, but she doesn’t know why yet.
– Twist: Pam is told by one of the regional Elders that her Father has lost his church and she is directly to blame for going up against their Governor.
– Twist: The judgment has come down that Pam’s husband has lost his state contract, he and his employees must evacuate the premises immediately.
– Crisis: She wants to help save her Dad’s church and be a part of her family’s life again and call the Governor out for tampering with her husband’s business, she also wants to help save women and children from certain poverty and abuses living under the reproductive ban that is currently in place.
– Climax: She is so busy trying to make things right for her Dad and husband for the problems that she caused them, that she put her constituents on the back burner which cost her the votes needed to win the election, which was exactly the strategy that the Governor was counting on to remain in office. He wins the election but Pam prevails in being successful in getting her Dad and husband both new hearings based on facts not strong arming from the Governor’s office.
– Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both: Pam did what she thought was right. She could have ruined two innocent lives for her own goals. For the cost of many lives though is something she has to live with.
IRONIC ENDING:
– Beginning of third act: Pam finds out that her partner Lieutenant Miller attacked her friend Chloe, but she doesn’t know why yet.
– Twist: The morning of the election the Governor proclaims on television that if he loses then there is voter fraud going on somewhere in the state.
– Twist: A ‘Team Karras’ van is recorded rolling up to several remote drop boxes, breaking in them and taking the ballots out of them, and driving off with them. These are uploaded onto Alex Jones website.
– Twist: There is wide spread intimidation at the poles. In the very rural areas of the state some lines are long because polling places have been eliminated. Pam has a counterattack for this. Some polls have only two booths in them which creates more long lines and back up.
– Crisis: Pam is accused of tampering with the election and the Governor wants her to be eliminated from the vote. She must prove her innocence.
– Climax: Pam wins the election, the Governor is not a gentleman, he does not shake hands with the winner, but instead demands a recount.
– Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both: Pam does get her goal and is able to reinstatement the constitutional reproductive rights of all women therefore reversing the directive to bear unwanted forced babies from living a life of misery in the foster systems, and at the same time saving the state billions of dollars that go directly into these systems annually. Pam’s parents never agreed with her stance on the right for a person to choose what they do with their own body.
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What I learned: My ending still needs work but what’s encouraging is that it was already leaning towards an ironic ending. It also helped me come up with a slightly more dramatic climax.
A. The Happy Ending or Up Ending.
3rd Act Lowpoint:
Beginning of Act Three: Irma and her sons are out of food and water because their “guardian angel” suddenly stopped making deliveries.
They don’t have the strength to continue…
Twist: They find shelter in a ghost town, where their angel has left one last care package of food and water.
Crisis: They are the last ones left from the caravan. They are surrounded by a dozen drones. Frank has already notified the BP of their location and where they will likely be headed. The BP is on their way.
Climax: As Frank’s goons break into Miguel’s house, security cameras set up in Miguel’s home get clear pictures of the men, as well as a photo of their license plate. After Miguel is nowhere to be found, the goons leave. Irma’s sons find a way to take out some of the drones using homemade slingshots. But there are too many. Irma tells her eldest to take his brother and bolt for the border. She runs a different direction to draw the remaining drones away. After a daring attempt to escape capture, all three are caught by authorities.
Resolution: Police arrive at Frank’s hideout for running a gambling operation and conspiracy to murder. The media is also there to expose Frank for his crimes. Meanwhile, Miguel sits safely in an undisclosed location, looking at Frank on a computer screen as he is handcuffed. It is revealed that Miguel tipped off the authorities and provided them with his own his security camera footage as well as his drone footage of the whole ordeal. With all the documentation, Irma’s entire story has gained national attention as she is praised for her sacrifice by liberals and Latin Americans and vilified by the conservatives and Nationalists. There is an outpour of support as Miguel starts an online fundraiser in her behalf… but embezzles some of it to pay back the money he lost betting on her. Irma, now with enough money to pay off her husband’s debt, opens a women’s shelter in Chihuahua.
B. THE TRAGEDY OR DOWN ENDING
Up at Beginning of 3rd Act: Irma and her sons escape the gangsters hidden amongst the caravan and find a drone charging station where they destroy as many as they can. With no one knowing their exact location, they have no one after them.
Twist: Irma and her sons are out of food and water because their “guardian angel” suddenly stopped making deliveries.
Twist: The poker chip that Sapo gave to Antonio as a gift has a tracker in it.
Crisis: They are the last ones left from the caravan. They are surrounded by replacement drones. Frank has already notified the BP of their location and where they will likely be headed. The BP is on their way. Irma tells her eldest to take his brother and bolt for the border. She runs a different direction to draw the remaining drones away. After a daring attempt to escape capture, all three are caught by authorities.
Climax: Irma and her sons are immediately caught by authorities. They are eventually deported back to Chihuahua and are forced to work for Sapo at his casino.
C. THE IRONIC ENDING.
Structure:
1. At the beginning of the 3rd Act, the goal is looking good, the need is in danger.
2. Twists and turns.
3. Climax concludes with Protagonist receiving their need, but
losing their goal
Beginning of 3rd Act: They discover that some of the members of the caravan are working for Sapo. They avoid them at all costs. They are able to find a drone charging station and destroy as many drones as they can.
Twist: The men working for Sapo are still in pursuit. But they aren’t trying to take them back. They are intentionally pushing them to a section of the border where the BP will be waiting for them.
Twist: Irma and her son’s find shelter in a ghost town near the border. They wonder how the men were able to find them and why they haven’t made any moves. They realize their intention of shepherding them to the BP.
Twist: New drones find their location. They don’t know it, but the poker chip that Sapo gave Antonio early in the story is actually a tracker.
Twist: Realizing that they can never go back, Antonio tosses the chip since he can never spend it.
CRISIS – Without food or water, Irma and her family are forced to make a move. But enemies are on either side. What’s worse is new drones find their location because the poker chip that Antonio was given by Sapo is actually a tracker.
CLIMAX – Irma lights one of the abandoned homes on fire, causing heavy smoke and blanketing their escape as the drones cannot see them. Without the tracker, the drones lose them for a brief moment. Irma lets go of her sons and leads the drones away from them to help increase their chances of making it across the border undetected. The final drone is being controlled by Frank. He has no choice but to follow her because there are bets placed on her success. If she loses, he wins big. But if the sons cross the border, he goes to prison.
Resolution: In fit of rage, Frank uses a drone to nose dive into Irma, forcing her to slip, fall off a high ledge and die. The boys make it safely across and are taken to a detention center where they are clothed and fed. Frank is arrested for his crimes as he is unable to hold his end of the deal of never letting any immigrants across. Irma’s story gains national news coverage. There is an outpour of support for Antonio and Andres as several Latino families volunteer for foster care.
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Armand Three Endings
UP ENDING
Beginning of 3rd Act: Lex was killed, Tyler the ghost has failed to save the college kids
Twists. But Tyler finds a way to bring Lex back to life
Crisis. The killer kills Maddie.
Climax. Tyler defeats the killer, the remaining college kids are saved, he moves on to the afterlife with Maddie.
Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both: Both.
DOWN
Beginning of 3rd Act. The killer seems to be dead, they need to leave the manor.
Twists. The killer returns and kills the remaining college kids.
Crisis. Maddie is killed and doesn’t become a ghost.
Climax. Tyler is trapped forever in limbo as a ghost, alone.
6Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both: None.
IRONY
Beginning of 3rd Act. The killer seems to be defeated, Tyler has saved the day. Maddie and the college kids survived.
Twists. Tyler is still a ghost, he’s not moving on to the after-life.
Crisis. Tyler realizes he can’t leave the manor, ever.
Climax. Tyler defeats the killer. He doesn’t move on and remains a ghost, but wins Maddie’s love and forgiveness.
Whether the Protagonist got their goal, need, neither, or both. Need yes, goal no.
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Elizabeth’s Three endings
What I learned: great practice for general creativity. But, also I found things I might use in the other kinds of ending for the happy ending I’ll (now, mostly) stick with.
Up Ending
BEGINNING OF ACT II: (down) Mark dies. How can they have a wedding now? But everyone is invited. Mark’s death is so terribly similar to Ed’s father’s , that Ed’s thrust back into memories he’s avoided—and into a psychological tailspin.
TWISTS:
Mike notices “unscrew us” carved inside Susan’s music box that he finds funny, but when his kids see, he tries to hide it/not tell the kids what the words mean. He stashes the box at the bottom of another box, with all of Mark’s things.
Back at Gardens, Pat, Judy and Don all ask Ed if he’d like to talk, which sends him to the exercise room, then his car, then..
To Susan’s grave where he continues a long-term conversation they were having as teens about how they both felt safe just hanging in his room. Tells Susan that not only does he still feel like he’s not strong enough to live in the world, without his work, he now feels even less so. He recollects how she used to sing and dance there—she was so talented, that could have been her work, but for the agoraphobia/stage fright. How silly to think we could hide out in a box forever… But (like Freud felt about his with his book, The Intrepretation of Dreams) Ed concludes, with Susan, “My work is done. So…maybe this IS the answer”…
Ed checks into a motel. Begins looking at studio apartments. A particular interest in garages and how well the doors seal.
Jewels, unpacking Mark’s box, open’s Susan’s music box, and sees the carved words—knows there’s some deep meaning here for someone—she suspects Ed. She sneaks the box out of the house.
Grace opens another box that Mark gave her and sees: his wedding ring from the wedding to her mother he skipped out on. And a beautiful note telling her to get married like he didn’t. Also, his wish for his ashes to be spread around the world. Which prompts Grace to…
Grace proposes with the ring to Mike and the wedding is again on. As everyone is trying to track down Ed.CRISIS: Ed visits Susan’s grave. Jewels shows up in her vestments. “Pat said you’d be here.” Jewels shows him the writing in box. Ed interprets it (literally) for her: I’m Mark’s father. Then suddenly sees the metaphor Susan is communicating through—unscrews the tiny dancer that spins when the music plays and closes the box. When Jewels asks what’s still in the box, Ed says, “my fear I won’t be able to cope if I love people and they die.” “But you have coped.” “Not really.” Jewel’s repeats a line Ed said to Chris in ACT II “Don’t you think it’s a bit selfish to limit what you share with the world?” And tells Ed: “There’s a wedding happening in 3 hours.” “I still don’t feel like I’m strong enough” “I’ll help you.” Ed opens the box back up and gives it to Jewels and…
Arrives at the church to find Pat and Adam-Eve’s cake mess “It seemed like a fun idea” Ad Ed suggests they call Judy, Judy comes in with beautiful cupcakes—Adam-Eve and Pat already have.
Mike forgot to order flowers. Ed suggests he call Sister Mary. Judy tells Ed they already have (and we see a scene of Sister Mary, busy directing the harvesting of flowers from Garden’s gardens)
Groomsmen and Mike try to unclog a clog in the kitchen sink by blowing water in it from a garden hose and it blows the pipe, water fills the kitchen, starts seeping into the sacristy. Fortunately, Don has just arrived as a guest, and gets to work as…
People realize the water problem will still be too big of a mess to have the wedding inside, but…
Chris and Lauren are already on it—have mustered the resources and enthusiasm of the ogling neighbors to set up an alter in the graveyard. Ed doesn’t have any of his typical ‘coordinating of others’ work left to do. BUTCLIMAX: Grace has concluded these disasters add up to one Huge Sign and has disappeared. Ed finds Grace at a park. He’s forced to “play” a little when kids spin him on a ride and he sees Jewel’s red panties as she helps a kid off a climber. Ed helps Grace see what he’s just learned, that even if someone you loves dies, there will always be more people to love (the gathered guests and neighbors she sees when she looks up the hill to the church, waiting for the wedding). Grace goes back to her wedding, but now Ed learns the musicians are stoned and Pat tells him to ‘just fucking play.’ So Ed calls (on his new, first cell phone) the rock band he’s been practicing with—and they play Hendrix-style wedding music so Grace and Mike can finally get married.
Down Ending
BEGINNING OF ACT II: (up) Mark survives the MI and gets Susan’s box—happy at last.
TWISTS: The wedding is on. Everyone thrilled (can use some twists from above that fit), except,
CRISIS: Ed goes to find the musicians in a tiny closet-sized room, completely stoned. As he assesses things Ed, too, becomes stoned with PCP-laced marijuana. Psychotic, he becomes preoccupied with the devil working through human sexual inclinations, relives his father’s death with an even more hellish spin that includes his recovered (possibly imagined) memory that his drug-addict father used some of Ed’s drugs and it was the crack, as well as the loud music, that lead to the father’s heart attack death.
CLIMAX: Completely unhinged by these overwhelming memories, Ed races out, barely dodges a car, only to die from a heart attack from the stress. Grace reacts by blaming Mike for hiring stone-heads as musicians. Mike picks up one of the laced joints in reaction and has a replay of his stoned scene in Act 1 that is (Parasite-like) much darker. Chris looks at Lauren and says that relationships are clearly not worth the risk and takes off on Pat’s motorcycle going God knows where.
Ironic Ending: Gets the need but not the want (live without the defenses, but then it’s hard, too)
BEGINNING OF ACT II/TWISTS/CRISIS/CLIMAX – same as Happy Ending but in final minute montage, see the down-sides, too, of defenses “given up,” including: a bit of Ed’s struggle with depression/anxiety and the “hard work” of facing your past, even as Jewels helps and loves him and he’s working on his book. Mike’s continued struggle with the temptation of drug use, and/or relapse and Rx. Another fight between Mike and Grace, even as they are also happily married. Chris and Lauren fight. Sister Mary or another character at the nursing home dies, etc.
Ironic Ending: Gets the want but not the need
BEGINNING OF ACT II: Mark Dies
TWISTS/CRISIS: Same bullet points as above, but when Jewels gives Ed the box…
CLIMAX: he closes it back up. “Can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Ed leaves Jewels in the graveyard. Jewels helps Grace get married. Ed moves into his studio, completely detached from Grace’s family, but…starts a new life helping the homeless as a volunteer psychiatrist.
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Budinscak Three Endings
Day 3
What I learned doing this assignment:
o Interesting piece on endings – Happy is the best for box office, Tragedy is best for critics and Ironic most often picked for Oscars.
o When done well, Ironic endings are the ‘best’ since they show both good and bad and audiences accept them as the most realistic.
UP ENDING:
Beginning of 3rd Act:
Jack has lost a bunch of money gambling and is shaken down by the FBI back at the Vegas hotel room. Not only does the FBI force Jack to work for them, but the steal the rest of his money – Jack at his lowest point and the nephews both see and feel it.
TWISTS:
o Jack recruits both boys to help steal gifts from a wedding at their hotel – they keep the cash and return checks – for spending money.
o Jack can’t find ice so he takes dry ice, but it melts and carbon monoxide poisoning knocks out Jack, Puck and Sal in the car.
o When Jack’s knocked out, his Caddy bounces along the shoulder of the road toward a ravine – a flatbed tow truck hits the Caddy to stop it, but damages it.
o Jack’s nephews stay knocked out from CO poisoning.
CRISIS:
Jack announces to God that he’ll be a changed man, a caring individual, if God saves his nephews, Jack will protect them. Sal stirs right away and Jack tries to backtrack his pledge, but it takes longer for Puck to recover and Jack’s changed by that time.
CLIMAX:
Jack’s decision to save and protect his nephews pays off when they outfox their captor and come back to rescue Uncle Jack.
WHETHER THE PROTAGONIST GOT THEIR GOAL/NEED, NEITHER OR BOTH:
Jack got his need – his nephews safety, and he did get his goal – the restaurant was saved.
DOWN ENDING:
Beginning of 3rd Act:
Jack rides a wave of gambling winnings and attention from women that he craves. To celebrate, he keeps his nephews in their Vegas hotel room while he goes to the bar.
TWISTS:
o The FBI finds him passed out and take him to a room for interrogation.
o By the time Jack gets to his room, the nephews are gone and he has to find them. The clock’s ticking for him to make it to Burbank on time.
o Jack gets stuck in traffic, and no matter what he does, he can’t make it to Burbank on time.
CRISIS:
Jack blames his nephews for being late. His decision to get drunk and then be held captive by the FBI is blamed on them.
CLIMAX:
Don Vito has Carmine’s burned to the ground and let’s Puck and Sal know how their uncle screwed up, forever ruining the relationships for both nephews and their uncle.
WHETHER THE PROTAGONIST GOT THEIR GOAL, NEED, NEITHER OR BOTH:
Jack comes away empty-handed. He’s lost his goal, the family heirloom in the DiLuna legacy by missing the cutoff time the restaurant was burned. Jack also lost his need when he blamed Puck and Sal for his being late delivering the package. The boys have seen this from their uncle previously – the bank ride – and have lost respect for their uncle.
IRONIC ENDING:
Beginning of the 3rd Act:
Jack may have lost at gambling and the FBI’s given him grief, but his nephews have rallied around him and he basks in their attention.
TWISTS:
Jack has no money and steals the dry ice for his package – it melts and everyone passes out.
The CO poisoning affects Puck and Sal – they have vivid hallucinations of riding horses on the open range and a great experience with their uncle.
Jack pleads to God for help and pledges to be a changed man. Sal stirs, but Puck needs medical attention.
CRISIS:
Jack makes his decision – he drops the nephews off at a hospital and runs out the back door to make it to Burbank.
CLIMAX
Jack saves the restaurant, but loses the trust and love of his nephews.
WHETHER THE PROTAGONIST GOT THEIR GOAL, NEED. NEITHER OR BOTH.
Jack got his goal, he saved the restaurant. He did make a partial get on his need – he saved his nephews – but lost their respect and love by how he did it. A decision that will never be forgotten or forgiven.
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Emmanuel’s Three Endings
Third act endings vary in style and by type of movie. However, the writer has creative control to make the last act the most engaging, which if done correctly, will make the movie shine in the minds of the audience.
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