Day 4: 3rd Act Climax

[Mary Emmick]

1. Insights into what makes this scene great from a writing perspective: Riveting scene to watch as lawyer and marine officer Kaffee (Tom Cruise) examines Col. Nathan Jessup, USMC (Jack Nicholson) in the courtroom. Great dialog when Jessup tells Kaffee: “You can’t handle the truth.” We think it’s over right from the start, but Kaffee isn’t done. He tells him to sit down. In the final twist, Kaffee asks Jessup, “If you gave an order that Santiago wasn’t to be touched, why would Santiago be in danger, why would it be necessary to transfer him off the base?” Then he asks Jessup if he had ordered the code red to which Jessup yells “You’re goddamn right I did!” This setup ends with payoff of Jessup arrested.

2. How will I take a scene to an extreme. When the viewer thinks an outcome will turn out a certain way and then suddenly EVERYTHING flips in just seconds, it jolts us. WE DID NOT EXPECT THIS OUTCOME. Keep the element of surprise, build tension, and then hit us with it in the third Act Climax scene.

3. What I learned from rewriting my scene…the third Act Climax scene needs to be the ultimate expression of the conflict. The entire move builds up to this scene where the protagonist and the antagonist fight it out in a battle to the death—either physically or metaphorically.

[William Whelan]

William Whelan – 3^rd Act Climax: 3:10 to Yuma.

What I learned rewriting my scene is to construct a scene that is the ultimate expression of my screenplays conflict.

· Scene arc: Son starts a stampede to enable his father to put the prisoner on the train. When prisoner is on the train the gang leader guns down the father. The gun is returned to prisoner, and he guns down gang leader and the rest of the gang. Prisoner gets on the train voluntarily.

· Situation: Rancher must put prisoner on train to Yuma while being opposed by prisoner’s gang.

· Conflict: Rancher must put prisoner on train to Yuma while being opposed by prisoner’s gang.

· Moving the story forward: Constant tension from the battle between the rancher and the gang.

· Entertainment value: constant intrigue on whether the father will be successful getting the prisoner on the train.

· Setup/payoff: the setup is the father attempting to get the prisoner on the train; the payoff is the prisoner getting on the train voluntarily after the father’s death.

· Scene ultimate expression of the conflict: The scene resolves the conflict.

· Escalation of the conflict: The final twist is the prisoner getting on the train voluntarily after the father’s death.

· Interesting dialogue: the prisoner shouts “No!”, “One thing I will grant you is that the rancher is one tough son of a bitch”. “You dun it Pa. you got him on the train.”

[Isti Madarasz]

The scene begins with Kaffee, the lawyer, losing. He knew Jessep was going to be a big one, and he didn’t manage to corner him. But when the general arrogantly and brashly goes off without permission, it stirs up the fighting spirit in Kaffee. I really like the way that before the final confrontation, the protagonist is weakened, looking like a loser, even encouraged by his own colleagues to back down, but then comes an emotional impulse that gives him new strength and he is able to go into the final confrontation.

What’s even more great is that when Jessep says in his last great monologue that he is the last line of defence between American citizens and the forces that threaten them, that he is the only one standing on that wall – he is actually right. For Jack Nicholson to deliver this dramatic monologue so credibly, he has to believe in his own truth all the way through – and that’s what makes this conflict so good: they are both right from their own point of view, but one thing remains the same: Jessep has broken the law and must be punished for it.

[Mary Dietz]

This scene is a major battle for authority. The banter over rank, the belittling of Kaffee by Jessup over his never serving in the field, and the insinuation of false evidence and statements set the stage for the emotional blowouts by both characters.

Kaffee, looking for support from his team and not getting it signifies that something out of the ordinary is about to happen. Jessup sits with his credentials pinned to his jacket, but the judge and Kaffee demand the same amount of respect. Jessup’s monologue is powerful in expressing the pledge of the military to honor and protect. The moment is a replay of David and Goliath. Jessup was not forced to give his answer, but he chose to, displaying his huge responsibility and how committed he is to it. But one hidden detail uncovered by Kaffee and his team hits the vulnerable spot and slays the giant. The twist: the underdog wins and the Colonel is arrested. The giant has fallen.

[Claudia Wolfkind]

I really like how you related this to David and Goliath!

[Claudia Wolfkind]

Scene Arc: Kaffee calls Jessep to the stand. Jessep is indignant and believes everyone else is below him and he can do whatever he wants. Kaffee gets Jessep to admit he ordered the illegal Code Red and he’s arrested at the end.

Conflict: Jessep believes he can do anything he wants in the name of keeping the country safe. He and Kaffee go back and forth as Kaffee tries to lead him to the final reveal.

Setup/Payoff: Kaffee is scared to go after Jessep because he could lose his career, but he knows he must, to properly defend his clients. Jessep screams that “you (he” can’t handle the truth) and how everyone wants him standing on that wall. He’s the reason they are safe. He gets up after admitting to ordering the Code Red, stunning everyone, and Kaffee calls for Jessep to be arrested and taken into custody. Jessep goes berserk as guards grab him, before he can jump Kaffee, who stands his ground. Kaffee has his last push with “you’re under arrest you son of a bitch”… something we know he’s been hoping for since he met him.

[Deb Johnson]

What makes this scene great (3:10 to Yuma) – Running to the train/final gunfight – Climax.

There is non-stop action and intrigue up till the very end… Will Dan make it to the train? Will Charlie save Ben? Charlie kills Dan. What will Ben do? Ben kills his entire gang. Dan dies. Will Logan avenge? Will Ben kill Logan? Will Ben run away? Ben puts himself in custody. Ben calls his horse.

The climax takes us full circle. In the beginning, Dan is disdained by his son, who prizes the outlaw over his father. Now, Dan has proved himself to be great (by getting Ben on the train) and Logan acknowledges this. His father is now his hero, and he follows in his father’s footsteps – by not killing Ben.

The final twist at the end of the scene: We think Ben has submitted to justice, but then he calls his horse.