Lesson 10

[Clive Morris]

Clive Morris – Level 1 Actions and emotions – Lesson 10

What I learned doing this assignment is how emotion fuels tension. By consciously using anxiety, fear, and relief in sequence, I created a more powerful and immersive scene. It’s not just about physical danger — it’s about anticipation and emotional pacing. Giving the audience permission to worry before the action, then feel real fear during it, and finally breathe a sigh of relief afterwards makes the scene more satisfying and cinematic.

Why this scene?
It’s a contained environment with emotional stakes — Rick thinks he’s found safety for Hank and Marge, but danger is coming. This makes it perfect for a slow burn of anxiety, a jolt of fear, and a breath of relief.

Scene Outline (With Emotional Beats)
1. Anxiety: Rick’s withdrawal symptoms are worsening — tremors, sweats, irritability. He triple-checks the locks. Marge offers him tea — he shakes it away. They all feel it: Something’s off. Outside, something stirs.
2. Fear: A sniper’s laser appears. Then a shot — window blown. Rick dives with Marge. His hands tremble as he loads his weapon. Is he too far gone to fight? Gunmen approach. The firefight erupts.
3. Relief: Rick pulls it together — barely. He uses Marge’s cellar tunnel to flank two of the gunmen. He shoots them, but doesn’t see a third man further back. The man is huge, fires but catches Rick’s arm. Rick uses his MMA skills to overcome the big man and kills him. Rick is still sweating — but alive, and in control…for now.

INT. MARGE’S CABIN – BEDROOM – NIGHT
Rick stands shirtless, dripping sweat. He leans over the sink, breathing hard. He splashes cold water on his face, stares into the mirror. Pupils dilated. Hands trembling.
He checks the hidden compartment in his bag – Four PILLS – He looks at them longingly. Decides against it, puts them back.
RICK
(whispers)
Not tonight. Not now.
He wipes his face. Heads out to the living room.
INT. CABIN LIVING AREA – NIGHT
Marge watches him as he enters – shaking, struggling.
MARGE
(offering him a mug)
Chamomile. Good for nerves.
RICK
(shaking her off)
I’m fine.
HANK
(grabbing his jacket)
That why you’re sweating bullets?
Rick walks to the door. Checks the lock. Checks it again.
RICK
Just need air.
He opens the front door cautiously.
EXT – CABIN –
Outside, the forest is still — too still. A faint hum rises.
MARGE
That sound?
Rick turns slowly. A flicker of RED LIGHT appears on the cabin wall. He FLIES to push Marge down.
RICK
Get down!

Glass EXPLODES as a bullet shatters the window. Rick fumbles with his weapon — his fingers twitching, hands slippery with sweat.
He fights his body — and wins. Just enough.
He shoves the kitchen table aside, revealing a trapdoor. Hank and Marge climb down to the cellar. Rick follows.
INT. TUNNEL – CONTINUOUS
Rick crawls silently. Grits his teeth. His muscles shake — is it fear, or withdrawal?
EXT. WOODS – SECONDS LATER
Rick emerges behind TWO of the attackers. He exhales. One slow breath.
Two shots. The bodies drop.
RELIEF. But we see behind the 3rd attacker. The others don’t see him creeping closer. He is a giant of a man.
Then the man fires but only wings Rick’s arm.
Rick turns to him. As if defying gravity Rick SURGES towards the man before he can get a second shot off. His gun scatters to the ground and the man rolls in the dust.
Marge and Hank watch wide-eyed as Rick’s hands and legs pummel the huge man as if he were a rag doll.
The man manages to get a fist to Rick’s jaw and momentarily Rick loses balance. The man clambers on top of him with his massive body and Rick seems trapped. Henk moves forward to help his son, but Marge holds him back.
As if possessing super-human strength, Rick lifts the man off of him, swivels and within a heartbeat he is on top of him, his fists moving so fast they seem almost invisible. The blood spraying from the man’s face is very visible as the life is pummeled out of him.
Henk pulls Rick off the large man.
HENK
Rick, he’s gone. He’s gone. We need to get inside.
It takes a moment for Rick to register that the man is dead, beneath him. He looks at his fists, drenched in blood.
MARGE
Come inside, Rick, let’s get his blood off you.
Almost trance-like, Rick lifts himself up, stares at the man’s bludgeoned face, and follows Marge and Henk.