Lesson 13

[Kenneth Johnson]

Kenneth Johnson – Act 2 Reaction to TP 1

I learned that I need to incorporate a little more conflict to keep things interesting.

Beginning: Michael goes home to lick his wounds and figure out his next move.
Middle: Notices daughter’s history report is on Vietnam War.
End: Michael gets her to change her report to the Korean War so she can interview Lee about his experience in the war.

INT. MICHAEL’S HOUSE – KITCHEN – DAY

Michael bustles in flinging his backpack on the kitchen counter in frustration and he all but rips off his jacket. All of this much to the surprise of his daughter, ANNETTE, who has books and handwritten notes surrounding her laptop on the kitchen table. Annette is 16 years old and just as perky and attractive as her mother just younger and more angst-ridden.

ANNETTE
Easy Daddy! You’ll break something like that.

Michael sees her and calms himself.

MICHAEL
Sorry baby-dumplin’. I just don’t know what I’m doing at the moment.

ANNETTE
Can you not know some place else? I’ve got to finish my history report.

Michael pulls a bottle of fruit smoothie out of the refrigerator and cracks it open.

MICHAEL
Do you have to do your homework in the kitchen?

ANNETTE
Well SOMEBODY took over a bedroom and turned it into a private study so the room I’m sharing with my sisters is kind of busy right now and this is the quietest place for me to work.

Cheryl comes into the kitchen.

CHERYL
How’d it go with your dad?

MICHAEL
He shut me down. He refused to say anything about his time in the Korean War.

CHERYL
Well I hope you’ve got a plan “B”.

MICHAEL
I need to figure out a different approach. Maybe start with some research

CHERYL
I heard somewhere that writers do research as an excuse not to write.

MICHAEL
Very funny.

Annette looks at them both and sighs in disgust. She grabs a pair of headphones out of her schoolbag, cranks the music and buries her nose in a book.

Michael notices the books that Annette is studying are on the Vietnam War.

MICHAEL
Annette, what would it take to get you to change the topic of your report?

ANNETTE
Why would I do that.

CHERYL
Yes, why would she do that? The thing’s do on Monday.

MICHAEL
I’ll make it worth your while.

[Jan Lloyd]

Kenneth I am enjoying your posts but I have no way of replying.

What I learned: I need to add more conflict as well. I have already written teh book and self-published, but I can see ways I can edit to make the story more entertaining. I have been writing furiously using Final Draft so I will not turn this assignment although I have finished it.