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Lesson 13
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Sunil Pappu Delivers Insights Through Conflict
“What I learned doing this assignment is…to identify the insight I want to deliver and find the conflict pattern to deliver it through. This was quite interesting to do and definitely a breakthrough moment for me.”
Conflict delivers Insights:
A. An argument provokes the person, to tell the truth.
President Toda gets off the phone with Prime Minister Mine who apologizes for not being able to attend the event due to a sudden change in his travel plans but he assures him that his wife and son will join on his behalf. Toda controls his temper and tells him it’s not me you have to apologize to the youth and slams the phone down. The youth representatives in the room look at him and ask if they should cancel the event. Toda fires back at them that we don’t need these fickle politicians – we will go as planned. “No matter who attends or doesn’t attend, we’re going to hold this ceremony for our young people!” 6000 youth assembled, unaware they were to make history. hungry and cold, they enjoyed the hot pork soup Mr Toda had prepared for them out of his great love and concern. To support their ailing mentor, who was too weak to stand, the young Daisaku Ikeda had a litter built to carry President Toda through the crowd. He then delivers a scathing speech in which he tells them he can only count on the youth present here. One of them will be the next Soka Gakkai president who will change the world and when that happens, they should all support him. All these arrogant leaders will come crawling then, to watch them on their grand stage of mission as champions of the people. He entrusts world peace to the youth of Soka. “Today, I want to bequeath this mission to you young people. I entrust the future to all of you. I’m counting on you.” As the event drew to a close, President Toda gazed intently at Daisaku, calling out to him, “Let’s fight!” On April 2, 1958, 17 days later, Mr. Toda’s noble life came to an end.
Daisaku starts his meeting with Soviet Presient Gorbachev saying “I have come to have an argument with you.” Mr. Gorbachev’s interpreter Victor Kim, seemed somewhat puzzled by Daisaku’s remark. The interpreter accompanying Daisaku, a graduate of Soka University, jumps in and skillfully conveyed his words with the intended nuance. Soon there were smiles all around. Daisaku continues: “Let’s make sparks fly, and talk about everything honestly and openly, for the sake of humanity and for the sake of Japan–Soviet relations!” Mr. Gorbachev, his face flushed with color, replies without missing a beat: “I am well acquainted with your extensive activities, but I didn’t realize you were a man of such passion. I, too, am fond of straightforward dialogue.” He then lets out a hearty laugh. The Soviet president continues: “I feel as though you and I are longtime friends. It is as if we are old and dear friends rejoicing in their first face-to-face encounter.” Daisaku says: “I am a supporter of perestroika and the ‘new thinking’ you seek to foster. Our ideas have much in common. In fact, this is only natural, as we both focus on the human being. Our humanity is the great common denominator.” “New ideas tend to be looked upon at first as absurd,” Mr. Gorbachev states emphatically. “Reformers are always in the minority in the beginning. Therefore, it is a mistake to immediately dismiss budding plans or fresh ideas as outrageous.” Sitting upright, Mr. Gorbachev vigorously continues: “When I proposed constructing a world free of nuclear weapons and resolving conflict through dialogue rather than violence, many people laughed this off as utopianism. But look at what is happening; these ideals are now being actualized.” The president then says: “The first step in perestroika was to give everyone freedom. However, the question now is how to put that freedom to use: . . . Perestroika has reached a decisive stage. This is a time of change not only for the Soviet Union, but for the entire world.” Their discussion turns to relations between the two countries, and Daisaku changed its direction by commenting that Gorby’s courtship with his wife Raisa was well known. He humorously retorts that that was something he had started to forget, adding: “Since Moscow State University Rector Logunov is present, and it was when my wife and I were both students at that school that our romance began, I think it would be inappropriate to discuss the matter now.” Amid everyone’s laughter, Mr. Logunov gives a friendly shrug. On November 20, 1997, a day of brilliant autumn colors, Daisaku welcomes the Gorbachevs to Kansai Soka Junior and Senior High School in Katano, Osaka. On that occasion, Raisa Gorbachev, herself an educator, makes an impassioned appeal to the students: “You will experience all kinds of hurts in life. Not all of them will heal. Nor can you always realize all of your dreams. But there is something that you can achieve. There is a dream that you can make a reality. Therefore, the person who triumphs, in the end, is the person who gets up after each fall and pushes onward. The ability to keep on fighting is a matter of the spirit.”
B. Conflict uncovers a secret.
Nichiren Shoshu priests attend the Soka Gakkai general meeting in which they hear the youth chorus sing “Ode to Joy.” It is a wonderful rendition, and everyone has worked tirelessly to prepare for the performance. After the meeting, one of the Nichiren priests comments while Daisaku is seeing them off even as the youth holler to catch a glimpse of their mentor. Daisaku asks if he enjoyed the performances and the priest comments: “How could you allow Christian songs to be sung at a Buddhist gathering? This is outrageous and insulting to the high priest.” He walks away without waiting for a response A week later the lawyer Yamazaki is furious in Daisaku’s office. They receive a letter from the priesthood asking for an explanation for the disgraced behaviour at the Soka Gakkai meeting and personally hold Daisaku responsible for trying to insult the high priest by inviting him to the event. Vice President Fukushima agrees with Yamazaki who are both colluding in secret with the priesthood to create a rift within Soka Gakkai. Later their plot is revealed when the Study department chief drafts doctrines for a new religious body for disgruntled leaders of another religious organization where Yamazaki sees a schism, he can profit from by helping legally establish this new religious body.
Yamazaki makes a strong case for why Daisaku should step down as President and some of the top leaders join him as a way to quell the harassment towards members by the Nichiren Shoshu Priests. Daisaku announces to Members at a meeting that the rumours are true and that he is stepping down. The true colours of Yamazaki come through when he plays both sides against each other and the priesthood imposes more restrictions on Daisaku and try to create a schism between him and the Soka Gakkai members. Daisaku undeterred writes poems and plays piano for members waiting to see his outside the Kansai headquarters. He decides to fight and meets pioneer members at their homes one on one and travels across Japan. The priesthood intensifies its ill-treatment of members, but they are strong and undefeated.
C. Conflict brings out the true nature.
Toda just seven months before his death issues his historic declaration calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons on Sep 8 1957 at a meeting in Mitsuzawa stadium in Yokahama where 50,000 Soka Gakkai youth gather. Toda issues this declaration at the height of the Cold War between East and West. Both Eastern and Western blocs were frantically engaged in developing nuclear weapons and conducting test blasts. Just one month before, the U.S.S.R. had successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile, and the United States had developed what it claimed were “clean” hydrogen bombs which maximized destructive capacity with less radioactive fallout. Nuclear weapons, capable of destroying all human life, cast a dark and terrifying shadow over the destiny of all humankind. The myth of nuclear deterrence was based on the view that since mutual destruction would be assured in the event of an attack, nuclear weapons could be seen as a deterrent to war. Toda saw such thinking as a product of the darkest aspects of human nature. Nuclear deterrence was founded on an equilibrium of terror and created a vicious cycle which fuelled the endless escalation of the arms race. He felt that people who placed their hopes on the idea of nuclear deterrence were entering a devilish labyrinth. Toda’s declaration, however, was a radical departure from this way of thinking. His stance was that nuclear weapons and their use must be absolutely condemned, not from the standpoint of ideology, nationality or ethnic identity but from the universal dimension of humanity. In condemning nuclear weapons as an “absolute evil,” Toda was seeking to stress that behind the existence of nuclear weapons lurks the devilish aspect of human life that seeks to subjugate, control and ultimately destroy others. As a Buddhist, Toda was a staunch opponent of the death penalty but his call for the death penalty to be applied for those using nuclear bombs was calculated to shock and awaken his audience to the utterly unequivocal nature of his opposition to nuclear weapons. His proposal of the death penalty was thus not a simple or literal proposition. Todaʼs striking call for the death penalty was aimed at countering the tendency within peopleʼs minds to find justifications for the use of nuclear bombs. He wished to pass a sentence of death on the destructive tendencies within human life. He hoped that by allowing this idea to penetrate deeply into the hearts and minds of people throughout the world, it might serve as an internal restraint against the use of nuclear weapons and for the abolition of war.
Osaka police interrogate Daisaku on false charges of election interference for three days and even prade him in front of Soka Gakkai members in handcuffs like a common criminal. They deprive him of food and sleep. Finally one of the interrogators tells him to confess or they will arrest Toda as the President of Soka Gakkai who is frail from his illness. Would he be able to endure prison a second time around? Daisaku is in a dilemma as to what he must do: confess to protect his mentor or refute the false charges that are brought only to bring down the organization. He decides to confess for now and fight it in court.
D. Conflict uncovers an emotional issue.
Young Daisaku and his elder brother Kichii are playing on the beach, Kichii hides among the bamboo racks (hibi) used to dry the seaweed. Kichii sees the sun reflected off a shiny object and picks it up. It’s an old mirror glass. He uses it to spot Daisaku and wins the game of hide and seek once again. Daisaku discovers the mirror glass in his brother’s back pocket. They fight for it rolling on the beach until Daisaku falls on the glass and breaks it into two pieces. His brother looks upset but before he can scold his Daisaku their mother calls them inside for early dinner. His brother stays in his room packing to leave for his posting while Daisaku asks her mother why he can’t go and fight in the war too. She tells him because he’s the only early riser in their family. Besides who will carry on the family legacy of his father and tells him to go to bed as they have an early day? She rises at 2 am and packs food for her son and wakes him up. As Daisaku reluctantly gets ready and peeps into his brother’s room to see his bags packed. His brother is awake and calls him in. Kichii flourishes one of the mirror glass pieces and tells him it’s for him. He shows his own piece. Now they both have a piece each and every time he wants to see him, he can just look into the mirror and see him at the other end of the world. His mother is waiting for him by the boat. Daisaku rushes out into the freezing cold to join her. They row into the cold water and Daisaku dives into the freezing water to retrieve seaweed. Two weeks later, Kichii is on the frontlines in Burma taking fire, finally, there is a lull and he pulls out his portion of the mirror and sees in it: Daisaku running around the bamboo racks on the beach playfully and he smiles… the shelling begins again and he puts away the mirror to get back to his post.
Daisaku returns home after he has been inaugurated as the third President of Soka Gakkai to a home that seems to be in mourning. Kaneko, his wife, showed no sign of being in a celebratory mood. When he asked her why, she replied that there would be no celebration since the day marked the funeral of the Ikeda family. This sobering remark was at one level a tacit declaration of her resolve to completely support her husband on the new path that their lives had taken.
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Bob Kerr: Delivers Insights Through Conflict
What I learned doing this assignment is that conflict doesn’t have to be a major incident, such as the plane crash. It can be as simple as an argument that reveals some reality previously hidden.
DIFFERENT WAYS I CAN USE CONFLICT TO EXPRESS AN INSIGHT
1) On the drive from Logan to Salt Lake City the bus breaks down. With no radio they are stranded on the highway. The players are starting to believe they are cursed and won’t ever get back home. Arguments among the players. The pattern is “Conflict Uncovers An Emotional Issue”. The insight is the thought of playing football is gone. They just want to go home.
2) 5 days after the crash, John Yeros calls back to his roommates to arrange a pick up at the airport. What he hears is three guys horsing around and laughing. An argument ensues. The roommate, Jerry Sutera tells Yeros they have to move on. The team has decided to play the rest of the season and now they have to move on. The pattern is “Conflict brings out the true nature”. The insight is that we must all keep moving forward or end up stuck in an emotional quicksand.
3) KOA radio announces that the Wichita State plane has crashed and there are no survivors. The Yeros family believes John is dead. When he finally calls them later that night, there is disbelief in the phone call. This misunderstanding is painful though they are thankful John is still alive. The pattern is “Conflict brings out the true nature.” The insight is the critical need to get verified information as opposed to flying off half cocked with the early reporting of a tragedy.
4) Coaches telling the upperclassmen they have not earned a starting position for the game at Arkansas. The players argue they are the upperclassmen and they want to dedicate their play to their fallen teammates. The pattern is: “An argument provokes the person to tell the truth.” The insight is you have to earn your spot and it won’t just be handed to you because you are older.
5) After deciding they will continue the season, when they are done with the funerals, they realize they don’t have enough gear to practice with full contact. The pattern is “Conflict uncovers an emotional issue.” The insight is you have to have patience and determination when faced with obstacles to achieve your personal goals.
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DAY 13 – Mary Albanese’s CONFLICT delivers INSIGHT
What I learned from this assignment… Creating conflict to deliver insight seems to be easier than delivering insight through action. I need to work on that, for sure.
The insight: Anna tries to goad the others into a meltdown but because of her selfish nature, she ends up only pushing herself into a humiliating epic meltdown.
The kind of conflict that could trigger this?
A power struggle. Anna rushes to show the new girl around, claiming her spot as “the best” and most knowledgeable of them all.
Verbal abuse. Anna scolds Heather harshly for not being more like her.
Public humiliation: Anna disrespects Heather in front of the whole class.
Physical Confrontation: Anna physically takes William’s wheelchair from him so he can’t join the game.
Anna accuses Maddie of cheating, which isn’t technically true since Maddie wasn’t even playing the game.
Anna does all these things, but it backfires on her as she is the one that breaks down in front of everybody.
Often, those most outwardly bossy are the least confident of all, which makes them exceptionally brittle.
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Deb Delivers Insights Through Conflict
What I learned… First, while watching Terminator, I finally understood what Hal meant when he explains that these profound moments are built into the script yet are incredibly subtle. If we did not know what the writer was doing, we’d miss them entirely. About this assignment: I found it incredibly difficult and uncomfortable… probably my perfectionism rearing its ugly head. I will get better at this. Not sure what I will use/keep, but there may be a gem or two in there.
New Way/Insight: What we do/don’t do impacts the lives of those around us.
· Jack and Eva argue over her shoe collection which reveals Eva’s dissatisfaction with Jack’s income. (Eva needs to stop spending vs. Jack needs to start earning)
· Jack, frustrated with his father who has left a big mess, is tempted to burn down the house.
· When Jack visits one of his associates for help, the person is completely distracted because Jack arrived during her soap opera.
· While Jack digs for treasure in Y, Able also digs and is inadvertently filling Jack’s hole.
· Jack is so ornery after his disappointment over the fool’s gold that the man from X is reluctant to offer any help.
New Way/Insight: Happiness is elusive and not guaranteed.
· Able asks random people to buy him lottery tickets (instead of beer or cigarettes)
· Bram throws a tantrum over the ice cream he’s served, but what he rants about is how he feels his life is wasted.
· By the time Jack and Able make it to X, all their tools are either missing or destroyed. They have to get new stuff but they have no resources to do so.
· Jack’s new car is a lemon.
· Eva refuses to believe Jack found a priceless treasure – revealing she never believed in him – it was all lip service. Jack is devastated.
New Way/Insight: What constitutes good? What is your measure of morality and do you really meet that standard? What happens when you fail to live up to that standard – who will pardon you?
· Jack and Eva argue over what a decent income is.
· Someone steals Ables’s equipment and justifies it because they need it more than him.
· When Jack admits to Bram his culpability in Bram’s accident, Bram doesn’t know what he’s talking about and can’t offer him forgiveness.
· Jack is amazed to see the people profiting from fool’s gold – the racket they’ve set up to sell it… the deception they peddle.
· Jack forces Able into a dangerous situation that almost gets Able killed. Jack risks his own life to save him, now they are both in danger. Who will save them?
New Way/Insight: Our lives are not what we make it – and we can’t manipulate a god or The God – just like we can’t control the weather.
· Jack looks back on his journey and realizes it was accidents and coincidences that brought him to the treasure – not anything triumphant or heroic that he did.
· Bram rages at a storm that keeps him from going outside for a walk.
· Eva manipulates Jack to get more money – but comes up empty.
· When Jack and Able finally find the priceless treasure, they are unable to take it.
· Jack is humbled when he receives unmerited favor from person X – who tells him exactly what he needs to do to find the treasure. X is the one person he hasn’t helped or manipulated in some way.
New Way/Insight: This world is not enough. Something is wrong – something is missing. We will never be satisfied with the things the world can offer.
· Jack and Able are hungry and can’t find enough to eat or drink.
· Eva, after a night of partying, wakes up with a hangover and then must go to work.
· Jack tries to appease Eva with more gifts – but she’s never satisfied.
· Bram has a hard time eating his favorite meal and can’t keep food down.
· Bram is just a shallow hull of what he used to be. Jack sees and mourns this.
New Way/Insight: We cannot be our own god and give lip service to the true God. We must constantly put to death our own will.
· The people in Y say one thing yet do another – they give false information and don’t keep their promises to Jack and Able – which leaves them destitute.
· When Able almost dies, Jack admits that he uses people to get ahead – even sacrificing the life of his own son.
· Jack is ready to burn the map and return home – till X takes pity on him and stops him and shows him how to read it.
· Jade, an associate who was highly skeptical of the mission, has “followed” Jack and Able – just in case they were on to something. Jade tries to buy the land away from Jack when the treasure is discovered – but can’t. (False friend)
· Eva talks about being loyal to her family – but in the end, turns on them to preserve her way of life.
New Way/Insight: It’s in losing your life that you find true life.
· Jack is accused of being crazy, ridiculed, and humiliated for selling off everything to buy a worthless piece of property.
· Jack gives up his very last resource (and the treasure) to save Able, his son. Or maybe he even gives up Able to get the treasure.
· Able is falsely accused of stealing the fool’s gold – it helps him realize he never wanted it.
· Jack realizes that he’s not going to compete for Eva’s affection/trust anymore. He must let her go.
· Bram stops fighting with Jack over his stuff – he lets him go.
New Way/Insight: We all fall short – are wretched and unworthy of anything good and need forgiveness. It is the most precious treasure and worth more than all the wealth this world can hold.
· Jack is desperate to save his son and realizes his actions mirror those of a beggar on a street.
· Jack returns to his father, Bram, after his plans go awry, and asks for his forgiveness.
· After Jack finds the fool’s gold, he goes to Eva with his tail between his legs, but she offers no forgiveness, humiliates him, and forces him to try again.
· When Jade proves to be a false friend and her plans are thwarted, Jack offers her forgiveness, but she is unwilling to accept it. Or maybe she accepts it, but pretends she doesn’t need it.
· Jack insists on taking Bram with him to see the newly found treasure – it will be a difficult journey for Bram, but he’s willing to go.
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ASSIGNMENT 13
Susan McClary’s Delivers Insights Through Conflict
Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is:
It’s important to build some type of conflict / struggle into each scene.
With your list of the New Ways / Insights you want audiences to experience, go through these steps:
Step 1. What is the New Way / Insight you want to deliver?
Step 2. What kind of conflict could that insight show up in?
Step 3. Brainstorm ways you might deliver the insight through the conflict.
Come up with at least five (5) different ways you can use conflict to express an insight.GG is Confident / Like/enjoy/appreciate/accept yourself. Depend on yourself for your own self esteem. 1) People putting GG down causes conflict.
GG is Great Listener / Take the time to listen below the surface to find out what people are really saying and what they really want.
2) When people make judgments about you, they are mostly talking about themselves and what they feel and how they see the world not the real you, it is about themselves.
See people as a type of animal and match them to that when you’re trying to speak to them.
3) Check out what people DO and NOT what they say to see who they really are.
4) Watch people’s body language for clues to what they are saying.
5) Match people’s body language to diffuse conflict.
You do NOT have to be a mirror for other people’s insecurities, neurosis, or even psychosis
6) When people blame/shame/put GG down for their own insecurities he begins to fight back.
Figure out what people actually want/ what they are pushing for with you or their situation then…
GG Asks the right questions
GG goes right to the heart of the matter,/ 7) conflict: sometimes people get insulted, too bad.
People ask for GG’s advice on his new channel Dear Tabby
GG gives great advice / 8) conflict: but some people hate it like his X and his neighbor
GG understands what they (pets and people) want /need, and/or their neurosis
GG is Happy
The way you look/appear is a reflection of how you feel inside / 9) conflict:
X, “Wow… you never looked so handsome before!” That’s because I’m happy NOW, gazing down at her.
GG is Content with self
GG Ignores other people’s mirror opinions / 10) conflict when telling people what he really sees they are doing and they don’t want to hear it.
GG Stops trying so hard and just starts living / 11) X and neighbor try to infiltrate GG’s happiness creating conflicts, but as time goes by GG is stronger and stronger at stopping it.
GG Talks to people in his personal life in person instead of on the phone/texting or email / 12) GG originally did not like conflict and so tried to avoid it, but now he sees people for who they are, and usually says something that cuts them off, but at the same time they can’t absolutely say he insulted them, e.g. I’m feeling sorry you’re having such a miserable day, maybe some ice cream is in order (it’s time to buy a new dress, to go to the gym, etc,)
GG loves Pets and takes great care of them
The Pets adore GG -
Ray’s Deliver Insights through Conflict
What I learned doing this assignment is how using conflict to deliver an insight makes the story more interesting for the audience.
1. New Way/Insight – Eve tries to convince Mr Butler and his wife to go to church with her.
Conflict – Eve argues with the Butlers about taking Caleb to church.
2. New Way/Insight – Love shows Eve how to bring Ava closer.
Conflict – Love makes Eve realize that Ava just wants to be wanted.
3. New Way/Insight – Eve tries to study the Bible with Ava and Caleb.
Conflict – Eve argues with Ava about Caleb’s activities.
4. New Way/Insight – Eve teaches Ava and Caleb to pray.
Conflict – After discussing a Bible verse, Ava wants to learn more about God.
5. New Way/Insight – Eve teaches Ava about dolls and enlists her help with starting the business.
Conflict – Ava is feeling hopeless about a life without family so Eve shows Ava that she could use her help with starting a business.
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Sharon Delivers Insight Through Conflict
What I learned doing this assignment is…. that I generally have this down, but always room for improvement!
Insight/ New Way
– Conflict
You cannot avoid your destiny.
– She injures herself – discovers that her older self has had it fixed (something more visible/ hidden e.g. on her face; something like a lost finger e.g. replaced invisibly) that wasn’t immediately visible/ obvious
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You are drawn to do something in particular in life – you have a purpose. It’s ok to pursue it.
– Trusting her instincts after not doing so – the graphs, the use of the key
– She tries to do something else, e.g. cooking, baking, interior designing, growing plants (they die, but she doesn’t know why) but learns that’s she’s not the greatest at it – always reverts back to what she knows and loves. Same with the other ‘career options’ she pursues for a while
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You will only achieve what you are meant to do over time – it’s not an immediate thing.
– Growth of bonsai tree
– Exercise
– A tree outside the bunker
– Weeds, the rats, anything that she can notice to take hold after time when she hasn’t been paying proper attention to it – a crevice with water eroding the cave, feeding the rats
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You must CLAIM your destiny.
– The letter – putting it back together again to read it and action it
– Returning to the bunker when she’s tried to do other things
– Even her other activities give her insight and solutions for her time travel device – it won’t let her go
– She’s only happy when she finally steps up to the plate to do it, wholeheartedly, once and for all, no excuses. This looks like….???
All good things come to those who…. take action and believe.
– Same as above, really
– She sees how little she’s achieved in weeks, until she actually claims what she’s meant to do. What presses the button? The ‘arrival’ of the watch??
– How will it come to fruition without her?!
You can recover from adversity and loss.
– Following the loss of her family – she returns to work and the bunker, to do what she’s meant to do.
– She’s in (emotional) pain, but the more she works, the more the pain lessens.
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Persistence pays off. Slow and steady wins the race.
– ???
Our place in humanity is pre-ordained, and that is our job in life. Every iota of our being and existence is driven by the past – including our thoughts, feelings, emotions, decisions – even if we think we’re in total control. So relax. And enjoy the ride.
– Comparison of the three versions of events – and their approaches to each version. i.e. Kappa is the most relaxed as she knows how it will end up – to a point!
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You are YOU. Live yourself to the max.
– Order in meals rather than cooking them
– Working into the night rather than sticking to a routine
– Response to Rats
– What she wears
– How she organises the cannisters
– How meticulous she becomes once she claims her destiny
Follow your heart, not your head to align with your ultimate purpose and happiness.
– The solution on one of her graphs/ experiments
– The rat friend – her head says to get rid, but her heart says no (and thank goodness as Roland does something later which gives her an idea)
– Sigma comes back to the bunker – to finish the job
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Time is of the essence – use it before it runs out.
– Literally the watch, and the culmination in the final showdown when the device explodes
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Focus on what you truly want, and it will come.
– She gets clear. And does only that in the end. (see above notes)
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Gord’s “Delivers Insights Through Conflict”
What I learned: Working to replace dialogue when delivering insights and/or new ways.
Screenplay: TMS (abbrev.). (Note: The dialogue, etc. below, I cut, pasted and modified from standard formatting.)
JESS This is what’s killing our friends.
Augie returns a blank stare.
BULL (he’s Aussie) Shot from the L1A1.
Augie arches his eyebrows in confusion, still not understanding.
BULL The L1A1, Mate, is a standard issue infantry assault rifle. Made in the UK. By the thousands. For British forces.
They closely watch Augie take several moments to inspect the shell casing more carefully.
JESS Gambo not only starves these poor people. He’s getting help from a secret sponsor. A big one. To pummel whoever’s left.
Suddenly, Augie’s forehead pulls back all wrinkles. His eyes widen with recognition.
Situation 2 – What motivates the enemy’s sponsor?
Conflict – Before Jess tells Augie what they really do in this war, he must soften up Augie by telling him the truth of Britain’s motivation behind heavily supplying guns and ammo to the wrong side of this war. In doing so, Jess risks revealing “classified” info he learned when with his former employer, the CIA. So, he dances around it but gives Augie enough to “connect the dots.”
Insight – Augie discovers the motivation behind the war.
AUGIE But why?
Jess’s eyes shift in reluctance.
JESS What natural resource does Nigeria have? In abundance? That stays with our friends should Nigeria lose this war.
Augie stares off in thought.
FLASHBACK – EXT. NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA – DAY
Hidden at the jungle’s edge overlooking a section of the Niger Delta, the Colonel with Jess, Augie and Bull, all with binoculars to their faces, focus in the same direction.
Through their binoculars they see new big guns in place.
COLONEL Antiaircraft. Just arrived. Think they’re for you.
All but Augie lower their binoculars. Jess shows his gratitude with an acknowledging grimace.
JESS (to the Colonel) Yeah. More accurate than the gunboats. Thanks for the intel. We’ll pass the word. (troubled) Guess we’ll have to find new routes… (sighs) … complicating nighttime navigation.
AUGIE (spontaneously) What’s in them big storage tanks?
All look at Augie who has his binoculars trained a new direction. Jess and Bull raise their glasses toward the same. The Colonel turns to look.
COLONEL Oil. When we lost the Port to federal troops, they captured the oil fields.
BACK TO – PILOTS’ LOUNGE WITH AUGIE, JESS AND BULL
Jess remains focused on Augie.
JESS Their priority is elsewhere. Not on starving kids.
After a long moment Augie’s expression displays his lightbulb moment. He slowly shakes his head with disgust.
AUGIE (stupefied) People are starving. All because of oil? (disgusted) Ain’t right, man. Ain’t right.
Situation 3 – After revealing the truth of the unfairness of the war it’s time to tell Augie the truth of how they’ve been helping their friends.
Conflict – Jess and Bull are running guns, hiding them in with the humanitarian supplies. Should they get caught they would not only be in big trouble they would likely jeopardize the entire humanitarian aid program. And they would face arrest if caught. But they need to advise Augie before he discovers it on his own. The big questions are how to tell him and then, would he be supportive? Or would he call “foul” and tell others. Or would he leak it to his wife, the journalist. Thus, they require the utmost discreetness from Augie, or all becomes compromised.
Insight – Because of the secretive loads of armament the other side receives, it’s not a fair fight, which justifies Jess’s gunrunning.
INT. PILOTS’ LOUNGE – CONTINUOUS
Bull and Jess glance toward one another.
BULL So we’re doing something about it. But it’s between just the three of us. (nods toward Grace) Not the journalist.
Augie contemplates. Jess and Bull remain sharply focused.
AUGIE Sure. Yeah man.
Jess looks about confirming no one else overhears.
JESS We supply our friends with arms.
Augie grimaces sarcastically.
AUGIE (skeptically) Wait. You two arm a nation’s entire army? Single-handedly?
Jess and Bull reactively smile.
BULL No. No.
JESS We just supplement as best we can. In fact, wish we could do more.
AUGIE (dubious) How you doin’ all this?
JESS That’s the sticky part.
Jess and Bull maintain eye contact silently until Augie nods.
Both Jess and Bull peer out the big windows overlooking the tarmac. Augie’s eyes follow, sharpen on the big plane’s red cross. Jess and Bull brace for objection. Augie appears to contemplate, then slowly nods.
Situation 4 – Jess faces the reality that at some point he must go home to face the family he’s hurt.
Conflict – Augie, who in this journey, has evolved from someone Jess might not trust to becoming Jess’s closest confidant, hears Jess’s confession of his real fear – facing a family who may reject him. Jess is without guidance of what comes next in life.
Insight – Jess finds the key to life’s next step from the most unexpected source, Augie. He must first forgive himself before he can seek forgiveness from others. This is the moment that causes him to truly consider leaving the war and to leave for home.
INT. COCKPIT – CONTINUOUS
They lock eyes a long moment. Jess’s expression searches.
JESS Afraid to take that step to look others in the eye. To apologize.
Jess stares off.
JESS Think I could be a good dad. But don’t want to hurt or disappoint. Scared of failing.
Jess drops his head, tries to hide a tear.
JESS Would love to find my 18-year-old son. Explore a new beginning. But I’m… (hesitates) … not sure that’s possible.
Jess slumps further. Augie concentrates his attention on him, absorbing his revelations.
AUGIE (reverently) May be wrong. But seems the first step is to forgive yourself.
Jess remains still, focused on the floor.
AUGIE Some stuff ain’t your fault. But most is. If you face it, forgive yourself, maybe you’ll find that peace that avoids you.
Jess slowly raises his head to meet Augie’s stare.
AUGIE Forgive yourself. Then just do it. Go home. Face your family. Apologize like you’ve never apologized before.
They lock eyes.
AUGIE Find Clayton. Be in his life. Never be afraid to apologize.
Long pause as Jess reflects, EXHALES. Then for the first time ever, Augie witnesses a tear escape.
Situation 5 – While Jess stands alongside the plane, waiting for his crew to bring a truckload full of guns and ammo, suddenly Father Tony appears. He’s ready to inspect the plane to confirm there is nothing but humanitarian aid aboard. He’s also looking for a ride to monitor this particular flight. But Jess’s guns are about to arrive, shortly.
Conflict – The Church has made it clear; never can these humanitarian flights include arms.
Insight – Turns out, Tony has known all along of Jess’s gunrunning. But he’s remained silent about it.
EXT. TARMAC – DAY
After scanning the horizon again, he startles when finding Tony at his side. Smiles and warm handshake are exchanged.
TONY How’s the weather for Uli?
JESS You flyin’ tonight?
Tony nods, looks up at the big plane.
TONY Monthly report. The Vatican.
JESS Aha. Confirming no guns?
Tony nods. Jess’s expression calculates.
JESS Welcome to tag along. But we don’t have a spare seat tonight. Could be a rough ride. Weather won’t be good.
Jess points at a nearby plane also with new “JCA” symbols.
JESS We’re flying together. They have a spare seat. Might be safer to be strapped in.
…
Jess motions toward the plane.
JESS More than welcome to look around.
Tony nods appreciatively.
…
As Tony makes his way up the stair ramp Jess scans the outer distance again, this time spotting the incoming truck, afar.
His eyes narrow. He looks toward the ramp, glances back to the incoming truck. He comes to the base of the ramp, looks up. No sign of Tony. He toggles back to the truck. Closer.
Tony finally appears, takes the ramp quickly to face Jess.
TONY (sternly) I’ve just learned why you won’t take me.
Blanching, Jess glances over Tony’s shoulder. The truck closes in. With Jess speechless Tony smiles up at the plane.
TONY Wise choice.
Jess flinches when seeing Grace at the cabin door, waiving.
TONY God’s speed, good friend.
Warm embrace. Tony turns toward the other plane but stops.
TONY Oh, thank you for waiting…
Jess squints, not comprehending.
TONY … to load that special bit of cargo until after my inspection.
Tony winks, smiles. Jess, appearing stunned, watches Tony stride off toward the other plane.
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