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Lesson 14
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ASSIGNMENT #14
Caitlin Stryker’s ACT 2 middle scenes: what I learned doing this assignment is that even though I feel like a conflict averse writer at times I really enjoyed watching my protagonist flail about! And in order to keep writing I am really having to embrace allowing it to be total crap!
1. Outline Key Scenes 2 & 3.
2. Write Key Scene 2: Protagonist takes on a plan and executes it.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
Carla makes late night drunk macaroni while her and Harriet hatch a plan for Carla to get her job back at the agency with Jennica.
Beginning: what am I gonna do?
Middle: maybe bumping into Jennica tonight was a sign? Reach out, network.
End: yes. You’re right, like you were about dancing.
Carla whips about the kitchen skillfully throwing together stove top mac’n’cheese from scratch while her and Harriet hatch a plan.
CARLA
I need your advice about work.
HARRIET
CARLA
expensive, Sam is only getting more expensive–
HARRIET
Heard. So what do you want to do?
CARLA
Dream life I want to have my own ad agency, but that is not practical with where my career left off and juggling motherhood. But when I saw Jennica tonight I had an idea…
HARRIET
Go on…
CARLA
Maybe I could get my old job back?
HARRIET
I thouhgt you said Jennica was a bitch?
CARLA
She is.
HARRIET
And you would want to work with her again?
CARLA
I mean… I could handle it…
HARRIET
Handle it?
CARLA
Yeah, it would get me back in the game at least.
HARRIET
Sure. (beat) Question: why did you leave in the first place?
CARLA
This is kind of embarrassing.
HARRIET
Why?
CARLA
I left to get married and have a baby.
HARRIET
Why is that embarrassing? Those are major life milestones and accomplishments actually marriage and children take a lot of work.
CARLA
They do.
HARRIET
I mean Patti SMith herself the punk poet laureate said “There is no harder job in the world than beinf a wife and mother.”
CARLA
SHe did? That’s so cool. And so true. But it doesn’t make it less feminist or whatever to want those things you know… Women are supposed to just want to do it all nowadays be a badass boss bitch while squeezing in motherhood and marriage on the side.
HARRIET
Oh yeah? How’s that working out for everybody?
CARLA
It’s not. But I still feel like I went about things in the wrong order or like I failed. And how I feel doesn’t matter because I need a job.
HARRIET
And your plan is to get your old job back? How?
CARLA
Yeah. Well I’ve been sending out resumes like crazy on linked in and getting NOWHERE. Then when I saw Jennica tonight I was like wait why not reach back out to The Agency? They know me, they loved me back in the day, I mean Jennica was pissed when I left–
HARRIET
She seems like she might always be pissed but okay.
CARLA
True. But we bonded again tonight over lemon drops. What if I message her to meet for coffee and just feel her out to see if there’s maybe an opportunity for me to get back in the game?
HARRIET
I say go for it! What have you got to lose? Be bold.
CARLA
You’re the best. I’m gonna do it.
HARRIET
This mac’n’cheese is the best. You sure you don’t want to be a chef?
3. Write Key Scene 3: Not only does their plan fail, but…
INT. COFFEE SHOP – DAY
Carla meets with Jennica and it goes badly.
Beginning: so crazy bumping into you at the club thanks for agreeing to meet with me.
Middle: I love my job so much/i miss working so much
End: sorry i can’t help you we’ve been downsizing bc of AI
Carla sits at a lovely outside table waiting for Jennica to arrive. She is dressed for success in a cute floral dress with a blazer. Checking her phone for notice of Jennica’s immenent arrival.
JENNICA
Hi!! Hi, hi, hi! Sorry I’m a bit late.
Carla gets up to give Jennica a hello hug. They sit. Jennica places a work folder with papers in it on the table along with her phone and keys–she’s rolling sans purse.
CARLA
Hi! No worries, I’ve been enjoying a moment to sit.
JENNICA
Work is so crazy right now. We are slammed!
CARLA
That’s great though right?
JENNICA
Oh totally. (then) I need a coffee. I’ll be right back.
CARLA
Oh, I already paid for it. Just say you’re Carla’s friend and they’ll get you want you want!
JENNICA
Look at you go! Thank you!
CARLA
Well, you’re meeting me on short notice which I really appreciate. It’s the least I could do.
JENNICA
And I bouhgt you those shots the other noght!
Jennica gets up to go order her coffee. Carla sits at the table and notices a piece of paper with “hiring” typed on it sticking out of the folder Jennica set down when she arrived. Carla beams.
CARLA
(to herself sotto) Follow the signs and you shall be rewarded. I knew this was the right plan.
Just then Harriet strolls past wearing sunglasses and pulls them down to give Carla a wink and nod, sending her “You go girl vibes”. Carla looks at Harriet as she passes and feels a boost. The universe is operating in her favor!
JENNICA
Thanks again for the suave coffee order. I love this place. It has such a cool vibe.
CARLA
You’re welcome. And, agreed.
JENNICA
So what is going on with you? Are you thriving in your domestic bliss?
CARLA
Well… I love my family, Mark and Sam, they’re great, the best really. Sam did the funniest thing this morning where he–no. I am not going to be that person. You do not want to hear a boring story about my kid. Here’s one picture and we are moving on!
Carla shows Jennica an adorable family photo on her phone of her, Mark, and Sam at the beach.
JENNICA
Thank God. I was literally sitting here praying you wouldn’t torture me with a cute kid story. Kids aren’t cute. They suck. No offense but it’s true. He’s a looker though, both of them, well done.
CARLA
Thanks.
Jennica’s phone rings.
JENNICA
Shit. That’s work. One moment.
Jennica answers her phone and walks away from the table for a moment. Carla just sits there sinking into herself. She looks at her phone: no calls, no emails.
Jennica returns.
CARLA
All good?
JENNICA
Oh yeah. Just busy.
CARLA
Listen, I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I wanted to meet today to talk about work actually…
Jennica just looks at Carla expectantly.
CARLA (CONT’D)
I umm… Well, I was kind of hoping to come back.
JENNICA
You mean… to the workforce?
CARLA
No. Yes. I mean to The Agency?
JENNICA
Oh really? Wow. I thought you were gone for good. Off to waste away in domesticity.
CARLA
Yeah. So did I, well not waste away, actually I thought it was going to be great. And it is, mostly, but I need more, something for me AND financially the family life doesn’t really work on one salary anymore.
JENNICA
RIght. Hmm…
CARLA
Do you have anything? I mean-wait-let me start over. (then) I’m not expecting to come back where you’re at now, or even where you were when I left since you were my boss then. But I know I have a lot to offer, especially knowing what the “mom market” wants and I’m would love to start where I left off really. As a jr copywriter and I’m sure I’d work my way up pretty quickly.
JENNICA
Mmhmmm… yeah… the thing is… we’re actually cutting positions right now.
CARLA
Oh really? But, I thought, I mean–
Carla indicates with her eyes to the folder.
JENNICA
Did you snoop through my files? When I went to get a coffee? Is that why you sent me up there alone? Oh my god you sneaky witch.
CARLA
No. Gosh no.
JENNICA
Well even if you did. You should’ve snooped better. It says “hiring pause–layoffs imminent due to AI expansion.” See
Jennica pulls the paper out and shows Carla the full story on the page.
CARLA
Oh.
JENNICA
Yeah. What can I say… AI is taking over. It’s amazing what it can do really. I can do two peoples jobs using it to help me.
CARLA
That’s great.
JENNICA
It really is so cool. Sorry we don’t have anything for you. But you’ll find something. Just get creative. I’m happy to be a reference if you need it.
CARLA
Thanks.
Jennica’s phone dings.
JENNICA
Oh God. Okay. I’ve gotta run. Crisis at the office! Bye.
CARLA
Bye.
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SUBJECT: Mark Napier’s ACT 2 Middle Scenes
What I learned. I learned that the first draft is suppose to be a skeleton write up and not dialog too.
ACT 2:
BEAT SHEET MIDDLE SCENES: PROTAGONIST’S NEW PLAN IS EXECUTED:
SLUG: INT–CIA BASE OFFICE, BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
–Mark reports to the base at Bagram, coincidently just a few days after four high level Al-Qaeda members escape the internment facility there and unexpectedly he is greeted by an armed Afghani at his door with a proposal.
SLUG: INT–CIA BASE OFFICE, BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN–NIGHT
–After nearly 3 months goes by at Bagram, Mark’s pay voucher cable is finally released by the DCOS in Iraq that falsely accuses Mark of a ruse which Mark eventually decides to ignore.
SLUG: EXT/INT–BAGRAM FLIGHT LINE AND CIA BASE OFFICE, BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
–Mark is paid an unexpected visit from his home office director and the DCI’s Associate Director for Military Affairs.
SLUG: INT–CIA HEADQUARTERS (OFFICE OF SECURITY-INVESTIGATOR’S OFFICE), LANGLEY, VIRGINIA–Day
–Office of Security reviews DCOS Iraq cable accusing Mark of intentionally overcharging the Agency (a felony), but decides not to investigate, question, charge, nor prosecute as it’s considered to be an act of retaliation by Reilly.
SLUG: INT–CIA BASE OFFICE, BAGRAM, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
–Mark’s 17 month tour is complete and he brief’s his replacement who followed behind him in Iraq and warns Mark that Reilly still has a burr up his ass for him.
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ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES OUTLINE: PROTAGONIST’S NEW PLAN IS EXECUTED:
SLUG: INT–CIA BASE OFFICE, BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
BEGINNING: After Mark reports to base for introductions and orientation. Later he is greeted at the door by an armed Afghani with a proposal to help the base acquire a Stinger component.
MIDDLE: Mark and Joe discuss the recovery of a Stinger missile component with an Afghan interpreter who works for the US Army. The seller is from the Pakistani side of the border
END: The Chief of Base later tells Mark four high level Al-Qaeda members escaped just a few short days before from the Bagram Internment Facility and Mark straps his sidearm on from then on. The purchase of the Stinger component ultimately takes 6 months.
ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES DIALOG: PROTAGONIST’S NEW PLAN IS EXECUTED:
SLUG: INT–CIA BASE OFFICE, BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
DESCRIPTION: The CIA base consists of double stacked cargo shipping containers that are sandbagged on the roof laid out in a square shaped formation surrounded heavily by concertina and chain linked fencing. Other government agencies like DIA, NSA etc are collated near the Agency and collectively known as OGA. The 10th Mountain Division Headquarters and Bagram Internment Facility are each located a mere 300 feet from the CIA base. Bagram Air Base houses 14,000 coalition forces and contractors.
Mark: “Good afternoon Chief! … I am the new guy… Mark your new DCOB.” Mark extends his
hand out to shake the COB’s hand with a smile.
COB Joe: “Welcome to Bagram. …I’ll let you get settled in and meet our
communications officer and the senior Science and Technology advisor when they get
back from lunch. “
OTHER DIALOG:
DESCRIPTION: (VOICEOVER:) Six months would pass before Joe and I would purchase a Stinger grip stock for $10,000. The four Al Qaeda detainees were never captured.
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ACT 2
MIDDLE SCENES OUTLINE:
SLUG: INT–CIA BASE OFFICE, BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN–NIGHT
BEGINNING: The Iraq Station DCOS finally releases Mark’s pay cable. The Chief of Base flags the cable to Mark’s attention as it poses a serious accusation.
MIDDLE: Mark carefully reviews Reilly’s cable and fights the strong desire to contact the Agency Inspector General, the Ombudsman and Office of General Counsel to file a complaint.
END: Mark ignores the cable and wants to focus instead on the mission at hand, but other events will overtake Mark’s attention, as well.
ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES DIALOG:
SLUG: INT–CIA BASE OFFICE, BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN–NIGHT
DESCRIPTION: Nearly two months into the tour, Mark has a cable flagged to his attention by the COB (Joe). Mark takes a moment to review the cable and advises the Chief that it’s in relation to what transpired in Iraq. Deep down Mark wants to file a complaint in writing, but that will take much of his time and he already puts in a full day and ports of the night.
Joe: “Mark a cable just came in for you and you really need to address it.”
Mark: “OK…Thanks.”
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ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES OUTLINE:
SLUG: EXT/INT–BAGRAM FLIGHT LINE AND CIA BASE OFFICE, BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
BEGINNING: Mark is paid an unexpected visit from his home office director and the DCI’s Associate Director for Military Affairs. Mark is greeted like a long lost pal from the DCI Representative, but his Office Director avoids Mark speaking only to Joe the COB.
MIDDLE: Redcloud seeks to place a cap limit on the hours Mark works. Joe scoffs at this idea and tells the director he may as well pull his support from the base as that idea would shift the lion’s share of work on him.
END: Mark feels reassured from the COB’s efforts to stand up for him and feels no further action will like be taken given the warm reception he had from DCI Representative that his office director clearly witnessed.
ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENE DIALOG:
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA BASE OFFICE, BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
DESCRIPTION: Two months into Mark’s tour, Joe alerts Mark that the OMA office will be paying our base a surprise visit and seeks a meeting with the 10th Mountain Division commander. Mark is expected to pick the 2 visitors up at the flight line and bring them to base.
JOE: “Mark I just got word from Station that VIPs…being your boss –the OMA Office Director,
Redcloud, is surprising us with his presence and he’s bringing along the DCI’s Associate Director for Military Affairs (Galland)…..”
“….I need you to go get them at the airfield and I’ll be taking them over to meet the
Division Commander…..they’ll be here in an hour.”
Mark: “Roger!! ….sorta sudden isn’t it?. …”
SLUG: EXT/INT–BAGRAM FLIGHT LINE, BAGRAM AIR BASE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
(Video Narrated Vignette)
DESCRIPTION: Mark meets the visitors at the flight line. The DCI’s Representative remembers Mark from the last time he visited Iraq and acts as if they are old buddies from years past given they nearly died in the near mid air accident. The Representative shakes Mark’s hand and gives him a hug and several slaps on the back. Redcloud, however, is distant, and has no interest to address Mark speaking only to Joe the COB. …following the meetings the VIPs depart and Joe tells Mark what transpired between him and Redcloud.
Joe: “Mark…..Redcloud had a chat with me. He asked that I restrain you to just working 14
hours a day….”
DESCRIPTION: (VOICEOVER:) For the remainder of my tour I heard nothing further from Reilly and his attempts to retaliate. I figured the Office of Security and the Associate Director for Military Affairs was keeping my office and Reilly in check.
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ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES OUTLINE:
SLUG: INT–CIA HEADQUARTERS (OFFICE OF SECURITY-INVESTIGATOR’S OFFICE), LANGLEY, VIRGINIA–Day
BEGINNING: Office of Security Investigator reviews DCOS Iraq cable accusing Mark of a felony and decides to discuss the case with her Branch Chief.
MIDDLE: The investigator notes Mark’s history with the Office of Security and the fact he obtained guidance from three key Iraq Station personnel.
END: The CIA Office of Security chooses to shelve the case and does not choose to investigate, question, charge, nor prosecute Mark in the four years that follow the incident, while Mark continues to serve the CIA.
ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES DIALOG:
SLUG: INT–CIA HEADQUARTERS (OFFICE OF SECURITY-INVESTIGATOR’S OFFICE), LANGLEY, VIRGINIA–Day
DESCRIPTION: The investigator sitting at her desk sees the incoming cable from Iraq Station calling into question Mark’s three month pay voucher. She briefs her Branch Chief.
Investigator: “Chief… I am looking at a cable that just came in from Iraq Station.
Branch Chief: “Yes….I saw it. That’s the case we’ve anticipated to be a reprisal against the OMA officer?“
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ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES OUTLINE:
SLUG: INT–CIA BASE OFFICE, BAGRAM, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
BEGINNING: Mark’s 17 month tour is complete and he brief’s his replacement who followed behind him in Iraq. Mark gives his replacement the load down of his job and being a liaison.
MIDDLE: Mark addresses some of the pit falls of the job like the Silent Salute ceremonies and dealing with injured Afghan forces that support their respective CIA bases, as well as a 14 year old that lost three limbs in an explosion.
END: Robert warns Mark that Reilly has not forgotten about him and advises Mark not to let his guard down or take for granted the protection he may have enjoyed before.
ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENE DIALOG:
SLUG: INT–CIA BASE OFFICE, BAGRAM, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
DESCRIPTION: After 17 months of service, Mark is briefing his replacement as DCOB (Robert) who followed after Mark in Iraq. Mark is discussing responsibilities and success he has experienced while serving as DCOB. Robert advises Mark to head his warnings that Reilly is still looking out for blood.
Mark: “Good Morning Robert. …I am going to give you an overview of what your primary
function as DCOB will be and what you may encounter or should be prepared to encounter, if the situation arises.“
Robert: “Sounds great!”
(Video Narrated Vignette)
Robert: “I did see where our 2,000 Stingers back it the day were conveniently stored in a cave
that accidently blew up, so they’re a lot harder to come by. …”
(Video Narrated Vignette)
“Oh one last point on that subject… I have also tried to coordinate with the Army here in
buying back Apache gunship Hellfire missiles and mobile towed radar systems from the black market.”
(Video Narrated Vignette)
Mark: “No, but while inspecting 12 crates of Soviet era Mig fighter air-to-air missiles, along with
three dump trucks filled with explosive munitions, I was exposed to nearly 3 hours of radioactive material leaking from them. …”
“The Special Forces soldier who was inspecting the munitions, as well, waited until the
end to run the Geiger Counter over the shit. …..My heart sank.”
(Video Narrated Vignette)
Mark: “A few months after I got here shit hit the fan when the commanding general discover
DIA was collecting all sorts of explosive material they obtained in trades…like mortars, C-4 explosives and anti tank mines… They had 1/3rd of a connex filled with the stuff…”
(Video Narrated Vignette)
Mark: “Yes, that occurs when a US soldier is killed. ….14,000 soldiers and contractors will line
both sides of the road here on Route Disney to render, while standing at attention, a salute in silence as a flag draped casket is driven slowly to the airfield for a small ceremony before the remains are placed in the belly of a C-130 for the journey home.”
(Video Narrated Vignette)
Mark: “Well…I’ve been called upon to arrange incoming medevacs for our own guys and
indigenous forces that we train at the bases or persons of interests to PSYOP. ….”
(Video Narrated Vignette)
Mark: “Then there was the one air insertion training exercise that disembarked a team into a
old Soviet minefield that resulted in the Afghan soldier getting a leg blown off…..
(Robert squeamish at the idea)….”
(Video Narrated Vignette)
“A short war story for you…I got called up one time from our Asadabad Base PSYOP
officer to arrange first class care for an influential tribal elder’s son…”
“His son was picking up sprint brass to sell….on our base. “
(Video Narrated Vignette)
“But the highlight came during President George Bush’s surprise visit…that was quite
interesting…..The US Secret Service sends out a detail to coordinate his visit 2 weeks in
advance of the President’s arrival. …”
DESCRIPTION: (VOICEOVER): To this day I still suffer from the memories of attending those many Silent Salute ceremonies during my tour. Years later…for reasons you will understand later, I would wish I could have swapped places with those who died with honor.
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ACT 2:
BEAT SHEET MIDDLE SCENES: PLAN FAILS…THEN…:
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA STATION, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
–Mark takes on the new role as Station’s Psychological Warfare Operations in Kabul, Afghanistan and carries out his first mission at hand.
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA STATION, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/Night
–Mark uncovers an important Station asset’s secret.
SLUG: INT–CIA SAFEHOUSE, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN–NIGHT
–Mark facilitates Taliban defections, including two suicide bombers that he uses in a campaign.
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA FALCON BASE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
–Mark redeploys along the Afghan/Pak border of Kunar Valley in what would test his skills and it begins with cleaning up a Navy S.E.A.L. operation gone bad.
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA FALCON BASE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
–The new Chief of Station for Afghanistan arrives, it’s Mark’s old boss from Iraq that results in rising tensions and another hostile work environment the last 5 months of his tour.
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA FALCON BASE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
–A Congressional Delegation visits Falcon Base and Mark is asked to brief his successes.
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA FALCON BASE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
–One month from leaving his post, Mark suddenly experiences catastrophic failure across the board on assets and PSYOP resources that had a proven track record for 2 plus years.
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ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES OUTLINE: PLAN FAILS…THEN…:
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA STATION, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
BEGINNING: Mark moves on to his next 3 month assignment as a Psychological Warfare Officer to support the CIA’s Counterterrorism operations countrywide from the Station in Kabul, Afghanistan. He begins first to restore harmony to Afghanistan by saving a cat, before his first mission.
MIDDLE: Mark prepares to conduct his first mission to serve as the “Milkman” carrying $300,000 in cash to the presidential palace.
END: Mark succeeds in his efforts to make it to the palace without incident and is warmly welcomed by the National Security Council’s assistant.
ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES DIALOG: PLAN FAILS…THEN…:
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA STATION, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
DESCRIPTION: Mark’s 3 months are anything, but dull. During his stay at the CIA Station which occupies the former Hotel Ariana in Kabul, Afghanistan known as the American Embassy Annex. The facility sits just blocks from the Afghan presidential palace where Mark will find himself making the “Milkman Run” to deliver $300,000 a month in cash each month to the National Security Council’s office.
COS Chris: “Good morning Mark. ….What’s new?”
Mark: “Well…I did my part to restore harmony here in Afghanistan…
Chris: “Really??? ….How so?”
(Video Narrated Vignette)
DESCRIPTION: Mark is seen collecting the money from Station Finance, sealed in four large manilla envelopes and stuffed into two large satchels. The Finance officer points to a map on the wall to show where Hotel Ariana sits in relation to where the palace sits. Mark picks up both heavy satchels and exits through the hallway down the steps and out the front door of the ‘hotel’ passed the water pond where he had saved the feral cat’s life earlier then through the streets of Kabul’s heavily quarantine area two blocks over to the presidential palace. Mark is permitted to by pass the palace security and directed to the National Security Advisor’s office where he is greeted by an assistant. Mark passes the two satchels that are promptly emptied of their contents and returned back to Mark. Mark smiles and thanks the assistant and returns back to Station in good health..
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SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA STATION, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
BEGINNING: Mark sets up a meeting with an important Station asset who thinks he is slick with the $200,000 he repeatedly tries to avoid accounting for.
MIDDLE: Mark meets with the asset to ascertain the status of the receipts and progress of the asset’s project that was being funded. Mark turns up the heat asking the asset for the projects location and photographs. Visibly defensive, the asset tries a runaround with Mark and goes so much as to provide a misleading photograph to throw Mark off his trail.
END: Mark starts from scratch and performs an asset assessment the way the professional Case Officers are suppose to routinely perform. Mark learns the asset is not just trying to pull the wool over the Station’s eyes on the project, but has a very important secret that opens up a whole new opportunity for the CIA.
ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES DIALOG:
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA STATION, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
DESCRIPTION:
Chris: “Well Mark…Now that you did that mission so good, I have a someone of great
importance to the Station that you will have to take over. He is an important asset.”
Mark: “OK.”
Chris: “We have financed him for the last couple of years since we recruited him. ….”
“His name is Saad and he oversees a power projection platform in country and he
is becoming a bit cocky. …The Chief of Operations here recruited him a few years back.”
(Video Narrated Vignette)
DESCRIPTION: Mark suspects something is up. Mark reviews Saad’s dossier: Saad is married to an Australian woman, but has an Iranian American girlfriend, hates Iran and all it stands for….
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ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES OUTLINE:
SLUG: INT–CIA SAFEHOUSE, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN–NIGHT
BEGINNING: Mark is approached by a Case Officer (John) who is a former DELTA FORCE soldier and he and Mark embarks on a mission to facilitate the defection of Taliban commanders and two suicide bombers that would be similar to the Kit Carson Scouts initiative during the Vietnam era.
MIDDLE: Mark was able to secure funding for a safehouse and with the assistance of the ‘Peace Through Strenth’ program, Mark and John are able to facilitate 14 Taliban commanders through the defection program for a pardon, in addition to two drugged suicide bombers hooked on heroin.
END: Mark would use–with the help of the Afghan Minister of Defense–the two suicide bombers who defected to counter Taliban/Al Qaeda propaganda campaigns.
ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES DIALOG:
SLUG: INT–CIA SAFEHOUSE, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN–NIGHT
DESCRIPTION: Two months into the job and Mark is presented with an interesting opportunity that has not been seen since the Vietnam era. John, a Case Officer, handles high level figures that often riles competing Case Officers who are jealous and try to sabotage him by providing derogatory reporting against his assets. John is casual in his demeanor and is the closest thing to ‘James Bond’ Mark has seen himself in the Agency, though he’s heard about one other 10 years ago. John approaches Mark to see if his office can fund a safehouse in Kabul to house Taliban commanders defecting back to the Afghan government in exchange for their followers to lay down their weapons. Mark agrees and immediately sends a message through the internal notes system back to Washington for their thoughts and funding before sending an official cable.
John: “Hi…I understand you are the Station’s PSYOP Officer?…”
Mark: “Yes the one and only we got here until reinforcements get here……(he laughs)…what
can I do for you?”
(Video Narrated Vignette)
DESCRIPTION: With COS Chris concurrence, John makes his journey to the Afghan/Pak border where he convinces 14 Taliban commanders from ….
DESCRIPTION: (VOICEOVER): In my time I served in Afghanistan, If it did not try to bite you, stab you, or stick you it tried to eat you, it shot at you, rocketed, mortared, or layed an IED to kill you and I survived it all to include another near mid air disaster. However, I never thought I would see the day that I would have several smiling Taliban leaders wave at me to say thank you and goodbye.
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ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES OUTLINE:
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA FALCON BASE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
BEGINNING: Mark redeploys along the Afghan/Pak border of Kunar Valley and puts his skills to the test with just two weeks on the ground as he begins a month-long cleanup to hide the hand of the US Government after a Navy S.E.A.L. operation goes bad.
MIDDLE: Mark wages a counter offensive using a night letter to support a false flag operation to save the life of an influential tribal elder who will owe him a great debt of gratitude.
END: Mark finds he is now a permanent addition to the base in what was initially supposed to be a 3 month tour to appease the Falcon Chief of Base.
ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES DIALOG:
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA FALCON BASE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
DESCRIPTION: Multiple base assets report an Al Qaeda facilitator is operating across the border in Arandu, Pakistan from Dokalam, Afghanistan. The base has an embedded Navy S.E.A.L. team, but it becomes necessary to fly in two more S.E.A.L. snipers who have been tasked to conduct a ‘clandestine’ cross border shot to remedy the operative harmless. However, on that day, three of our nation’s finest cannot hit water if they fell out of a boat in the middle of the Atlantic.
COB Kevin: “Mark…I know you just joined the base just two weeks ago and had road trip to the
village we are preparing an operation for. ….How confident do you think the tribal elder
we met will support our operation?
Mark: “I am sure he’ ll be supportive as it was his nephew who was killed by that Al Qaeda
guy…You see…Al Qaeda targeted an Afghan Border Patrol convoy and it was his
nephew who was killed. …So he has a blood feud going on.”
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ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES OUTLINE:
SLUG: INT–CIA FALCON BASE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
BEGINNING: The new Chief of Station for Afghanistan is about to arrive in country, it’s Mark’s old boss from Iraq that will result in rising tensions and another hostile work environment the last 5 months of Mark’s tour as atmospherics abruptly change toward him by a Case Officer colleague (John) who will act as Chief of Base until COB Robert returns.
MIDDLE: COS Reilly visits the base and Mark notices Reilly speaking discretely to John. As time passes Mark is being excluded from participating in staff meetings.
END: John is frustrated that the case officers are excluded from participation in a very important briefing that Mark is called upon to solely contribute. The Navy S.E.A.L.s sponsored a briefing to the visiting new commanding general over the Afghan Coalition Forces.
ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES DIALOG:
SLUG: INT–CIA FALCON BASE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
DESCRIPTION: Falcon staff meetings take place in a fortified bunker they call an office that consists of the Chief and Deputy Chief of Base, 10 Case Officers, 5 Navy S.E.A.L.s, a 4 man Black Water security team, 1 Communications guy, 1 Logistics guy and Mark PSYOP.
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ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES OUTLINE:
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA FALCON BASE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
BEGINNING: A Congressional Delegation visits Falcon Base and Mark is asked to brief how his operations are so successful. Mark explains what his mission is then addresses the culture of Afghan society and their code for survival as second instincts.
MIDDLE: Mark then addresses his acts of sabotage, use of the radio station, night letter operations and the use of agents of influence to target the populace and the intended outcome of degrading recruitment and support of terrorists.
END: Mark finally wraps his briefing up saying that in essence he took a page out of former President Bill Clinton’s Democratic rule book and that abruptly ended the meeting.
ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES DIALOG:
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA FALCON BASE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY
DESCRIPTION:
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ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES OUTLINE:
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA FALCON BASE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
BEGINNING: One month from leaving his post, Mark suddenly experiences two catastrophic losses. The death of a team member and failure across the board on all of his assets and PSYOP resources that had a proven track record for 2 plus years.
MIDDLE: Base suffers a blow when a member (Chief Petty Officer Joshua Harris) of the Navy S.E.A.L. team loses his life in a training mission that Mark is directly supporting. Mark flies an American flag in his honor over base and seeks to pass to Joshua’s family, one of which is his twin sister Kiki Harris, an accomplished Hollywood celebrity.
END: Mark suspects treachery by Case Officer John in cahoots with COS Reilly as the reason for his program being shut down. Mark tries to contest the sudden derogatory information, but Headquarters is too behind the decision leaving Mark puzzled.
ACT 2:
MIDDLE SCENES DIALOG:
SLUG: EXT/INT–CIA FALCON BASE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN–DAY/NIGHT
DESCRIPTION:
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Lesson 14
Trish’s Act 2 Middle Scenes
What I learned doing this assignment is it can be hard to pick these key scenes. I have a ton of placeholder scenes left.
1. Outline Key Scenes 2 & 3.
Key Scene 2:
Beginning: Emma approaches a guest to discuss the dreams. They’re suspicious
Middle: She shares her plan and some of her dream so they open up.
End: She learns how personal the dream is. She finds another guest to repeat the process with.
Key Scene 3:
Beginning: Olivia cries in her room. The front desk says the manager would like to see her.
Middle: She meets with Richard. He reveals he knows about the dreams and has 2 options for her. We learn why he’s doing this.
End: She doesn’t make a deal.
2. Write Key Scene 2: Protagonist takes on a plan and executes it.
3. Write Key Scene 3: Not only does their plan fail, but…
I’m not going to keep copying/pasting from Final Draft here, since it’s not being graded. It’s a bit of a hassle.
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Lesson 14 key middle scenes 2 & 3 for act TWO: for Dr. Auggie Amador:
“What i learned from this scene, as in the previous, is that i need to keep going. i know i’ve picked up a hard subject matter:science-fiction, and even thought i don’t know the math nor how effective the plot points are, I’m testing my lead character’s “old ways” and pushing him to not give up, to learn to act in the “new ways.”
LESSON 14: ACT TWO MIDDLE SCENES:
INT. QUANTUM COMPUTING CONFERENCE HALL – DAY
Auggie explains what they’re doing, why they’re doing it, how they’re doing it: reverse engineering of the cosmos.
ROSINSKI MAKES secret backstabbing moves to remove Auggie from the project; he tricks fellow astronomer into doing the wrong math, throws Auggie’s work “off course.”
INT. QUANTUM COMPUTING FACILITY – DAY
Day of execution: Auggie leads team into super cold computing facility : they are wearing hazmat suits as they are dealing with very sensitive computers. On execution of the mission, the project fails: the crystal does not connect to the webb telescope?? or data coming in from their limited time with telescope overheats computer causing a melt down?? Auggie goes from leadership position to getting fired and feels humiliated.
BECOMES
Act two middle keys scenes 2 & 3:
INT. QUANTUM COMPUTING CONFERENCE HALL – DAY
BEGINNING: Auggie and Peter Rosinski work well together at first; a lot of science gets explained via their acerbic dialogue and visual displays on overhead projectors,
MIDDLE: nerds ask a lot of questions.
END: AUGGIE wins argument again; Rosinski sows weeds of suspicion; Auggie chews him out for insubordination; the General gives him a warning.
INT. QUANTUM COMPUTER LAB – DAY
BEGINNING: Auggie and team don hazmat suits to enter absolute ZERO computer room. Rosinski is late as he was on phone call with “secret” private money contact.
MIDDLE: rivalry still persists between those loyal to rosinski and those loyal to Auggie. Rosinski makes purposeful adjustment to data/numbers: he convinces colleague of his that Auggie is in the wrong and should not be listened to, as he’s in over his head.,
END: Rosinski convinces one of his loyal followers to fudge the numbers, even though he knows this will wreck havoc on computer once data comes in from outer space. This will also prevent the CRYSTAL from linking to the james webb telescopes orbit; the math will be off.
INT. QUANTUM COMPUTING CONFERENCE HALL – DAY
BEGINNING: Data starts streaming in: Auggie’s theory appears to be working! Black holes in outer space are responding—Then- suddenly
MIDDLE: information starts overwhelming the supercomputer: ROSINSKI’S MANIPULATIONS have made the computer replicate unecessary data. there are trillions of unnecessary data in the computer; the supercomputer along with AI is hallucinating; it’s making stuff up
END: NOT ONLY DOES THE quantum super computer heat up and erases data, but it catches on fire!
[KEY SCENE 3]
INT. QUANTUM COMPUTING CONFERENCE HALL – DAY
BEGINNING: ROSINSKI BERATES Auggie and the General for being over their heads. They should’ve never trusted a newbie like Auggie.
Middle: the general comes down on Auggie also, not only has his plan failed, put he’s made a fool of the general.
END: CONTROL of the project will now fall into Rosinski’s hands and “private” equity.
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