Lesson 14

[William Whiteford]

Assignment 14
William Whiteford – Thriller Map Version 1

What I learned is how to transform a “tagged” Thriller Map into a structured, coherent outline that serves as a blueprint for a script. This version is designed to be clear, easy to follow, and suitable for feedback. Below is the revised Thriller Map, divided into three acts, with each scene numbered.

Act 1
1.EXT. PARK – DAY
Glen Gordon, a writer, is walking through the park when he spots a shadowy, bearded man carrying a rifle. The man disappears into the bushes. Moments later, Glen hears a gunshot. Disturbed, Glen continues home and finds a bleeding crow hanging from a branch. He’s left wondering: What’s going on?

2.INT. GORDON’S LIVING ROOM – DAY
Glen and his wife, Grace, watch a news broadcast warning about a fugitive veteran who escaped from a local psychiatric clinic. Their cat, Basil, sits beside them. Grace expresses frustration, feeling imprisoned in their home. She suggests they move to a Pacific island. Glen, a former Merchant Navy Captain, dismisses the idea, saying he’s had enough of traveling.

3.INT. GLEN’S STUDY – DAY
Glen shares with his secretary, Jack Hamilton, that he’s a new thriller, sparked by the image of the dying bird. However, he keeps the details of his concept to himself.

4.INT. JACK’S DEN – DAY
Grace visits Jack, seemingly by coincidence, and complains about Glen. Jack comforts her and, taking advantage of the moment, seduces her. He tells her she’s too young for Glen and deserves better. They kiss passionately.

5.EXT. LAWN BOWLS CLUB – DAY
Glen is playing bowls with his brother Dan, an aspiring businessman. Dan asks Glen to invest in his motel project, but Glen refuses to let him build it on his property. Frustrated, Dan insists that he’ll go ahead with the project, “even over Glen’s dead body.”

6.INT. LIBRARY – DAY
During a meeting with his readers, Glen is confronted by Sandra, his neighbor, who accuses him of being a “thief and trickster.” The tension escalates, and the meeting ends abruptly.

7.EXT. GORDONS’ YARD – DAY
Sandra arrives at Glen’s home, bringing an exotic plant for Grace. Her poodle, Daisy, whines from the backseat.

8.EXT. GORDONS’ PORCH – DAY
Grace sketches trees on her drawing pad, while Glen surveys the area with binoculars, searching for the armed man. Grace criticizes Glen for his broken promises. Suddenly, Glen spots someone in military attire running among the trees. He grabs a taser and rushes out.

9.INT. GLEN’S STUDY – DAY
Jack asks Glen to read his manuscript, but Glen, feeling envious, burns it. Enraged, Jack vows revenge.

10.EXT. GORDONS’ FENCE – DAY
Sandra discovers Basil’s lifeless body hanging from the fence and alerts Glen and Grace. Grace blames Glen for provoking the rifleman, while Glen suspects Jack. Glen takes a photo of the dead cat.

11.EXT. GORDONS’ YARD – DAY
Jack arrives, and Glen confronts him about Basil’s death. They fight, with Jack overpowering Glen and leaving.

12.INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY
Glen uncovers that the real Jack Hamilton died three years ago and that his current secretary’s identity is forged. Despite Grace defending Jack, Glen insists on bringing him to justice and asks Grace to draw a portrait of “Jack” from memory.
Act 2
13-14.INT. LIBRARY / WORKSHOP – DAY
Glen shows Jack’s portrait to various people, but no one recognizes him.

15.EXT. GLEN’S BACKYARD – NIGHT
A masked man sneaks toward the back door.

16.INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT
Grace unexpectedly switches on the light, scaring off the intruder.

17.INT. FITNESS CLUB – DAY
Determined to catch Jack, Glen starts martial-arts training.

18.INT. SHOOTING RANGE – DAY
Glen practices shooting and becomes highly skilled.

19.INT. SHOOTING RANGE BAR – DAY
Glen meets his friend, Captain John Bell, and shows him Jack’s portrait. John recognizes him from a gas station.

20.EXT. GAS STATION – DAY
The manager identifies Jack as “Roy Jackson,” a part-time employee who frequents the Trendy Restaurant.

21.EXT. SANDRA’S YARD – DAY
Sandra’s poodle Daisy is found dead, hanging from her fence. The police question her, and she accuses Glen of seeking revenge. Glen denies it and leaves.

22.EXT. STREET NEAR THE PARK – DAY
Glen and Grace observe the police arresting Jeff Walker, the “man with the rifle.” Grace believes Jeff is the animal killer.
23.EXT. STREET – DAY
A masked man reports to the police, falsely accusing Glen of killing Daisy, but the police dismiss the report.

24.INT. GLEN’S STUDY – DAY
Glen compares the photos of Basil and Daisy, noticing the same strangulation marks.

25.EXT. ZOO – DAY
A dead meerkat is discovered hanging from a bridge. A woman sees a man resembling Glen nearby.

26.INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY
The police suspect Glen of the animal killings and restrict him to Santa Barbara.

27.INT. POLICE ARCHIVE – DAY
Glen photographs the dead meerkat’s image from the police archives, noting similar strangulation patterns.

28.INT. THE TRENDY RESTAURANT – DAY
Jack meets a TV reporter, planning to expose Glen’s alleged “dark secrets.”

29.EXT. THE TRENDY RESTAURANT – DAY
Glen spots Jack leaving the restaurant and follows him home.

30.INT. GORDONS’ LIVING ROOM – DAY
Grace watches the TV interview where Jack accuses Glen of the animal killings. Glen’s files are used as evidence.

31.INT. JACK’S DEN – DAY
Glen finds Jack’s fake beard and a cord matching the previous findings, confirming Jack is framing him.

32.INT. GORDONS’ LIVING ROOM – DAY
The police arrest Glen, ignoring his explanation.
Act 3
33.INT. PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC – DAY
Glen meets Jeff and learns more about his situation.

34.INT. CLINIC – DAY
John Bell visits Glen and secretly gives him a toolkit to escape.

35.INT. GORDONS’ LIVING ROOM – DAY
Grace, who has been colluding with Jack, sells Glen’s property. She heads to the airport to meet Jack.

36.EXT. STREETS – NIGHT
Glen escapes from the clinic, pursued by the police.

37.EXT. GORDONS’ HOUSE – DAY
Glen learns that Grace left for the airport.

38.INT. AIRPORT – DAY
Jack waits for Grace, but Glen arrives instead. They fight in the underground garage, and Glen overpowers Jack just as the police arrive.

39.INT. LIBRARY – DAY
Glen triumphantly returns to the literary world, having hired a new secretary. Grace sends a letter from the Pacific, boasting about her new life, while Jack writes his memoirs in prison.
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