Lesson 16 Assignments

[Erin Ziccarelli]

Erin Ziccarelli’s Profound Map

TITLE: Blind Bet
WRITTEN BY: Erin Ziccarelli

What is Your Profound Truth?

Family is more than DNA. You determine your own fate. You need loyalty and hope to move forward. The audience experiences a shift on the definition of family ties and impact of our environment and personal destiny moves us forward.

What is the Transformational Journey?
Old Ways: family is only about last name, cocaine addiction, feeling abandoned, fails to stand up for his family, doesn’t make his own choices, desperate for family and friends’ approval, needs support structures.
Journey: From prison to rehab to becoming an entrepreneur – through his interactions with Roger, Will, and Scarlett, Alex learns that he’s capable of living an honest life and becoming self-sufficient. There’s no need for him to stay hostage to his drug habits or to “the system.”
New Ways: becoming self-sufficient, empowered, learning to stand up for Scarlett, learning how to make choices rather than letting others chose for him, taking control of his future.
Transformational Logline: When a former black marketeer inherits a rival crime family member’s estate, he struggles with new revelations and severing ties to his old life.
1. Transformable Character with an issue: Former black marketeer
2. …takes a journey that challenges them deeply: inherits an estate and struggles with new revelations
3. ..and concludes with the transformation: he must break his ties to his old life

Who are Your Lead Characters?
Change
Agent (the one causing the change): Roger Tate
Transformable Character(s) (the one who makes the change): Alex Donovan,
Scarlett Brennan
Betraying Character (if you have one): Jack Archer, Shaun King
Oppression: Richard Brennan

How Do You Connect With Your
Audience in the Beginning of the Movie?

· Relatability: Alex experiencing some discord with his family and friends. They don’t all have the same goals. His uncle is very domineering towards him.

· Intrigue: the poker game is intriguing. Will Alex win with his ace card? What does that ace represent? Why are they counterfeiting? How will the Dunbar sale go down?

· Empathy: Alex and Kitty love each other but their relationship is doomed. They are from rival families. Family politics will tear them apart.

· Likability: Alex is popular amongst the other poker players, he entertains us with his card tricks. He encourages unity amongst the group. He doesn’t want to destroy every member of the rival families.

What is the Gradient of the Change?

What steps do the Transformational Characters go through as they are changing?

Gradient 1. The Emotional Gradient

A. The “Forced Change” Emotional Gradient: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

Gradient I

A. Emotion: denial

B. Action: spends time alone, acts rudely towards Roger, Demi, and Will (even though they’re trying to help him), angry at his family for abandoning him, angry at the Cadens and the Brennans, beats up Ted once they cross paths, threatens to kill Ted even as he’s dying.

Gradient I

A. Emotion: anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance

B. Action: Alex reeling from finding out about Scarlett. He is transferred from prison to rehab. He hasn’t been out for 24 years. He’s in a completely new environment, hiding a massive secret. Everyone around him seems to know what they’re doing and know what they want. Alex struggling with the past – did Kitty love him? Was she ashamed of their time together? Why didn’t she tell him about Scarlett?

B. The “Desired Change” Emotional Gradient: Excitement, Doubt, Hope, Discouragement, Courage, Triumph…or Loss.

Gradient I

A. Emotion: hope

B. Action: meets Scarlett, brings her on, visits the old neighborhood, tells Patrick and the rest of the guys he’s not coming back, and goes to work on the first used car shipment.

Gradient I

A. Emotion: discouragement

B. Action: Patrick and Alex’s old friends burn the business. Alex’s identity is revealed to Scarlett, leaving her resentful and angry with him. He’s abandoned by Sean and Jack. Feeling guilty for Will’s death.

Gradient I

A. Emotion: courage

B. Action: Musters up the courage to face Scarlett. He and Roger start to understand each other. Closes the deal with his buyer – the first time he’s accomplished something on his own and honestly.

Gradient I

A. Emotion: triumph

B. Action: Alex returns to the South End to face the Donovans. The Cadens and the Brennans show up. The final showdown. He rejects his old ways. Avenges Kitty. Burns the cocaine. Walks away, intending to leave Boston for good.

Gradient 2. The Action Gradient

Setup:

· Alex is hostage to an addiction and living in a daze in prison

· Nathanial Caden leaves Alex everything, and Ted Brennan dies

· Alex decides he must go to rehab and enter the program to change his life

Journey:

· Alex starts the business and tries to build a support structure with/for his employees, Will, and Roger

· He can’t do it without Nathanial Caden’s money – he needs Scarlett to get his inheritance, so he brings her in for that reason only

· Alex starts to see Scarlett isn’t so different from him. His business starts to take off.

· Alex resists the temptation to join Patrick and go back to his old ways – implying that he has started to like and embrace his new ways

· Patrick makes it impossible for him to stay out after he burns Alex’s business and kills Will Lawson. Jack and Shaun flee. Scarlett turns on him after she finds out the truth. Alex accepts the offer and goes back, but he doesn’t fit with them anymore.

· Alex makes it impossible for them not to take him back. They need him more than he needs them. His placement back in the family is “guaranteed.”

Payoff

· Roger reveals to Alex that he comes from the Walsh crime family – one of Alex’s nemesis crime families. Alex is shocked at how Roger has changed.

· Alex confronts Richard over Kitty’s death and Scarlett. He stands up to the whole group – both his own family and the Brennans.

· Alex burns the cocaine. He’s kicked his addiction.

· Alex visits Scarlett in the hospital and waits for her to wake up. When she does, they are at peace.

· Alex and Scarlett will leave Boston and join Roger in Chicago!

Gradient 3. The Challenge / Weakness Gradient

· Challenge: Inheriting a former nemesis’ money. To accept or not to accept. If he accepts, he feels disloyal. If he doesn’t accept, nothing will change – he’ll never get back to his old life.

· Weakness: Alex hates being alone and without family support. He’s been suffering in that environment for years.

· Challenge: Navigating rehab. Trying to be cured. Abandoning his cocaine addiction – the crutch that he leaned upon for the last few years.

· Weaknesses: Lacking coping mechanisms. Struggling to make sense of Kitty’s secret.

· Challenges: Trying to connect with Scarlett. Finding the will to be honest with her. Building a team spirit with Scarlett, Jack, Sean, and Will.

· Weaknesses: Fear of losing the team and family he’s created – it’s his support structure. Fear of losing Scarlett as soon as he’s honest about his identity.

· Challenge: Everything that represented his “self-made man” identity is lost. He’s confronted with facing his past but can’t do it. Has to rebuild the business and broken relationships.

· Weakness: Alex remains ashamed of his past. He writes off the success he experienced as temporary.

· Challenge: Reconciling the past and the present – how can he and Scarlett mend their relationship? Can he keep her from making the same mistakes he did?

· Weakness: Feeling overly empowered by Rejected by Scarlett. He slips back into his old ways.

· Challenge: Rejecting the old ways. He is faced with both family dynasties and must reject both sides. Must forgive Scarlett for what she did to him.

· Weaknesses: Meets with the dealer and buys the cocaine. Still feeling a bitterness over Kitty’s death. Unwilling to let it go. He and Scarlett still have a long way to go before they completely trust each other.

What is the Transformational
Structure of Your Story?

A. Mini-Movie 1: status quo and call to adventure

1. Alex’s ordinary world and status quo: prison, cocaine addiction, feeling alone/abandoned

2. Turning point – call to adventure: Alex finds out he has a daughter. Scarlett is in her early twenties and strongly allied with a rival family.

3. Introduces the story’s main tension – the North/South family feud, it’s personal for Alex because he has a family member on the other side.

· Change agent: Roger Tate, Kitty Caden

· Transformational characters: Alex Donovan

· Old ways: Alex is alone. He’s lost hope. He’s rude to Roger and Demi and Will – even though they are trying to help him. He harbors anger towards the Cadens and Brennans. Beats up Ted Brennan.

· The vision: Alex will leave prison, learn to “stand alone,” and separate himself from the family politics. He and his daughter will meet and learn to trust each other despite being from opposite sides of Boston.

· Challenge: Inheriting a former nemesis’ money. To accept or not to accept. If he accepts, he feels disloyal. If he doesn’t accept, nothing will change – he’ll never get back to his old life.

· Weaknesses: Alex hates being alone and without family support. He’s been suffering in that environment for years.

B. Mini-Movie 2: locked into conflict

1. Alex’s denial of the call: he can’t believe it, he investigates by looking through the prison records, Ted was telling the truth

2. Turning point – Alex “locked into” the conflict brought on by this call: he decides to take Nathanial Caden’s money, it will be his way back home, enters rehab and is let out on supervised release

· Change agent: Roger Tate, Scarlett Brennan

· Transformational characters: Alex Donovan

· Old ways: Alex struggling to overcome the cocaine addiction. Struggling to understand why Kitty never told him about Scarlett. Questioning his past.

· The vision: Alex will be cured of his addiction. He will be sober and stay sober. He will come to terms with Kitty’s secret.

· Challenges: Navigating rehab. Trying to be cured. Abandoning his cocaine addiction – the crutch that he leaned upon for the last few years.

· Weaknesses: Lacking coping mechanisms. Struggling to make sense of Kitty’s secret.

C. Mini-Movie 3: hero tries to solve problem – but fails

1. Alex’s first attempts to solve his problem: he focuses on building the business, sees Scarlett for the first time, but does not talk to her or get the signature, reject’s Roger’s advice

2. Turning point – standard ways fail: the business is stagnant, liquidation can’t move forward until Alex has the conservatee’s (Scarlett’s) signature

· Change agent: Roger Tate, Will Lawson

· Transformational characters: Alex Donovan

· Betraying character: Joe Byrne

· Old ways: Alex trying to launch the business, doubting his ability to stand alone and be successful. Struggling with if/how he should meet Scarlett.

· New ways: Alex doing honest work, trying to make a “family” out of his new team, trying to adjust to regular life

· Vision: Alex will build a successful business. He will meet Scarlett.

· Challenge: Starting up the business. Needs money to begin but liquidation can’t move forward without Scarlett’s signature.

· Weaknesses: Tempted by his old ways – his old friends find him. He can’t face the past or bring himself to talk to Scarlett.

D. Mini-Movie 4: hero forms a new plan

1. Alex has a plan to bring Scarlett in to work at the business (to get her signature), gets a buyer (commits himself to the business)

2. Plan goes wrong: storming phase for the team, Roger hounding him for his lack of measurable output, Scarlett isn’t very committed to him or the business – she’s much more invested in her illegal activities

3. Turning point – plan backfires: Alex is still very much alone. His Uncle dies, naming him “heir” to the family business. He rejects the offer, making an enemy of his old friends.

· Change agent: Roger Tate

· Transformational characters: Alex Donovan, Scarlett Brennan

· Old ways: Alex can’t bring his team together. They’re not selling anything. The clock is ticking. There’s a lack of a shared vision with the team. Alex hasn’t been honest with Scarlett.

· New ways: Alex rejects the offer to come back to the South End after his uncle dies. He’s determined to make it on his own.

· Vision: Alex commits himself to the business. His identity is in his own work.

· Challenges: Trying to connect with Scarlett. Finding the will to be honest with her. Building a team spirit with Scarlett, Jack, Sean, and Will.

· Weaknesses: Fear of losing the team and family he’s created – it’s his support structure. Fear of losing Scarlett if he’s honest about his identity.

E. Mini-Movie 5: hero retreats & antagonism prevails

1. Alex is confronted by his need to change: he needs to keep building his work ethic if he’s to stand on his own – he orders an all-nighter. He and Scarlett enjoy a card game. She’s just as good at cards as he is.

2. Eyes open to his weaknesses: when the business is destroyed and everyone leaves him, Alex realizes the Donovans aren’t going to give up. He can’t ignore the problem, he has to face it. He retreats to rebuild.

3. Turning point – the decision to change: Alex rebuilds out of his own will. This time – no one told him what to do. He’s not going to give up now.

· Change agent: Roger Tate

· Transformational characters: Alex Donovan, Scarlett Brennan

· Old ways: Alex running from the problem. Hasn’t “rejected” the Donovans yet. Hasn’t confronted Richard over Kitty’s death.

· New ways: Alex rebuilds. He can’t move on from what happens – he remains tempted by the old life. Entertains the idea of returning.

· Vision: Alex tells Scarlett the truth. He rejects the South End families’ attempt to get him to come back.

· Challenges: Everything that represented his “self-made man” identity is lost. He’s confronted with facing his past but can’t do it. Has to rebuild the business and broken relationships.

· Weaknesses: Alex remains ashamed of his past. He writes off the success he experienced as temporary.

F. Mini-Movie 6: hero’s bigger, better plan

1. Alex spawns a new plan: he and Roger talk again and he realizes how far he’s come. Roger encourages him to make peace with Scarlett and with the past. Alex accepts the plan

2. Alex puts the plan into action and is nearly destroyed by it: Scarlett is angrier than ever – she knows everything. Alex seems to have lost hope again. He relapses.

3. The revelation: Alex has to rejoin the family. It’s his only chance for surviving.

4. Turning point – the ultimate failure: Alex reveals Scarlett’s identity to his old friends. They’re out for revenge now.

· Change agent: Roger Tate

· Transformational characters: Alex Donovan

· Old ways: Alex running from his past.

· New ways: Alex facing his past – in the wrong way. He accepts their offer to return, to take up his place as leader.

· Vision: Alex is just trying to survive now. He believes he can’t overcome his past (his ultimate failure).

· Challenges: Reconciling the past and the present – how can he and Scarlett mend their relationship? Can he keep her from making the same mistakes he did?

· Weaknesses: Feeling overly empowered by then rejected by Scarlett. He slips back into his old ways.

G. Mini-Movie 7: crisis and climax

1. Alex sees victory: he closes the deal with the buyer – the first honest thing he’s done. Tells Roger to leave. He’s going back home.

2. Turns the tables on his antagonist: Alex is nearly killed. He runs and busy the cocaine for the South End.

3. The tables turn one more time: Alex realizes Roger is from the North. This whole time, he’s been helping Alex – someone from the other side. Alex realizes that change is possible.

4. Turning point – apparent victory: Gives him a new understanding of the family feud. It’s not worth it.

· Change agent: Alex Donovan, Roger Tate

· Transformational characters: Alex Donovan, Roger Tate, Scarlett Brennan

· Betraying character: Joe Byrne

· Old ways: Alex trying to get “back in” with his family. Back to the counterfeiting grin. Temporary relapse.

· New ways: Alex realizes he can never go back. Scarlett is his family.

· Challenge: Rejecting the old ways. He is faced with both family dynasties and must reject both sides. Must forgive Scarlett for what she did to him

· Weaknesses: Meets with the dealer and buys the cocaine. Still feeling a bitterness over Kitty’s death. Unwilling to let it go. He and Scarlett still have a long way to go before they completely trust each other.

H. Mini-Movie 8: new status quo

1. Alex puts down Richard’s last attempt to defeat him: Everyone gathers at the casino. In the showdown scene, Richard kills himself.

2. Wrapping up his story: Alex and Scarlett make their peace.

3. Alex’s new world: Alex and Scarlett will leave Boston and join Roger in Chicago.

· New ways: Alex “stands on his own.” He and Scarlett have each other – they will join Roger in Chicago. Leaving behind Boston for good. He has learned about leaving the past behind. He has overcome his addiction. He has done something honest in his life and learned that family is more than last name.

· Profound truth: Family is more than last name – it’s people who care about and are loyal to one another. We can overcome previous mistakes and start over. Redemption is possible.

How are the “Old Ways” Challenged?

What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?

5 Question Challenges to an Old Way.

Alex questions if
the old life was good for him at the car auction – he’s in the middle of
starting to live his new ways and expresses a counterexample about his
old way of life
Alex rejects
Patrick’s offer to come back – he says he’s on his own now, and doesn’t
need the family to make it
Alex tells Roger
that Nathanial was “never one of his” – therefore, he cannot accept the
money.
The first 10 mins
of the film show Alex’s illegal activities, all of which are challenged
by Will, the one character who has never been to prison
When Roger
reminds Alex that he’s sold nothing, Alex turns the conversation on
Roger, asking him what he did to land in prison

5 Counterexamples to an Old Way.

The whole
car-buying montage shows the problems with dishonesty when doing business
– Alex, Jack, and Sean are now on the receiving end of the scamming and
meet honest and dishonest sellers. The honest sellers are counterexamples
to their old selves while the dishonest sellers are counterexamples to
their current personas.
Patrick is still
held hostage to the old system. He still believes in it and expects Alex
to leave everything behind for it.
Alex accepts
Nathanial’s money. He begins to use it to build his business and invites
Scarlett to work for him. He wants to get to know her. He treats her as a
friend and colleague, despite her being from the other side of Boston.
Alex engages in
legal activity – the car resale business is entirely legal and Alex’s
most productive venture. It’s a new feeling for him.
Alex opens up to
Roger, entrusting him with his conflicted feelings about Kitty, Scarlett,
and his old life – the first moment of trust in their relationship.

“Should work, but doesn’t challenges”

· Alex accepting the money: Alex accepts the Caden money because he believes it’s something Kitty would’ve wanted him to do. She once told him that “what’s mine is yours,” so he views the money as no different. The challenge is getting Scarlett’s signature to begin liquidation. The new way is viewing the money as something that will lead him to Scarlett and ultimately bring them together.

· Alex completing rehab: Alex goes through the five stages of grief while in rehab. He views it as something he must “check off” to gain his freedom. During the nine months, he’s away from the prison, overcomes his cocaine withdrawal, and gets some direction for his next step. He does it on his own and learns about the value of self-sufficiency.

· Alex launching his business: Alex is feeling alone in his mission and wants to treat Jack, Sean, Scarlett, and Will as a “work family.” He wants them to have the same loyalty that he had to the Donovans – his work family is his new support system. The new way is realizing that just because they’re working together doesn’t automatically make them loyal to him.

· Alex inviting Scarlett to work for him: Alex dislikes the idea of Scarlett – he views her as a “mistake” and something he should have to cover up. After bringing her on, getting to know her, and starting to liquidate, Alex realizes how similar they are. His new ways are trying to connect with her and viewing her as family.

· Alex’s loyal relationship to Patrick and the family business: Alex starts off as someone who will do anything for his friends and family. He goes to prison for them. However, his preconceived notions of loyalty and family are challenged when he starts to be successful on his own. He firmly rejects Doyle’s offer to return at the midpoint, and then clearly states his intentions in the final scenes. He is no longer loyal to the Donovan family and cause.

Living Metaphor challenges

· Poker games: Alex winning or losing is a sign of his success or failure in completing his character arc

· Scarlett’s successes and failures: Scarlett represents Alex’s old life – her “making it” and learning to trust Alex is a sign that they’re going to be alright, and their new ways will prevail

· The business: Alex’s car resale business represents his “self-made man” image – he’s built it on his own and without help from his family

· Drug use and eating disorder: Alex’s drug use and Scarlett’s eating disorder represent their old “unhealthy” ways of life – by treating these behaviors, they’ve fixed the underlying problems

· Card analogies: Alex as the ace and Scarlett as the queen – these cards are highlights of the card games and represent Alex and Scarlett’s states of being (ex: the queen card is ripped in half, showing Scarlett’s brokenness)

How are You Presenting Insights
through Profound Moments?
A. Action delivers insight

· Poker games: Alex winning or losing is a sign of his success or failure in completing his character arc

· Scarlett’s successes and failures: Scarlett represents Alex’s old life – her “making it” and learning to trust Alex is a sign that they’re going to be alright, and their new ways will prevail

· The business: Alex’s car resale business represents his “self-made man” image – he’s built it on his own and without help from his family

· Drug use and eating disorder: Alex’s drug use and Scarlett’s eating disorder represent their old “unhealthy” ways of life – by treating these behaviors, they’ve fixed the underlying problems

· Card analogies: Alex as the ace and Scarlett as the queen – these cards are highlights of the card games and represent Alex and Scarlett’s states of being (ex: the queen card is ripped in half, showing Scarlett’s brokenness)
B. Conflict delivers insight

· Argument provokes someone to tell the truth: Roger + Scarlett’s argument about Alex provokes Roger to reveal the truth about the inheritance (Nathanial is the benefactor)

· Conflict brings out true nature: Alex + Scarlett’s heated discussion over Alex’s “new ways” – she proves to him that he hasn’t yet changed…he still can’t admit the truth to her or own up to what happened with Kitty

· Conflict covers an emotional issue: Alex is terrified of being abandoned – when Jack and Shaun leave, he freaks out and pulls a gun on them. He realizes he’s powerless and must let them go.

· Conflict uncovers a secret: Ted and Alex’s feuding (even 20 years later) uncovers the truth about Scarlett.

· Loss: Alex’s constant struggle with loss and feeling alone/abandoned result in his need to have a support structure and others around him.

C. Irony delivers insight

· Opening poker game: Alex and the family are all telling each other how united they are while playing a poker game against each other.

· Inheritance: Alex receives Nathanial’s money and estate, but in order to collect it he must get Scarlett’s signature. What he viewed as a loss (receiving dishonest money) becomes a win (he and Scarlett will leave the old ways behind).

· Shane is determined to make Alex the next heir of the family. His pressure ends up alienating Alex, resulting in his untimely death.

· Alex and Roger’s first meeting: Alex resolutely states that no man from the North would ever help a man from the South End. Roger is from the North End. He helps Alex and Scarlett time and time again. Alex realizes how wrong he was in their final meeting.

· Ending poker game: The two sides play poker against each other. They give the appearance of being united, but their loyalties are crumbling. The North End ends up turning on themselves, and the South End will fizzle because their leadership is gone. The poker game ends with Richard’s suicide instead of Alex’s death.

What are the Most Profound Lines of
the Movie?
Pattern A: Height of the Emotion

Ted has just told Alex that he has a daughter on the Brennan and Caden side. He speaks his last words and then passes, leaving Alex shocked and in denial: Your daughter lives, your daughter is alive, your daughter is waiting for you (spoken by Ted and then later on, Alex)

Alex is feeling triggered by his relationship with Kitty. He keeps remembering back to their time together and struggling to make sense of why he didn’t act or stand up for her. He ends up “apologizing” to her as he breaks down: I can’t go back, forgive me, help me (spoken by Alex in both dream scenes and then later on when Scarlett is asleep)

Alex’s business has just been burned and he’s at an “all is lost moment.” Scarlett responds to him quite favorably, as she doesn’t know the truth yet and thinks he is just someone who has helped her without a reason. She encourages him: From the ashes (spoken by Scarlett as she tells him that he can rebuild – this doesn’t have to be the end for him, and by Alex later on when he burns the cocaine shipment and rejects his old ways for good.)

Roger has just revealed he’s from the North End, leaving no more secrets between him and Alex. Roger has threatened to turn Alex in by “making the call,” but Alex assures him there’s no need. He has changed for the better: I’ve made the call (said by Roger when he first meets Alex and then repeated by Alex during their last meeting.)

Scarlett is in critical condition. Alex speaks to her, hoping she can hear him. He answers some of her questions before about his choices and what the point of their lives is: I chose (spoken by Roger, Scarlett, and Alex at some point or another during the script – first Roger, then Scarlett, and finally Alex.)
Pattern B: Build Meaning Over Multiple Scenes

Making the call (Roger and Alex’s four one-on-one scenes where they each reveal something in each scene) – a call in poker refers to the amount that other players have staked in bets or raises.

1. Beginning meaning: betting against each other

2. Ending meaning: betting on each other (positively)

The life I live v. the life I chose (having a choice is seen as negative and a betrayal of the system, and then becomes something the transformable characters strive for by the end)

3. Beginning meaning: Alex’ choices make sense for him, and he’s content with following along. He feels satisfied with them.

4. Ending meaning: Alex has regret over his choices. He knows they weren’t the right ones and he’s taken on new ways.

Ace in the hole (slang for Alex at the top in the old system, proudly spoken by Shane, Patrick, and Alex meaning that is “one of them”)

5. Beginning meaning: Shane is proud that Alex is his “ace in the hole,” Alex willingly gives himself up, telling Patrick and Collin that he is Shane’s “ace in the hole.”

6. Ending meaning: Alex is no longer content to be that – in the climax scene, he tells Saoirse that the ace in the hole is dead.

How Do You Leave Us With A Profound
Ending?
A. Deliver The Profound Truth Profoundly

· Alex burns the cocaine shipment – he’s rejected his drug habit

· Alex doesn’t kill Richard – he’s done with his lawless way of life

· The poker game ends in a standoff and with Alex leaving

· Alex’s monologue and apology to Scarlett at the end

B. Lead Characters Ending Represents The Change

· Alex is leaving Boston – he’s left behind his old home/family

· Alex’s poker moves in the final poker game when he tries to unite rather than divide

· Alex choses to walk out rather than kill Richard

· His decision to leave Boston means that he’s rejected his old ways

C. Payoff Key Setups

· Who killed Kitty Caden? Final reveal that it was Richard Brennan.

· Alex and Roger’s constant feuding is put to rest with Roger’s admission that his real last name is Walsh

· Scarlett sees that Alex was right and rejects Richard

D. Surprising, But Inevitable

· Alex was going to need to confront Richard, but he did it in a nonviolent way

· Roger and Alex were going to need to get through to each other, but Roger was the one with the bigger secret

· Scarlett was going to need to reject her old ways, and she did it by directly confronting Richard and telling him that Alex chose the right path

· Alex was going to need to collect the inheritance, but the money took on a new meaning for him

E. Leave Us with a Profound Parting Image/Line

· Alex’s last line in the poker game: this is my life, this is my future

· The final scene is Scarlett and Alex in an embrace – we never thought we’d see a Brennan and Donovan at peace

[Wayne Petitto]

TITLE: TOO SOON?
WRITTEN BY: Wayne Petitto
1. Profound Truth? The world can only be saved through, integrity, grace, and forgiveness.
2. Transformational Journey? Peter & Jeannie discover their 6-entruy long differences and use them to set and example to the world of how to resolve itself.
Old Ways: Peter: Guilt complex & self-doubt – Jeannie: Distrusts men & critical of authority
Journey: Peter: Motivated by love for Jeannie, recognizes the difference between his church’s dogma and true faith. Eventually musters enough faith to face society. – Jeannie: Motivated by her love for Peter, overcomes her distrust of men and utilizes authority for positive changes in the world.
New Ways: Peter: Bold, free willed, articulate under pressure. – Jeannie: Forgiving, understanding, patient with authority.
Transformational Logline: Peter & Jeannie overcome their fears and defenses to use their own 600-yer-old conflict resolution as an example to the world.
3. Who are Your Lead Characters? Peter & Jeannie are the transformable characters and each other’s biggest change agents.
Change Agent (the one causing the change):
Oppression: Society & worldwide media yield death threats and healing requests.
4. How Do You Connect With Your Audience in the Beginning of the Movie?
A. Relatability: Two typical college kids.
B. Intrigue: Discovering they’ been Joan of Arc & the bishop who had her executed.
C. Empathy: Their innocence, them against the world.
D. Likability: Honest, studious, love theior mothers, lost their dads.
5. What is the Gradient of the Change?
What steps do the Transformational Characters go through as they are changing?
Gradient 1. The Emotional Gradient
A. The “Forced Change” Emotional Gradient: Peter can’t deny the evil in his past life, becomes angry with himself, tries to ignore it, becomes deeply troubled to the point of breaking up with Jeannie, and finally realizes he must stand up to society.
Jeannie doesn’t want anyone to know who she was in her past life, becomes angry when she things Peter is trying to seduce her, tries to get Peter to allow society to know the real Peter, discourages getting back with Peter despite her love for him, attempts to resolve things on her own by re-experiencing Joan of Arc’s death, and finally shares with Peter and the world what she learned.
B. The “Desired Change” Emotional Gradient: Jeannie’s distrust is dissolved by Peter’s innocence, honesty, and faithfulness. – Peter’s Guilt complex is resolved by Jeannie’s understanding, patience, and perseverance.
Gradient 2. The Action Gradient
Setup: They learn who they and who each other were in a past life.
Journey: They find great interest in each other, use each other’s majors in politics and religion to solve all world issues, and decide let the world see they’re just two normal college students.
Payoff: They set a grand gesture example to the world.
Gradient 3. The Challenge / Weakness Gradient
Challenge: Getting over their past conflict, being attacked by media, getting death threats and worse, healing requests from the dying.
Weakness: Peter’s guilt complex, Jeannie’s distrust of men and authority.
6. What is the Transformational Structure of Your Story?
Mini-Movie 1 ¬ Status Quo and Call to Adventure: They discover their past lives.
Mini-Movie 2 ¬ Locked Into Conflict: They meet and discover each other’s past.
Mini-Movie 3 — Hero Tries to Solve Problem ¬ But Fails. They try to keep their past lives a secret but get discovered and hijacked by media.
Mini-Movie 4 ¬ Hero Forms a Plan: They try to let it blow over but news media continues to frame them.
Mini-Movie 5 ¬ Hero Retreats & Antagonist Wins: They break up and feelings appear to go cold.
Mini-Movie 6 ¬ Hero’s Bigger, Better Plan!: Peter agrees to go on “Dr. Paul” TV show. Jeannie goes to experience Joan of Arc’s death.
Mini-Movie 7 ¬ Crisis & Climax: They don’t get a chance to resolve anything before going on TV live! The TV audience gets involved antagonizing the situation.
Mini-Movie 8 ¬ New Status Quo: They defend each other, tell the world it’s most basic problem, and set an example of forgiveness and love for the world.
7. How are the “Old Ways” Challenged?
What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
A. Challenge through Questioning: Peter begins to challenge his Catholic dogma. Jeannie questions Peter about actual Christian values.
B. Challenge by Counterexample: Jennie is and example to Peter of true faith over dogma. Peter is an example to Jeannie of being a trustworthy man, trusting authority.
C. Challenge by “Should Work, But Doesn’t”: Keep it secret doesn’t work when the media finds out.
D. Challenge through Living Metaphor: The Monsignor represents the Catholic dogma. News reporters represent society. At one point the hockey game announcer’s description of Peter making a goal represents Jeannie’s dream fantasy of Peter making physical advances.
8. How are You Presenting Insights through Profound Moments?
A. Action delivers insight: Peter goes to confession feeling guilty about his past life, having put a Saint to death, and the Monsignor takes him into his office.
B. Conflict delivers insight: Peter is convinced his past life experience was real, but the Monsignor is strict about Catholic doctrine against reincarnation (other than Jesus). Peter stands his grounds even when threatened by excommunication.
C. Irony delivers insight: Peter breaks free of his pure Catholic dogma.
1. What are the Most Profound Lines of the Movie?
Pattern A: Height of the Emotion: Peter argues with the Monsignor over his past life experience because the Church does not believe in mortal reincarnation. It escalates to the Monsignor threatening excommunication, and then further to the point that the Monsignor believes Peter is possessed and tries to exorcise the evil spirit, holding his crucifix out at arm’s length toward Peter. Peter simply leans in, kisses the crucifix and says, “Forgive him, for he knows not what he does,” and walks out, letting the door close behind him.
Pattern B: Build Meaning Over Multiple Scenes: At dinner in a fine restaurant, they order a carafe of wine and Peter begins a toast not thinking ahead of what he’ll say. Referencing their diametrically opposed past lives he gets so far, then realizes their new relationship is too new and gets stuck. It goes like this:
PETER
“To the future. May it be so different from the past that,.. that, I don’t know. What?”
JEANNIE
“That it saves the world?”
PETER
Yes, why not. Let’s save the world.
Arc: Without these same words, the concept of saving the world or solving all the world’s issues comes up on occasion.
The next time is after they have been sitting at Mandy’s Ice-Cream discussing what the world needs. When Peter drops her off at the college gate, they joke about having solved all the world’s problems, “if only we could get the world to listen.”
In the last scene (on TV), just before they set an example to the world, Peter says, “today I’m going to do what Bishop Cauchon could never do,” and asks Jeannie as Joan of Arc to forgive him as Bishop Cauchon, in a grand gesture of forgiveness and grace.
Thus, giving the world an example to follow to save itself.
It ends in a wonderful embrace that segues to the same embrace at their wedding 4-years later, where Peter kisses his bride, and Jeannie whispers in his ear, “tonight we can do something neither Bishop Cauchon nor Joan of Arc could ever do.” As the screen fades to blank, Peter asks, “Save the world?” and Jeannie (V.O.) says, “No, just rock it.”
Meanings: What they stated as a flippant toast to the future, came to fruition as their destiny set in motion nearly 600 years earlier. Then the epilogue alludes to Joan of Arc’s vow of chastity (as well as presumably the bishops) and how having completed their profound mission, they may enjoy freedom to consummate their marriage
9. How Do You Leave Us With A Profound Ending?
A. Deliver The Profound Truth Profoundly: Peter & Jeannie speak to each other (& TV) as Joan of Arc and Bishop Cauchon setting an example to the world by resolving their differences, with forgiveness, humility, and grace.
B. Lead Characters Ending Represents The Change: They could not possibly have accomplished this if not for all they experienced and learned throughout the movie.
C. Payoff Key Setups: 1. He toast on their first date, “to the future, may it be so different from the past, that it saves the world – when in the end they use their past to save the world.
D. Surprising, But Inevitable: Jeannie went and experienced Joan of Arc’s death to discover that she had forgiven the bishop (Peter) 600-years earlier.
E. Leave Us with a Profound Parting Image/Line: Because both Jeannie and Peter are both virgins by choice as were Joan of Arc and Bishop Cauchon, in the epilogue wedding scene Jeanie whispers to Peter, “Tonight we can do what Joan of Arc and Bishop Cauchon could never do.” Peter asks, “Save the world?” Jeannie replies, “No, rock it.”