Lesson 21

[Pat GALBRAITH Galbraith]

ASSIGNMENT 21

Subject line: Pat’s Act 4 First Scenes

Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is fitting in my scenes exactly as needed.

Outline Key Scene 1 and 2.

Scene 1 Outline

1.Hank believes his lost everything, Elaine, and he’s been fine 10,000 dollars

for operating a business in his house without a license.

2. Hank’s mom invites him to be her date at a grand party.

2. Write Key Scene 1: Reaction to 3rd Act Turning Point.

INT. BISTRO – NIGHT

Hanks arrives early and sits at the bar. Has a couple of drinks. Elaine is running late. He looks down at his watch.

Takes his phone out to check on her and dials the phone.

The phone rings for a long time, then a man picks up.

Hank hangs up the phone. He sits there for a few minutes feeling sorry for himself.

Hank looks up to see Terri from class come through the door alone. She notices him and walks over.

TERRI

You don’t look so good Hank. What’s going on?

HANK

Just got the worse news of my life.

TERRI

What happened or are you being dramatic?

HANK

Just lost my wife, she’s got another man.

TERRI

That sucks, what are you going do about it?

HANK

Shoot my brains out?

TERRI

You really do need a therapist, don’t you? Ok I’m here let’s give it a whirl. Like in class?

INT. ELAINE’S APARTMENT/HALL – NIGHT

There is a knock at the door. Elaine rushes to the door.

ELAINE

Your just in time, my sink is running over, and I need to be somewhere. Sam Can you just lock up when you done?

SAM

No problem, Ma’am.

Elaine runs down the hall as we hear a phone ringing.

INT. BISTRO – NIGHT

HANK

She called asked me to meet her here. So here I’m. She was running late so I gave her a call. He picked up.

TERRI

Think you might be jumping to conclusions?

Elaine enters the Bistro. Looks over to the bar. Sees Hank with a young girl. They seem to be serious. She leaves the bar.

HANK

It was her number. It was her man don’t you think. I’m not an idiot. I don’t have to be hit on the head.

TERRI

So why did she call?

HANK

She wanted to tell me she had found someone else? She’s the only one of the 7 that I loved.

TERRI

Don’t write her off yet, till you know for sure. Hey, look I got to run got someone waiting.

INT. HANKS HOUSE – DAY

Hank calls carrot Top

HANK

Mom, I’m over here having a pity party can you come over?

CARROT TOP

Be right there.

Carrot Top arrives with a cake.

CARROT TOP

Thought I’d cheer you up. Give me all the details.

HANK

Elaine has found someone else.

CARROT TOP

She wouldn’t do that. Honey

HANK

Well, I need to face it. He answered her phone.

CARROT TOP

That sounds about right, but have you talked to her about it?

HANK

Mom? I’m not stupid.

CARROT TOP

So, you’ve talked to her then?

HANK

I’m afraid I don’t have anything to say to her. She has another man.

CARROT TOP

Well, that’s a reason to pick up your step, if you want to keep her you do.

3. Write Key Scene 2: Protagonist faces their Dilemma.

INT.
CAR – DAY

Carrot
Top rings Hank’s phone.

CARROT
TOP

Hey
son, what are you doing tomorrow night.

HANK

Hanging
out here at the house.

CARROT
TOP

Carol
Penny is having a grand party and I hear Elaine will be there. You can be my
date, Sam’s, out of town.

HANK

No
mom, I won’t chase her. It makes things worse.

CARROT
TOP

All
right, but this might be your last chance.

Hank
decides to go to the party.

[Tasha Espinoza]

Tasha’s Act 4 First Scenes

Doing this assignment, I learned: That reaction can be quick or they can build up over time. Whatever works best to keep you moving forward.

1. Outline Key Scene 1 and 2.

Outline Scene 1 – The Reaction

INT. CHURCH – NIGHT

Beginning: Bethany wakes up in her church chapel to find herself restrained on the altar. Koju is also restrained. The Bishop is there.

Middle: Deacon Anders plays a video (same video Bethany watches at Costco) of the exorcism of Bethany.

End: Deacon Anders tells his congregation that he will exorcise Koju and in a demonstration of the divinity that is working through him and the mastery of the occult it has given him, he will transfer the demon to Bethany. Bethany has to face the fear of possession once again.

Outline Scene 2 – Facing the dilemma

INT. BETHANY’S SOUL – DAY

Beginning: While unconscious, Bethany travels into her soul and meets Demon 23 and Koju. Koju conducts a couples therapy-esque session so Bethany and Demon 23 can hash out their issues.

Middle: Bethany learns that Demon 23 was conjured by Deacon Anders who is going to use both Bethany and Demon 23 to advance his career. He plans to possess the pope and he’s marked Bethany for death.

End: Bethany must delay her plans to break Demon 23’s attachment to her by banishing him so they can join forces and stop Deacon Anders.

2. Write Key Scene 1: Reaction to 3rd Act Turning Point.

INT. CHURCH – NIGHT

Bethany wakes up. She is tied to a self-standing rack that is set up in the front of the altar in the church.

Koju moans next to her. He is unconscious and also tied to a self standing rack.

She only has a moment to cast a wild glance around the packed church and take in the bishop sitting in the front pew before the lights are lowered and a video begins to play on the screen that has just descended in front of the Jesus on the Cross.

The crowd gasps in shock as Bethany’s exorcism unfolds onscreen in an edited version.

The lights come back on and Deacon Anders, holding a mic, walks over to Bethany.

DEACON ANDERS

This is Bethany Sawyer. She is the young girl in the video.

Gasps come from the crowd.

DEACON ANDERS

For her safety and for yours, she has agreed to be restrained before you today.

Bethany tries to speak to say he’s lying, but she’s still paralyzed.

DEACON ANDERS

Bethany is still plagued by the demon that Father Ptolemy negelected to exorcise from her that day. I was a young clergyman unexperienced in the realm of exorcism, so I couldn’t recognize when one was performed incorrectly and therefore was ineffective. I couldn’t understand what happened at the time, but I knew I had to keep and eye on Bethany. I had to vigilent against the evil should it return and use Bethany as a tool of corruption of innocence, which it has done, slowly, insiduously since that botched exorcism so long ago. And the result? She has brought her demon this poor young man and it has possessed him.

As if on cue, Koju’s eyes fly open and he begins to writhe and thrash and knash his teeth in an animalistic way.

The crowd collectively reacts in horror.

DEACON ANDERS

But have no fear! Truly. Since my days under Father Ptolemy, I have trained and studied. And I have been given a divine gift! I have been given the gift of letting God act through me to command the unholy demons that plague his innocents of his flock. I have been given tha ability to hold dominion over any and all of the devil’s soldier that seek to steel the souls of the meek like this young man here. And so bear witness to God’s power as I free this man from the evil clutches of Satan and exorcise him of Bethany’s demon!

Deacon Anders places his hand on Koju’s head and recites and incantation he has remembered from his Summoning Book.

DEACON ANDERS

[Insert Summoning Spell]

Koju’s boy contorts violently and unnaturally as a demonic scream emits from his mouth. A black cloud rises up out of Koju through his mouth and hovers over Koju per the spells instruction.

Koju can barely lift his head, he is so weak.

KOJU

What happened?

Koju’s head flops back on the rack as he passes out.

DEACON ANDERS

And now, in a demonstration of true divine power and a complete command of the duality of possession and exorcism, I will return the demon to his original host in an attempt to banish it once and for all and free this wretched soul.

BETHANY

What?

Deacon Anders smiles at Bethany and then faces the crowd with a more solem look.

DEACON ANDERS

Don’t fear. This will only go wrong if her soul has already been lost to the devil, but either way, the demon will be expelled back to Hell once all is done.

Bethany tries to struggle but to no avail.

DEACON ANDERS

[Insert Spell]

Bethany’s body goes rigid against the rack. Her mouth is forced open by the spell and the dark cloud of Demon 23 enters her.

Bethany’s eyes roll back in her head and she passes out against the rack.

3. Write Key Scene 2: Protagonist faces their Dilemma.

INT. BETHANY’S SOUL – DAY

Bethany walks around a space that looks like the coffee shop only it’s really bright, clean and empty. She takes a seat at one of the tables.

BETHANY

Where am I?

Koju enters the space and sits at the table.

KOJU

Your soul.

BETHANY

Why does my soul look like the coffee shop.

KOJU

If I have to guess, it’s because it’s your happy place?

BETHANY

That checks out. Why are you here?

KOJU

He brought me.

Demon 23 enters the space.

Bethany jumps out of her seat.

BETHANY

What the fuck! Get out!

KOJU

Bethany!

BETHANY

(to Demon 23)

Get the fuck out!

KOJU

Bethany, you brought him here.

Bethany looks at Koju accusingly.

BETHANY

What?

KOJU

You invited him here.

DEMON 23

You brought us into your soul, which is something I was always trying to get ahold of. But now I’m a guest because everything is on your terms. Something like me can only be here if you want me here. All that spiritual work you’ve been doing on yourself.

BETHANY

I don’t understand.

KOJU

Apparently when Deacon Anders try to possess you by sending Demon 23 into you, you spiritual strength took away the power of the spell and placed us here, in this very controlled environment.

BETHANY

I’m sorry. Why are you here again?

DEMON 23

When I was sent into his body, we got to talking and he made me see some things about myself that I had understood or realized before. And he’s such a nice guy.

BETHANY

So.

KOJU

So, he understood that he needed to tell you a few things and he thought that maybe I could meditate.

Bethany’s face drops

BETHANY

Like couple’s therapy?

KOJU

Well, sort of.

BETHANY

We’re not a couple.

KOJU

You’ve been together for several months now. And you have history.

Bethany’s eyes widen in disbelief at what Koju is saying.

KOJU

What would it cost you to hear him out?

BETHANY

Um, he’s a demon. Manipulative, evil, wants my soul.

DEMON 23

I don’t want that anymore. Can I please sit?

BETHANY

No.

KOJU

Bethany.

BETHANY

No, Koju.

KOJU

(to Demon 23)

Sit.

Demon 23 sits down.

BETHANY

My terms, my ass.

DEMON 23

Look, Bethany. I will tell you my name right now and you can cast me out of here and away from you forever, but I need to tell you a few things first.

Bethany sits back in her chair and crosses her arms.

BETHANY

Whatever.

DEMON 23

First of all, I’m sorry. For everything. For possessing you when you were a kid. For messing up your dates with Brad and that Ben guy. For breaking your shelf. All of it.

Bethany rolls her eyes.

DEMON 23

And I’ve come to realize that I was acting out of jealousy. I didn’t want anyone to have you but me. And through talking to Koju, I realized that it wasn’t really about possessing your soul, but more about maybe possessing your heart.

BETHANY

What?

DEMON 23

I know, I know. It sounds crazy and at first I was just as shocked by it as you are. But it makes sense. The attachment, that was something I wanted. The guys I chased away. Getting physical with you in the bathroom. I’m ashamed and I would take it back if I could.

BETHANY

So what am I supposed to do? Forgive you.

DEMON 23

No. I’m not asking you to. But you should use me?

Bethany’s brow furrows in confusion.

DEMON 23

Deacon Anders lied. Father Ptolemy successfully exorcised me that day.

BETHANY

Then how did you come back?

DEMON 23

Deacon Anders summoned me and created the attachment using a curse. He wanted me to destroy not just your dating life, but you. And he wanted to do it all in preparation for his final gambit for the papacy.

BETHANY

I thought he just wanted to be Bishop.

DEMON 23

No, he wants power. The top brass. He figured if he could master the dark arts and create a narrative that you needed corrected exorcising, then he could lure the bishop here and it would be a big thing when he…

BETHANY

When he…

DEMON 23

Possessed the Bishop with the demon that kills you, kinda like supernatural leverage to get the Vatican to play ball with him. I mean, if he can send demons into people, what will make him stop at the Pope.

BETHANY

I’m sorry, go back to the part about the demon that kills me.

DEMON 23

He marked you for death and he’s going to finish you off with a spell and say that I killed you because your soul wasn’t pure or some shit. And then I’m supposed to hop out of you and jump into the bishop.

BETHANY

If he thinks he’s going to kill me, he has another thing coming.

DEMON 23

Bethany, he’s deadly with the spell. And he has control over me when I’m not in here.

BETHANY

So we’re doomed.

DEMON 23

There might be a way to defeat him yet. But you will have to trust me.

BETHANY

Tell me your name and we have a deal.