Lesson 21

[Stephen Maynard]

Subject line: Stephen Maynard Act 4 First Scenes

“What I learned doing this assignment is…?” Having identified the DIMEMMA, I must now deal with inserting 1. the place where the boys see that they have a dilemma, 2. the place where they realize the consequences of their dilemma, and finally, the place where the boys come to grips and deal with their dilemma.

1. Outline Key Scene 1. Reaction to 3rd Act Turning Point.

BEGINNING: Pearl sees that her boys are utterly disillusioned and suffering with despair.

MIDDLE: In Pearl’s naivety she believes she can help her boys to become strong and good young men.

END: She dresses them in her father’s clothes. They regain their lost confidence. it seems that “clothes maketh the man”.

2. Outline Key Scene 2. The protagonist faces their Dilemma.

BEGINNING: Back to the drawing board. I’ll have to return to my outline and plot my Dilemma.

MIDDLE: The Dilemma for the boys is; What can we do? If we expose the Villins, we ruin our chances with their daughters.

END: Dilemma.

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

Pearl is the change agent, She helps our heroes transform from boys to mature young men by dressing them in her beloved father’s clothes and urging them to act with confidence.

INT. GREYSTONE HOUSE – ATTIC – NIGHT Key Scene 1: Reaction to 3rd Act Turning Point.

Johnny holds a silver candelabra with flaming candles for Pearl, as she rummages in a cedar chest.

Stevie shines a flashlight on the chest.

PEARL

This is the one, boys.

She lifts out a hatbox and hands it to Stevie. She hands Johnny a box.

She goes to a large trunk, folds it out, pulls out a drawer, brushes away mothballs, and takes two cellophane bags containing neatly folded pastel-striped shirts.

She takes two suits hanging in a cedar-lined compartment.

INT. GREYSTONE HOUSE – LIVINGROOM – DAY

Stevie and Johnny stand in two-tone wingtip shoes, trousers with single inverted pleats, open-collar shirts, and finely tailored linen jackets. A couple of young versions of The Great Gatsby.

They don Panama fedoras with a flourish.

STEVIE

Erasmus. Vestes facit homo.

JOHNNY

Clothes maketh the man.

Write Key Scene 2: The protagonist faces their Dilemma.

I’m working on it.

[Steve Jones]

Steve Jones Act 4 First Scenes

What I learned doing this assignment is that there’s no substitute for words on pages. Get it out of your head and onto the page and the magic starts to happen.

INT. OFFICE – DAY

BEGINNING: Harry accepts Carina’s help to get back to Mars.

MIDDLE: Harry is prepped for the journey with a false ID and gets the contraband.

END: Harry is ready to return to Mars illegally

INT. SPACEPORT – DAY

BEGINNING: Harry is terrified he will be caught and imprisoned on earth.

MIDDLE: Harry puts his trust in Carina completely.

END: They get through customs and onto the ship.

INT. CARINA’S OFFICE – NIGHT

Harry waits in Carina’ office. He sits, fidgets, stands and paces.

Carina enters with a middle-aged man.

CARINA

Harry, this is Ellis.

HARRY

Hi. Sorry about this.

CARINA

I haven’t told him yet.

ELLIS

Told me what?

CARINA

I’m afraid we’re going to have to postpone your trip.

ELLIS

What? Until when?

CARINA

Maybe for a few months.

ELLIS

Months? I’ve sold my apartment. I’ve got no-where to live.

CARINA

We’ll sort something out. It’s just not safe right now.

ELLIS

Why not?

HARRY

Because some psycho is killing illegals the minute they set foot on Mars.

ELLIS

Really? Oh. Maybe you’re right. Just for bit, right? I can stay with my sister for a few days.

CARINA

Just one more question. Did Keenan make any preparations that involved a general anesthetic?

ELLIS

Yes, he said I needed an implant to help fool the scans at the other end.

CARINA

Where did he put it?

ELLIS

Here (INDICATING HIS NECK).

HARRY

We’d better remove that temporarily if you’re not going for a few weeks.

ELLIS

Sure.

INT. PREP ROOM – EARTH – NIGHT

Harry lies on the couch as Carina tales the object from a vial.

HARRY

That’s what this is all about?

CARINA

It’s what will keep you alive long enough.

HARRY

You’ve added the tracker?

CARINA

Don’t worry. It’s in there.

HARRY

Don’t worry? What have I got to worry about? I’m putting my life in your hands. What if you don’t get there? What if he kills me before Worple’s there? What if…

CARINA

We’ll be there.

Harry lies back and Carina inserts the object into his neck.

HARRY

You better be.