Lesson 3

[Clive Morris]

Clive Morris – Hero’s mission track
What I learned doing this assignment:
When a hero has nothing left to lose—and finds something worth saving—he can become unstoppable. Also, how to get more action into the movie – which I probably would not have noticed before – and how to keep escalating things.
1. Mission Track Questions
A. What is it about this Hero that will have them go straight into the face of overwhelming odds?
Rick is a broken MMA fighter, once feared and now forgotten, riddled with guilt over the injury he caused his best friend in the ring. When his father is threatened and later captured, something primal wakes up. He fights not to prove he’s still strong—but to finally be useful again, to redeem the man he became.
B. What is the mission that would be an impossible goal?
To take on a heavily armed escaped prison gang and a corrupt police chief and his men, with few allies, while recovering from addiction, and save both his estranged father and ex-girlfriend—all while trying not to become the monster he used to be in the cage.
C. What strong internal and external motivation could drive the hero?
* Internal: Guilt. Wanting to prove to himself he’s not the man with the uncontrollable temper who walked away from everyone and then became a petty thief and slob .
* External: Protecting his father. Saving his ex-girlfriend, Julia. Exposing the corrupt police chief – Keller.
* Symbolic: Reclaiming his name—not as a champion, but as a man worth trusting.
D. What could naturally happen if this hero went on this mission against this villain?
He would be outnumbered, overwhelmed, and forced to train, rebuild, and fight smarter. He would lose people. He would come close to relapse. He would uncover secrets about his father. In the end, he’d have to make a brutal choice between saving the person he loves or exposing a system that ruins lives.

2. Mission Steps
Clear Mission:
Save his dad, Hank, from the gang and expose Chief Keller’s corruption.

Motivation:
Rick’s life is a wreck. But when the man who abandoned him turns out to have always been protecting him—and now needs his protection—Rick finds something worth fighting for.

Inciting Incident:
Hank is attacked outside his retirement home. Rick intervenes, kills one attacker, and they both flee. Hank reveals he’s holding incriminating evidence that powerful men want destroyed.

First Action:
Rick brings Hank to a remote cabin (owned by Henk’s girlfriend – Marge). He begins physical and mental training to reclaim his strength, get off drugs – while Hank reveals the full truth about why these guys are after him.

Obstacle:
The gang tracks them down and attacks. Beating drugs is more difficult than he thought – Hank is wounded. They escap

Escalation:
Rick Gathers weapons. Calls in his petty thief buddy. Learns that Julia is being held as leverage. The gang wants the evidence. Keller wants everyone dead.

Overwhelming Odds:
Rick goes up against an army of gangsters and crooked cops—outgunned, outmanned, alone except for his wounded father, unreliable buddy and Marge, in her 70’s .

New Plan:
Instead of handing over the evidence, Rick decides to broadcast it publicly. He creates a diversion, storms the hideout, and goes after the gang leader and Keller directly.

Full-Out Attack:
Rick launches a one-man siege on Keller’s compound. Brutal MMA-style hand-to-hand combat with gang and their leader. Marge takes out gunmen from a distance. HIs buddy blows something up or distracts Keller’s men with a stolen vehicle.

Success:
Rick kills Gang leader and others and some run, wounds Keller, and uploads the video live. Police arrive. Julia and Hank survive. Rick finally stands up—not as a fighter, but as a man with something to live for.

[Karen Angermayer]

Karen Christine´s Hero´s Mission Track

What I learned doing this assignment is: I learned that defining Charlie’s mission is not just about the external stakes (protecting the lie detector and exposing the villains) but also about his internal journey. His mission is deeply tied to his personal growth—overcoming self-doubt, taking responsibility, and finding the courage to confront his fears. By breaking the mission into steps, I see how the tension, stakes, and emotional beats can escalate naturally, creating a compelling and action-packed story.

Mission Track Questions

A. What is it about this Hero that will have them go straight into the face of overwhelming odds?
Charlie is an unlikely hero, but his deep sense of loyalty—to his dogs, Sophie, and the truth—drives him to act. While he starts off timid and self-doubting, the lie detector forces him to confront not only external threats but also his own fears. His humor and resourcefulness, combined with his bond with the dogs, help him navigate impossible situations.

B. What is the mission that would be an impossible goal?
Charlie must protect the lie detector from Sylvia and her mercenaries while exposing her corruption to the world. To do this, he must evade capture, survive multiple attacks, and find a way to get the truth out in a public, undeniable way—all while keeping his dogs and Sophie safe.

C. What strong internal and external motivation could drive the hero?
Internal Motivation: Charlie wants to prove to himself that he’s not a failure. He’s tired of running from responsibility and avoiding risks. This mission gives him a chance to stand for something bigger than himself.

External Motivation: Sylvia’s lies and corruption threaten innocent lives, including Sophie’s. Charlie knows that if the lie detector is destroyed, Sylvia’s crimes will remain hidden, and she’ll continue to manipulate the system.

D. Imagine that mission playing out across a story. What could naturally happen if this hero went on this mission against this villain?
Charlie is thrown into action after Sylvia’s mercenaries attack him to recover the lie detector.
He initially tries to hide but realizes he must fight back to protect Sophie and the dogs.
As the stakes escalate, Charlie is forced to use the lie detector in increasingly daring ways, exposing small lies to build momentum toward exposing Sylvia’s larger crimes.
The climax involves a public confrontation where Charlie uses the lie detector to force Sylvia to confess her crimes in front of a live audience, completing his transformation into a hero.

Mission Steps

Clear Mission:
Protect the lie detector, expose Sylvia’s corruption, and ensure the truth is revealed to the public.

Motivation:
Internal: Charlie wants to prove to himself that he’s not a coward and can rise to the occasion.
External: Sylvia’s lies threaten innocent lives, including Sophie’s, and the lie detector is the only way to stop her.

Inciting Incident:
Charlie’s Labrador retrieves the stolen lie detector from a park, unknowingly making Charlie a target. Sylvia’s mercenaries attack him, forcing him to flee with the device and his dogs.

First Action:
Charlie seeks help from Sophie, the veterinarian, after one of his dogs is injured during the escape. While at her clinic, he accidentally activates the lie detector, realizing its power to expose lies.

Obstacle:
Sylvia’s mercenaries track Charlie to Sophie’s clinic, leading to a chaotic ambush. Charlie narrowly escapes with the lie detector and his dogs but realizes he can’t keep running forever.

Escalation:
Sylvia launches a smear campaign, framing Charlie as a thief and a criminal. Public opinion turns against him, and he’s forced to go underground. Meanwhile, Sylvia kidnaps Sophie to lure Charlie out of hiding.

Overwhelming Odds:
Charlie infiltrates Sylvia’s headquarters to rescue Sophie but is captured. Sylvia taunts him, claiming he’s too weak and insignificant to stop her. Charlie escapes with the help of his dogs but realizes he needs a new plan to expose Sylvia publicly.

New Plan:
Charlie decides to crash a high-profile event (e.g., a political fundraiser) hosted by Sylvia. His goal is to use the lie detector in front of a live audience to expose her crimes. He trains himself and his dogs for the mission, using their unique skills to outwit Sylvia’s security.

Full-Out Attack:
Charlie and his dogs infiltrate the event, creating chaos to distract Sylvia’s guards. During the confrontation, Charlie uses the lie detector to force Sylvia to confess her crimes on live television.

Success:
Sylvia is arrested, and her corruption is exposed. Charlie becomes a hero in the eyes of the public and finally proves to himself that he’s capable of greatness. He confesses something that he never told anyone. He reconciles with Sophie and starts a new chapter in his life, confident and fulfilled.