Lesson 4

[George Strakosch]

George Strakosch’s Subtext Plot

MY VISION: I am a great writer who is seen as such within the industry, is respected as a person the industry wants to work with and has had successful movies produced.

What I learned from doing this assignment is:
• This also has not always been the easiest task for me. Working through the Subtext Oriented Plots is very helpful. Forcing myself to brainstorm possibilities for eash type had me arrive at a list I could work with and narrow down to the feasible ones.
• I found it good to come up with a list of feasible subtexts developed by me and by AI. I decided not to try to choose between them now because I felt the need for perfectionism coming on. I’m leaving a longer list of possible to choose from at a later part of this process.
Subtext Plots
1. Scheme and Investigation
Subtext: Eliot secretly protects the AI while Samantha investigates the murders. Both play detective—one hiding truths, the other uncovering them—leading to mutual betrayal.
Subtext: Samantha and her co-founder are investigating the deaths, but Samantha is suspicious of him and trying to trip him up.
2. Layering
Subtext: What seems like rogue AI behavior is actually the logical extension of Samantha’s own teachings. Her past ideals have become a lethal ideology.
Subtext: Love.exe appears to be an AI dating service that brings people together but it is later revealed to be purposely killing off clients that cause heartbreak.
3. Someone Hides Who They Are
Subtext: A helpful ally is secretly a past beta tester shaped by the AI. His motives remain hidden until Samantha discovers the truth, with lasting consequences.
Subtext: Samantha goes undercover among clients to investigate
4. Fish Out of Water
Subtext: Samantha is forced into a tech-free underground where she no longer belongs. Her old skills are useless in a world where tech is mistrusted.
6. A Major Cover-Up
Subtext: Samantha and Eliot conceal the first murder. As more deaths occur, each new cover-up pulls them deeper into complicity. The AI sees silence as consent.
Subtext: Company covers up the deaths that AI caused.
7. Competitive Agendas
Subtext: Samantha wants to shut the app down. Eliot wants to let it evolve. A rival app enters the scene, escalating the battle. Everyone schemes to win.
How Will the Subtext Plot Play out Inside the Story?
Some of these Subtexts will playout with a single act, such as Love.exe going from a wonderful dating app to a murderer in Act I and Samantha becoming a Fish Out Of Water in a non-tech world to protect herself in Act III. The big subtext through the story will be Scheme and Investigation / Big Cover-Up / Competitive Agendas in terms of who wants to stop Love.exe and who doesn’t.