Lesson 5: NEW THREAD

[JOEL STERN]

Lesson 5

30 Day Script

Joel Stern

Concept: It’s 1942 and the war in
Europe is in its third year. A veteran OSS assassin – with the
ability to transform himself into others – is on a mission to kill
Hitler, but he is killing key European Allied figures instead and
Agent Ray Hillman is chosen to stop him.

Main Conflict: A shortage of qualified
OSS personnel forces the agency to send Agent Hillman – a recent
recruit – to eliminate rogue Agent “J”.

Old Ways: Hillman is learning the ropes
in the OSS. A poor shot and socially awkward, he doesn’t fit in well
with the others – an outcast.

New Ways: After being rushed into
training for a mission that could change the course of history,
Hillman is now a crack shot and is highly capable physically to carry
out the mission. But is he ready mentally?

Act 1:

Opening: Opera plays on a 1930’s radio in an upscale living room.
A Milwaukee newspaper on the bureau reveals the date: 1937. A boy
(18) stands at attention. SMACK! A hand slaps his face but the boy
doesn’t flinch. The man who slapped young Ray is his German
disciplinarian father Ernst who tells him to play baseball with his
friends instead of being a shut in. Being American is vital for us
he says. Ray joins the OSS.

Inciting Incident: Emergency circumstances force the OSS into
pressuring Ray – a rookie agent – to be the one to assassinate
Adolph Hitler.

Turning Point: For love of country, Ray reluctantly accepts the
assignment.

Act 2:

New plan: Ray must endure the physical and emotional training in
the preparation for his assignment.

Plan in action: Endurance training, parachute jumping, shooting
practice – grueling actions but it’s taking its toll on him. On
the verge of resigning.

Midpoint Turning Point: The OSS discovers that Ray’s college
transcript was forged. He’s not the top candidate they thought. Ray
is questioned but he knows too much. If he decides to quit he would
be killed.

Act 3:

Rethink everything: Ray decides to go through with the mission.

New plan: Work harder. Be the best and just do it.

Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift: Ray has a nervous
breakdown as the Germans are occupying all of France and making
gains in Europe. Rogue Agent “J” just killed a top French
Underground commander and remains on the loose. The OSS needs to
make a decision: will Ray recover or will they be forced to
eliminate him and train someone else? Ray sorts out his mental
issues, recovers and is on his way to Europe.

Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict: Ray finds “J”
moments after “J” kills another key Allied figure. “J”
morphs into someone else and disappears into a crowd. The chase is
on. Ray has a hunch and tracks down someone he thinks will be “J”s
next victim.

Resolution: He’s right – Ray and “J” have a wild chase and
Ray finally kills him. Now it’s time to kill Hitler. Ray has Hitler
in his scope. As he’s about to pull the trigger a bomb goes off
killing several German officers, but Hitler escapes.