Lesson 6

[Sunil Pappu]

Sunil Pappu’s Transformational Structure

“What I learned doing this assignment is… that I was able to clarify the change agent and transformational characters using this model and found it very useful to create an engaging structure. Adding the profound elements helped identify the gradients of change in each beat.”

Transformational Logline: A disillusioned Japanese nation in misery from the devastating war seeks world peace and annihilation of nuclear weapons and awakens to the profound truth that a change in one single individual can bring about a change in the destiny of the world.

Change Agent (s):

Daisaku Ikeda, a disillusioned Japanese teen diagnosed with severe respiratory disease feels emasculated and unpatriotic feels betrayed by the nation’s leaders who sent innocent youth to die in the war and encounters his mentor Josei Toda to awaken to his mission for world peace.

Josei Toda (The Mentor) with a vision to create a world free from misery and nuclear weapons. Having been arrested alongside his mentor Makiguchi by the thought police for opposing the state religion of Japan under the Peace Preservation Law and losing his own mentor in jail, avowed to avenge his mentor’s death by rebuilding an organization, Soka Gakkai, of ordinary people to empower youth to create a world that upholds human dignity while the Japanese nation struggled to rebuild after the war. Finally, making a declaration of nuclear abolition before his death to pass on the baton to more than 750,000 young successors and notable one youth in particular, Daisaku Ikeda to carry on his legacy.

Transformable characters: Soka Gakkai members, Japanese nation and the world.

A nation that was broken and starving with young people without any hope was revitalized by the painstaking efforts of one youth who vowed to carry on his mentor’s legacy to build lasting peace.

From just 3000 Soka Gakkai members when it started out to create a worldwide movement that spanned 192 countries and territories with more than 12 million SGI members worldwide who voluntarily support and take action to actualize the vision in their daily lives as global citizens.

MINI-MOVIE STRUCTURE:

MM1: (Status Quo)

1941, Tokyo – Two boys, Daisaku and his elder brother Kiichi play with broken mirror shards from their mother’s dressing table.

War breaks out. Military propaganda in schools. Elder brother is enlisted in the Japanese Army. Educators Toda and Makiguchi are arrested.

Daisaku tries to enlist without telling his parents.

Air raids in Japan destroy Ikeda’s home twice. Daisaku and his younger brother salvage a doll house and a pink umbrella. His mother still remains cheerful. Daisaku’s bedridden father finds out and fights to keep Daisaku at home.

Daisaku joins the munitions factory.

Daisaku is diagnosed with tuberculosis doctors say he won’t live until 30. Daisaku is lost and defeated. Meets his friend on Morigasaki beach to discuss their path in life and feels helpless to guide his friend correctly.

Makiguchi dies in prison, Toda vows revenge to rebuild Soka Gakkai.

US Pilot, a young boy of 17, parachutes onto the streets and gets beaten up – Daisaku shares the incident with his mother. Her immediate reaction and worry for the boy despite him being an enemy opens his eyes to the magnanimous heart of a mother and her immense compassion.

World Events: World War 2 breaks out. Japan faces devastation and suffering. Yalta conference. Japanese Occupation.

Turning Point (Call to Adventure): Daisaku encounters his mentor, Josei Toda, who awakens him to the mission for world peace.

World Event: Indian Independence.

Change Agent: Josei Toda (The Mentor)

Transformational Characters: Daisaku Ikeda, Japanese nation, Soka Gakkai members.

Old Ways: Buys into the war propaganda of the state; youth are enlisted; schools are converted to munitions factories; Loss of young people and family members in war; Air raids and bombings that destroy homes and devastating atomic bombings; Angered by the spiritual void and betrayal of warmongers turned pacifists overnight; Nation faces food shortage and high inflation and occupation forces; Youth question the meaning and purpose of life while school are closed; Mistrust fraudulent intellectuals and politicians who sang praises of war and drove large numbers of youth to their deaths

The Vision: Toda vows to rebuild Soka Gakkai and says “I will eradicate misery from the face of this earth”

Challenges: Daisaku doesn’t get his parents’ permission to enlist. A nation whose youth have lost purpose and meaning in life

<b style=”background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Weaknesses: Daisaku has tuberculosis; Ignorance and suffering

MM2: (Denial of Call)

Daisaku Ikeda, struggling with his illness and feeling betrayed by the nation’s leaders, initially doubts his ability to bring about change in a world devastated by war.

He loses his elder brother to war and seeing his mother’s pain and grief shows him the futility of war and he avows to stop the next war at all costs.

He recalls his brother’s words on the barbaric nature of war on the frontlines.

World Event: Daisaku’s brother dies in Burma, highlighting the personal impact of the war.

Turning Point (Locked into Conflict): Daisaku witnesses the suffering of his nation while grieving the loss of his brother, decides to join Toda to create a world free from misery and war.

Challenges: Doesn’t know who to trust anymore?

Weaknesses: Doctors say he won’t live to 30. Doesn’t know how to help his mother grieve the loss of her son.

MM3: (Hero tries to solve problem)

Daisaku and Toda work together to rebuild the organization Soka Gakkai to empower ordinary people for a peaceful world.

Daisaku drops out of school to support Toda’s business. Joins Boys magazine.

World Events: Cold War and Space race begins.

Turning Point (Standard Ways Fail): Daisaku’s efforts face opposition from arrogant priests and calculating warmongers. Toda goes bankrupt and steps down as president of Soka Gakkai.

Change Agent: Daisaku – drops out of school to stick with his mentor Toda while everyone else quickly forget their promises and leave their mentor.

Toda’s Vision: “Ordinary people are great. Those who have suffered the most have the greatest right to happiness.”

Daisaku’s Vow: Tells Toda: “I have chosen to follow you till my last breath of life.” Asks Toda: “Will you still be my mentor?”

Old Ways: Members mistrust warmongers turn pacifists to save their hide from the occupation forces.

New Ways: Finding a mentor whom one can trust

MM4: (Hero Forms New Plan)

Daisaku realizes that he needs a larger, better plan to counter the oppression and betrayal. Daisaku stays with Toda and gets him back on his feet while facing the wrath of the investors. He takes private tuitions from his mentor and calls it Toda University.

He gets Toda reinstated as president of Soka Gakkai. Toda vows to introduce 750000 households in his lifetime and establish correct teachings in Japanese society.

Kasahara incident – Priesthood reprimands Toda and asks him to resign from his post as head of the lay believers of Nichiren Shoshu.

Toda’s declaration against nuclear weapons resonates globally as the world faces the potential of nuclear conflict. He hands over the baton to his youthful successors, especially Daisaku.

World Event: Cold War tensions escalate, and the nuclear arms race intensifies.

Turning Point or Mid-point (Plan Backfires): Daisaku is arrested on false election violation charges. Daisaku confesses to save his mentor who is frail from illness. Toda dies fulfilling his mission as Soka Gakkai membership reaches 750,000 households.

New Ways: Fights in local elections to root out corruption; Daisaku schooled at “Toda University” – private tuitions by his mentor Toda; Takes the baton of world peace from Toda

Challenges: How to reinstate Toda as president? How to protect Toda and Soka Gakkai members?

Weaknesses: Self-doubt; Daisaku gets arrested

MM5: (Hero Retreats & Antagonist prevails)

Daisaku assumes the presidency of Soka Gakkai as the media speculates a collapse of the organization after Toda’s death.

Arrogant priests impose restrictions on Soka Gakkai, causing internal conflict and setbacks.

Yubari Coal Miners and sincere Soka Gakkai members face a boycott from their communities while Ikeda rushes to support them fight for their rights.

World Event: Berlin Wall is erected, symbolizing the divisions in the world.

Turning Point (The Decision to Change): Geopolitical forces continue to justify the existence of nuclear weapons despite the declaration. Daisaku vows at the Berlin Wall to bring it down.

New Ways: peace, culture and education as tools to express mentor’s vision; Fighting back the priesthood and Yubai Coal Miners’ union

MM6: (Hero’s Bigger, Better Plan)

Daisaku and Soka Gakkai members unite to challenge the oppression and betrayal by the trio led by Soka Gakkai’s attorney Yamazaki.

Soka Gakkai and SGI led by Daisaku undergo a period of rapid global expansion from 1980-2000.

World Events: Daisaku’s global dialogues with China and Russia coincide with significant events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and JFK Assassination. He regrets not meeting President Kennedy after cancelling his trip to placate a prominent Japanese Politician.

Turning Point (The Ultimate Failure): Daisaku steps down as president of Soka Gakkai while he continues his dialogues with world leaders. SGI members from 55 countries meet and establish Soka Gakkai International in Guam and appoint Daisaku as their President.

Betraying Characters: Soka Gakkai Attorney Masatomo Yamazaki; In collusion with: Soka Gakkai Vice President Genjiro Fukushima and Soka Gakkai Study Department Leader Takashi Harashima

New Ways: Dialogues for peace with neighbours and community

Challenges: First Priesthood issue. Daisaku asked to step down; Daisaku is barred from attending meetings and encouraging members of Soka Gakkai.

Weaknesses: Daisaku gives in to the demands if it will quell the injustices to members but they only intensify; Soka Gakkai members who rely on their mentor feel lost; Soka Gakkai leaders remain silent as Daisaku is silenced.

MM7: (Crisis & Climax)

Daisaku starts writing UN peace proposals in 1983 and building institutions to promote peace, culture and education which win International recognition.

SGI members unite with their mentor Daisaku despite severe attempts to create a schism between them by the Nichiren Shoshu priests.

Soka Gakkai is excommunicated by Nichiren Shoshu but the members are unperturbed as they celebrate it as the day of Spiritual Independence.

World Events: Cold War ends, and Berlin Wall comes down, marking a shift in global dynamics.

Turning Point (Apparent Victory): Daisaku’s resilience and support from Soka Gakkai members lead to a surge in global membership.

New Ways: Dialogues with world leaders and thinkers; Exhibitions for peace, culture and education; Soka schools to foster the next generations of global citizens.

Vision: Daisaku tells Soka Gakkai members to celebrate their ex-communication from Nichiren Shoshu as the day of Spiritual independence.

Challenges: Soka Gakkai is ex-communicated by Nichiren Shoshu.

Weaknesses: Soka Gakkai refused a chance to have any dialogue with the Nichiren Shoshu priests. Daisaku Ikeda running out of time due to old age turning 96.

MM8: (New Better World)

Daisaku conducts over 8000 dialogues for peace and completes writing 30 volumes of his novel series The New Human Revolution.

SGI has 12 million members in 192 countries and territories. Youth vow to carry on his legacy of peace with the spirit “I am Shinichi.”

Ikeda receives receiving 390 honorary doctorates and over 800 honorary citizenships. He establishes world-renowned Soka Schools, Soka University, Min-On Concert and Fuji Art Museum, and many other institutions. Ikeda is awarded as World Poet Laureate.

Daisaku makes every dream of his mentor Toda a reality even the ones he said to him half-jokingly.

Daisaku’s relentless efforts culminate in Soka Gakkai’s support for the UN treaty to ban nuclear weapons.

World Event: SGI supports ICAN on the UN treaty, reflecting a global push for nuclear disarmament.

Epilogue: (New Status Quo)

Daisaku Ikeda is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, cementing his legacy as a change agent for a better world.

The world acknowledges the profound truth that a single individual’s transformation can shape the destiny of a nation and the whole of mankind.

World Event: Daisaku’s global impact and peace efforts continue as the world faces ongoing challenges.

Final Turning Point: Daisaku Ikeda’s journey for peace continues through his writings and the global impact of his dialogues, leaving a lasting legacy. Soka Gakkai members work together for a more peaceful, sustainable future.

New Ways: Building a global solidarity of more than 12 million worldwide; SGI partners ICAN to petition nations to sign the UN treaty to ban nuclear weapons

Profound Truth: A change in one single individual can bring about a change in the destiny of the world.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  Sunil Pappu.

[Mary Albanese]

Mary Albanese’s Three Gradients

What I learned doing this assignment is…that even minor characters need to fit onto some level of the gradients of change.”

The 3 Gradients: Desired Change

Emotional Gradient: Excitement

Action Gradient: Maggie is excited to be given a trial chance to become part of the scientific program.

Challenge / Weakness Gradient:

C: She only has a year to complete it.

W: She is behind all the others academically and experience-wise.

Emotional Gradient: Doubt

Action Gradient: She takes steps towards her goal but learns there are many dangers she didn’t expect.

Challenge / Weakness Gradient:

C: Will she learn enough in her trial period to survive the dangers?

W: As one of the few females ever inducted into the program, she is physically not as strong as the males.

Emotional Gradient: Hope

Action Gradient: Despite a setback that could derail her, she is allowed six more weeks to impress the instructors or be kicked out.

Challenge She must complete an expedition to these volcanoes and determine if they are dangerous or not.

/ Weakness Gradient: But now none of the men in the program will work with her. She must enlist help from outside, and brings aboard her brother from NY who is very inexperienced.

Emotional Gradient: Discouragement

Action Gradient: She leads her brother out into the field. But she has not taken into account his vast inexperience and immaturity, which threatens to get him killed.

Challenge / How to complete this mission without losing her brother?

Weakness Gradient: She does not yet have the confidence to be a good leader of the mission.

Emotional Gradient: Courage

Action: She starts to figure out how best to use his talents so that he aids the exploration and doesn’t hinder it. She’s starting to learn to depend on her own wisdom in making choices.

Weakness: She still worries about proving herself and if what she’s done is enough. When she can’t find the rocks she needs for her analysis she doubts herself despite the steps of progress she has made.

EMOTIONAL GRADIENT: BECOMING

Action: She starts to feel like she belongs here. But can she make others believe it, too?

CHALLENGE: What more can she do to prove herself to others?

WEAKNESS: She is still too worried about her image, and what others think of her.

TRIUMPH:

ACTION: The sacrifice. She releases her brother from the expedition to follow his own pursuits, because now she knows she doesn’t need to hold on so tight to prove herself. She’s done enough to realize that she has what it takes, and that by simply following her path, she has earned her place in the scientific expedition community.

[Deb Johnson]

Deb’s Transformational Structure

What I learned: It was interesting to see how assignments one through five shaped the story. I’ve never used the Mini-Movie Method and found it to be very helpful. This rough draft has great room for improvement, but it’s come a long way from ‘just a vague idea’!

Transformational Logline: A wealthy yet unsatisfied treasure hunter finds a priceless treasure in a vast wasteland and gives up everything to buy the land.

Main Characters:

Change Agent: Bram Roe, Jack’s father.

Transformational Character: Jack Roe

Emotional Gradient: Desired Change for Transformational Character, Jack Roe

Old ways: turned in on self, seeks his own happiness, thinks he can atone for past sins, status quo, God = tyrant

New Ways: realizes his own weakness, turns outward, receives forgiveness, realizes there’s more, God = forgiveness

MM1

Jackson Roe is a wealthy and successful archeologist/treasure hunter. He has his own museum, curated by his wife, Eva, and lends pieces to museums all over the world. His father, Bram, taught him the trade but later in life became an eccentric with wild ideas about a priceless treasure. Three years ago, was the last time they worked together; there was an accident and Bram was killed. Jackson feels responsible. Ever since then, Jackson has been depressed and dissatisfied with his work. As he’s looking through old stuff, he comes across notes and clues that his father left behind about the priceless treasure. (Call to Adventure)

Emotion: Excitement

Old Ways: turned in on self, just wants to be “happy”

MM2

Jackson is intrigued and realizes the possibilities but thinks it’s a wild goose chase. His wife encourages him to “get out there again.” His 12-year-old son, Able, is also itching for adventure and wants to go. Jackson feels that maybe going after the priceless treasure will be a way to make up for his father’s death. He has just enough information to get started. (Locks Him In)

Challenge: must make a life-changing decision

Weakness: Ignorance

Old ways: thinks good work will make up for past sin

MM3

Jackson and Able have a portion of a map, a notebook, and a few relics to begin their search. They go to Jackson’s associate, Jade, another seasoned professional who is highly skeptical of the mission. Jade examines the clues and says there is nothing to the quest and he should give it up. Two or three others, who also have some or little knowledge of the treasure, concur with Jade. They meet with one last associate, Daze, who is hostile to the whole idea. (Standard Ways Fail)

Emotion: Doubt

Challenge: realizes it’s going to take more resources than he’s spent and there is no guarantee

Weakness: puts too much weight on what others think

Old ways: ‘This is all there is.’

Oppression: lies, status quo, lentil soup vs. inheritance

MM4

Jackson and Able try to piece together clues based on the “failures” of past associates. Maybe if they do the opposite, they will have some luck. They don’t realize it, but they are reading the map upside down and backward. They travel to Y and start digging. The treasure they find is “fools gold.” Many people buy and sell this gold and they are offered some profit, but both Jackson and Able agree that this was not what they were looking for and are discouraged. (Plan Backfires)

MM5

The people at Y try to convince him that the fool’s gold is the real treasure and make it difficult for them to leave. Jackson reviews Bram’s notes and is convinced that there is something more. He meets another person from X who laughs at his map and shows him he’s reading it wrong. Normally, Jackson would scoff at such a notion because he’s prideful and a map expert, but he realizes that if he’s going to find the priceless treasure, he’s got to change his ways. (Decision to Change)

Emotion: Hope

Action: puts the map above his reason

Weakness: concern/worry over the unknown

New ways: realizes his own weakness.

MM 6

Jackson and Able set off for X. When he arrives, he’s devastated to find a vast desert… almost uninhabitable. They exhaust all their resources and Able is almost killed. Jack thinks this is punishment for his sin against his father. (Ultimate Failure)

Emotion: discouragement

Action: decides to give up

Challenge: confronted with a life-or-death decision

Weakness: self-doubt

Old ways: God is a demanding tyrant

MM7

Jackson gives up pursuing the priceless treasure to save Able. Somehow this reveals the last key to finding the treasure. He and his son marvel at it. It is also the very thing that represents forgiveness from Bram. The treasure, however, is immovable, especially in this wasteland. Jackson realizes he must buy the land to obtain the treasure. (Apparent Victory)

Emotion: Courage

Conflict: unable to communicate what he’s found

Weakness: overconfidence in how he will be received

New ways: God is forgiveness, will lose everything to gain

MM8

Jackson and Able return home to tell Eva about the treasure. Jackson does the math and realizes in order to buy the land, they have to sell everything they own. Eva is against it. She doesn’t believe the treasure is worth it. He must work around her and sell everything that belongs to him. He is ridiculed by everyone who knows him. Jackson and Able decide to make X inhabitable so others can share in the priceless treasure. (New Status Quo)

Emotion: Triumph

Conflict: rejection of wife/friends (considered a fool, just like his father)

Betraying character: wife – turns back

Weakness: on his own, must start over to build a new life

New ways: finds that in buying/obtaining this treasure that it is he who has been saved/bought

[Robert Kerr]

Bob Kerr: Transformational Journey

What I learned from this lesson is as I am writing the outline for my script, I see where I have skipped over key elements that enhance the entertainment value of the story. The MMM structure is new to me and I am working to incorporate it into my outline/script.

Transformational logline: A college football team, with a losing record, suffers the worst air tragedy in college sports. For the survivors must rise to the challenge of c against the #9 ranked team and ultimately create the college footballs finest hour.

Change Agent: The coaches of the team, primarily the new head coach, Bob Seaman.

Transformational Character(s): The surviving members of the football team

MMM #1:

On a routine flight to Logan, Utah, the plane carrying the starting players, head coach, staff and booster crashes in the Rocky Mountains. 29 people lose their life.

Emotional Gradient: Worst tragedy in college sports history. Grief sadness and doubt that the season will ever be played.

Conflict: The remaining players, all second team and freshman, must regroup quickly and decide the future of the season

Weakness: The freshman aren’t eligible to play initially and all the equipment was lost in the crash,

MMM #2:

The players that landed in the second plane at Logan, Utah must find a way back to Wichita and face constant barriers to returning home after they have finally been informed of the list of deceased players and coaches.

Emotional Gradient: The second team lands not know that the first plane has crashed.

Conflict: They have to find a way back home as their plane has been grounded for the investigation. Their efforts to get back to Wichita seem doomed at every turn. The bus taking them to Salt Lake breaks down on a lonely stretch of road. It is a miracle that a second bus appears and agrees to turn around and take them to Salt lake to catch a flight to Denver.

Weakness: None of the players have gotten any sleep and they are tired, angry and very pissed off at their situation.

MMM #3

The players finally return to Wichita and the university President has determined the team will decide if they will continue their season. They take a vote and decide to continue the season to honor their fallen teammates.

Emotional Gradient: The remaining team members are adamant about continuing their season to honor their fallen teammates.

Weakness: The first opponent will be the #9 ranked University of Arkansas challenging for a national title.

MMM #4

After burying their dead, they realize they don’t have enough equipment to practice with full pads. The “Old Way” of just picking up where they left off is not working.

Emotional Gradient: Despite their conviction to continue the season, the players and coaches realize that they must find a new way to win and create the biggest upset in the history of college football.

Conflict: In order to fill the roster gaps of the deceased, players have to switch from defense to offense and they have a difficult time making that transition.

Weakness: With no equipment they must practice in shirts and shorts and this impedes their preparation to beat Arkansas.

MMM #5

As they finally receive gifts of equipment from nearby colleges, they are now able to practice in full pads. The Head Coach, Bob Seaman, realizes they cannot win based on their old offensive scheme. They must create a new scheme and do it in an immediate way.

Emotional Gradient: The coaches must change if they are going to upset Arkansas. They struggle to make the change as the community joins in the cry to beat Arkansas.

Conflict: Many of the coaches are only a few years older than the players. The whole burden of navigating this change falls to one man.

Weakness: The players are realizing they only have a handful of practices to prepare for the game. yet, their confidence is not shaken

MMM # 6

The Head Coach decides they will rely on their speed and the strong passing arm of a freshman quarterback. Practice becomes crisp and effective. There is new hope born and the team is again rising to the challenge of upsetting Arkansas

Emotional Gradient: The team realizes they will be starting many freshman who will be playing their first football game since high school. Despite this, they are confident they are up to the task.

Conflict: The freshman are playing without assurances from the NCAA they will not lose their senior year of eligibility.

Weakness: Some upperclassmen are disappointed they will not be starting. They wanted to dedicate the game to their fallen teammates.

MMM # 7

In the dark of morning, the team boards a charter flight to Little Rock. Many of the players are afraid to be again flying to as football game. It is a tense flight.

Emotional Gradient: The realization they must overcome their fear of flying to get to Little Rock so they can defeat Arkansas. It is a mixed bag of emotions. Ranging from confidence to white knuckle passengers.

Conflict: For many of the players, their is their first flight and they have strong emotions as they recall the deadly plane crash just 21 days earlier

Weakness: It is one thing to believe you are going to upset Arkansas. It is quite another when you overlook the reality that you will board a plane pre-dawn to arrive in Little Rock.

MMM # 8

The team is finally in Little Rock and are warmly greeted by the citizens and shop owners., It does not feel like a hostile away game. As they enter the field they are greeted by a standing ovation in tribute to them and this creates college footballs finest hour.

Emotional Gradient: making the final transformation, the team is greeted in a warm and welcoming way as far an extreme as the expected following the crash. Their transformational journey is complete.

Conflict: One of the surviving members of the crash is with them and it serves as a constant remined that this game is very important to the university, the state and the country.

Weakness: There are more people in the stadium than many of the freshman have seen live in one place at one time. They are awed and were not prepared for the emotions that swells within them.

[Sharon Axcell]

<div>Sharon’s Transformational Structure</div>

What I learned doing this exercise is…. that this is where the gems are – doing the work and the depth. So much more story was found doing this exercise – I’m very excited!

Transformational Logline: A maverick,
non-believing scientist….must stop her wayward experiment from devastating all
mankind… by forging and claiming her destiny completely.

THE CHANGE AGENT

– Omega/ Future Dexters

o Vision – that life has been pre-ordained, and destiny is set. Time is linear – the timeline can not be changed because every single iota of life will define the future.

o Past Experiences that fit that vision – she’s tried changing the past so many times, but here she still is!

THE TRANSFORMABLE CHARACTER(S)

– Alpha, etc./ Past (Present) Dexters

o She is literally at the beginning of Omega’s journey.

o Her beliefs are ‘freedom, free will’ – the opposite of where Omega really ends up

MM Structure (I want to revisit the ‘escalating’ challenges, although I think it works…)

MM #1 – Pages 1-15 – Our hero’s status quo, her ordinary world, ends with an inciting incident or “call to adventure”, introducing the story’s main tension.

Opening: Someone tries to blow up Alpha.

Inciting Incident: The fire. She follows strange instructions into isolation – safety or not?

Forced to go into isolation.

Discovers Cannisters – Uranium.

Rats.

Her peers ridicule her – she thought they were her friends, but are not.

Dead rats.

She’s going to build the Time Machine in isolation. That’s the vision.

By Page 10: Alpha wants to create her time machine to prove everyone wrong.

But someone’s wants to stop her.

Turning Point: Call to Adventure. – But someone’s trying to stop her.

CHANGE AGENT: Omega
TRANSFORMATIONAL CHARACTER: Alpha, Beta, Kappa, Gamma, etc.
OLD WAYS: Maverick, scattergun, entitled, degrading/ diminutive, thinks too much, thinks she’s got total free will
THE VISION: A fully working Time Travel Machine – Claiming her Destiny.
CHALLENGE: Being forced to go into isolation
WEAKNESSES: Under duress. Maverick approach. Ignorance. Second-guessing herself.

MM #2 – Pages 15-30 – Our hero’s denial of the call, and his gradually being “locked into” the conflict brought on by this call.

Power issues.

Failure of simulations.

Someone’s inside with her. But she can see no-one.

Delivers cannisters – someone puts note under door for power solutions – should she trust it?

A hidden force puts barriers in her way.

Power surge – but without connecting up the source.

Something happens – power outage.

Tries to put in place more security.

More freshly fried rats. – Dinner? (Well, that’s dinner sorted.)

Finds the older watch. But it’s bashed it doesn’t work properly.

First Turning Point: Alpha finds something that shouldn’t be there – from the future. Now she knows she’s onto something that WILL work. She must continue. The prize is too big!

Turning Point: Locked in. – Something is his world has come from the future – it works! He’s got to keep going, no matter what. The prize is too big!

CHANGE AGENT: Future selves are causing both preventative and assistive forces. They force her down a particular path.
OLD WAYS: Rebelling against the obvious/ what seems right – the ‘flow’. Maverick, scattergun approach. Entitled. Blinkered.
THE VISION: The Time Machine completed
CHALLENGE: Power, someone’s there to stop her
WEAKNESSES: Pride. Wanton ambition. Faithless. Uncommitted. Blinkered – too focused on the goal to see what’s going on around her. Second-guessing herself.

MM #3 – Pages 30-45 – Our hero’s first attempts to solve this problem, the first things that anyone with this problem would try, appealing to outside authority to help him. Ends when all these avenues are shut to our hero.

She tries to do it without outside help, tries to stop the person stopping her, but can’t find her. Stop her getting in, hiding more, going deeper under cover, telling no-one. Becomes more methodical in her attempts to figure out the Time Machine solution, plus determine who is trying to stop her.

Someone is stealing her data/ interfering in her work.

She is poisoned.

The experiment surges for no good reason.

Finally submits to connecting the power.

Someone’s there, but they won’t come out. But they haven’t killed her – yet.

Someone’s at the door – then she’s accosted. Attacked!

Power drop, and an explosion, unexplained.

A rescue, unexplained. Definitely two other people now. What do they want?!

Fire of her equipment – but the fire goes into the centre of the room. Bizarre.

Spots the Black Spot. Confirms with another fire extinguisher. Oh shit.

Turning Point: Standard Ways Fail. – She’s doing it – but is now heading towards also creating a black hole! And she can’t stop it!

CHANGE AGENT: All the future Dexters in their own way – she’s a pawn to their demands.
DOUBT:
VISION: Still a fully working time machine
CHALLENGE: The Time Machine has negative repercussions.
WEAKNESSES: Clearly a failure – and she doesn’t understand what it is, or how to fix it. Fear. Disbelief that it’s her fault.
OLD WAYS: Refusing to believe what’s in front of her. Blinkered (it can’t be me – someone else is causing this). Tries a number of ways to fix it – random, scattergun approach. Totally relies on her head for a response. Second-guessing herself.
NEW WAYS: She starts trusting that her gut response is right. The Black Hole demands attention – she can’t ignore it. Assertive. Proactive.

MM #4 – Pages 45-60 – Our hero spawns a bigger plan. She prepares for it, gathers what materials and allies she may need, then puts the plan into action – only to have it go horribly wrong, usually due to certain vital information the hero lacked about the forces of antagonism allied against her.

And then it becomes apparent that Beta wants to stop her. Beta doesn’t want it to happen, finally nearly kills Alpha.

Alpha realises too late that her actions are actually causing the Black Hole and tries to go back on it.

Assailant escapes – what will Alpha do about it?

Doubts herself – starts to delete code. But can’t bring herself to do it.

Someone in the corridor

Plus more uranium.

Intro Beta. New plan to detach power. Reduce the Black Hole. Work together.

Then another surge – it must be another arrival.

Then Alpha’s memory fails.

Midpoint: Alpha goes back to become Beta. Her opposition becomes herself.

Turning Point: Plan Backfires. – It flashes white because she went back in time.

CHANGE AGENT: In total certainty on what’s happening
DOUBT: No control over what happened – what DID happen?!
OLD WAYS: Self-doubt, resorting to head actions, not heart. And external forces rather than thinking and trusting herself. Maverick/ scattergun approach. Reactive.
VISION: She still wants the Time Machine to work. It must do!
NEW WAYS: Follows heart, not head. Open to ‘the wider picture’. And her part in it. Takes a little responsibility. Doesn’t know how it happened, but there’s the evidence! Focus commences

MM #5 – Pages 60-75 – Having created his plan to solve his problem WITHOUT changing, our hero is confronted by his need to change, eyes now open to his own weaknesses, driven by the antagonist to change or die. He retreats to lick his wounds.

Alpha is Beta – gone back two weeks in time. Damaged watch – doesn’t know why. Missing ‘time’.

Newly dead rats.

Beta needs to stop the black hole from happening, so she’s opposing herself (Alpha),

Beta tries to come up with ideas on how to stop Alpha – but she’s not yet committed.

Tries the poison – tests the theory of causality.

Something else arrives in time.

Uranium debacle.

Discovers the reason she didn’t die of poisoning.

Black sack – accosts her younger self. To no avail. Rescuer makes her black out.

More uranium – when?!

Gamma comes out of hiding as Beta tries to convince then kill Alpha – Gamma’s trying to keep the machine working and have more power – why? (so that it creates a new possible existence). She plans to go back in time to save her family (tho we don’t know that yet).

Intro herself to Alpha – tries to prevent by being actively open about decoupling the device.

Convinces Alpha to help Beta – this seems like a new plan.

Until Omega makes an appearance and throws Alpha back.

And then Kappa rushes in with new instructions – until she goes to white. She still wants to STOP it at this point. But with a longer-term plan….?

Turning Point: The Decision to Change. – Beta goes back to become Gamma – longer-term, more constructive plan.

VISION: A working Time Machine – still. Claiming her Destiny.
OLD WAYS: Maverick/ scattergun approach; disbelief in her abilities; freedom, freewill; keeping options open. Still following head, not heart.
NEW WAYS: Taking responsibility, realising her part in it. Recognising progress due to focus and commitment.
CHALLENGE: Sent back in time again – with no change to the outcome.
WEAKNESS: Can’t believe that she hasn’t made a difference. Failure to accept the potentially obvious.

MM #6 – Pages 75-90 – Our hero spawns a new plan, but now he’s ready to change. He puts this plan into action… and is very nearly destroyed by it. And then… a revelation.

Gamma has to have a clear plan. No more maverick. Otherwise it won’t come to pass.

Gamma realises she has TIME to devise a better plan this time. And she takes it. A plan to stick to. A plan to stop the time machine’s development.

The key materialises when she couldn’t get out before – how? Why? Someone must just open it – she declares, with her new plan, that she’s going to purchase the place. Somehow.

She goes away to put it into place.

TIME PASSES (9 years)

Something happens that makes Gamma change to become Kappa. – Secret as to why. She’s in pain, every single thing she does. But she MUST do it. She’s claiming her destiny.

She (re)builds the machine to the point at which we first saw it. Sets everything up for Alpha’s arrival.

Beta arrives – and Kappa receives a timely reminder. Coincidence? Is she being manipulated?

Kappa stops Beta’s efforts to stop the time machine’s development – she remembers exactly what’s going to happen and when. Kappa helps Alpha. Because she wants to get her family back.

But she still needs to stop the Black Hole. Can she do both?

Something new arrives (BOOM!) (the ‘Fire hydrant’ – also with fire. She remembers the accosting – and the near killing – she has to save herself (Alpha) from Beta!

She saves Alpha – and she needs her help.

Sees Quasars – and Omega. But she’s on fire! Gotta put it out.

Goes for Omega – she’s clearly behind all of this. And then she doesn’t care – reconnects the power.

Beta goes back to become Gamma – but so far the plan to stop herself hasn’t worked.

Kappa tries to stop Beta from going back (of her own accord) but can’t – and her photo is gone too.

(She’s got to have her own book of notes etc.? That perhaps makes it through to the other side)

Second Turning Point: Kappa is the red herring – she wants to make the Time Machine work, but then destroy it before the Black Hole. But Omega comes out of hiding – she’s the one ensuring the Black Hole goes ahead.

Turning Point: The ultimate Failure. – Back to where he was AGAIN. Nothing’s changed. Or has it? Gamma is now a new person, with new information. And a new drive – humanity. And Kappa comes to light in earnest – she’s the one that’s been pulling the strings. Why?! Why must the Black Hole happen??

VISION: A working time machine with no issues
HOPE then DISCOURAGEMENT
OLD WAYS: Still pushing back against the inevitable. Can’t ‘trust’ her heart. Reactive in the moment. Discouragement in the moment, when it doesn’t work.
NEW WAYS: The detailed plan which she sticks to, followed heart, not head. Committed. Taking responsibility.
CHALLENGE: Confronted with her other selves that tell her to NOT trust her heart, and that she shouldn’t claim her destiny.
WEAKNESSES: Fear of failure. Still wants to change things, go against the ‘flow’. Can’t accept how things are.

MM #7 – Pages 90-105 – The revelation allows our hero to see victory, and he rejoins the battle with a new fervour, finally turning the tables on his antagonist and arriving at apparent victory. And then the tables turn one more time!

Kappa still wants her family back – Omega tries to convince her of taking it forward.

Kappa tries to take control of the situation still – even down to the cone. But nil points.

Kappa rushes Omega, seems to have victory with the broken device.

But to no avail.

**She realises that the only way to survive is for the black hole to blow itself out. Come out the other side.

Needs to be more here? More crisis – clarity on how Omega is different to Kappa (and previous). Why her plan is working. Trusting her heart.

Crisis: Gamma is desperate to give Beta the notes, but Kappa is there to ensure things go according to a single timeline – including knowing that Gamma has to go THROUGH the Black Hole – and herself in her updated time machine that she can’t reveal until… ALL 4 attempt to do their things, and the Black Hole is losing power!

Turning Point: Apparent Victory. – yes! They’re stopping the black hole!

VISION: A working Time Machine with no black hole – Dexter claiming her destiny as the maker of a time machine
BETRAYING CHARACTER: Kappa – still can’t ‘go with the flow’
OLD WAYS: tries to change the future by using the time machine
NEW WAYS: Follows heart. Committed. Taking control of her future – manifesting it in the long term.
CHALLENGE: Actually Omega, coming back to correct her self-made problem. But Kappa undermines her attempt – again.
WEAKNESSES: Stubbornness. Uncertainty. Faithless, still. Untrusting.

MM #8 – Pages 105-120 – The hero puts down the antagonist’s last attempt to defeat him, wraps up his story and any sub-plots, and moves into the new world he and his story have created.

Omega explains her plan – and how she got here. But Kappa still tries to get her family back.

Frustration from Omega about Kappa – she STILL hasn’t learned the reality. But it will soon become clear. Even though she was hoping to avoid this eventuality.

Of course – Omega finally claims her full destiny when the device finally smashes.

But no! They must go through the black hole! And out the other side – Gamma manages to come out the other side – she now knows that fate is fate, and the only way it can all happen again is if she goes back to make it happen. As she gets closer to the machine incarnation, she knows it has to be.

Climax: Black Hole

Resolution: Gamma emerges the other side – with limited knowledge. Omega is gone. Now what will Gamma do? What’s her belief?! That history is determined – and you can’t change it. No matter what you do. So claim it. Live to the full. You only get one chance.

Turning Point: New Status Quo. – But in actual fact, Omega self-sacrificed. She steps into the quantum accelerator…

NEW WAY: Claimed and accepted destiny. Can’t – and won’t – escape it. Follows her heart. Takes responsibility to the full. Manifesting her future. The past dictates the future. In absolution.

PROFOUND TRUTH: You have a destiny. Claim it!

[Susan]

ASSIGNMENT 6

Susan McClary’s Transformational Stucture

What I learned doing this assignment:

That taking all the steps and putting them together really makes a cohesive story.

1. Tell us your Transformational Logline.

A (Post millennial) geeky, out of place “Jughead” dumbfounded by people’s reactions is thrown into an unexpected situation forcing him to delve into his own and other’s true natures and become the new Dear Abby.

2. Tell us who the main character will be:

Change Agent: Pets

Transformational Character(s): GG Jughead

3. List out your Mini-Movie structure,

(or whatever structure you’ve chosen) for your story.

MM# 1 – GG arrives at brother’s house with a small bag of clothes and a few boxes of tech stuff to move in for a while as his X girlfriend tossed him out of his own appartment (Challenge). As soon as his cab arrives his brother informs GG that he is leaving for Thailand with Vets without Borders to take care of the elephants for six months. He hands GG a list of all the things GG will need to do to care for all his pets/menagerie and a Credit Card to cover all expenses. “Follow these instructions to the letter, And if you have any problems just call my office, my partner and staff will be there.” (Challenge) “And by the way, what did you do to piss off X?” Brother leaves zipity zip! GG lies in bed replaying what his X said and did and his reactions.

Log line: A (Post millennial) geeky, out of place “Jughead” dumbfounded by people’s reactions is thrown into an unexpected situation….

Old Ways: Born on the cusp of Millennial and Gen Z doesn’t fit either, Grouch meter for others’ reactions, No matter how nice he is no one he knows truly accepts him, A mirror for other’s insecurities, Hopelessly apologetic, Basically shunned, His girlfriend threw him out, she thinks he’s either insulting or cold and withdrawn, Sees himself through other’s eyes – that he bungles everything, Bewildered about himself, and other’s needs and feelings (does he always have to guess?), He has to live at his brother’s place and is put in the extraordinary position of suddenly having to take care of his brother’s NUMEROUS pets. (Challenge) He’s never had a pet and doesn’t understand them even more than he doesn’t understand people.

Gradients: Denial; Never Sticking up for himself. Anger; Helplessness.

MM #2 – GG reads list out loud, all the Pets are listening. “Well, I can do this, what’s the big deal? Feed ‘em, clean up, play a litte….” GG does everything on the list, but the Pets start acting out seriously. During this time neighbor comes to introduce herself. “Hey I’m Safflower from next door. You housesitting or something?” “Safflower, hmmm were your folks hippies or something?”

Gradients: Denial; Procrastination.

MM #3 – GG goes online to try and get information about each of the nutso pets. None of it works. Refuses to call brother’s partner.

Logline: forcing him to delve into his own and other’s true natures

Gradients: Bargaining; Thinking all his answers are online.

MM #4 – GG’s X keeps calling to harangue him, and his neighbor keeps banging on the door to complain about the noise, the smells and the escapes. GG tells her they all have pedigrees and asks for hers. Brother keeps calling to check up on GG. Finally calls pet “psychic” to find out what pets really want. She tells him they miss his brother.

Gradients: Depression; Weakness: Believes what others think… that he is not up to the challenge.

MM #5 – GG tries everything to get all the pets to “cooperate” with him. Explains that his brother will be back in a few months. One day one of the kittens jumps in his lap while he’s at his computer and is making an enormous noise like a outdoor motor (challenge). GG terrified, finally calls his brother’s office and an assistant answers the phone, tells him to put the phone by the kitten so she can hear it. Turns out it is just a very LOUD purr. “That kitten must REALLY like you.” Brother calls and makes fun of GG about the purring. Stunned GG realizes he still knows nothing about animals or people.

Logline: forcing him to delve into his own and other’s true natures

Gradients: Acceptance; Weakness: He is not the man he wants to be.

MM #6 – GG decides to take each pet and speak to them individually and ask them to please help him know what to do and how to help them. A lotta nada. Blank stares from the pets and even more destruction of Safflower’s property. “Someone” digs under the fence and tries to attack her koi. She flips out and demands retribution to the offender (challenge). One of the larger dogs rushes the door and sticks his long pointy nose directly into her yoga pants crotch. She runs screaming she’ll call animal control. X’s voice in his head that he is a useless featherbrain!

Logline: Forcing him to delve into his own and other’s true natures.

Gradients: Discouragement; Weakness: Self doubt.

MM #7 – Finally one of the puppies leaves him a stonehenge of crumpled up puppy pads with piss and doody in a circle. GG slips and falls and hits his head. All the animals surround him to check on him. He wakes up with bird feet on his chin and a parrot beak bobbing up and down over his face like a bobble toy, cats sniffing his ears, and…. Now he understands everything the pets are saying to him. He realizes that if he listens like a cat to the cats, a dog to the dogs, a parrot to the parrots etc., and like lucy kittie to lucy kittie, and like dutch the dog to dutch the dog he would understand them. Hey maybe it could work with people too! If he listened to his brother as if he was his brother, and etc. then he would understand them too. And if they made him their mirror for their insecurities he wouldn’t take it personally because it was really their own problems and he could be understanding or even tell them to, “bite me!” He realizes it’s not his problem, he’s really just a nice guy. He starts a new social media with animated animals giving relationship advice. Challenge – really putting his alter ego out there… “If Pets Could Talk.”

Logline: forcing him to delve into his own and other’s true natures and become the new Dear Abby.

Gradients: Courage; Weakness: Tentativeness.

MM #8 – New social media going well. Getting a lot of buzz. Safflower sneaks into house while GG’s out running?, and finds out it’s him. She threatens to out him to his techie sponsors for his tech channel (challenge). Turns out the Techie sponsors (who have had similar issues with people) adore his new advice channel and sponsor both…. 5 stars!

Logline: Becomes the new Dear Tabby

Gradients: 1) Betrayal; Weakness: Worried Pets will get hurt. 2) Triumph; Releif.

Outcome: GG exhausted falls asleep on couch and wakes up with ALL the Pets cuddled up on and around him.

New Ways: Adores the Pets, Confident, Great Listener, Asks the right questions, People ask for his advice, He understands their neurosis, Happy, Content with self,

Ignores other people’s mirror opinions, Stops trying and starts living. Sees himself for who he truly is.

Profound Truth: Each person is unique and deserves to be seen and heard for who they truly are.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  Susan McClaryu. Reason: HTML issues

[ray Moore]

Ray’s Transformational Structure

What I learned doing this assignment is how to create mini stories within my story to build up or transform the characters.

A woman, struggling through creating a business while dealing with her husband and partners death, learns to have faith in God in a most unusual way.

Desired Change for Eve

Forced Change for Ava, little boy, and the Booty Toots

Mini Movie Structure

Mini Movie 1 – Status Quo and Call to Adventure

We start with a date between Adam and Eve where Adam asks Eve to marry him. Eve says yes and immediately shows Adam her dolls.

They come up with an idea for a business venture together. They begin plans for the business as they prepare for the wedding. They get married and go off on their honeymoon where Adam is killed in an accident. Eve is left mourning at the end of her honeymoon.

Mini Movie 2 – Locked Into Conflict

WHile dealing with the stages of grief, Eve cannot imagine living without Adam let alone starting the business alone. As she is visiting Adam’s gravesite, God communicates to her that she is not alone. He told her to return to her first love and he will send her a miracle that will see her through.

Mini Movie 3 – Hero tries to Solve Problem = But Fails

Animated dolls present themselves to Eve and encourage her to start the business. Just as Eve cracks down and gains focus, she is presented with Ava, her niece who suddenly lost her parents and have to move in with Eve.

Mini Movie 4 – Hero Forms a New Plan

Eve adjusts to living with a child in her custody and regains focus on her business adventure when the little boy finds another set of dolls who are sent by the devil to prevent Eve from starting her business.

Mini Movie 5 – Hero Retreats & The Antagonism Prevails

Little boy turns Ava against Eve and they scheme to set Eve behind in meeting deadlines. With the help of her dolls.

Mini Movie 6 – Hero’s Bigger, Better Plan!

Eve convinces Ava that the little boy and his dolls are trying to turn them against each other so they they will not start the business.

Mini Movie 7 – Crisis & Climax

Eve and Ava work together to start the business. The little boy and his dolls attack Eve and her dolls.

Mini Movie 8 – New Status Quo

Eve and her dolls defeat the little boy and his dolls. Ava apologizes for her part in everything and admits that she wants to stay with Eve.

[Gordie Cowan]

Gordie’s Transformational Structure

What I learned:

1. This particular script evolves in two different times, today and 25 years past. This exercise caused me to analyze the two times separately, to treat them as two stories such that each can stand on its own legs. This story is the one evolving back in time.

2. Never worked a MM Method previously. It’s an upward learning curve.

Script – TMS (abbreviated)

Logline:

The fear of seeking forgiveness from the son he never knew, pushes a father into dangerous penance while finding the courage to forgive himself.

Mini Movie 1 –

Emotional Gradients – Desired change

Transformational Character – Jess (leading role – the hero)

Change Agent – Augie (newest flight crewmate of Jess)

Old Ways – Running guns. Running from relationships. Running from life’s mistakes.

Challenge – Survive this horrific war. Keep from being caught running guns.

Weakness 1 – Jess remains “close to the vest” with something that eats at him.

Weakness 2 – He’s an adrenalin junkie.

Weakness 3 – Beautiful women.

Vision for Jess – He flies these humanitarian missions for numerous reasons.

Vision for Augie – Fly for extraordinary paychecks to save up a nest egg for his bride.

Opening scenes:

Jess, a competent, cool, seasoned mercenary pilot who flies a big four prop former passenger airliner-turned-POS-freighter, must break-in his newest copilot, Augie. Through this first flight many of the elements that make this an incredibly dangerous job are revealed.

On Augie’s inaugural flight he makes no apologies for being there for the lucrative “danger pay.” But Augie soon discovers this job is way more dangerous than he had anticipated. In fact, it is “off the charts” dangerous. And he’s scared s#@&less.

Jess reveals nothing of himself. Except to tell Augie, when he, Augie, truly “gets” the “why” of what they accomplish with these flights, it would become more important to him than even the lucrative pay he came to reap. But Augie senses Jess masks deeper reasons that tether him there.

Mini-Movie 2

Change Agent (primary) – Augie

Change Agent (secondary) – Fr. Tony Byrne

Transformational Character – Jess

Old Ways – Jess seems to be running from life’s mistakes which remain ill defined. As matters escalate in war, Jess sees his contribution as a stronger reason to stay, which draws him more deeply into the war and more disconnected from family.

Challenge 1 – Finding courage to straighten out his own life.

Challenge 2 – Survive this brutal civil war.

Weakness 1 – The war is Jess’s escape valve, easy way out, to avoid his past.

Vision for Jess – Would rather face death nightly when flying these dangerous missions – a sort of penance for all his wrongs – than face his past.

Opening Scene:

Poor village with starving children. Intro of Father Tony. French doctor examines an emaciated child, one of several children in line waiting to be examined, most of whom, the French doctor surmises, won’t survive the next day due to malnutrition.

Jess discovers from Tony,

1. It’s no rumor, the ICRC (Red Cross) is pulling out – too dangerous.

2. The Church wants to take over the ICRC’s position, investing itself into this war.

3. Tony is the newly appointed Church emissary for the humanitarian relief flights

4. Tony asks Jess to convince pilots to fly for the Church when the ICRC pulls out.

Mini-Movie 3

Change Agent (primary) – Augie

Change Agent (secondary) – Fr. Tony Byrne

Transformational Character – Jess

Old Ways – Jess becomes good at hiding the truth of his past and his reasons for investing himself deeper into the war. He can’t break from a convenient relationship he’s maintained with Greta, a woman who uses him equally, who knows he’s married.

Weakness – Fear of facing rejection.

Weakness – Self-doubt of his capabilities.

Opening scene:

When raising glasses with Bull alongside, to their fallen comrades, Jess suddenly recognizes the bomber pilot who killed the very friends to which they are toasting. A classic knock-down, drag-out, fist-and-cuffs bar fight ensues.

But a shocking revelation is made, tail spinning Jess into deeper remorse over his choices.

Mini-Movie 4

Change Agent (primary) – Augie

Change Agent (secondary) – Fr. Tony Byrne

Transformational Character – Jess

Old Ways – Same. Still uses the war as an excuse to not fess up to life’s mistakes.

Weakness – Behind the cool and collected pilot, there’s a coward.

Weakness – The people he fights for.

Opening scene:

With their plane grounded Jess is at the piano in the recreation center, by himself, lamenting his woes. Jess has incredible, never-before-seen, musical talent, an important part of his past and which makes him who he is and what causes him to be there.

Next eve’s mission Jess discovers an allied country is secretly supporting the war on the wrong side, contrary to its Prime Minister’s official statements to his own country and to the world. And he has solid proof of the PM’s lies. Jess understands the war just became more unfair and more difficult for the side for which he supports.

This is the MIDPOINT.

Mini-Movie 5

Change Agent (primary) – Augie

Change Agent (secondary) – Fr. Tony Byrne

Transformational Character – Jess

Old Ways – Same.

Challenge 1 – Jess must find the courage to return home to straighten out his own life.

Challenge 2 – The war is not just brutal and unfair, it escalates in the wrong direction.

Challenge 3 – The war gets more dangerous for Jess while drawing him in, further.

Weakness 1 – Jess’s bravery is but subterfuge to that which internally eats at him.

Weakness 2 – Tony asks him to help enlist pilots. He’d do anything for the Padre.

Vision for Jess – Before confessing to Augie, Jess justifies his death defying, nightly missions as a sort of penance for all his wrongs to others. Jess finds the pull of the escalating war even stronger so as to further justify his lengthening stay.

Changing vision for Jess – Jess confesses to Augie, sharing his true secrets of who his real employer is and what eats at him the most.

Changing vision for Jess – Augie’s offered solution resonates with Jess.

Opening scene:

Jess inserts war photos with a letter to his sister. Augie questions.

When Jess and Augie are half “in the bottle,” Jess lets down his guard, revealing important facts, one so significant it could even jeopardize Augie if he knew (omitted). Following Jess’s confessions, Augie offers key advice that resonates with Jess. Using a method unique to the relief aid pilots, Jess memorializes his love of family and vows to return home. Augie similarly follows suit, affirming his love for his wife.

Mini-Movie 6

Change Agent (primary) – Augie

Change Agent (secondary) – Fr. Tony Byrne

Transformational Character – Jess

Old Ways – It seems at first Jess put his old ways in the rear-view mirror. But there is an immediate call to action that interferes with his returning home. Father Tony is captured by Federation troops.

Challenge 1 – The war beckons even after he’s vowed to leave, when Tony is captured.

Weakness 1 – his friendship with Tony trumps all else, even his return to the States.

Opening scene:

Father Tony, now unfairly labeled a fugitive from justice, finds himself involuntarily in a fire fight where Federation troops have attacked a small village. He is captured, nearly executed but saved temporarily when others would be witnesses to his murder. The enemy troops’ leader holds off on Tony’s execution, takes him away instead, to be dealt with later, in private, where there would be no witnesses.

As Jess is packing up to leave Augie breaks the news of Tony’s fate. Jess foregoes all else to rescue Tony, missing his flight home.

With the help of Jess’s crewmates and military friends, Tony is rescued. In the process Jess reveals to Tony he’s committed to leaving the war effort.

Mini-Movie 7

Change Agent (primary) – Augie

Change Agent (secondary) – Greta

Transformational Character – Jess

Changed Old Ways – The war beckons him back. But this time it’s not the “old ways” that keeps him. Rather, a more worthy final mission draws him in.

Weakness 1 – Jess is no longer a coward. He’s forgiven himself. And this act alone causes him to see more clearly, the path he must take which is to return home. But this last mission is a monumental opportunity to turn the tide of the war in favor of the right side. And so, he’s torn and must choose between two equally worthy courses. He ponders which is most crucial in his mind’s eye, family or humanity.

Vision for Jess – Would he be able to live with himself if he foregoes a final mission that could turn the tide of the war in favor of the side that truly must win to even survive.

Opening scene:

Jess is taking the stairway up the transport plane. He’s headed home. Suddenly Augie and Bull arrive, yelling to “stop that man.” His crewmates confront Jess with a breaking situation, a final mission that could critically change the war toward their side. But it is absolutely guaranteed it would not happen without Jess’s personal participation.

Next scene: Jess, Augie and Bull are driving together in a Jeep, to airplane hangars in an abandoned part of the field. Jess reflects when spotting a plane that disappears in the distance, the one that would have brought him back to the States.

In the hangar, it’s bedlam and revelations as old adversaries meet. And the good guys are saved by a most unsuspecting individual.

Mini-Movie 8

Change Agent (primary) – Augie

Change Agent (secondary) – Fr. Tony Byrne

Transformational Character – Jess

New Ways – Old ways are in the rear-view mirror. He has clear direction. He needs to go home. But this immediate call to action must take precedence. Through new thinking and motivation, Jess finds a commonsense solution. He just needs to survive the first to accomplish the second.

Challenge 1 – The war beckons him for one final, “all stakes” mission.

Challenge 2 – If he so much as touches these new armament packages that he’s being asked to deliver, if found out, he could become a fugitive and thus prevented forever, from returning back to his family.

Weakness 1 – His rationalizing of choices.

Vision for Jess – He’s accepted that he’s headed home. He visualizes it. But he must accept this most critical mission.

Opening scene:

Jess is waiting for the new armament that could change the war. Jess is pacing because his compadres are considerably late. Suddenly Tony shows up, involuntarily escorted by several men, American CIA, who are convinced the Church is supplying arms and that this plane is full of them (on good authority). The CIA wants to inspect. Tony intervenes, says that he will inspect. He does so, finding nothing but food and humanitarian goods. The CIA doesn’t believe Tony, a priest! The CIA person-in-charge defies Tony, searches the plane. He finds nothing. Embarrassed, the CIA types leave. Then Tony leaves after bidding Jess God’s speed. Thereafter the truck arrives. Jess and crew pack up the weapons. It’s all good. Or is it?

Act III – final scenes

The flight, the aftermath. The end.

© Gordon M. Cowan 2023, all rights reserved

[Brendan Guerin]

In this assignment, I discovered the Mini Movie Method is a great tool for a Profound Screenplay because profound change is implicit within it. And it naturally accommodated the Profound Elements as defined in previous lessons. Thanks Hal!

MM #1

<i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Subtitle: Venice, September, 1927

Venice beach, 200,000 colourful spectators in jubilant anticipation. A few Union Jacks wave hopefully among a sea of Italian flags and black fascist emblems. Fascist slogans infiltrate on the scoreboard.

As seaplanes are towed to the starting line to compete for the Schneider Trophy, a fair-haired man in dark suit and fedora walks swiftly to the Hotel Excelsior and up the stairs to the Roof Garden for a better view through his binoculars.

He’s Reg Mitchell (early 30s), lead designer at Supermarine, maker of the two British S.5 planes in competition. Some 50 UK officials and guests are already there and his wife Florence (early 40s). She gives Reg a knowing smile, he blows a kiss. The starting gun fires.

Five laps in, rain brings down the first of the Italian Maachis, then the second, missing observers’ heads by feet. Only UK pilots Webster & Wolsley in the S.5s finish the race, winning the ‘Flying Flirt’ back from Italy and setting a new speed record. The British contingent goes wild; Italian punters are mortified.

Reg and Flo are in old Venice to see a movie. They watch the previews of uncut newsreels, this time with deep concern at hearing Hitler and Mussolini spewing fascist vitriol to angry young mobs intent on violence. Leaving the cinema, they are aghast at drunken Blackshirts on the footpaths, bullying elderly people and foreigners with police immunity.

Back in England at the Supermarine plant in Southampton, Reg is exploring his next innovation in aero-design. With a passion for illustration, he sketches new concepts for faster flight into beautiful illustrations. He observes birds soaring and diving, searching for clues. He abandons the old struts-and-canvas for his latest invention, adding metallurgist, Arthur Black, to the team.

Reg must strengthen ties with aero-engine partner Henry Royce. He rides an old Enfield motorcycle to Henri’s place outside London in care of a nurse. They share stories and bond. Reg detects an odd sour odour. As Reg leaves, Henry quizzes him about the motorbike, warning ‘these things are death traps’.

Reg and Flo go to the annual Binge of the firm’s technical team. Flo socialises adroitly with Reg’s colleagues. Draftsman Joe Smith hushes the crowd, invites Reg to speak. Relaxed among peers, Reg is humorous and humble, paying tribute to the team he has created. He reminds everyone that wheelbarrows saved the firm after the Armistice. He warns of rising European fascism, ending with a flourish: ‘Supermarine! Thou shalt survive this hour: England hath need of thee!’ Jubilant applause.

MM #2 –

PM Ramsay McDonald announces his refusal to finance Britain’s defense of the next Schnieder trophy. Few MPs speak out against the government’s timidity.

Reg reads the ‘Yellow Book’ on Britain’s Industrial Future and realises belt-tightening of the Depression will only compound the nation’s financial state. The gloomy outlook triggers one of his moods. The PM cynically offers 100,000 quid to defend the Trophy – only if matched with private sources.

Savvy secretary, Vera Cross, liaises daily with Flo to support Reg in these dark times. Vera opens his mail, responds to letters, only approaching Reg to sign when she knows he’s receptive.

Bob tells Reg he may have the private benefactor they need; Lady Lucy Housten, a wealthy Mussilini-admiring socialite and showy Yatchswoman.

Reg is dubious, but slowly warms to the idea. They agree to explore ways to modify the S6 regardless. Reg works day and night with Ernest Hives of Rolls Royce in the drawing room and factory floor on how to upgrade the S.6.

Reg, Bob and Ernesti Giles of Rolls Royce are invited onto Lady Housten’s 300-foot yacht ‘Liberty’. In the stylish Art Deco salon below, Reg tells Lucy the plan for a brand new S.6B with a bigger RR engine. Lucy is impressed, and gladly hands over a cheque for 100,000 quid. She relishes the media opportunity, embarrassing the government.

A delivery guy turns up at the Supermarine factory to collect an old Enright motorcycle. He has a new Rolls Royce sedan to leave in its place. Reg is taken aback, but delighted. The pinnacle of engineering excellence. Reg takes Vera for a spin.

The S.6Bs win the next Race outright, setting another speed record.

Lucy approaches Reg who’s standing outside ‘communing’ with his creature, patting it like a racehorse, warm after winning. They share political views and return to the party.

Lucy tells the media she’s never spent 100,000 quid so well, further embarrassing the PM and his advisers.

Despite the win, the death of several pilots in the contest plunges Reg into despair and self-doubt.

Then Reg’s father Hubert dies leaving him grief-stricken. He struggles to keep working on the S.6B project. Reg suffers abdominal pains but thinks little of it.

MM #3

News arrives that Hitler has seized power in Germany, creating a ruthless dictatorship that menaces Europe. Reg confides with his team.

Reg meets German-speaking Canadian, Bev Shenestone, a math geek and wing specialist who’s looking for a job. Bev reveals unique skill and insight from working in Germany on advanced military planes, well aware the program defied the post-war Treaty. It’s an elite fraternity that transcends nations.

Curious, Reg asks Vera to bring plans for his evolving Type 179 flying boat ‘The Giant’ into his office, inviting Bev’s professional opinion. Reg sees something of himself in Bev’s creative mind and analytical aptitude. He tells Bev to leave his contact details with Vera on the way out. Vera sends a job offer to arrive on Bev’s birthday.

Reg gets a briefing from the Air Ministry for Type 224 but its specifications are contradictory. With time of the essence. Reg starts relying more on his wits and intuition for aero-design breakthroughs, rather than experimentation which is costly and time-consuming. He discovers, through trial and error, that a larger propeller greatly improves the S.6B balance, stability and lift-off. Reg is reassured his vision is viable and instincts are sound.

Still grieving his father’s death, Reg drives son Gordon to Hendon air show to see the firm’s new ‘amphibian’ with its retractable undercarriage. Reg gives Gordon an erudite lesson in physics on route.

Reg and Gordon meet Aussie pilot, Mutt Summers (late 20s), who’s there to test fly the Seagull. Aussie Wing Commander, Lawrence Wackett, is looking to buy some to bolster Australia’s coastal surveillance. Mutt takes the plane up, loops a few times, bringing it down ever so smoothly.

Lawrence orders two dozen to monitor Australia’s vast coastline! Reg is thrilled and deeply thankful.

MM #4 –

Reg sees Dr William Gabrielle ‘Bill’ for a rectal exam. He winces with pain.

Bill invites Flo into the room to sit with Reg. Bill tells Reg he has advanced rectal cancer which has spread to his lower colon. He recommends major surgery which could result in a colostomy, telling Reg if he doesn’t, he could be dead in nine months! With surgery, he might extend that by a few years.

Flo and Reg are silent with shock. Then Flo screams, struggles to breathe, begins to wail. Reg struggles to his feet, draws Flo up on hers, and holds her tight, trembling. Reg hisses to Bill: “In the midst of life, we are in death, then!” Reg and Flo calm. Bill details the practical implications of a colostomy for Reg’s professional and private life.

Post surgery. September 1933. Flo, Gordon and Nurse Helen Richardson help Reg into the Rolls Royce passenger seat after a slow convalescence in sunny sea-side, Bournemouth. Helen has given Reg a shot of morphine, inducing a painless euphoria. He stares out the window in wonder as they travel.

Reg slowly recovers, learning what to eat to avoid diarrhea and flatulence. Flo and Helen rearrange the household to enable Reg to work from home, starting with the dining room table, which becomes a workstation for Reg to meet with colleagues: Vera, Bob, Joe, Alf, Alan, Agony and Bev. The few that know of his health condition.

Exhausted Reg sits in the armchair by the fire. After flicking through the newspapers, he uses a sketchpad and pencil to try and capture hazy forms for future flight from his mind’s periphery.

Reg and Bob agree to abandon conventional wisdom, and try a fresh approach to a killer fighter plane: They call it Type 300 and start conceiving it in-house, just as they did with the Schnieder racers, following their intuitive senses, rather than the Air Ministry’s specs.

Reg visits his GP. He shows Pick the contraption he knocked up in his garage with an off-cut of duralumin plate. The innovation has reduced leakage, even helped restore conjugal relations. Now devotes more time to his loving wife.

Reg hears on the radio that Hitler is demanding parity with its Great War conquerors in land, sea and air forces. The British government doubles down on its appeasement line.

In the UK chamber, the PM openly mocks France, who’s 500,000 strong army is the only thing standing between a rearmed, aggressive Germany and Western Europe.

One renegade Tory, Winston Churchhill, speaks out against Germany’s demands, warning it would almost certainly lead to another European war.Turning Point: Plan backfires.

MM #5 – For the first time since surgery, the Mitchell’s host Bob and Noel with adult daughters Evelyn and younger, feistier ‘spitfire’ Annie for dinner, bringing a sense of normality, and frivolity back to the home.

Smoking cigars by the fire, Reg quietly tells Bob his concern for his family’s welfare should he succumb to cancer. Bob reassures Reg the firm will agree to a generous financial settlement.

At Eastleigh Airport, Mutt takes up the Type 224 for an unofficial test flight. It disappoints on many fronts; speed, cooling system, turning circle, landing span and comfort.

Reg vows never again to design a plane to anyone’s specifications but his own. Searching for inspiration, Reg rings Wes Dudley at the Eastleigh Flying School, to book flying lessons in a Gypsy Moth.

Dudley helps Reg up onto the wing, causing him great pain. Dudley climbs aboard and straps in. Outside, Staunton spins the propeller to prime the carburetor then signals to Reg to flick the ignition. Wesley ducks away just as the engine fires.

On his second lesson, Reg takes off and handles the Gypsy Moth with ease. For once he’s not out to prove anything, only to capture the intense feeling of flight. He settles in to enjoy the ride, the vibration massaging his sore body. He moves his head out from behind the tiny windscreen for a blast of icy air on his cheeks then draws back, smiling child-like at the contrast. Back at Eastleigh airport, Reg hones up his touch-and-go manoeuvres before coming down to perfect land.

At Supermarine, Reg invites Bev to be his ‘Wingman’ on the Type 300 project charged with rethinking wing design in a radical way. Bev is keen but he’s busy on the flying boats. Reg makes it the highest priority for the firm – and the country.

Reg tells Bev he doesn’t just want to build a better airplane but a formidable team that can work together and know the model intimately. Noone can be indispensable.

Now, Reg reveals a secret plan for developing the Type 300, which he’s betting will outperform the Type 224, ultimately replacing it. He tells Bev it must break new ground in speed and agility – to bring down Nazi planes in droves. Reg shows plans for a bigger engine with 400 more horsepower to carry eight forward guns while able to turn on a sixpence – and still be safe.

Bev reveals a new way to design a better wing shape, which will take inspiration from the Zanania Macrocarpa seed with its elliptical form. Bev takes the pencil and sketchpad to illustrate his very initial idea for the new wing and how it would work. Together, they refine their secret plan for the revolutionary Type 300.

Bob meets with Hugh Dowding who agrees on the urgency for deadly fighter planes, not more bombers, if England is to defend itself. Hugh has just been promoted and knighted, becoming an influential ally among top military brass, giving Reg’s team renewed hope.

MM #6 –

It’s been 20 months since surgery. Reg receives his pilot’s license, even wins Eastleigh spot landing competition, giving him a new lease of life. Now he travels to RR meetings in the Gypsy Moth. Goes to Austria with his family, even masters the sport of snow skiing.

Reg slowly circles the painted model of the Type 300 in the factory, admiring the S-shape Lines of Beauty as he waits for war veteran Squadron Leader Ralph Sorley. They meet and bond, sharing experiences over a pipe.

Ralph tells Reg the Germans have been building planes for 12 years now in a Junkers factory outside Moscow. Shows maps of troop training camps under the guise of police units, party militia, sporting clubs and boy scouts. Also training fighter pilots at Lipetsk in the USSR. Like England, Germany now believes war will be won by the airforce, not army or navy.

On the factory floor, Ralph is shocked at the style and grace of the Type 300 mockup, calling it “our Exterminating Angel”. The men talk of replacing guns with cannons. Ralph is impressed by the sheer competence of Reg’s team. Ralph tries to place an order for Type 300 – even before flight tests. Reg resists, warning ‘more haste, less speed’. Ralph accepts his decision and leaves.

At North Stafford hotel, Flo has organised a party for Reg’s 40th birthday with the family, thinking it might be Reg’s last. MOVE?

Reg meets at a hangar with the Type 300 project team: Bev, Joe, Alf, Agony, Ernie Mansbridge (pilot liaison) and Ken Scales (foreman). Five men push the prototype onto the runway, holding the tail section aloft.

Pilots Mutt and Jeffrey Quill arrive to do test flights. Reg tells them to focus on the basics: Take off, Landing, Rudder and Stick control and Speed. No fancy stuff.

Mutt does usual ground checks before signaling for take-off. The engine starts on the 3rd attempt. Mitchell’s blood is racing as Mutt taxis the plane in a zigzag pattern up the tarmac. The plane takes off in a short distance. Mutt completes the flight, lands and alights, with the widest grin: “It’s a real bolter, nimble as a gazelle.”

Bob rings Reg to bemoan the government’s failure to respond to the Nazis reoccupying the Rhineland between Germany and France, against the Treaty. Bob is under pressure from top Air Force brass, Hugh Dowding, to see progress on the Type 300. Reg cautiously agrees to Hugh’s visit.

Reg and Bob drive to the airport and through a police check. The newly painted K5054 is on the tarmac. Hugh and Ralph arrive in a large black Humber Snipe. Reg and Hugh meet, shaking hands with mutual admiration. Mutt takes the plane up, the other men return to the carpark to view. The engine fires on the first attempt.

Hugh and Bob marvel at the raw power of the sleek fighter. lt far exceeds their expectations. They ponder the ethics of the killing machine.

Reg flies to Ipswich to see the new Spitfire put to the final test. He takes the scenic route, taking in the Counties of Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex, acutely alive to his own mortality.

At trials, Reg and others discuss the need for advanced pilot training. Is there even time? The top pilots claim the Spitfire flies itself.

Mutt takes the plane up for a test run. Then Edward Jones takes the plane up. Forgets to put wheels down. The tension is palpable. He drops the wheels in the nick of time.

Bob meets Reg at Woolston. He’s brought with him an order from the Air Ministry for 310 spitfires. Reg is delighted and relieved that England might yet defend itself. Now, Reg and his team face a whole new challenge to upscale from a small jobbing firm to an airplane assembly line. Bob and Reg leave the factory for a long lunch to celebrate the milestone.

Reg is told he has 12 months to live.

MM #7 –

Bob meets Reg to reveal tender docs to design new Bombers, Type 316. Reg flips through the brief, then conceives a new prototype in his head, noting key specs. He does a brief sketch. Bob is worried it will fail without Reg on board. Reg tells Bob to believe in the team.

Reg meets with Hugh at Defense who is setting up a team to run a massive RDF network to monitor enemy plane movement, hoping to give advance warning to Spitfires when they do battle. Hugh acknowledges Reg for everything he’s done. He promises to set Reg’s Spitfires to work with ruthless efficiency.

Spanish general Francisco Franco begins a fascist rebellion intent on overthrowing the legitimate republican government, leading into a bloody Spanish civil war.

Sir Oswald Morsley, leads the British Union of Fascists and its Blackshirts, a paramilitary wing of uniformed thugs on a march into the East End. They violently attack poor Jewish refugees, Irish dockworkers, small shopkeepers, even their wives and children.

But the East Enders stand up to them; women hurl refuse and empty chamber pots on the police from upper storey windows. Scores of people are arrested and injured. The Blackshirts break up in disarray, Morsley slinks away and boards a plane for Berlin. The UK media blame the general public for threatening law and order.

Reg and Flo go to the cinema to see Fred and Ginger in SWING TIME. They watch unedited footage of the march and are glad to see the crowd’s discipline and determination against the police.

At Eastleigh, Reg takes his last flight at the controls while he still has the strength. He’s flown around the county and set a course back to the airport. Passing Romsey, he begins his descent for a copybook landing. He accepts help to dismount then walks to the school office to fill in the logbook one last time.

St Mark’s Hospital, London. Reg and Flo. Gab confirms that Reg’s cancer continues to spread. Flo is accepting, much to Reg’s relief.

MM #8 – Flo invites Reg to accompany her and Gordon to the Easter service and meet the new vicar at her church, Rev Stretton Reeves. Flo tries to persuade Reg by retelling the gospel reading of Ahab and Jezebel, drawing parallels with today’s continental fascists. She draws parallels with the biblical Chariots of Fire and Reg’s Spitfire. Humorous banter between them.

Gordon and Reg enter the church. Flo and the choir sing the opening hymn as the service begins. Reg finds comfort in the familiar cadence of the Sunday service. The vicar begins the Easter homily. He rallies the congregation to take courage against the fascist regimes of the continent and embrace our moral convictions. As some in this gathering have done!

Stretton goes to visit Flo, Reg and Gordon at their home. Flo settles the men in the kitchen, leaving them alone to talk. Reg tells Stretton that he keeps working at the firm because he needs to, for fear of becoming a gloomy sod and more of a burden on Flo.

Stretton tells Reg that his needs and Flo’s are inseparable, reminding Reg that no-one can claim to have absolute knowledge. A friendship begins.

Reg bids his goodbyes to the team at Woolston. Anoints Joe as chief engineer. Vera bursts into tears. Reg struggles to his feet and rests his hands on her shoulders.

At home with Reg, Flo reads an account in The Echo of the German air force’s bombing of the Spanish town of Guernica, killing 600 and injuring hundreds more.

When Pick arrives for Reg’s daily home checkup, distraught Flo inquires about the cancer expert in Austria, Dr Leopold Freund, who is developing radiotherapy treatment.

Against his better judgment, Pick agrees to arrange for treatment. Vera organises the flights.

At Eastleigh airport, pilot Jim Beadle introduces himself. Reg casts an approving eye over the Havilland Dragon Rapide that awaits them before boarding for takeoff.

When the plane hits turbulence, Theresa gives Reg a dose of morphia, putting him at ease until the descent into Vienna.

On the tarmac, a Mercedes Benz sedan arrives to pick up the trio for the drive to the hospital. They pass a demonstration. People wearing brown uniforms and jackboots, waving flags with thick black swastikas, over a white disk, set in the middle of a red field.

Reg, Flo and Theresa meet Dr Freund. They discuss military aircraft and strategies. They all fear a German invasion, any day now in the case of Austria.

Leo begins radio-therapy on Reg which goes for weeks. On daily walks, Flo buys The Times. Reg writes letters to Gordon, asking about the garden, his studies and his career plans.

Flo and Theresa take Reg to Cafe Imperial to celebrate his 42nd birthday, almost certainly his last. Reg openly questions the ethics of his new killing machine.

Two weeks later, Leo tells Reg and Flo what they already know. They fly home.

Reg ties up all the loose ends in his life. He rests in a chair admiring the garden. He accepts his fate. Flo and Gordon arrive with a box brownie to take a photograph. He needs help to stand.

Reg awakes at night to see Gordon and Flo sprawled out in upright chairs in a vigil to see him off. Reg decides to lighten their burden, taking a decent swig of the morphia bottle before carefully replacing cap and spoon.

He drifts into his final and most vivid fantasy of flight and speed convinced he had done good in the world.

SUPER Summary of the crucial role of Spitfire fighting and winning in the Battle of Britain.

Profound Truth: There is no such thing as a lone genius, success comes through teamwork. The threat of fascism is ever present; we must remain ever vigilant.