Lesson 8

[Clive Morris]

Clive Morris Lesson 8 Likability Empathy Justification What I Learned Doing This Assignment

What I learned doing this assignment is how vital emotional connection is to a successful action story. Even if the hero causes chaos or violence, we’re still with them — as long as we care. By embedding likability, empathy, and clear justification early in the story, I can emotionally hook the audience and make their journey feel earned and cathartic. I now see this is not about “cool fights” — it’s about building the emotional foundation before the fight begins.

BRAINSTORMING RICK
LIKABILITY / LOVABILITY
1. Rick checks in on a homeless vet he served with, offering him food and cash.
2. He is struggling with guilt having ‘killed’ an opponent in an MMA fight. Guy was his best friend – Will discover later his friend was on drugs which caused his death. (Maybe even betting on the fight, he was drugged so he would lose and thus died. Bottom line – it wasn’t actually Rick’s fault. )
3. A child at the underground MMA gym sees Rick as a hero — Rick teaches the kid basic self-defense.
4. Marge tells Hank: “Rick’s a mess, but he’s got a good heart.”
5. Rick refuses to return to professional fighting because he doesn’t want to hurt anyone just for money.
6. Kind to Marge on first meeting — calls her “ma’am” and helps her carry a box.
7. Funny, dry humor — especially when dealing with Johnny, his loser friend.
8. Deep respect for his father, despite resentment. Refuses to abandon Hank when things get dangerous.

EMPATHY / DISTRESS
1. Suffering from PTSD — we see his panic attack after a victory in the ring.
2. Estranged from his daughter — he leaves her a voicemail he never sends.
3. Lives alone, sleeps with a gun beside his bed.
4. His father left him years ago to protect him from Keller. Rick never knew why — now it haunts him.
5. Ambushed at the nursing home while trying to reconcile with Hank.
6. Forced to relive war tactics to save innocent people (including Marge) when he’d rather leave violence behind.

JUSTIFICATION
1. Hank is almost killed by Keller’s men just for trying to expose the truth.
2. Rick is framed as a fugitive and falsely accused of killing federal agents.
3. Mendoza threatens Rick’s ex and daughter — Rick sees video surveillance of them followed home.
4. Hank admits he never gave up on Rick — just protected him from being murdered.
5. Keller tries to silence Rick permanently to bury the truth and get promoted to CIA head.

FIRST ACT – EMOTIONAL SETUP (LIKABILITY / EMPATHY / JUSTIFICATION)
OPENING SCENES (LIKABILITY/EMPATHY):
Rick fights in an illegal MMA match. He wins but doesn’t celebrate. Outside, he helps a homeless vet to his feet and gives him some cash. That night, he sits in his dark apartment, leaves an unsent voicemail to his daughter, then paces, overwhelmed by PTSD.
VISIT TO THE NURSING HOME (LIKABILITY):
Rick arrives, awkwardly trying to care for his estranged father. He chats with Marge kindly, helps her lift a box. He tries to hide his emotions but is rattled by how fragile Hank looks.
HANK’S WARNING (EMPATHY):
Hank cryptically says, “They’re coming. You need to be ready.” Rick rolls his eyes — another one of Hank’s paranoid delusions? But he takes the mysterious envelope Hank offers.
AMBUSH (JUSTIFICATION):
Later that night, masked men break into the nursing home. Rick fights savagely to protect Hank and Marge. He’s bloodied and breathless as the three of them escape in Hank’s old truck.
THE TRUTH (JUSTIFICATION/EMPATHY):
On the road, Hank finally confesses: he has evidence that could destroy a powerful man — Keller — who helped cover up murders for a cartel. Hank left Rick years ago to protect him. Keller had threatened to kill Rick if Hank didn’t disappear.
ESCAPE (EMPATHY):
Now the government is after them. Rick’s face is on the news, branded a fugitive. A father he never trusted is suddenly his responsibility. Rick is thrust into a war he never asked for.