Lesson 8

[Jan Fantl]

Jan’s Adding Empathy/Distress!

WIL: What can I say, you are forcing me over my limits and I love it.

Bring their wound present:

In the field, Oliver stresses to himself, “Focus, focus, you must focus.”

Plans that fail:

He urges the soldier from afar to focus on the child and not allow it to come near. However, the soldier fails and offers the child his water bottle, resulting in both the soldier and the car being bombed and going up in flames.
Witnessing the pain of others: Oliver witnesses the soldier being ambushed and holds him while ordering others to catch the assassins.

Trapped:

Oliver is trapped between situations as he wants to leave but needs to stay. It is unclear who put him into this situation, but Hans, Gabrielle, the notary, and Marie are all potential suspects.

Betrayal/Violation of trust:

Oliver experiences betrayal from Hans at the age of 17, leading him to run away.

He also was betrayed by Jürgen, who ran away and left him alone with their best friend dying. And is father didn’t believe him when it got existential.

…. and there may be additional betrayals yet to be revealed.

Forced decision:

Oliver is faced with the decision of whether to confront his own family particularly Uncle Hans, about their involvement in the conspiracy surrounding his parents’ deaths. He must decide whether to confront them directly, or to let go of his pursuit for justice and move on with his life.

Hurt those they love:

Marie falls in love with Stephanie and cheats on Oliver.

Stephanie doesn’t tell Oliver that she is forced to spy on him, causing emotional turmoil for Oliver.

He opens up about his father and Uncle Hans, who were the main characters that didn’t believe him when the car accident happened.

Oliver also reveals how he was abused as a child under the supervision of Uncle Hans.

Emotional Dilemma:

Oliver is torn between his duties. He must navigate the conflict between his loyalty to the army and his desire to uncover the truth about his parents’ deaths. He must choose between following orders and following his personal quest for justice

Exposed:

It is uncertain who will expose Oliver as the boy who ran away and try to destroy his reputation. Clarice and Gabrielle are potential suspects, and Jürgen may also play a role in exposing Oliver.

Must make decisions with future consequences:

Oliver announces that he will stay as long as it takes to find the truth.

He decides to stay with Marie, despite accusations of incest from the rest of the family.

Oliver accepts his heritage and refuses to renew the shipyard deal, which has significant future consequences.

Uncle Hans – Violation of Trust :

When Oliver calls Uncle Hans, hoping for support and guidance with his parents passing, instead of offering assistance, Uncle Hans betrays Oliver’s trust by lying about his whereabouts and instantly speaking to others who are concerned about Oliver’s arrival.

Petra – Violation of Trust:

Looking at Petra, the detective investigating Oliver’s parents’ deaths, Oliver ask himself about a potential dilemma. Is she trapped between her duty to uncover the truth and some kind of pressure from a party he’s not aware of? When he asks, he gets a shitstorm. So, is he right?

General – Trapped: Oliver requests to may return to his team asap while he hides behind the parents passing the request to stay as ” as long as needed”

[Chanda Haynes]

Like the Joneses Adding Empathy/Distress

What I learned doing this assignment is that things are continuing to build a story with more details. Each one of the steps helps the plot become clearer and drive the characters in some way. Putting characters in awkward or unpleasant situations is challenging, but creates bigger stakes and more conflict and drama. I like this assignment because it helps to start to build the beats for the story.

Undeserved misfortune –

Teaser: Willie lost his sister early in life (haven’t figured out cause of death yet).

Henry and Heather grew up without their mom or dad.

Pete lost his seat on the LOCC

Pete’s sales are down and his company is struggling.

Henry and Heather’s dad wasn’t able to stay in the country after Monica died.

Tony is overlooked in the company he founded. His cousin is put in charge of him.

External character conflicts:

Henry is blackmailing Willie

Pete is blackmailing Willie

Henry is wanted by the loan sharks

Plot intruding on life:

Tony is investigating the LOCC

Tony wants more authority in the company.

Willie’s staff, including his VP Brian, walk out on him unexpectedly

Tony learns of Willie’s involvement with the corruption of the LOCC

Loan sharks catching up with Henry.

John has permission to return to the states.

Plans that failed:

Keeping the inheritance a secret

Elaine and Willie leaving for Haiti.

Keeping John in Haiti.

Keeping the LOCC racketeering a secret.

Henry hiding out from the loan sharks

Henry lying to his family to buy himself time.

Witnessing the pain of others:

Seeing Willie mourn his sister then be blackmailed by her son.

Pain of Heather and Henry not growing up with their parents.

Pain of John being separated from his children.

Pete being released from the LOCC

Tony being overlooked at Jones Farmacy.

Extreme consequences:

If Henry doesn’t pay the sharks, they may harm/kill/expose his family.

Firing Pete to discredit him.

The walkout at Green Diamonds.

Willie canceling the trip to Haiti and coming out of retirement.

Major loss:

Tony leaving Jones Farmacy

Monica dying.

Pete’s staff walking out on him.

Willie making Henry CEO, major loss for Tony

Pete being released from the LOCC board

Brings their wound present:

Willie reminded of his sister and John.

Elaine wants to visit Monica’s grave in Haiti.

Tony’s past mistakes are why willie doesn’t trust him. Although he’s sober now.

Pete used as the scapegoat.

Crucible

Tony is miserable at Jones Farmacy where he is not given much authority.

Henry owes the loan sharks money. He is hiding out in Oregon.

Willie has denied Tony more authority until Elaine convinces him to trust Tony.

Henry threatens to go public with info about the inheritance.

Tony accepts a position at Green Diamonds.

Pete is released from the LOCC

Pete’s staff walk out on him.

Betrayal

Henry blackmails Willie

Willie promotes Henry over Tony

Henry learns Willie cashed in his inheritance

Brian exposes the info on LOCC to Tony

▪Forced decision

Tony quits Jones Farmacy

Willie makes Henry CEO

Brian and the staff walk out of Green Diamonds.

The Governor fires Pete

Tony decides against returning to Jones Farmacy

Pete offers Tony the VP position at Green Diamonds

Henry hides the loan shark news from his family

Willie hides the blackmail from Tony and Heather

▪Hurt those they love

Tony quits Jones Farmacy

Willie appoints Henry CEO

Tony becomes Pete’s VP and it makes national news

Henry blackmails his uncle

Willie backs out of the early retirement/trip to Haiti

▪Emotional Dilemma

Tony leave or stay with his family’s business.

Henry blackmailing his uncle for the inheritance he stole

Tony going to work for Pete

Pete’s staff walking out on him

Willie hid the blackmail from Tony

Tony decides to follow up on Noelle’s lead with Brian

Willie changing his mind about leaving with Elaine.

Exposed:

Willie stole Henry and Heather’s inheritance. Pete knows about it.

Henry owes a bunch of people money.

Pete has a bad reputation in cannabis community. The governor no longer wants him on the board.

Tony learns about Willie’s involvement in the LOCC racketeering.

Henry admits he’s in over his head.

Must Make Decision with Future Consequences

Henry lies to his family about his whereabouts

Tony demands more power in the company

Henry demands answers about the inheritance

Elaine is ready to leave the US

Pete’s staff walk out on him

Brian tries to explain to Noelle

The Governor appoints Willie to another 4 years on the LOCC board

Pete is released from the LOCC

Tony accepts the VP position at Green Diamonds.

Henry blackmails Willie

Pete requests a favor from Willie