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Lesson 8 Assignments
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Module 1.8 Assignment 1:
Mr. Robot – Big Mysteries: Who is the Dark Army? What do they want? Will they cooperate? What is Tyrell’s end game and will he betray fsociety and Elliot to the FBI?
Smaller Mysteries: Will Fernando have Elliot killed? Will Tyrell get caught for the murder of Sharon Knowles? Will Angela put Allsafe out of business by her actions to make a deal with Colby to get him to testify?
Assignment 2:
Create two mysteries for your show — one that shows up strong in the Pilot and the other that is revealed over time.
My script titled: “The Perfect Candidate”
1. Create your Shocking Event Mystery and tell us the WWWWW and H, along with the part withheld.
A. Shocking Event: The murder of one of the candidates at the isolated corporate retreat.
B. Secret: ALL of the candidates are not what they seem.
C. Investigation: The candidates must figure who is the killer amongst them.
What does the dream corporate job really entail?
When will they find out who gets chosen?
Where will the job lead them?
Who is each one of them and what is their story?
Why were each of them selected when NONE of them seems a likely candidate?
How will each one of them try and win the job?
Part Withheld: The sordid past of each candidate.
2. Create the Over Time Mystery and tell us the WWWWW and H, along with the part withheld.
A. Cover up: The corporation is hiding many things.
B. Secret: ALL of the candidates are not what they seem.
C. Reveals: Clues about the candidates and the company and the “Dream Job” they are competing for.
WWWWW and How: Same as above,
Part Withheld: The sordid past of each candidate.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by H.G. MIDDLEMASS.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by
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Assignment 1
Example Show: Game of Thrones
Shocking Event Mystery
A. Shocking Event: Bran Stark sees Queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister having sex. To protect his and Cersei’s secret, Jamie pushes Bran out a tower window, presumably to his death.
B. Secret: All of Cersei’s children are by Jamie, not King Robert. Robert doesn’t know this or even suspect. Jon Arryn, about to uncover the truth is murdered by the Lannisters to preserve this secret. This murder itself was a secret, as Jon Arryn looked like he died of natural causes.
C. Investigation: Ned Stark begins to follow in the footsteps of Jon Arryn to find out what he knew. Ned meets some of King Robert’s bastards. Ned also discovers the truth about Cersei and Jamie’s children.
Over Time Mystery
A. Cover up: The White Walkers have arisen and are preparing to go south. Not actually a cover up per se, but it is a mystery which unfolds slowly over several episodes.
B. Secret: White Walkers are believed to be mythical. No one who hasn’t seen them believes and no one takes rumors of their presence seriously.
C. Reveals: We see White Walkers kill a few wildlings in the pilot. No one believes the survivor. Later, a White Walker shows up at the castle of the Night’s watch and almost kills Jon Snow and Lord Mormont.
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Lesson Eight: Mystery
Assignment 1: Sample Show is The Vampire Diaries
Big Picture Mysteries
· Why is Damon really back in Mystic Falls?
· What happened between Katherine and Stefan?
· What happened between Katherine and Damon?
· Where is Katherine now?
· How did Elena survive the car crash that killed her parents?
· What are Bonnie’s powers as a witch?
· Why does Stefan hate Damon so much?
· Will Elena and Stefan end up together?
· Will Damon turn any other major character into a vampire?
· Why does Stefan refuse to drink human blood (even from blood banks or feeding on people without killing them)?
· What has Stefan been doing over the 150 years he’s been a vampire?
· What has Damon been doing over the 150 years he’s been a vampire?
Small Mysteries (Episode 8)
· Who is the little girl who looks like she’s from the past and what did her message, “they’re coming” mean for Bonnie in the tag?
· Why is Jeremy pursuing his schoolwork and doing no drugs after Damon compelled him to forget that he saw Vicky killed?
· Who is Lexi and what kind of friend is she to Stefan?
· What is the real purpose of the pendant Bonnie wears, that Damon wants?
· Will Elena tell her best friend Bonnie that Stefan is a vampire?
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Sample Show: Secrets and Lies
Big Picture Mystery: Who killed Ben’s son? And why can’t he remember that night?
Smaller Mysteries: Finds a child’s size tooth in his jacket, why is it there? Is his wife hiding money from him? Why?
Kim’s Show Mysteries
What I learned doing this assignment is…as I brainstormed the mysteries within my story, I realized what the Big Twist of my show would be.
A. Shocking Event: Someone attacks Eric with a knife while he’s on the phone with someone. The woman on the other end of the line hears him yell, “Natalie, stop!”
B. Secret: His wife is arrested for the attempted murder, although she doesn’t remember anything about it and is certain she’s innocent.
C. Investigation: The audience will wonder: Why would she want her husband dead? Why is her husband sticking up for her, even though it seems like a clear-cut case?
What: Natalie is being treated for Dissociative Identity Disorder by both her husband Eric, who is also her psychologist, and her therapist Krystal.
When: During a week of turmoil, when Natalie hasn’t been herself at all. Literally.
Where: An upper-class suburban housing track where people have all sorts of secrets hidden away.
Why: We will later learn that Eric and Krystal have a lot of built-up sexual tension because of their attraction to one another.
Who: The only people aware of Natalie’s D.I.D. are Eric and Krystal.
How: Could one of Natalie’s personalities have attempted to murder Eric?
Part Withheld: Her Dissociative Identity Disorder is actually her soul’s past lives.
A. Cover up: Eric protects his wife while Krystal pretends to stand by both of them. But she is obsessed with separating them.
B. Secret: That Natalie, Eric, and Krystal all suffer from the same type of D.I.D. Their souls are all connected through past lives.
C. Reveals: The first life, as children, starts with an unsolved murder and ends with both of their untimely demises. In their second life, they’re teenagers when they die. They make it to their twenties in their third life. Each time, the common denominator of their unfulfilled fates is a third soul.
What: Each of their souls lived in a body that died young because the souls never connected with each other, thanks to human consequences of the mind.
When: Three different decades. And then this one.
Where: Three different places besides this place, but all hold similar consequences for who they are as lost souls.
Why: Their souls were disturbed as children when a horrible accident bent back the hands of fate.
Who: Children. Teenagers. Young adults. Adults.
How: These parts of them are trying to communicate with their physical hosts. Warning them. Fighting for them to finally do the right thing. Be the people they were meant to be before everything was messed up. Make changes, do what’s right.
Part Withheld: The entire time, we think that it’s Natalie and Eric who are supposed to be together. We think Krystal is the one who has messed up their fate. But in the end, it’s Krystal and Eric who were fated to be together.
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<b data-pm-slice=”1 3 []” data-en-clipboard=”true”>ASSIGNMENT 1:
What I learned doing this assignment is how to start to look for mysteries in shows.
Sample Show: Stranger Things
Big Picture Mysteries:
– What is this monster?
– Is there more than one?
– How can they open the door to get Will out?
– Is he still alive?
– Can Eleven close the door she opened?
Smaller Mysteries:
– What happened to the sheriff daughter
– What happed to Eleven and how was she taken from her Mom
– Why did the Mom participate in the program
– Why is she called eleven? What happened to 1 through 10?
– How are the people listening to the phone lines?
– Is this a government agency or something else?
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<b data-pm-slice=”1 1 []” data-en-clipboard=”true”>ASSIGNMENT 2:
What I learned doing this assignment is how to start to think through mysteries for a show even if I have no idea what they will actually look like. Kinda fun! 🙂
Create two mysteries for your show — one that shows up strong in the Pilot and the other that is revealed over time.
1. Create your Shocking Event Mystery and tell us the WWWWW and H, along with the part withheld.
A. Shocking Event: Anthony’s military team is killed by a group of strange creatures, but he is left alive for some reason
B. Secret: There is a secret war being fount for humanity and Anthony’s family line has been a part of it for decades
C. Investigation: Anthony is searching for what happened to his team
– WHAT: Anthony’s team was killed by a strange group of creatures
– WHEN: 5 years ago
– WHERE: In a foreign country while on a mission
– WHY: Because he and his team were about to discover a secret base
– WHO: Anthony is actually a descendant of the CENTRY Brotherhood and has hidden powers because of it
– HOW: He has searched the internet, went on missions by himself and been in fights with these creatures but he doesn’t know how he survives or what they are
Part Withheld/Ultimate Reveal: The creatures that killed his team were actually human, possessed by a secret drug that was being mass produced at the location they found
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2. Create the Over Time Mystery and tell us the WWWWW and H, along with the part withheld.
A. Cover Up: It’s no secret who and what the creatures were. Anthony is constantly misdirected
B. Secret: The drug being created is being founded by a high-ranking global conglomerate with world domination goals
C. Reveals: Anthony learns that his father was killed by the same creatures. He discovers a secret manuscript that he must investigate and decode. The boys in the group home are slowly being drugged as test subjects. Anthony is setup to fail so that he can be put in jail. Anthony cannot be killed by the creatures because of his legacy. The creatures have weaknesses that he discovers while working with the boys. Anthony learns that the people that put him over the home were part of the killing of his team and they expected him to die as well. The boys all have hidden powers that the Dark Organization wants to use. The boys were specifically chosen because of their race, background and powers so that they could lead others in the Dark Army.
– WHAT: the Dark Organization is the shadow side of the real world Conglomerate
– WHEN: For over two thousand years
– WHERE: It was started in the middle east
– WHY: To create a way to control a human being through drugs and influence
– WHO: The head dark
– HOW: by mixing illegal narcotics with stress, pressure and control. Doing so can open a door in a persons spirit for evil to enter in and control them.
Part Withheld/Ultimate Reveal: How the dark creatures are actually mind controlled humans. Some being controlled willingly and some unwillingly
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Assignment 2
Subject: Marcus Wolf’s Show Mysteries
What I learned doing this assignment is an excellent way to grab the audience’s attention, and a way to keep it. Standard script writing (for movies, at least) requires an inciting incident early in Act I. The shocking event can be the inciting incident or it can be used to reinforce the inciting incident. The over time mysteries, properly done, keep the main characters’ journeys fresh and continually intriguing.
My shocking events, while shocking, still need some work, as they do not necessarily pose deep mysteries. I’ll be putting more thought into this one.
Shocking Event Mystery 1:
A. Shocking Event: Count Eustace of Boulogne visits England. He brings his men, heavily armed soldiers, into Dover and attacks the people of the town on a flimsy pretense. A violent riot breaks out in which dozens of people (including many of Eustace’s men) are killed. Eustace goes to King Edward (his brother-in-law), blames the people of Dover (of which Godwin is protectorate) and demands justice. Edward orders Godwin to ravage Dover as punishment. Godwin refuses and the country poises for civil war.
B. Secret: Edward believes that Godwin is too well established and influential in England and getting stronger. Edward has unsuccessfully sought a way to redress this imbalance of power. Eustace believes he has provided it (for which Edward now owes him).
C. Investigation: Bishop Stigand is called in as a mediator and tries to discover the real reason the King is so angry with Godwin. The king demands a trial, but will not present charges. Stigand must also discover why Godwin refuses his king’s commands.
D. Who: Count Eustace of Boulogne
E. What: Attack on town of Dover
F. When: After a visit to King Edward
G. Where: Dover, deep in Earl Godwin’s territory
H. How: Riding horseback from house to house killing
I. Part Withheld: Instead of punishing a foreigner who attacked one of his cities, the king wants the town itself punished. Why?
Shocking Event Mystery 2:
A. During the battle of Alencon, William is teased by the town defenders about being a bastard of low birth. William completely loses his cool. He captures them and brings them to Alencon castle. In front of the castellan, he has all of their hands and feet cut off. He tells the castellan that if he forces William to lay siege, this will be their fate when they do eventually come out. He then has the bodies stacked in front of Domfront castle, which he is also besieging, and has the hands and feet catapulted into the castle. They get the idea and surrender.
B. Secret: King Henry invades Anjou to support William’s efforts in Domfront and Alencon. He is shocked by William’s atrocity. William has now become too powerful and may also be turning into a monster.
C. Investigation: Like Edward, Henry perceives an imbalance of power which frightens him. He seeks ways to redress this.
D. Who: William of Normandy
E. What: committed atrocity
F. When: during the sieges of Domfront and Alencon
G. Where: Alencon Castle
H. How: Amputated the hands and feet of 30 men.
I. Part Withheld: Why would William do such a thing? A simple siege of the castles would have eventually resulted in their surrender, as was normally done at that time. Will there be repercussions? It doesn’t seem so to William, but what he’s done has rattled some of his own followers and disgusted his ally, King Henry.
Over Time Mystery 1:
A. Cover up: Although married for several years, King Edward and Queen Edith have no children.
B. Secret: Not sure yet. Any of: Edward is sterile, Edith is barren, Edward is gay, Edward detests Edith, Edward does not want children with Edith because she is Godwin’s daughter and a son would guarantee a grandson of Godwin on the throne. It leaves open the idea of divorce as well.
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Brigitte Timmerman Show Mysteries
What I learned from this assignment is instilling a reveal and coverup ad to a greater mystery. I guides the audience with the WWWWH that will go on the journey with the character or premise that makes the experience more interesting.
Assignment #1
Handmaid’s Tale
Big Picture Mystery:
Will June ger pregnant?
If June has a child how will she plan an escape?
Will she escape?
Who is the father of her child?
What will happen to her if she’s caught?
Smaller Mysteries:
Will June’s shopping partner find out about Junes plans and talks with other handmaids?
Will Commander Waterford find out about Nick and June?
Will Serena ease up on June knowing she’s pregnant?
Assignment #2
Refuge Nation
1. Shocking Event Mystery: Will the family find Isaacs tribe? If they do will they be accepted?
A. Shocking Event: Irene and Jessie loose their sister from a drug overdose. They adopt their 2 year old nephew Isaac who is half Native American.
B. Secret: Isaac’s family, who are they?
C. Investigation: Aunts gain clues and travel to find Isaacs family on the road.
What: The tribe Isaac is from.
When: 7 generations into the future
Where: Travels to three Native Nations on their journey
Why: Must find his tribe for safety.
Who: The leader will reveal
How: Through a ceremony
Part Withheld: No outsiders to witness the ceremony
2. Over Time Mystery
A. Cover up: Irene has maps she’s been using.
B. Secret: Only Grandpa Frank knows Isaacs tribe.
C. Reveals:
Who: Issac is Omaha
What: He is Yellowsmoke’s grandson
Where: Omaha Nation used to be Nebraska
When: 6 months into their trip
Why: The family finally feels safe and the journey is complete.
How: Driving through dangerous territory to find Isaac’s family
Part Withheld: Yellowsmoke is planning to keep Isaac and banish the family.
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Assignment 2: Phyllis’ Show Mysteries
I learned that creating mystery does not come naturally to me, but with this template I was able to come up with two. I hope to get better as I practice.
MYSTERY 1: DUNCAN’S DELUSION
Shocking Event: Duncan is delusional, believes that high levels of carbon spawned monsters that he must slay to save the world from climate change.
Secret: Why is he delusional and how can he be cured?
Investigation: The audience will be investigating alongside Duncan’s new partner, Sasha.
· WHO is delusional? Duncan
· WHAT caused this delusion? Duncan and his 16 year old daughter were trapped in a hurricane and Duncan thought he saw a monster take her away (her body was never found).
· WHEN did he become delusional? Seven years ago, when he lost his daughter.
· WHERE did he become delusional? On the Caribbean Island where he was throwing his daughter a sweet 16.
Parts Withheld:
· WHY is he delusional? Because he feels responsible for the death of his daughter.
· HOW can he be cured? There is no cure because he is not really delusional; his monsters are real.
MYSTERY 2: SASHA’S LOYALTY TO DUNCAN
Cover up: Sasha is pretending to believe in Duncan’s delusions so she can receive the money to start an environmental foundation. Without that incentive, what will she do?
Secret: Sasha doesn’t trust that Duncan will keep his promise. She is vulnerable to overtures from others who can make her dream come true. The victim of betrayal is capable of betrayal herself.
Reveals: It starts with Sasha finding out about the circumstances of the death of Duncan’s daughter, and realizing he feels responsible. He seems textbook delusional and possibly a danger to himself or others. Then Delia presses Sasha on Duncan’s mental health, implying she can declare him unfit and take control of his trust fund.
· WHO: Sasha has her loyalty tested.
· WHAT: Sasha is caught between two sources of funding for her dream, the environmental foundation.
· WHERE: Sasha and Delia meet in a neutral public place.
· HOW: Sasha’s loyalty is tested because Duncan puts her, himself, and innocent bystanders in harm’s way in his pursuit of monsters.
Parts Withheld:
· WHEN: Sasha’s trust issues began when her father left her when she was thirteen.
WHY: Sasha’s father abandoned her and her mother, leading her to trust no one.
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DAY 8 ASSIGNMENT 1:
MARY
J. ANDREWS Inviting Obsession Through Mystery EPISODE 8, THE 100
What
I learned doing this assignment is both big and small mysteries engage the
audience.BIG PICTURE MYSTERIES:
Who is behind shooting the Chancellor of the Ark?
Conspiracy head is the previous Chancellor who is now on the Council.Who are the grounders?
Octavia frees Lincoln (the grounder who saved her life). Also, Bellamy & Clarke had decided not to kill him.How will the young people be able to protect themselves?
The Ark told them of the location a nearby supply depot…they find guns and a shelter that needs cleaning up.Can Bellamy afford to stay with the group since the Ark citizens will be coming down soon?
Between hallucinogenic berries and Clarke’s counsel, he talks on the com to the Chancellor and gets immunity by telling him that one of the guard hired him to kill him. Thus, the guard was imprisoned…and it is killed by previous Chancellor. Also, he and Clarke have bonded to working together to keep the group safe.
SMALL PICTURE MYSTERIES:Will Raven & Finn get back together?
Maybe, she jumped his bones and Clarke keeps stepping away.Will Clarke forgive her mother for turning in her dad to be spaced?
Sooner or later since everyone (even her hallucinated father) is pressing her to do it.Have the kids learned not to eat the expired red berries?
Not sure on that one, since they all got high on them.===========================================================
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ASSIGNMENT 2:
DAY 8: MARY J. ANDREWS Show Mysteries of The Fireborn Chronicles
What I learned doing this assignment is that overlapping layers of mystery are good.Shocking Event Mystery 1: Why is Rael point being targeted?
WHO is behind the attacks on him at the ship, through Tristen by the slavers at The
Palace…?
WHAT are his attackers wanting from him?
WHERE everywhere he turns and now, on Dark Ops Prime base?
WHY is his adopted mother dying?
WHEN at the same time he has captured Tristen. Is she a factor?
HOW does the attack on her have something to do with him?Mystery 2: Rael realizes it is the Corporate Overlord (the Hive) who is hunting him.
WHO The Corporate Overlord (master of the Hive Penal planet)
WHAT has he finally come to return him to the Hive? (he’s the only person who’s
escaped the Hive— as a newborn fully implanted with the Hive temple plates
which enable him to do what he does now.)
WHERE can Rael set his trap?
WHY is the Overlord attacking Rael now?
WHEN is the best time for Rael to enact his plan to confront the Overlord?
HOW can Rael defend himself against such a powerful enemy.================================================================
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Mod 1 Lesson 8 Assignment 1
“The Young Pope”
SHOCKING EVENT MYSTERY
Shocking Event: A young American (Lenny Belardo) is unexpectedly elected Pope. Taking the name Pius XIII, he turns the Vatican on its head by refusing to be seen and re-establishing archaic policies alienating the Vatican mainstay as well as the Catholic faithful. He may well be the worst Pope ever.
Secret: Why is Lenny ruling the Catholic Church in the manner selected. Has he been chosen by God to fulfill his wishes, or does he not believe in God at all?
Investigation: Cardinal Vioello, Sister Mary, Sofia and others attempt to determine why Lenny behaves as he does and to change his behavior when possible.
“OVER TIME” MYSTERIES
Will Lenny ever find the parents that abandoned him and, if he does, how will that impact him?
Will Lenny ever properly conduct a pedophilia investigation?
Will Cardinal Michael Spencer mentor Lenny or convince him to resign the Papacy?
Will Sister Mary work with Cardinal Angelo Vioello in opposition to Lenny?
Will Lenny allow himself to be seen in public?
How will Lenny’s relationship with Esther and her baby, Pius, evolve?
Did the Catholic Church cause the disappearance of Tonino Pettola?
Is Lenny a saint?
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Bob’s Show Mysteries
Mod 1 Lesson 8 Assignment 2
“Mount Moriah”
SHOCKING EVENT MYSTERY
Shocking Event: Daniel’s parents are killed in a terrorist attack while celebrating his Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Secret: While on the surface, Daniel survived this event and turned it into a lifelong quest for security for Israel, he secretly harbors an obsession to exact revenge from the terrorist who plotted the attack that killed his parents.
Investigation: Daniel uses his position with Mossad to seek out the responsible terrorist.
· Who killed: Daniel’s parents
· What: During Daniel’s Bar Mitzvah
· When: 15 years prior to his assignment to Mossad
· Where: Western Wall in Jerusalem
· How: Terrorist sniper
Missing before final episode:
· Why: Was it just political
· Who: Daniel is seeking out the terrorist leader
Ultimate Reveals: Daniel ultimately meets the terrorist who killed his parents.
· Who: Najeh Tamra was the terrorist who killed his parents, he is now a political leader advocating peace
· Why: Daniel hopes settling the score will alleviate the guilt he feels since his parents were killed “because” of his bar Mitzvah
“OVER TIME” MYSTERIES
Cover up: Daniel is presented as a good guy who acts in the best interest of his country. He is, however, using his position to find the terrorist who killed his parents and exact revenge,
Secret: Daniel searches for the leader but may have to compromise his integrity to exact his revenge. He meets in secret with Christine Wade to plot the destruction of the Dome of the Rock to facilitate the construction of the Third Temple.
Reveals: Daniel forms a relationship with Christine Wade, his Rabbi, and his shrink to resolve his internal issues from the tragedy.
· Daniel comes to terms with the guilt he feels over the fact that the tragedy occurred at his Bar Mitzvah.
· Daniel learns to deal with his PTSD.
· Daniel forms a relationship with Christine Wade.
· Daniel plots to destroy the Dome of the Rock with Christine’s group
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The Fisherman – Show mysteries
I’ve learned that most, if not all, of the “secrets” are direct obstacles for John, physical and emotional.
Lesson 8
Mystery 1
The Shocking Event
Skylar, John’s best friend, washes up dead on a beach. Nobody knows what he was doing in the ocean the night before. John looks for answers.
All of this is unknown
Who: Killed Skylar
What: Was Skylar doing
When: The night before
Where: In the ocean, near shore
Why: Was he in the water at night, Why was he killed
How: Did a strong swimmer bump his head hard enough to drown
Mystery 2
Over Time Mystery
John’s mother falls ill and John decides to turn to crime to help pay for medical attention. Kate encourages him.
As he learns more about the underworld he also learns more about what happened to Skylar. He simultaneously learns secrets about himself and his familial past.
Cover up: Captain T killed Skylar
Secret: John’s family were criminals
Reveals:
*Captain T knew John’s dad, they were partners in crime
*Captain T was in love with John’s mom and may have helped kill John’s dad
*Captain T served time and is low-key/works for aryan brotherhood
*Kate displays anti-social behavior
*Kate is setting John up
*Kate may have killed her own brother
*Captain T and Kate are in cahoots?
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Subject line: Nadine’s Show Mysteries
What I learned doing this assignment are some important differences between BIG and Small mysteries AND how to apply the journalistic practice of WWWWHW to elevate my script…
ASSIGNMENT 1:
I watched the next episode of my example series, LOST, focusing on the mysteries that have been created in that show, noting differences between big picture (plot) mysteries versus the smaller mysteries that do not take us the entire length of the season. The following are questions I came up with.
BIG PICTURE MYSTERIES:
1- What threw the plane off-course and led to the plane crash?
2- Are the survivors alive? Dead? or in some supra-normal place?
3- Why did the French woman try to kill Syed & not go with him?
4- Why are previous survivors trying to kill new crash victims?
SMALLER MYSTERIES:
1- Why the Japanese woman keeps her knowledge of English secret.
2- On what charges was Kate handcuffed, while on the plane?
3- Why was Jack reluctant to find his father, for his mother?
4- Who really wrote the letter that Sawyer carries with him?
ASSIGNMENT 2:
I created two mysteries for my show — one that shows up strong in the Pilot. The other is revealed over time. For each of the following, describe Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why.
I created the Shocking Event Mystery, with the WWWW How and W:
Who? Kuno is told his police officer Dad committed suicide
What? Kuno will not believe it and makes others wonder too.
When? Right away, his mom moves him to a new town, pushes him to make friends, but Kuno naively falls in with hoods.
Where? Kuno’s arrested after dropping them at an upscale home
How? He waits inside his mom’s car, as they rat him to cops Why? An unknown person with secrets wants Kuno out of the way
B. The Secret: Who stands to gain from Kuno’s dad’s suicide?
C. The Investigation: It goes nowhere until an old friend of Kuno’s dad takes the lead, against the wishes of Kuno’s mom.
2. The Over Time Mystery is revealed during the course of the movie through Kuno’s suffering in prison, as withheld parts come to light.
A. Cover-up: Those behind what really happened to Kuno’s dad, also set up Kuno, hoping to keep him safe from an unknown danger.
C. Reveals: Unlikely allies (Kuno’s mom, his dad’s old friend, and another), want Kuno in prison. They think they can better protect him thereby keeping him quiet. But they’re wrong.
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ANNE JAMES
Lesson 8 – Inviting Obsession through Mystery
What I Learned from this assignment…I am happy with the mysteries I’m exploring. But they are requiring me to see 7-8 episodes down the road and a sense of characters that aren’t on my radar yet. But I like planting the seeds for more to come when those ideas are finally fleshed out.
ASSIGNMENT 1:
The Young Pope
Big Picture Mysteries:
Is Lenny really a saint?
Does Lenny believe in God?
Are Lenny’s parents still alive?
Are Lenny’s parents looking for him?
Is Kurtwell guilty?
Can Gutierrez survive beyond the Vatican walls?
Are Sister Mary and Voiello in love?
Small picture mysteries:
Can Lenny survive not knowing why his parent’s gave him up?
Why does Gutierrez drink?
Why hasn’t Gutierrez ever ventured beyond the Vatican before this?
What exactly has Kurtwell done?
Can Gutierrez find the courage and resolve to solve the Kurtwell case?
Who is going to help him crack the case? Which one of these characters.
ASSIGNMENT 2:
Create two mysteries for my show — Vestal Virgins
This Shocking Event Mystery will be one of the Big Picture Mysteries of the first season. It sets into motion Nerilla reluctantly having to succeed Livia. It sows doubt about Livia’s impeccable reputation and image. It shows the volatility of this time and the vulnerability of their position, their lack of power and why Nerilla drives to change that. It also triggers doubt, suspicion, loyalties and competition within the House. The six of them have never been challenged this way before. If Nerilla can prove Livia was raped, she can bring the man up on charges and have him killed publicly and restore Livia’s reputation and memory.
1. SHOCKING EVENT MYSTERY – Pilot
• Shocking Event: Livia buried alive because it was discovered she miscarried and broke the covenant of chastity. It is in defiance of the gods to kill her within the city walls. A Vestal’s blood must not be shed. Vestalis Maximum, Silvius, waves a trial and rules she must buried alive immediately, in front of Rome’s political elite, citizens and Vestals.
• Secret: She became pregnant without anyone, including her lover Nerilla, knowing. Livia refuses to reveal how she became pregnant. Nerilla wants to know if it was consensual or rape. She fervently believes she will be protected and doesn’t want them to be considered accomplices.
• Investigation: Nerilla seeks revenge and fights to find out who did this to Livia. The Vestals believe she was raped. But she also has to cover up that they had an intimate relationship, which is also taboo.
• Who? Livia, the Vestalium Maxima, Rome’s high priestess, has mysteriously become pregnant. She has kept her pregnancy a secret. She’s told no one in the House. Her attendant, Veruna, one of the highest ranked servants in the House, has cared for her but has been discreet and says nothing.
• What? She miscarries in the middle of the night. Nerilla had slipped into her room. They were together when Livia starts to be in pain. Nerilla thinks she must be ill. Livia insists Nerilla not call a doctor. She doesn’t understand. Livia tries to send Nerilla back to her room. Livia starts to bleed and have contractions. She is in excruciating pain. They have to be silent so the rest of the house doesn’t hear. She begins bleeding heavily. It’s taking forever. It’s only Nerilla, Livia and Livia’s attendant, Veruna. Panicked, Nerilla gets Laurus. They help deliver the premature dead fetus. At dawn, Aeliana and Clodia to secretly take it out and bury it. Plants a tree over the grave. Naevia sleeps through the whole thing.
• Where? Discovered Livia’s quarters in the House of Vesta.
• When? Middle of the night.
• Why: She’s broken the sacred vow of the covenant, punishable by death.
• How: Life goes on as normal. Weeks later, after a botched blessing, the secret somehow gets out. Livia is immediately taken away and will be buried alive without a trial. Next time Nerilla sees her is when she is being led to the tomb.
• Part Withheld: Livia refuses to reveal if she was raped or it was consensual.
2. Create the Over Time Mystery:
• Cover up: Silvius, under pressure from his politically powerful, waives a trial. Why does he want this to go away? What is he covering up? Vestals can’t speak publicly about Livia. All traces of her just disappear. Nerilla moves into her quarters, where she miscarried.
• Secret: It was consensual. The whole House of Vesta had a hand in keeping this a secret. Did anyone know? Or suspect? Or covered up for her? Who gave Livia up? What did they get for it?
• Reveals: Nerilla finds an item in Livia’s personal effects that is a clue. Gossip and false trails. Silvius refuses to cooperate with her.
• Who? Nerilla – conflicted, angry and sad —feeling deep sense of betrayal. Part of her doesn’t want to know. Gives up trying to clear Livia’s name.
• What? Nerilla goes out to Livia’s grave at night. She is still barely alive. Can still hear her. Tries to get her to confess. Can’t hear what she said. Devastated, she has to walk away.
• Where? Nerilla starts to travel in new political circles as the new Vestilium Maxima and tries to uncover who raped Livia. Convinced it is someone in the government.
• When? Two years later, the identity of the person who impregnated Livia is revealed. Was a childhood friend. Confidant. Trusted. Nerilla knew of him. Livia told her of her special friend. Had visited his farm with her.
• Why? Revenge. Betrayal. Fury. His death means nothing to everyone but her. He’s just a farmer. His children will become orphans. Livia had started going out to see him to help look after his children.
• How? Gorged by animals.
• Part Withheld: Nerilla calls for his death.
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Lesson 8: Inviting Obsession Through Mystery
ASSIGNMENT 1:
Sample Show: The Handmaid’s Tale
Big picture mysteries: What happened to create Gilead and who are the powers behind it? How will June save herself and her family from this place? How will Gilead fall?
Smaller mysteries:
Where is the Commander taking June and why is he taking her out? What is Jezebel’s? What kinds of people are there and why do they go? How long has Moira been working at Jezebel’s? What does she do there? How did Luke escape and what has life been for him since then? What’s Nick’s story and how did he end up being the Waterfords’ driver?
<hr>ASSIGNMENT 2:
My show: Beyond Temple Walls
What I learned from this assignment is that I need to be clearer and dig deeper in terms of who is actually involved in these mysteries and why. How deep does this conspiracy go?
1. Shocking Event Mystery
A. Shocking Event: The head monk of a beloved Buddhist temple is murdered.
B. Secret: The temple has many deep secrets lurking.
C. Investigation: Dekhune Serey and Sovannah eventually team up to uncover what truly happened that night.
WWWWW and How: (Who) Who killed Dekhune Thom and why? (What) He was defending the temple from something/someone. (When) The night before. (Where) At the temple.
Part Withheld: Who did this and why?
2. Time Mystery
A. Cover up: The temple is presented as a serene, inclusive and safe space for the worshippers and community members. Behind the scenes, it is the headquarters of an underground illegal gambling organization and where big bosses meet.
B. Secret: What else is the temple hiding? What conspiracies are they covering up? Who is involved and what are their intentions?
C. Reveals: The head monk (Dekhune Thom) has initially accepted this as a means to finance the activities of the temple and protect his community, or her thought. Things get out of hand and the temple is taken over and he loses control of this sacred space. Savannah’s family is deeply involved in the criminal activities and she wants to make things right.
WWWWW and How: (Who) The mastermind behind the downfall of the temple is Dara Thach, Savannah’s estranged father. (What) He has built his illegal business from scratch. This is his empire and source of power. (When) Started this 25 years ago. (Where) In the underbelly of the temple.
Part Withheld:
Why: Why would Dara Thach put his entire community at risk? Why would Dekhune Thom agree to it and for so long?
How: How has this been running for so long, especially with the police precinct so close by?
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Dave’s Show Mysteries for Blank Slate
What I learned doing this assignment is that…well, every time I complete one of these exercises I find out something that really clarifies and elevates my initial concept.
Shocking Event Mystery for Blank Slate
· Shocking Event: Joshua wakes up to find the people around him are the same, but profoundly changed
· Secret: He’s shifted from one reality to another
· Investigation: He’s been trying to get other people who were involved in The Experiment what they know, but they have no knowledge of The Experiment.
WWWWW and How:
What audience knows:
o Who: Joshua
o What: Randomly shifts realities
o When: Since The Experiment
o Where: Randomly
Withheld:
o Why: The Experiment was successful in opening portals to an infinite number of concurrent realities
o How: Massive release of energy
Over Time Mystery for Blank Slate
· Cover up: The US (or Chinese) government (or both) was/were involved in The Experiment for military
· Secret: Being able to switch realities gives a country an advantage because it can find get ideas for war and assassinations from realities other than the baseline
· Reveals: Joshua’s interactions with The Two Agents and others in different realities slowly reveal the international intrigue
WWWWW and How:
What audience knows:
o Who: Joshua, The Two Agents, Salva, plus maybe characters to be introduced later, such as a president or other government actor
o What: US v. China for control of the tech
o When: Since before The Experiment
o
Withheld:
o Where: In different realities
o Why: Being able to move between realities is tantamount to time travel, because events in the baseline reality can be shaped to fit other realities
o How: Whatever it takes
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I learned that I still have a ways to go in thinking about my story and my characters. Yet having said that, I’m still coming up with something new every day thanks to these exercises.
Mr. Robot
Big Mysteries: Is everything Elliot experiences real or imagined? Is it all in his head – the hack, Fsociety? Who is Mr. Robot to Elliot? Will Elliot and Fsociety succeed in hacking Evil Corp? Will it change life as they know it?
Will the Dark Army hold up their end of the bargain to help Fsociety with the hack?
What is the motivation behind Tyrell and his wife’s scheming for the CTO job?
Small Mysteries: Who is WhiteRose?
Will Gideon learn more about the Evil Corps server, CS30? Will he learn that Elliot has removed the honeypot AllSafe has installed?
Why and how did Wellick and Mr. Robot get involved with each other? What did they plan together?
Will Angela be able to receive justice over her mother’s death?
Why has Elliot erased himself and Mr. Robot?
Assignment 2
Shocking Event Mystery:
Shocking event: Jill’s father’s abduction and torture
Secret: Charlie is behind the abduction/torture
Investigation: We see parts of the event in pieces, and much of it is unclear, we see more as the story goes on.
What – Jill’s father, Gio, is missing for days, no one knows of his whereabouts, Gio is then brought back to his wife and children, still alive, but just hanging on
When – roughly 20 years prior, when Jill is 5 years old
Where – at a banquet hall
Who – by Charlie and his crew
Why – Over something Gio did that Charlie has never forgotten, demonstrating Charlie’s psychosis.
Part Withheld: Angelo, Gio’s brother, is also behind the abduction of his brother
Over Time Mystery:
Cover up: Jimmy is against Jill being involved in the crew. He believes women “rat” easily and are not to be trusted. He believes that because Jill’s mom became an informant against Gio. Being around Jill is a constant reminder of what he did to her parents.
Secret: Jill is unaware that Jimmy killed both her mother and father on separate occasions, this is the real reason Jimmy is bothered by her working for him.
Reveals: Charlie knows the truth and tells Jill. Charlie is crazy, so it’s hard to believe him. She does her own investigation.
What – Jill was always let to believe that Charlie was behind her parents’ murders. Yet their deaths have always been shrouded in mystery.
Who – Jimmy killed both Gio and Natalia, not Charlie.
When – Jill was 12 years old when her father was killed. Her mother died within that year.
Why – After Gio’s abduction, he spiraled emotionally and mentally. He began screwing up on heists and jobs which made the crew vulnerable. Gio also took Jill away from Natalia, prompting Natalia to become an informant on Gio. Once Gio was indicted, there was risk he could turn his crew in, so Jimmy killed him. Jimmy then killed Natalia because her information implicated Gio.
How – They are both shot.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by Leslie DuFresne.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by
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Assignment 1 lesson 8
TV Show: INVENTING ANNA, EP 4
– Big picture mysteries.
Who is Anna ? Is she a German Heiress? Is she Russian? Is she rich or poor?
– Smaller mysteries.
Anna needs $40 million. Who the hell would believe Anna Delvey was good for $40 million?
Why did Alan help her ?
How Anna (who had no money at that time) tricked Alan, making him believe she had $65 million in Germany?
How does a partner work 200 hours without a retainer?
How did she steal a private jet?
How can Anna find $100 000 to secure the building at 281 Park?
The answers in this episod:
She bought a virtual sim card. It lets you run phone numbers from different countries. Using a voice distorter app, she pretended to be Peter Hanneke, the trustee in charge of her $65 million.
She used her connections and organized a dinner to show each person how connected she was in order to increase her credibility.
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Lesson 8 Assignment 2
What I learned doing this assignment is that looking at mystery helps brainstorming and brings new ideas. At the same time, the WWWWW system is an excellent way to be more specific. I got a bit confused on the question system but nevertheless, It was a breakthrough for me and I have been watching other series focusing on the shocking event mystery and the over time mystery.
MYSTERY TYPE 1:
THE SHOCKING EVENT MYSTERY
A. Shocking event:
Skyler, a guardian angel, is chased by angels who are trying to catch him.
He is flying at high speed but is so surrounded by them, that he cannot escape anymore and they lock him in a bird cage.
B. Secret:
What caused him to be arrested? is he a demon, a fallen angel?
C. Investigation:
An investigation is conducted to find out if Skyler is an angel or a demon. Is he part of a conspiracy led by a gang of fallen angels to corrupt guardian angels or is he manipulated by them?
MYSTERY TYPE 2:
THE « OVER TIME » MYSTERY
A. Cover up: Charlie is a very good friend of Skyler.
B. Secret: Charlie is a fallen angel who loves Skyler but his mission is to destroy him as Charlie is the member of a conspiracy to spoil and demonize the school of angels.
C. Reveals:
– Charlie uses the fact that Skyler is different from his friends at the school of angels : Skyler can remember what he did, said or saw on his missions to watch Rose on earth. (The other angels can’t). But Skyler has always been careful to hide it. He doesn’t want to be different.
– Every time Skyler watch over Rose and leaves her, Charlie makes sure something terrible happens to her. So Skyler feels he is a failier.
– Skyler is in love with Rose and tries to explore the world of angels to find a way to become a human and be with Rose. Charlie uses him to gather useful information to pass them to the fallen angels so they can plan their invasion and destruction
– Skyler’s arrival to the school of Heaven was not a usual one. He was only a newborn when he was found at the bottom of the remparts.
Who is Skyler? A good angel or a fallen angel (a demon)?
What was he/she doing? When he is arrested and locked away, he was actually going to succeed in escaping from the school of angels.
When: for the last 16 years, he has been a guardian angel and a student at the school of angels. He has watched over Rose since she was born. He grew up watching her.
Where: in heaven, at the school of angels.
In the school of angels, students learn what is relevant to know at their age and the age of their protegee.
How: he is caught into a net thrown at him by the angels who accuse him of being a fallen angel.
What do we know that causes the mystery?
Why is Skyler different?
Where does he come from?
Is Charlie the good friend he pretends to be?
Why is Rose more and more lost and addicted under his guardianship?
Why the fountain effect doesn’t work on him?
Who wants to hurt him? Charlie, the guardian angel who is actually a fallen angel who infiltrated the school (he was swapped with another baby)
How is he so powerless? Because it’s not only Charlie he has to fight but the gang of demons infiltrated inside the school of angels.
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ASSIGNMENT 1:
Subject line: Nadine’s Show Mysteries
What I learned doing this assignment are some important differences between BIG and Small mysteries AND how to apply the journalistic practice of WWWWHW to elevate my script…
I watched the next episode of my example series, LOST, focusing on the mysteries that have been created in that show, noting differences between big picture (plot) mysteries versus the smaller mysteries that do not take us the entire length of the season. The following are questions I came up with.
BIG PICTURE MYSTERIES:
1- What threw the plane off-course and led to the plane crash?
2- Are the survivors alive? Dead? or in some supra-normal place?
3- Why did the French woman try to kill Syed & not go with him?
4- Why are previous survivors trying to kill new crash victims?
SMALLER MYSTERIES:
1- Why the Japanese woman kept her knowledge of English secret.
2- On what charges was Kate handcuffed, while on the plane?
3- Why was Jack reluctant to find his father, for his mother?
4- Who really wrote the letter that Sawyer carries with him?
ASSIGNMENT 2:
I created two mysteries for my show — one that shows up strong in the Pilot. The other that is revealed over time. For each of the following, describe Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why.
I created the Shocking Event Mystery, with the WWWW How and W:
Who? Kuno is told his police officer Dad committed suicide
What? Kuno will not believe it and makes others wonder too.
When? Right away, his mom moves him to a new town, pushes him to make friends, but Kuno naively falls in with hoods.
Where? Kuno’s arrested after dropping them at an upscale home
How? He waits inside his mom’s car, as they rat him to cops Why? An unknown person with secrets wants Kuno out of the way
B. The Secret: Who stands to gain from Kuno’s dad’s suicide?
C. The Investigation: It goes nowhere until an old friend of Kuno’s dad takes the lead, against the wishes of Kuno’s mom.
2. The Over Time Mystery is revealed during the course of the movie through Kuno’s suffering in prison, as withheld parts come to light.
A. Cover-up: Those behind what really happened to Kuno’s dad, also set up Kuno, hoping to keep him safe from an unknown danger.
C. Reveals: Unlikely allies (Kuno’s mom, his dad’s old friend, and another), want Kuno in prison. They think they can better protect him thereby keeping him quiet. But they’re wrong.
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Diana’s Show Mysteries
What I learned: The importance of having mystery in each episode as well as incorporating it into the season. The framework given is helpful in accomplishing that.
Assignment 1
Watch the next episode of your Example Show and focus on the mysteries that have been created in that show. Also, notice the difference between the big picture mysteries that are a big part of the plot across the entire season versus the smaller mysteries. Tell us about the mysteries from this show.
Mr. Robot
The underworld of hacking.
Type of Mystery: Over time
Main (Core) Mystery:
Who Is Mr. Robot? And why is he called that? What is his interest in Elliot? And will Fsociety be able to change the world?
Smaller Mysteries (this episode): Why was Tyrell at Steel Mountain? What did Tyrell sign in front of Elliot? How did Tyrell know that Elliot got the CTO of Ecorp fired? Why did Tyrell hit on the new CTO’s wife? Why didn’t Amanda’s father tell her about his health and debt? Why is Elliot’s apartment open? And what does the inmate on the phone mean when he told Elliot that he was brought right to him?
Assignment 2
Create two mysteries for your show — one that shows up strong in the Pilot and the other that is revealed over time.
1. Create your Shocking Event Mystery and tell us the WWWW and H, along with the part withheld.
A. Shocking Event: Wife calls husband from jail to
bail her out.
B. Secret: Wife committed mail fraud but didn’t tell
husband
C. Investigation: She is a psychopath and will stop
at nothing to get what she wants.
WWWW and How: Commits forgery by signing bad checks
from closed account.
Part Withheld: She framed the
husband because he wouldn’t take the fall for her. [The same people who
knocked on the door for her at the beginning are now coming after the
husband at work.]
2. Create the Over Time Mystery
and tell us the WWWW and H, along with the part withheld.A. Cover up: She is a career criminal.
B. Secret: Her
family is in the mafia.
C. Reveals: 1. First born is not husband’s
kid. 2nd born conceived to delay prison sentence 3. While in prison starts
dating drug dealer. 4. Mother-in-law is voodoo priestess and curses
husband who goes bankrupt while wife is in prison.
WWWW and How: Was taught by the family. Uses several
aliases. When she ruins one husband, she marries again and repeats the
shakedown.
Part Withheld: She is a psychopath who marries men to
destroy their lives for her own personal gain and is legally married to five
other men. -
Mark Lederkramer Binge Worthy TV Module 1 Lesson 8 Assignments 1& 2
Assignment 1
I learned there must be both long term and short time events and mysteries to keep the viewers engaged. Mysteries, secrets, and cover-ups will help create great story lines and move the show along and give it the Binge quality
Mr. Robot
Big Mysteries
1) What’s real and what’s just a delusion in Elliot’s head
2) What does Tyrell really want from Elliot and F Society
3) What are Tyrell and his wife planning other than him getting the CTO job
4) Who is Mr. Robot and how did he know about Elliot in the first place
5) What is the Dark Army’s real involvement is going to be
Small Mysteries:
1) What is Angela’s real importance to the show and Elliot
2) Will Gideon find out about Angela’s part in All Safe being hacked
3) What happened between Elliot and Tyrell at the arcade
4) Why did Darlene steal the gun from her hook up
5) How did Wellick and Mr. Robot end up together in Wellick’s limo
Assignment 2 My Show
Shocking Event Mystery:
Shocking event: Micky finds out that some how the Torrio crew are now partners in the Columbian deal
Secret: Matty knew about the Torrio Crew’s involvement but he purposely didn’t tell Micky because he knew Micky wouldn’t join the Big 3 crew if he knew
Investigation: Micky senses something is not kosher with the Big 3 crew. He knows that the bosses are hiding something from him. He ultimately pushes Matty to tell him, and although Micky is upset, he knows that now he has really gotten himself into a really bad and dangerous situation.
What: The Big 3 have made an alliance with the murderous Torrio Crew.
When: Stuey had made a deal with Jackie Torrio three months before Matty recruited Micky into the crew
Where: The alliance was agreed on at the Aquarius Bar
Why: Stuey originally just wanted to give Jackie a tribute so as to be on the Torrio’s good side.
Part Withheld: Micky doesn’t know that the Torrio’s have become full partners in the Columbian trip
Over Time Mystery:
Cover up: Stuey and Tony seem to be keeping something important from Matty and Micky
Secret: Stuey and Tony had staged a break-in and robbery of Matty to scare him into a partnership
Reveals: Micky figures out over time that Matty had been screwed into an unnecessary partnership
What : The rip off that led to the Big 3 partnership
Who: Stuey and Tony ripped off Matty
When: Two years prior to Micky joining the crew
Why: Stuey knew that Matty could make him and Tony rich
How: Tony was friends with Matty and he kept telling him that he needed muscle for protection. This was all Stuey’s idea. After months of setting Matty up, they staged a break in and robbery at Matty’s apartment. Stuey actually cracked Matty in the head with the butt of his shotgun. The plan worked as the first call that Matty makes after the robbery is to Tony. This leads to the birth of the Big 3 crew.
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