Week 1 Day 2: Living Into Their Future – THE TERMINATOR

[Judith Watson]

This scene showed Sarah’s future with the following: she asked about a son not born yet; she will get pregnant with the leader of the future world; Kyle tells her she made a good field dressing.

Kyle’s future: shows that he will help her become who she is meant to become and protect her in the process; he volunteered to come to be with her.

Sarah’s transformation implied in this scene: she asks Kyle to tell her about where he is from. What is it like.

the drama in this scene is built around them escaping and being safe while she learns that she has a future she can’t comprehend at this time. Her destiny. also, the drama is around Kyle’s fascination with her and what she will become.

Traits: Kyle: brave and curious Sarah: reluctant; doesn’t believe in herself;

[karl gromelski]

In all honesty, I struggle to see what insight or breakthroughs are represented here.

But what I’ve noticed is that in this scene, Sarah pivot from being scared, confused and unsure – to a person who realizes that her future has been cast and even though she doesn’t like it, she must accept it. She changes from fighting the inevitable to embracing it and trying to understand it.
Kyle doesn’t seem to know he’s the father. But when he mentions that John has her eyes, there seemed to be a tiny spark where it seemed (like a rom com) that he’s seeing Sarah in a different light. From victim to a vulnerable, beautiful woman.
I also have no idea how to use these attributes below… but I’m willing to try them and see.

the characters are well drawn – but that’s because we’re in the middle of the story and Sarah has finally seen what Kyle has been trying to tell her. I guess this is her transformation scene – where she comes to grips with being destined as the “mother of the future” – so that by the end of the scene, she’s asking about what to expect from the future.

[Sherry Miller]

I had to watch this several times because I believe this is the first time I really thought hard about my characters’ futures in my work. However, I realize I must have because I knew what my character would ultimately do and she does it in the final chapter. She becomes part of the solution. Wild Bill Hickok and his family helped her move forward, helped save her. But in the end she takes the reins and imagines her future. Even though it would be without her beloved brother – Whimsey.
But back to the scene from The Terminator. Sarah realizes after the shootings and chaos as well as Kyle saving her, protecting her, that something is profoundly changing in her life and that she is somehow involved. Foreshadowing as a device is constant. Kyle ireveals bits and pieces of the danger and says the Terminators are the worst. She must fulfill a mission. And tells her she will have a son who will be that hero. And that her son sends a message from the future.
Traits: Skeptical, curious, scared. Becomes tense, angry at one point, which proves she has the strength and determination. Kyle’s dedicated, protective, and accepting. And he’s caring. He somehow knows he, too, has a connection to her and her son. She’s cold, freezing, she says. It sets the mood in this scene. And leads to their huddling close and having sex.
Amazing how the scene is very dark, foreboding. The car runs out of gas, dies, and they must push it out of the way so they’re not detected. It’s like the sky and the car are characters. Sarah’s transformation goes from acceptance of a quiet uneventful life to one where she must be almost a warrior. She’s reluctant, “can’t even balance her checkbook.” “It’s my first” dressing his wound. Half-way through this scene, after asking questions, she gives in, accepting her fate. But only because it means saving her future son.
What I caught watching it again were the words. (helps them bond as does the gun shot wound and Sarah trying to stop the bleeding) Kyle says he time traveled to meet “the legend, Sarah Conner.” Implies how impressed he is because she taught her son “to fight, gave him strength.” “She was hiding before the war.” Breakthroughs are hints about the future. She prods. “Tell me about my son.” Kyle answers, ” He’s about my height. He has your eyes.” Sounds like their son. Then he gives her instructions. Her future is set up for her. She almost can’t refuse by the end of the scene. Punch line: Her son’s message to her. “Thank you, Sarah, for your courage during the dark….The future is not set. Be strong…you must survive or I may never exist.” Indicates a life or death struggle has just begun.

[Sherry Miller]

Karl and Judith, thank you for your insights. Karl, you’re not sure this is transformational. Maybe there’s another scene that establishes that. Judith, you really felt the emotions both experienced in the scene.

[Rebecca Sukle]

Rebecca’s Living Into the Future

What I learned is that building on a situation, a prediction of a future change, can start a transformative character arc from reluctance to accepting to conquering. I added “living into the future” after the finish of one future near the end of my script to show a different future again for the main character as he enters a new world. My breakthrough: opening a door to a sequel.

What future is Sarah Connor living into?  Constant hiding from the terminator.
What future is Kyle Reese living into? Protecting Sarah and helping her survive because the future world depends on it.
What is Sarah’s transformation that is implied by this scene?  She learns her son John Connor, not yet conceived, will be a leader of oppressed people in the future world. Kyle volunteered to go back in time to protect her so she and her future son will survive. She sees Kyles admiration for her future self who taught her son how to survive during the hiding year. At first she thinks he has the wrong person and gets angry about the burden of saving the world. After Kyle delivers the message from her future son John, Sarah, the unsuspecting reluctant hero, accepts her fate.
What drama was this scene built around?  Escape and hiding from the terminator when their car runs out of gas.
What traits showed up in these two character’s words and actions? Sarah: resilient and resourceful. Kyle: protective, admiring, and accepting of his role in protecting her to save a future world. Please watch this scene and provide your insights/breakthroughs into what makes this character great from a writing perspective. Sarah, a likable character, will undergo a sudden dramatic change and challenging character arc.
No breakthrough from comments.