WEEK 1 DAY 5: Insights – Character Wound – GOOD WILL HUNTING

[Daisy Khalifa]

Skylar and Will are excellent characters from a writing perspective because, simply put, they are young. They are at that perfect age where the ultimate “loss of innocence” is played out. Both are in love for the first time, both are wounded, and both are terrified of being hurt, and, so they are impulsive, defensive and fragile, and so goes the dialog in what is a very powerful, memorable scene.

Skylar asks Will to go to California and Will immediately envisions the worst possible scenario—that she will regret she asked him. “You may find something out about me that you don’t like…and you’ll wish you had a ‘take back’.”

When he says no, Skylar challenges him with the question, “What are you scared of?” This sets Will off, and he continues to put himself in the ugliest of contexts, suggesting she is “slumming” and just wanted to “have a fling with a guy from the other side of town,” which is more his self-defeating, self-loathing fantasy than anything she is thinking.

She then puts it to him: “What is your obsession with money?” And she reveals that her father died when she was 13, and that she would “give it back in a second if she could spend one more day with him.”

They spar intensely, and she tells him, “don’t put your shit on me when you’re the one that’s afraid…afraid that I won’t love you back…” And she says she is afraid too, but she wants to give it a shot, and “at least I am honest with you.”

Though Will is enraged, the exchange is almost cathartic for Will, and he rattles off a litany of heartbreaking abuses he suffered as a child, an “orphan”. This reveal, in turn, causes Skylar enormous pain because she loves him. But Will, having never felt true love, and being the one who is almost blinded by his fear, levels, for the moment, the coup-de-grace, as he tells her: “I don’t love you.”

The wounded young man only knows pain, and believes it is easier to cut his losses by rejecting any hint of a loving romantic bond with a woman—something that represents his transformation into a man whose future could be promising. Love is the ultimate measure of self-awareness. Not only are young Will and Skylar ideal for the coming-of-age aspects of love, they are also complex enough to elevate the discussion of love so that it reveals two people who have the capacity to be very self-aware and lead fulfilled lives, all of which are powerful themes for an audience.

[Constance Gillam]

This was a very powerful scene. I could feel Will’s pain–his fear of being left behind. It was important that he do the leaving behind Skylar could leave him.

What I learned about my current wip was I don’t have strong enough wounds for my characters to drive the story. I tried to envision the ending and realized I couldn’t. Back to the drawing board.

[Pat Fitzgerald]

The character traits I perceived from this scene were:

Will: Defensive, super smart, loyal, sense of inferiority

Chuckie: Fun loving, goofy, improvisational, stands his ground

Skylar: Bored, takes no bullshit, curious

The writers created drama out of a nondescript bar pickup attempt by having Will stick it to the so-called intellectual college student, as he comes to Chuckie’s defense. He gets in the college kid’s face by spouting his superior knowledge, but somewhat grudgingly admits that having a degree might be an asset. Skylar, at this point, provides subtext by saying little but casting interested glances at Will during his tirade. Though her actions are subtle, it’s obvious that she’d like to know Will better.

What I learned by rewriting my scene was that when my character needs to be confrontational, she’d better approach the opposing character with force and knowledge.

[Kristina Zill]

– What causes both characters to reveal their wounds?
Skylar asking Will to come to California is the catalyst

– How are those wounds motivating their emotions, actions, and reactions?
Skylar tries to convince Will to come with her. That way, she can advance her education without losing him.
Will opts out of any situation where he might get hurt.

– How is each character threatening the other’s wound?
When Will makes excuses not to go to California, Skylar thinks maybe he doesn’t love her. Except she knows that he does. So she dares him to say that he doesn’t love her. And when he says it, it’s devastating.

What drama was this scene built around?
It shows how fiercely Will protects his wound, to keep from being vulnerable.

What traits showed up in these character’s words and actions?

Skylar
• honest
• insightful, in touch with her feelings
• fearless
• loving regardless of class distinctions

Will
• scared
• out of touch with his feelings
• insecure about class
• fighter, settles issues with violence.

What makes these characters great from a writing perspective?
The way that their traits intersect, contrast, and complement each other.
Where Will is fearful, Skylar is courageous. Where Will is out of touch with his feelings, Skylar is insightful. Where Will sees insurmountable difficulties because of class issues, Skylar sees none.

When Skylar says “I want to help you” that creates a turning point in the scene. She affects the way he sees himself. He can’t bear being in need of others, in need of help, especially from her. That puts her on a higher level than he is, and he desperately wants to be equal.

This scene was played so well by the actors that
I was afraid Will was going to hit Skylar, knowing how he resorts to
physical violence when cornered. That creates an extra layer of concern. And then he does hit her emotionally by saying he doesn’t love her.

[Steven Delisi]

Hi Kristina,

Would you like to exchange feedback? I have a very short scene in which I wrote with some of the week 1 lessons in mind. If so, please let me know how best to exchange pages. Thanks!

[Steven Delisi]

– What causes both characters to reveal their wounds?

Skylar asks Will to come to California with her. He says he can’t go & makes all kinds of excuses.

– How are those wounds motivating their emotions, actions, and reactions?

Will reacts to the invitation with fear & unwavering skepticism. He even becomes violent(controlled … yelling & punching the wall, to protect his wound.

Skylar fights back and keeps forcing him to confront his fears about taking the next step.

– How is each character threatening the other’s wound?

Skylar keeps confronting him about his fears.

Will keeps bringing up the money she inherited … which the origins of are painful for her.

What drama was this scene built around?

Skylar is about to leave for school in California. Their relationship is about to change.

What traits showed up in these character’s words and actions?

Will’s skepticism “are you sure about that” & “well, how do you know?”

Will is extremely defensive and emotionally closed.

Skylar is more fearless and seemingly open.

Skylar can’t let go of her ‘wish’, so her disappointment emerges.

* for my father / daughter story, I am now thinking about how Darby will eventually be let down by Kurtis after they reunite. More specifically, it will be something that prevents him from fulfilling the wish (she kind of imposes) for their new relationship.

– this inspired from the insight that Skylar has this (seemingly unattainable) wish to fulfill with her relationship with Will.

[Marti Wheat]

What causes both characters to reveal their wounds?

Skylar asking Will to come to California creates the situation where they reveal their wounds.

How are those wounds motivating their emotions, actions, and reactions?

Skylar is afraid she will lose Will when she goes to California, so she tries to convince him to come with her.

Will is already convinced he is going to get hurt, so he creates a self-fulfilling prophecy by sabotaging the relationship.

How is each character threatening the other’s wound?

As Will sets up the worst-case scenario if he goes to California with her, Skylar challenges his love for her and forces his hand by daring him to say he doesn’t love her. When he takes the bait and declares that he does not love her, she has her own self-fulfilling prophecy, the loss of his love.

What drama was this scene built around?

This scene illustrates how incredibly fearful and untrusting Will is and how fiercely he will protect himself from being hurt again.

What traits showed up in these character’s words and actions?

Skylar is grounded and in touch with her feelings for Will and while he is plagued by her money and the life that affords her, she sees it as nothing but a painful memory of losing her father at a young age.

Will is completely out of touch with his feelings and utterly gutted by the difference in their financial situations. He is insecure and scared and resorts to violence as his response to adversity.

What makes these characters great from a writing perspective?

These characters are Yin and Yang. Their strengths and weaknesses contrast and complement each other, highlighting the difference in how they see and live in their respective worlds.

[Zev Ledman]

I see the importance of wounds and how they can dramatically elevate the emotional attachment to a movie.

What causes both characters to
reveal their wounds?

Skylar tells Will she wants him
to move with her to California. An insecure Will doesn’t believe the rich,
trust fund woman. Rather, he believes that she just wants to play with him,
only to dump him when she tires of him. Skylar reveals that she has been
hurt in the past, but she is ready to take the step out and commit her
love to someone again.

How are those wounds
motivating their emotions, actions, and reactions?

Will thinks it’s all a bullshit
rich girls’ game and reacts by telling her, he knows she’ll abandon him at
the first sign of trouble. He then reveals, he’s not who he says he is. He
has no huge family. In fact, he an orphan raised in an abusive home in a
dangerous, low-class neighborhood. She tells him it doesn’t matter and
that she’s still committed to love and care for him. Then, she exposes her
soul and requests that he tell her, “Tell me you don’t love me, if you
really don’t.” He does and leaves, ripping her heart out with no concern
for her feelings.

How is each character threatening
the other’s wound?

Skylar opens up about her feelings of love causes an
unbelieving Will to react vociferously to her perceived lies. Rather than show
any vulnerability, he attacks her revealing his total disbelief in
anything she says, breaking her heart once again.

What drama was this scene built
around?

High emotion of 2 deeply hurt, traumatized people reacting
differently to their wound. A disbelieving Will attacking Skylar, while
Skylar sympathizes with Will’s tormented upbringing revealing she won’t do
that to him. Instead, Will opens her wound.

What traits showed up in these
character’s words and actions?

Will- distrusting, angry, reactionary,
no concern for other’s feelings, low self-esteem.

Skylar- Vulnerable, loving,
compassionate, committed, desires to help him, self-conscious about her economic position.

[Neil Werenskjold]

What I learned rewriting my scene/character is to express what is in my head better. I have a lot of insight from 70 years of screwing up and fixing my messes. When I try to communicate what is in my head and all that I see I fall short every time. I need to slowdown and think deeper during my rewrites to ensure I have first the most important character traits highlighted in my writing. Then I need to show everyone’s quirky responses to the everyday events they are all experiencing but responding in their own way. I must show the traits not just a general response.

I see the huge contrast between Will and Skylar. Being an orphan, and being bounced around all his life, Will only knows what he has taught himself from being wounded over and over. That is a very frustrating way to learn life’s basic truths. It is also an incomplete way to learn important life lessons. He wonders what is he missing?

The contrast is Skylar. She has been well cared for and taught how to have confidence in herself and how to find and go after her hearts desires. She is well adjusted inspire of her problems. She has learned to try even if things don’t work out. Unlike Will that is so full of fear from all his torment he has experienced, he cannot see possibilities that could work out wonderfully. I believe Skylar truly loves Will and truly want to help him with his possibilities. But Will is blinded by his past horrible experiences and mega fears launching into the unknown.

As I watch this relationship unfold I want Will and Skylar to join together and enjoy life together no matter what it throws at them. But it is a gamble. Life is a gamble. Skylar gets that. She sees how she could help Will and wants to try because he is a giving person just like her. She sees the possibilities. This is the set-up for the ending where Will gets a car from his dear friends. He writes a note and puts it on his door, a tie back wrap-up and he heads for California, while the audience is cheering him on with tears in their eyes. That is powerful empathy driven writing.

I have some heavy thinking to do…

My scene that I posted yesterday, Day 4, works here as well.

[Pat Fitzgerald]

Skylar and Will’s wounds are revealed because Skylar wants their relationship to move forward by both of them moving to California. This sets off Will’s fears and sense of inferiority, and he in turn says everything to Sklar that reopens her wounds.

Will immediately goes on the defensive, talking of Skylar finding out new things about him which would cause her to abandon him in California. When he refuses the idea of moving, this kicks in Skylar’s wound of losing love.

Will threatens Skylar by assuming the will eventually leave him and consider him someone that she merely slummed with. HIs anger filled accusations cause Skylar to relive losing her father when she was 13. When Sklar says she wants to help Will, he thinks that she considers him inferior. The only way he can handle this is to lie about loving her and running off.

The drama is built around Sklar and Will opening up each others’ wounds and then taking all the wrong actions. They can’t support each other. They can only continue their attacks.

Traits I saw from this scene alone.

Skylar: take charge (at first), needy, confrontational, frightened.

Will: Angry, inferiority complex, scared, liar.

These characters are in the process of growing and maturing, but still unable to make the right choices. The conflict that builds between them make them great from a writing perspective.

[Steven Delisi]

@Pat Fitzgerald I really like your analysis of this scene … especially the insight that their conflict “builds” over the course of the scene. Regarding what drama is there, I assumed it’s simply the fact that she’s about to leave for California & their relationship is about to change. Then, the resulting wounds that get triggered … illustrate the new conflict. Just wondering what you & anyone thinks? Thanks!

[Christopher Phillips Phillips]

Character wounds run rather deeply and the characters are usually unware of their wounds. Yes, characters have flaws, or least well written ones, but characters are usually aware of their more superficial flaws like always being late to appointments or no sense of fashion style.

The wound usually runs so deeply that the character knows that there is an issue, that they aren’t getting what they really want in life, but they can’t figure out what’s holding them back. They can’t complete their goals and change as a person until they overcome their wounds.

In the case of Will, he pretends to be happy being a Southie. So much so that he holds being poor and loyalty to his friends as a badge of honor, when it’s really limiting him in his ability to grow as a person.

Skylar is very non-judgmental. That is good for Will, but he’s avoiding any uncomfortable questions. When she asks him to leave his home turf and make it out to California, Will has to confront his very identity and break out of his comfort zone, which is also admitting that the Southie badge that he wears has been fake his whole life.

[CHRISTOPHER WEBB]

Week 1 Day 5: Character Wound – GOOD WILL HUNTING

Breakthroughs

Will Is tough but doesn’t need to his toughness to survive. He thinks he does and wears it as an outer shell. In reality, he’s expressing his toughness to everyone who doesn’t deserve it because he couldn’t expresses it to the person(s) who do deserve it, his abuser(s). He hates himself because of this and, in his mind, anyone who loves him is stupid for doing so because deep down he believes he doesn’t deserve it. That’s why love can turn to anger in seconds.

Insights

Sklyar keeps unknowingly making mistakes with Will that causes him to go further and further away from her. Once he tells her about his abuse she says she wants to help him. Then when he spirals further and further away from her she doubles down her by forcing him to say something that they both know isn’t true, which is that he doesn’t love her. But putting him into a corner she further causes him to recede into his bad habits.

[SCENE]

Set-up: Tremaine (M/30s/Black) tries to convince his childhood friend Martin (M/30s/Black) to join his pro-Black militia group. Their mutual friend Lawrence (M/30s/Black) silently observes.

Martin – So what exactly are you getting into? Why do you need me? What do you want?

Tremaine – Need you, Dawg. Just you. Your knowledge, your skills.

Martin – My father.

Tremaine – Man, fuck your father! You need to move further and further away from him. He’s toxic, Dawg. You feel me?

Martin – He might say the same about you?

Tremaine scoffs and chuckles with Lawrence, who finds this funny as well. Martin Looks confused.

Tremaine – Man your father say that about all Black people in the struggle. He don’t know about it. Neither do you for that matter. Grew up with money. Father paid for college. Even when you joined the Army you had a support system to take care of you. Yeah, you worked hard but you ain’t never been on your own. Not really. Not until now. Not until this.

Martin – Are you two going to pretend that you didn’t go to the same private high school that I went to? Were right there with me when white boys told us that we’re only there because we were Black. When the white girls told us that they couldn’t date us because of their parents.

Tremaine – Naw. They told YOU that!

The three of them laugh.

Martin – Remember Kirsten Richardson? She was beautiful. I had it bad for her.

Tremaine – I remember. That’s why we never told you we hooked up.

Martin – You’re lying!

Tremaine shrugs. Martin looks at Lawrence, who also shrugs.

Tremaine – Just call it one of the mysteries of life. But see what you just did there? Changing topics. Not gonna work with me. Need an answer, dawg. Soon. Things are in motion.

Martin – What things?

Tremaine – Can’t tell you unless you’re in. So… decision time. Take your time, but once you pick, either way, you’re in and there’s no going back after you kick the can.

Tremaine walks off. Martin looks at Lawrence, who simply shrugs and then follows Tremaine.

[Judith Resell]

What causes each to reveal their wound? Will reveals his when she calls him on his lie. Skyler reveals hers when he accuses her of false love, of just wanting the experience of a lower class lover like a notch on a belt.

Will’s experience of abuse gave him a shell she cannot penetrate. And an ability to be cruel. He won’t make himself vulnerable to anyone. When she makes herself vulnerable to him by making her need for his love all too clear, he responds with defensive cruelty.

[Rosemary Lismore]

– What causes both characters to reveal their wounds?

Admitting they are afraid of love and easily and/or properly expressing it.

– How are those wounds motivating their emotions, actions, and reactions?

Will’s wound moves him to anger as he doesn’t want to face the possibility that he can’t be loved as his experience has shown him. He jumps to conclusions about why she wouldn’t actually want him and then leaves, lying to her on the way out.

Skylar’s wound makes her take a leap of faith and dare herself to believe someone she loves would stay with her – she asks Will to move with her working through her fear; when he turns her down she breaks down in tears.

– How is each character threatening the other’s wound?

Having to admit your wound is a terrifying ordeal. Once you have shown your true inner self it is emotional and deep reaching and you run the risk of the one you love, turning away from you, deeping your wound.

Watch 2^nd time for:

What drama was this scene built around?

The scene was built around the drama of one person suddenly taking a leap through fear to reach a better future, it brings both characters to their most vulnerable.

What traits showed up in these character’s words and actions?

Fear, vulnerability, sad emotion / crying, anger, needing to leave or separate.

What I learned rewriting my scene was to make my character far more vulnerable, showing what they think is their emotional weakness where they quite in opposition, show themselves to have strength.