[Dylan Allen]

OPENING: Lure us into the story and introduce the lead character in action.

* posted previously

INCITING INCIDENT: An event that propels the Hero on the Journey.

* posted previously &

EXT – LITTLE LEAGUE GAME – DAY

The townspeople talk about how helpful The Program that Jack and The Judge run is to the boys of the town. The parents of the boys in The Program think that Jack and The Judge are helping their boys.

INT – CHURCH – DAY The Program is holding a Ceremony to celebrate the boys joining The Program. EXT – WOODS – NIGHT The night of the Ceremony, the boys go with Jack deep into the woods to learn how to stalk and kill out in the woods. Jack tells the boys “Tonight you will kill… or you will be killed. It’s up to you.” INT. – LAURA’S HOME – NIGHT Keith is at Laura’s house. She has seduced him and he has fallen for it. EXT. – KEITH & HEATHER’S HOME – NIGHT Heather questions Keith about what is really going on with The Program. She throws in a dig about Laura being involved too. Heather says she knows Laura slept with Beau and some of the other boys in The Program and now she sees the way Keith looks at her. Heather tells Keith he needs to speak to Beau about it. Keith tells her he’ll think about it. EXT. – BEAU’S HOUSE – DAY Keith is at Beau’s house to buy drugs. Heather is there. Beau tells Keith that Jack and The Judge are into some wild shit and that the Program is just a front for The Order. Keith says, yeah I already know. Beau tells him he knows what happens at the Rituals and that Keith needs to get out now while he still can. Beau tells him that’s why he’s way out here, away from town. Jack, The Judge, and their secret plans aren’t safe for Keith… or Heather. INT. – CHURCH – DAY Jack, The Judge and the townspeople put on a Ceremony to celebrate the boy’s progress in The Program. EXT – WOODS – NIGHT The first Ritual, Keith and Gabe offer up animal sacrifices to Jack. The ritual involves the drinking a strong psilocybin mushroom tea, leading the boys to hallucinate and to see Laura levitate above them. Jack hypnotizes them so they feel that they are falling and they must submit to her and pledge their devotion to The Order in order to stop the feeling of falling. They do and when they come back Laura invites them all to sleep with her in a ritualistic orgy. INT. – KEITH AND HEATHER’S HOME – NIGHT Barbara corners Keith and wants to know what is really going on in The Program. Keith tells her nothing, that it’s exactly what they say it is. Barbara tells Keith that she knows Jack and that nothing is ever what it seems like with him. Keith says how do you know? Barbara responds, I’ve known Jack a lot longer… and a lot better than you.

TURNING POINT 1: A major twist that locks the hero into the conflict. Point of no return.

INT. – JACK’S HOUSE – DAY

Jack is looking at a newspaper that reads “Doug Rogan, Boy from Savot accuses Jack Walls of multiple crimes, including rape” Jack tells Keith, Gabe and a few of the other boys this isn’t going to end well for the boy.

INT. – COURTROOM – DAY

The Judge receives Jack’s case file against Jack and tells his contacts in the legal system they’d better help him or else everyone will find out about what they’ve really been up to (drugs, women, shady deals, etc)

INT. – ASYLUM – DAY

The Judge is talking to someone at the asylum. They hand him a form that he fills out with the accuser’s name and a list of dates, medications and diagnosis. The worker takes the form and says Ok, I’ll have this right back. Did you want to see your daughter while you wait? The Judge just gives him a look that could kill and the guy says Ok, I’ll be right back.

EXT – THE JUDGE’S COMPOUND – NIGHT

Jack is telling the boys how the case has been dismissed, on account of the boy’s checkered history of mental illness, medication and hospitalization. The boys whisper to themselves that Doug never went to the asylum. Jack hears them and tells them. Don’t let the newspapers fool you, we own this town. Anyone goes against us, this is the shit that happens. But I’m not done with the Rogans, come here. And the boys all huddle in.

INT. – SHERIFF’S CAR – NIGHT

The Sheriff and his Deputy are talking about how the case against Jack was dismissed when the boy had evidence that should’ve taken the case to trial. The Deputy is explaining to The Sheriff, who is new in town how the town actually operates. The Judge, through his connections with The Company controls everything. The Judge has had a pristine image in Black Maple for 50 years. It’s like the chicken and the egg. He’s been clean for so long because he’s had the upper hand for 50 years. By now, his reputation is so good that no one would suspect him of anything. It doesn’t help that his property is out of town limits. The Sheriff says no one is above the law. The Deputy responds, you haven’t spent much time in Black Maple. One thing I can tell you though, this isn’t the end of the story for that boy.

EXT – DOUG ROGAN HOUSE – NIGHT

We see Keith watching from his car. He puts on his mask and skulks down by the Rogan house. Keith, masked, confronts Doug and tells him to never go against Jack or The Judge again or the next time he’ll burn him alive. Doug asks if that’s Keith and Keith freaks out and uses a stun gun on him and runs off. We see two boys or men crouched in the woods nearby wearing masks and watching Keith vandalize Doug’s car while Doug lies on the ground.

INT. – DINER – DAY

The patrons of the diner are discussing the newest murder of local girl, Jane, who was friends with Heather. Some think it is Beau because he lives in the country, grows weed and listens to metal, and the first murder victim was found on his land. Others think it is Keith because he has been acting very strange. Some whisper about how this all started when The Company came to town. Someone says, if The Company was involved, the Judge would know. In walks the Sheriff. People are mad as hell and they want answers. The Sheriff tries to calm them down but when he can’t the waitress from before gives him his coffee and a donut and tells him good luck Sheriff, you need it.

INT. – KEITH’S HOUSE – DAY

Keith is drinking and doing coke while lifting weights. Loud music is playing. Heather comes in and tries to talk to him. Keith, addled from the abuse he’s suffered, the crimes he’s been forced to commit, the murders going on and the drugs and alcohol is very agitated. He tells he she doesn’t know shit about anything and she should just get out of Black Maple while she can. She tells him she wants to help him, that people in town think that it’s him or Beau doing the murders and she knows it’s not them. She tells Keith that she loves him and wants to help him and he just looks at her coolly and says there’s nothing you can do for me. Keith gets in his car and peels out. Barbara comes home then and Heather cries to her about how the girl that was murdered was her friend and the town thinks it was Beau or Keith and how they’ve got to figure out what is happening. Barbara tells her she’ll help her get to the bottom of it, but she doesn’t seem so sure.

INT – KEITH’S ROOM – DAY

Heather is snooping around Keith’s room, looking for clues to help her understand what is going on with him. She finds a tattered journal. It has entries in it about what he’s done with Laura, and about Jack and The Judge bringing him into the Book of Azariah rituals. There are drawings and satanic symbols. Heather is scared.

EXT – BEAU’S COMPOUND – DAY

Heather goes to talk to Beau and tell him about Jane’s murder and Keith’s journal. She wants to know if Beau thinks Keith has lost his mind and is the one doing the murders. Beau tells her that he thinks it has something to do with The Program and tells her that when he was in it, in addition to the drugs, alcohol and women, they were also asked to kill animals in a sacrificial way – the same way that the boys in the woods and now Jane has been killed. He thinks Jack and The Judge are behind it and that Keith could be mixed up in it too. This is too much for Heather to hear. He grabs her and tells her – This is bigger than you or me, we’re just pawns in their game. You’re not safe here. You need to get the hell out of Black Maple while you still can. Please. Heather tells him she’s not leaving without him and he says ok, he needs to finish a few things so they will have money and that they will leave tomorrow early in the morning.

EXT – COMPANY AIRSTRIP – DAY

The Sheriff is snooping around The Company airstrip, trying to find clues to help him in his murder investigation. He tells one of the men there he sure could use their help solving the murders. Sorry Sheriff, that’s not our jurisdiction. Our mission is to train pilots to fight terrorism. We don’t get involved in local matters. I wish i could help. Do you have any suspects? The Sheriff tells him he’s looking at Beau and Keith, two local boys who have fallen onto the wrong side of the tracks. The Sheriff is dismayed to hear that The Company won’t help him, but it cuts both ways, he thinks The Company man is telling him the truth and that they aren’t involved in the murders.

MIDPOINT: A major revelation. The opposition is 10 times worse than thought.

A Ritual out in the barn. Jack has given the boys the psilocybin potion and is showing the boys the Book of Azariah and explaining that the Ultimate Ritual is for a man to go into the fire and to be re-born and transformed. That if the Ritual is performed correctly and 11 souls are given over, the devil will transform the man into the Angel of Fire, to have the powers of the devil on earth. The boys are thunderstuck. Jack’s eyes flicker with flames inside of them. He tells the boys if they really trust him they’ll put blindfolds on and he’ll bring in Laura. The boys all agree. Once the blindfolds are on, Jack puts on a wig and perfume and begins abusing the boys. One of them peeks beneath the blindfold and sees that it’s not Laura but is too scared to do anything about it.

INT – SCHOOL – DAY

Keith and Gabe are at school and are talking about everything that’s been going on. Keith is freaked out. Gabe is as cool as a cucumber. Keith is telling Gabe, do you really believe that Angel of Fire stuff? Jack and The Judge are already the most powerful men in town. That’s got to be a cover for something right? Gabe is non-committal but asks what Keith wants to do. Keith says I say we go to the source, figure out what The Company is really doing. Let’s go tonight. Gabe agrees.

EXT – THE COMPANY COMPOUND – NIGHT

While following Jack, Keith and Gabe see Jack meet with The Judge and members of The Company. They sneak into The Compound and into the cave system through the warehouse. There are more drugs, guns and money than they could have ever possibly imagined. Billions of dollars worth, stored in the caves right next to Black Maple. Keith and Gabe are both Gobsmacked realizing the real power that Jack and The Judge have. They are afraid of getting caught and get out while they can.

INT. – LAURA’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Keith goes to the one person he thinks he can trust – Laura. He tells her what they saw at the Compound. She tells him he has no idea. The Judge has been working with The Company for 50 years, since Vietnam. Do you know anything about The Company? They’re above the law. They can get anyone to do anything at anytime, including me. Keith asks her what she means. She says Why do you think I sleep with you? Or Gabe? Or the rest of the boys? She tries to soothe his hurt feelings by caressing him and telling him that doesn’t mean she can’t enjoy it sometimes. This is all news to Keith, he thought they had something together and tells her that he really likes her. She says she does like him, but that she’ll never be free until Jack and The Judge are dead. This puts Keith into a quandary.

INT – THE JUDGE’S CHAMBERS – NIGHT

Jack and The Judge are having bourbons and playing chess. Jack is surprised by the level of the Company’s operation in Black Maple. The Judge tells him that is nothing, when they were in Vietnam with Project Alpha they had an unlimited budget to test any weapon they could think up. We got into some pretty hair shit over there. Jack says they’ve sent you all over the globe huh? The Judge says you have no idea. I’ll tell you one thing though, they should never have sent me to Italy. That’s where I got this and holds up the Book of Azariah. This is going to be the key to our freedom from being their pawns. But we need more souls. You’ve been doing good, but we need 11 or it won’t work. Jack nods in understanding.

EXT – CAMPFIRE – NIGHT

Jack is talking to the boys about each of their families secrets. From the access he’s gained with the monetary gifts and his access to the boys he knows a lot more about their family dynamics than anyone realized. Jack is slowly but surely destabilizing the boys relationships with their families and making himself the central figure in their lives. Jack tells the boys they can only rely on each other. That The Order is the best place for them. They can have everything they want, as long as they stay loyal to The Order. When they’re leaving, Jack corners Keith and tells him he’d like to bring Heather into the Order. Keith says that’s not a good idea. She’s a goody two shoes, she wouldn’t understand… and if my dad ever found out. Jack says what did I just say about being loyal to The Order. I don’t give a fuck what Joe and Barbara think. Bring Heather or don’t come back.

TURNING POINT 2: A major setback. The lowest of the low.

INT. – BEAU’S COMPOUND – DAY

Heather and Beau have all of their stuff packed and are ready to leave. Beau is telling Heather he is paranoid that The Company, The Judge, Jack or all three are going to have him killed because he knows too much. Right then, The Sheriff and his men roll up to the Compound with their sirens blaring and guns pointed. There has been another murder victim found on Beau’s land, this time a boy – same markings as the other victims. They’re bringing Beau in for questioning. Heather is terrified.

INT. – THE CHURCH – DAY

Jack is talking to Keith and asking him when Heather will be coming in. Keith says he doesn’t know, now that Beau’s been arrested Heather is pretty inconsolable. Jack looks irritated. Keith says, but I did find this. It’s a sex tape between Beau and Heather. By giving it to Jack, Keith will ruin his relationship with his family once and for all. But he will protect Heather for another day from Jack and The Order. Jack says, yes, that could work…

INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE – DAY

The Sheriff is talking to the Deputy about Beau. He says they can’t keep him any longer because they don’t have any evidence tying him to the murders. They argue for awhile about how he is a weirdo, and how dead bodies keep appearing on his land, but ultimately the Sheriff lets him go and tells him if I were you I’d think about finding a new piece of land.

EXT – LIQUOR STORE – NIGHT

Keith is working on a bottle of bourbon by the liquor store. His recent betrayal of Heather is just one of many things weighing on him and he is drinking heavily. The Sheriff pulls up and talks to him. Keith wants to tell The Sheriff everything, including about his abuse and the murders he knows about, but knows that The Sheriff won’t be able to protect him from Jack, The Judge and The Company. In a fit of rage, Keith threatens the Sheriff and they get into an altercation. Instead of helping Keith, the Sheriff now thinks Keith is responsible for the murders. Keith is a loose canon.

EXT – WOODS – NIGHT

Beau is out checking the traps on his land. He doesn’t understand how people are planting bodies on his land. Beau is snuck up on by someone with a Ritual mask. They chloroform him.

EXT – WOODS – DAY

At sunrise, as Beau is coming to, a man puts a gun barrel under his chin. A gunshot is heard from Beau’s property. The Sheriff goes to check it out. It is Beau on a rock overlooking Black Maple, he appears to have shot himself. There is no note.

INT – KEITH AND HEATHER’S HOME – DAY

Heather gets the call about Beau and she is beyond distraught. She confronts Keith who is listening to loud music on headphones in his room and begs him to tell her what he knows. Keith really loves his sister and tells her about The Company and the guns and drugs and money and about The Judge and Jack and the satanic rituals and the Angel of Fire plan. Heather thinks Keith has lost his mind and sees fresh mud on his shoes. Now she thinks it was him that killed Beau and she’s scared of Keith.

EXT – LAURA’S HOUSE – DUSK

Keith goes to Laura’s house to talk to her. He sees Gabe leaving Laura’s house. It is apparent that they’ve just had a tryst. Keith realizes he can’t talk to Laura so he goes to The Sheriff’s house.

INT – SHERIFF’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Keith goes to The Sheriff’s home to apologize and to tell him what he knows. Losing Heather and Laura is a final straw for him and he needs help. When he gets there The Sheriff’s door is open. Keith goes inside and sees a large bulletin board of theories about The Company, The Judge, Jack, Laura, Keith, Gabe, Beau, etc. Then Keith sees The Sheriff who has been stabbed to death. It dawns on Keith that he will be a suspect and he gets out of there.

INT. KEITH AND HEATHER’S HOME – NIGHT

Heather is inconsolable because of Beau’s death. Keith talks to his mother Barbara and tells her he found The Sheriff dead at his house. Heather comes out and asks what they’re talking about. Keith tells her The Sheriff’s dead. Heather freaks out again and says this has to stop. I don’t know why you’re doing this, but you have to stop Keith. Heather tells Barbara about how Keith came home with blood all over him the day of the Boys in the Woods murders and how he’s been gone every time someone was killed. Heather asks if it’s Laura that’s making him do this. Keith says no. Heather asks why he made her and Beau’s tape public and he tells Barbara and Heather (again) about The Company, The Judge, Jack, the satanic rituals, etc and instead of believing him, they both think he has lost his mind. But they try to play it cool. While Barbara is asking questions and trying to figure out what’s going on Heather silently texts the police to come to their house to get Keith. Keith sees what she’s doing and gets up to leave. They tell him to stay and he pulls a gun. He is extremely angry, telling them that they never helped him when dad beat on him and they didn’t care when Jack used him and now he’s being blamed for something he didn’t do. He is unstable and leaves.

INT. CHURCH – NIGHT

Barbara is telling the Deacon everything that has happened and that she doesn’t know what to do. The Deacon tells her he can see that she is very troubled and that she should pray about it. This is a dark, cold moment. Barbara realizes no one is going to help her. She has nowhere to turn and the police are looking for her son with orders to shoot on sight. She tells the Deacon all of this. In a chilling tone the Deacon says “the wheels of this plan were turning long before your family came to Black Maple and they will continue to turn long after you are gone.”

CLIMAX: The ultimate expression of the main conflict.

INT. THE JUDGE’S COMPOUND – NIGHT

Keith runs back to Jack, exactly as Jack planned. Jack hides Keith and then calls his father to tell him the plan is ready. The Judge calls and puts the manhunt out for Keith, in the opposite direction from where they will hold the Final Ritual. With Beau and The Sheriff dead and the rest of the police force going in the wrong direction Jack and The Judge will have the night completely to themselves to enact the Final Ritual.

EXT – KEITH AND HEATHER’S HOME – NIGHT

Jack takes Keith and Gabe to kill Keith’s family. Jack gives Keith a gun and tells him to go in and get his family. Keith goes in and his dad sees him first. Joe goes to get a gun and Keith sees a lifetime of abuse flash in front of his eyes and shoots him in the shoulder, wounding him, but not killing him.

EXT – KEITH AND HEATHER’S HOME – NIGHT
Heather and Barbara come home and Gabe tells them him and Jack know who the real killer is and that it’s not Keith, but they have to go now to help him from being killed by the police. Heather and Barbara, trusting Gabe, get in the truck. Gabe locks them in the truck and then Gabe and Keith throw Joe into the bed of the truck. When Barbara and Heather realize what’s going on they freak out. Then the cab of the truck fills with gas. And Gabe hooks up the truck to be towed.

INT – THE BARN – NIGHT
(Joe, Barbara, and Heather are the first people we actually see be killed and the first we see killed by Keith and Gabe)

At the ritual Jack gives Keith more psilocybin tea and he injects Joe with morphine. Then Jack puts them both into a pit to fight. Everyone, including Heather and Barbara are watching. Joe beats on Keith until it looks like he’s going to beat him to death. Keith is hallucinating badly now, seeing his father as a monster. Jack throws Keith a gun and tells him it will be self defense. To just end it once and for all. At Jack’s instruction, Keith chooses between Jack and his father and pulls the trigger, killing his father. Barbara and Heather are horrified. Maybe Keith was the killer all along. Jack taunts Heather about how easy it was to kill Beau. He tells her he thought he would put up more of a fight, but in the end he let Little Miss Priss put blinders on him. Heather is shocked and deeply hurt.

INT – THE BARN – NIGHT

Jack tells Keith as much as he’d love to drag this out they need to get going. Kill Barbara and Heather. Keith looks at them and even though he is hallucinating and has just killed his father, he can’t do it. Heather pleads with Keith and Keith loses his shit. Seeing this, Gabe takes the gun from Keith and kills Barbara swiftly. He goes to shoot Heather and the gun jams. Gabe doesn’t waste any time and takes a hunting knife out of his belt and holds it to Heather. Gabe whispers to her, I guess you’re not going to have such a perfect life after all? Tell Beau I say hello. At that Heather sees beautiful images of her and Beau together in the daylight in the field. Beau is putting a flower in her hair. Gabe slits her throat and she dies.

INT – THE BARN – NIGHT

Jack calmly says that makes ten. And asks Laura to help him in the final Ritual. Jack pours gasoline all over himself. Jack starts to levitate and lights a match, lighting himself on fire. As the fire spreads up his body he tells them he feels amazing. Laura, jealous, pours gasoline on herself and begins to levitate but when she catches fire she burns. Jack continues levitating, on fire, his giant wings sprouting from behind him. Laura is fully on fire now, it is not working for her. Jack calls to her one last time. Thank you Laura, you made the ultimate sacrifice, the last soul had to be given voluntarily. Thank you. Jack ascends painless and Laura burns to death horribly.

RESOLUTION: The end of the journey in an emotionally satisfying way.

Keith is arrested for all 11 murders, the murders of his family and the eyewitness accounts of The Judge are enough to quickly sentence Keith to life in prison without parole.

Wracked with guilt Gabe has a breakdown and lashes out. The Judge arranges for Gabe to be sent to the insane asylum where his daughter is.

The parts of Gabe being taken to the insane asylum and Keith being taken to the prison are highly tense and very emotional.

It is revealed that Jack double crosses The Judge and The Company. In a striking scene, Jack tells The Judge that him and The Company are of no use to him now, and that if he comes for him he’ll burn him alive for what he did to him and his sister. When Jack is threatening the Judge he is burning him and reminding him of all of the wrongs he’s done and why he’s had this change of heart. The Judge realizes the student has become the master.

Jack goes to visit Keith and Gabe. At first they are relieved to see Jack. They think he is going to save them. Both of them realize while he is talking that he is not going to help them and they are fucked. They are locked up for the rest of their lives with no way out.

Jack convinces Gabe to kill himself. Gabe does so in dramatic fashion by climbing to the top of the asylum and falling off of it backwards with his arms crossed.

Jack moves on to a bigger city with a larger church. We see the billboard for the church as he’s driving. A song is playing on the radio and he’s tapping his hands. At the end he lights a cigarette with his fingers.

[Dylan Allen]

OPENING: Lure us into the story and introduce the lead character in action.

1. These boys were 12 and 13 years old.EXT – WOODS – DAY </div>

Keith (with a black eye) is out hunting in the woods with Jack and Gabe. The mood is tense. Three boys are walking in the woods, lighting a cigarette. Jack sees the boys but the boys don’t see him. Jack tells Gabe and Keith to be quiet.

2. INT – HOME KITCHEN – DAY

Heather is home making dinner with her mother Barbara. There are harvest decorations and they are drinking wine. Barbara tells Heather she’s going to go take a shower and walks off. Heather he’s someone scuffling at the door. She goes to the door and swings it open aggressively. Standing there looking up is Keith. He’s covered in blood.

3. INT HOME BATHROOM – DAY

Keith is taking a shower. Cleansing himself from whatever killings he took part in that day. He gets out of the shower and is finally calming down from the day. Keith’s dad Joe barges in and says
“You tracked blood in on my carpets boy.” Keith looks shocked and then looks down and quietly says “I’m sorry sir.” Joe says “What’s that I didn’t hear you?” Keith looks at him and says into him “I’m sorry sir. It won’t happen again”. Joe says “You’re goddamn right it won’t happen again” and starts hitting him. “I paid good money for those carpets. To have you ruin them with your carelessness.” and keeps hitting him in the side of the head. “Gotta watch pretty boys face so his momma don’t have to put no more make up on it.” WHACK “Isn’t that right pretty boy?” WHACK. Keith is trying to hold the towel up and fight back and he’s crying out. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I promise.” Joe pushes him down into the corner. Keith crumples up in the corner, a battered mess. Joe says “Think about why this happened” a beat. “and clean that deer”.

4. EXT – BACK PATIO – NIGHT

Joe is cooking deer on a grill. Keith is looking sullen. Barbara and Heather are talking. Barbara “I don’t know, I just don’t like any of the boys at my school. They’re all so immature.” Barbara says “I met your daddy in college” while looking at Joe and then looks at Heather with a “hmm, maybe you’re right look. Heather says “I just like talking to men a little bit older, who have something to give, you know?” Barbara looks at her warily. Keith says “Yeah, she likes Beau.” Joe turns around and says “i’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that..” To Heather “you know how I feel about that freak.” Heather in a very sweet tone “Oh daddy, you don’t have anything to worry about.” Joe says “I know darlin’. You’re too smart to get mixed up with any losers.” and looks at Keith. Keith gives Heather a look and Barbara is watching them both.

5. INT – DINER – DAY

There are people eating breakfast and having coffee at a diner. A newspaper says “BOYS IN THE WOODS MURDERED IN SATANIC RITUAL” A man is talking to another man. “Can you believe this shit? Satanic ritual?” The waitress says in a scared, secretive way “Those boys were only 12 and 13 years old.” The other man, Keith’s father Joe, sitting at the counter looks at the newspaper, takes a sip of coffee and says “The Judge will sort this out.” The waitress comes over and says “Do you think it has anything to do with that Beaumont boy… or… The Company?” and Joe says “Like I said… The Judge will sort this out.” At that The Judge walks by and says “Sort what out, Joe?” They all look like they’ve been caught red handed. The waitress holds up the newspaper. The Judge responds “Oh Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I’ve got some calls to make. Excuse me folks.” And puts a hand on Joes shoulder and walks curtly out the door. The man sitting at the counter says “If you ask me, it’s all the better reason to keep our kids in The Program. Least that way they’re protected.” Joe nods. The Waitress says “My kids won’t be alone anytime soon, I can tell you that much.”

6. EXT – BEHIND A WAREHOUSE – DAY

Keith is out back at his job at the fish farm, shooting vermin. The Sheriff rolls up in a truck and gets out. He walks over to Keith, his hand on his gun. Keith’s hands never drop his gun either. The Sheriff says “Hey Keith how ya doin’?” Keith “I’m alright.” and shoots towards the ground. The Sheriff “You hear about those boys murdered in those woods this weekend?” Keith “Yeah, I heard.” The Sheriff “I heard you might have been out in those woods huntin’?” Keith “Nope, we were out in the opposite direction, out on The Judge’s property out of county”. The Sheriff “Well if you hear anything about what happened to those kids, you let me know.” Keith “You gonna guarantee my safety?” The Sheriff “How’s that?” Keith “If I were to find something out and I wanted to tell you… Could you guarantee my safety?” The Sheriff thinks for a minute and says (in a way that implies Keith’s guilt) “Well, it depends on what you told me.” Keith “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

7. INT – GROCERY STORE – DAY

Keith and Gabe are walking in a grocery store, looking for things. They pass the special kids teacher Laura. She is a strikingly beautiful woman. The boys in unison “Hi Ms. Peterson” Laura, looking at them both for a second longer than she should.. Laura “Oh hi boys. And it’s just Laura” The boys look bashful. Keith says “How’s the school year going this year Laura? Is it easier now you don’t have to deal with Heather?” Laura smiles “That was an interesting class.. It’s going ok… But the year is fresh, we’ll see…” And winks at Keith. Looks to both Keith and Gabe “Gentlemen” The boys are both flummoxed and tripping over themselves. Laura saunters off.

8. INT – HOME KITCHEN – NIGHT

Barbara “Daddy had to work late tonight, so it’s just us…” Barbara looks around to Keith and Heather a little seriously. They all break out smiling, with Keith a little later and his smile much smaller. Heather says ‘Let’s do it”. And Barbara says “Oh… Keith do you want to?” Keith says “yeah mom, whatever you want.” Barbara gives him a quizzical look and looks at Heather who is looking at Barbara expectedly. Barbara gives in. CUT TO Barbara and Heather are making noodles and cooking a big pot of macaroni and cheese. Barbara and Heather are talking about the Boys in the Woods murders. Keith just watches, fidgeting with a hunting knife. Barbara “I heard someone today say it could’ve been Beau… It was out near his land.” Heather, extremely indignant. “Mom!” Barbrara “Well, I’m just saying, he’s all alone up there in the woods. We know he grows weed… and blows up bombs. Who knows what else he does?” Heather “He wouldn’t do that mom!” Barbara “But how do you know?” Keith looks up finally “Yeah Heather, how would YOU know?” Heather is defensive “I just do. It had to be a serial killer or something.” Keith “What if I could tell you exactly who did it?” Barbara “Then I’d say we need to call the Sheriff and go get ’em” Keith “I’m just kidding momma, I don’t know who did it.” Looks at Heather. “Must’ve been a serial killer.” Joe walks in Barbara’s attention goes to him. Heather is still looking at Keith like she knows he knows something and isn’t saying.

9. EXT – WOODS – NIGHT

Beau is out lurking around in the woods in camo, using night vision to set and check booby traps on his property. The Sheriff is watching him from up higher with his own pair of high powered night vision binoculars. He sees Beau lurking around and The Sheriff says “What are you up to now Beaumont?” to himself. Beau sneaks off into the woods.

10. INT – SIDE ROOM OF CHURCH – DAY (BUT NO WINDOWS)

Keith is talking to Jack. Jack “What’s been going on Keith? Where’d you get that 2nd set of bruises?” Keith “Same place I got the first one.” Jack “I see… You know, I went to school with your dad. He always was a bully. But I know how to handle bullies. Want me to talk to him for you?” Keith looks up at Jack and says “Yeah, you better talk to him… (false bravado) otherwise I’m liable to kill him myself one of these days” Jack “Ok. Ok. I’ll straighten him out for you there killer.” Keith looks ashamed. Jack “Anybody ask you about those boys in the woods?” Keith “Yeah, the Sheriff… and my mom and Heather were talking about it.” Jack “Who all do they think did it?” Keith “Sheriff didn’t say. My mom thinks it was Beau. Heather thinks it was a serial killer.” Jack “Good. Good.”

11. INT – MAIN ROOM OF CHURCH – DAY

Jack’s kids are meeting for The Program. They are getting ready to go on a campout in the woods at his father The Judge’s property. Jack is asking if everyone has what they need and ribbing some of the boys good-naturedly.

INCITING INCIDENT: An event that propels the Hero on the Journey.

12. INT – CHURCH – DAY

Jack is giving a sermon to a packed town church. Jack is speaking with great intensity and fervor. He closes his sermon by performing a trick where fire appears to come from the palms of his hands and he says “All who come before him are purified by his light and love!” The congregation is blown away. “Ooohs and Ahhhhs come from the crowd.” Jack transitions and says “Now before we part, I have one last announcement. The council and I have met and we have chosen two boys among you to come into The Order this year. Those boys are Keith Hawks and Gabe Ward. The boys look proud but also embaressed. Their families are beaming. Jack “Come on up here boys and take your place next to me up here.” The boys, urged on by their parents, get up and go to where Jack is, slowly but surely. They come up to him and both look up. Jack winks at them and turns them around. Jack “I give you the two newest inductees into The Order. The congregation breaks out in applause. Now their families are really beaming. There is a man giving Jack a dirty look. It appears his son has been left out. Jack returns the man’s gaze.

13. INT – STRIP CLUB – NIGHT

Several men in varying degrees of nice clothes are out having drinks and lap dances at a strip club. The Judge is there with them. After several rounds of drinks, lines of blow and cigars the women begin taking the men into the back rooms. A stripper asks the Judge if he wants to go back. The Judge smirks and replies “You must be new here.” She looks confused and he exits the club, exiting the doors in slow motion, smoking a cigarette and flicking it just as he’s walking through the frame. It looks like a scene where he could be flicking a cigarette into a gas pile to ignite something, except we never see an explosion.

14. EXT – CLEARING IN THE WOODS – DUSK

Slow motion montage of Keith, Gabe and several other boys training on a variety of hardcore weapons at The Judge’s compound. There are weapons everywhere. It is a veritable fortress. The Judge and Jack are overseeing them. There are machine guns, rocket launcher, detonated bomb, drone with a gun, poison.

15. INT – BUSINESSES AND HOMES – NIGHT

Montage of Jack going in to several businesses and homes and in a reverse of the mafia tradition, giving the people envelopes of money. One of the people is Keith’s dad Joe, behind his big rig truck. All of the people shake his hand and hug him warmly. The last one says, come by any time. Jack says “Oh I will. Thanks.”

16. EXT – WOODS – NIGHT

Jack is having Keith, Gabe and the boys dig graves. They are deep into the graves now. Jack says “You ever tell anyone what happens in The Order and you go into one of these. Or we kill your family and tell everyone you did it.” The boys look shocked and terrified. They keep digging slowly. Jack “You’re one of us now. The only way you leave is through that dirt. Remember that.” When the boys are sufficiently scared Jack throws them their robes and masks and tells them to get out of the graves and meet him by the fire.

17. INT – BEAU’S HOUSE OUT IN THE WOODS – NIGHT

There is loud music coming from a compound looking house out in the woods. There is weed growing, drying and packaged everywhere. Along with many anti-authority artwork on the walls. Beau is deep in thought perfecting something with a chemistry set. Heather is walking through booby traps in the woods to Beau’s house. She knows where all the sensors are. Beau is still cooking away at his chemistry set. At one point he takes a sip of something. Heather is getting closer to the house, she’s coming in. Beau doesn’t hear her enter, he’s still lost in his task. Heather sneaks up near him and just when she’s about to reveal herself to him he jumps up and runs into her. He’s so startled he drops what he’s holding. The test tube hits the ground and burns both the floor and Heather’s shoes. Heather yells. Beau “What the fuck Heather!? You scared the shit out of me!” Heather “Likewise Beau! What is that acid?” Beau “don’t worry about that, that’s just… wait a minute. How did you get in here?” Heather “You think I forgot where you put all the traps & sensors?” Beau “Oh shit Heather, you’ve got to be more careful. I put out new ones since the last time you were here. You’re lucky you made it through” Heather getting closer to Beau now and putting her arms over him. “No, you’re lucky I made it through them” and she gives him a kiss. They don’t waste any time.

18. INT – LAURA’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Laura is pouring her and someone else a drink. He puts his drink down and puts his hands on her neck, rubbing it gently but firmly. She relaxes and tilts her head back in pleasure. She leans back for a kiss and all we see the back of his head and her leaning back. Then circle around to see that it is… Keith. Laura is having an affair with Keith.

19. INT – JUDGES’ DARK CHAMBERS – NIGHT

Jack and The Judge are sitting in the Judge’s chambers, having a whiskey. The Judge “You made your rounds?” Jack “Yes, everyone was very receptive.” The Judge “Good. Good. Then it’s time we begin.” The Judge pulls out a large, old leather bound book with old markings in gold on a black cover. It reads. The Book of Azariah. They begin to look at it together. Jack in an awed voice “Finally.. the Angel of Fire Ritual” The Judge correcting him “The Rituals.” It has incredible images of wild scenes ala the book in The 9th Gate. The Judge takes some blood and runs it along his face. He does the same to Jack. Very slowly. Together they chant slowly and calmly a message to the Devil, asking him to watch over them. The ritual they are looking at shows a man on fire with giant wings and in ancient writing it says (translated) Angel of Fire.

20. INT – BEAU’S HOUSE OUT IN THE WOODS – NIGHT

Heather and Beau are sitting in post coital bliss, smoking a big joint. They’re bundled up and looking at the stars. Heather “You know the people in town think it’s you?” Beau “Yeah I know” Heather waits a beat and then says “Well, what are you going to do about it?” Beau doesn’t answer her. “Do you ever look up at the stars and think that you could be anywhere else on earth and it wouldn’t make any difference to anyone… but it would make all the difference for you? Like you could just leave and never come back.” Heather “Yeah, but I’d miss my family… and my friends… and you…as long as you’re not a serial killer.” Beau “It’s not me. Have I ever lied to you before?” Heather “Are you going to make me say her name?” Beau, so because I hooked up with Laura when we were 16 now I’m a serial killer? C’mon.” Heather eyes him warily. “So what really is going on?” Beau “I don’t know but I’m sure as hell going to find out.” Heather hugs him and he kisses the top of her head, but looks around warily.

* I have more left and I need to cut out the dialogue on the further scenes, but I’m posting this now so I don’t have to re-type it.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Dylan Allen.

[Dylan Allen]

<div>What I learned is Misdirection is very important to the effectiveness of a Thriller. I learned that I need to spend more time on some of these categories and drill down into exactly how the audience is being misdirected. l learned that there are many different ways to misdirect the audience through clues, characters and dialogue or the combination of all three.

1. Check these three to see how effectively you used misdirection </div>

A. The Red Herring character
– Beau – We (and the people of Black Maple) think he may be the murderer.
– Laura – We think she is involved in Jack’s plan.
– Keith – We think it is him killing people at Jack’s command, with Gabe.
– The Company – We think it is The Company’s plan (it’s not).

B. The Villain’s Plan.
– Jack wants to use Gabe, Keith and Heather to fulfill his plan. He does a good job of pretending to be a wonderful, generous man who is mentoring the kids and giving to the community.
– The Judge wants to use Jack to take power over the Company. The Judge does a good job of pretending to be a stern but fair, respected town judge while he is doing shady deals with The Company and enabling Jack to go on a crime spree.
– Laura wants to use Jack and The Judge to gain power over them and enact revenge for everything they’ve done to her over the years.

C. The cover-up for each mystery presented as “Reality”.

The Boys in the Woods murders:

– Jack teaches a “Program” where he takes kids in the woods and teaches them life lessons. This is perceived to be especially helpful to Keith, whose father is extremely abusive. Jack is out with the boys in the woods, when the Boys in the Woods murders occurs. – No one knows who killed the Boys in the Woods (because Jack, Gabe, and Keith aren’t talking).

What is everyone hiding?
– Jack uses his family’s wealth, his position as preacher and his perceived generous nature to gain entrance into any home or business in Black Maple. This allows jack to learn everyone’s secrets and use them to create turmoil and division.
– Jack brings Keith and Gabe into The Order and gives them robes and masks.
– Jack an The Judge pledge money and service to many local charitable organizations, endearing them to the people of Black Maple.

Who is the serial killer?
– It appears that some of the boys are committing murders for Jack and The Order.
– It appears that it could be Beau doing the murders.
– It could be The Company doing the murders.

What are the purpose of the rituals Jack, Laura and The Judge are performing?
– The Rituals are to signify growth in the boys progress through the Program and are very secretive.

What is The Company doing in Black Maple?
– The Company is ostensibly in Black Maple doing pilot training programs with various aircraft.

Why does The Judge have control of the town?
– Because he is a longstanding attorney and judge within the town and has the most friends of anyone in the legal and political arenas of Black Maple.

Who can Barbara trust?

– Barbara thinks she can trust her mother and the Deacon.

What will happen to Keith’s family?
– They’re being taken to witness Keith’s final Ritual.

Who will win?
– Keith takes the fall for all of the murders, including the Sheriff, Beau, Laura, and his family and the Boys in the Woods.
– The Judge sends Gabe to the insane asylum where his daughter is.
– Gabe kills himself.
– Jack moves on to a bigger city with a larger church. We see the billboard of the church as he’s driving.

2. Look through your Thriller Map for a few opportunities to add in misdirection.
A. Clue Misdirection:
Misinterpreted Clue:
– Keith coming home covered in blood is a misinterpreted clue by Heather.

– Keith acting crazy – drinking and drugs and girls is a misinterpreted clue by Heather and – Barbara.
– Beau lurking around at night trying to catch the killer is a misinterpreted clue by The Sheriff.
– The Company being involved with the Judge is a misinterpreted clue by Keith and Gabe.

Clue that sends us to another potential Red Herring.
– The things that point out Keith, Laura, Beau and The Company are behind it all. They are all Red Herrings. (I still need to go through the Thriller Map and pull out & create the clues for all of the Red Herrings)

B. Character Misdirection

A character we don’t believe who turns out to be telling the truth.
– KEITH!
– Beau

Characters jumping to conclusions.
– Joe jumps to conclusions.
– Heather jumps to conclusions.
– Barbara jumps to conclusions.
– The Sheriff jumps to conclusions.
– The town of Black Maple jumps to conclusions.
– The Company jumps to conclusions.

Character intentions are misunderstood:
– Jack’s intentions are misunderstood.
– The Judge’s intentions are misunderstood.
– Laura’s intentions are misunderstood.
– Beau’s intentions are misunderstood.
– The Company’s intentions are misunderstood.
– Keith’s intentions are misunderstood.

Character presented as one thing, but turn out to be another.
– Jack
– The Judge
– Gabe
– Laura
– Joe
– The Company
– Beau
– The Sheriff

Dialogue Misdirection:

A line that was misunderstood:
– Keith talking to Heather

– Keith talking to Barbara
– Keith talking to The Sheriff
– Laura talking to Keith

– Jack talking to the townspeople
– Beau talking to Heather
– Gabe talking to Heather

Line had one meaning now, but another later:
– I need to flesh this one out more.

[Dylan Allen]

<div>What I learned is that clues and clue trails are very important to keeping the audience engaged in the Thriller. I learned that it is wise to use a mixture of overt and covert clues to keep the audience guessing. I learned that these exercises are a lot of fun. I learned that I won’t try and write two movies simultaneously the next time I do one of these classes – it’s too much work!

1. List out the three or four main mysteries in your story.

Who killed the Boys in the Woods and the others?

What is the purpose of the rituals Jack and The Judge are performing?

Why is The Company using Black Maple as a hub & what are they doing? </div><div>
</div><div>Who will win? Jack and The Judge or Keith and his family or Beau or The Sheriff or Laura? </div><div>
2. Create a list of clues for each of the main mysteries in your story.

Who killed the Boys in the Woods and the others?

• Jack, Keith and Gabe were all in the same kind of woods the boys were in.
• Keith returns home with blood on him and tries to hide it.
• Jack is the preacher of Black Maple, surely he wouldn’t be involved in a murder.
• The boys were killed in a satanic, ritualistic way. Surely that couldn’t be Keith and Gabe, who are good boys in the community.
• The people of Black Maple think it was Beau who killed the boys.
• Keith tries to tell Heather, Barbara and The Sheriff who killed the boys but he doesn’t really tell them – he’s interrupted each time.
• The Sheriff is killed and Keith is the prime suspect, although we know that he didn’t do it.
• The real killer is revealed at the Final Ritual.

What is the purpose of the rituals Jack and The Judge are performing?
• The townspeople talk about how helpful Jack’s Program is to the boys of the town.
• Jack chooses Keith and Gabe to be work under him for that year’s Program. Their parents are beaming.
• Jack excludes certain kids and their families because he doesn’t trust them.
• Jack gives Keith and Gabe robes and masks they will use in the rituals.
• Jack and The Judge give money to many different charitable organizations, further endearing them to the people of Black Maple.
• Beau tells Keith that he knows what happens at the rituals and that he should get out while he can. It’s not safe for him or his sister.
• Jack and The Judge talk about the Book of Azariah and their plan to enact the Angel of Fire ritual and summon the devil.
• The Judge got the Book of Azariah while working for The Company in Italy, after The War. It is unclear if The Company knows about it.

• Jack and the boys put on a false ceremony for their families and the communities.

• Laura is a willing participant in the rituals.
• Blood sacrifices are a part of the rituals, along with hallucinogenic drugs, alcohol, chanting and group sex.
• Jack and The Judge are already the most wealthy, powerful men in Black Maple. What else do they want?
• While they play chess, The Judge tells Jack that they need to harvest more souls for the Ritual.
• Keith and Gabe wear the masks Jack gave them for the rituals while they stalk people.
• Jack talks to Keith about bringing his sister to participate in the ritual.
• The ritual is shown in the book as a man on fire and transforming into the Angel of Fire.
• At the last Ritual, all of the major players are present. Jack, The Judge, Keith, Gabe, Laura, Joe, Barbara, Heather, Beau,

Why is The Company using Black Maple as a hub & what are they doing?
• The Judge is out drinking with the prestigious members of the town and some of the Company men.
• The Judge was in The Company during The War.
• There are men in masks stalking Keith. Is it the Company Men?
• The Judge is rumored to be a part of The Company.
• Keith and Gabe see the Judge meeting with The Company at a hidden airstrip in the mountains. There are huge caches of planes, drugs, guns and money.
• There are rumors of cocaine and guns coming into the area.
• Beau’s land is close to where The Company operates.
• There is a murder on Company land, where the body is moved to be on Beau’s land.
• Keith tries to talk Heather about The Company but she thinks he’s lost his mind.
• Beau is paranoid The Company is going to have him killed because he knows too much.
• The Judge is unhappy with his relationship with The Company. He hates feeling like a pawn.
• The Company operates out of caves in the mountains of Arkansas near Black Maple.
• Is The Company connected to The Program, The Rituals or the Book of Azariah?
• Gabe and especially Keith are scared they will be killed because they know too much about The Company.
• The Judge tells Jack he has done some horrific things while working with The Company.
• People whisper about The Company and wonder if they are somehow behind the murders.
• The Judge uses his relationship with The Company to get what he wants and to make sure he and his son are always three steps ahead of everyone else in Black Maple.
• The Company has trained The Judge to be a highly skilled operator. He manipulates the people of Black Maple with a deft hand.
• The Sheriff was investigating The Company when he was killed. Were they involved in his murder?
• Is The Company helping and participating with The Rituals or are they ignorant?

Who will win? Jack and The Judge or Keith and his family or Beau or The Sheriff or Laura?
• At one point, we think each of the above players can win the game.
• Jack and The Judge when they skate through Jack’s accusers.
• Keith when he decides to tell his mom, sister and The Sheriff what’s going on.
• Heather when she goes to Beau to tell him what Keith has revealed to her.
• The Sheriff when he’s on the trail of Jack, The Company and The Judge.
• Beau when he goes to save Heather.
• Laura when she’s included in the Final Ritual.
• We had no idea Gabe was this ruthless or that Jack cares about no one but himself. They have both been brutalized so much to the point where they don’t feel anything at all. Everything is a zero sum game to them and they are not going to lose.

</div>

3. Decide which clues you want to use and sequence those into clue trails for each mystery.
Check.

4. Add the clue trails to your Thriller Map.
Check.

5. Still too long to re-type.

[Dylan Allen]

What I learned is that writing the reveals is very fun, but also takes a lot of time, because there are so many and they all have several angles and developments. Wow. The reveals are an integral part of a Thriller’s success. They should be shocking and further the story.

1. Make a list of the important reveals that you want the audience to experience.

– That Keith, Gabe and Jack could be responsible for the “Boys in the Woods” murders.
– While people love him in town, Keith’s father is violently abusive to Keith.
– Jack has chosen Gabe and Keith not to mentor them, but to train them to do his dirty work. He is the one who gives them the robes and masks they use when they commit crimes.
– Jack and the Judge have an arsenal of weapons. Why would a judge and a preacher need that?
– Jack and the Judge are using the Book of Azariah to enact the Angel of Fire ritual.
– Jack conducts a bizarre ancient ritual with the boys that includes psycho-active drugs, alcohol, animal sacrifice and group sex.
– Keith is stalking and assault Jack’s accusers.
– Keith is being stalked by someone else.
– There are murders taking place. It could be Beau, Gabe, Keith, or Jack. It could be one of them or none of them.
– Beau is killed, leaving Heather heartbroken.
– Laura is not only sleeping with Keith, but with Gabe. She reveals she has also slept with Jack and the Judge as well.
– It is revealed that the Angel of Fire plan from the Book of Azariah is for a man to go into the fire and to be re-born and transformed by it. If performed correctly, the devil will transform the man in the fire into the Angel of Fire, able to channel the devil’s powers on earth.
– It is revealed that Jack and the Judge are working with The Company running insane amounts of guns, drugs and money.
– It is revealed that Keith has chosen Jack over his family when he gives Jack a sex tape his parents have made – humiliating them.
– It is revealed that the Judge is unhappy with his arrangement with The Company. Sure he gets to lord over the town, but he reveals that he hates the feeling of being a pawn in their game.
– It is revealed that The Judge uses his inside knowledge of the prestigious members of the town to blackmail them and get his son to be let go.
– It is revealed that The Sheriff is killed. Keith finds his body and all of The Sheriff’s research into Jack, the Judge and The Company. Keith is the prime suspect after being seen by a deputy at the scene of the murder and after others witnessed him getting into a fight with the Sheriff.
– It is revealed that Keith seeks help from Heather and Barbara but they are so mad at him and scared of him that they turn him in instead of helping him.
– It is revealed that Keith has fallen fully into Jack and The Judge’s plan, exactly as he wanted.
– It is revealed that it is the Judge who puts out the arrest warrant for Keith, cementing his fate.
– It is revealed that even when Barbara tries to do the right thing and tell someone about what Keith has told her, in a chilling scene, the Deacon tells her there’s nothing to be done now and to “just pray about it”
– It is revealed that Joe, Barbara, Heather and Laura are all rounded up like livestock being taken to the slaughter by Gabe.
– It is revealed that Jack convinces Keith to kill his father.
– It is revealed that Keith can’t kill his mom, sister or Heather and Gabe does it instead. Using a gun on Barbara and Laura and when the gun jams, in a very dramatic moment, Gabe slits Heather’s throat saying “I guess you’re not going to have such a perfect life after all huh?”
– It is revealed that Jack’s plan to transform into the Angel of Fire has actually worked, against all odds.
– It is revealed that The Judge orchestrates Gabe going to the insane asylum and Keith going to prison.
– It is revealed that Jack double crosses The Judge and The Company. In a striking scene, Jack tells The Judge he’s done with him and The Company and if he ever comes for him, he’ll burn him alive for everything he did to him and his sister.
– It is revealed that Jack double crosses Keith, leaving him in prison for the rest of his life and he double crosses Gabe, convincing him to kill himself.

2. Sequence them into your Thriller Map.
– Check.

3. With each reveal, make sure the following are in place:

– That Keith, Gabe and Jack could be responsible for the “Boys in the Woods” murders.
• A. What is the reveal?
That Keith, Gabe and Jack or a combination of the three are likely responsible for the “Boys in the Woods” murders.

• B. How did it get covered up?
The murders took place far enough away from Black Maple that no one in Black Maple is suspected. Jack took the boys hunting and they came back with several deer, like he said they would. Everyone loves Jack and he is the last person anyone would suspect of committing a crime.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth are:
Mystery – People want to know who killed these boys and what the motive was.
Intrigue – People want to know why they were killed in the ritualistic way that they were.
Suspense – People are scared for their kids to be out alone in the woods, putting more kids into Jack’s Program.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
There is a dramatic reveal when Heather sees Keith covered in blood.
There is a dramatic reveal when Keith tells The Sheriff and Heather and Barbara that he knows who killed The Boys in the Woods but they have to guarantee his safety. (They won’t, so he doesn’t)

– While people love him in town, Keith’s father is violently abusive to Keith.

• A. What is the reveal?
That while Keith’s father Joe is a well loved and respected person to the town of Black Maple, he secretly is violently abusive to his only son.

• B. How did it get covered up?
Joe only beats Keith in their home. To the outside world he is the perfect father.
If he ever hits Keith in the face his mother Barbara uses make up to conceal it, which leads Joe to call Keith a pussy.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?

The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth are:
Mystery: Why is Joe so violent with Keith and no one else? Why does he hurt Keith?
Intrigue: What does Joe have against Keith that makes him lash out at him?
Suspense: Is Joe going to kill Keith? Will Keith retaliate for Joe’s beatings?

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
Keith reveals his abuse to Jack. Jack tells him he understands like no one else can, because he went to high school with Joe and knows how he is. He tells Keith he will stand up to Joe for him. This makes Keith very emotional and grateful to Jack.

– Jack has chosen Gabe and Keith not to mentor them, but to train them to do his dirty work. He is the one who gives them the robes and masks they use when they commit crimes.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that Jack is pulling Gabe and Keith into something sinister, without their parents knowledge.

• B. How did it get covered up?
It was covered up by the fact that Keith and Gabe’s parents WANT Jack to choose their sons for his Program. To them and the people of Black Maple, to be chosen by Jack is a great honor and one worthy of praise and adoration. The boys are a part of a special Group now that Jack and his father The Judge oversee.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery: Heather questions Keith on what really goes on in The Program. She suspects Laura is involved after Beau slept with her and now Keith is spending time with her.
Intrigue: Barbara wants to know what really goes on in the Program. She’s suspicious of Jack – she’s one of the few people who know he has a dark side – from their time together in high school.
Suspense: The Sheriff, Heather, and Barbara are all trying to figure out what is really going on in The Program. They know something is off, and they know murders are occurring, but they can’t put their finger on exactly what is happening.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
Keith reveals the truth about the Program to Heather and she confronts Beau with this information. He admits it’s true but begs her to stay out of it. “This was going on before you and it’s going to continue after you. Just stay out of it and get the hell out of this town”
It is revealed that Keith is stalking Jack’s accusers and that Gabe is stalking Keith.

– Jack and the Judge have an arsenal of weapons. Why would a judge and a preacher need that?

• A. What is the reveal?

The reveal is that Jack and The Judge, while portraying themselves as great pillars of Black Maple’s legal and religious community actually have a battery of weapons and munitions in the compound out in the woods on their land.

• B. How did it get covered up?
No one dares go onto The Judge’s land without his permission and only people who are sworn to secrecy in a blood oath are allowed into the compound to see what Jack and The Judge actually have.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – People hear loud noises coming from the Judge’s land and wonder what they are.
Intrigue – People know something is going on with The Program, but they can’t figure out what it is. The Judge’s land is outside of The Sheriff’s jurisdiction, so he can’t investigate it even if he wanted to. The Judge planned well when he built the Compound where he did.
Suspense – The staging of the weapons and the boys using them is very suspenseful – they are taught how to stalk and kill out in the woods.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that Jack and The Judge are training the boys on weapons, but we don’t know why. Is it to protect Black Maple from the killer at large? Is it to train the boys to kill for them?

– Jack and the Judge are using the Book of Azariah to enact the Angel of Fire ritual.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that Jack and his father the Judge are reading from the Book of Azariah in an attempt to enact the Angel of Fire ritual and summon the devil and his powers.

• B. How did it get covered up?
It got covered up because Jack is the town’s preacher and the Judge is the town’s judge. The Program they run is concerned a benefit to all of the kids who go through it. No one would ever guess that Jack and his father are involved in satan worship.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?

The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why are Jack and his father going over this ancient book
Intrigue – Beau tells Keith Jack is into some ancient stuff with The Order, but he doesn’t tell him what – making him curious.

Suspense – It is revealed that Jack and The Judge are not who they present themselves to be… They are performing a ritual with blood when we see them with the Book of Azariah, turning up the danger. (We know there have been murders lately)

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of this reveal is that both Jack and The Judge are not who they appear to be to the townspeople and that they are using a blood ritual from the Book of Azariah to summon the devil himself.

– Jack conducts a bizarre ancient ritual with the boys that includes psycho-active drugs, alcohol, animal sacrifice and group sex.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that the Program that the boys are in, and that Gabe and Keith have been hand picked for is actually a satanic ritual.

• B. How did it get covered up?
As the Preacher of Black Maple, Jack has used The Program as an excuse to mentor young boys for decades. The parents of the boys in the Program think that Jack is helping their boys when really he has been using them and abusing them.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is …
Mystery – What is really going on in The Program? Why is it so secretive and hush hush?
Intrigue – When it is revealed that The Program is actually a cover for The Ritual, the question becomes why? What are they doing the ritual for?
Suspense – The ritual involves the drinking of a strong Psilocybin mushroom tea, leading the boys to hallucinate and see Laura levitating above them. They feel like they are falling and they must offer sacrifices to her and pledge their allegiance to her and Jack. After the sacrifices, she allows them to ravage her.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of The Ritual is that while the parents of the boys in The Program think that their boys are being mentored to be better men, they are actually being used by Jack in a satanic ritual meant to bring him more power and control.

– Keith is stalking and assault Jack’s accusers.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that it is Keith stalking and assaulting Jack’s accusers.

• B. How did it get covered up?
Keith is wearing a mask and he has been friendly in the past with the people he is stalking, making him an unlikely suspect to them.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Who is stalking the Hogans?
Intrigue – Once it is revealed that it’s Keith, why would he hurt his friend?
Suspense – The Hogan boy is being hunted by Keith. Keith follows him and when he can, he hurts him.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that since Keith is willing to hurt his friend Dan Hogan, could it be him that is committing the murders?

– Keith is being stalked by someone else.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that Keith is being stalked and watched, while he is actively stalking and watching the Hogans.

• B. How did it get covered up?
It never occurred to Keith that he would be followed while he was out doing his dirty work for Jack.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Who is following Keith? and Why?
Intrigue – Is this part of Jack’s plan? How many people does he have under his control?
Suspense – Is this person going to hurt Keith after he is done hurting Dan Hogan?

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that Keith is being used by Jack to do his dirty work and that there are other people who are under Jack’s control who are dangerous to Keith.

– There are murders taking place. It could be Beau, Gabe, Keith, or Jack. It could be one of them or none of them.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that there are more murders happening, this time closer to Black Maple.

• B. How did it get covered up?
No one knows who is committing the murders. Many suspect Keith or Beau. Keith because he’s acting crazy. Beau because he’s living in the country growing drugs and the murders took place near his land.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Who is doing these murders? The town must find out to put a stop to them.
Intrigue – Why are these murders happening? They appear to be random? Is it Keith? Is it Beau?
Suspense – We see the murders happening quickly, but we don’t see who is doing them – it could be Keith, Beau, Gabe or someone else entirely.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that more murders are happening around Black Maple, leading to people being on edge and scared.

– Beau is killed, leaving Heather heartbroken.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that Beau has been killed by members of The Program.

• B. How did it get covered up?
It appears that Beau was killed in a robbery or drug deal gone bad.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Who killed Beau? and Why?
Intrigue – How does Beau’s murder fit into Jack’s plan?
Suspense – Beau’s murder is suspenseful because he knows the killers are coming from Jack and he tells them they don’t have to do this. But they do it anyway. His murder leaves Heather heartbroken and even more mad at Keith because she believes he could be responsible.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that we like Beau – he is a free spirit and he clearly loves Heather and is trying to help Keith. His murder comes as a shock.

– Laura is not only sleeping with Keith, but with Gabe. She reveals she has also slept with Jack and the Judge as well.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that not only is Laura not in love with Keith but that she is also sleeping with Gabe and she has slept with both Jack and The Judge before as well.

• B. How did it get covered up?
Laura is a prominent teacher in the town. Her association with Jack and The Judge has made her untouchable.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why is Laura sleeping with Gabe and Keith? Why did she sleep with Beau, Jack and The Judge?
Intrigue – How is Laura sleeping with all these people a part of Jack and The Judge’s master plan? What does she get out of it?
Suspense – The sex scenes are suspenseful. Laura’s turn on Keith is suspenseful as well. She hates him for falling for Jack’s trap so easily. Just like she did. There is a lot of self loathing in her condemnation of Keith.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is when Keith starts telling Laura how much he likes her and how girl’s his own age aren’t right for him she snaps and tells him she doesn’t love him and that she’s just doing this with him and Gabe and the other boys for Jack and The Judge. That her best advice to him is to get far, far away from all of them.

– It is revealed that the Angel of Fire plan from the Book of Azariah is for a man to go into the fire and to be re-born and transformed by it. If performed correctly, the devil will transform the man in the fire into the Angel of Fire, able to channel the devil’s powers on earth.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is what the true plan for the Angel of Fire ceremony from the Book of Azariah is really all about. About a man channeling the powers of the devil here on earth.

• B. How did it get covered up?
No one knows about it except for Beau and the Deacon and they’re too scared to talk. Everyone else thinks Jack and The Judge are A#1 Duke of New York.

Jack and The Judge’s plan for the Angel of Fire ceremony using the Book of Azariah was covered up by the fact that they were telling everyone in town they were mentoring the boys on how to be future pillars of the community. Every one in Black Maple knows Jack and The Judge have all of the money and power, so to be brought into such a group is an honor. No one dares question them.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Heather finds info about the Book of Azariah in Keith’s journal but she thinks he has lost his mind. The Sheriff is still trying to solve the murders of Beau and the others.
Intrigue – Keith wants to know if Jack’s plan will actually work. He’s too scared to cross him so he submits to the plan.
Suspense – When Jack reveals the plan to Keith and Gabe and tells them they can have anything in the world they want, his eyes flicker flames while they are consumed by their own lust for power.

Mystery – Why are the Judge and Jack so intent on going through with this satanic plan?
Intrigue – What do they hope to gain by fulfilling this plan and channeling the devil?
Suspense – Jack insinuates to Keith and Gabe that if they don’t participate in helping him and his father they or their families will be killed.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?

The dramatic impact of the reveal is that Jack’s plan sounds insane, but him and The Judge have orchestrated enough murders at this point to where Keith and Gabe know they are actually going to go through with it.

– It is revealed that Jack and the Judge are working with The Company running insane amounts of guns, drugs and money.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that Jack and The Judge are working with The Company to import and export billions of dollars worth of guns, drugs and money in and out of Black Maple.

• B. How did it get covered up?
The Company is the largest, oldest and most effective intelligence agency in the world. If they don’t want people to know something, they’re not going to know. They fly the planes in in the middle of the night. They cut their engines and their lights a mile out so no one hears them land. They have secret underground bunkers and warehouse deep in the caves of Arkansas. It is a very well oiled plan. The people of Black Maple trust that the Judge would do something if there was anything untoward happening in the town.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why is The Company using Black Maple to run so many guns, drugs, money? Why are they doing this?
Intrigue – How are Jack and The Judge tied up in The Company’s secret operation? Does The Company know about their plan with the Book of Azariah? Are they involved? Is this part of it?
Suspense – When Keith and Gabe are sneaking around to get a look at what Jack, The Judge, and The Company are all doing it is suspenseful that they will be caught and in a lot of danger. This plan is worth billions of dollars – what’s two more dead kids?

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that the size and scope of The Company’s operation is much larger and much more valuable than anyone in Black Maple could have possibly guessed. It is shocking to Keith and Gabe and makes them fear and respect Jack and The Judge even more.

– It is revealed that Keith has chosen Jack over his family when he gives Jack a sex tape Beau and Heather made – humiliating her.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that Jack asks Keith to betray Heather, and Keith does, choosing Jack over his family.

• B. How did it get covered up?
No one knows how the tape got out, but Heather and Keith’s parents are fairly certain it was him. They just don’t know why he would do something like this to them.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why did Keith choose Jack over Heather and his family?
Intrigue – How does Jack humiliating Heather fall into his plan?
Suspense – Will Heather or (more likely) Keith’s father retaliate against what they believe is Keith’s transgression?

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that Keith has been won over completely by Jack away from Heather and his parents. Keith is now fully where Jack wants him.

– It is revealed that the Judge is unhappy with his arrangement with The Company. Sure he gets to lord over the town, but he reveals that he hates the feeling of being a pawn in their game.

• A. What is the reveal?

The reveal is that The Judge has been working with The Company since Vietnam and that he is sick of being their pawn. They’re making record profits in his back yard and he’s just getting a tiny slice. Not even enough to wet the beak.

• B. How did it get covered up?
Everyone in town thinks that The Judge is a venerated veteran, but they don’t know his secret history of working for The Company and the horrific things he’s done with them.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why does The Judge work with The Company? Why doesn’t he want anyone to know? Why is he so unhappy with their arrangement?
Intrigue – How does working with The Company fit into The Judge and Jack’s plan for the Angel of Fire plan? Does The Company know about it? Are they helping?
Suspense – What is The Judge capable of when he is angry? Will The Judge turn on The Company? Is that even possible? Is the Company behind the murders?

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that The Judge has been working with The Company for 50 years – since Vietnam and that beyond that, he is incredibly unhappy with how things are going with his relationship with The Company.

– It is revealed that The Judge uses his inside knowledge of the prestigious members of the town to blackmail them and get his son to be let go.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that The Judge uses his inside dirt on the prestigious members of Black Maple and his relationship with The Company, to blackmail anyone who gets in his way and to get himself and his son out of any trouble along the way.

• B. How did it get covered up?
The Judge has a pristine reputation in town. It’s kind of a chicken and the egg scenario – He’s been squeaky clean for so long because he’s always had the upper hand on anyone who would oppose him. He’s been squeaky clean for so long no one would suspect him of anything.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why is the Judge able to manipulate and blackmail men in Black Maple so easily?
Intrigue – How does The Judge’s control of the levers of power in town fit into his master plan? What is his master plan?
Suspense – How far will he go to threaten or run someone? Blackmail? Murder? How long has he been planning this? (a long, long time)

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that The Judge is playing 4D chess with the people of Black Maple while even the most prestigious members of the town are only thinking of short term gain and carnal pleasures. The Judge is so far past them in terms of his thinking and those in the know know he has the backing of The Company, it isn’t even a fair fight.

– It is revealed that The Sheriff is killed. Keith finds his body and all of The Sheriff’s research into Jack, the Judge and The Company. Keith is the prime suspect after being seen by a deputy at the scene of the murder and after others witnessed him getting into a fight with the Sheriff.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that The Sheriff has been killed.

• B. How did it get covered up?
No one knows who killed The Sheriff. The town thinks it is Keith because they got into a fight with the Sheriff and when Keith went back to apologize he found The Sheriff dead, along with his bulletin board of theories about The Judge, Jack, Keith, Gabe, etc. Keith was scene at the murder scene and fled.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is..
Mystery – Who killed The Sheriff? Why?
Intrigue – How does the Sheriff’s murder tie into Jack and The Judge’s plan? Or is it something else altogether?
Suspense – The hunt is on for Keith, who is now a wanted man for the murder of the town’s beloved Sheriff.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that The Sheriff was on to Jack and The Judge and he was killed. With both Beau and The Sheriff killed there may be no one left to stop Jack and The Judge from enacting their plan.

– It is revealed that Keith seeks help from Heather and Barbara but they are so mad at him and scared of him that they turn him in instead of helping him.

• A. What is the reveal?
Heather and Barbara are so mad at Keith for leaking the tape and thinking he killed Beau, The Sheriff and who knows who else that they think he’s lost his mind when he tells them about Jack and they call the police to come and get him.

• B. How did it get covered up?
Barbara and Heather don’t tell Keith that they’re calling the police, one of them just does it through text while they’re sitting there talking.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Will Heather and Barbara believe Keith or will they turn him in?
Intrigue – How does Keith’s family flipping on him tie into Jack’s plan?
Suspense – Will the cops get Keith? Will he lash out at his mom and sister?

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that Barbara tries to hide the fact that she doesn’t believe her son and she secretly texts 911. Keith realizes what is going on, gets extremely angry but then runs out.

– It is revealed that Keith has fallen fully into Jack and The Judge’s plan, exactly as he wanted.

• A. What is the reveal?
Keith runs back to Jack, exactly as Jack wanted.

• B. How did it get covered up?
Jack hid Keith and then called his father to let him know that he had him.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why does Jack want everyone to think Keith murdered everyone, and for Jack to have custody of him?
Intrigue – How does everyone thinking Keith is the murderer tie into Jack’s plan?
Suspense – What will Jack do with Keith now that he has full control and power over his life?

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that Keith has lost the game to Jack and The Judge and he doesn’t even realize it yet.

– It is revealed that it is the Judge who puts out the arrest warrant for Keith, cementing his fate.

• A. What is the reveal?
The Judge puts out the arrest warrant for Keith, cementing his fate in the eyes of the town.

• B. How did it get covered up?
Keith is unaware that Jack has told The Judge where Keith is and that The Judge has put out the arrest warrant for him. The Judge told the dispatch that Keith was last scene going west out of Black Maple, so all of Black Maple’s remaining law officers will be drawn out of town for the night.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why are Jack and the Judge so gung ho to get Keith arrested?
Intrigue – Is luring the police out of Black Maple a part of their plan?
Suspense – The police are on the hunt for Keith out in the woods to the west of town. Jack has other plans for Keith, unbeknownst to him.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that while they are the only ones left who he trusts, The Judge and Jack are using Keith as a pawn in their twisted game.

– It is revealed that even when Barbara tries to do the right thing and tell someone about what Keith has told her, in a chilling scene, the Deacon tells her there’s nothing to be done now and to “just pray about it”

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that Barbara tries to do the right thing and get help, but even then she is thwarted by Jack and his family.

• B. How did it get covered up?
The Deacon is working for Jack and The Judge. He is not going to help Barbara.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why won’t the Deacon help Barbara? Is there really no one in Black Maple that will help her?
Intrigue – Is the Deacon a full toadie of Jack and The Judge’s? And if so, how much does he really know?
Suspense – The bottom falls out for Barbara. She has no where to turn and the police are looking for her son. This is her worst nightmare.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?

The dramatic impact of the reveal is that Jack and The Judge’s conspiracy reaches far beyond that which Barbara previously realized. The Deacon tells her in a fit of overconfidence “the gears were turning long before your family came here and they will continue to turn long after you are gone.”

– It is revealed that Joe, Barbara, and Heather are all rounded up like livestock being taken to the slaughter by Gabe.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that Joe, Barbara, and Heather are tricked into confinement by Gabe who has locked him in his truck and then pulled the truck with a tow truck into the barn for the Ritual.

• B. How did it get covered up?
Heather trusted Gabe. Gabe told her he knew who killed the boys, Beau and The Sheriff and that it wasn’t Keith, but that didn’t matter now, they had to find Keith before the cops killed him.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why are Keith’s family being taken? Why is it Wade taking them?
Intrigue – How does this fit into Jack’s plan. Is Gabe responsible for the murders?
Suspense – Gabe tricks Keith’s family into being trapped in the truck. They have to get out, but they can’t. The doors are locked and It’s bulletproof glass. Joe shoots his gun and it hits Heather in the shoulder.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that Keith’s family has been tricked by Gabe. They are trapped and they don’t know where they’re going. The cabin of the truck fills up with gas that knocks them out.

– It is revealed that Jack convinces Keith to kill his father.

• A. What is the reveal?
At the ritual Jack gives Keith more mushroom tea and puts him in a pit with his father. When his father comes to he is furious and attacks Keith. After Joe beats Keith around a little bit, Jack throws Keith a gun. He tells him it will be self defense and to do it and end it once and for all. At Jack’s instruction, Keith pulls the trigger, killing his father.

• B. How did it get covered up?
We had no idea Keith would kill his father, let alone in front of his family. But Jack’s power over him was enough to do it. The cover up is that although Keith was widely accused of the murders, we’ve never seen Keith kill anyone.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Is Keith really messed up enough to kill his father? Is Keith the murderer everyone has been saying he is?
Intrigue – Why does Jack want Keith to kill his father? What is it to him? How does this fit into his plan?
Suspense – Joe is beating Keith up. Keith is taking a licking. He’s hallucinating and being whacked around by someone who knows how to handle him. Jack calls to Keith in his fog and gives him a gun and tells him to end it once and for all. The moment when Keith has to decide between his father and Jack is palpable and then he pulls the trigger. BANG! Joe is shot.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal for this scene is when Ketih actually kills his father. Now we know he’s a murderer, but is he THE murderer.

– It is revealed that Keith can’t kill his mom, sister or Heather and Gabe does it instead. Using a gun on Barbara and Laura and when the gun jams, in a very dramatic moment, Gabe slits Heather’s throat saying “I guess you’re not going to have such a perfect life after all huh?”

• A. What is the reveal?
Gabe kills Barbara and Heather in cold blood. One with a gun and the other a knife.

• B. How did it get covered up?
No one expected Gabe to be capable of murder, much less murdering Heather, a girl he’s known his whole life.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why does Jack want Keith’s family dead?
Intrigue – Is Gabe really capable of murder?
Suspense – Gabe doesn’t waste any time after Keith kills Joe. After Jack orders Keith to kill Barbara and Heather and he can’t do it, Gabe takes the gun and shoots and kills Barbara quickly. Then it is just Heather, Gabe, and Keith. Gabe kills Heather.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact is that Joe Barbara and Heather have all been killed unexpectedly.

– It is revealed that Jack’s plan to transform into the Angel of Fire has actually worked, against all odds.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that Jack’s plan to transform into the Angel of Fire actually works and he ascends, against all odds.

• B. How did it get covered up?
Except for Gabe and Keith, and obviously Jack and The Judge, no one knows about the Angel of Fire full plan. Jack and The Judge ran the Angel of Fire plan like a Company op. The less people knew, the better – and it worked.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – How has Jack’s plan actually worked? What does this mean?
Intrigue – Is this really happening? How is this real?
Suspense – Laura is killed when Jack lights himself on fire. She lights on fire but is burned horrifficly while Jack ascends.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that Jack and Laura are lit on fire and that Jack ascends, painless and Laura burns to death horribly.

– It is revealed that The Judge orchestrates Gabe going to the insane asylum and Keith going to prison.

• A. What is the reveal?
The revealed that The Judge has orchestrated Gabe’s being sent to the insane asylum and Keith going to prison.

• B. How did it get covered up?
The Judge has the necessary contacts under his thumb in order to allow for something like this to happen. This is what I was saying earlier about the Judge playing 4D chess and controlling all the pieces on the board – this is what he does.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
Mystery – Why did The Judge sentence Gabe and Keith to life sentences behind bars? Was this the plan all along?
Intrigue – How did The Judge and Jack actually pull this off?
Suspense – The parts of Gabe being taken to the insane asylum and Keith being taken to the prison and highly tense and played very emotion.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that Gabe and Keith are both legally locked away, nice and tidy in the Arkansas penal system and mental health system. There is no getting out.

– It is revealed that Jack double crosses The Judge and The Company. In a striking scene, Jack tells The Judge he’s done with him and The Company and if he ever comes for him, he’ll burn him alive for everything he did to him and his sister.

• A. What is the reveal?
The reveal is that Jack goes against his father and threatens him deeply.

• B. How did it get covered up?
Jack has seemed very loyal to The Judge and done everything he asked. It was assumed they would rule together.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why did Jack turn on The Judge? What is he really going to do with him?
Intrigue – Was this Jack’s plan all along – did he play everyone perfectly?
Suspense – When Jack is threatening the Judge he is burning him and reminding him of the wrongs he’s done and why he’s doing this. That if he ever talks, he’s toast.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is Jack beat his father and The Company. And the town of Black Maple, Arkansas for that matter.

– It is revealed that Jack double crosses Keith, leaving him in prison for the rest of his life and he double crosses Gabe, convincing him to kill himself.

• A. What is the reveal?
Jack goes and talks to Keith and Gabe one last time. And thanks them for their service. You did good.

• B. How did it get covered up?
Jack was always thought to be these boys mentors and to have their best interests at heart, or at worst, using them for his own ends. It was never on the table that he would so fully end Keith and Gabe’s lives. But he does, in chilling fashion.

• C. What M.I.S. can be used to create demand to know the truth?
The M.I.S. that can be used to create demand to know the truth is…
Mystery – Why is Jack leaving Keith and Gabe to rot in institutions from which they can not escape.
Intrigue – Was this Jack’s plan all along? It works out awfullly well for him that Keith took the fall for all the murders and Gabe is labelled a schizophrenic so nothing he says can be used in court.
Suspense – Both Keith and Gabe are relieved to see Jack. They think he is going to save them. Both of them realize while he is talking that they are fucked. They are locked up for the rest of their lives. Thanks and bye bye.

• D. When you reveal the truth, it must have a dramatic impact. What is the dramatic impact of the reveal?
The dramatic impact of the reveal is that Jack has fully won. Everyone who had anything to say against him is dead and Gabe and Keith have taken the fall for that, so everything is squared away. He achieved the devil’s powers on earth with out alerting anyone but his own father. Jack is now free to roam the earth and do evil.

4. Build any improvements into your thriller map.

Check.

5. Tell us about the Reveals you built into your Thriller Map.

This assignment helped me to write many additional reveals into the story, as well as helping to flesh out and define the ones I already had. I added many reveals where something happens unexpectedly or someone acts unexpectedly. I tried to add them in a way that each one built to the next and the tension and drama increased along each ensuing reveal.

[Dylan Allen]

<div>What I learned from this assignment is that trust and distrust between characters, and their shifting dynamics are just as important and often paired with twists and turns. Having characters appear to be one thing and then switching back and forth between trust/distrust is a big part of what creates drama and tension in thrillers. This was an illuminating exercise. I came up with a new character and was able to flesh out the other characters stories much better as well. </div>

1. Make a list of the main characters.

• Hero: Keith
• Villain: Jack
• Red Herring Character: Laura, Beau, The Company,
• Trusted, but shouldn’t be: Gabe, Jack, The Judge, Keith’s mother and father (his mother doesn’t believe or stand up for him when she could, his father is abusive).
• Isn’t trusted, but should be: The Sheriff, Heather, Beau,

2. With each character, ask these question:
• A. What is their basic state – trustable or not trustable?
– Keith: Keith is trustable.
– Keith’s sister Heather: Heather is trustable.
– Gabe is not trustable.
– Jack: Jack is not trustable.
– Laura: Laura is not trustable.
– Beau: Beau is trustable.
– The Company: The Company is not trustable.
– The Judge: The Judge is not trustable.
– Keith’s mother Barbara: Barbara is not trustable, because she is ineffective.
– Keith’s father Joe: Joe is not trustable because he is abusive.
– The Sheriff: The Sheriff is trustable.

• B. How might they really be trustable, but appear not trustable OR be not trustable, but appear trustable?

– Keith: is trustable but appears not trustable because of the way the effects of his abuse come out as drug abuse, alcoholism, rage and perceived violence.

– Keith’s sister Heather: Heather is trustable but appears not trustable because she seems like a goody two shoes with a perfect life and no faults to her family, including Keith.

– Gabe: Gabe is not trustable but appears trustable because he comes from a wealthy family, is in The Program and is close to Jack.

– Jack: Jack is not trustable but appears trustable because he comes from the most prominent family in town. His father is a judge. He is a preacher. Jack does a lot of good and spends a lot of time in the community.

– Laura: Laura is not trustable because she is too damaged and erratic from years of manipulation and abuse by The Judge and Jack.

– Beau: Beau is trustable but he appears not trustable because he lives in the country, smokes pot and marches to the beat of his own drum. Which the town people of Black Maple do not care for.

– The Company: The Company appears trustable (they are the U.S. intelligence agency after all.) But The Company may be the single most not trustable organization in the history of America.

– The Judge: The appears trustable because he comes from a prominent family, he worked for The Company during the War and he is now a powerful judge in town. He is not trustable because he is deeply corrupt, maneuvering on a level that most in Black Maple don’t know about, let alone understand.

– Keith’s mother Barbara: Barbara appears trustable because she is a nice woman who loves her family. She is not trustable because she is so terrified of her husband and The Judge’s powerful family, she is rendered unable to act.

– Keith’s father Joe: Joe appears trustable to the people of Black Maple because he provides for his family, clearly loves his wife and daughter and takes them to Church every Sunday. But Joe is not trustable because he regularly violently abuses Keith physically and mentally when they are out of the public’s eye.

– The Sheriff: The Sheriff appears not trustable because he seems to be a hard ass with a bone to pick. The Sheriff is actually trustable because he only wants to solve the murders and restore peace to Black Maple. He is on to The Judge, The Company and Jack much more than anyone else in town.

C. What circumstances might cause them to switch from one to the other?
– Keith: Keith was trustable before he was abused by his father, Laura and Jack. Keith blurs the line into not trustable when he starts doing whatever Jack tells him and when Keith appears unstable and acts erratically. Jack causes Keith to simultaneously become more trustable to him while less trustable to the town.

– Heather: Heather is conflicted about Beau, her life, Keith and Jack. She is 22 and a whirlwind of emotions. She has a good heart but her allegiances shift according to whoever is making the best (or most recent) argument with her.

– Gabe: Gabe has been groomed by Jack for so long that he only knows to obey Jack and his family. Anything else is out of the question for Gabe. Only the murder of his own family will snap Gabe out of being trustable to Jack, and even then he loses his mind.

– Jack: Jack appears trustable to Keith, Gabe, and his father The Judge and to The Company but he ultimately double crosses them in addition to Heather, Laura, Barbara, Joe, etc. to take as much power as he can. Power motivates him to change.

– Laura: Laura appears trustable to Keith but her abuse by Jack leads her to be not trustable and she goes back and forth between her love hate relationship with Jack and The Judge.

– Beau: Beau seems not trustable because he’s a pot dealer but his love for Heather causes him to be trustable.

– The Company: The Company is always going to do what is best for the company.

– The Judge: The Judge feels he is being used by the Company and will switch from trustable to not trustable with them in order to get out from underneath their boot.

– Joe: Joe is not trustable to Keith because of the way he beats him. He becomes even more not trustable when he believes Keith is the killer everyone’s looking for.

– Barbara: Barbara is trustable until she is confronted with a choice to make, at which time she folds and becomes not trustable.

– The Sheriff: The Sheriff just wants to catch the killer. He’ll do whatever it takes to bring the killer to justice. This should make him trustable, but in Keith’s case, it does not.

3. With each character relationship, brainstorm how trust or distrust might show up between them.

• Hero / Villain: Between Keith and Jack, trust shows up when Keith is put into Jack’s care and he takes him under his wing. Distrust shows up when Jack asks Keith to do things for him he knows he shouldn’t do, especially involving his sister Heather, who he loves.

• Hero / Red Herring Character – Laura: Between Keith and Laura, trust shows up when she is seducing him and after they’ve been together. Distrust shows up when Keith realizes Laura is sleeping with Gabe and some of the other guys as well, at Jack’s direction. Keith thinks Laura is manipulative, vindictive and has a plan of her own.

• Hero / Red Herring Character – Beau: Trust shows up between Keith and Beau when Beau tells him he knows what it’s like to be under Jack. Distrust shows between Keith and Beau when Keith wonders how much Beau really knows and if he can actually help him or if he is just a lot of talk.

• Hero / Red Herring Character – The Company: Keith trusts in The Company, as most Americans do, because we trust them to do whatever it takes to protect us. The distrust between Keith and The Company comes when he realizes what they are really up doing in Black Maple.

• Hero / Trusted, but shouldn’t be – Gabe: Keith trusts in Gabe – they’ve known each other their whole lives and have grown up together. The distrust comes when Keith realizes Gabe will do anything and hurt anyone for Jack, including him.

• Hero / Trusted, but shouldn’t be – Jack: Keith trusts in Jack because he’s the town preacher, because everyone, including his whole family loves Jack and the town looks up to his family. The distrust comes in when Jack starts having him and Gabe do things for him which Keith knows are wrong. He becomes distrustful of Jack when Jack does awful things to him, but by that point he has nowhere else to turn so he grits his teeth and falls further under Jack’s grip.

• Hero / Trusted, but shouldn’t be – The Judge: Keith trusts The Judge, as does everyone else in Black Maple (except possibly The Sheriff and Laura). The distrust for Keith and The Judge comes when Keith realizes what The Judge is doing with The Company and also what The Judge has enabled Jack to do.

• Hero / Trusted, but shouldn’t be – Joe & Barbara: Keith trusts his parents. He’s from Black Maple, Arkansas, a place where people are taught to respect their parents, and for the most part he does. The distrust with them comes when Joe beats him and Barbara does nothing to help him.

• Isn’t trusted, but should be – The Sheriff: Keith doesn’t trust The Sheriff. He’s an outsider to Black Maple and therefore untrusted. The trust never really comes between these two until after it is too late. After The Sheriff is murdered, Keith figures out that The Sheriff was on to Jack, The Judge and The Company.

• Isn’t trusted, but should be – Heather: Keith doesn’t trust Heather. She seems too high and mighty and out of touch with reality to him. The trust comes for Heather too late as well. By the time Keith realizes he should’ve been honest with his sister it is too late for both of them.

4. Create a sequence for each trust/distrust relationship.

Keith/Jack: (Hero, Villain)

1. TRUST – Keith trusts Jack because of he is to the town of Black Maple.
2. DISTRUST – Keith begins to lose his trust in Jack when he makes him and Gabe kill.
3. TRUST – Keith trusts Jack more than his father Joe, who is physically and verbally abusive to him.
4. TRUST – Keith trusts Jack when Jack sets him up with Laura and brings him into his fold.
5. DISTRUST – Keith distrusts Jack when he realizes Jack is doing the same thing with Gabe and has likely done it with many other boys, including possibly Beau.
6. DISTRUST – Keith distrusts Jack because Jack wants to use Heather in a ceremony the way he’s used Laura. Keith says no.
7. TRUST – With the murders piling up, Keith trusts Jack again, possibly the only person who can save him. He trusts Jack over his own family and The Sheriff.
8. DISTRUST – When Jack instructs Gabe and Keith to kill Keith’s family, Keith realizes he’s made a terrible mistake, but by then it is too late.
9. TRUST – After the murders and Jack’s successful transformation, Keith is in prison. The only person who he trusts to save him is Jack.
10. DISTRUST – It may take awhile for Keith to realize, but Jack has abandoned him. His plan went perfectly according to plan, there are no loose ends and he’s moving on. Jack thinks Keith should be grateful he hasn’t had him killed in prison yet.

Keith / Laura: (Hero, Red Herring)

1. TRUST – Keith trusts Laura. She is a well known teacher, connected to Jack and The Judge and loved by many in Black Maple.
2. TRUST – Keith trusts Laura when she seduces him and they sleep together. He believes her when she says she cares for him.
3. DISTRUST – Keith distrusts Laura when he realizes she is just doing whatever or whoever Jack tells her too, including Gabe and Beau.
4. TRUST – Laura is a big part of Jack’s plan and his Rituals, so Keith begins to see her as part of the plan and trustworthy. Plus he still likes her.
5. DISTRUST – When Keith tries to see Laura on his own she flips out and lashes out about Jack, The Judge and Keith and Gabe.
6. TRUST – Laura tells Keith that she needs his help and then they can be together.
7. DISTRUST – What Laura is asking Keith to do is even worse than what Jack asks him to do, because she’s asking him to go against Jack and The Judge.
8. TRUST – Keith realizes he’s been played by Jack and that Laura was telling the truth and he didn’t believe her, but by that time it is too late.

Keith / Beau: (Hero / Red Herring Character)
1. TRUST – Beau reveals to Keith that he was in Jack’s Program and part of his Group.
2. DISTRUST – Beau reveals that he slept with Laura and had to break free of The Program.
3. DISTRUST – Beau tells Keith that he thinks Heather is in danger and that he cares for her.
4. TRUST – With Jack’s hold on him tightening, Keith sees Beau as the one person who might be able to help him.
5. DISTRUST – Keith thinks Beau has double crossed him to The Sheriff because he thinks that Keith might be responsible for the murders and he wants to protect Heather.
6. TRUST – Keith realizes that Beau hasn’t double crossed him and that he needs his help, but by that time it is too late.

Keith / The Company: (Hero / Red Herring Character)
1. TRUST – Like most Americans, Keith trusts The Company.
2. DISTRUST – When Keith sees what the company is doing in Black Maple he begins to distrust them and to wonder what else they are up to.
3. DISTRUST – Keith speculates to Gabe that what Jack is having them do has to do with The Company, and he doesn’t like not knowing what’s going on.
4. TRUST – The Company send men to talk to Keith, to try and figure out what Jack and The Judge are up to. We’ve had agents go rogue before, it’s like a hand grenade going off, the people closest to them always get hurt the worst.
5. DISTRUST – When Keith is in prison he believes The Company is keeping tabs on him, but not helping him. (he’s right)

Keith / Gabe: (Hero / Trusted, but shouldn’t be)
1. TRUST – It is established that Keith and Gabe have grown up together. They’ve known each other their whole lives.
2. DISTRUST – Keith witnesses Gabe do things that let him know Gabe is loyal to Jack and not to be messed with.
3. TRUST – Keith trusts Gabe to go with him to figure out what the Company is up to.
4. DISTRUST – Keith distrusts Gabe when he realizes he has been sleeping with Laura too.
5. TRUST – Keith gets into a jam with the law and Gabe saves him.
6. DISTRUST – Gabe is doing all kinds of crime for Jack and Keith doesn’t know what to do about it.
7. DISTRUST – Gabe betrays Keith by bringing Keith’s family into the Ritual against their will.
8. DISTRUST – Gabe kills Barbara and Heather in front of Keith.

Keith / The Judge: (Hero / Trusted, but shouldn’t be)
1. TRUST – Keith trusts The Judge, as does everyone else in Black Maple.
2. TRUST – Keith is brought into (what he thinks is) Jack and The Judge’s inner circle. He’s very proud of that.
3. DISTRUST – Keith sees the way The Judge demeans Jack, and Keith’s true loyalty is with Jack.

4. TRUST – The Judge is present for The Ritual, Keith thinks that The Judge is to be trusted – both in his secret world with Jack and in the outer world of Black Maple.
5. DISTRUST – Keith sees what The Judge is doing with The Company and he knows he can not be trusted.
6. DISTRUST – The Judge terrifies Keith all the way up until the end, where in the Ritual, Keith’s family is killed.

Keith / Joe & Barbara: (Hero / Trusted, but shouldn’t be)
1. TRUST – Keith trusts his parents, they’re his parents.
2. DISTRUST – Joe beats Keith and Barbara does nothing to help him.
3. TRUST – Joe puts Keith in The Program with Jack, which Keith thinks is a good thing.
4. DISTRUST – When Keith wants to get out of The Program after talking to Beau, Joe forces him to stay in.
5. DISTRUST – Joe continues to beat Keith any chance he gets.
6. TRUST – Keith trusts his mom and sister enough to tell them what he knows about what is going on.
7. DISTRUST – They don’t believe Keith and go to The Sheriff.
8. TRUST – Keith still tries to warn them about Jack, but they still don’t listen to him, to their own detriment.

Keith / The Sheriff: (Hero isn’t trusted, but should be)
1. DISTRUST – Keith doesn’t trust the Sheriff, he’s an outsider to Black Maple and Jack explicitly tells him not to trust him.
2. DISTRUST – The Sheriff is looking into Keith, Gabe and Beau in connection with the murders.
3. TRUST – Keith realizes the Sheriff may be his only hope in breaking free from Jack’s grasp.
4. DISTRUST – The Sheriff doesn’t believe Keith and thinks he’s acting crazy, causing Keith to distrust him again.
5. DISTRUST – From that point forward, Keith is running from Gabe, The Company, The Judge, The Sheriff, and Joe. Jack offers the only way out, leading Keith to turn on the Sheriff.
6. TRUST – Keith realizes that The Sheriff was on to The Judge and Jack and The Company, but by that time, it is too late.

Keith / Heather: (Hero isn’t trusted, but should be)
1. TRUST – Keith and Heather have grown up together. They were best friends growing up.
2. DISTRUST – Keith isn’t sure about Heather anymore, after she’s been in college and he’s fallen under the spell of Jack and Laura.
3. DISTRUST – Heather tells Keith to stay away from Laura. This makes him mad and he tells her to stay away from Beau.
4. DISTRUST – Keith doesn’t trust the way Heather is falling under the spell of Jack, even though he already has.
5. TRUST – Keith trusts Heather enough to try and tell her the truth about what’s been going on, but she and Barbara don’t believe him.

6. TRUST – Keith tries to save Heather in the end, but it is too late.

5. Incorporate into the Thriller Map.

I don’t understand how to incorporate the Trust/Distrust aspects into the Thriller Map. I’m happy to do it, I’m just not sure how.

[Dylan Allen]

<div>What I learned doing this assignment is that adding and designing twists are really fun and that a big part of a thriller’s success is that it needs a lot of engaging twists. I learned that I need to do a better job of making my Thriller Map more high level and less scene based.

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———

OPENING: Lure us into the story and introduce the lead character in action.

Keith, who has a black eye, is out hunting with Jack and Gabe. They come across three boys in the woods. Jack, Gabe and Keith see the boys, but the boys don’t see them.

Heather is home with her mother Barbara, making food for the Harvest celebration.

Twists:

Twist 1:
Direction: The boys are hunting with Jack.
Twist: Then come across the young boys who are later reported to have been murdered.

Twist 2:
Direction: Heather is making dinner with her mom. She is having a really nice time.
Twist: Keith comes to the door covered in blood.

Twist 3:
Direction: Keith is slinking around the house, thinking he made it safe.
Twist: Keith’s father Joe sees blood on his carpet and is rapidly violent with Keith in front of Heather.

INCITING INCIDENT: An event that propels the Hero on the Journey.

Jack is giving a sermon and does a trick with fire that impresses his congregation. He tells the congregation that he’s chosen two boys in particular to take under his wing that year, Gabe and Keith. Their families are beaming. From that point forward we know Keith and Gabe are tied to Jack, whether they like it or not.

Meanwhile Jack’s father The Judge is out having drinks with men in suits at a strip club.

Later Heather tells her parents she’s going to see a friend. She actually goes to buy pot. On her way back (after smoking) her car breaks down. Jack is the first to see her.

Twists:

Twist 4:
Direction: Jack is preaching a sermon and reveals that he’s chosen two boys – Gabe and Keith to take under his wing and mentor that year.
Twist: It is revealed later that Jack has really selected the boys to be his right and left hand to carry out his mysterious, sinister plan with his father, The Judge. Jack gives the boys their robes and masks.

Twist 5:
Direction: The Judge is out having drinks and drugs at a strip club with some prestigious looking men.
Twist: When it’s the Judge’s turn to participate in the debauchery, he leaves, coolly smoking a cigar. Later he uses the knowledge of the men’s indiscretions to blackmail them.

Twist 6:
Direction: The boys tell their parents they’re going over to the church to work with Jack.
Twist: They end up at The Judge’s compound where they’re trained on a variety of weapons.

Twist 7:
Direction: After learning the weapons, Jack has the boys walk into the woods.
Twist: Once deep in the woods, Jack, the only one with a weapon, orders the boys to strip down, dig graves and get into them, where he threatens them and their families.

Twist 7.5:
Direction: Heather is high, driving home from her pot dealer’s house.
Twist: Her car breaks down on a back road. She’s vulnerable.

Twist 7.75:
Direction: Heather is standing by her broken down car, waiting for someone, hopefully friendly, to drive by.
Twist: Jack comes first and Heather is elated and hops in.

Twist 7.8

Direction: On their way back to town, Jack stops at a gas station where he asks Heather to pump the gas while he goes into the store. A couple of guys hit on her while she’s pumping gas.

Twist: When Jack comes out and the boys realize Heather is with Jack they leave, but not without giving her dirty looks behind Jack’s back. Heather is happy Jack has saved her again. Her affection for him is deepening.

Twist 8:
Direction: Jack goes to his father’s house to have a drink.
Twist: The Judge pulls a bottle on the bar and they are transported through a secret compartment to a candle lit area resembling a dungeon. There they read from the Book of Azariah.

Twist 9:
Direction: Jack uses his family’s wealth and his position in town to gain entrance to anywhere he wants to go. Everyone is indebted to him and his family, so they let him in. It’s perceived that he cares about people.
Twist: Jack’s access to everyone’s private lives allows him to learn everyone’s secrets and to use them against them to create turmoil and division.

TURNING POINT 1: A major twist that locks the hero into the conflict. Point of no return.

The first Ritual we see, with Keith and Gabe offering sacrifices to Jack, taking drugs and alcohol and consummating the ritual with their entanglement with Laura.

When Jack mentions including Keith’s sister Heather and not caring what Keith’s parent’s reaction would be, Keith realizes his family is in real danger.

Twists:

Twist 10:
Direction: Gabe and Keith see Laura at a grocery store and briefly talk to her. They are out of their league, but they’re trying.
Twist: At the ritual that night, after Jack has given them mushrooms, alcohol and weed, Laura appears and levitates while the boys feel like they’re falling. Jack stops it and Laura allows Gabe, Keith and the others to ravish her.

Twist 11:
Direction: Heather has a crush on Jack.
Twist: Jack tells Keith he wants Heather for the Ritual. Keith refuses, putting an unknowing Heather and her family into harm’s way.

Twist 12:
Direction: Keith is stalking and breathing up Jack’s accusers.
Twist: Keith is actually being stalked by Gabe.

Twist 13:
Direction: There are murders taking place in the rural areas of Black Maple.
Twist: It is Gabe and/or Keith committing the murders.

Twist 14:
Direction: Keith is terrified that his secrets will get out.
Twist: Jack, who is controlling Keith and causing him all of his problems, tells Keith as long as he’s loyal to him and his family, he has nothing to worry about. Twisting the blade further into Keith’s psychology.

Twist 15:
Direction: Keith’s father Joe is forcing him to spend time with Jack and The Judge. He spends time with Gabe and Laura as well, by proxy.
Twist: Keith is losing his grip on reality and it’s starting to show in his changing behavior.

Twist 16:
Direction: Barbara and Heather are trying to solve the mystery of who the serial killer is and if it is Keith.
Twist: It has to be Keith, Gabe, Jack or all three. Heather and Barbara are leaning towards Keith, because he’s acting the craziest – Jack and Gabe act normal.

Twist 17:
Direction: Jack continues to use Laura, who he thinks is a loyal pawn.
Twist: Laura wants Jack and The Judge dead so she can control the town.

Twist 18:
Direction: Barbara, The Sheriff, and the Deacon are all suspicious of Jack and The judge.
Twist: They don’t have any real evidence, and even if they did, they’re too scared to do anything about it.

Twist 19:
Direction: It seems like the rituals are just sex and drug fests.
Twist: Jack has the boys slaughter animals and drink the blood, to further the ritual.

Twist 20:
Direction: Jack is explaining the purpose of the Angel of Fire ritual to Gabe and Keith.
Twist: They don’t know if he’s being serious or messing with them. They’re afraid to find out.

MIDPOINT: A major revelation. The opposition is 10 times worse than thought.

While following Jack, Keith and Gabe see Jack meeting with The Judge and members of The Company. There are planes, drugs, guns and money. Keith and Gabe realize Jack’s family is 1,000 times more formidable than they had realized. How they respond to that information may be different though…

Meanwhile, there is a boy accusing Jack of all kinds of horrific things. Jack must deal with the accuser.

Twist 30:
Direction:

Twist:Twists:

Twist 21:
Direction: Keith and Gabe follow Jack to see what he’s up to.
Twist: They see Jack meeting with The Judge and members of The Company. There are planes, and large caches of drugs, guns and money.

Twist 22:
Direction: A local boy accuses Jack of sex abuse and horrific crimes.
Twist: Jack is let off and the boy is targeted by Jack’s “Group”

Twist 23:
Direction: Keith tries to talk to the Sheriff about the murders but is stumbling over his words. He’s scared of what’s happening, but he’s more scared of Jack and The Judge.
Twist: Instead of helping Keith, the Sheriff now thinks Keith is responsible for the murders and watches him closer.

Twist 24:
Direction: Gabe tells Jack that they know about their involvement with The Company.
Twist: Jack has Gabe follow and anonymously deliver a message threatening Keith, to keep him quiet.

Twist 25:
Direction: Keith is having family dinner with Joe, Heather, Barbara and their extended family.
Twist: We see a scene with Jack intercut with the dinner scene where Jack is telling Keith to betray his family over something that will humiliate them.

Twist 26:
Direction: The Company puts up front companies in and around Black Maple.
Twist: The Company is really using Black Maple as a depot for running billions of dollars of guns, drugs and money.

Twist 27:
Direction: The Judge is widely considered the most powerful and honorable man in Black Maple. He’s a staple of the town.
Twist: The Judge is really a pawn in The Company’s scheme, and he secretly harbors resentment about his role in their plan.

Twist 29:
Direction: When Jack is accused, he could go down for some of the dark stuff he’s done.
Twist: The Judge gets the case file against Jack and gives it to him. Jack shows it off to The Group. Then instructs The Group to stalk and attack his accusers.

TURNING POINT 2: Major setback. The lowest of the low.

The Sheriff is killed. After having been seen in an altercation with him earlier that night, Keith is accused of the crime and must go on the run. He seeks help from his mother and sister, but they are scared of him and ask him to turn himself in. When he tells them what’s been going on with Jack, they think he has lost his mind and is a homicidal maniac. Realizing his family won’t help, Keith turns for protection to the only father figure he knows – Jack. Keith doesn’t realize it, but he has fallen completely into Jack’s trap and now there is no way out.

Twists:

Twist 30:
Direction: We think the Sheriff is putting together the pieces of the conspiracy.
Twist: The Sheriff is killed.

Twist 31:
Direction: Keith and the Sheriff have an altercation in a public space.
Twist: Keith is the prime suspect for the Sheriff’s murder, although it’s unclear whether or not he did it.

Twist 32:
Direction:Keith goes home to get help from his mother and sister. He tells them what’s happened.
Twist: When Keith tells them the truth about everything that’s happened, they think he has lost his mind and get away from him and call the cops.

<div>

Twist 33:
Direction: Keith goes to get help from the only father figure he knows – Jack.
Twist: Keith has finally fallen fully into Jack’s plan. There’s no way out now.

</div><div>

Twist 34:
Direction: Jack tells Keith he needs to make a phone call to secure his safety.
Twist: Jack actually calls The Judge and tells him he has Keith safe. The Judge then puts out the A.P.B for Keith for the murders.

</div><div>

Twist 35:
Direction: Keith is in danger from the entire town, who thinks he’s a murderer.
Twist: It is Gabe who finally turns on Keith, at Jack’s direction.

</div><div>

Twist 36:
Direction: Scared and directionless, Barbara tells Deacon what Keith told her.
Twist: The Deacon, in a creepy way, says Keith is obviously disturbed and the best thing for Barbara to do would be for her to turn him in and pray for him.

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CLIMAX: The ultimate expression of the main conflict.

The Climax of the movie is the shocking murder of Keith’s mother, father and sister and Laura at the order of Jack and by Keith’s friend Gabe. This takes place within the Ritual for when Jack is finally able to transform into the Angel of Fire. The ultimate climax of the movie is when Jack does the ritual and it works – he levitates off the ground, fully on fire and sprouting giant wings.

Twist 37:
Direction: Jack tells Keith and Gabe they’re going to take Keith somewhere safe. He blindfolds them.
Twist: They pull up to Keith’s family’s home. Jack puts a gun in Keith’s hands and tells him the only way he can be safe now is if he “kills the problem”.

Twist 38:
Direction: Keith goes into the house to kill his family.
Twist: His family is hysterical, and Keith can’t bring himself to do it.

<div>

Twist 39:
Direction: When Keith can’t do it, for a second things seem like they’re be ok.
Twist: Jack and Gabe come in and the vibe changes.

</div><div>

Twist 40:
Direction: Barbara and Heather think Jack and Gabe are there to rescue them from Keith.
Twist: Jack orders Gabe to subdue them and tie them up.

</div><div>

Twist 41:
Direction: After Gabe’s done tying them up, Keith’s father walks in. As Keith is holding the gun, his dad lunges for him.
Twist: After not killing anyone for the entire movie, a lifetime of abuse flashes before Keith’s eyes and he kills his abusive father.

</div><div>

Twist 42:
Direction: Barbara and Heather are brought to the ritual. We (and they) don’t know what Jack has in store for them.
Twist: At the Ritual’s climax, after Jack has toyed with them psychologically for awhile, Gabe kills Barbara and Heather at Jack’s command.

</div><div>

Twist 43:
Direction: When Heather is killed, she becomes the 13th soul, fulfilling the quota. The boys light Jack on fire.
Twist: Jack levitates off the ground, catching fire as he rises up. When he is 30 feet off the ground he sprouts giant dark angel wings. The Ritual actually works. He is clearly the Angel of Fire now.

</div><div>
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RESOLUTION: The end of the journey in an emotionally satisfying way.

<div>Twists: </div>

Twist 44:
Direction: We don’t know if Jack is dead or alive.
Twist: Keith, sitting in prison is visited by Jack, who looks no worse for the wear. Jack shows him a small burn mark where the fire entered his body and soul. He tells Keith he must stay in prison for the rest of his life. Jack’s eyes flash fire.

<div>

Twist 45:
Direction: Jack and Gabe are talking. It appears Jack is being friendly and mentoring to Gabe.
Twist: Jack is actually whispering that Gabe needs to kill himself, to complete the plan.

</div><div>

Twist 46:
Direction: Jack meets with his father and The Company men.
Twist: In a turn of events, Jack is able to control them all, through his new powers.

</div><div>

Twist 47:
Direction: Gabe loses his mind and is taken, by order of The Judge, to the mental asylum where The Judge’s daughter has been.
Twist: Gabe escapes.

</div><div>

Twist 48:
Direction: Gabe makes it to the top of the asylum. We think he’s made it out.
Twist: Gabe kills himself by crossing his arms and falling backwards from the top of the asylum into the myst. The Angel of Fire hangs over the asylum.

IN BETWEEN CREDITS

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Twist 49:
Direction: Jack is packing things into boxes. We don’t know whose things.
Twist: Jack is back on the road, listening to music and enjoying the breeze.

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Twist 50:
Direction: Jack is preaching at a new, bigger church.
Twist: On the delivery of a powerful line, Jack looks at a boy and Jack’s eyes flash fire. It’s the last image of the movie.

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[Dylan Allen]

OPENING: Lure us into the story and introduce the lead character in action.

Keith, who has a black eye, is out hunting with Jack and Gabe. They come across three boys in the woods. Jack, Gabe and Keith see the boys, but the boys don’t see them. When they do see them, it is too late (but we never see the actual murder)

Heather is home with her mother, Barbara, making food for The Harvest celebration. They are having a nice time. Barbara tells Heather she’s going to go take a shower and get ready, just then Heather hears someone trying to get into the house. Alarmed, she goes to the door and swings it open – it’s Keith, covered in blood. CUT TO: ANGEL OF FIRE (title)

Life Threatening Danger:

Keith is very close to Jack, he looks at him as a father figure that his dad never was, making things that much more difficult for him to understand and figure out.

Keith is trapped mentally by Jack and physically by his father.

Mystery 1: Who killed the three boys in the woods and why?

Villain Plan 1: Jack teaches a “Program” where he takes kids in the woods and teaches them life lessons. This is perceived to be especially helpful to Keith whose father is extremely abusive. He’s talking Keith and Gabe into possibly killing three boys in the woods in a ritualistic way. Jack is manipulating and blackmailing the boys.

———

INCITING INCIDENT: An event that propels the Hero on the Journey.

Jack is giving a sermon and does a trick with fire that impresses his congregation. He tells the congregation that he’s chosen two special boys in particular to take under his wing that year, Gabe and Keith. Their families are beaming. From that point forward we know Keith and Gabe are tied to Jack, whether they like it or not.

Meanwhile, Jack’s father The Judge is out having drinks with Company men at a strip club.

Life Threatening Danger:

Keith is threatened with physical danger by his father Joseph, his sister’s teacher Laura, his preacher and mentor Jack, his friend Gabe, and the Sheriff Buck.

Keith is lured into a dangerous situation by Jack who is using him to advance his murderous plot.

Jack and The Judge have a literal artillery of weapons at their compound. Every weapon you can imagine, just short of a tank. Jack trains boys in The Program how to use weapons, so that they will do his bidding.

Mystery 2: What is Keith hiding? What is Jack hiding? Laura? Gabe?

Villain Plan 2: Jack uses his family’s wealth, his position as preacher and his perceived “generous nature” to gain entrance into any home or business in Black Maple. This allows Jack to learn everyone’s secrets and use them to create turmoil and division.

Villain Plan 3: Jack gives Keith and Gabe the robes and later the masks they will wear when they stalk people and participate in the Rituals.

Villain Plan 4: Jack pledges money and service to several local organizations, further endearing him to the townspeople.

Villain Plan 5: Jack and The Judge read over the Book of Azariah in a secret ceremony with the boys.

Villain Plan 6: Jack trains the boys in the woods on all kinds of weapons. He forces them to dig graves and threatens them.

———-

TURNING POINT 1: A major twist that locks the hero into the conflict. Point of no return.

The first Ritual ceremony we see, with Keith and Gabe offering sacrifices to Jack, taking drugs and alcohol and consummating the ritual with their entanglement with Laura.

When Jack mentions including Keith’s sister and not caring what Keith’s parents reaction would be Keith realizes his family is in danger.

Life Threatening Danger:

Keith is used by Jack to stalk and beat up his accusers, but then Keith is also stalked and threatened by masked men, Gabe and the Company men.

Jack convinces Keith and Gabe to kill for him. We don’t see who is doing it, but we know at least one of them is a murderer. This foreshadows Jack convincing Gabe to kill himself at the end – he’s killed this many people for Jack, what’s one more?

Keith is afraid of the unknown – he’s afraid of angering his father, but he’s even more afraid of losing Jack’s love and protection – the only real father figure he’s ever really known.

Keith feels threatened that the secret of his sex abuse by Jack and Laura could get out, ruining his reputation and publicly humiliating him in the small town of Black Maple, Arkansas.

Jack tells Keith many times to just stay loyal to him and everything will be ok, but it is hard for Keith to believe him since he’s making him do unspeakable things.

Gabe, Jack, The Judge and Laura are all operating covertly towards Keith, causing him to lose his grip on reality.

Keith’s mom, Barbara and sister Heather need to solve the mystery first.

Only Laura really wants Jack or The Judge dead, because their plan of manipulation has worked so well on everyone, including her – and she realizes it.

The only people who are suspicious of Jack and The Judge are Barbara, The Sheriff and the Assistant Reverend.

Mystery 3: Who is the serial killer doing all of the murders? Is it Keith, Gabe, Jack or someone else entirely?

Mystery 5: What is the purpose of the rituals Jack, Laura, and The Judge are performing?

Villain Plan: Jack and The Judge hold secret rituals with the boys in The Program. They use drugs, alcohol, and Laura to entice the boys into submission.

Villain Plan: Although we don’t see it on screen, it appears that some of the boys are committing murders for Jack and The Order. These sacrificial rituals serve two purposes – 1. They further The Judge’s plan of harvesting souls for The Transformation. 2. The rituals tighten the grip Jack has on everyone in The Order.

Villain Plan: The Ritual is for a man to go into the fire and be re-born and transformed. If the Ritual is performed correctly, the devil will transform the man in the fire into the Angel of Fire, to be free to do the devil’s business on earth.

————

MIDPOINT: A major revelation. The opposition is 10 times worse than thought.

While following Jack, Keith and Gabe see Jack meeting with The Judge and members of The Company. There are planes, drugs, guns, and money. Keith and Gabe realize Jack’s family is 1,000 times more formidable than they had realized. How they respond to that information may be different though…

Meanwhile there is a boy accusing Jack of all kinds of horrific things. Jack must deal with the accuser.

Life Threatening Danger:

Keith talks about the danger, first with Gabe, then Laura, then Jack, then the Sheriff and finally his mother and sister.

Keith is in danger when he gets too close to the Judge’s plan with The Company.

Keith is asked by Jack to surveil and stalk people, yet he is also surveilled and stalked as well, by unknown to him, Gabe.

Jack tests Keith by asking him to betray his mother, father and sister over something that will embarrass them.

Mystery 4: What is the Company doing in Black Maple and why have they given the town over to the Judge?

Villain Plan: The Judge is doing a deal with The Company for a large amount of drugs/guns/money and it’s revealed that he is being treated like a pawn in The Company’s game. The Judge uses The Company’s protection to further his own quest for power.

Villain’s plan: The Judge gets the case file against Jack and dirt on the opposing side and uses it to blackmail and destroy his opposition. After he gets off, Jack instructs the boys to stalk and kill his accusers.

————-

TURNING POINT 2: Major setback. The lowest of the low.

The Sheriff is killed. After having been seen in an altercation with him earlier that night, Keith is accused of the crime and must go on the run. He seeks help from his mother and sister, but they are scared of him and ask him to turn himself in. When he tells them what’s been going on with Jack, they think he has lost his mind and is a homicidal maniac. Realizing his family won’t help him, Keith turns for protection to the only father figure he knows – Jack. Keith doesn’t realize it, but he has fallen completely into Jack’s trap and now there is no way out.

Life Threatening Danger:

Keith is in physical danger because many people think he is the murderer and he is at risk of the town’s revenge.

Keith is in physical danger from Gabe and Jack.

Keith is ultimately arrested for the murders of the townspeople and his family.

Keith’s reputation is damaged because the town thinks he’s a psychotic, drug addicted murderer. His father is increasingly abusive.

There is a chance that Keith’s relationship with his family or with Jack or both could end if he doesn’t play his cards right. Jack saves Keith from the townspeople and hides him, but Keith is unknowingly going from the frying pan into the fryer.

Keith is betrayed by Jack, Gabe and The Judge – who puts the order out to the cops to start the manhunt.

The Sheriff is trying to solve the mystery first until he is abruptly killed. (We like the Sheriff)

Mystery 6: Who is behind all of the mayhem in the town? Keith? Gabe? Jack? Laura? The Judge?

Villain’s Plan: When Barbara doesn’t know where else to go, she tells her Reverend. That man covers for Jack and tells Barbara to just pray about it.

————–

CLIMAX: The ultimate expression of the main conflict.

The Climax of the movie is the shocking murder of Keith’s mother, father and sister and Laura at the order of Jack and by Keith’s friend Gabe. This takes place within the Ritual for when Jack is to finally transform into the Angel of Fire. The ultimate climax of the movie is when Jack does the ritual and it works – he levitates off the ground, fully on fire and sprouting giant wings.

Life Threatening Danger:

Joe, Barbara and Heather are all in life threatening danger. As is Laura.

Villains Plan: Jack takes Keith and Gabe to kill Keith’s family.

Villains Plan: Even though they’ve had major opposition, Jack and The Judge go through with the Ritual as scheduled.

————-

RESOLUTION: The end of the journey in an emotionally satisfying way.

After the Ritual, Keith is charged with all of the murders, including those of his family. Jack visits Gabe and convinces him to kill himself. Jack now has power of his father The Judge, who he secretly hates and The Company, who his family has been indebted to for 80 years. Jack continues preaching and is planning on taking his show on the road.

Life Threatening Danger:

There is danger to Keith, Gabe, Keith’s extended family – aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents as well as the world at large with Jack on the loose as a spawn of Satan.

Mystery 7: Who Will Win?

Villain’s Plan: As designed, Keith takes the fall for all of the murders, including the Sheriff and his family.

Villain’s Plan: Jack’s corpse is not found… because he didn’t die.

Villain’s Plan: The Judge sends Gabe to the insane asylum.

Villain’s Plan: Jack convinces Gabe to kill one last time for him – for Gabe to kill himself.

Villain’s Plan: Jack keeps on truckin’, moving to a bigger city.

[Dylan Allen]

<div>What I learned is Suspense and Danger are really important components to Thrillers. There needs to be something at stake and danger for the characters in every scene – in order to keep the story taut and exciting. I still have more work to do on this aspect of my story but this is a start. </div><div>

1. What is the Villain’s plan and how does that put the Hero in danger?

The Villain’s plan is that Jack and his father, The Judge, need 11 pure souls to enact the Angel of Fire plan from the Book of Azariah. This plan puts Keith in danger because he is either being used by Jack to carry out the murders, he will be framed for the murders, or he will be killed himself to keep the plan a secret. This puts Keith’s sister Heather in danger because she is about as pure of a soul as they come and she is close with Jack, without knowing his plan.</div>

2. What other potential dangers could your Hero experience as they try to solve the mystery and confront the Villain?

Keith is threatened by his father, by Laura, and by Jack.

Keith talks about the danger. First with Gabe, then with Jack and then with his mom and sister Heather.

Keith is in physical danger from his father. Keith is in danger because many people think he’s the murderer and he’s at risk of their revenge. Keith is in physical danger from Gabe and Jack. Later Keith is in danger when he gets to close to the Judge’s plan with The Company.

Keith is asked by Jack to surveil and stalk people, yet he is also be surveilled and stalked as well.

Keith is chased by the men with The Company.

Keith is lured into a dangerous situation by Jack who is using him to advance his murderous plan.

Keith is very close to Jack, he looks at him as a father figure that his dad never was, making things that much more difficult for him to understand and figure out.

Keith is trapped mentally by Jack and physically by his father. Keith is ultimately arrested for the murders of the townspeople and his family.

There is danger to people Keith knows – primarily his mother, father and sister, but there is also danger to his extended family – aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc.

The people around Keith that die are all of the murder victims, as well as his own family.

Keith is used by Jack to stalk and beat up his accuser, but then Keith is also stalked and threatened by a masked man (Gabe)

Jack and The Judge have a literal artillery of weapons at their compound – every weapon you can imagine, just short of a tank. Jack trains boys in The Program how to use weapons, so that they will do his bidding.

Keith is afraid of the unknown – he’s afraid of angering his father, but he’s even more afraid of losing Jack’s love and protection – the only real father figure he’s ever really known.

The Danger can also come from these areas:

Keith’s reputation is damaged because the town thinks he’s a psychotic, drug addicted murderer.

There is the chance that Keith’s relationship with his family or with Jack or both could end if he doesn’t play his cards right.

Keith feels threatened that the secret of his male sex abuse could get out, ruining his reputation and publicly humiliating him in small town like Black Maple, Arkansas.

Jack tells Keith many times to just stay loyal to him and everything will be ok, but it is hard for Keith to believe him since he’s making him do unspeakable things.

Keith will be asked to betray his mother, father and worst, his sister Heather.

Keith is betrayed by Jack and Gabe, as well as The Judge.

Gabe, Jack, The Judge and Laura are all operating covertly around Keith, causing him to lose his grip on reality.

Keith’s mom Barbara and sister Heather need to solve the mystery first. The Sheriff is trying to solve the mystery first until he is abruptly killed.

Only Laura really wants Jack or The Judge dead, because their plan of manipulation and fooling everyone has worked so well. The only people who are suspicious of Jack and The Judge are Barbara, The Sheriff and the Assistant Reverend.

4. Sequence those dangers in order and make a list.

– The movie starts with Jack, Heath and Gabe driving out to the woods. There, they are involved in the killing of several deer and the murder of three boys. Jack tells the boys they’re all bound by blood now, smearing some on each of their faces.

– Keith goes home. He’s acting weird and covered in blood. His sister is suspicious of what he’s been doing, but Keith doesn’t tell her anything. Keith drips blood on the rug and his father brutally slaps him and tells him to change. Keith looks to Heather. She is concerned but says nothing.

– Later, Heather is looking at the deer tags – they are yellow. She mentions this to her mother. Her mother says so what? Heather says, where they were supposed to be the tags are blue.

– When the murders of the “Boys in the Woods” comes out, Heather is VERY suspicious of Keith. When she tries to talk to him about it he shuts her out and says he has to go to Jack. Heather follows Keith and he actually goes to see Laura.

– After his encounter with Laura, Keith has a very public confrontation with The Sheriff. The Sheriff asks him where he was during the murders, etc and Keith loses it, nearly getting beaten and arrested – except that he’s saved by his father, who later beats him anyways.

– Keith and Gabe, along with several other boys are trained on a battery of weapons at The Judge’s compound. After their weapons training they participate in a ritual with drinking, drugs and a woman (Laura).

– As the murders continue, Keith is losing his grip on his sanity. He is drinking and drugging and hanging out with bad people. Keith is a prime suspect for the murders but there is no hard evidence against him.

– Heather spends time with Jack alone, she is oblivious to how dangerous this is to her. She thinks Jack is a wonderful man and her protector.

– Keith and Gabe go snooping around The Company’s airstrip where they see huge caches of guns, drugs and money. They are spotted and chased, and shot at, barely escaping with their lives.

– Keith and Gabe are asked to surveil and stalk Jack’s accuser. Jack tells them to light him and his family on fire, to burn alive, but they can’t do it. They tell the boy to leave the town and never come back.

– Jack uses Gabe to kill more people, sometimes Keith is used as a lookout, sometimes he is left behind.. When he is left behind, Keith surveils them and sees them kill The Sheriff.

– Even though Jack has used and abused Keith, the grooming is so deep he loves him more than his own father. Keith’s father is outwardly abusive to Keith. Keith is trapped mentally by Jack and physically by his father. His allegiances to his family or Jack is torn and Keith is afraid of the unknown. When Heather asks him what’s going on, he just tells her she wouldn’t understand.

– Keith is stalked by Gabe, he knows he’s being tracked, but Keith never learns that it is his friend that is stalking him.

– Keith is afraid of his abuse by Jack and with the other boys – getting out and humiliating him.

– The murders and rituals are all building to a climax of the BIG ritual, where Keith’s mother and sister will confront Jack and they will be silenced by Gabe, and then made to participate in the ritual.

– Gabe kills Keith’s family. The boys and we the audience think Jack has been burned alive.

– Keith takes the fall for his family and the other murders, including the Sheriff.

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[Dylan Allen]

What I learned is that Thrillers are based on Mystery, and mystery sequences and mystery chains. That Red Herring characters are really important to make the project more entertaining and fun for the audience.

1. The big secret that the Villain is covering up is The Judge’s use of the Book of Azariah to summon the devil and transform his son Jack into the Angel of Fire, to finally have the upper hand over The Company. In order to complete the transformation, the Judge and Jack need 11 souls and the undying devotion of one soul. They will stop at nothing to get what they need.

2. The Judge and Jack can cover up their secret in many ways. They hide the murders by claiming there is a serial killer on the loose, or more controversially, a serial killer within the town. The Judge covers Jack’s crimes by his influence and manipulation of the legal and political systems in the town. Jack covers his crimes by appearing to be an upstanding citizen of the town. He also covers his crimes by having the boys do them or appear to do them. He buys their silence with money, drugs, guns, alcohol and women – specifically Laura. Jack hides his ulterior motives with the boys through his work with the beloved Program. Jack convinces Laura to help him and uses her to help him conceal his and his father’s work. The Judge uses his connections and relationships with The Company to cover all of the crime and rituals taking place in the town. As long as the guns, drugs and money are flowing in the correct direction, The Company doesn’t care what happens in the town or who gets hurt – they have bigger fish to fry. Jack uses his long relationships with the people of the town to disarm them into trusting him. Jack specifically uses his relationship with Keith and Heather’s family and Gabe’s family as a shield to protect him from anyone who would stop him, while using Keith, Heather and Gabe to further his evil agenda.

3. The first mystery that engages Keith into solving it is why Jack had Gabe perform a ritualistic killing of three boys in the woods and why Jack makes it seem that Keith did the murders. The killings put Keith directly in the middle of Jack’s plan from the very beginning, whether he likes it or not.

4. The Sequence of the Mysteries:

Mystery 1: Who killed the three boys in the woods and why?

Mystery 2: What is Keith hiding? What is Jack hiding? Laura? Gabe?

Mystery 3: Who is the serial killer doing all of these murders? Is it Keith?

Mystery 4: What is The Company doing in Black Maple and why have they given the town over to The Judge?

Mystery 5: What is the purpose of the rituals Jack, Laura and The Judge are performing?

Mystery 6: Who is the behind all of the mayhem in the town? Keith? Gabe? Jack? Laura? The Judge?

Mystery 7: Who will win?

5. The Mystery Chains

Mystery 1: Who killed the three boys in the woods and why?

– Three high school boys who identify as “goth” in the town where the boys were killed are arrested and charged with the murders.

– It appears that those boys did the murders. Everyone is sure of it, because they are such weirdos and because of the disgusting, ritualistic murder of the boys in the woods.

– This chain of events is a lucky (maybe more than lucky) break for the real killers, who are still on the loose.

Mystery 2: What is Keith hiding? What is Jack hiding? Laura? Gabe?

– Keith comes home with blood all over him, explaining that they killed several deer while they were out.

– Keith is openly rebellious against his abusive father. They fight verbally and physically, constantly.

– Keith has all the hallmarks of a “bad kid” the drinking, drugs, girls, skipping school, etc.

– Jack has all the hallmarks of a “great guy” – his family helped build the town and owns half the land, his father is The Judge, Jack is a preacher, he does service work with the town’s youth, everyone loves him, including Keith’s own sister Heather.

– Laura is the teacher of the town’s gifted children and a great friend to Jack and his family. She has an unusually close relationship with Jack and The Judge.

– Gabe comes from one of the wealthiest families in Black Maple. He is very quiet and somber. He is always by Jack’s side.

Mystery 3: Who is the serial killer doing all of these murders? Is it Keith? Is Laura involved?

– Laura and Keith are the Red Herrings.

– Heather and Keith are both trying to figure out what is going on in the town, but they’re not helping each other (although they should).

– After the three boys are arrested and charged for the murders of the boys in the woods, the strange, ritualistic killings continue – sparking the residents of Black Maple to wonder if the police got the right murderers the first time or if the new killings are copycat murders. Either way, the small, prestigious town of Black Maple, Arkansas is shook.

– After the “Boys in the Woods” murders Keith seems to spiral out of control. His drinking, drug use, promiscuity and violence ratchet up. He appears to have basically lost it. He still has the trappings of a wealthy kid – being given a car and clothes by Jack – another point of contention between Keith and his abusive father.

– The town searches for a suspect for the killings. Keith is a prime suspect. Keith must figure out what is going on in order to save himself, but does he have the wherewithal to do so? To make matters more complicated, his sister Heather, who has been his best friend his whole life tells Jack that she feels that she doesn’t know Keith anymore and that although she hates to say it she thinks he may be responsible for the murders.

Mystery 4: What is The Company doing in Black Maple and why have they given the town over to The Judge?

– The Judge has worked for The Company since The War. He has accomplished all kinds of missions and performed all manner of tasks for The Company. He has proven himself to be a valuable asset and a reliable figure for The Company.

– Because of their connection to The Judge, The Company is using Black Maple as a base of operations for their guns, drugs and money smuggling operations between Arkansas and Central America. This is a billion dollar enterprise, helping to prop up rebels in Communist countries. Only the top elite figures in Black Maple know this is going on.

– Because of the smoothness and success of The Operation, The Company has given The Judge carte blanche over the town. As long as it doesn’t affect The Operation, they don’t care what happens in Black Maple. The Judge uses his influence with The Company to sweep things he doesn’t want out under the rug. He also uses his connection with The Company to impress members of the town and help them to see him as their unquestioned leader. To go against The Judge is to go against The Company, and that is unthinkable.

Mystery 5: What is the purpose of the rituals Jack, Keith, Gabe, Laura and The Judge are performing?

– Jack, Keith, Gabe and many other boys are seen performing dark rituals with Laura, The Judge and a few of the other prominent townspeople.

– Heather questions Keith about these rituals and he blows her off. Heather doesn’t know Jack or The Judge are involved and thinks this is proof that Keith is the one performing ritualistic murders.

– The Judge and Jack know what the ultimate purpose of the rituals are. Laura thinks she knows, but doesn’t have the full picture. Laura is a suspicious character to Heather and Keith’s mom. Heather had her as a teacher and doesn’t trust her. She thinks she’s “too friendly” with some of the students, i.e. she stole a boy away from Heather while they were in class together and she holds a grudge because of it.

– Because of her distrust of Laura and her growing distrust of Keith, Heather thinks that Laura may be using Keith for the murders, but she isn’t sure why, she’s just very suspicious of both of them, even though she loves Keith.

– Keith is taking part in the rituals, but he doesn’t know what their ultimate purpose is or why the murders are occurring. He knows that Gabe and Jack are behind the murders, but he doesn’t dare speak out against Jack without having solid proof or more importantly for him, a deeper understanding of the plan.

– Keith wants to understand the purpose of the killings and rituals, but Jack keeps him ignorant, and when he does tell him things, he gives him false leads and information to throw him off.

Mystery 6: Who is the behind all of the mayhem in the town? The Judge? Jack? Keith? Gabe? Laura?

– Everyone in this situation has their own agenda at heart and is working to play everyone else.

– The Judge hates being controlled by The Company and plans to use The Book of Azariah, that he found on a mission in Italy, to summon the devil and transform his son into the Angel of Fire, who he will control, to finally have the upper hand with The Company. In order to do this, he must do what The Company wants and also keep himself and Jack out of trouble until their plan is complete. He must also manipulate his own son into believing that he is doing this with him, instead of just sacrificing him.

– Jack is using his father’s influence and plan to wreak havoc on the town of Black Maple while people continually praise him. Jack holds a massive grudge against both his father and the town that looked the other way while the Judge brutalized him, his sister and his mother. Jack is going along with the Angel of Fire plan because he has covertly found a way to bend the ritual to his own needs to finally gain power over his father. Jack will stop at nothing to accomplish his plan – he doesn’t care who he must hurt, traumatize or kill. He even seems to take pleasure in inflicting pain and suffering, while everyone views him as a wonderful pillar of the community.

– Keith is viewed by the town as the obvious choice for who is doing the killings, although there is no solid proof against him. Keith is a red herring – he appears guilty of the Boys in the Woods murders and gives everyone every indication that he may be insane, but really he is the long suffering victim of abuse by his father, Jack and Laura and has lost the ability to process everything that has happened to him and everything going on with The Judge and Jack’s plan. When he tells Heather about The Company, The Rituals, etc she is convinced that he has lost his mind from drugs and doesn’t believe him – actually going to Jack with this information, causing Jack to put his final plans for murder – Keith’s family – into play.

– Gabe is essentially Jack’s right hand man. Gabe is his nephew and for as long as anyone can remember, has always been a help to Jack. This pleases Gabe’s prestigious family a great deal and they are proud of Gabe for being the All American, good boy. What his family and the town don’t know is that Gabe, having been abused and brainwashed by Jack since he was a very young child, will do literally anything for Jack regardless of the consequences.

– Laura is the teacher of the gifted group. Laura is not completely innocent – she sleeps with students and allows Jack to use her as bait in the Ritual, but she is also not completely guilty of being behind the Transformation plan either. Laura is an opportunist, who after being abused by The Judge at a young age, learned that sexual power over someone is power and she has continued with that M.O. through her teaching career and into the process of the Ritual. Laura is a Red Herring in that she is not the architect of The Plan nor will she benefit from it – she just sees an opportunity and is trying to capitalize on it, the only way she knows how.

Mystery 7: Who will win?

– Ultimately Heather and Keith’s mom and dad are both killed by Gabe and Jack.

– After being suspected of the murders for several months, the killing of his own family is too much for the town and Keith takes the fall for all of the murders.

– Laura is also sacrificed during the Ritual, losing her life.

– The transformation is successful for Jack, he becomes the Angel of Fire in front of the boy’s eyes during the ritual. The boys think he has died, which technically he has, but through the powers of the devil he comes back in the same form, although he is now in the devil’s service and can shape shift and appear as an apparition to people – as he says to Keith – you didn’t think I’d just be walking around on fire all the time did ya?

– The Judge’s plan has worked, but Jack double crosses him and gives up The Judge as a criminal for his crimes with The Company.

– The Company slithers away, having made billions, supported rebels in Central America and wrecked hundreds of thousands if not millions of lives with the guns and drugs they’ve run. To The Company Black Maple was just an Operation, not unlike a thousand that preceded it and a thousand that will come afterwards. They move on.

– After The Ritual is complete, Gabe is one of the few loose ends for Jack. Outwardly Jack offers Gabe support and friendship to help with what he’s gone through. Secretly, Jack haunts Gabe, giving him horrific nightmares and telling him he will never be safe. Eventually Jack tells Gabe that he will either spend his life in prison like Keith or he will take the man’s way out. In front of his family and Jack, Keith kills himself, tying up a loose end for Jack.

– With Heather, Laura and Keith’s mother and father dead and Keith and The Judge in prison (prison is a worse fate for The Judge than death because he will be incarcerated with everyone he put away for 50 years) Jack has finally accomplished his plan of getting revenge on his father and the town that enabled him.

As Jack drives out of town, what he will do next with his newfound powers is anyone’s guess.

[Dylan Allen]

1. The end goal of the villain, Jack, in Angel of Fire is to use the Book of Azariah and the 11 souls he’s harvested to transform into the angel of fire in a ritualistic ceremony he and his family have been planning for generations. Jack trades his life for ultimate control. His family can finally stand up to the company.

2. The villain, Jack and the Judge, accomplish their plan in a devious way by the Judge working with the company and controlling Black Maple’s (the town) legal and political players. Because of the Judge’s control of the town, and his family’s sterling reputation, Jack is able to harvest as many souls as he needs for the ceremony, while people continue to think that he’s a great man.

3. Jack and the Judge can cover it up by not telling anyone of their true plan except the two of them. The Judge is able to cover for Jack any time Jack is in the slightest bit of danger of being caught. Jack uses charm to groom the people of the town into loving him while he is using them for his plan.

4. The Sequence the plan for The Transformation

Opening scene – Jack takes Keith and Gabe to kill three boys in the woods in a ritualistic way. From that point forward we know they’re capable of anything. Jack is manipulating and blackmailing the boys.

A group of men in suits, in a strip club, doing coke, drinking heavily and being a little belligerent with the women working there. One of the men (the Judge) silently watches the other men as they are pulled into different areas of the club with the women. A woman asks the Judge if he’d like to go with her and it’s a reaction shot of him looking devious. The next shot is of the Judge walking out of the club in slow motion, lighting and smoking a cigarette. He walks through the frame, his plan of manipulating and blackmailing the men complete.

Jack as the Preacher giving a sermon where he recites from the Book of Azariah to his congregation. Towards the end, for dramatic effect he performs a fire trick that amazes everyone.

At a young age, Gabe and Keith have developmental issues and absentee fathers. Turning to the town church for help, their mothers put them in “The Program” under the leadership of Jack, Black Maple’s preacher.

Jack uses his family’s wealth and his “generous nature” to gain entrance into any home or business he wants, by giving gifts and coming to check on the gifts. This makes him feel omnipresent to the boys in The Program and gives Jack leverage and leeway with the parents for spending time with their kids.

Jack holds a secret rituals with the boys in The Program. In it, Jack gives the boys mushroom tea, causing them to hallucinate. Jack guides them on an otherworldly experience. Laura’s eyes flicker black and she levitates and the boys feel like they’re falling rapidly. Jack brings them all back and encourages the ritual to continue.

The rituals start innocently enough with sex, drugs and group incantations but segway into brutal sacrifices that are unexpected and disarming. These rituals serve two purposes – 1. They further The Judge’s plan of harvesting souls for The Transformation. 2. The rituals tighten the grip Jack has on everyone in The Order.

Scene where the The Judge is doing a deal with The Company for large amount of drugs/guns/money and it’s revealed that he’s being treated like a pawn in The Company’s game. The Judge is not happy with the situation, but he uses The Company’s protection and influence to further his own quest for power.

The Judge learned of The Order when he was working for The Company. When he was raising Jack, the Judge secretly assaulted Jack to maintain his power over him. As a boy, Jack swore he would gain the power needed to enact revenge on his father, but until then he needs the Judge’s protection.

Jack uses his status as the town’s preacher to get the inside dirt on all of the families. He uses that information to drive a wedge between fathers and sons and between families.

The Ritual is a man sent into the fire. He joins in a single prayer with those around him, as well the sacrifices they’ve offered. In the prayer they exhort all creation to praise the devil. If the ritual is performed correctly, the devil will transform the man into the Angel of Fire, to do the devil’s work on earth.

Jack takes the boys out into the woods where he teaches them guns, bombs, explosives, poisons and fire. After the training he has them dig graves out in the woods. He forces Gabe and Keith into the graves and tell them if they ever reveal The Order or the plan for the transformation, he’ll do one of three things. 1. Burn them alive. 2. Bury them alive. 3. Do the same to their families and use the Judge’s connections to frame the boys for the murders. (foreshadowing)

At a ritual, Jack tells the group his father has made a pact with the devil. In exchange for unlimited power, The Judge has sacrificed his son to enact the ritual of Azariah and become the Angel of Fire. Jack’s eyes flicker black at the end of the speech.

After the ritual, one of the boys, Mark Klober, tells his parents about the murders at the ritual and together they go to a neighboring town to get a case filed against Jack. The trial moves forward, but the Judge is able to use his influence to blackmail people get his son’s case file. Jack shows the file off to the boys in the Program as proof of his power. The boy’s fathers force their sons to testify for Jack and the jury finds him innocent. Afterwards the boys are convinced of Jack’s power. Jack instructs the boys to stalk and kill the Klobers by stunning them, putting them in the trunk of their car and burning them alive.

When Keith tells his mother and sister what’s been going on, Heather doesn’t believe him and his mom doesn’t know what to do. She confides in the reverend she trusts and he advises her to pray about. The mother has nowhere to turn.

Jack takes Keith and Gabe from the harvest. Jack drives Keith in a truck out of town at night and says to close his eyes. When he opens them it’s Keith’s house. Jack orders Keith to kill his family. He can’t and Gabe shoots Heather and the mother. Keith’s dad walks in on his family murdered and lunges for Keith. Keith shoots and kills him. His entire family is dead in under a half a minute.

That night they do the ritual, when Jack ascends, no one knows what’s going on or if it worked. That night Keith takes the fall for the murders of his family. Jack’s body is not found.

After Jack is missing and Keith is in prison, Gabe starts to hear voices and see things. It’s Jack. Gabe tries to finger the Judge but the Judge uses his power to have him committed to the asylum where his daughter is. (Glore Psychiatric.) Gabe still hears Jack’s voice and visions in prison. He breaks free.

The end is Gabe killing himself by falling backwards off the top of the asylum. It cuts to Heather smiling, Gabe and Keith when they were happy together at younger harvest, The Judge doing business in a back room, a darker ritual with Laura levitating. Then dark figures in dark robes, backlit by candles enters the screen. One of them steps into the light and you see a sliver of his face. It’s the burnt face of Jack and he has a smirk on his face.

[Dylan Allen]

Day 4 – Assignment 2.

What I learned watching Silence of the Lambs and filling out the M.I.S. Sheet.

Silence of the Lambs is effective as a thriller because there are two villains at play. One, Dr. Lecter, we know who he is but we don’t know how his plan to escape will operate and the two, Buffalo Bill who we don’t know but we do know his plan is to kill and skin women to transform into a woman. This dynamic gives Clarice, an FBI trainee, more than enough to investigate and pursue.

Silence of the Lambs is effective as a thriller because every scene contains M.I.S. and often on both the Dr. Lecter level and the Buffalo Bill level. Every scene creates more questions which can only be answered by continuing to watch the film.

Placing the protagonist in dangerous situations in which they have to outthink their opponent is inherently intriguing and suspenseful given the danger involved.

Making the villains seem unstoppable is an effective tool for a thriller because it makes the audience wonder how they will ever be stopped. In Dr. Lecter’s case, he was not stopped.

The dynamic between the protagonist and the villain is paramount to a good thriller. There should be plenty of scenes with them going head to head and if one or both think they can work together that only serves to increase the tension and suspense, because we know it won’t work and it will have to unfold somehow.

The protagonist can win and lose, as Clarice does in SotL. She catches and kills Buffalo Bill, saving Catherine’s life, but she also accidentally aids in the release of Dr. Lecter who brutally kills many people and tells Clarice that he’s going to continue killing.

It’s effective to have a mentor to the protagonist and to have their motives and actions be in question as they are seemingly guiding the protagonist. We don’t know if they really have the protagonist’s best interest at heart or if they are using them for some other reason we don’t know.

It’s important to have captivating villains. In Basic Instinct, the women are compelling villains. Michael Douglas is a compelling anti-hero. There are many sides and shades to these people. In SotL Dr. Lecter and Buffalo Bill are both fascinating villains because we don’t know their motives and they seem to be unstoppable evil. Lecter is refined and gentlemanly (when he’s not ripping someone’s throat out with his teeth) Buffalo Bill is more visceral and terrifying because he’s clearly unhinged and capable of unspeakable evil. They’re both compelling villains and this gives the movie much more depth and nuance.

I learned many things from this exercise and I appreciate the model of going through the film and stopping it after every scene to analyze the M.I.S.

[Dylan Allen]

Day 4 – Assignment 1 – Basic Instinct.

What I Learned watching Basic Instinct.

I learned that Basic Instinct has held up for 30 years because it has M.I.S. in nearly every scene of the movie and in nearly every character in the movie. The only aspect of the movie that doesn’t contain a lot of M.I.S. is the Gus character who is used throughout and up to his murder as essentially an exposition/plot device. I learned that in order for a Thriller to really work, the audience has to be guessing as to who the true villain is and what will happen all the way up until the final frame of the movie. This works in Basic Instinct in that you don’t know if Beth or Catherine or both are the villain and you don’t know if Catherine will kill Nick up until the final frame of the movie. Even ending on the shot of the ice pick leaves the ending ambiguous. I liked this movie more than I thought I would. I was 7 when it was released, so I knew Basic Instinct through the controversial scenes and not through the prism of being a great thriller. I’m glad I got to experience it with Hal’s M.I.S. chart too – that will be really helpful for watching other thrillers and charting how they incorporate M.I.S. into the plot and characters.

[Dylan Allen]

4. What I learned doing this assignment is that a red herring character is important but that you don’t want to make it too obvious that they’re a red herring. To me the power of Thrillers is in the mystery – i.e. keeping the audience guessing Who is doing What and Why?

1. Big Mystery: Why are Jack and his father, the Judge, enacting an ancient biblical plan to turn Jack into the Angel of Fire? What lows will they stoop to bring their plan to fruition? Will they succeed?

Big Intrigue: The Judge is pulling strings in the legal and political arenas of Black Maple, Arkansas to allow Jack to commit horrific crimes and gain power and influence.

Big Suspense: Will Gabe and Keith be hurt by Jack? Will they be caught by the Police Chief for committing crimes for Jack? Will they be victim’s of Jack’s plan? Will they take the fall for his crimes?

2. The Intriguing World is the corrupt underground of Black Maple, Arkansas filled with sex, drugs, rich deviants and an intricate, biblical plan of the powerful elite.

3.

Gabe:

A. Even though Gabe loves his family and they might get in the way, will Gabe give himself completely to Jack’s plan?

B. What is Gabe willing to do to himself and for Jack? Will he be caught by the Chief of Police?

C. Gabe is hiding his involvement in Jack’s plan and all that comes with that with the sex, drugs and crime.

Keith:

A. When his family finds out about Jack’s crimes and plan, will Keith choose his family, who he has a tenuous relationship with (hates his father, loves his mother and sister) or Jack, the man who he feels has always looked out for him?

B. Will Keith be willing to do every awful act Jack asks of him? Will he be caught doing it? Will he take the fall for the crimes necessary for Jack’s plans?

C. Keith is hiding his involvement in Jack’s plan and his affair with Laura. How much will he hide for Jack? Is his trust in Jack and the Judge misplaced?

Jack:

A. Why are Jack and his father enacting this plan? What will they do to achieve it? Will they succeed?

B. Will Jack be caught committing crimes or enacting the rituals with the boys? He has a weird relationship with Keith’s sister Heather – will he be outed for that? Will Jack succeed with his plan to transcend?

C. Jack is hiding his manipulation of the town and it’s people in plain sight. Jack is hiding his use of Laura, Gabe, Keith and Heather for his own ends. Jack is using “The Program” to train select members of the town on the Angel of Fire ritual.

[Dylan Allen]

3. What I learned doing this assignment is I’m enjoying this process more than I thought I would and have several ideas for scenes coming through doing this assignment.

Angel of Fire log line:

Two boys, while seeking guidance from a beloved mentor in a program their parents have placed them in, are drawn into a satanic conspiracy with supernatural overtones.

1. What are the conventions of your story?

• Unwitting but Resourceful Hero:

Gabe and Keith are the two boys who, at a young age, are placed into the care of Jack, who is the son of Judge Walls and is the town’s preacher.

• Dangerous Villain:

Outwardly, Jack is a loving father, preacher, and his town’s “Man of the Year”. Inwardly he has a dark secret that no one but the his father the Judge and the boys in his program know.

• High Stakes:

Will Jack be able to use the boy’s in his program to help bring about his transformation into the “Angel of Fire”?

• Life and Death situations:

Jack uses the boys to kill for him in demented and sacrificial ways. Out in the dark woods, Jack buries the boys up to their necks and tells them if they ever reveal his secret plan to anyone he will either burn them alive, bury them alive or do the same to their families and use his father’s connections to frame them for the murders. When one of the boys slips and tells his sister what’s going on, what will Jack do?

• This story is thrilling because the boys are good boys but they’re put into a situation where Jack is forcing them to commit horrific acts. If they speak out against Jack their family won’t believe them and they will be abused by their fathers for going against the town’s most powerful family. The story is thrilling because there are numerous underlying subplots. Jack’s satanic plan to become the Angel of Fire. Keith’s sister’s eventual involvement with Jack. The Judge’s covert actions to control the town and conceal what is happening.

2. Tell us the Big M.I.S. of your story?

• Big Mystery: The main mystery of this story that will keep us wondering throughout is – What are Jack and his father up to? Why are they enacting a plan to turn Jack into the Angel of Fire? Will the boys stand up to Jack or become full accomplices to his plan? Who will be silenced along the way?

• Big Intrigue: The covert, clandestine, underhanded plot that will live under the surface for most of the movie is Jack and Judge Walls plan to control the town and manipulate it’s people to enable Jack to transition into the Angel of Fire.

• Big Suspense: The main danger to our two Heroes that will continue to escalate throughout the script is – Will they commit crimes for Jack? Will they be caught for the crimes they’re committing for Jack? What will happen to them if they disobey Jack? What will happen to their families once they are pulled in?

[Dylan Allen]

What I learned doing this assignment is Thrillers are all about Mystery, Intrigue and Suspense and also about having a mysterious villain and reversals. Thrillers are also about posing questions for the protagonist and the audience to solve and sometime Thrillers leave those questions unanswered.

The movie I chose was The Ninth Gate.

Unwitting but Resourceful Hero – Dean Corso is the unscrupulous book dealer who seems to be the unwitting hero.

Dangerous Villain – The movie starts off by alluding that the devil is the villain – we don’t know who the villain is yet. Mrs. Telfar becomes a villain when she attacks Dean for the book. There is an unknown villain who killed both Bernie and Fargas. Kessler insinuates that it is Telfar and/or Balkan. It turns out to be Balkan, but it might also be “The Girl”.

High Stakes – The book is a manual on how to raise the devil. It is highly valuable and highly sought after. People kill for it. Mr. Telfar kills himself. Bernie the bookseller is killed. When Dean tries to get out – Balkan offers to raise his price.

Life and Death Situations – Mrs. Telfar breaks a liquor bottle over Dean’s head while in a rage over him not giving her the book. Bernie the bookseller is killed. Fargas is killed. Baroness Kessler is killed. Mrs. Telfar is killed.

The movie is thrilling because – You don’t know what’s going on with the book or who is behind the murders and the suicides. There is a difference in the three books and we don’t know why. There is “The Girl” involved who is ostensibly helping Dean and we don’t know why or what her motives are. There are many question marks throughout the movie. Three variations in three books makes nine – coincidence or something else? Maybe the secret of the 9th Gate was hidden in three books, not one – this is a big reveal and something that happens at the 85 minute mark in the movie.

The Big Mystery – is the 9th Gate book real? Will it raise the Devil? Another mystery is who is behind all of the murders? Another mystery is who is “The Girl” and what are her motives?

Big Intrigue – the secrecy around the book the 9th Gate, the secret order around it and what they and the book are capable of doing.

The Big Suspense is Dean is in a life and death situation beginning when his friend Bernie is killed all the way up until the very end of the movie.

Anything else – In the first three minutes it starts with the mystery of… Who is this man? Why did he hang himself? What is the missing book? What are the other books surrounding the missing book? The movie ends with more questions – Who is “The Girl”? What does she want? Does the 9th Gate book really raise the Devil? Will Dean use it to go through the 9th Gate and raise the devil? The film for the most part doesn’t really answer any of these questions. It alludes to answers for some and for others leaves completely open to interpretation.

[Dylan Allen]

1. Dylan Allen

2. I agree to the terms of this release form.

3. As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

[Dylan Allen]

Hello Everyone,

1. Dylan Edward Allen

2. I’ve written 9 scripts.

3. Out of this class I hope to gain a clearer understanding of the genre conventions, thriller map and mechanics of thrillers. Thrillers are some of my favorite films and I’m looking forward to learning how to craft them!

4. I’m currently the writer/director/producer of a film that is in post-production that has Academy and Emmy nominated EP’s and an Emmy winning editor.

I look forward to working with you all as well!

[Dylan Allen]

Hi Bree – reading your post I thought of the movie Se7en, which is definitely a thriller, in which the villain (Kevin Spacey) doesn’t appear until 40 minutes into the movie.

[Dylan Allen]

Hi Bree – Well 9 yes, but I didn’t say they were any good! lol. And to clarify, my film hasn’t been nominated, I’m working with Emmy winning and Oscar nominated people on it 😉 I’m hoping to use some of the techniques I learn in this class on the film while we edit it. Thanks for your response!