[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele’s Drama Writing Sample

I am looking for someone to exchange feedback with. Please respond to this post or email me at: doglover3@centurylink.net

What I learned doing this assignment is: The 10-page sample should stand alone…..a well stacked deck, self-contained, crystal clear and shining example of the genre and writer’s capabilities.

Genre: Drama (with romance)

Title: Death, Divorce & Celibacy

Set-up: Etienne and Reece Cummings are divorced. He left her when they lost a baby she had carried to full term. He wasted no time finding a new wife. He married a woman (BRANDI) half his age who is now pregnant with twins. Etienne is still recovering from the loss of her baby and her spouse – – and piecing her life back together. She refused alimony and is eking out a living waitressing and teaching while she tries to get her novel published.

INT. OFFICE – MORNING

ETIENNE CUMMINGS is an elegant woman in her early forties. She has the sophistication, carriage, and panache of old-school Hollywood royalty such as Doris Day. ETIENNE exits the elevator. She peeks around the wall leading to the reception area of REECE CUMMINGS’ plush office suites. ETIENNE sports huge sunglasses and an elegant silk scarf is draped over her head and wrapped loosely around her face. The reception area is decorated with extravagant Native American artwork and artifacts. REECE’S door is straight ahead, and the receptionist’s desk is to the right. Receptionist CIATLIN HOWARD, a Stepford Wife clone, perkily types aways and mans the phones. ETIENNE takes a quick peek around the wall again to surveil the reception area and insure it is empty. She quickly returns to cover and eavesdrops on CAITLIN. The intercom buzzes on CAITLIN’S desk. CAITLIN presses the button and responds.

CAITLIN

Yes, Mr. Cummings.

REECE (OS)

Caitlin, would you buzz me the moment Mrs. Cummings arrives?

CAITLIN pushes the button on the intercom and responds.

CAITLIN

Certainly, Mr. Cummings.

REECE (OS)

And Caitlin, would you please make copies of Mr. Philpot’s transfer documents, ASAP?

CAITLIN pushes the button on the intercom and responds.

CAITLIN

I’ll get right on it, Mr. Cummings.

CAITLIN gathers the requisite documents from her desk and heads to the copy machine in the adjacent vestibule. She commences the copying, her back to the reception area. ETIENNE rushes to CAITLIN’S desk, pushes the buzzer on the intercom, and slithers to REECE’S office door. She knocks lightly, enters, and closes the door quietly behind her.

REECE CUMMINGS is a 45 year old investment banker who looks as if he just stepped off the cover of FORTUNE MAGAZINE. He sports salt and pepper hair – – cut stylishly. He dons the uniform of his trade: Italian three-piece suit, French cuffs, gold cuff links, and a tie with a Windsor knot. REECE is looking down, engrossed in documents.

REECE

I’ll be right with you, Honeylamb.

ETIENNE

I know we’re in a bear market, Reece, but don’t you think calling your clients Honeylamb might lean a tad towards overkill?

REECE

Jesus, Etienne!?

A shell-shocked REECE bolts up and out of his desk chair, knocking over the coffee cup on his desk in the process. Coffee spills all over the documents on his desk.

REECE (CONT’D)

I was expecting someone else.

A discombobulated REECE lamely attempts to mop up the spilled coffee with tissues from a tissue box on his desk. He creates an even bigger mess.

ETIENNE

From the Honeylamb, I’m assuming you were expecting the current Mrs. Cummings.

REECE aggressively throws the wet tissues in the trash can adjacent to his desk. He fans the coffee-soaked documents over the waste basket, flinging coffee onto his shirt in the process. He grabs another tissue and rubs at the stain on his shirt with it.

REECE

Damn it!

ETIENNE

Is that any way to greet your favorite ex-wife?

REECE

Look, Etty, I really don’t have time for verbal warfare today. Could you just cut to the chase here? I’m expecting someone.

ETIENNE

May I sit?

REECE

Look, Etty, as I said, I really don’t have time

ETIENNE (INTERRUPTING)

Make time, Reece.

ETIENNE plops down in the wing back chair opposite REECE’S desk.

REECE

Look, Etty, you’re putting me in a very awkward position here. If you must know….Brandi is meeting me here for lunch. As you well know, she is rather sensitive right now, and I would rather she not find you lounging in my office when she arrives.

ETIENNE

Firstly, Reece, I am not lounging. In the second place, Brandi is not so much sensitive, as she is just plain, old- fashioned pregnant. Women have been having babies for thousands of years.

REECE

You couldn’t.

Tears spring to ETIENNE’S eyes.

ETIENNE

In the third place, I am absolutely certain my desire to avoid Brandi greatly surpasses your desire for me to avoid Brandi. I just need two minutes of your time and I’ll be out of your hair.

REECE looks at his watch – – as if to time the interaction. Deflated, he sits.

REECE

Two minutes! Clock’s ticking.

ETIENNE

Ever the gentleman, Reece.

REECE

You really are something else, you know that? You break into my office, unannounced…and uninvited I might add – – and then start being sarcastic with me. I never could wrap my head around why you were always so damn defensive.

ETIENNE

That’s because you were never married to you, Reece.

REECE springs out of his chair and storms towards the door. ETIENNE bolts to the door, leans against it to keep REECE from opening it. She tears off her sunglasses and scarf, revealing her bruised and battered face. Tears spill down her cheeks. REECE stops dead in his tracks, reacts to her visage, aghast.

EETIENNE

Look, Reece, I’m sorry. This started badly, and it’s all my fault. It was really hard for me to come here. I’m sorry. I know I’m screwing things up. Can we just start again?

REECE reaches out and brushes a tear from her cheek.

REECE

Good Lord, Etienne, what is God’s name happened to you?

ETIENNE

I was robbed and beaten up. Not necessarily in that order.

REECE gently escorts ETIENNE back to the chair opposite his desk. She sits. He hands her a tissue, crosses behind his desk and pushes the intercom.

CAITLIN (OS)

Yes, Mr. Cummings.

REECE

Caitlin, when Mrs. Cummings arrives, please tell her to go on ahead to the restaurant without me. Something’s come up. I have an important conference call to make. I’ll be hung up here for a while.

CAITLIN (OS)

No problem, Mr. Cummings.

REECE

Oh, and Caitlin – – tell her I love her. And I’m sorry.

CAITLIN (OS)

Will do, Mr. Cummings.

REECE offers ETIENNE another tissue. He sits on the arm of the wing back chair she is seated in. He rubs her shoulder.

REECE

Are you alright?

ETIENNE speaks through sobs.

ETIENNE

Yes………no. Who am I kidding here? I’m really embarrassed, really sorry, and really scared. You’ll never know how hard it was for me to come here.

REECE

I’m sorry too, Etty. Sorry I behaved like such a jackass. Sorry this happened to you. You obviously came here for something important. How can I help?

ETIENNE

I need a favor, Reece. The guys who mugged me got my purse and everything in it….keys to my house and car, my driver’s license. That means they have my address. The Sherriff said there’ve been a rash of these muggings. Gang initiations. He said I need to change the locks to everything because these guys wait a while and then assault the victims in their homes and steal their cars. I’m so scared. Reece. I’m really, really scared.

REECE crosses behind his desk and plops himself in his desk chair. He opens the top drawer of his desk, produces a checkbook, opens it and grabs a pen.

REECE

Easily remedied. How much?

ETIENNE

How much what?

REECE

Money. How much will it take to cover your expenses?

ETIENNE

What are you talking about? I didn’t come here for money, Reece.

REECE

Nonsense, There’s nothing to ashamed of, Etty. I’m relieved you came to me for help. I never could understand why you refused alimony. You deserved recompense for your years of service as a homemaker. This will help put some of that right.

ETIENNE

I’m not some disgruntled employee sniffing around for severance pay, Reece. And I didn’t “service you” as a homemaker. I took care of you and our home because I loved you. If you’d understood that then maybe we wouldn’t be sitting here talking to each other like this now.

REECE

I’m not going to play cat and mouse with you all day, Etienne. How much?

ETIENNE

Have you heard a word I’ve said? I didn’t come here for money, Reece.

REECE

Then what? What do you want, Etienne?

ETIENNE

The dog.

REECE

The dog?

ETIENNE

Buster. I want Buster, Reece. I’d like to take my shift with him early and prolong it indefinitely. I would feel safer in the house if I could keep the dog for a while.

REECE

No!

ETIENNE

What do you mean, no?

REECE

No. I said no, Etienne.

ETIENNE

But, why? You don’t have time for him. You told me that yourself. And Brandi can’t stand him. She’s made that abundantly clear every chance she gets.

REECE poises his pen to write a check.

REECE

I’ll buy you a dog. How much?

ETIENNE

Reece, this is preposterous. I don’t want you to buy me a dog. I HAVE A DOG! I want Buster. We do have joint custody of the dog, you know?

REECE

He’s gone, Etienne.

Tears spring anew to ETIENNE’S eyes.

ETIENNE

What do you mean, gone?

REECE

Gone, that’s all. Just gone.

ETIENNE

What in the hell does that mean, Reece? Gone? Did he die? Was he hit by a car?

REECE

He went to the animal shelter.

ETIENNE

No, Reece. He can’t have just gone to the animal shelter on his own. Someone must have taken him. Why? Why wouldn’t you just bring him to me? He’s half my dog, Reece.

REECE

If you must know, I didn’t take him, Etienne. Brandi did.

ETIENNE

Why? Why would she do that?

REECE

Allergies. She was worried about the health of the babies.

ETIENNE

Bullshit, Reece. She hates Buster. She did this to hurt me, plain and simple.

ETIENNE bolts out of the chair and marches towards the door.

REECE

Where are you going?

ETIENNE

To get the dog, Reece. If it’s not too late.

REECE stands, red-faced with fists clenched like a petulant child.

REECE

You can’t, Etty. Brandi said

ETIENNE (INTERRUPTING)

Talk to my ass, Reece. My head is full!

ETIENNE stomps out, slamming the door behind her. CAITLIN looks up, aghast.

EXT. ANIMAL SHELTER – DAY

ETIENNE speeds up to the shelter, double parks in the “No Parking Zone” out front, leaps from her car and races towards the entrance.

INT. ANIMAL SHELTER – DAY

ETIENNE hotfoots it into the shelter. BERDILLA LAZOTTI, a blue hair with militaristic bearing, defends the reception area.

BERDILLA

Help you?

ETIENNE

I’m here about my dog.

BERDILLA

‘Scuse me? I don’t understand.

ETIENNE

My dog. My husband…er…….ex-husband’s new wife brought my dog in here……without my permission.

BERDILLA

And you want what?

ETIENNE

My dog….

ETIENNE looks at BERDILLA’S name tag.

ETIENNE (CONT’D)

Berdilla. I want to spring my dog. Can you find him for me?

ETIENNE taps on the computer screen in front of BERDILLA.

BERDILLA

I’m sorry, but that’s not possible, Mam. Records are confidential.

ETIENNE

I appreciate that, Berdilla. But my dog was left here without my permission.

ETIENNE pulls documents from her purse, places them on the counter, and pushes them toward BERDILLA.

ETIENNE (CONT’D)

Here’s the custody agreement, along with a copy of my ID. My last name is Cummings and my dog’s name is Buster. If you’ll just look in your computer there, you’ll see someone named Brandi…….

ETIENNE spits out the following as if a bad taste has been left in her mouth.

ETIENNE (CONT’D)

….with an “i”, brought him in here sometime recently.

BERDILLA stiffens, gives ETIENNE a prickly stare, crosses her arms tightly around her chest, and heaves a deep, disgusted sigh. Tears spill down ETIENNE’S cheeks. She pushes the documents further towards BERDILLA.

ETIENNE (CONT’D)

Please, Mam. Could you please just help a girl out here? Just cut me a break and help me find my dog?

BERDILLA examines the documents ETIENNE has placed on the counter. She types on her computer keyboard and pulls Buster’s record up on the computer screen.

BERDILLA

I’ll have to talk to my supervisor, Mam. You’ll have to wait here while I try and find her.

ETIENNE

Thanks, Berdilla.

BERDILLA tromps out of the reception area, yanks open a door marked “Authorized Personnel Only”. The deafening sound of barking dogs is heard as BERDILLA goes through the door, pulling it shut behind her on the other side. ETIENNE hightails it behind the reception counter and looks at the computer screen. Her hand flies to her mouth and she gasps, audibly.

INSERT – COMPUTER MONITOR

CUMMINGS, BUSTER. ADOPTED 11/21.

An overwrought ETIENNE opens the record, pounding so hard on the keyboard it could bleed. Finding what she is after, she grabs a nearby piece of paper and pen from the counter, and wildly transposes the information onto the paper. She grabs her paperwork and flees the shelter.

EXT. HOUSE – DAY

ETIENNE pulls up in front of a house with a real estate sign in the front lawn. A “SOLD” sticker in pasted across the “For Sale” sign. ETIENNE bolts from her car, races up the walkway to the home taking the porch steps two at a time. She pounds on the front door and frantically rings the doorbell. When nobody answers she peers through the picture windows on the porch, seeing the house is vacant. She resumes frantically pounding on the door and ringing the doorbell. Completely crestfallen, she collapses in a heap on the front stairs. Holding her knees, she dissolves into inconsolable, uncontrollable, primal, and guttural sobbing.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Key Business Decisions

What I learned doing this assignment is: there is a business marriage between the writer and the producer. Both want and need the movie to get produced. It is in everyone’s best interest for the writer to respect, understand, listen to, and heed the needs and requests of the producer. This is the path to more paid writing assignments in the writer’s future.

Genre: Drama

Title: Annie’s Last Act

Concept: When an aging child actor (Tiddly Winks Sanford) ages out of playing the role of Annie on Broadway, neither she nor her manager-mother can let go of their respective roles. After a decade of being whored out by her manager-mother to play Annie at bat mitzvahs, mystery dinners, cruise ships, drag shows, and pornographic films – – Tiddly snaps. While playing “F-Annie” in a porno flick – – she breaks character and murders her mother who is micromanaging on set.

Audience: Women over 25 years of age.

Budget: 25 million.

Lead Characters:

Tiddly Winks Sanford (32). She was a famous child actor. She played the role of Annie in reputable regional theatre productions and ultimately on Broadway. When she aged out of the role and was forced to retire from the Broadway production of “Annie” – – she was unable to get any more acting work. She was also unable to let go of the desire to play Annie. Firstly – – she stalks other “Annies” and gives them relentless notes to improve their performances. Ultimately her mother-manager steps in with a solution – – avant-garde means of continuing in the role.

Meeghan Sanford (52). She is Tiddly’s mother. She was a failed child actor. She had miniscule, non-speaking roles in film and television as a child. She tries to fulfill her failed childhood aspirations by forcing Tiddly into acting and living vicariously through her. She manages her daughter’s career. She is divorced. Her boyfriend, Max Steele, is a porn actor and director.

Max Steele (59). He is Meeghan’s boyfriend. He is and has always been a porn actor. He entered into the field thinking it would be a segway into legitimate acting roles. That never happened. He now acts in and directs pornos.

Ella Rose (32). She is Tiddly’s best friend from her Broadway days. She now works in a bowling alley. She sees how miserable Tiddly is – – and believes that she would be happier if she retired from acting and joined her working at the Bowlerama. To Tiddly – – Ella serves as a cautionary tale of what giving up acting looks like.

Journey / Character Arc: Tiddly journeys from being a vehicle through which other’s live out their failed dreams – to a woman standing in her own power.

Opening: We are on set where a porno flick is being shot. Tiddly is playing “F-Annie” opposite Max Steele (her mother’s boyfriend). Her mother, Meeghan, Keeps interrupting the filming with acting notes for Tiddly. Tiddly breaks character and murders her mother on set.

Ending: Tiddly and Ella open their Annie themed Bowerlama.

What decisions could be improved to make this script more marketable?

Lower budget by cutting some of the costly scenes from the Broadway production.

Not certain about the title. Other ideas: Serial Annie, Annie’s Encore, Annie’s Final Curtain Call, Behind the Red Wig, Annie’s Endless Night

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele’s Specialty – – Drama (with Romance)

What I learned doing this assignment is: Each genre has a formula. The conventions are the building blocks which create the genre. If the formula is deviated from – – and requisite conventions are not present – – the movie is unfulfilling for the audience.

Movie Number 1:

Drama

“Steel Magnolias”

“Steel Magnolias” delivers on the genre on all cylinders.

Character-Driven Journey

We always care about these characters. Each character’s internal journey drives the film’s events and progression. Shelby’s desire to have a child with Jackson propels the plot forward. When her diabetes serves as an obstacle to this goal – – she fills out paperwork to adopt. She cannot adopt because of her medical history with her disease. Against medical advice – – and despite the concerns and objections of her mother – – she goes ahead and has a baby. This journey sets in motion the progression of her disease and ultimately her death.

High Stakes Come from Within

Shelby tells her mother she thinks having a baby will make things better with her husband. Her internal desire to keep the peace with her husband, to hold on to him, is an internal desire that has high stakes. Her need and desire to be a mother is and internal desire with high stakes. Her internal need for normalcy after a life of diabetic seizures is a high stakes internal desire.

M’Lynn is driven by the high stakes desire to protect her daughter, her daughter’s health and well-being. It comes from deep within her. It is at the core of her being. She ultimately supports the pregnancy. She supports Shelby with the gift of her kidney when one of Shelby’s kidneys fails. She holds vigil at Shelby’s bedside when Shelby falls into a coma…..the need to draw her out of the coma is a high stake that originates deep within. M’Lynn sums up her own high stakes journey at Shelby’s funeral when she says, “I just sat there and kept on pushin’ the way I always had where Shelby was concerned.”

Emotionally Resonates / Real-Life Situations

We resonate with the universal themes and challenges each of these characters experience and go through. Ouiser is lonely – – so her dog is her life. Annelle is tasked with rebuilding her life after her criminal husband steals from her and abandons her. Clairee needs to find meaning and purpose after the death of her spouse. Truvy longs for more quality time with her husband. Shelby longs for normalcy after a lifetime of illness. M’Lynn wants to protect her daughter from harm. These are all very believable real-life situations. These are universal themes that touch each of our lives in one form or another.

Challenging, Emotionally Charged Situations

Shelby’s disease is an emotionally charged situation. This results in the need for a kidney transplant in order to survive. Another emotionally charged situation. M’Lynn donates a kidney so her daughter can survive. An emotionally charged circumstance which is challenging. Shelby dies because of her decision to have a child against medical advice…..challenging and emotionally charged for her remaining family members.

Shelby’s seizure at the beauty salon is an emotionally charged situation. Additionally, it is a real-life situation. We find out she won’t be able to have children during this scene. M’Lynn’s character driven need to care for her daughter and create normalcy for her on her wedding day serves to emotionally resonate with the audience.

The goodbye scene between Shelby and M’Lynn after the wedding is a real-life situation that emotionally resonates.

M’Lynn requesting Jackson think carefully before starting a family is a part of her character-driven journey to protect her daughter at all times.

When Shelby tells M’Lynn she is pregnant the stakes are high within both mother and daughter. Shelby will be challenged to the core by her decision to have a child. As will her mom. This is a real-life situation……making an emotional decision against medical advice.

When Shelby cuts her hair, we learn that she will have surgery and receive a kidney from her mother the following day. M’Lynn is driven by the need to save her daughter’s life. This is a real-life situation that resonates with the audience. It challenges our characters to the core and is emotionally charged.

Wedding shower for Annelle is a real-life situation which emotionally resonates.

Shelby collapsing is as high stakes as it comes. Her body has rejected the kidney – -the character driven journey she set herself on earlier.

M’Lynn holding vigil at Shelby’s side throughout her coma is a real-life situation that is part of her character driven journey to protect her daughter. It is challenging and emotionally charged.

Shelby’s death is where her high stakes journey ends. Stakes were quite literally life and death. This is emotionally charged for all other characters. It is challenging for her family. It is as real-life as it gets.

Annelle going into labor on Easter – – after telling M’Lynn the baby will be named after Shelby – – is something the characters and audience resonate with. It is a real-life situation we all can relate to.

Movie Number 2

Drama

“Fried Green Tomatoes”

This movie contains many character-driven journeys. Evelyn wants to stop feeling invisible. She wants to stop being a people pleaser and stand in her power. She wants romance, affection, and respect to enter her marriage. Idgie wants to protect the disenfranchised….her best friend Ruth, the black community she employs, lost souls who pass through her life and the café. She wants to feel the sense of belonging she felt with her brother when he was alive. Ruth wants to stop “doing the right “thing “…..and make choices that expand her and bring her safety and happiness. Ninny needs a new best friend – – a reason to live and a feeling her story mattered and matters.

High stakes come from within. Idgie’s life is shattered by the death of her brother. She was just a child. He was the only person who understood her, took her seriously, made her feel loved, understood, visible – – and just perfect exactly as she was. The need to replace these feelings informs all decisions going forward throughout the rest of her life.

Emotionally Resonates / Real life situations. Themes are universal and many touch into our lives in one form or another. Themes of a child dying young, prejudice, domestic abuse, sexuality, menopause, how we treat the aging in this country – – are all universal.

Challenging, Emotionally-Charged Situations. The untimely death of Idgie’s brother is emotionally charged and challenges Ruth, Idgie, and the entire family to the core. The fact he was retrieving Ruth’s hat – – and therefore he became stuck on the railroad track – – is especially emotionally charged for Ruth. Ruth suffering from domestic abuse is especially challenging and emotionally charged. She might ultimately die – – and her child will doubtlessly be abused as well if she stays. Ruth being given an imminent death sentence because of her advanced cancer challenges Idgie to the core. Ruth is the person who has filled the hole blown in her by her brother’s death.

Idgie disappears after Buddy’s death and takes up residence by the river. The audience emotionally resonates with her loss and subsequent self-imposed isolation.

Audience emotionally resonates with Evelyn waiting on her husband hand and foot – – and being ignored, taken for granted, and treated like a dog by him. Her need for his affection, recognition, attention, and respect drives her character’s journey.

Idgie rescuing Ruth from her abuser is a high stakes event that comes from within her. She must rescue this woman who also suffered from her brother’s death. This is the person who was there when he died. This is the only person who can truly understand the trauma of the loss. It is as if she is rescuing her dead brother in a sense. It puts her on a character driven journey which comes to define her and give her meaning.

Ruth is likewise challenged by this emotionally charged situation and subsequent rescue from it. She is on a character driven journey to heal herself from her survivor’s guilt. She also wants to help heal Idgie. The choice to leave Frank is high stakes as he stalks her, threatens to steal her baby, and will ultimately most likely kill her.

Evelyn’s character driven journey for self-respect is fueled by the abuse she encounters in the world. It is fueled by her husband’s abusive aunt hurtling objects at her every time she is generous enough to visit. It is fueled by the teenager who knocks into her in the supermarket and calls her a bitch and a cow in the parking lot outside of the market. It is fueled by the young women who steal her parking space and subsequently ridicule her. This created increasingly high stakes within Evelyn. The audience emotionally resonates with her being bullied.

Idgie needing to protect Sipsey and Big George from prosecution is a character driven journey. She is the self-appointed protector of the disenfranchised because of her own wound. This choice generates high stakes.

Ninny’s house has been condemned and torn down. She does not even know this because she has been caring for Mrs. Otis in the convalescent home. This choice to keep endless company with Mrs. Otis is a part of her character driven journey. The result is a challenging, emotionally charged situation with high stakes: potential homelessness. This emotionally resonates with the audience.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele’s LinkinIn Profile will be amazing.

What I learned doing this assignment is how very little I actually know about the inner workings of LinkedIn.

I am still working on my profile and improvements. I use this page for another business and job searching in another industry. I need to do a complete overhaul and try and figure out how to work in some overlap…..or maybe that won’t be possible? I am applying myself to figuring it all out. I will report back to you.💪

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele’s Credibility is going up!

What I learned doing this assignment is: An honest and earnest assessment of my current credibility is required to create a game plan to improve it. Knowledge is power. Nothing to be intimidated by. We all start somewhere.

Some steps I will take in the next 30 days to increase my credibility.

Work on my writing sample.

Research competitions I could enter.

Begin work on a website.

Credibility Checklist:

1. Writing Sample – – not ready.

2. Screenwriting Accomplishments – – 0.

3. Google Factor – – nonexistent.

4. My Network – – connected to one SUPER STAR actor. Not currently connected to any producers. I have 3 to 5 connections who are connected to producers.

5. Education – – Screenwriting U Classes: Pro Series, Writing Incredible Movies, Mastering the Thriller Genre, AI for Screenwriters, Next Level AI for Screenwriters. On the Page with Pilar Alessandra – – Writing for Television.

6. Borrowed Credibility – – No representation. Have not worked with a producer. I am not connected to a funding source. I am connected to a star.

7. IMDB Credits – – none.

8. Other forms of credibility – – produced and awarded playwright. Freelance newspaper writer. Experience training dogs for film and TV. No producer or director experience. I do have experience working with production companies.

Things I could do to increase my credibility in the future:

Enter and win competitions.

Connect with producers.

Participate in pitching sessions.

Create website.

Network.

Look for fellowships.

Interact more with Alumni.

Reconnect with friends in the industry.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele’s Projects & Insights

What I learned doing this assignment is: It is possible to put together an entire writing assignment business. 80% of producers are actually accessible. Only minor credibility is required to access them. I need a plan to increase credibility. I need to pick a specialty. Anything is possible if I commit myself.

I am coming in with:

“Death, Divorce and Celibacy” / budget between $1 – $5 Million

“Blazes” / budget $5 – $15 Million

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Hi! My name is Gisele Frazeur. I have written one completed script – – and two others are currently in progress. I am hoping this class enables me to successfully break into the world of paid writing assignments.

Something interesting about me? Hmmmmm. I had a dog I trained for film and print media. I was so devastated by his loss that I started a successful dog treat company with his image on every treat – – as a love letter to him.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur

I agree to the terms of this release form.

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.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Thriller Map Number 2

What I learned doing this assignment is: The previous assignments are paying off now.

On The Scent

ACT 1

#1 INT. WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

A man sporting a sack over his head is strapped to a table. Two henchmen remove his shoe & cut his pinkie toe off. Man on table writhes & screams in agony.

#2 EXT. GHETTO – NIGHT

REVEREND (LEFF-T) CARBAJAL, (30’s), is a striking man who walks with a cane & a limp. He sports a clerical collar. Leff-T hands a weighty envelope of cash to a sketchy looking dude & instructs him to: “Get it done. Now!”

#3 INT. BEDROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – DAY

Renowned & regal perfumer DARIN AUGUST (30’s) and her pregnant, ivory soap sister, LIVIE SANFORD (30’s) get dolled up for the perfume industry’s Essence Awards . Darin receives a prank phone call. Makes light of it. Livie expresses concern. Livie’s dog, a Springer Spaniel, POOKIE, goes berserk when Darin applies her violet perfume, FANTOME.

#4 EXT. PERFORMING ARTS VENUE – NIGHT

Darin and Livie fight their way through a sea of protesters towards the entrance when stopped by paparazzi – – inquiring of Darin as to how it feels having Leff-T’s followers picketing & boycotting her products. She makes no comment.

#5 INT. KITCHENETTE, PERFORMING ARTS VENUE – NIGHT

Gloved hands insert a shriveled human toe into a meatball, then place it on a plate with other meatballs. A fringed toothpick is placed in toe-laced meatball. Plate handed to a waiter who exits kitchen with it.

#6 INT. LOBBY, PERFORMING ARTS VENUE – NIGHT

Plate with toe-laced meatball handed off to Livie as Darin and Livie circulate at the reception. Livie sneezes, deposits appetizer on adjoining table & rummages through her purse for a tissue. A neighboring patron picks up her plate and pops toe-laced meatball into their mouth – – commences chocking. Darin ends up performing an emergency tracheostomy on him and saving his life.

#7. INT. STAGE, PERFORMING ARTS VENUE – NIGHT

Master of ceremonies, a Mr. Potato Head-esque JACOPO TRUFFIO, (50’s) introduces Darin to the audience as the guest speaker. In the wings, Darin gets a threatening text. She powers down her phone, pops it into her purse, proceeds to the stage and gives a rousing speech. Audience springs to their feet in a standing ovation. Someone rushes the stage with something protruding from their pocket. Darin’s knees give out from fear. Jacopo catches her. Security intervenes. Turns out to be a crazy fan wanting an autograph – – with merely a pen in their pocket.

#8 INT. LOBBY, PERFORMING ARTS VENUE – NIGHT

Police inform Darin and Livie that camera footage reveals that they may have been the target of the tainted appetizer. They request Darin come to the station the next day. They escort them to their limo.

#9 INT. LIMO – NIGHT

Girls discuss the evening. Livie informs Darin that her baby is going to be named after Darin. Darin gets another prank phone call. She promises an insistent Livie that she will tell the police about the new threats she has been receiving the following day.

INCITING INCIDENT. LIVIE IS SHOT.

#10 EXT. DARIN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Livie opens front door of house to let Pookie out to pee while Darin pays limo driver in driveway. Limo driver knocks Darin out. Armed assailant bolts from house & shoots Livie, gets in limo which speeds off.

#11 INT. WAITING ROOM, HOSPITAL – NIGHT

DR. BINGHAMTON, (60’s), informs DETECTIVE SANDOVAL, (40’s), (Pookie in tow) that Livie is dead. Detective implores doctor to keep silent about Livie’s death while he questions Darin – – fearing he won’t be able to glean useful information from her once she learns of her sister’s death. Doctor begrudgingly agrees.

TURNING POINT 1: DARIN LEARNS OF LIVIE’S DEATH.

#12 INT. CUBICLE, HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM – NIGHT

Detective grills Darin about recent threats and evening’s events. Darin becomes increasingly agitated wanting to know Livie’s status. Narcotics Officer Hank Sanford, Livie’s husband, bursts into the neighboring cubicle demanding to see his deceased wife. Darin learns of Livie’s death. Darin & Hank collapse onto the floor in each other’s arms, sobbing. Pookie licks at their tears.

ACT 2 – HUNT FOR THE KILLER.

#13 EXT. CHURCH – DAY

Paparazzi mob Darin & Hank outside the church – – inform Darin they have a copy of her sealed juvie record – – ask her why she killed her stepfather and did she kill Livie. Hank safely escorts her inside.

#14 INT. CHURCH – DAY

Darin’s Stepford wife mother, LEIGHTON HOWARD, (60’s), speaks at Livie’s funeral. When Leighton breaks down, Darin rushes to her to offer emotional support. Leighton slaps Darin.

#15 INT. ANTEROOM, CHURCH – DAY

There is a showdown between Darin and Leighton. Leighton accuses Darin of having killed Livie and storms off. Hank offers Darin a drink from a flask. She turns it down – – referring to her alcoholism. Paparazzi storm the church taking more photos of her. She takes a swig from Hank’s flask. They exit.

#16 INT. DEN, HANK & LIVIE’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Pookie acts up when Darin freshens up with her violet perfume. Hank & Darin reminisce and drink heavily. Hank tells Darin about Leff-T having done time in prison for murder in his youth. They fall asleep on the couch in each other’s arms.

#17 INT. DEN, HANK & LIVIE’S HOUSE – DAY

Darin’s phone awakens her to a prank phone call. Hank gets them coffee and puts whisky in it. He tells Darin he wants her to keep Pookie for protection. He produces a gun which he insists she take for protection. He leaves for work and makes her promise to go to the police regarding ongoing calls. She promises to go after checking in with her boss who has summoned her to his office.

#18 INT. DAVE ROESCH’S OFFICE, INDEPENDENT HOUSE OF BON FIL – DAY

Darin & Pookie go to her office. Darin’s boss, Ken doll wannanbe DAVE ROESCH, (40’S), produces anonymous photos he was sent of Darin drinking. He asks about her mental health. Tells her that shooting her mouth off to the press about Leff-T & drinking again is bad for business. Informs her he is placing her on leave till things settle down.

#19 INT. INTERROGATION ROOM, POLICE STATION – DAY

Darin (Pookie in tow) signs a statement. Inquires as to status of investigation on Livie. Police are tight- lipped. Darin leaves devastated and fuming. Drinks from flask as she leaves the building.

#20 INT. CAR, PARKING LOT – DAY

Darin puts Pookie puts in the car. Darin has the gun Hank gave her. Darin has a complete breakdown. She drinks heavily. Vows to get the truth out of Leff-T. Puts the car in gear and takes off for his house.

#21 INT. SURVEILLANCE ROOM, LEFF-T’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Beefcake security guard, MYRON, (20’s), sees Darin shooting at the front gate on the monitors. He alerts Leff-T. T says, “I’ll take care of it!” Leff-T leaves house with his mastiffs to handle Darin situation.

#22 EXT. SIDEWALK, IN FRONT OF LEFF-T’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Leff-T finds Darin passed out on the sidewalk in front of his gated house. Pookie sits beside her. Cop comes by saying there was a noise complaint. Leff-T covers up the truth by saying they were just shooting one of his Christian music videos. Leff-T bribes still suspicious officer to leave it alone with VIP basketball tickets. Officer reluctantly leaves. Leff-T carries Darin inside the house. He puts her to bed. He gives Pookie a toy and sleeps in a nearby chair.

TURNING POINT 2: LEFF-T IS CLEARED BY POLICE AS A SUSPECT IN LIVIE’S MURDER.

#23 INT. LIVING ROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – DAY

Darin awakens with a start on her couch. There is a cup of steaming hot coffee on the table next to her. She finds a note from Leff-T. He has left toys for Pookie. Her gun, clip, and loose bullets are also on the table. In the note he tells her to turn on the news at 11:00 AM. She watches the news. Police clear him as a suspect. He publicly apologizes for mobilizing his parishioners to boycott her. Asks his followers to stand down. Hanks calls. Tells her it is not true.

ACT 3 – HUNT FOR A NEW KILLER.

#24 INT. DARIN’S HOUSE – DAY

Darin gets s delivery of sympathy flowers – – violets – – her favorite. Pookie goes wild, attacks them.

#25 INT. HANK’S POLICE CRUISER – DAY

Hank enters his car to find a sharklike RAMON RUIZ, (40’s), waiting for him. Hank accuses Ramon of having killed Livie. Ramon takes credit for the toe in the meatball as a warning to keep Hank in line. He says a gang killed Livie and set up Leff-T for it. Says it was retribution for Leff-T helping a high-ranking veteran disengage. Orders Hank to continue mining Darin for scientific info to make dogs fail at drug busts or they will both die. Drives Hank to a seedy motel, gives him some cocaine and instructs him to go in and enjoy the hooker waiting for him. A sobbing Hank snorts the cocaine, exits the car with his tail between his legs, and walks the death march to the hotel.

#25 INT. VETERINARY OFFICE – DAY

Darin has taken Pookie to the vet to inquire about her increasing agitation. Hank told Darin he had to retire Pookie because of a medical condition. Vet says this is not true. Pookie is in perfect health.

#26 INT. LIVING ROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Hank comes over with booze. Darin tells him of vet visit. He says she went to wrong vet. He plies her with alcohol. They reminisce. He seduces her. He tries to get useful scientific info from her to no avail.

#27 INT. LIVING ROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – DAY

Upon awakening Darin is ashamed. She confronts Hank. They have a blowout. He leaves, angry. She puts on Livie’s sweater for comfort. She finds a business card for a divorce lawyer in the pocket.

#28 EXT. DOG PARK – DAY

Darin meets DHARMA, (40’S), her sponsor from AA. Pookie attacks violets growing in park. Dharma works with dogs and volunteers to try and figure out what is frustrating Pookie. She convinces Darin to go to a meeting.

#29 INT. CHURCH ANNEX – NIGHT

Darin attends AA meeting. Leff-T is there. He makes amends after the meeting. He explains he wanted the perfume commission to channel funds to his foundation that aids gang members with disengaging from the life. It is a tribute to his brother he lost to a gang – – in his youth. Leff-T killed someone in self-defense trying to extricate his brother. Did jail time for it. Tells her this is why he maintains ties within the community. Say’s word within the community is that Hank is a dirty cop. Tells her to watch her back. They exchange phone numbers.

#30 INT. BEDROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Darin calls Hank. She asks about the card for the divorce attorney. Hank says Livie had been having an affair. Darin doesn’t believe him. She researches Leff-T on the computer. Finds everything Leff-T told her about himself is true. She calls Leff-T. Tells him things about Hank that don’t sit right with her.

#31 INT, LEFF-T’S CAR – NIGHT

Leff-T is sitting in his car smoking, talking on the phone with Darin. He is up the street from her house, watching it intently.

#32 INT. DARIN’S PERFRUME LAB – DAY

Dharma meets Darin at her perfume laboratory. They introduce Pookie to different scents to see if they can make sense of what is agitating her and what it might have to do with Hank. Chemicals present in violets set Pookie off. Darin tells Dharma that the ionones present in violets temporarily arrest one’s sense of smell. Pookie is spent. They agree to keep researching what it could mean and meet again.

#33 INT. HANK’S CAR – NIGHT

Hank receives a text from Ramon demanding a meet.

#34 INT. METAL OUTBUILDING – NIGHT

Hank meets Ramon at a cockfight. Ramon Informs Hank that Darin, Leff-T, and Dharma have been snooping around. Tells Hank to keep her under control or they die. Tells him to extract more chemical secrets from her that throw off scenting dogs – – as a big shipment is about to be smuggled – -or they die. Leff-T is there in disguise and witnesses the meet.

#35 INT. FRONT DESK, ANIMAL SHELTER – DAY

Dharma calls Darin. Says she spoke with a trainer friend who offered up a useful theory. Says she also spoke to one of Hank’s colleagues. They are willing to share footage of Pookie’s suspicious, failed drug busts. They agree to meet.

TURNING POINT 3: DHARMA IS OVERDOSED.

#36 INT. BOOTH, RESTAURANT – DAY

While waiting for Darin – – Dharma passes out & convulses after drinking iced tea. Ambulance is called.

#37 EXT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT

Darin arrives to see Dharma being wheeled away in a stretcher toward the ambulance. Darin lies and says she is Dharma’s sister so she can ride with Dharma in the ambulance to hospital. Darin takes possession of Dharma’s belongings.

#38 INT. WAITING ROOM, HOSPITAL – NIGHT

Leff-T arrives. Darin says Dharma was overdosed. Leff-T tells her about cockfight he attended where Hank met with known drug lord, Ramon Ruiz. They decide to go to Darin’s lab and go through Dharma’s stuff and search for clues as to what Dharma was going to tell Darin.

#39 INT. DARIN’S LAB – NIGHT

Darin and Leff-T find notes about deer estrus in Dharma’s notebook. They phone a contact left in the notes. Discover this substance can be used to distract dogs at drug busts. They don’t know what it means. They also find the number of a narcotics officer who is a colleague of Hank. They phone him. His girlfriend says he has been killed. They decide to get some sleep, reconvene, and go to police.

#40 INT. BATHROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – LATER

Darin has been throwing up. She takes a pregnancy test. It is positive.

ACT 4: DARIN FIGURES IT OUT. HANK TAKES THE BAIT.

#41 INT. BEDROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – DAY

Darin has a series of dreams / flashbacks. Hank asking about ionones and dogs. Hank sleeping in his socks. Officer Mott saying there was a toe in the meatball. Upon awakening she calls Leff-T. She leaves a message for Leff-T saying she thinks she has figured it out. She needs to test her theory. Then they can go to police.

#42 INT. DARIN’S PERFUME LAB – DAY

Darin empties a bottle of civetone and replaces it with ambergris. She intentionally does not set her alarm when she leaves her lab.

#43 INT. CONVENIENCE STORE – DAY

Darin buys iced tea and whisky. She goes to restroom and empties out whisky bottle and fills it with iced tea. Leaves a message for Hank, says she misses him and is coming over.

#44 INT. LIVING ROOM, HANK’S HOUSE – DAY

Hank calls Ramon to report he will have another means of throwing off dogs soon. Says Darin is under control. No need to worry.

#45 INT. LIVING ROOM, HANK’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Darin arrives at Hanks house – – all sweetness and light and apologies. Darin gets Hank drunk. Pretends to be drunk but is actually drinking iced tea from bottle she brought with her. She leaks information to Hank about her new fragrance using civetone – – which makes animals go crazy. She waits for Hank to go to sleep. Sneaks into his bathroom. Rummages through his hamper. Finds innumerable bloody socks. Sneaks out of his house- – accidentally leaving whisky bottle full of tea behind. Hank awakens. Goes to bathroom to find her gone. Finds pilfered hamper, socks, and fake whisky. Knows he is found out.

#46 INT. DARIN’S PERFUME LAB – DAY

Hank breaks into Darin’s lab and steals the bottle she planted labeled civetone.

#47 INT. DARIN’S CAR – DAY

Darin pulls up live camera footage of her office being broken into by Hank. Darin calls Leff-T. Says she set a trap and Hank took the bait. They agree to meet at her house after her AA meeting and go to police.

#48 INT. TRAIN TERMINAL – NIGHT

Hank is with his new dog at the train station searching passengers for drugs. One of Ramon’s henchmen is sitting there, observing. Hank goes into the restroom and douses the dog’s collar in what he believes is civetone. He emerges and commences with the search. The dog alerts to drugs. Henchman leaves. Hank knows he is in trouble. Hank’s phone rings. Ramon says Hank is a dead man.

#49 BEDROOM, HANK’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Hank gets guns, cash, and a passport from his safe. Packs a duffle to go on the run.

CLIMAX

#50 EXT. BACKYARD POOL, DARIN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Darin goes home to meet Leff-T. She finds an inebriated Hank holding Leff-T hostage, poolside. He ties Darin up as well. Says he is going to overdose her and set it up to look like she shot Leff-T. Darin sees Leff-t has loosened his ties – – and he communicates to her with his eyes that he has a gun tucked into his sock. Darin buys time by telling Hank she is pregnant. Hank checks her bathroom for pregnancy test and finds she is telling the truth. He decides to take Darin on the run with him. He pushes Leff-T into the pool. Leff-T emerges from water. Hank and Leff-T shoot one another.

#51 INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY

A recovering Dharma visits Darin while she holds vigil at Leff-T’s bedside. Darin informs Dharma that Hank is dead. She tells Dharma she thinks she has fallen in love with Leff-T. Leff-T awakens to hear this.

RESOLUTION

#52 INT. PERFORMING ARTS VENUE – NIGHT

Leff-T, Darin’s baby girl (LIVIE), and Dharma attend the Essence Awards. Darin dedicates her award to her deceased sister, Livie. She informs the audience of her upcoming release: a fragrance created for her husband, Leff-T. It will benefit his charity, The Gabriel Foundation – – which aids reformed gang members and their families starting a new chapter in their lives.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

I am ready to exchange feedback with someone. Looking for a partner.

Thanks,

Gisele

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Thriller Map Number 1

What I learned doing this assignment is: The previous assignments are paying off now.

On The Scent

ACT 1

#1 INT – WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

A man sporting a sack over his head is strapped to a table. 2 henchmen remove his shoe & cut his pinkie toe off. Man on table writhes & screams in agony.

#2 EXT – SEEDY NEIGHBORHOOD – NIGHT

Reverend Carbajal (known as Leff-T) is a striking man in his late 30’s. His walks with a cane & a limp – -and sports a clerical collar. He hands a weighty envelope of cash to a sketchy looking dude. Instructs him to: “Get it done. Now!”

#3 INT – BEDROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

Renowned & regal perfumer Darin August and her pregnant, ivory soap sister, Livie Sanford get dolled up for the Essence Awards (perfume industry). Darin receives a prank phone call. Makes light of it. Livie expresses concern. Livie’s dog, Pookie, goes berserk when Darin applies her violet perfume, Fantome.

#4 EXT – PERFORMING ARTS VENUE – AFTERNOON

Darin and Livie fight their way through a sea of protesters towards the entrance when stopped by paparazzi – – inquiring of Darin as to how it feels having Leff-T’s followers picketing & boycotting her products. She makes no comment.

#5 INT – KITCHENETTE, PERFORMING ARTS VENUE – AFTERNOON

Gloved hands insert a shriveled human toe into a meatball, then place it on a plate with other meatballs. A fringed toothpick is placed in toe-laced meatball. Plate handed to a waiter who exits kitchen with it.

#6 INT – LOBBY, PERFORMING ARTS VENUE – AFTERNOON

Plate with toe-laced meatball handed off to Livie as Darin and Livie circulate at the reception. Livie sneezes, deposits appetizer on adjoining table & rummages through her purse for a tissue. A neighboring patron picks up her plate and pops toe-laced meatball into their mouth – – commences chocking. Darin ends up performing an emergency tracheostomy on him and saving his life.

#7 INT – PEFORMING ARTS VENUE – NIGHT

Master of ceremonies, Jacopo Truffio, introduces Darin to the audience as the guest speaker. In the wings, Darin gets a threatening text. She powers down her phone, pops it into her purse, proceeds to the stage and gives a speech. Audience springs to their feet in standing ovation. Someone rushes the stage with something protruding from their pocket. Darin’s knees give out and security intervenes. Turns out to be a crazy fan wanting an autograph – – with merely a pen in their pocket.

#8 INT – LOBBY, PERFORMING ARTS VENUE – NIGHT

Police inform Darin and Livie that camera footage reveals that they may have been the target of the tainted appetizer. They request Darin come to the station the next day. They escort them to their limo as protesters have amped up even further outside the venue.

#9 INT – LIMO – NIGHT

Girls discuss the evening. Livie informs Darin that her baby is going to be named after Darin. Darin gets another prank phone call. She promises an insistent Livie that she will tell the police the next day.

Inciting Incident: Livie is shot.

#10 EXT – DARIN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Livie opens front door of house to let Pookie out to pee while Darin pays limo driver in driveway. Limo driver knocks Darin out. Armed assailant bolts from house & shoots Livie, gets in limo which speeds off.

#11 INT – WAITING ROOM, HOSPITAL – NIGHT

Dr. Binghamton informs Detective Sandoval (Pookie in tow) that Livie is dead. Detective implores doctor to keep silent about Livie’s death while he questions Darin – – fearing he won’t be able to glean useful information from her once she learns of her sister’s death. Doctor begrudgingly agrees.

Turning Point 1: Darin learns of Livie’s death.

#12 INT – CUBICLE, HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM – NIGHT

Detective grills Darin about recent threats and evening’s events. Darin becomes increasingly agitated wanting to know Livie’s status. Narcotics Officer Hank Sanford, Livie’s husband, bursts into the neighboring cubicle demanding to see his deceased wife. Darin learns of Livie’s death. Darin & Hank collapse onto the floor in each other’s arms, sobbing. Pookie licks at their tears.

ACT 2 – Hunt for the killer.

#13 EXT – CHURCH – MORNING

Paparazzi mob Darin & Hank outside the church – – inform Dain they have a copy of her sealed juvie record – – ask her why she killed her stepfather and did she kill Livie. Hank safely escorts her inside.

#14 INT – CHURCH – MORNING

Darin’s Stopford wife mother, Leighton, speaks at Livie’s funeral. When she breaks down, Darin rushes to her to offer emotional support. Leighton slaps Darin.

#15 INT – ANTEROOM, CHURCH – AFTERNOON

There is a showdown between Darin and Leighton. Leighton refers to Darin having killed her husband. Leighton accuses Darin of having killed Livie and storms off. Hank offers Darin a drink from a flask. She turns it down – – referring to her alcoholism. Paparazzi storm the church taking more photos of her. She takes a swig from Hank’s flask. They exit.

#16 INT – DEN, HANK & LIVIE’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

Pookie acts up when Darin freshens up with her violet perfume. Hank & Darin reminisce and drink heavily. Hank tells Darin about Leff-T having done time in prison for murder in his youth. They fall asleep on the couch in each other’s arms.

#17 INT – DEN, HANK & LIVIE’S HOUSE – MORNING

Darin’s phone awakens her to a prank phone call. Hank gets them coffee and puts whisky in it. He tells Darin he wants her to keep Pookie for protection. He produces a gun which he insists she take for protection. He leaves for work and makes her promise to go to the police regarding ongoing calls.

#18 INT – INTERROGATION ROOM, POLICE STATION – DAY

Darin signs a statement. Inquires as to status of investigation on Livie. Police are tight- lipped. Darin leaves devastated and fuming. Drinks from flask as she leaves the building.

#19 INT – DAVE ROESCH’S OFFICE, INDEPENDENT HOUSE OF BON FIL – DAY

Darin’s boss, Dave, produces photos he was sent of Darin drinking. He inquires about her metal health. Tells her that shooting her mouth off to the press about Leff-T & drinking again is bad for business. Informs her he will have to put her on leave if it continues.

#20 INT – CAR, PARKING LOT – DAY

Pookie is in the car. Darin has a complete breakdown. She drinks heavily. Vows revenge on Leff-T.

#21 INT – SURVEILLANCE ROOM, LEFF-T’S HOUSE – EVENING

Security guard, Myron, sees Darin shooting at the front gate on the monitors. He alerts Leff-T. T says “I’ll take care of it!” He leaves house with his mastiffs & gun to handle Darin situation.

#22 EXT – SIDEWALK, IN FRONT OF LEFF-T’S HOUSE – EVENING

Leff-T finds Darin passed out on the sidewalk in front of his gated house. Pookie sits beside her. Cop comes by because of noise complaint. Leff-T says they were shooting one of his Christian music videos. Bribes officer with Lakers tickets to leave it alone. He carries her inside the house and puts her to bed. He gives Pookie a toy and sleeps in a nearby chair.

Turning Point 2: Leff-T is cleared by the police as a suspect in Livie’s murder.

#23 INT – LIVING ROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – MORNING

Darin awakens with a start on her couch. There is a cup of steaming hot coffee on the table next to her. She finds a note from Leff-T. He has left toys for Pookie. In the note her tells her to turn on the news at 11:00 AM. She watches the news. Police clear him as a suspect. He publicly apologizes for mobilizing his parishioners to boycott her. Asks his followers to stand down. Hanks calls. Tells her it is not true.

ACT 3 – Hunt for a new killer.

#24 INT – DARIN’S HOUSE – MORNING.

Darin gets s delivery of sympathy flowers – – violets – – her favorite. Pookie goes wild, attacks them.

#25 INT – HANK’S POLICE CRUISER – AFTERNOON

Hank enters his car to find a sharklike Ramon Ruiz waiting for him. Hank accuses Ramon of having killed Livie. Ramon takes credit for the toe in the meatball as a warning to keep Hank in line. He says a gang killed Livie and set up Leff-T for it. Says it was retribution for Leff-T helping a high-ranking veteran disengage. Tells Hank he will continue to mine Darin for scientific info to make dogs fail at drug busts or they will both die. Drives Hank to a seedy motel, gives him some cocaine and instructs him to go in and enjoy the hooker waiting for him.

#25 INT – VETERINARY OFFICE – AFTERNOON

Darin has taken Pookie to the vet to inquire about Pookie’s agitation. Hank told Darin he had to retire Pookie because of a medical condition. Vet says this is not true. Pookie is in perfect health.

#26 – INT – LIVING ROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Hank comes over with booze. Darin tells him of vet visit. He says she went to wrong vet. He plies her with alcohol. They reminisce. He seduces her. He tries to get useful scientific info from her to no avail.

#27 INT – LIVING ROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – MORNING

Upon awakening Darin is ashamed. She confronts Hank. They have a blowout. He leaves, angry. She puts on Livie’s sweater. She finds a business card for a divorce lawyer in the pocket.

#28 EXT – DOG PARK – DAY

Darin meets her sponsor from AA (Dharma). Pookie attacks violets growing in park. Dharma works with dogs and volunteers to try and figure out what is frustrating Pookie. She convinces Darin to go to a meeting.

#29 – INT – CHURCH ANNEX – EVENING

Darin attends meeting. Leff-T is there. He makes amends. He explains he wanted the perfume commission to channel funds to his foundation that aids gang members is disengaging from the life. It is a tribute to his brother he lost to a gang in his youth. He killed someone in self-defense trying to extricate his brother. Did jail time for it. Tells her the ties he maintains in the community say Hank is a dirty cop. Tells her to watch her back.

#30 INT – BEDROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Darin calls Hank. Inquires about the card for divorce attorney. Hank says Livie had been having an affair. Darin doesn’t believe him. She researches Leff-T on the computer. Finds everything he told her about himself is true. She calls him. Tells him about things about Hank that don’t sit right.

#31 INT – LEFF-T’S CAR – NIGHT

Leff-T is sitting in his car smoking, talking with Darin. He is up the street from her house, watching it.

#32 INT – DARIN’S PERFRUME LAB – AFTERNOON

Dharma meets Darin at her lab. They introduce Pookie to different scents to see if they can make sense of what is agitating her and what it might have to do with Hank. Ionones, present in violets, set her off. Darin tells Dharma ionones temporarily arrest one’s sense of smell. Pookie is spent. They agree to keep researching what it could mean and meet again.

#33 – INT – HANK’S CAR – NIGHT

Hank receives a text from Ramon demanding a meet.

#34 – INT – METAL OUTBUILDING – NIGHT

Hank meets Ramon at a cockfight. Ramon Informs Hank that Darin, Leff-T, and Dharma have been snooping around. Tells Hank to keep her under control or they die. Tells him to extract more chemical secrets from her that throw off scenting dogs – – as a big shipment is about to be smuggled – -or they die.

#35 – INT – FRONT DESK, ANIMAL SHELTER – MORNING

Dharma calls Darin. Says she spoke with a trainer friend who offered up a useful theory. Says she also spoke to one of Hank’s colleagues. They are willing to share footage of Pookie’s suspicious, failed drug busts. They agree to meet.

Turning Point 3: Dharma is overdosed.

#36 – BOOTH, RESTAURANT – AFTERNOON

While waiting for Darin – – Dharma passes out & convulses after drinking iced tea. Ambulance is called.

#37 -EXT – RESTAURANT – LATER

Darin arrives to see Dharma being wheeled away. She says she is Dharma’s sister and rides with her in ambulance to hospital. Takes possession of Dharma’s belongings.

#38 – INT – WAITING ROOM, HOSPITAL – LATER

Leff-T arrives. Darin says Dharma was overdosed. They decide to go to Darin’s lab and go though Dharma’s stuff looking for clues as to what she was going to tell them.

#39 – INT – DARIN’S LAB – NIGHT

Darin and Leff-T find notes about deer estrus in Dharma’s notebook. They phone a contact left in the notes. Discover substance can be used to distract dogs at drug busts. They don’t know what it means. They also find the number of a fellow narcotics officer who is a colleague of Hanks. They phone him. His girlfriend says he has been killed. Decide to get some sleep, reconvene, and go to police.

#40 – INT – BATHROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – LATER

Darin has been throwing up. She takes a pregnancy test. It is positive.

ACT 4: DARIN FIGURES IT OUT.

#41 – INT – BEDROOM, DARIN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Darin has a series of dreams / flashbacks. Hank asking about ionones and dogs. Hank sleeping in his socks. Officer Mott saying there was a toe in the meatball. She calls Leff-T. She leaves a message for Leff-T saying she thinks she has figured it out. She needs to test her theory. Then they can go to police.

#42 – INT – DARIN’S PERFUME LAB – MORNING

Darin empties a bottle of civetone and replaces it with ambergris. Does not set alarm when she leaves.

#43 – CONVENIENCE STORE – LATER

Darin buys iced tea and whisky. She goes to restroom and empties out whisky bottle and fills it with iced tea. Leaves a message for Hank, says she misses him and is coming over.

#44 – INT – LIVING ROOM – – HANK’S HOUSE – LATER

Hank calls Ramon to report he will have another means of throwing off dogs soon. Says Darin is under control. No need to worry.

#45 – INT – LIVING ROOM, HANK’S HOUSE – LATER

Darin gets Hank drunk. Pretends to be drunk but is actually drinking iced tea from bottle she brough with her. She leaks information to Hank about her new fragrance using civetone – – which makes animals go crazy. She waits for Hank to go to sleep. Sneaks into his bathroom. Rummages through his hamper. Finds innumerable bloody socks. Sneaks out of his house- – accidentally leaving whisky bottle full of tea behind. Hank awakens. Goes to bathroom to find her gone. Finds pilfered hamper, socks, and fake whisky. Knows he is found out.

#46 – INT – DARIN’S PERFUME LAB – MORNING

Hank breaks into Darin’s lab and steals the bottle she planted labeled civetone.

#47 – INT – DARIN’S CAR – LATER

Darin call Leff-T. Says she set a trap. They agree to meet at her house after her meeting and go to police.

#48 – INT – TRAIN TERMINAL – LATER

Hank is with his new dog at the train station searching passengers for drugs. One of Ramon’s henchmen is sitting, watching. Hank goes into the restroom and douses the dog’s collar in what he believes is civetone. He emerges and commences with the search. The dogs alerts to drugs. Henchman leaves. Hank is knows he is in trouble. His phone rings. Ramon says he is a dead man.

#49 – BEDROOM, HANK’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Hank gets guns, cash, and a passport from his safe. Packs a duffle to go on the run.

Climax

#50 – EXT – BACKYARD POOL, DARIN’S HOUSE – LATER

Darin goes home to meet Leff-T. She finds an inebriated Hank holding Leff-T hostage, poolside. He ties Darin up as well. Says he is going to overdose her and set it up to look like she shot Leff-T. Darin sees Leff-t has loosened his ties – – and he communicates to her with his eyes that he has a gun tucked into his sock. Darin buys time by telling Hank she is pregnant. He checks her bathroom for pregnancy test. He decides to take Darin on the run with him. He pushes Leff-T into the pool. Leff-T emerges from water. Hank and Leff-T shoot one another.

#51 – INT – HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY

A recovering Dharma visits Darin while she holds vigil at Leff-T’s bedside. Informs Dharma that Hank is dead. She tells Dharma she thinks she has fallen in love with Leff-T. He awakens to hear this.

Resolution

#52 – INT- PERFORMING ARTS VENUE – NIGHT

Leff-T, Darin’s baby girl (Livie), and Dharma attend the Essence Awards. Darin dedicates her award to her deceased sister, Livie. She informs the audience of her upcoming release: a fragrance created for her husband, Leff-T. It will benefit his charity, The Gabriel Foundation – – which aids reformed gang members and their families starting a new chapter in their lives.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur Misdirects……When Appropriate! Assignment 13

What I learned doing this assignment is: All of the techniques previously learned inherently contain misdirects. Employing additional techniques should be used judiciously –to avoid giving the audience whiplash!

Opening: scene of a man having his pinkie toe cut off while he is being held down.

Cut to: A limping Leff-t is in seedy neighborhood in the dead of night. Passes substantial envelope of cash to someone and instructs them to “Get it done!”

Act 1: Renowned perfumer Darin August prepares to attend an awards ceremony with her pregnant sister, Livie Sanford. Pookie, her brother-in-law’s retired narcotic dog goes inexplicably berserk when she dons her violet perfume. The evening is rife with turmoil. Picketers block the entrance to the ceremonial hall. Darin receives threatening phone calls. At the reception someone chokes on an hors d’ oeuvres laced with a human toe which results in Darin performing an emergency tracheotomy on them. They are harassed again by protestors exiting the evening’s festivities.

Distrust: Leff-T has publicly called upon his followers to boycott Darin’s perfumes. His followers are fervently and not so peacefully protesting outside of her awards ceremony. This makes her distrust and suspect him.

Life threatening 1: Phone call to Darin.

Mystery 1: Who is making threats to Darin and why?

Distrust: Is Leff-T behind the phone calls as well?

Mystery 2: Why are people protesting Darin at the awards?

Life threatening 2: Laced hors d’oeuvres.

Mystery 3: Who wants to harm Livie and why?

Mystery 4: Whose toe is the meatball laced with?

Distrust: Is Leff-T responsible for the laced hors d’ oeuvres?

Twist 1: Something planned for doesn’t happen:

Direction: Hors d’oeuvres laced with toe is given to Livie by waiter.

Twist: Livie sneezes and puts plate down on adjacent table. Another guest picks up hors d’ oeuvres and commences choking on it.

Villains plan: To instill fear in Darin. To cast suspicion on Leff-T.

Inciting Incident: Upon returning home from the awards Darin is knocked unconscious and Livie is shot – -outside of Darin’s home.

Twist 2: It just got more dangerous.

Direction: Livie opens the door to let Pookie out to pee.

Twist: Armed assailants emerge from the home – – knocking Darin unconscious and shooting Livie.

Life threatening 3: Physical attack on Darin and Livie.

Mystery 5: Who is responsible for the attack?

Turning Point 1: While being treated at the hospital Darin learns of her pregnant sister’s death.

Mystery 6: Why would someone kill Livie?

Mystery 7: What is Leff-T’s beef with Darin – – and did he do it?

Distrust: Leff-T must be responsible in her mind. Nothing else makes sense.

Villain’s plan 2: To send a message to Hank to keep in line and compliant “or else”.

Act 2: Darin investigates Leff-T – – the man she suspects of her sister’s murder. He is a gangster, gone rapper, gone televangelist. She turned down a commission to make a celebrity fragrance for him. He had called upon his followers and parishioners to boycott her fragrances and the perfume house she works for. In a downward spiral she resumes drinking (she is a recovering alcoholic) and begins a sexual relationship with Livie’s husband, Hank Sanford. Pookie’s erratic behavior escalates. She attacks flowers sent in sympathy to the house. She digs up Darin’s flower beds.

Twist 3: A mistake returns to haunt them.

Direction: Darin arrives at her sister’s funeral to find paparazzi.

Twist: They inform her she is suspect – – that her juvie record has been leaked to the press – and ask why she killed her stepfather.

Mystery 8: Darin’s mother refers to Darin having killed her husband. What is the story here?

Distrust: Because of the past – – Darin’s mom really believes that Darin might be responsible for Livie’s death.

Distrust: Is Darin’s mom so spiteful she leaked Darin’s juvie record to the police as revenge?

Mystery 9: How was Darin’s juvie record unsealed?

Mystery 10: Who leaked her juvie record to the press?

Trust: Hank – – like a knight in shining armor- – comes to Darin’s rescue and defense when her mom attacks her at Livie’s funeral.

Life Threatening 4: Anonymous death threat mailed to Darin’s home.

Trust: Hank tells Darin to keep Pookie for protection and presents her with a gun for the selfsame purpose. Makes her feel looked out for and protected.

Mystery11: Who sent it?

Mystery 12: Who wants her dead.

Mystery 13: Why has Hank really encouraged her to resume drinking – – as he knows she battles with alcoholism?

Mystery14: Why would Hank have sex with his recently deceased, pregnant wife’s sister? Seems ice cold and heartless.

Distrust: Darin awakens ashamed for having imbibed and having slept with Hank. This creates distrust for him.

Life threatening 5: Leff-T is surveilling Darin.

Mystery 15: Who leaked photos of her drunk to the press and her boss?

Distrust: More chaos being created for her behind the scenes. As boycott continues – – she still suspects Leff-T.

Misdirect: Clue Misdirection: Clue that sends us to another Red Herring. Learning that Darin murdered her stepfather in her youth creates potential for a new Red Herring. Could our hero be the killer?

Villain’s plan 3: To keep Darin off balance – therefore malleable and manipulatable.

Turning Point 2: Leff-T is cleared as a suspect.

Twist 4: We see an unexpected side of someone.

Direction: Darin has gone to Leff-T’s house – – drunk and brandishing a firearm. She shoots at the exterior of his home and security cameras. She ultimately passes out outside of his house on the sidewalk.

Twist: Leff-T see this on the security camera and tells his security guard he will “take care of it.” He carries her in the house and puts her to bed, tucks her in, and gives Pookie a chew toy.

Twist 5: We see an unexpected side of someone.

Direction: Darin awakens at home after blackout at Leff-T’s the night before. She is in a blind panic. Does not know how she got there. Cup of piping hot coffee on table next to her. Is someone else in her home?

Twist: She finds a note left by Leff-T telling her to watch the news at 11AM. He has also left some dog toys for Pookie. She watches the news conference. Leff-T has been cleared as a suspect. He gives a public apology to Darin for the boycott and asks his followers to stand down.

Trust: Leff-T brought her home safely. He was exonerated. He publicly apologizes to her on TV and calls for his followers to stand down.

Life threatening 6: The real killer is still out there.

Mystery 16: Who is the real killer?

Act 3: Darin gets back on the wagon. After receiving intel from Leff-T indicating suspicious activity on the part of her narcotics officer brother-in-law, Hank Sanford, she begins investigating Hank. She enlists the aid of her friend, Dharma to aid in the investigation. Dharma trains dogs and thinks Pookie’s strange behavior might be the key. Darin takes Pookie to the vet only to find out Hank had lied to her and Pookie has no health problems which would have forced her retirement.

Mystery 17: What is Pookie – – Hank’s retired narcotics dog – – attempting to communicate to Darin?

Mystery 18: Why is Hank so vehemently opposed to Darin’s burgeoning friendship with Leff-T – even though Leff-T has been cleared?

Distrust: Darin is suspicious of Hank’s continued finger pointing at Leff-T – – after he has been exonerated…..and she has been speaking to and researching Leff-T – – and believes in his innocence.

Twist 6: A lie is uncovered.

Direction: Darin puts on a sweater of Livie’s to comfort herself.

Twist: She finds the business card of a divorce attorney in the pocket of Livie’s sweater.

Life Threatening 7: Someone leaves poison out for Pookie. Darin smells poison and averts crises.

Mystery 19: What does Pookie know that has someone gunning for her?

Mystery 20: Who is behind trying to poison Pookie?

Life Threatening 8: Officer who has agreed to meet with Darin and Dharma to discuss circumstances of Pookie’s failed drug bust and subsequent termination – – is murdered.

Mystery 21: Who killed the narcotic’s officer and why?

Mystery 22: What has Pookie so agitated when Darin and Dharma run scenting tests on her?

Twist 7: Secret identity uncovered.

Direction: Hank tells his colleague he is going to meet with an informant.

Twist: The man waiting for him in the car is no informant. It is a drug lord. He has been blackmailing Hank.

Twist 8: The worst possible thing happens.

Direction: Darin has been throwing up. She thinks she has been withdrawing from alcohol.

Twist: She finds out she is pregnant with Hank’s child

Distrust: Darin confronts Hank about the card of divorce lawyer she found in Livie’s sweater. Hank says Livie had been having an affair. Darin does not believe this. Distrusts him.

Misdirect: Clue Misdirection: Misinterpreted Clue. Leff-T surveils Darin from a far under cover of night. We question if his exoneration is a mistake. We fear he is stalking her when he is, in fact, trying to protect her.

Villain’s plan 4: To keep Darin off his scent.

Turning Point 3: Dharma has requested a meet-up with Darin because she has important intel to share. She overdoses at the restaurant while waiting for Darin to show.

Life threatening 9: Dharma being overdosed.

Mystery 23: Who overdosed Dharma and why?

Distrust: Darin distrusts Hank because Dharma was going to tell her something about Hank.

Twist 9: A new problem occurs.

Direction: Darin goes to restaurant to meet Dharma. Dharma has summoned her with the promise of useful intel.

Twist: Dharma is being wheeled out on a stretcher to an ambulance upon Darin’s arrival. She is informed Dharma (a recovering addict) has overdosed.

Villain’s plan 6: To keep Darin from learning the truth of his guilt.

Leff-T and Darin pour through Dharma’s notebook. They discover a note on doe estrus being used to throw off scenting dogs at drug busts. The answers begin coming into focus as to what Hank might have been up to.

Act 4: Darin figures it out.

Mystery 24: Why does Hank sleep with his socks on?

Mystery 25: What is it about violets that makes Pookie go Berserk?

Twist 10: A trust is violated. A lie is uncovered.

Direction: Darin goes to Hank’s house to get information from him. She brings booze, gets him drunk and snoops around his house. She has been drinking iced tea from a whisky bottle. She lures him into a conversation about civetone making dogs go nuts. She discovers his bloody left socks after rummaging through his hamper. She sneaks out – – having accidentally left the bottle of iced tea behind in the bathroom. She goes to her lab and replaces the civetone with another chemical. She calls up Leff-T and agrees to meet him at her house to share all she has learned before they go to the police.

Twist: Hank awakens thinking she is back under his control……only to discover there is iced tea in the booze bottle from which she had been drinking. He also discovers she went through his dirty laundry and has discovered the bloody socks. Hank breaks into Darin’s lab and steals the bottle marked as civetone.

Distrust: Darin has conned him. He knows she is on to him.

Life Threatening 10: Hank and his new dog go to a drug bust at the airport. He sprays his dog’s leash with what he thinks is civetone. The dog successfully scents drugs being transported anyway. He has failed. He sees one of the drug lord’s henchmen there. He knows he is a dead man. He flees home. Packs. Get money and guns from his safe and heads to Darin’s to tie up loose ends before he leaves.

Twist 11: It just got more dangerous. Secret identity uncovered.

Direction: Darin and Leff-T have agreed to meet at her house to share intel and formulate a gameplan.

Twist 12: She arrives to find Leff-T being held hostage by a crazed and drunken Hank.

Climax: Upon arrival at her home Darin discovers that Leff-T has been kidnapped by Hank. Darin confronts Hank with what she knows about him using scientific information he has been gleaning from her to make his narcotics dog fail to scent contraband at potential drug busts. Darin buys them time by confessing she is pregnant with Hank’s child. Hank confesses everything. Decides he will bring Darin on the run with him. A shoot out ensues. Hank is shot by Leff-T.

Life threatening 11: Hank finds Leff-T at Darin’s house. Holds him hostage. Uses him as bait to get Darin.

Mystery 26: What was Hank’s role in Livie’s death?

Life threatening 11: Hank prepares to kill Darin.

Life threatening 12: Hank pushes Leff-t – – who is tied to a chair – – in the pool to drown.

Trust: Leff-T saves Darin

Villain’s plan 7: To escape the drug lords coming to kill him. To tie up loose ends.

Resolution: Leff-T, Darin’s baby (Livie), and Dharma attend the FiFi Awards (perfume industry) with Darin. She dedicates her award to her deceased sister and informs the audience of newest release: a fragrance created for Leff-T’s non-for-profit benefiting reformed gang members and their families.

Twist 12: New options emerge.

Direction: Leff-T attends awards ceremony with Darin’s baby girl in tow.

Twist: Leff-T and Darin are now a couple. She kept Hank’s baby and is married to Leff-T.

Trust: Leff-T and Darin are now married. Clearly, they trust one another. He is raising her baby with Hank.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur Gives Great Clues! 12

What I learned doing this assignment is: I need to sit in the audience’s shoes in order to determine if a clue is overt or covert. How will they perceive it?

Mystery number 1: Who killed Livie and why?

End Result: A gang was agitated by Leff-T’s charity helping a key member’s successful extraction and relocation. Since Leff-T and his followers were boycotting and harassing perfumer, Darin August – – the gang thought they could easily frame Leff-T for Livie’s murder.

Clues / Overt & Covert

– Forcible removal of a man’s toe in the opening scene. We never see the man’s face…..only the brutal removal of the toe.

– A limping Leff-T delivering an envelope of cash in a clandestine meeting in a seedy neighborhood in the middle of the night. He tells the person her gives the cash to, “Get it done!”

– Threatening phone call Darin gets before the awards ceremony.

– Leff-T’s protesters picketing and harassing Darin and Livie outside of Darin’s awards ceremony.

– Phone call Darin gets before the ceremony.

– Toe being placed in the hors d’oeuvre and intentionally given to Livie.

– Protesters harassing Darin and Livie exiting the ceremony.

– Leaking of Darin’s juvie record to paparazzi before Livie’s funeral.

– Hank informing Darin of Leff-t’s criminal record. He was involved in a gang in his youth. Committed a murder. Did prison time. Still has close ties within the gang community.

– Threatening, anonymous mail Darin receives at home.

– Leff-T watching Darin’s house from afar under cover of night.

– Leaking of photos of Darin drinking to the press and her boss.

– Leff-T showing up at same AA meeting as Darin – – in a city as vast as Los Angeles.

– Leff-T owning the same caliber gun as was used to kill Livie. His weapon is missing.

Mystery number 2: What is Leff-t’s story? What does it have to do with Darin and is he the killer?

End Result: Leff-T did not kill Livie. He entered a gang as a youth to try to extract his younger brother – – who was in deep. Leff-T killed a man in self defense attempting to protect his brother. He did time in prison because of this. He becomes a Christian rapper – – then a minister. After his release he forms a foundation to help gang members get out of the life and start over. Foundation offers tattoo removal, job training, legal services, relocation services. He approached Darin’s perfume house trying to get a celebrity fragrance made – – the proceeds of which could supply ongoing funding to his foundation. When turned down – – he is so angry he calls for a boycott of Darin’s perfumes and The House of Bonfil to exert public pressure on them. It takes on momentum and lands him the position of being suspected of Livie’s murder. His suspicious meeting with the money transfer was to facilitate the extraction and relocation of a high-profile gang member. Extraction of this gang member angers the gang, and they frame Leff-T for Livie’s murder. Leff-T is limping because of a sports injury.

Clues / Overt and Covert

– Clandestine meeting within seedy neighborhood in the middle of the night. He tells the person he gives the cash to, “Get it done!”

– Leff-T limping.

– Leff-t Watching Darin’s house under cover of night.

– Leff-T showing up at same AA meeting as Darin.

Mystery number 3: Why did Pookie fail to scent drugs at a drug bust with Hank? What does Pookie’s erratic behavior mean and what is she trying so desperately and fervently to communicate to Darin?

End Result: Pookie was set up by Hank to fail to scent drugs at several potential drug busts. Hank gleaned from Darin that violets arrest one’s sense of smell. In order to appease a drug lord who owns him – because he gets cocaine from him and has sex with his hooker daughter – – he volunteers to deploy the violets at drug busts to keep sniffer dogs from detecting the presence of drugs. Thus guarantees the undetected smuggling of them. Pookie is a finely tuned instrument- – experiences dissonance and turmoil for having failed at “her job”. Hank has to retire her a fabricate a reason why when she becomes so agitated it might cast suspicion on him. Pookie tries to communicate that she did not fail – – the violets were the problem.

Clues / Overt & Covert

– Pookie barks at Darin when she applies her violet-based perfume.

– Pookie attacks the violets delivered to the house as sympathy flowers.

– Pookie snarls at a woman wearing a violet based perfume.

– Pookie refuses her medication.

– Pookie tears at violets in dog park.

– Pookie digs up Darin’s flower beds.

Mystery Number 4: What is Hank’s involvement in his wife’s murder? Is he the killer?

End Result: Hank is not the killer. His wife was fed the hors d’ oeuvres that evening to send him a message by the drug lord to keep him compliant and in line. Livie was actually killed by a gang retaliating against Leff-T’s charity for successful extraction of one of their key players. While Hank’s involvement with the drug lord helped set Livie’s murder in motion – – he is not the actual killer.

Clues / Overt & Covert

– Hank encourage Darin to drink – – even though she is a recovering alcoholic.

– Hank sleeps with Darin.

– Hank has Darin surveilled.

– Hank Leaks Darin’s juvie record to the paparazzi.

– Hank leaks photos of Darin drinking to the press and her boss.

– Hank retires Pookie.

– Hank lies about Pookie having a medical condition.

– Hank sleeps with his socks on.

– Darin finds a card for a divorce attorney in Livie’s things.

– Hank engages Darin in scientific conversations to attempt to extract useful intel from her to keep narcotics dogs from scenting out drugs.

– Hank’s vehemence that Leff-t is guilty even after having been exonerated.

– Darin’s vet saying Pookie is in perfect health.

– Leff-T receiving intel that Hank is in bed with a drug lord.

– Narcotics offer who has approached Dharma with footage of Pookie’s failed drug busts ends up dead.

– Hank breaking into Darin’s lab.

Opening: scene of a man having his pinkie toe cut off while he is being held down.

Cut to: A limping Leff-t is in seedy neighborhood in the dead of night. Passes substantial envelope of cash to someone and instructs them to “Get it done!”

Act 1 : Renowned perfumer Darin August prepares to attend an awards ceremony with her pregnant sister, Livie Sanford. Pookie, her brother-in-law’s retired narcotic dog goes inexplicably berserk when she dons her violet perfume. The evening is rife with turmoil. Picketers block the entrance to the ceremonial hall. Darin receives threatening phone calls. At the reception someone chokes on an hors d’ oeuvres laced with a human toe which results in Darin performing an emergency tracheotomy on them. They are harassed again by protestors exiting the evening’s festivities.

Distrust: Leff-T has publicly called upon his followers to boycott Darin’s perfumes. His followers are fervently and not so peacefully protesting outside of her awards ceremony. This makes her distrust and suspect him.

Life threatening 1: Phone call to Darin.

Mystery 1: Who is making threats to Darin and why?

Distrust: Is Leff-T behind the phone calls as well?

Mystery 2: Why are people protesting Darin at the awards?

Life threatening 2: Laced hors d’oeuvres.

Mystery 3: Who wants to harm Livie and why?

Mystery 4: Whose toe is the meatball laced with?

Distrust: Is Leff-T responsible for the laced hors d’ oeuvres?

Twist 1: Something planned for doesn’t happen:

Direction: Hors d’oeuvres laced with toe is given to Livie by waiter.

Twist: Livie sneezes and puts plate down on adjacent table. Another guest picks up hors d’ oeuvres and commences choking on it.

Villains plan: To instill fear in Darin. To cast suspicion on Leff-T.

Inciting Incident: Upon returning home from the awards Darin is knocked unconscious and Livie is shot – -outside of Darin’s home.

Twist 2: It just got more dangerous.

Direction: Livie opens the door to let Pookie out to pee.

Twist: Armed assailants emerge from the home – – knocking Darin unconscious and shooting Livie.

Life threatening 3: Physical attack on Darin and Livie.

Mystery 5: Who is responsible for the attack?

Turning Point 1: While being treated at the hospital Darin learns of her pregnant sister’s death.

Mystery 6: Why would someone kill Livie?

Mystery 7: What is Leff-T’s beef with Darin – – and did he do it?

Distrust: Leff-T must be responsible in her mind. Nothing else makes sense.

Villain’s plan 2: To send a message to Hank to keep in line and compliant “or else”.

Act 2: Darin investigates Leff-T – – the man she suspects of her sister’s murder. He is a gangster, gone rapper, gone televangelist. She turned down a commission to make a celebrity fragrance for him. He had called upon his followers and parishioners to boycott her fragrances and the perfume house she works for. In a downward spiral she resumes drinking (she is a recovering alcoholic) and begins a sexual relationship with Livie’s husband, Hank Sanford. Pookie’s erratic behavior escalates. She attacks flowers sent in sympathy to the house. She digs up Darin’s flower beds.

Twist 3: A mistake returns to haunt them.

Direction: Darin arrives at her sister’s funeral to find paparazzi.

Twist: They inform her she is suspect – – that her juvie record has been leaked to the press – and ask why she killed her stepfather.

Mystery 8: Darin’s mother refers to Darin having killed her husband. What is the story here?

Distrust: Because of the past – – Darin’s mom really believes that Darin might be responsible for Livie’s death.

Distrust: Is Darin’s mom so spiteful she leaked Darin’s juvie record to the police as revenge?

Mystery 9: How was Darin’s juvie record unsealed?

Mystery 10: Who leaked her juvie record to the press?

Trust: Hank – – like a knight in shining armor- – comes to Darin’s rescue and defense when her mom attacks her at Livie’s funeral.

Life Threatening 4: Anonymous death threat mailed to Darin’s home.

Trust: Hank tells Darin to keep Pookie for protection and presents her with a gun for the selfsame purpose. Makes her feel looked out for and protected.

Mystery11: Who sent it?

Mystery 12: Who wants her dead.

Mystery 13: Why has Hank really encouraged her to resume drinking – – as he knows she battles with alcoholism?

Mystery14: Why would Hank have sex with his recently deceased, pregnant wife’s sister? Seems ice cold and heartless.

Distrust: Darin awakens ashamed for having imbibed and having slept with Hank. This creates distrust for him.

Life threatening 5: Leff-T is surveilling Darin.

Mystery 15: Who leaked photos of her drunk to the press and her boss?

Distrust: More chaos being created for her behind the scenes. As boycott continues – – she still suspects Leff-T.

Villain’s plan 3: To keep Darin off balance – therefore malleable and manipulatable.

Turning Point 2: Leff-T is cleared as a suspect.

Twist 4: We see an unexpected side of someone.

Direction: Darin has gone to Leff-T’s house – – drunk and brandishing a firearm. She shoots at the exterior of his home and security cameras. She ultimately passes out outside of his house on the sidewalk.

Twist: Leff-T see this on the security camera and tells his security guard he will “take care of it.” He carries her in the house and puts her to bed, tucks her in, and gives Pookie a chew toy.

Twist 5: We see an unexpected side of someone.

Direction: Darin awakens at home after blackout at Leff-T’s the night before. She is in a blind panic. Does not know how she got there. Cup of piping hot coffee on table next to her. Is someone else in her home?

Twist: She finds a note left by Leff-T telling her to watch the news at 11AM. He has also left some dog toys for Pookie. She watches the news conference. Leff-T has been cleared as a suspect. He gives a public apology to Darin for the boycott and asks his followers to stand down.

Trust: Leff-T brought her home safely. He was exonerated. He publicly apologizes to her on TV and calls for his followers to stand down.

Life threatening 6: The real killer is still out there.

Mystery 16: Who is the real killer?

Act 3: Darin gets back on the wagon. After receiving intel from Leff-T indicating suspicious activity on the part of her narcotics officer brother-in-law, Hank Sanford, she begins investigating Hank. She enlists the aid of her friend, Dharma to aid in the investigation. Dharma trains dogs and thinks Pookie’s strange behavior might be the key. Darin takes Pookie to the vet only to find out Hank had lied to her and Pookie has no health problems which would have forced her retirement.

Mystery 17: What is Pookie – – Hank’s retired narcotics dog – – attempting to communicate to Darin?

Mystery 18: Why is Hank so vehemently opposed to Darin’s burgeoning friendship with Leff-T – even though Leff-T has been cleared?

Distrust: Darin is suspicious of Hank’s continued finger pointing at Leff-T – – after he has been exonerated…..and she has been speaking to and researching Leff-T – – and believes in his innocence.

Twist 6: A lie is uncovered.

Direction: Darin puts on a sweater of Livie’s to comfort herself.

Twist: She finds the business card of a divorce attorney in the pocket of Livie’s sweater.

Life Threatening 7: Someone leaves poison out for Pookie. Darin smells poison and averts crises.

Mystery 19: What does Pookie know that has someone gunning for her?

Mystery 20: Who is behind trying to poison Pookie?

Life Threatening 8: Officer who has agreed to meet with Darin and Dharma to discuss circumstances of Pookie’s failed drug bust and subsequent termination – – is murdered.

Mystery 21: Who killed the narcotic’s officer and why?

Mystery 22: What has Pookie so agitated when Darin and Dharma run scenting tests on her?

Twist 7: Secret identity uncovered.

Direction: Hank tells his colleague he is going to meet with an informant.

Twist: The man waiting for him in the car is no informant. It is a drug lord. He has been blackmailing Hank.

Twist 8: The worst possible thing happens.

Direction: Darin has been throwing up. She thinks she has been withdrawing from alcohol.

Twist: She finds out she is pregnant with Hank’s child

Distrust: Darin confronts Hank about the card of divorce lawyer she found in Livie’s sweater. Hank says Livie had been having an affair. Darin does not believe this. Distrusts him.

Villain’s plan 4: To keep Darin off his scent.

Turning Point 3: Dharma has requested a meet-up with Darin because she has important intel to share. She overdoses at the restaurant while waiting for Darin to show.

Life threatening 9: Dharma being overdosed.

Mystery 23: Who overdosed Dharma and why?

Distrust: Darin distrusts Hank because Dharma was going to tell her something about Hank.

Twist 9: A new problem occurs.

Direction: Darin goes to restaurant to meet Dharma. Dharma has summoned her with the promise of useful intel.

Twist: Dharma is being wheeled out on a stretcher to an ambulance upon Darin’s arrival. She is informed Dharma (a recovering addict) has overdosed.

Villain’s plan 6: To keep Darin from learning the truth of his guilt.

Leff-T and Darin pour through Dharma’s notebook. They discover a note on doe estrus being used to throw off scenting dogs at drug busts. The answers begin coming into focus as to what Hank might have been up to.

Act 4: Darin figures it out.

Mystery 24: Why does Hank sleep with his socks on?

Mystery 25: What is it about violets that makes Pookie go Berserk?

Twist 10: A trust is violated. A lie is uncovered.

Direction: Darin goes to Hank’s house to get information from him. She brings booze, gets him drunk and snoops around his house. She has been drinking iced tea from a whisky bottle. She lures him into a conversation about civetone making dogs go nuts. She discovers his bloody left socks after rummaging through his hamper. She sneaks out – – having accidentally left the bottle of iced tea behind in the bathroom. She goes to her lab and replaces the civetone with another chemical. She calls up Leff-T and agrees to meet him at her house to share all she has learned before they go to the police.

Twist: Hank awakens thinking she is back under his control……only to discover there is iced tea in the booze bottle from which she had been drinking. He also discovers she went through his dirty laundry and has discovered the bloody socks. Hank breaks into Darin’s lab and steals the bottle marked as civetone.

Distrust: Darin has conned him. He knows she is on to him.

Life Threatening 10: Hank and his new dog go to a drug bust at the airport. He sprays his dog’s leash with what he thinks is civetone. The dogs successfully scents drugs being transported anyway. He has failed. He see’s one of the drug lord’s henchmen there. He knows he is a dead man. He flees home. Packs. Get money and guns from his safe and heads to Darin’s to tie up loose ends before he leaves.

Twist 11: It just got more dangerous. Secret identity uncovered.

Direction: Darin and Leff-T have agreed to meet at her house to share intel and formulate a gameplan.

Twist 12: She arrives to find Leff-T being held hostage by a crazed and drunken Hank.

Climax: Upon arrival at her home Darin discovers that Leff-T has been kidnapped by Hank. Darin confronts Hank with what she knows about him using scientific information he has been gleaning from her to make his narcotics dog fail to scent contraband at potential drug busts. Darin buys them time by confessing she is pregnant with Hank’s child. Hank confesses everything. Decides he will bring Darin on the run with him. A shoot out ensues. Hank is shot by Leff-T.

Life threatening 11: Hank finds Leff-T at Darin’s house. Holds him hostage. Uses him as bait to get Darin.

Mystery 26: What was Hank’s role in Livie’s death?

Life threatening 11: Hank prepares to kill Darin.

Life threatening 12: Hank pushes Leff-t – – who is tied to a chair – – in the pool to drown.

Trust: Leff-T saves Darin

Villain’s plan 7: To escape the drug lords coming to kill him. To tie up loose ends.

Resolution: Leff-T, Darin’s baby (Livie), and Dharma attend the FiFi Awards (perfume industry) with Darin. She dedicates her award to her deceased sister and informs the audience of newest release: a fragrance created for Leff-T’s non-for-profit benefiting reformed gang members and their families.

Twist 12: New options emerge.

Direction: Leff-T attends awards ceremony with Darin’s baby girl in tow.

Twist: Leff-T and Darin are now a couple. She kept Hank’s baby and is married to Leff-T.

Trust: Leff-T and Darin are now married. Clearly, they trust one another. He is raising her baby with Hank.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Dramatic Reveals Assignment 11

What I learned doing this assignment is: I found this assignment so very difficult. I think my tendency to incorporate exposition rather than reveals has been brought to light. This is a skill I really need to glean a better understanding of and dial in. Difficult for me for some reason or another.

Reveal: Leff-T is using a cane and is limping. He could be the man with the missing toe. The hors d’oeuvres laced with the toe – – resulting in a choking guest creates the demand to know the truth. His limp is detected in a dramatic way by a cop surveilling Leff-T because of threats Darin has been receiving.

Reveal: Darin was involved with Hank before her sister married him. Revealed when Livie tells Darin they are naming the baby after her. Hank’s past with Darin and shared interest in science demand revealing as explanation as to why they have their geeky conversations where she inadvertently gives him useful info used in making scenting dogs fail – – without raising her suspicions.

Reveal: Toe being placed in the meatball in the kitchen at the awards ceremony. Covered up by surreptitious way it is smuggled into the kitchen. Patron ingesting it and requiring an emergency tracheotomy at awards ceremony create a demand to know the truth and serve as a dramatic means of revealing it. Camera footage at the event reveals it was flagged with a special toothpick and seemingly intentionally served to Livie. The why of this creates mystery and intrigue.

Reveal: Darin has a sealed juvie record containing the information she murdered her stepfather when she was underage. It was covered up by the inherent legality of juvenile records being sealed to protect the young. Mystery is who leaked it to the press. Comes to light in a dramatic way as she is accosted by paparazzi at her sister’s funeral with this information – – wanting to know if she was involved in her sister’s death. Intrigue – – could she be a suspect in her sister’s murder? Mystery – – who leaked the record?

Reveal: Pookie (Hank’s retired scenting dog) is trying desperately and unsuccessfully to communicate something about violets and her failed drug bust to Darin. Her failed scent was covered up by Hank fabricating an illness for Pookie – – forcing her into retirement. Her acting out after several failed scents might cause suspicion. Violets are the key to drugs being successfully smuggled by the drug lord and demands to be revealed to Darin so she can solve the mystery of what Hank has been up to. Pookie breaking the perfume bottles, attacking the funeral flowers, digging up the garden, barking at strangers has dramatic impact. Revealed to Darin when she takes Pookie to vet only to discover there is no medical condition requiring forced retirement. Mystery – – what is Pookie trying to communicate? Why did Hank lie about her having a medical condition?

Reveal: Leff-T went to jail for murder in his youth. Reasons for murder covered up by Leff-T’s refusal to admit he was covering up for his brother and doing the jail time for him to try to protect him from the gang he was member of and in trouble with. Demands to be revealed because Leff-T is initially the prime suspect in Livie’s murder. Revealed in a dramatic way at an AA meeting. He has resumed drinking because the stress is too much for him to handle sober. Darin happens to be at the same meeting. Looks as if Leff-T might be stalking her. His being at same meeting as Darin in a city as big as LA is suspenseful.

Reveal: Hank has a cocaine and hooker problem and is being blackmailed by a drug lord. Mystery of why Hank is encouraging Darin to drink demands that this mystery be revealed. Revealed when Hank says he is meeting with an informant and is waylaid by his blackmailer who feeds him cocaine and demands he go and sexually service his hooker daughter. Drug lord informs Hank about gang killing Livie to frame Leff-T. They wanted revenge on Leff-T for helping a key player escape the life. Hank is devastated to find out in this way and that the balls he put in motion to incriminate Leff-T inadvertently led to his wife’s murder.

Reveal: Darin is pregnant with Hank’s baby. Information demands to be revealed because she is struggling with sobriety and needs to be sober to regain control of her life and regain control of her life and career. She has been hitting bottom. Covered up by her DTs.

Reveal: Note in Dharma’s notebook about doe estrus being used by drug smugglers to attempt to distract dogs from scenting contraband. Revealed in a dramatic way because Darin and Leff-T are driven to examine her notebook after her overdose at the restaurant. She was meeting Darin to convey important information to Darin – – but never got to because of the overdose. Pookie’s odd reaction to violets has demanded that chemicals affecting a dog’s sense of smell be researched. Intrigue and suspense – – info on animal extracts used by hunters contained in Dharma’s notebook was important enough to have someone try and kill her.

Reveal: Darin dreams of the night she fell asleep with Hank on the couch. He was sleeping with his socks on. She bolts awake and realizes it could have been because his was missing a toe – – the toe used in the meatball. Revealed in dramatic way because he has become a recurring nightmare that terrorizes her at night. Demands to be revealed because it is the missing piece of the puzzle that has been niggling at her subconscious. Creates suspense – – she has been sleeping with the enemy.

Reveal: Darin is on to Hank. He awakens to discover iced tea in Darin’s whisky bottle and his blood-stained sock removed from his hamper. Demands to be known because Darin has put the trail of breadcrumbs together incriminating Hank. Revealed in a dramatic way as he awakens secure in the knowledge she is back under his thumb. Upon discovering the iced tea and sock he is faced with having been found out and outsmarted by Darin. Suspense – – his life is in danger.

Reveal: Darin has outsmarted him again. Hank steals civetone from Darin’s lab. Darin told Hank that civetone drives dogs crazy. He uses it at a drug bust. It doesn’t work. Darin has swapped it out for another chemical previous to him having broken into her lab and stealing it. The drugs are seized by police. Bust was being observed by one of the drug lord’s henchmen. Hank now knows he will be killed by them. Revealed in a dramatic way when dog actually finds the drug after masking chemical has been deployed. Demands to be revealed because Hank’s life depends upon him finding another chemical to be used to throw scenting dogs off. Creates suspense because we now wonder who will kill Hank first? Darin or the drug lord?

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Trust Relationships

What I learned about this assignment is: Utilization of these techniques practically writes the screenplay for me. Lol!

List of the main characters:

Hero: Renowned perfumer Darin August. Her basic state is trustable. She is a brilliant, capable badass! In the midst of grief, she resumes drinking. Her instability leads to horrific decision making, which can lessen others and audience ability to trust in this character. She also has a secret past – – which resulted in her killing her stepdad in her youth. As this information comes to light her trustworthiness comes into question.

Villain: Narcotics Officer Hank Sanford. He is a law enforcement officer with a scenting dog. His career choice indicates trustworthiness. He vows to avenge his wife’s death and rigorously investigates her murder – – which instills trustworthiness. He sees how damaged Darin (his sister-in-law) is by his wife’s death and is very solicitous of her and protective of her well-being.

Red Herring Character: Reverend Sergio Carbajal (Leff-T): He has strong ties with active gang members still – – even though he renounced the life years back. He was a gang member in his youth. He committed murder in his youth. He is a recovering addict. He acts out like a petulant child and organizes a campaign of harassment against Darin when she refuses to take a commission for a celebrity fragrance from him.

Trusted, but shouldn’t be: Hank. He encourages her to resume drinking (she is a recovering alcoholic with years of sobriety under her belt) to alleviate her anxiety. This makes him less trustworthy as he has had addiction issues of his own and inherently understands how dangerous this could be. He is a recovering addict himself. He has sex with his recently dead wife’s sister – – which is suspect behavior. Hank’s addictive personality and close connections to the underbelly of society could cause him to become untrustworthy.

Isn’t trusted, but should be: Leff-T: He is a Reverend. He raises big bucks for a charity helping gang members denounce the life and start anew. The murder he committed in his youth was to protect his younger brother and try to aid him in getting out of the gang life. He is a superstar rapper / minister. Leff-T’s massive ego could take him down a slippery slope of untrustworthiness. His uber close relationships within the gang community could be difficult for him to balance.

How might distrust show up between:

Darin / Hank (trusted but should not be) Hank encouraging Darin to drink when she should not. Hank seducing Darin. Hank lying about Livie having an affair. Hank’s insistence Darin stay away from Leff-T. Hank insisting Darin have a gun even though she states it scares her. Hank’s refusal to go into circumstances of Pookie’s forced retirement. Darin’s dogged investigation of what is agitating Pookie. Darin’s resistance to Hank’s seduction and insistence she resume drinking. Darin’s curiosity and inquisitiveness. She has the ability to figure it out. Darin’s refusal to distrust Leff-T after he is exonerated.

Darin / Leff-T (not trusted but should be) Leff-T knows how vulnerable Darin is because of grief combined with alcoholism = bad choices. Leff-T knows how close Darin and Hank are – – how difficult it will be for her to suspect Hank of anything. Hank keeps bringing police intel to Darin about how connected Leff-T still is to the gang community – – and therefore not to be trusted. Leff-T is also a recovering addict. Darin knows the pitfalls and how untrustworthy they can be. His violent past can be difficult for her to ignore.

Opening: Renowned perfumer Darin August attends an awards ceremony with her pregnant sister, Livie Sanford. The evening is rife with turmoil. Picketers block the entrance to the ceremonial hall. Darin receives threatening phone calls. At the reception someone chokes on an hors d’ oeuvres laced with a human toe which results in Darin performing an emergency tracheotomy on them. They are harassed again by protestors exiting the evening’s festivities.

Distrust: Leff-T has publicly called upon his followers to boycott Darin’s perfumes. His followers are fervently and not so peacefully protesting outside of her awards ceremony. This makes her distrust and suspect him.

Life threatening 1: Phone call to Darin.

Mystery 1: Who is making threats to Darin and why?

Distrust: Is Leff-T behind the phone calls as well?

Mystery 2: Why are people protesting Darin at the awards?

Life threatening 2: Laced hors d’oeuvres.

Mystery 3: Who wants to harm Livie and why?

Mystery 4: Whose toe is the meatball laced with?

Distrust: Is Leff-T responsible for the laced hors d’ oeuvres?

Twist 1: Something planned for doesn’t happen:

Direction: Hors d’oeuvres laced with toe is given to Livie by waiter.

Twist: Livie sneezes and puts plate down on adjacent table. Another guest picks up hors d’ oeuvres and commences choking on it.

Villains plan: To instill fear in Darin. To cast suspicion on Leff-T.

Inciting Incident: Upon returning home from the awards Darin is knocked unconscious and Livie is shot – -outside of Darin’s home.

Twist 2: It just got more dangerous.

Direction: Livie opens the door to let Pookie out to pee.

Twist: Armed assailants emerge from the home – – knocking Darin unconscious and shooting Livie.

Life threatening 3: Physical attack on Darin and Livie.

Mystery 5: Who is responsible for the attack?

Turning Point 1: While being treated at the hospital Darin learns of her pregnant sister’s death.

Mystery 6: Why would someone kill Livie?

Mystery 7: What is Leff-T’s beef with Darin – – and did he do it?

Distrust: Leff-T must be responsible in her mind. Nothing else makes sense.

Villain’s plan 2: To send a message to Hank to keep in line and compliant “or else”.

Act 2: Darin investigates Leff-T – – the man she suspects of her sister’s murder. He is a gangster, gone rapper, gone televangelist. She turned down a commission to make a celebrity fragrance for him. He had called upon his followers and parishioners to boycott her fragrances and the perfume house she works for. In a downward spiral she resumes drinking (she is a recovering alcoholic) and begins a sexual relationship with Livie’s husband, Hank Sanford.

Twist 3: A mistake returns to haunt them.

Direction: Darin arrives at her sister’s funeral to find paparazzi.

Twist: They inform her she is suspect – – that her juvie record has been leaked to the press – and ask why she killed her stepfather.

Mystery 8: Darin’s mother makes reference to Darin having killed her husband at the funeral. What is the story here?

Distrust: Because of the past – – Darin’s mom really believes that Darin might be responsible for Livie’s death.

Distrust: Is Darin’s mom so spiteful she leaked Darin’s juvie record to the police as revenge?

Mystery 9: How was Darin’s juvie record unsealed?

Mystery 10: Who leaked her juvie record to the press?

Trust: Hank – – like a knight in shining armor- – comes to Darin’s rescue and defense when her mom attacks her at Livie’s funeral.

Life Threatening 4: Anonymous death threat mailed to Darin’s home.

Trust: Hank tells Darin to keep Pookie for protection and presents her with a gun for the selfsame purpose. Makes her feel looked out for and protected.

Mystery11: Who sent it?

Mystery 12: Who wants her dead.

Mystery 13: Why has Hank really encouraged her to resume drinking – – as he knows she battles with alcoholism?

Mystery14: Why would Hank have sex with his recently deceased, pregnant wife’s sister? Seems ice cold and heartless.

Distrust: Darin awakens ashamed for having imbibed and having slept with Hank. This creates distrust for him.

Life threatening 5: Someone is surveilling Darin.

Mystery 15: Who leaked photos of her drunk to the press and her boss?

Distrust: More chaos being created for her behind the scenes. As boycott continues – – she still suspects Leff-T.

Villain’s plan 3: To keep Darin off balance – therefore malleable and manipulatable.

Turning Point 2: Leff-T is cleared as a suspect.

Twist 4: We see an unexpected side of someone.

Direction: Darin has gone to Leff-T’s house – – drunk and brandishing a firearm. She shoots at the exterior of his home and security cameras. She ultimately passes out outside of his house on the sidewalk.

Twist: Leff-T see this on the security camera and tells his security guard he will “take care of it.” He carries her in the house and puts her to bed, tucks her in, and gives Pookie a chew toy.

Twist 5: We see an unexpected side of someone.

Direction: Darin awakens at home after blackout at Leff-T’s the night before. She is in a blind panic. Does not know how she got there. Cup of piping hot coffee on table next to her. Is someone else in her home?

Twist: She finds a note left by Leff-T telling her to watch the news at 11AM. He has also left some dog toys for Pookie. She watches the news conference. Leff-T has been cleared as a suspect. He gives a public apology to Darin for the boycott and asks his followers to stand down.

Trust: Leff-T brought her home safely. He was exonerated. He publicly apologizes to her on TV and calls for his followers to stand down.

Life threatening 6: the real killer is still out there.

Mystery 16: Who is the real killer?

Act 3: Darin gets back on the wagon. After receiving intel from Leff-T indicating suspicious activity on the part of her narcotics officer brother-in-law, Hank Sanford, she begins investigating Hank. She enlists the aid of her friend, Dharma to aid in the investigation.

Mystery 17: What is Pookie – – Hank’s retired narcotics dog – – attempting to communicate to Darin?

Mystery 18: Why is Hank so vehemently opposed to Darin’s burgeoning friendship with Leff-T – even though Leff-T has been cleared?

Distrust: Darin is suspicious of Hank’s continued finger pointing at Leff-T – – after he has been exonerated…..and she has been speaking to and researching Leff-T – – and believes in his innocence.

Twist 6: A lie is uncovered.

Direction: Darin puts on a sweater of Livie’s to comfort herself.

Twist: She finds the business card of a divorce attorney in the pocket.

Life Threatening 7: Some leaves poison out for Pookie.

Mystery 19: What does Pookie know that has someone gunning for her?

Mystery 20: Who is behind trying to poison Pookie?

Life Threatening 8: Officer who has agreed to meet with Darin and Dharma to discuss circumstances of Pookie’s failed drug bust and subsequent termination – – is murdered.

Mystery 21: Who killed the narcotic’s officer and why?

Mystery 22: What has Pookie so agitated when Darin and Dharma run scenting tests on her?

Twist 7: Secret identity uncovered.

Direction: Hank tells his colleague he is going to meet with an informant.

Twist: The man waiting for him in the car is no informant. It is a drug lord. He has been blackmailing Hank.

Twist 8: The worst possible thing happens.

Direction: Darin has been throwing up. She thinks she has been withdrawing from alcohol.

Twist: She finds out she is pregnant with Hank’s child

Distrust: Darin confronts Hank about the card of divorce lawyer she found in Livie’s sweater. Hank says Livie had been having an affair. Darin does not believe this. Distrusts him.

Villain’s plan 4: To keep Darin off his scent.

Turning Point 3: Dharma has requested a meet-up with Darin because she has important intel to share. She overdoses at the restaurant while waiting for Darin to show.

Life threatening 9: Dharma being overdosed.

Mystery 23: who overdosed Dharma and why?

Distrust: Darin distrusts Hank because Dharma was going to tell her something about Hank.

Twist 9: A new problem occurs.

Direction: Darin goes to restaurant to meet Dharma. Dharma has summoned her with the promise of useful intel.

Twist: Dharma is being wheeled out on a stretcher to an ambulance upon Darin’s arrival. She is informed Dharma (a recovering addict) has overdosed.

Villain’s plan 6: To keep Darin from learning the truth of his guilt.

Act 4: Darin figures it out.

Mystery 24: Why does Hank sleep with his socks on?

Mystery 25: What is it about violets that makes Pookie go Berserk?

Twist 10: A trust is violated. A lie is uncovered.

Direction: After a falling out – – Darin goes to Hank’s house to make up with him. She brings booze, gets him drunk and snoops around his house.

Twist: He awakens thinking she is back under his control……only to discover there is iced tea in the booze bottle from which she had been drinking. He also discovers she went through his dirty laundry and has discovered the bloody sock.

Distrust: Darin has conned him. He knows she is on to him.

Climax: Darin confronts Hank with what she knows about him using scientific information he has been gleaning from her to make his narcotics dog fail to scent contraband at potential drug busts. Leff-T has been kidnapped by Hank. Darin buys them time by confessing she is pregnant with Hank’s child. Hank confesses everything. A shoot out ensues. Hank is shot by Leff-T.

Life threatening 10: Hank’s new dog scents drugs at a bust. The fake deterrent Darin fed him didn’t work. The drug lord will kill him now. He prepares to go on the run. First, he must take Darin out.

Life threatening 11: Hank finds Leff-T at Darin’s house. Holds him hostage. Uses him as bait to get Darin.

Mystery 26: What was Hanks role in Livie’s death?

Life threatening 11: Hank prepares to kill Darin.

Life threatening 12: Hank pushes Leff-t – – who is tied to a chair – – in the pool to drown.

Twist 11: It just got more dangerous. Secret identity uncovered.

Direction: Darin and Leff-T have agreed to meet at her house to share intel and formulate a gameplan.

Twist: She arrives to find Leff-T being held hostage by a crazed and drunken Hank.

Trust: Leff-T saves Darin

Villain’s plan 7: To escape the drug lords coming to kill him. To tie up loose ends.

Resolution: Leff-T, Darin’s baby, and Dharma attend the FiFi Awards (perfume industry) with Darin. She dedicates her award to her deceased sister and informs the audience of newest release: a fragrance created for Leff-T’s non-for-profit benefiting reformed gang members and their families.

Twist 12: New options emerge.

Direction: Leff-T attends awards ceremony with Darin’s baby girl (Livie) in tow.

Twist: Leff-T and Darin are now a couple. She kept Hank’s baby and is married to Leff-T.

Trust: Leff-T and Darin are now married. Clearly, they trust one another. He is raising her baby with Hank.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Twists & Turns / Assignment 9

What I learned doing this assignment is: As stated by Hal, I already had some twists and turns in my map. As stated by Hal, it is a natural byproduct of the process we have already done.

Twist 1: Something planned for doesn’t happen:

Direction: Hors d’oeuvres laced with toe is given to Livie by waiter.

Twist: Livie sneezes and puts plate down on adjacent table. Another guest picks up hors d’ oeuvres and commences choking on it.

Twist 2: It just got more dangerous.

Direction: Livie opens the door to let Pookie out to pee.

Twist: Armed assailants emerge from the home – – knocking Darin unconscious and shooting Livie.

Twist 3: A mistake returns to haunt them.

Direction: Darin arrives at her sister’s funeral to find paparazzi.

Twist: They inform her she is suspect – – that her juvie record has been leaked to the press – and ask why she killed her stepfather.

Twist 4: We see an unexpected side of someone.

Direction: Darin has gone to Leff-T’s house – – drunk and brandishing a firearm. She shoots at the exterior of his home and security cameras. She ultimately passes out outside of his house on the sidewalk.

Twist: Leff-T see this on the security camera and tells his security guard he will “take care of it.” He carries her in the house and puts her to bed, tucks her in, and gives Pookie a chew toy.

Twist 5: We see an unexpected side of someone.

Direction: Darin awakens at home after blackout at Leff-T’s the night before. She is in a blind panic. Does not know how she got there. Cup of piping hot coffee on table next to her. Is someone else in her home?

Twist: She finds a note left by Leff-T telling her to watch the news at 11AM. He has also left some dog toys for Pookie.

Twist 6: A lie is uncovered.

Direction: Darin puts on a sweater of Livie’s to comfort herself.

Twist: She finds the business card of a divorce attorney in the pocket.

Twist 7: Secret identity uncovered.

Direction: Hank tells his colleague he is going to meet with an informant.

Twist: The man waiting for him in the car is no informant. It is a drug lord. He has been blackmailing Hank.

Twist 8: The worst possible thing happens.

Direction: Darin has been throwing up. She thinks she has been withdrawing from alcohol.

Twist: She finds out she is pregnant with Hank’s child.

Twist 9: A new problem occurs.

Direction: Darin goes to restaurant to meet Dharma. Dharma has summoned her with the promise of useful intel.

Twist: Dharma is being wheeled out on a stretcher to an ambulance upon Darin’s arrival. She is informed Dharma (a recovering addict) has overdosed.

Twist 10: A trust is violated. A lie is uncovered.

Direction: After a falling out – – Darin goes to Hank’s house to make up with him. She brings booze, gets him drunk and snoops around his house.

Twist: He awakens thinking she is back under his control……only to discover there is iced tea in the booze bottle from which she had been drinking. He also discovers she went through his dirty laundry and has discovered the bloody sock.

Twist 11: It just got more dangerous. Secret identity uncovered.

Direction: Darin and Leff-T have agreed to meet at her house to share intel and formulate a gameplan.

Twist: She arrives to find Leff-T being held hostage by a crazed and drunken Hank.

Twist 12: New options emerge.

Direction: Leff-T attends awards ceremony with Darin’s baby girl (Livie) in tow.

Twist: Leff-T and Darin are now a couple. She kept Hank’s baby and is married to Leff-T.

Opening: Renowned perfumer Darin August attends an awards ceremony with her pregnant sister, Livie Sanford. The evening is rife with turmoil. Picketers block the entrance to the ceremonial hall. Darin receives threatening phone calls. At the reception someone chokes on an hors d’ oeuvres laced with a human toe which results in Darin performing an emergency tracheotomy on them. They are harassed again by protestors exiting the evening’s festivities.

Life threatening 1: Phone call to Darin.

Mystery 1: Who is making threats to Darin and why?

Mystery 2: Why are people protesting Darin at the awards?

Life threatening 2: Laced hors d’oeuvres.

Mystery 3: Who wants to harm Livie and why?

Mystery 4: Whose toe is the meatball laced with?

Twist 1: Something planned for doesn’t happen:

Direction: Hors d’oeuvres laced with toe is given to Livie by waiter.

Twist: Livie sneezes and puts plate down on adjacent table. Another guest picks up hors d’ oeuvres and commences choking on it.

Villains plan: To instill fear in Darin. To cast suspicion on Leff-T.

Inciting Incident: Upon returning home from the awards Darin is knocked unconscious and Livie is shot – -outside of Darin’s home.

Twist 2: It just got more dangerous.

Direction: Livie opens the door to let Pookie out to pee.

Twist: Armed assailants emerge from the home – – knocking Darin unconscious and shooting Livie.

Life threatening 3: Physical attack on Darin and Livie.

Mystery 5: Who is responsible for the attack?

Turning Point 1: While being treated at the hospital Darin learns of her pregnant sister’s death.

Mystery 6: Why would someone kill Livie?

Mystery 7: What is Leff-T’s beef with Darin – – and did he do it?

Villain’s plan 2: To send a message to Hank to keep in line and compliant “or else”.

Act 2: Darin investigates Leff-T – – the man she suspects of her sister’s murder. He is a gangster, gone rapper, gone televangelist. She turned down a commission to make a celebrity fragrance for him. He had called upon his followers and parishioners to boycott her fragrances and the perfume house she works for. In a downward spiral she resumes drinking (she is a recovering alcoholic) and begins a sexual relationship with Livie’s husband, Hank Sanford.

Twist 3: A mistake returns to haunt them.

Direction: Darin arrives at her sister’s funeral to find paparazzi.

Twist: They inform her she is suspect – – that her juvie record has been leaked to the press – and ask why she killed her stepfather.

Mystery 8: Darin’s mother makes reference to Darin having killed her husband at the funeral. What is the story here?

Mystery 9: How was Darin’s juvie record unsealed?

Mystery 10: Who leaked her juvie record to the press?

Life Threatening 4: Anonymous death threat mailed to Darin’s home.

Mystery11: Who sent it?

Mystery 12: Who wants her dead.

Mystery 13: Why has Hank really encouraged her to resume drinking – – as he knows she battles with alcoholism?

Mystery14: Why would Hank have sex with his recently deceased, pregnant wife’s sister? Seems ice cold and heartless.

Life threatening 5: Someone is surveilling Darin.

Mystery 15: Who leaked photos of her drunk to the press and her boss?

Villain’s plan 3: To keep Darin off balance – therefore malleable and manipulatable.

Turning Point 2: Leff-T is cleared as a suspect.

Twist 4: We see an unexpected side of someone.

Direction: Darin has gone to Leff-T’s house – – drunk and brandishing a firearm. She shoots at the exterior of his home and security cameras. She ultimately passes out outside of his house on the sidewalk.

Twist: Leff-T see this on the security camera and tells his security guard he will “take care of it.” He carries her in the house and puts her to bed, tucks her in, and gives Pookie a chew toy.

Twist 5: We see an unexpected side of someone.

Direction: Darin awakens at home after blackout at Leff-T’s the night before. She is in a blind panic. Does not know how she got there. Cup of piping hot coffee on table next to her. Is someone else in her home?

Twist: She finds a note left by Leff-T telling her to watch the news at 11AM. He has also left some dog toys for Pookie. She watches the news conference. Leff-T has been cleared as a suspect. He gives a public apology to Darin for the boycott and asks his followers to stand down.

Life threatening 6: the real killer is still out there.

Mystery 16: Who is the real killer?

Act 3: Darin gets back on the wagon. After receiving intel from Leff-T indicating suspicious activity on the part of her narcotics officer brother-in-law, Hank Sanford, she begins investigating Hank. She enlists the aid of her friend, Dharma to aid in the investigation.

Mystery 17: What is Pookie – – Hank’s retired narcotics dog – – attempting to communicate to Darin?

Mystery 18: Why is Hank so vehemently opposed to Darin’s burgeoning friendship with Leff-T – even though Leff-T has been cleared?

Twist 6: A lie is uncovered.

Direction: Darin puts on a sweater of Livie’s to comfort herself.

Twist: She finds the business card of a divorce attorney in the pocket.

Life Threatening 7: Some leaves poison out for Pookie.

Mystery 19: What does Pookie know that has someone gunning for her?

Mystery 20: Who is behind trying to poison Pookie?

Life Threatening 8: Officer who has agreed to meet with Darin and Dharma to discuss circumstances of Pookie’s failed drug bust and subsequent termination – – is murdered.

Mystery 21: Who killed the narcotic’s officer and why?

Mystery 22: What has Pookie so agitated when Darin and Dharma run scenting tests on her?

Twist 7: Secret identity uncovered.

Direction: Hank tells his colleague he is going to meet with an informant.

Twist: The man waiting for him in the car is no informant. It is a drug lord. He has been blackmailing Hank.

Twist 8: The worst possible thing happens.

Direction: Darin has been throwing up. She thinks she has been withdrawing from alcohol.

Twist: She finds out she is pregnant with Hank’s child

Villain’s plan 4: To keep Darin off his scent.

Turning Point 3: Dharma has requested a meet-up with Darin because she has important intel to share. She overdoses at the restaurant while waiting for Darin to show.

Life threatening 9: Dharma being overdosed.

Mystery 23: who overdosed Dharma and why?

Twist 9: A new problem occurs.

Direction: Darin goes to restaurant to meet Dharma. Dharma has summoned her with the promise of useful intel.

Twist: Dharma is being wheeled out on a stretcher to an ambulance upon Darin’s arrival. She is informed Dharma (a recovering addict) has overdosed.

Villain’s plan 6: To keep Darin from learning the truth of his guilt.

Act 4: Darin figures it out.

Mystery 24: Why does Hank sleep with his socks on?

Mystery 25: What is it about violets that makes Pookie go Berserk?

Twist 10: A trust is violated. A lie is uncovered.

Direction: After a falling out – – Darin goes to Hank’s house to make up with him. She brings booze, gets him drunk and snoops around his house.

Twist: He awakens thinking she is back under his control……only to discover there is iced tea in the booze bottle from which she had been drinking. He also discovers she went through his dirty laundry and has discovered the bloody sock.

Climax: Darin confronts Hank with what she knows about him using scientific information he has been gleaning from her to make his narcotics dog fail to scent contraband at potential drug busts. Leff-T has been kidnapped by Hank. Darin buys them time by confessing she is pregnant with Hank’s child. Hank confesses everything. A shoot out ensues. Hank is shot by Leff-T.

Life threatening 10: Hank’s new dog scents drugs at a bust. The fake deterrent Darin fed him didn’t work. The drug lord will kill him now. He prepares to go on the run. First, he must take Darin out.

Life threatening 11: Hank finds Leff-T at Darin’s house. Holds him hostage. Uses him as bait to get Darin.

Mystery 26: What was Hanks role in Livie’s death?

Life threatening 11: Hank prepares to kill Darin.

Life threatening 12: Hank pushes Leff-t – – who is tied to a chair – – in the pool to drown.

Twist 11: It just got more dangerous. Secret identity uncovered.

Direction: Darin and Leff-T have agreed to meet at her house to share intel and formulate a gameplan.

Twist: She arrives to find Leff-T being held hostage by a crazed and drunken Hank.

Villain’s plan 7: To escape the drug lords coming to kill him. To tie up loose ends.

Resolution: Leff-T, Darin’s baby, and Dharma attend the FiFi Awards (perfume industry) with Darin. She dedicates her award to her deceased sister and informs the audience of newest release: a fragrance created for Leff-T’s non-for-profit benefiting reformed gang members and their families.

Twist 12: New options emerge.

Direction: Leff-T attends awards ceremony with Darin’s baby girl (Livie) in tow.

Twist: Leff-T and Darin are now a couple. She kept Hank’s baby and is married to Leff-T.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Thriller Plot

What I learned doing this assignment is: be methodical!

Opening: Renowned perfumer Darin August attends an awards ceremony with her pregnant sister, Livie Sanford. The evening is rife with turmoil. Picketers block the entrance to the ceremonial hall. Darin receives threatening phone calls. At the reception someone chokes on an hors oeuvres laced with a human toe which results in Darin performing an emergency tracheotomy on them. They are harassed again by protestors exiting the evening’s festivities.

Life threatening 1: Phone call to Darin.

Mystery 1: Who is making threats to Darin and why?

Mystery 2: Why are people protesting Darin at the awards?

Life threatening 2: Laced hors d’oeuvres.

Mystery 3: Who wants to harm Livie and why?

Mystery 4: Whose toe is the meatball laced with?

Villains plan: To instill fear in Darin. To cast suspicion on Leff-T.

Inciting Incident: Upon returning home from the awards Darin is knocked unconscious and Livie is shot – -outside of Darin’s home.

Life threatening 3: Physical attack on Darin and Livie.

Mystery 5: Who is responsible for the attack?

Turning Point 1: While being treated at the hospital Darin learns of her pregnant sister’s death.

Mystery 6: Why would someone kill Livie?

Mystery 7: What is Leff-T’s beef with Darin – – and did he do it?

Villain’s plan 2: To send a message to Hank to keep in line and compliant “or else”.

Act 2: Darin investigates Leff-T – – the man she suspects of her sister’s murder. He is a gangster, gone rapper, gone televangelist. She turned down a commission to make a celebrity fragrance for him. He had called upon his followers and parishioners to boycott her fragrances and the perfume house she works for. In a downward spiral she resumes drinking (she is a recovering alcoholic) and begins a sexual relationship with Livie’s husband, Hank Sanford.

Mystery 8: Darin’s mother makes reference to Darin having killed her husband at the funeral. What is the story here?

Mystery 9: How was Darin’s juvie record unsealed?

Mystery 10: Who leaked her juvie record to the press?

Life Threatening 4: Anonymous death threat mailed to Darin’s home.

Mystery11: Who sent it?

Mystery 12: Who wants her dead.

Mystery 13: Why has Hank really encouraged her to resume drinking – – as he knows she battles with alcoholism?

Mystery14: Why would Hank have sex with his recently deceased, pregnant wife’s sister? Seems ice cold and heartless.

Life threatening 5: Someone is surveilling Darin.

Mystery 15: Who leaked photos of her drunk to the press and her boss?

Villain’s plan 3: To keep Darin off balance – therefore malleable and manipulatable.

Turning Point 2: Leff-T is cleared as a suspect.

Life threatening 6: the real killer is still out there.

Mystery 16: Who is the real killer?

Act 3: Darin gets back on the wagon. After receiving intel from Leff-T indicating suspicious activity on the part of her narcotics officer brother-in-law, Hank Sanford, she begins investigating Hank. She enlists the aid of her friend, Dharma to aid in the investigation.

Mystery 17: What is Pookie – – Hank’s retired narcotics dog – – attempting to communicate to Darin?

Mystery 18: Why is Hank so vehemently opposed to Darin’s burgeoning friendship with Leff-T – even though Leff-T has been cleared?

Life Threatening 7: Some leaves poison out for Pookie.

Mystery 19: What does Pookie know that has someone gunning for her?

Mystery 20: Who is behind trying to poison Pookie?

Life Threatening 8: Officer who has agreed to meet with Darin and Dharma to discuss circumstances of Pookie’s failed drug bust and subsequent termination – – is murdered.

Mystery 21: Who killed the narcotic’s officer and why?

Mystery 22: What has Pookie so agitated when Darin and Dharma run scenting tests on her?

Villain’s plan 4: To keep Darin off his scent.

Turning Point 3: Dharma has requested a meet-up with Darin because she has important intel to share. She overdoses at the restaurant while waiting for Darin to show.

Life threatening 9: Dharma being overdosed.

Mystery 23: who overdosed Dharma and why?

Villain’s plan 6: To keep Darin from learning the truth of his guilt.

Act 4: Darin figures it out.

Mystery 24: Why does Hank sleep with his socks on?

Mystery 25: What is it about violets that makes Pookie go Berserk?

Climax: Darin confronts Hank with what she knows about him using scientific information he has been gleaning from her to make his narcotics dog fail to scent contraband at potential drug busts. Leff-T has been kidnapped by Hank. Darin buys them time by confessing she is pregnant with Hank’s child. Hank confesses everything. A shoot out ensues. Hank is shot by Leff-T.

Life threatening 10: Hank’s dog scent drugs at a bust. His deterrent didn’t work. The drug lord will kill him now. He prepares to go on the run.

Life threatening 11: Hank finds Leff-T at his house. Holds him hostage. Uses him as bait to get Darin.

Mystery 26: What was Hanks role in Livie’s death?

Life threatening 11: Hank prepares to kill Darin.

Life threatening 12: Hank pushes Leff-t – – who is tied to a chair – – in the pool to drown.

Villain’s plan 7: To escape the drug lords coming to kill him. To tie up loose ends.

Resolution: Leff-T, Darin’s baby, and Dharma attend the FiFi Awards (perfume industry) with Darin. She dedicates her award to her deceased sister and informs the audience of newest release: a fragrance created for Leff-T’s non-for-profit benefiting reformed gang members and their families.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Life-Threatening Sequence

Assignment # 7

What I learned doing this assignment is: Dangers for the Hero can emanate from places other than / in addition to the Villain. This can serve to heighten the suspense / thrill.

What is the Villain’s plan and how does it put the Hero in danger?

The Villain (Hank), a narcotics officer, needs to keep the Hero (Darin), a renowned perfumer, unstable, off balance, and reliant on him in order to keep extorting scientific information from her to feed to and appease the drug lord he is beholding to. This scientific information is used to throw narcotics detecting dogs off the scent of drugs being smuggled.

List of dangers to Hero. Threats, physical danger, surveillance, closeness to the Villain, stalked, people around them die or are injured, damage to reputation, threat that their own secrets could be revealed, public humiliation, loss of job and/or career, betrayal, other parties who want the Villain dead, and succumbing to life threatening addiction again.

Threats: Darin receives death threats by phone getting ready for and traveling to awards ceremony wherein she is being awarded for the perfumes she is the creator of.

Something that damages reputation: Raucous protestors block her entrance to the awards. They were mobilized by a celebrity rapper/minister. She turned down a commission to create a fragrance for him.

Physical danger: An hors d’oeuvres laced with a human body part is served to Darin’s Sister, Livie.

People around them die or are in danger: Upon arriving home after the ceremony – -Darin is knocked unconscious and Livie is gunned down on Darin’s front porch.

Casting of suspicion onto Darin and public humiliation: Darin’s juvie record is ferreted out and leaked to the press. It comes to light – – publicly – – that Darin killed her stepdad while underage. He was a pedophile. This makes her a suspect.

Loss of health/control: After an ugly altercation with her mom wherein her mom accuses her of being responsible for Livie’s death – – Hank convinces Darin (a recovering alcoholic) to resume drinking to help “take the edge off” the events of the day.

Surveillance: Darin is being watched. Photos of her drinking are leaked to her boss.

Loss of career: Her boss puts her on leave.

Closeness to the Villain: Hank seduces Darin. Keeps her afraid and drinking to control her.

Physical Danger: Darin shows up at Leff-T’s with a gun. Going to make him pay for having killed Livie.

Danger to someone they know: Once exonerated, Leff-T and Darin make peace. They investigate Livie’s murder together. This puts “T” in danger as Hank and the drug lord need him off the scent. “T’, a recovering alcoholic himself, is trying to help Darin with her sobriety. This threatens Hank’s control as well.

People around them die or are injured: A narcotics officer Leff-T has contacted is willing to show Darin and “T” the footage of Pookie’s (Hank’s narcotic’s dog’s) failed drug bust. The officer ends up murdered before the meet takes place.

People around them die or are injured: Darin’s friend, Dharma, has been helping Darin investigate the connection between Pookie’s odd behavior and Hank. Dharma is overdosed at a restaurant waiting for Darin. She set up the meet to convey important intel to Darin. She is overdosed before Darin arrives.

Betrayal from someone close: Darin puts 2 and 2 together. She remembers Hank sleeping with his socks on. She ferrets out his bloody sock from his hamper and realizes it was his toe in the hors d’oeuvre. She realizes he is involved with Livie’s murder.

Physical Danger: Going to meet Leff-T and convey the info – – she arrives home to find Leff-T being held hostage by Hank. There is a showdown resulting in Leff-T shooting Hank.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Mystery Sequence

What I learned doing this assignment is: how many gaping holes were in my script! This class is saving my project’s life!

– What is the big secret the Villain is covering up?

Hank is covering up the fact that his wife (Livie) was murdered by the drug lord he his beholding to – – in order to keep Hank in line and compliant.

– How many ways can he cover that secret?

He puts his sniffer dog (Pookie) on leave since she has been acting out after failing a to scent drugs at a bust – – because he intentionally set her up to fail.

He continuously manipulates evidence to point to Leff-T as the prime suspect.

He gets Darin drinking again to keep her compliant so that he can continue mining her for scientific secrets that throw scenting dogs off.

He repeatedly seduces Darin to shame her – – thus keep her drinking.

He leaks footage of her drinking to her boss to get her put on leave – – in order to keep her isolated.

He has her friend Dharma overdosed when she gets too close to the truth about him.

He kills the officer willing to share footage of Pookie’s failed drug bust with Darin and Dharma.

– The first mystery must engage the hero into solving it.

Upon arriving home after a lovely night at the Fifi awards, Darin’s sister, Livie, is gunned down and dies. Darin has been receiving threats. She thinks her sister was killed because of her – – or that the bullet was intended for her. She must uncover who the killer is and enact justice upon them.

Mystery Chain

Mystery #1 – – Who actually killed Livie?

A toe is cut off of a man who is being restrained. We cannot see his face.

Leff-T hands envelope of money to thugs and tells them to “Get is done.”

Darin receives another threatening phone call in the limo enroute to the awards ceremony.

There are agitated protestors harassing Darin outside of the ceremonial hall where awards take place.

Livie is served an appetizer with a human toe embedded in it.

Hank unearths intel that the gang Leff-T belonged to in his youth removed toes as a rite of passage ensuring continued loyalty.

Gun used in Livie’s death is same caliber as gun Leff-T committed murder with in his youth when a part of a gang.

Leff-T has a limp and apparent recent foot injury.

Mystery #2 – – Why did Pookie suddenly begin failing to scent contraband at drug busts – – and what is she trying so fervently to communicate?

Pookie goes berserk when Darin applies her violet perfume.

Darin receives condolence flowers – – which Pookie attacks.

Pookie digs up flowers in Darin’s flower beds.

Pookie growls at stranger she and Darin encounter who is sporting Darin’s Violet perfume.

Pookie attacks flowers growing in the dog park.

Mystery #3 – – What is the mystery of Leff-T’s sordid past – – and what does it have to do with Darin? Leff-T is the Red Herring.

Leff-T pays an envelope of cash to “Get it done.”

Leff-T calls for boycott of Darin’s perfumes because she declined the request of a commission from him.

Leff-T limps – – has sustained a recent foot injury – – does he have a toe missing?

Leff-T was gang affiliated and committed a murder in his youth.

Leff-T maintains gang affiliations.

Gun used in Livie’s murder is same caliber as Leff-t’s gun – – which is MIA.

Gang Leff-T was in removed toes as a rite of passage and symbol of loyalty.

Mystery #4 – – Is Hank involved in his wife’s murder? Is he the killer?

Hank encourages Darin (a recovering alcoholic) to resume drinking.

Hank seduces Darin.

Hank meets with drug lord.

Hank has Darin surveilled. He leaks footage of her drinking to her boss to get her laid off or fired.

Hank has Darin’s juvie record unsealed. He leaks it to the tabloids.

Hank kills officer willing to share footage of Pookie’s failed drug bust with Darin and Dharma.

Hank has Dharma overdosed.

Hank is missing a pinky toe.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s villain has a great plan!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Something I already knew but didn’t want to face. This reiterated it and hit it home. My current villain is written weakly. Very milquetoast. He is always reacting to things instead of proacting on the plot and driving it forward. I need to flesh him out and strengthen him. This class and process will aid me in making him more of a driving force. I need to get off the fence and make him eviler.

Goal: Hank’s goal is to stay alive. To do so he must continue extorting scientific information from perfumer, Darin August (his sister-in-law), that results in dogs failing to scent drugs being smuggled. He feeds this info to the drug lord he is beholding to – – guaranteeing they won’t dispose of him.

Intrigue: Hank has ulterior motives. He claims to want to solve his wife’s murder – – when he is, in fact, seeking to pin it on someone else in order to divert suspicion away from himself and his culpability in it. This additionally engenders trust with Darin – – enabling him to keep her comfortably under his control.

How can Hank accomplish this in a devious way? Get Darin (a recovering alcoholic) off the wagon – – thusly keeping her unstable and more controllable. Isolate Darin from her support system. Take her purpose away from her by ratting her imbibing out to her boss and getting her placed-on leave from her job. Seduce a vulnerable Darin – – filling her with shame for sleeping with her dead sister’s husband. Implicate another (Leff-T) in his wife’s murder.

How can Hank cover it up? Leak footage of Darin drinking to the tabloids and her boss. Set up Leff-T to take the fall for Livie’s murder. Keep her drinking – – which lessens her credibility. Have her friend Dharma overdosed….Dharma is helping Darin get too close to the truth.

Sequence it. This is a loosey-goosey work in progress.

1. Hank alerts authorities that Leff-T’s old gang removed toes from members as a symbol of loyalty. This casts suspicion on Leff-T as having been responsible for the toe laced hors d’oeuvre at Darin’s awards ceremony…..since his followers were protesting and demanding a boycott of Darin’s fragrances at her awards ceremony.

2. Before Livie’s funeral – – Hank gets a copy of Darin’s sealed juvie record. Darin Killed her step-father in self- defense when he tried to molest her as a teen. This embarrassed Darin’s mother, Leighton, back in the day. He rips the band aid off an old wound and Leighton attacks Darin at Livie’s funeral, accusing her of having been responsible for Livie’s death – – as well as having seduced her deceased husband.

3. Hank gets Darin drinking again immediately after the funeral to keep her off balance and controllable.

4. Hank hires someone to issue death threats to Darin via mail and phone to keep her scared – – therefore more easily controlled by him

5. Hank anonymously sends a video of a drunk Darin to her boss to get her placed on leave – – as this will negatively impact the image of the company she works for.

6. Hank repeatedly takes advantage of Darin’s coerced drinking – – by seducing her several times to make her ashamed of sleeping with her dead sister’s husband – – thus keeping her more easily manipulated.

7. Hank fabricates a lie about the divorce papers Darin finds in Livie’s suitcase. He says Livie had been having an affair. Does this to throw Darin off the scent.

8. Hank kills officer who leaks information to Leff-T regarding Pookie failing to scent drugs at a potential drug bust.

9. Hank has Darin’s friend, Dharma, overdosed. Dharma has been attempting to aid Darin with her sobriety – – as well as solve Livie’s murder.

10. When the gig is up – – Hank holds Leff-T hostage and orders Darin to kill him after finding out Darin is carrying his child. He plans to flee the country with her.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s SOTL Stacking Suspense

What I learned doing this assignment is:

This was a thrilling assignment. I will never look at thrillers, or movies for that matter, the same way again. Methodically dissecting each scene is a total game changer. I can see how crafting these elements from the beginning will immeasurably strengthen the resulting screenplay. It is like laying the foundation for a building. While an enormous amount of work in the beginning – – it will save so much heartache and rewriting on the back-end.

I was struck by how the “atmosphere” of this movie was responsible for both creating and enhancing the MIS. So many basement settings built with heavy, wet, dank, old stone. So many heavy iron gates. So much occurring at night or in the dark. So many heavy storms serving as metaphor. It was as if the atmosphere was another character in the film.

Each and every scene and scenario is also dominated by men – – this omnipresent imbalance also serves to contribute to the MIS of each scene. Almost serves as a character once again.

Scene 1: Action – -Clarice working out on an obstacle course near Quantico.

Character MIS – – Who is she? Why is she so doggedly fixated on the course? Intrigue.

Scene MIS – – Woods are obscured by fog. Dangerous. She is running alone and vulnerable. Who is Crawford and what is so urgent she is pulled from her run to see him/her? Mystery.

Scene 2: Action – -Clarice meets with Crawford in Behavioral Sciences Department to discuss an assignment.

Stakes – -She wants to work with Crawford in BS upon graduation. The trajectory of her career. She is in a building – – then an elevator surrounded by men – – giving her something to prove to herself and them.

Scene MIS – – Wall of grisly material about Buffalo Bill murders. Crime scene photos, etc. Crawford says: “Believe me, you don’t want Hannibal Lecter inside your head!” Why. Who is he? What has he done? Mystery, intrigue.

Scene 3: Action – – Clarice meets with Dr. Chilton.

Stakes – – being taken seriously. Chilton demeans her by sexualizing her. She needs to establish herself as professional. Someone to be taken seriously.

Scene MIS – – Chilton says: “He’s a monster, pure psychopath. So rare to capture one alive.” “Boy, are you ever to his taste.” What does that mean? “I don’t think Lecter’s seen a woman in 8 years.” Suspense. Physical environment – – down and down and down we go into the subterranean. Layer upon layer upon layers of heavy, iron security doors. What is on the photo Crawford shows Clarice of what Hannibal did to nurse in ’81? Mystery.

Scene 4: Action – -Admittance to exterior of Hannibal’s cell for interview.

Stakes – -Being taken seriously as a woman within the Bureau – – not someone who will sleep her way to the top or be taken advantage of. Again – – all male environment.

Character MIS – -Clarice says: “Maybe we’ll have better luck if I go in by myself.” Suspense. Is this wise – – or safe?

Scene MIS – – environment. Massive number of weapons on wall of office previous to Hannibal’s cubical. Why is this necessary? Creates intrigue. Inmates she must pass to get to Lecter – – who heckle and threaten her. Who are they? What are they in for? Creates mystery and suspense.

Scene 5: Action – -Clarice interviews Hannibal.

Stakes – – A professional feather in her cap if Lecter cooperates. Her life – – he is a psychopath and could kill her.

Character MIS – – Hannibal says: “You’re one of Crawford’s, aren’t you?” How does he know this? Why is this significant? It seems alarming appealing to him. Why? Intrigue.

Scene MIS – – she comes close to glass – – when instructed not to. They are so close with just glass between them. Uber dangerous – – creates intrigue and suspense.

Scene 6: Action – – Clarice has a flashback to childhood – – greeting her dad after his shift. He is a law enforcement officer.

Stakes – – Keep Hannibal out of her head. He has already begun the descent into her psyche.

Character MIS – – when she sees her crummy car he referred to she is shamed about her past. Intrigue. His subliminal manipulations are working to his advantage. Suspense.

Scene 7: Action – -Starling is doing training exercises.

Stakes – – Career.

Scene MIS – – when she fails exercise her instructor says: “Starling, you’re dead!” Suspense…..is this foreshadowing of things to come?

Scene 8: Action – – Clarice is researching Hannibal on Microfiche when a call from Crawford comes in.

Stakes – – He life. Trajectory of her career.

Scene MIS – – Miggs is dead. Intrigue and suspense. Hannibal has avenged for her.

Scene 9: Action – – Clarice examines “Yourself Storage” unit.

Stakes – – proving hunch correct.

Scene MIS – – physical surroundings……dark, night, storm, door won’t open. All create suspense. Owner of units says: “ Privacy is great concern for my customers.” Why? Who are “his customers”? Mystery. Edgar Allen Poe-esque aspect of storage unit creates intrigue.

Scene 10: Action – – Clarice returns to update Lecter on storage unit search.

Stakes – – Lecter offers her a psychological profile of Buffalo Bill. Career. Lecter queries: “Do you think Jack Crawford wants you?” Keep him out of her head.

Character MIS – – Intimacy of how she physically interacts with Lecter – – ignoring rules set forth by those guarding him. The way she sits in the floor outside the glass – – then almost gets hit in the head by the drawer extending – – create suspense. When asked by Lecter how she felt when she saw victim Clarice says: “Scared at first, then exhilarated.” Creates intrigue.

Scene MIS – – Atmosphere again….night, storm, dungeon-like cell.

Scene 11: Action – – Catherine returning home – – subsequently being conned into van and being abducted.

Stakes – -for Bill to capture his prey.

Scene MIS – – atmosphere, night, music playing in Catharine’s car create mystery. Love tattoo on assailant creates intrigue. Size 14 dress creates intrigue. Why is this significant? Cat in window watching van drive away creates suspense.

Scene 12: Action – – Drills at Quantico.

Stakes – – Clarice must establish herself as a physically capable and worthy adversary. She must be able to protect herself in the field.

Character MIS – – her newfound fierceness creates intrigue.

Scene MIS – -a sea of men coming at her – – symbolism creates suspense.

Scene 13: Action – – Clarice is pulled from class – – told to pack up and go to West Virginia for a Buffalo Bill type situation..

Stakes – – advancement of her career.

Scene MIS – – drill happening as back drop serves as metaphor and potential foreshadowing of what is to come. Creates suspense.

Scene 14: Action – – Plane ride with Crawford – – briefing takes place.

Scene MIS – – Crawford informs her the victims were….”alive 3 days, then he shoots them, skins them, then dumps them – – each body in a different rover.” Creates intrigue and suspense.

Scene 15: Action – – Car ride to Elk River Virginia – – Crawford elicits Starling’s potential profile of killer.

Stakes – – career advancement. Chance to secure working with Lecter on the Buffalo Bill profile. Calls Crawford out for set-up.

Scene MIS – – Clarice in Backseat of car – – unable to see Crawford’s reactions as she gives her potential profile of killer. Builds intrigue. Why has he subjugated her? Why does he not want her seeing his face?

Scene 16: Action – – Arrive at Funeral Home – – introduction to local, Sherrif Perkins.

Stakes – – hold her own in this male dominated, hostile environment where men are looking down on her. Keep Hannibal out of her head as flashbacks of her dad return.

Scene MIS – – Crawford ices her out – – takes Sherrif to talk of sex crimes in private – – demeaning to Clarice. Also – – accentuates she is alone in a sea of chauvinism again as officers ogle her. Creates intrigue. Why did Crawford choose to do this? What is his game plan?

Scene 17: Action – – Starling brought into command central with Crawford to commence investigation.

Stakes – -Establish hierarchy. Prove herself capable and in charge to these “men” as she profiles dead body of victim.

Scene MIS – – men looking down on her – – sideways at her when she sends them packing. Creates mystery and suspense. Will there be a backlash?

Scene 18: Action – – Car ride after examination of body.

Stakes – – being respected. Being taken seriously.

Scene 19: Action – – Clarice checks on entomology of moth at insect museum.

Stakes – – Break the case.

Scene MIS – – the name of the moth = Death’s-Head Hawk Moth. Creates intrigue. Entomologist says: “Somebody grew this guy, fed him honey and nightshade, kept him warm. Somebody LOVED him.” Creates mystery. Who? Why? Ultra creepy! Intrigue.

Scene 20: Action – – Potential home and killing ground of Buffalo Bill.

Scene MIS – – Who is in the well. Why are they being kept alive? For how long will they be kept alive? Where is this? Atmosphere again – – subterranean again. Creates mystery and intrigue.

Scene 21: Action – – Lobby of building at Quantico – – TV news playing giving exposition about Catherine Martin having been abducted by Buffalo Bill. Clarice sees this.

Stakes – – Saving Catherine before she is murdered.

Scene 22: Action – – Clarice shows up at hospital where Lecter is housed – – for the 3^rd time. Presents him with a deal.

Stakes – – nailing Buffalo Bill. Her career trajectory.

Scene MIS – – why is Chilton listening in? Creates mystery and intrigue? Hannibal tells her that Bill’s pathology is 1000 times more savage and terrifying than Clarice knows. How? Why? Creates mystery.

Scene 23: Action – – Basement dungeon of Buffalo Bill where Catherine is being held.

Stakes – – Catherine staying alive.

Scene MIS – – Bill is on the verge of tears. Why? Creates intrigue. What does Catherine see on the wall the makes her hysterical? Mystery.

Scene 24: Action – – Session with Hannibal and Chilton.

Stakes – – Chilton’s career advancement – – fame. Hanibal’s escape.

Scene MIS – – the pen creates suspense. Circumstance of Hannibal being potentially moved creates suspense.

Scene 25: Action – – Phone call between Crawford and FBI director Burke exposing false deal offered to Lecter by Clarice.

Stakes – – whereabouts of Catherine. Getting to her before she is killed.

Scene MIS – -Justice Department’s Paul Krendler taking over. Suspense.

Scene 26: Action – – Chilton holds court at Shelby County Courthouse.

Stakes – – fame. Accolades.

Scene 27: Action – – Clarice signs in to see Lecter under false pretenses.

Stakes – – Catherine’s life. Clarice’s career goals. Apprehending Buffalo Bill. Reputation and credibility with Lecter.

Character MIS – – Clarice solves anagram. Intrigue.

Scene MIS – – Hannibal caresses her hand when he hands the file off to her. Foreshadowing creating suspense.

Scene 28: Action – – Hannibal delivered 2^nd meal at his request. Attacks officers and escapes.

Stakes – – freedom.

Character MIS – -ordering rare Lamb Chops. Metaphor – -potential message for Clarice? Creates intrigue. Potential suspense.

Scene 29: Action – – Officers in lobby of courthouse see movement in elevator.

Stakes – – safety of officers and community.

Scene MIS – – Where did Hannibal go? How did he escape? Mystery and suspense.

Scene 30: Action – – Taking of injured officer to hospital in elevator.

Stakes – – His life. Everyone’s life.

Scene MIS – -Why is blood dripping from the elevator ceiling? Is it Lecter? Suspense. Why does the suspect shot in the leg not move? Mystery.

Scene 31: Action – – Clarice informed of Lecter’s escape in her room at Quantico.

Stakes – – everyone’s safety.

Scene 32: Action – – Buffalo Bill is sewing.

Scene MIS – – what is hew sewing? Skin? Intrigue. Is Catherine still alive? Suspense.

Scene 33: Action – – Clarice poring over documents Lecter gave her trying to solve Bill’s whereabouts.

Stakes – – Catherine’s freedom. Capture of Buffalo Bill. Clarice’s career goals. Saving face (pardon pun! Lol)

Scene MIS – – Covet what we see every day. What does Bill see every day that would tell her where he lives? Intrigue, mystery.

Scene 34: Action – – Clarice goes to a victim’s house.

Stakes – – Bill’s capture.

Scene 35: Action – – Well where Catherine is being held captive. She plants a trap for Bill’s dog. Suspense.

Stakes – – her freedom.

Scene MIS – – for whom is Bill videotaping himself? Intrigue.

Scene 36: Action – – Clarice interviews victim’s friend.

Stakes – – getting to Catherine before she is killed.

Scene 37: Action – – Stand off between Bill and Catherine – – who has his dog hostage. Clarice turns up to interview victim’s boss – – Mrs. Littman.

Stakes – –her own safety. Saving Catherine. Bill’s stakes – – keeping Catherine for himself. His freedom.

Scene MIS – – Bill’s inappropriate questions about victim’s size. Moth landing on spools. The skin suit. He kills lights. Suspense. Intrigue. Mystery.

Scene 38: Action – – Crawford shows up.

Scene 39: Action – – Clarice graduates.

Scene 40: Action – – Graduation celebration ensues. Hannibal phones her.

Stakes – – Safety – – herself and the world.

Scene MIS – – Hannibal states: “I’m having an old friend for dinner.” He is looking at Chilton at the time. Suspense. Creates mystery for Clarice. Where is he? Is she safe? Who is he going to kill?

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s B1 Sacking Suspense

Things I learned about thrillers watching “Basic Instinct” and doing this assignment.

While all elements of MIS may not be present in each scene – – some need to be.

Each and every scene must be constructed with this model in mind in order to prove thrilling for the audience.

The screenplay must be replete with these elements and have them thoughtfully woven into the fabric of each and of every scene. You cannot fly by the seat of your pants and hope it is thrilling. It is a matter of “crafting” it to be thrilling.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s World and Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is: In order to make my screenplay unique and fascinating – – I must mine the world I am creating to find where mystery, intrigue, and suspense NATURALLY occur within said world.

On the Scent

Logline: A renowned perfumer joins forces with a down-and-out narcotics dog to nose out her sister’s killer, unaware of just how close to home the danger lies.

Big Mystery: Who killed Livie and why?

Big Intrigue: Hank is inadvertently responsible for Livie’s death. He needs to keep Darin unstable so that he can control her and continue to extort useful scientific information from her – – to keep the drug lord at bay.

Big Suspense: As stakes rise at every turn – – will Darin and Pookie solve the mystery in time to keep from being murdered by Hank or the drug lord?

Intriguing World: How the science of perfume making could be applied to scenting dogs.

Hero: Renowned Perfumer Darin August.

What is the mystery of this character? How does she figure out who her sister’s killer is?

What is the suspense of this character? Pookie – Hank’s retired narcotics dog is ill at ease and trying to communicate something of importance to Darin. Will she be able to use her skills as a nose to figure it out – – and how it relates to the murder?

What is the intrigue of this character? Will Darin be kept off the scent by Hank – – or get killed as she gets closer to his role in Livie’s murder?

Villain: Narcotics Officer Hank Sanford.

What is the mystery of this character? What is Hank’s role in his wife’s murder?

What is the suspense of this character? Will Hank be able to keep Darin off balance and off the scent enough to keep manipulating scientific knowledge from her that will prove useful to the drug cartel he is in bed with?

What is the intrigue of this character? Will Hank’s appetites and addiction get him killed – – and thusly get Darin killed?

Red Herring: Leff-t. Gang member – – turned rapper – – turned televangelist.

What is the mystery of this character? Is he a good guy or a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

What is the intrigue of this character? Leff-T claims to be reformed – – but maintains deep ties within the gang community. Why? He did call for boycott of Darin from his parishioners – – yet proclaims his innocence.

What is the suspense of this character? Will he be able to save Darin from Hank and the drug lord before he gets killed by them?

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur: On The Scent

What I learned doing this assignment is: Each and every moment of the screenplay must be thick with and dripping in mystery, intrigue, and suspense.

Logline: A renowned perfumer joins forces with a down-and-out narcotics dog to nose out her sister’s killer, unaware of just how close to home the danger lies.

1. Conventions of the story.

Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Renowned Perfumer – – Darin August. Darin’s sister is gunned down in front of her. Darin has been receiving threats on her own life. She fears the bullet that killed her sister was meant for her. She is uniquely poised to nose out the killer using the gift of her extraordinary sense of smell.

Dangerous Villain: Darin’s brother-in-law, Hank Sanford. Hank is a narcotics officer. He has a drug problem himself which has resulted in him owing a drug lord. He has been using scientific information gleaned from Darin (unbeknownst to her) to insure narcotics dogs fail to scent drugs being smuggled.

High Stakes: Hank will do anything to keep the truth from coming out in order to protect his reputation and addiction. The drug baron will do anything in order to keep drugs safely in his supply chain. Darin will stop at nothing to solve her sister’s murder.

Life and death situations: Someone serves Livie tainted food at the FiFi awards. Gunning down of Livie upon their return home that evening. Hank being threatened by the drug lord at the cock fights. Darin sleeping with Hank to try to set him up. Final showdown and shootout between Darin, Leff-T, and Hank.

This story is thrilling because: Darin is unaware Hank is inadvertently responsible for her sister’s murder. Hank controls Darin (who is a recovering alcoholic) by encouraging her to drink again – – and subsequently takes advantage of her grief by seducing her. The seedy underworld of the drug lord. Pookie – – Hank’s narcotics dog – – who failed to scent drugs being smuggled. Pookie is constantly attempting to communicate clues. The unusual, mysterious, and exotic worlds of perfumery and drug scenting we are drawn into.

1. MIS of the story.

Big Mystery: Who killed Livie and why.

Big Intrigue: Hank is inadvertently responsible for Livie’s death. He needs to keep Darin unstable so that he can control her and continue to extort useful scientific information from her – – to keep the drug lord at bay.

Big Suspense: As stakes rise at every turn – – will Darin and Pookie solve the mystery in time to keep from being murdered by Hank or the drug lord?

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

What I learned doing this assignment is: How important a strong villain is. A milquetoast villain cannot propel the plot forward.

Movie: The Weekend Away

Unwitting but Resourceful Hero: Beth – – a new mother whose marriage is shaky – – accepts an invitation for an all-expenses paid weekend getaway with her best friend (Kate) from college. When said best friend disappears after a regrettable night of wild partying, Beth’s intuition tells her Kate has met with foul play. Discouraged to pursue her concerns by police, her husband, and Kate’s Ex, against increasingly insurmountable odds, Beth kicks at the darkness long enough for the truth to shine through.

Dangerous Villain: I think a flaw of this film is that I cannot identify a dangerous villain that propels the plot and creates a throughline and journey for the hero. The likely candidate would have been Beth’s husband, Rob. Rob is Kate’s murderer. Rob, however, seems to me to react to the plot more than proact upon it. There are mini villains. Sebastian, the peeping tom owner of the Air B & B where Kate and Beth reside. Another mini villain is the police officer (Pavic) whose sexual advances were rejected by Kate – – and thusly refuses to take Beth’s concerns regarding Kate’s safety seriously. More mini villains are the male escorts hired by Kate who end up robbing the ladies after an evening of debauchery. Beth’s husband has had an affair with Kate but serves as one of the mini villains in my opinion rather than the antagonist he is meant to be.

High stakes: Many, many people do not want Beth digging around as they have many nefarious deeds to hide. As a result of this – – nobody supports her on her hunt for truth for fear of being discovered. Beth’s passport is taken by the police at one point, raising the stakes.

Life and death situations: Kate’s body floating in the ocean in the opening credits. Beth and Kate’s night out with the mail escorts who drug Beth. Beth’s encounter with her peeping tom landlord. Beth on the run from the police – – resulting in Pavic’s death. Kate’s confrontation with Rob. Beth’s final confrontation with Rob after finding a bead from Kate’s necklace in his jacket pocket.

This movie is thrilling because they do a good job of isolating Beth from any source of support in finding her friend’s killer. She is the victim of gaslighting by almost every character she turns to for help. It is also thrilling because she is left alone in Croatia – – a place wherein she does not know the customs, the language, or have allies to aid her in her quest. The removal of her passport compounds this thrilling component as she is stranded there and has no choice but to continue in order to go home. It is less thrilling at times because of how preposterous and contrived most of the plot twists are. They simply are neither organic nor believable.

Big Mystery: Who killed Kate?

Big Intrigue: Rob’s need to keep his affair and the subsequent murder of Kate a secret.

Big Suspense: Will Beth get killed because she won’t give up pursuing the identity of Kate’s killer.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

1. My name is Gisele Frazeur.

2. I have written 2 features.

3. I want to nail down the thriller genre to perfect an imperfect script ever in need of a format.

4. Something unique about me? I used to work as a “Dating Game” chaperone. Yes – – they actually had chaperones! Lol. I was able to travel the world. The stories I could tell! Chuck Barris was one crazy, quirky genius.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

1. Gisele Frazeur.

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

3. Please leave the entire text below to confirm what you agree to.

OR

NOT AGREE, in which case, you hit “Reply to this topic” and type in the words “I’ll do the class privately.”

If you agree to the terms of the release form, then you can post your assignments into the group and your cohort can give feedback on them.

Also, if you don’t agree to this group confidentiality agreement, you’ll still need to sign an agreement that says you will keep the strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential.

GROUP RELEASE FORM

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.

Agree,

Gisele Frazeur

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur Finished Act 4

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: I can actually power through the doubts, fears, perfectionism, and anxiety – – and finish. Woot Woot. A lot of different emotions happening simultaneously!

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s ACT 4 continues

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Being this close to finishing the first draft is both frightening and exhilarating at the same time!

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Started Act 4

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Answers will come. And even if they suck….more answers can come. And more. And more!

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Finishing Act 3

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Things flow much better for me when I take pride in having completed an assignment – – instead of beating myself up by nitpicking at the quality of the content.

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Continuing Act 3

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: It is fun when my characters start speaking for themselves. Fun when they say something that surprises me…..or in a way that surprises me when writing a scene.

Title: On The Scent

Genre: Thriller

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur Begin Act 3

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: My speed writing is still pretty slow – – BUT – – it is sooooooooo much faster than it was before. I’ll take it. It can only get better and better. I loved the empowerment statement given us: I can create at any time. It is really helping to immediately get me into productivity mode with a positive attitude. Thanks. I like the fact my characters are speaking up and saying things that surprise me.

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur Completed Act 2

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Just start. Just do it. There is strength and momentum in those actions.

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur Continuing Act 2

On The Scent – – Thriller

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I
learned doing this assignment is: How freeing writing quickly can be – – if and when I can get out of my own way and do it.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur Begin Act 2

On The Scent – – Thriller

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I
learned doing this assignment is: It is really fun once the characters begin talking…..they seem to have voices of their own.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Finished Act 1

On The Scent – – thriller

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I
learned doing this assignment is: Outline is king. Weaknesses in the outline will show up in the first draft.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s High Speed Writing Rules

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: How hard it is for me to not get stuck nitpicking and just MOVE forward not matter what. SQUIRREL!

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s First Scene

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: The outline prepares us well to begin the first draft.

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Scene Fascinating Scene Outlines

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Scenes are microcosms of the macrocosm of the screenpaly – – structurally speaking.

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

SCENE 1: INT. LIMO – NIGHT

Beginning: (Intrigue) While celebrating in the limo – – Darin’s phone blows up with threatening texts. Darin’s pregnant sister, Livie, waxes concerned.

Middle: (Internal Dilemma) Darin turns her phone off and shrugs it off as nothing to put Livie’s mind at ease.

End: (Uncomfortable moment) Arriving at the ceremonial hall – – the limo driver asks Darin if she is the famous perfumer Leff-T’s followers are all up in arms over – -as he points out the group of hungry protestors mobbing the limo.

SCENE 2: COMMERCIAL KITCHEN – NIGHT

Beginning: (Suspense) We see gloved hands imbedding a partial human toe in a meatball, plating it, and placing a colored toothpick in it.

Middle: (Surprise) A waiter places the plate on a tray with other appetizers

End: (Mystery) Waiter exits the kitchen with the tray and heads into the ongoing reception.

SCENE 3: INT. LOBBY OF CEREMONIAL HALL – NIGHT

Beginning: (Superior Position) Plate with laced meatball is served to Livie.

Middle: (Major Twist) Livie puts her plate down to take a photo of Darin. Another guest inadvertently takes Livie’s plate and ingests meatball.

End: (Surprise) After lengthy choking on the appetizer – – Darin steps in and first performs the Heimlich maneuver on the guest. When that fails to work, she performs an emergency tracheotomy on him.

SCENE 4: INT. CEREMONIAL HALL – NIGHT

Beginning: (Uncertainty) While standing in the wings, Darin phone alerts. She checks and has another threatening text. She turns phone off and prepares to take the stage.

Middle: (External Dilemma) Darin accepts her awards and gives her speech regardless of ominous tone of the evening. She receives a standing ovation.

End: (Mislead) A man rushes the stage as she exits the podium – – pulling something from his breast pocket on his suit coat. She goes weak in the knees and is caught by the MC as she collapses. False alarm – – just a fan wanting a photo of her.

SCENE 5: INT. LOBBY OF CEREMONIAL HALL – NIGHT

Beginning: (Suspense) Darin holds court with attendees and colleagues offering congratulations.

Middle: (Mystery) Police inform Darin that they believe she may have been the intended target of the laced appetizer and arrange for her to come to the station for further questioning the following day.

End: (Deflection) More bizarre texts drop in – – Darin feigns exhaustion, calls a limo, and insists they call it a night.

SCENE 6: EXT. CEREMONIAL HALL – NIGHT

Beginning: (More interesting setting) Security escorts Darin and Livie out through the stage door so as to avoid the protestors.

Middle: (Surprise) The limo is not there. As is pulls into view the protestors round the corner and b-line for Darin. Livie falls as they run for the limo.

End: (Uncertainty) Darin’s statue is damaged by the crowd as they make it safely into the limo with the aid of security.

SCENE 7: INT. DARIN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Beginning: (Suspense) Livie gets the leash and takes Pookie out to pee before bed.

Middle: (Surprise) Darin hears a gunshot – – then Pookie barking frantically.

End: (Cliffhanger) Darin runs out the front door in search of Livie and is knocked unconscious.

SCENE 8: INT. HOSPITAL HALLWAY – NIGHT

Beginning: (Surprise) Livie’s doctor informs police officer that Livie has died, and Darin has a concussion and is now conscious.

Middle: (Internal dilemma) Police officer requests of Darin’s attending that he be allowed to question Darin before she is informed of Livie’s death – – to gain useful leads before she is besieged by grief.

End: (Betrayal) Darin’s doctor begrudgingly agrees.

SCENE 9: INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – NIGHT

Beginning: (Superior Position) Office questions Darin. Assures her Livie is close by, received medical attention, and can be seen soon.

Middle: (Misinterpretation) Darin complies.

End: (Betrayal) Hank shows up sobbing. Drapes himself over his deceased wife in the next cubicle. Darin pulls the curtain – – sees her deceased sister – – collapses into Hank’s arms.

SCENE 10: INT. CHURCH LOBBY – DAY

Beginning: (Uncomfortable Moment) Darin’s mother accuses her of being responsible for Livie’s death.

Middle: (Character changes radically) Darin slaps her mom across the face.

End: (External dilemma) Hank leads Darin away from her mom and into the church.

SCENE 11: INT. CHURCH – DAY

Beginning: (Uncomfortable moment) Darin’s mother gives a Pollyanna eulogy of Livie. She breaks down and throws herself over her dead daughter in the casket.

Middle: (Character changes radically) Darin rushes to her mother to show support. Her mom pushes her – – sending her flying into the lectern.

End: (Internal dilemma) Hank rushes to Darin – – scoops her up – – and leads her out of the church.

SCENE 12: INT. DARIN’S DEN – NIGHT

Beginning: (Internal dilemma) Hank offers Darin (a recovering alcoholic) alcohol to calm her nerves and ease her stress.

Middle: (Character changes radically) Drinking heavily, Darin and Hank reminisce over Livie.

End: (Mislead) Fall asleep together on the couch.

SCENE 13: INT. DARIN’S LIVING ROOM – DAY

Beginning: (Intrigue) Over coffee Darin opens mail with a death threat in it.

Middle: (Surprise) Darin pours herself a drink and downs it.

End: (Internal dilemma) Hank produces a gun – – forces it on her for her protection – – despite her protestations.

SCENE 14: INT. POLICE STATION – DAY

Beginning: Darin demands so see an officer regarding Livie’s murder. Someone recognizes her and chews her a new one for turning down Leff-t’s perfume commission.

Middle: While waiting to be seen – – she pours whiskey in the coffee she has been given by the receptionist.

End: In the interrogation room she lays out the reasons she believes Leff-T is responsible for Livie’s death. They are tight-lipped about the investigation and that incenses her.

SCENE 15: EXT. LEFF-T’S MANSION – NIGHT

Beginning: (More Interesting setting) Darin pulls up at Leff-T’s mansion, drunk – – brandishing a gun.

Middle: (Uncertainty) She screams into his surveillance cameras hanging from wall surrounding his home – – demanding he meet her face-to-face to enact justice. She shoots at the cameras.

End: (Suspense) Darin passes out, drunk, on the sidewalk.

SCENE 16: INT. SECURITY ROOM OF LEFF-T’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Beginning: Leff-T’s security guard summons him to the security room.

Middle: Leff-T’s security guard shows him the drunken Darin shooting at the security cameras in front of his house.

End: (Intrigue) Leff-T says he will handle it. Packs a gun, summons his dogs, and heads out.

SCENE 17: EXT. LEFF-T’S MANSION – NIGHT

Beginning: Leff-T tries to awaken Darin – – to no avail.

Middle: (Superior position) A police officer shows up investigating a noise complaint. Leff-T says they were just doing a late-night music video shoot. Appeased, the officer leaves.

End: (Suspense) Leff-T carries Darin through his front gate – – and into his home

SCENE 18: INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT

Beginning: (Suspense) Leff-T lays Darin down on a bed and covers her up.

Middle: (Mystery) He sits in a nearby chair – – studying her.

End: (Cliffhanger) Opens up a book to read.

SCENE 19. INT. DARIN’S HOUSE – DAY

Beginning: (Misinterpretation) Darin awakens, panicked, to Pookie gnawing loudly on a bone. She is on her couch in her own home.

Middle: (Internal dilemma) She finds a note left by Leff-T telling her to walk and play with her. He has left dog toys and a new leash. The note says there is a fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen.

End: (External dilemma) She goes into the kitchen and pours herself a cup of coffee and pours whiskey in it. She wanders back to the couch, sits down, and throws Pookie one of the balls Leff-T left her.

SCENE 20: INT. BEDROOM – DAY

Beginning: Darin applies make-up so she can visit her boss.

Middle: (Mystery) Pookie (Hank’s retired scent dog) goes berserk when she sprays on her perfume. She cannot calm him down. She realizes he is trying to communicate something to her.

End: (Misinterpretation) Pookie knocks the perfume bottle to the ground, all the while frantically barking at it.

SCENE 21: INT. HOUSE OF BONFIL OFFICE – DAY

Beginning: (A more interesting setting) A hungover Darin checks in with her boss. He confronts her about her drinking when he notices her DT’S.

Middle: (Superior position) Darin denies accusations and is put on temporary leave for the bad press she is generating. Her boss also threatens to turn over a big project she is working on to a colleague so a deadline can be successfully met.

End: (A major twist) Her boss plays a recording for her wherein Leff-T is cleared as a suspect and gives a televised interview apologizing to Darin for the boycott and requesting his followers stand down.

SCENE 22: EXT. PARKING LOT SEEDY HOTEL – NIGHT

Beginning: (A more interesting setting) Hank is tasked with extorting more scientific information from Darin by the drug trafficker blackmailing him. He threatens to expose him and kill her if he fails.

Middle: (Internal dilemma) Hank resists.

End: (External dilemma) Hank is told he should have thought of that before he slept with his blackmailer’s hooker daughter. Trafficker tosses Hank the key to a room – – tells him he had better keep his daughter satisfied as well – – points to a room – – and drives off.

SCENE 23: INT. HANK’S MAN CAVE – NIGHT

Beginning: (Superior position) Hank plies Darin with alcohol while they discuss Leff-T and Pookie’s odd behavior.

Middle: (Character changes radically) Hank seduces Darin.

End: (Betrayal) He successfully extorts another scientific idea to make his sniffer dog fail. Darin, mortified for having slept with her dead sister’s husband – – flees the scene – – even more grief stricken.

SCENE 24: EXT. DOG PARK – DAY

Beginning: (A more interesting setting) Darin’s AA sponsee, Dharma, speaks with Darin about her drinking.

Middle: (Mystery) Dharma points out Pookie’s odd behavior – – as he violently attacks wild violets growing on the grounds. Dharma knows dogs – – works search and rescue – -volunteers to help make sense of what is happening to Pookie.

End: (Internal dilemma) Dharma suggests they arrange the details at the next AA meeting. Darin begrudgingly agrees.

SCENE 25: INT. BATHROOM – DAY

Beginning: (Surprise) Darin pees on a pregnancy test, drink in hand.

Middle: (Major twist) Tests negative. (Should this be a positive result to heighten stakes?)

End: (Character changes radically) Disgusted with herself for having slept with her dead sister’s husband, she vows to Pookie to stop drinking and stay away from Hank.

SCENE 26: INT. CHURCH ANNEX – NIGHT

Beginning: (Suspense) Darin attends an AA meeting. Leff-T is in attendance.

Middle: (Character changes radically) Leff-T speaks to the group about his brother who died and why he created his foundation that helps gang members get out and create a new life for themselves and their families.

End: (Surprise) They speak afterwards. He informs her that word on the street is that Hank is a dirty cop in bed with some drug traffickers.

SCENE 27: INT. SUBWAY STATION – DAY

Beginning: (External dilemma) Hank answers his phone. Nods. Hangs up.

Middle: (Suspense) Passengers are stopped by security. Hank walks his sniffer dog through the line. Dog stops to sniff a man’s backpack. Just then a cat runs by – – riling the dog – – which he must restrain from giving chase.

End: (Superior position) Passengers are released to board. A man 20 feet away tips his hat to Hank. Hank nods.

SCENE 28: INT. HOUSE OF BONFIL PERFUME LABORATORY – DAY

Beginning: (A more interesting setting) Dharma and Darin Monday morning quarterback the perfume incident that make Pookie go haywire.

Middle: (Mystery) They run scent exercises on Pookie.

End: (Mislead) When Pookie checks out of the experimenting and becomes agitated, they schedule another session.

SCENE 29: EXT. CHICKEN FIGHTING RING – NIGHT

Beginning: (A more interesting setting) Hank enters. Chicken fight in progress. Blackmailer spots Hank. Saunters over to him.

Middle: (Internal dilemma) Hank is told to throw Darin and Dharma off the scent, or he will kill them and expose him. Hank resists.

End: (External dilemma) A chicken is killed in the fight. Blackmailer hands dead chicken to Hank, lights up a cigar, and exits.

SCENE 30: INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT

Beginning: (Suspense) Dharma is seated. Says she is waiting for a friend. Orders a virgin cocktail.

Middle: (Superior position) Drink arrives. She sips it while perusing the menu.

End: (Cliffhanger) She passes out and falls to the floor.

SCENE 31: EXT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT

Beginning: (Surprise) Darin approaches entrance to restaurant. Notices an ambulance out front.

Middle: (Suspense) Darin see Dharma is being wheeled from the restaurant towards the ambulance. Hysterical, she informs paramedics this is her friend. Asks what hospital they are headed to when they refuse to let her ride along.

End: (Uncertainty) Bolts for her car – – follows ambulance.

SCENE 32: INT. INTENSIVE CARE ROOM – NIGHT

Beginning: Holds vigil at her friend’s bedside.

Middle: (Surprise) Doctor informs her it was an overdose. Darin protests – – knowing Dharma would not use again.

End: (Uncertainty) Holding vigil, Darin promises her comatose friend she will avenge this.

SCENE 33: INT. BAR – NIGHT

Beginning: (Internal dilemma) Darin orders a stiff drink. Plays with it. Stare at it. Pushes it around on the bar.

Middle: (Internal dilemma) Darin phones Leff-T asking for help. She agrees to meet him at an AA meeting.

End: (Surprise) Empties the drink into a potted plant and heads to the exit.

SCENE 34: INT. CHURCH ANNEX – DAY

Beginning: (Uncomfortable moment) Darin speaks of her friend’s overdose at the meeting.

Middle: (Misinterpretation) Someone suggests Darin needs to accept the possibility that Dharma did use again – – being an addict after all. Darin is incensed.

End: (Uncertainty) Leff-T approaches and they agree to continue testing Pookie together.

SCENE 35: INT. DARIN’S LAB HOUSE OF BONFIL – DAY

Beginning:(A more interesting setting) Darin and Leff-T test Pookie.

Middle: (Surprise) Hit paydirt. Isolate violet molecule as agitating Pookie.

End: (Intrigue) Darin remembers and relays to Leff-T a conversation she had with Hank wherein she told him that the violet molecule temporarily arrests the sense of smell. Hank had later inquired if this would be true for a dog. Perplexed – -they agree to sleep on the info – – try to make sense of it.

SCENE 36: INT. DARIN’S CAR – DAY

Beginning: (A more interesting setting) Darin goes down for a nap with Pookie.

Middle: (Superior position) Dreams of Hank sleeping in his socks. Awakens.

End: (Intrigue) Calls Hank and asks to meet at his place.

SCENE 37: GAS STATION REST ROOM – DAY

Beginning: (A more interesting setting) Darin enters with a bag. Takes out bottle of whiskey and bottle iced tea.

Middle: (Suspense) Empties whiskey down sink. Pours iced tea in whiskey bottle.

End: (External dilemma) Chucks whiskey bottle in trash and exits restroom.

SCENE 38: INT. HANK’S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Beginning: (Superior Position) Darin arrives at Hank’s, pretending to have been drinking.

Middle: (Internal dilemma) Seduces Hank, leaks false scientific info to him.

End: (Major twist) When Hank falls asleep Darin rummages through Hank’s things and finds a bloody sock – – realizing he might be missing a toe.

SCENE 39: INT. LEFF-T’S MANSION – DAY

Beginning: (Surprise) Leff-T shows Darin body camera footage he obtained illegally – – of times Pookie failed to scent. Darin informs him of what she has figured out about the violets – – and how Hank extorted this info from her – – and how Hank is causing the dogs to fail. Leaves out info about toe.

Middle: They agree to go to the cops.

End: (Internal dilemma) Darin says she has to go home and let Pookie out first. She will meet him at the cop shop.

SCENE 40: EXT. SPORTS ARENA – DAY

Beginning: (Suspense) Hank answers phone. Nods. Hangs up.

Middle: (Superior position) Walks through awaiting entrants with sniffer dog. Dog alerts by lying down in front of a man with a backpack. Barks. Cops open backpack, find drugs, place man under arrest.

End: (Betrayal) Man watching Hank points at Hank with gesture implying shooting him.

SCENE 41: INT. HANK’S BATHROOM – DAY

Beginning: (External dilemma) Hank goes home to pack

Middle: (Major twist) Takes a swig of whiskey bottle Darin left behind. Realizes it is not alcohol. Finds his bloody sock on top of the hamper instead of in it. Puts two and two together.

End: (Suspense) Leaves with his suitcase and his gun.

SCENE 42: EXT. DARIN’S BACK YARD – NIGHT

Beginning: (Surprise) Darin holsters her gun, and hurries Pookie out to pee. Hanks ambushes Darin. Leff-T is there – – tied up.

Middle: Darin and Leff-T confront Hank with what they know. He admits to everything.

End: (Cliffhanger) There is a showdown and a shootout. Darin shoots Hank. Pookie is wounded.

SCENE 43: EXT. LEFF-T’S BACK YARD – DAY

Beginning, Middle, and End: (Surprise) A bandaged and coned Pookie plays with Leff-T’s dogs (Capulet and Montague) while Darin and Leff-T joyously look on.

SCENE 44: INT. LEFF-T’S LIVING ROOM– – NIGHT

Beginning: (Mislead) Leff-T dons the hat of his favorite hockey team and turns on the TV and channel surfs until locates the station desired.

Middle: (Character changes radically) He holds his infant daughter and pets Pookie while he watches Darin being interviewed on a talk show. She is being interviewed about the award-winning dog perfume she created for her deceased sister, Livie.

End: (Surprise) When asked what her next project will be, she says she is creating a fragrance for Gabrial’s Fund – – in honor of her husband, Leff-T – – and their daughter, Livie.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Scene Requirements

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: No scene is superfluous. If it is….it needs to be worked, honed, and tightened…….or be cut.

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

Act 1: Threats against Perfumer Darin August seemingly result in her pregnant sister’s murder.

INT. LIMO – NIGHT

Darin and Livie are being driven to the FiFi Awards. Darin receives threatening texts en-route there.

Essence: Darin is being menaced.

Conflict: It is spoiling her big night.

Subtext: Someone is trying to instill fear in Darin.

Hope/Fear: We don’t want it to spoil her big night.

EXT. LIMO – NIGHT

Darin and Livie, with the assistance of security guards, push their way through Darin’s angry protestors and into the awards hall.

Essence: Protestors are targeting Darin.

Conflict: Darin’s fear is escalating.

Subtext: Protestors are upset with Darin.

Hope/Fear: We hope that Darin and her pregnant sister make it safely into the ceremonial hall.

INT. LOBBY OF CEREMONIAL HALL – NIGHT

A guest at the reception chokes on an appetizer. Darin performs an emergency tracheotomy.

Essence: Darin is a bad ass under pressure.

Conflict: Will she save the life of the choking victim?

Subtext: There is danger everywhere.

Hope/Fear: We hope she saves the choking victim.

INT. CEREMONIAL HALL – NIGHT

Darin accepts her awards and gives a rousing speech.

Essence: Darin is at the pinnacle of her career as a perfumer.

Conflict: Will Darin make it safely through her acceptance and speech without further incident?

Subtext: The threat is still present.

Hope/Fear: We hope she gets to enjoy what should be a joyous event, safely, with her beloved sister.

INT. LOBBY OF CEREMONIAL HALL – NIGHT

Police inform Darin that they believe she may have been the intended target of the human toe laced meatball in the choking incident. Arrange for her to come to the station for further questioning the following day.

Essence: Darin is in greater danger than we knew.

Conflict: Darin does not want her pregnant sister agitated.

Subtext: The person/people harassing Darin have a wide reach.

Hope/Fear: Darin can keep the Livie Calm.

EXT. CEREMONIAL HALL – NIGHT

Darin and Livie are accosted by angry protestors as they exit the awards and make their way to the awaiting limo. A pregnant Livie is knocked to the ground in the scuffle. One of Darin’s statues is damaged by the crowd.

Essence: The respite from the menacing has been short lived.

Conflict: We will get away unharmed?

Subtext: Danger is escalating.

Hope/Fear: We hope they make it to the safety of the limo unharmed.

EXT. DARIN’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Heading to the house upon exiting the limo – – Livie is shot and Darin is knocked unconscious.

Essence: The danger was real.

Conflict: The aggressors have struck.

Subtext: The danger they were in had heightened to life-or-death circumstances. Was Darin the target after all?

Hope/Fear: We hope the pregnant Livie and her baby won’t die.

INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT

Livie is pronounced dead at the hospital. Darin is questioned by police – – then informed of her sister’s death. Livie’s husband, Hank, arrives and is informed as well.

Essence: Livie has been murdered.

Conflict: Police deceive Darin initially – – do not inform her of Livie’s death – – in order to successfully question her before she succumbs to grief.

Subtext: Why was Livie killed?

Hope/Fear: Who will be next? Clearly, neither Darin nor Hank is safe.

Act 2: Darin vows to avenge her pregnant sister’s murder – – slowly falling off the rails.

INT. CHURCH LOBBY – EARLY AFTERNOON

Darin’s mother accuses Darin of being responsible for Livie’s death at the funeral. Darin slaps her.

Essence: Livie’s funeral will be rife with family drama.

Conflict: Darin’s mother is a monster.

Subtext: There is old, unsettled hostility and tension between Darin and her mother.

Hope/Fear: That Darin’s mom will come around and offer comfort to her living daughter.

INT. CHURCH – AFTERNOON

Leighton (Darin’s mom) eulogizes Livie. When she stumbles during her speech – – Darin rushes to support her. Leighton slaps her daughter in front of assembled mourners. Hanks escorts Darin from the funeral.

Essence: There is to be no truce between feuding mother and daughter at Livie’s funeral.

Conflict: Darin has been publicly humiliated at her sister’s funeral.

Subtext: There is unknown bad blood between Leighton and Darin.

Hope/Fear: Darin might be being pushed to the edge of a breakdown.

INT. DARIN’S DEN – EVENING

Hank plies Darin (a recovering alcoholic) with alcohol to calm her nerves and ease her stress. Darin and Hank reminisce over Livie. Fall asleep together on the couch.

Essence: Darin is falling down a rabbit hole.

Conflict: Darin is drinking. She can’t. She is in alcoholic.

Subtext: Why is Hank pushing booze on an alcoholic?

Hope/Fear: That this does not push Darin off of the wagon.

INT. DARIN’S LIVING ROOM – MORNING

Darin receives mail with a death threat and turns to alcohol for relief. Vows to avenge Livie’s murder. Hank forces a gun on her for her protection – – despite her protestations.

Essence: The threat to Darin’s safety continues.

Conflict: Darin is drinking – – and now has a gun.

Subtext: Why is Hank trusting an unstable, grieving alcoholic a gun?

Hope/Fear: That Darin will not harm herself with the gun.

INT. DARIN’S LIVING ROOM – – AFTERNOON

Police come to Darin’s house at her request. She lays out the reasons she believes Leff-T is responsible for Livie’s death. They promise to investigate the intel she has provided them.

Essence: Darin wants her sister’s murderer caught – – now.

Conflict: She is teetering on the edge.

Subtext: She feels responsible for Livie’s death.

Hope/Fear: We hope she does not harm herself.

EXT. LEFF-T’S MANSION – NIGHT

Darin shows up at Leff-T’s mansion drunk – – brandishing a gun. She shoots out his surveillance cameras and shoots at his home – – demanding he meet her face-to-face to enact justice.

Essence: Darin has taken to street justice.

Conflict: She is rabid with the need for revenge.

Subtext: Her own life means nothing to her any longer.

Hope/Fear: We hope she does not do anything foolish.

INT. SECURITY ROOM OF LEFF-T’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Leff-T’s security guard shows him the drunken Darin shooting on security cameras in front of his house. Leff-T says he will handle it. Summons his dogs and heads outside.

Essence: Darin and her prime suspect are going to meet head-on.

Conflict: Darin may have put herself in harm’s way.

Subtext: A cry for relief from the agony of grief.

Hope/Fear: We hope the suspected killer does not harm her.

EXT. LEFF-T’S MANSION – NIGHT

Darin has blacked-out on the sidewalk. Leff-T carries her into his home, puts her to bed, covers her up, and sits close by – – keeping watch over her.

Essence: Darin’s plan has backfired due to her excessive drinking.

Conflict: She has been taken by the prime suspect.

Subtext: Why is a killer being so kind to her?

Hope/Fear: We hope no harm comes to her.

INT. DARIN’S LIVING ROOM – EARLY MORNING

Darin awakens mysteriously in her own home to find a note left by Leff-T telling her to walk her dog and spend time with her. He has left dog toys.

Essence: Darin has obviously and inexplicably been returned home safely by Leff-T.

Conflict: This does not fit with what she has decided about him being responsible for Livie’s death.

Subtext: She cannot lose her scapegoat.

Hope/Fear: That she is actually safe from Leff-T.

INT. BEDROOM – MORNING

Darin gets dressed and made up so she can visit her boss. Pookie (retired scent dog) goes berserk when she sprays on her perfume. She cannot calm him down. She realizes he is trying to communicate something to her.

Essence: Pookie is agitated by Darin’s perfume and is trying to communicate something to her.

Conflict: Darin cannot understand what is mysteriously agitating the dog.

Subtext: Pookie knows something germane to the crises at hand.

Hope/Fear: That Pookie will successfully communicate the source of her agitation.

INT. HOUSE OF BONFIL OFFICE – AFTERNOON

An hungover Darin checks in with her boss and is put on temporary leave for the bad press she is generating. Her boss also threatens to turn over a big project she is working on to a colleague so a deadline can be successfully met. Her boss plays a recording for her wherein Leff-T is cleared as a suspect and gives a televised interview apologizing to Darin for the boycott and requesting his followers stand down.

Essence: Darin’s drinking is disrupting her life.

Conflict: Who killed Livie if not Leff-T?

Subtext: Darin thinks she is fooling her boss when she says she is sober.

Hope/Fear: That Darin gets it together before she loses her job. That the real killer is found.

EXT. ABONDONED PARKING LOT – NIGHT

Hank is tasked with extorting more scientific information from Darin by the drug traffickers blackmailing him. They threaten to expose him and kill her if he fails.

Essence: Hank is not a good cop. He is in bed with criminals.

Conflict: He does not want to be exposed. He wants to keep his badge.

Subtext: Nothing we know of Hank up to this point can be true.

Hope/Fear: That Darin is now in danger because of her brother-in-law.

INT. HANK’S MAN CAVE – NIGHT

Hank seduces Darin after plying her with alcohol / successfully extorts another scientific idea to make his sniffer dog fail. Darin, mortified for having slept with her dead sister’s husband – – flees the scene – – even more grief stricken.

Essence: Hank is manipulating Darin with drinking and comfort.

Conflict: Darin’s drinking makes it hard to get what he needs.

Subtext: Hank is bad news.

Hope/Fear: That Darin will realize she is being manipulated by Hank.

EXT. DOG PARK – DAY

Darin’s AA sponsee, Dharma, reaches out to Darin about her drinking. Dharma works with dogs and points out Pookie’s odd behavior – – as he violently attacks wild violets growing on the grounds. Dharma knows dogs – – works search and rescue – -volunteers to help with Pookie.

Essence: Everyone sees Darin’s life is falling apart at the seams.

Conflict: Darin does not want to stop drinking.

Subtext: Help is on the way.

Hope/Fear: That Darin accepts help and recovers from her relapse.

INT. BATHROOM – MORNING

Darin has a pregnancy scare – – tests negative. Disgusted with herself for having slept with her dead sister’s husband, she vows to stop drinking and stay away from Hank.

Essence: Darin can see she is headed down a dangerous and destructive path.

Conflict: She can not undo what she has done – -only forgive herself for it.

Subtext: She has been violated by someone she trusted.

Hope/Fear: That she can get back on the right path.

INT. CHURCH ANNEX – NIGHT

Darin attends an AA meeting. Leff-T is in attendance. They speak afterwards. He informs her that word on ths street is that Hank is a dirty cop in bed with some drug traffickers.

Essence: That Leff-T is good, and Hank is bad comes clearly into focus for Darin.

Conflict: Hank can no longer be trusted.

Subtext: Everything she knew to be true is a lie.

Hope/Fear: That the danger she is in is closer to home. Might Hank have been involved in Livie’s death?

INT. SUBWAY STATION – MORNING

Hank works another case wherein drugs are successfully smuggled as his new sniffer dogs fails to scent.

Essence: The traffickers own Hank.

Conflict: He can’t ever get out from under their control.

Subtext: He will do anything, harm anyone to save his own ass.

Hope/Fear: That this comes in for a landing with Darin.

EXT. DHARMA’S HOUSE – MORNING

Fully back on the wagon, Darin enlists Dharma’s help to make sense of what Pookie has been trying to communicate. They run scent exercises on Pookie.

Essence: Darin is back in the saddle.

Conflict: They don’t know what they are looking for.

Subtext: There is an answer to the mystery, if only they can find it.

Hope/Fear: That having an ally and a purpose keeps Darin strong, focused, and sober.

INT. BAR – NIGHT

Hank meets with blackmailers and is told to throw Darin and Dharma off the scent, or they will kill them and expose him.

Essence: The world is closing in on Hank.

Conflict: He is a loose cannon.

Subtext: He and Darin are under constant watch.

Hope/Fear: That he gets caught without harm coming to Dharma or Darin.

INT. CLUB – NIGHT

Dharma is passes out after ordering and consuming a “virgin” cocktail.

Essence: Someone is eliminating a facet of the problem.

Conflict: Makes no sense. Dharma did not drink alcohol.

Subtext: Enemies have wide reach – – strong network.

Hope/Fear: That Darin and Pookie are not next.

INT. INTENSIVE CARE ROOM – NIGHT

Darin, having been alerted to Dharma’s overdose, keeps vigil at her friend’s bedside – – vows to find and avenge whoever did this.

Essence: Darin is alone, unsupported, and isolated again.

Conflict: Isolation.

Subtext: Nobody she loves is safe.

Hope/Fear: That she stays sober.

INT. BAR – NIGHT

She orders a drink. Conflicted – – she just stares at it. She calls Leff-T and asks if he will accompany her to a meeting.

INT. CHURCH ANNEX – MORNING

Post AA meeting Darin brings Leff-T up to speed. Says she knows Dharma would never use again. Asks him for help.

Essence: Darin is on the straight and narrow.

Conflict: She is an alcoholic under immense stress and grief.

Subtext. Her bond with Leff-T is strengthening.

Hope/Fear: That he might be able to use his considerable underworld ties to help her solve this.

INT. DARIN’S LAB – DAY

Darin has a breakthrough with Pookie and realizes it is the violet molecule that is agitating the dog. She remembers a conversation with Hank wherein she told him that molecule arrests the sense of smell – – and Hank asked if that would be true for a dog.

Essense: Darin has had a breakthrough in the case.

Conflict: It seems farfetched.

Subtext: The dog holds all the keys.

Hope/Fear: She will solve it.

INT. BEDROOM – DAY

Darin goes down for a nap, comforting Pookie. She dreams about how Hank sleeps in his socks. She awakens. Hatches a plan. Calls Hank and asks if they can meet at his place.

Essence: Pandora’s box has sprung open. Pieces of the puzzle are coming together.

Conflict: This is a dangerous game she is playing.

Subtext: She is stronger by the minute.

Hope/Fear: She beats Hank at his own game.

INT. HANK’S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

Darin arrives at Hank’s, pretending to have been drinking, seduces Hank, leaks false scientific info to him. Darin rummages through Hank’s things and finds a bloody sock – – realizing he might be missing a toe.

Essence: The tables have turned.

Conflict: She is in severe danger if Hank realizes he is being played.

Subtext: Is she really drinking or pretending?

Hope/Fear: That she gets out of there safely.

INT. LEFF-T’S MANSION – MORNING

Leff-T shows Darin body camera footage he obtained illegally – – of times Pookie failed to scent. Darin informs him of what she has figured out about the violets – – and how Hank extorted this info from her – – and how Hank is causing the dogs to fail. They agree to go to the cops. Dari says she has to go home and let Pookie out first. She will meet him at the cop shop.

Essence: The mystery has been solved.

Conflict: Time is of the essence. Only a matter of time till Hank figures it out.

Subtext: Leff-T and Darin trust each other now.

Hope/Fear: Nobody tips Hank off before they get to the police.

INT. AIRPORT – DAY

Hanks’ sniffer dog successfully alerts to drugs being smuggled. Hank flees the scene.

Essence: The gig is up.

Conflict: Drug traffickers will be coming for Hank.

Subtext: He has to act as if this is great around fellow officers.

Hope/Fear: That he is caught before he goes undercover.

INT. HANK’S BATHROOM – LATE AFTERNOON

Hank goes home to pack. Takes a swig of whiskey bottle Darin left behind. Realizes it is not alcohol. Finds his bloody sock on top of the hamper instead of in it. Puts two and two together. Leaves with his suitcase and his gun.

Essence: Hank realizes Darin played him.

Conflict: People will be coming to kill him.

Subtext: The roles have been reversed.

Hope/Fear: That he is not gunning for Darin.

EXT. DARIN’S BACK YARD – NIGHT

Hanks ambushes Darin when she takes Pookie out to pee. Leff-T is there – – tied up. Darin confronts Hank with what he knows. He admits to everything. There is a showdown and a shootout. Darin shoots Hank. Pookie is wounded.

Essence: The final showdown.

Conflict: Darin wants to save Leff-T and Pookie.

Subtext: The hunter is now the hunted.

Hope/Fear: That Pookie will be ok.

EXT. LEFF-T’S BACK YARD – DAY

A bandaged and coned Pookie plays with Leff-T’s dogs (Capulet and Montague) while Darin and Leff-T look joyously on.

Essence: Pookie is ok. Darin and Leff-T are closer.

Conflict: Pookie’s recovery.

Subtext: Romance?

Hope/Fear: That these two can aid in one another’s ongoing healing.

INT. LEFF-T’S LIVING ROOM – – NIGHT

Leff-T, his and Darin’s baby daughter, Livie, and Pookie watch the FiFi awards on TV. Darin accepts the award she received for the dog perfume she made for Livie – – and dedicates it to Leff-T and Pookie.

Essence: Darin is healing and moving happily and healthily forward with her life.

Conflict: Whose baby – – Hank’s or Leff-t’s?

Subtext: Livie’s death brought them together.

Hope/Fear: Continued joy, healing, and happiness for all!

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Intriguing Moments

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: I had a lot of intrigue buried in my script already.

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

ACT 1:

Covert Agenda / Superior Agenda

The human toe is placed in the meatball. It is handed to Livie at the reception- – and another person consumes it.

Intrigue: Why is someone trying to make Livie choke?

ACT 2:

Scheme / Conspiracy

Hank insists on Darin drinking alcohol to calm her nerves – – knowing she is a recovering alcoholic.

Intrigue: Why is Hank plying a recovering alcoholic – – whom he seems to care deeply for – – with alcohol?

ACT 3:

Covert Agenda

Darin seduces Hank after swearing him off.

Intrigue: Why is she sleeping with the man she suspects of Livie’s murder?

ACT 4:

Mystery

Pookie goes bonkers when Darin sprays her violet perfume?

Intrigue: What has Pookie been trying to communicate?

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Emotional Moments

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Audiences want to be emotionally engaged in movies.

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

ACT 1:

Success / Winning: Darin dedicates her FiFi awards to her pregnant sister, Livie.

Distress: After having been shot at – – Darin awakens in the hospital – – and is informed of her pregnant sister’s death.

ACT 2:

Wounds: Darin’s mother, Leighton, accuses Darin of being responsible for Livie’s murder.

Hidden Weakness: Darin, a recovering alcoholic, resumes drinking after years of sobriety – – as a means of coping with Livie’s death.

ACT 3:

Winning: Darin reaches out to her sponsor for help to stop drinking.

Courage: Darin feigns drinking and seduces Hank to extort information from him.

ACT 4:

Courage: Darin shoots Hank.

Love: Darin dedicates her new perfume to her deceased sister, Livie.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Reveals

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Reveals can engage the audience.

Title: On The Scent

Genre: Thriller

What will you reveal? Hank is missing a toe.

When will the reveal show up in the story? Act 3. After having sex with Hank, Darin finds a bloody sock.

What setups need to be in place to have the reveal work? The toe in an appetizer – – which a guest chokes on – – at Darin’s award ceremony (Act 1). Also, Darin noticing Hank sleeps with his socks on (Act 2).

Where in the story do those setups belong? Before Darin becomes suspicious of Hank.

What will you reveal? Leff-T has been setup to look guilty of Livie’s murder.

When will the reveal show up in the story? Hank’s meeting with the drug traffickers who are blackmailing him. Act 2.

What setups need to be in place to have the reveal work? The toe in the meatball in the opening. The hang up phone call in the Limo. The protestors at the awards ceremony. The shooting of Darin and Livie. The death threat in the mail. All in Act 1.

Where in the story do these setups belong? Previous to Leff-T being cleared as a suspect at the 2nd turning point.

What will you reveal? Violets caused Pookie to fail in scenting drugs being smuggled.

When will the reveal show up in the story? Act 3 — when Darin tests how ionone arrests Pookie’s sense of smell.

What setups need to be in place to have the reveal work? Pookie failing in her job. Pookie barking at the violet perfume. Pookie pulling up the violets in the garden. Pookie being agitated by the condolence flowers delivered to Darin.

Where in the story do these setups belong? Previous to Darin suspecting Hank.

Act 1: Threats against Perfumer Darin August seemingly result in her pregnant sister’s murder.

Darin PJ1: Darin arrives at the FiFi awards with her sister Livie. They fight their way through Leff-T’s protestors to enter the ceremonial hall.

Darin PJ2: At the reception preceding the awards, Darin performs an emergency tracheotomy on a stranger who is choking to death.

Darin PJ3: Darin accepts her awards and gives a speech.

Darin PJ4: Following the awards ceremony Police inform Darin the chocking victim had eaten an appetizer laced with a human toe. They additionally inform her they believe she or her sister may have been the intended target.

Darin PJ5: Darin and Livie exit awards – – and are accosted by Leff-T’s protestors while getting to their car. Darin protects Livie by punching a protestor who blocks Livie’s access to their ride.

Deeper Layer: What is supposed to be a joyous evening for Darin has a cloud of doom hanging over it – – as she is placed in threatening situations at every turn. All signs point to Leff-T as a suspect.

Inciting Incident: Upon their return home – – Darin and Livie are shot at.

Turning Point 1: Livie is pronounced dead at the hospital.

Darin PJ6: Darin is questioned by police then informed of her sister’s death.

Hank AJ1: Hank arrives at the hospital and is informed of his wife’s death.

Act 2: Darin vows to avenge her pregnant sister’s murder – – slowly falling off the rails.

Darin PJ7: Darin’s mother accuses Darin of being responsible for Livie’s death at the funeral. Darin slaps her.

Pookie 1: Agitated by condolence flowers sent to Darin.

Hank AJ2: Hank plies Darin (a recovering alcoholic) with alcohol to calm her nerves and ease her stress.

Darin PJ8: Darin receives mail with a death threat and turns to alcohol for relief.

Hank AJ3: Hank forces a gun on Darin for protection.

Darin PJ9: Darin shows up at Leff-T’s mansion drunk – – brandishing a gun. She shoots out his surveillance cameras and shoots at his home – – demanding he meet her face-to-face to enact justice.

Darin PJ10: In a drunken blackout Darin is returned home safely by Leff-T.

Darin PJ11: A hungover Darin checks in with her boss and is put on leave for the bad press she is generating.

Pookie 2: Agitated by chemicals Darin is working with from home.

Deeper Layer: Hank, having encouraged Darin’s drinking knowing she is an alcoholic, is suspect. Additionally – – his forcing a gun on her for protection when she fears them since a childhood incident with one – – is also suspect.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Leff-T is cleared as a suspect / gives a televised interview apologizing to Darin for the boycott and requesting his followers stand down.

Hank AJ4: Traffickers inform him they will try and find another suspect to deflect ongoing investigation – – contingent upon Hank extorting more scientific information from Darin to defeat sniffer dogs during drug transport.

Hank AJ5: Hank seduces Darin after plying her with alcohol / successfully extorts another scientific idea to make his sniffer dog fail.

Darin PJ12: Darin’s AA sponsee, Dharma, reaches out to Darin about her drinking. Dharma works with dogs and points out Pookie’s odd behavior – – digging up violets in Darin’s garden.

Darin PJ13: Darin has a pregnancy scare. Disgusted with herself for having slept with her dead sister’s husband, she vows to stop drinking and distance herself from Hank.

Hank AJ6: Hank’s works another case wherein drugs are successfully smuggled as his new sniffer dog fails to scent.

Deeper Layer: Pookie’s odd behavior hints at something being “off” with his handler (Hank). Hank sleeping with his dead wife’s sister is “off” somehow.

Act 3: Darin puts the pieces together.

Darin PJ14: Darin gets fully back on the wagon.

Darin PJ15: Darin enlists Dharma’s help to make sense of what Pookie has been trying to communicate.

Darin PJ16: Darin receives intel from Leff-T – – from his gang ties – – which casts suspicion on Hank.

Darin PJ17: Darin and Dharma begin doing scent experiments with Pookie.

Hank AJ7: Hank is told by the blackmailers to throw Darin off the scent, or they will kill her and expose him.

Hank AJ8: Hank has Dharma overdosed.

Turning Point 3: Dharma’s overdose.

Darin PJ18: Darin learns of Dharma’s overdose.

Darin PJ19: Darin pretends to be drinking, seduces Hank, leaking false scientific info to him.

Darin PJ20: Darin rummages through Hank’s things and finds a bloody right sock – – realizing he might be missing a toe.

Darin PJ21: Darin confers with one of Hank’s colleagues to access body camera footage of Pookie’s failed drug scent.

Darin PJ22: Darin tests Pookie’s nose – – discovering which compound is freaking the dog out.

Deeper Layer: Darin and Pookie are healing each other. They are solving the crime together. Solving the crime is strengthening Darin, her resolve, her sobriety, her purchase on life.

Act 4 Climax: The showdown.

Hank AJ9: Hanks’ sniffer dog successfully alerts to drugs being smuggled.

Hank AJ10: Hanks goes on the run.

Darin PJ23: Having put the pieces together – – Darin follows Hank then confronts him with the truth.

Hank AJ11: Hank confesses everything during a shoot-out with Darin, Leff-T, and Pookie.

Darin PJ24: Darin shoots Hank.

Deeper Layer: Darin realizes she is not responsible for Livie’s death. The healing can begin. She has kept her promise and avenged her sister’s death.

Resolution: Darin accepting FiFi award for “Dog Perfume” she made for Livie. Her husband, Leff-T, their baby daughter, Livie, and Pookie watch the ceremony.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Character Action Tracks

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: My character profile informs my character’s unique actions.

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

Act 1: Threats against Perfumer Darin August seemingly result in her pregnant sister’s murder.

Darin PJ1: Darin arrives at the FiFi awards with her sister Livie. They fight their way through Leff-T’s protestors to enter the ceremonial hall.

Darin PJ2: At the reception preceding the awards, Darin performs an emergency tracheotomy on a stranger who is choking to death.

Darin PJ3: Darin accepts her awards and gives a speech.

Darin PJ4: Following the awards ceremony Police inform Darin the chocking victim had eaten an appetizer laced with a human toe. They additionally inform her they believe she or her sister may have been the intended target.

Darin PJ5: Darin and Livie exit awards – – and are accosted by Leff-T’s protestors while getting to their car. Darin protects Livie by punching a protestor who blocks Livie’s access to their ride.

Deeper Layer: What is supposed to be a joyous evening for Darin has a cloud of doom hanging over it – – as she is placed in threatening situations at every turn. All signs point to Leff-T as a suspect.

Inciting Incident: Upon their return home – – Darin and Livie are shot at.

Turning Point 1: Livie is pronounced dead at the hospital.

Darin PJ6: Darin is questioned by police then informed of her sister’s death.

Hank AJ1: Hank arrives at the hospital and is informed of his wife’s death.

Act 2: Darin vows to avenge her pregnant sister’s murder – – slowly falling off the rails.

Darin PJ7: Darin’s mother accuses Darin of being responsible for Livie’s death at the funeral. Darin slaps her.

Hank AJ2: Hank plies Darin (a recovering alcoholic) with alcohol to calm her nerves and ease her stress.

Darin PJ8: Darin receives mail with a death threat and turns to alcohol for relief.

Hank AJ3: Hank forces a gun on Darin for protection.

Darin PJ9: Darin shows up at Leff-T’s mansion drunk – – brandishing a gun. She shoots out his surveillance cameras and shoots at his home – – demanding he meet her face-to-face to enact justice.

Darin PJ10: In a drunken blackout Darin is returned home safely by Leff-T.

Darin PJ11: A hungover Darin checks in with her boss and is put on leave for the bad press she is generating.

Deeper Layer: Hank, having encouraged Darin’s drinking knowing she is an alcoholic, is suspect. Additionally – – his forcing a gun on her for protection when she fears them since a childhood incident with one – – is also suspect.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Leff-T is cleared as a suspect / gives a televised interview apologizing to Darin for the boycott and requesting his followers stand down.

Hank AJ4: Hank is tasked with extorting more scientific information from Darin by the drug traffickers blackmailing him.

Hank AJ5: Hank seduces Darin after plying her with alcohol / successfully extorts another scientific idea to make his sniffer dog fail.

Darin PJ12: Darin’s AA sponsee, Dharma, reaches out to Darin about her drinking. Dharma works with dogs and points out Pookie’s odd behavior.

Darin PJ13: Darin has a pregnancy scare. Disgusted with herself for having slept with her dead sister’s husband, she vows to stop drinking and stay away from Hank.

Hank AJ6: Hank’s works another case wherein drugs are successfully smuggled as his new sniffer dogs fails to scent.

Deeper Layer: Pookie’s odd behavior hints at something being “off” with his handler (Hank). Hank sleeping with his dead wife’s sister is “off” somehow.

Act 3: Darin puts the pieces together.

Darin PJ14: Darin gets fully back on the wagon.

Darin PJ15: Darin enlists Dharma’s help to make sense of what Pookie has been trying to communicate.

Darin PJ16: Darin receives intel from Leff-T – – from his gang ties – – which casts suspicion on Hank.

Darin PJ17: Darin and Dharma begin doing scent experiments with Pookie.

Hank AJ7: Hank is told by the blackmailers to throw Darin off the scent, or they will kill her and expose him.

Hank AJ8: Hank has Dharma overdosed.

Turning Point 3: Dharma’s overdose.

Darin PJ18: Darin learns of Dharma’s overdose.

Darin PJ19: Darin pretends to be drinking, seduces Hank, leaking false scientific info to him.

Darin PJ20: Darin rummages through Hank’s things and finds a bloody right sock – – realizing he might be missing a toe.

Darin PJ21: Darin confers with one of Hank’s colleagues to access body camera footage of Pookie’s failed drug scent.

Darin PJ22: Darin tests Pookie’s nose – – discovering which compound is freaking the dog out.

Deeper Layer: Darin and Pookie are healing each other. They are solving the crime together. Solving the crime is strengthening Darin, her resolve, her sobriety, her purchase on life.

Act 4 Climax: The showdown.

Hank AJ9: Hanks’ sniffer dog successfully alerts to drugs being smuggled.

Hank AJ10: Hanks goes on the run.

Darin PJ23: Having put the pieces together – – Darin follows Hank then confronts him with the truth.

Hank AJ11: Hank confesses everything during a shoot-out with Darin, Leff-T, and Pookie.

Darin PJ24: Darin shoots Hank.

Deeper Layer: Darin realizes she is not responsible for Livie’s death. The healing can begin. She has kept her promise and avenged her sister’s death.

Resolution: Darin accepting FiFi award for “Dog Perfume” she made for Livie. Her husband, Leff-T, their baby daughter, Livie, and Pookie watch the ceremony.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s New Outline Beats

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Deciding to look at the plot in a non-linear way can help to strengthen it.

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

Act 1: Threats against Perfumer Darin August seemingly result in her pregnant sister’s murder.

Darin PJ1: Darin arrives at the FiFi awards with her sister Livie. They fight their way through Leff-T’s protestors to enter the ceremonial hall.

Darin PJ2: At the reception preceding the awards Darin saves a stranger who is choking to death.

Darin PJ3: Darin accepts her awards and gives a speech.

Darin PJ4: At the party following the awards ceremony Police inform Darin they suspect foul play was involved in the choking incident. They inform her the chocking victim had eaten an appetizer laced with a human toe. They additionally inform her they believe she or her sister may have been the intended target.

Darin PJ5: Darin and Livie exit awards. They are accosted by Leff-T’s protestors while getting to their car.

Deeper Layer: What is supposed to be a joyous evening for Darin has a cloud of doom hanging over it – – as she is placed in threatening situations at every turn. All signs point to Leff-T as a suspect.

Inciting Incident: Upon their return home – – Darin and Livie are shot at.

Turning Point 1: Livie is pronounced dead at the hospital.

Darin PJ6: Darin is questioned by police then informed of her sister’s death.

Hank AJ1: Hank arrives at the hospital and is informed of his wife’s death.

Act 2: Darin falls off the wagon and succumbs to her alcoholism.

Darin PJ7: Darin’s mother accuses Darin of being responsible for Livie’s death at Livie’s funeral.

Hank AJ2: Hank plies Darin (a recovering alcoholic) with alcohol to calm her nerves and ease her stress.

Hank AJ3: Hank Provides Darin with a gun for protection – -despite her protestations.

Darin PJ8: Darin shows up at Leff-T’s mansion drunk – – brandishing a gun.

Darin PJ9: In a drunken blackout Darin is returned home safely by Leff-T.

Darin PJ10: Darin is put on leave by her boss for the bad press she is generating.

Deeper Layer: Hank, having encouraged Darin’s drinking knowing she is an alcoholic, is suspect. Additionally – – his forcing a gun on her for protection when she fears them since a childhood incident with one – – is also suspect.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Leff-T is cleared as a suspect / gives a televised interview apologizing to Darin for the boycott and requesting his followers stand down.

Hank AJ4: Hank is tasked with extorting more scientific information from Darin by the drug traffickers blackmailing him.

Hank AJ5: Hank seduces Darin after plying her with alcohol / successfully extorts another scientific idea to make his sniffer dog fail.

Darin PJ11: Darin’s AA sponsee, Dharma, reaches out to Darin about her drinking. Dharma works with dogs and points out Pookie’s odd behavior.

Darin PJ12: Darin has a pregnancy scare. Disgusted with herself for having slept with her dead sister’s husband, she resumes attending AA meetings and pulls away from Hank.

Hank AJ6: Hank’s works another case wherein drugs are successfully smuggled as his new sniffer dogs fails to scent.

Deeper Layer: Pookie’s odd behavior hints at something being off with his handler (Hank). Hank sleeping with his dead wife’s sister is “off” somehow.

Act 3: Darin puts the pieces together.

Darin PJ13: Darin gets fully back on the wagon.

Darin PJ14: Darin enlists Dharma’s help to make sense of what Pookie has been trying to communicate.

Hank AJ7: Hank is told by the blackmailers to throw Darin off the scent, or they will kill her and expose him.

Hank AJ8: Hank has Dharma overdosed.

Turning Point 3: Dharma’s overdose.

Darin PJ15: Darin learns of Dharma’s overdose.

Darin PJ16: Darin is given information from Leff-T – – from his gang ties – – which casts suspicion on Hank.

Darin PJ17: Darin’s finds a bloody sock of Hank’s and realizes he might be missing a toe.

Darin PJ18: Darin confers with one of Hank’s colleagues to access body camera footage of Pookie’s failed drug scent.

Darin PJ19: Darin tests Pookie’s nose with different chemical compounds in order find out which one is freaking the dog out.

Deeper Layer: Darin and Pookie are healing each other. They are solving the crime together. Solving the crime is strengthening Darin, her resolve, her sobriety, her purchase on life.

Act 4 Climax: The showdown.

Darin PJ20: Having put the pieces together – – Darin has a showdown with Hank.

Hank AJ9: Hank confesses everything and has a shoot-out with Darin, Leff-T, and Pookie.

Darin PJ21: Darin shoots Hank.

Deeper Layer: Darin realizes she is not responsible for Livie’s death. The healing can begin. She has kept her promise and avenged her sister’s death.

Resolution: Darin accepting FiFi award for “Dog Perfume” she made for Livie. Her husband, Leff-T, their baby daughter, Livie, and Pookie watch the ceremony.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Beat Sheet – – Draft 1

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Unlike erecting a building – – structure can be created out of order – – puzzle pieces being shifted around to create the tightest structure for the screenplay.

Title: On the Scent

Genre: Thriller

Act 1: Threats against Perfumer Darin August seemingly result in her pregnant sister’s murder.

Darin PJ1: Darin arrives at the FiFi awards with her sister Livie. They fight their way through Leff-T’s protestors to enter the ceremonial hall.

Darin PJ2: At the reception preceding the awards Darin saves a stranger who is choking to death.

Darin PJ3: At the party following the awards ceremony Police inform Darin they suspect foul play was involved in the choking incident.

Darin PJ4: Darin and Livie exit awards. They are accosted by Leff-T’s protestors while getting to their car.

Deeper Layer: What is supposed to being a joyous evening for Darin has a cloud of doom hanging over it – – as she is placed in threatening situations at every turn. All signs point to Leff-T as a suspect.

Inciting Incident: Upon their return home – – the two are shot at.

Turning Point 1: Livie is pronounced dead at the hospital.

Darin PJ5: Darin is questioned by police then informed of her sister’s death.

Hank AJ1: Hank arrives at the hospital and is informed of his wife’s death.

Act 2: Darin decides to go after the prime suspect (Leff-T) herself.

Darin PJ5: Darin’s mother accuses Darin of being responsible for Livie’s death at Livie’s funeral.

Hank AJ2: Hank plies Darin (a recovering alcoholic) with alcohol to calm her nerves and ease her stress.

Hank AJ3: Hank Provides Darin with a gun for protection – -despite her protestations.

Darin PJ6: Darin shows up at Leff-T’s mansion drunk – – brandishing a gun.

Darin PJ7: Darin is put on leave by her boss for the bad press she is generating.

Deeper Layer: Hank having encouraged Darin’s drinking knowing she is an alcoholic is suspect. Additionally – – his forcing a gun on her for protection when she fears them since a childhood incident with one – – is also suspect.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Leff-T is cleared as a suspect.

Hank AJ4: Hank seduces Darin after plying her with alcohol.

Darin PJ8: Darin is disgusted with herself for having slept with her dead sister’s husband. Distraught, she pulls away from Hank.

Darin PJ9: Darin becomes increasingly aware of Pookie’s odd behavior and sets out to make sense of it.

Hank AJ5: Hank is tasked with extorting more scientific information from Darin by the drug traffickers blackmailing him.

Deeper Layer: Pookie’s odd behavior hints at something being off with his handler (Hank). Hank sleeping with his dead wife’s sister is “off” somehow.

Act 3: Darin puts the pieces together.

Darin PJ10: Darin gets back on the wagon.

Darin PJ11: Darin enlists Dharma’s help to make sense of what Pookie has been trying to communicate. Dharma is her AA sponsee. Dharma works with dogs.

Darin PJ12: Darin is given information from Leff-T casting suspicion on Hank.

Hank AJ6: Hank is told by the blackmailers to throw Darin off the scent, or they will kill her and expose him.

Hank AJ7: Hank has Dharma overdosed.

Turning Point 3: Dharma’s overdose.

Darin PJ13: Darin’s finds a bloody sock of Hank’s and realizes he might be missing a toe.

Darin PJ14: Darin tests Pookie’s nose with different chemical compounds in order find out which one is freaking the dog out.

Darin PJ15: Darin confers with one of Hank’s colleagues to access footage of Pookie’s failed drug scent.

Deeper Layer: Darin and Pookie are healing each other. They are solving the crime together. Solving the crime is strengthening Darin, her resolve, her sobriety, her purchase on life.

Act 4 Climax: The showdown.

Darin PJ16: Having put the pieces together – – Darin has a showdown with Hank.

Hank AJ8: Hank confesses everything and has a shootout with Darin, Leff-T, and Pookie.

Darin PJ17: Darin shoots Hank.

Deeper Layer: Darin realizes she is not responsible for Livie’s death. The healing can begin. She has kept her promise and avenged her sister’s death.

Resolution: Darin accepting FiFi award for “Dog Perfume” she made for Livie. Her husband, Leff-T, their daughter and Pookie watch the ceremony.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Deeper Layer

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Unlike erecting a building – – structure can be created out of order – – puzzle pieces being shifted around to create the tightest structure for the screenplay.

Surface Layer: Darin August’s pregnant sister, Livie, is shot and killed outside of Darin’s house. Since Darin has been receiving threats from the followers of a famous televangelist (Lett-T) for having turned down a perfume commission he proposed – – Leff-T and his followers are prime suspects. Darin’s K9 officer brother -in-law, Hank Sandford, seeks both to comfort and protect Darin as well as bring legal justice.

Deeper Layer: Livie was killed as a warning to Hank. Hank is in bed with drug traffickers. Having failed to aid them in deflecting sniffer dogs from detecting during a recent drug transport – – the traffickers shot Livie to keep him motivated and “in line”.

Major Reveal: Hank has been mining Darin for scientific information used in perfume making – – which could result in throwing a dog off a scent.

Influences Surface Story: Darin is kept feeling responsible for Livie’s death. Darin resumes drinking, which threatens her job. Pookie (Hank’s detection dog) is placed on leave for repeatedly failing to find drugs. Leff-T is harassed by Darin because of Hank fueling the fire as regards his supposed culpability in the crime.

Hints: Hank’s refusal to take off his socks – – which would reveal a missing portion of toe. Pookie barking fervently every time Darin sprays perfume. Hank pushing alcoholic beverages on Darin – – who is a recovering addict. Hank being too interested in Darin’s shop talk. Hank forcing a gun on Darin – – when he knows they frighten her post a childhood accident with one.

Changes Reality: Hank has been using Darin for scientific info to be used in deflecting detection dogs from scenting drugs at a drug transport. This is responsible for Pookie’s detection failures and subsequent forced retirement. Hank’s affair with a hooker set the entire chain of events in action. Her pimp, a drug trafficker, blackmailed Hank into assisting in moving drugs undetected. Darin is not responsible for Livie’s death.

Beginning: Darin attends the FiFi awards with her sister Livie. They are mobbed by protesters both entering and exiting the awards. Ominous feeling to an evening which should be celbratory.

Inciting Incident: Upon their return home – – the two are shot at.

Turning Point 1: Darin learns of Livie’s death in the hospital. Hank arrives at hospital and learns of his wife’s death.

Act 2: Darin decides to harass and publicly taunt the prime suspect (Leff-T). Darin slides further and further off the rails. Hank plies her with alcohol, supplies her with a gun for protection, and seduces her.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Leff-T is cleared as a suspect. Leff-T gives Darin intel which leaves her suspicious of Hank.

Act 3: Having been suspended from work for drinking and bad press, Darin gets back on the wagon. Enlists the help of her sponsee, Dharma, to make sense of what Pookie has been trying to communicate. Dharma works search and rescue.

Turning Point 3: Dharma overdoses.

Act 4 Climax: Darin puts the pieces together. Bring’s Leff-T into the loop. Darin, Leff-T, and Pookie have a showdown with Hank. Hank is shot.

Resolution: Darin accepting FiFi award for “Dog Perfume” she made for Livie. Her husband, Leff-T, their daughter and Pookie watch the ceremony. Hank in prison.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Character Structure

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Unlike erecting a building – – structure can be created out of order – – puzzle pieces being shifted around to create the tightest structure for the screenplay.

Darin August / Protagonist

Beginning: Darin attends the FiFi awards with her sister Livie.

Inciting Incident: Upon their return home – – the two are shot at.

Turning Point 1: Darin learns of Livie’s death in the hospital.

Act 2: Darin decides to investigate the prime suspect (Leff-T) herself.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Leff-T is cleared as a suspect.

Act 3: Darin gets back on the wagon. Enlists Dharma’s help to make sense of what Pookie has been trying to communicate.

Turning Point 3: Dharma is overdosed.

Act 4 Climax: Having put the pieces together – – Darin has a showdown with Hank. Hank is shot.

Resolution: Darin accepting FiFi award for “Dog Perfume” she made for Livie. Her husband, Leff-T, their daughter and Pookie watch the ceremony.

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Hank Sandford / Antagonist

Beginning: K9 officer Hank Sandford’s penchant for partying has landed him in trouble with a drug trafficker.

Inciting Incident: He is being blackmailed for having slept with one of the trafficker’s hookers. Said trafficker is requiring Hank to find ways to stump his sniffer dog – – allowing for the undetected transport of drugs.

Turning Point 1: Hank has successfully caused his sniffer dog to fail at one transport using information gleaned from his perfumer sister-in-law, Darin August.

Act 2: Hank fails to be able to repeat his “one-off”, causing the drug trafficker to up the stakes.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Hank’s wife, Livie, is murdered by the traffickers.

Act 3. Hank pulls out the stops to extort more useful information from Darin.

Turning Point 3: Hank has Dharma overdosed.

Act 4 Climax: Having figured out the truth – – Hank and Darin have a showdown.

Resolution: Hank is dead.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Supporting Characters

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: supporting characters are not mere window dressing. Their purpose is to propel the story forward.

Supporting Characters:

Leff-T, Leighton August, Pookie, Dave Roesch

Background characters:

Audience at FiFi awards, waiter, police officer, picketers/protesters, alanon attendees, people at the dog park, tabloid journalist.

Name: Leff-T

Role: Televangelist

Main Purpose: Serves as obvious suspect – – thus deflecting hunt for real killer.

Value: Hank uses this character to fuel Darin’s rage. Leff-t incites Darin to take Pookie’s alarming behavior as a clue. Leff-T gets “street info” which incriminates Hank.

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Name: Leighton August

Role: Darin and Livie’s mom

Main Purpose: To punish Darin for the loss of her husband and for Livie’s death.

Value: Sends Darin back to the bottle.

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Name: Pookie

Role: Failed detection dog

Main Purpose: To solve the crime. To make Darin look at Hank as a suspect.

Value: Increases suspense. Gives Darin a lifeboat. Solves the crime.

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Name: Dave Roesch

Role: Darin’s boss

Main Purpose: To keep Darin compliant.

Value: To drive her further into crises. He contributes to her need to resume drinking. Helps further bottom her out and isolate her.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Character Profiles Part 2

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Characters are sculpted.

Protagonist Darin August

High Concept: A perfumer joins forces with a down-and-out detection dog to nose out her sister’s killer.

Character Journey: From a grief-stricken addict who feels responsible for her pregnant sister’s death – – to the sober BAD ASS who avenges the murder.

Actor Attractors: Fascinating job. Pinnacle of success. Fiercely loyal. Intelligent and competent. Relentless and curious. Fascinating job. Solves her sister’s murder. Bad ass! Huge character arc.

Character subtext: The only relief she can find from her grief comes from things that will ultimately make her even more grief-stricken.

Character Intrigue: Deception – – Darin, an alcoholic herself, uses drinking to manipulate Hank.

Character Flaw: Doesn’t believe in herself.

Character Values: Trusting your instincts. Loyalty.

Character dilemma: Righter of wrongs who is afraid to make waves.

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Antagonist: Hank Sandford

Character journey: From self-assured puppeteer to desperate and maniacal.

Actor attractors: Intelligent. Fascinating job. Wide emotional range. Gallant. Protector. Charm a dog off a meat truck.

Character subtext: Enjoys the fact the mission given him by the drug dealers gives him permission to “play house with” someone he never really got over.

Character Intrigue: Hidden Identity – – cop actually working FOR the drug smugglers he is investigating.

Character flaw: Over-confidence.

Values: Self-preservation. Being seen as heroic. Winning.

Character dilemma: Needing to be perceived as a great guy while battling his debaucheries.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Character Profiles Part 1

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Absolutely EVERYTHING the characters say and do must be informed by this profile.

High Concept: A perfumer joins forces with a down-and-out detection dog to nose out her sister’s killer.

This Character’s Journey: From a grief-stricken addict who feels responsible for her pregnant sister’s death – – to the sober BAD ASS who avenges the murder.

Actor Attractors: She has a fascinating job – – no female perfumer characters out there. She is the pinnacle of success. Fierce loyalty. Highly intelligent and competent. Relentless. Solves her sister’s murder. BAD ASS! Has a huge character arc.

Role in the story: Protagonist, Darin August.

Having received death threats for a perfume commission she turned down, Darin believes she is responsible for her sister’s murder. It is her job to make sense of what her sister’s dog is trying to communicate to her and avenge her sister’s murder.

Age range and description: A perfumer in her mid- thirties, Darin is slight, fit, and possesses the sophistication and Movistar good looks of old Hollywood royalty.

Core Traits: Instinctive, visceral, dogged, self-flagellating, inquisitive, intelligent.

Motivation/Want: To avenge Livie’s murder.

Motivation/Need: To heal the wound of not being able to protect her sister from abuse when they were children.

Wound: Her abuse as a child and her mother’s ongoing denial of it.

Likability: Highly esteemed in her difficult profession. Gives lavishly to charity. Smart, determined and VERY interesting. Loves fiercely and is fiercely protective.

Relatability: Loss of her pregnant younger sister. Struggles with vices during duress. Turns to animals for comfort. Difficulty working while grieving. Trying to make sense of death of a young person.

Empathy: Her mother’s maltreatment of her and denial of abuse. Her debilitating grief. Her falling off the wagon. Her employer being discompassionate with her. Her brother-in-law manipulating her grief.

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Protagonist, Hank Sandford

Character journey: From self-assured puppeteer to desperate and maniacal.

Actor Attractors: Intelligent. Has a fascinating job working with detection dogs. Wide emotional range. Gallant. Protector. Charm a dog off a meat truck.

Role in the story: Hank is being blackmailed by drug dealers. As such, he is forced to present them with successful means of smuggling drugs. Unbeknownst to his sister-in-law, perfumer Darin August, he is mining her for scientific info which might serve to throw off detection dogs. It is life or death for him to keep this secret. When his pregnant wife is murdered as a warning to him, the stakes are heightened once again. He role is to keep gleaning secrets from Darin, keep Pookie (failed detection dog) off his scent, save his own ass at all costs.

Age range and description: A police officer in his mid-thirties, Hank has the rugged, sinewy, outdoorsy good looks of a 1985 Coors commercial model.

Core traits: Charming, mastermind, manipulative, self-centered, over-confident, gas lighter.

Motivation/want: To keep extorting information from Darin and stay alive.

Motivation/need: His sterling reputation untarnished.

Wound: He never got over Darin dumping him in their youth.

Likability: Protective. Good with his dog. Charming. Capable. Interesting, “Take charge” kind of guy. Cool under pressure.

Relatability: Agony of losing a loved one. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Empathy: Loss of his family. Having to work in the throes of grief.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Movies make us feel less alone. They work best when they somehow hold the mirror up to the universal human conditions.

Protagonist: Darin August

Likability: She is highly accomplished in her career. She gives lavishly to a charity near and dear to her heart. She loves her sister without abandon and would do anything for her. She is smart and determined and VERY interesting.

Relatability: We all know the agony of losing a loved one. We understand the need to bargain with death and try to make sense of it.

Empathy: We feel sad for her losses. We want her to stay on the wagon – – not turn to her addiction to cope. We empathize with her mother’s maltreatment of her.

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Antagonist: Hank Sandford

Likability: He is hugely protective – – both interpersonally and with society at large. He is good with his dog. He is a “take charge” kind of guy.

Relatability: Agony of losing a loved one. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Empathy: Loss of his family. Having to work while in the throes of grief.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Intrigue

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Increasing the facets of characters increases their believability.

Character Name: Darin August

Role: Protagonist

Hidden Agendas:

Competition:

Conspiracies: Once suspicious of Hank’s involvement with her sister’s death – – Darin hatches a plan with Leff-T to keep him close. She feigns trusting him and feeds him false scientific information to see if he uses it illicitly.

Secrets: Darin hides her having fallen of the wagon from her employer in order to remain employed and hold on to the biggest commission of her life. Darin has protected Livie since they were teenagers by taking responsibility for a shooting Livie committed as a child.

Deception: Once sober – -Darin feigns still drinking in order to con Hank into thinking he is still controlling her.

Unspoken Wound: Darin was sexually abused by her stepfather as a teen. Her mother, Leighton, refuses to acknowledge it and holds Darin responsible for the collapse of her marriage.

Secret Identity:

How might her subtext show up in the movie? She is subconsciously trying to go back and protect Livie from childhood abuse by avenging her death now. Darin’s self-loathing manifests in her drinking.

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Character Name: Hank Sanford

Role: Antagonist

Hidden Agendas: Hank constantly “talks shop” with Darin – – feigning a fascination with her profession – – in order to pump her for scientific secrets he can use to funnel to a cartel to successfully smuggle drugs.

Competition:

Conspiracies: Hank is conspiring with the drug cartel to keep Darin drunk in order to keep him off her scent.

Secrets: Hank’s affair with a junkie.

Deception: Convincing Darin that alcohol is helping her through her grief.

Unspoken Wound: Responsibility in his wife’s death.

Secret Identity: He is an undercover cop actually working FOR the drug cartel he is investigating.

How might his subtext show up in the movie? Not knowing when to stop. Being controlled by the very excesses he uses to control others. Being willing to throw his working dog under the metaphorical bus.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Subtext Characters

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: How hard is it for me to plough through when perfectionism is MY SUBTEXT. Lol.

Movie Title: Nocturnal Animals

Character Name: Bobby Andes

Subtext Identity: A terminally ill homicide detective.

Subtext Trait: Ruthless, unethical, unlawful, ends justify the means, relentless.

Subtext Logline: Detective Andes is a dying homicide detective who will resort to vigilante justice, if necessary, in order to resolve his last case before being put out to pasture.

Possible Areas of Subtext: Chain smoking when it is killing him. Repeatedly placing Tony face- to- face with his family’s killer – – whom Tony is deathly afraid of. Making Tony “walk” the abduction trail.

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Character Name: Edward Sheffield

Subtext Identity: The sensitive artist with the heart of gold.

Subtext Trait: Waffling, spineless, excuse-making syndrome, deflecting.

Subtext Logline: A kindhearted, albeit failed writer – – heals from his wife’s infidelity by scripting her murder in a published novel.

Possible Areas of Subtext: Calling her “forward” when she propositions him. Making excuses for her “bitch” mother. Sending her the script to read pre-publication. Standing her up at the final meeting.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Actor Attractors

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: How important it is not to leave this to chance. Attractors need to be “crafted” into the script. Also – -how I have yet to flesh these out for my antagonist – – who is somewhat surface level in my mind’s eye.

Darin August

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

Darin is a BAD ASS! She is an empowering role model for women. She is the pinnacle of success in her career. She successfully avenges her pregnant sister’s murder. She is fiercely loyal to her sister, Livie, whom she needs and loves more than life itself. The role is highly unusual insomuch as there are few to no movies about female perfumers. She has an huge character arc in this film.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the story?

The way she experiences the world. As a perfumer – – she lives a very visceral life. She experiences everything predominately through her sense of smell. She relates to the detection dog in the story because she experiences life in much the same way.

3. What are the most interesting actions the lead character could take in the script?

Confront the man she believes responsible for her sister’s murder. Pay attention to Pookie’s (retired detection dog) every action in order to decipher what is being communicated to her. Fight for her sobriety.

4. How can you introduce this character in a way that could sell it to an actor?

Introduce her at the top of her game. Sober. At the pinnacle of her career – – receiving international recognition at the FiFi Awards (perfume industry awards). Dedicating her award to her baby sister.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

From destroyed by grief to avenger. From drunk and helpless to sober and BAD ASS!

6. What subtext can the actor play?

How alone she feels in the world.

7. What is the most interesting relationship this character can have?

Her relationship with the dog. They experience life in the same way – – through their sense of smell. Also, her relationship with Leff-T. She moves from believing he is the killer to believing he is the only person she can trust.

8. How can this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through her nose. Through her profession. Through her relationship to the dog. Through her journey back into sobriety.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

Her sense of smell. Her profession. The world views her profession fosters.

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Leff-T

1. What about this role would cause an actor to want to be known for it?

How fascinating this character is. He multidimensional. He is a hero in the film.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the story?

Now a televangelist – – he has sorted past and circuitous path there. He was a gang member who found God in prison. After prison he became a famous Christian rapper. From there – – a televangelist. Though dangerous – – he still has gang ties in order to better serve his community.

3. What are the most interesting actions this character could take in the script?

Asking his followers to stop boycotting Darin’s products. Helping Darin after she accuses him of murdering her sister. Re-establishing gang ties to get intel to help with the investigation.

4. How could you introduce this role in a way that can sell it to an actor?

Leff-T is introduced as a character when Darin is drunkenly shooting at his mansion. Instead of having her arrested when the police arrive – – he watches over the passed-out Darin so she can get the first full night’s sleep since her sister’s death. His wealth and lack of polish are overshadowed by his resounding humanity.

5. What could be this character’s emotional range?

From benevolent to vengeful.

6. What subtext can the actor play?

His own fight for sobriety. His falling for Darin.

7. What is the most interesting relationship this character can have?

To his dogs, Montegue and Capulet. Though trained to protect and kill – – he babies them endlessly.

8. How will this character’s unique voice be presented?

Through the charities he runs to help troubled youth and gang members clean the slate and start anew. Through the incongruous Christian Rap he writes and performs.

9. What could make this character special and unique?

His ability to bridge two worlds. To fit in everywhere, yet nowhere at the same time. The immense gentility and humanity that can be obscured by his past and his appearance.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s actor attractors for “Nocturnal Animals”

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: How important it is not to leave this to chance. Attractors need to be “crafted” into the script.

Movie Title: Nocturnal Animals

Lead Character #1: Tony Hastings/ Edward Sheffield

1. Why would an actor want to be known for this role? It is a “juicy “role with an EXTREME emotional, spiritual and psychological journey for the character to take.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? His supposed “weakness” is also what is most attractive about him.

3. What are the most interesting actions the lead character takes in the movie? Sending the note to his wife. Hiding from his assailants. Shooting Ray. Standing his ex-wife up at the end.

4. How is the character introduced that could sell it to an actor? The character is introduced in a heightened situation – – wherein his weaknesses could cause his family great harm – – even death.

5. What is the character’s emotional range? From sensitive and afraid to ruthless.

6. What subtext can the actor play? He knows that his “nice guy” routine is a cover for his spinelessness.

7. What’s the most interesting relationship this character has? The relationship with the police detective, Bobby. Bobby seems to act as his subconscious mind and his alter ego – – egging him on to do the things he knows he should do.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Through the way he makes his novel a metaphor for the death of his marriage.

9. What makes this character special and unique? His ability to craft pain into art. His weaknesses are also what makes him attractive and are some of his better qualities when reframed. His reluctance in all situations: good and bad. The craftiness with which he takes revenge on his ex-wife.

10. Scene showing actor attractor model: The scene where he falls to his knees and screams “I should have done something!” He takes the entire emotional journey of the script in that short scene and monologue. It requires great acting.

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Lead Character # 2: Bobby Andes

1. Why would an actor want to be known for this role? He is a modern-day crime fighting “Robinhood”. When the system doesn’t work – – he turns to street justice.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? He is a gruff, tough as nails, softie. He works within a system that is broken. He is a dying man and willing to “go out with a bang” – – and avenge the rapes and murders of Tony’s family as his last hurrah.

3. What are the most interesting actions this lead character takes in the movie? Making Tony confront his assailants again and again. Going rogue. Choosing to kill the men who will otherwise walk free.

4. How is the character introduced that could sell it to an actor? He is walking subtext. In the scene where we first meet him – – he obviously needs to consider Tony as a suspect as he begins to investigate. He immediately places Tony in the most difficult of positions by making him literally relive the previous evenings events. We see the wheels turning as he always assimilates new information. We immediately see he doesn’t give a shit what anyone thinks of him.

5. What is the character’s emotional range? From suspicious to righteous.

6. What subtext can the actor play? He can play suspicious when first investigating the murders. He can play empathetic while plotting vigilante justice.

7. What is the most interesting relationship this character has? His relationship to Tony. First, he suspects him. Then he is repulsed by his weakness. Then he feels for the man – – even comforts him. Then he plans vigilante justice on his behalf.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Always through actions. Every action taken is outside of the box.

9. What makes this character special and unique? The dichotomy of him. He is “all man”…..all “Southern man”…..all “Law enforcement”. He is a gun slinging, smoking, spiting, nails against the chalk board good old boy. He also possesses a heart of gold and feels deeply.

10. Scene showing actor attractor model: Scene where he approaches Tony to get revenge on Ray. He tells Tony he is dying – – and is willing to put it all on the line to avenge the murder of Tony’s family. He proposes “street justice” as a salve for the broken justice system.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Genre Conventions

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: A screenplay is built layer by layer by layer by layer.

Title: Nose-to-Nose

Concept: A perfumer joins forces with a down-and-out detection dog to nose out her sister’s killer.

Genre: Thriller

Conventions:

Purpose –plot twists, high stakes, adrenalin. Life & death situations. Mystery/Intrigue/Suspense. Hero unknowing but resourceful. Villain devious & unrelenting. Main emotions are suspense, tension, anticipation, uncertainty & surprise.

Main Conflict: Undercover Police Detective Hank Sanford is in league with a drug cartel. He is gleaning scientific information from his perfumer sister-in-law (Darin August) that aids in transporting drugs undetected by sniffer dogs. When he fails to deliver new info to the cartel, the cartel murders his pregnant wife (Livie) as a warning. Darin resolves to avenge her sister’s murder: unaware she is being manipulated and exploited by the man responsible for Livie’s death.

Old Ways: Workaholic. Alcoholic. Avoids meaningful relationships. Self-loathing. Insecure.

New Ways: Vulnerable. Balanced. Sober. Beneficent. Fearless. BAD ASS!!!

Act 1

Opening: Darin and Livie get dressed for an industry awards ceremony wherein Darin is being honored. Pookie (retired detection dog who has been forced into retirement after failing to detect smuggled drugs – -and has become a family pet) behaves strangely while they make themselves up.

FiFi Awards: Darin and a very pregnant Livie attend the FiFi Awards. The celebratory evening takes a turn when a guest at the reception nearly chokes to death on a meatball laced with an human toe. A riot mounts outside of the awards ceremony. Followers of gangster, gone rapper, gone televangelist – – Leff-T, are protesting Darin for having turned down a commission to make a celebrity fragrance for him. Darin and Livie are physically accosted by the mob as they exit the awards.

Inciting Incident: Livie and Darin are shot in a drive by shooting upon their return home from the awards.

Turning Point: in the hospital Darin learns of her pregnant sister’s death. Police believe Darin was the target of the murder and Livie was collateral damage.

Act 2

New Plan: Darin resolves to solve and avenge Livie’s murder. Meanwhile – – she seeks comfort in Hank – – who leads her back to imbibing – – to calm her nerves. He also provides her with a firearm in order to protect herself. Hank encourages her obsession with revenge against Leff-T.

Plan In Action: Darin commences researching and stalking Leff-T. In a drunken rage she shows up at his home demanding answers. Leff-T returns her safely to her home.

Midpoint Turning Point: Leff-T is exonerated by the police and cleared as a suspect. Police begin investigating Livie as having been the target of the shootings instead of Darin. Leff-T makes a televised speech requesting that his followers stand down and instead pray for Darin and her loved ones.

Act 3

Rethink Everything: Darin is laid off from her job because of the bad press she has been garnering. Darin gets back on the wagon and recommits to her sobriety. Sober — she becomes increasingly aware of Pookie’s (Hank’s detection dog) increased agitation and urgent need to communicate something to her.

New Plan: Darin enlists the assistance of one of her AA sponsees (Dharma) to help her understand Pookie’s increasing agita. Dharma has experience as a dog behaviorist. She also enlists the assistance of Leff-T, who has intel from his old gang connections that Hank is having an affair with the daughter of a cartel leader.

Turning Point: Pookie is hit by a car in a hit and run – – critically injured.

Act 4

Climax: Darin puts the pieces together working with a convalescing Pookie. She realizes why Pookie failed his drug scent and her unknowing involvement in it. She follows Hank to a meeting with a cartel member. She confronts him with the truth and a gun after the cartel leaves. Leff-T has followed Darin. A showdown and a shootout take place between Darin, Hank, and Leff-T. Hank confesses and is shot by Darin.

Resolution: Darin wins an award for the “Dog Perfume “she promised Livie she would create. Her husband, Leff-T, and their baby daughter, Livie, and Pookie watch the presentation. Darin dedicates her award to them.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s 4 Act Transformational Structure

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: It is like moving puzzle pieces around. You need to make the story FIT the structure, not the other way around.

Concept: A perfumer joins forces with a down-and-out detection dog to nose out her sister’s killer.

Main Conflict: Undercover Police Detective Hank Sanford is in league with a drug cartel. He is gleaning scientific information from his perfumer sister-in-law (Darin August) that aids in transporting drugs undetected by sniffer dogs. When he fails to deliver info to the cartel, the cartel murders his pregnant wife (Livie) as a warning. Darin resolves to avenge her sister’s murder: unaware she is being manipulated and exploited by the man responsible for Livie’s death.

Old Ways: Workaholic. Alcoholic. Avoids meaningful relationships. Self-loathing. Insecure.

New Ways: Vulnerable. Balanced. Sober. Beneficent. Fearless. BAD ASS!!!

Act 1

Opening: Infamous perfumer Darin August has been nominated for several industry awards. She attends the awards ceremony with her pregnant sister, Livie. A riot mounts outside of the awards ceremony. Followers of gangster, gone rapper, gone televangelist – – Leff-T, are protesting Darin for having turned down a commission to make a celebrity fragrance for him. Darin and Livie are physically accosted by the mob as they exit the awards.

Inciting Incident: Livie and Darin are shot upon their return to her home following the awards.

Turning Point: in the hospital Darin learns of her pregnant sister’s death. Police believe Darin was the target of the murder and Livie was collateral damage.

Act 2

New Plan: Darin resolves to solve and avenge Livie’s murder. Meanwhile – – she seeks comfort in Hank who leads her down a path back to imbibing – – to calm her nerves. He also provides her with a firearm in order to protect herself.

Plan In Action: Darin commences researching and following Leff-T. In a drunken rage she shows up at Leff-T’s home demanding answers. Leff-T returns her safely to her home.

Midpoint Turning Point: Leff-T is exonerated by the police and cleared as a suspect. He makes a televised speech requesting that his followers stand down and instead pray for Darin and her loved ones.

Act 3

Rethink Everything: Darin is laid off from her job because of the bad press she has been garnering. Darin gets back on the wagon and recommits to her sobriety. Sober — she becomes increasingly aware of Pookie’s (Hank’s detection dog) increased agitation and urgent need to communicate something to her.

New Plan: Darin enlists the assistance of one of her AA sponsees (Dharma) to help her understand Pookie’s increasing agita. Dharma, now a hooker, showed dogs in her youth and is familiar with training and communicating with them. She enlists the assistance of Leff-T, who has intel from his old gang connections that Hank is in bed with a drug cartel.

Turning Point: Pookie is hit by a car – – potentially critically injured.

Act 4

Climax: Darin puts the pieces together and believes that Hank’s involvement with the cartel is responsible for Livie’s murder. She follows him to a meeting with a cartel member. She confronts him with the truth and a gun after the cartel leaves. Leff-T has followed Darin. A showdown and a shootout take place between Darin, Hank, and Leff-T. Hank confesses and is shot by Darin.

Resolution: Darin wins an award for the “Dog Perfume “she promised Livie she would create. Her husband, Leff-T, and their baby daughter, Livie, and Pookie watch the presentation. Darin dedicates her award to them.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur’s Subtext Plot

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Subtext is what keeps us glued to our seats. Makes us revisit a movie we have already seen.

Concept:

A perfumer joins forces with a down-and-out detection dog to nose out her sister’s killer.

Subtext Plots:

Scheme & Investigation

Perfumer Darin August is investigating her pregnant sister’s murder. Her brother-in-law, Hank Sanford, is scheming to throw her off the scent as he was involved with the killings.

A Major Cover Up

Undercover police detective Hank Sanford frames several people to cover up the fact he is implicated in his pregnant wife’s murder. He is hiding his involvement with a drug cartel. Stakes heighten as his sister-in-law, Darin August goes on the hunt for the killer with his detection dog, Pookie.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele’s Transformational Journey

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: The character arc is “designed” – -not “hatched”.

Arc Beginning: A broken, grieving, lonely alcoholic.

Arc Ending: Has fulfilling work with a happy family.

Internal Journey: From broken to invincible.

External Journey: From binge drinking to avenging her sister’s murder.

Old Ways:

Hides behind work. Avoids meaningful relationships. Selfish. Self loathing.

New Ways: Caring. Vulnerable. Unafraid. BAD ASS!

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele’s Intentional Lead Characters

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Make the characters support the concept — not the concept supporting the characters.

Darin August: A world renowned perfumer who makes sense of every aspect of her life predominantly through her sense of smell.

Hank Sanford: An undercover cop who will go to ANY lengths to preserve his sterling reputation.

Pookie: A police detection dog who experiences her greatest happiness, joy, and fulfillment when scenting with her handler.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele’s Title, Concept, and Character Structure.

My vision: I am going to work diligently to become a brilliant, reliable screenwriter who is sought after, regularly produced, highly paid, and awarded. Artistic fulfillment and financial freedom will result from the achievement of this goal!

What I learned doing this assignment is: Structure is our friend!

Title: Nose-To-Nose

Concept:

A perfumer joins forces with a down-and-out detection dog to nose out her sister’s killer.

Character Structure: Protagonist versus Antagonist

• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by  Gisele FRAZEUR.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

woof

• This reply was modified 3 years ago by  Gisele FRAZEUR.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

My name is Gisele Frazeur. I have written two scripts. My hope is that this class will help me write moving and marketable scripts with great precision and consistency. Some interesting things about me……I own rare breeds of dogs – – which served as inspiration for the dog treat company I own and run.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Gisele Frazeur.

I agree to the terms of this release form.

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Sending mine off now!

Thanks,

Gisele doglover3@centurylink.net

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Alfred – –

That would be fantastic. I will send it to you now. Looking forward to seeing yours. Thank you so very much!

Gisele

doglover3@centurylink.net

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

That would be great. Let me know when you are ready. Looking forward to it!

Gisele

doglover3@centurylink.net

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

On the way now – – from: doglover3@centurylink.net

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Andrew – –

I have just now finished up myself. I would love to exchange feedback if you are interested.

Thanks,

Gisele

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Peter,

Great intrigue! I’m in!

Gisele

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Claudia,

Funny!!! Love it.

Gisele

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Chilling! And original. I like this!

Gisele

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Really fun!!!!

Gisele

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Lori,

I love the hook!

Gisele

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

I love this idea! I would buy a ticket!

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

A llama! That is cool!!!!

[Gisele FRAZEUR]

Funeral Home takes the cake in the interesting department!