[Tracy Cheney]

I agree to the terms of the release form.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy’s Character Intros and Exits

What I learned is to write longer, more descriptive character-profile entrances. I’ve shied away from that, just giving a one-line description that’s been boiled down to a few choice words. I’ve left the longer descrptions to be found in the bible or summary for the actors’ use. So I’ll think about this more given the way it’s been taught in this class as a matter of importance.

I felt happy with how major characters are introduced, but realized I didn’t have satisying endings “that they deserved.” Now at least I know what’s going to happen with all but the sleazy handyman. Currently, he just didn’t come back to work, which fits his character as lazy and left the heroine in the lurch. Will see if other ideas pop up for him.

Trying to catch up after another trip during this class (four in all!). Being away from the computer even for a short three day trip really gets me behind.

So I am breezing through the last few exercises, with better work to get done ahead. However, I’m now thinking about all these things as I rewrite. I know it slows the process down from what’s intended, but hopefully it’s improved, too.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy’s unique character dialogue

This is a great assignment to ponder! It’s demanded a lot of rewriting. I’m too close to it to know if there’s a clear deliniation among the characters — that they are speaking from thier own profile. In my mind and ear they are each unique since I can picture them talking. But how’s it on the page?

I’m also mindful that I’m tackling a comedy — not slapstick or full of one-liners. But it should still be amusing and not dark. I also have to move the story along and not get stuck in expository. Tall order!

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy’s meaningful action

What I learned is that my midpoint is all talking heads. But I’ve thought about it for a couple of weeks and haven’t found a way into how to break this into meaningful actions — yet.

The rest of my effort has been spent on the opening 12 pages of the script, rearranging scenes, adding a scene to set up the B story, improving the action in these first 10 scenes.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  Tracy Cheney.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy Cheney Scene ratings

What I learned is that it’s definitely hard to catch up once I got behind. We’ve had several little trips and family events, and I found myself thinking more about a new feature I want to write than coming back to this. Since I’m writing a comedy, I reread a couple of books on comedy while travelling. So then it was hard to rate the entertainment value. I don’t think I’m funny on the page. I think everything is written as a drama first. But I am very happy with my opening scene. And I like the ending!

[Tracy Cheney]

What I learned is that I never posted this, having bounced around this and the next assignment, entertainment value. Missing scenes, rearranging scenes, and then realizing they weren’t funny since I’m rewriting a TV pilot into a comedy feature. More thinking to do between family vacations.

[Tracy Cheney]

<div>I have caught up finally after vacation travel.</div>

Title: Sorority
Mom

Written by: Tracy Cheney

<div>

Email address: twcheney@gmail.com

Genre: comedy – fish out
of water

Concept: A 63-year-old Midwestern woman hoping to “find herself” in a supportive female world, accepts the job as House Director at a glitzy West Coast sorority planning a dirty Rush to skirt university sanctions

</div>

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy’s Fascinating Scenes Outline for Sorority Mom

What I learned is that it took me a long time to string scenes together to tell the story.

I added a reason for Evelyn to be out walking by the fraternity Rush so we can see the stark contrast between the male and female events. This gave me a new sequence that’s fun.

I discovered there wasn’t follow-up to some set-ups.

Leading up to the climax, I needed to bring back some of the fun sorority moms who had only appeared once.

[Tracy Cheney]

#8 Tracy Elevates Lead Characters

What I learned: I just realized this is a contained movie! Haha, it’s not a small contained movie since there’s a cast of 60 or so, but they do exist in one mansion for a concentrated amount of time – two weeks!

A. Need stronger Lead Characters: I feel there’s a lot to juggle with my main character Evelyn facing three opponents under the same roof. The opponents do not want to play by the rules Evelyn (I’ve changed her name from Mona) was hired to enforce. So, the trick will be to shift focus between the opponents who feel they must get their way against the boss Evelyn, and Evelyn’s interactions with others and her own growth.

B. Need Stronger Character Intros: I’m happy with Evelyn and Missy’s intros since they are in the same surprising opening scene; I’ll continue to think about tweaks to Leigh-ann and Conchita’s intros. They seem natural to the flow of the story, but certainly not as big as the one between Evelyn and Missy. Need to be funnier and bigger.

C. Playing it Too Safe: See comment above…maybe Leigh-ann (I’ve changed this character’s name so many times) and Conchita need to have a bigger entrance. I have played Leigh-ann as a southern belle at first glance, but who really has a bite; we know right away that Conchita feels robbed of the position that Evelyn was given instead.

D. Lead Characters Not Present: Every scene includes at least one of the four leads who needs to propel their agenda forward, playing Evelyn for a fool, who learns not to be.

[Tracy Cheney]

Assignment #7

Tracy Cheney solves major problems for Sorority Mom.

“What I learned from doing this assignment is that I do like the opening and closing, and still have a middle muddle to work through so it logically comes full-circle and doesn’t go too long.

A. Need Stronger Transformational
Journey – Evelyn reclaims some of the moral passion she felt in college as a women’s libber fighting for the rights that GenZ college girls casually flaunt in her face as a senior Boomer.

B. Need Stronger Conflict – with three opponents, I just need to make sure every interaction with Evelyn escalates in different directions but still need to tighten up.

C. Need Stronger Opening – I like the opening that I came up with after MANY explorations. Added a scene following close after the opening where the university Greek board reprimands the girls with continuing probation, rather than just hearing about it through exposition somewhere in the script. Sets the stakes for the house up front, as the university has desire to get the property. The girls will have a hard time recruiting enough pledges with a black mark against them during Rush.

D. Need Stronger Ending – I have been happy with the ending with the porch roof caving in on the sorority house and Evelyn getting hired by the frat as their House Director: just not sure if there will be a reference to the university making a move on the property or leaving it that you might remember it from Act 1 and realize the mean sorority is in trouble, well-deserved.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy’s Outline Improvements

I’m still working on this. I don’t feel that I have a strong midpoint yet that is actually a midpoint. It’s just another incident. Having three opponents with their own arcs hasn’t been resolved in their middle sections either. Not sure where every beat hits in the screenplay — I know where everyone starts and ends up, but there’s still a muddle to be worked out. Plus, this is a movie comedy, which I haven’t written before, coming from a dramedy tv show. I’ve been rereading the comedy class notes. I have way too many beats at this point!

[Tracy Cheney]

TRACY’S CHARACTER STORY LINES

What I learned doing this assignment: Still have some holes to fill in each character’s arc. This exercise really made me think through these, which was great. I think it will tighten up the overall story beats.

EVELYN (changed name from Mona) – new Sorority House Director

Beginning: Last-minute hire, knows nothing of
sorority life but thrilled to be one of the beautiful people <div>

Inciting Incident: Crosses Missy, demanding she
stop having sex with her boyfriend upstairs
Turning Point: Crosses Conchita by firing Mimi the
cook – hires Black cook Lovejoy which offends the Hispanics

Midpoint: Crosses Tinsley by finding out how to
handle girls from other House directors – Rush rules – finds out the sorority is on probation and she’s been used

Turning Point 2: Makes deal with Fraternity Rush
chair to lay off the raids on their sorority
Dilemma: Fire Conchita as Board wants or keep her on as cook since she’s making Lovejoy’s life miserable and staff won’t help her clean up the basement flooding

Major Conflict: Evelyn bawls out girls for boob-ranking
the pledges on the staircase

Ending: Evelyn is fired, rehired by fraternity

MISSY – Sorority Girls’ President

Beginning: Missy and her team called before University
board for reminder of alcohol and low grade violations earned in previous
year – keep it clean

Inciting Incident: Furious when Evelyn humiliates
her in front of boyfriend interrupting their sex

Turning Point: Reads how the sorority is ranked by
fraternities, aims to make them tops; unlocks upstairs doors for boys
crossing porch roof, violates Rush rule

Midpoint: Violates probation

Turning Point 2: Violates another probation

Dilemma: The Greek office calls Missy for Rush
violations, but she believes they won’t get enough girls to keep
themselves financially viable if not perceived as a party house

Major Conflict: final hazing violation – boob-ranking
event. Fire Evelyn for interrupting it

Ending: Porch roof caves in, Missy screaming in
fury when Evelyn taken in by frat house

TINSLEY – (may change name to JULEP (Julianna) or Leigh Anna (georgia peach) Adult Board Member

Beginning: Hires Evelyn, feels vastly superior to
her </div><div>

Inciting Incident: Adele the Board President
resigns, Tinsley gets the checkbook to satisfy her desire to decorate, be
in charge

Turning Point: Rents fancy furniture against the
rules, brought in after dark

Midpoint: Sends
sleazy hired hand to sorority to clean up damage, won’t hire real plumber
Turning Point 2: Furniture messed up by frat
pledges

Dilemma: Turns out, Tinsley never graduated from
college, while Evelyn has a degree (how/why does this play out?)

Major Conflict: Water from the hoses on the porch soaks
the basement – insists Evelyn pump it out since staff on strike

Ending: Porch caves in – she’s responsible – no insurance

CONCHITA Head Housekeeper

Beginning: Furious that she was overlooked for the
House Director position, will undermine Evelyn who doesn’t know the ropes by
ingratiating self with girls and their moms </div><div>

Inciting Incident: When the frat boys steal the
meat, she suggests Evelyn order pizza, ruining her budget.

Turning Point: Coerces cook Mimi to set up false
claim with Workman’s Comp; Evelyn fires Mimi, her one ally on staff

Midpoint: Evelyn hires black cook instead of Conchita’s
relative

Turning Point 2: Work stoppage by staff – Evelyn finds
out they’re all related to Conchita
Dilemma: The Board wanted Evelyn to fire Conchita,
so should she? threatens to fire OR
do her job

Major Conflict: She does such a bad job cooking the
girls are eating out at fast food

Ending: She is hired by Missy to be House
Director, though Missy doesn’t have power to do it

FRATERNITY RUSH CHAIRMAN

Beginning: meat secretly stolen from freezers – frat boys
suspected </div>

Inciting Incident: panty raid running through house –
thrown into trees

Turning Point: hay/manure in fountain; peanut
butter smeared in house

Midpoint: Evelyn befriends the chairman to stop
raids – he’s tied to a ladder

Turning Point 2: Giant penis hung on porch roof
with hoses leaking into basement

Dilemma: “Kidnap” Evelyn but none of the girls
come to rescue her so she looks through the nasty frat house, finds some meat?
Takes home her stolen popcorn popper

Major Conflict: on Bid Day naked run through streets
– and? Flop in fountain to wash off manure — who cleans it up?

Ending: Triumphant – hires Evelyn to be House Mom and Mimi as
cook

</div>

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  Tracy Cheney.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy’s Charater Profiles

I learned how my female opponents can reflect aspects of my heroine.

A. Name: MONA MEYERS

B. Role in the Story: everyday heroine,
who’s hired last-minute as a sorority House Director

C. Core Traits: Midwestern independence;
rule follower; doesn’t complain, swear, smoke, or drink; always lived in a
small town; friends are in her church circle.

D. Motivation: Want: searching for love and family bonds

D. Motivation: Need: keep her job!

E. Flaw: believes she’s to be an adored mom to the girls – has image
of Maria and Von Trapp kids in Sound of Music

E. Wound: own mother found her homely and dressed her poorly
F. Secret: not good at anything

F. Hidden Agenda: checking on her divorced husband to see if he’s
dead yet – he got their condo

G. Internal Dilemma: fought for women’s lib/rights in high
school, dismayed by how promiscuous the college girls are as “liberated”
young women

H. What makes this character perfect for her role in this story? She’s
the opposite of the entitled, gorgeous, thin, popular, sexy, overly-dramatic
girls.

A. Name: MISSY

B. Role in the Story: Mona’s opponent; 21-year-old golden girl,
sorority President

C. Core Traits: sexually voracious; smart, but doesn’t
like to study; gets adults to jump to her unreasonable requests by
appearing sweet;

D. Motivation: Want: make her house the top on the row for her senior
year

D. Motivation: Need: prove herself

E. Flaw: has always gotten her way growing up, but not earned
it

E. Wound: her parents prefer her brothers

F. Secret: can’t get a boyfriend

F. Hidden Agenda: hates her major, but dad’s not paying for another
year

G. Internal Dilemma: be adored and popular but doesn’t
enjoy girlie chit-chat

H. What makes this character perfect for her role in this story?
Missy believes she can pull the wool over Mona’s eyes

A. Name: TINSLEY

B. Role in the Story: Mona’s opponent; adult Board member

C. Core Traits: southern charmer, pregnant at 42, thinks
she’s adorable, “it’s not what’s inside, but how you look,” grown up
version of Missy, makes outrageous demands of contractors but won’t pay

D. Motivation: Want: make the house top on the row for her own
vanity

D. Motivation: Need: appear to be the best

E. Flaw: thinks she’s a fabulous interior decorator

E. Wound: a spendthrift, frustrated by husband constraining her
spending

F. Secret: she never graduated college! But having been
inducted into a sorority, always a sister

F. Hidden Agenda: wants to take over the Board and control the
checkbook

G. Internal Dilemma: be adored and popular knowing she
doesn’t have a degree while Mona does – a fraud

H. What makes this character perfect for her role in this story? Tinsley
believes she can bully and control Mona, and have the staff serve her

A. Name: CONCHITA

B. Role in the Story: Mona’s opponent; sorority Head
Housekeeper

C. Core Traits: very social, scheming, loyal to relatives,
good friend of former House Director; ingratiates herself with Board
members by babysitting

D. Motivation: Want: to be the sorority House Director

D. Motivation: Need: be adored by the girls and undermine Mona

E. Flaw: believes it’s okay to take from the privileged, allows
stealing

E. Wound: racism bites

F. Secret: all the staff are related to her – she gave them
their jobs

F. Hidden Agenda: oversees her Hispanic mafia – she’s legal,
and takes a cut of each paycheck since they don’t have bank accounts

G. Internal Dilemma: doesn’t like to do the type of work
immigrants get assigned to do, that she’s as good as the girls she serves
doing menial work

H. What makes this character perfect for her role in this story? She
believes she can dupe Mona who doesn’t know Spanish or functioning in the
city

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  Tracy Cheney.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy’s Genre Conventions

What I learned from doing this assignment is switching from a drama to a comedy using many of the same elements will depend more on dialogue and reactions to set the tone.

Title: Sorority Mom

Concept: A 63 y-o Midwestern woman hoping to “find
herself” in a supportive female world, accepts the job as House Director at
a glitzy West Coast sorority planning a dirty Rush to skirt university sanctions <div>

Genre: Comedy – Fish Out of Water

Purpose: Laughter-inducing moments

Example for Comedy: Incongruence and attitudes of women of different economic classes/generations under one big roof:
Boomer/Millenial/GenZ

Mechanics of Comedy: Absurd situations, misinterpretations,
over-reactions

Protagonist: Everyday heroine, Mona Meyers

Antagonists: Missy, sorority girls’ President; Tinsley
Deveraux, Board member; Conchita, Head Housekeeper

Act 1:

Mona learns the hard way Rule #1 of her job: she’s not the girls’ mom. She interrupts and scolds the entitled 21-y-o Sorority President Missy having sex in her room with boyfriend against the rules. Retaliation: Missy and her leadership team post ugly photo of Mona on the public bulletin board.

Inciting Incident The girls read how they are ranked in secret fraternity email thread. Missy recklessly vows they’re going to reverse that, breaking Rush and House rules. Mona doesn’t know the rules or about the university sanctions – girls figure she’s easy to dupe.

Turning Point Mona antagonizes the girls by letting police search rooms after a midnight raid of neighborhood gardens to decorate the house for Rush. Missy begs her Board liaison Tinsley to fire Mona and give the Director’s job to Conchita the housekeeper. Instead, Board President Adele tells Mona to fire troublemaker Conchita, but Mona balks. The other Sorority House Directors on the Row give Mona advice how to survive.

Act 2:

New plan Day 1 of Rush – before a thousand prospective freshman girls line up at the sorority houses for the first Rush activity, it’s discovered by the cook Mimi that frat boys have stolen all meat from the freezers, as the girls left doors unlocked intentionally. Mona tangles with Conchita over her authority as boss to find all unlocked doors on three floors of the mansion while girls occupied with Rush. Conchita: “It’s harmless fun.” Mona sneaks around doing it herself.

Plan in action A kind House Director picks up Mona for a makeover. Mona resists as should be accepted as she is. That approach isn’t working! Look the part, girls respect elegance.

Midpoint Turning Point Day 2 of Rush – frat boys run through the house for panty raid, throwing expensive underwear up in the trees before the prospective girls start lining up for Rush – Mona and staff on ladders knocking them down with brooms. Missy and her Board liaison Tinsley run off responsible Board President Adele, gaining control of the checkbook. Tinsley orders “modern” furniture to be delivered at night.

Act 3:

Rethink everything Day 3 of Rush – frat boys fill fountain with manure, run through house smearing walls and new furniture with peanut butter. Mona can’t figure out how they got in! Mona fires cook Mimi, her one ally on staff, for fraud secretly orchestrated by Conchita.

New plan – Mona negotiates with the fraternity Rush chairman to lay off pranks and become allies.

Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift Day 4 of Rush – even though she made a “truce,” the frat hangs a concrete penis from the porch roof with hose running through it that floods basement rooms. Mona hires cool black cook Lovejoy for diversity; his presence brings tension with Hispanic staff who refuse to work. Mona is left to clean everything up herself.

Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – Bid Day celebration – pledges find out who got into which sorority! The House Directors are kidnapped for fun by the frats in exchange for groceries as ransom. The boy who Mona made the truce with takes her. While no one comes for Mona from her sorority, she sees how the frat lives – ugh.

Mona walks home, interrupts a braless boob-ranking of the pledges on the grand staircase. Mona yells at girls for becoming sluts — after all, Mona’s Boomers won women’s rights during the ‘70s as the original WOKE generation!

Resolution – Missy fires Mona on the spot and hands the job to Conchita. As Mona’s driving away, the frat boys intervene to hire Mona as their first-ever House Director…and she rehires Mimi the cook. The porch roof collapses at the girls’ sorority house while they sunbathe on it, ruined by water from the boys’ prank.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy’s 4 Act Transformational Structure

What I learned is to tighten up my time frame, so movie will take place over two-weeks – Rush prep and Rush itself. The story is about the tussle going on behind the scenes to keep a sorority house running – Upstairs/Downstairs

1.

Title: Sorority Mom

Genre: Comedy/ Coming-of-Age

Concept: A 63-y-o Midwestern woman who dumps her marriage takes her
first boss job ever in a glitzy sorority house already under sanctions,
which doesn’t stop the girls’ plans to run a dirty Rush to get more
pledges.

Main Conflict: Rule-following Mona is a first-time boss in an all-female
world where no one wants to follow the rules. She has three opponents, Missy (21) the girls’ president, Shaney (42) the girls’
liaison to the Board, and Conchita (45) the HeadHousekeeper who was promised the
House Director job by Shaney.

Act 1:

Opening Doormat Mona Meyers leaves husband, gets
crummy jobs; gorgeous, entitled Missy the sorority girls’ president receives disciplinary
sanctions from the university board warning of closure for alcohol violations
and low grades. The university secretly wants the property.

Inciting Incident Mona gets hired at Missy’s west
coast sorority as House Director to maintain the rules; Missy informs the
girls they will do everything to get aligned with top ranked fraternity.

Turning Point Mona antagonizes the girls by letting police
search rooms; Missy demands that her Board liaison Shaney bring in upgraded
furniture against Rush rules, despite the Board’s need to
tighten up expenses.

Act 2:

New plan Day 1 Rush – frat boys steal all meat from freezers, girls thrilled
to be noticed; Mona tangles with Head Housekeeper over her authority as
boss.

Plan in action House Directors on the row take Mona under their wing,
share insights in dealing with her opponents.

Midpoint Turning Point Day 2 Rush – frat boys panty raid –
Missy and Board liaison Shaney run off Mona’s ally the Board president,
gaining control of the checkbook.

Act 3:

Rethink everything Day 3 Rush – Mona fires Cook for
fraud, who was put up to it by Head Housekeeper Conchita – frat boys fill
fountain with manure, run through house smearing walls with peanut butter.

New plan Mona hires black Cook who loves teaching girls to dance rather than
cook, introduces tension with Hispanic staff who refuse to work.

Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift Day 4 Rush – Mona negotiates
with frat Rush leader to lay off pranks and become allies; even so, they hang
concrete penis from roof with hose running through it that floods basement
rooms; Missy breaks more rules – consequences?

Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – Bid Day celebration –
Mona walks in on boob ranking the pledges and yells at girls; Missy fires Mona, and gives Conchita the job.

Resolution Frat boys hire Mona as their first-ever
House Director; Mona rehires the cook she fired; porch roof collapses at the girls’ house while they
sunbathe on it, ruined by water from the boys’ prank but ignored.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  Tracy Cheney.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  Tracy Cheney.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  Tracy Cheney.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy’s “Sorority Mom” Project Pitch May 25, 2023

What I learned from doing this assignment is that I don’t have things worked out yet — which is why I’m taking the class to make me do it. Thinking about it hasn’t accomplished that! I don’t have a compelling B story yet.

A. Genre: Dramedy

B. Title: “Sorority Mom”

C. High Concept: Accepting the job of House Director behind the glitzy façade of a west coast sorority house, a 63-year-old midwestern woman finds herself tangling with the working-class staff downstairs serving the entitled white girls living upstairs who are intent on conducting a dirty Rush to skirt sanctions imposed by the university.

D. Main Conflict: Mona is a last-minute job hire when the long-time Director elopes just as Rush is about to start

E. Transformational Journey: Mona Meyers grows from a doormat to a capable woman boss

Internal: Mona decides she hates men, as going through a divorce she initiated

External: Mona hasn’t been on her own before, has no training for the job

F. Opposition: Shaney, the sorority girls’ liason on the Board of Director, undermines Mona. Conchita, Head Housekeeper, was promised Mona’s job as House Director by Shaney. The 21 year-old president of the house leads the charge to break Rush rules thinking Mona to be a push over.

[Tracy Cheney]

1. Tracy Cheney

2. 4 scripts – 2 TV pilots

3. I plan to turning one of those pilots into a successful script. Wish I could make it a comedy, but I’m not a funny writer (though took the comedy class haha).

4. I was a CA state elementary art teacher of the year.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Has Amazing Description!

My challenge has been to create/describe the different world of each of the five characters as it exists before they are sent on personal journeys to end up eventually in El Pueblo. That’s taken a lot of research to be accurate for this historical work, but I’ve really enjoyed it — probably too much since I can use so little of what I find myself immersed in reading late into the evenings.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy Finished Wordsmithing!

El Pueblo is finished for this round! What I learned is that I could elevate by better verb choices, shortening sentences, getting rid of passive descriptions. Still more to catch, no doubt. So, I am ready for another pair of eyes to read this. Since it is historical, and some of the settings perhaps not as familiar, I am curious if the writing is creating good imagery for the reader. I think it’s lead me to write longer descriptions, or to have a lot of exposition that might not otherwise be needed. So, I am ready to exchange scripts! Thank you very much —

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Day 9 – Anticipatory Dialogue

What I learned: I need to come back to this! My goal has been to get through to the end since I have a two-part Pilot. It’s a lot now to finish. I think when I can lay the completed Pilot out, I’ll be able to see the glaring holes, the places to improve. I’d love one thing from one act to maybe pay off in another character’s act. Plenty to grapple with — plus just make it sound good!

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Dialogue 1/2

What I learned is how much I appreciated Janeen’s tips. Yes, I’ve changed things up so much, and haven’t kept copies as I go just for comparison’s sake.

I think my characters probably sound a lot alike on the page. I can hear them in my head, but they all seem to have the same amount of sentences on the page! Meaning: they are very verbal, too! There’s so much analysis I need to do for every pass. I need to spread everything out in front of me one of these days and just look at all of this without being in a rush.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo P/S Grid #2

What I learned is that I have a lot more work to do! There’s not an antagonist in the 5th character’s story. I was quite happy when the brother appeared, but he’s turned out to be a more lovable lug.

Character intros need to be stronger and more intriguing.

Every scene needs to challenge Joseph, the Yankee carpenter. What I’ve got is a necklace of scenes or adventures, but what are they leading to?

A lot of the dialogue is probably cliche — but I’m involved more with how much dialect to write into the dialogue.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo

What I learned I already knew — I’m struggling to find the story of my 5th character for Act 5. It’s too long and boring. So my “What if”…became a brother. He appeared and I don’t know anything about him! I’ve tried writing now about him. Maybe he’s comic relief in a pretty serious drama. I’ll find out…

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Acts 4 and 5

Writing faster is still my goal! Act 4 flew along because I think it was the best outline I’d prepared. What I’ve really appreciated is the time spent outlining. I’ve been more of a “let’s discover what the story is” type of writer and figure it out later. Act 5’s character story outline had caused me the most problems — never got resolved before we moved into Module 4. Further proof that the outline process is what makes a fast first draft possible because that’s what slowed down my momentum.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Act 3

I challenged myself to get some speed, even though the lead character of this act is of a religion I’m unfamiliar with — but it is key. I stopped to do some research along the way, as I didn’t want to write too much that would have to be rewritten later. Before this pilot is ready to go out to producers, I’ll need to find someone to help fill in historical accuracy. As of this first draft, the dialogue’s probably reading clunky. But it is done!

[Tracy Cheney]

I didn’t complete Act 2 in a couple of days. Since each act involves a completely different character and his world, shifting to my first male character’s different gender, location, and circumstances took some thought. However, having a fairly complete outline helped to move along. I followed Hal’s advice to move on if I got stuck, which happened a number of times when I didn’t have enough historical information to draw on. However, it was exciting to finally get Act 2 down on paper even with some gaps to fill in later.

[Tracy Cheney]

Finally, I got back to this after a month of “life” intervened, and trying to figure out a new purchase of Final Draft 12. This wasn’t a fast write, as I spent time researching some historical information that needed to get done so I could picture what I was writing about. Act 1 is Antonia’s story. I found it sticky to get going with the dialogue. I don’t have any judgement if it’s good or generic. I enjoyed seeing how characters found good things to say now and then. I liked writing the prose so much better!

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo High-Speed Writing Teaser

After spending a lot of time on the outline assignments — trying to figure out the story — the Teaser went much more quickly. I didn’t get the six pages written in one sitting, or in one day. However, that still felt really fast after working so long on the outlince. It’s a different beginning than I originally thought way back when we began this entire process. But I like ideas that developed as I finally got busy on the script.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Beat Sheet Intrique

TEASER

INT. El Pueblo – <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>Mission</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day – Wound: Empathy/Distress:

A woman stands humiliated in the doorway near front of the church. Her hair is roughly shorn off, some scalp showing. One eyebrow is shaved off. The congregation stares at her or ignores her. They absorb the priest’s pronouncement that the widow is banished for fornication.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>INT.</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Mission</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Continuous – Hidden Agenda: Setup:

After the service, Antonia confronts priest in confession box about the woman’s unfair punishment. She’s not a virgin, having already been married and lost her husband. He counsels that women must remain pure their entire life as the Bride of Christ.

LATER – Intriguing World

Antonia standing in front of casta painting on church wall with girlfriends, laments predetermined fate due to skin color and marriage as their only choice. A marriage not of their choice, but arranged for them.

EXT. El Pueblo – <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>Central</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Plaza</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day – Pay-off

The lover of the disgraced woman, the village carpenter, is held in public stocks. The girls pass by him with mixture of curiosity/disgust. Antonia is glad he at least gets equal treatment and will be banished also, a year of hard labor.

ACT 1 Antonia

INT. El Pueblo -Grandmother Moreno’s House – Parlor – Day – Hidden Agenda

Grandmother Moreno instructs Antonia to pour tea for prospective marriage partner, Senor Lopez. Antonia ignores her. Antonia doesn’t pour the tea. Instead she escapes the room.

EXT. Senora <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Moreno</st1:place></st1:city>’s House – Interior Patio – Day – Irony

Antonia trips over Indian servant Marta outside the door. Complains about her grandmother forcing old men on her — at least you Marta get to choose.

INT. Senora <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Moreno</st1:place></st1:city>’s House – Outdoor Kitchen – Day – Strange Behavior:

Antonia slams the door shut of the separate adobe kitchen and screams to God.

INT. Aunt Gertrudis’ House – Parlor – Day – Empathy/Distress:

Antonia rushes into her aunt’s home, complains about Grandma’s meddling. She reminds Antonia that Grandma’s raising up all the women in the family above their caste fate.

INT. Aunt Gertrudis’ House – Bedroom – Day – Setup:

Antonia cheers up uncle lying on the bed, overcome by sudden illness. He’s much older than pregnant Gert. Grandma shows up with tortillas, shooing Antonia back to her house.

EXT. Path – Day –

On the walk home, Senora Moreno berates Antonia’s behavior toward Senor Lopez. Lopez is her best offer unless she wants less status. Antonia won’t be persuaded, still rejects him. Wants to be in love with someone nearer her age.

EXT. El Pueblo – <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>Central</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Plaza</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Stocks – Day

Crossing the Plaza, the accused lover is gone from the stocks. Antonia comments about the banished lovers, but Grandma cuts her off. Out of one of the adobe houses, Antonia’s cousin runs to join them. She saw the man led off in chains. Grandmother says no more talk about their moral sin.

INT. Senora <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Moreno</st1:place></st1:city>’s House – Outdoor Kitchen – Day – Imminent Threat:

Grandmother orders the girls to help Marta prepare more food for Aunt Gert’s household. Tells Antonia to prepare a sleeping mat for a couple of Gert’s little kids. Antonia states her dislike of crying babies and messy toddlers. She asks Marta to stay over a day or two until the uncle is well and the kids can be sent home. Marta agrees only if she can have Antonia’s dress as payment, since they owe her. The dress cost dearly on the black market. Agreed.

INT. Aunt Gertrudis’ House – Bedroom – Day – Imminent Threat:

The priest surprises Antonia in the doorway. The situation is grim, her uncle has been given last rights. After priest leaves, Antonia wants to see uncle. His face is covered with hideous sores. What has happened? Maybe witchcraft? Why would God punish him? Pregnant aunt frantically orders Antonia to go to the native village Yangna and bring back a shaman.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Yangna</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Village</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day – Intriguing World

Antonia hesitates, then walks into the Indian village of grass houses alone. Antonia spies several women washing clothes at the river. One speaks Spanish. She questions why Antonia requests this and denies access. Antonia says part of their being is native, they are not completely Spanish. They have some faith in the old ways. The native woman agrees to ask the shaman. Will need payment to get the shaman (which is?..).

INT. Aunt Gertrudis’ House – Bedroom – Day – Setup:

Shaman performs a ritual over uncle, who is barely alive with disease no one has seen before. Antonia and her aunt wonder who could be causing this.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Cemetery</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day – Pay-off

Copious weeping and wailing. Aunt Gertrudis can’t be dragged from her husband’s gravesite. Grandmother pulls Antonia aside, orders her to take aunt home. Since she won’t be getting married, she’ll be the nanny. Take care of the children and Gert’s household at least until the baby is born. The shock of the quick death makes Antonia agree.

EXT. Outside cemetery – Day – Conspiracy

Antonia unhappily loads the children into the carreta. Her cousin runs up, crying that Grandmother has betrothed her to the man Antonia rejected. She’s scared, doesn’t want this or to leave home at 15. Antonia advises her cousin to tell Grandma “no.” Too late, her parents have agreed to it. It’s Antonia’s fault!

Act 2 Lucas

INT. Mexico City – Courtroom – Day – Mystery

In the packed courtroom audience, Lucas listens intently and takes notes. The Prosecutor lays out the case against three defendants — rebel patriots battling the Crown in the war for independence. Lucas is satisfied when a guilty verdict is handed down with a death sentence. The men shout the war cry “¡Viva <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>, Señores!” “¡Long live Father <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Hidalgo</st1:place></st1:state>!”

INT. Mexico City – University Classroom – Day – Deception

Lucas challenged by the law professor to state his view of the war in class debate. Lucas recites the Prosecutor’s speech as his own.

INT. Mexico City – Dance Salon – Night – Empathy/Distress – Set-up

Several young couples finish a dance, Lucas is among them. The instructor singles out one of the men as exemplary. He chastises Lucas for being rigid, without enough emotion. He mentions to his friend that he got a message from home that his father was hurt in a ranch accident. Lucas decided to stay in the city not to miss this or any class.

EXT. Mexico City – Night – Conspiracy – Imminent Threat

Outside the salon, the couples are surrounded by young Royal militia on horses, guns at the ready. The dancers are questioned which side of the war they favor. Lucas runs away, but is surrounded. A recruit from his law class tells Lucas his speech was admired. He must join up to defend the Crown. He must spy on his bourgeois friends to report their views.

EXT. Mexico City – Grand home – Night – Deception

Lucas drops his partner at her fancy home. He professes bravado and wealth. She invites him to dinner on the weekend.

INT. Mexico City – Student Tenement – Night – Suspicion

In his austere residence, Lucas shuts the curtains, checks for anyone spying from the street. By candle light, writes out lesson (or letter?). Roommate?

EXT. Mexico City – Plaza – Day – Conspiracy

Tensions between the pro-Spanish and pro-revolutionary factions escalate.

Lucas witnesses a family of heretics claiming to be true Catholics killed by public hanging. It is rumored they are Jews, ferreted out by the Inquisition. Others claim this is false propaganda. They were supporters of the independence movement.

INT. Mexico City – Ballroom – Night – Secret Identity

Lucas attends a fancy ball that night with his girlfriend — all are criollo caste people. They are divided in their loyalties. The uniting desire is to govern their own country without interference from <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>.

EXT. Mexico City – Student Tenement – Day – Mystery – Pay-off

Returning back from class, Lucas sees a man on his stoop. Fearing an army recruiter, Lucas ignores the man’s shouting to come back. The man catches up to Lucas, delivers the news that Lucas’ father died. Lucas must come home for the funeral. When Lucas says he’ll pack a valise, the servant tells him that his eldest brother insists he bring everything. His life in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:city></st1:place> is over.

EXT. <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Cuernavaca</st1:place></st1:city> – Polanco Hacienda – Day – Empathy/Distress

Lucas stands with his family at his father’s gravesite on the property. He couldn’t be buried at the church because he committed suicide. The Polanco family is ostracized in town for this greatest on mortal sins. The greater sin is that Lucas didn’t return home to see his father alive. His family views Lucas as spoiled and selfish.

INT. Cuernavaca – Polanco Hacienda – Barn – Continuous – Empathy/ Distress

Vicente, the eldest brother, informs Lucas he has no money. All inheritance by law goes to Vicente. All the younger brothers must go out on their own. Lucas’ favorite brother has an offer to go to <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> territory with an uncle, arranged a year earlier. Maybe his only option is the military (which Lucas loathes), since local bureaucratic and Church options are closed off for now.

INT. Cuernavaca – Polanco Dining Room – Day – Open Loop

Lucas’ favorite brother announces he won’t go to <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:state w:st=”on”>California</st1:state></st1:place>. He’s joining the insurgents to fight for <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region>’s <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Independence</st1:place></st1:city>. Lucas can take his place, as he is the only one with university education. Lucas must leave soon to catch the only ship heading north. The port is 600 miles away, travelling through battle areas.

Act 3 Father Diego

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>INT. Queretaro City</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Seminary Colegio do Propaganda Fide – Day – World

Diego’s wealthy family warmly embraces the newly-minted “Father” after his ordination. Mother mentions her happiness that Diego will become their local priest. Diego doesn’t want to be a provincial priest. This city is where the revolution started. Diego supports the Indians fighting for justice.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>INT. Queretaro City</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Seminary Colonnade – Day – Irony

Diego shows his large family paintings on the wall. He points out Father Serra who made missions in the surrounding mountains to the Indians. Many young men at the seminary sign up with the Franciscan order for frontier assignments. Diego was sent to this seminary when the family decided he should be a priest. But he’s not interested in missionary work, or taking a vow of poverty as noble. His mother begs Diego to come home for a visit.

<st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Queretaro</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>City</st1:placetype> – <st1:place w:st=”on”>Corregidor</st1:place> House – Street – Day – Open Loop – Conspiracy

Diego shows his father the house where the woman lived who secretly started the revolution with intellectuals, priests, and politicians. Diego confides that he visited her in his religious capacity when she was a prisoner years earlier. Diego’s father is alarmed! Diego’s father makes excuses to visit some of their trading offices in town.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Queretaro</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>City</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Cathedral – Day – Deception

Diego secretly follows his father to a side door of the Cathedral. Diego observes him being greeted by a Bishop and escorted inside.

EXT. <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Monterey</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Perez Estate – Day – Empathy/Distress

Diego rejoices riding up the grand entryway to the family compound in northern <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>. He’s greeted warmly by family, servants, respectful of his new stature and priestly garb. Diego is the favorite fourth son, not the brother who will inherit all. He sees the young woman he loved as a teen but could not marry. She asks him to preside at her baby’s baptism. It is a hard thing to see her married to another.

INT. Monterey – Perez Estate – Diego’s Bedroom – Day – Empathy/Distress – Wound

Diego flops onto the luxurious canopy bed. Two servants bring in hot water for a bath. He sends away the help for bathing, who want to care for him. After the barren cell he’s occupied for eight years in college and seminary, he welcomes the trappings of wealth. He flips through his old sketch journal from boyhood, finds his drawing of the young woman he once loved. He rips her picture out and tosses it in the fire. Diego will never sleep with her or another woman. He is a virgin at 27. A holy man.

EXT. Monterey – Catholic parish church – Day – Set-up

Diego is greeted by children as he enters the modest church grounds. His childhood priest is still there, all smiles. The old man ushers the younger priest into the nave.

INT. Monterey – Catholic parish church – Nave – Continuous – Hidden Agenda:

The old priest asks if Diego intends to replace him as his family hopes – no. The old man asks where Diego stands on the revolution. All priests come from the criollo class, which is agitated. Their issues are so different than the Indians, but they are united through dislike of the Spanish government. They are inspired by the American revolution, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Haiti</st1:country-region>, and now <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The old priest beckons towards the inner sanctum.

INT. Monterey – Catholic parish church – Storeroom – Continuous – Pay-off –

In a storage closet, the old priest shows Diego three Native teens hiding. They are insurgents needing asylum. The priest pleads with Diego to ask his father to assist moving them to safety. He has a network that moves goods all over this primitive edge of <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>.

(INT. Monterey – Perez Hacienda – Day

Diego discuss with his dad what to do with fugitives?)

INT. Monterey – Perez Hacienda – Office – Night – Deception

Diego explodes at his father over the fate of the three Indian boys. His father traded the teens to the Comanche. His father justifies what he has to do to maintain the relationship with the Comanche. Diego rejects this. Morally offended. How could his father fall so far from grace?

INT. Monterey – Catholic parish church – Night – Empathy/Distress: Secret

Diego uses the confession box to tell the old priest what happened to the Indian boys. He begs for forgiveness. The priest assures Diego these Comanche raids are indeed a threat. It’s what life has become. Forgive your father.

<st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Gulf</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Coast</st1:placetype> – <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Matamoros</st1:place></st1:city> – Wharf – Day – Setup:

Diego looks with pride across the bustling area. The project manager shows Diego around the family business. Diego assures him he’s not here taking over. He asks to see the books.

<st1:placename w:st=”on”>INT.</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Gulf</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Coast</st1:placetype> – <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Matamoros</st1:place></st1:city> – Office – Day Hidden Layer: Deception

Diego questions the project manager about some obscure items. Turns out, they are trading African slaves into <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>New Orleans</st1:place></st1:city>. Since the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>US</st1:country-region> banned shipping slaves from <st1:place w:st=”on”>Africa</st1:place>, they are sent on whenever they get them. Conditions are better in the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>US</st1:country-region> than in the sugar cane fields of <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Prices are higher for the various middlemen because the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>US</st1:place></st1:country-region> market is insatiable.

INT. Monterey – Perez Estate – Office – Day – Conspiracy – Set-up

Back at home, Diego confronts his father about slaves. It is not the same as trading for safety with the Comanche. His father protests he is robbing the Spanish of income. Diego is horrified that human cargo is part of their fortune. Diego’s father warns him the Inquisition has started up again so don’t call attention to the family. What if Diego, a priest, was called in to testify?

EXT. Monterey – Perez Estate – Day – Pay-off – Hidden Agenda – Deception

A courier arrives with envelope for Diego. He receives orders to go to <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> territory, as far from home as possible. Diego is dismayed. After much prayer, he must subjugate his will to a higher authority.

INT. Monterey – Perez Estate – Office – Day – Open Loop

Diego’s father pulled strings to get this assignment for all their safety. He’ll be taking a trade caravan to the west coast. He’ll only be gone a year.

Act 4 Thomas

EXT. <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Streets – Day – Intriquing World

Thomas is in the midst of crowded streets of revelers. The mood is joyous, celebrating <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region>’s first anniversary of <st1:city w:st=”on”>Independence</st1:city> from <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Spain</st1:country-region></st1:place>. American sailors stand out in blue jackets, blue-striped bellbottoms, red vests, black cravate and wide-brimmed black hat painted with tar among others of motley dress.

EXT. <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Podium – Day – Mystery

The governor announces two warships will sail in opposite directions to carry their new flag around the world. They’ll take out all Spanish targets. The two captains are introduced to applause and some booing.

EXT. <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Podium – Day – open loop

Each captain describes his route. When the second captain comes forward, there is louder booing. Thomas is very excited to hear that this Captain Hippolyte Bouchard’s warship heads east to <st1:place w:st=”on”>Africa</st1:place>. He’s a war hero of the revolution. Thomas is ready to sign up with Bouchard!

EXT. <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:place></st1:city> – Street – Day – open loop

Thomas rounds up several other black American sailors in the crowd – Black Jacks. Thomas lays out his plan to get to <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Sierra Leone</st1:place></st1:country-region>, a haven for former slaves. The Argentine ex-slaves are not worried about slave catchers but Thomas and some of the Americans are. They are anxious to get going.

INT. Buenos Aires – Bar – Night – hidden layer

The local sailors disparage Captain Bouchard. They tell awful tales of sailing for him during the battles for <st1:city w:st=”on”>Independence</st1:city> in <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Ecuador</st1:place></st1:country-region>. One of the men tried to kill Bouchard walking home at night. Bouchard has changed the name of the captured ship. Superstition dictates never do that before a new venture. Bouchard’s former mariners refuse to sail with him now or ever. Thomas doubts his choice after all.

EXT. Buenos Aires – Wharf – Day – Suspicion

A long line of Spanish sailors wait to sign the documents with the captain heading west to the Pacific. Thomas paces at the edge considering what to do.

EXT. Buenos Aires – Harbor – Warship La Argentina – Day – open loop

On deck. Captain Bouchard addresses his crew of 250 sailors of assorted nationalities. Thomas is among them. Black sailors are assigned lowest positions. When Bouchard gives an order in French, Thomas responds. Bouchard has his eye on Thomas.

EXT. Buenos Aires – Harbor – Warship La <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Day

Thomas has never crewed on a Man-Of-War. Someone shows him around. Mammoth operation outfitted for war, but relieved that it’s not real Navy. Should be less harsh. They are legal pirates.

EXT. <st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city> – Harbor – Warship La <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region> – Day – Hidden Agenda

The smaller warship <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Santa Rosa</st1:city></st1:place> heads out to great fanfare. Bouchard’s crew is stuck in harbor, confined to ship, waiting for more weapons. At least get us some comfort women they plead — so close, yet so far away. Bouchard won’t take a chance that the men won’t come back if allowed on shore. Assures them they will weigh anchor soon.

EXT. <st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city> – Harbor – Warship La <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region> – Day – Imminent Threat

Still stuck in harbor, many men grow quarrelsome. 250 crammed into a 120 ft. space. Captain Bouchard’s brothers-in-law come aboard as junior officers. They have no experience being aboard ship.

EXT. <st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city> – Harbor – Warship La <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region> – Day – Imminent Threat

In harbor still. One of the Bouchard relatives gives an order. The sailor refuses. Another officer steps in, pushes the sailor. He slaps the officer! A serious fight breaks out. One sailor hurls an ax at Bouchard — the captain stabs him dead. The men rush to the officers’ cabins, barricading themselves in behind the doors. Marines break the doors. Another sailor is killed. Others are removed from ship, rowed to shore in irons. Thomas definitely questions his choice of Bouchard’s leadership. He’d like to be going back to shore in a rowboat and get out of this mess.

EXT. Buenos Aires – Harbor – Warship La Argentina – Day – open loop

At last they weigh anchor July 19 without fanfare while the populace celebrates their Independence Day on this winter day. These are foreign men without family to wave them off, except for a few families of the Argentine ex-slaves. The elite don’t really like Bouchard! Neither does Thomas.

Act 5 Joseph

EXT. Boston – Shipbuilding Yards – Wharf – Frigate <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:city></st1:place> – Day – Intriguing World:

Joseph delivers the news that the frigate <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:city></st1:place> is not seaworthy enough for what investors have planned. Best for 6 months. Keep her in the sugar trade going to the <st1:place w:st=”on”>West Indies</st1:place>, don’t venture far out to sea. The ship is in decline.

EXT. Boston – Wharf – Frigate <st1:place w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:city></st1:place><i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”> – Continuous – Deception:

The group of business men only care about the money they are sinking into the ship. Don’t care about the safety issues he points out. They ask Joseph if he’ll crew as second carpenter. Refuses. Went to sea early, done every miserable job for years. That’s why he knows how to build a better ship. Why not invest in a new ship with Joseph?

EXT. Boston – Frigate Elizabeth – Continuous – World

Ship pulled in by long ropes up to the wharf.

An Englishman of the group comments on the cheapness of the American-built ship when inspected up close. Hundreds built rapidly during War of 1812 years. They were built green and cheap — and got the Elizabeth cheap now. So, why not order a ship from Joseph now and do it right? We could cut logs now. Honest businessman in the sight of our Lord.

EXT. Boston – Frigate <i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Elizabeth – Continuous

Investors decide to stick with this ship and their plan. Prominent man purchased for son. With whales depleted near home, plans to open up a new fishing ground and corner the market on whale oil. They order the retrofit needed. Joseph thinks it’s a waste of money as ship won’t last.

EXT. Boston – Ladies Seminary – Day

Joseph picks up a young woman at the door. She is accompanied by a servant. They walk to small church.

INT. Boston – Church – Day

Very austere. Anabaptists all dressed in plain grey clothes. They sing a hymn in 4-part harmony.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day – Imminent Threat

A group of Calvinist teens waits outside. Harass the folks coming out as anti-Christian. Hand out pamphlet against their version of Christianity. Joseph chases them off.

EXT. Boston – Ladies Seminary – Day – Secret Identity

The young woman thanks Joseph for protecting her. She’s glad he decided to attend again. It’s not quite the religion of his youth — stricter. She remands Joseph for not acting in the peace of Christ towards his fellow man. That’s where he falls down admittedly. (When do we learn about religion?)

EXT. Boston – Joseph’s Shack – Day

Joseph’s young brother shows up. He’s 18, and allowed to visit and see the secular world. Not sure if wants to farm, but family doing well enough.

When finish the job on Elizabeth, Joseph promises will go back home for a visit.

EXT. Frigate <i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Elizabeth – Day

The brothers move onboard so the younger can have a bed. Plan to row over to <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Charlestown</st1:city></st1:place> and see old Master. Buying him out.

INT. Charlestown – Master Builder’s House — Day

The guild approved Joseph as master craftsman. He’s allowed finally to establish his own shop! He needs to build a house. Saved his money and ready to sign for the Master’s ship business. Did love the daughter of his Master, but not allowed to marry while indentured.

EXT. Charlestown – Path along waterfront – Day

On the way to see the naval yard. To brother: like to live in Anabaptist village, but must stay by the sea. Life on ship not conducive to religion. Looking forward to retiring to land for good now. But not a farmer. Studying to be shipwright. What skills might brother want? Only trained as a farmer. Maybe we need an Anabaptist enterprise from start to finish — even the sailors. Brother is interested —

EXT. Charlestown – Naval Yard – Day

Metal sheeting being applied to the huge hull of first Navy ship to be built. It’s spectacular. Paul Revere’s company invented the process. To brother: lays out the story of Revere’s ride and battle afterwards. Anabaptists would not pledge allegiance to the country or take up arms against another human. Even when the British came back in 1812. So, targeted. Joseph could have been picked up at any point.

EXT. Boston – Wharf – Frigate <st1:city w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city><i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”> – Day – Hidden Agenda

Young captain comes to inspect his ship. This will be his first time out ever. Joseph suggests again improvements needed. Stresses safety. Asks Joseph again to crew. No, won’t work for a merchant again — they cut corners to make money. Come to see me about a new ship that will be built for your exact needs.

EXT. Boston – Wharf – Frigate <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:city></st1:place> – Day

Visited by former brethren (or current) – invite back to church. Haven’t left faith community. Tells them planning to take on first apprentice. Might they have a candidate. Glad to have more education — Anabaptists stop at age 13 with basic arithmetic. A ship is a marvel of math and an artist with wood. That’s held him back from being shipwright.

EXT. Boston – Wharf – Frigate <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:city></st1:place> – Day

Men working on the <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:city></st1:place>, install the cranes for whales. Joseph’s crew finishes the fire places for cauldrons on deck. Huzza – it’s ready! Brother falls off rigging onto deck. Workers invite them for a drink at the tavern to recover.

INT. Boston – Tavern – Night – Strange Behavior

Friendly banter. Brother is excessive in drink.

EXT. Boston wharf – Frigate <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city> – Night –

Joseph thanks mates for helping him get his brother to bed onboard.

INT. Boston wharf – Frigate <i style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Elizabeth – Day

Brother recovers from hangover. Joseph says need to control it. Shows in Bible where Jesus turned water to wine. Jesus drank. Just don’t get drunk. Joseph assigns brother to finish painting the hull.

EXT. Boston wharf – Frigate Elizabeth – Day

Mariners begin moving in who will be sailing soon. Brother falls into the water from the perch painting the hull! He prefers the dry land. Not cut out for ship life.

INT. Boston – Joseph’s Shack – Day

The brothers move Joseph’s belongings back to his shack from the ship. Brother wants a girlfriend and not lose her as Joseph did.

EXT. Boston (or <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Charlestown</st1:city></st1:place>) – Ladies Female Seminary – Day

Joseph and his brother escort two prim young ladies. The brother is astounded that they are studying at this age. Only men can be teachers from the brothers’ experience.

EXT. Boston – <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>Baptist</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day

They attend the Baptist church of the second young lady. The sermon is on the evils of trine baptism. Joseph and his brother are shocked to be singled.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=”on”>St. Charles</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>River</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day – Wound

Baptism of brother by Anabaptist brethren – jeering led by the Baptist minister? or public argument. Brother thanks Joseph for his witness. Ready to go home. Joseph promises to follow along after he gets paid and gets things settled with his old Master.

INT. Boston -Tavern – Night – Conspiracy

Joseph warming up by fire on cold night. Men from the <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:city></st1:place> invite him for a drink.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Harbor</st1:placetype></st1:place> – On board Frigate Elizabeth – Day – Deception, Empathy/Distress

Joseph awakes in his old spot on <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:city></st1:place>. He’s shocked that the ship is moving. The men tell him that they put him into his own bed after he was drunk. Joseph doesn’t remember ordering too much ale — never drinks hard liquor. One of the companions from the tavern urges him just to go along with it. Joseph knows this is the expectation — stay alive. Then he’ll escape when they put to shore for supplies.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Scene Requirements

What I learned is that I couldn’t go on with finishing the complex outline without some serious research for two of my real-life characters. Since this is an historical piece, I didn’t want to waste time writing something in general and have to come back to flesh it out later when writing the first draft. I need to have a internal visual to write the story from, but I have had to revise the outline after going a certain direction since August!

What has thrown me for a loop was uncovering a seemingly inconsequential piece of information about Joseph. He’s more of an enigma than ever! This ended up altering my conception of him up to this point. He’s not who I had been imagining. So that has taken more than a couple of weeks to age him and find out more about creating the world he inhabitats in my series.

I’m satisfied with everything in the outline up to Act 4 — I needed to learn more about the real-life voyage I’m sending Thomas on. And then Act 5 is about Joseph, which is where I’m still working now. I’ve had to learn a lot about shipbuilding and whaling. It’s all fascinating, but I do get caught up in the research phases.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Pilot Beat Sheet #1

I can see the value of outlining with five characters to keep track of. It just took me a very look time to come up with complete episodes for each. So much of it playing in my head has just been a scene or impression.

Episode 1: Destiny

A man does not make his destiny: he accepts it or denies it…Ursula K. LeGuin

Spring 1817

Concept:

Contrary to popular belief, the first illegal immigrant to cross the <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> border was a white American, who only spoke English, hadn’t a penny to his name, and got tossed into jail. This series is based on the true story of that Yankee pirate and his fierce buddy who deserted their ship in this enemy territory in 1818. One white. One black. While terrorizing this Spanish province with their pirate comrades, they were captured. Then these two dangerous buccaneers had the gall to ask the brown colonists of <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city> to hide them.

What happened next?

TEASER

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>INT.</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day

A woman stands in the doorway near front of the church. Her hair is roughly shorn off, some scalp showing. One eyebrow is shaved off. The priest publicly banishes the widow for fornication.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>INT.</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Continuous

After service, Antonia confronts priest in confession box about the woman’s unfair punishment. Lectured that women must remain pure entire life.

LATER

Antonia stands in front of casta painting with Grandmother (or girlfriends) — discuss predetermined fate due to skin color.

EXT. El Pueblo Central Plaza – Day

Lover of the disgraced woman, the village carpenter, is held in public stocks — Antonia and girlfriends pass by him with mixture of curiosity/disgust– he will be banished also.

ACT 1 Antonia

Inciting Incident: Antonia’s uncle dies; Antonia becomes nanny at
aunt’s house <div>

A. Story: Antonia making choices for her life – rejecting marriage arrangements with older men.

B. Story: Antonia seeking young men closer to her age

C. Story: Relationships with girlfriends and cousin, her closest
confidante about to be lost.

INT. Grandmother Guadalupe Moreno’s House – Parlor – Day

Antonia refuses to acknowledge an older prospective marriage partner in her Grandmother Moreno’s parlor. Instead she escapes.

EXT. Senora <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Moreno</st1:city></st1:place>’s House – Interior Patio – Day

Antonia trips over Indian servant Marta outside the door. Complains about her grandmother forcing old men on her — at least Marta gest to choose. Marta would choose Senor Lopez, but he’d never take her.

INT. Senora <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Moreno</st1:place></st1:city>’s House – Outdoor Kitchen – Day

Antonia slams the door shut of the separate adobe kitchen and screams to God.

INT. Aunt Gertrudis’ House – Parlor – Day

Antonia rushes into her aunt’s home, complains about Grandma’s meddling. Gert soothes her niece, reminding that Grandma’s doing her best to raise up all the women in the family.

INT. Aunt Gertrudis’ House – Bedroom – Day

Antonia tiptoes in to visit uncle lying on the bed, overcome by sudden illness. He’s much older than Gert. Grandma shows up, shooing Antonia back to her house.

EXT. Path – Day

On the walk home, Senora Moreno berates Antonia’s behavior toward Senor Lopez. Antonia can’t be persuaded, still rejects him. Wants to be in love with someone nearer her age. Wants to stay in town, not out on lonesome ranch. Grandma scoffs!

EXT. El Pueblo Central Plaza – Stocks – Day

Crossing the Plaza, the accused lover is gone from the stocks. Out of one of the adobe houses, Antonia’s cousin runs out to join them. She is opposite of Antonia, deferential towards Grandmother.

(INT. some interaction or revelation…)

Learn that Antonia hates kids… a day or two passes…

INT. Aunt Gertrudis’ House – Bedroom – Day

Priest surprises Antonia in the doorway. Situation is grim, given last rights. Frantic aunt orders Antonia to go to the native village Yangna and bring a shaman.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Yangna</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Village</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day

Antonia knows Grandma’s servant Marta lives in village, but she’s working. Antonia spies several women washing clothes at the river. Arranges for shaman. Indian women ask why Antonia came to village alone.

INT. Aunt Gertrudis’ House – Bedroom – Day

Shaman performs ritual over uncle, who is barely alive.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Cemetery</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day

Copious weeping and wailing. Aunt Gertrudis can’t be dragged from her husband’s gravesite. Grandmother pulls Antonia aside. She is available since she won’t get married, so she’ll be the nanny at least until the baby is born.

EXT. Outside cemetery – Day

Antonia unhappily loads the children into the carreta. Cousin runs up, crying that Grandma has betrothed her to the man Antonia rejected. She’s scared, doesn’t want this. Antonia advises her cousin to tell Grandma “no.” Too late, her parents have agreed to it. It’s Antonia’s fault!

Act 2 Lucas

Inciting Incident: Lucas’ father dies; Lucas cut off from all funds

A. Story: Lucas loves life at university and <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:place></st1:city> </div>

B. Story: Lucas adjusts to new life at home with no money

C. Story: Lucas sent off to CA in his brother’s place

<div>

INT. Mexico City – Courtroom – Day

In the packed courtroom audience, Lucas listens intently to Prosecutor lay out case against three rebel patriots battling the Crown in the war for independence. Lucas is satisfied when a guilty verdict is handed down with a death sentence.

INT. Mexico City – University Classroom – Day

Lucas challenged by the law professor to state his view of the war in class debate. Lucas recites the Prosecutor’s speech as his own.

INT. Mexico City – Dance Salon – Night

Several young couples finish a dance, Lucas is among them. He mentions to his friend that he got a message from home that his father was hurt in a ranch accident, but he decided to stay in the city.

EXT. Mexico City – Night

Outside the salon, the couples are surrounded by young Royal militia on horses. Lucas runs away, but is surrounded. A recruit from his law class tells him his speech was admired. He must join up. He must spy on his bourgeois friends.

EXT. Mexico City – Grand home – Night

Lucas drops his partner at her fancy home. He professes bravado and wealth. She invites him to dinner on the weekend. Confesses …what?

INT. Mexico City – Student Tenement – Night

In his austere residence, he shuts the curtains, checks for anyone spying from the street. By candle light, writes out lesson (or letter?).

EXT. Mexico City – Plaza – Day

Tensions between the pro-Spanish and pro-revolutionary factions escalate.

Lucas witnesses a family of heretics claiming to be true Catholics killed. It is rumored they are Jews, ferreted out by the Inquisition. Others claim this is false propaganda; they were supporters of the independence movement.

INT. Mexico City – Ballroom – Night

Lucas attends ball that night with his girlfriend — all are criollo status people. Talk of being divided in their loyalties toward King or independence.

EXT. Mexico City – Student Tenement – Day

A messenger from home. He delivers the news that Lucas’ father died. His eldest brother insists he bring everything. His life in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:place></st1:city> is over.

EXT. <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Cuernavaca</st1:city></st1:place> – Polanco Hacienda – Day

Lucas stands with his family at his father’s gravesite on the property. He couldn’t be buried at the church because he committed suicide. Family is ostracized in town.

INT. Cuernavaca – Polanco Hacienda – Barn – Continuous

Vicente, the eldest brother, informs Lucas he has no money. All inheritance by law goes to Vicente. All younger brothers must go out on their own. Lucas’ favorite brother has offer to go to <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:state w:st=”on”>California</st1:state></st1:place> territory with an uncle.

INT. Cuernavaca – Polanco Dining Room – Day

At family meal, Lucas’ favorite brother announces won’t go to <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>. He’s joining the insurgents to fight for <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s independence. Lucas can take his place, as only one with university education. He must leave soon to catch the only ship heading north. The port is 600 miles away, travelling across battle areas via mule caravan.

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Act 3 Father Diego

Inciting Incident: Father Diego receives assignment to CA </div>

A. Story: Diego adjusts to new life after ordination from
seminary at home

B. Story: Diego discovers his father’s serious trading
indiscretions

C. Story: Family sets up huge trust with the Church that Diego
will administer

<div>

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>INT. Queretaro City</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Seminary Colegio do Propaganda Fide – Day

Diego’s wealthy family warmly embraces the newly-minted “Father” after his ordination. Diego doesn’t want to be the family’s provincial priest as they planned.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>INT. Queretaro City</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Seminary Colonnade – Day

Diego shows his family painting of famous student Father Junipero Serra. Serra went out west to <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> territory. Diego not interested in that work. He wants to stay in this city where the revolution started. He supports the Indians fighting for justice.

<st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Queretaro</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>City</st1:placetype> – <st1:place w:st=”on”>Corregidor</st1:place> House – Street – Day

Diego shows his father this house where the woman lived who started the revolution with priests and politicians. He confides that he visited her in his religious capacity when she was a prisoner. Diego’s father is alarmed!

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Queretaro</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>City</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Cathedral – Day

Diego’s father sets up secret meeting with the Bishop.

EXT. <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Monterey</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Perez Hacienda – Day

Diego rejoices riding up the grand entryway to the family compound in northern <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. He’s greeted warmly by family, servants, respectful of his new stature and priestly garb.

INT. Monterey – Perez Hacienda – Diego’s bedroom – Day

Diego flops onto the luxurious canopy bed. He admires the rugs and wallpaper. Two servants bring in hot water for a bath.

EXT. Monterey – Catholic parish church – Day

Diego is greeted by children as he enters the grounds. His childhood priest is still there, all smiles. The old man ushers the younger priest into the nave.

INT. Monterey – Catholic parish church – Nave – Continuous

Old priest hints at Diego’s plans, does he intend to replace him? The old man asks where Diego stands on the revolution. Diego confides that it began in secret near the seminary. The old man beckons towards the inner sanctum.

INT. Monterey – Catholic parish church – Storeroom – Continuous

In a storage closet, the old priest shows Diego three Native teens hiding. They are insurgents needing asylum. The priest pleads with Diego to ask his father to assist moving them to safety.

(INT. Monterey – Perez Hacienda – Day

Diego discuss with his dad what to do with fugitives?)

INT. Monterey – Perez Hacienda – Office – Night

Diego explodes at his father over the fate of the three Indian boys. His father traded the teens to the Comanche. His father justifies this to keep the family and home safe. Diego rejects this. Morally offended.

INT. Monterey – Catholic parish church – Night

Diego uses the confession box to tell the old priest what happened to the Indians. He begs for forgiveness. His father is sending him off to check on family business at the coast. But he wants to head off looking for the teens.

<st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Gulf</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Coast</st1:placetype> – <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Matamoros</st1:city></st1:place> – Wharf – Day

Project manager shows Diego around the extensive family business. Diego assures him he’s not taking over. He asks to see the books.

<st1:placename w:st=”on”>INT.</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Gulf</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Coast</st1:placetype> – <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Matamoros</st1:place></st1:city> – Office – Day

Diego questions the project manager about some obscure items. Turns out, they are trading African slaves into <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>New Orleans</st1:place></st1:city>. Diego asks if they are holding any Africans now.

INT. Monterey – Perez Hacienda – Office – Day

Diego confronts his father about slaves. Diego is horrified that human cargo is part of their fortune. Diego’s father tells him the Inquisition has started up again so don’t call attention.

EXT. Monterey – Perez Hacienda – Day

A messenger arrives with envelope for Diego. He receives orders from the Bishop to go to <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> territory.

INT. Monterey – Perez Hacienda – Office – Day

Diego’s father pulled strings to get this assignment for all their safety. He tells Diego of the huge bequest the family will give the church that Diego will administer. He takes a trade caravan to the west coast to scope out a new network in that direction. He’ll only be gone a year, as far from home as possible.

.<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Act 4 Thomas

Inciting Incident: Thomas signs up with Captain Bouchard in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place> </div><div>

A. Story: Work life aboard warship

B. Story: Thomas works his way up to better positions

C. Story: Relationship with Black Jacks, seamen, officers
onboard

EXT. <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Streets – Day

Thomas is in the midst of crowded streets of revelers celebrating <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region>’s first anniversary of <st1:city w:st=”on”>Independence</st1:city> from <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>. American sailors stand out in blue jackets, blue-striped bellbottoms, red vests, wide-brimmed black hat painted with tar.

EXT. <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Podium – Day

The governor announces two warships will sail in opposite directions to carry their new flag around the world. They’ll also attack all Spanish targets. Mariners will get booty taken from the richest empire in the world.

EXT. <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place> – Podium – Continuous

The two captains are introduced. They describe their routes. Thomas very excited to hear that Captain Bouchard’s warship heads east to <st1:place w:st=”on”>Africa</st1:place>. He’s ready to sign up!

EXT. <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city></st1:place> – Street – Day

Thomas rounds up several other black American sailors – Black Jacks. Some of them have sailor protection papers – Eagle at top identifies them as freemen. Thomas lays out his plan to get to <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Sierra Leone</st1:country-region></st1:place>, a haven for former slaves.

INT. Buenos Aires – Bar – Night

The bar is packed with sailors of all nationalities. The local sailors disparage Captain Bouchard. They tell awful tales of sailing for him during the battles for <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Independence</st1:city></st1:place>. They refuse to sail with him now or ever. Thomas doubts his choice.

EXT. <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:place></st1:city> – Wharf – Day

A long line of Spanish sailors wait to sign the documents with the captain heading west to the Pacific. Thomas paces at the edge considering what to do.

EXT. Buenos Aires – Harbor – Warship La <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region> – Day

Thomas is on deck. Captain Bouchard addresses his crew of 250 sailors of assorted nationalities. Assures them they will get rich. When Bouchard gives an order in French, Thomas responds. Thomas sailed for smuggler Jean LaFitte in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>New Orleans</st1:city></st1:place>. Bouchard reveals he studied mapmaking at the US Naval Academy.

EXT. Buenos Aires – Harbor – La <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region> – Day

The other warship <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Santa Rosa</st1:place></st1:city> heads out to great fanfare. Bouchard’s crew is stuck in harbor, confined to ship, waiting for more weapons.

EXT. Buenos Aires – Harbor – Warship – Day

Still stuck in harbor, men grow quarrelsome. Captain Bouchard’s brothers-in-law come aboard as junior officers. No experience being aboard ship.

EXT. Buenos Aires – Harbor – Warship – Day

In harbor still. One of the Bouchard relatives gives an order, pushes a sailor. Huge fight breaks out. Two sailors killed, others removed from ship. Thomas questions his choice of signing with Bouchard.

EXT. Buenos Aires – Harbor – Warship – Day

At last they weigh anchor July 19 without fanfare while the populace celebrates their Independence Day. These are foreigners without family to wave them off, except for a few families of the Argentine ex-slaves. The elite don’t really like Bouchard!

Act 5 Joseph

Inciting Incident: Joseph is pressed aboard the whaling ship as
a joke </div><div>

A. Story: Joseph retrofits unseaworthy whaling ship

B. Story: Joseph’s old Master to jumpstart his ship building
business

C. Story: Joseph’s brother comes to visit in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:place></st1:city>

EXT. Boston – Shipbuilding Yards – Wharf – Frigate Elizabeth – Day

Joseph delivers the news that the frigate <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city> is not seaworthy enough for what the investors standing before him have planned. Best for six months then bring her in for dry dock over the winter. Keep her in the sugar trade going to the <st1:place w:st=”on”>West Indies</st1:place>, don’t venture far out to sea.

EXT. Boston – Wharf – Frigate <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:city></st1:place> – Continuous

The group of business men look over the ship. Joseph tells them it’s an insurance risk. They ask if he’ll crew as second carpenter. Refuses. Done with the sea. Joseph knows how to build better ship. The <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city> was built cheaply and quickly for the War of 1812. Five years is the shelf life. Why not invest in a new ship with Joseph? Investors decide to stick with their plan. With whales depleted near home, they will open up a new fishing ground and corner the market on whale oil. They order a retrofit to make this into a whaling ship.

EXT. Boston – Ladies Seminary – Day

Joseph picks up young woman, escorted by her servant. They walk to small church.

INT. Boston – Church – Day

Very austere. Anabaptists all dressed in plain grey clothes. They sing a hymn in 4-part harmony.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day

A group of Calvinist teens waits outside. Harass the folks coming out as anti-Christian. Hand out pamphlet against their version of Christianity. Joseph chases them off.

EXT. Boston – Ladies Seminary – Day

The young woman is glad Joseph decided to attend again. It’s not quite the religion of his youth — stricter. He fails to keep peace towards other men so often.

EXT. Boston – Joseph’s Shack – Day

Joseph’s young brother age 18 shows up. He’s allowed to see the secular world. Not sure if wants to farm, stay in faith community. The pair move onboard so brother can have a bed.

INT. Charlestown – Master Builder’s House — Day

Joseph tells his old Master he will buy him out, take an apprentice. The guild approved Joseph as master craftsman, allowed to establish his own shop! He needs to build a house first. Did love the man’s daughter once but not allowed to marry while indentured.

EXT. Charlestown – Path along waterfront – Day

On route to see the naval yard. Joseph looking forward to living on solid ground for good. But not as a farmer. Not giving up trade that pays wages. Maybe his brother will learn a specialized trade. So much work around shipyards.

EXT. Charlestown – Naval Yard – Day

Joseph admires first US navy ship under construction. Paul Revere’s company applying cooper metal sheeting to the huge hull. The brothers’ pacifist religious beliefs don’t allow them to work on a warship.

EXT. Boston – Wharf – Frigate <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:city></st1:place> – Day

Young captain comes to inspect his ship, purchased by banker father. This will be his first time out ever. Ignores Joseph’s suggestions for safety improvements. Asks Joseph to hire on. Good payout on return with oil.

EXT. Boston – Wharf – Frigate <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:city></st1:place> – Day

Visited by former brethren (or current) – invite back to church. Joseph tells them planning to take on first apprentice. Might they have a candidate? A ship is a marvel of math and artistry with wood for a boy who loves the sea.

EXT. Boston – Wharf – Frigate <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:city></st1:place> – Day

Install the cranes for lifting whales. Finish fireplaces for cauldrons on deck. Huzza! Brother falls off rigging onto deck. Workman invite brothers for a mug of ale.

INT. Boston – Tavern – Night

Friendly banter. Brother drinks excessively.

EXT. Boston wharf – Frigate <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city> – Night

Joseph thanks mates for helping him get his brother to bed onboard.

INT. Boston wharf – Frigate Elizabeth – Day

Brother recovers from hangover. Joseph says need to control it. Shows in Bible where Jesus turned water to wine. Jesus drank. Just don’t get drunk. Get to work finishing painting the hull.

EXT. Boston wharf – Frigate Elizabeth – Day

Mariners begin moving in who will be sailing soon. Brother falls into the water from the perch painting the hull! Not cut out for ship life.

INT. Boston – Joseph’s Shack – Day

The brothers move Joseph’s belongings back to his shack from the ship. Brother wants a girlfriend, but won’t lose her as Joseph did honoring his indenture contract.

EXT. Boston (or <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Charlestown</st1:city></st1:place>) – Ladies Female Seminary – Day

Joseph and his brother escort two prim young ladies. The brother is astounded that the girls are studying at this age since school stops for Anabaptists at age 13.

EXT. Boston – <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>Baptist</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day

They all attend the Baptist church of the second young lady. The sermon is on the evils of trine baptism. Joseph and his brother are stunned to be the targets.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=”on”>St. Charles</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>River</st1:placetype></st1:place> – Day

Baptism of brother by Anabaptist brethren – jeering led by the Baptist minister? or public argument. Brother ready to go home. Joseph promises to visit after he gets paid and buys the shipyard of his old Master.

INT. Boston -Tavern – Night

Joseph warming up by fire on cold night. Men from the <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city> invite him for a drink.

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>EXT.</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Harbor</st1:placetype></st1:place> – On board Frigate Elizabeth – Day

Joseph awakes in his old cabin on <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city>. He’s shocked the ship is moving. The men say they put him into his own bed after he was drunk. Joseph doesn’t remember ordering too much ale — never drinks hard liquor.

One of the companions from the tavern urges him just to go along with it. Joseph knows this is the expectation. He’ll escape when they put to shore for supplies.

</div>

[Tracy Cheney]

<strong style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Tracy El Pueblo Setting Up The Future

I know there’s a lot of opinion against making the pilot as a set-up, but I am choosing to begin by focusing on the really tough journeys undertaken by anyone trying to get to frontier Los Angeles. The five lead characters will not be interacting with each other yet, but beginning their journeys toward each other in the pilot. I don’t want to gloss over their backstories — or present them in flashbacks. I did that originally like in LOST, which was the show I chose to analyze at the beginning of this process. However, I’ve since switched to the opposite approach for this draft. I’m going forward in a linear mode.

<u style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Act 1 Antonia

Village life in El Pueblo, 37 years in existence on the Spanish frontier

Idealistic Antonia fights against her caste status to achieve choice in life

How does her life change with the arrival of each foreign man?

The impact of these four men on each other’s goals

Act 2 Lucas

Enjoys being a big fish in a little pond – will Lucas be exposed as an imposter, a poor elegant gentleman roughin’ it?

Being instantly displaced by the arrival of Yankee pirate Joseph upsets the relationship with Antonia

Can he convince his uncle into making Lucas his heir?

Act 3 Father Diego

Is not cut out of the same cloth as the zealot missionaries controlling the territory

Can Diego come to terms with being historically a crypto-Jew?

Longs for life unencumbered by strictures imposed on a Catholic priest and the position his father created for him

Act 4 Thomas

Can Thomas live freely as an American fugitive slave in El Pueblo?

Can Thomas overcome his lowly status imposed by Spanish caste system after achieving leadership aboard ship life?

Regarded as fearsome warrior to keep locked up but still allowed to stay – why?

Act 5 Joseph

Can American pirate Joseph survive in enemy Spanish territory?

Joseph negotiates his status as a high-value prisoner despite religious animosity

Will he marry Antonia as she ardently plans?

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Adding Empathy/Distress

It’s not that I didn’t want to do this, but I just wasn’t generating any ideas after thinking about it for 2 days!

Assignment:

A. Crucible

Being working crew members on a sailing ship in the midst of the ocean is a grueling experience every minute of every day for Thomas and Joseph. Thomas deals with a hardened captain who finds any whiff of insubordination intolerable. Joseph finds the inexperienced young captain threatens all their safety.

B. Betrayal

Diego feels horribly betrayed by his father when he trades the Indian patriots off to the Comanche. The Comanche usually kill the men, but father justifies that they are young enough they’ll probably be used in the horse trade in Comancheria.

C. Forced Decision

Joseph dumped on the whaler by his fellow Christians — why? Doesn’t have a choice but to jump into his work to keep the ship afloat until he can escape.

<div>
</div>

D. Hurt those they love

Antonia’s grandmother isn’t going to let the jilted suitor get away — she’ll betroth Antonia’s 15 year-old cousin to the man for her own future good.

<div>
</div>

E. Emotional Dilemma

Thomas was hopeful about getting clear away from <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>America</st1:place></st1:country-region>; but he loathes Captain Bouchard, even though he’s promoted. As a black man, he wants to stay out of the captain’s way, but his fellow Black Jack sailors count on his leadership to protect them.

F. Exposed

Diego exposes his father’s nefarious trading deals; his father doesn’t want any attention called to the family as that might expose them as Jewish (though Diego doesn’t know this history). Slave trading will not get them into the same kind of trouble since the Spanish government turns a blind eye.

G. Must Make Decision with Future Consequences

Antonia rejects a man to marry that is a couple of years older than her own father. Instead of getting a ranch house of her own with servants to help, she is obliged as an “old maid” to help her aunt instead, though she hates kids and crying babies.

H. Undeserved misfortune

Lucas didn’t expect his father to die, so wasn’t present. Considered very callous and spoiled by family.

I. External character conflicts

Joseph isn’t a sterling example of an Anabaptist, but he’s stunned that Calvinists would hate him. He’s grown up in <st1:city w:st=”on”>Charlestown</st1:city> (<st1:place w:st=”on”>North Boston</st1:place>), which is known for toleration. What did he do to set them off?

J. Plot intruding on life

Lucas: his father’s death destroys his university and city life – he is abruptly left with nothing, not even the skills or ambition to salvage where he loves to be.

K. Plans that failed

Antonia is attracted to the son of the majordomo at the mission. Grandma mocks wasting time with a young man who has many years ahead building up substantial means. It’s not Antiona can go to college or do something meaningful in the meantime.

L. Witnessing the pain of others

Antonia is present when uncle dies in terrible pain; her pregnant aunt is distraught. Antonia was a young girl when her mother died but she didn’t witness it.

M. Extreme consequences

Diego acting as a passionate conscience to his dad gets him banned from home just when he’s returned after such a long absence. He’s liked the comfort their wealth provides after the austere life of the seminary — particularly the food and a comfortable bed. He’s forbidden to return to the city either.

N. Major loss

Taking a vow of chastity as a young Catholic priest is hard, as Diego wrestles with a decision that was forced upon him. Reconnecting with the women of his passionate youth before going away to seminary is painful, but most are married. He didn’t realize how envious he is of this life being denied him.

O. Brings their wound present

The death of her uncle is awful. Her mom was young when she died giving birth to Antonia’s brother, but Antonia still misses her. She’s lived with the possibility that she could get a stepmother. Now at her age it would be awkward if her dad remarried someone young near her age. Grandma hasn’t forced him yet.

P. Make it more painful

Antonia’s grandmother decides the younger cousin will marry the rancher, though not quite 16 yet. The girl is terrified, and it’s Antonia’s fault. Antonia loves the girl as her closest confidante and doesn’t want to lose her.

Q. Raise the stakes

When visiting the family holdings on the coast, Diego accidentally discovers their trade in African slaves. A huge moral argument erupts when Diego insists his father give this up. It’s the tipping point for the dad to make arrangements for Diego to be sent far away for the next year.

R. Create more loss

Lucas as the youngest of his dad’s second family was doted on as the baby. He did not expect to get cut off completely. The eldest brother offers to let Lucas’ mom and sisters stay on the hacienda, but Lucas and his brother will have to set off on their own. Since the town ostracizes them, no decent position is open for him; Lucas refuses to work as a laborer and he loathes the royal military.

S. Put any goal, need, value, wound at significant risk

Lucas harps on about being a loyalist, not realizing his closest brother supports the rebels. His brother was slated to go to <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city> to live with their uncle, but signs up to be a soldier with the insurgents. Lucas is distraught, as he loves this brother. Lucas is glad he wasn’t conscripted the crown’s army to fight against his brother.

T. Time this to be at the worst moment

The eldest brother decides that Lucas will replace his brother going to <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> province. Lucas is afraid to travel alone or to leave the family at this time. He doesn’t have the skills or interest to be a frontiersman. He’s mocked — going as a clerk with good penmanship.

U. Make it more physically threatening

Lucas needs protection — a caravan or escort to get him to the port at San Blas 500 miles away. He’ll be travelling through battle zones. He’s given a gun and sword that he doesn’t know how to use. The thought of then travelling two months on a ship makes Lucas feel seasick already. But his eldest brother shames into being grateful for this outcome far from war.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Open Loops and Mysteries

This was a good exercise to make me ask more questions, adding depth to storyline components that were there or missing

<u style=””>Act 1 Antonia <div>

Main Mystery: Why doesn’t Grandmother force Antonia into an
arranged marriage like other girls in the family?

Sub-Mysteries: What’s the mysterious illness caught by Antonia’s uncle
that killed him so fast? Contagious? Prayer of faith nor native knowledge could
save him.

Main Open Loop: Who is the unknown native woman Antonia
hires from the village to grind corn?

Sub-Open Loops: Is Antonia safe
going to the native village?

Act 2 Lucas

Main Mystery: Why does his eldest brother cut off all university
funds?

Sub-Mysteries: Why does Lucas give up university too easily and not
work for it?

Main Open Loop: Can Lucas keep being an imposter with his elegant airs?

Sub-Open Loops: How is he going to survive without money?

Act 3 Father
Diego

Main Mystery: Why does his father want Diego sent away?

Sub-Mysteries: What is the relationship with the Comanche? Is the
family in real danger?

Sub-Mysteries: How can the family sanction selling African human
beings as slaves into the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>US</st1:place></st1:country-region>
knowing how they’ll be treated?

Main Open Loop: What is the arrangement his father made with the
powerful men in the Church?

Sub-Open Loops: How will that affect Diego’s relationships in the
Church?

Act 4 Thomas

Main Mystery: How did Thomas escape slavery at age 13?

Sub-Mysteries: Why did he leave the protection of Jean
LaFitte to come to <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region>?

Main Open Loop: How can Thomas
endure a captain he already can’t stomach for a long voyage and stay in his
good graces?

Sub-Loop: How does Thomas plan to get to Sierra Leone?

<font face=”inherit”></font><u style=””>Act 5 Joseph

Main Mystery: Why did fellow Christians jump Joseph
and his brother?

<font face=”inherit”></font>Sub-Mysteries: Why was Joseph kidnapped by his
fellow dock workers, put on the old
whaler?

<div>

Main Open Loop: What is Joseph’s relationship with the young woman?

Sub-Open Loops: What are Joseph’s plans for the future? Is he committed to the Anabaptist livestyle?

</div></div>

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Stacking Intrique

I need to keep thinking about these ideas. Even so, it took me four days to come up with this much! I got thrown off when a little piece of research changed everything I’d thought and written about my one true historical character for years. Since the other four main characters are fictional, I can make them fit. But my real man is now an even bigger enigma!

Antonia

1. In El <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Pueblo</st1:place></st1:city>, Antonia meets and rejects Senor Lopez as marriage partner. She wants to choose for love.

2. Conspiracy: Grandma doesn’t tell Antonia that she herself had free will to choose spouse. The frontier families have evolved the arranged marriages. Berates Antonia for another rejection instead of forcing her into this union.

3. Hidden Agenda: Antonia tosses off careless comment that maybe her 15 y-o cousin would be better suited since she is “good girl,” scared of Grandmother.

4. Mystery: Antonia runs to Aunt’s house, finds uncle very sick with mysterious illness.

5. Priest arrives, tells Antonia God’s will is mysterious and must be accepted. She rejects Church position that as daughter of Eve she never stops paying for that original sin with punishments.

6. Intriguing world: Distraught aunt tells Antonia to fetch an Indian shaman, will try anything to save husband.

7. Secret: Antonia doesn’t disclose going unaccompanied to native village to get shaman and again to hire woman to grind corn. Feels empowered.

Act 1 After uncle’s funeral, Antonia’s told by her grandmother since
she rejected latest marriage suitor, Antonia will be the nanny for her
nieces and nephews until Aunt’s baby is born.<div>

Lucas

1. In court, Lucas observes case against a group of insurgents who receive the death penalty.

2. In law class, Lucas defends his loyalist position using speech verbatim he heard in court.

3. Lucas receives letter in his humble accommodations that father injured; Lucas decides to stay in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:city></st1:place>, as he loves the cosmopolitan life.

4. At dance class with wealthy girlfriend, Lucas receives withering criticism of his technique and lack of emotion.

5. Conspiracy: After dance class, Lucas surrounded by gang led by law student who heard his pro-loyalist speech in class; his friend is beat up. The militants urges Lucas to join the army and spy on his bourgeois friends.

6. Hidden Agenda: Lucas afraid of being pressed into military service, avoids going out alone or at night.

7. Receives letter that father died, must come home. Lucas no longer has his father’s protection or allowance.

8. Wound: At home from university, Lucas’s father denied burial since committed suicide. Family shunned by town.

Act 2 Eldest brother, who inherited everything, informs Lucas
he must head north to uncle in <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>
as he is cut off from all funds.</div><div>

Father Diego

1. Family attends Diego’s ordination at seminary in Mexican city, Queretero, where the revolution was originally planned. All happy!

2. When Diego’s father tells Diego he’s set up to take over the small parish church at home in northern Mexico, Diego announces he’s going to serve the cause of the revolutionaries for social justice. All alarmed!

3. Conspiracy: Behind Diego’s back, his father meets with the bishop to make “special” arrangements.

4. Hidden Agenda: Diego agrees to visit home, after being away for a few years. When visiting the old parish priest, discovers he’s given sanctuary to Indian insurgents fighting the empire.

5. Betrayal: Diego asks his wealthy father for aid for these men. Instead, his father trades them off to the Comanche.

6. All is not as it seems: Diego is stunned by father’s justification that he must appease the Comanche to fend off raids; it’s what kept his business and home intact for the family.

7. Moral dilemma: Diego re-evaluates the family’s vast trading business built over hundreds of years. Discovers his father sells African slaves he steals from Spanish ships to the Americans in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>New Orleans</st1:place></st1:city>.

8. Deception: Diego’s father must get rid of this moral conscious upsetting his carefully calibrated business, but also protect Diego from crossing the authorities. Diego’s plum role within the church hierarchy is revealed only if Diego fulfills his part.

Act 3 Father Diego is assigned far away to <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:state w:st=”on”>California</st1:state></st1:place> out of the action when his
father pulls strings in the Church. Diego is a risk, and at risk.</div><div>

Thomas

1. Revelry in streets of <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place> – announcement of two ships sailing on 1 year anniversary to destroy Spanish targets – one east, one west

2. Hidden Agenda: Thomas is eager to sign up for the ship heading east to <st1:place w:st=”on”>Africa</st1:place> with Captain Bouchard, a local war hero. Thomas knows of <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Sierra Leone</st1:place></st1:country-region>, a homeland for former slaves.

3. World: In a bar, local mariners debate merits of the two captains to sail with. They hate Bouchard for how he treated them during <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s war for independence. They say it’s bad omen that he’s changed the name of the warship they captured for this trip.

4. The locals sign on with the other captain heading west into the Pacific, seeking fabled Spanish treasure ships. They depart.

5. The leftover crew assembled by Bouchard are rough foreign mercenaries. They segregate below decks by ethnicity and country and literacy. That’s the divisor.

6. The restless crew of 250 is held on board in the harbor for days, due to delays getting the warship fully outfitted. Bouchard’s two brothers-in-law join the officers, totally inexperienced.

7. When a seaman slaps one of his relatives, Bouchard arrests him, provoking a brawl on deck. One seaman throws an ax at Bouchard, who stabs him dead. Other crew barricade themselves in cabins. The marines have to bust them out, killing another sailor and wounding more.

8. For staying out of the fight, and understanding orders in both French and Spanish, Thomas rewarded with better position.

Act 4 Thomas regrets signing up with harsh Captain Bouchard as
the frigate finally weighs anchor heading east across the Atlantic. He
can’t swim, or he’d jump in the harbor to get to shore.</div><div>

Joseph

1. Joseph on wharf in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:place></st1:city> – shipbuilding yards all around. He’s a master carpenter, finished with last repairs on old whaling ship <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city>. He recommends to captain’s men she isn’t seaworthy for what they are planning.

2. The men ask if he’ll sign on for the young captain’s first voyage, but Joseph refuses — he’s done with the miseries of sea life and merchant ships. He’s ready to settle down.

3. Intriguing World: Joseph picks up his girlfriend from the Young Ladies Seminary; they attend Anabaptist church service with Joseph’s parents and family dressed in plain clothes.

4. Accusation: Joseph and his brother are jumped in the evening near Paul Revere’s house (or old <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>North</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>). Joseph thinks it’s a press gang for the sea captain, but it’s Protestants attacking them for their religious beliefs. Anabaptists are nonviolent, except Joseph. He’s had to swear and fight onboard as sailors do. He beats them back.

5. Joseph counseled by girlfriend and minister. He vows to do better but not in his nature to stand by if someone else is getting hurt. Minister: there is no such thing as a righteous violence or war.

6. Hidden Agenda: Fellow carpenters along the wharf say good money to be made at the Naval Yard building first American warship. Be a patriot and join us. Joseph won’t swear allegiance.

7. Deception: Mates invite Joseph to a tavern. Drunkenness is against his faith, but one pint of ale he decides is fine.

Act 5 Joseph wakes up leaving <st1:city w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:city>
on the whaling ship <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Elizabeth</st1:place></st1:city>
against his will. They head to south Pacific for valuable
sperm whale oil on a two-year voyage. Joseph plans to jump ship when they land
for water and supplies and return to <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:place></st1:city>.
</div>

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Layers and Reveals

What I learned is to wait for more ideas to reveal themselves — I want them to feel natural, not contrived.

1. Antonia’s grandma doesn’t want Antonia to know she herself got to choose her husband. Grandpa and she were young mixed-race farm workers in Mexico.They were recruited to come to start El Pueblo when she was 19. The church allowed couples to choose instead of the forced arrangements now popular on the frontier. She uses the brokered arrangement to raise her family’s status — did it with her two daughters, and now Antonia and her cousin. It will be the new priest Father Diego who reveals this to Antonia.

2. Antonia hides the fact that she goes out unaccompanied — it started as an emergency run to the native village to get the shaman when her uncle was dying. She believes her grandmother’s status in town protects her.

3. Lucas creates his own cover-ups. He hides the fact of his father’s suicide even from his uncle in El Pueblo, his father’s brother. Lucas doesn’t know if his eldest brother mentioned that the dad had been injured when he wrote months in advance to ask that Lucas come north. Lucas is stunned to discover at home after the funeral that the eldest brother always planned to cut him off financially even before their father died. The secret of the suicide will eat away at Lucas until he must confess it in El Pueblo — he doesn’t like being denied eternal salvation because of his father’s sin. The betrayal of his brother stings, but Lucas gradually comes to see it as benefiting him. He’d have no chance in his Mexican town because of the family being ostracized other than joining the military as a lower rank soldier to earn a meager living.

4. Father Diego has so many huge secrets being revealed to him, he’s reeling at the time he’s supposed to be an impenetrable moral rock of the Church.

A. The local family priest hides Indian freedom-fighters. When Diego confides this to his dad to help them, instead his dad trades them north into Comanche country. The powerful tribe maintains a huge network across the southern US. Diego finds out the local Indians and lowest classes are traded regularly to appease the Comanche who could wipe out everything with their frequent raids. While away for 8 years at seminary, Diego’s family became specialized traders, giving the Comanche what they want in goods to save their own lives.

B. While inspecting the family’s extensive trade operations along the <st1:place w:st=”on”>Gulf of Mexico</st1:place>, Diego discovers his dad trades in African slaves. As it’s illegal to import slaves directly into the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>US</st1:country-region>, an active black market exists through <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region> to <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>New Orleans</st1:place></st1:city>. Diego’s father justifies this as a blow against the Spanish, for he only takes human cargo from captured Spanish ships to rob them of the gain.

C. Diego’s father made a deal to give a large bequest to the Church only if Diego gets to administer it — and is assigned far away for everyone’s protection.

D. The family are crypto-Jews, having been in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place> since 1500. This has to remain a secret to protect the extended family. This is only revealed to Diego in a letter found in his trunk once he sails for <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> territory.

E. Diego was given to the Church as a “spare” son to be seen as upstanding Catholics and keep the Inquisition away. He got a classical college education. He has no desire to serve at an isolated frontier mission. Diego feels betrayed on all accounts.

6. Thomas cannot reveal that he is a fugitive slave on the run from a <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>South Carolina</st1:place></st1:state> plantation since he was 13. He received a promise of pardon/freedom from General Andrew Jackson for serving with Jean LaFitte’s pirate band at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Thomas never trusted any deal with the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> for a black man. He’s deathly afraid of slave catchers and bounty hunters. He’s left LaFitte’s protection because LaFitte signed a deal with the Spanish to spy on the revolutionaries fighting in <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Thomas felt betrayed, as LaFitte always professed hated for the Spanish. Thomas supports freedom fighters wherever they are, so heads to <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region> because they won. He presents himself as an emancipated black mercenary for hire.

7. Joseph visits the daughter of his master of his apprenticeship in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:place></st1:city> at her finishing school. They were around each other when younger, as he stayed in their home and got a rudimentary education. But her father made it clear to his stable of young men that they were to steer clear of his daughter. But Joseph is a 28 y-o-independent man now. He’s home from the sea for good.

Joseph’s big secret comes far later during his trial in the 2nd season: why does he lie to the people of El Pueblo about being forced to sail for Captain Bouchard from Argentina to attack California. Why did he voluntarily leave <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Hawaii</st1:place></st1:state> to join this crew? Was he an original crew member sailing for the other captain on the <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Santa Rosa</st1:place></st1:city>?

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Character Story Lines

What I learned doing this assignment is that I have plenty of holes to fill in once characters reveal them! Need storylines to touch each other or dovetail end scenes, or mirror each other in opposite ways.

2. Create a beginning, middle, and end of the character’s story for the pilot (I have 5 characters).

Antonia

Beginning: Antonia sits stiffly in her grandmother’s parlor. Mr.
Lopez is being entertained/interrogated as a marriage prospect for
Antonia. <div>

Turning Point: When Grandmother asks Antonia to pour Mr. Lopez
a drink, she instead walks out to the outdoor kitchen and screams.

Midpoint: Grandmother berates Antonia for rejecting
this “young” suitor of age 40. She’s been wrong to give Antonia
choice, gotten spoiled. Antonia digs
in about an arranged marriage: won’t do it — wants choice and love.

Turning Point 2: Antonia runs into her aunt’s house,
complaining about Grandmother. Encounters priest called to help her
suffering uncle.

Major Conflict: Antonia sent unaccompanied to the native
village to fetch the shaman. Antonia’s uncle dies of mysterious illness.

Ending: After the funeral, Grandmother tells Antonia since
she’s not interested in any suitor, she’s getting a reputation as an old
maid. She’ll live with her aunt to care for her children until the new
baby is born. Antonia refuses to grind corn — I can’t be nanny and maid,
too — hires woman from the native village. Sees soldier coming from her
grass hut, and goes into another where a woman stifles a scream.

(Dilemma to be explored — a woman’s worth is judged by her
sexuality; must distance self from it to be taken seriously. Sexuality is
a weapon in a man’s arsenal that
doesn’t dent his authority)

Lucas

Beginning: Lucas attends the trial of rebels/patriots in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:place></st1:city> as a law student</div><div>

Turning Point: In his university class, appropriates speech of
prosecutor to articulate his position as loyalist — against many of his
own caste since criollo started this.

Midpoint: Lucas receives word that his father is ill.
Even after reading how he was injured, Lucas opts to stay in the city.
Gives off air of well-to-do to girl’s family he’s courting

Turning Point 2: With girl he likes at dance class, he receives
a poor critique of his style. Afterwards, Lucas is approached by soldiers
to join the military to fight insurgents, spy on friends who might be
insurgents against their own criollo class.

Major Conflict: Lucas receives word that his father died by
suicide. He’s cut off from funds and must return home.

Ending: At home, his father is denied funeral or burial since
committed major sin. Lucas informed he inherits nothing but must seek his
own fortune. He’s being sent to El Pueblo in the northern frontier to
childless uncle, the Mayor. Lucas sees this as a good thing to escape
conscription, and since family now ostracized by church, there is no opportunity to
advance.

Father Diego

Beginning: Father Diego’s graduation from seminary (where
Father Serra trained) is celebrated
with his family in the city of <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Queretaro</st1:place></st1:city>
— the birthplace of the revolution. </div><div>

Turning Point: Not interested in serving in small family parish
or the Franciscans who head to missions in northern frontiers. Wants to
continue in social justice tradition of Father <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Hidalgo</st1:place></st1:state>.
Liberate his own upper Criollo class and low caste Indians.

Midpoint: Intends to travel to <st1:city w:st=”on”>Mexico
City</st1:city> to see imprisoned Josefa Ortiz, secret organizer of
revolution from <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Spain</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
Saw her once while student when she
was held in convent locally. His father is very alarmed! Wants no conflict
with their trade in northern <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Talks father into
travelling with him…or father talks Diego into coming home. Father meets
in secret with bishop to secure a safe future for Diego.

Turning Point 2: At home in parish church, local priest hiding
Indian insurgents. Wants Diego’s help to enlist his father. Instead, his father trades them off (for thier “protection”)

Major Conflict: Diego discovers his father is involved in
African slave trade into US and with Comanche — delicate balance keeping
Comanche from raiding their province and must give them Indian slaves at
least to keep them at bay. Moral conflict for Diego.

Ending: Diego told he must leave home, but not to <st1:city w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:place></st1:city>. Father
has arranged for escorted passage to <st1:state w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> province out of harm’s way.
His position as a secular priest is to pray for each family member each
day — the church receives the large bequest that he will administer as
long as goes away for awhile. Stay out of the war along the way! Scout out
good trading options with the west coast. Get a look at the fabled Spanish
galleons.

Joseph

Beginning: Joseph walks happily along the wharf of ships, turning
in at a dry-docked ship in mid build. In <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:state w:st=”on”>Connecticut</st1:state></st1:place>? Visits with younger
brother still under apprenticeship. Sees old master (good or bad?)
Parents? Poor? </div><div>

Turning Point: Approached by merchant to sign up for new
whaling adventure in south Pacific as needs second carpenter onboard–
whale oil getting scarce in Atlantic. Need to try new area. Joseph turns
him down — merchants cut corners, not going away for two years. I’ve put
in more than my time, mate. Landlubber now.

Midpoint: Joseph courts young lady at the finishing
school in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:city></st1:place>
(how long to travel there?) Set a date? How did they meet? Daughter of
master? Forbidden love?

Turning Point 2: In pub with brother to celebrate what? Lots of
folks around. Asked again if will join crew of young captain, eager for
adventure.

Major Conflict: Joseph awakes on deck of the whaling ship,
chained to the mast. Furious! Cheer up mate, he’s told. Will earn tatoos
for crossing the equator and going around the Horn, and finding lots of
native women or Argentinean women.

Ending: Joseph turns away from the view of <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:city></st1:place> in the rear, accepting his fate
— faces forward to the sea. He knows the eastern coastline and will jump
ship later to return.

Thomas

Beginning: Thomas joins in the revelry in the streets of <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place>, packed with
sailors. The first anniversary of <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Independence</st1:place></st1:city>
is celebrated! The first Spanish country to break free, inspired by the <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>US</st1:country-region></st1:place>
revolutionary war and War of 1812 that many of these mercenaries fought
in. The anniversary to be marked by sailing two warships in opposite
directions to destroy Spanish targets. The captains introduced. Payment is
equal shares of booty. Huzzah! </div>

Turning Point: Thomas in bar hears locals disparaging Bouchard
and treatment of sailors left in leaky ship after war in <st1:place w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Peru</st1:country-region></st1:place>. They won’t sail with
him. (Share any Thomas’s story working with LaFitte to defeat British but
later spying on Mexican patriots while running supplies to Galveston for
Spanish made Thomas angry and left to support rebels in Argentina)?

Midpoint: Thomas signs up with Captain Bouchard since
he heads to <st1:place w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Africa</st1:place> and the Spanish spice
route. Doesn’t want to go around Horn. Mostly international crew – French,
British, American who fought each other

Turning Point 2: Thomas asks more about Bouchard? Unrest aboard
the ship among the crew as multiple delays in getting going. The financier
of the ship wants to come along. The captains two brother-in-law come
aboard — bossy without knowing anything.

Major Conflict: A huge fight breaks out before they have even
left. Some barricade themselves in quarters. Marines called in. One sailor
tries to knife Bouchard and is shot. Thomas stays out of the melee and is
rewarded — not assigned to rigging?

Ending: Thomas considers jumping into the harbor to swim back
to shore. Ship weighs anchor, heading east to <st1:place w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Africa</st1:place>.
(Timeline issue: Depart July 9, 1817 – winter – a year to day of
independence, and a year preparing for voyage — so maybe need to see
Thomas getting to Argentina first? left Lafitte earlier in year but would
that be good sailing time? Or in 1816?).

<div>

</div>

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Pilot Structure

What I learned doing this assignment is that the pilot probably needs to be 90 minutes – two hours to get 5 stories established. I also realized that the entire first season is really Act 1, for all the characters aren’t together yet. The two pirates are menacingly poised to enter <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>, which will be the second act adventure for all of season two. I am playing with the structure at large.

Teaser:

Essence: A woman shorn of hair and one eyebrow, is made to
stand in front of church as example of sex out of wedlock though she is a widow.
Priest says women must remain “Christ’s bride” for entire life.
The man is in the stocks. The couple is sent to opposite ends of the
province. <div>

Turning Point: The grinding mill breaks and the man who was
sent off was the only carpenter to fix it. Now women in El Pueblo must use
the old metates to pound corn by hand for hours. They are angry the priest subjects them to this rather than bringing the carpenter back.

<div><div>

Act 1:

Essence: Antonia Moreno wants to have choice who she’ll marry
or not — but resistance makes her less desirable to the moneyed older men
seeking a docile teenage wife. The thought of having an older man touch
her is repulsive. </div><div>

Turning Point: Antonia rejects a “younger” suitor, a 38-year-old
widowed ranch supervisor with young children. Grandma is furious. Antonia runs over to her pregnant aunt’s house,
where the husband is grievously ill (former military – comment about war
in <st1:country-region w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>?
how’s that playing out in El Pueblo?).

Act 2:

Essence: Lucas Polanco is a university student in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:place></st1:city> in 2nd
year law. He intends to work in
government or politics. He attends a trial of insurgents, borrowing the
prosecutor’s speech as his own in class to support his loyalist position. </div><div>

Turning Point/Midpoint: Receives word that his father has been
injured, but Lucas decides to stay in the capital rather than going home
because of the girl he likes. After dance class, Lucas is approached to
join military and spy on friends.

Act 3:

Essence: Father Diego Perez is newly-ordained and his family
proudly attend the ceremony. Father Diego doesn’t want to serve in his
family’s remote parish. He wants to serve where the action is, supporting
the peasant revolution as other priests have done, though they were shot
for it. </div><div>

Turning Point: Before heading home from the seminary for a
respite, Father Diego visits the political couple in jail who started the
revolution. He admires the courage of the wife. Diego’s father is
horrified. He asks for a secret meeting with the bishop to make arrangements
to protect Diego.

Act 4:

Essence: Thomas Fisher, a fugitive slave, is getting as far
away from the <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>United
States</st1:country-region></st1:place> as possible. In <st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos
Aires</st1:city>, celebrating its first anniversary of <st1:city w:st=”on”>Independence</st1:city>
from <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Spain</st1:country-region>, Thomas
signs onto a warship heading to <st1:place w:st=”on”>Africa</st1:place>.
The goal: destroy the Spanish spice trade. The locals refuse to sail for the
war hero Captain Bouchard, but Thomas signs up to get to <st1:place w:st=”on”>Africa</st1:place>! </div><div>

Turning Point: A fight breaks out among the new deckhands
before they’ve even left the harbor. Captain Bouchard shoots two sailors
dead and whips the others as his form of leadership. Thomas has an awful
inkling he made a mistake and looks to get off the ship in vain.

Act 5:

Essence: Joseph Chapman is done with the dangerous miseries of
going to sea, ready to settle down with his sweetheart, and build ships in
dry dock as a master carpenter. He wants a routine dawn-to-dusk job. </div>

Turning Point: After he’s “pressed aboard” a whaling
ship heading to the south Pacific against his will, Joseph accepts his
circumstance. It’s better to stay afloat and live to return. Besides, he
knows the eastern seaboard well from his years as an apprentice. He’ll
find a place to jump ship and get back home. With <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:place></st1:city> in the distance, he turns his
face forward to the open sea.

</div></div>

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Pilot as Inciting Incident

What I learned doing this assignment is that I have a challenging task to condense each character’s story into 10 minute segments. If I can’t make this work, then I can take a less constrictive approach as LOST did — which was the show I chose to analyze. Each character’s story can ebb and flow suing their model. I’ll see how this goes for awhile because I wanted to see each character in every show.

Antonia

Intriguing Concept: Antonia wants to have choice who she’ll marry — by resisting she’s making herself less desirable to the moneyed older men seeking a docile teenage wife

Act 1: Woman shorn of hair made to stand in front of church as example of sex out of wedlock though she is a widow; women told must remain “Christ’s bride” for entire life

Midpoint: Grandma gives younger cousin (age 15) Antonia’s older
suitor she rejected <div>

Lock In: Antonia sent to aunt’s house as nanny when uncle dies

Lucas

Intriguing Concept: A student who intends to work in government, Lucas supports killing insurgents, keeping power with the aristocrats who look down on his own class

Act 1: Lucas attends trial of insurgents; argues for loyalist
position in university class
Midpoint: At dance class, Lucas approached to join military and
spy on friends </div><div>

Lock In: Father commits suicide – Lucas sent home

Father Diego

Intriguing Concept: Newly-ordained Father Diego plans to serve in his family’s parish while supporting the peasant revolution as other priests have done, though they were shot for it

Act 1: After his ordination, Father Diego visits insurgent
leaders in jail, alarming his dad
Midpoint: Diego’s dad meets with bishop behind closed doors to
set up huge bequest </div><div>

Lock In: At home, Diego uncovers dad’s slave trade — dad tells
Diego he must leave home

Joseph

Intriguing Concept: Joseph is done with the miseries of going to sea, ready to settle down with his sweetheart and build ships in dry dock.

Act 1: <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:place></st1:city>
shipyard — offered position on whaler, but it will be two years to find new
source of whale oil. Joseph rejects the entire plan </div><div>

Midpoint: Drinking at the pub is the last thing Joseph
remembers

Lock In: The creaky whaler has <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:city></st1:place> in its rearview when Joseph wakes
up, chained to the masthead. They head to sperm whale seas in the south
Pacific

Thomas

Intriguing Concept: Thomas is getting as far from the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> as possible

Act 1: Revelry in <st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city>
celebrating first anniversary of <st1:city w:st=”on”>Independence</st1:city>
from <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>!
Two huge warships will sail in opposite directions around the globe
carrying their flag, destroying all things Spanish. Every sailor gets a
portion of the plunder. The locals won’t sail for Captain Bouchard. Thomas
chooses Bouchard heading east towards <st1:place w:st=”on”>Africa</st1:place>,
the homeland of this fugitive slave. He intends to stay there. </div>

Midpoint: A fight breaks out among the new deckhands before
they’ve set sail; Captain Bouchard shoots two sailors dead and whips the
others.

Lock In: The ship weighs anchor — what kind of man will Thomas
serve under for a year? If he could swim, he’d jump into the harbor now
and join the other ship heading west into the Pacific

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Pilot Big Picture Components

I already know that I’ve chosen a challenging structure following five characters simultaneously, but I’m interested to see if this can be done. It would be ideal if I could create dovetailed incidents for each one that are held together by the theme (the impossible goal). That remains to be figured out…

SERIES INFO:

World: Spanish Colonial Los Angeles (nicknamed El Pueblo)
obsessed with blood purity and skin color castes that predetermine fate. <div>

Main mystery: Why does American Joseph Chapman leave paradise in the <st1:place w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:placetype w:st=”on”>kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Hawai’i</st1:placename></st1:place> to join the pirate attack
on Spanish California?

Impossible Goal: Each character wants to control their own
destiny.

Main Conflict: The village allows two combative foreign enemies
to jump ship and live among them against all rules of their king, the
Inquisition, and common sense.

Second Mystery: Why does Joseph Chapman jump ship in Spanish
California where he is considered a dangerous enemy with no escape, and
most likely death by firing squad?

Season 1 Arc: Father Diego Perez and Lucas Polanco land in El Pueblo, fueling Antonia’s belief that she has more choice over her future
than the limited outlook of her caste. The pirates land at the Russian fort just north of California territory.

Season 1 Protagonist Internal Journey: Antonia steps out from
her good-girl image to make decisions on her own that could endanger her prospects as a desirable marriage commodity.

PILOT INFO:

Episode 1. Destiny

A man does not make his destiny: he accepts it or denies it…

Pilot Conflicts: In El Pueblo, Antonia Moreno de la Cruz
rejects a good marriage prospect, which infuriates her grandmother who
brokered it. Each of the “outside” men begins his journey
towards unlikely El Pueblo without realizing it. </div>

Main Characters Introduced: Heroine living in Los Angeles,
Antonia Moreno de la Cruz 17; Lucas Polanco 19, pro-royalist student at
the University of Mexico City; Father Diego Perez 28, pro-revolution
Catholic priest from northeastern Mexico; Joseph Chapman 25, Yankee ship’s
carpenter in Boston; Thomas Fisher, 23, fugitive slave from South Carolina turned mercenary sailor in
Buenos Aires.

Inciting Incidents of Season 1: <u style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Antonia rejects arranged marriage;
<u style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Father Diego visits insurgency instigators in jail after his
ordination in eastern Mexico; <u style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Lucas argues for the loyalist
position at university in Mexico City;
<u style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Joseph pressed aboard a whaling ship in Boston; <u style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Thomas
in Argentina signs up for world voyage against the Spanish with a
notorious sea captain.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Visually Appealing Bible

I learned that it took a very long time hunting for the historical paintings or photos that tell my story. It wasn’t possible to get a coherent look for my five main characters. I just could not find anything historical that fit my central male character as I envisioned him. I realize this is just to give a brief overview to the reader, but the look is a key component. This isn’t a western or pioneer story in the tradition we’ve seen over and over — it’s Spanish colonial California, not 1890s Mexican or cowboy. There’s a big difference in the clothing that we haven’t seen yet in a period piece about the west. The visual portion of the bible needs to convey that. I just couldn’t quite pull it together all the way through accurately, but it’s close.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Assignment 9 Intrigue

I continue to work on this. A summary of the first season episodes went fine, but could still be tighter in a couple of spots. Season two is good. But season three-five, nothing much. I always thought of this as a limited series because the action is up front.

[Tracy Cheney]

Mod 2 Lesson 11 The Edited Pitch Bible

I learned that it’s taken me over a week to work on this. Since my series deals with the beginning of racial profiling in colonial times, I felt I should add a new section that outlines the specific racial categories of the era. I don’t know if this adds too much bulk, but I think the reader needs it for context. Otherwise, reading certain descriptions doesn’t have as much impact. It also helped me put my characters on the hierarchy to see how they would be allowed to interact with each other.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Episodes Titles

I liked the idea of coming up with catchy titles, but that will come with more inspiration. Then I wanted to see if I could tell the story through quotes about my central theme — I made good progress on that front. I am weaving the journeys of the four outside men on thier way to El Pueblo with the daily life of the heroine Antonia, who lives in the village. Coming up with an episode title that is appropriate for what is happening to each character will give me focus when it comes to writing the pages.

SEASON ONE – Storm Clouds Brewing

1. Destiny

A man does not make his destiny: he accepts it or denies it…

2. Pursuit of Happiness

Sometimes you’re in the middle of your destiny before you know it’s even begun…

3. Servitude

What is the point of having free will if one can’t occasionally spit in the eye of destiny?

4. Options Imagined

I don’t want to be fated; I want to choose…

5. Ties That Bind

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how…

6. Purgatory

Fate is the result of giving into one’s wounds and heartaches…

7. On a Tether

I will not wait to be rescued by a woodsman or a hunter…

8. Master of Fate

The unwilling, destiny drags them…

9. Double Deals

Actions are the seed of fate…

10. On Edge

‘Tis no sin to cheat the devil…

11. Liberation

Repentance is but want of power to sin…

12. Ruination

There is no such thing as accident; it is fate misnamed…

SEASON TWO Under Attack

SEASON THREE Truth or Consequences

SEASON FOUR Danger Within

SEASON FIVE This Future Is Not What We Want

[Tracy Cheney]

Module 2 Lesson 6 Show Summary

Tracy El Pueblo

What I learned doing this assignment is it was harder than I thought! I’m not sure this summary does what it’s supposed to, but I expect to get better at this.

Antonia Moreno de la Cruz wiley negotiates her predicament as a teenage marriage commodity in the colonial <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placetype w:st=”on”>village</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Los Angeles/El Pueblo</st1:placename></st1:place>. She lives in a predominantly male frontier. In 1818, choices in this isolated Spanish province are determined by strict castes of skin color. Antonia is a mixed-race girl, born of a new people dubbed the Californios.

Despite her grandmother being a marriage broker, Antonia manages to escape unions with old widowed ranchers or soldiers she despises. They want a virginal young second wife. Antonia yearns for the impossible — desire. And then in one pivotal year, the impossible happens! Four virile young men, sailing from different corners of the world, end up in El Pueblo.

Two of the men are of the Spanish empire, escaping opposite sides of the war for independence raging across <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The young Catholic priest, with a hidden Jewish heritage, supports the insurgency. The elegant, but penniless clerk, is a criollo royalist. The other two strangers, dangerous American pirates, destroy the colonists’ years of backbreaking labor before they are captured — the only time <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> is attacked by pirates! All four men upend the teen’s prospects and outlook. But Antonia is willing to break the rules most especially for the blond, blue-eyed, foul-mouthed white Yankee, Joseph Chapman.

This series is based on the true story of the first illegal immigrants in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>, American pirates. One black. One white. What happened when the brown Spanish villagers allowed these enemy outsiders to stay?

[Tracy Cheney]

Module 2 Day 5

Tracy El Pueblo Episode Descriptions

What I learned doing this assignment is to keep planning and refining. I have five leads and it will be fun to spend time crafting these better. For this exercise, I’m just following the storyline of the young heroine in El Pueblo. I really like the suggestion to build from cliffhanger to cliffhanger, so need to improve these, too.

Following Antonia’s story line:

Episode 1: A widow woman publicly punished in church for having sex outside of marriage and sent away from El Pueblo. Antonia complains to old priest of this treatment since she has been married and not a virgin. Antonia’s told women must be pure as Christ’s bride for entire life. Antonia conflicted about her position as a marriage commodity. She tells priest she’d rather run away to convent than marry a rich old man. She then rejects a “young” widower 20 years her senior that Grandma picked out. Grandma angry as it’s best offer she’s had in a younger suitor. Antonia runs to her Aunt Gertrudis’s house, where her husband is suffering from a horrible mysterious illness.

Episode 2: Antonia becomes nanny to aunt’s children when her uncle dies. Neither priest nor shaman could save him, which scares the family. Aunt expecting a child soon. Antonia objects to having to run household, but then realizes she is not under Grandma’s eagle eye. She meets girlfriends going to river to fetch water. They encounter a soldier, escape from him. Agree not tell parents as would be locked away until they got married. Antonia hides a knife in her hatband to defend her virginity and unexpected freedom.

Episode 3: Antonia and women forced to grind corn in metates when mill breaks. Only person with skill to fix it was lover of woman sent away – he is in jail at fort hours to the south. Antonia complains she can’t watch children, do farm chores, and pound corn by hand. Grandma agrees she can hire help from the native village nearby. In mourning, Aunt Gertrudis wants to go to church to bless unborn child. This means making the journey on Saturday with the procession of 300 to Mission San Gabriel. Once there, Grandma challenged to a tortilla bake-off by her rival, the cook to the priests. In the crowd, Antonia loses sight of the new servant. She herself slips off with the majordomo’s son since no one is watching over her.

Episode 4: Aunt Gertrudis delivers surprise twins, so Antonia is busy! Grandma announces match for Antonia’s younger cousin (age 15) to suitor Antonia rejected. She will be moving to an immense ranch outside of town. Antonia hates handwork, but vows to embroider a pretty wedding dress with Grandma. Antonia’s new servant secretly helps Indians escape the mission out to the desert tribes, using Antonia’s discarded work dresses.

Episode 5: The wedding day of Antonia’s younger cousin. Traditional wedding activities are celebrated before the marriage, during it, and afterwards. Antonia’s family hosts the wedding luncheon. The servant girl brings in unknown natives to help serve who Antonia has never seen before. Antonia is sad when the buggy leaves with her dearest cousin. But she is glad it’s not her sitting beside the middle-aged man worrying about the wedding night to come.

Episode 6: Father Diego arrives new to El Pueblo. He is warmly welcomed by Antonia’s family, except for Grandma. She is suspicious of a handsome black-robed priest — quite unlike the brown-robed tough Franciscan friars assigned to the province. Grandma informs Father Diego that it has been her petitioning for an assistant priest and proper church building since she arrived at age 19 to build the village from scratch. She wants proper religious instruction for the children. Out of Grandma’s earshot later, Antonia begs the new priest to teach school. She pours out her hopes and dreams. She promises to come to confession at the mission to see him, as she has a lot to confess.

Episode 7: Antonia meets girlfriends early in morning to go for water. They tease her for being smitten by new priest — Antonia encourages them to come to class. Her friend <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Petra</st1:city></st1:place> says no point now, as a marriage has been arranged. Antonia urges her to fight it, but instead confronted by friends over Antonia’s dismissive attitude toward marriage prospects. Caste and status come between them for first time. After they leave, Antonia observes stirrings at native village Yangna. She sees her servant girl exchanging bundles. The lone soldier comes upon her; she has forgotten her knife. Father Diego is riding into El Pueblo. Antonia escapes possible harm.

Episode 8: When Lucas arrives new to El Pueblo, Antonia immediately goes to check him out at his uncle’s house. She is relieved at his looks, a young man of good breeding. He wears latest fashion from <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:city></st1:place>. He thinks all the small children with Antonia are hers. Oh no, she is not married or being courted. Antonia has organized a lunch and fandango in his honor. She asks if Lucas can dance. Oh, he can’t wait to show these country bumpkins!

Episode 9: Under the watchful eyes of Father Diego and the old women, Lucas conducts a dance class. Antonia is his partner. The young people want to be better than their friends from <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>San Diego</st1:city></st1:place>, but act terribly. The vaqueros watch from a distance, jealous of the girls throwing themselves at Lucas. They taunt Lucas to come with them on a bear hunt just with lariats. Antonia forces him to go for his honor, but Lucas falls off the spirited horse they give him.

Episode 10: Antonia and townspeople shocked to receive orders from commander at <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Santa Barbara</st1:city></st1:place> fort to prepare for pirate attack. The warning comes from fur trade ship captain they all knew of. He spent last year at <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Santa Barbara</st1:city></st1:place> trying to get his ship back after black market goods stolen. Men go through military drills. Women stock provisions. Only military have weapons and ammo. Antonia practices throwing her knife until she can hit a target.

Episode 11: It has been a month since El Pueblo received word that an armed attack was coming from the <st1:place w:st=”on”>Sandwich Islands</st1:place>. They drilled and put together an evacuation plan. But nothing happened, so normal life resumed. Antonia and villagers enjoy fiesta day at mission. Lucas comes back with the vaqueros and a live grizzly. A bear and bull fight held in front of the church. Antonia loves the blood and gore. She is proud of Lucas. The soldiers drag in runaway Indians from the mission, putting them in the stocks for all to see. Father Diego protests. But Christian Indians instruct him it’s for their good, especially on a saint’s day. Antonia sees a strip of cloth from her old dress used as a headband on one man. Servant girl doesn’t return.

Episode 12: Antonia’s former best friend <st1:city w:st=”on”>Petra</st1:city> raped by soldier; <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Petra</st1:city></st1:place> botched abortion attempt and is ruined. Father Diego prevents girl’s father from killing her, for <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Petra</st1:city></st1:place> has brought dishonor to their family. Antonia begs to comfort her but denied. The soldier is on the lam, a threat to all females. Young vaqueros want to hunt him down. Lucas acts like he does, too, but would rather give orders. The older men urge young hotheads to set up a protective watch around the village.

END SEASON ONE

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Episode List Rough Draft

What I learned doing this assignment is that I have a lot of the answers, but not all of them. I need time to think! I’m inspired to try a different format of following each of the five characters’ journeys before they meet — they will arrive at different times in El Pueblo until they all converge during a catastrophy.

1 Question A: What is the Beginning of the season and the End of the season?

Antonia’s place in the village is established and each young man begins his journey toward El Pueblo. It ends with the pirates landing at the Russian fort just north of <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> territory.

Question B: What possible cliffhanger could be in that last scene of the season, thus demanding that we watch the next season?

The pirates learn that <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:state w:st=”on”>California</st1:state></st1:place>
is undefended as the Spanish have no ships along the entire coast and is
ripe for the taking.<div>

2. What is the mystery?

How do two Americans from very different backgrounds and states end up together in enemy territory?

3. Question A: Where does the Lead Character journey begin and end for this season?

Antonia lectured on woman’s need to stay pure all her life; her best friend’s life is ruined by a rape that brings dishonor on the family.

Question B: Think about
where this character goes in future seasons.

Antonia believes she can have choice about her life and behave outside acceptable norms due to increased interaction with these four men from beyond.

4. Layers

Question A: What layers have you already discovered in your BW Framework?

Layers of relationships in the village of 600 as more people move in, but the original folks are still there having to adjust; layers of professional, personal, and ethnic relationships aboard ship; layers of major conflicting religious beliefs; layers of hardship and adaptation to life on the rough frontier; layers of Spanish caste identity that determines fate…or does it?

5. Make a list of the Major Story Lines.

Theme: Does anyone besides the king have free choice to determine their lives?

Question A: What main
characters have story lines that affect everyone else?

Antonia interacts with these four men, which changes her outlook, behavior, and choices.

Joseph becomes a model citizen helping construct major projects — is it a cover or does he intend to stay?

Thomas finds freedom deep in the empire as a horse whisperer, but worries as more Americans appear on the shore.

Question B: What are the
most important story lines of this show? </div>

Why does the village allow two illegal, despised Americans to
live with them in spite of the consequences? How does this new mixed-race
people create a life for themselves at the fringe of the empire?

<div>

3. Sequence the episode ideas into 8 to 13 episodes.

Episode 1: Antonia rejects marriage brokered by Grandmother in <st1:city w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:city>; Father Diego visits Insurgency supporters in jail in eastern <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region>; Lucas argues for the Royalist position at university in <st1:city w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:city>; Joseph pressed aboard a whaling ship in <st1:city w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:city>; Thomas signs up for world voyage against the Spanish in <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region>.

Episode 2:
Antonia becomes nanny to aunt’s children; Father Diego discovers his
family is in the illegal slave trade; Lucas dodges draft into military
service in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:place></st1:city>;
Joseph kept in brig during first shore excursion for crew; Thomas’ crew
frees slave ship. </div>

<div>

Episode 3:
Antonia and women forced to grind corn in metates when mill breaks; Father
Diego stuck waiting for ship to <st1:state w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>
due to insurgent blockade. Lucas refuses to go home when father injured; Joseph
harpoons whale; Thomas fights fire aboard ship.

Episode 4: Antonia unwittingly hires maid helping Indians escape the mission; Father Diego wrestles with anger towards father, faith on board to CA capital at <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Monterey</st1:place></st1:city>; Lucas’ father dies, pulled from university; Joseph whipped for refusing to sail on a Friday to the Horn; Thomas fights Malayan pirates.

Episode 5:
Antonia’s younger cousin married to man Antonia rejected; Father Diego
interrogated by church leaders as highly suspicious, assigned to El Pueblo.
Lucas’ ship to <st1:state w:st=”on”>California</st1:state> blown off
course for weeks by winter storms, nearly all dead when arrive at <st1:city w:st=”on”>Monterey</st1:city>; Joseph’s ship hijacked by Argentine mutineers
headed to <st1:state w:st=”on”>Hawaii</st1:state>; Thomas blockades <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Manila</st1:place></st1:city>, ambushed in
harbor. </div><div>

Episode 6:
Antonia begs the new priest to teach school; Father Diego is welcomed warmly
by Antonia’s family and the mission friars. Lucas recovers in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Monterey</st1:place></st1:city>, discovers
local government smuggles to survive. Joseph and the hijacker taken to meet
King Kamehameha at his Hawaiian island kingdom; Thomas’ crew loses only
Spanish merchant ship they’ve captured — head to <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Hawaii</st1:place></st1:state> to recoup from disastrous
voyage.

Episode 7:
Antonia confronted by friends over dismissive attitude toward marriage
prospects; Father Diego tours vast San Gabriel plantation, sickened by Indians’
brutal treatment; Lucas stars as dance master in Monterey, partners with CA
girls of different skin tones first time; Joseph repairs hijacked
Argentine ship purchased by King; Thomas arrives in Hawaii exhausted.

Episode 8:
Antonia prepares welcome lunch for Mayor’s nephew sight unseen; Father
Diego despairs over daily mission life regulating workers by bells; Lucas’
pack train arrives El Pueblo during Santa Ana winds, sets up clerk’s desk
in uncles’ house; Joseph signs on with Argentine crew with nine days to repair
their reclaimed ship to sail; Thomas’ Captain negotiates with Hawaiian
King for first official recognition of Argentina as sovereign nation.

Episode 9:
Antonia adores studies with the priest; Father Diego discovers a shocking
letter in his trunk; Lucas conducts dance class for young people to
compete in upcoming festivities; Joseph
and Thomas in <st1:city w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Honolulu</st1:city> recruiting 360 crew for
attack on <st1:state w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>

Episode 10: Antonia and town prepare for
pirate attack; Father Diego hears plans for a plaza church from Antonia’s
grandmother; Lucas taunted by young men to drill for the calvary; Joseph and
Thomas sail around <st1:place w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Sandwich Islands</st1:place> capturing
all Argentine mutineers until meet resistance from King of Kauai.

Episode
11: Antonia and village enjoy fiesta day at mission; Father Diego broken
by revelation of Jewish family heritage; Lucas taken on bear hunt; Joseph
and Thomas in military confrontation with King of Kauai over #1 deserter who
kidnapped Joseph to <st1:state w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Hawaii</st1:place></st1:state>.

Episode
12: Antonia’s best friend raped by soldier; Father Diego prevents girl’s father
from killing her; Lucas surveys uncle’s extensive ranch land; Joseph and
Thomas with two ships bristling with pirates arrive at the Russian fort
above San Francisco.

END SEASON ONE

</div>

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Five Seasons

What I learned doing this assignment is this was too much for me to think about in just two days. I originally conceived of this as a limited series, not spanning five years. In expanding out my concept, I can think out about three years at this point– just don’t have the ideas yet for the full five. I need to stay grounded in somewhat historical accuracy, so can’t bound off into implausible imaginative scenarios.

1. Brainstorm to find the arc of the entire journey, from Season One to Five.

The first two illegal immigrants to El Pueblo/<st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city> — a black American and a white American — arrive as destructive enemies in Season One and are slowly integrated into Spanish life by Season Five.

2. Brainstorm the Stair Step version.

Season 1: Two young men from the outside, Spanish citizens,
arrive in El Pueblo during the Insurgency in <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>, altering Antonia’s
life for the good she believes <div>

Season 2: Two young American men arrive violently from the
outside, altering Antonia’s life drastically

Season 3: Life is out of kilter in the village when they allow
the Americans to hide

Season 4: The church is built showing the good faith of the
Americans

Season 5: The two Spanish men return home to <st1:place w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>, but the Americans
remain permanently.

<div>

3. For each season, brainstorm the Building Blocks.

Season 1: (False Alarm)

A. High Concept or major hook of the season.

Two young Spanish men affected by the war for <st1:city w:st=”on”>Independence</st1:city> raging in <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region> are sent by their families to the <st1:state w:st=”on”>northern territory</st1:state> <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>, impacting the life choices of a provincial girl

B. Big Picture Arc/Journey:

The village goes from sleepy “nothing every happens here” to high alert preparation for an attack while Antonia enjoys the attention of both outsider men

C. Main Conflict:

The village gets word that a pirate attack is being amassed in <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Hawai’i</st1:place></st1:state>

D. Mystery/Open Loops:

Nothing seems to come of the false alarm and life goes back to normal, except for Antonia whose life gets more complicated with the options these two men offer of a different life

E. Cliffhanger:

The pirates are poised to take out the <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placetype w:st=”on”>kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Kaua’i</st1:placename></st1:place> to get one of their AWOL men back

Season 2: (Five Weeks Later)

A. High Concept or major hook of the season.

Two young American sailors are brought together on a mercenary voyage crossing the Pacific to enemy Spanish lands

B. Big Picture Arc/Journey:

The Californios defend themselves, though scared to pieces

C. Main Conflict:

The attack turns out to be real and the territory swings into action though outnumbered and outgunned. Reports come to El Pueblo begging for reinforcements, leaving Antonia, the women, old men, and Lucas behind.

D. Mystery/Open Loops:

The pirates are stunned to face any resistance, let alone find all valuables stripped from the capital.

E. Cliffhanger:

The pirates successfully take the capital of <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>, looting it bare for six days while Joseph repairs the damaged ship hit by cannon. Then they burn it to the ground as they head south towards the pueblo of <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>.

Season 3: (The Enemy Within)

A. High Concept or major hook of the season.

Two American pirates are captured — what to do with them when they ask to jump ship?

B. Big Picture Arc/Journey:

The Californios defeat the pirates on land by expert riding and roping

C. Main Conflict:

After the pirates burn down the hacienda where American/English ships stop in secret to unload contraband for the black market, some are captured in a battle on the beach

D. Mystery/Open Loops:

Who are these strange Americans and why do they ask to stay? Why did the military officer not execute them but instead brought them to El Pueblo?

E. Cliffhanger:

Will the village keep the two violent pirates they’ve captured, kill them, or send them back to their captain?

Season 4: (American Prisoner)

A. High Concept or major hook of the season.

El Pueblo allows the two American pirates to hide with them after Lucas holds a trial to get rid of them

B. Big Picture Arc/Journey:

It’s rough going as neighbor is set against neighbor regarding the decision to defy the fearsome Captain Bouchard seeking the return of his men. An alliance is formed by Antonia, Father Diego, Antonia’s grandmother and other leaders to vouch for the Americans.

C. Main Conflict:

The Americans are kept in the jail, allowed out only for work detail. The villagers value Joseph’s woodworking expertise, but his temper is so bad the native workers from the mission run away from him.

D. Mystery/Open Loops:

Will the villagers be reported, or the local government look the other way? Are the Americans biding their time to kill citizens once they let their guard down?

E. Cliffhanger:

After Captain Bouchard left the area, he went further south and burned <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>San Juan Capistrano</st1:place></st1:city>. A couple more pirates ran off. One is lurking in the dark near El Pueblo’s plaza spying on the families.

Season 5: (Not Everyone Gets What She Wants)

A. High Concept or major hook of the season.

The plaza church gets built, assuring Joseph’s place in the community.

B. Big Picture Arc/Journey:

Joseph and Thomas integrate into village society as they provide value.

C. Main Conflict:

Joseph wants to court the daughter of the hacienda owner the pirates burned to the ground. He asks his benefactor to broker the request. Antonia is married to an older man with children.

D. Mystery/Open Loops:

A few more foreign sailors live in the area. The priests insist they must covert to Catholicism, but leave Joseph alone. He’s known as Blond Joe.

E. Cliffhanger:

Don’t know yet… Father Diego and Lucas return to their families in <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>.

4. Write a description of each season and give us the 5 seasons.

Season 1: (False Alarm)

We begin the story of how two American sailors became the first illegal immigrants in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city> in 1818.

Each week shows a portion of the journey of four very different men on their way to El Pueblo. They will converge at this most unlikely spot on the globe from faraway places to impact the life of one girl and her inconsequential village.

Antonia’s life in El Pueblo shows what it’s like for colonial Spanish women living under a strict caste system that determines fate in a male-dominated society on the frontier.

In contrast,

Joseph begins his journey in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:city></st1:place> aboard a whaling ship heading to the south Pacific.

Thomas begins his journey in <st1:city w:st=”on”>Buenos Aires</st1:city> heading east towards <st1:place w:st=”on”>Africa</st1:place>.

Lucas begins his journey from <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:city></st1:place> heading north to the port at San Blas.

Father Diego begins his journey west from the <st1:city w:st=”on”>Rio Grande</st1:city> on the <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:state w:st=”on”>Texas</st1:state></st1:place> border to the port at San Blas.

Lucas is lost at sea for three weeks before arriving in <st1:state w:st=”on”>California</st1:state>’s capital <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Monterey</st1:place></st1:city> nearly dead, must recover before making his way to his uncle in El Pueblo.

Father Diego reports for a rigorous religious interview in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Monterey</st1:place></st1:city> before being assigned to a parish with no church in El Pueblo.

Joseph and Thomas meet in the <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Hawai’i</st1:placename> and serve on the same ship in the same cabin bound for a secret attack on <st1:state w:st=”on”>California</st1:state>’s capital <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Monterey</st1:place></st1:city>.

But the Californios have been warned that the pirates are on their way by a friendly sea captain who saw what they were up to in <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Hawai’i</st1:place></st1:state>, thus giving the province time to prepare a defense!

Season 2: (Five Weeks Later)

The departure from the <st1:place w:st=”on”>Sandwich Islands</st1:place> is delayed five weeks because Captain Bouchard insists on tracking down every last sailor who mutinied and ran off into the jungles and islands to avoid service. After a confrontation with the king of Kauai’i for their #1 fugitive, the two Argentine ships head east to the North American continent. They practice military maneuvers while at sea, turning into a formidable fighting force. They refuel at the Russian fort above <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>San Francisco</st1:city></st1:place> to assess the Spanish situation, plotting the attack. There is no coast guard or ship in the entire territory! This will be a piece of cake.

What the mercenaries don’t know is that the Californios are preparing at the same time. Once the black ships are seen crossing into Spanish waters, sentinels stationed every two miles report on them. The capital defends itself as best it can with antiquated weapons, blowing a hole in Joseph’s ship. Five hundred pirates take over every inch of the town for six days while the ship is repaired. The governor, military, and townspeople can only watch from afar. As the pirates depart the stripped capital, they set it ablaze, turning south towards rich haciendas, <st1:city w:st=”on”>Santa Barbara</st1:city>, and <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:city></st1:place>.

In El Pueblo, a rider comes for the military men and young vaqueros eager to ride north. Antonia, Lucas, the women, and old men prepare defenses, cart valuable belongings out of town to be buried. At the mission the friars and Father Diego marshal the native men to make bows and arrows. When a rider brings word that the capital has been destroyed and the pirates are heading south, panic sets in.

Season 3: (The Enemy Within)

At the hacienda that has traded happily for black market goods with American and English ships and gotten very rich as a result, the Argentines learn the owner is a staunch Royalist. Since they are pro-liberation from <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Spain</st1:country-region>, Captain Bouchard takes offense that the ranchero actually charged higher prices to those supporting the Insurgent efforts in <st1:place w:st=”on”>South America</st1:place>. They burn the place to the ground.

But the men from El Pueblo wait in the trees on horseback for an opportunity to attack on the beach. They gallop off with several prisoners to the garrison at <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Santa Barbara</st1:place></st1:city>, including Joseph and Thomas. Captain Bouchard anchors at the fort, demanding his men back. Some are returned in exchange for the town drunk captured at <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Monterey</st1:place></st1:city>. The military officer from El Pueblo intervenes, sparing the two Americans from the firing squad. He takes Joseph on his own horse back to El Pueblo, leaving Thomas in chains to be rowed down later.

Meanwhile in El Pueblo, a rider informs them of the stand-off at <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Santa Barbara</st1:place></st1:city>. They are in utter shock when their own respected citizen shows up later with a blond American pirate riding double on his horse. He’s brought the infidel into their midst, endangering them all!

Season 4: (American Prisoner)

Lucas sees Joseph as a rival for Antonia’s affection and pushes to send all the captured pirates back to Captain Bouchard. He sets up a trial using eyewitness soldiers from the brutal destruction of <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Monterey</st1:place></st1:city> and the hacienda. Lucas is dismayed that some of the town side against him, including Antonia and Father Diego. In the end, they win to keep the Americans because these men can build a church and ship for the neglected village — two huge desires for years. To get what they want, these villagers are willing to make a deal with the devil. Tension is high among people who have known each other for years. At what time will the heavy hand of the Spanish government or Inquisition come for them?

The Americans are put into jail for safekeeping, let out for work details under guards during the day. Joseph is so abusive to the native workers that they run away into the hills. That sends the military men out to roughly round them up and they are whipped. After jumping ship to expected freedom, Joseph loses his. Thomas knows how to fit in better, and since he speaks Spanish, is given the job tending the horses of the military on trial basis — and allowed the freedom to sleep in the stables. He thwarts an attack from natives from the desert stealing the horses under his care, cementing his value. He has no intention of leaving <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>.

A runaway pirate from Bouchard’s attack on <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>San Juan Capistrano</st1:place></st1:city> hides in the area around El Pueblo, watching them.

Season 5: (Not Everyone Gets What She Wants)

The church in the plaza is built. It will still be standing and used 200 years in the future. A small community of former sailors of different nationalities live in the area working for ranchers. The one with the highest status is Joseph, known as Blond Joe. He’s the only one still allowed to resist conversion to Catholicism.

Joseph has been given a house, plants the first vineyard in El Pueblo. He asks the military officer who saved them to arrange his marriage to the daughter of the hacienda owner whose place he’d burned down during the pirate barrage. Thomas works for their benefactor, in charge of his vast horse herds — even though he’d participated in the slaughter of the hacienda’s finest horse in the pirate attack. Father Diego and Lucas return to their families in <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>, no longer in exile.

Antonia is married to an older man, but of more humble circumstances than if she’d married when she was younger and so resistant. She has stepchildren as old as she, and a small child. What of her hopes and dreams that these four outside men stirred in her at age 17, when she thought she could control her destiny? Who’s to say that this girl of El Pueblo hasn’t?

</div></div>

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo Main Characters

What I learned doing this assignment is a different way to write a character description. The intro of traits in the beginning flows into the main action and ends with what happens as a result of taking the action.

Antonia Moreno de la Cruz

Heroine, represents Spanish life in the village El Pueblo

Start: A provincial girl in a Spanish society with far more men than women, organized by strict castes, brown-skinned Antonia chaffs at her choice in life — marriage and children. Because of her grandmother’s status as one of the last original founders of <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>, Antonia has older ranchers and retired soldiers courting her. Who her grandmother will choose scares Antonia to distraction.

Middle: During the year 1818, the four men who come from different corners of the world to El Pueblo upend Antonia’s life. But it’s the captured white American pirate that makes infatuated Antonia throw all rules out the window — including the young clerk from <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:place></st1:city> who she was considering, but never loved.

End: Antonia has made her interest clear, even persuading her grandmother about the possibility of a union with Joseph. They’ll have to fend off other girls who think the same thing. Grandma weighs all marriage options carefully for financial gain, but has always cared about improving the family’s caste. She’s lied on the census, claiming a lighter color each time. Antonia works this angle even though she knows nothing about this strange enemy in their midst. She’s determined to get him, or run away to a convent.

Thomas Fisher

One of four outsider men who disrupts Antonia’s life

A black American sailor, represents the sin of slavery; first illegal immigrant in LA

Start: The runaway slave only found freedom aboard ship, so had hired out to support revolutionary causes like many unemployed mercenaries. Thomas doesn’t hate <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>, just sails for those who do. He’s just gone around the world flying the Argentine flag.

Middle: Thomas decides to jump ship in this Spanish village when he sees no white Americans. He is in a brown and black world of acceptance, far away from slave traders, and ready to settle down. He may be without means in a hostile world, but Thomas speaks the language and knows how to fit in anywhere to survive. He courts Antonia as a way to get closer to her grandmother, but she’s only interested in lighter complexions or money.

End: The ranchers are reluctant to teach horsemanship to the native men for fear they’ll take off. Aside from being a fierce American warrior, Thomas finds his horse skills in demand. The military officer who saved him and Joseph from the firing squad gets Thomas released from jail to manage his herds.

Joseph Chapman

One of four outsider men who disrupts Antonia’s life – her love interest

A white American sailor, represents US enterprise; first illegal immigrant in LA

Start: The American enemy, and instant star — is the first blonde, blue-eyed, foul-mouthed, white English speaker the villagers have ever seen. A master carpenter, his is the only woodworking talent for 1500 miles in a poor province praying for a church structure…and here comes the answer from the sea!

Middle: Joseph is only interested in Antonia if it builds an alliance to the powers-that-be who argued for keeping him, which she is a part of — but only has the power of her grandmother. He has been saved from harm several times by being kept in jail. An anomaly among the Spanish men since he is physically strong and hardworking, Baptist Joseph breeds their suspicion. But he didn’t jump ship to languish as a prisoner without freedom.

End: To get out of jail during the day, Joseph has to prove himself trustworthy by finishing big projects which languished for years until he can find a way to get home to <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:city></st1:place>. Under the watchful eye of the priests who are intent on converting him, then marrying him to a local girl, there doesn’t seem much chance to escape — unless he goes to the mountains to cut timber. Or be at the coast when a black market ship secretly unloads goods. Or build his own ship, which not only can he do, but could sail far away if given the opportunity.

Lucas Polanco

One of four outsider men who disrupts Antonia’s life – he expected to be betrothed to Antonia

A Criolla, he represents the resentful class born in <st1:place w:st=”on”>New Spain</st1:place> but frozen out of best positions

Start: The refined young man is unfortunately the 14th child, and his oldest brother inherited everything when their father committed suicide. He is pulled from the university and cosmopolitan world of <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:city></st1:place>. As a loyalist, he opposes the revolutionary battles waging across the county. But fearful of military conscription, he heads north to clerk for his childless uncle, the mayor of dusty <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>.

Middle: Penniless, Lucas stands little chance of getting a village woman of high status, but brown-skinned Antonia is a good compromise because of her grandmother’s standing. He’s taught her to dance as a way to stay at the center of attention socially. Grandma is pushing on his uncle to make Lucas his heir, then he’d be worthy of Antonia.

End: Lucas opposes keeping the Americans, as he saw the Inquisition operate in the capital towards infidels. But more than that, Lucas knows Joseph is a rival for Antonia’s affection and is messing up his plans. He can’t return to his family in <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:place></st1:city> until he’s proven himself in a big way.

Father Diego Perez

One of four outsider men who disrupts Antonia’s life

A wealthy priest, he represents the hidden Jewish converts that populated New Spain

Start: The most handsome and wealthiest man, and most unavailable, Diego was forced into the priesthood and then exile to <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:city></st1:place> by his father. He hides a 400 year-old family secret, their Jewish heritage. He supports the Insurgents, a very unpopular position in conservative pro-Royalist El Pueblo. He is happy tutoring Antonia, encouraging her curiosity about art and science, and learning to read. He is cautious about fending off her marriage prospects, as he will do what the family requests.

Middle: Diego is not a welcome presence to the Franciscan friars at the mission, but the villagers have been asking for a priest of their own for years. The friars are too busy minding the native workers to get to El Pueblo often. Diego stands for everything their vows cannot abide. But they are Catholic brothers and will tolerate this guest until he leaves on the supply ship in 1819.

End: Diego forms an alliance with the village powers-that-be to keep the American carpenter from being sent back to the ship. Diego oversees the beginning of construction of the church in the plaza by Joseph. He’s curious about these Baptists, having never met a Protestant. He studies the Bible to figure out Jewish customs, trying to reconcile the secret rituals practiced without comment in his own family. He wrestles with doctrine taught in Catholic seminary and what his study now reveals. He yearns for home on the <st1:city w:st=”on”>Rio Grande</st1:city>, the comfort of wealth, and the return of the supply ship from <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. He would never have stepped off the one which brought him if he’d known they only came once a year.

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy El Pueblo’s Intriguing Concept and World

What I learned doing this assignment is that with the five main young adults entwined as a love “pentagon,” it’s been hard to choose the lead to write about. They all work in that capacity. The young woman is of the village, whose life is disrupted when four very different men from the corners of the earth arrive in one fateful year.

1. My Concept

A.
Thomas Fisher, an escaped slave from <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:state w:st=”on”>South Carolina</st1:state></st1:place>… <div>

B.
… sailing for a harsh Argentine mercenary…

C.
… attacks the <st1:place w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:state w:st=”on”>California</st1:state></st1:place>
province of the Spanish empire and is taken prisoner…

D.
… where he begs to jump ship with his Yankee bunkmate because he feels
safe from Americans.

<div>

2. The World of this show

Unique
Sub-World: <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>
in 1818 is a remote frontier village in the most western and ignored
colony of the Spanish empire. </div>

Previously
unexplored: It’s not the Mexican stereotype or TV western; <st1:state w:st=”on”>California</st1:state> is a Catholic outpost isolated by royal
decree, hostile to enemy Protestant ships coming from the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
on the east coast.

The
unknown: Will the heavy hammer of the Spanish
government or Inquisition come down on the village for harboring foreign
criminals; will the captured Americans be
killed by furious villagers in an unguarded moment?

The
unseen: Will the pirate captain try to
retrieve his men? Will there be more attacks from other countries since <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> has no sea protection?

Unheard
of Dangers: In a male-dominated rape culture with only two priests and
many retired soldiers with few restraints, young women are few and in high demand for marriage. <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Spain</st1:country-region> is beginning to lose its grip on the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Americas</st1:country-region> — will revolution come to <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>?

Reason
to explore it: The early hard-scrabble years of Los Angeles can be
traced in some remnant sites around the city today, where a new mixed race of people were created, the Californios.

</div>

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy has completed the BW Framework!

I felt like I was repeating some components over and over, but never got to include others. I’m interested to see how this all plays out. BTW, this was not a simple cut and paste project to complete in 2 days. Working for hours, could barely finish in 3. And then, here’s the new assignment already in my email! This is a challenging pace, for sure. Not a complaint, just getting my brain up to speed, and uncramping my fingers from typing!

[Tracy Cheney]

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Tracy</st1:city></st1:place> Some Irony in LOST

What I learned doing this assignment is to actively play up irony. I certainly didn’t know how to do that before this exercise for my own story.

One place irony shows up in this episode of Lost, and the series, is with the character John Locke. He is named for the 17th century philosopher and friend of Isaac Newton; I had to look this up to learn more. But the show’s character is not depicted as a clone of the man of reason, but instead, a man of mysticism. The man of science is depicted by Dr. Jack Shepherd. Another instance of irony with Lost’s John Locke is his predilection for being an authoritarian figure. That’s the opposite of his famous namesake. This episode focuses on Locke’s insistence to his new apprentice Boone that the other survivors just couldn’t handle knowing about the hatch they found, so lures Boone into a conspiracy of silence — especially from his sister.

Locke portrays himself as caring about the welfare of the others as their selfless hunter until he doesn’t want to — then lies about the availability of boar. Locke is paired opposite the more innocent Boone Carlyle — 25 years younger. Boone has also been an eager helper whenever he could be after the crash, as he too has a need to prove himself to be bigger than he was.

We get a big shock when it turns out Boone’s stepsister Shannon used him numerous times to get some of his wealth by pretending to have abusive boyfriends to pay off, turned it against him, then slept with him! While Boone is very hurt, angry and confused, Locke is clear — maybe even moving towards the evil side. Locke somehow uses a drug or hypnotism to induce Boone to have such a powerful hallucination that the young man finally gets rid of his need to rescue <st1:place w:st=”on”>Shannon</st1:place> and the claws that she had sunk deep into him. Now he belongs to Locke.

Creating Irony in EL <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>PUEBLO</st1:place></st1:city>

1 The elegant Catholic priest Father Diego Perez likes being rich from a respected trading family. He does not take a vow of poverty. The only order operating in <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> territory is the Franciscans, known for their penniless, fanatical devotion, rough robes, and odd hairstyle.

2 Father Perez discovers his family has Sephardic Jewish roots, having escaped from <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Spain</st1:country-region></st1:place> when Jews were expelled by Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492. They have been long-settled along the <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:placename w:st=”on”>Rio Grande</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>River</st1:placetype></st1:place> in Commancheria/Tejas territory. They have adapted to formidable Commanche behavior. Perez doesn’t understand the pacifist Tongva Indians enslaved in El Pueblo.

3 The priest realizes how these Jewish families escaped persecution from the Inquisition was to sacrifice a child to become a nun or priest in the Catholic faith and pretend to be Catholics. He is that shield for his family but is wavering on the priesthood.

4 Father Perez, like all priests, is light-skinned. He benefits from high-caste status, though secretly not pure-bred Spanish. While preaching a traditionalist anti-Semitic doctrine, he cannot reveal he has Jewish ancestry as that could result in his entire family being killed by the Inquisition in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>.

5 The priest wants to explore the Bible for his Jewish traditions, rereading it in a new light. Jews do not worship Jesus as God.

6 Perez supports the Insurgents in the war of <st1:city w:st=”on”>Independence</st1:city> in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>. He is stranded in El Pueblo, which is pro-Royalist.

7 Because Lucas is Creole (Spanish born in the <st1:place w:st=”on”>New World</st1:place>) he cannot attain high political status which he craves. Only those born in <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region> are assigned the best government positions. He will find that to be true even in the rural territories.

8 Lucas prides himself being the best dancer in town, knowing the most fashionable dances from <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:city></st1:place> society. The locals are fascinated with the sailor jigs performed by Joseph and Thomas to make them laugh.

9 Lucas craves a position of honor, but his father committed suicide which led to his family being shamed. It is not his sin, but being devout, Lucas carries it like the devil on his own back. He came to succeed in El Pueblo without telling his uncle how his brother died.

10 Lucas is light-skinned, which he prizes. He benefits from a high-caste status, but is not pure-bred Spanish. He is ignorant that in his family ancestry there was an African slave brought to the sugar cane industry.

11 Lucas deigned to court Antonia, even though dark-skinned. But then she dumps Lucas for the white American.

12 Lucas is staunchly pro-Royalist and defends his position in his university class. He left <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:city></st1:place> to avoid being drafted into the military to fight against the Insurgents.

13 Joseph believes he’ll be able to catch a passing American ship when it lands with illegal contraband. He is put in jail 28 miles from the coast, his boots taken away, and he doesn’t know how to ride a horse.

14 Joseph is not interested in getting married, but is betrothed to the daughter of the owner of the hacienda the pirates burned to the ground.

15 Protestant Joseph and Thomas would never consider conversion to an “idolatrous” religion. To stay in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:state w:st=”on”>California</st1:state></st1:place> requires Catholic baptism.

16 Antonia believes she can choose who she will marry, and it will not be a man older than 10 years her senior.

17 Antonia’s Plan B is to run away to a convent in <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> to be a free woman; that privilege does not extend to mixed-race females from the provincial frontiers — only Spanish-born, high caste or rich women can become nuns.

18 Thomas is a runaway slave. He believes he is as far away from the <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>United States</st1:country-region></st1:place> as possible to get caught. He can’t stop looking over his shoulder.

19 Many of the mixed race villagers come from brutal slave heritages back in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>. They came to <st1:state w:st=”on”>California</st1:state> for free land, supply ships from <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>, a military protective presence. They think nothing of enslaving the local Indians to provide their free labor force.

20 The pirates were lured by the hope of capturing a famed Spanish treasure ship crossing the Pacific for 250 years. The ships stopped three years earlier due to the civil war raging across <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:country-region>; the Insurgents wouldn’t let them dock and unload the loot– turned around back to <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Manila</st1:place></st1:city>.

[Tracy Cheney]

<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Tracy</st1:city></st1:place> LOST Plot and Character Layers

What I learned doing this assignment is that LOST is designed like an onion, pulling away mysterious layers during every episode. It often explores the layers of the main characters, but also features the secondary characters as well. They were all involved in numerous plots in their unhappy lives before the crash. This device keeps the interest high in them, as only snatches are revealed. I’m far enough along in Season 1 now I’m trying to keep them straight in my head — so that gets me thinking about the characters. I’m never sure what the next reveal will bring as it’s always a twisty surprise! I don’t sense a pattern of why certain characters have their past revealed and others do not. It was early on in episode 3 that Jin and Sun’s relationship in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Korea</st1:country-region></st1:place> was uncovered, but then they’ve dropped out of much of the story line since. We don’t know anything about others except as we know them on the island.

Plot Layers: On the surface, it’s about surviving a plane crash.

Layer 1: Mystery – Where are they, what happened, when will they be rescued, what are the scary things on the island, how much danger are they in?

Layer 2: Hidden agenda – Locke encounters the unseen monster but tells no one except to reassure everyone the island is good and it’s transformed him.

Layer 3: Conspiracy developing: Locke conspires with Boone to work in secret to uncover their mysterious find in the jungle.

Layer 4: Questions needing answers – Sayid kidnapped and tortured by French survivor of previous expedition, confirming they are not alone; enlists <st1:place w:st=”on”>Shannon</st1:place> to translate French words on maps and diagrams that Sayid grabbed when he escaped.

Layer 5: Betrayal: Why is there no search party looking for kidnapped, pregnant Claire? It’s like she’s forgotten by everyone except Charlie. Why was she taken so violently that Charlie was hung?

Character Layer: On the surface, people have various professions and previous lives that defined them before the crash.

Layer 1: Character intrigue: Jack’s moral compass and practiced patience is tested by both Kate and Sawyer. He is not as fully aware of their backgrounds as the viewers are. He can’t quite pull away from Kate, as there isn’t another woman among the survivors his age or with the same amount of pluck and intelligence.

Layer 2: Hidden character histories – Bad-boy Sawyer certainly holds interest not only because of his smirky attitude, but because he calls out both Jack and Kate for covering up who they are, even as he does the same. Everyone is still trying to maintain their facades, revealing as little as possible on the surface.

Layer 3: Secret identity – confirmed to viewers that Kate had a violent criminal past revealed during flashbacks, finding the metal suitcase in the pond, and death of the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>US</st1:country-region> <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Marshall</st1:place></st1:city> on island.

Layer 4: Hidden relationship – why is the developing new relationship between his sister Shannon and Sayid making brother Boone jealous, when he is always calling her out for being shallow, lazy, and worthless?

Layer 5: Unshaken hope and faith: Charlie has found a comforting figure in Rose, who doesn’t waver in her faith that her husband is still alive. She is one who believes they will be rescued.

EL PUEBLO

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Plot Surface: two Baptist Americans ask to hide in Catholic Los Angeles, the first illegal aliens in a Spanish frontier town (If there hadn’t been a battle, and Joseph and Thomas hadn’t been captured, would they have just sailed on past <st1:state w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> with Bouchard?)

Layer 1: Major shift – Don Lugo, town patriarch and soldier who
led the capture of the Americans, does a 360 and spares their lives;
carries Joseph on his own horse back to El Pueblo . <div>

Layer 2: Hidden Agenda – Father Diego values Joseph’s skills
before others recognize it — could build them a church and ship of their
own (and get him back to <st1:country-region w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>
or get rich trading).

<div>

Layer 3: Hidden Agenda – The Franciscan priests at the mission
relish idea of making a Catholic convert out of Joseph and keeping him
busy on projects they need.

Layer 4: Sabotage – Some families decide they will
“court” Joseph for their daughters, challenging Antonia’s
interest.

Layer 5: Open loop answers needed – Why did Joseph join this
expedition in the first place? Did he want the adventure? Paid well? He
could have taken off at any point from <st1:state w:st=”on”>Hawaii</st1:state>
to get home via American or English ships heading to <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>China</st1:country-region> with furs from the <st1:place w:st=”on”>Pacific
Northwest</st1:place>, or selling Sandalwood from the island kingdom, or
go with Russians on their frozen explorations. No need to head east toward
North American except for the heck of it. So then, why desert a position he’d contracted for?

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Character Surface: <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Thomas is the quiet sidekick of Joseph

Layer 1: Secret identity – Thomas is a professional mercenary </div>

Layer 2: Hidden relationship – Thomas signed up to sail with
Commodore Bouchard (who hates the Spanish) in Argentina when the locals
would not because of Bouchard’s awful reputation; sailed around the world
with him, surviving pirate attacks and horrible conditions; was promoted
by Bouchard, which was very unusual for a black sailor. He is not afraid
of his commanding officer.

Layer 3: Hidden character history – Thomas was once a teen soldier
fighting against the British in Battle of New Orleans under Jean Lafitte
(who also hated the Spanish) and lived with his band in Louisiana until
fear of Americans drove him to a life at sea.

Layer 4: Hidden character history – When Thomas was a young teenager,
he and his brother killed an overseer on the boat they were to ferry
cotton with and escaped slavery.

Layer 5: Secret identity – Thomas doesn’t reveal he knows
Spanish fluently to the Spanish so he can find out what’s going on.

Layer 6: Hidden relationships and conspiracies – Joseph and
Thomas don’t divulge they are bunkmates/friends; later, Joseph finds out
he knew the American ship captain who secretly sailed ahead to warn the
Californians, as Joseph had repaired his ship in <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Hawaii</st1:place></st1:state>. Why didn’t the captain take along a valuable fellow American ship carpenter?

Layer 7: Hidden plan – Joseph and Thomas must have something up
their sleeves as to why they asked to remain in El Pueblo. Did the American captain confide in Joseph? Joseph was first confined in the jail at Santa Barbara (where the captain had been treated well the year before) when Don Lugo stepped in to stop the firing squad.

<div>

</div></div>

[Tracy Cheney]

<st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Tracy</st1:place></st1:city> LOST Big Picture Open Loops

What I learned doing this assignment is that this is a great tool I hadn’t really considered, but now I realize how well it gets thoughtfully woven into good shows. I’m glad I chose LOST to watch, as it’s full of all these cool tools. The challenge for me, though, is to pay attention to them as I get completely caught up in the show instead!

How did these big open loops play out in this episode and create the need to see future episodes?

The survivors split into two different groups — one a mile into the jungle in the cave with water and those staying on the beach — pregnant Claire gets captured between them when she ran away from Jack.

The moral compass of the group, Jack, in flashback turns in his father for killing a patient while drunk during an operation whom Jack couldn’t save; in the present, Jack refuses to give up looking for Claire and finds Charlie who was hung by the kidnappers and is able to save him.

Charlie from the start calls out the fact that the women overlook him and is determined to have a relationship with Claire — only to fail to protect her from being kidnapped. “They only wanted Claire.”

Locke, who believes in his superior tracking skills, also goes out after Claire with hubris. He ends up getting himself and Boone lost, only to discover a mysterious large metal plate in the jungle.

The antipathy between Sawyer and Sayid could have swung in Sawyer’s favor for retribution when Sayid is injured, but Sawyer has grown enough from his interactions with Kate to leave Sayid unharmed.

EL <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>PUEBLO</st1:place></st1:city> 5-8 Big Picture Open Loops

Will Joseph and Thomas be killed at some point by a citizen, soldier, or jealous Lucas, as other pirates were shot at different times — even when being taken back to the pirate ship. Is there a plot being formed against them?

Knowing how vengeful the ship captain Bouchard is in pursuing his men, will he venture inland to retrieve the pair in El Pueblo? Is anybody safe?

Will Antonia’s grandmother broker a match with a local man for Antonia or will she agree to a scheme to bring Joseph into their sphere? Would she really consider allowing Antonia to pair up with Joseph? Would the priests allow this? Would other families with eligible daughters allow this over them?

How do Joseph and Thomas respond to the new situation they are in as prisoners, not as the free men they had been on the ship as “somebodys.”

Will Joseph and Thomas plot an escape?

What about the soldiers menacing the women and girls? Since a woman’s sexuality must be guarded, how much risk is Antonia taking due to her infatuation with Joseph?

Can Lucas win back Antonia? Does he move on, finding a less desirable partner through dance? Will he inherit his uncle’s land and be set up as landowner, or always be a clerk or working man?

How does Father Perez reconcile himself to his exile until he can leave? How does he relate to the mission and the enslaved Indians under the Franciscans, the religious order he despises?

[Tracy Cheney]

<st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Tracy</st1:place></st1:city> LOST show mysteries – it’s what this entire show is built on, unraveling bit by bit, character by character. I learned through watching LOST that the writers loved a good mystery and used this model very effectively to keep us hooked. They used a mix of reality, the bizarre, and magical elements to keep us wondering.

1. Shocking events

The plane crash – how did it happen, or better yet, why?

Killing a polar bear on this tropical island

An unseen monster kills the pilot

Kate is a convict

Locke is healed of paralysis and need of a wheelchair

Sayid is captured by the woman who sent the SOS 16 years earlier

They are not alone on the island

2. Mysteries revealed over time thus far for the episode featuring Claire:

At this point, finding out Claire was warned by a psychic to protect her unborn child and not give it up for adoption

Why did the psychic give her 6K?

The psychic was so emphatic to make sure Claire got onto the doomed plane

On island, why did a mysterious stranger among the survivors try to kidnap Claire before she woke up and scared him off?

On island, Claire realizes the psychic knew of the plane crash in advance

Was he truly able to see her future, or was the psychic part of this mysterious group somehow?

El Pueblo

1. Shocking Event Mystery

This is where I’ve tried different openings, and am not sure where to begin the pilot. Currently, I start with the Investigation as the villagers decide whether to keep the two Americans or not. The events leading to their capture is told in flashbacks by witnesses. However, I’ve also written a version starting in <st1:state w:st=”on”>Hawaii</st1:state> where the attack on <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state> was organized, and Joseph willingly joined the crew. In that case, the viewers would know Joseph is lying all along when he tells the villagers he was forced aboard. Another place I’ve begun the tale is when the citizens learn the attack is being organized against them from a friendly ship captain who saw what was happening in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Honolulu</st1:city></st1:place> and sailed ahead to warn them. They had a two-month headstart.

This 200-year-old story is based on the lies perpetuated by Joseph and his descendants. But the bigger mystery is why he and Thomas jumped ship in the first place. They never would leave <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>, but died there.

A. Shocking Event: the bombardment and burning of the state
capital <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Monterey</st1:place></st1:city>
by the pirates <div>

B. Secret: The pirate attack was known two months in advance
and the soldiers and citizenry were prepared

C. Investigation: To prevent letting the two Americans stay in
El Pueblo, Lucas conducts a trial.

WWWWW and How:

who: Lucas

what: holds a public trial

where: in the plaza

when: after the faction, including Antonia, who support keeping the Americans, object to seeing them in chains leaving for the coast and the pirate ship

why: Lucas senses a rival in Joseph because Antonia — and the other girls — are drawn to him; he fears his biggest supporter, Antonia’s grandmother, is wavering

how: Lucas brings in eye witnesses to each barbaric act the pirates committed so all the villagers can hear from these Californios they know and trust.

Part Withheld: How – the details of how the Californios were
forewarned and prepared to fight and capture the pirates with primitive
equipment, no ship, and few soldiers

2. Over Time Mystery

A. Cover up: Thomas knows the truth about Joseph, but doesn’t
divulge it. He tells villagers they’d be killed by the captain for
deserting (Commodore Bouchard doesn’t know they have). Joseph and Thomas
claim they didn’t participate voluntarily, as they wrongfully believe they
conducted a surprise attack and there isn’t anyone to claim differently. </div><div>

B. Secret: Joseph and Thomas were bunkmates on the ship — did
they plot to jump ship in advance or was it a spur-of-the-moment decision
in jail. Did Thomas decide first?

C. Reveals: 1) Commodore Bouchard of <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region>
recruits crew in <st1:state w:st=”on”>Hawaii</st1:state> for the attack on
<st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>,
where Joseph signs up as ship’s carpenter. Other ship captains and King
Kamehameha settle their accounts with Joseph for repairs before he weighs
anchor from <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Honolulu</st1:place></st1:city>.
There was no coercion involved with any of the open recruitment of sailors
or officers over the summer. 2) Life aboard ship for 5 weeks crossing to
CA reveals them practicing for the attack with guns and cannons. 3) Joseph
hears from a former fur trader joining Bouchard’s raid that
American and English ships stop to trade on the black market illegally in <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>. Does
Joseph plan to get back to <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:place></st1:city>
that way?

WWWWW and How:

who: Thomas, the runaway slave

what: talks the other captured crew members into lying about what happened to him and Joseph when they are returned to Bouchard’s ship

where: in jail

when: while awaiting a firing squad

why: that’s the million dollar question

how: offers the sailors a reward of his and Joseph’s possessions in their cabin on the ship

Part Withheld: Why, as to their reason for jumping ship. Lying about their relationship with the captain is understandable given that Thomas and Joseph want to stay in El Pueblo. But why Yankee Joseph wants to stay in enemy territory is not revealed, but left to the viewer to decide. I can intersperse different versions of what his early life as an apprentice in the Boston shipyards might have been, a few scenarios as to how he came to be in Hawaii as he spins it differently each time he tells stories during the crossing…sort of like a choose your own explanation that keeps the viewer wondering as to what is the truth.

</div>

[Tracy Cheney]

<st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Tracy</st1:place></st1:city> Assignment 7 – Show Empathy/Distress

What I learned doing this assignment is that Empathy/Distress is certainly a driving emotion of the entire premise of LOST. We can relate to the fear of being in a plane crash and experience what it’s like for this group of survivors, and what we might do differently or the same. It made me look at my show to see how it’s grounded in this. It seems like it is in the outline, except that I’m not sure where the show should actually begin to emphasize this more.

In this episdode of LOST, setting up empathy/distress is the big issue as one of the characters faced the most severe moral choice in his past. Sayid, a former Iraqi Republican guard responsible for torture and death, decides to let a woman escape death who may have been a traitor, but was a childhood friend. This contributes to choices he makes in the present.

A. Undeserved misfortune.

Sayid steps into a trap set by Danielle in the jungle, then tortured painfully with electric shocks by her.

B. External Character conflicts.

Sayid runs afoul of Sawyer, whose deliberate taunting behavior pushes Sayid to violent self-justification. Struggling with his past life, Sayid isolates himself from the castaways after he broke his vow not to torture anyone — even though he felt provoked enough by Sawyer to torture him without remorse initially.

C. Plot intruding on life.

Sayid was not expecting to find the woman Danielle who sent the SOS message 16 years previously. She holds him prisoner until he can escape. We have empathy for both when Sayid first requests Danielle to free him but she won’t because she’s so desperate for human companionship. After Sayid frees himself, he urges Danielle to come back to the survivors’ camp, but she either doesn’t believe him or won’t.

D. Moral dilemmas.

In flashback, Sayid was ordered to kill Nadia, but orchestrates her escape. He cannot escape with her for his family will be killed. So he shoots himself to let her escape from prison, torture, and death. We don’t know what happened to him immediately afterwards, except that seven years later Sayid is still haunted wondering if she made it out alive.

E. Forced decisions they’d never make.

Danielle confides that she killed her husband and others — her child too? — when they became sick. She was a scientist who became the ultimate tough warrior survivor.

After he escapes, Sayid is alone in the jungle running fearfully back to the others — quite unlike the coolly confident ex-soldier he has been up to this point.

EL <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>PUEBLO</st1:place></st1:city>

A. Undeserved misfortune.

The arrival of the American pirates wanting to jump ship, particularly Joseph, completely upsets the equilibrium of Lucas’ life. Thomas is subject to beating by the jailor because he is black, while Joseph isn’t touched, but doesn’t retalliate.

B. External Character conflicts.

Joseph will be tested by the jealous young males and soldiers in the village, led by Lucas. But he is stronger than all of them, leading to admiration or hatred. He is shunned by many villagers as the enemy among them. Antonia unexpectedly sets herself up on the opposite side of the BIG decision (to hide the Americans or not) from Lucas and her best friend.

C. Plot intruding on life.

Joseph and Thomas are prisoners, held in the village jail after the rest of the pirates are sent back to the ship. Their presence puts neighbors on edge, except for the military officer who saved Joseph from the firing squad and brought him home to El Pueblo. He proposes a test and work plan after the pirates are put on trial. Will the pair try to escape?

D. Moral dilemmas.

It is a dilemma for the entire town to allow these two foreign bad guys to stay, for it pits the villagers against King Phillip of <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the iron hand of his government, and the far-reach of the Spanish Inquisition. What could be worth this? Why would they consider it, pitting themselves neighbor-against-neighbor? Is Joseph who he says he is – a humble ship’s carpenter forced to sail for the pirate captain — or is he a cutthroat biding his time to kill them? How can Joseph and Thomas be trusted after the destruction their crew caused up the coast before being captured in battle? There’s no proof they can be trusted. What is the real reason they seek refuge in enemy territory?

E. Forced decisions they’d never make.

Antonia breaks all the rules sneaking food to the prisoners in jail at the back window. She is voicing her opinions, not acceptable for a teen girl who must be demure. She is becoming more undesirable for marriage by the day. Her grandmother, who has been working for years to broker a good marriage for Antonia, is suddenly on the fence when she sees potential in a match with the white American. The priest who speaks up for keeping Joseph risks being seen as a renegade, alienating villagers who are Royalists and also terrified. For the military officer who led El Pueblo’s contingent to fight the pirates and captured Joseph, then saved him, this is an incomprehensible decision. To the pirate captain — a famed commodore actually — it is stunning to lose his men and be defeated by backwater bumpkins.

[Tracy Cheney]

<st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Tracy</st1:place></st1:city> Assignment 6 – Character Relationships

I learned that I have to spend more time on the intricacy of the relationship triangles. I already have them in a general sense, but need to bring more more layers to them. I didn’t feel I brought much new information, as I had most of my character relationships established already.

LOST Three relationships Jack develops more in episode 6 are with Sayid, Sawyer, and Shannon

Surface: Sayid – allies when it comes to dealing with <st1:place w:st=”on”>Shannon</st1:place>’s acute attack and Sawyer’s withholding of
her drugs; Sawyer – righteous judge and disbelieves him; Shannon –
doctor/patient <div>

Common Ground: they are all stuck on the island having endured
a horrific crash and survived — coping in individual ways based on
previous experience

<div>

Conflict: Sayid – going against Jack’s oath to do no harm when
he allows Sayid to torture Sawyer; Sawyer – antagonistic just for the sake
of argument, violent toward physically superior and smart Sayid; Shannon –
fighting for breath, not listening

History: all have only met over past 6 days, reacting
differently to the crisis – Jack preserving life in belief most likely
won’t be rescued; Sayid actively trying to establish SOS to get off
island; Sawyer indifferent, unhelpful, selfish; Shannon also unhelpful and
selfish, but expects to be rescued as that’s who she is.

Subtext: Jack and Sawyer in competition for Kate, see her in
different ways;

Relationship Arc: Jack and Sayid building respect for each
other, but the torture goes too far for both men; Sawyer has an
expectation of being shunned, enjoys being the martyr; Shannon is a queen
bee used to wrapping her brother and men around her finger to get what she
wants. She is insufferable until her illness warms her up to be more
pleasant and grateful.

EL <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>PUEBLO</st1:place></st1:city>

The relationship of the four new men in the community to Antonia and how they affect her standing in the village. The year is November 1818:

Antonia and Lucas

Surface: courting couple </div>

Common Ground: dancing — Antonia is an eager student

<div>

Conflict: Lucas has a tendency towards bossiness and jealousy;
he doesn’t have the means to be a serious suitor except that Antonia
doesn’t like the men Grandma picks out

History: Lucas arrived nine months earlier feeling superior to
the rural colonists

Subtext: Neither is infatuated with the other, but don’t see a
lot of choice

Relationship Arc: like the other girls, Antonia was excited to
have a new young man arrive — a cosmopolitan gentleman; she is shown the
most attention because of her status as the granddaughter of an original
settler even though she is of the Zamba caste, and because others are
already spoken for and she is not.

Antonia and Father Diego

Surface: mentor and student
Common Ground: love of art and science — Antonia wants to
learn to read better and borrow the Father’s books, and wishes to paint
like the mission Indians </div><div>

Conflict: Fr. Diego is drawn to Antonia, his most apt pupil,
while having a crisis of faith; she daydreams of him — the unattainable.
Supposed to be learning the catchism only, but tutoring sessions go beyond
that H

History: Fr. Diego arrived on the last summer supply ship 5
months earlier, not welcomed by the frugal Franciscans as he is a rich,
elegant figure.

Subtext: Fr. Diego plans to leave in the summer on the first
ship out as he hates the pro-Royal rough frontier and especially the
mission’s enslavement of the Indians under the Franciscan religious
viewpoint

Relationship Arc: from being an exiled guest priest to caring
for the villagers, who had begged for their own priest rather than
trekking to the mission each Sunday for church; the girls love going to
confession!

Antonia and Thomas

Surface: Like oil and water </div><div>

Common Ground: both understand the stigma of darker skin determining
fate

Conflict: Antonia does not want a black suitor, though her
grandparents are Black/Native American; rebuffs all Thomas’ attempts to be
friendly

History: Thomas is the most ferocious pirate captured in battle,
scaring most villagers who do not want him to stay

Subtext: Thomas wants to grow close to Antonia’s grandmother —
he is looking for a mother figure; Antonia is at odds with her grandmother

Relationship Arc: Antonia rebuffs any offers of friendship,
scared of Thomas though he is the inseparable buddy of Joseph and assists
him skillfully.

Antonia and Joseph

Surface: Rock star and head of the fan club </div>

Common Ground: both Joseph and Antonia want him to stay in El
Pueblo

Conflict: She likes him far more than he likes her

History: Antonia takes sides with the villagers who see
Joseph’s worth as a carpenter and want to keep him after his capture —
and not send him back to the pirate ship

Subtext: She sees a marriage with someone who doesn’t know all
the strictures of the Spanish caste system to elevate her even if it’s a
forbidden foreigner — willing to step-out- of-bounds; he sees a way to
possibly get out of California by aligning with some powers-that-be

Relationship Arc: Antonia is the driver of this relationship of
instant infatuation; Joseph is grateful for her ministrations but also figuring
out who he must curry favor with.

</div>

[Tracy Cheney]

Tracy Cheney: I learned how much care goes into planning each character long before writing episodes. I also saw that I don’t know my characters as well as I thought even though I’ve lived with them for a long time. I can see them in scenes, but I was leaving it more to the actors to bring them to life. But it’s got to be on the page and I don’t know how to do that beyond writing a description (and I took the Subtext class)! They were pretty blank to me in lots of areas as I did this assignment; I assigned emotions to my characters to complete this, but am sure they will change.

LOST

Jack Emotional Profile

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: survive/there won’t be a rescue
B. Motivation: Want / Need: To not be the good human being making decisions/take steps to survive even when others don’t
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask: Not good enough/Skilled neurosurgeon
D. Weaknesses: emotional in a profession that demands detachment
E. Triggers: his father
F. Coping Mechanism: passive to his father’s face

Locke Emotional Profile

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: there won’t be a rescue/there will be a rescue
B. Motivation: Want / Need: to feel manly/This is fun and I want to tackle every hard physical challenge
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask: feeling emasculated/virile survivalist
D. Weaknesses: he is magically living out an experience totally opposite of who he has been
E. Triggers: “don’t tell me what I can’t do!”
F. Coping Mechanism: set out to do it with determination

Sawyer Emotional Profile

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: Get with Kate/Rejection
B. Motivation: Want / Need: to be part of the group/to feel valued and loved
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask: Rage/Could care less
D. Weaknesses: assumes the bad boy facade
E. Triggers: Rejection
F. Coping Mechanism: Mouth off, fight

EL <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>PUEBLO</st1:city></st1:place>

Antonia Moreno de la Cruz

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: she can run off to a nunnery in Mexico to become who she wants to be/she will be married to a churlish man
B. Motivation: Want / Need: someone to partner with/needs to stand up
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask: Rage/Cheerful Good Girl
D. Weaknesses: vociferous for other’s issues, while denying herself
E. Triggers: being forced to do what she doesn’t want to
F. Coping Mechanism: silence, even while doing it

Joseph Chapman

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: Get home to <st1:city w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:city>/killed in <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:city></st1:place>
B. Motivation: Want / Need: Control his destiny/Act like a model citizen to get out of jail
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask: dislikes being in enemy territory and forced to make restitution/be helpful
D. Weaknesses: impatience; attention from women
E. Triggers: not being understood (speaks only English in Spanish province), physically restrained
F. Coping Mechanism: Swearing furiously, show of brute strength

Thomas Fisher

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: He’s found a safe home among people who look like him / he’ll be sent back to the US for a bounty into slavery
B. Motivation: Want / Need: Control his destiny/Act like a model citizen to get out of jail
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask: fear of being seen as a slave and not respected for his position aboard ship/ friendly peacemaker

D. Weaknesses: injustice to those who labor; loves to eat
E. Triggers: being ordered about disrespectfully; the whip
F. Coping Mechanism: Lies, masks true emotions to avoid fights which he’d win

Lucas Polanco

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: He’ll inherit his uncle’s lands/be a nobody with nothing and a native wife rather than Spanish;

B. Motivation: Want / Need: wants to be admired / needs to be the best dancer as has no other manly skills or prowess
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask: fear of failure/ bravado, a cultured gentleman among coarse men
D. Weaknesses: fear of returning to <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico City</st1:place></st1:city> a failure; cowardly; likes to be seen in command
E. Triggers: being laughed at; can’t be the butt of the joke
F. Coping Mechanism: stomp off; self-righteousness; persistence to have his POV acknowledged

Father Diego Perez

A. Situational: Hope / Fear: He’ll be on the only ship out in the spring or summer/He’ll be stuck in El Pueblo
B. Motivation: Want / Need: to be free of the priesthood and speak freely/cover his roots to protect his family
C. Mask: Base Negative Emotion / Public Mask: conflicted about religion/earnest priest
D. Weaknesses: fury with own father who he once adored
E. Triggers: thoughts of home, talk of supporting the King, injustice to the Indians
F. Coping Mechanism: pray harder — but can’t pray as only gets silence; be a soothing balm

[Tracy Cheney]

Assignment 2 <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Tracy</st1:place></st1:city>‘s Two of the Five Engaging Main Characters for <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>El Pueblo

1. The journey of my show:

Other than a king, does anyone in 1818 control their own destiny? In the days of the great sailing ships, what would happen if two American pirates were allowed to hide out in the village of early <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city> against the King of Spain’s decree for the isolated province? The first illegal aliens in <st1:city w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:city> were a white Yankee and an escaped black slave from the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>.

2. The main characters who will sell my show are:

Antonia Moreno de la Cruz, 17

A. Role in the show:

Brown-skinned heroine who wants more than is offered in the Spanish colonial society based on a strict caste code. She opposes the young man who wants to marry her, arguing to keep the captured Americans.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

Antonia is a marriage commodity in a hard-scrabble region short of young women. Antonia is either seen as a love interest or a means to get to her grandmother, the town matriarch. At 17 she is getting old for a desirable match, which is of concern to her grandmother.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

A good-girl, obedient facade belies Antonia’s small subversive tricks to get what she wants sometimes — and who she wants is the blond American pirate. She’s never mentioned her near-rape by a soldier of the garrison, who has violated native girls. He is an ever-present menace to the unmarried females who must protect their virginity as sacrosanct.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

Secretly contacting Joseph the pirate, bringing him food in jail, pining for this enemy, Antonia is willing to take risks that put her in danger — physical and of her reputation.

E. Unpredictable: What will she do next?

By living at her incapacitated aunt’s home caring for the children, Antonia can carve out small moments to do as she pleases away from her grandmother’s eagle eye.

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

Antonia is a young woman who yearns to plot the course of her life, resists being married off to an older man who is repulsive to her, to study with her tutor Father Diego, to leave the village now and then, to talk with a young man without being closely supervised. She must guard her virginity in a rape culture dominated by the Spanish soldiers who violate their faith nearly every day. Antonia considers herself a devout Catholic, but her faith is challenged by an interest in art and science, her contact with the highly intellectual Father Diego, and a new sensation — the breathless desire for the captured white foreigner.

Joseph Chapman, 25

A. Role in the show:

One of the four men who came to the village from outside, Joseph is brought in as a prisoner. He is the first white, blue-eyed, blond American Baptist any of them have seen, who speaks only English. Antonia and the women are captivated.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

Joseph represents the colonies of the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> — the first in the world to overthrow an empire. He sails for <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>Argentina</st1:country-region>; inspired by the example of the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”>US</st1:country-region>, it is the first Spanish colony to win freedom in <st1:place w:st=”on”>South America</st1:place>. His presence means the commerce of these faraway enemies of the crown is at the Spanish frontier’s western-most coast. Joseph is an expert woodworker and shipbuilder, no skill a Spaniard has in <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>.

C. Intrigue: What is secret beneath the surface?

Why does Joseph want to jump ship in El Pueblo — there’s no hope of getting back to the <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> on the Atlantic coast from this enemy territory on the Pacific. Is he married? When did he get to the <st1:placetype w:st=”on”>kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st=”on”>Hawaii</st1:placename> from <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Boston</st1:place></st1:city>, working for King Kamehameha? Why did he leave “paradise” voluntarily to join the attack on Spanish <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>California</st1:place></st1:state>?

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

Why does Joseph lie about his signing up to join the pirate venture, claiming instead to the villagers he was forced to sail on the pirate ship. Was it moral to bombard the capital Monterey, killing soldiers, destroying the town, burning a prominent ranch, killing 100 prize horses?

E. Unpredictable: What will he do next?

Joseph allowed himself to be roped and captured during the battle on the beach, though he is physically strong and could have fought harder. He usually has a vile temper and mouth, yet didn’t resist. His only protest has been to beg not to be sent back to the ship. Is this some kind of ruse? Was he out for a lark and was unlucky to get caught?

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

We want answers about this alien presence who can’t speak Spanish, yet is upsetting the balance of the village — even as some worship him like a rock star because of his skin color or woodworking skills. Why would loyal villagers risk the heavy hammer of the King who has issued orders against contact with foreigners, especially Americans!

[Tracy Cheney]

#1 <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Tracy</st1:place></st1:city>’s Engaging Character from LOST

What I learned: one of the characters I did not have in the original target circle jumped into the lead because his story was so surprising in this episode. Jack, the main character, took time to seek out Rose and disengage from the group during the memorial before burning the plane. But John Locke tuned into the esoteric mystery of the island and experienced healing of body and mind.

A. Role in the show:

John Locke has moved into an active leadership role as a brave hunter and provider of food who faced the monster first.

B. Unique Purpose / Expertise:

Loves playing military games and is expert at using long knives in his transformation acting out from a military persona.

C. Intrigue: What is the secret beneath the surface?

Why is Locke in a wheelchair in his previous life, but reborn in the worst of circumstances? He tells no one about this, nor does he mention his face-to-face with the mysterious monster.

D. Moral Issue: What moral boundaries are they crossing?

Like most everyone, Locke has a secret to keep, but his occurred on the island and is hugely significant. But why doesn’t he share the encounter with the monster with them? Did he receive special power?

E. Unpredictable: What will they do next?

Finding out Locke brought along a set of deadly hunting knives was shocking, and that he could throw so accurately at Sawyer scared everyone. Then he set out determined to kill a dangerous boar singlehandedly!

F. Empathetic: Why do we care?

Milquetoast Locke was treated with such sneering contempt by his young supervisor, the woman in his life was a paid phone listener, being stuck in a wheelchair when he was seeking spiritual renewal and thus denied boarding the bus to the outback adventure was capped by the tour company putting him on the doomed flight to <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>. Now he has received that spiritual gift he sought — physical and mental transformation in the crash — unlike the other survivors who have only suffered loss.

[Tracy Cheney]

<st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Tracy</st1:place></st1:city>‘s Three Circles of Characters for “El Pueblo”

1. Create the three circles of characters for your show.

· A. Main <st1:street w:st=”on”><st1:address w:st=”on”>Characters Circle</st1:address></st1:street>:

1. Antonia de la Cruz, 17, fearful of being married off to an old rancher rather than getting to pick who she loves since young women are a commodity in a region short on females, falls hard for the pirate Joseph over the elegant, educated Lucas who has been courting her.

2. Joseph Chapman, 25, the captured pirate ship’s Yankee carpenter, is the only white-skinned, blue-eyed, blond man in all of Spanish California, a Baptist among Catholics, who confounds the villagers when he begs to stay in this alien world shut off from Americans and Europeans.

3. Father Diego Perez, 28, Antonia’s tutor, a Catholic priest who comes from a wealthy merchant family of clandestine Jews in <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>, immediately sees value in Joe’s shipbuilding skills, and argues for keeping him.

4. Lucas Polanco, 19, love interest of Antonia though he’s the 14th child with no means to support her except his job as clerk for his uncle the Mayor, immediately senses a rival in Joseph the foreigner and leads the faction opposing him staying in El Pueblo.

5. Thomas Fisher, 22, a run-away slave from <st1:state w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>South Carolina</st1:place></st1:state> who found freedom on the sea as a mercenary for any country that paid his salary for the past eight years before being captured in El Pueblo, wants to stay when he sees there are no white Americans in the entire Spanish frontier except his bunkmate Joseph.

· B. Connected Circle:

6. Senora Guadalupe Moreno, 56, is Antonia’s grandmother, one of the last original settlers of El Pueblo and the town’s fierce matriarch, who sees in Joseph an opportunity to elevate the family’s Zamba caste based on skin color.

7. Don Antonio Lugo, 45, the richest rancher in the region who led the battle against the pirates, inexplicably took a liking to Joseph against the Inquisition and Spanish crown’s orders against foreigners and saved him from a firing squad.

8. Gertrudis, 33, Antonia’s recently widowed, pregnant aunt whom Antonia lives with as nanny to her children, which has been her reprieve from her grandmother’s marriage brokering.

9. Antonia’s cousin Elisa, married off at age 15 to a wealthy rancher in the countryside, with stepchildren nearly the same age.

10. Antonia’s best friend <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Petra</st1:place></st1:city>, 17, of lower social status but higher caste.

· <st1:street w:st=”on”><st1:address w:st=”on”>C. Environment Circle</st1:address></st1:street>:

· Maria Josepha, Native American house servant of Senora Moreno; Tomasa Garcia, perpetual nemesis of Senora Moreno; Mayor Polanco, Lucas’ uncle; Commander Hipolito Bouchard, merciless captain of the pirate/privateer ship; Antonia’s girl friends; villagers; Spanish soldiers/officers; free Native Americans; missionized Native American laborers/captives; overseer of the mission; Father Zalvidea, Head of the San Gabriel Mission/Indian plantation.

[Tracy Cheney]

Subject Line: <st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:city w:st=”on”>Tracy</st1:city></st1:place>’s Three Character Circles from LOST:

“What I learned
doing this assignment is that I haven’t decided whose point of view my own
story is being told from… I really want to center on a teenage girl and how four
very different men come into her life and change it, and that of her Spanish
village El Pueblo (colonial <st1:city w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Los
Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>). However, the most logical and exciting P.O.V
is to tell the story from the only foreigner in the group, the American Yankee
who jumps ship asking for refuge.”

A. Main Characters Circle: Jack, Kate, Charlie, Sawyer, Sayid — all interact the most with Jack as group leaders

B. Connected Circle: Hurley, Claire, Locke, Michael/Walt, Sun/Jin, Shannon/Boone

<st1:street w:st=”on”><st1:address w:st=”on”>C. Environment Circle</st1:address></st1:street>: The other survivors, Vincent the Yellow Lab

[Tracy Cheney]

What I learned from the LOST pilot:

Open big with the Big Picture Hook! In this case, it plays on one of our known fears.

Big
Picture Hooks – a) almost every flyer’s biggest fear is experiencing an
airplane crash; b) where in the world has this plane crashed?; c) they are
at least 1000 miles off-course with no contact possible; d) as if the
survivors don’t have enough to worry about to stay alive, something
mysterious and malevolent is stalking them. <div>

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Amazing
and Intriguing Character – Jack is courageous and kind in spite of his
own injuries and fear; he is a take-charge, highly competent, likable, yet
humble servant-leader physician.

Empathy
/ Distress – we can’t help but feel empathetic toward the survivors in
a highly distressed situation; it’s easy to put yourself in their
circumstance since it’s a common nightmare of a scenario. My niece’s plane
crashed in the Andes on her honeymoon in <st1:country-region w:st=”on”><st1:place w:st=”on”>Peru</st1:place></st1:country-region> and lived to tell about
it — which actually occurred during the run of Lost!

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Layers
/ Open Loops – having a huge cast of people of various ages,
ethnicities, nationalities, and established relationships that would be
aboard any plane of strangers, I am interested in getting to know each one
more personally; the cast provides layers/open loops among the people, but
the mystery of the creature is a bigger open loop — is it something like
we’ve seen in King Kong/Godzilla movies? Is this a sci-fy jungle island?
It’s not Gilligan’s <st1:place w:st=”on” style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Island</st1:place>, which was
established clearly within the first 5 minutes. Will they be stranded for
as many seasons?

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>Inviting
Obsession – this first episode ends with a cliffhanger question that
invites you back: “How does something like that happen?” when
viewing the mangled body of the plane’s pilot high in the tree canopy
after being snatched by the unseen creature. I want to find out along with
the characters, too, even though I’m afraid for them.

</div>

[Tracy Cheney]

1. Hello from Tracy Cheney in Los Angeles, where I currently live. But since we’re mentioning Canada, I grew up in the last house on one of the border crossings in Washington State. Before freeways, we were much more oriented to Vancouver, BC than Seattle.

2. I’ve written five scripts, a gardening book, travel articles for an airline magazine, published articles on other topics, produced a public radio show on education.

3. I intend to turn my historical feature into a TV pilot. The topic’s been of high interest to me for 30 years, which I’ve researched pretty thoroughly by now and feel secure about that side of it.

4. After the exhausting teaching experience of the past 18 months, I’ve quit to take a break to write. I was the Elementary Art Teacher of the Year for CA in 2013, so do enjoy my subject matter very much. Just don’t want to teach right now.

[Tracy Cheney]

My name is Tracy Williams Cheney and I agree to the terms of this release form.

[Tracy Cheney]

Hi Rob,

I just happened to end up on the forum today and saw your post. We could exchange scripts if you’d like. I posted mid-January, so didn’t get an exchange at the first of the month either. I’ve been reworking my Bible, pitch, treatment in the meantime.

Tracy

El Pueblo – 2 part pilot