Follow Rules or a Pattern with Words as a Creative Experiment - TDMorris
I decided to do something to explore options for the ending of my book, which is also
part of my commitment to write every day for thirty days. My rules applied to each character and had to fit the following criteria:
1. All scenes had to be written in screenplay format.
2. All scenes had to include a sonnet as part of the dialogue.
3. All scenes had to show the nobility of each character.
4. All scenes had to show how each character overcame their fears.
5. All scenes had to show how each character in the book faced their final moments.
6. All scenes had to have a plausible ending for the book.
After a rewrite for each character the best options were presented. I decided the best ending is for the character Death, as an
archetype, was to be released from her assignment as an angel of death, so she can be with the
love of her life. That scene entitled, “Here Say,” is included in the link below.
COTOPAXI – Episode Three – Of Mime Hammer and Here Say
List of characters and their demise:
1. Flight crew: Episode Three, Act Three – Scene 1, A Flyer’s Cross
2. Pilot: Episode Three, Act Three – Scene 1, A Flyer’s Cross
3. Chief Micah Mohr: Episode Three, Act Three – Scene 3, Capture the Flag
4. Netter: Episode Three, Act Three – Scene 4, I Will Not Comply
5. Willie Mohr, Micah’s dad: Episode Three – Scene 7, Here Say
6. Captain DeSade, Death: Episode Three, Act Three – Scene 7, Here Say
COMMENTARY: The first will be last; the last will be first.
A Page of dialogue is shown below. The entire scene can be viewed by following this link: https://1drv.ms/w/s!ApyJsrhXmR_XgQW7w-C_WUafGXIH?e=WCwL94
POINT OF VIEW
(WILLIE watches the broken clouds in the sky. White cotton wood seeds float in the air in
the same direction as WILLIE’s forearms in the grass.)
SOUND (The
pheasant cries again in the meadow.)
VOICE OVER
WILLIE
When clouds pass the skylight’s rim,
The wind is not felt from within,
nor the breeze that whips the
leaves.
It recoils the limbs like the
chorister’s hymn.
Her hand extends in four-four time
at measures end.
. . , turn quick, the sparrow is
caught in the limbs
and the branches bend, intertwine there in.
With faint smile she reaches out, .
. and then again.
Where is the cold air flow upon my
face?
When lost, it comforted me with its
embrace.
The pale pheasant sings a muffled
song near twilight;
and we pray twice when we sing with
the sparrow’s might.
To the King! Sing praises day and
night,
and like the cotton wood seed we
too can take flight.
FADE
TO
CLOSE UP
(A breeze comes.
The meadow grass bows.)
(The spot light expands to show more of DEATH.)
(MEGAN stands and runs.)
MEGAN
(Crying.) Help.
(DeSADE, as DEATH moves to WILLIE’s side and strokes
his hair.)
(WILLIE recovers slightly.)
