Saturday, September 5, 2009

You know, I've always sucked at making up names... any suggestions?

Here is an idea I have for a script. It'd probably make a better movie than a play, but I could try making it into both. I picked this idea, because I would like to write things that are uplifting, focus on family values, and allow for people to become the best person he or she can be. I'm getting sick of all the immoral things that are in the media today, so I'm going to do something about it by writing the things I think are good. This is still open for changes, but this is what I have right now.

This is just a basic outline:

Protagonist: A dad (name to come later)
Problem: He is trying to provide for his family (something tells me this isn't the real problem and that I need to rethink what the problem actually is)
Moral Lack: He is will to take any well-paying job no matter the kind of effect that is will have on his family
Desire: He wants his family to love and appreciate him
Inciting Incident: He gets a new job at a really well-known law firm
Rising Action: All of his time is taken up by his job such that his family never gets to see him. He spends his days off golfing or at luncheons with coworkers or potential clients. The communication between him and his family declines the longer he works at the law firm.
Climax: He finally takes a day off to spend with his family. He brings home a bunch of presents for them, because he can afford them now. None of them are around or want to spend any time with him. His youngest son just wants a hug from his dad.
Self-revelation: He realizes that he has abandoned his family, and that they no longer need him to be a part of their lives.
Denouement: He quits working at the well-known law firm, and begins working at a lesser-known law firm so that he can spend more time with his family. He gets to see his kids grow up.

So in story form:

A father is trying his hardest to take care of his family. He gets a new job at a very important and well-known law firm, thinking that this will be the best way for him to take care of his family. In an effort to impress his new boss, he spends a lot of time at his office. The time that he gets to spend with his family quickly diminishes. In a conversation with his boss, despite misgivings about it, he decides to go golfing on his day off with a group of coworkers and a few long time clients. When his wife finds out about this decision, she is frustrated, because their family usually does an activity on Saturdays. He and his wife get into an argument, which makes him more inclined to go on more and more golfing outings. His family begins to learn how to live without him. They learn to never expect their father home. Dinners with the family start to become awkward, because his kids don't know how to talk to him, but they put forth their best effort during these times, so while he notices a difference, he thinks it is because they are just growing up.

His wife confronts him one night, about how he is missing his children grow up, and how they don't know who their father is and he doesn't know who they are. In an attempt to challenge what she says, he decides to come home one Saturday instead of going golfing. He brings expensive gifts for his kids that he thinks they would like. When he arrives home, he oldest is out playing with friends, he second oldest is playing on the computer and doesn't want to be bothered, and his youngest is playing in his room. The dad gives his son the present he got for him. The boy takes it, and then looks up at his dad, and says that all he wants is a hug from him. This nearly breaks the dad's heart, and they hug. They go out and play a game of catch. That evening, he talks to his wife and admits that she was right. They discuss what they will do to make the situation right.

The next time he goes into work, he puts in a two weeks notice, and starts looking for a different, less time consuming job. He finds a job at a different law firm that allows him to have more time with his family. They start doing things together on Saturday's again, and dinners become more interesting, because his children want to tell him everything they did that day.

2 comments:

cpuchip said...

Fogaln is a great name for your story. It could even be the name of the father, or that was what the Captcha recommended me give you. Any way, Great story. I think it should be called, "A poor wayfarring family of grief." Or, "Family again." "Family heros, like you and me!" or, "It's too late to be creative, and now krist's wanting me to go to bed.

cpuchip said...

have you tried Duchfla lately? That's a good name.