Scene 5 - THE OPPONENT STORY BEAT
Conflict. Convergence. Counter-Plan. PART 2
6 SCENES IN 6 WEEKS
Scene 1 - THE GHOST STORY BEAT
Scene 2 - THE STORY WORLD BEAT
Scene 3 - THE WEAKNESS NEED STORY BEAT
Scene 4 - THE DESIRE LINE STORY BEAT
Scene 5 - THE OPPONENT STORY BEAT: Part 1
Scene 5 - THE OPPONENT STORY BEAT: Part 2
Step 3: Build Conflict through Shared and Opposing Values
While the opponent should clash with the protagonist’s values, it’s more effective if they also share some common ground. By sharing certain values or desires, the protagonist and antagonist become more nuanced and connected. This shared ground can form the basis for conflict that resonates on a deeper level.
For instance, in WHIPLASH (2014), Andrew Neiman and his mentor/opponent Fletcher share an obsession with musical excellence. Fletcher’s brutal, abusive methods constantly push Andrew to question his worth and dedication, testing his resilience. Although they are both driven by similar goals, Fletcher’s unforgiving approach and Andrew’s vulnerability create explosive, psychologically intense confrontations that drive the story.
Step 4: Create a Converging Setting for Direct Conflict
For meaningful conflict, the story must bring the protagonist and opponent together in settings where their interactions can escalate. Without shared scenes, the tension and stakes of the conflict can’t reach their full potential. A confined or shared space forces both parties to adapt, strategize, and ultimately confront each other.
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991) places Clarice and Lecter in the same confined space, adding to the story’s intensity. Although Lecter is in a cell, his intellect and knowledge make him an omnipresent force. This constrained environment allows for cerebral confrontations that test Clarice’s courage and determination, emphasizing the psychological stakes.
Step 5: Plan and Counter-Plan: A Game of Strategy
To execute a masterful plan and counter-plan, the protagonist’s desire to achieve a goal is mirrored by the opponent’s desire to thwart it.
This dynamic creates a game of strategy: each step the protagonist takes toward their goal, the opponent counters with a tactic of their own. The opponent’s strength initially overwhelms the protagonist, leading to a series of failed plans, forcing the protagonist to rethink their approach.
A satisfying example of the protagonist’s plan and the opponent’s counter-plan is when love genre is coupled with the heist genre. Here, the opponent brings a double-layer of pain, as the protagonist gets hit the heart and the mind, as well as getting their life put in serious danger.
The Thomas Crown Affair is a film that braids together the plan and counter-plan on many levels. The 1968 version of the film starring Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen is my favorite because the chess game’s scene. The romantic build up artfully leads to the most satisfying loss of power for McQueen’s character.
The third remake of THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR will be released in 2025 with Michael B.Jordan to direct and star for MGM Amazon Studios.
The 1999 version with pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo, directed by John McTiernan, is the film that influenced me the most when it came to blending the love and hiest genres into the plan and counter-plan.
In the story, the protagonist, Thomas Crown, a billionaire art thief, and the investigator, Catherine Banning, engage in a high-stakes game of strategy that mirrors two lovers at a chess match who want the other to lose more than they each want to win. Crown's goal is to execute a flawless art heist without getting caught, while Banning’s goal is to capture him and get the insurance bounty. Crown carefully orchestrates each step of his plan, always staying one move ahead her. In response, Banning anticipates his tactics, digging deeper into his psychology and leveraging their romantic connection to catch him off-guard.
Each time Crown makes a move—such as planning an elaborate decoy or setting up fake leads—Banning counters with her own insights, tracking his motives and attempting to predict his next step. This plan and counter-plan create a dynamic battle of wits, where each character’s strategy evolves to adapt to the other’s increasing skill of the cat and mouse chase. In turn, the plan and counter-plan intensifies the love affair.
Ultimately, Banning reveals her vulnerability, loss of power, and lack of resilience at love lost. The intricate interplay between their counter-plans heightens the suspense and tension, driving the story toward an unexpected climax, an ending opposite and unlike the 1968 version that ends in betrayal.
How will Jordan’s 2025 version of THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR will end?
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I look forward to reading your stories and connecting in 2024!
Best wishes,
Kelly E. Keough