[Quick Summary: A teen stumbles upon an interactive military computer, and they play "a game," but it is an early alert program that could lead to WWIII.]
I pondered cardboard characters after I read this in Roger Ebert's review:
Though much of the credit goes to casting actor Dabney Coleman, what did the writers do to help the "fleshing out" on the page?
Let's look at McKittrick's first appearance (scene below) where we are introduced to his "weakness for simple logic."
NOTE:
- The writers set up a room full of experts who are stymied. The experts will voice all the possible explanations aloud of what happened.
- McKittrick is a man of action. He hears the arguments, calls out orders, then goes to interrogate the boy himself. This, by itself, could be a cardboard character.
- However, part of "fleshing out" is how a character reacts to others in the room, to a fork in the road. Here, we see it in his 3rd line of dialogue when he makes a logical conclusion without proof.
- Notice that "fleshing out" is more about reacting to the situation and making decisions, not the amount of dialogue. Here, McKittrick only has a few lines.
INT. BRIEFING ROOM
A harried Paul Richter stands at a blackboard filled with incomprehensible diagrams. Seated are Beringer and Doughterty, Cabot, and Watson, and GEORGE WIGAN, a stern man in civilian clothes. McKittrick enters as Richter winds up a point, takes a seat, exchanges glances with the General.
RICHTER (O.S.): ...Mr. Cabot, it was a one-in-a-million shot -- there was an open line at our Space Division in Sunnyvale - the phone company screwed up.... [This is a logical argument.]
He trails off, relieved to see McKittrick.
CABOT: John, good to see you. John McKittrick, George Wigan. George is with the FBI. They've brought the boy here for questioning.
McKittrick exchanges nervous greetings with Wigan.
McKITTRICK: How'd it happen, Paul?
RICHTER: Well, he penetrated the war game subsystem using a password left in by the original programmer...no on even knew it was in there. [He summarizes the problem.]
WIGAN: The kid claims he was looking for a toy company. [He lays forth a preposterous idea.]
The General snorts.
McKITTRICK: Paul, I want you to find that password and remove it. Put a tiger team on it -- and beef up security around the WOPR. [This is an active decision. He is not passive.]
BERINGER: Beefed up? How 'bout screwed up? We're a little past that.
CABOT (viciously understated): There's some real concern about a break-down in security here, John. [He voices what everyone is worried about, i.e., the stakes.]
McKITTRICK: Well, gentlemen, I think we're being a bit naive here...I mean, you don't really think some high school punk could just pick up the phone and do this on his own, do you? (to Cabot) The kid's working for somebody. He's gotta be. [He makes a logical conclusion, and has made up his mind. Unfortunately, it is not based on evidence since he hasn't met the boy yet.]
WIGAN (going through notes): Well, he does fit the profile perfectly. Intelligent but an underachiever...alienated form his parents..few friends....a classic case for recruitment by the Soviets. [He backs up McKittrick's POV with more simple logic.]
McKITTRICK: I think I'd better talk to the boy. [To McKittrick's credit, he is going to see for himself.]
CABOT: Fine, John. We need some answers.
WATSON: What does this say about the state of our country? (to Wigan) Have you gotten any insight into why a bright boy like this would jeopardize the lives of millions? [He voices what they're all thinking, i.e., more stakes.]
WIGAN: No, sir. The little prick says he does this sort of thing for fun.
CUT TO:
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I like how we see how McKittrick responds, his attitude, his decision making ability here. He has a past and is not just crafted for this scene.
WarGames (1983)(9/7/82, revised final draft)
by Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes
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