Monday, December 9, 2019

TODAY'S NUGGET: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) - How To Make Me Care: Flaws + Arcs = Vulnerability

[Quick Summary: When they must complete a history report by tomorrow, 16 y.o. Bill and Ted receive a mysterious time traveling phone booth to help them.]

This was a most excellent adventure to read.

First, the premise is clear: Bill and Ted must present a report on historical figures.

Second, the twist is fun: They actually time traveled to find the historical figures.

But what I liked most was that these characters had real flaws and arcs that were not overshadowed by the flashier bits.

In the scene below:
- Both Bill and Ted are rather irresponsible kids (flaws).
- But because the historical figures are helpless as babies, Bill and Ted change and step up like good 'dads' (arc)

ex. "EXT. PREHISTORIC MARSH - DAY

...TED: Beethoven.  (beat) Beethoven?

Billy the Kid nudges Beethoven, who looks up and raises his hand. Next to him, Sigmund Freud is opening a Pudding Cup. He is about to lick the lid when --

TED (seeing him): Sigmund Freud! Don't lick the lid of the Pudding Cup!

But Freud does anyhow, and winces.

TED: I told you not to. Everyone! Don't lick the lids!

ANOTHER ANGLE

Genghis Khan is elbowing Abraham Lincoln, trying to make more room for himself.

TED: Genghis Khan! Abe Lincoln! That's funny until someone gets hurt!

But Genghis Khan and Lincoln keep horsing around. So Ted calls over toward --

BILL

who is sitting on top of the phone booth, fiddling with the broken antenna.

TED (O.S.): Bill, they won't stop roughhousing.

Bill, the disgruntled "father," sighs and looks over his shoulder --

BILL: Do I have to come over there and make you guys stop?"

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I find vulnerability hard to write.  Perhaps focusing more on flaws and arcs will get me to the same place.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)(6th draft, 11/24/86 w/revisions)
by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon

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