I have began writing the Episodes Synopsis for Motherhood. I decided to approach this, by looking at a few examples online for structure and length before writing it, but generally knew that I wanted each episode to be about a page of around 500 words. I decided I wanted it to be detailed and descriptive but not overly long and specific. I ensured that I introduced the characters with a simple description to give the audience an insight of who they are and what they would look like. In terms of the story structure, I began by breaking the episodes up into brief outlines so I knew what I wanted to include in each one and make the story flow evenly. After receiving some feedback from Simon during a tutorial, he thought that I had achieved the right balance of detail, not being overly vague but also not overly detailed. He also liked the creativity and style in which I had been writing it which gave me some confidence in the quality and refinement of it.
In terms of things to improve, Simon suggested starting the series with the abduction straight away, as he thought that it took too long getting to that point in the first episode and would make watching it seem too long. He also suggested to elaborate on the location description to really set the scene right at the beginning of the series. Below I have included the outlines of the each episode and the first drafts of the first three episodes of the synopsis.
Outlines/Tag-Lines
Episode 1: In the rural
town of Dunmor, Kentucky, a struggling young Mother (Vivian) is negotiating
long shifts at the local diner to support her twin daughters, determined
to better their lives. Unbeknownst to her, someone has been observing her
hectic lifestyle, with an ominous motive.
Episode 2: Following the sudden
disappearance of a twin, the police are informed and an abduction enquiry is
under way. However, Vivian and Thomas are faced with a disturbing revelation.
Thomas attempts to comfort Vivian but is driven away by her delusions and
outbursts. She repeatedly contacts the Police for more information but they
deny her.
Episode 3: Vivian refuses
to accept the evidence and begins her own search, with little faith from
Thomas. She mistakes a child in the supermarket for her own, but is quickly
escorted away by security. Confiding in Jill and Gregory, she sets up a web
page for missing children enquiries. Meanwhile, a local woman starts to notice
Vivian’s unusual behaviour, voicing it and alienating her further.
Episode 4: We return 6 years
later. Thomas is living with their other daughter Sarah. Vivian has dedicated
her working life to the enquiry, with little hope remaining and a disheveled
house that harshly reflects her struggles. However, she is alarmed when a new
family move to the town, with a daughter who bares a striking resemblance to
her missing child. Vivian begins to befriend the child, who is warned to stay
away from her.
Episode 5: Vivian will do
whatever she can to prove her suspicions correct. She finally obtains a hair
sample and the help of a Police Officer who eventually gives in to her
pleading. DNA results prove that Vivian is in fact the birth mother of the
child.
Episode 6: With
confirmation, comes a drive to act fast! Vivian feels compelled to forcibly
take back her daughter, but is soon met with the repercussions.
Motherhood: Episodes
Synopsis (First Draft)
Episode 1
It’s a hectic Saturday
afternoon in June and the Diner’s busiest time of year. Vivian has been asked
to work late, leaving her feeling flustered, having told her babysitter she
would be home just after 6pm. She is paid for the week and leaves in a hurry,
meeting every traffic light on the way home, making her feel more and more
impatient. Babysitting the twins is Vivian’s neighbour and friend Jill Brown
who is 62 and retired from her job as a nurse. Jill is a lonely woman who lives
with her husband Greg, a hard-working self-employed Gardener. Always wanting to
have children herself, Jill enjoys the challenge of handling Vivian’s 5-year-old
twins – Sarah and Elise, who are bright and independent for their age.
Vivian picks up the
girls from Jill, her profuse attempts of apology are met with Jill’s usual kind
words and calm demeanor. They arrive back at their tiny and cramped chalet
house. Vivian feels exhausted after work but agrees to let the girls watch
their favorite movie – ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with their sparkly red slippers and
dressing gowns on before curling up on the sofa together and falling asleep in
front of the television.
It’s Saturday and
Vivian’s day off. However, she is abruptly woken by the sound of her phone, the
Boss tells her Kate – a flaky and useless co-worker has called in sick and they
need her urgently. Vivian feels panicked and phones the twins’ Father – Thomas who
hesitantly agrees to babysit the twins for the day. Thomas Peyton is 28 years
old and works as a Delivery Van Driver. He is strongminded and financially
stable, and spends time with the girls when he has an evening off work. He and
Vivian keep a civilized relationship, co-parenting and supporting their
daughters, but often disagree on parental arrangements.
Vivian returns just
after 5pm and her and Thomas argue about the excessive hours she works. Vivian
tries to explain that she wants to save to provide a better life for the girls,
a life she was denied as a child. Thomas eventually gives in and leaves.
Determined to keep her
word and spend a bit of quality time with the girls, Vivian agrees to take the twins
to the park for an hour or so before it gets dark. They walk across the road to
the park just adjacent, which is always empty apart from the odd dog walker.
Unknown shadows cover the park as the sun begins to descend, leaving a few
areas almost dark.
Someone is watching
them.
They make their way to
the Kids play area, complete with several swings, slides and a hopscotch.
Vivian likes to get involved, encouraging the girls. She helps Sarah get out of
one of the caged swings, she is stuck. Sarah begins to get upset and Vivian
attempts to calm her and prevent her from wriggling. With a bit of force, she
finally manages to lift Sarah out of the swing before turning around to look
for Elise.
She has vanished
from sight.
Episode 2:
Outline: Following the sudden disappearance of a
twin, the police are informed and an abduction enquiry is under way. However,
Vivian and Thomas are faced with a disturbing revelation. Thomas attempts to
comfort Vivian but is driven away by her delusions and outbursts. She
repeatedly contacts the Police for more information but they deny her.
Vivian looks around frantically, Elise is nowhere to
be seen. Sarah begins to cry and Vivian picks her up straight away, seizes her
hand bag from the bench and begins to run towards the gate. Her heart is
pounding and she loudly summons Elise, her head turning to scour as far as she
can see, attempting to block out Sarah’s shrieks. She cannot see or hear
anything clearly, almost as if she beginning to lose consciousness. Screaming
louder and louder, she is met with nothing but the whistling of the wind and a
faint noise of cars.
Vivian speedily runs back to the house and hurries
Sarah inside, placing her on the sofa. She picks up the landline and thumps the
keypad. Thomas picks up quickly, and speaks in a calm manner, however, he
is met with screams of panic and despair. Trying to make sense of what is being
said, his voice turns serious and he leaves his house immediately without
saying goodbye.
Thomas
arrives within 10 minutes at the house and is met by a now sobbing Vivian. He
instantly notices Sarah who looks stunned, sitting in silence. Thomas reasons
with Vivian and takes Sarah next door to Jill and explains the situation. Jill
is hugely concerned and offers her help but Thomas reassures her that the best
thing she can do is take care of Sarah in the meantime.
Thomas
and Vivian drive to the Police Station and report that is Elise missing. They
give them a photo of her from Vivian’s purse and Vivian is taken in for
questioning by Inspector Daniel Reed who has been working in the local area for
over a decade and is known well by its residents. Vivian relays the events of
the evening, explaining her concern that Elise wouldn’t have just run off.
Inspector Reed attempts to reassure her that she won’t have gone for and will
be found by the next morning.
Thomas
and Vivian leave and agree to stay with Sarah until the morning at least and go
out to look the next day.
It
is midday and Vivian has been anxiously staring at the phone all day. Thomas
takes his car out and scours Downtown Greenville, asking in shops and
restaurants. When he gets back Vivian looks just as distressed, she has just
had a phone call from Inspector Reed. They’ve found some evidence.
Episode
3:
Outline:
Vivian refuses to accept the evidence and begins her own search, with
little faith from Thomas. She mistakes a child in the supermarket for her own,
but is quickly escorted away by security. Confiding in Jill and Gregory, she
sets up a web page for missing children enquiries. Meanwhile, a local woman
starts to notice Vivian’s unusual behaviour, voicing it and alienating her
further.
They
hurriedly drive to the Police Station and announce themselves before being
taken into a private room. Inspector Reed comes into the office, he is carrying
a parcel and reveals a clear plastic bag inside. He sits down and looks at
Thomas and then at Vivian. Before he can begin his sentence Vivian screams
“What have you found then?”. Reed sighs and takes the plastic bag out of its
wrapping. It contains a pair of pink and white spotty trousers and a single
white lace up boot. Both have what appears to be blood staining. He explains
that the items of clothing were found in the woods, about half a mile from the
park. Vivian confirms they belong to Elise and breaks down into tears whilst
Thomas attempts to comfort her. Reed tells them that they are assuming a
violent crime has been underway but reassures them that they are still
searching and will inform them of any further news.
They
return home. As they step out of the car, they are approached by town local
–Francesca who has seen them acting strangely, however, they quickly brush off
the conversation and go inside. Sarah comes back home and Thomas tries to
comfort her, whilst Vivian stays in her room in despair.
The
following day, the pair decide to go to the supermarket and surprise Sarah with
some of her favorite foods. Whilst looking in the confectionary isle, Vivian
notices a young girl at the end of the isle, her back is facing Vivian and she
has long blonde hair. Vivian alerts Thomas who dismisses her and beckons her
away. However, she starts to speedily walk down the aisle to catch up after
her. People keep getting in her way and she forcibly pushes her way through.
Eventually catching up, she holds out her arm and pulls on the young girl’s
shoulder who turns and lets out a yelp! The girl’s mother is confused and
alerts the staff who escort Vivian away. Disillusioned, and unconvinced, she
struggles and breaks free. However, the police are called and she is taken
home. Francesca oversees.
No comments:
Post a Comment