Assignment 3
by

Colleen Forrest
pellen@swbell.net

© June 19, 1999

   Level: Beginner

PROTAGONIST: Andy Seabeck is a quantum physicist and low man on the totem pole at the government sponsored lab where he works. Andy's had some theories within the scientific fringe areas, but he's always been discouraged from perusing them. His employers site Andy's "inability to separate fact from fiction" as the reason he's been held back in his job. Andy’s wife encourages him to take some time off to work on his own theories. She’s located a rare book he’s been looking for that was written by a contemporary of Albert Einstein. The book contains research on the topic he’s pursuing. It’s listed in the inventory of a library in a small town not too far away. Andy finds out the book’s been checked out for the last 22 years by a man named Herbert Breen.

GOAL: Andy dreams of one day working somewhere where he is respected and his ideas at least considered, but he doesn’t see that as a possibility. He's making good money here, and his wife is pregnant. His immediate goal is to get the book from Breen.

OBSTACLE: Herbert Breen is a crotchety old man who doesn’t give Andy the time of day, let alone the book. Breen acts this was towards everyone in town, but for some reason, everyone in town likes Breen. Breen is an inventor who’s inventions everyone in town uses, and they work despite known scientific theory that says they shouldn’t. Andy resents Breen’s success in this area, and his popularity, when his own ventures into these areas have taken him nowhere. Andy views Breen’s success as proof that the book is the key to his dreams and getting it from Breen becomes an obsession.

WHAT THE PROTAGONIST DOES: Andy asks the local Librarian and the Sheriff for help in getting the book from Breen. He points out that the accumulated fines constitute a felony.

(BEGINNER, BUT CONTINUING)

OBSTICAL FIGHTS BACK: The library isn’t pressing charges. The book is old. The Librarian states that if the book was currently in the library’s possession it would be sitting in a cart in the lobby being sold for a dollar. As a dollar doesn’t constitute a felony, the Sheriff has no intention of helping Andy.

WHAT THE PROTAGONIST DOES: Andy’s queries bring him to the attention of a rich man named Royan Niviea. Niviea has his own beef with Breen and also wants the book. He offers Andy a job and a lab of his own if he can get the book. After several bottles of wine, Andy accepts the offer and breaks into Breen’s house.

OBSTICAL FIGHTS BACK: Andy gets the book, but not before tripping Breen’s alarm system. Andy escapes the house, but the Sheriff is waiting for him outside. Andy is arrested and thrown in jail. Niviea puts up his bail, but Andy isn’t released until morning. During the evening, Andy has a chance to read the book, but it’s taken from him in the morning before his release.

WHAT THE PROTAGONIST DOES: Andy tells Niviea what he learned from Breen’s house and the book. Niviea convinces Andy that Breen is a dangerous cult leader that has used his pseudo-science to control the town and the Sheriff. He sites the townspeople’s strange reaction to Breen’s insulting behavior as proof. With Andy’s help, Niviea and his men can stop Breen.

CONCLUSION 1: The story could end here, with the good guys marching against Breen and Andy using his scientific knowledge to expose Breen as the fraud he is. Andy gains faith in his abilities, Niviea gives Andy his lab, and all’s right with the world.

But I thought this would be a little more interesting. Let’s morph into fantasy (warning, the plot complicates here).

During the course of the battle, Andy finds out the truth about both Niviea and Breen. Niviea is a demon who’s attempts to take over the town, and then the world have been thwarted by Breen and his strange inventions. The town is sitting on a nexus between our world and the nether-world and Breen is the local guardian who keeps the demons crossing over at bay. The townspeople give Breen a break on his attitude because they know he has a tough job. The knowledge Andy gave Niviea from the book has tipped the scales in Niviea’s favor. Niviea now knows how to countermand Breen’s weapons.

WHAT THE PROTAGONIST DOES: Andy switches sides (Niviea is now the Antagonist), but not before Niviea uses his demonic power to deliver a fatal blow to Breen. While Breen is still alive, Andy gets him away from Niviea. Andy now realizes, too late, that it was Breen, not the book that was the key to figuring out his theories. Before he dies, Breen gives Andy a talisman and instructs Andy to give it to the Sheriff.

OBSTICAL FIGHTS BACK: Breen dies. Niviea knows Andy’s in earshot, but not exactly where he is. He tells Andy he has compromising photos of Andy taken while Andy was under his enchantments. Andy has no where else to go. With his past history with Breen, the Sheriff will arrest him for Breen’s murder, and even if he manages to get out of that, the pictures will assure he looses his job and his wife. Niviea promises him he will grow old, alone, and bitter, just like Breen.

WHAT THE PROTAGONIST DOES: While Niviea talks, Andy takes one of Breen’s weapon and, using his own scientific knowledge, modifies it. In theory, the modified weapon will turn Niviea’s own power against him. Hoping it will be strong enough to defeat Niviea, Andy reveals his position. Niviea attacks and Andy reflects the blast. Niviea is defeated. Niviea’s henchmen run away, as does Andy.

OBSTICAL FIGHTS BACK: The sheriff’s men have arrived and arrest everyone, including Andy. Breen’s body is found and the sheriff is not happy.

CONCLUSION 2: The sheriff treats Andy just like the rest of Niviea’s thugs, until Andy shows him the talisman and tells him Breen told him to show it to him. This is the signal that tells the sheriff Breen has chosen Andy as his successor as the towns defender against nether-creatures—they get a lot of them around here. The sheriff apologizes to Andy. Andy is confused and the sheriff fills him in. Andy has to take the job, the town and the whole world will be vulnerable without him. Andy wants to talk to his wife first, though. She likes the idea. The town sounds like a lovely place to raise a family… when there aren’t any demons running around. He explains about the pictures and she understands. With inheriting the job, Andy also inherits Breen’s possessions (Breen had no family). This includes Breen’s strange book collection, his notes, and inventions. Andy now has the resources to pursue his own theories.