Mariner Software Contour for Windows - Manual (Page 39)

Plot Point 2
We see the Hero’s flaw in relation to the Stakes Character.
The stakes character is the face that represents all of the people that the bad guys are victimizing. Itʼs usually
someone the hero feels very deeply about.
• In DIE HARD, Bruce Willis is trying to save the hostages, but the stakes character is his wife.
• In STAR WARS, Luke is trying to destroy the Death Star and save the rebel base, but the stakes charac-
ter is actually Princess Leia.
In this plot point, we see whatʼs wrong with the heroʼs life via the life of the stakes character. The stakes charac-
ter usually has the qualities that the hero needs to complete his arc.
• In STAR WARS, Luke is stuck on Uncle Owenʼs farm, milking space cows and fixing fences when he
really wants to go the academy, shoot some Stormtroopers and have great adventures. Leia is the
stakes character; sheʼs doing everything Luke dreams of doing, out in space, blasting Stormtroopers.
Through her, we see Lukeʼs flaw -- heʼs stuck on the farm -- even though we have yet to meet him.
• In DIE HARD, John McClane is a New York cop who gets no respect, while his wife, Holly, is respected
by everyone. We learn Johnʼs flaw through her.
• In E.T., Elliotʼs family has been abandoned by Elliotʼs father, however Elliotʼs response has become in-
wardly focused. He has no real connection to his brother and sister, nor his mother, as is shown by his
insensitive comment to her about Dad having run off with another woman.
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