Mariner Software Contour for Windows - Manual (Page 42)

Plot Point 7
Ally (either true or unintentional) aids Hero by propelling him out of the status quo.
There are two things that drive your Hero: his wants and his needs. Sometimes itʼs the same thing. Usually,
theyʼre different, but related in that the Hero often gets what he wants only by first getting what he needs.
• In LIAR LIAR, Fletcher wants to be with his son, Max, but what he needs is to learn how to be a good fa-
ther, specifically by not continuing to lie to Max and breaking his heart. Only by being able to tell the truth
without being controlled by the birthday wish that Max put on him (that he canʼt lie for 24 hours) is Fletcher
able to grab the love of his son from the clutches of separation.
Plot Point 7 brings into the Heroʼs story an ally who is going to help move the hero along the path towards
achieving either the specific goal of what the Hero wants, or more often than not, what the Hero needs by break-
ing the status quo of the Heroʼs world.
Sometimes these allies are true allies like Ron and Hermione in Harry Potter. Sometimes they grow to become
true allies, such as R2D2. Sometimes they are anonymous characters who move into the story, serve the ally-
function of the plot point, and disappear.
• In STAR WARS, R2D2 runs off to find Obi-Wan and Luke is forced to track him down. The end result of
R2ʼs running off? Because Luke left to find R2, he wasnʼt on the family farm when the Stormtroopers arrived
looking for the droids, sparing him from the same death as his aunt and uncle. R2 was on his own agenda,
wasnʼt trying to help Luke, but in the end R2 has inadvertently saved Lukeʼs life and started him on the path
of becoming a Jedi, saving the Princess, and destroying the Death Star.
• In AMERICAN BEAUTY, Lester tries to talk with Jane, who busts him for trying to become friends with her
this late in the game. This conversation is the beginning of Lesterʼs resolve to get back in touch with his lost
youth and love of life. Jane is an unwitting ally, as is. . .
• . . . the Swede at the beginning of TITANIC who, by losing his ticket to Jack Dawson in a game of cards,
starts Jack on a journey that will change his and Roseʼs lives.
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