Pierce Beats Flashcards
Opening Image (2-3 pages)
The Mexican American war, battle of Contreras. Our hero sits atop a horse in a smoky field. He takes a drink from a flask despite the battle. A train can be heard. He tries to ride away, but even though he zigs and zags, the train is still behind him. He falls from his horse as the train hits him head on and he breaks his leg. Maybe compile this with Brown images.
Establishing Shots/Theme (2-3 pages); A Story
Pierce awakes to Stephen Douglas. In this scene, we have them converse. Douglas talks more about Jane who we see through the hallway of the white house. Arms splayed and wide-eyed. Build her up more. I must establish Stephen Douglas as a bad guy, and a manipulator as well as Jane’s foreboding presence on the house. Details: she doesn’t go out but to Blair Chapel. The Kansas-Nebraska act is paramount though.
Jane Prays (2-3 pages)
Jane sets up her desires and needs. She reflects her issues and her waning faith.
The Catalyst (2-3 pages)
Jane and Franklin have dinner together. She mentions what she wants: to call on the Fox Sisters. She promises if Pierce grants her this, she will begin to come to functions. She promises this can relieve them. Their issues must be revealed here: her belief that hubris has caused them their terrible fate. She must know if Benny is okay. Pierce, who doesn’t believe, must push back. They must really love each other here. He brings her food. He feeds her.
The Debate/Break into 2 (3 pages)
Pierce talks with Hawthorne about the request. Hawthorne is his good friend. He talks over the pros and the cons. He uses the one track analogy. Man, he makes it up. Set up that Hawthorne has been away. Pierce decides, yes, they should do the séance. Drinking. There must be a conflict between Jane and Pierce set up. Her desires vs. his political ambitions. His love for something simple yet his ambitions. His father’s desires. This is the only conflict that will be resolved somehow. This is a love story, really, about two people who shouldn’t love each other.
Jane goes into Benny’s room. (2 pages)
She gets the pick up sticks for the ceremony. They must look beaten up. She converses with him here. She must ask him what to get. This will bother Franklin later. He will refuse to play. This will ruin the ceremony later. This is secretly her slight to him. Her reprimand for being drunk that day.
The B Story Fun Begins (3 pages)
The séance is the B story, really. The A Story is really about the conflict of the Kansas-Nebraska act as hidden in his personal conflict. Images of a telegraph being sent. Carriages being loaded. Trains are moving. Jane is alive and moving about. Ordering the servants. Collecting personal effects of Benny.
The Bad Guys Descend (3 pages)
Pierce’s cabinet sees this as a bad sign. They attempt to talk him out of the Séance and more about the Kansas-Nebraska act. He says no to them. But invites them to meet the Fox Sisters.
The Fox Sisters arrive (5-7 pages)
There is a party, the night before the seance. Hawthorne does the interrogating. They drink. We see that the sisters, especially Leah, are drunks. Probably charlatans. Hawthorne brings up the fear of what happens if it doesn’t work. Will she be okay with this?
The séance: midpoint (3-5 pages)
Due to the pick up sticks, all fails. It looks as if it might work for a bit. Train images.
Jane loses it/ Bad guys close in (3 pages)
Jane is completely bereft. She does nothing. Pierce is worse. He drinks. The men meet again. Pierce still says no.
All is Lost (3 pages)
Jane cannot help. He goes to her for advice, but she finally lays everything out on the table while they are haunted in a steamy bathroom. I see blood.
Dark night of the Soul/ Break into Act 3 (5-7 pages)
the men come yet another time. Pierce is heavily drunk. Through the conversation, pierce sees nothing but the day of the train; we see the pick up sticks. we see the tragedy. He says yes, glassy eyes and depressed.
Finale Part 1 (2-3 pages)
Stephen A Douglas presents his plan to a Congress unhappy. They vote yes.
Finale Part 2 (5-7 pages)
We see the Brown images come to fruition. Charles Sumner caning. A wave of blood which will define Pierce. Pierce tells this story to Jane. His nightmares have been replaced with images. Jane has ad the same dream. Benny has gone since the bath; they walk together. She is happier, but they will never be the same. What to do next my love? he will unlikely get the nomination. There is nothing left now, but to drink. Jane accepts this. Their love has returned even if all is lost. This is a love story really, about two people who should not love each other.
