Alice's Narrative

ACT 1: Setup
Hook:

• Opening of book: Title
•  The Endless Pursuit
• Presentation of world map
•  Camera lens:
• 'I always wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth, then I ask myself the same question.'
•  Quick montage of photos in journal/flipping through pages.
• Viewer can click on page to read diary entry about a specific place visited by protagonist or experience. They can also click on different points on the world map to access Alice’s photos and videos taken at that place.

Characters and Setting:

• Alice, the protagonist, introduces herself, her family as well as her journey. Alice dreams of changing the world, of making a difference and attaining freedom, but does not actually believe she can. She lacks confidence. She has always been the underdog and does not think that will change.
• Her journey began on her twentieth birthday at home in Los Angeles, California.She lives with her mother, Scarlett, and her mother’s boyfriend, Sam. Sam has become abusive over the course of their relationship and drinks heavily.

 The Complication:

•  Alice and her mother have grown apart due to her mother’s abusive relationship, and Alice lives in a constant state of fear.
• She feels the need to leave home – she feels caged in and desires freedom – but is also too scared to leave her mother. She has never really lived for herself.

Plot Point #1:

• On Alice’s twentieth birthday, her mother’s boyfriend came home heavily intoxicated and got into a fight with her mother. Alice attempted to stand up for her, and Sam hit her in the face so hard that she hit her head on the wall and blacked out on the floor. Sam would not let her mother help her. Alice later woke up shaking. Scarlett and Sam were nowhere to be seen. She packed up her bag, left a note for her mother and has yet to return.

ACT 2: Conflict

First Part:

• It’s been two years since she’s left home. After traveling around the world, she has now found herself in India. She is working at a girls’ school in a run down town providing young girls with an education, which few have access to. These girls also seek refuge from the violent acts carried out against women, which occur on a daily basis.
• Alice feels that she has taken control of her destiny – she is making a difference for these girls and has taken her life into her own hands.

Midpoint:

• She is documenting her work at the school. She has been so inspired by the stories that she has heard that she wants to put something together to expose the hardships that these girls go through.
• A young girl named Amy has particularly intrigued her. Amy has a similar backstory to Alice’s. Both of Amy’s parents are drug users. Her father was very strict and would often hit her mother when he would get high. To ensure that Amy would never fall as his victim, her mother dropped her off at the school so she could be protected and have a brighter future. Amy misses her mother dearly and is worried about her.
•  Alice promises to help unite Amy and her mother. She goes to visit Amy’s mother one day on her own.

Secondary Part:

• Alice goes to Amy’s village to find Amy’s old home. Amy lived in a remote village stricken by poverty, hunger and pollution. Alice undergoes culture shock when visiting Amy’s village and becomes extremely nervous and emotional while navigating the village.
• At sundown, Alice meets a kind family that invites her for dinner and to stay the night in their hut. They give her advice on finding Amy’s home the following day.

 Plot Point #2:

• Alice finally finds Amy’s home. She inspects the hut to ensure that the father is not home and then goes to talk to Amy’s mother. She finds Amy’s mother severely bruised. She urges her to come with her to be reunited with Amy. Amy’s mother refuses to leave, stating that her husband will find her and kill her. She is kind but traumatized, her hands shake out of fear. She tells Alice to leave, for if her husband were to return home, both of them would be dead.  Alice leaves scared and defeated.

ACT THREE: Resolution

Recovery:

• Back at the school, Alice begins to mediate. She decides to contact her mother. After speaking with her, she finds the strength that she needs to help Amy’s mother escape. She sets out on last journey to Amy’s village.

 Showdown:

• Alice meets Amy’s mother again. She tells her that it is vital for her to leave, for both her safety and her daughter’s wellbeing. Amy’s mother is hesitant but realizes that Alice is right. On their way out, Amy’s father comes home. Amy is told to hide by Amy’s mother. After spotting her bag packed, Amy’s father goes into a rage and starts to beat her. Alice comes out from hiding and protects Amy’s mother. Alice and Amy’s mother escape.

Growth of the Hero:

• Alice reunites Amy and her mother. They will receive shelter at the school and what is needed to start a new life. She has made a difference in their lives. Triumphant, Alice buys her final plane ticket for this journey – a ticket home. She ensures Amy that they will keep in touch and see each other again.  She is finally reunited with her mother. They too are free. Viewers become aware that Alice’s documentation of these events is the story that just unfolded.

The premise of the narrative is Alice's adventures around the world and how her journey allows her to accept herself, her abusive past and make a difference in the world.