Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-21

TTTE WILL now imagine that Roberts
w aversion to women is made apparent,
and his character is as thoroughly estab-
lished as the characters of Jones and his
daughter are
II we are writing a multiple reel story
we will now plant thoroughly the premises
and get our plot started 1t will be com
plex and probably there will be strong
counterplot and thread of humor in it.
We will make the story big enough for a
feature picture.
But II 1t is n single reel then we must
pick one them and stick TO 1t. Everything
must be subordinated to the main plot
This plot. while admitting of complications,
should be a simple, straightforward story.
1nasmuch as we have taken or indicated
a possible theme in the earlier part Of this
article we might as well stick to It and
find what II will lead us to. We will say
that for some reason the young fellow wants
to ruin Jones. In other words, our plot
starts with the establishment Of this pre-
mise.
why does Robert want to ruin Jones?
Several reasons may be apparent. Nearly
every writer will pick a different reason.
To give something concrete we will sup
pose that Jones had an older daughter and
that this is the girl who turned Robert
down. The reason for the rundown has
never been apparent
Now at the opening of the story Robert
discovers that Jones had insisted that the
older daughter marry another man. if we
do this our story should rightly start with
this episode, and Robert would easily he
placed as "woman.hater" ever after. So
that premise is not good for our beginning.
Wo must look for something in the present.
Perhaps we make II a natural event. Here
are two men, one young and one middle
aged, in Wall street They clash. Each
tries to gain control of some company. IL
we show much of this we are getting into
a business story, and that is bad.
We must bring drama into IT, Very well,
then we will have friend invite Robert
to a party; perhaps the friend has box
for the opera. We will have seen the Incl
dent of Robert going over his letters Just
previously, and at the conclusion tossing
them into the fire, indicating that the ro.
nance is ended.
The friend enters the room and persuadcs
him to come with him. He goes very re-
luctantly, and there meets Mary. She
impresses him as Il fine young girl but his
prciudices are too deep seated. Robert
gains the upper hand and crushes Jones,
Let us make the story different now, Rob
ert is our hero and here we are making
around. We will have a poor but honest"
young fellow in love with Mary. She really
thinks that she cares for him. In reality
we will see that he Is fortune-hunter,
In most plays the aforesaid "p. b, h."
young man is the hero, and particular
delight is taken in seeing the man of money
lose out Scenario writer's never give a man
of wealth a chance, If he owns an auto
mobile he is doomed TO be a william If
he Is wealthy. by that same sign he is brain
less he poor boy, however is gifted
with a brllance that is remarkable, and
why he doesn't get ahead in the world when
he possesses such a superabundance of
brains is past all understanding. SO for
the sake of a change we will make the poor
boy the villain.
Robert has but to say the word and Jones
is ruined. The poor hoy hears that Jones
has lost his fortune and Immediately he
will try to escape from an alliance with
Mary 1t is her money that he wants.
At this time Robert comes to see Jones
in his home, He meets Mary again. and