In this module we looked at how the structure of narrative can allow the audience to empathise with characters. This was briefly touched upon within the first narrative chronology module however in this module we expanded upon this, showing its implication within a short hypothetical story.
A Court Case Murder Mystery.
The type of story we decided upon was one that involved a small number of characters contained within a location that was integral to the scene (a courtroom). This allowed us to use devices such as switching points of view as well as changing the origin point of the story because of this (Eg. differing stories from witnesses). This also allows us to get a refined knowledge of who the characters are and allows for the story to build up tension with actions such as suspicious glances and arguments between important figures within the scene. As well as this, because our scene involves a murderer, it increases the 'stakes' for the viewer as the small amount of characters allows the audience to create a bond with each character more closely and therefore makes it harder to believe when one of them is 'tagged for death' and cannot escape the room, as seen in the story below.
Below is a small brief for the above explained story (500 words) for which is all of the characters in the described 'perculiar' scenario...
The Story.
//Exposition.
We start the story within a dark space with harsh, bright white lights and a single dark figure standing in front of a board with multiple faces unknown to the audience. A single green dice is shown in his hand and when the killer throws it, the number is clearly visible to the audience.
The character is clearly shown to be the antagonist of the story due to the dark tones used in the room making it seem cobbled together and almost chaotic, a reflection of his working mind. We can also tell this by the face that there are clear blood stains on the wall behind him and the dice that he is using is worn indicating that he has done this before. Aswell as this, our antagonist clearly throws the dice with anger and so reflects the fact to the audience that he may be unstable in his mind and possibly dangerous.
//Complication & Rising Action.
We immediately cut to the opening of the courtroom scene with our killer from before being led in handcuffs towards a seat at the front of the room, flanked by a ominously tall and stern lawyer next to him. Our protagonist follows behind him and sits opposite the killer, sitting next to a grieving woman showing evidence of crying earlier. After they both sit down the judge begins the court hearing and a loud and echoing click can be heard from the large central doors locking.
From dialogue from the judge during the start of the hearing the audience can tell that the accuser is the grieving sister of the murdered man. As the hearing progresses it is revealed that in the capture of the killer the dice was seized and blood stains were found. This is used as a visual aid for the audience and is held up by the judge of the court.
As the hearing progresses, our protagonist lawyer makes well thought out accusations towards the antagonist but all are unsuccessful as they are all instantly and harshly denied by the antagonists lawyer and are answered in a way to make the audience question the validity of the him as an impartial lawyer.
As the scene comes to a close, a figure comes behind the judge to relay new evidence to her. The judge then lets the audience know that the blood stains found on the dice are in fact from the accuser and not her murdered brother. This creates a large amount of tension for everyone contained in the room as they are all contained with a dangerous man and his target with no escape being perceived as plausible.
As we see the antagonist become more and more uncomfortable as out protagonist is winning the debate we see a gun being handed under the table, out of sight from the lawyer to the killer who are now revealed to the audience to be corrupt and working together. Immediately the killer stands up and swiftly shoots the protagonist hitting her in the shoulder. Screams are heard by the jury and court attenders following this and immediately both the killer and his lawyer are wrestled to the ground by security.
//Denouement.
The end of the courtroom scene instantly cuts to the protagonist in a hospital bed. This allows the audience to tell that time has passed between the hearing and what is being shown to them currently. The protagonist stares at the television hanging in the corner of the room and looks at the news. It is from her courtroom case and shows the killer and his lawyer both in handcuffs and being sentenced to jail as read on the screen. The judge comes on and says that it is the most “It was the strangest murder trial she had ever attended”.
This is where our story ends.