The Ultimate Hero's Journey
Page 10
Sideways: Jack is focused on seducing Stephanie; Miles’s plan is to go back to the hotel and sleep.
Dodgeball:Peter La Fleur with a plan? Are you kidding me? He hasn’t even returnedBackdoor Patrol 5andMona Lisa Smileto the video store!
Related:
123 – Run for Your Life (2)
158 – Run for Your Life (3)
111 – Traitor on the Move
Judas seals the deal.
Description:
Most stories have their Judas: Double agents, spies, or traitors. That’s not counting self-sabotage: We can be our own worst enemies sometimes.
The identity of the Traitor is revealed here, and we get to understand this character’s motivation, too. Is it revenge? Money? Power? Whatever it is, it’s personal and hateful.
Examples:
Star Wars: The closest to a traitor or a liar is Governor Tarkin. He promises Leia he won’t destroy Alderaan if she reveals the location of the Rebel base, but as soon as he gets an answer, he orders to fire all the same. Tarkin’s objective is to terrorize the galaxy into submission.
The Matrix: Cypher is eating a steak at a fine restaurant in the Matrix, sealing the deal with Agent Smith. Cypher’s motivation: Bitter revenge from Morpheus, and getting a way out of the Real World, which he can’t stand anymore.
Harry Potter: Quirrell’s body hosts Voldemort’s spirit. Harry meets the evil figure in a clearing in the Dark Forest.
Sideways: At the restaurant, Miles promised not to drink too much and not go to the dark side, but he does exactly that: He couldn’t get over the news of his ex-wife remarrying.
Dodgeball: This stage happens later on, when Peter himself succumbs to White’s bribe (another instance of self-sabotage).
Related:
074 – The Traitor
112 – The Villain’s True Face
Now we see what the Hero is up against. And it’s terrifying.
Description:
We have seen the Villain talking, scheming, and chasing. But we haven’t seen the Villain acting. Well, this is when his patience reaches the end of the road.
Scare your audience. Make them believe that defeating this magnificent evil is impossible.
Examples:
Star Wars: That moon-sized, planet-destroying war machine is certainly scary, but we haven’t seen what it is capable of. Now Tarkin gives the order to initiate the firing sequence.
The Matrix: The Agents, who until now looked like humans, are revealed to be something else. Somehow they can teleport in or out of other people, they never run of ammo, and they never die.
Harry Potter: We have heard of Voldemort and the fear that his name inspires; they refer to him as the most powerful dark wizard in history. But we are about to see him for what he is these days: A murderous, evil, perverted form of life.
Sideways: Jack is getting laid before his wedding, and nobody will stop him. It’s going to happen. Tonight. He distributes condoms: One for Miles, three for himself.
Dodgeball: What can be more irresistible than White Goodman in his shiny shoes? “I’m here to begin my courtship of you, Kate.” The rest of his speech would be pathetic if it weren’t so crazy.
Related:
035 – The Villain’s Dominion
125 – The Über-Villain
149 – The Villain’s Grand Entrance
113 – Attack 8: Shock and Awe
The Villain takes his most aggressive step yet.
Description:
This attack hits hard—very hard. It is a token of the ultimate catastrophe that will occur if the Villain is allowed to succeed all the way.
This attack is not directed against the Hero but subservient to the Villain’s goals. Also, this attack usually starts a chain of events that ends up causing the Mentor’s fall.
Examples:
Star Wars: The Death Star shoots Alderaan, Leia’s home, obliterating it. Obi-Wan is overwhelmed by the disturbance this event caused in The Force.
The Matrix: Cypher takes a huge ray gun and attacks The Nebuchadnezzar’s crew. Apoc, Switch, Mouse, and Dozer are killed, Tank is left for dead, and Morpheus is taken prisoner.
Harry Potter: Voldemort kills a unicorn to drink its blood. (I had to fast-forward the movie during that part).
Sideways: Jack finally gets what he wanted. He makes noisy love with Stephanie.
Dodgeball: Average Joe’s is decimated by the Poughkeepsie State Flying Cougars. Only Gordon remains; everyone else is eliminated.
Related:
102 – Attack 7: False Enemy
132 – Attack 9: The Hero’s Lair
114 – The Mentor’s Orders
Last instructions before going into battle.
Description:
The Mentor was never meant to face the ultimate challenge himself. This role is one of guidance, wisdom, and ultimately, sacrifice. At some point in the story the Mentor is killed or neutralized, and this stage marks the beginning of the end for the Mentor.
Examples:
Star Wars: Obi-Wan orders Luke to leave: “Your destiny lies along a different path than mine.”
The Matrix: Morpheus orders Trinity, “You must get Neo out. He’s all that matters.”
Harry Potter: Firenze the Centaur (stepping into a Mentor role) protects Harry from the hooded figure and tells him to leave the Dark Forest.
Sideways: (Not applicable).
Dodgeball: Patches calls time out, just when Gordon is about to get creamed and the match lost.
Related:
036 – The Villain’s Orders
115 – The Mentor’s Fight
116 – The Mentor Is Gone
115 – The Mentor’s Fight
The Mentor faces the forces of evil.
Description:
The Mentor confronts the Villain personally and looses the fight, of course—the only one who could defeat the Villain is the Hero. Possibly.
But this is what the Villain ignores: This fight was anticipated, and even intended by the Mentor. It’s part of the Mentor’s plan.
Examples:
Star Wars: Obi-Wan comes out of his hiding place and crosses Vader. They meet in a duel of lightsabers.
The Matrix: Morpheus comes out of his hiding place and confronts the police assault team. He fights bravely, outgunned and outnumbered.
Harry Potter:Dumbledore’s moment comes inThe Half-Blood Prince; Snape kills him, which puts in motion the last part of his complex (and genius) plan to defeat Voldemort. We don’t learn until the following movie that Snape did it because Dumbledore ordered him to.
Sideways: Some golfers shoot a ball at the guys. Jack chases the bullies away, screaming obscenities and wielding a golf club like it was a medieval mace.
Dodgeball: Patches tells Gordon to get angry; it’s the only chance to save the game.
Related:
114 – The Mentor’s Orders
116 – The Mentor Is Gone
116 – The Mentor Is Gone
The Mentor dies, is taken prisoner, or becomes unavailable.
Description:
The Mentor’s sacrifice has two purposes: 1) to protect the Hero until the Hero is totally ready, and 2) to weaken the Villain in anticipation of the final battle.
The Mentor will return, though, even if only as a memory in the Hero’s mind.
Examples:
Star Wars: Obi-Wan is stricken down by Darth Vader. Obi-Wan sacrifices himself to save Luke (some say Obi-Wan transfers his Force to Luke, some say he becomes a Force spirit when he dies, which is the reason why his body simply vanishes). Luke escapes.
The Matrix: Morpheus is beaten down and taken prisoner. He sacrifices himself to save Neo, who is able to escape.
Harry Potter 6: Dumbledore allows Draco to disarm him, so the loyalty of the Alder Wand is never transferred to Snape or Voldemort. Then Dumbledore offers his ultimate sacrifice: He begs Snape to kill him. The Slytherin master follows the terrible mandate; it is the only to win Voldemort’s trust.
&nb
sp; Sideways: Jack is gone; he leaves Miles alone and spends time with Stephanie and her family.
Dodgeball: Patches O’Houlihan gets crushed by a two-ton electric sign that reads “The Luck of the Irish.”
Related:
114 – The Mentor’s Orders
115 – The Mentor’s Fight
117 – A Moment of Reflection
The Hero stops the ball and thinks. Finally.
Description:
The Hero realizes that nothing is working and that running forever isn’t an option.
The Hero has to come up with a game-changing plan and have one, yet. But a light bulb is about to shine in the Hero’s head.
Examples:
Star Wars: Luke and Han have locked themselves in the control room of the detention block. Luke thinks for a second and comes up with a new plan.
The Matrix: The only way to prevent the Agents from obtaining the codes is unplugging Morpheus. Just when Tank is about to do it, Neo thinks for second and says, “Stop.”
Harry Potter: Christmas break. Harry is frustrated because he couldn’t find anything about Flamel in the library. Then he receives a hint from Hermione.
Sideways: Miles and Maya go to the porch and sit in silence for a second. There’s no plan per se; they just wanted to leave the house because of the noisy lovemaking happening back there.
Dodgeball: Peter leaves the group and heads to his room. Patches’s death took a high toll on him.
Related:
120 – Plan B: Rescue
118 – The Ultimate Boon
Some detail gives up what the Villain’s main plan is.
Description:
After the last attack(stage 113 – Attack 8: Shock and Awe) a little Christmas gift was left in the rubble: A small clue of some kind. That detail, combined with a piece of information provided by the Goddess, allows the Hero to understand what the Villain’s ultimate objective is.
Examples:
Star Wars: The Empire’s Ultimate Boon is to find the location of the Rebel base to blow it out of the sky, of course. But suddenly, R2D2 begins to whistle; C3PO translates: “He says ‘I found her,’ and keeps repeating, ‘She’s here.’”
The Matrix: The Ultimate Boon is Morpheus. He knows the Zion’s mainframe access codes. Neo learns this from Tank and Trinity.
Harry Potter: Voldemort’s Ultimate Boon is the sorcerer’s stone. That way he can get back to life (see next stage, 119).
Sideways: Miles and Maya discover love in each other through their love for wine. This realization happens in the central dialogue of the movie (see next stage,119).
Dodgeball: The little detail is that, out of the corner of his eye, Gordon sees his mail-order wife flirting with David Hasselhoff. Rage takes Gordon over, which is precisely the key to win the match. The Ultimate Boon is the dodgeball championship and the $50,000, of course.
Related:
119 – Second Epiphany
119 – Second Epiphany
The Revelation about the Ultimate Boon gives the Hero an idea.
Description:
Knowing what the villain’s Boon is, inspires the Hero to come up with a new plan (which is not disclosed to the audience, yet).
The Hero’s plan—don’t tell anyone—is not about attacking the Villain, but about obtaining some specific, valuable resource (see120 – Plan B: Rescue).
This is the midpoint of your story. After this stage, the good guys stop merely reacting to the circumstances and start implementing some plans—plans that don’t always work.
Examples:
Star Wars: Luke understands what R2D2 is talking about: Leia is kept prisoner right there in the Death Star, and she is scheduled for execution.
The Matrix: Neo realizes that the Oracle was right: He has a choice in front of him. And he knows what he has to do next.
Harry Potter: Hermione tells Harry that he couldn’t find anything about Nicholas Flamel in the library for a simple reason: He hasn’t looked in the Restricted Section. Harry develops a new plan.
Sideways: Maya discovers Miles’s true personality. Miles talks about pinot, but she realizes that he is unconsciously talking about himself. This scene has the best acting of the movie.
Dodgeball: Gordon realizes that his rage is the key to victory. He gets furious and mercilessly eliminates the opponents, one by one.
Related Stage:
061 – First Epiphany
120 – Plan B: Rescue
142 – Third Epiphany
120 – Plan B: Rescue
The Hero has a new plan. No, I can’t tell you about it.
Description:
The insights provided by the Second Epiphany drive the Hero into action with renovated impulse. The Hero has a plan, but we don’t know what it’s about.
Examples:
Star Wars: Luke and Han rescue Leia, a move the Empire didn’t expect.
The Matrix: Neo and Trinity march to rescue Morpheus, a move the Agents didn’t expect.
Harry Potter: Harry and Ron march to rescue Hermione from the Troll, a move that nobody expects. In the last two parts of the series, they go hunting horcruxes.
Sideways: Maya explains why she’s into wine, taking Miles by the hand. An emotive rescue, both subtle and memorable.
Dodgeball: Gordon rescues the team from sure defeat, an accomplishment that nobody expected.
Related:
064 – Plan A: Let Events Unfold
143 – Plan C: Infiltrate
121 – Atonement: Second Foreshadow
The Hero faces a cursed choice.
Description:
The Hero usually has two fatherly figures who are examples of what the Hero could become. None of those options are good enough.
The Hero has a third option, though: Not repeating the path of the fatherly figures, but walking his own.
Examples:
Star Wars: Luke can either become a Jedi like Obi-Wan or a Sith like Vader. But he has another option: To succeed where both Obi-Wan (as a Jedi master) and Anakin (as a Jedi) failed.
The Matrix:Neo has two fatherly figures: Morpheus (human) and the Architect (Machine). Through exercisingchoice, Neo will eventually succeed where Morpheus, the Architect, and all the previous “Ones” have failed.
Harry Potter: Harry won’t hesitate a second to become like his father or like Dumbledore. But he will eventually prevail where they couldn’t.
Sideways: Miles’s fatherly figure is the “father” character of his novel, who is supposedly based in Miles actual father. Miles has the chance of transcending both the real and the fictitious father.
Dodgeball: Peter’s only fatherly figure is Patches O’Houlihan. And Peter has the chance to surpass Patches’s glory in the world of Dodgeball, but more importantly, he has the chance of surpassing himself.
Related:
086 – Atonement: First Foreshadow
181 – Atonement
122 – The Hero Leads
The Hero is not only a weapon but also a leader.
Description:
The Hero begins to show a leadership role. The team follows, even when there are doubts about the Hero’s proficiency as the new boss.
Examples:
Star Wars: Luke takes the lead. He persuades Han to rescue the Princess by telling him, “She’s rich. If you were to rescue her, the reward would be more wealth that you can imagine.”
The Matrix: Trinity is the highest ranking officer aboard the ship, but Neo is the one calling the shots now.
Harry Potter: Harry is a natural leader. At eleven, he makes his own decisions despite what professors, enemies, and even friends might say.
Sideways: Miles gets (amicably) pushed around by Jack’s outgoing personality, but at the end, when Jack crumbles, Miles takes charge of the situation.
Dodgeball: This example again takes the opposite approach. Peter was always the natural leader of the team, but he can’t stand it anymore.
Related:
148 – Ra
llying the Troops
123 – Run for Your Life (2)
The shocked Hero wants to stay and fight, but must escape.
Description:
The Hero has to run again for dear life. This is not cowardly fleeing from the battle but a necessary tactic to survive and regroup. The Villain is simply too powerful.
Examples:
Star Wars: Luke hears Obi-Wan’s voice: “Run, Luke! Run!”
The Matrix: Neo cannot get out of the Matrix. Trinity says, “Run, Neo! Run!”
Harry Potter: Fluffy, the giant three-headed dog guarding the sorcerer’s stone is awake. Harry tells his friends: “Jump! Go!”
Sideways: Jack seduced Cammi, a waiter he met in some restaurant. They were making love when her husband arrived home earlier than expected. Of course he had to run away—stark naked.
Dodgeball: Peter cannot stand the pressure of the group and runs away.
Bonus Example:
The Lord of The Rings: Gandalf is about to fall into the abyss of Moria. He tells the others, “Fly, you fools!”
Related:
110 – Run for Your Life (1)
158 – Run for Your Life (3)
124 – First Declaration of Love
The Hero and the romantic interest have a first bond.
Description:
This scene starts with romantic potential, but the circumstances impede any progress.
The obstacle can be something random, like an interruption, as usually happens in romantic movies. In other genres, the obstacle is created by the action developing around the characters.
Examples:
Star Wars: The attraction between Han and Leia is evident, but they cannot get past their strong and individualistic characters. And right now they are too busy staying alive, of course.
The Matrix: Neo asks Trinity about what the Oracle told her (that she would fall in love with The One), but she cannot answer.
Harry Potter: Kids’ love. Ron mockingly imitates Hermione: “It’s Levi-OH-sa, not levio-saah.” Hermione hears him and hides in the bathroom to cry.