On the Road to Fairfax County-

Hippie band on the road. Chill. Or a woman in renaissance times. “Suds in the Bucket” Why do girls go for the bad guy? Girl falls for someone who is bad for her but won’t listen to anyone telling her to stay away. He is beautiful partly because he is doomed by his faults.

Henry Lee-

Walking down the street to the bar. Heavy makeup and thick black hair. She is a prostitute? Something on the fringe. Used to be from a small town, good girl. Was changed by a guy, and is no longer that same girl, is now dangerous. She goes for someone who doesn’t want her, he wants who she used to be. She knows she is better than anyone else he can have.

60 acres-

He has been slighted. Never the favorite child; he knows it too. Sick of dealing with his family, he leaves home at 17. Doesn’t graduate high school.

Johnny dodge’s dream-

Up near Alaska, in Canada. A grandpa is dying, and having trouble adjusting to the fact. He has never had a very close relationship with his children, but he begins to get close to his oldest grandson, who keeps him company during his last summer. He tells his grandson about how great life used to be; but grows to appreciate his grandson’s life as well. (Used to think he was weak.) Grows close enough to him to regret not spending much time with his family, then dies.

Feeling No Pain-

How do you know if you have crossed “the line?” Sometimes you are too close to yourself to know something is seriously wrong.

Parents of a daughter with a serious case of anorexia can’t see the signs of her illness. The mother still deals with body issues, but refuses to think that her daughter may also have an issue with it. Do they not see her struggle because they love her too much? Or do they not care enough to notice? Or do they want to keep their self-image as good parents intact enough to put their daughter in jeopardy? It remains unclear (as the daughter has died.) Starts with an obituary, stating the girl has died. Goes to the family, being interviewed by a reporter. (The girl and her family are prominent in the community.)

Assignment: Character development using dialogue

A man lounges in the corner of the bar. His shoulders are open and relaxed, his long legs stretched out in front of him. He watches a woman approach the bartender.

“Hey there, sugar.” The woman stops to look at him.