Broach School Documentation

Here are some pix from working with the Broach School kids! (Sorry to those of you who were expecting this post on Monday derp derp)

Biosphere PDF

Link to Biosphere PDF: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4BXYl5qkdOTWEN2cVFNdWNOWms

Final Reflection Video

Below is the link for my youtube response. Happy summer!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toXhrMowac8

Final Biosphere Comic

Final Biosphere Comic! The format is as you see - beginning at the top and scrolling vertically downwards. For a more detailed and explanatory post, click HERE.

Observational Dialogue

An exercise from earlier in the semester was based in observing every day conversations of strangers. These are the notes I took while spending an evening at a coffee shop. Things get a little jumbled, but I think the conversations are interesting regardless.

1. Are you listening to Pandora? 

No. What are you listening to?

...Nothing. (laughs quickly)

I keep getting stuck on that one (math problem)

Three and four. Did you get it? 4 + 4 + 4

Because they can't 

Did you get it?

So...

it says what is the minimum. It says the minimum is less than 88. 

Because the minimum

ok the maximum is the highest point, but the minimum is less than 88. Do you know how I got 12?

yesss.

Whatever number has to be...uh....88? Is the highest?

Less than 88 and less than...whatever the minimum, is less than 88? Do you get it?

Yes. 

Well it doesn't matter what number you get. 

IF you move this on this side, it makes sense.

Do you want to come through this, and then come back to it?

**

Yeah, I mean, I saw him for a little while but it didn't work out.

**

Oh you get internet here?

1. Yeah.
2. Oh, cool.
3. Yeah, ...welcome to the 21^st century.
4. Blank page. I can't find an ending. I can't find a clever, clear ending that relates back to the beginning. Here is the thing the ending needs to be satisfying, needs to relate to the beginning somehow...there was something else...oh it has to be surprising, unpredictable. 
5. -Is this the scarecrow?
6. Yes. This is the scarecrow. He is trying to scare away crows, it's his job, So what does he do? I mean maybe he does manage to scare it in some unexpected way

**

Like, HERE IT IS!

In the air.

Right!

It is

**

Like, we hung out non-stop.

**

And then I'm going to ___in St. Pete. 

It should be fun, one of my friends is dancing. 

Cool.

Ok talk to you later.

**But I don't want to

Yeah?

**

You can finish by the time we leave.

But no one cares.

**

What was he thinking?

But yeah like she said it wasn't right anyways.

Paris wouldn't say that about anyone. 

He can't help it.

I would never, I would never force someone to buy jewelry.

I don't like gold. I had it for like three years and it was turning gold, like yellow.

Really?

Yeah like with all the oils and everything.

What was yours? Solid gold?

Uhh it was like ___ it's hanging up somewhere. It's all beat up.

I had ordered Chad's ring, but it dind't come in time for the wedding so we went to Walmart and bought like, a titanium one. I was like this is a ring to put on your finger. 

Right now like, that when I had the hand carrot done, and those are so expensive alone and, uhm they were like we will give you money for that. 

I have my mom's ring. It's all there. It's a flaw a diamond, like, A DIAMOND. 

I got it way smaller with the diamond and uh, it was terrible. 

Way smaller? 

Yeah I mean it was like. I got it like really really small. And it defnintely like, sparkled.

Yeah thats like my uh my wedding and engagement band, they were smaller but it was completely flawless. It was always really really sharp. I used to tell ted too I was like on anniversaries or anything be like you know, because I never got a real proposal, propose to me like how you envisioned you would have proposed to me. Oh yeah he was right on it. 

**

The first time I ever got published, I didn't get paid.

I've got all kinds of magazine work, NEVER been paid. However the last windy day when , they did vive me something.

But uhm, oh wow that was fast

I think the reason we get a lot more work than them was timing. Even now, the magazine work is different. In sarasota, they did a spread on the house. 

What was it like, 500 bucks a month?

Yeah it was

You're getting paid to do a cover right?

Uhmm,m yes, uh yes. 

2 for a cover. I thought it was 550 for a cover.

Actually I guess it depends on the budget, it changes all the time, they come in and tell us what they need.

You know who's been getting published a lot in sarasota is jeanie.

They're so much uhhhm, so much more. 

That's because he works with rachael.

Where id you see that at? Facebook?

Would you like to get it framed?

I just I was uhh a little more cautious with him. 

We came back form st armands circle and he was like oh you should have checked your facebook. I was sitting in starbucks alone for literally like four hours. I had lunch by myself and this old guys came up to me and was like I don't wanna rush you but, how much longer are you gonna be? I have a party of six that wants this table. 

Yesterday I did go to

Where was that?

Oh she said she was doing a workshop in askgfhahg

Do you have a __now?

I am seriously considering it. 

And I'm like I;ve got a classroom toilet.

You open it up and it's like AAAAAHHHH

Yeah like lets keep it on the DL

I love it.

Wel hey at least your'e keeping it real.

I took a bunch f notes. She's like really into it

is that the chick you shot? No no nono

oh my gosh she called me yesterday and was like actuallu we want someone with dark hair, and yeah she was like no it's not her it the marijuana. 

Collaborative Superhero Story

This is a story that John Carvajal and I wrote together concerning the lives of our superhero friends. We were given a poster with the choice to include any of the characters pictured, so we chose Silver Samurai and Carnage, because they are badasses.

It is early morning. Silver Samurai and Carnage have just returned from a long night of creating chaos to bond over brunch. Silver Samurai recently took some cooking lessons as a hobby, and is anxious to show off his recently developed skills. They walk into their loft apartment, and silver samurai heads into the kitchen, ties an apron around his waist and gets to work. Meanwhile, Carnage gets busy doing the Villain Post’s daily crossword puzzle.

He asks, “Hey, what’s a five letter word for ‘everyone loves it’?”

“Hmmmm…..CHAOS!” Silver Samurai responds as he shakes the hand that is holding the spatula in the air, “Oh, and how do you want your eggs?”

Carnage, being very particular about his breakfast food, states “Over easy, but MAKE SURE that the yolk is runny, that’s my favorite.”

“Yeah yeah, don’t worry about it, I took a class especially for making over easy eggs,” Silver samurai dismissively assures him.

With that, he gets back to cooking, and the two chat about the chaos they had created the night before.

“I can’t BELIIIIIIEVE the look on Spider Man’s face when we demolished that bank!” Carnage chuckles.

Silver Samurai laughs along as he cracks the eggs into the hot pan, remarking “Yeah man, that was perfect.”

“We make such an epic evil team silver Samurai, heh heh, MUCH better than when I was with venom, that wuss.”

“A great night of pillaging, sharing this sweet bachelor pad with my bro, and now a delicious breakfast- what more could we ask for?”

“Nothing, man. We are living the high life.” Carnage agrees.

Silver Samurai laughs, and turns back to the pan. With horror, he sees that he has left the eggs over the heat for too long, and the yolks of Carnage’s eggs have solidified. Unsure of what to do, and too proud to admit his cooking mistake, he decides to serve them anyways. They were having a great morning, “He will understand,” Silver Samurai cheerfully thinks to himself. With that, he places the eggs on a clean china dish, pours a freshly brewed cup of coffee, and butters some toast (which is slightly burnt) and delivers the carefully crafted meal to Carnage, who has almost completed the crossword.

“Wow Silver Samurai, looks like those classes are paying off!” He grabs the toast, “Oh, I mean, this toast is a little crispy, but HEY I’m sure the eggs are perfect. MMM I can’t wait.”

With that, Carnage decides to dip the toast in his egg yolks. His face turns cold, as he pokes the center of the egg with the hardened bread and realizes that his yolks are not runny!!!!!! He clears his throat, “Silver Samurai. My egg yolks…are not runny.”

Silver Samurai, who was busy preparing his own plate, didn’t hear the remark. “What’s that, Carnage?” he sings.

Carnage’s face begins to contract in utter anger. “I SAID,” he throws his coffee mug at the wall and it shatters, “MY EGG YOLKS ARE NOT RUNNYYYYYYYYY!” He stands up, and sweeps everything off of the table with incredible force with both of his arms. Silver Surfer turns around in shock to see Carnage standing over the table, and glaring at him.

“Well I wouldn’t be so tired if YOU had held up your part of the deal, done the job, and gotten us back here on time!” Silver Samurai shouts.

They continue to hurl insults at one another, until a physical fight breaks out. The two romp for a full twenty four hours. All day and all night they shouted, destructed, and completely obliterated their loft apartment. They began strong, but slowly became tired, and by sunrise the next morning the were both laying on the floor, and could only muster enough strength to toss small pieces of rubble at one another.

“Uhhhhhhhhh…” Carnage moaned pathetically, “Silver Samurai…I’m….HUNGRY uuuuuuhhhh.” He clutched his stomach, curled up in a ball, and rocked gently from side to side. “Can you like, make me some eeeeggggs?” He whimpered.

Silver Samurai lifted his head, and saw the sorry state that the apartment was in. He too, was hungry, and wanted to resolve the conflict. However, their kitchen was gone, and he did not want to risk another egg mishap.

“Hey Carnage, let’s just go to that diner down the street,” he suggests. He stands, helps Carnage to his feet, and they head to the diner.

One their food arrives, Silver Samurai excitedly takes an enormous bite of his pancakes. Suddenly, he stops chewing, and says, “I…asked for BLUEBERRIES in the pancakes, and these are CHOCOLATE CHIPS!” He seems furious, but then relaxed and smiles. “Eh, it’s cool. I LOVE chocolate.”

THE END

Biosphere Consciousness

For the final project on biosphere consciousness I am going to focus on the parallels between an individual life and that of the common community of the universe. In other words, the format of the comic will simultaneously follow the paths of a human and then organic matter that both begin from the same abstract shape at the beginning of the comic. Throughout the middle of the comic, the two "worlds" will interact in some panels, showing the interdependence and unity of the universe. For example, one world evolves into a plant, the other evolves into a human, and the human will be breathing oxygen from the plant and eating it. In the end, the two worlds join together into the same shape once again, completing the message that every aspect of our environment is interconnected.

Family Story

I was home for four weeks. It was Winter Break and the solaces of being home had found a place in my life once again. That year it was different though. Things weren't as bright. I returned home to remember that my grandparents were living with us through the Winter months to escape the Minnesota chill: their presence affected all of us in some way. "I know it is a little hard to have them around," my mother would tell us in one of the rare moments of quiet, "but they love to see us...They love it here." I asked what good that is for if they are the only ones enjoying their trip. 


I answered the phone driving home late one evening. My mother's words quickly sent me into haziness. Sam, my brother Jeff's best friend, had a sudden brain aneurism a few hours earlier and was being kept alive by life support only until my brother's hockey team returned from Denver. The coaches were waiting until after the game to tell my brother and his teammates why Sam was not with them to play.


My hands shook slightly, a gentle stream of tears rolled down over my lips. Jeff didn't know yet. He is the most important person in the world to me, and on the brink of tragedy and out of my reach there was no way for me to protect my little brother. Throughout the night of being at the hospital, seeing Sam's family, and crying with strangers, my thoughts were focused only on Jeff. The first time I saw him after the news I pushed through the crowd to find myself in his arms, squeezing tightly, feeling his chest heave with sobs. He had not cried in years. In that embrace I sent all of my love to him, trying to let him know that in all uncertainty, he can at least find solidity in the company of his sister.


The next week was a disconnect. My parents and Jeff did all that they could to help Sam's family after that night. We kept busy as an attempt to keep distracted, but were all faking composure and retreated into ourselves. My grandparents felt the need to interject as well, to participate in the grief, and took it upon themselves to become involved in the funeral. My brother was a champion enduring consistent questioning from my grandparents asking if he was alright, and giving him scripted comfort like "Well, he is in a better place now." In a tragedy that was something that my family shared, it seemed insensitive of my grandparents to force themselves into the heart of the issue. That was the problem for the time following Sam's death: my mom, dad, brother and I needed to confront the pain as a family but my grandparents left us no room to do so, so we each shielded the reality of our emotions.


This pattern finally broke at the burial. My brother stood blankly with the other pallbearers by Sam's family as they lowered the casket. Staring at him, I was reminded again that I was powerless in my desperate desire to take Jeff's pain away. There was nothing I wanted more for him. As the crowd began to disperse I turned to hug my parents silently. Moments later we saw Jeff walking quickly towards us with fresh tears covering his deeply sorrowful expression. He shrunk into us and my parents and I wrapped around him with our heads tucked together. I found my brother's hand and clutched it sturdily. Twenty minutes passed and none of us moved or said a word. It was finally the four of us, experiencing the rawness of our feelings, weeping, snot covered, huddled in the snow. We remained still and were eventually alone. Our grips slowly loosened, and we drifted back to our cars. 


We have never talked about that afternoon, but we walked away from that situation a different family. We were equals. We saw each other not as parent or child, man or woman, but merely as a human who struggles, who can't fix every problem, and who needs others. Prior to that day we had never shared such intense love and companionship all together, and I carry that moment with me every day. 

Slice of Life Script

A man and a woman sit across from each other at a small table outside of a coffee shop. They shift uncomfortably in their seats and stroke their coffee cups to fill the lull in conversation. 


"Yeah but like I said it wasn't right anyways," the woman said.
"I don't even like gold. I had it for like three years and it was turning like, yellow."
"Really?" the man questioned.
"Yeah, with the oils and everything. What was yours? Solid gold?"
"Uhh, yeah kind of. It's hanging up somewhere. It's all beat up."
The woman quickly continues on. 
"I had ordered Chad's ring, but it didn't come in time for the wedding so we went to Walmart and bought like, a titanium one. I was like hey this is a ring to put on your finger."
The man perked up and suddenly seemed more engaged with interacting with the woman. The awkwardness of the silence has disappeared. He gave his side of the topic. 
"I had my mom's ring to give. It's a diamond. Like, A DIAMOND. I got a smaller one."
"Way smaller?" she asked.
The man responded "Yeah I mean it was like, I got it like really really small. And it definitely like, sparkled."
"Yeah that like my uh, my wedding and engagement band, they were smaller but completely flawless. It was always really really sharp," she paused, "I used to always tell Ted too on anniversaries or anything be like you know, because I never got a real proposal, propose to me like how you envisioned you would have proposed to me." 
The conversation quickly trails off, and the man and woman lean in for a prolonged kiss.

Dream Scenario part II

Anxious from the alarming encounter, the girl and her dog decide to move faster: neither of them wanted another disturbance. The path begins to steady decline which is a restful change from the earlier unpredictable hills . The jagged cliffs hovering over the pair seem to soften, and the forest trees slowly spread apart from one another. 


The dog, recovered from his worrisome emotions, sees the changing landscape as an opportunity to continue exploring. The dog's confidence cheers the girl up, who unclenches her muscles and embraces the urge to swing her arms freely as the clunky hiking boots on her feet hit the ground. Before long the trees and rocks have shifted dramatically and the girl realizes they are in the middle of a vast wheat field with the mountains left far in the horizon. 


Despite the drizzle, the wheat emanated golden light which created a sickly green colored sky. The tall crop made it difficult for the dog to keep track of the girl, however they could feel the buzzing line of energy between their eyes which would readily lead them back to each other. As the dog continued to roam through the open space, the girl gazed upward to see clouds billowing directly overhead. The drizzle turned into large puddly raindrops. The girl was perplexed to see that the water did not fall to hit the ground but hovered above the wheat in mid air. The clouds continued to spew floating spheres of water which began to clog the open space. 


Soon, the girl lost visibility and could not see more than a few feet in front of her. The spheres of water pressed against her skin, and it became harder to fill her lungs with each passing breath. She tuned in to the energy she felt from her dog, who she could feel was somewhere behind to her left. She did the best she could to duck between the stalks of wheat and evade the multiplying raindrops as she shuffled towards the dog. The golden light shining through the water made it impossible to see, and the entire field was now an acrid mustard color. The girl held her breath and shuddered at the thought of water filling her lungs. Blindly she continued on as quickly as she could, following the line between her eyes and the dogs. Finally she felt his warm fur, and climbed inside the dog's stomach as he opened his mouth wide. 


The girl took a deep breath to replenish her longs, and gave the side of the stomach a tender pat. She was safe now, and took comfort in the fact that they could now travel more quickly since they didn't have to depend on the girl to walk. She couldn't see outside, but it felt like the dog was swimming. The sky must have flooded, the girl thought. She settled down into the warmth of the dog's stomach for the rest of the journey.


The girl perked up when she could feel the rhythm of the dog's movement returning to a walk. The dog let her know that they were finally there, and opened his mouth for her to climb out. They were high on a mountain again, but it was made entirely of large slabs of stone. The air was cool and crisp: the sun was low in the sky and they took a moment to admire the first clear view that they had seen for days. They then got to work. The dog knew the exact spot they were looking for, so the girl pulled a pick axe out of her canvas sack and began to chip away the rock with his direction. 


Just as the sun touched the horizon they uncovered their find: the girl pulled a silver dish that had been fossilized in the rock and gently turned it over in her hands. The dog was focused with much intensity, he had been waiting so long to see the dish. With that, the girl pulls a bottle out of her pack, sets the dish down in front of the dog, and fills it with water. At the sign of her smile, the dog laps up every last bit of water, wagging his tail ferociously. The sun sets, and the pair settle down to rest for the night before they begin the journey home in the morning.

Dream Scenario

A girl trudges along a rainy mountain side with a large dog by her side. She wears a canvas bag, and plain clothes that cling to her skin because of the drizzle. She walks slowly, not seeming to be in a rush but deliberate enough to make it clear that she has a destination already in mind. She looks weary, her eyes slightly cloudy from thinking too much, or an inability to cope with a discouraging event. 


The mountain lies directly next to a coast line. The water is a stormy grey, and waves crash against the rocky shore just violently enough to make the girl nervous. The dog is not on a leash and wanders slightly to explore the muggy surroundings but is careful not to lose sight of his owner. 


The girl gasps and stumbles as she looks ahead to see a grotesque creature a ways ahead on the path. He has set up camp and appears to be living directly in the path that the girl must take. Crude weapons lay within his reach, and his slimy skin, grunts, and harsh demeanor make it clear that he is not to be fooled with. She urgently catches the attention of her dog who runs to her side. They deliberate the situation, and try to find ways to get to the other side of the troll's station. The terrain makes it near impossible to scale the cliff on one side of the path, and the water is far too rough and cold to swim in. 


I can just be very quiet and slip through the trees, the girl thinks. But upon sign of any movement closer to the path, the troll growls, and scans the woods for any intruders through his slit eyes. The quiet approach is out. The girl can feel herself beginning to panic, she knows that they won't bode well in the rainy night if they don't keep moving. 


She and the dog move slightly towards the shore to find a safer place to collect themselves. As they settle down, she peers over a ledge of rocks and sees a pathway made of large stones that have been placed in the water to create a loop that takes them to the other side of the troll's hideaway. Thrilled, the girl carefully makes he way along the large loop unseen by the troll. The dog follows, but does not need to go on the rocks and simply stretches his torso across the gap to reach the other side and the pair continue on their way in the grey and the rain.

Rumpie - A Rumpelstilzkin Adaptation

The King is walking outside, surrounded by nature and picturesque imagery. He has a pleasant but contemplative look on his face.

The King's late morning stroll.

Another shot of the King. He finds a tree to sit underneath and is writing in his journal.

Perfect for quiet reflection on his royal duties.

The King scribbles out of like as we see that there is a disturbance coming from over a nearby hill. He looks perplexed, intrigued, and worried.

laborer

WHADDAYA THINK YER DOING?!

Zoom in on the King's face, sweaty, eyes wide.

king

He is yelling at me, he must be!

King hugs knees to chest, still alarmed.

king

I'm not a fierce leader like the other kings, everyone hates me.

We see a laboring, scruffy man ascend over the hill yelling at a small group of ducks that appear to be hindering his walking intentions.

laborer

Yeh no good ducks! Always in the way of--

He sees the king, and his expression and body language immediate change to an apologetic profile.

LAborer

Your Highness! Dear me I am deeply sorry to have disturbed you.

King

(thinking)

Here is my chance, I can be a fierce ruler!

King quickly stuffs journal inside robe, stands up, puffs out chest.

king

Ahem, ahem...Good sir! I am quite, disturbed.

laborer

I am so sorry.

King holds up finger, heroically.

king

You must provide me with compensation! Or, your personal safety may be at risk!

Laborer

Like, so so so so sorry.

Hands on hips, still overacting in exercising his royal status.

king

Because, Kings DO this sort of thing, right? Punish?

The laborer, who has been groveling, looks up, hopefully as he suggests

laborer

My daughter can spin straw into spaghetti?

King pauses, reflects. Looking to the side.

King

(thinking)

Spaghetti is my FAVORITE.

King looks down at man.

KING

Hmmm. I GUESS that will be due payment. Bring her to me post haste!

We see the alleged daughter, and King in a room filled with straw and spinning wheel, he instructs her.

king

Spin this straw into spaghetti by dawn. OR ELSE.

The daughter is now alone, and is clearly angered by her predicament.

She begins counting, analyzing what she could possibly do. She surveys the room.

daughter

Approximately 12 piles of hay, that's 1.25 piles per hour...

Another shot but from a different angle, she is counting on her fingers.

daugther

The chemical compound of the hay would allow for easy break down, which means...

She begins feverishly shoving hay into her bouth and grinding it with her teeth. Behind her we see a small unusual face peer in the window, curious as to the ruckus.

Close up of the window, the face peers further in.

Rumpie

Whatcha doin?

Daughter is clearly alarmed.

DAUGHTER

(thinking)

My chances of success are %0.6. He may help.

Daughter appears more relaxed, and cooly responds to the creature.

daughter

Gotta spin this stuff into spaghetti for the King. Or I'm toast.

Rumpie now crawls in beside her, appearing friendly. Daughter is intrigued.

rumpie

Well I can do that.

We see the daughter and Rumpie shaking hands.

daughter

By sunrise?

Rumpie

Deal.

We see the daughter sleeping peacefully as Rumpie sits behind her, apparently spinning away.

Closer view of the daugther, the sun is shining on her.

The daughter opens her eyes, calm at first.

Her expression turns to rage.

Wider view, we see that Rumpie has made a darling set up using the straw, with a little table, chairs, hut, and garden. He is decorating.

rumpie

Look, I made a fort!

The daughter grabs Rumpie, enraged. Close view of their faces.

daughter

WHAT?! The King is totally gonna kill me! Fix this!

Rumpie appears surprised, grabs the daughter by the shoulders.

Rumpie

I completely forgot! I, I can save you, run away with me!

The daugther seems conflicted. She is pondering her options.

daughter

(thinking)

My chance or survival here is now at %0.03. But this guy...

DAUGHTER

(Speaking)

Yes. Let's go!

The pair jump out of the window.

With the help of a rope Rumpie made, they lower themselves down and turn to run away.

We see the pair walking. Rumpie is cheery, but the daughter seems annoyed.

RUMPIE

You know, good interior design is actually crucial to the digestive system of the...(words get smallerand trail off)

Another view of them walking, we see mountains in the distance.

rumpie

...and there is actually a little hut I built on the top of that mountain a long time ago!

daugther

(thinking)

If only I could get up there and away from him.

Mathematical diagram of the mountain, with x and y heights, equations, and the daughter formulating in her head.

Daughter

(thinking)

I CAN get up there!

Sun is low, the two are walking towards the base of the mountains, Rumpie still chatting indistinguishably.

The two stop. Rumpie looks a bit confused, but still cheery. The daughter is pissed.

rumpie

My, I'm afraid in all my chit chat I have lost our place!

The daughter is still seething, and trying to be civil.

daughter

We should stop to make camp.

rumpie

Oh well I thought we could just keep going, the moonlight will be beautiful!

The daughter is fed up, she looms over a frightened Rumpie.

daughter

We ARE STOPPING. NOW!

Rumpie collects himself, and is pulling his pack out.

rumpie

Sheesh sheesh alright. I'll get some smores  going.

Rumpie is setting up a fort out of leaves and twigs and a blanket, very decorative. The daughter sits on a rock, looking bored.

The daughter is in the same spot, Rumpie lights a fire in front of them.

Daughter in same spot, Rumpie looks jolly with a grin on his face and a marshmallow roasting over the fire.

daugther

I'm going to bed.

Daughter crawls into tent, looking over her shoulder as she does.

Rumpie has fallen asleep, with marshmallow and chocolate all over his face, snuggly by the fire.

Daughter sneaks out of the tent, and begins to head up the mountain.

The laborer's daughter was never seen again.

Rumpie has waken up, with a gleeful look on his face.

Rumpie looks around, swiping head from left to right.

Rumpie collects his things. Packing them with care.

His little frame couldn't take all of that sugar, and in a daze completely forgot about his companion.

Rumpie walks off into the distace.

So he continued on his merry way, wandering and chatting with himself about the fancies of life.

The Yellow Wallpaper Layout

A better scan to come later - here is my solution to the layout of one of the twelve pages from The Yellow Wallpaper.

Script - The Yellow Wallpaper

Allie Doersch

A bird's eye view of the mansion, gardens, and surrounding area. Two figures standing in front, gazing up. With suitcases.

The two figures, John and the narrator [woman], their hands hanging down holding suitcases, we see their wedding rings.

Woman's hand opens the door to the house.

I am sick.

Woman drinking medicine

I drink tonics and journeys.

Woman strolling through gardens.

I sip air. I exercise.

Woman sitting on bed staring out window.

John does not believe I am sick!

Zoom in on woman's hands.

He says I have a temporary nervous depression.

View of a desk top with pen and blank paper, we see part of a window.

I am forbidden to work.

Straight view of woman, looking at viewers, hands in her lap, straight expression.

Woman

Personally, I disagree with their ideas.

Woman writing at desk

I confess, to think about my condition makes me feel bad...

View of the top portion of the house, and the sky above it

So I will talk about the house.

A view of a fence with locked gate, and little houses behind it. Trees, hedges, etc.

Hedges, walls, gates that lock.

Close up of colorful flowers and plants

A delicious garden!

Woman writing, looking over shoulder

woman

But I can feel something strange.

Silhouette of woman at desk from behind, in front of window.

Woman

I don't like this room one bit.

View looking up to a corner of the room, we see where two walls and the ceiling intersect.

This wallpaper...smouldering unclean yellow.

A close look at the wall paper, straight on, the pattern fills the panel.

It commits every artistic sin.

Woman quickly putting writing away in a drawer, we can see open door in the background, with the top of John's head ascending the stairs.

(Noise balloon)

Thud, thud, thud.

Woman

There comes John!

Woman sitting in window sill, writing.

Woman

This is only nervousness.

Close up on woman's face, pondering look with her pen up to her mouth, grinning slightly.

woman

I am glad my case is not serious!

Woman dressing herself, worried/somber/tired expression. We can see the yellow wallpaper.

Woman laying on bed, staring, tired look in her eyes. Bird's eye view.

Woman sitting on bench in the garden with John. facing each other

woman

I want to repaper the room.

Same viewpoint, John is laughing, woman seems hurt.

Same viewpoint, John takes woman's hand in his own.

JOHN

You can't give in to such fancies.

Closer view of John's face, he looks encouraging but stern.

John

The place is doing you good.

Sun setting behind trees, we only see the tops and the sky above.

I wish I could get well faster.

View out of window, we are looking down to see the garden.

View out of another window, we look down to see the wharf.

View out of a third window, we look down to see a lane.

A straight view of the woman, staring ahead, the wallpaper fills the rest of the panel behind her. Her facial expression is blank.

We see the wallpaper and a little of the floorboards. Parts of the wallpaper are torn off to show the blank wall beneath.

The wallpaper is torn off in spots.

We see the woman's feet as if she were looking down at her own. The splinters on the floor are large and rough.

The floor is scratched and gouged and splintered.

We see a drawer with papers with writing on them spilling out of the top. The drawer is almost closed.

woman

I must not let them find me writing.

View of the wallpaper again with a double layer effect, we see the wall, crown molding, and a small part of the ceiling.

This wallpaper has a kind of sub-pattern...

Woman looking sideways, writing at desk, we see the wallpaper at her side.

woman

...in a particularly irritating shade.

We see the window, the sun is setting and beaming in. Where the light hits we can see the second pattern.

For you can only see it in certain lights.

We see the woman's face, her eyes are closed, surrounded by the wallpaper.

woman

I can see a formless sort of figure.

The wallpaper, the ambiguous figure is on the left of the panel.

Same shot, figure is in the center.

Same shot, figure is on the right.

(caption spreads beneath panels 5,6, and 7)

It seems to sulk about behind that silly front design.

A group of people sitting in a group in back of the house by the garden.

Mother, Nellie, and the children came down for a week.

Woman looking down out of the window, we see the same group of people sitting below.

woman

I did nothing.

Woman curled up in bed, we only see her hair. Her body language suggests discontent.

I cry at nothing, and cry most of the time.

We see the woman's face, she is laying on her side in bed, tears streaming down her face.

woman

But only when I am alone.

A large panel, it looks like a map of the house and surrounding grounds. The woman is standing a one corner, and there is a dotted line behind her that shows the path along which she has strolled.

woman

So I walk a little. But the wallpaper...it dwells in my mind so!

Another large panel, it too is a map, but of the wallpaper, with a dotted line following the route of its pattern.

I will follow that pattern to some conclusion.

A close up of the woman's eyes: blood shot and baggy from fatigue.

woman

It tires me to follow it.

Laying in bed, a silhouette against the wallpaper.

woman

I will take a nap I guess.

Woman sitting, writing.

woman

I tried to have a real earnest reasonable talk with John the other day.

Panel 2 expands from woman's head as she is writing, as if remembering what had happened. She is pleading with john, facing him.

Woman

I want to leave.

But I was crying before I had finished.

John picks woman up in his arms.

John carries her up the stairs.

John tucks her in, a closer shot of her face and his hands. She still has tears streaming down her cheeks

John reads to her as she falls asleep.

Nighttime. The woman lays awake in bed, staring at the wallpaper.

woman

The shapes get clearer every day.

We see the desk, with various things on it, part of the window, and the wall. On the wall we see a figure creeping behind the pattern.

It is a woman creeping about, shaking the pattern as if trying to escape!

The moon shines through the window, across the floor and bed.

woman

I hate to see the moonlight creeping.

Woman gets out of bed, looks and gestures as if to move towards the wall to examine the paper.

John appears, we see him from behind as he peeks in the doorway.

John

What is it, little girl?

The two are sitting on the bed, he has his arm around her as an action of comfort, and has his other arm out in front of him.

john

Really dear you are better!

woman

Better in body perhaps.

We see the wall and window, with the woman sitting in front of it on her bed with her back to us. It is daytime.

woman

The pattern is torturing.

Same view of the woman, but it is night. The wallpaper has transformed and the moon is shining.

woman

It slaps you, knocks you down.

Same view as panel 4

woman

It cultivates deceit, and keeps me quiet.

Same view as panel 5

woman

And by moonlight, it becomes bars!

The woman is laying in bed, pretending to be asleep but with one eye open. John is behind her, examining the wallpaper.

WOMAN

I have caught them looking at it...

Woman writing, bent over, and if she is scribbling quickly.

Woman

But I am determined that no one shall find it out but myself!

Woman is writing still, but a closer crop on her face. Again she has a small grin, and looks pleased and a bit devious.

Woman

Life is very much more exciting now.

We see her hands from above, writing at a fast pace.

woman

I don't want to leave now until I have found it out.

Close up of pen, writing on paper. We see the wallpaper in the background.

woman

It is the strangest yellow. But there is something else...

We see the wall, with vapors seeping off of it, down the stairs and into the hall.

The smell!

The woman's face and shoulders, turning her head and running into the smell vapors, with a slightly disgusted look on her face.

It gets into my hair, it creeps everywhere.

Woman staring straight ahead, looking more crazed than previous shots of her head.

woman

I thought seriously of burning the house...

Close up of the vapors floating above the woman's head. We only see the top of her hair, it is messy.

woman

...to reach the smell.

A long panel, showing the floor and bottom part of the wall. A streak run along the entire panel.

It makes me dizzy, this funny streak on the wall. Round and round and round!

We see the woman from the side, she is sitting up in bed, as if just waking up.

woman

(above her)

I have discovered something.

(below her)

The front pattern does move!

Close up of the woman's eyes. In the shape of her eyes we see the pattern vibrating. Her eyes look wired, and unnaturally awake.

The woman behind shakes it!

A slanted view of the wall, so we can see a shape emerging from the wall, escaping from the 2nd dimension.

She tries to climb through, and gets out int he daytime!

Paper woman creeping in the garden.

Paper woman creeping by the wharf.

Paper woman creeping in the lane.

(spanning under panels 4, 5, and 6)

I've seen her out of my windows! Always creeping.

A solid block of black, with text written in the yellow color.

I intend to remove the top pattern.

We see a cracked door, with one eye peering through.

They are suspicious of me.

It is night. We see the floor panels and bottom of the wall again, but we see the woman crawling along the bottom. The woman's hands are entering the panel from above, and are clinging to a scrap of paper that is hanging fro the wall, about to rip it off.

The poor thing began to crawl, so I ran to help her.

We see the wall, with strips torn off, the woman's hands now at the bottom of the composition. The paper woman is clamoring at the bare pieces.

woman

She shakes and I pull, I pull and she shakes.

It is morning. The woman stands with a strip of wallpaper in her hand, staring with crazed determination. We see that she has torn off much of the paper in the night.

woman

I will finish it today!

The woman locks the door.

The woman tosses the key out of the window.

We see the woman tearing off the wallpaper in a frenzy.

The woman is running into the wall, running her shoulder along the streak as she clings to the remaining wallpaper.

woman

I will never go outside, they can't make me!

We see the door, with the knob rattling.

John

Open the door my darling!

The woman is on the far side of the room, stooped over with her hair in a mess, strips of paper everywhere and her shoulder pressed against the wall. She glares towards the door.

woman

I can't! The key is down under a plantain leaf!

John's hand lifts up a leaf, and grabs the key.

John has unlocked the door and opens it, we see hints of the chaos through the crack.

john

For God's sake, what are you doing!

We see the woman from behind John's hand, which is shaking. She is looking over her shoulder and stooped down.

woman

I've got out at last, and you can't put me back!

John has fainted, and is lying on the floor. The woman has just creeped past him. We are looking down on the room from a high point of view. A dotted line follows the woman around the circumference of the room, indicating that the is moving in a repeated circle.