Date:         Fri, 23 May 1997 10:07:07 EDT
From: "you knew the job was dangerous when you took it..."              <mbarker@MIT.EDU>
Subject:      EXERCISE: Plot #9: Underdog: 20 Master Plots

Based on the book "20 Master Plots (And How to Build Them)" by Ronald B.
Tobias.  ISBN 0-89879-595-8.

Master Plot #9: Underdog

(p. 131) "The underdog plot is a form of rivalry plot...in the underdog
plot, the strengths aren't equally matched.  The protagonist is at a
disadvantage and is faced with overwhelming odds."

"This plot is near and dear to our hearts because it represents the
ability of the one over the many, the small over the large, the weak
over the powerful, the 'stupid' over the 'smart.'"

"If you want your reader to feel empathy for your protagonist, make sure
that her emotional and/or intellectual plane is equal to or lower than
the reader's. ..."

Phase 1--in interruption or crisis in the protagonist's life, with a
glimpse of life before, and the dramatic reversal that throws the
protagonist into conflict and competition.  In the underdog format, the
antagonist immediately gains and exercises the upper hand, with the
protagonist thoroughly disempowered, overwhelmed, supporessed.

Phase 2--something happens that reverses the descent.  Humble, modest
little underdog asks for something which turns out to be the strength or
ally that empowers.  And the phase really gets underway when the
challenges begin!  Can I?  If you can find the needle in the
haystack--and you did?  Well, if...(don't forget, one down, two down,
and three times a charm!)  The real movement here is from being the
victim to effectively challenging...

This often results in a split life, one secret victorious, the other
public drudgery.

Phase 3--an equal and open competition or challenge ensues, where it at
last becomes obvious to all who the secret victor is, and the
antagonists are as thoroughly defeated as they deserve.

The real trick to this plot is making the underdog strongly enough
motivated and realistic enough to believe in.  The odds are stacked
against the underdog, but there must be some way of winning through
courage, honor, strength, and wit.  Keep the audience rooting for the
underdog, and make sure they feel like they had struggled through the
depths and overcome all the obstacles with the underdog.

Checklist:
1.  Are your adversaries unequally matched?  The antagonist, whether
person, place, or thing, should clearly overpower the protagonist.
2.  Does your protagonist clearly fail in the first phase, change and
recover in the second phase, and come back for the final climactic
conflict?
3.  Is there a real chance that the underdog will simply get crushed
again?  While the underdog usually overcomes the opposition, consider
letting them lose, or otherwise vary the "expected" ending.

How about some "daily life" underdog situations?  Perhaps we could start
with a number from one to six?

1.  A waitress being heckled and hounded by a customer
2.  The clerk who keeps folding and rehanging the clothes for the rich
teenager
3.  A flight attendant being asked for a date
4.  A cleaning person mopping the floor--and the bored truckers who keep
walking across it
5.  The donut shop person who gets screamed at for taking people in
order, instead of waiting on Mr. Impatient
6.  The employees who must get to the meeting on time, so that the boss
can come in ten minutes late everytime...

While I suspect none of us has experienced any of these scenarios,
perhaps you can imagine the feelings of the underdog, the oppressor(s),
and the onlookers?

[don't like these?  how about any of the "big business", "government
sleazocracy", or other big crunchers against the individual scenarios?
pick your David, line up a fine Goliath, and set the scene for us...]

Crank it up.  Make us really feel sympathy for this underdog and disgust
with the sorry example of humanity that is leaning on them.  Give us a
scene that makes that oppression ours.

Then transform it--the cook calls the waitress over and hands her a
chocolate cream pie, with a wink?  or maybe the radio reads out the
daily double numbers, and our underdog grins?

And nail that sucker.  A full pot of iced tea poured into his briefs?
The boss reams out the employees, and then turns around to find his
boss was waiting behind the door?  Whatever, you're in charge, and
make us enjoy the victory dance of the underdog, the moon baying
charge of the beagle, the satisfying squelch of a dog's raised leg
against the finesse of a well-tailored suit leg and polished leather
shoe...

Simple enough?

Then write!
tink