The task of each scene (and, accordingly, the task of the author in each scene) is to take one more step (or several at once) forward along the road of the story that you are telling - to advance the plot, bring the characters to the next plot twist, inform them of new information, help they better understand each other or themselves, change their motives or desires.
Instructions
Step 1
The goals of the characters are divided into external - general, global - in general, according to the plot of the film. And internal - the goal of the character in this particular scene.
There are two options for working with tasks and goals for a scene. You can define them in advance, creating a structure for a future scene. A useful tool when you need to quickly and clearly define variables for a new scene and free your creative imagination.
The second option is to check out the ready-made scenes, created on the wave of inspiration, if you feel that "something is wrong with them", as is often the case in the first drafts of the script.
Let's look at the example of two scenes from the episode "Appearance is Deceiving" of the series "Once Upon a Time" (season 1, episode 12, written by Jane Espenson).
Step 2
The beauty and the Beast.
Dark magician Rumplestiltskin and Princess Belle.
The external goal of the magician in the story is to find and return his son, using his magical power (the result of a curse).
We can only speculate about Belle's external goal at the beginning of the proposed scene.
"Why am I here?" - Belle asks Rumplestiltskin at the beginning of the second act.
“It was dusty here,” the magician replies with a grimace.
They both laugh, he sits down next to her on the edge of the table, and an almost casual conversation ensues between the owner and the maid.
At the beginning of the scene, the inner goals of the characters coincide - they both strive to get to know better the only creature with whom they have to share shelter. And life.
It's the author's job to let them do that. Help them with this. Create a safe space for two, fill it with trust and understanding.
"You are not a monster," Belle declares in the end of the first half of the scene.
Then a heart-to-heart conversation is interrupted by the appearance of Gaston (after a second turned into a rose), and in the second half of the scene there is more lightness, humor and romance.
But the author's global goal in this double scene (the task of the scene) is insidious and cruel:
He intends to lead Rumplestiltskin to the thought "This girl is dangerous for me and my long-term plans. She is able to remove the curse and deprive me of my magic, although she herself does not know about it. I need to get rid of her."
And to unwind the chain of events that will ultimately lead this couple to a quarrel and separation, and bitter news for the magician about Belle's death.
Step 3
The next scene is the so-called midpoint of the episode, the middle of the second act - Belle and the Queen meet on the road.
The task of the scene (the task of the author) is to convey to Belle information about the "Kiss of True Love", which can remove the curse and turn the Beast back into a human.
The Queen's external goal is to defeat Rumplestiltskin, to seize his power, to subjugate him.
The Queen's inner goal in this scene is to make Belle the instrument of her plans, instilling in her the hope of returning Rumplestiltskin to a human form.
As for Belle, her inner and outer goals are the same at the end of this scene - she wants to save her Beast.
At the beginning of the scene, her inner goal was to return to the castle. Contrary to the magician's words in their previous scene together - "I expect to never see you again."
Belle ignores his request, and the intention to return to the castle informs us of her outer goal even before Belle learns from the Queen about the kiss of love.
