Scott at 2011-09-20 23:31:06:

Okay, a few things I noticed in reading the script: (1) The script takes its own sweet time making things happen. * 3 beats to the math mystery before Lambreau even sees Will furtively marking on the board, then has to chase down info to finally locate him. * Don't meet the Skylar until 16 and Will doesn't call her until 27. * We don't actually spend any significant time with Sean until 37 (teaching his class) * Will runs through three shrinks before ending up with Sean and their first meeting isn't until 44. That is some assured writing conveying confidence in the central conceit and the characters to sustain a reader's interest for 45 minutes until the story's two primary characters meet. And then Will doesn't actually begin to open up to Sena until 56. (2) My plot point breakdown per Narrative Throughline: Opening (1-5): Introduce Will and the guys, Lambreau and MIT, Sean The Hook (14): Lambreau sees Will solving the math problem The Lock (28): Will agrees to work with Lambreau and see shrinks in order to avoid going to jail Deconstruction Test (44-48): Will 1st meeting with Sean where Sean gets in Will's face Transition (60): Will goes on a date with Skylar Reconstruction Test (77-79): Skylar asks Will to go to California All Is Lost (90-95): Skylar leaves for California, Will interviews with NSA, and Sean calls Will on his "bullshit" On The Offensive (103-105): Sean tells Will "It's not your fault," and Will finally says, "I know, I know." Final Struggle (110-112): Will takes a job with Unitek, then decides to go to California (3) Finally three acts, this time I think I'll go with Jung: Invitation: Will in Disunity (blue collar genius, knows everything but knows nothing, resisting the shadow of foster father abuse) gets an 'invitation' from Lambreau. Immersion: (A) Romance: Skylar, (B) Math: Lambreau, (C) 'Demons': Sean. Integration: Accepts he's not guilty for abuse by his father, accepts his genius, accepts his love for Skylar. His decision to go to California is a critical step toward integration and Unity.

Anna Kelian at 2011-09-21 09:28:12:

This is my breakdown of the Script: Act I: 1. Fun with Friends 2. Lambeau’s Challenge & The Mystery Math Magician 3. Loyal Friends 4. Trouble with the Law 5. Will’s Genius: Math & History (IQ) 6. Skylar 7. Lambeau: Will’s way out Act IIa: 1. Shrinks Tested 2. Fun with Math 3. Sean & Lambeau 4. Date with Skylar 5. Testing Sean 6. Discussing Family with Skylar 7. Will loses (EQ) 8. Construction 9. Calling no one 10. Counting seconds 11. Will and Chuckie 12. Perfection vs imperfections 13. Skylar & Will discuss Family 14. Sean and Will: No regrets Act IIb: 1. Changing theories 2. Skylar meets the boys 3. Will’s Future 4. Chief negotiator 5. Photographic memory 6. Chuckie and Sklyar (Will’s lies) 7. Lambeau and Will: future 8. “I love you”/”I don’t love you.” 9. Doing your Job vs doing what’s right (Morality) 10. Goodbye Skylar 11. Baseball card 12. Soul-mates 13. Will quits on Lambeau 14. Chuckie wishes Will would leave Act III: 1. Sean vs. Lambeau 2. Not your fault 3. Considering an “Honorable” job 4. 21st Birthday 5. Will and Sean move on 6. Will’s not home 7. Will drives off to see about a girl

Anna Kelian at 2011-09-21 10:28:49:

I'll go with Hegel: It's something like this: Thesis: Will's in a Comfort Zone: has Friends (only family), has an "honorable" job, he's at home[A Ship in a harbor] Antithesis: He's a prodigy (different than his friends, should have a much better job, doesn't belong to this environment); She's different than other girls (She's perfect now) [He should take this port out of the storm] Synthesis: "What if I left? What if I followed her?" [He should set sail, but he would choose his destination - for a future without regrets]