Enough Said Plops 1 Pages 21-22: Eva enters her house and plops down next to her daughter Ellen and Ellen’s friend Chloe. Eva tells Chloe that she should have sex with her boyfriend if she wants to. Ellen is embarrassed by her MOTHER’S OBTRUSIVE behavior. 2 page 48: And in comes Tess. Albert’s Tess! Oh boy. Eva’s freaked and hides behind a bush. ALBERT IS MARIANNES EX. Eva PLANS to do something with Marianne next week. 3 Pages 55-57: Albert and Eva have just finished having sex. Albert mentions that Tess LIKED EVA, Eva tries to PRETEND to like Tess. He admits to really liking Eva. 4 Page 68: They all walk from the restaurant to their cars. Eva watches her ex-husband feeling pensive and LONLEY . (She see whether she feels like ) 5 Pages 85-88: Eva sets up her massage table at Marianne’s. In comes Tess, Eva FREEZES. Tess doesn’t see her at first. But then she does, Eva feigns surprise at the recognition. Tess announces that Eva is dating Albert. Eva is DEVASTATED. She GATHERS her stuff and leaves, APOLOGIZING to Marianne on her way out. 5.2 Pages 90-93: Eva stops by Albert’s house with Cinnabons. Eva TRIES to explain but Albert’s not having it: she knew what to do and didn’t do it and let Marianne’s ideas poison their relationship. She WANTS to keep seeing him, he doesn’t know how that would work. She broke his heart. Eva walks out. 6 Page 93: Eva enters Ellen’s nearly empty bedroom with the finished knitted scarf. Eva sits on her stripped bed. Ellen walks in and joins her, they share a look, ACKNOWLEDGING the bittersweet nature of life. 7 Pages 97-98: Eva stops by Albert’s. She hides in her car but Albert sees her. She’s EMBARRASSED that he saw her but now they’re able to talk. He goes onto the porch and she exits her car to join him. He ADMITS to driving by her house too. They ask about each other’s daughters. He makes a joke, the ice is breaking. She ADMITS to missing him. He’s missed her too. He makes another joke about the end tables. EVA constantly force's her relationship by SELFISHNESS. I'm not very sure I've done this well. I think the story is a little predictably.

Thanks, Victoria. Your list includes some of the major plot points I spotted. I always like to start with four primary plot points as they typically represent the backbone of the story's structure. I'll do that in another comment. Again thanks!

I always like to start with four primary plot points as they typically represent the backbone of the story's structure. Here are mine: The Opening: PP. 1-7 in which we meet Eva, Ellen, Sarah, Will, and Marianne, then intersect Eva and Albert. Act One end: PP. 25-32 which is when Eva and Albert's first date, consummated with sex. Act Two end: PP. 84-90 which has a trifecta of bad things going wrong: (1) Ellen super pissed at Eva and packs to leave for college. (2) The secret of who Eva is dating comes out in an explosive fashion. (3) Chloe's mother throws salt on the wounds by yelling at Eva for being too involved in Chloe's life. Final Struggle: PP. 90-93 wherein Eva tries to reach out to Albert, but he's having none of it. Some interesting things at work here: * We might normally expect the Protagonist to meet the Attractor at the midpoint of Act One - Call To Adventure - but that happens at the end of the opening set of scenes. Then instead of moving that relationship forward more quickly, Eva and Albert don't have a first date for another 20 pages. So in effect, there is a slow build to that plot turn. * The ending is also distinctive. There is the failed outreach to Albert, then a Denouement of several scenes with Eva picking up the pieces in her new life, capped by a reprise of her attempt to connect with Albert. The final images suggest they may be able to start seeing each other again, but they are not conclusive. In some respects, these kind of variations on what one might expect in a 'typical' comedy about romance are not unusual for an indie film. The fact they work so well points out - once again - that stories are organic and need to be told the way they dictate.

The midpoint is distinctive -- p.45-48, when Eva realizes that Albert is Marianne's ex-husband -- but I can't decide if it's an up or down moment for Eva. I think maybe she thinks it's positive (she's going to learn all about him and avoid the mistakes of her past), but actually it's a downer because her decision to keep quiet ends up ruining two of her relationships.

In terms of the ending, I think Eva has to fail first with Albert. The ending is satisfying (to me, at least) because she lets go of these past hurts/insults on her own and learns how to be alone. And then, in her improved state, they can try again. Based on the movie, I'd say they definitely get back together -- it never occurred to me that they didn't. :) But I also found their final meeting in the movie to be more of a decision on Eva's part, instead of the coincidence it seems to be in the script. In the film, it seemed clearer to me that she decides, on the holiday, to pause in front of Albert's house, instead of just driving by like she normally does. She makes a choice -- and then when he catches her and seems inviting, she actually parks and sits with him. That's ultimately why I felt like they definitely got back together -- at the end, finally, she takes her biggest risk, putting herself out there. And it marks a huge change from her beginning state, unconfident and desperate to avoid pain.

mkm28, it's a little of both, isn't it? She's clearly enjoying herself seeing Albert, so she's on an up trend there. However discovering Albert is Marianne's ex creates a situation which, even if she tries to avoid it, will ultimately need to resolve itself. The main thing is it changes everything. Hence a great Transition midpoint in the story.

Good take, mkm28. As we discussed, Eva does go through a transformation. And while it may seem small compared to other types of movies, for her - as you note - it's a big damn deal, demonstrating a sense of purpose, even courage she likely would not have been able to pull off at the beginning of the story. And yes, I agree that they do become a couple again after FADE OUT.