Narrative theory plot
- 1. Narrative Theory: FiveStage Narrative Structure Steph Webb
- 2. Exposition An old woman is sitting in her old fashioned living room. She is looking out the window at her grandchildren who are playing about in the garden. She then looks up at the photo of her husband as a narration can be heard over the top. The narrator (old woman) is talking about her past with her husband. The narration also talks about an important message – referring to how precious time is and that it shouldn't’t be wasted. This gives a message to younger people that they should use their time wisely and spend as much time with loved ones because their time is limited. The narration will be a direct mode of address towards the audience. Flashback to a scene of the woman and her husband – the flashback is of both of them together smiling, laughing and running in a field having fun together. The scene then comes back to reality where the camera follows the woman around her house – she goes to kitchen and turns the kettle on. She then goes upstairs and retrieves a box from her bedroom and brings it back downstairs to the kitchen. She makes a cup of tea and then takes the letters into the living room. She begins to read the letters that are in the box. She reads about a few of the letters – the voiceover of the man can be heard saying what is written in the letters. She reads the first one. It’s about meeting her mum. She laughs. She then reads a second letter which is about the first date they went on – flash back to that date. Credits appear on this part.
- 3. Development The flashback that she has during the exposition, develops in more detail. The flashback consists of the first time he saw her. Music is playing in the background to give it a deeper meaning. ‘He stares at her as she walks past him in a park. He then stops walking and turns around to go towards her. He speaks to her and they have a nice chat. He then asks her to go out for lunch and they agree to meet the next day. They do meet the next day and they go on a stroll and then go for lunch’. After he has such a good time, he asks her for a second date. In which this time they went for a picnic in a field and they looked up at the sky and spoke about their pasts. They gave details about what they do, what they love and their hobbies. Man – He’s an army officer who loves the thrill of defending his country. Woman – She’s a nurse in a ward at the hospital in which they treat injured soldiers. They continue to go on a few more dates and meet each other often. They begin to get attached as they get closer and closer to one another and enjoy each other’s company. They eventually get married after a year.
- 4. Complication After a year of being together, the man gets a phone call to say he’s being deployed to fight again. They’re both devastated as they realise he’s being deployed for a few months and will not be able to see her. They spend the last few days together before he goes and then on the last day, they walk to the train station where the man is getting the steam train. They hug each other until the train arrives at the station. They look at each other for a few minutes, no one talks. He picks up his bags from his side, kisses her on the forehead and begins to walk away. She is crying as he gets on the puts his head out the window and waves. They’re both crying as the train departs the station. That would be the last time they’d see each other in 6 months.
- 5. Climax Scene where the man is preparing to go out on the frontline. He goes into his pocket and gets a piece of jewelry out. He opens the locket and it is a picture of his wife. He then takes a few breaths as he prepares to go out and fight. They plan an attack on their enemies and the sergeant counts to 3. They all then run out in battle and on the frontline. There is slow music playing in the background and gun shots can be heard quietly. The next part is when his teammates can be seen being shot down and lying on the floor. Everything is going crazy and its full of action but the only thing the audience can hear is music as the camera zooms into his face as he is frozen. A shot of an enemy member is then seen as he begins firing. The gun shots then go into the man as he falls to the ground. His friends call his name but you cannot hear him, just the music. The scene fades out to black as he is seen lying on the floor.
- 6. Resolution Army officers walk up to the woman’s house and she is looking out the window. Her face says it all. She looks blankly at them as they swallow. They knock on the door and she invites them in. They explain to her about the death of her husband and how it happened. They explain to her the circumstances but she cannot hear them. She is just nodding as she looks blankly into the faces of the men. They apologise for her loss and then they get up and leave. She watches them as they get into the car and drive off. Tears streaming down her face. She walks into the living room where she sees a picture of them together in a little photo frame. The flashback then goes back to reality in which she is seen to be holding the exact photo that was in the flashback. She puts it back in it’s place and smiles as finishes looking through the remainders of what’s in her box.