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DEAD END Story structure - for new screenplay + Time-line Synopsis American jazz musician, John Garrett is in the final days of his life. An ex-patriot living in Sweden since the 1960s, he has enjoyed a unique position as a beloved musician, both locally and internationally. His many years on the road as a younger man came at a cost to his family. Married twice, he fathered a son and two daughters. Now, as adults, each child struggles with John’s pending death. The audience is carried along in a series of flashbacks that build and reveal the story’s complex conflicts and psychological unfolding. We also witness the highly contrasting differences between Sweden and America in this multi-cultural family with regard to perceptions of wealth, prestige, talent and self-image. At the same time, we share the individual emotional strain that the family members face – each in their own distinct way – as John rapidly fades, leaving them desperate for closure. The use of internal dialogs and shifting time frames make it possible to dive deeply into these personalities. A gripping psychological tale emerges to reveal the emotionally hungry child hidden within each adult. hodgearts.com [email protected] Stockholm + 46 76 224 0375 Rev 1.3 - 011115 DEAD END Story structure - for new screenplay + Time-line Overview (Story flow – Treatment) Act I Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 6 Scene 7 Scene 8 Doctor’s office Lawyer’s office Train/Cafe/Family home Train Home Kina’s apartment Home Home John Garrett and his John goes into The siblings get Astrid meets a German Åsa and Robert have Astrid arrives in Kina and Astrid drive Åsa suggests they all daughter Åsa visit Stockholm to meet his ready to gather woman on the train to invited Björn and his Stockholm and she to pick up Anders and stay for dinner. the office of John’s lawyer. They discuss around their father. Stockholm and they girlfriend Gabriella goes to her mother, travel to the house During the meal oncologist for an how to organize his John’s younger become fast friends. to the house for a Kina’s, apartment. where they are Robert teases Björn update on John’s will and decide what daughter, Astrid, is They discuss Swedish Friday evening They relax and catch welcomed by Åsa and about his new job prognosis following to do with the house on a train heading culture in relation dinner. When they up, while discussing Robert. They sit with diving for golf balls his diagnosis for that John lives in back to Stockholm. to the rest of the arrive they all go John’s condition and John and Anders plays at a driving range. lung cancer. The with Åsa, her His son, Björn, is in world, and Astrid’s into John’s room to the visit they will a piano piece for his The good-natured doctor discloses that American husband a cafe with his family situation. say hello and share make to him in the old friend. Björn exchange shifts to John has a very short Robert and their two Italian girlfriend Astrid confides her some champagne with morning with the arrives as Kina and discussion about the time left to live. children. John is discussing concerns concerns about her him. Björn has not family’s oldest Anders depart, and family’s future. concerned about his about the family father’s condition. seen his father for friend, Anders now the siblings are Robert and Åsa float Cut between doctor’s differing property. Åsa and many months, so he Jönsson, a prior all under the same their idea to buy the office and flashbacks relationships with Robert are at home asks for some time bandmate in John’s roof for the first house for themselves of John playing a each of his children preparing dinner. alone with his jazz ensemble. time in several after John’s death. club. and how distribute Robert presses Åsa father. They discuss years. Björn and Neither Björn nor his assets in a fair about making plans to their life together Astrid go for a walk Astrid want to Åsa contacts her manner. cut a deal on the and shared concerns and talk about discuss any deals siblings to let them house with her about their father- unresolved family while John is still know that it’s time siblings so that they son relationship. He concerns. alive. Robert becomes for them to gather can stay there after joins the others for aggressive and around their father. John’s death. Åsa dinner and an insulting. As the tells him she doesn’t extensive discussion argument reaches a want to push too ensues over the fever pitch, little hard. John is now cultural differences Lisa enters saying bedridden, and Åsa between Sweden and that John is having leaves the dinner other counties, trouble breathing. table to go into particularly the USA. They all rush into John’s bedroom to the bedroom only to spend time with him. find that John has died while the family was arguing. hodgearts.com [email protected] Stockholm + 46 76 224 0375 Rev 1.3 - 011115 DEAD END Story structure - for new screenplay + Time-line Overview (Story flow – Treatment) Act II Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 6 Åsa’s office/bridge/ Robert’s office Restaurant Street/subway Park Park Kina’a apartment/ Konserthuset/ A series of vignettes Robert is in his Robert reluctantly Out on the street, he Increasingly confused Björn looks through showing each family office feeling joins his workmates tries to hail a taxi and intoxicated, the park and tries to member going about terrible after John’s at a restaurant for but none are Robert wanders into call the police. their business: Åsa death and the the celebrations. He available. He enters Vasaparken and calls Finally he finds returns to work and argument with Björn. calls Björn to try to the subway only to Åsa to come get him. Robert passed out on breaks down when she His boss enters and apologize, but Björn discover that the She’s very worried the bench. When sees a huge bouquet offers his rejects his trains to his part of but says she can’t Robert wakes to see of flowers on her condolences and entreaties and tears town are not running. leave the children in Björn helping him he desk; Astrid walks up reminds Robert that him apart with a He crosses the the middle of the breakdowns completely Västerbron and stands the entire office is total and concise platform and teeters night. Robert passes and begs for at the top to scan going out to description of all by the edge of the out on a park bench forgiveness for his over the city; Kina celebrate the the problems he sees tracks as other as they’re speaking. arrogance and goes through her desk company’s biggest in Robert and his trains pass through Now frantic, Åsa selfishness. Björn and reads some old deal ever, in which egotism with regard the station. His calls Björn and takes Robert back to love letters from Robert was a key to the family. Robert actions appear implores him to go to his apartment. John, as well as a player. is totally devastated suicidal and a young the park and find deed to the house; by Björn’s scathing woman of near-eastern Robert before he’s Anders enters criticism. He drinks descent comes to his robbed or beaten. Stockholm’s too much at the party aid and guides him After much Konserthuset to go to and leaves early to back up to the convincing, Björn his office and stops get home. street. agrees to go look for to study a signed Robert in the park. poster showing himself and John after a concert 20 years earlier. hodgearts.com [email protected] Stockholm + 46 76 224 0375 Rev 1.3 - 011115 DEAD END Story structure - for new screenplay + Time-line Overview (Story flow – Treatment) Act III Scene 1 Scene 2 Lawyer’s Office Graveside The family gathers in John’s friends and the office of John’s family gather for his lawyer to go over the funeral service. terms of the will. Eulogies are read by The siblings are Astrid, Björn, Robert surprised to learn and Anders Jansson. that Kina is the de- The eulogy from facto owner of the Robert is a house, having rescued confession and the family finances apology to the after the death of family. Anders’s John’s first wife, eulogy is comprised Ulla, many years of the whole text of earlier. Still all his reminiscences traumatized by their that have been recent turmoil with occurring as a Voice Robert the siblings Overs throughout the choose to put away film. As the ceremony their emotions and ends the family, now accept the terms of feeling strong and the will without reunited, gathers in additional dispute. a circle in a Robert, in his collective embrace as contrition, says the camera ascends openly that he into the heavens doesn’t feel he above them. All to should interject in the music of the their affairs. gospel song “Down in the River to Pray”. hodgearts.com [email protected] Stockholm + 46 76 224 0375 Rev 1.3 - 011115 DEAD END Story structure - for new screenplay + Time-line Family Tree Associated Characters Ulla (Svensson) John Garrett (76) Kina Karlsson (60) Anders Jönsson (72) Sture Falkenmark (67) Nicklas Olénius (59) Gabriella Argo (27) Garrett American Deceased Dying - cancer ex-sambo John’s friend John’s Attorney John’s Oncologists Bjorn’s girl friend Robert & Åsa live in the family estate Björn Garrett Åsa Donovan Robert Donovan Astrid Garrett (41) (44) (50) (26) American Married 14 years single single 2 children Per Donovan (12) Lisa Donovan (8) hodgearts.com [email protected] Stockholm + 46 76 224 0375 Rev 1.3 - 011115 DEAD END Story structure - for new screenplay + Time-line Cast John Garrett (76).

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