Natalie’s Short Story Proposal

EXPOSITION: The tired family of three is falling apart. The father, John, middle aged and weary could no longer support his two daughters Marie, 12, and Camille, 9. Marie is the mature, pulled together sister, while Camille tends to be more impudent and can have a sharp tongue. Problems had started three years ago when their mother, Annette, had died. Lacking a mother and unable to cope, the family went down a spiral of depression and darkness.

INCITING INCIDENT: In desperation, John remarries to a bride to hopefully pull the family together. He wishes nothing but the best for the girls, but unfortunately they disapprove of her. Samantha is a stubborn woman who is never wrong in her book.

RISING ACTION: If anything, home life for the girls was only getting worse. They would immediately hurry to their rooms as soon as they entered the door, not wanting to feel like a burden. The two girls hold their tongues at every moment they are being unfairly shunned from Samantha.

CLIMAX: Samantha’s controlling ways ignite Camille’s feisty temper to lash out. Marie tries to keep the two rational, but they have entered a heated argument. Over an intense shouting match, Samantha ends up hitting Camille across the face.

FALLING ACTION: Samantha is forced to move out once John hears about the incident.

RESOLUTION: Samantha comes back a changed woman after years of therapy. She then apologized to the now full grown sisters, leading a healthy friendship with Samantha.