19. Device 2 Planted: Protagonist ignores warning to not be alone with antagonist and goes to his house. Forwards home phone calls to her cell, which comes into play at the climax. Antagonist pushes her away when he realizes the girl has escaped.
20. Urban Legend Supported: Girl attempts to escape. Makes it to the woods. People see her. Sister has been seen in the woods.
21. Interpersonal Theme stated: Protagonist’s Mom apologizes for being rude. Just wants to keep protagonist safe.
22. Twist 1: Antagonist puts girl in truck. Encounter with normal world. Targets next victim.
23. Normal World No Threat: Protagonist drawn into normal world, it isn't a bad place.
24. Twist 1 Continued. Antagonist reinforces lock on basement door. Keeps key.
25. Antagonist attacked: Antagonist visits normal world and is attacked. Sympathy invoked. Antagonist fights back. Runs away.
26. Device 2 Employed: Antagonist’s house is set on fire. Protagonist goes inside and puts out fire. Receives call from mother. Lies about her location and call forwarding works to her advantage. Protagonist finds clues there is a girl in the house (tampons, blue contacts).
27. Antagonist Ally: Cop warns people to leave the antagonist alone. Reassures Mom that he isn’t dangerous.
28. Lie employed: Protagonist finds locked door. Goes down to creepy basement to investigate. Finds girl and antagonist. Antagonist says it is his sister. We see that it is a waitress.
29. Lie revealed: Protagonist looks at evidence again and finds waitress’s wallet. Realizes she is in danger. Antagonist insists it is his sister. Asks him about the wallet. He lies. Asks her to keep his secret about his sister. Protagonist attempts to leave. He knocks her out.
30. Antagonist justification: Antagonist admits his sister died that day and it was his fault. He takes the waitress away. He can’t have both of them.
31. Device 2 utilized: Mom Calls daughter, gets no answer, realizes the calls are forwarded. Tells cop. Asks him to go to Antagonist’s house.
32. Truth expanded: Protagonist asks to be freed. Finds out Antagonist was punished by his parents for killing his sister.
33. Climax part 1: Device 2 used again. Cop stops by. Antagonist tells him everything is fine. Denies seeing protagonist. Protagonist tries to free herself. Cop leaves and calls Protagonist’s house but hears phone ring inside antagonist’s house. Cop draws gun and enters house and is killed by antagonist.
34. Climax part 2: Antagonist Vanquished. Protagonist frees herself and fights back. Is recaptured. Breaks free again. Mom arrives and is wounded. Protagonist defeats antagonist.
35. Protagonist dismissed: Protagonist returns to the city.
36. Antagonist is dismissed: Antagonist is locked up. Reveals his parents insisted he become his sister after his sister died, an explanation of antagonist's motivation.
Check out the story skeleton of the horror movie Watcher In The Woods
Next week, we dissect Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.
For more about how to craft plots using conflict check out, Story Building Blocks: The Four Layers of Conflict available in print and e-book and check out the free tools and information about the series on my website.
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