Sample Scene Outline

By Eugene Orlando

Chapter: I, Scene I

Scene Synopsis: Charlotte is boarding the ship that will take her from London to Dublin. Her family and best friend come to see her off.

Time: Late January of 1846

Descriptions:

Objects: Ship, Letter from the Royal Naval office, Charlotte’s trunk, the gangplank to the ship, carriage-for-hire.

Emotions: Humor, disappointment, anger, and heartbreak.

Character Descriptions (Physical, Attire, Demeanor): Charlotte’s petite size and young looks particularly important.

Activities: Charlotte being refused entry onto the ship by a sailor who believes her to be too young. Charlotte’s driver comes to her rescue. Charlotte’s friend and family arrive to see her off.

Characters in Scene:

♀: Charlotte Wimpole: (Main character (21 years old)

Mindset (in Scene): Playful with the sailor who thinks she is underage. Then with her family and friend she is heartbroken over having to leave them.

♀: Elizabeth Wimpole: (Charlotte’s Mother)

Mindset: Sad at her daughter leaving.

♀: Rosena Ivanya: (Charlotte’s best friend. (age 20)

Mindset: Sad at her best friend leaving.

♂: Charles Wimpole: Charlotte’s father.

Mindset: Reprimanding over her choice to leave. In his mind she should be getting married instead of embarking on a correspondent’s career, yet he tolerates her choice with a hope that she will abort her career plans for marriage.

♂: John Wimpole: Charlotte’s younger brother (age 19).

Mindset: Sad at his sister leaving.

♂: Sailor: On the HMS Reliant bound for Dublin.

Mindset: Appalled and disturbed that an underage female is playing on a ship of the line. He seeks to chase Charlotte away. He changes to cajoling playfully with her adopting an air of respect when confronted with the truth of her correspondent’s mission.

♂: Mr. Wilkes: Charlotte’s cab driver.

Mindset: To assist his fare with her problem.

BEATS:

BEAT 1: Charlotte is chastised and forcefully removed from the sailing ship by an irate sailor. She is enjoying the fact that she is being mistaken for being younger and toys with him.

BEAT 2: Mr. Wilkes, the cab driver, comes to the rescue to explain who Charlotte is and that she is of age. He tells the sailor that she has a letter from the Royal Naval office. Charlotte produces it.

BEAT 3: The sailor playfully chastises Charlotte for embarking on a man’s occupation. Charlotte plays along with him and they develop an instant mutual respect for each other.

BEAT 4: Charlotte’s family and friends arrive to see her off. They have a sentimental good-bye as exposition is revealed about Charlotte’s past and how she came to go to Ireland.

BEAT 5: Charlotte expresses her concern about her brother Fenimore, and how he holds a grudge against her.

BEAT 6: The sailor breaks up the tearful gathering and Charlotte boards the ship.