THE GREAT SCRIPT: The Sixth Sense

(1999; written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan)

The Sixth Sense is a Two-Protagonist story with each protagonist having an External and Internal Goal.  The actions of the story beats express the Theme.

MALCOLM (Bruce Willis)
External Goal: To help Cole to understand his power.
Internal Goal:  To reconcile with his wife.

COLE (Haley Joel Osment)
External Goal: To understand his power.
Internal Goal:  To tell his mother about his power.

These goals launch lines of action that culminate in THREE CLIMAXES...

Funeral scene -- Cole delivers the message on the videotape to the dead girl’s father, thus using his power to help the dead communicate with their family members.  Cole now understands the purpose of his gift.  (Achieves External Goal for both Malcolm and Cole)

Car scene -- Cole tells his mother Lynn the message from his grandmother, her mother, that she saw her dance.  This is a more dramatic, active way for him to tell her about his power rather than just coming out and telling her.  (Achieves Internal Goal for Cole)

The “holy crap Bruce Willis is a ghost scene” -- Malcolm realizes he’s dead and most importantly, communicates to his wife for the first time since that fateful night.  He tells her he loves her and thus achieves final peace.  (Achieves Internal Goal for Malcolm)

Each one of these actions expresses the Theme of “family communication.” 

-Daniel Calvisi
www.actfourscreenplays.com
copyright (c) Daniel Calvisi 2005-2006

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