Plot Reversal Exercise - Continuing the scene:
- Disoriented, the man answers the phone.
'Hello?'
'Who the hell are you?'
'Who is this?'
'I'm asking the questions here. Who are you? Why do you have my wife's phone at this hour?'
The man can finally see more in the dark, and realizes that this is not his apartment.
'Hey, man. Look...' He can't continue because he has no idea what happened. Giving up, he just hangs up, and looks for the way back to the bedroom.
His clothes are lying next to a woman naked in bed.
'Not again, you idiot.'
The man gingerly reaches out to his pants. Part of them tugged underneath her. As he pulls them out, he can feel that part is soaking wet. Blood starts gushing out from her back. At that moment, the woman wakes up, as if from night terrors, except this is real and there is no respite. She is immediately choking in her own blood. Now, as the man tries everything in vain to save her, the only thing left to do is sharing her final moment and joining in this nightmare.

'Building Suspense' ideas:

1) Hot day. Long weekend. The community garden was filled with occupants earlier in the morning tending their plots. Now, under the midday sun, the only one left is a frail old lady, and the only thing shading her is her wide brim hat. She is struggling with the heat; and yet digging deeper and wider than any of her new small plants need. When she is done, instead of the flowers besides her, she reaches over to a clear plastic bag filled with faded documents. The top page is stamped 'Classified' and 'Do Not Copy' in red. She looks around, places the bag at the bottom, and then cover it up with dirt before planting the flowers on top.

2) In an ordinary, bare, windowless office, a manager is going through the motion on his computer. His suit blends right in with the colourless room. The name plate on the desk reads, 'Brian Shilings, Regional Manager'.
There is a knock on the door. A package arrives for him - a box covered in parchment paper. Door closes. Brian is alone again. He unwraps it and sees a note on the box: 'DO NOT OPEN. DO NOT MOVE'. Alarmed, Brian is about to rush to the door when a click comes out of the box. Someone turns on the speaker inside.

'I said, "Don't Move".'

 

'Turnstile of Mysteries' exercise - 'The Island Ferry':

The ferry is packed in this sunny long weekend, a great time to visit Bainbridge. Just a 40-minute ride from Seattle, certainly it is not too long of a trip to be with your girlfriend's parents, right? At least that's what Peter thought. Now he knows better as the four of them stay in his GTI at the lower deck. Mary never told him her mother gets seasick so easily. With the two of them in the back, Peter is facing her father's fury head on in the front. Why can't he take the drive there instead, Jack asks? Was it so bad to slow down and enjoy the sceneries a little?

Peter has been familiar with this tone before he and Mary are dating. Jack has never been impressed with Peter's work at the office. Now that he is dating his daughter it really ticks him off. So far this trip hasn't changed his mind, and the faint vomit smell circulating in the tight space is not helping.

Just hang in there, Peter thinks to himself. Another 20 minutes and we will reach the Island, and that will be like a reset to our trip. They are gonna love the Airbnb I picked for us. To kill time, he tries to play with his phone, but still no signal. He can only randomly scrolls the read emails. This is the moment when he realizes that the rock bottom is awaiting him on the other side. The reservation never goes through. He needs to confirm it before noon or it goes to someone else in this busy weekend. It is 11:45 now.

When Peter tries texting the host, he notices an earlier message - His colleague alerted him that instead of the proposal, Peter sent out the internal memo, something no outsider should read. As of an hour ago, nobody bothers to open the link yet in the weekend. Jack certainly hasn't or he would have gone ballistic on him. Peter would need to replace it as soon as possible. Seeing him looking so anxious at his phone, Jack slowly takes out his as well. No bar either. He looks suspiciously at Peter while checking for signals.

At this moment, Peter wishes the internet to return both right now and not too soon at the same time.

 

'Triangulation' exercise: Dialogue with context

 

INT. MEGACHURCH/CHAPEL - NIGHT
About 60-70 late teens, early twenty year olds are gathering in the big space. Enthusiasm is in the air tonight. Everyone puts an effort to look smart and stand out for JOE, an early 30s Caucasian youth minster. Warm, hip, fit and handsome, he dresses like a star cause he knows he is. Even though a group is singing onstage, everyone is focusing on Joe sitting behind the group.
While enjoying the performance, Joe feels a text alert. He is not going to reach for his phone until he spots SELENA, 17, tall, stunning in her natural beauty, sitting in front row and holding hers. Her stare troubles Joe. He slowly brings it out and hides it behind his arms. He then starts reading:

 SELENA
(texting)

Hey.

Joe contemplates her tone and his response. He then texts back as succinct and neutral sounding as he can.

JOE
(texting)

Hey yourself.

 

Selena immediately types back There is a long pause before she hits SEND.

SELENA
(texting)
We need to talk.
JOE
(texting)
Okay.
SELENA
(texting)
I need to tell you something.

 

Joe is dreading what is coming.

JOE
(texting)
Okay.
SELENA
(texting) I'm late.

JOE
(texting)
To what?
SELENA
(texting) I'm late.

 

The song has come to the rousing chorus. The congregation rises and sings with the group. Hands are waving. While everyone else is on to Joe for his approval, Selena is awaiting his response. He is too stunned for either. Joe's mind is racing but he is at a loss of words, so not like him.

JOE
(texting)

Oh.

SELENA
(texting)

So I took the test. And it's positive.

 

Grasping at straws, Joe types: 'You're positive? I mean, you're sure it's mine?' He knows better and deletes the last part. SEND.

JOE
(texting)

You're positive? I mean, you're sure?

 

Selena's heart sinks. Not the response she was hoping for.

SELENA
(texting)

Yes.

JOE
(texting)

Wow.

 

With nothing more to say, Joe puts it away, rises up and joins the singing. The congregation cheers. He is back to his old self, and she is left holding the phone by herself. Tears are streaming down Selena's face.