Screenplay.com Forums

Chris can you help with this?

I have chosen the MC Issue = Delay and the IC concern is Fixed Attitude outlook of innermost desires.
The MC is a procrastinator and the IC is a tough straight forward guy and father of the MC.
The MC vs IC Story report has come back with this:
If they were to argue, MC might say, "We must focus on what will happen or be because of our Delay." To which IC might respond, "No, we must not be driven because of Hope."

How is one to interpret this? It doesn't sound like something the MC would say as he would not want to shine light on his procrastination. And the IC would want to drive to something he hoped for. I must be reading this incorrectly.

First of all, the quote you use is in the context of the MC/IC Relationship throughline. The MC might have blind spots when looking at himself, but not necessarily when looking at his relationship with the IC. This falls in the realm of "Do as I say, not as I do."

An important thing to remember about the relationship throughline is that it is about the RELATIONSHIP, not the individuals in the relationship. Let's say I label the relationship between your characters as Teacher/Student. The MC might say something like, "Let's focus on what is going to happen to us as a teacher and student because of these delays," whereas the IC might say, "No, we shouldn't build our relationship as teacher and student based on what we hope may happen."

Always keep the context of the throughline in mind when illustrating the various story points in the storyform. If you do, you'll find that paradoxes, such as the one you point out, make perfect sense when they are appropriately limited in scope.

Can you be a little more specific in regards to my situation? The MC is the son who procrastinates and the IC is the father who is trying to get his son to "buckle down and fly right." This would really help me understand what Dramatica is trying to tell me.
Thanks

How about this:

SON: So, what do you think's the problem if we wait a little while? Let's chill.
FATHER: Sitting on you ass and hoping for the best won't cut it.

Does that work better for you?