Sequence 1
• Set up
• Inciting Incident
Todo
• "Save the cat"
• State theme
Sequence 2
• Debate
• Obstacle
Todo
• Debate whether to enter journey
• Set up turn into Act 2
Problem: Couriers
murdered for Letters
Opening: Call to round up all usual
suspects.
P: Rick hides the letters.
Opening: Song "Knock on Wood"
Complication: Nazis!
STC: Rick snubs Nazi banker.
C: Victor Laslo coming
to the bar with police.
Rick is nice to Yvonne sends her
home with Sasha. Signs for win in
casino.
Resolution: Ugarte
gives letters to Rick
Closing: "You're right, Ugarte. I am
a little more impressed with you."
R: I stick my neck out
for nobody.
Turn into Act 2
Event launches hero: Ugarte arrested
Sequence 3
Todo
• Doing the Thing
• Introduce Subplot
• Explore new world
• Deliver on Premise
P: Victor Laslo will
want to escape.
C: Ilsa is with Laslo.
Ugarte is gone.
Sequence 4
• Doing the Thing
Opening; "Are my eyes brown?"
Closing: "Puzzling fellow, this
Rick./Tomorrow at 10."
R: "Time goes by."
Ilsa/Laslo drink with
Rick.
C: No one can help him
C: Rick remembers
Paris. Ilsa tells story
about how she met a
man.
Todo
• Add complications
• Set up Watershed
Opening: Dark bar. "Of all the gin
joints…"
Flashback to Paris. Story about
Laslo and Ilsa
Closing: Rick passes out.
R: Rick insults Ilsa, she
leaves. Rick passes out.
Watershed
Rick realizes that he is still heartbroken
Sequence 5
Todo
• Consequences
• Show Consequences of Twist
• Diminishing Options
• Advance subplot
P: Laslo needs to get
out of Casablanca
P: Rick is waiting for
Ilsa.
Closing: "Sit down and enjoy
yourselves, alright Sam."
Opening: Police Station with
Strasser.
Rick tries to apologize. "Victor is
my husband."
Closing: Laslo approaches Rick
R:He must go to Rick
Turn into Act 3
Laslo is arrested. Rick agrees to be with Ilsa
Sequence 7
Todo
• Final twist
• Close all twists
• Set up Final Crisis
• Put pieces in place
Sequence 6
• Diminishing Options
• All is Lost
Todo
• Destroy hero
• Move to hopeless
P: "Ask your wife"
Laslo approaches Rick
C: Nazi's want to kill
Laslo
Ilsa pulls gun on Rick to get the
letters
R: Laslo asks Rick to
take Ilsa and is arrested
"You must think for all of us"
Sequence 8
• Final Crisis
Todo
• Hero succeeds or fails
• Hero changes or doesn't
Rick pulls gun on Louie
P: Rick must set up
scam
Opening: Police stations 'You've got
nothing on him.'
P: Must get Laslo on
plane
C: Louie is suspicious.
Selling the bar.
C: Ilsa doesn't want to
go
Race to the airport. Trick phone
call to German Major.
R: Rick gets Laslo and
Laslo meets Rick. Louie steps out
"Here's looking at you, kid."
Louie to bar
"You are under arrest"
R: Ilsa goes with laslo
Dénouement
Close out loose threads
Eight Sequence Structure developed by Frank Daniel (no relation) at the University of Southern California.
Resource: http://thescriptlab.com/screenwriting/structure/the-sequence/45-the-eight-sequences
Casablanca
ThankstoJayShepherdforthisformatandforhelpingmetounderstandtheEightSequencemethod.