1. First Date by the Bean (Asking Questions)
Main Event: Brad learns a bit more about Natalie, but also manages to schedule a second date with ease and smoothness (word?).Â
Objective: Earn Natalie's trust by keeping the focus on her own likes and dislikes. This also provides Brad an opportunity to act as teacher (Showing the bean) and interviewer (asking questions).Â
Obstacle: As he gets to know Natalie, their dates become less about doing a job and more about the two of them, as can so often happen when you're with someone a lot.
Spine: Nothing has really tested Brad's spine yet, but this scene lays the foundation for what will soon be testing and blurring the difference between job and love (SO MANY ANALOGIES).Â
2. In front of Natalie's Apartment
Main Event: Natalie asks for a kiss. Brad does so, reluctantly and only on the cheek.
Objective: This seems to be the first actual manifestation of Brad's internal conflict over Natalie. So here, he is just trying to keep is distance and remain professional.
Obstacle: He likes Natalie! She's beautiful and funny and warm, easy to get along with. The kind of person you want to kiss on the cheek and more. So Brad has to hold himself back. Maybe it's not the most difficult, but the seed has been planted.
Spine: Brad is consistently struggling with this internal conflict. Now Natalie is forcing him to struggle with it externally as well.Â
Main Event: Finally, we learn something about Brad! Plus, he reveals the improv tickets, which are the first indication that maybe he knows something we don't.
Objective: Trust. Trust. Trust. Brad is slowly building a rapport with Natalie while also telling her a little about himself. Trust. Trust. Trust.
Obstacle: This scene is a "getting to know you" scene. The obstacle with Brad comes when he has to feign surprise over her doing improv. He obviously already knows about that.
Spine: These kinds of scenes are what the audience will look back on later and wonder if they were real or not. I believe they are. I believe Brad is active. So, as an active participant, how is he genuine while also being deceptive? Or is this not possible?
Main Event: Brad gets invited upstairs, Natalie kisses him, he kisses back and then they break.
Objective: Brad must keep it professional while justifying the entire job to himself. Not an easy task.Â
Obstacle: Natalie. He's falling for her. As his feelings for her grow, his will to resist disintegrates away.Â
Spine: This is the scene where his entire inner conflict manifests itself and we see the first glimpse of Brad giving in to his desires, into his emotions. It's incredibly valuable for me as an actor and for the audience because it forces us to consider where Brad stands in relation to Natalie at this point. Why would he be pulling back? For the audience that's a red flag. For us, it's explained. But more importantly, how does Natalie view it? Brad is struggling between self-control and love.Â