Day: October 8, 2018

I’ve been laying out this plot for twenty minutes now. If nothing else it should demonstrate how easy it is to lay the foundation for a workable plot. Yes, it feels more like syfy channel than sci-fi canon, but the writing is really what turns trope into terrific. Yes, I accept that I am being sorta corny right now too. Anyway, where were we?

Joe and Ranger Jane meet. Jane is on site because she was the closest to the action when old faithful got angry and she knows the park better than anyone. She’s the guide in a sense and the park officials demand one of their own be in place. Joe arrives as the DARPA teams are already in place using subterranean tech to map out a new hole that opened up after old faithful started hurting people. They are seeking information and not really concerned with the larger problem that Joe was brought in for. They don’t fully believe the problem is real still, though evidence suggests they need to consider it real. They begrudgingly let Joe poke around the surface and react in surprise at the new cave system and the lava puddles. According to Jane, the caves are old but the lava is new. She’s been playing in these caves forever. 

The back and forth continues and over the course of several scenes develops into a power struggle between the agitator and the Joe/Jane pairing. Finally the agitator decides that he has this under control and wants Joe off the project. He is banned from the cave entrance. However, Joe is certain that something far worse is happening below the surface. Jane believes him and shows him her secret way into the cave. They go deeper than the other teams have gone and they see that the lava puddles aren’t coming from the main vent of the volcano. They see that vent and realize that things are about to get really bad for humanity. Just then the Volcano burps. The result is a huge explosion that shakes everything and sends them running. They get trapped in a side tunnel and… that is all we have time for today. 

Last time I laid out a plot involving the SuperVolcano below old faithful nearing eruption and a wacky Volcanologist’s (yes, that is really a profession) old plan to stop it. This is wear the military gets involved. See, years ago he submitted the plan to the military and they shelved it based on cost and need. What he wanted to do was drill a hole near the core of the volcano and pump water down the shaft to keep the volcano stable. Another rival volcanologist had a different plan that was both cheaper and useful in other contexts. That guy went on to be a big shot at DARPA. 

Of course the big shot is required to make the call to bring in our protagonist. So now we have an agitator (the DARPA dude), a protagonist, and all we need is a love interest. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the park ranger. Yes, I know it sounds corny. It is corny, but we are talking about a tropetastic tale that, if written, is going to hit all the notes and sell like bottled water. Geyser Water. 

Anyway, the Park Ranger is already working at Yellowstone and was involved in getting people clear of the Old faithful accident. She’s really good at her job and has practically lived at the park since she was a kid and her mom was a ranger. In fact, she’s been around so long that she knows about the caves below Yellowstone… That is going to come into play later. 

For now… 

Some Thoughts:

1. Had to take the last minute to discuss the Giants loss. I almost gave up on the team as I watch them quite nearly quit on themselves and especially on their QB (why didn’t you get Bridgewater?!?!). The refs stole this game. This penalty on Landon Collins was really the difference in the game and it was flat out bogus.