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While the opening twenty minutes do not push the film’s main narrative forward, it establishes necessary character exposition visually. And finally exclaims the iconic final words of the film, “I’m finished.” Finaleĭaniel kills Eli with a bowling pin. Daniel lashes out at Eli, abusing him first verbally, then physically. Eli does, but Daniel reveals he already drilled the oil of that land and has no interest in buying it. Daniel agrees under the condition that Eli admits he is a false prophet. ClimaxĮli visits Daniel and propositions him to buy land to fulfill his own debts. Daniel takes this news as betrayal, lashes out, and tells H.W. has married Mary Sunday and wants to start his own oil business. He’s descended further into paranoia and madness. The film jumps forward several years and we discover Daniel as a rich man in an empty mansion. A man named Bandy, who’s land Daniel is trying to purchase, blackmails Daniel into being baptized at Eli’s church. After the man admits this, Daniel kills him. In fact, his brother died, and Henry attempted to take his place. Plot Point Twoĭaniel discovers that Henry has lied and is not his brother. Daniel sends his son off to a boarding school by leaving him on the train with his associate. Daniel enlists him as a worker and confides in him telling him he wants no one else to succeed. MidpointĪ man meets Daniel, claiming to be his brother named Henry Plainview. Eli demands money for his church from Daniel, but Daniel physically abuses him and refuses to pay. Daniel struggles deciding what to do with his deaf son and partner. is thrown from the blast and becomes deaf. They promise the town that they will benefit from the oil wells being built. Eli, Paul’s twin, clashes with Daniel as he requests money for his church. Plot Point Oneĭaniel and his son, H.W., discover that Paul was not lying and proceed to buy the Sunday Ranch and the land around it. Paul barters with Daniel, selling him information about oil rich land that his family lives on at the Sunday Ranch. Paul Sunday meets Daniel at one of his oil wells. He makes his way to towns with oil, propositioning the services of his oil business. When one of his workers dies in his oil well, Daniel adopts his child. Here is the story structure for There Will Be Blood screenplay: Expositionĭaniel Plainview seeks success on the frontier as a prospector and later as an oil man. STORY BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE OF There Will Be Blood SCREENPLAY
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