Welcome to the interactive version of the Solar Dreamer story! 

There are four ways you can become an active participant in this story: 

1.  Write your own ending.  Using one of the author’s suggested endings, write the epilogue to the story – or disregard the suggestions and come up with your own unique ending. 

2.  Control text display.  Paragraphs of text display at a rate set by the author.  If the text displays too slowly, left-click your mouse or press the Tab key to display the next paragraph.  You can also eliminate the time delay feature and display all the text on a page by clicking your mouse until the word Next appears. 

3.  Control videos.  The two videos in the story can be paused, resumed, and restarted using the buttons provided.   

4.  Launch external application.  During the course of the story you can choose to launch the PowerPoint presentation that is embedded in the online story – or not. I hope you enjoy the story!

 Scene 1: ASES Awards Ceremony 

Larry fidgeted in his chair on the dais, unable to contain his excitement.  They were about to announce his name as the recipient of the Passive Pioneer Award for his contribution to the field of solar design.  This was his moment in the sun – it was what he had worked towards for 12 long years and traveled more than 2,000 miles to receive – recognition for his contribution to “saving the planet.”  

Whenever he talked about the Solarycyle he had built, Larry used phrases like “the most important thing anyone could ever accomplish” and “the best solution to global warming.” Talking in superlatives was just one of his many unique personality traits.  Family and friends had long ago accepted his idiosyncrasies, which ranged from social awkwardness to his signature outfit. [Picture of Larry in his signature outfit and a “styling man” sound byte] 

Larry saw Kim-Ly, his fiancé, sit down at the laptop computer in front of the stage. She was going to run the PowerPoint presentation that accompanied his speech since she had prepared both the slide show and written the speech.  This was only one of the ways in which Kim helped and supported Larry over the last ten years.

They met when she was only 17, and despite a 20-year difference in their ages, a genuine friendship developed.  Kim often helped Larry prepare for the conferences where he displayed his solar vehicle.  She spent many hours filling out applications, writing speeches, taking photographs and videos, and also set up his booth at several locations.  Kim even helped load the 400-pound Solarcycle for transport since she was deceptively strong, despite her slight stature.   

On the occasions when Larry attended out-of-town conferences to display his solar vehicle, Kim took over his interior plantscaping business so that he would not lose any accounts.  It was not uncommon for her to carry heavy buckets of water, but she didn’t mind since caring for plants was something she enjoyed.   When the friendship developed into a romance, Larry was ecstatic and felt that his life was finally complete.  He didn’t understand why she was giving him an ultimatum now – at one of the happiest times in his life.  

When the ASES Chairman introduced him, the audience gave Larry a warm welcome. [Applause sound byte] 

Larry immediately launched into his acceptance speech, which cleverly couched a plea to attract investors. [Video of Larry giving his speech auto-runs, but can be stopped, paused, and resumed.] 

[Picture of Larry at the podium] Larry took several questions from the audience.  He was inspired and excited by the interest shown by so many at the conference. 

After the last question, Kim launched the presentation.  The sound of music filled the conference hall and a giant image of Larry and the Solarcycle filled the screen. 

(Onscreen directions: Click on the title slide above to help Kim launch the presentation.  NOTE: The slide show is presented as a web page that uses the Internet Explorer browser only.) [Powerpoint presentation can be launched in the IE browser by clicking on the image.] 

[Picture of Larry at the podium] After the PowerPoint presentation, Larry didn’t stop to take questions. He charged ahead because he was anxious for people to see the video he had brought.   

“Before we leave I want to show a short video clip of the Solarcycle in action.  This was filmed at Odyssey Day in Cocoa Beach, Florida last year.” [Video montage of Solarcycle being driven by Larry auto-runs, but can be stopped, paused, and resumed.] 

“In closing, I just want to remind everyone that the Solarcycle is on display here at the hotel and you’re all welcome to take it for a ride.” 

“Thank you for your time – I look forward to seeing you all at the cocktail party.”  

Scene 2: ASES Cocktail Party 

Larry couldn’t wait to get to the cocktail party since he was convinced there was at least one person here who wanted to invest in his Solarcycle.  As he panned the room for potential investors, he saw that Kim was already inside speaking with his friend and mentor, Michael Gleason. [Picture of Michael Gleason and Kim together, having a beverage] 

Michael was a retired NASA engineer who met Larry at an alternative energy conference in Atlanta, GA in 2000.  Over the next 10 years a friendship developed, and Michael often leant his name and expertise to help Larry establish himself as a ‘player’ in the solar energy community.  

Michael greeted Larry warmly with a smile and a firm handshake.  “Congratulations, my friend,” he said. 

“Thanks,” returned Larry, “I couldn’t have done it without you.”  

“And now, we need the help of investors to continue,” Kim reminded him. 

“OK,” Larry said obligingly, “I’ll mingle a little and see if I can’t scare up an investor or two.”

But by the end of the cocktail hour, Larry discovered that no one was willing to finance his project ‘at this time.’ 

He waited until the banquet room was almost empty and then approached Kim to deliver the bad news.  He knew that she would encourage him to keep searching for investors.  Kim did not want Larry to spend the sizable inheritance that his mother had just left him to finance the project.  In fact, this had been the source of conflict between them ever since his mother passed away, only two months ago. 

Kim wanted a family and saw the inheritance as the means to provide them with a good life.  She suggested that Larry should sell his house so they could move into his mother’s home.  She also wanted to save most of the inheritance for their future, and use some of it to build up his plant business.  Kim even offered to take over most of the accounts so that Larry could be more involved in selecting and equipping the solar car.  She made it clear that she would end the relationship if he gambled away his inheritance on the car. 

Larry, on the other hand, did not agree with most of Kim’s suggestions.  First of all, he did not want to live in his mother’s home.  He didn’t see any reason to move since his home already had the two features most important to him. [Two pictures appear simultaneously – exterior of greenhouse and Larry working on the car in his garage. The photos then morph into two other views of the same locales.] 

Secondly, he expected to be the primary financer of his new business.  All he wanted was one investor to help him select the right facility and buy the necessary equipment so that he could produce his vehicle on a larger scale. To that end, and with or without an investor, Larry was willing to sell everything he owned to finance his dream. 

In an effort to keep the peace, he decided to postpone any decision so that they could enjoy the rest of their weekend in Las Vegas. 

Scene 3: Larry’s Home [2 months later] 

In the two months after the trip to Las Vegas, Larry continued to look for investors. He decided that if he did not have financial backing on the six-month anniversary of his mother’s passing, he would finance the project himself. The cutoff date came and went, and still there were no investors. 

[Picture of Larry sitting at the computer, reading an email] The next evening, Larry was searching his old email messages for names of prospective investors when he came across an email he received from his mother several months earlier.  It was the guest list for the dinner party she had thrown in an effort to repair his relationship with Kim’s parents.  Larry’s first meeting with Kim’s parents was a disastrous dinner at an upscale restaurant where he spilled his wine and accidentally kicked her mother under the table. He also bragged about his solar car, which offended her parents since they were both humble people.  

In order to cast him in a more favorable light, Larry’s mother invited Kim’s parents to a dinner party at her home, making sure the guest list included only politicians, athletes, and local celebrities who knew and liked her son.  Larry’s mother was a wealthy, independent, strong-willed Jewish woman who had outlived three husbands.  Larry was her only child and she doted on him not only because she loved him and was proud of him, but also because Larry was the spitting image of her first husband.  

As planned, Kim’s parents were impressed when so many of the notable guests showed an interest in Larry and his solar car. Larry’s mother knew that inviting Kim’s parents to her home would be the best way to give them a preview of the lifestyle their daughter could expect if she married into the family. By the end of the evening, they changed their minds about the engagement and welcomed Larry as their son-in-law.  

After all her hard work, Larry wondered what his mother would think about how he was planning to spend her money.  He thought it was ironic that her money was the wedge that was now forcing apart the union she had tried so hard to cement. 

The next morning, Larry told Kim that he intended to finance mass-production of the Solarcycle using his own money.  Kim nodded but did not respond.  There was nothing more to say.  They had each made the decision that was right for them. 

When Larry returned home that evening, he saw Kim’s house key on the counter and knew that she was gone. Once I succeed, he thought, I’ll win her back.  He then played out the scenario of their reunion in his mind.  After I sell ten Solarcycles, I’ll drive up to her house in the original car that we built together and bring her home.  It was this unique mixture of optimism, denial, naiveté, and fantasy that allowed him to cope with any adversity that dared intrude in his life. [Picture of Larry in a suit, striking a pose as he stands in front of his Solarcycle, which is on display in a convention hall] 

So, what happens next?

Epilogue: Two Years Later 

How does the story end? Is Larry’s solar car factory a success or a failure? Do Larry and Kim get back together? Or does something totally unexpected happen? I’ll leave that up to you.

Select one of the options below, and then write your own ending to Solar Dreamer.   Based on your selection, a mini personality profile will also be provided – just for fun – after you submit your epilogue.

Before making a selection, take a moment to think about the story, plot lines, and the characters.

*Larry is successful and re-unites with Kim (Option 1)

*Larry is successful, but does not re-unite with Kim (Option 2)

*Larry fails, but is re-united with Kim (Option 3)

*Larry fails and is not re-united with Kim (Option 4)

*None of the above (Option 5)

[When an option is selected, readers jump to another page where they can type the story ending into a blank text box that allows up to 3,500 characters.]

In writing the epilogue, try to include:

*How and why he succeeds/fails

*What happens to Kim (e.g., Where she goes and what she does)

*Whether or not Larry tries to win Kim back. If so, why is he successful/unsuccessful

*If they are re-united, what future plans do they make?

[After readers submit their story ending by selecting a “Submit” button, they are taken to a personality evaluation page based on the type of ending they selected. A song and a corresponding Chinese character accentuate their personality evaluation.]

an Action/Adventure Game 

Hero

Seth is a 23-year old male who is a world traveler and a hiking fanatic. He is tall, strong, and lean and bears a striking resemblance to the actor, James Caviezel. Seth is a quiet, introverted, and a gentle sole who is both a minimalist and an environmentalist. He is most at home when he is outdoors – especially in the wilderness. Seth has honed his survival skills, and is resourceful when confronted with hardship. When he was 16, Seth trekked the entire Appalachian Trail from his hometown in Katahdin, Maine. Since then he has participated in many other backpacking excursions, ranging from Canada to China, including a host of other locales in between. 

Predicament

On a solo hike outside Caripe, Venezuela, Seth fell through a camouflaged animal trap that landed him 30 feet below the ground in the Caverna del Guacharo (Cave of the Guacharo – home of the legendary oilbirds).  As Seth explores the underground cavern in an effort to escape, he realizes the cave is inhabited by a myriad of hostile creatures, including bats, snakes, rats, oilbirds, and even a fire-breathing dragon. This is no ordinary cave! The only items in his backpack that he can use as weapons are a Swiss Army knife, a flashlight, and a can of bug spray.  Seth realizes that he cannot escape the same way he got in, so he is forced to proceed through the tunnels of the cave, which are dimly-lit by a strange glow given off by the cold, wet walls.

Gameplay

Seth soon discovers that this cave also contains time portals, which he encounters by simply walking through a tunnel.  He is aware that he is entering a time portal when the walls of the cave begin to wobble and slowly change.  Whoosh – he is transported to another time and place.  Seth meets a myriad of historical characters who promise him rewards (tools, weapons, resources, magic powers) if he solves a puzzle [presented as cut-scenes]. 

For example, Seth finds himself inside the Sistine Chapel and comes face-to-face with Michelangelo, who tells him that he will bestow upon him the magic power of high-jumping if Seth takes down all the scaffolding that was used to paint the ceiling.  Michelangelo tells Seth that the scaffolding must be taken down in a particular sequence, and the order for removal is identified when a piece of scaffolding changes color. Seth must jump to different heights to reach the various pieces of scaffolding as they change color, and then cut each piece down using his Swiss Army knife. The puzzle is solved when all pieces of the scaffolding are removed in the correct order and in the timeframe allotted. If Seth is successful, he leaves the time portal and retains the magic power of high-jumping. If he fails, he must surrender one of his accumulated tools, weapons, resources, or magic powers before he leaves the time portal. 

The rewards Seth accumulates after solving puzzles will not only help him defeat the hostile creatures of the cavern (or at least keep them at bay) but also help him escape.  Using the right combination of tools (e.g., rope, hammer, railroad spikes), weapons (e.g., bow and arrow, spear, sword, musket), resources (e.g., water, food, tent) and powers (e.g., high-jumping, becoming invisible, super strength), together with the knowledge gained during his time travels, Seth should be able to figure out a way to escape the cavern. The game is won when Seth is able to jump, tunnel, or blast his way out of the Caverna del Guacharo.

Game Levels

There are five game levels in Time Cavern and two time portals on each level.  Each level is physically higher than the next, so Seth’s progress through the game actually leads him closer to the surface, making it easier for him to escape. For example, at Level 1, he is at 30 feet. Level 2 – 25 feet; Level 3 – 20 feet; Level 4 – 15 feet, and at Level 5, he is only 10 feet from the surface.

 [Opening title is animated; background music is playing “Here Comes the Sun”] 

Scene 1: ASES Awards Ceremony

Larry fidgeted in his chair on the dais, unable to contain his excitement.  They were about to announce his name as the recipient of the Passive Pioneer Award for his contribution to the field of solar design.  This was his moment in the sun – it was what he had worked towards for 12 long years and traveled more than 2,000 miles to receive – recognition for his contribution to “saving the planet.”  

Whenever he talked about the Solarycyle he had built, Larry used phrases like “the most important thing anyone could ever accomplish” and “the best solution to global warming.” Talking in superlatives was just one of his many unique personality traits.  Family and friends had long ago accepted his idiosyncrasies, which ranged from social awkwardness due to a mild case of ADHD to his signature outfit. [Picture of Larry in his signature outfit and a “styling man” sound byte] 

Larry saw Kim-Ly, his fiancé, sit down at the laptop computer in front of the stage. She was going to run the PowerPoint presentation that accompanied his speech since she had prepared both the slide show and written the speech.  This was only one of the ways in which Kim helped and supported Larry over the last ten years. 

 They met when she was only 17, and despite a 20-year difference in their ages, a genuine friendship developed.  Kim often helped Larry prepare for the conferences where he displayed his solar vehicle.  She spent many hours filling out applications, writing speeches, taking photographs and videos, and also set up his booth at several locations.  Kim even helped load the 400-pound Solarcycle for transport since she was deceptively strong, despite her slight stature. 

 On the occasions when Larry attended out-of-town conferences to display his solar vehicle, Kim took over his interior plantscaping business so that he would not lose any accounts.  It was not uncommon for her to carry heavy buckets of water and move large potted plants, but she didn’t mind since caring for plants was something she enjoyed.  [Picture of Kim displays, showing her watering plants]  When the friendship developed into a romance, Larry was ecstatic and felt that his life was finally complete.  He didn’t understand why she was giving him an ultimatum now – at one of the happiest times in his life.  

When the ASES Chairman introduced him, the audience gave Larry a warm welcome. [Applause sound byte]

 Larry immediately launched into his acceptance speech, which cleverly couched a plea to attract investors. 

[Video of Larry introducing the PowerPoint presentation] “Good afternoon.  I’m Larry Morton from Greenhouse 2000 in Orlando, Florida, and I have a solar idea.” 

“People often ask me how I got involved with solar energy.  So, I created a short presentation showing the events that led up to my receiving this very prestigious award.  I want to thank everyone at ASES for the Pioneer Award, and I want to thank all of you for supporting ASES by attending the conference.”

 [Picture of Larry and his Solarcycle covers entire screen while background music plays “Good Day Sunshine”] 

[Picture of Larry at the podium] “My concern for the planet began back in 1970 at the first Earth Day Celebration when my high school class participated in the clean-up of a New York City beach.  That’s me in the back row, holding up the two bags of trash I collected that day.” [Picture of old clipping from NYC newspaper] 

“My father owned an auto parts business and I was expected to work with him and then take over the business when he retired.  But after learning about our growing environmental problems, I decided to study horticulture and go into the interior plantscaping business.  Interior plantscaping is just a fancy term for installing potted plants in commercial businesses and then maintaining them.  Both of my parents supported my decision, but it was largely due to my mother’s encouragement that I was able to start my own business, which is now known as Greenhouse 2000.” [Picture of Greenhouse 2000 logo] 

“After 20 years in the plant business, I decided I should do more to help the environment.  So, in 1998, I decided to build a solar car.”

“ My first prototype was the Personal Space Vehicle, or PSV.  [Picture of PSV on the road] It was 10 feet long, 4 feet wide, 3-1/2 feet high, and weighed 400 pounds. The PSV had 1 sq. meter of solar panels, produced 138 watts of power, and could run for 60 miles between charges.  I competed in, and won, many local races with the PSV.” [Picture of PSV with trophies on top of the car] 

“Four years ago, I redesigned the PSV so it would be street-legal and renamed it the Solarcycle.  It now has a 4 sq. meters of photovoltaic panels, produces 1300 watts of power, and can run for 200 miles between charges.  The Solarcyle is 10 feet long, 5 feet wide, 4 feet high, and is registered with the DMV as a motorcycle.” [Picture of Solarcycle with hood open inside convention center]

 “The Solarcycle is on display here at the hotel and I invite anyone who is interested to take it for a ride. And now, a short video clip of the Solarcyle in action.  This was filmed at Odyssey Day in Coca Beach, FL last year. [Video montage of Solarcycle being driven by Larry] 

“My dream is to mass-produce the Solarcycle.  But I can’t do it alone, so I am looking for investors.” 

“I’ve prepared a five-year financial projection on Sales, Cost of Goods Sold, and Gross Margin.” [Picture of PowerPoint slide with financial info]

 “This is a five-year projection on Profit and the General and Administrative Expenses of selling the Solarcycle. I’ve estimated the number of vehicles to be produced in years 1-5 and the number of employees needed.”  [Second picture of PowerPoint slide with financial info] 

“All of this information is on my website: www.xlr8sun.com. I will also have brochures available at the cocktail party, which immediately follows this award ceremony.  I hope you will all attend because I look forward to meeting you and speaking with you individually.” 

Scene 2: ASES Cocktail Party 

Larry couldn’t wait to get to the cocktail party since he was convinced there was at least one person here who wanted to invest in his Solarcycle.  As he panned the room for potential investors, he saw that Kim was already inside speaking with his friend and mentor, Michael Gleason. [Picture of Michael Gleason and Kim together, having a beverage] 

Michael was a retired NASA engineer who met Larry at an alternative energy conference in Atlanta, GA in 2000.  Over the next 10 years a friendship developed, and Michael often leant his name and expertise to help Larry establish himself as a ‘player’ in the solar energy community.  

Michael greeted Larry warmly with a smile and a firm handshake.  “Congratulations, my friend,” he said. 

“Thanks,” returned Larry, “I couldn’t have done it without you.”  

“And now, we need the help of investors to continue,” Kim reminded him. 

“OK,” Larry said obligingly, “I’ll mingle a little and see if I can’t scare up an investor or two.”

But by the end of the cocktail hour, Larry discovered that no one was willing to finance his project ‘at this time.’ 

He waited until the banquet room was almost empty and then approached Kim to deliver the bad news.  He knew that she would encourage him to keep searching for investors.  Kim did not want Larry to spend the sizable inheritance that his mother had just left him to finance the project.  In fact, this had been the source of conflict between them ever since his mother passed away, only two months ago. 

Kim wanted a family and saw the inheritance as the means to provide them with a good life.  She suggested that Larry should sell his house so they could move into his mother’s home.  She also wanted to save most of the inheritance for their future, and use some of it to build up his plant business.  Kim even offered to take over most of the accounts so that Larry could be more involved in selecting and equipping the solar car.  She made it clear that she would end the relationship if he gambled away his inheritance on the car. 

Larry, on the other hand, did not agree with most of Kim’s suggestions.  First of all, he did not want to live in his mother’s home.  He didn’t see any reason to move since his home already had the two features most important to him. [Two pictures appear simultaneously – exterior of greenhouse and Larry working on the car in his garage. The photos then morph into two other views of the same locales.] 

Secondly, he expected to be the primary financer of his new business.  All he wanted was one investor to help him select the right facility and buy the necessary equipment so that he could produce his vehicle on a larger scale. To that end, and with or without an investor, Larry was willing to sell everything he owned to finance his dream. 

In an effort to keep the peace, he decided to postpone any decision so that they could enjoy the rest of their weekend in Las Vegas.

Scene 3: Larry’s Home [2 months later]

In the two months after the trip to Las Vegas, Larry continued to look for investors. He decided that if he did not have financial backing on the six-month anniversary of his mother’s passing, he would finance the project himself. The cutoff date came and went, and still there were no investors.

[Picture of Larry sitting at the computer, reading an email] The next evening, Larry was searching his old email messages for names of prospective investors when he came across an email he received from his mother several months earlier.  It was the guest list for the dinner party she had thrown in an effort to repair his relationship with Kim’s parents.  Larry’s first meeting with Kim’s parents was a disastrous dinner at an upscale restaurant where he spilled his wine and accidentally kicked her mother under the table. He also bragged about his solar car, which offended her parents since they were both humble people. By the end of the evening, they forbade the marriage and tried to persuade Kim to end the relationship.

In order to cast him in a more favorable light, Larry’s mother decided to throw a dinner party at her home and invite Kim’s parents.  She also invited several of her influential friends, including politicians, noted athletes, and local celebrities, making sure the guest list included only those who knew and liked her son.  Larry’s mother was a wealthy, independent, strong-willed Jewish woman who had outlived three husbands.  Larry was her only child and she doted on him not only because she loved him and was proud of him, but also because Larry was the spitting image of her first  (and favorite) husband. 

As planned, Kim’s parents were impressed with the way Larry interacted with many of the notable guests. They were also pleasantly surprised not only by the interest so many showed in his work, but also the respect they showed him. Larry’s mother knew that inviting Kim’s parents to her home would be the best way to give them a preview of the lifestyle their daughter could expect if she married into the family. By the end of the evening, they changed their minds about the engagement and welcomed Larry as their son-in-law. 

After all her hard work, Larry wondered what his mother would think about how he was planning on spending her money.  He thought it was ironic that her money was the wedge that was now forcing apart the union she had tried so hard to cement. 

The next morning, Larry told Kim that he intended to finance mass-production of the Solarcycle using his own money.  Kim nodded but did not respond.  There was nothing more to say.  They had each made the decision that was right for them.

When Larry returned home that evening, he saw Kim’s house key on the counter and knew that she was gone. Once I succeed, he thought, I’ll win her back.  He then played out the scenario of their reunion in his mind.  After I sell ten Solarcycles, I’ll drive up to her house in the original car that we built together and bring her home.  It was this unique mixture of optimism, denial, naiveté, and fantasy that allowed him to cope with any adversity that dared intrude in his life. [Picture of Larry in a suit, striking a pose as he stands in front of his Solarcycle, which is on display in a convention hall]

One of the most significant events in my life occurred when I was forced to make a life or death decision for another living thing.  My beautiful Shaded Golden Persian cat, who was not only my pet but also my companion of 17 years, was stricken with gastrointestinal cancer.  Through a combination of Eastern and Western medicine and a high-quality diet, we were able to keep the cancer from spreading and prevent her from losing too much weight for 17 months.  But in the end, cancer won.  Cancer always wins.  It spread to her bladder and she began losing more weight. I could no longer deny that Fluff was very ill, even though she had good days and bad days. I had to step up to the plate and do the right thing.  I turned to everyone, even psychics, seeking confirmation that letting her go was the right thing to do. I finally realized that the answer was right in front of me. She was sick and she was suffering. I made her a promise when we first found out about the cancer that I wouldn’t let her suffer.  I decided it was time to keep my promise.  Somehow she knew that I had made the decision – she even seemed relieved.  On the morning of her last day, we sat together on the floor amidst a bunch of old pictures of her that I had dragged out, and I pet her incessantly until it was time for her to go to sleep.  

I did my Story Pass 2  in the Authorware program and am unable to upload the file to my blog because it has an EXE extension, which is not one of the allowable formats. 

Per Dr. McDaniels’ instructions, I will provide you with an overview of Pass2.  I broke the story down into three scenes, Awards Banquet, Cocktail Party, and Home (of main character).  The external narrator is still telling the story, but shares the task with the main character, who now provides his own background data and storyline via a speech in the Banquet scene.  Some story elements were reordered based on the breakdown into scenes, which was done in order to minimize the amount of text. Ten images have been added to enhance the story and identify the main characters. 

As an introduction to the paper, the following is a brief synopsis of the film.

Joanna and Walter Eberhart have just moved from the ‘big city’ to the small town of Stepford, Connecticut.  Joanna’s best friend, Bobbie Markowe, and Bobbie’s husband, Dave, have also recently made the move.  When Joanna and Bobbie meet the other women of Stepford, they discover that they are all throwbacks to another era – meticulously-groomed, “perpetually happy” housewives who derive pleasure from cooking, cleaning, caring for their children, and pleasing their husbands.  However, Joanna and Bobbie do find one “normal” woman in Stepford, named Charmaine Wimperis, and the three women form a bond.  When Charmaine is transformed into a “perpetually happy” housewife, Joanna and Bobbie realize that the women of Stepford change after they arrive. When Bobbie undergoes the same transformation, Joanna is convinced that the local Men’s Club, to which her husband belongs, is responsible for what is happening to the women.  Joanna investigates the men of Stepford and discovers that they all have technical expertise, which she believes they are using to turn the women into robots. Joanna tries to flee Stepford, but is stopped by her husband who convinces her that the theory is absurd. Joanna’s trust in her husband is her downfall since her theory about the Stepford wives is correct and she is destined to become the next “gynoid.”

 Bruner’s concept of canonicity in narrative deals with the background elements of the story that do not have to be told because they are already known or assumed based on the cultural and social expectations of the reader.  For example, the institution of marriage presupposes the people involved love and respect each other, support and take care of one another, and choose to share their lives. Bruner’s concept of canonicity is further reinforced through his reference to a Schank-Abelson script, which is defined as “a set of expectations about what will happen next in a well-understood situation.” For example, most everyone has first-hand knowledge or can at least relate to moving to a place where you know no one. Therefore, “what will happen next” involves the mundane tasks of unpacking, getting essential services established, and learning the layout of the new area.  Moving also involves establishing new relationships.  Therefore, we expect people who move to a new place to seek out friends and acquaintances in order to become part of the community. 

 It is through social and marital relationships that three plot lines of The Stepford Wives demonstrate Bruner’s narrative feature of canonicity and breach.  

The first plot line involves the relationships between the characters.  The story begins with Joanna and Walter (and Bobbie and Dave) moving to a town where they are expected to meet and develop friendships with the people who live there.  Walter and Dave join the local Men’s Club and develop friendships with the men, as expected. The breach of canonicity occurs when Joanna and Bobbie are unwilling to develop friendships with the other Stepford wives.  However, the breach is not a conventional breach since a conventional breach would be the inability to form relationships due to a lack of common interests, incompatibility, and differences in life styles, social status, background, and the like. The breach is unconventional since Joanna and Bobbie fail to form friendships with the Stepford women since they see perceive them to be inhuman – i.e., perfectly quaffed, Martha Stewart zombies.

The second plot line involves marriage and everything that the institution implies. While we witness arguments between Joanna and Walter, we are led to believe through their interactions that they love and respect each other. Therefore, we expect both parties to honor their marriage vows to “love, comfort, keep… for richer or for poorer… in sickness and in health...as long as they both shall live.”  The breach of canonicity occurs when Walter agrees to turn Joanna into a Stepford wife by murdering her and replacing her with a robot.  Again, this is not a conventional breach since a conventional marriage breach would be manifested as a separation, divorce, or adulterous affair. This unconventional breach “provides rich ground for innovative storytelling” because the breach involves the unique concept of replacing a living, breathing, intelligent, independent wife with a lifelike, look-alike robot whose only purpose is to serve.  One cannot help but think that this innovative concept, which first appeared in a novel by Ira Levin in 1972, is an overreaction to the Women’s Liberation Movement of the 1960’s. 

The third plot line involves both the setting and characters of the story.  The Stepford Wives is classified as a science fiction movie.  However, we normally think of science fiction movies as taking place in the future (The Matrix) or on another planet (Star Wars).  We also expect these types of movies to involve strange characters (Frankenstein) or take place in a post-apocalyptic world (On The Beach).  The breach of canonicity occurs when science fiction invades the life of ordinary people in a small town in Connecticut in 1975. Like the breaches in the two previous examples, it is an unconventional breach since the technology for creating robots with the degree of sophistication suggested by the movie was not possible then – in fact, it is not even possible today. 

In summary, the canonicity and unconventional breach found in all three plot lines enhanced the narrative of the film by providing a unique and innovative story. The unconventional breach in marriage vows, which results in the death of the protagonist (Joanna), heightens empathy for her, and therefore, it could be argued that her death degraded the narrative. However, I believe that the narrative was at least sustained for two reasons.  First, her death was not shown in the film. If it had been, then showing Joanna die would certainly have degraded the narrative. Secondly, Joanna is seen in the last scene of the film, providing us with proof that she lived on in some “form.”

by Debbie Andrisani

Larry fidgeted in his chair on the dais. He checked to see if the other recipients were as uncomfortable as he was, but everyone else seemed to be relaxed.  He blamed his uneasiness on his clothing since he was not used to wearing a suit and tie.  His usual attire was far more casual and consisted of shorts, a T-shirt, socks, and sandals. 

 Maybe, he thought, I’ve got jet lag.  After all, he had just gotten off a 5-hour flight that crossed three time zones in his journey from Orlando to Las Vegas. Or maybe I’m just excited about finally being recognized by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES).  No matter what the reason, Larry found it almost impossible to sit still.  He was receiving the Charles Greeley Abbot Award for his contribution to the field of solar technology.  It had taken twelve years and a lot of hard work and money, but he was finally being recognized for his proposal to mass-produce the solar-powered vehicle he had been developing for more than a decade. 

Larry wasn’t listening to the speeches being given by the other recipients. His mind was wandering.  He was trying to remember exactly when it was that he decided to build a solar car since he thought this would be a good addition to his speech. He realized that his interest in the environment dated back to the first Earth Day Festival he attended, back in Brooklyn in 1970.  It was around this time that he became interested in horticulture and reluctantly told his father that he did not want to become a partner in the family’s auto parts business. His father was not happy with the decision, but respected his son’s choice and supported him.  However, it was largely due to his mother’s constant insistence that Larry found the courage to start his own plant service business after only a few years of working for an established company.  After 20 years of caring for plants, he was more than ready to make a more substantial contribution to the planet.

My life has been a natural progression, he thought, from interior plantscaper to solar vehicle manufacturer – from working with plants to developing a technology that will counter global warming.  He felt good about the choices he had made in his life.  He smiled to himself when he remembered the first prototype of his solar car – it was little more than a scooter with one solar panel. His second attempt resulted in what can best be described as a modified go-cart with solar panels, which he named the Personal Space Vehicle, or PSV.  He called his third attempt the Solarcycle and even trademarked the name since this model was far more sophisticated than its predecessors.  The Solarcycle was three-wheeled vehicle with a 35 hp in-house PM DC motor and four square meters of photovoltaic panels, producing 1300 watts of power.  He had redesigned it three times and had high hopes of producing a modified version of the vehicle on a grand scale.  Larry recalled the many demands made by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when he was trying to register the Solarcycle so it would be street-legal. Their latest demand involved the addition of safety equipment, including LED lights and gauges, but even then, the DMV would only recognize it as a motorcycle. These encounters had shown him how resistant government bureaucracies were to change.

As Larry sat on the stage in the Alpine Room of the Las Vegas Hilton, he looked out into the crowd hoping to see his fiancé, Kim-Ly.  Kim was standing against the wall to the left of the stage, listening intently to the speech being given by one of the award recipients.  Larry had hoped this weekend in Las Vegas would make her forget the ultimatum she had given him before they left home.  This should be one of the happiest days in my life, he thought, I hope she doesn’t ruin it by forcing me to make a decision tonight.

Kim saw that Larry was trying to get her attention and she smiled encouragingly.  Kim was an exotic-looking girl, 27 years old and the product of an interracial union between an African-American father and a Vietnamese mother.  Her mother, Hoa (pronounced HWA) wanted to name her daughter ‘Kim’ since it was an accepted American name. After hearing her daughter cry for the first time, Hoa felt compelled to add ‘Ly’ (lion) to her name since her daughter’s cry sounded like the roar of a lion. As it turned out, this addition to her name was most appropriate since even though Kim was soft-spoken by nature, she was able to ferociously and loudly express herself when engaged in an argument.  Her father, Wardell (‘Dell’ to his friends), loved to tell the story of how Kim got her name and would tell the story to anyone who would listen.

Although Kim was only 5’2” tall and weighed barely 100 pounds, she was deceptively strong. She attributed her strength to years of physical labor working at her parents’ small grocery store where she unloaded boxes, stocked shelves, and wielded heavy floor-cleaning machinery.  Kim also helped Larry service the accounts in his plant business once or twice a week and it was not uncommon for her to carry heavy buckets of water and move large potted plants. She looked forward to the days when she worked with Larry since she not only enjoyed caring for the plants, but they usually had fun together.

The two met at an alternative energy convention when Kim was only 17 years old. They became fast friends despite the fact that Larry was more than 20 years her senior. After several years of friendship, the relationship developed into a romance, which Kim kept hidden from her parents due to their age difference and also because of Larry’s social awkwardness. Once they were engaged, Kim was still reluctant about their meeting, but Larry insisted and arranged a dinner at an upscale restaurant.  The dinner was a disaster since her parents did not hide their disapproval, which made Larry self-conscious, causing him to spill his wine and accidentally kick Kim’s mother under the table. He also rambled on about his solar car, which is something he did whenever he was trying to impress someone. To make matters worse, Larry tended to talk in superlatives about his work.  He used phrases like “the most important thing anyone could ever accomplish” and “the best solution to global warming” when referring to his solar car, which offended Kim’s parents since they were both humble people.

Kim was very familiar with all of Larry’s idiosyncrasies and found most of them endearing.  In fact, she was the one who usually rescued him when he made a social blunder by interjecting herself into the conversation. On several occasions, she found herself explaining one of his inappropriate comments or speaking on his behalf when he was unable to effectively communicate an idea.  Kim was one of the few people who understood Larry.  She knew that he usually said exactly what was on his mind, with little thought as to how it would impact others.  She also knew that he was a kind person who was surprised when he learned that his words had offended someone since this was never his intention.  Kim was able to overlook his faults because she loved him and because she believed that he was a truly unique individual. She often joked that Larry was a ‘very intelligent man who thought social graces were highly over-rated.’

Kim’s parents, on the other hand, did not see Larry in the same light that she did.  They forbade the marriage and tried to convince Kim to break off the relationship. When Larry learned what Kim’s parents were trying to do, he turned to the one person he could always count on for help  –his mother.

Barbara, was a wealthy, independent, strong-willed Jewish woman who had outlived three husbands.  Larry was her only child and she doted on him not only because she loved him and was proud of him, but also because Larry was the spitting image of her first (and favorite) husband. Whenever Larry was unhappy, Barbara always seemed to know what to do.  She decided that a dinner party at her home was the best way to cast Larry in a more favorable light. She invited several of her influential friends, including politicians, noted athletes, and local celebrities, making sure the guest list included only those who knew and liked her son. It was easy for Kim to convince her parents to attend once she mentioned some of the guests at the party.

The timing of the dinner party couldn’t have been more advantageous.  The day before, Larry found out that he would be receiving an ASES award.  Finally, he thought, I’m getting some recognition and respect for my work. This will change Hoa’s and Dell’s opinion of me.  But the turnaround in the relationship between Larry and Kim’s parents was due largely to Barbara’s strategy and less to an award given by an obscure organization.

As Barbara had hoped, Kim’s parents were impressed with the way Larry interacted with many of her notable guests. They were also pleasantly surprised not only by the interest so many showed in his work, but also the respect they showed him. Barbara knew that inviting Kim’s parents to her home would be the best way to give them a preview of the lifestyle their daughter could expect if she married into the family. Needless to say, both Hoa and Dell changed their minds about the engagement and welcomed Larry as their son-in-law by the end of the evening. Larry didn’t know how to thank his mother for saving his relationship and so he asked her what he could do to repay her. “Give me grandchildren,” she said with a smile.

But Barbara would not live to see her grandchildren.  She would not even live long enough to see her son get married.  Four months after the infamous dinner party, Barbara suffered a massive stroke and lapsed into a coma.  Two weeks later, she passed away. 

Larry thought about his mother as he watched the Chairman of the Awards Committee walk towards the podium to introduce his award – the last award of the evening.  I wish my mother could be here, he thought. More than anything, he wanted her to see that the faith she had shown in him for so many years was justified. He longed to see himself in the mirror of his mother’s eyes as they sparkled with pride and admiration. The evening was incomplete without her.

Larry made his way to the podium and took out the acceptance speech that Kim had written for him.  At his request, she had also created a PowerPoint presentation since Larry saw this ceremony as an opportunity to attract investors to his project.  The presentation included photographs of his solar vehicle at each stage of its development, along with pictures, blueprints, and locations of three proposed facilities that could accommodate mass-production of the vehicle. To entice investors, Larry incorporated estimates from his AESIS proposal in the presentation, including pre-production costs, a two-year budget, and an impressive projected earnings statement. 

Although he had inherited a small fortune from his mother, he still wanted investors to help share the financial burden, as well as lend their expertise in making the right decisions for the new business.  To mass-produce his vehicle, he needed a facility that could accommodate large-scale manufacturing equipment in order to build an assembly line, similar to those used by major car manufacturers.

Raising the capital for this venture was the basis of the argument that he and Kim had been having ever since Larry inherited his mother’s estate.  Kim strongly believed that most of the money for his new business should come from outside investors.  She also suggested that they sell Larry’s home, move into Barbara’s home, save most of the inheritance for their future, and use some of it to build up his interior plantscaping business. Kim even offered to take over most of the accounts so that Larry could be more involved in selecting and equipping the facility where production would take place. She suggested that he should build, rather than rent, a factory on the piece of land his mother had in Mariposa, FL. 

Larry, on the other hand, did not agree with most of Kim’s suggestions.  First of all, he did not want to live in his mother’s home.  He didn’t see any reason to move since his home already had the two features most important to him: a greenhouse in the backyard to support his plant business and a garage that had been converted into a shop with all the tools needed to build his solar car.  Secondly, he expected to be the primary financer of his new business All he wanted was one investor to help him select the right facility and buy the necessary equipment so that he could produce his vehicle on a larger scale. To that end, and with or without an investor, Larry was willing to sell everything he owned to finance his dream.

As he stood at the podium and gave his presentation, Larry had to stop at various points in the presentation to answer questions.  He was inspired and excited by the interest shown by so many of the people in the audience.  By the end of the presentation, he was convinced that someone attending this convention would offer him the financial backing he needed. If he could find just one person or company willing to invest some capital, this would solve the problem he was having with Kim, since technically, he would not be using all of his own money to finance the project.

Larry couldn’t wait to get to the cocktail party that was being given immediately after the awards ceremony.  He hurried off the stage and rushed down the hall to the banquet room where the cocktail party was being held.  He wanted to talk to every person who asked a question during his presentation since he was convinced these were the people who wanted to invest in his new business.  As he panned the room for potential investors, he saw that Kim was already inside speaking with his friend and mentor, Michael Gleason.

Michael was a retired NASA engineer who had befriended Larry years earlier during a chance encounter at an alternative energy conference in Atlanta, GA.  Larry was displaying his PSV when Michael stopped by his booth and showed an interest in his vehicle design. During the conversation, they discovered that they not only shared an interest in solar-powered vehicles, but they also both lived in Orlando, FL.  Over the next 10 years a friendship developed, and Michael often leant his name and expertise to help Larry establish himself as a ‘player’ in the solar energy community. 

Michael greeted Larry warmly with a smile and a firm handshake.  “Congratulations, my friend,” he said. 

“Thanks,” returned Larry, “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

 “And now,” interjected Kim, “we need the help of investors to continue.”

“This is a good place to find them,” Michael offered.  “Go ahead and mingle,” he suggested.  “Your best bet is that group from Spire Corporation,” he said, indicating towards four men standing in front of the portable bar in the corner of the room. 

As Larry started off to speak to the men, Kim grabbed his arm, halting his movement.  “Let them come to you, “ she admonished.  “If you approach them, they’ll think you’re desperate for financing and you’ll scare them off.”

Respecting her opinion, Larry stayed put and waited for the men from Spire to approach him.  When they did, he learned they were interested in his ideas, but were not prepared to finance an independent venture ‘at this time.’ Sadly, the same was true for everyone else he spoke with that evening. 

Dejected, he returned to his hotel room, wiser, but no richer.  “No one wants to help me,” he complained to Kim.

“Give it some more time,” she suggested.  “You just received the award today.”

“But the news that I was getting the award was publicized over four months ago,” Larry retorted.  “Everybody says they’re interested in the project and they like my ideas, but nobody is willing to finance me,” he fumed.  “I’m tired of waiting for investors – I’ve been trying to find financial backing for over three years.  I can do this on my own.  My mother left me enough money to get started.  If I need more, I can always sell my plant business.” 

“We talked about what might happen if you used all your own money to finance this,” she said softly, trying to calm him down. “If you do this and fail, you’ll have nothing left.”

 “But if I do this and succeed, I’ll have everything,” he offered hopefully.

“I don’t want to gamble with my future,” she said, reminding him of her position.

Once they returned home, nothing more was said about Larry’s intention to finance the project on his own. Life went on, as usual, for more than a month.  Kim knew that Larry was continuing to search for investors and she was also doing her best to find outside financing for his project.  What she didn’t know was that he had selected a cutoff date – a time beyond which he would no longer seek the financial help of others – it would be six months, to the day, of his mother’s passing. 

The cutoff date came and went and still there were no investors. The next evening Larry walked into the bedroom where Kim-Ly was reading and asked pointedly: “When did you stop believing in me?”  She was taken aback by the question.  Until this moment, she didn’t realize that she had stopped believing in him.  Had she ever believed in him?  Not knowing how to respond, she simply said, “I’m sorry.”

The next morning Larry announced that he was going to Mariposa, FL to meet with a real estate agent who was going to sell his mother’s property.  “After that,” he challenged, “I’m going to sell her home and liquidate her assets.”  Larry expected a fight, but didn’t get one.  Kim knew that the time for arguing had passed.  They had each made their decision. 

When Larry returned home that evening, he saw Kim’s house key on the counter and knew that she was gone. Once I succeed, he thought, I’ll win her back.  He then played out the scenario of their reunion in his mind.  After I sell ten Solarcycles, I’ll drive up to her house in the original car that we built together and bring her home.  It was this unique mixture of optimism, denial, naiveté, and fantasy that allowed him to cope with any adversity that dared intrude in his life.

Solar Dreamer is a work of realistic fiction (genre) and is based, in part, on actual people and events. I chose this type of story since my best friend is passionate about solar energy and has developed a solar-powered vehicle. In the story, the main character is facing a quandary and must make a life-altering decision, but the resolution is open-ended and the audience is left to make their own interpretation as to what decision he makes.  The intended audience for this story is everyone who believes that alternative energy is the great hope in saving our environment.

The story will be temporally arranged in a non-linear format, commencing with the quandary faced by the main character. The story will then take a nostalgic look back at the key people and events that helped to shape the main character’s life, including the personal struggles and sacrifices he has made.  The story will end with the main character choosing between his ‘solar’ dream and a conventional lifestyle.

 The story will be told from the perspective of a heterodiegetic, or non-character narrator and will include some character dialogue. As the story progresses from the ‘text only’ version to the versions that include multimedia, the focalisation will continue from the perspective of the heterodiegetic narrator. However, the rhetorical arrangement and style of the story will be dramatically enhanced in the multimedia versions when dialogue is supplemented with images, sound, and music since the appropriate combination of these elements in conjunction with dialogue will heighten the ethos of the main character and the pathos of the lead female character. In addition, the rhetorical tools of hyperbole, metanoia, and apophasis will also be employed in the dialogue for the main character since these are devices that are frequently used by the real-life individual upon whom this story is based.  

The challenges presented by this project include condensing the initial ‘text only’ version and supplanting text with multimedia without compromising the flow and totality of the story.  To meet this challenge, I plan to structure the online version in scenes, much like adapting a novel to a movie, in order to highlight the key story elements.  Another challenge is both identifying and creating the multimedia elements needed to replace text in each pass of the story. To meet this challenge, I plan to interview my friend (main character), attend a solar energy conference with him, take photos, and create A/V clips using a camcorder.

My interest in storytelling began in childhood with my older brother telling us fantastic tales about magic creatures. As I matured, I became an insatiable reader – everything from the classics to Kurt Vonnegut.  I even read Shakespearean plays.  My interest in storytelling then shifted to movies and I tried to see as many movies as I could, with the exception of horror flicks and Westerns. My fascination with movies prompted me to see employment in the entertainment industry and I worked at a movie studio (Twentieth Century Fox) for two years.

My interest in media includes limited game playing – my current favorite online game is Diner Dash, which I play 1-2 times per week, which probably classifies me as a “casual” gamer.  However, my game playing began back in 1982 when I discovered online Solitaire while working as a word processor.  My exposure to the Internet began in 1996 while pursuing a technical writing degree at UCF.  Now I use the Internet regularly, in both my personal life (information, online banking) and for work purposes (research).

I am excited about this class since I have not written anything creative for quite some time and need to stimulate this part of my brain again.