: Define the "plant and payoff" technique. Introduce the "Julie sets" example from Tootsie as a masterclass in using character dialogue to create structural irony.
In screenwriting, a "plant" is a piece of information given early in a story that takes on new significance later—the "payoff." Julie’s dialogue serves as one of the most effective examples of this technique. WALS Julie sets 264-268
: Summarize how effective "sets" (like Julie’s) make a film feel cohesive. They reward the audience for paying attention and ensure that the protagonist's failures feel earned. : Define the "plant and payoff" technique
: Analyze pages 264-268 (or the relevant section) regarding how a screenwriter establishes a character’s values. Julie doesn't just speak; she "sets" a trap for a protagonist who lacks genuine empathy. : Summarize how effective "sets" (like Julie’s) make
: Later, Michael (as himself) meets Julie at a party. Thinking he has the "key" to her heart, he uses her exact line back to her. Instead of the romantic connection he expects, Julie hurls her drink in his face.
If you are writing an essay on this topic, you might structure it as follows:
: Discuss why the payoff works. It works because Michael treats Julie’s "honesty" as a mechanical input to get a desired output, whereas Julie’s original "set" was an emotional plea for vulnerability.