Setting

Set in an adult club with dark and shady characters needing spectacularly evil, expensive and illegal bailouts and the central character collecting their souls to pay off her own debt.

Construct

10 different characters to write and a story arc that spans time.

Central character Ruby appears in all episodes.

7 different episodes. Write one or write them all.

Each episode has as its theme one of the 7 deadly sins.

Each episode steps back in time revealing more of Ruby’s story through her interaction with the other characters, until the final episode snaps forward to today for the conclusion.

Each Episode deals with the character at hand but also introduces us to the nest character in the series.

Guidelines for writing a draft episode…

Each episode must stand alone with a character arc that is self-contained but also contribute to the larger narrative.

When writing an episode think about how the primary character Ruby is progressing through her journey.  She is our main focus so every episode needs to progress her as a character.

Think about which one of the Seven Deadly sins the episode is about.  Of course, that is directed to the secondary character of the episode but also think about how it applies to Ruby as well.  Add that nuance.

Produce a clear dramatic question…

Will X (the character) be able to Y (what they need to do) or else Z (the consequences of failure).

The primary consequence is loss of their soul but that’s a given – what else is there?  What is the real consequence facing the character in this situation?  What has brought them to this level of desperation?  What type of person would risk their soul?  And what makes it worth it?  How will they try to get out of the deal?  What will catch them up?

What is the lie your characters believe?  And what is causing them to confront that lie bubbling away under the surface?

And remember they all want something (hint is in the episode title) but do they get what they want or what they need?

Get to your first plot point fast.  Each episode is about 8 minutes so we need to make a big impact early.

Some musts:

• Follow proper script writing convention but, if necessary add notes to elaborate on your thinking and choices;
• If you can, please write in Celtx or Final Draft;
• There is no set time for an episode although around 8 to 10 pages is ideal – but more time means more money so justify every word on every page;
• Remember to keep the world consistent – Ruby’s club;
• You can adjust your world to the time line – describe the adornments, the costumes, the extras inhabiting the world in that time;
• Each episode must address the fundamental premise of the series – Do something for Ruby and she’ll do something for you. What problem does the sub-character need fixing and what does Ruby need in return for that?;
• Your episode is about the interaction between the major sub-character and Ruby but it also must introduce us to the next character in the series;
• You can have Jezebeth and Diablos in your episode as well but the primary action needs to be between Ruby and the sub-character;
• Ruby cannot leave her club but the other characters can;
• If you write an external scene (location) pick something visually impactful but simple and easily accessible. No “on the steps of the Opera House”!  And we can spend no more than 3 hours on location so make it snappy;
• Remember budget – ie: we don’t have a lot of it. Please don’t have your script call for anything that requires a lot of money to be thrown at it to make it work;
• I am happy for anything to go in these episodes as long as its justified – by watching Game of Thrones, Westworld, House of Cards and so on we know that violence, drug use, nudity, has all become mainstream so write that in if necessary but it needs to be in context – we cannot slip into gratuity for the sake of it – the main cast can not be called upon to perform naked;
• Throw whatever you want (in dramatic terms) to the main character Ruby – we have a terrific young actress and I know she’ll get there but – no nudity and be prepared to justify your creative choices. Ruby needs to be nuanced, flawed but ultimately a strong woman.
• It’s set in a strip club but no clichés – the idea of this is judgment of character, not titillation. It’s about moral choices.
• Ruby is not a stripper with a heart of gold character. Her primary motivation is to pay back her loan to Diablos by reaping the souls of others.
• She may look 21 but remember she is 127 years old. She’s seen everything.  She’s jaded.  She deals with the filth of the earth and has no care that they are being condemned to hell forever.  It is implied she has betrayed one of her best friends (Jezebeth), and she has given up her daughter for her own end goal.

And she suffers along with her punters the same deadly sin they are portraying in the episode.

Work with this.

Time Travel

The series moves around in time but the series is not about time travel so it doesn’t need to resolve the issues presented by that.

If this needs to come up Ruby would address it by saying – you are making a contract in eternity.  No matter what happens that contract stands.

Other Themes

This series is a little top heavy with themes, constructs and so on already – strippers, Satan, Faustian deals, the 7 deadly sins, etc.  Please don’t introduce any more, no matter how attached to it you are.