Student Name
ARTH 334 6210 Understanding Movies
June 12, 2014
WHEN THINGS FALL APART
Log Line: “A rouge Soldier’s actions during a top-secret mission put American lives in jeopardy. A Special Forces Team held in high regards would now become the subject of a criminal investigation”.
Act 1 – Equilibrium
ACE a United States Army Special Forces Officer sits on a dirt runway in Kandahar, Afghanistan awaiting the arrival of the Freedom Bird. The Freedom Bird, a Boeing C-17 Globemaster will take him and his Special Forces Team back to the United States following a 10-month combat deployment. The Special Forces Team comprised of 12 Soldiers can finally relax after spending months battling the Taliban in enemy strongholds throughout southern Afghanistan. This will be their last trip to Afghanistan due to back-to-back deployments. The team will go to South America to train Colombian Special Forces in about 11 months. JR who is second in charge of the team is the first person to notice the C-17 as it makes it finally approach to the airfield. Once on the ground the rear ramp of the C-17 lowers and the crew chief waves the team over to load the plane. Back in the United States Ace, JR and CHEWY the leadership of the team attend debriefings prior to starting their post-deployment leave of 30 days. Once on leave the men are finally able to spend time with their families and love ones. During this time MATTY the Weapons Sergeant on the team gets married to his high school sweetheart, Ace is able to move into his newly built house, and BIG RED the senior Communication Sergeant welcomes the arrival of his first child.
Act 2 – Disruption
Ace and his wife returns to their hometown of Washington, D.C. for the last two weeks of his post deployment leave. While eating at their favorite restaurant, The Chart House that overlooks the Potomac River, Ace receives a telephone call from his Company Commander MAJOR NELSON. Ace’s wife can tell from the conversation that whatever is being said it cannot be good. Ace and his Special Forces Team will return to Afghanistan in approximately six months in order to conduct a high visibility Secretary of Defense directed mission that is a yearlong. Later that night Ace calls JR and Chewy to give them a heads up about the upcoming mission. The men return to Fort Bragg, North Carolina the following week and begin receiving top-secret briefings from Senior Special Operations and CIA officials. The importance of the mission begins to sink in as the men are forbidden to talk about the mission to anyone who has not been read-on to the mission.
Act 3 – The Quest
Due to the nature of the mission the men begin receiving specialized training. The training will split the team up for the next six months leading up to the deployment. The men of the Special Forces Team get to spend little time with friends and family as the training will often take them to different parts of the United States at weeks on end. During this time period Ace, JR, and Chewy must restructure the team since they lost a few Soldiers to retirement and reassignments. EDDIE is one of the new Soldiers that join the team. Eddie was on another Special Forces team but due to medical complications he was unable to complete the United States Army Special Forces Combat Dive School.
Act 4 – Disequilibrium
Once back in Afghanistan the men are highly praised by senior military and CIA officials for the work they are able to accomplish. They received several visits from senior officials from Washington, D.C. who are eager to learn more about the top-secret mission and the accomplishments. Three months prior to the end of the deployment Ace, JR, and Chewy discovers that Eddie divulged top-secret information to a civilian prior to his return to the United States due to family issues. To make matters worst the team discovers that the civilian has ties to Iranian officials and the information can compromise the mission. Back in the states Eddie is questioned about this information and denies everything. Instead he makes counter-accusations against the team and alleged the team participated in illegal activities.
Act 5 – New Equilibrium
The Special Forces Team now must face several investigations while in Afghanistan and upon their return to the United States. Once reserved, as “Rock Star” amongst their organization the team is now looked upon as criminals despite no evidence to support the accusations presented by Eddie. In the meantime Eddie becomes protected under the Whistle Blower Act and receives special treatment because he claims that he now suffers from PTSD. Due to the nature of the mission senior officials disband the Special Forces team and strip them of their Special Forces Tabs and Green Berets. Ace, JR and Chewy are involuntary separated from the military due to their leadership position. Two years later Eddie comes clean about the situation and tells officials that the allegations were made up in order to keep him out of hot water. Despite the many careers that were ruined Ace, JR and Chewy builds a Security Firm that provides security for VIPs during travel to foreign countries. The original employees are members from the Special Forces team.
