Bubble Boy (2001)

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Screenplay Genre: Comedy

Movie Time: 84 minutes

1. INCITING INCIDENT

Jimmy (Jake Gyllenhaal) was born with no immunities: therefore, his mother (Swoosie Kurtz) raised him in a protective bubble. When Jimmy reaches the age of pubescence, he starts to notice Chloe (Marley Shelton), the girl next door. Chloe takes an interest in him, and they quickly become friends. (00:08:14)

2. LOCK IN (End of Act One)

Not being able to have a physical relationship due to Jimmy's “bubble” condition, Chloe finds a new boyfriend. She eventually breaks the news to Jimmy that she is getting married in three days at Niagara Falls. Jimmy realizes that he must leave his bubble to stop the marriage and confess his love for her. (00:17:33)

3. FIRST CULMINATION (Midpoint)

While on the road and desperate for a form of transportation, Jimmy walks into a diner where an Indian man is being ridiculed. Jimmy attempts to come to the defense of the man. The locals cause a ruckus, which leads to the place catching on fire with Jimmy stuck in the diner. The Indian man comes to Jimmy’s rescue with his ice cream truck and offers him a ride to Niagara Falls. (00:41:13)

4. MAIN CULMINATION (End of Act Two)

When Jimmy is left stranded in the middle of nowhere with no transportation to get him to the falls, he decides to call Chloe, but her fiancé answers her phone, telling him to give up and go home, stressing the fact that Chloe never really liked Jimmy; she only felt pity for him. Jimmy is left despondent on the side of the road, emotionally broken. (1:02:51)

5. THIRD ACT TWIST

After confessing his love for Chloe in the middle of her wedding, Jimmy bursts through his bubble suit to kiss Chloe. Immediately afterwards, Jimmy collapses. His mother and father arrive and the father insists on telling Jimmy the truth about his condition. His mother explains that he developed immunities when he was four years old, but she decided to continue raising him in isolation because of all the filth in the world. (01:13:45)

← It's a Wonderful Life (1946)		Murder on the Orient Express (1974) →

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