Quantum Storytelling

We usually find scene setups and payoffs under it’s more common name, foreshadowing. The problem is the definition of foreshadowing doesn’t necessarily teach you how to use it in a scene-centric way.

For that I’m going to reference a very popular and cheesy action movie from 1989.

Setups & Payoffs from Lethal Weapon 2

The Nail Gun

At the beginning of Lethal Weapon 2, we have a scene at Murtaugh’s house where it’s obvious there is work being done by a contractor. Riggs and Murtaugh find the contractor using a nail gun — a novelty item for the two men to admire.

At first glance this seems like a pointless scene, until later when Murtaugh is attacked in his house by The Bad Guys. Not having a weapon handy, he struggles to reach the nail gun left behind by the contractor — the nail gun that we, as the audience, knew existed because there was a scene showing off the setup.

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From Slice of Sci-Fi:

“What is wrong with American viewers that they would rather watch some washed-out hack actors dance the mambo than watch some really great fantasy-fun drama like “Heroes.” — It’s truly a sick world.”

Couldn’t agree more.

I’ve dived back into another round of improving my scenes. I want things to really shine. It’s not enough to convey a piece of information or for characters to do a satisfactory job in playing a part. At the very least I want each scene to leave the reader with curiosity about what happens next. I say the very least because I also want at least some of my scenes to leave the reader with a sense of “Oh my… I can’t believe that just happened.”

It’s the same thing I get from a good TV show or movie. Example?

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