Strictly speaking, as one writer on the subject has pointed out, the photoplay manuscript consists of two essential parts—­the synopsis and the scenario.[6] Manufacturers, however, have shown their approval of having the list of characters, giving the names of characters and a word or two describing their relations to each other, etc., much as is done in some theatre programs.  Let us, then, look upon the complete photoplay script as being composed of

  I The Synopsis. 
 II The Cast of Characters. 
III The Scenario, or Continuity of Scenes. 
 IV The Scene-plot (as a supplement).

[Footnote 6:  A discussion of the present-day requirement of “synopsis only,” as announced by some companies, will be found in Chapter VIII.]

CHAPTER V

A SAMPLE PHOTOPLAY FORM

While the one-reel photoplay is virtually obsolete today, having given place to plays of two or more reels, the form for the complete script is quite the same for the multiple-reel as for the single-reel photoplay, hence the following specimen will serve just as well to show how the several parts of the full photoplay manuscript are set forth as if two or even five reels were given.  The same thing applies to the number of scenes commonly found in any one reel—­nowadays more scenes per reel are customary than was the case when the specimen here given was written, yet the old form for each scene and for each insert is as correct today as ever, so that the present model is a trustworthy one for those who would prepare the complete script, continuity and all, and not “synopsis only.”

WITHOUT REWARD[7]

BY ARTHUR LEEDS

Western drama in 32 scenes; 4 interior and 13 exterior settings

[Footnote 7:  This story was originally entitled “The Love That Leads Upward.”  After being accepted by the Universal, for production by the Nestor Company, the title was changed to meet with some necessary changes in the scenario.  The scene-plot for this story is reproduced in Chapter XI.]

SYNOPSIS

A reward is offered for the capture of Stephen Hammond, better known to the people of Navajo County, Arizona, as “Aravaipa Steve.”

James Freeman, a rancher, brings Dr. Turner to the ranch to attend the younger of his two daughters, Norma, a little girl of about ten years, the child being ill with fever.  The doctor realizes the necessity of having ice on hand to prepare ice-caps to help reduce the child’s fever.  Since it is not so far to Pinedale as it is to the town where the doctor lives, the physician advises the father to ride there at once, and get back with the ice as soon as possible.  He leaves a bottle of medicine with Jess, the elder girl, and gives her directions for the general care of Norma.  It is while Freeman is away and Jess is alone with the child that Steve Hammond comes to the ranch, exhausted and hungry.  He calls Jess out and she gives him a drink of water.  Then, seeing his evident weariness and realizing that he must be hungry, she invites him to have something to eat before going on.  Jess has never seen Steve before, nor does she guess who he is, although she has heard of “Aravaipa Steve.”