Week 6 - Brief plot outline for a romantic comedy - Andy - Take 2

This is the first time i've taken a second run at a thing a week. It's still before deadline. The previous effort was a bloated shambles, that took the idea and ruined it.


Untitled Amy Huberman project.

Mary Ryan seems to have it all, she's 29, and already the marketing director for Irish Foods. Sure, she has no time for her beloved cooking, and her boyfriend is cheating on her, but who cares about that when you're the head of marketing for Ireland's biggest food company!

Driving home one night, she is caught in a mysterious storm, and whipped back to 1951 Ireland.

Trying to survive in this strange time, she finds herself to be the most modern chef of the era, the most forward thinking businessperson in Ireland and an unlikely feminist leader, as she rouses the women of 1951 Ballybeggan to step out of the house.

She also attracts more than a glance from rich farmer, Liam, and mysterious, silent pub landlord, Aidan.

But as she confronts the social mores of mid-century, small town Ireland, it isn't long before Mary finds herself at odds with powerful forces in the community.

Week 6 - brief plot outline for a romantic comedy - Laura

Working title: In the nick of time

Unlucky-in-love Rachel Walsh (31) looks to the psychology books from her time in college to figure out why happy-ever-after has been passing her by. Instead of finding an answer she happens on a love note unseen until then from former classmate Nick Turner. Rachel’s tentative excitement is quenched when she sees her former classmate and best friend Paige Ryan’s name written on the book’s inside cover. Disappointed that love has once more overlooked her, she resolves to play Cupid instead.
Keen not to come on too strong after seven years with no contact, Rachel pitches a casual catch-up to Nick, Paige and another old classmate.
Nick had in fact written the note to Rachel back in college, who’d long since assumed ownership of the book originally bought by Paige. Single and still in love with Rachel, he jumps at the chance to meet up again.
An enjoyable reunion night out sets the tone for many other outings, with the chemistry between Nick and Rachel obvious to everyone but Rachel herself, who is hell bent on facilitating Nick and Paige’s happy ending. She presumes that’s exactly what’s in the making when Nick and Paige begin to meet up outside of the group, though in fact Paige is simply helping a hapless Nick figure out a failsafe plan to convince Rachel to go out with him. Convinced a pre-destined love is blossoming, Rachel dismisses their strong denials there’s any attraction between them as coyness.
One alcohol-fuelled night an ill Paige leaves Rachel’s house early. With Rachel’s defences down and Nick’s courage up, they finally spend the night together. Soon after Rachel realises she’s pregnant.
Sick to the stomach that she’s betrayed her best friend, Rachel cuts Nick out of her life and after weeks of working up the courage confesses all to Paige. Before Paige can tell Rachel there’s nothing going on between her and Nick and that he’s only ever had eyes for Rachel, Paige collapses.
Doctors discover that Paige has a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism, and quickly put a treatment plan in place for her. With the preciousness of life and love never clearer, Paige summons Nick to her hospital bed and convinces him to take hold of his destiny. When Rachel arrives he sets straight everything she has misunderstood.

The final scene sees everyone confident of their happy ending - Nick and Rachel as a couple, Paige back to health, and an unborn baby girl delighted even in the womb of being free from the embarrassing name she would no doubt have been burdened with should Paige have died.

Hilarious, no?!