All You Need Is Love
A Script for a Two-Hour TV or Theatrical Movie
Synopsis
With the help of her colorful carnival family, free-spirit Anna wins the heart of straight-laced Evan, away from the clutches of his selfish fiancée, Mimi — bringing to life some timeless themes, and quotes, of love.
Act One
QUOTE: “That strange phenomenon love ... pops up in the strangest places.” — Thornton Wilder
THEME: Love challenges.
SETTING: Fairground
PLOT: Anna, of a traveling carnival troupe, happens upon successful local businessman Evan and his manipulative fiancée, Mimi, in their suburban hometown and catches their attention in the fun house, etc.
Act Two
QUOTE: “Stony limits cannot hold love out.” — Shakespeare
THEME: Love frees.
SETTING: Office Building
PLOT: With the help of her carnival friends, Anna gains access to Evan — a difficult task — and convinces him to duck out.
Act Three
QUOTE: “The heart of him who truly loves is a paradise on Earth.”
— Felicite Robert de Lamennais
THEME: Love rewards.
SETTING: Meadow
PLOT: Alone, Evan & Anna discuss the nature of love ... and fall in love.
Act Four
QUOTE: “There are as many pangs in love as shells upon the shore.” — Ovid
THEME: Love hurts.
SETTING: Mental Hospital
PLOT: Mimi convinces everyone — except Evan — that this “kidnapper” is crazy and has her committed, but Evan helps her escape. Although they are still in love, Evan doesn’t admit it and tries to convince Anna that the sensible thing for all concerned is for her to leave with the carnival. She apparently, reluctantly agrees.
Act Five
QUOTE: “Tangl’d in amorous nets.” — Milton
THEME: Love endures.
SETTING: Mall
PLOT: With her carnival friends, Anna sabotages the “happy” couple shopping in preparation for their wedding.
Act Six
QUOTE: “Love conquers all.” — Virgil
THEME: Love conquers all.
SETTING: Wedding chapel
PLOT: With the help of her carnival friends, Anna takes over the wedding; and with the blessings of the levelheaded father of by-now-hysterical Mimi as well as the blessings of the local justice of the peace, Evan & Anna wed.
END QUOTE (& SONG): “All you need is love.” — The Beatles
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Although I formatted the synopsis at left to be consistent with this Web site and the PDF file above to be printer-friendly, I wrote the script itself in proper Writers Guild of America format.
