Goodfellas..though a story about an antihero...follows the Hero's Journey template...
• Fade in: Introduce context [Henry et al hear the sound of Billy Bats in the trunk of the car and shoot him some more].
• Hero's motivations for embarking on the journey.
• Introduce the antagonism / supernatural aid [Pauly et al].
• Rewards of the journey [“I was the luckiest kid in the world.â€]
• Interdiction [Henry's Dad beats him for not going to school – hanging around the cab stand].
• Overcoming the interdiction [the postman gets beaten up].
• Introduce supernatural aid / mentor [Pauly].
• Benefits of embarking on the adventure [“at thirteen I was making more money than the grown ups in the neighborhoodâ€].
• Consciously agreeing to the journey [Henry dressed in gangster gear].
• Still a lot to learn [Henry cleans up after the guy who is shot]..
• Supernatural aid introduces the hero to the Shape Shifter [Jimmy]. We learn about the Shape Shifter.
• Introduce Dangerous Joker [Tommy].
• Threshold Guardian [Henry gets caught].
• Warning of the new rules before entering the First Threshold [“never rat on your friendsâ€].
• Crossing the First Threshold [“you broke your cherry'].
• Introducing the World of the First Threshold [we learn about the airportâ€].
• Meeting new creatures that inhabit this world [Jimmy Two-Times, Franky the Wop, Freddy No-Nose et al].
• The descent – the security guard tells Henry and Jimmy about the money coming in at the airport.
• Getting to know the Joker [we get to know Tommy's personality - dangerous].
• Trial [Tommy breaks a bottle over the restaurant owners head].
• Supernatural aid leads the hero into the Belly of the Whale [Pauly becomes a partner in the restaurant].
• Belly of the Whale. Physical separation from the First Threshold [the restaurant blows up].
• Pulled into the Road of Trials [Tommy forces Henry to the double date].
• Resistance to the Road of Trials [Henry not interested in on the date].
• Overcoming resistance [Karen convinces Henry to date her].
• The Rewards of the Adventure [Henry takes Karen to the restaurant where he spends a lot of money and receives major respect]. Smiles [at the comedian] reflect the pleasure of the reward. Karen impressed with Henry's connections.
• Trial [The Air France robbery at the airport]. They give Pauly his share.
• Trial. Henry meets Bruce on the cruise. Then beats him up with a gun.
• Trial. Henry helps Jimmy get the money off Morie.
• Celebration of the success of the Road of Trials [wedding and gifts].
• Warning against the Ordeal [Karen's parents warn her against Henry and his friends].
• More warnings against the Ordeal [Karen meets the wives].
• Karen questions the wisdom of the Ordeal [“she doesn't know if she could live like that.â€] Henry convinces her.
• Journey into the Ordeal [Henry, Tommy et al steal the truck].
• Acceptance of the Ordeal [Karen thinks nothing of letting the detectives look around her apartment, convinces herself that the Goodfellas are her family].
• The Reward for embarking on the Ordeal [The clothes, the money, Karen gets some money and Henry a blow job].
• Significant antagonism. Foreshadow / set up of the downfall .[Tommy kills Billy Bats].
• Rest Break – Henry et al at Tommy's mother's house [“the hoof.â€]
• Significance of the antagonism [Billy Bats is a made guy].
• Journey to the Goddess [Henry's ideal is a harem; we meet the girlfriends].
• The antagonism enhanced. Pauly asks Henry about Billy Bats.
• Significance of the antagonism enhanced – Henry et al dig up Billy Bats.
• Threshold Guardians of the Goddess overcome [Janet's boss].
• Meeting with the Goddess [the apartment for the girlfriends].
• Descent . The Joker [Tommy shoots Spider in the foot; Tommy kills Spider].
• Karen and Henry argue – she knows he's got a girlfriend. Karen visits the girlfriend in her apartment. Karen points a gun at Henry.
• Sent to seize the Sword [Pauly and Jimmy visit Henry].
• Seizing the Sword – Henry et al in Florida.
• Woman as Temptress [the sister working as a typist for the FBI informs on them].
• Night Sea Journey. Henry journeys to jail.
• The World of the Belly of the Ordeal [Henry, Pauly et al in prison, cooking; they bribe the guards; the life down there].
• Near death experience [Henry can only survive in prison by dealing drugs. Karen has no money]. Danger [in case Pauly finds out].
• Escape from the Belly of the Ordeal [Henry gets out and tells Karen to look for a new house].
• Atonement with the Father [Pauly warns Henry about dealing drugs]. Warnings [Pauly warns Henry against Jimmy and Tommy].
• Going against the Father. Henry deals drugs and gets involved with Tommy and Jimmy again.
• Reward (for seizing the sword and countering the father)[Karen shows off the new house].
• Morie sets up the Lufthansa heist. Karen, the babysitter et al involved with the drugs. The Lufthansa heist is a success.
• Punishment for countering the father. Things begin to go awry. Return of the Cadillac and the fur coat. Jimmy refuses to give Morie his money.
• Rewards for countering the Father [Henry buys the Christmas Tree].
• The Fall. They shoot Stax. Tommy is set up for the assassination. Morie hassles Jimmy. Henry realizes the nature of the Shape Shifter [Jimmy is going to kill everybody]. Jimmy kills Moiree. Panic [Morie's wife panicked]. Pursued [Jimmy knocks on the FBI car window]. Death of all the allies [Carbone et al]. Tommy gets assassinated.
• Henry gets busted [the busy day, the pursuit by the helicopter, picking up the drugs etc].
• Punishment [Henry in jail; Henry crying after Karen tells him she flushed the drugs down the toilet; Henry sleeping with a gun].
• Apotheosis. Pauly has to turn his back on Henry. Henry all alone.
• Ultimate Boon. Henry knows that if he stays around here, he's dead.
• Refusal of the Return [Karen refuses the dresses from Jimmy].
• Magic Flight [Karen runs from Jimmy].
• Crossing the Return Threshold. [Henry meets Jimmy; Henry realizes he is dead].
• Rescue from Without [Henry negotiating the witness protection program; doesn't want to go some place cold and Karen can't leave her parents].
• Tommy, Pauly et al arrested.
• Master of the Two Worlds. Henry in the courtroom; speaks to the Camera.
• Freedom to Live. Henry in the Federal Witness Program.
Learn more…
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at
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