Story Development - Final Story Synopsis

A diner waitress is counting down the minutes until she can leave work and party with her friends for New Years' Eve. At the last second, a businessman with a very nice tailored suit enters and orders a lot of food and drink. The waitress is confident in her efficient serving skills and her judgment of the mans' career to make a quick buck. After a long and exhausting service, and cutting the clock close to midnight, the man reveals he has no money and is essentially a fraud. The waitress isn't best pleased, so she turns the tables on him and his plan to score free food is foiled. The waitress brings the party to the diner and forces the man to dress up in a pink waitress uniform and serve her and her friends food and drink while they party into the New Year.

Visual Development - Floor Plan Initial Idea

Visual Development - Layout and Prop Sketches

Story Development - Story Outline 3

Ok so I've gone back to the story outline I did this morning as have decided it's still not quite there. I have come up with what I think is an improved version of the story. 

It's New Year's Eve and Glady's is stuck at work. All her friends in the apartment building next door are getting ready to party without her. There are five minutes left on the clock and not one customer is in sight. Glady's is about to close the diner a minute early until she hears the bell above the door sounds ...

A man in a fancy business suit enters and takes a seat at one of the booths. Thinking she might be able to score a huge tip from the man, she puts her pinny back on, forces her best smile and goes to take his order. 

The man, being greedy, orders everything off the menu. The waitress cannot believe her luck ... she wants to leave and go party with her friends ... but this man is loaded! She's sure to get a huge tip! She starts to imagine all the clothes, shoes and wine she can buy ...

After struggling to prepare, cook and serve the man all his food, the waitress presents the bill. Her hair is a mess and her uniform is stained. The man shrugs his shoulders. He has forgotten his wallet. The waitress is not happy. She has been played and has decided to phone the police. 

She storms to the kitchen where the phone is. Realising he is in trouble, the man attempts to sneak out of the diner. But he cannot. His stomach has expanded to an extreme size and has trapped him in his booth! Noticing a stick of butter out of the corner of his eye, he tries to reach for it. Finally managing to grab it, he uses it to free himself out of the chair and runs for the door. He turns around to check the waitress hasn't noticed him. Not looking where he is going, he slips on a banana peel and spins through the air. He gets wedged in the door frame backwards. Hearing police sirens behind him he tries to wriggle free. Suddenly there's a loud clang from the kitchen and the door bursts open. The waitress is stood in the door holding a huge frying pan.

The man starts to panic and produces a huge burp which sends him shooting out of the diner into the street. He hits a fire hydrant and deflects off an incoming police car. He bounces up in the air just as the water from the burst fire hydrant freezes him in mid air. The police then catch and arrest the man. The waitresses friends have come outside to see what the commotion is all about only to witness their friend jumping and shouting with a frying pan at the huge man frozen in mid air alongside police men shaking their heads in disbelief.  

Close with a pan up from diner exterior to city skyline with fireworks exploding in the air.

Story Development - Story Outline 2

I've gone back to my original story outline and changed some things. I've kept with the businessman forgetting his wallet idea, but I want to change and exaggerate the waitresses' reaction to this. Here's my improved story outline.

It's New Year's Eve and Glady's is stuck at work. All her friends are getting ready to party without her. There are five minutes left on the clock and not one customer is in sight. Glady's is about to close the diner a minute early until she hears the bell above the door sounds ...

A man in a fancy business suit enters and takes a seat at one of the booths. Thinking she might be able to score a huge tip from the man, she puts her pinny back on, forces her best smile and goes to take his order. 

The man, being greedy, orders everything off the menu. The waitress cannot believe her luck ... she wants to leave and go party with her friends ... but this man is loaded! She's sure to get a huge tip! She starts to imagine all the clothes, shoes and wine she can buy ...

After struggling to prepare, cook and serve the man all his food, the waitress presents the bill. Her hair is a mess and her uniform is stained. The man shrugs his shoulders. He has forgotten his wallet. The waitress is not happy. She has been played and has decided to phone the police. 

She storms to the kitchen where the phone is. Realising he is in trouble, the man attempts to sneak out of the diner. But he cannot. His stomach has expanded to an extreme size and has trapped him in his booth! Noticing a stick of butter out of the corner of his eye, he tries to reach for it. Finally managing to grab it, he uses it to free himself out of the chair and runs for the door. He turns around to check the waitress hasn't noticed him. Not looking where he is going, he slips on a banana peel and flies through the air. Hurtling towards the door, he thinks the butter on his clothes will save him and he will simply slide through the door frame to freedom! He misjudges and gets stuck in the door. The police then arrive and arrest him.

Story Development - Story Outline 1

Here is my initial story outline for my animated film. I'm not happy with the pay off at the end but I think it's got a nice flow.

It's Friday evening and not one customer is in sight and the waitress is ready to close up the diner. It's been a tough week for her and she is ready to meet up with her friends in town for a night out. She has been looking forward to this all week. However, just as she is about to hang her pinny up, the bell above the front door sounds. 

A man in a fancy business suit enters and takes a seat at one of the booths. Thinking she might be able to get a huge tip from the man, she puts on her best smile and goes to take his order. The man, being greedy, orders everything off the menu. The waitress cannot believe her luck. This man is loaded! She's sure to get a huge tip! 

After struggling to bring the man all his food, the waitress presents the bill. The man has forgotten his wallet. He has no money to pay the bill. In fact, he's broke. The waitress is not happy. She has been played and has decided to phone the police. The man is terrified and tries to sneak out of the diner. But he cannot. His stomach has expanded to extreme amounts and has trapped him in his seat. Seeing a stick of butter out of the corner of his eye, he tries to reach for it. Finally managing to grab it, he uses it to free himself out of the chair and runs for the door. Not looking where he is going, he slips on a banana peel and flies through the air. Hurtling towards the door, he thinks the butter on his clothes will save him and he will simply slide through the door frame. He misjudges and gets stuck in the door. The police arrive and arrest him.

Concept Art - Betty the Waitress and William the Businessman