Thank You Ma'am (Short Film)

Christian DiPillo

22 Dec 201508:37

Summary

TLDRIn this script, a woman confronts a young man, Roger, who attempted to steal her purse. Instead of turning him in, she takes him in hand, washing his face and feeding him. She shares her own past struggles and imparts a lesson on right and wrong. Generously, she gives him $20 to buy the blue suede shoes he desired, warning him against future theft. The encounter ends with her wishing him well and hoping for his reformed behavior.

Takeaways

😡 The character expresses anger and disappointment at being robbed.
😤 The robber, Roger, is caught and confronted by the victim.
😔 The robber admits guilt and expresses remorse for his actions.
👵 The victim, Miss Louella Bates Washington Jones, shows compassion despite the theft.
🧼 She offers to clean Roger's face, symbolizing a desire to help him reform.
👦 Roger is portrayed as a young man who has made a mistake and is in need of guidance.
🍲 Miss Louella feeds Roger, showing kindness and understanding towards him.
💬 She shares her own past, indicating that she can relate to wanting things she couldn't have.
💰 Miss Louella gives Roger money to buy the shoes he wanted, demonstrating generosity.
⚠️ She warns Roger against repeating his criminal behavior, emphasizing the importance of right and wrong.
🌙 The interaction ends with Miss Louella wishing Roger well and advising him to behave better.

Q & A

What did the character accuse the boy of doing?
-The character accused the boy of trying to steal her purse.
Why did the character decide not to let the boy go?
-The character decided not to let the boy go because she believed he would try to run away if she did.
What did the character comment on about the boy's appearance?
-The character commented that the boy's face was dirty and needed washing.
What did the character imply about the boy's upbringing?
-The character implied that the boy lacked proper guidance at home, as she questioned if he had anyone to tell him to wash his face.
What did the character threaten to do to the boy?
-The character threatened to wash the boy's face herself if he didn't do it.
What did the boy express a desire for?
-The boy expressed a desire for a pair of blue suede shoes.
What did the character offer the boy after hearing about his desire for shoes?
-The character offered the boy $20 to buy the blue suede shoes he wanted.
What condition did the character set before giving the boy the money?
-The character set the condition that the boy should not try to steal her pocketbook or anyone else's again.
What advice did the character give the boy before parting ways?
-The character advised the boy to behave himself from then on and wished him well.
What was the boy's response to the character's actions and advice?
-The boy thanked the character for her kindness and the money to buy the shoes.

Outlines

00:00

👜 Confrontation and Compassion

In this paragraph, a woman catches a young boy attempting to steal her purse. She confronts him, questioning his motives and expressing her disappointment. Despite his crime, she shows compassion, offering to wash his dirty face and suggesting that he might be hungry. She identifies herself as Miss Louella Bates Washington Jones and asks for his name, which is Roger. Instead of taking him to jail, she instructs him to wash his face and hints at providing him with a meal, indicating a mix of sternness and kindness in her approach.

05:07

💬 Reflection and Generosity

The second paragraph sees the woman reflecting on her own past, acknowledging that she too was once young and desired things she couldn't have. However, she differentiates her past from Roger's actions, stating she never resorted to theft. She prepares food for him and gives him a $20 bill to buy the blue suede shoes he initially mentioned wanting, thus showing generosity. She warns him against repeating his mistake of stealing and advises him to behave better in the future, ending the encounter on a hopeful note for his character development.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Stealing

Stealing refers to taking something without permission, which is the main action that sets the story in motion. In the script, the boy attempts to steal a purse, which leads to the confrontation with the woman. This act serves as a catalyst for the interaction and the moral lesson that unfolds.

💡Face Washing

Face washing symbolizes the woman's desire to 'cleanse' the boy not just physically, but morally. When she says she wants to wash his face, it reflects her intention to correct his behavior and guide him toward a better path. This act represents care and discipline, as well as the beginning of the boy's transformation.

💡Hunger

Hunger in the script is both literal and metaphorical. The boy is physically hungry, which is why he tries to steal the purse, but he is also metaphorically 'hungry' for guidance and care. The woman's offer of food highlights her empathy and understanding of the boy's deeper needs, beyond just physical nourishment.

💡Blue Suede Shoes

Blue suede shoes symbolize the boy's desires and the lengths he's willing to go to fulfill them. They represent material desires that can lead one astray if pursued inappropriately. The woman’s decision to give him money for the shoes shows her understanding of human desires while also teaching him to obtain things through honest means.

💡Pocketbook

The pocketbook represents the object of temptation for the boy and a test of his character. It symbolizes both the woman's trust and the boy's initial moral failing. The interaction surrounding the pocketbook serves as the foundation for the moral lesson in the story.

💡Miss Luella Bates Washington Jones

Miss Luella Bates Washington Jones is the woman who catches the boy stealing. Her character embodies strength, wisdom, and compassion. She becomes a maternal figure who disciplines the boy but also shows him kindness, aiming to guide him toward a better path.

💡Discipline

Discipline in the script is reflected in the woman’s actions toward the boy. She doesn’t simply punish him for stealing; instead, she teaches him a lesson through care, making him wash his face and feeding him. Her approach to discipline is firm yet nurturing, aiming to reform rather than merely reprimand.

💡Empathy

Empathy is a central theme in the woman's response to the boy. Despite being the victim of an attempted theft, she empathizes with the boy’s situation and chooses to help him rather than turn him over to the authorities. Her empathy drives the narrative and leads to the boy's eventual change of heart.

💡Moral Lessons

Moral lessons are woven throughout the script, as the woman teaches the boy the difference between right and wrong through her actions and words. The lesson goes beyond simply telling him not to steal; it encompasses teaching him about respect, trust, and how to obtain what he desires through honest means.

💡Transformation

Transformation is seen in the boy’s character development from a would-be thief to someone who begins to understand the consequences of his actions. The woman’s kindness and discipline lead to a change in his attitude, marking his transformation by the end of the script.

Highlights

The speaker confronts someone about stealing their purse, expressing shock and disappointment.

The accused admits to the theft and is asked if they would run away if let go.

The speaker decides not to let the thief go, asserting control over the situation.

A discussion about the thief's dirty face leads to the speaker offering to wash it.

The speaker expresses a desire to teach the thief right from wrong.

The thief denies having anyone at home to tell them to wash their face.

The speaker compares their own past to the thief's, highlighting a difference in choices made.

The speaker decides to feed the thief, showing a mix of compassion and authority.

The thief is instructed to wash their face and make themselves presentable.

The speaker reflects on their own past actions, some of which they consider too shameful to share.

The speaker offers the thief $20 to buy the desired blue suede shoes, setting a condition.

A warning is given to the thief about not attempting to steal again.

The speaker expresses a wish for the thief to behave better in the future.

The thief is dismissed with a final piece of advice to behave themselves.

The speaker ends the conversation with a 'good night', indicating the end of the encounter.