In his book Bambi vs. Godzilla: On the Nature, Purpose, and Practice of the Movie Business, David Mamet summarizes beginning-middle-end storytelling, which is the storytelling paradigm of our culture, as follows:
Once upon a time, and then one day, and just when everything was going so well, when just at the last minute, and they all lived happily ever after. Period.
This is the most efficient and clear explanation of the paradigm that I’ve seen. Mamet goes on to give an example:
ONCE UPON A TIME
There was a poor but honest woman, who lived with her son, Jack, in the forest.
AND THEN ONE DAY
Their money ran out, and they were forced to sell their cow.
Jack was sent to take the cow to the fair.
On the way he met a man who offered Jack this bargain: I will trade you your cow for these five magic beans. The little boy happily made the change and came back to tell his mother the happy news.
AND JUST WHEN EVERYTHING WAS GOING SO WELL
She cursed him out for a fool, threw the beans out of the window, and retired to her bed, weeping.
The little boy went to sleep, and as he slept, the beans took root and grew, until the beanstalk reached clear to the sky.
On awakening, he climbed the beanstalk and discovered, in the clouds, a giant’s castle. He entered the castle and saw inside of it treasures beyond imagining. There was a golden harp and a goose that laid golden eggs.
Thinking to redeem himself, he picked up the goose and made for the beanstalk. The goose began squawking and awoke the giant, who pursued Jack.
The giant grew closer and closer as Jack threw himself onto the beanstalk and started to descend.
The giant came on roaring, and Jack’s end was at hand.
WHEN JUST AT THE LAST MINUTE
Jack reached the bottom, grabbed an axe, and cut down the beanstalk; and the giant fell to his death.
AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
Mamet offers two modern variations of the ending: “And then they all lived sadder but wiser” (drama) and “And then, finally realizing the essence of the human condition, they put their eyes out and wandered around for a while as a blind beggar” (tragedy).
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