8 All About Subplots

The B Plot

We have already mentioned subplots and where one can begin. We briefly talked about a major subplot in Legally Blonde and in Winter Soldier. However, we have not gone into subplots in depth so you may still have questions.

Remember this: subplots help the main plot. We are not writing multiple plots. Rather we include subplots that connect to and provide help to the main plot. Subplots are organic to the main plot.

As we discussed earlier, the main subplot often allows us to see the stress of the plot and/or allows for the main character to show newly found power and knowledge. It also reinforces our theme and allows the theme to really shine.

If you give yourself a few minutes to think about it, you can name the most common subplots.

Romance

Friendship

Family

The Bad Guys

The romance subplot is very popular. Why? Because it is so versatile and because it gives an emotional connection for the audience. Almost everyone, even hardened cynics, like a heartfelt romance and can be moved emotionally by such a romance.

The versatility of the romance subplot allows for opportunities to show different aspects of our main character too. The romantic partner serves as an outlet to vent stress. Pursuing the romantic partner shows new-found confidence or things they have learned (demonstrating power) while attempting to achieve their goal in the main plot.

While the main subplot in Legally Blonde, the B plot, is the relationship with Paulette, there is a romance subplot with Emmett. Through that subplot, we witness more growth for Elle. Emmett is not the type of person she would have dated at the beginning of the movie, but she is growing, learning more about herself.

The friendship subplot is like the romance subplot except without the…well, without the romance. Like the romance subplot, it is an avenue for stress relief and to demonstrate emotional knowledge the main character has learned (like confidence, empathy, etc.).

In both Legally Blonde and Winter Soldier, the friendship subplot is especially effective. Paulette becomes an avenue for Elle to express her frustration with Warner and law school. By helping Paulette, also, Elle demonstrates her growing legal power and confidence. Elle’s friendship with Paulette aids Elle in realizing she is not the stereotype people think she is, which spotlights a theme of the movie. This subplot also communicates Paulette’s growing confidence in herself. We see Elle’s effect on others.

Cap and Black Widow’s friendship grows as the movie progresses. Their interactions are stress-relievers, for sure, but also highlight the theme of trust. Over the course of the movie, they learn they can trust each other completely.

The family subplot is also like the romance and friendship plots, only here it is the main character’s family. It can be their partner and kids, etc. Think about all the movies you have seen where one of the kids of the main character starts acting out, getting in trouble at school or something like that, because the main plot is taking one of their parents away from them. The Incredibles uses a family subplot.

The bad guys subplot involves our learning about the bad guys and what their scheme is. This subplot isn’t as much about adding to our understanding of the main character, or letting them vent; rather, it is about learning what the main character is up against. It adds depth to what the main character is facing. The Daniel Craig James Bond movies do this well. There is almost always a subplot about the villain and what the villain is trying to accomplish and why they are so, well, bad.

Ken’s subplot is Barbie is basically a bad guy subplot. Ken learns about the patriarchy and then transforms Barbie-land.

Bucky is essentially a bad guy subplot in Winter Soldier. We see the Winter Soldier as a mysterious antagonist connected to HYDRA. In the B plot, Cap and Black Widow grow closer because they are facing off against HYDRA and HYDRA’s ultimate weapon – The Winter Soldier. The movie adeptly weaves the B plot and the Bucky subplot together. Cap and Black Widow are attacked by an external force. Next we see how that causes their trust in each other to grow. Next, we see how HYDRA is planning to use the Winter Soldier. That is the structure for much of the second act of the movie. An A plot scene followed by a B plot scene followed by a C plot scene (the C plot being the Bad Guy subplot).

There are of course other subplots. If you are writing a romantic comedy, for example, then romance is the main plot. You can use a friendship subplot, but you may choose a work related subplot. Maybe their budding romance is having a negative (or positive) impact on their job.

Remember that the subplot is there to help the main plot. Use it! A good subplot adds layers. It aids in developing our main character and it takes up pages.

Yes, I said that. A subplot does take up pages. Look, a screenplay is a lot of pages to write. Let’s not beat around the bush in that regard. You are writing roughly 110 to 120 pages. You need a subplot to add depth, but you also need to get to 110 pages.

As mentioned above regarding Winter Soldier, you can, and should, have multiple subplots.  Your main subplot may be a friendship one, but a secondary one could be work related.

When we discussed the outline, we made note that the main subplot is usually introduced during the Direction step. Obviously, that is not written in concrete. Cap’s relationship with Black Widow, as an example, is introduced much sooner than that. However, it is in the Direction step that the relationship really takes root as they are forced to work closely together.

So when should we go to a subplot? Where do we put those scenes in place?

Legally Blonde is a great script to analyze for placement of the main subplot.

The Paulette subplot scenes are either after an emotional sequence for Elle or after a learning sequence for Elle.

• Elle first meets Paulette after she learns that Sarah, a mean girl from class, is engaged to Warner. She is upset and so goes to a local salon where she first encounters Paulette. Here it is established that Paulette will be someone she can talk to about her troubles. Paulette even tells her to win Warner back. She inspires Elle to use her looks.
• Elle gets serious about law school. Everyone is mean to her and tells her she can’t succeed. So she is going to show them. We next see Paulette helping Elle study.
• Then their next brief scene is their toasting Elle’s new success at law school. (We have seen a montage of Elle doing well at school and getting back at the mean people.)
• Elle is being successful in school; she has found new power (legal power) and so the next time we are with Paulette, Elle pretends to be Paulette’s lawyer and they get her dog back from her ex-boyfriend.
• Elle is one of the students selected to be on the murder case by Prof. Donovan. They meet with the client, etc. Then we have a scene with Paulette where Elle can debrief about the case and how things are going. We see Elle’s positive emotional state.
• More of Elle helping on the case, then Paulette tries the bend and snap and breaks the UPS guy’s nose so she and Elle have a conversation about that.
• Elle does really well with the case by exposing Enrique. Donovan even compliments her! She talks to Paulette about all of this excitement. Paulette tells her she is amazing.
• Then Donovan hits on her; Sarah sees it. Elle thinks people only care about her looks and all of her hard work was for nothing. She is completely emotionally devastated so she goes to say goodbye to Paulette. In the salon, though, she gets a pep talk from a Professor.
• Paulette is, of course, in the courtroom when Elle wins the case.

Looking at the scenes with Paulette we can see that they are generally after an emotional low or emotional high for Elle. She gives Elle someone with whom she can discuss her troubles, she gives Elle someone with whom Elle can celebrate triumphs, and she gives an avenue for Elle to demonstrate her growing power as a legal mind.

Think about your subplot. Think about what type of subplot will best fit your story and with your main character. Then figure out the purpose of the subplot. It may be similar to the Paulette subplot in Legally Blonde. You may use it to show the main character’s emotional state – to share sadness and joy, the ups and downs of the main plot. If that is the case, then a subplot scene should come right after an emotional low or an emotional high.

If a purpose of your subplot is to show how the main plot is causing them to forget their parental duties, then a family subplot scene should come right after they blow off an important family date, for example.

Also of importance, notice in Legally Blonde how the subplot with Paulette is closely aligned to Elle’s emotional arc. The emotional arc becomes even more clear because of those scenes with Paulette.

The midpoint is a major emotional shift for the main character. We need a subplot scene shortly after it. The low point, obviously, is a key emotional state for the main character. We need a subplot scene right near the low point to show that emotional wreckage.

Looking at your main character’s emotional arc is another way to discern where to place subplot scenes.