Incredibles, The

Beat Sheet by: Rosalie Ierardi

Act 1

Opening Image: Grainy video of three superheroes being interviewed: Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Frozone. Each "super" is shown alone. We learn that every super has a secret identity.

Theme Stated: After Mr. Incredible (Robert "Bob" Parr) barely arrives in time for his wedding to Elastigirl (Helen), Helen says to him: "If we're going to make this work, you've gotta be more than Mr. Incredible." Bob must learn to accept his responsibility as a family man.

Setup: A newsreel shows us that, following multiple lawsuits from people who didn't want to be saved, the superheroes were hidden by the government and forbidden from using their powers. 15 years later, Bob can't stop reminiscing about "the glory days". He has three children - Dash, Violet, and baby Jack Jack - but he doesn't fully appreciate them. He's unhappy at work, he's apathetic as a father, and his relationship with Helen is strained. Dash and Violet, who also have superpowers, have trouble fitting in at school. Furthermore, an advocate of superhero rights (who was, himself, a super named Gazer Beam) has mysteriously disappeared. Eventually, Bob loses his temper at work -- and loses his job, too.

Catalyst: Bob receives a message from a secret agent named Mirage. An experimental battle robot has gotten out of control and is jeopardizing a government facility. She wants Mr. Incredible to disable the robot. If Bob succeeds, his payment will be triple his current salary.

Debate and Decision: Should Bob confess to Helen that he's been fired? Should he tell her about the message? Should he accept the mission? Bob tells Helen that he's going to a conference out of town. He then calls Mirage with his answer: "I'm in."

Act 2-A

Break Into Two: En route to a volcanic island, Bob is briefed on his mission by Mirage. Exotic and mysterious, Mirage is a contrast to the ordinary existence Bob has left behind.

Start B-Story: The theme of family responsibility resonates throughout the B story: Just what is the nature of Bob's relationship with Mirage? The movie cuts periodically to scenes of Helen, at home, her suspicions growing.

Fun And Games: The hilarity promised by the trailer unfolds: an overweight, out-of-shape superhero is called back into action. Mr. Incredible defeats the robot and returns home, feeling invigorated. He buys a new car and gets into shape. Helen overhears when Mirage calls with a new mission, but begins to doubt when Bob insists he's going to another conference.

MidPoint: Things get serious when Bob is confronted by the real mover behind this "government facility": Syndrome, a villain who gets his superpowers from technology. The real blow comes when Bob recognizes Syndrome as the boy who had idolized him years ago, and whom Bob had shunned. Mr. Incredible barely escapes with his life.

Act 2-B

Bad Guys Close In: Taking refuge in a cave, Bob discovers the bones of Gazer Beam. He later finds records showing that Syndrome has been eliminating the supers one by one. Back home, Helen learns that her husband has been fired and thinks he's having an affair. Using a homing device embedded in Bob's suit, Helen pinpoints his location and comes looking for him. Dash and Violet stow away on her plane, leaving Jack Jack with a sitter -- and now, nearly the whole family is in danger.

Losing Hope: Bob is captured. Bound and helpless, he can only watch as Syndrome deploys missiles to intercept Helen's jet. The jet is destroyed, and Bob believes his wife and kids to have been killed. Bob grabs Mirage and threatens to kill her if Syndrome doesn't release him. Syndrome calls his bluff, but Bob can't allow himself to hurt Mirage, and releases her.

The Darkest Moment: Bob has given up hope of escape. He ceases to struggle and gives himself over to grief and resentment. Mirage, disgusted with Syndrome, takes pity on Bob. She releases him, but Bob grabs her by the throat. "How can you possibly bring me lower?" he says bitterly.

Act 3

Break Into Three: Mirage tells Bob that his family has survived the crash, and that his wife and kids are on the island. Bob is so overjoyed that he scoops Mirage into a hug; at that moment, A and B stories cross as Helen appears in the doorway. Bob is even happier to see Helen, and we see that he's been faithful to her all along. When Mirage tells them that their children have set off the security system, Bob and Helen must unite to save them.

The Final Battle: When the whole family is re-captured, Syndrome tells them of his plan to send the battle robot to a city back home. After the robot has caused some damage, Syndrome plans to step in and disable it, thus stealing the glory of a hero. He'll sell his inventions, allowing everyone to be "super" - meaning no one will be. But, with the help of Mirage, the family is able to escape the island. They then work together, along with their friend Frozone, to destroy the robot and defeat Syndrome for good.

Final Image: As the family is on their way home from a school event, a new villain appears. The family members put on their masks and prepare to do battle again - together.