Sometimes, the cards really want me to go down a very specific path for a scene. Drawing the card “Hug the Crocodile” yet again for Jay’s scene sure feels like that, huh?

The first time we saw this card, Jay turned from a rival to Ash to a real friend to both her and Bill. He became a good-natured buddy, wanting them all to succeed together.

The second time, it came up in Ash’s scene when she was on the train with Jay. It led to her gaining a measure of control by Jay giving her his full and unconditional trust (in the form of handing over the remote detonator).

Then, it came up again in Jay’s next scene, when he had to set up the bomb. This time, it was paired with another card, “Fight the Giant.” This was the first time where I flipped the script on “Hug the Crocodile” somewhat, showing how his trust in his friends comes with consequences.

And now, the fourth time we see the card, it is paired with “Evil Twin,” which instantly makes me think that Jay may snap completely, as everyone he trusted is causing nothing but problems for him. My initial outline suggested that Jay wants to regain control by any means necessary.

Let’s look at the next card, before I get too ahead of myself.

#30 Evil Twin

“Do you know which one you are?”

Two identical looking girls, each sitting at their own classroom bench. One is ready to take notes and learn, the other is burning her books with a lighter while playing on her phone.

Heroes often find themselves facing opponents who are their mirror images. Surface similarities can mask deep differences in their moral codes.

Evil twins have more fun. They take risks and speak their minds, unburdened by conscience.

In some cases, the good twin and the evil twin are the same person. Does something trigger an abrupt change in the character’s personality?

Or perhaps the evil twin isn’t a person, but an idea. Vengeance can be the dark version of justice. Greed is ambition without limits.

As I said before, I think the “twin” here is Jay if the “Hug the Crocodile” would never have shown up. I think Jay is pissed. Ash betrayed his trust in the train, and Bill is showing his true face in the aftermath of the last scene.

Jay is a bit of a tragic figure with misplaced loyalties, and it’s about to break him.

Try This

Imagine the villain version of your hero. How would they act? Are there aspects of that character you could bring to your hero?

When I set up the Fiasco relationships, Jay and Ash had a relationship of Work: Both Want That Promotion. Together with the fact that Jay and Bill had a criminal relationship, it was clear that Jay and Ash want to move up within their criminal organization. The implication, at least to me, was that they are rivals; only one can get the reward. But that all changed thanks to the cards.

But what if I had stuck with that version? Jay, who entered the story as a reckless agent of chaos (in scene 1), would have been less nice, driving the characters into dangerous situations through his actions. He would have fought Ash for the promotion, rejecting her given authority, suspecting Bill to be not fully truthful early on (in scene 4, perhaps). He would have been more demanding of them, maybe even more assured of himself. He would be in control right now.

And, I think, all of that will be brought to his character in this scene.

Brainstorm ways your hero could prove they’re not the “bad twin.”

This is interesting. What if he goes too far with his friends? Not just gets mad at them, but violent? Takes the detonator by force, takes Bill’s gun (which is really his anyway). Takes control, charge. And then, after all that, he realizes what a piece of shit he has been. How would he try to rebuild that trust? Show to his friends that he didn’t mean to snap?

I don’t think he’d give up control, if he indeed managed to get that. But maybe he’ll try to remind them of their shared past. Of what made their friendship great. Reminisce. Reconnect with them. Hugging the Crocodile, if you will.

A villain might say, “We’re not that different, you and I.” How would your hero respond?

Within the context right now, the villain might be Ash. And the “not so different” line could refer to her telling him that both of them are just being played by the Boss. To pawns in her game. I think Jay would take that to heart. He would at least listen. Maybe he’d even agree.

The villain could also be Bill, seeing how he’s an undercover cop. And he’d tell Jay that they’re both wanting to do their job, do it well. Just, one of them is about to blow up the train, the other is trying to prevent it. Honestly, I don’t know how Jay would respond to that. Is his friendship with Bill stronger than his loyalty to the Boss?

Final Thoughts

There is a lot going on here. Jay is torn between the Boss and his friends, wanting to please everybody, but fed up with everyone stepping all over him.

Jay wants to regain control. Control over what, exactly? The job, the bomb? Or does he want to take his life into his own hands? Two sides of the same coin, which is currently spinning through the air.