Allegory

I want to write a book, or maybe a movie. The plot would begin with a student, sitting dominantly in the center of his class, sitting back, asking incisive questions, challenging a professor, staying after to discuss theory with the latter as though an equal in some scientific brotherhood. This student would be the apotheosis of success, realizing the intellectual American dream. The film would survey his success and sample his accolades, as an emperor casts his eyes to the corners of his empire. Then, the audience would witness the footings of the student's world begin to crumble. Through no apparent fault of his own, he is beset by failure after failure. No exaggeration would be spared, and no blame layed on the protagonist. His leg would be broken falling on ice. A professor would inexplicably reject his reasonings and leave him with a "D". His law schools would reject him, one by one. His girlfriend would leave him for a frat boy, and one of his friends would die in a car accident. All those around would stare in wonder at the collapse, comforting him platonically and offering helpful cliches. Classmates would meet him in the vaulted halls of his august Ivy League university, and wonder upon hearing his news, "How could they turn you down?" He replies, "I don't know; I was 18th in my class, had great references and my father is an alumn." "If you can't get in, who can?"

Despite the mishaps around him, he would not overreact. He would react, yes - a scene or two of shock, slight anger, and a sense of waiting for the axe to fall would pervade the second half. Then, he would have an epiphany. Whether it's in a stained-glass-windowed church or talking to a homeless man on the street, it wouldn't matter. He would realize the meaninglessness of his dreams, and decide to dedicate his life and considerable talents, to serving. He would understand that he was no equal of his professors and bosses, and be willing to start from the bottom. His life has been stripped of everything he ever had, he tells his grandfather, and what he was left with was meaning and purpose.

Just as audiences began to taste the saccharine of a sappy ending, the unexpected happens. And no, I don't mean that he reunites with his girlfriend, gets into Georgetown Law, and saves a drowning dog. No, he would begin to get more thin envelopes - one from Americorps, one from CARE International, one from City Year, one from Feed The Children. They don't have room for another staff member, not even a volunteer. His life has been stripped of everything he ever had, he tells his grandfather, including meaning and purpose.

And no-one - not the grandfather, not the prof he challenged, not his doughty roommate - no-one has an explanation.

The movie does not end so much as it just stops.