For Want of a Dollar

A seemingly ordinary CPS caseworker's murder unravels a massive foster care fraud scheme involving a corrupt ADA and the city's Deputy Mayor.

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Overview

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Unique Selling Point

This screenplay stands out due to its exploration of the foster care system's vulnerabilities, combined with a gripping crime narrative that highlights the consequences of greed and desperation. Its focus on real-world issues, such as child trafficking and systemic corruption, makes it particularly relevant and engaging for audiences interested in social justice themes.

AI Verdict & Suggestions

Ratings are subjective. So you get different engines’ ratings to compare.

Gemini
 Recommend
Claude
 Recommend
DeepSeek
 Consider
GPT4
 Recommend
Average Score: 7.9
Key Suggestions
To enhance the screenplay, focus on tightening the pacing in certain scenes, particularly in the early acts where character introductions could be more concise. Additionally, consider deepening the emotional exploration of the children affected by the fraud scheme, as this will add significant weight to the narrative and resonate more with the audience. Clarifying character motivations, especially for secondary characters, will also strengthen the overall impact of the story.
Story Facts

Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller, Mystery, Action, Sports, Family

Setting: Contemporary, Houston, Texas

Themes: Corruption and Abuse of Power, Consequences of Greed and Deception, Justice and Redemption, Family and Loyalty, The Nature of Truth and Lies

Conflict & Stakes: The primary conflict revolves around Don Simme's involvement in a fraudulent foster care scheme and the kidnapping of his children, with high stakes involving personal and professional repercussions, including potential prison time and the safety of innocent children.

Mood: Tense and dramatic

Standout Features:

  • Unique Hook: The intertwining of a legal drama with a kidnapping plot, highlighting the personal stakes for the protagonist.
  • Plot Twist: The revelation that the children involved in the fraud scheme are real and have been put in danger, raising the stakes significantly.
  • Distinctive Setting: The backdrop of Houston, Texas, provides a unique cultural and geographical context for the story.
  • Innovative Ideas: Exploration of the foster care system's vulnerabilities and the ethical dilemmas faced by social workers.
  • Genre Blend: Combines elements of legal drama, crime thriller, and family drama.

Comparable Scripts: The Wire, Breaking Bad, The Godfather, Prisoners, Gone Baby Gone, The Night Of, The Foster Care System: A Documentary, The Departed, A Few Good Men

Script Level Analysis

This section delivers a top-level assessment of the screenplay’s strengths and weaknesses — covering overall quality (P/C/R/HR), character development, emotional impact, thematic depth, narrative inconsistencies, and the story’s core philosophical conflict. It helps identify what’s resonating, what needs refinement, and how the script aligns with professional standards.

Screenplay Insights

Breaks down your script along various categories.

Overall Score: 7.35
To enhance the screenplay, focus on deepening the character arcs of secondary characters like Karen and Reynolds, as their development is currently underexplored. This will not only enrich the narrative but also create a more emotionally engaging experience for the audience. Additionally, incorporating more moments of introspection and thematic dialogue can elevate the emotional stakes and clarify the moral dilemmas faced by the characters.
Story Critique

Big-picture feedback on the story’s clarity, stakes, cohesion, and engagement.

To enhance the screenplay, focus on streamlining the plot by centering on the foster care fraud scheme and its consequences. This will help clarify the narrative and strengthen character motivations. Additionally, deepen the emotional core by exploring the impact of the fraud on the children involved, which will resonate more with the audience and provide a stronger thematic foundation.
Characters

Explores the depth, clarity, and arc of the main and supporting characters.

To enhance the script, focus on deepening character arcs, particularly for antagonists like Don Simme and William Reynolds. Their motivations and internal conflicts should be more clearly defined to create a more compelling narrative. Additionally, exploring the emotional stakes for supporting characters like Karen Simme and Gino can add layers of complexity and resonance, making the story more engaging for the audience.
Emotional Analysis

Breaks down the emotional journey of the audience across the script.

To enhance the emotional depth and engagement of the script, it's crucial to balance the suspense-driven narrative with moments of genuine emotional variety. Incorporating bittersweet moments, dark humor, and complex emotional layers will create a richer viewing experience. Additionally, developing character arcs with more nuanced emotional stakes will foster greater empathy from the audience, making the story more impactful.
Goals and Philosophical Conflict

Evaluates character motivations, obstacles, and sources of tension throughout the plot.

To enhance the script, focus on deepening the protagonist's internal conflict and moral journey. Highlight the transformation from self-serving behavior to a commitment to justice, ensuring that the emotional stakes resonate with the audience. This can be achieved by incorporating more moments of introspection and moral dilemmas that challenge the protagonist's values, ultimately leading to a more compelling narrative arc.
Themes

Analysis of the themes of the screenplay and how well they’re expressed.

To enhance the script, consider deepening character development, particularly for Don Simme, to better illustrate his moral decline and the emotional stakes involved. This could involve more nuanced interactions with his family and associates, showcasing the internal conflict between his ambitions and the consequences of his actions. Additionally, tightening the pacing of the investigation subplot could maintain audience engagement and heighten tension throughout the narrative.
Logic & Inconsistencies

Highlights any contradictions, plot holes, or logic gaps that may confuse viewers.

To enhance the script's coherence and character depth, focus on developing consistent character arcs, particularly for Don Simme, whose drastic shifts in behavior feel unearned. Additionally, streamline the narrative by addressing the convoluted kidnapping subplot, which detracts from the main story of foster care fraud. Ensuring that character motivations and plot developments are organically connected will create a more engaging and believable story.

Scene Analysis

All of your scenes analyzed individually and compared, so you can zero in on what to improve.

Scene-Level Percentile Chart
Hover over the graph to see more details about each score.
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Other Analyses

This section looks at the extra spark — your story’s voice, style, world, and the moments that really stick. These insights might not change the bones of the script, but they can make it more original, more immersive, and way more memorable. It’s where things get fun, weird, and wonderfully you.

Unique Voice

Assesses the distinctiveness and personality of the writer's voice.

To enhance the script, consider deepening character backstories and motivations, particularly for morally ambiguous figures like Don Simme and Burt Connors. This could add layers to their decisions and make the audience more invested in their fates. Additionally, refining the balance between dark humor and the serious themes of corruption and justice can help maintain engagement without undermining the gravity of the narrative. Strengthening the emotional stakes for the victims will also create a more compelling narrative arc.
Writer's Craft

Analyzes the writing to help the writer be aware of their skill and improve.

To enhance the screenplay, the writer should focus on refining dialogue to deepen subtext and character motivations, while also improving scene structure and pacing. Exploring character development beyond dialogue will create more nuanced arcs and internal conflicts. Additionally, experimenting with different genres will broaden the writer's skill set and storytelling techniques, ultimately elevating the overall quality of the script.
Memorable Lines

Spotlights standout dialogue lines with emotional or thematic power.

The script effectively builds tension through character conflicts and moral dilemmas, particularly in the relationships between Don, Karen, and Reynolds. To enhance the emotional impact, consider deepening the character arcs, especially for Karen, to showcase her transformation from a supportive spouse to a determined mother seeking justice. This could create a more compelling narrative that resonates with audiences and adds depth to the story.
Tropes
Highlights common or genre-specific tropes found in the script.
World Building

Evaluates the depth, consistency, and immersion of the story's world.

To enhance the script, consider deepening character development by exploring their moral dilemmas and motivations more thoroughly. This could involve adding layers to Don Simme's character, illustrating the internal conflict between his professional duties and personal failings. Additionally, emphasizing the emotional stakes for the children involved in the foster care system could create a more poignant narrative that resonates with audiences, making the themes of family and justice more impactful.
Correlations

Identifies patterns in scene scores.

To enhance the script's emotional resonance and narrative flow, consider varying the intensity of high-stakes scenes to avoid predictability and fatigue. Additionally, focus on enriching dialogue in reflective scenes to better convey characters' internal struggles. This will create a more cohesive experience for the audience and deepen character development throughout the narrative.
Loglines
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