BEAT SHEET: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Genre: Of the ten genres that Blake Snyder outlines in Save the Cat! I have classified Prince Caspian as a Rite of Passage. The three distinguishing characteristics of the Rite of Passage genre are listed below.

1. A ‘life problem’ – The Pevensies are having trouble fitting in back in England.
2. A ‘wrong way’ to attack the mysterious problem – They think that by avoiding their problems, or by seeking refuge in Narnia, their problems will just go away.
3. A solution that involves ‘acceptance’ of the hard truth that it is not the world that needs to change, but the hero that needs to change – The children realise that things change, that life won’t always continue as it has, and that they will need to grow up and adapt, rather than expect the world to continue as they have always known it.

Now, on with the beatsheet.

Opening Image: A moonlight night in a magnificent castle. A woman screams out in labour pains. This newborn child, cousin to Prince Caspian, is the harbinger of the prince’s death.

Theme Stated: Caspian’s tutor, Professor Cornelius, tells him, “Everything you know is about to change.” Caspian will be faced with startling new truths that he must accept if he is to survive and bring about change in his realm.

Set-up: The birth of Lord Miraz’s son spells death for Prince Caspian. Cornelius intimates that things in Narnia are not what they seem. He gives Caspian a mystical horn, to be blown only at the greatest need, and sends him off before Miraz’s men can capture and kill Caspian. Caspian flees for his life into the woods, which are believed to be the haunt of mythical creatures.

Meanwhile, in England, things are not going so well for the Pevensies. Susan is the recipient of some unwanted attention from a boy and Peter and Edmund are involved in a fight at a train station.

Catalyst: At the eleven minute mark the children are preparing to board the train when a strange wind whips up. Recognising something magical is happening, they link hands. They are transported to a lush beach.

Debate: The Pevensies explore their new surrounds, wondering where exactly in Narnia they have found themselves. They discover some ruins, only to realise that they are in Cair Paravel, the once-magnificent capital of Narnia.

The Telmar Council convenes. The coincidence of Caspian’s disappearance on the very night Miraz’s son was born is seen by Lord Sopespian as proof that Miraz is making a play for the throne. Miraz enters and silences all dispute by asking General Glozelle to bring in a creature of myth: a dwarf, Trumpkin. Miraz frames the Narnians for Caspian’s disappearance and declares war on them.

The children question how Cair Paravel could be in ruins. They find evidence of catapults – their city was attacked! They find a secret entrance in the crumbling walls of an old fort, wherein they find some of their possessions. Equipping themselves with weapons and supplies, the children decide it is time they found out what’s going on.

Telmarine soldiers take Trumpkin down to the river to drown him. The Pevensies arrive in the nick of time and save him. Trumpkin notices a figure of a lion on Peter’s sword and realises there are four of them. He realises that they must be the kings and queens of old, but he doubts they will be of any use in the fight against the Telmarines.

Break into Two: At the late twenty-minute mark, Peter offers to demonstrate their worth. He hands his sword to Trumpkin and tells Edmund to draw his sword. Edmund and Trumpkin fight. Edmund knocks the sword from Trumpkin’s grasp. “Maybe that horn worked after all,” Trumpkin admits.

B-Story: Trufflehunter the badger and Nikabrik the dwarf look after Caspian. Caspian is amazed that Narnians are real. He has been taught that they are creatures of fairy tales only. The B-story has to do with healing the breach between humans and Narnians.

Fun and Games: The Professor is imprisoned. Lucy remarks that the trees are so still. Trumpkin informs her that they have retreated so deeply inside themselves that no one has heard from them since the Telmarines invaded. Lucy tries to befriend what she thinks is a Narnian talking bear but it attacks her. Trumpkin slays it, telling them, “You may find Narnia a more savage place than you remember.” They trek through Narnia. At a deep gorge Lucy sees Aslan, but the others doubt her and look for a different route across.

Telmarines attack Caspian, Trufflehunter and Nikabrik. Their attack is foiled by Reepicheep, a courageous warrior-mouse. Caspian meets with the Narnians at night. He calls on them for support in helping to defeat his uncle and get their freedom back.

The Pevensies make their way to the river to cross, but there are too many Telmarines. They go back to the gorge and successfully cross it, right where Lucy saw Aslan.

After dreaming of Aslan, Lucy wakes up and sets off to find him. She is startled by Peter, who warns her to be quiet – strange creatures are prowling about. Peter attacks, and finds himself fighting Caspian. They have stumbled onto the Narnians. Caspian is doubtful, the Pevensies are not what he expected when he blew the horn.

The Telmarines discover that Narnians have stolen weapons from them. Miraz tightens his grip on the kingship by twisting the event to make Caspian seem responsible.

The Narnians take cover in an old fort. Once again, Peter and Caspian vie for leadership as they discuss different strategies to defeat the Telmarines. Peter’s strategy proves victorious.

Mid-point: At an hour and ten minutes, the Narnians attack the Telmarine city. Caspian deviates from the plan to rescue the Professor. The Professor warns Caspian, “Don’t underestimate Miraz, as your father did.” Caspian confronts Miraz but Miraz manages to escape. The battle plans unravel. Peter presses on, regardless of the overwhelming odds. Many Narnians die in the retreat. What started out so promisingly ends in defeat.

Bad Guys Close In: Peter broods over the defeat. There is dissension in the Narnian ranks. Peter and Caspian argue and fight. Miraz is crowned king of Telmar and gains the support of the Lords of the different provinces, who commit troops to the fight.

All is Lost: Nikabrik tells Caspian that there are other powers in Narnia that can help him. Caspian follows the dwarf deep into the fort, where he comes face to face with a werewolf and a hag. They promise him vengeance if he will call the White Witch back to Narnia.

Dark Night of the Soul: The White Witch almost succeeds in corrupting Caspian and Peter, but Edmund destroys her. Caspian admits to the Professor that he has failed him.

Break into Three: The Telmarine army arrives. The Narnians recognise that Aslan is their only hope. In an attempt to buy Lucy and Susan time to go and find him, Peter challenges Miraz to single combat. Miraz wants to avoid the challenge, but is goaded into accepting it by Lord Sopespian and General Glozelle. Caspian saves Susan and Lucy from the pursuing Telmarines.

Finale: Peter and Miraz duel. Peter proves victorious, despite Miraz’s treachery. He offers Caspian the chance to take Miraz’s life, but the prince spares his uncle. Lord Sopespian, however, stabs Miraz with a Narnian arrow and claims that the Narnians attacked. A huge battle follows.

Lucy finds Aslan, who wakes up the trees. They trees join in the battle, and the Telmarines are routed. The Telmarines flee, and Lord Sopespian gets his comeuppance. Aslan arrives and puts his blessing on Caspian’s reign.

Closing Image: Once again there is a midnight celebration, but where the opening image was a celebration for Miraz alone, fireworks involve the whole city in the celebration.

Peter recognises that Caspian is the rightful heir to the throne. He volunteers to follow the willing Telmarines through a portal to get back home. “All things have their time,” Aslan remarks. The children have learnt what they can in Narnia.

The Pevensies find themselves back at the train station. They know that they cannot solve their problems by hiding away in Narnia, they have accepted that it is not the world that will have to change to accommodate them, they must change to fit the world.