In Hidden Figures, written by Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi (based on the book of the same name by Margot Shetterly), there is this 5-page long scene that introduces the main characters, all while setting up the story world. A multipurpose scene that is a pure joy to read, and of course, worth deconstructing.
Character Introductions
By page four, we have been introduced to Katherine Goble as an 8-year-old, a math genius, but we have yet to meet her adult self, as well as the other major characters.
Katherine Goble
Since the previous pages were all about Katherine, we already have an idea of who she is, so less weight is given to her introduction. However, even the little that is offered is enough to provide a telling description.
With a few words, the writers paint the image of a pensive character in her own world, which is soon confirmed down a few lines when she is too lost in her thoughts to hear Dorothy calling out to her.
Dorothy Vaughan
Having a woman in 1961 “slide out from under [a] car” on the side of a road is quite a powerful image to introduce a character.
Although the writers mention that she is “mechanically gifted”, her diagnosis of what’s wrong with the car does all the talking…
… And when she fixes it, no help is needed!
Mary Jackson
From these three characters, Mary Jackson is the most clearly defined in this scene.
Those personality traits are evident in her manner of speaking.
And as a police car approaches, the most likely to get them in trouble is Mary.
It seems the warning from Dorothy fell on deaf ears.
Establishing the Story World
As brilliant as this scene is in introducing the main characters, it also serves the purpose of defining the story world. There are multiple elements used to expose this world, some more subtle than others.
The Titles
From this simple piece of information, we can deduce all the implications and realities specific to this location and time period.
The Racism
Multiple pieces of dialogue uncover the intricacies of the story world the characters evolve in, the blatant racism of the time being one of them.
When the police show up, the situation becomes instantly tense.
He asks for identification albeit there being no justifiable reason for the request.
The Place of Women
When the cop shows surprise at the idea of them working for NASA and Dorothy responds that “there are quite a few women working in the Space Program”, even though they all knew that is not what he was referring to, it nonetheless expresses the place women held in society at the time.
The Political Climate
The tense relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as the race for space superiority, which are major realities of the time, are also explored here.
With barely a few pieces of dialogue we draw an accurate portrait of the time period.
Lessons Learned
Choose the strongest image to introduce a character
These women are strong, capable, and ambitious, going against the grain at a time when all odds were against them. Such characters can’t be introduced mildly. When we see Dorothy under the car fixing it, it may not be earth shattering in today’s world, but that’s one strong image for 1961. Choosing the strongest way to introduce a character definitely pays off!
Back up character descriptions with corresponding action and dialogue
One thing is to describe a character, another is to describe a character and then proceed to prove it with corresponding action and dialogue. Dorothy may be defined as “mechanically gifted”, but her actions indicate that it is actually true. Mary may be characterized as “free-tongued”, but her pieces of dialogue show that it is indeed a personality trait.
Use the most significant aspects of a time period and/or location to build the story world
The writers make it look easy. They effortlessly sprinkle dialogue befitting the time period, providing an accurate portrait of what the characters’ world must have been like. As we have seen, they achieve that by selecting the most noteworthy elements of the time and building the scene around it.
Conclusion
I believe this scene is one to keep readily available as a reference. In a few pages, the reader/viewer is introduced to the main characters and the story world. Brilliantly effective!
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