Nothing in Common (1986) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A self-involved advertising professional is forced to mature when his parents' separation and his father's illness make family responsibility unavoidable.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Promotion Meets Family Collapse

David returns to a promising advertising career just as his parents' marriage ends. His father's dismissal adds financial and emotional pressure to David's new responsibilities.

Key Events

• David Returns to Work — David returns from vacation after being promoted at his Chicago advertising agency. Characters: David Basner Location: Chicago advertising agency
• Marriage Separation Revealed — David learns that his parents have separated after thirty-six years of marriage. Characters: David Basner Location: David's family home
• Family Responsibilities Grow — David begins helping both separated parents with practical and emotional problems. Characters: David Basner Location: Chicago
• Father Loses His Job — David's father is fired after thirty-five years in the garment industry. Characters: David Basner Location: Chicago

The Cost of Staying Childlike

David tries to preserve his playful identity while managing parental demands and a lucrative airline campaign. His personal relationship with Cheryl adds another complication.

Key Events

• Ex-Girlfriend Challenges David — David's former girlfriend tells him that he needs to grow up. Characters: David Basner Location: Chicago
• Airline Campaign Begins — David develops a commercial campaign for Andrew's airline company. Characters: David Basner, Andrew Woolridge Location: Advertising agency
• Cheryl Relationship Begins — David begins a physical relationship with Cheryl, Andrew's daughter. Characters: David Basner, Cheryl Ann Wayne, Andrew Woolridge Location: Chicago social setting
• Parents Depend on David — One parent needs help moving, while the other needs transportation to a doctor. Characters: David Basner Location: Chicago apartments

Truth Behind the Family Commercial

A painful late-night revelation forces David to confront the damage within his parents' marriage. His divided attention begins to undermine his professional performance.

Key Events

• Parents Depend on David — One parent needs help moving, while the other needs transportation to a doctor. Characters: David Basner Location: Chicago apartments
• Late Night Revelation — A late-night crisis exposes painful marital betrayal and humiliation. Characters: David Basner Location: David's home
• David Confronts His Father — David confronts his father while admitting that his family-themed commercial feels fake. Characters: David Basner Location: Family home
• Work Becomes Distracted — David's family pressures interfere with his ability to complete the campaign. Characters: David Basner, Andrew Woolridge Location: Advertising agency
• Jazz Club Peace Offering — David takes his father to hear jazz as an attempt to repair their relationship. Characters: David Basner Location: Jazz club

Illness Forces a Choice

David discovers the seriousness of his father's diabetes after attempting a peace offering. Medical danger and business pressure place his career and family duty in direct opposition.

Key Events

• Diabetes Crisis Discovered — David discovers that his father has severe diabetes and has ignored his diet. Characters: David Basner Location: Jazz club and medical setting
• Hospital Marital Reckoning — The separated couple discusses their life together while the father's regret becomes apparent. Characters: David Basner Location: Hospital
• New York Demand — Andrew orders David to accompany him to New York to promote the campaign. Characters: David Basner, Andrew Woolridge Location: Advertising office
• David Chooses Family — David refuses the trip because it would keep him from the scheduled surgery. Characters: David Basner, Andrew Woolridge Location: Advertising office

Coming Through for Family

David rejects a business trip, loses the airline account, and remains present for the surgery. After the operation, he reconnects emotionally and brings family responsibility into his working life.

Key Events

• Account Is Lost — Andrew takes the airline account away after David refuses to travel. Characters: David Basner, Andrew Woolridge Location: Advertising office
• Surgery and Amputation — David's father undergoes surgery and loses his toes and part of one foot. Characters: David Basner Location: Hospital
• Renewed Emotional Connection — David confides in his former girlfriend, and their mutual interest becomes clear again. Characters: David Basner Location: Chicago
• Father Comes Home — David brings his father home, who admits he never expected David to come through for him. Characters: David Basner Location: Family home
• Work and Family Recombine — David returns to work and brings his father while shooting commercials. Characters: David Basner Location: Commercial shoot

Story Breakdown

• Career Success — David begins with professional momentum and a valuable airline campaign.
  • Agency Promotion — David has recently been promoted at his Chicago advertising agency.
  • Airline Campaign — The campaign could help David gain a partnership.
• Family Breakdown — His parents' separation suddenly changes David's personal obligations.
  • Marriage Ends — The long marriage ends after thirty-six years.
  • Parental Dependence — Both parents increasingly rely on David for help.
• Immature Identity — David resists changing because he believes his childlike qualities benefit his advertising work.
  • Demand To Grow — A former girlfriend tells David that he should grow up.
  • Playboy Lifestyle — David's father criticizes his frivolous romantic and social behavior.
• Commercial Illusion — David's idealized family commercial conflicts with the painful reality of his home life.
  • Family-Themed Advertisement — David works on a commercial about a loving and caring family.
  • Private Confrontation — David admits that the commercial feels like an act.
• Medical Crisis — A peace offering reveals the seriousness of his father's neglected diabetes.
  • Jazz Club Outing — David takes his father out to hear jazz.
  • Surgical Risk — The illness may require amputation, making the situation urgent.
• Career Sacrifice — David must choose between professional advancement and being present for surgery.
  • New York Pressure — Andrew demands that David travel to promote the campaign.
  • Account Lost — David refuses the trip and loses the airline account.
• Emotional Maturity — David's actions show a shift from self-interest toward responsibility and connection.
  • Surgery Support — David remains available while his father undergoes surgery.
  • Integrated Life — David brings his father to a commercial shoot after returning to work.

Directed by

Garry Marshall

Key Cast

• Tom Hanks — David Basner
• Jackie Gleason — Max Basner
• Eva Marie Saint — Lorraine Basner
• Héctor Elizondo — Charlie Gargas
• Barry Corbin — Andrew Woolridge