Behaving Badly (2014) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A reckless teenager confronts the consequences of destructive choices while trying to protect his family and recover damaged relationships.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Life in Collapse

Rick introduces the reckless choices that have destabilized his life. Billy's imprisonment, his father's fugitive status, and the discovery in Lucy's trunk establish the crisis.

Key Events

• Rick Describes His Collapse — Rick explains that reckless choices have caused his life to collapse. Characters: Rick Stevens Location: Rick's narration
• The Reckless Bet — Rick reveals that he made a foolish bet involving a sociopathic Lithuanian student. Characters: Rick Stevens Location: Unspecified
• Billy Remains in Jail — Rick's best friend Billy is in jail while Rick's personal crisis expands. Characters: Rick Stevens, Billy Bender Location: Jail
• Rick's Father Becomes Fugitive — Rick states that his father has become a fugitive. Characters: Rick Stevens Location: Unspecified
• Body Found in Lucy's Trunk — A dead body is found in the trunk of Lucy's car. Characters: Rick Stevens, Lucy Stevens / Saint Lola Location: Lucy Stevens's car

The House of Suspicions

Rick finds Lucy apparently unconscious and calls an ambulance. Authorities treat the house as a possible homicide scene and discover suicide notes addressed partly to Rick.

Key Events

• Rick Finds Lucy Unconscious — Rick finds Lucy apparently unconscious at home. Characters: Rick Stevens, Lucy Stevens / Saint Lola Location: Stevens home
• Ambulance Is Called — Rick calls an ambulance after finding Lucy unconscious. Characters: Rick Stevens, Lucy Stevens / Saint Lola Location: Stevens home
• Home Becomes Homicide Scene — Arriving authorities treat the house as a possible homicide scene. Characters: Rick Stevens, Lucy Stevens / Saint Lola Location: Stevens home
• Suicide Notes Discovered — Several suicide notes are discovered, including one addressed to Rick. Characters: Rick Stevens, Lucy Stevens / Saint Lola Location: Stevens home
• Rick Faces Humiliating Questions — Questioning and the chaotic investigation make Rick's family crisis more humiliating. Characters: Rick Stevens Location: Stevens home

Romance Amid Disaster

Nina agrees to date Rick, but their funeral date and concert plans unfold beside his continuing family troubles. Rick's efforts to escape the crisis repeatedly become absurd.

Key Events

• Nina Accepts a Date — Nina agrees to go out with Rick despite the surrounding crisis. Characters: Rick Stevens, Nina Pennington Location: Unspecified
• Date Takes Place at Funeral — Rick and Nina's first date occurs at a funeral. Characters: Rick Stevens, Nina Pennington Location: Funeral
• Concert Plans Are Made — They discuss music and plan to attend a concert while Nina's parents are away. Characters: Rick Stevens, Nina Pennington Location: Funeral
• School Death Bet — Rick and Billy gamble over whether a nun has actually died. Characters: Rick Stevens, Billy Bender Location: School classroom

School Bets and Consequences

Rick and Billy gamble over a nun's death, only to see her wake during class. Principal Basil Poole summons them, while the school's history makes the situation even stranger.

Key Events

• The Nun Wakes — The nun unexpectedly wakes during class, overturning the boys' wager. Characters: Rick Stevens, Billy Bender Location: School classroom
• Poole Summons the Boys — Principal Basil Poole summons Rick and Billy after the bet is reported. Characters: Rick Stevens, Billy Bender, Principal Basil Poole Location: Principal's office
• School Deaths Are Discussed — The school's grim history of faculty deaths adds absurdity to the disciplinary scene. Characters: Rick Stevens, Billy Bender, Principal Basil Poole Location: Principal's office
• Lucy Is Taken Away — Lucy is taken away in an ambulance while Rick remains overwhelmed. Characters: Rick Stevens, Lucy Stevens / Saint Lola Location: Stevens home

Confession and Responsibility

Rick confesses his affair with Pamela and connects it to Lucy's apparent suicide attempt. He resists Pamela's temptation, loses Nina's willingness to speak, and resolves to repair his family.

Key Events

• Lucy Is Taken Away — Lucy is taken away in an ambulance while Rick remains overwhelmed. Characters: Rick Stevens, Lucy Stevens / Saint Lola Location: Stevens home
• Rick Confesses to Pamela — Rick admits to Pamela that he had sex with her. Characters: Rick Stevens, Pamela Bender Location: Pamela Bender's home
• Rick Blames the Affair — Rick believes the affair contributed to Lucy's apparent suicide attempt. Characters: Rick Stevens, Pamela Bender, Lucy Stevens / Saint Lola Location: Pamela Bender's home
• Rick Makes a Promise — Rick promises God not to sleep with Pamela again if Lucy survives. Characters: Rick Stevens, Pamela Bender Location: Pamela Bender's home
• Rick Rejects Pamela's Temptation — Pamela tries to tempt Rick, but he refuses and chooses responsibility. Characters: Rick Stevens, Pamela Bender Location: Pamela Bender's home
• Nina Stops Speaking to Rick — Nina no longer speaks to Rick after the escalating disasters. Characters: Rick Stevens, Nina Pennington Location: Unspecified
• Rick Tries to Explain — Rick encounters Nina and attempts to explain himself. Characters: Rick Stevens, Nina Pennington Location: Unspecified
• Lucy Returns Changed — Lucy appears alive after returning home but behaves strangely. Characters: Rick Stevens, Lucy Stevens / Saint Lola Location: Stevens home
• Rick Accepts Responsibility — Rick says everything is his fault and declares that he will fix his family. Characters: Rick Stevens, Billy Bender, Nina Pennington, Lucy Stevens / Saint Lola Location: Stevens home

Story Breakdown

• Rick's Collapsing Life — Rick begins from a position of humiliation, guilt, and rapidly escalating personal problems.
  • Reckless Bet — Rick reveals the foolish bet that contributes to his crisis.
  • Friends in Jail — Billy's imprisonment leaves Rick isolated during the unfolding disaster.
• The Stevens Crisis — Lucy’s apparent emergency turns the family home into the center of a chaotic investigation.
  • Lucy Found Unconscious — Rick discovers Lucy apparently unconscious and calls an ambulance.
  • Suicide Notes — Authorities find several notes, including one addressed to Rick.
• Rick Pursues Nina — Rick treats his connection with Nina as a possible escape from his family troubles.
  • Funeral Date — Rick and Nina's first date takes place at a funeral.
  • Concert Plans — They discuss music and plan to attend a concert.
• School's Grim Absurdity — A wager at school creates disciplinary trouble while the setting's history makes events increasingly bizarre.
  • Nun Wakes — The nun unexpectedly wakes during class, overturning the wager.
  • Principal's Summons — Basil Poole summons Rick and Billy after the bet is reported.
• Pamela's Dangerous Secret — Rick's affair with Pamela forces him to confront how his behavior has damaged his family.
  • Affair Confession — Rick admits to Pamela that they had sex.
  • Promise to Change — Rick refuses further temptation and promises to take responsibility.
• Broken Relationships — Rick's actions isolate him from Nina while leaving his family crisis unresolved.
  • Nina's Rejection — Nina believes Rick is evil and stops speaking to him.
  • Family Repair — Rick blames himself and declares that he will fix his family.

Directed by

Tim Garrick

Key Cast

• Nat Wolff — Rick Stevens
• Selena Gomez — Nina Pennington
• Mary-Louise Parker — Lucy Stevens / Saint Lola
• Elisabeth Shue — Pamela Bender
• Dylan McDermott — Jimmy Leach