A professor's life is upended by an assault, forcing him to embrace his fictional hitman alter ego and redefine his true self.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Academic Shadows
John Dykstra navigates his dual life as a lowly college professor and a semi-successful but insecure author. He attends a monthly gathering with fellow writers before beginning his journey home.
Key Events
1975 Setting Establishment — Story opens in 1975, establishing the period backdrop. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: 1975 America
Academic Routine — John navigates his daily life as a lowly college professor. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: College Campus
Author Identity — He is revealed as a semi-successful author lacking confidence. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Home Office
Monthly Writer Meetup — Attends a monthly meeting with fellow writers. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Author Gathering
Journey Home Begins — Travels home after the writer gathering concludes. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Highway
Peer Interactions — Brief interactions with fellow authors highlight his social isolation. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Author Gathering
Confidence Crisis — Struggles with low self-assurance despite professional success. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: College
Period Atmosphere — 1970s backdrop influences the narrative tone and pacing. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: 1975 Setting
The Rest Stop Detour
Seeking a break from his routine, John pulls off to a remote rest stop. The isolated location sets the stage for an unexpected and dangerous encounter.
Key Events
Journey Home Begins — Travels home after the writer gathering concludes. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Highway
Rest Stop Detour — Decides to pull off the road to the nearby rest stop. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Nearest Rest Stop
Domestic Assault — Encounters an unnerving domestic assault that shatters his routine. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Isolated Environment — The remote location amplifies tension and vulnerability. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Assault and Awakening
A sudden domestic assault shatters John's passive demeanor. The life-threatening situation forces him to tap into his fictional alter ego, Rick Hardin.
Key Events
Domestic Assault — Encounters an unnerving domestic assault that shatters his routine. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Alter Ego Emergence — Forced by the assault to embrace Rick Hardin, his fictional hitman persona. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Fictional Hitman Concept — Rick Hardin is established as the violent protagonist of his novels. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Assailant Confrontation — Faces the attacker using newfound resolve and alter ego traits. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Identity Forged
Confronting the assailant and his own fears, John synthesizes his professor and hitman personas. He ultimately decides the man he wishes to become.
Key Events
Assailant Confrontation — Faces the attacker using newfound resolve and alter ego traits. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Identity Synthesis — Battles to merge his professor demeanor with hitman aggression. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Critical Self-Decision — Compelled to finally decide what kind of man he ultimately wants to be. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Assault Aftermath — Survives the attack and processes the psychological shift. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Persona Integration — Successfully blends academic restraint with hitman decisiveness. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Final Identity Choice — Commits to his ultimate desired self, resolving the internal conflict. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Narrative Closure — Story concludes with a resolved and transformed protagonist. Characters: John Dykstra / Rick HardinLocation: Rest Stop
Story Breakdown
Protagonist Background — Establishes John's dual professional life and internal struggles.
Academic Career — Works as a lowly college professor in 1975.
Writing Ambitions — Semi-successful author with low self-confidence.
Low Self-Esteem — Lacks assurance despite professional achievements.
Monthly Gathering — Social interactions that highlight his isolation.
Author Meetup — Attends a regular gathering with fellow writers.
Peer Interactions — Brief exchanges that emphasize his quiet nature.
Routine Departure — Leaves the meeting to begin his journey home.
Journey and Detour — The travel sequence leading to the inciting incident.
Travel Home — Drives along the highway after the gathering.
Rest Stop Decision — Chooses to pull off at the nearest rest stop.
Isolated Setting — The remote location amplifies vulnerability.
The Assault — The violent event that disrupts his passive life.
Domestic Attack — Encounters an unnerving domestic assault.
Life Threat — Faces immediate danger that shatters his routine.
Passive Breakdown — His initial inability to defend himself.
Alter Ego Activation — Psychological shift triggered by survival instinct.
Rick Hardin Persona — Embraces his fictional hitman character.
Fictional Hitman — Draws power from his novel's protagonist.
Psychological Shift — Transforms from insecure professor to decisive fighter.
Confrontation and Choice — The climax where internal and external conflicts merge.
Fighting Back — Uses newfound aggression to face the assailant.
Identity Synthesis — Merges academic restraint with hitman decisiveness.
Final Self-Definition — Decides what kind of man he ultimately wants to be.
Resolution and Growth — The aftermath and character transformation.
Acceptance — Acknowledges and integrates his dual nature.
New Resolve — Commits to his chosen path forward.
Narrative Closure — Story concludes with a resolved and transformed protagonist.
It's 1975, and John Dykstra, a lowly college professor, with not much confidence but a semi-successful author, is on his way home from his monthly meet up group with fellow authors, when he decides to pull off to the nearest rest stop. What he encounters there is an unnerving domestic assault, that will force him to embrace his alter ego, Rick Hardin, the hitman in his novels, and finally decide what kind of man he wants to be.
