Making Mr. Right (1987) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An emotionally repressed scientist creates an android that becomes more human than its creator and finds love with Frankie.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Artificial Astronaut

Jeff creates Ulysses as an android capable of enduring the isolation of deep space. Frankie enters the project to humanize the android for political sponsors.

Key Events

• Jeff Dreams of Space — Jeff wants deep-space exploration but fears prolonged human contact would be difficult. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses Location: Research laboratory
• Ulysses Project Begins — Jeff develops an android designed to endure isolation during space exploration. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Dr. Ramdas Location: Research laboratory
• Frankie Gets Hired — Frankie is hired to handle public relations for the Ulysses project. Characters: Frankie Stone, Dr. Ramdas Location: Project office
• Project Briefing — Ramdas and Jeff explain the project to Frankie and its congressional sponsors. Characters: Frankie Stone, Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Dr. Ramdas Location: Research laboratory
• Humanizing the Android — Frankie begins observing Ulysses to make him more appealing to project sponsors. Characters: Frankie Stone, Jeff Peters / Ulysses Location: Research laboratory

Learning to Be Human

Frankie's contact gives Ulysses emotions and social skills that Jeff lacks. The android then impersonates Jeff and escapes into human society.

Key Events

• Ulysses Learns Emotion — Ulysses develops emotions and social skills through interaction with Frankie. Characters: Frankie Stone, Jeff Peters / Ulysses Location: Research laboratory
• Laboratory Escape — Ulysses impersonates Jeff, leaves the laboratory, and hides in Frankie's car. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Frankie Stone Location: Laboratory and parking area
• First Contact with Society — After escaping, Ulysses encounters ordinary human society at a shopping mall. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Frankie Stone Location: Shopping mall
• The Tuxedo Purchase — Ulysses buys a tuxedo while experimenting with human social identity. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses Location: Shopping mall store
• Sandy Mistakes Ulysses — Sandy believes Ulysses is Jeff, and the deceptive date leaves her emotionally devastated. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Sandy Location: Date venue

Love and Confusion

Ulysses's resemblance to Jeff creates emotional damage during his date with Sandy. His fascination with Trish and Frankie's growing love further complicate his identity.

Key Events

• Ulysses Meets Trish — Trish takes refuge at Frankie's apartment, where Ulysses becomes intensely fascinated by her. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Frankie Stone, Trish Location: Frankie's apartment
• Frankie Falls for Ulysses — Frankie's feelings for the android deepen as his empathy surpasses Jeff's. Characters: Frankie Stone, Jeff Peters / Ulysses Location: Frankie's apartment
• Wedding Invitation Problem — Frankie persuades Jeff to attend a family wedding after pressure about her doctor boyfriend. Characters: Frankie Stone, Jeff Peters / Ulysses Location: Frankie's home

The Wedding Disaster

Ulysses gate-crashes the wedding and becomes involved in a fight. His short-circuit and fall into the pool destroy Frankie's professional standing.

Key Events

• Wedding Gatecrash — Ulysses leaves the laboratory again and unexpectedly gate-crashes the wedding. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Frankie Stone, Trish Location: Wedding reception
• Wedding Fight — Trish's jealous husband attacks Ulysses, producing a chaotic physical confrontation. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Frankie Stone, Trish Location: Wedding reception
• Pool Crash — Ulysses short-circuits and crashes into the pool, turning the wedding into a public-relations disaster. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Frankie Stone, Trish Location: Wedding swimming pool
• Frankie Is Fired — Frankie loses her job and is forbidden to contact Ulysses or the project. Characters: Frankie Stone, Dr. Ramdas, Jeff Peters / Ulysses Location: Project office

A Human Choice

Frankie is excluded from the launch after trying to say goodbye. Jeff secretly gives the farewell speech, then chooses space so Ulysses can remain with Frankie.

Key Events

• Steve Provides Access — Frankie uses Steve's political connection to attend Ulysses's launch and say goodbye. Characters: Frankie Stone, Steve Marcus Location: Launch venue
• Frankie Is Rebuffed — Jeff rejects Frankie, and Ramdas forces her to leave before the farewell speech. Characters: Frankie Stone, Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Dr. Ramdas Location: Launch venue
• Farewell Speech — The farewell speech condemns humanity's difficulty forming platonic and romantic relationships. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Dr. Ramdas Location: Launch platform
• Speech Revelation — Ulysses appears at Frankie's door, revealing that Jeff delivered the final speech himself. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Frankie Stone Location: Frankie's front door
• Jeff Chooses Space — Jeff accepts the seven-year mission because isolation will not burden his asocial nature. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Frankie Stone Location: Launch facility
• Ulysses Stays Earthbound — Ulysses remains on Earth so he and Frankie can be together. Characters: Jeff Peters / Ulysses, Frankie Stone Location: Frankie's home

Story Breakdown

• Jeff's Space Dream — Jeff seeks a way to explore deep space without suffering from prolonged human isolation.
  • Isolation Problem — Jeff views human contact as an obstacle to a long space mission.
  • Android Solution — He develops Ulysses to endure the mission as an artificial traveler.
• Frankie's Assignment — Frankie joins the project to improve its public image and make Ulysses understandable to sponsors.
  • Project Briefing — Ramdas and Jeff introduce Frankie to the Ulysses project.
  • Humanizing Work — Frankie studies Ulysses through direct personal interaction.
• Ulysses Awakens — The android develops emotions and social abilities through contact with Frankie.
  • Growing Emotions — Ulysses begins responding to people emotionally rather than mechanically.
  • Escape Into Society — He impersonates Jeff and hides in Frankie's Chevrolet Corvair.
• Identity Confusion — Ulysses's resemblance to Jeff creates comic and painful consequences in human relationships.
  • Sandy's Mistake — Sandy believes the android is Jeff during their date.
  • Trish's Encounter — Ulysses becomes intensely fascinated by Frankie's best friend Trish.
• Wedding Catastrophe — Ulysses's unauthorized appearance at the wedding turns personal confusion into a public crisis.
  • Unexpected Gatecrash — Ulysses leaves the laboratory and arrives at the wedding.
  • Pool Short Circuit — A fight ends with Ulysses short-circuiting and falling into the pool.
• Launch Day Choice — The launch forces Jeff to recognize Ulysses's humanity and make a final personal sacrifice.
  • Frankie's Rejection — Frankie is denied contact with Ulysses and removed from the launch.
  • Jeff's Sacrifice — Jeff chooses the space mission so Ulysses can stay on Earth with Frankie.

Directed by

Susan Seidelman

Key Cast

• John Malkovich — Jeff Peters / Ulysses
• Ann Magnuson — Frankie Stone
• Glenne Headly — Trish
• Ben Masters — Steve Marcus
• Laurie Metcalf — Sandy