Everything Before Us (2015) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

The film examines how institutional relationship scores distort love, responsibility, independence, and personal choice.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Scores Shape Every Future

The D.E.I. controls social and professional opportunities through relationship scores. Ben loses an Origin job while Sara gains financing, prompting Henry to push Ben toward a D.E.I. appointment.

Key Events

• Scores Govern Society — The D.E.I. assigns relationship scores that affect everyone's social standing. Characters: Ben, Sara, Randall Location: D.E.I. system
• Ben Loses Origin Job — Origin denies Ben a design job because his relationship score is too low. Characters: Ben Location: Origin
• Sara Secures Cafe Loan — Sara receives a business loan because her relationship score is high. Characters: Sara Location: Loan office
• Henry Suggests Mediation — Henry persuades Ben to meet Sara at the D.E.I. to improve his score. Characters: Ben, Henry Location: Ben's home

Old Love Reopens Doors

Ben and Sara dispute their shared past before accepting equal responsibility. The agreement raises Ben's score, gets him hired, and places him on a new romantic path with Anna.

Key Events

• Conflicting Relationship Accounts — Ben and Sara clash over their different accounts of the breakup. Characters: Ben, Sara, Randall Location: D.E.I. office
• Fifty-Fifty Responsibility — Ben and Sara reconcile and each accepts half the responsibility. Characters: Ben, Sara, Randall Location: D.E.I. office
• Ben Gets Origin Job — Ben's improved score allows him to become a designer at Origin. Characters: Ben Location: Origin
• Seth And Haley Register — Seth and Haley register their long-distance relationship with Randall. Characters: Seth, Haley, Randall Location: D.E.I. office

Promises Under Pressure

Ben paints a mural at Sara's cafe and kisses her, threatening his relationship with Anna. Meanwhile, Seth and Haley's registered long-distance relationship deteriorates under pressure from distance and control.

Key Events

• Ben Starts Dating Anna — Ben begins a relationship with Anna, his co-worker at Origin. Characters: Ben, Anna Location: Origin
• Sara Opens Cafe — At the cafe soft opening, Ben offers to paint a mural for Sara. Characters: Ben, Sara Location: Sara's cafe
• The Mural Kiss — While painting late at night, Ben kisses Sara after they drink together. Characters: Ben, Sara Location: Sara's cafe
• Anna Threatens Breakup — Anna discovers the kiss and threatens to end her relationship with Ben. Characters: Ben, Anna Location: Origin

Scores Collapse

Seth's transfer decision, Haley's party, and her London plans deepen their conflict. The D.E.I. exposes Sara's fraudulent relationship, causing her to lose the cafe, while Ben also loses his job.

Key Events

• Seth Visits Haley — Seth repeatedly visits Haley, but their long-distance relationship begins deteriorating. Characters: Seth, Haley Location: Haley's college
• Transfer Plan Backfires — Seth applies to transfer without consulting Haley, making her feel controlled. Characters: Seth, Haley Location: College campus
• Party Trust Collapses — Seth catches Haley at a party linked to inappropriate sexual relationships. Characters: Seth, Haley Location: Fraternity party
• London Plans Revealed — Seth learns Haley has kept possible London study plans from him. Characters: Seth, Haley Location: Haley's college
• Cafe Fraud Investigated — D.E.I. investigators expose Sara's fraudulent relationship used to raise her score. Characters: Sara, Randall Location: Sara's cafe

Love Refuses The System

Haley ends her relationship with Seth, and Seth accepts complete responsibility. Randall secretly shares Ben's testimony with Sara, leading them back to the unfinished mural as Seth and Haley begin separate lives.

Key Events

• Cafe Fraud Investigated — D.E.I. investigators expose Sara's fraudulent relationship used to raise her score. Characters: Sara, Randall Location: Sara's cafe
• Sara Loses Her Cafe — The fraud drastically lowers Sara's score and causes her to lose the cafe. Characters: Sara Location: Sara's cafe
• Ben Loses His Job — Ben loses his job at Origin after his score falls following the breakup with Anna. Characters: Ben, Anna Location: Origin
• Seth Ends Relationship — After Haley ends things by phone, Ben advises Seth to terminate the relationship with total fault. Characters: Ben, Seth, Haley Location: D.E.I. office
• Randall Shares Testimony — Randall violates policy by giving Sara Ben's testimony from the fraud investigation. Characters: Ben, Sara, Randall Location: Sara's former cafe
• Love Rejects Simplicity — Sara hears Ben defend difficult love and challenge the D.E.I.'s simplified relationship system. Characters: Sara, Ben Location: Sara's former cafe
• Sails On The Mural — Ben and Sara restart the mural together, painting a pair of sails. Characters: Ben, Sara Location: Sara's former cafe
• Separate New Lives — Haley starts school in London while Seth moves to San Francisco independently. Characters: Seth, Haley Location: London and San Francisco
• Bakery Loan — Henry and Sandy take out a bakery loan, presumably on Sara's behalf. Characters: Henry, Sandy, Sara Location: Loan office

Story Breakdown

• Scored Social Order — The D.E.I. makes relationship scores central to social status and opportunity.
  • Ben Loses Employment — Origin rejects Ben because his relationship score is low.
  • Sara Gains Financing — Sara obtains a cafe loan through her high score.
• Ben Seeks Redemption — Ben follows Henry's advice and confronts his history with Sara.
  • Henry's Advice — Henry directs Ben toward a D.E.I. appointment.
  • Equal Responsibility — Ben and Sara sign a 50-50 responsibility agreement.
• A New Career — Ben's repaired score restores his professional prospects.
  • Origin Hiring — Ben becomes a designer at Origin.
  • Anna Relationship — Ben begins dating his co-worker Anna.
• The Mural Reignites Love — Ben's work at Sara's cafe revives unresolved feelings between them.
  • Cafe Soft Opening — Ben offers to paint an empty cafe wall.
  • Impulsive Kiss — Ben kisses Sara and destabilizes his relationship with Anna.
• Distance Tests Commitment — Seth and Haley struggle to preserve their registered long-distance relationship.
  • California Separation — Haley attends college in San Francisco while Seth stays in Los Angeles.
  • Independence Conflict — Seth's transfer plan makes Haley feel controlled.
• Trust Breaks Apart — The couple's conflict intensifies through parties, secrecy, and competing futures.
  • Fraternity Party — Seth catches Haley at a troubling fraternity party.
  • London Plans — Haley's hidden study-abroad plans further damage trust.
• Institutional Punishment — The D.E.I. investigates manipulated relationships and punishes both personal and professional failures.
  • Sara's Fraud Exposed — The D.E.I. investigates Sara's fraudulent relationship used to raise her score.
  • Losses Multiply — Sara loses her cafe and Ben loses his job after his score falls.
• Love Defies Scoring — Ben's testimony and Randall's disobedience allow Sara and Ben to reconsider love outside the D.E.I.'s rules.
  • Seth Accepts Fault — Seth terminates the relationship while accepting 100 percent responsibility.
  • Randall Shares Evidence — Randall secretly gives Sara Ben's recorded testimony.
• Independent Beginnings — The characters move toward futures less defined by former relationships.
  • Mural Starts Again — Ben and Sara paint a pair of sails together.
  • Separate Futures — Haley moves to London and Seth moves to San Francisco.

Directed by

Wesley Chan, Philip Wang

Key Cast

• Aaron Yoo — Ben
• Brittany Ishibashi — Sara
• Brandon Soo Hoo — Seth
• Victoria Park — Haley
• Randall Park — Randall