Price Check (2012) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A suburban family man's pursuit of career advancement becomes entangled with workplace attraction and growing domestic pressure.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Debt Beneath Domestic Calm

Pete maintains a suburban family life while working in a supermarket pricing department. The family appears happy despite being deeply in debt.

Key Events

• Suburban Family Routine — Pete lives in the suburbs with his wife and young son. Characters: Pete Cozy Location: Suburban home
• Pricing Department Job — Pete works in the pricing department of a middling supermarket chain. Characters: Pete Cozy Location: Supermarket pricing department
• Quality Family Time — Pete's job allows him to spend quality time with his family. Characters: Pete Cozy Location: Suburban home
• Debt Beneath Happiness — The family appears happy despite being overwhelmed by debt. Characters: Pete Cozy Location: Suburban home
• New Boss Arrives — Susan becomes Pete's new boss. Characters: Pete Cozy, Susan Felders Location: Supermarket workplace
• Susan Takes Control — Susan is portrayed as powerful, fast-talking, and highly driven. Characters: Susan Felders, Pete Cozy Location: Supermarket workplace

The Executive Track Opens

Susan becomes Pete's new boss and uses her influence to move him toward the executive track. Pete is surprised but excited by the opportunity.

Key Events

• Susan Takes Control — Susan is portrayed as powerful, fast-talking, and highly driven. Characters: Susan Felders, Pete Cozy Location: Supermarket workplace
• Career Opportunity Emerges — Susan's influence places Pete on the executive track. Characters: Susan Felders, Pete Cozy Location: Supermarket workplace
• Pete Feels Surprised — Pete is surprised by his sudden professional advancement. Characters: Pete Cozy Location: Supermarket workplace
• Ambition Takes Hold — Pete becomes excited by the possibility of executive advancement. Characters: Pete Cozy Location: Supermarket workplace
• Salary Begins Rising — Pete's professional advancement is accompanied by increasing salary. Characters: Pete Cozy, Susan Felders Location: Supermarket workplace
• Performance Expectations Grow — The higher Pete's salary becomes, the more he must perform at work. Characters: Pete Cozy, Susan Felders Location: Supermarket workplace

Success Demands A Price

Pete's salary increases, but the advancement requires greater performance at work. As his professional demands grow, his time with his family decreases.

Key Events

• Performance Expectations Grow — The higher Pete's salary becomes, the more he must perform at work. Characters: Pete Cozy, Susan Felders Location: Supermarket workplace
• Family Time Shrinks — Pete's growing work demands reduce the time he spends with his family. Characters: Pete Cozy Location: Suburban home
• Workplace Boundaries Blur — Pete and Susan's relationship begins crossing professional boundaries. Characters: Pete Cozy, Susan Felders Location: Supermarket workplace
• Mutual Enchantment Grows — Pete and Susan become enamored with one another. Characters: Pete Cozy, Susan Felders Location: Supermarket workplace
• Professional Etiquette Strains — Their attraction creates tension within the workplace. Characters: Pete Cozy, Susan Felders Location: Supermarket workplace
• Home Life Feels Pressure — Pete's workplace entanglement begins affecting his home life. Characters: Pete Cozy Location: Pete's home

Desire Crosses The Line

Pete and Susan become enamored with one another, and their relationship crosses professional boundaries. The resulting tension spreads from the workplace into Pete's home life.

Key Events

• Home Life Feels Pressure — Pete's workplace entanglement begins affecting his home life. Characters: Pete Cozy Location: Pete's home
• Career And Family Collide — Pete's career progress and personal attraction become intertwined. Characters: Pete Cozy, Susan Felders Location: Supermarket workplace
• Workplace Tension Peaks — The mutual attraction intensifies tension between Pete and Susan at work. Characters: Pete Cozy, Susan Felders Location: Supermarket workplace
• Home Tension Deepens — Pete's divided attention continues to create tension in his home life. Characters: Pete Cozy Location: Pete's home
• Competing Lives Remain — Pete remains caught between executive ambition, work pressure, and personal entanglement. Characters: Pete Cozy, Susan Felders Location: Workplace and home

Story Breakdown

• Suburban Stability — Pete begins with a seemingly happy home life and a manageable job.
  • Family Routine — Pete lives in the suburbs with his wife and young son.
  • Debt Beneath Happiness — The family appears happy despite drowning in debt.
• Pricing Department — Pete's supermarket job initially supports his family life.
  • Middling Supermarket — Pete works for a middling supermarket chain.
  • Quality Time — His job allows substantial time with his family.
• New Boss Arrives — Susan's arrival changes Pete's professional circumstances.
  • Susan Takes Charge — Susan becomes Pete's powerful, fast-talking boss.
  • Influence At Work — Susan's influence affects Pete's career trajectory.
• Executive Ambition — Pete is unexpectedly drawn toward greater professional status.
  • Executive Track — Pete is placed on the executive track.
  • Excited Advancement — He is surprised and excited by the opportunity.
• Rising Work Demands — Higher compensation brings increased expectations and less personal time.
  • Salary Increases — Pete's salary rises as his career advances.
  • Performance Pressure — The increased salary requires him to perform more at work.
• Family Time Shrinks — Professional advancement begins to damage Pete's domestic balance.
  • Less Time Home — Pete spends less time with his family.
  • Home Life Tension — His workplace situation creates tension at home.
• Forbidden Workplace Attraction — Pete and Susan's mutual feelings disrupt professional boundaries.
  • Etiquette Crossed — Their relationship crosses professional etiquette.
  • Mutual Enchantment — Both Pete and Susan become enamored with one another.
• Competing Personal Lives — Career ambition, workplace attraction, and family responsibility remain in conflict.
  • Workplace Tension — The attraction creates tension at work.
  • Domestic Consequences — The same relationship creates tension in Pete's home life.

Directed by

Michael Walker

Key Cast

• Parker Posey — Susan Felders
• Eric Mabius — Pete Cozy
• Annie Parisse — Sara Biltmore-Cozy
• Finn Donoghue — Henry Cozy
• Matt Servitto — Jim Brady