Pickings (2018) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Jo's effort to protect her family and bar is shaped by a violent past and an unresolved present-day confrontation.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Trouble at Pickings

Jo tries to keep Pickings running while handling a performer's commotion and looking after her family. She also hears that Doris has been asking about her, while a crime boss becomes concerned about missing intimidators.

Key Events

• The Captive Is Taunted — A woman taunts a captive and challenges him to prove he is not a coward. Location: Unspecified location
• Pickings Faces Trouble — Jo looks after her family while trying to keep the bar running. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Pickings bar
• A Performer Causes a Scene — A regular performer causes a commotion at the bar. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Pickings bar
• Jo Helps After Closing — After closing, Jo helps the performer who caused the commotion. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Pickings bar
• Family Comes First — Jo tells a young family member that family must come first. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Pickings bar
• Doris Asks About Jo — Jo hears that Doris has been asking about her, but Jo is reluctant to speak with Doris. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood, Doris Pickens Location: Unspecified location

The Three Dames' Past

Jo recounts how she and her sisters killed their violent father in 1982 and became known as the Three Dames. Their criminal empire is disrupted when a crime boss attacks them.

Key Events

• Intimidators Disappear — A local crime boss grows alarmed after two men sent to intimidate the bar disappear. Location: Unspecified location
• A Rival Family Suspected — The crime boss suspects a rival family may be involved and considers his next move. Location: Unspecified location
• The 1982 Family Killing — In 1982, Jo and her two sisters kill their violent father after he nearly kills their mother. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Family home
• The Three Dames Rise — Jo and her sisters become known as the Three Dames and build a criminal empire through robberies and murder. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Unspecified locations
• The Crime Boss Attacks — A local crime boss attacks the sisters, intending to kill Jo and take her family. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Unspecified location

Escape to Port City

After four months in a coma, Jo escapes with what remains of her family. They move north to Port City, Michigan.

Key Events

• Jo Wakes From Coma — After four months in a coma, Jo escapes with what remains of her family. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Unspecified location
• The Family Moves North — Jo and her remaining family move north to Port City, Michigan. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Port City, Michigan

The Bar Is Seized

In the present, an enemy threatens Jo's daughter to force the transfer of Pickings. Jo signs the bar over while pleading for her daughter's safety.

Key Events

• The Daughter Is Threatened — An enemy uses Jo's daughter to force Jo to sign over the bar and demands that she beg. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Pickings bar
• Jo Signs Over the Bar — Jo pleads for her daughter's safety and signs the bar over; the enemy claims it as his own. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Pickings bar

Flight Into Confrontation

Jo insists that her daughter's safety comes first and tells May to choose the girl if forced. The attackers react as the family moves, and Jo urges them to run; the outcome remains unresolved.

Key Events

• Jo Prioritizes Her Daughter — Jo insists her daughter must be safe before anyone acts and tells May to choose the girl if forced to choose. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Pickings bar
• The Attackers React — As the family moves, the attackers react in alarm and Jo urges them to run. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Unspecified location
• Confrontation Unresolved — The excerpt ends during the confrontation without revealing the outcome. Characters: Jo Lee-Haywood Location: Unspecified location

Story Breakdown

• Captive's Challenge — The opening frames a brutal world through a woman's confrontation with a captive.
  • Human Behavior Lecture — The woman argues that people seek pleasure or avoid pain.
  • Cowardice Challenge — She challenges the captive to prove he is not afraid.
• Barroom Pressures — Jo keeps Pickings operating while dealing with disturbances and family responsibilities.
  • Performer Commotion — A regular performer causes trouble at the bar.
  • Help After Closing — Jo helps the performer after the bar closes.
• Family and Doris — Jo emphasizes family loyalty and hears that Doris has been asking about her.
  • Family Comes First — Jo tells a young family member that family must come first.
  • Reluctance to Speak — Jo is reluctant to speak with Doris.
• Crime Boss's Alarm — The disappearance of two intimidators raises concern for a local crime boss.
  • Missing Intimidators — Two men sent to intimidate the bar disappear.
  • Rival Family Suspected — The crime boss suspects a rival family may be involved.
• Three Dames' Origins — Jo reveals the violence that transformed her and her sisters into the Three Dames.
  • Father's Violence — Jo's father nearly kills her mother.
  • The Sisters' Killing — Jo and her two sisters kill their father in 1982.
• Criminal Empire — Jo and her sisters gain notoriety and build a criminal enterprise.
  • Three Dames Name — The sisters become known as the Three Dames.
  • Robbery and Murder — They build their empire through robberies and murder.
• Attack and Escape — A crime boss attacks the sisters, and Jo later escapes with what remains of her family.
  • Crime Boss Attack — The attacker intends to kill Jo and take her family.
  • Move to Port City — After four months in a coma, Jo escapes and moves north with her family.
• Threat at Pickings — An enemy uses Jo's daughter to pressure her into surrendering the bar.
  • Daughter Threatened — The enemy threatens Jo's daughter and demands that Jo beg.
  • Bar Transfer — Jo signs over Pickings, and the enemy claims it.
• Unresolved Confrontation — Jo puts her daughter's safety first as the family faces an ongoing attack.
  • Choose the Girl — Jo tells May to choose her daughter if forced to choose.
  • Run From Attackers — The attackers react as the family moves, and Jo urges them to run.

Directed by

Usher Morgan

Key Cast

• Elyse Price — Jo Lee-Haywood
• Katie Vincent — Scarlet Lee-Haywood
• Taso Mikroulis — Marvin Lee-Haywood
• Joel Bernard — Boone Pickens
• Lynne Jordan — May Pickens