Tulips (1981) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A suicidal man finds love and struggles to escape the death contract he made before meeting his future wife.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Contract With Death

Leland's depression and failed suicide attempts lead him to hire Maurice Avocado. The code word "Tulips" marks the expected approach of the killing.

Key Events

• Leland Faces Despair — Leland is depressed, lonely, and unable to find a reason to continue living. Characters: Leland Irving Location: Unspecified setting
• Suicide Attempts Survived — Leland survives attempts to take his own life. Characters: Leland Irving Location: Unspecified setting
• The Killing Contract — Leland hires Avocado to kill him. Characters: Leland Irving, Maurice Avocado Location: Unspecified meeting place
• Tulips Becomes Code — Avocado will use "Tulips" when the killing is about to happen. Characters: Leland Irving, Maurice Avocado Location: Unspecified meeting place
• Rutanya Attempts Suicide — Rutanya attempts suicide after being rejected by a lover. Characters: Rutanya Wallace Location: Unspecified setting

An Unexpected Rescue

Rutanya attempts suicide after romantic rejection, but Leland saves her. Their contrasting personalities create wary yet increasingly meaningful contact.

Key Events

• Leland Saves Rutanya — Leland encounters Rutanya and saves her from the suicide attempt. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace Location: Unspecified setting
• Contrasting Personalities — Their connection develops despite Leland's introversion and Rutanya's outgoing unconventional nature. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace Location: Unspecified setting
• Early Courtship — Leland plays the tuba while Rutanya sings "The Sidewalks of New York." Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace Location: Unspecified courtship setting
• Wary Attraction — They are initially wary and battle with each other while continuing to grow closer. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace Location: Unspecified setting
• Lives Become Intertwined — The rescue encounter develops into an ongoing relationship that connects their lives. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace Location: Unspecified setting

Love Changes The Terms

Leland and Rutanya fall in love and marry after their difficult courtship. Their new relationship makes Leland want to cancel the death contract.

Key Events

• Love Replaces Despair — Leland and Rutanya fall in love. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace Location: Unspecified setting
• The Couple Marries — Their romantic relationship leads to marriage. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace Location: Unspecified setting
• The Hit Must End — After finding each other, Leland and Rutanya realize they must call off the arranged killing. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace Location: Unspecified setting
• Avocado Refuses Cancellation — Avocado refuses to agree to cancel the hit. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace, Maurice Avocado Location: Unspecified setting

The Killer Will Not Wait

Avocado refuses to cancel the hit, turning the couple's romantic future into a survival crisis. Leland and Rutanya begin seeking guns and other means of resistance.

Key Events

• The Couple Panics — Leland and Rutanya desperately search for a way to stop the killer. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace Location: Unspecified setting
• Guns Become Necessary — They try to obtain guns and other means to confront Avocado. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace Location: Unspecified setting
• Turning Against The Killer — The couple attempts to kill the killer before Avocado can kill Leland. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace, Maurice Avocado Location: Unspecified setting
• Threat Reaches Its Peak — The planned killing and the couple's counterattack converge in the final danger. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace, Maurice Avocado Location: Unspecified confrontation setting

Survival Without A Death

The couple attempts to turn the planned killing against Avocado. The final danger passes without anyone dying, allowing their shared life to continue.

Key Events

• Threat Reaches Its Peak — The planned killing and the couple's counterattack converge in the final danger. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace, Maurice Avocado Location: Unspecified confrontation setting
• No One Dies — Despite the contract and attempted counterattack, no one dies. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace, Maurice Avocado Location: Unspecified setting
• Love Survives The Contract — Leland and Rutanya's marriage and survival replace the despair that began the story. Characters: Leland Irving, Rutanya Wallace Location: Unspecified setting

Story Breakdown

• Leland's Despair — Leland begins isolated, depressed, and committed to escaping his own life.
  • Failed Suicide Attempts — Leland survives attempts to take his own life.
  • Hiring Avocado — He hires Maurice Avocado to perform the killing.
• The Tulips Contract — The planned killing is formalized through Avocado's professional arrangement with Leland.
  • Death Code Word — Avocado will say "Tulips" when the time has arrived.
  • Irrevocable Arrangement — The contract remains active when Leland later wants to cancel it.
• Rutanya's Crisis — Rutanya's rejection by a lover leads her into a separate suicidal crisis.
  • Romantic Rejection — Rutanya suffers after being rejected by a lover.
  • Leland's Rescue — Leland encounters Rutanya and saves her from suicide.
• Unexpected Courtship — The two survivors form a difficult but increasingly intimate connection.
  • Opposite Personalities — Leland is introverted while Rutanya is outgoing and unconventional.
  • Tuba And Song — Leland plays the tuba while Rutanya sings "The Sidewalks of New York."
• Love And Marriage — Their wary relationship becomes love and leads to marriage.
  • Growing Attachment — Their lives become intertwined despite their initial battles.
  • A New Future — Marriage gives Leland a reason to reject his earlier death wish.
• The Survival Struggle — The couple confronts Avocado when he refuses to cancel the killing.
  • Cancelled Hit Demanded — Leland and Rutanya try to call off the arranged killing.
  • Avocado's Refusal — Avocado will not agree to cancel the contract.
• Armed Counterattack — The couple seeks weapons and attempts to reverse the danger posed by the killer.
  • Obtaining Guns — They desperately try to obtain guns and other means of resistance.
  • Killing The Killer — They attempt to kill Avocado before he can kill Leland.
• A Nonfatal Ending — The threatened killing and counterattack conclude without a death.
  • No One Dies — The ending explicitly resolves the danger without anyone dying.
  • Love Endures — Leland and Rutanya survive the crisis together.

Directed by

Mark Warren, Rex Bromfield, Al Waxman

Key Cast

• Gabe Kaplan — Leland Irving
• Bernadette Peters — Rutanya Wallace
• Henry Gibson — Maurice Avocado
• Al Waxman — Bert Irving
• Dave Boxer — Dr. Carl Walburn