Going Berserk (1983) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

John's wedding preparations become entangled with a conspiracy that tries to condition him into harming Ed Reese.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Wedding Under Pressure

John prepares to marry Nancy while balancing work with Chick. Sal hires John and Chick for promotional jobs and asks John to speak with Ed.

Key Events

• Wedding Preparations — John prepares to marry Nancy while continuing his work as a limousine driver. Characters: John Bourgignon, Nancy Reese Location: Unspecified
• Work with Chick — John juggles his work and wedding preparations with his friend Chick. Characters: John Bourgignon, Chick Leff Location: Unspecified
• Sal's Promotional Jobs — John and Chick visit Sal, who hires them for promotional jobs. Characters: John Bourgignon, Chick Leff, Sal DiPasquale Location: Sal's location, unspecified
• Request to Speak with Ed — Sal asks John to speak with Nancy's father, Ed. Characters: John Bourgignon, Sal DiPasquale, Ed Reese Location: Unspecified

The Plot Against Ed

A group sees Ed as an obstacle and plans to remove him. Their scheme uses hypnosis and the five of spades to make John attack him.

Key Events

• Ed Becomes a Target — A group considers Ed an obstacle after damaging publicity and plots to remove him. Characters: Ed Reese Location: Unspecified
• John Chosen for Conditioning — The scheme centers on hypnotizing John and using the five of spades as a trigger to attack Ed. Characters: John Bourgignon, Ed Reese Location: Unspecified
• Strange Misadventures — John is drawn into increasingly strange situations without understanding the group's influence. Characters: John Bourgignon Location: Unspecified
• Encounter with a Dead Man — John has an encounter involving a dead man. Characters: John Bourgignon Location: Unspecified

Suspicion Before the Ceremony

The group continues trying to control John as he becomes involved in strange situations. Ed notices John's absences and demands an explanation as the wedding approaches.

Key Events

• Ed Questions John's Absences — As the wedding approaches, Ed grows suspicious of John's absences and demands an explanation. Characters: John Bourgignon, Ed Reese Location: Unspecified
• Patti Pulls John Aside — Before the ceremony, Patti insists that John see something important. Characters: John Bourgignon, Patti Reese Location: Wedding venue, unspecified

The Failed Wedding Trigger

Patti is meant to show John the card at the wedding, but she first pulls him aside. John behaves like a fool rather than attacking anyone, and the conspirators decide to reprogram him.

Key Events

• The Card Plan at the Wedding — Patti is meant to show John the card during the ceremony as the planned trigger. Characters: John Bourgignon, Patti Reese Location: Wedding venue
• John Acts the Fool — John behaves like a fool at the wedding instead of attacking anyone. Characters: John Bourgignon, Nancy Reese, Ed Reese Location: Wedding venue
• Conditioning Fails — The conspirators conclude that John's respect for fatherhood blocked their conditioning. Characters: John Bourgignon, Ed Reese Location: Unspecified

A New Conditioning Attempt

Rev. Sun Yi Day redirects the conditioning toward making John fear fathers. John accepts claims that Ed and others intend to harm him, while the available dialogue ends without resolving the scheme.

Key Events

• A Reprogramming Order — Rev. Sun Yi Day directs a new effort to make John believe fathers are dangerous. Characters: John Bourgignon Location: Unspecified
• John Accepts Their Claims — John trusts those around him and accepts their claims that Ed and others are trying to harm him. Characters: John Bourgignon, Ed Reese Location: Unspecified
• Conditioning Remains Unresolved — The available dialogue ends as the conditioning continues, leaving its success and the plot's outcome unresolved. Characters: John Bourgignon Location: A scene presenting a father and family

Story Breakdown

• Wedding Preparations — John balances his impending marriage to Nancy with work and requests connected to the wedding.
  • John and Nancy — John is preparing to marry Nancy.
  • Work with Chick — John juggles work with his friend Chick.
• Sal's Requests — Sal hires John and Chick for promotional work and draws John into a request involving Ed.
  • Promotional Jobs — Sal hires John and Chick for promotional jobs.
  • Speak with Ed — Sal asks John to speak with Nancy's father.
• Plot Against Ed — A group regards Ed as an obstacle after damaging publicity and plans to remove him.
  • Ed as Obstacle — The group views Ed as an obstacle.
  • Removal Scheme — The group plots to remove Ed.
• John's Conditioning — The conspirators attempt to use hypnosis and a playing card to make John attack Ed.
  • Five of Spades — The card is intended to trigger John's conditioned behavior.
  • Strange Situations — John enters increasingly strange situations without understanding the group's control.
• Wedding Tensions — Ed grows suspicious of John's absences as the ceremony approaches, while Patti is assigned a role in the trigger plan.
  • Ed Demands Answers — Ed questions John about his absences.
  • Patti Pulls John Aside — Patti insists that John see something important before the wedding.
• Failed Trigger — At the wedding, John does not attack anyone, leading the conspirators to reconsider their approach.
  • John Acts the Fool — John behaves like a fool at the ceremony instead of attacking.
  • Respect for Fatherhood — The conspirators conclude that John's respect for fatherhood blocked the conditioning.
• Reprogramming Attempt — Rev. Sun Yi Day directs a new effort to make John believe fathers are dangerous.
  • New Direction — The group redirects its conditioning effort toward John's beliefs about fathers.
  • Claims About Ed — John accepts claims that Ed and others are trying to harm him.
• Unresolved Ending — The available dialogue ends while the conditioning continues, without revealing its result.
  • Family Scene — The final exchange shifts to a scene presenting a father and family.
  • Open Outcome — The effect of the new programming and the outcome of the plot remain unknown.

Directed by

David Steinberg

Key Cast

• John Candy — John Bourgignon
• Joe Flaherty — Chick Leff
• Eugene Levy — Sal DiPasquale
• Alley Mills — Nancy Reese
• Pat Hingle — Ed Reese