The To Do List (2013) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An achievement-driven teenager learns that sexual experience and emotional intimacy cannot be reduced to a checklist.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Graduation and Rejection

Brandy graduates as valedictorian and attends a party with Wendy and Fiona. A humiliating rejection from Rusty motivates her to pursue a summer plan.

Key Events

• Valedictorian Graduation — Brandy graduates as valedictorian in 1993. Characters: Brandy Klark, Wendy, Fiona Location: Brandy's high school
• First Graduation Party — Wendy and Fiona take Brandy to a party. Characters: Brandy Klark, Wendy, Fiona Location: A graduation party
• Rusty Rejects Brandy — Rusty rejects Brandy after realizing her identity. Characters: Brandy Klark, Rusty Waters Location: The party
• The Summer Goal — Brandy decides to study sexual experience before college. Characters: Brandy Klark Location: Brandy's home

The Pool Experiment

Brandy takes a lifeguard job to remain near Cameron and Rusty. Workplace hazing and her retaliation establish the summer's comic conflicts.

Key Events

• Pool Job Begins — Brandy starts working at the pool near Cameron and Rusty. Characters: Brandy Klark, Cameron, Willy Location: The public pool
• Hazing the New Lifeguard — Willy and coworkers assign Brandy unpleasant tasks. Characters: Brandy Klark, Willy Location: The public pool
• The Pool Prank Backfires — Brandy bites the supposed prank waste and discovers it is real. Characters: Brandy Klark, Willy Location: The public pool
• Willy Gets Pushed In — Brandy pushes non-swimming Willy into the pool as revenge. Characters: Brandy Klark, Willy Location: The public pool
• A Swimming Bargain — Brandy agrees to teach Willy swimming to end the hazing. Characters: Brandy Klark, Willy Location: The public pool

The List Causes Damage

Brandy pursues sexual experiences while using advice from her friends and family. Cameron, Fiona, and Wendy become hurt when they understand how the list has affected them.

Key Events

• The List Takes Shape — Brandy uses advice to organize her sexual goals. Characters: Brandy Klark, Fiona, Wendy Location: Brandy's home
• Summer Experimentation — Brandy has sexual encounters while seeking Rusty's attention. Characters: Brandy Klark, Cameron Location: Various summer locations
• Cameron Finds the List — Cameron realizes he was treated as part of Brandy's mission. Characters: Brandy Klark, Cameron Location: Brandy's home
• After-Hours Pool Incident — Willy catches the group at the pool after hours. Characters: Brandy Klark, Wendy, Fiona, Willy Location: The public pool
• Brandy Sent Home — Brandy is sent home and Cameron confronts her emotionally. Characters: Brandy Klark, Cameron Location: Brandy's home
• Friendship Collapse — Fiona and Wendy discover the list and angrily leave. Characters: Brandy Klark, Fiona, Wendy Location: Brandy's home

Rusty and Consequences

Brandy grows closer to Rusty through vandalism but is fired after leaving identifying evidence. Her anticipated encounter with Rusty proves disappointing.

Key Events

• Rival Pool Vandalism — Brandy and Rusty vandalize a rival pool together. Characters: Brandy Klark, Rusty Waters Location: A rival pool
• Willy Fires Brandy — Brandy is identified by her bra and loses her pool job. Characters: Brandy Klark, Rusty Waters, Willy Location: The rival pool
• Disappointing Make-Out Spot — Brandy and Rusty have brief, disappointing sex. Characters: Brandy Klark, Rusty Waters Location: A popular make-out spot

Apology and New Beginning

Cameron and Rusty fight, forcing Brandy to articulate a more personal view of sex. She repairs her friendships, reconnects with Cameron, and completes the list at Georgetown.

Key Events

• Cameron and Rusty Fight — Cameron punches Rusty, and Brandy breaks up their fight. Characters: Brandy Klark, Cameron, Rusty Waters Location: The Klark house
• Brandy Repairs Friendships — Brandy apologizes through a song, and her friends forgive her. Characters: Brandy Klark, Fiona, Wendy Location: Wendy's home
• Willy Offers Reemployment — Willy offers Brandy her job back for the next summer. Characters: Brandy Klark, Willy Location: The public pool
• Georgetown Reconciliation — Brandy apologizes to Cameron after they meet again in the fall. Characters: Brandy Klark, Cameron Location: Georgetown University
• The List Is Completed — Brandy achieves the final sexual goal on her list. Characters: Brandy Klark, Cameron Location: Georgetown University

Story Breakdown

• Graduation Pressure — Brandy begins as a high-achieving graduate whose social insecurity shapes her summer goal.
  • Valedictorian Ceremony — Brandy graduates at the top of her class.
  • Party Rejection — Rusty's rejection exposes Brandy's lack of experience.
• The Summer Checklist — Brandy converts insecurity into a structured mission to learn sexual acts before college.
  • Goal With Rusty — She makes sex with Rusty her end-of-summer objective.
  • Advice And Planning — Advice helps Brandy assemble her to-do list.
• Pool Workplace — The pool becomes the main setting for Brandy's work, friendships, and comic conflicts.
  • Hazing Rituals — Willy assigns Brandy unpleasant tasks as the new worker.
  • Swimming Bargain — Brandy teaches Willy swimming to end the hazing.
• Romantic Experiments — Brandy pursues physical experiences while failing to recognize the emotional consequences for Cameron.
  • Cameron's Attachment — Cameron falls in love while Brandy treats him as part of her mission.
  • Rusty Pursuit — Brandy repeatedly seeks Rusty's attention and approval.
• Friendship Breakdown — The list damages Brandy's closest relationships and leaves her isolated.
  • Cameron's Confrontation — Cameron leaves after learning how Brandy used him.
  • Wendy And Fiona Leave — Her friends call her a slut and end the visit angrily.
• Consequences And Growth — Brandy faces professional and romantic disappointment before repairing her relationships.
  • Job And Romance Fail — She is fired and finds sex with Rusty disappointing.
  • Apologies And Reunion — Brandy apologizes, reconnects with Cameron, and completes her list.

Directed by

Maggie Carey

Key Cast

• Aubrey Plaza — Brandy Klark
• Johnny Simmons — Cameron
• Bill Hader — Willy
• Alia Shawkat — Fiona
• Sarah Steele — Wendy