Take Me (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Ray's staged kidnapping business becomes a crisis of trust and control when his extended scenario with Anna appears to turn into a real abduction.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Business Without a Banker

Ray struggles to secure financing for his unusual business and turns to Tom. An intervention with Stuart ends on a hopeful note, while Anna's request for a weekend session gives Ray a new opportunity.

Key Events

• Ray Explains His Business — Ray's attempt to explain his simulated-kidnapping business fails to persuade a banker. Characters: Ray Moody Location: Bank
• Ray Seeks Tom's Money — After the loan interview goes poorly, Ray turns to Tom for money. Characters: Ray Moody, Tom Location: Unspecified
• Stuart's Intervention Begins — Stuart hires Ray for an aggressive intervention lasting eight hours. Characters: Ray Moody, Stuart Location: Unspecified
• The Hamburger Challenge — Ray accuses Stuart of cheating on his diet and makes him eat hamburgers. Characters: Ray Moody, Stuart Location: Unspecified
• Stuart Ends the Session — Stuart thanks Ray and says he has lost his appetite for hamburgers. Characters: Ray Moody, Stuart Location: Unspecified
• Anna Requests a Weekend — Anna requests an unusually long session and asks Ray to hit her. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Unspecified
• Ray Accepts the Job — Ray initially refuses, then calls Anna back and agrees to the job. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Unspecified

The Weekend Scenario Breaks

Ray stages a carjacking and interrogates Anna, who shifts from apparent fear to mockery and resistance. Ray hits her, then discovers that police are investigating her disappearance.

Key Events

• Anna Warns Ray — After Ray conducts surveillance, Anna leaves a message telling him to be more discreet. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Unspecified
• The Simulated Carjacking — Ray takes Anna hostage in a staged carjacking and remains in character. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Anna's car
• Ray Interrogates Anna — Ray demands access to nonexistent files about a made-up client. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Unspecified
• Anna Challenges Ray — Anna mocks Ray and accuses him of abducting her on flimsy premises. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Unspecified
• Ray Hits Anna — After Anna taunts him about his reluctance, Ray hits her and leaves to repay Tom. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Unspecified
• Police Investigate Anna — After Natalie discovers Ray's repayment, news reports that police are investigating Anna's disappearance. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Ray's house

A Desperate Alibi

After Anna stabs him, Ray tries to manage the police presence and convince her that their arrangement was real. Her denials deepen his fear, and his attempt to keep her from leaving escalates the violence.

Key Events

• Anna Stabs Ray — Ray tries to talk with Anna, who stabs him in the back with an improvised weapon. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Ray's house
• Ray Faces the Police — Ray binds Anna in the basement while deflecting the police officers' questions. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Ray's house
• Anna Denies the Arrangement — Anna denies knowing Ray's business and dismisses the signed contract and recorded message as fabrications. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Ray's house
• Ray Swallows the Keys — Ray agrees to release Anna, then swallows her keys to force an alibi; Anna shoots him with his pellet gun. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Ray's house
• Anna Falls Unconscious — Ray tries to regurgitate the keys, and Anna slips and falls unconscious. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Ray's house

Control Changes Hands

Ray drives Anna to a remote home, where their conversation about their pasts turns violent. Anna defeats him, takes him hostage, and forces him to ride in her trunk before revealing she knowingly took part in the experience.

Key Events

• Ray Drives Anna Away — Anna wakes in her car as Ray drives; she punches him, and he puts her in the trunk. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Car
• The Remote Home Confrontation — They discuss their divorces; Ray chokes Anna, who knocks him unconscious with a fire poker. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Remote vacation home
• Anna Takes Ray Hostage — Anna takes Tom's rifle, holds Ray hostage, and makes him ride in her car's trunk. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: Remote vacation home
• Anna Reveals Her Intent — After the ride back, Anna thanks Ray, reveals she willingly participated, and offers to invest. Characters: Ray Moody, Anna St. Blair Location: City
• Ray Sees Stuart's Salad — Ray sees Stuart eating a salad, waves, then cries and laughs. Characters: Ray Moody, Stuart Location: Restaurant

Story Breakdown

• Ray's Unusual Business — Ray tries to fund his simulated-kidnapping and intervention work.
  • Failed Loan Interview — A banker is unconvinced by Ray's business model.
  • Tom's Financial Help — Ray turns to Tom for money and later attempts repayment.
• Stuart's Intervention — Ray conducts an eight-hour intervention for a client struggling with overeating.
  • Hamburger Confrontation — Ray accuses Stuart of cheating on his diet and makes him eat hamburgers.
  • A Salad at Dinner — Stuart later appears eating a salad, prompting Ray's emotional reaction.
• Anna's Weekend Request — Anna commissions an unusually long session and asks Ray to include violence.
  • Ray Accepts the Job — After initially refusing, Ray agrees to Anna's request.
  • The Discretion Warning — Anna leaves a message telling Ray to be more discreet after his surveillance.
• The Scenario Turns Hostile — Anna challenges Ray's authority as the simulated kidnapping escalates.
  • A Staged Carjacking — Ray takes Anna hostage and interrogates her about a made-up client.
  • Violence and Police News — Ray hits Anna, then learns police are investigating her disappearance.
• Ray's Alibi Crisis — Ray fears the scenario may be an actual crime and tries to prevent Anna from leaving.
  • Anna Denies the Contract — Anna dismisses the contract and recording as fabrications.
  • The Swallowed Keys — Ray swallows Anna's keys and demands an alibi; she shoots him with his pellet gun.
• Anna Takes Control — The struggle shifts decisively as Anna overpowers Ray and reveals her willingness to participate.
  • The Remote Home — A discussion of their pasts becomes violent, and Anna knocks Ray unconscious.
  • The Final Ride — Anna makes Ray ride in her trunk, then thanks him and offers to invest.

Directed by

Pat Healy

Key Cast

• Taylor Schilling — Anna St. Blair
• Pat Healy — Ray Moody
• Alycia Delmore — Nathalie
• Brooke Dillman — Cathy
• Jim O'Heir — Stuart