Submission (2018) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A professor's boundary violation with a talented student triggers a scandal that destroys his life while unexpectedly advancing her literary career.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Professor Between Books

Ted Swenson gains modest fame from his first novel but settles into a long tenure at Euston College. Angela Argo then submits Eggs and attracts his literary attention.

Key Events

• Ted Publishes First Novel — Ted gains modest fame after publishing his first novel. Characters: Ted Swenson Location: Publishing world
• Tenure Replaces Literary Ambition — Ted becomes a tenured creative writing professor after remaining at the college for years. Characters: Ted Swenson Location: Euston College
• Angela Submits Eggs — Angela asks Ted to read the first chapter of her novel, Eggs. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Euston College writing department
• Ted Discovers Angela's Poetry — Ted checks out Angela's controversial poetry about a phone sex worker and her clients. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: College library
• Ted Encourages Angela — Ted praises Angela's writing and encourages her to write more. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Creative writing classroom

The Manuscript's Seduction

Ted reads Angela's erotic writing and begins imagining himself inside its scenario. His praise encourages her, while their professional boundaries gradually weaken.

Key Events

• Ted Encourages Angela — Ted praises Angela's writing and encourages her to write more. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Creative writing classroom
• Erotic Chapters Arrive — Angela gives Ted increasingly erotic later chapters of her novel. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Ted's office
• Ted Imagines the Teacher — While reading Eggs, Ted imagines himself as the science teacher in Angela's story. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Ted's office
• Ride to Burlington — Ted gives Angela a ride to Burlington to buy a new laptop. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Road to Burlington

A Boundary Crossed

A ride to Burlington brings Ted and Angela into a private dorm-room encounter. They begin having sex, but an unexpected dental mishap interrupts them.

Key Events

• Ride to Burlington — Ted gives Angela a ride to Burlington to buy a new laptop. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Road to Burlington
• Dorm Room Advance — Angela invites Ted into her dorm room while he helps set up her computer. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Angela's dorm room
• Interrupted Sexual Encounter — Ted and Angela begin having sex, but his weak tooth comes out and they postpone finishing. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Angela's dorm room
• Suspicious Student Encounter — While leaving Angela's room, Ted encounters another student who eyes him suspiciously. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: College dormitory

The Price of Access

Angela asks Ted to use his agent connection for Eggs. When the agent rejects the manuscript, Angela reveals that she viewed the sexual encounter as a route to professional access.

Key Events

• Angela Attacks a Classmate — Angela bluntly tells another student that the student's plot and characters are weak. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Creative writing classroom
• Angela Requests Agent Access — After class, Angela asks Ted to show her novel to his literary agent. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Euston College classroom
• Agent Rejects Manuscript — Ted's agent shows no interest in reading a novel by a newcomer. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Literary agent's office
• Angela Reveals Her Motive — Angela says she slept with Ted to reach a reputed agent through him. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Euston College
• Recorded Argument Ends Contact — Ted rejects Angela's business explanation, and she angrily leaves after their argument. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Euston College

Scandal and Aftermath

Angela files a sexual harassment suit supported by a recording, and testimony destroys Ted's career, marriage, and reputation. The controversy nevertheless draws the agent's interest to Angela, while Ted later writes his memoirs.

Key Events

• Recorded Argument Ends Contact — Ted rejects Angela's business explanation, and she angrily leaves after their argument. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Euston College
• Sexual Harassment Complaint — The university board tells Ted that Angela has filed a sexual harassment suit against him. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: University board office
• Ted Loses His Career — Students and faculty testify against Ted, and he loses his job, marriage, and reputation. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: University hearing
• Controversy Attracts the Agent — Ted's agent contacts Angela and expresses interest in Eggs after the controversy. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Angela's residence
• Memoir and Final Question — Fifteen months later, Ted writes his memoirs and asks a woman reading Eggs what she thinks. Characters: Ted Swenson, Angela Argo Location: Cafeteria

Story Breakdown

• Ted's Stalled Career — Ted begins as a modestly successful novelist but becomes fixed in a tenured teaching career.
  • First Novel Fame — Ted's first novel earns him limited recognition.
  • Long College Tenure — He remains at Euston College for about ten years.
• Angela's Manuscript — Angela introduces Eggs and establishes herself as a provocative, ambitious writer.
  • Chapter Submission — Angela asks Ted to read the first chapter of Eggs.
  • Erotic Revisions — She gives Ted increasingly erotic later chapters.
• Professional Encouragement — Ted recognizes Angela's talent and encourages her writing, intensifying their connection.
  • Ted Praises Writing — Ted praises Angela's style and urges her to write more.
  • Agent Introduction — Angela asks Ted to present Eggs to his agent.
• Private Boundary Crossing — Their academic relationship becomes sexual after an increasingly intimate exchange.
  • Burlington Ride — Ted drives Angela to buy a laptop.
  • Dorm Room Encounter — They begin having sex in Angela's dorm room.
• Rejection and Betrayal — The agent's rejection exposes conflicting motives behind Ted and Angela's relationship.
  • Agent Rejects Eggs — Ted's agent declines to read the manuscript.
  • Motive Revealed — Angela says she pursued Ted to reach the agent.
• Legal and Social Collapse — Angela's complaint turns the private dispute into a public institutional crisis.
  • Harassment Suit — Angela files a suit and submits a recording.
  • Testimony Against Ted — Students and faculty testify against Ted.
• Unequal Aftermath — The scandal devastates Ted while giving Angela's novel new professional visibility.
  • Ted Loses Everything — Ted loses his job, marriage, and reputation.
  • Angela Gains Attention — Ted's agent becomes interested in Eggs after the controversy.
• Memoir's Final Image — Fifteen months later, Ted attempts to process the events through memoir writing.
  • Cafeteria Writing — Ted writes his memoirs in a cafeteria.
  • Reader's Opinion — He asks a woman reading Eggs how she likes it.

Directed by

Richard Levine

Key Cast

• Stanley Tucci — Ted Swenson
• Addison Timlin — Angela Argo
• Kyra Sedgwick — Sherrie Swenson
• Janeane Garofalo — Magda Moynahan
• Ritchie Coster — Dean Bentham