How and when a play or screenplay ends are very important decisions for a writer. The closing scene is the last image the audience will have of your play. Therefore, it's likely to be one of the things they remember most about it.
Writing the climax and resolution of a play is similar in some ways to writing these parts of a short story. However, the special features of dramatic literature lead to a few differences. Use the suggestions and examples below to think about how you will end your own play.
By this point in the story, your audience should be excited to learn how the characters' problems will be solved. Review these important aspects of a play's climactic scene.
| The climax occurs near the end of a play or screenplay. |
| The climax is part of a larger sequence of events that build up to it. |
| The climax ends the primary conflict in a decisive way—regardless of whether the character wins or loses. |
| The climax represents a turning point in the story for the main character. |
For example, in this scene from The Juice, Frank and Gary are hosting a second grand opening for their failing juice bar in an attempt to compete with Breakfast, the thriving restaurant next door. When no customers show up, Frank ditches the grand opening and decides to turn it into a planning meeting to take down Breakfast.
Click the button below to read the excerpt. As you read, pay attention to how the writer builds the action before the climax.
Question
How did the writer build tension throughout the scene?
After the climax, the resolution ties up loose ends and wraps up the story. In the resolution, writers try to leave their audience with something to remember. For instance, in the final scene of Acceptance, Rose has just discovered that Jeremy was not accepted to the college they both planned to attend and that he has enlisted in the army instead. Realizing that their plan for the future has changed, the two teens are quite emotional. As you read this excerpt, pay attention to how the writer wraps up the loose ends and creates an emotional ending.
Question
How does the writer mean for the audience to feel during this scene? How does he accomplish that?
Using the suggestions and examples above, write the climax and resolution of your play. Refer to your prewriting worksheet to help you draft your ending.
