Script Structure: Lessons from the Devil Wears Prada

I am wrapping up this week by posting a list of plot points from the workplace comedy, the Devil Wears Prada, which made $125 million (domestic) at the box office. I think one reason the movie was so successful is because it explored a universal theme–how ambition can ruin someone’s life–while giving the audience an inside peek into the world of a fashion magazine. Isn’t Mean Girls the same story, except the fashionistas have been replaced by younger versions of themselves?

Think about that the next time you’re trying to come up with a screenplay idea of your own. Take the plot of a movie you love, transplant it to a new environment…and see what develops.

If you decide to turn this idea into a full-fledged screenplay, make sure that the events, humor and character flaws in your script are rooted in the nuances and details of the particular environment you’ve chosen–and aren’t a direct replica of the movie whose plot you studied.

If you’re writing a lighthearted workplace comedy, you also might be interested in the screenwriting tips I learned by comparing the screenplay of the Devil Wears Prada to the movie.

Onto the plot points:

Plot Points from the Devil Wears Prada

1. Andy Barnes prepares for her job interview. Her routine starkly contrasts with other women who’re getting ready for work–they’re much more invested in their appearance.
2. Andy arrives at the offices of Runway magazine. The editor-in-chief’s first assistant, Emily, shows Andy around, makes fun of Andy’s style, and mentions that a million girls would kill to be second assistant. Supposedly, if you work for the editor-in-chief, Miranda Priestly, for a year, you can get a job at any magazine you want.
3. Employees man ther stations as Miranda makes her grand entrance. Emily frantically scrambles to make Miranda’s office, “just so.”
4. Miranda arrives at work and issues a nonstop list of instructions to Emily, concluding the monster list with her catchphrase, “that’s all.”
5. Miranda interviews Andy, but dismisses her without really giving Andy a chance. Disheartened, Andy leaves…but for some reason, Miranda changes her mind. Andy’s got the job!
6. Andy commiserates with her friends. It’s not her dream job–but it can get her there. Everyone toasts to “jobs which pay the rent.”
7. On Andy’s first day, she acts as coffee gopher, learns about “The Book,” and is continuously referred to as “Emily” by Miranda even when Andy points out that her name is Andy.
8. Andy almost gets killed trying to complete all of Miranda’s errands.
9. In the cafeteria, she’s befriended by Nigel, an assistant editor at Runway. But their tete-a-tete is cut short by Miranda, who has rescheduled a run-through to an earlier time.
10. At the run-through, Andrea laughs at everyone’s intensity. It’s just a belt, people! Miranda uses this as an opportunity to give Andy a dressing down: “it’s comical that you think you made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when you’re wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of ‘stuff.'”
11. Andy complains about Miranda and her sucky job to her boyfriend, Nate.
12. Miranda torments Andy with specific–and vague–demands, all issued as Miranda thumps her coat and bag on Andy’s desk for Andy to put away.
13. Andy’s dad visits her, but their outing is interrupted by Miranda, who’s stranded in Miami. She insists that Andy secure her a flight back to New York…even though it’s hurricaning in Miami. Andy doesn’t succeed, and her dad tells her to just let it go. It was an impossible demand anyway.
14. The next day, Miranda tells Andy that she’s disappointed in Andy. She thought she’d get more from hiring “the smart, fat girl.”
15. Andy seeks comfort from Nigel, but he’s not very sympathetic. She acts like she deigns to work at Runway, where so many legends have walked its halls. His point hits home; Andy asks him for a makeover to show that she’s really invested in succeeding in her job.
16. Andy’s new appearance stuns Emily–and Nate.
17. A montage of Andy wearing more and more fashionable ensembles…while completing her duties as Miranda’s assistant.
18. Andy shares samples and gifts she’s scored at Runway with her friends. Something’s changed in her–she starts spouting the company line when talking about Runway. Miranda calls Andy, interrupting the gathering.
19. At a chic loft party, Andy picks up sketches from designer James Holt. She also meets Christian, a writer who offers to read her work. While that’s a wonderful offer, he also insults Andy by saying that there’s no way she will survive Miranda.
20. Miranda reviews James Holt’s latest collection. It doesn’t meet her expectations. James will have to start over.
21. For the first time, Miranda calls Andy by her name (and not Emily). Andy is finally entrusted to deliver “The Book” to Miranda’s apartment.
22. But Andy fails at the task…and witnesses an argument between Miranda and her husband.
23. The next day, Miranda makes her most outrageous demand yet–she orders Andy to procure a copy of the unpublished Harry Potter manuscript for her twin daughters. She also asks Andy to get her a steak from a favorite restaurant. When Andy presents the steak to Miranda, Miranda claims she never asked for it.
24. Andy knows getting the Harry Potter manuscript is a lost cause, so she calls Nate and tells him she’s going to quit, beating Miranda to the punch of firing her. But at the last minute, with Christian’s help, Andy gets her hands on the manuscript–and she’s back in the game.
25. Andy confesses to Nate that she didn’t quit. She claims that she’s the same Andy, just with better clothes. But he knows–and we know–that’s not true.
26. Andy tells Nigel that her personal life is hanging by a thread. Nigel responds, “that’s what happens when you do well at work.”
27. At a staff meeting, Miranda gives hell to everyone except for Nigel.
28. Emily’s sick, so Miranda insists that Andy accompany both of them to a special benefit. Andy acquiesces even though she’s supposed to be at a party, celebrating Nate’s birthday.
29. At the benefit, Andy shows up Emily, even rescuing Miranda from an embarrassing scene created by Miranda’s husband.
30. As she rushes off to Nate’s party, she runs into Christian, who offers to introduce her to his editor…but she declines. She wants to make Nate’s party.
31. Alas, she’s missed it, and Nate’s hurt.
32. While successfully delivering The Book to Miranda’s apartment, Miranda tells Andy she’s taking Andy–and not Emily–to Paris. Andy is aghast; she doesn’t want to hurt Emily. Miranda threatens Andy: if Andy doesn’t go to Paris, she will be fired.
33. The next day, for the first time, Miranda puts her coat and bag on Emily’s–not Andy’s–desk for Emily to hang up. Andy calls Emily to tell Emily she’s been cast aside. While on the phone, Emily is hit by a taxi.
34. At the hospital, Emily rants about Andy going to Paris. She claims that Andy should have refused. Even worse, Andy won’t be able to appreciate all the free couture she’ll get.
35. At a gallery event coordinated by one of her friends, Andy runs into Christian, who flirts with her. Andy’s friend witnesses the flirting and criticizes Andy, a girl she no longer recogizes.
36. Nate and Andy fight. Nate accuses Andy of being a “Runway girl.” They break up.
37. Andy flies to Paris for Fashion Week and attends a string of glitzy events. Backstage, Christian asks Andy out to dinner.
38. At the hotel, Miranda looks awful, the first time we’ve seen her vulnerable. Her husband just sent her divorce papers. Of course, she rallies.
39. Back in her own room, Nigel and Andy celebrate Nigel’s new job–he’s leaving Runway to become James Holt’s new business partner.
40. On their date, Andy defends Miranda to Christian. They sleep together.
41. In the morning, Andy discovers that Miranda is going to be replaced by a cheaper (and French) editor-in-chief.
42. Andy desperately tries to inform Miranda so Miranda won’t be blindsided by the news. When Andy finally succeeds, Miranda is quite blasé about the whole affair.
43. At a Runway luncheon honoring James Holt, Miranda stabs Nigel in the back to save her own skin. She has transferred Nigel’s new job to the French editor who would have replaced her, so her job position remains secure, while Nigel’s dreams crash and burn.
44. Nigel is crushed, but forces himself to be optimistic.
45. In a chauffered car, Miranda compliments Andy. Miranda was impressed by how intently Andy tried to warn her. “I see a great deal of myself in you,” she says.
46. But Andy doesn’t see it as a compliment. She leaves Miranda–and tosses her cell phone into a fountain.
47. Back in the States, Andy apologizes to Nate and tells him he was right all along. They patch up.
48. Andy’s hired for a magazine job in keeping with her dreams…thanks to a good word put in by Miranda.
49. Andy gives Emily all the clothes she got from Paris. As she’s walking in New York, she sees Miranda entering her Mercedes. Andy waves; Miranda does not. Andy’s okay with it, though…that’s Miranda for you.

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