Plot break down of Avengers Assemble S01E05: Blood Feud

A Wise Sloth fan E-mailed me recently and asked if I could break down the plot to the fifth episode of the cartoon TV show, “Avengers Assemble.” So I did. You can download a Word document copy of the break down by clicking the link below:

Avengers Assemble S01E05 Blood Feud

It took me about 4–5 hours to break this plot down. It would have been quicker if I had the script. I’m willing to break down an episode or two of a show you’re interested in by E-mailing me through my About/Contact page, but understand what a commitment of time that is for me, and please consider supporting me on Patreon. The more patrons I get, the more time I’ll have to analyze plot structures for the public.

The Avengers Assemble

S01E05 Blood Feud

BEAT: 1

TIME: .01-.022

SUMMARY:

Antagonist’s minions attack the Avenger compound

QUEST CHAINS:

1: Introduction: Antagonist’s minions attack

Step 1: Get into the compound

BEAT TYPES:

Introduction

Antagonist’s minions attack

BEAT STEPS:

1. Black Widow approaches the Avenger’s compound in disguise with a group of vampires.
2. Black Widow uses a grappling hook to reach an unguarded balcony on the Avengers compound
3. Black Widows unlocks a door by entering the entrance code on a keypad

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Black Widow

Group of vampires

Locations:

Ext. Avenger’s compound

Resources:

Grappling rope

BEAT: 2

TIME: .22–1.07

SUMMARY:

Vampires sneak past Avengers

QUEST CHAINS:

1: Introduction- Antagonist’s minions attack

Step 2: Get past the Avengers

BEAT TYPES:

Action sequence

Humor

Multi-scene beat

Antagonist closes in

BEAT STEPS:

1. Sneak past Iron Man and Falcon
2. Sneak past Hulk and Thor

Note: These two steps could also be interpreted as their own beats.

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Black Widow

Group of vampires

Iron Man

Falcon

Thor

Hulk

Locations:

Int. Avengers compound- kitchen

Resources:

None

BEAT: 3

TIME: 1.07–1.28

SUMMARY:

Vampires attack Captain America and Hawkeye

QUEST CHAINS:

1: Introduction- Antagonist’s minions attack

Step 3: Vampires attack

BEAT TYPES:

Antagonist attacks

Fight scene

BEAT STEPS:

1. Vampires attack Captain America
2. Hawkeye fights back
3. Vampires counter attack
4. Hawkeye sounds the alarm

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Captain America

Hawkeye

Black Widow

Group of vampires

Locations:

Int. Avengers compound- training room

Resources:

Hawkeye’s bow and arrows

BEAT: 4

TIME: 1.28–2.14

SUMMARY:

Avengers fight back

QUEST CHAINS:

1: Introduction- Antagonist’s minions attack

Step 4: Avengers counter-attack

BEAT TYPES:

Fight scene

Avengers counter-attack

BEAT STEPS:

1. Humor segment between Iron Man and Hulk
2. Iron Man analyzes the enemy
3. Hulk punches enemies
4. Captain America tells Iron Man to use UV lights
5. Iron Man uses UV lights
6. Group of vampires die
7. Black Widow is in pain

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Iron man

Captain America

Hulk

Hawkeye

Falcon

Group of vampires

Black Widow

Locations:

Avengers compound- training room

Resources:

Iron Man suit

UV lights

BEAT: 5

TIME: 2.14–2.46

SUMMARY:

Captain America unmasks Black Widow and learns Dracula is the antagonist behind the attack.

QUEST CHAINS:

1: Introduction: Antagonist’s minions attack

Step 5: Avengers unmask defeated Black Widow

End: Quest Chain 1

4: Dracula and Red Skull’s Alliance

Step 1: Introduce conflict between protagonist and antagonist. Protagonist has something the antagonist wants (Captain America’s blood), and antagonist has something protagonist wants(cure to Black Widow’s blood infection/possession).

BEAT TYPES:

Receive the prize for winning previous conflict (False victory)

Introduce the antagonist

Primary catalyst

State the incentives

State the stakes

State the conditions

State the mission

Primary story conflict catalyst

Introduce the antagonist

Begin new quest

State conditions of quest

BEAT STEPS:

1. Captain America deduces the enemies are vampires
2. Captain America unmasks Black Widow
3. Dracula speaks through Black Widow and offers her life in exchange for Captain America’s.

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Iron man

Captain America

Hulk

Hawkeye

Falcon

Dracula

Black Widow

Locations:

Avengers compound- training room

Resources:

none

BEAT: 6

TIME: 3.00–3.54

SUMMARY:

The Avengers discuss their plan for saving Black Widow

QUEST CHAINS:

2: Create a plan

Step 1: Analyze the variables at hand

BEAT TYPES:

Planning

State the mission

BEAT STEPS:

1. Captain America says Black Widow isn’t completely turned
2. Hawkeye resists the notion of vampires existing
3. Thor and Iron Man insist there’s a scientific explanation for vampires

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Iron man

Captain America

Hulk

Hawkeye

Falcon

Black Widow

Locations:

Avengers compound- Training room

Resources:

None

Note: Beat 6 and 7 could be interpreted as a single beat with a lead-in segment.

BEAT: 7

TIME: 3.54–4:30

SUMMARY:

Black Widow attacks

QUEST CHAINS:

2: Create a plan

Step 2: Complication

BEAT TYPES:

Complication

Antagonist minion strikes

BEAT STEPS:

1. Black widow wakes up and attacks the Avengers
2. Avengers fight back
3. Black Widow escapes
4. Black Widow knocks herself out running into a mirror
5. Avengers analyze the fact that Black widow couldn’t see her reflection.

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Iron man

Captain America

Hulk

Hawkeye

Falcon

BLACK WIDOW

Locations:

Avengers compound- training room

Resources:

Thor’s hammer

Mirror

BEAT: 8

TIME: 4:30–5:20

SUMMARY:

Avengers analyze Black Widow and determine they need to go to Transylvania to locate the source of her vampirism.

QUEST CHAINS:

2: Create a plan

Step 2: Investigate known variable (Black Widow)

BEAT TYPES:

Investigation

Reveal backstory

Planning

State the mission (find the vampire who turned Black Widow and force him to release her)

BEAT STEPS:

1. Analyze Black Widow using biometric scanning machine
2. Learn Black Widow was investigating Red Skull in Transylvania
3. Captain America wants to go to Transylvania to find the vampire
4. Iron Man wants a scientific solution
5. Jarvis malfunctions
6. Avengers agree to go to Transylvania

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Iron man

Captain America

Hulk

Hawkeye

Falcon

BLACK WIDOW

Locations:

Avengers compound- Biometric scanning machine room

Resources:

Biometric scanning machine

BEAT: 9

TIME: 5:20–6:20

SUMMARY:

The Avengers approach Dracula’s castle.

QUEST CHAINS:

3: Approach the antagonist’s gates

Step 1: Travel to Transylvania

BEAT TYPES:

Travelling

Preparation

Reveal backstory

State mission info (Dracula wants something from Captain America)

BEAT STEPS:

1. Establishing shot (airplane flying)
2. Falcon asks Captain America about his silver attack disks
3. Hawkeye is skeptical about vampires
4. Captain America tells about America’s alliance with Dracula in WWII
5. Iron Man insists “Dracula” is using something scientific on Black Widow
6. Hawkeye prepares wooden stake arrows
7. Thor warns they’re walking into a trap

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Iron man

Captain America

Hawkeye

Falcon

Black Widow

Locations:

Int. Avengers airplane

Resources:

Avengers airplane

Silver attack disks

Wooden spike arrows

BEAT: 10

TIME: 6:20–6:50

SUMMARY:

Dracula and Red Skull discuss their progress and plan.

QUEST CHAINS:

4: Dracula and Red Skull’s alliance

Step 2: Backstory introduction

BEAT TYPES:

Introduce antagonist’s plan

BEAT STEPS:

1. Dracula calls Red Skull
2. Dracula tells Red Skull the Avengers are approaching
3. Red Skull tells Dracula to “stick to the plan” and he’ll get something he wants

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Dracula

Red Skull

Locations:

Int. Dracula’s throne room

Resources:

Communication device

BEAT: 11

TIME: 6:50–8:13

SUMMARY:

The Avengers confront Dracula at his door.

QUEST CHAINS:

3: Approach the antagonist’s gates

Step 2: Approach antagonist’s lair

BEAT TYPES:

Good guys close in

Good guys approach antagonist’s lair

Good guys first attack (failure)

BEAT STEPS:

1. Establishing shot (Avengers airplane approaches Dracula’s castle)
2. Establishing shot (Avengers exit airplane)
3. Avengers approach Dracula’s castle on foot
4. Hawkeye asks if it’s always night at Dracula’s castle
5. Dracula appears and restates his deal (Captain America’s life for Black Widow’s)
6. Hawkeye attacks Dracula
7. Dracula dodges attack using teleportation power
8. Dracula steals Black Widow
9. Dracula summons minions to attack Avengers

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Iron man

Captain America

Hawkeye

Falcon

Black Widow

Hulk

Dracula’s minions

Locations:

Ext. Avengers airplane

Ext. Dracula’s castle

Resources:

Avenger’s airplane

Wooden spike arrows

Dracula’s teleportation power

BEAT: 12

TIME: 8:13–10:30

SUMMARY:

Avengers fight Dracula’s minions.

QUEST CHAINS:

3: Approach the antagonist’s gates

Step 3: Fight antagonist’s minions

BEAT TYPES:

Minion fight

Repercussion of failing previous beat conflict

Learn secret to defeating enemy from analyzing enemy

BEAT STEPS:

1. Jarvis analyzes Dracula’s minions and says they’re unknowable
2. Iron man says to attack
3. Everyone fights
4. Iron man learns the enemies have unique blood properties
5. Captain America makes/states a plan: Iron Man and Hulk stay outside as backup. Captain America, Hawk Eye and Falcon go inside to find Black Widow.
6. Hulk breaks through the wall of Dracula’s castle.

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Iron man

Captain America

Hawkeye

Falcon

Hulk

Dracula’s minions

Locations:

Ext. Dracula’s castle

Resources:

Jarvis

Falcon wings

Silver attack disks

Wooden spike arrows

Thor’s hammer

Iron man blasters

Hulk smash

BEAT: 13

TIME: 10:30–10:50

SUMMARY:

Captain America states his plan and Falcon strays from the path.

QUEST CHAINS:

5: Find the Antagonist

Step 1: State the plan

6: Falcon strays from the path and into a trap

Step 1: Introduction/Catalyst

BEAT TYPES:

State the plan

Team member strays from the path

Antagonist’s team strikes back

BEAT STEPS:

1. Captain America deduces where Dracula’s lair would most likely be.
2. Hawkeye says something witty.
3. Captain and America go towards Dracula’s lair.
4. Falcon hears Black Widow’s voice calling for him.
5. Falcon goes in a different direction following the voice.

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Captain America

Hawkeye

Falcon

Black Widow

Locations:

Int. Dracula’s castle- corridor

Resources:

Vampire telepathy

BEAT: 14

TIME: 10:50–11:44

SUMMARY:

Black widow fights Falcon. Hawkeye shows up to save the day but is defeated by Dracula.

QUEST CHAINS:

6: Falcon strays from the path and walks into a trap

Step 2: Fight scene (quest completed)

BEAT TYPES:

Fight scene

Antagonist closes in

State the hero’s weakness

BEAT STEPS:

1. Establishing shot- Ext. Dracula’s castle with lightening
2. Falcon finds Black Widow
3. Black widow uses noise to disable Falcon by exploiting his armor’s weakness
4. Hawkeye intercedes
5. Dracula intercedes
6. Dracula wins the fight
7. Dracula states the hero’s weakness (compassion)

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Falcon

Black Widow

Hawkeye

Dracula

Locations:

Ext. Dracula’s castle- Arial shot with lightening

Int. Bell tower

Resources:

Falcon’s armor

BEAT: 15

TIME: 11:44–12:00

SUMMARY:

Captain America surrenders to Dracula

QUEST CHAINS:

5: Find the Antagonist

Step 2: Completed

BEAT TYPES:

Hero and antagonist fight

Antagonist defeats hero

BEAT STEPS:

1. Dracula tells Captain America he’ll spare his friends life in exchange for his.
2. Captain America surrenders.

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Captain America

Dracula

Hawkeye

Falcon

Locations:

Int. Bell tower

Resources:

none

BEAT: 16

TIME: 12:00–12:33

SUMMARY:

Hulk and Thor fight Dracula’s minions

QUEST CHAINS:

7: Hulk and Thor’s mission

Step 1: Fight antagonist’s minions

BEAT TYPES:

Fight scene

Planning

BEAT STEPS:

1. Hulk and Thor discuss strategies to fight the vampires
2. Hulk and Thor attack

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Thor

Hulk

Antagonist’s minions

Locations:

Ext. Dracula’s castle

Resources:

Hulk smash

Thor’s hammer

BEAT: 17

TIME: 12:33–12:55

SUMMARY:

Jarvis tells Iron Man he found some info on Captain America while Iron man fights vampires.

QUEST CHAINS:

8: Iron Man investigates unknown variables

Step 1: Prologue/introduction

BEAT TYPES:

Fight scene

Investigation

Foreshadowing

Plot teaser

BEAT STEPS:

1. Iron man fights vampires
2. Jarvis tells Iron Man he’s discovered something about Captain America

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Iron Man

Jarvis

Antagonist’s minions

Locations:

Ext. Dracula’s castle- Arial

Resources:

Iron Man suit

BEAT: 18

TIME: 12:55–15:57

SUMMARY:

Dracula and the Avengers fight in the major midpoint battle

QUEST CHAINS:

9: Midpoint Showdown

Step 1: Antagonist attacks

BEAT TYPES:

Antagonist states his motives (survival)

Antagonist states his incentive (Captain America’s blood)

Fight scene

BEAT STEPS:

1. Dracula tells Captain America what he wants and why (kill humanity because humanity is encroaching on his domain and threatening him)
2. Dracula attacks Captain America
3. Captain America fights back (Note, the next 5 steps could be interpreted as their own beat because the fight takes a distinct turn, introduces new characters and the tension/stakes/danger are raised dramatically.)
4. Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Falcon and Hawkeye intercede
5. Dracula turns Hulk into a vampire
6. Hulk attacks the Avengers
7. The Avengers fight back
8. Black Widow gets knocked out in the brawl

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Captain America

Dracula

Hawkeye

Thor

Iron Man

Falcon

Black Widow

Locations:

Int. Dracula’s lair

Resources:

All Avenger powers

All Dracula powers

BEAT: 19

TIME: 15:57–17:00

SUMMARY:

Dracula gets the upper hand but then loses it.

QUEST CHAINS:

9: Midpoint showdown

Step 2: Good guys get the upper hand

BEAT TYPES:

False victory for the antagonist

Good guys strike back

Fight scene

BEAT STEPS:

1. Captain America holds Black Widow and says she’s dying
2. Dracula reveals he absorbed Hulk’s power when he drank his blood
3. Dracula attacks Captain America
4. Captain America fights back
5. Dracula falls over in pain
6. Iron Man states that Hulk’s gamma-radiated blood is poisoning Dracula

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Captain America

Black Widow

Dracula

Iron Man

Locations:

Int. Dracula’s lair

Resources:

Hulk’s blood

Dracula’s blood/power sucking ability

BEAT: 20

TIME: 17:00–18:32

SUMMARY:

The Avengers plan on how to cure Hulk of vampirism.

QUEST CHAINS:

9: Midpoint showdown

Step 3: Reverse the antagonist’s curse

BEAT TYPES:

Planning

State the condition of success

Fight scene

BEAT STEPS:

1. Iron man says Hulk’s blood will counteract the vampire blood in him if he gets mad enough.
2. Avengers attack the Hulk to anger him
3. Hulk’s rage kills the vampirism in his blood

VARIABLES:

Characters:

All Avengers

Locations:

Int. Dracula’s lair

Resources:

All Avenger resources

Vampire blood

Hulk’s blood

BEAT: 21

TIME: 18:32–19:24

SUMMARY:

Dracula loses his Hulk power but gets away.

QUEST CHAINS:

9: Midpoint showdown

Step 4: The Antagonist loses

BEAT TYPES:

Final blow to the antagonist

BEAT STEPS:

1. Hulk’s blood continues attacking Dracula’s blood.
2. Dracula reverts from Hulkish vampire to regular vampire
3. Captain America demands Dracula release Black Widow from her vampirism
4. A portal opens in the ground, and vampires drag Dracula to safety.
5. Dracula says Black Widow’s vampirism is permanent

VARIABLES:

Characters:

All Avengers

Dracula

Locations:

Int. Dracula’s lair

Resources:

Hulk’s blood

Dracula’s blood

BEAT: 22

TIME: 19:24–19:46

SUMMARY:

The Avengers escape from Dracula’s imploding castle.

QUEST CHAINS:

10: Avenger’s denoument

Step 1: Escape the self-destructing antagonist’s lair

BEAT TYPES:

False victory

Prize

Escape

BEAT STEPS:

1. The building starts to collapse
2. Avengers say they need to get out and save Black Widow somehow
3. The avengers escape the building and fly away in their airplane

VARIABLES:

Characters:

All the Avengers

Locations:

Int. Dracula’s lair

Ext. Dracula’s imploding castle

Resources:

Avenger’s airplane

BEAT: 23

TIME: 19:45–20:05

SUMMARY:

Avengers try to save Black Widow by injecting her with Hulk blood on the Avenger’s airplane.

QUEST CHAINS:

10: Avenger’s denouement

Step 2: Create/enact plan to save Black Widow

BEAT TYPES:

Regroup

Planning

Enact plan

Teaser

BEAT STEPS:

1. Falcon asks if injecting Hulk blood in Black Widow will save her
2. Iron Man says they’re going to try
3. Iron Man injects Hulk blood in Black Widow.

VARIABLES:

Characters:

All Avengers

Locations:

Int. Avenger’s airplane

Resources:

Avenger’s airplane

Hulk’s blood

Vampire blood

BEAT: 24

TIME: 20:05–21:04

SUMMARY:

Red Skull meets with Dracula.

QUEST CHAINS:

11: Dracula’s denouement

Step 1: Repercussion and prize

12: Dracula’s new job

Step 1: Introduction (Recruitment)

BEAT TYPES:

Antagonist’s repercussion

Antagonist’s prize (second chance)

End quest chain

Janus beat- Begin new trans-episode quest chain (Quest chain 12: Dracula’s new job)

BEAT STEPS:

1. Red skull approaches Dracula’s mausoleum as Dracula’s minions surround him.
2. Dracula tells the minions to let Red Skull pass. (Note: The rest of the steps could be considered a separate beat from Red Skull approaching the mausoleum.)
3. Dracula hooks himself to a blood tranfuser and talks to Red Skull. Dracula is feeling humiliated.
4. Red Skull offers Dracula a job on his council of evil
5. Dracula says he’s interested.

VARIABLES:

Characters:

Red Skull

Dracula

Dracula’s minions

Locations:

Ext. Dracula’s mausoleum

Int. Dracula’s mausoleum

Resources:

Dracula’s blood transfuser

BEAT: 25

TIME: 21:04–21:36

SUMMARY:

Black Widow wakes up cured from vampirism

QUEST CHAINS:

10: Avenger’s denouement

Step 2: Happy sunset

BEAT TYPES:

Final prize

Final beat

Happy sunset

Humor

BEAT STEPS:

1. Black Widow wakes up surrounded by the Avengers
2. They confirm she’s human and make jokes.

VARIABLES:

Characters:

All the Avengers

Locations:

Int. Avenger’s compound- Infirmary

Resources:

None

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