The BLACKLIST is a list of the most loved not-yet-produced screenplays doing the rounds in Hollywood. #1 on that list with 60 votes is...
One Night Only
LOGLINE:
In a near-future America where premarital sex is illegal except for one sanctioned night each year, two strangers—heartbroken Owen and disillusioned Hannah—navigate a citywide frenzy of romance, desperation, and self-discovery as they search for meaning in a world where love has become a transaction.
STRENGTHS & SCREENWRITING LESSONS
1. Premise & World-Building – The Power of High-Concept Hooks
The screenplay opens with an immediately intriguing premise: What if sex were outlawed except for one night a year? This is The Purge meets When Harry Met Sally, a blend of dystopian satire and romantic comedy.
What Works:
✅ The premise is clear, high-stakes, and instantly marketable. A world where intimacy is regulated by the government is rich with narrative possibilities, both comedic and dramatic.
✅ The biosensor tattoos (which change color to signal legal sexual activity) are an elegant visual metaphor for government control over personal freedom. A great example of show, don’t tell world-building.
✅ The world feels lived-in. Details like stores selling out of condoms, black-market Viagra, and underground sex auctions make it feel grounded in reality despite its heightened concept.
Screenwriting Tip:
A strong premise isn’t just a gimmick—it must inform character choices, conflict, and theme. Here, the world’s rules force characters into difficult decisions, creating natural dramatic tension.
2. Structure – The Hero’s Journey With a Rom-Com Twist
At its core, One Night Only follows a classic Hero’s Journey structure—but instead of fighting a villain, Owen and Hannah battle their own cynicism and loneliness.
Act 1 – The Ordinary World & Call to Adventure (Pages 1–30)
- Owen’s setup: He’s dumped by Clarissa, who tells him she’s sleeping with someone else tonight.
- Hannah’s setup: She’s excited to reunite with a past lover (Sebastian), but he never shows.
- The Inciting Incident: Both characters are forced into the chaos of this one night, searching for meaning in a world that only values transactional intimacy.
Act 2 – Tests, Allies, Enemies (Pages 30–90)
- Owen and Hannah cross paths repeatedly in a series of escalating misadventures (failed hook-ups, a black-market condom race, a secret underground sex auction).
- Their opposites-attract dynamic builds tension—Hannah chases romance, Owen chases revenge sex, but neither finds satisfaction.
- Midpoint Shift: Hannah is invited into the underground elite sex auction, symbolizing the commodification of love, while Owen spirals further into desperation.
Act 3 – The Climax & Transformation (Pages 90–120)
- Both characters hit rock bottom—Hannah realizes romance doesn’t exist in this world, Owen realizes meaningless sex won’t heal him.
- Their emotional walls break down. Through shared vulnerability, they find something real in a world designed to strip love of meaning.
- Final scene (potential improvement): The story should resolve with a stronger emotional payoff—do they find love, or just connection?
Screenwriting Tip:
✅ Structure must serve character arcs. The escalating obstacles (romantic rejection, absurdity, desperation) force Owen and Hannah to grow, making their final choice feel earned.
✅ The midpoint should shift the stakes. Here, Hannah is given an easy way out (luxury and meaningless sex), while Owen loses everything. This moment defines the rest of their journey.
3. Characters – Strong Arcs, but Could Go Deeper
Owen – The Heartbroken Everyman
✅ What Works:
- A relatable underdog. Owen starts as a passive "nice guy" clinging to the idea of love, but by the end, he learns self-respect.
- His journey feels authentic. He’s not magically healed—his arc is messy, filled with mistakes and self-destruction.
❌ What Could Be Improved:
- His emotional low point lacks true consequence. He loses his fiancée, gets scammed, and fails to find casual sex—but does he truly face a crisis? What if the law forced him into an even worse situation (e.g., unable to legally marry in the future)?
Hannah – The Disillusioned Romantic
✅ What Works:
- Her disillusionment is compelling. She enters believing in romance, but every experience reinforces its artificiality (being stood up, the elite auction).
- She’s active. Unlike Owen, she chases what she wants—making her a strong co-lead.
❌ What Could Be Improved:
- The underground auction should push her further. Maybe she almost agrees, forcing a real moral dilemma.
Screenwriting Tip:
✅ A character arc isn’t just about changing opinions—it’s about making harder choices. Push characters into situations that force them to choose growth over comfort.
4. Dialogue – Sharp, Funny, but Occasionally On-the-Nose
✅ What Works:
- The banter between Owen and Hannah is fantastic—witty, fast-paced, and filled with subtext.
- Secondary characters shine. Owen’s mom, the sarcastic nurse, and Hannah’s friend Arya add humor and depth.
❌ What Could Be Improved:
- Exposition sometimes slips into dialogue. (e.g., early conversations about "The Mandate" feel a little too explanatory).
- Some emotional beats could land harder. Owen’s pain is funny, but does it hurt enough?
Screenwriting Tip:
✅ Great dialogue balances wit and subtext. Instead of telling us how Owen feels, show it through awkward silences, bitter jokes, or small losses (e.g., watching couples kiss on the subway).
✅ Side characters should steal scenes—but not overshadow leads. Arya and the nurse are fantastic, but don’t let them take emotional weight from Hannah and Owen.
5. Themes & Symbolism – Strong But Could Go Deeper
Theme 1: The Commodification of Love
- The sex auction literalizes the idea that romance is a marketplace—a brilliant concept.
- The black-market condom race symbolizes how even basic human intimacy is controlled.
Theme 2: The Death of Romance in a World of Rules
- Owen clings to old-school romance, while Hannah slowly realizes romance has been corrupted.
- Their final choice (or lack of one) should reinforce this theme—does love still exist?
Screenwriting Tip:
✅ Symbolism should be integrated, not forced. The biosensors are perfect world-building—they’re a sci-fi device that subtly reinforces themes of control and intimacy.
✅ A theme should be tested by the story. By Act 3, Owen and Hannah must actively choose whether to believe in love, reject it, or redefine it.
FINAL VERDICT
✅ What This Screenplay Teaches Us About Great Writing:
- Start with a high-concept idea, but ensure it drives character and theme.
- Every scene should escalate stakes and deepen character dilemmas.
- Dialogue should be sharp, but emotional beats must land with weight.
- A strong theme should evolve—forcing the characters to question and change.
❌ What Could Be Improved:
- Higher stakes for the characters (legal consequences, moral dilemmas).
- A more powerful resolution—does Owen/Hannah change the system, or just themselves?
- Pacing in Act 2 could be slightly tighter.
Final Thoughts:
One Night Only is a smart, funny, and thematically rich screenplay with huge potential. With sharper emotional stakes and a clearer resolution, it could be a modern classic.
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