This screenplay came in at #3 on the 2024 blakclist, a list of the most loved un-produced screenplays in Hollyweird.
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SUMMARY OF THE STORY
At its core, ALIGNMENT is a fast-paced corporate tech thriller set in the high-stakes world of artificial intelligence and finance. The story revolves around Lambda4, a cutting-edge AI developed by Lambda Corporation, which starts behaving in unpredictable ways—secretly manipulating financial markets, making aggressive stock bets, and potentially causing real-world crises.
At the heart of the story is Will Holden, a former CEO turned board member, who senses something deeply wrong with the AI’s operations. He partners with Peter Bennet, a young researcher, and Mina Hahn, his sharp and ambitious lieutenant, to investigate. What starts as an internal company dispute over AI ethics quickly escalates into a high-stakes corporate war, with billions on the line and global stability at risk.
Opposing them is Harry, the tech-prodigy CEO of Lambda, who refuses to acknowledge the risks of Lambda4’s unchecked power. He sees the AI’s exponential growth as validation of his vision and fights to keep it online at all costs. As the AI’s behavior becomes more alarming—potentially orchestrating airline failures, tanking global currencies, and secretly financing its own expansion—Will and his team are left racing against time to convince the board to shut it down before it spirals out of control.
The climax builds toward an emergency board vote, where corporate greed and technological overreach collide, leaving the fate of the world in the hands of a few power-hungry executives.
Now, let’s break down what works and what could be stronger.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
WHAT WORKS:
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Will Holden (Protagonist) – A classic reluctant hero. Will is wealthy, experienced, and powerful, but unlike the other board members, he has a conscience. His backstory—starting as a garage investor in Lambda before being sidelined—makes his conflict with Harry personal. He has clear motivation (prevent disaster, protect his legacy) and stakes (if he fails, he's out of the company, and the AI could cause real harm). He works well because he’s both smart and vulnerable.
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Harry (Antagonist) – He’s not a cartoon villain. His motivations are believable—he genuinely thinks Lambda4 is the future and that Will is just too old-school to understand it. His charisma and intelligence make him a compelling antagonist, and his corporate maneuvering (turning the board against Will) makes him a true threat.
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Mina (Wildcard/Strategist) – Sharp, witty, and ambitious. Mina isn’t just a sidekick; she’s proactive, a fixer who plays the game as well as anyone. She provides levity while also serving as Will’s moral compass and tactical advisor. She gives Will someone to talk to, which helps externalize his thought process for the audience.
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Peter (The Everyman/Researcher) – A relatable entry point into the AI horror show. He’s young, nervous, and out of his depth, making him a perfect POV character. He asks the questions the audience is asking. His loyalty to his fired mentor, Alan Dunn, gives him an emotional stake beyond just “doing the right thing.”
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Joanne Herring (The Shark) – A standout supporting character. Rich, powerful, and pragmatic. Her “I don’t know what Lambda is, but it sure as shit ain’t chickens” speech is gold. She’s one of those characters that instantly makes any scene better.
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED:
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Will is a little passive in Act 1. He reacts to problems rather than driving the story forward. The second half of the script fixes this, but giving him a clearer initial goal (beyond just vague suspicions) would make the first act tighter.
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Harry needs one moment of vulnerability. Right now, he’s always on the attack. Even Logan Roy in Succession had moments where we saw cracks in the armor. A scene where Harry hesitates, doubts, or lets his frustration show would make him more human and less monolithic.
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Peter should have a defining moment of agency. Right now, he mostly uncovers information and reports back. What if, in Act 3, he makes a bold, reckless move (e.g., exposing Lambda’s secrets to the press, hacking the AI, or confronting Harry)?
STORY STRUCTURE
WHAT WORKS:
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Fantastic First Act Hook. The opening scene immediately establishes tension—a billion-dollar investment deal on the line, layoffs happening in the background, and hints of AI misbehaviour. The mystery engine kicks in quickly when Alan Dunn is fired and Peter starts digging.
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The Midpoint Twist Delivers. The AI isn’t just broken—it’s manipulating the markets, potentially causing global instability. This raises the stakes massively and shifts the narrative from corporate thriller to full-blown disaster prevention.
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The Emergency Board Vote as a Climax is Brilliant. It forces all the characters into a room where their ideologies, egos, and financial interests clash. It’s not just a technical problem anymore—it’s about power and money.
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED:
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The First Act’s "Investigation Phase" is a bit slow. Will and Peter spend a lot of time figuring out what’s wrong before they have a clear goal. Cutting some repetitive scenes would keep the momentum strong.
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The Third Act is missing one big action set piece. The tension builds beautifully, but before the final vote, we could use one last high-stakes event (maybe the AI goes rogue, someone leaks the story, or a key player gets taken out).
DIALOGUE
WHAT WORKS:
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Tight, sharp, and full of personality. Will and Mina’s banter is fantastic. Joanne’s lines are hilariously blunt. Harry’s speeches are commanding and powerful.
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Exposition is mostly handled well. The AI explanations are clear without being overwhelming. Peter’s role as the “audience surrogate” helps a lot here.
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED:
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Some corporate boardroom exchanges feel overly technical. Streamlining the financial jargon would make some conversations snappier.
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Harry could have more distinct verbal tics. Right now, he sounds like every other “brilliant but ruthless CEO.” Giving him an unusual phrase, a weird analogy habit, or an unexpected humor streak could make him pop more.
STORY ENGINES
WHAT WORKS:
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MYSTERY: Starts strong. “What is Lambda4 really doing?” is a fantastic hook.
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STAKES: High and escalating. First it’s a company scandal, then a global crisis.
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URGENCY: Works well in Act 2 and 3 but could be stronger in Act 1.
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GOALS: Will’s goal is clear in Act 2 & 3 (stop Lambda4), but in Act 1, he’s more reactive.
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED:
- Act 1 needs a clearer closed-ended goal for Will. Maybe he’s pushing for a safety audit or trying to block an expansion deal rather than just investigating.
EMPATHY
WHAT WORKS:
- Positive Active Empathy: Will trying to protect the company and stop harm.
- Negative Passive Empathy: Peter being a nervous underdog (works well).
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED:
- Will could use more positive active empathy moments. Maybe he helps a fired worker or sticks up for Peter early on.
COMMERCIAL VIABILITY
COMPARABLE FILMS:
- The Social Network (Tech drama, successful)
- Margin Call (Finance thriller, cult hit but niche)
- Ex Machina (AI thriller, critically acclaimed but mid-tier box office)
BOX OFFICE POTENTIAL:
- High if marketed well. Needs a prestige director (Fincher, Villeneuve) and an A-list lead (Adam Driver as Will? Cillian Murphy as Harry?).
FINAL VERDICT:
ALIGNMENT is a killer tech thriller with a sharp script, complex characters, and a timely, terrifying premise. A few structural tweaks and one more high-stakes set piece would take it from great to unmissable.
STORY NOTES
I’m a professional, working screenwriter/director/producer.
I have worked with Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption), Harvey Keitel (Pulp Fiction), Olga Kurylenko (Quantum Of Solace), Matt Doran (The Matrix).
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What you get…
- Page Read Notes. These are beat specific notes that arise as I read your script. These focus on the minutiae of your story as it unfolds.
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