Heard a librarian say 'endings are just new beginnings for the characters' and it clicked for alternate versions

I was at the downtown public library last Saturday killing time before a dentist appointment. Overheard this older librarian talking to a kid about a book they finished. She said that line about endings being new beginnings. It got me thinking about how when I rewrite movie endings I always focus on what would be different for the plot, not the characters themselves. Like what if in The Matrix, Neo just walked away and went back to his normal life? Would he be happier? That feels like a whole different kind of alternate ending to explore. Anybody else think about character happiness instead of just plot twists?

2 comments

2 Comments

karenlee2mo ago

That thing about your friend stopping a show hits close to home @derekgibson. I've noticed people do that all the time in real life too, like my neighbor who quit her job because she imagined a happier ending for herself than sticking it out.

derekgibson2mo ago

My friend stopped watching a show halfway through because she imagined a better ending for the main character.