Screenwriters study character. We craft scenes based on “objectives.” In other words, we ask, “What does a character want in any given situation?” A character is dramatized by showing the tactics he or she uses to get something they WANT VERY BADLY, and how they CHANGE TACTICS when someone or something stands in their way. In this sad “scene” it’s fairly clear what Harvey Weinstein wants. Ms. Gutierrez’s refusal to give in to his demands is his obstacle.
HW TACTICS ARE IN CAPS. Notice how he keeps trying new strategies then going back to old ones. His two overall strategies are to 1) Keep the victim off balance, and 2) Manipulate her by playing on her guilt, ambition, and desire to be a good person. (Remember, he has power, size, and 40 years’ life experience to his advantage)
***
Weinstein: I’m telling you right now, get in here.
–MAKE A DEMAND TO GET HER CLOSER
Gutierrez: What do we have to do here?
Weinstein: Nothing. I’m going to take a shower…
–MINIMIZE AN UNREASONABLE DEMAND
– MAKE THE VICTIM FEEL SMALL FOR RECOGNIZING THE REALITY OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION
… you sit there and have a drink.
–GIVE AN ORDER
Gutierrez: I don’t drink.
Weinstein: Then have a glass of water.
–OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE TO KEEP HER THERE
Gutierrez: Can I stay on the bar?
Weinstein: No. You must come here now.
–DEMAND AGAIN
Gutierrez: No …
Weinstein: Please?
–NEW TACTIC – TRY BEING SWEET
Gutierrez: No, I don’t want to.
Weinstein: I’m not doing anything with you, I promise.
–MINIMIZE AGAIN
–GASLIGHT
–LIE
Now you’re embarrassing me.
–BECOME THE VICTIM
–PLAY ON THE REAL VICTIM’S DESIRE TO BE A NICE PERSON
– BLAME HER.
–CHARACTERIZE HER AS UPTIGHT FOR POINTING OUT THE TRUTH
Gutierrez: I know, I don’t want to. I’m sorry, I cannot.
Weinstein: No, come in here.
–DEMAND AGAIN
Gutierrez: No, yesterday was kind of aggressive for me.
Weinstein: I know –
–BECOME AN ALLY
–ACT LIKE A GOOD, UNDERSTANDING GUY
Gutierrez: I need to know a person to be touched.
Weinstein: I won’t do a thing.
–LIE TO MAKE HER FEEL SAFE AND DRAW HER IN
Gutierrez: I don’t want to be touched.
Weinstein: I won’t do a thing, please.
–OFFER FALSE SAFETY
– DOUBLE DOWN ON THE NICE GUY ACT BY SAYING “PLEASE”
I swear I won’t.
–MAKE HER THINK YOU’RE A GOOD GUY BY TAKING AN OATH.
–BE A VICTIM – HER REFUSAL TO TRUST YOU IS TANTAMOUNT TO CALLING YOU A LIAR
Just sit with me.
–BARGAIN. OFFER A COMPROMISE.
Don’t embarrass me in the hotel. I’m here all the time.
–FALSELY GIVE HER THE POWER TO RUIN YOUR REPUTATION
–MAKE HER THE OPPRESSOR/BECOME THE VICTIM
–BLAME HER FOR POINTING UP YOUR BAD BEHAVIOR
Sit with me, I promise –
– BARGAIN AGAIN
Gutierrez: I know, but I don’t want to.
Weinstein: Please sit there. Please. One minute, I ask you.
–BARGAIN AGAIN
– GIVE A SHORT, CONCRETE TIMEFRAME.
–BE POLITE (ACT LIKE A NICE GUY SO SHE FEELS BAD)
Gutierrez: No, I can’t.
Weinstein: Go to the bathroom.
–MAKE A DEMAND
Gutierrez: Please, I don’t want to do something I don’t want to.
Weinstein: Go to the bathroom –
–MAKE A DEMAND
Hey, come here. Listen to me –
–CHANGE TACTICS
–MAKE HER YOUR ALLY
Gutierrez: I want to go downstairs.
Weinstein: I won’t do anything and you’ll never see me again after this. OK?
–BARGAIN
–TELL HER NO ONE WILL EVER FIND OUT.
That’s it. If you don’t – if you embarrass me in this hotel where I’m staying –
–CUT OFF KINDNESS
–THREATEN TO WITHDRAW CAREER OPPORTUNITY
–GIVE HER FALSE POWER OVER YOU/MAKE HER THE OPPRESSOR/BECOME THE VICTIM
Gutierrez: I’m not embarrassing you –
Weinstein: Just walk –
–CUT OFF HER CHANCE TO ADVANCE CAREER
Gutierrez: It’s just that I don’t feel comfortable.
Weinstein: Honey, don’t have a fight with me in the hallway.
–INFANTALIZE HER BY CALLING HER “HONEY”
–DEPICT HER AS IRRATIONAL, OVERLY EMOTIONAL/ MAKING A SCENE
Gutierrez: It’s not nothing, it’s –
Weinstein: Please. I’m not gonna do anything.
–MAKE ANOTHER FALSE PROMISE OF SAFETY
I swear on my children.
– SAY ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING SHE MIGHT BELIEVE, YOU’RE GETTING DESPERATE
–SELL YOURSELF AS A HARMLESS DAD
Please come in.
–ASK POLITELY
On everything.
–TRIPLE DOWN ON ON THE FALSE OATH
I’m a famous guy.
–THROW AROUND YOUR IMPORTANCE
–POINT UP POWER DISPARITY
Gutierrez: I’m, I’m feeling very uncomfortable right now.
Weinstein: Please come in.
–BE POLITE
–BEG
And one minute. And if you wanna leave when the guy comes with my jacket, you can go.
–BARGAIN AGAIN
–ADD A TICKING CLOCK
Gutierrez: Why yesterday you touch my breast?
Weinstein: Oh, please. I’m sorry.
–MINIMIZE ABUSE
–OFFER HALF-HEARTED APOLOGY THAT TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY
Just come on in.
–COERCE BY TELLING HER TO LET IT GO
I’m used to that.
–SAY YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN NORMAL RULES OF BEHAVIOR BECAUSE YOU’VE BEEN POWERFUL FOR SO LONG
–PLAY UP POWER DISPARITY
Gutierrez: You’re used to that?
Weinstein: Yes, come in.
–ASK AGAIN
Gutierrez: No, but I’m not used to that.
Weinstein: I won’t do it again.
-LIE
Come on, sit here. Sit here for a minute, please?
–BARGAIN
Gutierrez: No, I don’t want to.
Weinstein: If you do this now you will [unintelligible].
–BARGAIN
Now go. Bye. Never call me again. OK?
–WITHDRAW AFFECTION AND CAREER OPPORTUNITY
–THREATEN FUTURE
I’m sorry, nice to have –
–APOLOGIZE TO SHOW YOU’RE A NICE GUY TO GIVE HER ROOM TO CHANGE HER MIND AS YOU…
–THREATEN TO CUT OFF OPPORTUNITY
I promise you I won’t do anything.
–MAKE A FALSE PROMISE
Gutierrez: I know, but yesterday was too much for me.
Weinstein: The guy is coming. I will never do another thing to you. Five minutes. Don’t ruin your friendship with me for five minutes.
–GO BACK TO THE TICKING CLOCK
–THREATEN TO RUIN HER CAREER
–BELITTLE HER FOR GIVING UP A LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITY OVER FIVE MINUTES OF DISCOMFORT
Gutierrez: I know – but, it’s kind of, like, it’s too much for me. I can’t.
Weinstein: Please, you’re making a big scene here. Please.
–BECOME THE VICTIM
–BLAME THE ACTUAL VICTIM
–MINIMIZE HER FEELINGS SO SHE DOUBTS REALITY AND GIVES IN
Gutierrez: No, but I wanna leave.
Weinstein: OK, bye. Thank you.
–WITHDRAW ALL AFFECTION
–WITHDRAW CAREER OPPORTUNITY.
–BE POLITE TO SHOW YOU’RE A NICE GUY AND SHE’S A BAD PERSON IN CASE SHE SAYS ANYTHING.
(*Please share this post with as many friends as possible. Manipulators can only win if you comply with their controlling behavior. Arm yourself with the knowledge and tools that you need to protect yourself and set limits when you are confronted with one of these tactics.)