A story is compounded of desire plus danger. It begins when the central character commits himself to attaining a story goal in the face of opposition. It ends when he either succeeds or fails in his efforts.
This means Character starts a story with one state of affairs and state of mind. He ends with another.
The Great Gatsby begins with Gatsby seeking new contact with his first love. It ends with him betrayed and dead in his own swimming pool.
Lady Sings the Blues begins with Billie Holiday working as cleaning girl in a whorehouse. It ends with her singing at Carnegie Hall, with newsclip flash-forwards to her continued drug addiction and death at 44. Chinatown begins with Jake Gittes agreeing to check on an ...
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