The Episodic Timeline of Verity's Life
Do not simply retell the story from start to finish. Find Me uses an episodic, non-linear structure. It constantly jumps between flashbacks of Verity’s childhood, hospital interviews, and the present day. Examiners reward students who explain that Wymark fractured the timeline on purpose—it physically mimics Verity's chaotic mind and the family's fractured memories of her.
Although the scenes jump around in time, Verity’s overarching journey is a tragic, downward spiral. We can untangle the plot into three distinct phases of institutional failure.
The play opens with a flurry of conflicting medical opinions. Verity is a hyperactive, confused child. Edward and Jean are desperate for a diagnosis to explain her volatility. The tension peaks during the Swimming Pool incident, where Verity pushes a young girl into the water. The family realizes they cannot control her safely at home, marking the tragic beginning of her life in the system.
As Verity ages into a teenager, she is bounced between various hospitals (like Cranbrook). The focus shifts from trying to cure her to simply subduing her. She is heavily medicated with drugs like Largactil. She frequently absconds (runs away), proving the care homes cannot handle her. The scenes here are cold and bureaucratic, with officials treating the parents with disdain and Verity as a nuisance rather than a patient.
The horrific climax of Verity's journey. At 20 years old, locked in a hospital ward, Verity sets fire to some chairs out of profound frustration. Instead of receiving psychological help, the state charges her with arson. The final harrowing scenes involve a court judge sentencing this vulnerable young woman to Broadmoor (a high-security psychiatric prison for violent criminals), proving the ultimate failure of the system.
Use these pre-structured sentences in your exam to instantly hit the top marking bands for structural analysis and directing.
| Directorial Choice (What) | Impact Justification (Why) | Key Terminology |
|---|---|---|
| To transition between the non-linear episodes, I would use a sharp, percussive sound effect (like a slamming door or a loud heartbeat) combined with a sudden snap in lighting. | This jarring, rapid transition prevents the audience from settling into a comfortable, naturalistic story. It physically forces them to experience the fragmented, chaotic reality of Verity's mind and the family's fractured memories. | Episodic Structure Transitions Snap Lighting Non-Naturalism |