For I long time, I didn’t like Odin. I couldn’t forgive him for putting work before family—it was an unforgivable sin. So I wrote him off (literally). By doing so, I left him a stagnant character. It wasn’t until the writers retreat that I discovered his essence; what it was, exactly, that made him tick. It started with a few simple sentences:
Odin’s Father: Look at you. You can’t even hold a fork. You disgust me.
Odin: [looks up and stares deep into his father’s eyes] Fuck you.
Father: Don’t you dare curse me! You might be grown but—
Odin: Damn right! I’m grown! ... And I’m twice the man you’ll ever be.
Father: You keep telling yourself that. You’ll be nothing. Trash. Like me. You think you’ll ever be somethin’? Dare to dream boy. Dare to dream. [Odin starts to walk away] Where you goin’?
Odin: Away from you. I’ll be something pops, you wait and see. I’ll be on Forbes...all the rich man magazines. And while you’re trying to claim me, I would have forgotten you.
Father: Keep telling yourself that, Odin. I used to dream like you. I’ll tell you right now, dreams are lies. Lies! You’re nothing. You hear me, nothing! [His voice grows more and more distant.] You’ll be broke son. Worse, poor! Then you’ll come crawlin’ back to me. [pause] Don’t you dare walk out-a here Odin! ODIN!
Odin: [turns around] Goodbye old man. One day, you’ll see.
[End scene]
