She begins to admit she’s in love with him and to move forward deliberately to try to save him. This scene presents the Moment of Truth-the revelation about Howl’s true dilemma-that changes the scope of the conflict for Sophie.
Howl arrives to rescue Sophie (and, incidentally, the Witch of the Waste, whom Suliman turned into a doddering old woman), and Suliman tries to show Sophie that Howl is really a “monster.” All three (and Madame Suliman’s dog) escape. She meets with Madame Suliman, the king’s head sorceress, who reveals she wants to capture Howl because he is dangerously “heartless,” having given his heart to a demon. Midpoint: Howl convinces Sophie to answer the king’s summon on his behalf, since he claims he’s too much of a coward to go himself. Howl’s own strangely contradictory vices are the true antagonistic force endangering him and all those in his protection. The exterior antagonistic forces in this section are really just blinds (and pacing tricks to keep the story interesting and moving forward). She returns to the castle to discover Howl having a meltdown because Sophie had mixed up his potions and his hair changed colors. While shopping with Howl’s apprentice Markl, Sophie (who has nominated herself Howl’s cleaning lady) sees the Witch’s blob henchman while the harbor is being bombed by the kingdom’s enemies. Exhausted, Sophie enters and strikes a bargain with Howl’s fire demon Calcifer, promising she will help break Calcifer’s bond to Howl in exchange for his help in breaking her spell.Īlthough this is actually a less dramatic moment than her being cursed at the Inciting Event, this is a clear entrance into the physical “adventure world” of the Second Act.įirst Pinch Point: This is a busy pinch point. An animated scarecrow leads her to shelter in Howl’s moving castle. Watch Howl's Moving Castle online, freeįirst Plot Point: Sophie treks out to the Waste, looking for a cure. Note how Sophie starts out by panicking about the curse (“rejecting” the Call to Adventure), before finally coming to terms with it. She and all the young girls are warned to stay inside or be taken by Howl, the evil wizard whose black castle can be seen moving through the hills.