Dick
In current day, Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein have still not revealed the identity of Deep Throat, their source that led to them breaking the story of the Watergate scandal and the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Rewind to June 17, 1972. Friends Betsy Jobs and Arlene Lorenzo are typical fifteen year olds whose minds are preoccupied with boys, especially of the teen heartthrob variety. Arlene, who lives in the Watergate complex with her single mother, has invited Betsy over this evening to prepare Arlene's "Win a Date with Bobby Sherman" contest entry. Wandering around the complex that evening, they see a man who they don't recognize. On a class field trip to the White House the following day, they see the same man in the White House who they sort of recognize but don't know from where. He, G. Gordon Liddy, afraid that they can tie him to the Watergate break-in, decides to take decisive measures to deal with them. In this administrative high level maneuvering, Betsy and Arlene meet the President himself. To keep an eye on them, Nixon - or Dick as they are allowed to call him - hires them first to walk Checkers, then as youth policy advisors, all in unofficial capacities, and the latter job in name only that is unless he feels the need to institute a policy they recommended just to placate them. But the more that they have access to the White House as a collective, the more they may truly be exposed to the illegal goings-on by the administration. The question becomes if they are astute enough to recognize what they are seeing - they more used to fixating on the likes of Sherman - and know what to do with the information.
Despite its modest budget of $13.0M, Dick became a box office success, earning $27.5M worldwide—a 112% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Dick (1999) showcases carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Andrew Fleming's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Betsy and Arlene are ordinary suburban teenage girls in 1972, obsessed with boys and sneaking out at night to mail a letter to their teen idol Bobby Sherman at the Watergate Hotel.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when The girls accidentally witness the Watergate break-in while sneaking out, and later encounter G. Gordon Liddy during a White House school tour, making them potential witnesses who must be kept close.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to The girls actively choose to accept their positions at the White House, excited to be close to power and believing Nixon is a great man. They enter the world of politics willingly., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: The girls are at peak influence, trusted by Nixon and given the code name "Deep Throat" as official secret youth advisors. They feel important and believe they're helping their country, but the stakes are actually rising as they know too much., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The girls discover Nixon is not the great man they believed - he's crude, paranoid, and corrupt. Their illusions die as they realize they've been manipulated and their trust was betrayed. The father figure they admired is revealed as a villain., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. The girls realize they have power - they possess the information to expose Nixon. They decide to become the anonymous source "Deep Throat" and help Woodward and Bernstein, choosing active resistance over passive victimhood., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Dick's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Dick against these established plot points, we can identify how Andrew Fleming utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Dick within the comedy genre.
Andrew Fleming's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Andrew Fleming films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Dick represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Andrew Fleming filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Andrew Fleming analyses, see The Craft, Nancy Drew and The In-Laws.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Betsy and Arlene are ordinary suburban teenage girls in 1972, obsessed with boys and sneaking out at night to mail a letter to their teen idol Bobby Sherman at the Watergate Hotel.
Theme
During a White House tour, a guard dismisses the girls as "just a couple of kids" who couldn't possibly matter - establishing the theme of underestimated youth and accidental heroism.
Worldbuilding
The girls' innocent world is established: their naivety, friendship, family dynamics, and the 1972 political landscape with Nixon in power and Watergate unfolding in the background.
Disruption
The girls accidentally witness the Watergate break-in while sneaking out, and later encounter G. Gordon Liddy during a White House school tour, making them potential witnesses who must be kept close.
Resistance
Nixon's staff debates what to do about the girls. The girls are made "official White House dog walkers" for Nixon's dog Checkers to keep them nearby and monitored. They resist at first but are starstruck by meeting the President.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The girls actively choose to accept their positions at the White House, excited to be close to power and believing Nixon is a great man. They enter the world of politics willingly.
Mirror World
The girls develop a genuine relationship with President Nixon himself, who represents the father figure and authority they seek to please. This relationship will teach them about trust and betrayal.
Premise
The fun of the premise: two ditzy girls navigate the White House, accidentally influence policy decisions, bake cookies with secret documents, and become trusted advisors to Nixon while remaining completely oblivious to the corruption around them.
Midpoint
False victory: The girls are at peak influence, trusted by Nixon and given the code name "Deep Throat" as official secret youth advisors. They feel important and believe they're helping their country, but the stakes are actually rising as they know too much.
Opposition
Reporters Woodward and Bernstein pursue the Watergate story and pressure intensifies at the White House. The girls begin noticing inconsistencies and Nixon's dark side emerges. Their innocence becomes threatened as they overhear incriminating conversations.
Collapse
The girls discover Nixon is not the great man they believed - he's crude, paranoid, and corrupt. Their illusions die as they realize they've been manipulated and their trust was betrayed. The father figure they admired is revealed as a villain.
Crisis
The girls process their heartbreak and disillusionment. They struggle with what to do with their knowledge, feeling powerless and foolish for being so naive.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The girls realize they have power - they possess the information to expose Nixon. They decide to become the anonymous source "Deep Throat" and help Woodward and Bernstein, choosing active resistance over passive victimhood.
Synthesis
The girls feed information to the Washington Post reporters, using their insider access and supposed innocence as weapons. They orchestrate Nixon's downfall while maintaining their cover, combining their knowledge of the White House with their determination for justice.
Transformation
The girls watch Nixon resign on TV, having moved from naive admirers to empowered citizens who changed history. They remain anonymous heroes, transformed from silly girls into young women who learned that anyone can make a difference.