The Caper

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The Caper

• "Don't Know much About Art," by Simon Brett

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If you've ever watched a movie where one thief
steals from an even worse thief, you've watched a
caper.
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When the criminal becomes a thieving hero, you
have  yourself a caper. 
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Throughout history writer's and audiences have
had a soft spot for the criminal  

• and a major interest in
• how the theft takes place
• how the criminal will get away
• how justice will be served

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In this formula, the moral line takes a quite
flexible view of justice.
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Take Robin Hood for instance. 
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Normally stealing is wrong

• But is it wrong if the government is failing the
  people through the over taxation of an
  illegitimate ruler? 

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• When the villain, in this case Prince John, is
  more evil than that person stealing from them,
  the petty thief becomes the hero in our twisted
  sense of justice. 

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So stealing is wrong . . .

• unless your stealing from an undeserving, evil
  villain for a good cause,
• like to right their wrongs
• revenge
• or justice outside of the law. 

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The moral comment is that . . .

• sometimes the underdog doling out comeuppance can
  replace legal justice so that the audience knows
  that the bad guy got what they deserved.  

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Here are the basic qualifications for the Caper
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1. The normal villain (petty thief) is the hero
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2. The crime is theft, not murder. 

• It is hard to idealize a murderer.

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3. There is a righteous pursuer who may or may
not catch the thief. 

• Still, the righteous pursuer can identify with
  and respect the thief. 

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4. The thief is not an evil mastermind

• he may be smart, but it's the down to earth
  quality that helps the audience connect with the
  thief

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5. The focus of the story is how the thief will
get in and out successfully, not on how the
righteous pursuer will catch them.
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6. The thief is rarely harmed when their plans
are foiled, just a bit of wounded pride at most. 
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7. The Character is charming, clever, and witty
so that the audience will like him/her more than
the worse villain. 
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"Don't Know much About Art," by Simon Brett
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Characters

• Billy Gorse narrator, petty thief
• Wally Clinton thief who Gorse tried to drive to
  the airport, but ran out of gas
• Mr. Loxton employer, private school voice
• Mr. Depaldo the fence
• Lord Harbinger Owner of Harbinger Hall

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So how is "Don't Know Much About Art" a caper? 

• Let me count the ways.

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1. The normal villain (petty thief) is the hero 

• In this story, Billy Gorse is the hero. 
• He's a petty criminal and not a very successful
  one at that. 

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• He looks dumb
• Ex pro-wrestler
• Stereotypical looking dumb villain

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He looks dumber than he is, but hes also done
some dumb things.

• He looms, threatens, and hes made silly
  mistakes
• Drove the wrong people away in the getaway car.
• Accidentally returned stolen goods
• Wrote his address on a ransom note

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Yet, he is less of a criminal than Mr. Loxton and
Lord Harbinger.

• We can't help but cheer for him as he out-smarts
  the two crusty, know-it-all blue-bloods.

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2. The crime is theft, not murder

• Billy is hired to steal a painting. 
• But hes still a good guy
• He tells us that he won't
• do murder for hire
• or mug old ladies,
• so his crimes seem pretty harmless. 
• Besides, what's the harm in stealing a old
  painting from a bunch of rich folks?

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3. There is a righteous pursuer who may or may
not catch the thief 

• Yes and no on this one.
• There is no police man or private investigator
  pursuing Billy
• but Billy becomes the righteous pursuer when he
  realizes that he is being set up. 
• He is then the one who must pursue Mr. Loxton and
  the man he was speaking to in order for himself
  to survive this deal.  

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4. The thief is not an evil mastermind

• Billy is no evil mastermind but he isn't as daft
  as he first portrayed himself to be. 
• He describes himself as a type of brainless,
  blunt object to be used to mindless tasks only
• yet he manages to have the painting handed to him
  as he goes out the door. 

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5. The focus of the story is how the thief will
get in and out successfully, not on how the
righteous pursuer will catch them

• The story, as told by Billy himself, focuses on
  how he could possibly steal this painting, or at
  least survive once he stole the painting. 
• His success is his ultimate goal.

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6. The thief is rarely harmed when their plans
are foiled, just a bit of wounded pride at most

• Billy and Lord Harbinger are not harmed. 
• Billy seemingly embarrasses himself in front of
  Lord Harbinger, the other guests, and the staff
  as the painting falls out of his unzipped
  suitcase as he walks down the stairs. 
• Lord Harbinger is humiliated in front of his
  guests as he tries to cover up the insurance
  scam.
• Unfortunately, Mr. Loxton gets caught up in his
  own bombing scheme and dies while trying to drive
  the bomb-rigged car away from Harbinger Hall.

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7. The Character is charming, clever, and witty
so that the audience will like him/her more than
the worse villain.

• What's not to love about Billy's self deprecating
  humor?