The Caper
"Don't Know much About Art,"
by Simon Brett
If you've ever watched a movie
where one thief steals from an
even worse thief, you've watched a
caper.
When the criminal becomes a
thieving hero, you have yourself a
caper.
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
In this formula, the moral line takes
a quite flexible view of justice.
Take Robin Hood for instance.
Normally stealing is wrong
• But is it wrong if the
government is failing
the people through
the over taxation of
an illegitimate ruler?
– 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.
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.
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.
Here are the basic qualifications
for the Caper:
1. The normal villain (petty thief) is
the hero
2. The crime is theft, not murder.
• It is hard to idealize a
murderer.
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.
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
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.
6. The thief is rarely harmed when
their plans are foiled, just a bit of
wounded pride at most.
7. The Character is charming,
clever, and witty so that the
audience will like him/her more
than the worse villain.
"Don't Know much About Art,"
by Simon Brett
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
So how is "Don't Know Much About
Art" a caper?
• Let me count the ways.
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.
• He looks dumb
– Ex pro-wrestler
– Stereotypical looking
dumb villain
He looks dumber than he is, but
he’s also done some dumb things.
• He looms, threatens,
and he’s made silly
mistakes:
– Drove the wrong
people away in the
getaway car.
– Accidentally returned
stolen goods
– Wrote his address on
a ransom note
Yet, he is less of a criminal than
Mr. Loxton and Lord Harbinger.
• We can't help but cheer for him as he outsmarts the two crusty, know-it-all bluebloods.
2. The crime is theft, not murder:
• Billy is hired to steal a painting.
• But he’s 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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?