MovieChat Forums > Pay It Forward (2000) Discussion > a better ending

a better ending

posted 17 years ago by rutica
77 replies | jump to latest

I think a better ending would be:

Instead of at school, Trevor and the bullies have the fight near Trevor's house. His mom gathers Trevor and jumps in her truck (which Jerry fixed) and rushes to the hospital. Because of the truck, she's able to get to the hospital quickly.

At the hospital, Trevor's life is saved by a brilliant female pediatric surgeon. The surgeon emerges from the operating room and tells Trevor's mom that it was a hard fight, but she refused to give up on Trevor. As the mom thanks her, the surgeon says her job is emotionally very difficult because many of her young patients die. The surgeon says she has been depressed lately, but it's good news like Trevor's survival that makes her remember why she is a doctor. The viewers then get a flashback and realize the doctor is the woman on the bridge who Jerry saved.

So although Trevor's acts were selfless, they came back to help him in the end. It would be a nice message about how good deeds can make a circle.

[–] channel801 17 years ago

I liked the old one...but I definately like this one also! I would really tie the whole thing together.

"It's like killing two birds with one stone,except killing five people with one semi automatic"

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] straw_hat_boy_luffy 17 years ago

That'd definitly be a more feel good ending, and ultimately better. But I guess they wanted to make it as heart wrenching as possible which means Trevor needed to die. Although, I think your ending is a little better.

[–] haney_gurl 17 years ago

yeah but they can't really change the ending
the movie is based on a true story
and in real life the kid did die
so changing the ending wouldn't be sticking to the story

[–] Bob_Brooker 11 years ago

the movie is based on a true story and in real life the kid did die

The internet agrees that this is not true. The novel this movie is based on was fictional.

__________
Last movie watched: Borgman (7/10)

[–] pregnantbellylover 16 years ago

The movie is not based on a true story. It was based on a novel inspired by an event in the author's life.

Over 20 years ago the author's car caught on fire and some strangers risked their lives when they extinguished the flames. These Good Samaritans disappeared before she could thank them. She decided to repay the favor by helping someone else and telling the recipient to pay it forward, too. Then the writer began wondering what kind of world we would have if the idea spread.

No little boy died, under these circumstances at least, in reality.

And here's my offer to your counter offer. Go f--k yourself.

[–] lightkeeper-1 16 years ago

I like your "better ending" suggestion better. If I have to cry, I'd rather do it because of triumph rather than death.

[–] alittlebirdie 16 years ago

Too bad you didn't write the script, or at least be consulted

That ending was a real turn off, and wasn't the idea suppose to
turn people on to how good deeds spread 10 fold?
Was that how the author ended the book? It seemed like "hmm, we don't
know a good ending, hey let's kill the kid!"

Only the gentle are ever really strong ~ James Dean

[–] noe_v_42 14 years ago

OMG! I FVCKING LOVE THIS ENDING
way better than the tragic ending it has...

[–] nat_the_rat 16 years ago

So although Trevor's acts were selfless, they came back to help him in the end. It would be a nice message about how good deeds can make a circle.

While I agree that it would have been a much happier ending, I think the film embodied the exact opposite message. They were completely selfless acts of kindness... if Trevor had received something in reward, I think it would have cheapened his very intention. It was his own rule that you couldn't pay people back; the process could only go forward. I loved the fact that there was no direct reward for the individuals who participated... there was simply the knowledge that they had helped another person (and perhaps, in turn, made the world a slightly better place)

[–] j-park1107 16 years ago

I think the ending was perfect. nat_the_rat is completely right. the movie sent the message loud and clear. the idea was Pay It Forward. No character received any sort of payment for their kindness; the point was for them not to. If the act of kindness would have saved his life, then the point would be moot and the message would have changed to "if you do good things, you'll get rewarded". Not as great, because the world doesn't reward people for doing good things. That's why the only way to truly do good in this world is to sacrifice part of yourself, whether it's money, time, energy, whatever, with no return of the favor. Trevor paid the ultimate sacrifice.

[–] TheBeardedWonder 16 years ago

Well, I think the OP meant it more as 'paying it forward will eventually lead to someone paying it to you' kind of thing. As in, he didn't INTENTIONALLY get any reward, but it just so happened that it cought up with him, and helped him...

My interpretation anyway. And I like the OPs ending a lot more. The one in the movie is a big joke, and done so cliche that it belongs in a 'how NOT to end a movie' handbook...

"Andrew, we can't possibly be dead. We have cable." - Nothing

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Jeff0015 15 years ago

wow. good call. id prefer that there is no death or stabbing, but this is the first sounds explaination of the death that ive heard. i still think it was unneccesary, but at least now its not senseless.

[–] ex250 16 years ago

Nothing against the movie, but your ending is awesome!

Loved the detail about the truck being fixed.

Jerry does double duty. He fixes the truck and saves the surgeon.

[–] lala_ru 16 years ago

That would have been a much better ending than having him die, and a lot more touching imo.

[–] rutica 16 years ago

I'm glad you guys agree!

Thanks

:-)

[–] alefl01 16 years ago

Actually, although your ending is happier, I like the movie's ending better because like nat_the_rat said it makes it seem like everytime you do a good deed, you should get something in return which does not apply to real life. The movie's ending however showed that in life, bad things happen to good people sometimes. And it wasn't like no one cared about it either. At the end everyone came with candles to their house and his death probably sparked the pay it forward movement more because of the grieve people had for him. In a sense, he died so pay it forward would countinue to live and become stronger. If he had survived, people would just watch the news and say, "Okay, great for that kid" but instead since he died, they were more inspired to say, "I'm going to do this for that kid." So your ending was happy short term because the kid lived, but the movie's ending is happy longterm because pay it forward would gain so much support and continue to help people.

[–] dav0002-2 16 years ago

Or the ending could have been that during the fight when Trevor was pushed towards the bully Trevor pushed the kid with the knife away and the boy fell on his own knife. Trevor helps the bully and they get him to the hospital and save him and the bad boy turns good because of his gratitude towards Trevor. He changes his ways, becomes a civic leader and eventually runs for and becomes the president of the United States. Now that's inspirational.
Nah..the original ending is better.

[–] Miss_Xray 10 years ago

I agree as well. So much of a better ending. Now the ending in the film feels like we should learn.. that it doesn't pay off to help others.. you might end up dead. What kind of a thing is that to learn? Thought the ending just killed the good message of the whole film, and as always I'll think twice before helping others, cause the universe usually gives you *beep* for it. Too bad..

I've seen the film before, and think I must have blocked the ending out. Cause all I remember was until they ended up in bed and that he was brave to show his weak sides and it was a really good message. As people said. They should have consulting you cause your ending was really WAY better

[–] rutica 10 years ago

Hi Toriandhim,

Thank you for your comment. I agree with you.

You helped me have a good day with your kind words and i hope the universe will reward you for it (and not give you *beep* for it).

:-)

[–] Miss_Xray 10 years ago

Thank you. Thats ever so nice =). Hope the universe will give you good as well and not sh*t