Lesson Plans: A Simple Plan 9

Time: 22:00

Summary: Hank and Jacob talk about Jacob’s dreams of life with money. He is empty, and he knows it. Sarah assures Hank that it is now over. Then Carl calls Hank in for questioning. An Agent Baxter, from the FBI, has appeared, looking for money that was stolen from an armored car and put on a plane that crashed. Hank, in a panic, decides to destroy the money, but Sarah refuses to let him. She insists, however, that he not cooperate with Baxter because she thinks he’s not really from the FBI. Hank goes to meet Carl the next morning, and before Baxter arrives, Sarah calls saying that the FBI has confirmed that Baxter doesn’t work for them. But Baxter has now appeared, and Hank feels he has to go with them. They return to the woods, and Jacob joins them. The four go looking for the plane. Carl finds it, and calls the others. Baxter appears and shoots him. Then Baxter forces Hank to get the extra money. Hank gets it, then pulls a gun on Baxter. The section ends with Baxter challenging Hank with the words, “But you’re not the cold-blooded type, are you, Mr. Mitchell?”

Vocabulary:

  1. FBI: federal bureau of investigation
  2. armored car: car used to transport money, especially from banks
  3. stall someone: make someone wait
  4. hangover: sickness from drinking too much alcohol
  5. coupons: certificates that let you buy something for a lower cost
  6. welfare: money given by the government to people who do not have jobs
  7. inedible: cannot be eaten

Questions:

  1. According to Jacob, what is necessary to be happy?
  2. What is Sarah’s new plan?
  3. What is Hank’s new plan?
  4. What is Lou’s plan? What reasons does he give for this?
  5. Summarize Jacob’s life story.
  6. Should Hank help Jacob get the farm?
  7. Who is Hank responsible to: Jacob or Sarah and Amanda?
  8. How does Sarah comfort Hank?
  9. Does Carl know what really happened?
  10. Why doesn’t Sarah believe the FBI agent is real?
  11. What does Sarah think will happen?
  12. Should Hank follow her plan?
  13. Why isn’t Sarah content?
  14. Do they need money?
  15. How has their relationship changed?
  16. What does Sarah find out from the FBI?
  17. Why does Hank go with Baxter?
  18. What should Hank do?
  19. Why does Jacob come to help them look for the plane?
  20. Why does Carl tell Jacob to bring a rifle?
  21. What should Hank do when Baxter challenges him?

For Further Discussion:

  • End the first scene after Sarah’s talk with Hank, before the haircut scene.
  • End the second scene after Sarah talks to Hank on the phone.
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