Working on an ending for a short script...?

[Semiazas]

I'm trying to think of a way to end a short script of mine.
It's about two people, a brother and sister, the brother is older by a few years and looks after her as they have no parents.
She has committed a crime of some type, which is not revealed (although in my head it's arson). And of course it is revealed that he believes he sacrificed everything so she could have a life.

I'm just not sure how to end it.
Any ideas?

 

[JoshL]

Well, the obvious ending would be the brother setting himself up for his sister's crime. The more convoluted twist ending would be revealing that the brother killed the parents to fulfill a need to raise his sister, and his disappointment that she ruined his "sacrifice" leading to him killing her or himself (though that might take some effort to sell it).

Another more logical place that could go is the sister being hauled away for her crime. The brother is now left alone, trying to find meaning for his life, having poured all meaning into her. Or twist the first idea, and it turns out the sister is arrested because she's sacrificing herself to cover for a friend's crime (like brother, like sister).

Lots of places you can go with this one!

 

[John@Bophe]

The key would be - what is the "feel" for this project. Are you going more for an emotional study of these two characters? If so, then twisty endings may not be the most appropriate choice. Josh's suggestion of the straightforward ending - she is arrested, he is left alone - seems like the most emotionally powerful. If you want to make it more of a suspense piece, then a more creative twist at the end would be called for. I guess the tone should dictate the ending - or at least the right road to the right ending.

 

[Semiazas]

I kind of had the idea of her walking away and leaving him. Wondering if it would work.