I. Type of Character:
 
Protagonist, because he is the
central character in the film.

II. Background:

Danny is a boy of Middle School
age who is confined to a
wheelchair, paralyzed from the
waist down.

III. Values:

Danny has a positive outlook on
life, as seen by the way he races a
schoolbus with his wheelchair, and
plays basketball, a bit of a showoff,
but he is frustrated by his disability.
He’s uninterested in science and his
concerned mostly with his own
needs.

IV. Personal Conflict:

He says, “I wouldn’t mind winning
once in awhile.”  Danny must find
a way to feel that he is a winner.

V. Personal Events Which
Intensify the Conflict:

 1. Danny realizes that his enemy
is gravity, and he can defeat it by
being an astronaut, but everyone
agrees a boy in a wheelchair cannot
become an astronaut.

 2. NASA tells him they have no
training programs for the
handicapped.  (Washington also
declines.)

 3. Parents tell him that space is
not a possibility for him.  (He is,
however, encouraged by his
teacher.)
 

VI. Personal Climax:
 

Danny decides to chain himself to
the space ship exhibit at the
museum.
 

 
VII. Changes as a result of events
in the story: 


He speaks at the hearing, and is
more humble, apologizes for
breaking the law.

He is allowed to take the program,
but none of his friends are allowed
to take it.

Once he gets into space, he realizes
he has become a winner, and walks
for all of the handicapped children.
 

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