Half Open prompted by Michael Poole

Stage 1 – The Disturbance

Blake, a mid-career lawyer, notices something small but unsettling: his bathroom blind is half open, twice within a short span.

At first he doubts himself, thinking it could be forgetfulness. But when it happens again, he knows it is deliberate.

He documents the details, sensing intrusion but unable to prove it.

Stage 2 – The Hidden History

Blake uncovers that his residence ties back to a trust arrangement decades earlier.

The trust, run by a major financial institution, diverted his original property settlement, leaving him only limited rights to occupy his current home.

As Blake digs, he realizes his presence in the property blocks others from profiting—making him a target.

Stage 3 – Gaslighting and Pressure

Subtle manipulations intensify: blinds moved, documents misplaced, rumors questioning Blake’s mental health.

He suspects surveillance and staged evidence, tactics designed to force him out or discredit him.

Friends and colleagues warn him not to pursue it, suggesting he might be imagining things. Blake knows better.

Stage 4 – The Legal Battle

Using his skills as a lawyer, Blake investigates the trust’s records, uncovering breach of fiduciary duty and potential fraud.

He files for disclosure, triggering a high-stakes confrontation with the trustees and their powerful legal team.

As court proceedings near, Blake faces intimidation: anonymous threats, unexplained police attention, and pressure to withdraw.

Stage 5 – The Climax

Blake presents evidence linking the trust’s financial gain directly to the manipulation and harassment he suffered.

The case hinges on whether the court believes Blake’s testimony—or sees him as unstable, as his opponents intend.

In a tense courtroom showdown, corroborating evidence emerges from a whistleblower inside the trust, validating Blake’s claims.

Stage 6 – Resolution

The court rules the trust acted in bad faith. Blake secures his right to remain in the property and exposes the broader corruption.

Though victorious, Blake is left scarred by the psychological warfare—aware of how close he came to losing everything.

The final scene shows him closing the same bathroom blind, now reinforced, but his vigilance permanent.

This plot works because it grounds the personal unease (small, invasive details like a blind half open) in systemic corruption, then escalates into a courtroom thriller where credibility, law, and power collide.