 According to director Peter Yates (I), the script for the film was  a hybrid of two screenplays that Steve Tesich (qv) had written and  had gotten nowhere with either one. It was Yates who suggested that  he combine the two scripts, Tesich originally balked at the idea,  but finally gave in and this script was formed. Yates also said  Tesich had trouble coming up with unusual plot twists because he  cares more about character than plot when he writes.