preparatory device that helps to weave the fabric of a screenplay together. It can be a line of dialogue, a character's gesture, a mannerism, a prop, a costume, or a combi nation of these. As the story unfolds, this plant is repeated, thus keeping it alive in the audience's mind. Usually near the resolution of the story, when the circumstances of the characters and the audience have changed, there is a "payoff' on this plant in which the gesture, prop, or whatever takes on a new meaning. This resembles a poetic metaphor, when the plant takes on new meaning at the payoff. (Howard & Mabley, 1993, pp. 72-73) Also see payoff