Chris McQuarrie’s Story About Visiting Devil’s Tower

In a series of tweets, the writer-director talks about a ‘close encounter’.

Christopher McQuarrie is a noted screenwriter (The Usual Suspects, The Way of the Gun, Edge of Tomorrow) and director (Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation). Back in April 2016, he tweeted a story well worth reading. I’m surprised I’d never seen it before, but glad it recently made its way into my social media stream because it’s a terrific tale.

GeekTyrant aggregated all the tweets which you can read here. Here is how the story begins:

At the request of @Mike_Dougherty: My trip to Devils Tower (eavesdrop @ #DevilsTower)

— ChristopherMcQuarrie (@chrismcquarrie) April 6, 2016

@Mike_Dougherty #DevilsTower (1)

This is a true story, told without embellishment. I will spare you the read by stating up front:

— ChristopherMcQuarrie (@chrismcquarrie) April 6, 2016

@Mike_Dougherty #DevilsTower (2)

It is neither amazing nor funny. It’s just a thing that happened exactly as I’ll tell it.

— ChristopherMcQuarrie (@chrismcquarrie) April 6, 2016

@Mike_Dougherty #DevilsTower (3)

In 1996, I was a working screenwriter living in LA. The details of my life then are not important.

— ChristopherMcQuarrie (@chrismcquarrie) April 6, 2016

@Mike_Dougherty #DevilsTower (4)

Imagine instead your own life when you were in your late twenties.

— ChristopherMcQuarrie (@chrismcquarrie) April 6, 2016

@Mike_Dougherty #DevilsTower (5)

If you were ever outwardly happy, but inside you were a bit empty…

— ChristopherMcQuarrie (@chrismcquarrie) April 6, 2016

You should read the rest as it’s very much a hero’s journey albeit without any sword play, indeed, not much in the way of external challenges. It’s the internal journey which is notable. Of course, that aligns with Joseph Campbell’s assertion that the entire point of the hero’s journey is the change which happens within: transformation.

Further, the point McQuarrie makes at the end of the story — that things like “happiness and success… find me more often when I simply live my life as best I can” — again echoes Campbell: Discover what enlivens you and brings you joy, and do THAT with passion and energy. That is the cornerstone of a life well lived.

Twitter: @GeekTyrant, @chrismcquarrie.