Two characters, one goal, two different reasons: The classic plot, done 10x over.

One of my stories is kinda like that.
But I doubt we're writing the same thing. It doesn't have the 10 times over, and it includes a lot more people.

And also, nothing is out of vougue if you keep adding original stuff into it. Which is what I try to do.

Honestly, I can't think of any book that fits this pattern...so I think it sounds cool.

But maybe I'm not thinking hard enough?

Like the Emperor's New Groove??

sweet.

It doesn't matter how many times it's been done. (Or for that matter hasn't been done -- not sure you can logically count the number of times something doesn't occur...)

What matters is your take on the subject and how you execute it.

It's a classic plot for a reason - you can do a hell of a lot with it.

Remember, there's only really seven plots in sci-fi. Doesn't feel like it does it?

PS: The WIP i'm working on boils down to basically the same thing - two charactes, a goal, different reasons.

I LOVE that cartoon! Esp. when Yzma (Eartha Kitt) does the Rube Goldberg trip ending up as a pinata-Hysterical!

Stephen King's, The Dark Half--written as Richard Bachman: the following from Wikiedia.

Thad Beaumont is an unsuccessful author but when he writes as George Stark, his gritty crime novels about a violent killer named Alexis Machine are very popular and successful. Thad and his wife Elizabeth decide to stage a daylight funeral for the fictional Stark. His epitaph at the local cemetery says it all: NOT A VERY NICE GUY.

However, that is not the end of Stark and over the weeks to come he resurrects himself from his mock-grave and kills, gruesomely, everyone he perceives responsible for his "death". Thad experiences blackouts and comes to discover that he and Stark share a mental bond. He begins to find notes from Stark written in his own handwriting. The notes tell Thad what activity Stark has been engaging in.

I'll leave the rest for you to read!

That plot is incredibly non-specific. Instead of worrying how many times it has been done before, try worrying about making yours the best execution of the premise.

West Side Story copied from Romeo and Juliet which in turn copied from an earlier story and even though the basic plot is the same, they're all bestsellers.

Stop worrying!

It's actually probably the MAIN plot structure. It would be hard (and pointless) to try to "not do it".

Another reason, by the way, to avoid that whole "protagonist" theory. Many more stories are about two equals striving for the same goal than about one single character struggling against all comers.

The devil is in the deals. All depends on your execution.

I remember pitching a video idea to a friend and he said its been done before. I countered with: "yes, but I've never done it."

Good luck!