TODAY'S NUGGET: Midnight Run (1988) - Intricate Setup-Payoffs in an Excellent Action-Comedy-Thriller

[Quick Summary: A stubborn former-cop-turned-bounty-hunter has to transport an equally stubborn, bail jumping accountant from NY to LA.]

I think the rousing success of this film was due to:
- 50% casting (an unlikely, equal pairing of De Niro* and Grodin) and
- 50% a strong script (two strong characters, motives, chemistry, conflict, irony).

The script is a fun and looks so easy.  However, on a closer examination, I am impressed at the high level of difficulty, as it is quite intricate.** 

First, every scene has great subtext and is doing double or triple duty. 

Second, every scene is dependent on other scenes for context, for setups and payoffs - whether it is the next scene, the previous, or even twenty scenes later.

For example, the scenes below is funny, but funnier if you know the context:
- Bail bondsman sent Walsh (protagonist) to pick up Bouchet, a bail jumper.
- Bail bondsman also sent Dorfler in case Walsh failed.
- Walsh got to Bouchet first, but Dorfler took the quarry into his car.
- Walsh outwitted Dorfler, and took Bouchet and Dorfler's car.
- Notice this scene reveals character (revenge on the unjust) and is also a payoff.

EXT. L.A. COUNTY JAIL PARKING LOT - NIGHT

Walsh drives down the street, slowing Dorfler's car outside of the L.A. County Jail parking lot. He pulls in. Part way.

INT. DORFLER'S CAR - NIGHT

Bouchet looks at Walsh.

WALSH: Open your door.

Bouchet, confused, opens the car door. Walsh does the same with his car door. Then he BACKS UP quickly.

EXT. L.A. COUNTY JAIL PARKING LOT - NIGHT

Both doors are RIPPED off the car by the two pillars at the entrance. Then, Walsh swings Dorfler's car into the parking lot through the exit. The tires EXPLODE as Walsh proceeds the wrong way over the metal teeth tha tblock incoming traffic. Walsh keeps moving and SLAMS into a brick wall, CRUNCHING the front end. Then Walsh puts it in reverse and ROARS into the parking spot he targets, CRUNCHING the rear end of the car against another brick wall.

INT. DORFLER'S CAR - NIGHT

Walsh looks at Bouchet.

WALSH: We get out here.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: This script is a reminder that nothing this intricate and impeccable exists without a lot of hard work.

Midnight Run (1988)(7/31/87 draft)
by George Gallo

* "Here he proves to have comic timing of the best sort - the kind that allows dramatic scenes to develop amusing undertones while still working seriously on the surface. It's one thing to go openly for a laugh. It's harder to do what he does and allow the nature of the character to get the laughs, while the character himself never seems to be trying to be funny."

**In an interview with director Martin Brest, he said that the "script was intricate in structure that it required the two to come onto the Paramount lot on the weekend when no one was around and spread out eight folding tables in their garden area to chart out every scene. ("George actually said, "I can't take the pressure," Brest laughed,)"