TODAY'S NUGGET: Get Carter (1971) - Screenplay Form Is Often Ugly; How to Use Present-Flashforward Transition

[Quick Summary: When his brother is mysterious killed in a northern town, London enforcer Carter investigates why, despite being advised against it.]

TWO THOUGHTS: 

1) SCRIPTS ARE BUILT OUT OF NECESSITY. Scripts are cobbled together each time from scratch - misc. screws, scrap lumber.  Ergo, they're often ill-defined, ugly.

"Also I must admit that screenplays are not a literary form I relish; their function is, of necessity, an ill-defined one." - Director-writer Mike Hodges

2) UGLY SCRIPT = OFTEN GOOD SCRIPT? This 84 pg. script is quite ugly looking on the page. Nearly 1/4 of each line is taken up by Scene, Ft., Frame numbers. 

However, it's got a crackling structure. 

For example, the flash forward sequence below:
- This is an excellent transition cutting between present and flash forward.
- Glenda has just fetched Carter to see her provider Mr. Brumby.
- Brumby wants to hire Carter for a hit, but Carter rebuffs him and walks out.
- Notice the purpose of the transition: 
a) The flash forward is what will happen to Carter and Glenda.
b) It is also a visualization of  what Carter is hoping for in the future, and thus increases the anticipation of the scenes in the present.
c) It also adds unexpected interest to an inevitable end.

[Carter is exiting Brumby's house.]

MLS - LIFT doors opening - CARTER comes out - CAMERA PANS R. with him - he goes away to r.b.g. - GLENDA drives in L - stops

LS - CARTER getting into car - she drives out L.

CU - GLENDA driving

INT. CAR  MCS - onto backs of CARTER AND GLENDA as she drives through street

CU - GLENDA'S HAND changing gear

CU - CARTER

CU - GLENDA'S LEGS from Carter's p.o.v.

INT. GLENDA'S BEDROOM. CU - GLENDA'S BOTTOM as she slips panties off - CAMERA PANS DOWN her legs with them

INT. CAR. CS - GLENDA'S HAND changing gear

 CU - CARTER

CU - GLENDA - CAMERA PLANS DOWN

INT. BEDROOM. CU - CARTER'S HAND on Glenda's breast - CAMERA PANS UP to them kissing in bed.

INT. CAR. CS - GLENDA'S HAND AND LEG

INT. BEDROOM. CS - GLENDA AND CARTER making love - CAMERA PANS DOWN

INT. CAR. CS - GLENDA'S HAND AND LEG

INT. BEDROOM. CS - CARTER'S BACK as he makes love

INT. CAR. CU - GLENDA'S HAND changing gear

INT. BEDROOM. CS - CARTER'S BACK and GLENDA'S NAILS scratching it

INT. CAR. CU - GLENDA'S HAND changing gear

INT. BEDROOM. CS - GLENDA'S BREAST AND BACK

INT. CAR. CU - GEAR LEVER AND GLENDA'S HAND changing gear

INT. BEDROOM. CU - CARTER'S HAND on GLENDA - CAMERA PANS R  to their faces as they make love

CU - SPEEDOMETER swinging round past 100 and back

CU - GLENDA'S ARMS round CARTER - CAMERA ZOOMS OUT to MLS them in bed

CU - CARTER - as GLENDA rolls aside

CU - GLENDA as she rolls onto back

CU - GLENDA'S HAND turning ignition off

CU - CARTER - eyes closed - CAMERA PANS R to CU - GLENDA

CU - EXHAUST PIPE of car - CAMERA PANS UP over top of car to BLOCKS OF FLATS in b.g.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: The flash forward was used here in at least two ways: to help us feel what Carter is feeling now, and to show us what will happen in the future.

Get Carter (1971)
Directed and written by Mike Hodges
Based on the novel, "Jack's Return Home," by Ted Lewis