[Quick Summary: Johnny English, the last MI5 agent alive, must rescue England from a criminal set on turning it into a dump.]
What is the best way that a writer can help a physical actor like Rowan Atkinson?
Take advantage of set pieces to further the comedy and the character.
For example, in the scene below:
SET PIECE = Johnny English and sidekick is in a parking enforcement truck with his Aston Martin on the flatbed. They are stuck in traffic on a bridge.
CHARACTER MOTIVE = They are chasing a hearse and competing against the mysterious Lorna.
COMEDY QUESTION: What is a funny way to use this set piece to showcase English's smarts, impress Lorna, and get him closer to the hearse (goal)?
ANSWER: Apparently it is a Crane + Aston Martin.
ex. AT THE FRONT OF THE QUEUE the hearse has pulled up onto the kerb, then with a ROAR it accelerates PAST THE LIGHTS and away down a side street toward the ROAD BELOW.
Lorna gets clear of the final car and FLASHES AWAY after it.
BOUGH (CONT'D): We're stuck, we'll never get this lorry down that pavement.
THE LIGHTS -- are still red, the LINE OF TRAFFIC isn't moving at all.
ENGLISH: We don't have to, Bough. Fire up the crane.
EXT. REAR OF TRUCK -- DAY
Bough stands by the small HYDRAULIC CRANE, working the levers as he swings the ASTON MARTIN of the flatbed and out over the SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.
CLOSE ON --THE ASTON MARTIN and sitting inside, coiled behind the wheel, English.
ENGLISH: Now, Bough!
Bough shuts off the crane and RELEASES the clamps. The Aston Martin DROPS LIKE A STONE.
EXT. STREET BELOW -- DAY
Lorna is just turning into the street below, ready to speed away after the hearse when the ASTON MARTIN suddenly SLAMS DOWN into the road DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HER.
She SWERVES wildly, the bike THUMPING into the kerb, and as it spins crazily away...
ANGLE -- LORNA
as she's CATAPULTED off the bike flies OVER the embankment, and disappears INTO THE RIVER beyond.
With a grin, English FIRES up the Aston Martin and SPEEDS OFF after the hearse.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: My setup is "The Aston Martin DROPS LIKE A STONE" because of the payoff ("suddenly SLAMS DOWN into the road DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HER."
It's essentially a guy showing off to the girl he likes.
Johnny English (2003)(rev by Will Davies, 3/1/02 draft)
by Robert Wade & Neal Purvis
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