TODAY'S NUGGET: Spectre (2015) - When in Need of High Flying Action, Walk on a Wall

[Quick Summary: A message from the past sends Bond after an organization called SPECTRE, which has ties to his past.]

I've been reading Bond scripts because I want to figure out why some turn into good films and some do not.* 

For me, Spectre was very confusing, and somewhat boring.  

I think was because the story itself lacked ingenuity, despite a beautiful looking script. Going into Bond's past makes sense, but it wasn't enough.

(That must have been a terrible frustration to the creative team.  After all, what is still unexplored after 23 films of over-the-top adventures?)

I will cite my favorite scene below.  It combines the characteristic of the character (cleverly resourceful at getting to the rooftop) and high flying action that fans love.

INT. HOTEL ROOM - LATE DAY

...With her back to Bond, Estrella takes a sip of her drink, crawls onto the bed, and turns to see him opening the window:

ESTRELLA: But...where are you going?

BOND: To check out the view.

And we follow him OUT OF THE WINDOW.

EXT. HOTEL/ROOFTOP - LATE DAY

Dangerously high up, he jumps...

Lands on a rooftop.

He keeps low, walking coolly along the very edge of the roof, the street clearly visible below...In the distance we can see the crowded square. The drums more distant now...

He reaches his destination, and stops. Looks across the way at some apartments. Day of the Dead FLOATS and STILT-WALKERS passing between...Now he ducks behind a low wall on the rooftop.

Takes out his Walther PPK, and an additional piece of equipment. Clips the piece onto the hand grip of the gun with a satisfying clunk. Inserts the earpiece.

Bond now tests his gear - raises the gun, points it down into the crowd.

We wee a faint laser beam emanating from beneath the barrel.

A laser microphone.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I really liked how clever Bond was getting to the rooftop because it actively required him to utilize his skills, and was not merely coincidence.

Spectre (2015)(shooting script, 10/17/14)
by John Logan, Neal Purvis & Robert Wade

*So far, this is my running list of things I've learned about Bond scripts:

1) Though they may borrow something from the novels or short stories, there is no formula.  The writers essentially start from scratch, which is tough to replicate.

2) These films are intrinsically weird, outlandish, fanciful, and/or outrageous, but they have an internal logic that fans seem to like in varying degrees.

3) The films often follow (but not always) the scripts.  Even when they follow the script, it does not guarantee a good film.

4) Some scripts are horrible to read, but turn out good films. Other scripts are beautiful on the page, but turn out bad films.

TODAY'S NUGGET: Witness for the Prosecution (1957) - Adding New Humor & Character When Expanding a Short Story

[Quick Summary: A famous barrister agrees to defend the beneficiary of a murdered rich widow, but surprises await.] 

THE SHORT ANSWER

Q: What's the best way to expand a short story and make it interesting?
A: Interesting characters.

THE LONG ANSWER

Let's take this short story by Agatha Christie.

The main character is the solicitor Mr. Mayherne, who does all the investigation and footwork.  Sir Charles, the barrister, is only mentioned twice in passing.

However, in the script:

1) The writers brought forward the barrister (now called Sir Wilfrid) as the main character. He will do a lot of the investigation/interviewing in his office.

2) But how does the audience know he's any good at investigating?* 

The writers were smart and demonstrated his wily nature in a situation BEFORE the case begins (scene below):

- Sir Wilfrid has a heart attacks and has just returned from the hospital. 
- He doesn't like his new restrictions nor the nurse Miss Plimsoll.
- He is willing to bend the rules to his advantage.
- Note how the added shrewd, sneaky humor makes him interesting to follow.

THE ANTEROOM OF SIR WILFRID'S CHAMBERS (DAY)

...He proceeds toward his office, ignoring the reception line-up. In passing he whisks the flowers from Miss McHugh's hand.

SIR WILFRID: Thank you very much. Everybody back to work.

MISS McHUGH: Sir Wilfrid, please -- if you don't mind -- I would like to read a little poem which we have composed to welcome you --

She has whipped out a long sheet of legal-size paper, typewritten on both sides.

SIR WILFRID (interrupting): Very touching, Miss McHugh. You can recite it after office hours, on your own time. Now back to work.

He starts for his room, sees Miss O'Brien sobbing, her cheeks streaked with tears.

SIR WILFRID: What's the matter with you?

MISS O'BRIEN: Nothing ---- I'm just happy that you're your old self again.

SIR WILFRID (a sweeping gesture with his cane): One more manifestation of such sentimentality -- whether in poetry or prose -- and I shall instantly go back to the hospital.

MISS PLIMSOLL: Not very likely. They won't take you back. (to the staff) He wasn't really discharged, you know -- he was expelled. For conduct unbecoming a cardiac patient.

SIR WILFRID: Put these in water -- (shoving the flowers at her) Blabbermouth! (to his clerk) Come on in, Carter.

He goes on into his office, followed by Carter.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: Sometimes adaptations require going beyond the short story. Know what the film needs.

Here, audiences expect a defense attorney vs. witness showdown in this genre. Thus it made sense to make Sir Wilfrid the protagonist, though he is not in the short story.

Witness for the Prosecution (1957)(6/10/57 final script)
by Billy Wilder and Harry Kurnitz
Based on the novel by Agatha Christie

*After all, UK barristers generally work in the higher (appeals) courts. This is different work than that of solicitors who focus on the lower (trial) courts

TODAY'S NUGGET: The Body Snatcher (1945) - Why the Blackmailer's Chilling Speech Lands Well (Motive)

[Quick Summary: After a student suspects that his mentor (Dr. MacFarlane) is illegally obtaining cadavers, the supplier (Gray) begins to harass them.]

 Dr. MacFarlane has a nice, comfortable life.  

The only fly in his ointment is Mr. Gray, who supplies him with cadavers.

Since Gray has old dirt on MacFarlane, he relishes sponging off him.

When MacFarlane finally confronts Gray about 3/4 into the script, it is chilling.  

Why does it land so well?

Part of it is well-drawn characters.  But also, part of it is the structure.

The script spends the first 3/4 setting up the rocky relationships with student Fettes, Dr. MacFarlane, and Mr. Grey. (I was rooting for Fettes.)

Then it all pays off in the last quarter, when Gray finally explains his motive to MacFarlane in this explosive admission:

INT. GRAY'S LIVING QUARTERS - NIGHT

...Gray shrugs.

MACFARLANE: What I was going to say is this -- wouldn't you be more comfortable at Leith in a neat little house?

GRAY: Would you bribe me to leave you be?

MACFARLANE: I would make you rich.

GRAY: It wouldn't be half so much fun for me, Toddy, as to have you come here and beg --

MACFARLANE (cutting in): Beg -- beg of you! You crawling graveyard rat!

He chokes off the last speech and glares at Gray. He is almost trembling with the effort to control himself.

GRAY: Aye -- that is my pleasure.

As he speaks he is refilling MacFarlane's glass

MACFARLANE: Well then -- I beg you -- I beseech you --

GRAY (shaking, his head and grinning): But then I wouldn't have the fun of having you come here and beg again, Toddy.

They look at each other. MacFarlane bends over in his chair. Gray hitches himself forward a little on the table, ready, waiting, then relaxes as MacFarlane begins to speak.

MACFARLANE: But why, Gray? Why?

GRAY: Because it would be a hurt to me to see you no more, Toddy. You're a pleasure to me.

MACFARLANE: A pleasure to torment me?

GRAY: No -- a pride to know that I can force you to my will. I'm a small man -- a humble man -- and being poor, I've had to do much that I did not want to do. But so long as the great Dr. MacFarlane jumps at my whistle, that long am I a man -- and if I have not that, I have nothing. Then I am only a cabman and a grave-robber.

MacFarlane looks at him. As he looks, he realizes he has heard the truth and that Gray will never leave him in peace. Now he, in turn, attempts cunning....

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: This gut punch is doubly horrific because of the roller coaster ride in the previous 70+ pgs.  Without it, this moment loses steam.

The Body Snatcher (1945)
by Philip MacDonald and Carlos Keith
Based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson

TODAY'S NUGGET: Skyfall (2012) - Rising Action & Tension in Service of a Theme (Betrayal)

[Quick Summary: When someone from M's past threatens all of MI6, Bond tracks down the threat, but it gets very personal.]

Q: What have you learned about Bond scripts you've read (16 so far)?
A: The scripts are sprawling beasts unto themselves, often hard to wrangle.

Q: What's one of the difficulties?
A: The writers are always trying to deliver new spectacles, but it's not easy to sustain. I often go numb reading yet another action-packed, high stakes scene.  

Q: In this script, what does work on the page AND on screen?
A: I have not seen it often in Bond scripts but I think they're at their best when the mounting tension (due to conflicting emotion) is in service of a theme. 

Here, it is betrayal.

For example, Bond is betrayed in the scene below:
- Bond is fighting a guy on top of a train.
- Eve has a sniper gun, but can't get a shot.
- Back in the London, M orders the shot, effectively putting Bond at risk. 
- Note how each character is shown with emotional conflict (see below).

ON THE TRAIN:

Bond and Patrice struggle. Below the train, a treacherous fall the waterfall and river far below --

Bond can hear Eve and M on his earpiece:

EVE (V.O.): There's a tunnel ahead...I'm going to lose them...

AT MI-6: 

M is isolated. [This shows M alone, likely feeling lonely, vulnerable.]

All the screens are down. Everyone watches M. [She's alone, shouldering responsibility.]

M (V.O.): Can you get into a better position?

ON THE OVERPASS: 

Eve's POV through the scope: Bond and Patrice locked together.

EVE: Negative. There's no time.

She blinks away sweat. Finger tensing on the trigger. [Eve's nervous, conflicted. She could kill 007.]

The train's about to disappear.

ON THE TRAIN: 

Bond and Patrice roll across the train roof --

Bond can hear M and Eve on his earpiece -- [He has no idea if M will sacrifice him.]

The train's starting to go into the tunnel!

ON THE OVERPASS:

Eve still has the gun trained on them.

Seconds left now.  [This increases tension. Audience wonders if she'll take the shot.]

AT MI-6:

It's now or never.

M: Take the shot...I said, take the shot.

EVE: I can't. I may hit Bond-- [She's conflicted.]

M: Take the bloody shot. [She makes a decision, for better or worse.]

SIMULTANEOUSLY:

Eve fires--

Bond and Patrice twist--

Eve's shot slams into Bond!

His whole body recoils violently -- shot in the side and ribs -- blood sprays -- the impact is huge -- sending him sailing from the car --

Bond flies through the air--

Off the train--

He falls, past the train, past the tracks--

Down toward the river and waterfall below--

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: To improve meaningless action, consider if it's related to the theme.  If not, can it be reframed so it is? Or is it tangential?

Skyfall (2012)(undated)
by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, and John Logan