[Quick Summary: When two con men fight over territory, they agree that whomever wins the favor of a young female visitor will decide whom will go, whom will stay).]
Lawrence (Michael Caine) is the ultimate con man. Freddy (Steve Martin), on the other hand, is the new kid, and not nearly as good as Lawrence.
They team up, but eventually Freddy wants to go solo -- on Lawrence's territory.
What makes this a good fight? Real stakes, like their livelihoods.
But what makes it memorable?
1) A good fight is about stakes.
2) A better fight is about emotional stakes. What does winning/losing means to the character?
3) The best fights happen in subtext, unspoken and below the surface.
In the scene below, notice:
- Lawrence fears being usurped. He will no longer have status.
- Freddy fears he will lose his new golden goose. Also, in his mind, he will always be a second rate player.
- On the surface, this is about territory. If you look closer, it's about how each guy feels as a new regime challenges the old.
- But if you check out the subtext, this is about how each one feels about his status.
- ex. Freddy thinks he's good enough now (subtext: I don't need you).
- ex. Lawrence thinks he can keep status quo (subtext: I'm still relevant).
- Also, this is a great turning point because it sets out the stakes (external and internal) before starting to escalate from here.
INT. SECTION OF HOTEL LOBBY - MED. SHOT
...LAWRENCE: You're forgetting one thing... You agreed that I would run the operation.
FREDDY: Yeah, but I didn't know you were gonna cut so deep.
LAWRENCE: All right, you'll get your money. But you realize this is the end of our association.
Freddy LOOKS OFF.
FREDDY: I'm a big boy now, I'll go it alone.
Lawrence looks to see what has caught Freddy's eye.
POINT-OF-VIEW SHOT
We see JANET COLGATE, a very beautiful young lady, richly dressed and carrying a mink coat, crossing the lobby to check in. She is followed by two or three bellboys carrying expensive luggage. An ASSISTANT MANAGER is fawning all over her. Obviously, she is an important and well-heeled guest.
BACK TO SCENE
LAWRENCE: Where? Where will you go it alone?
FREDDY: I kinda like it right here.
LAWRENCE: This is my territory, Freddy.
FREDDY (scoffs): "My" territory? You've been King of the Mountain so long you think you won it.*
As the Assistant Manager crosses in front of them, Freddy SNAPS his fingers, calls and beckons to him.
FREDDY: There's two lions on the mountain now.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: We remember the subtext of a fight because it's often the most painful, true part of the fith.
On another note, this was a funny scene because the audience was in on the joke. We know Freddy needs Lawrence. We know it's futile for Lawrence to keep out Freddy.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)(2/1/87 draft)
by Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning, and Dale Launer
*Fun fact: The original title was "King of the Mountain," which I loved because it encapsulates this whole fight.
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