SHORT CUTS: Scene for analysis
This is the scene referred to in the post Subtext and Non-sequiturs, Who’s Got The Problem Now?, and Case Study: Who’s Got the Problem Now?
It’s from the Production script, not the shooting script, so it probably contains more BIG PRINT than the shooting script.
INT. STUART AND CLAIRE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Stuart and Claire lie in their bed together. They have just finished making love. It has been good for both of them.
CLAIRE
You make me very happy.
Stuart is staring at the ceiling.
STUART
Claire?
CLAIRE
Hmmmmm?
STUART
We found a body up there.
A girl. Guess she was murdered.
CLAIRE thinks he’s pulling her leg, rolls over and snuggles back into him.
CLAIRE
Stuart.
STUART
Well, when we got there, there she was. Naked body in the water.
Just floating there. Dead.
CLAIRE
Jesus. When? Were you fishing?
STUART
No. We just got up there. We were setting up camp and Vern –.
(He laughs)
Vern saw it in the water. I never experienced anything like it before.
No one knew what to do.
CLAIRE is picturing this.
CLAIRE
What did you do?
STUART
Well, there wasn’t much we could do. It was getting dark. And she was dead.
Nothing was going to change that.
CLAIRE
How old was she?
STUART
Huh?
CLAIRE
How old was she?
STUART
I don’t know. In her twenties maybe. You couldn’t tell.
CLAIRE
It must have been horrible. What did you do?
STUART
Nothing.
CLAIRE
Nothing?
She sits up.
CLAIRE
After you got her out of the water. Did she drown?
STUART
We don’t know. I didn’t think we should move her. You know.
CLAIRE
You left her in the water?
STUART
Yeah.
CLAIRE gets up and walks to the bathroom. This is very disturbing to her.
CLAIRE
For how long?
STUART
‘Til we left and reported it. I tied her to the bank.
CLAIRE goes to the bathtub and runs the water. She pulls up her nightgown and sits on the edge of the tub as she washes herself. She is trying to reach an understanding. She stops washing and comes to the door.
CLAIRE
How long did you leave her in the water?
STUART
Claire, she was dead! We didn’t think we should move her. It was dark.
We made a decision to leave her there until we could report it.
She was already dead.
CLAIRE
And when did you report it?
STUART
This morning. Today.
CLAIRE
Today?
STUART
Yeah.
CLAIRE
And when did you find her?
STUART
I told you!
CLAIRE
Well, when did you catch the fish?
STUART
Christ, that’s what we went up there for! To fish.
CLAIRE
You fished while she was in the water? You just left her there?
STUART
Claire…
STUART falls back and stares at the ceiling. CLAIRE slams the bathroom door.
CLAIRE
You’re making me sick.
