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Luther 1x01 Script Extract Scene Direction Analysis
- 1. Luther 1x01 ScriptExtract (Good use of Scene Direction) 1 EXT. KTR MEDICO WAREHOUSE - NIGHT 1 - 00.00 1 A DECAYED, POST-INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURE. Wasteland. This first scene establishes the character’s outer presence, location and some of their inner presence and context. The location is established from the scene above of the exterior shot of the “DECAYED, POST-INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURE.” However, the second scene reinforces this as we see Henry Madsen fearful and scared of something in the looming darkness of the unlit areas of the building. Henry Madsen’s outer character presence is established from his costume and overall visual appearance whilst his isolation in the building shows us some of his inner character presence as he watches the darkness for movement as he breathes harshly and runs away from the first sound. Like a rabbit’s flight or fight reaction. His flight reaction to the isolated footstep from the shadows is to retreat slowly however we clearly see him panic and scarper away in a running sprint. From this we can gather than he’s aware of who’s there, that he has a reason to be scared of the owner of that isolated footstep. All of this scene direction helps to reinforce the character, his emotions, his fears and his desperation to escape from someone after something the audience can assume that he’s done. This is reinforced in the 3rd scene. 2 INT. KTR MEDICO WAREHOUSE, MAIN AREA - NIGHT 1 - 00.01 2 HENRY MADSEN - a handsome man in suit and tie - stands alone in a VAST FORSAKEN SPACE. His breathing is exerted, fearful -- almost as fearful as those lost, pleading voices. He’s thinking hard. Scanning the DARK CORNERS for what predators may lurk there – He SPINS, looks behind him. Sees NOTHING. Just darkness and silence. Sound of DRIPPING WATER. His harsh breathing. And a sense of TERRIBLE THREAT in the LOOMING SHADOWS. And now – A FOOTSTEP. Somewhere out there - in the shadows. He takes a SINGLE RETREATING STEP. And another. And a third - faster now, moving backwards - as the ECHOING FOOTSTEPS in the vastness grow CLOSER and CLOSER. And now he’s running - headlong through this awful place – away - just away – The third scene and final scene of this extract introduces multiple characters named and un-named ones. The opening scene direction immediately establishes the
- 2. police forces purposeat the house. We also see two officers who stand out amongst the ramble of the police in the background. A rogue uniformed policeman emerges and addresses these characters who then say each other’s lines which shows they both on the same page as they tell the policeman and audience that they’re looking for a young girl. They also establish to the policeman that the character John said that the girl is there but not where she is in the house. This tells that he’s not person who took/has the girl but that he got the information from the person who did. But not all of the information. This can make the audience question that Henry Madsen is the person that took/has the girl and that John found it out from him or that he worked it out as the audience can assume a detective just like Reed and Teller. The scene direction for all of the character’s present is then reinforced by Teller who says that the girl’s oxygen has ran out which then tells the audience that she’s locked away in something. 3 EXT. MADSEN HOUSE - NIGHT 1 - 00.02 3 A MASSIVE POLICE OPERATION outside an ORDINARY SUBURBAN HOUSE. A UNIFORMED OFFICER emerges, mud covered. Approaches DETECTIVE SUPER INTENDANT ROSE TELLER - who’s looking at a PHOTOGRAPH OF A YOUNG GIRL. TELLER Nothing? The UNIFORMED OFFICER shakes his head. Teller exchanges a pained, anxious look with DETECTIVE INSPECTOR IAN REED. Who shrugs. REED John said she’s here, so she’s here. Keep trying. UNIFORMED OFFICER nods, exits. TELLER Her oxygen ran out two minutes ago.