The Stranger Screenplay

The Stranger Murder Scene
Screenplay
Scene: EXT. A DRY FIELD-DAY

MERSAULT walks on screen left from under a bridge

Roll intro

MERSAULT walks through field(slow motion)

Roll Title

Profile shot of MERSAULT standing

CUT TO ARAB lying in field

ZOOM IN on ARAB

CUT TO shot of MERSAULT, ZOOM IN

(VOICEOVER) MERSAULT: There he is.

CUT TO shot of ARAB fidgeting

CLOSE UP of MERSAULT

(FLASHBACK) FADE THROUGH WHITE to shot of RAYMOND handing gun to MERSAULT

MERSAULT refuses gun

RAYMOND forces gun into MERSAULT'S hand

RAYMOND: If he says anything, let him have it

MERSAULT: If he doesn't say anything, it'd be pretty lousy to shoot him.

RAYMOND: Well, call him something, and if he answers back, let him have it.

(FLASH FORWARD) FADE THROUGH WHITE to close up of MERSAULT

(VOICEOVER) MERSAULT: Should I let him have it?

TILT DOWN to MERSAULT'S hand going into pocket

FADE into LONG SHOT of ARAB

ZOOM IN on ARAB'S face

ARAB lifts head, opens eyes and looks in MERSAULT'S direction

FADE into shot of MERSAULT stepping forward

CUT TO shot of ARAB'S pocket
CLOSE UP of MERSAULT'S face

CUT TO shot of ARAB lifting head and reaching for pocket

ZOOM IN on pocket as ARAB'S hand takes out knife

FOCUS on knife, catch light on blade

CLOSE UP of MERSAULT from different angle

FADE THROUGH WHITE into FLASHBACK of RAYMOND saying: If he says anything, let him have it.

FADE THROUGH WHITE into FLASH FORWARD-CLOSE UP of ARAB's blade in hand-then ARAB puts knife back in pocket

ZOOM out to long shot of ARAB

CLOSE UP of MERSAULT'S hand taking gun out of pocket

CLOSE UP of gun from opposite angle

CLOSE UP of MERSAULT'S face

CUT TO shot of gun

ZOOM OUT to shot of MERSAULT holding gun

FADE THROUGH WHITE to FLASHBACK-MERSAULT: Well, if he doesn't say anything, it'd be pretty lousy to shoot him

FADE THROUGH WHITE to FLASH FORWARD-CLOSE UP of MERSAULT'S face from different angle

MERSAULT looks up

ZOOM OUT to shot of MERSAULT from waist up

MERSAULT looks at gun and hesitates, starts to turn around-looks at gun, and turns back around to face ARAB

FADE THROUGH WHITE to FLASHBACK-RAYMOND: Let him have it.

FADE THROUGH WHITE to FLASH FORWARD

CLOSE UP of MERSAULT'S hand holding gun

FADE to OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT of MERSAULT facing ARAB, holding gun up.
MERSAULT fires gun(sound effect)
(Screen goes black)

MERSAULT'S VOICE: I knew that I had shattered the harmony of the day, the exceptional silence of a field where I'd been happy. Then I fired four more times at the motionless body, where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace.

CUT TO CLOSE UP of gun firing four times

(Screen goes black)

MERSAULT'S VOICE: And it was like knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness.

(pause)

(roll credits)