Great Scene: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

One of the most memorable scenes in one of the most memorable John Hughes movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986).

Here is the script version of the scene:

Here is the movie version:

The interesting thing about the scene is that while Ferris is cavorting on the parade float, Cameron and Sloane are having a rather serious conversation. It speaks to one of the most fundamental screenwriting principles: Every scene needs to move the plot forward. We may remember “Twist and Shout,” but the scene actually advances the underlying storyline: Young people confronting their uncertain futures.

For more articles in the Great Scene series, go here.