Page One: ‘Being There’ (1979)

Jerzy Kosinski (novel), Jerzy Kosinski (screenplay)

Here is the movie version of the scene:

Nowadays among people who work in Hollywood story development, there is a predisposition against starting a movie or TV series with a character waking up, then following their morning routine. In 1979, this wasn’t the case, but even if it were, I would argue this opening works well for two reasons: (1) It helps the establish the Protagonist’s normal world which, as we learn, is an odd one. (2) This latter point we learn through a series of background clues: a 1940s black and white television, a 1935 limousine, furniture covered with sheets. In showing Chance’s typical day is atypical by ordinary standards, the opening inverts expectations while setting up the starting point for the Protagonist and their journey.

Page One is a daily Go Into The Story series featuring the first page of notable movie scripts from the classic era to contemporary times. Comparing them is an excellent way to study a variety of writing styles and see how professional writers start a story.

For more Page One posts, go here.

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