Page One: “The Bourne Identity” (2002)

Screenplay by Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron, novel by Robert Ludlum

The movie version of the opening scene:

The movie begins with a B.O.B. (Bit Of Business): The guys on the fishing trawler playing cards. That acts as a kind of feint to set the stage for the big twist: discovering Bourne’s body floating in the ocean.

You may read the screenplay here.

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!

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.