Script Analysis: “Argo” (2012) — Scene By Scene Breakdown
Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:
Script Analysis: “Argo”— Scene By Scene Breakdown
Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:
After a first pass, it’s time to crack open the script for a deeper analysis and you can do that by creating a scene-by-scene breakdown. It is precisely what it sounds like: A list of all the scenes in the script accompanied by a brief description of the events that transpire.
For purposes of this exercise, I have a slightly different take on scene. Here I am looking not just for individual scenes per se, but a scene or set of scenes that comprise one event or a continuous piece of action. Admittedly this is subjective and there is no right or wrong, the point is simply to break down the script into a series of parts which you then can use dig into the script’s structure and themes.
The value of this exercise:
- We pare down the story to its most constituent parts: Scenes.
- By doing this, we consciously explore the structure of the narrative.
- A scene-by-scene breakdown creates a foundation for even deeper analysis of the story.
Today: Argo (2012). You may download the script here.
Screenplay by Chris Terrio
IMDb Plot Summary: Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1980.
Argo
Scene By Scene Breakdown
By Nora Barry
GoIntoTheStory.com
1–2: Set-up of embassy takeover in Tehran
3: Int. of embassy as gates are breached. Meet Mark and Bob, 2 of the 6.
4: Ext of embassy as security guard is taken
5–8: Back and forth between exterior, as the protestors swarm, and interior, as the staff deletes files. Meet Lee, Cora and Joe (3 of the 6).
9: Embassy surrounded and hostages taken 5 of the 6 exit the back door
10–11: State department reacting to embassy capture. Learn the 5 who left the embassy have been joined by a 6th (Kathy) and they’re being housed at Canadians.
12–13: White House staff and Hamilton Jordan reacting. Learn there are 60 hostages.
14: 69 days later. Yellow ribbons. Meet Tony Mendez, protagonist. He’s CIA.
15: Media coverage and interviews with Americans around the country.
15–16: CIA HQ. Meet O’Donnell, CIA. Learn Carter wants the 6 out.
17: Learn Iranians are piercing together headshots of embassy employees and will know that the 6 are not among hostages. State leading exfil of hostages
18–22: State/CIA meeting. Hear background of the 6. State proposes multiple, ludicrous, exfils. Mendez shoots them down. Learn exfil is his specialty. He is handed the gig.
22–23: The 6 around the table at home of Canadian Ambassador and his wife (The Taylors). When trouble erupts on street, the 6 hide out in a crawl space.
24–26: Escalating intercuts between hostages at embassy and Cora complaining about crawl space. Media news footage from US evening news details time lapse and frustration; Contrast with Iranian media propaganda. Americans reacting, Mendez thinking. American rage and protests.
27–28: Mendez calls his kid. See he is separated, watches TV on the phone with his son. A cheezy movie. He has Eureka moment.
29–30: Hollywood movie set. Meet John Chambers, make-up artist and sometime CIA asset.
30–32: CIA HQ. Meeting with State. Review rejected options. Mendez comes in late and pitches Hollywood option. It’s approved but he’s told not to fuck it up. See Tony on flight.
33: Escalating violence on streets of Tehran, intercut with the 6 in the Canadian house. Maid becoming suspicious. Escalating tension among the 6 in the house.
34–36: Mendez meets with John Chambers and asks for help. Chambers buys idea and takes ownership. Says if they’re going to pose as film crew, they need to set up a believable production.
37–39: Chambers takes Mendez to meet Siegel, an aging movie producer with a long and successful track record. Siegel eventually buys in and the 3 go looking for a script to use.
40: QS. Learn State still working other options.
40–44: Mendez and cohorts settle on a script and go to buy it, revealing storyline of script.
44–46: Mendez et.al. Set up production office. QS — learn Shah staff captured at airport. More production office set up and decision to launch a press event around the fake movie to drum up coverage and more believability.
47–49: Press event/live script reading, some done as VO over escalating embassy crisis in Tehran and the 6 in Canadian house. Establish parallels between the script narrative and what is happening in real life.
53: Variety reviews press event and rescue effort cut.
54: Siegel advises Mendez to go around Engel. The line, “Argo fuck yourself” is introduced.
55–56: Mendez and O’Donnell in meeting with Cyrus Vance and CIA Director Turner. Turner approves movie rescue effort.
57–58: O’Donnell drives Mendez to airport and they lightheartedly discuss capture/death so we understand the stakes if Mendez is caught. At Airport Mendez drops postcard to his son and calls Siegel and tells him the rescue is a go. Tells him to stay by phone.
59: Escalating tension among the 6. Ambassador Taylor tells them they’re getting a “visitor”.
60: Hamilton Jordan, worried about re-election, learns of movie rescue. Mendez arriving in Istanbul.
61–63: Mendez applies for Iranian visa in Istanbul. Meets a fellow spy at the Hagia Sophia, who talks him thru the papers at airport when leaving Iran.
64: Siegel in Hollywood, waiting for call. Mendez on flight to Tehran.
65: Mendez filling out entrance forms at airport. See people being arrested at airport. Mayhem. Outside in the streets, it’s chaos.
66: Mendez visiting Iranian minister of culture.
67: Mendez arriving at Canadian embassy, reveals plan to Ambassador Taylor. Taylor reveals the maid is suspicious and they made need to move fast. Mendez says they’re going in 2 days.
68: CIA. We learn the NYT and AP have discovered that the 6 are at Canadian house. CIA trying to keep it quiet but pressure is really on.
69–73: Mendez meets the 6 and lays out his plan. Bob flat out rejects it. He also doesn’t trust Mendez. The 6 argue amongst themselves while Mendez and Taylor step outside and discuss danger in which the Taylors now find themselves. 5 of the 6 agree to the plan and take their new bios.
74–75: Mendez learns the Minister of Culture has decided to take them on a site visit himself — the very next days. Mendez worried that the 6 are not ready with their cover. Has encrypted convo with O’Donnell.
75: The 6.
76–77: Komiteh HQ receiving copy of the script. Mendez tell the 6 they need to go on site visit. Joe again refuses.
78–79: One of the shredded head shots is now intact. 5 of the 6 getting ready for site visit. Mendez finally convinces Joe by telling him his real name.
80: In the van, driving to the site visit — the Bazaar. Mendez and 6 get caught in middle of protest. Tension outside and inside the van. Mendez drills them on their covers as they drive.
81–86: Intercuts: Mendez and 6 meet Minister at Bazaar. Revolutionary guards arrive at Canada house to interview maid. As 6 walk thru Bazaar, hidden camera snaps headshots. Bad confrontation between 6 and a shop keeper draws unwanted attention. We finally see the maid is determined to help Canadians and the 6. Mendez and the 6 arrive back at house.
87–88: Mendez works them harder on their background cover, trying to prep them for how rough the airport will be.
89–90: Mendez learns from O’Donnell that the resuce is being pulled.
91: Devastated, Mendez tells Taylor and they agree not to tell the 6. The 6 party, happy to be leaving.
92: Mendez goes back to his hotel and phones Chambers and Siegel to tell them rescue off. Tells them to shut down office. Instead, they decide to go for a drink.
93–94: Intercut: Tehran waking up, Mendez getting ready to burn fake Canadian passports of the 6 — changes his mind, calls O’Donnell, says he’s taking the 6 out.
94: O’Donnell is happy but has to get op back in place. Finds finance guys and asks him to re-approve Swiss air tix for the 6. Finance guy says the only person who can do that is President Carter.
95–96: Intercut: Mendez arriving at house O’Donnell chasing down approval for air tickets. Learn maid has left safely. Taylors are packed and ready to go.
96–99: Intercut: Flashback of Tony drilling hostages on what will happen at the airport, as they drive through the streets of Tehran. O’Donnell desperately trying to get White House approval. O’Donnell finally gets through to Jordan.
100: Shredded headshots have been reassembled and are being compared to photos snapped in Bazaar. Mendez and 6 arrive at Swiss Air counter and are told tix not there. O’Donnell sends approval through and Mendez asks Swiss Air to try again — success. O’Donnell sends word to Siegel and Cameron to stand by for call-but they’re out.
101: The 6 clear passport. The Komiteh peruse photos. Intercut with photos being snapped at Bazaar. Komiteh guard matches first photo.
102: 2nd check point at airport — serious grilling Komiteh guard involving senior offices in photos.
103: 2nd checkpoint, airport. They clear. CIA officer calling production office — phone rings, unanswered. Siegel and Chambers walking back lot. Swiss Air flight called.
104: Intercut: Third checkpoint. Mendez and the 6 ordered to separate screening area. CIA learning they’re not on board yet The 6 trying to convince 3rd checkpoint guards about movie.
105–106: Joe-the reluctant one of the 6-speaks in Farsi to the guards, telling them about the movie, owning the premise. Guard says they need to verify legitimacy. Mendez tells guards to call their office. Chambers and Siegel, walking back to production office from their drink, are caught waiting while a TV show shoots Komiteh pulls up outside Canadian house.
107–108: Airport guard picks up the phone to call. Siegel decides to walk thru the never-ending shoot. Guard dialing. Other guards discussing “the movie”. Phone ringing, guard getting ready to hang up — Chambers picks up and guard asks for “Kevin Harkins” (Mendez cover). Confirmed. Final boarding call. Komiteh forcing open door of Canadian house. Joe and Mendez give storyboards to airport guards.
109: Canadian house raided — it’s empty. Gate to Swiss Air closing without 6. Komiteh searching Canadian house. The 6 passing thru Swiss Air gate. The 6 and Mendez get on bus on runway to drive out to plane — and the bus stalls.
110: Komiteh running thru airport. The 6 and Mendez climbing steps to airplane. Komiteh running like crazy thru airport. Mendez and 6 getting settled plane — delay announced. Komiteh attempt to drag Swiss Air rep from closed gate.
111: Cockpit of plane, releasing throttle. Mendez and 6 begin to relax. Komiteh guard at window, sees plane begin its taxi. In control tower, air traffic give Swiss Air plane clearance to line up, Iranian police cars pull onto run way. Mendez looks out window. Plane #1 takes off — Swiss Air #2 next.
112: Komiteh rushing up steps to air traffic control. Police cars chase plane on runway. Pilot puts hand on controls. Air traffic clears for take-off. Mendez looks out window. Police cars chasing. Pilot finally sees car.
113: Pilot pushes to full throttle. Plane begins to outpace jeep. Komiteh arrive in air traffic control. They watch the flight leave the ground and begins to climb. CIA — waiting for and then hear the news the group is in the air — but O’Donnell holds off the celebration.
114: Mendez also waiting. Finally announcement that they’ve cleared Iranian airspace. The group begins celebrating. CIA begins celebrating. Siegel and Chambers begin celebrating. Back to celebration on plane — Joe apologizes to Mendez and thanks him.
115: Siegel and Chambers having a drink in the office. Iraqi border — the Canadian maid crossing over.
116: CIA celebrating — and then they learn they have to give the Canadians credit so remaining hostages aren’t penalized.
117: Ted Koppel archival footage — announcing release. Canadian government playing along and taking credit. The 6 being applauded at State in DC. Iran swearing revenge.
118: Siegel, poolside, calls Mendez, now home and they repeat the line again. Mendez handing over film paraphernalia at CIA archives, keeps one board.
119: O’Donnell tells Mendez he’s receiving Intelligence Star, but it’s classified.
120: Chambers taking down production office. Mendez goes to his wife’s house and she hugs him.
121: Mendez and son watching TV, begin to roll titles about ending of Iranian hostage crisis, awards given to Chambers, post-script on Mendez, settling on ARGO storyboard
122: Post-script titles, Mendez given his star in 1997. Black.
I encourage you to read the script, but short of that, if you’ve seen the movie, go through this scene-by-scene breakdown. What stands out to you about it from a structural standpoint?
If you’d like a PDF of the Argo scene-by-scene breakdown, go here.
Major kudos to Nora Barry for doing this week’s breakdown.
For 100+ movie scripts broken down scene by scene, go here.