Script Analysis: “Beginners” — Scene By Scene Breakdown
Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:
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: Beginners (2010). You may download the script for here.
Beginners
Scene-by-Scene Breakdown
By Ali Coad
GoIntoTheStory.com
Page 1: Dead flowers on a window sill.
Page 1: Oliver and his old Jack Russell named Arthur clean and empty his father’s home.
Oliver flushes all kids of medicine down the toilet.
Oliver looks at an old picture of his father, Hal, in a jean jacket.
Pages 1–2: Flashback.
Celebration of Hal with fireworks. A man named Andy records it.
Page 2: Back to present.
Oliver and Arthur leave the house.
Page 2: Drive down Sunset Boulevard.
Pages 2–3: Oliver shows Arthur around his home, introducing him to various rooms.
Pages 3–4: Flashback.
Narrated Sequence. Still black and white and color photographs flash by: the sun, the stars, Yosemite, George W. Bush, people kissing, faces laughing, faces crying. Photos of Oliver’s parents getting married, having Oliver.
Oliver’s VO of descriptions of the stills. We learn Oliver’s mom died of cancer.
Pages 4–5: Flashback continues.
Oliver’s VO continues. Hal tells Oliver he’s gay at age 75.
Jump cuts. Hal talks to the camera, each cut in different clothes, coming out, each cut, his line has a different inflection. This happens seven times. It’s Oliver’s imagination.
Page 5: Flashback continues.
Hal has a new boyfriend, Andy. They’re at a Los Angeles Pride event.
Page 6: Flashback Continues.
Live action “portraits” of a priest, therapist, movie-night club, etc.
Oliver’s VO — Hal is living the gay life and living it well.
Page 6: Flashback Continues.
Back in Hal’s house. It’s empty.
Oliver’s VO — Hal died four years after coming out.
Page 6: Back to Present.
Arthur follows Oliver all over the house.
Arthur has subtitles.
Pages 7–8: Flashback. A series of quick memories.
Oliver in a hospital hallway.
Hal on a ventilator, Oliver reads to his father.
Hal gets sicker, Oliver tries to help.
Pages 8–9: Flashback farther. Oliver’s childhood home, late 1970s.
Sequences of his parent’s perfunctory kisses.
An affectionate moment between young Oliver and his mother, Georgia.
Page 9: Back to present.
Oliver and Arthur sit on a bench at a dog park, observers.
Page 10: Oliver at work. He’s a designer.
Page 10: Jump cut through a series of Oliver’s drawings.
Portraits and timelines of girls he’s dated.
Pages 10–12: Flashback.
In the hospital, Oliver and Hal look at a book together. Hal is disoriented.
Andy, Hal’s boyfriend, visits and plays the firework recording for Hal. Hal is happy.
Pages 12–13: Back to present.
Oliver’s drawing album designs for a client. It’s not what he wants to do.
Pages 13–14: Oliver’s friends, Shauna and Elliott, convince him to go to a costume party. Oliver dresses as Sigmund Freud. He’s depressed.
Page 14: Arthur whines about being left behind while Oliver goes out.
Page 14: Shauna, Elliott, and Oliver drive to the party. Arthur sits on Oliver’s lap victoriously.
Pages 15–17: At the party, Oliver and Arthur mingle. Oliver doesn’t feel emotionally ready for this party.
Oliver sits in a chair with Arthur talking to a witch-dressed man as if in a traditional analysis session. Oliver isn’t ready for this.
Another ‘patient’ sits down, a woman dressed as Julius Rosenberg. She doesn’t talk but writes on a notepad because, as we discover, she has laryngitis. Oliver’s taken by her.
Pages 17–18: Shauna and Elliott are encouraged by Oliver and this woman.
Pages 18–19: Flashback. Hal tells Oliver about his night out at Akbar, a gay club.
Cut to scenes in the club as we get VOs from Hal and Oliver, both in their respective bedrooms.
Pages 19–20: Back to present.
Oliver and this woman dance.
Page 20: Oliver gives her his number.
Page 21: As Oliver and Arthur walk home from the party, she calls.
She beeps for yes and no answers.
Pages 21–22: Oliver picks her up in his car. She points directions.
Page 22: Oliver, Arthur and the woman enter a fancy hotel.
Pages 22–23: They enter her suite. Her name is Anna. Oliver talks about his parents.
They kiss for the first time. They go to sleep, just sleeping.
Pages 23–24: Oliver discovers Anna’s an actress, that she’s only visiting here.
They’re going to see each other again.
Page 24: They kiss in the hotel hallway, gentle and comfortable with each other.
Page 24: Oliver alone with Arthur. He’s happy.
Page 24: Flashback.
Quick cuts of Andy and Hal kissing lovingly.
Page 25: Back to Present.
Oliver digs through his father’s forwarded mail.
Pages 25–26: Flashback.
Hal discovers he has cancer. Oliver retreats into himself, scared.
Page 26: Quick shots of change (quarter, dimes, nickels, pennies) on black.
Flashback continues.
Hal digests the news stoically. Hal chooses not to tell Andy.
Oliver reads to his father.
Page 27: Back to Present.
Series of CU jump cuts. Oliver’s hands as he draws various death scenarios.
Pages 27–28: Flashback.
Andy visits Hal as Oliver looks on. A nurse takes Hal’s vitals, Andy expresses as strange jealousy.
Pages 29–30: Flashback continues.
Oliver helps Hal’s gay friends and Andy get settled in the hospital room. They toast, the nurse tells them no, and Hal toasts anyway.
Oliver smiles but can’t believe his dad; this is a new person.
Page 30: Back to Present.
Oliver and Elliott shop in a bookstore. Oliver tells Elliott about Anna.
Page 31: Walking the streets, Elliott and Oliver continue their conversation about Anna.
Oliver admits to falling for her.
Page 32: Flashback.
A young Oliver watches his mom, Georgia, draw. Oliver worries about his parent’s relationship.
Page 33: Back to Present.
Late at night, Oliver watches Elliott spray paint a large tag on a blank wall.
Oliver criticizes him.
Page 33: Oliver now spray paints a wall. He does it again. And again. All historical facts.
Oliver’s exhilarated. He’s coming back to life.
Page 34: Arthur howls as Oliver leaves the house.
Page 34: Oliver and Arthur in Anna’s hotel room. Anna kisses him. They talk. They’re learning to trust each other.
Page 35: Post-sex, they lie in bed.
Page 35: Flashback.
A young Oliver listens to music with his mom. Oliver’s trying to figure out his family history; he’s a quarter Jewish.
Page 36: Flashback continues.
Oliver (age 10) drives his childhood car. His mother, Georgia, admires him; Oliver’s proud.
Page 36: Flashback continues.
Oliver escorts Georgia into the museum. She embarrasses him.
Pages 37–38: Back to present.
Oliver and Anna get dressed. They make fun observations about people from the hotel window.
Her playfulness is very meaningful to Oliver, he’s in love.
Page 39: Oliver and Anna walks through a caged-in freeway overpass. He blindfolds her. Arthur is with them. She opens her eyes. Traffic races beneath them, scaring and thrilling them.
VOs of Oliver and Anna in an intimate conversation from the hotel room.
Page 39: Oliver and Anna walk alongside the LA river, arm in arm.
VOs of Oliver and Anna and their intimate conversation from the hotel room continues.
Pages 39–40: Arthur and Oliver leave Anna’s hotel room. They have a conversation, Arthur is subtitled. Arthur is worried about how good things feel right now, how they can’t last.
Page 40–41: Flashback.
Hal and Oliver discuss Oliver’s most recent break-up: nothing happened, it just wasn’t right.
Page 41: Flashback continues.
Hal’s friends welcome him home. Andy’s there.
Oliver makes a chart for medicine and dosage and prepares his pills. It’s an emotional job for him.
Page 41–43: Oliver watches Andy kiss Hal.
Andy leaves to go to his other boyfriend’s house. Hal pretends not to be sad, but Oliver catches it. Hal worries about Oliver ending up alone.
Page 43: Back to present.
CU of Oliver’s hands as he draws “THE HISTORY OF SADNESS.”
Page 43: Return to the previous flashback.
Oliver helps his dad to the couch and Hal worrying about Oliver ending up alone.
Pages 44–45: Back to present.
Oliver and Anna look through a bookstore. They read about tragic lives of actors. They share a vulnerable look.
Pages 45–46: Oliver and Anna go to a taco truck. They eat on milk crates by the taco truck. She likes the food, much to Oliver’s relief.
Pages 46–47: Olive and Anna lie in the hotel bed talking. They talk about how often she travels, how it makes it easy to leave people. The film-defining line comes from Oliver at this moment: “You can stay in the same place and still find ways to leave people.”
They intertwine fingers, they’re the same.
Page 47: Flashback.
Oliver finds Hal, in the middle of the night, reorganizing his bookshelf. A huge physical task. Maria, the nurse, tries to calm him.
Pages 47–48: Flashback continues.
Hal in his office, he looks sick but energized. Oliver worries.
Page 48: Back to present.
Oliver, Anna and Arthur walk in Elysian Park. She tells him about her parents.
Oliver’s VO about Anna’s parents. Then he mentions his parents. Compromising who they are.
Pages 49–51: Narrated sequence.
Pictures flash before us: Georgia in 1938, FDR, business men, lions and giraffes, Adolf Hitler on the cover of Time Magazine, Models, etc…
Oliver’s VO describing these pictures and how they relate to him. And to Anna. All these things that happened in 1930s-1950s, they’re important to who Anna is. Her Jewish history. His family history. About what it meant to be pretty. About what it meant to be gay.
Page 51: Back to present.
In his office, Oliver flips through “The History of Sadness.” It’s album art he created for a band called “The Sads.” They don’t like it. Oliver’s disappointed but polite.
Page 52: Oliver leaves work feeling defeated.
Pages 52–53: Flashback.
Oliver delivers Hal his medication. Hal feels invigorated. Andy encourages Hal to exercise.
We see the flowers on the window sill from the very first scene. The flowers are dead.
Pages 53–54: Hal and Oliver walk the isles at Staples.
Hal asks Oliver to be the one to tell Andy that Hal is sick.
Pages 54–55: Oliver tries to tell Andy about Hal. Andy misinterprets Oliver’s heavy demeanor as discomfort with the gays. Andy tells Oliver he’s not attracted to him and there’s no need to feel threatened. Andy feels better and Oliver leaves confused.
Page 55: Oliver tells Hal that he couldn’t tell Andy. Oliver also admits that Andy really loves Hal and it’s not fair that Hal doesn’t tell him.
Pages 55–56: Oliver cuts fresh flowers for the vase on the window sill.
Page 56: Back to present.
Oliver and Anna chase Arthur in the park.
Pages 56–57: In the hotel room, Anna’s phone rings. Oliver is about it answer it when she tells him no, it’s her dad. She tells him about her rocky history with her dad. It’s heavy.
Page 58: Trying to lighten the mood, Oliver takes Anna up Sunset Blvd with Elliott and Shauna to spray paint something.
Pages 58–59: On a rooftop, Oliver spray paints on a billboard. Oliver self-admittedly tries to impress Anna, it works.
Page 59: In the hotel hallway, Arthur sprints away from Oliver to an old man who looks just like Hal. The resemblance hits Oliver hard too. Anna senses what’s happened.
Page 60: In the hotel room, Anna hugs him. Oliver is overwhelmed by memory.
Page 60: Flashback.
A series of repeat actions on different days:
- Oliver helping Hal into the cancer center, Hal is full of life.
- Hal getting some cookies in the Cancer Center Lobby.
- CU of the cookie plate
- Hal happily eating a cookie.
Page 60–61: Hal in the radiation room. Hal now has a radiation tattoo.
Page 61: Back to present.
Anna’s moved by Oliver’s story.
Page 61: Flashback.
In the bookstore, Hal looks for books.
VO of Oliver telling Anna about Hal and his shopping habits.
Page 61: Flashback continues.
Hal, in a clothing store, brings outfits to the dressing room.
Page 61: Flashback continues.
In Staples, Hal buys more and more paper.
Pages 61–62: Flashback continues.
Hal buys plants from a nursery.
Page 62: Back to present.
Oliver’s very emotional now, as is Anna.
Page 62: Flashback continues.
Oliver arrives at Hals with groceries only to find a party going on with all of Hal’s gay friends.
Page 62: Flashback continues.
At the party, Hal and his friends write letters to a gay congressman they were supporting.
Pages 63–64: Flashback continues.
Oliver puts groceries away. Hal tells his friends he’s getting better, Oliver chastises him. He sees fear in his father’s face. Oliver joins the party.
Page 64: Flashback continues.
Hal hires a secretary to dictate to.
Page 64: Live action portrait of the secretary looking into the camera.
Page 64: Flashback continues.
Oliver looks on as Hal works with his secretary. Hal re-writes Jesus’ death.
Pages 64–65: Flashback continues.
Oliver sees Andy and Hal napping together. It was the first time Oliver’s really seen him in love.
Page 65: Back to present.
Anna hugs and kisses Oliver. She’s overwhelmed by his need.
Page 65: Later that night, Oliver sleeps. Anna, nervously awake, leaves the room. Arthur follows.
Page 65: Anna, troubled, walks down the hallway with Arthur.
Page 65: Anna sits in the dark, empty ballroom and smokes.
Page 65: Oliver wakes to find Anna gone and goes to look for her.
Page 66: Oliver finds Anna in the ballroom, both are full of heavy feelings. She doesn’t think she can compensate for all he’s lost, but she wants him to stay. It’s tense.
He hoists her over her shoulder and carries her out of the room, they’ve made it past the trouble.
Pages 66–67: Flashback.
Hal and Andy and Oliver and all their gay friends in a parking lot with fireworks. Celebrating, laughing.
Page 68: Back to present.
Anna and Oliver wake up together.
Page 68–69: Oliver and Anna roller-skate at a roller rink. Elliott and Shauna are there. So is Arthur.
They’re asked to leave because of the “No Dogs Allowed” rule.
They leave, and rebelliously take the skates.
Page 69: Anna and Oliver roll down the street in skates.
Page 70: Anna and Oliver roll down the hotel hallway in skates.
Pages 70–71: They skate around the hotel room, happy.
The phone rings. Knowing it must be Anna’s father the mood changes.
Oliver unplugs the phone. Oliver asks her to move in with him. She says yes.
Pages 71–72: Still photos of the sun in 2003, the stars, and live action of Oliver and Anna eating, talking at night in bed. Stills of LBJ, Georges Pompidou Anna’s Cat, Anna’s parents, etc…
VO of Oliver describing their relationship in 2003. And their personal histories. Their childhoods, previous relationships.
Live Action shots of Oliver and Anna talking at night and running backwards in pretend slow motion, Anna looking into the camera saying ‘I love you,’ CU of her ear, her feet.
VO of Oliver describing them being in love, running backwards, saying I love you.
Pages 73–74: Flashback.
Oliver helps Hal with his medication.
Hal gives Oliver a Pride flag.
Hal and Oliver talk about Hal being gay and Hal and Georgia’s relationship. Oliver gets angry. His parents never really loved each other.
Pages 74–75: The screen fills solid PINK, then solid RED, then solid YELLOW, solid GREEN, solid TURQUOISE.
VO of Oliver’s voice with what the color’s represent.
Page 75: Still photos of the gay pride flag.
VO of Oliver’s voice about the various flags and what they mean.
Pages 75–76: Still photos of Carter, a Lego figure, superman, pets, historical footage of Harvey Milk’s body being carried away, still photos of the museum exhibit of stuffed animals, etc.
VO of Oliver’s voice about what these figures, people, items meant for that time. What these things meant to him specifically.
Page 76: Flashback.
Oliver finds Andy and Hal dancing free and without restraint.
Page 77: Back to present.
Oliver works on the album art for “The Sads.” The band doesn’t like it. They leave.
Page 78: Oliver carries Anna’s suitcase into the house.
Page 78: Oliver shoes Anna around the house, introducing her to various rooms and items.
Anna feels extremely overwhelmed, she tries to get over it.
Pages 78–79: Oliver shows her some drawers he emptied in his bedroom for her. She’s having a hard time dealing with the intimacy, stability and generosity. She hides it all by initiating sex with him.
Page 79: They sleep in Oliver’s bed.
Page 79: Oliver wakes up alone.
Page 79: Oliver finds Anna on the couch. Emotional tension builds. They’re miles apart.
Page 79: Oliver is deep in thought at his office.
Page 80: Flashback.
Oliver watches his mother and father go through the motions of kissing.
Page 80: Oliver and Arthur stand alone in his house at night.
Page 80: Oliver notices Anna’s drawers are still empty.
Page 80: Oliver and Anna eat. They’re disconnected and moody.
Page 80: Oliver is hurt and broods. Anna is trying and is hurt by his silence.
Page 81: Oliver and Anna have a fight. He pushes her out emotionally, she decides to go back to New York.
Page 81: A cab picks up Anna, she looks to the house for a sign before getting in the cab. Nothing.
Oliver cries behind the front door.
Page 81: Flashback.
Oliver pushes Hal down a hallway.
Pages 81–82: Flashback continues.
At the hospital getting the news. There’s nothing more the doctors can do. Oliver’s devastated. Hal is stoic.
Page 82: Jump Cuts — men deliver a hospital bed and equipment to the house.
Page 82: Oliver and Hal look out over the canyons.
Page 82: Oliver sits with Hal in his hospital bed, holds his hand.
Page 83: Flashback.
Young Oliver walks with Georgia through the museum on opening night. She feels alone, Oliver asks to go home.
Pages 83–84: Flashback continues.
Georgia drives around, Oliver dictates directions.
Page 84: Flashback continues.
At home, Georgia goes right to her room, slams the door.
Page 84: Back to present.
Oliver lies on his bed in darkness.
Page 84: Flashback.
Oliver remembers Anna in her hotel room on the night they met.
Pages 84–85: Back to present.
Oliver feels the most lost. He talks to Arthur, who mentions this relationship was doomed before it started. Something changes inside Oliver. He dials Anna.
Page 85: Oliver delivers Arthur to Elliott to watch him while he makes a trip.
When Oliver leaves, Arthur howls and cries, it’s the saddest sound.
Oliver runs back in and grabs Arthur.
Page 85: Oliver drives up to a new house with Arthur.
Page 85: Oliver watches Andy cry as Arthur licks him all over.
Page 86: As Oliver leaves Andy’s house, he waits for Arthur to cry. Nothing happens. He drives away.
Page 86: Oliver takes cabs through New York. Picks up flowers at a bodega.
Pages 86–88: He knocks on her door, no answer. He calls her. She’s in Los Angeles. She tells him where the key is and he enters her apartment. It’s empty.
She give him a tour, similar to the one he gave her when she first entered his place. It’s strangely intimate.
Page 88: Flashback. Repeat memory.
Oliver watches his mother walk down the hallway, very alone.
Pages 88–89: Flashback.
A handsome nurse Juan helps Hal in the bed set up in his living room. Juan styles his hair. Oliver watches Hal close his eyes and enjoy the simple affection.
Page 90: Oliver lies on Anna’s bed.
Page 90: Flashback.
Hal on his hospital bed in the living room. He’s surrounded by friends.
Juan, the nurse, tells Oliver he’s passed.
Oliver goes to Hal and cries at his bedside.
Pages 90–91: Narrated sequence.
Still photos of a check to the Neptune Society, a jar of peanut butter, a metal ash container, Hal’s death certificate, credit cards, phone bills, insurance statements, mortgage statements, Hal’s mail piling up.
Live action shot of a hand writing the obituary.
Oliver’s VO of all these things and what they mean. About the expenses and logistics involved in death.
Pages 91–92: Oliver picks up Arthur at Andy’s house. An emotional moment for Andy and Oliver; Hal really loved Andy.
Page 92: Oliver plays with Arthur, both happy to be home.
Page 92–93: Oliver opens the door to Anna. Oliver and Arthur are both happy she’s that. She’s happy too. She walks around the house, reintroducing herself to rooms.
Boxes of Hal’s things line the living room. Anna find the picture of Hal in a jean jacket from the beginning of the film. It’s attached to a personal ad.
Page 93: Flashback.
Repeat shots of Hal looking into the camera. Telling Oliver he’s gay, napping with Andy, waving at Oliver, Hal and Juan, Hal’s radiation tattoo, Hal playing with Arthur, Hal with Andy, etc…
VO of Anna reading Hal’s personal ad.
Page 94: Back to present.
Oliver finishes reading the ad. Hal didn’t give up on life. Anna and Oliver look at each other with vulnerability.
Oliver follows Anna down the hall.
They sit on his bed side by side.
Writing Exercise: 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 Beginners scene-by-scene breakdown, go here.
Kudos to Ali Coad for doing today’s breakdown.
For 100+ movie scripts broken down scene by scene, go here.