Script To Screen: “The Elephant Man”

A scene from the 1980 movie The Elephant Man, screenplay by Christopher De Vore & Eric Bergren & David Lynch.

Setup: Treves [Anthony Hopkins] has been working with a patient Merrick [John Hurt], now presenting him to Treves’ superior Carr [John Gielgud] about possibly taking in Merrick for long-term care.

Carr Gomm stares levelly at Treves for a moment, then
asks Merrick: CARR
Tell me, how do you like Mr. Treves?
As a teacher? Treves stiffens. MERRICK
...I... everyone has been very kind
to me. CARR
Of course. How long did you and Mr.
Treves prepare for this interview? Merrick looks at Treves for guidance, but Treves
cannot look him in the eye. MERRICK
...everyone has been very kind. CARR
Yes, of course... Well, it's been a
pleasure meeting you, Mr. Merrick.
Good day. TREVES
(to John)
Thank you, John. You did very well. Treves and Carr Gomm go out the door onto the
landing. Merrick sees his chance escaping him and
tries to recapture their attention. MERRICK
(his voice is gaining
strength)
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not
want. He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures...
(he continues through
the following dialogue) Treves and Carr Gomm are alone on the landing,
speaking quietly. CARR
It was a nice try, Treves, but the
man is so obviously mouthing your
words. TREVES
Yes, I'm very sorry to have wasted
your time, sir. I just felt that I
had to do anything I could to protect
him. CARR
I'm sorry too. He simply doesn't
belong here. He's be much happier
somewhere else, where he could be
constantly looked after. Believe me,
Frederick, it's better that it worked
out this way. Good day. Merrick has come to the end of what Treves taught him
to say. He makes one last, desperate attempt to be
heard. Treves, disheartened, stands on the landing as Carr
Gomm starts down the stairs. MERRICK (V.O.)
(now full voice)
Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy
rod and Thy staff, they comfort me... Treves is staring, open-mouthed, back into the room.
Carr Gomm looks up at him. CARR
What is it, Treves? MERRICK (V.O.)
Thou preparest a table before me in
the presence of mine enemies, Thou
anointest my head with oil... TREVES
I didn't teach him that part! Treves rushes back into the room, followed by Carr
Gomm. MERRICK
My cup runneth over. Surely goodness
and loving kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life, and I shall
dwell in the house of the Lord
forever. There is a long silence as all three men stare at
each other.

A gut-wrenching scene in which Merrick’s fate hangs in the balance. Here is the scene in the movie:

I’ll see you in comments for a discussion of this scene from The Elephant Man.

One of the single best things you can do to learn the craft of screenwriting is to read the script while watching the movie. After all a screenplay is a blueprint to make a movie and it’s that magic of what happens between printed page and final print that can inform how you approach writing scenes. That is the purpose of Script to Screen, a weekly series on GITS where we analyze a memorable movie scene and the script pages that inspired it.

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