Script to Screen: “Three Kings”

From the 1999 movie Three Kings, screenplay by David O. Russell, story by John Ridley.

IMDb plot summary: In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, four soldiers set out to steal gold that was stolen from Kuwait, but they discover people who desperately need their help.

The script version of the scene:

Here is the movie version of the scene:

Some differences:

• Approaching the town, Gates has this additional line: “Go in fast, leave the safeties on, give ’em the blinding power of American sunshine.”
• The Iraqi mother does not expose her breasts.
• Archie’s line: “Orders from President Bush. Cease fire agreement.”
• The Iraqis note the soldiers are covered in blood commenting, “They’re butchers covered in blood.”
• An Iraqi with a bullhorn: “The Americans are here, so it’s safe to come out.”
• Iraqis approach: “We can fight Saddam.”

No real substantive changes, the chaos of the moment underscored by the irony of the line, “We are Americans. We are here to make you safe.” That line is delivered multiple times in a number of variations.

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 Go Into The Story series where we analyze a memorable movie scene and the script pages that inspired it.

For more Script To Screen articles, go here.

My book The Protagonist’s Journey: An Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling is an Amazon #1 Best Seller in Film and Television. Endorsed by over thirty professional screenwriters, novelists, and academics, you may purchase it here.