The Lobster · written by Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou · 2015

The Loner Leader has David dig and lie in his own grave, covers him with soil, and leaves a flower above him.

Scene 114 of 123 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Loner Leader
David

Act oneAct two

Begins 1:22 into a 1:28 film

The story so farBefore scene 114

After his wife leaves him, David has 45 days to find a partner at a hotel or become an animal; he escapes, falls for a shortsighted loner, and must decide whether to surrender his sight so they can stay together.

Scenes 1–15
David moves from his broken home into the hotel, where couplehood is imposed as the norm.
Scenes 16–24
He must find a partner before the 45-day limit turns him into an animal.
Scenes 25–62
He participates in the hunt, attempts a false match, then escapes into the woods.
Scenes 63–84
He adapts to loner customs and cautiously begins a connection with Shortsighted Woman.
Scenes 85–100
They build a secret language and plan to leave the loner community together.
Scene 106
The Leader’s deception leaves Shortsighted Woman blind and turns their covert relationship into an exposed crisis.
Just before
Scene 111
David repeats the compatibility questions about blood type, berries, piano, and German with Shortsighted Woman under the midday sky.
Scene 112
David tests her sense of touch with a cup and tennis ball; she warns him that their coded fist gesture cannot continue.
Scene 113
David sings a duet alone and lets a rabbit go instead of killing it for food.
Scene 114
This scene

114EXT. THE WOODS - DAY

David walks through the woods with Loner Leader. He stops at some point and looks around.

LONER LEADER

How do you like this place here?

DAVID

It’s nice.

LONER LEADER

It is nice, and more importantly

very quiet because of the rocks you

have to climb to get here. Can you

imagine why I brought you to such a

quiet place today?

DAVID

No.

LONER LEADER

Because I think it’s the perfect

spot for your grave. It was my

second choice for my own grave, but

in the end I decided on a place a

little to the north of here because

there are fewer dogs around there,

digging all the time for bones.

She takes a small pickaxe from her pocket and gives it to him. David starts to dig. After a while he gets tired and stops. He’s only managed to dig a small hole. He climbs into it but his whole body won’t fit. He tries to fit as best he can.

LONER LEADER (CONT’D)

You have to make it bigger so

you’ll fit better. As I said, there

are a lot of dogs around here. Now

cover yourself with soil. Use your

hands.

He scoops some soil onto his body and sits there a little, motionless.

LONER LEADER (CONT’D)

Over your face too. You wouldn’t

want your face to get eaten, would

you?

David puts more soil over his face and body. He seems terrified.

LONER LEADER (CONT’D)

Can you see how great this spot is?

DAVID

Yes. Thank you very much.