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

David describes a physical sequence to Shortsighted Woman and asks if she will join him; she agrees to meet the next morning.

Scene 116 of 123 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Save the Cat: Break into Three
David
Shortsighted Woman

Act oneAct two

Begins 1:24 into a 1:28 film

The story so farBefore scene 116

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 113
David sings a duet alone and lets a rabbit go instead of killing it for food.
Scene 114
The Loner Leader has David dig and lie in his own grave, covers him with soil, and leaves a flower above him.
Scene 115
David cuts a pony’s mane and hits it, telling the animal to like his hair now.
Scene 116
This scene

116EXT. THE WOODS, MORNING

Shortsighted Woman and two other loners are down on their knees trying to set a rabbit trap. David approaches them.

DAVID

Good afternoon.

SHORTSIGHTED WOMAN

How are you?

DAVID

Fine.

SHORTSIGHTED WOMAN

I’m hungry. You haven’t brought me

a rabbit in days. Or things for me

to touch and guess.

DAVID

I’ve got good news. I’ve had a

great idea. Have you got a minute?

SHORTSIGHTED WOMAN

What sort of idea?

David takes Shortsighted Woman aside and describes his idea to her using the physical code they’ve developed between them, but now describing the movements to her orally.

DAVID

I raise my left foot. I bring my

elbow to my knee and tap it twice.

I bring my foot to my knee and tap

it three times. I lie face down.

I kneel down. I touch my left cheek

and then lie face up.

Shortsighted Woman thinks for a minute.

SHORTSIGHTED WOMAN

Are you sure you are prepared to do

that?

DAVID

It’s the only way.

She doesn’t speak.

DAVID (CONT’D)

Yes, of course I am. I wouldn’t

propose it if I wasn’t.

SHORTSIGHTED WOMAN

When?

DAVID

Tomorrow morning?

SHORTSIGHTED WOMAN

Tomorrow morning.

David leaves. Shortsighted woman smiles but seems unsure at the same time.