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

David urges Limping Man to use surprise instead of speed; Limping Man accepts the advice with renewed hope.

Scene 26 of 123 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Limping Man
David

Act oneAct two

Begins 20 min into a 1:28 film

The story so farBefore scene 26

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.
Just before
Scene 23
A guest boasts of his beautiful face before the Hotel Manager reads references that contradict him.
Scene 24
Biscuit Woman is rejected by Heartless Woman and joins Nosebleed Woman’s table; Nosebleed Woman dances with David, then her nose bleeds on his shirt.
Scene 25
David takes his gun from Room 101 and leaves as the dog watches.
Scene 26
This scene

26INT. HOTEL COACH - EVENING

David gets into the coach with the others and sits next to Limping Man, who seems very nervous.

LIMPING MAN

I wish I didn’t have this limp. I

used to be very good at running but

not anymore. I’m sure I’ll be

slower than them.

DAVID

If I were you, I’d think of some

tricks that use the element of

surprise instead of speed.

LIMPING MAN

You’re right. That’s what I’ll do.

A glimmer of hope lights his face.