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

David and Shortsighted Woman nervously talk alone; she rubs tiger balm into the part of his back he cannot reach.

Scene 84 of 123 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

David
Shortsighted Woman

Act oneAct two

Begins 1:01 into a 1:28 film

The story so farBefore scene 84

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.
Scene 69
Shortsighted Woman’s voice-over says she first saw David exercising and thought he seemed presentable.
Just before
Scene 81
The Loner Leader praises David’s first day in town, and Shortsighted Woman tightens her grip on his hand.
Scene 82
David traps and slaughters rabbits while female V.O. recites her favorite rabbit recipe and its preparation.
Scene 83
David finds a note on his hand directing him to meet at the riverbank and washes it away while checking for witnesses.
Scene 84
This scene

84EXT. THE WOODS - MORNING

David and Shortsighted Woman sit side by side. In front of them sprawls a seal. It’s the first time they are alone together, so they are both a bit tense. At first they avoid making eye contact and talk with long pauses. He is more shy than she is.

DAVID

When did you become shortsighted?

SHORTSIGHTED WOMAN

When I was 16. You?

DAVID

When I was 12.

SHORTSIGHTED WOMAN

What make were your first pair of

glasses?

DAVID

I don’t remember.

SHORTSIGHTED WOMAN

Do you have astigmatism too?

DAVID

Yes.

SHORTSIGHTED WOMAN

Would you like me to rub some balm

on your back, on the bits you can’t

reach on your own?

DAVID

I’d like that.

Shortsighted Woman takes the jar of Tiger Balm from his bag and rubs it onto his back.