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

The Loner Leader distributes disguises and pistols and assigns targets based on hotel couples’ matching traits.

Scene 85 of 123 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Loner Leader

Act oneAct two

Begins 1:02 into a 1:28 film

The story so farBefore scene 85

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.
Just before
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
David and Shortsighted Woman nervously talk alone; she rubs tiger balm into the part of his back he cannot reach.
Scene 85
This scene

85EXT. THE WOODS - EVENING

Loner Leader gives the other loners clothes like the ones worn by the hotel guests and a few pistols. She opens the blue folder the Maid gave her. The loners pay close attention. They are silent and highly disciplined.

LONER LEADER

Good evening everyone and good

luck. I hope you can read my

handwriting without any trouble.

The room numbers are as follows.

Room 206, couple with nice voices.

Room 240, couple who both love to

ski. Room 282, couple who both

studied, I’m sorry, I can’t quite

make it out, couple who both

studied… I think it’s social

sciences. Pier, couple prone to

nosebleeds.

David waits in line. He also takes a set of clothes.