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

The loners interrogate a matching couple; the woman claims she can live alone but the man cannot, and she pulls an unloaded pistol’s trigger before they leave them.

Scene 88 of 123 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act two

Loner Leader
Man With A Nice Voice
Woman With A Nice Voice

Act oneAct two

Begins 1:03 into a 1:28 film

The story so farBefore scene 88

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 85
The Loner Leader distributes disguises and pistols and assigns targets based on hotel couples’ matching traits.
Scene 86
The loners move silently toward the hotel, with David last in line and worried.
Scene 87
At the hotel grounds, David asks to take the pier assignment and the Loner Leader sends the teams off.
Scene 88
This scene

88INT. ROOM 206 - EVENING

Loner Leader, Loner Swimmer and Shortsighted Woman stand over a couple naked in bed. Loner Leader speaks to the couple, aiming her gun at them. She takes a look at the note the Maid gave her.

LONER LEADER

So, you both have nice voices, is

that right?

MAN WITH A NICE VOICE

Yes.

LONER LEADER

Do you prefer singing duets or when

one of you sings the lead and the

other does backing vocals?

MAN WITH A NICE VOICE

Duets, mostly.

As the dialogue plays out, Shortsighted Woman picks up a pen, a notebook and two CDs marked BEST LOVE SONGS EVER: VOL. III and slips them into her bag without anyone noticing. Loner Leader addresses the Man With a Nice Voice.

LONER LEADER

You, if we kill this woman, do you

think you’ll manage on your own or

will you get involved with someone

else?

MAN WITH A NICE VOICE

I don’t know.

LONER LEADER

Do you think this woman can survive

on her own, or not? What’s your

opinion?

MAN WITH A NICE VOICE

If you’re going to kill someone,

kill me. I love her more than

anything in the world. If you’re

going to kill someone, kill me. I

love her more than anything.

Loner Leader now aims her gun at the Woman With a Nice Voice.

LONER LEADER

If we kill this man, do you think

you’ll manage on your own or will

you get involved with someone else?

WOMAN WITH A NICE VOICE

No, I wouldn’t get involved with

anyone else, I’d live alone.

Without a shadow of a doubt.