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

The coach enters the fenced hotel grounds; guests file inside as David’s fellow passenger is identified as Limping Man.

Scene 9 of 123 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Act oneAct two

Begins 4 min into a 1:28 film

The story so farBefore scene 9

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.

Scene 1
A woman calmly shoots a donkey, introducing the story’s abrupt violence toward animals.
Scene 5
The waiters ask which man his wife is leaving, and she identifies David before he departs.
Just before
Scene 6
The waiters lead David and his dog from the house to the coach.
Scene 7
Biscuit Woman introduces herself and offers food to David and Bob, but a waiter sends her back to her seat.
Scene 8
Rocks strike the coach as poncho-clad people chase it; the driver speeds away without reacting.
Scene 9
This scene

9EXT. HOTEL CARPARK - MORNING

The coach goes through the hotel gates and comes to a stop. The gates are opened by TWO WAITER-GUARDS, who wave to the driver. The waiters have automatic rifles slung across their backs. The hotel is a large building surrounded by a tall fence. It looks quite well-maintained and clean. The plants are in excellent condition and it is immediately clear that this is one of those large hotel complexes that can accommodate a large number of guests. At the entrance, the flags of various countries fly on tall poles. A number of people stand and watch from the room balconies. One of them waves. Biscuit Woman, filled with optimism, waves back. The passengers get off the coach. The two waiters lead them to the entrance in a line. Blond Man is slow and falls behind because of his limp. We will call him LIMPING MAN from now on.

II. THE HOTEL NEAR THE TOWN