Daily Dialogue — April 24, 2012

EXT. DIRT ROAD — SUNRISE
Dawn with her rose-red fingers rises over a dusty country road. A car chugs over the horizon.

NARRATOR
As far as con man stories go,
I think I’ve heard them all.
Of grifters, ropers, faro fixers,
tales drawn long and tall.
But if one bears a bookmark in
the confidence man’s tome,
twould be that of Penelope,
and of the brothers Bloom.

EXT. COUNTRY HOUSE — MORNING

The car deposits two shabby boys (10 & 13) in front of a country house.

Both in black. Each with a suitcase.

NARRATOR
At ten and thirteen Bloom and
Stephen (the younger and the old)

INT. KITCHEN (FLASHBACK)

The two brothers and an oafish FOSTER FATHER sit eating breakfast.

NARRATOR
had been through several foster
families.

The FOSTER FATHER slaps Bloom upside the head. Stephen LAUNCHES across the table, tackling the dad and beating the crap out of him.

NARRATOR (cont’d)
Thirty eight, all told.

INT. CHILD WELFARE OFFICE — DAY

CLOSE ON — A CHILD WELFARE FILE COVER

“Bloom” stamped on it. It opens, and dozens of reports flip by. Under the “REASON FOR RETURN OF MINORS” field we catch different entries: “BEHAVIOR INAPPROPRIATE”, “UNMANAGEABLE”, “MOLESTED CAT”, “SOLD OUR FURNITURE”, “CAUSED FLOODING”.

NARRATOR
Mischief moved them on in life, and
moving kept them close.

EXT. COUNTRY HOUSE PORCH

The brothers on the porch, suitcases in hand.

NARRATOR
For Bloom had Stephen, Stephen
Bloom, and both had more than
most.

The front door opens, and a pair of FOSTER PARENTS eye the brothers suspiciously.

— The Brothers Bloom (2008), written by Rian Johnson

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is voice-over narration suggested by Lloyd Morgan.

Trivia: Rian Johnson lists The Sting and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels as key inspirations for the film. More unconventionally, the legendary concert film The Last Waltz also influenced his writing process, to the point that The Brothers Bloom contains a multitude of references to The Band. During initial discussions with Mark Ruffalo, Johnson clarified that he wanted to capture a particular ’70s folk rock vibe, envisioning Stephen as Robbie Robertson.

Dialogue On Dialogue: This is a pretty classic example of using the Narrator to frame the story straight from the beginning.

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