Daily Dialogue — February 2, 2016

EXT. TRUCK/CAB — (CAMP 7) EARLY HOURS

The man gets down from the cab and walks a few feet in the dark and snow. He coughs a bit, takes a few breaths of air, and walks away from the truck, vanishing into the mist.

EXT. CAMP/ROAD — (CAMP 7) — EARLY HOURS

The MAN is alone now by the road. He takes out his WALLET and sifts through: money, ancient cards, driver’s license and a picture of HIMSELF and the WOMAN on their WEDDING DAY, which he studies a moment sadly.

MAN: (V.0.) She was gone, and the coldness of it was her final gift… she died somewhere in the dark… there is no other tale to tell.

He lays everything out on the grey slushy ground, then flings the wallet into the river and walks back to camp, leaving the PHOTO and cards to blow away.

EXT. CLAPBOARD HOUSE/YARD — NIGHT 
FLASHBACK –

The WOMAN kisses the MAN.

MAN: Will you tell him goodbye?
WOMAN: No. I won’t. I can’t.
MAN: Will you at least wait till morning? Stay with me through the night.
WOMAN: No. I have to go now.

They kiss again, she turns and walks away out of the yard.

MAN: What am I going to tell him? What are we going to do without you?
WOMAN: You should move south. You won’t survive another winter here.

The MAN follows a few steps and she stops and turns to him.

MAN: Why won’t you help me?
WOMAN: I can’t help you. Don’t you understand? This is how I’m helping you.

MAN: Where are you going to go? You can’t even see.
WOMAN: I don’t need to see.
MAN: I’m begging you.
WOMAN: Please don’t. Please.

The MAN stares. She goes, vanishing into the darkness.

END OF FLASHBACK

— The Road (2009), screenplay by Joe Penhall, based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Abandoned, recommended by ymep1 who also suggested today’s entry.

Trivia: One of the reasons Joe Penhall landed the job writing the screenplay was because he felt there was no need to change the novel’s dialogue.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by ymep1: “When the Man opens this scene by saying that “the coldness of it was her final gift” you know there’s so much more behind the terse dialogue that follows. Her emotionless exit and his emotion filled begging to stay give viewers two alternatives to their present situation. Like the Man, you can’t completely fault the Woman for her abandonment because she realizes it is the only way the Boy will survive.”