Daily Dialogue — May 18, 2014
EXT. WATERPARK — HURRICANE HILL — THE NEXT MORNING
Duncan sits on the railing. The sun just about to come up.
Owen approaches.
OWEN: I said you could hang out for a little bit. And, I meant it. Sunrise of the next day is where I have to draw the line. (then) You need to go home.
Duncan doesn’t budge.
DUNCAN: I wish I could stay here forever.
OWEN: Oh well then, you’re going to love the winters. They’re pretty spectacular. Painting houses until it gets too cold, bar backing at some dive to scrape rent together, talking to inanimate objects…
DUNCAN: I’m serious.
OWEN: I am, too. There’s a whole world out there for you, Duncan. Don’t settle, just yet.
DUNCAN: I don’t have anywhere else to go.
OWEN: I bet that’s not true.
DUNCAN: This is the only place I’m happy.
Duncan starts crying.
OWEN: Oh, hey. Hey.
DUNCAN: I hate him.
OWEN: Who?
DUNCAN: Trent. My mom’s boyfriend. He said I was a three. He asked me what I thought I was on a scale from one to ten. He said I was a three. (beat) Who says that to somebody?
OWEN: Someone who doesn’t know you.
DUNCAN: I didn’t even want to answer! I … shouldn’t have to answer!
OWEN: Listen to me. That’s about him, man. That’s all about him. It’s got nothing to do with you.
Duncan looks at him.
DUNCAN: How do you know?
OWEN: Because my father was the same way. (then) And that’s why I hate patterns. And that’s why you can’t buy into that shit. And that’s why you gotta go your own way.
Owen smiles.
OWEN: And you, my friend, are going your own way.
— The Way Way Back (2013), written by Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
This week’s theme: Advice, suggested by Aarthi Ramanathan. Today’s suggestion by Bretton Zinger.
Trivia: In an interview, writer/director Jim Rash said the script’s main inspiration was the opening scene, inspired by a similar conversation he had with his own stepfather when he was 14.
Dialogue On Dialogue: The power of a side of dialogue. The entire movie begins with this line: “Duncan, on a scale of one to ten, what do you think you are?” The words come from Trent, the guy who is wooing Duncan’s mother. Trent tells Duncan he thinks Duncan is a three. That observation looms over Duncan like a ghost over the entire story. Here is a middle beat in this psychological subplot and Owen, like the Mentor he is, offers sage advice. Of course, this sets up for the ending of the movie. Excellent film. If you haven’t seen it, you should definitely check it out.
And check out the trivia above: It was a conversation Rash had with his stepfather than inspired the entire movie.
The power of words.
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