Daily Dialogue — October 7, 2011

REESE Are you injured? Are you shot?

No response. He reaches over and runs his hands over her arms, legs, chest. Sarah flinches.

She feels the BLIND PANIC BOILING UP WITHIN HER. She pushes his hand away and opens the door.

Reese slams her back in the seat and slaps her. Hard.

REESE (continuing) Do exactly what I say. Exactly. Don’t move unless I say. Don’t make a sound unless I say. Do you understand?

As he speaks he is locking the door and fastening Sarah’s seatbelt over her, cinching it very tightly, like you would for a child. She doesn’t answer.

REESE (continuing/shouting) Do you understand?

SARAH (a whisper) Yes. Don’t hurt me.

REESE I’m here to help you. Reese, Sergeant/Tech-Com, DN38416…

Sarah stares numbly at his outstretched hand. With zero strength she automatically returns his handshake.

REESE (continuing) Assigned to protect you. You’ve been targeted for termination.

— Reese (Michael Biehn), Sarah (Linda Hamilton), The Terminator (1984), written by James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is great exposition, suggested by Teddy Pasternak. The Terminator suggested by James.

Trivia: The beginning of production was postponed for nine months, due to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s commitment to Conan the Destroyer. During this time, James Cameron wanted to be working but didn’t have the time to do a whole other film so he took on a writing assignment; this turned out to be Aliens.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Why would you consider this great exposition?

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