Great Scene: “The Matrix”

“You take the blue pill, the story ends… you take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland.”

One way to up your screenwriting chops is to study great scenes. Analyze their structure, themes, character dynamics. Why do they work? What are their narrative elements that elevate them to greatness? Let’s face it: In a fundamental way, screenwriting is scene-writing, so the more we learn about this aspect of the craft, the better.

Today: The 1999 movie The Matrix, written by the Wachowskis.

IMDB plot summary: A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.

Here is the screenplay of the scene:

        Neo locks at his eyes but only sees a reflection of
	himself.
				    MORPHEUS
			Do you want to know what it is,
			Neo?
	Neo swallows and nods his head.
				    MORPHEUS
			It's that feeling you have had all
			your life.  That feeling that
			something was wrong with the
			world.  You don't know what it is
			but it's there, like a splinter in
			your mind, driving you mad,
			driving you to me.  But what is
			it?
	The LEATHER CREAKS as he leans back.
				    MORPHEUS
			The Matrix is everywhere, it's all
			around us, here even in this room.
			You can see it out your window, or
			on your television.  You feel it
			when you go to work, or go to
			church or pay your taxes.  It is
			the world that has been pulled
			over your eyes to blind you from
			the truth.
				    NEO
			What truth?
				    MORPHEUS
			That you are a slave, Neo.  That
			you, like everyone else, was born
			into bondage...
			... kept inside a prison that you
			cannot smell, taste, or touch.  A
			prison for your mind.
	Outside, the WIND BATTERS a loose PANE of glass.
				    MORPHEUS
			Unfortunately, no one can be told
			what the Matrix is.  You have to
			see it for yourself.
				    NEO
			How?
				    MORPHEUS
			Hold out your hands.
	In Neo's right hand, Morpheus drops a red pill.
				    MORPHEUS
			This is your last chance.  After
			this, there is no going back.
	In his left, a blue pill.
				    MORPHEUS
			You take the blue pill and the
			story ends.  You wake in your bed
			and you believe whatever you want
			to believe.
	The pills in his open hands are reflected in the glasses.
				    MORPHEUS
			You take the red pill and you stay
			in Wonderland and I show you how
			deep the rabbit-hole goes.
	Neo feels the smooth skin of the capsules, with the
	moisture growing in his palms.
				    MORPHEUS
			Remember that all I am offering is
			the truth.  Nothing more.
	Neo opens his mouth and swallows the red pill.  The
	Cheshire smile returns.
				    MORPHEUS
			Follow me.

And the movie scene:

One way to create tension in a story is to give the Protagonist a choice: Do this or do that? It also helps to define character, the decision a sign of the Protagonist to go forward with their journey or turn back.

Here Neo makes a choice — to go forward.

To read all of the entries in the Great Scene archive, go here.