SCENES
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Scene Map 60
# PG SLUGLINE
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INT EXT INT/EXT hover for full slug
Scene Map
60
# PG SLUGLINE
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THE BRUTALIST BRADY CORBET + MONA FASTVOLD FINAL SHOOTING DRAFT MARCH 12, 2023 A black and white montage of architectural elements; a flurry
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2 INT. SHIP - LOWER DECK - DUSK 2 It’s dark but slowly our eyes adjust like a developing photograph hung to dry from a chemical bath. A SERIES OF ANGLES - Guided by the ocean’s current beneath them; slumbering men,
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3 INT. SHIP - STAIRWELL - CONTINUOUS 3 They squeeze through a narrow doorway and up three flights of stairs. ERZSÉBET (V.O.) It is neither better, nor worse
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6 EXT. NYC EAST RIVER DOCKS - NIGHT 6 LONG LENS ON - A foghorn blows over a slow pan across a few girls talking amongst themselves while vying for some local business. 7 INT. BROTHEL - LATER 7
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8 INT. BROTHEL HALLWAY - LATER 8 The MADAME waits for LÁSZLÓ as he exits the room. MADAME We have boys if you prefer. Brothers with dark skin but
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14 INT. FURNITURE SHOWROOM - LATER 14 TRACK WITH - ATTILA and his young American wife, AUDREY, show LÁSZLÓ around the shop. ATTILA rambles nervously. ATTILA
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16 EXT. OLD CITY CHURCH SOUP KITCHEN - MORNING 16 A new season has arrived. Pigeons are everywhere and rain drizzles down on a long queue of impoverished families waiting on line for food. We pan across to LÁSZLÓ who stands solo amongst the families in line. His nose has healed
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17 INT. ABOVE GROUND TROLLEY - LATER 17 LÁSZLÓ holds a leather strap for balance in a packed tram car. He regards a woman’s purse in front of him. After a moment, she exits. LÁSZLÓ shifts around as a new group of pedestrians come
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22 EXT. EMPLOYEE RESTROOM - MORNING 22 LÁSZLÓ shaves himself with a straight blade. As he does, he charmingly practices an embellished American accent in the mirror. LÁSZLÓ
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25 EXT. COUNTY ROADS - LATER 25 ULTRA-WIDE LOW ANGLE ON - Asphalt rushes at us. The road bends and curves. 26 EXT. ATTILA’S BEDFORD VAN - CONTINUOUS 26 In the front windshield’s reflection we view HARRY LEE’s
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30 INT. VAN BUREN’S STUDY - MOMENTS LATER 30 HARRY LEE pushes a door open to reveal a dark, octagonal- shaped study framed by heavy curtains drawn to cover the floor-to-ceiling windows. Only a small shaft of light is allowed in through the corbel
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31 INT. ATTILA’S APARTMENT - NIGHT 31 CUE: Dinah Shore’s “Buttons and Bows” plays on the gramophone. LÁSZLÓ sits at a small kitchen table backed up against the wall. The overhead lamp makes a dark shadow across his face.
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32 INT. ATTILA’S APARTMENT - LATER 32 ATTILA’s passed out on the bed. The bathroom door is open. LÁSZLÓ is hunched over the bathtub pissing into it. He sweats profusely. A NEW ANGLE reveals AUDREY smoking a cigarette watching him.
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33 INT. VAN BUREN’S STUDY - DAY 33 ATTILA and LÁSZLÓ remove the existing Art Deco shelving units from their place. 34 EXT. VAN BUREN ESTATE - DUSK 34 Next to a two meter tall pile of debris, ATTILA and LÁSZLÓ
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38 EXT. VAN BUREN ESTATE ROOF - DAY 38 HANDHELD ON - LÁSZLÓ, ATTILA, GORDON, and the other hired hands work on the Victorian gabled roof above Van Buren’s study. Amongst a cobweb of ropes and a makeshift pulley system, the men pull
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39 INT. VAN BUREN’S STUDY - DAY 39 STRAIGHT UP ON - The men outside replace the stained-glass with a flat, clear circular disk. The image recalls a solar eclipse. BIRDS-EYE VIEW -
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43 INT. FURNITURE SHOWROOM - BACKROOM - MORNING 43 LÁSZLÓ snores in a deep sleep, physically exhausted. After a few moments, ATTILA shakes LÁSZLÓ awake. ATTILA Wake up.
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44 EXT. OLD CITY CHURCH - MORNING 44 Winter has come again. The bell tolls. HOLD, HOLD... LÁSZLÓ (V.O.) (in HUNGARIAN) ERZSÉBET,
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49 EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - MORNING 49 On a second-story high beam, LÁSZLÓ spots GORDON, pulling his safety leash taut as GORDON leans to wrench several bolts below frame. GORDON laughs wildly... LÁSZLÓ
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51 INT. DINER - AFTERNOON 51 A waitress pours coffee for the two of them and exits. VAN BUREN pulls out an edition of LOOK Magazine placing it in front of LÁSZLÓ. VAN BUREN
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52 INT. JAZZ BAR - NIGHT 52 ULTRA-BOWED LENS ON- GORDON and LÁSZLÓ cheer on a raucous set. Their features are wild and exaggerated like a George Grosz drawing. 53 INT. JAZZ BAR BATHROOM - LATER 53
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59 INT. VAN BUREN ESTATE DINING ROOM - LATER 59 LÁSZLÓ, who looks a mess, sits in a corner chair between a middle-aged couple, MICHAEL and MICHELLE HOFFMAN, and VAN BUREN who now sits at the head of the table. VAN BUREN brags...
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60 INT. FOYER / STUDY - EARLY EVENING 60 CUE: The score broods then gives way to an elegiac piano theme. ULTRA-WIDE ANGLE ON - The light is extraordinarily beautiful. It looks like a Saul
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61 EXT. FOREST TRAIL/ VISTA - TWILIGHT 61 WIDE ON - Ghostly silhouettes march across a footbridge near the estate. MICHAEL HOFFMAN
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62 INT. VAN BUREN ESTATE FOYER - NIGHT 62 A grandfather clock ticks. The guests have gone. LÁSZLÓ waits on a bench under a lamp near the front door. HARRY LEE and MAGGIE LEE can be heard having a hushed argument somewhere in the house.
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64 INT. VAN BUREN ESTATE - BEDROOM - LATER 64 A SERVANT mutters something in the hallway then LÁSZLÓ cracks the door to HARRISON’s sleeping chambers. LÁSZLÓ (O.S.) You rang for me, sir?
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65 INT. HARRY LEE’S PHILADELPHIA OFFICE - DAY 65 MICHAEL HOFFMAN sits next to HARRY LEE red-lining a contract. HARRY LEE Don’t talk to him about money. I’ve spoken to our friends at the Bucks
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69 EXT. VISTA - DUSK 69 The sunrise... LÁSZLÓ peacefully sketches the hillside as he snacks on a healthful breakfast. 70 EXT. VISTA - MORNING 70 LÁSZLÓ walks the landscape’s perimeter counting each click as
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73 EXT. VAN BUREN ESTATE FOYER - DAY 73 LÁSZLÓ and two servants awkwardly navigate the large-scale model across the estate’s horizon line. 74 INT. VAN BUREN’S STUDY - LATER 74 LÁSZLÓ stands at the center of VAN BUREN’s study
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75 INT. GUEST HOUSE - MORNING 75 SFX: BANG, BANG, BANG at the door. LÁSZLÓ and GORDON lie in the same bed, strung out. A needle is still stuck in LÁSZLÓ’s arm. He unties his arm and rips out the needle causing his arm to bleed all over the bed.
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78 INT. TOWN HALL - EVENING 78 LÁSZLÓ, in formal dress, makes a speech in front of a scattered audience. Forty or so townspeople are in attendance. LÁSZLÓ
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EXT. LUMBER YARD/ STEEL MANUFACTURER/ MARBLE QUARRY - VARIOUS TIMES OF DAY Materials for the construction of the The Margaret Lee Van Buren Center for Creation and Activity are prepared around the globe.
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80 EXT. 30TH STREET STATION PLATFORM - MORNING 80 LÁSZLÓ, MICHAEL and MICHELLE HOFFMAN, and MAGGIE LEE wait with flowers and balloons at the end of the platform. LÁSZLÓ is visibly nervous. He’s dressed up and shaved clean. MICHELLE HOFFMAN
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81 INT. VAN BUREN ESTATE - DINING ROOM - LATER 81 LÁSZLÓ, MICHAEL and MICHELLE HOFFMAN, MAGGIE LEE, and HARRY LEE all take their seats around VAN BUREN who settles at the head of the table. ERZSÉBET and ZSÓFIA hold court. Everyone appears rightfully enchanted.
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82 INT. VAN BUREN ESTATE - FOYER - LATER 82 LÁSZLÓ pushes ERZSÉBET to the front door. As they are about to leave, VAN BUREN halts their exit. VAN BUREN László, may I have a word?
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85 INT. GUEST HOUSE BEDROOM - LATER 85 ERZSÉBET and LÁSZLÓ lie catatonic in bed. It’s very dark. ERZSÉBET (Hungarian) Are you angry?
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86 INT. GUEST HOUSE - CORRIDOR/ BATHROOM - MORNING 86 LÁSZLÓ walks down the corridor and opens the door to discover ZSÓFIA guiding ERZSÉBET’s knee to her chest who lies nude in the tub wearing a hair net. They both flush with embarrassment at the sight of LÁSZLÓ. ERZSÉBET laughs as she
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90 EXT. VAN BUREN ESTATE - DRIVEWAY - LATER 90 WE TRACK RIGHT with ZSÓFIA and ERZSÉBET who have put on something more formal for their outing into town. ZSÓFIA pushes ERZSÉBET at a steady clip. ERZSÉBET
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92 EXT. VISTA - CONSTRUCTION SITE - TRAILERS - DAY 92 WE TRACK FAST RIGHT with LÁSZLÓ who trembles with anger. 93 INT. VISTA - CONSTRUCTION SITE - OFFICE TRAILER - CONTINUOUS 93 LÁSZLÓ enters the trailer where LESLIE WOODROW is on a
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94 EXT. VISTA - CONSTRUCTION SITE - TRENCHES - MORNING 94 It’s raining cats and dogs. Thunder, lightning, wind. ULTRA-WIDE ANGLE TRACKING SHOT - SEVEN MEN; LÁSZLÓ, VAN BUREN, HARRY LEE, LESLIE WOODROW, MAYOR KINNEY, MICHAEL HOFFMAN, and JIM SIMPSON stand in the
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95 EXT. VISTA - CONSTRUCTION SITE - MOMENTS LATER 95 MAYOR KINNEY walks ahead of the group with VAN BUREN. MAYOR KINNEY Are you sure about this guy? I know Jim lost his temper but he had a
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97 EXT. VISTA - WATERING HOLE - DUSK 97 CLOSE HANDHELD ON - The sun is setting. Several party guests are swimming. It’s exactly like a Renoir. Sun-drenched ZSÓFIA bathes sensually in the pond, her skin tightens with goosebumps. HARRY LEE
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98 EXT. VISTA - LATER 98 LONG LENS ON - ZSÓFIA and HARRY LEE come up from the water and stand beside VAN BUREN, MAGGIE LEE, and ERZSÉBET who is now situated back in her wheelchair.
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99 EXT. VISTA - MOMENTS LATER 99 LÁSZLÓ approaches ERZSÉBET, ZSÓFIA, and VAN BUREN. LÁSZLÓ It’s time for us to go. VAN BUREN
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100 INT. GUEST HOUSE - NIGHT 100 LÁSZLÓ, ERZSÉBET, ZSÓFIA, GORDON, and WILLIAM sit for a peasant’s supper that ERZSÉBET’s prepared for them. GORDON Thank you for the supper, Mrs.
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102 EXT. VISTA - DAY 102 VARIOUS ANGLES OF MEN AT WORK. The vista has transformed into an active construction site on a grand scale. LÁSZLÓ and GORDON supervise as their crew lays the rest of the concrete foundation.
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107 INT. GUEST HOUSE BEDROOM - NIGHT 107 ERZSÉBET wakes up in bed wailing. LÁSZLÓ is alert, terrified. LÁSZLÓ What’s happening?! ERZSÉBET
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109 EXT. VISTA - CONSTRUCTION SITE - MOMENTS LATER 109 We track left fast with LÁSZLÓ and GORDON across the landscape. LÁSZLÓ I’m sorry, Gordon.
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111 EXT. NEW YORK CITY’S MIDTOWN EAST (MURRAY HILL) - DAY 111 VIEW FROM THE EAST RIVER TOWARDS THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE SURROUNDING NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE. CROSS DISSOLVE: INT. MIDTOWN EAST STREET LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
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118 EXT. CARRARA TOWN SQUARE - CAFE - DAY 118 A perfect portrait of VAN BUREN in a white suit. ANGLE ON - LÁSZLÓ and VAN BUREN sip coffees and smoke at an outdoor table, the sunlight is brilliant and white hot.
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121 INT. ORAZIO’S ATELIER - LATER 121 VAN BUREN walks past a row of statues, looking for the toilet. He hears LÁSZLÓ breathing heavy and moves to investigate. VAN BUREN
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124 EXT. VISTA - CONSTRUCTION SITE - DAY 124 ULTRA-FAST MOTION - Back in Doylestown, much time has passed. The site is active, abuzz again. ERZSÉBET (V.O.)
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127 EXT. VISTA - CONSTRUCTION SITE - DAY 127 LÁSZLÓ stands with a small group of employees explaining a nuanced architectural detail. LÁSZLÓ You see this, above us?
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128 INT. AUTOMOBILE - EVENING 128 LÁSZLÓ and ERZSÉBET are en route back to Manhattan. There is a palpable tension between them. LÁSZLÓ breaks the silence. LÁSZLÓ (cold)
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129 INT. TENEMENT BUILDING - BEDROOM - NIGHT 129 ERZSÉBET howls in pain, a recurring night terror. ERZSÉBET (cries out) Zsófia!
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136 INT. TENEMENT BUILDING - BEDROOM - LATER 136 The room is very dark. The two of them make love. A cock, an elbow, an arched back. An intense, physical dream. LÁSZLÓ (Hungarian)
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141 EXT. VISTA - CONSTRUCTION SITE - DAWN 141 The Marble Altarpiece is unwrapped by CREWMEN from Shibari- style knots and canvas. After some time, ERZSÉBET’s voice fades in over the transcendent image. ERZSÉBET (O.S.)
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145 INT. VAN BUREN ESTATE - FOYER - LATER 145 NOTE: The following sequence is in one unbroken take until otherwise noted. ERZSÉBET waits in the hallway, she dabs her forehead with her handkerchief exhausted from the walk. After a moment, MAGGIE
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147 INT. VAN BUREN ESTATE - FOYER - LATER 147 He drags her all the way to the front door where she falls. MAGGIE LEE (O.S.) (shouts) Stop it, Harry!
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161 EXT. VENICE, ITALY - EVENING 161 A SERIES OF ANGLES establish the city of Venice in the evening. 162 INT. GIARDINI - ARCHITECTURE BIENNALE - NIGHT 162 A lavish Opening Night Gala event is in full swing. A small
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The Brutalist

A haunted architect grapples with his past and the weight of memory as he navigates life in post-war America, seeking redemption through his art.

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Overview

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Unique Selling Point

'The Brutalist' is a character-driven drama that explores the intersection of personal and professional lives, set against the backdrop of post-war Europe and America. Its unique blend of architectural detail, historical context, and deeply personal relationships sets it apart from traditional biopics, making it a compelling and thought-provoking story that will resonate with audiences interested in exploring the human condition through the lens of architectural design and the immigrant experience.

AI Verdict & Suggestions

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GPT4
 Recommend
Gemini
 Recommend
Claude
 Recommend
See Details in P/C/R/HR Section
Story Facts
Genres:
Drama 60% Romance 30% War 10%

Setting: Late 1940s to early 1950s, Primarily set in the United States, including New York City, Philadelphia, and Doylestown, with flashbacks to Hungary and scenes in Venice, Italy.

Themes: Redemption and Self-Discovery, Trauma and the Resilience of the Human Spirit, Love and Family, Immigration and Assimilation, Architecture as a Metaphor for Life

Conflict & Stakes: László's struggle to establish himself as an architect in America while dealing with the trauma of his past and the health issues of his wife, Erzsétbet, with the stakes being their family's future and well-being.

Mood: Poignant and reflective, with moments of tension and hope.

Standout Features:

  • Unique Hook: The story intertwines personal trauma with the broader immigrant experience, providing a poignant exploration of resilience.
  • Plot Twist: The revelation of Erzsétbet's health issues and their impact on László's career and emotional state adds depth to the narrative.
  • Distinctive Setting: The contrast between the bustling urban life of New York City and the serene yet haunting memories of Hungary enhances the emotional stakes.
  • Innovative Ideas: The screenplay explores architectural themes as a metaphor for rebuilding one's life and identity.

Comparable Scripts: The Pianist, Brooklyn, The Immigrant, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Book Thief, The Kite Runner, The Good Lord Bird, The Nightingale, The Help

Script Level Analysis

Writer Exec

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Overall Score: 7.58
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Emotional Analysis

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Scene Analysis

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Other Analyses

Writer Exec

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Unique Voice
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Correlations
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Loglines
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