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In the Bedroom: A Screenplay
The critically acclaimed In the Bedroom centers on the inner dynamics of a family in transition. Set in a tranquil town on the coast of Maine, it tells the story of a couple (Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson) whose only child is involved in a love affair with a single mother (Marisa Tomei). When the relationship comes to a sudden and tragic end, each person must face the intensely difficult decision of how to respond.
- GenresFiction
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 6, 2012
I saw the movie adaptation of this short story written by Andre Dubus III (originally entitled as Killings) in 2011. This was nominated for five Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Best Actress (Sissy Spacek), Best Supporting Actress (Marissa Tomei), and Best Screenplay - Adapted (Robert Festniger and Todd Field). It won the last one.
This book clearly illustrates how a very simple plot can be transformed into an unforgettable work of art by slowly introducing twists while the story unfolds:
Bare Storyline - simple, have-seen-this-many-times, heroes and villains are clear.
1) A middle age couple Matt and Ruth have Frank, their only son who falls in love with a married woman, Natalie
2) Natalie has two kids, Jason and Duncan and their father Richard still visits them
3) Richard wants his family back
4) Richard accidentally kills Frank
5) Richard posts bail
Simple, isn't it? Now, see how Dubus (based on the original story) and Field (in the book) introduced these two layers of twists:
Twists Complicating the Simple Storyline - Now, this is no longer boring. The villains become heroes, the heroes become villains.
1) A middle age couple Matt and Ruth have Frank, their only son who falls in love with a married woman, Natalie.
1st Twist: Frank says that he is not serious with Natalie
2nd Twist: Frank despises his mother being controlling when in fact, Ruth is possessive by nature especially because she feels that having only one child was a mistake. Matt was so busy with the start of his internship during their earlier years as husband and wife so Matt said that one child was enough.
2) Natalie has two kids, Jason and Duncan and their father Richard still visits them
1st Twist: Jason and Duncan enjoy Frank's and Matt's company
2nd Twist: Richard feels that his role as a father is being taken over by Frank and Matt.
3) Richard wants his family back
1st Twist: Natalie loves Frank despite the age difference
2nd Twist: Richard learns from Duncan that Frank sleeps in their house: in his own house, in his own bed.
4) Richard accidentally kills Frank
1st Twist: Duncan was afraid to let go of Natalie so there is no witness
2nd Twist: Natalie's torn between her lover and the father of he sons. He already lost the former, would she also deny her sons of their father?
5) Richard posts bail
1st Twist: Though outraged, Matt and Ruth try to live and learn to accept the outcome. Matt tries to get more evidence to no avail. One time, Ruth sees Richard and thinks that she sees a smile on Richard's face.
2nd Twist: Richard is originally depicted as a bum for a father with no direction in life. However, in the scene prior to his death, Matt saw that his house is clean and everything is orderly. He even makes sure that his winter clothes are stacked separately from his warm-weather clothes.
These sets of twists reverse the initial conclusion that readers would think of the originally-conceived as villains. There is another set of twists that can be formed with the originally conceived as heroes or aggrieved parties are also with faults or at least there is some kind of evil in them. But I will not tell them to you as that would be like telling the whole story already.
Suffice it to say that this story/screenplay is well-thought of. The connectedness of the characters seems to be simple at first yet Dubus delves into their inner thoughts through their uttered words or actions. The setting and events enhance the intricate emotional tangle the characters find themselves caught in. The delicate pacing of events reveal the astuteness of Dubus in storytelling.
And yet, I only spent maybe a couple of hours reading this book/ screenplay. What a reading experience. One of the unforgettable short reads so far this year.
Reading screenplay is different from reading novels. Most of the time, you have to picture the scene by yourself. It helped that I saw the award-winning movie so it was not really difficult in this case. However, as always, the book is better that the movie. Not only better but a lot better. I remember when I see the movie, I remarked when I saw "THE END" on the screen: "huh? is that it?" It felt unfinished and the conclusion was not clear. The movie stayed true to the screenplay (this book) but I think the film missed the story's critical message. That the actors was not able to convey the emotional turmoil that the characters are having especially after the death of Frank the 22-y/o son of the controlling mother Ruth and the lenient father Matt. Richard, the husband of Natalie was made to appear as a bum when in the screenplay he was not totally scruffy as he was on the film. However, some of the scenes in the movie were effectively portrayed especially the two scenes of Richard smiling to Ruth and the picture of Natalie smiling at Matt. I did not know that smile can cause you to die.
This book clearly illustrates how a very simple plot can be transformed into an unforgettable work of art by slowly introducing twists while the story unfolds:
Bare Storyline - simple, have-seen-this-many-times, heroes and villains are clear.
1) A middle age couple Matt and Ruth have Frank, their only son who falls in love with a married woman, Natalie
2) Natalie has two kids, Jason and Duncan and their father Richard still visits them
3) Richard wants his family back
4) Richard accidentally kills Frank
5) Richard posts bail
Simple, isn't it? Now, see how Dubus (based on the original story) and Field (in the book) introduced these two layers of twists:
Twists Complicating the Simple Storyline - Now, this is no longer boring. The villains become heroes, the heroes become villains.
1) A middle age couple Matt and Ruth have Frank, their only son who falls in love with a married woman, Natalie.
1st Twist: Frank says that he is not serious with Natalie
2nd Twist: Frank despises his mother being controlling when in fact, Ruth is possessive by nature especially because she feels that having only one child was a mistake. Matt was so busy with the start of his internship during their earlier years as husband and wife so Matt said that one child was enough.
2) Natalie has two kids, Jason and Duncan and their father Richard still visits them
1st Twist: Jason and Duncan enjoy Frank's and Matt's company
2nd Twist: Richard feels that his role as a father is being taken over by Frank and Matt.
3) Richard wants his family back
1st Twist: Natalie loves Frank despite the age difference
2nd Twist: Richard learns from Duncan that Frank sleeps in their house: in his own house, in his own bed.
4) Richard accidentally kills Frank
1st Twist: Duncan was afraid to let go of Natalie so there is no witness
2nd Twist: Natalie's torn between her lover and the father of he sons. He already lost the former, would she also deny her sons of their father?
5) Richard posts bail
1st Twist: Though outraged, Matt and Ruth try to live and learn to accept the outcome. Matt tries to get more evidence to no avail. One time, Ruth sees Richard and thinks that she sees a smile on Richard's face.
2nd Twist: Richard is originally depicted as a bum for a father with no direction in life. However, in the scene prior to his death, Matt saw that his house is clean and everything is orderly. He even makes sure that his winter clothes are stacked separately from his warm-weather clothes.
These sets of twists reverse the initial conclusion that readers would think of the originally-conceived as villains. There is another set of twists that can be formed with the originally conceived as heroes or aggrieved parties are also with faults or at least there is some kind of evil in them. But I will not tell them to you as that would be like telling the whole story already.
Suffice it to say that this story/screenplay is well-thought of. The connectedness of the characters seems to be simple at first yet Dubus delves into their inner thoughts through their uttered words or actions. The setting and events enhance the intricate emotional tangle the characters find themselves caught in. The delicate pacing of events reveal the astuteness of Dubus in storytelling.
And yet, I only spent maybe a couple of hours reading this book/ screenplay. What a reading experience. One of the unforgettable short reads so far this year.
January 13, 2011
I did it backwards--saw the movie, then got to the original short story and finally the screenplay.
I was struck by how quickly things happen, how we cannot break momentum of tragic events. In looking for a connection, a lot of sorrow results.
I was struck by how quickly things happen, how we cannot break momentum of tragic events. In looking for a connection, a lot of sorrow results.
April 3, 2010
Like being beaten with a rubber hose. Brilliant.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews