The Stranger Screenplay

INT. MARENGO OLD PEOPLE’S HOME

BLACK
Meursault (V.O.): Maman died today.
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(BW) MERASULT is sitting in a dimly lit white room.
The NURSE, the CARETAKER, the DIRECTOR are all sitting in lined up folding chairs.
Mersault is at the back and you can see only him. He looks removed, solemn and blank.
Meursault (V.O.): Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know.

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(CL) Meursault is in his study, sitting at his desk. He is opening a letter.
Meursault (V.O.): I got a telegram from the home.

Shot of letter saying “Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Truthfully yours.”
Meursault folds the paper back up.
Meursault (V.O.): That doesn’t mean anything.

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(BW) Meursault is sitting in the room.
Meursault (V.O.): Maybe it was yesterday.

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(CL) Meursault is talking on his phone. He is distressed and getting a lecture from BOSS.
Meursault (V.O.): I asked for two days off. But he wasn’t too happy about it.

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(BW) Meursault sitting.
Meursault (V.O.): For now it’s almost as if Maman weren’t dead.

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(CL) EXT. CELESTE’S outside the back door into the restaurant. CELESTE and Meursault are sitting on the steps. Celeste gets up and brushes himself off.
Celeste: You want to grab a bite?
Meursault shakes his head.
Celeste: Alright well, you only have one mother, remember.
Meursault sulks.

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(BW) Meursault sitting.
Director (V.O.): Madam Meursault came to us three years ago.

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(CL) EXT. Meursault is walking alongside a rode. CAMERA IS HAND HELD following Meursault.

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SHOT UP to the sun.

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Meursault is standing at a bus stop. No actions taken by him.

(CL) INT. Outside DIRECTOR’s office. Meursault is sitting. OLD WOMAN comes out of office crying.
Director: Monsieur Meursault.
Meursault gets up and walks in.

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(CL) INT. DIRECTOR’s office. The director and Meursault are in the office together the director is shuffling through Madam Meursault’s things, one of them a picture of his mom.
Director: Madam Meurdsault came to us three years ago. You were her sole support. You don’t have to justify yourself, my dear boy. The truth of the matter is she was happier here.

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LOW CAMERA ANGLE. Reaction shot, Meursault. Takes picture, looks at it, looks back at director.

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(CL) EXT. Funeral home. Director, Old Woman, and Meursault walk around the corner as if inn a funeral precession. Old Woman is crying. CAMERA PANS as they walk by.

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CREDITS