I know we use this script as an example a ton, but this scene... This line. It just doesn't get any better. ANDY Tell you where I'd go. Zihuatanejo. RED Zihuatanejo? ANDY Mexico. Little place right on the Pacific. You know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific? They say it has no memory. That's where I'd like to finish out my life, Red. A warm place with no memory. Open a little hotel right on the beach. Buy some worthless old boat and fix it up like new. Take my guests out charter fishing. (beat) You know, a place like that, I'd need a man who can get things. Red stares at Andy, laughs. RED Jesus, Andy. I couldn't hack it on the outside. Been in here too long. I'm an institutional man now. Like old Brooks Hatlen was. ANDY You underestimate yourself. RED Bullshit. In here I'm the guy who can get it for you. Out there, all you need are Yellow Pages. I wouldn't know where to begin. (derisive snort) Pacific Ocean? Hell. Like to scare me to death, somethin' that big. ANDY Not me. I didn't shoot my wife and I didn't shoot her lover, and whatever mistakes I made I've paid for and then some. That hotel and that boat...I don't think it's too much to want. To look at the stars just after sunset. Touch the sand. Wade in the water. Feel free. RED Goddamn it, Andy, stop! Don't do that to yourself! Talking shitty pipedreams! Mexico's down there, and you're in here, and that's the way it is! ANDY You're right. It's down there, and I'm in here. I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying. http://youtu.be/7tkzc983aE0

Another that always gives me chills. Field of Dreams- screenplay by Phil Alden Robinson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SB16il97yw Terence Mann: Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.

Grapes of Wrath- Screenplay by Nunnally Johnson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8-b2txHmTw Tom Joad: I been thinking about us, too, about our people living like pigs and good rich land layin' fallow. Or maybe one guy with a million acres and a hundred thousand farmers starvin'. And I been wonderin' if all our folks got together and yelled... Ma Joad: Oh, Tommy, they'd drag you out and cut you down just like they done to Casy. Tom Joad: They'd drag me anyways. Sooner or later they'd get me for one thing if not for another. Until then... Ma Joad: Tommy, you're not aimin' to kill nobody. Tom Joad: No, Ma, not that. That ain't it. It's just, well as long as I'm an outlaw anyways... maybe I can do somethin'... maybe I can just find out somethin', just scrounge around and maybe find out what it is that's wrong and see if they ain't somethin' that can be done about it. I ain't thought it out all clear, Ma. I can't. I don't know enough. Ma Joad: How am I gonna know about ya, Tommy? Why they could kill ya and I'd never know. They could hurt ya. How am I gonna know? Tom Joad: Well, maybe it's like Casy says. A fellow ain't got a soul of his own, just little piece of a big soul, the one big soul that belongs to everybody, then... Ma Joad: Then what, Tom? Tom Joad: Then it don't matter. I'll be all around in the dark - I'll be everywhere. Wherever you can look - wherever there's a fight, so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever there's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there. I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad. I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry and they know supper's ready, and when the people are eatin' the stuff they raise and livin' in the houses they build - I'll be there, too. Ma Joad: I don't understand it, Tom. Tom Joad: Me, neither, Ma, but - just somethin' I been thinkin' about.

Doesn't matter where you fall on Oliver Stone's actual thesis but this certainly, for me, was a clarion call to action and I've never forgotten it to this day... JIM GARRISON: The truth is the most important value we have because if the truth does not endure, if the government murders truth, if we cannot respect the hearts of these people ...... then this is not the country in which I was born and this is certainly not the country I want to die in ...Tennyson Wrote “Authority forgets a dying king.” And this was never more true than for John F. Kennedy whose murder was probably one the most terrible moment in the history of our country. You the people, the jury system, sitting in judgment on Clay Shaw, represent the hope of humanity against government power. In discharging your duty, in bringing the first conviction in this house of cards against Clay Shaw, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Do not forget your dying king. Show this world that this is still a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. Nothing as long as you live will ever be more important. It's up to you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TTo8DI4r9s

I think there's something magical about this scene. Do lyrics count as dialogue? Lyrics by Cat Stevens. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKGze_1DWbE If that don't cut it, here's dialogue from another scene (though I wish I could find a copy of the scene): Maude: Dreyfus once wrote from Devil's Island that he would see the most glorious birds. Many years later in Brittany, he realized they had only been sea gulls... For me, they will always be... glorious birds.

The King's Speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoYeab9zmxU King George VI: [Sees Logue is sitting on the coronation throne] What are you doing? Get up! You can't sit there! GET UP! Lionel Logue: Why not? It's a chair. King George VI: No, that. It is not a chair. T-that... that is Saint Edward's chair. Lionel Logue: People have carved their names on it. King George VI: [Simultaneously] That... chair... is the seat on which every king and queen has... That is the Stone of Scone you ah-are trivializing everything. You trivialize... Lionel Logue: [Simultaneously] It's held in place by a large rock. I don't care about how many royal arseholes have sat in this chair. King George VI: Listen to me. *Listen to me!* Lionel Logue: Listen to you? By what right? King George VI: By divine right if you must, I am your king. Lionel Logue: No you're not, you told me so yourself. You didn't want it. Why should I waste my time listening? King George VI: Because I have a right to be heard. I have a voice! Lionel Logue: [pauses] Yes, you do. [Longer pause] Lionel Logue: You have such perseverance Bertie, you're the bravest man I know. http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3501824025/ OR King George VI: In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in our history, I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas, this message, spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you, as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself. For the second time in the lives of most of us, we are at war. Over and over again we have tried to find a peaceful way out of the differences between ourselves and those who are now our enemies. But it has been in vain. We have been forced into a conflict, for we are called to meet the challenge of a principle, which, if it were to prevail, would be fatal to any civilized order in the world. Such a principle, stripped of all disguise, is surely the mere primitive doctrine that might is right. For the sake of all that we ourselves hold dear, it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge. It is to this high purpose that I now call my people at home, and my peoples across the seas, who will make our cause their own. I ask them to stand calm and firm and united in this time of trial. The task will be hard. There may be dark days ahead, and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield. But we can only do the right as we see the right, and reverently commit our cause to God. If one and all we keep resolutely faithful to it, then, with God's help, we shall prevail. I couldn't find a clip of the war time speech.

I've always loved this one from "Return of the King." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdnqZcmWk8U Theoden : "Forth, and fear no darkness! Arise! Arise, Riders of Theoden! Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered! A sword day... a red day... ere the sun rises! Ride now! Ride now! Ride to ruin and the world ending! Death! Death! Death! Forth Eolinger!!" Something about the imminent descent of thousands of horses and men knowing they ride to their deaths and doing it anyway.

Oh, and here is the real King's Speech. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opkMyKGx7TQ

Life is Beautiful(La Vita e Bella) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y9aKqawdUQ

DPS! John Keating: We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_zsMwCOoEs&feature=related

This is one of the greatest examplse of subtext ever written, from the brilliant screenplaay of Double Indemnity, written by Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler and based on the novel by James Cain. PHYLLIS (Standing up again) Mr. Neff, why don't you drop by tomorrow evening about eight-thirty. He'll be in then. NEFF Who? PHYLLIS My husband. You were anxious to talk to him weren't you? NEFF Sure, only I'm getting over it a little. If you know what I mean. PHYLLIS There's a speed limit in this state, Mr. Neff. Forty-five miles an hour. NEFF How fast was I going, officer? PHYLLIS I'd say about ninety. NEFF Suppose you get down off your motorcycle and give me a ticket. PHYLLIS Suppose I let you off with a warning this time. NEFF Suppose it doesn't take. PHYLLIS Suppose I have to whack you over the knuckles. NEFF Suppose I bust out crying and put my head on your shoulder. PHYLLIS Suppose you try putting it on my husband's shoulder. NEFF That tears it. Neff takes his hat and briefcase. NEFF Eight-thirty tomorrow evening then, Mrs. Dietrichson. PHYLLIS That's what I suggested. They both move toward the archway. A-27 HALLWAY - PHYLLIS AND NEFF GOING TOWARDS THE ENTRANCE DOOR NEFF Will you be here, too? PHYLLIS I guess so. I usually am. NEFF Same chair, same perfume, same anklet? PHYLLIS (Opening the door) I wonder if I know what you mean. NEFF I wonder if you wonder. See the scene on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz-5wKegyOw Wayne Nichols @wayneotherwiter

Okay, sorry, I'm a teacher, I should know to read the directions. "Inspiration" was the topic. Well, let's just say that the example of subtext from Double Indemnity was one of the things that inspired me to be a writer, and I'll be more on topic next time. Wayne Nichols @wayneothewriter

From RUDY http://youtu.be/27D4k3dCXPg

Spider-Man 2 (2004) http://youtu.be/O9t0fxyt_3E Mary Jane: Had to do what I had to do. Peter: Mary Jane. Mary Jane: Peter, I can't survive without you. Peter: You shouldn't be here. Mary Jane: I know you think we can't be together. But can't you respect me enough to let me make my own decision? I know there'll be risks. But I want to face them with you. It's wrong that we should only be half-alive, half of ourselves. I love you. So here I am, standing in your doorway. I've always been standing in your doorway. Isn't it about time somebody saved your life? Well, say something. Peter: Thank you, Mary Jane Watson. Mary Jane: Go get 'em, tiger.

It's really fun to look at "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" from a Jungian perspective in terms of how new ideas emerge from the collective unconscious. The India scene: http://youtu.be/hAL2Dm-Bcv0 EXT. - COUNTRYSIDE OF INDIA - DAY A 57 A TITLE APPEARS: BENARES VALLEY - INDIA On a hillside outside Benares, ten thousand Hindu followers of the Sadhu kneel in prayer, bowing and chanting to the sky. They are all chanting the same five notes over and over ... ten thousand strong. It is a haunting sound, melodic but ominous. ANGLE- AGAINST THE THRONG Towering above the mass of worshippers move a half dozen caucasian technicians. They are laden down with recording equipment as they begin a clean sweep of the hillside, recording the chant with outstretched pole mikes. ANGLE- FURTHER UP THE HILL Lacombe and Laughlin stand with an ancient Brahman leader of these people. The Brahman's eyes are filled with tears of joy. He is babbling in Hindu. David translates. DAVID The sky sings to us! Lacombe is filled with emotion. He embraces the old man. LACOMBE It sings to us too, my friend. ------ Here's the scene where the protag goes beyond the point of no return: http://youtu.be/xqhE7ieH2R8 Here's a bit from a synopsis of the encounters, nearing the time of alien contact: As Walsh walks away after ignoring Lacombe's request not to use riot control methods, Laughlin yells after him that the people he questioned were hypnotically compelled to travel there - they were mysteriously drawn there in their quest for something they couldn't fully comprehend: We didn't choose this place. We didn't choose these people. THEY WERE INVITED! Roy, Jill, and Larry climb up the steep incline on the side of Devils Tower. In a Spielberg scene that evokes Hitchcock's North by Northwest (1959), helicopters buzz by with loudspeakers blaring a warning: "..this park has been superseded by the United States Government...You are entering a military reservation." Roy cautions about climbing up the steep face toward the top: "It's a three hundred foot drop straight down," and instead proposes taking a gradual incline trail to the right that leads to a box canyon. Jillian and Larry both realize their perspectives were inaccurate in their drawings: Jillian: I never imagined that in my paintings. I only painted one side.? Larry: There was no canyon in the doodles that I made.? Roy: Next time, try sculpturing.

Wow, I don't know about you, but I'm inspired. Thanks for these suggestions. Should be another good week of DDT's. Remember we will be open for a brand new round of suggestions beginning next week. I'll post something soliciting ideas toward the end of the week.

Had to add my husband's favorite. We watched it on our second date. He had me at Jimmy Stewart. Mr Smith Goes to Washington- Jefferson Smith: I guess this is just another lost cause Mr. Paine. All you people don't know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for and he fought for them once. For the only reason any man ever fights for them. Because of just one plain simple rule. Love thy neighbor. And in this world today of great hatred a man who knows that rule has a great trust. You know that rule Mr. Paine and I loved you for it just as my father did. And you know that you fight harder for the lost causes than for any others. Yes you'd even die for them. Like a man we both knew Mr. Paine. You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well I'm not licked. And I'm gonna stay right here and fight for this lost cause. Even if this room gets filled with lies like these. And the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody will listen to me. [he collapses] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAjDmw6IrFg

Jimmy Stewart, my favorite all-time actor.

In Pursuit of Happiness http://youtu.be/DvtxOzO6OAE

Christopher Gardner: Hey. Don't ever let somebody tell you... You can't do something. Not even me. All right? Christopher: All right. Christopher Gardner: You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period.