Wow, that is a great scene.

I've only very recently begun trying to learn about screenwriting, and coming from a theater background it is a little strange to see all the "stage directions" on the page. Not so much the action, I very much understand the inclusion of that, but more so the "shots" it describes. It doesn't only describe what is going on, but how we see it which is what surprises/confuses me a little.

Because of my theater background and status as an extreme newcomer to the screenwriting world, much of the specifics, angles and the like, is something I'd expect the director do. Is it because it's a shooting script and it is after the director and writer have collaborated? Or is the writer responsible for how the viewer is to eventually see his action in such a way? Also, is what the writer describes as far as scenes and editing - Cut to, reverse angle, the camera moves away - something one expects to be changed by other parties eventually and the writer does mostly in the spirit of conveying better the tone of the story? (I understand that these bits are often likely to be added once the script is bought, and not usually included to such a degree in one's spec script, yes?) Or does the writer tend to only start listing such specifics in a particularly pivotal scene, as, coming to think of it, the screenplays I've read don't constantly describe the angles, it's more a "sometimes" thing?

I'm sorry for yammering on. I'll force myself to stop. Thanks.

Oh, I should say, thanks for having this particular scene of the day. I don't know if these thoughts would have occurred to me otherwise, particularly re: the responsibilities of a playwriter vs screenwriter and theater vs film director. It's probably because it's a renowned Hitchcock film that it was striking to see such direction on the page.