Unveiling the Dark Secrets: A Riveting Scene-by-Scene Dissection of "Promising Young Woman"

Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

After a first pass, it’s time to crack open the script for a deeper analysis and you can do that by creating a scene-by-scene breakdown. It is precisely what it sounds like: A list of all the scenes in the script accompanied by a brief description of the events that transpire.

For purposes of this exercise, I have a slightly different take on scene. Here I am looking not just for individual scenes per se, but a scene or set of scenes that comprise one event or a continuous piece of action. Admittedly this is subjective and there is no right or wrong, the point is simply to break down the script into a series of parts which you then can use dig into the script’s structure and themes.

The value of this exercise:

• We pare down the story to its most constituent parts: Scenes.
• By doing this, we consciously explore the structure of the narrative.
• A scene-by-scene breakdown creates a foundation for even deeper analysis of the story.

Today: Promising Young Woman (2020). You may download the script here.

Screenplay written and directed by Emerald Fennell.

Plot summary: A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path.

Promising Young Woman
Scene-By-Scene Breakdown
By Litty Williams
GoIntoTheStory.com

P. 1–4 Nightclub — a group of men complaining about their female boss are disgusted by a very drunk Cassie slumped in nightclub — they see her as ‘a hot fucking mess’ who’s asking for it. Nice guy Jezz tries to defend her against their judgement and goes over to see if she’s ok

P. 4–11 Jezz offers to drop a very drunk and incapable Cassie home. In the cab he changes his mind and brings her to his flat. The driver sees she’s drunk but does nothing. Jezz gives her more alcohol and starts to kiss her and take her clothes off without even pretending to ask for consent. Stone cold sober, Cassie sits up and asks ‘What are you doing?’ and stops him in his tracks — he’s terrified.