The breaking down structure madness continues with one of my all time favorite films, Blade Runner, a science fiction masterpiece that I could watch it every day and still be enthralled. There isn’t a more visually beautiful film out there as far as I’m concerned. The world Ridley Scott created is incredible but also believable, and the special effects hold up incredibly well. Let’s get this structure train moving! Film Length: 1:57:37 min
ACT ONE
1. The Introduction
We open on an eye, then a slow pan of a dystopian, 2019 Los Angeles. Then we get a slow crawl explaining Replicants and Blade Runners. We’re literally told the set-up of this world within the first five minutes. Then we have the Voight-Kampff interview of Replicant Leon by a Blade Runner named Holden. During the interview Leon suddenly shoots Holden. The interview is a great setup tool to introduce the audience to the world of the film.
2. The Incident
We meet the protagonist Rick Deckard eating some noodles when, ex-coworker and snazzy dresser, Gaff tells him to go see his former supervisor, Bryant. He’s asked/ told to track down some replicants and “retire” them, as they are on Earth illegally. Deckard shows resistance, and gets up to leave. But then Bryant says “You’re not cop you’re little people” which makes him change his mind. I believe what Bryant means is now that Deckard is retired, he’s not a worthy member of society, as anyone who still lives on earth is considered low-class. Being a Blade Runner is one of the only respectable jobs left. Deckard reluctantly takes the gig and is now on a new path.
3. The Exposition
Bryant gives Deckard (and us) the lowdown on the escaped replicants. He’s to take down Leon and three other Nexus-6’s: Roy Batty, Zhora, and Pris. Replicants have a 4-year life span as a fail safe in case they become aware and resistant. At Tyrell Corporation, Deckard puts the Voight-Kampff on Eldon Tyrell‘s personal assistant Rachael. After more questions than normal, Deckard discovers she’s a Replicant, but memory implants make her believe she is human. Tyrell explains that Rachael is only an experiment. “More human than human.”
4. The Obstacles
Deckard first “refuses the call” earlier when Bryant asks him to do the job, but apparently he has no choice, so the usual resistance shown by the protagonist at this point goes by in a flash. But the world itself shows Deckard resistance during his investigation. At Leon’s hotel Deckard finds some pictures and an animal scale. Batty and Leon are doing some digging around themselves, talking to Chew at an eye-manufacturing laboratory, learning of J. F. Sebastian, a genetic designer who works closely with Tyrell.
ACT TWO
5. The New World
Rachael appears at Deckard’s apartment to prove to him she is human, even showing him a picture of herself as a child with her mom. Deckard tells her that her memories are from Tyrell’s niece. She gets upset and leaves, but this is where their romantic relationship starts, which is a foreign thing to Deckard. In this “new world” he’s out of retirement, chasing down replicants and falling in love.
6. The Journey Begins
Pris has tracked down J.F. Sebastian, manipulating him into asking her to come inside his place for food and warmth. J.F. is shy but friendly. Deckard is in full sleuth mode, scanning one of Leon’s pictures to reveal Zhora, then investigating the scale to discover it’s from a snake. He has a dream about a unicorn; is Deckard real or a Replicant?
7. The Plan
The scale leads him to the strip club where Zhora works, where he pretends to be part of the “committee of moral abuses” to speak with her. He notes she has has an artificial snake. Sick of Deckards questions and his creepyness, Zhora knocks him over and runs off. He chases her through the streets and kills her, his first “retirement” of the wanted Replicants.
8. The Midpoint
Though he’s retired many “skinjobs” before, Zhora seemed to affect him. Perhaps Deckard doesn’t have the stomach for this kind of work anymore. He buys some whiskey. Bryant tells him Rachael has gone missing, ordering him to now “retire” her too. Rachael is watching Deckard from across the street. Deckard is attacked by Leon in the streets; “nothing is worse than having an itch you can never scratch.” Rachael kills Leon with Deckard’s gun.
9. The New Plan
They go back to Deckard’s apartment where their relationship line changes. They have a heart to heart and Deckard tells her he wouldn’t chase her if she went North. He passes out then wakes back up when Racheal plays the piank. She goes to leave when he tries to kiss her, but he makes her stay and they start kissing. Batty arrives at J.F’s apartment, telling Pris that Zhora and Leon are dead; they’re the only ones left. Pris: “Then we’re stupid and we’ll die.” Batty wants to see Tyrell and they convince J.F. to take them to see him.
10. The Lowest Point
After Tyrell let’s them in, Batty confronts his maker, asking why Nexus-6 only have a 4-year life span. “The light that burns half as long burns twice as bright.” Tried of Tyrell’s rhetoric, Batty crushes his head like a grape. Deckard arrives at J.F.’s apartment and blows a hole through Pris. Batty comes back from Tyrell and it’s ON like Donkey Kong, kicking the crap out of Deckard.
ACT THREE
11. The Showdown
Deckard is no match for Batty, who breaks some of his fingers then gives him a head start. Batty’s hand is “malfunctioning” and be sticks a rusty nail through it. The death battle between Deckard and Batty ends up on the roof. Batty saves Deckard from falling just as he himself is about to expire. The classic “Tears in the rain” speech is given before Batty drops his head and dies.
12. The Outroduction
With Batty dead, Deckard heads back to his apartment, relieved to find that Rachael is still there, sleeping under some blankets. They make a quick getaway, just before the elevator closes Deckard finds one of GAF’s origami unicorns. The elevator doors close on Deckard and Rachael, their future unknown, but at least they’re together.
And that’s the story breakdown as I see it folks. Let me know what you think in the comments.
Keep writing,
– Tim
@timaucoinscreenwriter
