DOUBLE INDEMNITY SCRIPT REPORT; AN ESSAY

 

Double Indemnity starts with how it will end, placed in L.A, a man 35 years old, not yet known is to be the primary protagonist WALTER NEFF commonly referred to, as ‘NEFF’ appears to be either drunk or injured. He enters his tall office building greeted by the night watchman; this is when the introduction to who he is and how important of a man he is in the insurance business. The corporation is revealed to be an insurance company founded in 1906, and he has gone to his office to record his confession to the murders. The use of phones and recorders is prominent throughout the script, as NEFF continuously breaks away from his story of events to observe his ‘current’ surroundings, such as the cleaners, to have a cigarette, or to have a rest from recording and tend to his injury. He treats the confession as if he is talking to his friend and co-worker BARTON KEYES. The office is stated to have a balcony, as this will play a part in his capture.

NEFFS visit intended to reinstate the lapsed insurance with MR DIETRICHSON however on meeting MRS ‘PHILLYS’ DIETRISHON he becomes intensely infatuated with MRS ‘PHILLYS’ DIETRICHSON. From this, they begin to play cat and mouse chase until they have convinced each other they can get away with murder and run away together. Their 'love or lusting' develops throughout the script as the introduction of the lead female character is as sexually charged, as is their infatuation with each other, even though it is later revealed that she never loved him. From the point where they first meet there are many twists and turns told from his point of view. He confesses on the tape that he should have never been sucked in and he ended up with no money, no woman and betrayed his best friend. 

There are references to cars and palm trees, long beaches and the like of middle-class America in the 1940s. The use of transport terms to connect with the murder of MR DIETRICHSON as he is strangled to death in MRS PHYLLIS DIETRICHSON car, later then placed on the train tracks as if he fell over the railings and broke his neck. The plan, for the most part, seems to be well planned and carefully carried out, although, due to BARTON KEYES they will be captured. The sensational plot for the murders is thrilling and close for comfort, even though they nearly got away with it. 

MRS PHYLLIS DEITRICHSON outsmarted NEFF many times during the script. Moreover, had the plan to frame LOLA'S ex-boyfriend ZACHETTI, as to completely isolate LOLA'S character. MRS PHYLLIS DEITRICHSON's plan to kill NEFF and run away with all the money was nearly complete. However, NEFF, had a plan himself to put all the blame on MRS PHYLLIS DEITRICHSON. As a result, her going trying to kill him as she did to LOLAS mother and father (MR DIETRICHSON) consequently, it leads to her demise. She overlooked that at the last moment he had the gun and shot her twice, which killed her instantly. She had managed to wound him but not enough to finish him off.

The final scenes lead to the final part of the script where the camera rejoins him in the office with the recorder and KEYES standing behind him. HE has heard most of the recording which leaves KEYES no choice but to call the police and turn his dear friend into the cops. The end of the 'shot' script as they smoke on the balcony while waiting for the police, is a sort of happy ever after and tied up ending. However, the Alt ending is disturbing with NEFFS execution by the gas chamber which KEYES has to observe his friend from the viewing room. The point only really hits when KEYES cannot light his cigarette because NEFF always lit it for him as KEYES never carried matches. 

Overall a delightful and simple script to read, it is the classic the young wife and lover did its plot. So not much originality with however a dependable storyline that will get a reaction and immerse the audience as the plot thickens. The relationship between KEYES and NEFF created a believable relationship to get invested in, however, to believe the NEFF, PHYLLIS relationship is a bit far-fetched as from the get-go it is obvious she never loved him or him; her. The use of night is a reliable indicator of the FILM NOIR style; the script is typical of the time however if film today would be just as exciting to audiences. A sub-plot with the daughter LOLA added extra depth that was needed to carry the script into the next phase and to link the scenes together. The premise at points gets difficult to follow, as it asks many questions and answers them with questions. If interpreted that the premise was to commit an insurance scam to run away with a lover, the script is a terrible romance, as there is no actual convincing love story between the two main protagonists, however, if it is a love story of the betrayal of a friend it is lovely. However, it is not just about the love/ lust, it is about a scam that turns into a multi-murder homicidal frenzy with the supporting actors left alone to deal with the collateral damage.

The characters overall were pretty well rounded and the main character has details to his profile, including the car he drives DODGE 1938. It is engaging and amusing that PHYLLIS is a psychopath serial killer as this adds to her already sassy character and answers why she is such a player. NEFF is a 'fix it' kinda guy. Heavey on dialogue and the use of 'BABY' makes my skin crawl, however for the 1940's it is quite scandalous. The kissing scenes in the script are used as gag orders or because the writer ran out of words to use, as he had already used so many in all dialogue. The actors he had in mind for the characters must have had incredibly dull faces not to have to speak all the time.

The pacing of the script in part was languid and glazed over the actual murder, which was the whole point of the script. The script is emotionally broad enough to consider a romance script; it is not so much Romeo, and Juliet the star-crossed lovers but more Lisa (GIRL, INTERRUPTED) in a relationship with Jack Nickolson (THE SHINING) therefore has to be carried by the sub-plot lovers LOLA and ZACHETTI. The point of the two main protagonists turning on each other is the point where the script speeds up to 'get it over with'. As the setting throughout the script is clear and mostly believable, set in 1940 America, with detailed set designer notes and expository dialogue to convince MR DIETRICHSON is at Long Beach, the point becomes laboured and unconvincing. Then adding the murderous housewife and love affair story, creates an achievable goal for women to get rich quick which in turn is another take on the serial bride.