Lethal Weapon (1987)

Written by
Shane Black

Not sure if this is the actual screenplay.  Looks like it's been converted to Pdf.  They didn't have Pdf back in the day.  Looks like the real thing.

118 Pages

Great opening with the first page and a half.  Who is this girl who's whacked out on cocaine?  Slightly different than the movie, don't remember her talking.

Page five, the three stooges routine.  This scene very much sets up Riggs' state of mind.  Not the same as the film, but a good introduction to his character.

That's a good introduction to Riggs, the audience/reader can see that he gives a shit and we also find out that he's a cop.

Nice introduction to Murtaugh on page 7, it's his birthday.  He has a family, the complete opposite to Riggs.

Page 10

Murtaugh finds out about Dick Lloyd, guessing this is Michael Hunsacker, his old Vietnam buddy.

Slightly different when he notices Rianne jogging past and he remarks that she's a heartbreaker.  In the movie she comes down the staircase in a dress and he makes the comment.

The first hint of something not being right with Riggs when he smashes the TV with the glass on page 12.  Something to do with the woman in the photo.

The drug deal on page 18 again sets up Riggs' state of mind.  This is one of the memorable scenes in the movie.  This is actually where he does the three stooges sketch that happened on page five.

Again he does the three stooges routine here.

Riggs taunts the drug dealer on page 18 to shoot him.  He's not afraid of being shot, he doesn't care if he's killed.  Why?

Top of page 22 we find out the reason why Riggs is so blasé and doesn't care if he lives or dies.  His wife of eleven years was recently killed in a car accident.  It makes sense now.

A little twist on page 24.  Amanda Lloyd was poisoned.

Murtaugh meets Riggs on page 26.  Great turning point.

Nice introduction of the bad guys on page 28.  Mr.Joshua is just as crazy as Riggs.  They're bound to meet at some point.

Not sure about the scene on page 55-56 with Riggs and the Hooker.  It wasn't in the original release but they included it in the Director's cut I seem to remember.  Still not sure if it shows Riggs in a good or bad light.

But he's only watching television with her so I guess it's okay.  It also shows that he's in desperate need of company since his wife died.

It's a shame this scene with the Hooker on page 58 isn't in the movie.  Why include the scene when he picks her up and not include this one?

That's another thing, Roger smokes in this.  He's against smoking in the movie and doesn't appreciate Riggs smoking in the car.

Slightly different from the movie.  When Hunsacker (Lloyd) gets shot on page 77.  Mr. Joshua does it from the safety of a helicopter in the movie which is a little implausible but extremely fun.  Why didn't they hear the helicopter coming?

So the helicopter does make an appearance and Mr. Joshua jumps on board.  This actually works a little better than the actual movie version.  It seems more plausible.  Wonder why they changed it?

The scene with Riggs shooting at the helicopter is very much how it plays out in the movie.  He's not happy.

MURTAUGH
You through?

RIGGS
I haven't even started.

Riggs is seriously disliking Mr. Joshua now.  Recognizes him as the one who shot Hunsacker.

Great scene on pages 85-86 with Riggs and Carrie.  This scene would have been great in the movie.  Not sure why they didn't include it.  It shows a nice side to Riggs.  A very caring side of his character.

Riggs doesn't get all dressed up in the movie when they head for the desert on page 89.  The scene where he gets dressed up in desert fatigues probably would've been a little too cheesy.  Glad they didn't put it in the movie.

The fight scene between Riggs and Mr. Joshua starts on page 110.  Still not sure about this scene in the movie.  Would it happen? 

This is a much better fight than in the movie.  Riggs finishes Mr. Joshua off rather than Riggs and Roger shooting him as they do in the movie.

The fight scene also seems to be shorter.

Nice ending, the bottle of pills is replaced with a bullet in the actual movie on page 116.

The ending is definitely different to the start.  Riggs lost his wife, he's alone.  Now he's been welcomed into a new family.  And he's about to enjoy a Christmas meal with Roger.

Great movie.  Great screenplay.

Wish they'd put some elements of this into the actual movie.

Don't think there's been a buddy cop movie as good as this since this came out. 

You have to respect anyone who can write a screenplay that's as good as this at the age of 23.  A very unique writing style.  This is definitely worth a read by anyone who's learning to write.

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