Intouchables [better]: Script

Driss introducing Philippe to marijuana and late-night escapades, while Philippe introduces Driss to the value of artistic expression.

(sighs) This is a terrible idea.

The engine of the script is the stark contrast between its two leads. The writers use a classic "Odd Couple" setup, but the stakes are amplified by class and physical ability. Script Intouchables

"Driss watches for a moment. Then he turns. He walks down the street. He lights a cigarette. He waves, without looking back."

(coldly) He has no medical training. And he was recently in prison. The writers use a classic "Odd Couple" setup,

Nakache and Toledano employ a traditional three-act structure, but they utilize a framing device that creates immediate intrigue.

For aspiring screenwriters, the lesson of Intouchables is this: Find the joke in the tragedy. Find the dignity in the absurd. And above all, remember that the greatest gift one character can give another is not a solution—it’s a distraction. He walks down the street

I told you, I can’t do this. I don’t know anything about —