2x13 // 4x04
I wanted to believe ... so badly, ah ... It's so damn hard to do this, what we do. You're all alone, you know? And ... there's so much evil out there in the world, Dean, I feel like I could drown in it. And when I think about my destiny, when I think about how I could end up...I needed to think that there was something else, watching too, you know? Some higher power. Some greater good.
I've got demon blood in me, Dean! This disease pumping through my veins, and I can't ever rip it out or scrub it clean! I'm a whole new level of freak! And I'm just trying to take this - this curse... and make something good out of it. Because I have to.
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unpacking the 4x08 van scene script
[The Full Van Scene]
Alrighty, let's break down all the bits and pieces we've got!
First we get this bit about Will wanting to play D and D and Nintendo for the rest of their lives. We then see him immediately catch himself with Uh... and when Mike is unexcited, it's described as "awkward, like embarrassingly so."
Then we get Will's internal, self-deprecating "What are you, like 12-years-old still dude?"
This is 1000% from Will's POV still, not Mike - I don't know why people think otherwise, but this is Will, being hard on himself for being childish, thinking that that is why Mike is not engaging when clearly his head is somewhere else.
This is probably the most interesting bit to me: Will senses the change in vibe; although oblivious to the actual motive behind the change.
Once again we get confirmation that we are only seeing from Will's perspective and that Mike's actions are meant to be a mystery to us. The vibe changes, not because Mike is judging him for wanting to play D&D, not even because Mike is worried about El as Will suspects next--but for some other reason unknown to Will and, at this point, the audience.
Then Mike tentatively goes into his talk about El not needing him. I think it's interesting they used the word "contemplatively" when he first talks about it. It makes it seem like this has been on his mind for a while, like there's in fact a lot on his mind regarding El not needing him.
This is really interesting too--"We've been over this before." Because... have they really? They've talked a bit about El previously, on the car after burying Hero Secret Agent Man, and in Will's room when they talk in 4x04, and Will offered comfort in regards to El. But they certainly haven't quite been over this before. If anything, it's interesting that Will feels that they have. Does Will feel like their conversations are going in circles when it comes to talking about Eleven?
Then Mike launches into his little tangent and Will--doesn't quite get it. He tries to understand but doesn't, not at first, with this awkward encounter, Mike apologizing, before Will shows that he does "get it" with the line: You're scared of losing her.
They lock eyes. A BEAT. I love when scripts specify they lock eyes, because it's so rarely necessary to do so that when they do, I can't help but think of the implications. The writers at this moment are trying to show the understanding passing between them.
I don't need to break down Mike's response: It's stunning. "His face can light up a room." Y'all, consider how down Mike was not two seconds ago, thinking he's worthless, talking down on himself. One look at Will's art, and his face can light up a room.
Will patiently waiting for approval and then being overwhelmed with relief--this is superbly acted by Noah, because that's exactly what we read his facial expressions as to begin with.
Then, of course, the moment he realizes or decides to lie: Act cool. No! Don't look at him. Focus on your words.
I love the line, no! Don't look at him! Like looking Mike in the eye right then, seeing his face--lighting up the van with his happiness over the painting--would make Will want to tell the truth instead of his lie.
This is also the only moment that Jonathan's POV is written into the script where he watches through the rearview mirror--and it happens right as Will tells his first lie, as if to signify that he's lying, to show us once again that Will is our unreliable narrator.
Will "nudges closer" just as he begins to explain the painting, showing how he is taking that first step, being brave, inching closer to the truth.
Then--
I think it's so interesting that it draws emphasis on "Mike turns his attention to Will" just after the first mention of "heart." As if somehow this word draws his attention in a way that's notable. I talked about this particular line having an impact on Mike in my microexpression analysis where again, the word heart seems to take Mike aback, and I think we're seeing that here as well, subtly, with the way it draws our eyes to Mike's attention.
We also get "Will retreats. His body follows." Which neatly contrasts the earlier "Will angles to Mike and nudges closer." Just as before he was being brave, taking a step, now--in turning the conversation back to El--he is doing the opposite. Taking a step back. Retreating, body and soul.
Skipping over the "being different" and "I hate who I am" because it's already been analyzed to death since yesterday and also it's too immensely painful...
Will launches into his El monologue and we get---now it's Mike who doesn't get it. And jesus christ, someone please help these poor boys communicate. Will is saying all these things that don't quite match up to El's actions, and he's clearly getting emotional, but Mike just doesn't get it. He doesn't understand what Will is really saying, doesn't understand that he's talking in code.
Last, I want to mention something that could be significant - the version of the script sent out to donors is missing the line "Thanks, I needed that," which was the only line from Mike's perspective in the preview of the script that 8flix posted on Twitter. Why was this line cut from the donor scripts? What other lines might have been cut, and why?
I actually asked 8flix Nick about this and will let you know if/when he updates, because it's a pretty big inconsistency in my opinion.
That's all for now. More analysis incoming, I'm sure. <3
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