Chapter 15

Intercuts

Occasionally in a script, you might want to cut back and forth between two or more scenes. These scenes are occurring at the same time. Instead of repeating the Scene Heading for each scene over and over, an INTERCUT is used. This gives the reader the sense that the scene is moving rapidly back and forth between locations. There is a great sequence of intercuts in The Deer Hunter of shots of hunters out in the woods with a wedding going on simultaneously, at a different location. Here's another example:

INT. SHERRI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Sherri starts disrobing in front of her open bedroom window.

INT. LENNY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Lenny gets up to cross to the fridge to get a beer. He looks out his window and
catches a glimpse of Sherri across the courtyard. He freezes, watching her.

INTERCUT BETWEEN LENNY AND SHERRI

Sherri sits on the bed and unbuttons her double-breasted suit jacket.

Lenny moves closer to the window for a better vantage point.

Sherri stands, hopping a few feet, trying to step out of her skirt.

Lenny, eyes glued to Sherri, moves to keep her in view. He slams his bare foot
into a dumbbell on the floor.

                                       LENNY
                       Ow!

Sherri hears the yelp and looks in Lenny's direction.

Lenny sees Sherri and DROPS from her view.

Another type of INTERCUT is used when two characters are on the phone and you don't want one half of the conversation to be O.S. - you want to show them both.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Sherri, comfy on the couch, is reading a book when the phone rings. She answers
it.

                                       SHERRI
                       Hello?

EXT. PHONE BOOTH - REST AREA

Lenny sips a Coke as he talks.

                                       LENNY
                       Hey Honey, I'm in Barstow.

INTERCUT BETWEEN LENNY and SHERRI

                                       SHERRI
                       Oh, Honey, that's great...
                       you'll be here by morning.

                                       LENNY
                       Yep... I've got the pedal to the
                       metal.

In older films it was common to use a split-screen to show such a conversation. It's not common these days, and unless you have a very good reason for writing it in, it is best to INTERCUT.