Script Analysis: “Ford v Ferrari” — Part 1: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown
Read and analyze the script for the Oscar-winning action drama.
Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this bi-weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule:
Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown
Tuesday: Plot
Wednesday: Characters
Thursday: Themes
Friday: Dialogue
Saturday: Takeaways
Today: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown. Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:
After a first pass, it’s time to crack open the script for a deeper analysis and you can do that by creating a scene-by-scene breakdown. It is precisely what it sounds like: A list of all the scenes in the script accompanied by a brief description of the events that transpire.
For purposes of this exercise, I have a slightly different take on scene. Here I am looking not just for individual scenes per se, but a scene or set of scenes that comprise one event or a continuous piece of action. Admittedly this is subjective and there is no right or wrong, the point is simply to break down the script into a series of parts which you then can use dig into the script’s structure and themes.
The value of this exercise:
- We pare down the story to its most constituent parts: Scenes.
- By doing this, we consciously explore the structure of the narrative.
- A scene-by-scene breakdown creates a foundation for even deeper analysis of the story.
This week: Ford v Ferrari (2019). You can download the script here.
Written by Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller.
Plot summary: American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference and the laws of physics to build a revolutionary race car for Ford in order to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
Ford v Ferrari
Scene by Scene Breakdown
By Gary Myers
GoIntoTheStory.com1–2
CARROLL SHELBY AT LE MANS 1959Early morning hours at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 1959. Auto racing not as the squeaky-clean show presented on Sunday afternoon TV, but greasy and grimy, grueling and exhausting. Cars and drivers pushed to the limit, hour after hour, day and night, even in the fog.
Driver CARROLL SHELBY pits for fuel. Though he leads, both he and his Aston Martin are a mess. Dented, battered, and bruised, they look more like candidates for the ER and the junk yard than potential champions.
DISASTER! Fuel is spilled and catches fire. Both car and driver are ablaze.
The team springs into action and quickly extinguishes the fire. But the damage is done and they know their race is finished.
Someone forgot to tell Shelby. He leaves no doubt as to the strength of his will and depth of his determination. Unless he and the car are on fire RIGHT NOW, they’re going on…
2–5
SHELBY’S ORDINARY WORLDIt’s all a flashback. Though Shelby’s mind is still back at that race at Le Mans in 1959, it’s sometime later. He’s in the quiet, sterile environment of a doctor’s office. Shelby’s doctor reminds him that he has a bad heart valve. One that’s too bad to keep ignoring.
Denial from Shelby. The meds are working, and he can drive shorter races, right?
No, the doctor makes it clear he just can’t drive race cars any more. He tells Shelby he’s lucky just to be alive.
Shelby smiles and says he’s “the luckiest guy alive.” Sarcastic? Fatalistic? Stoic? Hard to say, but also reminiscent of Lou Gehrig’s famous speech at Yankee Stadium after ALS ended his baseball career.
Shelby drives off at breakneck speed from the parking lot at the doctor’s office in a high performance Aston Martin street car. As if he’s on a race track, he uses all the roadway and shoots past other cars like they’re backmarkers being lapped.
In a calm voiceover that belies the frenzied pace on screen, Shelby explains how, when driving a race car at its limit, everything else falls away and you’re left facing who you really are.
5–7
INCITING EVENTFrom a catwalk, in a scene reminiscent of WW II dictator Benito Mussolini (“Il Duce”) addressing his subjects from a balcony, HENRY FORD II (aka “The Deuce”) bristles — very loudly and very publicly to the workers on his factory floor below — at Ford losing market share to Chevrolet. He challenges his company to come up with an idea how to change that fact.
It’s clear how the Ford Motor Company runs. Power’s at the top, embodied in the pompous, grandiose Henry Ford II (living in the shadow of his grandfather, Henry Ford) and executed through minions like Number Two man LEO BEEBE and an army of others. Blame flows one way — downhill.
A young marketing executive named LEE IACOCCA thinks he has the kind of idea Ford wants. Although it’s unsaid at this point, this is when Ford’s quest to win Le Mans is set in motion.
7–11
KEN MILES’S ORDINARY WORLD12-year-old PETER MILES idolizes his father. On a slot car track, amidst photos of his father’s racing exploits, he imagines himself duplicating his father’s glory. The track? Le Mans. His miniature car? A Ferrari, of course.
Peter overhears and then observes a dispute between KEN MILES and a customer. It’s clear that Miles’s talents lie in understanding high performance cars and not in customer service. From the stack of unpaid bills, it’s also clear his business acumen may leave something to be desired.
MOLLIE MILES has observed the dispute as well. Rather than be angry with her husband, she flirts. They’re deeply in love.
Miles’s failings don’t matter to Peter and, surprisingly, don’t matter to Mollie either. The next day, she kisses son and husband and sends them off to the races. Later, she faces agents from the IRS.
12–21
MILES AND SHELBY AT THE RACESA dusty desert road-racing track bakes under the hot California sun.
Midmorning, a hung over Shelby is wakened when PHIL REMINGTON, a senior member of his team, pounds on the door of Shelby’s travel trailer. The interior of the trailer reflects Shelby’s hard lifestyle: women, cigarettes, booze…the latter of which he uses to down the requisite heart medication. In spite of it all, he emerges looking like a million bucks, with his Stetson on his head and his image firmly in place.
Race driver BOB BONDURANT has tipped Remington off that there’s a problem with the Shelby car. As Shelby and Remington walk to the paddock where the race cars are being inspected, they discuss the competition. It’s formidable, but Shelby, as always, is supremely confident. His ace-in-the-hole is that his team is “nastier.”
En route Shelby is engaged by reporters. He easily lies about both a major sponsorship for his racing team and the health of SHELBY AMERICAN, his small performance car manufacturing business.
Ahead, at the car, the problem to which Bondurant referred is unfolding. Because a suitcase of specified dimension won’t fit in the car’s trunk, it’s in violation of antiquated rules that have nothing to do with safety or performance. To make matters worse, the narrow-minded technical official is dealing with ornery mechanic-driver Miles instead of smooth-talking owner Shelby. The car is disqualified.
Still on his way to the paddock, Shelby schmoozes DIETER VOSS, the owner of a powerful US-based Porsche racing team. Voss enquires about Miles driving one of his cars at the upcoming endurance race at Sebring, Florida. He’s heard Miles can be “difficult.” Shelby tries to put a deep coat of lacquer over that inconvenient truth, just as…
…the escalating altercation between Miles and the official draws their attention. Shelby tries to intervene and placate the official. We’ll never know if his approach will work because Miles instead resolves the problem with brute force. He grabs a mallet and beats the heck out of the car’s trunk lid until it closes over the suitcase.
Shelby has a heart-to-heart with Miles, pointing out what a disaster he is when not on the track. He informs Miles of the potential ride with Porsche (which is now totally out of the question, as Voss just witnessed how truly difficult Miles can be). When Shelby points out that Miles’s son Peter just witnessed his tirade, Miles throws a wrench at him. Shelby dodges it, but it smashes the windshield of their car.
Miles’s race starts, and his courage and finesse are aptly demonstrated. After a setback at the start, he comes charging back.
Watching the action from the sidelines, Shelby is again confronted by a reporter, who implies he lost his nerve after winning Le Mans in 1959. Shelby blows him off.
Miles completes his heroic drive and wins the race. Shelby tells Remington to frame the wrench Miles threw at him.
21–24
IACOCCA’s IDEABack at Ford, Iacocca pitches his idea to The Deuce and his entourage of dubious minions. When the projector with his carefully prepared slides jams, Iacocca presses on. He proposes winning at Le Mans — not by beating Ferrari, but by BUYING the bankrupt firm.
24–26
MILES’S PREDICAMENT WORSENSMiles delivers a sleeping Peter back home. Mollie tells him about the IRS, and that she managed to slip his best tools out before they padlocked the garage. He fears he’s let her down, but she doesn’t feel he has. All she wants to hear about is the race.
26–31
FORD IS OUTFOXED BY FERRARITo Iacocca’s dismay, the arrival at Ferrari’s headquarters of Ford’s small army of executives, lawyers, and accountants is documented by a photographer. FRANCO GOZZI of Ferrari calms him; it’s not the press, he claims, just their own photographer to document the historic event.
They tour the Ferrari facility. Handmade care and precision contrast starkly with Ford’s mass production assembly line.
They meet ENZO FERRARI and exchange platitudes.
In Ferrari’s small office, a setting no doubt intended to put the large Ford team at a disadvantage, the deal is proposed. It seems reciprocal. For $2 million, Ford gets 90% control overall, but Ferrari retains 90% of the racing program.
Ferrari seems unimpressed, and takes his time going over the contract in excruciating detail.
He’s really just buying time for the photos of the Ford-Ferrari meeting to be delivered to the chairman of another Ferrari suitor — Italian manufacturer Fiat. The chairman of Fiat and Ferrari’s Gozzi talk on the phone, and a deal is cut.
Late that night, Ferrari is continuing the charade of his meticulous review of the Ford proposal. Iacocca looks at a magazine and sees Ferrari’s notes about Shelby’s car.
When Gozzi indicates the Fiat deal is done, Ferrari finally signals he’s ready to respond to the Ford offer. Addressing the Ford team, Ferrari confirms his understanding that Ford would not only control the budget of the racing program, but also have the FINAL word over any racing operations — even over the decision to race at Le Mans or not. Iacocca admits that’s the case.
Ferrari claims he is insulted by such an offer. He dismisses it with prejudice, and insults Ford, The Deuce, and the Ford executives in the most vulgar terms.
31–32
FORD REACTSIacocca reports back to The Deuce, who insists on hearing all the gory details.
The Deuce vows to GO TO WAR against Ferrari.
32–34
MILES CONSIDERS QUITTINGMiles throws his trophies away (though Peter retrieves them). He also tells Mollie he’s quitting racing, but she won’t hear of it.
34–38
1st PLOT POINT — IACOCCA ENLISTS SHELBYThe factory of Shelby American, yet another take on car manufacturing. California, an old warehouse filled with hot rodders and surfers. Rock music, employees setting off firecrackers to harass pretty girls walking by in bikinis.
Shelby sells cars he doesn’t have to cool young buyers. Iacocca arrives and Shelby thinks he’s there to collect overdue bills for Ford engines. Instinctively, Shelby starts tap dancing. Iacocca stops him and tells Shelby why he’s there — to enlist Shelby to help Ford beat Ferrari at Le Mans.
Shelby knows an opportunity when he sees it. He describes the daunting challenge, selling Iacocca on Shelby’s invaluableness to the Ford program.
38–41
SHELBY RECRUITS MILESShelby approaches Miles, who’s working as a mechanic in a cheap garage. They grab a bite at a taco place to discuss Ford’s plan.
Miles is incredulous about Ford’s chances of beating Ferrari at Le Mans. Assuming plenty of money and ignoring the ridiculously short time frame (90 days), he warns Shelby of the real problem — Ford is governed by bureaucrats, yes-men, accountants and lawyers who secretly hate someone independent like Shelby. Miles projects that the Ford executives will sabotage him by never really letting Shelby do it his way.
Shelby convinces Miles to bring Peter to the upcoming unveiling of the Ford Mustang at Cloverfield Airport in Santa Monica.
41–51
THE MUSTANG LAUNCHAt Cloverfield, Peter is impressed with the new Mustang, but Miles is not. Never tactful, he manages to insult Leo Beebe, the man responsible for the Mustang launch.
Shelby arrives in a private plane with Iacocca and other Ford execs. He asks the pilot if he can land the plane himself, citing his experience flying B-29s stateside during WW II. Ever the showman, he implies he wasn’t particularly good at it…
Miles and Peter are ready to leave when Shelby buzzes the control tower, and then makes a white-knuckle landing to the dismay of Iacocca and the others.
The plane taxis over, the door opens and Shelby makes his grand entrance. He works the crowd, greets the man heading Ford’s development of its race car in England, and says hello to Miles and Peter.
Iacocca introduces Shelby to Beebe. Beebe asks Iacocca if he’s talked to Shelby about…you know… Shelby asks Iacocca what Beebe’s talking about, leading to a discussion about control and final say that’s similar to the one Iacocca had with Enzo Ferrari.
Iacocca describes how Ford operates — tens of thousands, all doing their parts, working in harmony. He asks Shelby to not just be a part of that team, but conform to it.
Shelby is about to take the microphone and address the crowd, but Iacocca warns him not to take it unless he can assure Iacocca that he’s on board.
Shelby takes it anyway, and gives a short but rousing speech about the Ford Le Mans program. The message is subtly aimed at Miles (and Miles knows it), challenging him to join the quest.
48–51
FORD DEVELOPMENT FACILITY IN ENGLANDShelby and Remington drive a packed Mini-Cooper though a blinding rain to visit Ford’s development. Not Southern California by a long shot.
At Ford’s facility, they see the prototype Ford racer. It’s far too complex for Le Mans, but that’s not the biggest problem. Miles’s prediction is coming true: many changes need to be made, but even the smallest detail needs approval from the bureaucracy at Ford’s HQ in Detroit.
Shelby tells them to pack up the whole operation and ship it to Southern California, where he likes “how things are done.”
51–58
MILES ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGEShelby picks up Miles as he arrives home after a late night shift at the repair shop. He’s tired and all he wants is dinner and a shower. Shelby talks him into a quick trip to the nearby airport to see the Ford prototype (called the GT -40), fresh off the plane from England.
Shelby asks Miles to give it a quick drive, just to get his “professional opinion.” Miles complies and drives it — hard. He returns — excited, engaged — and gives Shelby a concise, accurate description of what’s wrong and what’s needed to improve it. Then takes it out again…
The next day, Mollie is driving Miles, presumably to leave on some kind of trip. She asks about the previous night and he lies, saying he was just working late. She drives faster, but he continues to lie. He pleads for her to slow down. Finally, he tells her the truth. She’s furious at him for lying to her, but also sees the change in him — the excitement, the peace and serenity he feels at being where he belongs — and understands.
58–60
FURTHER RESISTING FORD’S APPROACHMiles tests the car, hampered by Ford’s presence in the form of a mass of computer equipment surrounding him in the cramped cockpit. He stops and reports a serious problem with the aerodynamics of the car at high speed. Ford technicians are confident the lab back in Detroit will solve it as soon as it analyzes the reams of data being gathered by the computers their associated sensors.
Frustrated, Miles directs the team to tape hundreds of small strips of yarn to the car. He takes the car out again and, as he passes at high speed, Shelby and Remington can literally see the problem based on the direction the air blows the short strips of yarn.
He pits and they unceremoniously strip the computer equipment from the car. Shelby, Miles, and Remington talk about a more powerful motor Ford is developing for its stock car team racing in NASCAR…
60–62
1st PINCH POINT — SHELBY IS SEDUCED BY FORD’S APPROACHShelby calls Iacocca. Mountains are moved. Soon, the GT-40 is in Detroit to be mated with the gigantic NASCAR engine, after modifications that the folk in England have been working on around the clock ever since the moment Iacocca hung up from his conversation with Shelby.
The work done, Miles takes the car for a drive. It’s cumbersome under the weight of the new motor, but it’s fast. He’s impressed.
Iacocca beams, feeling vindicated. THIS is Ford.
62–67
SHELBY LEARNS THE PRICEShelby, Iacocca, and Beebe observe Miles putting the car through its paces. The conversation turns to the four drivers they’ll use to drive the two cars at Le Mans. They’re good, amongst the best. Shelby assumed Miles would be on the list.
Beebe drops the bomb — Miles isn’t going. Ford thinks he’s a PR disaster waiting to happen. Beebe and Iacocca understand that winning Le Mans is just a means to an end: bolstering Ford’s image to sell more cars.
Shelby appeals to the personal trust Iacocca had promised. Iacocca can’t deliver, but he’s an even better salesman than Shelby. He appeals to Shelby’s ego and self-interest.
Meanwhile, Miles gets out of the car, almost giddy with excitement. For the first time he really believes that he and the GT-40 can win at Le Mans.
67–69
MILES LEARNS HE’S BEEN BETRAYEDIn Shelby American’s garage, Miles again solves a problem with a mallet. He bangs small wooden wedges into the suspension that will raise the car so its height will meet the minimum height and pass inspection. He knows the wedges will fall out on the first lap…
Shelby passes out passport application forms…but not to Miles. Miles accepts the news stoically.
69–73
MILES LEFT BEHINDMiles can’t help but listen to the radio broadcast of the race at Le Mans, half a world away. As he listens through the night, he (who knows the car better than anyone) understands that the strategy they’re following will fail. It does.
Mollie arrives with a picnic dinner (early morning in California, but afternoon in France). She switches the station to a jazz channel and they dance.
73–76
MIDPOINT — SHELBY GETS FORD TO AGREE TO DO IT HIS WAYIn the executive offices of Ford, The Deuce, Beebe, and Iacocca absorb the humiliating Ford defeat at Le Mans. Iacocca hints at differences in METHODS between Ford and Ferrari as the root cause, while The Deuce can see only RESULTS. In spite of the loss, Iacocca praises Shelby as a winner; Beebe warns he’s a has-been, a snake oil salesman.
Shelby, in the waiting room, is invited in. Ford asks him why everyone associated with the debacle shouldn’t be fired.
Shelby, cool as ever, blames Ford’s bureaucracy. Ford needs one man in charge and that needs to be Shelby.
Iacocca’s shocked and Beebe is infuriated. But The Deuce seems to understand. He agrees to let Shelby have complete control.
As soon as Shelby leaves, The Deuce calms Beebe. He assures him they’re only giving Shelby the long leash he needs to get ready for next year’s race. He tells Beebe he will be back in charge before the actual race to make sure it’s done “the Ford Way.”
77–83
SHELBY RECRUITS MILES — AGAINShelby’s waiting when Miles comes back from a run that ended with a trip to the grocery. Shelby apologizes, but Miles punches him in the mouth.
They get into a knockdown, drag out fist fight. Mollie comes out of the house and observes casually.
After Shelby and Miles finally wear themselves out, Shelby challenges Miles to put his pride aside and rejoin the team. Miles agrees.
Miles goes inside. Mollie emerges to go to the grocery and get the now ruined food Miles had bought earlier. Before she leaves, she warns Shelby not to break Miles’s heart again.
83–85
ALL SEEMS TO BE GOING ACCORDING TO PLANMiles tests the car and tells the crew how to improve it. He and Peter walk the track. Miles figures out where he’ll downshift, brake, etc.
Miles tells Peter how everything slows down at top speed, echoing Shelby’s earlier soliloquy about finding out who you are when driving on the edge. He also talks about managing the car during a race, knowing its limits in terms of both speed and endurance. The balance is a kind of perfection.
While Miles is out testing the car at night, Ford calls…
85–88
2nd PINCH POINT — BEEBE’S IN CHARGEIt’s Iacocca, calling to let Shelby know Beebe is in charge — implying that Miles is out again. Iacocca says he argued against it, but lost. Beebe is coming the next day to tell Shelby personally. Shelby draws a line in the sand with Iacocca.
Back on the track, the brakes on the GT-40 fail and the car crashes and burns. Miles walks away unharmed.
88–92
REACTION TO THE CRASHShelby, Miles and the team inovate a solution to the brake problem.
Peter asks Remington about what it’s like to be in a car on fire. Remington tries unsuccessfully to comfort him.
Miles intuits something is wrong with Shelby and correctly guesses what it is. Shelby tells him he has a plan, that he’s risking it all.
92–98
SHELBY WON’T BETRAY MILES AGAINThe Ford entourage arrives, led not by Beebe but by The Deuce himself. When Beebe asks Shelby for a private moment to tell him about the Miles decision, Shelby manages to lock Beebe in Shelby’s office.
Shelby then invites The Deuce for a ride in the GT-40. He takes him around the track at speed and scares the daylights out of him. Using The Deuce’s newfound appreciation of what it takes to drive a car like the GT-40, Shelby gets The Deuce to agree to Shelby’s offer to let Miles drive the upcoming Daytona race. The stakes are high: if Miles doesn’t win, not only does he not drive Le Mans, but Shelby loses his company to Ford.
The Deuce has one more condition. Godfather-like, he tells Shelby he may ask for a favor one day.
98–105
3RD PLOT POINT — MILES’S WIN AT DAYTONA MEANS HE’LL RACE AT LE MANSAt Daytona, Shelby and Miles face not only the normal competition, but a second Ford team under Beebe’s control as well. Gloves are off — Shelby isn’t the only one who can be “nasty.”
During a late night break while his teammate drives, Miles talks to Mollie on the phone. She finally gets him to try and catch some sleep. Afterwards, at home, Peter and Mollie listen to the radio broadcast and worry.
Beebe’s team takes the lead, and Shelby gives Miles the ok to take the car to the max. Miles passes Beebe’s car on the last lap and wins; Ford cars come in 1–2–3.
Ford representatives celebrate, except for Beebe who secretly fumes. He has to personally call The Deuce and tell him that Shelby’s team won.
At home, Mollie and Peter rejoice. Shelby and Miles celebrate with the team until the early hours of the next morning.
105–107
MILES AND PETER TALK ABOUT LE MANSWhen Miles tucks Peter in, he finds him with a hand-drawn map of the Le Mans race track. They discuss the race, including its unique start where drivers are lined up on one side of the track, and their cars on the other. When the starter’s flag is dropped, the drivers race across the track, jump in their cars, start them, and race off.
Peter is thinking not only of his father winning, but of his mortality as well.
107–110
LE MANS PRE-RACEIn the town of Le Mans the day before the race, Miles runs into the driver for Beebe’s team that Miles caught on the last lap at Daytona. They’re not friends, and Beebe’s driver is looking for revenge.
Later that night, Miles learns that Beebe’s driver was seriously injured in a qualifying race.
He can’t sleep that night, and goes to the track. He finds Shelby there, who tells him he has nothing to prove to anyone who counts. It’s not something Miles understands.
110- 133
THE RACEBeebe addresses the Ford drivers. Tells them to focus on the enemy — Ferrari — and not on competing with each other. Stresses the FORD WAY — makes it clear that they’re each just a part of the coordinated overall plan. Miles makes a wisecrack, which Beebe overhears.
Enzo Ferrari and Carroll Shelby acknowledge each other’s presence. Mutual respect.
Just before the start, Miles is crouched across the track from his car like a sprinter in the starter’s blocks. He’s in his element and basks in the moment. This is what he was born for, what he’s lived for, what he was MADE for.
The Deuce, due to his celebrity, is actually the Grand Marshal of the race. He waits for the clock to make its last tick to 4 pm…then waves the starter’s flag with a flourish.
The drivers sprint across the track! They start their cars and off they go!
Race action:
- From the start, Miles has a problem with the latch on his door.
- Ferrari leads the first lap, followed by two Fords. Miles nowhere to be found.
- Miles pits after the first lap to get the door fixed. Remington takes a mallet to it. It latches.
- Miles violates Beebe’s plan by going too fast. Shelby says he’s just trying to regain the time he lost with the door.
Miles and Peter listen from Hollywood…
- Miles keeps up the pace, shattering the track record.
- Later, a planned driver change — DENNY HULME takes over from Miles.
- The gas-guzzling Ford is refueled while the lighter, more efficient Ferraris keep going.
Miles and Shelby wonder if Miles’s car can maintain the pace.
- One of the Ferraris gets collected by a collision between other cars and is out.
The Deuce leaves in a helicopter for a fancy dinner off-site; Shelby and Remington eat baloney sandwiches. They watch Ford fly away and notice rain coming.
- Miles takes the wheel again.
Shelby can’t find a stopwatch.
- 6 hours into the 24-hour race: Ferrari in 1st and 2nd.
It starts to rain. Enzo Ferrari departs under an umbrella, confident.
Later, Shelby steals three stopwatches from the adjacent Ferrari pit.
- 7 hours to go.
- Miles drives through blinding rain. Ahead, another Ford gets into a spat with a slower Porsche who’s blocking his way. The other Ford driver loses his cool and over revs his engine passing the Porsche. The engine blows.
- Now Miles faces the same problem with the Porsche. Rather than relying on the Ford’s power, he outsmarts him. The Porsche spins out. Now a Ferrari is just ahead.
Shelby checks the time on his stolen stopwatches as the Ferrari mechanics search for them and argue.
- Miles and the Ferrari battle ferociously in the rain.
Iacocca sees Beebe take note. Beebe calls Shelby’s pit box and tells a mechanic to signal Miles to slow down. When he doesn’t, Beebe confronts Shelby. He demands to know what Mile is doing. Shelby replies, “What he came to do.”
- Miles and the Ferrari continue to battle. The Ferrari overheats its engine, but can continue at reduced pace. Miles ruins his brakes. Others flash by. Without brakes, Miles has to pit.
Ford employs the innovative strategy it developed in California and changes out the entire brake system. Ferrari notices and complains to the officials. They claim that changing the whole system is not allowed, but Miles challenges them to show him the rule that says that. The officials can’t and back off.
- Both adversaries are now in the pits, the Ferrari team working on the overheating engine.
- The Ferrari gets out first, putting Miles a lap behind. To win, Miles will have to pass the Ferrari not once but twice.
Shelby inconspicuously drops a large nut into the Ferrari pit. Ferrari mechanics find it and worry that they left it off their car.
- Miles and the Ferrari battle it out, both drivers and both cars at their limits. Miles passes — he’s now just one lap behind.
- Miles catches up and passes the Ferrari for the lead.
- The Ferrari driver asks too much of his car and his engine blows. His departure leaves Ford 1–2–3.
Early afternoon the next day — 3 hours to go. The Deuce returns and Beebe fills him in. Fords still in the first three places. Miles’s car is still in the lead, laps ahead.
Beebe pitches an idea to The Deuce. Have Miles slow down so the other Fords can catch him and all three can cross the finish line together in a dead heat for a great photo op. The Deuce likes it; Beebe enjoys telling Shelby that The Deuce is calling in the favor Shelby promised him. The three Fords remaining in the race are to finish in a tie.
Miles, in for a rest, sees Shelby and Beebe arguing. Shelby and Miles discuss the Ford scheme and Shelby assures him that even in a tie he’s one of the winners. Shelby tells Miles it’s his call.
- Miles goes back out for his final stint as the driver, which will take them to the finish. He pushes the car to the max.
The Deuce and Beebe steam. Iacocca secretly roots Miles on. Beebe threatens Shelby.
On TV from Hollywood, Peter sees his dad turn the “perfect lap” they discussed, again shattering the Le Mans record.
Iacocca celebrates while Beebe glowers. Even the beaten Enzo Ferrari acknowledges Miles’s mastery.
A Ford underling points out something in the rule book that Beebe finds interesting…
- The 24 hours about to run out, Miles finally slows down and the other Fords catch up. They finish three abreast, with Miles maybe even a hair ahead.
Ford celebrates!
133–135
CLIMACTIC MOMENTBut…Miles DOESN’T win, or even tie for the win. What the Ford underling saw in the rulebook was that an adjustment is made to compensate for the way the cars are lined up at the start. One of the Ford teammates had started farther back from the starting line. When that adjustment is made, the teammate is declared the winner and Miles falls to second place.
Shelby confronts Beebe, who denies knowing that would happen.
Back in California, Peter and Mollie realize Miles didn’t win.
Across the track, Miles’s eyes meet those of Enzo Ferrari. Ferrari silently salutes Miles. But then Ferrari tells a subordinate he’s no longer worried about Ford. They’re “tourists,” just there for the photos and the publicity. They’ll go away.
Miles approaches Beebe, who thinks he’s in for a beating, verbal or otherwise. But Miles just smiles and congratulates him.
Miles has no animosity for the apologetic Shelby either. They both know that Miles pushed it to the limit and faced who he was.
They talk of plans for NEXT YEAR.
136–137
MILES’S DEATHBack in California, Miles tests the next generation Ford race car. In a repeat of his earlier voiceover after leaving the cardiologist’s office, Shelby talks about facing yourself when you’re driving a race car at the absolute limit.
Miles pushes himself and the car to their limits — or maybe just beyond. It fails, he crashes…
137–139
AFTERMATHAnother driver tests the Ford. He comes in, says it’s great. Offers no suggestions for improvement.
Shelby knows that, as a test driver, the man’s no Ken Miles.
Shelby walks back to his office, passing Remington pitching a car to some potential customers. He reaches his office, but Remington follows. He asks Shelby to close the deal with some of his customary charm.
Shelby explodes, throwing one of the wood wedges that Miles had used to raise the car and pass inspection. Is this who Shelby is — just a showman?
Remington notes the framed wrench that Miles had thrown at Shelby earlier. He implies Miles’s death.
139–141
RESOLUTIONShelby drives one of his cars to Miles’s home. He parks a half block away and approaches on foot. When Mollie comes out to get the paper, she doesn’t notice him. She calls back to Peter to take out the trash.
Shelby returns to the car, but Peter is upon him before he can leave. He tells Peter he came to check in on his mom, but had second thoughts what good it would do. Peter notes that his dad and Shelby were friends.
Peter recognizes the wrench Shelby holds. Shelby gives it to him. He notes how tools fix things.
Mollie reemerges, looking for Peter. Her and Shelby’s eyes meet. He tips his hat; she nods as she waits for Peter.
Moments later, Shelby sits in his car. After acknowledging the moment, he takes another heart pill and then roars away.
Writing Exercise: I encourage you to read the script, but short of that, if you’ve seen the movie, go through this scene-by-scene breakdown. What stands out to you about it from a structural standpoint?
Major kudos to Gary Myers for doing this week’s scene-by-scene breakdown.
To download a PDF of the breakdown for Ford v Ferrari, go here.
I am looking for volunteers to read a script and provide a scene-by-scene breakdown for it to be used as part of our weekly series. What do you get out from it? Beyond your name being noted here, my personal thanks, and some creative juju sent your way, hopefully you will learn something about story structure and develop another skill set which is super helpful in learning and practicing the craft.
The latest volunteers [BOLD signifies they have sent me their breakdown]:
1917 / Alexis Howell-Jones
After the Wedding / Nikhil Kamkolkar
Avengers: Endgame / Alexis Howell-Jones
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood / Karen Dantas
Booksmart / Andrew Semancik
The Farewell / Karen Dantas
Ford v Ferrari / Gary Myers
Honey Boy / Ericka Boston
Hustlers / Priya Gopal
Jo Jo Rabbit / Gareth Boucher
Joker / Rebecca Maslen Sapolsky
Knives Out / Brad Johnson
The Lighthouse / Halil Akgündüz
Midsommar / Michael Duffey
Parasite / Olivia Ramirez
Toy Story 4 / Tara Yarlagadda
Uncut Gems / Ryan Canty
Us / Rose Banks
Waves / Savanah Mears
Thanks to the folks who have already sent me their breakdowns.
Now is YOUR chance to contribute to this most worthy cause and provide an additional resource for the online screenwriting community.
There are some excellent movie scripts available including Harriet, The Irishman, Just Mercy, Little Women, Marriage Story, Rocketman, and more. Go here to download a PDF of your favorite 2019 movie script and join the cause by volunteering to do a scene-by-scene breakdown.
Thanks, all!
Even if you do not participate in the analysis, discussion, or write up a scene-by-scene breakdown, I strongly encourage you to read these scripts.
So seize this opportunity and join in the conversation!
I hope to see you in the RESPONSE section about this week’s script: Ford v Ferrari.
