Editing Differences between Script and Film

The ''Lost Highway'' screenplay is available in two forms:

* '''Paperback''': Lynch, David and Barry Gifford, ''Lost Highway'', Faber and Faber (1997) (ISBN 0571191509).  The book also includes a 15 page interview of David Lynch by Chris Rodley.

* '''Online''': The [http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Lost-Highway.html ''Lost Highway'' script is available online] at the [http://www.imsdb.com Internet Script Movie Database (IMSDb)].<br><br>

== Differences ==

Differences between the script and film may be deleted scenes, whether they were filmed or not, deleted or altered lines of dialogue, or scenes that appear in both the script and film but at different points in the story.

==== Fred's female fans ====

* Previous scene: Fred's sax performance at the "Luna Lounge"
* Subsequent scene: Fred's phone call home

The script includes the following brief scene:

<blockquote><table><tr><td>INT.  LUNA LOUNGE - LATER<br>
''After the band quits to take a break, female fans come on to Fred, but he moves away, refusing their attentions.''</td></tr></table></blockquote>

* Shooting status: unknown
* Interpretations: Fred's sexual desires focus solely on Renee, and his suspicions about Renee's honesty and faithfulness outweigh any satisfaction he would receive from other women.

==== Renee's book reading ====

* Previous scene: Fred and Renee watch the first videotape<br>
* Subsequent scene: Fred and Renee have sex

The script includes the following confrontation between Fred and Renee:

<blockquote><table><tr><td>INT. THE MADISON HOUSE - DINING ROOM - DAY

''Renee is seated at the dining room table - coffee cup and grapefruit in front of her.  She is wearing glasses, reading a book.  Fred enters, and sees Renee, who does not look up or acknowledge him.  Fred goes into the kitchen, which is just off the dining room.  He comes back into the dining room with a cup of coffee, and sits down with it opposite Renee.  He lights up a cigarette, sips his coffee, and looks at her.''

				FRED
		Good book, huh?

				RENEE
			(she looks up)
		Huh?... oh, yeah, it is.

				FRED
		Same one you were reading the other
		night?

				RENEE
		What night?

				FRED
		When you didn't come to the club.

				RENEE
		Oh. Oh, yeah.  No. This is a different
		one.

				FRED
		I called, you know.

				RENEE
		Called?  When?

				FRED
		From the club.  You didn't answer.

				RENEE
		I must have fallen asleep.  I was asleep
		when you got home, wasn't I?

				FRED
		You were asleep when I got home, yes.

''Renee goes back to her book.  Fred sips his coffee and smokes.''

				RENEE
			(without looking up)
		I told you you could wake me up if you
		wanted to.

''Renee looks up at him now, takes off her glasses, and stares at him.''

CLOSE UP: ''Fred's face - a disturbed expression.''

''Renee seems about to say something more, but stops, puts her glasses back on and resumes reading.''</td></tr></table></blockquote>

* Shooting status: unknown
* Interpretations: This scene further expresses Fred's suspicions about Renee.

==== Ed and Al consider the camera angle ====

* Previous scene: Ed and Al watch the second videotape with Fred and Renee<br>
* Subsequent scene: Ed and Al talk with Fred and Renee in the bedroom

The script includes the following dialogue:

<blockquote><table><tr><td>INT. THE MADISON HOUSE - HALLWAY - DAY

''All four of them go to the hallway, where Ed and Al look around, especially up toward the ceiling.''

				AL
		Very strange.

				RENEE
		What is?

				AL
		The angle.  The high angle shot on the
		tape.

				ED
		How'd the camera get so high like that?

				AL
		And smooth... Almost no movement - back
		and forth, I mean.

				ED
		Like you'd get if it was hand held.

				AL
		Right ... This just glided along.
</td></tr></table></blockquote>

* Shooting status: unknown
* Interpretations: Given the remainder of the film, this dialogue seems to suggest that the source of the videotapes cannot be human, for a person would be incapable of videotaping at that angle and without lateral movement.

==== Renee exits the "Luna Lounge" ====

In the film, the scene where Renee leaves the "Luna Lounge" with Andy is presented as a flashback Fred has as he waits in bed for Renee before they have sex.  In the script, this scene is presented as a second sax performance, which is set immediately after the scene where Ed and Al leave Fred and Renee's house.  

* Previous scene: Ed and Al leave Fred and Renee's house
* Subsequent scene: in the script, the scene below is followed by scenes that do not appear in the film, see 

The script reads as follows:

<blockquote><table><tr><td>INT. LUNA LOUNGE - NIGHT

''Fred is on the bandstand, sweating, and honking his saxophone.  He handles the horn roughly, braying like a beast as the crowd gathered in front of the stage gyrates as one swept away in the madness of the moment.''

								CUT TO:

INT.  LUNA LOUNGE - SAME

''At the back, near the side door, Renee can be seen with two men, only one of whose faces we see.  The trio are going out the side door led by one of the men; we see only the back of his head.  Renee glances briefly at the bandstand before she exits with the two men.''

								CUT TO:

INT. LUNA LOUNGE - BANDSTAND - SAME

CLOSE UP: ''Fred as he plays, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. His eyes open and shut as he clamps down on the horn.''

								CUT TO:

INT. LUNA LOUNGE - SAME

''In the back of the club, the side door slowly closes.''

FADE OUT</td></tr></table></blockquote>
Shooting status: filmed and edited into previous scene

Interpretations: The script suggests that Fred takes no notice of Renee's exit with Andy (when Andy is first introduced in the script by name, he is described as "the man whose face we saw at the "Luna Lounge" with Renee"), but when the scene is edited as Fred's flashback, his awareness of Renee's exit is emphasized.

==== The Third Videotape and The Second Police Visit ====

In the script, a total of four videotapes arrive at Fred and Renee's house, with the fourth showing Renee's murder.  Below is the scripting of the third videotape, which does not appear in the film.  After Fred and Renee watch the third videotape, Ed and Al meet with them for a second time at their house.

Previous scene: in the script, the scenes below are set immediately after [[Differences_between_Script_and_Film#Renee_exits_the_.22Luna_Lounge.22| Renee exits the "Luna Lounge"]]
Subsequent scene: Andy's party (in the film, Andy's party comes immediately after the first police visit to Fred and Renee's home)

<blockquote><table><tr><td>INT.  THE MADISON HOUSE - STAIRWELL / LIVING ROOM - DAY

''Fred is standing in the living room looking in the direction  of the stairwell.  We hear someone's footsteps coming up the  stairs.  It's Renee, who eventually comes into view.  She is holding another manila envelope.  She arrives at the top step.

''She and Fred lock eyes.

''Fred takes the envelope, opens it, and pulls out a third videotape. without saying anything, Fred takes the tape to the VCR.  He inserts it very carefully, slowly.  He hits play, turns on the television and he and Renee sit down on the couch together and begin to watch with great apprehension.

''Again we begin with a wide shot and then the TV monitor fills the screen.  We see the interior of the house at night in grainy black and white.  The camera glides, looking down from a high angle along the hallway and into the bedroom, where Fred and Renee are sleeping.

''Again, the droning sound plays throughout.

''In the bedroom where Fred and Renee are seen sleeping, Fred, on the tape, slowly awakens as the camera holds on him.  He rises and turns unnaturally in the bed, as if drawn up by his awareness of some strange presence in the room.  He comes to a sitting position, his head straining upwards, looking in the direction of the camera.  At this point, the videotape image turns to snow.''

								CUT TO:

INT. THE MADISON HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

''Fred and Renee are on the couch.  The TV remains on, showing snow.

''Renee is very upset, crying.

				RENEE
		What the hell is going on?!

				FRED
			(equally horrified -
			frightened)
		I wish I knew.

''Fred reaches over and tentatively takes Renee's hand in his.  She trembles, allows him to touch her, but otherwise does not respond.  Suddenly, she jumps with fright.''

				RENEE
		What was that?!!!

				FRED
		What?

				RENEE
		On the tape!  There was something else on
		the tape.

''Fred gets up and rewinds it, passing an image.''

				RENEE (CON'T)
		There!  Play it!

''Fred runs the tape forward.

''We see snow - then a half-second long medium shot of Fred on his knees near the bedroom wall on Renee's side of the bed.  He is looking directly at the camera - his face a ghastly grimace, contorted.  His eyes are wide with horror.

''Fred runs it back again and freezes the tape there on his tormented image, which fills the screen.  He and Renee stare at it.''

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THE MADISON HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

''The Detectives, with Fred and Renee are seated on chairs and the couch.  The three videotapes in their manila envelopes are stacked on a coffee table in the center.''

				AL
		You don't remember being awakened?  It
		looks like you were aware of someone.

				ED
		Or something.

				FRED
		No, I don't remember anything. it looks
		like I... but... I don't remember.

				RENEE
		Why would anyone do something like this?

				AL
		Has anyone made any threats to either of
		you recently?

				ED
		Or not so recently?

				FRED
		No, not to me.

''Al, Ed and Fred all look at Renee.''

				RENEE
		I...	no. No. No threats.

				ED
		We'll take the tapes with us, if that's
		all right with you?

''Ed looks at Fred, then Renee, both of whom nod their agreement.''

				AL
		We'll see that the patrol of the house is
		doubled.

				RENEE
		I don't know if I want to stay here.  I
		don't feel safe.

				FRED
		Where would you feel safe?

				RENEE
		I don't know. Maybe a hotel.

''Ed and Al are watching this exchange between Fred and Renee with keen interest.

''There is a strained silence between them.''

				ED
		Did you use the alarm system since we
		were here last?

				FRED
		The first night ... Not the last two.

				AL
		Why not?

				FRED
			(shrugs)
		I forgot.  Anyway, I hate the idea of
		acting paranoid.

				RENEE
		Acting paranoid?!!! Someone is in our 
		house while we're sleeping, filming us, 
		and you don't want to act paranoid?!!! I 
		thought you set the alarm!

''Fred gets up, lights a cigarette, paces.''

				FRED
		I'll make sure the alarm is set from now
		on.

				RENEE
		But that doesn't solve the problem.  Who
		is doing this?  And why?

''Ed and Al rise from their chairs.  Ed picks up the envelopes.''

				AL
		We'll find out, Mrs. Madison.

''Renee stands with the Detectives.  Fred stands apart - his expression, pained and bewildered.''</td></tr></table></blockquote>

Shooting status: unknown

Interpretations: