# Dealbreaker screenplay clichés **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [March 14, 2022, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002 "2022-03-14T02:31:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/1 "2022-03-14T02:31:00Z")
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” “I can explain!” “We’ve got company.” “It’s not what you think!” “Can you just trust me?” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/2 "2022-03-14T02:36:00Z")
“I know everything, but I can’t talk now. Meet me at midnight.” ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/3 "2022-03-14T02:38:10Z")
“After i tell you what i know I’m going to the police!” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/4 "2022-03-14T04:28:34Z")
“I think you’d better take a look at this.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/5 "2022-03-14T04:34:14Z")
“I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/6 "2022-03-14T04:36:46Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > “We’ve got company.” Indeed: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Fvn8E0hOrRM/maxresdefault.jpg "We've Got Company! Supercut") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvn8E0hOrRM) ---
**Author:** ![steepone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@steepone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steepone)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/7 "2022-03-14T08:28:42Z")
“Let’s split up” ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/8 "2022-03-14T08:52:59Z")
“Have you told anyone else about this?” and not in the text, but the camera directions: Focus on car this person has just got in, from outside… ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/9 "2022-03-14T09:43:24Z")
This one drives me crazy: Two people in some sort of scary or tense moment, typically walking, often looking for the source of the tension. One, who is slightly ahead of the other, stops, stares, mouth agape, speechless. Person number two catches up, and what do they do? Look to see what the source of the partner’s distress is? Nope. They instead stare directly at person one’s terrified face for way too long, until person one eventually, slowly points, directing person two where to look. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/10 "2022-03-14T10:32:27Z")
Open mouth loud screaming. Animals roaring. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/11 "2022-03-14T11:23:15Z")
This one is usually a lady: sees dead body, drops item, screams. Sometimes while holding her face. I like that Knives Out subverted this one. Also holding someone’s head while kissing them. It looks like you’re about to murder them IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/12 "2022-03-14T12:00:19Z")
“I retired from pulling off elaborate heists, but this One Last Job I’ve been offered sounds like easy money.” “Oh no, a car is chasing me. I’m going to run right down the center of the road, and not into the woods along the side of the road, where the car would have a much more difficult time running me down.” ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/13 "2022-03-14T16:27:13Z")
Watching Trust: “It’s okay sweetie. It happens to everyone. Now and again.” ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/14 "2022-03-14T16:44:12Z")
Once again: “Can I ask you a question?” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/15 "2022-03-14T16:49:53Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > “I think you’d better take a look at this.” Picard: What are you seeing, Number One? Riker: Trouble. Yes, how about a useful description, you twit! ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/16 "2022-03-14T16:52:01Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Picard: What are you seeing, Number One? > Riker: Trouble. > > Yes, how about a useful description, you twit! Cut to a person actually named “Trouble.” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/17 "2022-03-14T16:53:43Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Picard: What are you seeing, Number One? > Riker: Trouble. > > Yes, how about a useful description, you twit! Whenever someone said, “Fire at will” on _ST:TNG_, I wondered if Riker felt the need to duck. That said, “Fire at will” probably belongs in this thread’s list. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/18 "2022-03-14T17:20:55Z")
“I’m going to–” “You’re going to what!?” Who interrupts some who’s telling you what they’re going to do just to ask them what they’re going to do? Does this EVER happen irl? Or just in every single argument written for a screen? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/19 "2022-03-14T17:33:29Z")
No fair because this happens all the time in real life. Me: I’d like a Big Mac and als Order Taker: Would you like anything else? ---
**Author:** ![Eclipse\_Chaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Eclipse\_Chaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eclipse_Chaser)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2022, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002/20 "2022-03-14T17:48:13Z")
"Let’s just say … " [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealbreaker-screenplay-cliches/961002.md?page=2)