Before Midnight screenplay first page

Before Midnight (2013) — Screenplay

A decades-long love affair reaches a crossroads as Jesse and Celine confront unresolved tensions during a Greek summer vacation, testing their bond.

Written by
Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Julie Deply
Genre
Drama, Romance
Studio
Sony Pictures
Length
115 pages

This script is a masterclass in naturalistic dialogue, with Linklater, Hawke, and Delpy crafting conversations that feel both spontaneous and profoundly revealing. Study its real-time pacing and how it builds emotional stakes through intimate two-handers, showing how a single day can encapsulate a relationship's entire history. A powerful example of character-driven drama with minimal plot.

Read the full Before Midnight (2013) screenplay in PDF, page by page, right here on Laper — or download the original script to study Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Julie Deply’s scene work, dialogue and structure at your own pace. A free resource for screenwriters and film students learning Hollywood script format.

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