Logline: When a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidding underworld, he discovers the shocking truth - the life he knows is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.
Theme: Fate vs. Free Will
Medium: Feature film
Credits: Written by Lana and Lilly Wachowski
You
1.OPENING VOICEOVERNotes: The main conflict is set up over voiceover, before we even know who's talking. By the time the unassuming Neo is introduced, it's easy to make the connection that he's "The One" they're talking about, leading us to know that he's special before he does.Theme: Explored
2.INT. hotel - NIGHT
3.EXT. hotel - night
4.INT. hotel - NIGHTNotes: Trinity provides the first example of this world not being the same as ours. But we're also told by Smith in the scene prior that Trinity is extremely dangerous, which allows the audience to infer that not everyone in this world can do the stunt she pulled off. The laws of gravity can be broken here, but for some reason, only certain people can break them.
5.ext. city - nightNotes: The agents name their target, and based on that and the opening voiceover, we learn that the agents and Trinity are likely targeting the same guy. The reasons at this point are unknown, but it creates a connection between the agents and Neo, before they ever interact.
6.INT. neo's apartment - nightNotes: In Neo's introduction, we learn that he's smart, quiet and reserved, but also curious and willing to break rules. He's more intrigued than scared when his computer starts talking to him, leading us to assume that he has some familiarity with the strange technology of this world, not just the same computer programming that we know in ours.
Need
7.INT. club - NIGHTTheme: Explored
8.INT. office building - DAY
9.I/E. OFFICE BUILDING - DAYNotes: Neo makes a logical decision here, one that could have been passed on for the sake of having a more eager hero. He thinks realistically - he's not a superhero, so he's not going to climb up the side of a building knowing that he's likely to fall to his death, just to escape a threat that he doesn't even know the extent of. In his mind, he'll just head down and sort it out. It's just the police, right?Theme: Explored
10.INT. interrogation room
11.int. NEO'S APARTMENT - NIGHTNotes: This scene makes the audience feel exactly what Neo is feeling - the relief of the interrogation being just a dream. That ends up not being true, but it messes with our sense of reality, just as Neo is experiencing.
12.int. car - night
Go!
13.INT. hideout - NIGHTNotes: This is Neo's point of no return. He has to make a decision based on very little information, and rely almost solely on his own instinct and curiosity. If Neo was a different type of person, maybe a well-loved sociable guy instead of a law-breaking recluse, he might not have taken the red pill. The direction his life was headed in prior to this decision greatly informed the choice he made.Theme: Stated
14.INT. control room - NIGHTTheme: Explored
15.EXT. the real world - nightNotes: The real world is shown to us before we're told anything about it. It allows it to be more of a shock, and once again, we feel what Neo feels. This is the greatest shock of his life, and having the audience go in just as blind is the only way to replicate that same feeling.Theme: Symbolized
16.montage - operating room
17.INT. the Nebuchadnezzar - night
18.the constructNotes: 56% of all of Neo's dialogue within the film is made up of questions. He's being introduced to a complicated world at a quick pace, and needs clarification to fully comprehend what he's seeing - and the audience is the same way. Neo's abundance of questions is completely in-character, but it's also necessary for the audience to understand what's going on. Morpheus spends likely half of his dialogue just explaining things, but because of the mentor/mentee dynamic they have, it never feels like Neo is asking questions on our behalf.
Search
26.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - NIGHT
27.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - NIGHTNotes: None of the crew members have expressed doubt about their decision to live in the real world, until Cypher. Though he ends up becoming a villain to the protagonists, his feelings aren't wrong. Some people might think it's crazy to want to live in a delusional dream state instead of experiencing real life, but Cypher has had a taste of both, and he's grown tired of the constant fighting. Why is he subjecting himself to this when he could experience a world that's so much better, and could make him happy? If it feels real, who cares if it's actually real?
28.INT. the matrix - restaurant - nightTheme: Challenged
29.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - DAY
30.EXT. the matrix - day
31.INT. THE MATRIX - apartment building - day
32.INT. the matrix - the oracle's apartment - dayNotes: The Oracle touches on the idea of fate vs free will - when the Oracle tells Neo that he's going to break the vase, he turns to look at it, and in doing so, he bumps into it, breaking it. She poses the question, would he have broken the vase if she hadn't told him beforehand that he was going to break it?Theme: Stated
Find
33.INT. THE MATRIX - hideout - day
34.INT. the matrix - HIDEOUT - DAYNotes: Up until this point, Morpheus seems almost untouchable. He never shows any sign of weakness, physical or mental, in the way that he carries himself, which makes it all the more shocking when Agent Smith is so easily able to beat him in a fight. He's the man at the top of the hierarchy when it comes to his team, yet he's one of the first to be broken down.
35.EXT. THE MATRIX - DAY
36.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - NIGHTNotes: Cypher almost teases the fact that divine intervention would be the only thing able to stop him, like he doesn't believe in fate. He's no longer devoted to Morpheus, so why shouldn't he question everything he's been told? Cypher believes that he's in control and he's actively changing the course of his life ... but maybe it's still fate.Theme: Stated
37.INT. the matrix - office building - dayTheme: Explored
Take
38.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - NIGHTNotes: At this point, Neo is positive that he's not The One, and he seems to be less precious about his own life because of it. If it's not solely up to him to save the world, at least he can try without fear that his failure would mean the end.Theme: Explored
39.INT. tHE MATRIX - OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
40.the construct
41.INT. THE MATRIX - OFFICE BUILDING - dayNotes: At its core, Smith's goal is the same as everyone else's - freedom. When he says this, it humanizes him (though he's not even a human). It just so happens that his path to obtain freedom involves killing thousands of people.Theme: Explored
42.INT. THE MATRIX - OFFICE BUILDING - lobby - DAY
43.INT. THE MATRIX - OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
44.INT. THE MATRIX - OFFICE BUILDING - elevator - DAY
45.EXT. THE MATRIX - office building - roof - dayNotes: Neo is almost able to dodge bullets, showing that he's nearing the strength of the agents. Even Trinity is unable to move as quickly as Neo does in this moment, and she's had years of training.
Return
49.INT. THE MATRIX - SUBWAY STATION - dayNotes: Neo doesn't take Cypher's advice of running at the first sight of an agent, even though the stairs are right there. Neo's already proven himself to be nearly as skilled as an agent, and he knows that running away isn't going to solve anything. The only way he can help Morpheus is by trying to fight Smith. Even if he fails, it's a risk he needs to take.
50.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - NIGHTNotes: The introduction of the setinels making their way towards the ship creates a ticking time bomb. Before this, Neo could take as long as he wanted fighting Smith and know that the only threats facing him were coming from the Matrix, not the real world too. This increases the urgency, puts the rest of the team in danger, and gives them a choice to make - turn off the power and save themselves or keep the power on to possibly save Neo?
51.EXT. THE MATRIX - DAY
52.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - NIGHT
Change
53.INT. the matrix - hotel - dayNotes: Neo dying almost gives a definitive answer as to whether or not he's The One. For a moment, he's truly dead - not a fakeout, but a real flatline. This makes the audience think that even though we've gone on an entire journey with Neo, maybe he isn't The One. The only one who's still positive of Neo's destiny is Trinity, the person who knows him the best.
54.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - NIGHTNotes: There were many instances along the way where Trinity could have revealed to Neo what the Oracle told her, but she held it in until this moment. She's guarded, strong-willed, and super focused on the task at hand - telling Neo that love plays a part in her future wasn't something she was going to bring up willingly. But in this scene, she knows what she's seeing can't be true, which is the push she needs to open up.Theme: Explored
55.INT. THE MATRIX - HOTEL - NIGHTNotes: Morpheus previously told Neo that when he's ready, he won't have to dodge bullets. That statement comes true here - there's no need to dodge bullets when you can stop them in mid-air. He's finally reached a level where he has total control over what's in front of him, and it's in this moment where he truly becomes The One.Theme: Symbolized
56.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - NIGHT
57.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - NIGHT
58.INT. THE MATRIX - day
Plot threads
Trinity and Neo
Cypher points out that Trinity likes watching Neo.
Neo meets Trinity.
Trinity convinces Neo to follow her.
Trinity trusts that Morpheus is right about Neo.
Trinity doesn't reveal to Neo what the Oracle told her.
The Oracle can see why "she" likes Neo. But Neo doesn't know who she's referring to.
Trinity declares that she thinks Neo is The One.
Trinity doesn't let Neo go into the Matrix alone.
Trinity and Neo fight together.
Trinity saves Neo.
Trinity is forced to let Neo face Smith on his own.
Trinity professes her love for Neo.
Neo and Trinity kiss.
The Oracle
Morpheus believes that Neo is the answer to the Oracle's prophecy.
Cypher questions why Morpheus hasn't taken Neo to see the Oracle.
Morpheus decides to take Neo to see the Oracle.
Trinity doesn't reveal to Neo what the Oracle told her.
Morpheus explains how the Oracle will help Neo.
The Oracle tells Neo that he isn't The One, and that he'll one day have to choose between his life and Morpheus'.
Neo decides to risk his life for Morpheus, based on what the Oracle told him.
Morpheus tells Neo that the Oracle only told him what he needed to hear.
Trinity tells Neo that almost everything the Oracle said has come true.
Trinity reveals that the Oracle prophesized she would fall in love with The One.
Cypher's Betrayel
Cypher voices his doubt in Morpheus.
Cypher regrets taking the red pill.
Cypher works with Smith to betray Morpheus.
Cypher helps Smith track the team.
The agents are able to capture Morpheus due to Cypher's help.
Cypher kills Apoc and Switch, then is killed by Tank.
Characters
NeoPacific Islander · Male · HeroA hacker who searches for answers about the world around him. He believes that he knows the extent of his abilities, and what he can and can't do, which causes him to be hesitant to try risky things.What does your character want?: To understand the Matrix.How will your character attempt to get it?: By following Trinity and Morpheus when they entice him with the knowledge he seeks.What does your character need?: To realize his true potential.How will your character realize it?: When he almost dies fighting Agent Smith.
MorpheusBlack · Male · MentorThe leader of a team of rebels. He's calm, collected, and confident in his decisions. He is not without weaknesses, but he doesn't like revealing them.What does your character want?: To find The One.How will your character attempt to get it?: By tracking down and training Neo.What does your character need?: To allow others to make their own decisions and figure out who they are themselves.How will your character realize it?: When Neo turns out to be The One - not due to Morpheus telling him he is, but due to the Oracle telling him he isn't, and trying to overcome that disadvantage.
TrinityWhite · Female · MentorMorpheus' right-hand, and the most advanced fighter of the team. She's dominant and commanding, but understands how to connect with people emotionally.What does your character want?: To find The One.How will your character attempt to get it?: By tracking down Neo and recruiting him.What does your character need?: To tell Neo the truth about what she thinks of him.
20.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - NIGHTNotes: Neo finally learns the reason why Morpheus brought him to the real world. It's this information that flips the switch in Neo's head from sulking about the discovery of the truth, to trying everything he can to change the real world. Neo has known Morpheus' name for a while, and now knowing that Morpheus believes he's the key to saving humanity gives him more confidence in his abilities.Theme: Explored
21.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - day
22.sparring program
23.jump programNotes: Neo experiences his first big failure, and Trinity can hardly watch. Even though this moment gives the crew no insight as to whether or not he's The One, any failure will still put doubt in their minds. They can't feel what Morpheus feels, so in order for them to actually believe that Neo's The One, they need something they can see.Theme: Symbolized
24.INT. THE NEBUCHADNEZZAR - NIGHTNotes: Cypher's one question to Trinity plants the seed of his distaste for Morpheus. When he takes things to the extreme later on, the groundwork for his ideology has already been laid.
25.agent training program
46.EXT. THE MATRIX - DAYNotes: Morpheus reveals that the Oracle didn't tell him the truth, she instead told him what he needed to hear. Neo needs to earn the title of The One, not just be given it. His need to overcome the hinderance of just being a "normal guy" is exactly what will lead him to realizing that Morpheus was right all along.Theme: Explored
47.EXT. THE MATRIX - OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
48.INT. the matrix - subway station - dayNotes: Smith accidentally shooting the phone due to Trinity disappearing forces a 1v1 battle between Neo and Smith. Neo needs to fight Smith alone to prove whether or not he's The One, but there's no logical way to get Trinity away from Neo without forcing it upon her. She would never choose to leave, so an unescapable situation had to be created, and now she can do nothing but watch.
Notes: Neo is now following in Morpheus' footsteps. Morpheus opened Neo's eyes and showed him what was possible, and now Neo wants to do the same for others.
Theme: Stated
How will your character realize it?: When Neo almost dies in the Matrix.
Agent SmithWhite · Male · VillainMorpheus' extremely dangerous and powerful enemy.What does your character want?: To be free from the Matrix.How will your character attempt to get it?: By getting the codes to Zion's mainframe any way he can.
OracleBlack · Female · God
CypherWhite · Male · SaboteurA member of Morpheus' crew who is tired of fighting.What does your character want?: To live in the blissful false reality of the Matrix instead of the depressing real world.How will your character attempt to get it?: By striking a deal with Agent Smith to give up Morpheus in exchange for a peaceful life.