Scarface Script PDF Download — Characters & Ending Analysis

There’s no doubt about it: Tony Montana has a perverted worldview. When he says “This country, first you gotta get the money, then you get the power and when you got the power, then you get the women — and then, Chico, you got the world by the balls.”

In this instance, it’s not so much about whether he’s right or wrong, it’s more about how he broadly generalizes things to an unhealthy degree. In a screenwriting sense, this scene works extremely well because it establishes how Tony views the world and it puts him on a path towards achieving these goals. 

Let’s see how this quote is communicated by the incomparable Al Pacino.

Tony’s fall into the water could be viewed as baptismal — with blood washing away as he lays face down. Religion doesn’t play a huge role in Scarface, so perhaps it’s not accurate to say that Stone had that in mind when writing the ending. But still, it’s a very purposeful way of framing Tony’s final moments.

Scarface Script Takeaway #3

Scarface characters aren’t all bad 

Perhaps it’s not fair to say that all Scarface characters are bad — but most Scarface characters are bad; or at least they do immoral things. But even though most characters in Scarface commit capital crimes or engage in purely hedonistic lifestyles, they still have moments of redemption.

• Tony proves that he has a sliver of humanity when he decides not to kill the diplomat and his family. 
• Elvira demonstrates mercy when she refuses to get pregnant with Tony’s child because neither of them are fit to be parents.
• Manny initially rejects Gina’s advances out of respect for Tony.

None of these characters are especially good natured, but they’re just noble enough to not be completely despicable.

If there’s one character in Scarface who consistently acts morally, it’s Tony’s mother. Let’s take a look at the scene where she confronts Tony to see how her worldview is antagonistic to his. 

Tony and his mother have a very contentious relationship. In many ways, this contention is rooted in the concept of complacency. Tony believes you have to take what you want and his mother believes you have to earn what you want. We see Tony take a lot throughout Scarface; including Gina’s freedom, Lopez’s girlfriend, and business from Omar. Tony believes he deserved everything he got, while his mother believes he cheated hardworking people.

And deep down, Tony knows his mother is right. Tony climbed to the highest highs of wealth, but it made him miserable and vindictive. 

This next scene shows how Tony finally found himself a victim of his own parasitic worldview.

In many ways, this scene is a perfect example of how to use external conflict to feed internal conflict. Tony is constantly battling the world and himself to achieve an unachievable goal of perfection. 

Consider framing a scene in your script in a similar way. It’s never a bad idea to be conscious of external and internal conflict, because when they’re communicated effectively, they can add a lot of tension to your story.