The scene begins with a very narrow shot. Rocky is sitting on a bench and he is all the way to the left of the frame. Rocky is directing in front of the camera so most of the scene is played up to the front of him. This is a unique shot rather than the traditional directly across from each other frame. The camera is angled in such a way that all we can see is Rocky in the left corner and a doorway on the right side of the screen, the space in between being a plain wall. Through the doorway is the only clear source of light in this shot. Of course they had other light sources but this was the only obvious one. The effect of minimal lighting adds to both the intimacy and the intensity of the scene. The simple backdrop comes after a fast paced fight scene and is meant to draw our attention into the scene. There is nowhere else for the eye, and therefore the mind, to wander.

    There is eerie music in the background, strangely like jungle noises with birds tweeting. That doesn’t make sense to me since they are in a concrete gym. It is likely intended to have a different effect that I can’t pick up on. Other than that, you heard water droplets to remind us that they are in a locker room and all of the voices or other sounds echo. This is done intentionally to give the impression of an actual locker room when this was likely just another set. They pay attention to the small details to capture the authenticity of a shot.

    Adrian grabs Rocky’s hand and puts another on his shoulder while on her knees. This shot and her body position adds to her and Rocky’s relationship. She is looking up at him rather than looking down or across, which she could have just have easily done. She looked up at him to maintain the idea that he is big and manly even though he needed help in this moment. The directors didn’t want the viewer to think that Rocky was suddenly a helpless child, they had to reinforce his strength a little. Rocky is bent over and rocking back and forth. His whole body is shaking at this point so the unstoppable hand shakes could easily be seen as shivering. The viewer doesn’t immediately know that that is what is wrong.

    The next shot is of Rocky’s swollen face, looking slightly up at him which would be very similar to Adrian’s view. However, it is not Adrian’s view because that would break the rule of 180. It’s a suggestion, you don’t automatically know but it feels like a familiar shot. It’s also quite close, you can’t even see the entire width of Rocky’s shoulders. That’s the way this entire scene is shot, closer than the normal shots in the movies. It’s an unexpected level of intimacy which prefaces the information that the audience learns about Rocky.

    We then go to a close up of Adrian’s heart torn face as she listens to Rocky, then quickly back to him, then back to a close up of their two faces together. Their faces are the only things in the frame and it serves to remind the audience of where they are in relation to each other amid all the close ups. The shot switches to Rocky’s hands shaking and Adrian’s moving over them to steady them. This motion is reflective to her relationship with Rocky, she is his rock. And later on, she cares for him when he can’t speak up for himself just like she is caring for him in this moment.

    Then we resume switching between shots of Rocky and Adrian and when Rocky uses the incorrect name, the camera immediately cuts to Adrian. Adrian sharply looks up and this adds a bit of drama to the scene. Previously it was sad and concerning but now there is another reason to be concerned, he messed up her name. The shot goes back out and Rocky says he wants to go home. At which point Adrian says okay and rests her head on Rocky’s hands. The scene then fades out and ends.