2007
Larry Gopnik, a physics professor, faces a sudden unraveling of his seemingly stable life when his wife, Judith, announces she is leaving him for the unctuous Sy Ableman and demands a Gett, a Jewish divorce. Simultaneously, Larry's troubled brother, Arthur, moves in, his son Danny prepares for his bar mitzvah, and a Korean student, Clive Park, attempts to bribe Larry for a passing grade. Seeking guidance, Larry consults three rabbis, each offering cryptic or unhelpful advice, as his personal and professional crises escalate with a car accident, anonymous letters, and a dispute with a neighbor over property lines. After Sy Ableman dies in a car crash, Larry's life becomes further complicated by Arthur's arrest for solicitation and sodomy, forcing Larry to send him away to the Boundary Waters. Larry's tenure application is approved, but he receives a concerning call from his doctor and a large bill from his lawyer, while a massive tornado approaches Danny's Hebrew school, leaving Larry's fate and the community's future uncertain.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Larry Gopnik, a physics professor and family man, finds his orderly life unraveling as his wife demands a divorce and his professional and spiritual worlds collapse.
Open full beat sheetLarry Gopnik is listed as Protagonist. A physics professor dealing with personal and professional crises. In the parsed data, Larry Gopnik is connected to 42 scenes, 20 dialogue lines, 20 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
42 scenes / 20 dialogue linesArthur Gopnik is listed as Larry's brother. Living with the Gopniks, working on the Mentaculus. In the parsed data, Arthur Gopnik is connected to 14 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 42.
14 scenes / 1 dialogue linesDanny Gopnik is listed as Larry's son. A student approaching his bar mitzvah. In the parsed data, Danny Gopnik is connected to 14 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 20.
14 scenes / 1 dialogue linesJudith Gopnik is listed as Larry's wife. Seeking a divorce from Larry. In the parsed data, Judith Gopnik is connected to 7 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
7 scenes / 3 dialogue linesSarah Gopnik is listed as Larry's daughter. Teenager obsessed with washing her hair. In the parsed data, Sarah Gopnik is connected to 6 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 29.
6 scenes / 1 dialogue linesClive Park is listed as Student. A Korean graduate student in Larry's physics class. In the parsed data, Clive Park is connected to 5 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 5.
5 scenes / 1 dialogue linesSy Ableman is listed as Antagonist. A family friend who is involved with Judith. In the parsed data, Sy Ableman is connected to 4 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
4 scenes / 3 dialogue linesRabbi Nachtner is listed as Religious advisor. A senior rabbi consulted by Larry. In the parsed data, Rabbi Nachtner is connected to 4 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 31.
4 scenes / 2 dialogue linesDon Milgram is listed as Lawyer. Larry's divorce attorney. In the parsed data, Don Milgram is connected to 3 scenes, first appearing around scene 25.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue linesGar Brandt is listed as Neighbor. Larry's neighbor who disputes property lines. In the parsed data, Gar Brandt is connected to 3 scenes, first appearing around scene 17.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMrs. Samsky is listed as Neighbor. Larry's sunbathing neighbor. In the parsed data, Mrs. Samsky is connected to 3 scenes, first appearing around scene 14.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue linesReb Groshkover is listed as Historical figure. A man from the prologue story. In the parsed data, Reb Groshkover is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 2.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesRabbi Scott Ginzler is listed as Junior Rabbi. A young rabbi at the synagogue. In the parsed data, Rabbi Scott Ginzler is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 23.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesSolomon Schlutz is listed as Lawyer. A partner at the law firm. In the parsed data, Solomon Schlutz is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 34.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesA man walks through a snowy shtetl street carrying wood.
Reb GroshkoverA man returns home and tells his wife about meeting a man who is supposedly dead.
Reb GroshkoverDanny Gopnik listens to a radio in Hebrew school while the teacher lectures.
Danny GopnikLarry Gopnik undergoes a medical examination.
Larry GopnikLarry deals with a student's grade dispute and receives a mysterious envelope.
Larry Gopnik, Clive ParkJudith tells Larry she wants a divorce and mentions Sy Ableman.
Larry Gopnik, Judith GopnikLarry and Judith argue about her affair with Sy Ableman and the need for a Gett.
Larry Gopnik, Judith Gopnik, Arthur GopnikLarry finds a man in his kitchen drinking orange juice.
Larry GopnikLarry receives messages and confronts Clive Park about a bribe.
Larry Gopnik, Clive ParkDanny practices his Haftorah while Sarah interrupts him.
Danny Gopnik, Sarah GopnikLarry returns home to family chaos.
Larry Gopnik, Danny Gopnik, Judith Gopnik, Sarah GopnikLarry talks to Arthur and is visited by Sy Ableman.
Larry Gopnik, Sy Ableman, Arthur GopnikDanny and Ronnie Nudell try to retrieve a radio from the school.
Danny GopnikLarry fixes the TV aerial and spots his neighbor sunbathing naked.
Larry Gopnik, Mrs. SamskyLarry sleeps on a cot while Arthur works on the Mentaculus.
Larry Gopnik, Arthur GopnikArlen Finkle informs Larry about anonymous letters.
Larry GopnikLarry confronts Gar Brandt about property lines.
Larry Gopnik, Gar BrandtLarry, Judith, and Sy meet to discuss living arrangements.
Larry Gopnik, Judith Gopnik, Sy AblemanLarry prepares to move out while a Korean man visits.
Larry Gopnik, Clive ParkLarry asks Danny to borrow his record player before being confronted by Mr. Park about a grade dispute.
Larry Gopnik, Danny Gopnik, Sarah Gopnik, Clive Park, Gar BrandtLarry grades papers in his motel room and talks to Mimi Nudell on the phone while Arthur is present.
Larry Gopnik, Arthur GopnikLarry and the Nudells have a picnic while Danny and Ronnie Nudell hang out in the woods.
Larry Gopnik, Danny Gopnik, Arthur GopnikLarry consults with the junior rabbi, Rabbi Scott Ginzler, about his impending divorce.
Larry Gopnik, Rabbi Scott GinzlerDanny returns home to find his mother and sister eating soup.
Danny Gopnik, Judith Gopnik, Sarah GopnikLarry meets with his lawyer, Don Milgram, to discuss his divorce and property issues.
Larry Gopnik, Don MilgramLarry wakes up in the motel room and prepares for work.
Larry Gopnik, Arthur GopnikLarry gets into a car accident while trying to confront Clive Park.
Larry Gopnik, Clive ParkLarry deals with a persistent record club caller and a call from Danny.
Larry Gopnik, Danny GopnikLarry returns home to find his family reacting to Sy Ableman's death.
Larry Gopnik, Danny Gopnik, Sarah GopnikLarry consults Rabbi Nachtner about his life and the Rabbi tells him a story about a dentist.
Larry Gopnik, Rabbi NachtnerLarry consults with Rabbi Nachtner about the meaning of the goy's teeth and his own existential questions.
Larry Gopnik, Rabbi NachtnerRabbi Nachtner delivers a eulogy for Sy Ableman.
Larry Gopnik, Judith Gopnik, Sy Ableman, Rabbi NachtnerPolice arrive at the Gopnik home to speak with Arthur regarding gambling.
Larry Gopnik, Danny Gopnik, Arthur Gopnik, Sarah GopnikLarry discusses his divorce and legal issues with Don Milgram; Solomon Schlutz suffers a medical emergency.
Larry Gopnik, Don Milgram, Solomon SchlutzArlen Finkle discusses Larry's tenure application.
Larry GopnikLarry teaches a physics class and hallucinates a confrontation with Sy Ableman.
Larry Gopnik, Sy AblemanLarry visits Mrs. Samsky and smokes marijuana.
Larry Gopnik, Mrs. SamskyPolice arrest Arthur for solicitation and sodomy.
Larry Gopnik, Danny Gopnik, Arthur Gopnik, Mrs. SamskyLarry consults Don Milgram about Arthur's arrest.
Larry Gopnik, Don MilgramLarry attempts to see Minda for help.
Larry GopnikLarry wakes up to find his brother Arthur weeping in the next bed.
Larry Gopnik, Arthur GopnikLarry follows Arthur to the drained pool where they argue.
Larry Gopnik, Arthur GopnikLarry and Arthur drive toward the Boundary Waters.
Larry Gopnik, Arthur GopnikLarry gives Arthur money and sends him off in a canoe, followed by a surreal vision of violence.
Larry Gopnik, Arthur Gopnik, Gar BrandtLarry wakes up from the nightmare to find Arthur alive.
Larry Gopnik, Arthur GopnikDanny performs his bar mitzvah reading.
Larry Gopnik, Danny Gopnik, Judith Gopnik, Arthur Gopnik, Rabbi NachtnerDanny meets with Rabbi Minda.
Danny GopnikLarry receives news about his tenure and a bill from his lawyer.
Larry GopnikLarry drives while receiving a concerning call from his doctor.
Larry GopnikA tornado approaches the school.
Danny GopnikWell, the way I look at it, it's an opportunity for me to really sit down and figure things out, and, and, look at the world afresh instead of just, you know, settling for the routine, tired old way of looking at things.
I haven't done anything. This is not some flashy fling. This is not about woopsy-doopsy.
LARRY, LARRY, LARRY. I think, really, the Jolly Roger is the appropriate coss of action.
I received an unsatisfactory grade. In fact: F, the failing grade.
What reasons did she give? For the rupture?
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