1987
In 1972, CIA operative Nico Toscani witnesses his partner, Kurt Zagon, torture prisoners in Vietnam, leading to Nico's disillusionment and eventual career as a Chicago police officer. Years later, Nico and his partner, Dolores Jackson, investigate drug dealer Bautista Salvano, but their efforts are thwarted when the FBI releases Salvano and orders Nico to stand down. After a bomb explodes in a church Salvano frequented, killing Father Genarro and several refugees, Nico is framed for a crime and arrested by the FBI, forcing him to go rogue to uncover the truth. Nico discovers that Zagon, now a ruthless former CIA operative, is involved in illegal drug trafficking and torture, and that his former partner, Nelson Fox, is also implicated.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Chicago detective Nico Toscani balances family life and a dangerous investigation into federal corruption.
Open full beat sheetNicola Toscani is listed as Protagonist. A former CIA operative turned Chicago police officer, skilled in martial arts. In the parsed data, Nicola Toscani is connected to 77 scenes, 28 dialogue lines, 28 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
77 scenes / 28 dialogue linesDolores Jackson is listed as Supporting. Nico's undercover police partner. In the parsed data, Dolores Jackson is connected to 41 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
41 scenes / 5 dialogue linesBautista Salvano is listed as Antagonist. A Venezuelan drug dealer operating in Chicago. In the parsed data, Bautista Salvano is connected to 17 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
17 scenes / 2 dialogue linesSara Toscani is listed as Supporting. Nico's wife. In the parsed data, Sara Toscani is connected to 13 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 47.
13 scenes / 3 dialogue linesKurt Zagon is listed as Antagonist. A ruthless former CIA operative involved in illegal drug trafficking and torture. In the parsed data, Kurt Zagon is connected to 11 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
11 scenes / 4 dialogue linesAgent Neeley is listed as Supporting. An FBI agent. In the parsed data, Agent Neeley is connected to 11 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 31.
11 scenes / 2 dialogue linesLieutenant Strozah is listed as Supporting. Nico's police lieutenant. In the parsed data, Lieutenant Strozah is connected to 7 scenes, first appearing around scene 4.
7 scenes / 0 dialogue linesNelson Fox is listed as Supporting. Nico's former CIA partner. In the parsed data, Nelson Fox is connected to 6 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
6 scenes / 3 dialogue linesFather Genarro is listed as Supporting. A priest at St. Elizabeth's parish. In the parsed data, Father Genarro is connected to 6 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 38.
6 scenes / 2 dialogue linesSenator Ernest Harrison is listed as Supporting. A politician investigating CIA drug connections. In the parsed data, Senator Ernest Harrison is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 91.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesA helicopter lands at a jungle base near the Viet-Cambodian border in 1972, bringing a CIA chemical interrogation team.
Nicola Toscani, Nelson Fox, Kurt ZagonZagon and his team interrogate two prisoners using drugs and torture, leading to a confrontation with Nico.
Nicola Toscani, Nelson Fox, Kurt ZagonNico's son Julian is baptized.
Nicola Toscani, Sara Toscani, Father GenarroA party follows the baptism, attended by family and police colleagues.
Nicola Toscani, Sara Toscani, Dolores Jackson, Lieutenant StrozahNico investigates the disappearance of a girl named Lucy and gets into a fight.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico and Jackson discuss Nico's motivations for being a police officer.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonA lawyer named Abandano is at the counter.
Nico interrogates Carla DeCarlo and then throws her into the cage where Jackson is undercover.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonJackson exits a building and gets into Nico's car.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico and Jackson follow Abandano.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonAbandano meets a woman and enters the bank.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico signals Jackson to follow Abandano.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonAbandano and the woman enter the Federal Building.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonSalvano threatens Nardo the busboy.
Bautista SalvanoChi Chi murders Nardo.
Bautista SalvanoSalvano and Chi Chi discuss the shipment.
Bautista SalvanoChi Chi is on the phone.
Nico wires the phone line.
Nicola ToscaniNico and Jackson listen to the wiretap.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonChi Chi and Abandano leave.
Nico and Jackson follow the Lincoln.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico gets the registration info.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonThe Lincoln arrives at the restaurant.
Nico and Jackson realize it's Salvano's place.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico and Jackson enter the restaurant.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico, Jackson, and Lukich prepare for a bust.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonThe bust begins.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico jumps onto the moving Lincoln.
Nicola Toscani, Bautista SalvanoNico secures Salvano and finds explosives.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores Jackson, Bautista SalvanoSalvano is released by the FBI.
Bautista Salvano, Agent NeeleyNico is ordered to stand down.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores Jackson, Lieutenant Strozah, Agent NeeleyNico turns in his tapes and bugs.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores Jackson, Lieutenant StrozahNico and Jackson leave the precinct.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico listens to a tape.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico and Jackson follow Salvano to church.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores Jackson, Bautista SalvanoSalvano and Chi Chi arrive at the church while Nico watches from his car.
Nicola Toscani, Bautista SalvanoSalvano and Chi Chi enter the church; Nico and Jackson follow.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores Jackson, Bautista SalvanoNico and Jackson meet Father Genarro.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores Jackson, Father GenarroFather Genarro shows Nico and Jackson the sanctuary.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores Jackson, Father GenarroNico and Jackson meet the refugees.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores Jackson, Father GenarroNico and Jackson leave the church.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores Jackson, Father GenarroA bomb explodes in the church during mass.
Nicola Toscani, Sara Toscani, Father GenarroNico confronts Agent Neeley.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores Jackson, Lieutenant Strozah, Agent NeeleyNico is ambushed by Latino hoods.
Nicola ToscaniNico receives a warning call from Fox.
Nicola Toscani, Nelson Fox, Sara ToscaniNico is arrested by the FBI.
Nicola Toscani, Sara Toscani, Agent NeeleyNico is arrested by FBI agents while his family watches in distress.
Nicola Toscani, Sara Toscani, Agent NeeleyNico is led to an unmarked car while neighbors watch.
Nicola ToscaniA witness signs a deposition against Nico.
Nicola Toscani, Agent NeeleyNico is interrogated by FBI agents and Lieutenant Strozah.
Nicola Toscani, Kurt Zagon, Lieutenant Strozah, Agent Neeley, Senator Ernest HarrisonNico calls Sara to reassure her.
Nicola Toscani, Sara ToscaniSara receives a call from Nico.
Sara ToscaniNico finishes his call and meets Jackson and Lukich.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonJackson shares information about the church bombing and Senator Harrison.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico questions refugees about the church bombing.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico tells Jackson to go home.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico drives while deep in thought.
Nicola ToscaniNico is ambushed by armed men.
Nicola ToscaniNico fights off his attackers.
Nicola ToscaniNico calls Lukich to prepare his family for evacuation.
Nicola ToscaniNico helps his family pack to leave.
Nicola Toscani, Sara ToscaniNico retrieves weapons from a hidden cache.
Nicola ToscaniNico's family arrives at a safe house.
Nicola Toscani, Sara ToscaniNico forces Neeley to help him find information.
Nicola Toscani, Agent NeeleyNico leaves Neeley behind.
Nicola Toscani, Agent NeeleyNico meets Watanabe to get help with computer data.
Nicola ToscaniNico and Watanabe use sophisticated computer equipment to access covert ops databases and personnel files.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonJackson receives a mysterious phone call while reviewing documents.
Dolores JacksonNico and Watanabe analyze personnel files and identify Fox's involvement in drug operations.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico observes the dark convention hall while contemplating the information.
Nicola ToscaniNico asks Watanabe to check airline records for the agents.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico confirms five assassins are in Chicago and decides to find a priest.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico joins Jackson and Lukich in their car.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonNico, Jackson, and Lukich discuss the situation regarding the Senator's aide.
Nicola Toscani, Dolores JacksonSalvano's men kidnap the nun and the priest.
Kurt Zagon, Bautista SalvanoZagon tortures Father Tomassino with drugs.
Kurt Zagon, Bautista SalvanoNico and Lukich storm the apartment, leading to a shootout.
Nicola Toscani, Kurt Zagon, Bautista SalvanoNico escapes the roof by jumping onto a passing train.
Nicola Toscani, Kurt Zagon, Bautista SalvanoNico bandages his wounds and mourns Jackson.
Nicola ToscaniNico arrives at the safe house and reunites with his family.
Nicola Toscani, Sara ToscaniWhen I was overseas, I saw some things. Things that eat your guts out. Things that stay in front of your eyes like they were burned in and branded.
There's more. I got the papers from that senator's aide's apartment. Everything Harrison's been working on. It's all at my place.
Detective Toscani. I wanted to personally thank you. You are making it possible for a sliver of truth to finally come out.
You're in trouble, Nico. Serious, serious trouble. Take your wife and family and get them someplace safe now.
You'll be in heaven in a few minutes, padre. But first I'm going to put you through hell.
Mr. Salvano has been working for some time in cooperation with certain federal agencies.
That's the nice thing about modern technology. You don't have to wait for results.
You've got to swallow that pride, Nico. Choke on it if you have to. Lay it aside.
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