2006
Mary Horowitz, an eccentric and socially awkward crossword puzzle constructor, becomes obsessed with CNN cameraman Steve after a disastrous blind date. Convinced they are soulmates, Mary quits her job and begins following Steve and his news crew across the country, much to the dismay of her parents and Steve himself. Mary's relentless pursuit, often aided by her new friends Howard and Elizabeth, leads her to various news events, where she frequently causes chaos and inadvertently interferes with Steve's work. During a mine collapse rescue, Mary falls into the mine shaft, becoming a national news sensation and forcing Steve to confront his feelings as he reports on her perilous situation.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Mary Horowitz, a quirky puzzle enthusiast, loses her job and becomes infatuated with news cameraman Steve.
Open full beat sheetMary Horowitz is listed as Protagonist. A crossword puzzle constructor with high intelligence, social awkwardness, and a tendency to talk incessantly. In the parsed data, Mary Horowitz is connected to 44 scenes, 51 dialogue lines, 52 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
44 scenes / 51 dialogue linesHartman Hughes is listed as CNN Reporter. A self-absorbed, manipulative reporter who works with Steve. In the parsed data, Hartman Hughes is connected to 23 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
23 scenes / 10 dialogue linesSteve is listed as Love Interest. A CNN cameraman who is the subject of Mary's obsession. In the parsed data, Steve is connected to 21 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 21.
21 scenes / 10 dialogue linesHoward is listed as Friend. An apple sculptor who becomes one of Mary's traveling companions. In the parsed data, Howard is connected to 18 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 25.
18 scenes / 1 dialogue linesAngus McCormack is listed as CNN Producer. A producer for the CNN news crew. In the parsed data, Angus McCormack is connected to 15 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 24.
15 scenes / 2 dialogue linesMrs. Horowitz is listed as Mary's Mother. Concerned mother who wants Mary to have a normal life. In the parsed data, Mrs. Horowitz is connected to 12 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 45.
12 scenes / 1 dialogue linesMr. Horowitz is listed as Mary's Father. Professorial and often exasperated by Mary's behavior. In the parsed data, Mr. Horowitz is connected to 12 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 5.
12 scenes / 1 dialogue linesElizabeth is listed as Friend. A protestor who becomes one of Mary's traveling companions. In the parsed data, Elizabeth is connected to 9 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 10.
9 scenes / 1 dialogue linesJim Soloman is listed as Editor. Editor at the Atlanta Citizen newspaper. In the parsed data, Jim Soloman is connected to 2 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
2 scenes / 3 dialogue linesMary Horowitz works on a crossword puzzle while narrating her philosophy on life, then accidentally spills soda on it.
Mary HorowitzMary waits for her Career Day presentation, struggling with nerves and mumbling to herself.
Mary HorowitzMary gives a disastrous Career Day presentation to a group of 10-year-olds.
Mary Horowitz, Mrs. HorowitzSoloman fires Mary from the Atlanta Citizen.
Mary Horowitz, Jim SolomanMary returns home and talks to her father about her firing and Steve.
Mary Horowitz, Mr. HorowitzCorbitt reprimands Steve and Hartman for poor camera work.
Steve, Hartman Hughes, Angus McCormackMary decides to pursue Steve.
Mary HorowitzMary announces her plan to follow Steve to her parents.
Mary Horowitz, Mrs. Horowitz, Mr. HorowitzMary leaves for Dallas.
Mary Horowitz, Mrs. Horowitz, Mr. HorowitzMary joins Elizabeth at the protestor camp and learns about the pro-leg vs anti-leg factions.
Mary Horowitz, ElizabethMr. and Mrs. Horowitz watch the news and spot Mary on TV.
Mrs. Horowitz, Mr. HorowitzSteve and Angus discuss Mary's presence while Hartman eavesdrops.
Steve, Hartman Hughes, Angus McCormackHartman approaches Mary and manipulates her into believing Steve loves her.
Mary Horowitz, Hartman HughesThe news crew learns the surgery is cancelled.
Steve, Hartman Hughes, Angus McCormackHartman reports live on the cancelled surgery.
Steve, Hartman Hughes, Angus McCormackThe crew drives away while Mary chases them.
Mary Horowitz, Steve, Hartman Hughes, Angus McCormackMary recruits Elizabeth and Howard for a road trip.
Mary Horowitz, Howard, ElizabethThe trio drives toward New Mexico.
Mary Horowitz, Howard, ElizabethThe group arrives at the Cloris Leachman trial.
Mary Horowitz, Howard, ElizabethMary plays poker with the journalists.
Mary Horowitz, Steve, Hartman Hughes, Angus McCormackSteve and Hartman fight.
Mary Horowitz, Steve, Hartman HughesHartman reports live on the violent fans of Cloris Leachman while Steve and Angus prepare to leave.
Hartman Hughes, Steve, Angus McCormackCorbitt watches the live feed and hears Mary screaming on the phone.
Mary HorowitzSteve talks to Mary on the phone, then Angus tells him they are moving.
Steve, Angus McCormackClyde the Shaman gives Mary advice before she spots the news crew.
Mary Horowitz, HowardMary confronts Steve, who tells her to go home.
Mary Horowitz, Steve, Hartman Hughes, Angus McCormackMary resolves to follow Steve after watching the truck drive away.
Mary HorowitzMary calls her parents to explain she is going to Galveston.
Mary Horowitz, Mrs. Horowitz, Mr. HorowitzMary meets Elizabeth and Howard to leave for the storm.
Mary Horowitz, Howard, ElizabethHoward and Mary drive toward the storm.
Mary Horowitz, HowardHartman reports on the storm while Steve looks for Mary.
Steve, Hartman Hughes, Angus McCormackMary and Howard drive through the storm.
Mary Horowitz, HowardHartman reports from a dangerous pier while Steve films.
Steve, Hartman HughesMary and Howard take shelter as their car is destroyed.
Mary Horowitz, HowardSteve is woken up by a prank.
Steve, Hartman Hughes, Angus McCormackMary and Howard wait out the storm.
Mary Horowitz, HowardMary and Howard recover their car.
Mary Horowitz, HowardThe news crew passes Mary and Howard, leaving a note.
Mary Horowitz, Steve, Hartman Hughes, Angus McCormack, HowardHartman reports on the mine disaster.
Steve, Hartman HughesThe children are rescued.
Mary Horowitz, Steve, Hartman Hughes, HowardA monitor displays news of Mary Horowitz's accident in the abandoned mine.
A guy watches the news about Mary on his laptop.
Staff members watch the news report about Mary.
Steve, Hartman, and Angus react to the news of Mary's accident while dealing with Corbitt and Mrs. Horowitz.
Steve, Hartman Hughes, Angus McCormack, Mrs. HorowitzMrs. Horowitz cries while Mr. Horowitz prepares to leave.
Mrs. Horowitz, Mr. HorowitzMary is trapped in the dark and discovers she is not alone.
Mary HorowitzHoward tries to reach the rescue site but is blocked by troopers.
HowardRescuers plan to lower a note to Mary; Hartman struggles to report.
Hartman HughesAngus pressures Steve to do an interview.
Steve, Angus McCormack, Hartman HughesA retired mine supervisor discusses the accident on Fox News.
Mr. Horowitz is furious at the news coverage.
Mr. Horowitz, Mrs. HorowitzReporters swarm the Horowitz house.
Mr. HorowitzMary discovers a little deaf girl in the mine.
Mary HorowitzRescuers lower a note to Mary.
Mary receives the note from the rescuers.
Mary HorowitzRescuers read Mary's reply.
News reports that Mary is alive.
Mr. and Mrs. Horowitz watch the news.
Mr. Horowitz, Mrs. HorowitzNancy Grace reports on the story.
Steve and the crew react to the news.
Steve, Angus McCormack, Hartman HughesRescuers discuss the urgency of the situation.
Retired mine supervisor gives a grim outlook.
Crowd gathers for a vigil; Elizabeth finds Howard.
Howard, ElizabethMary Watch headline on screen.
Passengers watch the news ticker.
Newspapers with Mary Watch headline loaded.
Laundry sorters watch the news.
WAGA Cindy interviews a former teacher.
WAGA Cindy reports on Mary.
Reporter discusses Mary's boots.
Teenagers shop for Mary boots online.
Mary talks to the little girl.
Mary HorowitzWAGA Cindy interviews a scientist.
WAGA Cindy interviews a researcher.
WAGA Cindy continues her report.
Mary talks about Archimedes.
Mary HorowitzCrowd gathers with signs.
Hartman interviews Steve.
Hartman Hughes, SteveSpectators pray for Mary.
Howard, ElizabethCandlelight vigil at the Horowitz house.
I'm not good at... silence. "Mary doesn't do quiet", that's how my grandmother always said it. "What's that hush?" she'd holler at a party. "It's Mary about to talk", then she'd laugh and laugh and laugh. Everybody would... But I knew something they didn't - that if you keep talking, if you keep on talking, you don't hear people telling you that you're different. You don't hear people saying they don't like you. And if you're talking, you just might not hear it when some kid... calls you a freak.
And this time, the warnings were hard to ignore. One Galvestonian told us "tornados, we can handle. Hurricanes we can handle. Bugs we can handle. Put 'em all together and that's a storm I don't need to see". A wise man indeed.
Mary Horowitz doesn't pretend to be anything she's not. She's passionate, beautiful, real... and she definitely doesn't deserve to be where she is now.
Consider yourself temporarily saved by the storm. It's worse than they thought. We've got to move.
I thought you knew better than to pull something like this. It's unprofessional, it's --
Grief too strong for words. That's the best way to describe this tragic, tragic scene.
Paula, this pier was closed to the public twenty-four hours ago, and for good reason.
Corbitt wants you to go on air to talk about Mary. An interview with the boyfriend.
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