2023
Frustrated novelist and professor Thelonious "Monk" Ellison satirically writes a novel exaggerating Black stereotypes under a pseudonym after a contentious university leave and family struggles. To his dismay, the book becomes a massive success, leading to a film deal and forcing Monk to maintain his fake persona while navigating a relationship with his neighbor Coraline, who eventually discovers his secret. As his satirical novel gains critical acclaim, Monk grapples with the moral implications of his deception and the pressure to reveal his true identity, leading to confrontations with his family and the publishing world. Ultimately, Monk decides to continue the charade, accepting an award for his book and securing his family's financial future, reconciling his artistic integrity with his unexpected success.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Patrick Monk, a disgruntled Black author and professor, retreats to his childhood home after a classroom incident.
Open full beat sheetThelonious 'Monk' Ellison is listed as Protagonist. Black, 50s, neurotic, tired, professor and novelist. In the parsed data, Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison is connected to 60 scenes, 50 dialogue lines, 50 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
60 scenes / 50 dialogue linesCoraline Wilson is listed as Neighbor. Early 40s, black, dreadlocks, public defender. In the parsed data, Coraline Wilson is connected to 15 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
15 scenes / 5 dialogue linesCliff Ellison is listed as Monk's Brother. Early 50s, plastic surgeon. In the parsed data, Cliff Ellison is connected to 14 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
14 scenes / 8 dialogue linesAgnes Ellison is listed as Monk's Mother. 70s, black, graceful, suffering from early Alzheimer's. In the parsed data, Agnes Ellison is connected to 12 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 32.
12 scenes / 10 dialogue linesLorraine is listed as Housekeeper. Black, late 60s, live-in housekeeper. In the parsed data, Lorraine is connected to 12 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 32.
12 scenes / 3 dialogue linesBrittany is listed as Student. White, 19, student in Monk's class. In the parsed data, Brittany is connected to 7 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
7 scenes / 4 dialogue linesArthur is listed as Agent. 50s, gregarious, Monk's literary agent. In the parsed data, Arthur is connected to 7 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
7 scenes / 2 dialogue linesLisa Ellison is listed as Monk's Sister. Late 50s, doctor. In the parsed data, Lisa Ellison is connected to 6 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 9.
6 scenes / 1 dialogue linesWiley Valdespino is listed as Director. White, 50s, film director. In the parsed data, Wiley Valdespino is connected to 4 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 53.
4 scenes / 14 dialogue linesMaynard is listed as Security Guard. Black, late 60s. In the parsed data, Maynard is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 33.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesLeo is listed as Department Chair. White, 50s, chair of the English department. In the parsed data, Leo is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 3.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesSintara Golden is listed as Author. Black, 32, polished, author of 'We's Lives in Da Ghetto'. In the parsed data, Sintara Golden is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 5.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesGilda is listed as Professor. White, 50s, colleague of Monk. In the parsed data, Gilda is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 3.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMandel is listed as Professor. White, 60s, colleague of Monk. In the parsed data, Mandel is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 3.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMonk teaches a class and gets into a confrontation with a student named Brittany over the use of a racial slur in a literary title.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, BrittanyBrittany leaves the classroom in tears while Monk continues the class.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, BrittanyMonk is reprimanded by his colleagues for his behavior with students and is told to take mandatory time off.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Leo, Mandel, GildaMonk receives a call from his agent Arthur while in Boston.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, ArthurMonk attends a poorly attended panel and discovers the popularity of Sintara Golden's book.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Sintara GoldenMonk visits his sister Lisa at her workplace.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Lisa EllisonMonk and Lisa catch up while driving.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Lisa EllisonMonk and Lisa arrive home and greet Lorraine and their mother, Agnes.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Lisa Ellison, Lorraine, Agnes EllisonMonk and Lisa discuss their mother's declining health and their father's past affairs.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Lisa Ellison, Agnes EllisonMonk confronts a bookstore employee about the categorization of his books.
Thelonious 'Monk' EllisonMonk and Lisa discuss family finances and their brother Cliff.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Lisa EllisonMonk watches as the medical team fails to save Lisa.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Lisa EllisonThe family gathers to scatter Lisa's ashes.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Lorraine, Agnes Ellison, Cliff EllisonMonk and Cliff talk about their lives and their father.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Cliff EllisonMonk and Cliff argue about Lorraine's medication and discover a water leak.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Cliff Ellison, LorraineMonk finds Agnes in an overflowing bathtub.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Agnes EllisonMonk talks to Leo on the phone and meets his neighbor Coraline.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Leo, Coraline WilsonMonk and Coraline have wine and discuss their lives.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Coraline WilsonMonk and Cliff prepare to leave; Coraline approaches Monk.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Cliff Ellison, Coraline WilsonMonk receives a diagnosis for his mother.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Agnes EllisonMonk begins writing his satirical novel.
Thelonious 'Monk' EllisonMonk watches TV and receives a call from Arthur.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, ArthurMonk and Coraline spend time together.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Coraline WilsonMonk and Coraline share an intimate moment.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Coraline WilsonMonk returns home to find the power out.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, LorraineCliff is shown using drugs.
Cliff EllisonMonk argues with Cliff over the phone.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Cliff EllisonArthur tells Monk that his book sold.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, ArthurMonk and Arthur call Paula Baderman.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, ArthurMonk meets Maynard.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Lorraine, MaynardCoraline visits Monk and meets Agnes.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Lorraine, Agnes Ellison, Coraline WilsonMonk and Coraline discuss their evening with Agnes while drinking, then rush out when they hear Lorraine calling for help.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Coraline WilsonMonk and Coraline find Lorraine in a panic because Agnes has gone missing.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Coraline Wilson, Lorraine, MaynardMonk finds Agnes walking near the water and convinces her to return home.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Agnes Ellison, Coraline Wilson, Lorraine, MaynardMonk tours the elder care home with Agnes and Luz.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Agnes EllisonMonk takes a phone call from Carl Brunt.
Thelonious 'Monk' EllisonLorraine asks Monk for time off to visit a museum with Maynard.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, LorraineMonk and Agnes visit Arthur; Monk prepares to meet Wiley Valdespino.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Agnes Ellison, ArthurMonk meets Wiley Valdespino to discuss a film adaptation.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Wiley ValdespinoMonk rushes back to Arthur's office.
Thelonious 'Monk' EllisonMonk finds Agnes safe; he and Arthur discuss the meeting.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Agnes Ellison, ArthurMonk participates in a Zoom call with other Literary Award judges.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Sintara GoldenMonk, Coraline, and Lorraine help Agnes settle into her new room.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Agnes Ellison, Coraline Wilson, LorraineLorraine announces she is getting married to Maynard.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Coraline Wilson, LorraineMonk and Arthur discuss the book deal with Paula and John.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, ArthurMonk and Coraline return home to find Cliff in the pool.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Coraline Wilson, Cliff EllisonMonk, Coraline, and Cliff drink and talk.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Coraline Wilson, Cliff EllisonMonk, Coraline, and Cliff arrive at the home with boxes for Agnes.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Coraline Wilson, Cliff EllisonMonk, Coraline, and Cliff arrive at the care home with boxes for Agnes.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Brittany, Cliff EllisonCliff questions Monk about how he can afford the care home.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Brittany, Cliff EllisonThe group visits Agnes, who is unresponsive.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Brittany, Cliff EllisonMonk speaks with a doctor about Agnes' behavior.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Brittany, Cliff EllisonMonk and Wiley discuss potential endings for the movie script.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Wiley ValdespinoA flashback/imagined scene where Stagg R. Leigh wins an award.
Thelonious 'Monk' EllisonMonk leaves the banquet hall after the award announcement.
Thelonious 'Monk' EllisonMonk walks through the city and hails a cab.
Thelonious 'Monk' EllisonMonk visits Coraline to apologize.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Coraline WilsonMonk and Wiley discuss the Coraline ending.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Wiley ValdespinoMonk imagines a violent ending where he is killed by police.
Thelonious 'Monk' EllisonWiley loves the violent ending.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Wiley ValdespinoMonk leaves the studio and meets his brother Cliff.
Thelonious 'Monk' Ellison, Cliff EllisonHe's dead? They smoke him? It's perfect. Yes! That is perfect. Time to pick out your tux, my brother. We're going to the big show. Hey, come transcribe this. We got it.
Hopefully I expired under the heaving thrusts of a sweaty Idris Elba, or perhaps in a less dignified manner, under the heaving thrusts of a sweaty Russell Crowe.
These are all made by the same company. The Red is shit, the Black is less shit, and the Blue is good.
My wife left me because she caught me in bed with a man. She took the house, half my practice.
I'd just stepped out for a moment to have a cup of coffee with Maynard. I was right in front.
Dunno. The real Coraline won't return my calls. Maybe the movie Coraline is more forgiving.
I don't have a thought on the reading, I just think that that word on the board is wrong.
People forget dentist appointments. She forgets I'm not married anymore. That's weird.
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