1973
On the last night of summer 1962, recent high school graduates Steve Bolander and Curt Henderson, along with their friends Terry Fields and John Milner, cruise the main street of Modesto, California, contemplating their futures. Steve struggles with leaving his girlfriend Laurie Henderson for college, while Curt searches for a mysterious blonde in a white Thunderbird and Terry attempts to impress girls and buy alcohol. John, a local street racing legend, finds himself burdened with a young girl named Carol Morrison and is challenged to a race by the formidable Bob Falfa. As the night progresses, Steve and Laurie argue about their relationship, Terry loses Steve's car after a series of mishaps, and Curt is coerced into joining a local gang called the Pharoahs, who involve him in pranks and a search for the elusive blonde.
Save the Cat beat sheet
American Graffiti follows a group of recent high-school grads on their last night of summer cruising, racing, and grappling with their impending futures.
Open full beat sheetJohn Milner is listed as Protagonist. Twenty-two, tough, indifferent, drives a yellow '32 Ford deuce coupe. In the parsed data, John Milner is connected to 24 scenes, 25 dialogue lines, 26 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
24 scenes / 25 dialogue linesTerry Fields is listed as Protagonist. Seventeen, short, loud, thinks he is supercool. In the parsed data, Terry Fields is connected to 24 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 17 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
24 scenes / 17 dialogue linesCurt Henderson is listed as Protagonist. Seventeen, curly hair, bespectacled, town cynic but a hopeless romantic. In the parsed data, Curt Henderson is connected to 20 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
20 scenes / 17 dialogue linesSteve Bolander is listed as Protagonist. Eighteen, good-looking, conservative, president of his graduating class. In the parsed data, Steve Bolander is connected to 18 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
18 scenes / 10 dialogue linesDebbie is listed as Supporting. Nineteen, blonde, Terry's date. In the parsed data, Debbie is connected to 14 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
14 scenes / 9 dialogue linesLaurie Henderson is listed as Supporting. Seventeen, Steve's girlfriend, Curt's sister, sweet and vulnerable. In the parsed data, Laurie Henderson is connected to 14 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
14 scenes / 5 dialogue linesCarol Morrison is listed as Supporting. Thirteen years old, cute, John's accidental passenger. In the parsed data, Carol Morrison is connected to 13 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 17 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
13 scenes / 17 dialogue linesBob Falfa is listed as Antagonist. Driver of a black '55 Chevy, looking to race John. In the parsed data, Bob Falfa is connected to 5 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
5 scenes / 2 dialogue linesBudda Macrae is listed as Supporting. Car hop at Mel's Drive-In. In the parsed data, Budda Macrae is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 43.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesWolfman Jack is listed as Narrator/Radio Personality. Legendary radio DJ, unseen companion to the kids. In the parsed data, Wolfman Jack is connected to 1 scene, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 56.
1 scenes / 5 dialogue linesSteve Bolander arrives at Mel's Drive-In, followed by Terry Fields and Curt Henderson. They discuss Curt's future and the scholarship money.
Steve Bolander, Terry Fields, Curt Henderson, Laurie HendersonThe drive-in is busy at night. John Milner arrives. Steve and Laurie discuss their relationship. Terry tries to impress Budda.
Steve Bolander, Terry Fields, Curt Henderson, John Milner, Laurie Henderson, Budda MacraeThe characters cruise the main drag. John encounters Pazudo. Curt spots a mysterious girl in a T-bird.
Steve Bolander, Terry Fields, Curt Henderson, John Milner, Laurie HendersonJohn picks up Carol Morrison after failing to pick up a carload of girls.
John Milner, Carol MorrisonJohn realizes Carol is too young and tries to get rid of her, but she threatens to scream.
John Milner, Carol MorrisonTerry cruises in Steve's Chevy and gets into a minor accident.
Terry FieldsTerry inspects the damage to the Chevy and is accosted by a salesman.
Terry FieldsThe school dance is in full swing.
Steve Bolander, Curt Henderson, Laurie HendersonLaurie talks to Peg about her relationship with Steve.
Laurie HendersonSteve and Eddie talk about their future and relationships.
Steve BolanderSteve and Laurie argue about dancing.
Steve Bolander, Laurie HendersonCurt talks to Mr. Wolfe about his future.
Curt HendersonJohn is pulled over by a police officer.
John Milner, Carol MorrisonTerry encounters Bob Falfa, who is looking for John.
Terry Fields, Bob FalfaTerry cruises in his new car, spots Debbie, and attempts to pick her up while avoiding bikers.
Terry Fields, DebbieSteve and Laurie dance while arguing, eventually getting into trouble with a teacher.
Steve Bolander, Laurie HendersonCurt meets Wendy, and Steve and Laurie leave the dance.
Steve Bolander, Curt Henderson, Laurie HendersonTerry and Debbie cruise and talk about their interests.
Terry Fields, DebbieTerry and Debbie order food, encounter Vic, and leave to find alcohol.
Terry Fields, DebbieCurt, Wendy, and Bobbie cruise while Curt searches for a mysterious girl.
Curt HendersonJohn and Carol cruise, and John reluctantly agrees to get her a coke.
John Milner, Carol MorrisonJohn tells Carol to get out, but she cries, convincing him to take her for a coke.
John Milner, Carol MorrisonJohn and Carol get a coke at Mel's; Carol gets annoyed when John introduces her as his cousin.
John Milner, Carol MorrisonJohn finds Carol walking and picks her up.
John Milner, Carol MorrisonTerry tries to buy alcohol with Debbie's help but fails repeatedly.
Terry Fields, DebbieTerry is denied alcohol by the owner.
Terry FieldsA man buys alcohol for Terry but then robs the store.
Terry Fields, DebbieJohn shows Carol the wreckage of cars and talks about street racing.
John Milner, Carol MorrisonCurt is confronted by the Pharoahs.
Curt HendersonJohn and Carol sabotage a Cadillac.
John Milner, Carol MorrisonSteve and Laurie park by the canal.
Steve Bolander, Laurie HendersonTerry and Debbie park by the canal to drink and neck, but Terry is nervous and clumsy.
Terry Fields, DebbieThe Pharoahs and Curt rob the miniature golf course arcade.
Curt Henderson, John Milner, Budda MacraeTerry and Debbie's car is stolen while they are in the field.
Terry Fields, DebbieSteve and Laurie argue in the Edsel.
Steve Bolander, Laurie HendersonTerry and Debbie encounter Steve while walking.
Steve Bolander, Terry Fields, DebbieJohn and Bob Falfa engage in a verbal confrontation while driving.
John Milner, Carol Morrison, Bob FalfaCurt and the Pharoahs discuss the mysterious blonde in the T-Bird.
Curt HendersonCurt and Joe discuss the Pharoahs and plan to sabotage the police car.
Curt Henderson, John Milner, Budda Macrae, Carol Morrison, Bob FalfaTerry and Debbie discuss the missing jeep.
Terry Fields, DebbieThe Pharoahs execute their plan, causing the police car to lose its rear axle.
Terry Fields, Curt Henderson, John Milner, DebbieJohn and Carol stop the car; John attempts to seduce her.
John Milner, Carol MorrisonSteve and Budda talk at the drive-in; Laurie watches them.
Steve Bolander, Laurie Henderson, Budda MacraeThe Pharoahs celebrate their successful prank.
Curt Henderson, John MilnerLaurie picks up Bob Falfa.
Laurie Henderson, Bob FalfaJohn drops Carol off at her home.
John Milner, Carol MorrisonSteve and Curt discuss Steve's future.
Steve Bolander, Curt HendersonTerry tries to steal his car back and gets into a fight.
Terry Fields, John Milner, DebbieJohn rescues Terry and Debbie from a fight with local punks.
John Milner, Terry Fields, DebbieSteve learns about Laurie's whereabouts from gossiping girls.
Steve BolanderSteve commandeers Terry's car to find Laurie.
Steve Bolander, Terry Fields, DebbieTerry and Debbie reconcile while John arrives.
Terry Fields, Debbie, John MilnerCurt attempts to meet the Wolfman.
Curt HendersonJohn and Falfa race; Falfa crashes.
John Milner, Bob Falfa, Laurie Henderson, Terry Fields, Steve BolanderCurt receives a mysterious phone call.
Curt HendersonCurt talks to the mysterious girl on the phone one last time before she hangs up.
Curt Henderson, Wolfman JackCurt says goodbye to his friends and family before boarding a plane.
Steve Bolander, Terry Fields, Curt Henderson, John Milner, Laurie HendersonCurt watches the landscape from the plane as the radio signal fades.
Curt HendersonThe fates of the characters are revealed as the plane flies away.
Steve Bolander, Terry Fields, Curt Henderson, John MilnerI've never been beaten--lot of punks have tried. See that '41 Ford there? Used to be the fastest wheels in the valley. I never got a chance to race old Earl. He got his in '55 in the hairiest crash ever happened around here. He was racing a '54 Chevy, bored and loaded, out on the old Oakdale Highway and every damn kid in town was out there. The Chevy lost its front wheel doing about 85. The idiot had torched the spindles to lower the front end and it snapped right off. He slammed bam into the Ford and then they both of them crashed into a row of cars and all those kids watchin! Jesus, eight kids killed including both drivers, looked like a battlefield. Board of Education was so impressed they filmed it. Show it now in Drivers Education, maybe you'll see it. Anyway, since then street racing's gone underground. No spectators, I mean. Too bad.
Hi! Hello... buenos noches? Need a lift? Nice night for a walk? Do you know John Milner? Curt Henderson? Sure you wouldn't like a ride somewhere? Did anyone ever tell you that you look just like Connie Stevens?
I think you're right. I mean, we're not kids anymore, and it's silly to think that when we're three thousand miles apart we shouldn't be able to see other people and go out.
No--no realizing. You've been telling me all summer that it's time to pull your head out of the sand and take a look at the big, beautiful world out there.
Isn't it great, the way I can cry whenever I want. A lot of people can't do that, but Vicki showed me how. I bet you can't cry.
I think it would strengthen our relationship. Then we'd know for sure that we're really in love. Not that there's any doubt.
I'm so thirsty, I could die. Just a little 10 cent coke to wet my whistle. It won't take a minute, I can drink it in the--
Quick! Hang a right! ... Cut over to G Street, I've just seen a vision! She was a goddess. You've got to catch her!
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