Screenplay data
Returning home after the Civil War, Jesse and Frank James find the Transcontinental Railroad, led by Thaddeus Rains and Allan Pinkerton, seizing their land and killing their friends, prompting them to form a gang to retaliate against the railroad's banks and trains. Despite gaining notoriety, internal conflicts and a botched robbery lead to Jim Younger's death and Jesse's capture by Pinkerton agents, who place him on a prison train. Frank, Cole, and Zee intercept the train with a cannon, freeing Jesse, who then confronts Rains and Pinkerton, securing his freedom and the gang's future. The gang disbands, with Jesse and Zee marrying and settling down, while Frank continues to tell their story to his son.
Save the Cat beat sheet
American Outlaws opens with the Rangers ambushed in the woods, establishing a violent, lawless world.
Open full beat sheetJesse James is listed as Outlaw / Leader. 20 years old, good-looking, coiled energy, expert marksman. In the parsed data, Jesse James is connected to 43 scenes, 63 dialogue lines, 67 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
43 scenes / 63 dialogue linesFrank James is listed as Outlaw / Sharpshooter. Tall, dark, thoughtful, sadder than his years. In the parsed data, Frank James is connected to 35 scenes, 31 dialogue lines, 31 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
35 scenes / 31 dialogue linesCole Younger is listed as Missouri Ranger / Outlaw. Big, handsome, leader of the Younger brothers. In the parsed data, Cole Younger is connected to 28 scenes, 23 dialogue lines, 24 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
28 scenes / 23 dialogue linesBob Younger is listed as Missouri Ranger / Outlaw. Skinny, lopsided hair, brother of Cole. In the parsed data, Bob Younger is connected to 22 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
22 scenes / 14 dialogue linesJim Younger is listed as Outlaw. Younger brother of Cole and Bob. In the parsed data, Jim Younger is connected to 18 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
18 scenes / 5 dialogue linesComanche Tom is listed as Tracker / Outlaw. Full-blooded Indian tracker. In the parsed data, Comanche Tom is connected to 17 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
17 scenes / 7 dialogue linesZerelda Mimms is listed as Doctor's daughter. Chestnut-haired beauty, later Jesse's wife. In the parsed data, Zerelda Mimms is connected to 15 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 49.
15 scenes / 5 dialogue linesClell Miller is listed as Outlaw. Tall and blond. In the parsed data, Clell Miller is connected to 11 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 48.
11 scenes / 6 dialogue linesAlan Pinkerton is listed as Detective. Founder of the Secret Service, working for the railroad. In the parsed data, Alan Pinkerton is connected to 9 scenes, 16 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
9 scenes / 16 dialogue linesRollin Parker is listed as Railroad Emissary. Personal emissary of Thaddeus Rains. In the parsed data, Rollin Parker is connected to 8 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 16.
8 scenes / 3 dialogue linesThaddeus Rains is listed as Railroad President. President of the Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. In the parsed data, Thaddeus Rains is connected to 7 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
7 scenes / 9 dialogue linesLoni Packwood is listed as Outlaw. Sad, scruffy man. In the parsed data, Loni Packwood is connected to 7 scenes, first appearing around scene 16.
7 scenes / 0 dialogue linesDoc Mimms is listed as Doctor. Grey-haired, father of Web and Zee. In the parsed data, Doc Mimms is connected to 6 scenes, first appearing around scene 12.
6 scenes / 0 dialogue linesWeb Mimms is listed as Young recruit. 15 years old, terrified but brave. In the parsed data, Web Mimms is connected to 5 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
5 scenes / 10 dialogue linesCaptain Malcolm is listed as Leader of the Missouri Rangers. Commanding officer. In the parsed data, Captain Malcolm is connected to 5 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
5 scenes / 9 dialogue linesMa James is listed as Matriarch. Big, rugged frontier woman. In the parsed data, Ma James is connected to 4 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
4 scenes / 4 dialogue linesThe Rangers are ambushed in the woods by Union soldiers.
Captain Malcolm, Cole Younger, Bob YoungerThe Rangers emerge from the woods and are pinned down by heavy fire.
Captain Malcolm, Cole Younger, Bob YoungerThe Rangers are pinned by a Gatling gun and cannon fire.
Captain Malcolm, Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Comanche TomFrank and Jesse James prepare to assist the Rangers.
Frank James, Jesse James, Web MimmsFrank takes a shot at the cannon crew.
Frank James, Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Captain MalcolmWeb Mimms is killed by Gatling fire.
Jesse James, Web MimmsJesse returns to the line and plans a distraction.
Jesse James, Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Frank James, Captain MalcolmJesse charges the Union line on horseback.
Jesse JamesJesse reaches the Gatling gun and encounters a young soldier.
Jesse James, Web MimmsThe Rangers learn the war is over.
Cole Younger, Jesse James, Frank James, Bob YoungerThe gang arrives in Liberty and sees the hanging of their friends.
Jesse James, Cole Younger, Frank James, Bob YoungerJesse and Frank visit the Mimms family.
Jesse James, Frank James, Zerelda Mimms, Doc MimmsThe group discusses the railroad's involvement in the hangings.
Jesse James, Frank James, Zerelda Mimms, Doc MimmsJesse and Frank return home to Ma James.
Jesse James, Frank James, Ma James, Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Comanche TomMa, Jesse, and Frank discuss Comanche Tom and Jesus while the farm is lit at night.
Ma James, Jesse James, Frank James, Comanche TomJesse, Cole, and Frank work on the farm and discuss women and the war before being interrupted by railroad emissaries.
Jesse James, Cole Younger, Frank James, Ma James, Rollin Parker, Alan PinkertonFarmers meet to discuss the railroad threat; Bob Younger arrives with news of Cole's capture.
Frank James, Jesse James, Doc Mimms, Clell Miller, Web Mimms, Bob YoungerThe rescue of Cole Younger from the gallows.
Cole Younger, Rollin Parker, Alan Pinkerton, Jesse James, Frank James, Bob YoungerZee hides a wounded Jesse from soldiers.
Zerelda Mimms, Doc Mimms, Jesse JamesThaddeus Rains arrives to take charge of the railroad operations.
Thaddeus Rains, Rollin Parker, Alan PinkertonJesse recovers and prepares to leave with Frank.
Zerelda Mimms, Jesse James, Frank James, Doc MimmsA celebration party at the Younger place.
Cole Younger, Jesse James, Zerelda Mimms, Frank JamesA party is held at the Younger place. Jesse and Frank arrive, and Jesse is greeted warmly by Cole. Bob flirts with Zee.
Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Frank James, Jesse James, Zerelda MimmsJesse and Zee walk to a hilltop tree, talk about their future, and share a kiss.
Jesse James, Zerelda MimmsThe barn is set on fire by masked riders. Frank identifies them as Pinkertons.
Cole Younger, Frank James, Jesse James, Zerelda Mimms, Jim YoungerJesse and Frank arrive to find their house destroyed and their mother dying.
Frank James, Jesse James, Ma JamesThe gang plans their retaliation against the railroad.
Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Comanche Tom, Frank James, Jesse James, Zerelda MimmsThe gang robs the Fidelity Bank.
Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Comanche Tom, Frank James, Jesse James, Jim YoungerThe gang celebrates the robbery and discusses their strategy.
Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Comanche Tom, Frank James, Jesse James, Jim YoungerThe gang reads about their fame in the newspaper and plans the next job.
Cole Younger, Comanche Tom, Frank James, Jesse James, Jim Younger, Clell MillerRains and Pinkerton survey the damage caused by the gang.
Rollin Parker, Alan Pinkerton, Thaddeus RainsDoc Mimms reads the news to Zee.
Zerelda Mimms, Doc MimmsJesse and the gang stop a train.
Comanche Tom, Jesse James, Jim YoungerThe gang stops a train using a fake TNT wagon.
Jesse James, Comanche Tom, Jim YoungerThe gang robs a bank after Jesse claims a bill is counterfeit.
Jesse James, Frank James, Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Jim YoungerRains and Pinkerton discuss the gang's success.
Thaddeus Rains, Alan Pinkerton, Rollin ParkerThe gang debates their name while riding.
Jesse James, Frank James, Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Jim YoungerComanche Tom tricks a posse into leaving town.
Comanche Tom, Jesse James, Frank James, Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Jim YoungerJesse and Frank argue about their life choices.
Jesse James, Frank James, Jim YoungerJesse helps Jim Younger meet a woman.
Jesse James, Jim YoungerRains discovers the railroad is avoiding Jesse James.
Thaddeus Rains, Alan Pinkerton, Rollin ParkerCole and Jesse fight over leadership.
Cole Younger, Jesse James, Frank James, Bob Younger, Clell MillerThe James Gang argues about the war and the railroad before deciding to rob the bank.
Cole Younger, Jesse James, Comanche Tom, Bob Younger, Frank James, Jim YoungerThe gang arrives at the bank and is ambushed by Pinkertons.
Jesse James, Cole Younger, Frank James, Comanche Tom, Jim Younger, Clell MillerJesse and the gang fight off the ambushers inside the bank.
Cole Younger, Jesse James, Frank JamesThe gang retreats to the hills where Jim Younger dies from his wounds.
Jesse James, Cole Younger, Jim Younger, Comanche Tom, Clell Miller, Bob YoungerJesse visits Zee and proposes marriage.
Jesse James, Zerelda MimmsJesse is chained in a prison car with Pinkerton detectives, eventually breaking free and fighting his way out.
Jesse James, Alan Pinkerton, Clell Miller, Loni Packwood, Rollin Parker, Thaddeus RainsFrank, Cole, and Zee intercept the train with a cannon.
Frank James, Cole Younger, Zerelda Mimms, Jesse JamesJesse confronts Rains and Pinkerton, securing his freedom.
Jesse James, Alan Pinkerton, Thaddeus Rains, Rollin Parker, Zerelda Mimms, Frank JamesJesse reunites with the gang before parting ways.
Jesse James, Zerelda Mimms, Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Comanche Tom, Frank JamesFrank tells Jimmy James about the past.
Frank James, Web MimmsYou like that? Solid gold, my father had it made when he started this railroad. He gave it to me when I took over, I'll give it to my son when he runs this company, and he'll give it to his son -- The right type of men will always run this country, Jesse James, and little men like you will always suffer. You have stopped nothing.
In the ten seconds we have been in this car, I have seen you get close enough for Jesse James to grab your guns at least three times. And I assure you, if he gets his hands on one of your guns, you are all, and I mean all dead men.
Home. We go home. We ride like hell to get there, and we kill anything or anyone that comes between us and our homes. And when we get there we stay there and God help any fool who tries to get me to leave my farm again.
You and Frank and Cole, and even Bob, get all these girls because you're good looking and famous. You don't have to pay. They just look at me like I'm the baby brother.
Allow a man his version of the past. When you get to be my age, you've got enough painful memories, you're allowed to soften a few of the edges up.
Now every time you go to look at this watch and it's not there, you'll remember: You can be stopped. Pass that down to your son, instead.
I tell you what, I'll buy that watch from you, for the fair market price approved by the Department of the Interior: one dollar.
Wait'll we get back to Missouri, start telling those gals about how little Jesse James charged the whole Union Army by himself!
SlugDB turns parsed screenplays into scene, character, dialogue, trivia, semantic search, Save the Cat, and API-ready analysis.
Use SlugDB when you need screenplay API data, movie dialogue search, character evidence, scene context, or MCP tools without building a scraper first.