1944
Drama critic Mortimer Brewster, secretly married, visits his sweet aunts only to discover they are poisoning lonely old men and burying them in the cellar. As Mortimer tries to commit his delusional brother Teddy, his criminal brother Jonathan and accomplice Doctor Einstein arrive with their own victim, uncovering the aunts' secret. Jonathan and Einstein plot to kill Mortimer, but the police intervene, arresting them while Teddy is safely committed to a sanitarium. The aunts agree to join Teddy, and Mortimer, discovering he is not a biological Brewster, is freed from the family's murderous legacy and leaves with Elaine.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Arsenic and Old Lace follows Mortimer Brewster as he navigates the deadly secrets of his kindly aunts while planning his own marriage.
Open full beat sheetMortimer Brewster is listed as Protagonist. A dramatic critic who prides himself on being a bachelor, recently married to Elaine. In the parsed data, Mortimer Brewster is connected to 22 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
22 scenes / 13 dialogue linesAbby Brewster is listed as Mortimer's aunt. Sweet, kind old lady who poisons lonely men. In the parsed data, Abby Brewster is connected to 16 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
16 scenes / 4 dialogue linesMartha Brewster is listed as Mortimer's aunt. Sweet, kind old lady who poisons lonely men. In the parsed data, Martha Brewster is connected to 16 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 8.
16 scenes / 1 dialogue linesDoctor Einstein is listed as Jonathan's accomplice. A plastic surgeon and Jonathan's partner in crime. In the parsed data, Doctor Einstein is connected to 13 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 25.
13 scenes / 1 dialogue linesJonathan Brewster is listed as Mortimer's brother. A criminal with a face resembling Boris Karloff. In the parsed data, Jonathan Brewster is connected to 12 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
12 scenes / 6 dialogue linesElaine Harper is listed as Mortimer's wife. A minister's daughter, blonde, curly hair. In the parsed data, Elaine Harper is connected to 9 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
9 scenes / 2 dialogue linesTeddy Brewster is listed as Mortimer's brother. Believes he is Theodore Roosevelt, digs locks in the cellar. In the parsed data, Teddy Brewster is connected to 7 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 3.
7 scenes / 1 dialogue linesOfficer O'Hara is listed as Police officer. A policeman who is also an aspiring playwright. In the parsed data, Officer O'Hara is connected to 7 scenes, first appearing around scene 3.
7 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMr. Witherspoon is listed as Superintendent of Happy Dale. The head of the sanitarium. In the parsed data, Mr. Witherspoon is connected to 6 scenes, first appearing around scene 19.
6 scenes / 0 dialogue linesSargent Brophy is listed as Police officer. A police officer on the beat. In the parsed data, Sargent Brophy is connected to 4 scenes, first appearing around scene 3.
4 scenes / 0 dialogue linesLieutenant Rooney is listed as Police Lieutenant. A no-nonsense police officer. In the parsed data, Lieutenant Rooney is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 27.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesReverend Harper is listed as Elaine's father. A minister who disapproves of Mortimer. In the parsed data, Reverend Harper is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 3.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMortimer and Elaine attempt to get a marriage license, but Mortimer is embarrassed and tries to keep it secret, eventually fleeing with Elaine.
Mortimer Brewster, Elaine HarperMortimer and Elaine hide in a phone booth to escape journalists.
Mortimer Brewster, Elaine HarperAbby and Martha host Reverend Harper while Teddy plays music. Police officers Brophy and O'Hara visit to collect toys.
Abby Brewster, Martha Brewster, Teddy Brewster, Officer O'Hara, Sargent Brophy, Reverend HarperMortimer arrives to announce his marriage to his aunts.
Mortimer Brewster, Abby Brewster, Martha BrewsterMortimer discusses his wedding plans with his aunts and discovers a disturbing baby picture of Jonathan.
Mortimer Brewster, Abby Brewster, Martha BrewsterTeddy Brewster enters and interacts with Mortimer before heading to the cellar.
Mortimer Brewster, Teddy BrewsterMortimer discovers a body in the window-seat and confronts his aunts.
Mortimer Brewster, Abby Brewster, Martha BrewsterMortimer learns the full extent of his aunts' activities.
Mortimer Brewster, Abby Brewster, Martha BrewsterMortimer tries to arrange for Teddy's commitment while dealing with Elaine and Mr. Gibbs.
Mortimer Brewster, Elaine Harper, Abby Brewster, Martha BrewsterMortimer discovers Mr. Hoskins' hat and leaves the house in a hurry.
Mortimer Brewster, Abby Brewster, Martha BrewsterMortimer leaves the house and takes a taxi.
Mortimer BrewsterAbby and Martha discuss Mortimer while Jonathan and Einstein arrive.
Abby Brewster, Martha Brewster, Jonathan Brewster, Doctor EinsteinMortimer gets papers signed for Teddy's commitment.
Mortimer BrewsterTeddy interacts with Jonathan and Einstein, then goes to the cellar.
Abby Brewster, Martha Brewster, Teddy Brewster, Jonathan Brewster, Doctor EinsteinJonathan and Einstein discuss the body in the cellar.
Jonathan Brewster, Doctor EinsteinElaine arrives and is confronted by Jonathan and Einstein.
Elaine Harper, Jonathan Brewster, Doctor EinsteinMortimer returns and confronts Jonathan.
Mortimer Brewster, Elaine Harper, Abby Brewster, Martha Brewster, Jonathan Brewster, Doctor EinsteinMortimer tries to get rid of Jonathan and the corpse in the window-seat while dealing with Elaine and the police.
Mortimer Brewster, Elaine Harper, Abby Brewster, Martha Brewster, Jonathan Brewster, Doctor EinsteinWitherspoon talks to Mortimer on the phone.
Mortimer Brewster, Mr. WitherspoonJonathan and Einstein plot to stay in the house.
Jonathan Brewster, Doctor EinsteinMortimer keeps O'Hara occupied in the kitchen.
Mortimer Brewster, Abby Brewster, Martha Brewster, Officer O'HaraJonathan and Einstein discover the aunts' secret.
Abby Brewster, Martha Brewster, Jonathan Brewster, Doctor EinsteinMortimer secures the doctor's signature.
Mortimer Brewster, Teddy Brewster, Mr. WitherspoonMortimer attempts to calm his aunts while Jonathan and Einstein plot in the cellar.
Mortimer Brewster, Abby Brewster, Martha Brewster, Jonathan Brewster, Doctor EinsteinJonathan and Einstein discuss their plan to eliminate Mortimer.
Jonathan Brewster, Doctor EinsteinMortimer interacts with Teddy and Einstein, eventually getting tied up by Jonathan and Einstein.
Mortimer Brewster, Teddy Brewster, Jonathan Brewster, Doctor EinsteinJonathan and Einstein prepare to operate on Mortimer, but are interrupted by O'Hara.
Mortimer Brewster, Jonathan Brewster, Doctor Einstein, Officer O'Hara, Sargent Brophy, Lieutenant RooneyWitherspoon arrives at the house.
Mr. Witherspoon, Officer O'HaraWitherspoon arrives to collect Teddy, while O'Hara and the cab driver wait outside.
Elaine Harper, Officer O'Hara, Mr. WitherspoonMortimer manages the signing of commitment papers for Teddy and the aunts, while dealing with Witherspoon and Rooney.
Mortimer Brewster, Abby Brewster, Martha Brewster, Teddy Brewster, Officer O'Hara, Sargent BrophyThe aunts agree to go to Happy Dale, and Mortimer discovers he is not a Brewster.
Mortimer Brewster, Elaine Harper, Abby Brewster, Martha Brewster, Teddy Brewster, Doctor EinsteinMortimer leaves with Elaine, and the cab driver has a breakdown.
Mortimer Brewster, Elaine HarperWell, I don't quite know really. Look, I probably should have told you this before, but you see... well, insanity runs in my family.
Certainly, he's wanted somewhere. In Indiana ! He escaped from the prison for criminally insane. He's a lifer.
He's a Mister Hoskins. Adam Hoskins. That's really all I know about him, except that he's a Methodist.
Oh, yes, dear. Let me see now. This is eleven, isn't it, Abby?
This is all fixed up nice now. Nice and smooth like a lake.
You mean that you and Aunt Martha have murdered twelve...
I'll take care of you, Mortimer, in just a little while.
I'm not really a Brewster ! I'm the son of a sea cook !
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