2000
Wills Keane, a wealthy and commitment-phobic restaurant owner, begins a passionate affair with Charlotte Fielding, a vibrant and unconventional hatmaker celebrating her nineteenth birthday. Charlotte soon reveals to Wills that she has an inoperable brain tumor and only a short time left to live, which deeply impacts Wills and forces him to confront his hedonistic lifestyle. Despite their initial agreement to keep their relationship casual, Wills finds himself falling in love with Charlotte and, with the help of his estranged daughter Lisa, seeks out a renowned cardiac surgeon, Dr. Tom Grandy, to explore a risky surgical option. Charlotte initially resists the idea of surgery, fearing the loss of her remaining time, but eventually agrees after Wills confesses his love and commitment to her.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Autumn in New York follows Wills, a commitment-phobic restaurateur, who meets Charlotte, a terminally ill hat designer.
Open full beat sheetWills Keane is listed as Protagonist. Late 40's to early 50's, strikingly handsome, wealthy restaurant owner, hedonist. In the parsed data, Wills Keane is connected to 80 scenes, 204 dialogue lines, 207 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
80 scenes / 204 dialogue linesCharlotte Fielding is listed as Protagonist. 19, fair, willowy, pale, unconventional, hatmaker, terminally ill. In the parsed data, Charlotte Fielding is connected to 71 scenes, 195 dialogue lines, 196 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
71 scenes / 195 dialogue linesJohn Volpe is listed as Supporting. 40, Wills' best friend, manager of Elysium, tough Brooklynite. In the parsed data, John Volpe is connected to 15 scenes, 37 dialogue lines, 37 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
15 scenes / 37 dialogue linesDolores Talbot is listed as Supporting. 70, Charlotte's grandmother, weathered, heavy drinker. In the parsed data, Dolores Talbot is connected to 10 scenes, 24 dialogue lines, 24 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
10 scenes / 24 dialogue linesSimon Loring is listed as Supporting. Late 20's, English, sardonic, Charlotte's friend. In the parsed data, Simon Loring is connected to 8 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 24.
8 scenes / 10 dialogue linesShannon Harris is listed as Supporting. 19, Charlotte's best friend, redhead, spoiled but big-hearted. In the parsed data, Shannon Harris is connected to 7 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
7 scenes / 9 dialogue linesSarah Volpe is listed as Supporting. 30, John's wife. In the parsed data, Sarah Volpe is connected to 6 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
6 scenes / 7 dialogue linesCelia is listed as Supporting. Mid-20's, hostess at Elysium. In the parsed data, Celia is connected to 6 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 45.
6 scenes / 6 dialogue linesOlivia is listed as Supporting. 30's, Wills' Jamaican housekeeper. In the parsed data, Olivia is connected to 6 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
6 scenes / 6 dialogue linesLisa is listed as Supporting. 23, Wills' estranged daughter, works at the Met. In the parsed data, Lisa is connected to 5 scenes, 26 dialogue lines, 29 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
5 scenes / 26 dialogue linesDr. Paul Sibley is listed as Supporting. 60, African-American, Charlotte's doctor. In the parsed data, Dr. Paul Sibley is connected to 3 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
3 scenes / 8 dialogue linesDr. Tom Grandy is listed as Supporting. 35, renowned cardiac surgeon, hippie-like appearance. In the parsed data, Dr. Tom Grandy is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 93.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue lineschar_14 is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, char_14 is connected to 2 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 63.
2 scenes / 2 dialogue linesWills Keane walks through the park with a woman, discussing his inability to commit, while Charlotte Fielding gives a speech to a group nearby.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte arrives home with her mannequin and is surprised by a birthday party.
Charlotte Fielding, Dolores TalbotWills tells his date, Tanya, that their relationship has no future.
Wills KeaneWills visits his restaurant, interacts with staff, and spots Charlotte celebrating her birthday.
Wills Keane, Charlotte Fielding, John Volpe, Dolores Talbot, Shannon Harris, Simon LoringWills calls Charlotte to commission a hat for a date.
Wills Keane, Charlotte Fielding, OliviaWills and Olivia discuss Wills' sleeping habits; Wills is amused.
Wills Keane, OliviaWills, John, and Sarah discuss Wills' interest in Charlotte.
Wills Keane, John Volpe, Sarah VolpeCharlotte and Shannon talk while Charlotte makes hats; Dolly watches TV.
Charlotte Fielding, Dolores Talbot, Shannon HarrisCharlotte arrives at Wills' building in the rain.
Charlotte FieldingCharlotte rides the elevator with Michael.
Charlotte FieldingCharlotte prepares to meet Wills; Olivia lets her in.
Wills Keane, Charlotte Fielding, OliviaWills and Charlotte discuss the hat and she agrees to be his date.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills and Charlotte attend the benefit; Lisa observes them.
Wills Keane, Charlotte Fielding, LisaWills and Charlotte return home and share a kiss.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills and Charlotte spend the night together.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills watches Charlotte sleep.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte reveals she is dying to Wills.
Wills Keane, Charlotte Fielding, OliviaWills consults Dr. Sibley about Charlotte's condition.
Wills Keane, Dr. Paul SibleyWills finds Charlotte waiting for him.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills emerges from a meeting with Dr. Sibley and embraces Charlotte, who is waiting for him.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte proposes that they enjoy their time together without strings, and reveals she was a virgin.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte navigates a fashion show to find her friends.
Charlotte FieldingCharlotte finds Simon and Shannon.
Charlotte Fielding, Shannon Harris, Simon LoringCharlotte shares her excitement with Simon and Shannon.
Charlotte Fielding, Shannon Harris, Simon LoringWills discusses his relationship with John.
Wills Keane, John VolpeWills visits Charlotte's home and meets Dolores.
Wills Keane, Dolores TalbotWills enters the brownstone.
Wills Keane, Dolores TalbotWills and Dolores talk while waiting for Charlotte.
Wills Keane, Dolores TalbotCharlotte tries on a dress with Simon.
Charlotte Fielding, Simon LoringCharlotte joins Wills and Dolores.
Wills Keane, Charlotte Fielding, Dolores TalbotCharlotte and Wills discuss her birthday wish.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte and Wills spend the day together.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte and Wills discuss their relationship rules.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte helps Wills shop for clothes.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte and Wills leave the store.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills confesses his original intentions to Charlotte.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills and Charlotte begin their intimacy.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills spots Lisa and investigates.
Wills Keane, Charlotte Fielding, LisaWills reunites with Charlotte.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte and Wills undress and share a vulnerable moment.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte experiences pain during intimacy.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte and Wills lie in bed together.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills and Charlotte lie in bed, sharing poetry and intimate conversation.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte walks through the park during dusk, seeing children in costumes.
Charlotte FieldingWills and John argue about business and Wills' personal life.
Wills Keane, John Volpe, CeliaWills discovers a disturbing letter while Charlotte prepares for Halloween.
Wills Keane, Charlotte Fielding, OliviaEstablishing shot of a Halloween party.
Party guests mingle, including Celia and Jesus.
CeliaWills watches children bob for apples and encounters a woman from his past.
Wills Keane, John Volpe, Sarah VolpeCharlotte recites poetry to John's children.
Charlotte Fielding, Sarah VolpeThe party winds down and Charlotte looks for Wills.
Charlotte Fielding, John Volpe, Celia, Sarah VolpeCharlotte talks to John about Wills.
Charlotte Fielding, John VolpeCharlotte finds Wills with Wendy.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills and Charlotte ride in a car, tension rising.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte and Wills break up.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte enters her home.
Charlotte FieldingCharlotte talks to Dolly about her mother and Wills.
Charlotte Fielding, Dolores TalbotWills packs Charlotte's things.
Wills KeaneCharlotte goes to her room.
Charlotte FieldingWills arrives at Elysium with a new date.
Wills Keane, John Volpe, CeliaCharlotte is at a bar with Simon.
Charlotte Fielding, Simon LoringCharlotte and Simon discuss Wills while Shannon arrives with Eric, an old friend of Charlotte's.
Charlotte Fielding, Simon Loring, Shannon Harris, char_13Wills is interrupted by John during a conversation with Patty.
Wills Keane, char_14, John VolpeJohn confronts Wills about his recent absence.
John Volpe, Wills KeaneJohn expresses his frustration with Wills' life choices.
John Volpe, Wills KeaneWills confesses his feelings for Charlotte to John.
Wills Keane, John VolpeWills breaks up with Patty.
Wills Keane, char_14Wills learns he has a visitor.
Wills Keane, char_15Wills meets his daughter Lisa.
Wills Keane, LisaCharlotte returns home.
Charlotte FieldingCharlotte experiences chest pain.
Charlotte FieldingWills is waiting for Charlotte in her bedroom.
Charlotte Fielding, Wills KeaneWills and Charlotte walk and argue about Eric.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills and Charlotte continue their argument.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills and Charlotte go skating.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte gets angry at Wills.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills watches Charlotte skate.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingCharlotte tells Wills to stop asking about Eric.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills and Charlotte talk about their pasts.
Wills Keane, Charlotte FieldingWills has lunch with John and his family.
Wills Keane, John Volpe, Sarah Volpe, char_16, char_17You see, Charlotte, the way you know you're getting older is that you start to notice patterns. People start falling into types. Pretty soon you know a person before you've even been introduced. And if it's a woman, before the romance even starts, a whisper in your head tells you exactly what it is and how long it's going to last. And the saddest, the most tedious, part of all is that that little voice is almost always right. Now, what I like about you -- and I think that's actually what inspired this little lecture -- is that I find you completely unprecedented... and, therefore, wholly unpredictable.
And then our friends would say we were just into each other for weird psychological reasons. You know, because I'm looking for a daddy substitute and you're looking for someone you can feel superior to so you won't have to confront how scared you are of real intimacy -- and, of course, they'd be right and eventually we'd break up. But since I'm so sick it doesn't really matter what deep-seated weirdness has brought us together because there's no way we can possibly screw each other over... or up... because that takes time. And I don't have much left.
Now, Mr. Keane, on the phone you referred to Charlotte's condition as cancer. That isn't strictly accurate. Neuroblastoma is a soft tissue malignancy, but it isn't cancer -- although it sometimes can be just as aggressive. It's most common in children. In young adults, the condition is extremely rare. In Charlotte's case, the tumor is located in her chest. It's growing rapidly and has proved resistant to both irradiation and chemotherapy. And because of its proximity to her aorta, surgery is out of the question.
-- so everybody on the conference call starts introducing themselves. Ned Lewey, Paris Office. Takashi Matsuo, Tokyo Office. Whoever, the London Office. And then someone says, "Will the architect from the New York office please identify himself." And I pipe up and say, "Well, guys, I'm not a him or an architect. I'm Patty Strauss and I'm head of East Coast marketing." And there's like total silence. It was hysterical!
Buddy, I hate to break it to you, but in the real world... where I live... there're only two kindsa love stories. Boy loses girl and girl loses boy. That's all there is. Somebody always gets left behind. You try to avoid that, you'll end up an old man toastin' yourself with egg nog in the mirror on Christmas Eve. You'll end up dying in your own arms.
He said it's the first time since we got married that he's actually realized what marriage is. That it's forever. That he can't just pick up and run away to Nepal or something if we have a fight. That he's part of the cycle of things now. That he's gonna die some day. That it's the next generation's turn to take the stage.
I wish I were exaggerating, but I'm not. I slept with every one of them. Really. Look through Dolly's old photo albums... or any movie magazine... visit Aspen at Christmas. I was on a mission. And until recently I really didn't think I had a problem. Or if I did, it was definitely the most pleasurable one I could imagine.
How quickly time was passing and how adolescent I still felt. How meaningless all my choices seemed. How lonely I was. So I liquidated my portfolio, sold my businesses, and moved back here. To start over, settle down, start acting my age. You were supposed to be my one last dalliance with youth.
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