1996
Traumatized cameraman Jeffrey Taylor's cross-country move with his wife, Amy, takes a dark turn when their car breaks down and a trucker named Red offers Amy a ride for help, only for her to vanish. Jeff's desperate search for Amy is met with Red's denials and law enforcement's inaction, forcing him to pursue leads alone until Red's associates ambush him and extort money under threat to Amy. After escaping a violent confrontation, Jeff tracks Red to his remote property and discovers Amy imprisoned in a root cellar. Jeff rescues Amy, and they flee in a high-speed chase that ends with Red's truck plummeting into a gorge, finally freeing them from their ordeal.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Veteran photojournalist Jeff Taylor, haunted by trauma from war, embarks on a cross-country drive with his wife Amy only to have her mysteriously abducted at a roadside diner.
Open full beat sheetJEFFREY TAYLOR is listed as Protagonist. A cameraman, husband to Amy, traumatized by a past event. In the parsed data, JEFFREY TAYLOR is connected to 57 scenes, 139 dialogue lines, 143 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
57 scenes / 139 dialogue linesRED BARR is listed as Antagonist. A trucker and leader of a criminal organization. In the parsed data, RED BARR is connected to 18 scenes, 46 dialogue lines, 48 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
18 scenes / 46 dialogue linesEARL is listed as Antagonist. A violent associate of Red. In the parsed data, EARL is connected to 17 scenes, 32 dialogue lines, 33 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
17 scenes / 32 dialogue linesAMY TAYLOR is listed as Protagonist. Jeff's wife, supportive and resilient. In the parsed data, AMY TAYLOR is connected to 16 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
16 scenes / 18 dialogue linesBILLY is listed as Antagonist. An associate of Red who feigns mental disability. In the parsed data, BILLY is connected to 10 scenes, 21 dialogue lines, 24 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
10 scenes / 21 dialogue linesSHERIFF ARTHUR BOYD is listed as Supporting. A local law enforcement officer. In the parsed data, SHERIFF ARTHUR BOYD is connected to 7 scenes, 41 dialogue lines, 42 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
7 scenes / 41 dialogue linesHOWARD is listed as Supporting. Field producer for the TV crew. In the parsed data, HOWARD is connected to 6 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 17 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
6 scenes / 17 dialogue linesAL is listed as Antagonist. An associate of Red. In the parsed data, AL is connected to 6 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 32.
6 scenes / 1 dialogue linesARLEEN is listed as Supporting. Red's wife. In the parsed data, ARLEEN is connected to 5 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 24.
5 scenes / 1 dialogue linesDEKE is listed as Supporting. Red and Arleen's young son. In the parsed data, DEKE is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 52.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesDEPUTY LEN CARVER is listed as Supporting. A local deputy. In the parsed data, DEPUTY LEN CARVER is connected to 2 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
2 scenes / 6 dialogue linesROD is listed as Supporting. Reporter for the TV crew. In the parsed data, ROD is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 1.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesA TV crew waits in a war-torn area while Jeff repairs his camera. They observe a sniper and a woman in the street.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, HOWARD, RODJeff and Howard observe a sniper targeting a woman.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, HOWARDThe woman is shot by the sniper while Jeff watches.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, HOWARDJeff arrives at the airport and reunites with Amy.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLORJeff is unable to sleep and works in his darkroom; Amy tries to talk to him about his trauma.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLORJeff and Amy discuss his career change and his trauma.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLORJeff and Amy are driving cross-country when they nearly collide with a pickup truck.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLOR, EARLJeff and Amy stop for gas; Jeff encounters the driver of the pickup truck.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLOR, EARLThe Cherokee breaks down on the highway.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLORRed stops to help Jeff and Amy.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLOR, RED BARRJeff arrives at the diner looking for Amy.
JEFFREY TAYLORJeff questions the bartender about his missing wife and a trucker, but gets no leads.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, BILLYJeff checks the phone booth and finds the phone book missing.
JEFFREY TAYLORJeff asks the bartender to leave a message for Amy.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, HOWARDJeff leaves the diner and drives away.
JEFFREY TAYLORJeff drives at high speed.
JEFFREY TAYLORJeff spots the Peterbilt truck.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, RED BARRJeff attempts to force the truck to pull over.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, RED BARRJeff forces the truck to stop.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, RED BARRSheriff Boyd arrives at the scene.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, RED BARR, SHERIFF ARTHUR BOYDSheriff Boyd searches the truck cab.
SHERIFF ARTHUR BOYDSheriff Boyd searches the trailer.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, RED BARR, SHERIFF ARTHUR BOYDJeff files a missing person report.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, DEPUTY LEN CARVERJeff returns to the diner and confronts the bartender.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, HOWARDJeff meets Billy at the phone booth.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, BILLYJeff drives to Route 7 and tries to call for help.
JEFFREY TAYLORJeff is blocked by Earl and crashes into a ravine.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, EARLJeff escapes the submerged car while Earl shoots at him.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, EARLJeff escapes the car underwater and swims to the bank while Earl pursues him.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, EARLEarl meets a van driver and continues his pursuit of Jeff.
EARLJeff is carried through the rapids and eventually reaches the bank.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, EARLJeff watches from above as Earl and Al recover the Cherokee.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, RED BARR, EARL, ALJeff is ambushed by Billy.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, BILLYJeff wakes up in the trunk and is interrogated by Billy and Earl.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, EARL, BILLYRed gives Jeff instructions to withdraw the money from the bank.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, RED BARR, EARL, BILLY, ALJeff walks toward the bank.
JEFFREY TAYLORJeff attempts to withdraw the money while trying to signal for help.
JEFFREY TAYLORJeff prepares a weapon.
JEFFREY TAYLORJeff completes the transaction.
JEFFREY TAYLORJeff receives a call from Red.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, RED BARRThe manager calls the sheriff.
Earl picks up Jeff.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, EARLJeff fights Earl while driving.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, EARLSheriff Boyd pursues the truck.
SHERIFF ARTHUR BOYDJeff stops the truck and confronts the sheriff.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, EARL, SHERIFF ARTHUR BOYDEarl shoots Sheriff Boyd, Jeff dives for cover, and Earl is killed by the Sheriff's return fire. Jeff takes the Sheriff's phone and flees in the pickup.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, EARL, SHERIFF ARTHUR BOYDJeff observes the Texaco truck stop from a bluff.
JEFFREY TAYLORJeff searches for Red's truck while avoiding police.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, RED BARRJeff clings to the underside of the moving truck and calls for help.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, DEPUTY LEN CARVERRed arrives home with his truck; Jeff hides and watches.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, RED BARR, ARLEEN, DEKEJeff discovers the stolen goods and Amy's location in the root cellar.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLOR, RED BARR, EARL, BILLY, ALJeff confronts Red and his associates at gunpoint.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, RED BARR, BILLY, AL, ARLEEN, DEKEJeff forces Deke to unlock the cellar and rescue Amy.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLOR, RED BARR, BILLY, AL, ARLEENRed threatens Jeff, who kicks him down the trap door and locks it before fleeing with Amy.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLOR, RED BARRJeff and Amy exit the barn; Amy wants to go to Red's house to call the police, but Jeff refuses.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLOR, BILLYJeff and Amy arrive at a trailer home and break in to use the phone.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLORJeff calls 911 while Amy finds keys; Red crashes his truck into the trailer.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLOR, RED BARRA high-speed chase ensues involving the Ford, the Peterbilt, a Firebird, and a Cadillac.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLOR, RED BARR, EARL, BILLY, ALThe final confrontation on the bridge leads to the Peterbilt falling into the gorge.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLOR, RED BARRPolice process the scene; Jeff and Amy are interviewed by an FBI agent.
JEFFREY TAYLOR, AMY TAYLORProblem is, you can see this town for miles around. So ask yourself: How's the law gonna get here? They gonna fly in? Drive in? Either way, we'll see 'em. So let me be very clear: if we see one unmarked car, one plane, one human being who even smells like a cop -- this deal is dead.
You gotta be the dumbest motherfuck yet. You think we picked you out of the blue? New car, Massachusetts plates -- probably be days before anyone misses you. Hell, you shoulda got the bumper sticker that goes with it: 'Rich Assholes Looking for Trouble!'
We'll certainly do our best, Mr. Taylor. There's over a hundred thousand people go missing in this country every year. Runaways, deadbeat dads, dropouts, folks hiding from the I.R.S. -- all vanishing without a trace.
Take it. We may need to get out of here -- Hello! This is Jeff Taylor. I'm reporting an emergency... I don't know the address, the house belongs to a Red Barr -- I mean, Warren something... No, I don't know his name!
I've seen it a hundred times. Lovers, married couples, gay guys. You put two people in a car long enough, they'll go at it. Hell, I've even seen men dump their women on the side of the road, and vice versa.
There's exactly two cops in this town. One of them's inside pulling ass duty; the other's on patrol in the foothills. Now a minute ago one of my men called in a non-injury accident on the I-40 connector.
Now I'm not saying she's one of them. I sure hope not. But unless there's a ransom demand or evidence of forced abduction, believe me, the F.B.I. won't even look at your case till it's been 24 hours.
Give me the key. Give me the fucking key! Don't mister me, you sonofabitch! My wife is locked in a hole in your fucking barn! You don't give me the key, I'll blow your fucking head off!
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