2010
Paul Conroy, an American truck driver working as a civilian contractor in Iraq, wakes up buried alive in a wooden coffin with only a cell phone and a lighter. He desperately tries to call for help, contacting his family, the FBI, and eventually his employer, who informs him of a ransom demand from his Iraqi captors. Paul is connected to State Department official Dan Brenner, who attempts to negotiate his release while Paul endures increasingly dire conditions, including a snake in the coffin and an explosion that damages his confinement. As the coffin fills with sand, Paul is fired by his employer to avoid liability, records a final will, and hallucinates a rescue before Dan Brenner calls, confirming a real rescue is underway.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Paul Conroy awakens buried alive in a coffin and desperately tries to contact help via a cell phone.
Open full beat sheetPaul Conroy is listed as Protagonist. 37-year-old American truck driver, blue-collar everyman, civilian contractor in Iraq. In the parsed data, Paul Conroy is connected to 22 scenes, 99 dialogue lines, 100 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
22 scenes / 99 dialogue linesDan Brenner is listed as Support. Commander of the Hostage Working Group in Iraq. In the parsed data, Dan Brenner is connected to 9 scenes, 47 dialogue lines, 47 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
9 scenes / 47 dialogue linesJabir is listed as Antagonist. Iraqi insurgent holding Paul hostage. In the parsed data, Jabir is connected to 5 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
5 scenes / 18 dialogue linesLinda Conroy is listed as Supporting. Paul's wife. In the parsed data, Linda Conroy is connected to 3 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
3 scenes / 6 dialogue linesPamela Gorham is listed as Supporting. CRT employee and hostage. In the parsed data, Pamela Gorham is connected to 2 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
2 scenes / 2 dialogue linesAlan Davenport is listed as Antagonist. Personnel director at CRT. In the parsed data, Alan Davenport is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 16.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesMaryanne Conroy is listed as Supporting. Paul's mother, suffering from Alzheimer's. In the parsed data, Maryanne Conroy is connected to 1 scene, 12 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
1 scenes / 12 dialogue linesNursing Home Nurse is listed as Support. Employee at Mountain View Nursing Home. In the parsed data, Nursing Home Nurse is connected to 1 scene, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
1 scenes / 3 dialogue linesDonna Mitchell is listed as Supporting. Acquaintance of Paul. In the parsed data, Donna Mitchell is connected to 1 scene, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
1 scenes / 2 dialogue linesSpecial Agent Harris is listed as Support. FBI agent at the Chicago field office. In the parsed data, Special Agent Harris is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue lines411 Operator is listed as Support. Information operator. In the parsed data, 411 Operator is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 5.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesFemale 911 Operator is listed as Support. Emergency operator based in Youngstown, Ohio. In the parsed data, Female 911 Operator is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 2.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesRebecca Browning is listed as Support. State Department official. In the parsed data, Rebecca Browning is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 7.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesState Department Rep is listed as Support. Representative for the US Department of State. In the parsed data, State Department Rep is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 7.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesCRT Operator is listed as Support. Operator for Crestin, Roland and Thomas.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesShane Conroy is listed as Supporting. Paul's young son.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesPaul Conroy wakes up trapped in a wooden coffin buried underground, suffering from panic and heat.
Paul ConroyPaul discovers a cell phone in the coffin and attempts to call for help.
Paul Conroy, Female 911 OperatorPaul attempts to contact his family and the FBI.
Paul Conroy, Special Agent HarrisPaul contacts his employer and receives a ransom demand.
Paul Conroy, Alan Davenport, JabirPaul attempts to contact an acquaintance for help.
Paul Conroy, 411 OperatorPaul struggles to get a number for the State Department from Donna, eventually succeeding after a heated argument.
Paul Conroy, Donna MitchellPaul contacts the State Department and is connected to Rebecca Browning, then Dan Brenner.
Paul Conroy, State Department Rep, Rebecca Browning, Dan BrennerPaul speaks with Jabir, then finds a survival kit in the coffin.
Paul Conroy, Jabir, Dan BrennerPaul calls home, then speaks with Dan Brenner again about the kidnapper's number.
Paul Conroy, Dan BrennerPaul and Dan discuss the situation; Paul receives a call from Jabir demanding a video.
Paul Conroy, Dan Brenner, JabirPaul attempts to record a video, then calls his mother.
Paul Conroy, Nursing Home Nurse, Maryanne ConroyPaul receives a video message showing Pamela Gorham's execution.
Paul Conroy, Jabir, Pamela GorhamPaul deals with a snake in the coffin and changes his phone language.
Paul ConroyPaul calls Linda and then speaks with Dan about the convoy attack.
Paul Conroy, Linda Conroy, Dan BrennerThe coffin is damaged by an explosion and begins filling with sand.
Paul ConroyPaul receives a call from Alan Davenport, who proceeds to fire him from CRT to avoid liability.
Paul Conroy, Alan DavenportPaul records a final will and testament for his family.
Paul ConroyJabir calls Paul and demands he send a video of himself cutting off his thumb.
Paul Conroy, JabirPaul hallucinates a rescue, then receives a call from Dan Brenner confirming a real rescue is underway.
Paul Conroy, Dan BrennerPaul speaks to his wife Linda one last time before switching to a call from Dan Brenner.
Paul Conroy, Linda Conroy, Dan BrennerPaul speaks with Linda on the phone before switching to a call from Dan Brenner, who is leading a rescue team to his location.
Paul Conroy, Linda Conroy, Dan BrennerAs the coffin fills with sand, Dan Brenner's team digs, but they discover they have reached the wrong person.
Paul Conroy, Dan BrennerWe had just left Anaconda, everything seemed okay. We knew that a bunch of our CB radios had been stolen and that the Iraqis were listening in, so we made sure to switch from our usual channels. Pam was riding with Jeff Breer, the convoy commander. She wanted to ride with me like she usually did when she hitched a ride from base, but it seemed safer for her to be with the C.C. As we headed down the road, all these kids came running into the street. Dozens of them. It almost seemed like they were expecting us, except we got there faster than they thought we would. So they run on up in front of me, and I slam on my brakes. The rest of the drivers were already further up ahead, so they kept going. Next thing I know, one of the lead trucks got hit by an IED. I hear Tommy Wilkes on the radio saying, Sandman's hit, Sandman's hit. He's...he's everywhere.
That your ransom video already has 47,000 hits on YouTube. And all the major networks are playing it, including Al Jazeera. So, now your captors have no choice but to follow through.
My name is Pamela Gorham. I'm a food service worker at F.O.B. Anaconda, employed by Crestin, Roland and Thomas. My captors' requests for ransom have gone unanswered, and --
Um...okay. Ah...let me bring the cordless phone to her room. Hold on a moment, please.
It's the policy of the United States government to not negotiate with terrorists.
Donna, I need to talk to Linda. It's an absolute emergency. Have her call me.
Misses Conroy, you have a telephone call, dear. Here, you can use this phone.
I will, I promise. Just don't shoot her. She's a mother, she's got two kids.
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