1959
In 1959, after reading about the brutal murder of the Clutter family in rural Kansas, New York writer Truman Capote travels to Holcomb with his friend Nelle Harper Lee to research an article for The New Yorker. Truman ingratiates himself with the locals and lead investigator Alvin Dewey, but struggles to gain access to the killers, Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, after their arrest. Truman eventually forms a deep, complex bond with Perry, who shares details of his traumatic past and the night of the murders, while Truman promises to tell his story truthfully in a book he now envisions as a new literary form: the non-fiction novel. As Perry and Dick's appeals drag on for years, Truman finds himself in a moral dilemma, needing their executions to provide a definitive ending for his book, yet also growing increasingly attached to Perry. Despite his internal conflict, Truman ultimately attends the executions of Perry and Dick, witnessing the hanging of the man he has come to care for, and finally completing his masterpiece, "In Cold Blood."
Save the Cat beat sheet
The biographical drama follows Truman Capote’s journey from New York to Kansas to investigate the Clutter family murders, his relationship with Harper Lee, and his bond with murderer Perry Smith.
Open full beat sheetTruman Capote is listed as Protagonist/Writer. A famous, eccentric, and ambitious writer from New York. In the parsed data, Truman Capote is connected to 76 scenes, 150 dialogue lines, 153 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
76 scenes / 150 dialogue linesPerry Smith is listed as Killer. One of the Clutter family killers, sensitive, damaged, and artistic. In the parsed data, Perry Smith is connected to 28 scenes, 53 dialogue lines, 56 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
28 scenes / 53 dialogue linesNelle Harper Lee is listed as Truman's friend/Research assistant. Truman's childhood friend, smart, tough, and sensible. In the parsed data, Nelle Harper Lee is connected to 26 scenes, 34 dialogue lines, 34 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
26 scenes / 34 dialogue linesRichard Hickock is listed as Killer. One of the Clutter family killers, manipulative and cold. In the parsed data, Richard Hickock is connected to 13 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 24.
13 scenes / 10 dialogue linesJack Dunphy is listed as Truman's partner. Truman's longtime boyfriend, strong and Irish-American. In the parsed data, Jack Dunphy is connected to 12 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 19.
12 scenes / 18 dialogue linesWilliam Shawn is listed as Editor. Editor of The New Yorker. In the parsed data, William Shawn is connected to 11 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 27.
11 scenes / 13 dialogue linesAlvin Dewey is listed as KBI Agent. Lead investigator on the Clutter case. In the parsed data, Alvin Dewey is connected to 9 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 15 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
9 scenes / 15 dialogue linesMarie Dewey is listed as Alvin Dewey's wife. Pretty and hospitable wife of Alvin Dewey. In the parsed data, Marie Dewey is connected to 5 scenes, 19 dialogue lines, 19 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
5 scenes / 19 dialogue linesDorothy Sanderson is listed as Sheriff's wife. Wife of Sheriff Walter Sanderson. In the parsed data, Dorothy Sanderson is connected to 5 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
5 scenes / 11 dialogue linesLinda Murchak is listed as Perry Smith's sister. Perry's estranged sister living in Tacoma. In the parsed data, Linda Murchak is connected to 1 scene, 10 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 60.
1 scenes / 10 dialogue linesA girl arrives at a farmhouse, knocks, and looks at her mother in the car.
The girl enters the farmhouse and heads upstairs.
The girl approaches a bedroom door.
The girl discovers the body of Nancy Clutter.
Truman and friends discuss writing and life at a party.
Truman CapoteTruman reads about the Clutter murders and calls William Shawn.
Truman Capote, Jack Dunphy, William ShawnTruman and Nelle Harper Lee travel to Kansas.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper LeeTruman and Nelle meet Alvin Dewey.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper Lee, Alvin Dewey, Dorothy SandersonDewey holds a press conference.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper Lee, Alvin DeweyTruman and Nelle interview Laura Kinney.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper LeeNelle and Truman walk back to the hotel while reading from a diary.
Nelle Harper Lee, Truman CapoteTruman and Nelle work on interview notes; Truman falls asleep.
Nelle Harper Lee, Truman CapoteTruman and Nelle discuss their plans for Thanksgiving.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper LeeTruman and Nelle arrive at the Dewey home for Thanksgiving.
Marie Dewey, Nelle Harper Lee, Truman CapoteTruman and Marie prepare food while discussing Alvin.
Truman Capote, Marie Dewey, Nelle Harper LeeDinner conversation turns to the Clutter murders.
Truman Capote, Marie Dewey, Alvin Dewey, Nelle Harper LeeAlvin shows crime scene photos to Truman and Nelle.
Alvin Dewey, Truman Capote, Nelle Harper LeeTruman and Nelle visit the Clutter farm with Pete Holt.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper LeeTruman talks to Jack on the phone.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper Lee, Jack DunphyChristmas Eve dinner at the Deweys.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper Lee, Marie Dewey, Alvin DeweyThe killers arrive at the courthouse.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper Lee, Marie Dewey, Richard Hickock, Perry Smith, Alvin DeweyTruman visits Dorothy Sanderson.
Truman Capote, Dorothy SandersonTruman discovers Perry is held in the kitchen cell.
Truman Capote, Perry Smith, Dorothy SandersonThe killers waive their right to a preliminary hearing.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper Lee, Perry Smith, Richard HickockTruman visits Perry in the cell.
Truman Capote, Perry Smith, Dorothy SandersonTruman visits Perry in his cell, trying to gain his trust and permission to talk, while Dorothy warns him that Walter will be home soon.
Truman Capote, Perry Smith, Dorothy SandersonTruman calls William Shawn from a phone booth to discuss his book progress and request more money and a photographer.
Truman Capote, William ShawnRichard Avedon takes photos of Perry and Hickock in their cells while Truman and Nelle observe.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper Lee, Perry Smith, Richard HickockThe jury delivers a guilty verdict and a death sentence for Perry and Hickock.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper Lee, Perry Smith, Richard HickockTruman and Nelle prepare to leave, and Truman expresses a need to see Perry one last time.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper LeeTruman visits Perry in his cell before his transfer to Lansing.
Truman Capote, Perry SmithA party is held at Truman's house where he discusses his book and Perry.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper Lee, Jack Dunphy, William ShawnTruman is interviewed about his new 'non-fiction novel'.
Truman CapoteTruman works on his book, surrounded by notes.
Truman Capote, Jack DunphyTruman and Jack discuss Perry's appeal and Truman's motivations.
Truman Capote, Jack DunphyTruman bribes Warden Krutch to secure unlimited visitation with Perry.
Truman CapoteTruman visits Perry and Hickock on death row.
Truman Capote, Perry Smith, Richard HickockTruman feeds Perry and tries to get him to talk.
Truman Capote, Perry SmithTruman and Perry discuss their childhoods and Perry's past.
Truman Capote, Perry SmithTruman talks to Nelle on the phone about Perry's notebooks.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper LeeTruman has breakfast with Alvin Dewey.
Truman Capote, Alvin DeweyTruman and Dewey have breakfast; Truman discusses his book title and asks for investigation notes.
Truman Capote, Alvin DeweyTruman visits Dick and Perry on death row.
Truman Capote, Perry Smith, Richard HickockTruman and Perry discuss the book and Perry's past.
Truman Capote, Perry SmithTruman talks to Jack on a pay phone.
Truman Capote, Jack DunphyTruman visits Perry one last time before leaving for the East.
Truman Capote, Perry Smith, Richard HickockTruman works on his book and receives a call from William Shawn.
Truman Capote, William ShawnTruman visits Perry while Lowell Lee Andrews is taken to execution.
Truman Capote, Perry Smith, Richard HickockTruman gives his first public reading of In Cold Blood.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper Lee, William ShawnPerry and Dick watch from their cell windows.
Perry Smith, Richard HickockA tractor moves a body covered in a black cloth.
Truman reads from his manuscript to a transfixed audience.
Truman CapoteThe body is loaded into a truck.
Perry watches the activity.
Perry SmithTruman finishes his reading to applause.
Truman CapoteTruman celebrates his successful reading.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper LeeTruman and Shawn discuss the book's impact and the upcoming executions.
Truman Capote, William ShawnTruman visits Perry, who is excited about a stay of execution.
Truman Capote, Perry SmithTruman tries to get Perry to talk about the night of the murders.
Truman Capote, Perry SmithTruman interviews Linda Murchak about Perry.
Truman Capote, Linda MurchakTruman passes Hickock and prepares to see Perry.
Truman Capote, Richard HickockPerry confronts Truman about the book title.
Truman Capote, Perry SmithFlashback to Perry sitting with Nancy.
Perry SmithFlashback to Perry cutting Herb Clutter down.
Perry SmithTruman types his manuscript.
Truman CapoteTruman travels.
Truman CapoteTruman returns home.
Truman CapoteTruman enters his home.
Truman CapoteTruman adds to his manuscript stack.
Truman CapoteTruman talks to Shawn on the phone.
Truman CapoteTruman drinks and watches TV.
Truman CapoteJack brings a telegram from Perry.
Truman Capote, Jack DunphyTruman types a response to Perry.
Truman Capote, Jack DunphyTruman and Jack head to a premiere.
Truman Capote, Jack DunphyTruman poses for cameras at the premiere.
Truman Capote, Jack DunphyTruman and Nelle have an uncomfortable conversation.
Truman Capote, Nelle Harper LeeTruman wakes up to a phone call.
Truman CapoteA paper boy delivers the New York Times to Truman and Jack's house.
Truman wakes up to a phone call from Perry Smith.
Truman Capote, Perry SmithPerry and Dick are shackled and moved.
Perry Smith, Richard HickockOn the night of November 14, two men broke into a quite farmhouse in Kansas and murdered an entire family. Why did they do that? It's been suggested that this subject is tawdry -- it's not worthy of literature. I disagree. Two worlds exist in this country -- the quiet conservative life, and the life of those two men -- the underbelly, the criminally violent. Those worlds converged that bloody night. I spent the past three months interviewing everyone in Kansas touched by that violence. I spent hours talking to the killers -- and I'll spend more. Researching this work has changed my life, altered my point of view about almost everything. I think those who read it will be similarly affected. Such a book can only be written by a journalist who has mastered the techniques of fiction --
We put a box there on the floor so he'd be more comfortable. He asked if his wife and daughter were alright and I said they were fine, they were ready to go to sleep. I told him it wasn't long till morning when somebody would find them. He was looking at me. Just... looking at me. Looking at my eyes. Like he expects me to kill him -- expects me to be the kind of person who would kill him. I was thinking -- this nice man, he's scared of me. I was ashamed. I mean, I thought he was a kind man, a good... a gentleman. I thought so right up to the moment I cut his throat. I didn't realize what I'd did till I heard the sound.
I'm sorry. He's upset. -- smoking three packs a day. Two men did it. They know who. One of them used to have a cellmate who gave him up for the thousand dollar reward. They passed through Kansas City last week writing bad checks -- by the time Alvin's boys got up there they'd skipped out again.
"Dear friend Truman. Haven't heard from you in such a long while. Please help find new lawyer. If not, Dick will have to write Supreme Court brief himself. Our last appeal. What a pair of wretched creatures. Please help. Your amigo? Perry."
Don't be taken in by my brother. He's got this sensitive side he'll show. You believe he's gentle, so easily hurt. But he'd just as soon kill you as shake your hand. I believe that.
Perry Smith's voice was both gentle and prim -- a voice that, though soft, manufactured each sound exactly -- ejected it like a smoke ring issuing from a parson's mouth.
I tracked my father down in Alaska. I was 14. One day I said to him, "Mom's dead." I could see it. A week later we got the news. She finally drunk herself to death.
To answer your question, I'm following "Breakfast at Tiffany's" by blazing a different path -- by inventing an entirely new kind of writing: the non-fiction novel.
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