1974
Private investigator J.J. Gittes is drawn into a complex web of deceit and murder after being hired by an imposter claiming to be Evelyn Mulwray, whose husband, Hollis, is later found dead. Gittes uncovers a vast conspiracy involving water diversion and land speculation, orchestrated by Evelyn's powerful father, Julian Cross, who seeks to profit from a manufactured drought. He discovers that the young woman Hollis was seen with, Katherine, is both Evelyn's daughter and sister, a product of Cross's incestuous abuse, and Hollis was murdered for investigating Cross's scheme. In a tragic climax in Chinatown, Gittes's attempt to help Evelyn and Katherine escape ends with Evelyn's death by police gunfire, leaving Katherine in Cross's custody as Gittes watches helplessly.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Gittes is drawn into a dark conspiracy when he’s hired to investigate what seems like simple marital infidelity.
Open full beat sheetJ.J. Gittes is listed as Private Investigator. Impeccably dressed, sharp-witted, cynical private investigator. In the parsed data, J.J. Gittes is connected to 53 scenes, 46 dialogue lines, 48 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
53 scenes / 46 dialogue linesEvelyn Mulwray is listed as Client / Femme Fatale. Stunning, mysterious, wealthy woman with a dark family history. In the parsed data, Evelyn Mulwray is connected to 22 scenes, 21 dialogue lines, 22 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
22 scenes / 21 dialogue linesLou Escobar is listed as Police Lieutenant. Police officer, former colleague of Gittes in Chinatown. In the parsed data, Lou Escobar is connected to 9 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 17 text mentions, first appearing around scene 16.
9 scenes / 17 dialogue linesClaude Mulvihill is listed as Enforcer. Large, intimidating man working for the Department. In the parsed data, Claude Mulvihill is connected to 8 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 23.
8 scenes / 1 dialogue linesDuffy is listed as Operative. Gittes' partner. In the parsed data, Duffy is connected to 8 scenes, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
8 scenes / 0 dialogue linesWalsh is listed as Operative. Gittes' partner. In the parsed data, Walsh is connected to 7 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 54.
7 scenes / 2 dialogue linesSophie is listed as Secretary. Gittes' office secretary. In the parsed data, Sophie is connected to 7 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 27.
7 scenes / 1 dialogue linesJulian Cross is listed as Tycoon. Wealthy, powerful, and manipulative patriarch. In the parsed data, Julian Cross is connected to 4 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 31.
4 scenes / 9 dialogue linesCurly is listed as Client. A heavy-set, emotional workman. In the parsed data, Curly is connected to 4 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
4 scenes / 5 dialogue linesRuss Yelburton is listed as Deputy Chief. Deputy Chief in the Department of Water and Power. In the parsed data, Russ Yelburton is connected to 4 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
4 scenes / 2 dialogue linesHollis Mulwray is listed as Chief Engineer. Slender man in his sixties, Chief Engineer of the Department of Water and Power. In the parsed data, Hollis Mulwray is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesKatherine is listed as Evelyn's sister/daughter. Young woman caught in the center of the family secret. In the parsed data, Katherine is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesIda Sessions is listed as Actress. A woman hired to impersonate Evelyn Mulwray. In the parsed data, Ida Sessions is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 24.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesSam Bagby is listed as Former Mayor. Politician pushing for the Alto Vallejo Dam. In the parsed data, Sam Bagby is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 6.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesCurly visits Gittes to show him incriminating photos of his wife and expresses his anguish.
J.J. Gittes, CurlyA woman waits to see Gittes while sounds of distress come from his office.
Evelyn Mulwray, Walsh, DuffyGittes confronts Curly about the reality of his situation and sends him away.
J.J. Gittes, CurlyGittes dismisses Curly and learns Mrs. Mulwray is waiting.
J.J. Gittes, SophieGittes meets Mrs. Mulwray and takes her case regarding her husband's suspected infidelity.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn Mulwray, Walsh, DuffyGittes attends a council meeting where Mayor Bagby and Hollis Mulwray debate the dam project.
J.J. Gittes, Hollis Mulwray, Sam BagbyGittes follows Mulwray to the riverbed where Mulwray investigates the ground.
J.J. Gittes, Hollis MulwrayGittes follows Mulwray to the beach and observes him at an outfall.
J.J. Gittes, Hollis MulwrayGittes and his partners review findings on Mulwray.
J.J. Gittes, Walsh, Duffy, SophieGittes and Duffy photograph Mulwray with a young woman.
J.J. Gittes, Hollis Mulwray, DuffyGittes reads about his investigation in the newspaper and gets into an argument.
J.J. GittesGittes interrupts his staff to tell a joke, then is confronted by Evelyn Mulwray and her lawyer.
J.J. Gittes, Walsh, Duffy, Sophie, Evelyn Mulwray, Claude MulvihillGittes discusses the encounter with Walsh and Duffy and calls Whitey Mehrholtz.
J.J. Gittes, Walsh, Duffy, SophieGittes visits Mulwray's office and meets Russ Yelburton.
J.J. Gittes, Sam Bagby, Russ Yelburton, Claude MulvihillGittes visits the Mulwray house and speaks with Evelyn by the pond.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn MulwrayGittes arrives at the reservoir and encounters Lieutenant Escobar.
J.J. Gittes, Lou EscobarEvelyn identifies Mulwray's body while Gittes listens.
Evelyn Mulwray, Lou Escobar, J.J. GittesEscobar questions Evelyn and Gittes about the rumors and the missing woman, while Gittes covers for Evelyn.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn Mulwray, Lou EscobarGittes walks Evelyn to her car; she insists on paying him to make the hiring official.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn MulwrayEscobar tells Gittes he is ruling Mulwray's death an accident.
J.J. Gittes, Lou EscobarGittes examines Mulwray's body and discovers a local drunk also drowned in the riverbed.
J.J. GittesGittes investigates the riverbed and speaks to a Mexican boy about the water.
J.J. GittesGittes is attacked and his nose is cut by a man working for the reservoir.
J.J. Gittes, Claude MulvihillGittes receives a call from Ida Sessions, who claims to be the woman who impersonated Evelyn.
J.J. Gittes, Walsh, Duffy, Ida SessionsGittes meets Evelyn and questions her about her husband's death and her past.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn MulwrayGittes confronts Evelyn about her husband's murder and his suspicions while the parking attendant retrieves her car.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn MulwrayGittes visits the DWP, learns about Julian Cross's history with the water department, and discovers workmen removing Mulwray's name.
J.J. Gittes, Sophie, Russ YelburtonGittes confronts Yelburton about the water diversion and the murder of Mulwray.
J.J. Gittes, Russ YelburtonEvelyn hires Gittes to investigate her husband's death and discusses her father, Julian Cross.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn Mulwray, SophieGittes travels to the island to meet Julian Cross, learning about Evelyn's past from the pilot.
J.J. GittesGittes meets Julian Cross at his ranch to discuss the investigation.
J.J. Gittes, Julian CrossGittes investigates the avocado groves, is attacked by farmers, and is later treated by Evelyn Mulwray.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn Mulwray, Claude MulvihillGittes and Evelyn discuss the land conspiracy while driving.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn MulwrayGittes and Evelyn infiltrate the rest home to investigate the land owners.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn Mulwray, Claude MulvihillGittes escapes the Mulwray home with Evelyn, narrowly avoiding two men.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn Mulwray, Claude MulvihillEvelyn and Gittes drive away from the house.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn MulwrayGittes and Evelyn have a drink and discuss Chinatown.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn MulwrayEvelyn cleans Gittes' nose and they share an intimate moment.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn MulwrayEvelyn receives a mysterious phone call and leaves.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn MulwrayGittes prepares to follow Evelyn.
J.J. GittesGittes follows Evelyn to a bungalow.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn MulwrayGittes confronts Evelyn about the girl.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn MulwrayGittes receives a call about Ida Sessions.
J.J. GittesGittes finds Ida Sessions dead.
J.J. Gittes, Lou Escobar, Ida SessionsGittes shows Escobar the storm drain.
J.J. Gittes, Lou EscobarEscobar and his assistants discuss the water situation and Gittes' accusations with the Third Assistant.
J.J. Gittes, Lou Escobar, Russ YelburtonGittes arrives at the Mulwray home, finds it locked, and discovers evidence in the pond.
J.J. Gittes, SophieGittes talks to the gardener and finds a pair of glasses in the pond.
J.J. GittesGittes calls Cross to set up a meeting.
J.J. Gittes, Julian CrossGittes confronts Evelyn about the glasses and the truth about Katherine.
J.J. Gittes, Evelyn MulwrayGittes takes Escobar to the maid's house but uses the opportunity to help Evelyn escape.
J.J. Gittes, Lou Escobar, CurlyGittes meets Cross and confronts him about the murder of Hollis Mulwray.
J.J. Gittes, Julian Cross, Claude MulvihillGittes spots Katherine in the crowd.
J.J. Gittes, KatherineGittes, Cross, and Mulvihill arrive in Chinatown; a confrontation ensues involving Evelyn, the police, and the tragic death of Evelyn.
J.J. Gittes, Curly, Evelyn Mulwray, Walsh, Duffy, Claude MulvihillTake us to the girl. Either Evelyn allows me to see her, or I'm not averse to seeing Evelyn in jail. If I have to buy the jail. Hollis and Evelyn kept her from me for fifteen years. It's been too long, I'm too old.
The Alto Vallejo can save us from that, and I respectfully suggest that eight and a half million dollars is a fair price to pay to keep the desert from our streets and not on top of them.
Gimme your keys. Watch this old fart, will you? Take Duffy's car. Curly's boat's in Pedro, near the Starkist cannery. It's the Evening Star. He'll be waiting. I'll take care of this.
Have your client in my office in two hours and remember. I don't have to let you go. I've got you for withholding evidence right now.
I'll pay your salary plus five thousand dollars if you find out what happened to Hollis and who is involved.
I'll double whatever your fees are and I'll pay you ten thousand dollars if you can find Hollis' girlfriend.
You wanna do your partner the biggest favor of his life? Take him home. Just get him the hell out of here!
There was a memorial service at the Mar Vista Inn today for Jasper Lamar Crabb. He died three weeks ago.
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