Screenplay data
Film producer James Ballard and his wife Catherine, seeking new forms of arousal, find their lives irrevocably altered after James is involved in a severe car crash. James and the other driver, Helen Remington, develop an affair and a shared obsession with car crashes, leading them into the dangerous world of Vaughan, who re-enacts famous collisions as a form of sexual and artistic expression. As Catherine eventually joins their escalating immersion into this subculture of eroticized injury and reckless behavior, the group's actions culminate in Vaughan causing a massive, fatal car crash. In the aftermath, James, now driving Vaughan's restored car, intentionally forces Catherine's car off the road, leaving her injured but alive, as their destructive journey continues.
Save the Cat beat sheet
James Ballard’s life as a detached film producer is upended by a car crash that awakens in him a morbid fascination with automotive carnage.
Open full beat sheetJames Ballard is listed as Producer. Protagonist, husband of Catherine, becomes obsessed with car crashes. In the parsed data, James Ballard is connected to 70 scenes, 85 dialogue lines, 87 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
70 scenes / 85 dialogue linesVaughan is listed as Crash enthusiast. Handsome, cruel-looking, scarred, obsessed with re-enacting famous car crashes. In the parsed data, Vaughan is connected to 31 scenes, 37 dialogue lines, 51 text mentions, first appearing around scene 16.
31 scenes / 37 dialogue linesCatherine Ballard is listed as Wife of James. Executive, shares James's obsession with car crashes. In the parsed data, Catherine Ballard is connected to 31 scenes, 34 dialogue lines, 34 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
31 scenes / 34 dialogue linesHelen Remington is listed as Doctor. Widow of a crash victim, becomes involved with James. In the parsed data, Helen Remington is connected to 20 scenes, 27 dialogue lines, 28 text mentions, first appearing around scene 26.
20 scenes / 27 dialogue linesColin Seagrave is listed as Stuntman. Stunt driver and race car enthusiast. In the parsed data, Colin Seagrave is connected to 8 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 37.
8 scenes / 2 dialogue linesRenata is listed as Secretary. James's secretary, infatuated with him. In the parsed data, Renata is connected to 7 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
7 scenes / 14 dialogue linesGabrielle is listed as Social worker. Crash victim, physically scarred and braced. In the parsed data, Gabrielle is connected to 5 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 42.
5 scenes / 4 dialogue linesVera Seagrave is listed as Wife of Colin. Restless woman, familiar with the crash scene. In the parsed data, Vera Seagrave is connected to 2 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 41.
2 scenes / 4 dialogue linesKaren is listed as Secretary. Catherine's secretary. In the parsed data, Karen is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesEstablishing shots of an airfield.
Catherine and an unidentified man engage in sexual activity inside a hangar.
Catherine BallardEstablishing shot of the CineTerra film studio.
An assistant director searches for James Ballard on a film set.
James BallardJames is interrupted by the AD while with a camera assistant.
James BallardJames and Catherine have a detached sexual encounter and discuss their affairs.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames watches Karen and Catherine in a lingerie store.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, KarenJames and Catherine drive together.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames works while Renata watches him.
James Ballard, RenataJames prepares to drive home in the rain.
James BallardJames is involved in a head-on car crash.
James Ballard, Helen RemingtonThe immediate aftermath of the crash inside James's car.
James BallardSpectators gather at the crash site.
James and the other driver share a moment of connection.
James Ballard, Helen RemingtonCatherine visits James in the hospital.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames encounters Vaughan and Helen Remington.
James Ballard, Vaughan, Helen RemingtonCatherine washes James in his hospital bed.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames and Catherine travel home by taxi.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames and Catherine discuss his desire to drive again.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames visits the garage.
James BallardJames drives Renata.
James Ballard, RenataJames and Renata visit the site of his crash.
James Ballard, Vaughan, RenataJames shows his new car to Catherine and Karen.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, KarenJames visits the police pound to see his wrecked car.
James BallardJames sits in his wrecked car and encounters Helen Remington.
James Ballard, Helen RemingtonJames and Helen meet at the police pound among wrecked cars.
James Ballard, Helen RemingtonJames drives Helen to the airport.
James Ballard, Helen RemingtonThey pass the site of their original crash.
James Ballard, Helen RemingtonHelen helps James regain control of the car.
James Ballard, Helen RemingtonJames and Helen make love in the car.
James Ballard, Helen RemingtonJames makes love to his wife Catherine.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardRenata gives James a ticket to a stunt exhibition.
James Ballard, RenataVaughan prepares for the James Dean crash re-enactment.
Vaughan, Colin SeagraveJames and Helen watch the re-enactment.
James Ballard, Helen Remington, VaughanThe crash re-enactment occurs.
Vaughan, Colin SeagraveJames and Helen react to the crash.
James Ballard, Helen RemingtonPolice arrive and break up the event.
James Ballard, Vaughan, Helen Remington, Colin SeagraveJames and Helen help Vaughan and Seagrave escape.
James Ballard, Vaughan, Helen Remington, Colin SeagraveVaughan drives the group away.
James Ballard, Vaughan, Helen Remington, Colin SeagraveThey arrive at Seagrave's garage.
James Ballard, Vaughan, Helen Remington, Colin SeagraveThe group gathers in the apartment.
James Ballard, Vaughan, Helen Remington, Colin Seagrave, Gabrielle, Vera SeagraveVaughan shows James his photographic project.
James Ballard, Vaughan, GabrielleJames watches Renata and Catherine.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, RenataJames and Catherine drive home separately.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames observes Renata and Catherine discussing ad layouts in his office.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, RenataJames and Catherine drive home, followed aggressively by Vaughan.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, VaughanJames and Catherine have sex while discussing Vaughan.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames and Helen have sex in her car.
James Ballard, Helen RemingtonJames and Helen talk in her parked car.
James Ballard, Helen RemingtonJames, Helen, and Vaughan witness a staged car crash.
James Ballard, Vaughan, Helen RemingtonJames rides with Vaughan, who shows him photos of famous crash victims.
James Ballard, VaughanVaughan picks up a sex worker while James drives.
James Ballard, VaughanJames drives while Vaughan has sex in the back seat.
James Ballard, VaughanRenata notices Vaughan waiting for James.
James Ballard, Vaughan, RenataPolice question Vaughan; James and Catherine decide to leave with him.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, VaughanThey encounter a real car accident.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, Vaughan, Colin SeagraveJames and Vaughan clean blood off the car.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, VaughanVaughan and Catherine have sex in the car during a wash.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, VaughanVaughan leaves James and Catherine.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, VaughanJames examines Catherine's bruises.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames and Catherine ride the elevator together.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames examines the bruises on Catherine's body.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, VaughanJames and Gabrielle visit an auto show.
James Ballard, GabrielleJames and Gabrielle have sex in her car.
James Ballard, GabrielleJames receives a phone call from Vaughan.
James Ballard, VaughanJames meets Vaughan at a tattoo parlor.
James Ballard, VaughanJames and Vaughan share a moment in the car.
James Ballard, VaughanVaughan attempts to hit James with his car.
James Ballard, VaughanCatherine tells James about her car.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames and Catherine inspect the damage to her car.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, VaughanJames and Catherine drive on a deserted highway.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames and Catherine encounter Vera Seagrave.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, Vera SeagraveVaughan causes a massive car crash.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, VaughanJames and Catherine visit the wreckage of Vaughan's car.
James Ballard, Catherine Ballard, Vaughan, Helen Remington, GabrielleJames chases Catherine in the restored Lincoln.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardJames forces Catherine off the road.
James Ballard, Catherine BallardIs he circumcised? Can you imagine what his anus is like? Describe it to me. Would you like to sodomize him? Would you like to put your penis right into his anus, thrust it up his anus? Tell me, describe it to me. Tell me what you would do. How would you kiss him in that car? Describe how you'd reach over and unzip his greasy jeans, then take out his penis. Would you kiss it or suck it right away? Which hand would you hold it in? Have you ever sucked a penis? Do you know what semen tastes like? Have you ever tasted semen? Some semen is saltier than others. Vaughan's semen must be very salty...
I've found that I enjoy burying myself in heavy traffic. I like to look at it. Yesterday I hired a taxi-driver to drive me around for an hour. 'Anywhere,' I said. We sat in a massive traffic jam under an off-ramp. I don't think we moved more than fifty yards. I'm thinking of taking up a new job with the Road Research Laboratory. They need a medical officer. The salary is larger -- something I've got to think about now. There's a certain moral virtue in being materialistic, I'm beginning to feel. Well, it's a new approach for me, in any case.
It's the future, Ballard, and you're already part of it. For the first time, a benevolent psychopathology beckons towards us. For example, the car crash is a fertilizing rather than a destructive event -- a liberation of sexual energy that mediates the sexuality of those who have died with an intensity impossible in any other form. To fully understand that, and to live that... that is my project.
A complimentary ticket for a special stunt-driving exhibition. Definitely not part of the big auto show. There's a map in the packet and a note requesting you be discreet about the location.
You know I'll be ready, Vaughan. But I'll want to wear really big tits -- out to here -- so the crowd can see them get cut up and crushed on the dashboard.
The junior pathologist at Ashford Hospital. Then the husband of a colleague of mine, then a trainee radiologist, then the service manager at my garage.
That's the point. Besides, I know I can give something now that I wasn't remotely aware of before. It's not a matter of duty so much as of commitment.
The first star of our show is 'Little Bastard', James Dean's racing Porsche. He named it after himself, and had his racing number, 130, painted on it.
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