1989
On Christmas Eve, John McClane uncovers a terrorist plot at Dulles Airport, led by Colonel William Stuart, to free drug lord General Ramon Esperanza, with Stuart's team taking control of air traffic and holding incoming planes, including his wife Holly's, hostage. McClane, aided by an airport janitor and an air traffic controller, attempts to thwart the terrorists, but Stuart crashes a plane to demonstrate his resolve, and McClane later discovers that Major Grant's anti-terrorist unit is secretly allied with Stuart. After killing Grant, McClane pursues Stuart and Esperanza onto a departing 747, fighting Stuart on the wing and ultimately causing the plane to explode. The fiery wreckage creates a makeshift runway, allowing Holly's plane and others to land safely, and McClane is reunited with his wife.
Save the Cat beat sheet
John McClane arrives at Dulles, clashing with airport authorities and discovering a mercenary plot to sabotage incoming flights.
Open full beat sheetJohn McClane is listed as Protagonist. LAPD Lieutenant, former New York cop, resourceful and cynical. In the parsed data, John McClane is connected to 47 scenes, 28 dialogue lines, 28 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
47 scenes / 28 dialogue linesColonel William Stuart is listed as Antagonist. U.S. Army (Ret.), highly trained, ruthless, tactical mastermind. In the parsed data, Colonel William Stuart is connected to 20 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
20 scenes / 7 dialogue linesBarnes is listed as Airport Official. Technical expert, works closely with Trudeau. In the parsed data, Barnes is connected to 14 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 26.
14 scenes / 1 dialogue linesRamon Esperanza is listed as Antagonist. Drug lord and former military commander. In the parsed data, Ramon Esperanza is connected to 11 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 47.
11 scenes / 4 dialogue linesCarmine Lorenzo is listed as Airport Police Captain. Bureaucratic, stubborn, initially dismissive of McClane. In the parsed data, Carmine Lorenzo is connected to 11 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
11 scenes / 3 dialogue linesMajor Grant is listed as Antagonist. Leader of the Triple T unit, secretly working with Stuart. In the parsed data, Major Grant is connected to 10 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 51.
10 scenes / 2 dialogue linesTrudeau is listed as Airport Official. Experienced, stressed, manages air traffic control. In the parsed data, Trudeau is connected to 10 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 26.
10 scenes / 1 dialogue linesHolly McClane is listed as John's wife. Professional, calm under pressure. In the parsed data, Holly McClane is connected to 8 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
8 scenes / 4 dialogue linesDick Thornberg is listed as Antagonist/Reporter. Self-serving, unethical news reporter. In the parsed data, Dick Thornberg is connected to 7 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
7 scenes / 2 dialogue linesMarvin is listed as Supporting. Airport janitor, lives in the basement, helpful to McClane. In the parsed data, Marvin is connected to 7 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 29.
7 scenes / 1 dialogue linesSam Coleman is listed as Reporter. Ambitious news reporter. In the parsed data, Sam Coleman is connected to 6 scenes, first appearing around scene 8.
6 scenes / 0 dialogue linesAl Powell is listed as Supporting. LAPD Sergeant, McClane's contact. In the parsed data, Al Powell is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 18.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesMcClane argues with an airport cop and a tow truck driver about his mother-in-law's car being towed.
John McClane, Carmine LorenzoMcClane navigates the crowded terminal and checks the news on a TV.
John McClaneColonel Stuart prepares for his mission while watching news about General Esperanza.
Colonel William Stuart, Ramon EsperanzaStuart and his team of mercenaries assemble in the hallway.
Colonel William StuartMcClane calls Holly on the plane to discuss their plans.
John McClane, Holly McClaneMercenaries infiltrate a church near the airport.
Major GrantThornberg and Holly argue on a plane about a restraining order.
Holly McClane, Dick ThornbergA gunman's body is removed while media and police observe.
John McClane, Sam ColemanStuart reprimands Miller for his failure.
Colonel William Stuart, Major GrantMcClane clashes with Captain Lorenzo over police procedure.
John McClane, Carmine LorenzoMcClane leaves the office and plans to get fingerprints from the body.
John McClaneMcClane steals supplies to process fingerprints.
John McClaneMcClane takes fingerprints from the dead gunman.
John McClaneEsperanza is being transported.
Ramon EsperanzaStuart prepares his electronic equipment.
Colonel William StuartMcClane calls Powell to run the fingerprints.
John McClane, Al PowellHolly learns the plane will be delayed.
Holly McClanePowell informs McClane the dead man was officially dead for two years.
John McClane, Al PowellSam Coleman confronts McClane.
John McClane, Sam ColemanMcClane warns Trudeau about potential trouble.
John McClane, Carmine Lorenzo, Trudeau, BarnesStuart's team prepares to cut the power.
Colonel William StuartThe runway lights go out.
John McClane, Carmine Lorenzo, Trudeau, BarnesStuart contacts the tower.
John McClane, Colonel William Stuart, Carmine Lorenzo, Trudeau, BarnesMcClane is kicked out of the tower.
John McClane, Carmine Lorenzo, Trudeau, Sam ColemanMcClane escapes through the ceiling.
John McClane, Sam ColemanBarnes and airport officials discuss rigging the antenna array to communicate with planes; Stuart intercepts the frequency and threatens the tower.
Barnes, Trudeau, Carmine Lorenzo, Colonel William StuartTrudeau informs the holding aircraft of the technical problems.
TrudeauFlight data monitors change to delayed, causing panic.
McClane explores the basement and encounters Marvin the janitor.
John McClane, MarvinLorenzo sends a SWAT team to escort Barnes.
Carmine LorenzoMarvin helps McClane tap into the tower's communications.
John McClane, MarvinBarnes and the SWAT team depart for the antenna array.
BarnesMarvin shows McClane the airport's secret tunnel network.
John McClane, MarvinMcClane prepares to enter the ventilation system.
John McClane, MarvinBarnes and the SWAT team are ambushed by Stuart's men.
BarnesMcClane navigates the boiler room to reach the terminal.
John McClaneMcClane intervenes in the fight, killing the soldiers and saving Barnes.
John McClane, BarnesThornberg and Holly argue about the situation.
Holly McClane, Dick ThornbergMcClane and Barnes find a scrambled transceiver.
John McClane, BarnesStuart decides to crash a plane to punish the airport.
Colonel William StuartMcClane confronts Stuart over the radio.
John McClane, Colonel William StuartMcClane attempts to signal the landing plane with torches.
John McClaneThe plane crashes due to Stuart's sabotage.
A plane crashes and explodes on the runway, leaving McClane devastated.
John McClaneThe tower staff reacts to the crash; Stuart broadcasts a message.
Colonel William StuartMcClane confronts a rescue worker at the crash site.
John McClaneEsperanza manipulates his guard to get a light for his cigar.
Ramon EsperanzaStuart and his men monitor the situation; Sam Coleman reports live.
Colonel William Stuart, Sam ColemanTrudeau and Barnes discuss the crisis; McClane expresses his feelings of failure.
John McClane, Trudeau, BarnesThornberg attempts to eavesdrop on the cockpit frequency.
Holly McClane, Dick ThornbergMajor Grant and his team arrive at the airport.
John McClane, Trudeau, Major GrantBarnes devises a plan to use the outer marker beacon to communicate.
BarnesGrant takes command; McClane is excluded from the briefing.
John McClane, Trudeau, Major GrantBarnes broadcasts a warning to the planes; Thornberg records it.
Dick ThornbergMcClane finds a radio scrambler in the basement with Marvin's help.
John McClane, MarvinStuart gives a speech to his men; Esperanza's plane appears on the scope.
Colonel William StuartStuart instructs the tower to light up a runway.
Colonel William Stuart, Trudeau, BarnesEsperanza kills his guards and takes control of the plane.
Ramon EsperanzaMcClane negotiates with Marvin for the radio.
John McClane, MarvinEsperanza communicates with Stuart.
Colonel William Stuart, Ramon EsperanzaMcClane realizes the runway has changed and runs to intercept.
John McClaneMcClane struggles to open the tunnel grid.
John McClaneMcClane narrowly escapes the landing plane.
John McClaneMcClane escapes the plane as it crashes into the grid, then boards the plane to confront Esperanza.
John McClane, Ramon EsperanzaMcClane fights off attackers and locks himself in the cockpit.
John McClane, Colonel William Stuart, Major Grant, Ramon EsperanzaStuart and his men attack the cockpit with grenades.
John McClane, Colonel William Stuart, Major Grant, Ramon EsperanzaHolly notices the fuel gauge is low and Thornberg makes a secret call.
Holly McClane, Dick ThornbergMcClane and Barnes deduce the location of the terrorists.
John McClane, Carmine Lorenzo, Barnes, Major GrantMcClane and Barnes track the terrorists to a church.
John McClane, BarnesThe soldiers and police storm the church, but the terrorists escape.
John McClane, Colonel William Stuart, Carmine Lorenzo, Barnes, Major Grant, Ramon EsperanzaMcClane chases the terrorists on a snowmobile and discovers their ammo is blanks.
John McClane, Colonel William Stuart, Ramon EsperanzaThornberg plays the recorded transmission to the TV station, preparing to go live.
Dick ThornbergPolice and soldiers prepare for action.
Grant kills Telford and reports to Stuart.
Major GrantStuart receives Grant's report.
Colonel William StuartMcClane and Marvin arrive at the police office.
John McClane, Carmine Lorenzo, MarvinHolly discovers Thornberg in the lavatory and incapacitates him.
Holly McClane, Dick ThornbergMcClane and the news crew prepare to intercept the terrorists.
John McClane, Sam ColemanMcClane and the pilot decide to land on the 747.
John McClaneMcClane fights Stuart and Grant on the wing of the 747.
John McClane, Colonel William Stuart, Major Grant, Ramon EsperanzaI think Cardinal Richlieu said it best: Treason is merely a matter of dates. And this country has to learn it can't keep cutting the legs off men like General Esperanza - men with the guts to stand up to Soviet agression.
My wife may be in some trouble upstairs. I gotta find out. This set up of yours? I won't tell a soul... provided you patch me into this panel, let me eavesdrop on the tower. What do you say?
Doesn't matter; The planes we want to reach are right overhead. I could rig our frequency in - 30 minutes... wire in a crossover and we're hot.
He means he has filed a restraining order against me. I'm not allowed within fifty feet of him -
I want my Swat team to go with him as cover. Whatever we can think of - they can think of, too.
A plane is going to be landing at this Airport in 58 minutes. It is FM 1 - Foreign Military 1.
Eleven West? What the fuck happened to fifteen? I gotta start reading my Goddamn horoscope...
No, you don't follow me. According to the Department of Defense, he's been dead for 2 years.
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