Screenplay data
On a hot Brooklyn day, Sonny and Sal attempt to rob a bank, but their accomplice, Jackie, gets cold feet and flees, leaving them to manage the situation alone. The robbery quickly goes awry when police surround the bank, turning the heist into a hostage crisis and a media spectacle. Sonny, a Vietnam veteran, negotiates with Detective Sergeant Moretti, demanding a helicopter and a jet to escape with his partner, Sal, and the bank employees. During the tense standoff, Sonny reveals his motive for the robbery: to fund a sex change operation for his transgender wife, Leon, who is brought to the scene by police.
Save the Cat beat sheet
A New York bank robbery spirals into a media spectacle as Sonny and his accomplices take hostages to fund Sonny’s lover’s gender–confirmation surgery.
Open full beat sheetSonny is listed as Bank Robber. Outgoing, bouncy, Vietnam veteran, married to Heidi but also involved with Leon. In the parsed data, Sonny is connected to 30 scenes, 59 dialogue lines, 74 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
30 scenes / 59 dialogue linesPatrick Mulvaney is listed as Bank Manager. Early fifties, florid, cheerful, diabetic. In the parsed data, Patrick Mulvaney is connected to 18 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
18 scenes / 18 dialogue linesSal is listed as Bank Robber. Intense, watchful, boyish, Vietnam veteran, deeply religious. In the parsed data, Sal is connected to 18 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
18 scenes / 9 dialogue linesSylvia Ball is listed as Bank Teller. Young woman, becomes a media celebrity during the robbery. In the parsed data, Sylvia Ball is connected to 18 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
18 scenes / 5 dialogue linesJenny is listed as Bank Employee. Young, frightened girl. In the parsed data, Jenny is connected to 13 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
13 scenes / 2 dialogue linesMoretti is listed as Detective Sergeant. Hard-nosed, street-wise, sarcastic New York cop. In the parsed data, Moretti is connected to 12 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
12 scenes / 10 dialogue linesMiriam is listed as Bank Teller. Young, awkward, overweight, nervous. In the parsed data, Miriam is connected to 11 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
11 scenes / 1 dialogue linesSheldon is listed as FBI Agent-in-Charge. Silver-haired, looks like an accountant, cold professional. In the parsed data, Sheldon is connected to 10 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 26.
10 scenes / 4 dialogue linesMargaret is listed as Accountant. Bank employee. In the parsed data, Margaret is connected to 10 scenes, first appearing around scene 6.
10 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMaria is listed as Bank Employee. Heavily-painted, voluptuous Latin girl. In the parsed data, Maria is connected to 8 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 37.
8 scenes / 1 dialogue linesHeidi is listed as Sonny's Wife. Pretty, 175-pound Italian girl with two kids. In the parsed data, Heidi is connected to 6 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 29.
6 scenes / 2 dialogue linesHoward is listed as Bank Guard. Aged black man, panicked easily. In the parsed data, Howard is connected to 5 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
5 scenes / 1 dialogue linesLeon is listed as Sonny's Partner. Transgender person, Sonny's partner, depressed. In the parsed data, Leon is connected to 4 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 25.
4 scenes / 6 dialogue linesJackie is listed as Bank Robber. Eighteen years old, sloppily dressed, gets cold feet. In the parsed data, Jackie is connected to 4 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
4 scenes / 4 dialogue linesVi is listed as Sonny's Mother. Small woman in her fifties, perpetual smile. In the parsed data, Vi is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 34.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesAn electric sign displays time and temperature, accompanied by distant thunder and media sounds.
A long shot of the busy, hot avenue with ambient city sounds.
A baseball game clip plays on TV.
Heidi sunbathes while listening to the radio.
HeidiSonny, Sal, and Jackie prepare for the bank robbery.
Sonny, Sal, JackieThe robbery begins; Jackie gets cold feet and leaves.
Sonny, Sal, Jackie, Patrick Mulvaney, Howard, Sylvia BallJackie exits the bank and leaves.
Sonny, JackieSonny and Sal manage the hostages and collect money.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Howard, Sylvia Ball, MiriamMulvaney returns to the bank after speaking to Sam, and Sonny begins negotiations with the police via phone.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Howard, Sylvia Ball, MiriamSonny manages phone calls from the police and Jenny's husband while preparing to block the back door.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Sylvia Ball, JennyPolice and FBI establish a command post in a nearby barbershop while news helicopters circle.
Moretti, SheldonMoretti negotiates with Sonny for the release of a hostage; Sonny agrees to send out the guard, Howard.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Howard, Sylvia Ball, MorettiVi and her friend watch the bank robbery on television.
ViSonny speaks to the media via phone, then discusses escape plans with Sal.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Sylvia Ball, JennySonny and Sal discuss their escape plan; Sonny hands over his gun to Sal before heading out to face the police.
Sonny, SalSonny exits the bank, is attacked by a man, and negotiates with Moretti for a helicopter and jet.
Sonny, Moretti, Patrick MulvaneyHeidi hears about the robbery on the radio and panics, rushing home with her children.
HeidiHeidi arrives home with police following her, explaining her relationship with Sonny.
HeidiSonny talks to a religious caller, checks on the air conditioning, and prepares for a police breach.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Miriam, Margaret, Sylvia BallSonny negotiates for food and throws money to the crowd.
Sonny, MorettiMoretti meets with the Commissioner to discuss the plan for the jet.
MorettiSonny and Sal hold hostages while Moretti and the Commissioner discuss strategy outside. Sonny receives a call from Moretti about his wife.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Howard, Sylvia Ball, MiriamPolice bring Leon to the scene to talk to Sonny.
Sonny, Moretti, Sheldon, LeonSonny returns to the bank and tries to call Moretti.
Sonny, Sal, Sylvia Ball, Miriam, Margaret, JennyMoretti interrogates Leon about his relationship with Sonny.
Moretti, LeonThe lights go out in the bank and the FBI takes over.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Sylvia Ball, Miriam, MargaretMulvaney faints and a doctor is brought in.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Sylvia Ball, SheldonSonny enters the bank and speaks to Leon on the phone about his situation and plans to escape to Algeria.
Sonny, LeonSonny calls his wife Heidi from the bank.
Sonny, HeidiSonny checks on Mulvaney and interacts with the hostages.
Sonny, Patrick Mulvaney, Sylvia Ball, Miriam, Margaret, JennyA pro-Sonny banner is raised outside the bank.
Sonny, SheldonSonny shares photos of his kids with Sylvia and talks to Mulvaney.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Sylvia Ball, Miriam, MargaretSonny's mother arrives at the bank.
Sonny, ViSonny exits the bank to speak with his mother, Vi, while the FBI and police watch.
Sonny, Vi, Moretti, SheldonSonny dictates his will to Sylvia while the hostages prepare to leave.
Sonny, Patrick Mulvaney, Sylvia Ball, Miriam, Margaret, JennySonny and the hostages board the limousine to head to the airport.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Sylvia Ball, Miriam, MargaretThe final confrontation at the airport where Sal is killed.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Sylvia Ball, Maria, SheldonSal is shot and killed by the Driver; Sonny is arrested.
Sonny, Sal, Patrick Mulvaney, Sylvia Ball, SheldonLeon and Heidi are interviewed about Sonny.
Sonny, Heidi, LeonA supporter is interviewed by the news.
Sonny is processed and says goodbye to the hostages.
Sonny, Patrick Mulvaney, Sylvia BallThey'll shoot you; the fucking cops'll shoot you... they don't give a damn. In spite of that bank insurance. You see what they did in Attica, they shot everybody, the hostages, prisoners, cops, guards, forty-two people they killed, the innocent with the guilty.
I made an error in judgment. I thought the sons of bitches would be overwhelmed with remorse at the sight of a police officer. And you know somethin'? Nobody has said hostage yet. Unnastan?
You are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to counsel to be present, during your interrogation.
Hello... I'm sorry I can't talk to you right now... I suggest you call during banking hours tomorrow. What is your name?
Well, I don't see how Sonny can survive in prison, he was very loud, very boisterous. He was obnoxious.
Son of a bitch! What the fuck you tryin' to do? Trip the alarm? Use the spur key? Use the other one...
It's the insurance guy across the street. He probably saw the goddamn smoke! Please! Put out the fire!
No, it was the credit rating. The credit rating. I don't know, you'd have to find that out from him.
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