1998
Erin Brockovich, a persistent single mother, uncovers a massive groundwater contamination scandal by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) while working at a law firm. She discovers PG&E has been poisoning Hinkley residents with hexavalent chromium, causing widespread illness, and convinces her boss, Ed Masry, to take on the complex case. Despite personal struggles and community resistance, Erin's unwavering dedication leads to crucial evidence proving PG&E's corporate knowledge of the contamination. The case culminates in a record-breaking $333 million settlement for the Hinkley residents, with Erin receiving a significant bonus for her pivotal role.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Erin Brockovich introduces a single, resourceful woman who stumbles into a legal case and finds purpose fighting a big corporation.
Open full beat sheetErin Brockovich is listed as Legal Assistant. A single mother of three, known for her unconventional, revealing style of dress and her tenacity. In the parsed data, Erin Brockovich is connected to 136 scenes, 244 dialogue lines, 248 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
136 scenes / 244 dialogue linesEd Masry is listed as Senior Partner. A rumpled, middle-aged personal injury lawyer who hires Erin. In the parsed data, Ed Masry is connected to 48 scenes, 110 dialogue lines, 111 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
48 scenes / 110 dialogue linesGeorge Halaby is listed as Neighbor / Boyfriend. A biker who lives next door to Erin and eventually helps with her children. In the parsed data, George Halaby is connected to 33 scenes, 52 dialogue lines, 52 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
33 scenes / 52 dialogue linesDonna Irving is listed as Plaintiff. A Hinkley resident suffering from health issues linked to PG&E contamination. In the parsed data, Donna Irving is connected to 8 scenes, 33 dialogue lines, 34 text mentions, first appearing around scene 24.
8 scenes / 33 dialogue linesBrenda is listed as Secretary. Ed Masry's jaded secretary. In the parsed data, Brenda is connected to 7 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 60.
7 scenes / 4 dialogue linesKurt Potter is listed as Lead Counsel. A high-powered lawyer brought in to assist with the PG&E case. In the parsed data, Kurt Potter is connected to 6 scenes, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 125.
6 scenes / 0 dialogue linesDr. Jim Paulsen is listed as Epidemiologist. A scientist at UCLA who helps Erin understand medical records. In the parsed data, Dr. Jim Paulsen is connected to 5 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
5 scenes / 10 dialogue linesJane is listed as Office Manager. The bitter office manager at Masry & Vititoe. In the parsed data, Jane is connected to 5 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
5 scenes / 8 dialogue linesTheresa Dellavalle is listed as Junior Partner. A restrained, conservative lawyer working under Potter. In the parsed data, Theresa Dellavalle is connected to 5 scenes, first appearing around scene 125.
5 scenes / 0 dialogue linesDavid Frankel is listed as Toxicologist. A scientist at USC who identifies the dangers of hexavalent chromium. In the parsed data, David Frankel is connected to 1 scene, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 33.
1 scenes / 6 dialogue linesErin Brockovich walks through a suburban street, drawing attention due to her striking appearance.
Erin BrockovichErin finds a parking ticket on her car and is subsequently involved in a car accident.
Erin BrockovichEd Masry arrives at his office and interacts with his staff.
Ed Masry, BrendaEd discusses his schedule with Brenda and notices Erin waiting in his office.
Erin Brockovich, Ed Masry, BrendaEd meets with Erin to discuss her car accident case.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin testifies in court about her accident and financial struggles.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin and Ed argue after the court session goes poorly.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin returns home to find her neighbor moving away.
Erin BrockovichErin confronts Ed and demands a job at his firm.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin meets her neighbor George.
Erin Brockovich, George HalabyErin reviews medical and real estate documents related to the Irvings while caring for her daughter.
Erin BrockovichErin retrieves Beth from her crib.
Erin BrockovichErin examines medical records detailing immune system issues.
Erin BrockovichErin asks Jane for clarification on medical terms found in the files.
Erin Brockovich, Ed Masry, JaneErin seeks information at the library.
Erin BrockovichErin arrives at the medical library.
Erin BrockovichErin researches medical terms.
Erin BrockovichErin meets Dr. Paulsen.
Erin Brockovich, Dr. Jim PaulsenDr. Paulsen reviews the medical files and confirms the severity of the Irvings' health issues.
Erin Brockovich, Dr. Jim PaulsenErin attempts to call the Irvings.
Erin BrockovichErin drives to Hinkley.
Erin BrockovichErin arrives in the desolate town of Hinkley.
Erin BrockovichErin observes the PG&E compressor station.
Erin BrockovichErin meets Donna Irving.
Erin Brockovich, Donna IrvingErin discusses the medical records and the PG&E situation with Donna.
Erin Brockovich, Donna IrvingDonna shows Erin the chromium information provided by PG&E.
Erin Brockovich, Donna IrvingErin observes the compressor station at night.
Erin BrockovichErin finds George working on her house.
Erin Brockovich, George HalabyErin asks George about the possibility of environmental illness.
Erin Brockovich, George HalabyErin surveys her neighbors about their health.
Erin BrockovichErin reports her findings to Dr. Paulsen.
Erin Brockovich, Dr. Jim PaulsenDr. Paulsen refers Erin to a toxicologist.
Erin Brockovich, Dr. Jim PaulsenErin meets David Frankel.
Erin Brockovich, David FrankelErin arrives at the water board.
Erin BrockovichErin charms Ross to gain access to files.
Erin BrockovichGeorge interacts with Erin's children.
George HalabyErin works late at the water board.
Erin BrockovichErin discovers incriminating documents.
Erin BrockovichErin returns to the office with evidence.
Erin BrockovichErin discovers her desk has been cleared.
Erin BrockovichErin confronts Jane about being fired.
Erin Brockovich, JaneErin confronts Ed about her termination.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin leaves the office.
Erin BrockovichErin returns home.
Erin BrockovichErin finds George in her house.
Erin Brockovich, George HalabyErin has an emotional breakdown.
Erin Brockovich, George HalabyErin and George reconcile.
Erin Brockovich, George HalabyErin and George are in bed together, sharing an intimate moment.
Erin Brockovich, George HalabyEd is frustrated by the lack of response from his staff and answers the phone himself.
Ed Masry, BrendaErin is at home with bills and job classifieds when the doorbell rings.
Erin BrockovichEd visits Erin to discuss the information he received from Dr. Frankel regarding PG&E.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin and Ed discuss the PG&E case and negotiate her raise.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin drives her kids to Hinkley while listening to music.
Erin BrockovichErin investigates the PG&E site and discovers contaminated soil.
Erin BrockovichErin cleans her children's hands after playing in the dirt.
Erin BrockovichErin copies files at the water board with help from Ross.
Erin BrockovichEd instructs Brenda to fax the documents to PG&E.
Ed Masry, BrendaErin shows Donna the documents, leading Donna to realize her water is contaminated.
Erin Brockovich, Donna IrvingEd and Erin discuss the PG&E response.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryJane and Brenda gossip about Erin's return.
Brenda, JaneEd and Erin meet with David Baum from PG&E.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryEd and Erin discuss the meeting and Ed tricks Baum.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin meets with the Browns.
Erin BrockovichThe Browns show Erin evidence of health issues in their animals and family.
Erin BrockovichErin talks to her children about her work schedule.
Erin BrockovichGeorge expresses his love for Erin.
Erin Brockovich, George HalabyErin takes over driving from Ed.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryEd and Erin meet with the Irvings and Browns to sign retainer agreements.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin learns about more potential plaintiffs.
Erin BrockovichErin meets Mr. Linwood.
Erin BrockovichErin talks to Mary DeSoto about her husband's illness.
Erin BrockovichErin talks to the Ambrosinos about Laura's health.
Erin BrockovichErin meets the Daniels family and their sick daughter.
Erin BrockovichErin expresses her frustration to George about the children's illnesses.
Erin Brockovich, George HalabyEd and Erin argue about adding more plaintiffs.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin continues to push Ed to help the Daniels family.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin continues to argue with Ed.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin pushes Ed to take the case.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryErin and Ed discuss the severity of the PG&E contamination and the potential for a lawsuit.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryEd decides to take on the case after Erin reveals the scope of the contamination.
Erin Brockovich, Ed MasryAnd second of all -- these people don't dream about being rich. They dream about being able to watch their kids swim in a pool without worrying they'll have to have a hysterectomy at age 20, like Rosa Diaz -- a client of ours -- or have their spine deteriorate like Stan Bloom. Another client of ours. So before you come back here with another lame-ass offer, I want you to think real hard about what your spine is worth, Mr. Buda -- or what you'd expect someone to pay you for your uterus, Miss Sanchez -- then you take out your calculator and multiply that number by a hundred. Anything less than that is a waste of our time.
Thank you. I think so too. That's why I'm being such a stickler on this house price thing. I don't mean to be a pain in PG&E's backside, especially after all they've done for Hinkley, but I look around here and I think, if they want this place, they're gonna have to pay for it. And I don't just mean pay for the house; I'd like them to pay me for the trouble of starting over.
It's okay. We're not suing. All we're doing is using this information to get you a real nice purchase price on your house, and get you two -- a comparable retroactive bonus added to your sale price. This way, and PG&E can still look good to their shareholders, cause they're not involved in an ugly lawsuit; all they're doing is buying a little property.
With repeated exposure to toxic levels -- God, anything, really -- respiratory disease, liver failure, heart failure, reproductive failure, chronic headaches, bone or organ deterioration -- plus, of course, any type of cancer.
They've both got some immune system problem. Can't say what from, whether it's viral or genetic or what, but something's wrong. And these guys -- Donna and Peter --
Well -- then it's gotta be a different than what's in our water, cause ours is okay. The guys from PG&E told me. They sat right in the kitchen and said it was fine.
Hey, that's not so bad. Compare it to the Love Canal -- that was twenty years ago, and those people still haven't seen a dime. So in legal terms, ten years is --
Well, if you're talking about contamination, you're getting out of my area of expertise. Let me give you the name of a toxicologist friend of mine over at USC.
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