Scripts
GRABBERS poster

2011

GRABBERS script

On Erin Island, cynical Garda Ciarán O'Shea and his ambitious new partner, Lisa Nolan, investigate strange disappearances and beached whales, leading to the discovery of aggressive, alien octopus-like creatures vulnerable to alcohol. Marine ecologist Adam Smith identifies the creatures, dubbed "Grabbers," as an alien species that arrived via a meteor, whose blood becomes toxic when consumed by an intoxicated host. The islanders devise a plan to get drunk and lure the Grabbers into a trap at Maher's Pub, believing their inebriated state will protect them during the fight. As a massive Grabber attacks the pub, O'Shea lures it into a pit at a derelict site, where Lisa crushes it with a bulldozer, saving the islanders, though more alien eggs suggest the threat persists.

Writer
Kevin Lehane
IMDb ID (imdb_id)
tt1525366
Script date
January 28, 2011
69Scenes
16Characters
71Pages
8Dialogue samples

Save the Cat beat sheet

GRABBERS Save the Cat analysis

In the coastal Irish village, a handful of islanders and Garda O’Shea confront a mysterious amphibious predator.

Open full beat sheet
75

Key characters

Lisa Nolan

Lisa Nolan is listed as Garda. Ambitious, neat Garda transferred from Dublin. In the parsed data, Lisa Nolan is connected to 49 scenes, 162 dialogue lines, 163 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.

49 scenes / 162 dialogue lines

Ciarán O'Shea

Ciarán O'Shea is listed as Garda. Hungover, cynical Garda stationed on Erin Island. In the parsed data, Ciarán O'Shea is connected to 44 scenes, 147 dialogue lines, 147 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.

44 scenes / 147 dialogue lines

Paddy Barrett

Paddy Barrett is listed as Fisherman. Local fisherman who discovers the creature. In the parsed data, Paddy Barrett is connected to 27 scenes, 64 dialogue lines, 64 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.

27 scenes / 64 dialogue lines

Brian Maher

Brian Maher is listed as Pub proprietor. Owner of Maher's Pub. In the parsed data, Brian Maher is connected to 19 scenes, 41 dialogue lines, 41 text mentions, first appearing around scene 40.

19 scenes / 41 dialogue lines

Adam Smith

Adam Smith is listed as Marine ecologist. English marine scientist studying the island. In the parsed data, Adam Smith is connected to 14 scenes, 67 dialogue lines, 67 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.

14 scenes / 67 dialogue lines

Una Maher

Una Maher is listed as Pub staff. Brian's partner/staff at the pub. In the parsed data, Una Maher is connected to 12 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 17 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.

12 scenes / 17 dialogue lines

Skipper

Skipper is listed as Fishing boat captain. Eldest and scruffiest of the fishermen. In the parsed data, Skipper is connected to 10 scenes, 54 dialogue lines, 55 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.

10 scenes / 54 dialogue lines

Dr Jim Gleeson

Dr Jim Gleeson is listed as Resident physician. Local doctor. In the parsed data, Dr Jim Gleeson is connected to 10 scenes, 24 dialogue lines, 24 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.

10 scenes / 24 dialogue lines

Fr Potts

Fr Potts is listed as Priest. Local parish priest. In the parsed data, Fr Potts is connected to 7 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 45.

7 scenes / 3 dialogue lines

Greg

Greg is listed as Deckhand. Young deckhand on the Merry Widow. In the parsed data, Greg is connected to 6 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.

6 scenes / 12 dialogue lines

Roy

Roy is listed as First-mate. Bloated first-mate on the Merry Widow. In the parsed data, Roy is connected to 4 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.

4 scenes / 5 dialogue lines

Declan Cooney

Declan Cooney is listed as Labourer. Worker at the derelict site. In the parsed data, Declan Cooney is connected to 4 scenes, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 13.

4 scenes / 0 dialogue lines

Sgt Kenifick

Sgt Kenifick is listed as Sergeant. Retiring police sergeant. In the parsed data, Sgt Kenifick is connected to 2 scenes, 16 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.

2 scenes / 16 dialogue lines

Tadhg Murphy

Tadhg Murphy is listed as Fisherman. Local fisherman. In the parsed data, Tadhg Murphy is connected to 2 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.

2 scenes / 6 dialogue lines

Daly

Daly is listed as Labourer. Worker at the derelict site. In the parsed data, Daly is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 13.

2 scenes / 1 dialogue lines

Irene Murphy

Irene Murphy is listed as Tadhg's wife. Resident of the bungalow. In the parsed data, Irene Murphy is connected to 2 scenes, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 19.

2 scenes / 0 dialogue lines

Scene outline

  1. 1. EXT. OCEAN - NIGHT

    A fishing boat, The Merry Widow, drifts at night.

  2. 2. INT. MERRY WIDOW GALLEY - NIGHT

    Skipper, Roy, and Greg play cards.

    Skipper, Greg, Roy

  3. 3. EXT. MAIN DECK - NIGHT

    The crew witnesses a mysterious object crash into the sea.

    Skipper, Greg, Roy

  4. 4. INT/EXT. PILOTHOUSE / OCEAN - NIGHT

    The crew investigates the crash site; Roy is pulled overboard.

    Skipper, Greg, Roy

  5. 5. INT. PILOTHOUSE - NIGHT

    Greg calls for help as the boat is attacked.

    Skipper, Greg

  6. 6. EXT. MAIN DECK - NIGHT

    Greg is attacked and dragged overboard.

    Greg

  7. 7. INT. LIVING ROOM - MORNING

    O'Shea is woken by a phone call from Kenifick.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Sgt Kenifick

  8. 8. EXT. MARINA FERRY DOCK - DAY

    Lisa arrives on the island and meets O'Shea.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  9. 9. INT. GARDA STATION - DAY

    Kenifick introduces Lisa to the station and O'Shea.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Sgt Kenifick, Lisa Nolan

  10. 10. EXT. FISHING PORT - DAY

    Paddy and Tadhg discover a strange creature in a lobster trap.

    Paddy Barrett, Tadhg Murphy

  11. 11. EXT. BEACH - DAY

    O'Shea, Lisa, and Smith examine beached whales.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Dr Jim Gleeson, Adam Smith

  12. 12. EXT. PADDY'S HOUSE - DAY

    Paddy prepares a trap in his bathtub.

    Paddy Barrett

  13. 13. EXT. DERELICT SITE - DAY

    O'Shea and Lisa visit the derelict site to speak with workers.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Daly, Declan Cooney

  14. 14. EXT. BEACH - NIGHT

    Cooney and his crew clear whales from the beach; Daly is attacked.

    Daly, Declan Cooney

  15. 15. INT/EXT. COONEY'S CAR - NIGHT

    Cooney is attacked while waiting for Daly.

    Declan Cooney

  16. 16. INT. MAHER'S PUB - NIGHT

    O'Shea drinks at the pub and talks to Lisa and Paddy.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Paddy Barrett, Brian Maher, Una Maher

  17. 17. INT. LISA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

    O'Shea visits Lisa's room while intoxicated.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  18. 18. INT. PADDY'S BATHROOM - NIGHT

    Paddy is attacked by the creature in his bathroom.

    Paddy Barrett

  19. 19. INT. BUNGALOW - NIGHT

    Tadhg and Irene are attacked by the creature.

    Tadhg Murphy, Irene Murphy, Declan Cooney

  20. 20. INT. MAHER'S PUB - MORNING

    Lisa settles her bill and talks to Una.

    Lisa Nolan, Una Maher

  21. 21. INT. CELL, GARDA STATION - MORNING

    Lisa finds O'Shea sleeping in the cell.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  22. 22. INT. CELL, GARDA STATION - MORNING

    Lisa wakes O'Shea in the cell to inform him of his arrest for public intoxication.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  23. 23. EXT. MARINE CENTRE - MORNING

    Paddy leads O'Shea and Lisa to the marine research centre.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Paddy Barrett

  24. 24. INT. LAB - MORNING

    Smith shows O'Shea, Lisa, and Paddy the creature specimen.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Paddy Barrett, Adam Smith

  25. 25. INT/EXT. PATROL JEEP - DAY

    O'Shea and Lisa drive along the coast and spot Cooney's abandoned car.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  26. 26. EXT. BEACH PROMENADE - DAY

    O'Shea and Lisa investigate Cooney's abandoned car.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  27. 27. EXT. BUNGALOW - DAY

    O'Shea and Lisa investigate the Murphy bungalow and find Tadhg's head.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  28. 28. INT. DOCTOR'S SURGERY - DAY

    Dr Gleeson examines the remains of Tadhg.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Dr Jim Gleeson

  29. 29. INT. GARDA STATION - DAY

    O'Shea and Lisa analyze the crime scene photos while Paddy arrives with news.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Paddy Barrett

  30. 30. INT. PADDY'S BATHROOM - DAY

    They inspect the damage in Paddy's bathroom.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Paddy Barrett

  31. 31. INT. PADDY'S HOUSE - DAY

    O'Shea maps out the incidents and they deduce the creature's territory.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Paddy Barrett

  32. 32. EXT. BEACH - DAY

    The group travels to the black rock caves.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Paddy Barrett

  33. 33. EXT. BEACH, CAVE MOUTH - DAY

    O'Shea and Lisa enter the cave while Paddy waits outside.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Paddy Barrett

  34. 34. INT/EXT. BEACH CAVE OPENING - DAY

    O'Shea and Lisa escape the cave as the creature gets stuck in the opening.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  35. 35. EXT. BEACH - DAY

    Paddy discovers a nest of eggs on the beach and is warned by O'Shea and Lisa to run.

    Paddy Barrett, Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  36. 36. INT. LAB - DAY

    The group attempts to kill the captured Grabber with fire, but accidentally triggers the sprinklers.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Paddy Barrett, Adam Smith

  37. 37. EXT. MAHER'S PUB - DAY

    Storm clouds gather over the pub.

  38. 38. INT. DR GLEESON'S SURGERY - DAY

    The group shows Dr Gleeson the Grabber head.

    Dr Jim Gleeson, Adam Smith, Lisa Nolan, Ciarán O'Shea

  39. 39. EXT. STEPS TO MAHER'S PUB - DAY

    The group discusses the theory that alcohol makes them poisonous to the Grabbers.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Dr Jim Gleeson, Adam Smith, Paddy Barrett

  40. 40. INT. MAHER'S PUB KITCHEN - DAY

    The group convinces Brian of the Grabber threat.

    Brian Maher, Adam Smith, Dr Jim Gleeson, Paddy Barrett, Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  41. 41. EXT. MAHER'S PUB - DAY

    The group plans the lock-in strategy.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Adam Smith, Brian Maher, Dr Jim Gleeson, Paddy Barrett

  42. 42. INT. MAHER'S PUB - DAY

    Lisa gets drunk to test the blood alcohol theory.

    Lisa Nolan, Ciarán O'Shea, Brian Maher, Dr Jim Gleeson, Adam Smith, Paddy Barrett

  43. 43. INT. DISUSED PUB - DAY

    The group tests the tainted blood on a Grabber.

    Dr Jim Gleeson, Lisa Nolan, Ciarán O'Shea, Brian Maher, Paddy Barrett, Adam Smith

  44. 44. EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD - DAY

    The patrol jeep arrives at the chapel.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Brian Maher

  45. 45. INT. CHAPEL - DAY

    O'Shea invites the islanders to the pub for a party.

    Brian Maher, Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Fr Potts, Una Maher

  46. 46. INT. MAHER'S PUB - NIGHT

    O'Shea and Lisa convince the pub patrons to stay for a party to keep them safe.

    Skipper, Greg, Roy, Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Paddy Barrett

  47. 47. INT. PUB KITCHEN - NIGHT

    The group gathers weapons to fight the creatures.

    Skipper, Lisa Nolan, Dr Jim Gleeson, Paddy Barrett, Adam Smith, Brian Maher

  48. 48. INT/EXT. PATROL JEEP - NIGHT

    O'Shea and Lisa discuss their feelings while on stakeout.

    Skipper, Lisa Nolan

  49. 49. EXT. MAHER'S PUB ALCOVE - NIGHT

    Dr Gleeson is attacked by Jumpers and a Grabber.

    Skipper, Lisa Nolan, Dr Jim Gleeson

  50. 50. INT/EXT. PATROL JEEP - NIGHT

    Lisa and O'Shea flee from the Grabber in the jeep.

    Skipper, Lisa Nolan

  51. 51. INT. PUB KITCHEN - NIGHT

    The group attempts to use the Super Soaker as a weapon.

    Skipper, Lisa Nolan, Adam Smith, Brian Maher, Una Maher

  52. 52. INT. MAHER'S PUB - NIGHT

    O'Shea attempts to move the patrons upstairs for safety while Brian announces the bar is out of beer.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Brian Maher, Paddy Barrett, Fr Potts, Una Maher, Irene Murphy

  53. 53. INT. MAHER'S PUB - NIGHT

    Panic ensues as Brian and Paddy fight, and Smith staggers out into the rain.

    Una Maher, Brian Maher, Paddy Barrett, Adam Smith, Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  54. 54. INT/EXT. MAHER'S PUB - NIGHT

    Smith encounters the Grabber outside and is thrown into the sky.

    Adam Smith, Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan, Paddy Barrett

  55. 55. INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY / DISUSED PUB - NIGHT

    The survivors barricade themselves in the disused pub and discuss the creatures.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Fr Potts, Paddy Barrett, Lisa Nolan, Brian Maher, Una Maher

  56. 56. INT. DISUSED PUB - NIGHT

    Lisa volunteers to go back downstairs to retrieve the truck keys.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Brian Maher, Lisa Nolan, Paddy Barrett, Una Maher, Fr Potts

  57. 57. INT. MAHER'S PUB - NIGHT

    Lisa navigates the pub filled with Jumpers to find the keys.

    Lisa Nolan

  58. 58. INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY WINDOW - NIGHT

    O'Shea and others are trapped by fire; O'Shea climbs out the window to execute a plan.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Fr Potts, Brian Maher

  59. 59. INT. DISUSED PUB - NIGHT

    The group uses a decoy to distract the Grabber.

    Brian Maher, Paddy Barrett, Fr Potts, Una Maher

  60. 60. EXT. MAHER'S PUB - NIGHT

    O'Shea escapes the pub and is picked up by Lisa.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Brian Maher, Lisa Nolan

  61. 61. INT/EXT. PICKUP - NIGHT

    O'Shea and Lisa drive away while discussing their illegal driving.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  62. 62. INT. UPSTAIRS WINDOW - NIGHT

    Brian, Paddy, and Una prepare to fight.

    Brian Maher, Paddy Barrett, Una Maher

  63. 63. EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD - NIGHT

    The Grabber chases the pickup.

  64. 64. EXT. DERELICT SITE - NIGHT

    O'Shea and Lisa arrive at the site to find the crusher missing.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  65. 65. INT/EXT. BULLDOZER - NIGHT

    Lisa attempts to start the bulldozer.

    Lisa Nolan

  66. 66. INT. PIT - NIGHT

    O'Shea lures the Grabber into the pit.

    Ciarán O'Shea

  67. 67. EXT. PIT - NIGHT

    Lisa rams the Grabber with the bulldozer.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  68. 68. EXT. GRASSY HILL OVERLOOKING BEACH - DAWN

    O'Shea and Lisa walk away from the site.

    Ciarán O'Shea, Lisa Nolan

  69. 69. EXT. SHORE - DAWN

    Evidence of other creatures is found.

Dialogue examples

We have just one night where we have to deal with this on our own. Tomorrow, we'll be sorted. We'll get off the island, they'll nuke the beaches or whatever they do, but all we have to worry about is tonight. And it's simple. We have a lock-in. We stay out of the rain and we drink. We can't stop them coming but we can be ready.

Ciarán O'Shea / Scene 39

Section four point one of the Public Order Act. It is an offence for any person to be present in any public place while intoxicated to such an extent as would give rise to a reasonable apprehension that the person might endanger themselves or any other in the vicinity.

Lisa Nolan / Scene 22

So you can have my desk while I'm gone. O'Shea will tell you, 'tis mostly administrative, processing permits and that sort. You might catch the odd bit of commotion every now and then but half the island's leaving for the show in Dungary so it'll be dead all weekend.

Sgt Kenifick / Scene 9

What Garda Nolan means is we'd love your company. There's no point going home to a cold, empty house in weather like tonight when we'll be right across the street from here and we'll have music and craic and company -- and a FREE BAR!

Skipper / Scene 46

Ya know what's to blame for all this? Global warming. Ya got your icebergs meltin' and your thingmajigs floodin'. The whole world's drownin' and we don't have the gills for it.

Paddy Barrett / Scene 32

Because alcohol is a poison. It needs to be ingested to take affect. Also to preserve specimens I keep them in an alcohol based solution. Just like with this one, right now.

Adam Smith / Scene 40

Well, I'm not. I'd some holidays saved that needed to be taken and this posting came up and I thought sure what harm, why not? Can't hurt with the review board, you know?

Lisa Nolan / Scene 11

Folks, just a quick announcement, at Maher's Tavern tonight we're having a bit of a shindig and you're all coming to join us for what will be a great night's craic!

Ciarán O'Shea / Scene 45

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