1992
Disillusioned with materialism, Christopher McCandless donates his savings, destroys his identification, and embarks on a cross-country journey under the alias Alexander SuperTramp, befriending various people while rejecting their offers of a settled life. Driven by a desire to live off the land, he eventually makes his way to the Alaskan wilderness, hiking the Stampede Trail and finding an abandoned bus for shelter. Initially thriving, Chris's inexperience leads to the loss of a hunted moose and he later accidentally poisons himself with a toxic plant, significantly weakening him. As his health deteriorates, Chris reflects on the importance of human connection, ultimately dying in the bus, having achieved his dream of living in the wild but realizing that happiness is only real when shared.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Chris McCandless abandons his comfortable life, dons the alias Alexander SuperTramp, and embarks on a cross-country odyssey seeking freedom and truth.
Open full beat sheetChristopher Johnson McCandless is listed as Protagonist. Young, idealistic, athletic, intelligent, seeks truth and freedom in the wild. In the parsed data, Christopher Johnson McCandless is connected to 199 scenes, 235 dialogue lines, 235 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
199 scenes / 235 dialogue linesRon Franz is listed as Friend/Mentor. Retired soldier, widower, lonely, forms a deep bond with Chris. In the parsed data, Ron Franz is connected to 23 scenes, 136 dialogue lines, 138 text mentions, first appearing around scene 162.
23 scenes / 136 dialogue linesRainey is listed as Friend. Rubber tramp, partner to Jan, Woodstock-era aesthetic. In the parsed data, Rainey is connected to 18 scenes, 24 dialogue lines, 36 text mentions, first appearing around scene 42.
18 scenes / 24 dialogue linesJan Burres is listed as Friend. Rubber tramp, motherly, kind, travels with Rainey. In the parsed data, Jan Burres is connected to 17 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 15 text mentions, first appearing around scene 38.
17 scenes / 15 dialogue linesCarine McCandless is listed as Sister. Pretty, brown hair, close to Chris, shares his perspective. In the parsed data, Carine McCandless is connected to 15 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 183.
15 scenes / 2 dialogue linesBillie McCandless is listed as Mother. Dark striking eyes, deeply affected by Chris's disappearance. In the parsed data, Billie McCandless is connected to 14 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 184.
14 scenes / 2 dialogue linesWalt McCandless is listed as Father. Taciturn, brilliant, complex, former NASA engineer, carries secrets. In the parsed data, Walt McCandless is connected to 14 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 184.
14 scenes / 2 dialogue linesWayne Westerberg is listed as Mentor/Employer. Grain elevator owner, combine crew leader, generous, pragmatic. In the parsed data, Wayne Westerberg is connected to 12 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 56.
12 scenes / 2 dialogue linesTracy is listed as Friend. Seventeen-year-old girl at The Slabs, infatuated with Chris. In the parsed data, Tracy is connected to 9 scenes, 28 dialogue lines, 31 text mentions, first appearing around scene 160.
9 scenes / 28 dialogue linesChris McCandless, referred to as Backpack, hitches a ride to the Stampede Trail, leaves his belongings with the driver, and walks into the wilderness.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris McCandless graduates from Emory University, surprising his family by appearing at the last minute.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Walt McCandless, Billie McCandless, Carine McCandlessThe family meets for a meal after the graduation ceremony.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Walt McCandless, Billie McCandless, Carine McCandlessChris reads poetry to Carine in his car.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Carine McCandlessChris and Carine join their parents for the meal.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Walt McCandless, Billie McCandless, Carine McCandlessThe family discusses Chris's future and his parents offer to buy him a new car, which he rejects.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Walt McCandless, Billie McCandless, Carine McCandlessChris throws his graduation cap to his parents as they leave.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Carine McCandlessChris prepares to leave, donating his savings and destroying his identification.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris begins his journey west in his Datsun.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris drives his car off the highway into the desert.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessThe Datsun is parked in the desert as a storm approaches.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessA flash flood hits the Datsun while Chris is sleeping.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris burns his remaining money and walks away from the abandoned Datsun.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris films a mock-journalistic video at Emory University.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris continues his skit, confronting a student playing Ted Turner.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris is delirious in his tent.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris travels along Lake Mead.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessEstablishing shot of the marina cafe.
Chris adopts the name Alexander SuperTramp.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris discards his license plates.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris starts hitchhiking.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessCarine reflects on Chris's disappearance.
Walt McCandless, Billie McCandless, Carine McCandlessChris walks along the road.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessParents drive to Atlanta to find Chris.
Walt McCandless, Billie McCandlessParents learn Chris has moved out.
Walt McCandless, Billie McCandlessCarine reflects on the returned letters.
Carine McCandlessChris hikes through the mountains.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris makes camp.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris reads by the fire.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris encounters a sign and kicks it down.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris's campfire burns down.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris is awakened by a light.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris descends the mountains, mocking an imaginary conversation with passengers on an airplane.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris is dropped off by a driver and continues hitchhiking.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris finds a straw hat and is stopped by a policeman for hitchhiking.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessWalt, Billie, and Carine receive a ticket from California, causing distress.
Walt McCandless, Billie McCandless, Carine McCandlessChris is picked up by Jan Burres and Rainey.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Jan Burres, RaineyChris discusses his travels and food with Jan and Rainey.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Jan Burres, RaineyChris, Jan, and Rainey share a meal and discuss Chris's lifestyle.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Jan Burres, RaineyChris reads in his tent while Rainey tends the fire.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, RaineyChris and Rainey discuss Jan's emotional state; Chris and Jan swim.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Jan Burres, RaineyChris, Jan, and Rainey gather by the fire before Chris leaves to read.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Jan Burres, RaineyMontage of beach activities and sunset.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Jan Burres, RaineyThe group discusses the Slabs in Niland.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Jan Burres, RaineyChris reads Thoreau while hearing Jan and Rainey in their tent.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Jan Burres, RaineyChris has departed, leaving a message in the sand.
Jan Burres, RaineyMontage of Chris's travels.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris hitches while Carine narrates the family's discovery of his abandoned car.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessWalt walks the streets in distress.
Walt McCandlessFlashback to Chris giving his father a telescope.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Walt McCandless, Billie McCandless, Carine McCandlessChris is picked up by Wayne Westerberg.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Wayne WesterbergWayne and Chris arrive at Wayne's compound in a truck.
Wayne Westerberg, Christopher Johnson McCandlessWayne and Chris enter the trailer, eat, and discuss Chris's plans.
Wayne Westerberg, Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris learns to operate a combine harvester.
Christopher Johnson McCandless, Wayne WesterbergThe crew eats and toasts to Carthage.
Wayne Westerberg, Christopher Johnson McCandlessThe convoy arrives in Carthage.
Wayne Westerberg, Christopher Johnson McCandlessWayne shows Chris to his room.
Wayne Westerberg, Christopher Johnson McCandlessWayne and Chris visit the bar and meet Gail.
Wayne Westerberg, Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris discusses his plans for Alaska with Wayne.
Wayne Westerberg, Christopher Johnson McCandlessWayne is arrested by the FBI.
Wayne Westerberg, Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris says goodbye to Gail.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris packs his kayak with supplies and prepares to continue his journey down the Colorado River.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris asks about paddling down the river.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessFlashback to Chris at age four wandering away from home.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessFour-year-old Chris is found in a neighbor's kitchen.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris successfully navigates the rapids.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris paddles downstream, enjoying the scenery and water.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris meets Mads and Sonja.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris dives into the river and surfaces, feeling jubilant.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris continues his journey down the river.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris tracks a herd of wild horses.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris writes a letter to Wayne Westerberg.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris approaches the post office to mail his letter.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris buys a stamp and mails the letter to Wayne.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris ports his kayak over the dunes toward Mexico.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris crosses the border by drifting under the dam floodgates.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris is interrogated about his time in Mexico.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris hits a dead end in a tributary.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris explains how he survived for 36 days.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessChris arrives in a village and pays hunters for a ride.
Christopher Johnson McCandlessI wasn't much older than Tracy when I got pregnant. And I thought my husband and I were going to invent peace on earth and stay together forever. But it didn't work out that way. He left. History. Now ancient history. And that was the end of that. So, I raised Reno by myself - that's my son. Then I met Rainey. And that was really good for a while. But Reno was already a teenager and was becoming a man in his own way. And then, I don't know. He kinda followed in his father's footsteps - out the door and gone. And I really don't know where he is. I haven't heard from him in two years.
I spent most of my life in the army. On New Year's Eve 1957, I was stationed over in Okinawa. My wife and son were here in the States, just driving down the road when a fellow who'd had too much to drink plowed right into them. Killed them both. Anyway, you might think that the last thing in the world I'd do, is go to the whiskey, but at the time, it felt like the only thing I could do. And I did it hard. But pretty soon, I figured I wasn't doing my wife and son any good, mourning them with a bottle. So, I pulled myself together and quit drinking, cold turkey. And then...
The government's the same as my parents. They don't respect anybody. Regulation. Regulation. Regulation. WE can't do this. But THEY can do that. I mean, the hypocrisy of the whole...culture. Makes me crazy. My father was having children with two women at the same time, and then has the gall to think that he can be of some guidance to me? Make judgments on me? My mother, of course, goes along with all of it. Keeps the secret, which of course, makes my whole life a fiction. Everything I thought was, wasn't. They're such fools! Fucking idiots!
I guess Jan filled you in. About Reno and everything. Children can be harsh judges when it comes to their parents. They don't grant clemency easily. I think Reno tended to see things in black and white. I just hope he lives long enough to forgive her.
This is a mistake. It's a mistake to get too deep into that kind of stuff. Alex, you're a helluva young guy, but I promise you this: You're a young guy. Blood and fire! You're juggling blood and fire!
Look Mr. Franz. I think careers are a twentieth century invention and I don't want one. You don't need to worry about me. I have a college education. I'm not destitute. I'm living like this by choice.
Look Mr. Franz. I think careers are a twentieth century invention and I don't want one. You don't need to worry about me. I have a college education. I'm not destitute. I'm living like this by choice.
Here she stopped and, closing her eyes, took a deep breath of the flower-scented air of the broad expanse around her. It was dearer to her than her kin, better than a lover, wiser than a book.
SlugDB turns parsed screenplays into scene, character, dialogue, trivia, semantic search, Save the Cat, and API-ready analysis.
Use SlugDB when you need screenplay API data, movie dialogue search, character evidence, scene context, or MCP tools without building a scraper first.