1996
In 1957, brothers Jacey and Doug Holt navigate their small town and their complicated relationships with the wealthy Abbott family's three daughters, leading to clandestine encounters and escalating family tensions. As Jacey pursues Eleanor and later Alice, Doug develops feelings for Pamela, while their mother, Helen, struggles with a secret past connection to Lloyd Abbott, the girls' father. Helen eventually reveals to Doug that Lloyd is his biological father, a secret that has fueled the animosity between the families, and after her death, Doug confronts Lloyd, who confesses his love for Helen. Doug then travels to Chicago, where he reunites with Pamela, ready to build a future together away from their families' past.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Siblings Doug and Jacey navigate the social chasm between their workingâclass life and the affluent Abbott family while coping with family secrets and personal growth.
Open full beat sheetDoug Holt is listed as Protagonist. Fifteen-year-old, rumpled, impulsive, younger brother of Jacey. In the parsed data, Doug Holt is connected to 125 scenes, 323 dialogue lines, 323 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
125 scenes / 323 dialogue linesJacey Holt is listed as Protagonist. Seventeen-year-old, handsome, self-confident, older brother of Doug. In the parsed data, Jacey Holt is connected to 80 scenes, 165 dialogue lines, 165 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
80 scenes / 165 dialogue linesPamela Abbott is listed as Supporting. Fifteen-year-old, youngest Abbott daughter, intelligent and sensitive. In the parsed data, Pamela Abbott is connected to 48 scenes, 178 dialogue lines, 179 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
48 scenes / 178 dialogue linesHelen Holt is listed as Supporting. Forty-one-year-old widow, school teacher, mother of Jacey and Doug. In the parsed data, Helen Holt is connected to 40 scenes, 83 dialogue lines, 83 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
40 scenes / 83 dialogue linesLloyd Abbott is listed as Antagonist. Wealthy, mid-forties, pillar of the community, owner of Midwest Steel Desk. In the parsed data, Lloyd Abbott is connected to 25 scenes, 33 dialogue lines, 39 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
25 scenes / 33 dialogue linesAlice Abbott is listed as Supporting. Nineteen-year-old, eldest Abbott daughter, conventional. In the parsed data, Alice Abbott is connected to 23 scenes, 48 dialogue lines, 49 text mentions, first appearing around scene 88.
23 scenes / 48 dialogue linesEleanor Abbott is listed as Supporting. Sixteen-year-old, middle Abbott daughter, outgoing and popular. In the parsed data, Eleanor Abbott is connected to 22 scenes, 34 dialogue lines, 35 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
22 scenes / 34 dialogue linesJoan Abbott is listed as Supporting. Lloyd's wife, former beauty queen, prone to drinking and smoking. In the parsed data, Joan Abbott is connected to 17 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 64.
17 scenes / 5 dialogue linesPeter Vanlaningham is listed as Supporting. Alice's fiancé, wealthy, aggressive. In the parsed data, Peter Vanlaningham is connected to 6 scenes, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 11.
6 scenes / 0 dialogue linesVictor is listed as Supporting. Doug's best friend. In the parsed data, Victor is connected to 5 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 19.
5 scenes / 14 dialogue linesOpening credits show the construction of a large party tent on the Abbott family lawn.
Jacey and Doug walk to school, discussing the Abbott party. Lloyd Abbott drives by, causing Jacey visible distress.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, Lloyd AbbottJacey confronts Eleanor about their relationship and the party invitation.
Jacey Holt, Eleanor AbbottEstablishing shot of the Holt home; Doug is heard singing.
Doug HoltDoug draws fake sideburns on his face; Jacey reacts with disgust.
Jacey Holt, Doug HoltHelen mediates a dispute between Jacey and Doug regarding Doug's appearance.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, Helen HoltDoug arrives at the party, smoking and admiring Lloyd's car.
Doug Holt, Lloyd AbbottJacey dances with Eleanor while Doug surveys the party.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, Eleanor AbbottDoug interacts with Pamela Abbott at the buffet.
Doug Holt, Pamela AbbottDoug and Pamela smoke and discuss the Abbott family dynamics.
Doug Holt, Pamela AbbottLloyd Abbott toasts Alice's engagement to Peter Vanlaningham.
Lloyd Abbott, Joan Abbott, Alice Abbott, Peter VanlaninghamDoug leaves the party.
Doug HoltDoug sets trash cans on fire while walking home.
Doug HoltJacey spies on Eleanor and Steve.
Jacey Holt, Eleanor AbbottJacey walks home, upset.
Jacey HoltJacey and Doug play ping-pong in the garage.
Jacey Holt, Doug HoltJacey serves Lloyd Abbott at the gas station.
Jacey Holt, Lloyd AbbottDoug and Victor hang out at the boathouse.
Doug Holt, VictorDoug sees Jacey water skiing.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, VictorJacey crashes while water skiing.
Jacey HoltDoug discovers Jacey's bruises from the ski accident.
Jacey Holt, Doug HoltThe Abbott family visits the gas station.
Lloyd Abbott, Joan Abbott, Eleanor Abbott, Pamela AbbottEleanor visits Jacey at the station; they kiss.
Jacey Holt, Eleanor Abbott, Pamela AbbottThe Abbotts leave.
Jacey HoltLloyd warns Eleanor to stay away from Jacey.
Lloyd Abbott, Eleanor AbbottEstablishing shot of the restaurant.
Doug and Victor work as bus boys.
Doug Holt, VictorDoug leaves work.
Doug HoltDoug arrives home.
Doug HoltDoug catches Jacey and Eleanor having sex.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, Eleanor AbbottDoug flees the house.
Doug HoltDoug swims to cool off.
Doug HoltJacey packs for college; Helen asks him to take Doug out.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, Helen HoltJacey and Doug drive together.
Jacey Holt, Doug HoltJacey and Doug drink beer.
Jacey Holt, Doug HoltJacey and Doug discuss their family history and the Abbott family while drinking beer.
Jacey Holt, Doug HoltHelen waves goodbye to Jacey as he leaves for Philadelphia.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, Helen HoltDoug attempts to look up Eleanor's skirt, resulting in a chaotic accident.
Doug Holt, Eleanor AbbottPamela offers Doug a ride home.
Doug Holt, Pamela AbbottDoug and Pamela argue about their relationship status.
Doug Holt, Pamela AbbottDoug smokes in the garage until called for dinner.
Doug Holt, Helen HoltHelen confronts Doug about his smoking and he mentions a date.
Doug Holt, Helen HoltDoug arrives at the Abbott house to ask Pamela out.
Doug Holt, Pamela AbbottDoug and Pamela watch TV and become intimate, but Pamela stops him.
Doug Holt, Pamela AbbottPamela runs upstairs crying; Doug follows.
Doug Holt, Pamela AbbottDoug apologizes to Pamela; they hear Peter and Alice arrive.
Doug Holt, Pamela Abbott, Alice Abbott, Peter VanlaninghamPeter and Alice argue while Pamela watches from the stairs.
Pamela Abbott, Alice Abbott, Peter VanlaninghamDoug hides as Lloyd and Joan arrive home.
Doug Holt, Lloyd Abbott, Joan AbbottPeter pounds on Alice's door.
Alice Abbott, Peter VanlaninghamDoug is trapped in the stairwell.
Doug HoltDoug escapes through a window.
Doug HoltDoug is teased by Eleanor and her friends.
Doug Holt, Eleanor Abbott, Pamela AbbottJacey returns from Philadelphia.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, Eleanor AbbottDoug asks Jacey for advice on girls.
Jacey Holt, Doug HoltJacey picks up Eleanor.
Jacey Holt, Eleanor AbbottLloyd sees Jacey and Eleanor together.
Jacey Holt, Lloyd Abbott, Eleanor AbbottJacey and Eleanor have sex.
Jacey Holt, Eleanor AbbottLloyd catches Jacey and Eleanor.
Jacey Holt, Lloyd Abbott, Eleanor AbbottJoan Abbott visits Helen.
Doug Holt, Helen Holt, Joan AbbottJoan Abbott arrives at the Holt home.
Helen Holt, Joan AbbottDoug watches the interaction.
Doug Holt, Helen Holt, Joan AbbottJoan and Helen talk outside.
Helen Holt, Joan AbbottDoug tries to hear the conversation.
Doug HoltHelen refuses to talk to Jacey about Eleanor; she questions Doug.
Doug Holt, Helen Holt, Joan AbbottEleanor leaves town.
Eleanor AbbottPamela invites Doug to her birthday party.
Doug Holt, Pamela AbbottDoug and Jacey discuss the party and their family history.
Jacey Holt, Doug HoltJacey reveals the truth about their mother and Lloyd Abbott.
Jacey Holt, Doug HoltDoug attends the party and feels out of place.
Doug Holt, Lloyd Abbott, Joan Abbott, Pamela Abbott, Alice Abbott, Peter VanlaninghamDoug attends the Abbott party, dances with Pamela, and gets into a confrontation with Ted.
Doug Holt, Lloyd Abbott, Joan Abbott, Eleanor Abbott, Pamela Abbott, Alice AbbottJacey checks on Doug after the party.
Jacey Holt, Doug HoltDoug and Jacey play ping-pong and argue about Doug's future.
Jacey Holt, Doug HoltDoug and Helen shop while Doug researches scholarships.
Doug Holt, Helen HoltHelen and Doug encounter townswomen and decide to see a movie.
Doug Holt, Helen Holt, Pamela AbbottDoug and Helen watch a movie and talk about the past.
Doug Holt, Helen HoltGraduation ceremony where Pamela and Doug receive diplomas.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, Helen Holt, Lloyd Abbott, Joan Abbott, Pamela AbbottHelen and Lloyd have a brief, awkward conversation.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, Helen Holt, Lloyd Abbott, Joan Abbott, Pamela AbbottThe Holts eat dinner and are treated by the owner.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, Helen HoltThe Holts drive past the Abbott party.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, Helen HoltJacey and Doug get into a physical fight.
Jacey Holt, Doug Holt, Helen HoltYou didn't know your mother at all if you think someone like me would've ever stood a chance with someone like her. That just goes to show you how stupid this town is -- that they'd believe she slept with me. That'd make Charlie laugh. Your old man was my best friend. He used to call me 'Egg-head' -- hell, everybody did. And back then everybody knew that Egg-head Abbott didn't stand a snowball's chance in hell with Helen Riley. Of course, that was all before I became Lloyd Abbott -- Mr. Abbott. That was back when I still had chicken shit on my shoes and twelve cents in my pocket. Charlie Holt was the only one good enough for Helen. I used to spy on 'em -- yup, I did. Used to watch them sit on the front porch of her house -- your house -- and watch 'em talk. And talk. I never knew what to say to a girl. Never could just talk. Could dance, could listen to the radio. But I couldn't talk... except with your mother, except with Helen. I talked more to her after your dad died than I'd ever talked to any woman before then -- or since then. Jesus, I talked. Just like this. Just like right now. Just pouring out. Helen would listen and whatever I said, she'd never make me feel bad or ignorant or guilty. I mean... for Christ's sake, she never blamed me for what happened at the lake, for letting Charlie drive out on that ice. She never did anything but try to make me hurt less and I...
Well, that's what you thought. I think Steve is... I don't even know what I think about Steve, I never think about him. I just do things. And let other people figure them out. That's what parents are for. They're real good at doing all the thinking. Why should I? Alice is going to have a baby. She and Kilroy didn't waste any time. He's already talking about having another, and Alice is up-chucking every hour on the hour. She's got morning-noon-and-night sickness. I've got the feeling she'll be barefoot and puking for years to come. Wallpaper patterns -- that's all she talks about. She and my mother spend hours looking at wallpaper pattern books. That's another thing I never think about... wallpaper. Well, I think this is called the silent treatment. I get enough of that from my father, I don't need it from you. Good luck at Penn.
After Charlie died Lloyd Abbott started dropping by on his way home from work. He felt so bad about that bet Charlie made with him at the lake. That foolish, idiotic bet. Poor Lloyd -- I felt sorry for him. He'd have a cup of coffee with Mother and me. If a doorknob had come off he'd fix it. He'd carry the garbage cans to the curb. Someone dies, people try to be helpful. But he was by here so often that people started to talk. It was fairly obvious that he wanted something more from me than just a cup of coffee. I suggested that he didn't need to stop by here so often, but... then one afternoon I was at Woolworth's, having lunch at the counter. All of sudden Joan Abbott was standing there -- screaming and yelling at me to stop sleeping with her husband, with Lloyd. I was speechless. She was gone before I could find my tongue.
Goddammit. Goddammit! Look, I don't want you in Philadelphia. I don't need you around to remind everybody that I come from Hicksville, U.S.A. So if you're going to go to Philadelphia, you're on your own, dip shit. I don't need you riding my coat tails. Christ -- why don't you get your own life? Stop being my fucking shadow.
No. That's why she sent me, she doesn't want you to come, she was afraid you would if you heard from someone else. She's all right. They just want her to rest tonight, they said they might let her come home in a day or two. She just needs to rest. I've got to go, I'm supposed to be on my way home from the hospital.
Because my parents want her to and Alice is afraid of my parents. It's practically an arranged marriage. They think Alice has peanut shells for brains or something, so they sort of suggested that maybe it was time to tie the old knot and they sort of suggested that Peter was the one to do it with.
Because I'm in love with... your father. With my memory of him. He was the one for me. Oh, I don't know... there's different kinds of love, darling. Some people you love no matter what. Other people you love if the situation is right. To me the best kind of love is the 'no matter what' kind.
I spend all day, every day, just waiting and waiting to be with you, waiting to forget everything, you make me forget... but then when I get dressed and I come home, you... just... leak out of me. Leak away. I go into the bathroom and I wash you off of me and I remember everything.
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