1991
John Berlin, a troubled former Los Angeles police sergeant, relocates to Eureka and begins investigating a series of murders targeting blind women known as the Jennifer cases. While pursuing the killer, Berlin becomes romantically involved with a blind music teacher named Helena Robertson, who becomes the primary target of the elusive serial murderer. During a stakeout at the Shasta-Trinity Institute, a chaotic confrontation leads to Berlin accidentally shooting and killing his partner and friend, Frederick Ross. After being cleared of suspicion and discovering that the killer is actually his colleague J.K. Taylor, Berlin tracks him to the institute and kills him in a final showdown to save Helena.
Save the Cat beat sheet
John Berlin, a recovering alcoholic turned Eureka homicide sergeant, struggles with his past as he investigates a series of mutilation murders.
Open full beat sheetJohn Berlin is listed as Protagonist / Police Sergeant. 40 years old, alcoholic, intense eyes, dark hair, former L.A.P.D. In the parsed data, John Berlin is connected to 142 scenes, 103 dialogue lines, 104 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
142 scenes / 103 dialogue linesHelena Robertson is listed as Witness / Music Teacher. Early 20s, blonde, blind, delicate features, teaches cello. In the parsed data, Helena Robertson is connected to 54 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 33.
54 scenes / 10 dialogue linesFrederick T. Ross is listed as Police Sergeant / Friend. 50s, intense, cowboy boots, sports jacket, Berlin's long-time friend. In the parsed data, Frederick T. Ross is connected to 48 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
48 scenes / 13 dialogue linesMargie Ross is listed as Frederick's Wife. Slim, dark, runs a beauty salon. In the parsed data, Margie Ross is connected to 19 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 93.
19 scenes / 7 dialogue linesJ.K. Taylor is listed as Police Sergeant. Tall, balding, reddish hair, antagonistic toward Berlin. In the parsed data, J.K. Taylor is connected to 16 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 63.
16 scenes / 9 dialogue linesSt. Anne is listed as F.B.I. Investigator. 50s, lawyer/accountant type, cold, methodical. In the parsed data, St. Anne is connected to 15 scenes, 64 dialogue lines, 64 text mentions, first appearing around scene 126.
15 scenes / 64 dialogue linesCitrine is listed as Chief of Eureka Police. 60 years old, face a mix of brick and fat. In the parsed data, Citrine is connected to 13 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 51.
13 scenes / 9 dialogue linesSerato is listed as Police Sergeant. Colleague. In the parsed data, Serato is connected to 9 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 96.
9 scenes / 5 dialogue linesTravis is listed as Uniformed Officer. Young, struggling moustache. In the parsed data, Travis is connected to 9 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 123.
9 scenes / 5 dialogue linesBobby is listed as Ross's Son. 12 years old. In the parsed data, Bobby is connected to 8 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 173.
8 scenes / 4 dialogue linesAmanda is listed as Craft Shop Owner. Red hair, freckles. In the parsed data, Amanda is connected to 6 scenes, first appearing around scene 81.
6 scenes / 0 dialogue linesVenables is listed as Police Officer. Fat cop. In the parsed data, Venables is connected to 6 scenes, first appearing around scene 11.
6 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMichael Blattis is listed as Reporter. 32 years old, local newspaper reporter. In the parsed data, Michael Blattis is connected to 5 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 167.
5 scenes / 1 dialogue linesBisley is listed as Police Officer. Morose looking. In the parsed data, Bisley is connected to 5 scenes, first appearing around scene 19.
5 scenes / 0 dialogue linesTrimble is listed as Witness. 10 years old, freckles, missing front tooth. In the parsed data, Trimble is connected to 4 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 36.
4 scenes / 3 dialogue linesGoodridge is listed as Principal of Shasta-Trinity Institute. Mid-50s, beard like Abraham Lincoln. In the parsed data, Goodridge is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 31.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesBenny is listed as AA Meeting Speaker. 50 years old, recovering alcoholic. In the parsed data, Benny is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 1.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesJohn Berlin attends an AA meeting and shares his personal struggle with alcoholism and his recent life changes.
John Berlin, BennyA blue Mercedes sedan is followed by the camera as it travels north on the 101 Interstate.
John BerlinBerlin drives the Mercedes, smoking and navigating the highway.
John BerlinThe Mercedes turns off the highway and disappears into the distance.
Berlin wakes up in his new, sparse, and run-down house.
John BerlinBerlin attempts to make coffee but finds the gas is out.
John BerlinBerlin discovers the gas cylinder is empty.
John BerlinBerlin listens to the police scanner and hears a call about a body at the city dump.
John BerlinPolice vehicles arrive at the city dump.
TravisRoss arrives at the dump and meets Travis and Trimble.
Frederick T. Ross, Travis, TrimbleBerlin and Ross examine the body of a man at the dump.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, Michael Blattis, Travis, Venables, TrimbleBerlin and Ross examine the severed hand found in the trash.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossA grid search is conducted in the rain.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, Travis, VenablesBerlin arrives at the police station and meets Blattis.
John Berlin, Michael BlattisBerlin is introduced to the Eureka police staff and discusses the case with Citrine.
John Berlin, Citrine, J.K. Taylor, Michael Blattis, Travis, SeratoBerlin and Ross attend the autopsy of the derelict.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossBerlin visits Ross and his wife Margie for a brief social call.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, Margie RossBerlin processes evidence in the lab.
John BerlinBerlin discusses the 'Jennifer' case with Venables.
John Berlin, J.K. Taylor, Venables, BisleyBerlin processes the severed finger as Ross visits.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossBerlin and Ross analyze slides of a hand, discussing scars and the unsolved Jennifer case while Berlin practices a smoking cessation method.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossBerlin and Ross struggle to move furniture while Margie and Bobby prepare to leave.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, Margie Ross, BobbyBerlin and Ross discuss smoking cessation and listen to a message on the answering machine regarding the Jennifer case.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossCitrine reviews teletype documents while Ross asks to give a witness a lie-detector test.
Frederick T. Ross, Citrine, SeratoBerlin shows Citrine evidence linking two cases, but Citrine remains skeptical.
John Berlin, Citrine, BisleyBerlin and Ross drive through the city; Berlin realizes the victim was blind and read Braille.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossBerlin makes calls to investigate the victim's identity.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossBerlin and Ross drive through the snowy forest toward the Institute.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossBerlin and Ross arrive at the Institute.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossBerlin and Ross enter the Institute and are greeted by a recorded voice.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossBerlin and Ross interview Goodridge about a missing student named Amber.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, GoodridgeBerlin and Ross find Helena Robertson's room.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, Helena RobertsonBerlin and Ross interview Helena about Amber and the man she left with.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, Helena RobertsonBerlin and Ross leave the Institute, encountering a mysterious man.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, Helena RobertsonRoss throws Berlin's Zippo out the window during an argument.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossBerlin digs in the dump looking for the dog.
John Berlin, TrimbleBerlin digs in the city dump to find the dead dog, eventually discovering a bullet in its skull.
John Berlin, TrimbleBerlin receives VICAP data, realizes the scope of the serial killer, and takes a call from Helena.
John Berlin, Helena Robertson, J.K. TaylorBerlin drives his Mercedes toward the harbor.
John BerlinBerlin meets Ross on his boat to discuss the case.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, BobbyBerlin tries to convince Ross to help him approach Citrine.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossAerial view of the landscape as Berlin travels north.
Berlin arrives at the institute.
John BerlinBerlin finds Helena rehearsing in the gymnasium.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonBerlin and Helena walk up the stairs.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonBerlin explores the apartment and finds evidence.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonBerlin meets Helena in the foyer.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonBerlin and Helena have lunch.
John Berlin, Helena Robertson, GoodridgeBerlin talks about his past in L.A.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonBerlin and Helena share a moment before he leaves.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonBerlin visits the Citrine residence.
John BerlinBerlin argues with Citrine about the case.
John Berlin, CitrineBerlin returns to the station.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossBerlin and Ross discuss the case and the polygraph results.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, SeratoBerlin prepares to interrogate Emerson.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, SeratoBerlin interrogates Emerson.
John BerlinBerlin and Helena enjoy the boat trip.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonRoss and Margie watch Berlin and Helena.
Frederick T. Ross, Margie RossSocial gathering on the boat.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, Helena Robertson, Margie Ross, BobbyBerlin and Helena say goodbye.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonChief Citrine reprimands Berlin for his unauthorized investigation into the blind witness and orders him to close the case.
John Berlin, CitrineBerlin and Ross walk through the Christmas-lit streets toward a bar.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossBerlin and Ross drink at a bar frequented by police; Taylor reveals the 'sailor' theory.
John Berlin, Frederick T. Ross, J.K. Taylor, Michael Blattis, Venables, BisleyRoss warns Berlin about his emotional involvement in the case.
John Berlin, Frederick T. RossBerlin checks messages and finds information about Volkswagen vans.
John BerlinBerlin prepares to leave the station.
John BerlinBerlin attempts to search Taylor's office for files.
John Berlin, J.K. TaylorBerlin breaks into a cabinet and is caught by Taylor.
John Berlin, J.K. TaylorBerlin drives to the institute.
John BerlinBerlin spots a Volkswagen van.
John BerlinBerlin visits Helena at the institute.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonHelena surprises Berlin with a dinner.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonBerlin prepares to tell Helena he has to leave.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonHelena makes coffee and glimpses someone outside.
Helena RobertsonBerlin and Helena share coffee.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonAn unknown man watches Berlin and Helena from outside.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonBerlin leaves the institute.
John Berlin, Helena RobertsonBerlin spots the VW van at a diner.
John BerlinHelena finds an open window in her bedroom.
Helena RobertsonBerlin investigates the van.
John Berlin.. after my third recovery my wife made me swear I'd never bring another bottle into the house. And I never did. I buried it under the lawn. Cut out a turf & stood it upright with a piece of tinfoil instead of a cork. So here we are out in the yard, and she's happy because I'm getting healthy in a pair of swiming shorts & no way near no booze. She decides to prune the roses. Meanwhile, I'm laying there with a straw stuck into the fucken lawn doing a quart of red ..
.. I put the slug in for a ballistics report, the man tells me, for get it. Soft lead, it's worthless .. I think, fuck it. And fuck Citrine. I call a friend of mine in Los Angeles, and he runs our whole damned show through a main-frame looking for anything similar to our ladies shot with a twenty-two - you don't believe what he finds in San Diego ..
O.K. Sergeant, here it is. I intend to produce evidence, that will prove you shot Frederick Ross with malice aforethought. My angle therefore, is to prepare a case on behalf of your Chief, to prosecute you for first degree murder.
Detectives spent several hours this morning at Sergeant Berlin's home .. various property was removed for examination. Later in the morning, Mayor Heineman arrived for a meeting with police officers from Shasta Valley ..
Jim unable to say anything right now, except, this is a very sad and tragic day. John Berlin lied to us all. Lied to me, and much worse, lied to every man, woman, & child in this community ..
Six girls over a period of 18 months, and give or take a head or two, the M.O.'s exactly the same. Dark hair. No hands. All shot with a high velocity twenty-two in the back of the head.
You said you figured it had fallen down the stairs with the flashlight? You said you were confused? You pick up the flashlight in confusion, how d'you know you didn't pick up the 25?
She's blind, Ross - that's why all the scars - hear that traffic light? That noise is to help blind people - that's why the marks on her fingertips? - this lady reads in Braille ..
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