1991
New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison begins an investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy after suspecting the official Warren Commission report is deeply flawed. Garrison uncovers a complex web of connections involving intelligence agencies, the military, and organized crime figures like Clay Shaw, David Ferrie, and Lee Harvey Oswald. Despite facing intense government pressure, witness intimidation, and the murder of key informants, Garrison brings Clay Shaw to trial to expose what he believes was a coordinated coup d'etat. Although the jury ultimately acquits Shaw due to a lack of definitive evidence, Garrison remains steadfast in his conviction that the truth about the assassination has been systematically suppressed by powerful forces.
Save the Cat beat sheet
JFK follows Jim Garrison’s obsessive investigation into the Kennedy assassination, juxtaposing courtroom drama with flashbacks that reveal potential conspirators.
Open full beat sheetJim Garrison is listed as District Attorney of New Orleans. A 43-year-old intellectual, former air pilot, and dedicated prosecutor. In the parsed data, Jim Garrison is connected to 58 scenes, 42 dialogue lines, 42 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
58 scenes / 42 dialogue linesLou Ivon is listed as Chief Investigator. Burly, loyal investigator for Garrison. In the parsed data, Lou Ivon is connected to 25 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
25 scenes / 11 dialogue linesLee Harvey Oswald is listed as Suspect. A 24-year-old former Marine, defector to the Soviet Union, and alleged assassin. In the parsed data, Lee Harvey Oswald is connected to 19 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
19 scenes / 6 dialogue linesClay Shaw is listed as Businessman. Director of the International Trade Mart, elegant, patrician, and suspected conspirator. In the parsed data, Clay Shaw is connected to 16 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
16 scenes / 7 dialogue linesLiz Garrison is listed as Wife. Jim's wife, a quiet Southern woman struggling with the impact of the investigation. In the parsed data, Liz Garrison is connected to 15 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
15 scenes / 3 dialogue linesDavid Ferrie is listed as Pilot. A strange, alopecia-suffering pilot with ties to intelligence and anti-Castro activities. In the parsed data, David Ferrie is connected to 11 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
11 scenes / 13 dialogue linesJack Ruby is listed as Nightclub Owner. Dallas nightclub owner who killed Lee Harvey Oswald. In the parsed data, Jack Ruby is connected to 9 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 52.
9 scenes / 1 dialogue linesX is listed as Informant. A mysterious high-level military/intelligence official providing information to Garrison. In the parsed data, X is connected to 6 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 47.
6 scenes / 7 dialogue linesGuy Banister is listed as Private Investigator. Former FBI agent, right-wing extremist, and operator of a detective agency in New Orleans. In the parsed data, Guy Banister is connected to 5 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
5 scenes / 2 dialogue linesJohn F. Kennedy is listed as President of the United States. The 35th President, assassinated in Dallas. In the parsed data, John F. Kennedy is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 87.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesRose Cheramie is thrown from a car and left bleeding on the road.
Rose Cheramie warns a doctor and police officer about the upcoming assassination of Kennedy.
Lee Harvey OswaldJim Garrison learns of the assassination of President Kennedy.
Jim Garrison, Lou IvonJim and Lou watch the news of Kennedy's death at a restaurant.
Jim Garrison, Lou IvonGuy Banister and Jack Martin discuss the assassination while drinking.
Clay Shaw, Guy BanisterGarrison and Ivon watch news reports of Oswald's arrest and booking, discussing the implications.
Jim Garrison, Lou Ivon, Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack RubyBanister and Martin walk down the street, drunk and arguing about Oswald.
Guy BanisterBanister confronts Martin about his loyalty and files, eventually assaulting him.
Guy BanisterGarrison and his family watch news coverage of Oswald's press conference.
Jim Garrison, Liz Garrison, Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack RubyGarrison's team discusses the investigation and watches the live shooting of Oswald.
Jim Garrison, Lou Ivon, David Ferrie, Jack Ruby, Lee Harvey OswaldGarrison interrogates David Ferrie.
Jim Garrison, David Ferrie, Lou IvonGarrison and his team watch the FBI release Ferrie.
Jim Garrison, Lou IvonGarrison discusses the Warren Commission and the Vietnam War with Senator Long.
Jim GarrisonJim researches the Warren Commission volumes while Liz tries to get him to come to dinner.
Jim Garrison, Liz GarrisonJim discusses the flaws in the Warren Report with his family and housekeeper.
Jim Garrison, Liz GarrisonJim reviews testimony from the Warren Commission, including Lee Bowers and Sgt. Harkness.
Jim GarrisonJim wakes up from a nightmare and argues with Liz about Oswald's intelligence training.
Jim Garrison, Liz GarrisonJim takes Lou and Bill to investigate the offices used by Guy Banister and Lee Oswald.
Jim Garrison, Lou IvonJim and Bill interview Jack Martin about Guy Banister and the events of 1963.
Jim GarrisonJim Garrison interviews Martin about his time at Banister's office and his knowledge of Oswald and Clay Bertrand.
Jim Garrison, Lou Ivon, Clay ShawJim, Numa, and Bill discuss the investigation and the credibility of their witness.
Jim GarrisonJim and his team meet to discuss new leads, including the hoboes and the death of witnesses.
Jim Garrison, Lou IvonJim discusses his theory about Oswald being an intelligence agent with his team.
Jim Garrison, Lou Ivon, X, Guy BanisterJack Ruby is forcibly injected by a doctor in his cell.
Jack RubyJim confronts Dean Andrews about Clay Bertrand.
Jim GarrisonJim and Bill interview Willie O'Keefe.
Jim Garrison, David Ferrie, Clay Shaw, Lee Harvey OswaldFerrie, Bertrand, Oswald, and others discuss the assassination of Kennedy.
David Ferrie, Clay Shaw, Lee Harvey Oswald, Lou IvonJim Garrison interviews O'Keefe in prison.
Jim Garrison, Lou IvonGarrison and his team review evidence regarding Oswald.
Jim Garrison, Lou Ivon, Liz GarrisonGarrison prepares to interview Clay Shaw while his family celebrates Easter.
Jim Garrison, Liz GarrisonGarrison interviews Clay Shaw.
Jim Garrison, Clay ShawJim Garrison interrogates Clay Shaw about his dinner parties and his relationship with Willie O'Keefe and David Ferrie.
Jim Garrison, Clay ShawFlashback to a party at Shaw's house involving Ferrie and others.
Clay Shaw, David FerrieJim continues the interrogation of Shaw, showing him photos and asking about Clay Bertrand and Dean Andrews.
Jim Garrison, Clay ShawLiz and the children wait for Jim to join them for Easter dinner.
Liz GarrisonJim interrogates Shaw about his CIA connections and the Italian newspaper article.
Jim Garrison, Clay Shaw, Lou IvonJim returns home to an angry Liz on Easter night.
Jim Garrison, Liz GarrisonJim discovers a newspaper headline exposing his investigation.
Jim Garrison, Lou IvonLou receives a frantic call from David Ferrie.
David Ferrie, Lou IvonJim and Lou interview a paranoid David Ferrie.
Jim Garrison, David Ferrie, Lou IvonJim and Lou interview Ferrie, who reveals details about the CIA, Mafia, and the assassination, then breaks down in fear.
Jim Garrison, David Ferrie, Lou IvonA chaotic scene with press and citizens outside Garrison's office.
Jim GarrisonJim discusses the negative press and receives a visit from a mysterious Denver oilman, Mr. Miller.
Jim Garrison, Liz GarrisonThe staff discusses the deteriorating state of Ferrie and discovers the office is bugged.
Jim Garrison, Lou IvonJim investigates the scene of Ferrie's death.
Jim Garrison, Lou IvonBill is approached by an FBI agent named Frank who warns him about the investigation and Garrison's future.
Lou Ivon, Jim GarrisonJim meets with a mysterious informant known as X who provides details about the assassination conspiracy.
Jim Garrison, XJim and his team arrest Clay Shaw.
Jim Garrison, Clay ShawThe team searches Shaw's house and finds disturbing items.
Jim Garrison, Clay ShawClay Shaw is processed and fingerprinted.
Clay ShawFlashback to the assassination day where Julia Ann Mercer observes suspicious activity involving a green pickup truck, Jack Ruby, and a man with a rifle.
Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack RubyMercer identifies Jack Ruby from a photo lineup to FBI agents.
Jack RubyJim questions Mercer about her Warren Commission testimony and the discrepancies in her reports.
Jim GarrisonJim and Lou interview Beverly about the Carousel Club and her encounter with Jack Ruby and Lee Harvey Oswald.
Jim Garrison, Lee Harvey Oswald, David Ferrie, Jack Ruby, Lou IvonJim and Lou investigate the scene with witnesses Price, Holland, Dodd, and Hill.
Jim Garrison, Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, Lou IvonJim and Lou test the feasibility of the shots using a Mannlicher-Carcano.
Jim Garrison, Lee Harvey Oswald, Lou IvonJim and his staff discuss the refusal of extradition requests and subpoenas.
Jim GarrisonGarrison and his team discuss the difficulties of the investigation, the refusal of extradition requests, and the mounting pressure from the IRS and National Guard.
Jim Garrison, Lou Ivon, Liz Garrison, X, Guy BanisterFlashback to Oswald attempting to see Agent Hosty and leaving a note.
Lee Harvey OswaldGarrison's family watches news of Martin Luther King's death while a mysterious caller threatens his daughter.
Jim Garrison, Liz GarrisonJim Garrison appears on a talk show to discuss his investigation.
Jim GarrisonJim Garrison appears on the Jerry Johnson Show to defend his investigation into the JFK assassination, leading to a confrontation over evidence.
Jim GarrisonJim returns home to learn that his key witness, Bill, has defected to the Feds.
Jim Garrison, Liz GarrisonJim watches the news of Robert Kennedy's assassination and shares a moment with his wife.
Jim Garrison, Liz GarrisonThe trial of Clay Shaw begins with various witnesses testifying.
Jim Garrison, Clay ShawDr. McClelland testifies about the President's head wounds.
Jim GarrisonFlashback to the emergency room where doctors treat the President.
John F. KennedySecret Service attempts to remove the casket, blocked by local authorities.
Air Force One departs with the new President.
Flashback to the military-controlled autopsy.
David FerrieJim Garrison questions Dr. Finck about the autopsy procedures.
Jim GarrisonReconstruction of the assassination teams in position.
Lee Harvey Oswald, Clay Shaw, David FerriePrisoners observe the Book Depository.
Oswald is seen in the lunchroom by Carolyn Arnold.
Lee Harvey OswaldPatrolman Baker encounters Oswald after the shooting.
Lee Harvey OswaldOswald returns to his room after the assassination.
Lee Harvey OswaldOswald is confronted by Officer Tippit and shoots him.
Lee Harvey OswaldDomingo Benavides and Acquilla Clemons witness the shooting of Tippit.
Oswald is identified by Johnny Brewer and arrested by police.
Lee Harvey OswaldCaptain Fritz receives a call from a high official regarding Oswald.
Lee Harvey OswaldI think it started in the wind. Money - arms, big oil, Pentagon people, contractors, bankers, politicians like L.B.J. were committed to a war in Southeast Asia. As early as '61 they knew Kennedy was going to change things... He was not going to war in Southeast Asia. Who knows? Probably some boardroom or lunchroom somewhere - Houston, New York - hell, maybe Bonn, Germany... who knows, it's international now.
Gentlemen, I want you to know I'm not going to let Vietnam go the way China did. I'm personally committed. I'm not going to take one soldier out of there 'til they know we mean business in Asia... You just get me elected, and I'll give you your damned war.
Hell, no. I'm gonna run again. And I'm gonna win. Thank you very much. If it takes me 30 years to nail every one of the assassins, then I will continue this investigation for 30 years. I owe that not only to Jack Kennedy, but to my country.
Honey, that was three years ago - we all tried so hard to put that out of our minds, why are you digging it up again? You're the D.A. of New Orleans. Isn't the Kennedy assassination a bit outside your domain?
They're going up to Dallas... to whack Kennedy. Friday the 22nd, that's when they're going to do it. In Dealey Plaza. They're gonna whack him! You gotta call somebody, these are serious fuckin' guys.
544 Camp Street. Same building as 531 Lafayette, right... but different address and different entrances both going to the same place - the offices on the second and third floors.
Yeah, he was there, too... sometimes he'd be meeting with Banister with the door shut. Other times he'd be shooting the bull with Ferrie. But he was there all right.
You're not under cross-examination here, Jack. What I need is a little clarification about the night Guy Banister beat you over the head with his Magnum.
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