Scripts
John Q. poster

2002

John Q. script

Archibald, facing financial ruin and unable to get his insurance to cover his son Mike's urgent heart transplant, takes hostages in a hospital emergency room. Lieutenant Frank Grimes negotiates while administrator Rebecca Payne reluctantly adds Mike to the transplant list, and a car accident provides a potential donor heart. Dr Raymond Turner prepares for the transplant amidst the crisis, as John Q. is arrested and sentenced, but his son receives a life-saving transplant.

Writer
James Kearns
IMDb ID (imdb_id)
tt0251160
Script date
2002
17Scenes
14Characters
51Pages
4Dialogue samples

Save the Cat beat sheet

John Q. Save the Cat analysis

faces financial ruin and system failures before seizing an ER to demand a heart transplant for his son.

Open full beat sheet
75

Key characters

John Quincy Archibald

John Quincy Archibald is listed as Protagonist. A factory worker struggling with financial hardship and his son's medical crisis. In the parsed data, John Quincy Archibald is connected to 12 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.

12 scenes / 11 dialogue lines

Leo Maguire

Leo Maguire is listed as Nurse. An ER nurse at Hope Memorial. In the parsed data, Leo Maguire is connected to 7 scenes, first appearing around scene 3.

7 scenes / 0 dialogue lines

Mitch

Mitch is listed as Hostage. A volatile man held hostage in the ER. In the parsed data, Mitch is connected to 6 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.

6 scenes / 2 dialogue lines

Denise Archibald

Denise Archibald is listed as Wife. John's wife, a supermarket cashier. In the parsed data, Denise Archibald is connected to 6 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 1.

6 scenes / 1 dialogue lines

Frank Grimes

Frank Grimes is listed as Police Lieutenant. A veteran hostage negotiator. In the parsed data, Frank Grimes is connected to 6 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 4.

6 scenes / 1 dialogue lines

Julie

Julie is listed as Hostage. Mitch's girlfriend. In the parsed data, Julie is connected to 6 scenes, first appearing around scene 3.

6 scenes / 0 dialogue lines

Dr. Raymond Turner

Dr. Raymond Turner is listed as Cardiologist. Head of the cardiology department at Hope Memorial Hospital. In the parsed data, Dr. Raymond Turner is connected to 5 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.

5 scenes / 2 dialogue lines

Mike Archibald

Mike Archibald is listed as Son. John and Denise's nine-year-old son, a body-building enthusiast. In the parsed data, Mike Archibald is connected to 5 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 11.

5 scenes / 1 dialogue lines

Dr. Marjorie Klein

Dr. Marjorie Klein is listed as Emergency Room Doctor. An ER physician at Hope Memorial. In the parsed data, Dr. Marjorie Klein is connected to 5 scenes, first appearing around scene 4.

5 scenes / 0 dialogue lines

Lester

Lester is listed as Hostage. A man with a hand injury held hostage. In the parsed data, Lester is connected to 5 scenes, first appearing around scene 3.

5 scenes / 0 dialogue lines

Rebecca Payne

Rebecca Payne is listed as Hospital Administrator. Administrative Supervisor at Hope Memorial Hospital. In the parsed data, Rebecca Payne is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.

3 scenes / 1 dialogue lines

Jimmy Palumbo

Jimmy Palumbo is listed as Friend. John's best friend and co-worker. In the parsed data, Jimmy Palumbo is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 9.

2 scenes / 0 dialogue lines

Gus Monroe

Gus Monroe is listed as Police Chief. The Police Chief overseeing the hostage situation. In the parsed data, Gus Monroe is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 10.

1 scenes / 0 dialogue lines

Tuck Lampley

Tuck Lampley is listed as News Reporter. An investigative reporter for Channel 8.

0 scenes / 0 dialogue lines

Scene outline

  1. 1. INT. ARCHIBALD HOUSE - BEDROOM - MORNING

    John Q. wakes up to news on TV and hears a noise outside.

    John Quincy Archibald, Denise Archibald
  2. 2. EXT. ARCHIBALD HOUSE - MORNING

    John Q. discovers his car is being repossessed.

    John Quincy Archibald, Denise Archibald, Mike Archibald
  3. 3. INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - MORNING

    J.Q. forces Dr. Turner into the ER at gunpoint, takes hostages, and demands a heart transplant for his son.

    John Quincy Archibald, Dr. Raymond Turner, Leo Maguire, Mitch, Julie, Lester
  4. 4. INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - DAY

    J.Q. manages the hostages, deals with a medical emergency, and negotiates with the police.

    John Quincy Archibald, Dr. Raymond Turner, Frank Grimes, Dr. Marjorie Klein, Leo Maguire, Mitch
  5. 5. INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - DAY

    John Q. and the hostages discuss the hostage situation and the reality of their circumstances.

    John Quincy Archibald, Mike Archibald, Mitch, Julie, Leo Maguire
  6. 6. EXT. TWO-LANE HIGHWAY - DAY

    A car accident occurs, providing a potential heart donor.

  7. 7. INT. PEDIATRIC I.C.U. - DAY

    Grimes and Payne visit Denise and Mike; Payne agrees to put Mike on the transplant list.

    Denise Archibald, Rebecca Payne, Frank Grimes
  8. 8. INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - DAY

    Grimes confronts Payne about her insincerity.

    Rebecca Payne, Frank Grimes
  9. 9. INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

    John Q. and hostages watch the news; Mitch and Julie argue.

    John Quincy Archibald, Jimmy Palumbo, Mitch, Julie, Lester
  10. 10. INT. UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE - LATE AFTERNOON

    Monroe relieves Grimes of duty.

    Frank Grimes, Gus Monroe
  11. 11. INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON

    John Q. talks to Mike on the phone while a sniper prepares to shoot.

    John Quincy Archibald, Mike Archibald, Denise Archibald
  12. 12. INT. Emergency Room - NIGHT

    Dr. Turner decides to perform the heart transplant on Mike despite the consequences.

    John Quincy Archibald, Dr. Raymond Turner, Dr. Marjorie Klein, Leo Maguire, Mitch, Julie
  13. 13. EXT. Montana Hospital - Roof - NIGHT

    A medivac helicopter arrives with a donor heart.

  14. 14. INT. Emergency Room - NIGHT

    J.Q. prepares his will and confirms the blood type match.

    John Quincy Archibald, Leo Maguire, Mitch, Julie, Lester
  15. 15. INT. Mike's Trauma Room - NIGHT

    J.Q. says goodbye to his son Mike.

    John Quincy Archibald, Mike Archibald, Dr. Marjorie Klein
  16. 16. INT. J.Q.'s Trauma Room - NIGHT

    J.Q. prepares to end his life, but is interrupted by news of the heart.

    John Quincy Archibald, Denise Archibald, Dr. Raymond Turner, Frank Grimes, Dr. Marjorie Klein, Leo Maguire
  17. 17. INT. Courtroom - DAY

    J.Q. is sentenced for his actions.

    John Quincy Archibald, Denise Archibald, Mike Archibald, Jimmy Palumbo, Dr. Raymond Turner, Rebecca Payne

Dialogue examples

I'm not letting my kid die! I'm out of options, alright?! I have no more ideas. This is it. The end of the road. I'm looking for an act of God. I'm looking for a miracle.

John Quincy Archibald / Scene 5

I'm the hostage negotiator. I've been a cop for thirty-five years and this is all I do. I don't play games. And I don't fool around.

Frank Grimes / Scene 4

I've decided to put Mike's name on the organ recipient list, Mrs. Archibald. The hospital will pay for everything.

Rebecca Payne / Scene 7

I'll do it. If that's what you want.

Dr. Raymond Turner / Scene 12

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