Screenplay data
Aspiring poet Allen Ginsberg joins a rebellious group at Columbia University, including Lucien Carr, William Burroughs, and the obsessive David Kammerer, who together embrace a new literary movement. David's escalating possessiveness over Lucien culminates in a fatal confrontation in Riverside Park, where Lucien stabs him to death. Lucien confesses the murder to his friends, who initially attempt a cover-up, but Allen struggles with submitting a detailed deposition. Lucien is convicted of manslaughter, while Allen, expelled from Columbia, continues his poetic journey, laying the groundwork for the Beat Generation.
Save the Cat beat sheet
The film follows Allen Ginsberg’s arrival at Columbia, his immersion in the burgeoning Beat circle led by Lucien Carr and William Burroughs, and the spiraling consequences of their manifesto-driven exploits.
Open full beat sheetAllen Ginsberg is listed as Protagonist, aspiring poet. 17-18 years old, fresh-faced, horn-rimmed glasses, dutiful son, intellectual. In the parsed data, Allen Ginsberg is connected to 65 scenes, 78 dialogue lines, 79 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
65 scenes / 78 dialogue linesLucien Carr is listed as Catalyst, student. 19-20 years old, blonde, beautiful, devilish, charismatic, rebellious. In the parsed data, Lucien Carr is connected to 36 scenes, 60 dialogue lines, 60 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
36 scenes / 60 dialogue linesWilliam Burroughs is listed as Supporting, writer. 29 years old, tall, gaunt, wry, wealthy background, drug user. In the parsed data, William Burroughs is connected to 23 scenes, 19 dialogue lines, 19 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
23 scenes / 19 dialogue linesDavid Kammerer is listed as Antagonist, professor/janitor. 33 years old, bearded, handsome, obsessive, intellectual. In the parsed data, David Kammerer is connected to 20 scenes, 29 dialogue lines, 29 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
20 scenes / 29 dialogue linesJack Kerouac is listed as Supporting, writer. Mid-20s, athletic, infamous jaw, Merchant Marine. In the parsed data, Jack Kerouac is connected to 11 scenes, 29 dialogue lines, 29 text mentions, first appearing around scene 40.
11 scenes / 29 dialogue linesLouis Ginsberg is listed as Supporting, Allen's father. 40s, school teacher, Jewish working-class poet. In the parsed data, Louis Ginsberg is connected to 5 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 46.
5 scenes / 6 dialogue linesNaomi Ginsberg is listed as Supporting, Allen's mother. Early 40s, Jewish, suffers from severe personality disorder. In the parsed data, Naomi Ginsberg is connected to 3 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 67.
3 scenes / 6 dialogue linesEdie Parker is listed as Supporting, Jack's girlfriend. Early 20s, wealthy, vivacious art student. In the parsed data, Edie Parker is connected to 1 scene, 10 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 41.
1 scenes / 10 dialogue linesA body is discovered in the Hudson River in reverse motion, revealing David Kammerer and Lucien Carr.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, David KammererLucien and Allen argue over a manuscript in a jail cell.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien CarrAllen is at home in Paterson, New Jersey, one year before the incident.
Allen GinsbergAllen interacts with his father Louis and hears his mother Naomi in distress.
Allen Ginsberg, Louis GinsbergAllen comforts his mother Naomi during a paranoid episode.
Allen Ginsberg, Naomi GinsbergAllen and his father discuss Allen's acceptance to Columbia.
Allen Ginsberg, Louis GinsbergAllen arrives at Columbia University.
Allen GinsbergAllen meets his roommate Luke.
Allen GinsbergAllen witnesses Lucien Carr causing a scene in the library.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien CarrAllen challenges Professor Steeves in class.
Allen GinsbergAllen visits Lucien's room and they discuss literature.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien CarrAllen attends a party with Lucien and meets William Burroughs and David Kammerer.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, David Kammerer, William BurroughsAllen, Lucien, and Bill watch a jazz performance while discussing their manifesto.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, William BurroughsThe group riffs on their manifesto and Bill introduces the concept of derangement of the senses.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, William BurroughsAllen experiences the birth of be-bop jazz.
Allen GinsbergBill prepares Benzedrine for the group.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, William BurroughsAllen types the manifesto while Bill prompts him.
Allen Ginsberg, William BurroughsThe group identifies things they hate for the manifesto.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, William BurroughsProfessor Steeves notices Allen's absence.
Allen GinsbergAllen is enraptured by a drummer's solo.
Allen GinsbergAllen types while hearing Lucien's voice about breaking the law.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien CarrAllen and Lucien discuss the necessity of breaking the law.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien CarrThe group destroys books to create a wall of words.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, William BurroughsAllen experiences a hallucinatory, frozen moment with Bill and Lucien.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, David Kammerer, William BurroughsDavid confronts the group about the state of his apartment.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, David Kammerer, William BurroughsAllen spies on David and Lucien.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, David KammererDavid and Lucien discuss a term paper.
Lucien Carr, David KammererDavid catches Allen spying.
Allen Ginsberg, David KammererProfessor Steeves confronts Allen about his writing.
Allen GinsbergAllen and Lucien argue about their work.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien CarrAllen struggles to write.
Allen GinsbergBill provides Allen with Pervitin.
Allen Ginsberg, William BurroughsAllen uses the drugs to write.
Allen GinsbergBill lists the side effects of the drug.
William BurroughsAllen experiences the drug's effects.
Allen GinsbergLuke interrupts Allen.
Allen GinsbergBill observes Allen.
William BurroughsAllen finishes his writing.
Allen GinsbergAllen finds David in Lucien's room.
Allen Ginsberg, David KammererLucien returns and tells Allen about Jack.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien CarrAllen meets Jack Kerouac and Edie Parker.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, Jack Kerouac, Edie ParkerThe boys walk and talk.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, Jack KerouacThe boys are in a dingy on the river.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, Jack KerouacAllen waits while Lucien is reprimanded.
Allen GinsbergLucien is reprimanded by the Dean.
Lucien CarrAllen's father arrives.
Allen Ginsberg, Louis GinsbergAllen and Lucien discuss their future.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien CarrThe group plans to steal from the library.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, William Burroughs, Jack KerouacAllen flirts with Gwendolyn.
Allen GinsbergAllen and Gwendolyn in the stacks.
Allen GinsbergLucien tries to find the keys.
Lucien CarrAllen and Gwendolyn continue their encounter.
Allen GinsbergThe group prepares to break in.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, William Burroughs, Jack KerouacThe group enters the library.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, William Burroughs, Jack KerouacBill opens the restricted room.
Allen Ginsberg, William BurroughsJack and Lucien steal books.
Lucien Carr, Jack KerouacDavid alerts the guards.
David KammererThe alarm goes off.
Allen Ginsberg, William BurroughsDavid alerts guards to activity in the library; Bill and Allen steal restricted books while Jack and Lucien wait; the group escapes after a distraction.
David Kammerer, William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Lucien CarrThe group escapes the library as guards bang on the door.
Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Lucien CarrStudents walk by the library as if nothing happened.
A tour guide discovers the restricted books left in the vitrines.
The group celebrates; David confronts Lucien.
Lucien Carr, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, David KammererMr. Burroughs arrives at Bill's apartment, silencing the story and demanding Bill leave with him.
William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Louis GinsbergAllen searches David's apartment for clues and finds a book and hospital records.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, David KammererAllen visits his mother, Naomi, at the sanitarium.
Allen Ginsberg, Naomi GinsbergNaomi advises Allen to let Lucien go.
Allen Ginsberg, Naomi GinsbergAllen writes his deposition while visualizing the murder.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien Carr, David KammererAllen confronts Lucien with the deposition.
Allen Ginsberg, Lucien CarrAllen attempts to turn in his deposition but leaves before doing so.
Allen GinsbergAllen is expelled for submitting his novella as a final.
Allen GinsbergAllen receives his manuscript back from Professor Steeves.
Allen Ginsberg, Louis GinsbergAllen visits the site of the murder.
Allen GinsbergAllen celebrates the end of the war.
Allen GinsbergYou've taken incompletes in two classes. And you are already on academic probation. There are rules you agreed to upon admittance into this university. And you have managed to break and keep breaking them. You don't seem to have much respect for this institution. So you may either retract this fiction as your final. Or you may choose to be expelled. What will it be?
Listen to me, this whole town's full of finks on the 30th floor, writing pure chintz. Writers, real writers, gotta be in the beds. In the trenches. In all the broken places. What're your trenches, Al?
Your attendance record here is abominable. You've ignored curfew. Your papers, when you bother to turn them in, exceed the assigned page limit. Can you explain why you're at Columbia?
Forget Columbia. Forget Ogden Nash. Here's the plan, boys. We join the Merchant Marines. Sail the world until the war ends. Then jump ship and make it to Paris. For the liberation.
Sudden blindness, bouts of diarrhea, heart palpitations, and a severe decline in moral standards.
What do you want me to do? Eat shoe leather? I'm hungry and what you do in the kitchen is unholy.
That's funny. You talk like a Catholic. But you fuck me and won't marry me. How does that work?
There's more life in those five pages than in the dozens of bad sonnets we've read in class.
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.