1995
In 1950s Los Angeles, ambitious police detective Ed Exley, violent officer Bud White, and celebrity cop Jack Vincennes navigate a corrupt police department and criminal underworld. After a mass murder at the Nite Owl coffee shop, which includes Bud's former partner, the three officers are drawn into a complex investigation that exposes a prostitution ring run by Pierce Patchett and a deeper conspiracy within the LAPD. As they investigate, Jack uncovers evidence linking Captain Dudley Smith to the Nite Owl murders and Patchett's operations, but Dudley murders Jack to silence him. Bud and Exley, initially at odds, realize Dudley is the true mastermind behind the corruption and the Nite Owl killings, which were committed to cover up his criminal enterprise.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Confidential follows two very different LAPD detectives, the moralistic Ed Exley and the brutal Bud White, as they navigate corruption and conspiracy after a mass murder at a coffee shop.
Open full beat sheetEd Exley is listed as LAPD Sergeant / Detective Lieutenant. Ambitious, intellectual, son of a legendary cop, seeks justice. In the parsed data, Ed Exley is connected to 67 scenes, 66 dialogue lines, 66 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
67 scenes / 66 dialogue linesWendell 'Bud' White is listed as LAPD Officer. Tough, violent, principled in his own way, protective of women. In the parsed data, Wendell 'Bud' White is connected to 59 scenes, 24 dialogue lines, 24 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
59 scenes / 24 dialogue linesJack Vincennes is listed as LAPD Sergeant. Narcotics officer, celebrity crime-stopper, technical advisor. In the parsed data, Jack Vincennes is connected to 30 scenes, 43 dialogue lines, 46 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
30 scenes / 43 dialogue linesDudley Smith is listed as LAPD Captain. Department power broker, manipulative, corrupt. In the parsed data, Dudley Smith is connected to 30 scenes, 31 dialogue lines, 31 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
30 scenes / 31 dialogue linesLynn Bracken is listed as Call girl. High-end prostitute, looks like Veronica Lake, intelligent. In the parsed data, Lynn Bracken is connected to 14 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
14 scenes / 14 dialogue linesPierce Patchett is listed as Power broker. Behind-the-scenes operator, runs call girl ring. In the parsed data, Pierce Patchett is connected to 7 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 21.
7 scenes / 4 dialogue linesDick Stensland is listed as LAPD Officer. Bud's partner, older, corrupt. In the parsed data, Dick Stensland is connected to 6 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 29.
6 scenes / 1 dialogue linesEllis Loew is listed as District Attorney. Ambitious, spotlight-loving, corruptible. In the parsed data, Ellis Loew is connected to 6 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 114.
6 scenes / 1 dialogue linesSid Hudgeons is listed as Publisher/Photographer. Sleazy publisher of Hush-Hush magazine. In the parsed data, Sid Hudgeons is connected to 5 scenes, 23 dialogue lines, 23 text mentions, first appearing around scene 67.
5 scenes / 23 dialogue linesJohnny Stompanato is listed as Bodyguard. Mickey Cohen's bodyguard, handsome, violent. In the parsed data, Johnny Stompanato is connected to 5 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 3.
5 scenes / 1 dialogue linesMickey Cohen is listed as Mobster. Local crime boss. In the parsed data, Mickey Cohen is connected to 1 scene, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesThe Mayor unveils a model of the new freeway system to a crowd of power brokers and society figures.
Dudley Smith, Pierce PatchettMickey Cohen dances while Johnny Stompanato watches over him.
Johnny Stompanato, Mickey Cohen, Sid HudgeonsBud White and Dick Stensland meet Johnny Stompanato to buy information.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Dick Stensland, Johnny StompanatoDudley Smith gives a speech to the press while Ed Exley manages the station.
Dudley Smith, Ed ExleyDudley Smith advises Ed Exley against joining the Detective Bureau.
Dudley Smith, Ed ExleyOfficers beat suspects in the cell block, leading to a confrontation with Exley.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Jack Vincennes, Dick StenslandBud White is suspended and dismissed from the LAPD for refusing to testify against his partner, Stensland. Exley is promoted to Detective Lieutenant after offering to testify.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Dudley Smith, Ellis LoewJack Vincennes is coerced into testifying against three officers in exchange for a slap on the wrist and a return to his TV show.
Jack Vincennes, Dudley Smith, Ellis LoewExley and Jack meet before the grand jury; Jack warns Exley about the consequences of his actions.
Ed Exley, Jack VincennesDudley Smith approaches Bud White to recruit him for a special assignment.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Dudley SmithBud attacks Exley in the squad room after a confrontation.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Dudley Smith, Dick StenslandExley discovers a mass murder at the Nite Owl coffee shop, including the body of Dick Stensland.
Ed Exley, Dudley SmithBud and Exley drive to the morgue in silence.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed ExleyExley and Bud arrive at the morgue.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed ExleyExley and Bud walk through the morgue hallway.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed ExleyBud identifies the body of his partner, Dick Stensland.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Dick StenslandHilda Lefferts identifies her daughter Susan's body.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed ExleyDudley Smith briefs the department on the Nite Owl Massacre.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Dudley SmithBud and Exley prepare to investigate the Nite Owl case.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Jack VincennesBud gets Lynn Bracken's address from the shop owner.
Wendell 'Bud' WhiteBud confronts Pierce Patchett.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Pierce PatchettBud arrives at Lynn Bracken's home.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Lynn BrackenBud and Lynn discuss Patchett and the case.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Lynn BrackenJack and Exley arrive to find the suspects.
Ed Exley, Jack VincennesThe officers prepare to breach the room.
Ed Exley, Jack VincennesThe suspects are apprehended.
Ed Exley, Jack VincennesDudley and others watch Exley prepare to interrogate the suspects.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Jack Vincennes, Dudley SmithExley interrogates Ray Coates.
Ed ExleyExley interrogates Coates about the Nite Owl case.
Ed Exley, Dick StenslandExley and Dudley discuss the interrogation progress.
Ed Exley, Dudley SmithExley interrogates Fontaine about the Nite Owl.
Ed ExleyDudley warns Exley to stay focused.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Dudley SmithExley interrogates Jones.
Ed ExleyBud and Jack watch Exley interrogate Jones.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Jack Vincennes, Dudley SmithBud violently interrogates Jones.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed ExleyBud and Dudley arrive at the house.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Dudley SmithBud enters the alley.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Dudley SmithBud enters the house.
Wendell 'Bud' WhiteBud enters the porch.
Wendell 'Bud' WhiteBud moves through the hallway.
Wendell 'Bud' WhiteBud finds the girl.
Wendell 'Bud' WhiteBud kills Fitch.
Wendell 'Bud' WhiteThe girl is rescued.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed ExleyExley reviews the file.
Ed ExleyExley looks for Jack.
Ed ExleyExley and Carlisle arrive at the building.
Ed ExleyExley and Carlisle climb the stairs.
Ed ExleyExley and Carlisle approach the door.
Ed ExleyThe shootout.
Ed ExleyCoates tries to escape.
Dick StenslandExley chases Coates.
Ed ExleyExley kills Coates.
Ed ExleyExley returns.
Ed Exley, Dudley SmithCarlisle's funeral.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Jack Vincennes, Dudley SmithFontaine's funeral.
Exley talks to the nurse.
Ed ExleyBulldozers.
Patchett's lawyer threatens the assemblyman.
Pierce PatchettAssemblyman changes vote.
Bud watches Lynn.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Lynn BrackenJohnny Stompanato at the club.
Johnny StompanatoLoew rides in parade.
Ellis LoewBoxing match.
Jack VincennesJack pays off father.
Jack VincennesParty at Patchett's.
Lynn Bracken, Pierce PatchettExley receives medal.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Ed Exley, Dudley Smith, Ellis LoewFundraiser for Loew.
Jack Vincennes, Ellis Loew, Sid HudgeonsDudley interrogates mobster.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Dudley SmithBud tries to wash away the screams.
Wendell 'Bud' WhiteBud leaves.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Dudley SmithBud watches Lynn.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Lynn BrackenBud visits Lynn.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Lynn BrackenBud and Lynn make love.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Lynn BrackenJack waits.
Jack VincennesJack finds Reynolds dead.
Jack VincennesJack confronts Hudgeons.
Jack Vincennes, Sid HudgeonsJack buys Scotch.
Jack VincennesBud and Lynn talk.
Wendell 'Bud' White, Lynn BrackenExley reviews rap sheets with a clerk regarding the Nite Owl suspects.
Ed ExleyExley questions a Park Ranger about the Nite Owl shooting report.
Ed ExleyThe public demands justice, sir. This was a full-fledged riot of policemen. Shift the guilt to men whose pensions are secured. Force them to retire. But someone has to swing. Indict, try and convict Stensland and Bud White. Secure them jail time. Feed them to the sharks, sir. Protect yourself; protect the department.
Jackie, all I know is what you know. The man is very rich. And he's invested in freeway construction so he's gonna get a lot richer. But that's it. Patchett's what I like to call 'Twilight.' He ain't queer, he ain't Red, he can't help me in my quest for prime sinuendo.
Officer White, you've refused to cooperate with Internal Affairs. But you should know this is bigger than a police board. Indictments may be handed down. Quite frankly, we need police witnesses to offset the damage done to the Department's image. Will you testify?
You're playing an angle, college boy. You're getting something out of this so you don't have to hobnob with the fucking rank and file cops who'll hate your guts for snitching.
There's something wrong with the Nite Owl. That prick Exley shot the wrong guys. But they made him a hero and whoever killed my partner is still out there.
We mourn the passing of a good man. The loss of Sgt. William Carlisle is the loss of his wife, his family and the entire Los Angeles Police Department...
This election is about the future of law enforcement in Los Angeles. Ellis Loew represents that future. So dig deep and let's get a moral man re-elected.
In my car. Blackmail shit. The trunk under the carpet. Patchett got me to photograph a cop fucking this gorgeous cunt Lynn, looks just like Veronicaaa --
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