2000
Elle Woods, a fashionable sorority girl, decides to attend Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend, Warner Huntington III, who dumped her for not being "serious" enough. Despite initial struggles and ridicule from her peers, including Warner and his new fiancée Sarah Knottingham, Elle dedicates herself to her studies, proving her intelligence and earning respect from her professors and fellow students, especially Emmett Kerrigan. Elle secures a prestigious internship with Professor Donovan, working on a high-profile murder case defending fitness guru Brooke Windham, a Delta Gamma alumna, where she uses her unique insights to uncover crucial details. After Professor Donovan makes an inappropriate advance and Elle quits, Professor Stromwell encourages her to return, leading Elle to take over Brooke's defense and ultimately expose the true killer, Chutney Windham, by using her knowledge of perm maintenance.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Elle Woods starts as a bubbly sorority girl whose life revolves around her boyfriend Warner.
Open full beat sheetElle Woods is listed as Protagonist. 21-year-old blonde sorority girl, fashion merchandising major, determined to get into Harvard Law. In the parsed data, Elle Woods is connected to 114 scenes, 193 dialogue lines, 197 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
114 scenes / 193 dialogue linesWarner Huntington III is listed as Antagonist. Elle's ex-boyfriend, ambitious, from a family of senators. In the parsed data, Warner Huntington III is connected to 23 scenes, 22 dialogue lines, 23 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
23 scenes / 22 dialogue linesSarah Knottingham is listed as Antagonist. Warner's fiancee, law student, initially hostile to Elle. In the parsed data, Sarah Knottingham is connected to 21 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 15 text mentions, first appearing around scene 47.
21 scenes / 15 dialogue linesProfessor Donovan is listed as Antagonist. Law professor and firm partner, predatory. In the parsed data, Professor Donovan is connected to 20 scenes, 30 dialogue lines, 30 text mentions, first appearing around scene 47.
20 scenes / 30 dialogue linesEmmett Kerrigan is listed as Supporting. Law student, associate, Elle's mentor and love interest. In the parsed data, Emmett Kerrigan is connected to 19 scenes, 21 dialogue lines, 21 text mentions, first appearing around scene 109.
19 scenes / 21 dialogue linesSerena is listed as Supporting. Elle's sorority sister and friend. In the parsed data, Serena is connected to 16 scenes, 26 dialogue lines, 28 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
16 scenes / 26 dialogue linesMargot is listed as Supporting. Elle's sorority sister and friend. In the parsed data, Margot is connected to 14 scenes, 26 dialogue lines, 29 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
14 scenes / 26 dialogue linesPaulette is listed as Supporting. Manicurist at Beauty Oasis, Elle's friend. In the parsed data, Paulette is connected to 13 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 75.
13 scenes / 8 dialogue linesBrooke Windham is listed as Supporting. Fitness empire owner, accused of murder, Delta Gamma alumna. In the parsed data, Brooke Windham is connected to 7 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 88.
7 scenes / 12 dialogue linesProfessor Elspeth Stromwell is listed as Supporting. Tough law professor. In the parsed data, Professor Elspeth Stromwell is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 120.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesChutney Windham is listed as Antagonist. Heyworth Windham's daughter, the actual murderer. In the parsed data, Chutney Windham is connected to 3 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 110.
3 scenes / 17 dialogue linesElle Woods prepares a card for Warner and distributes it through the sorority house.
Elle WoodsElle receives the signed card back and expresses excitement about her relationship with Warner.
Elle WoodsElle discusses her potential engagement with Serena and Margot.
Elle Woods, Serena, MargotElle shops for a dress for her date with Warner.
Elle Woods, Serena, MargotWarner arrives to pick up Elle.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington IIIElle greets Warner.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington IIIWarner breaks up with Elle.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington IIIWarner offers Elle a ride home.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington IIIWarner drops Elle off and leaves her.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington IIIElle returns to the house, visibly upset.
Elle Woods, Serena, MargotElle tells her friends about the breakup.
Elle Woods, Serena, MargotThe sun rises on a sad day.
Amy checks on Elle.
Elle mourns her relationship.
Elle WoodsElle's friends try to cheer her up.
Elle Woods, Serena, MargotElle discovers Warner's brother is engaged to a law student.
Elle Woods, SerenaElle tells her advisor she wants to go to Harvard Law.
Elle WoodsElle tells her friends about her plan to get into Harvard.
Elle Woods, Serena, MargotElle records her admissions video.
Elle WoodsElle studies while others watch a movie.
Elle WoodsElle records more of her admissions video.
Elle WoodsElle attends an LSAT prep course.
Elle WoodsElle records a video for her law school application while floating in her pool with Margot.
Elle Woods, MargotElle studies for the LSAT with her sorority sisters.
Elle Woods, Serena, MargotElle rollerblades while recording a video about civil obedience.
Elle Woods, SerenaElle studies with Amy but gets distracted by Warner.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington IIIElle records a video about using legal jargon.
Elle WoodsElle takes the LSAT exam.
Elle WoodsElle records a video about her legal knowledge.
Elle WoodsElle, Serena, and Margot follow Dylan McDermott.
Elle Woods, Serena, MargotElle jogs and talks to Serena about fashion.
Elle Woods, SerenaElle receives her LSAT score.
Elle WoodsAdmissions officers review Elle's application.
Elle WoodsElle tells her parents she is going to Harvard.
Elle WoodsElle arrives at Harvard.
Elle WoodsElle checks in for orientation.
Elle WoodsElle introduces herself at the orientation lunch.
Elle WoodsElle prepares for her first class.
Elle WoodsElle runs into Warner.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington IIIElle enters her first class.
Elle WoodsProfessor Stromwell kicks Elle out of class.
Elle Woods, Sarah Knottingham, Professor Elspeth StromwellElle meets Emmett and discovers Warner is engaged to Sarah.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington III, Sarah Knottingham, Emmett KerriganElle drives to a salon.
Elle WoodsElle vents to Paulette.
Elle Woods, PauletteElle attempts to leave a note and wine for Warner, but he is not there.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington IIIElle tries to get Warner's attention while he plays football.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington IIIProfessor Donovan challenges the class, and Elle surprises everyone with her legal reasoning.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington III, Sarah KnottinghamElle sends a note to Warner during a meeting.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington IIIElle waits for Warner, but he does not show up.
Elle WoodsElle is rejected from Warner's study group.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington III, Sarah KnottinghamElle calls her friends back home.
Elle Woods, Serena, MargotElle talks to Margot and Serena while they are at a bridal shop.
Elle Woods, Serena, MargotSarah and Claire snub Elle.
Elle Woods, Sarah KnottinghamElle decides to go to the party anyway.
Elle WoodsElle arrives at the party.
Elle WoodsElle enters the party and faces ridicule.
Elle WoodsElle confronts Sarah and Claire.
Elle Woods, Sarah KnottinghamElle confronts Warner about his lack of faith in her.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington IIIElle discovers the students are betting on her failure.
Elle Woods, Sarah KnottinghamElle buys a laptop to start studying seriously.
Elle Woods, Emmett KerriganElle begins studying intensely.
Elle WoodsElle walks past the study group with confidence.
Elle Woods, Sarah KnottinghamElle plays a prank on Enid.
Elle WoodsPaulette helps Elle study.
Elle Woods, PauletteElle answers a question correctly in class.
Elle Woods, Professor DonovanElle struggles to reach a book.
Elle WoodsEnid discovers the prank.
Elle WoodsElle pranks Arrogant Aaron.
Elle WoodsElle works out while listening to lecture tapes.
Elle WoodsArrogant Aaron wakes up with graffiti on his face.
Elle WoodsElle answers a question in class, and Arrogant Aaron is mocked.
Elle Woods, Professor Elspeth StromwellElle and Paulette celebrate.
Elle Woods, PauletteElle wins her case in class.
Elle Woods, Warner Huntington III, Sarah Knottingham, Emmett Kerrigan, Professor DonovanProfessor Donovan encourages Elle to apply for his internship.
Elle Woods, Professor DonovanElle and Paulette discuss Elle's success in class and prepare for Paulette's confrontation with Dewey.
Elle Woods, PaulettePaulette confronts Dewey at his trailer.
PauletteElle watches Paulette's confrontation.
Elle WoodsElle intervenes as Paulette's attorney to reclaim the dog.
Elle Woods, PauletteElle and Paulette celebrate the successful retrieval of the dog.
Elle Woods, PauletteElle correctly answers Professor Stromwell's question.
Elle Woods, Professor Elspeth StromwellWhat's the point of staying? All people see when they look at me is blonde hair and big boobs. No one's ever going to take me seriously. The people at law school don't, Warner doesn't -- I don't even think my parents take me seriously. They wanted me to grow up and become a Victoria's Secret model who marries a rock star. Now, for the first time, it seemed like someone expected me to do something better with my life than wear underwear for a living. But I was kidding myself -- Donovan didn't see me as a lawyer. He saw me as a piece of ass. Just like everyone else. It turns out, I am a joke.
I'm impressed that you took the initiative to go there and get it. That's what makes a good lawyer. And on top of that, you gained the client's trust and kept it.. That's what makes a great lawyer. You're smart, Elle. Smarter than most of the guys I have on my payroll.
I do love you, Elle. I just can't marry you. You have no idea the pressure I ' m under. My family has five generations of senators. My brother is in the top three at Yale Law. He just got engaged to a Vanderbilt, for crissakes.
And after they set his nose, he came back for his truck and I offered to drive for him since he was still on pain-killers and we spent the whole afternoon together! He was unconscious for part of it, but it was really fun!
I didn't do it! I walked in, saw my husband lying on the floor, bent down to check his heart, screamed my head off and Chutney and Enrique ran inside.
Elle Woods, your honor. Rule 3:03 of the Supreme Judicial Court states that a law student may appear on behalf of a defendant in criminal proceedings.
Speaking of which, can you please put on some party clothes? You look like someone rolled you in something sticky and dragged you through a K-Mart.
Speaking of which, can you please put on some party clothes? You look like someone rolled you in something sticky and dragged you through a K-Mart.
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