Screenplay data
A dying game show host, Jimmy Gator, seeks to reconcile with his estranged, drug-addicted daughter, Claudia, while his wife, Rose, grapples with his past infidelities. Meanwhile, Earl Partridge, a wealthy, terminally ill man, is tended by his nurse, Phil Parma, and his guilt-ridden wife, Linda, as Phil attempts to connect Earl with his estranged son, Frank T.J. Mackey, a misogynistic motivational speaker. Intertwined with these stories are Donnie Smith, a former child prodigy struggling with adulthood and unrequited love, and Stanley Spector, a current quiz kid pushed to his limits by his father on Jimmy's show. As a police officer, Jim Kurring, investigates a series of bizarre events, including a missing gun and a dead body, he develops a tentative connection with Claudia.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Magnolia introduces multiple characters through interconnected vignettes, highlighting loss, regret, and the search for connection.
Open full beat sheetJim Kurring is listed as Police Officer. LAPD officer working in the Van Nuys district. In the parsed data, Jim Kurring is connected to 33 scenes, 29 dialogue lines, 29 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
33 scenes / 29 dialogue linesDonnie Smith is listed as Former Quiz Kid. Former child star struggling with adulthood and debt. In the parsed data, Donnie Smith is connected to 27 scenes, 35 dialogue lines, 35 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
27 scenes / 35 dialogue linesJimmy Gator is listed as Game Show Host. Host of 'What Do Kids Know?'; dying of cancer. In the parsed data, Jimmy Gator is connected to 23 scenes, 24 dialogue lines, 24 text mentions, first appearing around scene 34.
23 scenes / 24 dialogue linesStanley Spector is listed as Quiz Kid. Ten-year-old genius contestant on 'What Do Kids Know?'. In the parsed data, Stanley Spector is connected to 22 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 45.
22 scenes / 18 dialogue linesFrank T.J. Mackey is listed as Motivational Speaker. Author of the 'Seduce and Destroy' system; estranged son of Earl Partridge. In the parsed data, Frank T.J. Mackey is connected to 22 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
22 scenes / 13 dialogue linesLinda Partridge is listed as Earl's Wife. Earl's younger wife, struggling with guilt and addiction. In the parsed data, Linda Partridge is connected to 22 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
22 scenes / 9 dialogue linesClaudia Wilson is listed as Daughter of Jimmy Gator. Estranged daughter of Jimmy Gator; struggles with drug addiction. In the parsed data, Claudia Wilson is connected to 20 scenes, 22 dialogue lines, 22 text mentions, first appearing around scene 54.
20 scenes / 22 dialogue linesPhil Parma is listed as Nurse. Earl Partridge's dedicated hospice nurse. In the parsed data, Phil Parma is connected to 19 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
19 scenes / 7 dialogue linesEarl Partridge is listed as Dying Patriarch. Wealthy, terminally ill man; father of Frank T.J. Mackey. In the parsed data, Earl Partridge is connected to 15 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
15 scenes / 8 dialogue linesRick Spector is listed as Stanley's Father. Pushy father of Stanley Spector. In the parsed data, Rick Spector is connected to 9 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
9 scenes / 5 dialogue linesDixon is listed as Street Kid. Young boy selling candy; witness to events. In the parsed data, Dixon is connected to 7 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 42.
7 scenes / 18 dialogue linesRose Gator is listed as Jimmy's Wife. Jimmy Gator's wife of forty years. In the parsed data, Rose Gator is connected to 6 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 52.
6 scenes / 18 dialogue linesNarrator is listed as Narrator. Omniscient voice providing historical context and thematic commentary. In the parsed data, Narrator is connected to 6 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
6 scenes / 5 dialogue linesHistorical footage of Sir Edmund William Godfrey being murdered by three vagrants in 1911.
NarratorFirefighters discover a scuba diver hanging in a tree after a forest fire.
NarratorCraig Hansen reads a newspaper article about Delmer Darion and commits suicide.
Donnie SmithFay and Arthur Barringer argue, leading to an accidental shooting that kills their son Sydney.
NarratorFrank T.J. Mackey appears on an infomercial for his 'Seduce and Destroy' system.
Frank T.J. MackeyRick Spector rushes his son Stanley to school.
Stanley Spector, Rick SpectorDonnie Smith gets a dental impression taken.
Donnie SmithPhil Parma visits the dying Earl Partridge.
Earl Partridge, Phil ParmaEarl asks Phil for help while lying in his living room.
Earl Partridge, Phil ParmaLinda paces in her bedroom, realizes she is out of pills, and calls her doctor.
Linda PartridgeLinda returns to the living room, kisses Earl, and leaves.
Earl Partridge, Phil Parma, Linda PartridgeLinda cries in her car.
Linda PartridgeJim Kurring gets ready for his day and records a dating service message.
Jim KurringJim sits alone during roll call.
Jim KurringJim walks to his squad car alone.
Jim KurringJim talks to himself about his job.
Jim KurringJim's car drives past an intersection.
Jim KurringJim investigates a disturbance at Marcie's apartment.
Jim Kurring, MarcieEarl and Phil talk about Earl's son, Frank Mackey.
Earl Partridge, Phil ParmaFrank Mackey teaches his Seduce and Destroy seminar.
Frank T.J. MackeyGwenovier arrives at the seminar.
Frank T.J. MackeyPhil tries to call Frank Mackey.
Phil ParmaFrank T.J. Mackey continues his motivational seminar, explaining a technique for manipulating women by staging a fight.
Frank T.J. MackeyA girl calls Frank on the phone as part of his described technique.
Frank T.J. MackeyFrank receives the call and coldly rejects the girl.
Frank T.J. MackeyThe girl is left confused and hurt by the dial tone.
Frank explains the psychological impact of his rejection technique.
Frank T.J. MackeyLinda Partridge walks down the hospital hallway toward a doctor's office.
Linda PartridgeLinda arrives at the doctor's office and demands to see him.
Linda PartridgeLinda discusses Earl's terminal condition and pain management with Dr. Landon.
Linda PartridgeJimmy Gator parks his car and prepares to visit Claudia.
Jimmy GatorJimmy approaches Claudia's apartment and knocks on the door.
Jimmy GatorClaudia is asleep while a man is in her apartment.
Claudia WilsonJimmy enters the apartment and speaks with the man inside.
Jimmy GatorJimmy confronts Claudia, revealing he is dying of cancer.
Claudia Wilson, Jimmy GatorDonnie Smith arrives at work, anxious about his job security.
Donnie SmithDonnie is intercepted by Avi Solomon.
Donnie SmithDonnie changes into his work uniform.
Donnie SmithDonnie is fired by Solomon Solomon despite his pleas.
Donnie SmithPolice and investigators process a crime scene involving a dead body in a closet.
Jim KurringPolice interrogate Marcie, who is handcuffed.
Jim Kurring talks to Dixon, a young boy selling candy, who offers to help solve the case.
Jim Kurring, DixonJim Kurring confronts Dixon on the street regarding a case.
Jim Kurring, DixonStanley Spector studies various books on weather and science.
Stanley SpectorRick picks up Stanley from school as it begins to rain.
Stanley Spector, Rick SpectorHeavy rain falls.
Stanley and Rick arrive at the studio for the show.
Stanley Spector, Rick SpectorStanley meets Cynthia and heads toward the dressing rooms.
Stanley Spector, Rick SpectorRick joins the other parents in the green room.
Rick SpectorStanley asks Cynthia about the weather department.
Stanley SpectorJimmy Gator prepares for the show and drinks.
Jimmy GatorJimmy talks to Rose on the phone.
Jimmy Gator, Rose GatorJim Kurring arrives at Claudia's apartment.
Jim KurringClaudia uses drugs while Jim Kurring knocks on the door.
Claudia Wilson, Jim KurringLinda arrives at the medical building.
Linda PartridgeLinda visits her psychologist.
Linda PartridgePhil watches television.
Phil ParmaPhil orders supplies over the phone.
Phil ParmaA view of the cancer inside Earl.
Earl PartridgeFrank Mackey finishes his seminar.
Frank T.J. MackeyFrank is interviewed by Gwenovier.
Frank T.J. MackeyDonnie Smith arrives at the bar.
Donnie SmithDonnie watches the bartender.
Donnie SmithThe kids walk toward the set.
Stanley SpectorJimmy talks to Paula.
Jimmy GatorJimmy collapses.
Jimmy GatorClaudia opens the door for Jim Kurring.
Claudia Wilson, Jim KurringJim Kurring arrives at Claudia's apartment to investigate a noise complaint.
Jim Kurring, Claudia WilsonDonnie Smith confronts Thurston at the bar about love.
Donnie SmithLinda arrives at the pharmacy in the rain.
Linda PartridgeLinda has a breakdown at the pharmacy counter.
Linda PartridgeThe quiz show 'What Do Kids Know?' begins.
Jimmy Gator, Stanley Spector, Rick SpectorPhil attempts to contact Frank T.J. Mackey.
Earl Partridge, Phil ParmaFrank T.J. Mackey is interviewed.
Frank T.J. MackeyFrank T.J. Mackey is interviewed by Gwenovier about his past and his 'Seduce and Destroy' system.
Frank T.J. MackeyJimmy Gator hosts the game show; Stanley answers a musical bonus question.
Jimmy Gator, Stanley SpectorJim Kurring visits Claudia to discuss noise complaints.
Jim Kurring, Claudia WilsonClaudia uses cocaine.
Claudia WilsonJim dumps the coffee while Claudia is away.
Jim KurringJimmy Gator vomits blood while Mary comforts him; Stanley asks to use the bathroom.
Jimmy Gator, Stanley Spector...alot of people think this is just a job that you go to.....take a lunch hour, the jobs over, something like that. But...it's a 24 hour deal...no two ways about it....and what most people don't see: Just How Hard It Is To Do The Right Thing. People think if I make a judgment call that it's a judgment on them...but that's not what I do and that's not what should be done...I have to take everything and play it as it lays. Sometimes people need a little help. Sometimes people need to be forgiven and sometimes they need to go to jail. And that's a very tricky thing on my part...making that call...the law is the law and heck if I'm gonna break it...but you can forgive someone....? Well, that's the tough part....What Do We Forgive? Tough part of the job.....tough part of walking down the street...
Check that ego - come off it - I'm the profit - the proffesor Ima teach you 'bout The Worm, who eventually turned to catch wreck with the neck of a long time oppressor And he's runnin from the devil, but the debt is always gaining And if he's worth being hurt, he's worth bringin' pain in - When the sunshine don't work, the Good Lord bring the rain in.
Let her wonder what she did wrong. This is the way...because they will always wonder, "What did I do?" "What could I have done different?" "How should I behave to get this back?" And if they think that way -- then they are asking for you to hurt them and That Is What You Must Do. That is what you must do which is punish them many, many times over.
OH FUCK...THIS FUCKIN STORY HAS FALLEN APART and I don't even think I can...I got no punchline -- we had good times later, the best times, the love of my life, I thirty eight years -- but never the respect and the...she knew what I did...she knew...all the stupid things I've done but the LOVE was stronger than anything you can think up.
You know what it's like to come home scared, scared that maybe if you don't have the money you're supposed to go out each day and get that you're gonna get beaten....by a belt...he hits me with a belt, Stanley.... I'm supposed to sell those candy bars, and if I don't, I come home without the money....
She thinks terrible things that somehow got in her head...that I might have done something. She said that to me last time...when it was...ten years ago she walked out the door, "You touched me wrong..." "I know that." Some crazy thought in her, in her head...
I got a buddy a mine down at the med. center, he'd probably do quite a deal on a set of dentures, you're interested in that. He's in training, you know he's not a dentist yet, but he's real good at corrective oral surgery from what I understand...
I can't believe I'm telling you guys this, but the truly terrifying part is that: THIS WORKS. Any girl that calls herself your friend is not gonna let you be alone in a situation like that. Technique #2: Staging a fight.
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