1998
Wealthy media mogul William Parrish is visited by Death, embodied as Joe Black, who grants Parrish a temporary reprieve to guide him through the human world, during which Joe falls in love with Parrish's daughter, Susan. As Joe observes human life, Parrish's executive, Drew, schemes to merge the company and oust Parrish, forcing Parrish to expose Drew's betrayal with Joe's assistance. On the night of his birthday party, Parrish delivers a poignant speech before departing with Joe Black, signifying his death. Susan then encounters the original young man, now alive and without Joe's memories, hinting at a new beginning for her.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Meet Joe Black follows aging media mogul Bill Parrish as he encounters Death in the guise of a charming young man who wishes to understand life.
Open full beat sheetJoe Black is listed as Supernatural Entity. Takes the form of a young man; possesses an odd, off-center demeanor. In the parsed data, Joe Black is connected to 33 scenes, 131 dialogue lines, 132 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
33 scenes / 131 dialogue linesWilliam Parrish is listed as Protagonist. 64, warm but commanding, wealthy media mogul. In the parsed data, William Parrish is connected to 29 scenes, 111 dialogue lines, 112 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
29 scenes / 111 dialogue linesSusan Parrish is listed as Parrish's daughter. 30, doctor of internal medicine. In the parsed data, Susan Parrish is connected to 22 scenes, 64 dialogue lines, 64 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
22 scenes / 64 dialogue linesDrew is listed as Antagonist. 34, ambitious executive at Parrish Communications. In the parsed data, Drew is connected to 17 scenes, 21 dialogue lines, 41 text mentions, first appearing around scene 21.
17 scenes / 21 dialogue linesQuince is listed as Allison's husband. 38, somewhat insecure, eager to please. In the parsed data, Quince is connected to 14 scenes, 31 dialogue lines, 35 text mentions, first appearing around scene 25.
14 scenes / 31 dialogue linesAllison Parrish is listed as Parrish's daughter. 35, organized, focused on social status and events. In the parsed data, Allison Parrish is connected to 10 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 29.
10 scenes / 3 dialogue linesMay is listed as Family retainer. 50, loyal employee. In the parsed data, May is connected to 7 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
7 scenes / 4 dialogue linesJohn Bontecou is listed as Business rival. 55, wealthy businessman. In the parsed data, John Bontecou is connected to 4 scenes, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
4 scenes / 0 dialogue linesEaster is listed as Hospital patient. Suffering from a terminal illness. In the parsed data, Easter is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 23.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesWilliam Parrish wakes up in pain and hears a mysterious voice.
William ParrishAllison oversees the preparations for her father's birthday party.
Allison ParrishParrish interacts with May, Allison, and Susan before leaving for the city.
William Parrish, Susan Parrish, Allison Parrish, MayThe family prepares to board the helicopter; Parrish talks to Drew.
William Parrish, Joe Black, Susan Parrish, Allison Parrish, Drew, QuinceParrish gives Susan advice about love during the flight.
William Parrish, Susan Parrish, Drew, QuinceParrish hears the mysterious voice again in the elevator.
William Parrish, Susan Parrish, Drew, QuinceParrish meets with Bontecou to discuss the business deal.
William Parrish, Drew, John BontecouSusan meets a young man who later dies in an accident.
Joe Black, Susan ParrishParrish is confronted by the voice in his office.
William ParrishParrish hears the voice again during dinner preparations.
William Parrish, Susan Parrish, Allison Parrish, Drew, Quince, MayParrish enters the library to find the source of the voice.
William ParrishParrish encounters a mysterious voice in his library, which reveals itself to be Death in the form of a young man.
William Parrish, Joe BlackParrish introduces Joe Black to his family and colleagues at dinner.
William Parrish, Joe Black, Susan Parrish, Allison Parrish, Drew, QuinceParrish and Joe discuss the situation while walking to the guest suite.
William Parrish, Joe BlackParrish shows Joe to his room and they discuss the terms of their arrangement.
William Parrish, Joe BlackJoe interacts with the kitchen staff and tries peanut butter.
Joe Black, MayJoe and Susan have a conversation by the pool.
Joe Black, Susan ParrishParrish helps Joe get ready for the day and they agree to keep Joe's identity secret.
William Parrish, Joe BlackParrish and Joe walk to work.
William Parrish, Joe BlackParrish brings Joe to a board meeting and unexpectedly argues against the merger.
William Parrish, Joe Black, DrewParrish addresses the Board, refusing the Bontecou merger. Joe's presence and comments about 'Death and Taxes' confuse and provoke the Board and Drew.
William Parrish, Joe Black, Drew, John BontecouParrish confronts Joe about his presence, then gives him money to leave. Joe leaves to find Susan.
William Parrish, Joe BlackJoe visits Susan at the hospital. He comforts a dying patient, Easter, using West Indian dialect.
Joe Black, Susan Parrish, EasterJoe returns to Parrish's office. They discuss Parrish's late wife. Drew interrupts to push the merger again.
William Parrish, Joe Black, DrewPre-dinner gathering. Tensions rise as Drew and Quince discuss business and Joe's influence.
William Parrish, Joe Black, Susan Parrish, Allison Parrish, Drew, QuinceDinner. Parrish struggles to give a speech. Joe requests peanut butter.
William Parrish, Joe Black, Susan Parrish, Allison Parrish, Drew, QuinceDrew leaves after arguing with Susan. Joe and Susan share an intimate moment.
Joe Black, Susan Parrish, DrewDrew convenes a secret Board meeting to plot against Parrish.
Drew, Quince, John BontecouFamily dinner. Allison is upset about the party preparations. Joe observes the family dynamics.
William Parrish, Joe Black, Susan Parrish, Allison Parrish, QuinceAfter dinner, Joe interacts with Quince and Allison, then Drew arrives to confront Parrish about the Board's demand to merge with Bontecou.
William Parrish, Joe Black, Susan Parrish, Allison Parrish, Drew, QuinceDrew leaves the house, confronting Susan and Joe in the hallway before exiting.
Joe Black, Susan Parrish, DrewSusan and Joe share an intimate moment in the library.
Joe Black, Susan ParrishParrish confronts Joe after seeing him with Susan.
William Parrish, Joe Black, Susan ParrishThe Board votes to force Parrish into retirement.
William Parrish, Joe Black, Drew, Quince, John BontecouQuince and Joe meet at the wine bar during party preparations; Quince confesses his role in the plot against Bill Parrish.
Joe Black, Quince, MaySusan and Joe share an intimate moment in the garden before being interrupted by Allison.
Joe Black, Susan Parrish, Allison ParrishQuince confesses to Bill; Joe and Bill discuss the future and the plan to deal with Drew.
William Parrish, Joe Black, QuinceJoe and Susan share a final, cryptic goodbye at the party.
Joe Black, Susan ParrishBill confronts Drew with Joe's help, exposing his betrayal.
William Parrish, Joe Black, Drew, QuinceBill gives a speech at his birthday party and shares a final moment with Susan.
William Parrish, Susan ParrishBill and Joe walk up the hill together and disappear; Susan encounters the Young Man.
William Parrish, Joe Black, Susan ParrishSusan and Joe Black share an intimate moment of connection and uncertainty as fireworks go off.
Joe Black, Susan ParrishYou're the poison, Drew. You've operated behind-the-scenes to suborn the trust of a man who has stamped you with his imprimatur of class and elegance and stature. I've seen all kinds and degrees of deception in my time, but Bill Parrish has been on the receiving end of machinations so Machiavellian that it has rarely been my experience to encounter. And yet he has combatted them stoically, and selflessly, without revealing my identity. Had he violated the vow of secrecy he took, his task would have been far easier, he could have turned defeat into victory, but he is too honorable a man to have done that. And now I must release him from that vow. Because of me, he has lost his work, his company, his reputation -- and now he's going to tell you who I am.
Why did you come in here and tell me, Joe? You are the Biggest Shot of all, you don't have to ask my permission, but that's what you're doing. You know why? Because you've somewhere, somehow, developed into a good guy, and you know this is all wrong... I don't know what you're going to do -- how can this be love? She doesn't know who you are. Why don't you tell her? Try it out on her? See what happens. Reveal everything there is to know about yourself and let the chips fall where they may.
What would you say if you knew it was me who brought down Bill Parrish? I told Drew and the Board that Bill depended on you. Drew led me on, but I had no business telling him in the first place. He was setting up Bill from day one. Drew and Bontecou are going to chop up the company and sell it off for parts. Bontecou was outside, Drew was Mr. Inside. And I was the fool who made it all happen. Oh God, what do I do?
You're meeting with the Board right now, Drew. Resignation accepted. Moreover, I propose a motion to reconfirm William Parrish as Chairman of the Board of Parrish Communications as well as a rejection of the merger with Bontecou International. How say you, Board?
Then tell me, Joe, how come a man as attractive, intelligent, well-spoken, diffident in the most seductive way, and yet powerful, is all alone in this world?
Joe knew the whole story. I told him. It was his idea that I come clean. I mean I wanted to come clean but he gave me a pair of balls, you know what I mean?
...what can I say after I say that I'm sorry? I zipped when I should've zagged, I opened my big mouth one too many times, everything got all twisted --
I love her, Bill. She is all that I ever wanted, and I've never wanted for anything because I've never wanted anything before, if you can understand.
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