1977
Billy Hayes, an American college student, is arrested at the Istanbul airport for attempting to smuggle two kilograms of hashish out of Turkey by taping it to his body. He is interrogated, processed, and then imprisoned, where he endures brutal beatings and learns about the harsh realities of the Turkish justice system from fellow inmates like Jimmy Bell and Erich. Initially sentenced to four years and two months, Billy's sentence is unexpectedly increased to thirty years by the High Court, devastating him and leading him to a desperate attempt to escape with Bell and Max, which is ultimately thwarted by the informant Ziat. After a violent confrontation with Ziat, Billy is transferred to an asylum for the criminally insane, where he suffers a mental breakdown until his girlfriend, Susan, visits and inspires him to escape by providing money hidden in a photo album. Billy uses the money to bribe a guard, but when the guard attempts to rape him, Billy fights back, kills the guard, and escapes the prison, eventually crossing the border into Greece and returning home to his family in America.
Save the Cat beat sheet
An American smuggler is caught in Turkey, imprisoned in brutal conditions, and spirals into despair before mounting a desperate escape.
Open full beat sheetBilly Hayes is listed as Protagonist. 21-year-old American, medium build, baby-faced, initially naive. In the parsed data, Billy Hayes is connected to 55 scenes, 77 dialogue lines, 77 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
55 scenes / 77 dialogue linesHamidou is listed as Chief of Guards. Large, muscular, shaven head, sadistic, frightening. In the parsed data, Hamidou is connected to 16 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 15 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
16 scenes / 14 dialogue linesMax is listed as Prisoner. British, international junkie, long straggly hair, wire spectacles. In the parsed data, Max is connected to 15 scenes, 30 dialogue lines, 34 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
15 scenes / 30 dialogue linesZiat is listed as Prisoner/Trustee. Sinister, scarred, one blind eye, greedy, prison informer. In the parsed data, Ziat is connected to 12 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
12 scenes / 5 dialogue linesJimmy Bell is listed as Prisoner. American, fiery eyes, intense, strong, obsessed with escape. In the parsed data, Jimmy Bell is connected to 11 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
11 scenes / 2 dialogue linesErich is listed as Prisoner. Swedish, gentle, long bird-like face, calm. In the parsed data, Erich is connected to 9 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
9 scenes / 10 dialogue linesSusan is listed as Billy's girlfriend. 23-year-old American student. In the parsed data, Susan is connected to 6 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 20 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
6 scenes / 15 dialogue linesMr. Hayes is listed as Billy's father. Suburban insurance agent, white-haired, anxious. In the parsed data, Mr. Hayes is connected to 5 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
5 scenes / 14 dialogue linesStanley Davis is listed as US Consul. Neat, ivy league look, professional. In the parsed data, Stanley Davis is connected to 5 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
5 scenes / 8 dialogue linesTex is listed as Consulate contact. Tall, lanky, blonde-haired American, dangerous blue eyes. In the parsed data, Tex is connected to 4 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
4 scenes / 5 dialogue linesNecdit Yesil is listed as Lawyer. Fleshy, unctuous, greasy hair, claims to lecture in the US. In the parsed data, Necdit Yesil is connected to 4 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
4 scenes / 4 dialogue linesAhmet is listed as Prisoner. Philosophical, claims to have studied at Harvard and Oxford. In the parsed data, Ahmet is connected to 3 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 47.
3 scenes / 15 dialogue linesBilly Hayes prepares to smuggle hashish by taping it to his body.
Billy HayesBilly and Susan navigate the airport security checkpoint.
Billy Hayes, Susan, HamidouBilly and Susan wait on the bus, then are intercepted by police.
Billy Hayes, SusanBilly is caught smuggling hashish at the security inspection.
Billy Hayes, SusanBilly is interrogated and processed by Turkish police.
Billy Hayes, TexBilly agrees to help the police identify the cab driver.
Billy Hayes, TexTex drives Billy through the streets, questioning him about his smuggling attempt and his family.
Billy Hayes, TexBilly attempts to identify his contact at the Pudding Shoppe while being watched by plainclothesmen.
Billy Hayes, TexBilly is processed into prison, has his head shaved, and is placed in a cell with Ziat.
Billy Hayes, ZiatHamidou brutally beats Billy in the punishment cells.
Billy Hayes, HamidouBilly recovers from his beating with the help of Bell and Erich.
Billy Hayes, Jimmy Bell, ErichBilly walks in the courtyard and learns about the harsh realities of the prison from Bell and Erich.
Billy Hayes, Ziat, Jimmy Bell, ErichErich explains the unfairness of the Turkish justice system to Billy and suggests he find a lawyer.
Billy Hayes, ErichBilly and Erich visit Max, who is shooting up and gives advice about the Midnight Express.
Billy Hayes, Erich, MaxBilly meets his father, the US Consul, and his lawyer.
Billy Hayes, Hamidou, Mr. Hayes, Necdit Yesil, Stanley DavisBilly is sentenced to four years and two months.
Billy Hayes, Mr. Hayes, Necdit Yesil, Stanley DavisBilly's father says goodbye after the sentencing.
Billy Hayes, Hamidou, Mr. HayesBilly writes a letter to Susan while Ziat hides money in a radio.
Billy Hayes, ZiatPrisoners play volleyball and Bell is stabbed.
Billy Hayes, Jimmy Bell, ErichHamidou and Aslan discuss a bribe.
HamidouPills spill into the courtyard.
Aslan argues with a guard over access to the courtyard and shoots him.
Ziat, HamidouThe Prison Director tries to negotiate with Aslan who is armed on the second floor.
ZiatPrisoners pose for a photograph; Billy describes the chaotic nature of prison life.
Billy Hayes, Erich, MaxHamidou brutally punishes children with a falaka stick while his sons watch.
HamidouBilly and Max interact with Ziat while buying hashish; Ziat kills Max's cat.
Billy Hayes, Ziat, MaxMax finds his cat dead in the kitchen.
Ziat, MaxBilly meets with his lawyer Yesil to discuss a potential escape plan.
Billy Hayes, Necdit YesilBell shows Billy and Max blueprints for an escape through the prison walls.
Billy Hayes, Jimmy Bell, MaxBell is caught and beaten by Hamidou.
Hamidou, Jimmy BellBilly has a tooth pulled in a filthy prison clinic.
Billy HayesBilly and Erich wash and discuss their emotional state.
Billy Hayes, ErichBilly and Erich share an intimate moment.
Billy Hayes, ErichBilly and Erich practice yoga.
Billy Hayes, ErichBilly receives news from the Consul that his sentence is being reviewed.
Billy Hayes, Stanley DavisDavis informs Billy that his sentence has been increased to thirty years by the High Court.
Billy Hayes, Stanley DavisBilly delivers a defiant speech to the court before being sentenced.
Billy Hayes, Hamidou, Necdit Yesil, Stanley DavisBilly is led out of the courtroom.
Billy HayesBell and Max sing while Billy contemplates escape.
Billy Hayes, Jimmy Bell, MaxBilly, Max, and Bell work on loosening a stone to find an escape route.
Billy Hayes, Jimmy Bell, MaxBilly interacts with Ziat while hiding the escape work.
Billy Hayes, Ziat, Jimmy Bell, MaxThe trio attempts to navigate the shaft but fails.
Billy Hayes, Jimmy Bell, MaxZiat discovers the escape attempt and reports it.
Billy Hayes, Ziat, Hamidou, Jimmy Bell, MaxMax and Billy discuss their situation.
Billy Hayes, MaxMax and Billy discuss Ziat's hidden money, with Max revealing he knows its location inside Ziat's radio.
Billy Hayes, MaxZiat discovers his money is gone from the radio and reacts with hysteria.
ZiatNegdir runs the tea business after Ziat's downfall; Billy and Max discuss Bell's hospitalization.
Billy Hayes, Jimmy Bell, Max, AhmetHamidou searches the prisoners; Ziat frames Max for hashish possession.
Billy Hayes, Ziat, Hamidou, MaxBilly attacks Ziat in a violent rage after learning of Max's fate.
Billy Hayes, ZiatA year later, Billy and Max are in the asylum; Billy is detached and silent.
Billy Hayes, Hamidou, Max, AhmetSusan visits Billy; he is mentally unstable and reacts with sexual aggression.
Billy Hayes, Susan, HamidouSusan visits Billy in prison, tries to give him a photo album containing money, and urges him to escape.
Billy Hayes, Susan, HamidouBilly walks against the flow of the prison wheel, causing tension with other prisoners.
Billy Hayes, AhmetBilly retrieves money hidden in the photo album binder.
Billy Hayes, HamidouHamidou brutally beats Billy, leading to a violent struggle where Billy fights back.
Billy Hayes, HamidouBilly escapes the prison and walks through the streets.
Billy HayesBilly discovers there are no trains to the border.
Billy HayesBilly hires a cab driver to take him toward the border.
Billy HayesBilly is caught at a roadblock, escapes in the cab, and is pursued by the military.
Billy HayesBilly runs through a poppy field pursued by a halftrack, which hits a mine and explodes. Billy escapes into a forest.
Billy HayesBilly swims across the river to escape an attack dog.
Billy HayesBilly reaches a farmhouse and is discovered by soldiers and a farmer, confirming he has reached Greece.
Billy Hayes, Mr. HayesBilly returns home to his family in a silent, emotional reunion.
Billy Hayes, Susan, Mr. HayesThe new American Ambassador here is following your case very closely. He says there is progress. But there is another route that is quite possible... For the proper amount of money it is possible I can convince certain officials to lose track of your papers before the High Court in Ankara confirms the sentence of the Lower Court in Istanbul...
Dear Susan. It's taken me a long time to find out that it's got to stop somewhere. I've learned painfully not to trust the Turks, the courts, the lawyers, the Consul, the United States Government, and not even my loving parents. There is only one way out of here.. The Midnight Express.
...Billy, your family is fine. Senator Buckley just made a special plea on your behalf in the Senate. Newsday has written several big articles about you. They've called you a pawn in the poppy game between Nixon and the Turks. The letters are coming in, Billy. People care....
You see we all come from a factory. Sometimes the factory makes bad machines that don't work. They put them here. The bad machines don't know they're bad machines, but the people at the factory know. They know one of the machines that doesn't work...
Well, it's an interesting place... Tell you the truth, I think the food is lousy. The crap they sell in these little restaurants. I went out to eat in one of them last night, and I had to run to the damn toilet... You shoulda' seen the toilet.
Right! That's what we're shooting for. Mister Davis and have been in contact with the State Department, but right now relations with the Turks aren't too good, Nixon's upset the hell out of them. Our best bet's... right here.
For a nation of pigs, it's funny you don't eat them. Fuck it, give me the sentence. Jesus forgave the bastards, but I can't. I hate you. Nation. I hate your I hate your people. And I fuck your sons and daughters!
Everything is "sula-bula" which means "like this, like that" - you never know what will happen. One day one of the new kids was raped in the children's kogus, so they picked out six of the worst kids...
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