1990
Paul Sheldon, a successful novelist, finishes his latest manuscript in a secluded lodge but crashes his car during a blizzard and is rescued by Annie Wilkes, his self-proclaimed 'number one fan'. Annie, a former nurse, brings Paul to her isolated farmhouse and cares for his broken legs, but her obsession with his Misery Chastain book series turns violent when she discovers he killed off the character in his new novel. She forces Paul to burn his new manuscript and write a new Misery novel, 'Misery's Return', threatening him with an empty gun and eventually hobbling him by breaking his ankles with a sledgehammer when he attempts to escape. Sheriff Buster, investigating Paul's disappearance, eventually tracks him to Annie's farmhouse, but Annie drugs Paul and shoots Buster, leaving Paul to finish the book under her watchful eye.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Paul Sheldon, a bestselling author, crashes his car in a blizzard and is rescued by his obsessive fan Annie Wilkes.
Open full beat sheetPaul Sheldon is listed as Protagonist. Forty-two-year-old novelist, successful, resilient, recovering from a car accident. In the parsed data, Paul Sheldon is connected to 46 scenes, 122 dialogue lines, 134 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
46 scenes / 122 dialogue linesAnnie Wilkes is listed as Antagonist. Paul's 'number one fan', a former nurse, obsessive, volatile, and dangerous. In the parsed data, Annie Wilkes is connected to 33 scenes, 137 dialogue lines, 140 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
33 scenes / 137 dialogue linesBuster is listed as Sheriff. The Silver Creek Sheriff, persistent and observant. In the parsed data, Buster is connected to 14 scenes, 34 dialogue lines, 35 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
14 scenes / 34 dialogue linesVirginia is listed as Deputy/Wife. Buster's wife and deputy. In the parsed data, Virginia is connected to 7 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
7 scenes / 10 dialogue linesMarcia Sindell is listed as Literary Agent. Paul's professional representative in New York. In the parsed data, Marcia Sindell is connected to 6 scenes, 25 dialogue lines, 26 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
6 scenes / 25 dialogue linesLibby is listed as Lodge Manager. Manager of the Silver Creek Lodge. In the parsed data, Libby is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 55.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesPaul Sheldon finishes his latest manuscript and celebrates with champagne and a cigarette.
Paul SheldonPaul leaves the lodge and drives into the mountains.
Paul SheldonPaul drives into a blizzard and crashes his car.
Paul SheldonPaul discusses his career and his new book with his agent, Marcia Sindell.
Paul Sheldon, Marcia SindellAnnie Wilkes rescues Paul from the wreckage.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesPaul wakes up in Annie's care and learns about his injuries.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesMarcia Sindell calls Sheriff Buster to report Paul missing.
Marcia Sindell, Buster, VirginiaAnnie shaves Paul and asks to read his new book.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie feeds Paul soup while discussing his new book and his use of profanity.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesBuster and Virginia search for Paul's car in the snow.
Buster, VirginiaAnnie brings Paul a copy of his new book and claims she called his agent.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie asks Paul to autograph her book and discusses his personal life.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie introduces Paul to her pet pig, Misery.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie talks about her past while helping Paul with a bedpan.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie discovers Misery Chastain dies in the book and turns violent.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesPaul attempts to escape his room.
Paul SheldonBuster discusses the search for Paul with his agent.
Buster, VirginiaAnnie returns and helps Paul back into bed.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie helps Paul back into bed, discusses God's will, and forces him to burn his manuscript in a barbecue.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie accidentally sets the room on fire while burning the book and rushes to extinguish it.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesBuster and a pilot fly over the Wilkes farm in a helicopter, while Annie watches from the window.
Annie Wilkes, BusterPaul hides his medication while Annie watches TV in her room.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie brings Paul a wheelchair and demands he write a new book, 'Misery's Return'.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesPaul tricks Annie into leaving to get different paper, then attempts to escape his room.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesPaul explores the house, finds a stash of drugs, and fails to escape through the kitchen.
Paul SheldonPaul attempts to reach knives on the counter but fails, then races to his wheelchair as Annie arrives home.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesPaul locks himself in the bedroom just as Annie enters the house.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie confronts Paul about his appearance; Paul demands his pills.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie returns with the pills and encourages Paul to write.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesBuster and police recover Paul's car; the Chief declares Paul likely dead.
Buster, VirginiaPaul prepares a stash of Novril powder.
Paul SheldonPaul begins writing the new Misery book.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie encourages Paul to use his 'gotta' power to write.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie is thrilled with the new chapter; Paul invites her to dinner.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesBuster researches Paul Sheldon's books.
Buster, VirginiaPaul and Annie have a candlelit dinner; Paul attempts to drug her.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesAnnie confronts Paul about his recovery and the rain, then leaves after threatening him with an empty gun.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesBuster and Virginia read in bed; Buster is obsessed with a quote from a Misery novel.
Buster, VirginiaPaul manages to get out of bed to search for a weapon.
Paul SheldonAnnie hobbles Paul by breaking his ankles with a sledgehammer.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesBuster investigates Annie's past after noticing a connection to the Misery books.
Buster, VirginiaBuster questions Pete about Annie's recent purchases.
BusterPaul defies Annie, showing newfound strength and defiance.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesBuster arrives at Annie's house while Paul watches from the window.
Paul Sheldon, BusterPaul sits by the window while Annie prepares cocoa in the kitchen and Buster approaches the house.
Paul Sheldon, Annie Wilkes, BusterAnnie drugs Paul and moves him to the cellar as Buster arrives.
Paul Sheldon, Annie Wilkes, BusterAnnie greets Buster and they discuss Paul Sheldon.
Annie Wilkes, BusterBuster discovers Paul in the cellar and is shot by Annie.
Paul Sheldon, Annie Wilkes, BusterPaul finishes the book while Annie watches.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesPaul burns the manuscript and kills Annie.
Paul Sheldon, Annie WilkesPolice arrive to rescue Paul.
Paul SheldonOne year later, Paul meets Marcia Sindell.
Paul Sheldon, Marcia SindellPaul and Sindell discuss his new book and the possibility of a non-fiction account of his ordeal.
Paul Sheldon, Marcia SindellSindell discusses the positive critical reception of the book and suggests a non-fiction project.
Paul Sheldon, Marcia SindellPaul experiences a moment of paranoia, hallucinating Annie with a knife.
Paul Sheldon, Marcia SindellI know that, Mister Man--they also call them serials. I'm not stupid, you know. Anyway, my favorite was Rocket Man, and once it was a no-brakes chapter, the bad guys stuck him in a car on a mountain road and knocked him out and welded the doors shut and tore out the brakes and started him to his death and he woke up and tried to steer and tried to get out, but the car went off a cliff before he could escape and it crashed and burned and--I was so upset and excited and the next week you better believe I was first in line and they always start with the end of the last week and there was Rocket Man trying to get out, and here came the cliff and JUST BEFORE the car went off he jumped free and all the kids cheered--but I didn't cheer, I stood right up and started shouting, 'This isn't what happened last week--have you all got amnesia?--THEY JUST CHEATED US--THIS WASN'T FAIR--'
The presumption must now be that Paul Sheldon is dead. We know he somehow crawled out of his car. But we have been unable to locate his body in the vicinity of the crash. We also know if anyone had found him, they would have taken him to an area hospital. His body is undoubtedly out there buried somewhere in the snow. We'll find him after the first thaw--unless the animals have gotten to him first. I'll take questions.
Marcia, you know I started "Misery" on a lark. Do I look like a guy who writes romance novels? Do I sound like Danielle Steel? It was a one-time shot and we got lucky. I never meant it to become my life. And if I hadn't gotten rid of her now, I'd have ended up writing her forever.
I'm glad to hear that, Paul, I really am. But you have to know--when your fans find out that you killed off their favorite heroine, they're not going to say, "Ooh, good, Paul Sheldon can finally write what we've always wanted: An esoteric, semi-autobiographical character study.
No, he's not here. I don't know where he went. He never tells me anything anymore. He's probably out having an affair somewhere. Wait a minute. I think I hear him coming.
And I got a great deal on this fifty-pound clunker--on account of it's missing an "n." I told the saleslady "n" was one of the letters in my favorite writer's name.
And you're very brilliant, and you must be a good man, or you could never have created such a wondrous, loving creature as Misery Chastain. Like a baby. All done.
Oh, Paul, can I read each chapter when you finish? I can fill in the 'n's. Will she be her old self, now that Ian has dug her out, or will she have amnesia...?
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