1972
Eleven-year-old Vada, obsessed with death and living in a funeral home, navigates her changing family dynamics when her widowed father hires and falls in love with cosmetologist Shelly, making Vada feel neglected. Vada spends the summer with her best friend, Thomas J. , sharing a first kiss and becoming blood brothers, but tragedy strikes when Thomas J. , signifying her acceptance and healing as she moves forward with his memory.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Eleven-year-old Vada navigates her fear of death and her first real friendship with Thomas J.
Open full beat sheetVada Sultenfuss is listed as Protagonist. An eleven-year-old girl obsessed with death and health, raised in a funeral home. In the parsed data, Vada Sultenfuss is connected to 39 scenes, 67 dialogue lines, 67 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
39 scenes / 67 dialogue linesHarry Sultenfuss is listed as Vada's Father. A funeral director, widower, and Vada's father. In the parsed data, Harry Sultenfuss is connected to 21 scenes, 22 dialogue lines, 22 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
21 scenes / 22 dialogue linesShelly DeVoto is listed as Makeup Artist / Harry's Love Interest. A licensed cosmetologist hired by Harry, later his fiancée. In the parsed data, Shelly DeVoto is connected to 19 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
19 scenes / 14 dialogue linesThomas J. Sennett is listed as Vada's Best Friend. A young boy who is allergic to everything and Vada's best friend. In the parsed data, Thomas J. Sennett is connected to 15 scenes, 22 dialogue lines, 22 text mentions, first appearing around scene 24.
15 scenes / 22 dialogue linesMr. Bixler is listed as Teacher. Vada's creative writing teacher. In the parsed data, Mr. Bixler is connected to 6 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 19 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
6 scenes / 15 dialogue linesGrammoo is listed as Vada's Grandmother. Vada's elderly grandmother who lives with the family. In the parsed data, Grammoo is connected to 6 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 30.
6 scenes / 1 dialogue linesPhil is listed as Harry's Brother. Harry's brother, Vada's uncle. In the parsed data, Phil is connected to 4 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
4 scenes / 2 dialogue linesDr. Welty is listed as Doctor. The local doctor Vada frequently visits. In the parsed data, Dr. Welty is connected to 3 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
3 scenes / 4 dialogue linesArthur is listed as Funeral Home Employee. Works with Harry at the funeral home. In the parsed data, Arthur is connected to 3 scenes, first appearing around scene 4.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue linesNurse Randall is listed as Nurse. Works at Dr. Welty's office. In the parsed data, Nurse Randall is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 6.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesVada tells her father she thinks she has cancer while he ignores her.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry SultenfussVada gathers a group of boys to show them a coffin.
Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. SennettVada shows the boys an empty coffin and scares them with stories of the dead.
Vada Sultenfuss, GrammooVada visits Harry and Arthur while they work on a corpse.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry Sultenfuss, ArthurShelly DeVoto arrives to interview for the makeup artist job.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVoto, GrammooVada visits the doctor, insisting she is sick.
Vada Sultenfuss, Dr. Welty, Nurse RandallVada and Thomas J talk to Mr. Bixler.
Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. Sennett, Mr. BixlerVada asks Harry for money for the writing class.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVoto, Grammoo, PhilVada and Thomas J visit Shelly in her camper.
Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. Sennett, Shelly DeVotoMr. Bixler leads the creative writing class.
Mr. BixlerMr. Bixler leads a creative writing class where students share poems, and Vada joins the class.
Mr. Bixler, Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. SennettHarry plays the tuba for Grammoo while Shelly discusses household matters.
Harry Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVoto, GrammooVada and Thomas J fish and become blood brothers.
Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. SennettHarry and Shelly discuss funeral notices and make plans for bingo.
Harry Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVotoShelly applies makeup to Vada.
Vada Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVotoVada and Thomas J explore the garage.
Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. SennettPhil gives Harry dating advice.
Harry Sultenfuss, PhilHarry and Shelly attend bingo while Vada and Thomas J spy on them.
Harry Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVoto, Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. SennettHarry and Shelly share a romantic moment.
Harry Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVotoThe class participates in a group meditation.
Mr. Bixler, Vada SultenfussVada disrupts Harry and Shelly's shopping trip.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVotoHarry and Phil grill burgers while Shelly and Vada interact; Danny and Ralph arrive to reclaim a camper.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry Sultenfuss, Thomas J. Sennett, Shelly DeVoto, Grammoo, ArthurDanny and Ralph leave; Harry and Shelly watch fireworks.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVoto, PhilVada visits the doctor; Thomas J and Nurse Randall play with syringes.
Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. Sennett, Dr. Welty, Nurse RandallVada and Thomas J play with water syringes and encounter a beehive.
Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. SennettHarry tells Vada they are going to the carnival.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry SultenfussHarry, Shelly, and Vada attend the carnival; Harry announces his engagement.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVotoVada picks up Thomas J to run away.
Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. SennettVada discovers she has started her period.
Vada Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVotoGrammoo wanders into the funeral service and sings.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVoto, GrammooVada and Thomas J discuss marriage.
Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. SennettVada and Thomas J discuss marriage and share their first kiss.
Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. SennettVada and Thomas J agree to keep their kiss a secret.
Vada Sultenfuss, Thomas J. SennettThomas J finds the beehive and is swarmed by bees.
Thomas J. SennettA policeman informs Harry about Thomas J's death.
Harry SultenfussHarry tells Vada that Thomas J has died.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry SultenfussVada has a panic attack at the doctor's office.
Vada Sultenfuss, Dr. WeltyShelly tries to check on Vada, who is isolating herself.
Vada Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVotoJudy visits to offer condolences, but Shelly turns her away.
Shelly DeVotoShelly confronts Harry about his emotional distance.
Harry Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVoto, ArthurThomas J's funeral takes place.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVotoVada visits Mr. Bixler and confesses her love.
Vada Sultenfuss, Mr. BixlerVada climbs the tree and reflects on her memories.
Vada SultenfussVada returns home and reconciles with Shelly.
Vada Sultenfuss, Shelly DeVotoHarry and Vada talk about her mother.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry SultenfussVada meets Mrs. Sennett and receives Thomas J's mood ring.
Vada Sultenfuss, Harry SultenfussVada reads her poem at the writing class.
Vada Sultenfuss, Mr. BixlerVada and Judy ride off together.
Vada SultenfussWeeping willow with your tears running down, Why do you always weep and frown, Is it because he left you one day, Is it because he could not stay, On your branches he would swing, Do you long for the happiness that they would bring, He found shelter in your shade, He thought his laughter would never fade, Weeping willow stop your tears, There is something to calm your fears, You think death as if you forever part, But I know he'll always be in your heart.
Stop hiding Harry, you run Harry. When I first came here, the idea of working with dead people, didn't exactly thrill me, but when I saw a family lived here, I thought, "if I'm living without a family, at least I can work with one, and maybe once in a while i'll be invited in for supper."
Vada that's... It's very sweet, and it rhymes and that's also good but, you're not expressing to me what's in your soul. I want you to show me how you see the world, your fears, your desires, your innermost secrets.
That's good, memories are good sweetheart. Vada, I'm sorry; I was trying to keep it from you, I just couldn't. You're a good girl, and I want you to be happy; don't be an old grump like me.
Cause she gets scared of all those dead people in her house, and you know that saying, If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, well if she's one of them, she won't be as scared.
Dad, I don't wanna upset you, but my left breast is developing at a significantly faster rate than my right. It can only mean one thing. Cancer. I'm dying.
Yes, I did, very much for a long time, and even now, I get a little sad when I think of a pretty flower or a sunset that your mother would have liked.
The great way, is not difficult for those with no preferences, with the absence of both love and hate, everything becomes clear and undisguised.
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