2023
Idealistic Elwood Curtis is wrongfully sent to Nickel Academy, a brutal 1960s reform school, where he endures abuse and bonds with the pragmatic Turner. Elwood secretly documents the school's corruption, while Turner, focused on survival, helps him navigate the harsh environment. During an escape attempt, Elwood is killed by a guard, but Turner successfully flees and assumes Elwood's identity. Decades later, Turner, living as Elwood, exposes the truth about Nickel Academy's unmarked graves, honoring his friend's memory.
Save the Cat beat sheet
The screenplay follows Elwood Curtis’s journey from hopeful boy in 1960s Tallahassee to incarcerated teen at Nickel Academy and ultimately to an adult uncovering its hidden crimes.
Open full beat sheetElwood Curtis is listed as Protagonist. A studious, idealistic young man who is sent to the Nickel Academy. In the parsed data, Elwood Curtis is connected to 82 scenes, 106 dialogue lines, 110 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
82 scenes / 106 dialogue linesTurner is listed as Elwood's Friend. A cynical, pragmatic boy at Nickel who becomes Elwood's closest ally. In the parsed data, Turner is connected to 30 scenes, 122 dialogue lines, 139 text mentions, first appearing around scene 54.
30 scenes / 122 dialogue linesHattie is listed as Elwood's Grandmother. A hardworking, protective woman who raises Elwood. In the parsed data, Hattie is connected to 19 scenes, 24 dialogue lines, 24 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
19 scenes / 24 dialogue linesMaynard Spencer is listed as Nickel Academy Official. A cruel and fastidious official at Nickel Academy. In the parsed data, Maynard Spencer is connected to 9 scenes, 16 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 44.
9 scenes / 16 dialogue linesBlakeley is listed as House Father. The House Father of Elwood's dormitory at Nickel. In the parsed data, Blakeley is connected to 7 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 20 text mentions, first appearing around scene 47.
7 scenes / 14 dialogue linesHarper is listed as Nickel Guard. A guard at Nickel Academy who oversees community service. In the parsed data, Harper is connected to 7 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 82.
7 scenes / 10 dialogue linesMr. Hill is listed as Teacher. A teacher at Lincoln High School and a Freedom Rider. In the parsed data, Mr. Hill is connected to 4 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
4 scenes / 11 dialogue linesMr. Marconi is listed as Shopkeeper. Owner of Marconi's Tobacco Shop. In the parsed data, Mr. Marconi is connected to 3 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
3 scenes / 4 dialogue linesEvelyn is listed as Elwood's Mother. Elwood's mother, seen in flashbacks. In the parsed data, Evelyn is connected to 2 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
2 scenes / 5 dialogue linesSimone is listed as Elwood's Love Interest. A girl Elwood meets in Tallahassee. In the parsed data, Simone is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 19.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesPercy is listed as Elwood's Father. Elwood's father, seen in flashbacks. In the parsed data, Percy is connected to 1 scene, 6 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
1 scenes / 6 dialogue linesMillie is listed as Turner's Wife. Turner's wife in the future timeline. In the parsed data, Millie is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 45.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesElwood is in the backyard looking at the sky and a lemon tree while his grandmother calls for him.
Elwood Curtis, HattieA party is winding down; Elwood watches his parents play gin rummy.
Elwood Curtis, Hattie, Evelyn, PercyChristmas Eve; Hattie hums while decorating.
Elwood Curtis, HattieA radio ad for Funtown plays.
Elwood Curtis, HattieElwood watches children playing with string loops on their tongues.
Elwood CurtisElwood reads while a prep cook shucks oysters.
Elwood Curtis, HattieHattie makes the bed while Elwood is underneath.
Elwood Curtis, HattieElwood wakes Hattie, who is sleeping with a machete.
Elwood Curtis, HattieHattie irons pillowcases.
Elwood Curtis, HattieElwood watches Hattie in the bath.
Elwood Curtis, HattieElwood and Hattie watch a TV display showing MLK.
Elwood Curtis, HattieElwood observes his own skin.
Elwood CurtisElwood watches boys on the sidewalk.
Elwood CurtisMr. Marconi offers Elwood a job.
Elwood Curtis, Mr. MarconiMr. Hill introduces himself to the class.
Elwood Curtis, Mr. HillA little girl crawls under the seats.
Elwood Curtis, HattieTwo women browse the shop.
Elwood CurtisElwood examines his armpit hair.
Elwood CurtisElwood sees Simone at a crosswalk.
Elwood Curtis, SimoneMr. Hill tells Elwood about a free college course.
Elwood Curtis, Mr. Hill, Mr. MarconiAn old man with a cane intimidates boys on the sidewalk.
Elwood CurtisElwood plays with a balloon while watching TV.
Elwood CurtisMr. Hill plays a record of MLK.
Elwood Curtis, Mr. HillElwood watches a suit hanging on a car.
Elwood CurtisElwood attends a meeting about protest bail.
Elwood CurtisElwood finds a penny.
Elwood CurtisElwood and Simone take photos.
Elwood Curtis, SimoneElwood stares at the college pamphlet.
Elwood Curtis, HattieElwood watches a pamphlet slide down the fridge while Hattie talks on the phone about the protests. Elwood expresses a desire to participate in civil disobedience.
Elwood Curtis, HattieElwood catches two boys stealing comics; Mr. Marconi intervenes and explains his philosophy on theft as an investment.
Elwood Curtis, Mr. MarconiElwood walks anxiously through town and encounters an alligator crossing the street.
Elwood CurtisHattie tends to Elwood's injuries with an ice pack.
Elwood Curtis, HattieElwood hitches a ride and is picked up by Rodney in a Chevy Impala.
Elwood CurtisElwood rides with Rodney; they are pulled over by a deputy who accuses Rodney of stealing the car.
Elwood CurtisElwood deals with his distress by wrapping a string around his finger while Hattie talks on the phone about his arrest.
Elwood Curtis, HattieHattie searches for Elwood in a state of disorientation.
Elwood Curtis, HattieHattie tells Elwood that Mr. Hill is there to see him.
Elwood Curtis, Hattie, Mr. HillElwood sits on a bench in despair.
Elwood CurtisHattie serves cake and talks about the family's history of suffering.
Elwood Curtis, HattieElwood is transported to Nickel Academy with two other boys.
Elwood CurtisAdult Elwood researches unmarked graves at Nickel Academy.
Elwood CurtisElwood arrives at Nickel Academy.
Elwood CurtisSpencer explains the ranking system to the new boys.
Elwood Curtis, Maynard SpencerAdult Elwood continues his research while his wife Millie checks on him.
Elwood Curtis, MillieElwood is assigned a bed in the dormitory by Blakeley.
Elwood Curtis, BlakeleyElwood experiences the harsh conditions of the showers.
Elwood Curtis, BlakeleyElwood observes boys returning from labor on a tractor.
Elwood CurtisElwood watches white boys playing football and Spencer intervening.
Elwood Curtis, Maynard SpencerElwood meets Turner in the dining hall.
Elwood Curtis, TurnerElwood and Turner meet in the mess hall while being harassed by Griff and his group.
Elwood Curtis, TurnerElwood observes the neglected classroom aquarium and is startled by a paper ball.
Elwood CurtisElwood experiences a disturbing night in the dorm as other boys make strange noises.
Elwood CurtisElwood attends a math class and interacts with Turner.
Elwood Curtis, TurnerElwood intervenes in a fight and is caught by Blakeley.
Elwood Curtis, BlakeleyElwood works in the citrus grove and observes the stilt men.
Elwood CurtisElwood is taken from his bed by guards.
Elwood CurtisElwood is led to the White House.
Elwood Curtis, Maynard SpencerElwood waits to be beaten in the White House.
Elwood Curtis, Maynard SpencerElwood is beaten by Spencer.
Elwood Curtis, Maynard SpencerTurner and Elwood discuss the reality of their situation at Nickel Academy while discovering an empty bed.
Elwood Curtis, TurnerElwood recovers in the infirmary while Nurse Scarlett reads the Bible.
Elwood CurtisTurner observes the campus from the service van.
TurnerTurner watches Harper take a bribe.
TurnerElwood observes Nurse Scarlett's indifference.
Elwood CurtisHattie visits Nickel and meets Turner.
Hattie, TurnerTurner visits Elwood in the infirmary and they discuss their situation.
Elwood Curtis, TurnerArchival footage of a shell game on a city sidewalk.
Griff body-checks Elwood on the stairs.
Elwood CurtisElwood bandages his hand.
Elwood CurtisTurner watches Griff spar in the boxing ring.
TurnerTurner secures Elwood's reassignment to Community Service.
Elwood Curtis, Turner, Blakeley, HarperElwood and Turner ride in the van with Harper.
Elwood Curtis, Turner, HarperElwood observes Spencer giving a talk to new boys.
Elwood Curtis, Maynard SpencerElwood writes in his notebook while Turner reads a comic.
Elwood Curtis, TurnerTurner, Elwood, and Jaime talk in the dorm.
Elwood Curtis, TurnerArchival footage of two brothers playing.
A lizard runs across a ping pong table.
Turner shares his past with Elwood.
Elwood Curtis, TurnerFlorida tourism commercial.
Elwood and Turner discuss escape plans while walking through town; Elwood reveals he is documenting Nickel's corruption.
Elwood Curtis, Turner, HarperEarn merits for acting right, and you move on up the ladder. Achieve the highest rank of Ace, and then you graduate and go home to your families. An Ace listens to the house men and his house father, he does his work without shirking or malingering, and he applies himself to his studies. An Ace does not roughhouse, he does not cuss, he does not blaspheme and carry on. He works to reform himself from sunrise to sunset. It's up to you how much time you spend with us. We don't mess around here with idiots. It you mess up, we have a place for you, and you will not like it. I'll see to it personally.
The law's one thing. You can march and wave signs around and change a law if you convince enough white people. I saw the college kids in Tampa with their nice shirts and ties sitting at the Woolworth's. I had to work, but they were out protesting. And it happened, they opened that counter. But I didn't have the money to eat there either way. Gotta change the economics of all this, too.
"You may have grand designs and great dreams for yourself, but if God has decided that your lot is sweeping streets, work that broom like Michelangelo painted ceilings, attack that gutter the way Beethoven attacked his Ninth Symphony. Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. Be the best of whatever you are."
I am telling you Sergeant, he didn't know the man. He was walking. The man pulled up and offered him a ride. He was heading off to college. Melvin Griggs Technical College. You can call- I have the acceptance letter right- He just got in the wrong car! Why would he- Sergeant, he's smart enough to know that would be risking throwing his life away!
Hi Elwood. I came to see you. Don't worry, good news. You know the colored college just south of Tallahassee- Melvin Griggs Technical School? They've just opened courses to high-achieving high school students. I thought of you right off the bat.
She says she visited and they wouldn't let her see me. "He's sick and can't have no visitors." "What's wrong with him?" "How the hell should I know, lady?" How can they do that! Sick? I'm sick?! Look what they did to me!
She says she visited and they wouldn't let her see me. "He's sick and can't have no visitors." "What's wrong with him?" "How the hell should I know, lady?" How can they do that! Sick? I'm sick?! Look what they did to me!
Yeah? How long it been since you heard from them? You got to watch how people act, what they do, and then you got to figure out how to get around them like an obstacle course. If you want to walk out of here.
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