1993
In a dystopian Los Angeles on New Year's Eve 1999, former vice cop Lenny Nero deals in illegal virtual reality recordings called SQUID tapes, which allow users to experience others' memories and sensations. Lenny receives a disturbing SQUID tape depicting the rape and murder of Iris, a young woman who had left him a desperate message, and he soon discovers another tape showing the assassination of controversial rapper Jeriko One by two corrupt police officers, Spreg and Engelman. Lenny, aided by his friend and bodyguard Lornette "Mace" Mason, realizes Iris's murder is connected to Jeriko One's death and that the killer is now targeting Faith Justin, Lenny's ex-girlfriend and Jeriko One's former lover. As Lenny and Mace investigate, they are pursued by Spreg and Engelman, who attempt to destroy the incriminating tapes and silence them.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Lenny Nero navigates a gritty near-future Los Angeles, peddling illicit SQUID recordings while confronting personal and societal trauma.
Open full beat sheetLENNY NERO is listed as PROTAGONIST. LOW-THIRTIES, SLEAZY BUT CHARMING, STREET-SMART, FORMER VICE COP, DEALS IN SQUID TAPES. In the parsed data, LENNY NERO is connected to 56 scenes, 130 dialogue lines, 130 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
56 scenes / 130 dialogue linesLORNETTE MASON is listed as SUPPORTING. SECURITY PROFESSIONAL, SINGLE MOTHER, LENNY'S FRIEND, TOUGH AND CAPABLE. In the parsed data, LORNETTE MASON is connected to 38 scenes, 28 dialogue lines, 30 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
38 scenes / 28 dialogue linesMAX PELTIER is listed as ANTAGONIST. LENNY'S FRIEND, EX-COP, SECRETLY A KILLER. In the parsed data, MAX PELTIER is connected to 12 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 29.
12 scenes / 6 dialogue linesFAITH JUSTIN is listed as SUPPORTING. SINGER, LENNY'S EX-GIRLFRIEND, AMBITIOUS. In the parsed data, FAITH JUSTIN is connected to 11 scenes, 28 dialogue lines, 28 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
11 scenes / 28 dialogue linesSPREG is listed as ANTAGONIST. CORRUPT LAPD OFFICER. In the parsed data, SPREG is connected to 9 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
9 scenes / 2 dialogue linesTRAN VO is listed as SUPPORTING. MUSIC MANAGER, FAITH'S BOYFRIEND, CONTROL FREAK. In the parsed data, TRAN VO is connected to 8 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 26.
8 scenes / 13 dialogue linesIRIS is listed as SUPPORTING. YOUNG WOMAN, VICTIM, INVOLVED IN THE CONSPIRACY. In the parsed data, IRIS is connected to 7 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
7 scenes / 3 dialogue linesENGELMAN is listed as ANTAGONIST. CORRUPT LAPD OFFICER. In the parsed data, ENGELMAN is connected to 6 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 6.
6 scenes / 1 dialogue linesTICK is listed as SUPPORTING. TECHNO-UNDERGROUND BOTTOMFEEDER. In the parsed data, TICK is connected to 4 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
4 scenes / 4 dialogue linesPALMER STRICKLAND is listed as SUPPORTING. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, HONEST COP. In the parsed data, PALMER STRICKLAND is connected to 3 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
3 scenes / 6 dialogue linesCECILE is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, CECILE is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 43.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesCURTIS is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, CURTIS is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 43.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesZANDER is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, ZANDER is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 43.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesA POV recording of a robbery by Lane and Spaz Diaz, ending in a violent car crash and police pursuit.
LENNY NERO, MAX PELTIER, SPREGLenny watches the robbery recording and discusses the 'snuff' content with Tick.
LENNY NERO, TICKLenny drives through LA, conducting business via phone and radio.
LENNY NEROLenny wires Eduardo with a SQUID net for a new recording.
LENNY NEROIris flees from police through a train yard.
IRIS, SPREG, ENGELMANSpreg and Engelman chase Iris, resulting in the discovery of her SQUID net.
IRIS, SPREG, ENGELMANLenny returns home to find a desperate message from Iris.
LENNY NERO, IRISIris attempts to call Lenny from a payphone, feeling desperate.
IRISLenny arrives home, ignores his messages, and prepares to watch a Squid tape of his ex-girlfriend Faith.
LENNY NEROLenny experiences a vivid memory of Faith through a Squid tape.
LENNY NERO, FAITH JUSTINLenny wakes up to news of Jeriko One's murder.
LENNY NEROLenny meets a client, Keith, to sell him a Squid tape experience.
LENNY NERO, MAX PELTIERLenny gives Keith a sample of a Squid tape.
LENNY NEROIris leaves a tape for Lenny in his car.
IRISMax Peltier confronts Lenny in the men's room.
LENNY NERO, MAX PELTIERLenny discovers his car is being towed.
LENNY NEROMace arrives at the Coral Lounge and meets Lenny and Max.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, MAX PELTIERLenny and Mace discuss his business while driving.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny manipulates a situation to get a ride with Mace's client.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny joins Mace in her limo to transport a client, Mr. Fumitsu, causing tension between them.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny arrives at a party with Mr. Fumitsu while Mace waits outside.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny encounters Commissioner Strickland at the party.
LENNY NERO, PALMER STRICKLANDLenny is thrown out of the party and returns to Mace's car.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny plays a Squid tape of Faith while Mace drives, leading to an argument.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, FAITH JUSTINMace drops Lenny off at the Retinal Fetish.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny and Mace enter the club; Lenny spots Faith with Tran.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, FAITH JUSTIN, TRAN VOLenny visits Tex Arcana and receives an anonymous tape.
LENNY NERO, TICKLenny confronts Faith in her dressing room.
LENNY NERO, FAITH JUSTINLenny runs into Max.
LENNY NERO, MAX PELTIERBeemer beats up Lenny.
LENNY NEROLenny watches the anonymous tape.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, IRISThe killer stalks and attacks Iris in her apartment, eventually dragging her into the bathroom to record a snuff tape.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, IRISLenny and Mace arrive at the hotel, where Lenny watches the horrific conclusion of the tape.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny and Mace meet Max to discuss the snuff tape.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, MAX PELTIERLenny confronts Faith at Tran's loft.
LENNY NERO, FAITH JUSTIN, TRAN VOTran confronts Faith after Lenny leaves.
FAITH JUSTIN, TRAN VOLenny is ambushed in the elevator by Tran's men.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny and Mace analyze the tape further.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONMace returns home to her son Zander.
LORNETTE MASONLenny receives a new tape from the killer.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny prepares to leave, packing his gear while Mace watches, concerned by his behavior.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny and Mace drive through a tense, militarized Los Angeles.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny visits Mace's house to see Zander before leaving again.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, ZANDER, CECILE, CURTIS, VEJLenny and Mace consult Tick about the squid tape of Iris' death.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, TICKLenny and Mace retrieve the tape from the car but are ambushed by corrupt cops.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, SPREG, ENGELMANA high-speed chase ensues between the limo and the cops' truck.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, SPREG, ENGELMANLenny and Mace escape the submerged car and reveal they still have the tape.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny and Mace watch the tape, which reveals the murder of Jeriko One by Spreg and Engelman.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, ZANDER, CECILE, CURTISLenny and Mace find Tick incapacitated in his van.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, MAX PELTIER, TICKLenny and Mace arrive at the club alley to find Tick in a near-lifeless state after being cooked-off by a squid tape. Max joins them, discussing the conspiracy and the danger of the corrupt cops.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, MAX PELTIERLenny and Mace enter the club to find Faith. Max spots Tran.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, FAITH JUSTIN, TRAN VO, MAX PELTIERLenny and Mace confront Faith backstage. Faith explains Tran's obsession with surveillance.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, FAITH JUSTINMax stalls Tran while Faith continues her explanation in the VJ room.
MAX PELTIER, TRAN VO, LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, FAITH JUSTINLenny and Mace attempt to escape with Faith, but are intercepted by Tran's posse.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, FAITH JUSTIN, TRAN VOMace and Max help an injured Lenny escape the club, narrowly avoiding police detection.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, MAX PELTIER, SPREGLenny and Mace argue about the plan to save Faith. Mace tries to convince Lenny to let go of his obsession.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASONLenny and Mace arrive at the massive New Year's party and infiltrate the hotel.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, SPREGLenny and Mace split up. Mace attempts to give the tape to Strickland in the men's room.
LENNY NERO, LORNETTE MASON, PALMER STRICKLANDLenny confronts Wade Beemer in the hotel hallway, subduing him after a brief fight.
LENNY NEROMace is accosted by Duncan and Vita Minh, but fights her way out.
LORNETTE MASONLenny leaves Beemer in the stairwell and enters suite 2203.
LENNY NEROMace navigates the chaotic street party and is spotted by Engelman.
LORNETTE MASON, ENGELMANLenny finds a squid tape in the suite.
LENNY NEROLenny watches the tape, revealing Max as the killer.
LENNY NERO, MAX PELTIER, FAITH JUSTIN, TRAN VOMace fights Spreg and Engelman, leading to a riot.
LORNETTE MASON, SPREG, ENGELMAN, PALMER STRICKLANDI can get you what you want. You just have to talk to me. I'm your priest, your shrink, your main connection to the switchboard of souls. I'm the Magic Man, the Santa Claus of the Subconscious. You say it, you even think it, you can have it. You want a girl, you want two girls? I don't know what your thing is or what you're curious about... you want a guy? You want to be a girl... see what that feels like? You want a nun to tie you up? It's all doable.
... bodies of two men found early this morning under the Hollywood freeway have been identified as rap star Jeriko One and bandmember James Polton, known to fans as "Replay". A third body, that of a woman, has not yet been identified. With his band, the Prophets of Rage, Jeriko One's outspoken political stance and violent lyrics have stirred nationwide controversy...
No, see a friend is more than one person constantly doing favors for another. You just suck people along with your schemes and your scams and your slick act. Well I'm out. I got a kid, I got rent, I got an ex-husband someplace who doesn't send me a dime of support... I'm just trying to hold on here.
I don't feel anything between you. See, your trouble is you assume too much, Lenny. You assume there's something where there's nothing. You assume you have a life. But you're only hustling pieces of other lives on tape, and broken parts of your own.
Yeah, for about a month now. Lenny, just stay away from Tran, okay? And stay away from me. Stop trying to rescue me. Those days are over. I'm a big girl now. Stop trying to save me, okay, because I don't need saving... Just... give up on me.
Okay, okay, I totally respect that call. I would want cash. They'll take my check inside... I can see you're pressed for time, just give me two minutes... here keep my watch for collateral. It's a Rolex. Be right back. Two minutes.
Lenny, you're turning into some kinda squid-head low-life. You're always broke, you just go from one score to the next. And you're getting strung out... you don't even see it. Getting high on your own supply like some crack dealer.
You have to get out of here. If Tran catches you he'll... he's acting crazy. He's doing way too much playback and he's getting completely paranoid. He's such a control freak, he's even paying Max to follow me around.
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