1972
Travis Bickle, a lonely and insomniac Vietnam veteran, takes a job as a taxi driver in New York City, becoming increasingly disgusted by the urban decay and moral squalor he witnesses. He attempts to connect with Betsy, a campaign worker for presidential candidate Charles Palantine, but their brief relationship ends after he takes her to a pornographic movie. Rebuffed and isolated, Travis buys multiple firearms and begins a rigorous training regimen, initially planning to assassinate Senator Palantine, but he is thwarted by Secret Service agents at a rally. He then redirects his violent intentions towards the pimps and drug dealers he believes are corrupting the city, culminating in a bloody shootout at a brothel where he rescues a 14-year-old prostitute named Iris.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Taxi Driver follows Travis Bickle’s descent from isolated cabbie to desperate vigilante, driven by insomnia and disgust with urban decay.
Open full beat sheetTravis Bickle is listed as Protagonist. 26-year-old, lean, hard, consummate loner, taxi driver, Vietnam veteran. In the parsed data, Travis Bickle is connected to 36 scenes, 95 dialogue lines, 95 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
36 scenes / 95 dialogue linesBetsy is listed as Supporting. 25-year-old campaign worker for Charles Palantine, attractive, ambitious. In the parsed data, Betsy is connected to 9 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 15 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
9 scenes / 12 dialogue linesTom is listed as Supporting. Lanky, amiable campaign worker. In the parsed data, Tom is connected to 7 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 24.
7 scenes / 4 dialogue linesIris is listed as Supporting. 14-15-year-old runaway, prostitute. In the parsed data, Iris is connected to 6 scenes, 36 dialogue lines, 38 text mentions, first appearing around scene 26.
6 scenes / 36 dialogue linesWizard is listed as Supporting. Worn cab driver, about 50, mentor figure. In the parsed data, Wizard is connected to 6 scenes, 27 dialogue lines, 31 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
6 scenes / 27 dialogue linesCharlie T. is listed as Supporting. 40-ish Black cab driver. In the parsed data, Charlie T. is connected to 5 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
5 scenes / 12 dialogue linesDough-Boy is listed as Supporting. Younger cab driver, family man. In the parsed data, Dough-Boy is connected to 4 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
4 scenes / 7 dialogue linesCharles Palantine is listed as Supporting. Presidential candidate. In the parsed data, Charles Palantine is connected to 4 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 27.
4 scenes / 2 dialogue linesPersonnel Officer is listed as Minor. Middle-aged, exhausted, works at the cab company. In the parsed data, Personnel Officer is connected to 3 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
3 scenes / 12 dialogue linesSport is listed as Antagonist. Pimp, 30-ish, venal. In the parsed data, Sport is connected to 3 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 29.
3 scenes / 9 dialogue linesThe Old Man is listed as Minor. Enforcer at the brothel. In the parsed data, The Old Man is connected to 2 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 30.
2 scenes / 4 dialogue linesEasy Andy is listed as Minor. Traveling salesman, gun dealer. In the parsed data, Easy Andy is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 18.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesTravis Bickle applies for a job as a taxi driver.
Travis Bickle, Personnel OfficerTravis drives a passenger who is agitated about the fog and the Empire State Building.
Travis BickleTravis attempts to strike up a conversation with the concession girl.
Travis BickleBetsy and Tom discuss campaign strategy while observing Travis outside.
Betsy, TomTravis meets with fellow cab drivers Wizard, Dough-Boy, and Charlie T.
Travis Bickle, Wizard, Dough-Boy, Charlie T.Travis, Wizard, and Dough-Boy discuss guns and life while eating.
Travis Bickle, Wizard, Dough-Boy, Charlie T.Tom and Betsy discuss a newsstand worker with missing fingers.
Betsy, TomTravis enters the headquarters to volunteer and asks Betsy for a date.
Travis Bickle, Betsy, TomTravis and Betsy have coffee and pie.
Travis Bickle, BetsyTravis drives Senator Palantine.
Travis Bickle, Charles Palantine, TomTravis takes Betsy to a porno movie.
Travis Bickle, BetsyTravis and Betsy have an argument on the street; Betsy leaves in a taxi.
Travis Bickle, BetsyTravis sits in his apartment, writing in his diary and watching news.
Travis BickleTravis tries to call Betsy on a pay phone.
Travis BickleTravis enters the campaign office and is forcibly removed by Tom.
Travis Bickle, Betsy, TomTravis refuses a fare to Jackson Heights.
Travis BickleA passenger tells Travis about his plan to kill his wife.
Travis BickleTravis buys guns from Easy Andy.
Travis Bickle, Dough-Boy, Easy AndyTravis practices shooting at the firing range.
Travis BickleTravis kills a stick-up man in a store.
Travis BickleTravis plays a game with his TV, causing it to break, then despairs.
Travis BickleTravis meets with other cabbies and discusses life.
Travis Bickle, Wizard, Dough-Boy, Charlie T.Travis asks Wizard for advice about his life.
Travis Bickle, WizardTravis attends a political rally and speaks to a Secret Service man.
Travis Bickle, Betsy, Tom, Charles PalantineTravis writes in his journal.
Travis BickleTravis spots Iris on the street.
Travis Bickle, IrisTravis watches a Palantine rally and writes a letter to his parents.
Travis Bickle, Charles PalantineTravis finishes his letter.
Travis BickleTravis approaches Sport to see Iris.
Travis Bickle, Iris, SportTravis tries to convince Iris to leave her life.
Travis Bickle, Iris, The Old ManTravis and Iris discuss her future and the commune; Travis gives her money to leave.
Travis Bickle, IrisSport manipulates Iris, convincing her to stay.
Iris, SportTravis practices shooting with multiple guns.
Travis BickleTravis writes his final diary entry and prepares his weapons.
Travis BickleTravis attempts to assassinate Palantine but is spotted by Secret Service.
Travis Bickle, Charles Palantine, TomTravis confronts Sport and the Old Man in a violent shootout.
Travis Bickle, Iris, Sport, The Old ManTravis is now a hero; he reads a letter from Iris' father.
Travis BickleTravis returns to work as a cab driver.
Travis Bickle, Wizard, Charlie T.Travis and Wizard talk outside the Plaza Hotel, joined by Charlie T. Travis gets a fare and discovers it is Betsy.
Travis Bickle, Wizard, Charlie T., BetsyDear Father and Mother, June is the month, I remember, which brings not only your wedding anniversary, but also Father's Day and Mother's birthday. I'm sorry I can't remember the exact dates, but I hope this card will take care of all of them. I'm sorry I again can not send you my address like I promised to last year, but the sensitive nature of my work for the Army demands utmost secrecy. I know you will understand. I am healthy and well and making lots of money. I have been going with a girl for several months and I know you would be proud if you could see her. Her name is Betsy, but I can tell you no more than that.
... pit black against white, young against old, sow anger, disunity and suspicion -- and all in the name of the "good of the country." Well, their game is over. All their games are over. Now is the time to stand up against such foolishness, propaganda and demagoguery. Now is the time for one man to stand up and accept his neighbor, for one man to give in order that all might receive. Is unity and love of common good such a lost thing?
Look, a person does a certain thing and that's all there is to it. It becomes what he is. Why fight it? What do you know? How long you been a hack, a couple months? You're like a peg and you get dropped into a slot and you got to squirm and wiggle around a while until you fit in.
Remember the time this cat picks up four dudes from the other side, Pakastanis I think they were, holds up their passports, to the toll booth collector on the bridge and charges em ten bucks each for 'crossing the border?
Look there. No, over further - get your glasses - yes, over there. Isn't that little guy the same guy that was bugging you around the office about a month ago?
Oh, I got over that. It was nothing, really. The papers always blow these things up. A little stiffness. That'll go away. I just sleep more, that's all.
My name is Henry Krinkle -- that's with a "K." K-R-I-N-K-L-E. I live at 13 1/2 Hopper Avenue, Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Zip code 07410. Got that?
Shit yes. Night woulda been dead if I hadn't grabbed an outatowner at Kennedy. Took him roun the horn and got a five dollar tip to boot.
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