Scripts
The Beach poster

1998

The Beach script

Richard, a young traveler, arrives in Bangkok and encounters Daffy, a mentally unstable man who gives him a map to a secret, pristine beach community before committing suicide. Richard finds the community, led by Sal, and integrates into their idyllic but isolated existence, developing a romantic connection with Francoise, much to the chagrin of her boyfriend, Etienne, and Sal's possessive boyfriend, Bugs. The community's harmony is shattered by a series of escalating events, including a shark attack that injures Christo, the arrival of new travelers seeking the beach, and the farmers who guard the island becoming increasingly hostile. Richard's actions, driven by a desire to protect the community and his own deteriorating mental state, lead him to kill Christo and betray the new travelers to the farmers, resulting in their deaths. The community discovers the bodies, leading to a final confrontation where Bugs kills Etienne, and Richard is left to face the consequences of his choices and the unraveling of their utopian dream.

Writer
John Hodge
IMDb ID (imdb_id)
tt0163978
Script date
15 June 1998
44Scenes
10Characters
46Pages
8Dialogue samples

Save the Cat beat sheet

The Beach Save the Cat analysis

A disillusioned traveler, Richard, discovers a secluded community on a Thai island and is seduced by its idyllic routines and budding romance.

Open full beat sheet
70

Key characters

Richard

Richard is listed as Protagonist. A young traveler seeking authentic experiences. In the parsed data, Richard is connected to 40 scenes, 70 dialogue lines, 84 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.

40 scenes / 70 dialogue lines

Francoise

Francoise is listed as Traveler. A beautiful European woman traveling with Etienne. In the parsed data, Francoise is connected to 15 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 25 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.

15 scenes / 18 dialogue lines

Etienne

Etienne is listed as Traveler. Francoise's boyfriend, organized and practical. In the parsed data, Etienne is connected to 14 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 19 text mentions, first appearing around scene 33.

14 scenes / 12 dialogue lines

Sal

Sal is listed as Community Leader. The leader of the island community. In the parsed data, Sal is connected to 8 scenes, 16 dialogue lines, 19 text mentions, first appearing around scene 16.

8 scenes / 16 dialogue lines

Christo

Christo is listed as Community Member. A Swedish fisherman on the island. In the parsed data, Christo is connected to 7 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 26.

7 scenes / 5 dialogue lines

Keaty

Keaty is listed as Community Member. An Afro-Caribbean Londoner living on the island. In the parsed data, Keaty is connected to 7 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.

7 scenes / 4 dialogue lines

Bugs

Bugs is listed as Antagonist. Sal's boyfriend, aggressive and possessive. In the parsed data, Bugs is connected to 6 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 41.

6 scenes / 4 dialogue lines

Daffy

Daffy is listed as Catalyst. A disheveled, mentally unstable traveler who provides the map. In the parsed data, Daffy is connected to 6 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.

6 scenes / 3 dialogue lines

Zeph

Zeph is listed as Traveler. An American traveler who seeks the beach. In the parsed data, Zeph is connected to 3 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 39.

3 scenes / 4 dialogue lines

Sammy

Sammy is listed as Traveler. Zeph's companion. In the parsed data, Sammy is connected to 3 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 39.

3 scenes / 2 dialogue lines

Scene outline

  1. 1. EXT. BANGKOK - NIGHT

    Richard arrives in Bangkok via tuk-tuk.

    Richard

  2. 2. EXT. KHAO SAN ROAD - NIGHT

    Richard navigates the busy Khao San Road and is approached by a hustler.

    Richard

  3. 3. INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

    Richard checks into his hotel and encounters Daffy.

    Richard, Daffy

  4. 4. INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR - NIGHT

    Richard meets Francoise and Etienne.

    Richard, Francoise, Etienne

  5. 5. INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

    Daffy begs Richard for money.

    Richard, Daffy

  6. 6. INT. DAFFY'S ROOM - DAY

    Richard finds Daffy's map after discovering his suicide.

    Richard, Daffy

  7. 7. INT. LONGHOUSE - DAY

    Richard returns from fishing and interacts with Keaty about joining the community.

    Richard, Keaty

  8. 8. EXT. CLEARING - NIGHT

    The community performs a tattooing ritual for the newcomers.

    Richard, Francoise, Etienne, Keaty

  9. 9. INT. LONGHOUSE - NIGHT

    Richard watches Francoise and Etienne share a moment.

    Richard, Francoise, Etienne

  10. 10. EXT. BEACH - DAY

    Richard and Francoise discuss their feelings while watching a soccer game.

    Richard, Francoise, Etienne

  11. 11. INT. LONGHOUSE - NIGHT

    Bugs performs a brutal dental procedure on Gregorio.

    Richard, Daffy, Sal, Bugs

  12. 12. EXT. BEACH - DAY

    Richard encounters a shark while fishing during a storm.

    Richard, Francoise, Etienne, Christo

  13. 13. INT. LONGHOUSE - NIGHT

    Richard tells the story of killing the shark; Bugs challenges him.

    Richard, Daffy, Francoise

  14. 14. EXT. BEACH - DAY

    Keaty umpires a cricket match and confronts Richard about Francoise.

    Richard, Francoise, Etienne, Keaty

  15. 15. EXT. BEACH - DAY

    Sal tells Richard about the anniversary celebration.

    Richard, Sal

  16. 16. EXT. CLEARING - NIGHT

    The community celebrates their anniversary.

    Richard, Etienne, Sal

  17. 17. INT. LONGHOUSE - NIGHT

    Richard helps a drunk Etienne to bed and asks Francoise to the beach.

    Richard, Francoise, Etienne

  18. 18. EXT. BEACH - NIGHT

    Richard and Francoise swim and kiss.

    Richard, Francoise

  19. 19. EXT. CLEARING - DAY

    Sal asks for a volunteer to go to Ko Pha Ngan for rice.

    Richard, Francoise, Etienne, Sal, Keaty

  20. 20. INT. LONGHOUSE - DAY

    Richard takes orders for the trip; Bugs threatens him.

    Richard, Daffy

  21. 21. EXT. HILLTOP - DAY

    Richard watches the beach, waiting for the enemy who never arrives.

    Richard

  22. 22. EXT. FOREST - DAY

    Richard shows Francoise his primitive shelter.

    Richard, Francoise

  23. 23. EXT. FOREST - DAY

    Richard, under the influence of mushrooms, eats a caterpillar.

    Richard

  24. 24. INT/EXT. SHELTER - NIGHT/DAWN

    Richard infiltrates the farmers' shelter and leaves a mark.

    Richard

  25. 25. EXT. WATERFALL - DAY

    Richard dives from the waterfall.

    Richard

  26. 26. EXT. BEACH - DAY

    Richard encounters Christo, Sten, and Karl.

    Richard, Christo

  27. 27. EXT. FOREST - DAY

    Francoise confronts Richard about his lies.

    Richard, Francoise

  28. 28. INT. LONGHOUSE - DAY

    Richard confronts Bugs.

    Richard, Bugs

  29. 29. EXT. CLEARING - DAY

    The community discovers Sten has been attacked by a shark.

    Richard, Keaty

  30. 30. EXT. BEACH - DAY

    Richard finds Christo, who has lost his foot to a shark.

    Richard, Christo

  31. 31. EXT. GRAVE SITE - DAY

    Sten's funeral.

    Bugs, Keaty

  32. 32. INT. LONGHOUSE - DAY

    The community struggles with Christo's presence.

    Richard, Etienne, Christo

  33. 33. EXT. FOREST - DAY

    The community moves Christo to a tent in the forest.

    Richard, Etienne, Sal, Bugs, Keaty

  34. 34. INT. SMALL TENT - DAY

    Richard and Etienne discuss Christo's condition.

    Richard, Etienne, Christo

  35. 35. EXT. BEACH - DAY

    The community relaxes, ignoring Christo.

    Richard, Francoise

  36. 36. EXT. BEACH - DAY

    Zeph and others arrive on the island.

    Zeph, Sammy

  37. 37. EXT. CLEARING - NIGHT

    Richard and Sal discuss the new arrivals.

    Richard, Sal

  38. 38. EXT. BEACH - DAWN

    The travelers launch their raft.

    Zeph, Sammy

  39. 39. EXT. FIELD - DAY

    The travelers are caught by the farmers.

    Richard, Zeph, Sammy

  40. 40. INT. LONGHOUSE - NIGHT

    Richard reports the deaths to Sal.

    Richard, Sal

  41. 41. INT. LONGHOUSE - NIGHT

    The community discovers the bodies of the travelers.

    Bugs

  42. 42. EXT. FOREST - NIGHT

    Richard confronts Etienne and Francoise.

    Richard, Francoise, Etienne

  43. 43. INT. SMALL TENT - NIGHT

    Richard kills Christo.

    Richard, Christo

  44. 44. INT. CAVE - NIGHT

    Bugs kills Etienne.

    Richard, Francoise, Etienne, Bugs

Dialogue examples

After the funeral we all tried to get back to normal, but it just didn't seem right. After a while it became clear that the problem was Christo. You see, in a shark attack, or any other major tragedy I guess, the important thing is to get eaten and die, in which case there's a funeral and someone makes a speech and everyone cries and says what a good guy you were, or: get better in which case everyone can forget about it. It's the hanging around in between that really pisses people off.

Richard / Scene 32

He made an effort to join in whatever was going on. For example, he played cricket with an aptitude and enthusiasm that belied his Nordic origins, and I think we can see that as a symbolic ofhis place amongst us in a wider sense. Anyway, he wasn't one for long speeches, and neither am I. May God take you soul, and you shall rest forever in peace mate. We'll miss you.

Keaty / Scene 31

I smoke two joints in the morning. I smoke two joints at night. I smoke two joints in the afternoon and then I feel alright. I smoke two joints in time of peace and two in time of war. I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints and then -

Zeph / Scene 39

But when it's a great white angry mother with the taste of human blood on its tongue, well then it's a different story.

Daffy / Scene 13

This is a particularly bad time, with Christo lying in that tent, it wouldn't look good if anyone arrived.

Sal / Scene 37

Ah, the hunter gatherer returns. Satisfied with a good day's killing amongst the fruits of the sea?

Keaty / Scene 7

That is why you killed it, isn't it? Ducked one way then the other! All to impress her, I suppose.

Keaty / Scene 14

Daffy. He saw it happen. Didn't he? Yea, he saw it happen. And now you wanted me to see it happen.

Richard / Scene 40

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