1987
Jacques Mayol, a free diver traumatized by his father's death at sea, develops a profound connection with the ocean and dolphins, later captivating insurance agent Johana Cross. He reunites with his childhood rival, world champion Enzo Molinari, for a diving competition in Sicily, where Jacques and Johana's romance blossoms amidst escalating, dangerous dives. After Enzo's fatal accident during a dive, Jacques, haunted and increasingly drawn to the ocean's depths, prepares for a final, unprecedented descent despite Johana's desperate pleas. Jacques ultimately chooses to follow a group of dolphins into the unknown abyss, leaving Johana and the surface world behind.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Young Jacques Mayol’s lifelong bond with the sea is established early, but tragedy and a chance meeting with fellow diver Enzo propel him into the world of competitive free diving.
Open full beat sheetJacques Mayol is listed as Free diver. Dark-haired, intense, deeply connected to the sea and dolphins. In the parsed data, Jacques Mayol is connected to 63 scenes, 59 dialogue lines, 60 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
63 scenes / 59 dialogue linesJohana Cross is listed as Insurance agent. Charming, romantic, fragile, falls in love with Jacques. In the parsed data, Johana Cross is connected to 48 scenes, 64 dialogue lines, 65 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
48 scenes / 64 dialogue linesEnzo Molinari is listed as World champion free diver. Burly, charismatic, competitive, wears round glasses. In the parsed data, Enzo Molinari is connected to 34 scenes, 54 dialogue lines, 55 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
34 scenes / 54 dialogue linesRoberto Molinari is listed as Enzo's brother. Loyal, assists Enzo. In the parsed data, Roberto Molinari is connected to 13 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 51.
13 scenes / 8 dialogue linesDr. Lawrence is listed as Scientist. Conducts experiments on Jacques. In the parsed data, Dr. Lawrence is connected to 11 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
11 scenes / 13 dialogue linesUncle Louis is listed as Jacques' uncle. Deaf, eccentric, lives with Jacques. In the parsed data, Uncle Louis is connected to 8 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 22 text mentions, first appearing around scene 47.
8 scenes / 17 dialogue linesBonita Mariposa is listed as Actress. Enzo's girlfriend, Spanish. In the parsed data, Bonita Mariposa is connected to 4 scenes, 16 dialogue lines, 17 text mentions, first appearing around scene 53.
4 scenes / 16 dialogue linesMamma Molinari is listed as Enzo's mother. Dominant, traditional, protective. In the parsed data, Mamma Molinari is connected to 4 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 54.
4 scenes / 2 dialogue linesYoung Jacques Mayol dives into the sea to feed a moray eel.
Jacques MayolJacques and other boys argue over a coin in the water; Enzo arrives and dives for it.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Roberto MolinariJacques wakes up; his father and Uncle Louis prepare for the day.
Jacques Mayol, Uncle LouisJacques' father dives for sponges while Jacques and Louis pump air; the father dies.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Uncle LouisEnzo rescues a trapped diver for money.
Enzo Molinari, Roberto MolinariJohana arrives in Peru and meets Jacques.
Jacques Mayol, Johana Cross, Dr. LawrenceJacques visits his dolphins.
Jacques MayolJohana talks to Sally about Jacques.
Johana CrossEnzo visits Jacques to invite him to a competition.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo MolinariDuffy reviews Johana's report while window washers work outside.
Johana CrossDuffy tells Johana her report is incomplete and tasks her with contacting Dr. Lawrence.
Johana CrossDr. Lawrence yells into the phone about truck papers.
Dr. LawrenceJohana negotiates with Lawrence over the phone and asks about Jacques Mayol.
Johana Cross, Dr. LawrenceJohana convinces Duffy to let her go to Sicily to investigate a forged policy.
Johana CrossJohana arrives in Sicily by ferry.
Johana CrossJacques arrives at the hotel but finds he has no reservation.
Jacques MayolEnzo arrives and helps Jacques secure a room.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Roberto MolinariJacques and Enzo have lunch and discuss their past and the competition.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo MolinariJohana arrives at the terrace and meets Enzo.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Johana Cross, Mamma Molinari, Roberto MolinariJacques and Johana visit Enzo in his chaotic hotel room to ask a favor.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Johana Cross, Mamma Molinari, Roberto MolinariMamma Molinari feeds the officials in the corridor.
Mamma MolinariJacques, Johana, and Enzo drive to the beach with a stretcher.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Johana CrossThe group prepares to release a dolphin.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Johana CrossTransporting the dolphin through the streets.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossReleasing the dolphin into the sea.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Johana CrossDropping Johana off at her pension.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Johana CrossThe committee boat at the dive site.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossJacques prepares to enter the water.
Jacques MayolJacques begins his record-breaking dive.
Jacques MayolJacques reaches the bottom and returns to the surface.
Jacques MayolJacques surfaces after the dive.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossJacques and Johana walk back to the hotel.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossEnzo congratulates Jacques on his record.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Johana CrossJacques and Johana spend time together.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossJacques swims with the dolphin.
Jacques MayolJohana tells Jacques she is leaving.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossJohana leaves on a train.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossEnzo invites Jacques to work on an oil rig.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo MolinariJacques and Enzo arrive at the oil rig.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo MolinariJacques and Enzo descend in the diving capsule.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo MolinariJohana talks with Sally.
Johana CrossJohana finds out she is pregnant.
Johana CrossJohana gets fired.
Johana CrossJohana calls Jacques.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossJacques receives a call from Johana.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossJacques and Johana reunite.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossJacques takes Johana to meet his uncle.
Jacques Mayol, Johana Cross, Uncle LouisUncle Louis plays loud music while Jacques and Johana try to talk.
Jacques Mayol, Johana Cross, Uncle LouisJacques, Johana, and Louis have a loud, chaotic dinner.
Jacques Mayol, Johana Cross, Uncle LouisJacques shows Johana his room.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossJacques, Johana, and Roberto wait for Enzo's arrival.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Johana Cross, Uncle Louis, Roberto Molinari, Bonita MariposaEnzo and his group visit Jacques; Professor Lawrence arrives.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Uncle Louis, Roberto Molinari, Dr. LawrenceJohana and Bonita talk about their relationships and Johana's pregnancy.
Johana Cross, Bonita MariposaA tense dinner with Mamma Molinari.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Uncle Louis, Roberto Molinari, Mamma Molinari, Bonita MariposaEnzo is frustrated after a dive.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Roberto Molinari, Dr. LawrenceJacques and Johana discuss the day; Johana hides her pregnancy magazine.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossEnzo performs a successful dive.
Enzo Molinari, Roberto MolinariBonita says goodbye to Johana.
Johana Cross, Bonita MariposaJacques congratulates Enzo on his record-breaking dive.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Dr. LawrenceEnzo celebrates his victory.
Enzo MolinariVarious divers attempt the competition.
Enzo Molinari, Roberto MolinariJacques and Johana share an intimate moment with a coin.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossJacques performs a deep, dangerous dive.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Johana Cross, Dr. LawrenceJacques and Enzo have a strained interaction.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Johana CrossJacques talks to the dolphins.
Jacques MayolJacques and Johana arrive in Amorgos.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossEnzo arrives in Amorgos.
Enzo Molinari, Roberto MolinariEnzo and Johana talk while Jacques trains.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Johana CrossThe competition continues with many divers failing.
Enzo MolinariJacques and Johana discuss life and diving.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Johana CrossLawrence warns that the competition is suicide.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Dr. LawrenceJacques tries to stop Enzo from diving.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo MolinariJacques rescues Enzo, but Enzo dies.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo MolinariJacques releases Enzo's body into the sea.
Jacques Mayol, Enzo Molinari, Dr. LawrenceJacques recovers from his near-death experience.
Jacques Mayol, Johana Cross, Dr. LawrenceJacques experiences a vision of the sea.
Jacques MayolJacques prepares for his final dive.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossJohana tries to convince Jacques not to dive, revealing she is pregnant, then admits she lied. Jacques prepares to dive.
Jacques Mayol, Johana CrossJacques descends into the deep, illuminated by the gueuse headlight.
Jacques MayolJohana monitors the descent.
Johana Cross... When I analyzed the data from Mayol's last dive, it became apparent... At the depths these men are diving, it is a physiological impossibility that they can retain enough oxygen in their blood to make it back to the surface. It's a function of how long it takes to get to the bottom, orient themselves and to return... To attempt to break Mayol's record is simple suicide. For the last time. I'm telling you cancel the competition.
I was thinking of something kinda stupid last night. You know those women in the greek mythology that made love with the Gods. Take Leda for example, sleeping with Jupiter, who came to earth as a swan... Well, can you imagine Leda announcing to her swan "You're going to be a father, my little chick-a-dee"?
That's good... So tell me why they're all angry at me? Why is Enzo angry? I never wanted to compete with him. I never wanted to be champion of anything... All I want is to escape from them all... For just a few minutes, no people... No noise... Nothing but the sea.
Because he won't understand and it will just hurt you... Jacques has been put on earth by complete mistake. And he's only waiting for one thing: that some God up there will turn him into a fish! How long has that moron been down there?
I don't have the strength to fight off la Mamma... Anyway who wants to spend their whole life waiting at the end of a pier.
It's not safe, they say. The doctors say it isn't possible to go deeper and live. Free diving is over as a sport.
No. Jacques is a creature of the sea. He isn't meant to live on earth, among us... You should know this, Johana.
Long enough to die. Listen, if you really want to die, that's your problem, but don't do it under my nose, okay?
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