1978
In a Pennsylvania steel town, friends Nick, Sal, and Merle prepare for Sal's wedding and a hunting trip, but are captured in Vietnam and forced to play Russian Roulette. Traumatized, Nick struggles to reintegrate into civilian life after returning home, haunted by his experiences and the loss of his friends. Nick learns Sal is alive and addicted to Russian Roulette in Vietnam, where he also finds Merle, who dies during a game despite Nick's efforts to save him. Nick returns home with Merle's body, and the community gathers for Merle's funeral, singing "God Bless America" in a somber tribute.
Save the Cat beat sheet
The Deer Hunter follows a group of Pennsylvania steelworkers through friendship, war, and loss.
Open full beat sheetNick is listed as Steelworker / Soldier. Young, graceful steelworker, friend to Sal and Merle. In the parsed data, Nick is connected to 59 scenes, 16 dialogue lines, 24 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
59 scenes / 16 dialogue linesMerle is listed as Steelworker / Soldier. Young steelworker, intense, obsessed with hunting. In the parsed data, Merle is connected to 23 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 30 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
23 scenes / 12 dialogue linesVince is listed as Steelworker / Soldier. Friend to the group, often anxious. In the parsed data, Vince is connected to 23 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 24.
23 scenes / 5 dialogue linesAlbert is listed as Steelworker / Soldier. Large, physically imposing friend. In the parsed data, Albert is connected to 21 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 25.
21 scenes / 1 dialogue linesSal is listed as Steelworker / Soldier. Young steelworker, getting married, friend to Nick and Merle. In the parsed data, Sal is connected to 18 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
18 scenes / 6 dialogue linesJohn is listed as Bar Owner / Steelworker. Great bear of a youth, runs the local bar. In the parsed data, John is connected to 14 scenes, first appearing around scene 10.
14 scenes / 0 dialogue linesLinda is listed as Bridesmaid / Nick's love interest. Thin, lovely, haunted face. In the parsed data, Linda is connected to 13 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
13 scenes / 7 dialogue linesAngela is listed as Bride. Plump, pretty, solemn face. In the parsed data, Angela is connected to 5 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 9.
5 scenes / 1 dialogue linesSal's Mother is listed as Mother. Nervous, emotional. In the parsed data, Sal's Mother is connected to 4 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
4 scenes / 4 dialogue linesPriest is listed as Clergy. Very old, gentle. In the parsed data, Priest is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 3.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesArmand is listed as Gambling Organizer. French, cold, amused. In the parsed data, Armand is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 66.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesEstablishing shot of the steel mill and Columbine Street in winter.
Nick, Sal, and Merle work at the steel mill.
Nick, Sal, MerleSal's mother expresses anxiety about the wedding.
Sal's Mother, PriestBridesmaids and older women navigate the snowy street.
The shift ends and the friends gather.
Nick, Sal, Merle, Vince, AlbertThe friends discuss their upcoming hunting trip.
Nick, Sal, Merle, Vince, AlbertPreparations for the wedding reception.
The friends drive up the hill.
Nick, Sal, Merle, Vince, AlbertAngela practices her wedding vows.
AngelaThe friends celebrate at the bar.
Nick, Sal, Merle, Vince, Albert, JohnLinda prepares food for her father.
LindaLinda's father is drunk and abusive.
LindaWomen gather to force the men to get ready for the wedding.
The women interrupt the men's drinking.
Nick, Sal, Merle, Vince, Albert, JohnSal says goodbye to his mother.
Nick, Sal, Merle, Sal's MotherNick and Merle prepare for the hunt.
Nick, MerleNick proposes to Linda.
Nick, LindaSal and Angela get married.
Nick, Sal, Merle, Vince, Albert, JohnThe wedding reception.
Nick, Sal, Merle, Vince, Albert, JohnThe newlyweds leave and Merle runs naked.
Nick, Sal, Merle, Vince, Albert, JohnNick and Merle talk about the war.
Nick, MerleThe friends drive to the hunting grounds.
Nick, Merle, Vince, Albert, JohnThe group encounters deer.
Nick, Merle, Vince, Albert, JohnVince watches his friends in the ravine and laughs, then gets angry at the deer.
Vince, Nick, Sal, MerleThe group eats hot dogs and argues about the hunting location.
Nick, Sal, Merle, Vince, Albert, JohnThe group changes into hunting gear and Vince argues about his missing pants.
Nick, Sal, Merle, Vince, Albert, JohnVince and Merle argue over boots until Nick intervenes.
Nick, Sal, Merle, Vince, Albert, JohnMerle and Nick are in a ravine; Sal joins them, terrified. They discover an abandoned car.
Nick, Sal, MerleMerle pulls a burned Sal from the wreckage.
Nick, Sal, MerleMerle is approached by a General in a jeep; he threatens them with a revolver.
MerleMerle joins the stream of refugees.
MerleNick is processed by a doctor who changes his identification marker.
NickNick attempts to call home but is paralyzed by fear.
NickNick mistakes a stranger for Sal.
NickNick is drunk and talks to a bar girl about Linda.
NickNick sees ceramic elephants through a window.
NickNick buys ceramic elephants and organizes street urchins.
NickA rocket destroys the bar.
NickNick walks past the dead urchins.
NickNick wanders the streets and encounters Armand.
Nick, ArmandPreparations for Nick's homecoming.
Linda, Vince, AlbertNick refuses to go to his trailer.
NickNick drinks alone in a motel room.
NickNick finally visits Linda.
Nick, LindaNick tells Linda the war was for nothing.
Nick, LindaNick visits Linda at work.
Nick, LindaNick reunites with Albert and Vince.
Nick, Vince, AlbertNick learns Sal is alive.
Nick, Vince, Albert, JohnNick visits Angela to find out where Sal is.
Nick, Angela, Sal's MotherNick sits on the steps with the toaster.
NickSal's Mother visits Nick, giving him a toaster and acting strangely.
Nick, Sal's MotherNick sits on the church steps with the toaster, listening to the choir.
NickLinda prepares for a romantic evening, talking to herself.
LindaLinda finds Nick asleep and discovers his war scars.
Nick, LindaNick works at the furnace, performing a dangerous task.
Nick, Vince, AlbertNick and his friends drink and plan a hunting trip.
Nick, Vince, Albert, JohnNick prepares for the hunting trip while Linda watches.
Nick, Linda, Vince, AlbertNick walks through the embassy exit into a crowd.
NickNick tries to call a number found with Sal's money.
NickNick recognizes the location of his meeting with Armand.
NickNick finds the yard filled with corpses and lights a candle.
NickNick enters the building and encounters refugees.
NickNick encounters a group of officers and a colonel.
NickA party is happening at a rubber plantation.
Nick watches a game of Russian Roulette.
NickNick meets Armand.
Nick, ArmandNick finds Merle.
Nick, MerleNick loses track of Merle.
NickNick watches the end of a game.
NickVeterans practice Taps.
Women prepare for a funeral breakfast.
Merle's coffin is brought out.
Nick, Vince, Albert, JohnMerle is buried.
Nick, Sal, Vince, Albert, John, PriestFuneral breakfast.
Nick, Sal, Vince, LindaI just... would like to say a few words... about Merle. I guess Merle always wanted something... I don't know... better. That fucking guy, he saved my Life. He saved Sal's... What Merle liked, he liked things right... But then there wasn't any place for that... that he could find.
It just seems sort of strange coming to a motel... Like a honeymoon. Or some kind of parlez vous ... Not parlez-vous! What am I saying? That's those cocktails! Parlez-vous!... What I mean is rendezvous. Some kind of rendezvous.
Then you jab it, see. Jab it good. Something's in it. Hear? Listen. Something's in it. What? What's there?
You want to say a few words, Nick? I think you should. Like that would wind things up.
Merle is under his tree... Beside the terrace. You can't miss him.
My beautiful boy! My angel... who is leaving his own mother.
Fine. She's fine... Merle, what the hell are you doing?
Here. This is it. What you do, you stick this in here.
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