1992
Naive Norville Barnes becomes president of Hudsucker Industries after its founder's suicide, a scheme by the board to devalue the company. Norville's invention of the hula hoop brings unexpected success, but his subsequent arrogance allows board member Sidney J. Mussburger to orchestrate his public downfall. Facing ruin, Norville attempts suicide from the Hudsucker building, only to be saved by Waring Hudsucker's ghost and the building's clock maintenance man, Moses. Mussburger is exposed and institutionalized, while Norville, humbled, reunites with Amy and invents the frisbee, securing Hudsucker Industries' future.
Save the Cat beat sheet
A naive mailroom clerk, Norville Barnes, arrives in 1958 New York and is thrust into the presidency of Hudsucker Industries after its CEO’s suicide.
Open full beat sheetNorville Barnes is listed as Protagonist. Fresh-faced, eager, naive college graduate from Muncie, Indiana. In the parsed data, Norville Barnes is connected to 36 scenes, 66 dialogue lines, 72 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
36 scenes / 66 dialogue linesAmy Archer is listed as Love Interest / Journalist. Smart, attractive, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the Manhattan Argus. In the parsed data, Amy Archer is connected to 16 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
16 scenes / 18 dialogue linesSidney J. Mussburger is listed as Antagonist. Tall, rugged, commanding executive at Hudsucker Industries. In the parsed data, Sidney J. Mussburger is connected to 15 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 19 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
15 scenes / 17 dialogue linesMoses is listed as Maintenance Man. Elderly black man who maintains the clock and narrates the story. In the parsed data, Moses is connected to 8 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
8 scenes / 15 dialogue linesBuzz is listed as Elevator Operator. Young, leering elevator operator with a pillbox hat. In the parsed data, Buzz is connected to 5 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 20 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
5 scenes / 10 dialogue linesSmitty is listed as Reporter. Reporter at the Manhattan Argus. In the parsed data, Smitty is connected to 5 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 37.
5 scenes / 4 dialogue linesWaring Hudsucker is listed as Founder of Hudsucker Industries. Late middle-aged, serene, wealthy businessman who commits suicide. In the parsed data, Waring Hudsucker is connected to 4 scenes, 27 dialogue lines, 29 text mentions, first appearing around scene 44.
4 scenes / 27 dialogue linesChief is listed as Editor. Editor of the Manhattan Argus. In the parsed data, Chief is connected to 4 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 14.
4 scenes / 7 dialogue lineschar_9 is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, char_9 is connected to 2 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
2 scenes / 2 dialogue linesThe narrator introduces the setting of New York City on New Year's Eve 1958, focusing on the Hudsucker Industries building.
MosesNorville Barnes stands on the ledge of the Hudsucker Industries building, contemplating suicide.
Norville Barnes, MosesNorville Barnes arrives in New York and searches for a job at the Wessels Employment Agency.
Norville BarnesWaring Hudsucker listens to a report before committing suicide by jumping out of the window.
Waring HudsuckerNorville finds a job advertisement for Hudsucker Industries on a discarded newspaper.
Norville BarnesThe board members discuss the implications of Hudsucker's death and plan to manipulate the stock.
Sidney J. MussburgerNorville begins his first day in the chaotic Hudsucker mailroom.
Norville BarnesNorville shows his invention to the Ancient Sorter, then the death of Waring Hudsucker is announced.
Norville Barnes, MosesA blue letter arrives and Hutchinson assigns it to Norville.
Norville Barnes, Moses, char_9Norville rides the elevator to the top floor with Buzz.
Norville Barnes, BuzzNorville attempts to deliver the letter but is blocked by secretaries.
Norville BarnesNorville enters Mussburger's office, causing chaos and nearly destroying contracts.
Norville Barnes, Sidney J. MussburgerMussburger falls out the window and Norville catches him.
Norville Barnes, Sidney J. MussburgerThe Editor berates his reporters for failing to get a story on the 'Idea Man', Norville Barnes, while Amy Archer dismisses Norville as a phony.
Chief, Amy Archer, SmittyNorville and Mussburger share an elevator ride with Buzz.
Buzz, Norville Barnes, Sidney J. MussburgerNorville tries to discuss business with Mussburger, who ignores him and leaves in a limousine.
Norville Barnes, Sidney J. MussburgerAmy Archer fakes a fainting spell to get Norville's attention.
Norville Barnes, Amy ArcherNorville brings Amy to his office, where she snoops while he is in the washroom.
Norville Barnes, Amy Archer, BuzzAmy and Norville bond over their shared Muncie, Indiana roots, and Norville offers her a job.
Norville Barnes, Amy ArcherAmy reports to Smitty about her progress with Norville.
Amy Archer, SmittyNorville confronts Amy about the newspaper article calling him an imbecile.
Norville Barnes, Amy ArcherAmy sneaks into the clock room and meets Moses.
Amy Archer, MosesAmy tries to convince the Chief to run a story about the board's plot.
Amy Archer, Smitty, ChiefNorville attends the gala with Mrs. Mussburger.
Norville Barnes, Sidney J. MussburgerMussburger introduces Norville to stockholders while Norville has a series of clumsy encounters.
Norville Barnes, Sidney J. Mussburger, Amy Archer, Smitty, Chief, char_9Norville and Amy share a moment and kiss on the terrace.
Norville Barnes, Amy ArcherNorville presents the hula hoop to the board.
Norville Barnes, Sidney J. MussburgerSchoolchildren are mesmerized by a hula-hooping youngster, leading to a frenzy of hoop-buying.
Norville is dejected until the ticker-tape announces the hula hoop craze.
Norville Barnes, Amy ArcherA newsreel showcases the hula hoop craze and Norville's success, including a call from Eisenhower.
Norville BarnesNorville faces reporters at a press conference.
Norville Barnes, Amy ArcherAddison discovers the board sold their stock and commits suicide by jumping through a window.
Sidney J. MussburgerAmy confronts Norville about his arrogance and the layoffs, then resigns.
Norville Barnes, Amy ArcherBuzz tries to pitch an idea to Norville, but Norville fires him.
Norville Barnes, BuzzNorville meets with Mussburger.
Norville Barnes, Sidney J. MussburgerMussburger confronts Norville about the security leaks and the elevator boy's claims, warning him that his position is in jeopardy.
Norville Barnes, Sidney J. MussburgerThe Chief and Smitty decide to publish a story exposing Norville as a fraud, leading Amy to quit in protest.
Amy Archer, Smitty, ChiefMussburger presents a psychiatric evaluation of Norville to the board.
Sidney J. MussburgerNorville, disheveled and drunk, encounters Amy at a juice bar.
Norville Barnes, Amy ArcherNorville wanders the streets and is chased by a mob led by Buzz.
Norville Barnes, BuzzNorville returns to the Hudsucker building.
Norville BarnesMussburger celebrates his impending takeover.
Sidney J. MussburgerNorville prepares to jump from the ledge.
Norville BarnesTime freezes as Norville falls.
Norville Barnes, Waring Hudsucker, MosesWaring Hudsucker talks to Norville about the board, his resignation, and the Blue Letter.
Waring Hudsucker, Norville BarnesMussburger sits frozen as Hudsucker rises past his window.
Sidney J. Mussburger, Waring HudsuckerMoses frees the clock gear, restarting time.
MosesNorville lands on the pavement as the clock strikes.
Norville BarnesNorville and Amy reunite at the bar while Benny and Lou watch.
Norville Barnes, Amy ArcherMoses narrates the aftermath of 1959 and Norville's success.
Moses, Sidney J. Mussburger, Norville Barnes'Many years, uh... I know that you will be wondering why I have decided to move on, ending my tenure at Hudsucker, and here on Earth. You will be thinking, Why now, when things are going so well? Granted, from the standpoint of our balance sheet and financials, sure, sure, we're doing fine. However, Sid. These things have long since ceased to give me pleasure. I look at myself now and no longer see the idealistic young man who started this company. Now I see only an empty shell whom others call a 'success.' How has this come to pass? When and why did I trade all of my hopes, dreams and aspirations, for the emptiness of power and wealth? What the heck have I done?'
...See, kid, the problem the Board'll have... you hired this woman. Kept her on, while she made a chump out of you. Serious error of judgment... I mean, business is war, kid -- ya take no prisoners, ya get no second chances. And a boner like this... I'm afraid when the Board meets, after New Year's, your position... well, it looks like you're finished... stick a fork in ya, you're done... washed up...
Dammit boy, what's this I hear about you bein' an embecile? What the hell is ailin' ya?! A week ago my stock was worth twice what it is now! I'm considering dumping the whole shootin' match, unless I see some vast improvement! Dammit, boy, It's a range war! Either you pull our wagons into a circle or I'm pullin' out of the wagon train!
Whatever! It's no dig on you, Archer, but this story is hot and you're no longer on top of it. Why, it's the scoop of the century -- the other papers won't have the Gunderson dope 'til tomorrow -- The Allemeinischer Zeitung, Le Figaro, they'll be choking on our dust come mornin' --
Well that just about does it! I've seen Norville Barnes, the young man in a big hurry, and I've seen Norville Barnes the self-important heel, but I've never seen Norville Barnes the quitter, and I don't like it!
They're going to discharge eight percent of the work force here at Hudsucker. Why, in New York alone that means eighteen hundred people out of work, people with wives and children and families --
Sure, sure, it's a tough course. Well thanks for coming, kid. I thought the board room would be a swell place to chat undisturbed -- it seems we're having some security problems here at the Hud.
Ah forget it, kid, ya don't have to explain to me. He's a little person. He's nothing. Like I say, ordinarily it would just be a nuisance. But it seems -- well, there was a spy in the company...
SlugDB turns parsed screenplays into scene, character, dialogue, trivia, semantic search, Save the Cat, and API-ready analysis.
Use SlugDB when you need screenplay API data, movie dialogue search, character evidence, scene context, or MCP tools without building a scraper first.