2003
William Starks, a Gulf War veteran suffering from amnesia, is wrongly accused of murder and committed to Alpine Grove, a psychiatric facility where the unethical Dr. Thomas Becker subjects him to experimental treatments involving confinement in a morgue drawer. These traumatic sessions cause Starks to experience visions of the future, where he meets a grown-up Jackie Price, a woman he briefly encountered as a child before his arrest. Starks uses his future knowledge to expose Becker's malpractice and help Dr. Beth Lorenson understand the true nature of her patient, Eugene, who suffers from similar catatonic episodes. In a final act of self-sacrifice, Starks delivers a letter to young Jackie and her mother, Jean, revealing his identity and the circumstances of his death, which he knows will occur soon. Starks dies from a head injury at Alpine Grove, but his actions in the past ensure a better future for Jackie, who, years later, remembers him and finds peace, understanding the profound impact he had on her life.
Save the Cat beat sheet
William Starks, presumed dead in Kuwait, returns home with amnesia and is placed in experimental psychiatric “Jacket” treatments.
Open full beat sheetWilliam Starks is listed as Protagonist. A Gulf War veteran suffering from retrograde amnesia and psychological trauma. In the parsed data, William Starks is connected to 80 scenes, 201 dialogue lines, 209 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
80 scenes / 201 dialogue linesJackie Price is listed as Supporting. A nurse who encounters Starks in both his past and future. In the parsed data, Jackie Price is connected to 36 scenes, 74 dialogue lines, 74 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
36 scenes / 74 dialogue linesDr. Beth Lorenson is listed as Supporting. An unassuming and perceptive psychiatrist at Alpine Grove. In the parsed data, Dr. Beth Lorenson is connected to 26 scenes, 85 dialogue lines, 85 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
26 scenes / 85 dialogue linesDr. Thomas Becker is listed as Antagonist. An overworked, dogmatic, and unethical psychiatrist at Alpine Grove. In the parsed data, Dr. Thomas Becker is connected to 17 scenes, 79 dialogue lines, 79 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
17 scenes / 79 dialogue linesDamon is listed as Antagonist. A burly, sadistic orderly at Alpine Grove. In the parsed data, Damon is connected to 13 scenes, 16 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
13 scenes / 16 dialogue linesNurse Harding is listed as Antagonist. A stern, senior nurse at Alpine Grove. In the parsed data, Nurse Harding is connected to 11 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
11 scenes / 8 dialogue linesDr. Gries is listed as Supporting. A green, conflicted psychiatrist at Alpine Grove. In the parsed data, Dr. Gries is connected to 7 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
7 scenes / 14 dialogue linesJean Price is listed as Supporting. Jackie's mother, a struggling woman with a history of substance abuse. In the parsed data, Jean Price is connected to 7 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 61.
7 scenes / 4 dialogue linesRudy MacKenzie is listed as Supporting. A patient at Alpine Grove with a nervous condition and a dead arm. In the parsed data, Rudy MacKenzie is connected to 6 scenes, 26 dialogue lines, 27 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
6 scenes / 26 dialogue linesCaptain Robert Medley is listed as Supporting. Starks' commanding officer in the Persian Gulf. In the parsed data, Captain Robert Medley is connected to 5 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
5 scenes / 3 dialogue linesWilliam Starks is discovered alive after being tagged as dead in a field hospital.
William StarksCaptain Medley is interviewed about the war, followed by a flashback of Starks being shot.
William Starks, Captain Robert MedleyStarks recovers in a hospital, suffering from amnesia.
William Starks, Captain Robert MedleyStarks encounters Jean and Jackie Price with a stalled car and helps them.
William Starks, Jackie Price, Jean PriceStarks is on trial for the murder of Officer Harrison.
William Starks, Dr. Thomas Becker, Captain Robert MedleyStarks meets Dr. Becker for the first time at the psychiatric facility.
William Starks, Dr. Thomas BeckerStarks is forcibly taken to the basement to be placed in 'The Jacket'.
William Starks, Dr. Thomas Becker, Damon, Nurse Harding, Dr. GriesStarks is restrained and placed into a cadaver drawer by Becker and the orderlies.
William Starks, Dr. Thomas Becker, DamonStarks experiences hallucinations and traumatic memories while trapped in the drawer.
William StarksStarks is removed from the drawer after his session.
William Starks, Dr. Thomas Becker, Damon, Nurse Harding, Dr. GriesStarks interacts with Rudy MacKenzie and Dr. Lorenson.
William Starks, Dr. Beth Lorenson, Rudy MacKenzieDamon intimidates Starks in the bathroom.
William Starks, DamonStarks fights back against Becker and the orderlies.
William Starks, Dr. Thomas Becker, Damon, Nurse Harding, Dr. GriesBecker and Gries discuss Starks' treatment.
Dr. Thomas Becker, Dr. GriesStarks encounters a waitress outside a diner.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks and the Waitress discuss his lack of identity and destination while driving.
William Starks, Jackie PriceThe Waitress tries to find a shelter for Starks, fails, and decides to let him stay.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks collects wood for the fire.
William StarksStarks and the Waitress share a meal and talk about their pasts.
William Starks, Jackie PriceDr. Gries checks on Starks in the cadaver drawer.
William Starks, Dr. GriesJackie wakes up, remembers the night before, and confronts Starks.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks experiences a flashback to an Iraqi village while in a tunnel passage.
William StarksStarks relives a traumatic memory in 1991 where he confronts an Iraqi soldier and is shot.
William Starks, Captain Robert MedleyBecker, Gries, Damon, and Harding retrieve Starks from the morgue drawer.
Dr. Gries, Dr. Thomas Becker, Damon, Nurse Harding, William StarksDr. Lorenson searches for Starks.
Dr. Beth LorensonLorenson searches for Starks.
Dr. Beth LorensonLorenson spots Becker and follows him.
Dr. Beth Lorenson, Dr. Thomas BeckerLorenson confronts Becker about Starks' treatment.
Dr. Beth Lorenson, Dr. Thomas BeckerStarks lies asleep in the ICU.
William StarksJackie enters a hospital in Vermont.
Jackie PriceLorenson checks on Starks.
Dr. Beth Lorenson, William StarksJackie asks Claire for a favor.
Jackie PriceStarks sees a dark figure.
William StarksJackie researches Starks online.
Jackie PriceStarks wakes up and talks to Becker.
William Starks, Dr. Thomas BeckerStarks looks out the window.
William StarksStarks pretends to be catatonic to escape.
William StarksStarks escapes to the outside.
William StarksStarks is confronted by Lorenson.
William Starks, Dr. Beth LorensonStarks talks to MacKenzie about the Jacket.
William Starks, Rudy MacKenzie, Nurse HardingStarks intervenes to save a nurse from a violent patient in a neglected ward.
William Starks, DamonStarks disrupts a group therapy session attended by a state representative.
William Starks, Dr. Thomas Becker, Dr. Beth Lorenson, Rudy MacKenzie, Damon, Nurse HardingHarding and Damon place Starks in the jacket and lock him in a drawer.
William Starks, Damon, Nurse HardingStarks is present during a traffic stop where a passenger kills an officer.
William StarksStarks meets Jackie at a diner.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks and Jackie discuss his past and the investigation into Becker.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks and Jackie inquire about his father's death with Dr. Morgan.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks and Jackie meet Dr. Lorenson.
William Starks, Jackie Price, Dr. Beth LorensonStarks and Jackie question Dr. Lorenson about Starks' father and the case of a boy named Eugene.
William Starks, Jackie Price, Dr. Beth LorensonStarks and Jackie leave Lorenson's office and discuss their distrust of her.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks leads Jackie toward the basement, observed by Damon.
William Starks, Jackie Price, DamonStarks shows Jackie the morgue slab where he was held.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks confronts Damon in the basement hallway.
William Starks, Jackie Price, DamonStarks visits his own headstone and discusses Becker with Jackie.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks and Jackie make love and discuss the trauma of his past.
William Starks, Jackie PriceDr. Lorenson visits Starks in the ICU.
William Starks, Dr. Beth LorensonMacKenzie visits Starks to bring him cigarettes and discuss their lives.
William Starks, Rudy MacKenzieMacKenzie and Starks discuss their sanity and Becker's pill addiction.
William Starks, Rudy MacKenzieBecker confronts Starks; Starks threatens to expose Becker's practices.
William Starks, Dr. Thomas BeckerLorenson instructs Nina to keep Starks in ICU.
Dr. Beth LorensonLorenson arrives home to find Talia and Eugene.
Dr. Beth LorensonLorenson questions Talia about the secrecy of Eugene's sessions.
Dr. Beth LorensonDamon forces Starks out of his room at knifepoint.
William Starks, DamonLorenson works with Eugene, who enters a catatonic state.
Dr. Beth LorensonBecker watches as Starks is strapped into the Jacket.
William Starks, Dr. Thomas Becker, Damon, Nurse HardingStarks wakes up in Jackie's car in 2004.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks and Jackie arrive at Becker's house, but he is not home.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks realizes Becker is at church.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks confronts Becker outside the church.
William Starks, Jackie Price, Dr. Thomas BeckerStarks finds peace with Jackie as they drive to the hospital.
William Starks, Jackie PriceJackie helps Starks, who is weakening, and they discuss his need to prove his presence to Dr. Lorenson.
William Starks, Jackie Price, Nurse HardingJackie and Claire tend to Starks; Starks asks Jackie to get him proof for Dr. Lorenson.
William Starks, Jackie Price, Nurse HardingJackie struggles with a printer while researching Lorenson; Claire finds her and offers support.
Jackie Price, Nurse HardingFlashback to Starks accepting a ride from Tenny.
William StarksJackie tells Starks she found out about Eugene, the key to convincing Lorenson.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks asks Jackie for her childhood address before he disappears.
William Starks, Jackie PriceStarks arrives at Lorenson's office and collapses.
William Starks, Dr. Beth LorensonStarks confronts Becker about his crimes; Becker removes him from the Jacket.
William Starks, Dr. Thomas BeckerStarks explains to Lorenson how he knows about Eugene's seizures.
William Starks, Dr. Beth LorensonEugene experiences a shock that makes him responsive.
Dr. Beth LorensonSee, the deluxe lab animal treatment I've been receiving -- well, I don't think it's worked. I woke up today and realized... I don't think I'm cured. So really, what was the point? Torture? I think that's still sort of illegal in some states -- though we'll have to check on Vermont. And, how's this for the cherry on top: it seems my physician is a pill-popping freak. Last time I checked, that makes some pretty good copy for a lot of these news shows. "I don't remember everything they did to me. I just remember the worst parts." I think I should be sitting down when I say it, don't you think?
Then one day a little girl came with her mother to visit a relative and I caught Ted stealing looks at her -- the kind you really have to steal if you know what I mean. I asked Ted then if he could remember what the little girl who he had... slain ...was wearing. He gave me a look I'll never forget, and, when he answered, it wasn't with a color or any sort of physical description I'd expect. "Oh yes," he said. "I remember it. I remember it well." Those were actually his last words I think.
That's too bad. I don't believe in disposable language either -- you know, the small talk, the little talk. Chit. Chat. Useless. The game's something else though. Think about it: What can we trade with each other in the air between us? This is our court. I'm ready to throw the ball. Come on.
He's not gonna end up like Casey, Tom. Whatever happened to him is not going to "happen" to Starks. I don't know what you're trying to do here ...but he's not a lab animal, Tom. You can't reprogram him no matter the drugs or the treatment.
Yes, you are alive. But, listen, it's New Year's Day. You're not going to get a cab. Especially not here. And you're gonna freeze if you stand out here in the snow much longer. I'm on my way back to my shift at the hospital...
I'm in it as we speak. You're haunting yourself right now. I guess sometimes we indict ourselves if no one else does. You didn't make history like you wanted to, huh, Dr. Becker. It turned out different, didn't it?
The same way you just said I didn't without my ever telling you. And that still doesn't excuse what you did. Just because you had keys to a cage didn't mean you had animals inside. You've earned your guilt, Becker.
I see you've done your homework. Alpine Grove's undergone a lot of changes since then. At the time, we didn't have the...resources to help our patients the way we needed to. Now, we do. And things are different.
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