1998
David Gale, a philosophy professor and death penalty abolitionist, is on death row for the murder of his colleague, Constance Harraway, maintaining his innocence to journalist Bitsey Bloom. Through flashbacks and a mysterious VHS tape, Bitsey uncovers a conspiracy orchestrated by Constance, who was terminally ill, to frame Gale for her death and create a martyr for the abolitionist cause. Dusty Wright, a fellow activist, aided Constance's suicide and delivered the incriminating tape to Bitsey, knowing she would expose the truth, but Bitsey is too late to save Gale from execution. After Gale's execution, a hidden tape reveals Constance willingly participated in her death, with Dusty filming, making Gale an unwitting participant in their elaborate plan to expose capital punishment's injustices, while Dusty enjoys his success in Barcelona.
Save the Cat beat sheet
A crusading academic, David Gale, faces execution for the murder of his colleague and lover, Constance Harraway.
Open full beat sheetDavid Gale is listed as Protagonist. Former philosophy professor and death penalty abolitionist on death row. In the parsed data, David Gale is connected to 40 scenes, 40 dialogue lines, 41 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
40 scenes / 40 dialogue linesBitsey Bloom is listed as Journalist. Reporter for News Magazine known for protecting sources. In the parsed data, Bitsey Bloom is connected to 36 scenes, 52 dialogue lines, 52 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
36 scenes / 52 dialogue linesZack Stemmons is listed as Journalist. Bitsey's intern/assistant with a bohemian style. In the parsed data, Zack Stemmons is connected to 30 scenes, 46 dialogue lines, 46 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
30 scenes / 46 dialogue linesConstance Harraway is listed as Activist. Bookish abolitionist activist and colleague of David Gale. In the parsed data, Constance Harraway is connected to 19 scenes, 20 dialogue lines, 20 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
19 scenes / 20 dialogue linesBerlin is listed as Student. Former student of David Gale. In the parsed data, Berlin is connected to 8 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
8 scenes / 9 dialogue linesDusty Wright is listed as Activist. Former DeathWatch director and zealot. In the parsed data, Dusty Wright is connected to 6 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 36.
6 scenes / 6 dialogue linesBenjamin Belyeu is listed as Attorney. David Gale's lawyer with a Cajun/Harvard background. In the parsed data, Benjamin Belyeu is connected to 4 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
4 scenes / 6 dialogue linesDuke Grover is listed as Prison Official. T.D.C. community relations officer. In the parsed data, Duke Grover is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 11.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesBarbara D. Kruger is listed as Editor. Crime and Courts Editor at News Magazine. In the parsed data, Barbara D. Kruger is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 6.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesGovernor Hardin is listed as Politician. Governor of Texas. In the parsed data, Governor Hardin is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 23.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesA dishevelled woman runs down a highway in the fog carrying a VHS cassette.
David Gale and Constance Harraway react to the news of an execution.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayDavid leaves the office and drives away.
David GaleDavid drinks coffee while driving.
David GaleDavid stops at a red light and points out a seatbelt issue to a cop.
David GaleKruger and Bitsey discuss the Gale assignment.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack Stemmons, Barbara D. KrugerBitsey and Zack drive toward Huntsville discussing the case.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey and Zack pull over due to car trouble and meet a cowboy.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey and Zack eat breakfast before heading to the prison.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey and Zack arrive at the prison.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey and Zack check in with Duke Grover.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack Stemmons, Duke GroverBitsey and Zack meet David Gale and his lawyer.
David Gale, Bitsey Bloom, Zack Stemmons, Benjamin BelyeuDavid Gale lectures a class of students about fantasy theory and desire, interrupted by the arrival of a student named Berlin.
David Gale, BerlinStudents exit the lecture hall; Constance waits for David.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayBerlin approaches David after class to ask for a better grade.
David Gale, BerlinDavid and Constance discuss the Governor and the upcoming debate.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayDavid and Constance continue their conversation outside.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayDavid puts his son Chase to bed.
David GaleDavid leaves his home for a party, leaving a babysitter in charge.
David GaleA party at a duplex where David interacts with colleagues and Berlin.
David Gale, BerlinConstance wakes up from a nightmare and vomits.
Constance HarrawayDavid and Constance discuss the death penalty and David confesses his encounter with Berlin.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayThe control booth prepares for the live debate between David Gale and Governor Hardin.
David Gale, Constance Harraway, Governor HardinConstance and David argue after the debate, interrupted by police officers.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayDavid explains the details of the rape accusation to Bitsey.
David Gale, Bitsey BloomDavid stands on his balcony, ignoring a phone message from his son.
David GaleA sorority pledge takes David's picture.
David GaleDavid sits in an interview, distracted.
David GaleDavid drinks and repeatedly listens to the same phone message.
David GaleDavid interviews for a job at Radio Shack.
David GaleDavid discusses his custody battle with his lawyer, Belyeu.
David Gale, Benjamin BelyeuDavid drives to a recovery clinic.
David GaleDavid visits Constance.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayConstance greets David.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayDavid and Constance discuss their work and her health.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayDavid talks to the Older Cowboy.
David Gale, Constance Harraway, Dusty WrightDavid buys coffee and encounters a former student.
David GaleDavid brings coffee to the office.
David GaleConstance talks to the director while David is present.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayConstance watches David leave.
Constance HarrawayDavid makes a desperate phone call.
David GaleDavid returns to Constance's house drunk.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayDavid finds Constance unconscious.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayDavid learns about Constance's leukemia.
David GaleDavid talks to Bitsey.
David Gale, Bitsey BloomBitsey and Zack prepare to leave.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey and Zack discuss the case.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey and Zack pass protesters.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack Stemmons, Duke GroverBitsey and Zack drive to Huntsville.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey and Zack arrive at the motel.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsZack enters his room.
Zack StemmonsBitsey calls Zack.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey and Zack find a VHS tape.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsZack gets a VCR.
Zack StemmonsBitsey and Zack watch the tape.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey is distraught.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey and Zack discuss the tape.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey watches the storm.
Bitsey BloomBitsey and Zack drive to Austin.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey and Zack drive to Austin while being followed by a truck.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey meets with Belyeu to discuss the tape and the upcoming execution.
Bitsey Bloom, Benjamin BelyeuBitsey leaves Belyeu's office and spots the cowboy entering.
Bitsey BloomBitsey tells Zack about the cowboy and instructs him to follow him.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey confronts David about the cowboy, Dusty Wright.
David Gale, Bitsey BloomDavid and Constance make love.
David Gale, Constance HarrawayBitsey visits David one last time before his execution.
David Gale, Bitsey BloomBitsey has a realization about the tape and decides to re-examine the crime scene.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack StemmonsBitsey and Zack coach Nico to recreate the scene of Constance's death to test the theory of suicide.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack Stemmons, BerlinBitsey performs a dangerous experiment with a plastic bag to prove the suicide theory.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack Stemmons, BerlinBitsey and Zack theorize why Constance would frame David Gale.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack Stemmons, BerlinDusty Wright listens to opera while Bitsey and Zack watch from outside.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack Stemmons, Dusty WrightBitsey searches the cabin for the original tape while Zack waits at a phone booth.
Bitsey Bloom, Zack Stemmons, Dusty WrightDusty leaves a suitcase and sweatshirt at a doorstep for Sharon.
Dusty WrightBitsey receives a package from Belyeu containing a stuffed sheep.
Bitsey Bloom, Benjamin BelyeuSharon discovers the money inside the suitcase.
Bitsey discovers the tape hidden inside the stuffed sheep.
Bitsey BloomBitsey watches the incriminating video tape.
David Gale, Constance Harraway, Dusty WrightDusty watches an opera performance.
Dusty WrightZack, what if Harraway's murder was just a means to getting Gale. I mean sending him through hell, a sick cat and mouse game. You kill the one person he has left. Make sure he sits six years on death row for the murder -- a place he's made a public career of loathing. And then just let him die, die knowing everyone will remember him with disgust. You destroy his loved ones, his life's work, his memory -- and you make him watch.
Know why Saint Jude is the patron saint of lost causes? 'Cause his real name was Judas. There were two Judases, Judai, the saint guy and the bad Judas who ratted on Jesus, and tried to kiss him. Medievalers wouldn't pray to good Judas for fear of getting bad Judas on the line by mistake. Ergo, they only gave him business when really desperate. That's why. Then they changed his name.
Talked to the Austin prosecutor. Belyeu's a yokel. Prosecutor says he fucked up the penalty phase, says Gale probably would have gotten life on mitigating factors. Gale stuck with him, though, all through appeals, despite major pro bono offers.
It means DeathWatch suffers because you're so anxious to finger authority, to publicly prove that David Gale is so much fucking smarter than the powers that be.
Because divorce proceedings do not require her presence in the country. For a custody hearin', yeah, she'll have to return.
Notta on Berlin, we pick up the money in Houston tonight, overheat light came on twice, and you're about to get a surprise.
Whoever got in here -- without a key in broad daylight -- was probably smart enough not to leave prints. I have the remote.
Berlin had my bite marks, bruises, ripped clothing. My skin was beneath her nails. It didn't look like anything but rape.
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