2003
Haunted Gulf War veteran Major Ben Marco uncovers a mind-control conspiracy by Manchurian Global involving his former squad leader, Raymond Shaw, now a vice-presidential candidate. Marco discovers he also has an implant and that Raymond is a programmed assassin controlled by his manipulative mother, Senator Eleanor Shaw. After Raymond murders Senator Thomas Jordan and his daughter, Marco convinces Raymond to help expose the conspiracy, teaming up with federal agent Rosie. During an election night celebration, Marco and Raymond execute a plan to assassinate Eleanor and Raymond, with Rosie then killing Marco to cover their tracks and dismantle the operation.
Save the Cat beat sheet
War vet Marco battles memory loss and uncovers a political assassination conspiracy involving mind control.
Open full beat sheetBen Marco is listed as U.S. Army Major. A haunted war veteran struggling with fragmented memories of a Gulf War recon mission. In the parsed data, Ben Marco is connected to 43 scenes, 53 dialogue lines, 54 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
43 scenes / 53 dialogue linesRaymond Prentiss Shaw is listed as Congressman / War Hero. A haunted, aloof war hero and Senator's son, manipulated by his mother and Manchurian Global. In the parsed data, Raymond Prentiss Shaw is connected to 30 scenes, 27 dialogue lines, 28 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
30 scenes / 27 dialogue linesRosie is listed as Federal Agent. An undercover federal agent monitoring Marco. In the parsed data, Rosie is connected to 14 scenes, 29 dialogue lines, 29 text mentions, first appearing around scene 29.
14 scenes / 29 dialogue linesAtticus Noyle is listed as Scientist. A mercenary neuropsychiatric scientist specializing in mind control. In the parsed data, Atticus Noyle is connected to 13 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 19.
13 scenes / 4 dialogue linesAl Melvin is listed as Corporal. A member of Marco's squad suffering from paranoia and fragmented memories. In the parsed data, Al Melvin is connected to 9 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
9 scenes / 12 dialogue linesEleanor Prentiss Shaw is listed as Senator. Raymond's ambitious and manipulative mother, deeply involved in political power plays. In the parsed data, Eleanor Prentiss Shaw is connected to 8 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
8 scenes / 18 dialogue linesThomas Jordan is listed as Senator. A principled statesman and political rival to the Shaws. In the parsed data, Thomas Jordan is connected to 7 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 48.
7 scenes / 18 dialogue linesLaurent Tokar is listed as Guide. Marco's French guide during the Gulf War. In the parsed data, Laurent Tokar is connected to 3 scenes, first appearing around scene 1.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMarco and his squad are on a recon mission in Kuwait, 1991, waiting in a Hummer and Bradley fighting vehicle.
Ben Marco, Laurent Tokar, Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Al MelvinShaw enters the crowded Bradley to tell the soldiers they are moving out.
Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Al MelvinMarco and Shaw discuss Shaw's isolation from the other soldiers while driving.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Laurent TokarMajor Marco gives a speech about the Medal of Honor and encounters Al Melvin.
Ben Marco, Al MelvinSenator Eleanor Shaw visits her son Raymond to discuss his political future.
Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Eleanor Prentiss ShawEllie confronts political adversaries regarding the Arthur-Jordan ticket and argues for her son's candidacy.
Eleanor Prentiss Shaw, Thomas JordanSenator Wells nominates Raymond Shaw as the vice-presidential candidate.
Raymond Prentiss ShawMarco watches the convention coverage and experiences fragmented memories of the Gulf War.
Ben Marco, Al MelvinA surreal advertisement for bio-genetically modified tomatoes plays.
Marco experiences a vivid, surreal dream involving his squad and Dr. Noyle.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Al Melvin, Atticus NoyleThe dream continues with Dr. Noyle interrogating Marco.
Ben Marco, Atticus NoyleMarco responds to Noyle's interrogation while rigged to equipment.
Ben Marco, Atticus Noyle, Laurent TokarNoyle demonstrates the mind control process on Raymond Shaw.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Atticus NoyleMarco wakes up from his dream.
Ben MarcoMarco discusses his mental state and dreams with Lt. Col. Howard.
Ben MarcoMarco attends a campaign brunch and attempts to confront Raymond Shaw.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Eleanor Prentiss Shaw, Thomas JordanMarco confronts Raymond Shaw outside the gardens.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss ShawMarco is questioned by Colonel Garret and Lt. Col. Howard about his mental stability.
Ben MarcoMarco is interrogated by Lt. Col. Howard and Colonel Garret regarding his claims about the Gulf War and his squad.
Ben Marco, Al Melvin, Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Atticus NoyleRaymond Shaw participates in a televised debate.
Raymond Prentiss ShawMarco watches the debate and makes calls to track down Al Melvin.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss ShawMarco walks through a desolate area to find Melvin's hotel.
Ben MarcoMarco checks the hotel lobby while the clerk watches the debate.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss ShawMarco attempts to contact Al Melvin at his room.
Ben Marco, Al MelvinRaymond Shaw returns to his hotel suite.
Raymond Prentiss ShawRaymond receives a phone call from his mother and then a mysterious trigger call.
Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Eleanor Prentiss Shaw, Atticus NoyleRaymond is subjected to a mind-control check-up by Noyle.
Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Atticus NoyleMarco breaks into Melvin's room and discovers his obsessive journals.
Ben Marco, Al Melvin, Atticus NoyleMarco meets Rosie on a train to New York.
Ben Marco, RosieMarco experiences hallucinations of Noyle while in the bathroom.
Ben Marco, Atticus NoyleMarco discovers an implant in his back and attempts to remove it.
Ben Marco, RosieMarco loses a small object down the sink drain and desperately tries to retrieve it, failing to find it in the trap.
Ben Marco, RosieMarco arrives at a warehouse to meet Delp.
Ben MarcoMarco and Delp walk up the stairs.
Ben Marco, Atticus NoyleMarco questions Delp about military implants and his own fragmented memories.
Ben Marco, Atticus NoyleMarco confronts Raymond Shaw at the airport.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss ShawMarco and Raymond discuss their shared past and dreams.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss ShawMarco tries to show Raymond the notebook.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss ShawA violent confrontation occurs when Marco tries to prove the existence of an implant.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss ShawRaymond and Eleanor discuss Marco.
Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Eleanor Prentiss ShawMarco is interrogated by FBI agents.
Ben MarcoMarco and Delp examine the recovered implant.
Ben Marco, Atticus NoyleMarco and Delp discuss the implant and prepare for an ECT procedure to clear Marco's mind.
Ben Marco, Al MelvinMarco wakes up in Rosie's lap after the procedure, suffering from memory loss.
Ben Marco, RosieMarco and Rosie discuss his memory gaps and his feelings for her.
Ben Marco, RosieMarco discovers surveillance equipment in the apartment and fights Rosie.
Ben Marco, RosieMarco researches Noyle and the Manchurian Global conspiracy.
Ben MarcoMarco presents his evidence to Senator Jordan.
Ben Marco, Thomas JordanSenator Jordan confronts Eleanor and Raymond Shaw with the evidence.
Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Eleanor Prentiss Shaw, Thomas JordanRaymond Shaw kills Senator Jordan.
Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Thomas JordanJocie discovers her father's upended kayak and sees a figure in the water.
Thomas Jordan, Raymond Prentiss Shaw, RosieJocie attempts to rescue her father but is drowned by Raymond.
Rosie, Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Thomas JordanMarco confronts Rosie, revealing his knowledge of the murders.
Ben Marco, RosieMarco and Raymond meet to discuss the conspiracy.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss ShawEleanor prepares Raymond for the final stage of the plan.
Eleanor Prentiss Shaw, Raymond Prentiss ShawThe election night celebration where Marco prepares to intervene.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss Shaw, RosieRaymond and Eleanor Shaw are assassinated by Marco during a celebration, followed by Rosie shooting Marco.
Ben Marco, Raymond Prentiss Shaw, Eleanor Prentiss Shaw, RosieManchurian Global executives watch the news coverage of the assassination.
Rosie and agents watch as an engineer digitally alters security footage of the assassin.
RosieMarco and Rosie visit the site of the former lab, reflecting on the past.
Ben Marco, RosieNightmares you've interpreted, using as primary resources a) your spotty memory, b) the internet -- sacred sanctuary of idiots and nutters -- and c) random faces and coincidences, and evidence you chewed out of a man's back -- all neatly stitched together with the common thread of a powerful, well-connected private equity fund -- who will plead ignorance, and be shocked, shocked, to learn what some of their subsidiary partners are engaged in.
It's the desperation move, man. But, hey. There is a school of thought, says a victim of induced abreaction -- or ultra-paradoxical brain activity, if you're at all correct about what happened to you -- can have it effectively dispersed by electroshock. Unscrambled.
Sir, I don't give a rat's ass about Manchurian Global! That's not why I'm here! I can't touch them, I get that, I'm not stupid, sir. I just want to try and stop this one thing -- this Raymond Shaw bomb -- from going off.
Before we get started, I'm dying to know: which genius here hatched the scheme of pairing a Sound Bite from Nebraska with a relic who thinks keeping suicide bombers off our busses is unconstitutional?
It's been weird, talking to you. Knowing that you could fall asleep with your eyes open and wake up and have forgotten the whole conversation. I hope to God that part's over.
It's not about me. As far as I'm concerned, this should never come out -- it would shred what little remains of the fabric of our public trust -- think of the nation --
Rogue scientists. Mind control. Manchurian Global. Your mother. You. Connect the dots, Raymond. Possibly, your mother's blind to them, because they pay their way --
... We were all hooked up to IV tubes and wires and equipment -- heart monitors, head monitors, electroshock -- and a lot of stuff I've never seen before ...
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