Scripts
THE SALTON SEA poster

Screenplay data

THE SALTON SEA script

Haunted by his wife Liz's murder, undercover informant and trumpet player Danny Flynne navigates the meth underworld, secretly planning to expose the corrupt officers Tanner and Garcetti responsible for her death. Danny endures dangerous drug deals and torture to maintain his cover, while also forming a connection with his neighbor Colette and collaborating with FBI agents to set up a sting operation against the corrupt officers. Flashbacks reveal Danny's discovery of Liz's murder and his identification of Tanner as a perpetrator through a class ring and red hair found at the scene, fueling his desire for revenge. During a chaotic shootout at Pooh-Bear's compound, Danny, wearing a bulletproof vest, kills Tanner and Garcetti, achieving his revenge before being rescued and later meeting Colette, hinting at a new beginning.

Writer
Tony Gayton
IMDb ID (imdb_id)
tt0235737
Script date
Unknown
69Scenes
9Characters
78Pages
8Dialogue samples

Save the Cat beat sheet

THE SALTON SEA Save the Cat analysis

Undercover informant Danny Flynne wrestles with grief over his wife’s murder while deep in the meth underworld.

Open full beat sheet
75

Key characters

Danny Flynne

Danny Flynne is listed as Protagonist. A trumpet player and undercover informant living in the world of crystal meth addicts. In the parsed data, Danny Flynne is connected to 59 scenes, 31 dialogue lines, 34 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.

59 scenes / 31 dialogue lines

Tanner

Tanner is listed as Antagonist. A corrupt police officer with a shaved head. In the parsed data, Tanner is connected to 21 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.

21 scenes / 8 dialogue lines

Garcetti

Garcetti is listed as Antagonist. A corrupt police officer, partner to Tanner. In the parsed data, Garcetti is connected to 19 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.

19 scenes / 1 dialogue lines

Bubba

Bubba is listed as Supporting. An Asian man posing as a cowboy, actually an undercover agent. In the parsed data, Bubba is connected to 10 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.

10 scenes / 2 dialogue lines

Jimmy the Finn

Jimmy the Finn is listed as Supporting. A drug addict and friend of Danny. In the parsed data, Jimmy the Finn is connected to 10 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 12.

10 scenes / 1 dialogue lines

Colette Aragon

Colette Aragon is listed as Supporting. A woman living in Danny's hotel, involved with a dangerous boyfriend. In the parsed data, Colette Aragon is connected to 9 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 16.

9 scenes / 9 dialogue lines

Pooh-Bear

Pooh-Bear is listed as Antagonist. A drug cook with a prosthetic nose. In the parsed data, Pooh-Bear is connected to 9 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.

9 scenes / 5 dialogue lines

Liz Van Allen

Liz Van Allen is listed as Supporting. Danny's deceased wife. In the parsed data, Liz Van Allen is connected to 5 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 9.

5 scenes / 1 dialogue lines

Quincey

Quincey is listed as Antagonist. Colette's abusive boyfriend. In the parsed data, Quincey is connected to 1 scene, 9 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 66.

1 scenes / 9 dialogue lines

Scene outline

  1. 1. INT. RESIDENTIAL HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

    Danny Flynne, a trumpet player and informant, sits in a burning room with money and a photograph of his deceased wife, reflecting on his identity.

    Danny Flynne
  2. 2. INT. LABORATORY - DAY

    Danny provides a historical overview of methamphetamine usage.

    Danny Flynne
  3. 3. INT. PARTY HOUSE - UNKNOWN

    Danny observes a group of tweakers during a binge.

    Danny Flynne, Jimmy the Finn, Pooh-Bear
  4. 4. INT. PARTY HOUSE - NIGHT

    Danny and Jimmy leave the party house to score more drugs.

    Danny Flynne, Jimmy the Finn
  5. 5. EXT. PARTY HOUSE - DAY

    Danny and Jimmy exit the party house into the daylight.

    Danny Flynne, Jimmy the Finn
  6. 6. INT. CHEAP MOTEL ROOM - DAY

    Danny and Jimmy visit a dealer named Bobby who is hallucinating.

    Danny Flynne, Jimmy the Finn
  7. 7. EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT

    Danny meets his police handlers, Tanner and Garcetti.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti
  8. 8. INT. RESIDENTIAL HOTEL - NIGHT

    Danny meets his neighbor, Colette Aragon.

    Danny Flynne, Colette Aragon
  9. 9. EXT. SALTON SEA - SUNSET

    Flashback of Danny and his wife Liz at the Salton Sea.

    Danny Flynne, Liz Van Allen
  10. 10. INT. Unknown Location - NIGHT

    Danny argues with corrupt officers Tanner and Garcetti about his status as an informant and his desire to leave town.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti
  11. 11. EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT

    Danny meets Bubba at a cemetery to discuss a business proposition.

    Danny Flynne, Bubba
  12. 12. INT. CINDER BLOCK BAR - NIGHT

    Danny meets Jimmy at a bar to discuss a drug deal involving Pooh-Bear.

    Danny Flynne, Jimmy the Finn
  13. 13. EXT. STREET - NIGHT

    Danny is followed by a red car while walking home and hides to escape.

    Danny Flynne
  14. 14. INT. BARE APARTMENT - NIGHT

    Danny and Jimmy purchase weapons from a young arms dealer.

    Danny Flynne, Jimmy the Finn
  15. 15. INT. POOH-BEAR'S HOUSE - DAY

    Danny negotiates a drug deal with Pooh-Bear.

    Danny Flynne, Pooh-Bear
  16. 16. INT. RESIDENTIAL HOTEL - NIGHT

    Danny encounters Colette sitting in the hallway after being kicked out by her boyfriend Quincey.

    Danny Flynne, Colette Aragon
  17. 17. INT. COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT

    Danny and Colette talk in a coffee shop; she reveals she cannot leave Quincey because he threatens her child.

    Danny Flynne, Colette Aragon
  18. 18. INT. BURNED OUT BUILDING - NIGHT

    Danny meets Bubba for a drug deal while Tanner and Garcetti monitor from outside.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti, Bubba
  19. 19. INT. BURNED OUT BUILDING - NIGHT

    Tanner and Garcetti coerce Danny into continuing the deal to catch Pooh-Bear.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti
  20. 20. INT. CAR - NIGHT

    Tanner and Garcetti transport Danny while mocking him.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti
  21. 21. EXT. RESIDENTIAL HOTEL - NIGHT

    Danny spots a car with a vanity plate while returning home.

    Danny Flynne
  22. 22. INT. RESIDENTIAL HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

    Danny plays his trumpet while reflecting on his past.

    Danny Flynne, Colette Aragon, Liz Van Allen
  23. 23. INT. CINDER BLOCK BAR - NIGHT

    Danny and Colette meet at a bar; Danny remains guarded.

    Danny Flynne, Colette Aragon
  24. 24. INT. CAR - DAY

    Tanner and Garcetti brief Danny on Pooh-Bear and the red car.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti
  25. 25. EXT. POOH-BEAR'S COMPOUND - NIGHT

    Danny meets Pooh-Bear and is threatened by a weasel.

    Danny Flynne, Pooh-Bear
  26. 26. INT. Pooh-Bear's Lair - NIGHT

    Danny is forced to put his genitals into a cage with a rabid weasel while Pooh-Bear and his associates interrogate him. Danny frames Little Bill for stealing from Pooh-Bear.

    Danny Flynne, Jimmy the Finn, Pooh-Bear, Bubba
  27. 27. INT. Pooh-Bear's Kitchen - NIGHT

    Danny and Pooh-Bear discuss the test. Danny reveals he has a gun taped under the table.

    Danny Flynne, Pooh-Bear
  28. 28. EXT. Deserted Park - NIGHT

    Danny meets with Tanner and Garcetti to report on the meth and learn about Bubba.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti
  29. 29. INT. Prison Shower Room - NIGHT

    Domingo is found dead.

  30. 30. INT. Palos Verdes House - NIGHT

    Danny visits his in-laws, Nancy and Verne, to discuss his grief and Liz's death.

    Danny Flynne, Liz Van Allen
  31. 31. INT. Residential Hotel Room - NIGHT

    Colette visits Danny. They discuss their relationship and Danny's past.

    Danny Flynne, Colette Aragon
  32. 32. INT. Cinder Block Bar - DAY

    Danny tells Jimmy the truth about not being a drug user.

    Danny Flynne, Jimmy the Finn
  33. 33. INT. FBI Offices - DAY

    Danny and Bubba meet with FBI agents to discuss the case.

    Danny Flynne, Bubba
  34. 34. INT. Police Station - DAY

    Bookman interrogates Danny about the perpetrators of his wife's murder, revealing a red hair found at the scene.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner
  35. 35. EXT. Salton Sea Gas Station - DAY

    Flashback: Danny remembers seeing a red-haired man with a class ring at a gas station.

    Danny Flynne, Liz Van Allen
  36. 36. INT. Salton Sea Sheriff's Station - DAY

    Danny feigns ignorance about the hair color to Bookman.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner
  37. 37. INT. FBI Offices - NIGHT

    Danny admits to an agent he wanted to find and kill the perpetrators himself.

    Danny Flynne
  38. 38. INT. El Camino College Library - DAY

    Danny identifies Tanner in a yearbook.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner
  39. 39. EXT. Gardena Police Department - DAY

    Danny watches Tanner and Garcetti from a bus bench.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti
  40. 40. EXT. DMV - DAY

    Danny obtains a fake ID under the name Daniel Flynne.

    Danny Flynne
  41. 41. EXT. Street - NIGHT

    Danny stages a car accident to get close to Tanner and Garcetti.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti
  42. 42. EXT. Street - NIGHT

    Garcetti searches Danny and finds meth.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti
  43. 43. EXT. Deserted Park - NIGHT

    Danny begins working as an informant for Tanner and Garcetti.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti
  44. 44. EXT. Apartment Building - NIGHT

    Danny watches Tanner and Garcetti arrest a dealer.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti
  45. 45. INT. FBI Offices - DAY

    Danny pitches a plan to trap Tanner and Garcetti to Trahn.

    Danny Flynne, Bubba
  46. 46. EXT. Rooftop - NIGHT

    Tanner and Garcetti watch the building for the deal.

    Tanner, Garcetti
  47. 47. INT. Police Station - DAY

    Garcetti identifies Trahn through a database search.

    Garcetti, Bubba
  48. 48. INT. FBI Offices - DAY

    Trahn confirms they have enough evidence to proceed.

    Bubba
  49. 49. INT. FBI Offices - DAY

    Trahn and Danny discuss the upcoming operation.

    Danny Flynne, Bubba
  50. 50. INT. Bank - DAY

    Danny withdraws money for the deal.

    Danny Flynne
  51. 51. EXT. Residential Hotel - NIGHT

    Colette watches as police raid the building.

    Colette Aragon, Danny Flynne
  52. 52. INT. Jimmy's Car - NIGHT

    Danny is wired for sound while driving.

    Danny Flynne
  53. 53. EXT. Mini-Market - NIGHT

    Danny stops for cigarettes.

    Danny Flynne
  54. 54. EXT. Remote Location - NIGHT

    Tanner and Garcetti prepare their weapons.

    Tanner, Garcetti
  55. 55. INT. Pooh-Bear's Compound - NIGHT

    Pooh-Bear prepares for the deal.

    Pooh-Bear
  56. 56. INT. Trahn's Car - NIGHT

    Trahn prepares his gear.

    Bubba
  57. 57. EXT. Bluff - NIGHT

    Tanner and Garcetti arrive at the bluff.

    Tanner, Garcetti
  58. 58. EXT. Desert Motel - NIGHT

    Danny checks into the motel.

    Danny Flynne
  59. 59. INT. Desert Motel Room - NIGHT

    Trahn discovers Jimmy is in the room instead of Danny.

    Jimmy the Finn, Bubba
  60. 60. EXT. Bluff - NIGHT

    Danny arrives at the compound.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti
  61. 61. INT. Pooh-Bear's House - NIGHT

    Danny confronts Pooh-Bear and his men.

    Danny Flynne, Pooh-Bear
  62. 62. INT. Pooh-Bear's House - NIGHT

    A shootout occurs; Danny is shot but survives due to his vest.

    Danny Flynne, Pooh-Bear
  63. 63. INT. Pooh-Bear's House - NIGHT

    Tanner and Garcetti enter the house.

    Tanner, Garcetti
  64. 64. INT. Creepy House - NIGHT

    Danny remembers finding his wife.

    Danny Flynne, Liz Van Allen
  65. 65. INT. Pooh-Bear's House - NIGHT

    Danny kills Tanner and Garcetti.

    Danny Flynne, Tanner, Garcetti, Pooh-Bear
  66. 66. INT. Residential Hotel - NIGHT

    Danny is confronted by Quincey and Colette.

    Danny Flynne, Colette Aragon, Quincey
  67. 67. INT. Burning Room - NIGHT

    Danny plays his trumpet as the room burns.

    Danny Flynne
  68. 68. INT. Burning Room - NIGHT

    Danny is rescued.

    Danny Flynne, Jimmy the Finn
  69. 69. EXT. City - DAY

    Danny meets Colette at a coffee shop.

    Danny Flynne, Colette Aragon

Dialogue examples

I owed them money ... a lot of money ... they didn't give me a choice. You know how it works. When I got to know you, I tried to back out ... that's when they did this ... But I told them I wouldn't do it .. I didn't want to see you get hurt.

Colette Aragon / Scene 66

Nah, she ain't lying. She took a pretty good beating from you, ace. I seen grown men crack after a lot less. But not this bitch. It was very touching.

Quincey / Scene 66

Danny, he isn't gonna find out it's you. Domingo was a slinger, he must have sold to hundreds of different people.

Tanner / Scene 10

Captain Steubing, listen to me. You're after the wrong guy. This is the fuck you should be talking to.

Danny Flynne / Scene 26

So the alphabet, I mean look at it, there's 26 letters. Why not 27 or 28 or 106?

Pooh-Bear / Scene 3

That's so ... melancholy? Yes, it hurts my heart. What a beautiful composition.

Liz Van Allen / Scene 9

Jesus Christ. Um ... I'm not .. Captain Steubing. I'm not working for the cops.

Danny Flynne / Scene 26

For those of you who don't know this is Tom Van Allen... a.k.a. Danny Flynne.

Bubba / Scene 33

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