Screenplay data
After con artists Johnny Hooker and Luther Coleman unknowingly swindle crime boss Doyle Lonnegan, Luther is murdered, prompting Hooker to seek revenge with master con man Henry Gondorff. They devise an elaborate scheme, setting up a fake off-track betting parlor and cheating Lonnegan out of money in a high-stakes poker game. Hooker then poses as a disgruntled associate, offering Lonnegan a rigged horse race bet to get his money back. The con culminates in a staged FBI raid where Hooker and Gondorff fake their deaths, allowing them to escape with Lonnegan's money while he is arrested by a real FBI agent.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Hooker, a small-time grifter, loses his partner and his take in a crooked numbers racket, then seeks out master con man Gondorff to pull off an elaborate sting against crime boss Lonnegan.
Open full beat sheetJohnny Hooker is listed as Con Artist. Young, ambitious, street-smart grifter. In the parsed data, Johnny Hooker is connected to 18 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 12.
18 scenes / 12 dialogue linesDoyle Lonnegan is listed as Crime Boss. Wealthy, coarse, runs rackets. In the parsed data, Doyle Lonnegan is connected to 10 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 16.
10 scenes / 12 dialogue linesHenry Gondorff is listed as Master Con Artist. Imposing, bearded, expert insideman. In the parsed data, Henry Gondorff is connected to 8 scenes, 10 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
8 scenes / 10 dialogue linesSnyder is listed as Detective. Burly, corrupt, Bunco Department. In the parsed data, Snyder is connected to 6 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
6 scenes / 9 dialogue linesKid Twist is listed as Con Artist. Tall, good-looking, impeccably dressed. In the parsed data, Kid Twist is connected to 4 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
4 scenes / 9 dialogue linesFloyd is listed as Lonnegan's Associate. Agitated young man. In the parsed data, Floyd is connected to 4 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 16.
4 scenes / 2 dialogue linesJoe Mottola is listed as Messenger. Overdressed, flashy, works for the numbers racket. In the parsed data, Joe Mottola is connected to 4 scenes, first appearing around scene 1.
4 scenes / 0 dialogue linesCaptain Polk is listed as FBI Agent. Portly, long-suffering. In the parsed data, Captain Polk is connected to 3 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 28.
3 scenes / 12 dialogue linesPhone Girl is listed as Employee. Works at the numbers spot. In the parsed data, Phone Girl is connected to 3 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
3 scenes / 2 dialogue linesCombs is listed as Clearinghouse Manager. Flabby, bald, runs the clearinghouse in Chicago. In the parsed data, Combs is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesMr. Granger is listed as Numbers Spot Supervisor. Older man, impatient, runs the numbers spot in Joliet. In the parsed data, Mr. Granger is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesEddie Niles is listed as Con Artist. Slight, bespectacled, former bank teller. In the parsed data, Eddie Niles is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 29.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesEirie Kid is listed as Con Artist. Slovenly, young, associate of Hooker. In the parsed data, Eirie Kid is connected to 3 scenes, first appearing around scene 9.
3 scenes / 0 dialogue linesLuther Coleman is listed as Con Artist. Older, experienced, mentor to Hooker. In the parsed data, Luther Coleman is connected to 2 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
2 scenes / 2 dialogue linesAlva is listed as Associate. Older black woman. In the parsed data, Alva is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 9.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesBillie is listed as Brothel Owner. Striking, runs a house. In the parsed data, Billie is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 13.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesCrystal is listed as Stripper. 6'3", Hooker's date. In the parsed data, Crystal is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 6.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesJ.J. Singleton is listed as Con Artist. Flamboyant. In the parsed data, J.J. Singleton is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 31.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesJimmy is listed as Wheel Man. Old-timer at a gambling joint. In the parsed data, Jimmy is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 6.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesLouise is listed as Associate. Young black woman. In the parsed data, Louise is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 9.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesBenny Garfield is listed as Con Artist. Middle-aged, supplier of con equipment.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesDuke Boudreau is listed as Crime Figure. Large, rotund, authoritative.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesLoretta Salino is listed as Assassin. Waitress, professional killer.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesJoe Mottola walks through a slum to a tenement building.
Joe MottolaMottola visits a numbers racket spot and interacts with the staff.
Joe Mottola, Mr. Granger, Phone GirlCombs and Granger discuss the numbers racket business over the phone.
Mr. Granger, CombsGranger sends Mottola to deliver money to Chicago.
Joe Mottola, Mr. GrangerMottola is tricked by Hooker and Luther Coleman.
Joe Mottola, Johnny Hooker, Luther ColemanHooker loses money at a rigged roulette table.
Johnny Hooker, Crystal, JimmyCombs learns Mottola lost the money.
CombsLonnegan orders the death of the con artists.
Floyd, Doyle LonneganLuther tells Hooker he is retiring.
Johnny Hooker, Luther Coleman, Eirie Kid, Louise, AlvaSnyder confronts Hooker.
Johnny Hooker, Eirie Kid, SnyderHooker finds Luther's body.
Johnny HookerHooker cons a businessman.
Johnny HookerHooker finds Gondorff's hideout.
Johnny Hooker, BillieHooker arrives at the carousel to find Gondorff, who is passed out in his room.
Johnny Hooker, Henry GondorffGondorff sobers up in the shower while talking to Hooker about Luther and Lonnegan.
Johnny Hooker, Henry GondorffLonnegan discusses the hit on the grifters with Floyd.
Floyd, Doyle LonneganGondorff and Hooker discuss the plan to con Lonnegan.
Phone Girl, Johnny Hooker, Henry GondorffGondorff and Lonnegan play a high-stakes poker game where Gondorff wins by cheating.
Henry Gondorff, Doyle Lonnegan, Floyd, Eddie NilesGondorff returns to his cabin to meet Hooker.
Henry Gondorff, Johnny HookerHooker visits Lonnegan to offer a deal.
Doyle Lonnegan, Floyd, Johnny HookerLonnegan and Hooker discuss the plan while driving.
Doyle Lonnegan, Johnny HookerLonnegan drops Hooker off; Hooker is ambushed.
Doyle Lonnegan, Johnny HookerTwist dismisses his secretary via intercom while Lonnegan observes the office.
Kid Twist, Doyle Lonnegan, Phone GirlHarmon discovers his office is empty and being painted.
CombsTwist, Lonnegan, and Hooker negotiate the betting deal.
Kid Twist, Doyle Lonnegan, Johnny HookerSnyder eats breakfast and is approached by FBI agents.
SnyderSnyder is intercepted by FBI agents.
SnyderCaptain Polk interrogates Snyder and demands he help catch Hooker.
Snyder, Captain PolkTwist and Lonnegan discuss the bet, leading to a confrontation at the teller window before the FBI raids the building, resulting in the staged deaths of Hooker and Gondorff.
Kid Twist, Doyle Lonnegan, Eddie Niles, Henry Gondorff, Captain Polk, SnyderSnyder drags Lonnegan away from the scene to an FBI car.
Snyder, Doyle LonneganThe aftermath of the raid is revealed as a con; Hooker and Gondorff reveal they are alive.
Henry Gondorff, Johnny Hooker, Eddie Niles, Kid Twist, J.J. Singleton, Captain PolkHooker and Gondorff walk away together.
Johnny Hooker, Henry GondorffDon't crack wise to me, flatfoot. I spent a lotta time in dumps like this, eatin' Gondorff's dust while the bunco squad gets rich tippin' him off. But it's not gonna happen this time. We're not even gonna let the police know we're here. If you keep your mouth shut and do a job, there'll be a promotion in it for ya. And you better take it, cause I can make ya work for us without it.
Can't do it. There're telegraph inspectors all over the place. I got 750 grand coming in from the coast, and I'm not gonna blow it for a lousy 14 gees. We'll get somebody else to do our betting.
And what do we know about your guy. He says a week, but who knows if it's a month? Lonnegan here's a banker. He can get that dough with no questions asked.
Okay, let's take this place apart and get outa here. You can get your splits from Eddie at Boudreau's tonight.
If it works again tomorrow, I'll have a half million in cash here by noon the next day. We split 60-40.
All you gotta do is place a bet for me at Shaw's place. I'll supply all the money and the information.
No problem, Henry. Snyder went for it all the way. You shoulda seen the rag he lit under Lonnegan.
I figure your end of the score was at least 3 gees. I want 2 no matter what it was.
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