Screenplay data
Five criminals, including the enigmatic Roger "Verbal" Kint, are forced into a police lineup and subsequently manipulated by theer mythical crime lord Keyser Soze into a series of escalating heists. Their final job, a dangerous drug deal on a boat, results in a massive explosion, leaving only Verbal and a critically burned Hungarian mobster alive. U.S. Customs Agent David Kujan interrogates Verbal, who recounts an elaborate tale of Soze's ruthlessness and implicates Dean Keaton as the elusive crime lord, a story Kujan believes until Verbal's release. Kujan then discovers Verbal fabricated his testimony from objects in the interrogation room and receives a faxed sketch of Soze matching Verbal, who is seen walking away, his limp disappearing, revealing himself as the true Keyser Soze.
Save the Cat beat sheet
The Usual Suspects opens with the dying Keaton on a boat, setting a tone of fatalism.
Open full beat sheetRoger Kint is listed as Small-time con artist. Age thirty-odd, suffers from cerebral palsy, twisted left hand, slight limp. In the parsed data, Roger Kint is connected to 34 scenes, 61 dialogue lines, 63 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
34 scenes / 61 dialogue linesDean Keaton is listed as Former corrupt cop and thief. Age forty, salty-gray hair, battered face, sturdy build. In the parsed data, Dean Keaton is connected to 25 scenes, 49 dialogue lines, 50 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
25 scenes / 49 dialogue linesMcManus is listed as Hijacker. Age twenty-eight, top-notch entry man. In the parsed data, McManus is connected to 21 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
21 scenes / 12 dialogue linesDavid Kujan is listed as U.S. Customs Special Agent. Thirtyish, dark-haired, determined. In the parsed data, David Kujan is connected to 19 scenes, 38 dialogue lines, 38 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
19 scenes / 38 dialogue linesTodd Hockney is listed as Hijacker. Dark, portly man in his thirties, good with explosives. In the parsed data, Todd Hockney is connected to 17 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 8.
17 scenes / 1 dialogue linesFred Fenster is listed as Hijacker. Tall, thin man in his thirties, gopher. In the parsed data, Fred Fenster is connected to 11 scenes, first appearing around scene 4.
11 scenes / 0 dialogue linesEdie Finneran is listed as Attorney. Age thirty-three, poised and attractive. In the parsed data, Edie Finneran is connected to 6 scenes, 41 dialogue lines, 44 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
6 scenes / 41 dialogue linesJack Baer is listed as F.B.I. Agent. Tall and fit, late thirties. In the parsed data, Jack Baer is connected to 6 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 19.
6 scenes / 7 dialogue linesKobayashi is listed as Keyser Soze's lawyer/representative. Tall, slim, well-groomed. In the parsed data, Kobayashi is connected to 6 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 36.
6 scenes / 2 dialogue linesKeyser Soze is listed as Mythical crime lord. A figure of legend, ruthless, powerful. In the parsed data, Keyser Soze is connected to 4 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
4 scenes / 4 dialogue linesKeaton is dying on a boat, confronted by Keyser Soze who kills him before the boat explodes.
Dean Keaton, Keyser SozePolice raid McManus's apartment.
McManusPolice raid Hockney's auto shop.
Todd HockneyPolice surround and arrest Fenster.
Fred FensterKeaton and Edie meet with business associates before being interrupted by Kujan.
Dean Keaton, David Kujan, Edie FinneranThe five suspects are put in a police line-up.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd Hockney, Fred FensterThe suspects are held in a cell together and discuss their situation.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd Hockney, Fred FensterThe five suspects are in a cell. McManus proposes a job, Keaton refuses, but the others are interested.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd Hockney, Fred FensterAgent Baer investigates the aftermath of the pier explosion.
David Kujan, Jack BaerA body drifts in the water.
Verbal Kint negotiates immunity for his testimony.
Roger KintKujan and Rabin discuss Verbal's deal.
David KujanKujan and Rabin argue about the case and Verbal.
David KujanKeaton and Verbal argue about the Taxi Service job; Keaton eventually agrees to participate.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, Edie FinneranBaer arrives at the hospital to see the survivor.
Jack BaerVerbal narrates the background of the Taxi Service racket as Oscar Whitehead is picked up by corrupt cops.
Roger KintBaer interrogates the survivor, who mentions Keyser Soze.
Jack BaerCorrupt officers Strausz and Rizzi transport Oscar Whitehead.
Kujan prepares to interview Verbal.
David Kujan, Roger KintThe police car is ambushed by the crew.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd Hockney, Fred FensterKujan begins the interrogation of Verbal.
David Kujan, Roger KintThe crew celebrates the successful robbery of the emeralds.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd Hockney, Fred FensterRabin monitors the interrogation.
Keaton and Verbal wait to see Edie; Keaton watches her from afar.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, Edie FinneranKujan pressures Verbal about his past and Keaton.
David Kujan, Roger KintKujan interrogates Verbal about Keaton's past and the Taxi Service job.
Roger Kint, David KujanKeaton and Edie leave the station, encountering the others.
Dean Keaton, Edie Finneran, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd Hockney, Fred FensterBaer and others interview the survivor Kovash about the harbor shootout.
Keyser Soze, Jack BaerVerbal visits Keaton at his apartment.
Dean Keaton, Roger KintThe crew meets Redfoot to discuss a new job.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd Hockney, Fred FensterVerbal tries to recruit Keaton for a job, angering Edie.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, Edie FinneranKeaton and the crew confront Redfoot about the job and the lawyer Kobayashi.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd Hockney, Fred Fenster, KobayashiVerbal continues his interrogation with Kujan.
Roger Kint, David KujanAgent Jack Baer arrives to speak with Kujan.
David Kujan, Jack BaerKujan confronts Verbal with the name Keyser Soze.
Roger Kint, David KujanFlashback to the meeting with Kobayashi.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd Hockney, Fred Fenster, KobayashiVerbal tells the story of Keyser Soze's origin.
Roger Kint, David KujanFlashback to the massacre of Soze's family.
Keyser SozeKovash and Bodi work with Tracy Fitzgerald to create a composite sketch of Keyser Soze.
Fred Fenster, Roger KintA boy named Brando discovers a bloated corpse wedged in the rocks.
Verbal recounts the events leading to the death of Fenster to Kujan.
Roger Kint, David KujanThe group finds Fenster's body and is forced to bury him.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd HockneyVerbal explains why the group didn't run after Fenster's death.
Roger Kint, David KujanThe group prepares to intercept Kobayashi.
Todd Hockney, KobayashiMcManus ambushes Kobayashi in the elevator.
McManus, KobayashiThe group confronts Kobayashi.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd Hockney, KobayashiKobayashi shows the group that Edie Finneran is nearby.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd Hockney, Edie Finneran, KobayashiThe group discusses the logistics of the upcoming job.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd HockneyThe group prepares for the final confrontation at the boat.
Dean Keaton, Roger Kint, McManus, Todd HockneyHockney finds the money but is killed.
Todd HockneyKujan and Rabin discuss the discovery of Arturo Marquez's body.
Roger Kint, David Kujan, Jack BaerKujan confronts Verbal about the boat incident, claiming there were no drugs.
David Kujan, Roger KintKeaton and McManus search the boat, discovering it is empty of drugs.
Dean Keaton, McManusJaime hides a man in a bathrobe in a cabin.
McManusKeaton and McManus realize the hold is empty.
Dean Keaton, McManusKeaton and McManus are ambushed by gunfire.
Dean Keaton, McManusJaime is killed by an unseen figure.
Keaton finds McManus dead with a pipe in his neck.
Dean Keaton, McManusVerbal realizes the danger and tries to warn Keaton.
Roger Kint, Dean KeatonKeaton is struck by the crane.
Dean KeatonVerbal sees a mysterious man in a suit.
Roger KintKujan interrogates Verbal, accusing Keaton of being Keyser Soze.
David Kujan, Roger KintVerbal watches the man in the suit kill Keaton.
Roger Kint, Dean KeatonKujan continues to press Verbal about the identity of Soze.
David Kujan, Roger KintMetzheiser inspects a sketch.
Verbal collects his belongings.
Roger KintKujan realizes the truth about Soze.
David KujanVerbal walks away, his limp disappearing.
Roger KintThe first thing I learned on the job, know what it was? How to spot a murderer. Let's say you arrest three guys for the same killing. Put them all in jail overnight. The next morning, whoever is sleeping is your man. If you're guilty, you know you're caught, you get some rest - let your guard down, you follow?
And that was how it began. The five of us brought in on a trumped-up charge to be leaned on by half-wits. What the cops never figured out, and what I know now, was that these men would never break, never lie down, never bend over for anybody. .. Anybody.
No, you're missing the point. Shut up. I don't want to hear anything you have to say. I don't want to know about your "job". Just don't let me hear you. I want nothing to do with any of you - I beg your pardon but all of you can go to hell.
...and the desk Sergeant is actually trying to tell me he can't release you? Can you believe that? You weren't even charged. New York police - Jesus. I want to take pictures of your face to bring to the D.A. first thing in the morning.
Look, we've all been put out by this, I figure we owe it to ourselves to salvage a little dignity. Now Fenster and I got wind of a possible job -
Edie Finneran. She is upstairs in my office for an extradition deposition. I requested she be put on the case personally. She flew out yesterday.
Sure. And I appreciate that. And I want to help you, Agent Kujan. I like cops. I would have liked to have been a Fed myself but my C.P. was -
Sure. And I appreciate that. And I want to help you, Agent Kujan. I like cops. I would have liked to have been a Fed myself but my C.P. was -
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