- A brief breakdown of how the story beats are laid out in Thelma & Louise
CATALYST
Page 1 LOUISE (at pay phone) I hope you're packed, little sister, 'cause we are outta here tonight. THELMA (whispering guiltily) Well, wait now. I still have to ask Darryl if I can go. LOUISE (V.O.) You mean you haven't asked him yet? For Christ sake, Thelma, is he your husband or your father?
SETUP
Page 6 [Thelma] opens the drawer of her nightstand… we see there is a gun in there, one Darryl bought her for protection. It is unloaded, but there is a box of bullets. PAGE 7 THELMA Louise, will you take care of this gun? PAGE 10 ATTENDANT There's a place straight down this road. It's got real good food… … THELMA Can't we go? Just for a few minutes? LOUISE We're not gonna get to the cabin till after dark as it is, Thelma. THELMA (whining) Then what difference does it make if we stop? Come on. I never get to do stuff like this. … LOUISE Alright, but I really don’t want to stay long.
INCITING INCIDENT
PAGE 10 ATTENDANT There's a place straight down this road. It's got real good food… … THELMA Can't we go? Just for a few minutes? LOUISE We're not gonna get to the cabin till after dark as it is, Thelma. THELMA (whining) Then what difference does it make if we stop? Come on. I never get to do stuff like this. … LOUISE Alright, but I really don’t want to stay long. PAGE 12 … a MAN comes over with a chair which he pulls up to the table and straddles backwards.
FIRST ACT TURNING POINT
Page 20 Louise takes two long strides back towards him, raises the gun and FIRES a bullet into his face. We hear his body HIT the gravel parking lot.
GOAL STATEMENT
Page 37 THELMA (quietly, to Louise) Thelma, I'm going to Mexico. I think I can make it in two and a half days, but I'm goig to have to haul ass. Are you up to this? I mean, I have to know. This isn't a game. I'm in deep shit. I gotta know what you're gonna do.
MARSHALING FORCES/FORMING ALLIANCES
Page 46 THELMA How long before we're in Goddamn Mexico?
MIDPOINT (POINT OF NO RETURN)
PAGE 72 THELMA Shit. That little sonofabitch burgled me. I don't believe it. Page 76 LOUISE What? You robbed the 7-Eleven? You robbed the Goddamn 7-Eleven?
PLOT POINT II
PAGE 114 Hal looks over at the surveillance man who nods to say "we got it." The entire room springs into action. … THELMA … I don't have something to go back for. And now, I don't know… something's crossed over in me and I can't go back. I mean, I just couldn't live…
CLIMAX
Page 133 THELMA God, I don't know if I've got the strength for this one. LOUISE (shaking her head) I know I don't. THELMA (tired) Then let's not. LOUISE What? THELMA Let's not get caught. LOUISE What are you talking about? THELMA (indicating the Grand Canyon) Go. LOUISE What? Thelma is smiling at her. THELMA Go. … LOUISE Are you sure? Thelma nods. THELMA Go. Louise puts the car in gear and FLOORS it.