A Story's Structure: Sicario
Something unique about this work is the B story sprinkled throughout the narrative following Silvio's Son. Interestingly enough, it is divided into four parts. Coincidence? :–)
FORMAT: Scenes are divided into their four parts – Premise, Problem, Dilemma, Paradox. Furthermore, each part has it's own Premise, Problem, Dilemma, Paradox in the four line descriptions below it.
ACT ONE {38:00}
SCENE 1 {6:15}
Premise 1:00 – 2:45
Soldiers in suburbia, Kate & Reggie in truck with FBI teammates
Truck rams through house, taking perps by surprise
Agents arrest perps, Kate clears rooms, empty, empty...
Shots miss Kate, she returns fire, hits – suspect down
Problem 2:45 – 3:45
Man's dead, a hole's in the wall, Kate's OK, Reggie enters
Reggie sees something in the hole in the wall – WTF
Peel away dry wall, massive stench forces them back
Two dead bodies, bloody with plastic wrapped on their heads
Dilemma 3:45 – 5:45
Throwing up outside, Kate and Reggie gather themselves
Subordinate asks what to report, Kate says “the truth”
Dave arrives to survey scene, How many? Lots and probably more
They know Manuel Diaz is involved – no way to prove it
Paradox 5:45 – 7:15
Reggie breaks outside, PD is clearing shed
A floor door is uncovered, a lock is on it, call for cutters
“PD found something”, Kate goes toward the door —
Explosion! – dust, debris, blood — a severed arm
SCENE 2 {5:45}
Premise 7:15 – 8:15
Kate showers off the blood from the catastrophe
Kate's hands tremble as she tends her head wound
Kate stares into her reflection in the fogged mirror
News report – “Such a heavy body count this close to Phoenix...”
Problem 8:15 – 9:15
In DHS with Reggie – “What's going on”, officials talk Kate's resume
Official calls her a “Thumper” – her 5th Officer Involved Shooting
Reggie? Matt – “No lawyers on this train, just give me the girl”
Kate turns around – all eyes on her
Dilemma 9:15 – 11:00
They call her in, Manuel Diaz is senior member of a cartel
They inform Kate who's ignorant of Diaz's brother and cousin
Kate “This is not my department”, runs kidnap response team
Matt – “Are you married?” Kate – “Am I married?”
Paradox 11:00 – 13:00
Told to wait outside, Who are they? No clue, Matt wears flip flops
call Kate in, introduces Matt, expanding scope, she'll act as liaison
Where – “El Paso 'area'”, objective – “dramatically overreact”
Find men responsible? “The men who are really responsible”
SCENE A (part) {1:45}
Premise 13:00 – 14:45
Son wakes up father to get ready for his soccer match, says “OK”
Excited Son tells Mom to make eggs and coffee, father reflects
At breakfast, Father sneaks alcohol in coffee, wife catches him
Father winks at son, son “winks” back with both eyes
SCENE 3 {4:15}
Premise 14:45 – 16:00
Reggie's driving Kate to airport to ID checkpoint
Reggie not on list, he has to turn around
Kate diffuses, will call Reggie, he leaves
Matt leads her to board a luxury private jet
Problem 16:00 – 17:00
“DOD flies around in private jets now?”
Alejandro intro – “Been to Juarez before?”
Kate thought El Paso, Matt sleepily dismisses question
Awkward silence from Alejandro
Dilemma 17:00 – 18:00
Jet takes off from tarmac
Over desert with mountains in the distance
Over more radical, indistinct territory
Two unidentified pilots at the helm
Paradox 18:00 – 19:00
Alejandro is sleeping, his hand is shaking
He suddenly wakes up from nightmare, startling Kate
Kate – “Are you OK?”, probes Alejandro for more info
Alejandro – “Asking how a watch works ...keep an eye on the time”
SCENE 4 {5:00}
Premise 19:00 – 20:00
Steve gives them ride, small talk with Matt
Matt talks about Fiji, Steve – “Leave Fiji alone terrorists”
Matt – “Who's going over there today?” marshals, DEA...
He pulled a team, Matt “...'team' makes me feel all warm and fuzzy”
Problem 20:00 – 21:45
Leader explains Juarez mission to room full of police and soldiers
Calls Matt “man of the hour”, he plans to come along
Jokingly, Keith asks “you sober?”, Matt jokes back
Leader “Anyone not in this room is a potential shooter”
Dilemma 21:45 – 23:00
Kate hangs back and probes Alejandro – was a DA
Kate “Who do you work for?” Alejandro – “I go where I'm sent”
Kate “Where were you sent from?” Alejandro “Cartagena”
Alejandro “...you'll doubt everything...in the end you'll understand”
Paradox 23:00 – 24:00
Matt enters, Kate – “Is he CIA? Are you?”, Matt, DoD just follow
Kate not authorized to obey Alejandro, especially in Mexico
Matt “Fine...stay here”, Kate “...want to know what I'm getting into”
Matt – “You know you're doing nothing in Phoenix”
SCENE 5 {5:30}
Premise 24:00 – 25:30
Landscape of nice orderly houses in grid streets
beyond neighborhood, land is indistinct desert
A fence separates similar roads, but one is paved with power lines
Nestled in the wilderness – Juarez
Problem 25:30 – 26:15
Steve – “President Taft went to visit...took 4,000 men with him”
“It almost was called off...some guy had a pistol”
”...just walk up and blow [Taft's] brains out...but it was avoided”
“4,000 troops – think he felt safe?”
Dilemma 26:15 – 27:45
SUV Convoy quickly crosses into Juarez
Heavily armed policia joins to escort convoy
The policia accelerate beside them
Alejandro readies himself for possible attack
Paradox 27:45 – 29:30
Citizens hanging out, not minding the police activity
Closed bridge alters path, Alejandro – “Welcome to Juarez”
Mutilated bodies hang from the bridge with a banner
Steve – “It's brilliant, what they do” – make it seemed deserved
SCENE 6 {4:30}
Premise 29:30 – 31:00
Convoy stops
Gunshots in the distance
Missing women posters
Steve – “Those aren't firecrackers”
Problem 31:00 – 32:00
Convoy pulls into facility, Matt and others enter
Alejandro – “Nothing will happen here”
Alejandro – “Keep an eye out for the State Police...”
The large group exits with one man with a bag over his head
Dilemma 32:00 – 33:00
Convoy takes off with prisoner
Spotter vehicle tracks their speed
They call it out – “Eyes on rooftops”
Spotter vehicle disappears from view
Paradox 33:00 – 34:00
Policia escorts peel off, authorities wave convoy through
Traffic jam at border crossing
“What are we gonna do now?”
“Car broke down up ahead...gonna take a while, stand by”
SCENE 7 {4:00}
Premise 34:00 -35:00
Cars of unsuspecting people drive bumper-to-bumper
Suspicious car, Alejandro tells Kate to take her service weapon out
They call out red Impala and green Civic as potential threats
Alejandro points gun at the cars, telling Kate to roll window down
Problem 35:00 – 36:00
Alejandro – “Gun!”, rules “...must be engaged to engage”
They are denied permission to exit vehicle until suspects do
See lane clearing, “If it's coming it's coming now”
“Sleeping” gangster is holding a gun
Dilemma 36:00 – 37:00
Convoy stares down cars
Tattooed gangster exits car, soldiers establish perimeter
Standoff with young gangster, Alejandro – “Do you want to die?”
First car group killed, Kate – “WTF are we doing?”
Paradox 36:45 – 38:00
Guns on second car, Steve shakes head 'don't try it'
As they retreat – second car group attacks, gets killed
State Police attempts to kill Kate, she shoots him
National news? Steve – “Won't even make the papers in El Paso”
ACT TWO {40:00}
SCENE 8 {5:30}
Premise 38:00 – 39:15
Team all exit and go inside, Matt – “...got a little nutty, huh?”
Kate confronts Matt – “that was f'n illegal”
Matt says she's here because he knew Reggie wasn't ready
Matt – “This is the future, Kate”
Problem 39:15 – 40:15
Steve is giving Guillermo water in interrogation room
Matt – “You didn't think we'd get you...” G. – “No hablo ingles”
Matt – “I love it when they 'no hablo ingles'”
Matt – “I brought and old buddy of yours, I'll bet you'll hablo to him”
Dilemma 40:15 – 41:45
Visitor kept prisoner alive, apologizes for difficulty of mission
Alejandro asks about Visitor's family
Visitor informs about Fausto's tunnel into Arizona, time ticking
Alejandro tells visitor that it's better that he not go into the room
Paradox 41:45 – 43:30
Matt hums patriotic song as Alejandro enters
Steve steps out and turns off camera
Matt – “...keep looking at me for? No hablas ingles, remember?”
No questions asked, struggling is heard
SCENE 9 {4:30}
Premise 43:30 – 45:15
Kate gets a cigarette from a soldier
Another soldier – “Like fireworks? Wanna see something cool?”
They travel up rooftop, gunshots can be heard
Explosion – Juarez in chaos, Kate “Unbelievable”
Problem 45:15 46:15
Matt's on the phone setting up things in Tucson
Reggie “They let me on base when you need a ride, don't they”
Reggie asks Kate if she's OK, Matt – “She's fine”
Reggie – “Who's that?” Kate – “We're going to Tucson”
Dilemma 46:15 – 47:15
They pull into an immigration facility and are confronted by Official
Official “...Matt, why are you holding up my transport
Official “How's the auditor gonna react...$8,000...Dominoes Pizza”
Reggie – “..what happened in El Paso” K. – “...we weren't in El Paso”
Paradox 47:15 – 48:00
Kate walks to hundreds of immigrants sit on the floor near buses
A group of men, some look at her
Kate averts her eyes, then looks up
A group of women, all stare at her
SCENE 10 {5:00}
Premise 48:00 – 49:15
A. – “We want to talk to the people caught around Nogales area”
Translator tells groups A, D, and E to stay, everyone else on buses
The people hesitate to move, but comply
Kate – “What are we looking for?” Matt – “Just keep watching”
Problem 49:15 – 50:30
Alejandro asks where immigrants are from, about their families, etc
Reggie wants to get some answers as to what's going on
Kate already asked, “You think you can do better?” – Reggie – “Yeah”
Kate – “Go ahead”— Reggie immediately and loudly calls Matt over
Dilemma 50:30 – 51:45
Reggie – “I want to know objective or I walk” Kate – “I walk too”
Matt – “What do you wanna know?” Reggie – “Everything”
Guillermo told about a tunnel, trying to find where migrants avoid
Kate doesn't believe Guillermo 'just told' them where drug tunnel is
Paradox – 51:45 – 53:00
Reggie – “Just tell us the truth”, Matt “...get Manuel to go see boss”
Alejandro on Fausto, everyday people are kidnapped/killed for him
Reggie – “just don't keep us in the dark” Alejandro “...afraid?”
They get sent home, Reggie “drove 100 miles”, Kate – “blessing”
SCENE 11 {4:15}
Premise 53:00-54:15
Kate lays in bed dejected
On computer looking up gruesome images of drug war
She continues to click through faster, expressionless
Can't take it anymore, slams computer closed, grabs cigarette
SCENE A (part) {0:45}
Problem 54:15-55:00
Mother calls Son to come eat, they sit at table
Son – “Where's Dad?” Mom – “He's working”
Son – “When's he back?” Mom – “I don't know”
She pauses eating and looks at him concerned
SCENE 11 (cont'd)
Problem 55:00 – 56:00
Reggie probes in Kates personal life, K. “Ask me something else”
Reggie warns Kate about Matt, CIA or DoD
Reggie – “You need somebody watching your 6...”
K. – “not scratching surface” R. – “Sure picked... MFers to show us”
Dilemma 56:00 – 56:45
Kate and Reggie arrive at motel
Matt cracks door and jokes “What's the password”
Told to observe as immigrants explain crossing locations
Alejandro – “This is our spot”, the immigrants collectively “No”
Paradox 56:45 – 58:00
Immigrant – “[It's] drug land...never cross where there are tunnels”
Immigrant – “For years it was the best place to cross...”
Alejandro asks him to mark the trail, hidden behind and old car
Matt – “So Guillermo was telling the truth”
SCENE 12 {6:30}
Premise 58:00 – 59:30
Bank surveillance cameras
Matt points out target and importance of receipt
She leaves bank, SWAT raid and arrest her
Matt “Even if his dog opened an account...freeze it”
Problem 59:30
Officer – “Mobile money launderer”, dumps out banded wads
Kate – “You coming?” Matt – “Don't go in the bank”
Kate gets recorded by cameras, Investigator has frozen accounts
Line of credit – Investigator – “This money is invisible”
Dilemma 1:01:00 – 1:02:15
Matt – “It's a bogus bust, Kate. You can't prosecute it...”
Kate – prosecute, Matt – “gotta get Manuel called back to Mexico”
While his kids play in the pool, Manuel Diaz gets word
Diaz holds the same colored band in his hand
Paradox 1:02:15 – 1:04:30
The criminal activity is suspect but isn't illegal
Prosecuted more than last 2 years combined – feeling it?
Bring in people like Matt to stir the pot – create opportunities
FBI Director “The boundaries' been moved”
SCENE 13 {6:15}
Premise 1:04:30 – 1:06:15
Kate grabs beers, spaces out, Ted is at bar
Reggie talks about her “bra situation”
Team says Kate used to look the best, but now, no
Kate “You sound like my mother”, R. – “Maybe I am your mother”
Problem 1:05:30 – 1:07:15
Ted at bar is looking over as Reggie continues to chatter
Kate – “Where have you taken me”
Ted comes over, “You gonna introduce me?”
Kate remembers Ted struck out in slow pitch softball
Dilemma 1:07:15 – 1:08:15
Reggie – “Ted, he's a good guy...divorced”
At table Ted tells Kate something in her ear, she smiles
Kate and Ted enjoy dancing
The dancing transforms into kissing
Paradox 1:08:15 – 1:10:45
Ted and Kate kiss in Kate's apartment
Kate sees Ted has same colored band, she stops
Kate tries to fight Ted and get her gun
Alejandro is there with gun pointed at Ted
SCENE 14 {5:30}
Premise 1:10:45 – 1:12:00
Kate – “You used me as bait”
Matt – “You used yourself as bait. I told you not to go in the bank”
Pretend like it was planned. Good news, plan is working
Reggie – “I thought he was a friend”
Problem 1:12:00 – 1:13:45
Ted asks how he's going to talk if they keep hitting him
Matt asks him about other dirty cops, Ted avoids question
Alejandro pulls Ted's hair, Ted – “OK, OK!!”
M. – beauty of beat to pulp “No one...notice a few more scratches”
Dilemma 1:13:45 – 1:14:30
Matt will get to decide if his daughter gets federal protection
Ted stalls, says he's in over his head
Alejandro gives Ted a 'wet willy' – he screams “get it out!”
A. – “which phone” T. – “The sh*tty one” A. – “That's the sh*tty one?”
Paradox 1:14:30 – 1:16:15
Alejandro asks how Kate's feeling – “You should have shot him”
Kate – “I just tried to have sex with my hitman”
Alejandro, it wasn't a hit – “They're after us, not you”
Alejandro – “You remind me of someone very special to me”
SCENE A (part) {1:45}
Dilemma 1:16:15 – 1:18:00
Son brings Father breakfast
Son asks Father if he's working today? Father – “Tonight”
Son – “Do you want to play soccer in the park?”, Father agrees
Son reaches to touch father's gun, Father “Never touch that!”
ACT THREE {37:00}
SCENE 15 {4:30}
Premise 1:18:00 – 1:19:30
Kate – “...what's the plan”, Matt – “We're going hunting”
Alejandro greets Kate, gently asks her about how she's doing
Soldier briefs his team, Matt – “...consider [Uniforms] bandits too”
Soldier asks Matt for RoE, Matt – “We'll save that for later”
Problem 1:19:30 – 1:20:30
Soldier – “...clearing and placing an agent...creating a diversion”
Confirmation on Diaz moving, 'not dressed', 'didn't tell us'
“CIA can't operate within borders w/o domestic agency attached”
Matt – “That's it. That's why you're here”
Dilemma 1:20:30 – 1:21:30
In shock Kate walks out to the car, plates, “Front and back”
Reggie – “Kate, f*ck these people...we don't have to do this”
Reggie wants to walk, Kate – “No. I have to know”
3 SUV convoy pulls out from cheap motel
Paradox 1:21:30 – 1:22:30
A load of drugs are carted out in a garage
The Father from earlier is waiting with an open trunk
They load the drugs into the State Police car
He pulls out on his way, a storm is on the horizon
SCENE 16 {4:45}
Premise 1:22:30 – 1:23:30
Diaz crosses the border
Gotta hit tunnel as soon as they get there
Update on target location, everyone is suiting up incl. Kate & Reg
Soldier – “Don't shoot anyone on my f*cking team”
Problem 1:23:30 – 1:24:45
Alejandro suits up in black
Alejandro tests night vision, looks at Kate
They split squads and move out
They descend into horizon and vanish in the darkness
Dilemma 1:24:45 – 1:26:15
Weapons drawn, they travel and scan area
Soldiers running, see car body that's a sign the entrance is close
Satellite image of two teams splitting up
Two teams meet up – leader gives look back (don't shoot my team)
Paradox 1:26:30 – 1:27:15
“12 meters straight ahead”
Matt – “Need to boogie...quiet 'til we find the center”
Alejandro – “Draw fighters...Don't follow me, I'll be fine”
RoE? Matt “Weapons free, my friend. Weapons free”
SCENE 17 {4:45}
Premise 1:27:15 – 1:28:45
They position themselves at the tunnel entrance
Leader enters tunnel wielding knife
Knife slashes are heard, gagging and grunts
Follow a trail of dead bodies to Leader
Problem 1:28:45 – 1:29:45
Kate and rest of team move down into tunnel
light in tunnel – A soldier removes his helmet and advances
Kate bumps her head, keeps moving...
Kate and Reggie remove helmets and advance
Dilemma 1:29:45 – 1:30:45
Shooting and yelling starts
Soldiers lay down suppressive fire, Matt joins in to help
Shooting intensifies as they move deeper into the tunnel
Kate is hit in the weapon, Reggie – “Leave it, stay on my 6”
Paradox 1:30:45 – 1:32:00
Alejandro goes deeper in tunnel
Kate leaves Reggie and follows
Father argues with worker to hurry, he's shot by Alejandro
Kate tells Alejandro to freeze, Alejandro shoots Kate in vest
SCENE 18 {5:00}
Premise 1:32:00 – 1:33:00
Alejandro reports in, gets directions from radio
Alejandro tells Silvio what to do
Silvio – “I have a son”
Alejandro – “What you do now is for your family”
Problem 1:33:00 – 1:34:30
Matt congratulates team on clean op
Reggie – “Where's Kate?”, Kate appears, punches Matt in the face
Matt trips her, Reggie fights soldiers – pinned gun to face
She struggles as Matt tells her to stop moving
Dilemma 1:34:30 – 1:36:15
Matt – “...wrong tunnel, you saw things you shouldn't have seen”
Kate – “What is Medellin?”, he explains it's about control
Kate thinks Alejandro = Cartel, Matt says he works for whoever
Matt – “So he can get the person who cut off his wife's head...”
Paradox 1:36:15 – 1:37:00
Kate – “He can't do this”
Kate – “I'm not the person you're gonna hide it all behind”
Kate – “I'm gonna talk” Matt – “No, you're not”
Kate – “I'll tell everyone...” Matt – “That would be a major mistake”
SCENE 19 {5:45}
Premise 1:37:00 – 1:38:00
Ride in car, see car on road, Alejandro confirms it's Diaz
Alejandro tells Silvio “Accelerate. You're going to pull over that car” Silvio does, Diaz looking in rear-view – “This motherf*cker”
Diaz slows, Alejandro – “Very good”
Problem 1:38:00 – 1:39:30
Diaz pulls over, removes gun from bag
Silvio told to order Diaz to 'leave the car', stays in, again, leaves
Raise jacket, Diaz – “You know who I am?”, Silvio – “I'll kill you”
Alejandro – “What a good police officer you make, Silvio”
Dilemma 1:39:30 – 1:41:00
Alejandro tells Silvio to exit the car, he hesitantly complies
Diaz – “What do you want?”, Alejandro kills Silvio, wounds Diaz
Diaz – “Do you know who I am?”, A. – “I know who you are”
A. – “If you try anything, your daughters will be violated by 20 men”
Paradox 1:41:00 – 1:42:45
Diaz gets in car at Alejandro's gunpoint, Silvio lays dead on road
They arrive. Guard – “it's Manuel Diaz. Clear”, instantly shot dead
Diaz – “What happens when we get to the house”
Diaz creeps, guards investigate, he's bleeding out, all shot dead
SCENE 20 {5:00}
Premise 1:42:45 – 1:44:00
Alejandro enters house, Radio “6 remain”
Moves thru the house, shoots guard dead
Sees family of 4 eating. Maid and him lock eyes, she stays silent
He spits in the house as he approaches
Problem 1:44:00 – 1:45:30
Alejandro pulls gun on Fausto – “Stay calm or we're dead”
Alejandro asks if children speak English, no, then they will
Alejandro – “Eat, eat”, no one moves
A. – “Every night you have families killed and yet here you dine”
Dilemma 1:45:30 – 1:46:30
F. – “Do you think the people that sent you here are any different”
F. – “Your wife, you think she'd be proud of what you've become”
A. – “don't forget about my daughter”, Fausto – “It wasn't personal”
Alejandro – “For me it is”
Paradox 1:46:30 – 1:47:45
Fausto – “Not in front of my boys”
Wife starts crying as Alejandro stares at Fausto
Alejandro – “Time to meet God” Alejandro kills Fausto's family
Alejandro – “Go ahead and finish your meal”, kills Fausto
SCENE 21 {6:30}
Premise 1:47:45 – 1:50:00
Kate smokes on balcony, senses a presence
A. – “I would recommend not standing on balconies for a while”
Alejandro sits with gun, tells Kate to sit
A. – “You remind me of the daughter they took away from me”
Problem 1:50:00 – 1:51:15
He needs her to sign a paper saying the operation was by the book
Kate – “I can't sign that”, Alejandro – “Sign it”
Kate stares at the paper, begins to cry
Alejandro comforts her “It's OK”, leads her hand to the pen
Dilemma 1:51:15 – 1:53:00
Kate – “I can't sign that”
Alejandro puts gun to her head, “You would be committing suicide”
She thinks as tears stream down, he wipes them
A. “You should move to a small town...rule of law still exists”
Paradox 1:53:00 – 1:54:15
Kate points a gun at Alejandro as he walks away
He stares at her and calmly faces her
She breaks down trembling and tearing up
She lowers the gun, he walks away
SCENE A (part) {1:00}
Paradox 1:54:15 – 1:55:15
Son stares at father's empty bed
His soccer game begins, no lines on field
Son takes shot – distant gunshots ring out pausing the action
Whistle blows and they continue playing
END
Thank you.
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more coming soon
