Alien Beat Sheet

Alien

Screenplay by Dan O’Bannon
Story by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett
Directed by Ridley Scott
Running time: 114 minutes
Year: 1979

BASIC STORY MAP

PROTAGONIST: Ripley, female warrant officer onboard the commercial towing spacecraft, The Nostromo
CHARACTERIZATION/MAIN MISBEHAVIOR: Tough, Brave, Resourceful / Callous
EXTERNAL GOAL: To investigate the transmission / To kill the alien
INTERNAL GOAL: To fight for her life
MAIN DRAMATIC CONFLICT: The Alien / Weyland-Yutani Corporation
THEMES: Survival / Corporate Greed
CENTRAL DRAMATIC QUESTION: Will Ripley survive?
ENDING: Ripley kills the alien.

STORY ENGINES

ACT I

The crew of the Nostromo are awaken from stasis by a mysterious transmission that they are required to investigate on a nearby planetoid, LV-426. As Ripley works to decode the transmission, Dallas, Kane, and Lambert trace the transmission to an alien spacecraft on LV-426. Later, Ripley learns that the transmission is not a S.O.S., but instead, a warning.

ACT II-A

While searching the spacecraft, a creature bursts out of an egg and attaches itself to Kane’s face. Dallas and Lambert rush him back to the Nostromo, but Ripley refuses entry, citing quarantine protocol. Ash ignores protocol and lets them onboard. Later, they find Kane conscious and the creature dead in the medical bay. Before they leave for Earth, an alien bursts out of Kane’s chest, killing him, and escapes into the ship.

ACT II-B

After the alien, now seven feet tall, kills Brett, Dallas devises a plan to blow it into space. Ripley gains access to Mother after Dallas’ death, discovers that Ash has been ordered by the company to preserve the alien at the expense of the crew’s lives. Ripley confronts Ash and he attempts to kill her. Parker and Lambert save Ripley, discover Ash is an android. Ash believes that they will be unable to kill it. Ripley then devises a plan to self-destruct the Nostromo and escape via shuttle.

ACT III

Parker and Lambert are killed by the alien. Ripley then activates the Nostromo’s self-destruct mechanism, makes it to the shuttle before detonation. As she prepares for stasis, she discovers the alien has stowed away. She puts on a spacesuit, decompresses the cabin, and, seconds before the alien can strike, opens the doors, sucking the alien into space. The alien attempts to climb back inside through the engine, but Ripley fires the engines and incinerates it.

FULL STORY MAP

ACT I

Sequence I: The crew of the Nostromo, a commercial towing spacecraft, are awaken from stasis by a mysterious transmission.

1-2 – OPENING IMAGES: Deep space. A star provides backlight to the dark side of a planet.

3 – A giant star-freighter, Weyland-Yutani Corporation’s ‘The Nostromo,’ travels through space. Text super-imposed on the screen:

4 – The camera floats through the vast, seemingly lifeless ship.

5 – The Nostromo’s computer boots up.

7 – The crew awakens from stasis.

8 – During a meal, the engineers, BRETT and PARKER, ask the captain, DALLAS, for a bigger share of profit. Dallas tells the men they’ll get what they’re entitled to contractually.

9-10 – Dallas consults Nostromo’s computer, MOTHER.

10-11 – The crew works at their assigned posts, but can’t locate Earth.

12 – INCITING INCIDENT: Dallas informs the crew they are only halfway home. Mother has awakened them because the ship received a transmission of unknown origin.

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Sequence II: As Ripley works to decode the transmission, Dallas, Kane, and Lambert trace the transmission to an alien spacecraft on LV-426.

13 – Parker argues for more pay if they are to investigate the transmission. Senior Officer ASH informs Parker that he’s contractually obligated to assist in the investigation or forfeit all shares of the ship’s profit.

14 – The crew listens to the signal, but no one can identify the sound. The ship’s navigator, LAMBERT, locates the transmission on a nearby planetoid, LV-426.

14-18 – The Nostromo detaches from its refinery and lands on LV-426. It suffers damage upon its descent, lands in a massive storm.

21 – Dallas, Executive Officer KANE, and Lambert leave the ship in the storm to investigate the signal. Warrant Officer RIPLEY, Brett, and Parker make repairs, while Ash monitors Dallas and crew’s progress.

23 – Parker and Brett question Ripley regarding their shares. Ripley insists they will be paid what’s required by law.

24 – Dallas, Kane, and Lambert make their way through the storm.

24 – STRONG MOVEMENT FORWARD: Ripley questions Ash over the transmission, learns Mother hasn’t identified it yet. She sits at a console and works to decode it.

25 – The storm stops. Dallas, Kane, and Lambert trace the transmission to an alien spacecraft. Through their video feeds, Ash is unable to identify it.

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Sequence III: On the alien spacecraft, Dallas, Kane, and Lambert find a fossilized alien with its ribs burst outwards. Ripley learns that the transmission is not a S.O.S., but instead, a warning.

26 – Communications from Dallas, Kane, and Lambert to the ship receive interference. Ash is unable to communicate effectively.

26 – Lambert wishes to leave, but Kane insists they carry on.

27 – Dallas, Kane, and Lambert enter and search the spacecraft. Ash loses their signal.

29 – CHESTBURSTER SETUP: They find a giant, fossilized alien with its ribs burst outward.

31 – END OF ACT ONE TURN: Ripley reports to Ash that Mother has deciphered part of the transmission. It’s not a S.O.S., but rather, a warning.

31 – DECISION: Ripley wishes to leave and warn the crew, but Ash talks her out of it.

ACT II-A

Sequence I: While Kane investigates a derelict cargo hold, a creature bursts out of an egg and attaches itself to his face. Dallas and Lambert rush him back to the Nostromo, but Ripley refuses entry, citing quarantine protocol. Ash ignores protocol and lets them onboard.

32-33 – On the spacecraft, they lower Kane into a derelict cargo hold, where he discovers many eggs.

35 – Kane notices movement in one of the eggs, tells the others he sees signs of organic life. As he investigates further, a creature bursts out of the egg and attaches itself to his face.

35-37 – FIRST TRIAL: The storm pummels Dallas and Lambert as they bring Kane to the Nostromo. Dallas informs Ripley that a creature has attached itself to Kane’s face. Ripley insists they follow quarantine protocol, which would require them held in quarantine for twenty-four hours. Dallas and Lambert become furious, as Kane could be dead within that time. Regardless, Ripley won’t budge. She demands they remain in quarantine or the rest of the ship could be infected.

37 – Ash breaks protocol and lets them in.

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Sequence II: Dallas and Ash attempt to remove the creature from Kane’s face, but discover it bleeds an acid-like substance. Later, they find Kane has regained consciousness and the creature dead.

37 – In the medical bay, Dallas and Ash remove Kane’s helmet. They discover the creature has a firm grasp on Kane’s face, with its tail wrapped around his neck.

39-40 – They scan Kane’s body and discover the creature has part of its body down Kane’s throat. Ash surmises this maybe keeping him alive, feeding him oxygen, but Dallas wants it removed immediately, even if it kills Kane.

40-42 – Dallas attempts to cut off one of the creature’s legs, but discovers the creature bleeds an acid-like substance. Its blood burns through the floor and down two levels.

44-46 – Ripley questions Ash over Kane and the creature, learns it sheds its cells, continually building defenses against its adverse environment. Ripley criticizes Ash for breaking the quarantine law, saying he might have risked everyone’s life for one.

47-50 – Ash calls Dallas to the infirmary. There, they find Kane conscious in the medical bay without the creature on his face. Ripley finds the creature dead.

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Sequence III: The crew leaves LV-426 for the refinery. During their last meal before entering stasis, an alien bursts out of Kane’s chest, killing him, and escapes into the ship.

50 – Ash inspects the creature. Ripley argues to get rid of it, but Dallas sides with Ash, electing to preserve the specimen for future tests.

51 – Ripley questions Dallas over having the creature on the ship. He states company policy dictates preserving it.

51 – Dallas elects to leave LV-426 even though the ship is not fully operational.

53 – The Nostromo leaves LV-426, heads back to the refinery.

55 – The crew finds Kane conscious and talking, seemingly back to normal. They elect to share a meal before they go back into stasis.

56-57 – MIDPOINT & CHESTBURSTER PAYOFF: During the meal, Kane begins to have what seems to be a seizure. When the crew attempts to help, a small alien bursts out of his chest and escapes.

ACT II-B

Sequence I: The crew breaks into teams to capture the alien. The alien, now seven feet tall, kills Brett when he becomes separated from his team.

58 – The crew send Kane’s body into space.

59-60 – The crew devises a plan and breaks into two teams to catch the alien: Ripley, Brett, and Parker; Dallas, Lambert, and Ash.

63-64 – Believing they have the alien located, Brett, Parker, and Ripley get a good scare from Jones the cat.

65-66 – Brett chases after the cat and discovers the alien has shed its skin.

68 – Brett finds the cat. The alien, now seven feet tall, appears from behind and attacks Brett.

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Sequence II: Dallas devises a plan to drive the alien through the air ducts with the flamethrower to an air lock and blow it into space. Locked in the air duct, Dallas becomes confused over the alien’s location and is taken out.

69-70 – Shaken over Brett’s death, the crew regroups. Ripley and Parker reveal that the alien is now bigger and using the air ducts to move around. Ash suggests they fight the alien with fire. Dallas has Parker assemble flamethrowers.

72 – Dallas consults Mother on the alien, but Mother does not have enough info to help.

72 – Armed with a flamethrower, Dallas climbs into the air shaft system to track the alien. He intends to drive and trap it in an airlock where they can then blast it into space.

74 – Lambert locates the alien, communicates its location with Dallas. Dallas moves.

75 – Lambert loses the alien’s signal. Dallas finds evidence that the alien has been in his location.

76 – Confused over the alien’s location, Dallas moves into a lower shaft and is attacked by the alien.

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Sequence II: Ripley commands the crew to follow through with Dallas’ plan. With her new access to Mother, she discovers that Ash has been ordered by the company to preserve the alien at the expense of the crew’s lives. Ripley confronts Ash and he attempts to kill her. Parker and Lambert defend Ripley, knocking Ash’s head off in the process, and discover he’s an android.

77 – ASSUMPTION OF POWER: Ripley, now in charge, commands the crew to use Dallas’ plan, as the shuttle will not support four people. The crew agrees.

78-79 – Ripley seeks advice from Ash, but he gives her nothing, claiming he and Mother need more time to collect data. She criticizes Ash for not getting answers, saying she’ll go to Mother now that she has access.

80 – Ripley searches Mother for answers. She finds Special Order 937, for “Science Officer Eyes Only.” Ripley overrides the command, Mother spits out the following info:

81-82 – Ripley strikes Ash. She rushes to alert Lambert and Parker, but Ash shuts off both her communication and exits.

82 – Ripley confronts Ash. She notices a milky substance coming from his forehead, a result of their scuffle. Ash is an android.

82-83 – Ash attacks Ripley, attempts to suffocate her. Lambert and Parker step in, but Ash proves too strong. Parker grabs a fire extinguisher and hits Ash in the head, saving Ripley.

84 – Parker knocks Ash’s head off, but Ash’s body still attacks. Lambert uses electrocution to take him out.

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Sequence III: Ripley, Lambert, and Parker question Ash regarding the alien. He calls it “the perfect organism” and believes that they will be unable to kill it. Ripley then devises a plan to use the Nostromo’s self-destruct and escape via shuttle.

86-87 – END OF ACT TWO TURN: Ripley, Lambert, and Parker repair Ash, question him about the alien. He claims it cannot be killed and their chances of survival are nil.

88 – DECISION: Ripley decides to activate Nostromo’s self-destruct mechanism and escape via their shuttle, the Narcissus, with Parker and Lambert.

88 – Parker incinerates Ash with his flamethrower.

ACT III

Sequence I: Parker and Lambert are killed by the alien as they gather coolant for the journey.

89 – Ripley orders Lambert and Parker to gather the necessary coolant for their voyage as she readies the shuttle. They agree to meet each other at the shuttle in seven minutes and activate the self-destruct system.

89-90 – Ripley readies the shuttle, hears the cat.

90 – Lambert gathers coolant as Parker guards.

91-92 – Ripley searches for the cat. After a good scare, she finds him.

93 – Loading the last of the coolant, Lambert freezes, scared to death.

93 – Ripley hears commotion over their radios.

93-94 – The alien stands between Lambert and Parker. Parker is unable to fire his flamethrower, as it would torch Lambert in the process of killing the alien.

94 – Parker attacks the alien, but the alien wraps him up in its tail. It then exposes its teeth and kills Parker.

94 – Ripley overhears the alien kill Lambert over her radio.

95 – Ripley finds Lambert and Parker dead, runs for the shuttle.

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Sequence II: Ripley activates the Nostromo’s self-destruct mechanism, finds the alien has blocked her path to the shuttle. She does not get to the override in time, but manages to escape on the shuttle before detonation.

96-97 – POINT OF NO RETURN: Ripley activates the self-destruct system. The ship will self-destruct in ten minutes, with the option to override expiring in five.

98 – The alien has blocked Ripley’s path to the shuttle. With minutes to spare on the self-destruct override, she leaves the cat and runs to save the ship from detonating.

99-100 – Ripley doesn’t engage the override system in time. The ship will detonate in five minutes.

100-102 – With the self-destruct clock ticking away, Ripley carefully makes her way back to the shuttle.

102 – Ripley grabs the cat and pushes to the shuttle.

103-104 – Ripley makes it into the shuttle with one minute to spare. She prepares for take off and leaves seconds before the Nostromo explodes.

104 – Nostromo detonates.

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Sequence III: As Ripley prepares for stasis, she discovers the alien has stowed away on the shuttle. She puts on a spacesuit, decompresses the cabin, and, seconds before the alien can strike, opens the doors, sucking it into space. It attempts to climb back inside through the engine, but Ripley fires both engines and incinerates it.

105-106 – Ripley comes down from the adrenaline rush. She pulls the cat out of his cage.

106 – Ripley puts the cat in a stasis chamber.

107 – Ripley readies the shuttle for her time in stasis and discovers the alien has stowed away.

108-110 – Ripley hides inside a locker and puts on a spacesuit. She arms herself with a grappling hook.

111-112 – With the spacesuit on, Ripley steps out of the locker, straps herself in to the control chair. The moment she decompresses the shuttle, the alien comes out of hiding.

112 – Seconds before the alien attacks, Ripley opens the doors. It is sucked into space, but manages to grasp the exterior door frame.

112 – Ripley shoots the alien with a grappling gun, but the door slams down on the line before the gun can pass. The alien uses the line to pull itself back to the ship.

113 – CLIMAX: As the alien attempts to climb back inside through the engines, Ripley fires both engines and kills it.

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Sequence IV: Ripley details the events in a recorded log and then enters stasis.

114 – Ripley details the events of Nostromo in a recorded log and signs off.

114 – CLOSING IMAGE: Ripley sleeps peacefully in stasis.

114 – THE END.