Tequila Sunrise (1988) — Screenplay
A reformed drug dealer and his detective best friend clash over a woman while a Mexican cartel boss tightens his grip on their California town.
- Written by
- Robert Towne
- Genre
- Drama, Romance, Crime
- Length
- 153 pages
Robert Towne's script is a masterclass in weaving three genre threads—crime, romance, and drama—into a seamless, character-driven narrative. Study how he uses the love triangle to amplify the central conflict between loyalty and duty, and how his sharp dialogue reveals subtext in every scene. The pacing and tone shifts are instructive for balancing tension with emotional depth.
Read the full Tequila Sunrise (1988) screenplay in PDF, page by page, right here on Laper — or download the original script to study Robert Towne’s scene work, dialogue and structure at your own pace. A free resource for screenwriters and film students learning Hollywood script format.