Above Suspicion (2019) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Susan's struggle to provide and find safety becomes entangled with informant work, a complicated relationship with Mark, and an unresolved pregnancy conflict.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Hardship and a Bargain

Susan recalls economic hardship and the pressure to provide for her children. Her strained life with Cash draws federal attention, and Cash considers cooperating with the agents.

Key Events

• Susan Reflects on Death — Susan reflects on death, painful knowledge, and events that changed her life. Characters: Susan Smith Location: Unspecified
• Struggling Kentucky Town — Susan recalls a town affected by mine closures, lost jobs, and unpaid bills. Characters: Susan Smith Location: A struggling Kentucky town
• Pressure to Provide — Trying to provide for her children, Susan tells herself she must do whatever it takes. Characters: Susan Smith Location: Unspecified
• Strained Life with Cash — Poverty, drugs, arguments, and Cash's criminal behavior strain their life together. Characters: Susan Smith, Cash Location: Their home
• Agents Confront Cash — Federal agents confront Cash about drugs and his connection to Bones. Characters: Cash, Bones Location: Unspecified
• Cash Considers Bargaining — Cash considers bargaining with the agents for a deal. Characters: Cash Location: Unspecified
• Terms for Cooperation — Susan urges Cash to cooperate; Cash seeks salary, probation relief, a bonus, and protection. Characters: Susan Smith, Cash Location: Unspecified

An Informant Drawn Closer

Mark relies on Susan's information, including a lead connected to Joe-Bea. Their growing closeness complicates the investigative relationship as Mark balances work and family.

Key Events

• Mark Recruits Susan — Mark's FBI work brings him into Susan's life, and he relies on her information. Characters: Susan Smith, Mark Putnam Location: Unspecified
• Lead Involving Joe-Bea — Susan provides Mark with information that includes a lead involving Joe-Bea. Characters: Susan Smith, Mark Putnam Location: Unspecified
• Bank Robbery Lead — After Joe-Bea robs a bank, Mark asks Susan to help locate him. Characters: Susan Smith, Mark Putnam Location: Unspecified
• Hiding Place Surrounded — Agents track the robbery suspect to a hiding place and surround it. Characters: Mark Putnam Location: A hiding place
• Motel Meeting Delayed — Susan waits for Mark, who says work and family sometimes prevent him from seeing her. Characters: Susan Smith, Mark Putnam Location: A motel

Threat and Shelter

Cash's suspicion and threat leave Susan unable to return home. Mark and Kathy disagree about whether she can stay with them, but Kathy insists Susan needs shelter.

Key Events

• Police Captain Lead — Susan offers information about a possibly corrupt police captain, but Mark postpones discussing it. Characters: Susan Smith, Mark Putnam Location: Unspecified
• Cash Threatens Susan — Cash's suspicion and threat leave Susan unable to return home. Characters: Susan Smith, Cash Location: Their home
• Kathy Insists on Shelter — Mark and Kathy disagree about Susan staying with them; Kathy says Susan needs shelter. Characters: Susan Smith, Mark Putnam, Kathy Putnam Location: The Putnams' home

Pregnancy and Unresolved Conflict

Susan learns that Mark and Kathy are expecting a child, then tells Mark that she is pregnant. Mark questions whether the child is his, and the available dialogue ends with Susan confronting him without resolving the consequences.

Key Events

• Two Pregnancies Revealed — Susan learns Mark is expecting a child with Kathy and tells him she is pregnant too. Characters: Susan Smith, Mark Putnam, Kathy Putnam Location: Unspecified
• Mark Questions Paternity — Mark asks Susan whether she is sure the child is his. Characters: Susan Smith, Mark Putnam Location: Unspecified
• Susan Considers Complaint — Susan says she could make an official complaint against Mark but wants something else. Characters: Susan Smith, Mark Putnam Location: Unspecified
• Pregnancy Confrontation — The available dialogue ends with Susan confronting Mark about her pregnancy, with consequences unresolved. Characters: Susan Smith, Mark Putnam Location: Unspecified

Story Breakdown

• Economic Hardship — Susan recalls the conditions and responsibilities shaping her choices.
  • Declining Kentucky Town — Mine closures and disappearing jobs leave bills unpaid.
  • Providing for Children — Susan tells herself she must do whatever it takes.
• Life with Cash — Poverty, drugs, arguments, and criminal behavior strain Susan and Cash's home life.
  • Household Strain — Their life together is described as troubled by poverty, drugs, and arguments.
  • Cash Under Suspicion — Federal agents question Cash about drugs and his connection to Bones.
• Cash's Cooperation Deal — Cash considers exchanging information for terms, with Susan urging him to cooperate.
  • Susan Urges Cooperation — Susan encourages Cash to work with the agents.
  • Negotiated Terms — Cash seeks salary, probation relief, a bonus, and protection if he testifies.
• Informant Investigation — Mark relies on Susan's information as their personal connection complicates the work.
  • Information for Mark — Susan provides information, including a lead involving Joe-Bea.
  • Robbery Search — After Joe-Bea robs a bank, Mark asks Susan to help locate him; agents surround a hiding place.
• A Complicated Affair — Susan seeks Mark's attention while his work and family obligations limit their time together.
  • Motel Wait — Susan waits for Mark, who says work and family sometimes keep him away.
  • Corruption Lead — Susan offers information about a possibly corrupt police captain, but Mark postpones discussing it.
• Threat and Shelter — Cash's threat leaves Susan unable to return home, leading to a disagreement over shelter.
  • Unable to Return — Cash's suspicion and threat leave Susan without a safe return home.
  • Kathy Offers Support — Kathy insists Susan needs shelter despite disagreement with Mark.
• Pregnancy Conflict — The pregnancies sharpen the unresolved conflict between Susan, Mark, and Mark's family life.
  • Pregnancies Revealed — Susan learns Mark is expecting a child with Kathy and tells him she is pregnant.
  • Unanswered Paternity — Mark questions whether the child is his, and Susan later confronts him without resolution.
• Complaint and Betrayal — Susan reflects on being branded a traitor and weighs an official complaint against Mark.
  • Others Move On — Susan describes others as having moved on while she is labeled a traitor.
  • Something Else Wanted — She considers a complaint but says she wants something else; the available dialogue leaves the outcome unresolved.

Directed by

Phillip Noyce

Key Cast

• Emilia Clarke — Susan Smith
• Jack Huston — Mark Putnam
• Johnny Knoxville — Cash
• Thora Birch — Jolene
• Sophie Lowe — Kathy Putnam