Beat

In 1944, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Lucien Carr, William S. Burroughs, and David Kammerer meet Joan Vollmer, a Barnard College student, in New York City. A romance quickly forms between Joan and William as the circle gathers around them, shaping the countercultural vibe of the era.

Lucien Carr murders David Kammerer after a dispute in a park when David makes unwanted advances toward him. Carr then goes to Joan and William's apartment to confess, claiming David's obsession and attempted assault. The case becomes a defining moment for the group and leads to Carr's imprisonment.

Following the confession, Lucien Carr is tried and ultimately serves two years in prison for the murder. The incident cements the volatile boundaries within the circle of writers. The event casts a long shadow over their early relationships.

By 1951, Joan Vollmer and William S. Burroughs are married and living in Mexico City with their children. Joan grows unhappy with life in Mexico as William maintains a relationship with a male lover, Lee. The household is strained as personal loyalties clash.

William Burroughs travels to Guatemala to pursue a liaison with Lee. Meanwhile, Lucien Carr and Allen Ginsberg plan to join them later, foreshadowing the shifting dynamics of the group.

Joan, Lucien, and Allen visit a local bar where Joan voices her unhappiness with her marriage to William. The evening underscores the growing tension and attraction that simmer between them.

The trio plans a weekend trip through rural Mexico to visit the Parícutin volcano. Allen tries to persuade Joan to return to the United States with them, but she remains torn between leaving William and staying for his potential.

Joan, Lucien, and Allen return to Mexico City after the trip. Lucien and Allen urge Joan to come back to New York with them, but she refuses, unwilling to abandon William despite the marriage's strain.

William returns from his trip to Guatemala and discusses the possibility of separating from Joan. The conversation highlights the fragility of their relationship and the hold Joan still feels for William.

Lucien Carr's car breaks down near the Texas border, forcing him to hitch a ride back to New York City. Allen remains behind to fulfill his new duties at United Press International, delaying the group's unresting plans.

Lee arrives in Mexico City and visits William and Joan at their apartment. After a dinner where alcohol is consumed, Joan remains outwardly passive-aggressive toward Lee, intensifying the marital strain.

During a tense moment, William proposes their 'William Tell' parlor trick, aiming to shoot a shot glass off Joan's head. He misfires the pistol, shooting Joan in the head and killing her, a shocking culmination of their fraught relationship.

Shortly after the tragedy, Lucien Carr receives a telegram notifying him of Joan's death while he is at the United Press International office. The shock reverberates through the circle and ends a chapter of their lives.