The Vault

The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Cold open showing the Bank of Spain's legendary impenetrable vault with its flooding security system. Establishes Thom's ordinary world as an isolated marine engineering genius in Cambridge, brilliant but socially disconnected, living alone surrounded by blueprints and equations.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.

The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Walter Moreland makes his pitch: steal Sir Francis Drake's "Treasure of the Flota" from the Bank of Spain's vault 100 feet underground. The vault floods during retrieval—requiring Thom's underwater engineering expertise. Walter reveals his ancestor was Drake's partner, cheated out of the treasure by Spain. Thom is intellectually intrigued despite moral reservations.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.

The First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Thom commits to the heist: "I'm in. But we do it my way." Leaves his safe academic world and travels to Spain with the crew. Visual threshold moment: Thom standing in front of the Bank of Spain for the first time in Madrid. Point of no return—begins active planning and sets up base of operations., moving from reaction to action.

At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False victory: Team completes successful dress rehearsal and Thom believes he's solved all technical problems—"We can actually do this!" They set the date for World Cup final (July 11, 2010). Stakes raised when they discover an additional security feature Lorraine didn't know about: the bank upgraded to a secondary sensor system. Questions emerge about whether Lorraine told them everything. Time clock starts with only days until execution—too committed to back out now., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.

The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost. Lorraine reveals she has her own agenda—her father was ruined by the bank's corruption, she's not just helping for Walter's cause. Thom feels betrayed by the one person he opened up to. Critical equipment confiscated by customs—without it, the underwater phase is impossible. Team votes to abort. "Whiff of death": Walter collapses with heart condition and may not survive to see his family legacy restored. Thom sits alone with blueprints, defeated. Everything he calculated and planned feels worthless., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.

The Second Threshold at 94 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 83% of the runtime. Breakthrough epiphany: Thom sees the vault problem differently—"I was solving the wrong problem." Realizes they don't need the confiscated equipment; there's another way using the bank's own flooding system against itself. Reconvenes the team with brilliant alternative plan. Re-commits to Lorraine: "I trust you." Team reunites with renewed purpose. Walter's blessing from hospital: "Make them pay." Total commitment: "We're doing this. Tomorrow. World Cup final." Thom transforms from isolated genius to team leader, taking emotional risk by fully trusting the crew., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.