Save the Cat rankings

Beginners script analysis

Beginners script - Save the Cat beat sheet analysis

Oliver, a graphic designer, copes with his late father’s house and declining health of his gay father Hal while forging a new relationship with Anna. He grapples with loneliness, family revelations, and the fear of losing those he loves, ultimately finding hope in commitment.

35 Save the Cat fit score 12% analysis confidence / 91 parsed scenes

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1

Opening Image

Scene 1 / Page 1 / 1% target

10%

Oliver packing up his late father’s home establishes his solitary life and emotional state.

2

Theme Stated

Scene 13 / 5% target

15%

Oliver tells Arthur that it’s lonely out there, explicitly stating the film’s theme of loneliness and connection.

Look, its lonely out here, so you'd better learn how to talk with me.
3

Set-Up

Scene 4 / 10% target

10%

Oliver discovers his late father’s personal ad, hinting at hidden aspects of his dad’s life and setting up family backstory.

4

Catalyst

Scene 5 / 12% target

10%

A flashback shows friends celebrating Hal with fireworks, introducing Hal’s vibrant past and the emotional stakes of his illness.

This is for our friend Hal Fields. Hal. We love you.
5

Debate

Scene 6 / 20% target

10%

Oliver hesitates but commits to caring for Arthur, symbolizing his internal debate about taking on responsibilities.

You're coming to live with me now.
6

Break into Two

Scene 23 / 25% target

12%

Oliver and Anna share their first deep conversation and first kiss, marking his entry into a new world of love.

Oh, my mother. My mother died five years ago.
7

B Story

Scene 22 / 30% target

10%

Oliver meets Anna at a costume party, launching the romantic subplot that supports the theme.

8

Fun and Games

Scene 45 / 40% target

10%

Oliver and Anna enjoy casual, intimate moments like eating at a taco truck, showing the fun side of their relationship.

9

Midpoint

Scene 29 / 50% target

12%

Hal receives his cancer diagnosis, raising the stakes personally and relationally.

10

Bad Guys Close In

Scene 54 / 65% target

10%

Tension rises as Oliver and Hal argue about his health care and loneliness, stressing their bond.

For someone with so much relationship advice, you seem awfully alone.
11

All Is Lost

Scene 73 / 75% target

12%

Hal is told to stop treatment and enter hospice, representing the darkest moment.

12

Dark Night of the Soul

Scene 84 / 80% target

12%

Oliver arrives at Anna’s door to find she’s moved away, feeling abandoned and alone.

Hey. Look I'm so sorry... But I'm, I'm at your front door. I'm in New York.
13

Break into Three

Scene 86 / 85% target

12%

Anna confronts Oliver about leaving people, prompting him to reassess his choices and resolve his fears.

Why do you leave everyone? Why did you let me go?
14

Finale

Scene 91 / 95% target

10%

Anna and Oliver discuss their future together, showing his emotional growth and willingness to commit.

15

Final Image

Scene 91 / 99% target

10%

The final scene of their conversation mirrors the opening solitude with a sense of shared hope, completing the emotional arc.