Save the Cat rankings

Hidden Figures script analysis

Hidden Figures script - Save the Cat beat sheet analysis

Hidden Figures follows Katherine Johnson’s journey from precocious child to pivotal NASA mathematician against the backdrop of segregation and the space race. The story interweaves her professional breakthroughs with personal and social challenges, highlighting teamwork and perseverance. Through a structured arc, Katherine and her colleagues confront external and internal obstacles leading to the triumphant launch of the Mercury mission.

85 Save the Cat fit score 8% analysis confidence / 81 parsed scenes

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1

Opening Image

Scene 1 / Page 1 / 1% target

10%

Introduces young Katherine’s extraordinary facility with numbers, setting tone and character.

14, 15, 16...prime. 18, prime.
2

Theme Stated

Scene 10 / Page 10 / 5% target

10%

Harrison urges the team to “look beyond,” signaling the theme of breaking barriers and seeing possibilities.

What I’m asking you..what I’m asking everyone one in that room, all my geniuses, is to look beyond...
3

Set-Up

Scenes 2-4 / Pages 2-4 / 10% target

10%

Establishes Katherine’s academic brilliance, her family support, and the segregated systems she navigates.

4

Catalyst

Scene 6 / Page 6 / 12% target

10%

The shocking Russian press conference raises stakes, catalyzing NASA’s urgency and Katherine’s impending role.

A goddamn dog! And a goddamn mannequin!
5

Debate

Scene 11 / Page 11 / 20% target

10%

Katherine faces initial pushback from Harrison, questioning her place in the Space Task Group.

Because without it, we’re not going anywhere. We’re staying on the ground. We’re not flying into space...we’re not...
6

Break into Two

Scene 7 / Page 7 / 25% target

10%

Katherine is officially selected for the Space Task Group, moving from her comfort zone into the NASA world.

7

B Story

Scene 5 / Page 5 / 30% target

10%

Introduces the bond among Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary when they are stranded together, establishing the friendship subplot.

We didn’t pick the place, Officer. It picked us.
8

Fun and Games

Scene 8 / Page 8 / 40% target

10%

Showcases Mary’s engineering work with Karl, highlighting the fun and exploration of STEM roles.

Mary...a person with an engineer’s mind should be an engineer. You can’t be a Computer the rest of...
9

Midpoint

Scene 28 / Page 28 / 50% target

10%

Katherine identifies the Redstone failure cause, a high point of professional triumph.

It’s not a mystery why the Redstone tests keep failing. It’s fine for sub-orbital flight, but it can’t...
10

Bad Guys Close In

Scene 49 / Page 49 / 65% target

10%

Harrison confronts Katherine about her absences, intensifying workplace pressure and discrimination.

Where the hell do you go everyday?
11

All Is Lost

Scene 75 / Page 75 / 75% target

10%

Katherine is told she’s being reassigned away from the unit, seeming to erase her hard-won place.

Long story short, we no longer need a computer in this department. Progress is a double edged sword.
12

Dark Night of the Soul

Scene 76 / Page 76 / 80% target

10%

Katherine packs her things, emotionally hitting her lowest point.

13

Break into Three

Scene 72 / Page 72 / 85% target

10%

Jim’s proposal renews Katherine’s personal resolve, bridging into the final act.

This was my mother’s ring. I figure it’s about as lucky a ring as you can get.
14

Finale

Scene 80 / Page 80 / 95% target

10%

Engineers prepare for launch, rallying Katherine back into the mission’s climax.

15

Final Image

Scene 81 / Page 81 / 99% target

10%

John Glenn discovers the landing coordinates issue, reflecting ongoing challenges and progress.