Save the Cat rankings

R.I.P.D. script analysis

R.I.P.D. script - Save the Cat beat sheet analysis

After Boston cop Nick is betrayed and killed on duty, he joins the mysterious Rest in Peace Department (RIPD) and teams with boisterous detective Bo to hunt down rogue undead. As they chase corrupt ex-partner Hawes and a deadly artifact, Nick must confront his past mistakes and rekindle his love for life—and for his wife.

42 Save the Cat fit score 12% analysis confidence / 149 parsed scenes

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1

Opening Image

Scene 1 / Page 1 / 1% target

10%

Bo’s walk through a dark Chinatown alley sets a moody tone and introduces the supernatural world.

2

Theme Stated

Scene 2 / Page 1 / 5% target

15%

Bo’s deadpan fish joke (“Well… we love fish.”) hints at life after death and the value of purpose.

Well... we love fish.
3

Set-Up

Scenes 3-10 / Pages 1-10 / 10% target

13%

We meet Nick in his normal world—burying gold, sharing breakfast with Julia, and planning a raid—establishing his personal stakes and his marriage.

4

Catalyst

Scene 19 / Page 10 / 12% target

14%

Hawes betrays and shoots Nick during the warehouse raid, killing him and launching the plot.

5

Debate

Scenes 20-23 / Pages 10-11 / 20% target

11%

Nick falls through time into The Void and questions his fate before meeting RIPD.

6

Break into Two

Scene 24 / Page 11 / 25% target

10%

Nick transitions from the living world into the RIPD after traveling through The Void.

7

B Story

Scenes 25-27 / Pages 11-12 / 30% target

16%

Nick meets his mentor Procter and partner Bo, establishing their bond and Bo’s personal arc about unresolved regrets.

It's normal to be a little tongue tied at first. Just take your time, ease into it...
8

Fun and Games

Scenes 35-44 / Pages 13-17 / 40% target

12%

Nick and Bo’s undead detective adventures—chasing Deados through condos, train tops, and tattered tunnels—showcase their growing teamwork.

9

Midpoint

Scene 53 / Page 18 / 50% target

14%

On the marina barge, Nick uncovers golden artifacts that hint at a larger conspiracy, raising the stakes.

Uhhhh... just... brutal...
10

Bad Guys Close In

Scenes 61-62 / Page 21 / 65% target

15%

Nick realizes their quarry Hawes is his former partner and might be corrupt, creating personal stakes.

The one who shot you. Dead.
11

All Is Lost

Scene 101 / Page 28 / 75% target

13%

Nick’s attempt to reach Julia fails catastrophically; she calls him crazy and runs away.

You're crazy. Get away from me.
12

Dark Night of the Soul

Scenes 102-103 / Pages 28-29 / 80% target

14%

Nick and Bo reflect on personal pain and purpose, preparing mentally for the final conflict.

This is what we can do with our pain and regret and... earned sense of violation. We make...
13

Break into Three

Scenes 108-112 / Page 31 / 85% target

12%

Armed with evidence of Hawes’s betrayal, Nick and Bo decide to confront him at his home.

14

Finale

Scenes 130-144 / Pages 36-40 / 95% target

16%

A climactic battle erupts at the Commonwealth Building rooftop—cars raining down, artifact key assembled—and culminates in Nick killing Hawes to save Julia.

Tunnel closed! No souls going anywhere! I'm here forever, honey. Kind of a high five moment.
15

Final Image

Scene 147 / Page 41 / 99% target

10%

The team leaves the hospital with Julia alive, restoring balance and showing growth in both Nick and Bo.