Save the Cat rankings

Stir of Echoes script analysis

Stir of Echoes script - Save the Cat beat sheet analysis

A suburban family man, Tom, begins experiencing unsettling visions and supernatural occurrences after being hypnotized at a party. As the haunting intensifies, he uncovers the restless spirit of a murdered girl, Samantha, whose violent death the neighborhood has covered up. Driven by the ghost’s demands, Tom digs up his own basement and confronts the perpetrators. In a climactic showdown, truth and violence collide, but ultimately the family finds a new beginning.

55 Save the Cat fit score 20% analysis confidence / 78 parsed scenes

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1

Opening Image

Scene 1 / Page 1 / 1% target

20%

Introduces young Jake talking to an unseen presence, setting a mysterious tone.

YES. Sometimes. With my toys.
2

Theme Stated

Scene 2 / Page 2 / 5% target

20%

Maggie hints at hidden family dynamics when announcing a brother’s arrival.

Is he asleep? My brother's here.
3

Set-Up

Scenes 3-5 / Pages 3-5 / 10% target

20%

Establishes Tom’s ordinary life: family, job, party hypnosis, and first disturbing visions.

Seven years, and I've still never been to a party where you weren't the one I wanted to...
4

Catalyst

Scene 4 / Page 4 / 12% target

20%

Tom is hypnotized at the party, planting the seed for post-hypnotic visions.

5

Debate

Scenes 5-9 / Pages 5-9 / 20% target

20%

Tom questions his sanity after visions, discussing hallucinations with Maggie.

What do you mean, like... You mean like a hallucination?
6

Break into Two

Scene 9 / Page 9 / 25% target

20%

Tom leaves home unsettled, crossing from normal life into the unknown.

7

B Story

Scene 14 / Page 14 / 30% target

20%

Dorothy’s arrival introduces the child’s connection to the spirit world.

Call Vanessa and ask her about Dorothy.
8

Fun and Games

Scenes 17-23 / Pages 17-23 / 40% target

20%

Tom’s exploration of the haunting: missing Jake, confronting Dorothy, MRI, ghost sightings.

It's even stronger in him than it is in you.
9

Midpoint

Scene 23 / Page 23 / 50% target

20%

Tom realizes the ghost’s name, Samantha, and the haunting is real, raising stakes.

That's what she said.
10

Bad Guys Close In

Scenes 34-41 / Pages 34-41 / 65% target

20%

Neighborhood threats escalate: warnings from Frank, Adam’s shooting, community tension.

They're going to kill you, Tommy. You and Maggie both.
11

All Is Lost

Scene 42 / Page 42 / 75% target

20%

After Adam’s death, Tom hits rock bottom, feeling powerless over events.

12

Dark Night of the Soul

Scene 49 / Page 49 / 80% target

20%

Tom is obsessively digging alone, questioning if he can uncover the truth.

I'm supposed to dig.
13

Break into Three

Scene 61 / Page 61 / 85% target

20%

Tom unearths Samantha’s body, committing fully to confronting the killers.

14

Finale

Scenes 67-75 / Pages 67-75 / 95% target

20%

Violent showdown with Harry, Kurt, and Frank intervening to save Tom and Maggie.

15

Final Image

Scene 78 / Page 78 / 99% target

20%

The family meets the new baby, mirroring the opening image of innocence and echoing the cycle.

So you're the one that's been kicking my wife!