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THE NAME OF THE ROSE script analysis

THE NAME OF THE ROSE script - Save the Cat beat sheet analysis

William of Baskerville and his novice Adso arrive at a remote abbey to investigate a monk’s mysterious death. As a series of gruesome murders unfolds, William’s rational methods clash with religious authority and secret heresies. Adso’s growing bond with a peasant girl provides a counterpoint to the dark investigation. In the end, fire and chaos consume the abbey as knowledge is saved at great cost.

75 Save the Cat fit score 62% analysis confidence / 54 parsed scenes

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1

Opening Image

Scene 1 / Page 1 / 1% target

80%

Dawn ferry arrival at the abbey establishes the isolated, medieval setting and introduces William and Adso.

2

Theme Stated

Scene 4 / 5% target

70%

Ubertino’s warning that “The Devil’s loose in the abbey” hints at the conflict between reason and superstition.

Fellow Franciscans, you might as well go home now! The Devil's loose in the abbey.
3

Set-Up

Scenes 1-5 / Page 1 / 10% target

70%

William and Adso arrive, meet the Abbot, and William determines Adelmo’s death wasn’t an accident, setting up the mystery.

4

Catalyst

Scene 7 / 12% target

80%

Venatius is found dead in a jar of blood, revealing that Adelmo’s death was not isolated and raising the stakes.

Well. We may rule out suicide right right away, this time.
5

Debate

Scenes 8-12 / 20% target

70%

William debates the scope of the investigation with other monks and questions whether he can trust Abbey politics and traditions.

6

Break into Two

Scene 14 / 25% target

70%

Confronting Salvatore about heresy (“Tell us about Penitenziagite!”) marks William’s deeper plunge into forbidden secrets.

Tell us about Penitenziagite!
7

B Story

Scene 17 / 30% target

70%

Adso’s hidden encounter with The Girl introduces a personal, emotional subplot contrasting the main mystery.

8

Fun and Games

Scenes 10-13 / 40% target

70%

William and Adso explore the scriptorium clues and debate missing books, showcasing investigative “fun.”

9

Midpoint

Scene 20 / 50% target

80%

William reveals the key parchment’s significance, shifting from gathering clues to confident theory.

The key to the entire mystery is written on this piece of parchment. What do you see here?
10

Bad Guys Close In

Scenes 21-25 / 65% target

70%

The Abbot burns the map and Bernardo Gui’s arrival increases institutional pressure on William.

11

All Is Lost

Scene 31 / 75% target

70%

William’s admission of his own inquisitorial past feels like a personal defeat and loss of moral high ground.

I know all about it, Adso. . .I was once an inquisitor myself.
12

Dark Night of the Soul

Scene 40 / 80% target

70%

Jorge’s self-sacrifice in the burning library leaves William and Adso trapped and despairing.

You go, Adso! Forestall then -- tell them what has happened and that I'll soon emerge. . .
13

Break into Three

Scene 49 / 85% target

70%

Adso’s confrontation with Bernardo Gui represents a decisive action born of hope rather than fear.

14

Finale

Scenes 49-51 / 95% target

70%

Adso defeats Gui, William returns with the rescued books, and they avert total loss despite the abbey’s destruction.

15

Final Image

Scene 54 / 99% target

80%

In the morning countryside, William and Adso depart, echoing the opening journey but with hard-earned wisdom.