1999
Claire Spencer, a former cellist, experiences unsettling supernatural occurrences in her new lakeside home after her daughter, Caitlin, leaves for college, leading her to believe her neighbor, Mr. Feur, has murdered his wife. After a seance with her friend Jody, Claire discovers the ghost is not Mrs. Feur, who is alive and well, but a missing student named Madison Frank, who had an affair with Claire’s husband, Norman. Claire learns that Norman murdered Madison and disposed of her body in the lake, and he attempts to gaslight Claire into believing she is mentally unstable. Norman tries to drown Claire in the bathtub, but Madison's ghost possesses Claire, allowing her to fight back and ultimately cause Norman to drown in the lake. Claire later throws Madison's necklace into the lake, freeing Madison's spirit and allowing Claire to move on with her life.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Claire Spencer, a former cellist turned suburban mother, begins experiencing strange supernatural occurrences after her daughter leaves for college.
Open full beat sheetClaire Spencer is listed as Protagonist. An elegant woman around forty, former cellist, married to Norman. In the parsed data, Claire Spencer is connected to 75 scenes, 281 dialogue lines, 282 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
75 scenes / 281 dialogue linesNorman Spencer is listed as Claire's Husband. A prominent academic in genetics, pushing fifty, silver-streaked hair. In the parsed data, Norman Spencer is connected to 30 scenes, 120 dialogue lines, 120 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
30 scenes / 120 dialogue linesJody is listed as Claire's Best Friend. Pretty, in her forties, wears hip, hippie-ish clothes. In the parsed data, Jody is connected to 7 scenes, 45 dialogue lines, 56 text mentions, first appearing around scene 23.
7 scenes / 45 dialogue linesMr. Feur is listed as Neighbor. Large, imposing man with an unruly shock of red hair. In the parsed data, Mr. Feur is connected to 6 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 22.
6 scenes / 9 dialogue linesMrs. Feur is listed as Neighbor. Small, delicate looking woman with big, watery eyes. In the parsed data, Mrs. Feur is connected to 5 scenes, 14 dialogue lines, 20 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
5 scenes / 14 dialogue linesCaitlin Spencer is listed as Claire and Norman's Daughter. Seventeen-year-old, waifish, pretty, with chopped hair and a nose ring. In the parsed data, Caitlin Spencer is connected to 5 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
5 scenes / 12 dialogue linesMrs. Frank is listed as Madison's Mother. Drawn looking woman in her early fifties. In the parsed data, Mrs. Frank is connected to 3 scenes, 19 dialogue lines, 19 text mentions, first appearing around scene 62.
3 scenes / 19 dialogue linesDr. Timothy Drayton is listed as Psychiatrist. Stocky, light-skinned black man in his late forties with a kind face. In the parsed data, Dr. Timothy Drayton is connected to 3 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 46.
3 scenes / 6 dialogue linesElena is listed as Friend. Tall, elegant brunette, former suite mate of Claire. In the parsed data, Elena is connected to 1 scene, 13 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 29.
1 scenes / 13 dialogue linesMadison Frank is listed as Missing Girl. A student who disappeared, striking green eyes, wore a silver rosebud necklace.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesClaire wakes up from a dream and prepares for the day, noticing a scar on her face.
Claire SpencerClaire wakes her daughter Caitlin to prepare for her departure to college.
Claire Spencer, Caitlin SpencerClaire observes her neighbors, the Feurs, arguing while Norman joins her.
Claire Spencer, Norman Spencer, Mr. Feur, Mrs. FeurClaire and Caitlin have breakfast and discuss Caitlin leaving for college.
Claire Spencer, Caitlin SpencerClaire and Norman drop Caitlin off at college.
Claire Spencer, Norman Spencer, Caitlin SpencerClaire and Norman discuss their life now that Caitlin has left, interrupted by the neighbors' noise.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire finds old mementos of her past as a cellist.
Claire SpencerClaire speaks to Mrs. Feur through the fence.
Claire Spencer, Mrs. FeurClaire tells Norman about her conversation with Mrs. Feur.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire sees Mr. Feur dragging a duffel bag in the rain.
Claire Spencer, Norman Spencer, Mr. FeurClaire takes photos and meets her friend Jody.
Claire Spencer, JodyClaire hears mysterious whispering in the house.
Claire SpencerClaire sees a strange shape in the water reflection.
Claire SpencerClaire experiences strange electronic disturbances.
Claire SpencerClaire visits Norman at his lab where he is performing a procedure on a sheep.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerNorman and Claire talk about the neighbors and their relationship.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire and Norman discuss the Feurs and their relationship while Norman prepares for bed.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire plays the cello and hears a faint, mournful voice echoing her notes.
Claire SpencerClaire finds a broken picture and observes Mr. Feur with a shovel.
Claire Spencer, Mr. FeurClaire tries to call out to Mrs. Feur at the fence.
Claire SpencerClaire approaches the Feur's house.
Claire SpencerClaire confronts Mr. Feur at his back door.
Claire Spencer, Mr. FeurClaire and Jody discuss the disappearance of Mrs. Feur while sailing.
Claire Spencer, JodyClaire finds something disturbing in her photos.
Claire SpencerClaire spies on Mr. Feur with binoculars and is startled by Norman.
Claire Spencer, Norman Spencer, Mr. FeurClaire tries to convince Norman that Mr. Feur killed his wife.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire shows Norman that a solitaire game was played without her.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerNorman and Claire drive to dinner.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire and Norman meet Stan and Elena for dinner.
Claire Spencer, Norman Spencer, ElenaClaire tries to call Caitlin and plays solitaire.
Claire SpencerClaire notices steam from the bathroom.
Claire SpencerClaire sees a vision in the bathtub and gets injured.
Claire SpencerNorman finds Claire in the bathroom.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerNorman encourages Claire to see a psychiatrist.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire has her first session with Dr. Drayton.
Claire Spencer, Dr. Timothy DraytonClaire and Jody perform a seance.
Claire Spencer, JodyJody leaves the house in a panic.
Claire Spencer, JodyClaire watches the computer screen.
Claire SpencerClaire returns to the house.
Claire SpencerClaire finds more evidence in the study.
Claire SpencerClaire finds a message on the mirror.
Claire SpencerClaire confronts Norman about the Feurs.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerNorman and Claire argue on campus.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire confronts Mr. Feur, but his wife appears.
Claire Spencer, Norman Spencer, Mr. Feur, Mrs. FeurClaire discusses her confusion with Dr. Drayton.
Claire Spencer, Dr. Timothy DraytonClaire discusses her feelings and marriage with Dr. Drayton, while Dr. Drayton challenges her perception of reality.
Claire Spencer, Dr. Timothy DraytonClaire meets the real Mrs. Feur, who apologizes for scaring her.
Claire Spencer, Mrs. FeurClaire and Mrs. Feur discuss the nature of love and fear.
Claire Spencer, Mrs. FeurNorman leaves for a hotel; he and Claire share a romantic moment.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire arrives at Caitlin's dorm.
Claire SpencerClaire learns from a student that Caitlin is playing at a club.
Claire SpencerClaire watches Caitlin perform in her band.
Claire Spencer, Caitlin SpencerClaire and Caitlin reconcile outside the club.
Claire Spencer, Caitlin SpencerClaire and Norman attend a cocktail party.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire talks to Jody about the ghost.
Claire Spencer, JodyMrs. Templeton mentions a past incident that Claire doesn't recall.
Claire SpencerNorman explains the past incident to Claire.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire hears whispering upon entering her house.
Claire SpencerClaire finds a photo and discovers the identity of the missing girl.
Claire SpencerClaire researches Madison Frank online.
Claire SpencerClaire confronts Norman with the printout of Madison Frank.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire visits Madison's mother.
Claire Spencer, Mrs. FrankClaire and Mrs. Frank discuss Madison's life.
Claire Spencer, Mrs. FrankClaire sees Madison's room and finds a clue.
Claire Spencer, Mrs. FrankClaire performs a seance.
Claire SpencerClaire, seemingly possessed, interacts with Norman.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire and Norman have a violent confrontation.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire leaves the house after the confrontation.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerNorman confesses his involvement in Madison's disappearance.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerClaire talks to Jody about her life and the lies.
Claire Spencer, JodyClaire discovers the power is out and heads upstairs to find Norman.
Claire SpencerClaire enters the bedroom and hears the shower running.
Claire SpencerClaire finds Norman unconscious in the tub with an electric cord.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerEMT's treat Norman while Claire and Jody discuss the incident.
Claire Spencer, Norman Spencer, JodyClaire attempts to break the connection to the ghost by throwing items into the lake.
Claire Spencer, Norman SpencerNo, it doesn't...Okay, look, I see what you're doing here, and that's, I'm sorry, but that's not it. My marriage is fine. I've had some kind of "empty-nest" episode where I saw some things that weren't there. Let's deal with that. I'm willing to deal with that. I just don't want to go conjuring problems where none exist.
I couldn't catch my breath. That's not a metaphor, that's...And I panicked. I never dreamed anyone would hear me back there... I tried to leave him. Went to my mother's in Boston. He brought my things up and pleaded with me to come home.
Sounds about right. Never understood how a girl that wild got all A's. Sure didn't get it from me. They wanted to put her in a special school for the gifted when she was young. Maddie wouldn't hear about it.
Claire, listen to me. I know you're under some strain. But there's no such thing as ghosts. They don't exist. Our neighbor did not kill his wife, and I...wait, why aren't you dressed?
We had this Finnish conductor, Aki, Laki, something. He had these ridiculous bangs. And he'd sweep them off with his baton every minute or so, and it drove us insane, remember?
Nah. She was a live wire. Had this old Mustang Fastback. It's gone too. Most of her friends think she's tooling around Mexico somewhere. Police downgraded her to a runaway.
Last year. I drove my car up a tree. Nothing serious, this... a minor concussion. But the car looked bad. It could have been bad. I think it scared the hell out of Norman.
Last year. I drove my car up a tree. Nothing serious, this... a minor concussion. But the car looked bad. It could have been bad. I think it scared the hell out of Norman.
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