SCENES
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Scene Map 60
# PG SLUGLINE
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INT EXT INT/EXT hover for full slug
Scene Map
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# PG SLUGLINE
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EXT. ANGELA ROSE DECK - FISHING WATERS - DAWN Open ocean. Cape Ann, off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. A rusty thirty-foot FISHING TRAWLER, the Angela Rose, slices the grey water. Waves slap the boat, the engine roars, the winch creaks, and gulls circle overhead as
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EXT. SALGADO FISH WHARF - DAY The Angela Rose pulls into the dock. Ruby, Frank and Leo off- load their catch. The processor, TONY SALGADO, (heavy, Italian) weighs their haul. The Salgados run everything around here, as evidenced by the family name on warehouses,
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EXT. ANGELA ROSE - SALGADO FISH WHARF - CONTINUOUS Ruby approaches the boat where Frank and Leo work the boom, unloading tubs of fish on ice. ALL following conversations in ITALICS are signed and subtitled AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE. This is where it is clear--
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EXT. GLOUCESTER STREETS - MONTAGE - DAY Ruby hops on her bike and puts in her headphones. Etta James drowns out the sounds of the wharf as she bikes to school. The landscape changes from boarded up warehouses to the polished commercial district, through town and ending at the
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - LOCKERS - DAY Ruby opens her locker. Her friend GERTIE (17, wry, Gloucester to the core) launches in without missing a beat. GERTIE Guess what!
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CAFETERIA - DAY Ruby and Gertie stand in line to sign up for electives. Gertie flips through a course book. GERTIE The goal is to find the elective
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INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE - EXAM ROOM - DAY Ruby sits between her parents in a tiny exam room, translating for them. She’s done this many times. That doesn’t make it any less awkward. FRANK
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EXT. ROSSI HOME - DECK - NIGHT Ruby tries to focus on her homework as Jackie cooks. It’s not easy - Jackie bangs pots and clangs lids. Frank noisily scrapes the grill, oblivious to the racket. Leo swipes Tinder on his iPhone, sound on.
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CHOIR ROOM - DAY First day of choir. KIDS stream in, take their seats. Ruby, in a flannel, watches Miles socialize with some CHOIR GIRLS. BERNARDO VILLALOBOS (quick-witted and wearing abnormally tight pants) stands by the piano, coffee in hand.
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EXT. MANSHIP QUARRY - WOODS - DAY Ruby treks through the woods alone. Breaking through the trees, she reaches a massive granite quarry. It’s breath- taking. She sits on the sheer edge, looking out over the lake. She starts to sing “HAPPY BIRTHDAY.” Her voice is
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EXT. ANGELA ROSE DECK - OPEN OCEAN - MORNING Ruby cleans fish in a bucket with her boot. She pulls a hose in to wash the deck, but her eyes aren’t on her work, they keep drifting over to Frank, who looks lost in thought. He sits on the rail, smoking, looking out over the ocean.
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CHOIR ROOM - DAY Ruby enters between classes. She finds Bernardo alone, sitting at the piano, eyes closed. RUBY (hesitant)
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INT. ROSSI HOME - DECK/KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM - AFTERNOON Leo lounges in an armchair on the deck, swiping Tinder. Jackie preps dinner in the kitchen. She looks up as Ruby and Gertie walk in. She waves down the girls, nodding hello to Gertie before turning to Ruby.
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INT. ROSSI HOME - RUBY’S ROOM - EVENING Gertie sprawls across Ruby’s bed. Ruby takes out a record and puts it on an old Fisher Price record player. GERTIE Does he work out, or are those like
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CHOIR ROOM - LATER The choir sings “Let’s Get it On” by Marvin Gaye like it’s a funeral dirge. Bernardo rants. BERNARDO Energy! I’m falling asleep! Guys,
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CHOIR ROOM - LATER The class heads out. Bernardo stops Ruby and Miles. BERNARDO Ruby. Miles. Come here. They look at each other and head over.
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INT. SALGADO’S PROCESSING - DAY Ruby walks through the auction. Workers move pallets of fish, shovel ice. Graders walk around assessing the tubs. She waves at some people. She spots Leo. He types on his iPad, back and forth with GIO
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EXT. SALGADO’S PROCESSING - CONTINUOUS Ruby exits to find Frank, sitting on a stack of lobster traps, smoking a joint. RUBY (signed and spoken)
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CHOIR ROOM - DAY The Choir sings “It’s Your Thing” by The Isley Brothers. Bernardo conducts. They stomp and clap for percussion. CHORUS (singing)
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INT. ROSSI HOME - DECK - BREAKFAST Ruby eats some cereal with Jackie. Jackie nurses her coffee. Ruby watches her mom for a moment. RUBY I joined the choir.
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EXT. ANGELA ROSE - SALGADO FISH WHARF - DAY Frank and Leo dock their boat and tie it off. LEO We should do a Co-Op. Look, there’s empty warehouses all over the
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INT. PRATTY’S BAR - AFTERNOON Raucous, loud fisherman’s bar. Leo sits at a table with Brady, Chubs, Jimmy and the other guys. Gertie is working her shift as a bus-girl. BRADY
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INT. PRATTY’S BAR - LATER Leo sits at the bar, fuming, an empty beer glass in front of him. He rubs a shiner on the left side of his face. BARTENDER (loudly, slowly)
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EXT. ROSSI HOME - DRIVEWAY - AFTERNOON Miles and Ruby walk into the yard, strewn with fishing nets, buoys, gear. Miles carries his guitar. Ruby looks around, embarrassed it’s a dump. RUBY
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INT. ROSSI HOME - HALLWAY/PARENTS’ ROOM - DAY Ruby opens the door a crack, averts her eyes and then flickers the lights on and off. INT. ROSSI HOME - PARENTS’ ROOM/HALLWAY - DAY As the bedroom lights flicker, Frank and Jackie freeze, like
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CAFETERIA - LUNCH Ruby and Gertie make their way through the cafeteria line. GERTIE Good for them. I don’t think my mom’s had sex since my dad left.
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS Ruby hurries down the hallway on the verge of tears. Miles catches up with her. MILES Hey, Ruby --
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INT. BERNARDO’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - LATER Bernardo works with Ruby at the piano, trying to release her voice. She sings a few bars of “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell. RUBY
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INT. CITY HALL - DAY The Fisheries Council addresses a crowd of fishermen, including Frank and Leo. Gio Salgado, head of the Council and JOHN KAUFMAN, a representative of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) run the meeting.
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INT. ROSSI HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT Jackie stares at her family, who look sheepish. JACKIE What?! FRANK
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INT. ROSSI HOME - RUBY’S ROOM - EARLY MORNING, STILL DARK Ruby’s alarm goes off. 3 am. She rolls over, exhausted. Before she does anything else, she presses play on her stereo. “I Fought the Law” by The Clash blasts. She turns the volume
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INT. BERNARDO’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY Bernardo and Ruby look over music notation together as he explains the words. BERNARDO Forte. Very loudly, fortissimo.
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INT. BERNARDO’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY Ruby lies on the floor with Bernardo, working on deep breathing. Bernardo looks over at her. She’s sound asleep. EXT. BERNARDO’S HOUSE - DAY Bernardo opens the door to find Ruby talking business on the
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - LOCKERS - DAY Ruby opens her locker. Miles catches up with her. MILES You gonna avoid me till we graduate?
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INT. WAREHOUSE - LOADING DOCK - DAY Ruby, Jackie and a few fishermen’s wives, NINA, BARB and ANGELA, sort through orders, packaging fish. Ruby is managing it all. Angela reads an order. ANGELA
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INT. WAREHOUSE - DAY Frank and Jackie sit for the interview with the film crew. Ruby interprets, but her focus is split. Agitated, she keeps glancing down at her phone. Leo watches, increasingly annoyed.
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CHOIR ROOM - DAY Bernardo sits at the piano playing a beautiful piece to an empty room. Ruby appears in the doorway, listening. Bernardo notices her. He stops. RUBY
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INT. ROSSI HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT Ruby stands in front of Jackie, Frank and Leo. A hockey game is on, but she has their attention. RUBY I want to go to college. At
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INT. ROSSI HOME - PARENTS’ ROOM - NIGHT Frank lies in bed as Jackie paces the room. They argue. JACKIE We can’t let her go. FRANK
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EXT. ANGELA ROSE DECK - SALGADO FISH WHARF - EARLY MORNING Frank and Leo prep the boat for departure. LEO Where’s Ruby? FRANK
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EXT. MANSHIP QUARRY - WOODS - EARLY MORNING Ruby and Miles march along a trail. Aspen leaves quiver, throwing dappled light down onto the path. Ruby blows past a “NO SWIMMING” sign. MILES
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EXT. ANGELA ROSE DECK - OPEN OCEAN - DAY Frank and Leo work setting out the nets. Joanne lays out all of her marine kit, her scales. She approaches Frank. JOANNE Hey, is the engine regularly
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EXT. MANSHIP QUARRY - TRAIL - DAY Ruby and Miles climb out of the water, up the rocks. MILES Haven’t kids like died doing this? RUBY
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EXT. ANGELA ROSE DECK - OPEN OCEAN - AFTERNOON Frank and Leo work on deck, sorting the fish. Joanne weighs a fish, makes some notes in her notebook, but she scans the horizon, waiting. The guys continue to work, oblivious. A RADIO TRANSMISSION comes in.
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INT. ROSSI HOME - KITCHEN - NIGHT Ruby enters, riding high from her day. Her parents and Leo are arguing fiercely in the kitchen. RUBY What happened?
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INT. COAST GUARD OFFICE - DAY Frank, Jackie and Leo sit in front of a couple of COAST GUARD HEARING OFFICERS reviewing their case. Ruby interprets. COAST GUARD OFFICER You failed to obey an order by
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INT. ROSSI HOME - DECK - NIGHT The Rossi family eats a subdued, sad dinner. FRANK I’ll sell the boat. Take the money we can. That’ll be that.
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INT. ROSSI HOME - RUBY’S ROOM - NIGHT Ruby lies in bed, headphones on, listening to “Both Sides Now.” Jackie enters, sets a shopping bag down. JACKIE Don’t kill me. I bought you a red
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EXT. BEACH - EVENING Leo sits on a rock, looking out at the water. Ruby walks toward him. Leo sees her. She waves, joins him. RUBY You hiding?
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - AUDITORIUM - DAY Ruby peeks through the curtain, watching her parents find their seats. Bernardo bustles around, getting kids in place. As a boy passes, Bernardo pulls off his Red Sox hat. BERNARDO
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - AUDITORIUM - LATER As a song finishes up, Bernardo walks out on stage. BERNARDO And now, I have a special treat. Sometimes you hear a voice. And it
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INT. HIGH SCHOOL - AUDITORIUM - LOBBY - AFTERNOON Families stream out of the concert hall. Ruby and her family make their way out. They pass Bernardo, with his wife, TANYA and his daughter, Misha. TANYA
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EXT. ROSSI HOME - DRIVEWAY - NIGHT The Rossi family exits the car and heads toward the house. Frank peels off. FRANK I’m going to get some air.
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INT. ROSSI CAR - MOVING - DAY Frank drives. Ruby looks out of the back window. She watches the New England landscape pass. She pulls out her phone, TEXTS BERNARDO: I’m coming. EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
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INT. BERKLEE MUSIC HALL - WAITING AREA - DAY Ruby stands outside the auditorium, pacing nervously. She listens to another VOCALIST SING OPERA. She’s intimidatingly good. Miles spots Ruby at the end of the hallway and heads over. They speak in hushed voices.
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INT. BERKLEE MUSIC HALL - AUDITORIUM - DAY A FACULTY JURY, comprised of three JURORS, two men and a woman, sit in the audience. FEMALE JURY MEMBER Hello there. You are?
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INT. BERKLEE MUSIC HALL - AUDITORIUM - DAY Ruby stands awkwardly on stage being questioned. FEMALE JURY MEMBER What is your first song today? RUBY
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EXT. ANGELA ROSE DECK - OPEN OCEAN - DAY Ruby looks out over the ocean as gulls circle the boat. On deck, Frank signs furiously at the NEW DECKHAND, showing this idiot how to correctly sort the fish. The guy looks cowed. Ruby, watching from the wheelhouse, laughs. She’ll
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EXT. MANSHIP QUARRY - THE BARGE - DAY Miles and Ruby sit atop The Barge, looking out. RUBY Visit me in Boston? MILES
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EXT. ROSSI HOME - DRIVEWAY - DAY The car is packed full of stuff. Gertie finishes loading Ruby’s duffle. Ruby efficiently hugs her family goodbye, trying to avoid a big emotional scene. JACKIE
INT EXT INT/EXT tap to expand

Coda

A hearing daughter of a deaf family struggles to balance her passion for singing with her family's reliance on her as their interpreter and business partner.

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Overview

Poster
Unique Selling Point

What sets 'Coda' apart is its authentic representation of a deaf family and the unique challenges they face, particularly through the lens of a hearing daughter who feels torn between her family's needs and her own aspirations. The integration of American Sign Language not only enriches the dialogue but also deepens the emotional resonance of the story, making it relatable to a wide audience while highlighting the importance of communication and understanding in all relationships.

AI Verdict

Model upgrade — Mar 31, 2026: Analysis is from our newer, stronger readers. Scores aren't directly comparable to pre-upgrade analyses.
Claude
 Recommend
Gemini
 Highly Recommend
GPT4
 Highly Recommend
See Details in P/C/R/HR Section
Story Facts
Genres:
Drama 60% Comedy 25% Romance 20%

Setting: Contemporary, Cape Ann, Massachusetts, primarily in Gloucester and surrounding areas

Themes: Family Dynamics and Communication, Economic Hardship and Class Struggle, Self-Discovery and Identity, Communication Barriers and Cultural Differences, First Love and Relationships

Conflict & Stakes: Ruby's struggle to balance her passion for music with her family's reliance on her as their interpreter, leading to tensions about independence and responsibility.

Mood: Bittersweet and uplifting, with moments of tension and humor.

Standout Features:

  • Unique Hook: The protagonist is a hearing child in a deaf family, creating a unique perspective on communication and family dynamics.
  • Major Twist: Ruby's journey culminates in her acceptance to Berklee College of Music, challenging her family's expectations.
  • Distinctive Setting: The coastal fishing community of Cape Ann provides a rich backdrop for the story, enhancing its authenticity.
  • Innovative Ideas: The integration of music and sign language throughout the screenplay highlights the importance of communication in various forms.

Comparable Scripts: CODA, The Sound of Music, A Star is Born, Little Fish, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Sing Street, The Greatest Showman, Inside Out, The Fault in Our Stars

Script Level Analysis

Writer Exec

This section delivers a top-level assessment of the screenplay’s strengths and weaknesses — covering overall quality (P/C/R/HR), character development, emotional impact, thematic depth, narrative inconsistencies, and the story’s core philosophical conflict. It helps identify what’s resonating, what needs refinement, and how the script aligns with professional standards.

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Overall Score: 8.10
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Emotional Analysis

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Goals and Philosophical Conflict
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Themes
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Logic & Inconsistencies
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Scene Analysis

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Other Analyses

Writer Exec

This section looks at the extra spark — your story’s voice, style, world, and the moments that really stick. These insights might not change the bones of the script, but they can make it more original, more immersive, and way more memorable. It’s where things get fun, weird, and wonderfully you.

Unique Voice
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Writer's Craft
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Memorable Lines
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Tropes
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Correlations
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Loglines
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