GlossaryStory structure
Scene
A scene is a single unit of dramatic action that takes place in one location and one continuous stretch of time, opened by a slugline. It is the basic building block of a screenplay: a scene begins when the place or time changes and carries one clear piece of the story forward.
Each scene is defined by its slugline — a change of location or time starts a new scene. Inside it, characters pursue objectives through a series of beats, and the scene ends when that small unit of conflict resolves or hands off.
A useful test for a scene is that something must change between its first and last line — a relationship, a decision, the audience's knowledge. A scene where nothing changes is usually a candidate for cutting.